The Good NewsBreak Evangelical News of Bethany Lutheran Church A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America We INVITE all; We GROW in faith; We GO to share God’s love and grace.
Volume 18, Issue 5
www.bethanyricelake.org • 715-234-9028
The Caring Closet
May 2018
The Caring Closet is a resource at Rice Lake High School, where students can discreetly access basic hygiene products free of charge. A different Rice Lake congregation has signed up to stock the closet each month and May is Bethany’s turn. Items that can be donated are listed to the left. Please only donate listed items.
• • • • • • • • • •
Deodorant Shampoo and Conditioner Soap Dental Floss Feminine hygiene products Laundry detergent Socks Notebooks Granola bars Gift cards to buy specific items like coats, shoes, boots.
Inside This Issue
May Highlights!........................... 1 Message from Pastor Luci.......... 2 Worship & Music.....................3-4 Women of the ELCA News........ 5 Mission Jamaica.......................... 5 Service Opportunity................... 6 Memorials & Gifts.......................6 Committee Members & Staff.....7 Announcements..........................8
A Message from Pastor Luci “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” -John Lennon Over the past ten months, I’ve had the joy and privilege to experience, evaluate, study and dream about ministry with you all. As we wrap-up this program year, I would like to share a little of my observations and excitement for the future of Bethany. In review, I’ve noticed that we have encountered several events and learning opportunities on how to be better stewards of our resources. Starting with the Apps with the Bishop event, which we hosted in October, we learned several ways to reduce paper waste and increase access to online information. In November, we celebrated a Foundation Fiesta and we collectively agreed to increase the vitality and sustainability of the Ministries of Bethany. In December, the Green Team hosted the Care of Creation Workshop with Assistant to the Bishop, Laurie Skow-Anderson. At the Annual Meeting, we held a special drawing for anyone who took advantage of our online giving option. I presented at two CrossTalks on the topic of Technology and the Church, looking at ways technology can increase our visibility in the community and reduce expenses in the office. And throughout the spring, several synod-wide events have been focused on our calling to be the church outside of our walls. All these events encourage us, and the greater Church, to be good stewards of our resources so that we can maximize our impact in this world. This is an exciting time to be the Church! As these events occurred throughout the year, Council, Staff, the Stewardship Committee and the Green Team have all taken this challenge seriously; to increase sustainability in order to increase ministry. We’ve been analyzing our usage of resources and making smart reductions, when possible. For example, last winter we opted to simplify the order of worship printed in the bulletin. This allowed us to combine the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. bulletins, creating opportunities to reuse first service bulletins at second service and reduce the total number of printed pages by 320 per week! This adds up to saving almost 17,000 sheets of paper per year and the associated costs of running each sheet through the printer. With this momentum, we are excited to introduce the next cost savings and reduction of paper-waste plan. Starting July 1, all offering envelopes will be generic. This was an idea, presented by the Bishop, that we have been considering for several months, and we’re excited to see what this means for our ministry. What does this mean for us? First, it means that now is a great time to set-up online giving either by going to the Bethany website or calling Dawn in the office. This will greatly reduce the number of envelopes and checks that get thrown away each week. If online giving isn’t your thing, generic envelopes will be available for pick-up in the Narthex anytime the church building is open. Simply pick up a packet of envelopes and use them until they run out. Since they no longer have names or dates printed on them, you will be able to write your name and the current date each time you use one. (Your account is based on your name, not your envelope number.) This option saves $1600 from money budgeted for postage and envelope costs as well as a great deal of paper-waste. If neither of these options will work for you, please call Dawn in the office to request delivered envelopes by April 30. Thank you for joining us in this effort. Imagine what this small change could mean for the mission that God is calling Bethany to act on. This is truly an exciting time to be the Church!
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WORSHIP & MUSIC
“O Come, let us sing to the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95:1
May Worship Schedule
May 5-6 New Members received this weekend 5:30 p.m. Saturday Worship in Gathering Room 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary Vesper Bells provide Offering Music 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary Youth Recognition Hours and Club 9 Disciples & Mentors serve as worship assistants May 12-13 5:30 p.m. Saturday Worship in Gathering Room. 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary Spirit Alive Bells provide Offering Music 9:15 a.m. – Mother’s Day Program in Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary Kids Choir and Joyful Ringers provide special music, Kindergarten & 1st grade students serve as worship assistants May 19-20 Pentecost Weekend - You are invited to wear red! 5:30 p.m. Saturday Worship in Gathering Room. 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary Bethany Belles provide Offering Music 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary - Baccalaureate High School Students serve as worship assistants BELLZ provide Offering Music May 26-27 Pastor Laurie Skow-Anderson, Assistant to the Bishop, preaches at all three services. 5:30 p.m. Saturday Worship in Gathering Room. 8:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary 10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship in Sanctuary
Bethany Rejoices in the Risen Lord! It takes a Community
Thank you to all who participated in making Holy Week so stimulating! From the exciting Palm Sunday Procession, to the stirring live drama of The Last Supper, to the somber, yet very meaningful Gathering At Golgotha on Good Friday, it took over 250 volunteers to bring these 10 services to fruition! Thank you greeters, ushers, readers, acolytes, communion assistants, assisting ministers, instrumentalists, singers, accompanists, song leaders, office volunteers and food preparers! Through your contributions of time, talents and treasures, Bethany provided a very inspirational week in which to celebrate our risen Lord!
