youth! youth! youth! music! music! music!
TRANSCRIPT
“We bring the hope
we share in Christ to
all!”
AUGUST 2012 VOLUME 56—ISSUE 8
YOUTH! YOUTH! YOUTH!
MUSIC! MUSIC! MUSIC!
Atonement will have a youth choir IF we have a group of young people who are committed to coming to weekly practices and singing in worship once a month. Kay Rossow, Chapel Choir Director, will meet with interested youth on Thursdays from 6:00-6 : 4 5 P M b e g i n n i n g S e p t e m b e r 6 t h .
This choir will be for all 2nd - 6th graders.
Please call Kay Rossow at 245-9042 to express your interest and ask any questions.
Singing in a youth church choir is an opportunity for music education and experience that is as important in a child’s growth and development as any other activity. I will make the commitment to your child if you both will make a commitment to me and the choir. This could be an exciting adventure!
What: Chapel Choir Potluck
When: August 26 @ 4:00 PM
Who: Chapel Choir members, family and friends
Where: Larry and Kay Rossow’s—3141 Conestoga Way
Please bring your favorite main dish, salad, or dessert and a lawn chair in case you may want it. Utensils, iced tea, lemonade, and coffee provided.
Chapel Choir practice will begin on Thursday, September 6th at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Please plan to relax and enjoy yourselves while we learn music to sing for worship. Leave your stress at home!
Farmer’s Market & Country Fair
@ Atonement Monday, Sept. 3
9:00 AM ~ 2:00 PM
Arts & Crafts, Basket & Quilt Raffle, Garden
Produce, Canned Goods, Jams, Jellies... and MORE
Many volunteers will be needed ~ please help as you
are able.
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 2
Dear Friends at Atonement,
Can it really be August already? Yes it can! That
means that summer activities are going to be
winding down and the activities of fall are going to
be starting up. For Atonement, this August will be
the time that we will be starting some of our usual
“beginning of the school year” activities and it will
also be the time for starting some new activities.
Of course, one of the most exciting new activities
that will begin sometime in August is the
construction of the new church building. We had a
wonderful groundbreaking ceremony on July 15th
and now we are finalizing the loan with the Mission
Investment Fund. As soon as that is done, we will
sign our contract with Fisher Construction and the
work will begin! We expect that will happen before
the end of the month.
August will also mark the beginning of the
internship program at Atonement. Jenna Pulkowski
will begin her internship here and at St. John’s
Lutheran Ministries on August 13th. Jenna will be
splitting her time between St. John’s and
Atonement. We will set up a schedule as to when
she will be at Atonement. We do know that she will
be with us on Sundays for worship and Sunday
School and for Confirmation classes. We will let
you know her full schedule once that has been lined
out. I, for one, am excited for Jenna’s arrival and
ministry with and among us.
We are in the process of planning for Sunday
School and Confirmation. Students in grades 6
through 8 will be receiving information in the mail
about confirmation. That should arrive in a couple
of weeks. For now, you might want to mark August
29th on your calendar as the date for our
Confirmation Orientation meeting. Sunday School
Rally Day will be September 9th. We are looking
forward to another great year of Sunday School.
Anyone who has an interest in helping with Sunday
School that we have not contacted, please let Kathy
or myself know and we will get you involved.
As I’m writing this letter, we have had six young
people and one adult leader leave for the National
Youth Gathering in New Orleans. I am sure that this
trip will be quite an inspirational experience for
them. We will have them share their experience
with us during worship sometime before the end of
August. The Montana Synod is hosting two new
youth events this fall and I would encourage our
youth to mark these dates on their calendar and plan
on attending. There will be a Middle School Fall
Retreat at Christikon on September 28-30. This
event is for youth in grades 6-8 and the retreat will
be focused on the Reformation. There will be a
High School Fall Retreat on October 18-19 (MEA
Weekend –Thursday to Friday) in Bozeman. It is a
follow-up to the National Gathering with featured
hip-hop Artist: AGAPE. Be watching for more
information.
Please be safe as you enjoy the remaining days of
summer and begin preparing for the beginning of
the new school year and all the increased activities
that the Fall Season brings both in the secular world
and here at Atonement. God’s blessings to you all!
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 3
The Keeping you informed and inspired with
what's new, changing and coming up. Building Brief
W ow! The groundbreaking
ceremony on July 15 has been a
long time in coming. What a
great event with over 90 members of our congregation
participating in this ceremony. The ground breaking
ceremony represents a significant milestone! Literally
thousands of hours have gone into turning our Vision
into reality. During this journey, every member of our
Congregation has participated in a meaningful way to
get to this milestone.
