April/May Messenger Page

Messenger Volume XXVIII, Issue 2

April & May, 2016

I n his poem from 1973 titled “Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front”, Wendell Berry invites his readers to, “Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias. Say that your

main crop is the forest that you did not plant, that you will not live to harvest. Say that the leaves are harvested when they have rotted into the mold. Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.” Berry invites his readers into a life that is lived in a healthier balance between humanity and the created world. Berry invites his readers to consider being good stewards of all that God has made. Berry echoes the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 24, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” More than four decades have passed since the time of Berry’s pointed invitation to a better understanding of holistic stewardship – a better understanding of how we care for ourselves and all that God made – and it seems as though little change has truly been made. The pace of our consumption and the voracity of our appetite for using up the planet’s resources has not abated. We debate the merits of climate change science while simultaneously lamenting the unseasonable warmth, the loss of polar ice, and the warmest winter in recorded history. The world changes around us making it clear that our standard of living is beyond sustainability, and yet we continue on our course undeterred. What are we to do in the face of such a daunting set of complex challenges? One option would be to ignore the challenges and to do nothing. Another option would be to face the challenges and despair over our lack of options. A third option – and the option I believe the faithful are called to – is to face the challenge of over-consumption and poor stewardship of creation and act differently in ways that are possible at a local level. In other words, we are called to do what we can to live differently even if it might not completely redress our collective wrongs. Here at Mount Calvary, we are making decisions as a community of faithful disciples to work towards a better witness of healthy stewardship – especially with regards to the world around us. Our congregational leadership believes we are called to make changes both small and large to demonstrate our commitment to being better stewards. We are called to be an example to our surrounding neighborhood and our community. With this in mind, Mount Calvary has begun the slow process of change. You are all invited to join in where you can. The following are ways in which we are committed to better stewardship:

New Rain Garden – the rain garden will be primarily funded by a grant from the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District. This project will take the runoff from half of our parking lot and a considerable portion of the building and direct the water towards a depression built in front of the church. The depression will be filled with mulch, soil which allows for saturation, and perennial flowering plants. The purpose of the rain garden is to allow rain water to permeate the soil and enter the groundwater sources. Allowing the rain water to permeate the soil will keep pollutants and debris from entering the storm drain and eventually flowing into the Minnesota River. These rain gardens are now required elements of newer construction.

Recycling – Mount Calvary has long recycled numerous items. However, we have not made access to recycling readily available in our wider physical plant. Through the efforts of one of your Council members, we will be acquiring new recycling receptacles to place throughout the building.

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Page 2 April/May Messenger

STAFF:

Tom Jenkins Lead Pastor Jen Rome Pastor for Children, Youth & Family Pam Carlson Associate in Ministry/Cantor Matt Schroeder Intern Pastor NaDyne Glidden Administrator Wendy Lane Ministry Coordinator Jane Mollman Education Coordinator Margaret Stachour Secretary Marianne Adelmann Community Night Building Supervisor Denise Beyer Bookkeeper Camille Buddecke Accompanist Bob Grissom Maintenance Service Technician Beth Jerzak Youth & Family Assistant Brian Jerzak Community Night Building Supervisor Shirlee Klang Office Assistant Wendy Lane Joy Choir Director Christine Lees Praise Choir Director Liz Lindner Youth Handbell Director Mary Jane Pedersen Accompanist Marlys Peterson Office Assistant David Prowant Fellowship Supper Cook Alanna Teragawa Calvary Carillons Director Kay Wandersee Office Assistant

COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Dan Sjolseth, President Butch Raymond, Vice-President Dave Jaede, Treasurer Amy Commers, Secretary Sarah Glad, Council Lisa Johnson, Council Brenda Teats, Council Erica White, Council MINISTRY TEAM CHAIRS: Bob Grissom, Property Judy Graff, Global Social Dave Jaede, Finance Sarah Slania, Worship

Messenger Update

T he Messenger is now being published 6 times per year. We are

no longer mailing it, but printed copies are available at church by the Welcome Desk. The Messenger will continue to be available on the Mount Calvary website (www.mtcalvary.com).

