Messiah Messenger February 2019 Pastor ............................................... Rev. Susanne Smith Youth Director ................................................. Kelly Benz Assistant Youth Director .......................... Laura Carruthers Organist ......................................................... Hal Morton Choir Director ................................................ Alice Kenel Administrator/Bookkeeper ...................... Dennis Wohlers Secretary .................................................. Shelley Morton Facilities ..................... .Jerry & Kay Claussen, Adam Gerst Nursery Attendant ........................................Ashley Hester Preschool Staff ...............................Margie Gerst, Director .................................................... Krystal Klein, Erica Moser 2018 Council Members: Joanne Mohr—president Cathy Borden—vice president Stan Lehman—treasurer Sandy Good—secretary Sue Abbott, Ruth Allen, Ty Buras, Marge Classen, Nancy Johannsen, Kathy Newberry, Don Shackleford, Dave Weiler, Donna Williams Staff and Council Members at Messiah Inside This Issue: Why Place Columbaria ....................................... 1 Annual Meeting .................................................. 2 Preschool News ................................................. 3 From the Pastor.................................................. 3 Youth News ........................................................ 4 Batter Up! ........................................................... 5 Take Away Hunger ............................................. 5 Scheduled to Serve ............................................ 6 Birthdays & Anniversaries .................................. 6 Council Action Items........................................... 6 Calendar ............................................................ 7 Why Place Columbaria on Church Property? by Paul Walker I believe it is important to understand both the history and the theology behind this practice. What I am sharing comes not solely from opinion, but from his- torical facts and theological conversation. In addition, I was a state-licensed cemetery director when I was rector of Christ Church in New Jersey. For centuries it was common practice to have a graveyard surrounding the church building. Baptized members were expected to be buried on the property as part of their baptismal covenant, and it gave a very unique interpreta- tion to ”:...and so we are surrounded by so great a cloud of wit- nesses.” Exceptional leaders of the church were often buried inside the church, sometimes under the floors, or in a crypt be- low the main floor. It wasn’t until the 19 th century that churches began establishing cemeteries away from the church, and for very functional reasons: usually there was no burial space left on the original church property. A columbarium on church property allows churches to once again find room to enable this historic tradition to continue. A columbarium is a wall, room, or build- ing used to store urns holding the ashes of peo- ple who have died and been cremated. The name “columbarium” comes from columba, the Latin word for dove, be- cause columbaria usually have niches to hold the urns that resemble those in dovecotes (dove houses). Ancient columbarium niches from Ostia Antica, Italy
Transcript
Mess iah Mes s enger February 2019
Pastor ............................................... Rev. Susanne Smith Youth Director ................................................. Kelly Benz Assistant Youth Director .......................... Laura Carruthers Organist ......................................................... Hal Morton Choir Director ................................................ Alice Kenel Administrator/Bookkeeper ...................... Dennis Wohlers Secretary .................................................. Shelley Morton Facilities ..................... .Jerry & Kay Claussen, Adam Gerst Nursery Attendant ........................................Ashley Hester Preschool Staff ............................... Margie Gerst, Director
Why Place Columbaria on Church Property? by Paul Walker
I believe it is important to understand both the history and the theology behind this practice. What I am sharing comes not solely from opinion, but from his-torical facts and theological conversation. In addition, I was a state-licensed cemetery director when I was rector of Christ Church in New Jersey.
For centuries it was common practice to have a graveyard surrounding the church building. Baptized
members were expected to be buried on the property as part of their baptismal covenant, and it gave a very unique interpreta-tion to ”:...and so we are surrounded by so great a cloud of wit-nesses.” Exceptional leaders of the church were often buried inside the church, sometimes under the floors, or in a crypt be-low the main floor. It wasn’t until the 19
th century that churches
began establishing cemeteries away from the church, and for very functional reasons: usually there was no burial space left on the original church property.
A columbarium on church property allows churches to once again find room to enable this historic tradition to continue.
A columbarium is a wall, room, or build-ing used to store urns holding the ashes of peo-ple who have died and been cremated. The name “columbarium” comes from columba, the Latin word for dove, be-cause columbaria usually have niches to hold the urns that resemble those in dovecotes (dove houses).
Ancient columbarium niches from Ostia Antica, Italy
Living Lutheran is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Mes-siah offers com-plimentary maga-zine subscrip-tions as a benefit to all church members. Copies of past and pre-
sent issues are usually on display in the narthex and the church library. E-subscriptions and audio articles are avail-able through augsburgfortress.com. Enter ‘Living Lutheran’ to find all the magazine resources.
