THE PARISH NEWS

January 2004 Volume 9, No. 1

ACROSS THE PASTOR’S DESK……

I still remember, as a teenager, how difficult it was to get out of bed at 6:30 or 7:00 in the morning and get ready for school. It was especially difficult at this time in the winter, when darkness overwhelms the light. My mother was often up and gone to work at the school kitchen next door by that time.

It seems that I have inherited that maternal gene for rising early in the morning, usually by 5:00 a.m. It is made more difficult in winter because morning is still night, and so one must stumble and grope around to find one’s way out of bed and bedroom and on the bathroom and kitchen to do the morning routines.

Amid those routines, it seems rather odd to think about the prophet Isaiah’s words: “ARISE, SHINE, for your Light has come!” Of course the prophet’s words have no connection at all to changing seasons. They only come to us in the context of our Lord’s revelation as the beacon of salvation for this whole world.

So it is that the coming Epiphany Season of January and February calls us, entices us, COMMANDS US, to rise up, to leap out of those places (bed?) where we live in our spiritual dimness (Work? School? Home?). God calls us to shine up our spectacles, clean off our windows so that we might better SEE this new thing that has happened. ARISE! Shine! We are invited to greet and welcome this glorious Light – a luminescence that shines with such magnitude that it melts the icy coldness of our hearts.

EPIPHANY is no wimpy one-candle-in-the-darkness deal, but rather a BLAST of brightness like no other. SO GET UP AND SEE IT! Bask in its brightness; see this Light that shines upon us, scattering the darkness of our minds so that we may walk as children of the Light.

THAT LIGHT IS CHRIST JESUS! Any spiritual light that we have is HIS, shining in and through us. Indeed, so great is the grace that shines upon us that it seems that our very FACES, like that of Moses, should be glowing with that reflected glory. At the very least, our way of living surely will catch the light of Christ’s love and shine it on those around us. Such is the extroverted mission nature of this season.

So it is that we are called upon, in this glorious season, to be LIGHT GIVERS. And that should be reflected in our worship places as well, or even in our homes. Don’t be so QUICK to take down those Christmas lights and trees and lighted decorations! Christmas and Epiphany belong together in their glorious proclamation of Christ, the Light of the world. Yes, Epiphany begins at Bethlehem, and it deserves to be more than a half-baked rerun of Christmas, for it has so much to offer us on its own.

In this season of THE REVEALING OF GOD’S LIGHT, we will focus on that wonderful STAR of Bethlehem, and of those mysterious Magi who came in search of this new King of Light. We focus on that day when the heavens were ripped open and that heavenly light beamed down upon a young man just being baptized, and we hear that voice proclaim, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

We hear that Rabbi Jesus reveal from His hometown church that He is indeed the promised one of Isaiah, the Anointed One who has come to bring good news to the poor, and to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.

We see Jesus revealing the presence and the power of God through sign and miracle. Water is turned into wine, demons are cast out, the blind are given sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the dead are raised to new life. Christ is a light that shines where none has before, blessing the poor, the hungry, and the sorrowful.

This LIGHT is for ALL people: “a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people” as the elderly Simeon spoke. This light and fire of God shines like a therapeutic LASER right into the places where it is most needed. This cleansing light sears away the scales on our eyes, cauterizes the seeping wounds of our win, and halts the gnawing darkness of anxiety. This is a healing light, a refining light, a burnishing light, and a purifying light. THIS LIGHT is like no other, for THIS LIGHT has the power to SAVE!

Pastor John

OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOLY COMMUNION

January 4 – Second Sunday after Christmas

January 11 – Baptism of our Lord

TRONDHJEM NEWS

TRONDHJEM

JANUARY ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Elna Severtson

Coffee Servers

January 4 – Dean & Charlotte Lukes

Communion Assistant

Kiven Lukes

JANUARY ACOLYTE/USHER

ASSIGNMENTS

January 4 Zach Kestner & Matt Reese

January 11 Jessica Naatz & Megan Thompson

January 18 Daniel Jax & Scott Kraushaar

January 25 Brad Thompson & Cameron Kolbe

TRONDHJEM MEMORIALS

Missions:

In memory of Ed Prantner by M/M Sheldon Lukes

General Fund:

In memory of Ed Prantner by M/M Roger Krause, M/M Don Chapek, M/M Roger Severtson, Barb Prantner family and friends & M/M Steve Reese

In memory of Leonard & Florence Torrens by M/M Roger Krause

In memory of Ora & Esther Krause by M/M Roger Krause

Organ Fund:

In memory of Ed Prantner by M/M Richard Krause

Building Fund:

In memory of Ed Prantner by M/M Dale Lukes, Mary Cox and Barb Prantner

In memory of Lawrence Cox, Dale & Anna Stanton and Libbie Lukes by Mary Cox, Lee & Jeannette Cox and family, Gail & Gary Quam and family.

ANNUAL MEETING at Trondhjem will be held on Sunday, January 18^th after the worship service. A Pot Luck Meal will follow.

