Monthly Newsletter of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer May 2014

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1 Monthly Newsletter of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer May 2014 Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer 1100 W. Platte Avenue Fort Morgan, CO Pastor Kaila Hochhalter Office Phone: Cell: Administrative Assistant Vickie Hoffman Worship Schedule 9:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Bible Study/ Youth Group 10:15 a.m. Worship Congregation Council Members & Officers Shelly Bristol Carri Brown Erich Dorn, Treasurer, Reid Ernst Rockie Ernst, President, Andy Gerken Rick Goodman, Vice President, Terresa Lauck, Secretary, Elsie Menken Olivia Parker Julie Vannoy Eric Walek The Congregation Council is the core leadership body of the congregation. They are charged with overseeing and directing the life and mission of our church. We encourage you to talk with them! We are in the Easter season and are continuing the journey together and deepening our relationship with one another and God. The Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior is about hope and love. The love that God has for us. It is God doing something new, something exciting and that can be scary. But in this life that we have, God has given us choice on how we want to live our lives. "To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey him and stay close to him." - Deuteronomy 30:20 Max Lacado a theologian and writer, describes creation beautifully and how God formed us and are called to choose: "He places one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground All were silent as the Creator reached within himself and removed something yet unseen. It s called choice. The seed of choice. Within the man, God had placed a divine seed The God of might had created earths mightiest. The creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return. Now it s our choice. God created us all in God s image as a fellow creator with God. And when God created us, God gave us the choice to love, the choice to forgive, the choice to show grace, the choice to create for good. It s our choice. You control your choices but we are not alone God comes among us as the Holy Spirit to help and guide us. So now it s our choice. God's Peace & Love Always, Pastor Kaila ~ 1 ~

2 Please keep the following in your prayers: Lezlie Evel, Don Kidder, Gerry Enerson, Ann Hansen, Gary Kolpin, Roxie Larson, Janice Ernst, Marilyn Perkins, Becky Rushold, and the families of Frances Kidder and Jessica Musgrave Shackelford. Please remember that names are kept on our prayer list for three weeks, and then removed. If you would like for someone to be kept on for longer than three weeks, please let Vickie know. During the April congregation council meeting the communion schedule was discussed at length. A motion was made and an amendment was passed unanimously that we, at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, offer communion at every service at the discretion of Pastor Kaila. Starting in May we will have communion every Sunday. We gather at the table of our Lord to remember that the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as being given for you, for each of us. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians reminds us that, For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. Receiving first communion April 17: Leia Frasco Ashlynn Ruppel Taryn Wickham Gracious God, here at this table we have been, in the company of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. You have revealed your loving ways to us in broken bread and poured cup. Now, as your light has illuminated our lives, help us be a light for others. Amen. Lenore Elizabeth Vogel, born March 12, 2014, was baptized April 20, Lenore is the daughter of Charlie & Sarah Vogel. Baptismal sponsors are Brian & Katie Randklev. Grandparents are Ed & Patty Kembel. We welcome Lenore into the Lord s family and rejoice in this gift of grace! ~ 2 ~ Bread Bakers Needed The bread that we used for communion on Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday was baked by the First Communion class. Starting in May we are going to extend the bread baking invitation to the rest of the congregation. We will have a sign-up sheet for individuals or families to bake and bring the bread for worship on Sundays. You do not need to be an expert bread baker, any type of bread (wheat, white, leavened or unleavened, etc.) will do. If you do not have a recipe, Pastor Kaila can give you one. If you have questions you can ask Pastor Kaila. This is a way that more people can use their gifts and give to God and God s church.

