2019 Grace Gazette

Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC)

PO Box 10

Erhard, MN 56534

May

Grace Lutheran Church

Mission Statement: Grace Lutheran strives to be a welcoming church family, committed to the Bible as God’s truth, worshiping together, and reaching out to love, pray for, teach, and serve others in Christ’s name.

U.S. Highway 59 in Erhard, MN Visit us online at – http://gracechurchoferhard.org

Facebook Pages: The Foundry @ Grace Lutheran Erhard

Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC) of Erhard, MN Grace Lutheran Church Women "GLW" & Friends

To:

A member of the LCMC

(Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ)

A Lutheran community of faith engaging the present while embracing the Biblical and Reformation heritage of: Grace Alone:

God, out of His great mercy, has reconciled humanity to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Acts of Christian goodness are a thankful response to God’s mercy shown to us in Christ.

Faith Alone:

God’s gift of faith apprehends the great work of eternal redemption accomplished for us by Jesus Christ. A faith relationship with the Triune God is the key to our eternal future and it brings meaning and joy to our present lives.

Word Alone:

The Bible is God’s authoritative Word to humanity. It is the sole and true guide for Christian faith, doctrine, and living.

YOU ARE WELCOME AT GRACE Sunday Worship: 10:00 am with Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month. Coffee Fellowship every Sunday after Worship. Sunday School & Adult Bible Study: 9:00 am Sunday. Morning Bible Study: Wednesdays at 8:00 am Prayer Fellowship: Every Wednesday immediately following Moring Bible Study. The Foundry (Youth Group) Gatherings: Meets the first and third Wed of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (unless otherwise specified). Choir Practice: 1st, 3rd, and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00 pm

From Pastor Brad...... Real Hope

A standard dictionary definition of hope goes something like this: “1.) To entertain a wish for something... 2.) To look forward to something with confidence....” We often forget about the second usage and gravitate toward the first in our everyday speech. We say things like: “I hope we can get some rain,” or “I hope I can find a good job this summer,” or “I hope the price of gas stays low.” Each of these statements has a wishful question mark over it because its certainty is not guaranteed. We live in a world where so many things are quite simply beyond our control – as much as we might wish them to be different. Yet, as we bask in the glow of the Easter Season, we can make good use of the second definition of hope, the one that embraces confidence. Because of our Lord’s resurrection we can have confidence in an uncertain world – He lives to be with us and give us His victory over our world’s death and destruction. Once when Martin Luther was feeling hopeless over the problems he faced (and they were many) his wife Katherine came into the kitchen wearing a black mourning cloth. When Luther asked who had died, Katherine replied, “The way you have been acting I thought God had died.” From time to time, we, like Luther, need reminding that God is indeed alive and well.

This is what makes the Easter season so important to Christians. We need this reminder because our world dishes-out continuous servings of disappointments and places question marks over so many things. When sin entered into God’s good creation, death came with it, and because of this, we all carry a sense of being trapped by a ticking clock counting down to our final hour. Although we can still see the beauty of God’s original design in our world, the reality of sin and death is always sitting in the waiting room of our lives. Every funeral we attend reminds us that this current world, stained by death and disappointment, is destined for a re-make by its Creator. And that’s what Easter is all about – God saying “NO” to the status quo of death and disappointment. Feelings of hopelessness can come in all shapes and sizes because this world has fallen so far from the beauty of God’s original design. Yet, during the Easter season, God reminds us that there is hope in a hopeless world because He is not dead, but death is dead. As the angel announced at the seemingly hopeless tomb of Jesus, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6).

In the midst of all the hopelessness of this world, God extends to us His Son as our living Savior and Friend. Because Jesus is risen, He is the Living Lord who guarantees real hope in a hopeless world – the complete forgiveness of our sins, the friendship of God, His presence with us in our trials, and His promise of eternal life. He is the living and powerful God-Man who is our Brother. Is there any hope? “Yes! Absolutely!” For He is risen!

Grace Lutheran Church Unapproved council meeting minutes April 9, 2019

President Jeanette Ripley called to order the regular meeting of the Grace Lutheran Church Council on April 9, 2019, at 6 P.M. in the chapel. She opened by reading our church’s mission statement:

Grace Lutheran strives to be a welcoming church family, committed to the Bible as God’s truth, worshiping together, and reaching out to love, pray for, teach, and serve others in Christ’s name.

All other council members were present including Duane Haiby, Jim Klitzke, Karen Nelson, Kim Pederson, Rachel Ronnevik, Phyllis Rossow, Cheryl Rotz, and Bruce Schaible. Also present were Pastor Brad Soenksen and Treasurer Lucy Stadum.

Pastor Brad led the council in devotions and prayer.

