Table of Contents

Pastor’s Message/Lenten Services . . . . . Page 2-3 Snow Much Fun/ROL. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4-5 Annual Meeting/JOY. . . . . . . . . . . Page 6-7 Confirmation/Youth Committee . . . . . . . . Page 8-9 Nursery /Cantata/Book Club/Memorials. . . . . Page 10-11 Lenten Booklet/Cabin Fever/Lenten Soup Supper . Page 12-13 Movie Time/Lenten Drama/Electronic Giving. Page 14-15 Council Minutes/IHN . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16-17 Marriage Encounter/Staff . . . . . . . . . Page 18-19

Making Christ Known

February 2018

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Message from Pastor Nirmala The Observance of Lent

The word "Lent" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "lencten," referring to the lengthening of the days in the spring. Lent, of course, is an English word. In Latin, still the official language of the Catholic Church, the entire sea-son is known as quadrigesima, or "forty." The penitential season of Lent is the period of forty week-days beginning on Ash Wednesday. It is a season of the church year, which commemorates the forty days Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness before he began his public ministry of preaching for repentance. The season of Lent calls Christians to imitate the forty days of prayer and fasting of Jesus. The period of forty days is significant. When God punished the sinfulness of mankind by the flood, the rain lasted for forty days and forty nights. Moses led the Hebrew people out of bondage in Egypt, but they wandered forty years in the desert before reaching the Promised Land. Elijah fasted and sought God's will on Mount Horeb for forty days. Jonah prophe-sied on Nineveh in forty days. During lent some people give up sweets, smoking, TV etc., eating meat in order to discipline themselves and grow in their spiritual life. Our lenten preparation should not be confined to "giving up" things; we should "take on" things like extra prayers, meditation, self-examination, confession and repentance and generosity. I encourage you to attend midweek Lenten services. Our theme for this year is “Voices at the foot of the cross.” Dur-ing the mid-week Lenten worship we will hear from five of our members who will portray Biblical characters in a mono-logue form. We put together a Lenten devotional booklet for you to observe Lenten prayer practice. I wish and pray that this Lenten season will be a season of renewal and reformation in our lives. Peace and Joy Pastor Nirmala Reinschmidt

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LENTEN SERVICES 2018

THEME: VOICES AROUND THE CROSS

MONOLOGUES

Soup suppers start at 5pm before all Wednesday services Ash Wednesday service February 14th 6.30pm Lent - Wed, Feb 21 Voice of Denial Peter Matthew 26:69-75 Lent - Wed, Feb 28 Voice of Evasion Pilate Matthew 27:11-26 Lent - Wed, Mar 7 Voice of Grief Mary John 19:25-27 Lent - Wed, Mar 14 Voice of faith Thief Matthew 27:27-44 Lent - Wed, Mar 21 Voice of Betrayal Judas Matthew 26:14-16 Palm Sunday Cantata/ March 25th 8am and 10am French Toast Breakfast 7:30 - 11:30am Maundy Thursday March 29th 6:30pm Good Friday March 30th 6:30pm Easter Sunday April 1st 8am and 10am

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Snow Much Fun Lock in All 3rd–6th grade students are invited to the Annual Snow Much Fun Lock-In. The fun starts on Friday, March 2nd and concludes with break-fast on Saturday morning, March 3rd.

Schedule Time Event 6:30pm Arrive & Check In 6:45pm Welcome & Ice Breakers 7:15pm Games and Bible Study 8:00pm Snack 8:15pm Minute to Win It Games 9:00pm Movie, Games, Crafts 11:00pm Bed Time 11:30pm Lights Out 7:00am Rise & Shine – Clean Up 7:30am Breakfast (Pancakes, Sausage, Juice & Milk) 8:00am Parents need to pick up by

You do not need to be a member of CLC; please invite your friends! Pre-registration is required. Dinner will not be served, please be sure your child has

eaten before attending

Pre-Registration is Required Return to church office by Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Name: _________________________________________ Grade: ______________ Gender: Male Female Allergies: _______________________________________ T-shirt size: YS__ YM__ YL__ Adult S__ M__ L__ XL__ ($15 registration fee includes t-shirt; if you do not want a t-shirt do not mark anything and the regis-tration fee is $10) Parents Name: ___________________________________ Phone: ________________________(Where parents can be reached in case of an emergency) Who will be picking your child up on Saturday morning? _______________________________________________

