The
St. Olaf Caller
May 2011
From the Desk of Pastor Matt
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
The prophet Jeremiah certainly knew the tough road of life. At that point in his prophetic career, Jeremiah had spent about 25 years beating his head against the brick wall that was Israel. For the better part of a whole generation Jeremiah had been telling the people of Israel what they had to do and how they had better shape up. He told them to turn their minds to God, stop cheating their neighbors, act justly, and love truly. Then, it dawned on Jeremiah that his people already knew what to do. They already had the law of Moses and the witness of earlier prophets. They had the knowledge. Something else was missing. That’s when Jeremiah came to the conclusion that Israel's problem was not between their ears, but in the heart, at the center of human will.
A century earlier the Prophet Hosea had condemned Israel's priests for allowing the people to perish for what he termed "lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6) But Jeremiah prophesied that Israel's problem went far beyond a mere lack of knowledge. Jeremiah knew, of course, that ignorance can do a person in, but Jeremiah also came to discover that even with all the knowledge in the world, if the heart remains untouched, then true change and authentic repentance will never come. "The heart," said Jeremiah, "is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?" (17:9)
Who, indeed? Who knows why humans do the very things we've been told over and over again not to do? Who knows why we don't do the things we've been scolded, nagged, and repeatedly preached at to do? Why can’t we all just get along? Why can’t we just be nice to each other? It’s so simple. It’s so obvious. A child could understand. But the problem is not lack of knowledge. The problem is a corrupt heart that can withstand all the lectures, scoldings, sermons, and sappy songs of a lifetime.
Words aimed at our heads alone won't do it. Mere knowledge is insufficient to produce change. That's why the hope Jeremiah held out to Israel was aimed at the heart. Jeremiah prophesied that to overcome the gap, the chasm between what we know and what we do, the Lord will have to affect a fundamental change in our hearts. The Lord will have to make a new covenant. This newness, however, would not be in the content of the covenant, but in the way that content would be delivered. No longer would the Lord communicate his will as words coming from outside us and into our heads.
But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (31:33)
If all God were trying to do was tell us to just get along and be nice to each other, then the Cross would be unnecessary. The wisdom of the Law and the Prophets is sufficient for that message; its pages amply testify to God's love and will. What's new in the New Testament is not more information about the divine love and will, but the way in which that love and will are communicated. In the New Testament we hear the will of God for us taking its final form not as angry prophecy, nor pleading call, nor even surpassing wisdom. Instead, God’s will takes the form of a dying man, suspended on an instrument of torture, crying out for deliverance.
For centuries now, humanity managed to turn a deaf ear to God's call for righteousness. We've murdered the prophets, ignored the wise, silenced the just. But in almost 2,000 years we've never quite been able to block out completely the memory of that dying man, suspended on an instrument of torture, crying out for deliverance. In him, God gets to our hearts, and that's our hope.
God’s Peace!
Ashippun Bread Basket
Grand opening was an exciting day, April 16, 2011. The food pantry will be open every Saturday from 9-11:00 a.m. until the need outgrows that time slot. Please give generously to the box located between the exit doors. We want to see this program continue to grow and be a help to our neighbors in need. The pantry will also begin delivering groceries to shut ins, so if you know of someone that could use such a service, please contact our church liaison, Gwen Downing 262-673-6717.
New Member Reception
Join us for a pot luck to welcome the newest members of St. Olaf on Sunday May 22nd.
Worship at 9:00 a.m.
Potluck/reception at 10:15 a.m.
Annual Meeting at 11:30 a.m.
Annual
Meeting
of the Congregation
Sunday May 22nd
10:15 a.m. potluck
11:30 a.m. Annual Meeting
Committees,
please email your annual report to Michelle in the office by May 8th.
Thanks.
secretarty@st-olaf.org.
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!
Joyous
Light
Join us every 3rd Saturday of the month 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.
May Anniversaries
2 Tito and Justine Cadena
3 Thomas and Chris Ziebell
5 Mark and Linda Fredrick
5 Roger and Lynette Johnson
8 Aldon and Phylliss Schlieve
10 Eric and Patricia Kraft
13 Todd and Cynthia Birkel
14 Laura and Mark Savatski
15 Karl and Kathy Monis
20 Eugene and Marlene Connell
22 SaraAnn and John Smeaton
24 Roy (Tom) and Marie Galbraith
25 David and Terri Much
27 Brian and Dorothy Solveson
May Birthdays
2 SaraAnn Smeaton, Mabel
Solveson
7 Terry Borden, Tiffany Brewer, Gregory Homulos
8 Paul Slade
9 Stanley Christopherson, Heidi Sikkema
12 Robyn Cowell
13 Joseph Buth
14 Janet Jahnke, Randy Solveson
17 Douglas Morrissey
18 Jessi Rohlffs
19 Keith Solveson
20 Gavin Monis, Wayne Pederson
22 Destiny Krueger
23 Jamie Christenson, Scott Eifler
24 Anne Feutz
25 Mitchell Kraemer
26 Hertha Ziebell
27 Cheryl Monnahan
29 Leah Schlieve
31 Samantha Cameron, Alec Cowell, Pearl Hermanson
May Lay Ministry Schedule
|
Date |
Asst. Minister |
Acolyte |
|
Sat.
