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Volume 18, Issue 6 May 2012

Spring Congregational Clean Up Day!

We have a lot to do! Come join us! Saturday May 5th 10-Noon Well clean and organize rooms (especially in the upstairs Sunday School Rooms and in Cold Storage). Sunday, May 6th 11-1 Well demo the paneling in the hallway to get it ready for sheet-rocking the week of May 7th. Well also power-wash the exterior to get it ready for painting.

Sunday School Celebration!

Sunday, May 6th following worship Games! Prizes! Treats!

Welcome Lois Blattenbauer!

Glyndon Lutheran Church
Our long-time secretary and office manager, Linda Pavola, retired after many years of service on March 31st. We sent her off with a prayer and a blessing on Sunday, March 25. (We will announce summer office hours in next months newsletter!)

Inside this issue:

Living the Story Over Coffee Council Update, Income and Expense Youth Notes Prayers and Birthdays Letter from Jim & Carol Sack Circle Information Volunteer Committees April Calendar 2 3 4-6 7 8 9 10 11

Chronicles

Please welcome Lois warmly as she transitions into the position here at GLC. We know she will On Tuesday, April 17th we wel- do good work. Lois has expericomed Lois Blattenbauer into ence in office work and is an our office to help us in this time active member of our congregaof transition as our interim of- tion. Youll find her most fice manager. Wednesdays at worship with Lois will work 12-16 hours per her husband Scott and at most youth events with her daughters week (and sometimes more) and will keep office hours Tues- Samantha and Madison. day, Wednesday and Thursday Thanks Lois! Were glad you are from 12-4 in the month of May. here!

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Living the Story with Pastor Jeni

Being Church: cups that run over. There has not been a more exciting time in my short time with you at Glyndon Lutheran Church than right now. It just keeps getting better and better. We have tapped into something so deep that its beginning to root into our lives. Could it be the Spirit alive and active among us? More and more people have found their way to GLC. The addition of the Wednesday Night Worship Service has doubled our attendance. More and more people are participating in the life of the church, making it a great opportunity to volunteer without bearing the weight of the whole congregation. More and more people are giving out of Gods great abundance, helping to root our ministry deeper in this community and world. We are even starting to move ahead on some projects that have been on the backburner for many years. Well fix hallways and paint outside; well spruce up our gathering space and work to bring Sunday morning coffee back upstairs (hopefully this Fall); well simplify our practices to make church more accessible and, in turn, more meaningful. We are looking ahead to a bright future. But perhaps we need to stop and look around in the present moment to see how God is at work among us now. Maybe for a moment we can tap into what is happening right now. God is in this place. God is bringing us together. Annie Dillard writes: Experiencing the present purely is being emptied and hollow; you catch grace as a man fills his cup under a waterfall (Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, 80-81). It seems in our culture that we can never quite embrace the present. Were always holding on to something in our past or hoping for something [different] for the future. But God is present here and now, not just in the past and not just in the future. God is at work here and now in our church. God is at work here and now in our lives. God is at work here and now and not just when we will have it all together (when will that be?). Who is God calling us to be right here and right now? As always: faithful servants of the gospel of Jesus Christ; patient planters in the Kingdom of God, a harvest that yields beyond our planting; and, simple stewards of Gods abundant and amazing gifts and grace. Well keep an eye on that future horizon together, but for today, let us give thanks and praise to God who gathers us together and sends us into the world with faith and courage with more grace than we could catch by holding a cup under a waterfall. Our cups run over. The 23rd Psalm includes one of my favorite images in scripture: My cup runneth over. Its an image of joy and blessing overflowing in such a way that it spills out. Being church together with you has over-filled my cup with joy. I am grateful and honored to do ministry with you. Thank you and thank God for you. In Christ, Pastor Jeni