The agenda was approved on vote with two additions following Klitzke’s motion and Nelson’s second.

Klitzke made a motion to approve the minutes of the March meeting with one correction, Rotz seconded this motion, and it carried on vote.

The March treasurer’s reports were filed for audit after Pederson’s motion and Rossow’s second. As of March 31, 2019, the General Fund balance was $14,961.04, the Major Maintenance Fund balance was $11,776.14, the Building Expansion Fund balance was $30,160.00, and the Concert/Mission of the Month Fund balance was $1,314.65 with the Faith Westby mission of the month receiving $942.16.

Pastor Brad presented his report, which included meetings with the Grace Council, the Grace Prayer Team, The Foundry youth group, Grace Lutheran Women, and meetings regarding the Idaho Mission Trip and membership; numerous visitations; leading Wednesday morning Bible studies, conducting First Communion Instruction, and four Lenten services; attending the Grace concert, choir practices, the Father-Son Banquet, the Pelican Rapids Farm Fellowship gathering, and the Faith Westby memorial, committal, and fellowship; and one vacation day. He reported that Hannah Nelson, Jackson Peasley, and Easton Thorson would be receiving First Communion at the Good Friday service and that our church would donate baked goods for the Faith Westby Benefit at Hillbillies on April 27.

Old business: Implementing the mission and vision statements is in progress. Pederson reported on activities of the Sanctuary Seating Committee.

New business: Ripley gave the history of the Fundraising Committee. She also volunteered to be the council liaison to this committee. Council discussed renaming this committee as the Fall and Spring Event Committee. Pederson reported that the church’s website is undergoing a complete redesign and text revision and credited Brenda Scott for her work on the site.

Following discussion, Rossow moved to approve a one-year agreement with Liberty Business Systems of Fargo for a new copier, including a $500 charge and buyout of $161.92 for taking back the old copier less a credit of $112.98. Nelson seconded this motion, which was approved on vote.

Ronnevik moved to designate the Youth Idaho Mission Trip as mission of the month for May. Schaible seconded this motion, and it carried on vote. Dennis Bauman’s eight-year-old great-grandson, Hudson Hendrickx, is mission of the month for April.

Pederson moved to adjourn; Rotz seconded the motion, which carried on vote, and this meeting closed at 7:30 P.M. with the Lord’s Prayer.

The next regular meeting of the Grace Lutheran Church Council is scheduled for 6 P.M. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in the chapel.

As usher for April, Haiby provided refreshments.

Phyllis Rossow Secretary

GRACE GAZETTE FINANCIAL INFORMATION March 31, 2019

GENERAL FUND:

Balance, March 1, 2019 $ 14,819.04

March Receipts $ 15,334.73

March Disbursements ($ 15,192.73)

Balance March 31, 2019 $ 14,961.04

Average Attendance (4 services) 138

Mission Receipts ~ “Faith Westby” $942.16

Wednesday Concert – Bruce Nelson $228.00

GRACE BUILDING EXPANSION FUND

Balance, March 1, 2019 $29,980.00

March Receipts $ 180.00

March Disbursements ($ .00)

Balance, March 31, 2019 $30,160.00

GRACE MAJOR MAINTENANCE FUND:

Balance, March 1, 2019 $11,776.14

March Receipts $ .00

March Disbursements ($ .00)

Balance, March 31, 2019 $11,776.14

CONCERT/MISSION OF THE MONTH

Balance, March 1, 2019 $1,678.65

March Receipts $1,365.16

March Disbursements ($1,729.16)

Balance, March 31, 2019 $1,314.65

Submitted by Lucille Stadum, Treasurer

Grace Lutheran Women Meeting Minutes

Grace Lutheran Women met on April 18, 2019. Welcome and Table Prayer. We had Bible Study with Pastor Brad, Pew Sisters

We started our meeting by reading Philippians 4:13 on page 4 of our booklets. Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were read and placed on file.

Old Business: • Thank you to all the groups who served Lenten suppers. • Confirmation will be April 28th. • Rummage Sale on May 4th. All donations should be gently

used. Any furniture not sold must be taken back is not sold. New Business: • Our sympathy goes out to Donna Johnson’s family on the

death of her twin brother and to Dale Gilbertson on the death of his brother.

• We will give a $50.00 gift certificate to Rena from Garden Pleasures for Administrative Professionals Day. Motion by Sheila and 2nd by Donna.

• Thank you to Karen Nelson, Jessica Rotz and Cheryl Rotz and the kitchen crew for a great Father-Son Banquet. Thank you to Roger Michaelson for being the speaker.

• A motion was made by Faye to give a sizable donation to the seating fund, $5000.00. Everyone was in favor and it passed.

