Resurrection Bell Ringer
March, 2003
In Our Prayers
Recovering from Hospitalization: Mary Gillespie; Betty Gerstenberger; Rita Matthews; Rick Sarber
Prayers for healing: Joyce Schmelzer
Cancer Treatment: Marvin Tatum
Active Duty: Dan Dibble, Jeremy Ragsdale
In Sympathy: Garland Craig, for the loss of her mother; Randy Fletcher, for the loss of his father
In Celebration: Clint & Becky Morris, for the birth of their son, Matthew James
Friends of the Congregation in need of Gods presence and comfort: Gary Gammons; Don Widmon; Carson Brown; Susan Gephart
“A special thanks to all the people of RLC and the Board of Social Ministries for hosting the Second Annual Superbowl Party at Lutherwood on Jan. 26. The kids had a great time and are looking forward to next year. ” – Ange Cahoon, Lutheran Child Family Services.
“Many thanks for all the cards, visits and prayers for Harry and me during our illnesses and recuperation. We feel so very blessed to have such faithful praying friends.” – Mary Gillespie
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
March 4, 6:30pm, Fellowship Hall
pancakes . . . bacon . . . sausage . . . YUM!
Special Lenten devotional booklet
“Power-surge:
the marks of discipleship”
is the theme for this devotional/prayer resource. Each day includes a bible verse, refleciton, space for journaling or personal reflection, and prayer. Use it everyday! Available Sunday, March 2nd.
March 5th at 7:00 pm,
A service of
repentance and renewal
with imposition of ashes
From the Staff . . .
Dear Resurrection People,
In April of 1994, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Evansville celebrated its 100th anniversary. They were also in the midst of the call process for a new pastor. The previous two pastorates had ended under difficult circumstances and it was good to have something to celebrate. I arrived as the newly called pastor the following August. In early 1995, we began a long-range planning process. One of the things to come out of that was that the congregation no longer had a sense of purpose or mission -- they had celebrated the anniversary, but were now adrift.
A year later, St. Mark’s had new Mission and Vision Statements. They were the culmination of several months of focused conversation and prayer which involved the entire congregation. The result was amazing, almost palpable. There was once again a sense of focus and direction. People said that there was a sense of unity that had not been felt in many years. As we began to move forward with the Mission and Vision Statements as our compass, there was a swing in the attitude of the congregation and a new, positive atmosphere. After thirty years of decline, the congregation experienced six consecutive years of growth.
Now, I will be the first to acknowledge that Resurrection Lutheran Church is in a much different place than St. Mark’s was nine years ago. Resurrection is growing, and there is an overall trusting, positive spirit about this place. However, the last time there was a systematic thinking through of the future of the congregation was ten years ago - a process that produced our current Mission Statement. Resurrection has changed much in the last ten years. A vast majority of people who are here now were not here ten years ago. These people were attracted to Resurrection for many reasons - and many of those reasons were a result of the vision that was cast ten years ago.
It is time once again for there to be some focused conversation and prayer regarding the future of Resurrection. We need to figure out how to articulate our mission for the next ten years. We need to cultivate a shared vision for what we are about. By the time this newsletter is distributed, we will have already moved through the first stage of this process -- the congregational survey. As we move forward, I ask two things of you. First of all, please pray for this process, that the result truly be God’s will for our congregation. Second, please take part in the remaining stages: the cottage meetings and the Mission Statement Event on May 3.
I am excited about this process. I believe a new Mission and Vision Statement will help to harness the energy of our congregation and move us forward in mission and ministry, thereby helping us to become more fully the people God has called and gifted us to be.
Beginning March 12th
Lenten Suppers . . . .
We will continue the tradition of our various Boards supplying the congregation with a light supper prior to the Wednesday evening worship service. Supper will be ready by 5:45pm. The suppers will be hosted as follows:
March 12: Fellowship/Communications
March 19: Social Ministry/Spiritual Life
March 26: Evangelism/Exec. Committee
April 2: Education/Stewardship
April 9: Property/Youth
Thank you to all those supplying the meals! Please come and enjoy a simple meal and good fellowship. A free-will offering will be taken at the door.
