God is Still

Speaking...

Brookings United Church of Christ

WWW.BROOKINGSUCC.ORG

Brookingsucc@brookings.net

605 697 2882

Rev. Wade Schemmel

Pastor

Email:

buccpastor@swiftel.net

Office Phone:

605-697-2882

Cell Phone:

701-934-2051

As I look at it. . .

“Whoever

you are,

wherever

you are on

life’s jour-

ney, you

are wel-

come here”

Issue 3 March 2016

MARCH

2016

828 8th Street South

Brookings, SD 57006

Brookingsucc.org

605.697.2882

828 8th St. South

Brookings, SD 57006

ISSUE

3

March 27th is Easter. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus

the Christ. By every standard it is the most sacred day of the church year. Easter is

the very heart and foundation of our faith. As a pastor I look forward to Easter. It is

the point when the fire of my faith gets kindled. It often is the source of strength that

carries me through the long dry summer. There is however, a question which I have

often been asked that begs an answer. That question is, “What is the meaning of East-

er in my everyday life”?

Easter is a grand celebration, with the flowers, and the food and the excite-

ment of the children it lifts one’s heart above the dreariness of the day. But when all

of that is past the question remains, what is the meaning of Easter for our everyday

life?

I believe there are two thoughts that I would like to share. The first is that

Easter helps us understand the depth of God’s love for us. At Easter we get a picture

of just how much God loves us and how capable God is of acting on that love. Easter

tells us that there is no limit as to how far God will go to reach us and there is no

boundary that can hold God back. It tells us that the God we worship is ready and

willing to deal with the rough and tumble of real life. I believe that Easter is also a

declaration that God seeks for each one of us the opportunity to live fully the life

that is placed before us. Easter is God’s call to follow God’s dream and know that we

will be backed fully by God. As King David was confident of going into battle know-

ing God was with him, so we can be confident as we face the challenges of each day

knowing that God will be with us.

Easter is a call for each one of us to live fully into who we are enabled to be,

It is a call to not be afraid to live up to the potential that God has given us. For God

will be there to guide us, to empower us, to give us sustaining strength. With God’s

help we can seek to climb the mountains of this life and embrace the eternity that is

to come. For Easter assures us that there are no boundaries on God’s vision or God’s

reach,

Let us this Easter draw close to the life empowering living Christ. May we find

confidence this Easter to live fully the life that lies before us and hold closely the

dream of the eternity we seek.

Namaste Wade

A Celebration of Diversity… Beginning February 17

th and continuing on through

March 16th all are invited to gather for a soup sup-

per at 6:00 followed by a program on the theme of

understanding at 7:00. The presenters will be mem-

bers of the richly diverse religious community of Brookings who will share what

it means to practice their faith in our midst. The participants include on Febru-

ary 17 – we are talking with Bud Johnson of the Native American Community;

on February 24 – Harry Greenbaum on behalf of the Jewish community; on

March 2 – Harsha Mistry on behalf of the Hindu community; On March 9 -

Fathe Halaweich on behalf of the Muslim Community; on March 16 – Phillis

Cole-Dai on behalf of the Buddhist community. Please consider joining us as we

go through this Lent program series and season together.

On March 24th

Maundy Thursday, we will have a Seder meal followed by a

brief Tenebrae service. On March 25th, Good Friday from 4 – 7 there will be

an opportunity for all to come and share in a personal moment of reflection.

The sacrament of holy communion will be available for all that would wish to

receive it.

The History of Palm Sunday

The celebration of Palm Sunday originated in the Jerusa-

lem Church, around the late fourth century. The early Palm Sun-

day ceremony consisted of prayers, hymns, and sermons recited

by the clergy while the people walked to various holy sites

throughout the city. At the final site, the place where

Christ ascended into heaven, the clergy would read from the

gospels concerning the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. In the early

evening they would return to the city reciting: "Blessed is He that

comes in the name of the Lord." The children would car-

ry palm and olive branches as the people returned through the

city back to the church, where they would hold evening ser-

vices.

