Contemplating the Cross By Pastor Gayle Pope

What is more important to you: Good Friday or

Easter? That’s the question posed to pastors and

lay ministers at our Feb. 24 Conference meeting at

Trinity Lutheran in Golden. Our reaction to Pastor

Brad Eidson’s question was predictable: BOTH are

equally important! There is no Easter without a

Good Friday, and without an Easter, Good Friday

would be hopeless and futile!

But he pressed us to reflect more deeply on

which observance touches us more deeply …

which event is most meaningful? Many of us

agreed it is Good Friday. On Good Friday, we are

moved deeply by God’s complete identification

with us in our sinful and suffering human

condition, by the extreme love shown by Christ on

the cross, by the conviction of our sin and our need

for God’s grace and mercy.

Of course we rejoice in the exuberant Alleluias

of Easter morning – the victory over sin and death

in which we share. But without the reality of Good

Friday – both the sin-filled suffering and the love –

we can’t fully appreciate the glory of Easter

Why, then, asked Pastor Eidsen, do so many

come on Easter and so few on Good Friday? Many

answers were given and you could guess most of

them. But ask yourself. And plan to come and

worship with us on Maundy Thursday AND Good

Friday AND Easter Sunday morning. I promise

you will be glad you did!

Don’t miss the rest of our Midweek Lenten services!

We eat at 5:30 and worship at 6:30.

Wednesday March 2: The Pervasiveness of

Clutter with Jerry Spurgeon on 1 Corinthians

14:26-40.

Wednesday March 9: Freed from the Clutter

with Martha Rapp on Luke 4:16-21.

Wednesday March 16: The End of the Clutter

with Stuart Peters on Luke 12:14-21.

Many thanks to the speakers who have shared their

insights and their hearts with us! We appreciate you!

Holy Week and Easter Services Maundy Thursday, March 24, 7 p.m. – A

traditional service including individual absolution,

foot washing ritual, communing one another,

stripping of the altar as Psalm 22 is chanted, and

departing in silence.

Good Friday, March 25, 7 p.m. – “Service of the

Nails.” A solemn Tenebrae service with a series of

readings, responses, reflection and prayer to help us

enter more deeply into the

meaning of Good Friday.

Easter Sunday, March 27, 9:30

a.m. – We will “unpack” the

Alleluia, celebrate the Baptisms

of Mary Reeve’s twin

grandchildren, Alexis Rose and

Eli Joseph Sims (parents are

Melissa and Joe Sims); hear

Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, listen to God’s

Word and share the Lord’s supper!

Council Liaisons Appointed The table below lists council liaisons and chairs for

our Ministry Teams. Liaisons are not necessarily

Ministry Team leaders (though some may function as

such). Their job is to communicate needs and

information from the Ministry Teams to the council

and vice versa. If you have a question, concern or

suggestion related to one of these areas, you could

share it with either the council liaison or team chair.

Ministry Team Council Liaison Team Chair

Communications Matthew Futhey Stuart Peters

Fellowship Conny Bakker Char Tooke

Learning Kara Wingerter Trish Santos

Mutual Ministry Marcia Johnson Marcia Johnson

Property Joe Brinkman Stu Bell

Service Kaye Marshall Mary Reeve

Stewardship Jerry Spurgeon Jerry Spurgeon

Worship Sue Reeder Bonnie Scranton

Committees

Finance &

Investment Bonnie Scranton Bonnie Scranton

Endowment Bonnie Scranton Phil Conover

Risk

Management Bonnie Scranton Bonnie Scranton

Don’t forget to set your clock forward one hour

on Sunday, March 13!

Remember to Vote Tuesday, March 15

Everyone is encouraged to get out and vote in the primary election! Christ Lutheran will once again serve as an election site.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Let Your Leaders

Hear from You! By Sam Lathrop

My first Seed

communication! I hope to

have current updates for you as this church year

proceeds. Please feel free to contact me or your

Shepherd Leader with any suggestions or concerns

that we can help with.

We have an awesome group of Council members who

are a truly dedicated bunch. The overall commitment

is not extremely pressing. If you hadn’t considered

Council service before- talk to one of us. How’s that

for pre-recruiting?

I wanted to mention that the results of our cottage

meetings this past year are taken seriously and we

have incorporated changes from some of the feedback

we received. Our strategic plan is a fluid document

and we update those to tweak and fine tune our

congregational direction.

