American Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gibson City, Illinois
“Committed to Love and to Serve”
August 2018 Newsletter
From Pastor Jim Davis
This year we celebrate our 75th year as a congregation! We are beginning the celebration by inviting the Gibson area community to an old-fashioned “Pie & Ice Cream Social” from 3:00-4:30 pm and a concert by Jake’s Boys at 5:00 pm on Saturday, August 11th. Over this next year, pastors who have served in the past will be returning and leading us in worship on Sunday mornings.
Here are some highlights of our roots and history as a congregation:
- Due to the increasing Swedish population in Gibson City, the Augustana Synod built Salem Lutheran Church on the corner of Eighth and Melvin Streets in 1874. After resisting the use of English liturgy, the congregation eventually disbanded.
- In 1943, American Evangelical Lutheran Church of Gibson City (a member of the nation-wide American Lutheran Church) was incorporated and worshiped in the building. The Augustana Synod gave the parsonage next door as a gift to the congregation. The Rev. Werner Fritschel of Hebron, Nebraska, was our first pastor.
- In August of 1959, Ervin Buhs, a member of our congregation, was ordained as a Lutheran pastor at American Lutheran Church in Rantoul.
- Construction on our current church building began in April of 1963. The new Church and Parish Hall were dedicated in March of 1964.
- Pastor and Mrs. Otto Kreiter moved into the newly-completed parsonage, which was dedicated in November of 1967.
- The first Community Ash Wednesday Lenten Breakfast and Christmas Day Dinner were held in 1974 – and continue to this day!
- We hosted a Special Festival Worship Service for area Lutheran Churches in celebration of the new Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1988.
- In May of 1990, Janet (Stocker) Breum, a member of our congregation, was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in our church. Guest speaker was Pastor Terry Breum, Janet’s husband.
- The bell from the old church was removed from our roof, installed in a new Bell Tower, equipped with a Carillon system, and dedicated in January of 1992.
- The church parking lot and parsonage driveway were blacktopped in 1994.
- In May of 2017, we became part of Servants United Parish in a special worship service led by Bishop S. John Roth at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Anchor.
May God’s Holy Spirit inspire and excite us to work together – to love and to serve – and to spread the Good News of our Risen Savior for the next 75 years!
People in Our Prayers
Dick Anstrom, father of Rich Anstrom is a resident of Gibson Hospital Annex.
Marvin Beck is home and recovering from heart bypass surgery.
Jerry Biggart, nephew of Bette Mohart continues to recover from a motorcycle
accident and several subsequent surgeries.
Carrie Breum,grand-daughter of Frank & Margaret Stocker is teaching in Asia.
Isaac Brucker is serving in the U.S. Army Airborne Unit at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Lisa Buhs, daughter-in-law of Judy Buhs is battling MS.
Lori Buhs gives thanks that her cancer is in remission. She will undergo testing
again this month.
Emma Couillard,mother of Jeanette Bartells has health concerns.
Heather Eisenhardt,grand-daughter of Bette Mohart is serving in the U.S. Navy
and has deployed to Bahrain.
Jeff Finis, cousin of Kevin Buhs, is fighting cancer.
Judy Friedlein, a long-time friend of Pastor Jimis battling cancer.
Alex Happ,grandson of Carol Carlson is serving in the U.S. Marines. We keep
Alex in prayer as his continuous, non-stop migraine headaches have returned.
Chuck Hay is healing from the removal of broken screws and shifted plates in his
leg. He is restricted from putting weight on his leg for three months until the
bones heal. Nancy Hay is caregiver for Chuck and her father, Lou Wahls.
Paul Hellyer, nephew of Kim Brucker is battling addiction.
Asher Hobbs is home and recovering from heart surgery.
Denise Horton,a family friend of Molly Schroader is fighting cancer.
Terry Hutchcraft is battling kidney disease.
Dale Jones is a resident of Heritage Healthcare with dementia.
Gary Keim is home and undergoing physical therapy to regain his strength.
Ada Kennedyis a resident of Gibson Area Hospital Annex.
Nancy List is a resident of the Gibson Area Hospital Annex.