If you child will not be spending the night who will be picking them up and at what time? _______________________________________________

Adult chaperones are needed to help with the lock-in

_____ Yes, I will help chaperone at the Lock-In. Name: _________________________________________ _____ 6:30pm–10:00pm (evening chaperone) _____ 10:00pm–8:00am (overnight chaperone) _____ 7:00am–9:30am (breakfast crew & cleanup) Parents will need to pick up their children by 8:00am. For Office Use Only: Paid: Cash or Check # ____________Amount $______________

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River of Life News If you are interested in volunteering to teach or helping in the classrooms please contact Francine Kovash at 507-951-2234 or fkovash@hotmail.com The lessons for February will be:

2/4 - Psalms 23-God is David’s Shepherd 2/11 - Jeremiah 1:4-19-God Chooses Jeremiah 2/18 - Daniel 6-God Saves Daniel 2/25- Jonah 1-4-God Gives Jonah a Second Chance On February 11 the 3 year old through 2nd grade classes will be singing at the 8 AM service.

River of Life Offering Offering collected during ROL and to the left of the altar in the sanctuary from January through June will go to Lutheran Disaster Relief to assist in the African Drought crisis. July through December offering will go to the Channel One Food Shelf.

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Newsletter Articles Please have newsletter articles in by Wednesday, February 21st. Thank you for your help on this.

Notice of Congregational Meetings Congregational Meeting of Christ Lutheran Church Sunday, February 4, 9:00am to call Pastor Nirmala Reinschmidt, part time Annual Congregational Meeting of Christ Lutheran Church: Sunday, February 4, 9:05am All active, confirmed members of Christ Lutheran are encouraged to attend and be a part of the decision-making process of our church. Questions regarding the meeting may be addressed to any church council member. Watch for a council table in the narthex in January.

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J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth)

Please come and join us! We will be meeting on February 5th at 9:00am in the fellowship hall for coffee and conversa-

tion. Millie Broin will be the hostess. New members are al-ways welcome!

Please see the JOY Club pamphlet on the kiosk for more details.

Home Visitation Ministry

Joan Skare and Joan Prigge are leading a home visitation ministry which may include bringing communion to our homebound members. If you are interested in being on the team, please contact either one of them.

Dear Friends at Christ Lutheran Thrivent Financial would like you to know... You can donate. Make a personal donation. Thrivent will match individual personal donations through Thrivent.com to specific disaster relief organizations.

You can volunteer. Thrivent members can share time and talent to help with recovery efforts by leading a Thrivent Action Team. Eligible members can also direct Choice Dollars®. Visit the Disaster Response page on Thrivent.com for details on these opportunities.

Prayers For The People

Please contact the church office to include your loved ones in the prayers printed in the weekly bulletin, monthly newsletter or added to the prayer chain. All prayer chain requests are preferred by email at office@clcbyron.org or call the office at 775-6646. Please keep us updated with changes.

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Confirmation – February 2018

February 7 – Revelation, 2nd year measured for robes February 14 – Ash Wednesday, 1st Soup Supper February 21 – Lenten Service, 2nd Soup Supper February 28 – Lenten Service, 3rd Soup Supper

After one more regular class, we start the season of Lent. Stu-dents are expected to attend the church service on Wednesday nights as well as fulfill their assignments for the soup suppers.

There will be time each week to meet with their small groups. A printed schedule of assignments for preparing for the soup sup-per, serving food, and service related duties was given to stu-dents in January. The full schedule is also posted in the Confir-mation section of the church web site. We need the help of par-ents and families to make the soup suppers a success. The offerings that are collected fund a portion of the youth mission trip and Bible camp scholarships. Thank you for your support. Mentors organized a few more service project opportunities in February and March. Check the Confirmation site for more in-formation and signup sheets. Second Year Students: On February 7, we are measuring for robes for the Confirmation service so we can place the order. Think about your Bible verse and Faith Statement. Talk to your mentor if you are struggling. We need a professional photographer to take group and indi-vidual / buddy photos of the Confirmation class. Please contact Tim or the church office if you can provide this service. www.clcbyron.org/confirmation Contact the church office or Tim Meek (timothymeek@gmail.com) with any questions.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. ~ Maya Angelou

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Youth Committee - February 2018 Our church will be sending a group of 13 students and 2 adult leaders to Milwaukee, WI in July for a mission trip through YouthWorks. Contact the church office as soon as possible to reserve one of the two spots that are still available. In 2017, fundraising efforts enabled the church to provide 27 camp scholarships and defray a significant portion of the mission trip cost. There are several significant events coming up: Lenten Soup Suppers (Wednesdays, Feb 14 – Mar 21) Cabin Fever Nights (Feb 23, Mar 23) Palm Sunday French Toast Breakfast (Mar 25) Pie and Baked Goods Sale (Mar 25) Solstice Stomp 5K Run (Jun 23) Your support is greatly appreciated!

