Tomorrow Today LIKE HEAVEN IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT S ALWAYS OTHER WORLDLY. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IN A FAR FAR AWAY GALAXY.

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1 Tomorrow Today S eventy five years is a long time. Really it is! Yet not so long that a church (any church) should be looking backwards. Looking back is OK, but looking backwards well that is just BACKWARDS! Besides looking backward can become habit forming and pretty soon everyone gets their neck out of joint to just get a glimpse of what lies ahead. I believe that taking some time to celebrate is a perfect way to move forward. I know that when I listen to my parents telling stories of their childhood I love it. But I also realize that outdoor toilets sounds neat but the idea also stinks. Really it stinks! And getting into a muscle car with the rumble of the big v8, you know I just have to love that. But at $2.79 a gallon and 10 mpg, well, I am OK with my CRV. I have been thinking about Tomorrow Today. There are a few different sides to this phrase. For one thing, if we are not thinking well ahead then we are probably already behind. Adding to that thought is the known fact that churches are usually slow to change and immediately we are not a step behind but eons behind. But truthfully I wasn t even thinking about the whole social, economic, political systems when I thought about Tomorrow Today. I was honestly thinking about life, relationships and faith. LIKE HEAVEN IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT S ALWAYS OTHER WORLDLY. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE IN A FAR FAR AWAY GALAXY. Where to begin? Let me say that whenever I hear people speaking about going to heaven, seems like they are talking about going somewhere else, and sometime later. Like heaven is going to happen but it s always other worldly. Somewhere out there in a far far away galaxy. I keep thinking about the rich man story in Matthew 19. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus surprises us. At least he surprised me. Jesus says: go and give everything you own to the poor and come follow me. I think Tomorrow Today living is about letting go of the things that keep us thinking heaven is about some other time and some other place. And I believe that it s about taking ahold of life and embracing life and knowing that God is not coming here, but is already present. Sunday we all witnessed a birth. It was the most amazing thing ever. Owen Scott Privette was baptized into a new life in Christ. Can you imagine it? Owen doesn t have to wait and see what being loved by God is going to look like, he can experience it right now. Certainly there are going to be difficult times in Owen s life, no one is so naïve that they don t realize that. But God doesn t want life to get in the way of Owen s new life. It s a spiritual matter but the impact of this Tomorrow Today living is that it shapes and informs what we know and how we experience this daily life.

2 A truth to think about: When I first met my wife Joan, I knew very little about her. I knew she was pretty and smart and not presently attached to anyone. That was not a lot of information, but it was enough. What I didn t know was how she felt about me, and being pretty and smart I was obviously a bit concerned. What if she wasn t attracted to PK s BUT THAT I COULD JUST BE (Pastors Kids) who were also Jocks (Jocks), and what if she found me boring or too religiously spiritual? ME? SCARY, ISN T IT? BUT IT This fear of not knowing was both very real to me and WOULD HAVE CHANGED very detrimental to our potential relationship. Typical EVERYTHING; IT WOULD HAVE male, I began to overcompensate. This pretty and ALLOWED US TO TRULY BE smart girl heard all my best stories and saw my version of all my best attributes. Which in the end were OURSELVES WITHOUT THE FEAR OF REJECTION probably the opposite of what Joan wanted to know. I kept thinking; I wonder what she is thinking? What if I knew what she was thinking? What if I knew that she liked me, and that I didn t need to impress her but that I could just be Me? Scary, isn t it? But it would have changed everything; it would have allowed us to truly be ourselves without the fear of rejection or without the fear of needing to mask our real selves with something and with someone who could only be a projection of our deepest fears about our feelings of inadequacy. God knows what fear can do. The kind of fear Adam and Eve experienced in the garden from the very beginning. Feelings that cause us to hide and look for cover. If the bible reveals anything, it reveals a God who knows us, and cares about us. A God who secures our futures by giving is a chance to breath today. You see when Owen was baptized into Christ, a promise was given. It s not that God has any illusions about who we are and the effect that sin and death will have on our lives, but that God is insistent that we also have no illusions about his will, his intent to save us and make us his own. In the end it was my commitment to Joan that won her over. She realized that here was a person who would love her, and to the best of his ability would commit himself her. Don t get the wrong idea here. I am still a pain to live with. (Period) She has few illusions about that. In Christ we have few illusions about God s love for us. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? In Christ tomorrow is today! Baptized into Christ we live in full view of what tomorrow will bring, New Life. It s yours and it s mine! Enjoy! Blessings and Peace, Pastor Jeffrey Holter

