United Lutheran Church, ELCA 21 Mesnard St. L Anse, MI 49946 The Connection March 2018 United Lutheran Church, ELCA 21 Mesnard St., L Anse, Michigan Ph: (906) 524-6484; Email: ulc_lanse40@yahoo.com Website: www.unitedlutheranchurchlanse.org Pastor: John Ansell; (906) 201-2864 Come and Worship! We celebrate with worship on Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m. and Mondays at 6 p.m. OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9 am 12 noon Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Greetings Everyone, Wednesday: 1 p.m. 4 p.m.
A new month dawns as we continue going forward in 2018. I hope everyone has been keeping warm and staying safe this winter season. I must admit January is my least favorite month so I happily look forward to the arrival of February. February means that we will be starting our Lenten journey. The Lenten calendar is a bit ironic this year because Lent comes early with Ash Wednesday falling February 14 th which happens to be St. Valentine s Day and then Easter falls on April 1 st, no I am not fooling you. So how did this all happen that we end up with Ash Wednesday on Valentine s Day and Easter on April fool s day? Well that s a good question and one which I hope to explain in this newsletter.. So how do we determine the date for Easter Sunday? For that we take an astrological approach. The first Sunday of Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring in the northern hemisphere. The beginning of spring for us this year falls on March 20 th and a full moon occurs on March 30 th. The season of lent is 40 days long so when Easter is set we simply count backward 40 days (minus six Sundays) which will bring us to a Wednesday and we call that first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday By using the astrological approach we are in sync with when the Jewish holiday of Passover occurs and of course Passover is part of the Passion narrative. Thus Ash Wednesday, Lent, and Easter vary from date to date each year. It just so happens that this year because we have an earlier Lent, Ash Wednesday falls on St. Valentine s Day and Easter on April Fool s Day. I look forward to seeing many of you at the numerous opportunities of worship that will occur during the Lenten season. Not only will we be having our normal Sunday and Monday services but we will also have services on Ash Wednesday and mid-week Lenten services. May God continue to bless us all in this and every month. Pastor John Ansell TELLERS for MARCH Sunday, March 4 Leann Davis & Evelyn Welch Monday, March 5 Sue Copley & Ruth Anne Connor Sunday, March 11 Marilyn Harden & Kristyn Gabe Monday, March 12 Jean Brinkman & Jeanne Gourneau Sunday, March 18 Leann Davis & Evelyn Welch Monday, March 19 Sue Copley & Ruth Anne Connor Sunday, March 25 Margo Jentoft & Kris Kokko Monday, March 26 Jean Brinkman & Jeanne Gourneau Thursday, March 29 Jean Brinkman & Kris Kokko Friday, March 30 Margo Jentoft & Ruth Anne Connor USHERS for FEBRUARY Sunday, March 4 Sunday, March 11 Sunday, March 18 Sunday, March 25 ACOLYTES for FEBRUARY March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 Please check the Volunteer Wall to sign up to Usher or Acolyte.
FELLOWSHIP HOSTS We are a family UNITED and what a great way to get to know each other better over coffee! But we need YOU to put on the coffee and be willing to clean up afterwards (and perhaps provide something to go with the coffee). Check the sign-up sheet in the barrier-free entrance. Remember, the focus is the fellowship so keep the food simple. All the monetary donations received during the Fellowship Hour go toward World Hunger. WORSHIP! WORLD DAY OF PRAYER World Day of Prayer Service will be held at United Lutheran Church Friday, March 2 nd at 1 p.m. Courtney Clishe Jones will provide special music Refreshments and fellowship following the service in the Social Hall Everyone is welcome to attend! FELLOWSHIP HOSTS March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 Please check the Volunteer Wall to sign up to Serve Coffee. HOLY WEEK WORSHIP Maundy Thursday Worship will be on Thursday, March 29 th, at 6 p.m. Good Friday Worship will be on Friday, March 30 th, at 6 p.m. Easter Worship will be on Sunday, April 1 st at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome!
