The St. Olaf Caller

June 2009

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From the Desk of Pastor Matt

“When Jesus saw the crowd running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit, ‘You deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said, ‘I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.’ The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out… After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’”   (Mark 9:26-29)

 Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don’t even ask."

She put him up in the cart while she wheeled down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. He saw the chocolate chip cookies, stood up in the seat and said, “Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you not even to ask. You’re not going to get any at all.” So he sat back down.  They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle. “Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you that you can’t have any.  Now sit down and be quiet.”

Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this may be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart and shouted in his loudest voice, “In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?” And everybody around just laughed. Some even applauded. And, according to Paul Harvey, due to the generosity of the other shoppers, the little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies.

            Desperate situations call for desperate actions.  Whether it’s getting chocolate chip cookies or casting out an evil spirit, we find ourselves with our backs to the wall from time to time. What do we do? Where do we turn? Who can possible help us out of this fix? Both Jesus and the three-year-old boy give us some insight during such times—PRAY! 

            Yet things aren’t always that simple, are they? There is also a lot of guilt associated with prayer life.  Sometime it seems as though the only times we do pray is when things aren’t going right. That’s when guilt begins to take its death grip. Thoughts begin streaming across our minds as that grip clinches even tighter: “You only pray when you are in trouble, what kind of Christian are you?”  “Didn’t St. Paul write that we are to pray without ceasing?” “Why should God answer your prayers?” “And if he does, it can only be an act of charity.” Suddenly, you feel more like an outcast, than one of God’s own children.

            That seems to be what is going on with the disciples in our reading.  Their question has that same feel to it.  The disciples waited until they could talk to Jesus privately, then asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”   While Jesus was away this man brought his son to them so that the disciples might heal him.  And trying as hard as they might, they failed. This is not the same as what happened before.  Earlier in Mark’s Gospel Jesus sent them out and they healed many and cast out all kinds of demons, and they came back with much confidence in their own abilities.  But now with their repeated failures, their confidence suddenly vanishes.  “What happened?”  “I thought we were now close to God and great in our abilities?”  “Lord, why couldn’t we drive it out?”

            Jesus’ answer is quite simple, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”  Prayer is one of the ways we are connected to God.  Through prayer we talk to God…spill all things over to God.  Through prayer we turn all things, both good and bad, back over to the one who creates and sustains all things.  Through prayer we stay connected to the God of the heavens and the earth.  We are to pray without ceasing, because to sever this connection means to try to go it alone wit out the one who has all power and gives and renews all life.  That was the disciples’ problem.  They were trying to cast out the evil spirit themselves, and they failed utterly.  Jesus simply reminds them, and us, to pray…to talk to God.  After all, God had given us prayer as a gift for this purpose, and promises to listen to all prayers.  And who knows what will happen in response.  You might just get a miracle, or maybe you will get a whole bunch of chocolate chip cookies.

            God’s Peace, 

            Pastor Matt

St. Olaf’s Weight Loss Challenge

Join us in the St. Olaf’s Weight Loss Challenge. The kickoff was May 9^th and we are meeting ever other Saturday at 9:00 a.m.   You can join anytime and there is room on all teams.   

We will plan some kind of activity on the days of weigh ins such as a hike, guest speaker, or have people share their ideas on diet, exercise, or latest research.

 Upcoming meeting dates are June 6^th and 20^th.  Hope to see you there.

Wednesday Summer Worship

Do you travel over the weekends during the summer?  Do you like a simple half hour to forty minute service?  This summer, in conjunction with Zion Lutheran in Ashippun and Cross Lutheran in Ixonia, we will have Wednesday evening services at 7:00 p.m. —each church will host a Wednesday and offering envelopes will be sent to their respected church.  The service will be held each Wednesday beginning June 24^th at the Ashippun Sportsmen’s Club which is located at W2629 Elm Street in Ashippun (just across from the Fireman’s Park).  Everyone is invited to join us for a fun, casual service. 

