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christlutheraneagan.org About US Christ Lutheran Church is a growing body of believers in Jesus Christ, sharing the love, Word, and grace of God with our family, community, and world. Christ Lutheran is a congregation of the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
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Christ Lutheran Church Exists to help people:
Know the love of God in Jesus Christ
Show the love of God in Jesus Christ
Grow in the love of God in Jesus Christ
Go and share the love of God in Jesus Christ
Altar Guild
Music Groups
Board of Ed.
Preschool
Board of Elders
Board of Trustees
Human Care
Board of Worship
LWML
Board of Youth
Our Staff
DH
MH
ML
AM
Rev. David Hahn
Rev. Michael Heggen
Michele Lukanen
Alex Mezeritski
Lead Pastor
Visitation Pastor
Preschool Director
Music Director
A note from Pastor
The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. (Judges 7:7-11) This is the well known story of Gideon and his battle with the Midianites, whose numbers were well over 100,000. The Lord spoke to Gideon saying, "Gideon, I got one problem, you’ve got too many soldiers, 32,000 is just too many." So God started a weeding out process. Of the 32,000 there were 22,000 who were scared and trembling and full of doubt. So God told Gideon to tell them to go home. That left only 10,000 and yet God thought that was still too many. So God has them go down to the water to get a drink and those people who knelt down to drink were asked to go home leaving only those who reached down to cup the water and lap it up like a dog. 300 soldiers remained to take a stand against the Midianite soldiers numbering over 100,000. And God promised to give them victory in battle. Do you think Gideon was afraid? I think he was out of his mind petrified. But who is this Phurah? He may be one of the most amazing people in the Bible. Some of you may be hearing his name for the very first time because this is the only place in all of scripture that his name is mentioned. Gideon may have backed out altogether because of his fear had it not been for Phurah. There would have never been victory with Gideon and the 300 had it not been for Phurah. Phurah was someone who was just standing in the shadows waiting for the opportune time to be used by God for great things. He was the one who offered his encouragement, strength, and support. So with the Gideon, the 300 men and Phurah, God was able to supply the victory in battle. Greatly outnumbered, full of fear, but trusting in God, the 300 were given the victory because God was with them. Do you see the importance of trusting in God? Do you see the importance of encouragement and support for one another? These are the things that will lead Christ Lutheran Church to the desired future that is in front of us. Maybe you are that Phurah. Maybe you're not the lead person. Gideon is one who stood in the spotlight as Phurah stands in the shadows. Imagine a church full of Phurah's, those offering their encouragement, strength, support, and prayers. What an amazing adventure that would be. I know Phurahs are present for some are Sunday School Teachers, Bible Study Leaders, Officers, Board Members, Prayer Warriors, Ushers, Greeters, Readers, etc. And I know there are others thinking, "Maybe I can serve somewhere as well." Are you willing to be a Phurah? Pastor Hahn
By Michele Lukanen
Preschool News
Greetings in the name of our Lord! Another school year has come to a close. We ended the year with 17 children in the Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, with 10 staying all day, and 16 in the Tuesday/Thursday class. God continues to be good to the preschool. The preschool is raising money for supplies (art, toys, furniture) by putting on an “envelope fundraiser.� There are envelopes available with a dollar amount written on the envelope. Please take one (or two or three if you would like to give a larger amount but only smaller amounts are available) and return the envelope with that amount of money inside. Checks can be made out to CLC. If all of the envelopes are taken and returned, the preschool can raise over $5000. We are currently full for next fall in our Monday/Wednesday/Friday class, with 14 children staying all day. We have a waiting list of 4 children. Our Tuesday/Thursday class has 9 enrolled with 4 staying for the new extended day program. The Tuesday/Thursday class is now a mixed age class, serving 3-5 year olds. Thank you to everyone who has supported the preschool this year! We greatly appreciate your support and prayers. Have a blessed summer!
