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Things First April 2019

The Newsletter of

First Evangelical Lutheran Church

561 Chestnut Street,

Taylors Falls, MN 55084-1110

651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.com

Dear beloved of God, (as each of you are),

I'm writing in the middle of Lent, and I told a friend earlier that I have a

millenia of ducks to get in a row! And I am beyond certain that I've got it

pretty good. A colleague online has a very young child with a blastoma, and

mom is looking at a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. I've seen your eyes as you

worked hard over providing dinner for our community, or heard

discouragement over the experience of leaving a congregation. I know that

someone just totaled a car recently, and that some of you have faced difficult

losses that I don't even want to think about. And some of you work SO hard

to provide for your families, and still come smiling each time I see you. And

the loneliness that some people in our congregation deal with is deep &

tough. And some of you deal with intractable pain. And you all, for the most

part, keep going.

I have to believe that a great part of that has to do with Easter! Someone

claimed you, and loves you and died for you, and lives for you - and you

keep listening to this Jesus, you keep believing this God who promises to

never let you go, and to never be separated from you. I honestly don't know

how some people who don't hear God's word, know God's love, trust in the

Continued on page two...

2

New Members

QUILTERS

SARAHCIRCLE

COUNCILMEETING

OFFICE HOURS@FELC

Welcome!

SUNDAYWORSHIP

strength of the body of Christ (that

would be all of us, folks!), how they

continue. I suspect that all of us

have doubts at some time, get

discouraged, get crabby, and aren't

fun to be around.

But the God who was resurrected

for you and for me continues to care

for us, to build us into a community

that loves and serves, continues to

help us see how God wants people

to live together, continues to help us

learn to use the resources, talents &

gifts we've been given in order to

make differences for us, and for

others. Let's keep listening to Jesus,

and watching for what God can do

in and thru us! When our story

starts with resurrection, who knows

where else it can go?

Wishing you Easter joy & God's

abiding love,

Pr. Mary Kaye

Continued from page one.

15

Adult CHOIRSCHEDULE

APRILBIRTHDAYS

Ashley Rhoden 04/01 Tristen Agar 04/02 Rod Olson 04/06 Jenni Hansen 04/07 Silas Swenson 04/07 Miranda Tverberg 04/07 Gunner Hasselquist 04/08 Jane Strand 04/08 Ethan Herberg 04/10 Molly Moberg 04/11 Carol Vitalis 04/14 Becky Strand 04/16 Vincent Tverberg 04/16 Amelia Tverberg 04/16 Dustin Vodenka-Reed 04/18 Jolene Erdman 04/19 Joy Buchholtz 04/25 Jeanne Fick 04/26 Loretta Stolp 04/28 Carver Lundholm 04/30

Please contact the church office if there are any errors or omissions. Thank you.

MONTHLYGIVING REPORT

14

Why is the maple

syrup always so sad?

Because

it’s so

sappy!

First Lutheran

Youth

C O N N E C T

I N V I T E

E Q U I P

A:

Q:

FLY Schedule

3

Saturday April 27th: Special Youth Event! Food

Packing for FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN at

Hosanna Lutheran in Forest Lake. Time is yet to be determined. It will be a

morning shift. This is a GREAT service project to be involved in....for ALL ages. Be watching for more information.

Saturday, March 16th Youth Director Michelle and Youth Leader

Jason along with some youth members went

door to door on the properties that are normally

tapped to get permission again for this year!!!

4

Sap Season DO'S & DON'TS Reminders

DO wear BOOTS and warm socks; NO tennis shoes

DO wear GLOVES

DO dress in layers

DO bring plenty of water to drink

DO be respectful of any vehicle you ride in. WEAR SEATBELTS; Drivers know you will have mud and snow on your boots....that is OK. But please take care of any personal trash.

DON'T have your cell phone out at any time while out in the woods working. Michelle will be taking pictures once in a while or will need to be in

communication with Don....so she is EXEMPT!

DON'T get into any kind of horseplay or snowball fights; NOT TOLERATED. (Period)

DON'T ruin people's property and yard; be respectful where you walk so you are not messing up soft ground, flower beds, etc....

DON'T leave any trash; pick up after yourself

DO HAVE FUN! DO talk to other new families and youth coming from Peace Lutheran and get to know them!

DO stay focused and work hard; stay on task; work gets done much faster!! If you have any questions go to an adult or another older youth who has been collecting sap for several years.