Directions from St. Olaf:  Go west on Hwy O to Hwy 67.  Take a left on 67 then take a right after the railroad tracks on Hwy O.  Take a left on Wood St .  Cross Elm St. into The Sportmen’s Club entrance.

Fourth of July

The Fourth falls on a Saturday this year which brings a conflict between fireworks and festivities and our Worship service.  In light of our added Wednesday services for those who are unable to worship on the weekend, we are canceling our Saturday service.  You can also join us on Sunday, July 5^th, which will focus on Independence Day in light of our mission in Christ.

June Anniversaries

4     Richard and Janet Jahnke                               
5     George and Elaine Monis                                            
9     Michael and Janet Reitz                                 
13   Bruce and Donna Schell                                 
21   Jeffrey and Mary Millikin                               
22   Carmen and Dean DeBack                            
23   John and Sherri Krueger                                
23   Allen and Patricia Warnecke                          
24   Thomas and JoAnn Badovski                         
24   Daniel and Sandra Gannon                             
25   Donald and Sandra Henninger                        
25   Bernie and Deborah Krahn                            
29   Michael and Cindy Stuettgen                          

June Birthdays

  1      Alek Anderson
  4      June Sumnicht
  6      Lorraine Christenson, Walter Friedl, Bernie Krahn
  7      Todd Birkel
  9      John Krueger
  11    Ann Marie Kraemer, Bernice Wiser
  13    Duane Schuett
  15    Mark Christenson, Lori Dauss, Dick Feutz
  16    Noah Christel
  17    Savage Millikin, Codey Stephan
  18    Jerrold Green, Kaitlyn St.George
  19    Adelaide Krasemann, Nicholas Reitz
  20    Lucy Braunschweig, Richard Jahnke
  21    June Wolf
  22    Carlie DeBack, James Monnahan, Sherry Pietila
  23    Matthew Cadena, Joshua Homulos
  24    Elaine Mason
  25    Mary Davy, Elaine Monis
  28    Andrew Christenson, Jeremy Davy
  29    Dana Henninger, Vickie Larsen, Madeline Millikin
  30    Mark Cadena, Rebecca Christenson

Cemetery Plots Available

The church has two cemetery plots for sale in Wisconsin Memorial Park on West Capitol Drive in Brookfield .  The gravesites are $1695 each and are in a valued part of the park which is almost filled. If you or someone you know is interested in these plots, please call the church office.

June Lay Ministry Schedule

 Altar Guild: Liz Laack
Counters:  Mark & Linda Fredrick and Al & Pat Warnecke
For questions regarding the following, please call:
Acolytes:   Robyn Cowell 262-673-9693
Assisting Ministers: Gwen Downing 262-673-6717

Directories Available Soon

We are working on updating our address/telephone directories and would like to have available by June 14^th.  If you have discontinued your land line and just have a cell phone or have moved recently, please contact the office with your new contact information.   You can leave a note or send an email to secretary@st-olaf.org.

Serving at St. Ben's

On Tuesday, June 16^th, we will be serving the meal at St. Ben's in Milwaukee .  We need lots of food and lots of help to make this project successful.   We need help chopping vegetables on Monday, June 15^th and then preparing the stew on Tuesday morning and going to St. Ben's to serve later that day.   Please see the sign-up sheet on the kiosk to donate food or to sign up to help. Call Laura Lee with any questions. 

Blood Drive at St. Olaf

Sign up to donate blood and help save a life on Monday, June 29^th from 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.  There is a sign up sheet at church or visit www.bcw.edu/stolaf.

Taking Faith Home

Give Them a Childhood
By Marilyn Sharpe (TYFI.org)

            A friend called to say that her 11 year old daughter was excelling … in everything! Her piano teacher wanted her home schooled so that she would have eight hours a day to devote to practicing piano; then the talented child could begin to perform around the country and, quite possibly, around the world. Her ballet teacher encouraged mother and daughter to relocate, leaving the father and five siblings behind, to perform with an internationally acclaimed ballet school in New York City . The girl’s English teacher urged enrolling her in an East Coast college’s residential summer writing program, to hone already exceptional writing skills. What’s a parent to do?

