Website: www.threesaints.org April 2018 On Facebook: three saints parish St John Lutheran Church St. Mark Lutheran Church St Timothy Lutheran Church 102 N Ida St, Lacon, IL 61540 822 W Pine St, Chillicothe, IL 61523 Routes 40 & 17, PO Box 158, Wyoming, IL 61491 Church Phone: 309-621-9143 Church Phone: 309-274-3680 Church Phone: 309-493-5791 email: smlcchilli@mediacombb.net Pastor s Cell Phone 217-883-1096 email: pastorlindastrader@gmail.com Parsonage Phone: 309-270-4031 From the Pastor s Pen Pastor Linda Strader Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, Samuel! Samuel! And Samuel said, Speak, for your servant is listening. 1 Samuel 3:10 Most of us have heard the story of Samuel hearing someone call his name in the night (1 Samuel 3:1-10). At first, he thought it was Eli, so he ran to him and said, Here I am, for you called me. Eli told Samuel that he did not call and that he should go back to bed. The second time Samuel heard the voice, he again ran to Eli. By this time, Eli knew it was the LORD calling Samuel s name, so he sent him back to bed with instructions to say to the LORD, Speak for your servant is listening. This long-ago and far-away story is still important for each one of us. God calls each one of us by name, and in turn, we are called to respond by saying, Speak, for your servant is listening. Most of us don t have the clarity of hearing God literally speaking to us in the night, so we rely on the Holy Spirit to help us to listen. One of the ways God speaks to us, of course, is through each other. We need to take the time to truly listen to one another, and that is why the Parish Page 1 of 8 Council has scheduled listening sessions in each of the congregations of the Three Saints Parish. Now that we have been sharing ministry for a full year, we want to hear from YOU. What do you think is going well in the parish? Where do you see room for improvement? What needs do you see in our congregations, our parish, and our communities? What kind of ministries do you imagine in our future? Listening sessions will take place in each congregation as follows: Sunday, April 15 St. Timothy, Wyoming, after worship Sunday, April 22 St. John, Lacon, 9:00 AM St. Mark, Chillicothe: Sunday, April 29, following worship Please mark your calendars and join us as we listen for the Spirit s voice as we listen to each other! In Christ,
Report from the Administrative Council Chairman March 7, 2018 Administrative Council meeting was held at St Timothy s in Wyoming. Both of our new members, John Landsverk from St Mark and Emily Fredrickson from St John were present. Again, we want to thank the two retiring members are Kay Aurbeck from St John and Wayne Peugh from St Mark for their service to the Parish in the past year. In Pastor Linda s report to the council, she noted the following: 1. A cross-generational faith formation event is planned for Sunday March 11 at 6-7:30 pm. It is a faith class for confirmands and first communion students, but all are welcome to attend. 2. Brett Gosteli a SAM who has provided preaching services to us recently has committed to becoming part of our regular preaching team, as Pastor Barbara Ziah is no longer available. 3. Provided a one page job description for a Parish Administrative Assistant. 4. Dates have been set for the listening sessions in each congregation. Dates are 4/15 at St Timothy, 4/22 at St John and 4/29 at St Mark. A set of questions designed to determine what each of the congregations expect from their pastor and the church s mission in our community. 5. There are some upcoming opportunities for shared worship and ministries in the parish. a. Participation in God s Work, Our Hands on Sunday September 9, 2018 b. Provide some joint worship services, such as a summer service/picnic, joint reformation service (Oct 28) and a Thanksgiving Weekend/Christ the King Sunday, Nov 28. Old business A combined Parish Newsletter was distributed for March. Feedback has been positive. Distribution to our members is Page 2 of 8 performed by a key person in each of the churches. Topic for next month will be further details for the Admin Assistant position (duties, hours & $$). Sundays & Seasons subscription will be paid by the Parish. Pc Mars s financial software will be installed March 11, for use by St Mark treasurer. Preaching Pastors thanks to God for Brett!! New Business. We need to think about other topics for the upcoming listening sessions. The upcoming faith formation event on 3/11 will have food provided and council members are invited to attend. The 2/28/18 Lenten service at St Mark was very well attended. Our next meeting will be on April 4 @5:00 pm at St Mark. God Bless, Marshel Poff Admin Council Chairman ph 309-265-5201 Weekly Info from Pastor Linda If you would like to receive a weekly email from Pastor Linda containing short reflections on the lessons for the upcoming week, as well as parish announcements, please send her an email requesting to be placed on the list. Her email address: pastorlindastrader@gmail.com. Pastor Linda s Office Hours In April, Pastor Linda s office hours will go back to the usual schedule: Wednesdays, 9:00 AM-Noon, One Eleven Coffee Shop in Wyoming Thursdays, 9:00 AM-Noon, St. John Lutheran Church and/or The Coffee Hub, Lacon Fridays, 9:00 AM-Noon, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chillicothe