We hope this promotes better practices of recycling on church grounds.

Paper Reduction – It has come with some difficulty, but the reduction in frequency of our newsletter and the reduction in bulletin size will significantly reduce our paper usage. Mount Calvary’s leadership has appreciated the flexibility of the people as we work towards reducing our usage of paper products.

Upkeep of Physical Plant – Mount Calvary considers the upkeep of our physical plant to be part of good environmental stewardship. Some examples include: conversion of lighting to more sustainable sources, cleaning up trash and debris from our grounds, and maintaining and caring for the greenery outside the building. (Church cleanup will be April 20 and everyone is invited! Please see page 15 for more details.)

A s we move forward, Mount Calvary’s leaders anticipate further efforts to model our commitment to sound

stewardship of the world around us. It is part of who we are as a community of faith. We realize that not all in our community will agree with our assertions and efforts. If there are any questions about these convictions and commitments, please contact the Council or me. I believe in the faithful engagement of the people God has called together in this place. We all do the best that we can. In the end of his 1973 poem, Wendell Berry leaves us with these words, “Practice Resurrection.” It is our firm commitment to practice resurrection all around us. In all of these efforts of good stewardship, practicing resurrection is what we are doing. We might not be able to change the world around us, but we will practice giving new life and resurrection on behalf of the One who was raised from the dead. Good friends, please join together in this place to practice resurrection. Practicing Resurrection with You,

Pastor Tom Jenkins Pastor.tom@mtcalvary.com

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April/May Messenger Page 3

Youth Calendar Friday, April 8 7th-12th grade Lock-Out 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Meet at church for our last lock-out of the year! We will have a game and

devotions, then head out to a service project and end up at Perkins in Town Center in Eagan for a late night snack—pick up at Perkins at 11. Bring $ for Perkins.

Learn about Hinduism by visiting Hindu Temple of Minnesota!

We are naturally curious about differences among people, including different religions. All people of Mount Calvary have been invited to our Other Faiths Field Trips for all ages! These field trips give us opportunities to visit different places of worship and learn about the faith of others. I hope that this will help us to better understand our neighbors and cause us to think about our own practices and beliefs as Lutheran Christians. The experiences create great reflection and conversation. The last field trip is as follows:

Wednesday, April 6: Hindu Temple of Minnesota, Maple Grove 6:30 p.m. Meet at Mount Calvary if you wish to carpool 7:30 p.m. Meet at Hindu Temple, 10530 Troy Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55311 for tour

*Wear socks as we will need to take off our shoes.

Graduation Sunday June 5

Graduating High School Seniors save Sunday, June 5, for Graduation Sunday. There will be a brunch for you and your family at 9:00 a.m. followed by a blessing and special gift during the 10:15 worship service. Look for more info in the mail and emails. If you do not receive the info, contact Beth Jerzak at beth.jerzak@mtcalvary.com.

We Serve—Save the Dates! We Serve this summer is for completed 6th-12th graders! Youth gather for a service project in the morning, have lunch, and head out for a fun activity in the afternoon. We Serve this summer will be on Wednesdays June 22, June 29, July 20, July 27.

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Page 4 April/May Messenger

Sunday School Begins at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday school theme for April is The Sower, Matthew 13:1-9,18-23. May theme is The Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1-21, 36-42. Faith5: Preschool – K parents are asked to join their preschool – K children for the first 10 minutes of Sunday school on May 22 as they will practice Faith5 together as a family.

Birth – Age 3 Sunday School: April 3 & May 1, 10:00 a.m.

A parent/child Sunday school class designed for children age birth – age 3. Expecting parents and grandparents are welcome too! Class begins as a large group and then parents will separate for a special talk time (in same room with kids) while the kids are busy being entertained. Join this lively class the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room.

Children’s Musical - April 24

Sunday, April 24 is the Children’s Musical ‘Feeding the 5000’ performed by the Wednesday night choirs. Sunday School for today is attending this Worship service with your family.

9th

- 12th

Grade Milestone Ministry Class - May 8, 10:00 a.m.

