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What Difference Does Easter REALLY Make?

Easter literally rocked the world that day! “And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone” (Matthew 28:2). The world and all of us in it were forever changed. The first Easter transformed that first group of fearful, confused disciples into joyful witnesses of Jesus Christ—the Risen Lord. Because our world was rocked forever in the

promise of the resurrection fulfilled, our lives will always be rocked!

With our lives rocked through the promise of the resurrection, what changes our lives because of Easter? Our world is still a mess. Look at the unrest still in Syria and the Middle East. Look at the powers and threats from areas like North Korea. Look at our own struggling government and divided nation. We continue to inflict pain upon one another in our quests for protection, power, and entitlement. This is our messy world, still today, but it is the messy world for which Christ died and was raised, defeating sin, the power of the devil, and death forever. This is the messy world we will continue to live in as the promises of Christ have been fulfilled, but the fullness will not be until

Christ returns.

After Christ was raised from the dead, he taught us how to live with Easter making a difference in our messy lives and our messy world until he returns. Christ appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and opened their minds to the scriptures so that they would understand all that had happened. Christ appeared to the disciples who were behind a locked door for fear of the Jews. Christ came invit-ing us to touch the scars in his hands and feet and the hole in his side. Christ came moving us to touch the suffering so that they may feel

the power of the risen Lord.

Easter makes all the difference in our lives because Christ calls us to keep our minds in the understanding of the scriptures of God’s purpose, so that we may hear and know God’s redeeming and merciful actions in our messy world today. Easter makes all the difference in our lives because Christ calls us to touch the suffering of our messy lives … those in our world, in our midst, and even our very own. When we listen and understand God’s actions through scriptures and in our daily lives … when we touch the suffering in our midst, we

live in God’s compassion, forgiveness, love, and reconciliation, as it breaks into this mess. We bring Easter to hearts that long for God.

Easter is love stronger than death. It is not the warm, fuzzy feelings, but rather taking God into the tombs of our messy world and our lives. Easter makes all the difference in your life, as it is no longer about “Jesus and me,” but about Jesus raised for all in the joy of God’s

Easter gift to us now and forever! Alleluia!

Happy Easter!

In Christ’s Love Given in the Resurrection,

Pastor Sarah

Column by Sarah Cordray, Senior Pastor

Messenger April 2017

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Please join the Luther League on Easter morning for breakfast! We will be serving an egg dish, breakfast meat and fruit from 7 am - 10 am. A free-will offering will be accepted to

raise money for Luther League activities.

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 9: Communion Worship @ 8 & 10:15 am

with the procession of Palms.

SEDER MEAL, APRIL 12, 6 pm. 1st Communion Children & their families

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 13 11:30 am: Worship at Linden View Assisted Living

7:00 pm: Worship & Celebration of 1st Communion

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 14 12 Noon: Community Worship at St. John’s UCC

7:00 pm Worship at Luther Memorial

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16: COMMUNION WORSHIP AT 6:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:15 am

EASTER BRUNCH: 7:00 - 10:00 am

EASTER EGG HUNT: 9:15 am

An Easter Egg Hunt will be held for nursery through 5th grade students at 9:15 am on Easter morning. We’ll gather near the front doors for prayer and a countdown! Can’t wait to see you

there!!

Remember in Prayer...

Pairidine Crum Mae Lang

Irving Stubbendick, Russell Martinson

Etta Dieken Millie Harms Joe Hawkins

Robert Hallstrom, Sr. Victoria Martacho Kehlenbeck

Donita Rosenthal Ruth Windhorst

Lois Block Phyllis Buesing Lucille Niebuhr Don Rosenthal Paul Wallman LeeAnn Zeiger

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Financial Task Force Update

The Financial Task Force has met twice and is now meeting with each congregational committee to work through their

area of the budget. Primary goals of the Task Force include:

Resetting the budget to match the actual expenses similar to 2016.

* In 2016, our expenses were $337,941 in the midst of a budget passed that was $372,875. * For 2017, our congregation passed a budget that is $373,316. We will work with committees to bring the

budgets to an actual figure of used expense similar to 2016.

Consider ways to meet the immediate need of the expenses (this would be brought forth to council and possibly

the congregation if needed), as it will take a few years to turn around and teach the faith practice of giving.

Create educational dinners with the Stewardship committee in teaching members what it takes to sustain the min-istry budget of Luther Memorial. Older generations will be key to these dinners in sharing why they give and the joy

in doing so.

We have been quite blessed already in working with our volunteer mentor and leader, Dan Friedlund, who is a retired CPA and serves as treasurer of the Nebraska Synod Council and St. Timothy’s Lutheran in Omaha. He has created charts which show that we do not have an expense problem, as we have minimal staff and have been very faithful and attentive to the expenses. We do, however have a “top line” challenge with not enough giving. What will be key for us as Luther Memo-rial is to teach, share, and equip our members, especially younger families what is needed. We must resist the urge and tendency to blame or shame. We must be the solution together with all generations, asking God to help us each step of the way! We will keep you informed each month in the newsletter, as well as present in June’s congregational

semi-annual meeting.

