Dear Friends in Christ:

I have shared my lasting

memory of Easter will be

from the end of the last of

eight Holy Week services

singing the Hallelujah

Chorus when I asked Grace

Merkel, a 10-year-old, red

haired acolyte, ―What are

you thinking?‖ I usually

know what Grace is thinking

because we play catch in

the cul-de-sac, and along

with her mother and

Candace, we watch movies

together. I really did not

know what Grace was

thinking. There was a grin

on her freckled face, but she

looked deep in thought. As

we sang, Grace answered, ―I

am thinking, this is good!‖

The next week we laid to

rest Jack Richardson, our

dear member who I learned

looked forward to the

Hallelujah Chorus every

year. Grace Merkel and Jack

Richardson’s moments of

passionate worship are

excellent illustrations of

what the first half of our

new mission statement

compels us to do: ―Inspire

every generation to

experience and share God’s

grace in Jesus Christ! And ―I

am thinking, this is good!‖ is

the perfect summary of

Easter and experiencing

passionate worship.

We have heard from others

who have experienced

passionate worship. One of

our newest members

e-mailed the staff, ―Thank

you all so much for a truly

wonderful worship

experience for Easter!

Please also thank the Youth,

the Brass and anyone else

who was a part of Sunday's

service. The senior choir

anthem was lovely ... the

kids were so cute when they

sang … the brass and organ

intros, interludes and

variations added so much.

And we loved singing the

entire Hallelujah Chorus

with the choir. One of the

truly memorable moments

in life is always singing the

great Easter hymns with an

enthusiastic congregation.

Thank you for all your hard

work.‖

- continued on page 6 -

“ I am thinking, This is good!” Music Ministry News 2

Campus Management Team

3

Boy Scouts 3

May Noisy Offering 3

LSS Astros Night 4

Senior Adult News 5

Gracious Generosity 5

Kinsmen in Pictures 6

May Birthdays 7

Youth News 8-11

Inside This Issue

MAY 2009

C o n n e c t i o n

KINSMEN LUTHERAN CHURCH

12100 Champion Forest Drive Houston, Texas 77066 281-444-3126 281-444-1733 FAX

www.kinsmenlutheran.org

Saturday

5:30 PM

Informal Worship with Communion

Sunday

8:15 AM & 11 AM

Traditional Worship with Communion on 1st, 3rd and

5th Sunday of each month

9:30 AM

Contemporary Worship with Communion

9:30 AM

Education Hour Classes for all ages

9 - 11 AM

Fellowship Breakfast

Community Life Center

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

And More!

music notes

P A G E 2

Music Ministry Sunday is May 17.

Come celebrate the Psalms and all of

our faithful servants in the music

department.

On this day, all of Kinsmen musical

ensembles — Alleluia Choir,

contemporary band, Kinsmen Brass,

Kinsmen Ringers, Morning Glory Choir,

Sunshine Singers, Tuesday Ringers and

Youth Ringers — will perform at the

three Sunday worship services.

Attend church on May 17 and show

your appreciation to these individuals

who have assisted each week in

providing passionate worship.

Children’s Choirs: Did You Know?

There were 30 children who

participated in Kinsmen’s Children’s

Choir Ministry for the 2008-2009 school

year. The Sunshine Singers (4-year-olds

through first grade) presented 16

different anthems for 17 different

worship services or concerts.

The Morning Glory Choir (second grade

through fifth grade) presented 18

different anthems for 17 different

worship services or concerts.

These choirs are under the direction of

Lynnae Schatz.

Thanks be to God for these children

and their parents for sharing the gifts

God has given them.

When In Our Music, God is Glorified. The year is coming to a close for all of our performing groups. Thank you to all those involved in our music ministry here at Kinsmen: Alleluia Choir, contemporary band, Kinsmen Brass, Kinsmen Ringers, Morning Glory Choir, Sunshine Singers, Tuesday Ringers and Youth Ringers. Kinsmen has had a great season full of music making, fellowship and glory to our Lord and

Savior, Jesus Christ.

