Volume 33 Issue 3

March 2016

Lake Edge Lutheran ChurchELCA

Roosters. Gardens. Palm Branches. Donkeys. Towels. Bread and Wine.By Pastor Katya OuchakofThe images of Holy Week are rich, and familiar to many. And yet, every year we hear the same stories as we prepare for the celebration of Easter.

Despite their familiarity, these stories carry great meaning.

Every year, I reread the Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. The most famous book in the series is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but there are seven books total in the Chronicles. They are children’s books, so do not take too much time or brainpower to read, but it does usually take a couple of weeks to get through them all.

I reread these books every year be-cause each time I do, I learn some-thing new. I learn something about myself, or about my relationships with other people, or about God.

Despite their familiarity, these stories carry great meaning. Or, perhaps the meaning comes because of the fa-miliarity. As I read the same stories over and over again, I find myself re-lating to different characters, and as I do so, I understand their motives and weaknesses and abilities.

The stories of Scripture can work like that. As we hear them time and again, we understand them from different points of view. Some years on Palm Sunday we find ourselves in the crowd, cheering Jesus’ entry

into Jerusalem. Some years we might relate to the disciples, who don’t un-derstand why Jesus is asking them to fetch a donkey. Some years, perhaps, we find ourselves siding with the people who persecuted Jesus and found his kingly entry into Jerusalem to be a threat to their own power.

This year, during Holy Week, we will hear the familiar stories again. Jesus will enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on a donkey. On Thursday he will share a meal with his disciples, and wash their feet. On Friday, Jesus will be put to death and laid in the tomb. Where do you find yourself in the stories this year? Are you like Peter – enthusiastic but mercurial, defending Jesus in one moment and denying him the next? Can you relate to Mary, following her son closely all the way to the cross? Do you find yourself connecting with Jesus him-

self, or with the authorities who put him to death? Are the crowing roost-ers your wake-up call this year, or do you prefer the gentle touch of water and a towel as your feet are washed?

As we hear these sacred stories, pay close attention to those pieces that resonate most closely with you. What are the different people in these sto-ries teaching you this year? Even in the most familiar stories, new lessons and insights can be found if we only listen closely enough to the voices of the characters as events unfold.

As we hear [the stories of scripture] time and again, we understand them from different points of view.

LENT & EASTERMid Week Lent WorshipThursdays, March 3, 10 & 177:00 pmOur mid-week Lent worship con-tinues the theme of Hunger in Our Community featured in Bible study on Thursday afternoons.

Palm SundaySunday, March 208:00 & 10:30 am

Maundy Thursday Thursday, March 24; 7:00 pmIncluding Footwashing

Good FridayFriday, March 25; 7:00 pm

Easter SundayMarch 27Worship at 8:00 & 10:30 am Join us for worship on Sunday, March 27 as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord!Easter Brunch: Serving 9:00 to 10:15 amBrunch is pot luck, please sign up on bulletin board.

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In Our PrayersOur prayers for comfort and healing are with: • those who celebrate.• those who grieve, including the family of

Judy Gehrke.• those who are ill, hospitalized, recovering, or who are in special need of

a healing touch from God, including Luke Latham, Sue King, Joan Martin, Gary Lunda, Derryll Beich, Diane Meadowcroft, Donald Meisel, Dora Gugger, John & Marlene Sundin, Joel Kaphengst, Doris Norgord, Gloria Goodrich, Jill Holland-Nash, Kathy Hanson, Nancy Schultz, Lynn McConnell, Tina Miller, Gene Anderson, Jack Galloway, Sarah Lasee, Gloria Jones-Bay, Audrey Simonson, Wes Stiemke, Kenneth Davidson, Judy Kollath, Erik Jelinek, Christine Thompson, Gene Arndt, Tina Paulson, Jim Gilbert, Glenn Bragstad, Joyce Narveson, Albert Singer, Bill Bruns, Dean Phillips, Ruth Jackson, Kyle Freeland, Terry Gudmandsen, Virgil Mellum, Bruce Burnside, and the family of Maureen Mengelt;

• our neighborhood church partners: Lake Edge United Church of Christ, Messiah Lutheran Church, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church, Monona United Methodist Church, and Lake View Moravian Church;

