Sunday and Beyond. From Pastor Margo. East Koshkonong Lutheran Church March 2012 Newsletter LENTEN SUPPERS 6:00PM LENTEN WORSHIP WEDNESDAYS 7:00PM

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1 Sunday and Beyond East Koshkonong Lutheran Church March 2012 Newsletter From Pastor Margo Sisters and Brothers in Christ, LENTEN SUPPERS 6:00PM LENTEN WORSHIP WEDNESDAYS 7:00PM No Confirmation Classes Feb. 22-April 4, 2012 Confirmands attend mid-week worship March 7, :00pm Lenten Meal hosted by Confirmation Class 7:00pm Worship, Lay Preacher Andy, Sonja, and Jenna Christensen March 14, :00pm Lenten Meal hosted by Diane Luginbuhl & Erica Thompson 7:00pm Worship, Lay Preacher Trudy Spike March 21, :00pm Lenten Meal hosted by Carolyn Lien and Friends 7:00pm Worship, Lay Preacher Arvid Mathison March 28, :00pm Congregational Potluck: *Please bring the following according to the first letter in your last name: A-I ~ Main Dishes ; J-N ~ Salads; O-Z ~ Desserts 7:00pm Worship, Lay Preacher Gina Reese Lent has begun and we are marked with the cross of Christ ashes on our foreheads to remind us that this earthly life has limits and that the entirety of our life is lived in, with and under that baptismal cross-claim of Christ. What is the purpose of Lent? Is there any value in this 40-day journey toward Christ s death and ultimate resurrection? Does our observance of this tradition simply add another congregational obligation to our already-overloaded routine of family and work and community commitments? Each person will answer these questions differently. This Lenten season I am focusing in my personal devotional life on the word repentance. This is the English translation of the ancient Greek word metanoia. As with the translation of any word from one language to another, some of the original meaning of the word is lost in translation. Metanoia originally meant to turn. Correct me if I m wrong, but I most frequently hear the word repentance used in connection with saying I m sorry rather than in the spirit of turning around. I have come to believe that repentance is far more than regretting some evil and/or unkind word I have spoken or deed I have done. Repentance certainly does require that one is self- Continued on Page 2

2 Continued from Page 1 reflective enough to examine our life stance and be honest about our failings. Once we are in that place of honesty, then repentance calls us to turn in this case, to turn to God, acknowledging that we are NOT God, and imploring God to Search me, O God, and know my heart.and lead me in the way everlasting: (Ps. 139) and asking God to Create in me a clean heart.and renew a right spirit within me (Ps. 51). For myself, I need at least a 40-day focus to remind me to turn to God, on a daily basis for cleansing, renewal and a reminder that God is the one who restores the focus that life, with all its joys and sorrows, hopes and fears all of life is lived within the cross of Christ that we bear on our foreheads. Won t you join us for our mid-week Wednesday night worship? Your presence at worship is always a blessing to those who sit beside you. This year, you will hear personal testimony from congregational members as they tell us their favorite Bible story and why this portion of Scripture feeds their faith life. Blessings to all. Pastor Margo President s Message ~ Bonnie Ehrke As of February 21 st meeting we have an update from the church council - the call process for Kirstin Tannas and Troy Jacobson is moving forward. Church council met with Sara Yotter of the Synod Office and we have received answers to the questions that have been raised. As a point of clarification - at this time Troy Jacobson is not ordained. Troy is in the process for ordination and that may be completed in a couple of months. Assuming that Kirstin and Troy accept the Letters of Agreement, it may be early summer before they are with us at East Koshkonong. As you have questions, you may contact any council member: Kristen Lien, Jaime Lewellin, Gloria Fruit, Karen Hayes, Dave Reese, Dave Repyak, or myself. We ask that you please continue to keep Kirstin and Troy; and our own church council in your prayers. We thank you for your support and your love for the ministry at East Koshkonong. Bonnie Ehrke, EKLC Council President P a g e 2

