Sharon Lutheran Newsletter

Joint Worship February 8

We will bring all worshippers together for a day of celebratory worship. Two joint worship services will be held in the Sanctuary at 9:00 & 10:30am. All are welcome!

Annual Congregational Meeting

Sunday, February 8th @ 11:45am. Plan to attend our annual congregational meeting on February 8th at 11:45am. A meal will be served. We will consider our 2009 budget, and our plans for ministry for 2009. Look for opportunities to learn more about the budget during the weeks preceding the annual meeting.

Ash Wednesday - Lenten Meals

Ash Wednesday: February 25th 5:15 & 6:30pm in the Sanctuary.

Lenten Meals: Wednesdays at 5:00pm. February 25—April 9.

Getting the News!

Did you know the weekly announcements and monthly newsletter available through e-mail. For some people, this is a wonderful way to receive information about Sharon Lutheran and its ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Joan or Molly in the church office.

"Fulfilling the Dream" January 2009

We wanted to share some words of thanks excerpted from a letter received from one of our Fulfilling the Dream mission projects, the Mashiah Foundation: “This past weekend at your church was truly a blessing for us as we were welcomed by the people in your congregation. The response of the people in purchasing the products of Women of Hope was overwhelming. The money from these sales enables these women to be self-supporting, and they are encouraged that their products are so well received.” What a blessing it is for us to be able to reach beyond the walls of Sharon in this way! THANK YOU for your continued response to Fulfilling the Dream.

Gifts received thus far total $243,765.20 through December 31st, 2008. Overall, pledged gifts to date total $874,882. As decided by the congregation, Fulfilling the Dream gifts will be used to improve our financial stability as a congregation, strengthen our ministry through improving our building, and for mission support outside the walls of Sharon. Thus far, we have eliminated our operating debt and given away over $22,000 in mission support. The elevator to the lower level of the church is scheduled to be a reality by Easter.

Thanks again for your continued support of the dream!

Brent Jiran and Kristi Hall-Jiran

Simply Giving

It can make a difference for you, for the congregation, for the ministries we support far beyond our walls. Simply Giving is choosing to have your financial gifts to Sharon Lutheran be made electronically. You may make your entire commitment in this way, or a portion of it. You may make gifts weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. It makes a difference for you… you practice regular giving (even when unable to be in worship) and experience giving to God’s work first.

It makes a difference for Sharon… faithful, regular gifts assist in ministry planning and budgeting. The fluctuations of season and week are lessened, allowing better decisions to be made concerning how we accomplish God’s call to us.

It makes a difference for ministry beyond our walls… faithful, regular giving means we can respond to special requests in a timely way. In addition, we can better fulfill our benevolence commitments throughout the year. It is simple. It is giving. For more information contact Joan in the church office or sign up on-line.

Souper Bowl of Caring

We are on a mission to fight hunger and poverty. You can help. Sunday, February 1, 2009."Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat" More than 15 years ago on a Super Bowl Sunday, a simple prayer inspired a single youth group. They started the Souper Bowl of Caring, a youth-led movement that is now an international event. Since 1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring has raised more than $33 million for individual charities across the country. It is also turning our nation's biggest weekend of football into its largest weekend of giving. Each year, tens of thousands of our nation's youth put God's love into action through the Souper Bowl of Caring. You can help them feel the significance of caring for others. Drop a dollar or your pocket change in a soup pot on Sunday, February 1st , as you leave worship. Your donation will go directly to CUP right here in our community and to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. In mid January we will also begin collecting non-perishable food donations as an offering to help those in need. With your help, more dollars will be raised, more lives will be changed, and we will experience the joy of serving Christ by serving others.

Grace Matters

“Grace Matters” is a weekly radio program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Pastor Peter Marty hosts this program which airs on Sunday mornings at 7:00 a.m. on the local radio station KCNN, 1590 AM. The program is sponsored by six local ELCA congregations along with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Sharon Lutheran is one of those sponsoring congregations. The funding for that sponsorship ($50/month for Sharon) will be paid by memorials given in honor of or in memory of someone. A poster near the church office lists the months of the year with blanks for members to indicate they would like to provide the sponsorship for that month. The $50 may be given to Sharon and specified as “Grace Matters”. Each month that memorial will be included in the Sharon newsletter. Make “Grace Matters” your Sunday morning wake-up call.

Board Highlights

Lay Ministry: Ray Pollard, Director

• We continue discussion on increasing attendance and member participation.

