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Things First March 2018

The Newsletter of

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

561 Chestnut Street,

Taylors Falls, MN 55084-1110

651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.com

What does resurrection life look like among us? Where have we "seen the Lord" in the days & weeks of Lent, or in our Easter

worship? What does new life look like in a 158 (right?) year old congregation? Is it new friends taking on old tasks together, like our new partnership sapping with Peace? Is it quiet reaching out and checking on people you haven't seen for a while? Is it the voices of young children in the pews behind you in worship, and their clear enjoyment at being part of this community - have you noticed how often they bring friends? How often do you invite friends? Is it the people of every age assisting in worship & fellowship; greeting, holding doors, passing out bulletins, baking sweets for us, serving meals, doing cleanup?

Maybe we can't see it, but we can hear it? In the messages of the disciples going out to share about Christ's resurrection with the world? In the times of silence during worship in Lent when we actually had a few moments to talk to and listen to God? Is it in the stories being shared by the elders in book study at the Lodge, hoping to continue to grow in communicating better? Is it in the truths we are learning about our numbers and our giving, and what God might be calling us to do in that?

Maybe resurrection life is only a feeling - a willingness to be surprised by God, as we pray each day, "Surprise me." Is God still willing to do that? Watch with me, please, for "new life rising"-perhaps in unexpected ways and in unexpected places.

Here's one thing I am very certain of - in the words of a song from friends Tangled Blue, Joel & Aimee Pakan, assuring us of God's promise: "No matter what, no matter what may come, no matter what may come, I will not let you go!" You are tied up into this resurrection life - and God's got us all.

In Easter love, Pr. Mary Kaye Ashley

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.

2

QUILTERS

SARAHCIRCLE

COUNCIL MEETING

OFFICE HOURS@FELC

New Member Welcome! LENTEN & EASTER

SERVICES

Wednesday

March 7th, 14th & 21st

11am Lenten Worship

11:30 Soup Lunch

5:30pm Soup Supper

6:30pm Lenten Service

March 29th

Maundy Thursday

Worship at 7:00pm

March 30th

Good Friday

Worship at United Methodist

Church in Taylors Falls at 7:00pm

April 1st

Easter Sunday

Worship at 9:00am

SUNDAYWORSHIP

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Adult CHOIRSCHEDULE

MARCHBIRTHDAYS

Szczepanski, Wendy 03/01 Halstrom, Michael 03/03 Eilertson, Darin 03/05 Loen, Craig 03/07 Elfstrom, Ann 03/08 Carlson, Kathleen 03/09 Clippard, Andre 03/11 Grover, Verna 03/16 Miller, Sarah 03/16 Puffer, Julie 03/16 Goranson, Theodore 03/23 Berthiaume, Darrin 03/24 Carlson, Daryl 03/24 Goranson, Rebecca 03/25 Schultz, Arlen 03/26 Carlson, Marinda 03/30 Linngren, Levi 03/30

Please contact the church office if there are any errors or omissions. Thank you.

MONTHLYGIVING REPORT

16

Encourage….Love….Support...Listen...

...Pra

ise…..In

spire…

..Ho

nest…

...Friend

ship

….R

espect

All that this youth group is about!

C O N N E C T

I N V I T E

E Q U I P

First Lutheran

Youth

FLY Schedule

Be listening for the next

Mission Trip

Meeting date AND

Pancake Breakfast

Planning

Meeting!!!!

Thank you to SO MANY of you who attended the Sapping Season

Collaborative Meeting at Peace Lutheran on Sunday, Feb. 18th.

How encouraging!! This will be a new

adventure for us combining efforts with another

group—but we definitely need the help and God

has led the way to join with Peace Lutheran

Youth! Please PRAY over our upcoming season

and all the new friendships you will make!!!!!

3

“Kindness is like snow—

It beautifies everything

it covers.”

2018 Youth Winter

Retreat

“Knowing God”

4

Fun and Games Jeremy did not pay attention to where

the googly eyes go for the art project!!!!

Hedgehog Valentine cards were made for the elderly in our church! So

much creativity in our bunch!!!

15

You be the judge… Big Bird or Paul??

