April 2016 Messenger

Pastor Yvonne
Marshall
Volume 18, Issue 4
April 2016
Christians are defined by our faith
in these words. Our faith is revealed
when we face the reality of death, the
finality of a grave. We can be “good
people” without being a Christian. We
can lead good lives, be hard workers,
be a good neighbor, be a good friend
and be devoted to family and making
the world a little better place without
being a Christian. But faith is measured
by how we respond to this question
from Jesus to Nazareth: “I am the
resurrection and life. Those who
believe in me, even though they die,
will live, and everyone who lives and
believes in me will never die. Do you
believe this?”
Of course, some days are harder
than others. Accompanying a loved
one through dying, weeping at the
newly dug grave, facing the raw grief
and emptiness, force the question: Do
you believe?
Signs of hope surround us: A
garden of Easter lilies, opening their
buds on a spring day where fresh
snow still lays, a glorious sunrise
emerging from the darkest night, a
song that lifts our hearts even as tears
fill our eyes, a table set with bread and
wine for a meal that celebrates the
mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ
is risen. Christ will come again.
Easter is a season where we
gather together, to hold each other in
The word “Creed” (as in the creed prayer, encourage one another in
we say during worship) comes from
faith, and reach out to others in love
the Latin word credo which means “I and say, “I believe, Lord, help me in
believe.”
my disbelief.”
Do you believe?
On Easter Sunday we gather to
worship with Christian believers
Together in Christ,
around the world, with Christians of all
Pastor Yvonne
times and all places, to stand before
Members
the reality of death, the finality of the
Upcoming Events
tomb, to proclaim, “I believe!”
“SHARING
GOD’S
LOVE
WITH
A L L”
Inside this issue:
The Messenger
OUR SAVIOUR’S LUTHERAN CHURCH - WHITEHALL, WI
Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
2
3
Church News
4
Easter Message 1
5
Easter Flowers
6
Flowers Continued
7
WELCA
8
Mission Kits
9
Easter Message 2
10
April Calendar
11
April Birthdays
12
Grandview Care Center - Blair
Tri-County Memorial - Whitehall
Goodwin Anderson,
Selma Estenson, Marie Lee,
Pastor Richard Kelling
Hallie Nordhagen, Iva Gabriel
Pigeon Falls Assisted Living/Nursing Care
Sunrise Manor - Whitehall
Center
Francis Foss, Margaret Steinke, Dorothy Vito,
Patricia Giebel
Riverway North - Pigeon Falls
Helen Kleven, Clinton Larson
Crystal Lake Manor - Strum
Lorraine Narva , Marian Miller
Roy Arneson
Altar Guild: Barb Johnson, Barb Mathson,
Dawn Sauerwein.
Altar Guild: Brenda Loga, Marnie Anderson.
Altar Flowers: Linda Schaefer
Ushers: Paul and Mary Beck
Ushers: Linda Middleton, Harriet Witt
Communion Servers: David and Marnie Anderson
Altar Flowers: Kris Dubiel
Communion Servers: Bruce and Margo Ausderau Organist: Nancy Martinovici, Sue Kohnert
Organist: Nancy Martinovici, Sue Kohnert
Office Closure
The church office will be closed on Tuesday, April 5th and Thursday, April 7th
as our church secretary will be gone on vacation. Sorry for any inconveniences !
PAGE 2
T HE M E S S E N G E R
Refurbish Fest
A fun, new fundraising event is scheduled for June 11, 2016.
An informational and planning meeting for the event was held
on March 29 to iron out some details -- more info is to come
in the May Messenger. We'll be looking for donations of
refurbished furniture and home decor items from you! Spend
quality time with your family creating a fun, funky piece while
contributing to a great cause! Take a look at our "Refurbish
Inspiration" Pinterest board http://pin.it/MH5qsVE to get
your wheels spinning! Not crafty but have something you'd
Contacts:
like to part with? You can donate your item to our 'stash'
where crafty members can fix it into something fresh and
Laura Foss: 715-797-5342,
new! (Ideas: wooden furniture such as a dresser, hutch, end
[email protected]
tables; old windows, doors, shutters) Many funky, old items
take on a new personality with a little paint and
creativity...nothing is too old or ugly to be flipped! More info Viola Jacobson: 715-538-2150,
about the event, volunteering, and donating items can be
[email protected]
found in upcoming editions of The Messenger.