Church Properties: Stan Vistad, Director

• Thank you to Leon Fjestad, Mike Welsh, and Don Rugroden for the great job of snow removal during the record breaking December snow fall.
• The elevator should be in construction phase in February.
• Sharon Lutheran Rummage Sale is scheduled for May 15 & 16. The board is looking for a coordinator to be available the week of and a week prior to the sale.

Youth: Rebecca Green, Director

• The Youth Board is sponsoring “The Finest of the French Quarter,” a six course meal featuring the best of New Orleans cuisine. This Meal will be on Sat. Feb. 7th at 7pm. Entertainment will be provided. Childcare will be available for the entire event. To make reservations, call Jan Nelson at 746-6440. Individuals, couples and groups are all encouraged to participate in this fine dining experience! Cost: $25 per person.

Stewardship: Steve Moser, Director

• The Board determined benevolence targets during December. Targets chosen were CVIC and the Northland Rescue Mission.
• In December, we gave away a gift basket to help draw interest to Simply Giving. Members that either increased their Simply Giving or established a new Simply Giving account were eligible for the drawing. Todd Thingelstad was randomly chosen as the winner of the gift basket.
• We completed calls to contact families that had filled out pledge cards in past appeals to see if they were willing to fill out pledge cards this time.
• We discussed methods to improve attendance at Sharon and help to engage more people in the ministries of Sharon Lutheran.

Church in Society: Jane Winter, Director

• Monetary and food donations will be received on Feb. 1st as we take part in the nation-wide Souper Bowl of Caring event to benefit hunger projects/food cupboards.

Parish Fellowship: Mary Adams, Director

• Curling Event planned for Feb. 21. @ 2pm

Christian Education: Vicki Ronkowski, Director

Public Relations: Kristen Shea, Director

Evangelism: Kristi Houska, Director

• Preliminary planning for a new Welcome Center in conjunction with the boards of Public Relation and Church Properties.

Exedutive Committee: Alce Senechal, Executive Director

• Attend the Annual Meeting on February 8th @11:45am as we review our ministries in 2008 and move forward to even stronger ministries in 2009.
• Members of all the boards, together with staff, will meet in a long range planning session on March 12th.

GoodSearch-Internet Search Engine

You can support the ministry of our congregation by searching the Internet with GoodSearch.com. Last year, search engines generated close to $6 billion in revenue from advertisers. With GoodSearch part of this revenue will be directed to Sharon.

We hope that not only will you use GoodSearch as your main search engine from here on out, but will also pass this message on to your friends and family. The more people who use this, the more money will go to support our ministry.

GoodSearch donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities selected by its users. The pennies quickly add up. For example, if 1,000 people searched just twice a day, we would receive an estimated $7,300 per year.

What's great is that you use GoodSearch just as you would any search engine. Again, it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get proven, high-quality results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter Sharon Lutheran as the charity you want to support. The more people who use this site, the more money we'll earn so please spread the word! Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com to get started or download their toolbar at http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx to load GoodSearch directly into your Internet browser. Together we can search the Internet and make a difference.

Remember you do not have to be a member of Sharon Lutheran to participate. Consider asking your family and friends, co-workers and neighbors to participate.

We recently received a check for $188.61 for our GoodSearch partnership. Thanks to everyone who has made a choice to use GoodSearch.

Be a Delegate to Synod Assembly

Our Synod Assembly will be in Grand Forks this year on May 2 and 3. If you would like to be a delegate, contact the church office. We will elect delegates at our annual meeting on February 8th. Contact any of the pastors for more information.

Go Green!

In an effort to be good stewards of the earth, the church office will be working with the provider of our offering envelopes to reduce waste. If you are a participant in Simply Giving you will no longer receive offering envelopes. This process will take place as soon as possible as we work within the schedule of our provider. If you participate in Simply Giving and would like to continue receiving envelopes please contact Joan in the church office.

Cell Phone Recycling Drive

If you have used, deactivated cell phones taking up space in your home, or if you plan to get a new phone soon, consider giving them to The Good Deed Foundation. Collection boxes will be placed around the church to collect phones from now until May 1. Why would you want to donate to this cause? The Good Deed Foundation and the Women's Funding Network have launched a nationwide cell phone recycling program that will generate much needed funding to: 1. Support programs that lift women and families out of poverty; 2. Help provide lasting solutions for climate change, a major contributor to povertyworldwide; and 3. Provide 911 emergency phones for senior citizens and people at risk. Phones will either be refurbished for resale, programmed to dial 911 and donated to those in need, or recycled according to EPA standards. The nationwide goal of the Good Deed Foundation is to collect 250,000 phones by May 1. Please help us reach that goal! This drive is sponsored by the Women of Sharon. To learn more, go to www.gooddeedfoundation.org or watch the bulletin for cell phone facts!

