Holy Week. For Your Calendars. Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Gather in grace Grow in faith Go in service

Transcription

1 Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Gather in grace Grow in faith Go in service Holy Week Maundy Thursday, April 2 7:00 PM Worship with Holy Communion Stripping of the Altar Good Friday, April 3 7:00 PM Worship Easter Vigil, April 4 7:00 PM Worship, Welcome New Members, Bapsm, Holy Communion Easter Sunday, April 5 Fesval Service of the Resurrecon of our Lord 8:30 and 11:00 Worship with Holy Communion Calendar...p.12 Celebraons...p.10 Council Message...p.4 Human Concerns...p.9 Faith Community Nurse.p.5,6 Forum...p.8 Pastors Message...p.2,3 Stewardship..p.6,7 Worship Schedule..p.13 Take a Look at Our New Webpage! We are happy to announce we have a brand new webpage! We have the same address with a completely new look. Don t worry, the calendar and the newsleers are sll available and now there is a lot of new content too. You can even set it as your home page so whenever you open your web browser you will see what s happening at Agnus Dei. And while you are on the webpage you can click on the link to our new Facebook page too! ( For Your Calendars. April 25th Youth Fundraiser Chili Cook Off Talent Show Silent Auction Dessert Auction Fun for All Ages! One Service Only at 9:30AM May 24th through Sept 6th

2 From Our Pastors There is one body and one Spirit one Lord, one faith, one bapsm, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Eph 4.4-6) Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, grace to you and peace! Do you remember your bapsm? How about your confirmaon? As Chrisans, bapsm plays a central role in our life of faith together not just the one-me act of being washed at the font, but the ongoing transformaon that bap- sm works in our lives. The reason we celebrate confirmaon is to remind ourselves that our bapsm is a connual process; as Luther writes, bapsm is the daily drowning of our sinful self through repentance, and our daily resurrec- on with Christ to new life. Our bapsm is what binds us together as a community. It is what gives us our identy as God s beloved children and our purpose and mission to live and share the good news of God s love. In short, it is bapsm that makes us who and what we are: the Body of Christ. Because of that, bapsm isn t just a personal thing something that happens to each of us individually. Bapsm is also something that transforms us as a community. The early Church had a deep understanding of the communal aspect of bapsm. During the 40 days of Lent, people wishing to join the congregaon would receive instrucon and preparaon. Then, on the Vigil of Easter, when God s people gathered to hear the stories of God s faithfulness throughout history, all new sisters and brothers joined the Church together through bapsm. Not only did these new Chrisans receive the seal of God s promise, but bapsm made the enre community fuller and more whole. During our Holy Week worship, we connue this long-standing Chrisan Tradion. Our service is called the Triduum because it lasts three days (triduum means three days in Lan) On Maundy Thursday, we will share the Lord s Supper and remember his commandment (Lan: mandatum, where we get the word Maundy ) to love one another. Good Friday will gather us to meditate upon his Passion; to be present with him in his suffering and to remember those who are suffering around us. Then, on Easter Saturday, with Christ dead and buried and hope destroyed, we gather to share the same stories passed on from our ancestors, stories of God s love and deliverance. All of this prepares us to recognize God s work in our own bapsm, and help us understand how we as a people are bapzed into Christ s death and so share in his resurrecon. During this worship service, culminang on Saturday night, we will welcome new members into our community, and then as one people of God we will affirm our bapsm together. All this helps us remember not only what Christ did for us on the cross, but what he does for us now in our bapsm creates community, forgives sin, and calls us to love each other and the world. Please join us as you are able to observe the most holy days our calendar, as we celebrate together all the many gis of bapsm. Yours in Christ, Pr. Seth & Pr. Stephanie 2