• our synod and national church staff; our sister congregation, Cristo Rey, El Salvador, and our companion synods, The Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church in India and the Caribbean Synod of the ELCA.Mon. - Thurs. 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Fri. 8:30 am-12:00 pmOffice Hours

Lake Edge Lutheran Church4032 Monona Dr. Madison, WI 53716

(608) 222-7339 • lelc.org

The People of Lake Edge

Stephen Marsh smarsh@lelc.org cell: 608-443-8786 Katya Ouchakof kouchakof@lelc.org cell: 608-616-5075

Amanda McCullough amccullough@lelc.org

Christine Anderson communications@lelc.org

Patrick Christians

Jay Wolf

Jesus E. Siles Brondo & Elvira Alvarez Munguia

Ministers

Pastors

Office & Finance Manager

Communications

Manager

Music Director

Organist

Custodians

Memorial GardenOn Sunday February 14 Pastor Bob and Marcy Voss gave an Adult Forum pre-sentation on the theology and his-tory of Lake Edge's Memorial Garden.  It was well attended by LELC  members and visitors.

In the event you were unable to attend, or you wish in-formation about laying an engraved  brick in the walk outside the church or about  interment in the  Garden, you can find: 1. information about bricks across from the coat room below the bulletin board; and 2. information regarding interment in the garden itself in the church of-fice.  You will find brochures about the Memorial Garden located by the bulletin board and under the “jumbotron.”

These details are also available on the Lake Edge web page, www.lelc.org, under Ministries: Memorial Garden.

For anyone interested in placing a brick, please be aware that bricks are only installed in the spring each year.   March 20  is the deadline to submit the form and payment to have a brick engraved and installed this year. These completed forms can be turned in to the Church Office to be placed in the Memorial Garden mailbox.

Pastors Stephen and Katya are available to serve in a pastoral capacity for members concerning the Memori-al Garden. If you have other concerns, you may contact any member of the LELC Memorial Garden committee regarding anything about the Memorial garden: Karen Blackdeer 838-1291; Ed Downs 222-7002; Chuck Martin 839-1370; Ron McKinley 242-0395; George Swamp 298-7077; Marcy Voss 838-1033; Pastor Stephen Marsh  222-7339

Centering PrayerCentering Prayer to meet each Sunday at 9:30am in the Luther Room. Learn a new way to renew your relationship with God as you sit in silence and allow God to do God’s transforming work in you. The only effort is to consent to God’s presence and action within. Call Ron or Judy McKinley, 242-0395 for more information.

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Did You Know?The month of March was designated as Women's History Month by the U.S. Congress in 1987. This commemo-ration traces its beginnings back to the first International Women's Day in 1911. The National Women's History Project has declared the theme for March 2016 to be "Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government."

Youth Summer Camp FundraiserMarch 6 from 12:00 to 6 pmAdults: $8.00Kids 5 to 12: $6.00Kids 4 & under: freeDinner includes spaghetti (vegetarian sauce available), bread, salad, beverage and dessert. All are welcome!

Come and Pray With UsThursdays at 11:30 am , Church LibraryJesus assured us, that where two or more are gathered in his name, he is in the midst of them. Karen Cook, Lin-da Newman and Susan Marsh, feel the need to speak with our Lord in a group, in gratitude, together, once a week. We pray for the people and activities of our church, our community, our city, our state, our country, and the world. We pray in gratitude for our many blessings. We share what is on our heart with our God. So do come and join us every Thursday at 11:30 to talk with our Lord.

Coffee With LELC at Java CatStarting this month, LELC will have a weekly presence at Java Cat Cafe (on Monona Dr between Davidson and Cot-tage Grove) on Wednesdays between 2:30-3:30 pm. Either one of our co-pastors or one of our council leaders will be

present to buy a cup of coffee for and chat with anyone who is open to conversation with us--about community, current events, church, themselves, etc. This is being done in an effort for LELC to reach out and build relationships with more people in our communi-ty, to let more people know about our growing ministry, and to hear some of the concerns and ideas that are on the minds and hearts of our neighbors. We seek to become a more relevant and integrated part of the neighborhoods that surround us, and this is a min-istry that we hope can help lead us in that direction.Please tell your friends and neighbors that they are in-vited to have a cup of java (or chai) on us on Wednesday afternoons at Java Cat Cafe.

