Parish Scope/May 2019

MAY WORSHIP EVENTS

2019 Confirmation Students (photo courtesy of Peter Hybben)

Left to right, row 1: Pastor Sarah Miller, Emma White, Hayleigh Husby, Hailey Alexander,

Lexi Stokes, Morgan Reckin, Caitlyn Sorensen, Bree Cook, Anna Imsande

Row 2: Allison Rigotti, Deacon Kelly Jensen, Brady Immerman, Mariyah Creaser, Ashleah

Quilling, Kara Giesking, Rhyenne Fuerstenberg, Chloe Danovsky, Stephen Doran, Waylon

Rogers, Pastor Heather Wigdahl

Row 3: Jeff Ohvall, Treysen Witt, Breanna Grutt, Ben Seppa, Carson Buhr, Brady Thompson,

Ian Sheridan, Makenna Amundson, Diane Amundson

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church May Worship Events

5/5 – Last Day of Sunday School; Teacher/Confirmation Guide Recognition at

10:30 service

5/5 – Affirmation of Baptism Service at 2:00PM

5/12 – Mother’s Day; Plant Delivery

5/19 – Godspeed for Pastor Heather and family at 8:30 service; Baccalaureate at

10:30 service

5/26 – Memorial Day Weekend; Summer Worship Schedule begins: one 9 AM

service

Memorials and Special Gifts

Building Fund

Mark & Sarah Chambers, Mark & Karen Jansen, Dave & Emily Beck

ELCA/Disaster

Kim & Karen Fruit, Bob & Kathy Hirsch, David & Emily Beck, Nancy Bjornson

Youth

Ken & Jeannette Breckner, David & Emily Beck, Nick & Sarah Place, Mark & Sonya Kalscheur, Louis & RoseAnn Husby,

Jean Breckner, Char Ovren (Donation to 2019 Pine Ridge Mission Trip)

Radio Broadcast

Cal & Bonnie Christianson, Gayle Holte, Audrey Erickson, Mary Busalacchi, Elna Johnson (Memorial for Herba Solstad)

Greatest Needs

David & Emily Beck, Julie Bloom, Megan Bayrd & Paul Horvath, Kelly Jensen, Hank & Marge Kunkel, Angie Ruchti,

Rebecca Weaver, Nate & Kayla Mullen, Richard & Patricia Edwards (snow removal), Trudy Forster (Memorial for Sylvia

Nelson, Tom & Lynda Rundle (snow removal), Steven & Susan VandeBerg (snow removal)

Electronic Outdoor Sign

Hank & Marge Kunkel, Kris Lemke (Memorial for Virginia Eiden), Mike & Sally Schendel (Memorial for Virginia Eiden),

Phyllis Larson Estate, Mike & Sally Schendel (Memorial for Virginia Kingzett)

Lutheran Campus Ministry

Louis & RoseAnn Husby, Jen Bignell, Herb White, Trudy Forster, Herb White

ECLA World Hunger

Louis & RoseAnn Husby

General

Dunn County Area 1-74 Retired Education Assn (Memorial for Sylvia Nelson, Bonnie Nelson (Memorial for Ann Stansbury,

Trudy Forster (In Memory of their Mothers and Trudy’s sister

Health Ministry

Becky Kneer (Memorial for Herba Solstad)

Flowers

Katie Eiden (In Memory of Bud & Jinney Eiden, Barb Eiden-Molinaro and Wendell Johnson), Julie Bloom (In Memory of

Barry Bloom), Jeff & Denise Vick (In Memory of Denise’s brother, Douglas Tieman and in Honor of Denise’s mother, Lois

Tieman), Mariyah & Myranda Creaser (In Honor of Gary & sue Russo and John & Diane Creaser), Jean Reno (In Honor of

Kenneth & Jeannette Breckner from their children & grandchildren), Mary Solberg (In memory of Louis & Alda Solberg

and Terry Solberg, Kristime Lemke (In Memory of Amund & Marie Bakke and Harold & Inez Lemke, Henry Fuerstenberg

