February 2020 Newsletter stlukesgarfield@gctel.com

www.stlukeschurchgarfield.org PO Box 35 Garfield MN 56332

320-834-2285 “Called by the Truth of the Gospel, enlightened by the

Spirit, sent to serve”

Stewardship Moment Our God is a God who works through means. He can and has worked immediately without agency, as the Bible

testifies, but primarily, on the whole and for the most part, our God works through means. He does this not only for all of our earthly needs but also for all of our spiritual needs. He provides for all our needs of this body and life through means. He gives us fathers and mothers to care for us when we are young. Through them, God provides house and home, food and clothing, education and training in the arts and work of this world.

He gives us good government to protect us from harm and danger; He gives us faithful neighbors and good friends to help in times of need and lack. He gives us employers who trade our work for income so that we may acquire the needs of the body. He gives us brains and brawn so that we will have something to trade with those employers for that needed income. This work, which we are able to do only because of what God has provided to us, redounds to the benefit of others. And so, the cycle of God giving through means continues.

He provides for all our needs of our souls. He sent His Son into the flesh to be our Savior. In that body, our Lord Jesus Christ lived the life that God demands of us all – a life we have failed to live because of our sins – and, in that body, He made payment for those sins on the cross, once and for all.

God delivers this forgiveness through the means of His Word and Sacraments. He calls pastors to proclaim, in His stead and by His command that our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. God Himself claims us as His own in Holy Baptism, placing His own name on us in water and Word, igniting faith by the gift of the Holy Spirit. And He gives us His life-giving body and blood to nourish us in this same faith until the end. Our God is a God who works through means.

This is true also of stewardship. This is what St. Paul wrote in Philippians: “I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:18–19).

The gift St. Paul received from the Philippian church is a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. They gave to God. God provided for St. Paul through the Philippians. And the God who loves both Paul and the Philippians will supply their every need according to the riches in Christ Jesus.

St. Luke’s Annual meeting February 9, 2020. Sunday School will be at 9:45 AM and only one worship service at 11:00 AM. The annual meeting will convene immediately after worship and recess for lunch and then resume. The annual report of committees, church council, election of church council members, and LCMC convention delegates and the proposed budget for 2020 will be acted upon. All active confirmed members of the congregation are encouraged to attend.

Learning Opportunities

Women’s Bible Study meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday’s from 1-3 p.m. We are studying 1 Peter. We are talking about courage in times of suffering, that Peter addresses in this Book of the Bible. Come join us!

Men’s Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 9:45 a.m. “The Mission of Jesus” All men are invited.

Thursday morning Mighty Women of Prayer at the Alex Covenant Church at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday Morning Bible Class at 9:00 a.m. “Forgiveness Within The Family”

Sunday Morning Bible Class at 9:45 a.m.

Sunday Evening Bible Class at 6:30 p.m. “Spiritual Realms” The focus of this study is on the reality of life and death, heaven and hell, and steadfastly affirms that Jesus Christ is at the center of all things. Please plan to join us Sunday nights!

Annual Waffle Feed set for February 23rd from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM Help is needed for this event, please contact Mary Olson. Sign up sheets on the table in the fellowship hall. All proceeds of the waffle feed are given to local missions approved by the church council.

J.A.M. (Jesus and Me) Youth Group (grades 4-7)

JAM Youth meets Feb. 5th and will be working on their valentine cards for their Faith Partners. The Prodigal Son will be our Parable Devotion for the evening. March 6-7 is our overnight at church and we will be serving April 1st Lenten Supper. Cemetery clean up in May. There has been GREAT attendance this year and I thank the youth and their parents for being so faithful. God is good! All the time!

Stephen Ministry Stephen Ministry has begun a new class meeting once a week until the end of May. We have a great need for Stephen Ministers to listen and walk with those going through difficult times. If you have a 'teaching gene', you could be part of our Stephen Leader team. Being a Stephen Leader only requires 1 week of training. This training is offered 6 times a year in different locations around the country. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please talk to Kathy. Your faith and God's guidance can help more than you know! Any questions, please contact Kathy Hollenbeck, 612-201-3535 or kathy.j.hollenbeck@gmail.com.

Quilters meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. Lots of fun!

