The Galilean Log

May 2012

From the Pastor’s Desk.

God's Work. Our Hands.

The ELCA's motto is “God's Work. Our Hands.” We do that in many ways, through the training and equipping of pastors to lead congregations and to preach and teach the Word of God. Through the sending out of over 200 missionaries around the world to bring the Gospel to places that have never heard of Jesus Christ. To last summer's relief efforts to send hay to farmers and ranchers in Texas whose cattle were dieing because of the drought. To Lutheran Disaster Response where we work to bring order to the chaos that follows the devastation of tornadoes, or floods, or hurricanes, or other disasters.

One of the major projects the ELCA is dedicated to is helping to eliminate Malaria in the world. Every 45 seconds a child dies of Malaria. This statistic is even more shocking when we realize that we have the ability to prevent every one of those deaths. Through education among the people who are most at risk for Malaria to help them recognize the signs of the disease so they can more quickly get medical help, to providing the medicine that will cure it, to nets that will protect them from the mosquitoes that carry the virus we have the ability to eliminate this illness that kills so many children.

The ELCA is not the only organization working on this problem. We are partnering with churches, the United Nations, and many other organizations and governments around the world to attack and defeat the problem of Malaria. There are many different ways to donate and help in this effort, but the ELCA has made a commitment to make sure that 100% of the money you donate for the Malaria Campaign goes to providing the needed relief for those who are suffering. We can do this because the money ELCA congregations give in their regular benevolence through the Synods covers all of the overhead and administrative costs. So when you give $10 to purchase a mosquito net, that $10 buys a mosquito net. To help you donate to this effort we will have special envelopes on the table in the back of the church for your use. 

Another example of God's Work. Our Hands. I shared with you a few months ago that I plan to take the week of June 11-15 and go to the site of a disaster where I can do hands on relief work to help people in need. I have at least one other Galilean going with me, and will let you know the destination by the end of May. The idea is to plan the date and then go where God needs us to go most. I again would like to invite you to consider blocking out that week to be a part of this opportunity to do God's Work using Our Hands.

Yet another example, we at Galilean are planning VBS for the week of June 3-7, Sunday through Thursday, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. We have invited First Congregational Church in Clear Lake to join us for this time of fun and learning as we work together to be the people God has created us to be. See the additional information elsewhere in this newsletter.

God's Work. Our Hands. Is our call to mission and ministry at Galilean, in Clear Lake, IA, and to the ends of the Earth.

- Pastor Scot

From the President’s Desk ~

It hardly seems possible that May 1st is fast approaching. The Lenten season has passed and we are now heading into summer. We give a hearty welcome back to our snowbirds as they return home. I am looking forward to seeing all of you in the near future.

I was overwhelmed this past weekend when I heard how much money was given on Sunday morning for the mosquito nets. It is just another reminder of how the people of Galilean are always generous and giving to those that are in need.

Yours in Christ ~ Jerry Gunnerson  President

 

 

Happy May Birthday to:  Mark Kragel, 2nd; Ethan Starrett & Samuel Branstad 4th; Troy Wirtz & Paula Hicks 13th; Nora Smith, Cole Fatland & Deb Fatland 14th; Bob Olson 15th; Angela Hanson 18th; Gary Bonnstetter 20th; Barb Rinnels 24th; Tim Whelan 28th; Kim Gapinski 31st.

 

Blessed Wedding Anniversary to:  Dave & Joyce Clayton 4th; Andrew & Amanda Branstad 6th; Lauren & Kayla Simonson 9th; Bob & Donna Buol 14th; Dennis & Barb Rinnels 16th; Gary & Brenda Bonnstetter 24th; Jerry & Sandy Gunnerson 25th.

Please Remember in your Prayers

 

Dick Becker                Dave Clayton                       Brad & Louanne Bonin Family

 

Our Graduates ~ Leah Bonnstetter, Kassidy Hanson & Megan Gapinski    

 

 

Our Men in the Military

Cole Fatland    Andrew Branstad    Chris Sorensen

Mathias Morris         Calvin Bast

Softball is starting!!

Anyone 14 years of age and up are invited to join in the FUN!! Games are held on Friday nights at Frederick Hanford Park, Mason City. A Schedule will be posted on the entry way bulletin board soon ~ watch for it! Even if you don’t play you can still go and watch and support the Galileans team!!

Contact Kelsey Litterer if you are interested in playing ~

We have a Public Relations Person!! I have taken on a new responsibility here at Galilean. I will be the “PR” person and will be submitting articles and/or photos to the local newspapers. An example is the photo and article we had in the Mirror Reporter on our weekly giving at Advent Services. Also, some ideas would be the Valentine Dinner the Youth gave, the Harvest Dinner; working on the Prayer Shawls, or Bible Studies. I will try anything. The newspaper will let me know whether or not they will run it! If you or your group has something that you like to be sent into the newspaper, please email or call me. We have a camera in the church office and we can take a photo and I’ll write something up and submit it. You could also write it up if you would like. I’m just going to be the “go to person” for this. Our goal is get Galilean out in the public eye more with some of the awesome things we do here!        Thanks You! Leanne Hicks

 Youth Notes!