(In Memory of Cohen Fuerstenberg and Gordon & Esther Heisa, Mary Busalacchi (In Memory of Theresa & Sebastian

Busalacchi) , Hank & Marge Kunkel (In Memory of Joan Keller and Deanna Applehans), Howard & Rita Slinden (In

Memory of Haldo & Elna Slinden and Neal & Anita McKinley), Troy Pieckert (In Memory of Lydia Erdman and Grannie

Annie), Loren & Bonnie Barker (In Memory of Bob & June Barker and Mike & Dorothy Wendt and in Honor of their

children and grandchildren), Trudy Forster (In Honor of her family)

Advance Care Planning: A Guide to Arranging Your

Personal/Legal Affairs

FRI May 10, 10 am - 2 pm

Dunn County Community Services Bldg - Room 54

No fee to attend. Includes materials, light lunch.

Registration required. Call 715-232-4006 by Tues May 7.

Foster Care Informational Session (May is Foster

Care Month)

The Dunn County Department of Human Services is

recruiting families interested in providing foster care and/or

respite care for children involved in the child protection &

youth justice system.

Interested applicants are invited to attend an informational

session to learn more about foster care, respite care, and

other opportunities to support children in Dunn County.

Sessions will cover the licensing process and requirements

and answer any questions you may have. Please join us on

one of the following Mondays from 5:30 –6:30

p.m. May 20, Aug 19 or Nov 18. Location: Dunn County

Community Services Building. RSVP’s are

REQUIRED. Please call 715-231-2777 or email

mlberg@co.dunn.wi.us.

HEALTH MINISTRY

Dear Families of OSL,

Growing up I never dreamed that I would be a leader in the church, especially with my previous faith background; however, a few years ago (Jan 2017) when OSL had a need, I volunteered to help and thought it would just be for the remainder of that education year. Here I am 2-1/2 years later feeling so blessed to have had the opportunity to lead the Sunday School and VBS programs here at OSL and grow in my own faith, as well as helping our youth grow in theirs. I have learned so much about myself and have made so many wonderful connections with not only the children, but also all the families here at OSL. With the above said, it is with a heavy heart that I need to inform you all that after VBS in August, I will be stepping down from my position as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Coordinator here at Our Savior’s. It was a very tough decision, but with the budget and some growing personal concerns with my own children, it is time to put my focus elsewhere. I walk away with some amazing moments shared and made with all the children and families, as a teacher, coordinator, and a leader here at OSL. The next chapter of OSL Sunday School will be directed by our Children’s Ministry Director Denise Vick, along with the help from the Pastors and Deacon. I will still be around for this summer helping with the transition while attending to VBS duties, however, I ask that families and members of the congregation really look and see in what way they can help support this amazing ministry (Sunday School) here at OSL as I believe it is a very important ministry. As I discussed during my reflection this Lenten season, we all need to practice Joyful Asceticism – so, I ask in what way can you serve these young children and help fulfill the promise we made to them during their baptism to help guide their faith journeys (whether small or big). As Paul said in his letter to the Romans (ch 12 v 6-8): We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. I look forward to finishing out the education year and VBS this summer. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. If you are interested in helping with either VBS this summer or Sunday School next year, please also feel free to contact me – we’d LOVE to use your talents. I can be reached at sundayschool@oslme.com or 715-308-3871. In Christ, Lexi Marsh Sunday School and VBS Coordinator Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

YOUTH MINISTRY

Congrats to Egg Dyeing Contest Winners!

Most Creative:

1st Place: Sara Palmer

2nd Place: Karl Palmer

3rd Place: Allie Otto

Best Hidden Message:

1st: Place: Madi Place

2nd Place: Anonymous

3rd: Tessa Thompson

Best Whoops:

1st Place: Hayleigh Husby

2nd Place: Sara Palmer

3rd Place: Emily Pieckert

Prizes & Trophies are on the table in the Friendship Room!

UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST:

The Sunday School Year End Party will be held Sunday, May 5th – be

sure to thank your child’s teacher for all their hard work and

dedication!

