Our Savior s/opdal Lutheran Parish

Transcription

1 January 2010 Our Savior s/opdal Lutheran Parish 400 First Avenue, Sacred Heart, Minnesota Phone: Website: I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Pastor Dale s Letter Quilting Thurs/Fridays 2 Grace for the Moment 3 Council Highlights Thanks from OS Council 4 Annual Meetings Opdal Sunday, January 17, 11:00 a.m. Our Savior s: Sunday, January 24, 11:00 a.m. Gift List January Worship Hosts Poinsettia Gift List Thanks to 2009 Council 5 6 Please come and join in as we work together as a community of faith, to plan our mission and ministry as God s people! On January 17, worship times will be switched: Our Savior s: 8:45 a.m. Opdal: 10:00 a.m. (this allows Pastor Dale to be at Opdal s annual meeting) Upcoming in February... Bible Study by Pastor Dale on the Book of Romans. Tuesday evenings & Wednesday mornings Beginning January 5 Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. Discussion Group on The Shack with Pastor Dale The book is a fictional account of a man, Mack, who after his daughter s tragic death, is invited by God to come and meet him at The Shack where his daughter died. It is there Mack meets God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We will meet in the Fireside Room. All are welcome!

2 P a g e 2 January is here. Over the years many people have shared with me that January is their least favorite month of the year. There are several reasons for this. With Christmas over there is nothing to look forward to except three more months of snow and cold. There is the chore of all those Christmas decorations that need to be taken down and packed away for another year. Though the winter solstice was December 21 st it will be still be another two months before it will finally be light out when we leave for work in the morning and still light out when we come home after work in the evening. It is no wonder that January is the doldrums month of winter. We in the church are not immune from this doldrums feeling. The sanctuary that has been brightly decorated with trees, wreaths, lights and poinsettias is bare again. All the energy, expectation that goes into preparing for Christmas season is spent and all we have to look forward to is the start of Lent. It is at this time that we need to turn to the story that gives its name to this season after Christmas, The Epiphany. Epiphany means to reveal or make known and tells the story of how Jesus is revealed to the wise men. A star arose in the east and they traveled to find the one whose birth the star announced. The season of Epiphany challenges us to discover where God is at work in our lives. This is not something we do on our own, it occurs through the power of the Holy Spirit which is at work leading us. Yes, the Holy Spirit will reveal God to us in the usual places: word and sacrament, worship and prayer, but often the Holy Spirit will surprise us; an example what happened to the wise men; they first go to Jerusalem expecting to find Jesus there because that is where the king lives and if a king has been born, he would be born to the present king. To their surprise, he is not in the palace and then they find Jesus but in a humble abode in Bethlehem. The Holy Spirit leads us in the same way so that we may discover God at work in the expected, and the unexpected places of our lives. As you move into the winter doldrums, look for the stars around you that will reveal to you where God is at work in your lives. Be prepared to be surprised. Pastor Dale Stewardship Notes Special thanks to Sonja Thune for coordinating the Family Time Christmas program. Special thanks to Tami Hebrink & Carla Hamre for coordinating OS Christmas program. Thank you to all who gave of their time & talent and took part in the Christmas programs. Thank you to those that provided cookie trays for the homebound: Jerry Erickson, Audrey Forkrud, Vi Jordet, Shirley Strandjord. Mission Quilting at OS Thursdays & Fridays January 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29, 10:00-4:00 p.m. If you can iron, pin, tie or sew by machine please join us! Reminder to 10th Graders: Affirmation of Baptism classes begin Wednesday, January 6, 5:45 p.m.

