October 2017 Newsletter

Good News Connections Important Dates Coming Up  October 1st – 9a Worship with Chelsea Lloyd playing piano & Noisy Offering for Grace Place; 10:15a Sunday School  October 2nd – 4p Acts Adult Study  October 4th – 9:30a Quilting @ Roberts Park Building; 6p Confirmation; 7p Worship  October 5th – 7p Choir Rehearsal  October 8th – 9a Worship with Choir Singing & Fall Stewardship Drive; 10:15a Sunday School – Faith Marker; 10:15a Luther Youth Group!! Meeting  October 9th – 4p Acts Adult Study; 7p Council Meeting  October 11th - 9:30a Quilting @ Roberts Park Building; 5:45p Mission Trip Informational Meeting; 6p Confirmation; 7p Worship  October 12th – 7p Choir Rehearsal  October 15th – 9a Cross Kids Worship with Fall Stewardship Drive; 10:15a Sunday School  October 16th – No Adult Study; 5p Worship Committee @ Bobtown Brew House; 6:30p Stewardship Committeee  October 18th - 9:30a Quilting @ Roberts Park Building; 6p Confirmation; 7p Worship  October 19th – 7p Choir Rehearsal  October 21st – 9a Women’s Bible Study @ Barb Shank’s Home  October 22nd – 9a Worship; 10:15a Sunday School; 11:15a Pumpkin Family Event – RSVP Needed  October 23rd – 4p 1st Corinthians Adult Study; 4:30p E-Team Meeting  October 24th – 6p Mutual Ministry @ Barnboard  October 25th - 9:30a Quilting @ Roberts Park Building; 6p Confirmation; 7p Worship  October 26th – NEWSLETTER DEADLINE; 7p Choir Rehearsal  October 29th – 9a Worship – Reformation Sunday; 10:15a Sunday School  October 30th – 4p 1st Corinthians Adult Study Cross Lutheran Church October 2017 Pastor Durk Peterson, Pastor 1246 County Road TT Roberts, WI 54023

Pastor’s Message – Reflections on Martin LutherAs many of you have heard over the course of this lastyear, October 31 will mark the 500th Anniversary of MartinLuther posting his 95 Theses (or protest statements fordebate) on the church door of the Castle Church inWittenberg Germany. I had the privilege of going on aGermany Tour in 2008 and stood at these doors reflectingon Luther’s statements that set off the Reformation.You can google these statements or read them in anynumber of books on Luther’s life. The most common themethat is usually emphasized in the 95 Theses is Luther’sargument against the sale of indulgences or the buying offorgiveness for yourself or deceased loved ones in order toguarantee passage to heaven.What may surprise you is that the major theme of thesestatements is the call for the Roman Catholic Church andall followers of Christ to repent. To repent means to turnfrom hurtful or sinful ways and turn towards Christ. Lutherwanted to improve the church of his day with thesestatements and did not intend to start a new church. Hisfollowers along with certain rulers made the move after hislife to start the Lutheran Church.So, as we approach our Reformation Sunday Celebrationon Sunday, October 29th, here are a couple gifts fromLuther and his teachings I want to highlight:Grace: Yes, the grace of Jesus Christ by which we aresaved. This is the greatest and richest gift of theReformation for us to celebrate. God’s grace is free andgives us to love and promises of God in Christ.Repentance: Luther’s teaching emphasizes the church’sneed to continually be “re-formed.” The church is re-formed by always repenting of any sinful or misguidedways that lead us from Christ.

Scripture: Luther taught that the Bible is the “Living Word”of God. God speaks to us through the Holy Scriptures toteach us the faith and to inspire us to live out our faith inChrist.Here is a gem of Luther as he shares his own practice ofreading the Bible: “For some years now I have readthrough the Bible twice each year. If you picture the Bibleto be a mighty tree and every word a branch, I haveshaken every one of these branches because I wanted toknow what it was and what it meant.” (Martin Luther’sTable Talks, edited by Henry F. French, Minneapolis: FortressPress, 2017. p. 57)Martin Luther points all of us to Christ. He taught Christ andpreached Christ for his entire career. We can thank Godfor his life and teaching and carry it forward in ourcongregation and life of discipleship.Blessings to all you! -Pastor Durk K. PetersonStaff Locations UpdateOur addition constructioncontinues! The church officeoperations are located at theFouks home with the same hoursas before (Monday – Thursdaynoon - 4p) and she will be atchurch most Sunday mornings. Tocontact Tiff for any needs, youcan still email or call the church phone number. The churchphone number will be forwarded to Tiff during office hoursotherwise you can leave a message and she will get backto you.Amanda will be on site Sunday mornings and Wednesdayevenings. She can be contacted through email or bycalling her cell at (715) 220-1064. 3