3 Special Council Meeting Tuesday, January 31, 2012 Re: Letter of Call Present: Bonnie Ehrke, Jaime Lewellin, Karen Hayes, Gloria Fruit, Kristen Lien, Dave Reese, David Repyak Not Present: N/A March Council Meeting March 20, :30pm PRESIDENT: Bonnie Ehrke VICE-PRESIDENT: Kristen Lien SECRETARY: Jaime Lewellin TREASURER: David Repyak COUNCIL MEMBERS: Karen Hayes David Reese Gloria Fruit If you need to speak to a council member please call the church office to leave a message and they will return your call. Thank You. Treasurer s Report Financial Secretary: Elizabeth Kaashagen Treasurer: Holly Loomis Income, January 2012 ~ $15, Expenses, January 2012 ~ $19, Income, Year to date ~ $15, Expenses, Year to date ~ $19, Meeting called to order at 6:30 PM by President Bonnie Ehrke with a prayer. Discussion regarding questions to discuss on our call with Sara Yotter and responses to questions from Troy and Kirstin. Call to Sara Yotter at 6:58 PM. Discussion surrounding understanding our bilaws and how to proceed in the call process. Meeting adjourned with prayer. Special Council Meeting Thursday, February 2, 2012 Present: Bonnie Ehrke, Jaime Lewellin, Karen Hayes, Gloria Fruit, Dave Reese, David Repyak Not Present: Kristen Lien Re: Phone Call with Call Candidates Meeting called to order by Bonnie with prayer. Casual discussion regarding our call with Sara Yotter on Tuesday, 1/31 to gather our thoughts before calling Troy and Kirstin. Call to Troy Jacobson and Kirstin Tannas at 7:38 PM. Discussion with Troy and Kirstin regarding some questions and clarifications. Ended call at 8:43 PM. Further discussion on what steps need to be taken next. An additional meeting with be set up with the Synod. Closed with Prayer by David Repyak. P a g e 3

4 January 17, 2012 Council Report Council President Bonnie Ehrke opened the meeting a little after 6 p.m. Present: Bonnie, Steve Wagner, Jaime Lewellin, Kristen Lien, Karen Hayes, Peggy Luther, and Dave Reese representing the Call Committee. Absent: Kurt Klemp and Interim Pastor Margo. (It was previously determined that the meeting time would be bumped up to 6 p.m. and that call committee information would be discussed first, with the regular council meeting to resume at approx. 8:30 p.m. As such, Interim Pastor Margo Martens would not need to be present at this council meeting.) OPENING DEVOTION & PRAYER: Bonnie s devotion was taken from Exodus 18. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, saw how much time Moses spent settling disputes of the Israelites and advised Moses to appoint trustworthy judges to settle lesser disagreements. Coincidently, the daily devotional for Jan. 17 also focused on surrounding ourselves with people eager to listen and willing to accept and/or give help. This devotion rang very true for council and call committee members who have had a busy twelve months. CALL COMMITTEE: Dave Reese, on behalf of the entire call committee, gave a recommendation that we consider calling a wife & husband team from Detroit that will share EKLC s single pastor position. A visit was made to Detroit last Fall to hear sermons given by both of them; subsequent communications leads the call committee to believe that they would be a good fit, acknowledging that there would be both positives and negatives to co-pastoring, but because both individuals seem to be such good partners, it would not be too hard to find the good management of the in-between. Dave Reese left at 7:10 and the council resumed discussion, making it clear that if our congregation makes the decision to extend the call to them, we would be getting two people but not two full-time pastors. At 7:30 the council moved into the church office for a teleconference with the candidate(s). Of interest to the council were the answers to these questions: What attracts you to our call? A: EKLC s desire to grow multi-generational and your mission statement. Q: How do you see a partnership working? A: We each have strengths in ministry and would prefer to spell out which of us will do specific things. Q: How do you see yourselves working with council? A: We are a team and we can work together with the congregation and council as a team; we are all going to be in this together. We both will be at worship and attend council meetings. Q: How do you foresee the transition? A: It s all transition in the beginning, balancing between let s get going and let s listen first for a direction we re led to. We re both strong leaders and we re both listeners. The conference call ended at 8:03 p.m. and the council meeting resumed. After further discussion, a motion was made by Steve and seconded by Jaime, to accept the recommendation of the call committee to extend a call to the wife/husband team of Kirstin Tannas & Troy Jacobson of Detroit, Michigan. It is the council s intention to bring this recommendation to the congregation during the January 22, 2012 Annual Meeting as New Business. Discussion immediately moved to compensation packages: one package with a housing allowance, and a second package if they choose to utilize the parsonage. We ended call committee business at 9:25 and moved on to the regular monthly agenda. FINANCIAL REPORTS / CONSENT AGENDA: Motion made by Kristen, seconded by Jaime, to approve all reports contingent upon minor revisions to the December Council Report. OLD BUSINESS: Should we continue to send out welcome letters to people who move into the area; we pay d2design $7.50/ month for this. It was decided to continue with this service at least until we get a new pastor. Peggy updated the council on ATC; it s likely that we will discuss this at the annual meeting. Website management: discussed an option for a cheaper way to maintain it/having a media committee to take photos/get release info., then tabled this topic for a future date. A better procedure for locking up after worship was also tabled for another month. Council duties during the upcoming Annual Meeting were discussed. Also, a letter to the congregation will go out maybe tomorrow (Jan. 18) to give members an early heads-up for the New Business of calling a pastor to East Koshkonong. NEW BUSINESS: Future addresses of council members will be removed from monthly newsletter for security reasons. Tabled discussion until next month on parsonage rental agreement which expires Reps needed for annual LEAD conference in March and Synod Assembly in May. Need for motion sensors in the downstairs bathrooms discussed. There being no other business, we adjourned at 10:08 p.m. and closed the meeting with the Lord s Prayer. Peggy Luther ~Respectfully submitted by P a g e 4

