First News is a monthly publication of: First Lutheran Church 1200 Pinecrest Court, Placerville, CA 95667 (530) 622-3022 firstlutheran@sbcglobal.net

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Pastor Mark Haas…………………....(530) 344-9410 Church Office……………………….…...…622-3022 Editor……………………….……..….Jean Haldeman

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First News

F i r s t Lu the r an Chu rch LCMS March 2015

Mon th ly News le t te r

VOL . 125 NO. 3

F i rs t Luther an Chur ch LCMS

1200 Pinecr es t Cou r t

P l ace rv i l l e , CA 95667

Phone 530 622- 3022

ema i l : f i r s t l u t h e r a n@s b c g l ob a l . n e t

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A Rabbit-Tale By

Pastor Mark Haas

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My calendar has been a bit “goofy” for February! Since it normally only has 28 days and the month began on a Sunday, the fourth Sunday of February came so “early” that it seemed we needed a fifth Sunday, but “no,” we have to wait for March to get a fifth Sunday this year, for all we need to fit into our already busy calendar! And next year, while February will have 29 days, it will still only have four Sundays!

Well, March is a month of anniversaries for me. Officially, I began serving in the “pastoral” ministry thirty years ago as a deferred vicar, inducted into office on March 17, 1985 by Dis-trict President Orval Oswald, as the vicar-pastor for Peace Lutheran Church in Sacramento. A year later, on March 16, 1986, I was ordained and installed as the sole pastor of Peace, again by President Oswald…so next year will be an ordination anniversary of 30 years. As I graduated from the seminary in 1985 I’m getting thirty year “reunion” invitations! And, more recently, I will have been living in my Placerville home for nine years as of March 9. As the saying goes, the older one gets the faster time rushes past. Each of these “anniversaries” seems more recent until I attempt to recount all that has occurred over the passing decades. Then it appears a long amount of time has intervened! Over time, I have conducted hundreds of baptisms and funerals…so many baptisms in the early days of minis-try; I don’t recall every one of them but I do have a listing of names. And, though a funeral

is not always a joy-filled occasion, it is always a privilege to proclaim that “Christ is risen.”

This March, I will be participating in a wedding to be held in Sacramento. I know the bride and groom pretty well. They were both members of Peace, Sacramento. The bride, Joanna, is a grand-daughter of former District President Walt Tietjen. She was in my 2001 First Communion Class as a fifth grader. The groom, Nicholas, was baptized with his older broth-er, Alexander, in 1992, and was part of that same First Communion class in 2001. In 2003, I was at Alex’s side when he died and conducted his funeral a few days later. Joanna’s mom, Linda, taught my son, Gregory, at Town and Country Lutheran School. All three of her chil-dren, beginning with Joanna, were in my wife, Dee’s, kindergarten class at Peace, as were Nicholas and his brothers. So, a lot of history together and another March date to remember!

I have only been able to get away for baseball’s spring training in Arizona once. When re-tirement rolls around, I hope to visit there more often, or as I have been advised, I should move there in retirement to be close to long time friends and “family,” Les and Sharon Self. There are a lot of decisions to be determined in a short time frame as I begin this process of retiring from pastoral ministry, like where to live…here in Placerville or elsewhere near family…to make myself available for Interim ministry or just supply preaching…where to worship…the impact of retirement on my children, especially should I relocate for any length of time…health care…and how much do I need to remain as close to my current fi-nancial comfort level…you know, decisions many of you have already made!

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Getting back to spring training, have the Giants really decided they can essentially stand pat with whom they have and still make another run for the World Series this year? You can’t argue with their success in having won three championships in five years, but none has been a repeat run. What’s happening in their front office? Are we headed for another “June swoon?” These are important concerns for fans! But are they life shattering concerns that af-fect eternity like a baptism or a funeral service? In Romans 6, St. Paul connects our baptism and “death” with Jesus death and resurrection. He writes, “3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11So you also must con-sider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Baptism and death are unique connection points between Jesus and us…much more im-portant than baseball and retirement questions! How concerned are we for not only our own eternity but also for our neighbors? I refer you to another column in our Newsletter: “Coming and Continuing in March 2015” to the paragraph on “Joining Jesus on His Mis-sion,” and the five questions and practices there. They also connect with baptism and death as we consider “how to become an everyday missionary!” Do you remember your baptism birthday? Is it as important as your birth-day? We typically don’t know the day of our death, or that of our neighbors, but baptism begins a new life in all who believe and when our earthly end comes, as believers we know we will live with Je-sus. Is your neighbor as certain as you? What anniversaries do you anticipate in March? Special days marked on your calendar? Spring Training in the picture? How about “March Madness!” Baptisms and funerals? With Paul, rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, but whatever comes remember, “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, [so] we too might walk in newness of life.” That’s an anniversary to remember! Yours in Christ’s service, Pastor Mark Haas, Soli Deo Gloria

