Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth…For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9) It’s a busy time around Swedesburg. Fieldwork and planting are ready to go full-speed ahead. This made me think of the ways that we “prepare the ground and plant” in the hearts and minds of our people, especially our youth and children. On Sunday, April 26, we blessed our seniors, to send them on their way with our thoughts and prayers. As I looked around the Communion rail at these young men and women it made me think of all of the years that you, the people of this community of faith, have had the opportunity to influence their Newsletter- May
Transcript
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth…For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
It’s a busy time around Swedesburg. Fieldwork and planting are ready to go full-speed ahead. This made me think of the ways that we “prepare the ground and plant” in the hearts and minds of our people, especially our youth and children.
On Sunday, April 26, we blessed our seniors, to send them on their way with our thoughts and prayers. As I looked around the Communion rail at these young men and women it made me think of all of the years that you, the people of this community of faith, have had the opportunity to influence their lives. Sunday School teachers, mentors, someone sharing the peace of Christ with them. You have been there for them as you’ve attended their concerts, ballgames, and Sunday School programs.
As we come to the close of another Sunday School year, I really want to thank those of
Newsletter- May 2015
you who have been willing to share your time and talents with our children and youth! Emily Kann, our superintendent, teachers, and parents. Thanks for planting the seeds of the Christian faith in their lives.
On Sunday, May 10, we will have our Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) service at Swedesburg. There have been a lot of seeds planted in the two years of very intentional instruction in the Christian faith. Dawn Bodenham and Monte Kann have been there by their side, planting and watering, and for this I am very thankful.
Another thing that I am thankful for is your giving to our 150th Anniversary renovation projects! Together we are providing the physical space where we are “planting, nurturing, growing in Christ.” I am blessed to be a part of this congregation!
Love In Christ,
Pastor Mark
Spring Worship Schedule
Sundays in May 8:30 a.m. Confirmation meets at church, May 3 & 10 8:30 a.m. Prayer Time in the library 9:00 a.m. Sunday School in basement, ends May 17 9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School in counting room 9:00 a.m. Choir rehearsal
10:00 a.m. Worship
Wednesdays in May 7:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study in blue room of basement
May 3 Now the Feast and Celebration May 10 Confirmation (Affirmation of Baptism)
150th Anniversary Activities
The Historical Committee has chosen the following projects at this time. There will be additions to bring the 125th Anniversary Book current. We will have a 2016 calendar with Swedish recipes and photos which we will sell this fall. We will be updating the cemetery directory. Finally, we will be working on a collection of short stories from SELC members and possibly former pastors. The 150th Anniversary Historical committee would like short stories from church members to be shared in a booklet for the anniversary. The stories may pertain to church events. Please leave your story in a box labeled “church stories” in the narthex of the church. Thank you for your help!
The improvement giving has been tremendous. As of this writing, we have received matching funds from members and friends of $72,697. The match started on March 20. We have received and deposited the matching gift of $60,000. 150th giving prior to the match was $49,380. Total 150th giving since our first letter was sent in December is $182,077. In addition, we have received pledges for 2016 and beyond of $40,700. This giving will allow us to complete the projects upon which we voted approval—the Church roof and related costs, Parish Hall restroom additions, Parish Hall siding and remodeling of the lower level of the church. The Church roof will be replaced about mid-summer. The Parish Hall projects will be completed shortly or early summer. We are currently finalizing a plan for the lower level of the church. We will be in discussion with our contractor, ABC Construction, about when the lower level project will start.
With the current giving, future pledges and where we started with Parish Improvement funds, we will also be able to work on other projects. Several projects have been mentioned, the principal one being the Parish
Hall kitchen. Other projects have been suggested. Examples are Church carpeting, re finishing of some or all of the pews and a plan for the ‘lean-to” back entrance. We plan to start the discussion this fall (by then, we will know where we are at funding wise) with our SELC membership about future plans leading up to a possible discussion and vote at our annual meeting in January of 2016. This is all very exciting. As meaningful and fulfilling as SELC’s past has been, our best days are yet to be.
Congregation Council and Church Finance Notes
The Council met on Thursday, April 16, 2015. The next regular Council meeting will be Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. A copy of the meeting minutes is posted in the church narthex. Council minutes are also available in the church office.
Financial Report 2015 General Fund Activity (through April 28,
2015)Gifts $68,890.63Ministry Expenses $63,908.39Mission Support $ 5,995.60Net Income ($ 1,013.36)
Women of the ELCA (WELCA)
Thank you to Swedesburg Church Family for the Health Care kits we sent to Lutheran World Relief. Twelve ladies gathered at 9:00 April 15th and one hour later, we had put together, packed in boxes 67 health kits along with 37 quilts. Thanks!