5 From the Stewardship Committee: The stewardship committee will give monthly updates both at worship and in this newsletter of our status meeting our approved budget. Our stewardship goal for 2012 is to meet our budgetary obligations via general fund giving. January income: $15, January expenses: -$19, Expenses minus income: -$3, Current status: Not meeting actual expenses January income: $15, January budgeted expenses: -$16, Budgeted expenses minus income: -$ Current status: Not meeting budgeted expenses Please consider increasing your giving to help us meet our goal. If you would like to help with this initiative or have ideas for EKLC stewardship, please contact Kristen Lien or Brenda Schroeder. Kristen Lien Stewardship Committee WELCA The February WELCA meeting was wonderful. We had an awesome turn out, 17 ladies were present. We finished 16 quilts, and started 13 more! Thank you for your support and hope to see all you women back next month! Remember 1st Thursday of the month! Thanks, Diane Luginbuhl Just a reminder of monthly Circle duties: 1. Serve monthly WELCA meeting. 2. Conduct business meeting. 3. Altar set up and take down for communion for the FIRST TWO Sundays of the month. 4. Provide flowers for the altar, change banners, and fill candles each Sunday of the month. 6. Serve coffee hour on the 4th Sunday of your month. 7. Oversee appearance of the Ladies Lounge. 8. Check and sharpen pencils in communion racks. 9. Refill offering envelopes (2 per space). 10. Replace scratch paper (2 per space). 11. Send $15.00 to Jail Ministry by June. 12. Visit shut-ins and send cards and letters. 13. Keep in contact with the office for changes in services. 14. Occasionally, help serve receptions for weddings, anniversaries, funerals for deceased circle members and families. 15. Circle members who are unable to serve are asked to make a monetary donation towards expenses. P a g e 5

6 EKLC Sunday School Presents Buck-a-Chick!! Join the Fun This Lenten Season, join our Sunday School youth for a Buck-a-Chick sale. You can purchase and decorate a paper chick for yourself or in honor of a loved one for one dollar the cost of providing a chick to a family experiencing hunger. Your gifts will help provide families living in poverty with chicks. Eggs from chickens are a great source of food and income. We will announce the fundraising total on Easter Sunday. To date, congregations have raised more than $85,000 to support this effort in partnership with ELCA Good Gifts. Your help in making this a successful fundraiser for our youth is appreciated! Join the fun! ELCA congregations have raised more than $85,000 to date! Chicks will be on sale before service in the Narthex beginning Sunday, February 26th and through Easter morning as well as during coffee hour on March 4th and April 1st. Please contact any of the Sunday School teachers for further information. P a g e 6

