May 2005 Cornerstone

PASTOR WAYNE SEZ

A Statement by LWF President Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and Lutheran World Federation General Secretary Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko:
 
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, 78, was elected pope on Tuesday afternoon, April 19, at about 5:50 p.m., white smoke and ringing bells proclaimed that on the second day of the conclave, the 115 cardinals assembled in the Sistine Chapel had agreed on a successor for John Paul II.

 
Statement by The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches, upon the election of Pope Benedict XVI:

 
At the election of Pope Benedict XVI it is appropriate for Christians to be united in prayer that God may bless, strengthen and guide him as a heavy mantle of responsibility is now being put upon him.

 
History has shown in so many ways the impact of the Roman Pontiff on the direction of events both in church and in society. At the present time we see especially the urgency of processes of reconciliation across religious, ethnic and economic divides. The main contribution of the churches in the face of this common challenge is the message of God’s free, justifying grace, with its many spiritual and social consequences. The significance of this message was ecumenically recognized five years ago when the Lutheran - Roman Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed.

 
By God’s grace the value of the human person is immeasurable. It must not be violated by religiously-based aggression or by abuses of economic or military power. Human dignity must be protected from continuing gender-based oppression. The ravages of preventable illnesses must be curbed by social development and adequate ethical guidance. Faced with these challenges and many others, the new pope will be expected not only to continue the many contributions of his predecessor, but also to provide new strategies where such are needed.

 
The unity of the church, prayed for by Christ himself, is an important goal to strive for, which will also be a major contribution to the unity of humankind. Pope Benedict XVI will meet strong expectations in this area as well, since the hope for Christian unity calls for significantly new approaches. As Lutherans we expect especially that ecumenical progress can be made on the basis of the substantial theological agreements that have been achieved through 40 years of international Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue – particularly with regard to justification, ministry and sacraments. Let us pray together that God may show us ways forward by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 
As Pope Benedict XVI prepares to assume his high spiritual and temporal responsibilities, The Lutheran World Federation – A Communion of Churches accompanies him with the prayer that he will be given the grace to continue the ministry of his predecessors in a process of steady renewal, for the benefit of the church universal, and of humanity.

 
Chicago and Geneva, 19 April 2005

 
Bishop Mark Hanson President

Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko General Secretary

SERVING IN WORSHIP

Ushers

Brian Smith

Jeffrey Smith

Dick Joyce

Gene Norris

Dick Hartnett

Counters            

Nancy Claude and Vicki Bittner

RACHEL’S DAY: JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

May 1, 2005

The blue ribbon is a symbol of hope to show support for children and the effort to stop child abuse and neglect.  Remember to wear your blue ribbon or you may pick up one at church that morning.  Please pray for all children who suffer from abuse and neglect this month.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

May 15, 2005

We invite the congregation to wear red on this Sunday.  We will also be giving two religious Scout awards to Zachary and Nicholas Benefield.  We would like all scouts, boys and girls, to wear their uniforms on Pentecost Sunday.

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM/CONFIRMATION

May 29, 2005

Sunday, May 29th, during our worship service Jacob Bridgewater will be affirming the work of the Holy Spirit began in his life at Baptism.  A reception in his honor will be served following the service.  Everyone is invited to attend to rejoice with Jacob and his family on this special occasion.  Please remember Jacob in your prayers.

OUR GRADUATES

High School

Annie Farris

Jacob Hughes

Robyn Creasy

Sydney Jarrett

8th Grade

Jacob Bridgewater

SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

No Sunday School classes

Memorial Weekend - May 29th

No Sunday School Classes

during the summer months, June - August

OUTSIDE WORK

Clean-up Day

Saturday, May 7th

 8:00 a.m.-Noon

The Property Ministry needs one more team of 3-4 people each for mowing.  Each team only mows once a month.  Your church needs you.

“DECADE” BIRTHDAYS

Recognition contributions from Rebecca Circle have been received for three funds:  Evangelism, Choir Music, and New Sanctuary in honor of special “decade” birthdays of the following:

Marion Carlstedt

Ruth Grenzow

Louise Cheatham

THANK YOU

Barb and I are so grateful for our church family.  We have been so uplifted and supported by your prayers, cards and memorial gifts.  We thank God for my Dad’s life and for the resurrection.  God bless and keep each of you.

Pastor Dick Hanson

YOUTH

Coming Soon:

The New and Improved Kids In Christ

Beginning May 6th, Kid’s 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. 

