Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church Volume 1, Issue 4 May 2015 Mission Statement: We, the Congregation of Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church (AFLC), declare that God the Father is all powerful and eternal, that His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the Living Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we aspire to live our lives according to the Word of God and to proclaim His truth to a lost and hurting world around us. Ministerial Acts for May Funerals Baptisms Weddings Breiann Otonichar & Charles Simon If you have any prayer requests, please call Melissa Nissila at or , she is in charge of the prayer chain. New members installed on March 29th Palm Sunday: Denise Klatt, Sheila Mitchell, Patti RanFranz, Fred Turk Inside this issue: Program Updates 2 Volunteer Schedule 2 Church Council Minutes 3 Women s Retreat 4 Monthly Calendar 5 Pastor Norr s Page Psalm 1: 1-6, How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous, for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 92:12-15, The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, he will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. The spring season is upon us. We will be seeing new life all around us. The trees will begin to bud and then leaf out, they will be green again. The grass will be starting to grow and turn green again. The birds are returning, Robins are back. God uses His creation as an example of new life. Trees are amazing; in the fall the sap runs down into the root system and is stored there through the winter. If it remained above ground in the tree in this cold country, it would freeze and split the bark of the branches and the tree would eventually die. So it is necessary for the sap to leave the upper part of the tree for the winter season, in the hardwood tree. In the fall of the year when the sap leaves the upper part of the tree and leaves dry and fall off. We are reminded of a person that is not walking with the Lord. They have no spiritual life, and are spiritually dead. The Psalmist calls them wicked and are like chaff, which has no life and usefulness, the wind drives it away. The way of the wicked will perish, meaning spending eternity in hell. The righteous will be spiritually healthy, like a tree planted by streams of water. It is fully leafed out and bears much fruit. The righteous person will flourish like a palm tree which is a tree that has many useful kinds of products for people to use. The righteous person can not just sit at home and not be useful to other people. We are to let our light shine out in public and represent Jesus to the lost world. We are to still yield fruit in old age, (as we mature). There is no retirement in our faith walk. We are to be full of sap and very green, just like a tree! May Activities Graduate Recognition Sunday will be held on May 17th. Please let Pastor know of any graduates from high school and college from our congregation who have family members. We are planning the Spring Church Clean Up for May The sign up sheet will be in the back of the church for anyone that would like to sign up. Bring your willing spirit along with cleaning supplies.

2 Page 2 Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Soup Supper for Lenten Services The soup suppers was a very special time for visiting before the Wednesday Lenten Services. Each week we had approximately 30 or more people partaking in the meal. Thank you to Tammy Bechtold, Kathy Carlson, Tim Hunter, Lisa Inman, Sherry Johnson, Sheri Peterson, June Porter, Becky Smith and Barb Stewart, for making the delicious soups. Sunday School Children Sang at the Easter Service The students in the Sunday School sang two songs for the service. Aaliyah Orso had a solo with the rest of the students backing her up in the song We Believe by Matt Maher. The other song the group sang was Were You There. We have up and coming performers for our praise band Lifted Hands. Saturday Night Alive Willow Sullivan and Kathy sang a duet! Ralph Isaacson played his fiddle! Easter Lilies The following families purchased lilies to beautify the church on Easter morning. Lisa Inman in memory of Susan Inman Marvin & Sherry Johnson in memory of Al & Lois Johnson and Joyce Major and in honor of Gene Major Bob & Linda Kolocek in memory of Grandma Helen and Grandma Lou Pastor Norr in memory of Janet Norr Mary Picek in memory of Peter and Marilyn Skaudis New Members of Good Shepherd Church on Palm Sunday Denise Klatt, Sheila Mitchell, Patti Ranfranz and Fred Turk were accepted as new members on March 29, Welcome to our church family. Volunteer Update May 3 May 10 May 17 May 24 May 31 Greeters Sharon Maki Eric Nilsson Eric Nilsson Deb Hanela Deb Hanela Ushers Eric Nilsson & Todd Niemi Tim & Deb Hunter Art Lee & Dave Stewart Gordy & Melissa Nissila Deb Hanela & Todd Niemi Acolytes Readers Marvin Johnson Willmer Lehrke Tammy Bechtold Dave Stewart Sandra Tuominen Kitchen Clean-up June Porter Patti Ranfranz Joyce Rude Doris Setterlund Kathy Zaiser Laundering Linens for the Month: Patti Ranfranz Well done, good and faithful servant! Matthew Thank you all for your service.

