ORFORDVILLE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
210 N. Main Street, Orfordville, WI 53576
Office Phone #: (608) 879-2575
Office Email: [email protected]
Pastor Andy’s Phone #: (608) 886-0546
Pastor Andy’s Email: [email protected]
NEWSLETTER – MAY 2015
FROM PASTOR ANDY TWITON:
“People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their
life of Christ? We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.”
(From the service of Affirmation of Baptism in Evangelical Lutheran Worship)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Christ is risen! Alleluia! Our celebration of Easter continues as we enter spring and the month
of May. We’ve had quite a month at OLC. We’ve had both joyous celebrations and difficult
losses. Through it all, I remain confident that God is at work among us. God continues to lead
us from broken relationship into forgiveness, from scarcity into abundance, and from death into
life. I am eager to see where God will lead us next.
On Sunday, May 17th, we will celebrate four of our eighth graders as they make a public
affirmation of their baptism on Confirmation Sunday. It’s a day where we celebrate these young
people, but it’s a day that invites us all back to the baptismal waters to remember God’s love for
us and our calling as God’s children.
In baptism, God claims us and makes us new. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. This is
the promise God made to our confirmands when they were baptized, and our God keeps
promises. On Confirmation Sunday, our confirmands will state their intention to remain in
relationship with God. They will promise “to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word
of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through
word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and
peace in all the earth.”
Our community will also make a promise. I will ask you, “People of God, do you promise to
support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their life in Christ?” We will make a
promise to these confirmands to be there for them in prayer and support as they continue their
journey with God.
This is the promise we make to one another in this church family. I pray that God will help us to
be a community of love, care, mutual support, prayer, and a place where we find joy in one
another’s company. This kind of community is one of the gifts of the baptism we share.
We live out this promise in a number of ways. We live out this promise when our Sunday
School teachers teach stories from the Bible to our children. We live out this promise when we
pray for one another in worship or through our prayer chain. We live out this promise when we
check-in with one another during difficult times. We live out this promise when we remember
our homebound members during communion. In all these ways and more, we build up the body
of Christ.
Please hold our confirmation students and their families in prayer this month and help us to
celebrate this moment of new maturity in their faith.
May God strengthen our trust in the promises of baptism and build us up in our love for each
other.
God bless you,
Pastor Andy Twiton
UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Sunday School Ice Cream Social and Celebration – May 3rd at 10:15am following worship
Join our Sunday School students and teachers in an ice cream social to celebrate the end of the
Sunday School year. The Sunday School would like to thank the congregation for their love and
support. Plus there’s ice cream!
Collecting Items for Baby and Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief
This weekend is the Orfordville Rummage Sale which is a good time to keep an eye out for
items for the kits we assemble for LWR to benefit our neighbors in need. Please speak with Sue
Draves if you have questions.
Guidelines: Please&give&new&items&only. Please&do&not&donate&items&with&any&religious&
symbols,(messages(or(your(congregation’s(name. Please&do&not&donate&any&items&
decorated(with(a(U.S.(flag,(patriotic(or(military(symbols,(or(references(to(the(armed(forces,!
including(camouflage.!
These are the items we’re collecting:
• Baby Kits: Two$lightweight$cotton$t!shirts.'Two'long!!or#short!sleeved&gowns&or&
sleepers&(without&feet).&Two&receiving&blankets,&medium!weight'cotton'or'flannel,'
or#crocheted#or#knitted#with#lightweight'yarn,'up'to'52”'square.'Four'cloth'diapers,'
flat%fold%preferred.%One%jacket,%sweater%or%sweatshirt%with%a%hood,%or#include#a#baby#
cap.!Two$pairs$of$socks$.$One$hand$towel,$dark$color$recommended.$Two$bath!size%
bars%(8%to%9%oz.)%of%gentle%soap%in%original(wrapping.(Two(diaper(pins(or(large(safety(
pins.&(Tips:''Sizes 6 to 24 months may be used. Sweaters may be knitted or crocheted.
Onesies can be cut & hemmed/serged to make a simple t-shirt. Gowns, rompers or
top/pants sets can be substituted for sleepers.)
• Personal Kits: One$light!weight'bath!size%towel%(between%20"×40"%&%52"×27")%
Dark%color%recommended."Two$bath!size%bars%(8%or%9%oz.)%of%soap,%any%brand,%in%
original(wrapping.!One$adult!size%toothbrush%in%its%original%packaging.!One$sturdy$
comb.!One!metal&nail&clippers&(attached&file&optional).
Confirmation Sunday – May 17th at 9:00am
On May 17th, four of our 8th graders will affirm their faith during worship. Please keep them in
your prayers and join us in celebrating this important day in their life in Christ. Yay!
Synod Assembly – May 30th-31st
The South-Central Synod of Wisconsin (ELCA) will be gathering in Madison at the end of May.
OLC will be sending delegates to represent us. Please keep our delegates and our whole synod
in your prayers this month. The Synod Assembly is a time to celebrate and give thanks for our
partnership in God’s mission with churches throughout this region and our world. This year’s
theme is The Open Table: There’s Always Room for One More!
OLC Collects over $1000 for the CUP Food Shelf
During Lent OLC designated our Wednesday night offerings for the work of the CUP food
shelf. We collected and donated over $1000. We prayed “Give us today our daily bread,” and
now God has used us to answer that prayer for others! Thanks be to God!
Volunteer Opportunity: Assist Pastor Andy with Nursing Home Services
Pastor Andy leads services at three local nursing homes: St. Elizabeth Manor in Footville,
Evansville Manor, and Woods Crossing in Brodhead. Volunteers could help Pastor prepare and
distribute communion. Plus the residents always love to have visitors. Please speak with Pastor
Andy if you’re interested. The next Brodhead service is May 28th at 9:30am. The next Footville
service is June 9th at 10:00am. The next Evansville service is June 17th at 10:30am.