December Attendance

Worship 2017 2016 Total Attendance 1,688 1,629 Avg Sunday Attendance 422 407

January Attendance

Worship 2018 2017 1st Sunday 229 116 2nd Sunday 205 234 3rd Sunday 227 314 4th Sunday 283 282 5th Sunday 272

Total Attendance 944 1,218 Avg Sunday Attendance 236 244

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Cantata

Our adult music groups welcomes any musicians for the Spring season. ANY SINGER IS WELCOME. Chancel Choir rehearses on Wed evenings at 7pm. Our cantata practice is at 7:30pm on Wednesdays. The cantata, "Come, Touch the Robe" will be presented on Palm Sunday, March 25th, at both the 8am and 10am services. BELLRINGERS NEEDED! JuBELLance rehearses at 6pm Wednesday evenings. We could use 3+ more ringers to fill our ranks. We'll be playing often for the 8 a.m. ser-vice. MUSICIANS FOR BAND. The group will gather to prac-tice a couple of weeks before Easter services on April 1. Please join us! Contact Jane Cabaya 507-775-6183 or at the organ/piano at services.

Church Nursey Christ Lutheran Church is blessed to have children actively participating in worship. If parent(s) feel the need to have some quiet time with their children during worship, the narthex, fellowship hall, cry room and unstaffed nursery are available. The worship service can normally be heard from those rooms.

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Book Lovers League Feb 5 Joan Skare hosting “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilker-son Mar 5 Sue Briske hosting “ “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion

Apr 2 Chris Polzin hosting “Neither Wolf nor Dog” by Kent Nerburn

May 7 Joannie Prigge hosting Undecided on book currently

December Memorials 2017 In Memory of Betty Nelson Music Fund ~ Terry Bird In Memory of Gwen Campbell IHN Fund~ Bob & Jeannette Tweite In Memory of John T Beck IHN Fund~ Bob & Jeannette Tweite To the Glory of God Fellowship Hall Remodeling~ Earl & June Hart

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Cabin Fever Date Night Sponsored by Youth Committee

Cabin Fever Date Night continues in 2018!! The 2018 mission trip students and Confirma-tion students are offering their child care ser-vices on Friday February 23, and March 23. Kids can be dropped off at the church beginning at 6:00pm and need to be picked up by 9:30pm. No meals will be provided but snacks will be served – along with games, movies, and a good time. Parents can enjoy a date night together while kids enjoy playing with church friends. We will have adult supervision at these events. Free-will donations offset the cost of the youth mission trip and provide Bible camp scholarships. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Questions or comments – contact the church office or Tim Meek at 775-2061 or timothymeek@gmail.com

Lenten Devotional Booklets

Devotions were written by our members and friends. They will help us have a meaningful Lenten season. Please pick up a booklet and have a nightly, family devotion. Thanks to all who wrote the devotions. Thanks to our staff, a special thanks to Cristina and Jeremy Zabel for putting the book-lets together, and to Martha Gehrking and Sarah Johnson who encouraged people to write the devotions. Pastor Nirmala

2018 Sunday Morning Treats

To all the families of Christ Lutheran Church: Your help in providing Sunday morning treats is appreciated. Choose a Sun-day in each of your assigned months, contact your chair, and tell her when you will provide treats and if you are willing to be a server. We request 3 dozen or a batch of cookies be provided. Leave the treats in the kitchen marked with your name. Each week we use about 15 dozen cookies.

Feb and Aug ~ LMN ~ Carol Meyer 775-6229 Deb Linbo 775-2476 Mar and Sept ~ OPQR ~ Joan Prigge 282-8475 Volunteer Needed!!!