Although the ensembles take a well-deserved break over the summer months, music is still strong in our worship services. If you are interested in providing a musical offering during one of the services during the summer, please contact Elizabeth LeMay at elemay@kinsmenlutheran.org or 281-444-3126, ext. 22. Kinsmen would

love to hear you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL’S LAST DAY IS MAY 17

dedicated Sunday school staff, which

include: Candace Alvestad, Steve

Bessier, Sue Clark, Yvonne Dean, Daniel

Ehlers, John England, Sheri England,

Grace Elijah, Allison Feldman, Eric

Fidler, Liz Fidler, Diana Grobe, Kathy

Hanson, Mark Hanson, Jill Henze,

God’s Global Barnyard

Every Sunday an offering is collected

during the opening of Sunday school.

The Sunday School offerings for the

spring semester have been dedicated to

God’s Global Barnyard — an ELCA

World Hunger ministry. Through April

5, 2009, we have collected $493.16.

This is almost enough money to

purchase a cow! One cow is $500;

$250 buys fish to build and stock a

community fish farm; $50 provides a

goat for a family; $30 buys a pig for a

family to break the cycle of poverty; $25

adds a turkey to a family’s yard and $10

provides 10 chicks to build an egg

business.

Sunday School Teachers

A special thank you to this year’s

Jim Hughes, Rebecca Jones, Jennifer

Kaurich, Tammy Lehmann, Cody Miller,

Shamera Simpson, Sharon Smith, Lantz

Toney, Sandi Toney, Kathy Turnquist,

Mechelle Vindiola, Eric Wietstruck,

Gretchen Wietstruck, Ana Woods, Jared

Woods, Michael Woods, Kasey Zabadal,

Wendi Zabadal and Molly Zoril.

These volunteers will be recognized

during the May 9 - 10 worship services.

Please take the opportunity to thank

these individuals personally for their

commitment to this very important

ministry.

Sunday School Celebration

The last day of Sunday school will be

May 17 and a scavenger hunt will be

held. Make plans to join the fun on this

day.

Krause Children’s Center, please visit

www.krausechildrenscenter.org.

The Noisy Offering for May is Krause

Children’s Center, which is owned and

operated by Lutheran Social Services,

the social service arm of The Lutheran

Church - Missouri Synod and the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in

America. This organization specializes

in treating abused, neglected and

troubled boys and girls, ages 11 – 17.

Monies will be collected at worship on

May 9 & 10. For more information on

May Noisy Offering: Krause children’s Center

On Friday, April 17, the Synod

presented a class on ―Disaster

Preparedness.‖ The main focus of this

session was the development of a

congregational Rapid Response Team

(RRT). The team would function not

only in a congregational emergency,

but would also be available for service

within the community. The Campus

Management Team would like to begin

recruiting a RRT. This is different from

school emergency procedures and

storm preparation procedures, both of

which are already in place at Kinsmen.

Beautification of the grounds for Easter

was handled by Dr. Al Agard and

Rwenzori Service. We would like to

thank the following for donating mulch

and flowers for the grounds:

Kinsmen soon will replace its current

monument sign with a new digital one.

Installation should be completed within

the first two weeks of June. The old

sign will ―begin a new life‖ at Immanuel

Lutheran Church in Posey, Texas. The

Campus Management Team is pleased

that the sign will be donated to another

house of worship.

The church has had several unexpected

expenses recently including roof repairs,

and the purchase of a condenser for

the walk-in flower cooler and a double-

door freezer for the kitchen. A few

much-needed repairs on the air

conditioning systems, including

replacement of insulation that was

damaged by animals, are also being

made.

Church Members

(5 flats of Begonias) $175

The LETCO Group, LLC

12202 Cutten Road

(15 cubic yards of mulch) $750

RCW Nurseries, Inc.

15809 Tomball Parkway.

(5 flats of Petunias) $175

Rwenzori Service

(5 cubic yards of mulch) $250

(5 flats of Begonias) $175

If you have an interest in serving on the

Campus Management Team or a Rapid

Response Team, please contact Susan

Converse at 281-444-3127, ext. 17, or

Kevin Edwards at 281-444-2879.

