Howard Sonstegard Planning to Re!re

Transcription

1 February 17-18, Lent Holy Communion Every Sunday at each service 2nd and 4th Saturdays We pray that you will meet the Risen Christ as we worship together. If you do not have a church home, we invite you to worship with our Ascension family again. All bap!zed Chris!ans who believe that Jesus Christ is truly present in the bread and wine as the word of God declares are welcome to receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion with us today. Children who have not received First Communion instruc!on are invited to come forward and receive a blessing. If medical/health concerns give you reason to avoid the wine and bread, please remember the teaching of the Chris!an Church that Jesus Christ is fully present in either element alone, bread or wine. (Gluten-free wafers and white grape juice, in the center of each tray, are also available.) May God bless you in your worship today! Pastors: Tim Delkeskamp and Steve Herder Howard Sonstegard Planning to Re!re On a recent Thursday night, Ascension s Choir Director, Howard Sonstegard, was momentarily perplexed when two, then three members of the Chancel Choir came into the lo# dressed in black. Then a few more similarly garbed singers entered and he started to laugh, saying, Okay. What s going on? What was going on was the choir s way of responding to the news that Howard is planning to re!re at the end of June. It is true. The man who has led Ascension through decades worth of joyous cantatas, deligh$ul Hanging of the Greens, (con!nued next page) A Lenten Reset In many ways, the Season of Lent is intended to be like pushing the reset bu%on on an electronic device. When the system is not working correctly, pushing reset allows for a fresh start. Our lives can easily get out of sync with what God intends them to be. In our busyness or strivings or anxie!es we are prone to turn our a%en!on to ourselves or to the world and to live as if Jesus is peripheral rather (con!nued inside back cover) Flowers on the Altar In loving memory of Margaret Hannemann, with love, your blessed and grateful family.

2 Choir members don dark clothing and expressions on learning of their fearless leader s plans. Photo by choir member Lauren Godfrey Howard Sonstegard to Rere, Connued from front profoundly moving requiems and Tenebrae services and truly special Sunday morning music offerings is about to step down from the podium. We ll miss his wealth of musical gi"s and wry sense of humor, and, well, maybe we ll don black for awhile, too. Probably in the last couple of years, Vicki and I have been discussing, When do you think it would be a good me to rere? This just seemed like the right me, for both us and Ascension, explains Howard during a morning s conversaon in the sanctuary. Vicki Sonstegard, his wife, choir member and fellow long-me Ascension member, will be rering from her teaching career at semester s end. They ve been thinking of relocang, he says, but they have no firm plans. It s kind of difficult because my family is here; my Howard Sonstegard, circa 1994 son and his wife, and my grandkids although they re starng to go away to college and then who knows where they ll be a"er that. Then there are all my friends from CLU since the 60s, so that s hard. Plus the relaonships with the staff and the congregaon, and the big thing I m going to miss is the Chancel Choir, he admits. Church music has been a life-long occupaon for Howard. As a youngster, he sang as part of a quartet with his parents and his older brother at Our Savior s Lutheran Church in East Palo Alto. He became organist there when he was a mere 13 years of age. My brother was the organist of the church, and when he graduated and went to PLU in Washington, I was studying organ and piano at the me, so I took over as church organist, he says. He remained in that job for four years, then came south to study at Cal Lutheran then known as California Lutheran College. That was in the fall of It was two years a"er the university opened. Going on tour, he got to know Karsten and Kirsten Lundring, who were already students there when he arrived as a freshman. It was an excing me to be at the college, he recalls. They felt like pioneers and they were. He learned from Cal Lutheran s esteemed Dr. C. Robert Zimmerman, eventually becoming his assistant conductor, and from Elmer Ramsey, his long-me mentor and friend. Most of Howard s studies were on the instrumental side. His master s degree is in instrumental conducng. But Dr. Zimmerman inspired him in his work with choirs as