Seeking Volunteers to Teach English to New Americans

No Experience Necessary! Seeking volunteers to teach English to New Americans. Visit the home of a New American once or twice a week to teach basic English and experience another culture right here in Grand Forks. Materials Provided. Call now to get started and be introduced to an eagerly waiting friend.

Memorial Cards

Valley Memorial Homes Memorial Cards are a way for individuals to extend their sympathies to a loved one or friend while providing for the residents and tenants of Valley Memorial Homes. Each card provides the opportunity to donate funds to Valley Memorial Homes. Memorial cards are available for your convenience near the church office or sanctuary. The cards and envelopes are complementary. Inside the card you will find a pre-addressed gift envelope for Valley Memorial Homes. Simply fill in the memorial card for the family and fill in the gift envelope for Valley Memorial Homes. If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Sue at 787-7984.

Refugee Resettlement Coalition Needs Items Donated

New American Services of Grand Forks is in need of any and all items that one would use to set up an apartment. We are expecting approximately 10 new arrivals per month in 2009. That means setting up 3-4 apartments per month. The donations in our storage garages are thinning out. We need living room, bedroom, and kitchen furniture, as well accessories and items to supply each room. If there is a volunteer that would like to help organize the donation pick up and storage of furniture and donations - someone with a pick-up and/or trailer, you would be a Godsend to our program. We are really in need of a person to coordinate the donations, it is something that could be done on your time schedule and would only take a 2-3 hours per week. I ask you to pray, search your heart, and if you can help please do not hesitate to call us at 772-8552.

Peace

• Dawne Barwin
• Refugee Resettlement Coordinator
• New American Services of Grand Forks
• Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota
• 1001 24th Avenue South
• Grand Forks, ND 58201

Support for Adult Survivors of Suicide

S.A.S.S. (Support for Adult Survivors of Suicide). This support group is designed to offer hope, healing, and a safe place to explore your feelings and work through the grief of losing a loved one or friend through suicide. The group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm at Sharon Lutheran Church. S.A.S.S. is sponsored by T.E.A.R.S. (Together we Educate About the Realities of Suicide) And Altru Health Systems.

You are God’s Love for your Spouse

Find out how to share it with a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend. Get away from the everyday demands of the world so the two of you can really focus on each other. You’ll spend two nights in a comfortable hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7:00pm to Sunday at 5:00pm. Four presenting couples, including a Lutheran clergy couple, give a series of presentations followed by questions the couples discuss in the privacy of their hotel room. There is no counseling and no group sharing. No one tries to change who you are. It’s great for couples who already have a good marriage and want to enrich their relationship, but it also does wonders for those marriages that have lost their luster through years of child rearing and work obligations.

The next Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends in Minnesota are March 27-29 in Duluth or April 24- 26 in Brooklyn Center. Please register a month in advance. For more information, contact Dick & Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete & Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit www.godlovesmarriage.org.

Money Matters

Staff and leaders of Sharon are responsible stewards of all the resources of this congregation. We appreciate the care and concern that has been shown by many as we are moving to become a stronger and healthier community of faith. The challenges are many, but the blessings are greater. Thank you for your continued support as together we grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God.

	2008 Monthly Actual	2008 YTD	2007 Monthly Actual	2007 YTD
December YTD Operating Income:	$116,465.99	$986,489.45	$112,508.74	$1,027,101.79
December YTD Operating Expenses and Debt Service:	$103,907.67	$997,337.14	$85,824.21	$978,590.98

Regular, sustained giving – As people of faith, Scripture teaches us to give regularly, proportionately and first to God (first fruits). Participating in Simply Giving provides that opportunity. Your offering can be made to Sharon Lutheran through an electronic transfer of funds. Weekly, once or twice a month you can offer first to God. It is a wonderful way to grow in consistent faithful offering and it is a blessing to the church in its reliability. Forms are available on-line or at the church or contact the office. You can also sign-up online.

Baptism Celebrations

The Sacrament of Baptism marks a significant moment in the life of an individual as well as the family and the congregation as God joins us to Christ and declares us to be children of God. Sharon Lutheran Church highlights this sacrament in some very specific ways. One is by offering a “Welcome to Baptism” orientation on the first Sunday of each month at 2:30 PM. This one-hour class, led by a pastor, offers information on the theology and practical aspects of baptism for the family anticipating a baptism.

