Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church

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1 F e b r u a r y 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 In this month s Newsletter Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2015, p. 3 GAteway of Faith Appeal Update, p. 4 Souper Bowl Sunday, p. 8 February Table Talk, p. 10 Mardi Gras Meal! Wednesday, February 11, 5:00pm Mardi Gras is the time between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, a festival celebrating light breaking into the world. Join us for a New Orleans-style supper, with regular Family Faith Night events beginning at 6:00 pm, and campfire worship at 6:50 pm. Ash Wednesday Worship: February 18 10:30am & 6:50pm Ash Wednesday is a quiet, reflective day in the life of the church that begins the season of Lent. It is a day when we confess the ways we fall short and participate in systems that hurt, neglect and marginalize those around us. Ash Wednesday is a day of honesty. During Ash Wednesday worship you are invited to come forward and receive the sign of ashes on your forehead. This is an ancient symbol of repentance or remorse for the ways we intentionally and unintentionally hurt our neighbors, God s creation and ourselves. The ashes are marked on us in the sign of the cross, a reminder of God s unending forgiveness, mercy and grace seen most clearly in the death of Christ. Our Lent Theme for 2015: Into the Wild: Jesus in the Wilderness & Hunger Today On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm, we will have small group discussions using a study guide. We also encourage you to gather a group of family or friends to meet weekly in your home or at a local coffee shop to hold similar conversations. You may also download or pick up an Into the Wild Family Discussion Guide to use each of the forty days of Lent. With simple, easy-to-understand actions and conversation starters, you may encourage each other in faith and grow in love for God together.

2 Page 2 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch Senior Pastor Column: Pray for Others In his book Stories for the Journey, William White tells of a European seminary professor and his wife, Hans and Enid. During WWII they escaped to America, where Hans began teaching in a seminary. Students loved this Bible teacher, and they enjoyed observing the tender love that Hans and Enid displayed as the couple often walked hand in hand around campus. Enid's unexpected death sent Hans into a pit of sorrow. The seminary president and three other friends began visiting Hans, but he remained lonely and depressed. "I am no longer able to pray to God," Hans confided to them, "In fact, I am not certain I believe in God anymore." After an awkward moment of silence, the seminary president responded, "Then we will believe for you. We will pray for you." In the following weeks the four men met daily to pray with Hans, asking God to help Hans experience God's presence and healing. Months later, as the four men gathered again in Hans's living room, Hans greeted them with a smile. "It is no longer necessary for you to pray for me," he said. "Instead, I would like you to pray with me." Praying on behalf of someone else is called intercessory prayer. Deep within each of us, God created a need for connection and relationship. We care about what happens to others. As one writer put it, We pray for God to step in and act for the good of people we care about and whose special needs we may know intimately. In the face of fear, discouragement, injury, abuse or ill health, prayer is an act of faith, whether we know the one for whom we pray or not. of God s answer to prayers. In praying for others, we enter into the time between the request and the answer. The length of time between those two actions is not in our control. It is a precious gift to offer to wait with another person. Modern faith writer Anne Lamott says, The world sometimes feels like the waiting room of the emergency ward, and we, who are more or less OK for now, need to take the tenderest possible care of the more wounded people in the waiting room, until the healer comes. You sit with people, she said, you bring them juice and graham crackers. Intercessory prayer is not a pyramid scheme where God answers the prayers of the one who has the most people praying for her or him. But there is a mystery within it that has the power to change both the pray-er, and the one for whom one is praying. In a more traditional sense, the apostle Paul wrote to the people of Philippi to encourage their faith and their love toward others. He wrote, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 Our community of faith has an Prayer Chain to share prayer requests for the benefit of people who are active here at GA and/or their friends and families. To join the Prayer Chain, send an to me at: b.wilcox@gachurch.org. It will change your life, and the lives of others in Christ s name. Pastor Bonnie Wilcox, Senior Pastor One prays for loved ones because s/he has to, not merely because his/her prayer may accomplish something beyond this. Howard Thurman Intercessory prayer (prayer on behalf of others) asks us to place our trust in the manner and timing

