February 2016

MAKING A CONNECTION WITH ONE ANOTHER
FEBRUARY 2016
Hutterthal Mennonite Church, Freeman, South Dakota
OUR LENTEN JOURNEY
Step 1:
ASH WEDNESDAY
Our 2016 Lenten journey will begin on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. We strongly
encourage you to enter into an extended period of prayerful contemplation in regard to
the cross of Christ. We encourage you to use Psalm 51 as a focus text for this time,
meditating on the themes of confession and repentance as you breathe in the new life of
Christ. If entering into this practice during breakfast or lunch you may also consider the
spiritual discipline of fasting during this period and/or journaling (more on this in step
2 below).
Step 2:
FULLER AWARENESS
Step 3:
CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION
Step 4:
HOLY WEEK
Throughout our Lenten journey we will have the opportunity to record and become
more fully aware of our spiritual stories. This will include focus questions during our
worship time together as well as “homework.” The “homework” will consist of journaling, and all are strongly encouraged to participate throughout this season. The
journaling exercise need not be complex. If you do not have a journal, simply staple
several pieces of paper together (nothing fancy) that provide you with the space necessary to reflect on Scripture through writing or doodling. These can be daily or weekly
entries. There are no rules. You are simply asked to write honestly about the joys and
struggles of life knowing that the entries will remain confidential.
Our Lenten journey will include opportunities during each service of worship to respond to God’s reconciling grace through a time of confession and repentance. These
are opportunities not simply to consider your brokenness and sin, but to meditate upon
and rest in the love of God in Christ as well.
Beginning on Palm Sunday, March 20, 2016, we will gather with the congregations of
Bethany Mennonite, Salem Mennonite, and Salem-Zion Mennonite each evening
through Wednesday, March 23 for a time of worship. These services will include
messages by Michelle Armster of Mennonite Central Committee and will be held at
Salem-Zion Mennonite (North) Church. (Look for more info on these services in the
March Connections! Newsletter)
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through Him might be saved.” ~ John 3: 16-17, KJV
God accommodated us — He provided the space necessary for us
to gather near to Him in right relationship; He provided for us what we
most need — through His Son. In Jesus Christ, God dwelt with us,
allowing His body to be twisted upon the cross for us, taking our scars
upon Himself. So, regardless of the terrible marks of sin we bear,
regardless of the physical, psychological, or emotional afflictions with which we
suffer, we can affirm that we are loved by God. We are beautiful in His sight,
cherished. Indeed, we are created in God’s very image out of love, and
we bear the very likeness of His Son. Thus, no matter what trials you
face or how broken you are God will never stop loving you.
The Gospel begins with God’s love and finds fulfillment in
God’s love, which penetrates through the cross of Jesus, the empty
tomb of Easter morning, to the ascension of Christ, and the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit. All along this way, there can be seen the outpouring (and outworking) of God’s
love. And, it is clear, this love having nothing to do with what we expect to get and everything to do
with what God desired to give.
In John 3: 16, which is often referred to as the “Gospel in Miniature,” we find that, as mentioned above, out of His great love, God gave His Son — a giving that was two-fold. For, first God gave
His Son by sending Him into the world, a Child born, a Son given. And second, God gave His Son up
to death — the death of the cross. Indeed, in this “second giving” God allowed His Son to be broken
for you out of love. Thus, the cross becomes for us a sign of the love of the Father who gave His Son —
“His only begotten Son” — in atonement for our sin. Thus, it is not that “God loved so as to give,” but
that “God loved so that He gave.”
At unfathomable cost, the Father bent to His crooked, sin-scarred, battered, and bruised,
weak and weary people and sought to draw them to Himself. He sent His Son to twist His own body
on the cross that He might die to our sin, setting us free. And, this He did to express His deep and
abiding love, a love that meets us where we are, that refuses to let us go — a love that never fails. And,
if love never fails, then nothing can separate us from God’s love. “For I am persuaded that neither
death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38-39, NKJV).
In addressing this truth, Charles Spurgeon spoke of the confidence great men and women of
God in ages past had in His love: “They did not speak of Christ’s love as though it were a myth to be
respected, a tradition to be reverenced; they viewed it as a blessed reality, and they cast their whole
confidence upon it, being persuaded that it would bear them up as upon eagles’ wings, and carry them
all their days; resting assured that it would be to them a foundation of rock, against which the waves
might beat, and the winds blow, but their soul’s habitation would stand securely if founded upon it.”
