Inside This Issue. Pg 11: Special Music

Transcription

1 ERLC C u r r en t NEWSLETTER OF ELK RIVER LUTHERAN CHURCH FEBRUARY - MARCH 2019 Inside This Issue Pg 4: Jan. Feb. Sermon Series Pg 5: RIC Sunday Pg 6: Lenten Sermon Series Pg 7: Dinner Church; FAQ on Ashes Pg 8: Book Studies Pg 9: Special Events Pg 11: Special Music Pg 14: 5th and 6th Grade!; LiFT! Pg 15: Flamingos! Pg 16: t5 Youth Mission Trip; 4th Grade Pg 17: 1st Communion; Confirmation Retreat; Hospitality Pg 18: New Church Council Pg 19: February & March Calendars

2 Pastor s Message Dear Members and Friends of ERLC, This has been a cold week! During this cold season of the year I m exceptionally grateful for the warmth and joy of people at Elk River Lutheran Church. When we gather together we are able to encourage one another and build each other up in truly lifegiving ways. LIFE Groups (our sermon-based small groups) are meeting now and dinner church will start with Lent in March. LIFE Groups, Dinner Church, Sunday Morning Worship, and many other events shared in this newsletter provide great opportunities for us to experience life and faith together, so I invite you to jump in! Our Sunday morning worship theme through the end of February is What is the Bible? as we explore this book that is so foundational to our Christian faith. In March we enter the church season of Lent, when our Sunday morning worship theme will be Rockin on the River a fun theme that each week will pair a classic rock song with the appointed gospel reading. On those Sundays you ll be able to hear such hits as Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees and Let it Be by the Beatles. I think these songs will serve as a great way into thinking about how these scripture readings speak to our everyday lives. During Lent you are also invited to join us for Dinner Church, a wonderful worship experience that combines a meal, fellowship/conversation, and worship. Last week some of our ERLC staff spent time at a conference called Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. I was grateful for the opportunity to hear great speakers reflecting on the future of the church and challenges we will face, but I was even more grateful to attend it with our staff who are so committed to their work, this church, and supporting one another. Our future as a church is bright when we meet the joys and challenges of the future together. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Peace, Pastor Nathan Mugaas Page 2

3 President s Message Looking ahead to the new year, it s exciting to anticipate what we will experience, and our Lord continues to work miracles at Elk River Lutheran Church. This year ERLC will celebrate 10 years, and we have just begun. We continue to plan for a future where each of us can find ways to serve our Church and community. Volunteers are always needed for worship, hospitality, education, youth, visitation, fellowship, and service projects throughout the year. Find a place to volunteer Beginning the last week of January, we will again form small groups to meet over a five week period. Please sign up for a group. If there isn t a group time that works for you, let the office know. This is an amazing time for us to get to know each other better and to study scripture. You will not regret it. Finally, a big thank you to our staff who continue to creatively strengthen our mission to serve God and neighbor in Elk River. May God bless and walk with us as we seek to serve Him. Blessings, John Natwick Council President Page 3

4 Page 4

5 RECONCILING IN CHRIST (RIC) SUNDAY FEB 3, 2019 Guest Speaker: Austen Hartke Austen Hartke is the author of Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians, a new book on theology and personal narratives, published by Westminster John Knox Press in He is also the creator of the Youtube series Transgender and Christian, which seeks to understand, interpret, and share parts of the bible that relate to gender identity and the lives of transgender individuals. Austen is a graduate of Luther Seminary s Master of Arts program in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible Studies, and is the winner of the 2014 John Milton Prize in Old Testament Writing from the same institution. He has spoken at conferences all over the country, including The Reformation Project Conferences in 2014 and 2017, the 2016 Philadelphia Transgender Health Conference, and the 2018 Why Christian Conference. He also enjoys speaking at colleges and universities, and working with gender-diverse youth and families as the Faith Coordinator for Gender Spectrum. As a transgender person of faith, Austen's greatest passion is helping other trans and gender-non-conforming people see themselves in scripture. The Shower of Stoles is a collection of over a thousand liturgical stoles and other sacred items representing the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith. These religious leaders have served in thirty-two denominations and faith traditions, in six countries, and on three continents. Each stole contains the story of a GLBT person who is active in the life and leadership of their faith community in some way: minister, elder, deacon, teacher, missionary, musician, administrator, or active layperson. Take some time this RIC Sunday to go around and see the stoles and read the stories! Page 5