Pastor Durk will be rotating around local establishmentsduring construction. He can be contacted through hisemail or by calling/texting his cell at (612) 702-5509.The sanctuary will always be available for Wednesday andSunday services. All events, committees and ministries willcontinue during construction. Locations of these groups willbe announced through the weekly email, so please watchthat email for your locations.Updated information will be shared as it becomesavailable (i.e. when office locations change).Construction UpdateWalls and a roof are on and dry wall is going up! Soon itmay feel like there is little to no progress being made. Takeheart though, there will be progress it will just be insidewhere we will not be able to see it as readily. So far we areon schedule with the progress of the addition! Please keepbeing vigilant and careful while we are under construction.Satellite restrooms are on the south side of the church. Those will be available until the new restrooms are completed as the interior restrooms no longer exist for the moment. Fellowship hour will continue out of the food trailer located on the south side of the church also. Currently we are in need of only a few people to serve fellowship. If you’d like to fill in those open spots, please contact Tiff in the officeIf you’d like to see updated pictures of our building project,you can check out the church Facebook page. We will beposting photos there often! If you have any questions,please contact Dave Peterson (715) 426-5533.4

Cross Lutheran Adult Choir!Chelsea Lloyd, the newChoir Director at Cross, hasstarted rehearsals and thechoir has sung duringworship a couple times, too!Choir is meeting on Thursdayevenings at 7p to rehearseand practice new music. Now is a great time to join theadult choir! If you have questions, please contact Chelseaat (507) 269-9786 and [email protected] YOU!  Thank you to all who have volunteered to help teach Sunday School and be small group leaders for Confirmation.  Thank you to all for your generous contributions this year to Cross!  Thank you to all who have helped arrange, coordinate, and make everything run as smoothly as possible in this transition time!Connections!We are excited at the generous response tothe small group sign ups! Small groups arebeginning to meet so watch for informationfrom small group leaders if you have signedup. We are grateful for the volunteers whoare leading each group. The hope andpurpose of these groups is to buildrelationships and devotional lives in Christ.If you did not get a chance to and would like to join one ofthe following groups, please contact the church office [email protected] or (715) 749-3551Here are the Connections! groups that have formed:* Book Group – led by Diane Ullom.* Bible Study 101 - led by Teri Peterson 5

* Brew and Bible – led by Dan Tokheim & Natalie Hoppe* Women and Wine – led by Rena Hanson* Dinner Group (x2) – led by Jan Manor and Tom Sullwoldand Fran Heinbuch* Parents of Younger Children – led by Nate & CarrieWeinandt* Woodworking – led by Bill Couch* Board and Card Games – led by Heidi Martin* Life Transitions & Changes – led by Mary Roen* Knitting – led by Sadie VarelaQuestions or ideas for new groups? Please Pastor Durk at(612)702-5509 or [email protected] MinistryKeep in prayer Joan Nyhus,Barb and LeRoy Dull’sgrandniece, Sloan; Barb’sbrother, Dean; TroyRippentrop’s brother, Terry; RichMiller; Kay Bjerke’s friend, Carol;Jessie Simpson’s friend, RonLeninger; Barb Shank’s friend,Pete Morland; and KarenMelstrom’s sister-in-law, in theirstruggles with cancer.MaryAnn Hartmon’s greatniece, Abby, still needs prayer as she continues her journeyto control pain and Diane Aho’s continued recovery fromknee surgery. Others needing our prayers are Connor Dykesfor continued healing of health issues (Son of Mindy andDave). Others with chronic health issues are: DeniseWakefield’s friend who has a blood clot in her lung; andBarb Shank’s friend, Jeanine who has Palsy.Give thanks for successful surgery for Gene Hanson.On-going prayer concerns at Cross Lutheran are asked forMonica Jensen, Elsie Takle and Jeanne Lang who dealswith complicated health issues. Remember those loved6