Pause for Prayer Those who participated in the Pause for Prayer services during Lent found them to be valuable. Therefore, we will continue to offer mid-day Friday prayer services once per month. Please join us at St. Mark Lutheran Church from 12:15-12:45 PM on the first Friday of each month for quiet responsive prayer, biblical reflection, and personal meditation. Come breathe with us! We will go out for a Dutch treat lunch afterward. This month we are scheduled to meet on April 6! Quilting at St Timothy Quilting is starting up on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am. Quilting will continue until the middle of May. All ladies are invited to participate. Please bring a sack lunch, if you come. Thanks! Thank you!!! A great big THANK YOU to all who participated in our Lenten worship services: to the singers and musicians, to the supper coordinators and cooks, and to all who joined us in prayer and song! Our Wednesday evenings were a delightful combination of fellowship and worship, and our small Friday services were a perfect way to pause for prayer, and to get to know each other better! Marriage Encounter Wanting something special to do for you and your spouse? Enjoy a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend with private, one-on-one time with your spouse. The next Weekend is scheduled in Peoria, IL on April 13-15, 2018. Apply now at GodLovesMarriage.org or contact Norm and Deb Lopez at peorialmereg@gmail.com for more information. Preregistration is required don t miss out! Registration deadline is March 26. Registrations after that date will be on a space available basis. April & May Mission a month St. Timothy, Wyoming Donations of Peanut Butter and Jelly is designated for the food pantry. Conference Assembly & Synod Assembly There are two upcoming opportunities to serve the larger church through the Northern Conference or through the Central/Southern Illinois Synod of the ELCA: The Northern Conference Assembly will be held Sunday, April 22, at Faith Lutheran Church, Washington, IL from 2:00-4:00 PM. The Central/Southern Illinois Synod Assembly will be held Thursday, June 7 through Saturday, June 9 in Champaign- Urbana. EACH congregation is asked to send two lay voting members (preferably one male and one female) to each of these events. Please let your congregational president or Pastor Linda know if you sense that God is calling you to serve the larger church in this way. Page 3 of 8
April 2018 Preaching & Worship Schedule April 1 (Easter Sunday) Rev. Linda Strader ( Unafraid ) St. John, Lacon (10:30 AM) Rev. Linda Strader ( Unafraid ) Rev. Dr. Nate Frambach Friday, April 6 St. Mark, Chillicothe (12:15-12:45 PM) Pause for Prayer Sunday, April 8 Rev. John Sipf St. John, Lacon (10:30 AM) Rev. John Sipf Rev. Linda Strader ( Sharing the Peace ) Sunday, April 15 Rev. Linda Strader ( Recalculating ) St. John, Lacon (10:30 AM) Rev. John Sipf Rev. Linda Strader ( Recalculating ) Sunday, April 22 Rev. John Sipf St. John, Lacon (10:30 AM) Rev. Linda Strader ( Belonging & Believing ) Rev. John Sipf Sunday, April 29 Rev. Linda Strader (Healing Service with Holy Baptism) St. John, Lacon (10:30 AM) SAM Brett Gosteli Rev. John Sipf Seminarian Brian Coffey will be with us again, this month for a Sunday morning worship. On the date below, he will serve as assisting minister and communion assistant. Sunday, April 29: o St. Mark (healing service) o 1 st Quarter congregational meeting (with listening session). Thanks to those who purchased flowers to help decorate our sanctuary for the Easter season! EASTER at ST. TIMOTHY Our Easter worship service will take place at the usual time of 10:30 am. Rev. Dr. Nathan Frambach will be leading the worship service on Easter Sunday. The worship service will be preceded by our normal fellowship time at 10 am. There will be no Sunday School classes, but there will be a Children s Easter Egg Hunt following the worship service. We welcome everyone to our Easter Sunday worship and encourage everyone to invite friends and family to attend! Page 4 of 8
