Commentator

June 2016 Volume 60, Issue 6

“We bring the hope we

share in Christ to all!”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Blessed Beginnings ………..2 C.A.R.E. Team ……..………….2 Pastor’s Page ………………...3 WyndStone ………....………..4 Welcome Jon!………...……...5 Finance .………………………....5 WELCA ………………..………....7 June Calendar/Servants Schedule ……….………..Insert VBS Registration……..Insert Senior Independence

ATONEMENT LUTHERAN CHURCH 2016 COUNCIL MEMBERS

Teague Westrope, President 860-7864

Jason Beckwith, Vice President 701-595-1932

Michel Poodry, Secretary 855-8446

Lance King, Treasurer 656-1183

Shellie Ehrmantraut 670-6839

Rane Paulson 248-4080

Eddy Baker 245-6809

Butch Morse 534-4036

KayDel Shelton 839-0166

Mike Klein 896-1798

Walt Marten 245-6162

Paul Mueller (Alternate) 259-3565

Dawson Mangels (Youth Rep) 696-5111

STAFF EMAIL

Darren Paulson pastor@atonementbillings.org

Nancy Rupe office@atonementbillings.org

Kristin LaVe` worship@atonementbillings.org

Sara Davis preschool@atonementbillings.org

PRAYERS FOR MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION

Pray for blessings, health, safety and general wellbeing of these members of

Atonement. Give thanks for all who are working with us in the mission we share.

June 5: Doris Noland; Roy Noland; Linda, Race and Dash Nugent; Dale, Samantha, Jordyn and Aubree Oe; Scott, Brooke, Natasha and Nathan Oftedal.

June 12: John, Bertha, Joey and Gerry Olsen; Joyce Olson; Mysti and Kimber Opie; Kathleen Opperud; Jeanette and Nathan Owen.

June 19: Robert, Aliana and Tegan Padilla; Victoria Pardis; Dorothy Parnell; Brad & Sheila Partyka; Don Partyka.

June 29: Cal & Rane Paulson; Darren, Trudi, Maddy, and Noah Paulson; Beke Achmus; Lora Pederson; Gwynn Pederson; Ben & Patricia Pederson.

June 13-17, 2016

Summer Worship Schedule 9:15 a.m.

May 29 - September 11

Happy Summer Vacation Everyone! Can you believe another year of preschool is already over?!?! We can't! Preschool was such a blessing for us this year as we love, so much, to be involved in the shaping of these little lives. We worked on and experienced so many things that we are crazy proud of! We had firefighters (with a real fire truck!) and a dentist come to our class. We took field trips to the Alberta Bair Theater, the Wise Wonders Children's Museum, and the Montana Zoo. We planted and nurtured our own flowers. We read, created, laughed, (sometimes cried), and we enjoyed ourselves every step of the way! Pastor Darren met with us each week to present Chapel Time. It was just an all-around great year! Thank you for the support you all gave us this year. We are always grateful for our Preschool Board, Friendship Club, Patti Dunbar and Sara Westrope (our teachers), Pastor Darren, Nancy Rupe, the Quilters, the Congregation as a whole, and anyone & everyone who has made monetary donations, donations of time, well wishes & positive thoughts, and, of course, prayer. A special thanks to Julie Amundson and Debbie Rensvold as their terms on the Preschool Board are up. We can not thank them enough for all the extra time and effort they have given in order to build this preschool from ground up. As soon as the 2015 -2016 preschool year is over, the 2016 - 2017 preschool year begins. We are planning and prepping for next year as we speak! Please take a look at the Wish List, from time to time. If you are able and willing to donate items off the list, please take the item request from the board and place the donation (with the attached request) in the preschool office or with Nancy in the front office. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at preschool@atonementbillings.org. Sara Davis-Preschool Director

ATONEMENT LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL BLESSED BEGINNINGS

Monday, Wednesday,

Friday

9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Enrollment for children

ages 3-5 years

JOY BIBLE STUDY

Join us Wednesdays at

6:30 a.m. at Montana

Jacks 520 Hansen Lane.

For information, contact

Tina Williams at 259-

0692.

