April 2005 Cornerstone

PASTOR WAYNE SEZ:

Top Ten Reasons Not To Go To Church

In his book “Loving Jesus” Dr. Mark Allen Powell gives a David Letterman style “Top 10” reasons Christianity is not attractive to teens and twenty-somethings. They are:

10.   It is out of fashion - it’s not what people on television and in magazine do.

9.      It is irrelevant to our daily lives.

8.      It is cumbersome and hard to understand.

7.      It is not an immediate concern. Attention to this can be postponed until there is more time.

6.      It doesn’t seem to hold up against science and history.

5.      It is too public – religion should be a private matter.

4.      It is too absolute – truth is relative and a matter of personal opinion.

3.      It is too authoritarian – I don’t want anybody or anything telling me what to think.

2.      It is all about morality that is outmoded and hypocritical. Even people who claim to

      believe it don’t practice it.

AND then number one reason that Christianity is not attractive to Teens and Twenties…

1.   It is boring.

Somewhere along the way we have gotten the idea that the reason we go to church is to get something out of it.  The teens and twenties have learned this not just from society but also from us.  If we were to ask the question “Why do you go to Church?” I suspect the answer might be an exciting program, great fellowship or inspiring sermons.  This would put us all on the track to become inactive members.  When inactives are asked the question “Why did you quit Church?” the answer is, “I just wasn’t getting anything out of it.”  Just the opposite of above, so when we stop getting something out of church, we can join them or go church shopping until we believe we will never find what we are looking for.

Well, if going to Church to get something out of it is not the right reason to go, what is?  As a child, I would complain about going to church. It was, after all, “boring.” My parents’ response was, “six days a week, God is good to us. On Sunday, God deserves our worship and thanks.”  Sunday is the Lord’s Day.  Do you remember the woman who poured a whole jar of perfume that would have cost her more money than one would make in their lifetime on the feet of Jesus?  Those watching said what a waste; there was a more practical less boring use for this perfume. But the women had encountered someone who changed her whole life; Jesus deserved this extravagant show of love. You see if you love something, you are willing to waste time on the object of your affection. You are willing to waste money on the object of your affection. Ask yourself this question, “Does God the Father who made you, the Son who redeems you and the Spirit who walks with you all 7 days a week deserve your worship?”  Then use Sundays to waste your time worshiping this triune God not because you are going to get something out of it, even though you will, but because God deserves your worship.

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Assisting Ministers

Paul Mueller

Ushers

Jim Claude, Dale Bollman, Sid Peterson

Counters                      

Roger and Linda Ericsson

WOMEN OF GRACE AND PEACE

5th Annual Retreat

April 15 & 16, 2005

Friday, 4:00 p.m. to Saturday 4:00 p.m.

Open to all Women of Grace and Peace, their family and friends...Come for this special weekend of renewal and relaxation. 

Deadline to register is April 6th.  We need four more women, or we will have to cancel.  Please call Sue Sylvester 444-7768.

Grace and Peace Women–You have a choice!!

1.   The Northern Conference Women’s Spring Event–NEW LIFE CELEBRATION–will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Toluca on Saturday, April 16, 2005, from 8:30a.m. to 1:00p.m.  The program, “Saving the World With Our Gifts,” will be presented by Nathan Ruby of Grace and Peace, Associate Director of ELCA World Hunger Appeal.  Information on the event, registration forms, and directions are on the bulletin board in the great room.  Registrations should be sent by April 5.

2.   April 15-16 is the annual Women’s Retreat sponsored by Miriam Circle.  The retreat is open to all women of Grace and Peace.  It is a weekend to relax, have someone else cook for you, and enjoy the friendship and companionship of women friends from Grace and Peace.  You can even climb a rock wall!  There are also Bible study opportunities and a study of the book The Red Tent, if you are interested.  A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the great room.

One way or the other…a great way to spend a Saturday!

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Many local organizations are addressing the growing problem of child abuse in our community.  The Pediatric Resource Center has made available blue ribbons for all of us at Grace and Peace to wear to show support for children and the effort to stop child abuse and neglect.  The blue ribbon is a symbol of hope!