By the fifth century, the Palm Sunday celebration had

spread as far as Constantinople. Changes made in the sixth and

seventh centuries resulted in two new Palm Sunday traditions -

the ritual blessing of the palms, and a morning procession in-

stead of an evening one. Adopted by the Western Church in the

eighth century, the celebration received the name "Dominica in

Palmis," or "Palm Sunday".

GOT SPRING FEVER?

Are you getting spring fever with the longer

days and warmer temperatures? Itching to get

out and give your green thumb a workout this

spring? The Memorial Garden committee is

looking for people willing to help with plan-

ning our next steps for the garden. If you have

ideas that you’d like to offer or are willing to

help with planting, pruning, or weeding we

could use your help. Please contact Ruby Wil-

son or any of the church council members if

you are interested in serving on the committee

or provide other assistance.

The History of Lent

The practice of Lent likely has its origins in practical reasons. In agricultural socie-

ties (as most Christian cultures were, in the fourth and fifth centuries, when Lent is first

mentioned in historical context), winter crops were often scarce. Correspondingly, a pe-

riod of fasting may have been a spiritual response to a physical need. The excesses and

revels of Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras), the day before Ash Wednesday,

were, in all likelihood, a response to the same phenomenon, as people wanted to con-

sume perishable goods (like meats, eggs, dairy products, and sweets) before they

spoiled.

As the practice of Lent evolved, it began to take on the added significance of a

preparation of new church members for the baptism of Easter Sunday. In the spirit of

Christianity as a community of living faith, this period of fasting and preparation was

eventually embraced by all Church members. Additionally, Lent was once referred to

as quadragesima, which is Latin for the fortieth day before Easter. The word "Lent" itself

is thought to come from a Germanic root, lenct, which initially meant "spring" and, lat-

er, "fast."

Moderator’s Report MARCH 2016

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

3 Bible Study 11:30-1 pm

Faithful

Crafters 2-4 pm

4 5

6 Adult Study 9

Worship 10

Fellowship 11

7

8

9 Confirma-

tion Mtg.

6 pm

LENT BEGINS

10 Bible Study 11:30-1 pm

11

12

Birthday Brunch 11 am Perkins

13 Adult Study 9

Worship 10 Fellowship 11

Communion

14

15

BUCC

Council

Meeting

5:30 pm

16 LENTEN

SOUP/

PROGRAM

6-8 pm

17 Bible Study 11:30-1 pm

Faithful

Crafters 2-4 pm Conf. Mtg 6

18

19

20 Adult Study 9

Worship 10

Fellowship 11

Palm Sunday

Food Dedication

21

22

23 Confirma-

tion Mtg.

6 pm

24 Bible Study 11:30-1 pm Seder Meal 5:30 pm

Tenebrae 7 (MAUNDY)

25Good Friday Meditation/Communion 4-7 pm

26

Faithful

Crafters

10-11:30

27EASTER 8 & 10am

Service 9am Breakfast

11am EGG HUNT!!

28

29

30 Confirma-

tion Mtg.

6 pm

31 Bible Study 11:30-1 pm

Night Out

5:30 pm

Dear BUCC Family and Friends,

We have a busy month here at BUCC and are looking forward to it and seeing everyone! Spring has sprung, and Holy week and Easter are upon us. Communion will be this Sunday, March 13th.

On March 24th, it’s Maundy Thursday and we invite you all to the Seder Meal at 5:30 pm and Tenebrae Service at 7 pm. On March 25th , Good Friday’s Personal Meditation and Com-

munion begins at 4-7 pm. On March 27th, Easter Sunday, BUCC is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt and we would like to cordially invite everyone and all the children too! There will be a special cake and fun had by

all! Save the date!

March 27th~

8 am ~Early Easter Service

9 am ~Easter Breakfast

10 am ~ Easter Service

11 am ~ Easter Egg Hunt/

Coffee Hour

NOTES FROM THE FEBRUARY CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING

At least one more teacher is needed for Sunday School.

New curriculum is needed for the Sunday School to better meet the needs of the chil-

dren.

