Lund Lutheran Church Pastor Jim Osvold A member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

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1 2016 Lund Lutheran Church Pastor Jim Osvold County Highway 21 Detroit Lakes, MN A member of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ

2 Tragedy to Triumph When I said, My foot is slipping, your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18-19 NIV Are you a fixer? You know, are you always looking to figure out for you and for others what went wrong and what needs to be done to fix it? It s a natural response, but sometimes we can t find the right answer. It s frustrating when we want to take the bull by the horns and make it right. But sometimes we just can t. Sometimes, we are not in charge. Sometimes we are left feeling helpless and vulnerable. Sometimes we are not going to make a happy ending, we are only left with tragedy. In college, I was invited to sing in opera productions. Most operas were tragedies. The hero or heroine dies. I thought, Who wants to be entertained by this stuff? But there is a pathos that draws us into the story because we sense that this is part of our lives. No matter how successful, rich and famous one might become, no matter how industrious or fun to be with, we end our life in tragedy we end up dying. And along the way we may face horrific circumstances like broken relationships, accidents, sickness, and poverty and then we die. Tragic, right? Scripture has much to say about this tragedy. It is something God never intended to happen. But we learn early on in Genesis that our ancient ancestral parents turned their backs on God to instead embrace their own selfish desires. That sin had mortal consequences for them and has afflicted all their offspring. Separated from a holy God their end, and ours, is tragic. We are faced with ugly destruction and death. We are told by God s Word that our own efforts can never turn our tragedy into victory. 6 A voice says, Cry out. And I said, What shall I cry? All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The 2

3 grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:6-8 (NIV) This past month I officiated at another funeral, a beloved man who was described as a force of nature in his determination and vigor, yet he did not escape the results of our sin-tainted heritage. Feeling helpless, I watched and we prayed as he battled valiantly against the afflictions of an aging and diseased body. He kept an upbeat attitude. But like in the tragic operas, the hero succumbed in the end. Job was a righteous man in God s eyes. Yet he, too, was afflicted as a result of the license sin has given to our enemy. He had friends who came to his side, but when they could not fix Job s affliction, they tried to find Job s fault that God would punish him so. They were wrong! Job trusted in God, even in the midst of his bafflement as to why he must undergo such suffering. He felt crushed by God, yet he knew he had an advocate before God. He cried, 19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; Job 16:19-20 (NIV) This Advocate not only speaks on Job s behalf, he is also the Intercessor who stands between Job and Holy God, one who even brings restoration from death to resurrection, 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25-27 (NIV) You see, the only hero who can turn about our tragedy to triumph is Jesus. Jesus was not afflicted by sin. He was without sin. Yet he came to die for sinners, taking our sin upon himself so that we can by faith take his righteousness as our own. His death was tragic, but he turned it into triumph through his resurrection. He is our Advocate. He is our Intercessor. Our Redeemer Lives and because of his gift of love we may live, too! I know I will see my friend again because he lived in the righteousness of Jesus his Redeemer. I, too, will face my tragic end but come out on the other side in triumph because of God s grace offered to me by faith in Christ. Do you feel like you are on slippery ground? Are you anxious about impending tragedy? Whether we live or die, take joy in the love and triumph we have in Christ. 3

4 Lund Council Minutes August 11, 2016 Members present: Robin, Jennifer, Karen H., Carol, Russell, Myra, Lynda, Tom, Judy and Pastor Jim. Members absent: Belynda. Meeting was called to order by President Robin. * Agenda was accepted with additions. * Devotions by Pastor Jim. * Pastors Report: Shared Psalm 37: 3-4. Thanked us for granting him time off. A new Bible study will start Sept 18 th. Subject of the study is undetermined at this time. Noted that the new letters on the sign look great and are easy to read. * Secretaries Report by Judy: Motion to accept: Myra/Karen/Carried. * Financial Reports by Karen and Myra: General Fund balance still in the negative. However, since there were five Sundays in July, the negative balance decreased. Because the 5 th Sunday was the last day of the month, the deposit was not made until August and will be reflected in the August report. Motion to accept both reports: Judy/ Lynda/carried. Committee Reports: * President: We are starting a new season of the year. So keep your hearts, minds and souls open. * Education Committee: Sunday school starts Sept. 18 th. Endowment Committee by Judy: No report. Just received new request. * Deacon Report by Lynda. : Still need volunteers for upcoming months. * Mission Committee: No report. Trustee Report by Russ: Brought to their attention that some small general maintenance needs to be done. Request lawn mowing before the outdoor service. Provided estimates on replacing the side door. Old Business: Mosquito nets for Africa: Will be sending a check for $ to Dan Venberg. The amount is all the remaining balance in the LBIM Living Waters account. Judy/Lynda/carried. Church painting: Estimates received were very high. Tabled until Spring. 4