And so, we are called to know God’s love, and ultimately, we are called to share God’s love as well,
giving it away with no regard for what we might receive in return.
May you encounter that love today! And, may you be granted with each new day the opportunity to share that love — a love that draws us into the very presence of the Divine.
Straight Up
Shalom,
Pastor Todd
“Love never fails…. Pursue love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13: 8a and 14: 1a, NKJV
2
CONGRATULATIONS
to Sam & Christie Hofer on the birth of their daughter, Mercedes
Jade, born on January 5. She joins an older brother, Dakota.
MIDWEEK BIBLE STUDY
Beginning January 6, the Midweek Bible Study is focused on
“Israel/Palestine: Walking by Faith.” The six-week discussionbased study is being led by Pastor S. Roy Kaufman who is sharing
his experiences this past summer walking the “Jesus Way” and
meeting with Christian Peacemaker Teams. Evening sessions thus
far included: “Why is Israel/Palestine “Holy” Land? Part 1 - A
Pivotal Land Geographically and in World History & Part 2 Sacred Land: Three Religions”, “The Israel/Palestine Conflict” and
“A Pilgrimage Walk in Holy Land”. At this writing, two sessions
on “Christianity in Palestine” are yet to be presented. The sessions
have been interesting and very educational. It was good to hear of
many living and working in that region who are actively seeking peace through creative non
violent approaches. The input on the rural life in
that region was particularly appropriate for a rural
community such as ours. The eight “Elements of a
Spiritual Pilgrimage” he presented are tools that we
can use in our own daily pilgrimage.
Each evening begins with a delicious soup
supper provided by the Deacons and Pastor Todd.
Following fellowship around the tables, the study
begins at 7pm.
3
The Pastor’s Bookshelf
Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr., Fortress Press,
1981, ISBN: 0-8006-1441-0
Written in 1963, Strength to Love is (perhaps) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s most important and poignant written work. It is a treatise on King’s own understanding of nonviolence
that has as its foundation the Biblical narrative and specifically the life and teachings of Jesus
Christ which shaped King throughout his life. Yet, Strength to Love is not simply a treatise; it
must also be seen as a prophetic witness calling the church to repent of its silence, speak the
truth, even if we must do so with a shaking voice, and pursue the cause of justice, standing
against the principalities and powers that have perpetuated the social injustice that continues to
scar the face of our nation and the world.
Particularly striking to me as a pastor is King’s theological framework and his forceful,
yet pastoral approach to addressing the systemic socio-cultural issues before him. He clearly
recognized that social involvement in justice and peacemaking is not an optional activity of some
who may have interest in such things; it is the responsibility of the church universal and every
believer to participate in the outworking of justice and peace. But, again, King did not simply call
for the involvement of the church; he showed us the way by following Jesus himself and, like
Paul before him, was able to testify by his example, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1
Corinthians 11: 1, NKJV).
Strength to Love stands alongside other seminal works such as Mere Christianity, The
Pilgrim’s Progress, and Augustine’s Confessions as works that really should be considered required reading for all who desire to follow Jesus Christ. And so, I commend it to you for your
deep engagement and study. Enjoy!
An excerpt from Strength to Love:
“In the terrible midnight of war, men have knocked on the door of the church to
ask for the bread of peace, but the church has often disappointed them. What more pathetically reveals the irrelevancy of the church in present-day world affairs than its witness against war? In a world gone mad with arms buildups, chauvinistic passions, and
imperialistic exploitation. The church has either endorsed these activities or remained
appallingly silent…. A weary world, pleading desperately for peace, has often found the
church morally sanctioning war.” (p. 63)
Next Month’s Selection: Awe: Why It Matters for Everything We Think, Say, and Do,
by Paul David Tripp, Crossway, 2015, ISBN: 978-1-4335-4707-2
4
BABY SHOWER
by Brigitta Hofer
Cuddling, along with a blanket,
rocking, and singing, was by
far the most popular advice
given to Rina at a baby shower
held for her and Camilla on
Sunday, January 10th, at 2
P.M. In preparation for the
shower Rina requested "baby
advice" from the ladies,
especially when Camilla is not feeling well or
cannot sleep. Other popular advice given: enjoy
every stage of Camilla's growth, and read to her on
a regular basis. Sharon Waltner opened the shower with devotions, sharing
the stories of Biblical
mothers Hannah,
Sarah, and Rachel,
and closing with
prayer. Grandma
Gertie was a special guest. Marcella, Darlene, and Marcia provided the dessert, chocolate cake,
a favorite of Rina's. Despite being a very cold day, we had a warm reception for this new and
precious baby among us. Rina expressed her thankfulness to our church and related how she
feels we are all family to her.