6 Page 6

7 Dinner Church During Lent Wednesdays in Lent are a time when we gather together for worship and fellowship. The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday on March 6th. We will have a soup super at 6:00 PM in the Community Room and worship with the imposition of ashes in the Sanctuary at 7:00 PM. During the rest of the Lenten season you are invited to join us for Dinner Church (March 13, 20, 27, April 3 & 10), an experience that combines a meal, fellowship, and worship into one shared experience. Dinner Church begins at 6:00 PM in the Community Room. You ll probably want to arrive ten to fifteen minutes early and find some people to sit with. Dinner church is a great way to gather as a congregation family and share a meal together. Brian McFarlane Each week volunteers help get things set up, bring portions of the meal, and clean up afterward. We work together to make these gatherings happen and experience great fellowship together. I hope you ll join us! Dinner church is as it sounds - dinner and church rolled into one! It is a casual and more personal setting to share a meal, sing, hear scripture, pray, and conversation together with a group of 5-6 people. It is like having a family meal. - Adam and Kellie Horner Dinner church is a great way to gather as a congregation family and share a meal together. Brian McFarlane Why and how do we use ashes on Ash Wednesday? Background: Why? Ash Wednesday is the Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter and the first day of Lent. The day is named for the practice of imposing ashes, a practice that many Lutheran congregations have found to be a very meaningful part of the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Using ashes as a sign of repentance is an ancient practice, often mentioned in the Bible (e.g., Jonah 3:5-9; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 6:26; Matthew 11:21). The early Christians adopted the use of ashes from Jewish practice as an external mark of penitence. Ashes symbolize several aspects of our human existence: Ashes remind us of God's condemnation of sin, as God said to Adam, "Dust you are and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). Ashes suggest cleansing and renewal. They were used anciently in the absence of soap. Even on Ash Wednesday, this most penitential day, we receive ashes in the form of the cross, the same symbol placed on our bodies with water in our baptism. Even in this ashen mark of death, we anticipate the new life of Easter. Ashes remind us of the shortness of human life, for it is said as we are buried into the ground or as ashes are placed in a columbarium (see What are columbaria and memorial gardens? ). "We commit this body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 284). Ashes are a symbol of our need to repent, confess our sins, and return to God. Making Your Own Ashes Ashes are made from the palms used to observe the Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday. Cut the palms into small pieces with scissors. 1. Burn them in a brazier or steel bucket (Adding a little rubbing alcohol will make them burn faster). 2. Gently sift the ashes through a fine wire mesh sieve. 3. Store the ashes in a sealed plastic bag or container. They will last for years.

8 Book Studies Just Mercy Just Mercy was written by Bryan Stevenson, who as a young lawyer went to Alabama to represent people who were being unfairly treated by our justice system. He follows the story of a black man who was wrongly convicted of the murder of a white woman and sentenced to death. Bryan went on to found the Equal Justice Initiative, an organization which represents people who are often discriminated against by our criminal justice system--racial minorities, the poor, children and juveniles and the mentally ill. The author asks the question, when is mercy the more moral choice than excessive punishment? This book is an easy read and we should be able to cover it in 3 weeks! The cost for the book is $16.00> We will place an order by February 20th. If you are interested in ordering for yourself, you can purchase from Amazon or local retailers anytime. Please sign up in the Fellowship Hall if you wish to participate in the discussion groups. We will be meeting Saturdays March 3rd, 10th and 17th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. We look forward to having you there! Love without Limits Love without Limits, written by Jacqueline Bussie, probes a deep question in life of Christians around the world. Does Jesus radical vision of love have limits? If you gathered from the title Jacqueline would argue no, love carries no limits in the expanse and wonder of God s creation. So, how do love without limits in a world that is divided, that polarizes people and seeks to create barriers to who is welcome? We are challenged to think about love not in the lens of our human stories, but rather through the limitless and powerfully redemptive love of Jesus. The cost for the book is $ There is a significantly cheaper option on Kindle via Amazon if you would prefer a digital copy. Our final date to have us order will be April 10th. We do ask that you would consider signing up for the discussion group, which will be held Sunday mornings starting April 28th through May 5th. We will be meeting during the coffee hour: 9:20 am to 10:20 am.