9th - 12

th graders and their parents are invited to attend this special class on Sunday, May 8 at 10:00

a.m. in the Fireside Room.

Worship Young: April 17 & May 15, 10:15 a.m.

The third Sunday of each month at 10:15 a.m. is a Worship Young service. It is a special child-centered worship service. Sunday School today is attending Worship Young with their family.

✿ Special offering on April 17: Gerten’s gift cards for the Rain Garden.

✿ Special offering on May 15: Items needed for Rahn Elementary English Language Learning classrooms.

Vacation Bible School is June 20 – 23

Vacation Bible School brings Bible Camp and Mount Calvary together for a very meaningful experience for children. Join us as we partner with Luther Crest Bible Camp!

✿ Preschool (age 3) – K program: 9:00 a.m. – noon. Cost $65

✿ 1st – 6th grade program: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost $80.00

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April/May Messenger Page 5

An Update from the All Always Learning Team

T hank you to all who participated in the Heart to Heart Listening Sessions! The team loved hearing your stories, thoughts, and feelings as well as your imagination of how all generations could learn to follow

Jesus together on Sunday mornings next September. We will share the results of the Heart to Heart Listening Sessions with the congregation in April during worship. At this time you will have the opportunity to interact with the results and ask more questions of team members after the service. Then, in May, the All Always Learning Team will create a proposal for the staff and Council showing what our learning time together on Sunday mornings will look like for the next program year September, 2016 - May, 2017. The full plan will be shared at our Annual Mission Mount Calvary Sunday on May 22. In April 2017, we will hold Heart to Heart Listening Sessions again to hear your experiences of our experiment of all always learning about God together. Please pray for the team and for Mount Calvary as we dream and develop ways for all ages to learn about God together.

Table & Chair Rental

M embers of Mount Calvary are able to use church tables and chairs for social events

by making arrangements with the church office. The tables and chairs that are available are older and are located in the south garage. We have 4 – 6’ & 3 – 8’ tables and 85 chairs available to rent. It is on a first reserve, first serve basis.

A fee of $5 per table and $1 per chair is charged. This money is used to assist the church with the on-going replacement of tables and chairs. Payment is required at the time of pick up.

Tables and chairs are to be picked up and returned to the church during the church’s business hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

If you have any questions or are interested in reserving any tables and/or chairs, please contact the church office at 651-454-2344.

Volunteers Needed

to Make

Mobile Lunch Box

Sandwiches

T he Open Door will be hosting their Mobile Lunch Box program (see below) again this summer.

Volunteers are needed to make sandwiches and put together vegetables and crackers for the kids. The location of the food preparation will be in Mount Calvary's kitchen beginning June 27 at 1:00 p.m. It takes about an hour to prep the food for the kids. If you would like to help, please contact Pam Murphy, program manager, at 651-368-0361. The Mobile Lunch Box is a one-of-a-kind approach to addressing children’s hunger in the summertime when parents are at work and children are not in school accessing free and reduced meal programs. The Mobile Lunch Box is a retrofitted short bus, lined inside on both sides with café counter-style seating. The Open Door will distribute healthy brown-bagged lunches at low-income housing complexes to food insecure children. Children eat on the bus and participate in literacy, physical, gardening, and art enrichment activities led by volunteer groups.

Page 6 April/May Messenger

Future Organists

I n February, Mount Calvary hosted Pipe

Organ Discovery Day. We had 18 young people and

12 adults attending the morning session learning about and playing the organ. I learned some new things, too! At 2:30 we had three boys who had been glued to the organ bench for over an hour. As a result of the morning, we have at least one youth who will begin taking organ lessons. If you or someone you know was unable to attend but would like a chance to play the organ, please let me know. I am very happy to have other fingers and feet explore the organ. For the dedication concert of the organ on February 27, Michael Barone from MPR was here recording the concert. At some point part of the concert will be aired on MPR. I will let you know when that occurs.

*+*+*+*+

Future Artists We would like to display artwork from school age youth on our art wall this spring. We would like it to be framed so we can easily hang it. Please add the name of the artist and age. Talk with Pam Carlson about when to bring it in or if you have questions.