BECKMAN PROJECT

The Beckman Project Funds are now being added to the

Youth Scholarship Fund. Current additions are $513.00

BIRTHDAYS

Emily Wellsandt

Sydney Wellsandt

Jeanette Wellsandt

Rod Wellsandt

Fred Bredehoeft

Jerry Siefken

Shirley Siefken

Cheryl Halvorsen

Randy Bohling

ANNIVERSARIES

Rod & Jeanette Wellsandt

Randy & Glenna Bohling

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APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTIONS FROM THE LUTHER MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND are available on the Welcome Center. The dead-line for submitting an application is April 15th.

Funds will be awarded approximately May 15th.

THE ADULT CHOIR will provide the gift of special music at both services on Sunday, April 30th. A rehearsal will be held at 11:30 on April 23rd. We will be singing Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King! that we shared at the Anniver-sary Celebration. Singers in middle school and older are invited to join us as we praise God with the gift of music! Contact Katie Bencken with any

questions: katieb.lmc@gmail.com

EASTER LILIES may be ordered at The Added Touch for Easter Sunday. They are $15.00 and will be delivered to the church. The deadline for

ordering is April 7th.

On April 30th, following 2nd Service (11:30) we will be having an OLD FASHIONED POT LUCK DINNER! Bring your favorite dish and

enjoy a time of fellowship!

VISIONARY TASK FORCE UPDATE

The Visionary Task Force has met twice and is now conducting interviews with a variety of church members of all generations in order to discover what God has grown in us as strengths, joys, and

challenges. Primary goals of this task force include:

Identifying the key areas of ministry—what makes LMC unique

Identifying challenges—where are we having to make adaptive changes

Realigning our governing structure to reflect these key areas of ministry in order to create a

sustainable structure for which volunteers can be found and commit

Rewriting our vision statement—this is our road map to how we “Remember, rejoice, and reach

out”

We will also keep you informed in the newsletters, as well as present at the semi-annual meeting in June.

Youth & Family Happenings

The Youth Director Corner

I have had the pleasure of chatting with many of you about spring - the new life that bursts forth as the weather warms! As we start to approach the Easter season and excitement grows to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we also find ourselves overwhelmed with school programs, sports practices, and other commitments.

This spring, I hope you are able to take time as a family to relax and enjoy the new. Reflect on how the year has progressed and the ways you’ve changed. Talk about the ways in which God has been working in your life.

And enjoy the blessing of sunny weather and budding trees as we remember the gifts we’ve been given! Happy spring, everybody! Blessings, Katie

Confirmation

During April, we will resume normal confirmation schedule on April 26th. We will also be starting the Sign-Up Genius for summer Acolyting and PowerPoint schedules.

If you’re interested in serving as a small group leader for the end of the year, please let Katie know. We need three parents to help serve from April 26th to May 17th.

Upcoming Dates:

Apr. 5 - Dinner Church and Confirmation from 6:00-7:30pm Apr. 12 - Holy Week: No Confirmation, please attend one Holy Week Worship as a family. Apr. 19 - No Confirmation

Sunday School

With joy, we celebrate our fourth graders who completed their Apostles’ Creed Milestone on March 12th! As a church, we value the opportunity to follow through on our baptismal promises with our youth.

During April, third graders and their parents will attend the First Communion Milestone and celebrate this faith practice together on Maundy Thursday.

Upcoming Dates:

Apr. 2, 9, & 23 - Easter Lesson Apr. 2 & 9 - 3rd Grade 1st Communion Milestone Apr. 16 - Easter! Egg Hunt @ 9:15AM

Luther League

As the school year draws to a close, Luther League has a few more opportunities to gather for fellow-ship and service this year! We will have fellowship at an Escape Room on April 1st, serve the Easter Breakfast, and prepare to celebrate with our gradu-ating seniors.

If you are interested in serving on the Luther League Leadership Team, we have availability for both stu-dents and parents. Talk to Katie about the commit-ment!

Upcoming Dates:

Apr. 1 - Escape Room in Lincoln, 1-4pm Apr. 16 - Easter Breakfast Apr. 30 - Youth Group @ LMC, 6-7:30PM May 7 - Baccalaureate Milestone, both services

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. . . Within The Fold . . .

January-March 2017

Births

Aspen Ember, January 3, daughter of Scott & Leslie Wagner.

