Pastor George Thomas served a small
congregation in the
He said, “I was walking through town yesterday
when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage there were three
little birds, all shivering with cold and fright. So, I stopped the lad and asked, ‘What you
got there, son?’ ‘Just some old birds,’ came the reply. ‘And
what are you going to do with them?’ I asked.
He said, ‘Oh, I’ll just take them home and have some fun with them. I’m gonna’ tease ‘em and pull out their
feathers to make them fight. I’m gonna’
have a real good time.’ ‘But’, I said,
‘you’ll get tired of those birds sooner or later. Then what will you do?’ He said, ‘Oh, I got some cats, and they like
birds. I’ll just let them have ‘em.’”
The pastor said, “Well, I just sort of
stood there in stunned silence for a moment.
Then I said, ‘Son, how much do you want for those birds?’ He looked up rather puzzled at me and said,
‘Huh? Why mister, you don’t want them
birds. They’re just plain, old field
birds. They don’t sing and they ain’t
even pretty.’ But I said to him again,
‘How much?’ He sort of looked up at me
as if I was crazy and said, ‘Ten bucks!’
I reached into my pocket and took out a ten-dollar bill and put it into
his outstretched hand. In a flash, the
boy was gone, leaving behind this bird cage.”
He said, “Well, I picked up this old bird
cage and carried it down to the end of this alley where there was a tree and a
grassy spot. I set the cage down, opened
up the door, and by softly tapping on the side of the cage, I finally coaxed
the birds out, setting them free.”
Well,
now the people understood more about this old birdcage, but then the pastor
went on to tell another story. He said,
“One day Satan and Jesus were having this conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden,
and he was gloating and boasting. ‘Yes,
sir, I just caught me a world full of people down there. I set me a trap and used some bait that I
just knew those folks couldn’t resist.
And I got them all!’ And Jesus
asked him, ‘And what do you plan to do with them all?’ Satan said, ‘Oh, I’m gonna’ have some
fun! I’m gonna’ teach them how to marry
and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to abuse liquor
and drugs and tobacco and food. And I’m
gonna’ teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I’m gonna’ have lots of dun!’
“Jesus asked, ‘And
what will you do with them when you are all finished with them?’ Satan said, ‘Oh, I’ll just kill ‘em!’ Then Jesus asked, ‘How much do you want for
them?’ Satan said, ‘Oh, you don’t want
those people. They ain’t no good. Why, if you
take them, they’ll just hate you and spit on you and curse you and even kill
you. No, you don’t want those people.’
“Again, Jesus asked him, ‘How much?’ And Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, ‘All
your blood, sweat, tears and your life!’
And Jesus said, ‘DONE!’ And he
paid the price.
The pastor came out of the pulpit and
picked up that old, rusty cage. He
opened the little door and walked over and set it upon the altar, then went and sat down.
A young man was at the end of his rope, and
seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. “Lord, I can’t go on,” he said. “I have too heavy a cross to bear.” The Lord replied, “My son, if you can’t bear
its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then open that door and pick out any cross
you may wish.” The man was filled with
relief and said, “Thank you Lord,” and he did as he was told.
Upon entering the other room, he saw many
crosses, some so large that the tops were not even visible as he looked
up. Then, he spotted this tiny, little
cross, leaning against a far wall.
“Lord,” he said, “I’ll take that little cross right over there. The Lord replied, “Son,
that is the cross you just brought in.”
When life’s problems seem so overwhelming,
it helps to look around and see what other people have to deal with. You may come to consider yourself far more
fortunate than you ever imagined.
(A poem by Rev. John M. Braaten, Luther
Seminary, 1963)
While on my journey – shoulders
hunched
From the burden that I bore
I seemed in mind to meet
Christ yet nailed to a cross.
There was anguish in his eyes; his
Body writhed in pain…then he spoke,
“Why do you keep me on this tree?”
I dared not look upon that solitary
figure
But said, “It is not I, it is not
I.”
I wanted then to leave, for the
Burden as I stood there grew
unbearable.
Again his pitying voice reached out,
“Know you not victory is complete,
And guilt can reign no more?”
Now bent beneath my burden’s weight
I said, “Then why remain you on the
cross?”
He said, “Because your life beholds
me so.”
A terrible silence filled the air –
and then
From depths of agony….
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”
The cry found echo from my aching
soul,
As my burden crushed me to the
ground.