Youth Calendar: February, 2020 5: JAM and Confirmation, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 9: SS will meet at 9:45 a.m. 12: Confirmation, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 16: SS Singing at 8:30 Worship S.O.S. Event 2-4 p.m. Meet @ church @ 1:30 for rides to Knute Nelson, all 7 – 12th graders welcomed to participate! 19: Confirmation, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. 26: No Confirmation: ASH WEDNESDAY service, 7 p.m.

Lent 2020: Faith Family and Focus Taken from Ephesians 4:14-16: “…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Paul speaks about growing up into Him who is the head, Jesus Christ. As a church family we are called to nurture our children in the one true faith. As we are all children of God, we need to help each other to mature spiritually, applying God’s Word to our daily lives, using God’s Word to make good decisions, and setting a godly example for not only our children, but for the world in which we live. Lent begins on February 26, 2020 with Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 p.m. Worship services will focus on family life in Christian home. Please come! Invite others! Let’s be the church Christ has called us to be! Lenten Supper dates available: March 4 March 18 March 25 Dates already spoken for: March 11—Men in Mission, April 1—JAM Youth

Upcoming Confirmation Class Weekend at I-Point Bible Camp, March 6-8. We will leave Friday late afternoon, arrive for the evening meal and activities, and arrive home around 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. There are plenty of outside activities plus the famous pool tournament play-off! The topic of study will center around The Apostles Creed plus other biblical insights from Pastor Kristian Anderson, Triump Lutheran Brethren Church, Moorhead, MN. This retreat is a great opportunity for youth to form Christian friendships! Jesus is the focus and the message of the Gospel is clearly taught! Super fun!

Called2: Love July 21-24, 2020 Des Moines IA Grand View University If you’ve ever wondered what God’s call on your life is, or wanted to gain a better understanding of what God might be calling you to do in your local community, you’re not alone. Join other students and youth leaders from Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ at our summer youth event and find out! The theme of this next event in the "Called 2:" series is Called 2: Love, focusing on what it looks like to truly love God, ourselves, and one another. Event Details: The event is designed for high school students completing grades 8-12. Youth leaders and adult chaperones are also needed to attend. The event includes worship, great music, service projects, breakout sessions, and teaching on love, leadership, and ministry. Participants will also have the chance to connect with other high school students and youth leaders in LCMC. For our service project this year, we will be teaming up with Meals from the Heartland to help feed the hungry. Everything at this youth event is designed to not only empower youth ministry in the local church, but also encourage students to consider the vocation of ministry. Registration is online only and limited to the first 243 youth and adults who sign up. The cost to attend is $325 per person and includes food, housing, and all materials. A deposit of $50 per person is due at the time of registration. See Pr Sue. Registration will need to be done soon as event fills up fast!

2020 SUMMER BIBLE CAMP REGISTRATION You will be receiving information letters for all those completing grade 3 and above at Lake Beauty and I-Point. Keep on a look out!

Coffee Servers Thank you for serving! Please allow a full hour of fellowship time with clean up not to begin until 10:30 a.m. The name in bold italic should always contact the others to let them know they are serving. If you have any questions, trade places or do not want to be included in serving, please contact Brenda Haak at 766-3114. Each person should bring 4 dozen treats AND help serve during coffee hour. Using the Bunn coffee brewer; make 1 pot of regular and 1 pot of decaf. If more regular is needed, a ½ pot can be brewed. (Please make sure it is cleaned after being used.) Make 5 pitchers of juice/kool-aid and 2 pitchers of water, if possible the day before so it's cold.

February 2nd: Sherry Witikko, Mary Wussow, Rondi Wussow, Alicia Morrissette 320-305-3291 808-8875 834-3180 320-219-9398 February 9th: ANNUAL MEETING – NO COFFEE - FEBRUARY SERVICE GROUP February 16th: Annie Chlian, Anne Gran, Beth Krafthefer, Bonnie Dillon 491-0202 762-2684 701-361-7191 491-7113 February 23rd: WAFFLE FEED March 1: Brenda Buse, Brenda Haak, Cari Eddy, Carley Noetzelman 834-2028 766-3114 834-2679 701-205-2049 March 8: Carol Juul, Christie Converse, Cindy Winter, Corliss Nelson 218-770-4143 852-7245 304-4899 834-2615 March 15: Dawn Voit, Diane Richter, Fay Erlien, Florence Chlian 815-3754 808-4646 834-2645 834-2444 March 22: Georgia Nelson, Holly Carlson, Holly Chlian, Jan Dyrdahl 760-3455 808-4851 834-2465 834-2897 March 29: Jill Erickson, Jill Johnson, Judy Styve, Julie Fenlason 320-491-1225 815-6679 320-219-7761 834-5177 Just a Friendly Reminder If you’d like to use the church for an event, it must be scheduled through the church office. Baptisms must also be scheduled through the church office and weddings must be schedule with Pr. Davidson and the church office.