Lenten Ecumenical Bible Study on Hunger in Our Community

Sponsored by Lake Edge Luther-an, St. Luke’s Episcopal, Lakeview Moravian and Lake Edge UCC5 Sessions - 5 WeeksEach session will be offered twice a week on Wednesday evenings and Thursday afternoons. You are invit-ed and welcome to participate in either or both.

Bible Study will be led by a participating pastor:Rev. Dr. Paula Harris, St. Luke’s Episcopal ChurchRev. Staci Marrese-Wheeler, Lakeview Moravian ChurchRev. Katya Ouchakof, Lake Edge Lutheran ChurchRev. Stephen Marsh, Lake Edge Lutheran ChurchCome and Learn With Us as we explore the problem of hunger using this new study-action curriculum from the Wisconsin Council of Churches. We will hear what is be-ing done about hunger in our own communities and find ways to put our faith to work on behalf of our neighbors in need.Wednesday Evenings:St. Luke’s Episcopal ChurchMarch 2, 9 & 166:00 pm Worship: Hunger Theme6:30-7:30 pm Bible Study7:30 pm Simple Meal(Please register for the meal stlukesmadison@sbcglobal.net)Location: 4011 Major Avenue, Madison, 53716Thursday Afternoons:Lake Edge Lutheran ChurchMarch 3, 10 & 171:00-2:30 pm Bible Study7:00 pm Worship: Hunger ThemeLocation: 4032 Monona Dr., Madison, 53716You Can Be Part of the Solution!Offering boxes are available for you to take home, fill and return. Donations will go to Goodman Community Cen-ter. Even if you are not available to participate in Bible study, you are still able to be a part of the solution to hun-ger in our community through your donations. You will find donation boxes at all participating congregations.

Songs & SudsSunday, March 13; 7:00- 8:00 pmDo You Love the Hymns We Sing in Church? Join us for Songs & Suds! We'll join in song at Chief's Tavern, 300 Cottage Grove Road. Bring your friends and family for a fun time. Mark your calendars! Hope to see you there. Peace & Justice Mission - Local Outreach.

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Post-Easter Bible StudyThursdays, April 7-28; 1:00 & 7:00 pmThe Book of Faith committee invites you to a Thursday af-ternoon/evening Bible Study during the month of April. It will focus on the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, as well as, exploring what it means to be 21st Century "Post-Resurrection People". Join Pastor Stephen and the committee, on Thursdays, in the Adult Education Room. Bible Study will begin on April 7th and end on April 28th. Each week there will be identical sessions at 1pm and 7pm. All are welcome. Sign-up on the bulletin board. Mary Graper

Adult Learning on SundaysSundays, 9:30-10:15 amContact Lucy Gibson at 608-221-3258March 6: MOSES Presentation (tentative)Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality and Solidarity

March 13: Opposing Drone WarfareBonnie Block, a peace activist, will talk about her work with organizations opposing drone warfare. She is the co-facilitator of the Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones. Since December of 2011 she has been part of monthly vigils at Volk Field (WI Air National Guard Base in Juneau County near Mauston) to give public witness against drone warfare and the training of operators of Shadow drones that takes place at this base. She has been one of the people to annually cross the line onto the base in an effort to meet with or deliver a letter to the commander, or hand out flyers at the base open house. She has been arrested 4 times and has been tried for tres-pass resulting in fines and on one occasion a five day jail sentence. She will talk about why she believes, with the UN and many human rights organizations, that drone warfare is a program of targeted assassination and a war crime that she is duty bound to oppose. Bonnie is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church on E. Washington St, a wife, mother, and grandmother. She has been a social worker, community organizer, attorney and divorce mediator. She was the national coordinator of the Lutheran Peace Fellowship, has chaired the nation-al council of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and staffed the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. She is also a writer and nonviolence trainer.

