March 2014 Newsletter 401 S. Flynn Drive | Milbank, SD 57252 | (605) 432-5566 | [email protected] | www.americanlutheran.com Soup Supper Serving starts at 5:30 PM *denotes LIA Group Serving Worship Begins at 6:45 PM March 5th—Ash Wednesday *Love in Action Group #6 March 12th Forgiven (Zacchaeus) *Love in Action Group #7 March 19th With Him in Paradise (John) *Love in Action Group #1 March 26th Behold Your Son (Leah) *Love in Action Group #2 April 2nd Forsaken (Martha) *Love in Action Group #3 April 9th I Thirst (Woman at the Well) *Love in Action Group #4 April 17th (Maundy Thursday) Into Your Hands (Nicodemus) *Love in Action Group #5 Mid-Week Lenten Services The Power Of His Last Words |A Lenten monolog series on the seven last words of Christ| Lent is a solemn time when Christians reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made when he gave up his life for our sins. But it is also a celebration of sorts. Perhaps this seems incongruous. Isn’t death an occasion for mourning? OF course it is. But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is also an occasion for cele- bration because of its tremendous impact on the world, and as we will see, its impact on individuals. The Gospels recorded some of the last words that Jesus spoke from his place on the cross before dying. Many people in attendance heard him speak. Let’s imagine who some of those people may have been and what they may have been thinking when their beloved Jesus spoke. (See sidebar for Lenten Service Schedule) During the Lenten season, each week beginning Wednesday, March 5th, a SOUP SUPPER will be held starting at 5:30PM. All seven Love in Action (LIA) groups will be involved in furnishing and serving. Please sign-up at the Welcome Center to bring soup/bread/ cookies or helping serve. The LIA chairpersons will call on an as-needed basis if more help or food is needed on your group’s given evening to serve. (See in newsletter for LIA Chairpersons) Christ Is Risen!
Soup Supper Serving starts at 5:30 PM *denotes LIA Group Serving
Worship
Begins at 6:45 PM
March 5th—Ash Wednesday *Love in Action Group #6
March 12th Forgiven (Zacchaeus)
*Love in Action Group #7
March 19th
With Him in Paradise (John)
*Love in Action Group #1
March 26th
Behold Your Son (Leah) *Love in Action Group #2
April 2nd
Forsaken (Martha)
*Love in Action Group #3
April 9th
I Thirst (Woman at the Well)
*Love in Action Group #4
April 17th (Maundy Thursday) Into Your Hands (Nicodemus)
*Love in Action Group #5
Mid-Week Lenten Services The Power Of His Last Words
|A Lenten monolog series on the seven last words of Christ|
Lent is a solemn time when Christians reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made
when he gave up his life for our sins. But it is also a celebration of sorts.
Perhaps this seems incongruous. Isn’t death an occasion for mourning?
OF course it is. But Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is also an occasion for cele-
bration because of its tremendous impact on the world, and as we will see, its
impact on individuals. The Gospels recorded some of the last words that
Jesus spoke from his place on the cross before dying. Many people in
attendance heard him speak. Let’s imagine who some of those people may
have been and what they may have been thinking when their beloved Jesus
spoke. (See sidebar for Lenten Service Schedule)
During the Lenten season, each week beginning Wednesday, March 5th, a SOUP SUPPER will be held starting at 5:30PM. All seven Love in Action (LIA) groups will be involved in furnishing and serving. Please sign-up at the Welcome Center to bring soup/bread/cookies or helping serve. The LIA chairpersons will call on an as-needed basis if more help or food is needed on your group’s given evening to serve. (See in newsletter for LIA Chairpersons)
All boxed cards—2 boxes for $8.00 (excludes sympathy)
WELCA Card Nook is located on the west side
of the sanctuary.
For more information, please contact Janelle Kelly
Need a card for that special occasion?
Check out the “March Card Sale”
Originating in the fourth century of the church, the season of Lent spans 40 weekdays begin-ning on Ash Wednesday and climaxing during Holy Week with Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), Good Friday, and concluding Saturday before Easter. Originally, Lent was the time of preparation for those who were to be baptized, a time of concentrated study and prayer before their baptism at the Easter Vigil, the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord early on Easter Sunday. But since these new members were to be received into a living com-munity of Faith, the entire community was called to preparation. Also, this was the time when
those who had been separated from the Church would prepare to rejoin the community.
