Immanuel
Lutheran Church
MESSENGER June 2016
Volume 19, No. 6
In This Issue: From the Pastor p 1 Project Home p 2 Learning p 3 VBS Music and Worship p 5 Community News p 6 Words of Thanks p 7 Council Update, 2016 p 9
Council Members
May Calendar p 10
From the pastor 1 A Sabbath Experiment
This has been a full year at Immanuel! We have worked through congregation and community listening sessions and a capital campaign. We saw a new music summer camp and a new youth choir. Teachers and speakers have led education classes for all ages. Easter Vigil brought a record crowd to celebrate the resurrection. We ate together on Wednesday evenings and Sunday Coffee Hours. We have laughed, cried and prayed with each other during life’s joys and sorrows, beginnings and endings. Now that it is June and the program year has ended, I look around and see a congregation ready for a change of pace. Families are looking forward to the school break and everyone is looking forward to lazy days by a lake or evenings in the backyard. With that in mind, we have chosen a theme for this summer of “Sabbath.” We’re inviting you to experiment with time. Rest. Refreshment. Delight. Now to be clear, Sabbath is not vacation or a day off. It is the ancient practice of holy time. In a culture that moves at an exhaustion-inducing pace, filled with demands, to-do lists and never-ending stress, Sabbath is time set apart weekly to stop and remember who you are and whose you are. It is a time to stop producing and controlling long enough to delight in what God gives. It is time to not only remember the blessings God gives us, but also to enjoy them. Sabbath is an ancient spiritual discipline. And as a spiritual discipline, it is not something anyone can do quickly. It is a practice to grow into. Perhaps starting with a few hours once a week, and moving toward the traditional day of Sabbath. There are weeks when the planned time will fall apart, and weeks when it is so good you will look forward to the next Sabbath. We learn by doing. Like with prayer and community, Sabbath takes time to learn. So consider experimenting with Sabbath this summer. To help, we will provide a number of resources. In June, there will be a preaching series to get us started. (And if you’re away for the weekend, you can always catch up through the website.):
June 5 –Time for Delight
June 12 – Free Time
June 19 – Time to Refresh
June 26 –Holy Time
In early June we’ll have some tips on how to begin this experiment with time. The Library will have books available about Sabbath, and each week during the summer there will be thoughts about and ideas for time apart in the bulletin. In the words of Norman Wirzba, “Better than anything else, [Sabbath] helps us appreciate and understand what all our living is finally for. Put simply, Sabbath discipline introduces us to God’s own ways of joy and delight. In the invitation that follows from it, we are given the opportunity to share in the divine life of love and peace.1
1 Wirzba, Norman (2006-12-01). Living the Sabbath (The Christian Practice of Everyday Life): Discovering the Rhythms of Rest and
Delight (Kindle Locations 202-204). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
2 PROJECT HOME June 2016
An Opportunity to Serve -- Volunteer to be a Project Home Host in June. Once again Immanuel will be partnering with Messiah Episcopal Church on Ford Parkway to host Project Home families. These families are homeless and spend their nights in various houses of worship or schools. In June, Messiah houses the families and we provide the volunteer hosts for each of the four Fridays in June. Both Evening and Overnight Hosts are needed. Evening Hosts arrive around 5:30 and stay until 8:30. They make a healthy snack for the families with food provided by Project Home. Then there is time to play with the children and talk with the patents. You may want to bring art materials, a ball to toss around outside or your guitar to lead some singing. This is a great opportunity for a family to volunteer together. Three to four people can volunteer for each night. Overnight Hosts spend the night and serve from about 8:30 pm to 9 am. There is a nice chance to interact with the families before they go to bed and again in the morning. Overnight hosts put out cereal and toast for breakfast or you may want to make pancakes or eggs -- a nice treat! You will have a cot and your own private room to sleep in. It's good to have 2 overnight hosts each night. There will be a training for volunteers on May 31st at Messiah. Please consider this special opportunity to serve. Contact Peg Wangensteen for more info. [email protected] or 651-698-0687.
Summer Worship 9:00 a.m.
