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Svea Evangelical Lutheran Church

March REMINDER 12651 15th Street SE, Svea MN 56216 320-995-6500

www.svealutheranchurch.org 2020

What is a Lutheran? Are you even Christian?

This is a question for many of our siblings in the faith in other parts of the country, and

perhaps some of us as well. The most academic, dictionary answer would be to say:

Lutherans are a sect of Christianity established as the result of the protestant refor-

mation who adhere to the teachings of Martin Luther and his contemporaries as out-

lined in the Augsburg Confession, the Catechisms, the Smallcald Articles and the Heidel-

berg Disputation. These documents are contained in the Book of Concord which is the

articulation of the Lutheran perspective on Christianity. During our midweek Lenten

services this year we will be hearing different perspectives on Lutheran identity through

our study of the small catechism.

Maybe simpler definition would be to say: Lutherans are Christian with a relevant, con-

textual, articulation of the reality defined in Jesus Christ.

The simplest definition might be to say: Lutherans are Christians who know the world is so loved by Jesus that we

share that love in Word and Action. Often our sharing involves hotdish, and or a smelly dead fish.

That last bit fortunately, is not actually so much Lutheran as it is Scandinavian. We would all do well to divorce those

two identities as most Lutherans in the world live in other contexts and countries where neither hotdish nor lutefisk

is a common delicacy.

At the end of the day what keeps us together under the Lutheran title is our understanding that the Gospel, the good

news of Jesus Christ is a message for the world. That his life and death as the very fleshy part of God has changed our

world and created the reality in which we live. This reality is a gift of the one who created all of us, that this was an

action free of cost to us, and in the trust we have in this reality we receive all the benefits of a loving relationship

with God almighty.

We share this love through telling of God’s storied interaction with people and sharing the gifts of bread and wine,

body and blood of God’s own Son, Jesus Christ. These gifts are our life and the life of the world.

So, I guess a Lutheran is one who shares life. Maybe in a world where life and conviction are in constant question.

Maybe it is enough and healthy to say just that.

In this time and season what would it mean to be a people whose only calling was to spread life, and act always for

that intention?

Just a thought from a fellow Lutheran- peace be with you always friends in Christ!

Pr. Erik

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Svea Lutheran Church Council Minutes February 20, 2020

2020 Svea Lutheran Church Council Members Present: Gene Gatewood, Camy Wenberg, Linda Roelofs, Louise Swenson, John Christianson, Ashley Behrens, Dustin Moran Absent: Dianne Johnson and Brian Gorans Call to order: By President Gatewood at 7:30 PM. January 30, 2020 meeting minutes: President Gatewood reported they were approved by council members via e-mail. Devotions: Pastor Erik G. Rundquist asked council members what topics could/would be beneficial for spir-itual and practical growth for council and the congregation.

Inclusion of other cultures, etc. Opportunities for outreach What are the strategies from local and church wide leaderships that address growth in membership? What does our Congregation need! What calls one to be a council member. What more do we want/need from our Pastor and what is appreciated?

Background history of Bible passages is very informative. Sermon gives a foundation for upcoming week situations. Pastor is willing to add skills.

Pastor’s Report: Enjoyed two days of vacation and two days of continual education. Conference Assembly approved $24,000 budget that includes supporting Green Lake Ministries, Campus

Ministry, and Paz Y Esperanza. Douglas Hopp will serve a two-year term as treasurer. Confirmation class instruction and their leadership during evening Lent Services. In addition, Lent Ser-

vices will be held at noon including lunch. Participating in the upcoming Murder Mystery. He informed council of his Lent worship plans asking for input and participation. The focus will be mem-

bers vocalizing shortcomings that leads to repentance adding a monetary commitment. Money will be shared between, Lutheran Work Relief, Kandiyohi County Conservation efforts and tree planting in Svea Park.

Committee Reports: Stewardship, Finance, and Estate:

Budget items are on track. End of month deficit. Recent contributions improved financials. $1393.57 credit from Dooley Petroleum; however, the April catch-up-month will require short term ad-ditional funding. Council recommended the Mission Committee determine how they wish to use the $1500 donation from year-end General Fund.

Worship and Music: 1. Committee recommends that Council offer Megan Gilles a contract for alternating Sunday organ po-sition. Praise Service will continue the leading remaining Sundays.

A motion was made to offer Megan Gilles a contract for alternating Sunday organ position. MSP

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Parish Education: 1. Council was asked to appoint Marny Behrends to serve as Sunday School Superintendent. She will

be the “contact person” for all Sunday School activities. A motion was made to appoint Marny Behrends to serve as Sunday School Superintendent. MSP Property: 1. Discussion about possible reconfiguring the pew arrangement to include handicap areas and make

service participation more inclusive. Council recommended that the Property Committee, the Worship & Music Committee and interested Council members meet in the Sanctuary to consider and recom-mend potential changes.

