Liz will insert a cover page

A MESSAGE From Pastor Tim

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The Season of Lent is upon us. We journey with Jesus for 40 days in prayer, devotion, and fasting. Some people give something up as they center on God’s goodness and grace, while

others add more caring and sharing into their daily routine. We hope you will worship God with us Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings during Lent.

Our midweek worships will feature videos from The Skit Guys on dramatic retellings of Christ’s ministry leading up to his crucifixion. The videos will bring us from Ash Wednesday to Good

Friday, focusing on John the Baptist, Simon Peter, Temple Cleansing, Nicodemus, God’s Voice in the Thunder, Palm Sunday, Peter’s Denial, & Nobody but Jesus.

Blessings to you in your Lenten Journey. Pastor Tim

Our Mission Jamaica Team thanks you for all of your prayers and support.

We had a great trip and made a difference in the lives of 40 wonderful Jamaican boys.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Have an Announcement?

If you or a church group/committee has an an-nouncement to be shared in the newsletter, please let us know by the 20th of each month.

We are active on social media! Be sure to follow us: Search on Facebook: First Lutheran Church of Amery, WI

& on Instagram: @flcamery

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Christian Women’s Connection Will meet Monday, March 16 at 11:30 am at Church of St.

Joseph (255 10th Avenue, Osceola). Kymberly Nyborg speak

on “God’s Extreme Makeover, and Bob & Lee Olson of The

Cobbler Shop in St. Croix Falls will also speak. Reservations

due by noon on Tuesday, March 10th to Shirley at 715-483-

1216.

Thanks from W/ELCA Ruth Circle The Ruth Circle of WELCA would like to thank all the women

who gave to the No Bake Bake Sale. We were able to give

$100 to the following organizations: Salvation Army, North-

woods Homeless Shelters, CRA (Community Referral Agen-

cy) and Luther Point Bible Camp.

Bingo & Soup Night of Fellowship | March 22 Come for a night of family fun! All ages are welcome. We’ll

have soup & lite treats, and non-cash prizes for Bingo!

Sign Up for Summer Camp There are tons of opportunities for both kids and families at

Bible Camp! We offer camperships for those who attend

Luther Point or Wapo Bible Camps. We are a member of

Luther Point, so you’re eligible for member discounts, too!

Visit flcamery.org/links for bible camp info & registrations.

Lent begins February 26th Join us on Wednesdays throughout Lent! 5:15-6:15 kids

program, 6:00 supper, and 7:00 worship at 7:00.

Holy Week begins April 5th with Palm Sunday.

St. Paddy’s Party | March 13th | K-5th Grades Wait, didn't we just have a party? Oh well, is there ever

enough?? From 5:30-8:00 we will get together for a Sham-

rockin' good time! K-5th grade youth are welcome to come

to come. We'll learn a bit about St. Patrick and the Christian

roots of St. Paddy's Day! We'll eat dinner, learn, and party!

Don't forget to invite friends! Sign up by March 6th. Mini-

mum attendees: 10. Free will offering.

How many years have you been a member of FLC? I’ve been a member of First Lutheran for 41 years.

What’s the best part about being a part of our church family? It has very friendly, caring people. What are some ways you are a steward to our church and/or our community? I’m part of our Men in Mission group (currently Vice Pres-ident), help with Ushering and delivering food to the Food Shelf, and I fill in and do custodial work. What are some of your favorite activities and hobbies? I enjoy golf, bowling, pickleball, volunteering, and being with family. What’s your favorite Bible verse or story and why? The Christmas and Easter stories. God’s promise to us for eternal life!

Thanks for sharing with us, Marv!

SPOTLIGHT: STEWARDSHIP

Marv Maxon

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YOUTH SPOTLIGHTS: Mateo & Laken Mateo Aizpurua,

3rd Grade

Parents: Amanda & Tony

Grandparents: Chuck & Cheryl Williamson

Favorite School Subject: Math

Favorite Hobbies & Activities: Sports, Cross Country Skiing, Bey-blades, Nintendo Switch

Best Part of Being at Church and Sunday School: Learning about Jesus

Favorite Bible Story or Verse: The Fishermen with Jesus

Favorite Movie: The Lego Ninjago Movie

Favorite Color: Red

Favorite Food: Chicken Nuggets

Thanks for sharing with us, Mateo!