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

18a BHG Practice

8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship w/Holy Communion 4p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

2 8:15a NIA Exercise 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Bible Study John Mooney 5p Confirmation 6:30p Jubilate

3 7p OA Meeting

4 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a String Band Practice 6p A.A. 6p Soup Supper 7p Lenten Worship 7:45p Jubilate

5 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

6 8:15a NIA Exercise

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8 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Con temporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship 4p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

9 8:15a NIA Exercise 5p Confirmation 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Property Board 6p Bible Study John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

10 3p Trustees 7p OA Meeting

11 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a String Band Practice 6p A.A. 6p Soup Supper 7p Lenten Worship 7:45p Jubilate

12 7:30a Men’s Breakfast 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 3:30p Upper Room 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

13 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a Quilters 5;30p K.B.S.

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15 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship w/Holy Communion 4p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

16 8:15a NIA Exercise 5p Confirmation 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Bible Study John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

17 7p OA Meeting

18 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a String Band Practice 6p Soup Supper 7p Lenten Worship 6p A.A. 7:45p Jubilate

19 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

20 8:15a NIA Exercise 5

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22 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship 4p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

23 8:15a NIA Exercise 5p Confirmation 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Bible Study John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

24 6p Elders 7p OA Meeting

25 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a String Band Practice 6p Soup Supper 7p Lenten Worship 6p A.A. 7:45p Jubilate

26 7:30a Men’s Breakfast 10a Joy in the Word Bible Study 5:30p BHG Practice 7p Al-Anon

27 8:15a NIA Exercise 9:30a Quilters 5:30p Kids Night Out

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29 Palm Sunday 8a BHG Practice 8a Adult Bible Study 9a Contemporary Worship w/Holy Communion 9:15a Adult Bible Study 9:15a Sunday School 10:30a Traditional Worship w/Holy Communion 4p R.O.C.K. 7p A.A

30 8:15a NIA Exercise 3p Stephen Ministers 5:15p Bells of Praise 6p Bible Study John Mooney 6:30p Jubilate

31 7p OA Meeting

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2015

March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22

9:00 Sound

10:30

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Dale Lambert

Bill Swift

9:00 Elders

10:30 Phil Dawson

Phil Dawson Larry Adloff

Phil Dawson

Phil Dawson John Brady

9:00 Acolytes

10:30

9:00 Ushers

10:30

Dave & Kimberly Walz Millie Stressenger

Tony & Evelyn Belendez

Dale a& Vicky Hogrefe

Dave & Kimberly Walz Millie Stressenger

Tony & Evelyn Belendez

Dale a& Vicky Hogrefe

Dave & Kimberly Walz Millie Stressenger

Tony & Evelyn Belendez

Dale a& Vicky Hogrefe

Dave & Kimberly Walz Millie Stressenger

Tony & Evelyn Belendez

Dale a& Vicky Hogrefe

9:00 Altar Guild

10:30 Mindy Durand

Carol Schultz

Anne Hall

Ida Brady

Liturgist Rich Yanick Pastor Mark Rich Yanick Pastor Mark

Counters B & M Durand K. & F. Jones C. Schultz,

L. Hertzberg W & J Bryld

9:00 Video

10:30

Donna Kemppainen

Jean Haldeman

Maureen Johannessen

Jean Haldeman

Cindy Terpe

Kathy Cass

Cindy Terpe

Jean Haldeman

March 29

Dale Lambert

Stephen Cass

Phil Dawson Larry Adloff

Bob Rios

Dave & Kimberly Walz Millie Stressenger

Tony & Evelyn Belendez

Dale a& Vicky Hogrefe

LeeAn DeMoss

Kathy Tong

Rich Yanick

J & K Cass

Maureen Johannessen

Jean Haldeman

Servants for ChristServants for ChristServants for ChristServants for Christ March March March March 2015201520152015

Note to the Ushers:

Please be sure to count and log attendance and communion in the notebook provided in the cabinet. It is vital for our records. Communion cards are collected and put in the office after the service.