Because of the success of our capital campaign,
Mission Investment Fund has tentatively indicated
they will be able to increase the loan from $1.2 million
to $1.625 million. In considering our application, MIF
took into account many considerations, including
Atonement’s ability to repay the loan without
impacting our future mission and vision. MIF is truly
looking out for Atonement’s best interests. While the
increase in financing does not completely close the
financial gap necessary to construct as much as we
would like, it will allow Atonement to proceed with
construction in August if the loan can be finalized.
Based on the funding available, the Guiding Team is
recommending Atonement move forward with several
reductions in the scope of the project. The primary
reductions will eliminate the Commons and reduce the
amount of paved parking. Fisher Construction is also
evaluating several other minor cost reductions that
would help close the financial gap and create a
contingency in the project budget. Assuming these
cost reductions meet MIF’s approval, the Finance
Team will complete the loan documents and finalize
Fisher Construction’s contract.
In order to add the Commons, Atonement would need
to secure an additional $200,000.00 in funding. The
Guiding Team evaluated several options for securing
the additional funding. The option discussed the most
was to sell lots 1D and 1E, which are located east of St.
John’s Wyndstone project. It has been suggested the
lots could be sold to St. John’s, however, St. John’s has
indicated they are not in a position to purchase the
lots at this time. Given this, the general consensus of
the Guiding Team was that Atonement needed to
retain the lots as assets which can be utilized in the
future.
All the Building the Hope in 2012 teams are striving to
get the final details of this project in place so that
construction can begin in August.
Prayer/Meditation Labyrinth
Diane Cunnington is looking for ideas on the design of
a prayer/meditation labyrinth on our new campus.
You might be asking yourself “exactly what is a
prayer/meditation labyrinth?” A prayer/meditation
labyrinth is one of the oldest meditative tools in
existence. It is composed of paths which circle around
and leads to the center of the circle. A labyrinth
symbolizes the journey of life and walking one can
give you sudden glimpses of
your life’s purpose and
provide a calm place for
prayer and meditation. Look
for more details in the
coming weeks on the
planning of the prayer/
meditation labyrinth.
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 4
INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK
Our guests will be arriving August 26th and will be with us until 7 a.m. Sept. 2.
We will have a full house and one dad with his son will be among the guests.
Please mark your calendars for these dates and when the pink boards are passed
around, check the columns that you would like to help with….there are
several....These guests are trying to get their lives straightened out and are
working very hard to do so. Put yourselves in their places….moving from church
to church every 7 days, getting up at 5-5:30 to catch the bus to the day center,
attending their classes, working and raising children. They have nowhere else to
go and are very thankful to sleep on an air mattress...If you are unable to
volunteer, there is a special column marked "Pray"….perhaps you could include
these families in your daily prayers. I wish all of you could listen to these little
ones when we "pray" before we eat....it would bring tears to your eyes. The pink
boards will be passed around starting July 29th. Blessings to all of you!
Betty Jo Furstenberg
Atonement Lutheran Church
Vacation Bible School 2012
70 children spent the week of June 25-29
going deep into the ocean and deep into God’s
Word. Through daily Bible stories, they
learned to Depend on God, Dare to Care, Claim
Jesus, Choose to Follow, and Change the
World. Many thanks to. . .
Skit Characters: Mark White as “Dive Chief,” Tessa & KayDel Shelton as “Ocho the Octopus”
Bible Characters: Diane Cunnington, Eric Hansen, Amy Severson
Music: Kay Rossow, Colie Evans, Alie Evans
Crafts: Emma Quinn, Abby Quinn, Angela King
Office Support: Joann Estal
Teachers: Tia Schacht; helpers Julie Leno & Corby Barron Janet Morgenstern; helpers Jackie Clemo, Kara White, Karen Underwood
Dive Guides: Shaun Severson, Bobby Hilson, Lane Severson, Dayton Willoughby, Logan Rodacker, Dylan Chirrick, Ben Higgins, Haley Roedocker, JoAnn Martin, Jessica Meeker
Camp Song Leaders: Aaron Morgenstern and Emilie Christman
Shane Weinreis of Montana Dive Tech for demonstrating diving equipment
Kitchen: Shirley Jennings, Betty Jo Furstenberg, Kay Sather and all who donated snacks
Decorations: Daren, Amy, Shaun, Lane, Erika Severson, Diane Cunnington, Emma & Abby Quinn
Daily Devotions, Photographer, Grillmaster: Pastor Mark Morgenstern
Kickoff Barbecue: Pr. Mark, Joann Estal, Marlon Leno, Todd & Erin Koepp (Wilcoxson’s Ice Cream), Tia Schacht, all who helped clean up
The Congregation: for your prayers and
generous support of VBS at Atonement.
