Worship Service @ 9:30 AM Thoughts from Pastor Dave:

I am reminded of our Jewish roots as Christians. Pentecost is 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The Jews had the Feast of Weeks (Exodus 34:22) 50 days after the Passover. That helps explain why in Acts two “there were people from all nations gathered in Jerusalem.” It was a popular occasion.

Fire is an interesting symbol in the Jewish history. I think of Moses and the burning bush. God leading the Israelites with a pillar of fire. The tongues of fire which symbolized the touching down of the Spirit among the gathered people. That is why we use red as the color of Pentecost day and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

We have some prairie grass by Kennedy Mill Park close to our place. Each year they have a controlled burn. I am always amazed how quickly the new green growth comes back. That also explains why the church uses green as the time of new growth, renewal of life, after the coming of God’s spirit.

May your faith get a hue of green this Pentecost season.

Peace, Pastor Dave

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Remembering our friends and family in prayer: Adelaide Boettcher, Judy Brookshaw, Edna Christenson, Judith Evanson, Ellen Monicken-Knuth, the family and friends of Doris Knutson, Gary Mead, Roger Moniken, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg, Ken Sabby, Angie Symanietz, and Bob Traynor

If you would like your name added, or to add anyone else to our

list, please call Kathy Swenson at 715-425-6046 or see the church

website at rushriverlutheran.org/prayer-request.

A sincere thank you for all of your prayers and support during the illness of my brother, Mons. Your expression of concern and caring were greatly appreciated. Thank you,

Pastor Dave

July 2019

Please submit your newsletter items to the office by email or drop

them in the basket on the office desk! August newsletter items are due by July 20th.

Thank you!

Council Corner July 2019

Celebrating 25th Anniversary of Pastor Dave’s Ordination: Pastor Dave’s ordination in 1994 marked the beginning of twenty-five years of serving God and congregations in rural settings. It is remarkable that Pastor Dave came to RRLC in 2014 as a pastor who would be with us short term in the role of an interim pastor, one who would help us prepare for a new pastor. Little did either of us know at the time, this relationship would continue for the next five years and will continue into our foreseeable future. I believe that for Pastor Dave and Dixie and RRLC, this union has most definitely been a mutual blessing. RRLC is a very special place, and Pastor Dave and Dixie, very special people.

Therefore we are in the planning stages of an anniversary celebration of that ordination on Sunday, October 6th. Bishop Laurie Skow-Anderson will lead us in worship that day, and the Worship and Witness Committee is in the planning stages of refreshments and fellowship. Please mark October 6th on your calendar and help to make this a special day in honoring Pastor Dave and our mutual ministry.

Ballpark Shelter Update: The concrete has been poured for the floor of the shelter, and hopefully when you read this article, the apron under the eaves and a ramp will also have been poured. The cement trucks had a somewhat difficult time getting down to the site so it will be nice to have that part of the construction behind us. The driveway upgrade to the shelter with crushed concrete will be completed after all the concrete is poured.

The remaining work on the shelter will be the installation of metal on the east gable and ceiling. Then, it will be time for some landscaping to complete the project.

Donation of picnic table: The Council accepted the donation of a very nice picnic table from the farm of Carol Bennett. The table is light enough to be moved easily for mowing and is located just outside the office area. Thanks Carol. TOGETHER IN CHRIST, Don

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Stephanie Kelley will be home and visiting us here at Rush River

Lutheran on July 7th!!

Stephanie is involved with a project that she would like our help with.

She is requesting that we save plastic shopping bags to give to her:

standard, single use shopping bags—any size is appropriate—a bigger bag would create more

“plarn” (plastic yarn) to work with. Please keep in mind the cleanliness of the bags. Washing is

not necessary, but please, no soiled bags (e.g., sticky soda, raw meat juices, etc.), as the bags

will be transformed into beds/mats for homeless people. Plastic bags may be brought to church

for Stephanie.

