Pastor Peter Jonas

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Volume 20, Issue 5

May 2018

Inside This Issue:

One of my most deeply held convictions is that I try to honor people in my pastoral work and my personal life by carefully lis-tening to them. Listening is a sign of deep respect to the person I am engaged with, and it is a discipline that encourages me to be open to change and new understand-ings. Listening may seem easy, but to truly listen is very difficult and I know that many times I fail to live up to my own standards.

Because listening is such an under-taught and unappreciated skill, I want to share with you some excellent insights from the Mindtools organization on Active Listen-ing. I have found these principles mean-ingful and helpful in my own life.

Active listening is where you make a con-scious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, the complete message being communicated.

In order to do this you must pay attention to the other person very carefully. You cannot allow yourself to become dis-tracted by whatever else may be going on around you, or by forming counter argu-ments while the other person is still speaking. Nor can you allow yourself to get bored, and lose focus on what the other person is saying.

To enhance your listening skills, you need to let the other person know that you are listening to what she is saying. Acknow-

WELCA News 6

Mission Kits 7

Blessing the Seeds 8

May Calendar 9

May Birthdays 10

ledgement can be something as simple as a nod of the head or a simple “uh huh.” You aren’t necessarily agreeing with the person, you are simply indicat-ing that you are listening. Using body lan-guage and other signs to acknowledge you are listening can also help you to pay attention.

Try to respond to the speaker in a way that will encourage him to continue speaking, so that you can get the infor-mation that you need. An occasional question or comment to recap what has been said communicates that you are listening and understanding his message.

To understand the importance of active listening, ask yourself if you've ever been engaged in a conversation when you wondered if the other person was listening to what you were saying? You wonder if your message is getting across, or if it’s even worthwhile continuing to speak. It feels like talking to a brick wall and it’s something you want to avoid.

Here are a few active listening tech-niques you can use to help you become a more effective listener:

Give the speaker your undivided atten-tion, and acknowledge the message.

Don’t mentally prepare a rebuttal! (continued on page 3)

Bless others through “Active

Listening”

Members 2

Church News/Pastor’s mes-sage continued

3

Ministry Team News 4

Finance/Refurbished 5

PAGE 2 T HE M ESS E NGE R

Pigeon Falls Assisted Living/

Nursing Care Center

Francis Foss, Margaret Steinke, Patricia Gie-bel, Marlys Giese, Jeanette Gilbertson

Riverway North - Pigeon Falls

Marian Miller

Adult Day Care - Pigeon Falls

Joyce Lyga

Tri-County Memorial - Whitehall

Iva Gabriel

Sunrise Manor - Whitehall

Clinton Larson, Lorraine Nehring, Ron Fields,

Irene Borreson

Norseland Nursing Home - Westby

L. Muriel Herman

Altar Guild: Brenda Loga, Marnie Anderson

Altar Flowers: Kris Dubiel

Ushers: Linda Schroeder and Sharon Foss

Communion Servers: Linda Schroeder

Organist: Nancy Martinovici, Sue Kohnert

Videographer: Kay Nelson

PowerPoint: ??

Altar Guild: Carol Byington, Mary Ann

Watson

Altar Flowers: Sharon Foss, Sharon Pederson

Ushers: Karl and Donna Fernholz

Communion Servers: Kneifl family

Organist: Nancy Martinovici, Sue Kohnert

Videographer: ??

PowerPoint: ??

FYI: To anyone using the church for events or meetings, please be sure to lock the doors and turn off all the lights before you leave. Thanks so much!

T HE M ESS E NGE R PAGE 3

...from the President

I’m sitting here finding addresses for graduation invitations and we have received several graduation invita-tions. I am thinking that only once in my adult life do I remember ever getting an invitation to join someone at a regular Sunday morning church service. That one came from Lorraine Ritland shortly after I moved to Whitehall. Of course I did join her and the rest is history. My thought here is that if we send out or give per-sonal invitations for all kinds of events, why don’t we do the same for everyday events like Sunday church services? Is it to hard or do we just think that people will come just because we are here in this big beautiful building on Main Street? Think about it. Pray and then JUST DO IT. God Bless Marni

Senior Recognition

We will be holding a senior recognition service on Sunday, May 20th

honoring all Our Saviour’s Lutheran members that will be graduating

from high school this year. There will be a presentation of the WELCA

scholarship winner and quilts made by “Stitches of Love.” There will

also be a reception of cake and drinks following worship. Friends and

families are welcome! Please bring a senior picture and baby

picture to the church office by May 15th so that your photos can be

on display. Congratulations to those students on their

accomplishments and may God guide them in their future endeavors!

