Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 PASTOR: Rev. Geri Cunningham Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church CHURCH COUNCIL: Carolyn Olson, President (575) Bryan Howard, Vice President (575) April, Volume 51 #5 Candice Jierree, Secretary (575) LaVelta Jenkins, Treasurer (575) Judy Solt, Financial Secretary (575) Teresa Johnston (575) Jenny Grinstead (575) Kate Hanson (575) Hank Howard (575) MINISTRY TEAMS: Worship & Music Christian Education Kay Gunning Laura Dhenin Dawn Hanson Jenny Grinstead Carolyn Olson* Kate Hanson Linda Servold Sarah Hadfield Toni Thompson Dianna Hutchison Teresa Johnston * Witness & Evangelism Chris McCraw Sarah Hadfield Jill Thompson Dianna Hutchison Dianna Thompson Service &Unity Anne Erickson Stewardship Jenny Grinstead* LaVelta Jenkins* Susan Howard Judy Solt Finance Gib Tafoya Bill Festing Valda Tafoya Daryl Hadfield Jean Vinka LaVelta Jenkins Paul Thompson Pastoral Relations Toni Thompson Property Sarah Hadfield Earl Cunningham Jan Rosencrans David Hanson Alan Jenkins Bryan Howard* Brad Thompson Alan Jenkins Rick Salness Paul Thompson * Council Liaison STAFF: Choir Director: Linda Servold Organist and Keyboard: Linda Servold Assistant Musicians: Office Secretary Website Editor The CONTACT Carolyn Olson Jill Thompson Laura Dhenin Alan Jenkins Laura Dhenin On Sunday, April 22nd, St. Peter bid farewell and Godspeed to long-time members Helen and Bill Festing. They will be missed. BIRTHDAYS: Mike Johnston 5-4 Chris McCraw 5-7 Cynthia Bell 5-8 Christine Franklin 5-17 Jean Vinka 5-22 Dean DeSelms 5-25 Val Tafoya 5-27 Sarah Hadfield 5-29 ANNIVERSARIES David & Dawn Hanson Bill & Helen Festing Al & Vera Bierle Bob & Karen Lathrop Nicolas & Misty Carrasco If we have inadvertently omitted anyone, please contact Laura Dhenin in the church office, thank you!

2 Page 2 Dear Partners in Ministry, Why should I follow Jesus, can t I just believe in him? Can I be a Christian without going to church? What does it mean to be confirmed? These a few of the weighty questions I am talking about with our two young confirmands Alex and Reilly Salness. They are about to complete their two years of confirmation classes and will be received as full members of this congregation in a Rite of Affirmation of Baptism on Pentecost Sunday. During their first year they studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and the underlines and slightly worn look of their Bibles really show that they actually have been reading and paying attention. They have studied about Martin Luther and church history, the Apostles Creed, the Lord s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. Now we are in the final section What does it mean to be confirmed? Or in other words how do I become a fully-functioning, faith-believing, grace-saved, spiritually-gifted, God-loving, abiding-in-christ, beloved disciple and follower. Want to know how to be follower too? Want to disciple-up with the confirmands? During the next few weeks leading up to Pentecost, I am doing a sermon series on Abiding in Christ that is based on the writings of the original beloved disciple, John. I will also be tying in the five promises made during the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism: To live among God s faithful people, To hear the word of God and share in the Lord s supper, To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, To serve all people, following the example of Jesus And to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Time to disciple-up! See you in church. In Christ s love Pastor Geri