LET'S HAVE A GREAT 2019 SAP SEASON!!!

13

Sunday Confirmation Classes

April 7th 10:15am—11:30am

Old Testament Project Presentations

April 28th

10:15am—11:30am

Life Group for HS and College Age young

adults will meet on Sundays

April 7th & 28th

10:15—11:15am

NO LIFE GROUP: April 14th or 21st

Life Group

5th-9th graders & others: Watch for

more info about Summer

Stretch! Info coming out beginning

April, and you have no idea how

much fun this

is! Save June 10-14

for an amazing

opportunity!

Luther Point Bible Camp information for

the summer 2019 programs are available

in the current brochure. We encourage

you to take one from the table under the

mailboxes at church and make plans to

attend one of the many camps offered!!!!!

For more info and to register, visit:

WWW.LUTHERPOINT.ORG

2019 Camp Information is out!

Brochures available at the church!

FELC is a offered a $55 Member Church Discount as well!! Our church offers a New Creation Award for each child in the amount of $50 that can be earned for their camp stay!!!!

12

B o o k s t u d y a t t h e

Lodge! Participants are

reviewing Be the Surprise:

Experiments in Spontaneous Faith

by Terry Esau. If you’re

interested in participating, please

contact PMK or call the church

office so we can make sure you

know about schedule changes and

get you a book!

Meeting time at the Lodge will be

10:30-11:30am on

Wednesdays.

NO DATES FOR APRIL

May 1st, 8th, 15th,

22nd & 29th

We will take a break

for Lent Services

and meet again

after Easter. Stay

tuned for upcoming

dates! Friends & neighbors are

welcome!

Wednesday evening Bible Study will meet on

April 24th from 6:30—8pm. We invite you to

join us for Lent worship on these two

Wednesday evenings, April 3rd and April 10th.

We will meet in May on the 1st, 9th, 15th, 22nd

and 29th!

Lent Worship Schedule

April 3rd & 10th 11:00am Lent Worship 11:30am Soup Lunch

5:30pm Soup Supper 6:30pm Lent Worship 7:00pm Youth Group

April 14th

9:00am Palm Sunday

April 18th 7:00pm Maundy Thursday

April 19th

7:00pm Good Friday Worship At First Baptist Church, TF

April 21st

9:00am Easter Sunday

5

Did you know…….Every Monday, from 4:00 to 6:00pm, Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City hosts a free community

meal! ALL ARE WELCOME!!!

The Chisago Lakes Area Community is cordially invited to participate in a time of Food and Fellowship!!!!

Inviting People to Worship

Wednesday, April 3rd at 4:00pm

Let’s talk about inviting people to

worship. Some people would love to

welcome friends & neighbors, but unsure of how. Join us to share

ideas & thoughts & become more comfortable. The next 3 weeks

in our church year bring the greatest variety of worship

experiences we do. Maybe invite someone to join you for this

discussion? And dinner & worship after?

(Signing up to say you’re coming to Let’s Talk will make sure

enough of anything we use, but please always feel free to come

even if not signed up!)

Michelle and Dylan Lynch are

looking for help to move the last

few days in April. Please let

Michelle know if you are willing

and able to lend a hand; and if

anyone has a trailer to haul

furniture. We are only moving a

half mile closer to downtown St.

Croix Falls. THANK YOU!

6

Join us for a wonderful pancake breakfast

including eggs, sausages, biscuits and

gravy, fruit, and beverages on Palm Sunday

April 14th. Serving will begin immediately

following worship approximately 10:15pm.

Youth and families will be serving and

cleaning up along with a great crew of

adults cooking and preparing the meal. If you are interested in

helping with cooking, serving or clean up, please contact

Michelle at 715-220-2782. The proceeds (Free-Will Offering)

will be going towards the ELCA National Youth Gathering

summer of 2021 which is being held close to home!

Minneapolis!

Come and support our youth as they begin their fundraising to

attend this outstanding event.

River Valley Christian Women’s Connection cordially invites all women to

“Music to Your Ears” 11:30 Luncheon

MONDAY, April 15, 2019 Reservation deadline: noon, April 9

Call Shirley, 715-755-2656, or text her, 715-338-1473

Wapogasset Bible Camp 738 Hickory Point Lane, Amery, WI

$12 payable at door New site each month

SPECIAL FEATURE: “Our Spring Birds”

MUSIC: Mary Schmidt ♥ SPEAKER: Tina Young “Joyful Living Surrounded by Grief”

Think Spring! Enjoy an uplifting program and yummy food! Bring a

friend.

