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20

Immanuel Messenger Almelund, Minnesota

The monthly newsletter of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Almelund, MN

Inside This Issue:

Pastors Report Pages 2-3

Stewardship Committee Page 3

Announcements & Member Notes Page 4

Easter Memorial Garden Page 5

Easter Pages 6-7

Itonya Student Letter Page 7

Birthdays & New Bequest Page 8

Children’s Coloring Page Page 9

Youth Page 10

Staying Connected Page 11

Message from the Bishop Pages 12-13

Presidential Ponderings Page 13

Church Council Minutes Pages 14-15

Pastor’s Perspectives

There’s a song that we have sung together in worship called The Church Song by Jay Beech. It goes like this:

The church is not a building where people go to pray; It’s not made out of sticks and stones, it’s not made out of clay. We are the church, the body of our Lord. We are all God’s children. We have been restored.

You can go to worship but you cannot go to church; You can’t find a building that’s alive no matter how you search. We are the church, the body of our Lord. We are all God’s children. We have been restored.

The church is not a business, a committee or a board; it’s not a corporation for the business of the Lord. We are the church, the body of our Lord. We are all God’s children. We have been restored.

The church, it is the people living out their lives, Called, enlightened, sanctified for the work of Jesus Christ. We are the church, the body of our Lord. We are all God’s children. We have been restored.

During this time when, for health and safety, we can’t be together in person for worship, this song has a good message. Yes, we all love our church on the hill with the beautiful stained-glass windows. But as nice as that building is, the building is not the church. We are the church.

Although we can’t be in the church building right now, we can still be church together. We can be church as we call one another on the phone, as we send notes of love and care by mail or email or on Facebook. We can be church as we pray for one another.

We are Immanuel – God with Us! It is good to remember that even when we are not able to be together as the assembled body of Christ, God is still with us. We are still the church. Through our heavenly father, we share a connection as the body of Christ. This connection will not be broken, no matter what happens with the Coronavirus.

We will continue to do what we can to connect through Facebook Live, through Immanuel’s website and by phone and by mail as circumstances

Committee Reports: Christian Ed—no report Memorial—no report will meet March 23

rd

Personnel—no report Property—Perry reported on going discussion about the front steps. Discussion of repair of the broken air conditioner. Stewardship—Still in need of volunteers to give their faith stories. Worship and Music—MSP Youth—Will be going to Youth Quake. There are 5 openings for the Mission Trip to Denver.

NEXT MEETING: April 13, 2020 at 7:00 with Dana providing devo-tions as Pastor will be absent. COMMUNION SERVERS for March: April 5 Dana Diane Dave April 9 Maundy Thursday 11:00 Diane 7:00 Dave April 12 Easter 8:30 Marty Chris Dave

Thank you!

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Thank you very much for all your concerns and prayers sent my way. It means a lot to me. ~Don Noyes

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Thank you for your donation to the North Branch Area Public Schools. The North Branch School Board recognizes all donations received during the month at its regular school board meeting. The School Board and Administration appreciate the donations received as each donation gives us a greater opportunity to provide educational benefits to our students. During this past year, the School Board recognized you for your generous donation to the district of $1,000 for the Delinquent Lunch Account in March 2020. On behalf of the School Board, students, staff, and administration thank you. ~Deb Henton, Ed. D.

Page 2 Page 15

allow. Please call me if there are ways I can be helpful, and just to keep in touch. Know that I am praying for you.

I wish you and your family peace and good health.

In Christ’s service,

Pastor Marla

Our Best Intentions “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do,” (Romans 7:15), so spoke the Apostle

Paul. Somehow, he could not translate his best intentions into the actions he wished to do. This is the dilemma that has afflicted Christians who sincerely want to do God’s will.

Peter experienced it too. “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33), he declared, and he meant it. His best intentions were to stick with his Lord, no matter what.

Thomas, too, expressed his intentions. When Jesus said he was going back to Judea where the Jews had tried to stone him, the disciples tried to dissuade him. Realizing that nothing could stop Jesus from going to his friend Lazarus, Thomas said to the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16). He meant it too.

Yet, Peter denied knowing his Lord, and all the disciples fled in fear the night of his betrayal. Thomas later doubted the Lord’s resurrection. What they wanted to do, they failed to do. What they wanted not to do, that is what they did. We understand the dilemma well. Like Peter, we weep when faced with our failures. Like Thomas we are ashamed of our doubts. But we do not despair, for we have learned that, while on our own we fail, with God we can do great things.

