Pastor s Message Treasurer s Report...2 On my recent trip to Chicago, I was delayed at MSP airport and the

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1 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF ELK RIVER LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY 2016 Table of Contents Pastor s Message...1 Pastor s Message Treasurer s Report...2 On my recent trip to Chicago, I was delayed at MSP airport and the Children, Youth & Family most natural thing to do other than eat is to watch people. My Music Ministry...5 enough that I watched weary travelers staggering flight was early Lent Schedule...6 through the terminal pulling oversized luggage, dragging duffel bags from backbreaking backpacks. We all have seen ERLC Ministry News...6 and bent over people like that. At time we, are like that-if not with our physical Calendar...7 baggage then at least with our spiritual load. We all lug loads that we Contact Information were never intend to carry. Fear, grief, guilt/shame disappointment, prejudices worries etc. after awhile these heavy bags wear us down. Would it not be not be nice to lose those bags? Pastor Michelene Verlautz (612) Ash Wednesday mkverlautz@yahoo.com marks the beginning of the Church's observance of the Lenten season-six weeks that are set apart for the purpose of Children, Youth & Family drawing closer to God. Lent is much more than, "What are you giving Laura Babneau... (763) up for Lent." The real question of the Lenten season is," How will I Laura.babneau@gmail.com repent and return to God? On Wednesday evening we gather for Director of Music Ministry soup and conversation at 6:30 p.m. youth and their faith partners will Taylor Quinn... (816) gather and at 7p.m. we gather in the Sanctuary to hear God's directorofmusicministry09@gmail.com redeeming Word and leave behind unnecessary baggage. I look Office Manager forward to journey with you through the season of Lent. Loren Green... (763) lorengreen.erlc@gmail.com Just a reminder for all who have selected a focus Word for the year. Info.elkriverlutheran@gmail.com Remember to connect with your word this day. Bookkeeper Pastor Michelene Patti Howard... (763) Bkkpr.erlc@hotmail.com

2 What is Lent? Lent is the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus' 40 day fasting and temptation in the desert, and Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus' resurrection from the grave after his crucifixion. Lent, then, is generally observed as a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and pray as a way of preparing their hearts for Easter. It is commonly observed by many Christian denominations Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and others although not every Christian church or denomination does so. Because Lent is not officially instituted in Scripture, observing it isn t in any way a requirement of Christianity. However, Christians from many different theological persuasions choose to observe it as a way of focusing their thoughts on Jesus Christ during the Easter season. ~ Pastor Michelene Workshop for New Council On Saturday, February 6 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm there will be a workshop for new and old council members. Retiring council will only attend until noon. Lunch will be potluck. Our thanks to Diana Schansburg, Jim Klein, Betty Zehringer, Diane Harding for there dedicated service to our council. Welcome to Charee Wagenpfeil-Cain and Karen Sjobeck-Mahon. Treasurer s Report The 2016 Budget total of $388, was approved at the annual meeting. Giving Needed Weekly: $7, Monthly Total Expenses: $38, Monthly Total Income: $30, $7, Building Fund Balance: $90, Dedicated Fund Balance $15,527.14

3 Kumbaya my Lord, kumbaya Oh the memories of church camp! I loved camp as a child, but it can raise anxiety in some kids, so here are few great reasons why kids should attend church camp: 1. Make true friends Camp is a place where kids make their very best friends. Free from the social expectations pressuring them at school. All the fun at camp draws kids together. 2. Experience social and life skills Going to camp means joining a close- knit group where everyone must agree to cooperate and respect each other. 3. Discover their best self Camp offers time for your child to just play and unplug from day to day routines. They can be silly, laugh and relax all day. 4. Grow more independent Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves without parents and teachers guiding every move. 5. Experience success and become more confident Camp helps build self-confidence and selfesteem. At camp the focus is on non-competitive activities and diverse opportunities. 6. Great faith building opportunity Faith is grown and discovered at camp through many different opportunities. It might be story, game, song or a worship experience. Your child s faith will grow and create an inner fire that they will bring back home to share with their community of Christ! Please consider attending camp! We are encouraging you bring a friend along! Here are the camp s that are available this year at ERLC through Camp Onomia Grandparent Camp Spend some time sharing stories, playing games and having fun with your grandkids. You will stay in the retreat center with your grandchild and have three days of getting to know each other in a new way, with God in the mix as you mentor faith. Session runs Wed. 3pm to Friday 1pm. Completed grades K 4 th and their grandparents. Offered June 22 nd June 24 th. Fee is $220 per person, member s register by March 15 th pay $190. Beginner s camp Explore camp with a parent through a short overnight camp experience. Campers attend camp with their guardian and enjoy games and activities with other kids and will stay in the Retreat Center. Session runs Sunday 3pm to Monday 3pm. Completed grades K-2 with parent. Program fee is $50 per person, member s register by March 15 th pay $45. Deposit is $50. Pioneers camp Great first time camp experience for younger campers ready to be away from home for a few days! Camp is filled with fun, games, s mores, songs, crafts, swimming and faith building. Bring the Bible alive through stories. Session runs Sunday 3pm to Tuesday 7pm. Completed grades 1 st 3 rd. Program is June 19 th June 21 st. Fee is $225, members register by March 15 th pay $200.

