American Lutheran Church LCMC

215 9TH St SE Long Prairie, MN 56347 320-732-2932 americanlutheranchurchlp@gmail.com

americanlutheranchurch.org

ALC Newsletter

In this Issue: A Place to Come Home To…

From the Pastor…. Sunday, June 2nd is Ascension Sunday. It’s the day we commemorate Jesus’ ascension into Heaven. It’s the day

when the disciples saw Jesus go up from the Mount of Olives and return to Heaven

One of the Bible’s greatest truths is that we were not meant for this world alone. We were meant for Heaven – and Heaven is our ultimate home.

But what exactly is Heaven? What is it like, and what will we be doing there? Is Heaven something that only affects our future, or should Heaven make a difference in the way we live

right now? Most importantly, how can we know we will go there when we die?

These are questions every thoughtful person asks, and God has revealed the answers to them in His Word., the Bible.

Jesus mentions Heaven about 70 times in the Gospel of Matthew alone. It appears from the very first verse in Genesis

– “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth:” – to the last reference found at the end of Revelation – “(He) showed me the great city…descending out of heaven from

God” (Revelation 21:10). In fact, 54 of the 66 books in the Bible mention Heaven. Remember, the Bible is our only authoritative source about Heaven.

Shortly before Jesus was arrested and crucified on the cross, He told His disciples that after His death they should

not be discouraged because He would live again. He then assured them he would return to His Father in Heaven to prepare an eternal home for all who would believe in Him. He

said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you.” Then He left this promise: “I am going

there (to heaven) to prepare a place for you…that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3).

Pastor Bill From the Pastor

Summer Worship Schedule 5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan Chaplaincy Golf Scramble Chaplaincy Brats & Hotdog

Feed

Youth & Family Upcoming Events

Drive-In Movie Night

Summer Mission Trip Vacation Bible School

ALCW Events

Summer Salad Supper

August Women’s Outing

ALCW Missions

New 2 U Sale

Summer Shoebox Searches

Regular Features Mission Focus

Service Group

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Calendar

JUNE 2019 Pastor Bill Bakewicz

From the Pastor (Continued)

The Old Testament prophets wrote about Heaven. The Book of Psalms mentions Heaven more than any other book

in the Old Testament. The apostles spoke of Heaven from divine inspiration from the Holy Spirit. The Bible doesn’t tell us everything we would like to know about Heaven, but it

tells us everything we need to know about Heaven while we are here on earth. We should believe what the Bible says

about Heaven and take comfort from its promise that we can spend eternity with Jesus Christ in His heavenly dwelling. If someone asks you about Heaven, you can say with

assurance, “We know that if the earthly tent (body) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house

in heaven, not built by human hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1) What a promise! What a destiny! Heaven is the place where God dwells – it is God’s holy

habitation. He created it, He lives there, and, some day so shall all believers. Moses prayed that God would “look down from heaven,

your holy dwelling place” (Deut. 26:15), and Jesus opened our hearts to the reality of Heaven when He lifted His eyes

and prayed, “Our Father Who art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9) Heaven is occupied by the presence of Almighty God. This makes Heaven the supreme destination for those who long to

worship Him as their Creator, God, Lord, King, Father and Savior.

“Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction…Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a

Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:18-20).

Sincerely,

Pastor Bill

Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

Thursdays at 5:45 p.m.

The 10th Annual Golf Classic fund raiser for the Todd County Chaplaincy

will be held Saturday, July 20th. This will be an 18 hole scramble foursome and the

cost is $60 per golfer, which covers your cart and dinner.

Registration will be at 10:00 am and the shotgun start is at Noon. Dinner at 5:00 pm.

For more information, contact Chaplain Dave

Greaver at 320-304-1052 or Mike Meagher at 320-760-9753.

High5 / Youth & Family

Coming Up: June 1st: Prairie Days Bean Bag Toss 10-5:30; Parade at 6:00pm June 2nd: Youth & Family committee meeting following the 9am worship service June 11th: Summer Salad Supper @ 5:45 June 27-30: Todd County Fair July 15-19: Vacation Bible School July 24th: Drive-In Movie Night

How’s life? Want to talk

about it? Feel free to

contact me…..

Kari Christians (320)533-3021 karichristians@yahoo.com

Save the date!

The annual community churches drive in event will be July 24th @ 7:00pm

at the Long Prairie Drive-In.

Plan to join us for dinner, games, worship, and a movie!

.

Join us in prayer as we prepare for our Summer

Mission Trip to Oklahoma City, OK; July 27-August 4

Are you on Instagram?

