Youth Events for the month of April

Youth Events for the month of April:
•Sunday, April 2nd – Regular LCY meeting 4:30-6:00 p.m. – Fellowship Hall
•Thursday, April 13th, following the Maundy Thursday worship service, the LCY members will meet in the sanctuary to work on the Lenten Tree.
•Saturday, April 15th, at 10:00 a.m., the Youth will meet in the sanctuary to work on the Resurrection Tree.
•Wednesday, April 19th at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 22, at 10:00 a.m. Youth will meet in the Sanctuary to practice for LCY Sunday, April 23rd.
•Sunday, April 30th at 7:30 a.m. – Meet in kitchen to prep and then serve lunch for 5th Sunday Gathering Fundraiser

Fellowship Hall Update

Fellowship Hall Update

In recent years, from time to time, questions have arisen about the possibility of updating Fellowship Hall. The last time anything was done was in 1997, not counting the new carpet in 2007 and the addition of the coffee counter in 2013. With that in mind, informal meetings for the congregation were held on February 20 and March 9 to discuss improvements.
These meetings generated several ideas to update the dining area. Church Council has appointed the following members to serve as a Fellowship Hall Committee to help guide the development of a plan that can be presented to Council and to the congregation:

Tom Weeks
Bob Straup
Jill Helgeson
Sandi Jordan
Tony Mollgaard
Ernie Thorns
Paul Wagner
Vicki Lybrand
Anna Caldwell
Christa Mollgaard

The first task of the committee is to present the ideas generated from the two informal meetings to the congregation during the Sunday School hour, Sunday, April 23 and again on Sunday, May 7, beginning at 10:00 a.m. You are encouraged to attend these meetings, offer input and voice your opinions. Because these are not Congregational Meetings, these gatherings are for discussion purposes only to help clarify the direction of possible updates for Fellowship Hall.

Why Is That Dead Tree in the Church?

Why Is That Dead Tree in the Church?
You can’t help but notice the “dead” tree covered in caterpillars which have appeared in the Sanctuary. You may question -why is it here or what is it about?
This is a project between the LCY and the Sunday School children. Before we began making these creations, we discussed how things are different in both the church and nature this time of year. We discussed how there are some things “sleeping” in our worship such as the use of Alleluias. We also talked about how everything in our yards such as the grass and trees look dead but they too are just “sleeping”. We discussed how some of God’s creatures such as caterpillars make cocoons. Although we might think they are dead, they actually have rebirth as a butterfly.
This tree is actually here to help each of us to remember that while the weather often is cool and gray and the grass is brown and the trees bare, there is the hope that Spring is coming! Bulbs are blooming and the days are getting longer. Just as we have hope for Spring, Lent gives us a time to hope for Easter and the promise that the resurrection brings.
Just as the change of seasons brings surprises, keep watching the tree thru the Lenten season —there are more surprises to come!

Lent reminders

The Forty Days before Easter are the Lenten season.  During this time we omit the refrains that are connected to celebrating Christ’s resurrection and we use the verses appropriate for Lent.

They are:

1: We refrain from singing Alleluias because of its connection to Easter.

2: There is no Absolution (minister declaring our forgiveness, page 118) for all of Lent is a time of self-examination.

3: Omit the Hymn of Praise: “Glory to God in the highest” and we instead lead straight into the prayer of the day.

4: We sing the Lenten verse: “Let your steadfast Love” page 125

5: We use the Apostles’ Creed.

On Easter Sunday, April 16th, we will return to the verses praising our Lord and His resurrection.

Easter Lily Orders for 2017

We would like to place Easter Lilies in our windows and on the Chancel steps for the services on Easter Sunday.  The cost is $14.00.  If you desire to place an order for one or more lilies, please use the form in the weekly bulletins fill out and place in the offering plate or mail it to the church office as soon as possible.l  The deadline is Sunday April 9th.

Because 35 lilies must be special ordered from Whitten’s to have them arrive at their peak for Easter.  They will be assigned on a first-ordered first-severed basis.  When 35 have been assigned, no more can be purchased.  Thanks for your understanding.

Spring Congregation Work Day Saturday March 18th update

The chance of rain never materialized so we had a pleasant but cool and breezy morning.
Skip Knight, Dan Hunnicutt and Ernie Thorns trimmed the twelve shrubs along the side of the handicap ramp and Education Building. The clippings were raked up and moved to the pickup area at the side of the front parking lot. Also, the steps to the furnace room were swept of leaves and debris to keep the drain clear.
Jeff Eckardt cleaned and wiped down all of the playground equipment removing dirt and mold that accumulated on the surfaces over winter. Cobwebs were cleaned out of the playhouse.
Barbara Cleveland cleaned the Fellowship Hall side garden and planned future plantings.
Edna Moore weeded and cleaned the Prayer Garden and removed dead material.

Thanks to the participants for working to maintain our facilities fine appearance.