Youth Gathering Fundraiser: Motown Dinner Silent …grace97330.org/Gatherings/gg2015Apr.pdfPage 3...

Grace Gatherings Volume XIV, Issue 4

APRIL 2015

Grace Lutheran Church is a “Reconciling in Christ”

congregation, welcoming gay and lesbian believers to become members and to share in the

sacramental and general life of this congregation. We affirm that we

welcome all persons regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation,

age or national origin.

Our VISION is “to be a Christ-centered community who

welcomes all, grows in faith, and reaches out in love.”

Our MISSION is “to follow Christ into our community and world mani-festing with caring hearts and help-

ing hands the good news of the Kingdom of Christ.”

Come, enjoy a fun evening: You’ll get to try foods special to Detroit, have a chance to bid on some great auction items, and see a video highlighting the Youth Gathering. Best of all, you’ll be supporting our youth and adult lead‐ers as they prepare (with 40,000 others from all around the ELCA!) to serve God in Detroit this summer. The youth are working to raise over $7000, then Grace Foundation will match it all to help with trip expenses. Your do‐nations make this experience of a lifetime possible. Thanks so much!

Detroit Motown Menu Coney Dogs with toppings Veggie Burgers with special sauces Middle Eastern Salad with Chapati Sauce & Pita Detroit Hot Fudge Sundaes Boston Coolers (Ginger Ale & Ice Cream Floats)

Auction Items Vacation Time Shares Ethiopian Art Wine Glass Art Flowers & lots more! Would you like to donate an item to help the youth? Please contact Todd Weber, Volunteer High School Ministry Director (541‐602‐6016 or [email protected])

Come enjoy the fun!

Help our youth go to the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit!

Youth Gathering Fundraiser: Motown Dinner & Silent Auction Saturday, April 11, 5 ‐ 8 pm in Ronnenkamp Hall


Grace News

Thanks and Praise to God!: Larry Rosenkoetter Linda Samuels & Ron Anderson have a new grand niece, Fiora Lucy Ramón Collins. She was born at 11:55 PM March 12th (sharing a birthday with her late great‐grandmother Emily Samuels!). 8 lbs. 21.5 inches. All doing great. Alex Reher

Illness & Other Concerns: Eleanor Harrington Johnny Corkill Gloria Ibrahim Irene Loffelbein, Marilyn Lesmeister’s mother Anne Marie Pearson, Betty McCauley’s sister‐in‐law

Death: Millie Castellano Mailing address for Ben Castellano: 2601 NE Jack London, #50, Corvallis, OR 97330 Jon Bjordal, Art Bervin’s cousin Bill Seeliger, Jana Seeliger’s father‐in‐law

Phone & Address Changes: Jo Anne Hellberg new email: [email protected]. As promised in the Sunday bulletin, here’s the list of those providing transportation: Thanks to our wonderful, dedicated Grace on the Move Drivers, who provide and/or coordinate rides to wor‐ship for those in need of transportation: Ron & Kay Larson, Marna Renshaw, Wayne & Carolyn Kradjan, Dar‐lene & Jim Leklem , Anne & Tom Orwick, Debbie Kuehn, Art & Marilyn Bervin As promised in the Sunday bulletin, here’s the list of our Sunday Musicians: All are grateful to the many members dedicated to bringing the gift of music to our Sunday worship services and other programs. Talia Neely, Interim Director of Worship & Music, lends her expertise and creativity to provide us with joyful music. Sunghee Kim, organist, accompanies the choir and plays for our main worship services. We are also grateful for the many volunteers who provide special music from time to time. In addi‐tion we want to recognize those who provide music Sunday in and Sunday out. Chancel Choir: Sue Davis, Carol Erickson, Netsie Griffith, Ardis Koester, Jaya Lapham, Norma Moody, Anne Orwick, Denice Rickard, Sue Speulda, Donna Wernz, Sandie Williams, Glenn Chaffin, Wendell Hendershott, Marshall Hill‐Tanquist, Jerry Koester, Milt Larson, Max Power, Jim Wernz. Grace Alive!: Michael Beachley, Wendell Hendershott, Tom Kiersky, Dave Lundahl, Matt Neely, Angie Kingsley, Talia Neely, Laura Spisla, Jonathan Boyd; (on sabbatical: Bill Briskey, Teri Briskey)

This year in celebration of Palm Sunday, our congregation partnered with Lutheran World