Traveling This Summer? You can find a local ELCA congregation at: http://www.elca.org/tools/ FindACongregation
Thank you Property Committee! The Bethany Choir would like to thank Dawn, Dave Myre and all the people on the Property Committee for arranging for the new carpet in the Choir Room! We love it! Please feel free to stop by and take a look! 3
WORSHIP & MUSIC
“O Come, let us sing to the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95:1
Bethany’s Music Ministry is out in the community! Again, Sara Scheu has taken the Bethany Kids Choir to participate in the annual Music Boosters Fund Raiser, Rice Lake Show Case, formerly Remember When. On April 22, the choir performed “Put a Little Love In Your Heart!” Thank you, kids for putting on such a great performance! Join Dave Henningsen and friends between services in the Gathering Room for our adult education class, CrossTalk. Beginning at 9:10 a.m., friends share recent God sightings and hear/discuss areas of interest in a warm, Christ-centered environment. Grab a cup of coffee and check it out! April 29: No CrossTalk - Malawi Ministry Weekend! Pastor John Sutherland and the Malawi Task Force will be available for questions May 6: Youth Missionaries in a Foreign Country May 13: No CrossTalk Mother’s Day Program May 20: No CrossTalk Baccalaureate / Pentecost
Nursing Home
Communion Services The third Thursday of every month, the ministry team heads to local Nursing Homes and Assisted Living to provide a communion service for the residents. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact the church office. For This Month: Thursday, May 17 11:15 a.m. Heritage Lakeside 1:00 p.m. Brentwood Assisted Living
New Staffing Assignments As we have incorporated Pastor Luci Sesvold into Bethany’s ministry staff, the Church Council (upon recommendation from the Personnel Committee) has approved some significant shifts in staff responsibilities. Amy Brekke will now have the title of Director of Worship, Music and Congregational Involvement. The Director of Education components found in Amy’s former position will now be taken up by Pastor Luci, freeing up Amy to give more time to identifying the gifts of our members and getting them involved in appropriate ministries, particularly in the areas of worship and special congregational events. Please join us in giving thanks to God for our faithful, gifted and dedicated staff!
June is Soap Month
We are collecting soap for Lutheran World Relief. LWR accepts new bars of any brand soap, in its original wrapping. All bar sizes are accepted; however, bath-size bars and FelsNaptha are highly preferred. Please place soap in the bin in the Narthex. All soap is sent on the LWR truck.
Green Team During the months of April and May, the Green Team will be collecting used markers for recycling. Also, the Green Team is ALWAYS collecting used ink printer cartridges as well as AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt batteries for recycling. 4
Women of the ELCA News Written by: Carol Stanonik
Many thanks to all who donated so generously to our Love Offering campaign in February! We received donations equaling $1,943, which will all go to good use here at Bethany! Thank YOU! Thank YOU! Our commercial kitchen refrigerator recently needed a new compressor to be installed. We haven’t received the final statement but it will be over $1500.00! We also had to replace the top spinner in the dishwasher. Thanks to Gail Weber for keeping on top of all these emergencies for us and having the proper repairs done! Hope you have May 10 marked on your calendar for our WELCA Spring Luncheon. We will begin the festivities with punch at 11:30 a.m. followed by our scrumptious salad luncheon with a delicious dessert. Our free will offering will be given to Luther Park Bible Camp to help with their fund raising campaign for much needed changes. We hope to have a couple guest speakers sharing more information on their needs. Please bring a friend and come join us for a wonderful time of fellowship and an amazing luncheon! Blankets will once again be presented to each Bethany graduate. Our WELCA Board does not meet during the summer. We wish you a safe summer enjoying many blessings in the warmer temperatures.
