January 2012

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ASK THE PASTOR

Q: What is the meaning of the stole and why don’t I always wear mine?

A:  The symbolism of the stole has varied over time, but at its root is that it is a colored cloth that marks the principle leader of the assembly.   The origins of the stole seem to stem from the local leaders in the ancient Roman Empire.  They would wear cloth markers that were given to them as leaders.  The stole gained additional meaning for Christians, though.  Early on, it was regarded like a prayer shawl of the Jews.  Sometimes it was thought of as a towel of service like Jesus wore when he washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:4).  It has also been thought of as the yoke that is, paradoxically, “easy to carry” (Matthew 11:29-30).   In any case, it sets the leader apart but it does not separate them from the rest of the assembly.  We are all baptized with one baptism and called to live the same Christ-centered life.  The stole marks the one who is set apart and trained to equip those gathered to live that life (Ephesians 4:11).

            There is something in today’s culture that has caused me to not wear the stole at times—accessibility. Many have told me that they feel I am much more approachable without the stole. In today’s culture, there is already a hesitancy to approach the church and its leaders. While it is fine to set leaders apart, we certainly don’t need any further barriers.  So there is a tension as to wearing it or not.  I find a way of upholding both sides of this tension is by wearing it at times but not all the time.  There are various reasons for when I wear it and when I don’t, but the general rule that I try to accomplish is to maintain the importance of being set apart, while at the same time maintain an accessibility among God’s people and those seeking the church.

In Christ’s mission,

Pastor Matt

Ask the Pastor

Thank you to all who have submitted questions so far.  Next month’s question is on missions in the ELCA today.  I am in need of more questions beyond that, so please keep them coming.

January Lay Ministry Schedule

January Altar Guild: Paula Lumsden and Joan Uhlman

January Counters: Jim Lumsden, Rob Howell, Ron Egelseer

Contemporary Worship

Our Praise worship services will continue with the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m.  Get the word out, pray for us, and join us!

Caller Articles

Articles for the Caller should be sent to Kathy Larson at her email address - kathy.larson3@gmail.com 

January Anniversaries

14   Matthew and Laura Lee                                 

23   Marilyn and David Carlson

28   Jon and Carol Evert

January Birthdays

1          Jake Homulos

1          Elizabeth Schlehlein

2          Melissa Meier

2          Renee Solveson

2          Debra Uhlman

2          Kelsey Uhlman

4          Lawrence Rolefson

5          RaeAnn Eggert

7          Zachary Brewer

7          Logan DeBack

9          Caroline Kraemer

10        Rachel Roth

10        Keya Schmitt

11        Jennifer Guenther

11        Kaeden Piller

11        Vicky St.George

12        Sandra Gannon

13        Brandon St.George

15        Taylor Slade

16        Madelyn Schutze

19        Makensie Christel

20        Denise Cairns

20        Anne Hautala

21        Annah Guenther

21        Catherine Lee

22        Andrew Schlehlein

25        Mary Buth

27        Gerald Bohen

27        Jeff Cowell

28        Earl Christenson

29        Jon Evert

29        John Reed

Lutefisk Dinner

THANK YOU to everyone! Thank YOU for your many donations of time, cookies, baked goods, etc., that altogether created  a great Lutefisk Dinner experience for all.

SPA Day and Luncheon

Thank you friends and members of St. Olaf.  

You are SPECIAL!

Women of Grace invite you to enjoy a SPA day at St. Olaf.

S - Spiritual Wellness

P - Physical Health

A - Attitude of Thanksgiving

Saturday, Jan 21 10:45

Speakers, Lunch, Activities, Pampering, Gifts

Please RSVP by January 10, 2012

   Cindy Schlieve  920-474-7134

   Elaine Monis     920-474-4092

Outdoor Sign Project meeting.

Anyone interested in working to develop an outdoor informational sign for the church are invited to attend the Outreach Committee meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:00pm in the library. If you are unable to attend, but have information or ideas to share with the committee, please contact Mary Hershoff - 630-441-8995.

Music & Worship Committee

The Music and Worship Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month, January 19^th.  Many thanks to all who participated in the Christmas Cantata – it was a great success thanks to your efforts!

Joyous Light                  
On the third weekend of every month, the worshippers attending the Saturday evening service will have the opportunity to participate in something very special.  Join us for our evening prayer service called "Joyous Light" written by Ray Makeever.  Ray is a graduate of Luther Seminary and a well-known musician.  This worship service is a beautiful way to center ourselves and celebrate God's Light in our life and in our world. 

Saturday Night Movie

Our movie in January will be "The Blind Side" (2009 - PG-13) starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quniton Aaron as Michael Oher. Based on a true story of a family's life-changing decision to help a struggling boy. Join us on Saturday, January 21 at 6:30pm for this academy award winning movie - worth seeing again and again! Bring a friend - we'll bring the popcorn and pop.

St Olaf Scrip

Now that Christmas has come and gone, please don’t forget about our Scrip program.  Do you eat?  Do you go shopping?  Do you put gas in your car?  If you do any of these things, then you can benefit our church by using the Scrip program. We carry an inventory of the most popular cards so you can just pick them up at church.  If you want some of the others, please fill out an order form. 

Financial Secretary

Anyone interested in filling the position of St. Olaf's Financial Secretary should contact Roger Johnson at 920-474-3168 or farmstone@aol.com.

Our special thanks to Denise Cairns for her many years of service in this capacity and wish her well in her future endeavors.

Stewards Calendar

The 2012 St. Olaf's Stewards calendar is on the church bulletin board.  If you wish to participate in this program of greeting, ushering, etc. for church services and are not on one of the monthly lists, contact Roger Johnson 920-474-3168 or farmstone@aol.com.

