RED LODGE COMMUNITY CHURCH, UCC Shalom€¦ · The Endowment Mission is planning the use of the...

Shalom Charles Aurand, III, Pastor Lynette Coleman, Editor

RED LODGE COMMUNITY CHURCH, UCC

Checking in…with Pastor Chuck Sometimes it is hard to know what you’re waiting for. Last night I was sitting in my chair watching reruns from the Westminster Dog Show. Really, I was thinking about waiting. This church waited for a couple of years for a new pastor. I’m waiting for my wife to come and join us here in Red Lodge. She is waiting for the house to sell in Phoenix. So, yes, we are waiting. But what are we waiting for really? Advent and Lent are both times of waiting in the life of the Church. In advent, we wait for the incarnation of God in Christ on Christmas day. In Lent, we wait for the coming celebrations of the mystery of the resurrection on Easter day. Both Advent and Lent are times of waiting and introspec-tion. It is a period of preparation for the coming reality. Christ is born! Christ is resurrected; He is risen! The church astronomers tell us that what we are waiting in this season of Lent for is the first Sunday following the first full moon of Spring…Easter. But I wonder. Isn’t Easter something more than a date on a calendar? When I read the Gospels and the Letters of Paul, I get a sense that Easter is greater than chocolate eggs and jelly beans. And besides, I can buy candy down on Main Street year round! Perhaps Easter is when we know that the cold of winter will not win. As the days get longer, new life begins to emerge. (I was watching baby calves frolic this past week.) I think Easter is celebrated when we know that we are not dead, but alive! Resurrection is about living in a new way…unbounded by past mistakes, alive with new possibilities to share the love and the welcome of Jesus Christ. Unbounded by a past which is dead and buried, we come alive to seek and build the Kingdom of God in this life—in this community. Maybe putting a date on a calendar isn’t so much about waiting all year for Easter. Perhaps that date on the calendar is shouting… “You’ve waited too long already. Start now and begin living the resurrection which is yours already through Christ our Lord.” Amen.

If you would like to bring a lily in honor or in memory of someone special to you, please give the information to the church office

If you are willing to help with the Easter Brunch, please, call the church office (446-1444), Lynette Coleman (446-1420) or Dixie McCampbell (446-2424).

People among us to remember…. ◊ Esther Castagne, Kenneth Glantz, Sheila Seiffert at Cedar Wood Villa. ◊ Ruby Hyvonen, Elsie Normile, Shirley Gabrian, Joann Martin in The Willows ◊ Lenny Ecker in Tender Nest, Billings ◊ Betty Waters in Laurel ◊ Tootie McKenzie now in hospice care at West Park ◊ Marklyn Lynn at St. John’s Lutheran, Laurel ◊ Harold Van Heuvelen in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Please keep in your prayers…. ◊ Continuing prayers for those family members and other friends needing our prayers, including: Mencel Carey, Pam Nell, Joann Pim, Darcy Cassidy, Ginny Robertson, Debbie Simmons, Nick Frankos, Amy Baker, Richard O’Neill, Kathy Barrow, Stephanie Skinner, Dana Duell, Debbie Norby, Judy Prinkki, Lyle Hamilton all with cancer ◊ Others with on-going health issues: Jon Metcalf, Nita Ferguson, Don Hardy, Elsie Wilson, Nicholas Price, Jim

Glenn, Nathan Green, Sheila Seiffert, Agnes Cruse, Daisy Nichol, Elvira Lindsay ◊ Peace on Earth

DEACONS FOR MARCH

Martha Sobral (425-0327)

Betty Brekhus (446-2307)

Loretta Sironen (446-2058)

Greeters

March: 6 Kathleen Normile, Debbie Tomicich & Susan Beard 13 Beth Graham & Family 20 Lew & Diny Gumper 27 Wayne & Colleen Stevenson

April: 3 Tom & Coeta Rieger 10 Shirlee Quinn & JeanAnne Bullock 17 Audrey Clark & Denis Elo 24 Jodie & Judy Christensen

(If you are unable to greet when listed, please, trade or find a substitute.)

