Mess iah Mes s enger

Messiah Lutheran Church

April, 2016

Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rev. Susanne Smith Youth Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Benz Organist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hal Morton Choir Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gloria DeVilbiss Administrator/Bookkeeper . . . . . . . . . .Dennis Wohlers Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Toni Landon Adult Ministries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Peace Smith Facilities . . . . . . Jerry & Kay Claussen, & Matt Mitchell Nursery Attendant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley Gerst Preschool Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margie Gerst, Director Aubrey Gerst, Deb Jensen 4th Year Seminarian/LSTC. . . . . . . . . . . . .Dione Miller 2016 Council Members: Joel Hanger-president, Mark Smith-vice-president, Steve Sanders-treasurer, Joanne Mohr-secretary, Deb Brinkley, Joy Shah, Christa Ruther, Carm McBeth, Dan Wiedemeier, Judy Stewart, Marcia Taeger, Rich Miller, Doris Speer, Roger Hatteberg, John Larson

Inside this issue:

April Happenings and

Congregation Council motions . . . . . . . . .2

Donations list for Homeless Shelter

& Preschool News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

From the Pastor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Youth Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Scheduled to Serve,

Birthdays & Anniversaries . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Staff and Council Members at Messiah

First Communion Class of 2016 Left to right, back row: Kaydence Jochims, Preston Jochims, Hadley Johnson, Jacob Dittner, & Pastor Susanne. Left to right, front row: Katelynn Newberry, Caroline Wolf, Makalah Peterson, Eli Gerst, & Lomayiani Lotegeluaki. First communion was on Maundy Thursday, March 24th.

FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY AT MESSIAH

Messiah’s administrator, Dennis Wohlers, is teaching Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University for us on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the social hall beginning Monday, April 25. Financial Peace University is a biblically grounded process for getting out of debt and becoming financially independent.

This class is sponsored by Messiah’s stewardship committee, and you may preview the topics on Dave Ramsey’s website. To sign up for the class, please contact Dennis Wohlers in the church office.

COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS— March 15, 2016

NOTE: Due to length of reports only highlights are provided here. Full reports and minutes of council meetings are available in the office and on the council bulletin board in the hallway.

MOTION to hire Matt Mitchell to mow the grounds. MSC MOTION 2 requests for use of facilities were ap-proved. MSC

SERVICE AND WITNESS

BE A PART OF MESSIAH’S OUTREACH in provid-ing meals once a month to HOSPICE HOUSE on the second Thursday of each month. A sign-up sheet is available in the narthex. If you should have any questions, please contact Ruth Gaudian at 754-5956.

TAKE AWAY HUNGER (formerly Kids Against Hun-ger) will be packaging on Saturday, April 9th with Messiah scheduled at 11 a.m. Please sign the sheet in the narthex if you plan to help.

TEACHING AND LEARNING

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS are available in the narthex and church office for high school seniors and college students. The scholarship applications must be renewed each year. Completed forms are due April 1st. Messiah offers scholarship for mem-bers of the congregation who have been accepted into accredited institutions of higher learning. The undergraduate scholarship program includes accred-ited non-degree programs and technical training.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT FORUM April 3: Our Community: Bob Fleming presents:

The Burlington City Council April 10: Our Community: Marcia Wiedemeier

presents: What is P.E.O.? April 17: Our Community: Rochelle Spanner

from Lunning Funeral Chapel presents: End of Life Planning

April 24: Our Community: Dan Wiedemeier pre-sents: What’s next for Highway 61?

SUMMER CAMP AT EWALU - Registration is underway. There are camps available for 1 graders through high school and even a camp for the whole family! For more information, contact Kelly or Camp EWALU.

COMMUNITY AND CARE

WEEKLY CHURCH UPDATES We would like to keep the congregation informed about what’s hap-pening at church with brief email updates. If we don’t have your current email, please send it Toni at messiah2411@gmail.com.

TUESDAY NIGHT CHURCH LEAGUE: Single games, possibly some doublehead-ers, starting Tuesday, April 26. Minimum of 14 regular season games and a double elimination play-off tournament. If you are

interested in playing, please contact team manager John Larson at jflarson114@gmail.com. Come support the ‘saved by grace’ team!

AL-ANON SERENITY GROUP - 3rd Year Anniver-sary Celebration Come join with us for coffee and desserts on Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at noon at Messi-ah. For more information, contact Sue D. at 319-759-9042 or Lori M. at 319-572-4398.

ABIGAIL CIRCLE has changed their meeting to 2nd Monday evenings, 6:30 p.m. Abigail Circle uses the Bible studies in the WELCA ‘Gather’ magazine. You may take a copy of Gather magazine from the table in the church entryway. April meeting is Monday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. at Marcia Taeger’s home in West Burlington. May meeting is Monday, May 9, 6:30 p.m. at Marge Classen’s cabin, across the river off the Carman blacktop. You may get directions from Marge at 319-752-2962.