Apr. 30 |
Bernie Krahn |
|
|
Sun. May
1 |
Cindy Schlieve |
Alan Cameron |
|
Sun. May
1 |
Justine Cadena |
Hannah Wentz |
|
Sat.
May. 7 |
Linda Fredrick |
|
|
Sun. May
8 |
Jane Christenson |
Destiny Krueger |
|
Sat. May
14 |
Dave Johnston |
|
|
Sun. May
15 |
Hannah Scheife |
Gabriel Hoffmann |
|
Sat. May
21 |
June Sumnicht |
|
|
Sun. May
22 |
Marie Galbraith |
Jordyn Sutrick |
|
Sat. May
28 |
Bernie Krahn |
|
|
Sun. May
29 |
Dave Kraemer |
Elizabeth Schlehlein |
Altar Guild:
Kathy Larson & Paula Olson
Counters: Ron Egelseer, Rob Howell & Jim Lumsden
Scholarships
St. Olaf will be accepting applications for Scholarships due May 1, 2011. Pick up an application from the kiosk in the gathering area.
Outdoor Spring Clean Up
Saturday, May 7th, starting at 8am. Please, everyone who is interested be prepared to rake mulch or leaves, prune bushes and perennials, maybe even trim some trees if needed. The Properties Committee appreciates everyone’s help. We will even have some food and drinks! Contact Peggy Morrissey if you have questions @ 262-443-0306. See you there and wish for warm weather!
Flower Warning
Lilies & other spring flowers are toxic to cats. Even if the pollen falls and they eat it or lick it from their fur it could be fatal.
Mark Your Calendars!!
Pentecost - June 11 &12, 2011. Everyone should plan on wearing red to worship.
Get to know Linda and Ron Egelseer
Both Wisconsin natives, Linda is active here at St. Olaf making quilts, serving meals and countless other projects. She is very interested in nature, feeding the birds and gardening. Linda also provides for the butterflies by planting milkweed pods to attract the beautiful Monarch Butterflies. She recently retired from an insurance agency in Beaver Dam. Her two sisters are happy to have more of her time, especially at the Iron River cabin.
Ron and Linda are the parents of two children, Brett and Jennifer. Brett lives in Wisconsin with his wife and two daughters. On the other hand, Jennifer resides in Oregon and has a pediatric practice.
It is interesting to know that Ron and Linda were high school sweethearts and have lived in this area except during the time Ron was an administrator of a Wausau area nursing home. He attended Spencerian Business College, was always a car buff, eventually joining the auto field operation on Hwy 60, Hustisford. At LKQ Ron is the general manager and corporate president. And he still loves cars! He enjoys restoring classic cars, ask him for a ride in one of the beauties. At St. Olaf, Ron is a member of the finance committee and involved in many of our activities, from corn roast to ushering.
Maple Syrup Project
The maple syrup harvest is complete, and we obtained 68 gallons of finished product. You can do your part by getting the remaining 10 gallons sold. Without the great help of the following, I could not have taken on this project. They came back day after day. Comments were received that they can't wait until next spring to do it again.
Church members:
Liz Laack, Mark Cameron, Duane Schuett, Tim Schuett, Al & Pat Warnecki, Rob
Howell, Aldon Schlieve, Brian Krassman, Jim Lumsden, Ron Egelseer, John
Guenther, and Lyn Johnson
Non members:
Dick Schwaab, Shayne Johnson, Al Kloth, Mike Kloth, Tom Pirc, Jon Monis, and Ron
& Julie Ruege
Family Promise Update
Family Promise continues to serve the families that were here while they get back on their feet. The two fathers have recently been hired but one continues to look for other employment. One family is in need of a better car and is able to pay up to $800.00 for it.
Other families have been going through the interview process with Family Promise but have not entered the program as of yet.
Pending approval of our continuation to partner with Family Promise, our next week to provide the families with hospitality will be June 12-18, 2011. Since May & June are such busy months, we have set out the sign up sheets now so those that will be able to volunteer the week of June 12 can sign up. Please check your calendars and sign up on the Family Promise Volunteer Sheets in the Gathering area for the day, time and area that you would be available for.