Connection!: published since April 2000
Connection! Editor: Edie Tschetter
Advisory Board: Rebecca Hofer, chp., Marcia Schrock and Twyla Hofer
Proof Reader: Ardella Gross
5
Jerusalem the City of God
by Ellen Gunderson Traylor
Place. We often hear how a place has a character of itself, influencing those
By Charlene Friesen who come there. Or how a specific place can so importantly influence a
person. Here - or - there. Just what is so important to a particular place?
Of no place is this truer than the city of Jerusalem. In this historical novel, Traylor takes the
history of Jerusalem from the beginning of time when it was settled by Mechizedek to post 1948
Israel, telling a fictional story for each chosen time period. She focuses on why Mt. Moriah itself
was so important to the peoples living beneath its shadow, a simple extraordinarily large rock
but especially ‘close to heaven.’
While this book may seem like a ‘big bite’, each easily-read story in short chapters will captivate
you as you seek to connect familiar Bible stories to the importance of the city of Jerusalem.
INCIDENTALS: A Pastor’s Bookshelf Extra
Continuing with my recent fascination with all things musical and biographical,
not to mention Rolling Stones related, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Philip Norman’s Mick Jagger. Painting a picture of one of music’s most enigmatic figures can be a
dangerous business, but Norman handles the assignment with great poise, illuminating
nuances to Jagger’s personality that often remain hidden from the public spotlight and
yet that illuminate the music he has made for the last 50 years.
Even more fascinating is the truth that Mick Jagger is, more to the point, a biography of band that Jagger has spent a lifetime fronting. While delving into Jagger’s life,
Norman provides innumerable asides into the lives of others: Andrew Oldham, Keith
Richards, Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, Ahmet Ertegun, Chrissie Shrimpton, Bianca Jagger, and a great many others that have swirled in and through Jagger’s life helping to
shape (and reshape) him into the man (and more to the point, the myth) that he has
become. For, truly there is more myth to Jagger’s public persona than man as so much
that has swirled around him and the Rolling Stones is the stuff of myth and legend as
much as historic fact. How shocking, for instance, to find that Jagger is a shy, demure,
tender man, who is quite reserved! How shocking that the person bouncing across the
stage singing “Start Me Up” is a character not unlike Shakespeare’s Puck from A Midsummer Night’s Dream — a fool whose wisdom yet shapes the events surrounding him
in innumerable and unimaginable ways.
A thoroughly engrossing read, Mick Jagger is a fascinating study of self-made
man. Enjoy!
6
VOLUNTEERS DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE THE TIME;
THEY JUST HAVE THE HEART
~ Elizabeth Andrew
Have you considered how you might serve others by using your talents in the coming year to volunteer
for one or more of the volunteer positions available in our MW organization? This opportunity is available to our men as well. The following positions are available:
Chairperson
Celebration of Birth (Someone is needed to care for the Nursery and Child Care Room- sending
cards and providing roses has been taken care of)
Celebration through Reading
Harvest Mission: Food
Family Christmas: Food
Family Christmas: Decorations
Care Home Programs: Salem Home and Oakview Terrace
As you can determine, these positions are an important ministry of our church, and hopefully, YOU
would like to serve in one or more of these areas. ~ Brigitta Hofer
Mennonite Central Committee News:
1) Interested in mass incarceration? How about immigration? MCC has large
scale, multi-panel displays available for your congregation to use on these topics
To help you engage in these topics, MCC will cover the cost of shipping the displays
to your church. All you have to do is let us know when you’d like them! W hen a
Parent is in Prison gives a glimpse of life for the two million children with a parent
in prison. Ladder without Rungs explores metaphors of suffering and trauma from
survivors of violent crime to express their experiences, and from life-sentenced prisoners to describe
the sentences they are serving. People on the Move tells the human stories of migration. If your
church would like to help with the cost of shipping, your donation would be accepted, but for 2016 it
is not required. Call 316.283.2720 for more information or email [email protected] to make your
reservations today!