Then with the curse of Adam tearing
At my heart – in momentary glance
I saw an awesome love beam from his
face;
His outstretched arms would seem to
welcome me.
My abject soul cried out…
And suddenly I realize I stand
before an open tomb,
The burden’s gone, my being sings
out with joy.
“Son, you are free indeed.”
PASTOR JOHN
OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOLY COMMUNION
During these coming weeks, members of the Parish will have
the following opportunities to participate in Holy Communion on the following
dates:
April 6 Lent V
April 17 Maundy Thursday
April
20 Resurrection of our Lord
April 27 Easter II – Confirmation Day
Come, be blessed and nourished at the Lord’s Table.
COMMUNITY PRAYER SERVICES IN THIS TIME OF WORLD
CRISIS
Our area Lutheran and Episcopal congregations have arranged
to schedule a weekly time for a community prayer service in light of what has
been happening in the
March 30th
April 6th
April 13th
Depending on what the needs of the community may be,
further services may be scheduled after Easter.
The PARISH BIBLE STUDY is
held Sunday evenings at
FAMILY CAMPING AT
Come to
There are three
time slots for family camping this summer:
June 28-July 1 (Sat.-Tue.), July 3-6 (Thur.-Sun.), or Aug. 1-3
(Fri.-Sun.)
For the four-day
events, costs range, depending on size of family, from $185 (family of 2) to
$265 (family of six). For the three-day
event, costs range from $165 (family of 2) to $205 (family of six). If you use tent or camper, deduct $25 per family. If you stay in the Log Lodge, add $50 per
family. All fees include lodging, meals
and program.
Daily activities
include: hiking, games, canoe trips,
arts & crafts, Bible Study, trout fishing, night hikes, canteen, worship.
A pastor/couple
will be on hand as program leaders for each event. Contact GEV at (507) 346-2494 or E-mail at goodearth@deskmedia.com. Or, ask Pastor or Sharon for more
information.
NEW PRIVACY LAWS FOR ALL OUR HEALTH CARE CENTERS
(Please be sure to read this and seek to follow it)
Beginning on Monday,
April 14th, there are new federal and state
mandated privacy laws that will take effect at all of our hospitals and other
health care facilities. With this come
much greater restrictions on what information can be given and shared about
patients and/or residents.
Information about
a person who is in the hospital or in a health care facility cannot be put into
the public domain without the expressed permission of the patient or a
responsible family member. Therefore, no
person’s name can be placed into a church bulletin or church paper as being a
patient in the hospital or a resident at a nursing home, etc., without the
direct verbal or written permission of a patient or a family member. Any formation about a person’s health
condition cannot be shared or given to any other person without that person’s
permission or that of a family member. A
pastor or chaplain cannot visit a patient or person in the hospital or other
health care facility without the permission of that person or a family member. Prayers in church cannot include the specific
name of a person without that permission being given.
Any person who
gives out that information, without that stated permission, becomes liable for
being penalized by state or federal authorities, if a suit is brought.
This is a rather
sad comment on the current state of things in our society and the demands for
individual rights. But those few who
wish to prey on and victimize people and information systems have mandated
these new privacy laws. We just need to
be much more careful about what we speak and when. Basically this is saying that if you don’t
have a rather direct permission to share something about a person, don’t do it,
or you may find yourself liable for prosecution.
Come to the EASTER BREAKFAST on Sunday, April 20th immediately following the Sunrise Service at Hayward
Lutheran. A free will offering will be
received. The menu includes: Scrambled Eggs, Ham Links, Coffee Cake,
Orange Slices, Coffee, Milk & Juice. The proceeds will go to benefit future
Lutheran Youth Organization functions.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
It’s the Lutheran night at the dome!!! A bus will be leaving from Hayward Lutheran
on Wednesday, August 13 to go to the Twins game. Exact time of departure will be decided at a
later date. Mark the date on your
calendars and plan to
join us for a fun time at the game!!!
BREAKFAST WITH THE BISHOP
Young men of all
ages are invited to attend a “Breakfast with the Bishop”, Harold Usgaard, on Saturday,
April 26th at
Bishop Usgaard
will have the devotions on “Fishers of Men”.
We will enjoy a buffet breakfast and a staff member of Cabelas will give
a brief presentation on fishing.
