Redeemer Lutheran Church February 2019 To Live and Tell the Story of Jesus Pastor Ponderings

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1 Redeemer Lutheran Church February 2019 To Live and Tell the Story of Jesus Pastor Ponderings Pastor Ann s Ponderings Whenever I consider writing for the newsletter I am stymied. What is news anyway? When I look up the definition of news, the online Dictionary says: newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent or important events. Am I, as your pastor to write about recent noteworthy or new information or events? Could it be I am to keep these in mind while I consider the good news of Christ and if so, do I report on what has recently taken place here in Christ? Or is it more about the future or what is occurring beyond our doors? There is much to consider. I sit in the office today and temperatures are -7 after having wind chills of at least -35 degrees. This has many of us hunkered down in our homes staying put until the Arctic air has passed. Others are having to go out and start the car, clear the roadways, go to work and keep on. What is newsworthy to report on days such as this? What is the good news we long to hear? Today I was shown a picture of a heart formed possibly by melting snow on our neighbor s roof St Joseph s Catholic Church. How can one not take notice and light up at the beauty and amazing things that occur in nature right before our eyes? God s creation, while susceptible to decay and destruction, reveals a tremendous capacity for rejuvenation and new life. How might we use our time inside or outside in the cold as an opportunity to reflect and take notice of God s activity in our lives? We are still close to the start of a new year and often we consider the past with eyes to the future. How is God SPURT ing us into the future and in what ways will each of us participate as spiritual people? After all we are a Spiritual people united raising trust. Spiritual people commit to growing into a confident, courageous trust in a faithful and loving God. I encourage you to read scripture try Nehemiah 8:1-10. Ask yourself these questions after reading the text. Write down your responses and practice the recommended follow-up. How has God blessed me today? Offer a word of praise to God. For what am I thankful? Write it down and give thanks to God in prayer. For what am I sorry. Write it down and tear it up. God has forgiven you. What would our loving God say to you today? Look in the mirror and say it to yourself. Look for joy and be strengthened for God is with you and guides your way. Even though it may be blustery cold, and your extremities could freeze while you are outside inside, the light of the Spirit of God feeds our frozen hearts with kindling - warming and brightening us to glow with God s grace! Shalom! Pastor Ann

2 you are invited to game night! Wednesday, Febuary 13 th 5:30 soup supper 6-7:30 Games! Hosted by: sprouts Come hungry and play hard! who s all in? Whether or not you have a special King or Queen, all ages are invited to make a full house! Try out the Smorgasbord of already provided games or you may bring your own playing cards and board games. There s no limit to how much fun you can have! So are you all in? electronic free Event If you would like to bring a pot of Chicken Noodle Soup, Chili, crackers, bread or a dessert, please call or the church office / office@rioredeemerlutheran.org **************************************************************************************************** REDEEMER GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP Are you a high school senior, a member of Redeemer Church, and currently active in congregational activities? As a current graduating senior meeting these qualifications and planning on furthering your education in at least a one year course of study, you may apply for Redeemer s General Scholarship. This $400 scholarship is payable in $200 per semester increments. First year recipients may also reapply for a second year scholarship with amounts possible up to $800, based on the number of qualified applicants and the amount in our scholarship treasury. Application forms are available now at the church office. Completed applications, along with three letters of recommendation, are due in the church office on or before April 1, 2019.

