Sharings. We love Vacation Bible School. VBS (Vacation Bible School) 2015: Monday, June 15th Thursday, June 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m.

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1 Sharon Lutheran Sharings JUNE 2015 We love Vacation Bible School VBS (Vacation Bible School) 2015: Monday, June 15th Thursday, June 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m. as Our theme for Vacation Bible School is Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride Through God s Word. We will have four full evenings of Bible stories, music, games, crafts, and snacks! Families will be invited to share in the closing of the fourth night, and a fun treat will be served. VBS is open to all students who have completed Lambs-5 th grade church school. Guests, friends, and neighbors are always welcome, too! See the sign-up sheets on the wall outside South Hall. There is a $25 suggested donation to cover the cost of t-shirts and supplies. Please consider volunteering to help at VBS. Each child and adult volunteer will receive a VBS t-shirt! We look forward to sharing this AWESOME week with you. Be sure to register early!

Dear Friends, It s summer in North Dakota! You know what that means. No, I m not referring to the fact that it s road construction season (although it is that, too).

2 Dear Friends, It s summer in North Dakota! You know what that means. No, I m not referring to the fact that it s road construction season (although it is that, too). I m referring to the fact that most folks are looking forward to this time of year to get outdoors and be active. Perhaps you have visions of summer barbecues and vacations, lake and fishing expeditions, softball and rollerblading, along with many other summer opportunities. Hopefully June weather will cooperate with those plans. North Dakotans must take every opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the outdoor beauty of God s creation. So do it! Whether you re mowing the lawn or reclining in a hammock or flipping steaks on the grill, enjoy the beauty of this season! But, at the same time, I must add, Make worship a part of that. I know it s very easy to say, I can worship God as I appreciate God s creation while sitting in a boat on a quiet lake with fluffy white clouds adorning a deep blue sky and with the sound of loons echoing in the distance. True! That is certainly a time to celebrate the goodness of God the Creator! At the same time, Jesus didn t call his fishermen disciples to stay out on the Sea of Galilee and enjoy the Kingdom of God by themselves while they fished. He called them to be fishers of people. And the church was born. And God s people gathered together in community to worship the God who had not only created them but redeemed and sanctified them. Pastor Tom Nyman served Sharon Lutheran Church as Interim Pastor back in I ll never forget his favorite phrase See you in church! Tom said it to nearly everyone he met; it became his concluding phrase to every conversation See you in church! As we enjoy life with friends and family, as we celebrate recreation, as we travel to distant parts, remember the commitment we make to our church community. Remember how our faith life is central to who we are as children of God and how important it is to nurture and feed that faith life. So, as you enjoy this summer, remember to worship. Don t forget about Wednesday worship at Sharon each week at 6:15 pm if you re gone to the lake on Sunday. Remember to give thanks and celebrate the author of the seasons, the one who walks with us through this journey and adventure of life. See you in church! Pastor John Brief Congregational Meeting Sunday, June 7th 10:15am in the Sanctuary Discussion topic: Amending the budget to include increase in staff salaries Board of Education Director Is God calling you? We are looking for someone to be the Director of the Board of Education. This is a great board to work with, and there is exciting and important work to do. Please consider this opportunity, knowing that you will grow in faith through what you do. Think and pray about this possibility, and know that when God calls, God provides what we need. If you are willing to help lead Sharon in this way, please contact Pastor Lynn. Full Time Faith Formation Director Opening Sharon Lutheran Church is looking for a full time Faith Formation Director to work with a staff in the areas of education and youth activities. Salary dependent upon experience. Benefits included. Send resume to lronsberg@sharonlutheran.org or bring it to Pastor Lynn in the office. Contact Pastor Lynn with any questions.

GOLDEN AGE CLUB June 5th at 12:30pm Summer is here and it s time to take advantage of summer activities.

Bring a dish to pass and a guest or two (we won t pass the guests). After we enjoy some fine food, we ll test our wits with a game of Sharon Lutheran Jeopardy. Don t worry!

Tables &Chairs Project Table/Chair Project With your help, the Board of Properties would like to re-furnish the South Hall with new tables and chairs.