If you have had a chance to attend the Lenten services

you will know what a blessing the messages from

Pastor Gayle, Terry Pope, and Jim and Sue Hobbins

have been. Jim and Sue did a very non-traditional

drama presentation last week that was particularly

well done and inspiring! There are three Lenten

services left before Holy Week, come and hear about

how we can clear the clutter from our spiritual lives.

Christ’s blessings to you as we reflect during this

Lenten season. May our loving God touch and guide

our hearts.

Monthly financial reports

will return with the next

edition of The SEED.

COMING EVENTS

March 1 & 15: Prayer Shawl Group

By Bonnie Cox

Prayer Shawl will be meeting March 1 and 15 in the

Bride’s Room right after Tuesday morning coffee and

devotions at 11 a.m. for an hour and a half. Anyone

Page 3

interested in joining us is welcome. We have ladies

who knit and crochet shawls, and sew quilted lap

robes. This ministry is for anyone you feel is in need

of prayers and loving support from Christ Lutheran.

Thank you for helping in this ministry.

March 5: Symphony Chorus Concert Cinema Classics, the Quincy

Symphony Chorus spring pops

concert, will be held at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 5 in Salem Evangelical

United Church of Christ. Music from the

silver screen gives the chorus a chance to have some

fun and echoes the symphony orchestra’s fall movie-

themed concert. Selections include major medleys of

well-loved music. Special guests Minor Detail, an all-

women’s a cappella group from Truman University,

will perform a variety of songs to accent the theme.

Tickets available at the door: $18 adults; $15 seniors.

Children 18 and under are admitted free.

March 8: Bethune-Cookman Gospel Choir Concert Vermont Street UMC (818 Vermont St., Quincy) is

hosting a concert of the inspirational Gospel Choir of

Bethune-Cookman University of Daytona Beach, FL

Tuesday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. Open to

the public. A free will offering will be received.

Bethune-Cookman is one of the traditionally black

United Methodist colleges in the United States. This

choir of 25 students has a distinguished history of

performance for nationally recognized organizations

and individuals. A web site with further info, and

links to hear the choir sing, may be found at

http://ashley-choir.tripod.com/.

March 8: Ladies Birthday Lunch This month’s Ladies Birthday Lunch is at noon on

Tuesday, March 8, at Talayna’s, 617 Hampshire St. If

you can come, sign up on the sheet in the church

narthex or call the office and we’ll add your name to

the list. Ladies with March birthdays are treated by

the rest!

March 13: “Anticipating Easter” Party!

By Trish Santos

This year’s Easter Party will be

held Sunday, March 13, after

worship, starting at 11:30 with a

simple lunch followed by our traditional Easter egg

hunt for the younger kids. We will have more of a

scavenger hunt for the older kids that they will work

as teams with clues to get to the final prize. We will

also do a craft. (We are not planning on dying eggs

this year). Blessing Buddy pairs are encouraged to

come together, and we will also pass out a flyer to

invite neighborhood kids.

HELP NEEDED: We are seeking volunteers to pass

out flyers in the neighborhood and someone who

would be in charge of the lunch (something simple

like sandwiches and chips). We will also ask the

congregation to donate filled eggs for our hunt and

prizes (small gift cards) for our older kids.

Spotlight Speaker Series

By Amy Lannerd

Mark your calendars! The Endowment Committee

wants to shine a light on issues and topics that matter

to you. We are pleased to announce some of our

spotlight speakers for the year.

March 10: Planned Giving, Wills & Trusts.

Ever wonder what happens if you don’t have a will?

Join us to find out March 10 from 4-5 p.m. Amy

Lannerd will present information on wills, trusts and

powers of attorney. Sign up sheet will be available on

the table in the narthex.

March 29: Personal Safety for Women

Bill LaTour, chief of police and

dean of operations for the John

Wood Community College police

force, will present a program on

“Personal Safety for Women” at 6

p.m. Tuesday, March 29, in the

Fellowship Hall. Dick Tabb is

organizing the event, which will

begin with a meal served by some of the men of the

congregation. LaTour will speak during the dinner.

He is a former Quincy police officer. JWCC has

established a speaker’s bureau program through

which faculty and staff speak in the community on

their areas of expertise.