3 Febr uary 2015 Page 3 LENT HOLY WEEK EASTER 2015 The Season of Lent In the darkness of this time of the year, we set aside time for reflection, meditation and prayer. The 40 days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on the eve of Easter, have traditionally been a time of preparation and instruction about our need for God, and how we respond to God s love for us in Jesus Christ. It may be a time to take on a new spiritual discipline to improve your life, or to let go of something that encourages you to remember the sacrifice of Christ. You are encouraged to use this season to gather together, to examine your life and to strengthen your faith, always looking toward the most important celebration of our Christian life together, Easter Sunday. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on February 18, with services at 10:30am & 6:50pm For six weeks of Lent, Wednesday evenings will include: 5:00 pm Soup Supper 6:00 pm Into the Wild small groups Grade 6-8 youth mentor sessions Grade 9 faith project workshop K.I.N.G.S. for K-5 grade children Senior High Youth Group 6:50pm Midweek Lent service Holy Week includes special services, beginning with Palm Sunday on March 29, then Maundy Thursday on April 2, and Good Friday April 3. Easter Sunday is on April 5 services at 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am. Our Lent Theme for 2015: Into the Wild: Jesus in the Wilderness & Hunger Today On Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm, we will have small group discussions using a study guide. We also encourage you to gather a group of family or friends to meet weekly in your home or at a local coffee shop to hold similar conversations. Themes for 5 weeks of Lent: Reflecting on our communion with God and our alienation from God. We will focus on our awareness on the loneliness of Christ in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and our dependence on God s infinite (unending) mercy, while resting in the hope of the Easter to come. For nearly 1 billion people in the world, going hungry is not a spiritual practice or holy sacrifice. This study invites you to go Into the Wild to follow Jesus into the wilderness and to reflect on your own journey into the wild places of the world where we encounter human need, abuse of power, risk and God s grace. This study, created by the ELCA, may be used by youth, families, and other small groups. We ll reflect on baptism, hunger, power, faith and the good news Jesus proclaims to the poor. Week 1: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Week 2: One does not live by bread alone. Week 3: Worship the Lord your God. Week 4: It is said, Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Week 5: to proclaim the year of the Lord s favor.

4 Febr uary 2015 GAteway of Faith INSTANT CHURCH DIRECTORY Got a great Christmas photo of you or your family? If you have a personal or family photo to use for the directory, please bring a photograph to church, or send an to info@gachurch.org. Gateway Update There is good news to report about the generosity of our households for the new Gateway Appeal! These include commitments to the General Fund for one year and 3-year commitments to the Gateway Fund (which funds our mortgage payments and facility repairs/improvements)! Thanks be to God for your gifts! Page 4 A group of leaders are preparing to go live with an online church directory, which can also be printed for your personal use! If you don t have a current photograph to offer, you may have one taken at church. Watch the weekly bulletin announcements for details. This new online directory is very secure, and only members will have password-access to the site. When we reach a critical mass of people who have provided a photograph and personal information, we plan to have new printed photo directories made, with copies available to members for the cost of printing. This directory is open to all those who are members, or who are actively involved in our church community! Here are some interesting statistics about the appeal: 100% of the people who led this appeal (council members, committee leaders, task force members, temple talk speakers, gathering hosts and attendees, etc.) made a formal commitment to both the General Fund and the Gateway Fund. In the first group of commitments, 41% increased their commitment from the previous 3-year Freedom 2 fund 79% of households either matched, increased, or committed for the first time to the Gateway Fund Only 12% of people who made commitments did NOT make a commitment to the new Gateway Fund THIS IS GREAT NEWS! Thank you! Year-End Charitable Giving Statements Annual giving statements were mailed out on January 30. Memorials are not listed because they are acknowledged individually. If you need corrections on your giving statement, please write them on your statement and mail it to the Business Office at GA, or corrections to jennifer@gachurch.org. Thanks! God has called our church to be a Gateway of Faith inspired to: GROW in Spiritual Vitality WORSHIP creatively and faithfully together EMBRACE our Wonder; and BUILD authentic relationships We have received several stock gifts to kick off the Fund! Contact one of the pastors or Jennifer Schneider, our business administrator, to pick up a Commitment Card, or to discuss other ways to make a gift. It is not too late to join in this exciting work!

