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/ From the Pastors’ Desk /What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Ch. 6:1-4
Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
I am writing this letter for the post-Easter season from just before the events of Holy Week and I find that it is a weird juxtaposition. I’m trying to think of the new life that we have through Christ’s resurrection but still face the ugly reality of his betrayal, and death. It is a heavy time not only in the lives of the faithful but also in terms of preparation. For those with active faith lives this is about as busy a time as it gets. Our Lenten services are freshly done but there is still Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunrise to go (from my pre-resurrection perspective). We have just finished the Spring Confirmation Retreat at Camp Kateri as well as a few other events and activities and I, at least, feel the need to sit down in a dark quiet place and simply be for a little while because things right now are moving very quickly and there’s a lot to get done. The stress is mounting.
These feelings, I know, do not belong to pastors and church workers alone. Everyone now is in the midst of their Easter celebrations, this means you have added stress of family and all the preparations they entail, from opening up rooms for guests to feeding them to putting up with them. Maybe you are a student who is looking at finals coming up finding it hard to find new life in Christ when academics are pressing. Regardless of who you are, it is a stressful time of the year and while stress can lead to great creativity and work, if it goes on for long periods of time, it can really kill us.
In a recent survey I saw that only 3% of Americans are living out a “healthy lifestyle.” 3%! That means that 97% of us are overworked, overstressed, and heading down a path of self-destruction. I can relate to this now as I write this letter from the shadow of death pre-Easter but what about to those reading it in light of the Resurrection? Did Christ die so that only 3% could live? As St. Paul would say, by no means!
Those of us who stand on this side of the Resurrection must walk in newness of life. Jesus lived so that we may live also. Continuing to live out the death of stress and worry denies the very victory through which Christ won our salvation. Part of the new life offered to us by Christ is freedom that comes when we cast off those things that are burying us, even if they are good things. Maybe you can’t say no and volunteer too much. Maybe you are taking on work that really should belong to someone else because you can do it better. Maybe you are just spread so thin that a healthy lifestyle is nothing more than a fond dream. Do we need to hold on to these things quite so tightly?
It is time for us to check our priorities. It is time for us let the past stay in the past. It is time for us to cast off those things that draw us from God. It is time to live. He Has Risen! Amen.
Peace in Christ,
Pr. James
April 2016 – Prince of PeaceSUNDAY / MONDAY / TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY
27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 1 / 2
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
8:30am Worship w/ Holy Communion
9:30am Fellowship & Sunday School / 7pm NA Meeting / 7am Men’s B. Study
1:30pm WELCA Bible Study @ St. John’s / 5pm Parish Ed Mtg.
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
8:30am Worship
Senior Blessings
9:30am Fellowship &
Sunday School / 7pm NA Meeting / 7am Men’s B. Study / 1pm Ministerial mtg.
6:45pm Confirmation
@ St. John’s
7pm Council Meeting / 9am-Noon Office Hrs. / 9am-Noon Office Hrs.
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
8:30am Worship w/ Holy Communion
9:30am Fellowship & Sunday School
11:30am Women’s Bible Study @ First / Pastors’ Sabbath
7pm NA Meeting / 7am Men’s B. Study
10:30am Text Study
2-5:30pm Office Hrs.
7pm Women’s Bible Study @ First / Planning Day for Pastors
6:45pm Confirmation @ St. John’s
Careletter Deadline / 9am-Noon Office Hrs.
Noon 60+ Meal at Senior Center
7pm TPLP Board mtg. / 9am-Noon Office Hrs.
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
8:30am Worship
9:30am Fellowship &
Sunday School / Pastors’ Sabbath
7pm TPLP Mother’s Group @ St. John’s
7pm NA Meeting / 7am Men’s B. Study
10:30am Text Study
2-5:30pm Office Hrs.
7pm Women’s Bible Study @ First / 11am WELL Outing
6:30pm Confirmation & Graduation Dinner / 9am-Noon Office Hrs. / 9am-Noon Office Hrs.