River Valley Christian Women’s Connection-CWC Stonecroft Specific questions? Call Diane 651-808-8579

River Valley Christian Women’s Connection – CWC Stonecroft 11

Steeple

Fundraising

Each square foot is $30.

We appreciate all

donations towards replacing

our steeple.

NEW: Online donating is now

available! Check out the

church website!

Thrivent Sponsored Steeple Fundraiser

BBQ Sandwiches, Cheesy Broccoli & Cupcakes

Saturday, April 27th At 4:00pm First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Taylors Falls

Free will offering.

10

Meeting Agenda

Church Council of First

Evangelical Lutheran Church

March 10, 2019, 10:30am to 1:50am

“To worship God as an intergenerational praying community, learning God’s Word, and building lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.”

Members Present: Pastor Mary Kaye, Don Hansen, Wendy Szczepanski, Rose Anderson, Joe Landgreen, Miriam Flysjo Members Absent: Craig Loen, Duane Olson A. Opening Devotions– PMK B. Sharing story– Wendy, Rose, PMK and Don C. Pastor Report-Ash Wednesday service went well. 45 people attended. MiChiLu is thinking about a beer and hymns event. The bands that played at the Fat Tuesday event were excellent. PMK will be here most of 3/24, 3/26, 3/27, 3/28 ( Sun/Tues/Wed/Thurs) & perhaps parts of other days that week, with much availability for visits or meetings due to Spring break. D. President’s Report- Don has been asked to speak about MiChiLu. He sees God at work in our community through MiChiLu. The Fat Tuesday event was great. 250 people were served Some sample shingles were delivered: green and copper. Copper will last longer than the green steel. Copper will turn brown due to oxidation. It was discussed that the longest lasting material should be used as it is so difficult to access the steeple. Don will get a second estimate/bid from Building Restoration Corporation

Synod assembly- Don won’t be able to attend. May 17 and 18. Wendy and PMK will go. Miriam is considering attending. PMK stated it is a good way to participate in the greater church. There are also spots for one young adult and one youth to attend. Don has been asked to speak about MiChiLu. He sees God at work in our community through MiChiLu. The Fat Tuesday event was great. 250 people were served Some sample shingles were delivered: green and copper. Copper will last longer than the green steel. Copper will turn brown due to oxidation. It was discussed that the longest lasting material should be used as it is so difficult to access the steeple. Don will get a second estimate/bid from Building Restoration Corporation

Synod assembly- Don won’t be able to attend. May 17 and 18. Wendy and PMK will go. Miriam is considering attending. PMK stated it is a good way to participate in the greater church. There are also spots for one young adult and one youth to attend.

7

E. Treasurer Report. The payment to Xcel was held until we had another offering so the balance is not a negative number. Not sure if the money for the steeple is accurate so Joe will get an itemized list printed.

F. Other business Insurance representative was here for an assessment. We are checking on rider for kids working on syruping.. Now the kids only meet at the sugar shack to clean buckets so it may not be an issue. Don answered questions the insurance representative had. We need to know what type of insurance coverage do we have :Replacement cost or actual cost or depreciated amount. Joe will call.

G. Motion by Joe seconded by PMK to Adjourn Next council meeting April 28 at 10:30, which will be the April and May meeting. No council meeting on April 14 (Palm Sunday, or May 12, (Mothers’ Day).

8

Soup Lunch or Supper

and Worship

Wednesday evenings

during Lent.

Join us for a meal

and worship on

Wednesday, April

3rd & 10th

9

Church Office 651-465-5265 www.tflutheran.org

The mission of FELC is to worship God as an intergenerational praying community, to learn

God’s Word, and to build lasting relationships as we grow in God’s love and grace.

(Mission Statement approved 2017)

Please send submissions to: parishc@tflutheran.org

Articles due the 10th of each month.

Mission Statement

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” Psalm 90:1

2018-2019

Council/Officers: Don Hansen—President

Wendy Szczepanski—Vice President

Joe Landgreen—Treasurer

Miriam Flysjo —Secretary

Rose Anderson

Duane Olson

Craig Loen

Pastor Mary Kaye Ashley

Financial Secretary

Jerry Rhoads