August 1st & 8th
Over the last months, our congregation has been praying for the Finch family. As many of you know, Jamie Finch was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. Jamie is a 19 year old in his first year of college at UW-Whitewater. He was not able to complete his courses in the spring because the tumor was beginning to affect his health. Jamie underwent a risky brain surgery where they could determine the type of cancer and which stage it was. Currently, the Finch family has been driving to Madison five times a week over a six week period as Jamie undergoes radiation treatment.

Jamie is a lifelong member of our congregation. Due to his circumstances, he has not been able to work at all this summer. Depending on treatment and how he is doing, he would like to go back to classes in the fall. There have been a few members of the congregation who have asked whether we as a congregation would be taking donations.

As we are moving in the direction of a more intentional focus of membership care and because of these extreme circumstances, there has been a decision to move forward with receiving donations for the Finch family. Over the next two Sundays of August 1 & 8th, we will be taking a special offering. If you are interested in participating, you are welcome to contribute on those Sundays. It will be given to the Finch family on behalf of our congregation. Thank you for your prayerful consideration in this matter. If you are not wishing/able to give to this cause, please do continue to keep them in your prayers. “Prayer changes things.”

Blessings,
Pastor Elisa

THANK YOU
The Twin Oaks/Food Pantry Committee wishes to thank all the members of LMC for their support of our first months collect of items for Twin Oaks.  In addition to $152.00 we gave the following to Twin Oaks: 107 items total: Toothpaste, brushes, body washes, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bars of soap, deodorant, dental floss, razors, shaving cream, mouthwash, band aid, and travel size misc. items.

TWIN OAKS DRAWING
A drawing to support Twin Oaks Shelter will be held at Luther Memorial in August.  Tickets can be purchased on August 1, 8 & 15 for $1 each or 6 for $5 after each service.  The drawing for all items will be at 11:30 am on August 15th.

The drawing items are:

The monies raised will be given to Twin Oaks to purchase gas cards and quarters for the laundry.Any questions ask George Ballman or Deedee Murray.

YOU ASKED—TOGETHER WE FIND A WAY
 TWIN OAKS SHELTER NEEDS OUR HELP!

We are supporting Twin Oaks Shelter, where residents in need may stay on a temporary basis for up to 90 days until they can obtain more permanent housing.  Similar to our support program for the Delavan Food Pantry, each month we will be collecting needed items for the Twin Oaks Shelter.

During the month of August, we will be collecting donations of items.  These items include, but are not limited to:

gallon buckets, floor cleaner, windex, brooms, mops, and dust pans

Cash donations are also welcome and may be placed in the envelopes provided in the pews.  Please put your donated items in the bins designated Twin Oaks in the narthex.

The Inreach committee would like to invite you to our annual Luther Memorial picnic!!  Mark your calendar for Sunday August 29th immediately following The Journey. Hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, corn on the cob and beverages will be provided.  Please sign up in the narthex for attendance and whether you can provide a salad or a dessert. The cost will be $3.00 per person age 13 and up, $2.00 per child age 3-12, no charge for children under age 2, with a maximum of $12.00 per family.  Once again, a bounce house and games will be available.  The committee is looking for a couple of grills and a couple of grill volunteers!!  Please talk to Tim Mumm, Mona Miller or Cindy Schenk if you can help.

“The Back Row” (our band’s new name) will be playing at the Phoenix Park Bandshell in Delavan once again on Tuesday, Aug. 17th at 7 pm. 
Come enjoy the concert and support our Luther Memorial ministry.

Council affirmed the following at the July 27th meeting:

Dinner & A Bible
Sunday, August 22nd
6:00—8:00 p.m.

Blessing of the Backpacks
All school age kids bring your backpacks on Sunday, August 29th for a blessing during each worship service. We want to send you into the new school year well!  

For the month of August the Delavan Food Pantry is in need of the following items:
Oil, Coffee, Corn, Tuna
Thank you to all who share!

We are looking for people who would be willing to provide meals when we have members who are in need. 
We would like to add to our list of available Cooks on Call.  We also are looking for people who would be available to deliver a cooked meal.  If we have a list with many names, the hope would be that we could spread out the cooking/deliveries between many people and we would have greater flexibility in ministering to our church family.  Please see Mona Miller 723-7022 or Julie Banasik 745-6362 if you would like to help in this very important ministry. 

Baobab Blast is the gathering of the summer!  Mark your calendars and grab your gear.  This is the even loaded with rockin’ music, energy-packed games, and amazing Bible stories.

Date:       August 2nd through August 6th
Time:       6:00 to 8:00 pm
Who:                You!

You may register your child(ren) online at. . . http://toolkit.thevbsplace.org/LutherMemorialDelavanWI
Registration will also take place at the door the first night. If you’ll be registering at the door,
please plan to register at 5:45 so VBS can start on time at 6:00 pm sharp. Thanks!
For more information see Kathie Plapp
Come and Discover!

Local Mission Project

Every year at Vacation Bible School we try to do a national or international mission project, as well as a local mission project.  The local project helps the kids to feel as if they are doing something for the kids in our area.

 Again this year we’d like to make “Birthday Bags” for the Delavan Food Pantry.  Many times the parents that need the services the Food Pantry provides aren’t able to celebrate their child’s birthday.  We’d like to help change this for them.  Birthday Bags are easy to put together, will be collected from now through the week of VBS,  and taken to the Delavan Food Pantry as a donation from all of our churches in Delavan involved with this year’s Vacation Bible School.  Last year we were able to donate 50 Birthday Bags!

 Birthday Bags are simply a birthday gift bag with tissue paper lining the bag.  Three items that the bag should contain for sure are a cake, a tub of frosting, and candles.  The rest of the items in the bag are up to you.  We’ve put such things in as balloons, horns, bubbles, streamers, or any little birthday gift bag item that would help make the birthday a celebration/party. 

 Please prayerfully consider helping our mission projects globally and at home.  Thank you for your help!

International Mission Project
Africa Jam - Cape Town, South Africa

 Africa Jam is a youth empowerment organization serving more than 10,000 young people in Cape Town, South Africa.  Built on a vision to provide hope, unity, and community to young people, this group has been ministering and serving children in need sing 2001.  Africa Jam is a non-profit organization that is supported through individual gifts and grants from donors throughout the United States and South Africa.

 The approach of the organization is to use innovative social upliftment, faith enrichment, and arts and education projects to empower young people.  Through knowledge, life skills, and opportunities to develop their God-given talents, these young people become more confident individuals and are able to give back and strengthen their communities.

 Africa Jam offers a wide range of programs and services, including safe after-school programs, enriching camp
experiences, HIV/AIDS education, and Christian fellowship an dspiritual development.  Africa Jam is committed to
serving high-school-age youth who come from some of the most economically disadvantaged townships in South
Africa’s Cape region.

 Helping young people grow in their faith, whether at home or across the world, strengthens the community of believers and is what God has called us to do.  Kids who attend Africa Jam face hardships, hunger, and violence in their everyday lives.  Our support of the mission will give these young people an opportunity to realize the love of Jesus in their lives.  How great it is that our kids can connect with kids currently living in Africa who are also learning about their relationships with God and others!