And the Center for Prevention of Abuse is offering a Brown Bag Seminar entitled:  “Keeping Our Kids Safe:  Child Abduction and Abuse, ‘The Real Story’.”  This one-hour seminar will be presented on April 7 at noon and on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the training room at the Center located at 720 Joan Court.  Keeping kids safe is every parent’s desire,as well as the desire of all of us at Grace and Peace.  This course will help parents and community members identify warning signs of potential abuses, lures and tricks, media safety tips, indicators of abuse, and proper responses to a disclosure of abuse.  Call the Center at 691-0551 to register.   There is no charge for the seminar.  Wouldn’t it be great to never hear another horror story about child abuse on the television news!

Rachel’s Day

Women of the ELCA boldly speak up for children with the observance of Rachel’s Day the first Sunday in May.  The day took its name from Jeremiah 31:15-17 where Rachel grieves for her children.  Women of the ELCA boldly say that Rachel’s Day is a time to mourn the loss of our children and to renounce the forces of evil and fear that plague our nation.  We may or may not be parents or grandparents but this issue speaks to everyone’s heart.

Members of the Executive Board visited each of the circles at Grace and Peace and thoroughly enjoyed our time with these groups of women.  Each group welcomes and encourages women of Grace and Peace to participate in women’s ministry.  Perhaps your schedule doesn’t allow for regular attendance at a circle meeting.  However, please consider attending whenever you can.  Can’t make your own circle meeting that particular night?  Attend a different one at a more convenient date and time!  Each group has so much to offer and is very welcoming!

Prayer on Mondays

April 4

- Pray for all advocates, that they may receive strength for the journey.

- Give thanks for spring flowers, rain, and the beauty of nature.

- Pray for women of all ages in your congregation, that they may find the resources to treat themselves to the triennial gathering for fun, fellowship, and faith-enhancing opportunities.

April 11

- Pray for the work of Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange, and all others who are committed to fair trade for farmers, craftspeople, and workers throughout the world.

- Give thanks for all who serve and care for those with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities.

- Pray for women of the Saint Paul Area Synod meeting in convention.

April 18

- Pray for environmental efforts and your ability to learn the issues and act on behalf of all creation.

- Give thanks for sunrises and sunsets.

- Pray for participants in the Region 7 Women of the ELCA retreat in Esopus, N.Y., and women participating in the La Crosse Area Women of the ELCA convention.

April 25

- Pray for tsunami and other disasters survivors, especially the children that they may again find joy and security.

- Give thanks for people who care for themselves and about others.

- Pray for the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

Your Executive Board: Roxanne Hochsprung, Coordinator; Nancy Howerter, Secretary;  Linda Ericsson, Treasurer;  Ann Joyce, Helen Hamilton, Sandra Rodlund, and Ruth Grenzow, circle representatives

Women’s Circles

Ruth/Rachel Circle

April 5 - 10:00 a.m.

Sack Lunch - Meeting at Church

Priscilla  Circle

April 11 - 7:00 p.m.

Meeting at Home of Melissa Ruby

Miriam Circle

April 12 - 7:00 p.m.

Meeting at Church

Hostess – Roberta Dietrich

Rebecca Circle

April 11- 11:30 a.m

Sack Lunch - Meeting at Church

Laugh!  Relax!  Fellowship!  Friends!  Escape!

 
Ladies of Grace and Peace: Have you ever considered spending Friday night at the church…

 
* Building new friendships

* Nurturing your spirit

* Catching up on your reading

* Working on your scrap booking, knitting or other hobbies

* Looking at magazines or catalogs

* Getting lost in a great book

* Relaxing

* Getting away from it all–kids, chores, work, etc.

 
Please join us on Friday, April 22, 2005, at 7:00p.m. for the first “Feel Good Friday Night” at Grace and Peace Lutheran Church, sponsored by the Priscilla Circle.

 
Bring whatever you want to do (or nothing!), your favorite snack, and enjoy a fun, relaxing night out.  We encourage you to bring a friend.  Drinks will be provided.

 
Please contact Karla Murphy at 243-9775 with any questions.

