Sharon Lutheran Church: February 2008 Newsletter

In this new year, I want to begin with words of confidence and truth: God is good… all the time!

In the recent past, we have struggled through tremendous financial challenges as a congregation. Our ministry has been held back and our vision for the future has been clouded by concerns about the current situation. We have struggled, worked hard and prevailed. You, the members of this congregation, have helped make a difference in the life of this church. The staff and leaders have striven side by side to make a difference and today, while everything is not perfect… we have turned a corner and are headed in a new and healthier direction.

As part of our commitment to becoming better stewards of God’s abundance, we are paying attention to how we live and respond to God’s generosity. The Board of Stewardship is coordinating the work of gathering information from every member through Time and Talent surveys. This is one way for you to indicate how you will share yourself with the ministry of this congregation. Our time and talents are a part of God’s abundant blessing, please complete the survey and maybe you will discover how your faith might grow with service.

Living as a faithful steward of God’s generosity also includes our financial life, as a congregation and as individuals. As part of tending to this aspect of our life together, we are engaging in a capital campaign that kicks off this month. Our theme “Fulfilling the Dream” draws our attention to the ways our ministry draws from our past as we move into the future. The decision about how the funds raised will be used is to be finalized at the congregational meeting on January 27 (I am writing on the 15th!). Possibilities include reducing current debt (allowing more funds for current ministry), installation of an elevator (fulfilling the dream of the ‘97 building campaign and improving accessibility for all people), the renovation of the Sanctuary (fulfilling a dream for accessibility and flexibility, tending to aging furnishings). We also want to commit a portion of the funds to ministry beyond our setting, remembering that God’s mission extends far and wide.

The work has already begun and you will have many opportunities to learn more about “Fulfilling the Dream”. In the meanwhile, will you pray? Will you ask God to bless the work of the “Dream Team” and the leaders of this congregation? Will you ask God to bless the life and ministry of Sharon Lutheran? Will you pray for yourself and your household, seeking guidance for your part of “Fulfilling the Dream”? Simply, put… will you pray? I will pray that we are surprised by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rich and Karen Axvig, Barry Branvold, Steve Burian, Andy Byron, Laura Cory, Allen Dahlen, Teresa Dahlstrom, Pam Elmquist, Rebecca Green, Oben Gunderson, Wendy Hanson, Brent and Kristi Hall-Jiran, Tanya Kuntz, Jeff Larson, Jim and Helen Melland, Dave and Karen Molmen, Steve and Patty Moser, Monica Musich, Ray and Lynn Pollard, Mark and Sandy Rios, Alice Senechal, Kristin Shea, Gary and Dottie Swanson, Stan and Marsha Vistad, Bob and Jane Winter.

From letters to art work, from hospitality to meetings, from coordination and delegation to phone calls and brochures, from pictures to prayer and even more… these individuals have been blessed by God with what is needed for the task at hand. We give thanks for their generous sharing of time and talent in this ministry.

Beginning on Wednesday, February 6th (Ash Wednesday) our Wednesday evening worship services will be held at 5:15 and 6:30 pm. Please note that this is different than previous Lenten Wednesday worship schedules. It is our hope that holding the second service fifteen minutes later will help to alleviate some of the between-worship congestion in our narthex and in the parking lot.

With a community of faith the size of Sharon Lutheran it is helpful for you to share your name when greeting one another. It isn’t a bit odd (just a bit awkward) if you say, “Hello (good morning), I am not sure we have met, my name is ___________. Some of you may hesitate with the excuse, “What if that person has been a member for years, that’s embarrassing.” Please remember, we are a large church and it is not possible for all of us to know one another. Sharing our names is simply good hospitality, even with fellow members of this congregation.

If we routinely greeted each other with our names, soon it would become a blessed habit. Plus, this is good practice for greeting visitors and other unfamiliar people in the congregation. In fact, for those of us who sometimes experience a memory lapse (even with those we know), sharing names is an indescribable blessing! Please consider stepping out of your comfort zone and you will help develop the outreach of Sharon Lutheran as well.