Mighty-Mighty

Scoop Noodle

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Sundays at

10:15am in the

downstairs Sunday

School Room

Luther Point Bible Camp

information for the summer

2018 programs are available in

the current brochure. We

encourage you to take one from

the table under the mailboxes

at church and make plans to

attend one of the many camps

offered!!!!!

For more info and to register, visit:

WWW.LUTHERPOINT.ORG

**Early bird discount registration

now through April 1st!!!

FELC is a offered a $55 Member

Church Discount as well!! Our

church offers a New Creation Award

for each child in the amount of $50

that can be earned for their camp

stay!!!!

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Thrivent Members

can give Thrivent

Choice dollars to a large number

of organizations, including

FELC. Thrivent sets aside $

every quarter, and you can send it

to a different place every quarter

OR you can send it NOW to an

organization of your choice by

March 31. (Zeroed out each 3/31,

and begun again.) Grab a "How

to direct Thrivent Choice Dollars"

from the table outside of the

sanctuary, or from Angie in the

office. Can be done online or

over the phone.

Throughout March, Minnesota

companies and individuals will

match a percentage of food and

dollar donations that Family

Pathways receives! Please consider

donating to families in need! There

is a purple bin located near the usher

stand by the mailboxes, please place

any food items and place any dollar

donations in the collection plates

during

worship.

Faith Stretch 2 is a small group that

continues & will meet again on Sun,

March 4th, 12—2pm & Sun, March

18th, 3—7pm to worship at Humble

Walk Lutheran Church in St. Paul.

Members & non-members are

welcome to join us for Bible study,

book study, group building, prayer,

service, worship (but not all in one

night )

Let Pr. Mary Kaye know if you’re

coming, or just come! Bring your Bible

& check with PMK or Angie in the

church office for book many of us are

reading, Surprise Me by

Terri Esau. (We’ll give

you one free!!)

FAITH STRETCH We will continue the small group

studying the book The Dance of

Connection: How

to Talk to

Someone when

you're mad, hurt,

scared, frustrated,

insulted, betrayed,

or desperate by

Harriet Lerner,

Ph.D. at the

Lodge, (1051

Mulberry St.), in Taylors Falls after

Lent on Wed, April 4th from 10:30-

11:30am If you'd like a book, let

PMK know, or stop into the church

office, and Angie will get you one.

6

Sap Season DO'S & DON'TS Reminders

DO wear BOOTS and warm socks; NO tennis shoes

DO wear GLOVES

DO dress in layers

DO bring plenty of water to drink

DO be respectful of any vehicle you ride in. WEAR SEATBELTS; Drivers know you will have mud and snow on your boots....that is OK. But please take care of any personal trash.

DON'T have your cell phone out at any time while out in the woods working. Michelle will be taking pictures once in a while or will need to be in

communication with Don....so she is EXEMPT!

DON'T get into any kind of horseplay or snowball fights; NOT TOLERATED. (Period)

DON'T ruin people's property and yard; be respectful where you walk so you are not messing up soft ground, flower beds, etc....

DON'T leave any trash; pick up after yourself

DO HAVE FUN! DO talk to other new families and youth coming from Peace Lutheran and get to know them!

DO stay focused and work hard; stay on task; work gets done much faster!! If you have any questions go to an adult or another older youth who has been collecting sap for several years.

LET'S HAVE A GREAT 2018 SAP SEASON!!!

Don’t forget to set

your clocks forward

for Daylight

Savings!!! Sunday,

March 11th!

Did you know…….

Every Monday, from 4:00 to 6:00pm, Zion Lutheran Church in

Chisago City hosts a free community meal!

ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

The Chisago Lakes Area Community is cordially invited to

participate in a time of Food and Fellowship!!!!

13

Estate Planning Workshop

Thank you to all who attended on Sunday, February 18th. There

was great discussion on many topics. Several people who

attended had done no planning but had been looking for help to

get started. Some comments were: “Great program and

excellent handouts” and “There is a need to do this again in our

congregation.” Hopefully we can sponsor this workshop on a

quarterly basis.

