If you would like to receive our newsletter by , please contact Erin at

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "If you would like to receive our newsletter by , please contact Erin at"

June Howard
5 years ago
Views:

1 June 2017 From Our Pastor The Monthly Newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church P.O. Box Second Avenue North Isanti, MN Phone: (763) Heavenly Sunshine Preschool: (763) Have no fear, little flock, for it is your Father s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. If you would like to receive our newsletter by , please contact Erin at office@faithlutheranisanti.com But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. ~Galatians 3:26 Most people in Minnesota have been exposed to Lutheranism enough to hear the words faith and alone stuck together in reference to how a person receives the gift of salvation in Jesus. These words are placed together by Luther to make clear that nothing I do will save me; I can only trust the promise of God to save me. Luther claims that a person is justified sola fide by faith alone. What many people don t know is that the reformation actually produced five solas. All come from Luther, but each is instructive for us. Sola fide is joined by sola gratia (grace alone), sola scriptura (scripture alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone). These five are meant to work together to proclaim salvation as a pure gift and to close off all other possibilities. How can five things be involved in salvation and each of them still be alone? That s a good question. In July, we ll explore each of these in our morning worship services, and talk about this question and many others. During the month, we ll gain a deeper appreciation of Luther s conviction that the Good News of Jesus Christ is purely a gift and absolutely free. See you there! Pastor Clifton Hanson July 2 Sola Fide (faith alone) July 16 Sola Gratia (grace alone) July 9 Sola Scriptura (scripture alone) July 23 Solus Christus (Christ alone) July 30 Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone) See You at VBS! Who: All Kids Age 3 through 6th Grade What: Come join in the fun! When: June 26-29, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Cost: $10/child and $25 max/family Supper and s mores included each night. Adult and Youth volunteers are also needed! Contact the office if you are interested.

Sunday Morning Volunteers **Property Committee needs people willing to help with periodic building and grounds projects! If there are specific things you like to do, please let us know!

2 Sunday Morning Volunteers **Property Committee needs people willing to help with periodic building and grounds projects! If there are specific things you like to do, please let us know!** Elder Care Ministry seeks people who would like to visit homebound and hospitalized congregation members. Newsletter Production - folding, sealing, and labeling monthly newsletters for mailing Community Dinner - every third Thursday, to help prepare and serve the meal, and clean up Coffee Hour - serving refreshments after services Note: We have a standing order for cookies from Herman s Bakery delivered to Riverside Market on Saturdays. Contact the church office regarding these opportunities! Readers: June 4 Joyce Johnson June 11 Kathy Smith June 18 Dawn Holmquist June 25 RaeAnn Mosiman July 2 Diane Christensen Nursery: We are not scheduling nursery volunteers during the summer. If you are willing to help staff the nursery, you can sign up in the narthex for specific Sundays or call the office! If you would like to be added to either of these rotating schedules, contact the office! Isanti Rodeo Days The Annual Pie Social is just around the corner and once again we are calling all members to step forward and volunteer a bit of their time and talent. We will need pies (about 55 pies total!) to serve on both Thursday, July 6 th and Saturday, July 8 th. We also need willing workers for both days. Some help is needed to cut pies on Thursday morning, but most help will be needed from 4 10 pm on Thursday and again from 10 am 3 pm on Saturday. Men s Food Booth - Calling all Grill Masters and those who want to help them! The Men s Ministry group will have the grills fired up in their booth on the corner of 2 nd & Main Street starting at 4 pm on Thursday evening, July 6 th. Food will be sold until the parade is over. Youth will be selling pop and water during the parade to raise funds for trips. Youth and Adults: Join in the fun and laughter and help make these events successful! Sign-up boards for both these events will be in the Narthex during June. Have A Laugh, Little Flock

Children & Youth School s Out for Summer! Youth Ministry Team Meeting Tuesday, June 6 at 6:15 pm. All are welcome! NEW: Remind!

People often check their texts more quickly than their emails or items on the church's Facebook page, so we're hoping that this new tool can help us communicate more efficiently.

Check out the display and brochures in the church narthex, or visit www.lutherpoint.org to learn about all the options, including family camp and grandparent/child camp! Camperships Available!

This will be our 2nd annual event, in partnership with Heavenly Sunshine Preschool, the City of Isanti, Isanti Police, Isanti Fire District, and other community groups!

Please bring donations of bottled water and cases of pop to the church office before July 6! BWCA trip cost is $100 per person. Adults!

