July 2016

Days by the lake. Nights at the campground. Tending the garden. Vacations. Mowing the lawn. Strawberries in
season.
Summer is in full swing. As you pick this issue up at church, or receive it in your inbox or your mailbox, the Fourth of July
is just days away. Can you believe it?
A lot of times at church, we often notice its summer because the pews arent as full. Weekends at the lake, trips to
northern Minnesota, long stays at the campground. Nearly every church is affected by summer schedules.
This isnt meant to be a guilt trip but rather a statement of the obvious. We know this is how it is. Its not a guilt trip
but, perhaps, well call it an invitation.
Ive talked many times about how church isnt the building. Church is the people. Its a community that gathers. A
community that often hears the Word, prays, and makes it a priority to live with Jesus as guide.
If you find yourself somewhere other than church on Sunday morning, here is your invitation. Worship where you are.
Well start simple. With the people around you maybe its one other person, maybe its the people in your camper, or
your neighbors at the lake gather and engage in Faith 5. Share your highs and lows. Read a piece of Scripture. (The
Story Bible works great too!) Talk about how your highs and lows might connect to the Scripture. Pray for one another,
celebrating the highs and asking for help with the lows. Bless one another.
At Red Oak Grove, weve grown pretty accustomed to sharing highs and lows and blessing each other. Its those middle
pieces we need to practice and engage. Scripture. Connecting to Scripture. Praying for one another. I believe you can
do it!
Gather where you are and engage in the Faith 5 together. Let that be your time of worship wherever you may be. We
love to have each and every one of you in church on Sunday morning, but if summer adventures take you away, we
would love to have you worshipping where you are.

Pastor Lindsay

PS Stuck on what Scripture to use? Use your smart phone to look up these verses they would be great ones with
which to start: Numbers 6:22-27; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Psalm 139:14; Matthew 22:36-39.

June 9, 2016
Red Oak Grove Church Council Meeting
Meeting was called to order by Chairman, Gary Ulland. Highs and lows were shared using emogies
or face symbols. Pastor led opening devotions from Acts 2.
Pastors Report included one wedding, one funeral, 13 visits, 3 were hospital visits and 2 had
communion. Many activities are coming up; packing meals at VFW, Day Camp and Strawberry
Festival and fund raising event at the Pizza Ranch.
Secretarys Report was accepted as presented.
Treasurers Report was accepted as presented with the following highlights; beginning balance
$22,860. Income was $7,900.86. Expenses were $8,968.22, leaving a balance of $21,792.14.
Youth Fund balance is $2,691.60 and the Improvement Fund is $7,025.14.
WELCA Report was that Sunday preparations will begin for the Strawberry Festival.
The Deacons did not have a report.
The Trustees reported on the lights in the sanctuary were checked, the air conditioner was checked
and the paper towel holders will be replaced.
There was no Old Business.
New Business included the report on the air conditioning and that Arens would be working on that.
Jay Peterson will also check on some of the controls.
The meeting was adjourned and was closed with the Lords Prayer.
Attending: Gary Ulland, Jacob Ulland, Jenny Ingvalson, Marilyn Helleck, Pete Kleinschmidt,
Jamie Hanson, Dean Peterson, Pastor Lindsay and Laura Tjomsland.
We all enjoyed a cook-out meal and lots of desserts!
Next meeting will be August 2, 2016. July Eucharist Assistant is Mike Hoffman and August will be
Jamie Hanson.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Tjomsland, Council Secretary

WELCA Minutes
The June 1, 2016 Red Oak Grove WELCA meeting was called to order by Co-President Marlys
Peterson. There were 16 present. The meeting was opened in the Name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit. Our purpose was recited together. One verse of God Bless America was sung. Evelyn
Johnson gave devotions and read Jeremiah 29:4-9 and a reading The Two Gardens.
Joyce read the May 4, 2016 secretary minutes. Two corrections program was by Rebekah Circle
and piano humidifier was paid for with memorial money from Arnold Bergstrom and undesignated
funds and music WELCA Fund. Lavonne gave the Treasurers Report. Both will be placed on file.
Committee Reports: Judy Wambeam reported 6 quilts were sold after the Quilt Blessing on May
24th. 13 were given and delivered to Hayward Group Home, 4 children and 6 adult quilts were sent to
Marie Sandvik. Thank you note sent to Cindy for delivery of items to Marie Sandvik.
New Business: Request for bake sale items, plants and craft items. Work preparation day will be on
Sunday, June 12th following worship service during coffee hour. Monday, June 13th work will begin at
8:30 a.m. Sign up sheet is available to take angel food cakes and short cakes home to bake.
Unfinished Business: Agape Singers to present music on Thursday, June 16th at 7 p.m. Housing is
needed for the group members.
Program by Ruth Circle. Ardell Lindquist gave readings What prayer can do and Yes, you can.
Lavonne Smith gave a reading An apartment for Rest and Evelyn Johnson on Psalms 103:1-5.
Our next meeting will be on July 6th, Wednesday, at 9 a.m. The program will be by Hannah and
hostess will be the officers. Thank you to Ruth for the program and Hannah for hosting. Judy
Wambeam was usher. The meeting closed with the Lords Prayer.
Joyce Peterson for Linda Christianson

Pastoral Acts: Wedding Ashley Rye and Charles Marquardt

Funeral Nancy Lynn Schwartz

Harvey Oscar Lysne
Baptisms Harrison James Hemingway
Corey James Hemingway
Haven Marie Matyas
FOUND: A white sweater was found in the kitchen after our Strawberry Festival. If it is yours, you
can pick it up in the office.

Day Camp returns on July 20th! Join us for all day camp-like fun! Even if you didnt make it the last
time, youre welcome to come spend the day with us. Registration forms are in the narthex.
Education Team/GIFT Meeting: Following worship on July 10th, we will have a meeting for all people
interested in planning our faith education for the upcoming year. We will go over evaluations of GIFT
from last year and talk about how we might best serve our family and youth in the year to come.
Please bring ideas, concerns, and an open mind to this meeting. Any interested people are welcome
to attend.
Thank you to everyone who donated Noisy Coin money throughout the season of Lent and to
everyone who came to pack the meals last month! We packed sixteen boxes. Each box had 36 meal
bags. Each bag contained 6 meals. That is 3,456 meals! Thank you!

Many of you came to enjoy the Agape Singers when they were here a few weeks ago. They led us in
a great hour of worship with their voices and hearts. Thank you for supporting their visit once again!