2. Property Committee recommends that Council approves new carpet flooring for the Fellowship Hall to include the first side rooms and continue to the first stairway not redoing the two corner areas. This should be done early summer. Approximately $12,000 is available. Estimate is about $15,000.

A motion was made to install new carpet flooring in the Fellowship Hall, to include the first two side rooms through to the first stairway not to include the two corner rooms. MSP Global Missions: no report Library: no report Adult Education: committee temporarily inactive Memorial: no report LMM: no report Youth: no report Visual Arts: no report Personnel: no report Audio/Visual: Personnel: no report Strategic Planning: no report

Old Business: 1. Armed intruder discussion tabled. 2. Church use policy tabled. Communion Assistants: March 1 – John Christianson March 8 – Dustin Moran March 15 – Gene Gatewood March 22 – TBD March 29 – TBD Thank you, cards, were prepared and signed. Next Meeting: March 19, 2020 7:30 pm Meeting Adjourned closed with Lord’s Prayer.

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Lent 2020 Mission Project Donate items for Lutheran World Relief Personal Care Kits to help people in need.

There continues to be many natural disasters occurring throughout the world. Our Global Mission Committee has decided to again sponsor the gathering of items to make Personal Care Kits during the Lenten season. Last year we donated 101 kits and our goal for this year is to collect enough supplies to make 110 Personal Care Kits that will help impoverished people around the world stay healthy in the midst of life’s most challenging situations.

Each kit contains: 1 light weight bath towel (dark colors are best-Minimum size 20”x40” & Maximum size 52”x27”) 2 bars of soap (any brand 4 to 5 oz. in original wrapping) 1 sturdy comb 1 metal nail clipper (either with or without a nail file) 1 adult size toothbrush (in original packaging) .

Each week during Lent, we’ll focus on collecting one of the kit items. Please bring your donation to worship and place it in the designated box. March 8 - light weight bath towels (Minimum 20” x 40” and Maximum 27”x 52”) March 15 - toothbrushes March 22 - combs March 29 - nail clippers April 5 - (Palm Sunday) – soap (need 200 bars-2 per kit))

The kits will be assembled in May after worship during the Sunday School/Coffee hour. The exact date is not yet de-termined.

If you prefer, a donation of money towards the project is also very helpful. It costs approximately $9.50 to purchase the items for each kit, plus $2.65 to ship the kit and add the toothpaste at the final destination. If you have any questions, please contact [Karen Schueler at 995-6568 or shkaschu@frontiernet.net

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Family Promise News Thank you to everyone who donated to Family Promise of Kandiyohi County during the December through February campaign. We are happy to announce that the $20,000.00 needed for the matching fund challenge has been reached!

Our new director Kelsey Vosika started on December 26th and is doing an excellent job. She brings a wide variety of experience including mission work in Africa. Working with a non-profit organization has been one of her goals. Our next scheduled week to host is coming next month: April 19-26.

March is Food Share Month Hunger continues to be an every day issue for some people in Kandiyohi County. During March our Kan-diyohi County Food Shelf can double their donations of both non-perishable food items and money. We will be collecting food items starting Sunday, March 8th through the remainder of the month and also

receiving a special offering for the food shelf on March 22nd. Please be generous with your gifts this month. Those who are not able to feed their families without help thank you!!

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MARCH WORSHIP ASSISTANTS

USHERS: Wendell Dahl and Mike Lindblad

VISUAL ARTS: Tracy Gorans and Stacey Vlaminck

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS: John Christianson (3/1) Dustin Moran (3/8)

Gene Gatewood (3/15)

DATE ASST MINISTER LECTORS GREETERS & OFFERING Mar 1 Holli Hopp Lois Nelson Patti & Dave Chambers

Mar 8 Gene Gatewood Anne Christianson Bonnie & Pete Swenson

Mar 15 Pete Stadem Sherman Schueler Julie & Gary Newberg

Mar 22 Camy Wenberg Kari Stadem Shannon & Gary Christopher

Mar 29 Holli Hopp Karen Schueler Teresa & Doug Johnson

DATE PROJECTION SOUND TELLERS ACOLYIES

Mar 1 Scott Johnson 4 Steven Carlson

Mar 8 Jake Vlaminck Stacey Vlaminck 5 Ty Larson

Mar 15 Kim Gorans 6 Matthew Johnson

Mar 22 Brian Gorans Tracy Gorans 1 Jacob Flannigan

Mar 29 Jake Vlaminck 2 Nick Flannigan

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Save the Date and mark your calendars for 2020

Pictorial pictures for the 2020 directory will be taken on Monday, April 20 and Tuesday April 21.

