The Concordian A Newsletter of Concordia Lutheran Church - ELCA • Superior, WI March, 2015 “Called to Nurture and Live our Faith, Encourage our Service, and Actively Share the Gospel” The season of Lent has always called Christians to soberly reflect on their lives. It is also a season of renewal. Lent is an old English word that refers to the “lengthening” of days that occurs each spring. While spring is indeed a season of new life, early spring disguises new life. For those of us living in northern climes we have a hard time seeing renewal this time of year. Lent always arrives in early spring. The Israelites coordinated their celebration of Passover with the planting of barley in Israel. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem and to his ultimate sacrifice when the Passover was being celebrated. Jesus appeared to his followers for forty days following his resurrection where upon Jesus ascended into heaven. “Forty” is a significant number. Noah experienced rain for forty days and nights. Moses wandered with the Israelites for forty years. Lent is a forty-day season, not counting Sundays, that precedes Easter; because Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, Lent comes in early spring. Lent is the appropriate time for our congregation to receive the Bridgebuilder report. The report is a sobering reminder that we have not been the people God wants us to be. We may be tempted to disregard the portions of the report that do not fit our vision of the past. I pray we instead use the report to repent of our failings. Repentance will prepare the soil of our congregation to plant seeds for visioning a hopeful future. Isaiah writes to his fellow Israelites and to us: “If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” –Isaiah 58:9-10 We may not be able to see the renewal that is happening beneath the snow of early spring; but renewal is in the soil. Renewal is in the soil of our congregation. This Lent I invite you to be part of that renewal. Repent with me that new growth flourishes among us. Ever in God’s grace, Pastor Greg 1 Parish Nursing Notes... March is National Nutrition Month, so I thought this would be a good time to review some of the latest research reports regarding healthy nutrition. As you may have noticed, the reports of what is “good” for you or what is “bad” for you seem to yoyo quite a bit. What is “bad” for you one year is “good” for you, or at least OK, 4 or 5 years later. This year, most reports seem to focus on overall diet habits rather than pointing out specific foods or food groups. The diets receiving the most praise seem to be the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, the Vegetarian Diet Pyramid, My Plate, and Weight Watchers. None of these diets eliminate any one group of foods. Eve the vegetarian diet, which eliminates meats, still includes proteins derived from animal sources and from plant sources. But they all focus on the recommended amounts from each food group. Does this sound familiar to you? Maybe that’s because we read similar directions in the Bible. In Genesis 1:29 God says, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seeds which is on the face of the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” Later on, in Genesis 9:3, he added, “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” But because a particular food is not “bad” for you, or is “good” for you, does not mean you should eat it in unlimited amounts. You can have too much of a good thing! A couple examples come to mind here. Chocolate for one! Research has shown that dark chocolate, and specifically the flavonoids in the cacao in dark chocolate, can help decrease the risk of heart disease and some other diseases. But going overboard on chocolate candy of any kind can lead to heart disease and the other diseases. Another example is red wine. Limited amounts can be good for heart health, but too much leads to multiple health problems. All of the diets mentioned above recommend limited amounts of sweets and fats, and larger amounts of vegetables and grains. What we have to do is use the brain God gave each of us, and determine the amount that is needed by our body to keep it functioning at its best. Of course, we also have to be physically active each day to maintain that peak functioning. I know I have previously mentioned the book, What Would Jesus Eat?. You can find it in our church library. Jesus ate fish, whole grains, olive oil, red wine, fresh fruits and vegetables. Of course, back then He didn’t have to worry about a lot of chemical preservatives, pesticides, fungicides, or a lot of added sugar, fat, or salt. He also walked everywhere he went (other than a few short rides on a donkey). This same book says that in His short life, He walked the equivalent of the distance around the world at the equator – 24,901.55 miles – and that’s based only on the travels recorded in the Bible! (If you come walk with us on Tuesday at 11:30 AM, you can increase your mileage!) Jesus knew about healthy living in all areas! So think about it. What would Jesus eat? What would Jesus do? Remember your spiritual nutrition as well! Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who live in His name.” Stay healthy and happy ......................................................... Jean -2- Join the Flock at Sunday School - Sunday mornings - 9:15 Fellowship Hall! NOTE: NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on March 15. Confirmation for 6th, 7th & 8th grade students is on Wednesdays, 4:00. Meet you in the library. NOTE: NO CONFIRMATION on March 11. “Symbols of the Cross” A presentation for Easter, performed by the Sunday School department on March 29 (Palm Sunday), during the 10:30 worship service. Rehearsal schedule: March 8, 22, & 29 at 9:15. Meet in Fellowship Hall for rehearsal. Everyone welcome! For Faith Enrichment at Home: Mid-week Services during Lent: Wednesdays through March 25 Noon followed by a soup lunch 5:30 pm Holden Evening Prayer Service Holy Week Maundy Thursday (April 2) Noon & 5:30 Good Friday (April 3) Noon Easter Sunday (April 5) 8 am 10:30 am Please pick up a FREE copy of “Christ in Our Home.” They may be found in the main office, in the literature rack outside pastor’s office, and in the rack located in the main entry to the church. Put it where family members will notice it and pick it up for some quiet time with God. Also available in LARGE PRINT. These devotional books are made possible through your offerings to your church!. LENTEN NOON SOUP SERVERS March 4 March 11 March 18 March 25 Mary Circle LeRoy Eliason, et. al. Library Bd. & Social Concerns OPEN – Need Volunteers Offerings received during the soup lunches are given to the Social Concerns coffee/soup fund for congregational, community, state, national and world ministries. Please be generous. Update your Bible to the New Revised Standard Version. Check out www.augsburgfortress.org for some possibilities, or other sites online. Many come with commentary to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the written Word. -3- The remodeling project has begun! Walls have come down, opening up the space downstairs. On February 21, a work day was held to remove old paneling and wash &prep walls for primer and paint. Ceiling tile gridwork will soon be re-installed, and new tile placed. Cabinetry and counter tops are being worked on and carpet tiles ordered. Egress stairs are being constructed. We’ll soon have a refreshed space for Sunday School classes, youth activities, and community activities! Boy Scout Spaghetti Supper - at Concordia Saturday, March 21. Watch the bulletin for more information! St. Mary’s Auxiliary Luncheon & Fashion Show, Saturday, April 11 - Fellowship Hall. Duluth-Superior Harbormaster Concert & Reception, Saturday, April 25, Concordia Lutheran Church. -4- Greetings fellow Movie Night! Concordians and Friday, March 20 6 - 8:15 pm readers! As we continue our journey through Lent, the library has available some books that will help you gain knowledge and understanding of what this season of the church year is all about, as well as building and strengthening your faith and relationship with our Lord & Savior. Stop in the library and browse through out Lenten collection on display by the desk. featuring “Evan Almighty” Pizza & Popcorn Provided! Drawing for Movie! Believe it or not, spring will soon be upon us. Warmer Bring your family ~ days are coming, and you know what that means: Spring House Cleaning! When working on this little project, you bring your friends! just might run across some past due church library books – please return them so we can update the library’s inventory and have the books available again for circulation. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated. Last fall the Library Board purchased a series of five books in the “A Newly Weds Series.” The books were purchased with money given in memory of Maxine Florey. Margo Hansen is the author, living with her husband in the Minnesota north woods, which provides the setting for this series. The books are an enjoyable read – hard to put down! Florence Palm has read them and sent in the following review: “Enjoyed reading the five-book series of Bride Train from our church library. I laughed at things, cried in the sad parts, and enjoyed the mysteries. I liked the religious devotion in all of the books and the religious discussions. Need more writers to write this kind of book.” Come and see what else is new in the library! May you have a meaningful Lenten journey! Keep On Reading! The Easter Lilies used to decorate the chancel are purchased by the Altar Guild. If you wish to honor or memorialize a loved one, you may make a donation to the Altar Guild Lily Fund. A list of those honored or memorialized will appear in the bulletin on Easter Sunday (April 5). Given by In Memory/Honor