2) Mennonite Central Committee has a great resource on the topic of Conscience Objection for teachers/
sponsors/pastors who work with high school and Jr. High age youth. Ben's Story is a 6-part series of videos and PDF lessons for you to use to engage youth on the topic of Conscience Objection.
Ben Peter's told his story at the Mennonite Church USA convention in July of 2015. We encourage
you to consider incorporating this material into your upcoming lessons. It is thought provoking and
could lead to fruitful and lively conversation with youth at your church. http://mcc.org/learn/more/
bens-story
3) Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
it is with a heavy heart that I share the following news. Mennonite Central Committee Central States
Board of Directors has decided to close the Northern Tier Office in Freeman. The last day of
operation will be January 28, 2016. Hopefully, soon, there will be a plan in place for the continued
reception of Material Resource Donations in Freeman. Watch for bulletin announcements. I have so
enjoyed getting to know so many of you over the years. I have been so blessed to witness your
generosity and Christian love in action. I hope to see many of you again! Going forward, if you need
support or have questions, you can contact the MCC Central States office at 316-283-2720 or MCC
Central States PO Box 235 N. Newton, KS 67117. ~ Blessings, Elizabeth Janssen
7
The Conflict Management Workshop…
by Amanda Mettler
…. was hosted by the Central Plains Conflict Management Team on January 15-16 at the Salem
-Zion Mennonite Church. Much of the time was spent on participants learning about our own
personal styles and responses to conflict. Time was also spent learning about the nature and role
of conflict both within interpersonal relationships and the church. We spent breakout time with
groups of our own personal conflict styles and a congregational group.
Overall, the workshop provided just a starting point in learning about how our own personalities and experiences shape our responses to conflict and how these responses differ from others'
responses. We began to learn how to use "Interpersonal Peacemaking Skills" which focused on
good verbal communication skills (i.e. active listening, "I statements" and many others). We
also discussed how conflict can either divide or bind a group together depending on the way it
is handled and the way people choose to respond to one another.
Hutterthal participants except for Pastor Todd who was taking the picture
There were many pieces of information that continue to stick with me from the workshop, but
here are a few:
 Conflict has a typical pattern that includes less understanding of the facts and issues of the
disagreement as emotional intensity increases. The goal is to keep our emotional intensity down
and to continue to keep our understanding increasing.
 We need to separate people from the issues.
 We all have different responses to conflict that are based on our personalities. None are
wrong and none are right, but we have a responsibility to keep our responses in check and to
understand how others respond based on their personality styles.
 Over 90% of our communication is through our body language and tone of voice. Less than
10% of our communication is through our words.
8
MENNONITE WOMEN FINANCIAL REPORT
HMW 1st quarter report
Balance on Hand
by Ardella Gross
Nov. 1, 2015 to Jan. 31, 2016
Nov. 1, 2015
Receipts:
Refund of coffee
For serving at Angeline Mendel funeral
Nov. offering
For serving at Kathryn Hofer funeral
For serving at Gordon Hofer funeral
Nov. project for CPMC dues
Dec.Cookie Walk project less $60. For rent
Dec. project for Syria Aid
Jan. project 19 towels purchased with cash rec'd
Total Receipts
Balance plus Receipts
Disbursements:
Kathryn Hofer and Gordon Hofer Memorials
Kitchen supplies- foam plates
Christmas gifts for Pastor Todd and Kim
Christmas gift for Jennifer Kleinsasser
Nov. project for CPMC dues
To Brian Koster for Cookie Walk
Food for after Children's Christmas program
December project for Syria Aid
Christmas gifts for elderly
19 towels purchased with cash received for Jan. proj.
Total Disbursements
Balance on Hand
Jan. 31, 2016
$1,672.50
$63.00
$125.00
$152.00
$200.00
$200.00
$170.00
$1,315.80
$140.00
$100.00
$2,465.80
$4,138.30
$20.00
$19.69
$50.00
$10.00
$170.00
$1,315.80
$69.85
$140.00
$21.75
$100.00
$1,917.09
$2,221.21
Donations of ground beef for the FA dorm would be appreciated if any of
our alumni, parents or friends are planning to butcher this winter or have extra in
their freezers. Please contact Chandra van Zyl at [email protected] or
Vernetta Waltner at [email protected] if you can help in this way.
