Dear  Friends:    14And  God  said,  “Let  there  be  lights  in  the  dome  of  the  sky  to  

separate  the  day  from  the  night;  and  let  them  be  for  signs  and  for  seasons  and  for  days  and  years,  15and  let  them  be  lights  in  the  dome  of  the  sky  to  give  light  upon  the  earth.”  And  it  was  so.        The  old  cliché  says,  “April  showers  bring  may  flowers”.    As  I  write  this  page  for  April  looking  out  my  office  window  the  sunlight  is  reflecting  off  a  dusting  of  spring  snow  showers  and  the  flurries  that  floated  down  as  a  rode  the  bike  in  the  gym  have  ended.    It  was  reported  that  on  this  day  March  23,  2015  Prairie  de  Chien,  was  blessed  with  11.7”  of  the  white  stuff.        Weather  is  a  topic  of  great  importance  to  most  people.    In  the  musical  “My  Fair  Lady”  Elisa  Doolittle  was  told  by  Professor  Higgins  that  to  avoid  embarrassment  when  in  public  stick  to  two  topic,  the  weather  and  your  health.    Anyone  who  has  seen  this  musical  knows  that  the  exact  opposite  occurred  when  she  went  out  in  public.        I  have  often  puzzled  over  the  years  as  to  why  it  seems  the  only  weather  conditions  a  lot  of  people  find  favorable  are  the  ideal  ones.    At  least  that  is  what  I  hear  in  the  locker  room,  on  the  gym  floor,  in  the  store,  on  social  media  and  at  church.    Mild,  warm,  low  humidity,  not  to  hot  and  sunny  seems  to  be  the  norm.  All  others  are  given  a  bad  rap,  like  cloudy,  rainy,  snowy,  cold,  excessive  heat  and  high  dew  points.        Realizing  that  everyone  has  likes  and  dislikes  and  reacts  to  varying  weather  conditions  two  facts  remain.    First,  as  hard  as  we  try  we  cannot  alter  the  weather,  which  secondly  means  it  is  out  of  our  control.    So  do  we  comment  on  it,  mostly  negatively,  because  it  is  a  safe  topic  of  conversation  or  for  some  other  reason?  

The  quote  I  began  with  comes  from  the  creation  story  of  Genesis  1  where  the  author  in  proclaiming  the  work  of  our  Creator  God  indicates  that  the  light  was  given  to  separate  day  from  night  and  to  be  “for  signs  and  seasons”.    I  am  not  sure  that  it  was  God’s  intention  here  to  create  what  we  have  manufactured  into  daylight  savings  time  but  this  is  my  personal  opinion  that  we  should  leave  well  enough  alone.    The  same  might  be  said  regarding  weather.    Climates  and  atmospheric  conditions  were  set  in  place  long  ago  and  are  ongoing  for  the  good  of  creation.    The  intent  of  our  Creator  it  appears  was  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos.    Some  places  experience  all  four  seasons.    Some  do  not.    The  not  so  funny  joke  sometimes  is  that  Wisconsin  has  two  seasons,  winter  and  road  construction.        Spring  snow  out  my  window  may  not  be  most  favorable  anymore  than  sub  zero  wind  chills  in  January,  but  that  is  January  and  this  is  the  end  of  March.    Seasons  change,  people  change.    Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yesterday,  today  and  tomorrow.    I  am  just  glad  to  have  weather.    And  furthermore  as  scripture  teaches  us    God’s  people  weathered  a  storm  on  sea,  a  flood  over  the  whole  earth,  a  thunderstorm  on  Good  Friday  and  an  earthquake  on  Easter  because  he  is  Lord  of  creation  and  Lord  over  all.    As  an  insurance  company  slogan  once  stated,  “Into  every  life  a  little  rain  must  fall”.    Our  insurance  is  the  assurance  that  despite  the  weather  conditions  in  nature  or  our  lives  Easter  means  a  new  season  has  arrived  and  with  it  hope,  promise  and  Risen  Lord  who  has  weathered  all  things  for  our  salvation.    In  the  Risen  Christ,    

Pastor Hal    

Office Hours& Information: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Monday-Thursday 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Home Friday: Closed Saturday: By appointment Office: 715-874-5675 Residence 715-235-0306 Pastor’s Office 715-309-2129 Pastor’s Cell: 715-828-1112 E-Mail: harkihear@gmail.com E-mail Office: bbec@wwt.net FAX: 715-874-5675 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ REMEMBER TO CALL Pastor Hal if you or someone you know is hospitalized. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRIVACY LAWS restrict obtaining information. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CALL ALSO FOR SPECIAL needs, pastoral assistance or a prayer request to be included in the Sunday service. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AUDIO AND VIDEO of the worship services are available upon request. Call the Office! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A word of appreciation to our confirmands, sponsors, youth, parents and members for

making our Lenten Soup suppers and service meaningful and a good opportunity for fellowship. A special thanks goes to Peg Schroetter and Audrey Stowell for their part in leading the worship and to the pastors who shared their message. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THOUGHT  FOR  THE  MONTH    “No  winter  lasts  forever;  no  spring  

skips  its  turn.”  ~  Hal  Borland  

BARUM LUTHERAN April 2, 2015 7:00 p.m. “Words of Institution” Holy Communion offered

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BIG ELK CREEK LUTHERAN April 3, 2015 2:00 p.m. “Crucifixion According to St. Matthew.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ EASTER WORSHIP 2015 9:00 A.M. BARUM LUTHERAN Worship with Communion Easter according to St. Matthew 10:30 a.m. BIG ELK CREEK Worship with Communion Easter according to St. Matthew +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CONFIRMATION CLASSES resume on April 8, 2015 at Big Elk Creek 6:30- 7:30. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Four lessons of Good Friday 1. physical and emotional suffering are part of life; 2. suffering isn’t always the result of sin; 3. Jesus was fully human — and thus understands our humanity; and 4. suffering isn’t the last word.