THE PARISH NEWS

HAYWARD-TRONDHJEM LUTHERAN PARISH

BOX 426, HAYWARD, MN  56043

January 2008                                                                                                                               Vol. 13, No. 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BRIGHT AND GLORIOUS IS THE SKY

 

            “For me, winter ends on December 21st.”  That was the recent comment of one of my fellow pastors.  He said that his family thinks that his view of the seasonal cycles is a little weird.  After all, everybody knows that winter BEGINS on December 21st, NOT ENDS.  But for him, that day is the time to put away all thoughts about any long, cold winter.  Winter, for him, is all done.

            It seems that his reasoning for such an outlook is that the difficult thing about winter is NOTE the snow and the cold, or the shoveling and snow-blowing.  The difficult thing about winter is the darkness – those days when, in our Northern Hemisphere, the darkness lasts longer than the light.  But, of course, NOW the days are getting longer and the nights shorter.  The darkness is losing ground to the light.  The sky is becoming more bright and glorious – LIGHT is on the way!

            And that is what this CHRISTMAS – EPIPHANY season is all about:  LIGHT is on its way.  Indeed that LIGHT  has come, bright and glorious, IN Christ Jesus, God’s Son, Savior.  The darkness of our sin and despair has ended.  We no longer need to sit amid our fears and loneliness.  We no longer need to have our doubts controlling us.  We are now in a NEW day and season of beginnings, for behold, the OLD has passed away, and the NEW has come!  Those powers of the world, sin, death, the devil and his darkness no longer have their power, their command over us.  Bright and glorious is the sky!  Better yet, bright and glorious is the Christ, the very Son of God, who now rules at the right hand of God the Father.  And THAT is what awaits us – more and more LIGHT, and with it a present and a future made brighter by Christ’s coming and by His coming again in all of His glory.

 

Bright and glorious is the sky, radiant are the heavens high

Where the golden stars are shining all their rays to earth inclining

Beckon us to heav’n above, beckon us to heav’n above.

 

As a star, God’s holy Word leads us to our King and Lord;

Brightly from its sacred pages shall this light throughout the ages

Shine upon our path of life, shine upon our path of life.

 

WE WISH TO YOU AND YOURS A MOST BLESSED AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

IN ALL THE BRIGHT AND GLORIOUS DAYS AHEAD.

 

We thank you for the ways that you have shared your special gifts and greetings

with us in this season of Christmas – Epiphany.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR

HOLY COMMUNION

 

January 6          Epiphany

                                                                            January 13        Baptism of our Lord

                                   

TRONDHJEM NEWS

 

 

JANUARY ASSIGNMENTS

 

            Altar Guild                                           Coffee Servers                                     Communion Assistants

 

            Elna Severtson                          January 6          Dean & Charlotte Lukes              Sheldon & Ruth Lukes

                                                                                    Annual Meeting –Officers

                                                                                         Serve Pot Luck

                                                            January 20        Food Committee

                                                            January 27        Food Committee           

                                                           

                        Lectors                                                 Acolyte/Ushers

                                                                       

            January 6          Steve Kraushaar                        January 6          Reed & Cortney Thostenson

            January 13        Charlotte Lukes                         January 13        Anna Severtson

            January 20        Sheldon Lukes                           January 20        Ethan Severtson

            January 27        Volunteer Needed                      January 27        Madalyn Wangen

 

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

 

                                                            January 3          Jim Benesh, Sr.

                                                            January 12        Barbara  Prantner

                                                            January 13        Garrett Lukes

                                                            January 24        Emil Prantner

                                                            January 25        Jill Krause

                                                           

 

MEMORIALS

 

                        GENERAL  FUND                                                          BUILDING  FUND                                 

 

In memory of JOE SRP by M/M Jim Benesh, Sr.                                      In memory of JOE SRP by M/M Emil Prantner

In memory of HENRIETTA BRABEC by Emily Cech

 

 

 

TRONDHJEM FINANCIAL REPORT

 

                        Balance on 10/31/07    $5,739.23                                    ACCOUNT TOTALS:

                        November Income         $3,454.31                                   Building Fund Balance        $3,857.22

                        November Expenses      $1,737.20                                  Roof/Sewer Project            $1,421.00

                        Balance 11/30/07           $7,456.34                                  Organ Fund Balance          $   376.75

                                                                                                            General Fund Balance       $1,801.37

                                                                       

 

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

 

The TRONDHJEM ANNUAL MEETING will be held on SUNDAY, JANUARY 6TH 

after the Worship Service.

