2015
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952-934-5659
’ Easter. More than a Day. For us who live in the northern hemisphere, the church season of dark self-reflection, Lent, followed by the Easter season of light and life, conveniently coincides with the relay race of the meteorological seasons. Winter is on its last legs, managing with some effort to pass the baton off to spring, which is breaking loose to sprint triumphantly ahead – at the very same time that we are re-tracing Jesus’ steps to the cross during Holy Week and celebrating the triumphant Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord, a.k.a. Easter. In northern climes, we don’t just observe Lent and Holy Week; we live it. When we show up for the string of unique worship services – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter morning -- Holy Week happens within each of us, and in all of us together. We are in the upper room with Jesus and the 12 and the women who attended them. Jesus washes our feet, feeds us his flesh and blood. We stay with him in the Garden of Gethsemane and watch him being hauled away by the Roman police. We go to court with him, watch the brutal Romans torture him, nail him to a tree, and lift him up -- his arms outstretched to us, to all. We join the wailing mourners, wash the body, wrap him in swaddling clothes and lay him in a borrowed tomb. And we go to the tomb with the 3 Marys before the sun comes up on the third day, to discover that Jesus has eluded death and made a beeline for heaven. Meanwhile, the weather outside progresses from bitter and frightful to chilly and annoying to warming and hopeful. Ice blues to soggy grey layers to lime green shoots peeking their tiny noses through the crust of another winter’s end. Stale air is replaced by the rich aroma of organic garden material – death giving way to new life. From an article by Mary Winston Nicklin of the Washington Post in last Sunday’s paper I learned about slag heaps. These are great manmade mountains that are filled with the waste materials from coal mining. In them thar slag heaps there is coal that is in a state of slow combustion. Consequently, they are “warm and green with life, covered with vegetation…” -- even when it is still chilly, meteorologically speaking. For us as people of faith who call Jesus savior and victor over death, discovering the new life that is growing, hidden in the slag heaps that surround us, is not just a one-day-a-year thing called Easter; it is an everyday feature of our lives together in Christ. As we breathe in the fertile air of spring, and God’s renewing Spirit is breathed into the dead places within us, let us watch for the green shoots of new life making their way to the surface and clear the way for them. “Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil.4:8, adapted) Slow down. Love the ones you’re with. Embrace God’s gift of Sabbath each and every week. Extend your roots deep into the rich soil of God’s Word. Turn your sunflower faces to the Son. Easter. More than a Day. More than a Season. A Way of Living.
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& Holy Week
Table of Contents
Palm Sunday • March 29 Worship at 8:00, 9:15, & 10:45 am
News & Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Maundy Thursday • April 2 Good Friday • April 3 Easter Vigil • April 4
Summer Camps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 How You Can Help . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Worship at 7:00 each evening
Church Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Easter Sunday April 5 Worship at 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 am
Preschool & Children . . . . . . . . . . 7 Confirmation & Beyond . . . . . . . . 8 Meet the Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
New Member Event Sunday, April 12 12:15 – 2:30pm. Gather in the narthex right after 10:45 worship for a light lunch. Learn more about Family of Christ, meet other newcomers, and get all your Lutheran theological questions answered! If you’d like to join us, please contact Kim Schaeferle ( kim@familyofchristonline.com ). There will be childcare for children under the age of 4 – just let Kim know if you’d like to take advantage of this. New members will be welcomed at church services on April 26.
Scan the QR code to introduce yourself to us and/ or to sign up to receive our e-communications.
Our Stewardship Corner In the next two months, we have many exciting worship services. We begin April with Holy Week and Easter, then celebrate Creation Care Sunday (April 19), the welcoming of new members (April 26), and Affirmation of Baptism services on the first weekend in May (the 2nd & 3rd). In these many worship services, we’ll have opportunities to make our offerings and gifts, and this can truly strengthen us as we prepare for moving into the summer months of ministry. Ours is a church that doesn’t slow down – sure, we change a few things up in the summer, but ministry continues to thrive and expand. Let us be generous in our giving of time and talent, because a giving church is a living church. General Fund Balance as of 1/01/15 $31,387
Income Through 2/28/15 ___ $123,507
Expenses Through ____2/28/15 ___ ($132,634)
General Fund Balance ___as of 2/28/15 ___ $22,260
See our complete online calendar at http://tinyurl.com/kjy643f
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& Making Waves Our church staff and council have both been in retreat in mid-March to work on some of the ideas, inspirations, and recommendations found in the Making Waves 2013-2014 document. Note that you may read through this report on your own on our website ( http://familyofchristonline.com/adults/making-waves.html ). Feel free to talk to staff, council members, or Making Waves committee members who have now finished up their work: Leann Thompson, Marcia Strand, Megan Woods, Janet Boie, Brittney Unze, Jim Wall, Chris Nelson, Rick Ulku, Randy Ruckdashel, and Pastor Josh.