5 Letters for the big sign: Cost was around $200. Look great and easy to read. Thanks to Karen H, Willy and Lynda for changing the message as needed. Deadbolt and door: Discussed door estimates received. Need estimate for a solid wood door. Tabled until September meeting. Annual LCMC Gathering in Denver, CO.: October 2 > 5. Received a letter from Pastor Steve Bruer from Menahga. He is coordinating a bus for travel. Planning to leave early Saturday morning and return Thursday night. Will stay in Omaha on the way down and back. Approximate cost per person with a roommate and early registration is $839 plus food. Pastor Jim will be flying down. Lund needs two delegates. Lund will pay a portion of the cost depending on how many representatives we send. Contact Pastor Jim if interested. New Business: August Outdoor Service: Council will again provide picnic lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, beans, chips, pickles and ice cream sundaes. Coffee and cookies will be served before the service. Carol is providing the cookies. Will ask for volunteers to bring six salads. Dan and Merilee Ottoson will be providing the music. Judy will contact the newspaper and submit it for the Happenings. Sunday School Rally Day: September 18 th. Installation of SS teachers will take place. There will be no potluck dinner due to Taste of Lund the next Saturday but there will be special dessert and coffee following worship service. Members are encouraged to help Cindy with theme decorating. Discussed the need for members to extend an invitation to young families in the area whether it be friends, relatives, neighbors or strangers. Invitation letters should be sent and phone calls made. Meatball Dinner: October 16 th. Confirmed with Maplelag. Dishwasher: Door keeps coming open mid-cycle plus other issues. Need repair or replacement of unit. Rep/sales person is coming out to look at it on Aug. 18 th. Next meeting : Sept. 8th, 7 pm. Myra will give devotions. Closed with the Lord s Prayer. Motion to adjourn: Karen/Carol/ Carried. Respectfully submitted: Judy Gildersleeve 5

6 Kids EVENTS Sunday School 8:30am 9:30 am Sunday Mornings Ages 3 years and up are welcome to attend. Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September 18th. Come and learn about Jesus love. Commissioning of Sunday School teachers and Youth Leaders at the worship Service. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Bible Study Does Prayer really change anything? Is there power in prayer? Is there a right way to pray? We will tackle these questions and more in our new adult Bible class beginning Sunday, September 18 th at 8:30 am. Come for coffee, fellowship and bring your questions. 6

7 LCMC 16th Annual Gathering First Century Principles for the Twenty First Century October 2-5, 2016 Denver, CO Join us in Denver for our 16th Annual Gathering. You'll meet LCMC-ers from across the nation and around the globe, enjoy worship and Bible study, hear challenging keynote speakers, and have a chance to take part in our 2016 service project with Lutheran World Relief! You'll also have the option to get connected with a district or fellowship group, take part in breakout sessions and get in touch with dozens of different mission and ministry organizations in our vendor area. A Bus from Anderson Bus Company out of Frazee will be leaving early Saturday morning and returning Thursday night. If you would like more information on this please call the church office at If you are interested in becoming a member of our church family, please call Pam in the church office. Office hours at 10:00 am Noon Wednesday Friday. 7

8 Women s Bible Study Tuesday, September 13th Carol Okeson Hostess All women are welcome to attend! Meatball dinner on October 16th. the sign up sheets will be on the bulletin board at the beginning of September. Contact Judy Gildersleeve for more information: Taste of Lund Saturday, September 24th Starting at 9:00 am You are welcome to bring anything Scandinavian for the tasting. Rommegrot, sandbakkels, swedish almond cake, rosettes, krumkake, jula kaka, flatbrod, kransekake, fruit soup, rice pudding, swedish cream, lefse, crepes, kringels, sugar cookies, fattigmann, potato candy, sandwiches & beverages Also bake sale items are needed! Please bring your tasting and baked items by 8:30 am on the 24th. 8

9 September 4 September Lectionary Deut. 30:15-20 Psalm 1 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 September 11 Exodus 32:7-14 Psalm 51: Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 September 18 Amos 8:4-7 Psalm Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 September 25 Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 September Worship Volunteers Reader: Ushers: Les & Donna Heimark Greeters: Les & Donna Heimark Communion Server: September Sunday Coffee Servers: September 4: Russ & Carol Okeson September 11: Carl & Pam Greiger September 18: Milt & Marcy Erickson September 25: Roger & Karen Lundberg 9

10 Lund and Area Happenings: Sunday, September 4th Worship Service with communion 9:45am. September 6th School begins. Thursday, September 8th Council Meeting 7:00 pm. Friday, September 9th Salad Luncheon Grace Lutheran DL 11am 1:30pm. Sunday, September 11th Worship Service 9:45am. Fall Dinner & Raffle Assumption Catholic Church Callaway 10:30 1pm Tues. September 13th Women s Bible Study 2:00pm. Sunday, September 18th Sunday School 8:30 for children and adults Worship Service with communion 9:45am. Commissioning of Sunday School Teachers and Youth Leaders. Wednesday September 21st Newsletter articles due. Wednesday, September 21st Family Activity and Fellowship Night 6:00 8:00pm. Saturday, September 24th Taste of Lund 9:00 am. Sunday, September 25th Sunday School 8:30am Worship Service 9:45am *************************************************************************** Family Activities and Fellowship Night Wednesday, September 21 Lund Lutheran Church 6:00 8:00 pm Bring a neighbor or a friend! 10

11 Birthdays: September 3. Orrin Okeson 9. Max Okeson 12. Edith Okeson 14. Milt Erickson 16. Charles Okeson Eric Nickolauson 19. Sandy Nelson 21. Lorna Schons Anniversaries: September 9. John & Judy Gildersleeve 24. Arnie & Linda Kiehl Jeff & Peggy Melin 25. Tom & Karen Alexander ***************************************************** Hello, Mousey Here, Can you believe fall will soon be in the air? What a beautiful summer the Lord has blessed us, everything is so green. The Ladies of Lund have put together 23 Blessing Bags. These bags will to be given out to people by the Sheriff s department that need a little hand out. The Sheriff s department has 17 vehicles; each vehicle will have a Blessing Bag for them to handout. God has blessed us with so many things in our lives. Hopefully these Blessing Bags will encourage and help other people. We have been blessed with special music again in August. Thank You to Dan & Marilee Ottoson for sharing their talents with us. Until next time, Mousey 11