Laken Aizpurua, 1st Grade

Parents: Amanda & Tony

Grandparents: Chuck & Cheryl Williamson

Favorite School Subject: Math

Favorite Hobbies & Activities: Dance, Soccer, Cross Country Skiing, Making Crafts

Best Part of Being at Church and Sunday School: Making Crafts

Favorite Bible Story or Verse: The Christmas Story when Jesus was born.

Favorite Movie: Frozen 2 and The Grinch Fa-vorite Color: Green & Yellow Favorite Food: Ice Cream

Thanks for sharing with us, Laken!

FEBRUARY HIGHLIGHTS

(above/left photos)

Highlights from Mission Jamaica!

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(above) We had a successful meatball dinner! We raised $750 for both Mission Jamaica & our Life Endowment Fund.

(above) Our Hi Leaguers enjoyed a bowling night, and the Sunday School kids had a fun Pajama party!

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Upcoming Events: -Mar 4-Apr 1: Lenten Suppers @ 6, Worship @ 7

-Mar 4: Hi League Serve Lenten Supper

-Mar 11: Youth Serve Lenten Supper

-Mar 13: Help with S.S. St. Paddy’s Party, 5:30-8

-Mar 22: S.S. Field Trip

-Mar 25: Youth Serve Lenten Supper

*Sign up for special events in the app under the Youth>Hi League & Confirmation tabs

**All upcoming events can be found on the app

What do those colors mean? Sunday Confirmation, 10:30-11:00

Wednesday Confirmation, 6:00-7:00

Hi League, 7:00-9:00

Confirmation & Hi League Event/Outing

Mentor or Parent Event FUEL, 6:00-8:00 Hi League Special Event/Outing

Service Opportunity

YOUTH

SUNDAY SCHOOL Upcoming Events: Wednesdays Mar. 4-Apr. 1 during Lent— 5:15 Friends in Faith, 6:00 Dinner, 7:00 Worship

-Mar 1: Lesson—The Good Samaritan

-Mar 8: Lesson—The Good Samaritan

-Mar 13: St. Paddy’s Day Party, 5:30-8:00

-Mar 15: Family Faith 5

-Mar 21: First Communion Class, 9-11

-Mar 22: Faith in Action—Field Trip

-Mar 29: Lesson—Holy Week & Easter

*Sign up for special events in the app under the Sunday School Tab

**All upcoming events found on the app What do those colors mean?

Sunday School, 10:15-11:00

Family Faith 5 Sunday School, 10:15-11:00

Faith in Action Sunday School, 10:15-11:00 Kids involved in Worship, 9:00

Friday Night Party! 5:30-7:30 Other Special Event

Thank You

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FOR SERVING IN FEBRUARY:

-Altar Committee: Wanda Johnson, Glen & Bobbi Clausen, Al & Lou Ann Schock, Del & Collette Ear-ley-Schalz

-Communion Bread: Orrin & Kris Arneson

-Ushers: Glen & Bobbi Clausen

-Lector: Julie Riemenschneider

-Communion Assistants: Linda Tempel, Matt Johnson, Kathy Rasmussen, Gwen Wold, and Ste-ve Osero

-Work Group #3 (Fellowship Servers) led by Rog-er & Gretchen Johnson and Del & Collette Earley-Schalz

-Nursing Home/Homebound Communion: Julie Riemenschneider, Ted Miller, & Elaine Meyer

-Acolytes: David Williamson & Addie Amans

FOR MEMORIAL GIFTS:

-In memory of Boyd Clark: Al & Elaine Root, Larry & Julie Riemenschneider

-In memory of Don Berndt: Steve & Erin Osero

FROM YOUR CHURCH COUNCIL

Financial as of 1/31/2020 Offering Received: $17,765.09

Cash Balance: $160,094.02

Refurbishing/Furnace Fund: This month: $1,507.00 Year-to-date: $1,507.00

ELCA Contributions: This month: $480.00 Year-to-date: $480.00

Scholarship Contributions: This month: $221.00 Year-to-date: $221.00

• March Loose Coins will go to Grace Place in New Richmond; April Loose Coins will go to Northwoods Shelter.

• Successful Meatball Dinner was held on Feb-ruary 9th. Proceeds go to the Sunbeam Boys Home in Jamaica and to the our Life Endow-ment Fund

• Church in Society will hand out Piggy Banks on February 23rd, to be returned on Palm Sunday.

• Furnace fan has been replaced under war-ranty.

• New Stewardship pamphlets will be out soon.