3 P a g e 3 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. ~ by Dennis Fischer On December 7, 1941, a Japanese war plane piloted by Mitsuo Fuchida took off from the aircraft carrier, Akagi. Fuchida led the surprise attack on the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Through the war years to follow, Fuchida continued to fly often narrowly escaping death. At war s end, he was disillusioned and bitter. A few years later, he heard a story that piqued his spiritual curiosity: A young Christian woman whose parents had been killed by the Japanese during the war, decided to minister to Japanese prisoners. Impressed, Fuchida began reading the Bible. As he read Jesus words from the cross, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do (Luke 23:34), he understood how that woman could show kindness to her enemies. That day Fuchida gave his heart to Christ. Becoming a lay preacher and evangelist to his fellow citizens, this former warrior demonstrated the peace of God which surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7) a peace enjoyed by those who have trusted Christ and who let their requests be made known to God (vs 6). No matter what we are going through in life, God makes that peace available to us. The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 Thank you to: All who helped decorate: (Opdal) Deb Enestvedt, Verne Enestvedt, Jean Hendrickson, Shannon Sander, Camille Smith, Sonja Thune, Jean Voelz; (OS) JoLene Groen, Marlys Peterson, Mary Agre, Jerry Erickson, Audrey Forkrud, Marlys Haug, Bev Schjenken, Ruby Skalbeck, Lu Whittet, Gerry Peterson, Rodney Peterson, Ronnie Peterson. John & Connie Veglahn for donating the Christmas tree at Opdal. December Wedding 12/19/09 Alicia Jordet & Robert Welsch, Jr. May God bless their new life together!

4 Council Highlights P a g e 4 Our Savior s December 9 Education all is ready for the S.S. Christmas program to be held December 13 during worship followed by a potato bake. Family Life The pictorial directory will be delivered to the printer this week. Worship the plan is for the 5:00 Christmas Eve service to last one hour. Motion made to give the old keyboard to Mike Agre, seconded, motion carried. Property/Management LaMont purchased an outside light with motion detector for above the office door entrance. Cemetery trees have been trimmed. A list of recommended donations for year-end giving was presented to include $1000 towards general fund debt reduction. Motion was made to accept these recommendations, seconded, motion carried. Opdal December 9 Treasurer s report $7209 behind budget. All bills are paid both fuel tanks are full & paid. Letter went out asking for additional offerings. Congregational committee no additional interest as of yet. Christmas program will be held December 20 at 10:00 a.m. during the worship service, potluck brunch will follow. Opdal will pay for OS pulpit supply. The custodian responsibility list was presented. Deb Enestvedt has expressed interest but would prefer to not have the job December-February. Furnace is up & running. Cella Johnson has volunteered to keep track of worship hosts. Joint Meeting December 9 Matthew Preuss, a representative from Green Lake Bible Camp gave a presentation. Summer worship schedule will remain the same. For Lenten worship, area pastors will be doing a pulpit swap. Motion made to accept the Lenten worship schedule as printed, seconded, & carried. March is Minnesota Food Share Month; will put out the Hunger Jug & hold a food drive. A motion made to approve the annual meeting dates: Opdal January 17, 11:00 am; OS January 24, 11:00 am, seconded, & carried. The mission trip has been postponed due to conflicting schedules. Darrel Refsland is asking what the middle & high school kids want as far as youth participation in church and youth programs. A meeting to brainstorm for the kids and parents might be helpful. A motion was made to have $18,000 of pastor s salary be designated for housing allowance, seconded, carried. December Financial Notes for Our Savior s December Receipts: $30,221 ($9008 of this was designated for debt reduction) December Expenses: $18,275 General Balance as of 12/31/09: $1095 A Note from Our Savior s Council We want to thank you for your financial participation in the life of our congregation. We were able to end the year in the black of which we are very grateful. Thank you for your gifts and for your faithfulness in We give praise & thanks to God for His love and faithfulness to each of us and as a community of faith. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