The Sunday School committee will meet on February 28th after church to discuss staff-

ing and curriculum.

April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and plans have been made for a booth at HyVee

to hand out ribbons. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth on April 1 (3-7 p.m) and

April 2 (9 a.m. until all of the ribbons distributed).

A Kids’ Carnival is scheduled for April 16th.

Holy Week schedule: A Seder meal will be planned for Maundy Thursday, followed by a

service of extinguishing the lights. The church will be open on Good Friday for self-

communion and Pastor Wade will also be available if anyone requires assistance.

Easter morning schedule: There will be a simple service at 8 a.m. followed by breakfast

at 9 a.m. and worship at 10 a.m.

Brookings UCC has offered to host the South Dakota Conference of the United Church

of Christ annual meeting in 2017, and a planning committee needs to be organized.

Volunteers are welcome. The Conference provides the funding, schedule, and guidance

for the hosting church.

Ruby Wilson, BUCC Council Secretary

By: Kristi Prunty Moderator

If anyone would like to volunteer for helping out on Easter and the Egg Hunt, please get ahold of me! Contact information: Email: kprunty@itctel.com

Home: 605-693-4220 Cell: 605-690-2820

217 4TH Street

BROOKINGS, SD 57006

605.692.5007

IMMEDIATE NEEDS:

Pizza Sauce/Crust Canned Mushrooms/

Black Olives

Sloppy Joe Mix Mandarin Oranges

Canned Spinach/Asparagus

Instant Oatmeal

HARVEST TABLE:

A warm-no-cost meal served every Mon-

day night from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the

First United Methodist Community Life

Center, The meal is offered for anyone in

the community looking for good food and

fellowship! If you have questions, contact Von-

da Kirkham, Harvest Table Director, 692 4345.

FEEDING

BROOKINGS

Bags of food are distributed

every Thursday from 4:00—5:00 p.m. at the

Ascension Lutheran Church

2030 3rd Street 692-6565

March food item of the month:

Pasta/Rice

If you have participated in the weekly Harvest Table, you know that it is more than a hot meal for those in need. They also distribute food stuffs and supplies for families to get through the week, such as soap, toothpaste, diapers and baby wipes to name a few. The number of people be-ing served each week has grown signifi-cantly over the last few years. In July 285 people were served a hot meal, gro-

cery items were distributed to 145 house-holds, 110 packages of diapers and baby wipes were handed out to families all at no cost to the families. The cupboards are BARE!! The Harvest Table is desperately in need of supplies. Non-perishable foods, (canned goods, pasta, rice, peanut butter, beans, cereal, baby food, formula, fruits and juice, canned meat and other pantry staples), personal care items (soap, tooth-paste and brushes, shampoo, mouth-wash), baby supplies (diapers and baby wipes are especially needed), paper goods (paper towels, toilet paper). The needs run the gamut. If you need it for your house, the Harvest Table probably needs it as well. If you aren’t sure what is most need-ed, money is always “the right size and

color.” With your tax-deductible dona-tions, the Harvest Table staff can shop for what is needed the most.

Pantry is open:

Monday, Wednesday & Friday

1:00 - 4:30pm

January July

Stuart & Melissa Apland

Kathy Apland

Steve & Kristi Prunty

Darlene Dokken (2)

February August

Larry Rogers &

Ruth Harper

Don & Nancy Marshall

Brenda & Carl Kline

Loye Holmes

Raul & Marisol Galvan-

Murillo

March September

Susan Helvig

Dave & Julie Huebner

Jean Lillelid

Linda Langner

Helen Andersen

If anyone has any concerns or possible conflicts,

Please contact the church office 605.697.2882

Or at brookingsucc@brookings.net. Thank You!