Jerry Mieczkowski, son-in-law of Bette Mohart, gives thanks that his head and
neck cancer is in remission.
Pastor Dennis Norton of First Baptist Church is fighting a rare lung disease. He
is raising 4 young children with his wife, Linda.
Jeff Randecker, brother of Kim Brucker, suffers from depression.
Ryan Reid, grandson of Frank & Margaret Stocker, is serving in the U.S. Air Force
at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas.
Gary Reitz is home and recovering from his hospital stay.
Pastor Christine “Chrissy” Salser is our new Servants United Parish pastor.
Jim Spangler has health concerns.
Mary Timmhas health concerns.
Daelin Tolan is a 4th grade student in Ridgeview Elementary School with an inoperable brain tumor.
Cindy Tucker is recovering from back surgery.
Lou Wahls, father of Nancy Hay is a resident of Prairieview Lutheran Home, Danforth.
Happy Birthday – August
Makenzi Bielfeldt2 Nancy List12Adyson DeFries21
Mckenzy Foster2Roger Cramer13Kamree Friday21
Sharon Ames 3Gideon Kretzer13Jewel Lewis22
Pastor Jim3Barb Bleich14Amber Frick24
Colton Johnson3Michael Peters16Ada Kennedy25
Marli Lee 6Ted Timm16Tina Anstrom26
Lois Rhodes6Sadie Christensen18Phyllis Fuoss30
Kevin DeFries7Warren Birkey18Delbert Tjarks31
Happy Anniversary – August
Charles & Nancy Hay1Tobie & Darcy Thompson21
Ken & Arlene Doden2Loren & LeEtta Bane28
Don & Becky Craig6Patrick & Michelle Celeschi29
Kyle & Sara Bielfeldt7Mike & Jennifer Carley30
Kevin & Julie DeFries 12
Congratulations to Justin and Christy Hay on the birth of Eli Anthony Hay, who was born on June 12th and weighed in at 7lbs 12ozs. Eli has a big brother, Cole. Grandparents are Chuck and Nancy Hay. May God Bless Eli and his family.
Congratulations to Matt and Ashley Aubry on the birth of their new son,
Drake Alan Aubry. Drake was born on Saturday, July 21st, in Omaha, Nebraska. He weighed in at 9lbs 15ozs and 21 inches long. Drake has a big sister, Maddie, and brother, Vince. Grandparents are Greg and Krysti Brucker. Great Grandparents are Elynor Stagen and Gene and Sherry King. May God bless Drake and his family.
It’s A Party and You’re Invited!
To celebrate American Lutheran Church’s 75th Anniversary as a congregation and 55 years in this location, we are having a special event. Please plan to join us on Saturday, August 11th between 3:00 – 4:30 pm for an old-fashioned “Pie and Ice Cream Social” (free will offering.) At 5:00 the celebration continues with a concert by Jake’s Boys!!! (You will have an opportunity to make a donation during intermission to help continue the Jake’s Boys ministry.)
The Anniversary Committee has many surprises in store for you throughout the year to celebrate! Please plan to join us for worship on Sunday, August 12th as we begin this time of celebration.
Please contact Kevin Buhs if you have any questions.
World Missions: Thank you to those who have contributed sheets, fabric, comforters, mattress pads, and used blankets for quilting materials that you may no longer need or have found at garage sales, auctions, and second-hand stores. The quilters have completed over 104 quilts with three more months to go in our year. We are again reminded that warm quilts are desperately needed.
Personal care kits are also in short supply. We are hoping to send more of these as well as school kits this year. Though our shipping date is still months away, we would like to begin collecting for the kits. The following is a list of items needed for each kit. Please clip and keep for easy reference as you are shopping store sales, garage sales, etc. Some of the items like nail clippers, large tooth combs, rulers, pencil sharpeners, blunt-end scissors, and towels can be gently used rather than purchased new. God bless you for your efforts in this worthy cause.