3 Called to order at 7:10 p.m. Attendance: GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES March 10, 2015 Pastor Norr, Tammy Bechtold, Kathy Carlson, Lisa Inman, Sherry Johnson, Linda Kolocek, Art Lee, Sharon Maki, Paul Mattila, Todd Niemi, Gordy Nissila, Melissa Nissila, Warren Swartz and Sandra Tuominen. Deacons: Sheri Peterson Opening Scripture: Matthew 27:45-46 Opening Prayer Motion was made and supported to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2015 meeting as read. Treasurer s Report: The treasurer s report was read. Motion was made and supported to approve the Treasurer s report as read. Financial Secretary s Report: Ladies Fund, Radio Broadcast, and Home Missions Fund were read. Motion was made and supported to approve the Financial Secretary s report as read. Sunday School Report: The Sunday School report was given by Sherry Johnson. The ending balance for the Sunday School was read. Motion was made and supported to approve the Sunday School report as given. Youth Group Report: The Youth Group report was given by Sharon Maki. The ending balance for the Youth Group was read. The Youth Group went tubing at Giant s Ridge on Friday, March 7 th and a good time was had by all! Motion was made and supported to approve the Youth Group report as given. Deacons Report: The Deacons report was given by Sheri Peterson. Responsibility focus discussion: Marvin & Sherry Johnson Children; Keith Bechtold Music; Tom Smith & Pastor Community. The following Acolytes have been trained Nelli & Kirstie Saranen & Aaliyah Orso. The Lenten Soup Suppers are going excellent as well as the Lenten Worship Services. The Ladies Retreat will be Saturday, April 18 th. Still looking for people to share testimonies at the Retreat. Motion was made and supported to approve the Deacons Report as given. Pastor s Report: New Member Classes have been completed by Denise Klatt, Sheila Ann Mitchell, Patti Ranfranz & Fred Turk. Dave Swanson will be joining also. Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge will be leading our Worship Service on Sunday, March 22 nd. Meal plans for this need to be discussed. Jews for Jesus will be at our church on March 26 th at 7:00 p.m. to conduct a Seder Meal presentation. Men s Retreat was discussed. Pastor Kevin Olson seminar in Cloquet on May 2 nd. Pastor read a letter from Christian Free Lutheran Church in Wheatland, Iowa. Pastor read a letter from Range Respite regarding the purchase of Easter lilies. Pastor has ordered palms for Palm Sunday. Motion was made and supported to approve the Pastor s Report as given. Old Business: Discussed having the church roof looked at. One shingle needs repairs on the roof. Mark Wilcox will come to check out Power Point location on the altar. Pastor will call Story Book Lodge to set dates for August 9-15 th. Discussed Easter Breakfast menu. Will have one dozen sausage breads for Easter Brunch and Sandra Tuominen will do these. Discussed the lunch for Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge. We will have 18 feet of sub sandwiches again from Subway. Sharon will order them and Sheri Peterson will pick them up. Tim Hunter will cook for the Ladies Retreat. The Deacons Helpers are being worked on. Sheri Peterson passed out surveys regarding this issue. Name Tags were tabled this month. The scale for the church has been purchased. The drum machine for the Praise Team is still in the works. The Quad City Food Shelf donation will take place the last Sunday of the month March 29 th. New Business: Motion made and approved to be able to transfer from the Building Fund to the General Fund if needed. Deb Hunter is working on the 50 th Anniversary for the Church. This will be tabled until after Easter. Discussed LifeTouch photographer for a new Church Directory. This will be tabled until after Easter as well. Annual Church Picnic dates were discussed July 26 th or August 2 nd. A motion was made and approved to have Nick Schunk look at our roof and fix the loose shingles. A motion was made and approved to order Easter Lilies from Range Respite. A motion was made and approved to change church accounts as to who is on each account. A motion was made and approved to accept Denise Klatt, Sheila Ann Mitchell, Patti Ranfranz, Fred Turk & Dave Swanson as new members. Meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer and was adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Melissa Nissila, Secretary

4 Women s Retreat 2015 Tell Your Story The theme for this years Women s Retreat was Tell Your Story. We had 5 amazing women tell their story and four others do readings. What a way to get to know other women and the lives that they have been through. The men of the church served a delicious luncheon prepared by Tim Hunter! Deb Hanela T E S T I M O N I E S A special thank you to Deb Hunter for taking pictures during the retreat to remember this day! Sharon Eskola shared with us how the Lord blessed her during different trials in her life. Jen Lambrecht did a reading! Sandra Tuominen Sheri, Lisa and Sherry did a Tribute to Daphne! Aaliyah Orso doing a reading! Kristen Nokomis telling her Story! Sheri Peterson also told her story.

5 3 May 2015 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Worship/Communion Service 10 Mother s Day 9:00 am Sunday School 17 Honor Graduates 9:00 am Sunday School Memorial Day :00 pm Deacons Mtg. 7:00 pm Church Council Meeting :00 pm Bible 13 12:00 pm Ladies Pines 7:00 pm Bible 20 7:00 pm Bible 27 7:00 pm Bible 7 National Day of Prayer 10:30 am Edgewood Vista Service 12:00 Nat l Day of Prayer 4:00 pm Group Home 6:30 pm Prayer Service at True Hope Fellowship 14 Church Clean Up 12:00 V.A.M.A. Meeting 4:00 pm Group Home 21 4:00 pm Group Home :30 am Edgewood Vista Service 15 Church Clean Up 10:30 am Edgewood Vista Memory Care Service :00-3:30 Teaching Workshop at St. Paul s Free Lutheran in Cloquet 9 9:00 am Men s Monthly Northgate Cafe 16 Church Clean Up 7:00 pm Saturday Night Alive 23 30

6 If you have any news, concerns, or requests, you can contact Sherry by phone, text, or . Cell phone # sherry.johnson222@gmail.com Church Clean-up May 14-16, 2015 Bring a willing heart to clean up the church. Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church PO Box rd Street South Virginia, MN W E RE ON T H E W EB W W W. G S L V I RG I N I A. O R G