9
90 Years of Memories
by Moses Glanzer
I was born in 1925 two miles west of Silver Lake at home without a doctor. My parents were Theresa
(Kleinsasser) and Joseph P. Glanzer. There were nine of us children plus an adopted son, Peter Gross.
I remember the thirties well. There were no crops, just big dark clouds, dust, and grasshoppers. I spent
weeks herding cattle on the roads with a pony at Grandma Kleinsasser’s farm seven miles south of Freeman. I also fed hogs and picked up corncobs for the cook stove. One day I was cultivating with four
horses when lightening struck. The horses spooked and when I realized that I wasn’t going to control
them, I jumped off. Even though Grandma kept me busy from sunrise to sunset, I got homesick.
During the thirties, my dad started a fur business. He bought and skinned minks, skunks, raccoons,
weasels, beavers, and foxes. Dad said many times that we would have lost the farm if it hadn’t been for
the fur business.
I attended a country school a half-mile from home for eight years. I went to the Freeman Academy for
only 2 ½ years because my dad needed me on the farm.
In 1945, I got drafted and went to CPS Camp in Terry, Montana for six months. I fixed fences and
worked with irrigation. I was then transferred to the New Jersey State Psychiatric Hospital in Marlboro,
New Jersey. Along with patient care, I helped with shock treatments, and the last six month of my service
I worked the night shift on the TB ward.
I married Reva Leder in 1950, and we had four children (LuAnn, Dorothy, Nancy and Mark). We
farmed four miles west of Canistota for 45 years. For years we milked cows and raised chickens (1500)
for egg production, along with hogs. We eventually gave up the milking and eggs and focused on raising
cattle and hogs.
At Hutterthal, I was a Sunday school teacher for the men’s class, a deacon for about 15 years and
chairman of the building committee when we built the education wing. I was also chairman of Wellspring
when it was started.
Reva and I loved to volunteer, travel and fish. We were able
to travel to Europe, Russia, Canada, Alaska and numerous other
states. We also participated in fruit drying in Reedley, CA. After
we retired from farming and moved to Freeman in 1995, we both
volunteered at the Et Cetera Shoppe. Reva enjoyed pricing
clothes and talking her Swiss German Dialect with friends. She
left us for a better world on October 16, 2004. Ten years later
my daughter, Dorothy, died on May 23, 2014.
I started out cutting strips for rugs, and then learned how to
weave rugs on the loom. For 15 years, I have woven over 4500
rugs. I enjoy being around people, so I have never missed a year
at the MCC Meat Canner. I also help at Schmeckfest each year. I
look forward to visiting with my friends and family at the
Freeman Nursing Home and the
On December 27, a very wintry day, an afternoon open house was Salem Home when I deliver the
held at the Freeman Senior Citizen Center. Those from Hutterthal church bulletin. Because of my
who were not able to attend on Saturday still were able to enjoy good health, I’m able to enjoy
fishing with my dear friends every
birthday cake the following morning during coffee time at
summer. I love my church, family,
Hutterthal! Happy Birthday, Moses!
and friends. Most of all, I love
Jesus.
10
ET CETERA SHOPPE 2015
by Kris Carlson
Et Cetera Shoppe has been so blessed to be able to serve our community and the world beyond for another year! Here are a few of the shop “happenings” in 2015…
We continued to work to secure an insurance payoff on our faulty siding. There has been a lot of “red
tape” to deal with, but progress has been made and we hope to be able to do SOMETHING about the
appearance of our peeling siding in 2016.
We successfully implemented a new POS (point-of-sales) system at our checkout. This system called
ShopKeep is a touch-screen system that uses an iPad instead of a computer and monitor. The system
created a lot more room on the counter for the clerks, and is very pretty and user-friendly. We are so
proud of our clerks, who put their game faces on and were willing to roll with the change. They came to
practice on the new system before it was moved up front, and the change went much more smoothly than
managers expected!
We are grateful for our ever-changing roster of volunteers. We gained some new clerks in 2015, as
well as some new pricers, new Board members, a new rug weaver and an eBay volunteer. Of course we
also lost some precious volunteers who will be deeply missed.
We created new vouchers to be purchased and then distributed by the Bethany Food Pantry to its patrons.