Sunday, March 13

Heidi Forehand 3/1 Dixie McCampbell 3/1 Alan Goldin 3/2 Lorna Olson 3/2 Jeni Born 3/8 Gordon Gallagher 3/8 Wayne Tomicich 3/8 Ruth Brown 3/10 Elizabeth Hellerud 3/10 Sarah Nessan 3/11 Gina Herbert 3/12 Jason Sironen 3/12 Dave Ritter 3/14 Trish Hilderman 3/15 Teresa Hauge 3/17 Josh Henigman 3/19 Dave Judd 3/19 Mark Schubert 3/19 Al Miller 3/20 Leah Gallagher 3/22 Ruby Hyvonen 3/22 Mencel Carey 3/23 Mary Channell 3/24 Tricia Decker 3/24 Jamie Ortner 3/24 Jackie Noe Galloway 3/25 JC Graham 3/26 Harold Van Heuvelen 3/30

Jerry & Betty Brekhus 3/8

Friday, March 4, 2016

Free

CONCERT

March 13, 2016

3:00 p.m.

Red Lodge Community Church

Featuring:

Billings Symphony Top Brass

Easter possibilities

The message of Easter is not only that Christ is risen, not only that suffering is not the last word, not only that God gives new life, but this: Nothing is impossible with God.

—The Rev. James Martin, S.J.

On Monday, February 22nd, services were held for

Dottie Ecker Her infectious smiles and hugs (and hats) will long be remembered. Our sympathies to her family and friends.

Proposal for Disbursement of

Hazel Chamberlain Endowment Income _________________________________________________________________ Person/Committee presenting proposal ___________________________________________________ Proposal description and rational: (A letter may be attached) COST: CATEGORY: (i.e. Mission & Outreach, Education, Church Facilities, Youth, etc.) ____________________________________________________________________ Please return proposals to the Endowment Committee mailbox by March 31, 2016.

Thank you, The Endowment Ministry

The Endowment Mission is planning the use of the Hazel Chamberlain Endowment Fund income to disburse in 2016. We need suggestions as to how best spend the $14,029 that is available for disbursement this year. Funds can be spent for local Church use, community philanthropies and national and world wide mission. Your input is important to the decision making process. Our committee will review your recommendations and allocate them to our desig-nated categories which are Mission and Outreach, Internal Church Ministry and Facility Management Reserve. The Endowment Mission will present its suggestions to the Church Council for approval and disbursement.

Please consider prayerfully how to most effectively spend these funds and use the accompanying form to share your thoughts. Forms must be returned to the church office by March 31, 2016.

Thank you for your help, Dixie McCampbell

Red Lodge Community Church Council Minutes

February 16, 2016

In Attendance: Dixie McCampbell, Yvonne Jensen, Steve Roi, Sue Roi, Sharon Roat, Pastor Chuck Aurand. The meeting was called to order in the Upper Room at 5:45 pm. The body elected Yvonne Jensen to serve as the Moderator Pro-Tem. Pastor Chuck was appointed by the moderator pro-tem to serve as secretary pro-tem. Financial Secretary Report: Sharon Roat gave the Financial Secretary Report. Dan Miller has tithed $90 from his worship service with us on January 17, 2016. He included a nice letter with his tithe. Head Start paid $3250.00. Sharon will confirm that Head Start knows about the rent increase going into effect this year. The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner on February 9, 2016 raised $500.00 in proceeds serving 90 adults and 5 chil-dren. Net income from this event shall be designated to renovate/replace the sanctuary pews. Food donated as part of the admission to the dinner was given to the Baretooth Cupboards Food Bank. Also, $106.00 was expensed on the replacement of an outside banner which advertised the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner. The banner was purchased by the Women’s Group. Steve requested that Lynette confirm that Workman’s Compensation Insurance has actually been paid this year. Steve will investigate workman’s comp considerations with regard to the day labor employment of Billy Schulyer. Steve will confer with Jay West on these matters. Deacons: Pastor Chuck reported for the Deacons. A combined Worship & Music Committee operating under the di-rection of the Deacons will begin in March. [The membership of this committee include: Maureen Booth, Marty Clague, Jo Ann Eder, Steve Hansen, Becci Larsen, and Pastor Chuck Aurand.] Stewardship: Yvonne reported for the Stewardship Committee. Stewardship Committee has secured a grocery cart from the Beartooth Market for use in collecting groceries to be donated to the BareTooth Cupboard Food Bank. Food will be dedicated monthly and taken to the Food Bank. Facilities Management: Steve Roi reported for the Facilities Management Committee. Thirty-two items were dis-cussed and prioritized at their last meeting. These items were a mixture of maintenance and new projects. Personnel: Steve Roi reported for the Personnel Committee. Annual contracts were issued and signed for the church accompanist and the choir director. Documents are currently on file. Pastor’s Report: The pastor reported that this first month has gone very well. The pastor also reported that in a review of our technology needs that the church will need to explore new options with regard to our Church Manage-ment Software. We currently have two software packages in use. One of them is being depreciated and will be unsupported by the end of March. The pastor suggested that a Task Force be appointed by Council to investigate our CMS needs and to make recommendations at our April meeting. Yvonne made a motion that such a taskforce be established with 4 or 5 members with Jay West appointed to make the selection of members. This was seconded and passed. Endowment: Dixie McCampbell reported for the Endowment Committee. The endowment currently has $365,000 in funds deposited. The Committee will review the fund, especially with respect to the Second Mile Giving. The Com-mittee has $14,029 to disperse from 2015. Concluding Items: Yvonne reminded us all that we need to recruit a Vice-Moderator and a new (male) Deacon to serve on the board. Our next meeting shall be held on March 8, 2016 at 5:30 pm in the Upper Room. There being no other business, we adjourned at 7:00 pm. Respectfully Submitted, Pastor Chuck Aurand