Christ went to his death to pay the price of our sin. We are no longer captive to sin and immobilized by it. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). Jesus lived the perfect life for us. He shed his blood to redeem us of our sins. He suffered in our place and he gives us grace that forgives our failures. He gives us more opportunities to offer our lives in thankfulness as we bear the fruit he called us and chose us to bear. Truly, with God we can do great things.

Blessings on your stewardship journey! Your Stewardship Committee

Rev. Marla L. Amborn

Page 3 Page 14

Church Council Minutes Council Minutes for March 9, 2020

Attending: John Sandberg, Marty Johnson, Dave Rue, Perry Lind-berg, Royce Chinander, Diane Rothe, Dana Johnson, Chris Schu-macher and Pastor Marla Amborn Meeting opened at 7:00 with devotions by Pastor Secretary Report MSP New bequest from Pearl Holm and her son Daniel Melendrez of $102,000 was reported and council determined to allocate the same as past bequests. Discussion to ask the congregation what they feel needs to be done to the church. Request for the 2

nd Phase of the Tanzania water project was dis-

cussed. There is a plan for Tanzania Sunday in May and will ask for a congregational donation and the balance will come from bequest monies allocated for tithing outside our walls. Pastor asked Sharon Thiel to be VBS leader and she accepted with thanks for being thought of for this. Discussion of the Congregational Leadership Retreat with Pastor Grimm was discussed. Was brought to the council to only have one service on Easter. Council approved one service at 8:30 with Youth Group to serve cinnamon rolls after service. Youth group will serve breakfast on Palm Sunday. Pastor made request to send Amy and Momoh to St. Olaf for con-ference on Theology and the Arts. Agreement to pay for Momoh and request that Amy try to get half of the funds from other congregation if possible. Money to be taken from Youth and Young Families ac-count. Agree to pay mileage also. Financial-Mark Westlander asked to have a member of our congre-gation audit his work monthly. Anyone interested please contact ei-ther Pastor or Mark. MSP to approve financial reports. Council approved building use requested by Junie Dale for Magner family reunion on August 2, 2020. Year of Renewal reported wanting to have a block party on Satur-day August 15

th. More infor to come at later date.

Pastor’s Report- MSP

turn out to be resilient people, who find creative ways to care for neighbors and to draw strength from God’s promises. St. Paul was one of the first to remind us of God’s constancy, writing - “… may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways.” (II Thessalonians 3:16) In Christ,

Bishop Patricia Lull

Presidential Ponderings

Greetings, It is with great thanks to all who participated and attended the Annu-al Meeting on February 9th. To those who have been serving on committees, you are a blessing to our church community. To those who are joining a new committee or serving for the first time, we look forward to getting to know you better and extend our apprecia-tion. Our beautiful stained glass windows remind me of our congre-gation members, we all come in different shapes, colors, and siz-es. When we come together we shine bright in the light and even in our darkest moments we know we are stronger together. I look for-ward to serving as our Council President and watching our faith grow with trust, love, and respect for our Church and Community. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Dana Johnson

Announcements

All Events at Immanuel are Postponed Due the national and state emergency caused by the Coronavirus pandemic Immanuel is temporarily cancelling worship and all in-person meetings. Pastor and staff will be working primarily from home. You can reach Pastor Marla on her cell phone at 651-315-3354. Check our website www.ImmanuelAlmelund.org for updates. Please stay home and stay healthy. God bless you.

New Email Immanuel’s email, imcal@frontiernet.net has not been working properly so we are now using a new email. Our new email is immanuelalmelund@gmail.com. Please start sending emails to this email now and delete the old email from your contacts.

Giving The church still collects mail each day, so if you’d like to send it your giving envelopes, we will be glad to receive them. Also remember that you can still give online on our website at https://immanuelalmelund.org/.

MEMBER NOTES:

Our Christian Love and Sympathy goes to the friends and family of Doris Nordquist. Doris passed from this life on February 25. Please keep her friends and family in your prayers as they grieve this loss. Arrangements pending.

Our Christian Love and Sympathy goes to the friends and family of Elvina Anderson. Elvina died on February 26. Please keep her friends and family in your prayers as they grieve the loss of their loved one and as they prepare the service to celebrate her life. Ar-rangements pending.

