Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church

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1 A u g u s t G A C h u r c h w w w. g a c h u r c h. o r g Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church Special Information Worship back cover Special Monthly Offering Envelopes page 3 & 8 Take Me Out to the Ball Game page 3 HealthEast Hospice Grief Support Services page 7 Vacation Bible School: Get ready to ReNew! August 8-12, 2011, 9:00 am 11:30 am Children ages 3 through Grade 5, $10 per child Kids in our congregation can lead the way as stewards of the earth. This summer, they will participate in ReNew: The Green VBS. ReNew is about hope, opportunity, and service kids will serve their community and demonstrate that being green can be easy, faithful, and fun! Stop by the Welcome Desk to pick up a registration form or download a form from the GA website. Find out how you can get involved by calling Sherrie at the church office. Help ReNew our neighborhood with a Trash Walk at Lake Phalen on Wednesday, August 20. Meet at the [Round Lake Picnic area just off Frost Ave.] at 6:30 pm. Trash bags, gloves and instructions will be provided. Enjoy a frosty treat after our walk. State Fair Parking Volunteer Sign-up! Aug. 26-Sept. 6 Yes, it s that time of year again! Before we know it, the Great Minnesota Get-Together will be in full swing! Here at GA, we play host to one of the many Park-N-Ride locations. We need your smiles, hospitality and time! Sign up in the gathering area for shifts to serve as parking attendants in our parking lot. It s always a fun time and not too much work. Look for the sign up book at the Welcome Center here at church. Bring your family, a friend, or neighbor and lend a hand. It s a fun way to serve your church! If you have any questions, please contact Matt Hogen or Rick Howard for details. Congregation-Wide Breakfast! Sunday, August 14, 9:30 am 11:00 am Between services, join us for a congregation-wide breakfast. Why? Just for fun. It s not a fundraiser, just an opportunity to gather with friends and family for a delicious morning meal. Come spend time with new and old GA friends. A free will donation is asked to cover the costs.

2 Page 2 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch Pastor s Column Human I don t know about you, but my way or the highway seems to be a familiar way of talking these days. This little phrase used to be, sort of, a joke. But lately it seems to have more and more traction. Whether it s our state or national budget conversations, or the way we interact with those around us, my way or the highway seems to be getting more and more airtime. And, obviously, there s a problem with this, isn t there? One problem is, usually, nothing gets done. Lines are drawn. Sides are picked. And, a long, drawn-out staredown ensues. Another problem with my way or the highway is it neglects the fact that we are all human. We are all human. And, as the joys and challenges of life remind us, humans are messy. Are we not? Things aren t cut and dried, usually. Principle is one thing, but real life being human, flesh and blood, is messy business. The more we really live, the more we realize those hard and fast rules are less and less hard and fast. My way or the highway just doesn t seem human, if we are honest. One size doesn t fit all. Churches are filled with humans, and so it is no surprise that they are much the same. Churches are filled with messy humans, full of imperfections and blemishes, all striving to hear what God might be saying to us and responding in love. When churches are at their best, they aren t neat & tidy places, really. They are messy. Messy because they are open to and filled with humans whose lives are messy. Churches are those places where people of all different opinions, persuasions, backgrounds and convictions find a home. For example, during the last election, on Sunday mornings our church s parking lot was filled with cars that had bumper stickers showing support for John McCain and others with bumper stickers supporting Barack Obama. But, inside the church, those same people who drove those cars to church sat right next to one another and together they worshipped the same God. When you think about our landscape today, that s a really messy image. That doesn t happen in too many other places. Church is a place where we are able to recognize that we re all Christians, but we re not all of same mind politically, socially, etc we gather as God s messy bunch. In the church year, we re in the season of Pentecost. Similarly, Pentecost is a messy time. A time when we hear stories of Jesus at work and wonder about what it means to be a Christian in the world. Pentecost is a time for wondering how our lives might more and more resemble the real, messy, flesh and blood, life of Jesus. As you will recall, God got messy in that human, Jesus. The only thing neat and clear for Jesus was God s love for you and me. Everything else about that human Jesus was well, messy. His life, his friends, his work, his message, his death. All messy. I give thanks that we get to be a part of a church that can hold all our differences, quirkiness, oddities, opinions, and, yes, messiness together. A community that recognizes we are not all of the same mind and that s OK and yet, we gather, week after week, as brothers and sisters, one body, to worship the same God. This is indeed a gift in this day and age. A fellow messy human, Pastor Hans