Winter Weather Announcements … will be aired on the following radio stations: KXRA 1490 AM, KIKV 100.7 FM and KBHL 103.9 FM. If possible, cancellations will be on our website. During the weekdays, if school is let out early or cancelled for the day, no activities will be held at the church that afternoon or evening. If Sunday Worship is cancelled it will be made before 7:00 AM on Sundays by the Executive church council members.

“In God We Trust” is our national motto-it has been since Congress declared it in 1956. Besides, our Founding Documents grant every citizen the right to freedom of religion.

Excerpts from, IFApray.org, Special Report article: Is God Welcome in our Schools? Praying for the religious freedom of students, teachers, and parents in the largest government network: public schools. With over 85% of the students in this country enrolled in public schools, our government-led education system has a massive impact on our kids and the future of our values. We have been led to believe that public schools are “hands off” for Christians-but not so fast. There are huge challenges in today’s public schools, but there are also huge opportunities. In this special report we want to focus on the ways that we can partner in prayer and action to support students’ teachers’ and administrators’ religious freedoms, and how using those freedoms can bring great impact on our public schools. Good News Clubs shares the statistic that 80% of those who are Christians today came to know the Lord between the ages of 4-14. Their hearts are open, the need is great, and the public schools are full of kids who need Jesus! David Schmus, Ex Dir., Christian Educators Association International, shares three main prayer requests for the body of Christ:

1. Faithfully pray specifically for all of our local educators-even if we have no students in school. Visit the website of your local school(s), print off a list of the faculty and staff and pray regularly for each one by name.

2. Pray that the Christian students in the schools would be bold and courageous in their witness. Pray that they would ask God what he is doing on their campus, and how they can be a part of it.

3. Pray for Christian educators in the schools to take the spiritual authority that they have been given. Pray they would proactively “prayer walk” the halls, pray over their classrooms and invite God’s presence into the school.

Can begin today by PRAYING THESE VERSES: Luke 10:2 Pray for an increase of Christian teachers and administrators in the schools. Proverbs 22:6 Pray that children in the public schools would learn Christian values. Psalm 119:9 May we see a great harvest of young people who come to know Jesus through ministry in our public schools. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Pray that there would be a restoration of biblical values in our public schools.

Need a ride to worship? Call the church office 834-2285 and a ride will be arranged.

February

(please contact the office if your birthday is missing or incorrect)

January Council Update: Estimate for complete AV system makeover is about $11,000 for approval at the annual meeting. The Safety/Security plan overview was presented and will be in the annual report. Suggestion to have only one worship service per Sunday was declined. We will continue to hold two services each week. 2020 proposed annual budget: $262,493, Annual Meeting agenda discussed, and approval of the proposed ballot.

Please note: the treasurer position is not vacant and thus there is no need to have an election for that position. Advertising in the vacationer is to be discontinued. More emphasis on Internet information to be made available.

January 22, 2020 special meeting to accept the resignation of Diane Alveshere as church organist and music director.

Upcoming Events:

February 9 Annual Meeting following the 11:00 worship service. Potluck noon lunch, Feb. service group serving.

February 23 Waffle Feed from 9:30 to 1:00 p.m.

February 26 Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 p.m.

March midweek Lenten worship each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

April 12 Easter Sunday

April 24 Annual Fish Fry

Office Help Needed Help to cover the office for Ev the week of March 9 – 13 from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day. Please call the church office if you’re able to help out.

