March 2015 - Christ Church Lutheran

The
COURIER
March 2015
Volume 58, No. 3
Welcome to the Light
Lenten Vespers
Sunday 8 March | 4:30pm
2015 COMMUNITY PARTNER
Lutheran Summer Music
Scholarship Fund
The Elm Ensemble & Christ Church Choir
Paul Westermeyer, guest conductor
On the third Sunday in Lent, we gather in a service
of evening prayer to sing a timeless liturgy and hear a
performance of Bach’s Cantata 12, Weinen, Klagen,
Sorgen, Zagen.
Clara Osowski alto | Roy Heilman tenor
Aaron Larson bass
The Elm Ensemble performs the music of early
Lutheranism in liturgical contexts. Paul Westermeyer
is Professor of Church Music Emeritus at Luther
Seminary in Saint Paul, where he directed the Master
of Sacred Music degree program. He was Visiting
Professor of Church Music at Yale University’s Institute of Sacred Music and Editor of The Hymn.
A freewill offering for the Lutheran Summer Music Scholarship Fund (see right) will be received during the service.
Molly Boes, who worships at Christ Church, works with
this wonderful program—a way for us to help make a
difference in the lives of talented young people.
Founded in 1981, the Lutheran Summer Music
Academy and Festival (LSM) is a four-week
residential training and performance program for
gifted high school students. Each summer, LSM
brings together over 150 band, orchestra, choir,
and keyboard students from the US and abroad in
a supportive, intentional community. Students in
grades 8–12 live together on a college campus and
focus on musical excellence, faith formation, and
personal growth. Financing a young musician’s
journey to LSM is no small endeavor—tuition
for LSM 2014 was $3,195. Last summer, LSM
awarded more than $145,000 in need-based assistance and merit-based scholarships to more than
80% of its students. Learn more about this important ministry at www.lutheransummermusic.org.
Midweek Lenten Worship
Show me your ways, O Lord
Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25
Paul Westermeyer
11:30am Morning Prayer in the chapel
followed by lunch at noon
7:00pm, Evening Vespers in the chapel
preceded by supper at 6:00pm
Christ Church Lutheran
Announcements
3244 34th Avenue South
Retirees
Minneapolis, MN 55406
No regular meeting this month.
Come to Lenten midweek service
at 11:30am Wednesday 25 February followed by soup lunch.
612.721.6611
[email protected]
www.christchurchluth.org
A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation | A National Historic Landmark
Office Hours
Monday–Friday 9:00 am–2:00pm
Funeral
Long-time member Edna Bull
passed away Wednesday 28 January. The family is planning a spring
memorial service.
Worship
Sunday 9:30 am, followed by fellowship
Educational forum 11:15am–12:15pm
September through June
Staff
Pastors
Pastor Kristine Carlson
Pastor Erik Haaland
Cantors
Pastor Robert Farlee
Pastor Martin Seltz
Office
Stephanie Okoneski
Facilities
Chuck Merrell
Courier Editor
Josh Messner
Council Officers
President
Bob Victorin-Vangerud
Vice President
Hilary Gebauer
Secretary
Pat Baehler
Treasurer
Colin Watkins
Council Members
Marcus Nooney
Kevin Reuther
Luann Skrivseth
Will Stark
2
Helping Hands
March/April
John & Birgitte Christianson
Daniel Holmgren
Harvey & Cheryl Leuning
Melody Pauling
Howard & Erla Polsfuss
Joanne & Martin Seltz
Cliff Siewert
Gary & Luann Skrivseth and
family
Dick & Elayne Strom
Robert Swanson
Gary & Janice Wahlstrom
If you are named in the above helping
hands chart, please help with Sunday
morning coffee fellowship in the form
of set up, clean up, or treats. Contact
Mary Bode or Joanne Seltz for details.
[email protected] | [email protected]
Finances Update
The finance committee wants to provide you with the most current information about our congregation’s
finances. In addition to other communications, we will provide a quick report on the state of our operating
budget in each issue of The Courier.
