|
The Messiah Messenger>
The April Messenger Issue #466
March 31, 2007
THE Messiah MESSENGER
From the Pastor
“EASTER IS OVER, RIGHT?”
In the next few days you will say, “Time to put away the
baskets, the fake grass, and the plastic eggs because
Easter is over, right?” Wrong! As you come to church on the
Sundays following Easter, you will notice that these
Sundays are designated as “Sundays of Easter” (2nd Sunday
of Easter, 3rd Sunday of Easter, etc.) Easter lasts for
fifty days in the church! In fact, we need to recover the
sense of Easter as the “the Great Fifty Days” of the church
year. And there is an interesting story to be told about
this fifty-day period:
The number seven was highly revered among the Jews. Among
other meanings, seven connoted fullness: On the seventh day
of creation, God celebrated the fullness of all created
things. The number came to be enshrined in the time period
known as a week.
But if seven was a good number, how much better must be
forty-nine (seven squared)?
Fifty also came to be a number of sacred meaning. Recall
the legislation in Leviticus 25 about the Year of Jubilee,
said to occur every fiftieth year.
It is a number of liberation and restitution, and occasion
for great joy. So it is not illogical that the spring
harvest festival of forty-nine days was closed by a
fiftieth day as a sign of newness and rejoicing. The church
readily adapted this symbolism for its own purposes. Christ
is fullness heaped upon fullness, and so can be symbolized
by seven times seven. The resurrection itself is the Great
Fiftieth Day.
So the church rejoiced in the resurrection for fifty days,
starting two days after the offering up of Christ, the
Paschal Lamb, upon the cross.
Easter is not one closing day at the end of a lengthy
period of Lent. Easter is one extended rejoicing in the
resurrection that more than exceeds in length the Lenten
disciplines. The first day of the season, Easter Day, is
the opening of a protracted celebration, even as the
Resurrection is itself the opening to a vast new reality.
(“Calendar: Christ’s Time for the Church,” Laurence
Stookey)
So Easter is not over, it has only just begun. How might we
as a congregation prolong the joy of that Easter Sunday
throughout the fifty days? Keep the baskets out? In 325
A.D. the Council of Nicea highlighted the special character
of the Great Fifty Days by ruling that during the period,
two practices commonly kept during the rest of the year
were forbidden: fasting and kneeling. During the Great
Fifty Days here at Messiah, we will not kneel during
services. We will show our reverence by standing during
Communion at both services each week. It is hoped that this
posture will in some small way affirm for us our share in
the resurrection: We shall be raised from death and shall
stand with Christ in glory. We are resurrection people; we
live these days with the joy that comes from new life.
Easter is not over. Easter is never over.
God, help us to hold that joy in our hearts. May Easter joy
be yours,
Noteworthy News
NEW SIGN CONSTRUCTION STARTED
After delays with the permit and then the snowiest January
and February in recent memory, construction has finally
begun on our sign out front! The old sign was removed, the
brick being saved for the new sign. Then a new foundation
was dug and concrete poured. One day soon you will arrive
to church, and there will be a lovely new sign out front to
welcome all who come here! Thanks to Tom Vacala and his men
for their work on this project.
NEW ADDITION TO THE MESSIAH FAMILY!
Many of you know already, but it is worth repeating! Neena
Penumaka delivered a baby girl on Monday the 12th of March
at 1.53 PM. Emma Marvel Penumaka and mom Neena are both
doing fine, and Heba says of her new little sister, “She
cries a lot.” Congratulations to Ravi, Neena, Heba, and the
whole family!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Calling ALL Members of Messiah Lutheran Church!
The Messiah Child Care Center’s Spring Family Fun Fair will
be held on May 19th from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Let’s reach
out and welcome all God’s children by volunteering for this
fun event. This is a great opportunity to meet and mingle
with our Child Care families!
Volunteer opportunities include:
Setting up the Fair – Friday, March 18th in the evening.
Game attendants – Many volunteers are needed to run the
games and activities the day of the Fair.
