Chaska Moravian Church A WORD FROM REV. MIKE EDER Welcome to February, the shortest month of the year. In 2018, we are in Lectionary Cycle B, which means our gospel stories come from Mark, the shortest of all gospels. As winter continues to grind away at us, let s make it a point to not become short with one another February begins in the season of Epiphany and at Transfiguration Sunday (the 11th) it redirects us toward Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. We will gather with our sisters and brothers at Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian to begin our Lenten journeys on Ash Wednesday (the 14th) and they will again join us here on Maundy Thursday during Holy Week. YOU ARE INVITED TO EARLY BIRD SUNDAY SCHOOL! Children ages 3 & up, join us before worship 9am Feb. 4, 18 March 4, 18 April 1, 15, 29 May 13, 27 Register now & join in the fun! Registrations on hallway table. Can you help? We also need volunteers to assist with Sunday School. If you d like to help, sign up on hallway table. CMC Joint Board Board of Elders Rev. Mike Eder Chair Jill Edwardsen Vice Chair Tammy Riesgraf Recording Secretary Katie Nordby Jane Christopher Trustees Phil Schramm President Dwight Crisman Recording Secretary Kelly Jeremiason Karl Taylor Lent is a time to open the doors of our hearts a little wider and understand our Lord a little deeper, Lent is also an intensely penitential time as we begin by reminding ourselves that we are dust and go on to examine our fallen natures and strive to redirect ourselves to the call of the God we have denied and forgotten. Lent is also an opportunity to contemplate what our Lord really did for us on the Cross and what we might do to respond to his sacrifice. It seems to me that the single most important thing that Christ asked of us was to love God by loving our neighbor. It also seems to me that as an individual and as a community and as a nation, we have missed the mark by a country mile. When Jesus repeatedly issued this Great Commandment, some asked Who is my neighbor? In response to this troubling question, we have chosen to focus our traditional Wednesday evening gatherings this season of Lent on inviting, welcoming, meeting, and learning about our neighbors who practice the Islamic tradition. We will share a light meal and a brief video from the Discover Islam documentary film series and encourage discussion and dialogue to increase our understanding of this ancient tradition and our neighbors who practice it. We will invite, welcome, commune with and listen to each other and hopefully we will be able to attract some of our Muslim neighbors to come and share some of their stories, hopes, dreams and aspirations with us that we might be better equipped to practice our faith by better understanding the similarities and differences of theirs. Invite your neighbors and join us at 5:30 on Feb. 21 & 28 and March 7, 14, and 21! In His Service, Pastor Mike
If you d like a registration form, contact Jen in the church office CHASKA MORAVIAN WOMEN LOCAL MISSION PROJECT 2018 MEN S RETREAT Answering the call to help others in our community, the Moravian Women s local mission project is providing Birthday Bags to the Chaska Bountiful Basket Food Shelf, for children ages 1-10. MEDIUM BIRTHDAY GIFT BAGS BOXED CAKE MIX CANNED FROSTING BIRTHDAY CANDLES Donations will be collected February 11-25. Then join us for a Birthday Party to pack bags in the John Hus Room Sunday March 11! Place your donations in the lobby collection area. Cash donations may be submitted to the church office. *** We have already received a generous donation of toys/gifts to add to birthday bags, so there is no need to purchase any this year for this collection! *** BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES February Birthdays 5 Sheryl Tellers 11 Garrie Huisenga 14 Zach Bonnema 15 Bob Tadsen 20 Miriam Crisman Crisman 21 Russell Jung 28 Tony Lane Happy Birthday to you, to Jesus be true. May God s richest blessings abide upon you. Lillian Kemkes 2 Thank you to Dwight & Erika Crisman, for sponsoring February s newsletter in honor of our grandchildren, their parents and two foster children You may make a donation of $60.00 to dedicate a monthly newsletter in honor of or in memory of a loved one. Sign up on the hallway table or call the church office.