9 Special Events Waking Up White: Speaking Event with the Author- Debby Irving Event: Sunday February 17th from 3 pm to 6 pm Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church in St. Paul Come join the Saint Paul Area Synod in welcoming Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White. Irving will being speaking and leading us in an interactive workshop. This time will be most effective if congregations plan on bringing a group ready to collaborate further with church conferences and neighboring communities. This event is open to all. We will focus our time on, Leveling the Playing Field: Interrupting Patterns of Power and Privilege; this is an interactive workshop involving mapping power, patterns, and interventions. Suggested cost of the event is $10 per person, to be collected at the door. We do not want cost to prohibit anybody from attending this learning opportunity - all are welcome. Debby Irving will have books available and there will be an opportunity to meet her after the workshop time. If you are interested in attending please sign up in the Fellowship Hall. We will be inviting people to carpool down for the event. We invite you to read the book before the event. This is conversation with work started by Jia Star Brown during her tenure at Elk River Lutheran church. Westminster Town Hall Forum: Barbara Brown Taylor Event: April 30th at 12 pm. 11:30am - Pre-Forum Concert Noon - The Town Hall Forum 1:00pm - Complimentary breads 'n' spreads reception The Westminster Town Hall Forum is always free, general admission, and all are welcome! Join us! NEW - We now have two levels of free underground parking! Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, teacher, and bestselling author of fourteen books on religion and spirituality, including Leaving Church, An Altar in the World and Learning to Walk in the Dark, which was featured on the cover of Time magazine and named one of the best religion books of 2014 by Publisher s Weekly. She has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Columbia Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, and on the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. She has been recognized by Baylor University as one of the top twelve preachers in America, and in 2015, she was named Georgia Woman of the Year. Her latest book, Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others, will be published in April This will be the focus of the event and a welcome look into finding faith in the midst of conversations with others. Page 9

10 Financial Peace University If you think about it, money touches every nook and cranny of our lives. We measure our successes and failures by it. We use it to fill our gas tanks, pay for groceries, and keep the lights on. And just when we start to feel like we have the hang of it... something breaks, someone gets sick, or the banks call asking for their money back. Whether you ve got your money tied up in credit cards, student loans, that massive car payment, or even those unwanted medical bills, it all adds up and fast. Most of us have been there. Have you? But here s the thing: You can t stay there. We get it. It feels like you re stuck in a constant cycle, living paycheck to paycheck and anxiously wondering when the next shoe will drop. (Dave Ramsey Website) Over the last several weeks 25 members and community members of the Elk River community have been meeting to discuss topics related to money, living debt free, and giving like no one else. The stories are varied and different. The financial stories are vast and varied. Yet, in the midst of all of the difference is a common goal. To live like no one else today, so you can give like no one else tomorrow. The overarching question of the course looks to explore the meaning of living debt free. What could life be like if people weren t living paycheck to paycheck? What would life be like if we didn t carry significant amounts of debt? The potential energy is endless. Here s the thing: Accountability is key on your journey to financial peace. That s why it s important to join a Financial Peace University group near you! Groups meet in churches, coffee shops and community centers all over the country and are led by incredible volunteer coordinators who are passionate about helping you win with money. If you can t squeeze it into your busy schedule, you can still take the course online from the comfort of your couch! This course was designed to show you how to win with money. The average FPU member completing the course pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700 in the first 90 days! Today, nearly 25 years later, over five million people have taken the course and found practical financial wisdom but most importantly, they ve found HOPE. Just imagine the feeling you ll have when you finally pay off that last student loan. Or imagine logging in to your retirement account and seeing that the years you ve spent investing have earned you nine extra zeros. Think about how the generations of your family tree could trace their own financial peace and hope all the way back to you! How would you like to financially bless your family, church and others because you handled money the right way? Believe us it can happen. It won t happen overnight, but it starts with you choosing to change, one step at a time. Page 10

11 Special Music Handbells Come to ERLC! Sing with me to the tune of O Come, O Come Emmanuel : O Come, O Come, O handbells for the church ERLC s Music Ministry is very excited to announce we ll have our very own set of handbells in this month! After renting bells for our Christmas Eve and Lessons & Carols services, the Riverside Ringers will get to rehearse now with their 3-octave set from Malmark Bellcraftsmen. They were ordered in December and will be delivered to the church at the beginning of February, ready for RR s first rehearsal. Their first appearance in church will be March, so mark your calendars. Combined Choirs Come Together for RIC Service This is the 2nd year the church choirs of ERLC, Holy Trinity Episcopal, and Union Congregational UCC will join forces to sing at ERLC s RIC Celebration service on February 3rd. Back in 2017, when Sam Eckberg, director of Union s choir, approached Bea Bastyr, director of Holy Trinity s choir, and Taylor about bringing the three choirs together they all agreed it was a fabulous idea. All three churches celebrate their status as welcoming churches in Elk River and have sincerely enjoyed singing together because of that commonality. On Feb 3rd you ll get to hear the three choirs sing a glorious mash-up of the 70 s folk song I Love You and Louis Armstrong s What a Wonderful World, arranged by popular choral composer Craig Hella Johnson. The choirs are always welcome to new singers who are interested in singing with them for special events. Page 11

