Page Messiah Messenger 2014 Volume 52, Issue 4 Index of monthly events Call Process Status Call Process report 2 EVANGELISM AND OUTREACH Community Easter Egg Hunt We will be holding a Community Easter Egg hunt on April 19 th. This will be a wonderful opportunity for the congregation to participate in a major outreach and Evangelism project. If you are interesting in helping with stuffing the eggs, please see Rosemary Butler. During the Easter egg hunt, we will have an allcongregation meet and greet, offering coffee and sweets, and other activities. We will need all hands on deck! This will be an opportunity for us to invite our surrounding community to Messiah. If you have any ideas to make this an amazing effort, see Rosemary Bulter. Easter Sunday, April 20 7:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 8:30-9:30 a.m. Easter Pancake Breakfast 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 12:00 p.m. Messiah s Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt We assigned responsibilities to individuals to flesh out these areas to be reported at our next congregational gathering scheduled for Saturday, April 5 from 10:00 to 12:00. We encourage you to attend to hear more details and provide your inputs. In His Service, Ron Kulju Transition Team Chair Additional information from Ron on page 2. Pilgrimage to Chimyo Meet at Messiah Lutheran Church Parking lot at 7:00 a.m Good Friday, April 18th We plan to walk two miles to El Santurario de Chimayo. BRING A LUNCH AND YOUR SUNSCREEN. Lutheran Advocacy 2 Helping Hands 3 General Information 4 Seed and Plant Exchange 5 VBS, Confirmation, JC/DC 6 UPCOMING MAY EVENT! 6 MLCW Report 7 Fellowship and Flowers 8 Worship Assistants 9 Calendar 10 Prayers and Anniversaries 11 Church Council/Attendance 12 HOLY WEEK CALENDAR 13 Worship Schedule 14 Pastor Tom s Letter 15
Page 2 Transition Team Report March 11, 2014 Call Process Status Update The Transition Team has the responsibility to complete the Site Ministry Profile (formerly known as the Congregation Mission Profile). The profile will be used by the Call Committee to find a new pastor that will be as suitable to our goals in ministry as possible. Portions of this profile are factual and can be readily compiled. A bigger challenge for the Transition Team is to discern a common voice of our congregation's vast variety of goals and needs. Rich Nelson, a professional strategic planner, has been hired to help us navigate through the rapids of seemingly divergent desires to find the calmer waters of unity. Rich has been doing an excellent job. Thus far, we have met twice as a group and twice with the congregation. At our December gathering with the congregation, we established two focus groups, Communications Awareness and Social and Education Opportunities. These focus groups met separately to explore existing practices and opportunities and to suggest potential improvements and additions. On February 18, the focus groups reported back to the Transition Teams with a long list of ideas and suggestions far too many to deal with at one time. To get started, we selected what we believe are important and achievable in the nearer term. We assigned responsibilities to individuals to flesh out these areas to be reported at our next congregational gathering scheduled for Saturday, April 5 from 10:00 to 12:00. In His Service, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of New Mexico has been active for over 30 years. The web site for this ministry (lutheranadvocacynm.org) defines their mission as advocating for justice in public policy to alleviate poverty and hunger. To this end, the following is a short review of the legislative session just completed. The summaries are taken directly from the March 11, 2014 Advocacy Update. Affordable Housing & Homelessness $1 million was requested for weatherization of lowincome homes but no increase in funding for weatherization was included in the state budget bill. Family-Sustaining Income The final state budget includes $100,000 for Individual Development Accounts. $500,000 of state funding to match federal funding was requested. Health Care The bills which would have established an additional category of dental care professional-dental therapists to help increase the availability of dental care in rural areas stalled in the House and the Senate. Hunger - Breakfast After the Bell program for school breakfasts for all students passed the House and the Senate and was signed by the governor, but there is no increase in funding for this program in the state budget bill. Tax Policy The proposed Senate bill which would have increased the state Working Families Tax Credit from 10% to 17% of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and repeal the NM capital gains deduction died in the Senate Corporations Committee. If you have any questions on these issues, please contact Jean Paananen at Messiah or Ruth Hoffman at Lutheran Advocacy. Ron Kulju Transition Team Chair
Page 3 Hello, wonderful Messiah friends, During the last Congregational Care Committee meeting I agreed to write a brief description of the Helping Hands Ministry. Since the HHM just began two year ago, many members, both new and old, may not be aware of the HHM and its ministry to Messiah's members. Messiah's Helping Hands Ministry are Messiah members who provide emergency help to other members of Messiah in need of help. Helping Hands can provide transportation to appointments, to church, or other places, help with light housekeeping, meals, reading, writing, or fellowship. HHM has volunteers who have skills and time that they are willing to share with others in need. If you would like to join our Helping Hands Ministry, please call Patricia Raquet (975-2019) or Jean Paananen (353-0746.) *If you have any special knowledge or talent that you would like to share with other members of the Congregation, we need you. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex for you to let us know what it is you can do for others. Our current need are people who can help others switch their heat over to the coolers. Sign-up or call Patricia IF you find yourself in a situation where you need some help that we can provide or if you have any questions about HHM, please call Patricia (975-2019,) Jean (353-0746,) Shirley or Pastor Tom at the church office (299-3311.) Helping others is a privilege and a way that we can serve God. We're here to help. Pat Raquet We have served 125 homeless visitors in the last several months.