LENT/EASTER S AND ANNIVERSARIES Ash Wednesday is just around the corner! Once again, we will worship with our neighbors up the hill on Ash Wednesday, February 14, 7:00pm at Shepherd of the Hill. During Lent, we ll have a mid-week education series/conversation at 5:30pm, along with sharing a meal together. Sign-up sheets on the hallway table coming soon! More info to come! LOVE LIFTED ME GALA Join our volunteers & staff, February 9 at 5:30pm at Hazeltine National Golf Club, as we offer up praise and thanksgiving for the work Love INC has done across denominational lines right here in our own community this year! Hear testimony about how God has changed lives through Love INC. Spend time in fellowship with friends over great food. Bid on fabulous silent auction items and play games to earn the chance to win great prizes throughout the night. It s a night you don t want to miss! Tickets now on sale. For tickets: loveincecc.org/2017/loveliftedmegala/ CAPITAL FUND DRIVE MOUNT MORRIS Over a year ago the Board of Mt. Morris Camp and Conference Center approved a capital fund drive designed to enlarge Arrowhead in order to provide a multipurpose dining space and enlarge the kitchen. The addition that has been proposed would require $600,000 in pledges over a 5 year period. All members of the board and the District board have made pledges, as well as the Christian Education commission and our camps. In order to proceed, our congregations are being asked to support this effort through individual pledges and other fund raising methods. The addition will not move forward until sufficient pledges have been received. More information is available at Mt- Morris.org or you can contact Jane Harberg at revjane@yahoo.com Calendar MORAVIAN WOMEN S NEWS February 12 7:00pm Women s Board February 15 11:30am Birthday Outing February 26 9:30am Women s Bible Study March 12 7:00pm Women s Board March 15 11:30am Birthday Outing March 26 9:30am Women s Bible Study Chaska Moravian Women - Board Terry Rank President Pam Ostman Vice President Norma Schwalbe Secretary Gwen Lenius Treasurer Trudy Papke-Jung Mission Coordinator Floy Dollerschell Outreach Coordinator Sheryl Tellers Service Coordinator Spiritual Life WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY You re invited to Women's Bible Study Monday, February 26 at 9:30am. We meet every 4th Monday each month. Our study will be Prepare the Way of the Lord Luke 3:3-17. Hope to see you there! THE LINEN CLOSET Chaska Moravian Church s Linen Closet is a ministry that partners with Love INC to provide bedding / linens to our neighbors in need in Eastern Carver County. Please bring new or gently used (clean; no stains or tears) linens to the church office. CAN YOU HELP? We re looking for volunteers to help deliver linens to Love INC clients who lack transportation (usually averages 1 a week, at your convenience). All deliveries are within Eastern Carver County. If you can help, please contact Jen in the church office. Many Thanks! 3
MEALS ON WHEELS Volunteer to be a driver! (once every 5 weeks) Contact Norma Schwalbe. Our next scheduled dates are March 5-9. FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN Volunteer to pack meals at FMSC Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00-7:30pm. This month s scheduled volunteers are: Gwen Lenius, Norma Schwalbe, Doug Schwalbe, Linda Zimmerman, Donna Hovland, Nanette Olberg, Sharon Benson, Terry Rank, Chris Devore. Anyone is welcome! Bring a friend! Questions? Please talk to Gwen Lenius. TAX PREP Certified Tax Preparers will be at Chaska Moravian Church each Monday February 19-April 9, 9am-12:30pm. No appointments (first come, first served). Please bring: a copy of last year s return and all 2016 tax forms received in the mail (W-2s, 1099s, CRP/Property Tax Statement, SSA, etc.) EAST UNION LUTHERAN CHURCH YOUTH & EDUCATION COMMITTEE invite you to a Spaghetti Dinner & Silent Auction February 11, 4-6:30pm. Adult-$10, Children-$5, Family-$25. There will be something for everyone at this event! Baskets, gift certificates & specialty items up for bid. Valentine s Day flowers & goodies to share with your valentine. Bring your family, friends or neighbors to support a great cause! MAD HATTERS Meet us each Tuesday at 10:30am at Chaska Heights Senior Building (across from Kohls). Snacks & coffee serviced. We will do a craft the 1st Tuesday each month, then join us to knit warm winter hats for those in need the rest of the month! Yarn & hoops are furnished. No experience necessary. Questions? Call Janet Nelson at 612-263-6885. JAIL MINISTRY The Jail Ministry Team will serve at Carver County Jail Saturday at 1pm February 3, 17 If you d like to join our team to meet, pray with, minister to the incarcerated, please contact Julie Taylor. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:3 BOUNTIFUL BASKET FOOD OF THE MONTH Place donations in the cart in the John Hus Room. To volunteer or coordinate a food drive call (952) 556-0244. FEBRUARY: TUNA MARCH: BEANS (CANNED/DRY) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25:35-36 A REMINDER FOR ALL Reminder: If you are conducting business at church outside of office hours, be sure to turn off all the lights and securely lock all doors tightly. Thank you!
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 6:30pm Cel. Rec. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9am Early Bird Sunday School With Holy Communion 7:00pm Chaska Indivisible 6-9pm N Counsel 6pm Joint Board 6 pm N Counsel 6:30pm Celebrate Recovery 10am Moms Club 11 12 13 14 ASH WEDNESDAY 15 16 17 1:15pm Girl Scouts PASTOR MIKE VACATION 6:30pm NAMI 7pm Moravian Women s Board 2-9pm Homeless 6pm Feed My Starving Children 6-9pm N Counsel 6 pm N - Counsel 7pm Worship at Shepherd of the Hill 1130am Bday Outing @Cy s 6:30pm Cel. Rec. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9am Early Bird Sunday School 9:00am Tax Prep 7:00pm Chaska Indivisible 2-9pm Homeless 6-9pm N - Counsel 25 26 27 28 9:00am Tax Prep 9:30am Women s Bible Study 6:30pm NAMI 2-9pm Homeless 6-9pm N - Counsel PASTOR MIKE VACATION VALENTINES DAY 5:30pm Lent Worship & Supper 6 pm N Counsel 5:30pm Lent Worship & Supper 6 pm N - Counsel 4pm Fare for All @Crown of Glory 6:30pm Celebrate Recovery 1pm Jail Ministry 1pm Jail Ministry Launch Ministry/Homeless Youth events: please use side door for entry Weekly Meetings: please use back/kitchen door for entry No Meals on Wheels This Month
Chaska Moravian Church 115 East 4 th Street Chaska, MN 55318 RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, love. CHURCH STAFF Ministers Pastor Office Administrator Music Coordinator Pianist Guitarist Custodian Offering Treasurer Church Treasurer All Who Serve Jesus Reverend Mike Eder Jennifer Welvaert Tammy Riesgraf Rachel Boucher Alan Taylor Pam Ostman Gwen Lenius Arvin Zwart SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE 8:00am 9:30am 10:30am Holy Communion Sunday School Worship Team Rehearsal Worship Service Fellowship/Refreshments 1 st Sunday/Month 2 Sundays/Month (Sept.-May, 9:00am) www.chaskamoravian.org office@chaskamoravian.org Phone 952.448.4000