May 2020 Newsletter stlukesgarfield@gctel.com

www.stlukeschurchgarfield.org PO Box 35 Garfield MN 56332

320-834-2285 “Called by the Truth of the Gospel, enlightened by the

Spirit, sent to serve”

Stewardship Moment On the topic of stewardship, one of the most common questions a person might ask is not whether a Christian

should give to their church. Christians should give to their church. The most common question: “How much should I give?” Should Christians give a tithe of their income to their local congregation?

Following are some reasons often offered for why Christians shouldn’t give a tithe to their church. 1. Tithing is not expressly commanded in the New Testament. 2. Giving our time and talents, together with treasures (money), add up to more than a tithe. 3. There are other things besides their congregation that need support alongside their church. 4. And some think Christians are afraid they won’t have enough to get the things they want.

The following are some reasons for why Christians should give a tithe to their church. 1. The apostle Paul in the New Testament states giving Christians are to do a regular and generous proportion of

the first fruits of their income (1 Cor. 6:1–2; 2 Cor. 8:7–23; 2 Cor. 9:2–7). 2. In the Old Testament the reason for the tithe was to support the full ministry of the Levites. They were not given

any land because they had no time to farm; their full-time job was the ministry. “The Lord has commanded that those who preach the Gospel should make their living from the Gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). This is the verse that Luther put in the Small Catechism’s Table of Duties the responsibility of a Christian to the support of the ministry.

It seems clear from both the Old and the New Testaments that the tithe is the goal of Christians in their giving. But what if we’re not there yet? How should we handle this? What are we to do?

Let’s answer this by asking a different question about something entirely different. What would you say to your adult children who only attended church quarterly or once a month? There, is after all, no passage in the New Testament that requires Christians to go to church weekly. Hebrews 10:25 is the closest we have, and it states simply for Christians to not neglect gathering together. Even though there is no passage that commands Christians to gather weekly, it is the implicit expectation throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is the goal.

Tithing is a goal as well; tithing of our time, our talents, and our treasures. In our relationship to the LORD Jesus Christ we should gladly respond to God’s grace, by returning “our offerings” to the one who gave His all for us. In our relationship with the LORD our God, our tithes, and offerings reflect the attitude of our hearts. Giving an offering is a part of worship, reflects our honesty with God our Creator and Redeemer.

There is an implicit expectation of both the Old and New Testaments regarding our time, talents, and treasures.

Postponed until further notice: Worship, Bible Studies, Quilting, Choir,

Confirmation: ZOOM Confirmation Class online. Be waiting for the invite in your email inbox. Please check emails, text messages, and your phone calls. Our Confirmands: Nathan Anderson, EmmaLee Brethorst, Mitchell Chlian, Kya Christopherson, and Tate Meichsner

UPCOMING May EVENTS! Zoom Confirmation at 6:30 p.m. on May 4, 11, 18, 25 May 20 & 27 - Wednesday Confirmation Introduction Classes for new group!

Summer Bible Camps REMEMBER....the EARLY BIRD deadline to register is May 4th!

However, you can still register after that date, you just won’t receive the discount for early registration.

Covid Update on Bible Camps: Lake Beauty and I-Point are both currently working on plans to be able to hold summer camp. Registered currently for Lake Beauty is: Feona and Harrison Simonson, Samantha Puchalski, Ethan Giese, Will Krafthefer, Olivia and Sawyer Chlian, Brynkley and Nathan Brethorst, Lauren Meichsner. I-Point at this time: Courtney Brethorst, Natalie Meichsner. All summer campers will be attending I-Point at their new location. To view how desperate the flooding situation is at I-Point, view this 7 min youtube. https://youtu.be/rZ2l_D2WfVg To see the new I-Point at Twin Oaks (remembering this was made before the flooding situation took control), view this 3 min youtube. https://youtu.be/dPP4jrZrBG0

Covid Update on VBS: We will hold our VBS the last week of July, praying the health restrictions have been lifted.

2020 LCMC Youth Event Canceled Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ's Called 2: Love youth event, scheduled for July 21-24, 2020 at Grand View University, has been canceled.