Again, we are asking that someone step forward as a Volunteer Coordinator. If anyone has been thinking about taking the position as the Head Volunteer Coordinator for St. Olaf, please see Elaine Monis or Justine Cadena. Elaine & Justine are acting as Co-Coordinators in the interim. If any of the Sub-Coordinators are not able to continue with their duties as a Sub-Coordinator, please let Elaine or Justine know.
Since Family Promise is a non-profit organization, they rely on fundraising and donations. There will be a Golf Outing Fundraiser on Saturday May 7th at the Scenic View Golf Club along with a Social Hour and Dinner for anyone that would like to support such a worthwhile cause. St. Olaf will sponsor a “Tee” along with the other participating church congregations that are part of the program. (see the registration form in the caller and again, sign up on the kiosk if you are planning to golf or just attend the dinner for an evening out).
Matching Funds
We have a huge opportunity to give a financial boost to our ministry. Commitments totaling $14,000 have been received provided matching funds are received from the congregation prior to May 30, 2011. The money from these commitments will go to the general fund and the mortgage reduction fund. You can designate your matching contribution to either of these two funds or you can divide it between these two funds as you desire. Contributions should be over and above your regular giving to these two funds. Only the amount received from the congregation will be matched. For instance, if $14,000 or more is received from the congregation, $14,000 in matching funds will be received. If $3,000 is received from the congregation, only $3,000 in matching funds will be received, etc. Be sure to indicate your designation on your check or envelope. If you have any questions, contact Roger Johnson at 920-474-3168. Remember the deadline to contribute is May 30th.
Layettes for Lutheran Word Relief
We are getting things together
to send to Lutheran World Relief for the baby layettes. Things we need are:
Colored hand towels
Baby sacks
Regular gentle bar soap
See Esther Mason with any questions or if you would like to donated any items. Thank you.
Confirming their Faith
On Sunday, May 15th at the 10:30 Worship Service will be
Kristina Krassman, Josie Ray, Brandon Reitz, Haley Roraff, Taylor Slade,
and Hannah Wentz. Please keep these youth & their parents in your prayers as
they Affirm their Baptism and continue to learn and live as a follower of
Christ. The Confirmation Banquet for these youth and their families is
Friday, May 13th. Pictures at 5:30 p.m. and Banquet to follow.
First Communion
The following children celebrated their First Communion on Maundy Thursday:
Lauren Hautala, Gabriel Hoffmann, Destiny Krueger, Peyton Roraff, Elizabeth Schlehlein, Michael Schlehlein, Lauryn Slade & Jordyn Sutrick.
St. Olaf Scrip
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. You will pay exactly the same amount that you normally would when you check-out, but if you use the pre-paid Scrip gift card, the church gets a percentage of that sale. It doesn’t get any easier!
Here’s an example: You buy a card for Piggly Wiggly for $100. You get a card with $100 on it. The church is able to purchase the card for $97. So if you are spending $100 a week on groceries, that adds up to $156 a year for our church – from just one family eating as they normally do. If all of our members (and friends!) at St. Olaf would use this program for all normal household expenses, we could easily make $10,000 a year. So what’s stopping you?
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. We currently have these cards on hand:
BP Gas $50 Kwik Trip $25
Cabela’s $25 Menards $25
Chili’s $25 Pick ‘n Save $25
Domino’s Pizza $10 Home Depot $25
Piggly Wiggly $50, $100 Pizza Hut $10
I-Tunes $15 Starbucks $10
JC Penney $25
Subway $10
Kmart $25 Walgreen’s $25
Kohl’s $25 Walmart $25
T is
for . . .
St. Olaf Mother-Child Celebration
May 6th at 6:00
T is for. . . Tickets!
The theme is "T is for . . . "
Expect: A Terrific Buffet with Tantalizing Food
Bright Textures to create Thankful Hearts
Clues to Solve the Tremendously Engaging Treasure Hunt
Get your Tickets today!
Adults $3.00 Children under 10, $2.00
Don’T forgeT
To geT The Tickets Today for-
The family, Trusted Neighbors, Treasured friends, the
Tribe!
St. Olaf Sunday School presents
During this rotation we‘ll be looking at Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (the wilderness is a place of being alone with God and a place of testing—not just a desert) took place after Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. After a forty day fast in the wilderness, at the beginning of the temptation, Satan said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, then…” (Luke 4:3, Matthew 4:3) Satan, whom the Bible recognizes as a real being, a fallen angel, and whom Jesus recognized as a real being, (not just a red guy with horns, a pitchfork and a tail) was challenging Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. Satan attacked when Jesus was weakened by hunger.