The second method of highlighting the sacrament is by focusing on baptism the second Sunday and the following Wednesday of each month. Baptisms may be scheduled at any of the services that day, and adequate time and emphasis will be devoted to the sacrament. Occasionally, because of family circumstances, a baptism may be scheduled at another church service during the month, but the encouragement is to plan ahead, in consultation with the pastors and church office, to schedule the baptism celebration on the second Sunday (or following Wednesday) of the month. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the pastors or church office.

Welcome to Baptism

To prepare for the celebration of Baptism. These important helps are offered on the first Sunday of each month from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. for those anticipating a baptism (scheduled or not yet scheduled).

“Welcome to Baptism” is intended for:

• Those expecting the birth of a child.
• Those who have recently given birth,
• Older children not yet baptized.
• Adults not yet baptized.
• Family members of those to be baptized.
• Sponsors for those being baptized.

“Welcome to Baptism” is designed to answer common questions about baptism including:

• What is baptism?
• What happens at the service of baptism?
• What is my role as a parent, sponsor, family member of the baptized?

"Welcome to Baptism” will be led by Sharon Lutheran pastors. If a baptism in your family has already happened, those involved are also welcome to participate.

Pastoral Acts

Baptisms:

• 12-28-08 ELLIOT ROBERT JOHNSON; Alan & Katy Johnson
• 01-04-09 CAMBREE MADISON HESSE; Ryan Hesse & Jenna Robinson
• 01-04-09 MAREN NICOLE SELNES; Michael & Nicole Selnes
• 01-11-09 HAYLEE DAWN BORGEN; Cody Borgen & Rosellen Christianson
• 01-11-09 KENDYL JOANN MARKERT; Jason & Hanna Markert

Weddings:

• 12-20-08 Thomas Kieffer & Nicole Dahlstrom
• 12-28-08 Kory Eidsness & Christy Montes de Oca
• 01-03-09 Jason Schumacher & Alicia Morgan
• 01-10-09 Brian Olson & Ellen Schafer

Memorial Gifts

General Fund:

• In Memory of: Dennis Page, by Connie Page; Robert & Betty Deziel, Orville & Lorna Hansen, Katie Ostermeier, by Vicky Deziel, Brenda & Larry Hansen & family

Bible Study Opportunities

WEDNESDAY AM BIBLE STUDY

The Wednesday morning Bible Study with Pastor John continues each week in February. The current theme is “Women of the Bible”. Each week we look at various women of the Bible to understand something of their personality, how they related to God/ Jesus, and what we learn from that relationship in our own lives. Everyone is welcome to join in the study (even if you weren’t part of a Wednesday study before). The hour-long study begins at 9:45 AM each Wednesday in the South Hall. The coffee pot is always on and quite often snacks make their way into the room as well. Come and invite a friend to join you.

Education Ministry News

NURSERY NEWS: Nursery care is provided each Sunday morning from 8:45-11:45 a.m.& Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Care is also provided for monthly board meetings and all congregational meetings. OUR CAREGIVERS: Ashley Carl - Sunday first shift. Katie Ronkowski & Kate Reich - Sunday second shift. Mary Peterson - Wednesday. Jenna Shallman - Board Night.

The nursery has recently been cleaned and some updates have been made. Stop by to see the great space. Our little ones are very important to us and we are proud to offer them a fun and safe place to play and be cared for. There are many dreams for the future of the nursery. One day we hope to offer a monitor and/or sound from our worship spaces. Each month, Rachael, along with the Board of Education, will be reviewing the needs and care of this ministry.

CHURCH SCHOOL OFFERING: In the month of February our offering will continue to be collected for our friend Brittany Dvorak. For the months of Sept./ Oct. 2008 we sent $620.00 to ELCA disaster response, for the months of Nov./Dec. 2008 we sent $299.00 to the Central African Republic (CAR) & $299.00 to LSS-Refugee Resettlement. Thank you for taking the time to teach your children about passing on God’s blessings through their weekly church school offering.

PARENT RESOURCES: Education Ministries is excited to provide parents with a monthly resource called, Parent Link. Parent Link is a monthly newsletter produced by Group Publishing. As a part of our Education Curriculum we have purchased the rights to share this publication with you each month. Some months’ articles are utilized in our Church Newsletters.