"The greatest cruelty is our casual blindness to the despair of others."

- J. Michael Straczynski

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The church garden is planted and the corn is up and growing! Huge thanks to Tim Wells and Bob St. Germain!

Thanks to Toni, Shirley and Dylan, the pumpkins and squash are also planted!

2019 Calendar

Worship Leaders in July

Readers Communion

Assistants Greeters Ushers Altar Guild

July 7 Lisa Kotz Jim Knutson &

Sara Cardwell

Don & Loree

Austrum

Tim & Wand Wells,

Audrey Bergseng,

Carol Stephan

Kathy Swenson &

Wanda Wells

July 14 Kelly Ebbens Kelly Ebbens &

Annette Kelley

Tom & Ariel

Stephan, Dennis &

Diane Friese

July 21 Karen Cowles Jim Knutson &

Sara Cardwell Danielson family

Kelly Ebbens,

Annette Kelley, Toni

Lubich, Ione Hayes

Kathy Swenson &

Wanda Wells

July 28 Diane Friese Jerid/Brandy

Peterson &

family

Jerid Peterson,

Gene Larson, Myren

Cowles, Don

Austrum

Thank you to Kelly Ebbens for baking communion bread for the

month July!

Thank you to Ariel Stephan for faithfully ringing the church bell!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Pastor Dave’s office

hours: Wed & Thurs, 10

AM – Noon

1 Men in Mission,

___6:30 PM___ Cleaning Crew #3

2

3

Office Closed

5

6

7 Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

8 Cleaning Crew #4

9

Council Mtg,

6:30 PM

10 11 Quilters, 9 AM

12 13 Peace Circle ~

Meet @ Perkins,

Hudson,

9 AM

14 Pentecost Sunday Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

15

Cleaning Crew #5

16

17 18 WELCA Retreat

Am Legion Blood

Drive, RF

19 Am Legion Blood

Drive, RF

20 Newsletter

items due

21 Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

22 Cleaning Crew #6

VBS begins:

6-6:30: Meal;

6:30-8:VBS

23 VBS 6-8 PM

24 VBS 6-8 PM

25

VBS 6-8 PM

26

27

28 Worship @ 9:30 AM

w/ New Member

Sunday; Coffee Time,

10:30 AM

29 Cleaning Crew #1

30

31

(Note: Worship &

Witness will NOT

meet in July)

Linda’s office

hours:

Wed & Thurs:

10 – 1:30

May Income: $8,121.00 May Expenses: $8,218.20

Please contact me with any questions or comments. Emily Pierson, Treasurer

We extend our Christian sympathy to the family and friends of

Doris Knutson, who passed away on Thursday, June 27.

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Summary of Congregation Council Meeting - May 14, 2019

Present: Pastor Dave, Don Austrum, Jerid Peterson, Emily Pierson, Wanda Wells, Kathy Swenson, Ken Cheever, Bruce Ramberg

Absent: Susie Mead

Don called the meeting to order. Pastor Dave continued devotions from “Taking Faith to Work” book given to participants of the EPIC conference. He will

continue to review a chapter next month. Kathy led us in prayer. Ken will do devotions for our June meeting.

New Business:

1. Driveway to the ballpark - Darrell Dunn is checking with Tom Wang for easier access to the Ball Park. Crushed concrete could be laid on the path. Don will write something in the Council Corner for the newsletter about this.

2. Picnic Table - Carol Bennett is donating a picnic table to the church. Thank you Carol!

Unfinished Business:

1. Sub-committee for treasury best practices will meet with Education and Youth Committee (Sunday School) on Wednesday, May 15th. Youth group will need a meeting also.