12 Instrumental Ensemble for Easter: Musicians Wanted ERLC s music ministry is looking for all instrumentalists from our congregation to play for our Easter services. Last year we welcomed three young musicians and our bookkeeper to join Jim Acers and Vicki Granros in leading hymns and playing during Offertory. In 2019, we d like to increase that number to MORE. If you or your child would like to play with the Instrumental Ensemble, notify Taylor via or face-to-face. Rehearsals will start in February. Beer & Hymns is Back! After a hiatus in January, Taylor Quinn and Adam Schulz will be returning to the stage of Pour Wine Bar & Bistro to lead you all in Beer & Hymns. On Feb 12th, we start back up with this beloved monthly hymn-sing. Since it s so close to Valentine s Day, B&H s theme will be Love and we ll be taking up a donation for ERLC s youth. They re going on a mission trip to Thunder Bay, Ontario, and need help with the cost of the trip. The rest of our events will March 12th, April 2nd, and May 7th. There is an list for Beer & Hymns. If you re interested in getting reminders, contact Taylor. Page 12

13 VOLUNTEERS CAER has a variety of exciting volunteer opportunities. Our volunteers are integral to CAER's daily operations. It takes a minimum of 20 volunteers to run CAER efficiently everyday. Elk River Lutheran Church volunteers each month at CAER. We provide volunteers for 3 3 hour shifts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during one week each month. Arlene Wells, member here at Elk River Lutheran has from the beginning of our congregation worked with this volunteer effort to schedule volunteers. During January June, the shifts are in the morning 9:30am 12:15pm. July to December the shifts are 12:15-3:00pm We are always looking for new volunteers. Please note on your registration slip or contact the church office if you would like the chance to volunteer for this wonderful community program. DONATIONS Regular benevolence donations are provided from Elk River Lutheran and it s members to CAER. For every $1 we give, CAER can purchase $10 worth of nourishing food for your neighbor or friend. We also provide a drop off box here in the fellowship hall for donations to CAER. We have an opening for someone who may be able to routinely take those donations into CAER. If you would be interested, please contact the church T W I N N I N G Larry Cook and Brad Tesdahl Keith Quammen and Brian Harding Page 13

14 Club 56 It s time to get ready for another evening of zany games, fabulous food and crazy fun! On Friday, February 22nd from 7:00pm-11:00pm students in 5th and 6th grade are invited to come to church where we will spend an evening of fellowship, food and fun and, as always, experience the Grog! Feel free to bring a friend, but parents are not invited! Just remember that it s a good idea to wear comfortable, washable clothes and running shoes. RSVP to Martha. LiFT! Family Sunday school is experiencing a face-lift! Re-designed to appeal to a wider variety of ages and develop relationships between students, we encourage you to come visit us between services where our families experience faith together through music, games, crafts, science, food and stories. In addition, our LiFT! students will be singing during the worship services on Sunday, February 24th (at the end of the first service and the beginning of the 2nd service). Page 14

15 Flamingo Fun Thank you to everyone who participated in the t5, senior high youth summer mission trip fund raiser! Pink flamingos were spotted all over Elk River, Big Lake, Ramsey and beyond thanks to the generosity of this congregation. The response was amazing Thank you it was awesome ~Diane and Brian Harding I ve been flocked! I love it! Just sad that the will be picked up tomorrow. ~ Diana Schansberg Page 15 I don t think you should leave the flamingos out in the cold! They might turn blue! ~ Jean and Daryl Holt

16 Youth Mission Trip This summer our high school youth (t5) will be heading up to Thunder Bay, Ontario for their mission trip. 11 of us will be heading North on July 13th and returning on July 20th. While there we will be involved in several service projects including working at the Thunder Bay Shelter House, Habitat for Humanity, the local food shelf and children s organizations to name a few. This is an excellent faith growth opportunity and we are so grateful for the support, prayers and love of this congregation! Go Fourth! Calling all 4th graders! We are starting a club designed just for you! This service-based group will meet for the first time on Saturday, February 16th from 10am-12pm. Feel free to bring a friend and be prepared to do some good and have some fun! RSVP to Martha Herbert