3 GOLDEN AGE CLUB June 5th at 12:30pm Summer is here and it s time to take advantage of summer activities. Let s start with a summer potluck on Friday, June 5 th, beginning at 12:30 pm in the church Celebration Hall. Note that this is a week earlier than our normal meeting schedule. Bring a dish to pass and a guest or two (we won t pass the guests). After we enjoy some fine food, we ll test our wits with a game of Sharon Lutheran Jeopardy. Don t worry! You won t be put on the spot! We ll have teams and the categories will all be local areas that you ll be familiar with. Come on the 5 th for a great afternoon and a grand kickoff to the summer! Tables &Chairs Project Table/Chair Project With your help, the Board of Properties would like to re-furnish the South Hall with new tables and chairs. Any donation is helpful, but a suggested dollar amount for each item is noted below: Chair: $25.00 ¼ Table: $50.00 ½ Table: $ ¾ Table: $ Full Table: $ Please use the envelopes by the display in the narthex for donations. Thank you! Do you know someone who recently had a new baby? Someone who is going through an illness? Someone who has recently lost a family member? Volunteers in our Meals Ministry would love to bring that family/individual a few meals to help get them through that time. Please contact myministry@sharonlutheran.org or contact the church office to sign up as a volunteer or to notify us of a family/individual in need, including yourself or your family if needed! Calvary Lutheran invites families from Sharon to join them on their first ever FAMILY MISSION TRIP Sun., July 26 Wed., July 29, 2015 Duluth, MN/Superior, WI Who: Families of all sizes, ages and configurations Cost: $129 per person. (Down payment of $100 per family due at registration.) Transportation: Car Caravan ***Financial assistance is available upon request. If you feel called to this, please don t let money stop you from coming!! Kids 3 and under are free (but we do need to know they are coming!) For more information, please contact Nicki Green at myministry@sharonlutheran.org or contact Calvary Lutheran directly. Welcome to Baptism Orientation If you are planning a baptism in your family, plan to come to a one-hour orientation called Welcome to Baptism on Sunday, June 7th at 2:30pm in the church lounge. Please enter through door #1. To register for the class, please call the church office by Friday before the class at ; the church office at office@sharonlutheran.org; or speak to one of the pastors. Sponsors are welcome to come in addition to parents. The class is designed to help answer questions about baptism, including: What is baptism? When should baptism occur? What is my role as a parent, sponsor, or family member of the baptized? If you have any questions about this class, please speak to one of the pastors.

Church in Society Opportunities Northlands Rescue Mission June 16th at 5:30pm Our annual cookout at the Northlands Rescue Mission has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th with serving to begin at

Thanks in advance for your participation in this fun and worthwhile event! Noisy Offering June 28th goes to Youth Summer Lunch Program This is a FREE lunch program provided by St.

Please call 701-795-8614 for location and any questions. Thanks!

place your items on the shelves in the narthex by the Contemporary Hall door. Thank you! This year s rummage sale brought in $8941.30. The proceeds will be used to repair our roof.

4 Church in Society Opportunities Northlands Rescue Mission June 16th at 5:30pm Our annual cookout at the Northlands Rescue Mission has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th with serving to begin at 5:30 PM. Volunteers will be needed to help set up and serve the meal, and provide homemade salads and bars. Watch for sign up information and additional details in the weekly Sharings. Thanks in advance for your participation in this fun and worthwhile event! Noisy Offering June 28th goes to Youth Summer Lunch Program This is a FREE lunch program provided by St. Joseph s Social Care and the United Way. Lunches are served Monday-Friday, June 8 July 31 at 12-noon, rain or shine, in various parks throughout the city. Please call for location and any questions. Thanks! Board of Church in Society Northlands Rescue Mission is currently in need of the following full size items: ~Men s body wash ~Shampoo ~Toothpaste ~Medicated foot powder ~Lotion ~Hair brushes You may place your items on the shelves in the narthex by the Contemporary Hall door. Thank you! This year s rummage sale brought in $ The proceeds will be used to repair our roof. As always, this would not have been possible without your support. We have a dedicated group of workers who put in long hours for set up, working at the sale, and cleanup. A HUGE THANK YOU to all those who contributed their time and energy. We also sincerely appreciate those who shopped and purchased new treasures! Sherryl Weisenberger and Cheryl Nyhlen, co-chairs, on behalf of the Board of Church Properties What does this mean for you as a member of Sharon Lutheran Church? Well, we are joining together with Lions to Change Lives, One Pair At A Time. Used and abandoned eyeglasses that you no longer use may change another person s life, so if you can Spare a Pair, Please Share! A collection box has been placed in the church narthex to accept prescription and reading glasses, sunglasses and plastic and metal frames. Children s glasses are especially needed. These glasses will be channeled and prepared for mission use and be given to needy people at no charge. You could help a child to read, an adult to succeed in his job or a senior to be able to maintain their independence. Be the change you want to see in the world: Spare a Pair and Show You Care! Collection will be ongoing in the church entry. Submitted by the Board of Church In Society.