The biggest news in the world of Christ Church finances this month is the installment of a new treasurer, Colin
Watkins. He was installed on 15 February but has been working behind the scenes with outgoing treasurer Melody
Pauling for the preceding six months to ensure a smooth transition. Be sure to say thank you to Melody for her
dedicated service and introduce yourself to Colin if you haven’t met him yet.
as of January 31, 2015
Member Giving/Envelopes
Other Income
Total Income
Total Expenses
Total Surplus (or Deficit)
ACTUAL
BUDGET (1 mo.)
DIFFERENCE
$20,695.00
$25,000.00
($4,305.00)
$2,158.38
$6,623.82
($4,465.44)
$22,853.38
$31,623.82
($8,770.44)
$28,968.52
$31,625.20
($2,656.68)
($6,115.14)
($1.38)
($6,113.76)
Mardi Gras jazz concert a success. More on page 6.
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of sturdy hand rails at the main church doors. They are
designed as temporary solutions to help us discern a more
permanent installation. We want to know what you think.
Please talk to a member of the preservation committee
or project management task force about your thoughts
on the location, size and design of this new addition.
Many thanks to Bob Davis for arranging for the fabrication of temporary hand rails. The finished product will
be funded by the Second Century Campaign.
From the February 17 Council Meeting
This was the first meeting of the 2015 church council.
New members are Marcus Nooney and Colin Watkins.
We began with devotions, using the devotion for Ash
Wednesday from the Grace and Peace Lenten devotional book that is available to all households in the
congregation. It was suggested that when attending to
any Lenten discipline like devotions, we keep in mind
that others among us are also keeping the discipline.
Committee members: Aaron Amosson, Mary Bode,
Bob Davis, Jody McGuire, Joanne Seltz, Rita Schoenike, Will Stark, and Bob Victorin-Vangerud.
We discussed our recent retreat and what we learned.
We read together chapter 12 of our church constitution,
outlining the responsibilities of the congregation council,
one of which is establishing goals for the congregation. In
light of that responsibility we spent a little time discussing
goals. We identified two at this point: (1) integrate new
members as fully as possible into the life of the congregation and (2) make our communication even more
nimble and up to date. This last goal includes communicating within the congregation about opportunities to
be involved as well as communicating to the broader
community about who we are and what is going on here.
We will continue this conversation at future meetings.
Bottom
The council voted to set up a task force with the purpose
of developing a plan for a music program for children.
This task force would investigate such programs in
other congregations and discuss with parents here what
they would like to see happen and what kind of format
would work with family schedules.
A Play about Sex Trafficking in Minnesota
Saturday, March 14 at 7:00pm
Minnehaha Academy, 3100 West River Pkwy
Written by members of Blank Slate Theatre in partnership with the Interfaith Children’s Advocacy Network
If the demand for sex trafficking were to end, would the
supply end too? Recently defected from a sex trafficking ring, Amber Cregg has immunity and a story to tell.
Will she cooperate and aid the side of justice, or will she
continue her deep allegiance to her former pimp?
We received reports from our pastors and from various
committees and task forces. There is much good work
going on. We adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.
Something New at Our Front Door
The production of this play is sponsored by Christ
Church Lutheran along with neighboring congregations, the Longfellow Faith Forum, and the Longfellow
Community Council. Learn about this important issue
affecting our community. The play is free and open to
the public. Freewill donations will be accepted. A panel
discussion featuring experts on the issue of human trafficking in Minnesota will follow the performance.
We don’t want stepping into our sanctuary’s front door
to be an obstacle. We have heard from some long-time
members who find making the one step up or down
from the main sanctuary doors to the arcade to be a challenge without the aid of handrails. We’ve also watched
visitors who are unfamiliar with our building stumble
at the surprise step. In the coming weeks you will see
our attempts to remedy this problem by the installation
4
2015 Minnesota Foodshare
March Campaign
Once again, the mission committee will sponsor a March
foodshare drive for Community Emergency Service
(CES). This year we are collecting food, hygiene products, baby supplies, and cash donations. Look for details
in upcoming bulletin announcements.