The Youth hosted a family game night on Friday, March 16. Everyone enjoyed playing games like scrabble, sequence and catch phrase. We also watched the movie “Courageous” with a special message, Family is the most important and as parents we need to be there for our children. The youth will be serving the Easter Breakfast again this year after the sunrise service. The menu will be egg bake, muffins, cinnamon rolls, fruit, coffee, milk and juice. Hope you all will attend. Our next meeting will be on April 22nd at 5:00 pm with Kelli having devotions, The Pralle’s with topic and the food will be a picnic meal. Games will be something wild and crazy outside. The Youth are also selling Younkers Coupon Books for $5.00, see one of the youth for yours. Thank You to all that attended the Lenten Services and for the church giving the offering to the youth. We really do appreciate everything the congregation does for the youth.

May the Lord continue to Bless you. Happy Easter                  Galilean Crusaders

 

March 2012 Financial Statistics

Regular Giving: $10,127.25                                          Memorials Received: $7,891.69                                                           Congregational Life: $26.80                  Designated Giving: $359.25

Total Incoming: $18,404.99

 

Operating Expense: $12,493.51                        CLB& T Prin Loan Paymt: $379.18

            Memorial Funds used: $973.00             Designated Funds used: $404.92

              Total Outgoing: $14,250.61

 

Designated Giving Received:

$ 268.30 Youth Group

$ 20.00 Praise Band

$ 20.00 Prayer Shawl

$ 50.00 World Hunger

$ .95 Heifer Project

 

Designated Giving Paid Out:

$ 360.00 Heifer Project

$ 19.92 Praise Band

$ 25.00 World Hunger

Checking Account Balance 3/31/12: $4,037.97

Memorial Account Balance 3/31/12: $10,996.86    

 

Average Attendance 2011: 78                       Average Attendance 2012: 89

 

Respectfully Submitted ~ Sally Litterer, Treasurer

Memorial Funds Facilitator’s Report March 2012

Memorials Received in March:

 

Ilse Bruntjen ~ $7,891.69 ~ Undesignated

 

Total received: $7,891.69

Memorial Funds Used

$50.00 ~ Heifer Project                        $923.00 ~ Praise Band

 

Memorial Funds available for use:     $10,996.86

Janeil Olson, Joyce Clayton, Sally Litterer

Memorial Committee

Here’s Who’s Doing What for Worship and Fellowship May

Sunday, May 6

Accompanist: Brenda Bonnstetter

Acolyte: Emma Whelan

Worship Assistant: Twylah Kragel

Reader: Kelli Gapinski

Communion Prep: Mike Fatland

Communion Servers: Bob Johnson, Linda Hopper, Janeil Olson

Usher/Greeters: George & Miriam Simpson

Coffee Hosts: Welper Youth 

 

Sunday, May 13

 

Accompanist: Jackie Swanson

Acolyte: Bryce Olson

Worship Assistant: Dick Olson

Reader: Louanne Bonin

Usher/Greeters: Rakel Smith, Dan Stealy

Coffee Hosts: Gary & Sally Litterer

 

Sunday, May 20

Accompanist: Jackie Swanson

Acolyte: Krystle Lu

Worship Assistant: Larry Eichmeier

Reader: Lisa Welper

NO Communion ~ it is being held on Pentecost Sunday, May 27th. If you were scheduled to help with this on this day… please note that you are ‘rescheduled’ to May 27th. Thanks!

Usher/Greeters: Jackie Swanson,

Mary Ann Flaten

Coffee Hosts: Kevin & Vicky Olson

 

Sunday, May 27

Accompanist: Linda Hopper

Acolyte: Anna McCluskey

Worship Assistant: Dan Gapinski

Reader: Janeil Olson

Communion Prep: Marilyn Chalgren

Communion Servers: Jerry Gunnerson,

Fred Petersburg, Brad Bonin

Usher/Greeters: Ron & Sonnee Steveson

Coffee Hosts: Jeff & Mary Stealy

Call to Order by President Jerry Gunnerson. Roll Call: Jerry Gunnerson, Bob Johnson, Mark Kragel, Jackie Swanson, Pastor Scot McCluskey, Wayne Pralle, Marilyn Chalgren, Cece Fuller, Sally Litterer. Devotions were given by Jackie.

 

A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the Agenda. A motion was made and seconded to waive the reading of the March council minutes. Motions carried.

 

Parish Office Report: Council members were asked to note the changes in the Address Directory. May LOG articles are due on Monday, April 23. Karen will be gone for a week to 10 days in May. The office will be covered by volunteers. Lamp Oil was ordered from Almy as there was no response from the Olson’s.