Pam Carlson (pam.carlson@mtcalvary.com)

*+*+*+*+

April/May Music Schedule 8:45 10:15

April 3 Sanctuary

April 10 CC Bells ROL/ReBELLious

April 17 Youth/Sanctuary RING/Praise

April 24 Joy/Alleluia/Youth Joy/Alleluia/Youth

May 1 Sanctuary Youth

May 8 Calvary Carillons ROL/ReBELLious/

RING

May 15 Sanctuary/Youth/Alleluia SS Children

May 22 Sanctuary

Table for Five…..Thousand!

Sunday, April 24

O n Sunday, April 24th, the Joy, Alleluia, and Youth Choirs will be presenting the story of the

miracle of the loaves and fishes at both worship services. This is a new musical for Mount Calvary but by two of our favorite composers/writers. From the Foreword to the musical:

“Mother Teresa said, “We can do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.” We offer this small work in the hopes that it might communicate that message – and along the way, point actors and audience alike to the One who can fill every hunger.” Tom Long and Allen Pote

It is a delightful musical and the youth are having a great time singing and acting!

April/May Messenger Page 7

April Worship Assistants

USHERS 8:45 10:15

Bruce Olson Josh Tibbits Cindy Drahos Joann Tibbits Jim Drahos Jennifer Kehr

GREETERS Bill & Vonnie Zeller (3,10) Dianne Hobot (3,17) Lynne Janke (17,24) Marilynn Hauser (10,24)

READERS

Cindy Drahos (3) Lisa Anderson (3) Jan Dare (10) Emma Griffith (10)

Lisa Anderson (17)

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Bill Zeller (3,10) Lisa Anderson, Amy Commers (3) Vonnie Zeller (3,10) Craig Elsen, Phil Heide (3) Lisa Anderson (17) Jack Glad, Danny Koeller (10) Amy Commers (17) Paige Grebin, Maddie Nickell (10) Miya Sorensen (24) Karen Dare, Rebecca Gierok (17) Morgan Becker (24) Amanda Narog, Andy Lees (17) Emma Griffith, Grace Pitzl (24)

Geoffrey Schrantz, Cecilia Lees (24)

ALTAR SERVICE Julie Spurbeck, Karen Dare, Bonnie Tranby

RECORDING THE SERVICE April 3 Lynette Smith April 10 Colin Buddecke April 17 Nate Reis April 24 Bruce Olson

WELCOME DESK April 3 Marianne Adelmann April 10 Stephanie Hansen April 17 Kathy Augdahl April 24 Kay Wandersee

ASSISTING MINISTER April 3 Chris Slania April 10 Deanna Baisch April 17 Janel Anderson

COFFEE CLEAN UP April 3 Lynette Smith April 10 Hauser Family April 17 Slania Family April 24 Jerzak Family

COUNTERS April 3 Anderson/Kvistero April 10 Dahn/Severson April 17 Brezina/Olsen April 24 Codner/Jerzak

Page 8 April/May Messenger

April

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

5:00 PM RING

5:00 PM Youth Choir 5:15 PM Fellowship Supper 5:45 PM Praise/Joy/Alleluia Choirs 6:00 PM ROL 6:30 PM Worship 7:15 PM Sanctuary Choir/ReBellious 7:30 PM Sr. High Youth Leaders