Our sewing ended with 37 quilts made for LWR and 6 extra quilts. All this is made possible with special help from Maribelle Lund, Marilyn Parcel, and Mary Benson
that make our quilt tops; Helen Mullin, who surged them; and all the faithful workers who showed up each Wednesday to put them together. All of these quilts and kits were delivered to Cedar Rapids by Wayne & Leah Woline and from there they go to Minneapolis for distribution.
Along with this, we completed 35 blankets for Henry County Head Start. All of these colorful tops were made by Shirley Swanson. Thanks again to all who helped us.
The Rachel Group will meet on May 27 at 9:15 a.m. with Karen Wenstrand as hostess. Mary Martha will meet May 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the museum with Mary Hookom as hostess and Jane Wickham as study leader.
Churchmen Prayer Breakfast
The Churchmen will have a prayer breakfast for all men on May 23 at 6:30 a.m., at the parish hall, 201 Academy Avenue, with hosts Gary Anderson and Keith Zihlman. All men are invited. Pastor Mark will lead the Bible Study.
Social Ministry
The date of Sunday, March 13, 2016 has been set for next year’s Spring Brunch. Put it on your calendars!
There is a continuing need for size 3 diapers for SELC's food pantry. You are also encouraged to bring in coupons that you are not using, and have these available in the food pantry.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Spring Food Drive! The total number of bags of food/supplies donated to the Fellowship Cup during SELC's Spring
food drive is 26 bags. Last Fall, we donated 23 bags of items for the Fellowship Cup.
Swedesburg will provide volunteers for June 1-5 for the Fellowship Cup’s Summer Sack Lunch Program. We will also take another week later in the summer, if needed. Watch for the sign-up sheets in the narthex.
The committee's next meeting will be Thursday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m.
Christian Education
We are in the last weeks of Sunday School before summer break. We’ve been talking about the Apostles, bolstered by the Holy Spirit had the courage to continue to teach others about Jesus- even if it meant being arrested, jeered or even put to death. These lessons of bravery remind students the same Holy Spirit gives them strength in their lives, especially to serve God, talk about Jesus to others and face their own worries. The remaining lessons all come from the book of Acts:
May 3 Philip Tells the Ethiopian about JesusMay 10 Peter Visits CorneliusMay 17 Year-End Party!
We will finish out the year with a party on May 17th featuring games and snacks. Our lesson from April 26th included a balloon-powered race car, which was so much fun, so we will be having balloon car races as part of our year-end party!
High School: The 4-week study based on the hit movie God's Not Dead will conclude on May 3rd. This will be a double-lesson since the class did not meet April 26th. We will start immediately after worship and end by 12:30 pm. The last two topics: “Link Arms - Our closest friends are usually our strongest
allies. What if they don't share the same core belief?” and “Lean on Me - Once someone is an unreliable friend, is there a way back to redemption?”
Plans are to offer this study again next school year. It’s fun, yet thought-provoking, and very relevant to the issues facing teens today when it comes to standing up for your beliefs in a culture where belief in Jesus is no longer the norm.
Christian Education/Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting is scheduled for May 11th, 5:30-6:30 pm, at the Ostby home. Please come if you are interested in helping with VBS or interested in Christian Education issues at SELC. We will be focusing on the education schedule for next fall, particularly confirmation and Sunday School, as well as briefly covering the preparations for VBS. This meeting will only last an hour, and our committee always has a good time! And, of course, eating is an essential part of our meeting- so bring an appetizer/snack to share. Please contact Emily Kann with questions. All are welcome!
Spark Family Magazine: Every few months we receive issues of Spark Family magazines. These are on a table in the basement- please feel free to take one for the youth in your family. They are perfect for K-4/5 students!
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School (VBS) will take place at the Parish Hall, 201 Academy Avenue in Swedesburg, on Monday, June 8 through Thursday, June 11, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. each evening. This year’s theme is Everest. Supper will be served each evening starting at 5:30 p.m.
We have a lot of fun at VBS. VBS is a fantastic Christian outreach to the youth of the community. The more help we have, the more successful we’ll be. The last inside page of this newsletter contains a copy of the Vacation Bible School volunteer form and student registration form. Please feel free to tear these out and return to the church office.
These forms can also be found on our website at swedesburglutheran.org under the “get connected” tab. If you would like any additional form(s) mailed to you contact Mary in the office. Full-size forms may also be found in the narthex of the church.
We are offering VBS at no charge to all students, which mean donations make a BIG difference! Monetary donations are welcome and may be placed in the offering plate noted with “VBS”.