3 Pastor s Visits We are thoroughly enjoying geng to know you all beer! We connue to work through the directory, seng up mes to meet with each household, either in your home or here at church. So, if your last name starts with A - F, know that we will be contacng you soon to set something up. The sole purpose of the visits is to get to know you beer! What are the greatest joys in your lives? What are your greatest challenges? What do you love about Agnus Dei? What are your dreams for the church? We look forward to vising, Pastor Seth and Pastor Stephanie Thank You A huge thank you to all of the readers and thespians that presented dramas during the Wednesday Lenten services (Phyllis Brandt, Bob Beals, Keyan Gootkin, Chris Stephens, Sophie Alvestad, Gwen Daugs, Maryfran Oakes, Jack Oakes, Dianna Carlson, Marilyn Hermstad, Peter Liljengren, Ashley Ortenzo, Dorothy Barelli, and Marian Ano) you helped make these worship services deeply meaningful for many! Youth Group Youth Group happens every 1 st and 3 rd Wednesday of the month, from 5pm 7pm. Youth Group in March meets on the 1 st & 15 th. All high school students are welcome. We share a meal, Bible Study, fellowship/games. Agnus Dei members are invited to provide the meals for youth group so we can all get to know each other beer! Sign up for April and May meals are on the Lifelong Faith Formaon bullen board Chili Cook-Off/Talent Show! On April 25 th, we will gather for a favorite ADLC acvity with a twist. There will also be a silent aucon and dessert aucon to support the ELCA Naonal Youth Gathering trip to Detroit. The silent aucon will have preview items on display and open for bids starng on April 12 th. This is our primary fund-raiser and we hope to raise $8,000! Sign up to be one of the chili chefs or talent show parcipants in the church office. Have an item or idea for the silent aucon? You can drop it off at the church office or contact Alynne Gootkin at or alynnegootkin@comcast.net. Join our pastors for a weekly bible study based on the leconary on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 AM in the youth room. It will be led by either Pastor Seth or Pastor Stephanie depending on which of them will be preaching that Sunday. All are welcome! Please let Pastor Seth and/or Pastor Stephanie know if you are in need of pastoral care. If you would like to be contacted by one of our pastors please call the office at or them at pastorstephanie@agnusdeilutheran.org or pastorseth@agnusdeilutheran.org. In an emergency, you can reach Pastor or Pastor

4 Greengs from your Church Council, We hope this update finds you and your family well and enjoying the spring weather. The Council met on March 12 th with a full slate of items. Pastors Seth and Stephanie reported that the Youth meengs are successful and regularly aended. Fundraising connues to help send them to Detroit this summer for the naonal ELCA Youth Gathering. You can help by coming to the chili cook-off on April 25 th to support this important trip for our youth! Also reported was the strong aendance of the Lenten worship services and the Lutheran 101 classes. Don and Sharon Krump have volunteered to be Agnus Dei s delegates to the Synod assembly on May and we thank them for offering to represent our congregaon. As part of our renewed commitment to Tacoma Lutheran Rerement Home, Don Krump and John Barelli aended their meeng on March 22 nd as our delegates. The Nominang commiee connues their work of gathering names of people to serve on Church Council when four of us will be stepping down when our terms end in June. We can t emphasize enough how important serving on council is and encourage members to consider serving at some point on this important team. The perspecve it offers is challenging at mes, yet the growth and rewards it offers are so valuable. As always, we are here to serve you so please approach any one of us with any quesons or concerns you might need. We wish you a joyous Easter! Peace and Blessings, Your Council Jeanette and Loren Carlander Audrey Clinton Ken Hay, Katrina Hay, Zach Wiren and their family Judy and Dick Latimer Jerry Moore Marge Olmsted Dave Roberts Myra Snider Jack Stier Rose VanderKlomp Alene Wilkes Serving Our Country: Jason Barelli, U.S. Navy Matt Fistler, U.S.A.F.(Carlander s Grandson) Staton West, U.S. Army Pastor Stephanie and Pastor Seth and their family as they mourn the death of her grandfather. 7 4 SERVE IN WORSHIP Your help is needed! There are many opportunies to serve in worship at Agnus Dei, perhaps there is an area in which you are called to serve? Lectors and Assisng Ministers assist during worship; Altar Guild helps with set up for communion; Ushers provide hospitality to our congregaon and to visitors; Greeters and Communion servers welcome people at the door and help worship leaders distribute communion; sound volunteers ensure that all can hear. There are many roles both in leading worship and supporng those who lead. Training is readily available. Please let one of the following people know how you can help. Assisng Ministers Shari Shull Communion Servers/Greeters-Marilyn Hermstad Ushers Marilyn Hermstad Offering Counters Linda Ribary Altar Guild-Dianna Carlson Lectors Marilyn Colyar Sound System Team Leader Needed Altar Flowers Dianna Carlson