Tapping into Faith: Pondering Life’s Big Questions
This faith-based conversation group is open to the public and meets monthly, usually on the first Thursday, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the White Stag Pub, 204 N. Main St., in downtown Rice Lake. Upcoming topics include: May 3: A follow-up discussion of Church of Felons (Showing at the RLHS Auditorium on Friday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m.) June 7: Where does happiness come from? This will be the final Tapping into Faith until September 6.
Mission Jamaica
Mission Moments from the Stewardship Committee
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. --Matthew 22:39 Malawi is in Africa. It is one of the poorest countries in the world. Members of our congregation have visited, partnered with the people and continue to pray with members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi (ELCM). Bethany is planning to send a delegation to Malawi in 2019.
It's April 13 and it seems like we just got home from Jamaica, but plans for 2019 need to be set in place! With all the snow from the recent blizzard, the warm breezes and sun of Jamaica look really good! But, spring will come and the first deposit to hold airplane seats will be coming up. The Informational Meeting will most likely be held in May; watch for more details. Passports need to be checked and all those little things that make up international travel need attention. But first, the commitment to join Mission Jamaica 2019 needs to be prayerfully considered. For most of us, that means finances need discussing. There will be a full scholarship available again. This has been shared some years and has proven to be an awesome blessing! We'll be looking for help and items for our 3rd Annual Garage Sale on August 17-18. We made hits the last few years among the devoted West Haven staff with the gifts of aprons for each. And of course, we can always use donations of cash, directed to Mission Jamaica. Those donations can be earmarked J'Abode house, Scholarship Fund or Carl's Coloring Book if you choose. There is no end to the lists of needs that we see among our friends in Jamaica! We see where the needs are and try to somehow lessen them. We know where the money is used. So, if you have any questions about Mission Jamaica, please call or contact us at 715-790-0729 or sovacool@chibardun. net. Thank you! Hope to have you join us next year! For your money, you get a week of sunshine, a nice hotel with great meals, a chance to visit a beautiful island and the humbling experience of serving those with real needs. ~Lenae and Dave Sovacool 5
Memorials & Gifts April Radio Broadcasts In Honor of our family By: Owen & Roxann Anderson In Memory of Fred Swant By: Fred Swant Family Mission Jamaica In Memory of George Muschinske By: Martha Jacobson General Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: Bob & Joyce Johnson By: Don & Pauli Storm Memorial Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: Emmett & Jean Engstrom World Hunger In Memory of George Muschinske By: Lee Haight By: Duke & Marlene Thurs Quilting Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: John & Pat Olesczuk Good Samaritan Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: John & Judy Dahlgren By: Stan & Norma Bergum Radio Fund In Honor of Elaine Branham’s 100 birthday By: John & Judy Dahlgren Music Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: Dave & Sonja Wilson Banner Fund In Memory of George Muschinske By: Dave & Sue Hildebrand
Thank you, Pastor Mueller! Our beloved Pastor Philip Mueller officially retired at the end of March due to continuing health concerns. In addition to leading the Sunday morning Hymn Sing and hosting the Friday morning MOB (Men of Bethany breakfast at Maxine’s), Pastor Mueller had been leading the Monday morning Bibleland Safari for nearly 18 years (regularly pouring coffee for Pastor Aaseng, you should note!) In previous years, Pastor Mueller also served as Bethany’s Visitation Pastor. Pastor Mueller was born in Tabriz, Iran to missionary parents. A graduate of Wartburg College and Wartburg Seminary, he was ordained in Arbil, Iran by his father, Pastor Henry A. Mueller. Together with his wife, Regina, the Muellers served for 20 years in three mission fields: Iraq, Ethiopia and Senegal. After that, Pastor Mueller served 25 years as a pastor of parishes in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Recently, the Muellers moved to Brentwood Senior Living, but wherever he is, Pastor Mueller finds opportunities for ministry as he shares his faith and insights gained through a long ministry on three continents. Both Pastor Mueller and Regina love company and would welcome you to visit them. Cards and notes of appreciation would also be most appreciated. To Pastor Mueller (and Regina) we all join our Lord in saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”
SERVICE OPPORTUNITY:
The Rice Lake Community Needs YOU! Pastor Luci is looking for individuals who are willing to serve the hunger needs of the Rice Lake Community. There are two opportunities currently available: 1. The Feed Our Kids – Rice Lake Backpack Program is not scheduled to run in the summer. Pastor Luci, along with the Mission Concerns Team, has decided to provide meals that the children can prepare at home until school starts again.