7 Sunday, March 11, 2012 If you, or someone you know, are interested in membership at EKLC please contact Pastor Margo, There will be a reception of new members at the 9:00am worship service on Sunday, March 11th. CONFIRMATION TASK FORCE: The congregational council appointed a short-term confirmation task force for the purpose setting the date for confirmation Sunday in 2012 and also to review current requirements. Serving with Pastor Margo are Roger Evenson, Heidi Woodstock and Sandra DeForest. Jaime Lewellin will serve as liason from the council. Please contact any of those named above with questions and/or concerns. Wisconsin Council of churches and the South Central Synod of WI, ELCA present Sabbath in Everyday Life A Retreat for Lay Leaders Saturday, March 24, 2012 First United Methodist Church 203 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI Registration and lunch is $65 in advance; $75 after March 16th We re often better at the bigger Sabbaths in life, like taking summer vacations or going away for a weekend. But the smaller Sabbaths in everyday life can be harder. The frenetic pace of life and information can prevent us from taking the smaller Sabbath time we need. This retreat will explore Sabbath in everyday life, including spiritual practices to enhance Sabbath time, obstacles to Sabbath, and cultivating Sabbath by noticing and attending to God s presence. There will be presentation time, individual reflection, small group sharing, plenty of Sabbath time and walking an indoor labyrinth. Check-in begins at 8:30am with refreshments: Retreat runs 9am-3pm. If interested contact the Church office or Bonnie Ehrke for car pooling P a g e 7

8 Easter Lilies Place your order early for Easter Flowers. This year s Easter Lilies are being ordered from Edgerton Floral These single lilies have 5-7 blooms on each plant and are wrapped in gold foil with a cream colored bow for $13.50!! Phone orders: Send orders and payment to: East Koshkonong Lutheran Church 454 Church Rd. Cambridge, WI Please return to office by March 11th. Qty 6 Single Easter Lily....$13.50 Name: Phone: In Memory of: In Honor of: Given From: Amount Enclosed: April 1 ~ Palm Sunday 9:00am ~ Worship 10:15am ~ Coffee Hour hosted by Sunday School On this joyous Palm Sunday, we are pleased to greet each worshiper and extend a hearty Welcome! Let us be in the same spirit as those who shouted Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! As Jesus entered Jerusalem. April 5 ~ Maundy Thursday 7:00pm Worship Maundy Thursday commemorates the evening just before the crucifixion when Jesus and his friends broke bread together for the Last Supper. It was at this Last Supper that Jesus instituted the Eucharist or what we call communion. We welcome all, in remembrance of Him, to share this Holy Thursday. April 6 ~ Good Friday 11:30am ~ Community Cross Walk in Cambridge 7:00pm ~ Worship at Grace Lutheran/ Cambridge Good Friday is a day of terrible suffering and sacrifice, a day of crucifixion. We invite you to join hearts and hands in remembrance of Him who bore his crown of thorns willingly, arose from the dead, and defeated death that we might have eternal life. April 8 ~ Easter Sunday 6:30am ~ Sunrise Worship at Upper Church 9:00am ~ Easter Worship at Lower Church The Lord is risen! Hallelujah! On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the foundation of our faith: the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is with exceeding joy that we welcome all who come to recall Christ s victory over sin and death. Rejoice, dear friends! P a g e 8