Ministry Teams 2016

April October

Jim & Joanne Satterlee

Leonard &

Norita Henneman

Wade & Peg Schemmel

Jihong Cole-Dai

May November

Jim & Ruby Wilson

Tom & Susan Rosen

*Doug & Mary Ward

Christine Prussman

Christina & Justin Weimer

June December

Jacob & Samantha Holden

Randy & Marlene DeBoer

Chad & Laura Gloege

Shanta Messerli

Fred & Christine Delfanian

Special dedication of food items~ During each month we collect food for three special ministries that distribute food to those in need. These include “Feeding Brookings” “The Food Pan-

try” and “The Harvest Table”. There are receptacles and carts to receive each of these offerings. That food will be dedicated each 3rd Sunday and will be

distributed shortly after that. Help us to have nice full bins to share and dedi-cate.

1 Dave Huebner

3 Neemah Delfanian

11 Tom Rosen

12 Gary Kessler

18 Charlie Marshall

23 Fred Delfanian

26 Phyllis Cole-Dai

29 Jim Satterlee

30 JoAnn Satterlee

MARCH

BIRTHDAYS

ANNIVERSARIES:

8 Tom and Susan

Rosen

16 Clarence and

Darlene Bauer

LENTEN PROGRAM SERIES LENTEN PROGRAM SERIES

Jean Lellelid,

BUCC Mem-

ber and other

friends of

BUCC enjoy-

ing fellowship

after the Lent

Program and

soup supper.

February 24th~

Harry Green-

baum was our

speaker for the

Lent Program Se-

ries here to dis-

cuss his experi-

ence growing up

in the among the

Jewish Communi-

ty and practicing

that religion.

BUCC members and friends of the Brookings community coming

together to enjoy 2 different kinds of soups, assorted sandwiches,

cookies, and coffee during fellowship.

March 2nd~

Harsha Mistry

was our Lenten

Program speaker

for the night dis-

cussing her expe-

rience growing up

in the Hindu Com-

munity and reli-

gions.

Upcoming Events in March

BUCC Council

Meeting

March 15th, 2016

5:30 pm Potluck

6:15 pm Meeting

Bible Study will take place on Thurs-

day mornings at 11:30– 1pm March

3, 10, 17, 24, and 31st. Please join us!

‘FAITHFUL CRAFTERS’

March 3rd and 17th~

2-4 pm

March 26th~10-11:30 am

March 24th ~

Maundy Thursday

Seder Meal 5:30 pm

Tenebrae Service 7 pm

March 25th ~ Good Friday

Personal Meditation

Communion 4-7 pm

PLEASE JOIN US!

March 27th, 2016

Please join us for service, breakfast, and Easter Egg Hunt! Bring the kids for a

day of fun!!

“BUCC Night Out”

March 31st, 2016

@ 5:30 pm

We will be sharing the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sun-

day, March 13th, 2016. All are invited to come and share in

this very special time as we gather about the table that our Re-

deemer has set. “Helping Hands” Offering bowl will also be

located in the sanctuary. This fund helps out local folks in

need. Please Join us!

PALM SUNDAY &

‘FOOD DEDICATION’

MARCH 20th, 2016

We have 3 signup sheets in the back of the Sanctuary for the Se-der Meal, Easter Breakfast, and

for the Kid’s Carnival on April 16th~Please sign up to help pro-vide and serve our BUCC meals

and programs coming up!

Adult Study Group that has

been meeting at 9:00 on Sun-

day mornings has begun a

study of Kathleen Norris’s book

“Amazing Grace”. If any have

interest in joining the group

you are welcome to join us!

Volunteers Needed: March 26th, Saturday

Faithfull Crafters group is inviting anyone who is interested in helping put

the Easter Eggs together for the Egg Hunt on Easter is more than welcome

to stop by and join the fun! The Crafters will be at the church from 10 am

to 11:30 am on March 26th.

Our BUCC church life commission is also looking for someone to help out

with teaching Sunday School to the kids. We already have the curriculum

ordered. Please contact Peg Schemmel at Arts747@aol.com.

“Birthday Brunch”

March 12th, 2016

11 am ~ Perkins All are invited who wish to enjoy food and fellowship to celebrate your birthdays. Please Join us!

Confirmation

Meetings

Thursdays through

Lent~ 6 pm

8 am ~Early Easter Service

9 am ~Easter Breakfast

10 am ~ Easter Service

11 am ~ Easter Egg Hunt/Coffee