Regular Parish Office Hours / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am
Servers for April 2016
Counters for April:LaDonna Pendleton & Clark Poppert
Bread Baker for April: Jan Hogue
Worship Date / April 3 / April 10 / April 17 / April 24
Greeters / Dan Nun Family / Nate Meyer Family / Darin Lichti Family / Nelson Family
Ushers / Pendleton Family / Spencer Hafer Family / Koenig Family / Darin Lichti Family
Reader / Stan Meyer / Russ Coash / Glen Loontjer / Nate Meyer
Acolytes / Travis Meyer &
Halle Theis / Dawson Coon &
Lexi Theis / KayLynn Sieber &
Aidan Trowbridge / Sadie Birky &
Hannah Miller
Video / Ryan Poppert / Lydia Birky / Sydney Jividen / Parker Trowbridge
Communion Prep. / Idonna Kuhns / Sandy Lichti
Communion Asst. / Clark Poppert / Jodi Fintel
Sound Board / Jim Donovan / Roxann Hafer / Elmer Hessheimer / John Steider
Fellowship / Donovan Family / Fangmeyer Family / Gaston Family / Gibson Family
Sunday School Snack / Birky Family / Dittmer/Julich Family / Fintel Family / Darin Lichti Family
April 2016 – First Evangelical
SUNDAY / MONDAY / TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY
27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 1 / 2
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
10:30am Worship w/ Holy Communion / 7pm Men’s B. Study
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
10:30am Worship / 3-5pm Office Hrs. / 3-5pm Office Hrs.
7pm Men’s B. Study / 9am Spring Cleaning @ FLC
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
10:30am Worship w/ Holy Communion
Family Sunday School @ Women’s Bible Study following service / Pastors’ Sabbath / 10:30am Text Study
7pm Women’s Bible Study / Planning Day for Pastors
7pm Council Meeting
Careletter Deadline / 3-5pm Office Hrs.
7pm Men’s B. Study
7pm TPLP Board mtg.
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
10:30am Worship / Pastors’ Sabbath / 10:30am Text Study
7pm Women’s Bible Study / 3-5pm Office Hrs. / 3-5pm Office hrs.
7pm Men’s B. Study
Regular Parish Office Hours / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am
Servers for April 2016
Worship Date / April 3 / April 10 / April 17 / April 24
Reader / Bernace Norquest / Jim Norquest / Carol Brozovsky / Kathy Barnes
Organist / Joan Suddarth / Deb Tonniges / Joan Suddarth / Denise Pfeifer
Ushers / Jim Kaliff &
Kyle Bailey / Jim Kaliff &
Kyle Bailey / Jack Bellis &
Dan Aude / Jack Bellis &
Dan Aude
Communion Asst. / Marv Weber / Jim Green
April 2016 – St. John’s
SUNDAY / MONDAY / TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY / SATURDAY
27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 1 / 2
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
9am Worship w/ Holy Communion
10am Sunday School / 1:30pm WELCA Bible
Study @ St. John’s
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16
9am Worship
10am Fellowship Coffee / 9-11am Office Hrs.
1pm Ministerial mtg.
6:45pm Confirmation @ St. John’s / 7pm Worship & Music Meeting / 9-11am Office Hrs.
PASTORS ON VACATION – MAR. 28TH to APR. 12TH
17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23
9am Worship w/ Holy Communion
10am Sunday School & Council Meeting
11:30am Women’s Bible Study @ First / Pastors’ Sabbath / 10:30am Text Study
7pm Women’s Bible Study @ First / Planning Day for Pastors
6:45pm Confirmation @ St. John’s
Careletter Deadline / 9:30am Birthday Coffee @ the Café
7pm TPLP Board mtg. / 9-11am Office Hrs.
24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30
9am Worship / Pastors’ Sabbath
7pm TPLP Mothers’ Group @ St. John’s / 10:30am Text Study
7pm Women’s Bible Study @ First / 9-11am Office Hrs.