Please be sure to empty offering trays and return them to the altar. Put contents into a zipper bag located in the counters cup-board and put bag into safe after each service.

If you are ushering at the 9:00 service, you need to start the coffee. Please DO NOT dog open the doors. There is no need for that anymore. The doors will remain open when you unlock them and the panic bars work without being dogged.

If you are ushering at the 10:30 service, you need to clean up the coffee cart and put it away, remove all white sheets from the attendance pads and put them in the office. Check ALL doors in the church and Sunday school area to be sure they are locked and the lights are all off.

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FELLOWSHIP AT FIRST & MISSIONS

Are these related? Your Fellowship Board is taking a look at just that! Our recent look at the book by Greg Finke, Joining Jesus on His Mis-sion, emphasized being missionaries in our own communities. By mak-ing friendships in our neighborhoods, starting conversations with the people around us, and being aware of how we have seen God at work in our lives we are joining Jesus on his mission to bring others to him.

So where does Fellowship at First fit in with this mission? We’d like to continue to offer our all church events several times a year when appropriate: BBQ’s, 4th of July Party, Christmas Party, Oktoberfest, are examples. But, we’d also like to see more events out in the community that are attractive to a wide variety of interests. These gatherings might be smaller and more intimate. They would be the perfect “neighborhood” type of activity to which friends could be invited. Here our church family and those participating can offer friendship and encourage in-teraction as we share our faith.

Some interest groups we are thinking of are: The Day Trippers, The Game Gatherers, Food Fanatics, Outdoor/Sports Enthusiasts, Movie/Stage Buffs, Arts and Crafters, Word Wiz-ards, Knitters and Stitchers. We have quite a long list of ideas of things to fit under these categories and guess that maybe you could add more of your own or even add a new category. We are all ears and welcome your participation. We’d also appreciate anyone who would like to take the reins of an activity and get it rolling. Just contact one of the names listed below with your input.

Very soon we will have some offerings listed either in the newsletter, bulletin or through the weekly emails. Check them out and feel free to jump in, invite your friends and have a good time fellowshipping and joining Jesus on His mission!

Fellowship Board: Jean Haldeman (Chairperson), Larry and Vickie Hermone, Larry and Patty Adloff, Rich and Jenny Yanick, Ray and Maureen Johannessen, Steve and Donna Kemp-painen, Tom and Peggy Hayhurst, Laurie and Jack Hertzberg, Bill and Marcia Swift, Loretta Bryld, Pastor Mark

SPECIAL WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY Come on Friday morning, March 20th to our Women’s Bible Study to hear Alice Beltran speak about her recent short term mission trip to Ghana with the Sending Place team. In the two weeks there the group helped continue the construction of a Christian school where they shared Bible stories and activities. The group also participated in a worship service with Christian girls at the Girls Muslim School! An amazing experience was being a part of 23 baptisms at another church! Many other exciting things happened during their time there. Please join us to hear more about it.

We meet at Marcia Swift’s (647-1880) in Camino at 10:00.

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CONTINUING/COMING IN MARCH 2015….

We conduct our worship services at 9 AM (Contemporary) and 10:30 AM (Traditional). Adult Bible Classes on Sunday are offered at 8 AM and 9:15 AM year round. Our Sunday School for kindergarten through sixth grade begins during the early service, following the Lamb’s Sermon. A Nursery room is available for parents and their preschool-aged children.

LENT 2015

We are conducting Mid-Week services on Wednesdays at 7 PM until Holy Week with its emphasis on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday (both days will have services at noon and 7 PM). Palm Sunday will be March 29, 2015!

To highlight the evening services, we will have soup suppers beginning at 6 PM. Please sign up for soup, bread, salad, or dessert to share with others in a time of fellowship prior to worship!

The Lenten theme is “Singing with the Exiles” based upon Isaiah 40-55. Come join us as we prepare for the “Servant of the Lord” in prophecies and fulfillment in Jesus!

