Echo 2.0. Share God s Word, Share His Love, and Do It Now! One Service Sunday May 29 Memorial Day Weekend By Starla Landkamer

Transcription

1 Christ Lutheran Newsletter May 2017 Echo 2.0 Share God s Word, Share His Love, and Do It Now! Christ Lutheran 605 South Fifth Street, Norfolk, NE One Service Sunday May 29 Memorial Day Weekend By Starla Landkamer Join us for a special service, God Shed His Grace on Thee, for Memorial Day Weekend that reminds us of the grace we have been given by our God to live in a land of freedom, and the grace shed on us to receive freedom from our sin. Let the powerful words of Scripture, pastor s message and hymns for a national holiday in this service help us to see how blessed we are by our God and how grateful we should be for those who sacrificed so much for our nation. Services on Memorial Day Weekend will be held Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and only one service on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Both services will be identical and Holy Communion will be celebrated. No Sunday School or Bible Class will be held on this weekend. Other one-service Sundays this summer will be the weekend of July 1 & 2 (preceding Independence Day) and September 2 & 3, (Labor Day Weekend). Again, no Sunday School or Bible Class will be held on these weekends. Save the Date Sunday, June 11, 2017 Semi-Annual Voters Assembly Lunch served at noon Voters meeting begins at 12:45 Agenda: Election of Officers Approval of Budget Preparing for Holy Communion on Easter Sunday (more photos inside) Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

2 Christ Lutheran Congregation News May 2017 Vacation Bible School Mark your calendars for July 23-27, 6:00-8:30 p.m. for Maker Fun Factory VBS! Kids age 3 through those entering grade 6 will have a BLAST with this VBS!! Many fun games, crafts, snacks, and songs will help kids learn Bible stories and concepts which teach kids that they are made by God for a purpose! Registration is now available for children age 3 through grade 6 (in the fall), as well as volunteers, at or in the church narthex. Volunteer jobs are available for those with lots of energy and mobility, as well as those who want a more stationary job. Jobs are also available for those who can work just 1 or 2 days! Don t miss this fun week! Pictorial Directories Arrive If you had your photo taken for the pictorial directory, you may pick up your copy in the Church Office during the week. If you did not have your photo taken for the directory and still wish to obtain one, you may purchase the book for $10. (Only a limited number of extras are available.) Kiwanis Church Youth Award Congratulations to Katelyn Moje for being a recipient of the Norfolk Noon Kiwanis Church Youth of the Year Award! Katelyn will graduate from Lutheran High Northeast and is the daughter of Keith and Sarah Moje. The Norfolk Noon Kiwanis presents the Church Youth of the Year Award to nominees from area congregations who demonstrate a strong faith, sense of service to others, and are an active participant of their church. Katelyn was nominated by Matt Wingert, Director of Youth Ministry. He stated, Katelyn is the ideal senior leader for the other members of our youth group. She is a very active participant in youth Bible study and she serves as a Scripture reader during Sunday worship services. She loves the Lord, and has the heart of a servant." Luke, Amber, Nicholle and Katelyn at Holy Week LHNE chapel. In the photo above, four LHNE students, Luke, Amber, Nicholle, and Katelyn, wear their new shirts that they won at chapel. On Wednesday of Holy Week, Pastor Winter, Pastor Dave, and Matt Wingert led chapel at LHNE. They talked about the empty grave and how it is a stumbling block for some, but is jumping off point for others. Pastor Dave and Matt also preformed a funny skit. 2 Kiwanis Church Youth Award Winner Katelyn Moje receives congratulations from Pastor Winter and Matt Wingert.