3 Page 3 ~ C IN THE BEGINNING ~ CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY ~ 50 From the Carlsbad Current-Argus, October 13, 1961: The United Lutheran Church, recently organized here, will conduct its first service at 11 am Sunday in the Carlsbad Women s Club building. Services will be held each Sunday. The church was formed here under the direction of the Rev. E. Charles Anderson, mission developer. Plans have been made to begin Sunday School on November 12. Rev. Anderson came here in July with his wife, Joan, and daughter, Julie, from Las Cruces where he organized Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. He has been sent here by the Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church in America to organize a United Lutheran Congregation here in Carlsbad. The United Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran body in America, having a membership of approximately 2,500,000 members. This body is a member of the National Lutheran Council and the National Council of Churches in Christ, as well as the Lutheran World Federation and the World Council of Churches. The Board of American Missions finances and directs the organization of approximately 70 mission congregations a year in the U.S and Canada. This year, congregations are being established in Hobbs, Carlsbad, and Artesia. Rev. Anderson is also directing the work in Artesia where first services will also be held Sunday in the Central Valley Electric Building. Roswell, Alamogordo, and Las Cruces United Lutheran Congregations have been organized within the past three years. In preparation for their first service, the congregation has purchased through donations - all of the altar ware, hymnals have been provided by the Board of American Missions, a portable pulpit, lectern, and altar are being constructed by Meredith Smith and the altar cloths are being made by Mrs. John Snyder. The congregation has been meeting every other Wednesday evening to lay plans for this first service. Submitted by Carolyn Olson

4 NEWS EWS & E Page 4 & EVENTS Special Congregational Meeting Called May 6 th A special meeting has been called to discuss the use of funds to cover a roof repair to the flat roof which has been leaking for some time. The meeting will take place immediately following our worship service. All voting members are encouraged to attend. Your attendance is appreciated. Bring Your CAN to Church! Sunday, May 6 th Donations for the Jonas House food pantry have been sparse lately, so we are asking you to bring a can when you bring your can to church. They are in need for any kind of non-perishable food - especially peanut-butter! Pentecost Sunday May 27 th Mother s Day May 13 th Join us after worship for a cake and punch reception to honor the mother s in our congregation. Mothers will be presented with a flowering plant. Fiesta Potluck Pentecost Sunday We will welcome candidates for Confirmation: Alex and Reilly Salness as they make their Affirmation of Baptism before the congregation. Remember to wear RED! Pente cost Children s Carnival Sunday, May 27 th May 27 th In celebration of Pentecost and Confirmation please join us after worship for a Fiesta potluck featuring Mexican cuisine. Join us for a Piñata, games and prizes

5 Page 5 NEWS EWS & E & EVENTS Identity Theft Workshop: May 12 th 10:00 am with lunch to follow. Presented by Thrivent Financial. If your identity is stolen, it s more than an inconvenience. It puts your finances and credit rating at risk and that s just the beginning. Find out what steps you can take to help ensure your identity isn t stolen. Identity Theft: What you need to know During the workshop you ll learn: How identity theft can occur. Tips to protect yourself. Steps you can take if identity theft does happen to you. Please pre-register with LaVelta Jenkins by May 10, 2012: or imrightw@hotmail.com Join us for this FREE educational workshop Noisy Offering Update: We wish to thank Pastor Geri and our church family for the prayers, hugs, and other expressions of sympathy given us when mother, Irene Freese died February 27th. You are all a blessing to us. In Christian Love, Paula and Serge Sisler Through March 31st, the children have collected $376 for World Hunger. Thank you for your continuing support! CTHHS, Inc Household Items Needed: St. Peter has been asked to help furnish the kid s room of the CTHHS House located on Mesquite. Items needed include: sheets, blankets, pillows and window coverings (see Pastor Geri for sizes). They already have toys and beds. If you have items to donate, please contact Pastor Geri.