School Kit Personal Care Kit
4 70-sheet spiral notebooks1 lt. or med. wt. bath towel
1 30 cm (12 in) ruler2 bath sized bars of soap
1 pencil sharpener1 adult sized toothbrush
1 blunt end scissors1 sturdy (lg. toothed) comb
1 eraser1 metal nail clipper
5 unsharpened pencils
5 ball point pens (no gel ink)
1 box of (16 or 24) crayons
Don’t Forget!! We will be hosting our Annual Garage and Bake Sale the last weekend of August. We will have something for everyone so come check us out on Thursday, August 23 from 2 to 6 pm, Friday, August 24 from 9 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, August 25 from 8 am to 12 pm. We welcome any baked items. It is preferred that you mark your own items, but if you need help or have any questions please contact Sharon Nunamaker at (217) 649-9974.This has been a good fundraiser for us in the past!
Would you like to have a little assistance with your yard work this summer? Such jobs as weeding, gutter cleaning or maybe putting your basement or garage in order? Do you have something metal that you would like for Ron Andris to haul away? There are volunteers from your church family who would like to help you! We are currently scheduling projects for Community Service Weekend on Saturday, August 25th and Sunday, August 26th. Please call Gerry in the church office (784-4841) so your project can be put on the list!
Are you “paying it forward?”
Are you grateful for all of the many blessings God has bestowed upon you? I mean, truly appreciative? “Of course!” you say. Then what are you doing to show God just what it means to you?
On Saturday and Sunday, August 25th and 26th the following churches and organizations are coming together to “pour out” into the community. We want to give back and pay it forward for all we have received and are grateful for. Joining us this year are: Gibson Area High School Interact; Gideons; Knights of Columbus; Gibson City Police Department; Gibson Area Fire Department; Gibson Area EMT’s; American Legion; Rotary; Lions Club; American Lutheran Church; First Christian Church; First Presbyterian Church; Gibson City United Methodist Church; Gibson City Bible Church, New Beginnings Church; and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
What can you do, you ask? Well, you will be surprised at all of the opportunities available for people of all ages and abilities! We will need volunteers to help with: stapling notices to bags and passing out bags to neighborhoods the weekend before our event (August 18th or 19th.) We are asking for donations for a paper drive to support both Food Banks, and care kits for our active duty military (with the Legion.)
On Outreach Weekend you can join your neighbors in helping clean up yards throughout Gibson City; help with the Food Bank on Saturday; wash windows for vehicles stopping in for gas at both Casey’s or the FS station; help tie quilts; sing hymns at the Annex, Heritage and Villas of Holly Brook; be part of either a traveling prayer team that goes and prays at our police station, hospitals, fire station, schools or one that stays at the park to pray with anyone in need of comfort; join a group of people making cards in the cafeteria at Holly Brook to be used by the churches throughout the year and to be sent to our friends/loved ones away from home; bake cookies and have them here by noon on Friday (Aug. 24th ); assemble cookie trays Friday afternoon at the Methodist Church; deliver cookies on Sunday to various places within the community to thank them for all they do for us each day; bag groceries at County Market on Sat. & Sun.; help at Shepard’s Closet; and/or drive a golf cart. If you don’t see anything on that list that interests you, then contact me and let me know how you would like to help! We have so many wonderful opportunities available.
We will worship here at American at our regular 10:30 time on Sunday, August 25th and then head over to North Park Pavilion for lunch. You may park at the Boy Scout lot and a golf cart will bring you over to the pavilion and return you to your car afterwards. See – no bumpy ground to walk on! We want to thank Gibson City’s own Sparky’s Barbeque who will be there again to provide the sauce for you to slather on your roast pork! They will also have jars available for purchase. If you haven’t had it, you really need to try it!
This year, American is responsible for providing the beverages for the picnic so I will be accepting donations to purchase the lemonade, ice tea, waters and ice to keep it all cold! You can either make a contribution and put it in the offering plate marked “Poured Out Church” so you receive credit on your statement, or give it to me directly. The picnic is such a great time to gather with all of your friends from the community and share some time together. This is open to everyone so please feel free to invite a friend or family member to come with you! If you have a neighbor who isn’t able to get out, let us know and we will give you a meal to take to them! Yes… we mean everyone is invited and welcome and we truly want to help everyone we can.