(Continued from Page 1 - Pastor Peter’s message)

Avoid being distracted by environmental factors. For example, side conversations.

Summarize the speaker’s comments periodically.

If you find yourself responding emotionally to what someone said, say so. And ask for more information: “I may not be understanding you correctly, and I find myself taking what you said personally. What I thought you just said is XXX. Is that what you meant?”

Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.

Don’t interrupt with counter arguments.

Active listening is designed to encourage respect and understanding. You are gaining information and per-spective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting her down.

Be candid, open and honest in your response.

Assert your opinions respectfully.

Treat the other person in a way that you think she would want to be treated.

Peace,

Pastor Peter

T HE M ESS E NGE R PAGE 4

Jogging For Jesus

2018 Church Council and Board Members

Listed are the members of the Church Council and the many Board members who are providing the leadership for Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. This list is also posted on the board at the back of the church.

President - Marnie Anderson Secretary - Brenda Gilbertson Treasurer - Dawn Coburn

Bookkeeper - Laura Foss At Large Members - Kris Dubiel, Mike Gilbertson, Les Foss

Finance & Property Team - Steve Lamberson, Barb Johnson, Scott Schmitt, Sue Hansen, Harriet Witt, Dawn Sauerwein

Life & Growth Team - Donna Lindberg, Elsa Kulig, Megan Densmore, Paula Hentges, Kayla Vitse

Worship Music Team - Ellen Hauser, Sue Kohnert, Nancy Martinovici, Sheri Daggett, Sally Gjestvang, Mary Speerstra

Youth & Family Team - Patti Zimmerman, Donna Fernholz, Kathy Harms, Melissa Franks, Peggy Kneifl

Board of Education - Laura Foss, Jennie Everson, Melanie Sygulla, McKenna Pientok, Melissa Pientok, Carol Byington,

Cathy McCune

Transition Team - Jack Speerstra, Melaine Sygulla, Aschley Moats, Riley Frank, Randall Lindberg, Sally Gjestvang, Pam

Sosalla

United in Faith Parish Board - Jamie Goplin, Dawn Peterson, Jeannine Thomley, Ellen Hauser, David Anderson, Bob

Gueltzow, Cindy Lisowski

Auditors - Kurt Johnson, Michelle Giebel, Dawn Coburn

WELCA - Kay Nelson Homebound - Shirley Mathson Quilters - Nancy Lyngren

Men’s Brotherhood - David Anderson

Blessing of the Seeds

On May 7th, bring seeds, plants, and any gardening tools with you to service to

have them blessed. We remember how God blesses us with good soil, sun and rain to grow an abundance of food for us and our animals. After being blessed, we will put them right to work with a “clean-up” day at the local

cemetery. See you then!

Mother Nature was not registered for Jogging for Jesus but she still showed up! The ice and snow

may have prevented us from running and walking but everyone who was registered to run or walk re-

ceived a t-shirt and door prize. Being we missed out on the exercise and fellowship, would anyone

want to throw on your t-shirts and walk around Whitehall as a group on Sunday, June 3rd after

church? We could come together as a group as we prepare for another great event at Our Sav-

iour's--Faithfully Refurbished! Everyone can join us.