of Please make your check out to: Concordia Altar Guild -5- CLCW Spring Events Sign-up Form Name CLCW News Phone Number Ladies, we have a busy spring ahead of us. Activities have been planned, and your help will be needed! Here’s a rough sketch: I will help with: March 15: Spring General Membership Meeting; a business meeting will follow lunch. Hosting Coffee Hour on March 22 (serving & clean up) March 22: Host a “Donut Sundae” coffee hour; proceeds from freewill offering will go to our “Build a Well” project. the Pie Auction on April 19 by: Baking 1 pie for auction April 19: Pie Auction to benefit the “Build a Well” project. Put some $$ aside to bid on a delicious pie! This will be held during coffee hour. Flavor Baking 2 pies (1 for auction, 1 for coffee hour) Flavor May 16: “Friendship Luncheon” - watch for details. Friendship Luncheon on Sat., May 16 (set up, serving, clean up) Sloppy Joe lunch on May 17 (serving & clean up) May 17: Host a sloppy joe lunch following church (it will also be Boe-Engebretson Award Sunday and High School Quilt Sunday). May 30: Rummage Sale! Proceeds will go towards our “Build a Well” project. Rummage Sale on May 30 Planning & Set-up Clean Up Get this form to the main office by snail mail, or pop it into the offering plate on Sunday. Thanks for your prayerful response! Fall will bring another round of activities (including our annual bake sale and the Advent Celebration) ...we’ll keep you posted! Ideas for other events and ministries are always welcome! Mark your calendars. Don’t forget - we need YOU to help US with these events - all in service to God. -6- “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Riverside Cemetery Gravesites and Columbarium Niches available. Contact the church office for more information. Concordia’s Heritage Committee oversees the caretaking of historical documents and artifacts for the church. If you are interested in volunteering for this committee, please contact Patsy Luder (715.394.3725) or Diane Rookey (218.341.2704) for more information. They meet most Mondays at 9 am at the church. I’m interested in volunteering in another area: WHO DO I CALL? I would like to volunteer with: Sunday School: Carrie Thompson at 715.392.9176 “Peace by the River” Stewardship: Pr. Greg at 715.394.3762 East on Hwy 105, South on Cemetery Road Communion Assistants: Joyce Olson at 715.398.0343 Scripture Readers: Pete Quist at 715.394.7433 Please accept my gift of $ in memory/honor of: Ushering: call the main office at 715.394.3762 Driving the bus: Ken Harmer at 715.392.6479 Altar Guild: Arlene Jacobson at 715.392.4152 From: Check the church calendar, this newsletter, and Sunday bulletins for other opportunities and committee meeting times. You are welcomed and encouraged to join us! Call the church office for more information. Make checks payable to “Riverside Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund,” detach form, and mail both to: Riverside Cemetery Association 1708 John Avenue Superior, WI 54880 Men’s and Ladies’ Nights Scheduled for March EVERYONE is welcome! Come and join fellow members of the congregation for dinner at a venue in the community and get to know each other better! Your donations support the upkeep and LADIES: Thursday, March 5, 5:00 p.m. at V.I.P. (Downtown) MEN: Thursday, March 5, 5:30 pm at Hacienda (S. Superior) Hope to see you there! maintenance of our beautiful cemetery and are tax deductible! -7- Altar Flowers for March Mar. 1 Serving in March Second Service - given in memory of John Anunti, by Frances Anunti & family. Mar. 8 Second service - given in memory of The Schramm & Lee families, by Hazel Lee. Mar. 15 Second service - given in memory of Gene Kelleher & Loved Ones, by Mrs. Gene Kelleher. Mar. 22 Second service - given in memory of Roy & Jeane Grimstad, by the Grimstad family. Mar. 29 Second service - given in memory of Louis & Harriet Hanson, by Linda & Dennis Aho and Arlene & Richard Jacobson. Ushers Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 Bus Drivers Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 Kris Hanson Curt Kelleher Ken Harmer Brett Quist John Gronski Scripture Readers Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 The following memorials have been received in the church office: Roy Wahto Roof, by Sid & Florence Palm Emily Casey Gunnar Gronski Kevin Norbie Ben Norbie Nancy O’Neill Greeters Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 Your Church Council members, working together with you in Anne Gronski Mark Thompson Jean Riedasch Diane Rookey Michael & Joyce Olson Altar Servers Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 ministry: Keli Casey, President* Matthew Eastman Gary Jokela Carol Lindegren, Sec.* Jan Lippitt Tom O’Neill, Vice-pres.