If you are not receiving monthly copies of Living Lutheran, please let Shelley in the church office know, and she will add you to the congregation’s list.
If one of your New Year's Resolutions is to be more consistent with your giving, consider our
on-line giving program. Many Messiah members have set this up and find it so convenient — no fumbling with envelopes or forgetting. Your contribution can be set up to come directly from the bank on whatever day you designate. For more in-formation, see Dennis in the church office.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND FORUM
Feb. 3 - Deb Ruble on Zion UCC’s food pantry Feb. 10 - DVD: Botswana’s prince and first president Feb. 17 - DVD: Botswana’s prince and... part 2 Feb. 24 - Still firming up plans
Annual Congregational Meeting
Held January 27
Thirty-three hardy souls braved the cold and ice to attend Messiah's annual meeting, which took place between the ear-ly and late ser-vices Sunday, Jan. 27.
Council Presi-dent Joanne Mohr called the meeting to order. Sandy Good was appoint-ed recording secretary for the meeting, and the motion to adopt the agenda was ap-proved.
Vice President Stan Lehman presented the recommendations of the nominating commit-
tee. With the addition of Kathy Newber-ry to the ballot for council, the report was ac-cepted by ac-clamation, as was the slate
of nominees for the various council and com-mittee positions up for election. New council members are Ty Buras, Marge Classen, Kathy Newberry and Don Shackleford.
John Larson and Joel Hanger were elected to the nominating committee, Alesia Lehman and Lynn Sheagren to the preschool board, Chalmer Good to the endowment committee, and Dale and Julie Bartelt will represent us at the synod assembly in May.
Proposed changes to Messiah's constitution and bylaws were approved 33-0. These changes were necessary to bring our con-stitution into compliance with the ELCA’s constitution and bylaws.
Outgoing Treasurer Joel Hanger presented the pro-posed 2019 budget, which was passed unanimously.
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Stan Lehman and Joanne Mohr
Joel Hanger
Messiah Preschool News
SHAPING FUTURES Through Faith-Based Education
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY from us to you!
We are busy learning about Dinosaurs and their habits through books, short videos, music, finger plays, digging up bones in the sand, play dough, painting scenrery, playing with them in the block and puppet centers. We are also doing many winter science experiments with snow, water and ice. We have many winter projects decorating the rooms and halls showing all our work. Snow-pals of many kinds are dancing in our rooms. A naturalist from Starr’s Cave Na-ture Center came to visit and taught us about penguins.
We also participated in the National School Choice Campaign. Each child was given a beau-tiful scarf and a letter thanking their parents for choosing Messiah Preschool for their
child’s first school experience.
It’s enrollment time! Forms are available on the church website and in the preschool office. If you are interested in providing tuition for a preschooler next session or making a donation to the pre-school fund please see Ms. Margie or visit the church office. Thank you for your prayers for our preschool and its children, families and staff. — Marjorie Gerst, director
The thirty-four day government shutdown we have just experienced has created a cascade of consequences in our community. Let’s begin with food resources. Supplemental food programs came into being in the US nearly a hundred years ago, when the US government realized we did not have enough healthy young men to make up a dependable military force. School lunches, free milk programs, and food stamps became a national defense stratagem against malnutrition, rickets, and diminished intellectual ability. Do you doubt this? Ask our oldest members to tell you about food insecurity during the Great Depression.
Here are some of the consequences to food supplies in the Des Moines County community during the shutdown: The SNAP (food stamp) program had no authority to issue checks past January 20, so February’s food stamp checks were sent out by January 24. Some grocery stores’ licenses to accept SNAP payments expired and could not be renewed. School districts’ free and reduced-fee breakfast and lunch programs were funded through mid-February, but school districts did not know
what would happen after March – over half our local children use these programs. WIC (Women, Infants and Children) was defunded, the WIC office rent was not be going to paid, and no baby for-mula or food could have been distributed after existing supplies ran out. (WIC has issued warnings not to dilute infant formula to extend it.)
We pray that the shutdown will not resume. Vulnerable families in our community are struggling
more than most winters to choose among medicine and food, gas and rent. Housing voucher ad-
ministrators are concerned that landlords will use late rent payments to justify evicting vulnerable (See “Government Shutdown,” page 5)
From the Pastor’s Desk
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“He who oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him.” (Proverbs 14:31)
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Boy Scout Sunday Feb. 10th
Wear your uniform to church
Sub sandwich fundraiser Sunday Feb. 3rd
Pick up before or after both services. Cost is $7 each and in-
cludes a sandwich, cookie, chips, and a water.