3 Welcome Home Thank you to everyone who helped make the 75 th Celebration a huge success! Without your help, the celebration could not have happened. It was a fun weekend catching up with everyone and participating in the carnival, ice cream social, history displays, worship service and brunch. In addition, we made $342 from the carnival and ice cream social. The money was split between the CHUM Food Shelf and the Raise the Roof Fund. Again, thank you to everyone for your help! The party, however, is just getting started...there is a lot going on in September here at Kenwood. Part of our 75 th Anniversary was inviting people home to what happens next. It s rude to have a party and not invite people to the next party. September 9 - God s Work Our Hands Sunday - Includes two projects. More details are coming. September 16 - Rally Sunday and Cradle Roll. Sunday School is starting literally with a spark. There will be a bonfire for the Sunday School kids during the 9:45 B.I.G. Hour. Please have your child dress accordingly. Also, Cradle Roll is being revived. If you have a child who is 3 years-old and just starting Sunday School, would you please call the church. A special blessing will be given at each service for our cradle roll children and their parents. We want to make sure we have all the names. September 29 Women s Retreat We are having a women s retreat on Saturday, September 29. It will include a special worship service and a guest speaker. Our theme is Let Your Light Shine. Please see the flyer in this newsletter. If you have any questions, please let me know. I know that bible study, book club and confirmation are also starting this month. Incidentally, you do not have to be a member to participate in any of the educational offerings or programs here at Kenwood. We love everybody, so please come. Lastly, Christmas is coming or at least the Christmas Bazaar is coming. As you are making your jams, jellies and pickles the summer. Please make a jar or two for the bazaar. We ran out of jelly in the first half hour of the bazaar last year. Blessings, Joy Michalicek Council President

4 If your birthday is not listed, call or the church with your birth date including year! 2 - Levi Rheaume 4 - Jerry MacMillan 7 - Evelyn Freitag David Wick 8 - Pat Nordin Jason Hohl 9 - Shirley Hansen 11-Kevin Michalicek Bonnie Mickelson 12-Kristin (Moeller) Hodges 14-Carolyn Caesar Jerry Uecker 15-Ben Michalicek 18-Bob Hansen 19-Britt Payne Sue Teske 20-Milt Cox 23-Lee Baker 24-Lee Stokes 25-Gillian Skar 26-Lukas Hassett Lorelei Rickard 27-Ryan Butler Kevin Mickelson Senior Luncheon-Wednesday, September 5th, 11:45 a.m. at The Golden Inn, Superior. Quilters- start again Thursday, September 6, 9:00 a.m. The Church Book Club-will be meeting during the B.I.G. Hour on Sunday, September 16. September s book is Lilac Girls, by Martha Hall Kelly. Sunday School Kick-Off-Sunday, September 16, 9:45 a.m. Registration and a campfire at the fire pit! Sunday School is for children Pre-School through Grade 6. Join us! Women s Retreat-Saturday, September 29 at Kenwood Lutheran Church. There will be worship, a silent auction, a speaker/presentation, and lunch. Please see the poster in the Messiah Room for full details. RSVP to Theresa Williams by Wednesday, September 26. By phone: , or by office@kenwoodlutheran.org. Bell Choir- will be starting again this fall, if we can get enough people. Practices will be on Wednesday evenings at 5:30. If you re interested or have questions, contact Diane Irving. She can be reached at , or drirving2@gmail.com.

5 Saving Leftovers Please note: When putting food in the refrigerator or freezer in the basement, please label with the date put there and what it is for (general use, specific event, etc.) Thank you! Help yourself to the Jericho Road CDs and tapes in the Messiah Room. Free for the taking! Community Ministry Thank you for the generous donations of school supplies! Lutheran World Relief school kits will be assembled in the spring. Welcomed through Baptism! On Sunday, August 19th, we welcomed Owen Scott Privette into our family of believers! Owen s parents are Matt & Kathleen Privette. His sponsors were Michael Kvam & Karen Behrends, and his grandparents are Mark & Margie Kvam, Scott Privette, Terri Privette. Lutheran Social Service Center for Changing Lives coin offering in July was $74.22; total for 2018 is $