PASTOR WAYNE WEISSENBUEHLER is a baseball nut, who knows every player and statistic in the game. He needs a companion to take him to Burlington Bees home games, and he has an extra season ticket to share. Interested? Talk to Pastor Susanne: she works a lot of evenings and is not a baseball fan…….

MISSING IN ACTION: We can’t find one of our music stands, and about ten of our acolyte robes. Do you have any idea where they might be?

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The women of Messiah are invited to the Ladies’ Social Hour, a once-monthly get-together at 5:30 p.m., Friday, April 15, at Mi Pueblo Real on Division St. Conversation and companionship, and a little relaxation. Want to know more? Call Peace Smith at 319-371-1262.

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DONATIONS FOR THE BURLINGTON AREA HOMELESS SHELTER Social Ministry is again asking members of the congregation for donations of items as well as monetary dona-tions for the Burlington Area Homeless Shelter during April. Donations of items can be placed in baskets at the entry doors of the sanctuary. Checks (made out to Messiah Lutheran Church) or cash can be placed in one of the envelopes in the pew racks. Remember to put your name and the memo “Homeless Shelter” on the special envelope. Below is a list of items needed at the Burlington Area Homeless Shelter. 1. Paper products a. Toilet paper b. Paper towels c. Paper plates d. Freezer bags (quart or gallon) 2. Cleaning supplies a. Trash bags b. Dish soap c. Liquid laundry soap d. Dryer sheets e. Air freshener f. Floor cleaner 3. Coffee, coffee creamer, and coffee filters 4. Gift cards to be used for milk or other perishable items 5. Bus tokens

Messiah Preschool News Greetings from the Children’s Wing of the church. Our Preschool Logo is “Shaping Futures” and our Mis-sion Statement is “Through Faith Based Education”. Both reflect our teachings and our purpose. The seeds of learning that have

been planted in the children can now shine with all their accomplishments and growth as we are busy conducting conferences with our preschool parents. The children have grown in so many ways this school year both physically and academically. Soon we will be enjoying some end of the year celebrations. Promotion and Graduations are scheduled for May. The chil-dren have been so excited to see Spring allow though it tends to fade on every other day! Our children like to play and learn inside but outside has so much to offer too! We are lean-ing about weather both good and bad. We have visitors and field trips lined up to go along with their learning. Gina Hardin from the Emergency Management comes and reads with the children about weather and preparation for “bad” weather. She also makes a “Pet Tornado” for them to take home and continue the safety conversation with their parents of what to do in bad weather. We will be visiting the Recycling Center to learn about where does the “other” trash go? The Firemen will come and visit us again and bring the smoke house along with their other trucks to explore. The 3’s will go to the Downtown Fire Station to see where the firemen sleep and eat when not fighting our fires. Ms. Pat from the Burlington Library and Pastor Susanne will come to read and sing with the children. In the meantime we are taking registrations for children ages 3, 4, and 5. If you would like a registration form or infor-mation about next year’s sessions, please call Ms. Margie (our Director) at 754-7591 ext. 2. The Preschool Board has met and has established our priorities and I look forward to a re-newed interest and support of this wonderful ministry that comes from our wing of Messiah Lutheran Church! As always, thank you for your support of “our” preschool and its mission to Shape Futures. Hoppy Spring!!

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From the Pastor’s desk

A blessed Easter season to you all. During Holy Week, I was chatting with one of our Messiah preschool moms, a Coptic Orthodox Christian. She told me that Orthodox Easter doesn’t come till May 1 this year, and they will abstain from meat until then. So we Lutherans are the early Easter Christians! One of our late Lent treats was a visit on Wednesday, March 16, from Anne Williams, our synod’s discipleship coach. Anne spoke to the supper crowd, and to the confirmation class after vespers. She asked us big questions: Who’s the single most important influence on a young person’s faith journey? And what’s the best way to help a young person grow in faith? Anne affirmed our answers: that many, many people believe that their parents, pastor, Sunday school classes, youth group friends, and grandparents have most helped them grow in Christian faith. When she said that most of us Christians have created the ‘habits of faith’ by the time we’re twelve years old, we agreed with her. Anne said, “The faith community is one of the last intergenerational communities left in America.” Do you agree? Where else do you see a grand mix of old people and young people, women and men, singles and partners, babies and teenagers? School? Work? The hospital? Anywhere else beside the church? Even home? Not really. But in the church, very much of what we do and experience is available to all of us, to do together. Anne says, “Faith is easier to practice together”. Anne is a member, and on the staff of, Holy Trinity Lutheran in Ankeny. In her congre-gation, most grandparents live far away, and the congregation has few ‘extra’ grand-parents to go around. Messiah is more fortunate: many of our grandparents bring grandchildren to the church. I heard from one adopted grandma today: when grocery shopping with her adopted granddaughter, another adult asked the little girl who she was with. And she answered, “My church grandma!” Are we adequately supporting our children and young people in their faith journeys? What’s the best way to help them grow? Christian education programming is part of the design, but we who are adult Christians are even more important. Since we are committed to our congregation’s future, how about we who are grown-up Christians underline at least two of the recommendations below, and commit to doing them in the next year? Pray regularly for our young people, by name. Take a turn teaching Sunday school. (Messiah’s rotation Sunday school program only asks a month’s commitment at a time from teachers.) Invite them to sit in worship with you. Get out of our accustomed pew to sit with our young people and help them get to know us. Smile. Ask them questions. Make sure at least five grownups in the congregation call each child by name when they see them. Add your own graceful gift to the list. It’s an Easter thing: Christ is risen, and we are rising with him to new life. God bless you all.

