The Commentator - Razor Planet

“We bring the hope we share in Christ to all!” APRIL 2015 VOLUME 59—ISSUE 4

The

April 1 Preschool Board Meeting 4:15PM

April 2 First Communion 7:00 PM/Maundy Thurs-day Worship Service

April 3 Men’s Square @ 6:30AM/No Preschool Good Friday Worship Service 7:00 PM

April 5 Easter Sunday/Easter Breakfast/Easter Egg Hunt

April 6 Church Office CLOSED/No Preschool/ Family Promise Training/Property Committee 7PM

April 8 Friendship Club 11:30AM/Wonderful Wednesday 6PM

April 11 Storage Clean Up Day 9:00 AM /WELCA Spring Luncheon 11:00 AM

April 12 Christikon Truck Auction Public Viewing

April 13 No Preschool

April 14 Evangelism Committee 6:30PM Education Committee 7PM

April 15 Commentator Deadline

April 16 Hope Circle 9:30AM

April 21 Council Meeting 7PM

April 24 Family Movie Night 6:15PM

April 25 Youth Praise Band Rehearsal 10AM

April 26 Confirmation Sunday

April 27 Marvelous Monday 6PM

April 29 Prayer Shawl Meeting 1PM

April 6, 13, 20 Active Living 6:30PM

April 1, 15, 22, 29 Bible Study 10AM

Important Dates in April

Commentator

Holy Week Schedule:

Thursday April 2, 2015

Maundy Thursday Service and First Communion at 7 PM

Friday, April 3, 2015

Good Friday Service at 8:00 PM

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter Sunrise Service at the Little White Church at 6:30 AM

Easter Breakfast from 7:30 - 10:15 AM

Easter Service at 8:00 and 10:30 AM

Easter Egg Hunt following the 10:30 AM service.

The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 2

It was about six years ago on a beautiful Minnesota spring day. My kids got off

the bus and arrived at home… and didn’t want to come indoors. Same thing with the

gaggle of neighborhood kids flocking to our front yard. The thought of watching TV

or playing a video game or whatever else that would keep them indoors didn’t enter

their mind. A claim needed to be made upon the warm breeze, radiant sunshine, and

fresh spring air. The garage door flew open. Out came the bikes, balls, scooters,

Frisbees, jump ropes… and the kites.

Why bother making the half-block walk to the large open field? Why not just fly

them in the back yard… over the house… between the trees… amid the branches and

limbs and snags? You got it, in short order, there was a beautiful kite – decorating a

tree.

Delight and danger. Joy and jeopardy. Pleasure and peril.

Here is the story of Holy Week. This is the power of God’s great risk of

becoming seen and known among us in the person of Jesus Christ. The thought of

God retreating to the heavenly indoors, remaining remotely distant, didn’t enter God’s

mind. There’s too much beauty in this world that is to be claimed – there’s something

redeemable about everything in this creation. The long winter of sin that separated

God and humanity needed to end – so God had entered our experience. Taken on

flesh. Walked amidst us. But with that comes danger, peril, jeopardy. It was a risk that

left God snagged upon a tree.

So there I was in the back yard… staring up at a branch 20 feet off the

ground. With the kids gathered around… remorseful, helpless, regretful. Knowing that

it was their recklessness and foolishness that got the kite entangled. In my infinite,

fatherly wisdom, I said, “What goes up, will eventually come down.”

In God’s Fatherly wisdom, Holy Week is not the last word. Our sin and guilt that

got Christ hung upon the tree has a joyous conclusion. The last Word is that the cross

is bare – He is Risen. Our sin and guilt is removed! God continues to live among us so

that we can fully engage the beauty of this creation – and those people of this

creation.

Share the Good News!

Peace in Christ, Pastor Darren Paulson


Prayers for Members of our Congregation

Pray for blessings, health, safety and general well-being of these members of Atonement. Give

thanks for all who are workers with us in the mission we share.

April 5: Nikki Olson, Hanna, Erik Gunnels; Mysti Opie, Cale, Kimber Nafts; Kathleen

Opperud; Darcy, Brooklyn, & Rylee Ostermiller; Nathan & Jeannette Owen

April 12: Victoria Pardis; Dorothy Parnell; Brad & Sheila Partyka; Don Partyka; Cal & Rane Paulson;

Darren, Trudi, Maddy & Noah Paulson

April 19: Ben & Patricia Pederson; Gwynn Pederson; Lora Pederson; Scott, Paula, Benjamin & Bailey

Pederson; Rick & Joni Pentland

April 26: Tom Peterman; Susan Peters; Ron, Rebecca, Archer, Elizabeth & Danielle Picchioni; De`el

Pierce, Cheyenne Bade, Bobby, Jamal Hilson; Louis, Kim, Angie & Charlie Plaggemeyer

Free Estate Planning Seminars

April 14 & 16 11AM to Noon

Little White Church

1260 Sierra Granda

Light lunch to follow

Attend one or both of these important sessions

and gain valuable knowledge on wills, power of

attorney, financial planning, etc.