TRONDHJEM BIRTHDAYS

January 3 Jim Benesh, Sr.

January 9 Peggy Thompson

Kyle Thompson

January 12 Barbara Prantner

January 13 Garrett Lukes

January 24 Emil Prantner

January 25 Jill Krause

HAYWARD NEWS

MISSION STATEMENT

We the people of Hayward Lutheran Church confess the Triune God, and strive to follow the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.

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.

JANUARY ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Bev Lunde & Gwen Hanson

Coffee Servers

January 4 – Dick & Gwen Hanson/Steve & Karen Sorenson

January 11 – Gene, Bev & Dawn Jenson

January 18 – Steve & Linda Johnson/Jill Erickson/Bev Wright

January 25 – Dean & Kelly Anderson/Sally Anderson

Ushers

*Doran & Shirley Gray

Clayton Peterson

Larry & Kathie Hanson

Darlene Gilby, Dustin Garduno

Dick Hanson

Communion and Offering Duty

Steve Tufte and Jean Skaar

JANUARY ACOLYTE/USHER SCHEDULE

January 4 Julie Erickson & Lacy Wright

January 11 Louis Tufte & Hunter Gilby

January 18 Chelsea Hill & Caylee Tennis

January 25 Michelle Learn & Dahna Wright

HAYWARD BIRTHDAYS

January 2 Janet Iverson

January 3 Milton Kennedy

January 4 Ben Storlie

January 6 Keith Iverson

David Malm

January 9 Louis Tufte

January 15 Christina Learn

January 16 Sara Westland

January 17 Mary Stanley

January 18 Dean Anderson

Troy Habana

January 19 Bryanna Hanson

January 20 Dan Johnson

Andrew Ladlie

Tyler Westland

January 21 Carole Eggum

January 22 Katherine Barnick

January 23 Beverly Lunde

Joshua VandeKamp

January 27 Amanda Westland

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.

HAYWARD MEMORIALS

LIFT FUND

In memory of Bob Nelson

In memory of Ed Prantner

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Ed Prantner

In memory of Victor & Olive Westrum

KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED

Curt Larson, Sr. in Albert Lea

Carole Eggum in Mason City

THANK YOU to VERNON LUNDE and DICK HANSON for all of the work they did painting and refurbishing the church bathrooms.

Hayward Lutheran has received a THANK YOU from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA for the $200 gift given to the school for Betsy Paulson, who is a student there. These scholarship funds will be matched by the college up to $500 per student, per academic year.

HAYWARD LUTHERAN – 2003

WHERE WE ARE

End of Month End of Month

Budget Goal Actual Variance

Jan. $8,455 $8,186 -$268

Feb. $16,910 $13,296 -$3,613

March $25,366 $19,770 -$5,595

April $33,821 $28,535 -$5,286

May $42,277 $34,009 -$8,268

June $50,732 $45,001 -$5,731

July $59,187 $50,247 -$8,940

Aug. $67,643 $56,483 -$11,160

Sept. $76,098 $53,160 -$12,938

Oct. $84,553 $72,167 -$12,386

Nov. $93,009 $79,657 -$13,352

HAYWARD CONGREGATION COUNCIL MEETING

Sunday, December 14, 2003 – 11:45 a.m.

Present: Steve Tufte, Vickie Storlie, Randy Eggum, Bob Armon, Sonja Johnson, Jean Skaar, Sharon Malm, Pastor Malm.

Steve Tufte presided over the meeting.

The agenda was discussed.

SECRETARY’S REPORT:

Randy Eggum made a motion to accept the Secretary’s report for the November 16, 2000 meeting. Bob Armon seconded the motion. Motion carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

The treasurer’s report was discussed along with the budget.

ITEMS TO CONSIDER:

A. Calendar:

1. Thursday, December 24^th at 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship with Holy Communion.

2. Sunday, December 28^th – 10:30 a.m. – A Festival of Christmas Carols. No Sunday School

3. Sunday, January 4^th & 11th – 10:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion.

4. January 7^th & 8^th – Pastor at Luther Seminary Convocation in St. Paul

5. January 11^th – Council meets after worship

6. Sunday, January 18^th – Trondhjem will have Annual Meeting. Hayward will have a guest pastor.

7. Sunday, February 1^st – Hayward Annual Meeting after worship, and then dinner.

8. December 17^th, 7:00 p.m. – Joint Council meeting at Trondhjem

B. OTHER ITEMS:

1. The 2004 budget was discussed

Sonja Johnson made a motion to accept the proposed budget as amended. Jean Skaar seconded the motion. L Motion carried.

2. Stepladder:

Bob Armon reported that a 12’ fiberglass double-sided stepladder would cost $350.00 at Menards.

3. Advent Men’s Breakfasts:

Pastor Malm reported that there were 8 men at the first breakfast and 10 at the second one, representing both HLC & TLC.

4. Social Hall Roof:

No Report Yet.