Beginning
Sunday, May 29th
We will return to two services on September 11.
Learning 3
4 (Learning continued)
Not too late to register for VBS: Expedition Norway!! June 20-24 9am-Noon Ages: PreK – 5th Grade
Cost: $25 per student
Register: at immanuelstpaul.org
Expedition Norway will create a fun and engaging cultural experience where children will have a great time singing fun songs, learning about children’s lives in Norway, and playing games. But most important, they’ll discover that God is good! We’re looking forward to sharing this exciting event with the children and parents in our neighborhood. So tell your neighbors and friends, we hope they will all join us at Expedition Norway. Plan now to come to VBS and experience Bible stories and learn about God’s love for everyone in the world Never too late to VOLUTEER for VBS!! Volunteers have just as much fun exploring and learning as the kids do during this fabulous week. If you have a
hard time helping for the whole week, or only have a few hours to give, that is helpful, too. We have some
specific needs, look at your calendar and see if you can help.
Small Group Leaders—Adults and teens are needed to participate in fun activities while building
relationships with 5-10 kids throughout the week. These volunteers do not need to prepare anything
before VBS, just show up and be a friend and leader for the kids!
Nursery Caregivers—2 adults or teens are needed to watch 3-4 children who are not old enough to
participate in VBS so their parents can volunteer.
Family Night Volunteers—5 people are needed to serve drinks and cookies or facilitate activities on
Thursday, June 23, 6:00-8:30pm.
Decorating Team—If you would like to help create an environment that creates our Nordic experience,
join this fun team. The only skills needed are being able to use tape, scissors and a step ladder!
Decorating will be on June 19, 12-2pm.
Contact Deb Ahlquist to volunteer
Worship and Music 5
Help us get the word out! Please take some brochures from the gathering space and give them to friends and neighbors. Make sure to register your children before the electives of their choice fill up! You can go on line, or pick up a registration form in the Gathering Space!
We need many volunteers to make this camp a success. If you are willing to help us decorate, shepherd children during lunch, help at the registration table, or during recreation time please contact Chris Cherwien at [email protected]
We are in need of the following for the “Crash, Bang, Boom” elective:
old push brooms buckets - used for spackling, pool
chemicals, etc. 12" L X 1/2-3/4 " Diameter dowel sticks to be used for drumming PVC pipes - all lengths hubcaps trash can lids Snapple bottles (the only glass item I'd like) old pots and pans, metal mixing bowls kitchen utensils used downspouting (plastic with ridges) kitty litter plastic containers large water cooler water bottles smaller containers like margarine tubs, etc. to fill with popcorn kernels, rice, beans, etc. cardboard mailing tubes bubble wrap rubber tubing
Please clean the items before donation. The items that you donate will be recycled by the end of the week and non-returnable. Thank you!
Singers and Instrumentalists
If you would like to sing or play in worship (either as a soloist or in an ensemble) during the summer months please let Chris Cherwien or Julie Lindorff know. They would be happy to help you select music, or put an ensemble together. [email protected], [email protected]
Worship Assistants
Date Asst. Min. Readers Communion Asst. Acolytes June 5 Jeff Schmidt 9-Jody Dahl 9-Jody Dahl, Ray Peterson 9-Otto Schmidt
June 12 Ray Peterson 9-Sarah Marsh 9-Sarah, Zach Marsh 9-Peter Fortier
June 19 Stephanie Alstead
9-Martha Miller 9-Russ Edhlund, Doris Karlisch 9-Natalie Norquist
June 26 Kari Moeller 9-Christine Danielson 9-Greg, Chris Knopff 9-Zack Danielson
Ushers June 5 &12 Tom Cline and Kathy Robey June 19 & 26 Curt Hogenson and Doug Wangensteen
6
Aging Splendidly June 2nd, 12 pm Lunch, 12:30 pm Presentation
Summer Begins Larry Wilson, Pianist Extraordinaire
Larry will delight us with musical entertainment for our last aging splendidly get-together before summer break.
