the mustard seed - st. john's lutheran church...
TRANSCRIPT
From the Pastor’s Desk:
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
What we get is The Word, the difficult,
challenging, yet hope and faith creating word –
that Jesus is risen.
When we come together each Sunday we will
hear this Word and be drawn to faith, and pulled
into the story. Once again this makes all the
difference in our lives. The Resurrection is the
cornerstone of our faith.
Pastor’s Message
The
Mustard
Seed April 2017
The Monthly Newsletter of
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran
Church
47 McLachlin Street, Arnprior,
Ontario K7S 2Z1
Pastor:
Norine Gullons
Church Office: 623-4562
Pastor’s office hours:
Tuesday and Thursday 9:00-Noon
Chairperson:
Randy Zimmerling 623-9733
Ryan Zimmerling 622-5939
Jeff Kargus 623-0192
Beryl Richardson 623-4351
Lois Rosien 623-3010
Rhonda McTeer 623-0328
Melissa Watt 432-9305
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man
took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But
when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32
The Mustard Seed April 2017 Page 2
It is what separates us from all of the other religions of the world. This is what gives us
purpose and direction when we are perplexed; confidence when the storms of life
threaten to overpower us; and hope when all seems to be lost.
Christ has died, once and for all. Christ is risen! and we are invited to experience the
promise of new life in His name.
This is the heart of the gospel. We are called to be an Easter people! May we embrace
that calling! May we celebrate the love of our risen Lord and the hope and peace he
bestows on the world. This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad
in it. Alleluia!
May you have a joyous Easter Season.
Pastor Norine
Special Presentation – “A Tour” of Ethiopia
Sunday, April 2nd
Margo Aubert is a retired elementary teacher living on a farm in
Renfrew County where she was actively involved with a growing
project for 15 years. Since participating in a project leaders' learning
tour to Ethiopia in 2014, she enjoys making presentations with the
goal of helping others to understand the work being done by CFGB
and to discover what they themselves can do to help end world
hunger.
The next men’s breakfast will be Saturday April 8th at Jim’s
Restaurant - 8:30 a.m.
Going forward, the monthly breakfasts will be held on the
second Saturday of each month, same place, same time!
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April Event Calendar Sunday 2nd Worship service with Holy Communion 10:30 a.m.
Guest speaker – Margo Aubert with Canadian Foodgrains Bank
Wednesday-Saturday 5th – 8th Pastor attends Synod council meetings in Kitchener
Saturday 8th Men’s Monthly Breakfast at Jim’s Restaurant 8:30 a.m.
Sunday 9th Palm Sunday Worship service with Holy Communion 10:30 a.m.
Shared Ministry team meets in St. John’s lounge at noon
Monday 10th Landmark Cinema Theatre Kanata – “The Shack”
Sign-up sheet in the church basement
Thursday 13th Thursday morning Faith discussion group at St John’s
Meet in the lounge 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
** Maundy Thursday Worship service at St. James Renfrew
5:00 p.m. Potluck supper follows at 6:00 p.m. – see note on p. 5
Friday 14th ** Good Friday Worship service held at St. John’s Arnprior
Begins at 10:00 a.m.
Sunday 16th Easter Sunday Worship service with Holy Communion 10:30a.m.
Monday 17th Church Council Meeting 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 20th Thursday morning Faith discussion group at St John’s
Meet in the lounge 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday 22nd Lutherlyn Camp and Conference Centre Annual General Meeting
9:00 a.m. at St. Timothy’s, Pembroke
Sunday 23rd Worship Service with Holy Communion 10:30 a.m.
Thursday 27th Thursday morning Faith discussion group at St John’s
Meet in the lounge 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Sunday 30th Worship Service with Holy Communion 10:30 a.m.
If you would like to sponsor communion or provide flowers for the altar in memory of a loved one or to honour a special event, please sign up in the Narthex.
The Mustard Seed April 2017 Page 4
Council Report for March
Pastor’s Activity Report:
• Attended the inaugural men’s fellowship breakfast (Saturday mornings) and Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper at Emmanuel Anglican hall.
• Discussion followed on coverage for Pastor’s holidays. Shared ministry will be meeting in April 9th with St. James to discuss opportunities for joint ministry/supply ministerial coverage.
• Pastor reviewed the list of new members who will be received during service on Sunday, March 26, 2017.
• Cheque for Foodbank Snack Pack program was presented by Pastor Norine and Jeff Kargus.
Financial Report
• Current offerings were lower by $951 than what was originally budgeted, which corresponds to lower attendance on a couple of Sundays (believed to be weather, flu and cold related).
• Expenses lower than budgeted chiefly due to some timing issues
• It is expected that in March we will make up the lost ground in income and continue to manage our expense line to budget or lower levels
• Balance sheet shows cash balance of $65,391. At this rate, we would consume our cash balance in 2 years.
• The number of reports that St. John’s is required to complete is astounding (e.g., parochial reports, HST rebate, GSI).
Respectively submitted: Ryan Zimmerling Council Chair
Change in Church Accounting Responsibilities
Effective immediately, Alison Burkett has agreed to take over the responsibility for our church
accounting from Adam Rueckwald. Alison has significant experience with our accounting software and
providing church bookkeeping and accounting services. We want to thank her for volunteering for this
important work and also to thank Adam for his contribution and work as our accountant/bookkeeper.
