A
New Pastor Has Been Called!!!
I am happy to announce that the ‘Call Vote’ on March 16 was very
positive, resulting in a Call being extended to Harvey Johnson to be
the next Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church. That Call has been
accepted, and we now move to the final steps in the process. The
family will be moving some things to the parsonage the first few
weeks of April; Ordination and Installation
will take
place on
Saturday, April 19,
and
Pastor
Harvey
will
assist with worship on April 20th & lead worship
for the first time on April 27.
As
we look forward to the arrival of Harvey and LaVonne I know that
Messiah will uphold its reputation of being a friendly and inviting
congregation. Upon numerous occasions
Excitement should be widespread among the congregation as we have
the unique opportunity to witness an Ordination and, as many
church’s before us, we should look with pride upon the occasion to
help “grow a pastor” who has recently graduated seminary.
I pray that we may witness to these opportunities and that
the spirit may work within us and uplift us to a new level of
spirituality; that we are continually striving to keep in mind
“building the body of Christ” practicing patience, understanding,
forgiveness, and most importantly remembering the call of Messiah to
“touch all people with God’s love”.
Bishop David deFreese will preside and preach at the Ordination
Service on Saturday, April 19, at 4:00 p.m.
We hope to have a full Church – as Ordination is one of the
most moving of services, that few people get to witness. “Pastor”
Cory Lenners, Council President
A Date to Highlight
on the Calendar!
Ordination,
Installation, and Reception
for Harvey Johnson
Official Call Results
For 159
Against 14
(A 92% Approval)
The Compensation package was also approved
with an upper 90% rating!
CHANGE OF PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES
It is difficult to keep our church records up to date when we are
not notified that your phone number has changed OR that you have
disconnected your land line and only have a cell phone number. We
would like to keep in touch with you and phone numbers are very
important! Address changes cost the church money. We pay postage
dues on address changes and this amount adds up when we have several
mailings with wrong addresses. So please notify the church office
when you change phone numbers or addresses.
THANK YOU!
Pray for Peace
In this sad and tragic time of war and terrorism, we pray for our
men and women in the military, our President, and Congress. We pray
for the innocent who suffer and die. We pray for every effort to
bring peace on God’s earth and an end to national, ethnic and
religious beliefs that foster fear, mistrust, arrogance,
intolerance, hatred, torture, and killing.
FREE
TRANPORTATION TO AND FROM MESSIAH WORSHIP SERVICES
Thanks to the generosity of a Messiah member, we now provide
free transportation to and from Messiah. Simply call
ACTION CAB AND COURIER,
381-1010, to make arrangements and tell them to bill Messiah
for your fare.
SATURDAY SUPPERS at Messiah
“Those who refresh others will themselves
be refreshed.” Proverbs
11:25
Messiah Church opens the door for a free
meal on every Saturday Night, serving 4:30 to 5:30 PM.
VOLUNTEERS:
Without volunteers every week, this ministry simply would not be.
Many of you are regulars – which is a huge support.
There are also regular co-workers from other churches.
The sign up poster is down in the fellowship hall, near the
coffee. Help is especially needed to SERVE the meal – this means
just come from 4:00 to 6:00.
8-10 people are needed each Saturday.
SAINT FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER / SUPER SAVER / ROBERTS MILK / Hy-Vee
We continue to be
so grateful that most all of the meal needs are supplied by these
connections. Besides a
substantial meal, there is often enough for take outs.
THANK YOU TO OUR FAITHFUL CAPTAINS:
Ed & Carol Young,
Bob & Connie Krohn, Jim & Janice Elrod
We can always use
more captians – If you are interested, please talk with any of the
captains!
Joe Obermeier is a faithful co-captain and regular kitchen hand.
Please sign-up to help serve - we need more Messiah folk to “step
up!”
MONEY GIFTS SUSTAIN NEEDS
-
Gifts can be given
any time to this ministry - just mark for “Saturday Suppers.”
THANKS BE TO GOD – AND THANKS BE TO ALL WHO SUPPORT SATURDAY
SUPPERS!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Dates to Mark on your Calendar!
·
May 18th Last Day of Sunday School
Kids sing at 10:45 service
·
September 6th Garage Sale in Church Parking Lot
·
September 7th Fall Kick-Off for Sunday School
with installation of
Teachers and Staff
Thanks for all your support!
Dena Brooks – Secretary of Sunday School Ministries
Courtney Berg – Director of Sunday School Ministries
NAME TAGS
To help Pastor Harvey and LaVonne put names with faces, we will be
wearing name tags for a few Sundays. A table will be set up in the
narthex to pick up your name tag. You can leave them on the table on
your way out of church – they will be placed in alphabetical order
and you can pick them up each Sunday to wear!
Thank you!
PENTECOST SUNDAY – MAY 11
On Pentecost Sunday, May 11th, the church will be
decorated in “RED” with geraniums throughout our worship space. If
you would like to give a donation to help purchase the red
geraniums, put it in an envelope and mark it “FLOWER FUND”.
Thank you! Also
plan to wear red on Pentecost Sunday!
DEDICATION OF MEMORIALS
Dedication of Memorials will be held May 25th. Completed
memorial projects from the past year will be dedicated in memory of
loved ones.
SYNOD ASSEMBLY
The Nebraska ELCA Synod Assembly will be held May 30 – 31 and June 1st
at the
MINISTERS and MINISTRIES DIRECTORY
The Church office has completed an update of a new membership
directory with addresses and phone numbers entitled “Ministers and
Ministries” (A pink booklet available to pick up in the narthex or
at the church office). If you are currently using a cell phone
number and have discontinued your home phone number, we need to know
if you want this cell phone number published – Not all members want
cell phone numbers published. It is very difficult to keep phone
numbers current. Please call the church office to update phone
numbers! Thank you
WOMEN OF THE ELCA
The Women of the ELCA had a
busy April. I want to thank Connie Krohn and her committee for
all their work serving the reception after the
ordination service for Pastor Johnson and family. Thanks to
Shirley Brodman for furnishing the table
decorations. A big welcome to our new Pastor and know it will
be great to work with him in our ministry of
serving the church.