 

Pastor’s Report: Activities for Palm Sunday/Easter week went well and were well attended. Pastor Scot thanked everyone who participated in any way. Jan Fynskov has been scheduling every member visits fro him, having made 71 contacts so far. He has visited 57 members with 44 more in April. 28 members declined a visit.  6 families have requested to transfer to other churches or asked to be dropped from membership. Pastor Scot is beginning a new group for 8 consecutive Sunday evenings starting April 15. They will be studying “Unbinding the Gospel”. He attended colleague meetings, gatherings. He is also counseling 2 pre-marriage couples.

 

Treasurer’s Report: memorial monies have been received from the Bruntjen Estate. A motion was made, seconded and carried to use $1,987.41 of this money to pay off the sound system. Sally has $3,200 in unpaid bills at this time. A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the Treasurer’s report.

 

Commission Reports:

Congregational Life: A card was passed to sign thanking Bill’s Foods in Garner for donating a large box of greetings cards. Anyone in the congregation may have access to these cards via the office.

Evangelism: Bob is back! Jacob Welper is preparing to report to the council on his Eagle Scout Project involving the Visitors Welcome Center for the Labyrinth. Leanne Hicks continues to coordinate rides for Apple Valley residents to worship.

Learning: Janet Hahn and Stac ey Wirtz have joined the commission. Vacation Bible School will be the week of June 3. Gifts will be given for Mothers and Fathers Day. There are 2 Women’s Study Groups; one meeting 2 Sundays a month after worship, and the other on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 9 am.

Property: Jeff’s report was read by Jerry. Clean Up Day is Saturday, April 14 from 9 until noon. The mower for the Labyrinth is being fixed due to damage by mice over the winter.

Social Concerns: Highway Clean Up is scheduled for April 29th. 

Stewardship: They will not be using the Generosity Tree. The Tuesday Women’s study groups asked to use it instead.

Worship: They meet April 17. Items to discuss are Pastor Scot’s 25th Anniversary of his Ordination and Sonnee Steveson’s 25th Anniversary of becoming an Associate in Ministry. Jerry  read a letter from the Synod on this. A representative will attend whatever is planned for celebration.

Youth: 70 people attended the Breakfast served on Easter, April 8. $211 was donated to the youth for this. They continue planning for the summer gathering in New Orleans.

 

Correspondence: a letter was shared from Jesse Bond.

 

Old Business: The discussion of the Meet & Greet Ideas was postponed until the May meeting. 

New Business: Most of the commissions have several members and are running smoothly. More participation on Social Concerns and Congregational Life will be sought. A motion was made, seconded and carried to approve the transfer out of Duane & Joye Petersen. Thank you’s were expressed to Lou & Jeff Stealy, et al., for the cave for Easter; the youth for the breakfast and the “Ragman” skit; Brenda for organizing the band on Easter Sunday; and to all who donated time, talents and food to Easter week activities, including the Seder Meal.

 

The next council meeting will be May 8 at 7:00 pm. Bob Johnson will give Devotions.

 

The meeting adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer.

 

Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Chalgren, acting secretary.

***VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL DATES SET***

***Sunday, June 3rd – Thursday, June 7th      5:30-8:00 PM***

***Supper provided – All are Welcome***

Our church is hosting an exciting Amazing Desert Journey Vacation Bible School this summer. This is a great time for kids to grow in faith in Jesus as they explore God’s Word.  You can help make this happen.  Please help us meet our goals by providing support in any of the following ways:

·        Sponsor a child by donating $15.00 per child in the camel envelopes to cover the cost of materials.

·        Enroll your children and grandchildren in Amazing Desert Journey and invite friends and neighbors.

·        Volunteer to help

·        Donate supplies to offset expenses.  Watch for a supplies list.

·        Pray for our volunteers and the children and families who participate.

Thank you for your continued support of Christian education and our church.

Galilean Learning Commission

Our Thanks go out to ~ ~

To ~ our Youth and their parents for the tasty and delicious breakfast on Easter Sunday!!  

 

To ~  all Galileans who helped make the Seder Meal a success! Thank you to all who brought food items and helped with setting up tables and clean up. A special thank you to Sally for doing the publicity, Bev for the posters, Sandy for the flowers & decorating, and Jan, Rakel, Sharon, Ardee, Vonnie, Stacey, Sandi and Sandy for you time given in getting everything ready. Thanks to Karen for bulletins, making phone calls, and being at my beck and call. Thank you to Pastor Scot who guided us through the meal, and to Ben for his part in the meal.

And I can’t skip Janeil, who was my consultant and guided me through the process from California! “It takes a church to put on a Seder Meal.” Blessings to all!  Marilyn Chalgren

 

To ~ ALL who helped with the church’s spring cleaning on Saturday, April 14th

 

To ~ Everyone who served at Community Kitchen in April!!  

 

 

Click here for the May 2012 Calendar