3 Stretch and Pray Every Wednesday in May from 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m., we will have a Stretch and Pray class in the fellowship hall. This is a time to come together for a brief time of centering the day on prayer and meditation and holistic health and wellness. THIS IS FOR ANYONE no matter your age or gender. You do not need to be flexible; you take this at your own pace. You may wish to use an exercise mat or even a large towel, but it is not necessary. Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your movement. I am open to offering this on other days and times during the week, if interested, let me know! Pastor Kaila LCOR Get Together For May, we ll deliver May baskets to Valley View Villa, along with singing songs and playing our bells, on Sunday, May 4 from 9:00 - See Katie Barron for further info. WELCA Coordinating Council May 5 at Lydia Circle will meet May 12 at 1:00 p.m. Naomi Circle will meet May 14 at 9:30 a.m. Sewing Day is May 15 at 9:30 a.m. Our circles and sewing days are a great way to get to know other women in the congregation while growing in your faith through conversation and study. Please join us! On May 4 th immediately after worship (around 11:15) in the sanctuary, we will gather to discuss the best time of the week to meet for practice for those interested in singing in the choir. If you cannot attend the meeting, but are interested in singing in the choir, please talk with Pastor Kaila. Mission: Lawn Care "Many hands make light work" is really true when it comes to summer landscape volunteer help. Beginning June 1, worship will be at 9:00 a.m. Would you (or your whole family) consider the special mission opportunity of taking time to be part of the rotation to help mow and keep our grounds looking great? Contact Bob Dorn if you can help. ~ 3 ~

4 Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer Financial Report March 2014 General Fund Giving Goal for 2014 $125, Balance Forward $8, Total Receipts 11, General Fund Total Disbursements (10,270.12) Weekly Need $2, Balance End of Month $10, Year to Date Need 31, Offering Received Year to Date 25, Savings Account Surplus (Deficit) (5,676.25) Balance Forward $92, Total Receipts Total Disbursements Balance End of Month $92, On Sunday, May 18, we ll recognize our parish nurses, Sharroll Bernahl, Dawn Gerken, and Ardyce Johnson. May all the care and kindness you give to others come back to warm your heart! Labyrinth Clean-Up Day June 14 Our labyrinth is need of some tender love and care so we are coming together on June 14 at 9:00 a.m. to clean in and around the labyrinth so that we can use it for prayer and meditation. The labyrinth is an ancient tool used for prayer. It is made up of a winding path that leads to a central space and then out again on the same path. Unlike a maze, there are no dead ends and you cannot get lost or make a mistake because there are no choices to make once you ve made the choice to begin. Many Christians walk the labyrinth as a tool for prayer and reflection. As we wind our way around, approaching the center, we gradually let go of the concerns of the day. The rhythm of walking is conducive to prayer and helps us focus on God. The labyrinth s twists and turns help us to relinquish our need to feel in control and to acknowledge our dependence upon God. There are three phases to walking the labyrinth: the walk in, resting at the center, and the walk out. This is a beautiful experience of prayer and conversation with God. So come join us for some work and fellowship. Pastor Kaila ~ 4 ~

5 Senior showcase Kraig Castor We will be recognizing these high school graduates on May 18. Kraig is the son of Todd & Julie Castor. He will graduate from Fort Morgan High School on May 24. Kraig has been very active in the High Plains Clay Busters Shooting Club, and plans will be involved in shoots this summer. He will also be helping is dad on the farm this summer. After graduation, Kraig plans to attend either NJC in Sterling, or Aims Community College in Greeley, pursuing a degree in computer technology. Keleigh will graduate from Fort Morgan High School on May 24. She has been involved in the Lads n Lassies 4-H Club for 11 years, serving as club historian, reporter, treasurer, secretary, and president. She is currently serving as 4-H County Council president. At the district level, she has served as vice president, and is currently president of District I on the State Officer Team. Keleigh Hoffman Keleigh has been active in the LCOR youth group, and assisted with vacation Bible school. Keleigh enjoyed participating in the high school musical Shrek. She was also a member of the Spirit Club, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), MESA (math, engineering, science achievement), and played tennis. This summer, Keleigh will continue working at Dairy Queen. In the fall, she plans to attend University of Colorado at Boulder and major in integrative physiology. Keleigh s parents are Mark & Vickie Hoffman. ~ 5 ~ Blessings and prayers for these and all graduates. May this time of transition be one of joy and openness to the many ways God calls us to serve in the world!