Vacation Bible School

Sunday, July 31-Thursday August, 4th

 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Sandra Rodlund and Janelle Houge are the directors.  Stay tuned for additional information about how you can participate as a leader, student and spiritual supporter!

WOMEN OF GRACE AND PEACE

If you have been reading these articles by now you must realize how active and committed the women of Grace and Peace are!  There are so many things going on this spring at Grace and Peace involving the women of the church.  We will observe Rachel’s Day on Sunday, May 1.  Many of our members are participating in the Race for the Cure.  We will be hosting the Lutheran Home Birthday Party.  We will be serving a coffee hour.  We will be working with Habitat for Humanity.  And we will be planning for the Grace and Peace Mother/Daughter Banquet.  Isn’t it great to be part of women’s ministry!

Looking ahead to mother/daughter banquet on June 23, the theme is “Wear Red”.  Think of something—anything—to wear that is red!  And plan to come and have a good time!

The Board is talking about the formation of a new women’s circle or group!  This group would be in addition to the ones already in existence and would be on a different night of the week than any of the current circles.  If you are not currently part of a women’s group or would like to attend more than one circle, please watch the Cornerstone for the date of a first meeting.  And of course, if you have any preferences/suggestions/comments as to day of the week, circle name, topics, projects, etc., please let one of us know!

We had a wonderful retreat at Living Springs Campground!  If you weren’t there, too bad you weren’t able to attend!  There was lively discussion of the book The Red Tent led by Lana Staelens.  Jan Jarrett led a Bible study on trust.  There was a boisterous game of Taboo that lasted until 1:30 a.m.!  Not to mention walks in the sunshine; climbing the rock wall; and delicious home cooked meals.  It was wonderful to converse and relate to each other.  One interesting spur of the moment activity was composing our own poem.  Edell Berg read a poem entitled “I Am” that deeply touched all of us.  We decided to each write a line that began with the words ‘I Am’ and compile it into one composition

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

May 3 - 10:00 a.m.

Meeting at Church

Sack Lunch

Priscilla Circle

May 9  - 7:00 p.m.

Janelle Houge’s Home

Miriam Circle

May 10 - 7:00 p.m.

Kay Bartholomew’s Home

Rebecca Circle

May 9 - 11:30 a.m.

Meeting at Church

Sack Lunch

aGAPe

We had almost perfect attendance on March 30 when we had 11 volunteers working on our quilts.  The church was a beehive of activity with set-up for the Gently Used Sale going on in the sanctuary, a special project for the Church Mouse in the back classroom, and aGAPe in the Great Room.  All three projects were a great success.

Information from Lutheran World Relief is really exciting and overwhelming.  In 2004, material resources sent to 14 countries weighed 1,500 tons and was worth $13 million –

356,440 quilts, 141,655 school kits,

102,900 health kits, 25,875 sewing kits,

53,400 layettes, 101,760 pounds of soap,

and 615,330 pounds of clothing.

The aGAPe days are on Wednesdays – May 4, and May 25, and will probably have both assembly of quilts and cutting going on in the various corners of the Great Room.  We are pleased to be part of such a worthy project and have 40 quilts so far.  As usual we gather about 11:30 a.m. for lunch and then work starts at noon.  Please bring your lunch and cutting tools.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Grace and Peace is pleased to share Roxanne Hochsprung with the Center for Prevention of Abuse. Last month she was named “Volunteer of the Year” and received an award for 517 hours of service in less than 1 year.

Roxanne first became aware of the many programs of the Center last year when representatives of it came to a coffee hour at church.  They came to thank us and give descriptions and information because our Endowment Fund had given them a grant in the 2003 granting year.

That one grant made it possible for 2 chronic abusers to go through a program of retraining of behavior.  The Center claims a 94% success rate, which certainly changes lives for the better.

Roxanne began 80 hours of training in March of ’04 and has become a medical advocate.  This means when she is on call she may go to the hospital in the middle of the night to assist a victim of domestic abuse who is injured.  In her year she has ministered to 20 people who had no other recourse for help.

The Center for Prevention of Abuse began as Women’s Strength over 30 years ago with a hotline and now has a new building designed especially for them and 5 major programs of assistance for those who are surrounded by violence.

Women Strength – domestic violence

Youth Strength – prevention education

Senior Strength – advocates for senior clients

Inner Strength – men’s behavioral training program regarding sexual abuse

Family Strength – intervention in battery cases

We know Roxanne has made a difference in this world.  Congratulations to her and Wally who supports her in this volunteer work.

LIBRARY TREASURES…

May is a month for new beginnings. 

Nature is painting a picture before us with all the colors of the rainbow.

