1. family and parenting
2. children

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
311 N Hershey Rd
Normal IL 61761-2295
PH: 309/452-5609
A Church of the Missouri Synod
MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
STAFF
Pastors
Christopher Hull
Jonathan Huehn
Preschool Director
Joan Birdsong
Teachers
Denise James
Lisa Wegner
Teacher Assistants
Teri Schueler
Karie Wright
Music Director
Patty Downey
Secretary
Rosemary Laesch
WORSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
Saturdays – Worship - 5:30 p.m.
Sundays – Worship - 8:00 and 10:45 a.m.
Sunday School and Bible Classes – 9:25 a.m.
Mondays – Sharing Joys, 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, March 12 – Mom’s Bible Study, 7:00 p.m.
Sat., March 14 – Men’s Bible Study, 8:00 a.m.
Meditation from the
Office of the Pastor
MARCH 2015 NEWSLETTER
President of the LCMS, Matthew Harrison, sent out a wonderful video on the importance of prayer during the
season of Lent. I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you in prayer this Lenten season.
Christ our Lord says in the 7th chapter of St. Matthew “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one
who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks
for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).
Prayer is the very calling upon God in every time of trouble, in order to thank Him, praise Him, and confess our
sin to Him. Prayer is the gift from God that remains with us in the crowded pew of Church and in the emptiness of our
bedroom. Prayer doesn’t have a physical boundary.
Luther speaks clearly concerning the necessity of prayer in the Large Catechism of 1528 saying, “We are in such
a situation that no one can keep the Ten Commandments perfectly, even though he or she has begun to believe.
Besides, the devil, along with the world and our flesh, resists them with all his power. Consequently, nothing is so
necessary as to call upon God incessantly and to drum into his ears our prayer that he may give, preserve, and
increase in our faith and the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments and remove all that stands in our way and hinders
us in this regard.”
Prayer is a necessary thing because without the Holy Spirit, we would continue to resist the grace of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Prayer is the very calling of the Holy Spirit upon God the Father to hear our confession in order
that we may receive the gift of Jesus Christ and his righteousness. We pray when we are sick, in order for Jesus to heal
us. We pray when we have sinned, in order for Jesus to forgive us. We pray when we have joy, in order to thank our Lord
for the many blessings he bestows on us. We pray when we are burdened and persecuted, in order that our Lord keep
us steadfast in the one true faith. The Holy Spirit prays with words to deep for our fickle and fallen human reason and
understanding.
Luther says that the first and foremost reason to pray is because we are Christians and are commanded by God
to pray as we hear in the 2nd commandment. The proper use of God’s Name is not to curse, swear, and lie, but to call
upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks. We pray because we are Christians and listen to the
commandments of our Father in heaven. In addition to this, the other reason to pray is that “God has made and
affirmed a promise: that what we pray is a certain and sure thing.” Psalm 50:15 says, “call upon me in the day of
trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” We pray because God has and continues to promise that He
answers our prayers.
The greatest comfort we have in prayer is the very definition of the Christian life. The introduction to the Lord’s
Prayer says, “Our Father, who art in heaven. What does this mean? With These words God tenderly invites us to believe
that He is our true Father and that we are His true children so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as
dear children ask their dear Father.” We pray because God is our Father and answers our petitions. We pray because we
are God’s children. To pray is to ask God for all our needs of both body and soul.
I encourage you this Lenten season to pray. Pray the litany in our hymnal. Pray the Lord’s Prayer. Pray the
Psalms, the great hymnbook and prayer book of the bible. Pray, because the devil, world, and your own sinful flesh will
tear at you daily. Come to church and receive the gifts of the Gospel proclaimed, Holy Absolution, and the Blessed
Sacraments. Come, that the devil who attacks you may be put to death in the proclamation of Jesus’ Name. God bless
you this Lenten Season and may the power of the Holy Spirit protect you against the snares and wickedness of the devil,
Amen.
Your Shepherd,
Pastor Hull
NEWS AND NOTES
Calling All College Women to Come & Receive
What: Weekly Bible Study
When: March 4-April 22 from 7-8 p.m.
Where: Wittenberg Chapel at ISU
Details: We will start March 4 rather than February 25. We will
not meet March 11 due to Spring Break. Each week will be a
unique study, so come as your schedule allows. Bring a friend.
There will be no homework.
Questions: Contact Tonya Fredstrom at [email protected].