Sewing day was well attended
and we finished 22 quilts – thanks for everyone’s help.
May our wonderful April showers bring on those
beautiful May flowers. God blesses us in so many ways. Wishing you
all the best as we serve our Lord to the best of our abilities.
Friends in Christ,
Marilyn Williamson, Vice President
WELCA CALENDAR
May 2 – Church Women United Friendship Supper
At Trinity Methodist – Use door on 6th
& Cedar
May 4 – Ruth Circle serves graduation reception between
services
May 6 – Board Meeting at 1:00 PM
May 15 – Circle Meetings
May 20 –
QUILTING FOR CAROL JOY HOLLING QUILT AUCTION
Come quilt Monday evenings from 5:30 to 9:00 PM in
the church basement. Spend an hour or two or the whole evening. We
need you help to complete a quilt for the “Quilt Auction” at Camp
Carol Joy Holling – Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries. The Quilt
Auction will be held July 26th!!
NEW PRESCHOOL TEACHER
HEIDI WEBER
Hi! My name is Heidi
Weber and I was born and raised in
I attended
After High School I attended the
Preschool classes will be
held Monday-Wednesday-Thursday
from 8:15-11:15 and 12:15-3:15 for 4 & 5-year olds and . . .
Tuesday and Fridays from 8:15-10:45 for 3-year olds.
Come to Preschool Round-up May 1st – 4:30 to 7:00
PM.
I would like to meet some of our Preschool families!
GRAD SUNDAY – MAY 4TH
Messiah’s Graduating Seniors will be
honored Sunday May 4th at worship with a quilt
presentation and the Women of the ELCA will host a reception between
services in the fellowship hall.
Also scholarship awards will be presented at the 8:30
service.
Messiah’s 2008 Grads are:
Amanda Calhoon, Brett English,
Hannah Gappa, Luke Hannon, Jacob Harmon,
John Lilley,
Riley Meyer, Perry Schutz, Cori Trautman,
Ezarah Williams
Thank you to the quilt makers who sewed the graduation quilts – Rena
Kjar, Sue Koch, Mae Lenners, Levada Nielson, Cheryl Harder, Kay
Stoppkotte……and thanks to Orva
Samuelson for helping to trim the quilts.
ORDINATION / INSTALLATION SERVICE
For Harvey Johnson
On Saturday, April 19, 2008 at a 4 PM service, Harvey Johnson was
ordained as Pastor. Bishop David deFreese presided at the
Ordination. Assisting Bishop deFreese was Rev. Alena Lamirato of
Immediately following the Service of Ordination
was the Installation of Pastor Harvey. Jeremy
Reimers and Pat Bell, Co-Chairs of the Call
Committee participated in the Installation Service.
A
reception was held following the services to
Welcome Pastor Harvey Johnson, his wife,
LaVonne, and children Erick and Caitlin to
Pastor Harvey Johnson is a 2007 graduate of Lutheran Theological
Seminary in
Plans are being made for the upcoming 125th anniversary
of Messiah. Our actual anniversary is August 5, 2008 and will be
celebrated on August 3, 2008. Below are activities and events that
are planned:
√ History Book
√ Float in the Harvest of Harmony Parade
√ History DVD made by middle & high school students
√ Anniversary Dinner and Reception
√ Cookbook
√ Sunday Service Celebration
√ Quilt using the Sunday School children
√ Christmas Ornaments
√ Banners from Messiah’s clubs and organizations
NEW
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
Heidi Weber has been hired as the new Preschool Teacher at Messiah
for the 2008-09 school year. Heidi taught one year in the public
school and has had experience in Christian preschools as a high
school student and while in college.
Classes for 4 & 5-year olds will be held three days a week and
classes for 3-year olds will be held two days a week. Registrations
for next year’s classes are being taken now.
Please have anyone interested, sign up for classes now!
For more information, call
the church office.
(382-3471)
Kay Stoppkotte, Preschool Chairperson
REMEMBER IN PRAYER . . .
Military Members
and Families:
Gabe Rother, Tim Critz, Billy Obermeier, Jerry Kjar,
Jon Jensen, Eric Phillips, Joel Herman, Amber & Clayton Engelman,
Danelle Collins, Phillip Rother, Ashley Elrod, Brent Reimers,
Leslie-Lacy-Lois Lautenschlager
Those
hospitalized this past month:
Alvera Anderson, Rickie Lenners, Wayne Moss,
Ed Young, Kim Mettenbrink, Frances Heins,
Roger Hongsermeier, Dale Nielson, Robert Stubby, Clarence Peter,
Anette Davis
FUNERAL
Marie Harder
4/12/08
Aunt
of
BAPTISMS
Dax Owen
son of Kohl & Amanda Kirkland
Kysen Eric
son of Donney Joe Martinez and Tara Phillips
Thank you to Messiah friends and family for
your prayers and expressions of sympathy at the death of my father,
Alvin Kort. It was
comforting to know you were thinking of my family.
Sincerely, Cheryl Harder
It is with great regret and sadness that I announce my resignation
as your Family Life Ministry Director. With great faith in God, I
will begin the next chapter of my life on May 1, 2008. I thank all
of you for the warm reception you gave me and will take with me many
great memories. Please keep me in your prayers. Respectfully in
Christ, Beth Kroeger