Lenten Worship . . . .
Our Lenten Vespers will be held each Wednesday night during Lent at 7:00pm, following the Lenten supper. We will revisit the marks of discipleship from PowerSurge and how these practices might help find personal spiritual renewal this Lenten season.
Attention 5th Graders:
First Communion Class
Begins March 5th !
Lent signals the beginning of our class for children preparing for their first communion. Held immediately after the 7:00 Wednesday evening worship service, this fun and fast-paced half hour is for both the child preparing and his/her parents. Most of the preparatory work is done, then, at home. At the completion of the six weeks, an individual interview session is held with Pastor, child and parents meeting together to determine if the child is ready to commune. Their first communion will be Maundy Thursday, April 17.
The following 5th graders, as well as other youth not yet prepared are welcome. Please contact the church office if your child’s name should be added to this list.
❄ Caitlin Albaugh❄ Will Schnabel
❄ Aaron Daugherty❄ Jenna Toney
❄ Kyle McDonough❄ Rachel Wise
❄ Joel Petersen
3rd and 4th Grade Students:
Confirmation Instruction
on the Apostles’ Creed
Beginning Sunday, March 2, and continuing through March 23, the 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School children will be receiving instruction from Scott Mikkelson on the Apostles’ Creed during the regular Sunday School hour, beginning at 9:30am. This four-week period of instruction is part of Resurrection’s Confirmation process. Parents should plan to attend, and sit with their children.
Military Members . . . .
Did you know we have two RLC members deployed overseas? Dan Dibble (wife Barbara) and Jeremy Ragsdale (parents Barbara and Byron Klemesrud) are both deployed in the Middle East – Dan is in Afghanistan and Jeremy is in Kuwait. Four local Girl Scout Troops and one local Cub Scout Troop are collecting items to send “Care Packages” to them. If you would like to contribute to a care package, or if your Christ Care Group or committee would like to put together your own care package, please contact Cathy or Paul Wessel (889-8002). If you would like to correspond with Dan and/or Jeremy:
Daniel E.C. Dibble
CJTF 180
Attn: CJ8/RM
APO AE 09354
PZ2 Jeremy Ragsdale
Maintenance HHBDIVARTY
Unit #93500
APO AE 09303-3500
Mark your calendars ahead . . . .
April 17 - Maundy Thursday Worship, First Communion, Agape Feast
April 28 - Good Friday Service of Shadows
May 1 - Ladies Spring Fling
June 15-20 - Group Works Camp
June 16-20 - Vacation Bible School
July 16-20 - ELCA Youth Gathering
RLC Blood Drive . . . .
The Bloodmobile is coming back to RLC on Sunday, March 30th from 9am through 1pm. If you are between the ages of 17 and 100, and have not given blood in the eight weeks prior to March 30, please consider helping others in this simple manner. A pint of blood saves the lives of four people! Sign up sheets will be available in the narthex.
Habitat for Lutheran Hills . . . .
The Crusaders ChristCare Group, in conjunction with Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, is making plans to build a new cabin at Lutheran Hills. Lutheran Hills is an ELCA camp in Brown County. The design of the cabin is still in the planning stage and must meet local and state government codes, but the project is moving ahead. We are not sure of the exact dates for the build itself, but are hopeful that it will be sometime between Mother’s Day in May and before the camping season is in full swing on July 1st. We will spread the build out over two or three weekends.
We are not looking for monetary donations, but will be needing volunteers to work on the construction (similar to, but easier than putting together, a “Habitat for Humanity” house.) In addition, we will need onsite childcare providers and meal providers. This is not only for adults -- we are encouraging the teens in our congregation to participate as well. Look to future Bell Ringers and bulletins for more information, or contact one of the members of the Crusaders ChristCare Group: Jean & Jim Canter, Walt & Joyce Tucker, Dan & Sandy Kendall, K.C. & Donna Thomsen, Joanne & Dudley Daniel, Carol & Ralph Neiman, Jim & Cheryl Locke, Kathy Hardey, or Marty Welch.