VBS News Basic Information: Vacation Bible School this year will be led by Camp Omega camp counselors. The dates for VBS will be June 27-July 1, 2016. Children going into 1st grade through 5th grade will be staying all day (9 am through 3 pm). Children who are preschool age through going into kindergarten will be staying half day (9 am through 12 pm). The cost for full day will be $25 per child with a $50 maximum for a family. The cost for half day will be $20 per child. How can you help? Camp Omega will be providing 4 counselors for the week. We are in need of volunteers to house a volunteer or two for the week. If you are able and willing, please contact Michele Lukanen (michele.clc@live.com). We are in need of more adult volunteers. Camp Omega requires a staff to child ratio of 1:10 for elementary age and 1:5 for preschool age. They intend to have one of their counselors dedicated to the preschool age group. The other three will be with the elementary age. Thus, we are in need of adults (18 years or older, as required by Camp Omega) to help with the preschool age especially. If you are willing and able to help, even if it is for one day, please contact Michele Lukanen (michele.clc@live.com). Volunteers are also needed to greet families at the door and help with registration. If interested, please contact Michele Lukanen (michele.clc@live.com). We are in need of youth volunteers. While youth cannot be considered leaders, they are very important to the overall program. They have the ability to really connect with the campers. Their enthusiasm can help a shy child come out of his/her shell and really enjoy the program. Youth volunteers can be anyone who is going into 6 th grade through going into 12th grade. If you are able and willing to help, please contact Michele Lukanen (michele.clc@live.com). Camp Omega is bringing all supplies for art and games. However, snack is the responsibility of the hosting congregation. Please check the bulletin board in the hallway toward the fellowship hall for donation ideas. How do I register my child/grandchild? A registration form is available both in print at church or online at www.christlutheraneagan.org. For more information, please contact Michele Lukanen at 651-454-4091 or michele.clc@live.com.
This & That LIFE Group Meetings schedule: Monday Nights, 6:30 pm, Men’s and Women’s group at Eagan Pointe: Contact Sharonlee 952-431-1865 Wednesday Afternoons, 1:30pm, Women’s group: Contact Geri Bonewell 952-891-2853 Saturday mornings (First three of each month), 9am, Men’s Group: Contact Mark Bonewell 952-891-2853 Our Graduates: CLC’s 2016 graduates are, Alec Johnson, Holly Marlow & Amanda Studer. Congratulations and we wish you blessings in your future endeavors. The Human Care Board: Is sponsoring a food drive during the month of July. The food will be distributed through the Open Door Pantry in Eagan. With summer approaching, there is an increased need for food as children are home from school. Please find the list of needed items on the narthex table outside the church office. The Trustees: are looking for volunteers to help mow the church grounds. With enough helpers, each person may only have to mow about 4 times during the season. Most of the mowing is done with a large lawn tractor. Contact Jeff Aldinger for more info or to sign up to help. It’s Never to Early to Think about Christmas. The committee that has been organizing the Christmas Tea in December has decided to open up this wonderful opportunity to other members. If you would like to take hold of this opportunity and make it your own, please feel free to step forward. If you would like any guidance or have any questions, contact Sharonlee Strohkirch or Kelly Callahan. It's been a wonderful experience. Thanks to all who have participated in and attended the event.
"Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near” Matthew 24:32
LWML Corner
By Joyce Swedean
THANKS to all of you who donated items for the Dakota Woodlands Women’s Shelter. They were very appreciative of everything received. Our final meeting of the year will be Saturday, June 4th (PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE) at 9:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. We will rap up our “Living a Chocolate Life” bible study talking about Sweet Surrender(Philippians 2:13 says “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”). We are also asking that each woman attending bring samples of her favorite chocolate to share. We hope you can join us. Janet Linkert and Karra Hartog will be our delegates to the MNSO District LWML Convention June 24-26th at the Verizon Center in Mankato, MN. The theme is “The Living Word” from 2 Timothy 3:16-17. This is a joyful, inspiring opportunity to meet LWML sisters and brothers and together share in Bible Study, listen to mission presenters, fellowship, and serve. One of the most important item on the convention schedule is when the delegates select the mission grant goal and mission grants that will be supported through mites for the next biennium. At our May meeting we voted to send monetary gifts to the following mission opportunities: $2,000 will be given to CLC to be used for a special project to be determined by the Trustees and the LWML. $300.00 to be divided equally for the LWML MN South Convention Offerings which are: 2016-2018 Mission Grant Goal, POBLO International, Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition (LINC) and Rachel’s Hope in Austin, MN. $200.00 will be sent to support seminarians at both St. Louis and Fort Wayne. In closing I leave you with words from Deb Burma (author of Living A Chocolate Life bible study): What does it mean to live a chocolate life? It means experiencing everything from bitter nuggets of pain to sweet morsels of joy, from dark and lumpy to light and smooth. Whatever the shape, flavor, or texture of you days, you can live in the rich and endless supply of the grace that is ours because of Jesus.
CAMP OMEGA DAY
Saturday, June 11th, 2016 At Camp Omega, Waterville, MN. Join us for this FREE Open House event for all ages. Activities will include singa-long, devotion, free picnic style barbeque, swimming, horse drawn wagon rides, pontoon boat rides, zip lining, archery, canoeing and a lot more activities for the whole family. The day begins at 10 am and concludes around 4 pm. Come for the whole day or a part of it. RSVP is preferred, but not required. Contact the camp office by email or call (507-685-4266) There is more information on the bulletin board in the narthex.
By Sharonlee Strohkirch
L.I.F.E Groups
I’m sure your summer plans are probably made. Our LIFE groups are making time for family plans and vacation trips. We will not be meeting June, July and August. So it is suggested we all ponder Psalm 105:4 “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His Face continually .“ A good way to stay connected is to attend our worship services. And to find a good source in summer groups that have Bible studies, you might start one yourself with your neighbors or friends, use a good and interesting Devotion book, find a prayer partner or open God’s Word to the Psalms, Proverbs or a book you may not know much about. Psalm 111:6 “ He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.” LIFE Groups will begin again right after Labor Day to renew our minds in studying God’s Word, continue our friendships, and invite others to join our LIFE Groups in fellowship and prayer together. Look for times and places in our September Christ’s Messenger. Max Lucado once said, “What people think of us matters not. What they think of God matters all….. God doesn’t need you and me to do his work. We are expedient messengers, ambassadors by his kindness, not by our cleverness…. Thus the following Story; A European village priest in medieval times once gathered his church for a special service. “Come tonight , he told them, “for a special sermon on Jesus.” And they did. They came. To their surprise, however, no candles illuminated the sanctuary. They groped their way to the pews and took their seats. The priest was nowhere to be seen. But soon he was heard walking through the church toward the front. When he reached the crucifix that hung on the wall, he lit a candle. Saying nothing, he illuminated the pierced feet of Christ, then the side, then one hand and the other. Lifting the candle, he shed light on the blood – masked face and the crown of thorns. With a puff, he blew out the candle and dismissed the church.” May we do nothing more. May we do nothing less.
Isaiah 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” says the Lord.” That you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He, Before me. there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.”
Have a Blessed summer.
