The Tidings of Peace April Peace Lutheran Church Church Office: 755-2515 or 294-3811 Website: www.plcdresser.org Find us on facebook! Office open: Tues.-Fri. 7am-5pm Where to find it! April Servant Schedule 2 Pastor Jon’s Message 3 Holy Week/Easter Schedule 4 Parish Nurse Notes 5 Executive Secretary Pat Adam 715-222-9404 Email: [email protected] SEEK GOD and April SHINE Focus 6 VBS & Summer Splash 7 Council President Dale Cotch 715-441-5518 Education Ministry 8-9 Youth Ministry 10 HS Upcoming Events 11 April Birthdays 12 Letter from Troops in Liberia 13 Outreach Opportunities 14 Cemetery Flower Care 15 Business as Usual 16 Things to Do! 17 Church Contacts Bridge Pastor Jon Becker 651-380-8555 Email: [email protected] Parish Nurse Karen Fossum Email: [email protected] Director of Christian Education Ronda Haley Email: [email protected] Custodians Jodi Swenson and Cindy Doiron Treasurer Kathy Vesperman Financial Secretaries Dorothy Lindholm and Bonnie Crary April Servant Schedule 8:30 am April 5-Easter Ushers Prokop/Todd families Lay Readers Sara Haase Greeters Aaron & Miranda Hartman Acolytes McKenna Hollman 10:45 am Chris Chinander Norma Lundgren Garrett Johnson April 5-6:30 am Ushers: Jon Riemer family April 12-Praise Band at 10:45 service Ushers Mark & Maria Gjovig Lay Reader Volunteer? Greeters Aaron & Miranda Hartman Acolytes Blake Slater Alan Puterbaugh family Mary Drinkwine Dale & Lori Getschel Colin Krentz April 19 Ushers Dick Blattner & Dave Stephansen John & Pat Adam Lay Readers Danielle Nelson Ilene Chapman Greeters Mavis Lindahl & Angie LaMirande Barb Hanson Acolytes Trevor LaMirande Ryan Leidle April 26-Praise Band at 10:45 service Ushers Bruce Swenson & Paul Lindholm Lay Readers Anne Miller Solsrud Greeters Jerry Kolve & Betty Kolve Acolytes Madison Link John Haley & Peter Ward Michelle Ward Volunteer? Adam Orton Altar Guild: 8:30– Sandy Ball 10:45– Shawn Busby Communion Helper: 8:30-Alice Moris 10:45-Angie Gehrman 2 Pastor’s Page Dear Brothers and Sisters of our Resurrected Lord, life, death and resurrection, and again know the joy of hope. In the resurrected Jesus, there is hope for us and hope for this world. Sometimes we are almost overwhelmed by the events and problems that surround us in daily life. We are rightfully concerned about many things:  A marriage that seems to be falling apart, slowly, right before our eyes;  Problems with our children and their actions, the words they use, the things they say they believe in;  Polluted water, air and land; dumps filled to overflowing with waste; a desperate need to begin recycling;  Drugs and alcohol abuse right here in northern Wisconsin;  Loneliness, depression and sorrow sometimes seem to be growing out of control inside us;   Easter means hope! Easter means that death and evil have been defeated once and for all. Although the power of evil and hate and despair seem to be so strong, they will not triumph. Our Easter hope may manifest itself in surprise happenings or in long, time consuming steps, but in Christ we do have hope. Change and growth and rebirth are possible in our Resurrected Lord. Just as spring brings us new life, joy, and beauty with the colorful flowers and soft green buds on trees after the bleak drabness of winter, so too does Christ bring growth, rebirth, and change into our lives and into our world. This spring, as we enjoy the crocus, tulips, and lilies, may their beauty and rebirth remind us of Christ's resurrection and the hope He has brought to earth. As demonstrated in many countries, one individual in a position of power can cause the death of thousands and thousands of people and cause tragic things to happen that affect our whole world; May God bless you this Easter season. Pastor Jon A FULL LIFE Abuse of children, spouses, and the elderly. Christ came to fill our hearts with joy, our minds with truth, our souls with peace, our lives with love. Christ came to fill, to leave nothing empty but a tomb. It does often seem that most things in this world and in our life are hopeless. When we feel this way, trapped by the circumstances in which we feel caught, we then need to read the Good News of Jesus' 3 Easter Schedule Palm Sunday, March 29th 8:30 & 10:45 am Services with Choir Cantata Thurs., April 2nd-Maundy Thursday 6:00 pm Potluck Supper 6:30 pm Mentors/Students meet 7:00 pm Worship Service Good Friday 9:00-11:45am Good Friday Mini-Camp (Kindg.