ones who are in nursing homes including Renay Briese, andWayne Volker. Pray for those who are unemployed andalso for those who are serving in the military.Keep Steve Smart’s family in your prayers as they grieve thedeath of his mother; and the Bjerke family in the death ofCy’s sister, Twilia.Let us not forget to pray for guidance and wisdom for theCross Lutheran Church body, the Council, the committees,especially the Building Committee and Pastor Durk as weenter a large building project this summer.We would appreciate updates from those of you whohave asked for prayer for yourself or for someone else. Ifyou would like to join the Prayer Ministry Fellowship in theministry of intercessory prayer, or have a prayer requestplease call Sue at 796-2975 or the Church Office. You mayemail Sue at – [email protected] you would like to pray with a Prayer Minister please callone of the following persons:Diane Ullom – 425-9719 Kay Bjerke – 381-5802Mary Ellen Melby – 749-3280 Teri Peterson – 749-3502Ron Campbell – 377-5493 Ellen Beer –749-4069Please talk to one of the above persons if you would like tobecome a Prayer Minister. If you know anyone who coulduse the help of Prayers in Motion, or if you can be involvedin that ministry, contact Kelly Mansell at 612-655-8307. _______Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfillthe law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)We all have burdens to carry – it is just a part of life.Sometimes it seems like the burden is just too heavy tocarry. We wish we could just give at least some of it away.Then maybe someone tells you that they are praying foryou and somehow the burden seems to lighten. Or, maybesomeone comes to be with you or to do something for youand you now feel like maybe you can actually keep going.The Prayer Ministry at Cross Lutheran is about helping toease others burdens and the Prayer Ministry Fellowship is a 7

big part of that. Together we make burdens easier to carrywhen we pray and also help anyway we can. Thank youto being a part of that mission.~~Kay Bjerke, Prayer Ministry October Baptism Birthdays4th – Blake Host; 6th – Emmie Collins;9th Meredith Spenningsby; 12th – Connor Nilssen;13th – Erik Collins & Deklan DePerry14th – Cary Leen & Jason Sie; 16th – Emma Leen19th – Jessica Dahl, Linnea Dahl, Erin Nyhus & Barb Shank21st – Mason Bohatta; 23rd – Dalton DePerry;24th – Karen Melstrom; 27th – Max Knowles & Jennifer Leen29th – Audrey Kleinfelter; 31st – Grace ConklinWELCA Meeting Update – Cookie Fair Planning  It was decided to keep the Lefse at $12 per dozen  Cookies and candy will stay the same at $8 per pound, or $7.50 per pound with a food shelf donation.  Ardie suggested the food menu stay the same, offering coffee cake, pie and beverages. She added that more pies are needed that can be sold whole.  We will advertise the same as last year and will ask Tiff to print fliers and put it on the Facebook page, and in the bulletins. Kay Bjerke offered to write up a bulletin insert.  The next planning meeting will be November 6th at 7 pm at the Sidetrack in Roberts to finish the final plans and assignments.Women’s Bible StudyThe Women of Cross Bible Study is starting up again and willmeet the 3rd Saturday of the month from 9:00-11:00a. If youcannot make it every month, that is OK! Come when youcan! This year’s study is “The Divine Conspiracy: Jesus’Master Class for Life” by Dallas Willard with Kevin and SherryHarney. The next meeting is at Barb Shank’s home: 406 HighRidge Rd in River Falls; her phone number (715)426-0110.8