From the CES website:
CES served over 70,000 client visits last year giving
over half a million pounds of food. But the need continues. Hunger is hidden: seniors quietly skip meals so that
they can buy life-sustaining medications, parents quietly
skip meals so their children can eat, and hungry children
struggle in school. One in ten Minnesotans—more than
500,000 residents—experience food insecurities on a
regular basis.
Congratulations, Rita Schoenike
After working at the VA Hospital for twenty-seven
years—most recently managing the Workers Compensation Program—Rita retired on January 31, 2015.
In last year's March campaign, 19,946 pounds of food
and hygiene items were collected and $81,869 was
raised. This year our goal is to collect 25,000 pounds of
food and hygiene items and raise $100,000.
Rita is a lifelong member of Christ Church Lutheran.
Best wishes for a happy retirement.
—Mission Committee
Sermon on the Steps, 8 February 2015
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the concert, allowing all of the offering collected to go
to LSS. In addition, we had media sponsorship from
Jazz 88 FM and special promotion by the Longfellow
Market. Thanks to all these generous sponsors. Thanks
to all our volunteers—especially Roger Gomoll, who
had the vision for this event and worked tirelessly to
make it happen.
Mardi Gras Concert a Success
Thanks to all who helped make the Mardi Gras Jazz
Concert on 15 February such a wonderful success. Despite
the cold weather, we had a great turnout with many new
people visiting from the neighborhood and beyond. The
program featured some of the best jazz musicians in the
area—and we raised over $3,600 for Lutheran Social
Service Metro Homeless Youth Services!
Finally, thanks to Mary Brown, Luther Johnson, LSS
Congregational Relations, and the Christ Church
Mission Committee for putting together a fabulous
Mardi Gras reception—including New Orleans-style
King Cake!
Because of the generosity of many at Christ Church
(including a gift from the Friends of Christ Church
Lutheran) we were able to fully cover the expenses of
6
Godly Play
Here are Chloe, Tatum, Matias,
and Isis in the Godly Play class on
Sunday 22 February. Donna Lindberg was the storyteller. She told
the children the story of the Holy
Family. Donna said that, after listening to the story, “the children got out
pieces from other Bible stories— the
Ur and Haran blocks, the chain from
the Exodus, some stones and also
some of the people of God—and
had a wonderful exchange going
about burying people in the desert
and building statues with rocks and
Mary having a baby and donkeys
and sheep and Christ dying on the
cross. It was amazing.” Yi-ru ChenSarkanen was the doorkeeper that
Sunday. We are grateful for the way
our children and teachers are taking
these Bible stories to heart—and
their relationships with one another,
too—and forming a really fine Godly
Play experience.
March Birthdays
3/7
3/8
3/9
3/10
3/11
3/12
3/13
3/14
3/16
3/18
3/19
Julia Boser
Gloria Sutherland
Joel Eisfelder
Shirley Miller
Michael Bergquist
Jason Wyatt
Ted Buegel
Greg Madson
Denise Morelock
Jody McGuire
Renee Bergquist
Wendy Noakes
Margaret Graebner
Pat Baehler
Loralei Brekhus
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3/30
3/21
3/22
3/23
3/24
3/26
3/27
3/28
3/30
Kristine Browder
Christine Bier
Vivian Bartsch
Ann Davis
Pete Gawreluk
Virginia Buegel
Howard Polsfuss
Sally Messner
June Woestehoff
Max McGlothlin
Phyllis Mattill
Mary Lou Doll
Andrew Hokkanen
Avis Swenson
Welcome, New Members
Betsy Ruth Byers was born in Shakopee in September of 1979. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Visual
Studies with an emphasis in painting from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a BA from Saint
Olaf College in Northfield, and her k–12 Art Education
Licensure from Saint Catherine University in Saint
Paul. Betsy is currently an Assistant Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter. Before arriving
at Gustavus, she taught at MCAD, Saint Catherine
University, and Saint Cloud State University. Betsy’s
abstract paintings have been shown both nationally
and internationally. She has exhibited at the Minnesota Museum of American Art, De Vos Art Museum,
Hillstrom Museum of Art, University of Connecticut,
Intermedia Arts, University of Wisconsin River Falls,
the Soap Factory, Burnet Gallery, Augsburg College,
and the University of Minnesota–Morris. Betsy was
featured in the film Painting the Place Between,
produced in 2013 by Carbon Mouse Studios and is
represented by the Kolman and Pryor Gallery. Other
than painting, her passions include spending time with
her son and husband, as well as hiking, traveling and
being “up north.”