There are a few remaining

offering envelopes at the

church that members have not

picked up yet. Please grab

your envelopes in

the upcoming

weeks or call the

church office if

you would prefer

them mailed to

you! Thank you!

Informational meeting

on Thurs, March 8th at

7pm at Trinity

Lutheran Church in

North Branch. The

purpose of this casual get-together with

refreshments is to talk and see if there is

any interest in continuing the event.

Showing up does not mean you are

committed in taking over leadership. Any

questions, call Jeske at 651-775-1233 or

email jnoordergraaf@yahoo.com

Girls’ Night Out

Saturday, March 10th, 6—7pm

$10.00 per person

Ages 16 yrs and up

Join Michelle Lynch & Angie Linngren

for a night of fun learning from dance

instructor, Sheryl Baker. Line dance class—come learn social dances!

Cha Cha Slide, Macarena, Cupid Shuffle and more!!!!!

Located at the River City Dance Studio in St. Croix Falls, WI.

If you have any questions or would like to register for the class, please

call the church office or call Angie Linngren at 763-222-3033.

12

I would like to share the work that we are doing in the area of

shared ministry. Our church like other churches in the area have

seen the reduction of membership and budgets since the late

1990’s. In early December, 2017, Zion Lutheran, Chisago City,

Chisago Lakes Lutheran, Center City, Immanuel Lutheran,

Almelund, and Trinity Lutheran, Lindstrom Council Presidents and

Pastors met with Joe Lees, Assistant to the bishop of the St. Paul

Area Synod to have a conversation about shared ministry. With the

exception of Trinity, the other 3 churches are experiencing

declining membership, and giving. Both Zion and Chisago are

currently in the call process. The purpose of the December

meeting was to explore possibilities of shared ministries. In Mid-

December PMK was contacted by the SPAS to see if First Lutheran

was interested in attending the meetings and PMK and I attended

the January 2018. I was excited about the prospect of new

relationships with the other 4 churches, although I did not know

what that would look like. A questionnaire was sent in December,

2017 to be completed by the January meeting. The content of the

questionnaire was a “resume’” of each church, listing the, mission

statement, worship times, staffing, special services, outreach

ministries, adult and youth education, facilities, annual budget,

leadership, gifts and strengths. Following the January meeting of

the 5 churches we agreed to pray for each other as we continued

to form new relationships and find ways where we could

collaborate. One suggestion was a young couples group and

activities led by Immanuel Lutheran.

Back to First Lutheran, in late January, 2018 it was clear to the

Council that our giving would not support our current staffing

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levels, so I contacted Joe Lees to come to the Council meeting to

explore what our options were and more immediate possibilities for

shared staff. Joe explained the multipoint options of more than one

congregation sharing pastors. This type of sharing was common place in

the US long ago and it is still common in many parts of the world. Joe

talked about: 1) Ecumenical Shared Ministry where different

denominations share ministry for example the Together With Friends

summer program; 2) where same denomination congregations sharing

ministry and not staff, which we are now doing with the Maple Syrup

Ministry and Peace Lutheran. and 3) where congregations share staff

and enter into shared ministry agreements.

How do we continue to explore Shared Ministry?

We as a church notice and seize any opportunity to communicate,

coordinate and cooperate with others and other churches. It will take

all of us together to move forward with any change and I believe that

our group of 5 churches will be a more powerful and sustainable church

together rather than apart.

I witnessed this power when our youth group and adults met with

Peace Lutheran youth and adults in Dresser last Sunday at our annual

Maple Syrup Ministry Commitment meeting. There were over 80 of us

at that meeting. There was the excitement of new friends, relationships

being formed and the knowledge that we are not in this alone. I felt a

new chapter beginning in the Maple Syrup ministry.

I will continue to communicate any additional information that I have go

forward, with shared ministry. I would invite you to ask PMK, Michelle

Lynch or myself about shared ministry as well.

For the Council

Don Hansen,

8

Meeting Agenda

Church Council of First Evangelical Lutheran Church February 11, 2018, 10:30am to 12pm

“To worship God as an intergenerational community, learning God’s Word,

and building lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.”