New Offering Envelopes

Please remember to pick up your new Offering Envelopes from the table at the church’s entrance; envelopes will no longer be mailed to you.   Do not use any 2011 envelopes, since you have a new number beginning in 2012.

Simply Giving

St. Olaf’s has an electronic funds transfer program called Simply Giving that can be set up to automatically debit your checking account or charged to your Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card.  Either way, Simply Giving is a great tool to help you stay on track with your stewardship intentions.  Sign-up is easy.  There are forms at the usher’s table and in the office.

Suggestions and Ideas are welcome

The leadership team welcomes suggestions and ideas from the congregation.  It is committed to responding to the submitter and either seeking a way to act on the idea, keep it on file for future action, or explain to the submitter why it can not be accepted.  Remember though that it takes people to move ideas forward.  Submit to Ron Egelseer, June Sumnicht, Roger Johnson, or Mark Larson.

St. Olaf Sunday School Presents

REBEKAH

January 8-29

We’re going to be looking at a character in the Bible who doesn’t get a whole lot of attention…or if she does, it’s usually a little more on the negative side as she is trying to get her favorite son Jacob to get Isaac’s blessing instead of the eldest son Esau.  However, the story of Rebekah is part of the story of God’s promise that Abraham’s descendants would be a great nation and would possess the land of Canaan. 

            Although God does not appear as an active character in Genesis 24, this story continually refers to the idea that God is guiding the events.  Abraham clearly believed that God would have a hand in the selection of a wife for his son Isaac.  The servant who is sent to find this wife frequently prayed to God for guidance and offered thanksgiving when the prayers were answered (quite quickly, I might add!).  Rebekah’s family also acknowledged the events of this story must have come from God. 

We will learn through this search for a wife that God chooses each and every one of us.  We will also focus on showing hospitality to those around us.  Showing kindness to others is a way of sharing God’s love.  We’ll also see how God gives us many opportunities to serve, and that we can respond to these opportunities instead of ignoring them.  No matter what God calls us to do, we can trust that God will be with us.  Rebekah is a wonderful example for us to learn about! 

Sunday School Classes

• In the Oasis Café we will be learning how to show hospitality like Rebekah did. 
• In Colors of Faith we will learn that we are chosen specifically by God and we have many opportunities to serve, even when we least expect it. 
• In Creation Exploration we will focus on water since that is what Rebekah served. 
• In Jammin’ with Jesus we will re-enact some of the things Rebekah did to show hospitality to the newcomer, but we’ll do it in a game!

Our focus verse:

When a young woman comes out to get water, I will ask her to give me a drink of water from her jar.

Genesis 24:43

TAKING FAITH HOME

The Gift of Church Family

By Marilyn Sharpe (TYFI.org)

         In a world addicted to busyness, people are frazzled, stressed, burned out, and exhausted. We are out of breath, panting to catch up, racing to do, do, do. Our society seems to be experiencing an epidemic of “too busy.”

         So often, when we ask a friend or acquaintance, “How are you?” the response is, “Oh, I am so busy!” Can you remember a time when you heard, “I am not quite busy enough. I’ve got some spare time, and I am trying to figure out how to fill it.”

         Why this addition to busyness? If I am overly busy, it really isn’t a complaint, but bragging rights. It declares, “I am really important. The earth probably would not rotate on its axis if I slowed down or stopped.” And so we work too many hours, work out, volunteer, take classes, help others, enhance our resumes. All good things, but too much. And, there is a price to be paid.

         What’s the price and who pays it? In my life, three pay big time. First, it is my family, the ones I love most in the world. They get me, depleted by all that busyness, exhausted, impatient, and crabby. Second, it is my body – I don’t feed it well enough or rest it well enough or move it enough. I am perpetually flirting with getting sick - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Third, it is my relationship with God. I race past the God who created, redeems, and loves me, without pausing for those still, replenishing times that fill me up to serve God’s world. I have forgotten God’s example, God’s commandment, and God’s invitation to re-creation in observing the Sabbath – resting in God’s presence, recapturing the natural, healing, restoring rhythms of a life well lived. I don’t even say, “thank you” for all God’s goodness. I don’t listen for God’s living Word for me today.

         Perhaps worst of all, I am modeling this crazy busyness to the children and grandchildren I love. It is contagious, and I don’t want those beloveds to “catch” it. We trade busyness for knowing one another, for time to daydream and create, to be present with one another.       Family time is often the first casualty of busyness. With our children, we often make them busy to keep them amused and entertained, to enrich their learning, and to build a college resume. But, they are losing relational skills, the sense of belonging and connection with others who know and love them.

         If you, like most of the rest of us, are already overly busy, what is to be done?

·   Take a look at what currently fills your time.

·   Decide what you will continue to do.

·   Decide what you will no longer do, and bow out as gracefully as possible.

·   Do this “time audit” regularly.

·   Talk as a family about what you value and how what you do with your time reflects those values. Teach your children to budget and spend their time as carefully as their money.

·   Place family time and Sabbath time on your calendar ... and protect it. Now, prepare to enjoy and savor your time together. It is God’s good gift to you.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Create a regular family time (daily, weekly, annually) and put it on the calendar.

2. As a family, decide what are your very favorite times together ... and put them on the calendar.

3. Take a look at the calendar and at all the things that are already on it. What are the items that routinely interfere with family time? Make a list. Evaluate. Are they worth it? If not, how will you bow out?

4. Thinking about how your family lives the Four Keys – caring conversations, devotions, rituals and traditions, and service. Which one is the hardest one to fit into your schedule? What could you do to build in time for that key faith practice for your family?

5. Plan Sabbath time, time just to be still, to be present with God, to be present with one another, with no agenda, other than savoring life together.