COUNCIL NOTES

FROM ART MOORE, GIDEON:

Dear Pr. Bjorge & First Lutheran, Thank you for the gracious reception your congre-gation extended to me on Sunday when I was privileged to present the Gideon ministry in your church. I want to express my sincere thanks to you and your congregation for your support of the Gideons work. The offering, which was given in the amount of $137, is tangible evidence of the love your congregation has for making the work of God available. This will enable 27 Bibles or 114 Testaments to be purchased and placed.

Sincerely yours in Christ, Art Moore

FROM THE APPLE RIVER QUILT GUILD:

Dear First Lutheran,

Thank you for the use of the Fellowship Hall for our monthly meetings. We appreciate the space, the use of the closet, and the kitchen. We have a large group and enjoy the fellowship of each other every month.

Thank you, from Regis Johnson & all the members of the Apple River Quilt Guild

MEMBER NEWS & UPDATES

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If you would like to share news in The Messenger, please send it to us by the 20th of the month. We’d love to share celebratory news of new grandkids, major anniversaries,

graduations, etc., as well as news about deaths of loved ones, and prayers, etc.

We are a family at First Lutheran and we want to share in your joys and sorrows!

MARCH BIRTHDAYS 3 Johs Bjorge

4 Jason Amans

4 McAdam Smith

6 Elaine Root

6 Chloe Keller

6 Jean Mattakat

10 Neil Pickard

10 Shayne Curtis

10 Sylvie Johnson

13 Andrea Van

Someren

13 Bill Zager

15 Brian Mattison

15 Shawn Barnette

16 Dianne McLeod

16 Emily Kuhn

16 Jasper Johnson

17 Gerri Bieniasz-Smith

19 Anna Bjorge

20 Jodi Peters

20 David Williamson

21 Odin Lee

22 Charles Flanum

23 Rawson Yeske

23 Kent Andersen

24 Patti Andersen

25 Dodie Scholz

25 Jim Dierke

25 Mary Lee

26 Jeff Chelberg

27 Larry Behne

28 Lila Ward

28 Mary Chelberg-

Polfus

28 Lou Ann Schock

28 Tim Crawley

30 Kaylee Waalen

31 Elizabeth Andersen

| CELEBRATIONS SYMPATHIES

MARCH ANNIVERSARIES

CONGRATULATIONS to Martha Heiden on the birth

of great-grandson, Kieran, born on Feb. 19th to

Angie and Jeff Dalrymple.

OUR THOUGHTS & PRAYERS are with

Orrin & Kris Arneson at the death of her brother,

Leslie Leirmo; and with Rick & Gwen Johannsen at

the death of his brother, Robert; with Lou & Kathy

Williamson and their family at the death of her sis-

ter, Mary; with Martha Heiden at the death of her

sister-in-law, Ruth Brozek; and with the entire

Williamson family at Marie’s death.

24 Jim & Pat Anderson

25 Pat & Bonnie Keller

25 Julie & Robin Meyer

27 Tony & Amanda Aizpurua

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH

240 Elm Street West/PO Box 153

Amery, WI 54001 (715) 268-7135

flcamery.org

flchurchamery@yahoo.com

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to know Jesus and to

make Jesus known. John 15

STAFF

Tim Bjorge, Pastor

Karen Christopherson, Secretary

Liz Bowman, Youth Director

Ellen Forrest, Financial Coordinator

Debbie Vincelli & Gwen Wold,

Financial Secretaries

Beth Ray, Music

Julie Hanlon-Johnson, Music

Mick Larsen, Custodian

COUNCIL

Jeff Chelberg, President

Jason Gouker, Vice President

Jean Mattakat, Secretary,

Church in Society

Diane Amans, Youth/Parish Edu.

Joe Cook, Youth/Parish Edu.

Gail Mickelson, Worship/Life, Long-

Range Planning

Matt Johnson, Evangelism

Kathy Rasmussen, Evangelism

Gregg Olson, Property

Linda Tempel, Stewardship

Gwen Wold, Worship/Life/LRP

Steve Osero, Life Endowment,

Stewardship

COMMITTEE & GROUP MEETING TIMES

PROPERTY

The Property Committee

meets the 2nd Tuesday

each month at 8:30am to

dream, brainstorm, and

organize church improve-

ments and maintenance.

Council Representative:

Gregg Olson

EVANGELISM

The Evangelism Com-

mittee meets as needed

to find creative ways to

reach out and serve our

local community.

Council Representative:

Matt Johnson,

Kathy Rasmussen

STEWARDSHIP

The Stewardship Com-

mittee meets as needed to

find creative methods to

maintain and bolster giv-

ing to the church, be it

financially or other.