-6th grade) Noon-Service Easter Sunday 6:30, 8:30 & 10:45 am Worship Services Breakfast served by Mission Trip youth 7:30-10:30 am This Easter we are displaying the beautiful flowers as an “Easter Garden” in the front of the sanctuary. We are asking that you consider leaving your flower(s) at Peace for a week or two so we may enjoy the beauty of the garden for a couple of weeks. “Walking Together” Synod Event, Saturday, May 30th Along with the Synod Assembly the NW Synod is offering a day of workshops that all members are invited to attend. Over 40 workshops will be presented and following are a few of the topics: Discovery and Practice of Spiritual Gifts; Change and Thrive; Be Still and Know that I am God; Islam is not ISIS; Millennials Unpacked-What 20-Somthings are Seeking & Finding in the Church; Where’s the Youth?; The Church Has Left the Building; The Matthew Project-Love God, Love People, Change the World and many more! Cost is $15 (if registered by May 22) per person and includes the programs and lunch. Please call the office if you are interested in attending. 4 Parish Nurse Notes! I will be presenting the last component of the Model for Healthy Living in April after Easter. The final focus in on EMOTIONAL. Stress in our lives or conditions such as anxiety and depression are huge factors in our overall health. We need to consider them as much as we consider other factors. Through understanding your feelings and emotional needs, you can make changes to take better care of yourself or to seek help in managing your stressors or coping with a mental illness. Lots of good info on this one, folks. Early spring tends to be a busy time for severe weather forecasters, but so far there have been no tornadoes anywhere in the country (at the time that I am writing this.) According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK where watches are issued, this has never happened since the Storm Prediction Center began keeping records dating back to 1970. This, of course, is a good thing. Tornados are the main weather-related event of which we here in Wisconsin have to be concerned. And it looks like severe spring-flooding has dodged us this year as well. I recently read an article in the Church Health Reader taking words of wisdom from a book entitled “Help and Hope” by Amy Gopp and Brandon L Gilvin. It reminds us that in a world created by an all-powerful and loving God, disasters do happen; and the question shouldn’t be “Will a disaster strike my community?” but rather “When disaster strikes my community, how might our congregation be best prepared to respond to it?” The article’s recommendations include: DO  Check on your neighbors and the elderly or vulnerable.  Check with your local Disaster Relief organization before collection before collecting material donations.  Encourage your congregation to become involved in the formation of a long-term recovery committee. DON’T  Self-deploy as a volunteer, especially during the search and rescue phase.  Collect material donations without arranging an appropriate destination.  Organize material good distributions that might compromise an affected person’s eligibility for aid. A presentation called Advance Directives: Making Your Choices Known will be held at the Osceola Medical Center’s Cascade Room on Tuesday, April 7th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. This seminar is free and open to the public. For the sake of your loved ones, I can’t emphasize enough the value of having your affairs in order. I would encourage anyone who hasn’t made out Advanced Directives to attend!!! Have a blessed Easter and enjoy all the beauty of springtime, Karen 5 SEEK YE FIRST The Kingdom of God And His righteousness. And all these things Shall be added unto you ALLELU, ALLELUIA! (based on Matthew 6:33) This familiar song has been sung in churches, Bible Camps, youth gatherings, conferences, and by Sunday School children since it was written in 1972 by Karen Lafferty. She wrote it after attending a Bible Study on the Bible verse from Matthew 6:33 and being inspired by the promise it held for all of us. We have learned that our children (and us) learn and retain so much more when it is taught through song. Just think about how many words you remember to old songs when you hear them sung. And what a super way to remember Bible