Beaver Lake Lutheran
Church
May 2014
Cross Ways
Grow, Go & Glorify God
From Our Pastor:
PASTOR CHARLIE BROWN’S FAREWELL
Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor for the last eight years. In many ways,
the time has gone quickly. It has been filled with wonderful memories of things we
have experienced or done together. Your love, support and partnership in ministry has
been great. As I transition into retirement, I will always think about Beaver Lake Lutheran Church in good thoughts. May God continue to guide and direct the ministry
for many years to come.
The words of Andrea Crouch’s song: “To God Be The Glory” capsulizes my final
thoughts to you better than I ever could.
How can I say Thanks
For the things you have done for me
Things so underserved
Yet you gave to prove your love for me
The voices of a million angels
Cannot express my gratitude
All that I am or ever hope to be
I owe it all to Thee
(Chorus)
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
To God be the glory
For the things He has done
With His blood, He has saved me
With His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done
(Bridge)
Just let me live my life
And let it be pleasing, Lord to Thee
And should I gain any praise,
Let it go to Calvary.
With His blood, He has saved me
With His power, He has raised me.
To God be the glory
For the things he has done.
Together in Christ,
Pastor Charlie Brown
Thought for the Month:
When things become too hard
to stand; Kneel!
Psalm 29:3-4
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Interim Pastor
Reverend Michael L. Peterson will be BLLC’s Interim Pastor, with a start date of June 1, 2014. Pastor Mike has been in active
ministry for 25 years and has been called to both Assistant and Senior Pastor roles. He has additional training in Family Systems, Healthy Congregations, and CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) and worked as a chaplain in a hospital for a year. Pastor
Mike also has experience as an Interim Pastor and is just now finishing an Interim ministry position at Atonement Lutheran
Church in Blaine, MN. Pastor Mike is married to Natalie, and they have a blended family with 3 grown children; Adam, Tanya
and Nathan. Let’s all welcome Pastor Mike to his Interim position at Beaver Lake!
THE GREATEST SCAR STORY – Christi Brown
I can think of no better modern-day illustration of the sacrifice Jesus made for us than a
recent scar story I heard from a tennis friend of mine. As we were waiting for another match to
finish, she was relating how badly her knees hurt. This friend is the most fit 30-something-year
-old I know. Yet she sat beside me with a brace on each knee. I pointed to the open hole of her
knee brace and asked if her scar was from knee surgery. She told me, “No, it’s from my son,
and I actually have an identical scar on my other knee.”
You see, several years ago she scooped up her toddler son from the swimming pool and
began to walk towards a lounge chair. As she stepped onto the tiled patio, her foot slipped on
the wet slick surface. She was also seven months pregnant, and it was one of those moments
where you feel like you’re moving in slow motion but there’s nothing you can do to stop the
fall. Within a split second, she knew her momentum was toppling her forward, and she could
either face-plant and land on top of both her son and her unborn child, or she could fall on her
knees.
Of course, as any loving parent would do, she chose to fall on her knees directly onto the unforgiving concrete. Her knees
immediately burst open and blood went everywhere. She ended up needing stitches, which resulted in scars, but her son and
unborn child were both unscathed. It is hard for me to tell this story without tearing up, because to me, it serves as a miniscule
example of the immense sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ for us. You see, we are the beloved children of God for whom Jesus
took the fall. Christ suffered on the cross and endured unimaginable pain for us. His is the greatest scar story ever told.
“DID YOU KNOW THAT...”
Members of Beaver Lake Church recently contributed $330.00 to the ministry of Gideon’s International.
We had a very interesting Mid-week Lenten Series this year called: “Overheard Conversations From The
Cross” written by Arden Mead . Thank you to all who took part in the dramas. Using the “Holden Evening Prayer Service” along with it made each night very memorable. Also thanks to our liturgy leaders.
The Easter Garden was spectacular! Thanks to all of you who helped make that possible by your generous remembrance of
friends and loved ones. Special thanks to Lu Larsen and Susan McGarthwaite for laying out the garden.