Oils for healing, cleansing, and holy anointing are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. Aloes, Cassia, Frankincense, Galbanum, Hyssop, Spikenard, Cedarwood, Myrrh and many more.

Contact Maggie Davis at maggie-davis@hotmail.com Mary-Martha Circle June 16th 9:00am at the church Interested in joining a Circle Bible Study monthly meeting? Call Jan @ 746-6440 for more information.

Bakken, Lori & Carrol Bakken, Leroy & Sherry Erickson by Cheri & Dennis Erickson PASTORAL ACTS BAPTISMS 04-26-25 Olivia Lynn Olson, child of Mandy & Chad Olson 04-26-15 Jordan Allen Barstad, child of

5 Oils for healing, cleansing, and holy anointing are mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible. Aloes, Cassia, Frankincense, Galbanum, Hyssop, Spikenard, Cedarwood, Myrrh and many more. Come learn, enjoy, share and experience these holy healing oils. On June 23, 2015 from 7-9 pm in Rose of Sharon Lounge Karin Walton will lead a program of The Healing Oils of the Bible. Bring your Bible. Space is limited to 15 people so please sign up by contacting Molly Mohn in the Church Office at Sharon Lutheran Young Adult Servant Corps Serving & Growing Together in Faith. 1 Peter 4:10 Stay tuned to find out what we re up to this summer! Want to get involved? Contact Maggie Davis at maggie-davis@hotmail.com Mary-Martha Circle June 16th 9:00am at the church Interested in joining a Circle Bible Study monthly meeting? Call for more information. MEMORIAL GIFTS Undesignated Fund In Memory of : Delmer Howes, by Lowell Schweigert Table/Chiar Fund In Memory of: Al Blomquist bymarlan & Beverly Helgeson; Irene & Marty Erickson, Edgar & Agnes Bakken, Lori & Carrol Bakken, Leroy & Sherry Erickson by Cheri & Dennis Erickson PASTORAL ACTS BAPTISMS Olivia Lynn Olson, child of Mandy & Chad Olson Jordan Allen Barstad, child of Stephanie & Ryan Barstad Brielle Marie Ferguson, child of Shawna & Jason Ferguson Mak Anthony Kuntz, child of Tanya & Michael Kuntz Jax Monroe Fortman, child of Molly Moom & Jacob Fortman Thrivent Dollars Thrivent members may have Choice Dollars that can be directed to many different non-profit organizations, including Sharon Lutheran. If you have not spent your Thrivent Dollars, visit Thrivent.com or call toll free to choose how you want to spend them. Thrivent Action Team Project Thrivent has made some changes in how money is allocated. In the past Sharon Lutheran has received grant money to be used for various projects. Now we are given the opportunity to request monies through Thrivent Action Teams. Thrivent members are eligible to lead a Thrivent Action Team up to two times a year. What that entails is to request up to $250 as seed money to purchase project supplies and create promotional materials for church or community activities. This is a wonderful opportunity for our church and it s great to take advantage of it. The expectation is to report success of the project and take pictures as well as account for the items purchased. If you are a Thrivent member and are interested in pursuing this opportunity, you can go on the Thrivent website (Thrivent.com/actionteam) or call me (Karen Axvig ).

