United Voice United Lutheran Church May 2015

Transcription

1 United Voice United Lueran Church May 2015 A Reconciling in Christ Congregation 2230 Washington Street, Eugene, OR (541) unluch@efn.org Worship Services: Sundays, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.; Summer: 9:45 a.m Education Hour: 9:45 a.m., School Year Only In is Easter season, I ran across a jarring piece of news. You may already be aware of it. In 2014, e persecution of Christians reached historic levels. According to one estimate, 100 million Christians, around e world, are persecuted for practicing eir fai. This makes e Christian community e most persecuted single group today. The country which tops e list of where is occurs is Nor Korea. Oer countries, where persecution of Christians is severe include Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Iran, Pakistan, and Nigeria. What en do we do in response to such suffering? I ink a first ing is not to turn a blind eye to e various situations around e globe. Real broers and sisters are suffering real pain. I ink we need to acknowledge such actions. A second ing which comes to mind is at we should not use is as an excuse to call for retaliation against e attackers in a tit for tat basis. We need to remember at our own fai movement has lost its way by persecuting oers. Indeed, Christians, in different settings, still use power to oppress oers in various ways. Instead of painting oers wi e bad guy brush, we need to do our best to understand what is going on and what is motivating people to do such ings. If force needs to be used to protect innocents, it should be done in tandem wi working to understand oers as difficult as at may well prove to be. A ird action is at we need to pray for ose who are giving eir lives for e fai or who are experiencing great hardship because ey name e name of Jesus. It is to remember such ones as ose Christians, who were martyred in Libya and whose last words were, my Lord Jesus. A four is to help oers in such circumstances by giving some of our resources to support relief efforts. To me, one of e best groups in is area is Lueran World Relief. Contributions may be made directly to LWR or rough United. In Easter, we celebrate e triumph of Jesus risen from e dead to bring forgiveness, healing, and life into our world. We rightly do is and at e same time mourn at hatred, intolerance, and killing have not died from e human heart. God be wi ose who are persecuted for eir fai. God be wi us as we open ourselves to such tragedies and e needs of oers. God be wi our world at we may all pursue e ways which lead to hope, healing, and understanding. In Christ, Tom Dodd, pastor ND UNITED S 32 INTERN Even ough e number of people going out on internship will be down significantly from is year, United has once again been chosen as an internship site. Amanda (Mandy) France has been assigned as our intern and is currently studying at Luer Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnestoa. She will be coming wi her husband, Kelly France, who is also a seminarian and will have completed his internship by e time ey arrive. We look forward to eir arrival at e end of August and Mandy beginning her year of service and learning wi us and Good Samaritan at e start of September. United Voice May 2015 Page 1

2 SUMMER SCHEDULE BEGINS MAY 24 Our summer schedule runs from Memorial Day weekend rough Labor Day weekend. That means at we will switch to ONE SERVICE AT 9:45 A.M. on Sunday, May 24. The last day for all Sunday School classes is Sunday, May 17. FELLOWSHIP POTLUCK ON MAY 31 CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY WEEKEND May will be e time to review e results from e surveys many people submitted about two mons ago. Pastor Michael Keys from e Oregon Synod will help us interpret e results and imagine ways we may pursue God s new ways into our future. The schedule of e weekend is: Friday, May 15 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The council will meet wi Pastor Keys. He will go over e survey results and help e council work on questions wi which to engage e congregation. Saturday, May 16 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This gaering is for everyone from e congregation. Lunch will be provided. This will be a time to review e results and talk wi one anoer about e possibilities and potential of mission and ministry for our congregation. Sunday, May 17 Pastor Keys will be preaching and leading e adult forum. I encourage everyone to participate as ey are able. As I do is, I am happy to remind everyone at when Pastor Keys was wi us two years ago for e Listening Season, his sessions were fun, stimulating, and insightful. I expect at our weekend wi him will be equally as rewarding is time around. If you have any questions about is, please contact me. Tom Dodd, pastor Q: Whose likeness is used on more products an any oer? Answer on page 3. When e congregation was discussing e merits of one service or two e idea was raised to occasionally, perhaps quarterly, have one service followed by a potluck as a way of building community. As we begin our one-service summer schedule we will celebrate our community wi a potluck following worship on Sunday, May 31. Please plan to stay after worship and bring a dish to share. GIVING IN 2015 As you can see from e chart below, e first quarter giving has been better an in Thank you for supporting God s work at United. United Voice May 2015 Page 2