A second grader called her favorite school friend to invite her over to play. After trying every day that week, the friend said she’d have her mother call to arrange it. The mother of the busy second grader shared that her daughter was very involved with drama, both classes and performance, and did not have any day of any week available to play. What’s a parent to do?

A college friend, pregnant with her first child, called, concerned, to recount a conversation with another parent that morning. Discovering that the birth was only three months away, the new friend enquired about where the baby was enrolled for nursery school. “What?” my friend laughed. “He’s not even born yet.” “Oh, no,” the new friend responded. “Then it is too late. And if he isn’t enrolled at the right preschool, he’ll never get into the right prep school, and he won’t be able to go to Harvard!” My friend was anxious that she had already

ruined her child’s chance for a fulfilling life. What’s a parent to do?

We live in a society that values excellence and performance and accomplishment. That’s not bad. But what is happening in all three of these scenarios (real ones, I might add)? In each, children, young children are being tracked for high performance and accomplishment. What’s missing? A childhood! Time to unfold and explore, to dream and to be, to wonder and become all that God has created the child to be.

Summer is coming, and with it, lots of opportunities for children to play sports, learn new skills and subjects, explore new interests, travel, camp. Often, as parents, our job appears to be keeping the calendar and coordinating car pools.

Let me suggest something that no one else in all the world can give your child: a childhood. Plan some protected, unscheduled time for your children to dream, to think, to wonder, to imagine, to play a game they invent, to make new friends and deepen old friendships, to be bored and recognize that as an invitation to explore what they would like to do next, to learn to enjoy the pleasure of their own company, to experience time with family, to have Sabbath time with God.

These are children of God, created in God’s image to be human beings, not just human doings. They come to us as God’s buds, meant to open into the fullness of who they are slowly, organically, across childhood. Forcing the bud to open distorts the flower God has begun. Grace abounds and children are not expected to be small, finished, accomplished adults at 11 or 7 or before they are even born. This God who created them in love, who gave them unique gifts to enjoy and to share with others in God’s family, says, For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
This God has entrusted them to your care. Please give them a childhood.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Let your children re-teach you how to play. Spend time following their playful lead. Thank the God of play.
2. Schedule part of every day as time alone for each child, a perfect time to imagine, daydream, create, play, just enjoy being alone. Thank God, who is with us always.
3. Protect time each week that is just for family. Rotate who decides what you’ll do. Thank God, who created you as family.
4. Get outside to a park, a public garden, forest, or lake. Walk. Explore. Watch clouds go by. Thank the God of creation.
5. Write and illustrate a children’s book together, using a favorite family story. Read it to a child. Thank God for joining your story to God’s story.

Grocery Receipts

St. Olaf Lutheran Church is registered with Sentry and Piggly Wiggly in Oconomowoc, and Sentry in Hartford to receive a percentage of your grocery bill.  Please deposit your stamped grocery receipt in the coffee can near the kiosk.

100% Sunday

Let's fill the sanctuary.  Let's fill the balcony.  Let's make the ushers work hard setting up chairs in every available space.  Let the story be told in the years to come that the singing at St. Olaf's on May 31, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. could be heard as far away as Mapleton and Thompson.

            It will also be Kick-Off Sunday for our exciting new "LIFE GIVING" project.  "LIFE GIVING" will be an ongoing effort to encourage and educate the congregation on the importance of estate planning, having an up-to-date will, and considering asset stewardship.  Pastor Larry Westfield will return to St. Olaf's to give us a message on "LIFE GIVING" in what promises to be a very interesting sermon.  (Please read the article in this Caller titled WHAT IS LIFE GIVING?  This article explains the concept of life giving and asset stewardship.)  

Right after the morning service, we will all go outside for a congregation picture.  The last congregation picture was taken in 1988.  It is time for a new one. 