3 August 2011 Page 3 Freedom Fund Update Special Monthly Offering: August Thank you to all who made three-year pledges to the Freedom Fund this past year. Every three years we ask members to make a financial pledge to the Freedom Fund which pays the mortgage on our wonderful building. As of May, our mortgage balance was just under $1.6 million and our monthly payments are approximately $14,000. You should know that because of your good stewardship and generous estate gifts, over this past year we have paid down roughly $433,000 in principle, in addition to our monthly payments. If you have made a pledge to the Freedom Fund, please know that your monthly faithfulness to this pledge is important. This time of year, some of us fall behind or forget to make gifts. If you need to catch up, please do. If you are on track, thank you. If you have questions about your pledge, please contact Helen in the church office or Helen@gachurch.org. Your generosity in God s mission is a blessing! Among your offering envelopes are monthly blue envelope marked Special Offering. These monthly special offerings go to support various special ministries of our church. August s Special Offering is designated Summer Choir on August 14 Summer Choir rehearses at 8:15 am on Sunday and sings for the 9:00 am Worship that morning. for the Loaves and Fishes Ministry that GA has been a part of so many years. Loaves and Fishes serves meals to those without each night in locations around the Metro area. Please be generous! If interested, please contact Jerry Brakke at or jerry@gachurch.org or just show up! Take Me Out to the Ball Game! Celebration Sunday! Sunday, September 18 Our fall programs kick off on Sunday, September 18 with Celebration Sunday! That morning, Adult Education and our Treehouse Sunday School kick into full swing. There will be a Corn Feed out in the parking lot with food, music and fun! Put Sunday, September 18 on your calendars today! Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7:10 pm, Target Field Come on out for the 2 nd Annual GA Twins Target Field. Join your church family and friends to watch our local boys take on the Seattle Mariners. Sign up sheets will be at the Welcome Desk. Note: this year we have TWO different ticket options. 32 tickets at a $34 per ticket price and 68 tickets at a $23 per ticket price. First come, first serve. Bring the whole family! We encourage carpooling if you'd like to meet up at the church and arrange rides together. Another option is the lightrail station from Ft. Snelling to the stadium. For details, please contact Stephanie Paulsen at or me your reservation at stephaniepaulsen@gmail.com. GO TWINS!

4 Page 4 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch Faith Formation Children s Ministry See you in September! Sunday, September 11: Backpack Blessing & Try Out the Tree House Sunday Sunday, September 18: Celebration Sunday and Tree House Sunday School Classes begin Just starting Sunday School? If you have a child who will be 3 years old by Sept 1 of this year or if your child has not attended Sunday School at Gustavus in the past, please pick up a Sunday School registration form at the Welcome Desk or contact Sherrie Nordquist at the church office for more information. Come Play in Our Church Nursery! Loving care is offered for infants through 4 year olds on Sunday mornings from 9:00 am through 11:30 am during the summer months. Blessing of the Backpacks! Children of all ages are urged to bring their school backpacks as we bless the students who carry them during worship on September 11. Thank you, God, for fresh starts as we begin a new school year! Try Out the Tree House Sunday September 11 Families may register for Sunday School and pick up handbooks, calendars and offering envelopes. Adults and older youth interested in assisting or leading in a Workshop or as a Small Group Shepherd, may pick up information packets or talk with a member of our planning team. SPARK!! is coming back to the Tree House this fall! Designed to get kids ages 2 grade 5 opening the Bible and exploring God s Word in each and every lesson. Children will study Bible stories through many different types of learning such as Art, Drama, Storytelling, Games and more. Students will hear and experience the same Bible story in all of the workshops for three weeks rotating to a different workshop each week. Educators have long realized that it is necessary to repeat information in order to retain it. When children hear the same story through several different lessons, they remember it better. They are also able to go deeper into the material and have a better chance of personally reflecting on the importance of the lessons. Volunteering If you are interested in helping with Sunday School but cannot make a full-year commitment. Here is your chance to help with various stations from set-up to teaching a small group of children. Volunteers would only need to make a 3 to 4 week commitment. Various activity stations would include the following: Drama/Art/Music/ Games/Storytelling/ Puppets/Science and more. Use your expertise and a little of your time to help us share the Good News of Jesus love with out Sunday School children. Sign up at the Welcome Desk or contact Sherrie Nordquist at the church office. Become a fan of GA Church Saint Paul on Facebook! (Youth are also invited to join GA Church Youth s Facebook page.)