5 Faith Community Nurses Zoe Holmes, Teresa McDonald, and Gwen Daugs People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back. From The Color Purple by Alice Walker A Blessed, Happy Easter to you and your loved ones from the Health Ministry team! Next month we will send you a Health Ministry newsleer wrien by several members of our team. This month we would like to share with you an arcle that was wrien by Marla Lechtsinn, a faith community nurse who writes for Wheat Ridge Ministries of Colorado. Their mission statement is: Lutherans seeding new ministries of health and hope in the name of the healing Christ. (Read more about this ministry at ) The Faith-Health Connecon Are they really linked? By Marla Lechtsinn, RN, MPA, FCN, Parish Nurse For several decades sciensts have studied the role of both public and private expression of faith and religious pracce on health and longevity and have documented measurable benefits even when other social and psychological differences are taken into account. The Correlaon Quantave (measured), systemic studies of religion s impact on wellbeing date back to the late 1800 when Francis Galt, a Brish biostascian, reported the posive effects of intercessory prayer. Today we can examine the results of thousands of studies journals, including a 28 year study of 5000 adults whose experience demonstrated a 36 % decreased risk of death during the study period in those subjects who aended weekly religious services. The results were replicated in another study of 6 years with nearly 4000 people. Also, a random survey of more than 20,000 Americans found that Caucasians who regularly aend religious services lived an average of 7 years longer than those who did not; for Blacks, the correlaon was even stronger, adding 14 years to their life span (Hummer et al, 1999) Invesgators have determined by measuring interleukin-6, a marker of immune system funcon, that connecon to religious pracces and faith-based communies reduces the stress response of the immune system, and fostering a healthy immune system results in improved overall health. In some areas of the US, Dr. Harold Koenig, a renowned researcher/author in the field of faith/health connecon, found 90% of the populaon stated that they depend on their faith to help them cope with illness or injury. While many aspects of religious experience may be seen to lower people s stress levels (e.g. both music and socializaon have known health benefits) the emphasis on behaviors reflecng love and forgiveness play a posive role in wellbeing. Spirituality empowers people to alter their life perspec- ves, supporng the feeling that life has meaning and purpose, and enabling them to deal with negave circumstances more easily, giving hope and a sense of control that non-religious people lack. Can You Really Measure the Difference? A most surprising aspect of health/spirituality research is the strength of the correlaon: the measured effect on the health outcomes is about the same as the effect of quing smoking in terms of years added to one s life. Documented benefits include the following: lower levels of stress, beer coping skills, beer mental health 5