Campus Management Team news

Schedule:

10:30 AM Gathering time in Chapel

11 AM Worship in the Chapel

12 PM Lunch in the Dining Hall

1 PM Swim; High Ropes

4 PM Inaugural Youth & Family

Ministries ―Color Me Plaid‖

Golf Outing

The ―Color Me Plaid‖ golf outing will be

held at the Frisch Auf National Golf

Course in La Grange, Texas. The format

is a nine hole, two- or four-person

scramble depending on the number of

players. All participants must wear plaid

and have their own clubs. Cost is $20

and includes cart, prizes and an awards

dinner.

Lodging will be available at Camp

Lutherhill after the awards dinner.

RSVP for lunch and golf no later than

Friday, May 1, to Matt Kindsvatter at

matt@lutherhill.org.

To learn more about Camp Lutherhill,

please visit www.lutherhill.org.

Calling all youth ministers, youth

volunteers, pastors — anyone who

works with students in the

congregation or community. On May

7, Camp Lutherhill will host a

networking meeting for participants to

enjoy God’s creation and a relaxing day

with each other and their friends from

the Southwest Texas Synod. Wear

comfortable clothes, bring items for the

pool and enjoy the ropes course. You

choose your own fun!

Camp Lutherhill networking, fellowship event

P A G E 3

April Noisy Offering

Partners in Global Mission $1,874.50

April Synod/ELCA $10,109.00

April TOTAL $11,983.50

2009 TOTAL $48,027.50

GLIMPSES OF GRACE

Weekly Fees Camp Day (9:15 AM - 3:45 PM)

$80 per child

Before Care (6:30 - 9:15 AM)

$25 per child

After Care (3:45 - 6:30 PM)

$25 per child

Registration Forms Available through the church office or

Web site.

For More Information Contact Gundi Talbert at 281-444-3127, ext. 35, or

gtalbert@kinsmenlutheran.org.

Scouts end year with many may activities

for Mezzanine; $10 for View Deck I and

$8 for View Deck II. The Kinsmen bus

will be available for transportation.

Contact Lynnae Schatz at

281-444-3127, ext. 43, or

lschatz@kinsmenlutheran.org if you are

interested in attending.

For more information on Lutheran

Social Services, visit www.lss.org.

Come out on July 25 and support the

home team on Lutheran Social Services

Night with the Astros. Join the fun as

Lutherans take over Minute Maid Field

to see the Houston Astros battle the

New York Mets. Game time is 6:05 p.m.,

and the Lutheran Chorale will sing the

national anthem.

Ticket prices are discounted for this

Lutheran Social Services fundraiser: $23

for Field Box; $16 for Bullpen Box; $13

full day of scouting activities, games and food. April 25 was the Pack Field Trip. The scouts went to the San Jacinto Day re-enactment. While touring the battleground, the scouts were able to

earn the San Jacinto Badge.

May is the last month of the scouting year. Scouts will cross over to their next rank at the end of the month, and the pack committee will be planning the summer time activities. As usual, this group will participate in the Fourth of

July parade, but other possible activities include Raingutter Regatta; Fishing Derby; placing flags at the Houston National Cemetery on Memorial Day

and a Rocket Derby.

For information or questions about scouting, please e-mail

Pack440@comcast.net.

April was a busy month for Pack 440. The first weekend of the month, the scouts camped at Quintana Beach County Park. They practiced their Leave No Trace principles by picking trash along a two-mile stretch of the beach. After lunch, fishing and kite flying occupied the remainder of the day. April 18 was the Scout Fair, a council event that brought troops, packs and crews from all over the Sam Houston Area Council to the Reliant Arena for a

“take me out to the ball game” on July 25

Kamp kinsmen registration still open

P A G E 4

trips, including ones to Collins Park, Moorhead Blueberry Farm, Lonestar College Theatre, PJ’s Pizzeria, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Children’s Museum of the Woodlands, Old

McDonalds Farm and Mountasia.

Camp Hope, our annual vacation bible school, will be held for three weeks beginning June 29. Children will not want to miss this

opportunity.

Kamp Kinsmen will be open the week of August 17, but it will not be a typical camp week, as there will be no field

trips scheduled.