To volunteer, contact Karen Black at 847-825-3767 or
messiahchildcare@sbcglobal.net, or Donna Berzins at
847-825-0422 or vbossman@aol.com. Please contact us by
April 15th so we can plan who to have where!
Thanks for your participation,
Donna Berzins, Child Care Center Board Chairperson
Upcoming Events
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
April 1 8:30 & 11 AM Palm/Passion Sunday Services
April 5 7:30 PM Maundy Thursday Service
April 6 12:30 PM Good Friday Family Craft Hour
1:30 PM Good Friday Family Service
7:30 PM Good Friday Traditional Service (Tenebrae)
April 8 7:30 AM Easter Sunrise Service
8:30 AM Congregation Celebration Breakfast
10:15 AM Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt
11:00 AM Easter Morning Service
Palm Sunday (also known as the Passion Sunday) worship
services feature the congregation entering the sanctuary
waving palm branches and singing. The scripture readings
encompass the journey of Jesus from his triumphant entry
into Jerusalem until his betrayal and crucifixion. Many
people find that this is an enlightening introduction for
what is to come during Holy Week.
The Maundy Thursday service celebrates the Last Supper of
Christ and the birth of Holy Communion, and includes the
tradition of foot-washing by Pastor Paul Stolz.
Pre-selected individuals are ministered to by the Pastor,
just as Jesus washed the feet of those he loved.
Messiah offers a Good Friday Craft Hour again this year for
families with school-aged children. Families spend time
together making crosses and crafts, then they can attend
the Good Friday Family Worship service at 1:30 PM. This
service features Messiah’s Youth Group reenacting the last
steps of Christ to the cross, and is a great way to expose
young ones to the serious nature of Good Friday. A Tenebrea
Service is also offered later. This somber service includes
the “Seven Last Words of Jesus” and ends in darkness.
Sunrise Service begins our Easter celebrations with entry
into a darkened sanctuary, just as the women approached the
tomb at sunrise. Easter Breakfast is a wonderful time of
family fellowship that continues until the Easter Egg Hunt
for the Sunday School children. There is no cost for the
breakfast, and all are welcome to come and eat. At 11 AM,
enter the sanctuary for the Easter Worship Celebration to
cap off Holy Week with alleluias to the risen Christ.
Children sing, the choir and featured soloist Adrianne
Blanks sing, the
string ensemble plays, and the risen Lord is celebrated!
Come, Let us worship God!
CONCORDIA BOOK FAIR
Church Shopping Day Sunday, April 29th 9 AM to Noon
Plan on stopping by our Book Fair to take a look at all the
wonderful items we’ll have on display! We will be in the
library again, during the week of April 22-30th, and then
open on Sunday, April 29th for church members to
participate. All books are for immediate purchase…no
preordering required! Proceeds benefit Messiah Child Care
Library.
REMINDERS!
Naomi Circle Thursday, April 12th at 9:30 AM at Val
Bowman’s house. Call the office if you need Val’s phone
number for directions.
Men’s Breakfast Saturday, April 14th at 9:00 AM at Old
Country Buffet in Park Ridge (Dempster and Luther Lane).
Friendship Day April 26th at 9 AM. Come when you can and
stay as long as possible. If staying for lunch, bring a
sandwich or whatever you like. Please remember to donate
old sheets, blankets, drapes, and any material to us to
make quilts. They may be left in the Tower Room metal box
or the LWR box across from the office. If you would like to
work at home, contact Eva Thoren at the 8:30 AM service or
Millie Anderson at the 11 AM service. Several ladies have
expressed a desire to learn to knit. If you are interested,
contact Carol Smith. "He won't forget the love you have
shown his people" ~ Hebrews 6:10
Thanks…see you, and God Bless. Eva Thoren, Chair
WELCA Board April 4th @ 9:00 AM
Executive Committee April 15th @ 12:15 PM
(Leadership meets briefly, too, for Spaghetti Dinner
planning.)
Child Care Board April 18th @ 7:00 PM
COMING IN MAY…
VBS Registration Begins
Child Care Center Fun Fair
Pentecost and Confirmation
This Month in Worship
WORSHIP SCHEDULE AND READINGS
Unless otherwise noted, all Sundays in April offer Worship
at 8:30 and 11:00 AM.