Holden Village: Creation AwakesSunday March 6, 2-5pm; SanctuaryMany of you have been to Holden Vil-lage and know what a beautiful and self renewing place it is. On March 6, the co-directors of the Village will be at Lake Edge to share images and information about the impact of the Wolverine Creek fire on Hold-en Village. Whether you have been there or not, you will want to attend this event. Before or after, enjoy a

spaghetti dinner in Good Shepherd Hall, offered by our youth as a fundraiser for summer camp.

MOSES: Madison Organizing in Strength, Equality and Solidarity1. Attended the packed Sanctuary as the leaders of our state (elected legis-lators) listened to facts and personal testimonies about topics concerning incarceration injustices in Wisconsin.

2. Paid attention to the resignation of Ed Wall, head of the Department of Corrections. We pray for open com-munication with the DOC.3. Attended the immigration rally at the Capitol.4. Attended the speech by Everett Mitchell at First Uni-tarian society. It was about Incarceration, the book: "Just Mercy" and our own Dane County.5. Prays regularity for state prisoners and their families; for guards, wardens and their families; for legislators; for the Department of Corrections; for justice. Mary Graper

Synod Assembly Voting MembersExperience the wider workings of our Synod with time for spiritual reflection, renewal and inspiration. The Council is seeking 2 LELC members to be our Synod Lay Voting Members this year and to attend the 2016 Syn-od Assembly, April 30 – May 1, 2016. LELC can send one woman, one man and one youth (<30 yr); a woman Vot-ing Member has already been identified. This year’s Syn-od Assembly will be held at Kalahari Resort and Conven-tion Center, Wisconsin Dells. Registration fee is covered by the church. Lodging for our Voting Members at the Kalahari Resort is currently not budgeted, but opportu-nities for housing support will be sought. Non-voting members are welcome to participate in many aspects of this annual event.

Music, Memory & MovementThursday, April 710:30 am to 2:00 pmLake Edge Lutheran ChurchEast Madison/ Monona Coali-tion of the Aging and Lake Edge Lutheran Church invite you to a day of fun, filled with information and activities you

can adopt to establish healthy habits to maintain both your memory and brain health.

• Learn important brain health tips• practice new activities• socialize with old and new friends

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are suited to movement!RSVP by Monday, April 4To ensure enough food for lunch, please RSVP to Lake Edge (608-222-7339) or East Madison Monona Coalition of the Aging (608-223-3100).

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Help Us Feed the Hungry at Luke HouseHours: 4:45-7:00 pmFirst Thursday of the MonthUpcoming Meals: March 3 & April 7, 2016Luke House, located on Ingersoll Street, off Williamson Street on Madison’s near Eastside provides dinner at 5:45 pm., Sunday through Thursday. Meals are provided and shared by faith communities throughout the Madison area, with a different menu from each community. The Director, Mr. Paul Ashe, encourages community partici-pation and welcomes all to come and dine. One doesn’t need a black tie to join this feast. "No shirt, no shoes" is not written on the entry. Rather, it’s a gathering place of the servant church.The first Thursday of every month, Lake Edge Lutheran Church provides the menu and dines as guests of Luke House. The menu for 165 children, women, and men en-tering the door is: baked chicken, mashed potatoes, gra-vy, corn, bread and butter, milk, and desserts.We never have too much food. What may appear as left- overs, feeds people at Luke House’s lunch program or is taken to men at Port St. Vincent for the lunches they take to work. Our next time to dine is Thursday, March 3; and again Thurs-day April 7. Please keep these dates on your calendar.We humbly ask God to move our community to reveal the Spirit of Christ in our midst. God enters our lives to become relational and that can be risky, for we never know who will be given on loan to love for the day.Are you called to feed the hungry in our community? Do you have questions? Contact Joan Martin at 839-1370. Hope to see you there! Thank you for your continued support of this ministry! Joan Martin

Thank You!Thank you for prayers, well wishes, cards and hospi-tal visit from Pastor Katya. Knee surgery went well and I will soon be worshiping with my church family again. Joan Martin

Goodman/Atwood Community CenterFor over 60 years, the Goodman/Atwood Community Center has been providing programs for chil-dren, families, and adults to learn, engage, and connect with the

Center and Madison community. This year, in partner-ship with the UW Center for Humanities, the Goodman/Atwood Center is looking to hear from past and present alumni about how the Goodman Center’s programs have made an impact in their life. Looking historically at alum-ni is one part of the Goodman Center’s commitment to evaluation and data collection to ensure meaningful im-pact. If you or someone you know has participated in programs at the Goodman/Atwood Center, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/GoodmanCenterAlumniSur-vey to participate or call (608) 204-8044 for more infor-mation on the Alumni Project. This project will culminate in May with an alumni event. Please contact the center to add your name to the guest list.