4 Explorers camp All of the best stuff camp has to offer is packed into a week of awesome activities and new friends! We will be busy with crafts, games, swimming, other rec options, and worship and bible lessons. Completed grades 3 rd 6 th. Program is June 19th 24 th. Fee is $440, members register by March 15 th pay $400. Confirmation camp Those who are currently in confirmation, take your faith to the next level! Join others as we dig deeper in your faith while enjoying our canoes and paddle boards or spend some quality time kicking back with friends. Program is June 12 th 17 th program fee is $440, members register by March 15 th pay $400. Please find more information on the web at Please turn in registration and deposits to Laura Babneau. We will hear more about camp on Camp Sunday January 31 st. We will have plenty of fundraising opportunities, and bring a friend to camp! The high school kids will be attending camp in Colorado! We will be staying at Rainbow Trail. The camp is located in the heart of the San Isabel National Forest of the Sangre do Cristo Mountains. We will meet new friends; develop new skills while discovering our gifts and growing in faith. The focus for the week will be that Christ is in the center of all we do. The theme for the week is What s Your Call? Many Voices, One Song. We will attend camp on July 10 th July 16 th. The cost of camp is $425 + the cost of transportation and spending money. A $100 deposit is required. You can register on line at RainbowTrail.org for more information. Come discover what God has given you! We have many fundraising opportunities for summer camp! Here are just a few we have so far: Jan. 31 st we will start our Sammy s pizza sales Feb. 7 th Super Bowl Chili Cook Off donations Lent soup supper donations will all be donated to the youth for camps Feb. 20 th Laura will jump in the Shiver Elk River event for the kids. Please see her for donations for this event. Feb. 25 th Applebee s Dine and donate for camp 4:00pm 9:00pm March 14 th Buffalo Wild Wings 11:00am 9:00pm March 20 th CYF Pancake breakfast all proceeds going to camp Varty s Greenhouse Sale is set for May 1st Please consider attending camp! We are encouraging you bring a friend along! Laura Babneau ERLC Director of Children, Youth & Family

5 This month we start our Lent season. As Bea and I alternate leading you during our Wednesday night services, we ll be singing a common song every week, much like what we did last year. Michelene s theme is going to be The Baggage We Carry, and I thought it would be fitting to choose a song appropriate for our Lenten journey together. Lead Me to the Cross isn t a brand new song to us, but certainly is lesser known. Here are the lyrics Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember redemption s hill, where Your blood was spilled, for my ransom. Ev rything I once held dear, I count it all as loss. You were as I, tempted and tried, human. The word became flesh, bore my sin in death. Now, You re risen. Ev rything I once held dear, I count it all as loss. Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord, I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. Oh, lead me. Lead me to the cross Lead me to You heart. I grew up in the charismatic tradition of worship where there was speaking in tongues, laying on of hands, and being slain in the Spirit. While I don t practice those things any more, I still think there s validity to the symbolism provided by that specific faith tradition. Lead Me to the Cross states bring me to my knees. In the charismatic churches, worshippers can be very demonstrative by literally kneeling down while singing, loudly crying out their emotions. I remember images of fellow congregants weeping, overwhelmed with emotion when they sang songs like this one. Now, as a fellow worshipper with you, I won t outrightly fall to my knees while singing this song in public; however, I heavily consider it while at home or alone somewhere where no one would see me. Consider the symbolism of kneeling down. The Catholics do it ritually. We do it occasionally. What s the significance? What happens when we literally move our bodies to a prostrate position as before a king, a lover, a friend? Why would YOU do that? Why would someone else do that in front of you? Why would YOUR prayer be bring me to my knees? Taylor Quinn ERLC Director of Music Ministry