Everest Vacation Bible School is fast-approaching and we're in full swing with the planning and decorating process. How can you help? We're creating a wintery Everest scene with a base camp so we're in need of the following items:
Small tents Hiking Gear(Boots, Backpacks, Ropes, Hats, etc.) Artificial Christmas Trees Old wooden crates Snow shoes Lanterns Ropes/carabiners White Christmas lights and rope lights Metal pails (2) Old-fashioned alarm clock Cow bell Rubber chicken Hula hoop 12" beach ball An Industrial Box Fan
Please write your name on your stuff and we'll make sure to take good care of it and get it back to you promptly after VBS is over. Don't worry if your stuff is worn or a bit dirty. That just makes it better!!!! And, as with past years, we'll be feeding right around 70 people each night so cash donations are always wonderful. Those can be placed in the offering plate with the notation "VBS".
Tanzania
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
We thank God that now we have started to receive rainfall and the land is so green…let the name of Jesus be Glorified.
In Ngaeni during December 2014, we planted a tree as a sign of our partnership. The tree we planted together is nourishing which indicates that also our partnership will be nourishing.
The Christian student evangelist, I think you still remember, she is nearby to finish her study in July and we have another program to send another one. On June 14 we have confirmation celebration, pray for us.
NOTE: Picture number one is the planted companion tree, picture two is the Christian student evangelist in church, picture three shows us changing goods into money outside of the church, picture number four is our parish at Ngaeni and picture number five shows the Sunday school class in my church.
Kind Regards,Rev Elisa Mrutu
Graduate Information
We congratulate this year’s high school seniors:
Laura Hult will be attending University of Iowa, with a major in biology;Aaron Kimzey will be attending Monmouth College in the fall to study History Education/History Classics and Latin;Michael LaBarbera;Raegan Olson;Alex Sandeen will be attending Iowa State University;Elizabeth Wells will be attending Northwest Missouri State in the fall;Blake Wickham will be attending ISU in the fall;Hannah Wickham will be attending ISU in the fall; andSterling Wickham will be attending ISU in the fall.
We congratulate these college graduates:Tanner McArtor, will graduate with Animal Science degree from ISU. He has accepted a job with Tri-Oak Feeds, Sperry, Iowa as a Field Manager for their Swine operation. Graduation is May 9th; Brittan Ostby, graduating University of Iowa with a degree in Political Science; Kirsten Brown, graduating with her Masters in Social Work from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work and Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis; and Rebekah Kimzey, graduating from Simpson College with a major in Athletic Training and a minor in Exercise Science.
2015 Southeastern Iowa Synod AssemblyIn The Name of Jesus
The 2015 Assembly of the Southeastern Iowa Synod will worship, sing, share stories of our faith, and act…In the Name of Jesus. Friday, May 29-Saturday, May 30, 2015, at the Lutheran Church of Hope, West Des Moines. Pastor Mark and Monte and Emily Kann will represent SELC at this assembly.
Federal Privacy Laws
Because of Federal Privacy Laws (HIPPA), if you or a member of your family are hospitalized, and would like Pastor Mark to visit, you must contact the church and let us know. While the hospital may ask what church you are affiliated with and you ask the hospital to contact your pastor, they may not. Please let us know. You can reach the church office at (319) 254-2216, or Pastor Mark at (319) 631-8564.
Women’s Study
The women began a study on April 22: Let It Go by Karen Ehman. How to Stop Running the Show and Start Waking in Faith. This study is about women who are wired to control and that can be exhausting and can cause friction in your relationships. Using humor Karen guides the reader to discover the freedom and reward of living a life "out of control", in which you allow God to be seated in the rightful place in your life. Karen uses spiritual references to implement to bring us to a place to let it go. There is a DVD and workbook to accompany this study. Please join us on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., in the blue room of the basement at church.
Blood Drive
We would like to thank you and the donors of Swedesburg Lutheran Church for the blood drive you recently held with Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center. Your group provided 21 donations for local hospitals served by MVRBC. Because each whole blood donation can be processes into multiple blood components, your blood drive provided up to 84 products for patients in need.
With the support of blood drive organizations like yours, we provide lifesaving products to hospitals throughout our region. I hope you found hosting a mobile blood drive was a rewarding experience. Please express my appreciation to your organization’s Blood Drive Coordinator and to those who gave blood at your event, and thank you for joining in our mission to help save lives!
Amanda Hess, Director of Donor Relations
Invitation
You, our church family, have played an important role in the lives of our children Aaron, Blake, Hannah, and Sterling. We cordially invite you to a brunch honoring them on their graduation from MPCHS on Saturday, May 16th from 10 am-1 pm at the Parish Hall.