T HE M ESS E NGE R PAGE 5

Balance as of February 28, 2018 $ 12,135.91

Income:

Simply Giving $ 1,905.00

Sunday Offerings $ 13,373.05

Thrivent Choice Offerings $ 762.00

Easter Sunday Offering $ 300.00

Bulletin Sponsor $ 80.00

Lenten Offering $ 1,682.00

Total: $ 18,102.05

Disbursements:

Administration $ 1,293.47

Physical Plant $ 3,010.96

Salaries and Benefits $ 9,571.82

Parish Expense $ 200.00

Consultant $ 3,070.29

Total: $ 17,146.54

Balance as of March 31, 2018 $ 13,091.42

Faithfully Refurbished Sale & Auction - June 9, 2018

We are looking for your help! Here’s what you can do:

·Refurbish an item with your family to donate for the sale · Donate supplies, such as paint, stain, or brushes · Donate need-to-be-refurnished items such as wood, window frames, shutters, chairs, pallets, etc. · Volunteer to help with

event preparations the week prior to the event · Volunteer to help out with day-of set-up or clean-up · Volunteer for event activities such as working at sales tables, clerking the auction, cashbox, and several warm bodies to work as

‘event staff’·

Contact: Mary Johnson (715-538-4037, panda@triwest.net) or Nancy Lyngen (608-989-2749, lyngendn@hotmail.com)

Facebook:

“Faithfully Refurbished Sale & Auction” or “Refurbish Event Fundraiser (PLANNING & INFO PAGE)”

PAGE 6 T HE M ESS E NGE R

WELCA Meeting

Our Saviour’s will host the May 3rd W-ELCA meeting in our fellowship hall. Grace

Lutheran will be our guests at the 1:30 pm meeting. Pastor Peter will lead our Bible

Study from the May Gather magazine. We will then each have a short business

meeting followed by lunch. We welcome all women to join us for inspiration & fel-

lowship. All meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month. Meetings at Our Sav-

iors will be: July 5th, September 6th, and November 1st. Meetings at Grace will be:

June 7th, August 2nd, October 4th and December 6th.

Wilderness Times - Luther Park Retreat WELCA Dairyland Conference is sponsoring an overnight retreat at Luther Park in

Chetek, WI on August 16-17th. Sleeping quarters is an indoor cabin with a full bath-room. Retreat begins at 2pm on Thursday the 16th and ends Friday the 17th at 3pm.

Our guest speaker will be Pastor Mike Vetsch, Lyster Lutheran Church of rural Nelson. A special musical program will be provided by Susan Saarem, SWO President. There

will be campfire time, boat rides, swimming & hiking are offered. Cost is $62 for both days or $30 for just attending Friday. Registration forms are available on the WELCA bulletin board. Come be renewed and enjoy fun fellowship! To register, contact Mary

Ann Watson by August 10th.

WELCA Fall Luncheon

Our annual Fall Salad Luncheon will take place on Thursday, September 20th,

at 12:00pm in Our Saviour’s fellowship hall. Please put it on your calendar! We

hope to have a great attendance!! Carry-outs will be available starting

at 11:30am through the back kitchen entrance. Watch for more details in the up-

coming months!

WELCA Invitation

Blair Lutheran W-ELCA has invited us to their Annual Mother’s Brunch with a

fashion show & coupons by Christopher & Banks. It is Wed. May 2, at 10 AM at

the East Building (formerly 1st Lutheran) 419 S. Urberg St. in Blair. There will be

several raffles including a quilt & a May Basket. Proceeds will go to a local charity.

RSVP by this Monday 4/30/18.

PAGE 7 T HE M ESS E NGE R

Combs (sturdy wide tooth) Nail clippers, Toothbrushes (adult size)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackets, Sweaters (Baby size up to 24 months with a hood or cap, preferably front ties or buttons)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notebooks (70 count wide rule) Blunt scissors, Pink erasers, Ballpoint pens, Crayons (16 or 24 count) #2

Pencils, Rulers (30 cm or in and cm) Pencil sharpener (hand held)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Diapers (Cloth flat fold preferred - Can be made from flannel or old T shirts)

Did you know that Lutheran World Relief has been sending quilts and mission kits around the world since 1945? In the last 25 years alone, that has meant 8.8 million Mission Quilts, 3.3 million School Kits, 1.5 million Baby Care Kits and 2.9 million Personal Care Kits! What an

amazing accomplishment!! Please join Our Saviour’s mission efforts by contributing to our collections for the kits. We also need financial support for shipping the kits around the world.