Cost for breakfast
is $8 per person. This may be paid with
your reservation or may be paid at the door on the 26th. WE WILL NEED YOUR RESERVATIONS BY OUR DEADLINE
DATE, APRIL 15TH. Please send reservations to:
Nick Nikoley
If you send a check along, please make it out to: SEM LUTHERAN MEN IN MISSION.
PASTOR CLARK AND LOIS CARY ARE MOVING
Pastor Clark and
Lois Cary are moving on to new opportunities of service through the interim
pastor program.
In appreciation
for their twenty-two years of ministry with the Trinity family and with the
community, they will be honored at
Program in the
sanctuary is scheduled at
SUMMER STAFF NEEDED!
Currently, we are
still in need of male and female counseling staff. These folks must be 18 years or older, have a
desire to work with people of all ages, a love of nature and the outdoors, and
a desire to share their faith through words and actions. In addition to their salary, staff also receive room and board during the 12-week season.
We are also
looking for doctors, nurses or EMT’s to help cover our Health Care needs. This is a volunteer position, which includes
room and board during their time with us.
It is preferred if these volunteers could spend one week with us, but we
can be flexible to accommodate schedules if needed.
If you know of
anyone who might be interested in either of these opportunities, please have
them contact me for more information.
Shalom
Gretchen Bachman, Program Director
RR 1,
TRONDHJEM NEWS
TRONDHJEM
APRIL ASSIGNMENTS
Altar Guild
Eileen
Reese
Coffee Servers
April
6 Don & Arlene Chapek
April
27 Barb Prantner
Beverly
Prantner
Communion Assistant
Doug Thompson
APRIL
CONFIRMATION ACOLYTE/USHER
ASSIGNMENTS
April 6 - Jessica Naatz & Megan Thompson
April 13 - (Palm Sunday) – Brad Thompson
& Scott Kraushaar
April 20
- (Easter) – Sean Kraushaar & Andrew Reese
April 27 - (Confirmation) – Daniel Jax & Matthew Reese
TRONDHJEM BIRTHDAYS
April 6 Roger
Krause
April 7 Mona
Lukes
April 10 Mable
Handeland
Kurt
Lukes
April 13 Obert
Haldorson
Lisa
Kraushaar
TRONDHJEM ANNIVERSARIES
April 6 Steve
& Linda Kraushaar
TRONDHJEM MEMORIALS
Building
Fund:
In memory
of Melvin Wacholz by M/M Maynard Johnson
In memory
of Ester Yeadon by M/M Maynard Johnson
In Memory
of Louis Belshan by M/M Maynard Johnson
General
Fund:
In Memory of Arlene Reindl by Emily Cech.
CONGRATULATIONS to
We the people of
VISION STATEMENT
As a community of faith in Jesus Christ, we
will demonstrate care and compassion for one another and also to a world in
much need. God’s Word and the Holy
Sacraments are central to our life of faith.
As we grow and are nourished by these, we will bring the good news of God’s forgiveness, life and salvation to those around us.
APRIL ASSIGNMENTS
Altar Guild
Cammie Tennis
& Barb Miller
Coffee Servers
April 6 – Cheryl
& Todd Enderson/Debra & Terry Bolinger
April 13 – Helen
& Helmer Brandt/Shirley Olson
April 20 –
EASTER – No morning coffee
April 27 –
Kendall & Lila Johnson/Faye Nelson
Ushers
“Louis & Stephanie Larson
Scott,
Kim, Brie & Brooke Woitas
Todd &
Aaron Enderson
Mike &
Vicki Larson
Steve
Lundak
Communion and Offering Duty
Sonja
Johnson and
April Confirmation Acolyte/Usher
Schedule
April 6 – Melissa Sather & Brooke Woitas
April 13 (Palm Sunday) – Miranda Garduno & Michelle Learn
April 20 (Easter) – Chelsea Hill & Lacy Wright
April 27 (Confirmation) – Miranda Garduno & Michelle Learn
April 3 Lois
Schroeder
Beatrice
Wacholz
Helen
Brandt
April 4 Lucille
Larson
April 5 Brandon
Quam
Mitchell
Skaar
April 6 Gary
Westland
April 7 Faye
Nelson
Carolyn
Noland
Mackenzie
Berhow
April 8 Alison
Hafstad
April 11 Adam
Westland
April 12 James
Frydenlund
April 14 Nancy
Berhow
James
Hoiseth
April 15 Christian
Elleby
Scott
Kromminga
April 17 Jennifer
Nelson
April 18 John Malm
April 23 Richard
Hanson
April 25 Faye
Olson
Betsy
Paulson
April 26 Terry
Bolinger
April 27 Carmen
Johnson
April 30 Harriet
Skaar
Troy
Eggum
Derek
Hanson
Rachel
Frydenlund
April 3 Lou
& Stephanie Larson
April 4 Dave
& Paulette Paulson
ALTAR GUILD
NEWS
ALTAR
FLOWERS
Fresh flowers for
the altar are a beautiful addition to our worship service. If you wish to furnish flowers, all you need
to do is call the Altar Guild president, Diane Ladlie, 256-7514. The Guild will purchase and display the
flowers for you, and if you wish, will put an acknowledgement in the Sunday
bulletin. Cost of the flowers is usually
about $15. Your generosity and support
are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
EASTER LILIES
If you would like
to purchase an Easter lily
in memory or honor of someone, you may call Camilla Frydenlund
(373-9252) to place your order. The cost
is $10.