Kamp Kinsmen 2009 June 8 - August 14

Rising Kindergarten - Rising 7th Grade

Our summer program kicks off with a special art camp that includes artist, Bette Gibson. Other weeks, summer camp specialists from Lutherhill, a Lutheran organization based in

LaGrange, Texas, will oversee the camp.

Kamp Kinsmen will have many field

the Gulf Greyhound Park and its Senior

Day. Cost is $9 per person — which

includes bus trip, park admission and a

buffet lunch.

Reservations for the May trip may be

made by contacting Peggy:

281-469-1372; Hélène: 281-444-7948 or

Grace: 281-440-4213. Please do not

make reservations by voice mail — speak

to one of these ladies personally.

For any additional information, contact

Larry Liveringhouse at

livering3606@yahoo.com.

time. The program also will only be

open August 17 - 28 for those students

enrolled in before and after care.

To register, contact Sherri Botker at

281-444-3127, ext. 23.

Bikes, Trikes and Tikes — Oh My!

On April 23, 55 Kinsmen kids

participated in a trike-a-thon in the

church’s back parking lot.

The fifth-annual event, a fundraiser for

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital,

teaches these children that no one is

too young to help others. Their goal

was $2,000.

The 3-years-old class, at right, lines up ready to begin their ―trek around the track.‖

Kinsmen Kids Summer Care 2009

June 1 - July 3; July 6 - August 7

Plan A: Mother’s Day Out

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

9 AM - 2:30 PM

Cost: $285 for five weeks

Plan B: Full-time Care

Monday through Friday

7 AM - 5:30 PM

Cost: $760 for five weeks

There is a 10-percent sibling discount.

Registration fees are waived for current

students or those registered for the fall

2009 program. New students will be

charged $50.

Kinsmen Kids will be closed the week of

August 14 to allow its staff vacation

KINSMEN Kids Preschool/Mother’s Day Out

church at 9 a.m.

FRIDAY, JULY 17: Come explore

Houston’s Chinatown with a guided

tour by Houston Asian Heritage Tours.

Included is a visit to the Hong Kong City

Mall, a tea ceremony, the Buddhist

Temple and a dim sum lunch at Ocean

Palace restaurant. The cost for this trip

is $28 per person, and the bus will

depart the church at 8 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12: Due to

several requests, the bus will leave the

church at 9:30 a.m. for a repeat trip to

FRIDAY, MAY 15: The day includes a

tour of the Port of Galveston aboard the

Sea Gull II, a visit to the Lone Star Flight

Museum and lunch at the Fisherman’s

Wharf. The cost of the trip is $13 per

person, plus lunch, and the bus will

depart the church at 8:45 a.m.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12: Be a part of one of

the first groups in Houston to see the

Terra-Cotta Soldiers at the Houston

Museum of Natural Science. The trip

also includes admission to the Butterfly

exhibit. Cost is $15 per person, not in-

cluding lunch. The bus will leave the

Summer plans announced for senior adults

P A G E 5

Kinsmen recognizes members Dave Boggs and Bob Fox for their recent carpentry work in the Community Life Center's

Gymnasium.

These two members purchased, cut and stained top trim to add to the baseboards, which were chipped and broken from

many years of physical activities in the gym.

Do you have a Kinsmen Gracious Generosity story to share?

Send it to Susan Emfinger at semfinger@kinsmenlutheran.org.

Interested in some leisure learning this summer? Kinsmen

has a class for you!

Kinsmen Summer University will be held June 10, 17 and 24

from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Classes, taught on the Kinsmen campus

for those aged 13 and older, will include Genealogy, God

and the Movies, Marathon Training and Stained Glass.

Look for more details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Summer school is cool! GRACIOUS GENEROSITY

Crawfish boil: bugs, beer and cheer!

P A G E 6

Hospitality, Adventurous Service,

Intentional Faith Formation, Sensitive

Evangelism and Extraordinary

Generosity. This was most evident to

the staff when we attended a luncheon

hosted by the Thursday Morning

Women’s Bible Study. It was almost as if

their leader had been alongside the

Vision to Grow team during the whole

process ---- what a fine example of

PRAISE disciples!