3 LEAD Registration is OPEN! Saturday, March 9-8:30 am - 3:30 pm Location: Evangelical Lutheran Church 315 Main Street - Mount Horeb Leadership Education and Development is an annual synod event for all! If you are a member of a congregation, a lay leader or pastor or deacon, or a partner that works with our congregations, you are invited! Building Beloved Community is the theme for this year s Leadership Education and Development Day! Our keynote speaker is: Rev. Dr. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director of the Domestic Mission Unit of the ELCA His keynote, Three Roads to Beloved Community will draw us into communal conversation about what we seek in our own lives of discipleship, in the life of our communities of Jesus, and our impact in the world. We will share ideas and inspiration about forming leaders and communities that connect to the life of the world God loves. All will be grounded in deeply meaningful biblical texts that show us the three roads to Beloved Community. He is a great storyteller and dynamic speaker! Workshops will plentiful and will engage us around the topic of Beloved Community there will be something for everyone and time to attend 3 workshops in addition to the keynote. We will start the day by gathering for worship, and there will be displays from synodaffiliated and Lutheran ministries to visit. Lunch will be included and refreshments provided, childcare and free meals for kids over 3. Cost: $25 early bird - register on or before Feb. 21 After Feb $30 Don t miss this year s LEAD! Ministry partners with questions about displaying should contact Deacon Vicki Hanrahan, Assistant to the Bishop for Synodical Life, at Registration Tips: If you are registering multiple people for your congregation, click on the checkbox indicating I am registering for this person. You will receive a copy of each person s confirmation. You can also use your confirmation to go back to the site, click on the GROUP tab, ****************************************************************************** A Thank you from Rio Firefighters Thank you for your generous donation of $500 towards the Rio Firemen s Park improvements. The plans are coming along and we hope to have an update for the community soon. Tina Gobeli Rio Fire Fighters ******************************************************************************

4 From the Treasurer As I am writing this article I am listening to the howling wind and watching the already many inches of snow on the ground swirl around. It is very beautiful out but very deceitful as we are experiencing temperatures like those we haven't seen in many years. If we go below -26 degrees we will have reached a historical point. I am sure all of us would rather be known for something not so dramatic. The annual meeting went well. Questions were asked and answered and it is the council's prayer as we move forward in 2019 communication will continue to flourish. We had a shortfall for the year in 2018 of $9, With the start of the SPURT campaign we are hoping to take care of any shortfalls for We all need to pray about this and continue to remain positive for our church and its members. We did not have a shortfall for December This is usually the case as December tends to be a good month because of Christmas. The council would like to thank Larry Gorman, our bookkeeper, for all his timeless effort at keeping our finances where they need to be. He spends many hours each month at his job and we are so happy that he is able to do this month after month faithfully. The Finance Team and the Stewardship Team also need thanks as they worked very hard at putting a Spending Plan in order that would not only meet our needs but that would make it possible for us to move forward in a positive way with the start of the SPURT campaign. It takes many faithful people to keep our church open. I only have dealings with the financial end of things. If you know of someone who works on a committee, ushers, helps with communion, teaches in any way, serves fellowship or even acolytes please take time to thank them because this is done with love in their heart for Christ, our church and especially our members. My prayer is by the time you receive the newsletter the blistering cold weather will have passed and many pleasant thoughts of Spring will be on our minds. In faithful service, Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock Redeemer Treasurer February Birthdays February Anniversaries Sandy Brewer February 5th Norm & Donna Kearney February 6th Shirly Nelson February 5th Alvin & Delores Erstad February 12th Barb Nelson February 7th Spencer & Nancy Wescott February 27th Pastor Ann Walsvik February 7th Lauri Porter February 12th Alan Johnson February 13th Lynn Bubolz February 17th Kurt Johnson February 18th Kelly Falk February 20th Scott Olson February 24th Timothy Jaynes February 25th Mary Gray February 29th

5 NEWS FROM ANNUNCIATION HOUSE SPURT NEWS Thank you to all who have givien to SPURtT so far. We also want to mention that you can just write SPURT with the amount on the regular envelopes. Also feel free to mail them to the office if you prefer. 610 Lincoln Ave., Rio WI January 6, 2019 EPIPHANY! Dear Friends, Thank you for the donation of $20.00 to Annunciation House in El Paso. Your support connects you to this vital ministry. When I volunteered last year at this time, we welcomed 300 immigrants a week Now there are 3,000 people seeking Asylum. Keep them and all involved in this ministry in your prayers. Blessings on your New Year; Mary Pharmer We are extremely grateful for your support, especially at this time. This has been an unparalleled year for Annunciation House. For the last several months, a growing number of people from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, among others, have left their countries, often fleeing persecution and extreme violence, and have walked hundreds of miles in search of a safer place for their children and families. As they have arrived at the border in El Paso/Ciudad Juarez, they ve faced the awful reality of being stopped and refused application for asylum or if they cross the border, separation from children, even infants, inhumane conditions in Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) holding cells meant for far fewer people and treatment as dangerous criminals. The crisis has heightened since just before Christmas as immigration authorities have been dropping off hundreds of people downtown and at bus stations with no one to provide even modest assistance to exhausted, hungry and penniless immigrants, many of them young children. (ICE personnel are dropping off as many as 500 people a day.) In response religious and humanitarian communities in the El Paso area have partnered with Annunciation House and opened new shelters across the city to provide food, warm, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep. In addition, volunteers assist migrants in contacting family members and making arrangements for travel to family members in the U.S. Because of the holiday season and significantly reduced availability of bus and airline seats, though, many migrants are having to remain in shelters for longer than the typical one to four days. The outpouring of help from so many, and the financial support from compassionate supporters like you, has made it possible for us to continue to respond to the many that come knocking at our doors that are abandoned, and meet them with love, hospitality and respect. I ve met many of the immigrants and they are enormously thankful for all the help being provided to them. We wish you the very best for this new year. Thank you again and God bless you. Sincerley; Terry Baldwin, Volunteer Bookkeeper (body of letter written by S. Navarro, approved by Ruben Garcia)

6 REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 17, :30 p.m. Present: Kevin Stoddard, Sherri Kranz, Debbie Reierson, Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock, Steve Gilbert, Brenda Price, Darlene Cutsforth, Renee Miles, Pastor Ann Walsvik.. Meeting was called to order by President Kevin Stoddard at 6:32 p.m. Approve Agenda Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock made a motion to approve the agenda. Seconded by Sherri Kranz. Motion carried. Correspondence and/or Guest Comments: Jean Staveness and Linda Olson came to the meeting looking for guidance in regard to the church scholarship for high school seniors. They will remain an active team to receive applications and award this scholarship. A motion was made by Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock to move the scholarship money from Associated Bank to Farmer s & Merchant s Union Bank. Seconded by Darlene Cutsforth. Motion carried. Church bookkeeper, Larry Gorman, will put the scholarship money in the Redeemer Lutheran Business savings account. Kevin Stoddard discussed letters he received from Lutherdale and the Synod. Devotions were given by Kevin Stoddard. Renee Miles will have devotions for January. Spiritual Development Pastor Ann led a discussion of the Epilogue from a book called Called by Mark Labberton. It is a book about the crisis and promise of following Jesus today. Review and Approve Minutes from 11/19/18 Pastor Ann Walsvik made a motion to approve the 11/19/18 minutes. Seconded by Renee Miles. Motion carried. Financial Reports for October, 2018: General Fund - Approximately $1400. Shortfall covered from memorials. Bennett Mutual Fund Memorial Fund Motion was made by Debbie Reierson to approve financial reports for November, Seconded by Darlene Cutsforth. Motion carried. Standing Committee Reports Property - Written report WELCA Sherri Kranz reported that she will be giving Admin. Assist., Sue Pulver, updates to type up for the Women s Circle Book for Social Concerns - No activity Lay ministry Not actively meeting Put fellowship money in Admin. Assist., Sue Pulver s, box for Lay Ministry. This money is used to replace sugar, coffee, cool aid, etc. Outreach Darlene Cutsforth reports that Christmas cards will be sent to shut-ins. Stewardship Working on 2019 Spending Plan and reviewing use of offering envelopes. Education - Sprouts, Elem. Age and Confirmation Motion was made by Darlene Cutsforth to approve standing committee reports. Seconded by Sherri Kranz. Motion carried. Pastor s Report Pastor Ann gave a written report Old Business: Vote to approve 2019 Spending Plan Church bookkeeper, Larry Gorman, came to the meeting to go over the proposed 2019 Spending Plan. Motion was made by Sherri Kranz to accept the revised spending plan for Seconded by Renee Miles. Motion carried by a voice vote, 9 votes yes; opposed none.

7 Status of Listening for Wisdom Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock talked about the listening for wisdom information we received from the congregation that she looked over, and gave a copy of her assessment to all council members. Kevin Stoddard will contact members of the Connect Team to see if they would be willing to go over the comments that were received for their thoughts as well. Vote on Adding Senior Care Info to our Website Debbie Reierson did some research on this website and found that it was not a legitimate site. We will not be adding this Senior Care Info to our website. A motion was made by Steve Gilbert to put a link to the ADRC (Aging & Disability Resource Center) of Columbia County on our website. Seconded by Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock. Motion carried. New Business: Policy Book Team Steve Gilbert will be heading the policy book team who will work on getting the policy book updated. Working with Steve will be Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock, Geri Gorman and Pastor Ann Walsvik. Others are welcome to work on this team. Vote to Approve $5,000. Housing Allowance A motion was made by Steve Gilbert to say that the council voted to sign Pastor Ann Walsvik s housing allowance resolution for her taxes, which states that her total compensation includes a housing allowance of $5,000. Seconded by Brenda Price. Motion carried by a voice vote, 8 votes yes; one abstention; opposed none. President Kevin Stoddard signed this resolution for Pastor Ann s taxes. Permission Giving to Ministry Team The council gives permission for the various committees/teams to take the initiative to come up with recommendations for actions to be presented to the Council for approval. This includes things such as the Worship Team to come up with recommendations for dates/times for future Christmas services, the Stewardship Team to come up with recommendations for how giving envelopes should be printed/used, the Connect Team to come up with recommendations for which Listening For Wisdom ideas should be implemented, etc. Elect Auditors A motion was made by Darlene Cutsforth to elect Rick Olson and Beth Laufenberg as auditors. Seconded by Steve Gilbert. Motion carried. Thanksgivings: Thank you to Jean Staveness, Linda Olson and Phil Tarpley for all their many years working on the church scholarship committee. Thank you to Michael Miles for updating the church sign. Thank you to Rebekah Circle for decorating the Christmas tree in fellowship hall. Adjourn/Closing Prayer: Motion was made by Darlene Cutsforth to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Sherri Kranz. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:47 p.m., followed by the Lord s Prayer. Dates to Remember: Next Council Meeting 1/21/19 Annual Meeting 1/27/19 Debbie Reierson Council Secretary

8 February Altar Guild Julie Thompson* Kristi Fehrman February 3rd February 10th February 17th February 24th February Volunteer Schedule Communion Assistants Greeters Ushers Fellowship Hosts Reader Acolyte Nancy Wescott Darlene Cutsforth Nancy Wescott & Duane Nelson Bob Adams & Rick Olson Deborah Circle Kit Schmidt Lily Walker Sherri Kranz Sandy Helmer Norm & Donna Kearney Bob Adams Kevin & Darcy Stoddard Sandy Helmer Ryan Risgaard John & Sandy Langdon Delores Erstad & Melanie Gilbert Kevin & Darcy Stoddard Rick & Linda Olson Steve Gilbert Morgan Reierson Darlene Cutsforth Mary Gray David & Dianna Pryse Nancy Drehmel & Donna Kearney Darlene Cutsforth Ashley Laufenberg

9 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00 am Worship w/baptism of Hayden Lange Fellowship 10:00 am Worship Team Meeting 7:00 pm Mary Circle 10:00 RACA meeting at Living Gospel 6:00 pm Sprouts & Confirmation 6:30 am Men s Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA 10 9:00 am Worship/ Fellowship WELCA Meeting immediately follows :30 pm Ruth Circle 5:30 pm Sprouts Soup Supper 6-7:30 pm GAME NIGHT!! 7:30 pm Deborah Circle 14 6:30 am Men s Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA :00 am Worship/ Fellowship 10:30 am New Member Class 18 6:30 pm Council Meeting 19 6:00 pm Sprouts & Confirmation 21 6:30 am Men s Hometown Café 10:30 am Covenant House Fellowship 11:00 am Covenant House Worship 7:00 pm AA 22 4:45 8:00 pm Confirmation Families serve at the River Food Pantry :00 am Worship w/ Installation of Council Members & WELCA Officers Fellowship :15 pm Bells 6:00 pm Sprouts 6:45 pm Choir 28 6:30 am Men s Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA

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