Pastor Susanne

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June 16th-19th @ Grandview College

Des Moines, IA

High School Service Learning Event

High School Ministry

A servant leadership event for high school youth. We will have a day of learning,

service work, games, fun, worship, an evening at Gray’s Lake, and special musical

artist Rachel Kurtz. Registration cost is $150.00. Scholarships available.

Meal Time Prayer Good and gracious God, Thank you for the food we are

about to eat and those we share it with. In your name

we pray. Amen.

Preschool & Elementary Ministry

LIFT is an educational program for children 3 years–6th grade. This program is a joint ministry among the Lutheran churches of Burlington. Our next LIFT is April 10th from 5:00-6:45pm at Trinity Lutheran. Supper is provided. ALL ARE WELCOME.

Jr. High Ministry

Confirmation meets every Wednesday in April.

Each student needs to have 400 points by May 29th.

Youth News

3rd, 4th, 5th Grade Lock-In Friday, April 15th at 6:30pm until Saturday, April 16th at 8am

Bethany Lutheran Church

Join us for games, music, Bible study, fellowship, worship and more!!

What to bring: Bible, sleeping bag & pillow, flash light, PJ’s & clothes for Saturday, and a snack to share.

Friends welcome!

Please fill out a registration form and return it by Sunday, April 10th!

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Scheduled to Serve in April

8:00 SERVICE Communion Assistant: April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Chicken April 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Borden April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marge Classen April 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Julie Bartelt Lector: April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Chicken April 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cathy Borden April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marge Classen April 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dale Bartelt

10:30 SERVICE Ushers: Don Duke (head usher), Paula Ander-

son, Will & Deb Brinkley, Donna Duke Refreshments: April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lorna Miller Communion Assistant: April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joel Hanger April 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chalmer Good April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joanne Mohr April 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Johannsen Lector: April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Darwin Bunger April 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandy Good April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judith Stewart April 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Wiemer Acolyte: April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hunter Vargason April 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Dittner April 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Braden Hayes April 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hunter Vargason Altar Guild: Lynn Sheagren family

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

2 Jeremy Ruther 2 Alex Wilcox 3 Helen Smith 4 Konstance Deuitch 4 Kent Gaudian 4 Katelyn Orth 4 Pam Robinson 5 Paige Johnson 5 Abe Lambert 8 Kiara Plumb 10 Liane Botelho 10 Courtney Brockway 12 Brenda Wischmeier 14 Zac Bietz 15 Shayla Deuitch 15 Katharine Gaudian 17 Barb Bohlen 18 Larry Matteson 19 Jessica Slagle 19 Tyler Tolander 20 Dan Shivapour 21 Randall Simmons 24 Laura Dettman 24 Blake Scott 26 Alex Furnald 27 Narisio Lotegeluaki 29 Steve Myatt 29 Dean Vickstrom 30 Kole Schwenker 30 David Vanerstrom 30 Kristina Weiler

APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

2 Joy and Haridas Shah - 1977 13 Kathryn and Michael Boyle - 1991 24 James and Rebecca Egerton - 1976 26 Jeremy and Christa Ruther - 1997 28 Linda and Don McCabe - 1978 28 Ron and Linda Natzke - 1973

*Let the office know if we have missed your birthday or anniversary. If you prefer not to have your name included in the birthday and anniversary lists, please let us know.

ALTAR

FLOWERS FOR APRIL:

April 3 - Altar flowers are given to the glory of God in honor of Helen Smith’s 90th birthday April 24 - Altar flowers are given to the glory of God in memory of Jack Jacobs by Betty Jacobs and family.

Mission Statement

Welcoming all people to share in God’s blessings by strengthening our commitment to God through prayer, fellowship and service.

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MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH 2411 West Avenue

BURLINGTON, IOWA 52601

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Burlington, IA

52601-1598

Permit No. 360

Return Service Requested

Sunday Mornings Worship 8:00 a.m. Sunday School and Adult Bible Study 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m.

Third Wednesdays Supper 6:00 p.m. Holden Evening Prayer 7:00 p.m.

APRIL 2016

MESSIAH LUTHERAN

CHURCH

Phone: 319-754-7591

Fax: 319-754-7592 E-mail: messiah2411@gmail.com

www.messiahburlington.org

This month -

Landscapers’ work crew: every Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m. Ladies’ Social Hour: Friday, April 15th, 5:30 p.m. at Mi Pueblo Real on Division St. Third Wednesday, April 20: Supper (6:00 p.m.), Holden Evening Prayer (7:00 p.m.) Financial Peace University: Starts on Monday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m. in the social hall