Follow along at nextstep_oklahoma

to meet the community

members we will partner with during our time in

Oklahoma

Please pray for the partners in Oklahoma, the Next Step Ministries staff, & these missionaries from ALC:

Ashlyn Christians Gavin Hasse Emma Drum Carlie Pesta

Lara Drum Kari Christians Connor Flan Pastor Bill Bakewicz

Mission Focus

Todd County Fair Stand

Our mission focus for the month of July is our own Todd County

Fair Stand, to be held this year June 27-30. Did you know that American Lutheran Church has been feeding

folks at the Todd County Fair Food Stand since as early as 1967? What an amazing ministry opportunity we have had for so long a time here at ALC.

The mission of the Food Stand is not only to serve food for the body to those at the Todd

County Fair, but to feed the soul as well. The stand serves as an opportunity for each of us to “become fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19) as we are told to do in the book of Matthew, as we also feed the hungry. We have even been able, over the years, to touch the souls of many fair goers

with God’s Word through the open distribution of Bibles, inspirational tracts, and personal witnessing.

If our Food Stand is to continue on into the future, it needs to be supported by the congregation in the form of enough people working different shifts as well as enough people

helping with food donations. A major benefit to our own youth has been the continuous resource of finances from the

fair stand profits to send our youth to summer camps and on mission trips. It has been a wonderful way to “invest in” the lives of our youth.

Since 1967 we have been able to gather the entire American Lutheran Church family

together as a full body in Christ to take our turn sharing together in work and fellowship and, for

many, to meet other members for the first time in a wonderful sharing time of ministry together.

The annual Todd County Fair food stand has served our Lord well as we share in this

ministry to His flock over food for both the body and soul. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to

serve in this wonderful long standing ministry to our fellow Todd county neighbors and for the

benefit of our own ACL youth.

ALCW EVENTS Summer Salad Supper

ALC Ladies the Supper is coming up quickly. Be sure your calendars are marked for Tuesday, June 11 at 5:45 pm.

The signup poster will go up before Memorial Day weekend. Please come and we would appreciate your willingness to bring a salad and/or also help where you

are interested and able. It is so very helpful to the busy committee people if you sign up on the poster so we don’t

have to make time to call and ask you. We would like a good attendance of ALL ages of our ALC women to join in welcoming the women of our community to our church. Be sure to invite friends to join you.

The evenings theme is When Life Gives You Lemons, Throw Them Back and Ask for Chocolate. Lemon or Chocolate? Life can either be sour and sad or it can be sweet and supernatural. You

are going to have so much fun with us that night. You’ll be encouraged to be delighted in Christ! Marnie Swedberg from St. Petersburg, FL; formerly of Minnesota having lived in Warroad the past 3o years is the featured speaker. Marnie is an international leadership mentor, the author

of 13 books, the host of her own radio talk show, a media expert, and a keynote speaker for government, community, business and religious organizations around the world. Fun and fast-paced, yet peaceful and approachable, her history includes fires, floods, a tornado,

car wrecks, business set-backs, burglaries, sinking boat, lightning strike, ambulance rides and more. She models come-back behavior, possibility thinking, and profound faith.

As the founder and director of www.WomenSpeakers.com, the largest online directory of Christian Women Speakers in the world, she connects event planners with speakers from every experience level, fee range, and denomination.

As a public speaker, she presents for large corporations, non-profits and for Christian women’s retreats, conferences, and other programs around the world. As a media personality, she hosts

a #1 ranked Blog Talk Radio talk show and is frequently interviewed for new articles. Learn more at www.Marnie.com.

August Women’s Outing

The ALCW is having an outing Wednesday evening, August 7. All

ALC women are invited, but there are only 20 reserved tickets! We will go to Theatre L’ Homme Dieu for the Plymouth Playhouse production of The Church Basement Ladies, You Smell Barn at 7:30

pm. Tickets are $22.50 each. We will have dinner at Pike and Pint in Alexandria at 5:15 pm. You will be ordering off the menu. The

signup poster is up at church. Ticket money should be given to Jane Olson the ALCW treasurer. Sign up by the end of May. Please indicate if you are willing to be a driver and how many passengers

you can take. We will gather and leave from church at 4:30 pm.