Watch it Grow! The rain garden is coming! A rain garden is a naturally-made area that captures rainwater and pollutants before they enter local water bodies. The runoff from the FoC parking lot, as of now, goes untreated into Bluff Creek waterway. The rain garden will be constructed with native plants that absorb nutrients and water, filter off sediment, and help create food sources for songbirds and pollinators. The rain garden excavation and installation will begin in late April or early May, and we hope people will support this ministry in two ways: 1) by volunteering to work in the garden (helping plant and maintain it), and 2) by contributing financially to support the cost of installation. We need to raise $5,000 towards the total cost of $42,000 (note: a good portion of the funding is coming from a grant from the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District and the city of Chanhassen). The fundraiser began March 15 and ends on April 19 (Earth Day). God calls us to be good stewards of God’s creation, and we have a chance to make a difference in this new way. For more information, contact Jeff Stuhr, Jim Leonard, Jim Sulerud, Melissa Lynk, Pastor Kristie, or Pastor Jeanne.
camps
Registration for summer camps is underway on our website. Check out the different options and sign up online: Pre-K through 5th grade: Luther Crest Day Camp at Family of Christ; June 15-18 1st grade +: Back by popular demand—our musical day camp for kids who have finished 1st grade & up; July 6-10 1st-5th grade girls: Little Sisterhood day camp. This is every young girls dream camp! Crafts, creativity, food, fun, and faith in a day-camp-sized package for girls who have finished 1st through 5th grades; Aug. 3-5 3rd-8th grade: Mission Day camp for those who have finished grades 3-8; high school leaders; June 22- 25 6th-8th grade girls: Soul Sisterhood camp for girls who have completed grades 6-8; June 29-July2 Various ages: Our FoC-sponsored week at Luther Crest is July 12-17, but you can go any time over the summer. See the Luther Crest web site for details and registration: www.luthercrest.org. Each camper will receive a campership (amount to be determined) from FoC out of the funds raised in last fall’s silent auction.
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“But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers.” Summer Shared Ministry If you are a regular shared ministry volunteer and have not contacted Kim about helping out over the summer, please do so. There are two services on summer Sundays beginning Memorial Day weekend — 8:30 and 10:30 AM. Please let Kim know which service you would like to help with and any dates that you know you will be out of town ( kim@familyofchristonline.com ). Thank you!
(James 1:22)
Bountiful Basket Need: April — Cash for meat purchases (A list of needed items is always posted on their website: bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org)
Help the Displaced Personal care kits will be collected April 5-April 19. Directions for assembling these kits & a box marked “Lutheran World Relief” (for the completed kits) will be by the CIA bulletin board near the kitchen. This is a great project for families or youth groups. It makes children aware that there are people in the world whose homes have been destroyed by a storm or who have had to flee their homes because of violence. Having a bar of soap and a toothbrush gives them a bit of hope when all seems hopeless. Our Saviour’s Service Opportunity A meal will be served on Friday, April 17, at Our Saviour's Shelter in Minneapolis. A sign-up sheet to provide food or to serve is posted on the CIA bulletin board near the kitchen. Questions? Contact Elaine Larson at 442-2881.