2. Council Job Descriptions - see list from Don. Motion made by Kathy to accept the Congregation Council Job

Description as written, 2nd by Ken, motion carried. 3. Doors & Locks - Hager City Glass Company will be here Wednesday, May 15th at 1:00 to offer advice and possibly

a bid for our door/lock use. Bruce and Myren Cowles plan to be here to meet with them. 4. Annual Membership Review

5. Printer update - mostly installed and ready for use.

6. Water in Fellowship Hall - ok for now… we are looking into some landscaping outside the North wall.

Treasurer’s Report: Emily

1. Family Fresh points - (Wanda will take this over for Emily) Car Wash Cards - available 2. Discussion of Check registry and Income/Expense report for April. There was a propane fill and taxes were also

taken out this month.

3. Emily will send a Synod Convention offering to the Synod. 4. Lenten Offering - ¾ will be given to the 4 area food shelves, ¼ will go to Malawi.

Pastor’s report: Pastor Dave 1. There has been a wonderful variety of events for families at RRLC.

2. Some visits have been done via phone this month. 3. With One Voice hymnals will be used for Summer Worship.

4. May 19 - Pastor Kent Johnson will lead worship

5. Wednesday, May 15 - Last confirmation class

Committee reports:

1. Education & Youth – Kathy stated that the celebration with reptiles went well. They are planning VBS. 2. Worship & Witness - Meeting Thursday, May 16th about summer worship services that begin June 2nd

3. Building & Grounds – Bruce has contacted a forester about our woods.

4. Endowment Committee - Ken stated their next meeting will be June 18th at 6:30.

Acknowledgements/Thank yous:

Grave marker for the first burial at RRLC cemetery. Twin City Monument in Hammond installed it. Worship and Witness Committee for providing refreshments for the Ecumenical Choir concert here.

Cindy Johnson for new ribbons in worship hymnals

Close with the Lord’s Prayer

Secretary of Congregation Council

Wanda Wells

RRLC May 2019 Directory Update

Sara Cardwell 715-977-1202 Mike Freund & Brandy Peterson

Stella Chad & Melissa (Mel) Visger Mike: 715-928-2431 Ella, Jack, Reese Brandy: 715-307-0205 W6080 – 845th Avenue W530 County Road PP River Falls, WI 54022 Elmwood, WI 54740 Chad: 715-716-0421 Mel: 218-343-8454

New Addresses

Rebecca Cardwell

Shawn & Sara Enberg Evelyn N7707 County Road N Spring Valley, WI 54767

715-307-2263 Jim & Tracy Prissel Chelsea, Emma N8108 - 590th Street Spring Valley, WI 54767 Carol Bennett 715-821-0681 119 Union Street, Apt. 308 River Falls, WI 54022 715-425-5028

Tim & Sarah Gavin Arnold & Evie Roen Davis, Eloise, Sylvia 742 Yellowstone Drive 1363 Halo Drive River Falls, WI 54022 River Falls, WI 54022 715-425-5501

715-441-1643 605-695-9738

Volunteer Opportunities

Throughout St. Croix County

“Neighbors Helping Neighbors”

Do you like to spend time with older adults?

Are you looking for a way to give back?

Make a difference by helping others in your community!

CONTACT: PROGRAMS:

ADRC of St. Croix County * Adult Day Respite

1752 Dorset Lane * Home Delivered Meals

New Richmond, WI 54017 * Congregate Dining

800-372-2333 * Language Enriched Exercise Plus

Email: adrcinfo@sccwi.gov Socialization (LEEPS) Program

Website: www.sccwi.gov

Caregiver Forum Series

Summer 2019 dates

July 19: 10 AM – 12 PM ~ Resilience in Caregiving ~ Bakken-Young Funeral Home, 728 S. Knowles Ave, New Richmond Pre-registration is suggested by calling ADRC @ 1-800-372-2333 What is resilience and how do we assure we have developed enough for coping and survival? This is an amazing session dealing with steps to be resilient and flexible. Presenter: Ted Bowman

July 24: 1 PM – 2 PM ~ Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia ~ Westfields Hospital & Clinic, 535 Hospital Rd, New Richmond Pre-registration is suggested by calling 1-800-272-3900 Education program covering the basics of Alzheimer’s and dementia to provide a general overview for people facing a diagnosis and those who want to be informed.

