Come and Worship! We celebrate with worship on Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m.

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1 United Lutheran Church, ELCA 21 Mesnard St. L Anse, MI The Connection FEBRUARY 2017 United Lutheran Church, ELCA 21 Mesnard St., L Anse, Michigan Ph: (906) ; ulc_lanse40@yahoo.com Website: Pastor: John Ansell; (906) Come and Worship! We celebrate with worship on Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m. And Mondays at 6 p.m. OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9 am 12 noon Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Wednesday: 1 p.m. 4 p.m.

2 TELLERS for FEBRUARY Monday, February 6 Marilyn Harden & Margo Jentoft Kris Kokko & Jeannie Gourneau Greetings Everyone, In the month of February we celebrate Valentine s Day. This is a day which celebrates the life of St. Valentine who is the patron saint of love. St. Valentine was a martyred Christian in the Roman Empire during the 3 rd century. In celebrating Valentine s Day we celebrate love overall. Though I think when it comes to the word love we may not fully appreciate its meaning or using the word to its full capacity. One could say I love pizza, but is such a love deep and meaningful or is it a love that just satisfies our stomach. One could also say I love my neighbor but at the same time we create fences and spend a lot of time to ourselves. When we say the word love in our society, and I am guilty along with everyone else, we use it in ways that in my opinion is misleading and confusing. However, when it comes to the Greek language there are six different words for love. Those words are eros, philia, ludus, agape, pragma, and philautia. Each Greek word has a more accurate and deeper meaning for love. As your pastor, during my seminary education, I learned Greek in order to gain deeper understanding of New Testament passages. In knowing Greek and knowing the different words for love I appreciate the depth such words can provide for us. In fact, one such word that is commonly used to describe God s love for us and the type of love we should have for others is agape. The Greek word agape is essentially an unconditionally expansive love for everyone. Though the word for love in English may be all over the place, the Greek words provide a better way to express love and show how exact Gods love is for us. As we celebrate Valentine s Day and love within the month of February let us take time to reflect on what it means to love and be loved. Let us use and express love in ways that are meaningful and expand beyond just a single word. May God s love and blessing be with us all in this and every month. -Pastor John A. Ansell Monday, February 13 Monday, February 20 Monday, February 27 Joan Bugni & Need someone Sue Copley & Jeannie Gourneau Jean Brinkman & Mary McCord Sue Copley & Jean Brinkman THANK YOU for volunteering to be a Teller! Your help is greatly appreciated! READERS for FEBRUARY Rob Aho Need someone Need someone Jan LaFave USHERS for FEBRUARY Bailey & Marilyn Harden Jan LaFave & Kayla Kujansuu Ushers and Readers If you are interested in being an usher or a reader, please sign up on the sheets on the table in the Barrier-free Entrance. Thank you!

3 NEWS FROM FORTUNE LAKE!! There are many events happening at Fortune Lake all year long! Jr/Sr High School Retreat SOLA/AGAPE! Feb Grades 6-12 with special guest for the entire weekend, including Saturday night concert: Dave Scherer, aka Agape! Congregational Leaders Intensive Retreat Feb Church leaders and councils take time away to focus on God s mission for your congregation, and deepen your understanding of effective leadership. Financial Peace Retreat March 3-4 Adults only! learn how to take control of your finances with a faith perspective from a biblically based curriculum. And enjoy Camp! Upper Elementary Retreat March Grades 3-6 try camp for the first time or come back to enjoy more games, singing, campfires, and new friends combine for faith and fun. Adoptive Family Retreat April For families formed through adoption or foster care, and those exploring these possibilities; connect to each other and new friends, share faith and fun. ASH WEDNESDAY WORSHIP Ash Wednesday worship will be on Wednesday, March 1 st at 6 p.m. Please join us for worship. Watch the March newsletter for more information and for information on the Lent worship services. We re excited to be planning for the Summer 2017 Camp Season! This year s theme: The Water of Life. Summer Registration is available online. Calling all Future Counselors!!! Taking applications for future wonderful Fortune Lake Staffers see our website!! Please pray for our recruitment efforts & encourage potential staffers. For more information call the Camp at (906) or check out the website CRAFTING GROUP The Crafting group will meet on Wednesday, February 1 st from 1-3:30 p.m. at the church. Anyone interested in helping out, or if you have some craft ideas for crafts for the Fall Bazaar, stop by and see what is happening! Everyone is invited to attend!!

4 CONFIRMATION PAGE 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th Grade Confirmation Class Confirmation class will be on th and th following the 10 a.m. worship service. ACOLYTES for December Isabel O. Monday, February 6 Jason FELLOWSHIP HOSTS We are a family UNITED and what a great way to get to know each other better over coffee! But we need YOU to put on the coffee and be willing to clean up afterwards (and perhaps provide something to go with the coffee). Check the sign-up sheet in the barrier-free entrance. Remember, the focus is the fellowship so keep the food simple. (All the monetary donations received during the Fellowship Hour go toward World Hunger.) Monday, February 13 Meadow Isaac COFFEE HOUR for FEBRUARY Monday, February 20 Monday, February 27 Madison Haylee Alex Alyssa Kayla Kujansuu & Rylee Fish Crockers Betty Ann Pyhtila MARKED! EVENT The Confirmation class will be going to First Lutheran Church in Iron River on Sunday, March 5 th from 4-7 pm for the MARKED! Event. They will be assembling Health Kits for global mission and Love Bundles for local food pantries and the homeless. VISITS If you would like Pr. John to visit you or if you know of someone who would like a visit, please call the church office ( ) or Pr. John ( ) Please let Renee, Pr. John, or call the church office if your child will be attending. We need to know by February 19 th. We will also need drivers. If you can drive, please let us know. Thank you!

