INSPIRED AMATEURS

“Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” (Acts 11:19-26).

There are all kinds of stories about the many and various things that people have accomplished over the centuries just out of the sheer love of the task. Kevin Quinagh has written about some of them under the title of “Inspired Amateurs.” Herschel was a musician who became one of the greatest of astronomers. Grote was a banker who became the historian of Greece. Priestley was a preacher who discovered oxygen. Schliemann was a merchant who excavated Troy. Spinoza was a grinder of lenses who took high place among the world’s philosophers.

The most priceless gift that can come to a church, a congregation, is a single-hearted spirit in the people who make up her ranks; their willingness to give to the work

of the Kingdom all the strength and devotion they can spare from their vocation. In spite of all the professional skills at its disposal, the church remains close to bankruptcy if there be lacking that sense of personal responsibility and devotion which were in those early church Christians who were scattered by the circumstances of the times, but who, as they made their journeys into new and strange lands, “went with great power…giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord (Acts 4:33).”

Jane Adams powerfully experienced that essential sense of responsibility in connection with the cause of peace, a field in which she was an “amateur.” Her efforts for peace extended over a period of some forty years. It began with a dream she had as a little girl, a dream that she had over and over again. She dreamed that she alone remained alive in a deserted world, and that upon her rested the sole responsibility of somehow making a wheel that would start again the world’s affairs. She dreamed that she was standing in the same spot in the blacksmith’s shop, darkly pondering as to how to begin, and never knowing how. Thus, in life as in her dreams, she felt her responsibility as ‘sole,’ and she could not stop pondering or trying. She tried to make wheel after wheel to start the affairs of peace.

Amateurs they all were – the disciples, the deacons, Barnabas, the scattered ones – all just amateurs. But, “they went with great power…giving testimony,” for the Risen Christ and the Holy Spirit had inspired them as they made their journeys. Just as the Apostle Paul wrote to his friend Timothy:

“Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him.” (II Timothy 1:8-12)

Let us be in prayer for ourselves and for each other, that the Gospel may inspire us and renew us to talk and walk and give and live with power and love and discipline…unashamed.

Pastor John

CALLED INTO GOD’S MARVELOUS

LIGHT….BY THE WORD!

This is the theme for the 2006 Southeastern Minnesota Synod Assembly that will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 5^th and 6^th at the Civic Center in Rochester, MN.

This year’s delegates are Linda Kraushaar and Obert Haldorson from Trondhjem Lutheran and Carol and LeMoyne Eggum from Hayward Lutheran, along with Pastor Malm.

WORSHIP TIMES CHANGE

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Beginning on May 28^th the Worship Times for Trondhjem and Hayward will change for the summer months.

Hayward Lutheran Worship – 8:30 a.m.

Hayward Coffee Time – 9:30 a.m.

Trondhjem Coffee Time – 9 a.m.

Trondhjem Lutheran Worship – 10 a.m.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOLY COMMUNION

May 7 Easter IV

May 14 Easter V

EARLY COMMUNION INSTRUCTION

Those parents and children who are interested in the instruction program for Holy Communion should be in contact with Pastor Malm very soon. There is no age designation for the child, just that the parents, child and pastor join in a period of instruction in the Sacrament and then determine when and if the child is ready to receive the Sacrament. When we have heard from those who are interested, we will work out a schedule for classes that works for all. Please call the church office, or talk to Pastor Malm.

TRONDHJEM NEWS

MAY ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Shirley Kraushaar

Coffee Servers

May 14 Sunday School

May 28 John & Sandi Chapek

Communion Assistants

Mike Severtson & Mark Brekke

MAY ACOLYTE/USHERS

May 7 Matt Reese

May 14 Daniel Jax

May 21 Jessica Naatz

May 28 Cortney Thostenson

Youth Usher: Reed Thostenson

MAY BIRTHDAYS

May 4 Bette George

May 8 Linda Kraushaar

May 13 Reed Thostenson

May 20 Scott Kraushaar

May 26 Elaine Lukes

May 28 Ruth Lukes

May 28 Emily Brekke

May 30 Maxine Amacher

May 31 Elna Severtson

May 31 Ethan Severtson

MAY ANNIVERSARIES

May 18 Irene & Jim Benesh

May 26 Brenda and Orin Krause

KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED

Ken Benesh in Rochester

MEMORIALS

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Lester Bothum by Gilma Bothum and family

OUR SYMPATHY is extended to the family of Mavis Billadeau who died Sunday, April 23. Her funeral was held on Thursday, April 27.

