Resurrection Bell Ringer

Days of Grace

Marriage: Bill Fricke and Leigh Ann Nicholson were united in marriage on May 10^th. God’s blessings!

In Our Prayers

Recovering from Hospitalization: Joyce Spillman, Amelia Hoffman, Vicki Hoffmann, Linda Shields

Prayers for healing: Joyce Schmelzer, Kara Simpson

Active Duty: Jeremy Ragsdale, Craig Long. Thanksgivings for Dan Dibble’s return to the U.S.

Friends of the Congregation in need of Gods presence and comfort: Bob Brammann, Susan Gephart, Erica Pessia, Dennis Fox, and the family of Margaret Arnold.

Many Thanks . . . . Joyce Spillman thanks everyone for their cards and prayers.

Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study . . . . The Men’s Breakfast for June has been cancelled. We will begin again on Saturday, July 12 at 7:30am - 9:00am. We continue to invite all men to attend. The study on July 12 will focus on Business Ethics. We are requesting that men bring questions and stories about good and bad examples of business ethics at work. This should be a lively conversation. Please fill out a yellow response form in your Sunday worship folder on June 30 or July 7 so that we may get a head count for food planning purposes.

Summer Worship Times

     Beginning June 15^th:

  ✺ 8:15 - First Service

  ✺ 9:30 - Fellowship

  ✺ 10:00 - Second Service

From the Staff . . .

Dear Resurrection people,

           What a great way that is to greet people during the Easter season! And even better that we can use that greeting the whole year round. “We are a Resurrection people” was the identity claimed in the Mission Statement that was developed over ten years ago. It is an identity that we want to continue to claim as we move forward.

           We are nearing the conclusion of the process that has been directed at developing new Vision, Mission, and Values Statements. In each statement, we continue to claim our identity as a Resurrection people. While it may have been true in the past, with the adoption of these statements, we can point specifically to the ways in which we are:

Vision Led – Mission Driven – Values Guided

The Vision Statement is a description of our preferred future. It states who we are - and since it describes us as we want to be, it leads us into the future. The Mission Statement describes what we do in order to realize the vision. A Mission Statement has key action verbs that drive our ministry toward that vision. The Values Statement describes the reality of our life together. It talks about what is important to us and guides how we interact with each other and those outside the congregation. While the Values Statement given here is a list of six items, there is an accompanying document that spells out in greater detail what each of those items represents.

           What follows are the latest versions of our proposed Vision, Mission, and Values Statements. These will be placed before the congregation for approval at the June 1 Congregation Meeting. These three statements will be used to help direct, evaluate, and expand our ministry in the years to come.

           We give thanks to God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit through this process. We also give thanks to everyone who contributed to this process, whether by responding to the survey, attending a cottage meeting, participating in the Saturday event, and engaging in conversation about our mission and ministry.

We Filled The Ark!

          Thanks to the efforts of all the Sunday School kids, their parents and entire congregation . . . We have filled an entire ark of animals for Heifer Project International. This means that 30 families will have a source of income for food and education. For these families, an animal will dramatically change the quality of their lives while providing hope for their future.

          In theory, the ark will provide 2 of each of 15 different animals provided by Heifer. The ark is a donation of $5,000. We raised a total of $5,386.07. This is a remarkable accomplishment, especially considering that the most raised in years past was under $500. The total is an accumulation of the ark banks, Christmas card sales and living gifts, Chick-fil-A night, election process for the cow kissing, the May 4^th Event and, of course, the Sunday School weekly offering. Check out the bulletin board by the Fellowship Hall for pictures of who we helped, details of the ark and the cow kissing event.

          Be sure to come to church on June 1^st when a representative of the Heifer Project will present a plaque to RLC recognizing our accomplishment. This has been another example of our congregation joyfully serving others.

– Martha Andersen

Lutheran Hills Update

            A big thanks to all of those who helped the Crusaders with the cabin build at Lutheran Hills. Almost sixty members and friends of RLC participated in some fashion. The enthusiasm and work ethic of everyone was a sight to behold. For the Crusader ChristCare Group, it was a good opportunity to get to know other members of the congregation. When you work next to someone for four to eight hours or so a day, you can come to know them very well. Our group had great satisfaction in accomplishing something tangible that will last for generations to come. However, it was the fellowship, being in nature, and common desire to serve our fellow man in the name of Jesus Christ that made it all worthwhile.

          At some point, we will give recognition to all who labored, cooked, and babysat. For now, again, please accept our big thank you. Also, thanks to Pastors Dave and Mitch for making special trips to the site to provide us with The Word. It was a wonderful setting for a church service.

          It is through projects like these that make us all proud to be members of RLC as well as brothers and sisters in Christ.                                                                    

– Jim Locke

 This is one of a continuing series of monthly articles based

upon our stewardship theme for this year.

Children of God

But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God. John 1:12

           It came rolled up like a treasure map, and indeed it was a great treasure to the young mother who knew the cost of her daughter’s gift. The giver, not quite five, attended preschool in the afternoons. A wonderful place that provided many enriching opportunities for the little ones to “do their work.”

           All the children loved the freedom of going from center to center. They could spend as much time at a project doing it over and over if they wanted. It was play at its best.

           The young mother knew about this specific work. Other children had tried to complete it, but it took a long time, many days to finish. She “oohed” and “ahhed” over the large paper as she unrolled it.

           “A map of the who-o-o-o-le world,” the little one said.

           Each of the seven continents had to be traced, cut out, and colored. Lots of extra glue stick had gone into cementing the pieces to the paper in their right locations. Finally, each continent was labeled in her best printing. Days and days of work went into this moment when she would offer the gift, watch its unrolling, and wait for the response she knew would come.

           “Oh, Jill. You must have spent hours!”

           “I did,” she said.

           Imagine a God who promises us that if we receive and believe, we will have the power to become children—over and over again. Children who spend hours and hours working for the kingdom, and are happy about it. No obligation. No guile. Just wanting to love in the best way we can. Come on, children, there’s work to be done.

Copyright 2002 Augsburg Fortress. Permission is granted to reproduce this material for local, congregational use only.