Personal Care KitsLast year, Lake Edge sent 137 Personal Care Kits to LWR (Lutheran World Relief ). We are now collecting items for the 2016 drive with a goal of 100 Care Kits.There are only five items in the Personal Care Kits:

• bath towels (size 20”x40” to 52”x27"; medium weight, dark colors)

• 2 bath size bars of soap (4 to 5 oz.)• 1 adult size toothbrush• 1 sturdy comb (no picks or fine toothed combs)• 1 metal nail clipper.

For March we would like to focus on Bath Towels. Any of these items you wish to bring will be appreciated. The bas-ket for these items is on the bookcase shelf leading to the library.

Partners for Change LuncheonThe Madison Area Urban Ministry will host a luncheon for nearly 300 individuals who are committed to investing in the lives of Madison’s most vulnerable on Tuesday, April

12 from 11:30 – 1:00 at Madison’s Concourse Hotel. We ask you to join forces with MUM by sponsoring this year’s Luncheon as a sign of your commitment to advancing equity in our communities.

MUM offers an array of direct service programs for individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice sys-tem, including prison reentry programming (since 1999), services for children who have an incarcerated parent (since 1999), community events designed to help people understand what it’s like to walk in the shoes of some-one newly released from prison, jail and prison in-reach programming, and an on-site emergency food pantry.

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Church Ladies Book StudyMarch 2,16, 30The Church Ladies Book Study will meet Wednesdays, March 2, 16, and 30 at 8:30am at the Heritage Cafe, 4674 Cottage Grove Road. The current book for study is The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister. Check the bulletins for chapters for discussion. We meet for breakfast (on your own), conversation, and discussion. You do not have to have read the book to participate. All ladies are welcome. Call Judy McKinley, 242-0395 for more information.

Building Bridges: Women’s Overnight Retreat

Lake Edge and Christ the Solid Rock women are planning an overnight retreat at Lutherdale on July 15th and 16th. We will have a lot of fun getting to know each other. We can arrive at 5:30 pm on the 15th and have a cookout. We'll leave the eve-ning of the 16th. Lutherdale has a

wonderful facility and beautiful grounds. We are funded partially for this event by the grant and the rest of the fees will be determined. Watch for more information and the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.

Yarn Needed! The Knitters are in need of more yarn. Our Packer hats are a favorite. If you wish to purchase new yarn, the skein colors for Packer hats are “Hunter Green” and “Gold.” Re-member to use a coupon, or go to Goodwill, Savers or St. Vinny’s for a really good bargain on all colors!

Join Our Office VolunteersWe Need You!We are in need of office volunteers at LELC for regularly scheduled times as well as substitutes, as needed. Call Fay Hanson at 222-7675 or leave a message at the church.

Coming in April: Save the DateSaturday, April 16, 11:30 amSpring Luncheon Potluck– Program to be announced.A good time to catch-up with friends and enjoy a Sat-urday afternoon out!Saturday, April 30, 11:00 amMother's Day Cookie Baking Day at 11 am in Good Shepherd Hall. All are welcome to participate. More information to come.

WELCA’s Disbursement of Bake Sale Funds is Announced At our recent WELCA Board Meeting on January 26, 2016 we disbursed total Bake Sale funds ($ 5,500.00) after setting aside $1000.00 into our checking ac-count. We disbursed $300.00 each to the following charities:

Salvation ArmyPersonal Essentials PantryTriangle Community MinistryBoys and Girls Club of Dane CountyELCA Good Gifts (Chickens, Goats, Bees, and Pigs)Community Action CoalitionSisterhood of Saints and SinnersDomestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS)Goodman Community CenterSecond Harvest FoodbankLuke HouseRiver Food PantryMentoring PositivesCristo Rey

Thank you to all who baked and bought and contrib-uted to the success of this sale! Thanks!