We have spent quality time addressing

such things like mission, vision, values,

strategy, mission measures, growth

barriers and branding. They really are

all like the sounds of noisy gongs and

clanging symbols if we don’t get

worship right, and I am thinking we are

getting worship right --- but this doesn’t

mean all worship services can’t become

more inspiring and meaningful. But

Grace Merkel summarized some things I

have been thinking ---- I’ve been

thinking, worship is good! Thanks be to

God!

See you in worship!

Jeffery Alvestad

At least 20 people told me it was the

most powerful Palm Sunday they had

experienced --- one friend told me in her

71 years! Bob Fox said, ―I don’t

normally get emotional at Lutheran

services, but that one got to me.‖

Pastor Mark, Elizabeth, Linda, Kristen,

Timothy, Lynnae and I want worship to

―get to you‖ so you will be passionate

worshipers at whatever service you

attend.

Lent, Holy Week and Easter Sunday

have been seasons of renewal --- as they

are designed to be. I have been

impressed by the way people are

discussing Passionate Worship, Radical

“ I am thinking, this is good” ( continued from page 1 )

Photos courtesy of Kevin Hughes

Carter Roth 5/1

Joshua Menk 5/1

Emma Holsberg 5/1

Peter Jeremenko 5/1

Shala Gradoni 5/1

Kyle Zabadal 5/2

Duane Miller 5/2

Paul Feldman 5/2

Amber Bean 5/3

Tim Schroeder 5/3

John Hjerpe 5/3

Grant Kirkwood 5/3

Bob Stave 5/3

Carol George 5/3

Bruce Erickson 5/4

Dawn Harvey 5/5

Steve Niemuth 5/6

Michael Mc Coy 5/6

Pastor Mark England 5/6

Benjamin Slater 5/6

Ashley Strickler 5/6

Chase Hardy 5/6

Kimberly Dogotch 5/6

Kara Hambrick 5/7

Sunetha Lueders 5/7

Abigail Parr 5/7

Jennifer Woody 5/8

Mattison Maisel 5/8

Callie Groth 5/8

Dave Metting 5/9

Stephanie Abt 5/9

Rex VanHoose 5/9

Katelyn Fox 5/9

Matthew Dankert 5/9

Winona Herwig 5/10

Erik Ashmore 5/10

Jeanne Nelsen 5/10

Paul Botker 5/11

Chris Stone 5/11

Carolyn Snyder 5/11

Sean Tobin 5/11

Annslee Pelton 5/11

Kade Bryant 5/12

Michelle Wehring 5/12

Susan Converse 5/12

Kyra Benesh 5/14

Betty Smith 5/14

Colby Williamson 5/14

Amanda Hart 5/15

Leora Bean 5/16

Jimmy Ebner 5/16

Jeanne Tobin 5/16

Sherry Gatewood 5/16

John Vindiola 5/17

Monica Colson 5/17

Melesa Cook 5/17

Justin Clifford 5/17

Edward Nielsen 5/17

Jane Nordaker 5/18

Shirley Rudy 5/18

Jeffrey Watson 5/18

Amber Holzman 5/18

Maureen Maeschen 5/18

Dale Parr 5/18

Tiffany Osmon 5/18

Carter Childress 5/18

Aidan Nelsen 5/19

Jason Lockhart 5/19

Adam Niemuth 5/19

Paul Blanda 5/19

Olivia Wilson 5/19

Andrew Chow 5/20

Chuck Nott 5/20

Haily Heppner 5/20

Morghan Zbranek 5/20

Gina Gradoni 5/21

Colby Hall 5/21

Diane Nott 5/21

Carol Boller 5/21

Shelly Meyer 5/21

Amber Ratliff 5/22

Doug Groth 5/22

Amy Hambrick 5/22

Kayla Mulkey 5/22

Kyle Ashmore 5/23

Jonathan Smith 5/23

Sarah Smith 5/23

Eric Fidler 5/24

Amy Gibson 5/24

John Bean 5/24

Kathy Horst 5/24

Ryan Parliament 5/24

Dennis Burt 5/25

Timothy Timmerman Jr. 5/25

Grace Petrucciani 5/25

Robert Madsen 5/25

Carma Gordon 5/25

Colette Edwards 5/26

Susan Dunens 5/26

Bob Kloppenburg 5/26

Lois Raschke 5/27

Laura Maisel 5/27

Tyler Wells 5/27

Lila Garlin 5/27

Joan Krueger 5/27

Megan Cook 5/28

Layne Luderman 5/28

Katelynn Botker 5/28

Nathan Bair 5/28

Kate Sullivan 5/29

Shannon Funke 5/29

Ken Yeats 5/29

Duane Meyer 5/29

Zachary Roth 5/30

Corrigan Roth 5/30

Michael Fredrick Ford 5/30

Sylvia Alewine 5/31