3 Children s Ministry Christ Lutheran May 2017 Thank a Volunteer Throughout this school year, fifty Sunday School staff members have faithfully taught or volunteered their talents to help our Sunday School children. Would you please consider thanking one or two of them with a note, or a small gift card? These can be left in the church office. Or you could bake some goodies for a Sunday morning! Let s show them how much we appreciate them! Lisa Moreno, Children s Ministry Coordinator lmoreno@clnorfolkmail.org Sunday School Attendance Awards The following students earned awards for their good attendance from November through February: One absence: Brailey Peters, Gavin Thoene, Tucker Anderson, Enzo Brueggemann, Isaiah Hafer, Tyler Backhaus, Kennedy Johnson, Blake Thoene, Cooper Anderson, Sara Gutz, Maya Johnson, Josie Bazyn, Jarrett Carlisle, Kylie Backhaus, Evan Glaser, Esther Molina, Rebecca Gebhardt, and Ronald Molina. Parent Link Have you checked out the Parent Link monthly newsletter that comes home from Sunday School along with the Sunday School Newsletter? Our church subscribes to this newsletter to help parents encourage faith development in their children and to gives fun ideas for family devotions and activities. It also provides a family friendly review for a current movie and book or video game. These Parent Links are also available on the children s ministry page at Spring Mission Offering Project Our Mission Offering through June will go to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod s Urban and Inner City Mission. In the middle of America s largest cities, we find people who are poor, homeless, or new to this country. This mission will enable Lutheran churches in their neighborhoods to reach out to these people to provide for their basic needs like food, clothing, and housing, as well as to share the Gospel with them in their native language. Mission offerings are collected the second and third Sundays of each month. May Children s Ministry Schedule May 7: Sunday School Jesus Appears to Thomas (Snack station) May 14: Sunday School Jesus Appears in Galilee (Science station) May 21: Sunday School Jesus Ascends into Heaven (Skit station) May 28: No Sunday School Memorial Day weekend Perfect attendance: Lauren Carlisle, Savanna Griffith, Haylee Carlisle, Ally Moreno, Grant Weis, Anastasia Blom, Payton Weis and Jacob Bender. Staffing Needs for Fall The new year of Sunday School will kick off with Rally Day on Sunday, August 20. Staff for the fall are needed in the following areas: Team Teachers: Team teachers work with another teacher to teach together and/or alternate weeks, teaching a provided lesson. This year, we need a gr. 1-2 team teacher, who typically teaches 2 times per month, and a Jr. High and Preschool team teacher, who typically teaches once a month. Station Leaders: Station leaders work 1-2 times a month on Sundays they choose, leading a class and their teacher through a minute craft, game, or other activity that is prepared for them. All Sunday school staff are provided with training and materials, and do not need to be there every week. Most staff have every other week off and work even less during the summer. If you are interested in joining our staff of friendly, dedicated people and teaching God s children in our midst, contact Lisa Moreno at lmoreno@clnorfolkmail.org Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sundays at Christ Lutheran School 3

4 Christ Lutheran Preschool on the Move May 2017 Sarah Moje, Preschool Director Preschoolers Manufacture Cars What do preschoolers do with a tower of apples boxes, a few old lids, and several metal brads? Make a car, of course! As part of our transportation unit, the preschoolers watched a short video about cars being made on an assembly line. The big robot-like machines amazed the children. Then we had the chance to make our own cars. Thanks to the produce department at Lou s ThriftyWay, we had plenty of apple boxes to use (51 to be exact) as the body of the car. (photos at right) The teachers set up stations in the classroom and the children learned what part of the car was constructed at each station. Next, the children moved from station to station adding parts and pieces until their car was completed. They added wheels, lights, knobs that spin, and a steering wheel that turns. No car would be complete without a license plate and a real key! Since the preschoolers all earned a drivers license after Wheels Day, they were ready to take their cars for a spin! Preschoolers wait for the go ahead from Mrs. Moje. Wheels Day Always a Favorite Preschoolers have been learning about transportation during the past several weeks. After learning about street signs and stoplights, the preschoolers test their new skills during Wheels Day. This special day has been a highlight of preschool for many years - even eighth graders remember Wheels Day! This is the day when the gym is transformed into a mini town complete with gas stations, hospital, fix-it shop, McDonalds, and a car wash. Preschoolers ride their tricycles around the gym, making sure to follow the signs. They earn stickers on their license plate if they obey the rules of the road, like stopping for a red light or the train. Preschoolers even pick up their snack at the drive-thru window of McDonalds. Parent volunteers help make this day possible by working the various stations. Wheels Day is a favorite for the young and the young at heart. 4