5 August 2011 Page 5 Faith Formation Children s Ministry ReNew VBS Let s work together to care for creation! There is still time to sign up for ReNew! August 8-12, :00 11:30 am Children ages 3 through Grade 5 $10 per child ReNew Vacation Bible School invites kids to learn about Jesus, help build our community, and grow as they become stewards of God s creation. At ReNew: The Green VBS kids will: Explore God s Word through Jesus Parable of the Sower. Learn about God s creation and what we can do to care for it. Meet members of our community who are stewards of the environment. Make new friends and have a great time! Stop by the Welcome Desk to pick up a registration form or download a form from the GA website. ReNew Volunteers still needed! Activity Site Leaders, Small Group Shepherds, Snacks Leaders, VBS Nurse (1 or more days), Snacks for Volunteers (donations &/or server), Registration/ Greeters (Mon), and more Call or Sherrie Nordquist at the church office Come along and join our Children s ministry team. Your contributions will make VBS a Blast! (Needed by August 4!) Old Greeting Cards Packets of Seeds (flowers, vegetables ) Fabric scraps Large seeds (pumpkin, navy beans ) Egg cartons Books, magazines, catalogs about seeds, plants and growing things Hand-sized spades Gardening gloves Hula Hoops Farmer s straw hat Grocer s apron Empty fruit baskets Misting bottles Ice Cream Buckets or small pails Watering cans Balls of string Balls of twine Grocery bags Kid-friendly gardening tools Magnifying glasses Clean, small margarine containers and lids Plastic plant pots Muffin tins Magazines (Gardening, Travel, National Geographic ) ReNew Tip: Freecycling is a word that comes from free and recycling and happens when people give away usable items they no longer want. Not only does it keep stuff out of landfills. Think about ways you can (and already do) freecycle at home or in your community. Some recycling facts: Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours or a TV for 2 hours. It takes approximately 1 million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill. In the U.S. today, 34% of all glass containers are recycled. Glass never wears out - it can be recycled forever. Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy used to make glass. Glass containers save 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of glass recycled. Americans use over 67,000,000 tons of paper each year, or 600 pounds per person. Every year more than 900 million trees are cut down to provide raw materials for American paper and pulp mills. Recycling facts came from: Headwaters Cooperative Recycling, Inc.