Page 4 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7 they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" Matthew 21:6-9 In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climates led to their substitution with branches of native trees, including box, yew, willow, and olive. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as in Yew Sunday, or by the general term Branch Sunday. By Darron Knight As noted in the Gospel reference, worshipers also laid down their cloaks for the procession. Nathan Chael received his promotion to Eagle Scout on February 3, 2014 Nathan was responsible for drafting, designing and constructing our Prayer Labyrinth for his Eagle Scout Project. Pastor Tom and child as the children gathered holding a candle to be blessed.
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MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH ACTIVITIES INFORMATION Page 6 Mark your Calendar For Vacation Bible School! VBS will be held on June 16-20, 2014. As usual, we need lots of people to make it successful. If you have some time available that week 1 hour or all week, we want you. We need small group leaders, activity station leaders, etc. Experience is optional! The theme is Gangway to Galilee. Contact Rosemary, or sign-up on the bulletin board as you come in the front door. It s a lot of fun! Jesus Christ Disciple Crew JC/DC Schedule for April: Sunday, April 6th and April 13th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. the group will meet at Luther House for bible study. Confirmation Class on Sunday, April 13th from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. We will participate in the blessing of the seeds and plant a shrub in the front of the church. Passion of Our Lord Sunday morning education forum with Pastor Tom, 9:30 a.m. We are studying the Synoptic Gospels Easter Sunday, April 20th will be a Fundraiser Easter Breakfast at All Saints Lutheran Church from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. Sunday, April 27th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. we will meet at Luther House for bible study. Every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. UPCOMING MAY EVENT! Amarillo College Choral group will perform for Messiah Lutheran Church on Friday,May 2nd at 5:00 p.m. Brandon Albillar, Charlotte Moritomo s grandson, requested this performance here. The concert will be about 45 minutes. Please look for a flyer on the bulletin boards. Come and enjoy a FREE concert performed by young singers.
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Page 8 MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH Fellowship Coffee and Snacks April 2014 Snacks for Praise Service Snacks for Traditional Service 40 Servings 45 Servings Date Praise Fellowship Set-up Praise Service Snacks Coffee and Snacks to the Fellowship Hall Traditional Service Snacks Library/ Fellowship Clean-up April 6 Irene and Gene Aldredge Andy and Edna Jones Tetreault Family April 13 Irene and Gene Aldredge Jim and Pat Raquet Eloise Kesatie Eloise Kesatie April 20 Sunrise Irene and Gene Aldrege Pancake Breakfast Ron Kulju, coordinator Pancake Breakfast Ron Kulju coordinator April 20 Irene and Gene Aldredge Susan Utegg And Brett Anna May and Gene Currier Anna May and Gene Currier April 27 Irene and Gene Aldredge Barbara and Carlo Bachechi Ellen Dobson And Ruby Driver Ellen Dobson And Ruby Driver Matthew 6:28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, April 13 April 20 April 27 April 2014 FlowersApril 6 Palms Lilies- How to sign up for Easter Lilies. Sign your name on the Easter Lily signup sheet posted next to the flower chart in the Narthex. Make your check for $15.00 payable to Messiah Lutheran Church and give to Irene Aldredge or drop it in the offering plate.