Hope Circle Ladies Bible Study

Hope Circle will break for the summer months and return this fall on the third Thursday of

September.

Be blessed and refreshed!

C.A.R.E. Team We will be meeting at 6:30 p.m.

on Thursday, June 16th. All team members are asked to bring suggestions and ideas for our team.

Please contact Judy Lawrence at 252-3617 if you have question.

PASTOR’S PAGE

Recently, I was reflecting on “hospitality” …or maybe it was reflecting on me. I came across an excerpt by the Christian author Henry Nouwen when these words grabbed my attention. I chewed on them slowly, repeatedly.

“At first the word ‘hospitality’ might evoke the image of soft sweet kindness, tea parties, bland conversation, and a general atmosphere of coziness. Probably this has its good reasons since in our culture the concept of hospitality has lost much of its power and is often used in circles where we are more prone to expect a watered down piety than a serious search for an authentic Christian spirituality. But still, if there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality. It is one of the richest biblical terms that can deepen and broaden our insight into how our relationships with our fellow human beings…

“When hostility is converted into hospitality then fearful strangers can become guests revealing to their hosts the promise they are carrying within them. Then in fact, the distinction between host and guest proves to be artificial and evaporates in the recognition of the new-found unity.” (Excerpt printed in Pulpit Resource)

During these Sundays in June, early in the season of Pentecost, we again hear biblical stories which commend to us Christian hospitality. I ask you to listen closely for the message of welcome, of belonging, of caring. In the summer, we often travel and find ourselves as strangers in churches and communities. Intentionally note how welcomed you feel in these places. In what way is authentic Christian hospitality being shown? …or not shown?

Additionally, we’ll have people who are visiting family or vacationing to the rich and abundant destination that is Montana. How wonderful would it be to have people return to their home churches to share the news “We have just experienced distinctively Christian hospitality… they have taught us something and we’d like to do the same here!” Hospitality begetting hospitality.

This summer, we are again holding a single Sunday morning worship at 9:15am. We will come together as a single congregation of two worshipping communities: the 8:00 and 10:30 service attendees. Take time to practice hospitality as we celebrate this seasonal opportunity of unity – we are all guests!

This coming month, we’ll be welcoming a new staff member – Jon Bates as our Director of Youth, Family and Education Ministry. (Please see his introduction in this newsletter.) He’s coming to accompany us in our work of planting and nurturing seeds of faith. Jon’s first day in the office will be June 13

th – the beginning of VBS. He’ll be

welcomed with a flurry of activity!

And as you reflect on this hospitality may it also reflect on you. Ask the question of yourself, “How do I genuinely let my Christian hospitality show itself? …in my home? …at church? …in my business dealings? …with strangers? Celebrate the chances of welcome taken. Let go of opportunities missed. Be blessed by the love of Christ that leads us to extend a helping hand, share a comforting smile, shed a sympathetic tear, join in intercessory prayer. See the Christ that dwells in both host and guest, and makes us one. May the peace of Christ be with you always.

Pastor Darren Paulson

I just completed my final radiation treatment for my cancer, and the prognosis is excellent. I want to thank my wonderful Atonement family for being so supportive in their prayers and kindness. I am so very blessed!!

Marilyn Franklin

Thank you for the basket of goodies for Bronzen. Children are wonderful blessings and everyone is so excited to have him here (especially Grandma Rane!) Sincerely

Brant and Riki Paulson

One Sunday morning on our way home from church, Conrad’s comment to me after many hugs given to him at church that morning was “I sure am blessed.” He was blessed by many prayers, many friendships, many deeds done by members during his life especially these last few years, too many to mention everyone by name. God bless you all. Even in his death the wonderful prayers for God’s comfort in our grieving, Pastor Darren’s care for us, the hugs, meals, food, flowers, memorials, all gestures of Gods love through each of you. Because of Conrad’s love for music and people I asked if we might form a choir from all the Lutheran Churches in Billings. Thanks to Kristin many believer’s voices were lifted in praise to God. A big thank you to Atonement’s Men’s Square who transformed the Metra into our church home for the day of the funeral, for the setting up and the taking down, Thank you all. In Jesus Christ our Savior.