9 Alvin Hammen ~Harbor House ~ 1221 E. Main St., Stoughton, WI Verna Vethe ~ Willowbrook Nursing Home ~ 901 Mulberry St., Lake Mills, WI Agnes Goodrich ~ Wellington Meadows ~ 525 N. Memorial Dr. #3, Fort Atkinson, WI Earl Ellickson ~ 415 Jarlsberg Lane, Cambridge, WI LeRoy Egre ~ Our House ~ 201 W. Madison St., Cambridge, WI Roxanne Wildes ~ 107 Merchant St. Cambridge, WI Gloria Salov ~ 2103 Pleasant Dr., Cambridge, WI Meta Hoel ~ 631 Kensington Square, Stoughton, WI Hazel Tellefson ~ Fairhaven ~ 435 W. Starin, Whitewater, WI Carol Barfknecht ~ 741 CTH A, Edgerton, WI Alma Houfe ~ Swift Haven ~ 124 Henry St. Apt., Edgerton, WI #106 Art Johnson ~ Extend A Care ~ 313 Stoughton Rd., Edgerton, WI Roger Olstad ~ 1040 Bliven Rd., Edgerton, WI Erna Rude ~ N2081 Rockdale Road, Edgerton, WI George Staff ~ 1379 Hwy 73, Edgerton, WI Thank You Thanks to all who helped with items for layette kits for LWR. I took them to Conference of Presidents in Chicago in February. You made or found blankets, sweaters, hats, sleepers, soap, and the difficult to find diaper pins. All of your efforts are so much appreciated. God Bless you. Carolyn Dear Members of EKLC, Thank you for your generous donation to the Cambridge Food Pantry. Your kindness is helping over 125 families per month, living in the Cambridge School District, receive fresh food, paper products, personal care items and pet food. During these challenging times, it is a comfort for families in need to know there is assistance locally. Please know your generosity is appreciated by all who shop the Cambridge Food Pantry. Yours Truly, Wanda L. Pleshek We extend our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of: AGNES TESKE Agnes died on Jan. 29, Funeral services were held for Agnes at Milton Lawns in Janesville, WI on Feb. 1, The family requests that memorials be directed to East Koshkonong Lutheran. We keep Jim, Linda and Lisa in our prayers. BRET MAY Bret died on Feb. 2, Funeral services were held for Bret at Nitardy Funeral Home in Fort Atkinson on Feb. 9, We keep Cindy and Alan in our prayers. We also keep Jane Furseth, and her families, in our prayers at the loss of her mother, Hilda Lintvedt P a g e 9

10 Worship Helpers for March 2012 Organists ~ Shelly Frank ~ 1st and 3rd Sundays Judy Rusch ~ 2nd and 4th Sundays Assistant Ministers~ 3/4 ~ Karen Hayes 3/11 ~ Carolyn Lien 3/18 ~ Gloria Fruit 3/25 ~ Arvid Mathison Lay Preachers ~ 3/7 ~ Andy, Sonja, and Jenna Christensen 3/14 ~ Trudy Spike 3/21 ~ Arvid Mathison 3/28 ~ Gina Reese Lay Readers~ 3/4 ~ Mary Ellen Christensen 3/11 ~ Trudy Spike 3/18 ~ Ken Rockney 3/25 ~ Beverly Lien Acolytes ~ 3/4 ~ Taylor Evenson & Katie Dieckhoff 3/7 ~ Jocie Georgeson & Veronica Wipperfurth 3/11 ~ Molly Hensel & Bailey Furseth 3/14 ~ Steven DeForest & Matthew Kaare 3/18 ~ Veronica Wipperfurth & Emily Olson 3/21 ~ Carson Kaashagen & Thomas Stach 3/25 ~ Maggie Loomis & Thea Holden 3/28 ~ Nicholas Woodstock & Taylor Evenson Communion Set-up/Take-down~ 3/4 ~ Befrienders ~ Joy Circle 3/11 ~ Joy Circle 3/18 ~ Jeff & Holly Loomis 3/25 ~ Judy Taylor & Barb Klemp Greeters~ 3/4 ~ Carolyn Lien 3/7 ~ Reese Parker & Eli Rawinski 3/11 ~ Sabra Jacobson 3/14 ~ Thomas Stach & Nicholas Woodstock 3/18 ~ Arvid & Linda Mathison 3/21 ~ Noah Furseth & Sydney Currie 3/25 ~ Joy Graffin 3/28 ~ Jocie Georgeson & Katie Diecckhoff Ushers~ 3/4 ~ Don Hoehn Family 3/7 ~ Taylor Evenson & Emily Zahn 3/11 ~ Don Hoehn Family 3/14 ~ Bailey Furseth & Noah Furseth 3/18 ~ Don Hoehn Family 3/21 ~ Maggie Loomis & Reese Parker 3/25 ~ Don Hoehn Family 3/28 ~ Veronica Wipperfurth & Steven DeForest Nursery Attendants~ 3/4 ~ Sabra Jacobson & Brenda Schroeder 3/11 ~ Sonja Christensen 3/18 ~ Natasha Amundson 3/25 ~ Gina Reese Offering Counters~ 3/4 ~ Carroll Ehrke & Andy Christensen 3/11 ~ Andy Christensen & Brenda Schroeder 3/18 ~ Arvid Mathison & Gloria Fruit 3/25 ~ Joy Graffin & Lois Zerkle Coffee Hour~ 3/4 ~ Sunday School 3/11 ~ Church Choir 3/18 ~ Church Council 3/25 ~ Joy Circle Communion Assistants~ 3/4 ~ Joanne Gyland & Carolyn Lien 3/11 ~ Arvid & Linda Mathison 3/18 ~ Karen Hayes & Dennis Lund 3/25 ~ Gloria Fruit & Mary Ellen Christensen P a g e 10