CORTNEY RAE THOSTENSON was confirmed on Sunday, April 30^th at Trondhjem Lutheran Church. Cortney was baptized November 11, 1990. Her parents are Sandy and John Chapek and Lonny Thostenson. Her sponsors are Bruce and Rhonda Baker and Sara Johnson. Cortney’s favorite Bible passage is Psalm 23, verse 4: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” Her favorite hymn is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”

TRONDHJEM QUILTERS

HAVE BEEN BUSY

The quilting ladies of Trondhjem Lutheran have been “busy bees”. This past fall and winter they made 101 quilts to be sent to those in need. Even though they will not be getting together this summer, there will be ladies who will be “quilting up a storm” at home.

Thank you to all who donate fabric and give of their time for this worthwhile project.

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.

HAYWARD LUTHERAN

OUR STEWARDSHIP FOR 2006

Month Where we Where Total Should be We Are Expenses

(As of 4/25) (As of 4/25)

January $ 8,902 $ 8,233 $ 8,098

February $17,803 $13,009 $12,845

March $26,705 $21,285 $21,910

April $34,607 $30,285 $34,803

May $53,410

July $62,312

August $71,213

September $80,115

October $89,015

November $97,918

December $106,820

A MESSAGE FROM THE HARTWIGS

Dear supporting churches, which we look forward to visiting very soon!

This is Rebecca writing, rather than the better correspondent of the team, so let me introduce a new dimension of our work here. While Kristopher is off in the world of medical care, teaching and writing, I spend the majority of my time with music students at Makumira University, about 20 kms out of town. There I teach piano, and also study music myself. The music program is new this year – a three-year BA music degree program. I feel very privileged to be there teaching and learning. I’ll tell you all more about it when we come, but here is a request from the university and from me.

If any of you find music materials which are collecting dust and you are willing to donate to the school, could you please collect those for us when we visit and I will find a way to get them here. The school has very little in the way of music books, instruments, and teaching materials. To be more specific, we need to build our music library of general music history books, and need beginning to intermediate level instruction books for piano, guitar, recorder, trumpet, trombone, horn, flute, voice, drum, and perhaps other instruments as we collect the instruments themselves. The students are very keen on learning to play several instruments though the ones required are piano, voice, guitar, recorder, and brass. They are involved in brass band, choir, recorder ensemble as well as taking private instruction in 4 instruments. Also, any well-kept instruments which would be donated would be a wonderful gift. Next year, we will add another class to this program, so the number of students will double, though the classes are kept small (5 per year so far until we get regular teachers and more space built). Feel free to ask questions if you have an idea which might make our program fly a little higher.

Thank you for your interest in our work here. We both think it is a real honor to be missionaries in Tanzania.

Rebecca Hartwig

MAY ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Cammie Tennis and Sharon Seidel