Women's Wellness DayWeaving Wellness into Your Life: Mind, Body & SpiritNew Life Church Saturday March 5, 20168:00 am - 3:00 pmLadies, spend a day with other women as we look to pamper ourselves for a day of wellness. We will have a variety of sessions to nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Confirmed sessions thus far will focus on nutrition, intuitive art, reiki, and much more! Our keynote speaker will be Jill Swason Peltier, a colon cancer survivor and founder of Lemons of Love, a non-profit that makes chemo care packages and brings rays of hope to people fighting cancer. We will also have an optional session painting scarves for women going through chemo. Part of a healthy mind, body, spirit involves giving blessings away and we hope the entire day is one of blessedness!

$15/person (includes lunch). Optional project cost, $10. Sign up today to join us! If you have questions, please contact Paula Severson (608) 223-9337.

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All-Congregational Summer Weekend-AwayAugust 26-28; Mt. Morris Camp and ConferenceCenter near Wautoma

Friday until Sunday (noon). Our congregation will spend the weekend to-gether amongst the beau-ty of nature near Wautoma: worshiping learning and playing. Accommodations for the weekend range from tents/trailer camp-ing($60 w/electricity), to cabins ($68/adult), to ho-

tel-style Lodge ($96/person). There is also a swimming pool at the conference center. This event is sponsored by the Cross-Generational mission, encouraged by a gift from the Gifts Committee. Please sign up on the bulletin board. More information will follow as the year unfolds.

Save the Dates for Vacation Bible School!! June 13 – 16, 2016

As part of the generous grant awarded to Lake Edge Lutheran and Christ the Solid Rock Baptist churches by the Madison Commu-nity Foundation, we are excited to announce that this year’s Vacation Bible School will be led by Luther-dale Bible Camp Leaders.

Mark your calendars for June 13 – 16, 2016. VBS will be held at Lake Edge, with transportation provided to chil-dren from Solid Rock. The program is designed for chil-dren who have completed Grades 1 – 5. Further details will be provided, and arrangements will be made for rep-resentatives from Lutherdale to speak to each congrega-tion.The churches will provide snacks/lunches and super-vision. Watch for a sign-up sheet on the Bulletin Board in the near future, many volunteers will be needed to make this a success. Please contact Sheree Kehoe with any questions or if interested in being involved at kehoeds@gmail.com.

Happy Quilters and Project Linus Sponsor Make a Blanket Day

The Happy Quilters along with the Madison Chap-ter of Project Linus have chosen to again sponsor Make A Blanket Day on Wednesday, March 30th, from 9am to 3pm includ-ing a potluck lunch.

“No Sew” fleece blankets will be made for ill children in local hospitals. These blankets give them comfort, both physically and emotionally. One and one half yards of fleece is needed for each blanket. Fringe cut on the edge of each piece will be tied to complete the blanket.Flannel blankets are assembled to cover isolettes in Natal Intensive Care Units. Two pieces of baby suitable flannel of one and one quarter yards each is needed for each blanket.We will provide our quilting equipment and supplies. We have accumulated several pieces of fleece and flannel but any donations of fabric will be gratefully received. Project Linus will bring rotary cutters, cutting mats, no-tions, additional sewing machines, surge protectors/ex-tension cords. This project is open to any and all volunteers—not only quilters, but anyone interested in providing additional loving support to children who are ill and in a hospital setting. You can come anytime during the day and stay as long as you are able. It will be an exciting day as we watch the finished blankets become a reality.If you have any questions, call Doreen Davidson at 839-5194, stop me in church, or e mail elwdor@charter.net.

For the Happy Quilters. Doreen Davidson

Artist of the Month: Sam KokAs a child and young man expressing my thoughts had been difficult. Drawing and painting provided a great outlet. My mother who is a very good artist also had en-couraged me early on. Often it had gotten in the way of school and grades. My notebooks were often full of doodles instead of important information on that days subject. Later on I had a wonderful art teacher in high-school that helped me hone my skills and exposed me to new mediums. I was going to a local tech school for a commercial art degree when I began to burn out. Art was loosing its fun and being creative was tougher and

tougher. I changed my major to business and hadn't looked back for almost 15 years. Before my son was born in 2014 I thought I'd try to paint animals for his farm themed room. The project turned out to be a lot of fun and got the creative juices flowing again. I'm working on a few projects now for my daughters room as well as some personal paintings. I'd describe my work as somewhere between a realist and impressionist. With two children I do not have much time or patience for the detail of of realism. I hope you enjoy my paintings as much as my son has!