3 Children & Youth School s Out for Summer! Youth Ministry Team Meeting Tuesday, June 6 at 6:15 pm. All are welcome! NEW: Remind! If you haven't already done so, please sign up for our text messaging group at People often check their texts more quickly than their s or items on the church's Facebook page, so we're hoping that this new tool can help us communicate more efficiently. You can also to from your cell phone and you'll be automatically signed up. Camp is happening! Interested in going to Luther Point Bible Camp this summer? Check out the display and brochures in the church narthex, or visit to learn about all the options, including family camp and grandparent/child camp! Camperships Available! Don t Forget! National Night Out is coming up on Tuesday, August 1! This will be our 2nd annual event, in partnership with Heavenly Sunshine Preschool, the City of Isanti, Isanti Police, Isanti Fire District, and other community groups! BWCA/Gunflint Trail Adventure Opportunity for youth to raise funds for the BWCA trip and future trips: Help sell water and pop before and during the Rodeo Days parade on July 6! Please bring donations of bottled water and cases of pop to the church office before July 6! BWCA trip cost is $100 per person. Adults! We are still in need of 1 male and 1 female chaperone to make this trip possible. Contact Pastor Cliff if you would be willing to go along! Vacation Bible School June 26-29, 5:30-8:00 pm! Camp Out: Getting S More of Jesus is the theme. Supper and (of course) s mores will be included. For all kids age 3 through 6th grade! Cost: $10/child, $25/family max. Adult and youth helpers are welcome! Sunshine, Suckers, and Suspended Water Balloons at the Church Picnic on May 7 who could ask for more? Thanks to all who made it such a fun and delicious event! Baptized in the Faith May 14: Hauken Randy Skramstad In Memoriam Dean Lillion

4 2017 FLC Council President: Sue Larson (2018) Vice President: Ron Schleif (2019) Secretary: Kathy Smith (2019) Joel Bazey (2020) Muriel Hain (2019) Dan Johnson (2018) Carol Kruse (2020) Jennifer Milz (2018) Harold Pedersen (2020) Denise Roetzer (2019) Cindy Weiss (2018) Youth Advisors: Kaycee Lenox, Keagann Olson, Isabella Richardson Council meetings are every 3rd Tuesday at in the FLC library. Mission of the Month for June Habitat For Humanity From habitat.org: Habitat works with families to help them acquire the access, skills and financial education necessary for them to be successful homeowners. By partnering with us, families seize the opportunity and possibility that decent, affordable housing represents. Through shelter, we empower. To support this organization, you can write MOM on your offering envelope or check. April Financials Total Income 15, Total Expenses. 11, Net Income YTD Net Income Opportunities for Fellowship Lectionary Bible Study in FLC library: every Wednesday at 10 am Men s Breakfast: second Saturday at 8 am Knit and Crochet in the FLC Library: second Saturday at 9:30 am Community Dinner: third Thursday at 5:30 pm Friday Fun at the Creamery: third Friday at 9 am If you would like to see a summary of your financial contributions to date, you can request one from the church office! Martha Circle: Evening Bible/book study fellowship at Rendezvous Coffee in Isanti (Date to be determined watch for it in the bulletin!) Let s get together! If you know of other opportunities not listed above, please contact the office! April Council Meeting Highlights Opened with scripture reading/discussion led by Pastor Cliff. Secretary s Report: March 21 minutes approved. Pastor s Report: Midweek Lenten services geared toward all ages were successful and fun, but also a significant amount of work. Discussed future possibilities for Sunday School and youth programs, and the addition of the Remind texting app for communication with families. There is interest in starting a parent group on Wednesday nights during youth programs. Easter attendance was 260 noticed that most of the people there had attended FLC recently, which points to a trend of periodic attendance, with fewer every Sunday attenders. New members will be received on June 11. Boundary Waters youth trip in the works. Finance: Net income for March YTD, there is a net loss of 2604 in the General Fund. Expenses and procedures in the Faith Caring Fund were discussed. More requests have been received in recent months due to dwindling funds at other agencies such as Lakes & Pines. Documentation of shutoff or eviction notice must be provided, as well as evidence that the assistance given by FCF will resolve the immediate issue. Cindy Weiss will provide a list of local assistance agencies and programs that could be given to those requesting help. CE/Youth/Scholarship: Two scholarship applications received, so two scholarships will be given. Social Ministry: Easter cards and lilies delivered before Easter. Palm Sunday Brunch a great success 169 attended out of 203 who attended the service. Net proceeds $ higher than salad luncheon has been, and significantly less time/effort. Next event is Pie Social during Rodeo Days (July 6&8) to benefit thegeneral fund. National Night Out is also planned for August 1. Worship & Music: Choir singing 1st & 3rd Sundays in May, then will take a break until fall. Praise band continues to practice and may lead some songs over the summer. Old Business: 1) Continued discussion on finances; Pastor Cliff will check into the possibility of online giving through Thrivent. 2) New prayer chain lists will be distributed. 3) Carol Kruse offered to take over cemetery mowing. 4) Policies need to be reviewed, once policy book is located. New Business: Pastor, Sue Larson, and Dean and Mary Lou Yerigan met with Paul Johnson, an advocate for the hard of hearing, regarding the possibility of looping the church sanctuary. It involves installing a copper wire around the perimeter, which is hooked into the sound system and broadcasts at a very low frequency directly to the t-coils in hearing aids. T-coils need to be turned on, which can be easily done, but no other equipment is needed. Cost would be around $9000, and Paul Johnson would like to donate 10%. If FLC wants to do this, full funding will need to be raised before beginning the project. It was suggested that we first try to bring more attention to the hearing assistance devices FLC already has, since they are not frequently utilized. They would need to be kept clean and in working condition. Closed in prayer led by Pastor Cliff.