Please join me in welcoming Alison to her new role and wishing Adam well as he focuses on his full-
time job for a local accounting firm.
Randy Zimmerling
Vice Chair St. John’s Lutheran Church Council.
The Mustard Seed April 2017 Page 5
MAUNDY THURSDAY SUPPER SIGN UP SHEET
The traditional Maundy Thursday Service will begin at 5pm at St.
James, Renfrew. Immediately following the service there will be a
planned pot-luck supper.
This meal includes an abbreviated explanation of the symbolism of the
JEWISH PASSOVER SEDER. In order to accommodate everyone; if you
are planning on attending, please sign up at your church.
Saturday, April 29th
Lutherlyn management board and property committee are planning the spring work day at Camp Lutherlyn. This is usually the day that all the congregations sponsoring cabins gather to spring clean their cabin and help open the main camp for the summer.
It is also the day we gather to catch up with each other, and share a meal!
If you can help, please contact Randy Zimmerling.
For more information see the poster in the Narthex!
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Help The Grove Grow
Chris Havey presented us with an excellent overview of the challenges facing The Grove in Arnprior. Obtaining
additional long-term care bed licenses is required to provide equitable care to seniors in our community. Please
support this cause by filling in a “Help The Grove Grow” postcard. Online petition website coming in March
2017. www.helpthegrovegrow.ca
We recently received a
Compassionate Justice Grant
from the Eastern Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada. On behalf of the
Arnprior & District Food Bank,
Helen Schefter and other
dedicated volunteers gratefully
accepted the $1,000.00 donation
presented by Pastor Norine
Gullons. The proceeds will be
used in support of the Children's
Snack Pack Program to provide
healthy snacks for school aged
children.
Photo courtesy of Pat Tait,
Volunteer Team Leader
Arnprior & District Food Bank
Photo courtesy of Lorne Rueckwald
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An Easter Prayer
Risen Lord we greet you
with joy this Easter
season,
And we thank you for
the gift of new life.
Bless our food, our family
and our friends, and help
us to celebrate the
springtime in our hearts
as we rejoice in the good
news of your
resurrection.
Alleluia, Amen. Retrieved from www.osv.com
For all Readers!
This idea came out of the women’s discussion group, but it’s open to everyone in the church. We are going to be creating a catalog of recommended faith-based books, along with information on how to borrow a copy. First priority will be whether the Arnprior Library has the book available; otherwise, the catalog will note who in the congregation has a copy available to lend. (The commitment will be to return the book within a month.) The catalog will be available in the Narthex and also on the church’s website. If you have other books you’d recommend, please send your recommendation to Alison Burkett at [email protected] or leave her a note with the information. Please also indicate if you have a copy of the book available for loan if the library doesn’t have a copy.
We are hoping to purchase 20
printed t-shirts of various sizes. They would
belong to the church and be worn by
volunteers for community events (e.g. The Big
Give, L’Arche walk, etc.). 11 t-shirts have been
sponsored to date. If you would like to
sponsor the purchase of one, please contact
Jeff Kargus at (613) 623-0192 or by email at
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VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE FOR APRIL 2017
SUNDAY USHERS READING COFFEE/SOCIAL COUNTERS
Apr. 2nd
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Joy Statham
Marion and Elmer
Leeck
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Apr. 9th
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Andy Kalnins
Barb and Gerald Formuziewich
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Apr. 13th Maundy Thursday
** Maundy Thursday – Worship service in Renfrew at 5:00 p.m. Potluck supper to follow at 6:00 p.m. – sign-up sheet at the church
Apr. 14th Good Friday
Lorne and Joanne Bretzlaff
Gerald, Debbie and Andy
** No Social ** Lorne and Joanne Bretzlaff
Apr. 16th
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Joy Statham
Easter Sunday **No Social**
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Apr. 23rd
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Maureen
Rueckwald
Alison and Dave
Burkett
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Apr. 30th
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Vicki Weichenthal
Enid Blackwell
Lorne and Joanne
Bretzlaff
Thank you volunteers! If you would like to help out, please sign-up in the Narthex!
Note: Volunteers are always needed for weekly Communion set-up and clean-up. Free training is available! If interested, talk to a council member.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Johns-Lutheran-
Church-Arnprior/302930049856065
Website: http://stjohnsarnprior.com
Postings in the Narthex
• Eastern Synod Lutheran Monthly Newsletter (or access online at: http://www.easternsynod.org/)
• Upcoming events at Galilee Centre – website at http://www.galileecentre.com/programs/
Galilee Centre Presents
Spread Your Wings Guest Speaker: Bonnie
Weppler
April 21st -23rd, 2017 Register by April 14th, 2017
Check out the Galilee Centre
website for more information.
Take Note!
April 8th – Ben Hoffman at the Arnprior Public Library at 2:00 p.m.
for a book reading and signing of The Violence Vaccine, a memoir
April 10th – Sign-up sheet at the church for the movie The Shack at
Landmark Cinema Theatre in Kanata
Available in the Narthex or see Pastor.
April, May, June