6:30pm Confirmation & Graduation Dinner @ Prince of Peace / 9-11am Office Hrs.
Regular Parish Office Hours / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am / 8:30-11:30am
Servers forApril 2016
Organist: Nancy Cradduck
Ushers for April:Bob & Louise Wulf, Gaylord Cradduck
Flowers for April: Darlene Most
Worship Date / April 3 / April 10 / April 17 / April 24
Acolyte / Conner Nun / KayLynn Sieber / Kala Most / Kimberly Schropfer
Lay Reader / Tanner Nun / Barb Dunse / Lynn Mussman / Krissy Ozenbaugh
/ St. John’s News /
Women of the ELCA Information:Upcoming Events
Carol Joy Holling Camp, May 13-15
Help make the camp ready for summer campers! Tangible offerings include fleece for projects (2 yard coordinating lengths sent together), embroidery floss, white socks (sizes small, medium, and large), colored Sharpie pens, and WalMart or Target gift cards for other program supplies.
MOSAIC Home in Minden, August 5-7
Interact with the residents to help make their dreams come true! Tangible offerings include dishcloths or towels, bath towels, washcloths, and WalMart, JCPenney, or Target gift cards for socks, underwear, and other necessities. To register, send $39 with your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, church, and special needs to: NSWO Treasurer Sandy Terry, 1461 2nd Avenue Ct., Fremont, NE 68025-5317. Phone: 402-957-4480
SAVE THE DATE:Women of the ELCA Tenth Triennial Gathering, Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 13-16, 2017.
For more information, visit welcatg.org or call 1-800-638-3522 ext. 2730. A brochure with more information is available on the bulletin board.
RESOURCES: Keep up with the latest WELCA events and information at:
NSWO website:
FACEBOOK page: Nebraska Women of the ELCA
CHURCHWIDE website:
CelebrationsBirthdays / Anniversaries
Parish-wide
Apr25Pastor James Sells
Prince of Peace
Apr08John Brower
Jeanette Dolph
Daphne Koenig
James White
09Isabella Lichti
10Sophia Simpson
David Steider
11John Lentfer
14Toodie Biegert
15Sandy Gergen / 17Alex Meyer
19Alex Donovan
20Cole Jividen
21Larry Loseke
24Kevin Trowbridge
25Sandra Coon
Abe Eberhardt
LaDonna Pendleton
Jim Whitehead
28Roger Coon / Apr08Joe & Peggy Birky
Aaron & Jodi Fintel
27Tom & Toodie Biegert
First Evangelical
Apr02Kathy Barnes
05Karley Christian
Kelly Smith
09J.T. Scheerer-Hamm
11Morgan Limbach
12Vance Kaliff
14Bryan Christian
Coleman Cogswell / 16Janine Scheerer-Hamm
17Michele Norquest
19Tim Stacy
20Bernace Norquest
21Cash Neville
24Steven Barnes
25Jesse Reed
30Julie Rea / Apr06Bryan & Abbie Christian
29Mike & Glenda Vorderstrasse
St. John’s
Apr06Kari Jo Alfs
14Kala Most
18Donna Meyer
20Brian Nadherny / 22Bob Sanders
24Hazel Bornschlegl
29Darlene Most
30Ruth Drake / Apr12Chris & Julie Dunker
Beth Moore’s “Children of the Day” Bible Study, based on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, will be starting on Tuesday evenings at 7pm in McCool Junction for nine weeks. There is a $16 workbook associated with this study, which provides five individual study days to be done at home before each weekly meeting. If you are interested in attending, please sign up at First Lutheran, or email () or call (402-740-1985) Pastor Becky. Let her know you are attending by Tuesday, April 12th so that a workbook can be ordered for you. You are sure to find yourself more connected to the Word and energized by Beth Moore’s study and depth into God’s Word! The first meeting will be held on Sunday, April 17th.
April Humor
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