The Easter Egg Hunt was a huge success! The kids found all of the eggs filled with candy in about 7 minutes. Thank you
for donating all the candy. Special thanks to Rick Joubert and Ben Richardson for serving as our life-sized bunnies that day.
We are starting our Summer Worship Schedule early this year because of Pastor Charlie’s retirement. We will begin having
one service each Sunday starting on May 11 th (Mother’s Day) at 9:30am; and continue that schedule through the Labor Day
Weekend.
Why is it good that there are female astronauts?
If the crew gets lost in space, at least the women will have sense enough to ask for directions.
Cross Ways
SHOES IN CHURCH
I showered and shaved and adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat in a pew just in time.
Bowing my head in prayer as I closed my eyes.
I saw the shoe of the man next to me touching my own. I sighed.
With plenty of room on either side I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'
It bothered me, his shoe touching mine, but it didn't bother him much.
A prayer began: “Our Father” I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride.
They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!'
'Thank You for blessings,' the prayer went on.
The shoe man said a quiet 'Amen’.
I tried to focus on the prayer... But my thoughts were on his shoes again...
Aren't we supposed to look our best when walking through that door?
Well, this certainly isn't it, I thought, glancing toward the floor.
Then the prayer was ended and the songs of praise began.
The shoe man was certainly loud sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters...His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear the shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering and what I threw in was steep.
I watched as the shoe man reached....into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out, what the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' as when silver hits tin.
The sermon really bored me to tears and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man. For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service as is the custom here
We must greet new visitors and show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow and wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer I reached over and shook his hand.
He was old and his skin was dark and his hair was truly a mess;
but I thanked him for coming. For being our guest.
He said, 'My name’s Charlie and I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes but he had a large, wide grin
'Let me explain,' he said, wiping tears from his eyes.
I've been coming here for months and you're the first to say 'Hi.'.
'I know that my appearance is not like all the rest;
but I really do try to always look my best.
'I always clean and polish my shoes before my very long walk
but by the time I get here they're dirty and dusty, like chalk.
My heart filled with pain and I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize for daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you then maybe our souls might unite.'
I was silent for a moment knowing whatever was said would pale in comparison.
I spoke from my heart, not my head.
'Oh, you've touched me,' I said 'and taught me, in part
'That the best of any man is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought, this shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am that his dirty old shoe touched my soul.
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Lutheran World Relief: Mission Quilt Project
We are making fantastic progress on our mission quilts!! Three are already completely finished and we
have 4 more quilt tops ready to tie. In the midst of all this wonderful productivity, we are having great
fun and fellowship. It never ceases to amaze me how much can be accomplished when we put our hands
– and hearts – together! We will meet again for quilting on May 17, at 9:00 am. Around noontime we
will have a potluck lunch. There are a multitude of different jobs to be done and a place for everyone.
Please consider joining us!
Our Lenten Journey
During Lent, we collected personal care items for people around the world to stay healthy in life’s most challenging situations. Through the
incredible generosity of this congregation, we collected:
302 Bars of Soap
494 Combs
73 Nail Clippers
263 Toothbrushes
72 Bath Towels
We also received $60.00 in monetary donations. The Health and Wellness Committee will use the donation money to purchase more bath
towels and nail clippers, to make as many Kits as possible. The Confirmation group will assemble the Personal Care Kits by gathering 2
bars of soap, one comb, one nail clipper, and a toothbrush and then wrapping them in a bath towel, and securing it with yarn or ribbon.
After the Kits are assembled we will have them blessed at one of our services, and then we will pack the Kits in boxes and they will be
ready to ship! Your kindness and generosity will be the beginning of a better future for communities in need around the world. Thank
You!!! Also, all donated items not used in Personal Care Kits this year will be saved and donated to the homeless through the 363 Program
or used for next year’s Basket of Promise collection.
A WONDERFUL MOTHER
God made a wonderful mother;
A mother who never grows old.
He made her smile out of sunshine;
And He molded her heart out of gold.
In her eyes He placed bright shining stars.
In her cheeks, fair roses, you see......
God made a wonderful mother;
And he gave that dear mother to me.