Satan attacks Jesus when he sees an opportunity. This still happens in our lives today. We’ll talk about some of the temptations that we see on a daily basis and learn how God supports us during those times.
There is one more word of encouragement from John: “the one who is in you [the Holy Spirit] is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) If we listen to and obey, God’s Spirit in us, who also has promised to recall to our minds the living Word of God, we are assured a victory over temptation. Yay!
Sunday School Classes
Our focus verse:
“We cannot live by bread alone, but we need every word that God speaks.” Matthew 4:4
Vacation
Bible School
Let’s get our groms together and get amped, dude!
If you need a translation of that, you’d better come to this year’s epic Vacation Bible School program, SonSurf Beach Bash! We’ll meet up with Jesus on the beach and get fired up for the Savior in our lives.
We welcome all children who will be 4 years old by 9/1/2011 up to those who have completed 5th grade to participate. This program is open to the community, so we encourage you to invite classmates, friends and neighbors to share in the fun and learning. Any older children are invited to volunteer to help.
Prior to the beginning of VBS each night we will once again offer a meal for our families. It’s hard to get your family fed and then to church, so we are offering kid-friendly meals for your entire family. There is a $5 charge for each person to eat the whole week. What a deal! We’ll start serving meals at 5:30 each day. Then we will begin at 6:15 p.m. each evening and close at 8:30 p.m. We invite you to stay for the opening worship and fun skits. Please fill out the attached registration form and return it to the display at church by July 15.
There is no charge for a student to attend this fun-filled week, but donations are appreciated to help us cover the costs. It costs about $20 per student. Any amount you are able to donate will be greatly appreciated. An envelope is attached for your convenience and can be returned to the church office or put in the VBS display. A donation is not mandatory for your child’s participation.
Join us for SonSurf Beach Bash –an unforgettable beach blast where kids will come to know the living Jesus who said: “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact Tiffany Brewer or Laura Lee.
Donations Needed
It's That Time of year again to start thinking about VBS. Our theme this year is SonSurf Beach Bash, where we'll meet up with Jesus on the beach and get fired up for the Savior in our Lives. During the week we'll be making several Awesome art projects that will get the children amped up for Jesus! The following items are needed:
Box of flat tooth picks
4 bags of play sand- find at any hardware store
White tag board- 35 needed (they have tag board at the dollar store in
Delafield 2 for $1.00)
Stickers- Any summer or beach animal stickers
Fabric Markers- 6 sets needed
24 case of 16oz. Bottle water- 4 cases needed
12 Elmer glue bottles
6 packs of Crayola washable markers (the fat kind not the skinny kind)
Craft foam
Plastic lacing
Jingle bells-60 needed
Brightly colored 3x5 sponges- 3/child, total of 80
Craft wire
Colored construction paper
Wiggly eyes- 4 bags
Red glitter
Jumbo and medium pasta shells- 4 boxes each
VBS Donation box is located next to the nursery door in the hallway. If you would like to give a cash donation towards the purchase of these items, please place the donation in the envelope taped inside the VBS donation box.
If you have any questions please contact Kathy Monis-262-670-0731
Thanks for all your donations,
Kathy Monis
Taking Faith Home
Groceries
By Marilyn Sharpe (TYFI.org)
No, this is not going to be a column on nutrition, as important as that topic is. This is an opportunity to think about the “faith groceries” we stock for family life together.
Groceries are the raw material for feeding yourself and the others you love. You may have grown some food in your garden or gone to a farmers’ market, purchased a share of a community supported agriculture, or shopped for food regularly, mindful of the tastes and preferences of those you will be feeding. Without food, you would first lose strength, then life itself. Food is essential to life, for all God’s living things.
So, what are “faith groceries,” and why are they important?
First, what? Faith groceries are the resources we use to regularly nurture and feed a life of faith. They include:
· Bibles appropriate to each person in your family circle. Just as you would never grill a steak to feed a six month old, select Bibles that are age and experience appropriate. Plan on developing a wardrobe of Bibles for each age and stage of development, tailored to the life and spiritual experiences of each person. Share favorite Bible stories of God’s love, promises, and faithfulness. Memorize meaningful verses.
· Devotional materials.
· Songs of faith from a hymnal or CDs of children’s songs, praise music, traditional hymns, songs of faith from other cultures, or works of
· Faith-filled, long-dead composers. You and your creative children can make up songs, too.
· Framed and displayed Baptismal certificates and family photos of faithful moments.
· A cross, visible to all, on a wall or on your person.