Summer Salad Supper

ALCW MISSIONS

New 2 U Sale

Summer Shoebox Searches

As we continue looking forward to 2019

collection & packing, here are some ways

in which you can make an impact

Don’t wait until October! NEEDED HAVE 400 SOAPS IN WASHCLOTHES 200

100 additional BARS OF SOAP

150 additional WASHCLOTHES

400 TOOTHBRUSHES 160

400 COMBS/HAIRBRUSHES 320

300-400 “STUFFIES” 214

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

500 pencils MANY scissors

Many pencil sharpeners Many notebooks

Many colored pencils, crayons & markers

(Have enough erasers, pencil bags)

CLOTHING ITEMS 800 (have some already)

shirts, pants, shorts, skirts, hats, larger socks

FLIPFLOPS 26

TOYS:

balls, jump ropes, color books, small cars, yoyos

harmonicas,

SPECIALTY ITEMS:

jewelry, hair decoration, craft kits, manicure sets

sewing kits, fishing kits, tools

An Operation Christmas Child collection box will

be in the narthex at church from now until

November in which you may deposit any donations.

If you prefer to make a money donation to help

with shipping & “Greatest Journey” costs, you may

give Jane Olson or Blanche Tirk a check made out

to Samaritan’s Purse at any time during the year.

Be sure to pray for the blessings of a

successful Shoebox season! Sunday School Packing day ~ November 10

EVERYBODY PACKS ~ November 11

NEW 2 U "In-gathering" will be Saturday July 20 through July 27 this year, unless otherwise

arranged, well in advance with a chair-person. Please put your

donations in the designated Sunday School rooms. For easiest access: drop off your gifts during

regular church office hours [office closed Monday's] or call: Deb to

arrange "after hours" donation drop off. 732-4184. Please remember

we can NOT accept: TVs, computers or their components, encyclopedia

sets, large appliances! [DAV has changed their rules and can only accept our left-over: clothing and soft

items now.] As before, we appreciate your gifts of

gently used current style clothing, small kitchen appliances, decorator items, etc.. All "gifts" should be in

working order please! Your TIME and prayers are greatly appreciated as well! Watch for sign up

sheets in the church lobby, to see how you can serve and be involved. As in

the past: ALL pre-sales must be arranged with a chair-person. Please don't hesitate to make contact if

/with any questions, suggestions or concerns. Thank you for YOUR support, which benefits many ALCW

outreach mission projects!

5x5x5 Bible Reading Plan

Got 5 minutes? Invest them in reading your Bible! The “5 x 5 x 5 New Testament

Reading Plan” is designed to encourage everybody at American Lutheran Church (who is old enough to read!) to spend 5 minutes a

day, 5 days per week to the Lord by reading His word. (The other 5 in the name is for the “5 Ways to Dig Deeper” you can use to reflect

on what you’re reading.) If you have found Bible-reading difficult in the past, we encourage you to try again – maybe try a more modern

translation, such as “The Message” which many people find to be in their “heart language”. Or maybe try an audio Bible – available from

many sources. You are welcome to join the group which meets the 2nd Sunday evening of each month to talk about what we’ve read in

the last month (and eat dessert!). This month we’ll meet on Sunday, June 9 at 7:00 PM at church. Copies of the “5 x 5 x 5 Reading

Plan” are available on the table near the office, and you can start anytime during the year – but the sooner the better – the Lord is

waiting for you to listen to Him!

Todd County Chaplaincy Fund Raiser

Todd County Chaplaincy

Brats & Hotdog Feed

Bring the whole family!

All donations go to the help the

Central MN Chaplaincy Program Saturday, June 8th from 1 am – 5 pm

at Coburn’s Grocery in Long Prairie

Bring a donation for Hot Dogs, Brats & a Pop Visit with Chaplain Dave Help the Chaplaincy Program by joining the prayer and/or financial support team in our 12th year.

For any questions about this event call Fran Thomas at 218-851-2377

Our Mission: To be a beacon of God’s love, light, and hope in dark and difficult situations.

Vacation Bible School

hover to zoom

July 15th – 19th 8:45 a.m. – Noon

Ages 4 – entering 6th Grade Register in the Narthex

Service Group 3 – May - June

Service Group Responsibilities:

• Serve for funerals on a rotating basis every 7th Funeral.

• Serve for special events occurring during the two month period.