COVID-19 Resources for Congregations - Join the Conversation By Kristy Thomas - LCMC - March 25, 2020 In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic that has swept our nation and the world, we have put together a thread on

our Facebook Page where LCMC pastors, leaders, and congregation members may share what they are doing in response to COVID-19 and offer any resources that they might have available to other congregations.

As we adapt to this time of social distancing, please consider sharing what your congregation is doing in response to COVID-19. links to any resources that you have available in the comments below our "COVID-19 Megathread" post.

We plan to keep this post pinned to the top of our page for the next few weeks to make this information easily accessible for anyone who might need it.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov. And Follow LCMC on Facebook. More resources: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/family-time-during-the-coronavirus-quarantine/ https://answersingenesis.org/coronavirus/poll-coronavirus-wake-up-call-from-god/ https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/coronavirus-resources Stephen Ministry

Most people are much more open to giving care than to receiving it. When a person is giving care, he or she is in a position of strength, stability, and authority. When a person is receiving care, he or she is acknowledging weakness, insecurity, and vulnerability. As a result, there are countless people today who, though they really could benefit from a Christian friend who would listen and care for them, instead tough it out on their own. They remain the strong silent type, or wear a smile across a face that is holding back a flood of tears. Society encourages this (particularly for men). To ask for help is to admit weakness. To show weakness is to admit inferiority.

But God did not create us to be independent. We were created to be interdependent. God's Word is clear on this all the way back to Genesis: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Genesis 2:18). The New Testament underscores this theme with more than 50 verses that contain the words "one another." These verses include admonitions such as "love one another," "encourage one another," "build up one another," and "pray for one another." What these verses don't say is that we alone are to love, encourage, build up, and pray for other people. The "one another" wording gives them a reciprocal meaning. It also tells us that we are to allow other people to love, encourage, build up and pray for us!

It is most difficult for people to ask for help. Whether it is because of guilt, shame, inadequacy, or fear of rejection, many would much prefer to suffer alone than ask for help. But suffering alone is not God's intent for us. Jesus promises, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). We can receive this promised rest when we turn to one another for comfort and help.

Our Stephen Ministers know how difficult it is to ask for help, but they also know the great personal and spiritual growth and healing that follow. They know how to respond in a loving, caring, and nonjudgmental manner. They are equipped, ready and waiting to provide the comfort and care God very much desires you to have. If you find yourself now or in the future facing difficulties in life, don't succumb to society's norm of remaining strong and suffering alone. Take the courageous step of seeking help. Open your heart to receiving God's love and grace through another person. Our Stephen Ministry offers the opportunity for a very confidential relationship with someone who will listen to you and provide you with the care and encouragement you need, while Christ works inside to bring rest to your weary, burdened heart. For more information on Stephen Ministry, please contact Pastor Dave, Pastor Sue, or Kathy Hollenbeck - kathy.j.hollenbeck@gmail.com or 612-201-3535.

REFLECTIVE MEDITATION: Alexandra Desanctis, staff writer for NATIONAL REVIEW and a visiting fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, offers a few thoughts about the past few weeks of Lent and Easter-adapted from longer article.

Throughout Lent, we were asked to renounce our own will so that we might better conform ourselves to what God asks of us. Watching our country buckle under this virus has offered us a new lens through which to see that it is God, not us, who controls our fate. We were asked to cooperate with Him and to make the best available choices in our given circumstances, but ultimately, it is His plan, not ours, that is being worked out in the world and in each family/person. The loss, anxiety, and loneliness of this time is the price of the Fall, yet His promise remains: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

With that in mind, we mark a strange 2020 Last Supper, Good Friday, and Easter this year, perhaps more conscious than we’ve ever been of the fact that life lies beyond the grave. Jesus refused to spurn His Passion and death, and by taking up the cross, He showed us how to shoulder suffering. By taking our sins on Himself, he carried all the sufferings of the history of the world with Him to the place where He was crucified. And by rising on Easter morning, He transfigured and redeemed our pain, our misery, our grief.