Relief to use Eco‐Palms – a branch truly worthy of celebration. Eco‐Palms are

harvested in a sustainable manner in Latin America. Since Eco‐Palm communi‐ties process the palms themselves, they capture more of the profits, improve the community’s standard of living, and ensure that the money paid for the palms benefit those who labor. As we raised our branches in celebration this season, we protected important forests and sustainable livelihoods in the har‐vesting communities. To learn more, visit lwr.org/palms. —Altar Guild

This prayer list is a compilation of

the prayer requests we have received at Grace

from FEB20 to MAR20. For a more timely

update to the prayers, send

your email address to

prayers@grace 97330.org, and

ask to be part of the prayer list.

www.grace97330.org Check the calendar

Like us on facebook: Grace Lutheran Church-ELCA-Corvallis . There are several Grace Lutheran Church facebook pages. The above title will get you to our page.

mailto:[email protected]�





HOLY WEEK THIS APRIL

9 APRIL 2nd Thursday's Women's Luncheon will be at New York Bagel at 11:45am 28 APRIL 4th Tuesday’s Women’s Luncheon at New Morning Bakery at 11:45am

April 2, Maundy Thursday, 7pm Service

April 3, Good Friday, 7pm Service

April 4, Easter Vigil, 8pm Service

Triduum: The Three Days The Three days before Easter are Called The Triduum [pronounced TRIH‐dee‐uhm] which is the Latin term for three days. The three days are a call to three days of prayer in preparation for Easter and the resurrection celebration of Christ.

The first Day is Maundy Thursday, from Jesus’ command that we love one an‐

other. The evening service (7:00) emphasizes service to one another and features foot washing (we have a hand washing option for the timid) and a special service of Holy Communion. The service ends with the stripping of the Altar.

The second Day is Good Friday. It is called Good, because Jesus saves humanity

from sin through the cross. This service (7:00) features quiet reflection on the crucifixion and the adoration of the cross.

The Third and final day is Holy Saturday, the day of the Easter Vigil. This eve‐ning service (8:00) begins an hour later than the rest to take advantage of the dark. It begins in the Atrium with the lighting of a new fire, reading of first testament deliverance stories, a baptismal re‐affirmation, re‐decorating of the altar and the first resurrection communion of Easter.

Pastor’s “Second” Sunday Class One of Pastor Wendell’s seminary classmates, Lisa Dahill, has written a book enti‐tled Truly Present: Practicing Prayer in the Liturgy. Dr. Dahill is Associate Professor of Worship and Christian Spirituality at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. She is soon to take a new position in the religion department at California Lutheran University, in Thousand Oaks. Not too long ago, she was a presenter at the St. Mark’s, Salem, Visit‐ing Scholar Lecture Series. Dr. Dahill’s family live in Salem. We will use Dr. Dahill’s book as a stepping stone to explore our own spirituality and prayer practices, particularly as related to worship. It dovetails with both the Adult Bible Study, Acts of Worship, that Frank and Sue Davis are leading, while at the same time addressing the concern of longing for a deeper spiritual connection with each other and God that we heard from so many through our Season of Listening. The connection with the Season of Listening is especially important, in that so many people were in‐volved with that effort as both those who were listened to and those who listened. If you would like to order a copy of the book, call Pastor Wendell, 541‐223‐3503. There has been a price increase since we last ordered, but $12.00 should cover both the cost of the book plus shipping and handling. You will notice “second” in quotes above. We thought it would be a reminder that while the class generally meets on the Second Sunday of most months, we some‐times have to be flexible in order to give other people the option to meet on that Sunday of the month, as we did in March, when the Jim Norlie’s class was scheduled for the sec‐ond Sunday.