Child, Youth and Family Ministry Happenings Amanda Swanson, Director of Children, Youth and Families [email protected] Dan Briese, Education Committee Chair [email protected] Children & Youth Ministry What a great kick-off to Sunday School this year! We had kids 38 attend the first day this year! Special thank you to all our teachers this year: Dan Briese, Brooke Flanders-Johnson, Kari Johnson, Rachel Vogt, Kathy Schwartz, Sarah Host, Marie Hamlin and Myah Olson AND to Melissa Briese for leading the opening and music, Katie Tate for her help each week and for her leading the Faith Markers program and to Kerry Schleuter for preparing the crafts each week. We can’t run the Sunday School program without each of these dedicated, amazing volunteers! We will begin rehearsals for the Christmas program within the next couple of weeks. Please watch your email for additional info! Family News The next family event will be on Sunday, October 22nd after Sunday School. Lunch will be served at 11:15a and activities will include pumpkin painting! An RSVP is needed, please. 9

Confirmation/Youth News  Confirmation kicked off with a great start! We have 34 students this year!  Special thanks you to our small group leaders: Kelly Mansell, Heidi Martin, Dan Briese, Darin Schlueter, Pam Miles, Teri Peterson, Beth Burgess, Christa Poeschel and Karen Melstrom! Small group leaders will lead the students in small group discussion each week for 20 minutes.  Youth Group started at the end of September with 5 teens in attendance!  The group will meet on the second Sunday of the month at 10:15a and will meet for either a fun or service event on another day. This group is open to youth in grades 8- 12, regardless of membership at Cross. Friends are invited! Shout out to Amy Anderson and Heidi Martin for leading this group and being a part of the Youth Ministry team! Exciting times to come at Cross!10

Children’s Ministry & Education Committee The Children’s Ministry & Education Committee has been working hard the past few months on developing additional programming for the Sunday School students. The goal is to incorporate the traditional Bible more into weekly lessons…looking up the books and how to best use our Bibles. Special thanks to Raena DePerry for creating these lessons and to Melissa Briese for overseeing this program with the teachers. Also, big thanks to Dan Briese, Jason Sie, Melissa Briese and Raena DePerry for being part of this team! We are always looking for members for both the Children’s and Youth Ministry teams! Contact Amanda for more information! 11

Date Scripture Reader October Wee October 8th Dave PetersonOctober 15th Steve Smart CommunionOctober 22nd Kelly Mansell AssistantsOctober 29th Mary Roen Dave & Ardie Peterson Mary Roen & Tom Sullwold Steve & Mary Ellen D Melby Tom & Sue Cody KNovember 5th Ellen Beer Geri Campbell & Denise Wakefield Coffee Servers Altar Flowers EternalOctober 8th – Stewardship October 8th – Jason & Rachel October 8th –Committee Welsh – In Honor of Their 10th Rachel Welsh Wedding AnniversaryOctober 15th – Stewardship October 15th –Committee October 15th – Kim Olson – In In Honor of Da Honor of David’s 14th Birthday BirthdayOctober 22nd – NEEDED October 22nd – The Mark October 22ndOctober 29th – The Leen Hamlin Family CampbellFamily October 29th – Myron & Linda October 29th –November 5th – The Melby Kempen – In Honor of Their Family – In HonFamily 17th Wedding Anniversary 14th Birthday November 5th – Denise November 5th Wakefield – In Honor of James Vogt – Kandice’s 10th Birthday James’ 11th Bir

ekly MinistersUshers Acolytes Greeters Worship Assistant Bill Couch & Olivia Jim & Carolyn Ron Campbell Lee Kempf Gordon Hartmon Jane Hamlin The Tate Family Anthony The Rutten Family Grinnell Linda KempenDana Flanders & Lynn & Sandy Paul Nyhus Lily Host SteglichKeven & Braeden Chloe Cary & Jennifer Amanda Bloom Peterson Leen SwansonDoug & Nate Trey Lee Kempf Pam Miles Dahl Jourdeans Candle Website Host: Jason & The Tokheim Family– Kim Olson –avid’s 14th If you can’t serve at your scheduled time, please contact the Church Office or someone on the Minister list. – Ron & Geri Please let us know if you want your name added or removed from a list, or if you need to make any other changes.– The Tokheim Thank you for playing such a vital role in the worship experience nor of Alex’s at Cross Lutheran Church!h – Rachel & In Honor of rthday

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Cross Lutheran Church1246 County Road TTRoberts, WI 54023 12