3 Howard Sonstegard to Rere, Connued from front well. To be able to shape voices and mold the music with voices human voices are so much more flexible than instruments, there are so many different things you can do with the human voice, he enthuses. The repertoire and the literature that s wri en for choirs is amazing, from Baroque music on. Howard earned his credenal a er graduang, and was working as a teacher for the old Valley Oaks School District by the fall of A er two years, he began working for the Pleasant Valley School District in Camarillo. He spent 21 years at Monte Vista Intermediate School, teaching band, marching band, choir, strings, and beginning band. Having taken a minor in physical educaon, he also taught P.E., coached track, cross country, so ball, and volleyball. I thoroughly enjoyed it, says Howard. Meanwhile, he served as Ascension s church organist and later as choir director back when we were in the old sanctuary, now Founder s Hall. He was away from Ascension for a few years, and then, a er Shirley Egertson rered, he took over as choir director again when the current sanctuary, which opened in 1989, was sll new. Once more, he felt a sense of pioneering spirit. It was a really dynamic me. There was so much going on with this new sanctuary, and building the new organ. It was obvious that Ascension, the church, cherished good music, remembers Howard, who also points out that music, and singing, are central to the Lutheran worship experience. That made it excing to be involved in the music program here, he says -- and to lead the program, as Howard has spent most of his tenure here as director of worship and music. direcng at Hanging of the Green, 2017 Now, as the sanctuary renovaon looms, he feels it s me for new pioneers. Asked for his advice to keep music flourishing at Ascension, he is quick to respond. My first recommendaon is, get a good choir director. You re going to have to be diligent about going out and posng the posion...i think if you want the choir to connue at this level, you have to find a director who is well qualified, someone who has studied choral direcng and understands the voice and what the voice can do. Whomever that may be will have his or her work cut out, for certainly, Howard Sonstegard will be leaving very large footsteps to follow. Music directed by Howard Sonstegard here ranges from old-me favorite hymns and modern Chrisan music, to popular Christmas songs to such intricate works as John Ru!er s Requiem and Gloria the Schubert Mass in G and J. S. Bach s St. John Passion, which was presented on Good Friday 2017 with the Pepperdine Chamber Choir. The Chancel Choir has taken on pieces so demanding, other church choirs wouldn t try them. I ve been incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated members and exceponal singers, he says. Circa 2016

4 Introducon to the Gospel of Mark Come and join the learning and conversa"on as we explore the Gospel of Mark at 9:30 and 11 AM Sundays, Feb March 4 in the Bethlehem Room. Thought to be the oldest of the four gospels, this ac"on-packed and fast-moving narra- "ve provides insights to both the human and divine aspects of Jesus. Mark s gospel highlights the doing part of Jesus ministry. Mark s depic"on of Christ s passion, death, and resurrec"on places us in the narra"ve in a unique way at its abrupt ending. Come and see how this shortest gospel, which can be read in 2 hours, provides us with deep insights into our understanding of Christ and our call as disciples. Jesus and His Public Ministry In week one, we will travel back in "me to learn about the historical context in which the gospel was wri!en. We will gain insights about the author, the iden"ty of Jesus, and his public ministry. (Chapters 1-8:21) Jesus and the Journey on the Way In week two, we will look at the narra"ve that is bookended between the healing of two blind men: the man at Bethsaida and Bar"maeus. Here we will gain insights about Christ s journey toward his passion, death, and resurrec"on. This journey on the way with his disciples, turns our a!en"on to why Jesus has come. (Chapters 8:22-10) Jesus and His Passion, Death, & Resurrec"on In week three, we will explore key stories leading up to the passion, death, and resurrec"on of Christ. We will engage with the unfolding of these events and the key people and themes present. Finally, we will discuss the two endings of the gospel, and how Mark invites us to play a role this ongoing story. (Chapter 11-16) I N N E E D O F P R A Y E R Our printed prayer list focuses on Ascension members and immediate family members. We do pray for people listed on the blue cards during church services and we do refer them to the Prayer Tree. A name is added to this list only with the permission of the person or the person s family. Prayer Notes and Care Notes are in the West Narthex and the library. Prayers of comfort for: Kris" Haar and family on the death of her mother New prayers for: Rachel Adamske for healing a#er surgery David Boyd, Catherine Paskell s son, for good healing from what appears to be a parasi"cal infec"on The Raffy family Prayer Focus: For our Peru mission: Pastor David, Sister Emilia, the Pachacamac community (please pray for them each Wednesday at 6 pm, as they do for us, and for our Mission Peru 2018 trip) Prayers for our missionaries: Carol and Randy Stubbs, Tanzania Con!nuing prayers for: Bonnie Abbo! Connie Angress Bonnie Bartle! Debi Bing Dean Chandler Tom Heller Beth Lugo Chuck Mork Helen Nenne Cleo Sarff Kris Swavley Diane Seal Don Trinkle Julia White Prayers for safekeeping: Connor Braaten, USMC Sco! Clark, U.S. Navy LCpL. Alexander Daley Tim David, U.S. Army ET2 Patrick Maccarone, USN Sean McEwen, U.S. Army Sco! Mochatel, U.S. Coast Guard LCJG Caroline Truesdell, USCG