Easter Sunday, April 5 8:30 Worship with Communion

9:30 Easter Breakfast A little later Easter Egg Hunt

11:00 Worship with Communion


Pastor’s Page Eighth Commandment Wendell Hendershott

You shall not bear False Witness against your neighbor. What does this mean? We are to fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, be-tray or slander them or destroy their reputation. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possi-ble light. When Luther wrote his Small Catechism in 1529, he did so as a way for parents to teach their children the basics of the faith. While it is a basic enchiridion for the faith, it is not only for children, but also has much to teach us adults as well. When he set down the explana‐tions to the commandments, he generally followed a similar format for each one: We are to fear and love God so that we do not . . . but instead . . . In the first part he would explain what we were not to do; that was often a reiteration of the biblical commandment: “Thou shalt not . . .” In the second part he would give an example of how the commandment might be fulfilled if we were to follow it. So it goes with the eighth commandment as with most of the others. There is first an explanation of the kernel of the commandment, but then, secondly, there is an admonition of how to keep this commandment, stated in actions that we can take in our daily lives and our interactions with our neighbors. I believe we have paid quite a bit of attention to the first part of Luther’s explanation, the part about what we shouldn’t do. Yet, as commendable as that is, we may, in doing so, have glossed over the second part, the section on how we might live out this commandment in our keeping of it. It is important to refrain from lying about our neighbor. Lies often give way to the other things Luther’s meaning forbids: betrayal, slander and the destruction of reputations. These prohibitions keep our social contracts healthy when we tend to them. When we trans‐gress them, our social contract suffers from those transgressions and ultimately injustice may result, particularly in a court of law, but more often in the court of public opinion. We see this rife in today’s media. I think, however, that it is in the second part of his explanation of this commandment that Luther got to the core of keeping this commandment. Instead of being false about our neighbors we are to say and do things that witness to their integrity. This is where coming to another’s defense is important. It is where we can lift up their positive qualities. It is also how we should think about our neighbors when we hear something that turns a negative light upon them, we are to interpret the things they do in the best possible light. This part of the commandment will surely get us into trouble these days, especially online, but also in our daily conversations. If we defend someone whose actions have been denigrated, we may be denigrated ourselves. If we say something good about someone who has just been criticized, we may well find ourselves painted with the same critical brush. If we interpret someone’s actions in that best possible light, we will often find ourselves labeled a Pollyanna or looking through rose tinted glasses. This is certainly not an easy commandment to keep. It is hard enough to keep from bearing false witness, let alone to speak up for someone who is the victim of false witness. Yet the commandment was given for our instruction and keeping and Luther’s explanation is spot on. All of us would benefit from following this commandment more carefully. All of us could better watch what we say about others. All of us should speak up for those who are disre‐spected and even lied about by the words of others. Beware, however, keeping this command‐ment will not win you many friends, yet it will increase your integrity and your neighborly sa‐gacity. Ultimately however, keeping this commandment will make you a better neighbor and you will live in a better world.

Pastor Netsie Griffith Contact Information Cell: 541.223.3455

Email: [email protected]

Pastor Netsie’s

Days Off Thursday & Friday

Pastor Wendell Hendershott

Contact Information Cell: 541.223.3503

Email: wendell@grace

97330.org

Pastor Wendell’s Days Off

Tuesday & Friday

Every once in a while you will see that the church of‐fice will be closed for a few hours for special projects. If you stop by and see the note on the

door asking not to be disturbed, we will be open again soon. We are work‐ing on a very impor‐tant project for the

congregation. Thanks for your un‐derstanding and patience, and we will look forward to seeing you again

soon!


Grace News

Sunday Adult Bible Study – March, April and May—9:45am, Grace Library God, the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit seems more difficult for us to imagine than Jesus, who took on human form. The Spirit is even more difficult for us to imagine than God the Father (though the ease with which we can imagine God as a father carries problems of its own). We confess that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, “who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified” (Nicene Creed), and yet we often don’t know what more to say about the Spirit or how to understand the Spirit’s relationship with us. This course ex‐plores some of the New Testament claims about the Spirit’s work in our live as individual disciples and within the church as a community. This course draws mainly from the Gospels according to John, the three shorter books associated with John, and Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. In each of these, we find a different aspect of the Holy Spirit emphasized. In the Gospel of John, the Spirit is known as the Advocate or Counselor. The Spirit is the comforting and continuing presence sent from Jesus, the one who brings peace to the disciples when Jesus is no longer visibly present. The short books of 1, 2, and 3 John show us the church for whom John’s gospel was first written, but now wounded by internal divisions and troubled by sharp, painful differ‐ences in theological teaching. For 1 John, the Spirit of God is the one who inspires proper confession about who Jesus is and enables a clear and proper identification of other spir‐its that work against God in the world. The Spirit is the one who testifies to the truth, and the Spirit is the truth. The Spirit keeps the church faithful in its words and life. In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses a congregation that was fascinated with the Spirit’s gifts to the church. The Corinthians valued wisdom and knowledge, but it seems that they had a particular attraction to the gift of speaking in tongues. They also seem to have had a difficult time understanding that the work of the Spirit was not an excuse for spiritual competition and status‐seeking. Paul spends three chapters of this letter helping the Co‐rinthian church understand how to properly value and rightly use the gifts that the Spirit had given to them. The church is not (and should not be) divided by the diverse ways the Spirit distributes spiritual gifts. Instead, this Spirit‐given diversity is one way God weaves the church together in love for one another. Our Writer Brian Peterson was the pastor of congregations in Minnesota and Virginia. Since 1998 he has been a member of the faculty of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Colum‐bia, South Carolina, where he lives with his wife, Linda Anderson, who is an ELCA pastor. When not teaching and writing, he enjoys playing with his grandchildren and astrophot‐ography. —Frank Davis

Oregon Synod Assembly — Friday, April 24th to Sunday, April 26th The theme of this year’s assembly is: Tree of Life: Root, Fruit, Scar It takes its image from a grafted fruit tree. Grafted trees are dependent upon contextu‐ally appropriate root stock, onto which is grafted a desired fruit, or variety of fruits. What is the strength our history and traditions bring us? What are the fruits now desired by those in the world around us? This year’s assembly takes place at the Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon. Look for a report from our voting members in the June issue of Grace Gatherings.

