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| Newsletters > Good News > 03-16-05 | ||
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Palm Sunday, March 20 Palm Sunday, or Sunday of the Passion, will be celebrated at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. using LBW Setting 1. The Cherub Choir sings at 8:30 a.m., and the Sanctuary Choir at 10:45 a.m. Please join us for the Lenten Event at 9:40 a.m. Maundy Thursday, March 24 Holy Communion worship will be held at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., when the young people in fourth grade will receive their First Communion. Good Friday, March 25 The worship service on Good Friday will take place at 1:00 p.m. The Sanctuary Choir will chant the Passion. Easter Sunday, March 27 7:00, 8:30 & 10:45 a.m. We celebrate our risen Lord with three festive Holy Communion services filled with joyous music. An Easter Breakfast will be served in fellowship hall from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 3 We will continue to praise our risen Christ this Second Sunday of Easter with two services of Holy Communion at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. using the Electric Gospel liturgy.
Back to School!
In February I was accepted into the Doctor of Ministry in Preaching Program, a three year program which will take place both at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and at First United in Sheboygan! Each summer for the next three years I will spend three weeks in Chicago with over 80 pastors to learn more about preaching and to develop an annual preaching project. These projects will be carried out here at First United during the rest of the year as I integrate what I have learned during the Chicago residency into my work in our congregation. You, as a congregation, will participate in my learning as well! Six to eight of you will be asked to work with me as I implement the preaching project, offering valuable feedback and insights which will be incorporated in the year’s final paper. All of you will experience three sermons a year which will be related to my program, with the hope that you will grow in your own faith even as I grow in my preaching skills. In addition to the three weeks that I will be in Chicago for the next three summers, I will need to find 6-10 hours a week in order to study, read, reflect, and plan so that all of us in the congregation may benefit from this program. The congregation council and personnel committee approved my application to this program and are committed to supporting me in making the completion of this degree possible. With our large staff and committed leadership within the congregation, I am certain that this program will not disrupt my service as your pastor in any significant way. It is my hope, rather, that my involve-ment in this program will only help us all to grow in our faith as we become more keenly attuned to what God has to say to us through the Word. I ask for your prayers as I begin preparing for this summer’s residency, June 19-July 8. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this program, please do not hesitate to call me. Pastor Gail + + + + + + + We offer our Christian love to the family of Jennifer Schommer at the loss of her grandmother; and to the family of Donald Gore at the loss of his sister. Altar Guild Needs You! Responsible individuals of any age! No experience necessary - will train! Sound too good to be true?? It’s not! We are in great need of Altar Guild members. You would only need to serve once or twice a month about every 4-5 months. We provide written instructions and individual training. Responsibilities include setting up for Communion and Baptisms and cleaning up after services. Please contact the church office at 452-2401, or Marianne Comstock at 946-3289. Hey, kids!! Make plans to come to the 6 th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26, 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the home of Louis and Joyce Milsted, W725 Garton Road, Sheboygan. All children and families are invited! Sign up sheets will be available on the kiosk in the gathering area. First Communion Blessings to the young people of our congregation who will receive their First Communion on Maundy Thursday, March 24, in the 7:00 p.m. worship service. They are: Austin Brace Aaron Daharsh Abigail Grinna Jensen Hamilton Karianna Heins Allison Krueger Samuel Krueger Hannah Kuehl Kristina Kusel Cole Meller Emily Peterson Robert Prestley Ashley Reisenauer Aaron Rothwell Samuel Schick Keyrsti Thompson Zach Torrison Abraham Van Akkeren Jordan Wilke