ATONEMENT FAMILY CAMP August 5th—7th

Register online today! http://christikon.org/camps/registration/adult-family-registration/

WYNDSTONE: By the end of summer 2016, we will be welcoming new neighbors at WyndStone. Currently, 69% of the Independent Living apartments are reserved with most of those people planning to move in within the first 60 days of opening. We are all excited about our growing campus. Currently, Atonement and WyndStone are working together on signage that will tie us together as a campus. The Campus Planning Team and Property Committee are planning a sidewalk that will lead to the Little White Church making a safer path for travel between the two building. The Evangelism Committee is working on a welcoming event when WyndStone opens. We are excited about other partnership possibilities in the future!

Phyllis Burns, Garrett, Kate, Isabel & Riley Burns, Noah, Keely & Ella Godwin

Open to youth grades 7-12

Wednesdays @ 6:30 p.m.

1st & 3rd Wednesday we meet at

Atonement Lutheran.

2nd & 4th Wednesday we will meet at Peace Lutheran

*If you would like a ride to Peace Lutheran, contact

Pastor Darren. We’ll depart from the

Atonement parking lot at 6:00 pm.

FINANCIAL REPORT

General Fund April 2016

Income: $ 30,786.41

Expense: $ 26,585.05

Net Income: $4,201.36

Net Income YTD: $ 8,103.45

Budget Expense: $ 32,066.56

Building Fund April 2016

Income: $ 7,004.00

Expense: $ 8,150.00

Net Income: ($1,146.00)

Net Income YTD: $ 136.71

Budget Expense: $ 8,150.00

Approval to proceed with installing permanent signs for the Church was received at a special congregational meeting on April 17

th. Due to the

generous support by Atonement’s Women of the ELCA (WELCA) who dedicated the proceeds from the last two church bazaars to the sign project and also by cost sharing on the primary sign with WyndStone, we have sufficient funds available to complete installation of our primary sign with an electronic reader board at the corner of the property at Wicks Lane and also secondary signs at the entrances to the Church on Siesta and on Sierra Granda.

Permaletter Sign Company prepared our sign design and submitted it to the City for required permit approval. The City approved our permit with no changes to our primary sign design but they did require the secondary signs to be reduced significantly in size which limits the wording we can have on the secondary signs. Wording on the secondary signs will only be able to say Atonement Lutheran Church with directional arrows pointing to the Church building.

Currently final color choices have been made for the signs and Permaletter has submitted a contract to Atonement for building and installation of the signs. Once the contract has been reviewed and approved by Church Council reps, Permaletter will begin constructing the signs. Permaletter has indicated it will be 10-12 weeks to build and install the signs once they have received a signed contract and down payment. Sign Committee—Bill Belden, Jesse Gonzalez, Rane Paulson, Janet Rubich, Tina Williams and Roger Young

SIGN COMMITTEE UPDATE

WELCOME YOUTH, FAMILY AND EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Hi all! I’m Jon Bates and I’m super excited to become a part of Atonement Lutheran Church as your new Director of Youth, Family and Education Ministries. I was born and raised on Filipino food in Shoreview, Minnesota by my parents, Ray and Malu with my two sisters. I am a recent graduate from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota with a degree in Youth and Family Ministry which has led to internships at a couple churches in the Twin

Cities since 2014. When I’m not being involved with church you can usually find me drinking coffee, reading, eating with friends, or watching The Office on Netflix.

Get your walking shoes

ready as

Lake Elmo Walks

We start

at 7:00am

Meet at the boat dock on the west side of the lake.

Start your day with a brief

devotion, prayer and a walk around

the lake. Rain or shine-

we will be there. Bring a friend!

All are welcome!