Hues for Houston!
Come join Youth and Family for a Painting Party! Learn how to paint a
portrait with "Pigments and Port" on April 6th in the basement of Our
Saviour's. Everyone is welcome but you must buy a ticket ahead of time.
Cost is $30 per person. This is a fundraiser to get Our Saviour's High school
students to attend the 2018 Youth Conference in Houston! Contact Patti
Zimmerman at 715-530-1350 or [email protected] for tickets.
Upcoming Church Meals
On Sunday, April 12th , Men’s Brotherhood will be serving a pancake breakfast
in the Fellowship Hall for World Hunger. Then on Wednesday, April 20th, Our
local Girl Scouts will be serving a Taco Supper from 4:30-6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Come enjoy!
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T HE M E S S E N G E R
Attention Confirmation Students!
Confirmation classes will continue to take place on Wednesday evenings from
5:00pm to 6:00pm. We will see you there!
Men’s Brotherhood Dues
Thank you to all the men of Our Saviour’s Lutheran who paid their annual dues to
help financially support our local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops. God bless!
Holy Communion
Congratulations to McKenna Pientok, Mason Pientok, Brianna Harvie, and Tara
Harvie for receiving their first holy communion on Sunday, March 20, 2016.
Holy Baptism
We welcomed Skylar Dawn Ehrat, daughter of Tim and Bethany Ehrat,
into our family of faith through the holy sacrament of Baptism on
February 28th, 2016. Her sponsors are Tiffany Theisen and Eric Ehrat.
God bless Skylar and her family!
Holy Baptism
We welcomed Ava Mae Dahl and Jaxson Allen Dahl, children of Kim
Dahl, into our family of faith through the holy sacrament of Baptism on
February 28th, 2016. Their sponsors are Tammy Powell and Michael Dahl.
We pray for Ava, Jaxson, and their families.
In Christian Sympathy
We pray for the family and friends of Dr. Eliot Elliot, father of Pastor Yvonne, who
passed into eternal life on March 2, 2016 in Portage, WI. We hold in prayer family and
friends of Clark Kohnert, who passed into eternal life on March 7, 2016. We also hold
in prayer, friends and family of Donald Laehn, who entered into eternal life on March
9, 2016. Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and light perpetual shine upon them.
PAGE 4
T HE M E S S E N G E R
Easter is early this year, and in many places across this church trees will still be bare and fields barren. It might even snow. But on Easter
morning we will gather to greet the risen Son and give thanks to God for the new life we have in Jesus Christ.
Two things come to mind this Easter when there is still only the hint of spring: Jesus’ words to his disciples just before his crucifixion and a
hymn.
Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it
remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” Jesus was talking about his death, but he was also assuring his disciples and
us that death is not the end, that, though it might seem impossible and even terrifying to step into the void, God brings life out of death.
The hymn is ELW 379:
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; love lives again, that with the
dead has been; love is come again like wheat arising green.
The tune is actually a French Christmas carol. How perfect that, in the bleak midwinter, the promise of spring was planted.
St. Paul wrote, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” We have already
fallen into the earth and died. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection
like his.” We will not remain alone. We will bear fruit.
The seed has been planted in all the barren places in the world and in our lives. That gives us the power and the hope – especially in the
face of our brokenness – to see life where the world only sees death ... in refugee camps and hospice units, in parched earth and in floods,
in oppression and denied justice we are bold to confess. Now the green blade rises. Now love lives again. Now love comes again like
wheat arising green.
Christ is risen.