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A Message from the Bishop

March 20, 2020

We are all learning much about our inter-connectedness in these days of the COVID-19 pandemic. What is good, wise and salutary for the health of the communities in which we live needs to be foremost in our actions, as we work together to slow down the spread of this coronavirus. Synod Assembly Postponement With that in mind and in response to a recommendation from the ELCA Presiding Bishop and Secretary, the Synod Council of the Saint Paul Area Synod met in special session on Thursday, March 19, and acted to reschedule the 2020 Synod Assembly from May 15-16, 2020, to September 25-26, 2020, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran in Mahtomedi. This means that the election of the Bishop, Secretary, at-large Synod Council members and members for several Synod Committees will be postponed until then. The term for the Bishop will begin on December 1, 2020, which is the period of time between an election and the start of a new term as prescribed in our bylaws. All other newly elected persons, as well as those elected at Conference Assemblies in February, will begin their terms at the adjournment of the Assembly in September. New deadlines for the submission of resolutions, assembly materials and registration for the September 25-26 Assembly will be announced in a few weeks. The retired clergy caucus, originally scheduled for April 13, will be rescheduled when it is safe for larger groups to gather in person. It is our hope that everything we planned for the May Assembly can occur in the fall as the urgency of the pandemic lessens. Synod Office Staffing Update The Synod Office has also moved to a rotating staffing model with only two persons a day in the office and with new office hours of 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. This arrangement will be reviewed at the end of March. All meetings are now being held by phone or Zoom. Staff are working at home and are reachable by phone or email. It was only about a week ago when the World Health Organization named this viral outbreak a pandemic. We know that communities around the globe are also taking steps to slow its spread. This includes our global mis-sion partners in Tanzania and Guatemala. The practice of working from home, keeping physical distance from others, and learning to worship with others in new and digital ways are as new for me as they are for you. And yet, I know that over the centuries the human community has been challenged often in the midst of crisis and calamity. In times of natural disaster, war and political hardship, Christians

Please return this form to the church, along with your contribution by or before Palm Sunday, April 5, 2020.

Make check to “Immanuel Lutheran Church” and write “Easter Memorial Garden. “

Funds will be used for altar flowers and worship supplies throughout the year; or you may give to a memorial fund of your choice. Thank you!

Note: Forms turned in by the deadline will be included in the Easter Sunday memorials brochure in the bulletin. Those turned in after Palm Sunday will be listed on the Sunday after Easter in the bulletin.

Your Name: ________________________________________ Name of person(s) to be remembered or honored: __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________ Easter Memorial Garden Fund ___ Sanctuary Flowers & Worship Supplies, including Candles, Communion Supplies, Linen upkeep, etc. ___ Itonya Water Project part 2 ___ Other memorial fund, please note:

_______________________________________________________ Undesignated donations will be placed in the Easter Memorial Garden Fund.

Easter Memorial

Garden

Page 5 Page 12

Connecting in a Time of Separation As we are in the midst of social distancing, we are needing to be resourceful to find other ways to connect with one another. It

is a time when we are learning to use technology in new ways.

Connecting via the Internet For those who have access to email and the Internet, we are connecting via: • Weekly email messages. If you haven’t been receiving these and

would like to email Pastor Marla at PastorMarla@ImmanuelAlmelund.org and let her know your email address and she’ll add you to this list.

• Wednesday Fireside Chats at 3 PM and Sunday 9:30 AM Virtual Worship. Go to Marla Amborn’s Facebook page to tune in at the time these are happening. Or go to Immanuel’s Facebook page or website www.ImmanuelAlmelund.org to watch any time thereafter.

Connecting by Phone and Mail For those who don’t have Internet access, we are trying to reach out by phone and by mail. We will abide by whatever state guidelines there are regarding how much people can safely leave their homes or gather. That may make it hard to send out mailings, but we’ll do our best.

Giving The expenses of the church continue even as we are closed for worship. We appreciate it if you can continue supporting the church financially as your circumstances allow. Mail is being processed and donations are being deposited regularly so you are welcome to mail your offerings to the church. If you have Internet access, now would be a great time to try giving online on our website. It is easy and secure and is deposited into our account immediately. Go to www.ImmanuelAlmelund.org and click on “Make a Gift” and then just follow the prompts.

Suggestions Thank you for your patience and encouragement as we are all learning new ways to interact during this time. We welcome your ideas and suggestions. Call or email Pastor Marla or anyone on our staff or church council with your suggestions. Pastoral Care If you have a pastoral care need or if you know of someone who could use some pastoral care at this time please contact Pastor Marla at 651-315-3354 or Judy Nelson from the Parish Care Team.

2020 Easter We are used to celebratory Easter services. The Immanuel

brass loves to play for this service. Easter lilies deck the front of the sanctuary. This year, our Easter is likely to look different. It may, in fact, look more like that first Easter. The disciples were huddled in their homes, uncertain what to expect. There were not trumpets or lilies. On that first Easter, it was just a handful of people who first witnessed the resurrection. Picture that first Easter scene:

John 20:1-21 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them

that he had said these things to her. Page 6 Page 11

Confirmation and Youth Group

Here’s the schedule for April and May:

*All scheduled events are postponed at this time*

Youth from Grade 6 – 12 are welcome and encouraged to participate in Youth Group. Confirmation is for all unconfirmed youth grades 6 and above. You need not be a member of Immanuel to be part of the youth programming. Come and bring a friend!

If you have questions about the Immanuel Youth Group, please call Youth Leaders: Jason & DeeAnn Fredlund, 651-465-6130 If you have questions about Confirmation call Pastor Marla, 651-315-3354.

More Than I Deserve

“For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation…. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and be-hold, something greater than Jonah is here..” ~Luke 11:30

Good news was delivered by God’s messenger angel at the empty tomb: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said” (Matthew 28:5-6) The days of sadness were over. Jesus was alive. Death was defeated. Truth was spoken. The world changed. Like Jonah, Jesus’ message brought rescue to the believing. The people of Nineveh accepted Jonah’s message. The religious leaders rejected Jesus’ message. Yet Jesus was greater than Jonah. Jesus paid the price you owe for breaking God’s law. He had to be perfect in order for the price to be paid. He was. When Jesus rose from the dead, He offered eternal life with God. Accept it. The dark days were over. Sadness was replaced with joy. That good news is celebrated today and every day you remember God’s love proved more than enough.

Prayer: Dear God, Your rescue story has lots of drama. It has the best ending: forgiveness and a home forever with You. It’s more than I deserve. Much more. Amen.

This message is from Daily Wisdom for Teens: The Power of God’s Love.

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When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples re-joiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

As unsettling as things are for us as we approach Easter 2020, we have the benefit of knowing the rest of the Easter story. We have the benefit of knowing that Jesus rose from the dead. We have the benefit of knowing that Jesus conquered death for us all. We have the benefit of knowing that no matter what challenges come our way, Jesus is with us now and to eternity.

So, this Easter, celebrate that promise and share it with others. Take these words of Jesus to heart, ““Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Letter from Itonya Scholarship Student

Luiangllo Legondary School PO Box 523, Iringa, January 22, 2019

Dear Sponsor,

I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ. On my side I am fine and I hope on your side also is fine. My name is Taranta Kikoti from Itonya parish and I am studying in Form Three classes (similar to 10th grade). The aim of writing this letter is to say thank you to you for giving me this chance again to study Luta ngilo and paying school fees for me. God bless your activites and your economic for that you can continue to help another student for that they can acquire the ecu-catin for their future life. And I give thanks to God for the result of Form Two I got division one of twelve. I also continue struggling for the education for my future life. I have nothing to say but only God will bless you. God be with you all, Taranta Kikota

April Birthdays! As you celebrate your Birthday, remember to celebrate your Spiritual Birthday each year. Light a candle to remember your Baptism, too. God Bless you on your special days!

1-Dale Blomquist 2-Matthew Carlson 4-Wendy Meyer, Matthew Blomquist 5-Craig Stomberg 7-Jason Peterson, Angie Weness 8-Clay Larson, Mitchell Lutz 10-Quintin Carlson, Constance Linder, Peyton Lindgren 11-Lynn Lindgren 12-Kelly Hunter, Brittany Wyandt, Bailey Loso 13-Zachary Loso 14-Pamela Larson 15-Heidi Wiberg 16-Karl Swenson 17-Jennifer Anderson 18-Jax Yost 19-Lois Johnson, Anna Abbott, Jeske Noorder-graaf 20-Jill Hasselquist, Judith Peterson 21-Francis Tauer 26-Mark McKenzie 27-Rachel Blakeslee 28-Nicole Lundsted, Kurt Swenson

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New Bequest

We have been blessed to receive a bequest in memory of Daniel Lee Melendez, his mother Pearl Holm, and his grandmother and grandfather, Alice and Gustaf Holm, and his uncles and aunts. In March we received a check in the amount of $102,884. Once taxes are paid and expenses are settled we may receive a little more. It reminds us that God continues to look out for us and provide the resources to support Immanuel’s ministry. We are grateful for this generous gift.