JOINING JESUS ON HIS MISSION HOW TO BECOME AND EVERYDAY MISSIONARY

Here are Five Questions and Five Practices for Missional Communities: 1. How did you see God at work in your life this week? 2. What has God been teaching you in His Word? 3. What kind of conversations are you having with pre-Christians? 4. What good can we do around here? 5. How can we help you in prayer? Watch and listen for training from Greg Finke and Dwelling 1:14 through our church’s leadership! In the meantime, try to answer the questions! An organizing meeting is sched-uled for March 1 at noon!

WEEKLY SPECIAL OFFERING BASKETS

Share, HELP, Upper Room, and the Nomadic Winter Shelter…the free-will offer-ing basket for each of these entities is located at the usher’s table in the Narthex. Watch for a favorite or donate to all! Your gifts are gratefully received! Thank you!

ACOLYTES/CRUCIFERS One of our annual “Time and Talents” categories indicates the need for acolytes (candle lighters) and crucifers (carrying the Processional Cross in and out of the late service). We’ve not been very good at identifying either so the pool of acolytes and crucifers has dwindled down to a few good men who graciously acolyte both services and we appear to be “out” of crucifers! Please consider assisting in worship for one or both of these worship leader positions. We’re also trying to get some middle school kids involved! Please pray about it!

LITTLE BACK PACKS

The donations of nutritional snacks and drinks are very much appreciated by stu-dents at Schnell School! Your generosity has been outstanding! Thank you very much! You were very generous for February…18 backpacks were filled! Listen for due dates for March’s donations!

MEN’S BREAKFAST

Hey guys! Mark your calendar for the second and fourth Thursdays (March 12 and 26!) at 7:30 AM! You are invited to a breakfast for guys held at the Golden Waffle Café on Broadway, hosted by Ken Freese. Come to talk about social issues, vintage cars, likes and dislikes, the Bible, and what’s ailing you! Join us for food and talk!

REVITALIZATION

We continue to receive donations to the “Revitalization Fund.” You may recall that our stewardship program (2011) involved these items…Financial Growth by Three Means: (1) Commitment to tithing, (2) Increased contributions annually, and (3) Specific pledges to the Revitalization Fund. This Fund is designated for staffing salary and new program-ming beyond our budgeted items. Thank you for your considerations and any special do-nations! The Fund is currently over $49K!

LUTHERAN TELEVISION

If you are looking for an LCMS television program, and you have DirecTV satellite pro-gramming, every Sunday morning at 8:30 AM on Channel 377 (TCT-Total Christian Tel-evision) broadcasts from Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, a 30 minute pro-gram of lessons, choir, prayers and sermon called “Worship for Shut-Ins” is an option for you. If you need to miss a Sunday, try the program out! It is only available in the Placer-ville area on DirecTV.

STRING BAND

Put it on your calendar…March 15, 2015 for the 9 AM Contemporary service, the local “Saucered and Blowed” string band, featuring our own Gail Fitch and Bill Rosenberry and former member Dick Liddell, will provide music for us. Join us for this “rousing” display of songs!

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Board of Trustees March

Newsletter Report

Merciful is our Lord!! The February Board of Trustees meeting dealt with the specifics regarding if we should call an Associate Pastor, a graduate pastor, or deferred vicar and then which call would be best suited for our particular situation. After prayerful consideration to our church’s needs, and the needs of Pastor Mark who is suffering a tremendous amount of pain, we came up with a recommendation. A spe-cial Voters’ Assembly meeting was announced to take place on Sunday, February 22nd immediately following the second service. At that meeting Rev. John Paul Meyer, our Circuit Visitor, explained the difference be-tween the three calls, the pros and cons of each call and a recommendation from both he, and District President Robert Newton. Pastor Meyer then fielded many questions. When it appeared all answers were given, I then offered the recommendation of the Board, which was the same as Pastors Newton and Meyer. That is that we should call for a deferred vicar – one who has completed all seminary course work but still needed one year of ‘internship’ in a church. It is our desire the vicar we will hopefully receive will be a proper match to our needs and would be able to become our sole pastor after Pastor Mark retires. A motion came from the floor to call a deferred vicar. The motion was seconded and after additional questions were answered a vote was taken and ap-proved by more than a 2/3rds margin. This Newsletter article is ‘short and sweet’ as I am under a rapidly approaching dead-line to submit all our call documentation to the District before the deadline. I personally want to thank all of you that were able to attend the Voters’ meeting as the importance of this decision was paramount! Please pray that our dear Lord guide us through this decision process and keep us in His loving care. May God bless you abundantly as we celebrate the passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Respectfully, Laurie M. Hertzberg, BOT President (530) 626-7464