Board members participated in a Board workshop led by Diana Miller, MCC US Thrift Shop Network
Coordinator, from Newton KS.
We were extremely grateful for the donation of a brand new refrigerator for our breakroom, as the previous one had serious issues with leaking and closing, etc.!
Probably the most dramatic occurrence of 2015 was when our Board of Directors unanimously voted to
discontinue carrying Ten Thousand Villages fair trade gift items in our shop. After many years of being a
pioneer store in this area, dating back to the earliest years of Self-Help Crafts of the World, this was a
difficult and emotional decision. But the reality that Ten Thousand Villages is moving in a direction that
simply doesn’t work in Freeman, couldn’t be ignored any longer. As the corporation focused more and
more on high-end, upscale products and selling them in large urban markets of 500,000 or more, it was
apparent that trying to do this in Freeman was not realistic. The Sioux Falls store closing was confirmation of that. We began liquidating our remaining Ten Thousand Villages inventory in December.
We will continue to stock the fair trade items that DID sell well – specifically, food and drink items
such as coffee, chocolate, tea, bean mixes, spice blends, cocoas, and cookbooks.
The dissolution of Ten Thousand Villages meant that our final wedding registry was Andre Eisenbeis
and Lillie Koerner’s.
The decision to discontinue with Villages was announced at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Night.
Rising rental costs for the Freeman Academy Dining Hall prompted us to try something different for this
event this year. We held our Volunteer Appreciation at Blue’s Family Restaurant, where we enjoyed
salad and pizza and played some simple table games. Managers received a lot of
positive feedback about the evening, which was much appreciated!
Unfortunately one dark cloud will follow us from 2015 into 2016, and that is the
state of our elevator. The elevator was fraught with problems all through 2015 and
was non-functioning for most of the year. Janver Stucky worked tirelessly and volunteered countless hours attempting to get it up and running.
(continued on page 14)
11
Just
For
Kids…
By Joline Thomas
12
20)
24)
24)
25)
25)
25)
26)
27)
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
1)
Rebekah McCune
3)
Glenda Langeland
5)
Ian Hofer
7)
Delmer Hofer
8)
Mark Glanzer
12)
Jada Koerner
12)
Don Hofer
13)
Elvera Deckert
13)
LaVonne Tschetter
13)
Amos Decker
16)
Doug Glanzer
Sylvia Hofer
Lane McCune
Rebecca Hofer
Steven Rensink
Jessica Rose Hofer
Nanette Hofer
Connie Hofer
Amanda Mettler
FEBRUARY ANNIVERSARIES
7)
Joyce and Steven Schnabel
21)
Carrol & Glenda Langeland
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL
Winter Quarter:
CPMC Ecuador Partnership
MENNONITE WOMEN
December Project:
January Project:
February Project::
$140 Syria Refugee Assistance (MCC)
$1315.80 for Brian & Deb Koster (cookie walk)
Blankets, sheets and/or towels
Cash for Swan Lake Christian camp
Attendance
December 25 MDS
December 27
January
3
January 10
January 17
January 24
56
106
103
71
69
112
Offerings
$ 840.00
$4,674.00
$2,803.00
$1,740.00
$1,846.00
$4,149.00
Stay in Touch through Social Media
HMC Links
Website - http://hmcfreeman.org
“Like” Us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/hutterthalmennonitechurch
Pastoral Links
Facebook – www.facebook.com/MennPastor
Twitter – @MennPastor
Blog – mennpastor.blogspot.com
13
On January 10 we had
Communion. On the same
Sunday there was an offering
basket for the Benevolent Fund.
John Clem, Ever ence r epr esentative, shared that Everence
will match the amount given for
By Twyla Hofer the fund.
Sunday, January 3, found
Amos Kleinsasser hospitalized in Fr eeman with
pneumonia for a few days before returning home.
Janelle Moe had her last chemo treatment a week
before Christmas and began a series of 23 radiation
treatments on January 13.
Ross Hofer flew home on December 23 to
spend Christmas with family and friends. He
returned to his home in Bozeman, MT, on
January 1.
Edie Tschetter shar ed that their daughter -inlaw, Violeta, obtained her resident visa to enter the
U.S. on December 11. She and Matt were able to
spend Christmas in South Dakota with family.
Maria & Brian Paff joined the family on December
27.