6 Page 6 SAFE HAVEN POLICY Safe Haven Policy ~ A Summary The Congregation Council of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church has approved a Safe Haven Policy. This new church policy was developed by a Safe Haven task force of church members. The policy follows state law regarding and federal guidelines for the protection of our church members and visitors. Ministry with children, youth and adults, like much of the work Jesus Christ has given us to do, is a ministry of relationships. Jesus Christ calls us into loving relationships that are healthy and helpful to each other, not taking advantage of those who are weaker or putting people in situations that are inappropriate for their age or maturity. There are some important points and responsibilities detailed in the Safe Haven Policy of which each member of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church should become familiar: Various types of abuse are defined all of which are prohibited. The policy contains a detailed list of rules for conducting various church activities. The policy states how abuse, theft or the presence of firearms or illegal drugs at churchsponsored activities is to be reported. Criminal Background checks, utilizing both state and federal sources of data, shall be performed for each adult church worker who supervises teaches or who regularly participates in events involving children, youth or vulnerable adults at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church. Written parental consent is required to text or to minors (except to your own children.) Event/Activity Permission, Registration, Medical and Publicity Release Forms are required at least annually when minor children desire to participate in church-sponsored or planned activities. Emergency procedures require the use of the 911 emergency telephone system and limit nonphysician and non-nurse treatment to trained first aid workers only. Individuals not wanting their photographs posted on the church web page or in the church facilities need to notify the church office in writing to this effect. A form for this purpose is available in the narthex. Implementation of this new policy will require St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran church to provide several types of training sessions. These will be scheduled and announced. The background checks will commence and be completed before the start of the Sunday School program in August of this year. Please contact Laura Dhenin, the church secretary, if you would like to view or receive a copy of this new policy.

7 Page 7 Sponsorship Opportunity: SYNOD NEWS Friends of La Mansión Summer Program Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey Children s Program In my Father s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. - John 14:2 Information packets and sponsorship forms are available in the nar- BORDER SERVANT CORPS: Border Servant Corps, a ministry of Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces, NM, seeks to provide an opportunity for volunteers to work for justice, serve their neighbor, and walk humbly with their God. Each month, a volunteer describes their experience on la frontera Volunteer: Alyssa Telander Service Site: Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services (El Paso, TX) Hometown: Bloomington, MN I came to the border in August of 2010 and am nearing the end of my second year in the Border Servant Corps. Last year I focused on worker s rights at Paso del Norte Civil Rights Project and this year I am working in the crime victim s unit at DMRS, a non-profit immigration law office in El Paso. I have had the opportunity to involve myself with the community of people working for change in this region and have learned a great deal about myself and the border. My time in the Border Servant Corps has solidified my interest in legal services and community organizing and I am hoping to head to law school in the next couple of years. Although my time with the Border Servant Corps is wrapping up, El Paso will always hold a special place in my heart and I doubt I will be able to stay away for long. Volunteer: Bridget Hughes Service Site: Jardín de los Niños (Las Cruces, NM) Hometown: Towanda, PA C.S. Lewis once wrote: To follow the vocation does not mean happiness, but once it has been heard, there is not happiness for those who do not follow. I was accepted into Border Servant Corps two weeks before our volunteer orientation began. Most volunteers will tell you they chose a program; I m here to tell you that God dragged me here. At my placement I work with homeless and near homeless children. Their lives are often unstable and hectic. They have no way to understand the reasons why they are homeless, or why they cannot spend all day with mommy and daddy. Children respond to stressors in their lives in many ways. Some hide, others are mean to their friends, and most of them have temper tantrums. A life skill I never anticipated learning is how to hold a screaming child with the patience and focus of a Zen master. My work at Jardin de Los Niños is life: messy, crazy, funny, aggravating beyond belief. It is just wrapped up in smaller more energetic packages that poop with joyous abandon. Yes. Even changing diapers is a part of doing justice here on the Frontera. It has been a humbling experience to realize that I can throw as big of a temper tantrum as the most bullheaded two year old can. Fear, questions of the unknown and my failures kept me from applying to Border Servant Corps. I threw a temper tantrum with God. He responded by bringing me here anyway. What I love most about my job is even on a day where I ve been bit twice, had to write an accident report or asked myself for the thousandth time this year if I want to have children, I am still reminded why I do my job. Every day I am blessed with a small moment that makes me see the value in what I do. I can receive an unasked for hug, or a kid can make me laugh. Sometimes it is the best music in the world to hear a delayed child speak clearly. My vocation down here does not always mean happiness, but it is more fulfilling and challenging than I ever could have wished for.