11 March 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat THE APRIL NEWSLETTER WILL BE MAILED OUT EARLY!! PLEASE SUBMIT ALL APRIL NEWSLETTER ARTICLES/ ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE MARCH 19TH. Thank you! 4 9am Worship Children s Choir 10:15am Coffee Hour Hosted by Sunday School pm Lenten Supper Hosted by Confirmation Class 7pm Worship 1 WELCA 9am Pin & Sew 12pm Potluck 1pm Meeting 1:30pm Bible Study :30am-3:30pm Lead 2012 at Covenant Lutheran Church, Stoughton 11 9am Worship EKLC Choir Reception of new members 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am Coffee Hour Hosted by EKLC Choir am Peace Circle Ladies Lounge 5:30pm Worship Committee Meeting 14 6pm Lenten Supper Hosted by Diane Luginbuhl & Erica Thompson 7pm Worship 15 8am Men s Breakfast am Worship 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am Coffee Hour Hosted by Church Council pm Church Council Meeting 21 6pm Lenten Supper Hosted by Carolyn Lien & Friends 7pm Worship NEWSLETTER DEADLINE MARCH 19!! 25 9am Worship EKLC Choir 10:15am Sunday School 10:15am Coffee Hour Hosted by Joy Circle pm Lenten Supper Congregational Potluck 7pm Worship P a g e 11 P a g e 11

12 In case of severe weather, you may contact the following resources to learn about cancellations at East Koshkonong: *church A message will be left on the office answering system as soon as a cancellation is made. *web site: Come one and all to the Cambridge Community Cafe, free Cambridge community meal. The next Cafe will be Thursday, March 1st, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Amundson Center, 200 Spring Street in Cambridge. Residents and employees who live and work in the Cambridge School District, of ALL ages, are invited to attend this exciting free dinner, the first Thursday of every month. This months meal is sponsored by the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, which will include a buffet of festive Mexican entrees and dessert. The mission of the Cambridge Community Cafe is to foster friendship, fellowship and family, all whilst enjoying great food and beautiful live music. If you are interested in hosting, or volunteering for an upcoming meal, please contact Wanda at Hope to see you all there, the more the merrier! East Koshkonong Lutheran Church 454 East Church Road Cambridge, WI Phone: Fax: eklc@bminet.com Return Service Requested APRIL NEWSLETTER DEADLINE MARCH 19TH NON PROFIT ORG. U.S Postage Paid Permit #4 I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Pastor s Message 1 President s Message 2 Church Council 3 January Council Report 4 Stewardship Committee 5 WELCA 5 Sunday School 6 Events 7 Confirmation Task Force 8 Homebound Members 9 Thank You and Prayers 9 March Worship Helpers 10 March Calendar 11