Today, Lent is marked by a time of prayer and preparation to celebrate Easter. Since Sun-days celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays that occur during Lent are not count-
ed as part of the 40 days of Lent, and are referred to as the Sundays in Lent.
The number 40 is connected with many biblical events, but especially with the forty days Jesus spent in the wilder-ness preparing for His ministry by facing the temptations that could lead him to abandon his mission and calling. Christians today use this period of time for introspection, self examination, and repentance. This season of the year is equal only to the Season of Advent in importance in the Christian year, and is part of the second major grouping
of Christian festivals and sacred time that includes Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.
Lent has traditionally been marked by penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving with most Christian churches fo-cusing on penance, repenting for failures and sin as a way to focus on the need for God’s grace. It is really a preparation to celebrate God’s marvelous redemption at Easter, and the resurrected life that we live, and hope
for, as Christians.
And this is the promise which He Himself made to us:
. 1 John 2:25
Pastor Carl Larson
Administrative Ass’t Carol Ydstie
Church Council
President Emily Mueller
Vice President Gary Wellnitz
Secretary
Jennifer Waniorek
Treasurer Mary Bjordahl
Property/Mgm’t Gerald Grimm
Neil Pauli Gary Wellnitz
Youth & Education Emily Mueller
Jessica Zemlicka Deb Homan
Finance Jason Mischel
Robert Biersbach Shane Schuchard
Worship & Evangelism
Jennifer Waniorek Shirley Olson
Ron Boe
1st Reading Psalm 2nd Reading Gospel
March 2 Exodus 24:12-18 Ps 2 2 Cor 5:20b-6:10 Matt 6:1-6, 16-21
March 9 Gen 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Ps 32 Rom 5:12-19 Matt 4:1-11
March 16 Gen 12:1-4a Ps 121 Rom 4:1-5, 13-17 John 3:1-17
March 23 Exodus 17:1-7 Ps 95 Rom 5:1-11 John 4:5-42
March 30 1 Sam 16:1-13 Ps 23 Eph 5:8-14 John 9:1-41
LECTIONARY FOR FEBRUARY
CHURCH COUNCIL UPDATE Our first council meeting was held in February, and it was a learning experience for most, with lots to discuss. One of the items discussed was the length of the services on the 1st Sunday of the month. Because we do rail communion on those days, the services have been long. Council decided to add intinction stations along with the rail communion, so that people may choose how they receive com-munion. Hopefully this will help move the service along on those days. Another item that was discussed was adding another service. A lot of us got feedback from the congregation that they did not want to see another service added. It was decided that we can hold off on making any decisions about this for now until we notice that attendance is causing space issues again. March 2nd we will be wel-coming new members. If you see someone that is joining the church, be sure to introduce yourself so they feel welcome.
We appreciate any and all feedback that we receive, it helps us make the deci-sions, so please don’t hesitate to let a council member know your thoughts.
Be sure to check out the new website! This will be a good resource for any infor-mation about ALC and its happenings that you might be looking for. -Emily Mueller—Council President
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” Mt. 5:7
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, We are deeply grateful and touched by the gesture of love that you have had with our be-loved Maria. For us in youth ministry, because of her fam-ily situation, is like a little sister and we feel a great responsibility with her. Is painful and it really touches your heart when you see a case like hers, but the important thing is that this feeling may cause an action because that is what identifies us as Christians. Thank you infinitely and we can only hope that God will bless your lives and fill your hearts with his love.
Coordination of Youth Ministry Nicaraguan Lutheran Church “Faith and Hope”
Rev. Katia Cortez | Sergio Rios Carrillo | Soliette Lopez Ortega Luis Alberto Garcia | Hellen Xaviera Rios
During the first few weeks of Lenten season, we’ll gather
together to watch and discuss the film Babette’s Feast. The
movie shows a different look at what it means
“Communion of Saints”.
Consider a Radio Ministry sponsorship, which gives others the chance to hear and listen via
KMSD-1510AM at 9am on Sundays. Sponsorship is $100
Also, please consider enhancing the sanctuary with flowers. Sign-up sheets are available
on the Kiosk located in the Narthex.
Blood Pressure Checks—Sunday, March 2nd
Walking Update: As of the end of Week 4, we were almost 1/3 of the way
to San Diego, CA.
Do you want to add years to your life, or life to your years?