6 APRIL MINISTRY SUPPORT Amount needed in Operating Revenue each month per approved 2015 budget is $86, Month Actual YTD Actual April Current Ministry Gifts Loose Offering Memorials to Operating Fund , Church School, Cxonfirmation & VBS Registrations Other Gifts and Donations Total Operating Revenue Over/ (Under) 12, Designated gifts received: Higher Ground Memorials $10.00 ELCA Scholarship Smaritan Purse $ Thrivent Choice Dollars $ Noisy Offering $ Quilting $ Church School Offerings $ Undesignated Memorials $25.00 Hand Up Ministries Donations $50.00 Confirmation Offerings $46.00 Choir Fund Memorials $50.00 Prayer Shawl Ministry $35.00 Table/Chair Donations $ April Noisy offering went to Christus Rex PARISH PLANNING COUNCIL MEMBERS Executive Director Fred Wittmann Assistant Ex. Director Shari Breiland Assistant Ex. Director Jon Green Treasurer Traci LaDouceur Board of Church in Society Kristi Houska Board of Education Bethany Hetletved Board of Evangelism Jim Schober (Co-Dir) Board of Evangelism Bonnie Nerby (Co-Dir) Board of Lay Ministry Mark Thompson Board of Parish Fellowship Haley Wamstad Board of Property Teresa Dahlstrom (Co-Dir) Board of Property Mike Welsh (Co-Dir) Board of Public Relations Cheryl Nyhlen Board of Stewardship Brent Jiran Board of Youth Vicki Ronkowski (Co-Dir) Board of Youth LuAnn Schmidt (Co-Dir)

FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES June 2015 News as VBS 2015: Monday, June 15th Thursday, June 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m. Our theme for Vacation Bible School is Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride Through God s Word.

VBS is open to all students who have completed Lambs-5 th grade church school. Guests, friends, and neighbors are always welcome, too!

7 FAITH FORMATION MINISTRIES June 2015 News as VBS 2015: Monday, June 15th Thursday, June 18th 6:30-8:30 p.m. Our theme for Vacation Bible School is Avalanche Ranch: A Wild Ride Through God s Word. We will have four full evenings of Bible stories, music, games, crafts, and snacks! Families will be invited to share in the closing of the fourth night in the Sanctuary. VBS is open to all students who have completed Lambs-5 th grade church school. Guests, friends, and neighbors are always welcome, too! Families should have received an with registration information (please contact the Faith Formation Office if you did not receive an ). There is a $25 suggested donation to cover the cost of t-shirts and supplies. Please consider volunteering to help at VBS. See the sign-up sheets on the wall outside South Hall. Each child and adult volunteer will receive a VBS t-shirt! Please join us for special music during 6:15 worship on Wednesday, June 17th (Celebration Hall) THANK YOU!! We would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helps Faith Formation Ministries thrive at Sharon Lutheran Church! Church school teachers, Vacation Bible School helpers, Confirmation small group guides and mentors, event volunteers. board and team members, parents, guardians, and students all play a critical role in this journey of faith! From all of us on the Faith Formation Ministries team, thank you for all you do for young people and families at Sharon Lutheran and beyond. We would also like to thank you for all of the ways you have supported students and adult leaders taking part in summer mission and ministry experiences through your prayers, listening ears, and financial commitment. With your support, our students are able to practice their faith in real and meaningful ways. By giving, serving, worshipping, inviting, praying, encouraging, and studying, these young people connect with God, each other, this congregation, and the community. We are looking for donations of the following items for Vacation Bible School: Fabric markers Jumbo-sized craft sticks Sidewalk chalk Bubbles Pipe cleaners (brown or tan) Lollipop sticks Foam picture frames and foam bookmarks (Hobby Lobby) Dixie cups Snack-sized Ziploc bags Donations can be dropped off in the FFM offices. Thank you!

FAITH FORMATION MINI STRIES 2015-2016 Church School and Confirmation Registration Thank you to all of our families who have already registered their students for Church School and Confirmation for

Families should have already received registration information by email.

