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I don’t know about you, but when I was young, I had a deep sense of wonder and fascination when watching a magician perform a magic trick. Anything from card tricks, to disappearing acts had me in awe and asking myself “How do they DO that?” Abracadabra! A simple word that leads to so much excitement and wonder!

A tradition for many families and Sunday school classes during the Easter season, is to make “Resurrection Rolls” (also known as “Hocus Pocus” buns) to learn about the empty tomb. You bake rolls with a marshmallow inside. As they bake, the marshmallow dissolves. They still look like a full roll from the outside, but when you break it apart, it is empty! How

magical it seems from the eyes of a youngster, and a great object lesson too!

The women who returned to the tomb where Christ was buried, were expecting to find him there, but he was gone! There was nothing inside! Shock, wonder, and confusion quickly turned to joy as they heard the good news that Jesus had risen from the grave. There were many people who heard about the empty tomb and wondered “How did he DO that?” They believed that Christ rising from the dead was just a trick, or the best act of deception that they had ever seen. But this was no trick. Jesus himself said that it would be so: “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it upin three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2:19-22) God raised his Son to not only fulfill prophecy and confirm what had been said, but to show to the world that Jesus is the Messiah. The greatest “act” in the history of the world had just been performed, and there wasn’t an ounce of magic involved! How amazing is our God!

The Crucifixion and Resurrection are no magic trick, sleight of hand, or great deception! Rather, these are the greatest demonstrations of love that the world has ever known! We get to look upon the cross with awe and wonder, and know that it is our saving grace. May you be blessed this season, and look ahead to the promises of new life, joy, and peace in the comfort of our Risen Lord.

In His Service,

Brittany Arlow

The AnnouncerApril 2017

“Resurrection Rolls” RecipeIngredients:-1 Can of crescent roll dough-8 large marshmallows (or one for each roll)-melted butter-Cinnamon sugar (1/2 cup sugar and 1 TBSP cinnamon)

Directions:Preheat oven to 350.Dip one marshmallow in the butter then roll in the cinnamon sugar, coating well. Wrap the crescent roll around the marshmallow, making sure to pinch the seams together really well, otherwise the marshmallow will “ooze” out and cause a sticky mess on the pan. Repeat with remaining crescent rolls and marshmallows. Bake 12 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy!

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Prayer Ministry“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray ... and the prayer offered in faith will make

the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” James 5:13-15

For Open Arms’ Christian Early Childhood Center’s Mission, Ministry, Staff & AdministrationRecovering From Surgery/Medical Procedure - Richard Bernard -Vern EndresenIn Hospice Care - Larry Hibben - Edina Care Center 6200 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55423For Blessing Through Medical Treatment & Convalescing Dan Marko - Paula (Prok) Okrestrom - Tony Koval - Barb Norrbom (Open Arms Teacher) –Eilene HibbenOur Home bound & Those In Care CentersEvie Sedio - Ruth Rogers -Mary Yurik -Leroy Stunek - Lois Kovach -(651-699-5624) Alyce Kubik - Joe & Pat Hibben - Robert & Maurine Atherton - John GarayLeonard & Renea Lipovsky Ecumen Seasons 15359 Founders Lane, Apple Valley, MN. 55124 Phone: 952-997-4044 Our Local & Global Mission Ministries-Rev Dr Dan & Joan Jastram, Northern Asia, (NEW Recipients of our Mission pledge)-Rev. Blidi Minely, Liberia, Africa (Recipient of our “care barrels”)-Noisy Offering Recipient This Month: Easter Egg HuntPregnancy CenterLocal & Global Concerns-For peace and unity in our nation and world as our President, Donald Trump, and all elected officials carry out their tasks.

April Birthday’s4/1 Michael Prok4/3 Erika Allgood4/4 Hope Crawford4/10 Lois Kovach4/11 Katie Champ4/13 Dale Moreland4/14 Brad Affeldt4/17 Stella Peterson4/18 Jordan Gerrish4/19 Sheryl Burkhardt4/21 Ava Wiech4/21 Kip Ward4/22 Roman Edlund4/23 Jon DCamp4/23 Mark Burkhardt4/23 Amelia Goset4/26 Frank Schadewald4/26 Timothy Sundquist4/29 Steve Johnstone4/30 Gordon Leonard

Gifts & MemorialsLarry Hibben MemorialJohn & Sandy CarlsonStan & Paula ChervenyRay & De DolnyLorraine McKayDale MorelandShirley Wold Grace Yurik

Joe Kovach MemorialDorothy OverbyLisa BaumanDale Moreland

Eleanor Lewis MemorialShirley Wold

Mel Michalik MemorialShirley Wold

Shirley Petro MemorialLisa BaumanSteve Johnstone

VEAP Vern & Sally Endresen

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News at Holy EmmanuelKids Praise Choir: Wednesday Nights from 4:30-6:30 pm with Miss Brittany and Miss Natalie! Crafts, Dinner, Movie/Games, and Singing! For children 3 yrs.-Kindergarten.