6 (parish nurses connued) greater social support less substance abuse healthier behavior choices (e.g. healthier diet, higher physical acvity; however, religious people seem to have or are more willing to acknowledge their problems in managing weight.), increased disease screening and prevenve care beer compliance with recommended treatments. Boom Line Your faith isn t only good for your spirit! A close relaonship with your Creator may afford you such benefits as: lower mortality (death rates) from cancer, heart disease or strokes slower progression of Alzheimer s and other demenas fewer surgical complicaons, quicker recovery and fewer readmissions higher immune system funcon(i.e. higher CD4 counts and lover viral load measurements) and lower disease progression rates among HIV infected persons Stewardship Most of us think stewardship is about money. It s not; it s about priories. Obviously, the congregaon needs money to pay staff, maintain a building and generally buy the things we need to gather for worship and fellowship. The synod, naonal Church, and worldwide Church all depend on money to do the work of ministry in the world: feeding the hungry, fighng AIDS, reseling refugees, finding homes for children, etc. The money to do all of these things comes, in large part, from what we put in the plate on Sunday. And yet, stewardship is not about money. Stewardship asks us the queson: How important is it to me that these things happen? How much do we want to connue to gather for worship? To feed the hungry? To resele refugees? Stewardship is fundamentally about making sure God s priories are our priori- es. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and God put there the man whom God had formed The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to ll it and keep it. (Gen 2.8, 15) The garden isn t ours; we don t know what s best for it. God does. God asks us to ll it and keep it. Stewardship is how we do that with our money, yes; but also our me, our dedicaon, our prayer. Where are our priories? Peace, Pr. Seth & Pr. Stephanie 6 Sharing our Gifts Stewardship Update Thank you to all, good and faithful stewards. March Attendance Mid week: Sundays: Feb March Mar 4 63 March Mar March Mar March Mar March General Fund Giving Report General Fund: Goal Actual % of Goal Annual $384,000 March $32,000 $34, % Year to Date $96,000 $89,613 93% 2015 Designated Giving Report March Year to Date Building Fund $455 $1515 FISH (local food bank) $495 $1240 World Hunger $ $ Organ Lease $570 $1335 Building Fund and Above and Beyond Balance $167,515

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8 Sundays at 9:40 Dr. Dan Peterson returns to Agnus Dei for the Adult Forum Making theology come alive is not an easy task, but Dr. Dan Peterson does just exactly that and we have known that when Dan Peterson comes to Agnus Dei, we will have an invigorang discussion inving us to reexamine our faith and explore the depths of our own theological understanding. Beginning April 12, and for three Sundays following, Dr. Peterson will lead us in a study of Jesus Miracles Then and Now. Do miracles really happen? What are they? What does the Bible actually say about miracles in the ministry of Jesus and how, if at all, do they relate to the Chrisan faith? This series, inspired by Luther Seminary s Theo- Rush: A Biblical Experience, explores the role and funcon of miracle stories in the Bible. Aer looking at miracles in the Bible, the series examines Luther s view of miracles and concludes with a look at how modern theologians have reinterpreted miracles for people living in a scienfic age. Dr. Peterson is a professor of theology currently teaching at Seale University, and he has taught widely in Lutheran churches throughout the Puget Sound area. You will want to have a front row seat for this enre Forum series. Sundays at 9:40 April 12, 19, 26, and May 4 9:40 a.m. For this series you will have the opportunity to help contribute to the Forum Fund. We cannot have the kind of enlivening studies and discussions we desire without financial support beyond the church budget. There will be a basket available for your contribuon. Thank you for helping the Forum Commiee connue to offer high quality and thought-provoking Sunday morning adult educaon. The Forum Commiee: Tom Bradford, Marilyn Colyar, Peter Liljengren, Ghita Lorenz, Pastor Seth Novak, Randy Spitzer. Aenon Concert Goers! If you are interested in aending symphony concerts in Benaroya Hall, in Seale with transportaon provided from Gig Harbor, contact Paul or Marian Borg as soon as possible to reserve your choice of seat in the hall as well as on the bus. A subscripon for four Friday noon concerts is available. An invitaon from our friends at Redeemer Lutheran: Celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the Reformaon With a trip to Germany from May 1-12, 2017 Redeemer Lutheran Church, Pastor Greg Kaurin and Faith Journeys are joining together to plan this 12 day adventure to Germany. There will be an informaonal meeng at Redeemer Lutheran, 1001 Princeton St in Fircrest on May 3 at 2PM where all of your quesons will be answered regarding this excing adventure. Redeemer has fund raisers planned already to help defray the cost. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, May 3. Church Council Openings At the May 31 Congregaonal Meeng we will be elecng new members to the council to fill the expiring terms of Ehren Gossler, Eunice Werner, Linda Olson and Carol Dana. Lance Colyar s term is expiring as well but he has agreed to serve another term. If you would like to serve on the council, please let one of the members of the Nominang Commiee know by April 12. The members of the Nominang Commiee who were elected at our annual meeng are Cindy Beals, Ehren Gossler, Paul Borg, Tracy Clark, Lyle Miller, and Carol Dana. 8