· Stock a FaithChest®, which may be given at baptism, confirmation, marriage, moving to assisted living, or any faith‐filled moment, filled with resources that have shaped or will shape faith.
· For more ideas, go to The Youth & Family Institute website www.tyfi.org
Now, why? Just as we need to provide food so that our children grow, are strong, and live, so, too, faith groceries are essential to growing a strong, vibrant, living faith for our children.
My husband pointed out that it is important to have staples on hand, in case of an emergency. The same is true of faith groceries.
My mother died very suddenly 31 years ago. I was incredibly grateful that this was not the first time I had talked with my four year old about where God is in death, in grief, in the loss of a loved one. That day, it was Alison who delivered the Good News. Encircling me with a hug, she spoke with great assurance. “Mom, we’re going to be sad and miss Gramma for a very long time, because we loved her. But who Gramma is, is with God now. She can see us, even without holes in the roof.” I’ve heard worse funeral sermons!
Many survivors of concentration camps reported that what got them through that horrific, faith‐defying time was their own personal library of Bible stories, scripture verses, prayers, and songs of faith, stocked in their minds by homes and congregations that rocked them in the faith.
May all our children be richly stocked with faith groceries.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
1. Inventory the faith groceries in your home. Are there:
· Bibles appropriate to each person?
· Devotional materials that speak to the life experiences of each?
· “Artifacts” of the faith. (Candles, cross, pictures, Milestone Blessing Bowl, photos of faith‐filled family times, books, etc.)
2. Fill a devotional basket with a Bible, FaithTalk® cards, Scripture Talk, cards with prayer concerns, newspaper article that raises a faith question, Christmas card photos of those you want to remember in prayer.
3. Plan to feed others. As a family, decide on a family service project. Schedule it. Do it.
4. As a family, plan a gift of faith nurturing resources for a birthday, wedding, baby shower, baptism, or at the time of loss. Keep the list ... and use it.
Mother's Day is May 8th
The 30-hour Famine
Several of our youth will be taking part in the 30-Hour Famine on Friday, May 6th
6:00 p.m. till Sat. May-7th 6:00 p.m. at Holy Cross in Menomonee Falls with 5 other youth groups. Read about it in the Menomonee Falls newspaper and also in the Hartford, West Bend, and Oconomowoc newspapers.
This is another nationwide youth event that youth all across the nation are taking part in on various dates. It’s similar to our Box City and will be quite a learning experience to feel how many hungry children live. Many interesting activities including a neighborhood scavenger hunt for food, games, baking bread & service projects are planned for the event and the youth will again be sleeping in cardboard boxes.
Students will be looking for sponsors to support them in doing the
30-Hour Famine. Those participating so far are: Hannah & Haley Roraff, Josie Ray, Jamie Christenson, Caroline and Mitchell Kraemer, and Kristina Krassman.
Please keep this event in your prayers, especially that God’s will be done and everyone is kept safe.
The “Ashippun Bread Basket” Food Pantry
in Ashippun is now open on Saturday mornings from 9-11:00 a.m. It is located behind the White Post Office on Hwy 67 in Ashippun to help those in need right in our Community.
It is a joint effort with 5 churches: St. Olaf, St. John’s, Zion, St. Paul’s and St. Paul’s. If you know someone in need, please refer them to the Pantry. Everyone is asked to bring canned or boxed foods, peanut butter, toiletries, and paper products to St. Olaf so we can help stock the shelves at the pantry; Many thanks to those that have been bringing items whenever they come to church.
Youth & parents will have a chance to help stock the shelves and pack the grocery bags on Tuesday evenings or Sunday afternoons and also to help deliver groceries to the elderly shut-ins in our area.
Sign up if you’d like to help at the Pantry and you will be notified when we will go there.
Hanging Baskets
Remember, pick up is Sat. May 7th 9-10:30 a.m. here in the fellowship hall.
Mark Your Calendar for these Upcoming events at St. Olaf
30 Hour Famine
May 6-7
Family Promise Golf Outing
May 6
Last day of Sunday School
May 15 - 9:15 a.m.
Confirmation Sunday
May 15 – 9:00 a.m.
Annual Meeting
Sunday May 22 - 11:30 a.m.
Potluck & New Member Reception at 10:15
Graduate Recognition
Sunday, June 5
Family Promise
(Pending Approval)
June 12-19
Youth Mission Trip
July 3-8
Ice Cream Social
Sunday July 24, 3-8 p.m.
Vacation
Bible School
July 31 – August 4
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC)
August 4-7
Youth Brat Fry Fundraiser at Piggly Wiggly Hwy P
August 13