5. Long Range Planning:

Steve mentioned some ideas for consideration to be brought to the Long Range Planning Committee. They included the roof, church carpet, speaker system – couple more microphones, windows. Steve will talk to the members of the Committee.

Jean Skaar made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Randy Eggum seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectively Submitted,

Vickie Storlie, Secretary

LIBRARY NEWS

Save 30% on a gift for your Library from Augsburg Fortress Publishing.

Would you like to give a gift of a book to your church Library? If so, call the church office (373-8479) by DECEMBER 28, 2003 and indicate which of the following books you would like to contribute. This offer expires on December 31, 2003.

Your monetary gift could purchase one of the following books:

Fantasy Lands: A Christian Dialogue with Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings by Russell W. Dalton. This book illuminates three contemporary fantasy stories with the light of the Christian faith journey. Ideal for teenage readers and adults. - $13.99

Cat Prayers: Prayers my cat has taught me by Herbert Brokering. - $8.79

Faithful Yet Changing: The Church in Challenging Times by Bishop Mark S. Hanson. A church faithful in scripture and tradition, yet changing to meet the new challenges of our diverse, fragmented world. -$5.99

The ANNUAL MEETING at Hayward Lutheran will be held on Sunday, February 1^st following the worship service. A pot luck dinner will follow.

GOOD EARTH VILLAGE NEWS

WINTER FUN DAYS

Good Earth Village will have Winter Fun Days January 11 & 25 and February 1 & 15 from 2 – 5 p.m. Activities available include sledding, snowshoeing, hiking and cross country skiing. (Bring your own skates or skis)

There will be a warm fire, hot drinks and cookies available in Barr Lodge. Cost is $1 per person. Contact the camp at (507) 346-2494 or e-mail at goodearth@deskmedia.com if you plan to attend.

QUILTING RETREAT

A Quilting Retreat for Beginners will be held at Good Earth Village January 16-18, 2004. If you have ever wanted to learn the art of quilting, this is the retreat for you! The instructor will be Bonnie Burke, an extremely talented and experienced quilter. Participants need to have their own sewing machine in good working condition and know how to use it. You will be responsible for purchasing your own material and thread. Once you have registered, we will send you further information to help you prepare for your weekend of sewing. Cost for the weekend is $75, which includes lodging, meals and programming. Please contact the camp to reserve your space: (507) 346-2494 or goodearth@deskmedia.com.

GROWING UP THE “JAMES” WAY

A RETREAT FOR JR. HIGH BOYS will be held at Good Earth Village January 30-31, 2004. This is a retreat just for the guys! In addition to learning about the book of James, there will be time for worship, games, great food, playing in the snow and meeting new friends. You will learn about the importance of your actions, about perseverance, humility and patience, as well as judging others and how we should talk. Cost: $30/person (chaperones are free). To register, fill out a registration form (available in the church office) and send the form with a $15 deposit to GEV, RR 1, Box 258, Spring Valley, MN 55975.

HOW TO RESERVE CAMPER SPOTS AT GOOD EARTH VILLAGE

Congregations may now begin reserving space for a particular week and the space may be held with or without the $75 per camper deposit until February 1, 2004. Only spaces held with a deposit can be guaranteed.

Sometime in December, summer brochures will be mailed to 2003 Summer Campers and the congregations.

February 1, 2004, all reserved spots that have not been filled with an actual registration and deposit, will no longer be held. Deposits not used by this date will be refunded to the congregation. You may continue to hold spaces after February 1 with a $75 per camper deposit. However, your deposit becomes non-refundable and non-transferable.

PARISH NEWS DEADLINE

The deadline for turning in articles and calendar information for the Parish News is the 20^th 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!

THE “TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS”

The “Twelve Days of Christmas” was originally written to help Catholic children in England remember different articles of faith during the persecution by Protestant Monarchs. The “true love” represented God and the gifts all different ideas:

- The “partridge in a pear tree” was Christ.

- Two Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments.

- Three French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity - - the Theological Virtues.

- Four Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists.

- Five Golden Rings = The first five Books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, which relays the history of man’s fall from grace.

- Six Geese A- Laying = The six days of Creation.

- Seven Swans A-Swimming = The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven Sacraments.

- Eight maids a-Milking = The eight Beatitudes.

- Nine Ladies Dancing = The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

- Ten Lords A-Leaping = the Ten Commandments

- Eleven Pipers Piping = the eleven Faithful Apostles.

- Twelve Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Christmas season begins at sundown on the 24^th of December and lasts through sundown on the 5^th of January. For that reason, this season is also known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.

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A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him in front of the service station. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. “Reverend,” said the young man, “sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip.” The minister chuckled, “I know what you mean. It’s the same in my business.”

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The minister, preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they had expected for repairs to the church building, was annoyed that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. “Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently. “But you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances.” During the service, the minister paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up.” At that moment, the substitute organist played “The Star Spangled Banner.” And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!