A Pot Luck Meal will be served following

the meeting.

 

 

 

 

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                                           Coffee Servers                                                 Ushers

 

Bev Lunde                                 January 6          Dick & Gwen Hanson                 *Doran & Shirley Gray

Gwen Hanson                            January 13        Curt & Natalie Larson                 Clayton Peterson

                                                January 20        Steve & Linda Johnson               Logan & Tate Tufte

                                                                        Jill Erickson                               Dick Hanson

                                                                        Bev Wright

                                                January 28        Tammy & Randy Eggum

                                                                        Clayton Peterson

 

Communion Assistants

 

Kendall Johnson and Wayne Kromminga

                       

                                    Acolyte/Ushers                                                 Lectors

 

            January 6          Logan & Tate Tufte                                             January 6          Shirley Gray

            January 13        Kadie Habana & Bryce Skaar                              January 13        Neal Skaar

            January 20        Anna Englin & Caylee Tennis                              January 20        Jim Becker

            January 27        Mitchell Skaar & Kasie Habana                           January 27        Logan Tufte

 

 

THE STORY OF THE CANDY CANE

 

    A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas candy cane.  He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

    He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy; white to symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church and the firmness of the Promises of God.

    The candy maker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our Savior.  It also represents the staff of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

    Next the candy maker stained it with red stripes.  He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received.  The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Jesus Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

   Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane – a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time.  We hope, however, that the next time you eat a candy cane you will be reminded of what Jesus Christ has done on your behalf.

 

THANK YOU to Dave & Paulette Paulson for providing candy canes along with this explanation which was  given to all who attended the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Worship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

                                               

            January 2          Janet Iverson                             January 18        Dean Anderson

            January 3          Joshua Englin                                                    Alice Englin

            January 6          Keith Iverson                                                      Troy Habana

                                    David Malm                               January 19        Bryanna Hanson

            January 9          Louis Tufte                                January 20        Dan Johnson

            January 15        Christina Learn                                                  Andrew Ladlie

            January 16        Sara Westland                                                   Tyler Westland

            January 17        Mary Stanley                             January 21        Carole Eggum

                                                                                    January 22        Katherine Barnick

                                                                                    January 23        Joshua VandeKamp

                                                                                                            Bev Lunde

           

 

 

THANK YOU, Dick & Gwen, for serving hot cider before

and after the Christmas Eve Worship.  Everyone enjoyed it .

 

 

MEMORIALS

 

            BUILDING FUND

 

            In memory of HENRIETTA BRABEC by Helen Dockwell

            In memory of BETTY CLAUSSEN by Sylvia Kycek & M/M Kendall Johnson

 

            GENERAL FUND

 

            In memory of ARVILLA ANDERSON by M/M Paul Westland & M/M James Becker

            In memory of CLINTON BAUMGARD by DeLores Wegner

 

            ALTAR GUILD

 

            In memory of DUSTY AND SHERYL RHODES by Paul & Barb Miller and Jeff & Sandra Jimenez & family

 

 

HAYWARD LUTHERAN

OUR STEWARDSHIP FOR 2008

               

                                Month                                    Where We Should Be                                        Where We Are                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Through December 27, 2007

                                January                                  $ 9,125.50                                                             $5,546                                                                  

                                February                                $18,251                                                                 $14,219                                                                

                                March                                     $27,376.50                                                           $21,887                                                                

                                April                                        $36,502                                                                 $34,033 

                                May                                         $45,627.50                                                           $38,048                                                                

                                June                                       $54,753                                                                 $50,615                                                                  

                                July                                         $63,878.50                                                           $58,436                                                                  

                                August                                   $73,004                                                                 $65,808                                                                  

                                September                            $82,129.50                                                           $71,819                                                                

                                October                                  $91,255                                                                 $78,062                

                                November                             $100,380.50                                                         $84,643

                                December                             $109,506                                                               $96,183

               

 

 

 

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

 

The ANNUAL MEETING for Hayward Lutheran will be held on

JANUARY  27TH, 2008 after the Worship Service.