Books for our young readers:

My first picture book about god by Stephanie Jeffs and Roma Bishop

See all the beauty of God’s creation.

WALT DISNEY’S THUMPER’S LITTLE SISTERS

Even bunnies have problems with little sisters.

MY PLACE by Sue Whiting

Six bug friends go exploring.

Books for our adult readers:

For those readers who have followed the Beverly Lewis Books about the Amish sisters from Lancaster County Pennsylvania.

THE SACRIFICE by Beverly Lewis

THE PRODIGAL by Beverly Lewis

Bryson City seasons by Walt Larimore, M.D.

Dr. Larimore takes us on another adventure to a simpler, more wholesome way of life.  We look at a young doctor beginning his rural medical practice.

Remember our June booksale. 

If you have any books to donate please leave them in the library. 

The sale will last during the month of June.

…The Bookworms

A LETTER FROM OUR MISSIONARY, LINDSAY MACK

Dear Friends,

 
Hello from Honduras!  This month is flying, as is this morning, so I'm going to jump into this letter.

 
Do you remember Keyra?  The youth director I mentioned in my last letter?  Keyra, for the handful of new people receiving this letter, is the 22 year old youth director and evangelist in a small rural community called San Nicolas in eastern Honduras.  Every 15 days I travel to San Nicolas to offer pastoral support to the church and community.  Obviously, I spend a great deal of time with Keyra, her mom, Leticia, and her family.  This letter, I'm suddenly realizing, is going to be one very long intro to a prayer request.

 
Samuel and I arrived in Olancho Saturday afternoon of Easter Sunday weekend and immediately after the turning off the highway, we rolled the windows up. The dirt road was so dry it was like driving through a field of talcum powder.  "This," I told Samuel laughing, "is what it is like to drive in the snow."  Indeed the dust was so thick that, mingled with all the smoke from the burning fields, it actually shaded the sun.

 
We arrived in san Nicolas with sweat leaving trails on our dirt powdered faces.  Everything was brown and hot and tired and coated with dust.  NaNa, Alan, Junior, Pelon, and Nicole, Leticia's grandchildren were tearing around outside when we arrived and ran screaming to the house, "they're here! They're here!!"

 
We arrived into a water crisis.  Unfortunately common, there had been no water in the community for almost three full weeks, and as a result, the entire community was hot and tired and tense.well, about as tense as rural Hondurans can be!

 
I found Keyra in the church in the back room restacking hymnals, taking inventory.  We leaned together on the window sill in silence for a long time."So she's going." I finally said."yep," she responded quietly. "Sunday night.  3am." Easter Sunday night.  It's a community exodus, really.  In this journey, seven people left:  Moncha, Belkey, Lupe's daughter, 2 of Keyra's uncles, Jessi, and a 19 year old boy that I had never met.  They were leaving in the dead of the night, terrified, heartbroken, desperate, mojados, illegal for the United States.

 
At this point, I look here at the computer screen and try to figure out how to explain to you why they are leaving and crossing illegally into the United States.  It's not because they want the life they see in Hollywood movies with big cars, blonde girls, and fat wallets.  They leave because there is nothing here.

 
I can romanticize the simplicity of poverty, the conventional, rural way of life, cooking beans, feeding the chickens, sweet country communities that rise with the sun and relax in the evenings.  But let's be realistic.  Unemployment is escalating, salaries are dropping and land is worthless.  Coffee values almost nothing on the international market, rice harvested in southern California is cheaper to buy than rice harvested in the Juticalpa.  Public education costs are increasing, soon there will be no generic medicines available in Honduras.  Gasoline costs over $3.50 a gallon and so all transportation costs have hit the roof.  Families are sliding further into poverty; children have big bellies and brittle blonde hair. Their legs are scaly and dry from malnutrition. Hondurans leave to escape this hopelessness.  They leave with the hope of supporting their families that cannot leave.  They leave the violence, the AIDS, and this world that breaks the fighters.  They leave this genocide of poverty.

 
Let me just clarify something here.  The Lutheran church here does not advocate that people leave illegally for the States.  They encourage people to fight, to sacrifice for their education, to work and save and try.  But the church is also aware that sometimes the situation is too desperate and too heartbreaking and so, we hold these individuals that leave illegally in our arms, cry with them as they prepare to leave their communities, and pray to God to have mercy on their lives as they make the perilous journey North.