Olivia Katharine, March 6, daughter of Don & Megan Anderson

Parker James, March 21, son of Ben & Kenzi Steele

Baptisms

Stella May Keim

Macy Rae Royal

Isaac Marshall Patton

Deaths

Helen Eis, January 20 Clifford Remmenga, January 12

Lois Liesemeyer, January 20 Jesse Sporhase, January 30

Marvin Halvorsen, February 23 Stan Post, March 10

Milestones

Learning to Pray, Kindergarten January 22

Faith Practice of “Giving”, 5th Grade February 15

The Apostles’ Creed. 4th Grade, March 12

SUMMER CAMP AT CAROL JOY HOLLING

The Evangelism Committee is excited to offer any

1st - 6th grader going to Camp Carol Joy Holling

this summer a $150 grant per child! To be eligi-

ble you must register before May 1st and contact

Mary Blacker at the church office. The $150 will

be deducted from your balance when making final

payment. This grant is available from Thrivent

Choice Dollars designated by LMC members.

It is the goal of the Evangelism Committee to

have all of our 1st - 6th graders who desire to

attend church camp be able to go!

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CAROL JOY HOLLING CAMP IS OFFERING 50% OFF FOR FIRST-TIME CAMPERS ATTENDING CAMP ON:

WEEK 1 (June 4-9)

WEEK 3 (June 18-23)

WEEK 8 (4-day, July 23-27)

Cannot be used with other offers and full payment is due at

time of registration.

Register online at www.caroljoyholling.org and use coupon

code “HALF OFF”

Questions? Contact registrar, Mary Bower, at

402-944-2544 or mbower@NLOM.org.

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LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH April 2017

W o r s h i p Assistants

1st Service – 8:00 am 2nd Service – 10:15 am

ACOLYTES APRIL 2 Mia O Jayda G Abby O Casey L APRIL 9 Hope K Jase V JaLynne J Jacob S APRIL 13 -7 pm Jase V MAUNDY THURSDAY Maddie H APRIL 16, EASTER 6:30 Mira R 8:00 Hope K 10:15 Casey L APRIL 23 Hope K Casey L JaLynne J Madison H APRIL 30 Kennedy St Jada C Kamdyn S Brady R READERS APRIL 2 Chris Bredehoeft Carrie Simon APRIL 9 Sallie Agena Bev Sporhase APRIL 16, EASTER 6:30 Chris Bredehoeft 8:00 Fred Bredehoeft 10:15 Tami Husen APRIL 23 Cindy Post Kay Bremer APRIL 30 Cindy Post Bev Sporhase USHERS APRIL 2 Bob & Patty Engelbrecht Steve Wellman & Jon Sporhase APRIL 9 Ron & Mary Meyer Roxy & Kirsten Schutz MAUNDY THURSDAY APRIL 13, 7 pm Dennis & Janelle Werner APRIL 16, EASTER 6:30 Jerry & Rhae Werner 8:00 Jim & Pam Pfeiffer 10:15 Wes & Terri Janssen

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1st Service – 8:00 am 2nd Service – 10:15 am

USHERS(cont'd) APRIL 23 Steve & Elaine Hofker Greg Mueller & Brent Harsin APRIL 30 Jon & Tami Husen Brad & Kristi Buller COMMUNION APRIL 2 Cheryl Halvorsen David & Karen Wolken Chris & Mackenzie Post Jessica Meyer APRIL 9 Jerry Neeman Joy Stilmock Pastor & Freda Hoffman Rick Kreifels Ranae Hug MAUNDY THURSDAY, 7 pm APRIL 13 Karen Wolken, Jon & Tami Husen APRIL 16, EASTER SUNDAY 6:30 Gary Kuenning Jenniffer Panko Rahe Lacy Johnson 8:00 Arlis Steinhoff Roger Kuenning Chris Bredehoeft 10:15 Jerry & Shirley Siefken Susan Wellman APRIL 23 Gary Kuenning Joy Stilmock Jenniffer Panko-Rahe Sally & Tim Juilfs Jeanette Wellsandt APRIL 30 Bob Engelbrecht Susan Wellman Larry Bartels Susan Thies Sallie Agena Ranae Hug AUDIO/VIDEO APRIL 2 Nick Cordray & Andy Brace Emily Holthus & Nick Cordray POWER POINT * *Noah Post *Dalton Leefers OPERATORS APRIL 9 Greg Huskey & Andy Brace Steve Wellman & Nick Cordray *Nolan W *Jada Cash APRIL 16, EASTER 6:30 8:00 Arlin Rohlfs & Ron Wenninghoff *Mary Ann Wenninghoff 10:15 Colton N & Nick Cordray *Brady R (continued)

Random Content

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AUDIO/VIDEO 1st Service – 8:00 am 2nd Service – 10:15 am APRIL 23 Jim Pfeiffer & Andy Brace Nick Cordray & Emily H *Sydney W *Emily H APRIL 30 Andy Brace & Nick Cordray Nicole Stubbendick & Nick Cordray *Sydney W *Shyanne F VISITATION APRIL Patty Engelbrecht

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE, PLEASE GET YOUR OWN REPLACEMENT AND PLEASE, CONTACT THE OFFICE!!

LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH April 2017

W o r s h i p Assistants