8 Page 8 LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF Food Crisis in West Africa Escalates - LWR Responds - A serious food crisis is brewing in the Sahel region of West Africa, a region where more than 10 million people already face the threat of hunger every day. Recent failed rains, drought and rising food costs, among other factors, now threaten an additional 3.4 million people. Thanks to a generous $1.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lutheran World Relief and partners are initiating Resilience Plus, a project in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger that will help vulnerable families earn immediate income while preserving their long-term agricultural livelihoods. Cash-for-work activities will provide immediate access to income for 134,000 people and help families to weather the crisis. This community work will simultaneously conserve soil and improve irrigation systems that will help grow food in the future. Through this response, LWR is combining short-term emergency assistance with essential recovery and rehabilitation programs to increase community resiliency and reduce vulnerability to future crises, says Evariste Karangwa, LWR s regional program director for Africa. LWR will also provide free seed distributions and connect farmers groups to financial institutions, where they can access credit to purchase agricultural supplies. When their crops fail, farmers in poor, developing communities are often unable to purchase seeds and supplies for the next season. Because women farmers are especially vulnerable to crises and often have to sell assets for their families survival, LWR will work with 10,890 women to maximize their incomes through improved marketing skills and crop processing and storage techniques. Proper storage for surplus crops allows crops to be sold when demand is highest, instead of right after the harvest when markets are saturated. Livestock distributions and training in animal husbandry will also provide women with skills and resources to earn additional income. LWR is very grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for this grant to respond to the worsening food crisis in West Africa says John Nunes, LWR s president and CEO. Many families, and especially women and young children, are vulnerable. Resilience Plus will help LWR work with communities to cope through this crisis and become more resilient in the long-term. To learn more about LWR s response to this crisis, please visit lwr.org. WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since For more information, please visit lwr.org. Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of U.S. Lutherans, serving communities living in poverty overseas.

9 Page 9 CORRESPONDANCE:

10 Page 10 Photo Album: Holy Week & Easter

11 Page 11 Photo Album: Holy Week & Easter

12 Page 12 Photo Album: Dr. Seuss Sunday

13 Saint Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church 1302 West Pierce Street Carlsbad NM S u n d a y M o n d a y T u e d a y W e d n e s d a y T h u r s d a y F r i d a y S a t u r d a y 5:00 pm: Confirmation Class 1 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 4:00 pm: Coalition 6:30 pm Choir Practice :30-7:00 pm: Girl Scouts 9:00 am: Executive Committee Mtg. 5 9:00 am: Sunday School 9:00 am: Bible Study 10:30 am: Worship 10:30 am: Toddler Church 11:30 am: Special Congregational Mtg. 6:00 pm: Youth Group 6 Mother s Day 13 9:00 am: Sunday School 9:00 am: Bible Study 10:30 am: Worship 11:45 am: Cake & Punch Reception 12:15 pm: Congregational Council Mtg. 9:00 am: Sunday School 9:00 am: Bible Study 10:30 am: Worship 10:30 am: Toddler Church 6:00 pm: Youth Group 20 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 4:00 pm: CTHHS Inc. Board Mtg. 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance :15 pm: Service & Unity 5:00 pm: Confirmation Class 8 6:30 pm: Christian Ed. 5:00 pm: Confirmation Class 6:30 pm: Dinner for Confirmands :00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 5:15 pm: Worship & Music 6:30 pm Choir Practice 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 6:30 pm Choir Practice 1:00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 6:30 pm: Choir Practice :30 pm: Finance Committee Mtg. 10 5:30-7:00 pm: Girl Scouts :30-7:00 pm: Girl Scouts :30-7:00 pm: Girl Scouts 12 10:00 am-1:00 pm: Thrivent Financial Identity Theft Workshop Pentecost 27 9:00 am: Sunday School 9:00 am: Bible Study 10:30 am: Worship with Rite of Confirmation 10:30 am: Toddler Church 11:45 am: Fiesta Potluck 12:15 pm: Carnival :00-2:30 pm: Line Dance 6:30 pm: Choir Practice 31 MAY ~ 2012

14 The Contact St. Peter Lutheran Church 1302 West Pierce Street Carlsbad NM Sunday Schedule ~ Spring 9:00 am: Sunday School (Pre-k 5 th Grade) 9:00 am: Bible Study (Adult, Teen & Young Adult) 10:30 am: Worship & Holy Communion 10:30 am: Toddler Church (2-4 years old) 6:00 pm: Youth Group