Council Representatives:

Linda Tempel,

Steve Osero

YOUTH & PARISH EDU.

The YPEC Committee

meets as needed to brain-

storm and develop our K-

12 education and guide

our Youth Director in im-

plementing programming

for all ages.

Council Representatives:

Diane Amans,

Joe Cook

WORSHIP LIFE

The Worship Life Com-

mittee meets as needed

to discuss various ways to

enhance our worship ex-

perience and to guide

Pastor to help fulfill con-

gregational needs.

Council Representative:

Gwen Wold,

Gail Mickelson

CHURCH IN SOCIETY

The Church in Society Com-

mittee meets monthly to

identify ways in which the

church can serve our global

community, and to bring

awareness to parishioners

regarding outreach opportu-

nities.

Council Representative:

Jean Mattakat

LONG-RANGE PLANNING

The Long-Range Planning

committee meets as need-

ed to consider and direct

the future of our congre-

gation.

Council Representative:

Gail Mickelson,

Gwen Wold

NOMINATING

Past council members

nominate parishioners to

serve on church council.

New council members are

elected in October at the

Annual Meeting. Current

Members: Terry Forrest,

Lee Jones, Shari Johnson,

Mary Lou Wold, Orrin

Arneson, Sally Pickard

TASK FORCES

Task Forces are created by

a committee for the pur-

pose of researching, plan-

ning, and realizing larger

projects within the church.

Current Task Forces:

None

RUTH CIRCLE

Meets at 9:30 in the

North Classroom every

third Thursday. All women

welcome!

MEN IN MISSION

Meets for a steak dinner

and meeting in the

Fellowship hall the first

Wednesday of the

month at 6:00.

All men welcome!

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Meets every Tuesday at

7:30 in the North Class-

room. All women welcome!

BIBLE STUDY

Meets every Thursday at

8:00 in the North Class-

room. All are welcome!

QUILTERS

Meet every Thursday

morning from 8:00-11:00.

All are welcome!

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Lent 1

9am Worship

10:15a Sunday

School

2 3

7:30am Women’s

Bible Study

11am Pastor @

Evergreen

4

6pm Supper

7pm WORSHIP

Evening Hi

League

5

8am Bible Study

8:30am Quilters

7pm Al Anon

6 7 Turn clocks ahead 1 hour before going to bed!

8 Lent 2

Daylight Savings

Time begins

9am Worship

10:15a Sunday

School, Choir

9 10

7:30am Women’s

Bible Study

8:30am Property

9a-6p WIC Clinic

11am Pastor @

Evergreen

11

10am Church in

Society

6pm Supper

7pm WORSHIP

7:45 Church

Council

Evening Hi

12

8am Bible Study

8:30am Quilters

9:30am Ruth

Circle, Wanda

Johnson hostess

7pm Al Anon

13

5:30-8pm Sunday

School (K-5th

grade) Paddy’s

Day Party

14

15 Lent 3

9am Worship

10:15a Sunday

School, Choir

16

6-10pm ARQG

17

7:30am Women’s

Bible Study

11am Pastor @

Evergreen

18

6pm Supper

7pm WORSHIP

Evening Hi

League

19

8am Bible Study

8:30am Quilters

7pm Al Anon

20 21

9-11am First

Communion

Class

22 Lent 4

9am Worship

10:15a Sunday

School, Choir

4-6pm Family

Bingo & Soup

5:30pm Worship

23 24

7:30am Women’s

Bible Study

11am Pastor @

Evergreen

25

6pm Supper

7pm WORSHIP

Evening Hi

League

26

8am Bible Study

8:30am Quilters

7pm Al Anon

27 28

29 Lent 5

9am Worship

10:15a Sunday

School, Choir

30 31

7:30am Women’s

Bible Study

11am Pastor @

Evergreen

First Lutheran Church, Amery, March 2020

Altar Committee: Wanda Johnson, Glen & Bobbi Clausen, Al & Lou Ann Schock,

Del & Collette Earley-Schalz Lector: Shayne Curtis

Ushers: Shayne & Dave Curtis & family

Communion Bread: Gary & Vicki Ganje

Communion Assistants: 1 Jean Mattakat & Jason Gouker; 15: Linda Tempel &

Matt Johnson

Work Group: Group 4: J&J Buss, G&V Ganja, L Millermon, D&D Scholz

Nursing Home/Homebound Communion: Mary Chelberg-Polfus