Elizabeth A. Eaton: Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
PAGE 5
T HE M E S S E N G E R
In Loving Memory of:
*Sidney & Dale Borreson by Irene Borreson
*My Husband, Charles, by Mary Ann Watson
*My Daughter, Connie, by Mary Ann Watson
*Lois Everson by Paula Hentges
*John Witte by Karen Witte
*Janice Chamberlain by Karen Witte
*Roger Middleton by Linda Middleton
*Morgan, Blanche & Duane Halverson by Shirley Wozney
*Frank Coburn by Deloris Coburn & Family
*Granddaughter Kari Coburn by Deloris Coburn & Family
*Grandson Neil Coburn by Deloris Coburn & Family
*Raymond & Alma Loga, Hugh & Alvina Goard, John & Viola Dunham by Dave & Brenda
Loga
*Norman & Jurdice Foss, Harold Foss by Fred & Jan Staff
*Our Parents: Clarence & Agness Mathson, Elmer & Florence Ryan by John & Shirley
Mathson
*John Hansen by Sue Hansen & Family
*Esther & Alvin Nelson by Jim & Kay Nelson
*Nathalie Rusk & Stella Ringstad by John, Paula & Nick Powell; Paul & Megan Nelson;
Cody Bautch
*Ruth Powell by John, Paula & Nick Powell; Paul & Megan Nelson; Cody Bautch
*Tom Toraason by Ann Toraason & Family
*Hulda & Clarence Schaefer by Linda & David Schaefer
*Walter & Edna Schelm by Linda & David Schaefer
*Peter Speerstra by Jack & Mary Speerstra & Family
*Ronald E. Harms by Barbara J. Harms
*Bill & Mary Pat DeLong by Jack & Mary Speerstra & Family
PAGE 6
T HE M E S S E N G E R
*Arnold, Sandra, & Scott Oelrich by Roger Oelrich
*My Grandparents, Odell & Marcella Schansberg; Alfred &
Eleanora Sesvold; Ed & Nina Schroeder by Jeff & Melanie Sygulla
*Nathan Schmitt by Scott & Lisa Schmitt
*Tom Hegge by Rita Hegge & family
*Arnold & Victoria Hanson by Bruce & Margo Ausderau
*Edward Ausderau by Bruce & Margo Ausderau
*Leonard & Helen Foss and Victor & Samuel Foss by the Sharon Foss Family
*David Witt by Harriet Witt
*Duane & Teddy Foss by family of Duane & Teddy
*Richard & Jeffrey Herman by Muriel Herman
In Honor of:
*Our 3 Grandsons, Devin Klomsten; Jackson & Gannon Loga by Dave & Brenda Loga
*Our Godchildren, Mikayla, Chloe, Darren by Kris & Duane Dubiel
*Willard & Helen Halverson by Jim & Kay Nelson
*Marilyn Speerstra by Jack & Mary Speerstra & Family
Thank you for blessing our church with Easter flowers.
Youth and Family Word of Thanks
Thank you to Harriet Witt, Lisa Schmitt, Marnie Anderson, Melissa Frank, Mary Speerstra, Kay Nelson,
Rita Hegge, Karen Witte, Gloria Qualley, Clarice Laehn, Barb Johnson, Christy Moats, Donna Fernholz,
Viola Jacobson, Shirley Wozney, Rhonda Lofgren, Mim Richter, Mary Ann Watson, and Donna Lindberg
for providing soup for the Lenten Soup Suppers. Thank you to the confirmation students’ parents for
providing bread and bars each week. Thank you to all the people who came, ate and donated
generously! The Confirmation students have some exciting things coming up such as a lock-in and a
night of quilting with ladies from our church. The soup donations will be used to fund these activities
along with Luther Park!
PAGE 7
T HE M E S S E N G E R
ATTENTION GRADUATING SENIORS!
Our Saviour ’ s Lutheran high school seniors graduating in 2016 are
invited to apply for the WELCA Education Grant worth $500 towards
college expenses. Please drop off your application to the church office by
May 1st. If you did not receive an application in the mail, please contact
Bev Waldera at 715-538-4002. Thanks!