Shawn Horst 5/31

P A G E 7

BBirthdaysirthdays MMayay

*This list is compiled from church records. If your name is missing or the information is incorrect, please notify the church office.

P A G E 8

On Sunday, May 3, at the 11 a.m. worship service, we will be celebrating the Affirmation of Baptism

through the Rite of Confirmation for the following youth:

Alexis Agard JB Harvey

Kyra Benesh Ben Holloway

Justin Blackbourn Colin McCoy

Kellen Cook Dylan Niemuth

Michael Crocker Thomas Sell

Kennedy Dankert Anika Sutter

Alex Fidler Robert Weber

We give our heartfelt thanks to their Small Group Leaders Keith Cook, Eric Fidler, Ben Harvey, Steve Niemuth and Patti Benesh for faithfully shepherding their groups for three years. We hope our Confirmation Ministry is a blessing to Kinsmen. Throughout their three-year journey, our Confirmation Youth participate and lead in many and various ways in the life of Kinsmen.

Our Confirmation Youth participate in inspiring worship on Sundays and Wednesdays. They lead Children’s Sermons and participate in dramas; they take sermon notes during Advent and Lent; they read lessons and prayers and they give musical offerings to enhance our worship experience.

Our Confirmation Youth experience family through their small groups as they learn God’s saving stories in the Old and New Testament; study the basics of our faith through the Small Catechism; share their joys and struggles in the faith and pray for one another.

Our Confirmation Youth learn to share grace through service projects, volunteering at Kinsmen and through Confirmation projects. Our Confirmation projects this year included making banners and crosses, visiting the homebound, leading a group to clean and organize youth ministry resources, leading a group to “share grace” in the neighborhood, writing brief messages for worship, writing and leading a children’s sermon and offering musical selections during worship.

The Confirmation banquet was a wonderful experience for all who attended. Thank you to Mary Collins, Mike Ford, Stella Franklin, Joan Horner, Linda Martens, Jan Rall and

Marianne Timmerman for making it a truly special evening.

P A G E 9

WIN a Starbucks Gift Card

Thrivent will be here on Sunday, May 17, as a follow up to the workshop Teens, Parents and Money Matters.

The top two savers will win a STARBUCKS GIFT CARD for their favorite drink on

the lesson taught about stewardship in saving, spending and sharing.

The winner of the contest will be the one who has saved the most from March 29 until May 17. Be sure

and tally up your money and document the amount saved in your cash cache! Meet Thrivent following the

Sunday School Scavenger Hunt in the Great Room.

See you May 17 for the results.

Jr. High Happenings in May

Even though Confirmation has ended, our fun has not.

Join us on Wednesdays, May 6 and May 13, at 7 p.m. in the Great Room for

worship and then in the CLC for Cross Training . Our activities will end at 8:15 p.m.

Jr. High Sunday school continues in the Great Room through May 17.

30 Hour Famine

The Junior High event will be

Friday, May 15 - Saturday, May 16.

Youth groups from all over our Synod will be joining us for the 30

Hour Famine to raise money and awareness to fight world

hunger.

If we get 50 Junior High youth to participate, our own Steven Pate and Evan Anderson

will drink a horrible smoothie of our choosing.

Sign up on the Messenger and pick up a packet soon!