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Soup Suppers during Lent…
Join us for food, fellowship and worship during Lent, which continues through
March. Soups, salad, bread, dessert and drinks will be served from 5:00-6:30 p.m.
in the Parish Hall. There is a sign-up sheet in the Christian Fellowship area for
donated items. Please check to see if you can assist with any items needed. A
free will offering will be taken each week and the money will be used to help pay
for the van rentals and costs for the youth & adults going to Bethesda's Lutheran
Home and Services mission trip as well as the Higher Things gathering this summer.
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MIDWEEK LENTEN SERVICES
The Midweek Lenten Services continue on all Wednesdays through March at 12:15 and 7 p.m.
Maundy Thursday is April 2, Good Friday, April 3 with services at 12:15 & 7 pm. Easter Sunrise
Service, April 5th is at 6:30 a.m., Breakfast at 8 a.m., and 2nd Worship service at 9:30 am
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LWR QUILTERS will meet Thursday, March 19th, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and Sunday the 22nd, 1:00-4:00
p.m. We have many tops done and need a lot of hands to tie them. We also continue sewing tops
together. Any questions, call Andrea, 530-3396.
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Easter Egg Hunt
The Ladies of Mary Martha Circle would
like to invite the children to our annual
Christ Lutheran Church
Easter Egg Hunt
Planned for Saturday, April 4th from 9:30 - 11:00.
The children will be busy coloring eggs,
hearing the Easter story, making a craft & snack,
and hunting for eggs!
Please sign-up in the narthex
if you are planning to join in on all the fun.
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JANUARY 2015
FINANCIAL REPORT
GENERAL FUND
INCOME
January
$ 34,068
Year to Date
$ 34,068
$ 19,812
$ 19,812
EXPENSES
January
$ 35,388
Year to Date
$ 35,388
$
$
BUILDING FUND
3,746
3,748
Monthly Mortgage Payment - $13,566.98
Loan balance as of 2-1-2015 - $ 996,240
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SAVE THE DATE for Vacation Bible School: June 7-11, 2015.
Discover His plan. Discover His purpose. At Camp Discovery VBS
this summer, children will learn that Jesus saves us and gives us
faith, courage, and wisdom to help and serve our family, friends,
and neighbors.
“We love because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19
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We want to be sure your information in the 2015 Christ Lutheran Church Directory is accurate.
To help facilitate communication among our members, we are working on updating the Church
Directory with your preferred phone number(s) and e-mail address(es). Early in March, you will
receive an e-mail with instructions for doing this. If you do not have an email account or do not
receive an e-mail during the first week in March, please contact the church office and give them your
preferred phone number(s) and e-mail address(es) by March 20, 2015. Thank you.
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LADIES’ GUILD QUARTERLY MEETING
SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 9 – 11 A.M.
All women of Christ Lutheran are invited to attend the Ladies’
Guild Quarterly meeting hosted by Mary Martha Circle. Our
speaker will be Trisha Horner who leads “Fibers of Love,” a nonprofit organization in Bloomington made up of volunteers who share
God’s love by “Sewing for the Community, the County, the Country, and the World.”
Recipients of their sewing projects are nursing homes, schools, day care centers, and the Community
Cancer Center just to name a few.
This organization relies on donations of thread, fabric, yarn, etc. We invite anyone who attends to
bring a donation of thread, fabric, yarn, rickrack, bias tape or the like. New items are fine, but you
may also donate items that you have at home that you no longer need.
Refreshments will be served after Trisha’s presentation, and a business meeting will follow.
Please join us!
MARCH 2015 PULPIT PROGRAM
Mar. 1
LENT 2 / H.C.
LITURGY: Setting 3, LSB pg. 184
READINGS: Genesis 32:22-32; Romans 5:1-5; Matthew 15:21-28
Mar. 8
LENT 3 / H.C.
LITURGY: Setting 3, LSB pg. 184
READINGS: Jeremiah 26:1-15; Ephesians 5:1-9; Luke 11:14-28
Mar. 15
LENT 4 / H.C.
LITURGY: Setting 3, LSB 184
READINGS: Exodus 1:6:2-21; Acts 2:41-47; John 6:1-15
Mar. 22
LENT 5 / H.C.
LITURGY: Setting 3, LSB pg. 184
READINGS: Genesis 22:1-14; Hebrews 9:11-14; John 8: (42-45) 46-59
Mar. 29
PALM SUNDAY / H.C.