9 Human Concerns A HUGE Thank You for all your contribu ons to Food Backpacks 4 Kids during Lent. The monetary offerings totaled $ and the food dona ons totaled a whopping 825 lbs! We are providing weekend food for 64 students now and these generous contribu ons are so appreciated! Peace Community Meal NEWS FLASH Due to a scheduling mix-up, our dinner at Peace Lutheran will be on Monday, April 6th at 5:30.that is the day a er Easter. Please have your contribu ons at church by 3:30 pm on the 6th. Heated lasagnas should be ready by 3:30. If you are hea ng/cooking lasagnas in the church oven, check the direc ons and allow plenty of me for that... Back to Work clothing for women will be collected from April 6th un l April 20th. Accessories such as scarves, belts, purses, and classic jewelry are also needed for ladies who are comple ng a training program at WWEE. (now known as Courage 360)There will be a large box near the dona on sta on for your items. Thanks very much for giving your Professional clothes a new life. Oh woe, sorrow and sadness!!!!!! We are really having a hard me finding 500 coupons to benefit the NELM (Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission) in Rock Point, Arizona. We collect the Labels for Educa on to benefit the Mission School in Rockport, Arizona. Below is a photo of some of the children at the Navajo Mission School for whom we are saving labels. To learn more go to h p://nelm.org. Coming up in May a way to help promote music lessons for low income kids and a one week VASE & GARDEN BLITZ to benefit the Women s Prison garden and floral classes. Thank you, Ronnie Kulman Human Concerns Commi ee Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission 9

10 April 2015 S M T W T F S This Month at Agnus Dei--(all meetings at church unless noted.) Wednesdays, 9:45 am--back Packs 4 Kids in the community room. Donations always welcome. For information Contact Phyllis Brandt or Pat Borgen Wednesdays, 10:30 am Lectionary Study with our pastors in the Youth Room, Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00--Prayer Shawl Ministry meets in the ADLC Youth Room. All knitters and crochet enthusiasts are welcome! Contact Gwen Daugs Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Adult Choir, Contact Shari Shull, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Church Staff Meeting Fridays, 10:00 am--augsburg Bible Study in the community room. Contact Rose VanderKlomp April 4, Saturday, 8:30 am--men s Square at the Sunset Grille, Breakfast and Bible Study. Contact Steve Carlson April 4, Saturday, 8:30 am--women s Circle at the Sunset Grille, Breakfast and Bible study. Kayaking or walking for those who wish. Contact Sonja Miller April 9, 7:00 PM Council Meeting in the Community Room April 16, Thursday, 5:30 pm-- Theology on Tap at The Marketplace Grille. Contact Doug McDonnell April 17, Friday, 7:00 pm--agnus Dei Book Group in the community room. Contact Neal VanDerVoorn April 18, 10am-noon, Advance Directives Presentation in the Parish Hall provided by our Health Ministry Team April 21, 1:30 pm--gather Bible Study in the community room. Social time begins at 1:00 pm followed by the study found in the April Gather Magazine, for more information contact either Marge Olmsted or Barb Deák April 28, 1:00 Quilting for Lutheran World Relief in the Community Room April 23, 12:00 Dining for Women Gig Harbor Chapter meets in the Parish Hall For more info see diningforwomen.org April 25, Chili Cook Off, Talent Show, Silent Auction Fundraiser Come and help our youth attend the National Youth Gathering in Detroit this July. APRIL BIRTHDAY 3 Dominik Irons 5 Kathryn Duncan Celebrations: 8 Pam Marn, Daryl Daugs 10 Dave Harshman 11 Gloria Wi 12 Laura Farley, Devin Irons 13 David Moore 14 George Kenefick, 15 Adam Basse, Ausn Moore 16 Audrey Clinton, Jeannee Carlander 17 Olin Hogeberg 18 Kathy Fox, Brenda Gormly 19 George Bridgforth 20 Alex Meacham 22 Lindsay McDonnell 23 Kaisa Carlson, Sue Burne 25 Jackie Kimball 26 Dianna Carlson, Mike Evans, Isaak West 28 Susan Luebeck, Brenna Spadoni APRIL ANNIVERSARIES* 3/66 Lance and Marilyn Colyar 3/? Dan and Carol Dana 9/88 Kimberly Morgan and Paul Gross 17/99 Dave and Mary Ann Harshman 20/95 Dave and Terri Schinkel Continued... 10