6 DONATIONS The Elk River Lutheran Church Council and committee's would like to thank everyone who has donated everything from shovels, Christmas decorations, and fabrics to plates in the past two years. Now that every committee has inventoried their items and have a designated place to store them we realize that we have everything needed at this time to do our work. So moving forward we would appreciate if you contact the church office prior to donating an item. Items that are dropped off without anyone knowing they are coming will be donated to Good Will or the Salvation Army. Kim Hauger ERLC Council Vice President Lent Schedule HOSPITALITY NOTES The Hospitality Ministry Team started the year by having our meeting at the home of Charee Wagenfeil-Cain. We were treated to a great night of food and fellowship. Barb and Peg left at the end of January for some warm sunny days. Charee Wagenfeil-Cain has agreed to take over the responsibilities of being the chair for the team. Charee and Barb met with representatives from each committee to discuss the upcoming Soup suppers. Charee will be the contact person for this. Charee can be reached at February 10 Ash Wednesday 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (CYF Serving) 7:00p.m. Worship Service February 14 - First Sunday of Lent February 17 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (Worship Serving) February 21 Second Sunday of Lent February 24 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (ERLC Choir Serving) February 28 Third Sunday of Lent March 2 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (Facilities & New Members Serving) March 6 Fourth Sunday of Lent March 9 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (Caring Faith & Fellowship Serving) March 13 Passion Sunday March 16 5:45 p.m. Lenten Soup Supper (Hospitality Serving) March 20 Palm Sunday

7 ERLC Calendar, Contacts, Holidays in United States, LOLCB Family Calendar Feb 2016 (Central Time) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat CYF Sammy's Pizza Sales 5:30pm - Hospitality Meeting 7:30am - Fellowship 7:30am - Opportunity Heggies Pizzas Delivered 8am - Men's Bible Study 6:30pm - Facilities 9:30am - Bible Room 6:30pm - Confirmation 3:30pm - Heggies Pizza Pick Up 9am - Concert 7pm - Men's Bible 9:30am - Quilting Room 6:30pm - ERLC Choir Rehearsal 4pm - ISD728 9am - Council Retreat 12pm - Dares Luncheon 7pm - Worship Committee 7pm - Men's 9am - Training 1:30pm - Staff Meeting 7:30pm - High School Program 7pm - The Way Out 10:15am - Training Choir Parent 6pm - Prep Community 12:15pm - Officer 6:30pm - Concert 2pm - Performance: Concert 6:30pm - New Members Team CYF Sammy's Pizza Sales Blessing the Quilts 6:30pm - CYF Meeting 7:30am - Fellowship Ash Wednesday 4pm - ISD728 8am - Men's Bible Study New Members Sunday 7pm - Men's Bible 9:30am - Bible Room 7:30am - Opportunity 7pm - Men's 9am - Concert 8:15am - Traditional Worship 9:30am - Quilting Room 5:45pm - Lenten Soup Supper 7pm - The Way Out 9am - Extended Rehearsal - 9:30am - Sunday School 12pm - Dares Luncheon 7pm - Ash Wednesday Service 10:30am - Contemporary 1:30pm - Staff Meeting 11:30am - Informational 6pm - Prep Community 5pm - SuperBowl Chili Cookoff 6:30pm - Concert 6:30pm - CSO 6:30pm - CSO CYF Sammy's Pizza Sales Presidents' Day 7:30am - Fellowship 7:30am - Opportunity 4pm - ISD728 6:30am - ER Highschool Band 1st Sunday of Lent 12:30pm - Parkinsons Group 9:30am - Bible Room 5:45pm - Lenten Soup Supper 7pm - Men's 8am - Men's Bible Study Kids both services 2pm - Dare's Luncheon 9:30am - Quilting Room 6:30pm - CYF Faith Partners 7pm - The Way Out 9am - Concert Upper Valentine's Day 7pm - Men's Bible 1:30pm - Staff Meeting 7pm - Lenten Service 9am - Training 8:15am - Traditional Worship 6pm - Executive Board 7:30pm - ERLC Choir Rehearsal 10am - Elm Creek 9:30am - Sunday School 6pm - Prep Community 12:30pm - LOLCB Staff Meeting 10:30am - Contemporary 6:30pm - Concert 6:30pm - CYF HS Youth 6:30pm - Training 7pm - Council Room nd Sunday of Lent 7pm - Men's Bible 7:30am - Fellowship 7:30am - Opportunity 4pm - Dine to Clothing Order #3 8:15am - Traditional Worship 9:30am - Bible Room 5:45pm - Lenten Soup Supper 4pm - ISD728 8am - Men's Bible Study 9:30am - Sunday School 9:30am - Quilting Room 7pm - Lenten Service 7pm - Men's 9am - Concert 10:30am - Contemporary 1:30pm - Staff Meeting 7:30pm - ERLC Choir Rehearsal 7pm - The Way Out 9am - Training 11:30am - Informational 6pm - Prep Community 12:30pm - Shavon 6:30pm - CYF HS Youth 6:30pm - Concert 6:30pm - Training rd Sunday of Lent 7pm - Men's Bible 8:15am - Traditional Worship 9:30am - Sunday School 10:30am - Contemporary 6:30pm - CYF HS Youth

8 729 Main Street Elk River, MN 55330