Egg HuntMark your Calenders!! This year’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, April 8th from 10am-12pm! There will also be crafts, a movie, story-time, and a special surprise!!

Easter FlowersRemember to order your Easter flowers.Easter Lily $7.75 Tulips (Red) $7.25 Tulips (Purple) $7.25 Tulips (Yellow) $7.25Mum (Lavender) $7.75 Mum (Yellow) $7.75 Mum (White) $7.75Hydrangeas (Pink) $15.00See your Sunday bulletin for order form of at the welcome center. Please place the completed form in the folder on the counter in the office.

Easter Continental Breakfast - Come Join Us!Once again, Holy Emmanuel will serve a Continental Breakfast on Easter morning. Please join us and enjoy the Continental and share good Fellowship with other members, friends, and family. ECC families and visitors are always welcome.The breakfast will include rolls, pastries, donuts, yogurt, cereal, fruit as well as juices, coffee, and milk for the kids. Serving time will be 9:00 to 10:30 am.Want to help? Kitchen help could be used on Sunday around 8:00 am. Set up, which always needs helpers, will be on Saturday morning at 9:00 am - should take about 1 hour at most.Any questions or suggestions, please call John Carlson at 952926-0545. Thank you and see you at the Continental!

Vacation Bible School:This year’s theme for VBS is “Camp Out: Getting S’more of Jesus!” Date: Monday, June 12th- Friday, June 16th Time: Dinner starts at 5:30 pm, Program goes from 6-8pm! Cost is: $15 per child (includes a t-shirt!)For: children age 3 (must be potty-trained), through 5th grade!To REGISTER for VBS, please go to: https://form.jotform.us/70676115286157

New Youth Board Members Wanted!The Youth, Children & Family Board is in search of new board members. We meet once a month for about an hour and help come up with new ideas for activities, fundraisers, help Brittany and are able to help step in if any issues arise. If you are interested please let Brittany Arlow or Kelsey Rickert (612-501-9207) know. Thanks!

Loaves & FishesMonday March 6th & Friday April 28th 5:00 pm Creekside Community Center 98th & Penn Contact John Carlsonjwc4433@yahoo.com

Altar FlowersThe cost is $20. To sponsor flowers, sign up on the list in the narthex.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! The nursery is in need of weekly volunteers during each service. Please sign up on the sheet at the welcome desk. Thanks to those who have already been volunteering. We appreciate it!

VEAPFood donations are needed, please remember to bring your non-perishable food items for VEAP. Financial donation to VEAP are also accepted.

Church PropertiesDo you see something around church that needs attention, e-mail it to properties@holyemmanuel.org.

Gluten Free WafersLow Gluten Communion wafers (below 20 parts per million) are available for those who have a “Gluten Restriction”. If you need a low gluten wafer please ask the Communion wafer server for one when you are being communed and he will hand you an individually wrapped low gluten wafer.

Youth Ministry HappeningsGrand Slam Event On Friday, April 7th! Meet at HE at 5:30pm for pizza and Easter Egg stuffing! We will head over to Grand Slam in Burnsville from 8pm-10pm! This event is FREE for Youth who participate in the Egg stuffing. Please contact Brittany with details.

Summer Youth TripThis summer’s Youth Trip will be to Omaha, Nebraska from July 27th-31st! We will attending the Fish Fest Christian Music event and participating in some local outreach events as well! Eligible Youth must have completed 6th grade-Graduating Seniors. Friends are welcome to attend! Please contact Brittany for more details. Last day to sign up: Sunday, April 9th!

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Bible StudiesSUNDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASSA Man Named MartinMartin Luther: Ambassador for the Gospel

Holy Emmanuel (led by Pastor Dan and Randy Marko), is presenting a six session DVD study and discussion series titled A Man Named Martin.

This study gives insight into the life of Luther, a 15th-century religious reformer from Germany, who broke ranks with the Catholic Church; a monk whose Spirit-inspired grasp of God’s justification of sinners, through faith in the Savior, was the cornerstone of the Protestant Reformation.