LITURGY: Setting 3, LSB pg. 184
READINGS: Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; Matt. 21:1-9
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MIDWEEK LENTEN PULPIT PROGRAM
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Mar. 4
Lent Midweek 3 – Vespers LSB pg. 229
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - II. Gethsemane
Psalm 30
Sermon text: Matthew 26:36-45
Theme/Title: The Wound of Apathy
Mar. 11
Lent Midweek 4 – Compline LSB pg. 253
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - III. The Palace of the High Priest
Psalm 147:2-11
Sermon text: Matthew 26:69-75
Theme/Title: The Wound of Denial
Mar. 18
Lent Midweek 5 – Evening Prayer LSB pg. 243
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - IV. The Praetorium
Psalm 31:9-20 or 928 Song of Hannah (Patty is to choose)
Sermon text: Matthew 27:27-31
Theme/Title: The Wound of Mockery
Mar. 25
Lent Midweek 6 – Vespers LSB pg. 229
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - V. Calvary
Psalm 22:1-11, 19-24
Sermon text: Matthew 27:45-48
Theme/Title: The Wound of Abandonment
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If you shop at Office Depot and would
like to support the preschool, please
present this ID # 70200154 at check out.
5% of your qualifying purchases will be
donated to the preschool account to help
us purchase supplies.
Preschool News
March 2015
February was such a fabulous month!
One theme we focused on a lot last
month was love! It was such a blessing
to share the great news with the
preschoolers that God loves them!
We celebrated National Lutheran
Schools Week Jan. 26th-31st. Pastor
Kevin Bueltmann joined us on
Wednesday during Lutheran Schools
Week to lead us in a great time of praise
and worship.
For our mission project during Lutheran
Schools Week, we chose to support
Ministry & More and Pastor Kevin
Bueltmann’s ministry. Altogether, the
church and preschool raised $419.60 for
these ministries. We were so excited to
reach our goal of $300.00! Thank you
for supporting these ministries!
During February, we also learned about
different food groups, ways to stay
healthy and how to take good care of our
teeth! Dr. Beehner, a dentist in Normal,
talked to us about how to take good care
of our teeth!
Thanks so much to everyone who
supported the Rosati’s Fundraiser on
Thursday, February 5th. What a
blessing it is to have so many great
supporters!
Thank You! to everyone who designated
Thrivent Choice Dollars to the preschool
throughout the year. These contributions
have been a great blessing to us!
Please keep saving the UPC Code on
Labels for Education products. Please
place the Labels in the mess container by
the secretary’s office.
If you have items to be recycled, we
collect the following items in the
container by the church office, as part of
Eco Recycling Fundraiser:
cell phones (please no chargers or
accessories), inkjet cartridges (ones that
contained liquid, not powder), MP3
Players, digital cameras, handheld game
systems, laptop computers, ipads and
tablets, portable GPS devices, radar
detectors, E-Book readers, and graphing
calculators.
Registration is open for the 2015-2016
school year. Registration forms are
located on the table in the Christian
Fellowship Area. For more information
or to register your child,
Phone: 309-452-5609 X 3 or
Email:[email protected].
Website:
www.shininglightspreschool.com.
Please like us on facebook!
We appreciate your continued prayers
for the preschool!
Joan Birdsong
The Youth of the Church
March 2015
GOD SQUAD (5TH & 6TH GRADE)
Join us on Saturday, March 7, 2015 from
1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Bring a
snack to share. Friends are welcome! You are
encouraged to sign-up on the Youth Board, but
it is not required. Are you curious to know
what we will be doing? You will have to attend
to find out! See you there!
Contact Lynette Cavinder with any questions.
HIGH SCHOOL YAIC
 Y-Team meets on Sunday, March 1st.
Plan on late afternoon/early evening!
I will let you know.
JR. HIGH YAIC (7TH & 8TH)
 Don’t forget Confirmation is from 6:006:50p during Lent! Regular time will
resume April 8th!
JR. HIGH & HIGH SCHOOL YAIC
Winter Jam is Sunday, March 29th. The
concerts begin at 6:00 p.m. and will feature
Skillet, Jeremy Camp, Francesca
Battistelli, Building 429, for King and
Country and Family Force 5. Cost is $10
per person. We will carpool from church,
departing at 4:00 p.m.
 On March 15th from 4:30-6 p.m. we will
be having a dinner with our mentors in the
church Fellowship Hall. Parents will help
provide food. Watch for the sign-up sheet
on the Youth Board! Come ready to eat
delicious food and have a great time with
your mentor!
**This year, donations made during Soup
Suppers will go towards funding for the
Bethesda Trip and Higher Things Conference.
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God Squad Lynette Cavinder
[email protected]
309-242-0835
 We will not have Youth Nights during
Lent. Join us for Soup Suppers and
Lenten Worship Services each week.
All 7th-12th graders are welcome to attend.
Parents are also welcome – we will need a
few additional drivers depending on
numbers interested in going!
Please sign-up on the Youth Board or
contact Krysta or Annie by March 22nd
to let them know you want to attend!