Northwest Synod Women’s Organization Convention
“Ordinary Women Serving an Extraordinary God”
The convention will take place at the Plaza Suites in Eau Claire on Friday,
April 29th and Saturday, April 30th. Registration begins Friday evening,
April 29th, at 4pm. Early registration is $60 until April 13th and $70 after
that. Friday evening buffet is extra but Saturday lunch is included. You may
attend one or both days. Hotel accommodations are available. There will be
exhibits, speakers and work sessions, including making cards for residents
of the area Nursing Homes and tying fleece blankets for Veteran’s Homes
and area hospitals. Please see the agenda and registration form on the
WELCA bulletin board in the church entry way for further details.
WELCA Dairlyland Conference
The WELCA Dairyland Conference “Morning of Renewal” is on
Wednesday, April 20th at Trinity Lutheran of Norden, in Mondovi, WI.
Registration and coffee begins at 8:30am with the meeting and program
starting at 9:30am. The program will be singing and guitar accompaniment
by Sherri DePolis Thompson, who is enlightening, uplifting, and
entertaining. and a noon lunch will be served. Cost is $8 with registration
due by April 8th. ($10 at the door) Please contact Kay Nelson at
715-983-5760 to register and plan car pooling.
Vanilla for Sale!
WELCA continues to have Watkins Vanilla for sale. The cost is $15 per bottle. There is
light and dark variations available. The bottles are located the narthex and in front of
the Fellowship Hall. Please make checks payable to WELCA. Enjoy!
PAGE 6
T HE M E S S E N G E R
Why wait until fall to begin collecting supplies for mission kits?
Each month we will try and collect certain items so the kits will be
ready to go by October. Cut out the list of items for each month
and take it with you when you go shopping. If you have any
questions please contact Marnie Anderson at 715-538-2255. Also
check out lwr.org/getinvolved/kits for more information on
mission kits.
Socks (Baby socks up to 24 months) T-Shirts, Sleepers
(Long and short sleeve sleepers without feet up to 24
months) Gowns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Combs (sturdy wide tooth), Nail clippers, Toothbrushes
(adult size)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jackets, Sweaters (Baby size up to 24 months with a
hood or cap, preferably front ties or buttons)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Notebooks (70 count wide rule) Blunt scissors, Pink
erasers, Ballpoint pens, Crayons (16 or 24 count)
#2 Pencils, Rulers (30 cm or in and cm) Pencil
sharpener (hand held)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Diapers (Cloth flat fold preferred - Can be made from
flannel or old T shirts)
PAGE 7
T HE M E S S E N G E R
For the 34 years I served as a parish pastor, I maintained a
love/hate relationship with Easter.
I loved the Easter morning crowds, the aroma of Easter
breakfasts, the energy of the musicians, the children in
Easter finery, the drama leading in from Holy Week,
and, the story.
I hated the pressure. The Easter sermon always
seemed more important than that of any other
Sunday. And yet, the pressure to say something more
important than any other Sunday, was never a
pleasant experience.
34 Easter Sermons. I can only remember one. How's that for a failure rate? Thousands
of people heard me preach over those many years, and I wonder, how many of them
remember a single word I said.
Since becoming a bishop, I've had two years off. Two years off of Easter that is. But this
year, I have been invited to preach in one of our congregations on Easter morning. And,
as I write this, 3 1/2 weeks out, I'm already beginning to fuss. On any other Sunday, I don't
start fussing until a couple of days before.
Easter matters. And because it matters, I'd like to think my fussing is not about my own
frailties and failings, but rather about my need to not mess this one thing up. This one
thing: That God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that all who believe in him
will never perish.
That message matters. And it matters not only for Easter preachers, but for every person
we love (and don't love) that is a part of our lives. And because it matters, we who
believe in God's love, are ALL preachers! I can't, and don't have to, do this alone. God
has sent a veritable army of preachers into the world on every Easter morning. And me, I
am just one, still, small voice. I like that. I like not having to carry the entire load on Easter
morning. I like being a part of the church. An imperfect gathering of saints and sinners
that fail more than most, but still, believe that God loved them enough to die and rise for
them.