So, have you picked out how you are going to show God’s love to those within our community that weekend? Alone we can do a little – but together we can do amazing things to give back to our community and pay our blessings forward!
Watch the bulletin for details on how to sign up for any of these events. If you have any questions, please give me a call! Can’t wait to see you there!
Cynthia Davis, Chair
Community Outreach Weekend sponsored by the Poured Out Church Committee
(217-784-5444 Home; 309-532-5337 Cell)
Do you have a memory to share about American Lutheran Church or the Gibson City community that you think others may be interested in knowing? Is there something you want future generations to know about life here in Gibson City?
As part of our Community Outreach Weekend, we are making a Heritage Video documentary. We will be asking you to sign up for a time slot to share your thoughts. Your comments should be limited to 10 minutes or less. If you think you would like to participate in this project, please give Cynthia Davis a call (217-784-5444) and leave a message with your name, contact phone number and a brief comment about the topic you would like to discuss. What information would you like to pass on?
Worship Assistants – August*
Head Usher – Kevin DeFries / Asst. Usher – Mike Peters
Altar Guild – Tom & Kim Brucker Family
August 5thAugust 12th
Coffee/Refreshments – Coffee/Refreshments –
Acolyte – Willy Stevenson Acolyte – Kim Brucker
Greeters – Darrell & Sharon NunamakerGreeters – Carol Boyle and
Asst. Minister – Jim Spangler Rhonda Hornstein
Reader – Margaret StockerAsst. Minister – Jewel Lewis
Comm. Asst. – Julie DeFriesReader – Kim Brucker
Offering Counters – Ron & Evelyn AndrisComm. Assts. – Brad & Kelly
Sound Tech – Ron Andris Tompkins
Offering Counter – Willy Stevenson Sound Tech – Tom Brucker
August 19thAugust 26th
Coffee/Refreshments –Coffee/Refreshments –
Acolyte – Willy StevensonAcolyte – Kim Brucker
Greeters – Evelyn Andris andGreeters – Mary Ann Kreitzer and
Phyllis Fuoss Barb Bielfeldt
Asst. Minister – Eli BruckerAsst. Minister – Kevin Buhs
Reader – Ryan TompkinsReader – Caden Miller
Comm. Assts. – Ryan & Misti Comm. Assts. – Curt Miller and
Tompkins Gary Lutterbie
Offering Counter – Judy GlascockOffering Counters – Kevin & Lori Buhs
Sound Tech – Ron AndrisSound Tech – Tom Brucker
American Lutheran is seeking a janitor for five hours per week. If interested, please contact a Council representative. Thank You!
Coffee and Conversation has been taking a break for the summer. Our meetings will resume in September on the third Tuesday morning of every month from 9:00 – 10:00 in Parish Hall.
Servants United Parish Update . . .
Pastoral Rotation for August 19, 2018
- Pastor Chrissy Salser at Gibson City & Sibley
- Pastor Ed Hudelson at Cornell & Dwight
- Pastor Jim Davis at Anchor & Chenoa
Pastoral Rotation for September 23, 2018
- Pastor Ed Hudelson at Gibson City & Sibley
- Pastor Jim Davis at Cornell & Dwight
- Pastor Chrissy Salser at Anchor & Chenoa
- Servants United has a new pastor . . . . Pastor Christine “Chrissy” Salser accepted the call to serve Servants United Parish and has become the primary pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran, Dwight and Community Lutheran, Cornell. She was Ordained on Friday, June 22, 2018, at Zion Lutheran Church, 925 5th Avenue in Rockford, IL 61104. Bishop Roth installed her on Sunday, July 8th in a Servants United Parish Combined Worship Service at 10:30 am at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dwight.
- The Servants United Parish now has a web site. The address is
Be sure to check it out!
- Our next joint Worship Service will be held here at American Lutheran on Sunday, October 21st, at 10:30 am. There will be a lunch following hosted by American Lutheran. If you have not been able to attend one of the joint services this will be a great time to do so.