Before you leave on Spring Break... Please check your Worship Responsibility Book to be sure that you are not scheduled while you’re gone! And, if you are, please find a replacement and call the church office. Thank you! Donuts & Dialogue Donuts and Dialogue will not meet on March 20, the day of the intergenerational Lenten Event, nor on March 27, Easter Sunday. We will resume our sessions on April 3 with a new series entitled Shalom: The Biblical Concept of Peace. Beginning with the Old Testament Hebrew word for “peace,” shalom, and the New Testament Greek word, eirene, we will explore the meanings of “peace” throughout the Bible and their relevance for today. This study, written by an Old Testament scholar, will shine a Biblical light on the issues and unsettled mood of our times and help us to focus on peacemaking as a central concern of the church today. Join us for this engaging study beginning April 3! VIL March Movie On Monday, March 21, at 2:00 p.m., all retirees are invited to an afternoon movie here at First United, complete with fresh popped popcorn! Call the church office for reservations! What’s New in our Library More new children’s books! Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara J. Joase. A child testing the limits of her independence, and a mother who reassuringly proves that a parent’s love is un-conditional and everlasting. An unusual arctic setting filled with exciting animals such as whales, wolves, and puffins make this book especially interesting. The beautiful watercolor illustrations were created by an art teacher from Alaska. The Tale of Three Trees, a traditional folk tale is retold by Angela Elwell Hunt. For generations, The Tale of Three Trees has been handed down from parents to children, often retold in churches at Christmas and Easter. The three trees have wishes for their lives. They all wanted to be the tallest. The first tree became a manger, the second tree a simple fishing boat, and the third tree was cut into strong beams. The originator of this touching story is unknown. Daylight Saving Time Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night, April 2, as Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, April 3, at 2:00 a.m. Monday Night Books Monday Night Books will meet on April 4 with the delightful book, The Ladies’ Auxiliary, by Tova Mirvis. We will discuss the book at 6:30 p.m. in the Genszler Room. A description of the book and a sign-up sheet can be found on the kiosk. Our last Monday Night Books for this school year will take place on May 2 with Nora Gallagher’s Practicing Resurrection. Questions? Contact Pastor Gail (452-2401). ___________________________________________________ Cancer Celebration for Michael Gorges Mark your calendar, and plan to attend a Silent Auction and Benefit Event for Michael Gorges on Sunday, April 17. The event will feature an Italian dinner, music, and silent auction items which will be comprised only of items hand-crafted by members of First United. Watch for further information in the next issue of the Good News. VIL Kohler Company Tour On Monday, April 18, the VILS will take a 3-hour tour of the Kohler Company beginning at 8:30 a.m. followed by lunch at the Horse & Plow (on your own). Or you can tour the Design Center just prior to lunch if you think the 3-hour tour would be too strenuous. Please call the church office by April 7 if you plan to attend. Prayer Vigil on Good Friday The Befrienders will be hosting a Prayer Vigil from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Good Friday, March 25. This is a special time when we invite you to come for 15 minutes or more to sit quietly and pray or reflect. This time of prayer can be spent reading the Bible or a devotional book, praying for the members of our congregation, or listening to music. Printed prayers, devotionals, prayer request cards and Bibles are available in the Prayer Corner for your use. You can pray in the Prayer Corner that is located in the far northwest corner of the worship space, or you can pray in the main worship space or the chapel. You can come and pray by yourself or with your family or friends. A Befriender will be available all day as well, to answer questions, listen, or pray with you, if you wish. So take time out of your busy schedule on Good Friday, and spend some time with God in prayer. What a powerful way to prepare your heart and soul for the miracle of Easter! Please sign up on the kiosk to reserve your special time. One or two Meals on Wheels drivers still needed We are still looking for 1 or 2 more people to deliver on the 4 th Friday of each month! Each delivery takes about 90 minutes, from approximately 11:10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please sign up on the kiosk, or call the church office (452-2401) if you can help. Mission Needs Container of Hope Collection Please help us collect much needed items for the people of El Salvador, one of our “sister synods”, through Sunday, March 20. This “Container of Hope” sister-parish project is being coordinated by the Salvadoran Lutheran Synod and St. John Lutheran Church, Brookfield, and all congregations within our synod are asked to help. Items needed most are: * Woodworking tools (hand and electric), sandpaper, wood glue, screws and small finishing nails * Baby clothes - size newborn to 12 months (t-shirts, sleepers, cloth diapers (with velcro or pins) * Toothbrushes (they need 5,000 to achieve their goal!) * Reading glasses (+1.5 & 2) Other items also needed are: * Sewing tools (scissors, pins, etc.) * Sewing machines * Fabric (large bolts of fabric are welcomed) * Rhythm instruments and recorders * Sunday School materials (posters, puppets, flannel board items, story pictures that do not have English words on them) * Bedding (twin sheets, twin or double quilts and blankets) * Multi-vitamins with iron for children (NOT gummies or gum balls) * Copy paper boxes (8 1/2 x 11 x 17") Please bring all donated items to the designated area in the Gathering area by Friday, March 25. Many of the items may be used as long as they are in very good, useable condition (not rusted, dirty or stained!). Thank you for helping to provide our brothers and sisters in El Salvador with hope through your generosity of giving! The “Holy Knitters” are Knitting Away! The Prayer Shawl Knitting Group has a new, “official” name: the “Holy Knitters!” We’ve decided to meet from 5:00-6:00 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, beginning Monday, April 11. Our meetings will be over in plenty of time for the All Committee Night dinner and meetings. We’ll knit, chat, listen to music and make beautiful, soft, warm Prayer Shawls. (Bring your favorite CD!) The prayer shawls are being made with the sole purpose of giving them away to people who are suffering from cancer or other illnesses, or to the elderly. They are “Prayer Shawls” because every knitter is asked to say a special prayer each time they begin knitting. A special “healing” prayer will also be given with the shawl for the recipient to pray, reminding them of God’s love and presence with them. If you want to begin a prayer shawl before the next meeting, please let me know. Each prayer shawl uses three skeins of Lion brand Homespun yarn and needles size 13, 15 or 17. You can purchase Homespun in most stores that sell yarn, or you can order three skeins from Marilyn Froh for only $11.00 (which includes tax!). Sample swatches of colors are available in the church office. You can order the yarn in the office or call Marilyn at 458-1892 from 5:00-10:00 p.m. ~Deaconess Deb The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will be offering two television specials as part of “The World of Faith and Values” series on the Hallmark Channel. The first, “Glory to God Alone: The Life of J. S. Bach”, is a one-hour documentary that will be aired on Sunday, March 20, at 11:00 a.m. This special program features location footage from Bach’s ancestral home in Germany, music from several Bach cantatas, and interviews with leading Bach scholars. The documentary traces Bach’s life story and focuses on the relationship between Bach’s faith and his work. The second special is “Davey and Goliath’s ‘Happy Easter’, which will air on Easter Sunday, March 27, at 11:30 a.m. This is a newly restored 30-minute classic episode of Davey and Goliath, which first aired in 1967. The program reveals how Davey copes with the sudden death of his beloved grandmother, and how that experience helps him understand the meaning of Easter. Lily Delivery Would you like to brighten someone’s day? Some of our members who aren’t able to regularly attend worship may appreciate your visit. If you are able to share your gift of time, please consider bringing an Easter Lily from the sanctuary with you on your visit. The plants can be picked up after the 10:45 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday and delivered anytime during the week. There is a Lily Delivery sign-up sheet on the kiosk or simply call the church office at 452-2401 to volunteer. Blessings guaranteed! “Laugh Your Way To a Better Marriage” Seminar Most marriage seminars tend to be serious, technical, and emotionally taxing. The “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” seminar is very different because it helps couples by dealing with tough issues in a way that is fun and non-threatening. There are no workbooks to fill out, no emotional “break-out” sessions, and no one is ever forced to speak in front of people. The setting is more like that of a comedy club than that of a typical marriage seminar. Mark Gungor, pastor, motivational speaker and comedian, leads this event. The event will be held in the Sheboygan Falls High School auditorium on Friday, April 8, from 7:00-10:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 9, from 9:00 a.m.-noon. Invite your friends to come along, because you will get two free tickets for every two tickets that are bought! Tickets are $50/couple, and can be purchased at Sonlight Books. Check the kiosk for more information!
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