Each seminar will present different material and

will be led by attorneys from the law firm of

Moulton Bellingham.

Seating is limited, so RSVP by calling

Vivian at 655-7700.

The Furnishings/Decoration Committee

has been working on decorating our church

and finding the best home for various decor/

furniture. We hope everyone is enjoying the

artwork. Please do not remove or move

items. Please contact the church office.

Congratulations to the

Confirmation Students of 2015!

The entire Atonement congregation sends

to each of you our blessings and continued

prayers and support as you confirm your

faith in the Lutheran Church.

A reception will be held in your honor on

Sunday, April 26th at 9:15 AM followed by

the Confirmation Service during the

10:30 AM Worship Service.

Deyonte

Dixon

Jo

LaVe`

Trenay

Rinebarger

Zack

Schacht

Sam

Willoughby


Giving Our Time & Talents to God - Page 1

Acolytes

8:00AM 10:30AM

April 5: Sam Willoughby Race Nugent

April 12: Tailey Leatherberry Amands King

April 19: Erica Severson Deyonte Dixon

April 26: Ben Johnston Noah Paulson

Sharing Flowers for Worship

April 5: Corlis Roedocker

April 12: Janice VanAlstine

April 19: Dorothy Parnell

April 26: Vivian & Jack Beals

The 2015 Flower Chart is on the table outside

the office at the back of the sanctuary. Cost is

$25.00 per Sunday for two bouquets given in

honor or memory of a loved one.

Van Drivers

April 5: Kyle Johnston

April 12: Todd Koepp

April 19: Marlon & Julie

Leno

April 26: Kyle Johnston

Drivers

Marlon & Julie Leno

248-5359

Kyle Johnston

325-1235

Todd Koepp

256-1569

Hospital Visitation

April ~ Betty Jo Furstenberg

May ~ Erin Koepp

Communion Preparers

April 5 ~ Bill & Judy Belden

April 12 ~ Tammy Johnston

April 19 ~ Mark & Shirley Jennings

April 26 ~ Trudi Paulson

Communion Bread April ~ Betty Jo Furstenberg

May ~ Vicki Evans

Lectors

April 5: 8:00AM - Roger Young

10:30AM - Trudi Paulson

April 12: 8:00AM - Pat Zellar

10:30AM - Randy Shelton

April 19: 8:00AM - Judy Lawrence

10:30AM - Steve Slater

April 26: 8:00AM - Bertha Olsen

10:30AM - Shaun Severson

Readings will be sent out the

week before you are scheduled to lector.

April:

Canned Soup

Coffee Hour

Youth


8:00 AM Ushers

April 5: Clarence Robinson; John and Bertha

Olsen, Bette Wolff

April 12: Clarence Robinson; George & Shirley DeMars

Debbie Goodheart;

April 19: Clarence Robinson; Del & Rose Steiner

Karen Underwood

April 26: Mike & Janet Rubich; Dale Molyneaux Roxanne Cope

10:30 AM Ushers

April 5: Todd & Erin Koepp; Jesse & Sandi Gonzales,

Mark & Shirley Jennings

April 12: Kyle, Ben & Hailey Johnston;

Dave Mangels

April 19: Kelly & Linda Michaelis;

Donna Newell, Joyce Nitschke

April 26: Steve & Donna Slater; Joan Siemers, Tyler Westrope

Bolded names indicate Head Usher(s)


Giving Our Time & Talents to God - Page 2

2015 Atonement Lutheran Church Council

Teague Westrope, President 860-7864

Mike Klein, Vice President 896-1798

Shellie Ehrmantraut, Secretary 254-7131

Lance King, Treasurer 656-1183

Rane Paulson 248-4080

Eddy Baker 245-6809

Vivian Beals 248-7930

Jeanne Heine 256-3898

Kim Plaggemeyer 860-0365

Jesse Gonzalez 698-7709

Butch Morse (Alternate) 534-4036

David Hull (Youth Representative) 245-6414

Cantors

April 5: Gary Dunmeyer

April 12: Becky Lujan Debbie Heyd

April 19: Terri Porisch

April 26: Marilyn Franklin

The Love Offering for

April~ Nation Youth

Gathering

Love Offering envelopes are located on the

tables in the common area.

Worship Assistants

April 5: 8:00 AM - Mike Rubich 10:30 AM - Randy Shelton

April 12: 8:00 AM - Rose Steiner 10:30 AM - Todd Koepp

April 19: 8:00 AM - Pat Zellar 10:30 AM - Linda Lange

April 26: 8:00 AM - Bill Belden 10:30 AM - Vivian Beals


JOY Bible Study Wednesday mornings @ 6:30AM at Montana

Jacks at 520 Hansen Lane. For information, con-

tact Tina Williams at [email protected] or at

work at 259-0692.