How to get involved: • Contact Pr. Luci to be on the planning team or food deliver team • Be on the look out for a sign-up to pack food • Volunteer to distribute bags of food at Bethany from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesdays during Lunchbox • Offer your monetary support and designate it to Summer Feed Our Kids
2. The Lunchbox Program is still looking for a team to take on the scheduling and organizing portion of the program. Currently, Pastor Luci is the only member of the team. The team responsibilities include: Thank you to Pastor Grant and ev• Recruiting new groups/organizations to get involved one Tuesday eryone at Bethany for all your calls, a year cards and prayers; both before and • Scheduling the groups and keeping track of the calendar after my Mayo surgery. What a • Send reminders to groups scheduled blessing you all are! ~ Carol & Lind Knudson Contact Pastor Luci is you are willing to take on any of the responsibilities. 6
Council Beth Brown..........................President Chick Feather.............Vice President Roger Martin.......................Secretary Wendy Markgren............... Treasurer Lucas Amundson Paul Baribeau Julie Bever Mike Diercks Rachel Engel Mike Husak Jennifer Nelson DeAnna Westphal Dave Wilson
Staff Lead Pastor Grant Aaseng Cell Phone 715-205-8789
[email protected] Associate Pastor Luci Sesvold Cell Phone 715-225-0979
[email protected] Teaching Pastor Philip K. Mueller Home Phone 715-234-9739 Director of Worship, Music & Congregational Involvement Amy Brekke Cell Phone 715-651-6991 Home Phone 715-234-7036
[email protected] Congregational Education & Youth Ministries Lead Angie Buchli Cell Phone 715-205-2009
[email protected] Director of Church Business Dawn Paul
[email protected] Communications & Publications Specialist Leah Hullinger
[email protected]
Committee Members Altar Guild
Audrey Kusilek Chair
715-205-8843
C.A.R.E. Team
Sara Scheu, Kathy Swenson Amy Brekke - Staff Rep. Angie Buchli - Staff Rep.
Education
Angie Buchli 715-234-9028 Acting Chair Jennifer Nelson - Council Rep. Samantha Gerland, Jennifer Nelson, Amy Pelle, Sara Scheu, Julie Stone, DeAnna Westphal, Jan Wilking Amy Brekke - Staff Rep. Pr. Luci Sesvold - Staff Rep.
Finance
Wendy Markgren 715-651-0905 Chair Beth Brown - Council Rep. Joe Erickson, Dave Hildebrand, Dawn Paul - Staff Rep. Pr. Grant Aaseng - Staff Rep.
Green Team
Lynn Koob 715-234-4149 Chair Jennifer Nelson - Council Rep. Angela Delf, Joel Kohlmeyer, Kathy Lehman, Pete Mueller, Don Storm, Dave Swanson, Renee Swanson, Eldon Vrieze Pr. Grant Aaseng - Staff Rep.
Invitation & Welcome Team
Ted Hakala 715-353-2733 Contact Wendy Markgren - Council Rep. Doug Brown, Kelly Brown, Karen Chilson, Alexa Giddings, Carol Hakala, Sara Lawton, Mary Mueller, Diane Peterson, Lenae Sovacool, Lynn Sulackow, Pr. Luci Sesvold - Staff Rep.
Library
Wendy Halverson 715-651-5887 Chair Norma Bergum, Elaine Gonske, Jill Holtegaard, Julie Hyllested, Amanda Stone
Mission Concerns
Annie Antonson 715-236-3133 Chair Mike Husak - Council Rep. Carol Kohlmeyer, Mary Mueller, Shirley Peterson, Dave Sovacool, Lenae Sovacool, Pauli Storm, Maxine Williams Pr. Luci Sesvold - Staff Rep.
Personnel
Bea Evans 262-565-3327 Chair Chick Feather - Council Rep. Larry Brown, Ted Hakala, Pr. Grant Aaseng - Staff Rep.
Property Management
Dave Myre 715-458-4130 Chair Lucas Amundson - Council Rep. Steve Arnevik, Shirley Bergthold, Joel Kohlmeyer, Lynn Koob, Pete Mueller, Eric Roethel, Tim Schnacky, Dave Sovacool, Eldon Vrieze, Josh Weinstock Dawn Paul - Staff Rep.
Stewardship
Dave Derro 715-234-7960 Chair Rachel Engel - Council Rep. Joan Bird, Kevin Jacobson, Mark Nymo, Mark Vrieze Pr. Grant Aaseng - Staff Rep.
Trust Fund
Melissa Tomesh 715-456-1978 Chair Mike Diercks - Council Rep. Steve Adams, Ted Hakala, Diane Peterson, Lenae Sovacoool Stefani Fiedler - Advisor
Women of the ELCA
Gail Weber 715-736-0887 Paulette Hanson 715-234-4919 Co-Chairs Julie Bever - Council Rep.