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PPPPrayer WWWWarriors CCCCorner

Kathy Cass, Lay Prayer Minister

Dear Friends in Christ – Shalom! This is a praise and thanksgiving article. First of all to our God Who has surrounded me with love both directly and through my Christian friends; I have never felt so loved. Thank you for all the prayers, hugs and cards for both Jim and me. But as I thank you, I especially want to thank Bob Rios for his wonderful letter highlighting the awe-some power we have through the church rites that most of us seldom use – anointing and the laying on of hands. My emphasis has been in being in touch with God while things are going good, so we are open and receptive to God’s grace when things challenge us, but Bob pointed out another path we have as Christians that others don’t have, the power God has given to His church but is often neglected. I thank God for giving Bob the grace seek out that power in his time of need and for that beautiful letter informing us of its availability. Over the years I have sounded like a broken record calling us to take advantage of the oppor-tunities to pray and worship our God on other occasions. Sundays worship services are vital to our faith but we need to spend more time with than once a week. Last year our mid- week Len-ten services got cancelled because it was disheartening to have only a third or less attend them; and with as small a congregation as we have that is not many people. And as to the Prayer Vigils there has been less people than that involved. I do not consider myself a great pray-er and I do not know how much help I have been to you but in order to make my feeble attempts to serve our God and help you I have had to make myself available to Him at times and try turn my inner spirit on to Him. And He has honored those feeble at-tempts and grown my relationship with Him. I have loved the Prayer Vigils because they have been the few times during the year when I would put the other activities of my life on hold and just spend time with Him, One on one. These have been very special times. And when I got the cancer diagnosis instead of shear panic I experienced His peace and love, not because I merit it but because I think of at times that I made myself available to Him. Those times set a pattern up in me where in a time of crisis I would be open to His grace. We all know we will not get out of this physical life alive. And most of us will face one crisis sit-uation before our death. How would you like to face a crisis? All by yourself or with His love and the love of your brothers and sisters in Christ? I guarantee the second choice is by far the better choice. What we do to strengthen are relationship with our God when times are good has a direct relationship on our openness to receive God’s graces when we are in a crisis situ-ation. I encourage you to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to take advantage of every opportunity He gives you to draw close to Him in prayer and worship of Him. Mountain top experience are far and few. He just wants us to have an attitude similar to the boy Samuel. “Speak Lord. Your servant is listening.” He knows we are feeble. He know our prayers are weak. But for our own good, He just wants us make ourselves available as often as possible. He’ll take it from there. God’s blessings to each of you, and again thanks for your concern shown to me and my family, Kathy

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him; and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, plans not to

harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.´ Jeremiah 29:11

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Stephen Ministry

This will be the fourth year of our Stephen Ministry “restart” and to celebrate we will be introducing our current Stephen Ministers and giving a short special Stephen Ministry mes-sage at each service on March 29. Mark your calendars and find out more about this wonderful ministry. Also, after each service, there will be a table outside with both brochures and/or applications to become a Stephen Ministry available. If be-coming a Stephen Minister is of interest to you, pick up an ap-plication, fill it out, and turn it into the church office. A new class (the first since we began) will begin the end of April/beginning of May if there is sufficient interest. It is important to note that fifty hours of instruction is required to become a Stephen Minister as well as additional in-service time and a two year commitment to serve. If you want to learn more about becoming a Stephen Minister or obtaining a Stephen Minister for yourself or a friend, please call Judy Bryld (530 303-3388), Pastor Mark or any of your Stephen Ministers listed below.

May God bless you and yours!

Barbara Calvo Bill Rosenberry Kathy Pennington Lori Vickers Tom and Peggy Hayhurst Larry Hermone

Warren and Judy Bryld Pastor Mark Haas

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3/6/1976Bob and Gerry Henkell 3/22/1998 Ray and Maureen Johannessen 3/25/1985 Rick and Pat Gundran 3/25/2006 Cameron and Sandy Jones

