Sacred News Our Savior s/opdallutheran Parish

Transcription

1 January 2011 Sacred News Our Savior s/opdallutheran Parish 400 First Avenue, Sacred Heart, Minnesota Phone: Website: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 Annual Meetings Opdal Our Savior s: 2011 proposed budget on page 6 Please come and join us as we work together as a community of faith, to plan our mission and ministry as God s people! Office Hours Pastor Dale - Tuesday through Friday 8:30-5:00 - Kris - Tuesday through Thursday 9:00-5:00 Matthew Bible Study Begins January 18/19 Tuesday evenings (7:00) or Wednesday mornings (10:00) Most of the gospel readings for the coming church year will be in Matthew s gospel. We will take 8 weeks to go through the gospel of Matthew and discover it s themes. It will begin Tuesday/Wednesday, January 18/19, and will run through March 8/9. Sessions will last from minutes. There is no cost. Please call the office to sign up & let us know which session. There will be some preparation for 1st session please stop by for the homework.

2 Advent/Christmas is over for another year. The cookies and treats we have baked are eaten (or soon will be) & gifts have been exchanged. Family that came to visit has returned home and if you haven t already, soon all the decorations will be coming down and put away for another year. I do not know about you, but I take some of my Christmas decorations for granted. It is only when the day draws near that they have to packed away that I begin to appreciate them. Why is that? I believe it has to do with the general air of Christmas. At this time of year, people seem friendlier, kinder, and more gracious. People are filled with hope, looking forward to a new year and changes for the better. Not only that, at Christmas it seems that many of life s day to day problems get put on hold. As the Christmas season comes to an end we do not what the feelings of joy and goodwill to end, we do not want life s reality to come rushing in. What are we to do? Here again are the words of the angel to Mary, to Joseph and the shepherds: Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid for the one born in Bethlehem lives with us! This is the heart of our Christmas proclamation. Unlike the Christmas season that we have to wait another 11 months for, we do not have to wait 11 months for Jesus to return. At Christmas, we proclaim that Jesus is with us now, everyday. His love, his grace, his presence doesn t end once December 25 th is over, it doesn t end when we put our decorations away. It is with us as we return to the realities of life that we have put on hold. It is with us as we move back into a world that has quickly forgotten the season of peace, goodwill toward all people. After all, don't we need His love, grace, and presence with us the other 11 months of the year? That is the power of the Christmas message, Jesus isn t just a season of the year but for every day. As you move out of the season of Christmas and plunge back into life, may these words go with you: Do not be afraid! Don t be afraid for the Babe in manger, the word become flesh, the light came into the world, and Emmanuel goes with you! Pastor Dale 2010 Council Members Thank You for your service! Opdal Council: President - Dean Enestvedt; Treasurer - John Veglahn; Secretary - Grant Breitkreutz Roger Enestvedt, Marcene Lerud, Phil Smith Our Savior s Council: President - Mark Erickson; Treasurer: JoLene Groen; Secretary - Carrie Ashburn Carrie Freiborg, Carla Hamre, Craig Hebrink, John Miller, Ray Miller, Geneva Steinbach Committee Members: Margie Flaata, Tami Hebrink, Christy Hoff, Marie Hoff, Arlene Knutson, Pam Lund, Ruth Peterson, Bev Schjenken, Kerri Shackelford

3 For the season of Advent/Christmas we took a break from our Through the Bible in One Year readings. On January 7, we will pick up where we left off, in the middle of the Psalms. By the end of the month, we will move into Proverbs. Intro to the Book of Proverbs: Proverbs consists of sayings, commands and admonitions that transmit insights whereby a youth might learn to cope with life. Certain key emphasis appear in the process of developing a moral life: honesty, diligence, trustworthiness, the ability to hear and obey, control of one s desires, the cultivation of true and proper speech, the correct attitudes towards riches and poverty, etc. The underlying presupposition is that The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp unto my path! Psalm 119:105 January 7-15 January January January 30 February 5 Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Psalm Proverbs 1-4 Proverbs 5-9 Proverbs Proverbs Proverbs Proverbs Proverbs Motions carried: Highlights from Joint Council, December 8 To set the annual meeting dates for Opdal on January 16; OSLC on January 23; worship times will be switched on January 16 OS at 8:45, and Opdal at 10:00 (to accommodate Opdal s annual mtg) To approve $18,000 of pastor s 2011 annual salary to be designated for housing allowance. To use the same worship schedule for Lent, Easter, & Christmas. To approve the following joint church mission projects for 2011 * Food share March * Hunger Appeal May * Kids Against Hunger October * Operation Christmas Child November Our Savior s Financial Notes November Balance: ($12,962) December Expenses: $18,533 December Offerings: $18,858 (regular) $20,568 (debt reduction) $39,426 Total Current Balance: $7,930 Thank you for your gifts. Special thanks to those that gave an extra gift. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