See page 4 for complete Holy Week Worship Schedule
April 1 – Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday
Isaiah 50:4–9a; Psalm 31:9–16; Philippians 2:5–11; Luke
22:14—23:56
April 5 – Maundy Thursday
Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1, 10-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26;
John 13:1-17, 31b-35
April 6 – Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13--53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John
18:1--19:42
April 8 – Easter Sunday (7:30 AM and 11:00 AM)
Acts 10:34–43; Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11;
Luke 24:1–12
April 15 – Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 5:27–32; Psalm 118:14–29; Revelation 1:4–8; John
20:19–31
April 22 – Third Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:1–20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11–14; John 21:1–19
April 29 – Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 9:36–43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9–17; John 10:22–30
ADULT FORUM SCHEDULE
April 1 - "Passover as Observed by Jews Today" - Rabbi
Jonathan Ginsburg,
Ezra-Habonim, the Niles Township Jewish Congregation
April 8 - Easter - No Forum
April 15 - "The Evangelizing Church" part 3 - Pastor Mark
Wiberg
April 22 - "Songs of Our Faith" - Pastor Paul Stolz, Tom
Daniels, and Sue Fox
April 29 - "St. Matthews Home" - Lisa Hassenstab,
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
FLOWERS AND BULLETINS
The sign-ups for flowers and bulletins are in the narthex
by the hall to the Educational Wing. Flowers are $30, and
the Bulletins are $10. Envelopes are provided next to the
sign-up calendar, or you may simply write “Flowers” or
“Bulletin” on your regular envelope in the Other box.
PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO PAY FOR YOUR FLOWERS OR BULLETINS!
Note to all those purchasing flowers: Your flowers are
yours to take home!
If you wish to donate them to one of our shut-ins, please
be sure to
let the Altar Guild know. Thanks!
April 1 & 8 – Palms and then lilies will grace our altar on
Palm and Easter Sundays respectively.
April – 15 Bulletins are given from daughter Valeria Bowman
in memory of
Martin and Violet Johnson.
April 22 – Flowers are given in celebration of Les and
Nancy Herak’s 30th Anniversary.
April 29 – Flowers are given in loving memory of Matthew
Ryczek.
Messages
LSSI Women’s Network Luncheon Event
“Showers and Flowers”
Do you desire to help inner-city children and their
families? Come to the Women's Network of LSSI's 23rd Annual
Luncheon Fashion Show, "Showers and Flowers", on Saturday,
May 12th at the Westin - O'Hare, 6100 N. River Road, in
Rosemont. At 10:30 a.m. delight in special gift boutiques
and a silent auction. Luncheon is served at
12:00 p.m. This fund-raising event will benefit
preschoolers by providing their parents with books to read
to them at home, allowing them to shower their lives with
books and family reading experiences. Tickets are $70.
CEV Bibles
Thanks to all who ordered bibles, both for themselves and
to be kept here at the church. We ended up ordering over
150 bibles altogether…what a way to spread God’s word!
UPAJ Meeting to Attend!
United Power is organizing several actions around the
Chicago region to support a health care plan for the
uninsured, housing for low income citizens, and education
issues. Our legislators are invited to attend the SUNDAY
AFTERNOON, APRIL 29th event at the BJBE synagogue on
Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview. Please mark your calendar and
plan to attend. We hope to have at least 20 Messiah members
participating. Watch the YES! Sheets for an opportunity to
respond.
Youth Corner
YOUTH SPAGHETTI DINNER
Saturday, April 21st, serving from 4:30 to 7:00 PM
While the food and the faces of our Youth will be much the
same this year, there will be a few new things at our
Spaghetti Dinner! We will hold a raffle of several Gift
Baskets provided by the different groups of the church. For
example, the WELCA group will do a basket; the Brotherhood
will do a basket, and so on! Raffle tickets are 1/$1, or
6/$5.
Spaghetti will be served beginning at 4:30 and will end at
7:00. Then at 7:30 PM, join us in the sanctuary for a
special evening of music by artists still to be announced.
