January 2020

LIVING WORD Lutheran Church of Alexandria, LCMC

Through the power of the Holy Spirit

we are growing, Sharing, and living

in God’s Word, Jesus Christ

320-762-1997 Office Hours T-Th 8:30a.m. —12:30 p.m.

pastorlwlc@gctel.net OR secretarylwlc@gctel.net

1722 16th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN

www.livingwordalexmn.org 320-762-1997

Christmas Yet

“…behold, Magi [wise observers] from the East came to Jerusalem…” [Matthew 2:1]

By now, the year 2020 has become the focus of the world. Christmas is over and done with, gifts given and

got, appreciated or returned. Time to move on, to recover from the expenses of money, time and postage. We

have the New Year coming, and there’s work ahead.

Wait a minute. Though some have pushed the Magi moment out of the scene with the tree, there’s more.

Check it out for yourself, and you will find the stable is NOT all there is to this season. Shepherds, angels,

Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus in that dark, smelly shed have moved on. Unlike Christmas lights, their lives

are not put up as figures in frozen postures until Advent. Life went on ahead for all these real, live people in

real space and time.

The Magi were the scientists of their time, critical observers of life, earth and sky. On what they determine

to be a momentous event, proclaimed by the heavens, they acted. Something seen in an unexpected star led

them hundreds of miles from home to Jerusalem. They told people whom they sought: the King of the Jews,

“for we have seen his star…” “His star” tells you and me they have put lots of things together to reach this

conclusion.

No one even now knows the details, only their deliberation: there’s another king present. This evaluation,

from very respected foreign intellectuals raised havoc in Jerusalem. King Herod played his caution close to

the vest, as his viziers confirmed the claim. A ruler would come from Bethlehem, to govern the people of Is-

rael. This news was bad news, extending throughout Herod’s administration to the city itself. Herod must

stop this rival “king” before he developed a following, but he had to be careful. These Magi are told to find

this new king and bring Herod the word that he might worship him. (Worth-ship is precisely what he has in

mind; he would indeed give this infant proper place!)

“When they had heard the king, they went their way… and going into the house…” Joseph is a carpenter, a

new Dad, and he and Mary had moved from the stable to a house. There the Magi found a toddler, with Mary

his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. They offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh, profound

riches that travel easily even today. This treasure would serve the fledgling family well for, soon as the kings

leave, there’s trouble. Herod was NOT informed by these Magi, who head directly for home. The result is a

slaughter in Bethlehem of boys under the age of two, at Herod’s direction. But Jesus, Mary and Joseph have

already left, with the resources afforded them by the Magi. Just as God delivered them from death, so Christ

Jesus delivers you, forgiving all your sins. You have all that’s necessary for your deliverance, timely given in

Jesus our Savior, even yet.

~ Peace, Pastor Nate

Sunday Morning Bible Study

All are welcome to Sunday Morning Bible Study that meets at 10:20am

and concludes at 11:00am. Focus in on “Discipleship”, a study written

by Stephen King. Dave Moeller will be leading this study.

Tuesday Morning Bible Study

The Tuesday morning Bible Study is in Ephesians. Bible study begins

at 9:00 am and is open to anyone who wants to participate. There is

always coffee, tea, snacks and great conversation.

Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study

Our current study, “One for All - Experiencing the Exclusive Claim of

Christ”, is thought provoking. Come and join us for reflection and

conversation. There is never a dull moment with this group, so men,

come and join in the fun!!

WOW Bible Study

Women of the Word Study is ongoing and meets the first Thursday of

the month at 2:00pm. All women are welcome and bring a friend.

Check their section in the newsletter or our webpage for more infor-

mation.

Read The Bible In A Year

The LWLC Adult Education Commit-

tee is encouraging all members to get

involved in “Reading Through the

Bible in a Year”. The Scripture read-

ings for each month are included in

the monthly newsletter. Please consid-

er taking part in this exciting adven-

ture and encourage others to do so as

well. We can be assured that “God’s

Word does not return void” (Isaiah

55:11) As you read, pray, asking God

to open your heart to His Word.