Group 3 Leaders: Betty Oliver……………. 320-732-3437 Joretta Hinrichs………. 320-732-6025 Group 3 Members: Arenson, Karl &……………………………………..320-815-4663 Beth……………………………… (Cell) 320-500-0904 …………………………….(Home) 320-732-2465 Berscheit, Adam &………………………………….320-533-1382 Ashley…………………………………....320-533-1628 Bodle, Julie…………………………………………..320-808-4957 Bodle, Kyle & Kate………………………………….320-874-0334 Dalton, Connie………………………………………320-533-3232 Drum, Kyle & Toni………………………………….320-732-3974 Duguay, Kari…………………………………………320-491-7025 Fevig, Jon &………………………………………….701-866-3715 Laurie…………………………………………320-859-6901 Hillman, Stan &……………………………………..320-732-6489 Joanne……………………………………..320-766-2793 Hinrichs, Brad & Brenda………………………….320-732-2447 Holmquist, Eugene &………………………………320-766-5678 Amy……………………………………..320-766-5687 Hotzler, Rhea……………………………….…(Cell) 320-808-7086 …………………………….....(Home) 320-732-3311 Klinder, Marlyne…………………………………….320-852-7478 Kuehne, Tom & Bonnie……………………………320-285-3056 Rach, Jeff & Roberta……………………………….320-491-2272 Schoenrock, Dick & Carole……………………….719-371-1226 Warzecha, Shaughn………………………………..320-808-3205 Westerberg, Chris…………………………………. 320-808-8389 Wiegers, Sharon…………………………………….320-732-2663 Young, Jonathan & Joni…………………………..612-270-0268

June

Happy Anniversary 1st Greg & Jammie Hedlund 2nd Pastor Bill & Karen Bakewicz 12th Harlan & Lu Darkenwald 12th Larry & Jodi Eckel 13th Scott & Becky Hillig 14th Bill & Barbara Blair 14th Dave & Christie Ruda 15th David & Liza Hasse 15th LaMoine & Linda Hatton 16th Russ & Jen Olson 17th Larry & Bonnie Alsleben 20th Al & Blanche Tirk 20th Karl & Beth Arenson 21st Larry & Peg Drevlow 21st Gary & Gloria Larsen 21st Stu & Mary Ann Sander 24th Bob & Norma Fox 24th Darrel & Marlyne Klinder 25th Sy & Janie Thole 25th Mike & Lorraine Winge 26th Brad & Sherri Evenson 29th Dennis & Sue Kaneski 30th Leo & Marge Morgan

Happy Birthday 2nd Brandon Roering 4th Dennis Kaneski 5th Adam Berscheit 6th Nettie Pederson 7th Marvin Poegel 11th Jim Ostendorf 12th Cody Marcyes 13th Kim Dols 13th Brenda Hinrichs

13th Justin Paulson 14th Stan Hortness 14th Amanda Kramer 17th Mark Pachan 17th Austin Parker 20th Sira Christians 21st Deidre Flan 22nd Emily Steinert 24th Bernice Petrie 25th Aaron Fearing 25th Julie Schultes 27th Jim Flan 29th Pat Holman

ALC CALENDAR – JUNE 2019

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Prairie Days 11:00am – 5:30 pm Bean Bag Toss Workers

2:00pm – 2:45 pm Dunk Tank with Pastor Bill

6:00pm Prairie Days Parade with American Lutheran Church Float

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

8:00am Praise Team Practice 8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Communion

10:15am Youth & Family Committee Meeting

7:00pm Fair Stand Committee Meeting

7:00pm Sarah Circle Nursing Home Birthday Party

9:00am Staff Meeting 10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

5:30pm Worship Team Practice

7:00pm Trustees Meeting

7:00pm Deacons Meeting

9:30am Food Shelf Committee Meeting

5:45pm Summer Evening Worship Service

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

8:00am Praise Team Rehearsal 8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Baptism

10:15am Missions Committee Meeting

7:00pm 5x5x5 Bible Readers Meeting at the church

9:00am – 9:00 pm Prepare, Serve and Clean Up for Salad Supper

9:00am Staff Meeting 10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

5:45pm Summer Salad Supper

7:00pm Church Council Meeting

9:30am Chapel at Nursing Home

10:15am Chapel at Assisted Living

5:45pm Summer Evening Worship Service with Communion

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Communion

10:15am Board of Education Meeting

6:45pm Sarah Circle Valley View Hymn Sing

7:45pm Sarah Circle Bible Study

9:00am Staff Meeting 10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

4:30pm Audio-Visual Committee Meeting

5:30pm Worship Team Practice

9:30am Esther Circle

11:00am Newsletter Articles Due

5:45pm Summer Evening Worship Service

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

8:00am Worship Team Rehearsal 8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service

9:00am Staff Meeting 10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

3:30pm Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting

Noon – 9:00 pm Todd County Fair Food Stand

5:45pm Summer Evening Worship Service with Communion

11:30am – 11:30 pm Todd County Fair Food Stand

11:30am – 11:00 pm Todd County Fair Food Stand

30

8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Communion

Noon – 4:00 pm Todd County Fair Food Stand