Thirty-four quilts were delivered recently to St. Vincent’s

hospital. They were received with much gratitude. We would

like to encourage you to join us in this worthwhile ministry.

We will be meeting the second Wednesday of the month from

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the lower level of the church.

Anyone interested can call Jean Walters, 425-1179, or just

come to the lower level on March 9, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.

RLCC Quilters,

Jean Walters

Knotters welcome!!!

Come join your neighbors in worship and a light supper during Lent:

Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m.:

March 2: Red Lodge Community Church March 9: Messiah Lutheran Church

Unless designated for a specific church, the offerings taken during the community services will go to the Red Lodge Ministerial Association to be used in their community outreach efforts.

Deadline for submissions to the April Shalom is March 21, 2016.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

In 2014, gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing, UCC totaled more than $2.2 million with an additional $1.4 million given for worldwide disaster relief efforts. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Is this not the Gospel? Did not Christ, the Word of God who migrated and “moved into the neighborhood” (John 1:14 The Message), accompany us in our alienation and displacement? Will we make Ruth’s promise our own? We will receive our special offering for One Great Hour of Sharing on March 6, 2016. Will you give to One Great Hour of Sharing?

MARCHMARCHMARCHMARCH

1 Tuesday 1:00 pm BB Quilters

4:30 pm Deacons

2 Wed. 6:00 pm Lenten Worship & Supper Lenten Worship & Supper Lenten Worship & Supper Lenten Worship & Supper

at RL Community Churchat RL Community Churchat RL Community Churchat RL Community Church

3 Thurs. 7:00 pm Facilities Management

7:00 pm Worship & Music Committee

5 Sat. 9:00 am Choir

6 Sunday 10:00 am Worship

1:00 pm Lenten Study

7 Monday 9:30 am Great Books

10:30 am Stewardship & Mission

8 Tuesday 5:30 pm Church Council

1:00 pm BB Quilters

9 Wed. 1:00 pm Quilters

6:00 pm Lenten Worship & Supper

at Messiah Lutheran

12 Sat. 9:00 am Choir

13 Sunday 10:00 am Worship

1:00 pm Lenten Study

3:00 pm Billings Symphony Top Brass

Concert

MARCHMARCHMARCHMARCH

14 Monday 9:30 am Great Books 15 Tuesday 1:00 pm BB Quilters

7:00 pm 4-H

19 Sat. 9:00 am Choir

20 Sunday Palm/Passion Sunday Palm/Passion Sunday Palm/Passion Sunday Palm/Passion Sunday

10:00 am Worship

1:00 pm Lenten Study

21 Monday 9:30 am Great Books

24 Thurs. 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Worship

26 Sat. 9:00 am Choir

27 Sunday EasterEasterEasterEaster

8:00 am Worship

9:00 am Brunch

10:00 am Worship

Brunch

28 Monday 9:30 am Great Books

MarchMarchMarchMarch

CALENDARCALENDARCALENDARCALENDAR

SHALOM

RED LODGE COMMUNITY CHURCH

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

308 S. BROADWAY

P.O. BOX 786

RED LODGE, MT 59068

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

HOW TO REACH RED LODGE

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Church Phone: (406) 446-1444 Church Address: 308 S. Broadway Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 am PO Box 786, Red Lodge, MT 59068-0786 Email: rlcchurch@bresnan.net Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Pastor: Charles Aurand, III cell: (406) 426-4201 email: rlccminister@gmail.com