1 Ray Engler

3 Tom Davis

4 Maryanne Farley

5 Anne Hall

7 Phil Corson

Jean Haldeman

8 Gene Dammel

12 Donna Kemppainen

14 Andy Miller

15 Diane Lemke

Marcia Davis

Mindy Durand

16 Cameron Jones

18 Robert Kerr

26 Laurie Hertzberg

Thank you for your cards, phone calls, and especially your pray-Thank you for your cards, phone calls, and especially your pray-Thank you for your cards, phone calls, and especially your pray-Thank you for your cards, phone calls, and especially your pray-ers, following Joe's injury.ers, following Joe's injury.ers, following Joe's injury.ers, following Joe's injury. Joe hasJoe hasJoe hasJoe has improved, however due to the extent of his injury total improved, however due to the extent of his injury total improved, however due to the extent of his injury total improved, however due to the extent of his injury total healing will take up to 6 months.healing will take up to 6 months.healing will take up to 6 months.healing will take up to 6 months. The power of prayer is great.The power of prayer is great.The power of prayer is great.The power of prayer is great. God is GoodGod is GoodGod is GoodGod is Good Barb CalvoBarb CalvoBarb CalvoBarb Calvo

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Thank you so much for the lovely card that was sent from the Thank you so much for the lovely card that was sent from the Thank you so much for the lovely card that was sent from the Thank you so much for the lovely card that was sent from the congregation. During John’s last appointment his illness sta-congregation. During John’s last appointment his illness sta-congregation. During John’s last appointment his illness sta-congregation. During John’s last appointment his illness sta-bilized and he does not return to the doctor for three months.bilized and he does not return to the doctor for three months.bilized and he does not return to the doctor for three months.bilized and he does not return to the doctor for three months.

Prayers help like an invisible hug or a warm pat on the Prayers help like an invisible hug or a warm pat on the Prayers help like an invisible hug or a warm pat on the Prayers help like an invisible hug or a warm pat on the shoulder. They helped me get through these past couple of shoulder. They helped me get through these past couple of shoulder. They helped me get through these past couple of shoulder. They helped me get through these past couple of

months, have faith in the power of God and to believe that we are in his months, have faith in the power of God and to believe that we are in his months, have faith in the power of God and to believe that we are in his months, have faith in the power of God and to believe that we are in his loving hands.loving hands.loving hands.loving hands.

My heart is full with the needs of the people who are on the prayer list. My heart is full with the needs of the people who are on the prayer list. My heart is full with the needs of the people who are on the prayer list. My heart is full with the needs of the people who are on the prayer list. They are always in my thoughts and prayers. They are always in my thoughts and prayers. They are always in my thoughts and prayers. They are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Thank you again and bless you.Thank you again and bless you.Thank you again and bless you.Thank you again and bless you.

Melanie SchickMelanie SchickMelanie SchickMelanie Schick

My family and I thank you for theMy family and I thank you for theMy family and I thank you for theMy family and I thank you for the love, prayers, love, prayers, love, prayers, love, prayers, cards, and support during the days after Charlie's cards, and support during the days after Charlie's cards, and support during the days after Charlie's cards, and support during the days after Charlie's strokestrokestrokestroke on December 5, 2014,on December 5, 2014,on December 5, 2014,on December 5, 2014, his diagnosis of tumors his diagnosis of tumors his diagnosis of tumors his diagnosis of tumors in his liverin his liverin his liverin his liver on January 6, 2015, and his death on on January 6, 2015, and his death on on January 6, 2015, and his death on on January 6, 2015, and his death on January 20, 2015.January 20, 2015.January 20, 2015.January 20, 2015. CharlieCharlieCharlieCharlie hadhadhadhad improvedimprovedimprovedimproved so much af-so much af-so much af-so much af-ter the stroke (two weeks in ICU and 10 days in re-ter the stroke (two weeks in ICU and 10 days in re-ter the stroke (two weeks in ICU and 10 days in re-ter the stroke (two weeks in ICU and 10 days in re-hab) thathab) thathab) thathab) that we were expecting a full recovery.we were expecting a full recovery.we were expecting a full recovery.we were expecting a full recovery. WhenWhenWhenWhen hehehehe was diag-was diag-was diag-was diag-nosed with tumors in his liver we were still hopefulnosed with tumors in his liver we were still hopefulnosed with tumors in his liver we were still hopefulnosed with tumors in his liver we were still hopeful treatment treatment treatment treatment and recovery would be possible.and recovery would be possible.and recovery would be possible.and recovery would be possible. However, when we learnedHowever, when we learnedHowever, when we learnedHowever, when we learned he he he he hadhadhadhad Metastatic Melanoma Stage 4 andMetastatic Melanoma Stage 4 andMetastatic Melanoma Stage 4 andMetastatic Melanoma Stage 4 and just a fewjust a fewjust a fewjust a few days to live our days to live our days to live our days to live our hopes were shattered.hopes were shattered.hopes were shattered.hopes were shattered. Charlie remainedCharlie remainedCharlie remainedCharlie remained in a comfortin a comfortin a comfortin a comfort room at room at room at room at Kaiser Hospital whereKaiser Hospital whereKaiser Hospital whereKaiser Hospital where he died peacefully on January 20, he died peacefully on January 20, he died peacefully on January 20, he died peacefully on January 20, 2015.2015.2015.2015. Our hearts areOur hearts areOur hearts areOur hearts are broken not to have him with us; however,broken not to have him with us; however,broken not to have him with us; however,broken not to have him with us; however, we we we we areareareare comforted knowing he is not suffering and is at peace with comforted knowing he is not suffering and is at peace with comforted knowing he is not suffering and is at peace with comforted knowing he is not suffering and is at peace with The Lord.The Lord.The Lord.The Lord. WeWeWeWe have so many precious memories of life with Char-have so many precious memories of life with Char-have so many precious memories of life with Char-have so many precious memories of life with Char-lie.lie.lie.lie. OhOhOhOh how we miss himhow we miss himhow we miss himhow we miss him but gain comfort in knowing we will be but gain comfort in knowing we will be but gain comfort in knowing we will be but gain comfort in knowing we will be with him again one day in heaven.with him again one day in heaven.with him again one day in heaven.with him again one day in heaven. Thanks again.Thanks again.Thanks again.Thanks again.