P A G E 1 0

Zach Menk, Steven Pate and Evan Anderson have been busy assembling our 2009 summer staff.

We are receiving applications for support staff through May 10. Support staff are rising eighth and ninth grade youth who are interested in serving as volunteers. Please pick up an application from The Messenger, and once completed, submit it to Pastor Mark.

It’s a Jungle Out There June 29 - July 2 “Call of the Wild”

July 6 - 10 “Born to be Wild”

July 13 - July 17 “Walking on the Wild Side”

Attention Class of 2009: High School and College Graduates

We would like to recognize you in our June newsletter. Please send your name and

school to mengland@kinsmenlutheran.org so your achievement can be shared with the

congregation.

Prom with Jesus!

Who: High School Youth (including current 8th Graders) When: Friday, May 22, 5:45 PM – Saturday, May 23, 7 AM What to Bring: Fancy clothes and money for dinner, favorite game to play, your Bible, sleep-ing stuff and snacks to share (boys bring drinks, girls bring snacks). You can bring a friend, too. Just sign them up on The Messenger next to your name.

On Wednesdays @ 7PM

and on Sundays @ 10: 20AM

Easter Breakfast — Sunday, April 12

Thank you to Mary Collins and all who helped with the Easter Breakfast. The money raised will help our youth be formed in their faith through meaningful retreats, leadership training and servant events. Thank you to all in the congregation who supported our ministry. We especially thank our Kinsmen and community sponsors. Sam’s Club Food Town HEB at Louetta HEB Vintage Park Walmart Victor’s Delicatessen Party City Schoenmann Produce Nelson Marketing Joan HornerLadies Donna Collins Thursday Bible Study And all our congregation members who baked items for the breakfast.

P A G E 1 1

Connection is a monthly publication of Kinsmen Lutheran Church.

Deadline for submitting news is the 15th day of each month or the previous church business day if the deadline falls on the weekend or on a church holiday. Articles are preferred electronically, but may be faxed or hand-delivered to the church office.

Kinsmen Staff

Rev. Jeffery Alvestad, Senior Pastor jalvestad@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 18

Rev. Mark England, Youth & Family Ministry mengland@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 24

Bruce Elijah, Associate in Ministry belijah@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 15

Susan Converse, Director of Administration sconverse@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 17

Julie Hughes, Administrative Assistant jhughes@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 10

Susan Emfinger, Media & Communications Coordinator semfinger@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 21

Irene Baasen, Accounting & Financial Reports ibaasen@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 14

Lynnae Schatz, Coordinator, Children’s Ministries lschatz@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 43

Linda Thomas, Principal Organist lindacthomas99@hotmail.com

Elizabeth LeMay, Traditional Worship Coordinator elemay@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 22

Kristen Schulze, Contemporary Worship Co-Coordinator kristen.schulze@cfisd.net

Timothy Browning, Contemporary Worship Co-Coordinator chosentenor@gmail.com

Joan Horner, Parish Assistant/Hospitality jhorner@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 12

J.D. McCollom, Media Team Coordinator jd.mccollum@itfidelity.com

Sherri Botker, Director, Kinsmen Kids Preschool/Mother’s Day Out sbotker@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 23

Gundi Talbert, Director, Before & After School Kinsmen gtalbert@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 35

Eileen Edwards, Before & After School Kinsmen Registrar eedwards@kinsmenlutheran.org — Ext. 37

Willie Stewart, Head Custodian

Ruben Cervantes, Custodian

Lonnie Davis, Custodian

MISSION CONGREGATION Celebration Church 281-758-1279 Rev. Chris Markert, Mission Pastor

pastor@click2celebrate.com — 281-840-0195

OFFICE HOURS CONTACT US Monday - Friday 281-444-3127 Phone

9 AM - 5 PM

P A G E 1 2

Mother’s Day

is

May 10, 2009

May God’s many blessings be yours forever more.

And may you know you’re valued and loved by the Lord.

Especially on this Sunday

that we have set aside To show our appreciation

to the Mothers in our lives.

Kinsmen wishes all moms a blessed Mother's Day.

HHHappy appy appy MMMother’s other’s other’s DDDayayay