Page 4

MORE COMING EVENTS

Mar. 22: Books N’ Brew

By Pat Bell

Why do we have a book club? I

guess it's because we love to read

and then talk about it! If you’re one

of these people please join us

Tuesday March 22 at 5:30 p.m. at

Zoup. Joan Larner will be leading

our discussion of “The Quilters Daughter” by Wanda

E Brunstetter.

March 25: Community Good Friday Services

Pastor Gayle will be one of

seven local clergy participating

in a community Good Friday

service at Noon March 25. Rev.

James Hailey and Bethel AME

Church, 905 Oak St, is hosting

the service, called “The Power

of the Cross.” Each preacher will read one of the

seven last words of Christ from the cross and give a

brief meditation on it.

The Kroc Center and Major Andy Miller is hosting

the Quincy Area Ministerial Association’s Good

Friday service at 6 p.m. All are welcome to either

service.

March 7: Garage Sale Meeting By Kathy Wolters and Debbie Hemmerle

As you are uncluttering your life this Lenten Season

please think of our church’s Garage Sale set for

Saturday, April 23, 7 a.m. to Noon. We will accept

contributions of gently used items in good condition

after April 1.

The garage sale committee will meet to organize

on Monday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in the Fellowship

Hall. We need lots of volunteers to make it

successful. Please feel free to join us as we plan the

event. We have roles for men, women and youth and

will find a spot for you and your talents and time.

We need help with publicity, pick up, set up, sales,

and clean up. So there is a place for everyone. Again

this year we plan to have a Bake Sale along with the

garage sale. We look forward to a successful 2016

garage sale and ask for your continued support.

Thank you.

No March Create-A-Card Class By Bonnie Cox

There will not be a March card class as I am on

vacation in Florida for two months. We will resume

class in April with 4 cards at the cost of $7.00 for

class. We have such fun making cards and getting

acquainted with each other on a personal level. If you

are interested in starting with the class speak to me

and I will schedule you a slot for the class. I have

three different classes with about 4 spaces in each

class.

April 1-3: Marriage Encounter

Make your marriage just like

new on a Lutheran Marriage

Enounter weekend! The next

weekend is scheduled in Peoria,

IL on April 1-3. Apply now at

GodLovesMarriage.org or

contact Norm and Deb Lopez at

ndlopez@frontiernet.net or call

815-796-2248 for more information. Preregistration is

required – don’t miss out! Registration deadline is

March 11. Registrations after that date will be on a

space available basis.

Please join us for Easter Brunch!

Sunday, March 27 10:30 until 12:00 Noon

Fellowship Hall

Free Will Offering

100% of the proceeds will go towards the

ELCA Youth Gathering Fund for Summer 2018 – Houston!

Contacts: Trish Santos & Marcy Bigley

Page 5

Church Women United of

Quincy Invite Your Participation The Church Women United of Quincy

would enjoy having every church in

Quincy and surrounding area

participate in our organization. The

Quincy group was formed in 1947

with Mrs. Gwendolyn Thomas as

President. In all, 34 women have

served as president and 17 have been honored with

the Valiant Women’s award for serving CWU, their

church and community.

Meetings are held the first Friday of the month and

include the Annual Meeting in February, four

Celebration Days and two forums with guest speakers

held in April and October. Everyone (male and

female) are welcome to attend these gatherings.

Participating Churches: Bethel AME, Salem

Evangelical UCC, Central Baptist, Salvation Army,

First Baptist, St. Francis Catholic, First Christian,

Sunset Home, Good Samaritan Home, The Crossing,

Melrose Methodist, Union Baptist, Pleasant Grove

Methodist, Union Methodist, Quincy Presbyterian,

and Vermont Street Methodist.

Why not mark the following dates on your calendar

for the year now and ask some friends to join you in

attending these sessions.