Bingo! Volunteers are needed to help with a bingo event for our special-needs friends. We also need small prizes to award (items from the Dollar Store & Target are great). The event is Saturday, April 18, 10:00 AM-noon, at FoC. There is a sign-up sheet on the CIA bulletin board near the kitchen; place prizes in the basket on the nearby table. Questions? Shelley Leone: leoneshelley@gmail.com Under Construction: 330 Sanctuary Chairs Our beautiful new chairs are in production now, and we expect them to be shipped after Easter. Woo-hoo! Greg will need help removing the old chairs, & unloading, unwrapping, & placing the new ones (which will be stylish, sturdy, & super-comfortable). If you can help, let Greg know: greg@familyofchristonline.com. We have sold about a third of the old chairs, but we are looking for a home for the rest. If you have any ideas about that, contact Greg or Pastor Kristie (952-934-5659). NEW MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY: FAMILIES MOVING FORWARD Are you interested in being part of a team of volunteers that ministers to families transitioning out of homelessness? Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie is a host congregation for “Families Moving Forward” (FMF). Periodically, the congregation hosts homeless families in their church. There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available each time they host: setting up the site bedrooms, helping with evening hospitality, serving as an overnight host, and more. If you are interested in becoming part of a team that helps with this effort, please contact Wendie Ulku Wendie.Ulku@iwco.com or Kim Schaeferle kim@familyofchristonline.com .
See our complete online calendar at http://tinyurl.com/kjy643f
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Mini-golf Fundraiser Saturday, April 18 • 3:00 PM Help fund a storage shed for FoC! Come play mini-golf at the church on April 18. Ages 12 +; tee times start at 3:00 PM. Cost: $20 for nine holes & lunch. If you’d like to sponsor a hole, the cost is $40. Sponsors may design their own hole, with signage to promote their business or group (e.g., FoC softball & bowling teams, Bible study groups, Common Thread, the Spartans, etc.). Prizes will be awarded!
Downtown Lunch Bunch If you work in Minneapolis, join other FoC members & friends for lunch & fellowship. We meet at 11:45 AM on the second Monday of each month. In April, we’ll meet on Monday the 13th at a place TBD. Questions? Rod Bubke: rod.l.bubke@ampf.com Girls’ Night on the Town Saturday, April 25 • 10:30 AM We’re mixing it up this month! Instead of meeting on our normal Friday night, we’re heading for Saturday brunch. We’ll meet at church at 10:30 AM on the 25th and travel to Hot Plate in south Minneapolis ( http://www.mrmosaico.com/hotplatediner/index.html ) to partake in amazing brunch-y food and a great atmosphere. Sign up on our website or on the poster in the narthex. FYI – there is great antiquing/ shopping nearby, so if you’d like to stay later and shop, that is definitely an option – just let us know. Questions? Contact Leann Thompson ( leann@familyofchristonline.com ) or Kim Schaeferle ( kim@familyofchristonline.com )
Women’s Retreat April 17-19 • Luther Crest Bible Camp, Alexandria, MN Pastor Jeanne Aamot will lead this retreat on the theme “Created, Claimed, Called.” A sign-up poster is in the church narthex. Cost for the retreat is $130. A $50 deposit is due when you register — place your check (to Family of Christ with Women’s Retreat written in the memo line) in the payment box on the wall outside the church office. Questions? Contact Leann Thompson: leann@familyofchristonline.com
Grief Care The Southwest Grief Coalition offers its spring series at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie (16515 Luther Way, Eden Prairie; 952-937-8123) beginning Thursday, April 9. The series runs for seven weeks, through May 21. A light supper is served at 5:30 PM, followed by a speaker and small group discussion. All experiencing grief through death are welcome to attend. For more information, talk to Pastor Kristie or Pastor Jeanne.
He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! 6
& Family of Christ Preschool Country Fair Join us for our annual Country Fair on Friday, April 17 from 5:00-7:30 PM. Come try your luck at the mini cake walk or fish pond, enjoy some dinner, or have your face painted! This is a fun family event with food, games, and prizes, and is designed for kids 2 years old through 2nd grade. We also host a silent auction the week of this event, to raise funds for our preschool program. Please contact Susan Schmidt to donate an item to the silent auction.
Register for the 2015-16 School Year FoC Preschool offers classes for 2-, 3-, 4-, & 5-year-olds, a Jump Start Kindergarten class, afternoon enrichment classes, and optional Lunch Bunch and Stay & Play for afternoon care. Check out the complete list of class offerings on our website ( http://familyofchristonline.com/preschool/classes-a-activities.html ). For more information or a tour, contact Susan Schmidt: preschool@familyofchristonline.com ; 952-380-9838.
Important Dates: * April 1-3 — Spring break; no school * April 15 — “Dr. Seuss on the Loose” magic show * April 17 — Country Fair, 5:00-7:30 PM * April 29 — Field trip to Stages Theatre for the monkey class
Children’s Ministry
REMEMBER: A list of our 2015 summer camps & registrations for them are online: http://tinyurl.com/nf7gdcw (See pg. 4 for information about our summer camps.)