5 Christ Lutheran Confirmation and Junior High Youth May 2017 Matt Wingert, Director of Youth the Movies Have you ever seen spiritual implications, or themes in a movie? I ll give you an example. In the Star Wars franchise there is this tool the Jedi use called The Force. It is a special power that is in all Jedi, and with it, miraculous things happen. Can the same thing be said about the Holy Spirit? Did writer/director George Lucas do these things on purpose? Can this movie help us understand the Holy Spirit, or other topics in Christianity? This Summer we are doing something exciting as a church. We will have a 10 week-long series, where we go to the movies, and take our theological thinking caps with us. Then, on Sunday evenings, we will meet in the fellowship hall for dinner, and discuss the plot points of the movie, where we will open our Bibles to see how these stories of love, super-heroes, and redemption are nothing compared to the real stories in the Bible. This is a multi-generational series. Perfect for families, students, young adults, and your neighbors! Churched, unchurched. All are welcome, and we hope to see you this the Movies! Mark Your May Calendar Wed., May 3- Last Confirmation Class! Sun., May 7- Confirmation Sunday at 10:45 service. Meet in Fellowship Hall at 9 a.m. Sun., May 14 First Communion at 10:45 service. Sat. May 20- Relay for Malawi Sun., May 28- No Sunday Bible Study. Worship at 9:30 a.m. Relay for Malawi On Saturday, May 20, we are going to help run a fundraiser for Norfolk Schools in Malawi. We have the option to compete in a 3 mile race, or help pass out water to runners in the 30 mile relay race. The choice is up to you. Cost is $10 per person, and includes lunch and a T-Shirt. Register for this event online at the website below. christnorfolk.churchcenteronline.com/home Summer Retreat We will join force with the Sr. High group, and travel out to Minnesota for a baseball game, Mall of America, and a College visit. Cost is $120 per person for the event August 2-4. Register for this event online at the website below. christnorfolk.churchcenteronline.com/home 5

6 Christ Lutheran Senior High Youth May 2017 Sarah Moje, Youth Director Sunday Morning Bible Study Join us at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings in the blue youth room for Bible study. We also talk about the highs and lows of our week and about future activities. Have you heard the plans for the summer? If not, we ve been missing you! Stay In Touch Our method of communication is being switched to a new system. Go to and sign up to be a part of the Senior High group. Do this now so you can be in the know! This site will also allow you to register and pay for upcoming events. Senior Recognition On Sunday, May 14 we will celebrate and give thanks for the accomplishments of our seniors as they graduate. Seniors will not be wearing robes, however, you are invited to wear any honor cords you have earned. Seniors will meet in the chapel at 7:45 a.m. and process in behind the pastors. They will sit together as a group in the front. Seniors, watch your mail for more information. Summer Servant Events We have three service opportunities this summer that are listed below. Mark the dates on your calendar. Register and pay through the link above. Run for Malawi Sign up to volunteer or run/walk the race alone or as a relay team. The race is Saturday, May 20 at Tahazouka Park. Volunteers check in at 6:45 a.m. Runners check in at 7 a.m and walkers at 8 a.m. Cost for this event is $10 (whether you volunteer, run or walk) which includes a t-shirt. Winnebago Service Project June 5-7 we will be serving at the Winnebago Reservation. There are several odd jobs that we will be completing for Pastor Jacobs and residents of the community. Cost for this event is $30. His Kids Camp July we will be serving at His Kids Camp at Camp Luther in Schuyler. We will buddy up with a handicapped camper and help them enjoy regular camp activities. Cost for this event is $50. Summer Fellowship Event There will be a Senior High Fellowship Event in August. Watch for more details to be shared as they become available. Senior High Youth help Sunday School children act out the Bible story. Upcoming Dates Sun., May 7 9:30 a.m. Bible Study in Youth Rooms Sun., May 14 8:00 a.m. Senior Recognition 7:45 a.m. Sun., May 14 9:30 a.m. Bible Study in Youth Rooms Sat., May 20 Run for Malawi Sun., May 21 9:30 a.m. Assist with Sunday School Sun., May 28 9:30 a.m. No Sunday School or Bible Class Sun., June 4 9:30 a.m. Bible Study in Youth Rooms Mon.-Wed., June 5-7 Winnebago Service Project Sun., June 11 9:30 a.m. Assist with Sunday School 6