Svea Lutheran Church’s 150th Anniversary will be held on September 27th. Spread the word to anyone you think would like to attend.

In case of bad weather: listen to Operation Snow desk on your local radio station. Please do not jeopardize your safety to make it to worship.

Coffee Hour- Please sign up to serve!! We all love our coffee and treats Sunday mornings and we are looking for volunteers to help make the coffee and to also bring treats. Please sign up to serve on the list in the fellowship hall where you get your coffee. This is an easy way to help with missions.

2020 Svea Lutheran Church Yearbook We will soon be publishing the yearbook again. If you have any changes in your address, phone numbers or e-mail, etc., please let the church office know so we may update the Yearbook.

Thank you! Debra, Parish Secretary.

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The Demise of the Downhome Dealers

One of the casualties hauled away in a wheel barrow. Before dinner, appetizers and drinks were

served at the Pig & Poke Bar.

Some of the sinister looking characters.

Who would have thought this beautiful young girl was the WHODUNIT murderer in

the Murder/Mystery Plot.

Major Country & Western stars Dixie and the Downhome Dealers.

Could you guess WHODUNIT???

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Cast of characters

Front Row: L-R Jordan Gatewood, Camy Wenberg, Gene Gatewood, Pete Stadem. Middle Row L-R Jessie Gatewood, Lois Nelson, Kristi Gatewood, Laurie Burks, Kari Stadem. Back Row L-R Josh Larson, Linda Roelofs (director), Pr. Erik Rundquist, Doug Johnson, Bob Roelofs, Matt Erickson, Jake Vlaminck.

The Kitchen Crew Standing L-R Mike & Kathy Lindblad, Shelly Gate-wood, Ryan Erickson. Seated Jon Burks.

Thank You

Linda Roelofs-Director Jon Burks—Food. Shannon Christopher-Decorating. Shelly Gatewood & Teresa Johnson-Ticket sales. Kathy Lindblad & Stacey Vlaminck-Hair & Make-up. Rachel Rundquist-Program & Advertising. Anyone else who helped in any way. Proceeds will go to Hope Pregnancy, Adult Teen Challenge and carpeting for the church.

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SUMMER CAMPING

Ladies, please let Deb, Parish Secretary, know if you are planning to attend. The registration fee is $10.00 and can be dropped off at the church office no later than March 16th. Thank you!

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Svea Lutheran Church Calendar

March 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10:00 AM ELW Service 10:50 AM SCS 11:00 AM Coffee Fellowship and Mission Meeting

2 3 9:30 AM Peace Circle at Church 1:30 PM Pa-tience Circle at Delphie’s/potluck

4 Noon-Lenten Service/soup lunch 7:00 PM Lenten Service

5 6 7

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10:00 AM Praise Service 10:50 AM SCS 11:00 AM Coffee Fellowship

9 10 7:30 PM Wor-ship/Music Mtg

11 Noon-Lenten Service/soup lunch 7:00 PM Lenten Service

12 8:00 PM SFE

13 14

15 10:00 AM ELW Service 10:50 AM SCS 11:00 AM Coffee Fellowship

16 17

18 Noon-Lenten Service/soup lunch 7:00 PM Lenten Service

19 7:30 PM Church Council

20 21

22 10:00 AM Praise Service NO SCS 11:00 AM Coffee Fellowship

23 24 25 Noon-Lenten Service/soup lunch 7:00 PM Lenten Service

26 27 28 9:00 AM ELCA Spring Gathering in Belgrade

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10:00 AM ELW Service 10:50 AM Family Sunday School 11:00 AM Coffee Fellowship

30 31 1 Noon-Lenten Service/soup lunch 7:00 PM Lenten Service

2 3 4

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REMIINDER

MARCH 2020

SVEA LUTHERAN CHURCH

12651 15TH ST SE

SVEA MN 56216

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

3. Emma Skoglund

4. Debra Tonsfeldt

5. Marlene Christianson

8. Jennifer Jacobson

9. Andrea Jacobson

Angela Lindblad

10. Jennifer Lothert

11. Kaitlyn Lindblad

14. Roy Christianson

Jerome Jacobson

Cora Lindblad

Garrett Swenson

16. Betty Peterson

Nicholas Lothert

17. Lyle Portinga

18. Ben Vlaminck

Madelyn Swierenga

19. Linda Roelofs

23. Zachary Mohr

25. Tricia Jansen

Lynn Asheman

26. David Stadem

Tara Sickels

27. Benjamin Johnson

29. Kari Eckhoff

Jacob Vlaminck

30. Andrew Dahl

Andrew Stadem

31. Sarah Nelson

Warren Matson

Debra Portinga