Filled Plastic Eggs Needed

We need lots of filled plastic eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt in April.

Watch for empty eggs set out mid March in the Fire‐side Room, take as many as you’d like,

fill them with Eastery surprises, and bring them back before

Easter. We’ll hide them and the kids will be delighted!

Thanks!


Sunday School gifts

Jackson Street Youth Shelter!

As you might know, all ages of Sunday School worked together winter and spring to raise funds to buy some of the things this Jackson Street Youth Shelter needs to serve kids in trouble. The Grace Foundation matched all the money raised, so over $1200 was available to purchase the wish list items. As we drew to the conclusion of this great project, the 1st‐3rd grade class made a giant (and we do mean giant) sign of blessings for the shelter and the 4th‐6th graders, middle schoolers, and high schoolers went shopping.

On the appointed day, Hannah Miller, Jackson Street’s community liaison, came to tell Grace’s kids all about the shelter and what it’s like for kids to need a safe place to be and to learn how to move forward towards adulthood. All the purchases were carried in to worship, where they were blessed and presented to Hannah to take to the shelter. Thanks to Kendra Wollert for serving as lead coordinator on this project, to all the SS teachers who helped, to our kids who worked so hard to raise so much, to the pastors for helping with the blessing, to the Foundation for magnifying the possibilities, and to Hannah Miller for coming to visit. Thanks be to God for places like Jackson Street Youth Shelter and for the opportunity to help them out.

God’s Work. Our Hands!

Discipling Ministries News


Team Grace is Going to Detroit! Jenny Olsen, Maia Gelser, Nate Olsen, Nicole Gelser, Bob Saathoff, Jessie Saathoff, Obed Aguirre.

Easter Breakfast Sunday, April 5 9:30 ‐ 10:45 am in Ronnenkamp Hall Sponsored by the Youth of Grace. All donations will be matched by the Grace Foundation to help the youth participate in the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit, Michigan this July.

Curious about what we’re learning in Sunday School? Check it out!! A good question has come up, “What are our kids learning in Sunday School?” I (Donna King) am so glad you asked! To begin answering, I’ll tell you a bit about our youngest class (and will feature other age groups in future newsletters.) We call the Preschool ‐ Kinder class “Play & Pray” because that’s just what they do. One of the preschool class rooms in the west wing becomes our Sunday School room, and a whole host of parents and friends of children teach the nine members of this class. Each week the Bible story is one of the lessons read in worship ‐ that way the kids develop a strong connection to our life together, begin learning the stories of the Bible, and have a chance to “play & pray” together as they get to know each other as the Body of Christ in this place. If you happen by, you’ll probably hear laughs, roars, giggles, and who knows what as they act out the Bible stories and have a great time. Every week there’s a take home sheet and stickers to remember the story by. If you’d like to know more, check it out! http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/productfamily/154/Spark‐Lectionary More questions? Please let me know!

http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/productfamily/154/Spark-Lectionary�





Grace News

Planning? Want to help us reach out to the community? Camp Lutherwood Day Camp At Grace—August 3‐7 Thanks to Men’s Ministry and all who participated in the Chili Cook‐off for helping raise money for Day Camp. Together we raised enough for the annual bus trip to Camp! Hurrah! Remember that you can help us fund Day Camp by choosing something to read from the book cart that is often set out in the Fireside Room on Sundays. We’re loading it with new books, so check it out. Whatever donation you make will fund scholarships to help more kids come to Day Camp. Another great way to help is to pick up some Grace donation stickers from the Discipling Ministries bulletin board and place them on any‐thing (other than clothes) you’re donating to the ARC of Benton County. They’ll sell the items in their resale shop and donate 50% of the proceeds to our Day Camp. Everyone benefits! For more info, contact Shelly Lundahl or Donna King.