7 Christ Lutheran Pastor s Ponderings May 2017 Rev. Chip Winter, Director of Ministry - cwinter@clnorfolkmail.org The Stewardship of Spring May brings with it the visual evidence of Spring winning the day and Summer s imminent conquest. In May we rejoice with young men and women confessing the Christian faith: they d been welcomed into it through baptism years ago and in the interim they have learned more of its implications and ramifications. In this community of Norfolk we ll often celebrate with those graduating from high school or college and, often on that same day, we ll join in worship to thank God for His servants who have nurtured us along the way, our mothers. Many of the festivities mentioned above involve corporate worship. Confirmands will celebrate with extended families and sponsors in attendance. Mothers Day will bring children from near and far to gather in thanksgiving. After May, however, things often taper off. School is out. Club teams travel on the weekends. Vacations are taken. With that in mind let me share with you a few statistics on stewardship, the whole life stewardship to which God calls us in this world. The greatest gift God has shared with us is the redemption won for us through His Son s passion, death and resurrection. That precious gift is something we share with one another and with those outside our fellowship. The statistics for corporate worship reveal that only 17.7% of people worship on a given Sunday. Thankfully, though there is room for improvement in our stewardship, we average 29% of our members in worship. Thanks be to God for that, even as we strive to encourage more of our members and our neighbors to come to worship, we do have 600 some who gather with us to praise His name. Finally, the gifts of time and talent are taken into consideration with stewardship. We have wonderful volunteers who come to the church dedicated to: (1) clean the pews and fill the children s bags every Monday, (2) quilt weekly, (3) put together the FOCUS weekly, and (4) this ECHO, monthly. Along with supplying and leading (5) weekly Sunday School, and (6) annual Vacation Bible School. Then, too, we have volunteers who (7) sing in the choir, (8) offer solos, (9) play bells, and (10) lead as vocalists in the 10:45 service. All of this is to say that there is much for which to be thankful. Then, too, there are many reasons for which to continue to gather together through the spring and summer, giving thanks to God and serving His purposes with all that we are and have. Camp Luther Scholarships Christ Lutheran has scholarships available to fifth graders who are members and interested in attending Camp Luther this summer. Write a short essay about Why I would like to go to Camp Luther this summer and submit your essay to the church office by Monday, May 15. Scholarships will be determined based on the number of applicants and you will be notified after May 25. You can selected the week at Camp Luther that best fits your schedule. For more information about Camp Luther go to their website at campluther.org. Gifts and treasures are also part of our stewardship. Larry Burkett is quoted as having stated The average Christian pays more in interest than they give to the Lord. Isn t that an eye-opening claim! Also, out of 100 families, on average 37 will give nothing in offering. Again, we at Christ have been blessed by consistent giving and the ability to go above and beyond to construct a new building for our ministry to the community through Helping Hands Child Care. Summer Book Read and Bible Study Celebrate being Lutheran! CPH has developed an Internet Bible Study on the book Being Lutheran by Trevor Sutton. You have three options. 1. Study with a group online 2. Study in a face-to-face group. 3. Read the book alone with study questions. 4.(Bonus) All of the above! The study starts June 12 and is super flexible for the time frame. Look for a sign up and prize table with more info coming soon in the narthex! 7