Picture taking will be followed by a tasty breakfast sponsored by the Stewardship and Life Giving committees.  Plan to stay for food, fellowship, and a short presentation by the Life Giving committee in which we will further explain the concepts and benefits of participating in one or more of the options of "LIFE GIVING".

Camping Weekend for All

The Parish Life Committee is hosting a campout and canoe weekend May 29^th – 30^th at Laura Savatski’s house (please RSVP for dinner to Laura Savatski) Starting approx. 5-6 p.m. set up tents, 6-7 dinner, approx. 8 p.m. Native American Firestarting Ceremony and educational/recreational time (music, dancing, storytelling, etc.) You may remember Herb Heck (aka Dirty Kettle) from the 2008 Heritage Days event.  Herb is kind enough to bring his tepee and Native American items to share with us at this event.  Launch canoes off Saturday morning for youth and interested guests and travel to Neosho Park .  Return to Savatski’s for clean up.

St. Olaf Celebrates 165 Years!!
St. Olaf Congregation was organized 165 years ago and is still going strong.  Let's celebrate God's blessings all year long during this anniversary year.

One of our special blessings is that we are such an active congregation.  There will be many special events throughout the year.  Let's use this 165^th anniversary as an impetus to make these upcoming events well attended and successful.  For example, many old timers remember the Ice Cream Socials having old time themes and costumes.  Let's plan a Retro theme for the Ice Cream Social on July 26.

Members have pointed out some special needs at St. Olaf's.  Let's make it a 165^th anniversary goal to complete some of these projects.  For example, there is talk of needing a sign advertising worship times and special events.  Let's complete this project as a 165^th anniversary gift.

A group of volunteers has been meeting on Sunday mornings after church to plan additional celebrations and list projects that could be undertaken this anniversary year.  These events and projects will be posted at the church.

To have successful special events and projects will require the time and talents of many St. Olaf members; old members, new members, ALL members.  Let's have some fun together!  Volunteer to help on an event or project that interests you.

Some special talent needs are:  photography, printing, graphic design, data entry, proof reading, letter writing, telephone callers, public relations, legal advice, masons, carpenters, electricians, sign painting, decorating, cooks, kitchen helpers, and the list goes on.  Please offer your talents and join the Celebration of 165 years of God's Blessings in this place.

There will be a sign up sheet in the church or call George or Elaine Monis (920-474-4092), Lucy Braunschweig (920-474-4637), or Roger Johnson (920-474-3168).  Volunteers are asked sign up and then to reach out and invite a new member or less active member to volunteer with you.

Thank You for the VBS Donations

We have received quite a few of the items needed for VBS arts and crafts.  The theme this year is Gospel Light's Son Rock Kids Camp.  Your child will let their creativity flow as they create crafts that emphasize Bible stories, the daily truths, and more!  I'm asking for everyone's help to make the adventure come alive for all VBS students.  The Art area still needs the following supplies to make this happen. 

circular magnet with hole in it- 40 of them
wooden dowels ¼ in. diameter by 18 inches long-40 of them
glitter- colors blue, silver, gold- 3 of each color
blue food coloring- 1 bottle
wide ruled spiral notebooks- 30 of them
pine needles, acorns, twigs, leaves- as many as you can get
stick or branch 18 to 24 inches long- 30 of them
large blue disposable plastic plates ( 2 per child)- 80 of them
cardboard oatmeal canister with lid-40 of them
flat brown spray paint- 4 cans
clear acrylic spray-3 cans
stones 2 or 3 inches-30 of them
craft glue- 10 bottles
solid color ceramic tiles 3x3 or bigger-need not to match- 40 of them
window screen-cut into sizes of 5 ½ x 13inch rectangles one for each child-40 of them

 There is a VBS bin outside the nursery door for any items you can donate! 

Thank you!

Questions?  Please call Art Coordinator, Kathy Monis at 262-670-0731

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1