Frank Wiebe, Jill Hofer’s father, living in
Manitoba, Canada had his first chemo for
pancreatic cancer in mid January. Jill was able to
spend a week with her parents during that time.
Frank will have a total of eight treatments each two
weeks apart. Prayer is appreciated.
Boni Hofer had her second knee r eplacement
on January 27. We wish her a speedy and uneventful recovery.
Shirley Hofer was hospitalized for thr ee days
in January. She continues to fight a virus and is
quite weak as a result of it.
Delmer Hofer is to be honor ed by being
inducted into the S.D. Lions Hall of Fame at their
State Convention on January 30 in Aberdeen. He
and his wife Shirley have been active in the Lion’s
Club for the last 31 years. Delmer is the first member of the Freeman Lion’s Club’s 60 year history to
be awarded this honor for his work as District
Coordinator for Campaign Sight First II. This
medal is the second highest award given by the
international president.
Larry Hofer was honor ed for 41 (and counting) years of serving on the Silverlake Township
Board. He was one of five honored for service at
the S.D. Association of Town & Township’s annual
conference December 2-3 in Huron.
Named to the Presidents Honor List: Sara Friesen
student at Dakota State University in Madison and
Cole Hofer, student at Lake Ar ea Technical
Institute in Watertown.
Congratulations to Delmer, Larry, Sara and Cole
for jobs well done!
(Et Cetera Shoppe continued from page 11)
Eventually a consultation from an elevator repair company out of SF helped us to understand that the
elevator simply may not be worth spending any more money on. The elevator is old and out-dated, a
fairly rare model, and one for which replacement parts are no longer being manufactured. The cost of
getting it up and running to even BEGIN trouble-shooting the rest of its problems, is well into the cost of
replacing it with a much simpler and more reliable lift system. Needless to say this was very disappointing news, although not surprising, and more difficult decisions now are ahead for the Board.
As we enter 2016, some of our goals are to revitalize the store physically with a rearrangement of the
space formerly occupied by TTV, to capitalize on current upcycling trends, to maintain an active presence on Facebook, to bring resolution to the elevator and siding issues, and to implement a new gift card
program. We covet your prayers as we seek to remain relevant and vibrant, and we welcome your donations of quality items, and your time as a volunteer!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL FEATURE
MIDDLER CLASS
Grades 2-5
Students: Abigail Bolin
Brianna Bolin
Sasha Decker
Claire Hofer
Felicity Jones
Nathanael Jones
Jada Koerner
Peyton McCune
Savanna Timmerman
Riley Tschetter
Torrie Zachariasen
Teachers: Kim J ones
Becky McCune
Nicolle Timmerman
Photos by
Rebecca
Hofer
FROM THE EDITOR
Due to the fact that this publication is available on the internet, I have chosen to not
identify children specifically with their pictures. You will note this picture lists the names
of the students but they do not correspond with their pictures. We want to insure the
safety of our children/youth and will continue to follow this policy in the future.
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February 2016
by Pastor Todd
February 1:
1:15pm Communion (Oakview Terrace)
8:00pm Rural Revival (Freeman Library)
February 2:
7:00pm Deacons Meeting (Hofer Residence)
February 3:
10:00am Freeman Ministerial (South Church)
6:30pm Soup Fellowship
7:00pm Midweek Bible Study
February 7:
8:30am Youth Bible Study
9:45am Worship
11:00am Congregational Meeting regarding sanctuary carpet and stage enhancement
11:10am Sunday School for all ages
February 8:
7:00pm Prayer Shawl
February 10:
ASH WEDNESDAY
6:30pm Soup Fellowship
7:00pm Midweek Bible Study:
February 13:
2:00pm 80th Birthday Celebration for LaVonne Tschetter
February 14:
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
9:00 Gathering 58: 6
9:45am Worship
11:10am Sunday School for all ages
February 15:
PRESIDENT’S DAY
7:30pm Freeman Network for Justice & Peace (Freeman Public Library)
February 16:
9:15am Pastor-Peer (Sioux Falls)
February 18:
7:00pm Church Board
February 21:
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
9:45am Worship
11:10am Sunday School for all ages
February 24:
12:00pm Connection! Deadline (send info to Edie—[email protected])
February 28:
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
9:45am Worship
11:10am Sunday School for all ages
February 29:
LEAP DAY
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