Worship & Music
Paul Hanson 715-234-6530 Chair Dave Wilson - Council Rep. Joan Gerland, Marla Koob, Audrey Kusilek, Tammy Roberg, Royal Stokes, Sonja Wilson Amy Brekke - Staff Rep. Pr. Grant Aaseng - Staff Rep. Pr. Luci Sesvold - Staff Rep. 7
Announcements & Opportunities
DEADLINES
Knitting a Prayer Shawl
• The deadline for the June 2018 NewsBreak is Monday, May 14. • The deadline for bulletin announcements is on Tuesdays. • All your articles MUST be in the church office on these dates as it is important that we have enough time and room to fit everything into the Good NewsBreak and bulletins.
Knitting prayer shawls is a special way of showing those who are hurting that they are surrounded by warm, caring and compassionate people. You will need 3 skeins Homespun Yarn or yarn of your choice. Size 11 knitting needles, 14” long or size 11, 29” circular needles. (Some yarn is available to you and can be found in our Prayer Shawl cabinet in the Narthex.) You may wish to use a pattern of your choice or the following one:
Food Pantry News
Cast on 47 stitches and knit each row until you have it approximately 57-58” long.
Bethany’s monthly collection for the We Share Food Pantry is May 5-6, 2018. The Pantry especially needs baked beans and soups. Please bring nonperishable items with you to worship.
As you knit, pray to God for His blessings that your shawl will provide comfort and support to someone in need. When you are finished knitting your shawl, place it in the cabinet in the Narthex. Thank you for participating in our Prayer Shawl Ministry.
Did you know we publish daily God Pause devotions on Bethany’s website? God Pause devotions are short, meaningful reflections on the following Sunday’s lessons and Gospel. By Sunday, you’ll be ready for an extra meaningful worship experience!
New Directory Photos! Lifetouch will be taking photos for our
new church directory May 15-19 and May 29-June 2. Make your appointment now by scanning the QR code on the posters, following the link on Bethany’s website, calling the church office OR by signing up during weekends in the Narthex!
Offering Update Offering Update as of March 31, 2018
Fund General Mortgage
Amt Budgeted to Date $ 177,679.59 $ 13,575.00
Amt Rec’d to Date $ 157,798.11 $ 18,082.67
Expenses to Date $ 181,317.05 $ 13,575.00
Deficit/ Surplus $ -23,518.94 $ 4,507.67
Thank you for your participation in and support of the life and mission of Bethany Lutheran! 8
Worship Participants for April 21 & 22, 2018 Host/Hostess: Song Leader:
5:30 p.m. Saturday
Projection: Piano:
Jen Jake Paul Hanson
8:00 a.m. Sunday
Jill Newhouse Tammy Roberg
Greeters: John & Pat Olesczuk (M) Ushers: Stan & Norma Bergum and Mahlon & Helen Schmidt (N) Reader: Geri Stout Communion John & Judy Dahlgren Projection: Darcy Vrieze Assistants: and Kevin Jacobson Media: Joe Erickson Acolytes: Emma Schacky and Lucie Habas Organ: Susan Barta Blood Pressure Screening Available in the Library from 9:00 -10:00 a.m.: Amy Adams Greeters: Communion Assistants: Acolytes:
10:00 a.m. Sunday
Stacee Sevals (M) and Bruce & Lori Meder (N) Kathy Swenson and Brian & Alexa Giddings Tristan Scheurer and Teagan Scheurer
Ushers: Projection: Media: Musicians: Bus Driver: Bus Aid:
Altar Flowers
If you would like to donate flowers as an offering to God from your flower garden for the Altar, please call the church office at 715-2349028 to reserve a Sunday.
Bethany Cares
The C.A.R.E. Team reaches out to members in need of a little help. If you know someone with a temporary need, please contact the church office at 715-234-9028 so we can help.
High School Students Darrel Bliese Bob Halverson HS Praise Team Scott Buergi Jim Sevals
How about expanding our Prayer Chain Ministry to include a separate list? People who prefer to e-mail their “Prayer Warriors” so no one will be missed! Just e-mail the church office (
[email protected]) and sign up with your e-mail addresses today. Let’s bring more “pray-ers” together via the computer and touch lives in this way. Pray for the cares, concerns and needs of people “on line.” Sign up today and share your gift of time!
When Your Address Changes
Whenever you’re moving or changing to “temporarily away” with the USPS, any mail Bethany sends to you is returned at a cost per item. Please let Bethany know when your address, email address or phone number is changing. Email new information, send Bethany a USPS address change card or phone the office at 715-2349028. Thank you.