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Library Display
Check out the narthex display area: We’ve highlighted the Knitting for Warmth group at Immanuel, and we’re looking for other display ideas to bring attention to what’s going on in our congregation. If you would like to highlight an activity or ministry at Immanuel, bring your idea to the most appropriate committee. Work with them to supply the pictures, information, brochures, props – be creative! – And the library can add a few resources to the display that are available for check-out. Coming to the display area in June: VBS Expedition Norway!
Community Summer Messenger
As we have done the past few years, this summer we will print a June issue and a July/August issue. The deadline for the July/August issue is June 10th. Please submit your information no later than the 10th.
Thanks.
YouthWorks
The YouthWorks leadership team arrives Memorial Day weekend to begin on-site preparation for the June 12th arrival of students and chaperones that will be housed here for most of the summer Third Annual Social Action Social July 2016
Both Christine Danielson and I (Lynnette Zika) received a recommendation for the same book on the same day: Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, a memoir by Debbie Irving. Social Action will be hosting a summer book discussion so you have plenty of time to read the book and join us. We’ll meet at the third annual “social action social” in someone’s back yard in July. Watch for announcements and sign-up sheet.
Luther Seminary M.A. Concentrations
At Luther Seminary, students can follow their passion through a Master of Arts degree that is tailor-made for them. They’ll choose from a broad array of concentrations suited to their gifts and purpose.
M.A. graduates are working in God’s world in a number of professions and callings. They are faith formation ministers, hospice chaplains, camp director, life coaches, mission developers and mores.
To learn more about classes at Luther Seminary, visit the website: www.luthersem.edu/MA, or you can call the seminary at 1-800-LUTHER3.
Words of Thanks 7
Immanuel Music Makers
Thank you for a wonderful season of Praising God!
Instrumentalists & Soloists
Deb Ahlquist, Olivia Arco, Mark Brudevold, Peter Calhoun, Russ Carlson, Sarah Cherwien, Lindsey Hansen, Seth Harris, Jan Johnshoy, Marlene Johnshoy, John Mattessich, Kari Moeller, Greta Mundt, Scott Norquist, Tyson Reed, Phil Rukavina, Jeff Schmidt, Otto Schmidt, Valerie Thompson
Cantorei Members
Sopranos: Stephanie Alstead, Sarah Cherwien, Elaine Jaeger, Marlene Johnshoy, Patty Krageland, Martha Miller, Kari Moeller, Michelle Stillwell, Kelley Wells, Altos: Shawna Boll, Margaret Horstmann, Jan Johnshoy, Greta Mundt, Lynnette Zika Tenors: Peter Calhoun, Dale Fierke, Ray Peterson, Jeff Schmidt, Basses: Dave Hedenstrom, Paul Horstmann, Dave Klevan, Paul Price, David Stark
Jubilate Ringers Deb Ahlquist, Barb Columbus, Christine Danielson, Jan Johnshoy, Marlene Johnshoy, Kari Moeller, Greta Mundt, Chris Otteson, Jon Severson, Claire Taylor-Sherman, Rhonda Tjaden, Kelley Wells Bells Substitutes: Peter Calhoun, Loren Danielson, Joe Dufresne, Karen Osen, Jeff Schmidt, Dana Severson, Lauren Tjaden
Middle C’s Zack Danielson, Ellen Dufresne, Ava Hansen, Lily Mitzel, Ingrid Mundt, Natalie Norquist, Rocky Robey, Anna Schmidt, Otto Schmidt,
Choristers Micah Danielson, Penelope Hansen, Evan Helgeson, Owen Helgeson, Caelyn Hippen, Lael Hippen, Keira Kelly, Audrey King, Eliza Mitzel, Sam Moeller, Sophia Moeller, Wesley Norquist, Dylan Robey, Elizabeth Shirilla
Seraphim Ringers Micah Danielson, Zack Danielson, Ellen Dufresne, Owen Helgeson, Caelyn Hippen, Eliza Mitzel, Lily Mitzel, Ingrid Mundt, Natalie Norquist, Wesley Norquist, Dylan Robey, Rocky Robey, Anna Schmidt, Otto Schmidt
Kinderchor Rachel Calhoun, Natalie Dreke Eyre, Gwen Gruman, Josie Iaria, Avery Quinn, Evan Helgeson, Lael Hippen, Audrey King, Tarq Johnson, Sven Lahti, Avery Quinn, Kathy Seka, Scott Seka, Stella Seuffert, Claire Shirilla, Elizabeth Shirilla, Ingrid Thune
Hosanna Singers Elizabeth Calhoun, Aubrey DuBay-LaRose, Elsa Gruman, Bergen Hippen, Mae Iaria, Stieg Lahti, Annabelle Preus