YOUTH

Garage Sale & Bake Sale

 April 2, 2005

8:00a.m. - 3:00p.m.

All proceeds will support the youth’s summer mission trip to Cass Lake, Minnesota.  We will begin setting up for the sale on Wednesday, March 30 at 10:00 AM.  You are welcome to come and help—lunch will be provided.

Contact Laura Campagna at 274-4581 with any questions.

Coming Soon:

The New and Improved Kids In Christ

Beginning May 6th, Kids In Christ will begin meeting on the first Friday of every month from 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.  The senior and junior high youth will lead activities such as games, movies, songs, and crafts that will tie into a bible lesson for that evening. 

Our hope is that we will be able to include more of the youth of the congregation since we are moving the meeting time off of a school night.  We have not abandoned the choir, we will offer babysitting during the Thursday night choir practices. 

So, parents, get ready for a Friday night date, childfree shopping time, or perhaps even a nap.  Bring your children to Kids In Christ on the first Friday of every month starting in May!

Contact Laura Campagna at 274-4581 with any questions. 

aGAPe

Those 1600(!) 8” squares are turning into quilts.  We have many more to go but so far we do have 20 finished quilts.

We are delighted to welcome a new volunteer to our group, Joan Winter, who also works at JoAnn Fabrics so she has lots of experience.

The aGAPe days are on Wednesdays – April 6, and April 20 and will probably have both assembly of quilts and cutting going on in the various corners of the Great Room.

As usual we will gather about 11:30 a.m. for lunch and then work starts at noon.  Please bring your lunch and cutting tools.

LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS

The taste testing of soups from other countries was a great success.  Each of the Wednesday evening hosts and hostesses did a wonderful job with the ethnic soups, other soups, and goodies to round out the meals.

We sampled Tanzanian, Japanese, Kenyan, Slovakian, Norwegian, and German soups.  The recipes are available if someone needs them.  Please ask in the office.

Any leftover freewill offering after some expenses was donated to World Hunger.

EASTER LENTEN BREAKFASTS

More eating in Lent!  We hosted Salem Lutheran for the Wednesday 6:30 a.m. breakfasts and study of Psalm 23.

Thank you very much to all of those hosts and hostesses who were up in the early morning to make delicious meals for us.

Thank you to Laura Tomblin who designed and led the Bible study with assistance from 3 members of Salem.

Our 2 churches have been doing this Lenten study for over 20 years, and it continues to be a meaningful and fulfilling experience.

CLEAN-UP CREWS ON MARCH 18 & 19

Thank you to everyone who came and worked so hard to polish up our church edifice for spring and Easter.  Thank you to Carol Luecht who also fed her troops.  Now it is the job of everyone to help keep our building tidy and clean.

FROM THE LIBRARY

As April approaches remember the woman’s retreat held on April 15 and 16 which will use the book, The Red Tent, for a bible study.   We have the book in our library and thanks to Linda Ericsson, we also have the book on CD.

Books for our adult readers:

The perfect wife by Sheri MacDonald

Felicia is struggling to rebuild her life after a divorce, even though she tried to be the perfect wife.  She must now juggle her fledging career, housework and childcare.  She needs help, but is Brody Collins the one to help her?

The birds our teachers by John Stott

In this unique book, John Stott expands on Martin Luther’s exhortation from the Sermon on the Mount “Let the little birds be your theologians.”  This book was a gift from Laura Tomblin in memory of her father, Eilert Luecht.

michigan by Gail Gaymer Martin

In this Michigan location, four couples must decide if they will allow God to lead in their love lives.  Karen and Lional met along the battle line of feuding grandfathers; Mark cajoles Lana to go camping with teenagers; Sally, in a support group, is drawn to Brad and Laine’s life changes when she takes in an orphaned niece.

Books for our young readers:

Little Red car gets into touble by Matthew Price

For very young readers.  This book also has movable parts.

THE AIRSHIP by Teddy Ruxpin

Who will save the airship when it crashes?

SUNNY BUNNY COMES HOME

A grow and learn book.  When Marcella finds Sunny Bunny in the attic she puts him in her room with all the other toys.  Sunny Bunny watches as all the toys come to life.

