from the pastor Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ; For many of us, it was just a few weeks ago that we took down the Christmas trees and put away the lights, and now, as the calendar rolls over into February, Lent stands out before us. If it seems like Lent is earlier this year, that is because it is. Easter will fall on March 27th, one of the earliest dates for the resurrection to be celebrated. A quick history lesson about Lent. Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. The word Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something, take something more on, or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Certainly, many of us participate in these practices, but one of the ways that I d like to further these practices during Lent this year is to use our coffee hour between services as a time to initiate spiritual discussions. It could be a time to share our faith stories. It could be a time to ask questions about our faith practices. It could be a time to openly share what our faith means to us. The opportunities are wide open and have no boundaries. My intention for this time is to be a relaxed, stress free conversation about what drives us as Christians and in our spiritual relationships with God and with one another. My hope is that we ll experience a celebration of how our spiritual formation has evolved over the course of our lives. When we take into consideration our various experiences, backgrounds, family dynamics, and faith practices, what we ll find is that each and every one of us are unique in how we express our faith and practice our spirituality. In the process, we ll garner a deeper appreciation for what we do, how we do it, and why we do it. The hope is that it will only encourage us to continue to grow and evolve in our faith. Prayerfully consider being part of one, two, or even all six conversations that will take place. We will begin at approximately 9:15 beginning on February 14th, and will end about 9:45. There is no pressure to speak. There is no pressure to even stay, as you would be able to come and go as you please. As well, please prayerfully consider attending the Wednesday worship opportunities each Wednesday of Lent that Bethel Lutheran will host this year. The 5:00 Soup supper and fellowship that accompanies the evening worship time strengthens our relationships as the called saints. Not to mention, the sermon theme of The Miracles of Christ will undoubtedly be a poignant reminder of the miracles that God performs daily in our lives! Lent is a given opportunity to strengthen your understanding of your relationship to Christ. As you consider participating in any or each of these opportunities, do so knowing that we as the church celebrate your gifts and your growth in carrying out the mission of Christ in our world. It s a win-win for everyone! Thanks be to God who comes to us daily and stirs up the Spirit within that has brought us here! In Christ, Pastor Mark Laatsch
From the desk of the Director of Programs and Operations. And now we start a fresh new year. The annual meeting was another successful event. We now have a new slate of officers to lead us forward in the coming year. They have each volunteered to contribute their own expertise and time to assist in guiding our church through some trying times. As they work to help us through our budget challenges they will need all of our help and support. What with our newly elected council members in place there will be some reformation of our church committees. Will you consider serving on one of the committees? You will not be making a large time or effort commitment, yet your time contribution will advance the mission of our congregation. So please consider joining. You can talk to any of the staff or other committee members for more information. We offer huge congratulations to the newly elected volunteers and most defiantly a very deep and sincere thank you to those members completing their terms. They have all served the congregation well. As we prepare to go forward into another Easter season it would be a great time to stop and think about your church family and what you could do to add to our programs. Each of us has our own unique talents and sharing them would be a wonderful means of celebrating this wonderful time of the church year. As we travel through the darker days of Lent, into the death of Christ and then the triumphant beauty of the risen Christ we have the opportunity to look deep inside ourselves and seek a strengthening of our faith. I have included the following in a couple of my letters but feel it is so very appropriate for this time of year so I am repeating it one more time. In passing a little time, I came across a book of favorite quotes. Sometimes the shortest sentence delivers the most significant thought provoking material. I thought this was quite appropriate for the beginning of February; One kind word can warm three winter months -Japanese proverb. How many times do we walk past people and turn our head away to avoid eye contact? For if we make eye contact, it requires a verbal response. How hard is that to do? A simple, Hello can brighten the day for both the giver and the recipient. Next time your path crosses another individual, make the effort to acknowledge them with a pleasant greeting. Jerry Gentz Youth and Family Ministry From the Director: Patti Treptow As we approach the season of Lent, we can sense that it takes on a very different tone than Advent or Christmas. During the Advent season, families engage in numerous fun and exciting activities that heighten the anticipation of the much awaited day of Christmas. With the Lenten season, however, there is a much more solemn and quiet feel as we take our journey to Easter Sunday, and because of that, we sometimes do not involve our children in this most important and meaningful time in our church year. We know that Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, and giving, but how can we help our children understand and participate in this Lenten journey? Lent is a wonderful time to teach discipleship to our children and to put into practice forgiveness and grace and what it means to be a Christian. During the season of Lent, there will be Lenten activity handouts for children and families available in the narthex that can be used at home to engage children in the Lenten journey. Many of the activities are geared toward children and families, but they can be used by anyone to help enhance their Lenten journey. As you prepare your hearts for a deeper relationship with our Lord this Lenten season, help your children do the same. By doing so, you will not only deepen your faith, you will be teaching your children important aspects of our faith, and in the process you will strengthen the relationships within your family. In the following pages you will find more information on our youth and family activities...