Sunday School Sunday School April 5: Easter Sunday; no Sunday school classes May 3: Last day of Sunday school
Christos Wednesday, April 1: District 112 spring break; no Christos classes Saturday, April 18: Make a Difference Day; watch for info about a Christos activity Wednesday, April 29: Last Christos class of the year
Looking Ahead Summer Sunday school classes begin May 31 at the 10:30 service only. This is a multi-aged class for children 3 years old through 2nd grade. All are welcome. No registration — just come.
See our complete online calendar at http://tinyurl.com/kjy643f
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& Confirmation No confirmation April 1, due to District 112 spring break. Confirmation meets Wednesdays April 8, 15, 22, & 29; 6:30 pm.
SEE PAGE 4 FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SUMMER CAMPS
9th-Graders Rehearsal for Affirmation of Baptism is Wed., April 29, 7:30 PM.
Middle & High School Bagels and Bible Study Enjoy an Einstein Bros Bagel & a discussion about the day’s Gospel text. We meet at 10:15 AM in the youth room on Sundays. Newcomers are always welcome! * High school: April 12 & 26 * Middle school: April 19 What Now? High school seniors, come and talk about your faith and life as you transition out of high school. Newcomers are always welcome! We meet at 10:15 in the youth room on April 12 and May 3. Counselors Needed High school counselors are needed for Mission Day Camp June 22-25. Spend the week leading a group of elementary or middle school students as we serve in Chanhassen and Minneapolis. Celebrate at Valleyfair the last day of camp. Let Lindsey know if you’re interested: lindsey@familyofchristonline.com Drive-thru Devotions! High school students are invited to stop by the youth room after confirmation on Wed., April 15, to pick up a devotion & a treat! The devotion is something simple & quick you can do in the midst of your daily life. The Drive-Thru devotional materials will also be available in the youth room Sunday, April 19. Like Drive-Thru Devotions? Lindsey is looking for high school youth to be on a Drive-Thru Devotions team to brainstorm topics, treats, and activities for the devotions. Email lindsey@familyofchristonline.com if you’re interested! High School Juniors — Save the Date! On Sun., May 3, you’re invited to the “What Now?” group. This group for high school seniors meets monthly during the school year, and each spring the juniors are invited to join in. We’ll meet at 10:15 in the youth room for breakfast and conversation led by Dean Brown.
Mission Trips Mission Trip Participants: Mission trip training for the Kansas City & Detroit trips is April 12 at 6:30 pm. The training is for students and adult leaders. Mission Trip Payments A reminder that your final payments are due April 1. Payment amounts:
Soul Sisterhood: $150 Kansas City: $275
Detroit Youth Gathering: $525 El Salvador: $675
If you’re interested in going on a mission trip, please contact trip leaders to see if there is space available.
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Senior Pastor Josh Nelson 952-934-5659, ext. 13 josh@familyofchristonline.com
Pastor Kristie Hennig 952-934-5659, ext. 12 kristie@familyofchristonline.com
Leann Thompson Director of Faith Formation 952-934-5659, ext. 24 leann@familyofchristonline.com
Pastor Jeanne Aamot 952-934-5659, ext. 14 jeanne@familyofchristonline.com
Teri Burns Minister to Children & Families 952-934-5659, ext. 21 teri@familyofchristonline.com
Lindsey Ruhland Minister to Youth & Families 952-934-5659, ext. 30 lindsey@familyofchristonline.com
Mary Renz Director of Music Ministry 952-934-5659, ext. 23 mary@familyofchristonline.com
Susan Schmidt Family of Christ Preschool Director 952-380-9838 preschool@familyofchristonline.com
Kris Spangrud Finance 952-934-5659, ext. 18 kris@familyofchristonline.com
Jolene Satre Communications/Website 952-934-5659, ext. 11 jolene@familyofchristonline.com
Kim Schaeferle Connections Coordinator 952-934-5659, ext. 29 kim@familyofchristonline.com
Marilyn Syverson Church Administrator 952-934-5659, ext. 10 marilyn@familyofchristonline.com
Greg Provo Custodian 952-934-5659, ext. 26 greg@familyofchristonline.com
See our complete online calendar at http://tinyurl.com/kjy643f
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