February 2014
IRS MILEAGE RATES
ANNOUNCED
WASHINGTON — The
Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2014 optional standard mileage rates
used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business,
charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1,
2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or
panel trucks) will be:
·
56 cents per mile for business miles driven
·
23.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving
purposes
·
14 cents per mile driven in service of
charitable organizations
The business,
medical, and moving expense rates decrease one-half cent from the 2013
rates. The charitable rate is based on statute.
FAITH
LUTHERAN TRANSITIONAL NEWS
In
August, Pastor Charlotte Strecker-Baseler moved to Canada with her husband
Pastor John Strecker-Baseler after 15 years of faithful service to the
congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin. Pastor John
accepted a call to a German speaking Lutheran Church in Alberta Canada, and
Pastor Charlotte will be able to be in the pews for awhile for a much deserved
time of rest from pastoral responsibilities.
Since
her departure, Pastor Shelly Holle has been providing pulpit supply and
pastoral care for the congregation. Pastor Shelly was a product of Faith
Lutheran in Oberlin, having been baptized and confirmed into the faith within
her walls. As an adult, she became a Presbyterian. After
twelve years as a professional educator in the Presbyterian Churches of
Manhattan, KS, she was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament (now
called a Teaching Elder) within the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. After 11
years as the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Chanute, Kansas, she moved
into her parents' home in Atwood in July to tend to the estate following their
deaths.
In
2004, a formal agreement was drafted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the
Reformed Church in America. Through this agreement, an orderly exchange
of ordained ministers of word and sacrament was made possible. Therefore,
Pastor Shelly Holle as Presbyterian clergy has now been called to serve
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oberlin as a term call pastor for the year
of 2013.
The
pastors, PMAs and members of our Area Ministry 1 congregations are invited to
attend the installation of the Rev. Shelly Holle into her new
relationship of call with Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Oberlin on Sunday, February 9, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
A reception will follow.
This
will be a uniquely special service with both the Central States Synod
Bishop's pastoral staff and the Presbytery of Northern Kansas Executive
Presbyter participating in the service and co-presiding at the table for
communion. What a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity of the Body of
Christ, unified through service and call to serve our Lord! The
congregation of Faith Lutheran hopes you will join in the celebration!
COMPANION
SYNOD SUNDAY
During this
Season of Global Awareness, the Congregations and People of the Central States
Synod - ELCA are called upon to remember our companion church, the Kote
District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea (ELCPNG) on
Sunday, February 2nd.
We have
word from our "cousin Christians" in Papua New Guinea that
they are reciprocating by setting aside February 2nd as the Sunday
when they too will lift up their partnership with us, the CSS-ELCA in
all 8 circuits within the district.
Resources
for this Companion Synod Sunday are available at the following website.
http://www.css-elca.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Companion-Synod-Packet-2014.pdf.
Or, go to the Synod web site and follow the links under the
"Ministries" tab.
Pastor
Walter Teunzac, the partnership committee chair and communicator for the
district sent some specific prayer requests for the congregations of the
CSS-ELCA to include in Sunday worship on February 2nd. Please read
what he wrote.
"For the prayer requests, we would
like to request your prayers in these two important areas that were discussed
by the 29th Synod a week ago.
1.
Good governance and accountability within
the ELC-PNG. Many issues of administration and Christian leadership continues
to challenge this young church who has the God given resources to contribute to
the work of the Gospel within this country (PNG) and throughout the World.
Until the response to God’s gracious deeds is right, we will continue to limit
our potentials.
2.
Undersea Mining. It was one of the important issues discussed during the synod.
During the exchanges of ideas and information, we have begun to see how crucial
it is to protect our marine life and the environment. We have learnt also that,
there are no such things as undersea mining in other parts of the World. If PNG
and its leaders agree to this type of mining, it would become the first in the
World and has serious consequences for our sea communities. Coincidently one of
the preferred sites would just off the coast of Finschhafen.
The 29th National ELC-PNG
Synod has resolved NO to his method of mining. Pray for the wisdom and guidance
of God upon our leaders and Christian communities as it is the question of
social status, money, survival and greed."
You may also want to read what Walter posted on our newly
established companion church blog. You will find the blog at;
Any further questions can be directed to the Companion Synod
Team Chair, Gary Teske at teskimost@gmail.com
or 785-393-0965.
SOUPER
BOWL OF CARING FEBRUARY 2
In 2012 more than
260,000 youth participated in Souper Bowl of Caring, collecting more than $9.8
million in dollars and food for local hunger-relief charities. That's a total
of more than $90 million collected since the movement began in 1990! This
year's goal is to empower 275,000 young people to collect $11 million for
charities in their communities. Help us grow this movement and tackle hunger in
America! www.tacklehunger.org
PROJECT BELONG
There are currently
over 900 children in Kansas waiting for a loving FOREVER family. There
are far more churches in Kansas than there are waiting children. If the
Church will stand up and get involved, answering the call of James 1:27, we
could provide homes for every waiting child. It would make it possible
for there to be a waiting list of FAMILIES rather than waiting children.
Likewise, there are
over 5,000 children in Kansas in out-of-home foster care placements.
These children need loving families who will provide a safe, healthy home and
environment for them as they wait. Relatives and foster family homes
provide a stable environment for these children who are in transition, either
waiting to return to their biological families or to be available for an
adoptive family. We believe that the Church can impact the lives of these
children, even in the shortest amount of time in a placement. If a
Christian foster family can impact the life of a child, no matter how long they
are involved in their lives, these children will experience the love of God and
know they have a place to belong.
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