Camp Lutherwood Spring Work Days At Camp—May 2, 23 & June 6, 2015 9:00am to 3:00pm Work Days are excellent ways to lend a helping hand in pre‐paring camp for an amazing summer! We will send out more details about projects and what to bring, so please check our website or your inbox as we draw nearer to each day! Work Days are also great ways to earn volunteer hours for school and great service projects for youth groups. Lunch and snacks provided. Work Days begin at 9:00 a.m. and go until about 3:00 p.m., overnight accommodation can be available upon request. You can always RSVP by emailing [email protected] and check out more information on our website: lutherwoodoregon.org

Annual Spring Clean Up At Grace—Saturday, April 11, from 8:30am to 4pm There are many tasks such as cleaning the sanctuary inside to pruning and weeding the shrubs and flower beds outside. We will spread bark mulch in the afternoon. Enjoy the fellowship time with other Grace members on Saturday during the "work party" and BBQ at 12 Noon. —Ron Larson, Property Committee

Partners in Faith—Friday, April 17, 6pm, Grace Fireside Room

Bring a potluck dish and your own place setting. We will have a gospel sing‐a‐long with Matt Neely. Info: Sue Musil 541‐745‐5511.

Global Book Discussion Group—Thursday, April 23, 7pm, Grace Fireside Room

JUNKYARD PLANET by Adam Minter led by Mary Ann Matzke


Grace Personnel & APRIL Birthdays

Grace Personnel

If you would like a visitation or to schedule an appointment with a member of the ministerial staff, please call the office at 541.757.1600. Hours are 8-4 weekdays. You are welcome to leave a message on the answering machine after hours at 541.757.1600. Visit our Grace web page at: www.grace97330.org

Teams & Committees Property Committee - Ron Larson , 541.752.0754

Communications Committee

Randy Joss, 541.929.9360

Sunday Hospitality Sandie Williams, 541.753.7907

Reception Hospitality– Position Open

Events Hospitality - Molly Hallgrimson, 541.753.8581

Christian Education Team

Deaconess Donna King, 541.757.6636

Altar Guild-Linda Samuels, 541.929.4222

Worship & Music Committee Michael Beachley, 541.754-5501

Finance Committee - Hal Brauner, 541.753.0023

Personnel Committee - Iona Trapp, 541.207.3886

Hospital Visitation Team - Jim Wernz, 541.929.6794

Healing Prayer Team - Sue Davis, 541.924.2922

Mission Groups - Bob Saathoff, 541.929.3045

Stewardship Committee - Dave Lundahl, 541.757.1358

Pastor Netsie Griffith & Pastor Wendell Hendershott

Health Ministries - Position Open

Director of Discipling Ministries - Donna King

Volunteer High School Ministry Director - Todd Weber

Interim Director of Worship & Music - Talia Neely

Organist - Sunghee Kim Custodian - Sam McKay

Nursery - Tiana Posler

Administrative Assistant - Cindy Lee

Office Assistant - Jody Parker

Bookkeeper - Peter Gelser

Prayer Chain - Cathy Mueller & Bruce Stephens

Grace Gatherings Editor - Linda Samuels

Pastoral Counseling Center

Dr. Julie Evans, Ph.D., Clinical Director 541.753.9217

Campus Ministry at Luther House Jim Norlie, Pastor, 541.753.5213

Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers

Norma Moody, 541.754.2555

Corkill Johnny 01-Apr Vega Martina 02-Apr Castellano Kyson 02-Apr Weber Zachary 03-Apr Mathews Winnifred 04-Apr Labhart Theresa 04-Apr Kamke Eric 04-Apr Briskey Brian 05-Apr Junge Richard 06-Apr Coakley Jorjie 07-Apr Briskey Teri 07-Apr Weber Dale 08-Apr Erickson Carol 09-Apr Dick Hal 09-Apr Aulerich Stephen 09-Apr Lundahl Christina 10-Apr McCauley Betty 11-Apr Brauner Harold 11-Apr Palmgren Jeff 11-Apr Gelser Ellen 12-Apr Babb Mildred 14-Apr Beachley Michael 14-Apr Zwang Caitlyn 15-Apr Erickson Ryan 15-Apr Shaff Calla 15-Apr Boersma Larry 16-Apr Hendershott Wendell 17-Apr Davis Aaron 17-Apr Walsh Marilyn 18-Apr Renshaw Terry 19-Apr Smith Chelsea 19-Apr Loe Ralph 20-Apr Hildebrandt Emery 21-Apr Denoma Jeanine 21-Apr Speulda Susan 22-Apr Signer Joyce 23-Apr Wollert Kendra 23-Apr Regan Thomas 23-Apr Weeber Kyah 23-Apr Rosenkoetter Sharon 24-Apr Harrington Eleanor 25-Apr Moody Mason 26-Apr Samuels Linda 27-Apr Gallagher Angie 27-Apr Parrott Kimberly 27-Apr Warloe Kris 28-Apr Volk Doris 29-Apr Washington Todd 29-Apr