4 Special Thanks to: Darrel Refsland for coordinating the lap quilt project, and to our youth that helped make the quilts for nursing home residents: Morgan, Molly, & Dana Elliot, Justin Foesch, Sadie Miller, Ashley & Allison Peterson, Ashley Refsland. Vi Jordet for coordinating the goodie gift trays for those who can t get out- & all who donated cookies Mary Agre, Evie Elliot, Jerry Erickson, JoLene Groen, Jean Hendrickson, Phyllis Rustad, Bev Schjenken. To ALL who took part in OS Christmas program. Special thanks to Tami Hebrink (director); to Carla Hamre, Marie Hoff (coordinators); to Margie Sunvold, accompanist. To Darrel & Leslie Refsland for coordinating the soup luncheon meal, and for donating the food. Thanks to ALL who helped prepare and serve! To Lance & Anita Bagstad for hosting the Opdal Christmas program and special thanks to Anita Bagstad & Annie Hamre (coordinators), and ALL who took part; to those who shared their animals Grant & Dawn Breitkreutz, Chris Balfany, Phil & Robin Smith, & Edwardo Trevino; to Camille Smith, accompanist. "Always With You" The highway that winds around the southern shore of Lake Michigan can be treacherous in the winter. One weekend as we were driving back to Grand Rapids from Chicago, a buildup of snow and ice slowed traffic, caused numerous accidents, and almost doubled our drive time. We were relieved and we eased off the expressway onto our final road. It was then that my husband said out loud, "Thanks, Lord. I think I can make it from here." Just as he finished saying those words, our car spun around 180 degrees. As we came to a stop, hearts pounding, we could just imagine God saying, "Are you sure?" Why do we sometimes try to go it alone in life when at every moment we have access to God? He said: "I am with you and will keep you wherever you go" (Genesis 28:15). And he assures us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Scottish mathematician, theologian, and preacher, Thomas Chalmers ( ) wrote: "When I walk by the wayside, He is along with me. When I enter into company, amid all my forgetfulness of Him, He never forgets me... Go where I will. He tends me, watches me, and cares for me." What a comfort to know that we don't need to go through life alone... God is always with us - Cindy Hess Kasper And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

5 Mission Quilting on Thursdays & Fridays They will be meeting every Thursday & Friday in January, 10:00-4:00 pm at OS We have lots of quilts to make please join us if you can! Special Thanks to the fam ilies w ho gave poinsettias in m em ory of: Julie Agre, Onell & Doris Agre, Bud Forkrud, Palmer & Anna Eliason, EG & Clara Enestvedt, John Giese, Franzer & Lillian Hanson, Carlyle Harried, Harry & Clarice Harried, Ashley Hebrink, Harrison Hebrink, Margaret Hebrink, Jim Hoberg, John & Ella Hoff, Pat Hoff, Bing Kronlokken, Wade Kronlokken, Leonard & Audrey Mahlum, Ole & Hulda Mahlum, Onell Mahlum, Ruth Mahlum, Harold Minnick, Ryan Nellermoe, Bob Olson, Clement & Pearl Peterson, Ed & Johanna Reinholt, Joel Rude, Orren Rude, Rubin Rustad, Minnie Ruter, Art Schjenken, Jo Skalbeck, Keith Skalbeck, Michael Skalbeck, Milan Skalbeck, Ray Skalbeck, Vickie Skalbeck, Eric Solie, Richard Strandjord, Nicholas Wurster. Attention: 10th Graders: Confirmation Class begins on Wednesday, January 5, 5:30 pm

6 Please review prior to our annual meeting - January 23.

7 Front row: Kody Beck, Carter Timm, Sadie Miller, Jerry Erickson, Angel Flores; (middle): Brittany Hebrink, Kirsten Eliason,Brooke Hebrink; (back) Steve Agre, Justin Foesch, Craig Hebrink Front row: Angel Flores, Valerie Zaragoza, Alyssa Ashburn Back row: Deb Eliason, Carla Hamre, Nicole Johnson Soloist: Sadie Miller Left to right: Marie Hoff, Christy Hoff, Andrew Robertson, LaMont Jacobson, Ricky Zaragoza, Megan Hoff, Mikayla Pharr, Alli Miller Rock & Roll Band Kevin Anderson & Steve Mahlum

8 The Friendly Beasts Jesus, our brother kind and good.. Was humbly born in a stable rude; And the friendly beasts around him stood; Jesus our brother, kind and good Left to right: Zac Patock, Karlie Breikreutz, Gabriel Bagstad, Amelia Bagstad with Kora DeLong, Jake Patock, Ben Hendrickson Front: Becca Hendrickson, Amelia Bagstad Back (left to rightt): Zac Patock, Karlie Breikreutz, Gabriel Bagstad, Isabel Bagstad, Jake Patock, Noah Park (laying on hay), Ben Hendrickson Reader: Kendra Sander Christmas Blessing by Pastor Dale Mary: Isabel Bagstad Jean Hendrickson with birthday cake & Amelia Bagstad

9 Dear Lord, as I close the door on the old year, I ponder the things I've done. The things I've said and the joys I've had. I wonder, have I lost or won? I've thought of new friends I have made, and the old ones staunch and true The paths of the old year made easier, Lord, Because I have walked them with you. I think of all the many times, when my burdens were to heavy to bear, and how my faith slipped away from me But somehow you were always there. Now, as I open the door to this New Year, and carefully peep inside, I wonder what it holds for me but I'll throw the door open wide. Whatever it brings to me and mine, I'll meet it with a heart so true I know that, Lord, whate'er it may be, you'll be there to carry me through. Baby Hat Project In December, Pastor Dale & Leslie were able to deliver 229 baby hats to Mayer, MN. Half were taken to Mexico by a mission group from Mayer Lutheran High School. This group traveled to Mexico between Christmas and the new year. The other half of the hats were given to the Orphan Grain Train organization. They will be shipped to Haiti for distribution there. At this point, the Northeastern MN Synod of the ELCA has not planned to resume medical mission trips to Honduras. If new opportunities present, we may begin another baby hat collection. Thank you to all knitters and crocheters who so enthusiastically provided warm and colorful hats for this project! A Little Laughter Never Hurt A minister and a bus driver reached the Pearly Gates together and were assigned there quarters. The minister got a dilapidated shack in a farm meadow; the bus driver, a home in an elegant neighborhood. The pastor went to St. Peter and said, While on earth I preached to thousands of people and tried hard to follow all the commandments. What an exemplary life the bus driver must have led! St. Peter responded, During your sermons, most everybody slept, but when the bus driver worked, everybody prayed. Heaven is a great big hug that lasts forever.