However, since this resource has several pages we are unable to include all the articles and information each month in the Church Newsletter. We do think many families would benefit from this resource. So, starting in February and each month through the rest of 2009 we will be making copies of the resource available to families. Copies can be picked up from the brown file folders hanging on the wall between the Main office and Sanctuary. For the very latest information and insight into the most current movies, music, and video games, I recommend you check out the Culture & Trends page. I really liked the way the publisher shares a current movie, it’s rating, a synopsis of the story line, and faith based questions to ask your children after seeing the movie. We hope you take a moment to check out this resource and we welcome your feedback. Please email your comments to Rachael in the Education Office.

NO CHURCH SCHOOL: There is no Church School on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25th. This schedule is arranged so you can attend worship as a family.

Confirmation News

Information regarding weekly confirmation and Lent was mailed directly home to families in early January. If you did not receive this information, please contact the Education Office so we may update our records. During Lent it is expected that students (along with a parent, guardian, or trusted adult) will attend weekly Lenten Worship – including Holy Week services on Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Each week students need to fill out a Lenten worship note. Because you are attending worship you will not be meeting weekly in your small groups. Each small group will be assigned to serve as greeters and ushers at one of the weekly Lenten service. You will receive a postcard prior to the week your group is scheduled to serve. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25th Worship at 5:15 or 6:30p.m.

Attention 5th Grade Students and Parents

First Communion instruction begins in March. Please mark your calendar with the following dates: Sunday, March 8th 4:30 – 6:00, Sunday, March 15th 4:30 – 6:00, Sunday, March 29th 4:30 – 6:00. Parents and students should attend all sessions together.

Attention 4th Grade Students and Parents

Here at Sharon Lutheran Church we support your faith journey with weekly church school and a yearly special Confirmation Learning event. In 4th Grade we ask our students along with their parents to read together the Gospel of Mark. This reading takes place over a series of weeks. More information and your reading schedule will be presented to you at the Confirmation Learning event held on Wednesday, March 4th 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Sharon Lutheran Book Group

Sharon Lutheran Book Group meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. Join us once or many times. We enjoy conversation and fellowship, sometimes challenging ourselves and almost always having fun! Take a look and see if there’s something you want to read in the coming months. For more info contact .

Feb. 3: Life Is So Good by George Dawson

What makes a Happy person, a happy person? In this remarkable book, George Dawson, a 101 year old man who learned to read when he was 98, reflects on the philosophy he learned from his father— a belief that “life is so good”—as he offers valuable lessons in living and a fresh, firsthand view of America during the twentieth century. Born in 1898 in Marshall, Texas, the grandson of slaves, George Dawson tells how his father, despite hardships, always believed in seeing the richness in life and trained his children to do the same. “Every morning I get up and I wonder what I might learn that day,” says George. “You just never know.”

Mar 3: Take This Bread, A Radical Conversionby Sara Miles

Raised as an atheist, Sara Miles lived an enthusiastically secular life as a restaurant cook and a writer. Them early one winter morning, for no earthly reason, she wandered into a church. “I was certainly not interested in becoming a Christian,” she writes, “or, as I thought of it rather less politely, a religious nut.” But she ate a piece of bread, took a sip of wine, and found herself radically transformed.

Apr. 7: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver

Novelist Barbara Kingsolver once wrote, “If we can’t, as artists, improve on real life, we should put down our pencils and go bake bread.” In Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, she manages to do both, applying her literary skills to a new food environment. In her seamless diary narrative, Kingsolver tells how she and her family relocated to southern Appalachia after suffering through years of drought in Arizona. The purpose of the move was simple: The Kingsolvers sought to “live in a place that could feed us” by growing their own food and living among a community of local organic growers.

May 5: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

June 2: The Mighty and the Almighty by Madeleine Albright

Golden Age Club

The Golden Age Club will gather again on Friday, February 20th, at 2:00 PM in the South Hall. Note that this is a week later than the normal meeting date. Dave Sena from the Northlands Rescue Mission will be on hand to share some pertinent information about the Mission. Eileen Nelson and Lu Boyer will provide a lunch. Invite a friend and come and enjoy a fun afternoon.

Curling

You’re Invited to: THROW ROCKS! Curling Rocks that is! Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2:00pm. Grand Forks Curling Clubhouse. Sign up sheet in the Narthex. Cost: $5.00 per family. Due to the nature of the sport only children Middle School age and up can attend this event. Sponsored by the Board of Parish Fellowship

We Want You:

• To Share your God-given talent
• To Help accomplish our mission
• To Add new ideas to our on-going ministry
• To Realize your potential
• To Open your hearts to service
• To Nod yes when you are asked to be part of the experience of the Women’s Ministry of Sharon.