SUNDAY MORNING SCHEDULE

8:15 AM Fellowship

8:45 AM Worship 10:00 AM Sunday School

10:15 AM Worship

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

27

28

Office Closed

11:30 AM Yoga

6:00 PM TOPS

6:00 PM Vermil-lion Townhome 6:30 PM Yoga

7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

29

9:00 AM Yoga

11:00 AM Staff Meeting

6:30 PM All Al-ways Learning Team 6:30 PM Stephen Ministries Team

30

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ACTIVITIES

31

8:30 AM Quilters

11:30 AM Yoga

6:30 PM Yoga

1

9:00 AM Yoga

2

3

10:00 AM Birth - age 3 SS 11:30 AM 5th & 6th Grade Service Project

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

4

9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga

6:00 PM TOPS

6:30 PM Yoga

7:00 PM Writer's Group

7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

5

9:00 AM Yoga

11:00 AM Staff Meeting

6:00 PM Proper-ty Team 7:00 PM Eve Circle

6

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ACTIVITIES

7

9:00 AM Semi-nary Event 9:00 AM Sharing & Caring

11:30 AM Yoga

6:30 PM Yoga

8

9:00 AM Yoga

7:00 PM 7th - 12th Grade Lock Out

9

10

Spring Bake Sale

Youth Fundrais-er

10:30 AM 5th & 6th Grade Service Project 11:15 AM AALT

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

11

9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga

6:00 PM TOPS

6:30 PM Global Social Team 6:30 PM Yoga

7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

12

9:00 AM Yoga

10:00 AM Coffee & Cookies with the Staff 6:30 PM All Al-ways Learning Team

13

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ACTIVITIES

14

Open Door Event 8:30 AM Quilters

11:30 AM Yoga

6:30 PM Yoga

15

9:00 AM Yoga

16

Open Door Event RING Event 7:30 AM Men's Breakfast

17

Youth Fundrais-er

10:15 AM Wor-ship Young

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

18

9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga

6:00 PM TOPS

6:30 PM Yoga

7:00 PM Writer's Group

7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

19

9:30 AM Hannah Circle 11:00 AM Staff Meeting

6:30 PM Council Meeting 6:30 PM Stephen Ministries Team

20

4:00 PM Spring Clean Up

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ACTIVITIES

21

8:30 AM Quilters

9:00 AM Sharing & Caring

11:00 AM Key-stone 11:30 AM Yoga

6:30 PM Yoga

22 23

10:00 AM Musi-cal Rehearsal

24

Youth Fundrais-er

8:45 AM Wor-ship - Children's Musical 10:15 AM Wor-ship - Children's Musical

25

9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga

6:00 PM TOPS

6:30 PM Yoga

7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

26

9:30 AM Staff Planning Meeting - Offsite

6:30 PM Wor-ship Young Plan-ning Meeting

27

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

ACTIVITIES

28

8:30 AM Quilters

11:30 AM Yoga

6:30 PM Yoga

29

9:00 AM Yoga

30

9:30 AM New Member Gather-ing

April/May Messenger Page 9

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 10:00 AM Birth - age 3 SS

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

2 9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga 6:00 PM TOPS 6:30 PM Yoga 7:00 PM Writer's Group 7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

3 6:00 PM Proper-ty Team 7:00 PM Eve Cir-cle

4 6:30 PM Confir-mation Guide Meeting

5 8:30 AM Quilters 9:00 AM Sharing & Caring 11:30 AM Yoga 6:30 PM Yoga 6:30 PM All Al-ways Learning Team

6 9:00 AM Yoga

7

8 10:00 AM 9th - 12th Grade Mile-stone

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

9 9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga 6:00 PM TOPS 6:30 PM Global Social Team 6:30 PM Yoga 7:15 PM Calvary Carillons

10 11:00 AM Staff Meeting

11

12 8:30 AM Quilters 11:30 AM Yoga 6:30 PM Yoga

13 9:00 AM Yoga

14

15

10:15 AM Wor-ship Young

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

16 9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga 6:00 PM TOPS 6:30 PM Yoga 7:00 PM Writer's Group

17 9:30 AM Hannah Circle 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Council Meeting

18 7:00 PM Sanctu-ary Choir

19 9:00 AM Sharing & Caring 11:00 AM Key-stone 11:30 AM Yoga 6:30 PM Yoga

20 Synod Assembly 9:00 AM Yoga

21 Synod Assembly 7:30 AM Men's Breakfast

22

10:00 AM Faith5 (PreK) 10:15 AM Wor-ship & Annual Meeting

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

23 9:30 AM Men's Bible Study 11:30 AM Yoga 6:00 PM TOPS 6:00 PM Vermil-lion Townhome Annual Meeting 6:30 PM Yoga