Provence, Nathan Preus Provence, Weston Seuffert, Leo Selseth, Stella Schmitz, Henry King
8 Words of Thanks continued
Thank you so much for co-sponsoring the event for Syrian refugees. We had a very successful event, with 161 people attending and raising $13,000. April Knutson for CISPOS Thank you to all the Altar Guild members who helped with service during May. Thanks go to Chris Otteson, June Grounds, Karen Sundberg, Lisa Struss, Phyllis Bentley, Marlene Johnshoy, Barb Columbus, Lynnette Zika, and Jan Johnshoy. What can be said to this wonderful group of folks
that take time to prepare and serve lunch at the Dorothy Day Center? THANK YOU! On April 16th the following volunteered at the Center: Jeff and Teri Bender, Jeff and Katie Brunner, Nancy Eliot, Monte Hanson, Chris Mayr, Nancy Reidell, Therese Richard, Jerry Sandahl, Dick Sarafolean, Mike and Rhonda Tjaden, Bram Valure. These volunteers, along with June Husom and A Piece of Cake Bakery provided cookies. Eggs were provide by the volunteers, as well. A Random Act of Kindness To Who it may concern, thank you for returning my bag to the church. My computer was filled with irreplaceable memories. I am so grateful to have them back. Your honesty and generosity are appreciated. Thanks, Johannes Davies (Johannes is a Macalester student who often attends the early service and accidentally left his bag behind one Sunday. The bag was given to Pastor Cindy who brought it Russ’ office. Russ called over to Macalester to ask if they could track him down and call the office here. He did and was reunited with his satchel.)
Council Update 9
Church Council Update – May 17th, 2016
This month’s council meeting began with a prayer read by Margaret Horstmann. The remainder of our meeting consisted of updates from the Council members and committees and the highlights of the items discussed are as follows:
The council discussed and agreed to make steps toward electronic file sharing and reducing the amount of paperwork printed off for each meeting. This will allow for ease of updates and more up to date communication, but most importantly reduce the cost and environmental impact of unnecessary paperwork. The intent is to eventually move toward requiring little or no paperwork for council meetings at a point in the future.
The council approved a proposal from the Capital Campaign Committee to increase the monthly mortgage payment by $500 to align with the payment amount that Immanuel was paying before refinancing and to help move toward early completion of the mortgage. The proposal included a commitment to revisit the decision of the increase in our payment every 6 months.
The council also approved a proposal for use of the Paulson request for another very worthy cause in our community. Daily Work is a local non-profit that helps people in poverty prepare for job opportunities and look for steady employment. Important to this mission is the use of computers which were in desperate need of a refresh for this organization. Immanuel has committed $1,500 to Daily Work to help secure updated computers and provide improved technology options for job seekers. This now makes 7 grants that have been approved for use in the community by Immanuel members through the Paulson bequest! There are still many opportunities to submit for similar grants and opportunities to help our neighbors.
This year the council has been taking an introspective look at Immanuel and considering the degree to which we are creating a culture of welcoming. Some work has been done this year so far to update our building and signage to be more helpful for visitors. We take for granted where things are located in the church, but have come to realize that finding your way as a visitor could be challenging. In this meeting we also discussed the actions of the leaders and congregation at Immanuel to be welcoming to visitors. There has been discussion and attempts in the past to have greeters at Immanuel for Sunday worship. One specific item that came from this discussion was to revisit this topic between the membership and worship committees.