As a sinner feeling lost and desperate before a God he thought was a stern judge, Luther despaired of all hope for his eternity. But as one who came to cling to the Spirit-delivered truths of justification by faith and the liberty believers experience by God’s grace, he rebounded to become a strong ambassador for the Gospel.

The details of Luther’s life—his childhood with his parents Hans and Margaret, his university pursuits, his decision to become a monk, his protestation of Catholic practices, his voluminous scholastic output, his life in hiding, and

his roles as husband and father—are all considered in this study. A Man Named Martin offers a fresh look at an individual who, down through the centuries, has increased in importance and vitality to the Christian church.Join us Sundays, March 5th through April 9th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for this series (babysitting provided with ages 3+ in the Sunday School and others in the nursery).

WEEKDAY BIBLE CLASSTuesday Morning Bible ClassTuesday Morning Bible Class meets at 10:00 am in the fellowship hall.

Tuesday Evening Women’s Bible ClassMeets at member’s homes on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month. Come for a light supper at 6 pm and the bible study at 6:30 pm. Current study is “Discerning the Voice of God” by Priscilla Shirer. For info, contact Michelle Melde at melde.tfl@gmail.com

Thursday Morning Men’s Bible StudyWe have begun begin the study of “Why Men Pray” on Thursday’s 10:00 am in the fellowship hall.

Serving In AprilLay Readers 8:15 10:45 02 Apr. Craig Anderson Natalie Mylander09 Apr. Alexis Gerrish Mindy Shulfer16 Apr. Randy Marko Brad Affeldt 23 Apr. Jared Leese Scott Ramsdale30 Apr. Elizabeth Kratochwill Wendy Ewald

Power Point 8:15 10:45 02 Apr. Anita Bakalar Scott Ramsdale 09 Apr. Sandra Sanders Al Scherf 16 Apr. Robert Melde Scott Ramsdale 23 Apr. Anita Bakalar Al Scherf30 Apr. Sandra Sanders Scott Ramsdale

Ushers 8:15 10:45 Steve Johnstone Lester Frey

Altar Guild 8:15 10:45 2 & 16 Apr. Vern & Sally Endresen Barb Morrison Cayle Cedergren

Acolyte 8:15 10:45 02 Apr. Gabby Shulfer09 Apr. Ben Shulfer16 Apr. Jack Affeldt 23 Apr. Phillip Geist30 Apr.

Communion Assistants 8:15 10:45 02 Apr. Robert Melde Dan Marose16 Apr. Dave Yurik Brad Affeldt

Counters 02 Apr. Ed Bauman/Al Scherf 09 Apr. Nancy Reich/Phyllis Schadewald 16 Apr. Les & Carole Frey 23 Apr. Shirley Wold/Al Scherf30 Apr. Arlys Edstrom and Sara WiechData Entry Pat Squires

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The 2017 Lenten SeasonThe Theme of this year’s Lenten Season is

“Valleys of Lent”

The “Valleys of Lent’ are biblical sites from which we may derive lessons for the Sacred Season. Please begin making plans to attend each of these weekly devotional services throughout the Lenten Season at either

11:00 AM or 6:30 PM each Wednesday.

The Weekly Wednesday Topics Are:• April 5: “Choose this day whom you will serve,” Joshua said to the Children of Israel before he died. Lent continues to call us to what the prophet Joel calls The Valley of Decision.Meals will be served after each morning service and before each evening service. Ms. Brittany will assist the children in making a themed craft before each evening service during the mealtime.Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Valleys of Lent Theme Continues through Holy WeekNote: No meals will be served during Holy Week.

April 9, Palm Sunday with Holy Communion 8:15 and 10:45am A thousand years before Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly on Palm Sunday, King David led a procession from the Valley of Rephaim to bring the Ark of the Covenant to its home in Jerusalem, amid great rejoicing.

April 13, Maundy Thursday with Holy Communion 11:00am & 6:30pmAfter instituting the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday, Jesus led his disciples through the cemeteries of the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, inviting us to “watch and pray” with him.

April 14, Good Friday 11:00am & 6:30pmGood Friday leads us with our Lord into The Valley of the Shadow of Death, as the 23rd Psalm calls it. Death will be there, certainly, but our Savior’s dying will prove it to be only a shadow. The truth remains: “Thou art with me.”

April 16, Easter Sunday With Holy Communion 8:15 & 10:45am In celebration of our Lord’s resurrection, Psalms 104 and 65 lead us from the dark valleys of Lent to Valleys Bursting with Life, places waiting for God to fill them with life abundant.

Note: Easter Breakfast will be served in the Fellowship Hall between the services.