6 Page 6 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch August Birthdays 1 Breanna Benshoof Curt Bergman Sandra Durand Ryan McFarren Courtney Zenk 2 Dorinne Foster Robert Gunter Joshua Weber Chuck Woods 3 Roger Josephson Stephen Treanor 4 Rev. Marbury Anderson Tony Bello Eric DeVahl John Doiron Anthony Farinella Jennifer Tamburo 5 Carly Farinella Mike Mullen Dean Rychly 6 Kara Johnson Matthew Schulke 7 Brandon Hedberg, Jr Lois Lundeen 8 Eric Albrect Elaine Hallberg Nancy Jones Donna Larson 9 Lisa Johnson Nancy Nelson Andrea Simmer 10 Doreen Johnson 11 Janice Cruz Willis Dugan Travis S. Goepfert Rose Madison Lorraine Schwantes Katherine Stachowiak 12 Rich Engelstad Brian Hanson Raebern Hitchcock Tyler James 13 Barbara Raaen Michael Richie 14 Ericka Coffelt 15 Mark Borglum Dean Clark Riley Estes Marlys Siverson Sandra Prohofsky Lorelei Schlick 17 Carl Elmquist Michael Sandberg Theodore Drake 18 Alyssa Downwind Andrew Stachowiak 19 Claudia Ryan Steven Stachowiak 20 Sharen Dahm Cara Larson Lindsey Pearson Christine Schwartz 22 Rick McMillen 23 George Carlson Barbara Gawtry Erik Hassenstab Peg Hawkinson 24 Joyce Cairnes Mary Donnelly Steven Hayne Grace Potter 26 Lola Heineman Phyllis Ekstrom Diana Williams 27 Amanda Olson 28 Sarah Bjork Sarah Deeny Kirsten Gustafson Gayle Herr 29 Matthew Jarosiewicz Matthew O Brien Isaiah Ronning Joan Sigmundik 30 Lucas Burton Phyllis Kendig Vernelle Merrick Ginger Spiel 31 Lucille Asp Kyleigh Eide Anna Himmer Anthony Rees Community Caring Gifts were given to Gustavus Adolphus Church in memory or in honor of the following persons during the month of June. IMO Elwood Lundeen- C Grant, E & ML DeVahl, D Allred, A Schoenrock, M Brainard, A Vanselow, G & J Miller, G Malm, L & E Pearson, R & B Gawtry, R & J Nelson, D & L Asp, D & C Ryan, M & J Peters, R Sundberg, L & B Holmstrom, M Peterson, E & P Oslund, A & R Barduson, M Johnson, R & S Johnson, E & D Haugen, A Higgins, S Hallquist, W & S Johnson, N Hobbs, E Reichel, S & V Lincowski, V & W Spiel, H & D Viker, P Andersen, J & J Ahern, J & L Diedrick, P Ponto, T & V Skrypek, J Wemette, W & G Dugan, N L Johsnon, S & R Edlund, L & M Nelson, E Rhode, J & M Norquist, B Higgins, J & M Hall, D & V Kennen, E & E Nelson, R & V Abrahamson, M & S Anderson, R & K Landkamer, A & C Hultgren, B Challgren, B & N Relay, C & J Nelson, B & J Erickson, K & M Kidnie, A Lehman, D Seidenkranz, W & S Swanson, R & B Carle, B & L Schaller, D & V Johnson, D & E Hassenstab, B & S Frase, Edgerton School Hospitality Fund, T & D Berkas,J Bloom, C Tstor, L Baumann, C & J Berglund, R Nadeau, J Kramer, G & H Wade, N, N, J, & M Jones, Freedom Fund-R & L Malmgren, Loaves & Fishes- R Borgstrom & C Lundgren, R & S Carle,G & M Siverson IMO Betty Strom- M Hebaus IHO Claire Olson Crayne- C Olson & C Crayne, IMO Carl Feske- B & L Lund, G Wahman, R & J Nelson, A Schoenrock, J & L Quam, L & E Pearson, M Peterson, D Bass, J & J Clark, G & J Miller, L Blom, V & W Spiel, R & A Barduson, L & E Jacobsen, J Lahay, D Larson, E Adachi, A Higgins, M Wolff,

7 August 2011 Page 7 Gifts continued D & C Brekken, K & D Zenk, D & K Duncan, N L Johnson, W & G Dugan, Carlson Capital Management, G & O Erickson Loaves & Fishes- J & M Siverson, O & E Blyton Freedom Fund- R & L Malmgren Property- L & B Holmstrom Everybody Grieves Adult & Youth Grief Education for Adults HealthEast Hospice Grief Support Services is offering two separate grief education classes. The first class is designed to help adults better understand and cope with their own grief after the death of a loved one. The second class will help adults better understand the grief of children and teens and how to support them through their losses. Adult grief class will be held Wednesday, August 10 and the youth grief will be held Wednesday, August 24. Both classes are from 7:00pm 8:30pm in the Watson Education Center, Maplewood Professional Building, which is next to St. John s Hospital in Maplewood. There is no cost for either class but registration is required. For more information about the classes offered and to register please call Sue Bohnsack, Bereavement Coordinator at ELCA Churchwide Assembly Pastor Hans was elected to represent our church s conference at the 