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 5
Time & Talent List
August ~ Canned Fruit
Lectors
8:00 AM 9:45 AM
August 5: Janet Rubich Terri Porisch
August 12: Lora Pederson Marilyn Franklin
August 19: Bertha Olsen Elinore Quander
August 26: Pat Zellar Shaun Severson
Communion Preparers
August 5: Janelle Berry August 12: Shirley Jennings August 19: Tammy Johnston August 26: Elinore Quander
Communion Bread
August: Julie Leno September: Janelle Berry
Giving Our Time & Talents to God - Page 1
Hospital Visitation
August ~ Joyce Nitschke
September ~ Tammy Johnston
Sharing Flowers for Worship
Aug. 5:
Aug. 12: Dan & Kathy Cypher
Aug. 19: Fraley & Fred families
Aug. 26: Todd & Erin Koepp
The 2012 Flower Chart is on the table outside the office at the back of the sanctuary. The cost is $25.00 per Sunday for two bouquets given in honor or memory of a loved one.
Acolytes
August 5:
8:00 a.m. Briana Guse
9:45 a.m. Kenna Hofer
August 12:
8:00 a.m. Ben Higgins
9:45 a.m. David Hull
August 19:
8:00 a.m. Hailey Johnston
9:45 a.m. Bryce Mikkelson
August 26:
8:00 a.m. Arielle Tommerop
9:45 a.m. Dawson Mangels
Talk the Talk and Walk the Walk! We are preparing to begin weekly walks
from 407 Wicks to our new home on the
hill! It is 2.8 miles from Atonement to the
door of the Little White Church. Join us
on Monday mornings @ 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Common Grounds
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 6
8:00 AM Ushers
Aug. 5: Bill & Judy Belden, Karen Underwood, Dale Molyneaux
Aug. 12: George & Shirley DeMars, Ed & Rita Reeve
Aug. 19: Clarence Robinson, Del & Rose Steiner, Debbie Goodheart
Aug. 26: Lora Pederson, Bette Wolff, Marjorie Stewart, Jo Bott
Van Drivers
August 5: Stan Newton 245-8456 August 12: Kyle Johnston 256-1980 August 19: Todd Koepp 256-1569 August 26: Mark Jennings 248-8044
CANTORS
August 5:
8:00 a.m. Becky Lujan & Debbie Heyd
9:45 a.m. Sono Me Praise Band
August 12:
8:00 a.m. Gary Dunmeyer
9:45 a.m. Kelly & Linda Michaelis
August 19:
8:00 a.m. Marilyn Franklin
9:45 a.m. Maria & JoAnn Martin
August 26:
8:00 a.m. Gary Dunmeyer
9:45 a.m. Nicole & Alie Evans
Piano Schedule ~ 9:45 a.m. Worship
August 5: JoAnn Martin
August 12: Elinore Quander
August 19: Kay Rossow
August 26: Vicki Evans
9:45 AM Ushers
Aug. 5: Dale Cunnington, Kathy Cypher, Cindy Dunmeyer, Betty Jo Furstenberg, Bob & Shellie Ehrmantraut
Aug. 12: Jesse & Sandi Gonzalez, Bob Holloway, Kyle Johnston, Kelly & Linda Michaelis
Aug. 19: Mark & Shirley Jennings, Todd & Erin Koepp, Dennis & Donna Newell
Aug. 26: Joyce Nitschke, Louie & Charlie Plaggemeyer, Joan Siemers, Steve & Donna Slater
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 6
Giving Our Time & Talents to God ~ Page 2
2012 Atonement Lutheran Church Council
Tyler Westrope, President 670-3878
Lance King, Vice President 656-1183
Gary Dunmeyer, Treasurer 724-986-2973
Vivian Beals, Secretary 248-7930
Mike Rubich 248-3484
Linda Lange 245-4766
Linda Fiene-Quinn 259-2689
Dave Mangels 256-2029
Barry Hammond 861-5285
Sara Hull 245-6414
Debbie Rensvold 259-2485
Doug Harper, Alternate 373-6384
Marissa Delser, Youth Rep.
YOUTH GROUP for Junior and Senior High
School students
will meet Sunday
August 5th @ 6:00 PM
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 7
Prayers 4 Members
Pray for blessings, health, safety and general well-being of these members of Atonement. Give thanks for all who are workers with us in the mission we share.