5 Page 5 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch GLOBAL MISSIONS: Perception or Reality? Some time back I had a lady approach me, unleashing all of her thoughts on how terrible it is that we have people going to Tanzania, how unsafe it was, and the list goes on. She knew that all we were doing was adding to the spread of ebola and all the other diseases she could name, and wasting money that should stay at home. As I tried to have a conversation with her, it became apparent that her perceptions were her reality and there was nothing anyone could say that would give her reason to look at her thoughts differently. And that got me thinking. What are our perceptions and how grounded in reality are they? Are we willing to listen to other thoughts that may be different than those we hold dear? It could be our fear or perception of a disease, the new neighbor, the police officer, the new business owner that is of a different ethnic background than we are, our church or a program within our church and your list goes on. of their families, and supportive of one another. Evangelism is exploding with new preaching points going up everywhere to accommodate the many new believers. Is that your perception of the African people? I hope so. We would like to have another group of missionaries travel to Iringa in Reality is that it is very safe ebola is only in the western countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, while Tanzania is clear across the continent on the eastern coast. Yes, we do get immunizations to keep us from getting other diseases, but the reality of spending time with our partner brothers and sisters far outweigh any discomfort from a shot! When we are grounded in reality based on fact, we can go about our lives with so much more freedom. The Lord has always promised us he will go with us in all that we do. If you would like to explore a possible trip, please contact me or Pastor Bonnie. This is also the month of LOVE. I trust your perception and reality of the love our Lord has for you and everyone else that He brought into this world is so believable that you will want to share it with others. This is Iringa Diocese month for our Social Concerns. We have been a generous congregation as we share scholarship money, support for SACCOS micro-financing, support for our farmers as they increase their ability to plant and harvest crops, and support the work and building within their parish. The reality is that they are very devote Christian believers, hard working to improve the lives MONTHLY MISSION EMPHASIS Feb- Mar- Apr- Iringa Diocese Local Hunger Support Youth Camperships/Mission Trips Use the blue giving envelope that comes from the church. If you give electronically, designate a one-time or ongoing gift for Missions. Blessings, Jean Schwartz Global Mission Chair

6 Page 6 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY CONFIRMATION MINISTRY Family Faith Nights for all ages! February 4, 11 Young or old, or somewhere in between, there is something for you and your faith on Wednesday nights: 5:00 pm TASTY MEAL (suggested donation, $5person or $15max per family) 6:00 pm FAITH FORMATION for everyone Adult Bible Study Sr. High Youth Confirmation for youth in grades 6 9 K.I.N.G.S. for children in grades K 5 Nursery care 6:50 pm-7:15pm WORSHIP for all!* Week 1 (Feb. 4) - Prayer Around the Cross Week 2 (Feb. 11) Mardi Gras Worship! February 11 - Mardi Gras Meal & Worship! Everyone is invited to a traditional New Orleans-style meal at 5:00 pm. ($5 per person/$15 max per family). Adult Bible Study, Sr. High Youth Group, Confirmation, KINGS will take place from 6-6:50 pm. A festive Mardi Gras Worship for all ages at 6:50 pm. February 18 - Ash Wednesday Worship at 6:50 pm No Meal or FFN activities this evening. February 25 Lenten Wednesdays at GA Soup supper served from 5-6pm; Faith Formation activities from 6-6:45pm; Worship at 6:50 pm. CONFIRMATION MENTORS! During Lent (Feb. 25, Mar. 4, 11, 18, 25), each student-mentor pair will attend Wednesday Lenten service and meet for guided discussions about faith and life issues. Parents are asked to contact Sherrie Nordquist or their child s small group leader if they need help finding a mentor for their son or daughter. MENTORS NEEDED! Adult members of GA work one to one with students to strengthen their faith and their relationships within the community of faith. Contact Sherrie Nordquist or a pastor to become involved. Confirmation Winter Retreat at Camp Onomia Feb. 27-Mar. 1, 2015 We have a fantastic weekend planned guaranteed to bring you out of your winter blaaaas. Make some new friends, build a snow sculpture, play some new games, laugh at counselor skits, sing favorite camp songs, and talk to God in some special ways. All you have to do is pack your sleeping bag and favorite pillow and you are on your way! Parent consent forms and $15 transportation fee are needed by Feb. 11 th! Don t miss out on this great chance to come to camp! If you have questions contact Sherrie Nordquist at the church office. Service Hour Opportunities! Souper Bowl of Caring project for World Hunger on February 1! Help hold Soup Pots to collect donations for the Sheridan Project after worship services. Acolytes are needed for 9:00 Worship Services. Sign up at the Youth Board on the Kiosk near the Welcome Desk. Worship Greeters. Sign up at the Welcome Desk Service Team Sign-up Sheets Help lead activities at the Good Friday Children s Service on April 3 (9:30 1:30) Students will meet with their FAITH MENTORS from 6:00-6:45 pm and attend worship with them at 6:50 pm on Wednesdays during Lent. Confirmation students in grades 6, 7, & 8 will not meet for Wednesday classes during Lent [Feb. 25 Mar. 25] Confirmation students in grade 9 are preparing for their Confirmation Day May 24. They will be participating in Project Meetings (6:00 6:45 PM) in the Library, Wednesdays during Lent (Feb. 25-Mar. 25). Students will also create and design a personal stole to wear on their confirmation day. Save the Date! 6th Annual GA Church Youth Garage Sale - Sale - Fri, April 24, :00 am - 6:00 pm Sale - Sat, April 25, :00 am - 2:00 pm