Session three classes end on Sunday, February 7 th. We will be taking a break from classes during Lent. Session four classes will resume on Sunday, April 3 rd. A reminder to students and parents! Church/community service record sheets were due February 1 st. If you have not yet turned in your service record, please do so as soon as possible. A progress report showing your total number of classes attended, worship sheets turned in, and service activities attended will be mailed out mid-february. Confirmation Activities Confirmation Dinner Sunday, February 28th, Pastor Mark will host our monthly Confirmation dinner at the church. Dinner will be at 5:30 p.m., followed by a Bible study, and will conclude with a game or activity. Parents are asked to attend, immediately following the students activities at 6:45 p.m., a brief but very important parent meeting regarding the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Information regarding this exciting event will be presented, as well as a discussion on costs and fundraising. All confirmation students will be serving at the Lenten Soup Suppers. This year, the suppers and services will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church in Menominee. Please be at Bethel, in their kitchen, between 4:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Serving is from 5:00-6:00 p.m. with clean-up to follow. Please check the schedule below to see which supper you will be working. February 17 th February 24 th March 2 nd March 9 th March 16th William Aichner Brock Barrette Kylie Chevalier Alyssa Dura Delaney Johnson Jaida Lesperance Trent Albert Landen Clausen Abbey Leinonen Keaton Uecke Amber Poquette Genaveve Anders Kaeleb Crawford Hayden Myers Alyssa Thayer Emma Laatsch Natalie Delgoffe Emma Anderson Jadelyn Younk Tyler Demmith Brayden Plutchak Greyson Jones Heather Camps Ashlee Erickson Autumn Erickson Zach Starzynski Kaden Clausen
Sunday school classes continue with our Bible Story Sunday event on February 7 th where our children will participate in devotions and songs, learn a Bible story, make a craft, and enjoy a snack. Regular classes continue through the remainder of the month. This time of year, attendance typically goes down. We understand the many things our children are involved in and that they cannot always make it to Sunday school. That doesn't mean, however, that your child has to miss out on their lessons. Please see your child's teacher for any worksheets that they have missed so you can teach your child the lessons that were taught in class. Remember, parents are very important in teaching our faith. If there is anything you need to help with faith building at home, please let me know! I have no greater joy than to know my children are walking in the truth. 3 John 1:4 5 th Grade First Communion Training 5 th grade Holy Communion training will start on February 28 th and will run for four weeks. Our 5 th graders will then join with their family for a traditional Seder Meal on Maundy Thursday and then take their first Holy Communion during the Maundy Thursday worship service on March 24th. Letters and registration forms regarding the training will go out the first week in February. Any 6 th grader who did not complete the training last year is welcome to attend. Please inform the church office if your 6 th grader wishes to participate in the communion training. The members of the Youth Advisory Council are planning a family ice skating event for the members of Emmanuel and a Bingo party for the residents of the Luther Home. Information regarding the skating event is found below. The Bingo party for the residents of Luther Home will be held in April. More information will be made available next month. Planning is underway for the youth council to participate in a mission trip to the Leech Lake Reservation, which is part of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, the week of July 5-8. We will be serving through painting, cleaning, yard work and other work projects. We will plan and lead kids programming for children in the community, including Bible lessons, games, crafts, and reading. We will also serve by planning and facilitating sportsbased programming for the community youth. Our youth will have the opportunity to engage with friends of a unique background and learn about the Native American culture from an Ojibwa perspective. Emmanuel's Youth Advisory Council is open to all of Emmanuel s confirmed high school youth and is great way for our older youth to grow in their faith and engage in fun and meaningfu activities. Please join us for our next meeting on Sunday, February 21 st, at 11:00 a.m. Jesus loves
Family Ice Skate Event ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Wednesday Morning Men s Group Join us each Wednesday, 7:30 a.m., at the Serving Spoon for a wonderful time of fellowship with friends, sharing stories, and enjoying a cup of coffee. Bring a friend! The Youth Advisory Council invites all of Emmanuel's families and members to an open skate night at the Marinette Civic Center. WHEN: TIME: WHERE: COST: Sunday, March 6 th 6:30-8:00 p.m. Marinette Civic Center FREE The ice rink will be open only to Emmanuel during this time. Skate rentals will be available at no cost. Cocoa and coffee will be available. Anyone willing to bring a snack to share is welcomed to do so. Small children must be accompanied by an adult. Please sign up on the sheet available in the narthex or call the church office for more information. Women s Ministries Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 9, at 1:00 p.m. in the church library. Barb Anderson will be the hostess. Seeking Enlightenment Group will be meeting on Thursday, February 18, at 6:30pm. It is a time of sharing and encouraging each other on our Christian journey, contact Robin Gustafson at 906-290-1003 or Jackie Kolaszewski at 906-290-1158 for location details. ********************************************** Cup of Joe Ministry Everyone is invited to enjoy coffee and other beverages, baked goods and treats, and fellowship during our 9:00 a.m. coffee hour between worship services in the narthex. After you get your "Cup of Joe", join us in the lounge for the "Ministry" part of our coffee hour where we will enjoy conversations about our faith and other topics of interest. If you are interested in hosting and/or donating treats, you may sign up in the narthex or call the church office.
