THE CONNECTION March-April 2019

United Lutheran Church, ELCA

21 Mesnard St., L’Anse, Michigan Ph: (906) 524-6484; Email: ulc_lanse40@yahoo.com

Website: www.unitedlutheranchurchlanse.org

Pastor: John Ansell; (906) 201-2864

Come and Worship! We celebrate with worship on

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Sunday School at 10 a.m. and Mondays at 6 p.m.

OFFICE HOURS: Monday: 9 am – 12 noon

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wednesday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

United Lutheran C

hurch, ELCA

21 Mesnard St. L’

Anse, MI 49946

Greetings Everyone

We have now reached the months of March and April to which hopefully the bleakness of winter during January and February will be behind us. However, being we are in the UP anything is possible. As we begin the month of March we also begin the Season of Lent, which will last tell late April, when we celebrate Easter. For these two months I imagine there will be plenty to do and hopefully the weather will be better.

Lent to me is always a good time to start reflecting on our faith and what it means to be a Christian. Some people might fast, or withstand from doing something, during this time in order to help them concentrate more on their contemplation of faith. Others in their contemplation will read devotionals or attend midweek services. Each approach allows us to take the time to reflect on our faith. It is a journey that we are all encouraged to do during this time so that we can be able to appreciate our faith better. However, such contemplation is not only for during the time of Lent but should be encouraged in daily practices and daily life throughout the year. In the end, what is life but a continuous journey, going forward in time filled with life, thoughts, and actions.

Speaking of journeys and Lent, the hymn I would like to talk about for this month is “As the Sun with Longer Journey”. The hymn overall incorporates the journeying of going from winter to spring with our faith journey through Lent. The words are written by John Patrick Earls and the music by Carl Schalk. John Patrick Earls was born in 1935 and is a Benedictine monk. Carl Schalk born in 1929 is an accomplished American musician and has contributed many scores to hymns. Overall this hymn incorporates the journeying of the seasons without faith journey which in many ways not only deepens our sense of faith but creates a stronger relationship that we have with the rest of creation. Now granted we are in the UP, and for March and April we may still feel the effects of winter, but hopefully, as small as they might be, signs of spring may be present with us during our Lenten journey. May God’s blessing be with us as we not only journey into spring but also journey in our faith through Lent.

Pastor John Ansell

TELLERS for MARCH

Need Tellers for March

USHERS for MARCH

March 3 Evelyn Welch & Leann Davis March 10 Brian & Margo Jentoft March 17 Evelyn Welch & Leann Davis March 24 Dorothy Niemela & Kathy Hansen March 31 Need someone

READERS for MARCH

March 3 Gail Jestila March 10 Jeanne Anderson March 17 Margo Jentoft March 24 Need someone March 31 Need someone

Tellers, Ushers, and Readers are needed for the month of April

Please check the Volunteer Wall to sign up to Usher or read the lessons

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS

We are a family UNITED … and what a great way to get to know each other better … over coffee!

But we need YOU to put on the coffee and be willing to clean up afterwards (and perhaps provide something to go with

the coffee). Check the sign-up sheet in the barrier-free entrance. Remember,

the focus is the fellowship … so keep the food simple.

All the monetary donations received during the Fellowship Hour

go toward World Hunger.

FELLOWSHIP HOSTS

People are needed to serve coffee following worship.

Please check the Volunteer Wall to sign up to Serve Coffee.

GRADUATE RECOGNITION will be on Sunday, May 12th. Please mark your calendars! More information will be in the next newsletter.

Ash Wednesday Worship

Ash Wednesday Worship will be on Wednesday, March 6th at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mid-week Lenten Worship

There will be Mid-week Lenten Worship services on Wednesday evenings beginning

on Wednesday, March 13th, at 6 p.m.

This is a weekly Midweek Lenten Service based on Luther’s Small Catechism.

HOLY WEEK WORSHIP

Maundy Thursday Worship will be on Thursday, April 18th, at 6 p.m. The Fifth grade students will be receiving their First Communion and there will be cake and coffee following the worship service. Please join us for worship and fellowship!

Good Friday Worship will be on Friday, April 19th, at 6 p.m.

Easter Worship will be on Sunday, April 21st at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Monday Worship: There will not be worship on Mon., April 22nd and April 29th. Regular Monday worship will resume on Mon., May 6th.