August 16: 11:30 AM – 1 PM ~ Searching for Solutions: Research and YOU ~ Westfields Hospital – The Drury Conference Center, 535 Hospital Rd, New Richmond Pre-registration is required by calling ADRC at 1-800-372-2333

Learn how easy it is to participate in research – how it works, who can become a participant, and why both healthy individuals and those with a specific diagnosis can contribute. Dementia research in your own backyard. Presenters Terry R. Barclay, PhD, LP, Clinical Director, HealthPartners Neuropsychology Neurosciences Division, Center for Memory and Aging and Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota and Hector Salazar, Recruitment Specialist, Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Institute, UW-Madison.

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ONLINE GIVING Forget your envelopes? Run out of the house on Sunday morning

without your checkbook? Relax! Online giving is available on our

website at www.rushriverlutheran.org

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Grace Place Shelter is a non-profit providing services and shelter to low income

individuals and families in St. Croix and Pierce County.

Grace Place Supplies Needed: Toilet Paper, Paper Towels, 55 Gal. Garbage Bags,

13 Gal. Garbage Bags, Cleaning Supplies, Kleenex, Diapers (Size 5 & 6), Pull Ups,

Baby Wipes, Mens Deodorant, Body Wash, Shampoo & Conditioner, WalMart Gift

Cards

Grace Place is also in need of volunteers! This includes: Volunteer Receptionist, Volunteer Drivers, More help

with evening meals. If you can help, please contact Angela Moulton @ Angela.Moulton@usc.salvationarmy.org

or Jacky.Ouelette@usc.salvationarmy.org or by calling Grace Place at 715-246-1222.

VBS at RRLC

Mark your calendars for July 22-25 for Vacation Bible School. The theme of this year’s VBS is “The Jesus Expedition: Exploring the Miracles of Jesus.” We will begin each night with a meal served from 6-6:30 PM, and VBS will be from 6:30-8 PM.

Volunteers are still needed to provide meals on Monday and Wednesday. We are planning for 30-50 to be served. If you are interested in helping out with either providing meals, helping to serve, or with any other aspect of VBS, please email education-youth@rushriverlutheran.org. (This could be done as a “team” effort—with 2 or more people involved with the meal preparation.) If you have any other questions, please let us know. We’re excited to see you all at VBS!

“We’re out for blood! Take a bite out of summer blood shortages.”

AMERICAN LEGION POST 121 BLOOD DRIVE

Thursday, July 18, 1:00 to 7:00 PM Friday, July 19, 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Appointments: Call Judy at 715-425-7500

Or through the Red Cross at redcrossblood.org

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!!

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Thank you received

Dear Rush River Lutheran,

Thank you so much for your continued financial support of my seminary education. It is

so encouraging to have so many people believing in me through this journey.

This past year in seminary, I worked at a Chicago church, learning what ministry looks like to them,

and getting opportunities to practice leading worship services.

Over the rest of the summer, I will be completing a hospital chaplaincy in Chicago. I’m nervous

about what I will encounter, but looking forward to learning to minister to people in such challenging

circumstances.

Thank you again,

Katie Anderson

“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” ~ Isaiah 41:10

Upcoming Events Women of the ELCA

~Women of the St. Croix Valley Conference ~ 2019 Summer Retreat~ Thursday, July 18, 2019 ~ First Lutheran Church

218 County Road K, New Richmond, WI Registration from 8:15 – 8:45 am ~ Cost: $5 at the door

Speaker: Betty Bergland will speak about the Bethany Indian Mission in Wittenberg, WI

See poster on bulletin board for further details

One Word: Possibilities

55th Annual Heart of the North Women’s Retreat (Women of all ages!) August 12 & 13, 2019