24 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Stephen Ministries Team

25

26 11:30 AM Yoga 6:30 PM Yoga

27 9:00 AM Yoga

28

29

SUNDAY MORN-

ING SCHEDULE

30

Office Closed

31 11:00 AM Staff Meeting 6:30 PM Worship Young Planning Meeting

May

Page 10 April/May Messenger

May Worship Assistants

USHERS 8:45 10:15

Bert Amdahl (1,15,29) Darcy Schatz (1,15,29) Eldon Johnson (1,15,29) Joe Schatz (1,15,29) Doug Hurd (1,15,29) Curt Urban (1,15,29) Ken Sangren (8,22) Joe Glidden (8,22)

Don Bohm (8,22) Jeff Schmid (8,22)

Jerry Hoff (8,22) Billy Schmid (8,22)

GREETERS Marian Vogt (1,15,29) Sherin Dahn (1,15,29) Bev Hoff (8,22) Laura & Ava Schmid (8,22)

READERS Jean Taylor (1,15) Emma Buddecke (1)

Alanna Teragawa (8) Anna Danner (8)

Wendy Lane (22) Jean Taylor (22)

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS Phyllis Martin (1,15,29) Jason Forde, Sherin Dahn (1,29)

Marian Vogt (1,15,29) Laura & Ava Schmid (8,22)

Becky Swanson (8) Christine Codner, Wendy Lane (15)

Bonnie Tranby (8)

Wendy Lane (22)

Sheri DeBates (22)

ALTAR SERVICE

Darcy Schatz, Kelly Birkmaier

RECORDING THE SERVICE May 1 Mark Taverna May 8 Greg Larson May 15 Jeff Schutte May 22 Andy Fuller May 29 Dan Gilbertson

WELCOME DESK May 1 Alanna Teragawa May 8 Marianne Adelmann May 15 Marlys Peterson May 22 Shirlee Klang May 29 Kathy Augdahl

ASSISTING MINISTER May 1 Jeremy Bierlein May 8 Bonnie Tranby May 15 Matt Schroeder May 22 Michelle Finlon May 29 Sherry Gilbertson

COFFEE CLEAN UP May 1 Severson Family May 8 Helen Joy Hilsen May 15 Darcy Schatz May 22 Bohm Family May 29 Ruth Gempler

COUNTERS May 1 Clemens/Baertsch May 8 Anderson/Kvistero May 15 Codner/Jerzak May 22 Olsen/Brezina May 29 Dahn/Severson

April/May Messenger Page 11

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPERS

April 6 Beef Stroganoff Team Moss

April 13 Roasted Pork Loin Team Beyer/Gilbertson

April 20 Chef’s Choice

Team Dahn

Come join us from 5:15 - 6:15 p.m.

Adults $5.50 Children $3.00

Family Max $17.00

Coffee & Cookies with

the Staff Tuesday,

April 12

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Please join the staff of Mount Calvary for Coffee & Cookies on Tuesday April 12 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our last get-together of the current program year. This is a great way for the staff to get to know members of the congregation as we talk about family, vacations, jobs, etc while we have a cookie and drink coffee and water, too! Please contact NaDyne Glidden if you would be interested in bringing treats. There are so many of you that bake wonderful things that we thought if you would like to share, we would love to eat! The staff will leave at 11:00 a.m. for their weekly staff meeting; however, you can stay and visit with everyone else.

Hymntap: Monday, April 4 and May 2,

7-9 p.m. Pastor Jen Rome invites you to Hymntap at the Dubliner Pub at University Ave and Cretin in St. Paul. Hymn singing with the Fleshpots of Egypt (Jen plays a tentative

accordion with this bluegrass group) begins at 7 p.m. Cold beer, hot pizza, good music, and loud singing....what could be more fun? The Dubliner is fairly accessible and family friendly. Hymntap is hosted by Lydia's Place - a collaborative community in the heart of Saint Paul's Creative Enterprise Zone; a new ministry of the Saint Paul Area Synod, ELCA.