Betsy, Gus, and Matthew Byers
Matthew Byers is a practicing architect and principal
at PLAAD, llc, a multidisciplinary design firm based
in Stillwater. Prior to helping found PLAAD, Matt
worked at a number of architectural firms in Minneapolis, including Architectural Alliance, 20 Below Studio,
and James Dayton Design. Matt serves on the board of
directors of the Minnesota Environmental Fund and as
an adjunct instructor in the University of Minnesota’s
School of Architecture, teaching design studio and
courses in furniture design and the history of ornament.
Matt graduated from the Yale School of Architecture in
2006 and, after a 14,000-mile summer road trip with his
wife, Betsy, visiting many of our great nation’s national
parks, moved to Minneapolis with Betsy so that she
could pursue her Master of Fine Arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Matt studied physics
and swam at Colorado College in Colorado Springs,
Colorado. Matt and Betsy met while studying in Florence and London and later worked together as summer
camp counselors at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible
Camp in Amery, Wisconsin. Born in Englewood, Colorado, in 1979, Matt has also lived in Eugene, Oregon,
and Mukilteo, Washington, a small town north of Seattle. Matt has a passion for backcountry backpacking,
hiking, camping, skiing, swimming, collecting rocks
and minerals, carpentry and woodworking, and weekend coffee and walks with his wife and son.
Carmen O’Halloran, Jason Weber, Alvin Weber
Raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Carmen came to
Minnesota to attend Macalester College and then the
University of Minnesota Law School. She now works
for the State of Minnesota as a law clerk to a judge at the
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Hennepin County Juvenile Justice Center. In her spare
time, Carmen is an improviser with a group called the
Theater of Public Policy.
Second Century
Hailing from Elkader, Iowa, Jason attended Central
College in Pella. He is a computer programmer at
Thrivent Financial. Jason enjoys officiating high
school and college sports, particularly football.
Campaign Kick-Off
Pancake Breakfast Sunday 1 March
after worship
in the gym
reservations
requested
learn about
the campaign
Jason and Carmen were married in August 2013 and
became parents of Alvin Weber on 1 July 2014. The
family lives about a mile west of Christ Lutheran.
Jason and Carmen first heard about Christ Church
last summer through the church's outreach booth at
the Midtown Farmers' Market. They decided to join
because of the warm and welcoming people they
have met here.
all are welcome!
Lori Rosenkvist
Lori Rosenkvist lives in Saint Paul’s Midway district
and enjoys the proximity to the Minnesota State Fair
and occasional view of the fireworks. Lori is an editor
for Logos Productions, which develops resources
for worship and faith formation. Her adult daughter,
Claire, lives in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of
Saint Paul.
S e c o n d
Century
Campaign
9
Upcoming Educational Forums
Sundays 11:15am
Lectionary Readings
March 2015
Sunday 1 March
Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38
Sunday 8 March
Third Sunday in Lent
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
John 2:13-22
Sunday 15 March
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10
John 3:14-21
Sunday 22 March
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33
Sunday 29 March
Sunday of the Passion
Mark 11:1-11
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Mark 15:1-47
Editor Wanted
The communication committee is
seeking an editor for The Courier, a
monthly communication of our rich
life together at Christ Church Lutheran.
Familiarity with InDesign is helpful.
If you are considering this volunteer
position, contact Pastor Carlson.
1 March
Second Century Campaign
Kick-Off Brunch
Celebrate the launch of our new capital campaign with a pancake brunch
immediately following worship. It
is an invitation to the whole congregation to celebrate our upcoming
fundraising efforts for the new organ,
for our building, and for mission
projects. Receive important information and celebrate the beginning of
this community-wide endeavor.