verses!! Your challenge is to memorize Seek Ye First!! But what does it mean to SEEK FIRST the KINGDOM OF GOD? We are to seek the things of God as a priority over the things of the world, seeking God with all our heart and soul (Deut 4:29). Does this mean that we should neglect the reasonable and daily duties of our lives? Of course not. But for the Christian, there should be a difference in attitude toward them. If we are taking care of God’s business as a priority—seeking to know God, living in obedience to Him, and sharing the good news of the kingdom with others— then God will take care of our business as promised! Let Christ’s Light Shine! Share His Incredible News Everywhere! In April our SHINE focus will be on St. Croix Valley MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) This Christian based group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:00-8:30 pm at SCF High School. MOPS is open to moms and their children of any age who wish for interaction and fellowship. They offer a free meal at 5:30 pm followed by a meeting at 6:15pm. Childcare is provided during the meeting. Our Noisy Offering on April 12th will be given to the MOPS program to sponsor the cost of the meal and program in April. Members of Peace that attend MOPS are also selling yogurt parfaits on Palm Sunday with the proceeds going to their program. 6 Vacation Bible School (VBS) for children entering Kindergarten through 3rd grade Four Wednesday afternoons June 10th, 17th, 24th and July 1st... Noon—4:30pm (Check with school about taking the bus from Summer School to Peace.) VBS runs at the same time as Summer Splash to accommodate families that have children in both age groups. Registration forms are available online at www.plcdresser.org and at church. JOIN US for a TREE-MENDOUS TIME discovering how Jesus is at work through us! A director or co-directors are needed for VBS to be held ...please contact Ronda for details as soon as possible. Adults/Youth...we invite you to sign up for the area you would like to help with on the Welcome Center (your time commitment for VBS would be from 2-4pm) OR please call Ronda Haley (755-2515)! THANK YOU! Music Crafts Lunch Games Nursery BibleStory Snacks Decorations Summer Splash for children entering 4th—6th Grade Four Wednesday afternoons June 10th, 17th, 24th, and July 1st … Noon—4:30pm Registration forms are available on online at www.plcdresser.org and at the Welcome Center and Youth Bulletin Board. If you are entering 4th-6th grade, we invite you to come to this great four week program. We’ll get together each Wednesday from Noon—4:30pm for a fun afternoon of challenging and rewarding experiences. We’ll have lunch together, spend time having fun with Luther Point staff and then do fun projects and learn new skills. It’s going to be a great way to meet new people and have fun! Invite your friends! (PS. Check into taking the bus from Summer School.) Adults/Youth...we need your help with Splash, too! If you can help with this program, please contact Jessica O’Connor at 755-2515. Possible Splash Classes: GeoCacheing, WoodWorking, Fishing, Jewelry, Cooking, Photography 7 EDUCATIONNEWSPage1 Adult Education Opportunities SUNDAY SCHOOL Easter Schedule Classes, Bible Studies, Conferences NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Men in Mission -- Bible Study Thursdays, 6am, Our Place Café SCF Call Bill Stevenson (262-853-5439) Easter Sunday—April 5TH WONDROUS CROSS Family Sunday School Event Sunday, April 12th 9:35—10:35am Rachael Circle -- Bible Study April 22nd - 1:30pm – at church Call Ramona Paulson (294-2665) Women’s Bible Study NEW STUDY: April 15 – May 20 “Prayer: Does it make a difference?” Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30am Joyful Morning in Dresser Cost: $8 Call Ronda Haley (755-2515) Shining Stars Sunday School for 3 & 4 yr olds ADULT MISSION TRIP Next year’s PreK class is invited to attend four weeks of Sunday School with this year’s PreK class, beginning April 12th, ending May 17th. OR LOCAL HABITAT BUILD ARE YOU INTERESTED? Invites will be sent. If you know of a child who will be 4-years-old by Sept 1st, 2015, please contact the church office. (755-2515). CONTACT THE CHURCH OFFICE 8 EDUCATIONNEWSPage2 TOT-Time ConfirMania! 