Kidventures summer dates have been chosen: June 12th, July 10th

and August 14th. Registration forms will be available soon.

Vacation Bible School will be Sunday, July 28th – August 1st, hosted

at Christ Lutheran. Registration forms will be available early June.

*OSL Women's Campership Scholarship applications are due by May

1st. Forms can be found in the mailboxes by the pastors’ offices.*

YOUTH MINISTRY

Sunday School families: Please use this link to fill out

our Survey regarding this Education Year by May

5th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LF83WCL

Six youth celebrated their Communion Milestone!

David (Bennett) Beck Eleanor Beck Beckham Howe

Veronica (Roni) Molback

Vienna Paulson

Clayton Slupe

Pray for them as they mark this major milestone on their faith journeys.

The Pine Ridge Mission Trip Team would like to thank everyone

for their support of our recent fundraisers. Over $780 in donations

came in during the Palm Sunday Brunch, and since the groceries were

paid for with Thrivent Action Team money, 100% of your donations

go directly towards the trip. We’d especially like to thank everyone

who donated items for the Silent Auction: O’Reilly Auto Parts, 3M,

Ted’s Pizza, Menomonie 7 CEC Movies, Kari Hintzman (Mary Kay),

Bob and Kathy Hirsch, Pat and Lisa Brogan, Mike and Sally Schendel

(& Phyllis Larson.) and all the trip members. Thank you to everyone

who bid on the items as well! We raised over $1200 from the sale of

auction items. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will help us

to extend our ministry beyond our walls to the folks at Pine Ridge!

Please join us for our Baccalaureate Worship Service on Sunday

May 19th at 10:30 am. Help us to honor our graduating high school

seniors with a cake reception at 9:30am in the Friendship Room, then

join us in worship as we bless our graduates! If you know anyone

who is graduating, please contact Kelly at kelly@oslme.com prior to

May 5th to be included in the slide show for that day.

Annual Plant Sale: Last day to order flowers, plants and gift cards

through Season’s Harvest Greenhouse is May 5th. Order forms are

available in the Friendship Room. Please plan to pick up your plants

on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 12th. Our church receives 25% of the

sales of plants. So surprise your mom, plant your flower beds, and

support your church all at the same time!

Anyone interested in playing Church Softball this summer, please

contact Kelly Jensen by May 5th. Games are played on Sunday

evenings in June and July. The league is open to students entering

grades 6 through 10. Registration forms can be found on the

information table in the Friendship Room.

YOUTH MINISTRY

Hey happy campers! In affiliation with Ministry Outside Our Walls, please

join us for an #OSLOutside intergenerational camping experience October

18-20 in Crosby, MN. Activities include hiking, biking, and campfires. To

register, check out the sign-up sheet in the Friendship Room next to the

tent, then go to truenorthbasecamp.com to reserve your preferred site. Sign

up soon for best selection! If questions, please connect with Matt Wigdahl

or Steve Siegle.

THANKS to all who donated to Stepping Stones during Lent. We

collected 339 pounds of diapers & toilet paper and raised $281.72!

MINISTRY OUTSIDE OUR WALLS

Welcome Bag Project for Foster Closet…how you can help!

- Through Sunday May 12 you are invited to donate ANY of the following

items: Welcome Bag items for children age 10+ including

blanket; stuffed animal, toothbrush/toothpaste; 3 in 1

shampoo/conditioner/body wash; lotion; brush & comb; deodorant; nail

kit; journal/notebook; facial tissue; hoodie sweatshirt; socks; underwear

- Please place donated items in the marked basket in the Friendship Room

no later than SUN May 12. (Monetary donations also accepted)!

- The items will be assembled into Welcome Bags on Wed, May 15 at First

Congregational Church (as a service project by confirmation students from

several churches) and shared with the Foster Closet.

- This is a project by Menomonie Area Mission Coalition (a group of

9 area churches joining together to serve our community).