January1 ..................... Genesis 1-3

January 2 .................... Genesis 4-7

January 3 .................. Genesis 8-11

January 4 ................ Genesis 12-16

January 5 ................ Genesis 17-19

January 6 ................ Genesis 20-23

January 7 ................ Genesis 24-25

January 8 ................ Genesis 26-28

January 9 ................ Genesis 29-30

January 10 .............. Genesis 31-33

January 11 .............. Genesis 34-36

January 12 .............. Genesis 37-39

January 13 .............. Genesis 40-42

January 14 .............. Genesis 43-45

January 15 .............. Genesis 46-47

January 16 .............. Genesis 48-50

January 17 ...................Exodus 1-4

January 18 ...................Exodus 5-7

January 19 .................Exodus 8-10

January 20 ...............Exodus 11-13

January 21 ...............Exodus 14-16

January 22 ...............Exodus 17-20

January 23 ...............Exodus 21-23

January 24 ...............Exodus 24-27

January 25 ...............Exodus 28-30

January 26 ...............Exodus 31-34

January 27 ...............Exodus 35-37

January 28 ...............Exodus 38-40

January 29 ................ Leviticus 1-4

January 30 ................ Leviticus 5-7

January 31 .............. Leviticus 8-11

Adult Education

Hear God’s Word at LWLC

Sunday: 9:00am Worship

10:00am Fellowship/Refreshments

10:10am Kids Corner (2nd Sunday of the month)

10:20am Bible Study

11:00am Faith Fervor Worship

Tuesday: 9:00am Adult Bible Study

Wednesday: 8:30am Men’s Bible Study

1st Annual Kiddo Friday was a success. We had

25 kids and look forward to doing it next year.

There was something for everyone.

Thank you to our volunteers Crafts

Games

Music

Movies

Snacks

Friday, November 29

WOW Advent Brunch

Saturday, December 7

Stable Communion

Nelson Petting Zoo

Saturday,

December 7

Fair Fervor Worship, Sunday, December 1 11:00am

Caroling Knute Nelson

Wednesday, December 18

2019 Christmas Dinner

Sunday, December 8

Special Children’s Sermon

Sunday, December 22

Candlelight Worship

Sunday, December 24

1St Annual Blue Christmas

Thursday, December 19

Pastor Nate Hanson held our

1st annual Blue Christmas

Worship Service. A service

intended for those who may

have lost someone during the

year, but also for those who

struggle with the Christmas

Season for any reason. We had approximately 24

people who participated. Praise God for being

able to offer this opportunity to our community.

Augustana District News

The Augustana District Newsletter is packed full of wonderful stories and information. The en-

tire newsletter can be found on our webpage: https://www.livingwordalexmn.org/

augustana_district_newsletter or click on the link sent to you with this newsletter if you are

reading this electronically

Baptism

Sunday, December 29

WOW Women of the Word ** Please note change of date for January.

WOW Bible will meet Thursday, January 9, at 2:00 p.m. We will continue with Lesson 9,

Living With a King, from John, Old Places New Faces by Sola Publishing. Lesson leader this

month is Carla Beem. WOW Dates for 2020

Thursday, April 23 — Box Supper

Thursday, June 18 — Summer Event

Thursday September 10 — Salad Supper

Thank you

Thank you

to our congregation

for helping make all the

events in December

successful.

LWLC

Thank you Living Word Lutheran for the pleasure of worshipping with you on Nov.

24th and the opportunity to share how God is transforming our local community

through the Body of Christ--Love INC of Douglas County! I appreciated the many

warm conversations before and after service, and I look forward to our continued

partnership in 2020.look forward to our continued partnership in 2020!

Special thanks also to the youth and adults that served at Love Inc on Oct. 30th.

What a respectful group of young adults—the future of our church!!

Blessings to you,

Tammy Boushek , Love INC Director

KID’S CORNER Youth 2nd Grade & Younger Meets: Second Sunday of the Month

Time: Following Sunday Morning Worship

Biblical craft to make and take home!

LWLC Youth

January 2020

WEDNESDAY, Jan 8th

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 3 Days of Prayer & Gospels

Sunday, Jan 12th 10:15am

Kids Corner

WEDNESDAY, Jan 15th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Gospels Quiz

WEDNESDAY, Jan 22nd

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Youth Group

WEDNESDAY, Jan 29th

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Paul’s Letters

After Caroling at Knute Nelson

Care Center the Youth returned to

LWLC for a lesson, wrapping pre-

Featured this month : 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper

90 Minutes in Heaven 90 Minutes in Heaven is subtitled “A True Story of Life and Death.” Written by Don Piper, a Baptist preacher from Houston, Texas, the story chronicles his “90 minutes in Heaven” and his struggles to survive after a severe car ac-cident he experienced on his return from a statewide church convention.

This book, written with the assistance of a successful biographer, Cecil Murphey, was published finally in 2004, 15 years after the accident. Told in the first person, Piper describes, in his own words, events from the moment of the horrific accident, through his “90 minutes in Heaven” experience, his subsequent pain-filled recovery, his bouts with resulting severe depression, and his extreme dependence on other people for every facet of life.