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is

true.” Søren Kierkegaard

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1

Annie Chlian Jack Morrissette

2 Maddison Lueck Derek Ziemer

3 4 5 Ed Tanquist

6 Harvey Eddy

7 Karen Carlson RuthAnn Schmidt

8

9 Judy Styve Leslie Ziesemer

10 Adam Scofield Steph Wussow

11 12 Shanna Scofield

13 Lorrie Besemer

14 15 Lucas Carlson Sadie Nelson Noah Rieber 16

Brynkley Brethorst McKenzie Northway

17 Justin Haak Skylar Olsen

18 Shelby Feeken Feona Simonson Charlotte Stier

19 20 Nancy Carlson Craig Goemer Michelle Latendresse Kristie Tollefson

21 Cindy Winter

22

23 Casi Giese

24 Becca Lamm

25 Jackson Bell Ruth Burgau Jennifer Dyrdahl Jason Feeken Brady Haak Robbie Juul Mark Winter

26 Lexie Lamm

27 Victoria Christiansen Ashlyn Gabrielson

28 29

February

SUNDAY

March

SUNDAY SS

Oc

tob

eSUNDAY

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 9:00 – 10:30 “Forgiveness

Within The Family” Bible Study

2 8:30 Worship 9:45 Sunday School/ Sr. High/Adult BS 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship 6:30 Bible Class

3 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

4 9:00 –11:00

Quilting

5 9:45 Men’s BS 6:30 Choir Practice

6:30 – 8:00 J.A.M. Youth Group

6:30 – 8:00 Confirmation

6 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

7

Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

8 9:00 – 10:30 “Forgiveness

Within The Family” Bible Study

9 NO 8:30 Worship HC 9:45 Sunday School Sr. High/Adult BS 11:00 Worship HC 12:00 Potluck Meal – Annual Meeting to follow 6:30 Bible Class

10 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

6:30 Parish Ed

11 1:00 – 3:00 Women’s

Bible Study

6:30 Church Council

12 9:45 Men’s BS 6:30 Choir Practice

6:30 – 8:00 Confirmation

13 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

14 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

15

16 8:30 Worship – Sunday School Sings 9:45 Sunday School/ Sr. High/Adult BS 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship 2:00 S.O. S. Event 6:30 Bible Class

17 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

9:00 March

Newsletter Articles Due

18 9:00 –11:00

Quilting

19 9:45 Men’s BS 6:30 Choir Practice

6:30 – 8:00 Confirmation

20 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

21 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

22

23 8:30 Worship HC 9:30 – 1:00 Waffle Feed 9:45 Sunday School/ Sr. High/Adult BS 9:45 Parish Nurse 9:45 Coffee Fellowship 11:00 Worship HC 6:30 Bible Class

24 Pr. Gran’s

Sabbath Day

25 1:00 – 3:00 Women’s

Bible Study

26 9:45 Men’s BS 6:30 Choir Practice

No Confirmation

7:00 Ash Wednesday

Worship

27 8:30

Mighty Women of Prayer at

Covenant Church

9:00 Bulletin Announcements

Due In Office

28 Pr. Davidson’s Sabbath Day

5:00

Wedding Rehearsal

29 3:00

Seidel/Nienaber Wedding

How to Store Up Treasure in Heaven If Christians focus on eternity, speak the truth in love, and build bridges for the gospel, the Holy Spirit will use this chapter of American history to advance the kingdom of God. Rick Warren was right: “The way you store up treasure in heaven is by investing in getting people there.” When we submit our words to the word of God, others will hear God in our words. When we align our actions with God’s revelation, our actions will reveal God to the world. How much treasure in heaven will you store up today?

Always Remember the Source of Your Personal Worth As C. S. Lewis notes, “God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” But so long as God is a Sunday hobby, an option for those who choose to be “religious,” our culture will not and cannot experience the peace and purpose He alone can give.

PO Box 35 Garfield, MN 56332

There is only one relationship that matters… Oswald Chambers said: “There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purpose, and yours may be that life.” You may not know the reasons for which God is allowing your present challenges, but God does. The reasons may never make sense to you on this side of eternity, but one day you will know what you do not know today (1 Corinthians 13:12). And you will know that the God of the universe is also a Father who loves you more than you can possibly comprehend. And let’s remember: The higher the mountain, the harder the climb. But the greater the view when we arrive. Henri Nouwen’s prayer offers us the way forward: Dear God, I so much want to be in control. I want to be the master of my own destiny. Still I know that you are saying: “Let me take you by the hand and lead you. Accept my love and trust that where I will bring you, the deepest desires of your heart will be fulfilled.” LORD, open my hands to receive your gift of love. Here’s the good news: we can “trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock” (Isaiah 26:4). Oswald Chambers was right: “The moment you realize God’s purpose, which is to get you rightly related to Himself and then to your fellow men, he will tax the last limit of the universe to help you take the right road.”