5 ages 3 years old through 5 th grade. 3 rd 5 th Grade students need to bring their Bibles. All children will have Bible stories and fun-filled activities every Sunday. Come and join us! SHUT-INS Please remember our shut-ins. Keep them in your prayers. moment, stop and visit them. If you have a At Bayside: Art Allert, Vivan Allert, Beatrice Harju, Margaret Marquardt, and Joyce Taipalus. At home: Ellen Biekkola, and Lillian Jukkala. ADULT BIBLE STUDY There is an Adult Bible Study that meets on Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. We meet in a Classroom upstairs. Please come and join us! All are welcome to attend. NEEDED!! Elizabeth Alatalo, Art Allert, Vivian Allert, Caleb Bell, Nellie Robillard Bishop, Roger Bisk, Debbie Eliason, Clyde Elmblad, Rudy Haataja, Carole Hokkanen, Janel LaPlante, Mickey Martinac, Cari McMahon, Theresa Pascoe, Mark Richard, Asenath Sweeney, Carol Tembreull, baby Logan, Dana, Justin Bailey, Carol Young. The family and friends of Matthew Osterman. The family and friends of Trevor Giddings. The family and friends of Michele Younggren. Sunday School! Sunday School is every Sunday at 10 a.m. and is open to all children We are collecting items for the Confirmation class to take to the MARKED! Event on March 5th. There will be a box in the Barrier-free entrance to collect the items. ITEMS NEEDED FOR HEALTH KITS 2-bars of bath soap fingernail clippers bath-sized towel comb toothbrush ITEMS NEEDED FOR LOVE BUNDLES bars of soap any size deodorant/antiperspirant hand-sized towel bottle of shampoo tube of toothpaste socks, underwear chapstick Women s Bible Study Sarah Circle will meet on February 7 th at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Dee Soli will be the host.

6 Martha Circle will meet on February 7 th at 1 p.m. WOMEN of the CHURCH WINTER PICNIC The Women of United Lutheran Church will have a Winter Picnic on Thursday, February 9 th at 1 p.m. in the Social hall at the church. Lunch will be served. Libby and Betty Ann will share highlights of their trip to Germany, where they toured important sites in the life of Martin Luther. ALL LADIES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND! WOMEN OF THE ELCA 10 th Triennial Gathering Every 3 years the Women of the ELCA hold a National Convention, which will be held this summer in Minneapolis. It may never be closer, so you may want to take advantage of this opportunity. The dates are July 13-16, For information, see Lisa in the church office or visit ATTENTION PARENTS: The United Lutheran Church Women provide camperships that pay one-half of the early registration fee to Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp. Members, children of members, and children enrolled in our Sunday School are eligible. Cal the church office for more information. THANK YOU!!! During the month we received many Thank You s for donations which we sent out from the congregation or from the women of the church. Here are some of the Thank You s we received! The first ones are donations that the Women of ULC sent: Thank you for your generosity and support for the Baraga County Shelter Home. Thank you for your gift to support the mission of Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp. The next ones are donations from the church: Thank you very much for your recent donation of $ in Simple Gifts. You help us help others. We were able to help 180 with food for Christmas. From the L Anse St. Vincent depaul Conference. Thank you for your gift of $ to ELCA World Hunger. Thank you for making possible hundreds of multi-year programs in more than 60 countries around the world and hundreds more here, across the synods of the ELCA. The last one is a thank you to Kayla Kujansuu, Joan Bugni, and those who purchased gifts to put under the Giving Tree: On behalf of the staff and clients of the Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw Department of Health and Human Services offices, I want to say thank you for the donations you made to our holiday programs this year. Your volunteerism helped hundreds of needy children, families and individuals have a merrier Christmas in The efforts of you and many others show why we view this area as someplace special. From the Department of Health and Human Services. MID-WEEK LENTEN SERVICES Join us on Wednesdays starting, March 8 th, at 6 p.m. for Mid-week Lenten services. This year we will be moving through Luther s Small Catechism in recognition of the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation.

7 Week of Lent 1 - Ten Commandments In Exodus God gives Moses the Law so that the people of Israel would know how to fulfill their part of God s covenant as God s people. Week of Lent 2 Creed How do we express belief? How do we share our faith? The Creed, crafted in the early days of the church, gives us a simple but firm foundation for sharing and professing. Week of Lent 3 - Lord s Prayer Lent and Lenten worship call us to repent, to make a new beginning. One of the best ways to begin again with God is through conversation, also known as prayer. And what better prayer than the one that Jesus taught us? Week of Lent 4 Baptism Dying to our old, sinful self in baptism, we rise from the waters as beloved children of God. We are walking wet throughout the forty days of Lent, reminded daily that we are dead to sin. Week of Lent 5 - Holy Communion As we approach Holy Week, we remember Jesus sacrifice for us. We gather around the table to remind ourselves and one another of that sacrifice and how it shapes our lives. LET S EAT COMMUNITY MEAL The Let s Eat Community Meal will be on February 12 th at St. Ann s Church in Baraga from 4-6 p.m. There is no charge for this meal. Everyone is welcome to come and join in for food and fellowship. United Lutheran Church has agreed to sponsor the meal for February. We are looking for people to help with various parts of the meal. You DO NOT have to stay for the entire meal or commit to every month. Please consider being a part of this event which involves other congregations and organizations in our community working together, getting to know each other and having fun; and providing a much needed service to many people who are hungry as well as people who are lonely and enjoy the fellowship! We are looking for people to help with shopping for the meal, food prep, poster distribution, set up, sign in table, serving, and clean up. If you are interested in helping, please sign up on the sheet in the Barrier-free entrance at the church. Thank you!