5 Secretary s Scribblings In honor of the upcoming 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, July will be a month of Sola Sundays. Each Sunday, we ll talk about one of the Five Solas of the Reformation: Sola Fide (Faith Alone) Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone) Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) Solus Christus (Christ Alone) Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone) June always reminds me of one of my very favorite places the Black Hills in South Dakota. My dad moved there to work for the BNSF railroad when I was a senior in high school, and I always looked forward to visiting him. His current home, which he calls Little Valhalla, is a forestry cabin that someone purchased and added onto, situated on Hazelrodt Cutoff between Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest. We have had fun times in the Hills, including trout fishing, hiking Harney Peak and Little Devil s Tower, and riding in my dad s rail motor car on the Black Hills Central Railroad line to Oblivion and back. In June of 1998, after my junior year at Gustavus (and the infamous March tornado), I embarked on a new Black Hills adventure, driving solo to Sylvan Lake Resort near Custer, where I would spend a summer working in housekeeping and serving with A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. There was some snow on the ground when I arrived (yes, in June!) and I was both excited and unsure about what lay ahead for me. That summer, I got to know a variety of people on our housekeeping team as we sweated together cleaning rooms and cabins. I learned how to make neat beds without fitted sheets, was instructed in how to fold towels the correct way, scrubbed floors on hands and knees, cleaned many bathrooms, worked in the stifling resort laundry room, and developed a great appreciation for the people who make a living working in housekeeping. On my day off each week, I would often hike one of the beautiful trails nearby and work on my sermon for the week. I was one of two student ministers assigned to Sylvan Lake. We led services for resort and campground guests on Sunday mornings, usually on the veranda overlooking the lake and surrounding hills. It was a wonderful setting in which to remember and worship the One who created all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small. Enjoy the lovely days ahead! Erin Olson Did you know? You can listen to Pastor Cliff s sermons, and find all kinds of helpful information, by visiting You can also find us on Facebook! Facebook.com/faithlutheranisanti New Member Class will meet on Sunday, June 4 following the 9:30 a.m. service. New members will be received during the worship service on Trinity Sunday, June 11!

6 Heavenly Happenings at Heavenly Sunshine Preschool We celebrated the graduation of 22 preschool students with our evening ceremony on May 17. The class of 2030 is headed to Kindergarten! We had 21 students participate in our Bridging Ceremonies on May 16 & 17. We look forward to seeing many of those students again in the fall, along with lots of new friends! It was exciting to welcome the 20 chicks that hatched at the end of April, and as promised, here are some adorable photos. We also got some fun and silly shots on our year-end field trip to explore Federated Co-op in Isanti! Wishing you a summer full of sunshine, playtime, and fun!

7 June 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Worship & Music Pentecost Service/ Communion 9:30 am Coffee Hour/New Member Class 10:30 am 5 6 Youth Ministry Team Meeting 6:15 pm Social Ministry and Property 7 Bible Study 10 am 8 Praise Team 9 10 Men s Breakfast 8 am Knit & Crochet 9:30 am in FLC library Fellowship hall reserved noon to 4 pm for grad party. 11 Trinity Sunday Service/Baptism/ New Members Received 9:30 am Coffee Hour 10:30 am Bible Study 10 am 15 Community Dinner 5:30 pm Praise Team 16 Friday Fun at the Creamery 9 am 17 Fellowship Hall reserved 11 am to 6 pm for baby shower. 18 Father s Day Service/ Communion 9:30 am Coffee Hour 10:30 am Council Meeting 21 Bible Study 10 am 22 Praise Team Service/Baptism 9:30 am Coffee Hour 10:30 am 26 VBS 5:30 to 8:00 pm 27 VBS 5:30 to 8:00 pm 28 Bible Study 10 am VBS 5:30 to 8:00 pm 29 VBS 5:30 to 8:00 pm 30 1 (July) Rodeo Days begin July 6! Acolytes: TBD/Volunteers Communion Assistant: Carol Kruse

com Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 3 ISANTI, MINN Current Resident Sunday Services at 9:30 a.

8 Faith Lutheran Church Home of Heavenly Sunshine Preschool 109 Second Avenue NW P.O. Box 87 Isanti, MN (763) Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 3 ISANTI, MINN Current Resident Sunday Services at 9:30 a.m. Evening Vacation Bible School June 26-29! Rodeo Days: Men s Food Booth during parade July 6, Pie Social July 6&8! National Night Out: August 1!

The Monthly Newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church

May 2018 The Monthly Newsletter of Faith Lutheran Church P.O. Box 87 109 Second Avenue North Isanti, MN 55040 Phone: (763) 444-9201 Heavenly Sunshine Preschool: (763) 444-7527 www.faithlutheranisanti.com