3 GARY HALISKI by Alan McCullough Gary grew up in Coos Bay and attended Marshfield High, graduating one year ahead of Steve Prefontaine. He attended UO for four years, getting a degree in Psychology and spending some time using e UO s computer, which at at time occupied a reestory building and used punch cards to input data. He applied for conscientious objector status during e Vietnam War and had to endure a grueling process at included an interrogation from e elders of his church, mostly WWII veterans, before he was eventually classified as a CO who was willing to serve as a medic. For e next five years, he worked at a variety of jobs, including apartment management, working in an ice factory, managing a 7-11, guarding fish hatcheries on e Columbia River, tree planting, and mill maintenance. He also took a ree mon car camping trip around e United States and a ree mon trip to Europe, visiting 13 countries. His most vivid recollection is being in Barcelona after General Franco died and witnessing e exhilaration during e first free elections in Spain since Franco became dictator in In 1977 he was recruited by 7-11 again, accepted eir offer, and spent e next 16 years working as a product manager in different locations around e United States. During ose years, he helped develop e Double Gulp, Super Big Gulp, and Super Slurpee. From , he owned and operated a convenience store in Cottage Grove, en worked for Coca-Cola from , and Symantec from doing antivirus phone support. In 2003, Gary and Jennifer were married. When she got her first principal s job in Coos Bay, ey moved to Coos Bay and Gary became an educational assistant, en a teacher at Marshfield High. At present, he is semi-retired, working four hours a day at e Nor Eugene High kitchen and working as a semi-pro photographer taking pictures at local high school sports competitions. He also enjoys playing guitar and has sung in e church choir. Gary began attending ULC because Jennifer was attending ULC when ey married. He likes many ings about ULC e music, e Bible studies, at it is fairly liberal-minded and welcoming, and e design of e sanctuary. Gary s mom and dad, e most influential people in his life, were open to people of all races and religions, a concept at has been very important to him roughout his life. They also had a soft spot for persons wi disabilities and Gary spent time in his you doing volunteer work wi his parents to help people in e community wi disabilities. READ THE MEMOIR BEHIND THE POPULAR PBS TV SERIES Jennifer Wor s memoir of her time as a midwife in London s East End in e late 1950's has become a wildly popular series in England and in e U. S. Call e Midwife draws attention to e important and loving work of ese midwives -- nuns and laity -- among e poor and working class people in a tough neighborhood, still recovering from e German bombings of WWII. United s Book Group will be discussing Call e Midwife: A Memoir of Bir, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Wor is mon on Sunday, May 31, at 1:00 p.m., after e church potluck. The book is as charming and enjoyable as e series, wi characters at are memorable and irresistible, from e nuns and midwives of Nonnatus House to e women, men, and children of e East End. Clearly e two years Wor spent in is work touched her deeply, as her account touches e reader. The book is available in paperback ($16) and likely in used form as well. The Eugene public library has two print copies. As an e-book it is available for Kindle ($7.99) and Nook ($11.99). Join us on Sunday, May 31, in e church community room. A: Mickey Mouse, whose likeness is on more an 7,500 products! (The image of Jesus comes in second, followed by Elvis Presley at ird.) United Voice May 2015 Page 3