Christikon Clips June, 2016 Information for our Congregations

It’s not too late to register for camp this summer! Space remains in most youth sessions and in those for families and adults. You can register online at www.christikon.org or use the forms distributed with the youth and family/adult brochures in your congregation. Or call us at the camp office for further information. Christikon Director Installation: Pastor Mark Donald will be installed as the Christikon’s director at the MT Synod Theological Conference on June 3

rd at the evening service at the Radisson

Hotel. Join us for worship! Christikon covers the full costs for each at-risk kid participating in Sojourners Camp. (We expect to have 24 this summer) We invite individuals, congregations and their auxiliaries to consider special giving for camp scholarships this summer. Special guest speakers become part of the Christikon life this summer during sessions for adults and families. During Mountain Weekend 1 (July 8-10) we feature James Darchuk, Senior Pastor of King of Glory Billings. During the Continuing Education Retreat (August 1-4), we are joined by Lois Malcolm, professor of systematic theology at Luther Seminary and Tim Westermeyer, Senior Pastor of St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Minnesota. Come spend a few days of relaxation, learning, and faith growth with us. Mountain Weekend 2 (August 5-7), topic to be announced. Register now! Check out our Spring Trailblazer on our website. Use the link below: Newsletter link: http://christikon.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Spring-2016-Trailblazer.pdf Remember to pray for your congregation’s ministry through Christikon this summer, for the summer staff, and for all who join in the Christikon life. It is the mission of Christikon to awaken and nurture faith in Christ— exploring God’s creation and the adventure of life together.

CHRISTIKON ● 1108 24th Street West ● Billings, MT 59102

406 656-1969 ● secretary@christikon.org ● www.christikon.org

Atonement to host!

Pastor’s Text Study

Tuesday’s in July. If you are would like

to help please contact the

church office.

245-7004

LUTHERAN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Atonement Lutheran offers scholarships for members attending a college of the ELCA. Typically, those colleges and universities provide matching funds to make these dollars go further. Applications are available in the church office and due by July 1. Also, contributions are welcomed to help support any of our students attending the schools of our church!

OVER 2,150 ITEMS MADE & GIVEN AWAY

This past year … May 15, 2015 to May, 2016

1,428 Quilts . . . 55 Pillows . . . 267 T-Shirts . . . 196 School Kits . . .

45 Sets of Curtains . . . 286 Dog Beds

769 Quilts to Lutheran World Relief

196 School Kits made & filled by Atonement Members to LWR

285 Quilts, 5 pillows & 137 T-Shirts for Family Services (those in need)

107 Quilts, 6 pillows & 130 T-Shirts for Food Bank

44 Quilts & 7 pillows to kids in the hospital

53 Quilts to the HUB (homeless)

32 Quilts & 5 pillows to brighten room’s at St. John’s

15 Pillows to Atonement Preschool

19 Quilts & 8 pillows to Child Bridge (Foster care)

6 Quilts & 6 pillows kids here for Christmas w/Family Promise (IHN)

22 Quilts & 3 pillows given various places, fundraisers, auctions, etc.

42 Sets of curtains for all the cabins at Christikon

91 Quilts sold at our Bazaar last November

286 Dog Beds made from fabric scraps given to Animal Shelter

SPECIAL THANKS to everyone who gave us fabrics, sheets, blankets, threads, supplies, a sewing machine, and even a Surger machine. Our projects here would not happen without your support!!!! THANKS A MILLION!!!

THANKS to our Wonderful quilting team (& Mary across town who cuts out all our T-shirts). Because of our projects, 1,428 people are warmer, 267 kids have a new shirt… kids have school supplies, & the dogs gotta love us!!! We have a great time every Tuesday afternoon, plus coffee & deserts, chatter, as we put together 20 to 30 quilts. Come join us!

THANK YOU LORD, FOR ALL THAT YOU PROVIDE!!!

Eleanor Andersen & Julie Leno

9:15 a.m.

June 5 Danara Tulimaiau

June 12 Aidan Morgan

June 19 Dalton Strilcov

June 26 Quinn Mayhall

MARVELOUS MONDAY

WONDERFUL

WEDNESDAY MEALS

Cold Cereal

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS

Betty Jo Furstenberg

HOSPITAL

VISITATION

LOVE OFFERING

WORSHIP ASSISANTS

LECTOR

Becky Lujan

Debbie Goodheart June 5 Debbie Heyd/Becky Lujan

June 12 Gary Dunmeyer/Eddy Baker

June 19 Kelly & Linda Michaelis

June 26 Debbie Heyd/Becky Lujan

Wednesday, 06/8 Play Inn

Monday, 06/27

Vig Patio

Join us at 6:00 p.m. For details contact Julie Amundson

9:15 a.m.