6 If you or your child graduated recently from high school or college, and are not listed, please call the office and we will include your information in the next newsletter. Our last day of Sunday school is May 18. We extend our sincere thanks for your dedication to our Christian education classes. Bless you for sharing your love of God. Our teachers are: Katie Barron, Shelly Bristol, Carri Brown (youth group), Margie Dorn (adult class), Rena Frasco, Pastor Kaila Hochhalter (adult class), Dave Jorgensen (youth group),terresa Lauck, Melissa Ruppel, Julie Vannoy, and Marci Wickham. The grace of God is truly shining through you! volume, fondly relive the good times spent in the little town with the big heart. Thanks to Vickie for donating this wonderful book to add to the Mitford series in our library. Love Finds a Home Belinda left her little prairie town, never dreaming the excitement of living in Boston would leave her restless, lonely and empty inside. Choices and decisions brought dissatisfaction rather than joy. She discovered that only when God had first place in her life, was her peace restored. And then the one person she d never expected to see again returns. This is a delightful and fun to read book. Happy Reading! Ardyce Johnson Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them. Lemony Snicket, Horseradish The Mitford Bedside Companion by Jan Karon is a treasury of favorite Mitford moments, author reflections on the bestselling series, favorite scenes, jokes, prayers, trivia, cast of characters, a crossword puzzle, and lots of personal essays by the author. Now you can relish favorite scenes from each book and, in one ~ 6 ~ GREETINGS FROM SKY RANCH LUTHERAN CAMP Wishing you a blessed Easter season with friends and family! As we celebrate new life in the resurrection, we also celebrate the new life "springing" up around us. At camp, spring is the opportunity to prepare for a summer of ministry. Summer is fast approaching and with it thousands of campers and adults that will delight in Christ at Sky Ranch. Before they arrive, however, there is much work to be done around the property to make sure we are ready to welcome them. To make sure Sky Ranch is a safe and comfortable place, we need your help! This is an overview of the many opportunities for your generous support of time and talent as we seek to be good stewards of the physical spaces of camp. Opportunities include spring work weekends, Memorial Day Work Weekend, and summer long projects. SPRING WORK WEEKENDS Help us prepare for the summer and get camp ready to greet kids in June! We will be hosting 2 work weekends

7 in the spring along with our annual Memorial Day Work Weekend. The dates for those weekends are: MAY 2-4: Saw Mill Training; Shower house Storm Repair; Nurse's Cabin Plumbing Replacement May 9-11: Low Ropes Expansion (including Bouldering Wall); Staff Apartment Loft; Nurse's Cabin Pergo Flooring Installation MEMORIAL DAY (May 23-26): Disc Golf Course Installation; Backpack Center Porch Renovation; Greenhouse Completion; Carpet in Christ Lodge Office If you are interested in helping to get camp up and running contact Andy Sprain at or call our office (970) Visit skyranchcolorado.org for more info. To register for the Memorial Work Weekend contact Ally Plucheck at or call our office. Bring Gifts for Mission Congregations The Rocky Mountain Synod Assembly theme is "Gifted to Grow." Congregations and assembly participants are invited to bring gifts to be shared with Mission Partner Congregations: gift cards for supplies or for gas/groceries (for pastor's discretionary funds for people in need) Gluten free communion wafers Regular communion wafers Veggie Tales movies white computer paper pens and pencils colored pencils and crayons musical instruments for kids (maracas, tambourines, shaker eggs, etc.) coffee Gifts brought to the assembly and placed under the tree will be shared with : New Beginnings Church, Denver, CO Mision Luterana Aurora, Aurora, CO Mustard Seed House Churches, Loveland/Fort Collins, CO Camino de Vida, Albuquerque, NM Christ the King, South Jordan, UT Well of Hope, Castle Pines, CO ~ 7 ~ Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, Denver, CO Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, El Paso, CO HKBP Montclair Lutheran Church: Denver, CO If you have gifts to share, please give them to Pastor Kaila before May 8 so she can take them to the Synod Assembly thanks! Borrowing from the Church Many of us, from time to time, have asked to borrow something from the church whether it was folding chairs, tables, or a wheelchair. The church is happy to share and accommodate members whenever possible. The problem arises, though, when items are borrowed without notifying the staff or are not returned in a timely manner. In order to improve our accountability and our awareness of where things are, we request the help of the congregation in the following ways. If you have borrowed something recently and still have it, please let the office know that you have it, or please return it. Please understand that some items in the church are not allowed to leave the building. These items include the round tables, new rectangle tables, and padded chairs in the fellowship hall. If you wish to borrow something, please contact the office first, and then check the item(s) out on a clipboard that is kept in the file on the office door. A calendar has been added for reserving items in upcoming months. A written record will help all of us keep better track of things. Also, please remember to contact the office when you wish to schedule a meeting, shower, party, etc. Let s all work together to be better stewards of all that we have.