Page 9 Messiah Messenger Worship Assistants for 2014 DATE Assisting Minister Greeter Ushers Counters April 6 Ellen Dobson Eloise Kesatie Tom Reid And Gene Currier Ellen Dobson And Eloise Kesatie April 13 Reader Gene Aldredge Herb Biermann Pat Raquet Pat and Jim Raquet Gene Aldredge And Betty Hauge April 20 Sunrise Steven McHenry Betty Hauge Hauge Family April 20 Ron Kulju Jean Paananen Orman Paananen And Jean Paananen Ron Kulju And Gene Aldredge April 27 Orman Paananen Charlotte Moritomo Lorraine Davis And Charlotte Moritomo Orman Paananen And Barbara Bachechi Contemporary Worship Readers for April 2014 April 6 Jean Paananen April 13 Steve McHenry April 27 Open April 2014 Irene Aldredge
2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 6 8:30a Contemporary Worship 9:30 a. Children s Sunday School 9:30 a. Teaching Forum: Passion of Our Lord. 10:30a Traditional Worship 12:00p Handbell Rehearsal 1 7 8 9:30 a Sew & Share 5:30 p Theology on Tap POSTPONED 7:00 p Church Council 2 12:10p Lent Service 12:30p Bread & Soup 5:30p Contemporary Rehearsal 6:00p Bread & Soup 7:00p Lent Service 9 12:10p Lent Service 12:30p Bread & Soup 6:00-8:00p Craft Class 6:00p Bread & Soup 7:00p Lent Service 3 4 5 9:00 a Church Work Day 10:00-12:00p Congregational Transition 10 11 12 9:30a MLCW Bible Study 11:00a MLCW Board Page 10 13 Palm Sunday 18 Good Friday 8:30a Contemporary Worship 9:30a Teaching Forum Sharing Seeds on the Patio 9:30a Handbell Rehearsal 9:45a Choir Rehearsal 10:30a Traditional Worship 20 Easter 7:30a Sunrise Worship 9:00-10:00a Easter Breakfast 9:30a. Handbell Rehearsal 9:45a Choir Rehearsal 10:30a Traditional worship 12:00p SS Children s Easter Egg Hunt 27 8:30a Contemporary Worship 9:30a Children s Sunday School 9:30a Teaching Forum 10:30a Traditional worship & Baptsm 12:00p Handbell rehearsal 14 Albq public school Spring break 14-18 15 9:30 a Sew & Share 16 21 22 23 28 29 30 5:30p Contemporary Rehearsal 6:00-8:00 Craft Class 7:00p Choir Rehearsal 5:30p Contemporary Rehearsal 7:00 p Choir Rehearsal 17Maundy Thursday 7:00 p. Worship Service 24 10:00a Bible Study 7:00a Chimayo Walk 7:00 p Worship Service 25 9:30a Newsletter Team 19 10:00a Community Easter Egg Hunt at Messiah 26
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Page 12 COUNCIL NOTES FOR NEWSLETTER 3 people attended workday. In February, Carlo has done: Cleaned weeds and leafs on church grounds Patched wall in meeting room Ordered and picked up steel for sheds Dropped off copy machine Made lid for box in church Ordered and picked up plastic for sign and installed Worked on iron gate Gas bill was 1, 063.86 so we will program them then install covers over the thermostats. Discussed changes to the Narthex and changing the library to a nursery / coffee area by adding a dividing wall. Codes will be issued to staff, council and committee chairs to be able to use the copier. Discussed that Jean Paananen is the bookkeeper and will report to the Treasurer. A reimbursement form will now be used to get reimbursed for church expenses. Must be signed by a Committee chair/head of ministry. They will be put in some mailboxes or see Rosemary to get a form. A postage paid envelope will be sent to persons that are no longer actively participating in the church to return their key. New website is close to launching!! We will let you know when it s ready to try. VBS will be week of June 16 th. Theme is Gateway to Galilee. Volunteers still needed. Sign-up sheets will be ready by first of April. Registration will be ready for distribution at Community Easter Egg hunt. Congregational Meeting with Rich Nelson will be on April 5 th. Average Attendance January,2014 Contemporary Worship Average (3)- 35 Winsor Memorial Service 101 Traditional Worship Average(3) 34 Annual Meeting Service 53 Santisteven Funeral 169 February, Contemporary Worship Average 38 Traditional Worship Average 24
Page 13 Lenten Worship Schedule Lenten Worship services on Wednesday,. April 2nd and April 9th at 12:10.m. with communion and 7:00 p.m. without communion Meal at 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m Palm Sunday, April 13 Maundy Thursday, April 17 Good Friday Morning, April 18 Good Friday Evening, April 18 Saturday, April 19 Sunday, Easter Sunrise, April 20 Easter Pancake Breakfast Sunday, Easter Service, April 20 Procession of the palms at both worship services: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Blessings of the Seeds and plant exchange at 9:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Worship Service with Communion 7:00 a.m. Walk to Chimayo Meet at Messiah Parking Lot and bring a lunch and sunscreen. 7:00 p.m. Worship Service. 10:00 a.m. Community Easter Egg Hunt 7:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall 10:30 a.m. Worship Service with Communion Messiah s Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt 12:00 p.m. in front of the church