Everyone is welcome to join us for any and all of these worship services!

TURN CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR

It is time to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday, March 9th before you go to sleep.

WOMEN OF THE ELCA

Sarah Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 5th and Tuesday, April 2nd at 9:30 a.m. at Dee Dee Soli’s house.

Martha Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 5th and Tuesday, April 2nd at 1 p.m.

CLUSTER 2 Spring Gathering Planning Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 23rd at 10 a.m. at United Lutheran Church, L’Anse.

LOOKING AHEAD: Please mark your calendars for the following dates and watch upcoming bulletins, Facebook, and the website, for more information:

Thursday, April 11th Mother Daughter Banquet at 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 27th Cluster 2 Spring Gathering at United Lutheran Church, L’Anse.

Council Highlights

Ø The council received a “thank you” from the Bethel Pentecostal Church for letting them use our kitchen facilities and social hall to serve the “Free Community Thanksgiving Dinner”.

Ø The Finance Committee will be meeting soon and will be checking into insurance prices from other companies.

Ø Changes to the Constitution will be happening soon. We are waiting to hear back from the Synod.

Ø The results from the Congregation Vitality Survey are in and there are printed copies in the Barrier-free entrance if anyone wants to read them.

Ø We need to have 15 people sign up for the Dry Bones event in Holy Trinity, Chassell on March 15-16. (See article elsewhere in the newsletter)

Ø It was decided to not have the janitors clean the church in June, July, and August. We will look for volunteers from the congregation to help if we need anything done.

Ø World Hunger collection for Synod Assembly will be a special offering during Lent collected in pie plates, and a pie social on March 17-18.

Ø Next Council meeting will be March 10th at 11:15 a.m.

Please remember that all congregation members are welcome to attend the council meetings. If you have any questions or concerns, please let a council member know.

Articles for Newsletter

Looking for ideas and articles for the newsletter. What would you like to see? Do you have information to be put in the newsletter? Remember that we are publishing the newsletter every other month… the newsletter deadline for the May-June Newsletter is the 10th of April. Please submit any information to the church office by that date to be included in the next month’s newsletter.

Direct Deposit for Contributions

Did you know that even if you do not attend worship YOU CAN still give to your church? Go to your financial institution and tell them you want to set up a deposit to United Lutheran Church General Fund Account #900104257; SNB Routing #091101879 It is as easy as that! Thank you for supporting your church!

WINDOW FUND ENVELOPES

If you are interested in donating to the Window Fund to replace the windows in the education window, there are envelopes in the Barrier-free entrance.

DRY BONES/BUILDING VITALITY RETREAT

Dry Bones/Building Vitality Retreat will be held on March 15 and 16 beginning at Holy Trinity,

Chassell

Friday: 6 pm Supper 7-9 pm 1st Session

Saturday: 8:30 am Coffee 9-12 noon 2nd Session

12 noon Lunch 1-2 Wrap up

We need to have at least 15 people sign up to attend this retreat.

Ø There is a sign up sheet in the Barrier-free Entrance. Please sign up.

This is a workshop designed to help us name the challenges, consider the possibilities, and work together on a plan that moves

our congregation forward into the future.

“Until ALL Have a Piece of the Pie” For World Hunger!

This year’s theme for the Annual Fundraising for World Hunger for Synod Assembly is “Until ALL Have a Piece of the Pie”. During Lent, we will pass around pie plates at all services to collect for World Hunger. We are asking for a suggested donation of $3.14 (pi) to go towards World Hunger. This donation will be brought to Synod Assembly. A “Pie Social” will be held on Sunday, March 17 and Monday, March 18 following worship both days. You will be able to purchase a “piece” of pie for $3.14 or a whole pie (prices to be determined). If you can make pies for this pie social, please contact Donna Eliason (241-7199) or Robbie Schultz (908-421-4654). This event is open to the community, so please invite your family and friends to join us for a “Piece of Pie”. Ice cream will also be served with the pie if you wish. Together, let's TAKE A BITE OUT OF HUNGER and make a real impact with our World Hunger Offerings!

SHUT-INS

Please remember our shut-ins. Keep them in your prayers. If you have a moment, stop and visit them.

At Bayside: Beatrice Harju, and Joyce Taipalus. At home: Ellen Biekkola, Ruth Ranta. At Mill Creek Assisted Living, Marquette, MI: Betty Ann Pyhtila.