2019 Camp EWALU
Early bird discount
deadline is Feb. 28
Communion Milestone Class
For children in 2nd grade and up (or
younger if parent’s wish) will be on
Wednesdays during Lent. We will cele-
brate Communion Milestone on April
18th in worship with feet washing.
Please see Kelly to register.
Mission Trip 2019
Deadline extended to Feb. 28th
Family Night at
412 Timothy February 27th
TAKE AWAY HUNGER'S next packaging occasion will be:
Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10 am.
If you’re planning on being there, please sign up in the narthex.
Messiah needs a coordinator for the Lu-theran softball team for 2019. This team is composed of members of all the area Lu-theran churches. Do you feel called to
play ball? You will announce the schedule, coordi-nate players for the games, and set up a meal for the team at the end of the season. Contact Pastor Su-sanne in the church office for more information.
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Government Shutdown continued from page 2
families and seniors, and that rents will go up. The Burlington Area Council of Churches has identified a set of priorities that we hope local congregations will support: filling our local food pantries, keeping WIC’s program strong, en-couraging the 65 families presently going through the Bridges out of Poverty program, and supporting our school lunch programs.
Our local food pantries are depleted after the Christmas holidays. Messiah supports the pan-try at the Salvation Army. Will we redouble our efforts to keep their shelves filled? Over half our local school districts’ students eat reduced or zero cost school breakfast and lunches. We could underwrite a day of these costs, pay down overdue lunch fees, or work with one of the weekend food programs, like Backpack Buddies. Gifts to the Burlington Area Council of Churches may be made to Messiah with BACC Food Relief in the memo line, or you may con-tribute food and money directly to any food re-lief program you support.
Jesus is clear about his hopes for us: who gives even a cup of water to His little ones is giving that cup of water to Him. “I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you wel-comed me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hun-gry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
Calling All Keys!
If you once chaired a committee or performed some other duty and had keys to the church that
you no longer need, please return them to the office or drop them in the offering plate. We’re rounding up the spare keys so we don’t have to have more made. Thanks!
And when did we see you a stranger and wel-come you, or naked and clothe you?” And the King will answer them: “Truly, I say, as you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:35)
Pastor Susanne+
From the Social Ministry committee — The local food banks are running short of supplies. Please help by donating food to the Salvation Army barrel. They especially need main course items, such as Chicken Helper and canned chicken, and Tuna Helper with tuna. Thanks for your generosity!
Scheduled to Serve in February
8:00 SERVICE
Lectors: Feb. 3 ................................................................. Darwin Bunger Feb. 10 .............................................................. Marge Classen Feb. 17 ................................................................... Karen Cahill Feb 24 ..................................................................Mary Chicken
Communion Assistants:
Feb. 3 ................................................................. Darwin Bunger Feb. 10 .............................................................. Marge Classen Feb. 17 ................................................................ Katelynn Orth Feb. 27 ..................................................................... Bob Wright
10:30 SERVICE
Ushers: ........................... Robert Kremer (h), Blake Ruther,
.............................................................. Ty Buras, John Larson
Greeters: Feb. 3 ......................................................................................... Feb. 10 ....................................... Barbara Powell & Jim Waugh Feb. 17 ....................................................................................... Feb. 27 ....................................................... Donna & Don Duke
Lectors
Feb. 3 ....................................................................... Ruth Baker Feb. 10 ............................................................... Darwin Bunger Feb. 17 ..................................................................... Dick Bailey Feb. 27 ................................................................ Braden Hayes
Communion Assistants:
Feb. 3 ....................................................................Joanne Mohr Feb. 10 ..................................................................... Lisa Weiler Feb. 17 ................................................................... Paul Walker Feb. 27 ................................................................ Braden Hayes
Acolytes:
Feb. 3 ....................................................................... Ben Wolter Feb. 10 ................................................................. Jacob Dittner Feb. 17 ................................................................... Lachlan Kirk Feb. 27 ................................................................... Josie Wolter
Altar Guild: .............................................. Kay Wischmeier
Boy Scout Sunday and Valentine’s Brunch - Sunday, Feb 10. Brunch at 11:45 Take Away Hunger packaging - Saturday, Feb. 16, 10:00 in the Social Hall Family Night at 412 Timothy - Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 6:00
Every Month
Men’s Bible study - every 2nd and 4th Monday Weekly Bible study - every Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m.in the Conference room Al-Anon - every Tuesday at noon in the Conference room Alateen - every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Exercise class - every Monday and Thursday at 10:45 a.m.in the Social Hall 412 Timothy - Every Wednesday at 6 p.m. Landscapers - every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Veterans Support group - First Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Library