Retreat Pastor/Bible Study: Pastor Maggie Isaacson, North Valley Church, Milltown, WI

Guest Speaker from LifeSpring Home Musical Guest: Sarah Joosten

Luther Park Bible Camp – Chetek, WI

Take 24 hours to strengthen your relationship with other Christian women and with the triune God. (Monday registration at 1:00 pm, program beginning at 1:45 pm)

If you have never attended, this is the time! Only $65.00 for 2 days or $35.00 for one day

(Monday program begins at 1:45 pm. Tuesday program begins at 7:45 am) For More Information contact:

Joan Gerland at 715-205-3100 or jlgerland@gmail.com

Celebrate & Support uther Point Bible Camp’s Many Ministries Luther Point Bible Camp’s 31st Annual Summer Celebration &

Auction will be Sunday, August 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m.; Auction

begins at 1:00 p.m. The following donations are requested for this event:

Quilts ~ Crafts ~ Vacations ~ Gift Cards ~ Time Shares ~ Outings ~ Other

For more information, please go to www.LutherPoint.org or contact them at: (715)689-2347 or info@LutherPoint.org.

Friends of Rush River – Opportunities for Outreach

School Supply Collection – Friends of Rush River has been very busy this year. We plan to continue our School Supply collection. Items may be brought at any time and left on the donation table. Cash donations will be used to purchase more items. Some will be used for School Kits for mission work through LWR (Lutheran World Relief). These are packed into backpacks and taken to the warehouse in So. St. Paul for shipment. Items will also be used for the River Falls School Supply Giveaway. If your school has a need for supplies, please let us know and we can distribute supplies there also.

Pencils, sharpeners, erasers, spiral notebooks (wide-ruled for LWR), rulers, scissors, glue sticks,

crayons, colored pencils, folders, washable markers, dry erase markers, black sharpie markers,

backpacks for older students, pencil boxes.

SAVE YOUR EMPTY PILL BOTTLES

Bring your clean, empty, plastic medicine containers to church. Please remove the label as best as possible. They can be left on the donation table by the elevator. Myren and Karen Cowles will get them where they need to go. If there

are any questions, their phone number is 715-441-5921. The Roberts Lions Club and 3 area Village Pharmacies in Baldwin and Glenwood City will get them to

Matthew 25 Ministries. http://www.evansburgumc.com/ministries/outreach/matthew-25-empty-pill-bottle-recycling/

In developing countries, medicines—when actually obtainable—are often dispensed into hands, pockets, leaves or any other available container. Matthew 25 Ministries accepts donations of

basic medical supplies such as empty pill bottles to help improve health care quality in developing nations. Donations of clean, unlabeled pill bottles help the poorest of the poor in

many ways: Medicine can be distributed in sterile containers. Pill bottles that are not appropriate for shipping are recycled for cash that goes towards Matthew 25: Ministries’

programs.

This plastic recycling program keeps thousands of bottles out of landfills each year. Placing a nickel, dime or quarter in each pill bottle helps with shipping costs to send the bottles to developing countries.

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts the following types of empty pill bottles: Prescription pill bottles

Large and small pill bottles Pill bottles with and without child resistant caps

Over-the-counter pill bottles

You can help improve the quality of health care in hospitals and health clinics in developing countries by saving and donating basic medical supplies such as pill bottles.

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Lutheran World Relief, 700 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230, United States

Rush River Lutheran Church N8623 County Road Y

River Falls, WI 54022

Rush River Lutheran Church ~ July 2019 Worship Service ~ 9:30 AM Fellowship Hour ~ 10:30 AM

Church contact information: Pastor Dave cell: 715-557-0095 home: 715-268-9663

Church: 715-684-3701

Website Facebook Email

www.RushRiverLutheran.org Facebook.com/RushRiverLutheran Office@RushRiverLutheran.org PastorDave@RushRiverLutheran.org