WELCA Thankoffering The WELCA Thankoffering this past year was $395.15. Thanks to all those who donated at the Thankoffering service! Prayer Corner Prayer for Those in the Armed Forces Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all men and women of our armed forces, and all who serve this country at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils that surround them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. (ELW Pastoral Care, 385) Within our congregation, we especially want to pray for: Chris Kelly and Kenneth Siebert, Jr. as they serve to protect our country s freedom. Amen Holy Baptism St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chillicothe, will be welcoming two new members into the Body of Christ this month. On Sunday, April 15, we will welcome Ava Carter, and on April 29, we will welcome Adelaide Landsverk! Please pray for these children, their families, and our parish, that we may all love them and nurture them in their faith. For Healing, Comfort and Encouragement for Members and Friends of the Congregation Struggling with Illness: Sharon Baumgartner, Courtney Bryner, Lenore Craine, Roxanne Dixon, Scott Eisenbarth, Noah Ellis, Brian Horton, Larry Leadley, Brittany Schaffer, Mary Ann Schmelzer, Paul Schupbach, Sharon Sergeant, Rita Simkins, and Debbie Steidinger. Christian Comfort Please keep the family and friends of Pam Aurbeck in your prayers. Pam was a member of St. John, Lacon, who passed away March 19, 2018. Her visitation and funeral services was held at Lenz Funeral Home in Lacon on Saturday, March 31. St. Timothy Birthdays: Lyn Hartz, 4/6 Alyssa Jones, 4/7 Julie Mueller, 4/9 Jason Howard, 4/15 Carol Stange, 4/16 St. Timothy Anniversaries: Denny and Rosemary Rewerts, 4/1 Page 5 of 8
March- Special Events celebrated and Special Music are listed below. 3/4/18; Altar Flowers were given by St Mark Lutheran to the Glory of God Bulletins were given by St Mark Lutheran to the Glory of God Special Music John & Judy sang Ballad of the Cross 3/11/18; Altar Flowers are given by John & Carole Landsverk to celebrate Isla s 9 th Birthday Bulletins are given by Mardee Landsverk wishing Happy Birthday Isla! Special Music None 3/18/18; Altar Flowers are given by Mardee Landsverk wishing everyone Happy St Patrick s Day! Bulletins are given by St Mark Lutheran to the Glory of God! Special Music None 3/25/18; Altar Flowers are given by St Mark Lutheran to the Glory of God! Bulletins are given by Mardee Landsverk to the Glory of God! Special Music None We will continue with the Pause for Prayer service on the first Friday of each month. This time for quiet, contemplative prayer is offered at St. Mark, Chillicothe from 12:15-12:45 PM. NEWSLETTER DEADLINE! Wednesday, April 18 please have all newsletter items to Marshel Poff (poffmw@mchsi.com). He will be putting together one newsletter for the entire parish! 3 Saints Parish Communications Team This is the second issue of a combined newsletter for the Three Saints Parish. Our communications team is attempting to assemble a newsletter that will communicate information to the members of our Parish that will be useful to you. If there is anything that you wish to be included on occasion or on a regular basis, please let the communication Team members know. Team Leader Lisa Weber - rlzbcweber06@gmail.com Zack Weber - zjweb99@gmail.com Lyman & Luba Etzler - lubaetzler@frontier.com Marshel Poff poffmw@mchsi.com Pastoral Adviser Pastor Linda Strader pastorlindastrader@gmail.com Page 6 of 8
Page 7 of 8 Spring cleaning! The Saint Mark Lutheran library is being updated! So, we are going to do some spring cleaning by weeding out some books. The reason for this is two-fold: First, since so many Christian books and resources are now available online and through public libraries, few people make use of the church library. Second, to maintain appropriate boundaries, safety, and transparency, Pastor Linda needs visible space at the front of the church for meeting with people one-on-one. We will be keeping some of the books, but we will donate many of them to worthy organizations to make room for a welcoming space. The new space will be more than a library; it will also be a warm, friendly space which can be used for counseling, as a cry room during worship, or simply for casual conversation. We need volunteers to help sort through the library materials. If you are available, please meet at St. Mark on Tuesday afternoons, April 3, 10, and/or 17. We ll plan to work from 3:00-5:00!
1 9:30am SMLC Breakfast 8 April 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 3 4 5 6 7 Day off 12-3 St Tim Office Hours 9-12 St John Office Hours 9-12 SMLC Office Hours @ one11 coffee- 9 Day off Admin Council Mtg 5:00 pm @ St Mark 10 11 12-3 St Tim Office Hours @ one11 coffee- 12 9-12 St John Office Hours 12:15 12:45 St Mark Pause for Prayer 13 9-12 SMLC Office Hours 14 6:30pm SMLC Church Council 15 16 Day off 17 18 12-3 St Tim Office Hours @ one11 coffee- 19 9-12 St John Office Hours 20 9-12 SMLC Office Hours 21 22 23 Day Out of town first call theological education 24 Day Out of town first call theological education 25 Day off Parishscope Newsletter DEADLINE; articles to Marshel Email: poffmw@mchsi.com 26 9-12 St John Office Hours 27 9-12 SMLC Office Hours 28 2-4 pm Conf Assembly @ Faith 29 9:45 am SM 1 st Qtr Mtg 30 Day off Page 8 of 8