8 Lectors May 4: May 11: May 18: May 25: Acolytes May 4: May 11: May 18: May 25: Ushers May 4: May 11: May 18: May 25: Greeters May 4: May 11: May 18: May 25: Marci Wickham Erich Dorn Rowana Ernst Sharroll Bernahl Jena Parker Amber Lauck Cody Gerken Wyatt Ruppel Wayne & Sharroll Bernahl Ernst Family Wayne & Sharroll Bernahl Youth Group Emma Jorgensen Ernst Family Ernst Family Youth Group Happy Birthday To: Keith Robertson Elizabeth Liston Tiffany Jorgensen Ron Seiler Gerhart Fritzler Eilene Fritzler Tanner Schafer Marcia Iverson Gary Foos Linda McAlister Happy Anniversary To: Marvin & Wanda Rosten Mark & Vickie Hoffman Bob & Margie Dorn Fellowship Hosts May 4: May 11: May 18: May 25: Council Steward Julie Vannoy Altar Guild Julie Vannoy Katie Barron Terresa Lauck Sr. Recognition/Nurse s Day Dottie Lorensen We thank all those who offer their gifts in leading worship this month. ~ 8 ~

9 MAY 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 4 9:00 a.m. Sun.School/Bible Study/Youth (Baskets to Valley View Villa) 10:15 a.m. Worship Choir Meeting Christian Ed Committee 2:00 p.m. Church Basement Ladies, Greeley 3 rd Sunday of Easter (White) 11 9:00 a.m. Sun.School/Bible Study/Youth Group 10:15 a.m. Worship Mother s Day 4 th Sunday of Easter (White) 18 9:00 a.m. Sun.School/Bible Study/Youth (Last day) 10:15 a.m. Worship Senior Recognition Nurse s Day Blood Pressure Screening Fifth Sunday of Easter (White) :15 a.m. Worship Worship & Music Committee Sixth Sunday of Easter (White) April S M T W T F S WELCA Co-Council 1:00 p.m. Lydia Circle :00 p.m. Community Concert Association June S M T W T F S Prayer Shawl Ministry 13 Prayer Shawl Ministry 20 Prayer Shawl Ministry Prayer Shawl Ministry 6:30 a.m. Stretch & Pray 7:00 p.m. Evangelism Committee :30 a.m. Stretch & Pray 9:30 a.m. Naomi Circle 6:00 p.m. Congregation Council 6:30 a.m. Stretch & Pray 6:30 a.m. Stretch & Pray :30 a.m. Sewing Day 1 2 5:30 p.m. Wedding Rehearsal 3:00 p.m. Horton/Bristol Wedding Synod Assembly, Denver < Pastor Kaila Vacation Hoffman s Fellowship Hall Ft. Morgan Graduation ~ 9 ~

10 Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer 1100 W. Platte Ave. Ft. Morgan, CO (970) May 2014 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer exists to learn, teach, and proclaim the Word of God, and to nurture one another in the Christian faith in order to create a worship family; serve our community; and build the kingdom of God. ~ 10 ~