More Grace News

DID YOU KNOW?? That in the 10 years since Leadership I was instituted over 83% of the recommendations have become a part of our congregational life? Here’s a big one: we have standing committees again! Property, Stewardship, Personnel, Finance, Worship and Music, Communications and the rest. It seems like these have always been in place, but there was a time they didn’t func‐tion. Of the six recommendations under Administration, 5 are fully implemented. All the Leadership section recommendations are a part of church life. Both visitors and members, no matter how new, are invited to share in the active life of the church. But times change and we confess, we are tweaking the volunteer appreciation piece just a bit. Put June 14 on your calendar for the Annual Church Picnic. We are splitting the picnic from the Volunteer Appreciation but hope to knock your socks off with a new way to acknowl‐edge the thousands of volunteer hours of following Christ’s call to mission. Communication heads the 3rd set of recommendations. While we do now have a Commu‐nications Committee, it is true: we do not have a congregational meeting every 3 months—just once a year in January. In the meantime, enjoy the other ways we communicate, like our Season of Listening, our website which is being restructured, the weekly announcements that start each service, the TV in the entry, the Council Packet notebook on the office counter, Grace Gatherings, the list‐serve (This Week at Grace) and everything else Communications does to keep you informed and involved. We are doing every one of the recommendations under “Outreach and Evangelism” start‐ing with our consecration being a congregation in mission. The Master Plan guides prop‐erty decisions. Our church’s prominent position on Kings and Harrison has made it a great venue for concerts and hosting groups needing a meeting place. The Youth and Family Ministry Program area made several recommendations and much work has been done. Remodeling the Sunday School rooms gave us great space; our Direc‐tor of Discipling Ministry coordinates the work of many in educational activities. Like in all other areas, we continue to respond to changing times and needs. The final set of recommendations is Continuity. Several years ago, Mike Kinch and Ron Walsh sequestered themselves in the room above Ronnenkamp Hall to organize our ar‐chives. These are already coming in handy as we prepare for the 75th Anniversary.

THANK YOU GRACE MEMBERS FOR YOUR PART

IN MAKING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS A REALITY!

Help Needed!!

Anyone with

web design skills interested in helping spruce

up the Grace97330.org

website?? Please contact Mary Stephens

at mary@stephens.

org

Also available—opportunity to help with this newsletter. Contact Linda Samuels at

lindaMsamuels@ gmail.com


Luther House News

Welcome Ann Blegen Newly chosen Luther House Office and Hospitality Coordinator, Ann Blegen is often the first person you meet when visiting or calling Luther House. Her connection with Luther House began when she moved to Oregon to begin her social work career. Attending church one Sunday in 1988, she was greeted by several college students, among them her (unknown then) husband‐to‐be, Craig Massie. As time went on, Ann became involved in student activities, the Liturgical Arts Guild, the Luther House board, and now Office and Hospitality Coordinator. Ann is an active member of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in Corvallis. She enjoys skiing, reading, and singing in the church choir. She is also a busy mom to two teenagers. Welcome Ann. We’re glad you’ve joined the Luther House staff.

Lutherfest 2015 a Success Thanks to everyone who helped make the Luther House beer and cheese pairing fund‐raiser a huge success. $9,250 was raised to direct support ministry to students this year. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors and guests. The planning team has its eye on February 7 next year as the date for Lutherfest 2016. Tell your friends and plan to join us then.

Leave a Lasting Legacy Thrivent Financial Representatives Ronald D. Mohr. ChFC, FIC and Charles Owen, CFP, FIC, in conjunction with InFaith Community Foundation, Lutheran Campus Ministry at Oregon State University and Camp Lutherwood Oregon invite you to an event that celebrates the Joy of Giving. Through the Foundation, thousands of individuals and families are express‐ing generosity and leaving legacies by giving to their favorite charities through a donor advised fund. Please join us to hear Chris Andersen from InFaith Community Foundation who will show us how, together, we can share our blessings in personal, faith‐filled and creative ways. This is an opportunity to enjoy good company and learn how we can do more with what we have. There are two ways to participate – a lunch gathering on Tuesday, May 5, in the Albany area or an early evening gathering on Wednesday, May 6, in West Salem. Exact times and locations will be released soon. Join us for this one and one‐half hour conversation with tips on how to take the next steps toward fulfilling your life legacy goals.