 
Saturday night in Olancho, we celebrated Easter Worship and the resurrection of Christ.  I spoke of Mary Magdalene and her journey to the tomb in the darkness of Easter morning.  I spoke of her hope that had been crucified three days earlier.  She was desperate and tired.  But, it this story, God resurrects her hope and carries her from the darkness.  We spoke as a community of what it means to feel the darkness and to feel as though all hope as been crucified.  And then we spoke of God's promise to resurrect our hope and bring us into the light.

 
That night at three in the morning, we all stood together outside and bid the seven community members farewell.  Moncha held her three children and left them with Keyra.  We drove into Juticalpa and I left them at the bus station.

 
And so, that's my introduction to this prayer request.  Several members of the group have passed safely into the States.  Last week, Moncha and another young woman were beaten and robbed and the coyote (the person leading them across) left them in a city in Mexico with the promise to return for them.  They journey is so dangerous.  Women are raped, people lose their lives.  Please pray for these women.  Please pray for their safety. May the God of Life protect you and keep you safe.

 
Lindsay Mack

MISCELLANEOUS

Share Food

May 1 & 8 - Share Sign-up

May 21 - Share Pick-up

April 23 - Share Pick-up

June Cornerstone Deadline

May 23, 2005

May Key Person

Julie Smith

ONLINE CORNERSTONE

To ensure that your Cornerstone newsletter submissions are published in the online newsletter, please supply the submission as a text file, MS Word document, or e-mail text. If you need guidance regarding what that requires or if you have any questions, please call Hilary Shirven at 309-472-7508. 

GRACE AND PEACE LUTHERAN CONGREGATION COUNCIL

April 19, 2005

PRESENT:  Paul Mueller, Pastor Shelksohn, Kelly Smet, Julie Smith, Sandy Peterson, Linda Ericsson, Carol Luecht, Mary Whitledge, Roberta Dietrich, MarkRodlund, Richard Joyce and Janelle Houge.  Building Committee chairman, Don Howerter was present as a guest.  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 Sandy Peterson.

Sharing The Vision: 

The update from Laura Tomblin and the Labyrnith Committee will be next month.  Don Howerter, Building Committee chairman, gave the Council an update on the work of his committee.  The Building Committee will meet on April 20th and hope to finalize the design from which the architects will render a final drawing of the proposed building.  Don estimates the time frame to be about a month and this design will then be given to the feasibility committee for their work.

AREAS OF MINISTRY AND BUSINESS

evangelism – No report.

finance –Mark Rodlund reported that income is ahead of expenses.  Total expenditures continue to be less than budgeted. 

long range planning – This committee will meet on Wednesday, April 20th for a final design.

nurture – Julie reported that there were thirty children at the Easter Egg Hunt, and because of this large turnout, they are over budget.  Janitors, Jack and Maxine Horner have retired and a reception is being planned.  Carol Luecht reported that following expenses for the Easter Breakfast a donation to the Building Fund was made for $130.

property –Still need three to four man crew to mow the lawn.  May 7th will be an outside work day from 8-Noon.  Carol made a motion to “hire Dale Bollman as a full-time custodian and Sandy Crowe as a substitute custodian effective April 20th” Mark Rodlund seconded.  The motion carried.  Contracts will be drawn up for these positions. 

stewardship – This committee meets every other month - will be meeting on May 2nd at Mary Whitledge’s home.

worship and music – Cindy Shelksohn will be calling for Lay Readers.

youth  - Kelly reported that the Youth Garage Sale raised $1370.60 and $400 will be matched by Thrivent.  Elise Houge will be babysitting on Thursdays for any choir members who have children.  Kids ‘N Christ will begin in May.  Julie asked that the families be contacted about the schedule for the remainder of April for Kids ‘N Christ.

christian education – Through May 22nd will be the final rotation of Sunday School classes and then summer break begins – May 29th – July 31st.

community action –Workers are needed for the Habitat for Humanity House.  A sign up sheet is in the hallway on the bulletin board. – Ground breaking is May 7th. 

endowment – Met and set the year’s meeting dates.  A schedule for reports to the congregation from the ministries receiving an endowment were decided.  A minor change will be made to the Endowment Bylaws at the next Congregation Meeting.

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

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

women of grace and peace –A written report was received.

pastor’s report – Pastor reviewed his report.  Confirmation Sunday will be May 29^th.

executive council – Met and set agenda.

Next Council Meeting is May 17, 2005 at 6:30 p.m.  Executive Meeting is May 9, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.  A motion was made to adjourn.  The Council closed with the Lord’s Prayer.  Devotions and Snacks for next meeting are Mark Rodlund and Kelly Smet.

Respectfully submitted, Theresa Montgomery,

Recording Secretary

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