June 5 John Olsen

June 12 Betty Jo Furstenberg

June 19 Bill Belden

June 26 Linda Michaelis

9:15 a.m.

June 5 Lisa Hammond

June 12 Sandi Gonzalez

June 19 Betty Jo Furstenberg

June 26 Randy Shelton

CANTORS

ALTAR GUILD

Atonement

Scholarship Fund

ACOLYTES

June 5 Open

June 12 Open

June 19 Open

June 26 Mike & Janet Rubich

June 3 Men’s Square 6:30 a.m. June 5 Worship Committee Meeting 12:00 p.m. June 6 Property Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. June 14 Finance Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m. Evangelism Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m. Education Committee Meeting 7:00 p.m. June 21 Church Council Meeting 7:00 p.m.

June 5 Jason Beckwith

June 12 Craig Canfield

June 19 Tory Cichosz

June 26 Kyle Johnston

Drivers

Marlon & Julie Leno 248-5359

Kyle Johnston 325-1235 Todd Koepp 256-1569

Trudi Paulson 690-4351 Craig Canfield 245-6557 Paul Mueller 259-3565

Jason Beckwith 200-7324 Tory Cichosz 670-6017

June 5 Bill & Judy Belden

June 12 Debbie Rensvold

June 19 Donna Slater

June 26 Jay & Janelle Berry

Gwynn Pederson

COFFEE HOUR

COMMUNION BREAD

COMMUNION PREPARERS

SANCTUARY FLOWERS

MONTHLY MEETINGS

USHER/GREETERS

TRANSPORTATION

June 5 Steve & Donna Slater; Jo Bott, Ryan Kapperud June 12 Bill & Judy Belden; Tyler Westrope, Shellie Ehrmantraut June 19 Gene & Stacey Arneson; George & Shirley DeMars June 26 Debbi Goodheart; Bob Holloway, Jack & Vivian Beals

Bold Names indicate Head Usher(s)

Joy Circle

Donna Slater

GOD’S WORK, OUR HANDS SUNDAY – SEPTEMBER 11 Congregations of the ELCA have been participating in God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday for several years now – taking a Sunday morning and engaging in meaningful service in communities around the nation. This year, Atonement Lutheran will share in this ministry on Sunday, September 11. We will gather in the sanctuary at 9:15am for a brief sending blessing, go into the community in teams to engage in service projects, and return at 12:30pm to celebrate with a potluck. We are looking for projects around our community that can utilize a variety of our abilities and interests. For example, the Worship Team has contacted the Food Bank to pack boxes for needy families. Some other ideas include:

MT Rescue Mission Tumbleweed WyndStone Litter clean-up in area parks Church potluck crew Or… your idea!

Looking for crew leaders who might help coordinate these tasks, so please contact Pastor Darren with your idea and availability.

The Annual Assembly and Theological Conference of the Montana Synod of the ELCA

will be held June 3-5, 2016, at the Radisson Hotel Billings (formerly the Holiday Inn Grand),

Billings, Montana.

“Deepen Faith and Witness” "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the

age." (Matt 28:18-20) We remember that Jesus called us to go and make disciples of all nations. We will support and encourage congregations to remain faithful in worship, Word and Sacrament. We will support congregations as they encourage their members to grow in faith and to broaden their witness in their communities and beyond.

Rev. Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, Synod Secretary, February 1, 2016 We will be focusing on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation and offering many workshops.

Our keynote speaker will be Mary Jane Haemig, professor of Church History at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Our Churchwide Representative will be Kevin Strickland, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop, Executive for Worship.

There will be an installation of Pr. Mark Donald to Christikon Bible Camp during Friday evening’s worship and the ordination of Tonia Fisher-Clark during Sunday morning’s worship. We will recognize more than 20 new Lay Pastoral Associates.

Check the weekly e-news or our website, www.montanasynod.org/assembly for more information and deadlines.