6 God s Work, Our Hands Greetings! This year s God s Work, Our Hands Sunday is Sunday, September 9. This is a day set aside by the ELCA for churches around the country to do community service in union. This year, the stewardship committee with the church council has decided to do two separate projects. Hopefully this will allow more participation. If you have any questions, please see Kristin Randall or Craig Carlson, or contact the church office. 1. Neighborhood clean-up. There will be two shifts: 9:45 am and 11:45 am. If you have trash grabbers, please bring those with you. 2. As many of you are aware, Kenwood is a community supporter of LSS Center for Changing Lives. They are seeking donations for items provided to new tenants. Please see enclosed list of requested items. You can bring these items on that Sunday or before. Thank you in advance for your service on Sunday, September 9!

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8 COUNCIL MEETING KENWOOD LUTHERAN CHURCH July 12, 2018 Members Present: Joy Michalicek, Pastor Jeff Holter, Lynn Hegrenes, Diane Irving, Scott Goutermont, Brad Kamphenkel, Theresa Williams and Pastor Craig Carlson. 1. The meeting was called to order by President Joy Michalicek at 7:35 p.m. with devotions and prayer led by Lynn Hegrenes. 2. Minutes from the meeting held on June 14, 2018, were approved as submitted. 3. Treasurer s report = $1, balance in the checkbook at the end of June Needed to borrow $3,500 from Capital Improvement to pay all bills. Capital Improvement funds total of $10, Longterm savings rental and roofing funds = $56, Action Items: a. A motion was made by Pastor Jeff Holter and seconded to hold God s Work our Hands on Sunday, September 9, Discussion followed. The motion carried. b. A motion was made by Pastor Craig Carlson and seconded that we hire an individual to clean up and plant the garden in the upper lot with a spending limit up to $3,000. Discussion followed. The motion carried. c. A motion was made by Scott Goutermont and seconded to establish a Task Force of five members to prepare a church policy on donations. Discussion followed. The motion carried. 5. Discussion Items: a. Communication: Northeastern Minnesota Synod, ELCA sent a letter outlining totals received year to date from KLC to include items such as Mission Support; seminary scholarship; quilts; WH Quarters; Seminarian Debt Reduction, etc. Total of $2, Raise the Roof Report starting masonry repairs within the next two weeks. Cash in hand of $49,192; $4,000 down payment spent for masonry repairs. $21,800 approximately left to raise in the Raise the Roof campaign. 75 th Anniversary Report for August 11-12: carnival & ice cream social; caterer has been secured for brunch on Sunday; carnival = planning is going well (bouncy house will be rented); history piece more planning to be held this coming Sunday; confirmation display Scott Goutermont is working on a picture display of past confirmands for the event; getting flowers for the altar; corsages for the previous pastors (four needed). Rally Sunday Sunday, September 16 or 23. Confirmation plans to begin the third week of September. 6. Boards, Ministry Teams, Standing Committees: a. Asset Management Board Raise the Roof Campaign see Discussion. Item a. second bullet. Discussed work day for the church garden in the upper lot; dig it up and start over. {See Action Item b.} Steak fry = August 23 ($14 = steak; $8 = burgers; 5:30-7:00 p.m.); Thursday evening; Fellowship Ministry Team will provide dessert.

9 St. Louis County Arrowhead Abstract & Title; Ownership of Memorial Garden has been straightened out. Policy for receiving and rejecting donations is needed at the church; not a problem to date but is needed for the future. Set up a Task Force to address this issue. The policy needs to be ready for voting at the annual meeting. {See Action Item c.} b. Mutual Ministry and Stewardship Board God s Work our Hands Sunday = September 9 nationally and propose that KLC participate on that date; (a) proposal from the Board that KLC prepare a welcome package for new youth tenants to be given to the Center for Changing Lives. Welcome Home Project commit to making one welcome packet from KLC; or (b) neighborhood clean-up. Board recommends we do the welcome packet or we start with the welcome packet and then continue with clean up in the neighborhood. {See Action Item a.} Council members agreed that both projects could be completed. Fall Fund Drive information will be presented at the August Council meeting. c. Personnel Support Board No new report. d. Christian Education Ministry Team No new report. e. Community Ministry Team With school supplies now on sale, donations are being requested for Lutheran World Relief school kits. Lutheran Social Services (LSS) coin offering in June was $65.72; total for the year is $ Team members will be following up with CHUM to find out what KLC s donation will be for this year s Neighborhood Night Out picnic on August 7. f. Fellowship Ministry Team Working on 75 th Anniversary event. g. Worship Ministry Team Working on 75 th Anniversary event. July 15 & 22 = Pastor Craig Carlson will preach. July 29 = Pastor Dennis Paulsen will preach. h. Youth Ministry Team No new report. 7. Pastor s Report: Confirmation Sunday = October 28; one confirmand this year, Reformation Sunday. Youth have collected blankets and quilts and will find a place where they will be donated; e.g., Loaves and Fishes, CHUM. Another couple interested in membership who attends the second service; returning family to KLC; proposing September 30 or maybe a bit later. Pastor will be on vacation July 14 to July Meeting closed with recitation of the Lord s Prayer and was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lynn Hegrenes, Secretary

