CONGREGATIONAL NOTES

MARCH 2009

Sunday Worship Attendance St. John = 25 St. Olaf = 54

Known to have been Hospitalized:

Dallas Johnson; Seth Johnson; Joe Tegland; Marge Burras;

Alfred Johnson; Adean Dorr; Maxine Eliason

Funerals: Minnie Johnson - March 13,2009 held at St. Olaf

ST. OLAF HEAD USHERS                                                           ST. JOHN HEAD USHERS

 

For the month of April:                                                                                           For the month of April:

      Lorna Holst and Cathy Nelson                                                                                Bob & Carolyn Wenzel

For the month of May:                                                                                            For the month of May:

      Jerry Christians                                                                                                       Don Thompson and Henry Gerdes

 

DEACON DUTIES FOR                                                                                          DEACON DUTIES FOR

COMMUNION AT ST. OLAF                                                                                 COMMUNION AT ST. JOHN

For the month of April:                                                                                           For the month of April:

      Paul Rokke                                                                                                              Lavonne Prescott

For the month of May:                                                                                            For the month of May:

       Cindy Pogge                                                                                                           Joe Prescott

THANK YOU

To our new sisters and brothers at St John’s and St. Olaf,

Thank you so much for turning an awful chore into an uplifting experience as we arrived in Belmond Saturday night. It’s safe to say that your enthusiastic welcome was beyond anything we’ve ever experienced and has filled us with great joy. Thanks to those who worked so hard to prepare and improve the parsonage. We look forward to getting better acquainted with the community and congregations in these first days of our ministry here. Again, thank you!

Jan and Pastor Jim Harbaugh

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INSTALLATION OF OUR NEW PASTOR

Pastor Jim Harbaugh will be installed as our new pastor on Sunday, April 26th. There will be an installation service held at both St. Olaf (the St. Olaf service will begin at 8:30a.m.that day) and St. John. To celebrate this great day, there will be a potluck dinner held at St. John at noon.

Everyone is encouraged at attend and get to know Pastor Jim and his wife, Janice!!!

ST. OLAF WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

An Evening Bible Study will be held on Thursday, April 2nd, at 7:00p.m. Kay Marshall will host the meeting in her home. This meeting is being held for those women who are unable to attend the regular LCW meetings. Everyone is welcome to attend.

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ST. OLAF LCW MEETING

St. Olaf WELCA will be meeting on Thursday, April 9th at 9:00a.m. Becky Ellingston will be presenting the lesson entitled "Esther: For Such a Time as This." Becky will also be presenting the Offering Meditation. Hostesses for the meeting will be Donna Toftey and Ellie Nelson.

(Note: the change of time - the meetings will now be at 9:00a.m. until November)

Altar Duties for the month of April

Becky Ellingston, Cathy Nelson & Kathy Wessels

Sew Day will be held on April 16th at 1:00p.m.

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REMAINING WEDNESDAY MORNING COMMUNITY LENTEN SERVICE SCHEDULE:

              April 1 Trinity Lutheran

              April 8 United Church of Christ (held at St. John church)

All services to begin at 9:30a.m. Weather: No school due to bad weather - No service.

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MEN’S GROUP

Men of St. Olaf and St. John! The Men’s Group meets on the second Saturday of each month for breakfast, Bible Study, and fellowship. The next gathering will be on Saturday, April 18th (note change of date) beginning at 8:00a.m. at St. Olaf. All men are invited and encouraged to attend.

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EASTER LILIES

If you would like to share an Easter Lily with the church this Easter Season, please feel free to do so. Please call the church office by Tuesday, April 7th if you do so that your contribution can be acknowledged in the Easter Sunday worship bulletin.

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COUNCIL MEETINGS

The Council Meetings will be held at St. John on Wednesday, April 15th beginning at 6:30p.m.

Due to Holy Week, the meetings are being held one week later than normal.

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ST. OLAF MISSION SUNDAYS

The first quarter St. Olaf Mission Offering was received on March 22nd. That offering totaled $591. Our goal for 2009 is $5700. A total of $5109 remains to be collected to meet our goal for the year.

Mission Offering dates for the remainder of the year are:

May 10th, September 13th, and November 1st.

APRIL

LENTEN AND

HOLY WEEK

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

 

Wednesday, April 1st Midweek Lenten Service held at St. Olaf beginning at 7:00p.m.

                  Sunday, April 5th Palm Sunday

                  Thursday, April 9th Maundy Thursday

                                                                Service at St. Olaf at 7:00p.m. with

                                                                  Candlelight Holy Communion

                  Friday, April 10th Community Good Friday Service - 12:00noon - Trinity Lutheran

                                                                      Tenebrae Service - 7:00p.m. - St. John

Sunday, April 12th Easter Sunday

                  6:30a.m. - Easter Sunrise Service at St. Olaf

7:30a.m. - Easter Sunrise Breakfast at St. Olaf

9:00a.m. - Festival Worship with Holy Communion at St. Olaf

              10:30a.m. - Festival Worship with Holy Communion at St. John

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THANK YOU!!!

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped in any way with another successful Kumla Dinner. A financial report of the dinner will be printed in the May Newsletter.

Ray and Betty Stockseth

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WOMEN’S GUEST NIGHT

The women of the Belmond United Church of Christ would like to invite the ladies of St. John and St. Olaf to our Annual Women’s Guest Night on Thursday, April 23rd. It will begin at 7:00p.m at the Leinbach Center. Our guest speaker is Corinne Sills from Mason City. Her program will be on foster care. Please contact Cindy Pogge or Carolyn Wenzel by Sunday, April 19th if you plan to attend.

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YOUTH GROUP PRACTICE

The Youth Group members are asked to be at St. Olaf Church at 9:00a.m.

on Saturday, April 11th to practice for the Easter Sunrise Service.

Any parents wanting to help crack eggs that morning are also welcome to come.

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CANCELLATIONS

If there should be a need to cancel a worship service or services on Sunday morning due to inclement weather, notice of the cancellation will be broadcasted on the following media:

                          Television KIMT TV Channel 3 - Mason City

                          KCCI TV Channel 8 - Des Moines

                          WHO TV Channel 13 - Des Moines

                          Radio KIOW 107.3 FM - Forest City

                          KJYL 100.7 FM - Eagle Grove

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PASTOR JIM (G) PONDERS:

God had to clear a lot of paths that led me to accept the temporary part-time pastoral duties of St. John/St. Olaf Joint Ministries. Everything just fell into place somewhat miraculously and Myra and I have been blessed for getting to know you in this way. I thank you for your graciousness and how well you accepted my ministry.

Now God has cleared the way for another servant of Christ to tend to your pastoral needs. Although I'll still be nearby, you must allow Rev. Jim Harbaugh to be your Pastor. I trust that you will bless one another in the coming months and years.

In the service of Christ our Lord, I remain sincerely yours,

Pastor Jim G

"Keep on Keeping on!"