Acolytes for the month of May:
5/03/2015 Caylor Burns and Bryce Hammon
5/10/2015 Charysma Mould and Jayce Reilly
5/17/2015 Dynally Mould and Kailey Frame
5/24/2015 Taylor Stark and Payton Stark
5/31/2015 Arianna Humphies and Caylor Burns
Birthdays for the month of May:
5
Heather Dickison
5
Tim Speich
13
Violet Renly
18
Kim LaVigne
18
Chesney Speich
20
Sabrina Johnson
20
Remington Stark
21
Stephanie Varilek
22
Tori Smith
24
Katelyn Frame
24
Tyler Rackow
26
Steve Hazeltine
26
Bill Kummer
26
Cheryl Ryan
Note: Please help us keep our birthday lists up-to-date. If you see a change or if we missed
someone, send us an email at [email protected]. I apologize for missing
birthdays! We want to celebrate you!
Altar Guild Person of the month:
Debbie Speich
This Year’s Easter Garden – Thank you and picture!
Thank you to everyone who donated flowers for this year’s Easter Garden! Check out this
picture of the garden from Easter Sunday.
The OLC Altar Guild would like to thank the following for their donations to the Easter Garden:
In memory of…
Our Parents and Ronnie from David and Bonnie Hoff
Eloise Henrietta Hanson Bohnhoff from Lee Bohnhoff
Torbjørg Johanne Heimstad Bohnhoff from Lee Bohnhoff
Our Dads and Brother David Klassy from Jed and Deb Speich
Our Loved Ones from Phil and Jan Vigdahl
Our Parents from Delores and Ron Nelson
Our Loved Ones from Fred and Nancy Dickison
Loved Ones from Ilene Speich
Charles Stuvengen and Sadao Narita from Barbara Stuvengen
Ted Speich from Donna Speich
Our Loved Ones from Lyle and Bernice Amundson
Father Tom, Mother Berna, Son David, and Brother Roger from Marilyn Klassy
Melissa Speich from Mary Speich
Donald “Pete” Olson from Ann Olson and Family
In honor of…
John and Emma Grenawalt from Aaron and Racheal Grenawalt
Our family from Delores and Ron Nelson
OLC’s Cleans Up the Highway! – Picture from April 15th, 2015
Thank you to our confirmation class and volunteers for cleaning up our stretch of highway! And
a special thank you to Bernice Amundson for bringing treats!
OLC Visits Lutherdale for Fish Fry Fundraiser – Picture from April 24th, 2015
We had a good time visiting the camp (despite some rain) and the fundraiser benefited a
wonderful ministry!
Sunday School Year is Coming to a Close – Picture from April 26th, 2015
The OLC Sunday School recently decorated potted flowers and read the parable of the sower
from the Spark Story Bible! Thank you to all of our Sunday School teachers, leaders, parents,
and students! You are a blessing!
Thank yous and Thanksgivings:
• Thank you to the Altar Guild for all their work during Holy Week!
• Thank you to Nancy Dickison and our serving groups for their hospitality and flexibility
during the funerals our church has hosted!
• Thank you to Lyle Amundson, Sarah Varilek, Stephanie Varilek, and Kristin Swedlund
for their help with music and readings for our Easter Vigil!
• Thank you to our confirmation families for preparing this year’s Easter Breakfast and
thank you to everyone who donated to help our kids go to camp this summer!
• Thank you to Ken Heller and the council for finding a lawn mower for the parsonsage!
And thank you to all the volunteers who worked on the church and parsonage lawn to
prepare for spring!
• Thank you to Lee Bohnhoff for stepping in to lead the service on April 19th!
• Thank you to Joann Hallmark for donating a refrigerator to the church to replace our
broken one!
• Thanks be to God for the gifts and blessings of this past month!
OLC’S CALENDAR
MAY 2015
!
Sunday'
Monday'
April!26!
3!
9:00am
Worship
10:15
Sunday School
Ice Cream Social
3:00-6:00
OLC Volunteers at
1 Million Meals
(No Youth Group)
10!
MOTHER’S DAY
9:00 am Worship
Tuesday'
April!27!
April!28!
4!
6:30pm
Church
Council
Wednesday'
April!29!
5!
11:30
Senior
Luncheon
Thursday'
April!30!
6!
9:00
Bible Study
Friday'
Saturday'
May!1!
2!
8!
9!
14!
15!
8:00pm
AA Meeting
16!
21!
22!
8:00pm
AA Meeting
23!
7!
9:00-11:00
C.U.P.
8:00pm
AA Meeting
6:00pm
Confirmation
11!
12!
9:00-3:00
Quilt Class
13!
9:00
Bible Study
9:00-11:00
C.U.P
6:00pm
Confirmation
7:00 pm
Youth Group
17!
CONFIRMATION
SUNDAY
9:00 am Worship
18!
19!
9:00-3:00
Mission
Quilting
20!
9:00
Bible Study
9:00-11:00
C.U.P
7:00 pm
Youth Group
24!
PENTECOST
9:00 am Worship
25!
MEMORIAL !
DAY
7:00 pm
Youth Group!
31!
SYNOD
ASSEMBLY
9:00 am Worship
7:00 pm
Youth Group!
June!1!
6:30pm
!
Church
Council!
26!
27!
28!
9:00-11:00
C.U.P
9:30am
!
Pastor Andy
leads service
at Woods
Crossing!
June!2!
June!3!
June!4!
9:00
9:00-11:00
Bible Study
C.U.P!
9:00
Bible Study
!
29!
30!
8:00pm
SYNOD
AA Meeting!
ASSEMBLY
June!5!
8:00pm
!
AA Meeting!
June!6!