10 September Worship Responsibilities at Kenwood Lutheran Church Altar Guild: Darlene Roebke Welcome Center Attendant Communion Server Hospitality Acolyte Scripture Reader Ushers 2 Jo Cox Dawn Erickson Need Volunteers Barb Lucia Deb Stokes & Peggy Pruden 9 16 Pat Kleimola Brad Kamphenkel Marcia Lunde CARE Kim Stein Council Shannon Borgeson Mark Irving Lori Robison & Kathy Erholtz Brad & Ronna Butler 23 Clara Seafolk Randy Nelson Quilters Joy Michalicek Eric Tammy Saksa & 30 Darlene Roebke Sue Fleming Worship Team Lynn Hegrenes Carol Dennis Kolari & Memorial Gifts Received In Memory of Bertha Witt Thank you for the gifts received in memory of Bertha Witt from: Darrell Witt Eric & Rebecca Stuart Elizabeth Pearson Pat Kleimola Jerry & Brenda Uecker Janice Baird Marcia Lunde Mark & Diane Irving Kathie Severson Brad & Jill Jenson Karen Mattson June Fiege Michael Zander Gary & Darlene VanKauwenbergh Norma Leskela (for Quilters)

11 SEPTEMBER 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 3:00 PM Lufholm Wedding :45 AM Worship 9:45 AM B.I.G. Hour/Hospitality 10:45 AM United in Praise (UP!) Worship Service 8:30 AM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 7:00 PM Harbormasters 11:45 AM Senior Luncheon 5:30 PM A.A. 9:00 AM Quilters 4:30 PM Kantele Choir :45 AM Worship 9:45 AM B.I.G. Hour/Hospitality 10:45 AM United in Praise (UP!) Worship Service 16 6:00 PM Ladies of Kaleva 17 8:30 AM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 7:00 PM Harbormasters 18 5:30 PM A.A. 6:00 PM Confirmation Orientation 19 9:00 AM Quilters 4:30 PM Kantele Choir 6:30 PM Boards and Teams 7:30 PM Council Meeting Newsletter Deadline 8:45 AM Worship 9:45 AM B.I.G. Hour/Hospitality 9:45 AM Church Book Club 10:45 AM United in Praise (UP!) Worship Service 8:30 AM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 7:00 PM Harbormasters 5:30 PM A.A. 6:00 PM Confirmation 9:00 AM Quilters 4:30 PM Kantele Choir 5:00 PM Finnish Historical Society :45 AM Worship 9:45 AM B.I.G. Hour/Hospitality 10:45 AM United in Praise (UP!) Worship Service 8:30 AM TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 7:00 PM Harbormasters 5:30 PM A.A. 6:00 PM Confirmation 9:00 AM Quilters 4:30 PM Kantele Choir 8:00 AM WELCA Fall Gathering 30 8:45 AM Worship 9:45 AM B.I.G. Hour/Hospitality 10:45 AM United in Praise (UP!) Worship Service When making Roof Campaign donations on your regular giving envelope, please note Roof in the Other category, as opposed to putting it under the Capital Improvement category. Thank you! All donations gratefully accepted. Fall Work Day September 22- Camp Vermilion Join us for a day of work, fellowship, and caring for God s great northwoods. Schedule: 9:00 - Check-in and coffee, Work on cabin or other tasks around camp. 12:30 Lunch Groups are welcome to continue working after lunch, enjoy a few hours at camp, or depart for home. Please let us know by September 19 if you plan to join us! vlm@vlmcamps.org