5 P a g e 5 Gifts/donations made from Our Savior s Family & Mission Fund for 2009: Salvation Army Sharing & Caring Hands ACTS Santa s Closet Compassion Child RenVilla Craft Department Hope Haven Cancer Society Gifts/donations made from Opdal WELCA for 2009: Renville Senior Care Campus Blue Star Mothers LYO House of Hope Shelter House Renville County Hospice Green Lake Lutheran Ministries Renville County Food Shelf Feeding Children International Salvation Army of Renville County American Red Cross Santa s Closet Renville County Community Residence SHIRT Renville Ambulance Sing for Joy January Worship Hosts January 3 Jim & Pat Johnson January 10 January 17 January 24 January 31 Evie & Mornie Elliot Mikayla Pharr Sadie Miller Arlene Knutson Mary Agre Don & Shirley Ramstad Craig & Tami Hebrink Erik Hoff family Trevor Samuelson Justin Foesch Christy Hoff Ardie Kjersten Gary & Kris Peterson Steve Agre, Bud & Molly Ashburn, Dick Ashburn Annie Refsland Karly Aeikens Kelly Skalbeck Christy & Julie Hoff Mike Mahlum, Roger Sundvold Mikayla Pharr Ricky Zaragoza Pam Benson Vic & Geneva Steinbach Jeff Agre family Tristan Brandsted Raven Brandsted Harlen Huisman Harlen & Gretchen Eliason Altar: Bread Baker: Decorating: Sound System: Pat Ashburn, Cindy Loe Jerry Erickson Sue Stai Craig Hebrink Our Savior s Members: To save mailing costs. PLEASE pick up your giving envelopes in the narthex! Opdal Hosts for January Phil & Robin Smith, Bob & Cella Johnson

6 P a g e 6 Esther Bagaus, Sam & Bertha Bjorndal, EG & Clara Enestvedt, Inga Enestvedt, Bud Forkrud, John Giese, Franzer & Lillian Hanson, Carlyle Harried, Harry & Clarice Harried, Ashley Hebrink, Harrison Hebrink, Margaret Hebrink, Anton & Amanda Hegna, Jim Hoberg, John & Ella Hoff, Pat Hoff, Diane Holum, Thorvald Holum, Inie Johnson, Steven Jordet, Vernon Jordet, Ted & Myrtle Kemnitz, Fred, Ebba, & Andrea Kingstrom, Glen Kjersten, Bing Kronlokken, Wade Kronlokken, Gordon Mahlum, Leonard & Audrey Mahlum, Ole & Hulda Mahlum, Onell Mahlum, Ruth Mahlum, Harold Minnick, Paul Nydahl, Ben & Ruby Oslund, Art Olson, Gladys Olson, Sam & Alpha Olson, Clement & Pearl Peterson, Ed & Johanna Reinholt, David Reiten, Xander Reiten, 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. A man dies and goes to Heaven. Saint Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, "Ok, here's how it works. You need 100 points to make it into Heaven. You tell me all the good things you've done, and I'll award you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in." "Okay," the man says..."i was married to the same woman for 50 years and never once cheated on her, even in my heart." "That's wonderful," says Saint Peter, "That's worth three points!" "Three points?" he asks. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithes and service." "Terrific!" says Saint Peter, "That's certainly worth a point." "One point?!! Hey, I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans!" "Fantastic, that's good for two more points," Saint Peter says. "Two points?!!" the man cries. "At this rate, the only way I'm going to get into Heaven is by the Grace of God!" "Bingo, 100 points! Come on in!" - Opdal - President: Phil Smith Secretary: Jean Voelz Treasurer: John Veglahn At Large: Grant Breitkreutz DeanEnestvedt Roger Enestvedt - Our Savior s - President: Sharon Sietsema Secretary: Marlys Haug Treasurer: JoLene Groen Education: Darrel Refsland, Marie Hoff, Sue Schneider Property/Management: LaMont Jacobson, Christy Hoff, Cornie Groen Family Life/Human Relations: Marlys Peter son, Pam Lund, Tami Hebrink Mission & Stewardship: Allison Timm, Jason Goche, Bev Schjenken At Large: Ray Miller, Craig Hebrink