Each month we will be focusing on collecting different items. Please use the following list when you do your shopping. You may drop off your donations in the Narthex of the church. If

you have any questions please contact Marnie Anderson at 715-538-2255. Thank you for all your support!

PAGE 8 T HE M ESS E NGE R

‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field'

“Springtime Blessings” and “His Work” at Our Saviour’s Lutheran

Church

Sunday, May 6, 2018

God’s Work Our Hands

Anything we put our time, en-

ergy, money, or focus on is an act of sowing. Reaping is the results

or consequences of what we’ve sown. The ramification of our

reaping depends on the amount of effort and time we put into the

sowing.

Blessing the

Seeds

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”

Phillipians 2:13

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

Quilting 8:30am

Thrivent Financial meeting 7:00 PM

Church Council Meeting 7:00pm

2

Bible Study 9:15am

Confirmation 5:30pm

Jcrew 6:30pm

Senior Choir Practice

7:00pm

3

WELCA meeting 1:30 PM

4 5

6

Sunday Worship 9:15am (Blessing of

the Seeds)

Sunday School 10:15am

7

Praise Team 7:00 PM

Transition Team Meeting 7:15pm

8

Leadership Workshop

6:00 - 9:00 PM

9

Bible Study 9:15am

Sm Gr Healing Gathering 1:30 PM

Confirmation 5:30pm

Jcrew 6:30pm

Sm Gr Healing Gathering

6:30 PM

Senior Choir 7:00pm

10

Sm Gr Healing

Gathering 9:30 AM 1:30 PM 6:30 PM

11 12

13

Sunday Worship 9:15am

Sunday School

10:15am

Youth and Family Meeting 10:15am

Faithfully Refur-bished 10:15 AM

14

Praise Team 7:00 PM

15

Quilters 8:30 AM

Life & Growth

Team 5:30 PM

Worship Team

7:00 PM

16

Bible Study 9:15am

Confirmation 5:300pm

Jcrew 6:30pm

Senior Choir Practice

7:00pm

Grace Council 7:00 PM

17

18

19

20

Sunday Worship 9:15am (Senior

Recognition)

Sunday School 10:15 AM

21

Praise Team 7:00 PM

22

Property & Finance Team 5:00 PM

Board of Education

23

Bible Study 9:15am

Confirmation 5:30pm

Jcrew 6:30pm

Senior Choir Practice

7:00pm

24 25 26

27

Sunday Worship 9:15am

(Praise Team)

28

29

30

Bible Study 9:15am

Confirmation 5:30pm

Jcrew 6:30pm

Senior Choir Practice 7:00pm

31

Church Secretary: Julie Haessig

Church Office: 715-538-4334

Church E-mail: osluthwh@gmail.com

Church Website: oslcwhitehall.org

Non Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit 15

Whitehall

“Sharing God’s Love With All”

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

36197 Main Street

P.O. Box 455

Whitehall, WI 54773

Return Service

Requested

2 - Gary Pampuch, Kermit Pederson

3 - William Youngbauer

4 - Delaine Stendahl

5 - Mavis Olson

6 - Lance Giebel

7 - Mark Carlson, Nicole Warner

8 - Marian Miller

11 - Shirley Eide, Daniel Koxlien

14 - Margaret Ausderau

15 - Sherri Warner

16 - Richard Eide, Mark Granlund

17 - Diane Carlson

19 - Susan Kampa

20 - Rodney Paulson

24 - Kristina Dubiel, Sonja Lyngen

25 - Robert Rutschow, Layla Woychik

26 - Andrea Hanson

27 - Lori Kampa

28 - Juli Nordby, Denice Staff

29 - Wesley Herried, Emily Herness,

Jillian Schaefer

30 - Ace Hanson

Check us out on Facebook at: Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church of Whitehall, WI and

United in Faith Parish and OS Sunday-School and OSLC Youth.

Pastor: Peter Jonas

Pastor Cell Phone: 608-323-2006

Pastor Email: pastoroslc@gmail.com

Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday 10am-1pm

Tuesday and Thursday 8am-2pm