 |
About First English
Our Mission
Worship
What We Offer
Meet the Pastors
Meet the Council
Directions
Contact Staff
Business Directory
FAQs
Learn
Youth Programs
Adult Education
Sermons
Get Involved
Volunteers
Announcements
Newsletter
Calendar
FELC Youth Ministries
|
|
|
Trust fund supports ministries of First English
A trust fund has been established at First English to enhance the work of the church by establishing new ministries and stewardship opportunities, apart from the general operation of the congregation.
Among the ministries supported:
- Seminarian students
- Youth learning activities
- Music recitals
- College scholarships
- Outreach and social ministries
- The Arthur Krempin School of Music & Art
- Organ proficiency
To learn more about the First English Lutheran Trust, follow this link.
First English members receive scholarships. Read articles below.
Summer Intern Program allows seminary student to ‘test the waters’ of ministry
By Sandra Potts
Endowment awareness coordinator
While growing up at First English, Ben Cieslik participated in the youth program, attended the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans and sang in the youth choirs. During high school, Ben and his grandfather, the late Bruce Burghardt, served the FELC TV ministry.
As a student at St. Olaf College, Ben participated in the FELC Summer Intern Program.
“It was a great time to test my gifts for ministry in a variety of settings and to be nurtured by church leaders and peers, to all of whom I’m indebted,” he said. “The experiences I
had in ministry as a summer intern gave me space and room to discern and to test the waters. Thanks for your ongoing commitment to that program. It is a wonderful model for the church worldwide.”
After graduating from St. Olaf, he served as youth director at a church in St. Paul. It was at this time that he decided to attend Luther Seminary there. He received a 2-year scholarship from the Ministerial Students Fund, which is part of the First English Endowment Fund.
“College and seminary is not inexpensive. Every bit of support is helpful. It is wonderful to know that your home congregation is committed to raising up leaders in the church, and that they see you as one of them.”
Today, Ben lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Beth. He is serving at Bethlehem Lutheran Church there as an intern. When he completes his internship this August, he will attend Luther for another year of coursework.
“I will probably begin the call process sometime in the spring of 09,” Ben said. “Beth works for Target Corp., which is headquartered here in Minneapolis, so I think we’ll be looking for our first call to be somewhere in the metro area.”
Even though Ben is serving the ministry 250 miles from the church of his youth, FELC isn’t far from his thoughts.
“Thank you to all the members of First English. So many of you have had a profound impact in shaping me as a person of faith and a leader in the church.”
Scholarship funds cultivate organ performance study
By Sandra Potts
Endowment awareness coordinator
On Ash Wednesday in 2006, Pastor Detweiler was settling into his first week at First English. Mark Paisar was at the piano during worship that night – FELC organists were not available to play during the week.
A short time later, Pastor Detweiler discovered there were organ scholarship funds in the First English endowment fund, so he approached Mark about taking organ lessons.
“Before Pastor George came to me about the grant, I had not really thought that much about the organ.” Mark said. “My main focus was on the piano and alto sax. However, this obviously changed when I heard about this incredible opportunity from Pastor George.”
Mark, the son of Dennis and Cheri Paisar, began taking lessons in June of that year. The grant paid for a large portion of the lessons he took for the next 16 months.
He played his first full service at FELC on Christmas Eve 2006. He continued to play for about two services a month until summer of 2007, when he played nearly every Sunday.
“I never thought I would play the organ. My interest in playing the organ – not only as a hobby but as a possible career – grew as I took lessons.”
It wasn’t until the fall of his senior year at Appleton North High School that he realized it was something he wanted to pursue.
Today, Mark is in his first year at Carthage College. He is working toward a music performance major with an emphasis in organ performance.
“I decided to go into this particular field of study because music is my life. Another reason is that I simply love to play the organ.”
Scholarship recipient aims to help others
By Sandra Potts
Endowment awareness coordinator
Kyle Bemis’ goal of becoming a pharmacist got a boost from the First English Endowment Fund last spring.
Kyle was the recipient of the Gail Evans Scholarship Fund and the Golz Scholarship Fund for the 2007-08 school year.
Both funds were established to provide collegiate scholarships to First English youth. They are part of the First English Endowment Fund that enhances the work of the church by establishing new ministries and stewardship opportunities. Kyle Bemis
Kyle, who is the son of First English members Jeff and Diane Bemis, attends the University of Wisconsin.
The Appleton North High School graduate is studying to become a pharmacist.
He chose that field because he likes science, math and chemistry and “this is a profession in the medical field in which I can help people,” Kyle said.
Kyle participated in a variety of youth programs at First English, including the youth choirs.
Last spring, when he and his parents read an announcement in the Sunday bulletin regarding the application process for the scholarships, he completed the application and submitted the necessary forms.
He was awarded the scholarships in spring 2007.
Kyle is very thankful to receive the scholarships because they allow him to focus on his education full time during the school year, without having to juggle a part-time job.
|