Except for April 7th, the first Tuesday in April, we will meet every Tuesday from 1:00‐2:30 pm in the Fireside Room. We will not meet on the 7th but will meet the 14th, 21st and 28th. Join us! New members are always welcome. During Sunday worship we will have a hiatus from readings taken from the gospel of Mark during the Easter season. During Bible Study, however, we will be continuing our journey through Mark’s gospel. By grounding ourselves in the unique perspective of this ac‐count of Jesus’ life and ministry, we will be ready to listen with new ears when we return to readings from Mark in June. We would love to benefit from your insights and share ours with you! Join us.


Council Meeting Minutes

Devotions were led by Ardis Koester on Ephesians 2:1‐10 on grace and the various ways grace invites and welcomes believ‐ers in Christ. Devotions were followed by celebrating Shelly Lundahl’s birthday today with a “Scripture cake”. Consent Agenda: The following items were moved, seconded and passed (MSP) as a group: 1. Acceptance of the minutes of the February 9, 2015 Council Meeting 2. Executive Committee minutes 3. 75th Anniversary Steering Committee report 4. Parish Operations Ministry 4.1 Stewardship Committee report 4.2 Personnel committee report Officers/Staff Reports Pr. Netsie Griffith referred to her written report and began by commending Jody Parker’s effort in publicizing the grand re‐opening of the William King Memorial Library. Pr. Netsie then spoke of the meeting with the Mission Investment Fund (MIF) representative, Joel Wudel, and the Stewardship Committee to be held Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Pr. Wendell Hendershott added to Pr. Netsie’s listing of members who are receiving pastoral care along with visits by the volunteer hospital visitation team members. Pr. Wendell updated his writ‐ten report by saying his mother, Ruth, who has been on the prayer chain for her leukemia, has been diagnosed with shingles causing her last infusion therapy to be postponed. In a review of the upcoming dates, it was noted April 11 is a busy day with property clean‐up and the youth group fund‐raising dinner. The recommendation was made by the Council to close the office on Friday, July 3, since the 4th of July Independence Day holiday falls on the weekend. Donna King, Discipling Ministries, reported on the All Sunday School Mission Project in support of the Jackson Street Youth Shelter. The funds raised by the Sunday School Youth were matched by the Schultz Youth and Family Fund in the Grace Foundation. The effort resulted in the Sunday School youth purchasing items for the Youth Shelter including a love‐seat and rug. Hannah Miller, representative for the Youth Shelter, accepted the items on behalf of the Shelter and talked with the Sunday School you about the work of the Shelter. Hal Brauner, Treasurer, reviewed the Treasurer’s report noting that income is slightly below budget and expenses are as anticipated. Items removed from Consent Agenda: Property Committee report included revision of Recommendation #6 on the Space Utilization Re‐port. Acceptance of the recommendation to review current donation rates and recommend changes if needed for all organizations that use Grace Lutheran Church facilities was MSP. Discus‐sion included the potential for full recovery including an amount for overhead. Other churches will be contacted for their policies on space utilization. Also proposed was a process of reminders/invoices to be developed for organization under the full recovery rate. Worship and Music Committee report: Michael Beachley called attention to item #4 on the com‐mittee report regarding audio visual equipment which needs to be updated. Continuing Business: Retreat Feedback: There was general agreement the retreat was successful with a balance of wor‐ship, work on topics, learning and developing relationships. The theme “Did You Know?” will be used to communicate information related to our mission. Council members signed up for various ways to communicate ideas. Synod Assembly: The delegates are still to be determined. Policies Collection: A notebook of policies is being developed. It will be available in the office.

Congregational Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2015, 6:45-9:30pm Attendance: Michael Beachley, Hal Brauner, Mary Ann Brenan, Jude Geist, Pr. Netsie Griffith, Pr. Wendell Hender-shott, Donna King, Ardis Koester, Jaya Lapham, Shelly Lundahl, Lew Nelson, Anne Orwick, Kathy Vohland and James Wernz

