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| Newsletters > Good News > 03-19-08 | ||
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Holy Week As we begin to walk with Jesus through Holy Week, we are reminded of God’s amazing love for each of us. After Jesus’ special supper, and his arrest, we are reminded of that dark Friday when it appeared there was no hope. But at the dawn of Easter, the resurrected light of Jesus broke the darkness with a new found hope! What a wonderful story of God’s amazing love! Please join us throughout Holy Week as we recall this love story - a story that was written for us! God Bless,
Roland Maanga from Tanzania Join us on Sunday, April 6, as we explore a world on the other side of the world! Learn about the simply joys and the daily struggles of life in the small villages of Tanzania, Africa, through vibrant pictures and captivating stories as told by Tanzanian native, Roland Maanga, and missionary, Sue Werner! We will hear about their customs, culture, education, food, housing, clothing, employment, and much more! Donuts & Dialogue Schedule March 23: Easter (no D&D)
Please remember to help our hungry neighbors by bringing in non-perishable food items for the St. Mark Food Pantry. There is a collection barrel and a shopping cart conveniently located next to the small “serving kitchen” (next to the Gathering Area). Non-perishable food items (especially canned soups and meats, cereal, pork & beans, jams & jelly), paper products, detergents, soap, and other items can be brought in at any time, and are very much needed! Thank you!
EASTER BREAKFAST You and your family are invited to join us for breakfast on Easter morning, March 23, from 7:30-10:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. This year’s menu includes eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, fruit and donuts. There will be a free-will offering to cover the cost of the breakfast with proceeds going toward the youth Mission Trip. ASP Mission Trip Team Please sign up to help with this year’s Easter Breakfast as part of the duties required for this year’s trip.
Due to our cold and snowy winter, this year’s Easter Egg Hunt will move INDOORS to Fellowship Hall on Saturday, March 22, from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon. Please join us, and the Easter Bunny, for games, crafts and egg coloring, as well as hunting for eggs! Sign up in the Gathering Area, or if you have any questions, contact Mary Gorges or Thom Nicla. Our thanks to Louis and Joyce Milsted for helping us plan this event!
In Deepest Sympathy We offer our Christian love to the family of Pearl Harter at her death; and to the family of Andrea & Tom Thorpe at the death of his grandmother. Students who have completed the Holy Communion Preparation classes will receive their First Communion on Maundy Thursday, March 20, at the 7:00 p.m. worship service, where they will use their own personal chalice, which they designed and made for this special occasion. Please plan to arrive early for worship on Thursday! If you have any questions, please contact Mary Gorges.
2nd Graders & Parents Bible distribution will take place at the 8:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, April 20. Old Testament instruction will follow at 9:40 a.m. and it will continue on Sunday, April 27, with New Testament instruction. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. If your child is in need of a Bible or Bible instruction please contact Mary Gorges in the office. A letter with more details will be mailed out to the 2nd Grade parents in late March. Questions? Please contact Mary Gorges.
A Face-Lift! Our newsletter will be getting a face lift with our next edition. It will be reader friendly, multi-colors, and include pictures! A big thank you to all the members who are supporting this newsletter with their advertising. The response has been overwhelming! Thanks, again!
Want to Go to Tanzania?! he members of our Tanzanian Partnership Committee are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to the Meru Diocese of Tanzania in 2009! We hope to take a small group of six to eight people to visit the members of our partner congregation, the Maangashiny Parish. We plan to visit their churches, schools, and homes, in order to get to know them better and learn more about their life-style and needs. We plan to go on a safari, and also hope to visit the synod office and a Mt. Meru coffee plantation! Do you want to come with us?! Depending on the time of year we travel, flight costs, etc., the total cost of the trip (including Visa & shots, etc.) will be around $4,000 per person. Because this is an important mission trip to deepen our partnership with the Maangashiny Parish, we are exploring various means in which to financially help those who will be going. Please sign up on the kiosk or talk to Deaconess Deb (452-2401) if you are interested! Our next meeting will be Wednesday, April 2, at 12:00 noon, in the Bride’s Room. Please come!
Support the Mt. Meru Coffee Project! Congregations like ours have helped make the Mt Meru Coffee Project grow. When the Project began, coffee prices were so low that many of the farmers could no longer receive a family income, so they stopped tending the coffee plants on their small 1-3 acre farms. The Coffee Project provides consistent and fair prices, and now more and more farmers are diligently caring for their coffee plants, adding new plants and replacing those that have been uprooted. The Diocese of Meru, with your help and help from the Greater Milwaukee Synod, has started revitalizing the 280 acre Makumira Estate so that it can be used as a regional demonstration and training farm. There are several segments to this redevelopment including facilities for crop and livestock training, soil testing, coffee cupping (tasting), and Ag lab facilities. Our synod is asking us and all of the Mt Meru Coffee Congregations to help raise approximately $6,000, which is needed to develop this coffee plot. Approximately $2,000 is needed by mid April for the first stage. Please help if you can! Make checks payable to First United Lutheran Church, attn: Mt. Meru Coffee Project. Your generosity is very much appreciated by coffee farmers of the Meru Diocese! If they were here with us they would say… Asante sana!
Praisefest at Cross April 6 Come to Praisefest, a joyful worship service filled with music, with one of our partner congregations, Cross Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, on Sunday, April 6! Worship will begin at 3:00 p.m. , followed by a pot-luck dinner. Please sign up on the kiosk if you plan to go, so we can plan to car-pool.
Special Offerings in Holy Week Special offerings on Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday will be designated for Crossways Camping Ministries, which is an outdoor ministry of the ELCA, providing camping and retreat experiences for youth and families. Three camps are located here in Wisconsin. Many of our own First United youth will be attending a Crossways camp this summer.
Medical Supplies Are Needed We will be collecting medical supplies during the month of April for The “Bread of Healing” medical clinic that is operated by Cross Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, one of our Partner congregations. Offering free primary medical care to people in the Milwaukee area who can’t afford health insurance, this care includes medical exams, lab tests, and follow-up care. The clinic is non-profit and the doctors and nurses, volunteer their time and services. Their clinic is in great need of medical supplies. Please consider by donating items: + Accu-Chek ACTIVE Diabetic Glucose Meter Strips (a pharmacy doesn’t need a prescription) They are also in need of 81/2 X11" computer paper, pens, pencils, labels (1X2 5/8"), UN-used cosmetics, all kinds of hygiene products, especially soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo, and gift cards to Staples or Office Depot (to buy office supplies). Please check expiration dates, and donate only new items that are in sealed packages. Please bring items during the month of April to the Bread of Healing Display in the Gathering Area. Thank you! - The Social Ministry Committee ELCA Global Mission Event: God’s Work, Our Hands Mark your calendars, and plan to attend the ELCA Global Mission Event July 17-20, at the Univ. Of Wisconsin - LaCrosse! Hear the Gospel in new ways from international guests who challenge us to live out our calling as global Christians. Immerse yourself in exciting music and worship from around the world! Attend workshops, meet people of all ages from around the world, discover opportunities for global service, celebrate and learn! Programs are offered for all ages! Visit www.elca.org/gme/gme2008 for more information or to register! Watch the kiosk for more information, also!
Quilters need your help, please Our quilters have been working so diligently, that they are almost out of the materials they need to create those wonderful quilts! Do you have material, sheets, blankets that might be donated for such a good cause? Please bring any items to the church office!
Attention: Softball Pitchers and Catchers! There is a sign up sheet in the office for all who are interested in playing softball on Mondays in a church softball league, starting after Memorial Day and continuing until Labor Day. Please contact Lance Nennig for details at 627-2853.
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