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, August in Orlando, FL. Please pray for him and the work of the ELCA. WIC Clinic at GA? GA continues to explore the possibility of a lease agreement with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Clinics of Ramsey County. The clinic would lease space at GA that was formerly occupied by the MN School for the Deaf. In order for WIC to lease space at GA, renovations are necessary. Bids have been gathered for interior renovations to the space which WIC will repay. We are currently in the midst of lease negotiations. This is an opportunity that could serve families in the community around us in a very tangible way. Over 50% of families in the U.S. utilize WIC service in some way. Before a lease is signed and/or renovations occur, a congregational meeting will be held to answer all questions and approve renovations and leasing. Thank you to Matt Hogen, Dave Duncan, Bruce Palava and Dave Grefe for their time & energy. Direct questions to one of them or a pastor. An Invitation to join Care Team Ministry! Care Team Ministry (CTM) is a group of volunteers who help our older members by visiting, providing rides, light housekeeping chores, or running simple errands. If you have an extra hour or two a month and are interested we'd love to have you join our group. Last quarter we volunteered over 175 hours! Also Carl Berglund, Bill Lund and Joyce Miller, members of our CTM were nominated for Ambassador Awards from Lyngblomsten and Joyce was a finalist! If you are interested in joining the team please contact either Joyce at or Nancy Johnson at

8 Page 8 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch 2011 Special Monthly Offering Envelopes Jan Feb Mar Apr- May- June- July- Aug- Sept- Global Mission Iringa Diocese Food Shelf Youth Camperships/ Mission Trips Lyngblomsten College Scholarships Library Loaves & Fishes Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh Lectionary texts for August August 7 1 Kings 19:9-18 Psalm 85:8-13 Romans 10:5-15 Matthew 14:22-33 August 14 Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Psalm 67 Romans 11:1-2a, Matthew 15:[10-20] August 21 Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 August 28 Jeremiah 15:15-21 Psalm 26:1-8 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 Thank You s Thank you to Pastor Sue Schoon for all her extra time and energy while I was away on vacation over the 4 th of July! Thanks, Sue. Pastor Hans Tutor Signup at the Eastside Learning Center Again this year, GA is encouraging members to sign up as tutors at the Eastside Learning Center. Volunteers receive on-going training, and are provided with lesson plans and materials for each session. All you have to do is make the time to help. Sign up now to volunteer in the fall! Tutoring sessions are held between 3:00-5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Just one hour a week for 10 weeks can make an incredible difference in a child s life. Contact the Eastside Learning Center at (651) Questions? Contact one of our tutors from last year, like Carol Lundgren, Sharon Johnson or Jeff Surine. GA Youth Garage Sale Oct- Nov- Dec- Merrick Community Services ELCA World Hunger Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Weekly Bible Study Thursdays, 10:00 am Learn more about the Scripture passages for the coming Sunday, led by Pastor Bonnie Wilcox, Pastor Hans Dahl, Pastor Susan Schoon, or Helen McEvoy-Freese. Morning Drop Off Times Tues. (Sept. 27) thru Thurs. (Sept. 29) Note: NO Monday morning drop off! 8:00 am 11:00 am Evening Drop Off Times Mon. (Sept.26) thru Thurs. (Sept. 29) 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Sale Times Friday (Sept. 30) 8:00 am-6:00 pm Saturday (Oct. 1) 8:00 am-2:00 pm