Love in Christ,Love in Christ,Love in Christ,Love in Christ,

Freda GormanFreda GormanFreda GormanFreda Gorman

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First Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran ChurchFirst Lutheran Church Hello all!Hello all!Hello all!Hello all!

I’ve been going to send an offering for a very long I’ve been going to send an offering for a very long I’ve been going to send an offering for a very long I’ve been going to send an offering for a very long time, in thanks for you sending me the church time, in thanks for you sending me the church time, in thanks for you sending me the church time, in thanks for you sending me the church newsletters all these many years! Since 2000 or so! newsletters all these many years! Since 2000 or so! newsletters all these many years! Since 2000 or so! newsletters all these many years! Since 2000 or so! I really enjoy receiving it! Thank you so much! I I really enjoy receiving it! Thank you so much! I I really enjoy receiving it! Thank you so much! I I really enjoy receiving it! Thank you so much! I especially like the Pastor’s “Rabbit Tale”!especially like the Pastor’s “Rabbit Tale”!especially like the Pastor’s “Rabbit Tale”!especially like the Pastor’s “Rabbit Tale”!

Perhaps this money can go to the Quilters? Just a Perhaps this money can go to the Quilters? Just a Perhaps this money can go to the Quilters? Just a Perhaps this money can go to the Quilters? Just a thought, or wherever you wish.thought, or wherever you wish.thought, or wherever you wish.thought, or wherever you wish.

I’m not doing too well lately as arthritis is in my I’m not doing too well lately as arthritis is in my I’m not doing too well lately as arthritis is in my I’m not doing too well lately as arthritis is in my back, so can’t walk lots anymore. And I can’t back, so can’t walk lots anymore. And I can’t back, so can’t walk lots anymore. And I can’t back, so can’t walk lots anymore. And I can’t write so well either, ha! Still in m “old homestead” write so well either, ha! Still in m “old homestead” write so well either, ha! Still in m “old homestead” write so well either, ha! Still in m “old homestead” which we built in 1951, by myself, but have 2 chil-which we built in 1951, by myself, but have 2 chil-which we built in 1951, by myself, but have 2 chil-which we built in 1951, by myself, but have 2 chil-dren in town. I have 7grands and 7 great grand-dren in town. I have 7grands and 7 great grand-dren in town. I have 7grands and 7 great grand-dren in town. I have 7grands and 7 great grand-children so far!children so far!children so far!children so far!

My church is Gethsemane Lutheran only 1 block My church is Gethsemane Lutheran only 1 block My church is Gethsemane Lutheran only 1 block My church is Gethsemane Lutheran only 1 block from my home.from my home.from my home.from my home.