Official minutes of each Council meeting can be found, after they are approved, on Immanuel’s web site: www.immanuelstpaul.org. If you have any questions or comments please contact Chase Hippen, Congregation President ([email protected], 651-699-0796), or any Council member. The Council meets at 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Space on the third Tuesday of every month, except July. Meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
2016 Church Council
Chase Hippen - President Ann Derr, Vice President
Tom Eyre, Member at Large Dana Simonson, Member at Large
Penny Norquist, Education & Literature
Kelley Wells, Past President Marlene Johnshoy, Secretary
Margaret Horstmann, Member at Large
Lynnette Zika, Social Action Paul Horstmann, Property
Tyson Reed, Treasurer Jackie Hippen, Assistant Treasure
Jeff Engelking, Finance Dave Alstead, Worship & Music
Gay Bartholic, Membership & Evangelism
Ross Robey, Financial Secretary Dave Alstead, Asst. Fin. Secretary
Greg Knopff, Stewardship Rep. Ben Dufresne, Youth Rep.
Immanuel Staff
Cindy Bullock Pastor [email protected]
Chris Cherwien Dir. of Worship & Music [email protected]
Julie Lindorff Organist [email protected]
Deb Ahlquist Dir. of Christian Education [email protected]
Michelle Stillwell Dir. of Youth and Family Ministry [email protected]
Russ Carlson Parish Administrator [email protected]
June 2016
YouthWorks Notes
--leadership team arrived on May 28th -June 12th students and chaperones begin staying here (Sunday – Friday)
1 8:30 am Art with Ellen 10:45 am TOPS 3:00 pm Constitution Meeting
2 8:00 am Art with Ellen 9:00 am Improvers 12:00 pm Aging Splendidly 6:15 pm Worship & Music Committee 7:00 pm RCCI Bible Study
3 8:00 am Art with Ellen
4 8:00 am Winged Heart Yoga 10:00 am Al-Anon 10:00 am Mat Pilates
5 9:00 am Worship 10:15 am Fellowship 11:00 am RCCI Worship
6 10:30 am Art with Ellen 6:30 pm Scouts
7 7:00 am BNI 9:30 am Staff Meeting
8 8:30 am Art with Ellen 10:45 am TOPS
9 8:00 am Art with Ellen 9:00 am Improvers 7:00 pm RCCI Bible Study
10 Messenger Deadline 8:00 am Art with Ellen
11 8:00 am Winged Heart Yoga 10:00 am Al-Anon 10 am Mat Pilates
12 9:00 am Worship 10:15 am Fellowship 11:00 pm RCCI Worship 2:00 pm Knitting for Warmth 3:00 pm IMAC Teacher Workshop
13 6:30 pm Scouts
14 7:00 am BNI 9:30 am Staff Meeting 1:00 pm Faith, Joy, Peace Circle
15 10:45 am TOPS 6:45 pm VBS Teacher Training
16 9:00 am Improvers 7:00 pm RCCI Bible Study
17
18 8:00 am Winged Heart Yoga 10:00 am Al-Anon 10:00 am Mat Pilates 10:00 am Dorothy Day 12:00 pm VBS Set-up
19 9:00 am Worship 10:15 am Fellowship 11:00 pm RCCI Worship
20 VBS 6:30 pm Scouts 7:00 pm Sophia Circle
21 7:00 am BNI VBS 6:00 pm Finance 7:00 pm Council
22 VBS
23 VBS 9:00 am Improvers 6:30 pm VBS Family Night 7:00 pm RCCI Bible Study
24 VBS
25 8:00 am Winged-Heart Yoga 10:00 am Al-Anon 10:00 am Mat Pilates
26 Confirmation Camp 9:00 am Worship 10:15 am Fellowship 11:00 pm RCCI Worship
27 Confirmation Camp 6:30 pm Scouts
28 Confirmation Camp 7:00 am BNI 9:30 am Staff Meeting
29 Confirmation Camp 10:45 am TOPS
30 Confirmation Camp 9:00 am Improvers 7:00 pm TCACC 7:00 pm RCCI Bible Study
Immanuel Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 104 Snelling Avenue South Saint Paul, MN 55105
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 438
Address Service Requested
Immanuel is a community growing in Christ, living in grace and serving in love.