Jr. High YAIC Annie Downey
[email protected]
309-830-9496
HS YAIC Krysta Christensen
[email protected]
309-825-9313
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
2 -Esther Brokaw
James Couillard
Michael Newberry
3 – Bryan Cavinder
James Harmon
Lee Mehn
Halle Sheley
Mykaila Turrentine
20 – Kylie Christensen
Logan Christensen
Christa Turner
Dan Wellenreiter
7 – Jacob Marvel
21 – Sara Swafford
11 – Laina Runyon
22 – Cydney Hillyard
16 – Gracelyn Wellenreiter
23 – Lonnie Schove
17 – Allene Laesch
24 – Alyssa Johnson
18 – Karen Harsha
25 – Everett Bugge
19 – Chloe Bruce
Joseph Couillard
William Woodard
26 – Frank Jokisch
28 – Grace Allyn
Barb Wager
30 – Aaron Hambleton
Elijah Haney
31 – Jeff Smith
6 – Bob Poppe
Amy Russell
Greg Sheley
4 – Holly & Robert Hillyard
7 – Marcia Laesch
9 – Stephanie & John Merkle
8 – Michael Laesch
Isaac Walker
16 – Patty & Gil Downey
10 – Marcia Dyson
Kristin Jones
16 – Robert Laskowski
17 – Michael Couillard
Tiffani Hambleton
Tyler Sadlo
18 – Lynette Cavinder
Michael Wehrenberg
19 – Henry Scheltens
22 – Isaiah Haney
Lillian Haney
Rosemary Laesch
Samantha Mohler
25 – James Couillard
Elaine Hester
26 – Andrew Cunningham
Holly Hillyard
27 – Andrea Haughey
Ryan Leischner
Amy Russell
9 – Holly Hillyard
14 – Diane Felton
Gloria Schuth
20 – Daniel Timm
24 – Bryan Cavinder
Velma Pfeifer
Sara Wessbecker
5 – Ella Badorek
12 – Christine Lacey
Connie Laesch
Grace Melville
9 – Maddie Quistgaard
23 – Jay Laesch
Scott Newberry
4 – Elijah Mathias
11 – Natalie Lamphier
Velma Pfeifer
Eli Wix
8 – Annette Cherry
28 – Terry Brown
Kim Oakley
29 – Whitey Leischner
1 – Michael Laesch
Cyndi Martin
Andrew Stoeber
2 – Jackson Cherry
3 – Brittney Cavinder
Ramona Christensen
4 – Judy Cagley
James Cherry
Abby Feit
5 – Courtney Allyn
Brian Hess
6 – Kara Schlink
Vicki Trimpe
30 – Marcia Dyson
31 – Henry Scheltens
May the Lord Bless You
on Your Anniversary and
Birthday!
THOSE WHO SERVE IN MARCH 2015
ELDERS:
Mar. 1
Mar. 8
Mar. 15
Mar. 22
Mar. 29
8:00 a.m.
10:45 a.m.
John Clausen
Dan Bedell
Chris Turner
John McBride
John Clausen
Eric Baker
Rob Oakley
Chris Zies
Eric Baker
Bruce Schueler
SAT. ELDERS:
Mar. 7
Phil Allyn
Mar. 14
Jim Martin
Mar. 21
Aaron Hambleton
Mar. 28
Rob Oakley
SAT. USHERS:
Steve Personette
Garry Smith
Greg Sheley
Esther Brokaw
USHERS:
Lance Baade
Kent Bohnhoff
Paul Couillard
Ron Krueger
Jim Martin
Nyle Wiechmann
Jan Imig
Alex Marvel
Nick Myrvold
Sam Scheltens
Dennis Wager
Jeanie Wager
ACOLYTES:
Mar. 1
Cameron Boettcher
Joshua Kothe
Mar. 8
Nicholas Paez
Garett Sheley
Mar. 15
Halle Sheley
Summer Sheley
Mar. 22
Nathaniel Sobery
Marissa Turner
Mar. 29
Jack Dameron
Joshua Kothe
NURSERY:
Mar. 1
Mar. 8
Mar. 15
Mar. 22
Mar. 29
Gale Imig
Karie Wright
Jennifer Dameron
Alyssa Nerby
Danielle Myrvold
Grace Myrvold
Krysta Christensen
Kylie Christensen
Robin Nerby
Eric Nerby
GREETERS:
Mar. 1
N & D Clausen
Mar. 8
W & L Walker
Mar. 15
A. Ressler &
L. McKinney
Mar. 22
Phyllis Reeves
Mar. 29
L & S Nichelson
Cadence Hambleton
Dylan Wert
Kassidy Patton
Anna Trimpe
Kyle Manning
Megan Manning
Jacob Baker
Rylan Hambleton
Abby Feit
Emma Feit
Tricia Walker
Annie Downey
Leslie Mathias
David Mathias
Kim Oakley
Mari Turrentine
Linda Conder
Amber Conder
Heather Baade
Amber Prather
P & S Haughey
D & D Grovesteen
G & C Gruber
MIDWEEK LENTEN ELDERS:
12:15 p.m.