On Sunday, February 10th, our fourth graders will once again begin reading the Gospel of Mark for their Confirmation Milestone. They will spend the season of Lent with daily readings which will take them from the first verse of Chapter 1 all the way to the last verse of Chapter 16. They will be encouraged to read together with their family members. I believe that they will find this experience enjoyable and enlightening, and yes, even life changing. So a few questions come to mind:

• Why should our 4th graders get to have all the fun?

• Didn’t our ELCA Churchwide Assembly recently vote in favor of a new initiative, “Book of Faith: Lutherans Read the Bible”, encouraging more Lutherans to read scripture
and go deeper into God’s word?

• And really (be honest), when’s the last time you read a gospel (or any book of the Bible) from beginning to end?

Do you see where I’m going with this? That’s right! The whole congregation is invited to join our fourth graders in their Lenten Mark-reading adventure! On Sunday, February 10th, schedules will be available for everyone to pick up that will divide Mark’s Gospel into forty (or so) easy to digest chunks. There will also be a downloadable version of the schedule available on Sharon’s website. To encourage full participation we will also place questions in the weekly bulletin pertaining to the current section being read. All of you will be invited to place your answers in a box. Each correct answer will be entered into a weekly drawing with prizes and everything! Please join in on the fun and learning and make reading the Gospel of Mark part of your Lenten practice this year!

"ELCA churches nationwide are paying more attention to the care and keeping of their pastors . . . . A growing number of congregations offer sabbaticals to keep their leaders invigorated." Sabbaticals are a Win-Win, The Lutheran, July 2007. Sharon began providing pastoral sabbaticals in 2004, when Pastor John Fick took a three-month leave. He describes it as a very positive experience, which allowed him to rest, to reflect, to refresh, and to reinforce his commitment to pastoral ministry at Sharon.

Sharon's policy allows each pastor a one-to-three month sabbatical leave every four years, with full salary and benefits during the approved leave period. Pastors make a commitment to returning to ministry at Sharon for at least one year after the leave. Requests for sabbatical leave are reviewed by the Board of Lay Ministry, and our written policy describes criteria the Board is to consider in deciding whether to approve a request. Under the four-year timeline of our policy, each of our three pastors either is or soon will be eligible to submit a leave request. For more information about our sabbatical leave policy, feel free to contact one of the pastors, or a member of the Board of Lay Ministry.

“…whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, you did for me”

In a collaborative effort Sharon and Calvary members dedicated the weekend of November 9-11 to serve in the Grand Forks community. They stayed at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The weekend included team building, learning about social concerns in Grand Forks, participating in a variety of service projects, worshipping at various churches, and experiencing God in a new and life giving way. Those who attended from
Sharon were Barb Drees, Ryan Peyton, Jill Dahlen, Lexie Dahlen, and Karen Axvig. Participants were involved in service projects at Refugee Resettlement, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, Red River Valley Community Action, Mountainbrooke, Northlands Rescue Mission, and Valley Memorial Homes. Initial plans have been made for the 2008 Grand Forks Mission Trip. Watch for more information this spring.

The Health Ministries is looking for people who enjoy visiting with people who are very happy to visit with you. We have congregation members who no longer can get out to attend worship services. They miss the fellowship that we take for granted. We would like people to contact us if you are willing to share an hour or two once a month to spend visiting with a shut in. We have two gentlemen who are in the nursing home in Larimore who would enjoy having a gentleman visit with them. We need someone for January-March to go and see them. We also have a lady who is not able to get out. These individuals have a lot to share with us and you will be blessed in turn.

Please call Ginger Johnson and let me know if you are available for this important mission. If you know of any members of our congregation that are "shut-in" please let me know their names so I can check with them about having a visitor.

To better organize the designation of communion servers at both worship spaces, serving cards containing directions and a graphic of the serving position will be available in the back of both worship spaces. If you feel called to help with communion please pick up a card before worship. Prior to communion you will be called forward where you will return the card and prepare for the meal.

We will collect items in the Spring of 2008. Start thinking ahead of items you may want to donate and watch future newsletters for more information. Board of Church Properties.

“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. The sponsorship for the month of February is given by Keith and Ginger Trzynka.

Planning “Souper Bowl Sunday for Feb. 3rd

Planning Lenten Project to help Habitat for Humanity

The Time & Talent survey was distributed in late January. If you have not completed one you may pick on up in the church office.