… Rob Aho, James Cichosz, Tom DesRochers, Bob Eliason, Thomas Gibbons, Loretta and Tony Golden, Martha Harju, Glenda Hiltunen, Nita Jestila, Pat Kissel, Samantha Koski, Janel LaPlante, PJ LeClaire, Michele (Mickey) Martinac,

Bill Matt, Mary McCord, Nancy McIntyre, Mike Olsen, Karl Presslein, Ruth Ranta, Jean Richardson, Peggy Robillard, Lynn Stahmann, Kathy Teddy, Lisa

Zasadnyj.

The Family and Friends of June VanBuren The Family and Friends of Bruce Williams

The Family and Friends of Jennifer Newland The Family and Friends of Donald Holso

.

Dear God,

I humbly ask that you heal us from any hurt, shame, sickness, and

guilt. Heal our hearts, O Lord God. Give us beauty for ashes, the

oil of joy for mourning, and let us wear the garment of praise

instead of the spirit of heaviness and burden.

I pray in Jesus name. Amen.

FORTUNE LAKE SUMMER CAMP

Fortune Lake online camp registration is now open (as of March 1, 2019). Early registration is from March 1st - April 1st. Check out the camp’s website www.fortunelake.org for dates and to register your child. Remember the Women of the Church pay for half of early registration.

BARAGA COUNTY SHELTER HOME LIST OF THINGS THEY NEED!

Listed below are some items the Shelter Home is in need of at this time. There is also a list of other ways to volunteer at the Shelter Home. You can contact them at 524-7079.

Bath towels, wash cloths, diapers, sippy cups, laundry soap, dishwashing soap, twin sheets, pillows (new), toilet paper, personal care items, Gift cards/gasoline cards.

Food items (non-perishable): Pasta, soups, crackers, granola bars

Volunteer options: Building maintenance, yard work, painting, sorting and organizing donations, housekeeping, child care, children’s activities (reading books, crafts, etc.), crisis line, events/fundraising, sharing specific skills (gardening, crafts, yoga, cooking, etc.), transportation, shelter coverage, other ministries.

6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Confirmation Class

Confirmation class will be on Sunday, March 3rd and Sunday, March 17th, following the 10 a.m. Worship service.

If your child cannot attend Confirmation Class, please call Renee, or the church office.

MARKED! Event will be on March 31st from 4-7 pm at Faith Lutheran in Calumet. Please call the church office and let Lisa or Pastor John know

if your child will be attending. (Also, see article on another page in newsletter).

8th grade students – It is time to finish up your Worship times and Service hours. Confirmation Sunday is May 20th.

Sunday School! Our Fifth Grade Sunday School students will be receiving their First Communion on Thursday, April 18th during

worship at 6 p.m. There will be cake and coffee served following worship.

The Fifth grade students will be getting together to paint their chalices at a yet to be determined date. Please watch for a letter to come home with

more information.

There will be NO Sunday School on March 24th. Sunday School will resume on March 31st.

Sunday School is open to all children ages 3 years old through 5th grade. 3rd – 5th Grade students need to bring their Bibles. All children will have Bible stories and fun-filled activities every Sunday. Come and join us!

2019 Marked! Event Confirmation Students and Leaders

Celebrate your identity as baptized children of God in our Lutheran expression!

Attend the event on Sunday – March 31, 2019 at Faith, Calumet 4-7pm ET

IT’S FREE!!

These events include music, worship, learning, food, fun and two service projects: 1) Collect financial donations for Lutheran Disaster Response. Join a friendly competition to see which

church can raise the most financial donations (prorated by average worship attendance). 2) Collect items for Lutheran World Relief

Personal Care Kits. Bring donated items along to your MARKED! Event and we’ll assemble the kits together.

CHALLENGE: Let’s make over 500 kits together!

Each kit needs: • 1 light-weight bath-size towel (between 20” x 40” and 52” x 27”),

dark color recommended • 2 or 3 Bath-size bars of soap equaling 8 to 9 oz., any brand,

in original wrapper (please, NO mini soap bars from hotels) • 1 Adult-size toothbrush in its original packaging • 1 Sturdy

comb • 1 Metal nail clippers (attached file optional)

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!