August 5: Marianne Sorensen; DeeDee Stanich; Clint, Ashley, Brennar & Brilee Stapp; and Del & Rose Steiner
August 12: William Stenson; Marjorie Stewart; Perry Stichman; and Robert & Connie Stone
August 19: Terry & Patty Struck; Harry & Lorraine Theurer; Sione, Janette, Danara, Jerry & Samuel Tulimaiau & Brandon Leikam; and Karen Underwood
August 26: Don, Jermaine, Olivia, Addison & Chloe Unruh
& Kennedy Robbins; Charles Vanderpas & Marion Richardson; Shane, Elecia & Lillian Vigus; and Vicki Wagner
August Love Offering…
A child dies from malaria every 60 seconds.
Today we are in a special moment where we could
turn this around. Working though Lutheran churches
in Africa, the ELCA Malaria Campaign is uniquely
positioned to provide mosquito nets, insecticides,
medication, health care, education and more to help
eliminate deaths from this disease—for good.
Love Offering
envelopes can now be
found on the two tables at
the back of the sanctuary.
1 blunt scissor
1 box of 24 crayons
1 pencil sharpener
4 - 70 sheet spiral notebooks of paper ( 8 ” X 10.5” wide or
college ruled).
1 (30 cm.) ruler (inches may be on one side)
5 unsharpened #2 pencils with erasers
5 ballpoint pens (no gel ink)
1 eraser approx. 2 1/2” long
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 8
All third graders will receive Bibles during the 9:45 worship on Sunday, September 9th as part of Atonement’s Growing Faith confirmation program.
Pastor Mark will meet with third graders and their parents Sunday, August 26th at 2:00 PM. He will tell you more about this special occasion and about Bible Buddies!
The following students are listed as third graders in our records:
Lily Gushwa Lauren Rodacker
Brendan Kelly Jenna Salveson
Brady Lehner Ashlie Schelm
Devon Lovelace Bryton Simmons
Paige Mayhall Olivia Unruh
Ava Williams
If your name is not listed, please contact the church office at 245-7004 or attend the meeting August 26th at 2:00 PM.
Congratulations to all 3rd graders!
Thank you to the Donna Parytka Memorial Fund for providing the SPARK Bibles given to 3rd graders and SPARK Story Bibles given as baptismal gifts.
3rd Graders Receive Bibles A l l s t u d e n t s —
preschool through
high school and even
college—bring your
b a c k p a c k t o
CHURCH Sunday, August 19th. There will
be a blessing (at both the 8:00 and 9:45
worship services) for you and your
backpack and for teachers and school
workers before you head off to the
classroom. The congregation blesses and
supports you and prays for you as you
begin a new school year.
Students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades and Parents,
please mark your calendars:
Confirmation Orientation
Wednesday
August 29th
6:30 PM
The first day of Sunday School is approaching and we will soon be recruiting teachers and helpers for the school year. If you would like to be part of the leadership team, a teacher or a helper for a month or for the year, or for special projects, please contact: Kay Rossow, Kathy Slehofer or Pr. Mark.
The Commentator — Atonement Lutheran Church Page 9
GRACE BIBLE STUDY Next meeting will be in September
For more information, contact
Tina Williams @ 256-7761
Friendship Club
will not meet in August
JOY Bible Study
The JOY Bible Study is a
women’s study group that
meets every Wednesday at
6:30am at Atonement.
Hope Circle Hope Circle does not meet in June, July
or August. The next meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 20 at 9:30am.
Financial Report June 2012 Income $ 24,790.54
June 2012 Expenses $ 29,362.86 Net Income (loss) for month ($ 4,572.32)
Net Income (loss) for year ($ 6,271.32)
August 2012 Offerings & Income
July 01, 2012 $ 4,846.10
July 08, 2012 $ 4,134.50
July 15, 2012 $ 3,082.00
July 22, 2012 $ 2,632.81
July 29, 2012 $
Simply Giving through
07/22/2012 $ 5,775.00
Total as of 07/22/2012 $ 20,470.41
Thursday Bible Study ~ 9:30am ~ Novak Room
Reading through the Old Testament—currently reading Nehemiah and
Esther.
Wonderful Wednesday! August 8 @ 6:00 PM
Shanghai Buffet
Marvelous Monday! August 27 @ 6:00 PM
Applebee’s
All are welcome!
Thank you to all the “Operation Overboard” divers who brought cold
cereal for the Billings Food Bank.
You DARE TO CARE!
Atonement Staff
Pastor . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark R. Morgenstern Associate in Ministry . .. . . . . Kathy Slehofer Office Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . Joann Estal Organist . . . . ... . . . . .. . . Gwynn Pederson Chapel Choir Director . . . . . . . Kay Rossow Seminary Intern . . . . . . . . Jenna Pulkowski
Atonement Lutheran Church
406-245-7004 Fax: 406-245-6951
www.atonementbillings.org [email protected]
Non Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Billings, MT
Permit #904
407 Wicks Lane ▪ Billings, MT 59105
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