Coffee Servers

May 7 Todd & Cheryl Enderson/John & Sharon Malm

May 14 Paul & Barb Miller/Sandra Jimenez

May 21 Jim & Nancy Skaar/Nick & Jeanne Schermer

May 28 Vern & Pat Frydenlund/Camilla Frydenlund

Ushers

*Paul and Barb Miller

James and Judy Becker

Steve Lundak

LeMoyne Eggum

Communion Assistants

Kendall Johnson and Keith Iverson

MAY ACOLYTE/USHERS

May 7 Mitchell Skaar & Hunter Gilby

May 14 Logan & Tate Tufte

Youth Usher: Mackenzie Berhow

May 21 Laurel Heimsness & Ashlyn Freitag

May 28 Jalen Jimenez & Kadie Habana

MAY BIRTHDAYS

May 1 Jean Thisius

May 3 Mark Bolinger

May 3 Alexa Christensen

May 5 Kay Smith

May 5 Mike Larson

May 5 Richard Olson

May 8 Kim Woitas

May 12 Lowell Nelson

May 15 Jacob Berhow

May 21 Carolyn Matson

May 22 Barbara Schroeder

May 23 Cammie Tennis

May 25 Vern Frydenlund

May 27 Tristan Tufte

May 27 Laurel Heimsness

May 28 Kathie Hanson

May 29 Vickie Storlie

May 30 Doris Westland

May 30 Curt Larson, Jr.

May 30 Tammy Eggum

May 31 Thomas Westland

MAY ANNIVERSARIES

May 1 Jack & Jean Thisius

May 4 Paul & Diane Ladlie

May 5 Darrell & Vickie Storlie

May 9 Brian & Nancy Berhow

May 14 Scott & Kim Woitas

May 23 Dale & Millie Westland

MEMORIALS

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Don Aakre by M/M Vickie Larson, M/M Scott Woitas, M/M Paul Westland.

In memory of Curtis Larson, Sr. by Pastor David Hernes.

COPIER FUND

In memory of Ronald Johnson by M/M Kendall

Johnson

In memory of Don Aakree by M/M Louis Larson.

WELCA REFURBISHING FUND

In memory of Oscar Johnson by M/M Paul Westland.

SAMANTHA ANN ANDERSON was confirmed at Hayward Lutheran Church on Sunday, April 30^th. Samantha was baptized April 21, 1991. Her sponsors are Dale Anderson and Breck Jenson. Her parents are Dean and Kellie Anderson. Samantha’s favorite Bible passage is Psalm 4, verse 5: “Offer right sacrifices and put your trust in the Lord”. Her favorite hymn is “Here I

Am Lord”.

BRIDAL SHOWERS

On Saturday, May 20^th at 10 a.m.

there will be an Open House Bridal Shower for Amy Branden, bride-to-be of Adam Westland. They will be married at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church on June 17^th.

Amy is registered at Target, Crate & Barrel & Marshall Fields.

On Wednesday, May 24^th at 6:30 p.m., there will be an Open House Bridal Shower for Becky Skaar, bride-to-be of Ben Hilgert. They will be married at Myre Big Island Park on September 9^th.

Becky is registered at Target and Herbergers.

KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED

Helen Dockwell in Albert Lea and Brooke Woitas in Rochester.

ALTAR GUILD

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE FRESH 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, Marlene Thompson (373-3895). 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 $20. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

WELCA NEWS

JOIN US FOR THE WELCA SPRING FLING!

Join us on Wednesday, May 3^rd for the WELCA Spring Fling at Hayward Lutheran. There will be a Social Time at 6 p.m. and a catered Salad Supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program by Mary Wayne of Albert Lea. Come and bring a guest. Tickets may be purchased from Jeanne Schermer, Stephanie Larson or the Church Office. Cost is $5 for adults and $3.50 for children 10 and under.

ATTENTION HLC KITCHEN HELPERS

Just a reminder – When you are doing clean-up, and have used the coffee machine, be sure to remember to drain the remaining coffee out of the pot, pour in about a quart of soapy water, wash the pot with the dishcloth, drain out the soapy water and then wash and rinse with clear water until all the soapy residue is rinsed out. Please do NOT use any abrasive pads for cleaning the pot or any other part of the machine as it will scratch the stainless steel. There are other cleaning fluids to use for shining up the exterior. Thank you!!

PLANS BEING MADE FOR DAY CAMP

The dates for Day Camp have been set for June 19-23^rd. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to Noon on Friday.

The purpose of the Day Camp is to help our children grow in faith. This is one way to share the gospel of Christ. One key to Day Camp is the Good Earth Village staff and some of the special resources they bring, including: music, arts and crafts, games, nature activities and Bible Study.