5 Undie Drive Contribu ons Wanted A child can enter foster care at any me of the day or night. Imagine how alone and scared they feel! They typically have nothing with them except the clothes on their backs. James Storehouse in Newbury Park provides basic necessi es to children in the cri cal first hours as they enter a foster or group home. James Storehouse is a 501(c)(3) community based non-profit that partners with local public and private child-welfare agencies. They have received commenda ons from Los Angeles County and Ventura County recognizing their service to the foster care community. James Storehouse is in urgent need of new underwear, in package, for boys and girls size 2T and up. Both BOYS AND GIRLS underwear is needed! There will be a table on the pa o where contribu ons can be dropped off between services on Sundays this month. Or you may bring them to Lutheran Social Services, 80 E. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 101, Thousand Oaks -- on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30-4:30 PM. If you have ques ons, please contact Karen Guetschoff at kguetschoff@lsssc.org, or at (805) All underwear collected will be donated to James Storehouse. Thank you! You Want to Be Where Everybody Knows Your Name Suppose there was a magic device that could 1) increase friendliness at church; 2) help visitors feel more at home; and 3) help our new pastor learn who is who when she arrives this spring. Well, there is such a device, as it turns out. Have you guessed it? Name Tags. That s right. It s been said that When you have a name, you have a friend. Knowing a name can mean the difference between making a good impression or none at all. And how about this for evidence that knowing names is a big deal? Neuroimaging of adults using positron emission tomography (PET) and fmri has shown that specific brain region ac va on is associated with hearing one s own name. So, as we move into Lent and all the fellowship opportuni es that are going to be a part of it, let s make an effort to put on our name tags. You never know when it just might make a difference. If you don t have one, be sure to fill out a name tag envelope (in the narthexes) or call or Mara Hassenbein (mhassenbein@ alcto.org) in our office, and she will help you. Applica ons for college scholarships are now available in the west narthex or in the church office, or on our website. Completed applica ons are due by April 20. AND: Are you going to be a student at CLU in the fall? Please let the office know for scholarship purposes by March 25.

6 C A L E N D A R Sunday, February 18 (Pastor Steve on Vacaon) 8:00 am Worship Service Tradional, Sanctuary 9:30 am Intro. to Mark s Gospel, Bethlehem Room 9:30 am Sunday School, Sanctuary 9:30 am Worship Service Tradional, Sanctuary 10:30 am Chapel Choir Rehearsal, Dugout 10:30 am Cherub Choir Rehearsal, Music/Toddler Room 11:00 am Intro. to Mark s Gospel, Bethlehem Room 11:00 am Worship Service Contemporary, Sanctuary 2:00 pm Chrisan Life Hour, University Village Oak View 7:00 pm NA Women s Group, Library Monday, February 19 9:15 am Women s Bible Study, Founders Hall 6:00 pm Adult Children of Alcoholics, Modular classroom 7:00 pm Financial Peace University, Founders Hall 7:30 pm Senior Luther League Bible Study, Dugout Tuesday, February 20 6:30 am Men s Bible Study, Sidestreet Cafe 6:30 pm Carillons Rehearsal, Sanctuary 6:45 pm Narcocs Anonymous, Bethlehem Room 7:30 pm Small Group Bible Study, Library Wednesday, February 21 9:00 am Chapel, Sanctuary 10:00 am Chrisan Life Hour, Senior Concerns 12:00 pm Lunch Bunch, Founders Hall 6:00 pm Lenten Soup Supper, Pederson Hall 7:15 pm Lenten Worship Service, Sanctuary 8:00 pm Church Council Meeng, Bethlehem Room Thursday, February 22 9:00 am Coffee Talk With Pastor Tim, Library 5:00 pm Confirmaon, Pederson Hall 6:00 pm Tutoring Outreach, Conejo Elementary School 7:00 pm Bethel, Prayer Chapel 7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary 7:30 pm Men s Bible Study, Library AUGUSTANA SYMPHONIC BAND Save the Date: The Augustana Symphonic Band is coming Friday, February 23, at 7 PM. HELP!!! We need your assistance!! If you can host 2 or 4 students overnight on Friday, 2/23, please signup at the West Narthex informaon counter. Currently we have beds for only 36/58 students. Give by text (805) Friday, February 23 12:30 pm GriefShare, Library 7:00 pm Augustana Symphonic Band, Sanctuary 7:30 pm CODA, Library 8:00 am Kids of the Kingdom Snow Day departure Saturday, February 24 10:00 am Alanon, Bethlehem Room 10:00 am Overeaters Anonymous, Library 6:00 pm Saturday Evening Worship, Sanctuary