7 th -8 th Pre-schoolers, Toddlers and Grade Confirmation NO CONFIRMATION APRIL 8TH April 7th & 21st Maundy Thursday, April 2nd, is the last night for our 7th graders until fall. We have had a great year together and look forward to gathering with you again in September. Seventh grade families will be contacted for help with the Confirmation Reception held May 3rd between services. 10:00– 11:00am Jesus loves the little children! Our sincere thanks to our Mentors who have been sharing their time and love with our students every week since September: 8th: Dirk Anderson, Angie Gorres, Alan Puterbaugh, Brandon Robinson, Kathy Ulrich 7th: Trinity Greenquist, Jill Hinze, Jessie Link, Katie Raddatz, Paul Smith, Jason Swanson, Andy Willeman We especially thank those who are serving as Lenten Mentors during the seven weeks during Lent. It is so great to see everyone gathering together. We hope you will continue to greet each other and catch up with one another during the summer months! Confirmation Sunday May 3rd Students will be confirmed at the 10:45 service. A special reception with bars, coffee, and juice provided by the 7th grade families is held between services. Family, friends, and members of the congregation are invited to this celebration. 8th Grade Confirmands Sermon notes and homework must be completed by Sunday, April 26th in order to be confirmed May 3rd. Sunday School will be held May 3rd. “RECRUITS OF THE CROSS” 6-8pm ROTC 1—April 15th ROTC 2—April 22nd (with parents) 9 Peace Lutheran Youth Ministry Mission Statement: To be an instrument used by the Holy Spirit to bring youth to faith in Jesus Christ. The strategies by which we accomplish this purpose are: Worship, Service, Learning and Fellowship. Youth Ministry Team: Angie Gehrman, Robin Ekstrom, Alan Puterbaugh, Jason & Sonya Swanson, Brett Carlson, Shari Steele Sunday Morning Opportunities (9:35-10:40 am) SONday (for youth 9-12 grade) We meet in the Haven room in the Ed Wing GODtime (for youth 7 & 8 grade) Each Sunday morning a group of your friends meet in the Youth Room for treats, games, study and fun. CLUB56 (for youth in 5-6 grade) This is a Sunday morning club just for 5 & 6 graders Wednesday Night HS Youth Group 9th-12th graders-please join us for HS Youth Group. from 6-7:30 pm. Supper is at 6:00 pm (bring $2 for supper). We gather in the Youth Room to eat, share exciting and challenging devos and hang out. Bring a friend! Mission Trip 2015 July 9th-19th to Mission, South Dakota 10 Easter Breakfast  Sunday, April 5th  Mission Trip Youth & Parents ~ help is needed! FMSC Youth Packing Evening (7th-12th Graders)  Friday, April 10th, 5:00-7:00 pm at Hope Church 7th & 8th Grade Lock-in  Sat., April 25th Spaghetti Supper & Silent Auction  Friday, May 8th Baccalaureate Service  Wed., May 13th Sr. High Lock-in  Fri., June 5th Peace 5k  Sat., June 20th 11 Celebrating April Birthdays! 12 This letter was received March 10 from LTC Ross F. Lightsey, Sr., from the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, Liberia. 13 Peace Lutheran Spring Free Clothing Event Feed My Starving Children MobilePack Event April 10-11th Hope Evangelical Church Monday, April 13, 2:00-6:00pm. Spring and summer clothing in good, wearable condition will be accepted and offered to the public. Due to Easter services and breakfast, please bring your donations after Easter Sunday. Volunteer help is needed for setting up on Sunday, April 12, noon-2:00 pm. This is the event that is made possible by your generous donations. Several local churches joined together to bring this outreach opportunity to our area. To volunteer: Serenity Home Meals Ruby’s Pantry Food Distribution, The 4th Monday of each month Peace provides the supper meal for the residents of Serenity Home Shelter. There is a sign up sheet at the Welcome Center. The meal should feed 22 persons and consist of a main entrée, vegetable, bread and milk. Dessert is optional but welcomed! Please consider signing up as a family or with a friend. Thurs., April 16th at the N. Richmond National Guard Armory. Doors open at 5:00 pm and distribution is until 7:30 pm. Cost of $20 donation to offset trucking costs. Bring 2 lg. boxes or laundry baskets to load your food in. Everyone is welcome-there are no income qualifications. Volunteers are also needed to help call 715-248-3675. Bloodmobile at Peace! Monday, April 13, Noon-6:00 pm For an appointment, call 1-800-7332767 or visit www.redcrossblood.org and search Sponsor Code: Osceola. 