4 WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP SAVE THE EARTH? By Eunice Kjaer The Adult Sunday School class had a discussion on is topic recently. Here are some suggestions, small steps we can take individually and as a group: Shop locally, support That s My Farmer. Get a Home Energy Audit (EWEB) and implement as many of e proposed changes as possible. Lighten your Carbon Load. Plant trees, plant a garden. Pressure your politicians. Enact Local Carbon Reduction Legislation. Read e Green Bible. For by Him all ings were created; ings in heaven and on ear, visible and invisible. Wheer rones or powers or auorities, all ings were created by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 BIRTHDAYS 1 - Jim Krueger 4 - Jenna Krueger 13 - Hope Whittaker 14 - Corrie Gustafson 15 - Jeremiah Holst 16 - Sandra Wilson 19 - Kenny Westcott 20 - Alan McCullough 23 - Alice Anderson Erik Anstine 25 - Tom Dodd 26 - Agnes Schlichting 27 - Don Wirtala Annalee Gustafson YOUR UNITED VOICE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES 1 - Jim Krueger Karen Wiant Kari Van Orsdel 4 - John Gustafson 5 - David Hample 9 - Tom Dodd 10 - Julie Coffman 15 - Doris Helikson Sydney Simmons, Cade Wisecaver 21 - Dee Dee Lundahl Lisa Sitton 23 - Jenna Krueger Gloria Knudsen 26 - Agnes Schlichting 29 - Matew Dodd Joanne Gulsvig helped prepare e April United Voice for mailing anks so much! If you have an hour free on Fridays, please consider helping. This mon we will be working on Friday, May 22, at 2:00 p.m. United Voice May 2015 Page 4

5 WOMEN OF UNITED NEWS by Candy Snook Trust Fund have helped subsidize at fee in e past, and will do so again, so e cost to e women of e congregation will be much less. Please register yourself online wi Luerwood, but do not make a payment. More information to follow. May Bible Study Circles Ru Circle: Monday, May 11, 9:30 a.m., Doris Helikson's home. Circle of Fai: Tuesday, May 12, 1:00 p.m., Community Room. Mary Magdalene Circle: Thursday, May 14, 6:30 p.m., at Eileen Peterson's home; dinner included--please bring a side dish to share. Church Women United The May Friendship Day Celebration is Saturday, May 2, at 11:30 a.m., at First United Meodist Church, 1376 Olive St., Eugene. Lunch will be followed by a worship service. The guest speaker is Alexa Hackett from Womenspace, on e topic of preventing domestic violence and how her organization supports survivors. Eunice Kjaer has tickets for e luncheon. Also at e luncheon will be e collection of e Fellowship of e Least Coin. This is a worldwide ecumenical movement of prayer and reconciliation. Whenever participants spend time in prayer, for ose who are victims of jealousy, hatred, violence and injustice to e family, e community, e nation and e world, ey set aside a least coin of eir country s currency as a tangible token of e prayer. We emphasize least coin so no woman in e world feels excluded. These least coins are en dispersed by an International Committee to many projects around e world. This movement was begun in 1956 in e Philippines by an Indian woman Shanti Solomon. A new book just published telling is story is Shanti Means Peace and will soon be in our children's library. If you wish to know more go to flc.net.ph. Want to participate? Collect your pennies, say your prayers, and we will send em to Church Women United every May. Women s Retreat at Camp Luerwood July 31-August 2 Come join is weekend of reflection and relaxation wi women from all over e state. Pastor Laurie Larson Caesar, e retreat leader, is e Lueran partner of e Mission of e Atonement in Beaverton (a joint ELCA-Roman Caolic church.) The fee is $100, but Women of United and e Q: What inspired ice-cream maker William Dreyer to name a flavor Rocky Road? Answer on page 6. School Kits Lueran World Relief has put out a plea for School Kits as e need is greater an e number of kits ey have on hand. The school supply items to be included are readily available for affordable prices during e summer mon promotions. The complication lies in e backpack which must eier be sewn or purchased. LWR has a simple pattern for sewing, and also an extensive list of bags to purchase. Fair Trade School Backpacks made in Bangladesh can be purchased for $2.75 each. Are you interested in helping (as part of a team) wi a large fund raising drive to purchase backpacks? Contact Candy Snook. In 2014, LWR reached 4,763,599 people, 35 countries and 153 projects. Go to lwr@lwr.org to find out more. Easter Baskets Thank you to everyone who helped assemble Easter Baskets for First Place once again is Palm Sunday. This year we received some very heartfelt ank yous from some parents, reinforcing why we continue is project. Becci Bueneau and Candy Snook would love to have more help wi is project in e coming year--please let us know how you would like to help. Be sure to read e wonderful cards of appreciation at are on e bulletin board. RD LUNCH WITH MOM ON MAY 3 Celebrate our moers on Sunday, May 3, after e second service. You of all ages and Dads are encouraged to help prepare e meal during e Sunday School hour and second service. Clean-up will follow e lunch. Those who host will have time to eat and celebrate wi eir moers. The cost for e meal is $4.00 per person. Sign up at church or talk wi Crystal Miller. United Voice May 2015 Page 5