With His resurrection, He gave the world the most powerful sign it has ever seen that death is but a beginning. But there can be no resurrection without the cross. This Easter, mired in this present suffering, let us keep remembering more than ever our call: to suffer with Him, and so to rise.

7 Reminders in the Face of the Coronavirus Pandemic by Dane C. Ortlund The Cure for Latent Anxiety These are strange days: days of fear, days of hysteria. Days that simply bring all our latent anxieties up to the surface. 1. The World of the Bible The Prophets and many of the Psalms speak to people who are caught up in mass hysteria or subject to pandemics. 2. Our True Trust Times of public panic force us to examine what we really belief. We all say we believe God and he is taking care of us. But we reveal our true trust when the world goes into meltdown. What’s really our heart’s deepest loyalty? 3. Neighborly Love When the economy is tanking, opportunities to surprise our neighbors with our confidence and joy because of the gospel surge forward. Now is the time to be outside more, to be more loving & hospitable. Love stands out strongest when it is least expected, but needed most. 4. Family Discipleship We have an opportunity to instill in our kids a deeper awareness of eternity. Ten thousand years from now, the difference between dying at age ten or age eighty will seem trivial. This is an opportunity to disciple our families into the bracing reality of eternity. 5. Eschatological Hope Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). Maybe the sight of Jesus descending from heaven, robed in glory, surrounded by angels, is right around the corner. If so, hallelujah. If not, we’re being reminded that he will indeed return one day. Either way, let us rejoice our way through the chaos. 6. Christ's Heart In times of turmoil we need to be reminded that Jesus experienced all the horror of this world that we do, minus sin (Hebrews 4:15). He knows what it feels like for life to close in on you and for your world to go into meltdown. His arm is around us—stronger than ever—right now. 7. Heaven From heaven’s shore we will see how eternally safe we were all along, even amid the global upheaval and anxieties that currently loom so large. The dangers out there are real. The cautions are wise. Our bodies are mortal, vulnerable. But our souls, for those united to a resurrected Christ, are beyond the reach of all eternal danger. Be at peace. Dane Ortlund serves as Crossway’s Chief Publishing Officer and Bible Publisher. This article first appeared on Crossway.org; used with permission

Pending Coffee Servers Thank you for serving! Please allow a full hour of fellowship time with clean up not to begin until 10:30 a.m. The name in bold italic should always contact the others to let them know they are serving. If you have any questions, trade places or do not want to be included in serving, please contact Brenda Haak at 766-3114. Each person should bring 4 dozen treats AND help serve during coffee hour. Using the Bunn coffee brewer; make 1 pot of regular and 1 pot of decaf. If more regular is needed, a ½ pot can be brewed. (Please make sure it is cleaned after being used.) Make 5 pitchers of juice/kool-aid and 2 pitchers of water, if possible the day before so it's cold.

May 17th: Georgia Nelson, Holly Carlson, Holly Chlian, Jan Drydahl 760-3455 808-4851 834-2465 834-2897 May 24th: Jill Erickson, Jill Johnson, Judy Styve, Julie Fenlason 320-491-1225 815-6679 320-219-7761 834-5177 May 31st: Kari Lauthen, Karen Carlson, Kate Christopherson, Kathy Bahn 460-0977 815-1212 766-8613 886-2945 June 7th: Kathy Hollenbeck, Kathy Niblett, Kim Olhausen, Kristi Froemming 612-201-3535 760-2279 834-2486 834-2959 June 14th: Kristie Tollefson, Lindsey Sholts, Lisa Meichsner, Lois Swanson 219-1210 491-0344 808-6165 834-3293 June 21st: Mari-ann Bartlett, Mary Ekola, Mary Olson, Mary Wussow 846-4413 766-0661 759-2219 808-8875 June 28th: Mary Berghuis, Nancy Carlson, Nettie Billmark, Rebecca Froemming 760-1707 834-2179 760-9359 320-815-7090

Just a Friendly Reminder If you’d like to use the church for an event, it must be scheduled through the church office. Baptisms must also be scheduled through the church office and weddings must be schedule with Pr. Davidson and the church office.