14 Planting a Successful Cemetery Urn Choose annuals that are heat and drought resistant (see list below). Ensure that the container is large enough to accommodate the plants. Don’t overcrowd the plants as they need room to grow. Placing a coffee filter over the drainage hole on the bottom of the pot helps to keep moisture in the container longer. It also helps to add mulch in the bottom of large containers to decrease the weight of the pot. Moisture control soil is ideal to use and the mixture should also contain a slow release fertilizer. Place a layer of mulch on the top of the pot to help maintain soil moisture. Leave 1-2” to avoid water run-off. Containers should be slowly and thoroughly watered. TRAILING PLANTS: Vinca Vine, Sweet Potato Vine, Wave Petunias, Ivy Geraniums FILLERS/FOLIAGE: Green Spike, Ornamental Grasses, Coleus for Sun, Dusty Miller FLOWERING: Geraniums, Petunias, Bidens, Angelonia, Vinca, Zinnia, Verbana, Latana, Marigolds, Fibrous Begonias, Ageratum Please Note: If you are willing to be on a rotation to water the cemetery plants this summer please contact Pat. Last summer we split the sections and each watered one section every 2 weeks. Also, if you have decorative items on the ground around the grave monument our contracted mower will not weed whip that area. The weed whip can break or damage these items. Please trim around those items yourself. Help keep our cemetery looking nice! 15 Pastoral Duties: Sunday, March 8th: Baptism of Kynzlee Christine Louise, daughter of Joe and Cassie Berg Sat., March 28th: Funeral service for Ted Bents, Sr. Pastoral Call Update: A Special Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, March 22 at 10:00 am. The sole item on the agenda was to vote to call Pastor Alan Buresh to Peace as our permanent full-time pastor. A 2/3 majority vote was needed to pass and we surpassed that with 99% voting yes. A formal Letter of Call has been signed and sent to the office of the NW Synod of WI. This letter will be signed by the Bishop and sent to Pastor Alan for his acceptance. Peace council will keep us all updated on the process. AN EASTER BLESSING May things of joy, beauty, truth, and love BLOOM in your life. And if not bloom, then SPROUT. And if not sprout, then TAKE ROOT. And if not take root, then BE SOWN. by Raymond J. Council College-bound or current college students: The Larson Scholarship applications are available online on the Peace website. Click on the Download Forms button. The completed forms must be returned to Peace by May 1st. Attendance March 1: 106/75 March 8: 150/75 March 15: 137/75 March 22 (9:00 am service only): 290 Congregational Meeting at 10:00 am: 197 votes Average Lenten Services attendance: 135 Financial Report Needed to date $ 98,858.04 Received to date $ 86,861.07 Ahead or Behind $- ( 11,996.97) 16 Bible Studies/Groups Prayer Shawl Ministry 1st Sunday of each month in the Sanctuary Christian Women’s Connection Monday, April 20, 11:30am Lake Wapo Bible Camp Speaker: Finding Balance in Your Life Cost is $10, rsvp to Carrie at 715-554-2330 Men in Mission Meet every Thursday at 6 am at Our Place Café, SCF. Easter Concert April 3, 4, & 5th, 7:00pm at Peace Lutheran 3rd Thursday Group Thursday, April 16, 9:00 am at Our Place Cafe, SCF St. Croix Valley Christian Community Choir presents, Who Do You Say I Am? by Claire Cloninger (With additional music from Jesus, Son of God by Jay Rouse) Hymn Sing Bethel University Sunday, April 19th, 3:00 pm Free admission. Free-will offering will be collected. Coffee & cookies following the event. Join the Bethel community as they gather for an uplifting time of praise through song! 17 Rachael Circle April 22 1:30 pm Hostess: Weds. Women’s Bible Study See Education pg. 8 for info on a new Bible Study beginning in April New members are always welcome to join in any of the above opportunities! Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Dresser, WI 54009 Permit No. 3 Peace Lutheran Church 2355 Clark Road P.O. Box 655 Dresser, WI 54009 Peace Lutheran Church of Dresser, Wisconsin, is a family of people, called by the Holy Spirit through the Word and Sacraments, to pray for the world and the coming of God’s kingdom, to care about the needs of others in God’s name, and to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. Peace Lutheran Church…. Called to Prayer, Called to Care, Called to Share. 18