The Bencke Family in Japan

Reconstruction

It is Lent. A period of reflection. Submission. It is also the three-year anniversary of two devastating earthquakes that shattered our city. And just a few days ago, a fire ravaged through one of the world’s treasured buildings, Notre Dame.

A couple of weeks ago, just as the cherry blossoms were starting to open up, I took a walk near the Kumamoto Castle. The huge, centuries-old castle suffered massive damage during the main quake and afterward the “shivers,” as Hannah called the aftershocks. I was quite impressed with how far along the reconstruction has come. The stones that had been strewn across the land “gucha-gucha” (pronounced “goo-cha goo-cha,” a Japanese word meaning something like ‘disorganized mess’), are slowly being replaced back in the foundation of the castle building. Work crews have been very carefully hoisting the huge stones into small, cramped spaces. The smallest details, colors, shapes, sizes, as well as future durability and cost, have all been taken into consideration as the specialists figure out a way to preserve the building.

Some of the

prayers of our

hearts…

We rejoice for new opportunities at the college. A new school year means new relationships, new experiences, new perspectives, each offering us a chance to be intentional about being change agents.

We pray for the leadership at Kyushu Lutheran College. As leaders look toward the future and decide how to remain financially stable and continue to attract students, we ask God to help them sustain solid relationships in the community and seek wisdom from Him.

We pray for our recent graduates – that they not be overwhelmed in their transition to full time employment and the stress of setting out on their own. We also pray for our brand new freshman class – that each student find deep meaning in their studies and the activities in which they choose to engage. May those who decide to join our chapel committee find a special connection to a friend or faculty member who can point them toward Jesus.

The model of the castle and stone wall (bottom) is what existed before the earthquake. While it may be hard to see, in the picture posted on the wall behind the model, you can see where the wall collapsed and only a single column of stones remained to hold up the castle turret. Several weeks after the earthquake, the column of stones collapsed, but by then measures had been taken to stabilize that corner of the castle. If you are able to zoom in on the picture in Microsoft Word, the difference is much more recognizable.

May 2019- 75番

NOTICES, EVENTS &

OPPORTUNITIES

Our mailing address:

Bencke Famiy

KUMAMOTO SHI

KITA-KU SHIMIZU

MANGOKU 5-17-17 861-8068

JAPAN

jacqueline.bencke@gmail.com

ELCA— Global Mission

If you are interested in learning more

about the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in America’s global mission

and/or opportunities to serve, please

visit: www.elca.org/globalmission

For more information on mission

funding, please contact any of the

following individuals:

Global Mission

8765 W. Higgins Road

Chicago IL 60631

(800) 638-3522, ext. 2769

www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship

Andrew Steele continues to lead

the major fundraising efforts on

behalf of missionary sponsorship and

programs of ELCA Global Mission.

His new title is Director, Global

Mission Funding. Andrew is often on

the road, visiting with the major

donors who make much of this work

possible.

Jessica Hacker is the Director of

Stewardship, Operations and

Planning. Her work (and the larger

team) includes not only Global

Mission Funding, but the scholarship

operations of the ELCA Fund for

Leaders and donor relations related

to all gifts made to ELCA ministries.

She has been with the Mission

Advancement Unit for 9 years and is

a returned missionary, having served

as a GM2 in Germany.

Jenny Ackerman joins the Global

Mission Funding team as Global

Mission Operations Manager. She

serves as the main contact for any

fundraising or home assignment

questions, facilitates reporting of

fundraising and best practice

trainings and leads donor relations.

She previously held a role with ELCA

World Hunger’s network engagement

team.

As Christians, we look forward to Easter, that big church festival that usually brings us joy, if not for the wonderful music at church, then certainly for the chocolate Easter candy that we enjoy. Resurrection is such a difficult concept to explain to Japanese non-Christians. It makes no sense to them. Why should they believe such a story? And even if they do believe that it happened, so what? Why is Easter so central to our Christian faith? Tough questions. Any pastors out there wanna shoot me a quick email as to how to respond?