7 Febr uary 2015 Page 7 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY Come Play in the Tree House! Sunday mornings from 10:10 11:10am February 1, 8, 15, 22 Love Is Read this passage about God s love and life together in community! 1 Corinthians 13 Spark Story Bible pages Spark Bible pages 1076 Coming to the Tree House! Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22 Mary & Martha Mar. 29, Apr. 12 & 19 Holy Week & Easter Apr. 26, May 3, 10, 17 - Lydia THE BIBLE BUCKS STORE will be open from 9:50-10:10am on Feb. 1 & 15! Bring your SPARK Bible to Sunday School every week to collect more Bible Bucks! We Love hearing Our GA Kids Sing! Our Tree house Children s Choir rehearses as part of Sunday School on Sunday mornings from 10:10am -10:30am under the direction of Camille Farinella and is open to any child in grades K-5! The choir performs once a month at the start of the New Life Service. Next Performances February 22 Next Parents Night Out Saturday, February 14, 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your child to a fun-filled night while you have some time to yourself, go to a movie, out to dinner, or just read a book without interruption. Your child will get to hang out with Children s Ministry adult leaders and youth. We ll play games, watch a movie, play in the gym or just sit and chat. $10 per child, $5 for each additional child. Sign up at the Welcome desk or sherrie@gachurch.org or lojehoward@comcast.net. VOLUNTEER AS A WORKSHOP LEADER AT THE TREE HOUSE! Prepare and lead a learning-based workshop such as drama, art, games,, cooking, science. 2-week commitment. Use your expertise and a little of your time to share the Gospel with young learners. Join one of the next Rotation Teams: Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 Love is Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22 Mary and Martha April 12, 19 Holy Week & Easter April 26, May 3, 10, 17 Lydia Curriculum and training will be provided. Contact Sherrie Nordquist by calling the Church office Fishmarket News for Senior High Youth Grades Youth Group, Fishmarket 6:00pm Wednesdays During the month of January the senior high youth group has been meeting in the Fishmarket to discuss Rob Bell s book Love Wins for Teens: If God Threw a Party Would Everyone Be Invited? Week by week we have been tackling a chapter of the book with profound and lively conversation about God, the kingdom of heaven, hell and what it means to us to be a disciple. We will complete this book discussion in February and celebrate Mardi Gras on Wednesday, February 11 th with a fun night of games, chatting and snacks. There will be no youth group on Wednesday, February 18 th so that everyone can attend Ash Wednesday service with their families. We will resume the normal Wednesday night routine on February 25 th. All senior high youth are welcome. No knowledge of the book needed. Come as you are and bring questions about God, the Bible, church, other faiths, etc. This is your time to ask hard faith questions and talk about them with your peers. For more information about Sunday School and Confirmation programs, contact Sherrie Nordquist by calling the Church office (direct line) or sherrie@gachurch.org