7 p.m.
Mar. 4
Aaron Hambleton Chris Zies
Mar. 11
John McBride Eric Baker
Mar. 18
Aaron H.
Bruce Schueler
Mar. 25
John McBride Jim Martin
SAT. ORGANISTS:
Diane Russell
Patty Downey
Tim Fredstrom
Patty Downey
MONEY COUNTERS:
Gary Baumhardt
Don Holzhauer
Gary Gabbrants
Ron Krueger
Donna Grovesteen
Jeanie Wager
Loren Ehling
Luella Ehling
Mary Rustemeyer
KITCHEN DUTY:
Stuart & Robin Nerby, _____, _____
W. & L. Walker, L. & L. Ehling
Billie Follmer, Karla Timm, ____, ____
N. & D. Clausen, Phyllis Reeves, ____
Gary & Linda Gabbrants, _____, ____
FLOWERS:
NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP IN MARCH
John McBride
N & M Wiechmann
ALTAR CARE: Linette Brown, Marguerite Newberry and Sharon Quiram
FILL CANDLE OIL: Phil Bocock
Vanette Schwartz
March 2015
Sunday
Christ Lutheran Church, Normal, IL
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1 Worship/HC, 8 &
10:45 am
SS/Bible Class,9:25a
Special Voters
meeting, 9:25 am
Thrivent meeting,
1pm, Parish Hall
2
Sharing
Joys,10a
Children/Youth
Bd, 6:30 pm
3 Pastors/Lay
Delegate Forum,
9 am
Preschool Bd.,
6:15 pm
5
Handbells, 6p
Mission/Evangelism, 6:30 p
6
LCFS in
library
10am-2 pm
7
Ladies Guild, 9 am
God Squad, 1 pm
Worship/HC, 5:30 pm
8 Worship/HC, 8 &
10:45 am
SS/Bible Class,9:25a
Youth Confirmation/
Mentor Event, 4:30
pm
9
Sharing
Joys,10a
10
Exec. Bd., 6:15 p
Council, 7 pm
12
Miriam Cir.9a
Handbells, 6p
Mary Martha
Cir., 7 pm
Mom’s Bible
Study, 7 pm
13
14 Men’s Bible Study,
8 am
Parish Hall, Library, &
Nursery reserved by
Jeanie Wager
Worship/HC, 5:30 pm
15 Worship/HC, 8 &
10:45 am
SS/Bible Class,9:25a
16
Sharing
Joys,10a
17
B/N Quilters, 6p
VOTERS
MEETING, 7 PM
4 Soup Supper, 5p
Lent Worship/HC, 12:15
& 7 pm
Youth Choir, 5:30 pm
Youth Conf. 6 pm
Adult Choir, 6 pm
College Women Bible
Study, 7 pm at
Wittenberg
11 Lydia Cir., 10 am
Soup Supper, 5 pm
Youth Choir, 5:30 pm
Youth Conf., 6 pm
Lent Worship, 12:15 & 7 p
Adult Choir, 6 pm
No College Women
Study tonight
18 Soup Supper, 5p
Lent Worship,12:15& 7p
Youth Choir, 5:00 pm
Youth Conf. 6 pm
Adult Choir, 6 pm
College Women Bible
Study, 7 pm at
Wittenberg
19
LWR Quilters,
9-11 am
Handbells, 6p
20
21
Worship/HC, 5:30 pm
25 Soup Supper, 5p
Lent Worship, 12:15 & 7 p
Youth Choir, 5:00 pm
Youth Conf. 6 pm
Adult Choir, 6 pm
College Women Bible
Study, 7 pm at
Wittenberg
Wed. Mar. 4 & 11
P & W Team, 7:45 pm
26
Handbells, 6p
22 Worship/HC, 8 &
10:45 am
SS/Bible Class,9:25a
23
Sharing
Joys,10a
24
HCE, 8 am in
library,Jeanie
Wager
29 Worship/HC, 8 &
10:45 am
SS/Bible Class,9:25a
Winter Jam
30
Sharing
Joys,10a
31Preschool,
Parish Hall &
Kitchen
Elders, 6:30 pm
Parish Hall
reserved
by Jeanie
Wager
27
28
Worship/HC, 5:30 pm