LIFT FUND
In memory of
Arthur & Verda Gunnarson, Olive Westrum, Lydia Waalkens, Melvin Wacholz,
Susan LaFlamme, Louis Belshan
STAINED GLASS FUND
In memory of
Lydia Waallkens and Art Gunnarson
Thank you for all the cards, memorials and kind words we received in
the loss of our mother and grandmother, Lydia Waalkens.
The Family of
Paul & Min Westland
Where We Are
End
of Month End of Month Variance
Budget
Goal Actual
Jan. $8,455 $8,186 .33 -$268.67
Feb. $16,910 $5,109.83 -$3,613.84
President, Steve
Tufte, presided over the meeting.
Steve handed out
a list of options for building the handicapped accessible bathroom next to the
lift and also some options regarding having the bathroom on the level with the
Social Hall. The cost of each option and
some pros and cons were also listed.
1.
Run sewer to street with bond -
$14,828 plus any cost expected in the future for repair to the street.
2.
Install a lift pump - $16,112.
3.
Run the sewer pipes under the
basement floor- $17,452.
4.
Using the one closet in the
Social Hall - $13,372.
Discussion was
held on the above options. No decision
was made at this time.
Respectfully submitted
Council Secretary
Steve Tufte,
Council President, presided over the meeting.
The Congregational
meeting was continued from
Steve passed out
the list of options for the handicapped accessible bathroom.
Phil Tennis made
a motion to have the handicapped accessible bathroom on the same floor as the
Social Hall. Jack Thisius seconded the
motion.
Discussion
followed.
Ballots were
handed out to each member. The votes
were counted by Steve Tufte, Sonja Johnson and
There were 8
votes for having the bathroom on the same floor as the Social Hall.
There were 30
votes for having the bathroom on the same floor as the Sanctuary next to the
lift. Twenty-four (24) of these votes were for running the
sewer pipes under the basement floor and six (6) votes were for installing the
lift pump.
Steve will be contacting Larson Construction
and let them know our decision.
There was a short
discussion on what to do with the bell tower.
Dick Hanson made
a motion to adjourn the meeting. Sonja Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Council Secretary
Present: Sonja Johnson,
Sonja Johnson,
Vice-President, called the meeting to order.
The agenda was discussed. Jean
Skaar made a motion to accept the agenda.
Randy Eggum seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Secretary’s
Report:
Jean Skaar made a motion to accept the Secretary’s report
as printed. Bob Armon seconded the
motion. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s
Report:
Sue Skaar presented the Treasurer’s Report. Report accepted and placed on file.
Items to
Consider:
1.
Calendar:
A.
Midweek Lenten Suppers: March 12th Joint Council served;
March 19th, March 26th, April 2nd and April 19th.
B.
April 16th – Joint
Council meeting at the parsonage –
C.
Pastor’s Cont. Education –
Pastor’s Theological Conference,
D.
Pastor’s Vacation – July
14-31. (Pulpit Supply will be Ms. Rachel
Oldfather, student at Luther Seminary (member of Kiester parish).
E.
F.
Day Camp with
2.
Synod Meeting for Councils:
The meeting was held in
3.
Lift Project:
The building permits were approved. Larson is working with the County on the rest
of the permits.
4.
Pastor Hagen’s Pension:
A letter was sent to Pastor Hagen regarding paying him. The council didn’t hear anything back from
him.
5.