8 Christ Lutheran Membership Roll Call May 2017 Roster Changes Transfer In: Rev. David & Heidi Goehmann, Macee, Jonah, Jyeva, Ezekiel, 1218 West Madison Avenue, Norfolk; from St. Luke, Wauseon, OH. JoAnn Kubat, 207 Harris Drive, Norfolk; from Grace Lutheran, Norfolk. Dorothy Freudenburg, 808 East Benjamin Avenue, #113, Norfolk; from St. John Lutheran, Battle Creek. Starla Landkamer Called to Their Heavenly Home: Harold A. Schultz, May 22, 1926 March 31, Janice J. Jurgens, January 24, 1945 April 8, Moving from One House to Another: Darla Hintz, 203 South 17 th Street, Norfolk Mindy (Poellot) Johnson, 200 South Chestnut #C, Norfolk, Profession of Faith: Larry Freudenburg, 108 North Pine Street, Norfolk; from Immanuel Lutheran, Oakley, KS. Rusty & Linda Petersen, 1605 Eldorado Road, Norfolk; from Our Savior Lutheran, Norfolk. Transfer Out: Katrina Rardon and Gavin to Bethlehem Lutheran, Verdigre, NE. Megan (Clausen) Buckendahl, to Our Savior Lutheran, Norfolk. Derek Macumber, 5974 SW Ridgecrest Circle, North Platte, NE to Beautiful Savior, North Platte, NE. Baptized into the Family of God: Cole Allen Bosler, son of Derek and Brittany Bosler. Born March 1, 2017; baptized April 8, Sponsors are Cody Woockman, Jacob Woockman and William and Allison Woockman. Celebrating Birthday Blessings of 80 Years or More in May: 2: Jeanine Kollath 4: Celeste Farlee 5: Helen Frank, Darlene Reuter 7: LaJean Hofmann 9: Don Cherington 11: Larry Emory 15: Arlene Range 19: A.E. Shermer 20: Vernon Hofmann 21: Kenny Brandt, Ellen Glanzer 27: Larry Lenox 29: Lois Mann, Allen Wolff 31: Robert Lindsteadt 8 Thank You We want to take this opportunity to thank our Christ Lutheran Family for honoring us on the occasion of our upcoming retirements. The cards, gifts, flowers and kind words were so appreciated. So many of you took time from your busy schedules to help us celebrate. It was a day we will long remember. We both have been blessed to have been able to serve at Christ Lutheran for these past years. You all made this Milestone Dinner very memorable for us. Thank you again for the love you have expressed to both of us. May God continue to richly bless our entire Christ Lutheran community. In His Love, Nancy Weber and Janice Johnson Thank You to everyone who attended the Ministry Milestones dinner and remembered us with cards, gifts, and words of encouragement. It is with joy that we serve along side you in the ministries of Christ Lutheran. In Christ, Starla Landkamer, Donna Johnson, Charlene Stortz, Dana Serres, Chad Bryant, Judy Bohn, Whitney Peterson, Alice Pracht and Kristi Shermer A Holy Week & Easter Thank You To the Altar Guild for the many hours of work preparing the Altar and chancel area for Holy Week and Easter. To the Handbell Choir (Lisa Moreno, director), the Adult Choir (Pat Harstad, director); Joyful Sounds, and soloists Lisa Moreno, Deanna Blomenberg, Sandy Cover, Dan Harstad and Pastor Winter for the beautiful musical offerings. To the Instrumentals: Dr. Dan Blomenberg, Luke, Hope, and Angelica Blomenberg, Dan Sievert, Ben and Rebecca Gebhardt and Liz Osten. Photos on page 9

9 Christ Lutheran May 2017 Reflections of Easter Upper left: Preschool- Kindergarten on Palm Sunday. Upper right: The quiet, dimly-lit sanctuary early Easter morning. Left: Handbell choir Above: Pastor Winter with the Children s Message. Above right: Adult Choir Right: Instrumentalists 9

10 Christ Lutheran May 2017 Printing Costs for This Month s Echo 2.0 Paid for by Donations from These Sponsors Bev Mauch, Coldwell Banker Dover Realtors Norfolk Implement Dr. Dan Blomenberg Eye Physicians PC Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust Dinkel Implement Dr. Leon Gebhardt Freudenburg & Associates LLC Taylor Creek Physical Therapy Jerry s Trailers & Campers Randy Oertwich, United Farm and Ranch Management Christ Lutheran Church 605 South Fifth Street Norfolk, NE phone fax School 511 South Fifth Street phone fax Helping Hands Childcare 400 West Pasewalk Ave. (Corner of Fourth Street & Pasewalk Ave.) phone Next ECHO 2.0 deadline is May 10, 2017 Send items to echo2@clnorfolkmail.org