Physical activity is an easy and positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health. Any exercise is better than nothing and everyone has to start somewhere. Even if you’ve been sedentary for years, today is the day you can begin to make healthy changes in your life. Physical activity can be anything that makes your body move and burn calories. Such activities include walking, swimming, jogging, dancing, skiing, cycling or numerous others. What can I do to get active and keep my heart healthy?
150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise.
An easy goal to remember is 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
Incorporate moderate to high intensity muscle-strengthening activity 2 or more days per week.
Make time for exercise, but also make it fun and try new activities!
February was a month filled with lots of pink and red to remind us how loved each of us are. Our focus areas included the color pink, #7, Vv, Ww, and Yy. We have started the “Star of the Week” in which each student gets to be the “star” for 2 weeks at a time. This is a special time for students to feel special time for each one as they get to share with the class things that are special to them, unique, and simply be who they are. Macy Mueller was our first star and brought lots of exciting things to our room to share, including her family. Her mom, Emily, read us a book. We have also been doing simple experiments including making some “pink slime goop”, along with making our very own volcano. Even, the dinosaurs had to make the trek to see the lava ooze from the volcano. Dur-ing the letter W, we did many activities that involved water (both liquid and frozen form). The Valentine’s Party was a HUGE hit with dancing, singing, games including Pin the Heart on Pete, treats, Theo movie in the Holy Theater (complete with popcorn), and of course, passing out valentines to our classmates. We’re getting excited as March brings Dr. Seuss’ birthday, along with the sneaky little leprechauns. We best be getting our traps ready to catch them. March Greetings to all!
-All of us at ALC Preschool
2nd Annual ALC Preschool Rummage Sale
Friday, April 11th Please keep this in mind when you are cleaning out your
closets or doing spring cleaning!
Any and all donations are appreciated!
Last year this fundraiser brought in over $2000 for the Pre-
Family includes three sons & daughter-in-laws: Cory & Amy (live on the same farmstead as us on south Hwy 15), Jeff & Dianna, along with grand-kids Olivia, Ben, & baby due in June (Waconia, MN), and Brian & Maren (Milbank, SD). We both enjoy camping, walking, going to antique shops, working in our yard and water garden, along with our train and finding great bargains at yard sales for the ever-so-famous Enchanted Trail for kids. You may ask, what’s the Enchanted Trail? We have a large grove of trees to the north of our home, in which we have paths that meander throughout with trinkets placed high and low, and themed areas including the Bear’s Den, Troll Bridge, Tee-Pee, Kid’s Fun, etc. A highlight this Fall was to have some area preschoolers come to enjoy the Trail. While Ka-ren enjoys subbing for the Middle & High School, and ALC Preschool, you can find her also taking time to read and do some counted cross-stitch. On the other hand, Jim LOVES to putter in his shop (ask what his next creation is!), stop by and harass the kids at preschool, and scavenge for treasures for his daughter-in-law’s craft projects. Most of all, our favorites including spending time with family and friends and spoiling our grandkids. On a side note, we look forward to celebrating 40 years of marriage on March 9th.
Thanks so much to a great
bunch of people at Ameri-
can Lutheran. An extended
thanks to the Prayer
Shawl Ministries for the
added warmth and support!
The caring thoughts and
prayers are truly appre-
ciated!
May God Bless!
-Dustin Boerger
We had a wonderful safe trip to Nicaragua. We presented Maria with the money raised from the wreath project last fall and she
was speechless. She plans to start school in March and work to-wards being a cook. The money will support that education for her. Please continue to keep her in your prayers along with the
rest of their congregation. They are a faithful congregation helping the poor and trying to improve the living conditions in
rural villages as well as those living in the city. Mucho Gracias, Susan and Kate Leddy
Taya Burnett Daniel Thiele Derrick Aho Isaac Johnson Haeli Teske
Coffee
& Fellowship
Gretchen Biersbach
Kristen Biersbach
Chris Loutsch
Jordan Thiele
Trevor Stickland
Kasey Stickland
Jacob Stinson
Andrew Mears
Will Mischel
Kasi Schlueter
Ria Teske
Claire Kastrup
Mackayla Schuelke
Brady Gomer
Kayla Pinkert
McKenzie Severson
Bailey Storm
Bulletin
Delivery Caden Bjordahl Claire Kastrup William Hins Maddie Foss Morgan Jones
YOUTH VOLUNTEERS FOR MARCH
Note: If you are unable to serve on your particular Sunday, PLEASE find a replacement and notify the Church Office. Above all, THANK YOU for everything!