March 4 – World Day of Prayer at 1:30 p.m. at

Good Samaritan Home. Theme “Cuba”. April 1 – Forum with a speaker (TBA) at 9:30

a.m. at First Baptist Church 739 North 8th

St. May 6 –May Friendship Day (carry-in at 11:45

am) Program at 1 p.m. at Salvation Army. Theme

“Finding Grace at the Table”. Sept. 2 – Human Rights 1 p.m. at Melrose United

Methodist Church, 3600 Payson Road. Theme

“Experiencing Blessings at the Table”. Oct. 7 – Forum with a speaker at Bethel AME

Church, 905 Oak Street. Nov. 4 – World Community Day 1 p.m. at Union

United Methodist, 1101 State Street. Theme

“Sharing Gifts at the Table”. Feb. 3, 2017 Annual Meeting 1 p.m. at Vermont

St. United Methodist, 818 Vermont St. with

Installation of Officers for 2017.

We hope to see you at our 2016 gatherings. Let’s pray

and work for unity of our Quincy churches as a team.

Learning Team Updates By Trish Santos

We have a new sign up for Sunday school &

the nursery – and there are a few spots open.

Please take a look on the table in the narthex!

Thank you!!!!

Tafi Lathrop has volunteered to head up

Vacation Bible School this year! She has some

exciting things in the works, using a cowboy

theme, and I’m sure she will be needing help. We

will keep you posted!

It’s time to spruce it up and add to our

playground! We have had a generous donation

from Jerry Shank’s Memorial fund and we are

going to meet with Mary Shank to get the

playground ready for summer. Brent Bigley and

others will work with Mary to get going on this

project. If you’re interested in helping, talk to

Mary Shank.

After School Program: We have so many

talented adults in our church and we would like to

explore the idea of starting a weekly after school

class for elementary age kids, during which adults

could share their talents and wisdom with school

age children. We are looking for a task force to

explore this idea and are looking for people

interested in being on this task force. Please let

me know if you would like to help!

Financial Peace University for Teens: Donna

Parke and I are going to put together a three- or

four-week class for teens, combining the Dave

Ramsey program with some practical applications

(balancing a checkbook, budgeting, shopping)

Dates will be Sundays, April 10, 17 and 24 from

1-2:15-ish. Please start spreading the word!

Publicity will be forthcoming!

BRIEFLY . . .

Phil Conover reports that the Endowment

Committee will be working toward their goal

of achieving a $50,000 balance in the

Endowment Fund. The fund then can begin to do

annual distributions back to the church. The

current balance is $28,303.

The Men’s Wednesday night Bible study will

resume meeting on Mar. 30. All are welcome.

Questions, talk to Brent Bigley or Matt Futhey.

Page 6

Future “Spotlight Speaker Series” events sponsored by the Endowment Committee include

programs on CPR 6:30 May 5 and on Cremation

and Funeral Planning 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8. Mark

your calendars!

The Greenmount Cemetery will have its

annual clean-up of the cemetery grounds from

March 14-18. They ask families to remove all

items by March 13 and not to replace them until

March 19. Everything must be removed, except

for Shepherds’ hooks/staffs, but all items need to

be removed from the hooks.

March Food Donations Support the Salvation Army

By Sue Hobbins

Our food gifts will go to the

Salvation Army Food Pantry in

March. It is a joy to deliver your

gifts to a food pantry each month.

We are always met with smiles

and exclamations of appreciation

for your generosity and caring. The first week of

February we delivered 217 items for the “Souper

Bowl of Caring” to the Madonna House pantry, a

most appreciated gift.

Please keep in mind fruits, vegetables and protein rich

foods as you shop for the pantry. Thank you for your

wonderful gifts. Suggested items include:

1. Protein items (includes baked beans, canned beans for

chili)

2. Canned meats (chicken, tuna)

3. Canned meals or boxed meals (chili, stew, mac and

cheese, meals that have all the ingredients in them)

4. Macaroni & cheese, spaghetti & spaghetti sauce

5. Soups, especially chicken noodle & vegetable

6. Canned vegetables, peas, potatoes

7. Canned fruit

8. Nuts (especially English walnuts, dry roasted almonds,

peanuts)

9. Bisquick (or similar mixes that make a variety of

dishes with little or no additional ingredients)

10. Fresh apples, potatoes

11. Small boxes of powdered milk & canned, evaporated

milk

12. Dry cereals

13. Paper products (toilet tissue, facial tissue, diapers)

14. Laundry detergent

15. Deodorant, shampoo, toilet soap

16. Cleaning products

17. Hotel size soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc.

18. Baby care products and baby food

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE

Month 2015 2016

January 82 76

February 71 79

Year To Date 76 79

7

MMAARRCCHH 22001166 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SAT

28

9:30 am Worship

10:30 Coffee Hour

(Group 6)