But finally, and most importantly, he tells how God changed his life and his perspective, using him to to help oth-ers who were going through similar painful experiences, or to help others with their understanding of Heaven. The farther one reads in this fascinating story, the more intense it becomes. The “heavenly” experience is significant, but the change in Piper’s life and attitude resulting from the accident and subsequent depression and recovery is the real focus of the book.

He closes the book by saying, “I am here, I am alive, and it’s because God’s purposes have not yet been fulfilled in my life. When God is finished with me, I’ll return to the place I yearn to be.”

You can find this book on display or under #248 in our LWLC library.

Library News

Volunteer Opportunities If you have gotten your Time and Talent Sheets in, Thank you. If not, it is not too late.

Don’t wait and think someone else will step up. Many hands, make little work.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have

received to serve others, as faithful stewards of

God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

January 9, 2020 ~ 1-7 pm

Blood Drive sponsored by Alexandria

Area High School Robotics Team

From our LWLC President

President’s Notes, January 2020

Happy New Year! The calendar changes to an exciting new year for us at Living Word. But before we

get started we need to wrap up year 2019. Our annual meeting is scheduled immediately after worship on

January 26, 2020 followed by a potluck brunch. With 2019 behind us, all committees need to complete

their work and submit their annual reports to our Admin Assistant so they can be included in the Annual

Meeting Booklet. Preparing the booklet is a big job. Turn in your work in a timely fashion so Rose has

time to compile and print the booklets.

Transition Update

We expect the call process will be completed this year. We have taken time to gather our members’ opin-

ions about what we recognize as our strengths, weaknesses and yes, our fears about who and what we are.

After the worship service January 19, we will have a temple talk to distribute and review a summary of our

self-assessment. The next step then in our process is to prepare for the “Visioning” phase. On or about

February 9 we plan a brief “congregational retreat” to define and discuss “Visioning”. Over succeeding

weeks, we will prayerfully consider what we believe to be God’s will for the future of this congregation.

When we arrive at a consensus, the congregation will elect a call committee of seven people. The commit-

tee will use our collective vision to search for pastoral candidates, one of whom will be called to lead our

congregation in the next stage of our congregational life. 2020 will be a critical and exciting time!

Augustana / LCMC Hymn sing & Fellowship

Mark your calendars: LWLC and Salem/Sauk Valley congregations are hosting a hymn sing and fellow-

ship event February 16 at 2 PM here at Living Word. We are inviting LCMC congregations from a 60-

mile radius of Alexandria. This is an opportunity to get to know our neighboring congregations. Come out

for hymn singing, entertainment and meeting our neighbors!

-Gaylen Lerohl, President

Given In Memory of: C. Wayne Kreps; Adeline & Carl Aamold, Sarah Olsonawski Nissen, Dana Kreps Willard

Given by: Sandy & Curt Aamold

Given in Memory of: Parents and Grandparents of Karen & Wayne Becker Given by: Wayne & Karen Becker

Given In Memory of: Billie Grefe (Jan’s Mom) Given by: Steve & Jan Ferguson

Given in Memory of: Our parents, Pauls’s brother, David; and Paulette’s sister, Kathleen AND

In honor of our grandchildren Given by: Paul & Paulette Johnson

Given in Memory of: Mary & Jim Wright (Rose’s parents); Mike & Angeline Scalise and Austie & Arthur Wright

(Rose’s grandparents); and Edwin & Lilly Johnson (Scott’s grandparents) AND in honor of their daughters &

Grandchildren Given by: Scott, Rose & Hannah Johnson

Given in Memory of: Arlo & Mary Lon Kluver, Dave Knecht AND in honor of: Jane Knecht

Given by: Laurie & A.J. Kluver

Given in Memory of: Dave & Julie Floen; Arnold & Cora Stoen; and Karen Floen

Given by: Ron & Jeanette Stoen

Given in Memory of: Odilia & Marvin Roers Given by: Marvelle & Ed Weispfennig

Thank you for the Poinsettias decorating the Sanctuary for Christmas

Church Life

Need a ride to worship or other church activities?

Please call the team who lives closest to your location.

4541 Arbor Crossing SE, Alexandria

Gary DeSha 1/10

Marv Gravley 1/13

Cindy Forbrook 1/15

Terri Elsey 1/17

Dirk Hagedon 1/17

Julie Massmann 1/22

Jeanette Stoen 1/22

Jean Ricks 1/23

Tonia Hagedon 1/26

Henry Anderson 1/27

Trygg Baily 1/28

Carolyn Fiskness 1/28

Rose Johnson 1/30

Jeremiah Denke 1/31

Financial .