A Pot Luck meal will be served following the meeting.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

PURPOSE STATEMENT

 

As a community of women created in the image of god, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world

 

 

2007 WELCA DISBURSEMENTS

 

            The HLC WELCA met Sunday, December 16th after the worship service and voted to disburse their funds as follows:

                                    Thank Offering                                    $265.00

                                    WELCA Quarterly Offering                 $ 80.00

                                    Hayward Lutheran General Fund        $2,500.00

                                    Campership Fund                               $400.00

                                    Luther Seminary                                 $200.00

                                    Naeve Hospice                                    $150.00

                                    Nepal Social Services                         $100.00

                                    Christ Through Helping Hands           $50.00

                                    Salvation Army                                    $100.00

                                    Loaves & Fishes                                 $75.00

                                    Mission Builders                                  $75.00

                                    ARC                                                    $75.00

                                    The Rock                                            $75.00

                                    Victim’s Crisis Center                         $50.00

                                    St. John’s (Activity Dept.)                    $300.00

                                                                        Total               $4,495.00

 

            THANK YOU to the WELCA for their generosity.

 

LIBRARY NEWS

 

 

DELORES WEGNER ATTENDS LIBRARY MEETING

 

            I attended the November meeting on Thursday, November 29th at the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church.  Pastor Gary Brouwers led the devotions.  Mary Jo Vanderploeg led the topic about books that are available.  It’s always an enjoyable afternoon to spend with lovely, fun church ladies.

            Oh, yes, we had a delicious lunch.

            If anyone is interested in going with me, just give me a call.  Meetings are the last Thursday of the month.

--------DeLores Wegner

 

GOOD EARTH VILLAGE OPPORTUNITIES

 

GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY

 

            Good Earth Village will be hosting two sessions of guided autobiography.  Participants will be led through a series of life themes and be given time to reflect on these topics.  The themes will include childhood, jobs/careers, significant relations and faith/philosophies.  Todd Portinga, who is an Associate in Ministry at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, will lead the program.  The cost for one session is $90 and for both sessions it is $165.  The first session will be held January 13-15, 2008 and the second session will be January 27-29, 2008.

 

THIS ‘N’ THAT

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LUTHERAN…AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

 

The basics of Lutheranism in one newspaper page – 11/19/07 – “Metro Lutheran”

Michael L. Sherer – Editor, Now Retired

 

            This is my final “From the Editor” column.  After 135 monthly editorials, it’s possible readers have heard more from this editor than they wanted.  But, thanks for indulging me one more salvo.

            Permit me to invite you, in this final editorial, into a conversation suggested by the title.  What does it mean to be a Lutheran in American culture right now, and why does it matter?  I was asked to develop this topic for a presentation for some lay Lutheran folk in south Minneapolis this fall.  Let me condense for you here some of what I shared there (and, for those readers who were present at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on France Avenue, be aware that I’m offering here some slight additions and alterations to what I said at that session).

            If a non-Lutheran looked for “Lutheran identifiers” in the U.S. these days, what might they name?  Here are five accidental (cultural) Lutheran identifiers that come to mind.  All are “adiaphora,” which means, “we may like these things, but they’re not crucial.”

  1. Pipe organs, a sung liturgy, hymn chorales, Lutheran college choirs.  Admittedly some Lutherans are distancing themselves from some or all of these nowadays, but they still “feel Lutheran” to most of us.
  2. Altars and pulpits, stained glass windows, robes and stoles.  Many Protestants are puzzled that Lutherans still use these, although Episcopalian, Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians think Lutherans don’t use them “with sufficient intentionality.”  (Maybe we do and maybe we don’t.  You decide.)
  3. Sauerkraut and beer, lutefisk and lefse (choose one set).  Of course, if you’re Lutheran and your heritage is not northern European, this sounds like “inside baseball.”  Adiaphora.
  4. Lake Wobegon Lutheran Church.  Garrison Keillor started out Sanctified Brethren, “tried” Lutheranism, and is currently Episcopalian.  His radio ruminations are sometimes accurate but often skewed.  Lutherans in Ohio or California may wonder who he’s really talking about.  Still, where else can you get this kind of free publicity?  Take it with some salt.
  5. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.  We love our fraternal and its grant programs, but there was Lutheranism long before Thrivent.