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Over Coffee with Kris

We all have the same amount of time every day, 24 hours. No more, no less, in a sense it levels the playing field. Yet, somehow we often feel like we dont have enough time to get things done that we want or even need to get done. Despite having the same number of hours in a day, we dont know how many 24 hour periods we will get, how many rotations of the earth or even rotations of the sun. When illness and diagnosis knock on the door of someone we know and/or love, time is of the essence; time is sacred. When I was researching for the message I shared on Maundy Thursday, I found this paragraph in a commentary. I loved it, but it did not go with the rest of my message, so I get to share it now. This comes from when the disciples are at the Last Supper and are in disbelief that Jesus will be put to death. It is easy to think that the disciples should have believed what Jesus told them. They had plenty of evidence that whatever Jesus said was true. If we step back from the story into our own human experience, we recognize how difficult it is to accept the fact that a loved one is going to die. It is difficult enough when the person is already very sick, but when he or she appears to be healthy it is almost impossible to accept. Also, we do not like being reminded by the illness of a loved one of our own weakness as well. The situation is even more incomprehensible when the ailing person has always been in charge, always the strong member of a family or team could be counted on to solve other peoples problems. The cross is an offering for others, not the brutal victory of Jesus enemies. Gods power is greater than death. Gods power, love is greater than death, but at times it doesnt always feel that way. My mom lost her well fought battle of cancer just over nine years ago. And many of you who have lost a loved one know that at times it feels like just yesterday they were with us and at times it feels like 3 lifetimes ago. I will never regret taking a leave of absence from seminary to take care of my mom and then my dad through that time. It was sacred. And now time is of the essence once again. My dad has been diagnosed with Agent Orange, well at least the government thinks that is what is wrong and why he has an ever growing laundry list of medical issues. The only real way they know someone has Agent Orange is by an autopsy, and my dad jokingly says that he is not ready for that yet. An interesting thing with Agent Orange is that it is different for everyone. It manifests in different ways and varying time frames. I want to thank you for your prayers [you have been praying for him in church for almost a year now]. I also want to thank you, you have gifted me, through the Church Council, a bit of time. A time of Sabbath rest, to make up for vacation time and days off that I havent taken in the times we were in pastoral transition: you as a congregation have gifted me the month of May off. And I will be spending time with my dad. We will be traveling to places we never dreamed of being able to go to, especially together. Thank you for this gift of time. Ive got to start packing! Blessings on the rest of your day, Kris Johnson

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Council Minutes
Glyndon Lutheran Church Council Meeting April 11th, 2012 Members Present: Jeff Wallin, Pam Rudolf, Joan Stenerson, Kris Johnson, Carrie Smith, Calvin Carlson, Pastor Jeni, Wanda Peterson and Cindy Henriksen Devotion/Check-in/GLC Mission Statement Secretarys Report: Correction: Jeff Wallin was not present at last council meeting. Remainder of report read and passed Treasures Report: Esther reported on items Read and Passed Pastors Report: With Holy Week and Easter, a busier month than normal. Things continue to go well. Here are the nuts and bolts: Visits: I made numerous visits to the hospital this month to visit two members multiple times. I made 3 home visits this month. I had many visits in my office with members, including 2 couples for pre-marriage counseling. I visited Eventide this month. I visited with two people over two meals in town. Worship: I was present and presided at all worship services this month. I preached at all worship services except for Maundy Thursday. I wrote/organized the liturgies for Holy Week, Easter and Sundays in Lent. I have set up our organ rotation through August. Congregational Life: I continue to teach 7th Graders the story of our faith. I taught 5th graders how to make Communion Bread during Holy Week. I met with 7-10 people to discuss redesigning our gathering space, a conversation we will continue in the months ahead. I have been working with the properties team to get some work done around the church building, including a new sump pump, a cement pour, and meeting with contractors to fix the hallway between the education wing and the sanctuary. I attended Stewardship workday and Esther Circle Family Ministers Report: It has been a busy month for me with the normal programming plus Synod obligations. Here is an overview. I continue to teach the 8th graders during Confirmation release time, lead the area Youth Workers lunch, write/ organize the Sunday/Wednesday School lessons and find teachers, attend Esther Circle and Stewardship Work Day. I walked with the 5th graders through their First Communion instruction and assisted Pastor Jeni in the bread baking. March 30th-April 1st was the Synods Senior High Youth Gathering. This required a lot of my time this past month, with organizing all of the aspects of the gathering. This is part of my 1/5s time with the Synod Office.

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Council Minutes cont.