Thank you to Leon Fjestad for the snow removal.

Organizing the Rummage/Auction Sale to be held this spring.

Next New Member date is April 12th. Twelve families joined in January.

Planning to update visitor packets.

3 4 5 Alive began in January.

Fund raising continues for upcoming Mission Trips.

Digital recorder has been loaned to Sharon to audio record worship services.

Long-range planning meeting set for Feb. 28th.

Planning for: a Game Night or Scavenger Hunt in March; Golf Outing or Bike Ride in May; All Church Picnic in June.

Serving meal for CAFÉ in April.

Supply coffee & donuts for Sunday morning fellowship.

We are on a mission to fight hunger and poverty. You can help. Sunday, February 3, 2008. "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. In 2007, over 14,600 groups raised over $8 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other helping charities. Sharon Lutheran was one of those groups. In 2007, Sharon Lutheran raised and donated $1, 362.78 and 974 food items to three three groups that feed the hungry (CUP, ELCA World Hunger Appeal and GF ST. Vincent DePaul).

This is 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 3rd, 2008, as you leave worship. This year our collection will again go to CUP right here in our community and to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. You can also bring non-perishable food donations as an offering to help those in need and they will be donated to the local St. Vincent DePaul food pantry. With your help, more dollars will be raised, more lives will be changed, and more young people will experience the joy of serving Christ by serving others. May God bless our gifts.

Sunday, Feb. 10th 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. All are welcome! A special invitation is sent out to our 4th Graders and their families. We will have a great night of music, Bible learning, and share in a wonderful meal together. There is no need to register or pay for this event. Due to the generosity of the community of Sharon Lutheran Church this event is FREE to all participants.

*** 4th Graders should have received a direct mailing of information on this event. If you have not received a letter from Rachael and have a 4th Grader, please contact the education office. Thank you! ***

Quilting has resumed after the Christmas break and we welcome anyone who would like to join us. The time is spent assembling and tying the quilts, so no experience is needed. Come on any of the following dates and enjoy the satisfaction of making quilts for those who are in need to stay warm. Dates: Feb. 14 & 23 from 9am to noon; Mar. 13 & 29 from 9am to noon; April 10 & 26 from 9am to noon; May 8 from 9am to noon.

A choir specifically designed for Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders. Bright Lights members learn basic music fundamentals and begin the art of creating a beautiful singing tone. Their choir experience will be in an atmosphere where they are recognized as a loved child of God and an important part of our church family. Bright Lights rehearses on Wednesdays from 4:45 - 5:15 p.m. and sings approximately one Sunday and/or Wednesday per month.

A musical experience for third, fourth and fifth graders. This group focuses on expanding their knowledge of music fundamentals, begin part-singing and explore the use of "hands-on" instrumental accompaniments. Shine! members utilize their musical gifts in a variety of ways throughout the year! Shine! rehearses on Wednesdays from 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. and sings approximately one Sunday and/or Wednesday a per month.

By Grace is for middle school kids and serves as a unique opportunity for youth to create and build relationships with their peers and their church through the arts. By Grace provides experience for musical and spiritual growth, as well as a regular opportunity for service. By Grace determines when rehearsals occur and perform approximately every six weeks. Check bulletin board for rehearsal date and time.

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.

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 at the church or contact the office.

The difference between the YTD budgeted income and expenses/debt service reflects projected cash flow differential within the year. The year end budget for 2008 is balanced.

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.

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 designed to answer common questions about baptism including:

"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.

12-30-07 MADELINE MOLLY LOOK; Jason & Laura Look

12-30-07 MASON TYLER BRENNO; Tyler & Julie Brenno

01-13-08 BLAKE KENTON ANDERSON; Jared & Kadie Anderson

01-13-08 GRETA JEAN BOEN; Chad & Sue Boen

01-13-08 PARKER JOHN NOLTE; Derek & Annette Nolte

In Memory of: Kevin Spaeth, Cynthia Lunn, Bob Snell, Torri Knutson, Helen Marken, John Moosebrugger by Cheri & Dennis Erickson; John Ferguson, by family & friends

In Memory of: Larry Halvorson’s mother and Herman Livingston, by Shirley & Jerry Anderson