Sharon’s Women’s Ministry Wants You!

Women Circles

Mary-Martha Circle

• Feb. 17 9:30am-meet at the church.

Rachel Circle

• Feb. 17 7:30pm—1519 S 15th St. Hostess: Carol Guntzberger

Ruth Circle

• Feb. 17 2:00pm-2396 27th Ave S. Hostess: Ruby Gunhus.

Hannah Circle

• Feb. 10 7:00pm-Hostess: Deb Holbrook.

Elizabeth Circle

• Feb. 17 7:30pm. 802 Boyd Dr. Hostess: Ann Bakke.

Sarah Circle

• Meets once a month on a Wednesday afternoon. Watch for details.

Take Stock in Me...God Does!

We appreciate your support and the investment you have made in us! We will be participating in various community service projects during the months of March and April thanks to so many “Connect Four” purchases!

The Finest of the French Quarter

A six course meal featuring the best of New Orleans cuisine Served in the Fellowship Hall at Sharon Lutheran Saturday, February 7th 7:00 pm. $25.00 per person. Tickets sold in the narthex on Sunday, February 1st and Wednesday, February 4th or through any of the Youth Gathering participants.

Dinner, entertainment, and childcare provided. Table reservations available at time of purchase or by calling Jan Nelson. Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, February 4th. Prepared for you through the culinary skills of Mark and Jan Nelson and Todd and Karen Thingelstad. Fundraiser for Sharon Lutheran Youth.

Lenten Meals 2009

Dinner will be served from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans-Grand Forks County Chapter #31342 wil be providing matching funds up to $1000. All the proceeds benefit summer youth activities & programs. Everyone is welcome!

Suggested Prices Adults -$7.00. Youth (ages 3-11) - $3.00. Youth (2 & under) - free

Fast Pass Ticket Sales, Sun., February 15th - Wed., February 25th. 7 Lenten meals for the price of 6! $42.00.

A La Carte

Come and enjoy a meal at Sharon during the Wednesday schedule. This is designed specifically for you and your busy schedule on Wednesdays! The following items will be available for purchase: pizza by the slice, chips, apples, carrots & ranch, soda, and candy. Food is served from 5:00—6:30 p.m. in the South Hall. December schedule: A La Carte will server Wednesday, December 3rd and 10th.

Crossroads

Crossroads is a weekly gathering of youth in grades 6-8 on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Gathering in the youth room (lower level), it’s a time for fellowship, learning and games. It’s a time to hang out with friends and talk about faith. It’s for you and your friends. Here’s what’s coming up: February 2nd - Movie - Part 1, (note time, 7-8:30pm), February 9th - Movie - Part II, (note time, 7-8:30pm), February 16th - “Be My Valentine”, February 23rd - Game Night!

Reel World

Reel World is for youth in grades 9-12. Reel World meets downstairs in the youth room each week on Wednesdays from 8:15—9:15 p.m. (NEW TIME!) Reel World is a time to get together and get real! It’s a time of conversation and food, fellowship and fun, media and faith. Bring your friends. Coming attractions: Feb. 4th - Let’s get baking!, Feb. 11th - Bible Study, Feb. 18th - Family Feud, Feb. 25th - No Reel World during Lent

3-4-5 Alive!

A weekly afternoon program for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to gather together in community for Bible learning fun through stories, games, food,& friends! This group meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Join us and be a part of 3-4-5 ALIVE! We will meet every Tuesday in February!

Middle School Mission Trip

Middle School Mission Trip Meeting Sunday, February 22 from 2:00 - 3:15 pm Youth and Adult Leaders.

Youth Gathering Meeting

New Orleans Youth Gathering Meeting Sunday, February 22 from 3:30pm - 5:30pm Youth and Adult Leaders (meal served).

Music Ministry News

Sharon Lutheran Church offers the following music ministry opportunities…

By Grace

(6th, 7th and 8th grade) meets Mondays from 6:15 - 7:00 pm in the choir room. We will meet February 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

Shine!

(3rd, 4th, and 5th grade) meets Tuesdays from 4:45 - 5:15 pm in the choir room. We will meet February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th.

Bright Lights

(Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade) meets Wednesdays from 4:45 - 5:15 pm in the choir room. We will meet February 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th.