8 Page 8 Community Caring Souper Bowl Sunday! Sunday, February 1 is Super Bowl Sunday, but it is also Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday in churches around the country. On a day when the world focuses on football and fun, young people are raising millions to help people who are hungry and hurting, by inviting worshippers to make a $1 (or more!) gift. This movement that began in a youth group has grown into a national, youth-led event called the Souper Bowl of Caring. GA youth will be standing at the doors as you leave church on Feb. 1 to collect CASH and loose change. Your donation will go to the Weekend Food Pack program through The Sheridan Story our new partnership with Farnsworth Elementary and First Covenant Church to feed children in the area who may not have enough to eat on weekends. Drop a dollar (or more) in a soup pot as you leave worship. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to Become a Member Membership has its Opportunities and Response-abilities Join us, won t you? Make a public commitment to serve Jesus Christ through Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church! Attend 2 sessions for new members on: Sunday, March 1, 12:30-2:00pm (lunch and conversation) Sunday, March 8, 12:30-2:00pm (lunch and conversation) By February 22, contact Pastor Bonnie Wilcox in person or by , b.wilcox@gachurch.org, to register. Childcare will be provided if we have notice by the same date. Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch Greeters Interested in being a greeter at the 9:00 service on Sunday mornings? This involves standing by one of the entrances and greeting people as they enter church to worship. Call Nancy Johnson at to offer your time. Thrivent Choice Eligible members of Thrivent Financial Services are able to recommend where Thrivent Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach grant dollars. Thanks to Thriven members who shared this gift with GA Church. New Year, New Budget, Purchase Reminder When making purchases for the ministry of Gustavus Adolphus, please be sure to present a taxexempt certificate at or before the time of check-out. If you need a copy, contact Jennifer in the Business Office. Some stores require an account to be set up in advance: i.e. Walmart, Office Max, Party City, Menards. GA has accounts established at many of these vendors. When submitting receipts for reimbursement, please fill out a Blue expense form, available in the church office behind Judy s desk. Please make sure you have approval from the appropriate committee. Receipts should be submitted within 30 days of purchase. Blue expense form should contain the name and address of who is to receive reimbursement, description of purchase (i.e., yarn for Sunday School craft), and signature of the person completing the form. If you have any questions, contact Jennifer in the Business Office (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) at or Jennifer@gachurch.org. Thanks for your help!

9 Febr uary 2015 Page 9 CHECK OUT THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS, VIDEOS, AND MUSIC CDS IN OUR CHURCH LIBRARY! The Ronald C. Peterson library is open between services from 10:00-11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Thank you for returning materials within two weeks. Librarians: Carol Sandberg, Marlys Siverson, Heather Nelson GA Women s Book Club meets the 4 th Tuesday of each month, at 1:00 p.m. New readers are always welcome. Stop by the church library for more information. We usually have copies available to borrow. Next Meeting February 24 CHECK OUT THESE MATERIALS ABOUT LOVE IN OUR CHURCH LIBRARY! Be Good to Each Other: An Open Letter on Marriage, by Lowell & Carol Erdahl. Sound, down-to-earth advice on topics like expectations, decision making, conflict, communication, intimacy, and more. Questions for discussion are included. She Always Wore Red by Angela Hunt, New York Times Best-selling author. (Fiction) Jennifer Graham mother, student, and apprentice could use a friend. She finds one in McLane Larson, a newcomer to Mt. Dora. When a difference of opinion threatens their relationship, Jennifer discovers weaknesses in her own character and a faith far stronger than she had imagined. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers Taking place in California s gold country in 1850, Redeeming Love is a powerful retelling of the story of Gomer and Hosea, It is a life-changing story of God s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love. Large Print Silly Little Thing Called LOVE VeggieTales Video featuring 3 classic stores of true love with lessons in Loving Your Neighbor, Loving Your Family and Loving God! WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY Thursdays, 10:00 am Learn more about the Bible readings for the coming Sunday Newsletter Submission Deadlines GA Newsletter submission deadline is the 1st Monday of the month for the upcoming month newsletter: 1st Monday in February for March s newsletter 1st Monday in March for April s newsletter If you are responsible for a monthly article, please put these dates in your personal calendar. Send your article to info@gachurch.org. Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church is financed entirely by the generous, direct financial gifts of its members and friends. There are several ways you can bless this mission of Jesus with your gifts: 1. Place your check or cash in the offering plate passed during the service. Envelopes are in the pews. 2. Electronic Funds Transfer from our website, gachurch.org (upper right corner). It gives you options to have your weekly, bimonthly or monthly offerings deducted from your checking or savings account and deposited directly to the GA Church bank account. 3. Bill Pay. Follow the directions for your bank or credit union to create GA Church as a Payee at 1669 N. Arcade St., St. Paul, MN 55106, and choose to make a regular weekly or monthly offering. 4. Stock Transfer to the church. For more information, contact Jennifer Schneider in the church office,