Prayer Requests
Cancer - Steve Brennan, Carol Brown (mother of Christa Brown-Switzer), Cynthia Cotton (daughter of Dale & Judy Peters), Keith Feickert, Kris Hanson, Karen Hultquist, Bob Manthei (Father of Rebecca Hahn), Lucy Roemhildt, Don Wolf. Having surgery, recovering from surgery, illness, or other Gail Black, Richard Hanson (son of Florence Hanson), Steven Hennon (Marian Neujahr's cousin's husband) Ben Kothe, Antonina Kopcheve (mother-in-law of Alex Mezeritski), Judy Lebahn, Ioannis Madzaris (friend of Alex Mezeritski), Mary Marlow, Tatyana Mezeritski, , Louise Neil, Jackson Peterson (infant son of Mike and Nicole Peterson), Lore Rother, Marcella Schindeldecker, Jerry Studer (Husband of Marianne Studer). Homebound – Adona Braun, Waltraud Bundt, Sherrill Champion, Lori Dolney, Jim & Shirley Eilola, Hubert Heggen (Pastor Heggen's father), Lucille Jung, Ed & Elaine Klamm, Iona Kruger, Dorothy Lueck, Marlys Lund, Lois Mollenhauer, Marian Neujahr, Heinz Rother, Don Stockman, Gladys Wachter, Guy Westphal Those in the military and their families - SGT Cody Klinksiek, and SH Cole Klinksiek, (nephews of Julie Lefebvre), SR Jennifer Adelmann, (Granddaughter of Marylou Adelman), Apilo Ojullu (of our Anyuak community), and Jake Anderson, Kyle Anderson, and David Hernandez (grandsons of Dick and Joyce Swedean). The Anyuak ministry at Christ Lutheran Church, the Anyuak people back home in Ethiopia and Sudan. Persecuted Christians in 53 countries around the world. Our nation.
Birthdays June1: Nathan Sjulstad June 3: Jessie Chenevert, Denise Marlow, Medi Obang, & Mark Sides June 4: Brooke Bauman, Tara Gundberg, & Carey Kieser June 5: Shirley Eiola & Markus Kanning June 6: Tonia Dukart & Linda Wolf June 7: Kevin Kaldahl & Blake Kaner June 8: Derek Gilman & Iona Kruger June 9: Brianna Catlett, Wanwa Omot, & Jacob Westphal June 11: Christopher Hahn June 12: Chris Doffing, Jodi Grady, Kyla Johnson, & Armond Krech June 13: Phyllis Holz & Hunter Nichols June 14: Liam Benson & Donna Futhey June 15: Kelsie Dolney & Debra Gerber June 16: Lydia Lukanen & Lisa Roloff June 19: Janice Vraa June 20: Julie Nichols June 21: Annalisha Chapel, Casey Stelljes, & Kylie Sweet June 22: Rose Svoboda June 23: Matt Willis June 24: Tyler Bollinge & Kasey Kiewatt June 25: Amanda Bjurback & Timothy Clawson June 26: Marc Medland June 27: Delores Aldiner June 28: Mary Lewis & Betty Matschinner June 29: Tiffany Kaldahl June 30: Kathy Anderson, Jeffery Benjamin, and Tana Sauer
Looking Forward
Sunday
Monday Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1.
3.
4. 9:30am LWML
2.
4pm– Praise Jam 5pm– Worship
5
6.
9am Worship
7. 6pm– Boy Scouts
8.
9.
10
11. 4pm– Praise Jam
10:15am– Fellowship & Education Hour
5pm– Worship
2pm– Anyuak Worship 12. 9am Worship
13.
10:15am– Fellowship & Education Hour
15.
16.
17.
19. FATHER”S DAY
20.
9am Worship
7pm– Dakota Ramblers 4H
5pm– Worship
21. 6pm– Boy Scouts
22.
23.
24. LWML Bien- 25. LWML Biennial nial Convention Convention 4pm– Praise Jam 5pm– Worship
2pm– Anyuak Worship
26. LWML Biennial Convention 9am Worship
18. 4pm– Praise Jam
6pm– Boy Scouts
2pm– Anyuak Worship
10:15am– Fellowship & Education Hour
14. 6pm– All Boards/Council Meeting
27. 9am– VBS
28. 9am– VBS 6pm– Boy Scouts
29. 9am– VBS
30. 9am– VBS 6pm– VBS Celebration
10:15am– Fellowship & Education Hour 1pm– VBS Set Up 2pm– Anyuak Worship
June 2016
1. 9am-VBS