Direct Deposit for Contributions Did you know that even if you do not attend worship YOU CAN still give to your church? Go to your financial institution and tell them you want to set up a deposit to United Lutheran Church General Fund Account #900104257; SNB Routing #091101879 It is as easy as that! Thank you for supporting your church! Council Highlights Pastor John will be attending a meeting on February 18 th and 19 th, for the Grant program that he is a participant. Pastor John will also be attending a one-day workshop in Escanaba in April. First Communion will be held on Monday, March 19 th at 6 p.m. as Maundy Thursday falls during spring break and some of the fifth graders will not be in town. Worship & Music has decided on May 13 th for Graduate Recognition. Will advertise on Eagle Radio with an Easter message and Easter worship times. Discussed the issue of running the church on a deficit budget. We need to activate committees and encourage people to attend worship. Healthy Congregations Workshop Presented by Rev. Ramie Bakken Monday, April 23 rd from 6:30 8:30 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming What is Healthy Congregations? For all congregation members, this event focuses on teaching healthy behaviors and communication that increases the effectiveness of ministry and improve congregational vitality. Rev. Ramie Bakken currently serves as ELCA Candidacy and Leadership Manager for Region 5 the 12 synods in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Healthy Congregations Workshop is free to attend! If you are interested in attending this workshop, please stop in at the church office and get a registration form.
FORTUNE LAKE SUMMER CAMP Fortune Lake online camp registration is now open. Check out the camp s website www.fortunelake.org for dates and to register your child. Remember the Women of the Church pay for half of early registration. EDUCATION PAGE 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th Grade Confirmation Class Confirmation class will be on Sunday, February 4 th and February 25 th following the 10 a.m. Worship service. If your child cannot attend Confirmation Class, please call Renee, or the church office. SHUT-INS Please remember our shut-ins. Keep them in your prayers. If you have a moment, stop and visit them. At Bayside: Beatrice Harju, Margaret Marquardt, and Joyce Taipalus. At home: Ellen Biekkola, Ruth Ranta Pat Carmody, Phyllis Carolson, Joanne Copley, Tom DesRochers, Bob Eliason, Marge Gasperich, Janel LaPlante, PJ LeClaire, Peter Martinac, Betty Ann Pyhtila, Bill Rousseau, Jennifer Salo, Pam Sheridan, Kathy Teddy. The family and friends of Lonnie Nagele The family and friends of Pearl Thoreson Sunday School! Our Fifth Grade Sunday School students will be receiving their First Communion on Monday, March 19 th during worship at 6 p.m. There will be cake and coffee served following worship. The Fifth grade students will meet at the Keweenaw Cairn on Thursday, March 8 th after school to paint their chalices. We will then come to the church to do a lesson on First Communion. Students will be done about 5 p.m. Sunday School is open to all children ages 3 years old through 5 th grade. 3 rd 5 th Grade students need to bring their Bibles. All children will have Bible stories and fun-filled activities every Sunday. Come and join us! FLOWER FUND
United is going to purchase Easter Lilies and we are asking you to make a monetary donation to the Flower Fund. We will purchase the plants that are needed. There will still be an insert in the bulletin stating that a donation was given In loving memory just like in prior years. To make a donation, put your money (whatever amount you would have spent on a plant) in an envelope, mark it EASTER LILY, and include the information you want in the bulletin. Then just drop it in the offering plate or bring it to the office. Articles for Newsletter WOMEN OF THE ELCA Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 6 th at 9:30 a.m. Martha Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 6 th at 1 p.m. CLUSTER 2 Spring Gathering Planning Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 24 th at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross, Baraga. LOOKING AHEAD: Please mark your calendars for the following dates and watch upcoming newsletters for more information: Looking for ideas and articles for the newsletter. What would you like to see? Do you have information to be put in the newsletter? Remember that the newsletter deadline is the 10 th of every month. Please submit any information to the church office by that date to be included in the next month s newsletter. Thursday, April 12 th Saturday, April 28 th Baraga. Mother Daughter Banquet at 6 p.m. Cluster 2 Spring Gathering at Holy Cross, Constitution and By-Laws At our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 28 th, it was decided that the Constitution needs to be reviewed and updated. We are looking for a few people willing to help review the Constitution and work on updating it. Please contact Renee Eliason if you are interested in helping with this project. Thanks!