Holy Emmanuel Staff Pastor: Dan Siedenburg pastordan@holyemmanuel.orgOpen Arms Director: Dawn Roghair eccdirector@openarmsecc.org Director Children, Youth & Family Ministry Brittany Arlow brittany@holyemmanuel.orgSecretary Steve Sedio steve@holyemmanuel.orgDirector of Contemporary Music Jason Steen jason.l.steen@gmail.comFinancial Assistant: Anita Bakalar finance@holyemmanuel.orgOrganist/Pianist: Mui Cheng muilcheng@yahoo.comHoly Emmanuel Custodian Vern EndresenOpen Arms Custodian: Solo Hne

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Easter is a moveable feast. Easter isn’t on the same calendar date every year in the way that Christmas is always celebrated on December 25. The date for Easter each year always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring equinox. And once you find the date of Easter, everything else finds its place—Good Friday and Maundy Thursday, Ash Wednesday and the Transfiguration, the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost.

All this is a long way of saying that Easter determines everything. Easter defines everything. It orders not only the entire church year, but it orders our very lives. It defines and gives meaning to our lives, as well to the things that happen in them. And since Easter defines everything, that means it changes everything too. It redefines who we are and where we stand with God and with one another. Easter makes all things new.

Without Easter, Jesus would not be raised from the dead. Without Easter death would still reign, we would still be in our trespasses and sins, and our faith and hope would be in vain. But Jesus is raised from the dead. Easter changes everything. It makes all things new. Therefore, darkness is overcome with light, wrath with peace, fear with hope, angst with rest, sadness with joy, hatred with love, sin with righteousness, and death with life. Easter changes everything, redefines eve-rything, determines everything. Easter makes all things new.

Thus, Easter also changes our attitude about giving. For if God gave us His own Son into death so that we will live, how will He not give us everything else we need? He will, and He does. He provides for us. He even gives us the gifts that we give back to Him for service in the church. Easter demonstrates that we have a God who loves us, a God who provides for us, a God who presses us into His service, a God who has made us new in the death and resurrection of His Son.

For when you give to the church, you pass along those things that God alone has given to you. You pass along the message to others that Easter changes everything and makes all things new, even as it has done this for you. This is not a burden, but pure joy. For God has given you a part in the administration of His kingdom. He provides for the needy through your hands. He ensures that the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are given out through the work of your hands and in the gifts that you give. And He honors and blesses this work and generosity as it redounds to those around you.

So when you sit down on the first day of the week to make your offering to the place where Easter is proclaimed and where the gifts of Easter are given out, remember: Easter changes every-thing. It makes all things new. More than that: Easter has changed you and made you new. Be-cause Jesus who was crucified for our transgressions is raised for our justification.

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Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 10:00 Mar Thoma Worship

2 8:15 Classic Grace Worship 9:30 Education Hour 10:45 Living Praise Worship

3 4 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study

5 5:30 Meal 6:00 Crafts 11:00 Worship 6:30 Worship 4:30 pm Confirmation, Kid's Praise 5:30 Confirmation:

6 10:00 Men’s Bible Study 7 Days of Service Event Project #6 5:30 Lay Ministers

7:00 Church Council

7 Youth Event

8 10:00 Egg Hunt

9 8:15 Classic Grace Worship 9:30 Education Hour 10:45 Living Praise Worship

10 11 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study 7 Days of Service Event Project #7

12 11:30 55+ OCB 4:30 pm Confirma-tion, Kid's Praise 5:30 Confirmation:

13 11:00 & 6:30 Maundy Thursday Worship 10:00 Men’s Bible Study ECC Closes at Noon

14 11:00 & 6:30 Good Friday Worship

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16 Easter 8:15 Classic Grace Worship 9:30 Education Hour 10:45 Living Praise Worship

17 ECC Closed

18 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study

19 11:30 Work no More 4:30 pm Confirma-tion, Kid's Praise 5:30 Confirmation:

20 10:00 Men’s Bible Study 5:00 ECC meeting

21 22

23 8:15 Classic Grace Worship 9:30 Education Hour 10:45 Living Praise Worship 12:00 Voters Meeting 11:00 Mar Thoma Worship

24 25 10:00 Tuesday Morning Bible Study

26 4:30 pm Confirma-tion, Kid's Praise 5:30 Confirmation:

27 10:00 Men’s Bible Study

28 5:00 Loaves & Fishes

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30 8:15 Classic Grace Worship 9:30 Education Hour 10:45 Living Praise Worship

April 2017

ECC Spring Conferences