Parsonage Furnace & Air:
Jean Skaar made a motion to amend her motion on February 16th
to just use money from the building fund to pay for the furnace and air
conditioner for the parsonage. Bob Armon
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
6.
Offering Sheet Reports:
General discussion on counting and recording the
offering and other memorials.
7.
Memorial Gifts:
Discussion was held on the listing of the memorial gifts in
the Church Newsletter. Jean Skaar made a
motion to abbreviate the list of memorials in the Church Newsletter to include
who the person it is in memory of and the fund that it is designated for. Randy Eggum seconded the motion. Motion carried.
8.
Church Organ:
Dewey Krueger Music was not interested in taking or paying
anything for the old organ. Consensus
was that if that was the case, to let Schmitt Music take it, which was done.
9.
Kim Portz Invoice:
Pastor Malm will make contact with Steve Tufte, Gary
Westland and Wes Tennis to try and get this bill resolved.
Respectfully submitted,
SIMPLY GIVING PROGRAM
Would you find it helpful to have your offerings taken from
your bank account as you do other monthly drafts? At no cost to the congregation? Thrivent Financial for Lutherans sponsors a
program called Simply Giving. Which offers this service for people who wish to have offerings
transferred electronically to their church’s account. For those who travel, this is particularly
helpful in keeping up with their intended offerings, and it will keep you from
having to make up the difference later.
The Congregational Council has approved this program for those who
choose to participate in it. Contact the
church office for more details. On April
6th,
CONFIRMATION OPEN HOUSE
For Brooke Woitas from
For Melissa Sather from 3 – 5 p.m. on Sunday,
April 27 at her parent’s home, John & Kris Schultz, Alden, MN.
COME AND JOIN THE FUN!!!
When planning
your summer schedule, set aside July 7 – 11th for Day Camp. It will be held at
Young people in Grades 7
– 12 will have the opportunity to be assistants for the Day Camp.
WELCA NEWS
On
NOTICE: REGARDING GIFTS TO SPECIAL FUNDS
The Congregation
Council requests your help. Council
members have the task of counting the offerings and making sure that your gifts
to the church get recorded in the proper places. It would be very helpful if, when giving
gifts to special funds, like the Elevator/Life Fund,
SARAH FRYDENLUND IN LUTHER CATHEDRAL CHOIR
The Cathedral
Choir of Luther College will perform in concert at
SAY HOWDY TO GOD’S RULES
The Ten Commandments are posted
in a little sign on the wall at
·
Just one God
·
Honor yer Ma & Pa
·
No telling tales or gossipin’
·
Git yourself to Sunday meeting
·
Put nothin’ before God
·
No foolin’ around with another
fellow’s gal
·
No killin’
·
Watch yer mouth
·
Don’t take what ain’t yers
·
Don’t be hankerin’ for yer
buddy’s stuff
(From March 11th issue of
WHAT??!!
I had a “drug” problem when I
was a young person and teenager….
I was “drug” to
church on Sunday morning.
I was “drug” to
church for weddings and funerals.
I was “drug” to
family reunions no matter the weather.
I was “drug” to
the bus stop to go to school every weekday.
I was “drug” by
my ears when disrespectful to adults and teachers.
I was also “drug”
to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents.
Those “drugs” are
still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and
think. They are stronger than cocaine,
crack or heroin, and if our children had this kind of “drug” problem,
GOD’S CAKE
Sometimes we
wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?” or “Why did God have to do this to
me?”
A daughter is
telling her mother how everything is going wrong. She’s failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up
with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her mother is baking a cake.
She asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says,
“Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.”
“Here, have some
cooking oil,” her
mother offers. “Yuck”, says her
daughter. “How about a
couple of raw eggs?” “Gross,
Mom!” “Would you like some flour
then? Or maybe baking
soda?” “Mom, those are all
yucky!” To which the mother replies,
“Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right
way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the
same way. Many times we wonder why He
would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But, God knows that when He puts these things
all in His order, they always work for good!
We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something
wonderful!
God is crazy
about you. He sends you flowers every
spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He’ll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
PARISH NEWS DEADLINE The deadline for turning in
articles and calendar information for the Parish News is the 20th of each month. Thank you for your cooperation.
ADDRESS CHANGE? If you or someone you know has
had a change of address or phone number within this past year, please inform
the Church Office as soon as possible.
Thank you for your help!
.
.