Big Bear Award and Bread Basket Award

Nominations Form The World Hunger Committee is accepting nominations for the

2019 Big Bear Award which will be presented at the 2019 Synod Assembly. Please use the following guidelines to submit your

nomination:

v Nominees must be a group (committee, task force, team, etc.) of a Northern Great Lakes Synod congregation that

has made an exemplary effort in the area of hunger ministry.

v Complete the information and return to the Northern Great Lakes Synod by March 25th. Thank You!

The World Hunger Committee is accepting nominations for the 2019 Bread Basket Award which will be presented at the 2019 Synod Assembly. Please use the following guidelines to submit

your nomination:

v Nominees must be an individual of a Northern Great Lakes Synod congregation that has made an exemplary effort in the area of hunger ministry.

v Complete the information and return to the Northern Great Lakes Synod by March 25th. Thank You!

Go to this link to get the Nomination Form for the Big Bear Award and the Bread basket

Award: https://www.nglsynod.org/assembly/

Maple Glazed Ham

A tempting entrée. 1 7-8 lb. full cooked, smoked ham shank 1 c. maple syrup 2 T. cider vinegar 1 T. prepared mustard Whole cloves

Combine syrup, vinegar and mustard. Place ham, fat side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Pour about ½ cup mixture over ham and bake, uncovered, in a preheated 325 degree oven for 1 ½ hours. Baste every 30 minutes with additional sauce. Remove ham from oven and score fat into diamond shapes. Insert a clove into each diamond. Bake ham an additional 30 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of meat registers 140 degrees. Let ham rest 15 minutes before carving. Makes 10-12 servings.

Stewardship of time O God, teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.-Psalm 90:12

What does it mean to count our days? Certainly, the poet who wrote Psalm 90:12 was thinking of more than arithmetic, which may not

necessarily gain us a wise heart. Wisdom comes from perspective, from painful introspection and prayerful deliberation.

We count in order to know not only how many days we have lived, but to ponder how many days we might have left. Counting, we remember that we are finite creatures whose lives march forward in steady 24-hour steps, carrying us from birth to death. Knowing, then, that our days are numbered, we appreciate each one more fully.

We count our days to gain the wisdom that every day is sacred; every day presents opportunities to live more fully in relationship with God and our neighbors; every day is for love and joy and peace and fulfillment. Yet it’s all to easy to let the days slip away.

This month consider a focus on stewardship of your time – how you spend every day God gives you. Here is a “to do” list for making the most of every day:

• Pray: Begin each day communicating with the creator of the universe, meditating on Scripture or a wise Christian author. Even 10 minutes. End by praying Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” • Care: Convey through word or deed how much you care about someone in your life. Call up an old friend or relative. Invite a co-worker to lunch. • Help: Look for some way to assist someone. Volunteer. Hold a door open for someone entering a store behind you. Stop for a pedestrian who wants to cross the street. • Enrich: Find something that will deepen your knowledge, understanding or appreciation of the world. Read a poem or book. Listen to a sermon podcast or educational news program. • Stop. That’s right, do nothing. For at least 10 minutes (use your smart phone timer) sit quietly, breathe deeply and try to clear the busy thoughts from your mind. Open your spirit to God’s presence. • Be healthy: Do something to increase your physical health, such as eating a nutritious meal or taking a walk.

For many Americans, Easter dinner would be only half a feast without a tender, pink succulent ham, and this type of pork is popular throughout the world, as well. Transylvanians bake their ham in a covering of bread dough. In Hungary it is the custom to serve an Easter meat loaf of chopped pork, ham, eggs, bread, and spices. The custom actually goes back as far as William the Conqueror, who served it along with such things as gammon and tansy bread. Some believe that ham became traditional because the pig is a symbol of prosperity in many cultures. Schwein haben, a popular German expression, literally means to “have a pig.” At one time it was fashionable to wear little figures of pigs on watch chains and charm bracelets. Piggy banks for children may also be an expression of this age-old idea.

• Pray: End every day thanking the creator of the universe for another wonderful day. A day you have counted and that you have made count.

Focus on stewardship of time and see how your own life will change. Make it a permanent part of your discipleship.

Rob Blezard

Copyright © 2018, Rev. Robert Blezard. Reprinted by permission. Pastor Blezard serves as an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod and works as content editor for www.stewardshipoflife.org.