Dinner is $8 for adults, $3 for kids under 10. The concert
will be a free will offering. Come out in support of our
Youth Group for this great annual event!!!
VBS REGISTRATION STARTS MAY 1ST
“Time Stone Travelers: Quest for God’s Ten Commandments”
VBS is July 23-27 from 9 AM to 12 PM this year. The closing
program and picnic is set for Friday, July 27th at 6 PM. To
register online, visit our website www.messiahparkridge.org
and click on the “Register for VBS” Quick Link on the home
page. We will also take reservations in the church office
beginning May 1st, but the online registration is
preferred. Watch the YES! Sheets and the newsletter for
opportunities to help!
Messiah Ministries
UNITED POWER REPORT
On Monday, March 12, nine United Power members met with
Senator Kotowski at Messiah to fulfill the commitment made
at the Messiah October pre-election forum. Some of the
topics for discussion were funding for education, housing
for low income residents, drug use in the Park Ridge
schools, and health care for the uninsured. United Power
seeks the support of Senator Kotowski to ensure passage of
legislation supporting these issues. We thank Senator
Kotowski for his time and consideration.
Charlotte Baumgartner
LETTER FROM REV. PHIL KNUTSON
Dear Friends in Christ,
As ELCA Global Mission regional program assistant for
Southern Africa I recently had the privilege of attending
an international conference on prophetic witness, social
development, and HIV & AIDS sponsored by the Anglican
Communion. The main purpose of the conference was to review
the response of the church to the United Nation’s
Millennium Development Goals and especially its impact on
women and children. About 450 delegates from all over the
world attended the conference, including several Lutheran
representatives.
There were 8 days of plenary sessions, seminars, workshops,
commissions, Bible studies and regional meetings dealing
with a wide variety of issues relating to the theme. We
heard that while there has been progress in some areas,
much more needs to be done to overcome global poverty and
to protect the integrity of creation.
The MDG’s are eight inter-related targets toward the
elimination of extreme poverty by 2015. The goals flow from
the Millennium Declaration that was signed by more than 189
countries in 2000. The 8 goals are:
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Create a Global Partnership for Development with targets
on aid, debt and trade.
As individuals and as congregations in the United States,
we can support the ONE Campaign. ONE: The Campaign to Make
Poverty History is an effort to rally Americans – ONE by
ONE – to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty. The ONE
Campaign advocates for an additional ONE percent of the
U.S. budget to address global poverty, debt relief for the
world’s poorest countries to help them meet the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), and making the rules of
international trade fair so all may benefit from the global
economy. See www.one.org.
I would like to recommend a useful study guide on global
poverty and the Millennium Development Goals entitled
“God’s Mission in the World” produced recently by the ELCA
Washington Office and The Episcopal Church Office of
Government Relations. www.elca.org/advocacy/one.
In February this year I was also asked to represent the
ELCA at the consecration of Rev. Mashile Matsebatlela as
bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern
Africa in the Northern Diocese. Several thousand people
attended the service which was held in the stadium of the
University of Limpopo. The ELCA’s Northeastern Ohio Synod
has a companion relationship with the ELCSA Northern
Diocese.
Once again I would like to thank you for your prayers and
support for our family through the ELCA Missionary
Sponsorship Program and for your participation in God’s
mission locally and globally.
May you have a Blessed Easter.