8 March
Bach’s Cantata 12
Paul Westermeyer
Ahead of this year’s signature Music
Series event—Lenten Vespers
including Bach’s Cantata 12,
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen—
come to this forum exploring Bach’s
music. Dr. Paul Westermeyer, who
will conduct Cantata 12 that evening,
will lead us through Bach’s texts
and music, with special attention
to Bach’s deep theological insights.
In addition, Molly Boes will speak
briefly about the Lutheran Summer
Music Scholarship Fund, the recipient of this event’s freewill offering.
15 March
Breaking Free
On Saturday 14 March, Christ Church
joins neighboring congregations and
the Longfellow Faith Forum in sponsoring a local production of Blank
Slate Theater’s “Bottom,” a play
about sex trafficking in our communities. As a companion learning
opportunity, join us for this forum
led by Teresa Forliti of Breaking
Free, an organization in Saint Paul
that works to help women escape
this form of modern day slavery. A
difficult but important topic with
local and state-wide significance.
22 March
Images of the Cross
Robert Brusic and Tom Mundahl
The cross in Christian theology is an
object of reverence and beauty. Tom
Mundahl and Robert Brusic explore
the art of the cross in an illustrated talk
called “The Paradox of the Cross—
Beauty and Wonder.” Mundahl is
a retired Lutheran pastor. Brusic is
pastor emeritus of Luther Seminary.
29 March
The Psalms of Holy Week
Daniel Rinehart
The Psalms are the ancient book
of prayer and song for both Christians and Jews; when we pray them,
we join with the church and synagogue all the way back to the time
of Jesus and beyond. Daniel Rinehart, a senior at Luther Seminary,
will lead a study of some of the
psalms that Jesus and his disciples
prayed during Jesus’s last days and
hours and that now help to shape
our worship during Holy Week.
Upcoming Godly Play
Our Sunday School program for children ages 3–12 will run Sundays 8,
15, 22, and 29 March at 11:05am. On Sunday 1 March, please come to
the Second Century Campaign Kickoff Brunch.
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11
12
Phyllis Mattill
Lucille Buelow
Sarah Brunsvold
Donna Gawreluk
Pat Baehler
Pat Baehler
Phyllis Mattill
Jan Radloff
Chuck Merrell
Mary Bode
Phyllis Mattill
Jason Bergquist
Lucille Buelow
Jason Bergquist
Chuck Merrell
Jan Radloff
Jason Bergquist
April 5
April 4
Phyllis Mattill
Chuck Merrell
Sarah Brunsvold
Simo Sarkanen
Jason Bergquist
Pat Baehler
Vigil of Easter - 8:30 pm
April 3
Donna Gawreluk
Donna Gawreluk
Mary Bode
Good Friday - 7:00 pm
April 2
Maundy Thursday - 7:00 pm
March 29
March 22
March 15
Phyllis Mattill
Pat Baehler
Donna Gawreluk
Jan Radloff
March 9
Phyllis Mattill
Simo Sarkanen
March 1
Acolytes
Assisting Ministers
Date
Volunteer Schedule
Gene Bruss
Melody Pauling
Cathy Sieving
Max Herzberg
Clayton Smith
Daniel Holmgren
Melody Pauling
Crucifer
Daniel Holmgren
Simo Sarkanen
Mary Lou Doll
Daniel Rinehart
Clayton Smith
Sarah Brunsvold
Lynn Larson
Max Herzberg
DeAne Lagerquist
Lectors
Bob Davis
Dick Thompson
Dave Kutzbach
Michael Jefferis
Gary Wahlstrom
Dan Mueller
Greg Madson
Bob Davis
Jeff Weispfenning
Gary Skrivseth
Dick Thompson
Dave Kutzbach
Gary Wahlstrom
Dan Mueller
Head Ushers
Naomi Bruesehoff
Mary Bode
Luann Skrivseth
Samantha, Chloe Rice
Bob & Ute Swenson
Mary Bode
Luann Skrivseth
Kevin Olsen
Will Stark
Dick Bruesehoff
Naomi Bruesehoff
Greeters
Sunday Worship Services - 9:30 a.m.