9 August 2011 Page 9 An Alphabet Garden: GA Peterson Library s 50 th Anniversary Celebration Part II Join the fun! Help plant a zany alphabet garden in our library this summer. All ages welcome! Read, listen, or view an item from our collection. Then write the title on an entry form in the library. Create a wacky alphabet letter for one of the words in the title. Enter more than once. Watch the garden grow! Prizes will be awarded in the fall. The Ronald C. Peterson library is open between services from 10:00-10:30 am on Sunday mornings during the summer. Large print selections are also available. Library Committee Meeting and Workday, Second Tuesday of each month at 1:00 pm The role of the GA Library committee is to grow and maintain the library collection. The committee performs many tasks including: Selecting and purchasing materials for the library Preparing materials to be checked out, Promoting the library through preparing book displays and creating new library programs. The library committee meets the second Tuesday of each month from 1:00-3:00 pm. If you would enjoy working with this group, please contact Sherrie Nordquist at the church office or stop by the library on Sunday morning. Librarians: Carol Sandberg, Karen Netwal, Marlys Siverson The women s book club is taking a break for the summer. We will meet again in September! Keeping a Sharp Mind Cultivating Our Gray Matters Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 Lyngblomsten's Annual Wellness Conference will be held at GA. The Keynote Presentation / Cultivating Our Gray Matters: Lessons From Brain Science On Keeping a Sharp Mind by Dr. Catherine Sullivan, St. Catherine University. Conference is from 5:00-9:00 pm and there is also a Pre-Conference and a Pre-Conference dinner. Pre-Conference begins at 2:30 pm. The full afternoon and evening includes a pre-conference session, breakout sessions on Exercise & Dementia or Alzheimer's Disease: Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention, and dinner. Registration is required, the cost, depending on what you attend is either $10 - $15 or $25. For more information call Wes Johnson at , Cindy Albing: or calbing@lyngblomsten.org and registration forms and details are at calendar. Have You Remembered GA in Your Will? A legacy gift will help continue the 120-year tradition of mission at Gustavus Adolphus. With the advice of your attorney or tax adviser, the following language may be added to your will, trust or codicil: I bequeath X% of my estate to Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 N. Arcade, Saint Paul, MN Online Giving (aka Simply Giving) is a free service to you, and benefits the church s cash flow all year. Gifts may be made weekly, or on a schedule that fits your personal needs. Consistency in giving helps the church, whether you are unable to attend worship because of illness, business, vacation, or other reason. Sign up at and click on Donate Now on the left side.

10 Gustavus Adolphus (GA) Lutheran Church 1669 Arcade St St. Paul, MN Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Twin Cities MN Permit No. 585 Gustavus Adolphus (GA) is a member of the Saint Paul Area Synod ( of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Sunday Worship 9:00 am Traditional Service 10:30 am New Life Worship (ASL Interpreted) Church Staff Bonnie Wilcox Senior Pastor Hans Dahl Associate Pastor Susan Schoon Visitation Pastor Jerome Brakke Director of Music & Organist Sherrie Norquist Director of Christian Education Linda Tischer Administrative Assistant Judy Hitchcock Ass t Administrative Assistant Helen McEvoy-Freese Business Office Rick Arons, Nelson Tracey, & Kevin Berglund Custodians Kathy Laramy Wedding Consultant Michelle Beaulieu, Kendra Nielsen & Diana Williams ASL Interpreters Leman Olsenius Pastor Emeritus DEADLINE for September Newsletter: Monday, August 15 Articles and announcements for the upcoming newsletter are needed by the deadline listed above. Send to Linda at Linda@gachurch.org Sunday Morning Volunteers You Can Help Greeters: Individuals, couples or families to greet people to worship on Sundays from 8:40 9:00 am, or 10:15-11:15 am. Duties include directing visitors to where we worship, restrooms, Sunday School rooms, and information at the Welcome Desk. Please sign-up at the Welcome Desk. Coffee Hour: Provide hospitality in the Gathering Area on Sundays between services. Includes providing cookies, bars (or a cake if you would like to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary), setting up trays and assist with serving. If you can not provide treats but still would like to help you can also make a cash donation so we can purchase items to have on hand. Please sign-up at the Welcome Desk.