Members Present: Joe Landgreen, Duane Olson, Pastor Mary Kaye, Don Hansen, Wendy Szczepanski, Rose Anderson, Members Absent: Gayle Langer Guests: Joe Lees St. Paul Area Synod A. Opening Prayer– PMK B. Sharing story-Where you have seen God working in your life this

month. C. Finance Report- Joe, PMK made motion to move the Klinke

bequest funds from Memorials to General. Duane, seconded, motion carried

There was conversation regarding giving income less than budgeted expenses. Salary reductions must be made to corresponding giving levels. Don presented a draft budget for the

2018/2019 year that totaled 144,000, down about $20,000 from the current year.

Joe made a motion to reduce PMK’s salary by another 15% of current levels (which is 20% for the year) and Michelle Lynch’s salary by 20% when the Klinke bequest reaches $4500 balance. Rose seconded. Motion carried

D. President’s Report—Don Joe Lees, St. Paul Area Synod was in attendance- There was conversation regarding current financial options and possibilities for First Lutheran—How do we change the glide path of our church attendance and mission. Tithing is giving first fruits. We need to discover Gods promises and stewardship is about where your heart is. One needs to experience it. We as a church need to know our purpose. God is getting our attention to do something important. Joe talked about shared ministry, and we need to do something now with shared ministry. Joe passed out the ministry matrix to the Council. We as a council must take the lead on shared ministry to make this work. Don will update the congregation with a verbal and newsletter article.

11

Meeting Minutes Continued…… E. Pastor Report—PMK - Lodge book study at 10 total, going well.

Opportunities to minister in this area is large, although there is minimal time available to expand, Weekly visits continues.

F. Worship Committee report—PMK, All Lenten services are set.

Ecumenical Good Friday service planned.

G. Property Committee—Joe, Don. This past week the State inspector for elevator was here for the first time since it was installed in 1995. He checked it and found a few minor issues, and he shut power off and made the elevator stop below the basement floor which is not good. I called Access Lifts and they had a cancellation for service so they came out yesterday. He double checked the elevator and could not duplicate what the inspector did. Access Lifts rechecked everything on the elevator and took care of all the other small items on the inspector s list and gave our elevator a clean bill of health. The inspector did say we need to keep the machine room doorway clear of boxes and not have the key hanging out side the door. Also if anyone gets stuck in it Minnesota requires that only authorized people work to get them out. That would be the fire department or Access Lifts for Liability issues.

Scandia heating came out and checked the boiler in the addition and the 3 furnaces behind the kitchen. Everything checked out fine. They will be back in the spring to clean the boiler and this week to drop in new filters in the furnace by the kitchen. Their business cards and contact information are posted on the wall by Angie's desk and on the furnace and elevator in case of emergency or repairs if needed.

H. Lutheran Companions Fund—PMK talked to Carol, Carol did have

ideas on the designated the funds. Decisions regarding designation of funds will be deferred until May when all Lutheran Companions can meet.

I. Memorial Committee—Duane - Clarified the Kathleen and Orville

Johnson gift for the New Creations award. J. Motion to adjourn, Wendy; Rose motion carried.

10

Our church was blessed by the music of the

U of W River Falls Alumni Choir on Sunday,

February 18th. Our own Michelle Lynch was a

featured vocalist along with many other fine vocalists

from the choir.

A special thank you to Natalie Landgreen for

being instrumental in getting this Alumni Choir, of

which she is a member, here for a performance.

There were people here from Eau Claire, Chippewa

Falls, Cadotte, St. Paul, Centuria and many more

cities. They all enjoyed this fabulous choir! Our

community came here for this fine concert, thank you

to all who attended!

9

Please send submissions to: parishc@tflutheran.org

Mission Statement

The mission of FELC is to worship God as an intergenerational community, to learn God’s

Word, and to build lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.

(Mission Statement approved 2017)

2017-2018

Council/Officers: Don Hansen—President

Duane Olson—Vice President

Joe Landgreen—Treasurer

Gayle Langer —Secretary

Wendy Szczepanski

Rose Anderson

Pastor Mary Kaye Ashley

Financial Secretary

Jerry Rhoads

Church Office 651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.org

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1