Mark and Linda KimzeySteve and Shelly Wickham
Funeral Luncheon Assistance Request
Thank you to all who have helped in any way for the serving of funeral luncheons. Everyone has been so willing to help and the families are so very grateful! It means a lot to have the support of friends and
neighbors. There are times, however when Lana and Sally are gone. We are hoping that two or three people would volunteer to help fill in for us. It would consist of making a few phone calls, picking up the meat, buns and chips at Hy-Vee, making coffee, and serving. We have a record of past funerals to help determine quantities. Hopefully your services will not be necessary too often. If you would be willing, please contact Lana or Sally, or Mary in the church office at 254-2216. This is an important ministry within our church.
SO Fun Day
SO (Swedesburg/Olds) Fun Day will be held on Saturday, June 6, from 9:00 - noon. A great way to start out the day would be to have Swedish pancakes at the Parish Hall, beginning at 8:00. There will be activities for the kids on the Parish Hall lawn beginning at 9:00, led by staff from the Mt. Pleasant Rec Center. Free SO Fun Day t-shirts will be given out at this time.
At 10:00 there will be a walk/run/bike ride from the Parish Hall to the Olds United Church of Christ. Carriage rides to Olds will also be available.
At Olds there will be a bouncy house, clown, and face-painting. It will be a great way to spend a Saturday morning!
May is National Foster Care Month
Do you know someone who is open-minded, patient, caring, a team player and has a great sense of humor? He or she could be a great foster parent!
As a partner agency in Iowa KidsNet, LSI helps find, train, support and license Iowa’s foster and adoptive families. Iowa has an urgent and ongoing need for foster families, as children continue to enter the foster care system and foster families leave, often for positive reasons such as adoption or retirement after years of service. Foster parenting could be one of the most rewarding things you ever do! To learn more, visit www.IowaKidsNet.com. Thank you for your support of LSI and all we achieve together for Iowa children and families! LSI is proud to be an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.
A Dream Team for Brooke
On a spring day in Muscatine, LSI brought together a dream team. A pastor, principal, guidance counselor, teacher, grandmother and mom all gathered for one reason: to make sure a special teen girl knew just how much she mattered. The girl was Brooke, a sweet, shy 16-year-old who had been struggling at school with poor decision-making and social issues.
“Since my daughter was in kindergarten, all I had ever heard were negative comments,” said her mom Nicole. “No one else saw what I saw in Brooke until LSI came along.”
LSI’s Dream Team program brings together all the people who care about a teen. Brooke’s team listened to her share her dreams to help animals or help the elderly, and then they responded with love, encouragement and ideas. “They talked about her big heart and how they could help her reach her goals when she graduates,”
Nicole said. “Brooke was ecstatic.” Brooke’s self-worth has skyrocketed, said Rochelle, an LSI service coordinator. “You can just see when you talk to her that she feels better about herself. Before you could tell she wasn’t happy. Now she has a glow about her.” Brooke also spent months working with LSI’s Brief Intensive Services staff to learn how to make better choices. She didn’t fail a single subject last year and even made A’s.
“LSI convinced us to have her re-tested, and she was diagnosed with Asperger’s and ADHD,” said Nicole. “Without LSI I think we would be in jeopardy of Brooke not graduating high school.” Brooke is starting to believe in herself for the first time. And that’s a dream come true.
Thank You’s Received Thank you for the support, words of comfort,
prayers, cards and memorial gifts given during my father’s last days and death. The SELC church continues to bless us with its caring and faithfulness. We are truly blessed to call you our faith family. Thank you again.
Mike and Jackie Brawnerand the Hanson family
We want to thank Pastor Mark and our church family for your prayers, concerns and cards for Glenda during her surgery and recovery. All were greatly appreciated.
Malcolm and Glenda Alvine We would like to thank everyone at Swedesburg for
your concern, cards and especially your prayers during Jerry’s extended illness. A special thank you to Pastor Mark for his many visits and to the Confirmation students for their thoughtful goodie bag. Jerry is making progress but would appreciate your continued prayers. God bless you all.
Sincerely, Jerry & Lea Bradley
Thank you for supporting the programs at the Fellowship Cup. Your generosity is improving and aiding the less fortunate of Henry County. Blessings,
Ken Brown, Executive DirectorThe Fellowship Cup
Thank you so much for your donation of $250 to Community Action of Southeast Iowa for community needs. Today is a critical time for families with which we are working. Families are having a hard time making the decision of whether to pay utilities, rent or to buy food. In Henry County we served over 918 households last year. Of these families, 48% were working and were still living in poverty.