Page 14 Church Website! is www.messiahabq.org. You may also reach us on Facebook. The website has up to date information about our church, our synod, and current activities. April s Sunday Bible Readings Sunday, April 6 Sunday, April 20 Ezekiel 37:1-14 Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 130 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 Romans 8:6-11 Colossians 3:1-4 John 11:1-45 John 20:1-18 Sunday, April 13 Sunday, April 27 Isaiah 50:4-9 Acts 2:14a, 22-32 Psalm 31:9-16 Psalm 16 Philippians 2:5-11 1 Peter 1:3-9 Matthew 26:14 27:66 John 20:19-31 Daily Bible Readings for April 2014 are available in the Christ In Our Home devotional. Messiah Messenger M e s s i a h M e s s e n g e r is a monthly publication of Messiah Lutheran Church. The church is located at 11515 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque NM 87112. Pastor: Rev. Tom Anderson Email: mlcpastor@messiahabq.org Director of Music: Tony Carson Tony s email: tony@messiahabq.org Office Secretary - Shirley Lehde Hours: -Tues.-Fri..9:00 am-2:00 pm Shirley s email: Shirley@messiahabq.org Office Phone/Fax: 505-299-3311 Email: shirley@messiahabq.org Church Website: messiahabq.org Worship Times Contemporary Worship with communion at 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with communion at 10:30 a.m. Education for All Ages Children s Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. In the Fellowship Hall: Education Forum 9:30 a.m. Sunday Pastor Tom is teaching The Passion of Christ on April 6th. Bible Studies The Thursday Bible Study will resume on April 24th at 10:00 a.m. Messiah Lutheran Church Women Bible Study and gathering on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. Theology on Tap meets the first Tuesday in each month from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. April 1st supper and bible study has been postponed until Tuesday, May 6th. Jesus Christ Disciple Crew is a group of Lutheran youth who gather at Luther House and various churches. The group participates in Bible study, fund raising and other fun activities. They meet the first and third Sunday of each month, and on special occasions, on other dates. Please call the office, 299-3311, for current activities.
Page 15 Interim Thoughts Strong Response To Chimayo Walk Messiah members of all ages are planning to make the historic Good Friday walk to the Sanctuario in Chimayo. The caravan gathers at church at 7 am. I will meet them on the way as the group nears Santa Fe. We will park about 2 miles from Chimayo and walk to the Sanctuario and later return to our cars. While there we will have lunch (pack a sandwich or salad). We plan to arrive in Albuquerque about 3:30 p.m. Don't forget sunscreen. Watch the weather news. This is the largest such walk in America on Good Friday. Thousands of pilgrims will be walking the roads that lead into that idyllic setting. We will be walking by and with whole families that have done this for years. We will be walking by and with folks in wheelchairs, small children pushed in strollers by moms and dads, and many, who are carrying life-sized crosses. Our sister congregations of Bethlehem in Los Alamos and Community of Joy in Rio Rancho are making the same trek. We hope to meet up with them. The Great Three Days--Come to Worship Each One! Holy Week culminates in the Great Three Days of faith. In Latin the word is Triduum, or three days. For centuries the Triduum has begun on Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. The centerpiece of that service is the Last Supper. Some churches also have a foot washing event as part of that service. While Messiah will not have that as part of our liturgy, we will emphasize service to others. For those new to the faith, this service concludes with the dramatic stripping of the altar when all the hangings, cloths, and Holy Communion ware are set aside to the Sacristy. The church is in near darkness as we leave. The second day of the Triduum is Good Friday. We return that evening to the sanctuary without the familiar hangings, cloths, Holy Communion ware. The church is now the setting for prayers, the reading of the Passion Story and this year we will gather around the great Cross to offer our prayers for others and for ourselves. This is a beautiful, peaceful worship time. Easter is the third day. It is magnificent no matter where one worships whether it is in a Cathedral or at a campsite. The spellbinding news is unleashed again upon a world in need; "He is Risen, Risen indeed!" At Messiah, we will have an early service at 7:30 a.m. followed by a pancake breakfast with the second service at 10:30 a.m. The church will be gorgeous, alive to the great message of hope. An Easter Hope for You My hope is that the Lenten season has been a foretaste of the greatness of God's ways. Many of you have been uplifted by the services on Wednesdays and Sundays. Our theme for Lent has been From Wilderness to Wonderment. How true that theme is for those of us journeying along in our lives. We have wilderness moments and moments of wonderment. Thank you for your insights, your gifts and your spirited ways as we walked together these days. Now, may the great hope of Easter fill your lives. God's richest blessings upon you all. Pastor Tom Anderson
Page 16 Community Easter Egg Hunt Messiah Messenger April 20th Easter Sunrise Worship Service with communion at 7:30 a.m. Easter pancake Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 19, 2014 Easter Worship Service with communion at 10:30 a.m. Messiah Messenger A monthly newsletter of April 2014 Messiah Lutheran Church 11515 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87112 Phone: 505-299-3311 April 2014 Newsletter