Maybe this year, I will love Easter, and leave the hate behind. 1 out of 35. That's not too
bad.
Bishop Rick Hoyme,
Northwest Synod of Wisconsin -ELCA
Sun
Mon
3
Tue
4
Wed
Quilting 8:30am 5
Worship Meeting
6:00pm
Worship 9:30am
Church Council
Meeting 7:00pm
Sunday School
10:30am
Praise Team Practice
7:00pm
*OFFICE CLOSED*
11
12
10
Thu
6
Sunday’s Comin’
9:15am
Fri
7
Sat
1
2
8
9
15
16
JCrew 6:30pm
Senior Choir Practice
7:00pm
Port & Paint
Fundraiser 6:00pm
13
Sunday’s Comin’
9:15am
Kid’s Choir Practice
3:35pm
*OFFICE CLOSED*
14
JCrew 6:30pm
Senior Choir Practice
7:00pm
Worship 9:30am
Sunday School
10:30am
Confirmation with
Quilters 4:00pm
Praise Team Practice
7:00pm
17
18
19
Worship 9:30am
Kid’s Choir Practice
3:35pm
20
Sunday’s Comin’
9:15am
21
Confirmation LockIn
22
23
29
30
JCrew 6:30pm
Sunday School
10:30am
Senior Choir Practice
7:00pm
Kid’s Choir Practice
3:35pm
Confirmation 5:00pm
*Men’s BrotherhoodPancake Breakfast*
Praise Team Practice
7:00pm
24
25
Quilting 8:30am
26
Girl Scout Taco Supper
4:30pm
27
Sunday’s Comin’
9:15am
Cub Scout Meeting
6:00pm
28
Confirmation 5:00pm
JCrew 6:30pm
Worship 9:30am
VOLUME 18, ISSUE 4
Sunday School
10:30am
Senior Choir Practice
7:00pm
Property and Finance
Meeting 6:00pm
Kid’s Choir Practice
3:35pm
Page 11
“Sharing God’s Love With
Non Profit
All”
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
36197 Main Street
P.O. Box 455
Whitehall, WI 54773
Permit 15
Whitehall
Return Service
Requested
Church E-mail: [email protected]
Pastor Yvonne Marshall
Church Website: oslcwhitehall.org
Pastor’s Cell: 712-308-6741
Office Hours:
Pastor’s E-mail:
[email protected]
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-1pm
Church Secretary: Megan Nelson
Church Office: 715-538-4334
Tuesday, Thursday 7am-2pm
*OFFICE CLOSED TUESDAY, APRIL 5th &
THURSDAY, APRIL 7th
Check us out on Facebook and friend Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Whitehall, WI
and Pastor Yvonne Kiefer Marshall
1 - Brandon Giebel
16 - Linda Blaha, Brenda Loga
2 - Hallie Nordhagen, Parker Windjue
17 - Denise Lindberg
3 - Mary Hanson, Eric Herman, Keith Johnson
18 - James Nelson
4 - Jeanette Gilbertson, Carter Semb
19 - Addison Herman, Wendy Herman
5 - Ashton Hanson
20 - Alana Hanson
6 - Gale Gabriel, Debra Oates
21 - Fredrick Staff, Mary Ann Watson
7 - Virgina Clipper, Mikhael Haines, Dale Lyngen
22 - Chase Hanevold, Michelle Knudtson,
9 - Brianna Glanzman
Patricia Pampuch
11 - Lori Berg, Cody Blaha, Liam Hegge, Shay Olson
24 -Sue Kohnert, Adison Pronschinske
12 - Nicholas Koxlien, McKenna Pientok,
27 - Mary Speerstra, Ann Toraason
Savannah Rieck
14 - Taytum Koxlien
29 - David Blaha
30 - Mason Pientok, James Schorbahn