One way I like to present the resurrection is by talking about the castle reconstruction. When that castle, which is sort of the “pride and joy” of Kumamoto, was decimated, while we could all see the exterior damage, it was the interior damage to what was unseen that really endangered the castle’s future.

Like that, we humans also experience things in our lives that cause us to be damaged in some way. Maybe we are damaged by things that are the result of some poor choice we made, or maybe we had no control over a situation but were harmed by it nonetheless. Sometimes the damage is visible, and sometimes it remains hidden, or stowed away, eating away at our souls. Maybe the damage we incur causes us to bring harm or darkness to others. Also, like buildings, once there is a little damage in us, the small injuries can become larger, making the pain even worse, unless and until we are able to do some reconstruction. Reconstruction, like the resurrection, offers us the opportunity to start over.

When Christ died on the cross, He was in full submission to God the Father. He offered Himself to be fully committed to a painful death. Our sinfulness puts on a path toward pain and death as well. But the Good News – the GREAT news – is that Jesus overcame that death. He was resurrected, reconstructed into Wholeness with God.

Putting our faith in the resurrection means we are willing to submit to whatever God needs us to do in order to be offered His full forgiveness, and as such, we are reconstructed over and over again, moment by moment, day by day. What we all need to be continually reminded of is that just like the castle can’t rebuild itself, neither can humans reconstruct themselves. Intervention is required. The right tools, materials, and workers, friends, family, and teachers all

contribute to the reconstruction process. We can help one another ‘be reconstructed’ when we are involved in the lives of others, being a source of light and hope.

Only minutes after writing this

newsletter, I came across this

poignant image of the aftermath

at Notre Dame: “In the ashes,

the cross remains.”

NOTICES, EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

NOTICE: The OSW Women Board meeting is at 1:00 PM on Monday, May 6th!

Habitat Home Preservation Program

Need some repairs to the exterior of your house or know someone that does? The Chippewa Valley

Habitat For Humanity and the Menomonie Lions Club have partnered in Habitat’s Home

Preservation Program. Examples of repair work include painting, landscaping, weatherization and

minor repair services. The goal is to preserve homes and revitalize neighborhoods, helping families

have a well-maintained and safe place to call their home.

Homeowners may contact Habitat at 715.833.8933 or email info@cvh4h.org for more information.

A huge thank you to all of our choirs, directors, musicians and vocalists who gave of their time and

talents during the Lenten season! What a wonderful way to contribute to worship.

We are in need of musicians and vocalists of ALL ages for summer worship! Please contact Michaela if

interested.

New Opportunity – Quilt at Home!!

Enjoy sewing but can’t be at church on Monday mornings to help the Women in Action (aka Monday Morning

Quilters)? Through a Thrivent Action grant we have put together kits (containing 48 fabric squares) that can

be taken home, sewn together and returned. Then the Women In Action will take it from there!

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Lenten Soup Suppers a Success.

Thanks to the Youth who were there each week helping to serve - great group of kids.

Special thanks to the Soup Makers, Sweet Treat Makers and everyone who so generously provided bread, milk, juice, butter, crackers and assisted serving and cleaning up.

Special Thanks to the OSW for their continued ministry providing these gifts to OSL.

GOD'S WORK - OUR HANDS!

REMINDERS & ONGOING MINISTRIES

Men’s Bible Study – Meets at the Menomonie Family Restaurant at 6 PM on the second and fourth Monday of each

month. Contact: Doug Larson - 715 556 0244

AMers – Meets the First Thursday of each month at Denny’s at 8:30 AM Contact: Jan Willow – 715 235 9571

Leah Circle – Meets the second Monday of the month at 11 AM. Contact: Gloria Kraemer – 715 235 3621

Women in Action – Meets Mondays at 8:30 AM in the Recreation Room; OSW Board meets first Monday of month in

Library.

Quilting Queens – Meets the third Thursday of each month at 9 AM in the Recreation Room.

Reading Club – Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1 PM in the Fireside Room. This month they’ll be

discussing Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World – and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans

Rosling. All are welcome!

Writing Group – Meets the third Wednesday of the month at 1 PM.