Because of people like you who care, we are able to make life better for families who are in crisis.
Sharon L. Ford, CCAPExecutive Director
Community Action of Southeast Iowa
Thank you for your gift of $250. Mosaic is grateful to be the recipient of your congregation’s stewardship efforts. Through our nearly 100 years of service, relationships with churches have been vital to our ministry’s success. In addition to charitable gifts, we also appreciate your prayers for the success of our ministry and of the more than 3,800 individuals we serve in communities across the United States. Thank you again for your support. I pray your congregation receives blessing one-hundred fold.
Linda Timmons, President and CEOMosaic
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” – John. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Choirs of brass and sweet children’s voices, fragrant lilies and glowing candles, even colored eggs and jelly beans – all ways to express our joy, the joy of seeing the Lord alive, risen from the tomb, present and in our lives! One of the ways we as church live out that Easter joy every day all year round is working to end hunger and poverty. Through your congregation’s generous gifts, you are doing exactly that. You are on the front lines with ELCA World Hunger and its partners supporting comprehensive program of relief and sustainability in over 6o countries, including the United States. Truly we have seen the Lord. Alleluia! Thank you for your gifts. Thank you for expressing your Easter joy every day through ELCA World Hunger.
Together in service to the risen Christ,The Rev. Daniel Rift
Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Relief
Thank you for your generous gift of $250 to ELCA’s Global Church Sponsorship. Your support is greatly appreciated! Your gifts to ELCA Global Church Sponsorship help our church respond to God’s call to serve our neighbors and proclaim the gospel. In this dynamic, global church, we work alongside our companion churches to share God’s love far and wide. Because of your generosity, the ELCA: sends more than 240 Missionaries, include more than 60 Young Adults in Global Mission, to work with our companion church in more than 40 countries; provides scholarships to women International Leaders as they respond to God’s call to ministry; supports evangelism and education with our companion churches through Global Ministries projects.
In gratitude,The Rev. Larry Westphal
Director, ELCA Global Church SponsorshipEvangelical Lutheran Church in America
May Anniversaries
We wish to offer these couples a happy anniversary:
5 Monte and Emily Kann 5 Cragon & Jean Caboth 7 Dwight and Kelly Hultquist14 Don and Fran Heuton20 Bob and Betty Carlson20Michael and Karla Kerr21 Derek and Tina Mullin27 Dave and Becky Rauenbuehler30 Tom and Sharon Miller
Please help the church office update their records by submitting any birthday or anniversary corrections. Thank you.
May Birthdays
We wish the following people a very happy birthday on their special day: 2 Anthony Kemp-
Throughout the year we will be praying for all our church members. Each week we will be praying for about five church families. Please pray for:
May 3 Dennis & Susan Hult, and LauraEsther HultKristofer HultDuayne & Michelle HultquistDwight & Kelly Hultquist, and Katelyn
and McKenna White
May 10 Paul HultquistStephanie Hummell, Joe LaBarbera,
Michael, Aurora, Anthony, and VincentBob & Marie JohnsonBrett JohnsonBrian Johnson
May 17 Gary & Becky Johnson, Daniel and MarkBrandon Jones, Jaxton and OliverMonte & Emily Kann, Isabel and EllaLarry & Carol KaufmanMark & Mary Ann Kaufman, Fotini, Margaret,
and Christina
May 24 Kris & Michelle KelleyTrever KelleyTyler KelleyAaron KempfJustin Kempf
May 31 Michelle Kempf and LillyTroy & Lisa KempfMike & Karla Kerr, Maverick and Annika
Mark & Linda Kimzey, Rebekah and AaronPatricia King
CONGREGATION REFLECTIONS
SYMPATHYto the family of Bea Tolander, whose brother, Bennie Cox, passed away in April.
PRAY FOR:ELCA missionary Rev. Brian Palmer in Liberia, supported by this congregation. Pastor Brian has been temporarily re-assigned to Cameroon.for Bishop Mjema of the Pare Diocese, Bishop Rev. Elisa Mrutu and people of Ngaeni Lutheran Parish, our partner congregation in Tanzania. They are thankful for the rain that they are getting.friends and loved ones experiencing health concerns.
THANKS ARE DUE . . .to the many volunteers who assisted WELCA in providing the personal care kits and quilts. to the many volunteers working on the numerous committees for planning and providing guidance during SELC’s 150th Anniversary celebration that will occur in 2016.
to all the musicians who added wondrous melody to Worship during the month of April.
VBS is June 8-11, 2015 5:30 p.m to 8:15 p.m.
Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church1897 140th Street, P. O. Box 88, Swedesburg, Iowa 52652-0088