8 FAITH FORMATION MINI STRIES Church School and Confirmation Registration Thank you to all of our families who have already registered their students for Church School and Confirmation for next fall! As you may already know, we have made a move toward paperless mailings for our church school and Confirmation registrations! Families should have already received registration information by . We are excited for this new sign-up procedure, and we appreciate your patience and willingness to change with us as we save postage and eliminate paperwork and waste. We will continue to receive Church School and Confirmation registration throughout the summer, and the earlier you register, the better! It may seem early to be thinking about fall, but when you have 700 students to register and place in classes, it becomes very important that we register as many church school and Confirmation students as possible in May and June. Early registration ensures the opportunity for church school students to be registered in your 1st choice time and Confirmation students to be placed in a small group with a friend (upon request). Also, it makes our fall preparations for church school go much more smoothly. If you are unsure which Church School time will work for your family next fall, please go ahead and register for the time you think will most likely work. As soon as you know your fall schedule, call and let us know if you need to change to a different time. It is helpful to us to have your child registered even if you need to make a change later. Reminders will not be sent out, so please be sure to mark down the time you have chosen. We will only contact those who do not receive their first choice. Sorry, we will not be able to receive registrations over the phone. MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS Middle school mission trip participants were commissioned on Wednesday, May 27th for their journey to Duluth, MN. While in Duluth, these students will visit with the elderly, work with children, and serve at feeding programs while they live in community with each other and grow in faith. They will also spend a day at Feed My Starving Children. We invite you to pray for these participants and join the Sharon Lutheran Faith Formation Ministries group to follow their story on Facebook! MUSIC MINISTRY NEWS Thank you to Bright Lights (Kindergarten - 2nd graders), Shine (3rd - 5th graders), and By Grace (6th - 8th graders) for another great year of music! We appreciate your hard work, dedication, energy, and enthusiasm as you share your gifts and praise God together! We look forward to another great year next year, and we ll see you in the fall!

9 FAITH FORMATION MINI STRIES Confirmation News We rejoice in another year of Confirmation learning and fun with our 6th-11th graders! Here are a few of the highlights from this past year: 6th-8th graders spent the year studying the Small Catechism, learning more about Baptism, Communion, the Apostles Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord s Prayer. They also found out more about a God who is always forgiving and always loving God s people, and they discovered that we are also called to love and serve others. These students are given space to ask difficult questions about faith and life, and their small group guides are there to accompany them, care for them, and honor their thoughts as we learn how to practice our faith and grow as disciples. After spending three years of middle school learning about the Old Testament, New Testament, and Small Catechism, our 9th grade students learned how to integrate faith into everyday life - at home, at work, at school, and with their friends. These students also grew in their Biblical knowledge and put their faith into action at Sharon Lutheran Church and in our community. They appreciate being recognized as older students and having deeper conversations, and we appreciate their presence here as we grow in faith together and become lifelong followers of Jesus. 6th-9th graders also participated in Citywide Confirmation, the CROP Walk, and Operation: Christmas Cheer. They served as worship assistants during the season of Lent and completed worship response forms throughout the year. 6th-7th graders served as acolytes in worship, while many middle school & high school students serve as church school teachers and VBS volunteers. 10th graders spent the year in conversation, study, and fellowship with an adult mentor, taking part in a wide range of planned events and activities around their common interests. They also decorated the red stoles that each student will wear on their Confirmation Day. 11th graders affirmed their baptism during the Rite of Confirmation in Fall It is a privilege and honor to share in this special day with family and friends, and we thank you for the opportunity to partner with you on this journey of faith! **Please note that we are still in need of Confirmation small group guides for the school year. Please contact Dave Berger for additional information or if you feel called to serve in this way. Thank you!** BIBLE CAMP TRANSPORTATION AND RIDE SHARING INFORMATION Going to Bible camp this summer, and wondering if your friends are attending the same week? Please call Dave Berger at or dberger@sharonlutheran.org. Dave will be compiling a list of campers from Sharon and helping families share rides to and from camp. Camp brochures are available in the Faith Formation offices, and camperships are available. We encourage you to go to camp this summer!