Baptismal Family Meeting

Pastors conduct a group baptismal orientation at 9:45AM on the second Sunday of each month. This

month the orientation will be on May 12th. Please call the church office at 715-235-0693 or email

office@oslme.com to schedule a baptism.

If you have contribution questions, contact Bonnie Christianson at: contributions@oslme.com

If you need to contact Kim Studinger, please email her at: bookkeeper@oslme.com

If you would like to volunteer on Sunday mornings, contact RoseAnn Husby at: info@oslme.com

If you have an announcement for the bulletin or Scope, contact Charis Collins at: charis@oslme.com

Contributions & Giving

If you are out of giving envelopes, let the office know. We can easily print more. If your

offering is in a plain envelope, please make sure you write your name and number on it.

Online giving is available on OSL’s website. Whether you’re a member, a visitor or a friend,

you’re able to make regular contributions, a special one-time donation, or a memorial gift online

using your debit or credit card.

As a way to celebrate your online Simply Giving, feel free to use the brightly colored giving

cards during offering during the service (located in the pew racks)

OSL now has a QR (Quick Response) Code: Give directly using the QR Reader app on

your device!

500 Card Party – Meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 PM.

Beyond the main temple area, before heading up the final leg of the mountain, there was a small cemetery where graves dating back to 700 A.D. dotted the landscape. This modest gravestone appeared to have a few tenants, perhaps a family grave. I kind of like cemeteries. They are generally quite peaceful places.

As my friend and I quietly walked through this cemetery, I considered that none of these people ever would have heard of Jesus. No Christian missionary set foot in Japan until almost 1000 years after these people were buried. I don’t know the theology of salvation for those who haven’t been exposed to the gospel, but I like to think that even though Jesus hadn’t been introduced to Japan while these people were living that perhaps He walked within and among them, unrecognized as the Prince of Peace. I meditated on how blessed I am to know Him.

(715) 235-0693

STAFF:

Senior Pastor: Rev. Heather T. Wigdahl, heather@oslme.com, Ext. 203

Associate Pastor: Rev. Sarah Miller, sarah@oslme.com. Ext. 204

Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Don Wisner

Bookkeeper: Kim Studinger, bookkeeper@oslme.com, Ext. 202

Contributions: Bonnie Christianson, contributions@oslme.com, Ext. 202

Director of Youth Ministry: Deacon Kelly Jensen, kelly@oslme.com, Ext. 206

Director of Children’s Ministry: Denise Vick, denise@oslme.com, Ext. 205

Health Ministry/Parish Nurse: Becky Kneer, becky@oslme.com, Ext. 207

Parish Nurse: Amy Whelan, amy@oslme.com, Ext. 207

Administrative Assistants: Charis Collins & Janell Evan, office@oslme.com, Ext. 201

Director of Music Ministry: Michaela Gifford, michaela@oslme.com, Ext. 216

Sunday School Coordinator: Lexi Marsh, sundayschool@oslme.com, Ext. 205

OSL Choir Director: Michael Dayton

Joy & Jubilee Choir Director: Emily Hansen

Bell Choir Director: Merlyn Aude

Worship Band Leader: Ted Bensen

Wedding Coordinator: Michaela Gifford

Custodian: Josh Madsen, custodian@oslme.com, Ext. 217

2019 CHURCH COUNCIL MEMBERS

Roxanne Close: President

Diane Hausler: Vice President

Tom Rundle: Secretary

Paul Horvath

Rod Smeltzer

Kris Lemke

Jeff Vick

Sarah Place

Dan Krueger

Mark Kalscheur: Treasurer

Contact Us

Our Savior’s Lutheran

910 9th Street

Menomonie, WI

(715) 235-0693

office@oslme.com

www.oslme.com

OUR MISSION

God calls all members of Our Savior’s Lutheran to:

+WELCOME all to faith in Jesus Christ

+WORSHIP our Lord and Savior

+EQUIP us for a faith that works in real life

+SEND us into the world to minister in Jesus’ name