7 A Lenten Reset (connued) than central to our lives. As we try to live and solve our problems without consulng God s good and gracious will, we wander farther and farther from the peace and wholeness God wishes to give us. Reset. Our Lenten theme of Making Room speaks to this need in our lives and invites us, through the disciplines of Lent, to begin anew. At our 8:00 and 9:30 services we are pushing the reset bu on in a parcular way this Lent. We will be foregoing the Passing of the Peace unl Easter. This is not so much a response to the influenza that is hi ng our county hard right now (though some will likely appreciate this reset for that reason). The real reason is to allow us to reclaim the liturgical meaning of this acon. The Peace in the liturgical service is both a response to hearing God s word and a way of praccing how we will live in the world in the week to come. In the safety of our worship gathering, we wish God s peace to those right around us, and then we go into the world and seek to be agents of God s grace and peace to all we meet. In the less formal services, it is normal to have a me for greeng those around us at the beginning of the service. In the liturgical services, the Peace is not so much about greeng others to make them feel welcome as it is the very specific business of sharing God s peace with one another. So, in the context of the enre Lenten Reset, we are pushing the reset bu on on the Passing of the Peace this Lent. COOKIES FOR LENTEN SERVICES Swedish Pastor to be Welcomed at CLU Pastor Hans Bra Hernberg, new pastor of the Svenska kyrkan in San Pedro, will be welcomed in a Swedish service in Samuelson Chapel at Cal Lutheran University next Sunday, Feb. 25, at 11 AM. Choir par- cipaon and a me of coffee and fellowship with the pastor and his wife Viveca following the service are included. The Library Commiee is asking for your help. We need cookies each week for the fellowship me in the Library a er the Wednesday evening Lenten services. The remaining dates this year are Feb. 21, Feb. 28, March 7, March 14 and March 21. If you want to bake or bring cookies for any of these dates, please call Dolores Ledbeer at (805) or (805) Kids of the Kingdom Snow Day We re heading to Mt. Pinos for a fun day in the snow -- Feb. 24, 8 AM-4PM. Pack a lunch and drink, bring a tube or saucer to slide on, dress warmly, and have medical release form on file before we leave the church. Friends are always welcome with medical release form. NO toboggans or sleds with metal runners. Cost is $5. If there is no snow, we will have a ZOO DAY with a packed lunch included. Price: $40. Quesons? Please contact Cori Hengst (323) or Chengst@alcto.org

8 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Weekly worship Saturday 6 pm Country Sunday 8 and 9:30 am Tradional 11 am Contemporary Childcare at all Sunday services Pastoral Care Emergency Line: (805) Give by text (805) Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25: Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15 Genesis 17:1-7, Psalm 22:23-31 Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38 S.A.M. (Senior Adult Ministries) Trip to Ventura Harbor Thursday, March 1, we will travel via church bus to Ventura Harbor Village to visit the Visitor Center/Marine Exhibit and have lunch at one of the Harbor restaurants. The tall ships Hawaiian Chie!ain and Lady Washington will be docked at the Harbor un!l March 5. If they are not out sailing on an educa!onal excursion, we will be able to view them from the Harbor s edge. These ships are the most ac!ve tall ships in the Pacific and perhaps in all of America. They visit over 40 ports regularly between WA, OR, CA and BC and sail year-round. Come join us for a leisurely adventure/lunch around the Harbor area. $10 plus lunch cost. We leave church at 10:15 AM and return by 2:30 PM. RSVP to the church office by Tuesday, February 27.