11 We are thankful to All the wonderful volunteers who have been setting up tables and chairs for the Forum, soup suppers, etc. The participants in the Lenten Midweek Drama series and the Passion Reading on Palm Sunday The soup providers for our Lenten Soup Suppers: Choir, Council, Men s Groups, Youth, and the Knitters and Quilters Organ plus Strings Concert "Telemann Fest" Sunday, April 3:00 PM Works by Georg Philipp Telemann John Scanlon, viola; Richard Treat, cello; Shari Shull, organ Donation to benefit the organ fund Plan to join us for a concert of lively, baroque favorites by Telemann. The organ in our sanctuary was installed in March It is currently being leased on a yearly basis, which has been paid by member donations above and beyond regular giving. 100% of lease payments will be applied toward the purchase price should the congregation choose to purchase the organ. Little Lambs Preschool Registration for the school year is now open. If you or someone you know is looking for a quality preschool education, please tell them about Little Lambs. Word of mouth is our best advertising! little-lambspreschool.org Agnus Dei is now on facebook! We will post news, photos and events. Add us to your favorites as another way to keep in touch with what is happening at Agnus Dei. Like and Share posts so other will see them too! 11

12 Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Calendar April 2015 For more information see event details on page 10 2:00 PM VBS Mee ng Lambs on Spring Break this week 12 No FB4K

13 Serving in Worship April 2015 P.Brandt Hospitality for April: Coordinator Carol Dana, Team: Ohme, Adair, Anderson, Barelli, C. Carlson, Christensen, Duncan Serve in Worship Schedule Coordinators: Altar Guild: Dianna Carlson Altar Flowers: Dianna Carlson Assisng Ministers: Shari Shull Communion Servers and Greeters: Marilyn Hermstad Lectors: Marilyn Colyar Offering Counters: Linda Ribary Ushers: Marilyn Hermstad Sound System: Posion Open 13

14 The monthly newsletter of Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Peacock Hill Ave NW Gig Harbor, WA Submit newsletter items, subscription requests and address changes to Editor/Administrative Assistant: Cindy Beals Church Staff Pastor: Rev. Stephanie McCarthy , Pastor: Rev. Seth Novak , Minister of Music, Shari Shull, A.I.M , Pianist, Susan Luebeck Administrative Assistant, Cindy Beals , Council President Carol Dana Treasurer, Lance Colyar Financial Secretary, Pat Humlie Asst. Fin.Secretary, Rose VanderKlomp Zoe Holmes, Parish Nurse Gwen Daugs, Parish Nurse Teresa McDonald, Parish Nurse Jack Stier, Parish Sexton Council John Barelli, Marlene Bridgforth, Steve Carlson, Lance Colyar, Carol Dana, Ehren Gossler, Don Krump, Linda Olson, Tim Wilson Little Lambs Preschool Director/Teacher Shannon Moore Board President Debbie Snowden Financial Secretary Kimberly Morgan Secretary Kristin Page 14