11 JUNE 2015 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00am Women s Book of Faith Study 5:00pm Hunger Committee 6:15pm Worship 6:30pm Board of Church in Society Church Office closes at 12 noon 12:30pm Golden Age Club Potluck 2:00pm Wedding 7 9:00am Sanctuary worship 9:00 & 10:30am Celebration worship 10:15am Congregational Meeting 2:30pm Welcome to Baptism class Middle School Mission Trip departure 8 9 5:00pm Youth Team 5:37pm Finance Committee 6:00pm Board of Properties 7:00pm Education Team 10 6:15pm Worship 7:15pm Prayer Shawl Ministry 11 4:45pm Board of Stewardship 5:30pm Board of Fellowship 6:30pm Board of Lay Ministry 7:00pm Hannah Circle 12 7:00am Executive Committee Church Office closes at 12 noon 13 4:00pm Wedding 14 9:00am Sanctuary worship 9:00 & 10:30am Celebration worship Set up for VBS 6:00pm VBS Volunteers meeting 15 6:30-8:30pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) Deadline for July Newsletter Articles 16 9:00am Mary Martha circle 1:30pm Rachel circle 5:00pm Cookout at Northlands Rescue Mission 6:30pm Board of Public Relations 6:30-8:30pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) 17 5:15pm Board of Evangelism 6:15pm Worship 6:30-8:30pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) 18 6:30-8:30pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) 19 Church Office closes at 12 noon :00am Sanctuary worship 9:00 & 10:30am Celebration worship 22 High School Seniors Depart for Camping in Duluth 23 7:00pm Healing Oils of the Bible 24 6:15pm Worship High School Seniors Return from Camping in Duluth 25 9:00am Assemble Parish Newsletter 5:30pm Parish Planning Council 26 Church Office closes at 12 noon :00am Sanctuary worship 9:00 & 10:30am Celebration worship :00pm Youth Gathering meeting

Sharon Lutheran Church 1720 S 20th St Grand Forks, ND 58201 Phone: 701-772-3122 Email: office@sharonlutheran.org Website: www.sharonlutheran.org Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Grand Forks, ND 58201 Permit No.

12 Sharon Lutheran Church 1720 S 20th St Grand Forks, ND Phone: office@sharonlutheran.org Website: Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Grand Forks, ND Permit No. 270 Mailing Address Line 1 Mailing Address Line 2 Mailing Address Line 3 Mailing Address Line 4 Sunday Worship 9:00am Sanctuary 9:00 & 10:30am Celebration Hall Wednesday Worship 6:15pm Celebration Hall Sharon Lutheran Staff Pastor... Lynn Ronsberg (lronsberg@sharonlutheran.org) Pastor... John H. Fick (jfick@sharonlutheran.org) Pastor... Nate Sutton (nsutton@sharonlutheran.org) Part-time Visitation Pastor... Roger Brockmeyer (rbrockmeyer@sharonlutheran.org) Administrative Assistant... Missy Thompson (mthompson@sharonlutheran.org) Secretary... Molly Mohn (mmohn@sharonlutheran.org) Assoc. of Faith Formation & Music Ministries... David Berger (dberger@sharonlutheran.org) Director of Music Ministries... Roxanne Gessler (rgessler@sharonlutheran.org) Organist... Sue Kerr & Carolyn Tunseth Adult Choir Director... Tom Young Custodian... Dan Kuzel Office... office@sharonlutheran.org Church Office Hours Monday - Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm Friday 8:30am to 12noon

Sharings. Sharon Lutheran s 11th Annual Town Square Worship (Corner of Demers Ave. & South 3rd St.) Wednesday, July 1st at 6:15pm

Sharings. Sharon Lutheran s 11th Annual Town Square Worship (Corner of Demers Ave. & South 3rd St.) Wednesday, July 1st at 6:15pm Sharon Lutheran Sharings JULY 2015 Come Worship Outdoors! Sharon Lutheran s 11th Annual Town Square Worship (Corner of Demers Ave. & South 3rd St.) Wednesday, July 1st at 6:15pm In the Old Testament, when