Volunteers from the congregation are needed to provide juice and/or cookies for snack. A host home for the counselors from Monday the 19^th through Thursday the 23^rd is also needed. If you can be of any help in these areas, please contact Nancy Berhow at 373-0138 or 373-7244.

THIS ‘N’ THAT

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS OF THE HAYWARD COMMUNITY

The Hayward Booster Club will be having a meeting on Tuesday, May 9^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Hall. The Club’s number of active members has gotten very low. This meeting will determine if the Booster Club will have enough people to stay active.

Please mark May 9^th on your calendar and attend the meeting.

Tentative Agenda

Hayward Days 2006

Update on Bike Trail

Election of Officers

Thanks

Todd Enderson, President

ABOUT MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day is intended to be a day to celebrate motherhood. Many churches and families recognize the second Sunday of May to honor mothers.

Many years ago, England observed a day to honor mothers in mid-Lent that was called Mothering Sunday.

The first known suggestion of Mother’s Day in the United States was in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe. She suggested that people observe the day on June 2 as a day dedicated to peace. Others around the country campaigned for a Mother’s Day including Mary Towles Sasseen, Frank E. Hering, and Anna Jarvis. In 1908, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia began a campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother’s Day. She chose the second Sunday in May and started the custom of wearing a carnation. If a person wears a colored carnation, their mother is living. A white carnation signifies that their mother has passed away.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution of congress recommending that Congress and the executive branch of government recognize the observance of Mother’s Day.

SOMEBODY’S MOTHER

Author Unknown

The woman was old and ragged and gray

And bent with the chill of the winter’s day.

The street was wet with the recent snow,

And the woman’s feet were aged and slow.

She stood at the crossing and waited long

Alone, uncared for, amid the throng

Of human beings who passed her by,

Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.

Down the street with laughter and shout

Glad in the freedom of “school let out,”

Came the boys like a flock of sheep,

Hailing the snow piled white and deep.

Past the woman so old and gray

Hastened the children on their way,

Nor offered a helping hand to her,

So meek, so timid, afraid to stir,

Lest the carriage wheels or the horses’ feet

Should knock her down in the slippery street.

At last came one of the merry troop,

The gayest laddie of all the group;

He paused beside her and whispered low,

“I’ll help you across if you wish to go.”

Her aged hand on his strong young arm

She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,

He guided her trembling feet along,

Proud that his own were firm and strong.

Then back again to his friends he went,

His young heart happy and well content.

“She’s somebody’s mother, boys, you know,

For all she’s aged and poor and slow;

“And I hope some fellow will lend a hand

To help my mother, you understand,

If ever she’s poor and old and gray,

When her own dear boy is far away.”

And “somebody’s mother” bowed low her head

In her home that night, and the prayer she said

Was, “God be kind to the noble boy

Who is somebody’s son and pride and joy.”

A MOTHER’S KISS

By Frances E. W. Harper

My mother’s kiss, my mother’s kiss,

I feel its impress now;

As in the bright and happy days

She pressed it on my brow.

You say it is a fancied thing

Within my memory fraught;

To me it has a sacred place—

The treasure house of thought.

Again, I feel her fingers glide

Amid my clustering hair;

I see the love-light in her eyes,

When all my life was fair.

Again, I hear her gentle voice

In warning or in love.

How precious was the faith that taught

My soul of things above.

The music of her voice is stilled,

Her lips are paled in death.

As precious pearls I’ll clasp her words

Until my latest breath.

The world has scattered round my path

Honor and wealth and fame;

But naught so precious as the thoughts

That gather round her name.

And friends have placed upon my brow

The laurels of renown;

But she first taught me how to wear

My manhood as a crown.

My hair is silvered o’er with age,

I’m longing to depart;

To clasp again my mother’s hand,

And be a child at heart.

To roam with her the glory-land

Where saints and angels greet;

To cast our crowns with songs of love

At our Redeemer’s feet.

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!