3 pm Blessing Buddies

Bowling, Casino

29

6:30 pm Financial

Peace Univ Class at

CLC

1

10 am Coffee &

Devotions

11 Prayer Shawl

5:15 pm Comm. Team

6 New Mbr Rel Comm

2

9 am Good Sam Devo

9 Property Party

5:30 pm Lent Supper

6:30 Lent Service

7:15 Choir

3

6:30 pm Women’s

Small Group

6:30 Tai Chi

6:30 F&I Committee

4

Men’s Kogudus

Retreat, Lincoln,

IL

5

7:30 pm

Symphony

Chorus

6

9:30 am Worship

10:30 Coffee Hour

(Group 7)

7

1 p.m. Garage Sale

Organization Mtg

5-8 pm Confirmation

6:30 Financial Peace

Univ Class at CLC

8

10 am Coffee &

Devotions

12 pm Ladies Birthday

Lunch, Talayna’s

6:30 Church Council

9

9 am Property Party

5:30 Lent Supper

6:30 Lent Service

7:15 Choir

10

4 pm Wills & Estates

6:30 Tai Chi

6:30 Women’s Small

Group

Pastor’s Chaplain Shift

11 12

3 pm First

Communi

on Class

13

9:30 am Worship, First

Communion

10:30 Coffee Hour

(Group 1)

11:30 “Anticipating

Easter” Party

14

6:30 Financial Peace

Univ Class at CLC

15 – Election Day

10 am Coffee &

Devotions

11 Prayer Shawl

16

9 am Property Party

5:30 Lent Supper

6:30 Lent Service

7:15 Choir

17 – St. Patrick’s Day

2 pm Worship

Team

6:30 Tai Chi

6:30 Women’s Small

Group

18 19

20 Palm/Passion

Sunday

9:30 am Worship

10:30 Coffee Hour

(Group 2)

21

6:30 pm Financial

Peace Univ Class at

CLC

22

10 am Coffee &

Devotions

6:30 pm Books N’

Brew, Zoup

23

9 am Property Party 24

6:30 pm Tai Chi

7 Maundy Thursday

Service

8:15 Choir

25

12 pm Good

Friday Service

(Bethel AME)

7 Good Friday

Service, CLC

26

9 am

Decorate

sanctuary

for Easter

27 – Happy Easter!

9:30 am Worship

10:30 Coffee Hour

(Group 3)

28 29

10 am Coffee &

Devotions

30

9 am Property Party

9 NW Conference,

Macomb

6 pm Shepherd Leaders

7:15 Choir

31

6:30 pm Women’s

Small Group

6:30 Tai Chi

1 2

Assisting with Worship in March 2016

POSITION March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27

Asst Minister Sue Reeder Ron Larner Jim Bailey Jerri Klusmeyer

Deacon Jim Bailey Joan Larner Crystal Bliven Jim Bailey

Greeters Jack & Carol

Gustison Helen Pagel Katie Rupp

Conny Bakker and Keith Gerhardt

Sue & Dick Tabb

Reader Phil Conover Kathy Wolters Jerry Spurgeon Amy Stollberg

Sound Tech TBD Bill Wolters Matt Futhey TBD

Usher Bonnie Scranton Cheryl Brinkman Brad Bliven Darrel Kruse

Acolyte TBD Paige Lannerd Aidan Spurgeon Taylor Kruse

Sun. School Joan Kammerlohr Donna Parke TBD N/A

Altar Guild Joan Larner Joan Larner Joan Larner Bonnie Scranton

Verger Judy Wegehenkel Matt Futhey

Bonnie Scranton Sue Reeder Bonnie Scranton

Coffee Hour Group 7 Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

333 South 36th Street

Quincy, IL 62305-5833

Our Church Staff

Pastor: Rev. Gayle Pope President: Sam Lathrop

Secretary: Bree Roberts Choir Director: Amy Stollberg

Kayboardist: Lisa Whitley

Sunday Worship – 9:30 a.m.

Office Hours Tues., Thurs., and Fri: 8-3

Office Phone: (217) 224-1624 Pastor’s Cell: (217) 357-1280

E-mail: clchurch36@comcast.net

Website: www.clcq.org