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Lenten Soup Suppers

The soup suppers begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14, and continue weekly on Wednesdays through March 21. The soup suppers are a free-will donation.

Below is the schedule for the Lenten Soup Suppers:

Feb 14 Worship/Music & Chancel & Bell Choirs Feb 21 Education & Family Promise (IHN) Feb 28 Church Council Mar 7 Altar, Memorial & Wednesday Bible Study Mar 14 Evangelism & Stewardship Mar 21 Building/Grounds & Youth Committee

If you find that you do not have enough members in your group who are able to donate soup or bars, please contact Martha Gehrking. Help will be found for you.

Please assign members of your group to bring the following: • 6 containers of soup, 5 quarts or more. • 6 pans of bars, kids’ kinds are great. The confirmation classes will provide all other food items.

The food needs to be at the church by 4:00PM. If your soup is cold, please bring by noon and plug it in. If hot, 4:00PM is just fine. Serving by the confirmands is from 5:00-6:00PM. The Lent Service starts at 6:30PM. The confirmation classes will set up and clean up. In return, the money raised will help support the youth attending summer Bible camp and the youth mission trip.

During this time of Lent, may we all enjoy our fellowship togeth-er, support our youth, and renew our spirit of Christ the Lord and Risen Savior.

Contact Martha Gehrking, Worship & Music Chair, with any questions.

Home: 775-6174. Email: tgehrking@citlink.net

Ash Wednesday & Lenten Offerings The Ash Wednesday offering will go into regular giving in the general account. Offerings from the five Wednesday night Lenten services will be sent to World Hunger unless it is placed in your Sunday offering envelope.

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Movie Time February 11th, 2:00 Only The Brave

It’s not what stands in front of you, it’s who stands beside you. Only the Brave, based on the true story of Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters

that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country became one of the most elite firefighter teams in the nation. As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes. Everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with a fateful fire. Please join us on February 11th at 2:00 in the theater room at Christ Lutheran Church.

Lenten Dramas

Calling all actors. We are looking for actors to participate in our Lenten dramas. If you have a gift of acting please contact Pastor Nirmala at clcreinschmidt@gmail.com

Fleece & Fleece Blanket Kits Needed

Confirmation students are making blankets for Crisis Nursery on Feb 3 at 9am. Any questions, please contact Susan Holz at 4holzfam@gmail.com

Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. Maya Angelou

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Electronic Giving

Its easy to set up electronic giving to Christ Lutheran Church. If you prefer to give by credit or debit card please go to clcbyron.org and fol-low directions after clicking on “Online Giving”. You will need to create an account with your own password. You can give from your own de-vices one time, weekly, or monthly. It is managed by a secure third par-ty. If you prefer to give by EFT return the form below to the church of-fice. Call the church office if you have questions. Thanks for giving to the mission of God through Christ Lutheran Church!

Church name:

Your name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Email address:

I would like to make the following contribution(s): Date of first contribution: ___/___/___

Frequency of contribution (check one): Weekly – Fridays Semi-monthly – 1st and 15th Monthly on the 1st Monthly on the 15th

General Operating Fund

Building Fund Other _________________ Other _________________ Total

$ ______

$ ______ $ ______ $ ______ $ ______

CHECKING / SAVINGS

Complete this section if using your checking or savings account

Please debit my (check one):

Checking account—attach voided check Savings account—attach voided deposit slip

Routing #: Account #:

Valid routing # must start with 0,1,2 or 3 I authorize the above organization to process debit entries to the above account. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until I provide reasonable notification to terminate the authorization.

Authorized signature: ______________________________________________ Date: / /

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January 16th, 2018 COUNCIL MEETING

Mark called meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

In attendance: Joan Skare, Brent Hoegh, Randy Holz, Mark Turany, Pastor Steve, Joe Biewer, Dave Schlobohm, Stephanie Pfaffenbach, Aaron Anderson

Randy gave Will’s devotion

February-Joe

Joan motioned to approve agenda; Brent 2nd, all approve none deny motion carries.

Brent moved to approve minutes; Randy 2nd, all approve none deny motion carries.

Treasurers Report. December was a great month ending 10,514 in the black. Income exceeds expenses for the year by 15,013. December income 40,405.91. December expense 29,891.54, December difference 10,514.37, YTD Budget 322,500, YTD Income 322,142.43, YTD Expense 307,129.27, YTD Difference 15,013.16. 2016 YTD Difference was 13,777.21.