Summer Worship Schedule
Due to Pastor Charlie’s retirement and the start date of our Interim Pastor, (June 1 st) the summer worship schedule has been
moved up two weeks. We will begin our summer schedule with one service at 9:30 am beginning Sunday, May 11 th.
Deadline for Publications
Crossway articles are due by the 20th of each month
Info for weekly bulletin is due by noon each Thursday
Electronic content can be emailed to [email protected].
Do we have your Correct Address?
Please let us know when you have a new address,
phone number or Email address. This will help us with
our church directory, other publications and mailings.
Thank You!
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By: Deb Houtkooper
Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” ~Karen Kaiser Clark
Change is in the very nature of life itself. It happens to everyone and it happens every day. We understand this intellectually, but our hearts continually forget it because sometimes it is downright scary to think about change.
Small changes often go unnoticed, or may simply be a slight nuisance, like road construction on our usual route to church,
or our favorite grocery store changing its hours. Bigger changes can be uncomfortable, or even excruciatingly painful, like
when our health is challenged by disease or when we lose a beloved friend, sibling or spouse.
As human beings, we go about our lives and most of us develop our own routines; we get up in the morning, retrieve the
paper from the front step and read it while we are eating breakfast. Or, we wash our clothes on Mondays and grocery shop
on Tuesdays. I remember growing up my mom had a set of embroidered dishtowels, one for each day of the week with a
pretty lady going about her task of the day. We get comfortable with our habits and in fact, unless it is brought to our attention or something causes our routines to change, we don’t think about them much. We all get pretty attached to “the way
things are.”
Although change is in the very nature of life itself, change places demands on us. Every event in our lives can be viewed as
a force that is affecting us, whether the impact is to our physical, intellectual, emotional or spiritual well-being. When you
have life changes, they often include loss, and anytime something significant is lost, we grieve.
If you were able to join us on Health Ministry Sunday, you will remember the Wholeness Wheel and how it highlighted all
the different aspects that are an integral part of our makeup. One facet we discussed was emotional well-being, which is the
ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. Our beloved Pastor Charlie Brown has retired,
and this is a huge change - and loss - for each of us individually and for our congregation. While we are so thankful to him
for his ministry to us and happy for him to have the gift of time to spend however he wants, as a congregation, we are sad
and grieving the change. Our emotional wellness is being challenged as we work to cope with this loss.
Grief can be an amazingly helpful - albeit painful - emotion by assisting us as we move through changes in our lives. Grief
can literally stop us in our tracks and almost force us to take the time to remember. If we let it, grief allows us to feel a deep
sense of gratitude for the many ways we were touched on a soul-deep level, and blessed for having had that specialness in
our lives.
Nothing is permanent. But knowing this, even for an instant, reminds us to appreciate and be thankful
for the good times. Because of his leadership, Pastor Charlie is leaving a strong and healthy congregation. People worship at Beaver Lake because ours is a warm and caring community, a church family
with an enormously generous heart. Even as much as we will miss him, we are genuinely grateful to
have had Charlie Brown as our pastor. We will grieve, but it will be Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
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Dear families of Beaver Lake Lutheran Church,
It comes with beautiful memories and a heavy heart that we will be bidding you farewell at the end of this
school year. The LADC family has completely enjoyed our time spent teaching God’s children at your
church. We are thankful for the friendships we have made over the years and look forward to staying in
touch in the years to come. Should our paths cross again it would be a blessing to us all. At this time, it is
purely a business decision as our enrollment did not meet the necessary requirements to support the upcoming school year financially here at Beaver Lake. LADC is expanding and opening two new sites next
year so we do feel God’s blessings as he continues to open new doors allowing us to do what we loveTEACH GOD’S CHILDREN THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHILE MAKING SURE THEY BLOSSOM TO
THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS FUTURE KINDERGARDENERS!
We invite you to join us for our Circus celebration in the sanctuary April 30th and/or May 1st both at
10:30 a.m. Our students will be performing as lions, tigers, dancers, strong people, elephants, seals and
more!
Again, thank you so much for your love, support and encouragement over the years. May your future be
bright and full of light!
Sincerely,
Leslie Bruns
Site Director