Yours faithfully,
Pastor Philip Knutson
ELCA Global Mission
Regional Program Assistant, Southern Africa
Cape Town
March 16, 2007
Milestones
BIRTHDAYS
Lisa Downie, 4/2
Kimberly Jones, 4/2
Jennifer Herak, 4/3
William Valenta, 4/4
Diane Wilson, 4/4
Heidi Habas, 4/7
Faith Fretheim, 4/8
Charlene Lobitz, 4/8
Russell Raymond, 4/8
James Seggeling, 4/8
Connie Kaufman, 4/10
Richard Daniels, 4/11
Karli Valenta, 4/12
Stephen Plaza, 4/13
Patricia Daniels, 4/19
Sue Ellen Fox, 4/19
Bill Baumgartner, 4/20
Heather Glowacki, 4/23
Trudi Handzel, 4/23
Samson Markos, 4/23
Dylan Harris, 4/27
Jean Seggeling, 4/28
Eva Thoren, 4/28
Eugene Borgeson, 4/29
Rebecca Valenta, 4/29
Derek Smith, 4/30
ANNIVERSARIES
Les and Nancy Herak – 4/22/1977, 30 years
Greg and Jean Nastali – 4/27/1985, 22 years
Messiah Leadership for 2007
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President: Carol Hrodey
Vice President: Vikki Hanson
Secretary: Nancy Boomer
Treasurer: Brad Kovach
Financial Sec.: David Hanson
EXTENDED LEADERSHIP TEAM
Stewardship: Floyd Yager
Evangelism: David Swanson
CCC Director: Karen Black
CCC Board: Donna Berzins
Maintenance: Vic Berzins
Capital Campaign: Dave Kaufman
Property Committee: Various Members
WELCA: Eva Thoren
Brotherhood: Rich Seggeling
Christian Education: Kristin Yager
Confirmation/HS: Edith Reeve
Adult Forum: John Fox
Choir: Pat Daniels
Music: Tom Daniels, Sue Fox
For the Memorial, Honorarium, and Thanks to God Fund
This report is as of March 18, 2007.
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT MARK DONATIONS AS “BUILDING FUND.”
PLEASE DESIGNATE EITHER “CAPITAL FUND” OR “PROPERTY
RESERVE.” IT IS VERY CONFUSING TO YOUR CHAIR AND THE
COUNTERS. THANK YOU.
IN MEMORY OF BETTY HRODEY
Given by: Charles and Leona Johnson (The family has
requested the memorials be given to the Capital Fund.)
IN MEMORY OF LORRAINE HANDZEL
Given by: Charles and Leona Johnson, Lorrie Rotzoll, Vern
and Carol Frost, Janet Bannistor, Carol and Howie Ekidorn,
Alice Wagner (The Family requests the memorials go to the
Property Reserve.)
If there are any omissions in my report, I mean if you have
donated to this fund and it was not acknowledge by me and
not listed in my report, please let me know. This does
happen now and then and I certainly want to check it out.
If it did not come to me, I will certainly do everything I
can to find where it is. However please allow several
months … sometimes it comes in after the cut off date.
Also, to make things easier for your chair, donations not
designated, unless requests are made by the family, will be
put into the Property Reserve, a much needed fund.
I would like to thank those who put their address on the
Memorial Card. It saves me the time it takes to look it up.
Also if the family address is not available in our church
book, please include it along with the relationship. FYI,
the amount of the donation is acknowledged only to the
donor. If requested, I give a total amount to the Family.
REQUEST FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Please put your
envelope number on the memorial card.
Millie Anderson, Chairperson
E-Mail: MillieAnderson@CompuServe.com
Prayer Requests
Please include the following individuals and families in
your prayers this month:
Chuck Boomer
Joe & Evelyn Burval
Mr. Dennis
Ardene Ejnik
Jean E. Gilbert
Pastor Eileen Harris
Chris Jacobsen
Corine Jensen
Kennet
Richard Levy
Nancy Maher
Antonio Melendez
Sue Nugnis
Aidan Ray
Mary Reter
Ronnald Rose
Gloria Solum
Pastor Sally Terrell
We also want to remember in our prayers our military
personnel:
Kevin Hrodey, Jason Koesler, Tim David, Lars Johnsen, Kevin
Ward, and Patrick and Claudine Ward.
MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH
1605 Vernon Avenue
Park Ridge, Illinois 60068
Church Staff
Rev. Paul Stolz, Pastor
Jennifer Schneider, Office Administrator
Karen Black, Child Care Center Director
Vic Berzins, Director of Property Maintenance
John Handzel, Property Maintenance
Worknesh Deressa, Custodian
Tom Daniels, Director of Music
Sue Fox, Organist
Messiah Lutheran Church 1605 Vernon Avenue Park Ridge, IL 60068
p 847.823.6984 f 847.823.6996
Office@messiahparkridge.org
Powered by DoItYourSelfSiteBuilder
|