Here, by contrast, are five intentional (theological) Lutheran identifiers.  These are not adiaphora,but rather close to the authentic Lutheran soul.  (There are surely others, but let’s not unload the whole wagon of hay in one place.)

  1. Radical grace.  Martin Luther said justification was the doctrine by which the church stands or falls.  Roman Catholics disagreed in his day (some think they still do).  Many former members of law-driven churches (“do this, and this, and this, or you may not make it to heaven”) report becoming Lutheran was “the most freeing thing I’ve ever experienced.” Lutherans believe God embraces us unconditionally and nothing we do will ever change or contribute to that.  Hence, Lutherans embrace infant baptism and reject calls to “make a decision for Christ.”  (If this puzzles you, ask your pastor about it.)
  2. A proper distinction between Law and Gospel.  More than perhaps any other religious faith group, Lutherans know that whatever condemns us (Law, which is bad news) is not to be confused with that which frees, empowers and saves us (Gospel, which is good news).  Law has several functions – it condemns us, it keeps us out of trouble (as a curb against bad behavior) and it helps us know how to love God.  But, it never brings us into God’s presence or gains for us God’s loving embrace.  Only God, through Christ, does that.  Who cares?  Lutherans do because almost all other Christians (by current population numbers) regularly confuse Law and Gospel, leaving the faithful misled and, in many cases, desperate for true assurance.
  3. Sinners and saints simultaneously.  This may be the most outrageous and baffling of all the Lutheran distinctives.  I find it to be one of the most paradoxical, and (perhaps therefore) marvelous of the set of five.  Simply put, we’re headed for death (caught in sin) but simultaneously made holy, sanctified, with a “saintly make-over”.  Paul calls believers “saints” at the beginning of most of his letters, but he also urges them to confront their own sinfulness.  Puzzling?  Sure.  But amazingly reassuring, hopeful and realistic.
  4. What’s finite (limited) can receive (contain) what’s infinite.  Example:  Lutherans believe ordinary bread and wine can contain the real presence of Christ.  When we receive one, we receive the other (a good reason to bow your head in reverence when the pastor speaks the words of institution during the sacrament).  No other Christians affirm this, leading them to a sacramental understanding that veers either toward mere symbolism or unwarranted magical thinking.  Luther went to war (theologically) for this idea.  His spiritual descendants would contend for it as well.
  5. Christian freedom/Christian servitude.  This is another classic Lutheran paradox.  Luther declared, rightly, that a Christian is “perfectly free, a servant of none” yet “perfectly bound a servant of all.”  Double talk?  Think about it.  Paul taught us, “For freedom Christ has set us free,” yet reminded us we have freedom for one reason: to serve others for the sake of Christ.  So, are we free or are we bound?  We’re both simultaneously.

 

These five identifiers (and there are others) help Lutherans know why they are not “like everybody else.”  If being “Lutheran odd” bothers you, keep in mind: Scripture calls us to be “peculiar” (differently identified) people.  We can and should wear our Lutheran identity proudly (but never pridefully).

 

           

 

 

A CHILD’S VIEW

 

            After Christmas, a teacher asked her young pupils how they spent their holiday away from school.  One child wrote the following:

            We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa.  They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and they moved to Florida.  Now they live in a tin box and have rocks painted green to look like grass.  They ride around on their bicycles and wear name tags because they don’t know who they are anymore.  They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now.  They do exercises there but they don’t do them very well.

            There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.

            At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man sitting in it.  He watches all day so nobody can escape.  Sometimes they sneak out and go cruising in their golf carts.  Nobody there cooks; they just eat out.  And, they eat the same thing every night – early birds.  Some of the people can’t get out past the man in the doll house.  The ones who do get out bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.

            My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded some day too.  When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll house.  Then I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.

 

 

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.

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