Thank you to Sheila and Donna for the delicious brunch. Servers in May will be Renee S. and Jeanette R.

Birthdays and Birthday song, offering and offering song. Next meeting is May 16, 2019

We closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Sheila Ouren, Secretary

MAY LIBRARY CORNER

This month we honor our mothers on May 12, so I want to introduce you to DVD’s about women of courage, both young and old. The first two women left their homeland to make a new home in another land, resulting in the salvation of many. The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith is the “Biblical Cinderella story” of one of the women in the genealogy of Jesus found in Matthew chapter one. Amy Carmichael: Mother to the Motherless is the true story of a young woman who went to India in 1903 as a missionary. Amy spread the Gospel of Christ and rescued young girls “married” to Hindu gods and serving in rituals at the temple. The next two women hid Jews from the Nazi regime. The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler tells the amazing story of how she saved 2500 children! The Hiding Place and Corrie Ten Boom: A Faith Undefeated tell the story of the efforts of Corrie’s family to save Jews in Holland and how God was faithful even in the concentration camps. Soul Surfer is the true story of a courageous teen, Bethany Hamilton, who refused to become bitter when a shark bit off her arm. She overcame the tragedy to become a champion athlete. The last two movies are of fictional mothers, who refused to give up even in the face of great loss. War Room is a wonderfully told story about a woman who set aside one room as her “prayer closet” (See Matthew 6: 5-6) where she prayed for her family. When a young neighbor woman’s marriage is about to dissolve, she shares the concept of a “prayer room” with her, resulting in changed lives. Love Comes Softly is based on Janette Oke’s novel about a young woman whose husband tragically dies on their way to a new life in the West.

Paulette Haddock~Grace Librarian

2 Carol Nygaard

5 Lindy Motz

6 Jessica Metzger

7 Christopher Bilden

12 Jeremy Winkels

Alex Bullis

Erica Bullis

13 Luke Mostue

14 Joshua Sundblad

15 Pat Motz

16 Ron Stadum

John Jenson

17 Brady Stadum

Rockie Weston

19 Karrie Ouren

20 Joyce Kubitz

21 Jordyn Grunewald

22 Dennis Bauman

Lily Monson

23 Clifford Mayfield

Easton Thorson

25 Janice Harthun

27 Oakley Carlson

28 Wallace Grunewald

Charlie Mavis

29 Karlea Thorson

30 Sandy Mann

Allison Jessen

31 Connor Nelson

Eli Milbeck

Braden Thorson

NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON!

More and more people in our community are online and we want to move forward in making connections with those around us so that we might reach them with the gospel. That’s why we’re excited to announce that a complete makeover of our Grace Lutheran Church of Er-hard website is in the works. We hope to launch the new site in May of 2019. Stay tuned!

June Gazette Deadline

May 24th!

Sunday, May 19th after Worship followed by a

potluck meal

All helping hands welcome!

Thank you to my church family for the well

wishes, cards, calls and prayer when I was

hospitalized earlier this spring. I truly

appreciate it.

God Bless,

Lyle Barringer

Thank you for the flowers, cards and gift certificates that were bestowed on my for Administrative Professionals Day. I as so blessed! In Christ, Rena

Cla

ss o

f 2019

Graduation Open Houses~

You are invited ! Sam Rotz: Saturday, May 18, 4-8:00 pm at

47585 215th Ave., Pelican Rapids

Kristen Haiby: Friday, May 24th following the

graduation ceremony at Milt’s Barn

Cassidy Kubitz: Friday, May 24th, 8:30 pm at

Grace Lutheran Church

Graduation Open Houses~

You are invited ! Elizabeth Bigelow: Saturday, May 25th, 10:00 am to

12:30 pm, 100 Two Rivers Road, Fergus Falls

Alesha Ouren: Saturday, May 25th, 11:00 am to 2:00

pm, 17324 Reed Creek Road, Elizabeth

Class of 2019

Grace Lutheran Church LCMC (218)842-5205

726 Fergus Avenue, PO Box 10

Erhard, MN 56534

glclcmc@gmail.com

Website: www.gracechurchoferhard.org

Facebook Pages:

The Foundry @ Grace Lutheran Erhard

Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC) of Erhard, MN

Senior Pastor Brad Soenksen (218)205-5608

bradbygrace@gmail.com

Rena Kubitz~Church Secretary (218)329-1846

glclcmc@gmail.com

Aimee Nordlund~Minister of Music (952)200-9283

aimeenordlund@gmail.com

Dacia Johnson-Minister of Youth (218)731-4420

johnsond@breckenridge.k12.mn.us

FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS: Cheryl Melkert, Organist (218)867-2374h (218)736-4360w cdmelkert@hotmail.com Karen Rossum, Women Pres (218)739-3516

rkrossum@bradcowisp.com Lucy Stadum, Treasurer (218)842-5148

rlstadum@rothsay.us 2019 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Jeanette Ripley, President (218)842-5301 Duane Haiby, Vice President (218)863-8902 Phyllis Rossow, Secretary (218)867-2429 Jim Klitzke (218)280-8321 Rachel Ronnevik (218)736-4009 Kim Pederson (218)842-5139 Karen Nelson (763)354-8430 Cheryl Rotz (218)205-4754 Bruce Schaible (612)889-0306 BOARD OF EDUCATION: Mary Ferguson (218)790-0909 Jessica Metzger (218)770-6963 Arlinda Tollefson (218)770-8630 GLW: Karen Rossum President (218)739-3516 Carol Haiby, VP (218)863-8902 Sheila Ouren, Secretary (218)842-5390 Diane Klitzke, Treasurer (218)280-8322 Bev Ouren, Stewardship Sec (218)842-5289 Marilyn Ouren, Stewardship Sec (218)842-5234

Revised 5/1/2019 YOUTH GROUP ADVISORS: Jennifer Larson (218)731-9896 Kristi Christianson (218)639-0956 Lindsay Milbeck (218)205-7453 Brittney LaPoint (218)770-2117 PROPERTY COMMITTEE: Dennis Haiby (218)863-2080 Greg Melkert (218)842-5159 Dean Nelson (218)863-5345 Phil Johnson (218)770-5042 ALTAR COMMITTEE: Joanie Fouquette (218)842-5214 Carol Ripley (218)842-5290 Jeanette Ripley (218)842-5301 Karen Nelson (763)354-8430 FUND RAISING COMMITTEE: Pat Teberg (218)842-5405 Phyllis Gilbertson (218)842-5550 Sheila Ouren (218)842-5390 Curt & Jennifer Cardwell (218)671-0377 Gary & Pat Cardwell (320)305-0518 MEMORIAL SECRETARY: Bev Ouren (218)842-5289 CEMETERY COMMITTEE: Ole Nelson (763)229-5633 Jerry Pederson (218)842-5139 Dale Gilbertson (218)842-5550 CONCERT COMMITTEE: John Ripley (218)842-5290 Karen Rossum (218)739-3516 Myrna Skunberg (218)842-5135 Pat Teberg (218)842-5405

Please Notify Jeanette Ripley of any BAPTISM (218)842-5301 h

Please notify Karen Rossum (218)739-3516 or Sheila Ouren (218)842-5390 of any FUNERAL

The Foundry Youth Group The Foundry Meets the

FIRST and THIRD Wednesday

of each month (unless otherwise specified)

6:00 pm to 8:00pm!

Follow us on Facebook~

The Foundry @ Grace Lutheran Erhard

Come as you are and bring a friend!

We will start with a meal, hear a lesson about our AWESOME God

and play some really fun games!

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

28 29 30 1 2 3 48:00 am: Bible Study 9:15 am: Prayer Fellowship 6:00-8:00pm: Foundry meets 7:00 pm: Choir Practice

8:00 am to 1:00 pm: Annual Rummage & Bake Sale

5 6 7 8 9 10 119:00 am: Sunday School & Adult Bible Study 10:00 am: Worship with Holy Communion followed by coffee fellowship 6:30 pm: Women's Bible

Study at Rachel Ronnevik's

8:00 am: Bible Study 9:15 am: Prayer Fellowship

7:00 pm: aChord Quartet

Concert

Augustana District

Convention-Alexandria

12 13 14 15 16 17 189:00 am: Sunday School & Adult Bible Study 10:00 am: Worship with quilts presented to HS Seniors, kids sing in church followed by coffee fellowship

Mother's Day6:00 pm: GLC Council meets

8:00 am: Bible Study 9:15 am: Prayer Fellowship 6:00-8:00pm: Foundry meets 7:00 pm: Choir Practice

9:00 am: GLW meets

19 20 21 22 23 24 259:00 am: Adult Bible Study 10:00 am: Worship followed by church clean up with a pot-luck

6:30 pm: Women's Bible Study at Rachel Ronnevik's

8:00 am: Bible Study 9:15 am: Prayer Fellowship 7:00 pm: Choir Practice

8:30 am: Stephens

Ministry

26 27 28 29 30 31 19:00 am: Adult Bible Study 10:00 am: Worship followed by coffee fellowship

Memorial Day

8:00 am: Bible Study 9:15 am: Prayer Fellowship 6:30 pm: Choir Pot-luck

2 3

NOTE: Worship Time Change

to 9:00 A.M. starting June 2nd

May 2019

Church reserved