6 From Pastor Israel Jurich Dear United Lueran Church Family, Thank you all so very much for supporting me as an intern, celebrating my ordination, and gifting me wi is beautiful cross. God Bless You! Israel Jurich From e Oregon Synod April 2, 2015 We received a ank you letter from Bishop Dave Brauer-Rieke for United s generous Mission Support giving in He added is note: Thank you for your faiful stewardship and care. United Lueran is a blessing! Bishop Dave From Brownie Troop Thank you for letting us meet in your church! Jennifer, Mckenzie, Morgan, Logan, Izzy, Ashley, Ali, Audrey, Preslee, Sadie, Emerson, Summer, Mary, Fiona, Naomi, and Gracie. Be sure to check e bulletin board to see e card wi a cheery photo of ese Brownies! SONGSPINNERS SING AT UNITED Save Sunday, June 7, 7:00 p.m., for e Songspinners Year- End Concert, at United. The program will feature a variety of songs, from Indian Jones to e Beatles to Brahms! Songspinners is a local women s choral group. United member Karen Drouet, a soprano, is a member. From Lueran World Relief April 8, 2015 We received two letters of anks from Lueran World Relief. The first one: Dear Friends, Thank you for supporting e work of Lueran World Relief wi your gift of $64.00 given rough e Oregon Synod of e ELCA.... This gift changes lives around e world... On behalf of LWR, our partners and ose we serve, please accept my anks for your gift and all at it will do. God bless you! Warm regards, Daniel Speckhard, President and CEO The second letter: Dear Friends, Thank you for your recent gift to Lueran World Relief to combat e Ebola outbreak in West Africa [$171.00]. Alough e outbreak has faded from news headlines, your gift ensures at people affected by is crisis will continue to receive help. Wi your generosity, LWR is supporting trusted partners working on e ground in Liberia.... Thank you for your compassion, your prayers, and your gift. God bless you. In gratitude, Daniel V. Speckhard President and CEO A: The 1929 stock market crash was e inspiration for Rocky Road ice cream. Dreyer introduced it just weeks after e crash. United Voice May 2015 Page 6

7 UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH 2230 WASHINGTON ST EUGENE OR RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORG U. S. POSTAGE PAID EUGENE, OREGON PERMIT NO 119 Especially for: May 3 Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 May 10 Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17 May 17 Acts 1:15-17, 21-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-19 May 24 Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15 May 31 Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 United Voice is published monly by United Lueran Church Editor: Gay Kramer-Dodd Publication Deadline: The 17 of e mon Pastor: Thomas Dodd Intern: Nancy Gradwohl Director of Music: Philip Bayles United Music Academy Director: Corie Brown Secretary: Linda Anderson Mid-Week Meal Cook: Diane Masson You Worker: Crystal Miller Council: Zach Buenau, Pres., Cara Haakanson, V.P., Sue Bowers, Treas., Alan McCullough, Sec., Carolee Horning, Sally Krueger, Tom Landon, Veronica Vold, Kim Weiherman, Denise Wendt, and Don Wirtala.