Information/Discussion Items

Pastor’s lesson was a look at the Step Giving Report

Aaron, Will, Dave, and Joan are returning to council for another term. Jeremy, Ryan, Brent and Mark are leaving.

Council table talks will be 1/21 and 1/28 in Narthex

Council reviewed the call document for Pastor Nirmala

Action Items

Brent moves to approve for inclusion in the Annual Report the 2018 Budget as prepared by the Finance Committee; Aaron 2nd: all approve; motion carries.

Randy moves to approve for inclusion in the Annual Report the 2018 Ballot as prepared by the Nominating Committee; Dave 2nd; all approve; motion carries.

Joe moves to adjourn at 8:20; Stephanie 2nd; all approve; motion carries

End in the Lord’s Prayer

Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 Respectfully submitted by Joe Biewer

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Family Promise News - IHN - Will You Serve?

Our first host week in 2018 is March 11-18. We are very thankful for the almost 40 volunteers that help with this program. The families that we host are also thankful. A re-cent family that stayed with us during our last host week and has now moved into more long term housing has asked us to ex-press their profound gratitude to all the volunteers and organiza-tions that make the Family Promise program work. It has made a big difference in their lives. It would be very helpful and informative to members of CLC if someone or a group could help us make a video for use with the new visual screen during services. I think a three minute video presentation could encourage more volunteers. This would make a fantastic youth service project that could influence lives for years to come, not just for our guests but for us as well. As always we encourage your questions and need your partici-pation in this program. Please contact any coordinator for fur-ther information. Bob & Karen Brekke 775-6339 Overall Coordinators Bob Brekke 775-6339 Driver Coordinator Elaine Meek 775-2061 Meal Coordinator Hertha Lange 775-6726 Overnight Host Coordinator

If we have no peace, it is be-cause we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” —Mother Teresa

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Lutheran Marriage Encounter Refresh, Re-energize and Reconnect Whether you’re newly married or have been married for decades, good communication is the key to keeping your love relationship vibrant and strong. Marriage Encounter teaches a unique and effective set of communication tools that can help your relationship with your spouse be all that it can be. Apply now to attend one of our Events across North America – and get started on your journey to a hap-pier and more joyful marriage! Upcoming Weekends February 16-18, 2018 – Brooklyn Center, MN - Double Tree Hilton April 6-8, 2018 – St. Cloud, MN -Holiday Inn and Suites Find Out More and Register On Facebook: "Marriage Encounter in the Upper Mid-

west" or search @LMEMIDWEST - On our website godlovesmarriage.org

First Sunday Prayer Time

On the first Sunday of each month, Pastor Steve will be available for individual prayer and anointing (optional) at the altar railing. Prayers could include physical or emotional healing for yourself or loved ones. Requests at the railing will be kept confidential.

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CLC Staff

Pr. Steve Rheingans Senior Pastor Pr. Nirmala Reinschmidt Pastor Elaine Meek Administrative Assistant Sandy Erickson Administrative Assistant Jean Goodman (remote) Administrative Assistant Jane Cabaya Organist, Choir/Bells Director Sarah Palmer Praise Team Director Stephanie Pfaffenbach Youth Chimes Director Rose & Dave Gottschalk Custodians

Contact Information

Church Office (507) 775-6646 Church Fax (507) 775-2627 Web Site clcbyron.org Pastor Steve Email clcpastorsteve@gmail.com Pastor Nirmala Email clcreinschmidt@gmail.com Office Email office@clcbyron.org Facebook Christ Lutheran Church

2017 Church Council Members

Mark Turany President/Personnel/Stewardship Randy Holz Vice-President/Stewardship Brent Hoegh Treasurer/Endowment/Memorial/Altar Joe Biewer Secretary/Education LeAnn Bieber Connections-Evangelism Jeremy Schulz Youth Stephanie Pfaffenbach Worship & Music Dave Schlobohm Building & Grounds Ryan Ostreng Building & Grounds Joan Skare Connections-Evangelism Aaron Anderson Youth Will Holz Youth

Go Green!

To cut expenses, consider receiving your monthly newsletter via email. To check out the online newsletter, go to clcbyron.org. To sign up for this service, contact the office at office@clcbyron.org or 775-6646 and we will send you a monthly link to the newsletter.

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