OUR EMMANUEL FAMILY BAPTIZED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD... Elizabeth Anne Baublit daughter of Frank & Kassondra, on January 10, with Kelsey Evans and Justin Stafford as sponsors MEMBERS CALLED HOME BY GOD Vernon Ackerman passed away on January 1. Vern s funeral was held at Emmanuel on January 6. Our sympathy to his children, Robert, Linda, Laurie, Julie and Lisa and their families. Allen Rip Van Winkle passed away on January23. Allen s funeral was held at Emmanuel on January 26. Our sympathy to his wife, Eleanor, and their daughters, Toni and Terri and their families. THANK YOU... A Memorial gift was given in memory of Tom Burie by Sandra Stevens ****************************** UPDATE ON FURNACE REPLACEMENT I shared with you last month that one of our furnaces broke down and needed to be replaced. Once we got the old furnace removed we discovered that the original duct work was undersized and that is the cause of our furnace failing. To fix the problem required the floor to be broken out and new larger duct work installed. This added another $4,600 to the cost, bringing the total to approx. $7,600.00. Of course this expense was not budgeted so will come out of our maintenance funds. Maybe we could all drop a few extra coins in the offering this Sunday? HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR ANNUAL MEETING Here are some of the most important actions of the 2016 Annual Congregational Meeting. v Enjoyed a meal together served by the Fellowship Committee. They not only gave of their time and talent, but that everything except, the rolls and cheese, for the luncheon was donated by the members of the Fellowship Committee, Rosemary & Dennis Draska, Jeanne & Pete Anderson, Dorothy Jozwiak, Marc Jamo, Denise Ruleau and the gracious help of Marilyn Mouritsen. v Approved amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws of our congregation, bringing it up-to-date with the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations v Approved our financial plan for mission (budget) for the coming year, 2016. v Expressed gratitude to outgoing council members, Pete Anderson and James Porras and Lauren Clausen (youth member v Installed council members and officers: Newly elected members: Adam Starzynski and Ronda Pedersen; Reelected members:: Jackie Kolaszewski (Pres.), and Cathy Hipke (Sec y.). ******************************
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS FEBRUARY 17 - MARCH 16 5:00 5:45pm on Wednesdays We need your help! Bethel Lutheran Church is hosting the annual Lenten Soup Suppers this year, we need your help to provide the simple meal of soup, bread and dessert. If you can help prepare any of these ingredients Please see the sign-up chart in the church narthex or call the church office to volunteer. If you volunteer please be prepared to donate any one (or more) of the following items: + 3 gallons of your favorite soup + 1 loaf of bread + 1 pan of bars or 2 dozen cookies. WE REALLY DO NEED YOU!! Please bring your donated food items to the church on the same day they will be served. Soup Suppers are held each Wednesday in Lent at 5:00-5:45 p.m. to provide an opportunity for fellowship before the evening services. The Health Department requires that only store-bought products be used in making soup. *********************** CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION!! Emmanuel has set up an email account for our Congregation Council President for the purpose of our members having another means of communicating with the council. While we still encourage phone calls and face-to-face conversations, it is important that we utilize all means possible to communicate with one another. If you have a care/concern which you feel our church council should be aware of, and you feel that this is your most effective form of communicating, please feel free to email Jackie Kolaszewski, Council President at: elcpresident@e-mmanuel.com The 7th Annual Lyle Chummy McDonald Memorial Hockey Tournament will be held at the Marinette Civic Center on March 11-13, 2016. Registrations are currently being accepted. Players, both men and women, high school age and above are eligible. Registration fee is $60.00 per player and due with registration form by no later than February 15 th. Tournament organizers are also seeking donations to help defray costs and for bucket raffle items. For more information on donations or to obtain a registration form, contact Nancy McDonald at 906-863-7456 or nmcdonald1@new.rr.com. Proceeds support Thunder youth hockey. The Annual Menominee Walk for Warmth Many Menominee County families and elderly are unable to pay for fuel to keep their homes warm this cold winter. There is something each of us can do to help. The Community Action Agency s annual Walk for Warmth will be held at the Menominee Senior Center Located at 905 10 th Street on Saturday, February 27. The Walk will start at 10:00am with registration from 9:00 to 10:00am. If you can t attend the Walk you can still support this local humanitarian effort by sending a check to Walk for Warmth P.O. Box 213, Menominee, MI 49858. For further information or pledge sheets call Lori at (906) 863-3042 or go to www.mdscaa.org