17 Communion Class Here at Elk River Lutheran, all are welcome at Christ s table, regardless of their age. However, when a student enters 5th grade (or older, if they haven t been part of a communion class) they are invited to participate in 3 classes leading up to the first formal celebration of Holy Communion during the worship service on Maundy Thursday, April 18th. During these sessions we will joyfully explore the stories, history, rituals and images surrounding this special meal. The first of these classes will be held Sunday, February 10th from 11:45am-1:00pm. Students will be making their own communion cups with the assistance of a professional potter. Please RSVP to Martha Herbert to ensure we have enough supplies. Confirmation Retreat This year s confirmation class (17 fabulous students!) will be attending a retreat at Luther Crest Bible Camp on March 22nd and 23rd to explore their faith, their relationship with Christ and with each other. And what it means to be part of the ERLC family and the family of God. Please keep these young people in your prayers! Hospitality Welcome to Gwen Krizek who has agreed to join our Hospitality Ministry Team. We meet the first Monday of each month at 6:30 at the church. Our January meeting was held at Rockwoods. It was a fun evening of good food, great company and a little business! Page 17

18 Congregational Council Church Office: (763) Main Street, Elk River MN Office Hours: M Th 9am-4pm President: John Natwick Like us on Facebook at Staff Pastor Nathan Mugaas (763) pastornathan@elkriverlutheran.org Vice President: Mark Schwarze Minister of Congregational Care & Discipleship Jeremy Hallquist..(612) jeremy@elkriverlutheran.org Secretary: Kari Christianson Children, Youth & Family Martha Herbert..(763) martha@elkriverlutheran.org Director of Music Ministry Taylor Quinn... (816) taylor@elkriverlutheran.org Treasurer: Jennifer Stanley Office Manager Linda Nielsen... (763) linda@elkriverlutheran.org John Auel Jodie Dahlheimer Brian McFarlane Bookkeeper Lori Sundman... (763) ERLCBookkeeper@gmail.com Custodian: Brian Harding Nursery Attendants: Sonja Tesdahl and David McFarlane Page 18 Sarah Chur Ryan Herbert Michele Smith

19 February Sunday 27 Monday Tuesday 29 Wednesday 30 Thursday 31 Friday 1 Saturday 2 8am-Men s Bible Study :30am Quilting 6:30pm Choir & Confirmation 7:30pm 5(HS Youth) 3:30pm RIC Mtg 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band 7pm 11pm Club 56 Gathering 8am Men s Bible Study :30am Quilting 6:30pm Beer & Hymns 7pm Womens Bible 4:30pm Worship/Music 6:30pm Choir & Confirmation 7:30pm 5 4pm Council Officers 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band :30am CAER Volunteer 9:30am Quilting 6:30pm Council 9:30am CAER Volunteer 6:30pm Choir & Confirmation 7:30pm 5 10am Genealogy Group 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band 9:30am CAER Volunteer 7pm Club 56 8am Men s Bible Study 9am Synod Tool Kit and Conference Assemblies :30am Quilting 6:30pm Choir & Confirmation 7:30pm 5 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band RIC SUNDAY 9:20am RIC Adult Forum Council Installation 9:20am Endowment Committee Mtg 11:45am 1st Communion Class 17 11:45am 1st Communion Cups 24 LiFT! Sings both Services 8am Men s Bible Study 10am Go 4th Sunday Schedule 8:15 Traditional 9:20- LiFT! (Family Sunday School) 10:30 Contemporary BE JOYFUL IN HOPE PATIENT IN AFFLICTION FAITHFUL IN PRAYER ~Romans 12:12 Page 19

20 March Sunday 2019 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 Saturday 2 8am Men s Bible Study :30pm Hospitality Mtg 9:30am Bible Study & Quilt Ash Wednesday 6pm Soup Dinner 7pm Ash Wed. Service 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band :30am Bible Study & Quilt 6:30 pm Beer & Hymns 7pm Womens Bible 4:30pm Worship/Music 6pm Dinner Church 7pm Choir 7:30pm 5 4pm Council Officers 5:45pm FPU 6:30pm Worship Band 7pm 5 Lock In and Stock Sales 8am Men s Bible Study 10am Just Mercy Book Study :30am CAER Volunteer 9:30am Bible Study & Quilt 6:30pm Council 9:30am CAER Volunteer 6pm Dinner Church 7pm Choir 7:30pm 5 6:30pm Worship Band 9:30am CAER Volunteer 5pm Confirm. Retreat 8am Men s Bible Study 10am Just Mercy Book Study :30am Bible Study & Quilt 6pm Dinner Church 7pm Choir 6:30pm Worship Band Daylight Savings Time Begins 17 11:45am 1st Communion Class 5pm 5 Stock Sales 24 7:30pm am Men s Bible Study 10am Just Mercy Book Study 8am Men s Bible Study 5 6 Sunday Schedule 8:15 Traditional 9:20- LiFT! (Family Sunday School) 10:30 Contemporary And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ~Hebrews 10:24-25 Page 20