August 2018 – Events in Gibson City, unless noted otherwise
1 / Wednesday / Pastors Prayer Meeting – Country Kettle – 8:30 am2 / Thursday / Bible Study – Trinity, Chenoa – 10:00-11:30 am – Check Facebook page before going.
Food, Fellowship & Finding God Service – Trinity, Chenoa – 6:00 pm
3 / Friday
4 / Saturday / Servants United Finance Meeting – 9:00 am
5 / Sunday* / Worship – 10:30 am
Servants United Council Meeting – Chenoa – 2:00 pm
6 / Monday
7 / Tuesday / LAA Parents Night – Parish Hall – 5:00-7:30 pm
8 / Wednesday / Bible Study – Old Log Cabin – Community, Cornell – 8:30 am
Pastors Prayer Meeting – Country Kettle – 8:30 am
Quilting – Parish Hall – 9:00 am
Summer Cook-out – Community, Cornell – 6:00-7:30 pm
9 / Thursday / Prayer Team – Comfort Room – 1:00 pm
Bible Study – Trinity, Chenoa – 10:00-11:30 am – Check Facebook page before going. WELCA Bible Study (St. John’s, Sibley) – Holly Brook – Camilla Lohmeyer – 2:00 pm.
Food, Fellowship & Finding God Service – Trinity, Chenoa – 6:00 pm
10 / Friday
11 / Saturday / 75th Anniversary Party for American – Ice Cream & Pie Social – 3:00-4:30 pm;
Jake’s Boys Concert – 5:00 pm
12 / Sunday* / Worship – 10:30 am
13 / Monday
14 / Tuesday / Bible Study at Holly Brook – 2:30 pm
15 / Wednesday / Pastors Prayer Meeting – Country Kettle – 8:30 am
Worship with Holy Communion – Heritage Health Care – 2:00 pm
Church Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6:30 pm
16 / Thursday / Bible Study – Trinity, Chenoa – 10:00-11:30 am – Check Facebook page before going.
Food, Fellowship & Finding God Service – Trinity, Chenoa – 6:00 pm
17 / Friday
18 / Saturday
19 / Sunday* / Worship – 10:30 am – Pulpit Exchange – Pastor Chrissy Salser
20 / Monday
21 / Tuesday / Sibley Seniors Potluck Lunch – 11:30 am-1:30 pm – Sibley Township Hall
22 / Wednesday / Pastors Prayer Meeting – Country Kettle – 8:30 am
23 / Thursday / Bible Study – Trinity, Chenoa – 10:00-11:30 am – Check Facebook page before going. Prayer Team – Comfort Room – 1:00 pm
Annual Garage and Bake Sale – Parish Hall – 2 – 6 pm.
Food, Fellowship & Finding God Service – Trinity, Chenoa – 6:00 pm
24 / Friday / Annual Garage and Bake Sale – Parish Hall – 9 am – 5 pm
25 / Saturday / Annual Garage and Bake Sale – Parish Hall – 8 am – noon
Community Service Weekend
26 / Sunday* / Worship – 10:30 am
Community Service Weekend – Lunch at North Park – Noon; Projects – 1:00 – 5:00pm
Open House – Ada Kennedy’s 90th Birthday – Parish Hall – 2:00 – 4:00 pm
27 / Monday / Daughters of American Revolution (DAR) – Dinner meeting – Parish Hall – 5:00 pm
28 / Tuesday / Pastor at Ford County M-Team Meeting – Noon
29 / Wednesday / Pastors Prayer Meeting – Country Kettle – 8:30 am
30 / Thursday / Bible Study – Trinity, Chenoa – 10:00-11:30 am – Check Facebook page before going.
Food, Fellowship & Finding God Service – Trinity, Chenoa – 6:00 pm
31 / Friday
* Each Sunday, tune in to WGCY Radio, 106.3 FM for “Sing for Joy” from St. Olaf College (MN) from 7:00 – 7:30 am, sponsored by St. John’s, Anchor; and “Moments of Grace” featuring Pastor Jim from 7:30 – 7:45 am, sponsored by American, Gibson City.