10 Page 10 Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Chur ch FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS Feb. 1 Case Vouk Feb. 2 Darryl Deiman Ryan Troska Feb. 3 Stephen Aguirre Ronald Carlson James Hansen Cathy Van Ert Feb. 4 Donna Bordsen Raymond Landkamer Kirsten Vouk Feb. 5 Nancy Rude Kha Yang Feb. 6 Cory Franzmeier Don Selander Terri Troska Feb. 7 Connie Bergman Feb. 8 Emily Kroska Mary Peters Dalton Pfankuch Deborah Zenk Feb. 9 Bob Barduson Olive Broecker Cheryl Resch Feb. 10 Jim Aaarsvold Andrea Franzmeier Feb. 11 Marion Stone Feb. 12 Kathleen Gustafson Dennis Prohofsky Feb. 13 Pat Bello Feb. 14 Dawn Lindgren Bonnie Olson Feb. 15 Evelyn Blyton Brooks Hitchcock Brennen Johnson Michael Jones Sonja Rose Feb. 16 Bobby Fraser Feb. 17 Angeline Haugen Jerry Siverson Feb 18 Lisa Engelstad Feb. 19 Richard Johnson Milton Olson Feb. 20 Wendy Dording Garrett Eide Raul Ramos Feb. 21 Edith Treanor Alice Youngren Feb. 22 Isaac Weisner Feb. 23 Ken Cox John Reimers Amanda Uphoff Feb. 24 Alivia Garbe Trista Goepfert Blake Rose Feb. 25 Raymond Johnson Shirley Lundgren Andrew Nelson Nannette Taylor Feb. 27 Kay Anderson Matthew Dvorak John Taylor Feb. 28 Cynthia Blayk Table Talk Every Sunday 10:10 am 11:10 am in the Fireside Room February 1 The Tenets and Background of Islam Twenty percent of the world population follows the practices of the faith of Islam, the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity. Come and join us for an opportunity to learn more about this faith and its holy tenets and practices. Led by 2014 Church Council President Christopher Stordalen. February 8 SBNR aka Spiritual But Not Religious A growing percentage of our American society identifies as Spiritual but not Religious for their religious affiliation. Come and hear feedback from Pastors Bonnie Wilcox and Amanda Simons from their recent conference at Luther Seminary about this growing demographic and how we can continue to invite them to be a part of our faith community and learn from them and their spiritual experiences. February 15 The 2015 ELCA Youth Gathering This summer 15 members of our congregation will be participating in the national ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan with 40,000 other youth and adult leaders from ELCA congregations across our nation. Come and hear about what the Youth Gathering is, what we will be learning and doing in Detroit, which of our youth are attending and how you can support our youth for this once-ina lifetime faith experience. Led by GA Youth and Pastor Amanda. February 22 TBA This first Sunday of Lent will have a special Lenten theme to be announced in the worship bulletin and March newsletter. Keep your eyes and ears posted for information to come.

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12 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), Church Staff & Contact Information Bonnie Wilcox, Senior Pastor Amanda Simons, Associate Pastor Susan Schoon, Visitation Pastor Jerry Brakke, Dir. of Music Sherrie Nordquist, Dir. of Christian Education Jennifer Schneider, Business Administrator Brit Barkholtz, Administrative Assistant Judy Hitchcock, Administrative Assistant b.wilcox@gachurch.org a.simons@gachurch.org susanschoon@icloud.net jerry@gachurch.org sherrie@gachurch.org jennifer@gachurch.org brit@gachurch.org judy@gachurch.org Nelson Tracey & Kevin Berglund, (none) Custodians Kathy Laramy, Wedding Consultant Kendra Nielsen, Diana Williams, ASL Interpreters ironkl@hotmail.com Ideas for a Holy Lent From one of the ELCA s newer congregations, the House for All Saints & Sinners in Denver, Colorado, we have 40 Ideas for a Holy Lent, available on our Facebook page, website, and in paper form at the Welcome Center in the Gathering Area. Into the Wild Family Discussion Guides also available by Facebook link, gachurch.org, or in paper form at church. 125 years...and forward.