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Council Minutes February 15, 2016

Council Members Present: Al Anding, Dale Dull, Mary Graper, Linda Newman, Lisa Nienhaus, Pastor Katya Ouchakof, Diann Oyan, Dee Ewert, Milan Summ

Council Members Absent: Kristen Friedrichs, Pastor Stephen Marsh

Called to order at 7:00 P.M.

Bible Study & Prayer: Pastor Katya

Orientation of new Council Members: Al Anding, Dee Ewert, Milan Summ

Approve January 23, 2016 Council Meeting minutes: Lisa Nienhaus moved and Linda Newman seconded to approve the minutes. Motion approved.

• A motion was made to appoint Brittaini Maul to be a synod representative from LELC at the 2016 Syn-od Assembly Apr30 – May 1. Motion made by Linda Newman and seconded by Diann Oyan. Motion ap-proved.

Treasurers Report:No treasurer’s report due to the financial software being upgraded this week and will then close out 2015 and have accurate reports for January 2016.

A motion was made that Pastor Stephen’s housing al-lowance figure for income tax reporting for 2016 will be $28,000. Al Anding moved and Linda Newman second-ed. Motion approved.Pastors’ Report: Pastor Katya

• Pastor Stephen is attending a continuing education conference in Texas this week.

• Pastor Katya will be attending a continuing educa-tion conference involving stewardship next week.

• The February 21st service will be celebrating LELC’s 19th anniversary as a reconciled in Christ church.

• Lenten offering this year will be donated to the Goodman Community Center’s feeding programs.

COMMITTEES Nominating Committee, Milan Summ / Sue McDade

• Milan will be organizing the nominating committee to fill left over openings.

MISSIONS Church and Family Fellowship, Lisa Nienhaus

• Youth fundraiser spaghetti dinner will be March 6, 2016.

Education, Mary Graper• Continuing to look for elementary education lead-

ers.Finance & Property Mission, Al Anding

• HVAC software fundraising is at $7,880 of the $13,775 needed.

Membership Support, Dee Ewert• Mission is exploring creative ways to contact visi-

tors.Ministry Support, Kristen Friedrichs

• Dee Ewert is compiling a list of potential volunteers for setting up and tearing down tables and chairs for infrequent times when janitorial staff is unavail-able to do so. List will be given to Kristen.

Peace and Justice, Diann Oyan• Mission is awaiting year end distribution of undes-

ignated benevolences.Worship Mission, Linda Newman

• Easter Sunday worship schedule will be 8:00 & 10:30 A.M.

President, Dale Dull / President Elect, Milan Summ• Reflections on last month’s leadership retreat were

very positive.• New financial software should be installed late this

week.• Judy St. Vincent is updating the membership data-

base in conjunction with the Pastors and Amanda.• We have scheduled a professional audit for June

2016,• Reviewed the pastoral involvement chart.

Next Meeting: Council will meet on Monday, March 14th after the mission meeting in order to avoid have a meeting during Holy Week.

Linda Newman moved and Dee Ewert seconded to adjourn at 8:50 P.M. Motion approved.

New Software for Heating & CoolingNEW SOFTWARE FOR HEATING & COOLING The Finance and Property mission is appealing to all LELC members for contributions toward the purchase of new computer software to control our facility heating and cooling. The new software has been installed and is already providing a more even temperature in the various heating/cooling zones of the church and reducing our heating/cooling costs.

To date, combined donations of over $7,000 have already been made and are greatly appreciated. The church needs your help to cover the remaining balance. You can use Thrivent dollars toward this purchase or make cash contributions. Thank you for your help and generosity. Contact Jonathan Pike, (332-4371) with questions.

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March 2016 W

orship Helper Schedule

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March 2016