DON’T LAUGH AT ME by Steve Seskin

Have you ever been laughed at, picked last for a team or laughed at someone else?  It’s time to change your ways.  There is also a CD in the back of the book.

These are all new books, so come and pick one out. 

We have lots of cards looking for their books.   

Check your bookshelves and closets and see if you might have one.

…The Bookworms

A Letter From Our Missionary

Lindsay Mack

Dear Friends,

It's Sunday night and three hundred degrees in Tegucigalpa (give or take a few) and I'm determined to nail down my letter to you all.  I just took my garbage out and some of you will be happy to know that I walked my garbage bags down the stairs and set them on the curb instead of dropping them from my balcony three stories above.  Indeed some of you have now heard of the time Keyra (the youth director from San Nicolas) and I dropped the garbage late one night from my balcony.  (It was very late and we felt uneasy about going outside).  Unfortunately, the second bag we dropped landed on the power line; we stared in gaping horror at the sagging cord, said a prayer that we wouldn't blow the neighborhood's electricity, and ran down the stairs.  Armed with a mop and broom, we frantically jumped and swung at the garbage bag until it fell.  Since the incident, I have again dropped the garbage from my balcony, but I'm working on reversing my reputation as the weird girl from the United States (though I live alone, run for exercise, have no television) so I now try to go the extra mile (or three flights of stairs) and walk the garbage to the curb.

 
My family, in a united effort to bolster me with a little support sent my brothers down to Central America to spend a few weeks with me this past month.  It was of course excellent to have them with me.  They sat in conferences and read novels while I participated in planning meetings with church leaders; they numbered books for the library while I hammered out the content of a women's workshop with Rubi; and they listened as Xiomara and I planned civic involvement events for the youth and bible studies about violence.  Pete hung out a ton with the youth, and Andrew taught the kids in Olancho how to hackey sack.  They watched me with shock as I drove the enormous truck through the crowded and crazy streets of Tegucigalpa.  At one point, returning from a community with peter and Rubi, we somehow managed to pick up a twin bed sized metal rack of bedsprings under the truck.  I don't know how long we had been dragging this bed through the streets of Comayuguela, but all of us were completely oblivious until an old man motioned us to the side of the road, told us we were dragging a bed, and in panic, I turned onto a one way street into the fruit market, floored the gas.  We managed to lose the bed (as mysteriously as we picked it up) and continued driving, breathing easier, until, at the next stoplight, I saw in my rearview mirror, two well-meaning men running after us dragging the bed thinking we had lost it!  I pleaded with the light to turn green, but before I could crawl through the intersection, the two men threw the bed into the truck, gave a friendly wave, and went on their way.  I managed a feeble gracias and a weak smile.

 
We have finally begun the new year of activities in the church here.  I am pleased to say that I am broadening my concentrated focus on youth to include work with women and children.  I say I am pleased, and I am, because with all of the workshops, pastoral visits, and communication with the youth groups in the past year, Xiomara and I have seen significant growth.  This is incredibly rewarding.  It's a little sad, however, to step down from my role with the youth though I happily relinquish it to several of the remarkable, talented, and capable youth leaders that have risen into leadership roles in the past year.  There is nothing more satisfying than walking into the offices and seeing a table with two or three youth leaders working together to plan a workshop or a bible study or an event.   I will certainly continue working with the youth, in part because it's with them that I have my strongest relationships. One of the current goals now is to begin identifying various female leaders in the communities and forming women's groups.  Hopefully in time, the women in the church will also see rewards, as the youth have seen, and be able to build on their successes.

 
I have also made several visits to the congregation in Olancho.  Happily in my last visit (two days ago) the church was full, the pastoral team in action, and the youth planning their next fundraiser.  In the next few months, we'll work on forming a stronger women's group and continuing to strengthen the youth group and of course working on our hackey sack skills with the kids. Please remember in your prayers this month the youth leaders in the various ICLH congregations.

 
With Hope,

Lindsay

 
Lindsay Mack
Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras
Apartado Postal 2861
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras, C.A.
 

MISCELLANEOUS

Coffee Hour Hosts for March

Share Food

April 3 & 10 - Share Sign-up

April 23 - Share Pick-up

May Cornerstone Deadline

April 24, 2005

April Key Person

Joyce Smith

April 3, 2005: Daylight Savings Time

GAPYA

Grace and Peace Young Adults will meet on April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at Mark and Shawn Priess’ home, 7511 N Miramar Dr.  Peoria  IL, 691-4797.  Bring snacks and drinks as desired.

Wanted: Bake Sale Items!!

For the Youth Garage Sale

April 2, 2005, 8a.m. to 3p.m.

Please leave your bake sale items at the church between 8a.m. and 3p.m. on March 30-April 1.

Grace and Peace Lutheran Congregation Council

March 15, 2005

PRESENT:  Paul Mueller, Pastor Shelksohn, Kelly Smet, Julie Smith, Sandy Peterson, Linda Ericsson, Carol Luecht, Mary Whitledge, Roberta Dietrich, Mark Rodlund, Richard Joyce and Janelle Houge.  President Paul Mueller called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Prayers were led by Pastor Shelksohn and a devotion was shared by Paul Mueller.

Sharing The Vision:  

The update from Laura Tomblin and the Labyrnith Committee will be next month.

AREAS OF MINISTRY AND BUSINESS

endowment – Their next meeting date will be in April.

evangelism – Pastor Shelksohn plans to have all of the Easter door hangers distributed by the end of the week.  A reminder to all the ministries to submit Ministry descriptions to Mike Murphy as soon as possible.

finance –Mark Rodlund reported that the church finances continue to be very favorable for the start of the year.  A new phone for Pastor was purchased and also a new computer for the secretary.  Salary recommendations for organists, pastors and secretaries were distributed.

long range planning – The building committee is now working with the architechts for the final design. 

nurture – A sign-up sheet for help to setup for the Easter Breakfast will be posted in the great room with a notice in the weekly bulletin.  No other report.

property –Carol Luecht explained the Cry Room design and will post the design on the bulletin board in the great room.  Motion was made by Mark Rodlund and seconded to begin the construction of the Cry Room as explained by Carol.  The motion passed.  Interviews for the janitor positions will begin after Easter.

stewardship – The committee met on March 7^th.  It was reported that the Stewardship moment was appreciated by the congregation and this will continue.

worship and music – No report.  Next meeting will be April 6^th.

youth  - Kelly reported that two participants and two helpers attended the Northern Conference “Be Like Jesus” weekend.  The garage sale times are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  A bake sale has been included.  Set up for the garage sale will begin on Wednesday, March 30^th.  Fund raising continues for the Mission Trip.

christian education – Minutes were reviewed.

community action –Workers are needed for the Habitat for Humanity House – Ground breaking is May 7th.  More information will be provided in the newsletter.  The Red Cross Blood drive was cancelled due to lack of participants.  Another one will be held in the Fall for late afternoon.  Crop Walk is April 24th, see Chris Mitchell to volunteer.  Linda gave a short description of the Moon Walk which is a health awareness program and discussed the possibility of starting the program at Grace and Peace.

OLD BUSINESS

Coffee Hour on April 3, 2005 will be hosted by the Property and Long Range Ministries.  A short description will be put in the bulletin explaining their ministries.

minutes – The Minutes of the February 15^th , 2005 meeting were accepted as written.

women of grace and peace –Paul read a report from the Women’s Executive Council – Highlights:  Rachel’s Day – May 6^th; Mother/Daughter Banquet- June 23^rd; LWGP Style Show was a success with a final total profit of approximately 13,000.

pastor’s report – Pastor reviewed his report.  Pastor will be Spirtual Guide for the men’s Via De Christo April 21-24.  Mark Rodlund will fill the pulpit for Pastor on that Sunday.  Pastor stated that attendance is down and he would like to address the church time of 8:30 a.m. which may be too early with only one service.

executive council – Met and set agenda. 

Next Council Meeting is April 19, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.  Executive Meeting is April 11, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.  A motion was made to adjourn.  The Council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Theresa Montgomery, Recording Secretary

Page content last updated: April 4, 2005

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