Hope Circle

Hope Circle will meet on April 16, 2015

at 9:30 AM at Atonement Lutheran.

Hope Circle is a bible study that meets once

a month. For more information,

call Bette Wolff at

245-5054.

Friendship Club

April 8 @ 11:30 AM

If you have requested that

someone be added to the prayer chain,

please keep us up-to-date with their

progress so that we can update the

mailing accordingly!

Atonement Lutheran Preschool’s Blessed Beginnings

Family Movie Night.

Open to both our congregation as well as our community.

Please join us in the Sanctuary on the last Friday of every month at 6:15PM.

Free-will donations will be accepted. All children must be accompanied by an adult

All ages are welcome. See you there!

Wednesday Adult Bible Study

~ Jonah ~

Join us every weekly at 10:00 AM

Lead by Pastor Darren

Worship Committee will be held at

Fuddruckers on May 3rd at 12PM! Come one, Come all!

Marvelous Monday & Wonderful Wednesday

We meet for fellowship and the evening meal at a

Heights restaurant on the 2nd Wednesday and

the 4th Monday of each month.

Wonderful Wednesday -

April 8th at Applebee’s 6:00 PM

Marvelous Monday -

April 27th at Guadalajara 6:00 PM

Commentator Deadline

Please have articles and submissions to the

church office by the 15th of each month

[email protected]

Men’s Square

All men are invited to join us on the first

Friday of every month for Breakfast and

fellowship at 6:30 AM

Sunday Adult Education

Meets at 9:15 am in the large classroom

Keep a look out for topics to be discussed in the

weekly!

Last day of Sunday School is May 17th!


Storage Room Clean-Up Day April 11th The Property Committee is planning a

Storage Room Clean Up Day on April 11th at

9AM. The storage area upstairs has become

quite cluttered. Items will be inspected for

usefulness. Those items that get routinely

used will remain in storage. Those items

donated, but seldom or never used are

available to take back. Items that go

unclaimed will be offered up in the Youth

Garage Sale planned for early May. If you

have made donations in the past and do not

see them displayed, please make every effort

to join us and claim them. The goal of the

day is to rearrange storage, clean up the area

upstairs, and dispose of unused items.

Youth Ministry Garage Sale

Saturday, May 2, 2015 8:00 AM to ? Atonement

Lutheran Youth Ministry is hosting a Garage Sale

the first weekend of May. They are seeking items to

be donated for this fundraiser. On Friday, May 1st

they will be available all day at the church for do-

nation drop off and also if you have larger items

such as furniture and appliances they will to come

to your home to pick up those items. No Clothing

donations, Please! Thank you for your continued

support of our youth! If you have any questions

please contact Lisa Hammond at 861-5285.

BUS ATTENANTS

Christikon is looking for Bus Attendants for

the 2015 season. ‘Young’ or ‘older’, male or

female, we want you!

You can go on one trip or more.

It pays $60 per trip. Please contact Kerry in the

Christikon office at 406-656-1969 or

email: [email protected] if you are in-

Red Cross Blood Drive

Wednesday, May 20 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.

For details contact June Canfield at 690-7212

Family Promise of Yellowstone Valley

Volunteer Appreciation Social

Tuesday, April 14th at 6:00 PM at the American

Lutheran Church , 5 Lewis Avenue for more infor-

mation please call Lisa Donnot at 294-7432

The Institute for Peace Studies' Annual

SPRING FLING INTERNATIONAL DINNER

April 17th ~ 5:30pm ~ Mayflower Congregation-

al Church (Corner of Rehberg & Poly)

Adults $10 ~ Students thru College $8 ~ Kids 5 &

under FREE!

Dine on scrumptious cuisine from around the

world!

Treat your ears to sensational music!

Test your luck with our fabulous raffle!

Tickets available at the door, so bring a friend or

bring the family!

Proceeds support Peace Studies' children's programs!

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd

We are excited to present Peter Enns, author of

the new book,

“The Bible Tells Me So--Why Defending Scrip-

ture Has Made Us Unable to Read It”.

April 24th -25th, Three sessions;

Friday 7:00 -8:30 PM, Saturday 10:30 AM-12PM,

2 PM-3:30 PM.

Tickets are $20/person which includes all three

sessions and light refreshments. Tickets are avail-

able at the church office at 1108 24th St W,

Billings MT. Tickets will be on a first come basis.

Sorry, no holds or reservations. Please call the

church office @ 656-1080 with any questions.

Atonement Staff

Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Darren Paulson Organist . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . Gwynn Pederson Music Coordinator . . . . . . . . . . . . Kristin La Ve’ Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Rupe

Atonement Lutheran Church

406-245-7004 Fax: 406-245-6951

www.atonementbillings.org

[email protected] [email protected]

[email protected]

Non Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Billings, MT

Permit #904 1290 Sierra Granda Blvd.

Billings, MT - 59105 Return Service Requested

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The Commentator - Razor Planet