May (please contact the office if your birthday is missing or incorrect)

A multitude of thanks and gratitude…. …to all who participated in many ZOOM events. Thanks to Rondi, our ZOOM facilitator.

As we stand together apart, we are still of One Body of our Risen Lord and Savior. May this time grant to each a solitude of worship and praise deep within your spirit while connecting with the Holy Spirit. And when we are able to gather together again as a “church body,” may we appreciate more and more what it means to be a body of believers from St. Luke’s – going forward with the passion of His Word of Truth to the ends of the earth until Jesus returns. God’s blessings to all. Pr Sue.

April 21 Church Council Update Offerings received thus far, have been adequate to cover monthly expenses. Thank you to all who have faithfully sent in

their offering. All church events and services will continue to be postponed in accordance with the MN guidelines. Jake Pavia’s resignation as Praise worship leader was accepted. St. Luke’s share of the campership fees will be given to the camps whether the kids registered attend or not. The following confirmands were approved for The Rite of Confirmation pending class work is completed satisfactorily:

Nathan Anderson, Emily Brethorst, Mitchell Chlian, Kya Christopherson, and Tate Meichsner Request from Stephen Ministries to utilize the church granted. A letter to all members of the congregation will be sent out when we are able to resume meeting together. There is a need to hire additional musicians in light of three musicians resigning. Contact Pr. Gran if you know of

someone who may be interested.

Sermons and Sunday School lessons will continue on Zoom.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 Becca Froemming

2 John Krafthefer Jeremy Stoltz

3 Robert Winter Cory Ziesemer

4 Leah Dalluge

5 Paul Norling Ronnie Norling

6 Florence Chlian

7 Nathan Brethorst Bill Kramer

8 Kyle Diekman Riley Thompson

9

10 Kathy Huston Lee Madole

11 Kim Kalina

12 Dale Witikko

13

14 Art Isackson

15 Gary Bahn Haley Ziesemer

16 Michael Kuta

17 18 Akirra Abdallah Dustin Anderson

19 Thatcher Eddy

20 Madison Quinn

21 Jason Abdallah Mikia Kalina

22 Jed Fahlin

23 Trenton Anderson Mark Chlian Alden Eddy 24 25

Lee Styve

26 Jason Carlson

27 Hannah Lopez Megan Nienaber

28 Delia Kvilhaug

29 30 Roger Chlian

31 Finlee Giese

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ACTIVITIES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. A LETTER TO THE

CONGREGATION WILL BE SENT OUT TO INFORM YOU WHEN WORSHIP CAN RESUME,

AS WELL AS OTHER ACTIVITIES.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

2

3

4 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

6:30 Zoom

Confirmation Class

5

6

7 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

6:30 Parish Ed

8 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

9

10

11 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

6:30 Zoom

Confirmation Class

12

13

14 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

ACC 9:00 Bulletin

Announcements Due In Office

15 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

16

17 8:30 Worship 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship 6:30 Bible Class

18 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

6:30 Zoom

Confirmation Class

19 6:30

Church Council

20 Confirmation Introduction Class for new

group

21 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

22 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

23

24 8:30 Worship 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship 6:30 Bible Class

25 Memorial

Day

Pr. Gran’s Sabbath Day

26

27 Confirmation Introduction Class for new

group

28 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

29 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

30

31 PENTECOST

8:30 Worship HC – Confirmation 9:45 Parish Nurse 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship HC – Confirmation 6:30 Bible Class

If you need to

be in the

church

building sanitize when you

enter the

church building

and sanitize

when you

leave the church

building! Don’t touch

your face.

Please follow

the

suggested safety

guidelines. Be safe!

PO Box 35 Garfield, MN 56332

Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge

Register now for our free Virtual Gala!

Our commitment to the safety of our clients, and to you, is our top priority, and because of that, we have made the decision to move our in-person gala to a free virtual event on May 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. While we won't be able to come together at Cragun's this year, that doesn't stop the miracles we see every day within our programs. We are excited to update you on the ministry as well as give you the opportunity to experience the life change that happens at Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge.