Helmar Heartlines 815-695-5489 Email- helmarlutheran@gmail.com Website- helmarlutheranchurch.com V O L UME 44 I SSUE 3 M AR CH 2018 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Birthdays & Anniversaries 2 Family Mission, Easter Flowers 3 Mission Sandal Donation 3 What time is it? As a kid, I remember thinking that I never wanted to get to be as old as my parents! At that time, they were in there early 40 s, but boy they seemed old to me! I also remember that the year 2000 was SO far away that it would never get here! Well, here we are in 2018. Our kids & grandkids are having the same thoughts now that I had as a kid, only they are thinking about the year 2050. Time. I remember hearing an older comedian being interviewed about his great success in show biz, and the interviewer asked him, what is the secret to your success? He had a very simple answer, timing! He went on to say a lot of people have written and or spoken some very funny things, but lacked proper timing in delivering the joke, which really makes a joke funny Timing is an interesting thing to study. Sometimes it depends on which side of the fence you are standing. In the case of buying a home, you may seem like you wait forever for an answer to an offer, but to the seller it may seem like they are getting rushed and didn t have enough time to properly weigh all the factors in the decision. To us that live in a more Northern climate, that does experience 4 seasons, winter comes to fast and doesn t leave soon enough! This is a David commentary. Most people do appreciate a 4 seasons climate. In a farming community, the winter freezing of the ground makes for a mellow seedbed come spring planting. The spring rains recharge the soil after the winter dormancy and provides H & H 4 H Event 4 Kids Corner, Youth Front 5 enough moisture to sustain crops through the hot summer time. Fall, Oh what a beautiful and rewarding time of year that is! I do enjoy the 4 seasons! As of this writing, we as a Church are waiting to hear from the calls that we extended. If not daily, several times a week, one of us on the council is asked, Have you heard anything? My response is It is in God s timing. That is why the scripture that I read from Ecclesiastes chapter 3 is enjoyable and timely to put my anxious heat in its place. 3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, (continued on Page 2)
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Many years ago, man tried to figure out how to keep track of time and put it into a format that all could understand. They came up with day being a 24-period. They then came up with 12 months to equal a year. Then they came up with 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 365 days in a standard year. With a second added every once in a while and an extra day every 4 years for corrections. All of this was doable because God had created such a perfect timing ebb & flow to time. We can even chart timing of high tides, low tides, full moons, and even Haley s comet, all because of God s perfect timing! God explains all of this in Genesis, when He created this world. God even knows the timing of our lives. I remember talking to my aunt Ethel Christian when she was 105 years old, and still very sharp minded, about how old she felt. She said I don t feel a day over 85 years old! She did live to be over 108 years old. I have also been at the hospital for a still born child who did not have 1 breath here on earth. Life can be hard, but God is always good! Wherever you are at in these 4 Seasons of Life, appreciate God s timing in everything! Page 2 In Christ, David Christian Birthdays and *Anniversaries For MARCH March 2 Jacob Johnson March 3 Joyce Stevenson March 4 Greg Geistler March 5 Tina Cryder Erich Engelbrecht Virgil & Ruth Karales* David Kittelson March 6 Dan & Linda Hanback* March 9 Ellie Gallo March 10 Keaton Cryder March 11 Randy Stevenson March 12 Laurie Chally March 13 Chari Engelbrecht Jessica Karales March 15 Jacob Mathre Sandy Michaelson March 16 Scott Cryder Dan Hanback March 17 Jim & Sig Hagen* March 18 Mark & Bessie Christian* Edward McKenna March 21 Faith Frieders March 22 Pam Cryder Greg & Staci Geistler* March 24 Roger & Bobbie Toftoy* Tyler Wiesbrook March 25 Pam Duvick Howard Rosenwinkel March 26 Bessie Christian Beth Goins March 27 Beth Alexander March 30 Kelly Greven *Wedding Anniversaries
Page 3 Laughter. A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. Mama, look what I found! the boy called out. What have you got there, dear? his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy s voice, he answered, I think it s Adam s underwear. Family We will have Family Mission on Sunday, March 4th, with Ray & Ruthann Gorrell sharing about their work in Quebec. There will be a brunch at 10:45am followed by the program at 11am. Family Ties Collecting Sandals- I plan to go to Ethiopia on March 20th on a Mission Trip (LAST trip this winter, I promise!). If anyone has any sandals they no longer need, I would love to take them and give them to the women and children at Korah (the garbage dump community). There will be a box in the narthex the next two Sundays if you d like to donate. If you have any questions, I ll be back Wednesday., March 7th from Arizona. Thanks, Sue Family ties are precious things Woven through the years Of memories & togetherness Of laugher, love & tears. Family ties are treasured things, And far though we may roam, The tender bonds with those we love Still pull our hearts towards home. Easter Flowers Easter is coming up soon. If you would like to purchase a Lily or Azalea to adorn the altar, here are the prices. Lily- 5+ blooms, $14.50; 10+ blooms, $26.50; Azalea $22 Prices include foil pot cover & bow. Give cash or check (make payable to Winding Creek Nursery) to Sheila Marie Urton, along with Honorarium or Memorial details. Deadline to order is March 12th.. Plants may be taken home after Easter service. Thank you. Sheila Marie Urton (815)695-5547 or (815)617-2917
Page 4 HELMAR HEARTS AND HANDS FOR HOPE PROUDLY PRESENTS TIM HANNIG ON SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2018. Tim Hannig is an award-winning entertainer who has performed in Canada, England, and all across the USA -- including performances for Six Flags, the Chicago White Sox, and 2 times at The White House. He is coming to Helmar Lutheran Church on April 14th. Tim loves using laughter, magic & music to entertain and inspire. You won't want to miss this family friendly event that is sure to amaze people of all ages. Come for a Taco Bar dinner, complete with beverages and desserts (served from 5:30 6:45 p.m.) and stay for the show which will start at 7 p.m. to support the Helmar Hearts & Hands for Hope mission group! Tickets are available from any member of the group, in advance for $15 for Adults 13+ years, $10 for youth ages 3-12 years old and children 2 and under are free if they will sit on your lap. We will also be selling tickets after church on March 4 th, 11 th, 18 th, and April 8 th. Helmar Hearts and Hands for Hope consists of 44 youth and adults that are hoping to earn enough money to build 2 houses for families in need. They will be heading to Mexico at the end of June to bring hope to Tijuana.
KIDS CORNER Page 5 Spring is coming! With all the flowers we will soon see blooming, it is easy to imagine the spiritual growth we want to see in ourselves and in the kids who are part of our Helmar Childrens Ministry. Spiritual growth is often a result of how we spend our time with our children s programs that means more time spent in the Bible, more time spent worshipping God through songs and activities and more time spent in prayer with our Wonderful Father in heaven. We are devoting ourselves to see spring-like growth in ourselves and in the precious kids who are a part of Helmar Children s Ministry. Family Fun Night! Sunday, March 4 beginning at 5:00 pm. Everyone is invited for a yummy pizza dinner and ice cream sundaes.and then the fun begins a family kickball game! Guaranteed fun and laughter for all! Sign up in the narthex anytime. Questions? See Stacy Swenson. Parents Night Out! Is Saturday March 10 from 5:00 9:00 pm. All kids ages 1 year through 5 th Grade are invited to come and eat yummy pizza, play fun games in the gym and watch a fun movie! Parents can enjoy some quiet time so everyone wins! Register at Helmar or email Stacy at helmarloveskids@yahoo.com. WeeCare Registration for 2018/2019 school year is now open! WeeCare is a mother s day out program that will meet every Friday from 9 noon beginning September 7, 2018 through April 26, 2019. WeeCare is designed for kids ages 1 year through 5 years old. The kids will learn Bible stories and Bible verses, sing songs and play games! WeeCare is a well-loved program spread the word that registration is now open! Questions? See Stacy Swenson or email her at helmarloveskids@yahoo.com. To register, click the link on our website at www.helmarlutheranchurch.com. YOUTH FRONT "BUT GOD is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)" Eph. 2:4-5 Let us never get tired of hearing of this wonderful good news, of the miracle of being forgiven because of what Jesus did for us!! Tell Him thank you every day. All 6th-12th grades and Young Adults, you are invited to the Big Daddy Weave concert on Sunday, March 18th, at Calvary Church in Naperville. The concert begins at 7:30; anyone needing a ride can meet at the church at 6:00. The approximate cost is $20 per person. Please talk to Brandon Niles or Carrie Pilon for more details. Also, all of the congregation is invited to the Palm Sunday Breakfast fundraiser, on March 25, after a shortened Sunday time. Enjoy egg casseroles, fruit, and pastries. Hope to see you there!
March 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 9:00am Worship 10:45am Brunch 11am Family Mission 5pm Family Game Night 11 9:00am Worship 18 9:00am Worship with GO CHURCH 25 9:00am Worship 10:45am Palm Sunday Breakfast 5 6 12 13 6:30pm Deacon s Mtg. 7pm Trustee s Mtg. 8pm Council Mtg. 19 20 26 3-5 pm Food Pantry 27 7 7-8pm Lenten Service 7-8pm H.S. Bible Study, BLAST, JAM 8pm Worship Choir Practice 6:30-6:55 & 8-9pm Open Gym 14 9am-2pm Quilting 7-8pm Lenten Service 7-8pm H.S. Bible Study, BLAST, JAM 8pm Worship Choir Practice 6:30-6:55 & 8-9pm Open Gym 21 7-8pm Lenten Service 7-8pm H.S. Bible Study, BLAST, JAM 8pm Worship Choir Practice 6:30-6:55 & 8-9pm Open Gym 28 9am-2pm Quilting 1 8 15 7pm Faith Circle 22 29 7pm Maundy Thursday Service 2 9 5-7pm Food Pantry 16 23 30 7pm Good Friday Service 3 10 5-9pm Parent s Night Out 17 24 31