* Nick Pristash Diane Rookey Eric Sewall Team III Team IV, Jane Meehan, Capt. Team I, Doug Score, Capt. Team II, Eric Sewall, Capt. Team III 715.398.6828 218.409.9174 715.392.8447 218.590.8238 715.394.9158 218.391.6139 715.398.0488 218.341.2704 715.392.1559 Eunice Grimsrud Carol Lindstrom Lois & Bill O’Neill Millie Score Marie & Roy Peterson Financial Assistants Marie Strom; Jean Stensland Communion Assistants Mar. 1 Mar. 8 Mar. 15 Mar. 22 Mar. 29 *Subject to change at the council meeting in February. Jane Pietrowski; Nancy Burley Heidi & Daryl Kadrmas Mike & Joyce Olson Rich Wnek; Patsy Luder Linda Eliason; Karen Severson Coffee Hour Hosts Mar. 1 OPEN Mar. 8 OPEN Mar. 15 CLCW General Mbrshp. mtg. (No coffee hour) Mar. 22 Concordia Lutheran Church Women Mar. 29 Sunday School; Youth & Family Committee Contact your elected church council member for information and concerns. Minutes from the church council meetings are available in the church library. -8- 80 more hymnals can get us to our goal of at least 200. Will you help? “Forming Faith, Pointing to Christ” 11525 Luther Point Rd. Grantsburg, WI 54840 715.689.2347 www.lutherpoint.org Greetings from Luther Point! Elementary (3rd - 5th grade) Weekend Camp is coming up – March 13 & 14. Details and registration information are available online. Weekend Camps are 24 hours jam-packed with faith, fun, and friends. Our Summer Camp Staff will be on hand to care for and lead the campers in all the great activities. Summer Camp Registration will soon be underway! Traditional in-camp, horse camp, adventure trips, family camp, grandparent/grandchild camp, and much more. Visit our website to view our 2015 schedule and pricing. Updates and information added daily. Applications are available for our 2015 Summer Staff. A summer spent serving at camp is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to grow in faith and to help hundred of youth do the same! Complete info may be found on the Employment page at www.lutherpoint.org. Grace and Peace, Rev. Mark T. Peters, Executive Director As we begin a new era in our worship, one that includes the new Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW) resources, we’re constantly reminded of the blessings of our life together: the blessings of community, the blessings of renewed worship in our future, and the blessings given by God to the church. It is no small undertaking to invest in our future. It is a leap of faith in the amazing promises of God, and it is a bold affirmation of our identity as people of God. Take this leap with us. If you would like to purchase one or more hymnals for Concordia, simply fill out the attached form and return it with payment to the church office. Because of your generous help, we will be able to move ahead with confidence to enjoy with the whole church the fruits of these new resources. Your name Address City State Zip Phone number I would like to purchase a new Evangelical Lutheran Worship hymnal for Concordia Lutheran Church and dedicate it in the following way: In Memory of or In Honor of or To the Glory of God (check this box if this is your desire) Please include $24.00 for each hymnal purchased (includes the cost of shipping). Number of hymnals purchased each hymnal = $ X $24.00 for Please make your check payable to Concordia Lutheran Church and indicate “ELW” on the memo line. -9- G Concordia Lutheran Church 1708 John Ave. Superior, WI 54880 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Superior, WI Permit No. 254 Place label here The Concordian is published monthly by: Concordia Lutheran Church 1708 John Avenue Superior, WI 54880 (715) 394-3762 - Office (715) 394-6233 - FAX e-mail: Pr. Greg Gullicksrud Church Office: ggullicksrud@gmail.com concordiasuperior@gmail.com church website: www.concordiasuperior.org synod website: www.nwswi.org ELCA website: www.elca.org Luther Point Bible Camp website www.lutherpoint.org resource center website: www.synodresourcecenter.org Rev. Greg Gullicksrud, Interim Pastor Helen Hankey, Organist/pianist Alexa Schlimmer, Director of Music Beth Gucinski, Choir Accompanist Carol Gucinski, Parish Administrator Jean Riedasch, Parish Nurse Matthew Eastman, Custodian Aaron Kivisto, Custodian Editor: Carol Gucinski; Contributors: Many Printing/paper donation: Downs-LeSage Funeral Home Assembly/mailing: Our faithful volunteers The Concordian March - 2015 A newsletter of Concordia Lutheran Church Superior, Wisconsin 715.394.3762 www.concordiasuperior.org Rev. Greg Gullicksrud, Pastor Worship Services Sundays at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday School (Sept. - May) - 9:15 a.m. Communion served every Sunday. Coffee Hour in the church library after Sunday worship services. Mission Statement As members of the body of Christ at Concordia, we are called to be God’s forgiven, gifted, diversified and unified people. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we nurture and live our faith in Jesus Christ, encourage our service in His church, and actively share the Gospel in our community and the world.
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