President: Kathy Vohland Vice President: Shelly Lundahl

Secretary: Ardis Koester Treasurer: Hal Brauner

Financial Secretary: Mary Stephens

Council Members: Lew Nelson Jim Wernz Jude Geist

Jaya Lapham Mary Ann Brenan Michael Beachley

Anne Orwick Pr. Netsie Griffith

Pr. Wendell Hendershott


Website: Several website developers are being contacted. Art Committee: A letter has been sent to 5 persons asking them to be on an Art Committee. Re‐sponses have not been received. A letter from Suzanne Dechnik was received, but another letter will be requested after a discussion of her contributions. New Business: Switcharoo Sunday: Council members who usually attend either the 8:30 or 11:00 service are urged to attend the other service or both services before summer when one service begins. Volunteer Appreciation Picnic was discussed with suggestions of alternate ways to recognize the many volunteers by the kinds of work they do and to make the picnic a celebration of all members of Grace Lutheran Church. The date for this year’s picnic is June 14, 2015. The date June 16 for the 2016 picnic was suggested as the second Sunday in June before one service begins. Discussion also included an alternate date for recognizing graduates. Closing prayer was led by Pr. Wendell Hendershott with the singing of Courage, Get Up learned at the retreat. Respectfully submitted, Ardis W. Koester, Secretary

Grace Center News Planning a garden in April is gratifying, because good things grow so quickly. Grace Center’s garden is an active part of its program, designed to accommodate participants who enjoy digging in the dirt. They love the products of their work. Tera, co‐director of the Center, listed plans being made now by Corinne Butzin, activities coordi‐nator responsible for the garden. The garden is always beautiful, of course. We have pear and apples trees blooming right now. Soon petunias and pansies will be ready to plant. You can imagine our participants at raised beds, some in wheel chairs at beds their height, others standing where they don’t have to stoop to plant, or at a third bed lower with a bench that allows them to reach their plants. This one was built by HP volunteers directed by Eric Nielson, an OSU Master Gardener who designed the garden layout and has volunteered since we moved to this site in 2006. His Master Gardener grant pays for the work in the Center for which we are very grateful. Not only are pretty plants in the plan. Edibles include favorites, pumpkins, cucum‐bers, peas (very popular!) And fruits: strawberries, pears, apples, and blueberries. Then there are the plants they cook with – salsa ingredients, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and garlic. And they don’t forget the herbs – sage, oregano, parsley, marjoram, lavender, mint, rosemary, basil, lemon balm. New ones they’ll plant this year are spinach and zucchini and Marion berries. (Their cooking will be described in future articles because they do cook and eat their veg‐gies!) The Center’s woodshop workers built natural wood bird feeders (high ones and ground feeders) with assistance of staff and volunteers. (We need more volunteers with woodshop experience to help with activities. Call the Center about helping!) —Betty McCauley


Corner of Kings & Harrison 435 NW 21st Street

Corvallis, Oregon 97330

Grace Lutheran Church

Baptismal Birthdays for APRIL

About Baptismal Birthdays For the past couple of months you may have noticed that we have begun a

new practice of including baptismal birthdays as well as birthdays in Grace Gath‐erings. If your baptismal birthday is missing we would like to make sure it gets added. Please send the date to the office at [email protected] or call 541‐757‐1600 to ask for it to be added to our records. Baptism, our spiritual birthday, marks the beginning of our life in Christ and is as much a cause for celebration as is our biological birthday. Infants, children and adults who are baptized at Grace receive a baptismal candle and are encouraged to bring it out and light it on every anniversary of their baptism. Do you have a tradition of doing this? If not, perhaps you can begin. Perhaps you did not re‐ceive a candle when you were baptized. If this is the case, it may be reason for a shopping trip to buy a special candle for this very purpose. Or, you might con‐sider other ways to celebrate and mark the day. Consider sharing your stories of how you have celebrated your baptismal birthday, and we can include them with the listing of the month’s baptismal birthdays. They might help others begin a new tradition of making this a fun, spiritual discipline.

Phone: 541.757.1600 Email: [email protected]

Brauner Harold Apr Briskey Paul 21‐Apr Davis Sarah 07‐Apr Domholt Dave 18‐Apr Gallagher Michael 19‐Apr Gourley Tessa 02‐Apr Howe Eila 23‐Apr Junge Jackson 20‐Apr Junge Lucas 04‐Apr Kiersky Kelly 05‐Apr Larson Ron 10‐Apr Loe Ralph Apr Loftsgard Marilyn 17‐Apr Logan Toney 04‐Apr Lundahl David 15‐Apr McKim Aaron 14‐Apr Nelson Lewis 20‐Apr Neukomm Adele 09‐Apr Olsen Katherine 19‐Apr Parker Jody Apr Pickering Anna 03‐Apr Roberts Jennie 02‐Apr Saathoff Jessica 26‐Apr Sandeno Joan 01‐Apr Vars Freda 05‐Apr Vega Emily 04‐Apr Vega Marie Belle 15‐Apr Wayt Sarabeth 19‐Apr Werth Gloria 17‐Apr Winkler Judith 05‐Apr Winkler William 01‐Apr Zeller Debra 19‐Apr

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