God Bless you all. I remember many of you yet!God Bless you all. I remember many of you yet!God Bless you all. I remember many of you yet!God Bless you all. I remember many of you yet!

Sincerely Eleanor FranklinSincerely Eleanor FranklinSincerely Eleanor FranklinSincerely Eleanor Franklin

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A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

Outreach workshop with Greg Finke Greg, Robert and Pastor Mark Ash Wednesday Soup Supper

Eli Stein, Lilianna Estrada and Alice Ripley at KNO

Eli and Anna figuring their move on the board at Sunday School

Below, ROCK kids playing Pictionary

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Christian Education News

The youth of our church have adopted two organizations for their outreach. One is local and one is not. They are: New Morning is a shelter for run away kids. Along with that they have counseling services for kids and parents. On their website (http://www.newmorningyfs.org/) they have a list of needs. They are all pretty basic but their biggest need now is shampoos and hair products. The shelter has been in Placerville since 1970 but have recently moved to a new facility which is off Ray Lawyer past the Verizon store. They said they really need help to raise awareness to their new location. Compassion for Congo is an orphanage in the Congo (compassionforcongo.org). Pastor Paul An-thes, who is pastor at a church here in Placerville, is the General Director of this organization. They are the only means of support for this orphanage at present. The children are housed in a pastor’s home in South Africa. There are currently 17 children that are not ‘spoken for” and another 6 that have been adopted by people out of the country. One of those children is the adopted child of Emily. (the lady that interviewed for the youth leader position) Emily’s adopted son is now 3 and they are still working on getting him home. The African government won’t release the children to their legal U.S. parents. These children are brought to the orphanage by their parents because they can’t feed them. Some have been rescued because they were abandoned in a field and left to die. They need monetary support for food and clothes. The ROCK group would like to send CARE packages. We will look into this option!

some of the ROCK kids play Pictionary

K.N.O. the kids decorated gingerbread men. Never too late to do that!

Announcements

If you are a Thrivent member you are eli-gible to receive TWO $250.00 gift cards for a fundraiser event for something in the church or the community. Don’t let that money go un-rewarded! One of our members is going to get one for a fund-raiser for the New Morning Shelter. There are so many needs in our community, here are a few: H.E.L.P. S.H.A.R.E. Pregnancy Counseling 626-6720 Judy New Morning being done Progress House 626-9240 Upper Room (which has received one) Food Bank 621-9950 These are a few of the community organizations that rely on donations. Give them a call, find out their needs, then apply for an action card. The Action can be simply to go shopping for things they need. You must list Thrivent members that will be helping you with this project. Contact the church office if you need help in setting something up or need helping entering the infor-mation.

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Donut Talk

Our donut fund is in the red! On most Sundays we eat all 4 doz-en but when we see we aren’t

eating all of them we can alter our order to 3 dozen which will help keep the costs down. The Donut Factory gives us a great deal on the donuts. We pay $6.25 per dozen but the general public pays $9.00 per dozen. Plus they deliver them to our door for free!

Buy your ticket now to Lutheran High

School’s annual Gala Dinner & Auc-

tion! The theme this year is “UNITY”

and will take place on Saturday,

March 7, 2015 at the Sunrise Event

Center in Rancho Cordova. Tickets are

still only $50 per person or you can sponsor a table at

various levels. If you would like to buy a ticket or

want more information you can call the school office

at (916) 691-2277 or email ip-

owers@lhselkgrove.com. Friends, Neighbors &

Alumni are welcomed! There will be a hosted bar,

fine food, entertainment, silent & live auctions, and

fellowship.

The ROCK kids will be having a garage/yard sale in the church parking lot on Saturday, May 16, as a fundraiser for their trip to Tahoe. If you have things you would like to donate for their sale you can bring them to the church the Friday before the sale. We don’t have a place to store them here. If you would like to set up your own table and sell things, that is all good. We will be advertising in the Gold Panner prior to the sale to let the community know about the sale

and that they too can set up a table to sell their things. The more sellers we have, the larger our sale! The larger our sale the more buyers we’ll get! We’ll also send out a notice to our neighbors to let them know they too can set up a table.

Easter Sunday there will be a conti-nental breakfast between services. The food will be purchased, but we will need help to have it set up by

7:15 am that morning. If you would like to volun-teer to help, please contact the church office.

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