Holy Week was a special time. I had to miss Palm Sunday because of the Synod Youth Gathering, but thank you to who worked and supported the breakfast fundraiser. I heard it was great. I gave the message on Maundy Thursday and assisted Pastor Jeni on Good Friday and Easter. Thank you to the Confirmation families that made and worked the Easter cinnamon roll fundraiser. Both fundraisers were to raise money for Confirmation camp. Other things that I have done was made a Cajun lunch for the youth going to the National Gathering. Worked with the Pathways at the Park Committee on the event on June 6th, attended a synod ELCA World Hunger meeting, and made a visit to a nursing home in Detroit Lakes and one hospital visit. Topics of Discussion: 1. New Business: a. Synod Delegates: Need one male and one female delegate to attend the Synod gathering in May. Joan Stenerson and Jeff Wallin agreed to attend this event. b. Offering Stewards: Looking for 4 teams of two to serve as offering stewards. Calls will be made. Keys: Making new locks for some of the exterior doors. Both Jeni and Kris would like new doors to their offices with windows. 2. Office Manager: a. Interim (hours and wages): Lois Blattenbauer will be working as part time interim secretary for April and May. Council agreed on $12/hour; 12-16 hours as week as the position is restructured for current needs of the church. Financial Secretary: We are still in need of a financial secretary beginning June 1st. This position requires only one hour/week. Please call the office if you are interested. 3. Pathways Synod Resolution: Resolution of support for Luther Crest and Pathways Bible Camp. Joan made a motion to support the resolution. Carrie seconded. Motion passed. 4. Properties a. Projects (upcoming and completed): Sump pump in SW and SE corners are in place. We are looking to repairing the walls and ceiling in the hallway from the education wing going up the stairs to sanctuary. We will be getting bids and deciding on how to proceed with this project. Gathering Space Re-Design (update and Presentation): Pastor Jeni shared ideas of remodeling and updating the church in three phases. Hallway repair Narthex and back area of church Balcony area Sanctuary The Council did a walk through each of the areas. Next Meeting is May 9th, 2012 at 7:45 pm

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Income and Expense

Income Expenses Net Income $ $ $ 21,204.84 25,806.48 -4672.70

March 2012

Funds Available (as of April 15, 2012) General Fund Designated Funds: Food Pantry Sunday School Memorials Missions Adult Education Childrens Ministry Mission Possible Bucket Youth Bible Camp Properties Team Improvements $ 2,653.92 $ $ $ $ $ $ 265.24 290.83 85.00 33.00 617.11 (to be paid out) 232.81 $ 2,038.00

$ 766..25 $ 5,673.19 $ 175.00 (for tables)

Unpaid Bills for April

Salaries (30th) (includes staff, organist, custodian) Fed. Withholding MN Withholding $ 4,000.00 (approx.) $ $ 732.00 (approx.) 138.00 (approx.)

Memorials General Fund

Roger and Joan Stenerson in memory of Lovila Krueger Russell and Lois Bekkerus in memory of Lovila Krueger Jim and Pauline Litch in memory of Jeff Liljequist Shirley Nappe in memory of Ted Tollefson Shirley Nappe in memory of Odean Nappe Nanci Heuer in memory of Jeff Liljequist Roger & Joan Stenerson in memory of William Lass Kemp Lass in memory of William Lass

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Youth Notes
Bible Camp
Registration Forms are in the Pathway Brochures in the Narthex, there are also some brochures in the office. Please send registration directly to Pathways. You may also register on line at www.pathwaysbiblecamps.com. Credit Card payment required for those registering on-line.

Vacation Bible School this year. Pathways comes to Glyndon Lutheran For those who are in Kindergarten this year through 6th grade! June 25th-29th
Pathways sends teams of staff members, spreading lots of laughter, excitement and energy for Christ to us! The team pairs up with members from your congregation to provide a unique ministry filled with games, worships, arts & crafts, Bible experiences, field trips and much more! Cost is $40 (a $20 nonrefundable deposit is due at the time of registration). Registrations can be found in the Narthex or email Kris.

Half Pint Day K-2nd Grade June 22nd

Come and spend the day at camp! Worship, learn about Gods Word, play games, and create arts and crafts. We will take a bus, leaving Glyndon Lutheran at 8:45 and returning at 6:15. Cost for the day at camp is $30, please send that directly to Pathways when you register. Cost for transportation and snack on the bus is $7 (pay to Glyndon Lutheran, and let Kris know kjohnson@glyndonlutheran.org.

And for those aged 3Kindergarten. Come SPLASH in Gods Word!

Elementary Classic
4th & 5th grade Camp for all kids entering 4th & 5th grade, will be August 5-10th. You will enjoy playing in Gods beautiful creation, worshipping, camping out, and hanging out with your friends and counselor! You will also get a chance to experience our low ropes course! Grow in your faith and make memories at camp this year.

August 13th 16th 6:00 pm-8:00 pm and we will be diving into storys in the Bible about water; by hearing the story, playing games, singing songs, making crafts and having snacks! If you know anyone who is interested in attending or helping (you need to be in 7th grade or older) please contact Kris kjohnson@glyndonlutheran.org Needs for Day Camp (Kindergarteners 5th grade June 25th-28th 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.) and Vacation Bible School (3 year olds through Kindergarteners August 13th-16th 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.) Helpers (7th grade and up) You can help one day, all week, or any combi nation thereof Goldfish Crackers Rice Krispie Treats Fruit Snacks Handi-Snacks (cheese and cracker treats) Freezie pops If you would be willing to donate your time or an item above please contact the office (office@glyndonlutheran.org or 498-2368)

Confirmation Camp
GLC pays for 1/2 of the required Confirmation camp fees (the first time only). Camp dates this summer are July 29- August 3. If these dates have conflicts contact Kris (kjohnson@glyndonlutheran.org) Camp fees$325. 00 GLC pays $162.50 Parents pay $162.50 ($100.00 of which is due with Registration) Your balance (of 62.50 for first timers) for summer programs are due by June 1st at Pathways office.

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Prayers, Birthdays and Notes

Our sincere Christian sympathy is extended to the family and friends of
Jeff Liljequist Herbert Henry Krueger

Please keep Tyler Palya & Trisha Baker in your prayers as they serve their country in Iraq and Kuwait.
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in trials and temptations; give courage to face perils that surround them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Eternal rest, grant, O Lord, and light perpetual shine.

[our extended family]

Betsy Anderson, Pelican Rapids MN Iris Barta, Senior Apartments on Riverside Drive Margaret Kingren, Eventide Orville Muhle, Eventide Lloyd Olson, Emmanuel Assisted Living Detroit Lakes LeRoy Muhle, Arbor Park Village

May Birthdays
1 3 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 Dylan Cummings, Jamie Langset Lily Burnside, Kevin Pavola Tyler Budke, Shirley Taves Kolden Cullen, Michael Kinnen Danielle Peterson Logan Fischer, Kevin Kuehl, Chase Peterson Brad Bolin, Hunter Leach Donald Lein, Steven Pavola Susan Gruchalla, Carol Langlie, Jarret Ripperger Michael Rude Brett Messerschmidt, Shirley Nappe, Dylan Taves Virginia Langei, Mikenzie Vinje Elisha Cullen, Jeremy Gieseke, Mark Powell Jennifer Askelson, Rebecca Browning, Darcy Hoban, Hunter Rosenfeldt Bailey Fuchs Tucker Browning, Roxanne Lofgren 23 24 25 26 27 28 30 31 Lorraine Muhle, Jace Olstad, Arluene Seter Rebecca Orvik Bradley Nelson, Daniel Skolness Mikah Lizotte Ragina Degroat, Pam Rudolf, Brian Thompson Erin Busta, Hunter Crompton, Debra Kinnen Thomas Tollefson Bradley Lee, Jeremy Richards, Darlene Sandal Tracy Fischer, Cayla Olson

Happy Birthday!

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From Jim & Carol Sack (our missionaries in Japan)

Dear Friends, Thanks to a rare global partnership in ministry, we were able to share a literal touch of the Gospel with a community that became known (albeit without a recognized name) to the world on March 11, 2011. The people of this story are from the fishing village of Kamaishi, Japan, hundreds of miles north of Tokyo. Their homes, shops and schools were situated in a rounded bay area, originally the kind of picturesque vista one might find on a calendar page: blue waters meeting convoluted forested shorelines rising in elevation immediately at waters edge, steep jagged rocky islands jutting out of the ocean waters, wind-worn gnarled pine trees that bear witness to the harsh elements of the ages. The fishing boats bobbing in the bay would only add to the imagination inspired by the scenery. Kids packed their school bags with books and moms lunches that morning as usual. Then not long before the afternoon bell was to ring, an historic 9.0 quake jolted the country, birthing the Big Wave which eventually crashed into the elementary and junior high schools, not to mention homes, stores, hospitals, work places~ and all of those boats. Everything became a giant spillage of soup, the ingredients being the materials of town, including, sadly, many of the residents. You know the event. However, a shock like this does not disappear from lives as quickly as it does from the headlines. One woman had a friend in this village. The grandparents lifetime fishing boat had been splintered into oblivion in a milliseconds time. This womans original impulse was to help her friend and the grandparents~~ until she realized that there were 129 kids in those 2 schools~ all of whom had suffered similar losses. The woman therefore created her own movement to appeal to people all over Japan on behalf of all of these kids, grades one through nine. She raised money. Of course that was welcomed. But after the first line of necessities had been restored and the money spent, the woman wisely knew that the kids needed something more than money. They needed caring, hope and encouragement. Someone thought about Pastoral Harp (prayerful presence through harp and voice) as a possibility toward this end. Carol was approached about the idea of visiting the village on Santa Lucia Day, December 13. This day had been considered the darkest day of the year in the old Julian calendar. Many Swedish Lutherans know the archetypal message of Lucia, the Queen of Lights, who dons a crown of candles in the blackest moment before dawn, bringing food to the hungry, warmth in the cold, light into the darkness. The plan sounded good, but would principals of 2 Japanese public schools accept such an idea? To make a long story short, they did. Though they had politely declined numerous forms of entertainment, the idea of prayer through harp music somehow, surprisingly, struck a cord. There is a second chapter to this true tale. As plans were being molded for the forthcoming event, we remembered that we had received around 60 beautiful prayer shawls shortly after March 11 from churches and individuals throughout the US , all bearing the message: Please pass these on to people in northern Japan. Could this be the plan for these shawls? The thought seemed inviting and beckoning, except that we had only 60, and we knew that we could not give to one child if we could not give to all. A second plea went out to our sponsoring churches and prayer shawl ministries throughout the States. By December 1, we had received close to 200 shawls! On the Day of Lucia, students, grades one through nine, and teachers gathered in the cold make-shift gymnasium-school. The woman told the legend of Santa Lucia and invited the kids to let their hearts take them on whatever heart-journey they needed to take. She affirmed that tears can help to wash. The harp was played in darkness illuminated by 50 candles. Not a word was spoken. And in that time, volunteers quietly, imperceptibly, approached each child, silently wrapping a shawl around him, around her, capping the offering with a firm grip on each childs shoulders~ to speak volumes without one word. But when the lights came on, or perhaps after the kids from these public schools were already back home, they could find on each shawl a tag written in Japanese which read:
This shawl was knit with prayers for Gods Love and grace for you. When you feel down, when you feel the need to be supported with Love, please put on this shawl. And, please remember then that I have knitted this shawl with prayers especially for you. I am praying that you will receive courage from this shawl of love and prayer.

The touch of Gods love and grace, literally. Thanks be to God, and thanks be to all of you in many parts of the Body of Christ who added to the thousands of hours of prayers for these students of Tonicho Elementary and Junior High Schools in Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan. The anniversary of March 11 has come and gone. Your further prayers become invisible skeins that silently continue to touch these courageous young persons with the Love and blessing of the Lord. ~So that they also can then be blessed to be a blessing. (And on it goes, the Kingdom of God.) Jim and Carol Sack

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Stewardship Workday
May 1st
Esther Circle May 17 at 1:00 p.m. Hostess: Arluene Seter Bible Study: Pat Hemmah Mary CircleMay 15 at 7:30 p.m. Hostess: Nona Palya Bible Study: Geri Hanson

Volunteers for May

Sunday May 6 Acolytes Ian Blair Sunday May 13 Libby Bonnett Sunday May 20 Megan Meyers Sunday May 27 Quilters May 1st Lois Bekkerus

Dylan Cumming Hannah Gieseke Hailey Knutson

Reader

Deb Tollefson

Shirley Nappe

Comm. Asst.

Deb Tollefson Wendy Blair

Altar Guild Esther Ellingson

Ushers & Rob & Shelli Coffee Staiger Servers Wendy Blair

Brian, Alicia, Brett, & Megan Thompson

Volunteers still needed, sign up in the office if you can lend a hand! office@glyndonlutheran.org or 218-498-2368. Thank you for serving! Together we are the body of Christ.

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May 2012
Sun Mon
1

Tue
2

Wed
3

Thu
4

Fri

Sat
5 10:00 Congregational Cleanup Day 12

Kris is on Sabbatical leave for the month of May. Please keep Her in your prayers! 6 7

9:00 Stewardship Workday 1:00 Staff Mtg

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship 7:30 Education

10

11

9:00 Worship 3:20 Girl Scouts 1:00 Staff Mtg 10:15 Last day of Sunday School 11:00 Congregational Cleanup Day
13 14 15

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship

Synod Assembly
16 17 1:00 Esther Circle 18

19

9:00 Worship

3:20 Girl Scouts 1:00 Staff Mtg 5:30 Meal 7:30 Mary Circle 6:30 Worship

20

9:00 Worship

21 22 3:30 Girl Scouts 1:00 Staff Mtg

23

24

25

26

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship

27

28

9:00 Worship

29 1:00 Staff Mtg

30

31

5:30 Meal 6:30 Worship

Glyn don L u the r a n C hur ch

414 Parke Ave PO Box 38 Glyndon, MN 56547

Change Service Requested

Phone: 218-498-2368 Fax: 218-498-0186 E-mail: office@glyndonlutheran.org

the web! Were on ran.org donluthe glyn

Glyndon Lutheran Church is a Christ-centered community church, nurturing the faith of all generations.

Spring Worship Schedule

Sundays at 9:00 a.m. Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

Please check the bulletin boards and calendar on the website to sign up for serving opportunities (teaching, ushering, acolyting, stewardship workday, reading, communion stewards, etc.)