2019 Financial Report: November Year to Date

Attendance: 353

General Offering $ 14,528 $ 159,660

Actual Expenses $ 12,453 $ 161,638

Net: $ 2,075 $ ( 1,978)

Building Fund Offering $ 9,381 $ 70,807

Building Debt Remaining $ 225,619 $ 225,619

Closures and Cancellations

With Minnesota winter weather starting its never

ending surprises, stay up to date. We will announce

closure and cancellations on our home page of our

website and also on Facebook.

Want Something in the Newsletter??? There is a lot of great things happening at LWLC.

Be sure to get your pictures and information to Rose as soon as possible.

JANUARY CELEBRATIONS

BIRTHDAYS

January Worship Helpers 5 12 19 26

Communion Praise Band Communion

Reader Shelly Nelson Marvelle Weispfennig Dave Moeller Julie Massmann

Ushers Harold Withers

Kathy Withers

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Wayne Becker

Karen Becker

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Gregg Stoen

Dave Moeller

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Julie Massmann

Laverne Floen

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Greeters Deloris Peterson

Elder Peterson

Gayle Nemmers

Bonnie Pahan

Marv Gravley

Janet Gravley

Bill Finley

Shirley Finley

Altar Preparation Susan Polson

Coffee and

Refreshments

Shirley Finley

Sandy Aamold

Karen Kirckof

Carolyn Brewster

Bonnie Pahan

Lou Ann Peterson

Deloris Peterson

Kathy Withers

Coffee Prep Sandy Aamold Carolyn Brewster Lou Ann Peterson Kathy Withers

Pianist Karen Kirckof Laurie Kluver Carolyn Moeller Karen Kirckof

Assist Counting

Offering

Kathy Withers Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson

Gaylen Lerohl

Sound System

Paul Johnson John Kirckof Dave Anderson Wayne Becker

Laverne Floen

Power Point Dan Engebretson Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson Gayle Nemmers

Communion

Preparation

Susan Polson,

Lou Ann Peterson

N/A

Susan Polson,

Lou Ann Peterson

N/A

Communion

Servers

Curt Aamold

Tonia Hagedon

Gaylen Lerohl

N/A Nancy Anderson

Steve Ferguson

Bill Finley

N/A

Communion

Assistant

Cindy Lerohl N/A

Angie Anderson N/A

Communion

Bread

Kay Elvehjem N/A

Laurie Kluver N/A

If you need a replacement please call someone from the schedule to switch with you and notify the office of the changes. Thank you!

FebruaryWorship Helpers 2 9 16 23

Communion Praise Band Communion

Reader Laurie Kluver Gaylen Lerohl Tonia Hagedon Carolyn Brewster

Ushers Dave Anderson

Nancy Anderson

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Terry Berger

Erling Berger

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Dan Engebretson

Steve Ferguson

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Bill Finley

Curt Aamold

Jim Nelson

Doyle Polson

Greeters Brad Forbrook

Jean Ricks

Jeanette Stoen

Ron Stoen

Harold Withers

Kathy Withers

Dean Peterson

Lou Ann Peterson

Altar Prep Angie Anderson

Coffee and

Refreshments

Mary Jo Redfield

Karen Kirckof

Jean Ricks

Barb Engebretson

Kay Elvehjem

Nancy Anderson

Erling Berger

Terry Berger

Coffee Prep Denise Stoen Barb Engebretson Kay Elvehjem Erling Berger

Pianist Karen Kirckof Nancy Anderson Nancy Anderson Carolyn Moeller

Assist

Counting

Offering

Kathy Withers Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson

Gaylen Lerohl

Sound System

Paul Johnson John Kirckof Dave Anderson Wayne Becker/Laverne

Floen

Power Point Dan Engebretson Ed Weispfennig Jan Ferguson Gayle Nemmers

Communion

Preparation

Cindy Lerohl N/A

Cindy Lerohl N/A

Communion

Servers

Cindy Lerohl

Laurie Kluver

Gregg Stoen

N/A Dave Anderson

Gaylen Lerohl

Lou Ann Peterson

N/A

Communion

Assistant

Doyle Polson N/A

Marvelle Weispfennig N/A

Communion

Bread

Cindy Lerohl N/A

Gayle Neemers N/A

If you need a replacement please call someone from the schedule to switch with you and notify the office of the changes. Thank you!