More newsy stuff from

Warming You with

Stitches

(formerly Warm up America)

I n May of 2005, this ministry started and many wonderful gracious ladies from our congregation worked very hard

crocheting and knitting afghans. We have donated 450 afghans and our recipients have been Dakota Woodlands, Metro Hope, Dorothy Day and Marie Sandvik Center. Many thanks go to all ladies who have donated their time and talents to this ministry. Another heartfelt thanks goes to Orv and Lorraine Felt, who have been a blessing helping us deliver the blankets to the various shelters. Another person that needs recognition from this group is Betty Lackas. After Nancy Anderson (original contact for Warm up America group) died, Betty stepped up; keeping record of the number of blankets that were donated and working with Thrivent and the Mount Calvary Women’s group to find money to buy yarn.

Do you love to knit or crochet? Would you want to share your skill with others? Come and join us on Thursday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. for an informational gathering in the Retreat Room at Mount Calvary.

We look forward to seeing you for fun discussion and refreshments.

Page 12 April/May Messenger

Mount Calvary Writers’ Group

A t a recent meeting of the Mount Calvary Writers' Group, each

member brought samples of favorite writings—poems, prose, quotes, whatever—to read and discuss what makes them good writing. The highlight of the meeting was an inter-generational moment, when one of the older members began reading a poem by Emily Dickinson; our youngest member (age 24) promptly rolled up her sleeve to show her tattoo of a Dickinson quote. Doesn't get any more inter-generationally harmonious than that.

The range of favorite writings was as varied as the kinds of personal writing we share with each other—from observations by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, (e.g. " I think there ought to be a club in which preachers and journalists could come together and have the sentimentalism of the one matched with the cynicism of the other. That ought to bring them pretty close to the truth.")....

….To a newsletter interview of an elderly relative illustrating probing questions that help others tell their life stories...to modern poets and novelists Thomas Transtromer, Hannah Stevenson and Sherman Alexie...to Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants (a favorite of several in our group)...to former NY Times columnist Russell Baker's Pulitzer winner Growing Up....to I Corinthians 13:4...

….To the aforementioned tattoo, which reads: "Hope is the thing with feathers"--the beginning of the verse that ends "that perches in the soul / and sings the tunes without the words / and never stops at all.”

Please join us in our exploration of inner talents, the subtle beauty of life and the power of words. We meet the first and third Mondays of the month at 7:00 pm in the adult retreat room downstairs. For more info, please contact Rich Cowles (rich@cowles.us).

Meals on Wheels

M ount Calvary is in need of more drivers to help with

Meals On Wheels. Perhaps, you could help out and be a driver which takes only two hours a month over the noon time. Our day for driving is on Mondays and you would be called a few weeks before the day you are needed. Mount Calvary has many dedicated drivers, some couples and others who may ask a friend to help. It’s an easy commitment and a rewarding experience. Please join the other members who are committed, Ron Anderson, Sherin Dahn, Harry & Patti Benjamin, Don & Oline Bohn, Morrie & Jodie Henjum, Art & Marilyn Launer, Wendy Lane, Les & Elaine Moss, Mary Simpson, Jane Swenson, Tim Wandersee, Bill & Vonnie Zeller, Lowell & Margo Danner. As coordinator for Mount Calvary, I thank these drivers for so many years of helping the homebound in our neighborhood receive a hot meal each week day. If you can help, please call Margo Danner for more information.

Margo Danner has been the Mount Calvary coordinator for over 40 years. She is ready to retire and would like to have someone take over the calling. If this is something you would be interested in doing, please call her.

New Member Gathering Saturday, April 30

If you are interested in joining Mount Calvary or just want to know what we are all about, there will be a New Member Gathering on Saturday, April 30, at 9:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please contact Wendy Lane at 651-454-2344 or wendy.lane@mtcalvary.com.

April/May Messenger Page 13

Eve Circle Tuesday, April 5, May 3

7:00 p.m. Retreat Room

April 5 - Christian Citizenship: “Keeping On

Keeping On”

Philippians 4:4-23

May 3 - Mary & Elizabeth: Sisters Across Generations

All are welcome to join us in this discussion. Contact Marianne Adelmann for information.

Hannah Circle Tuesday, April 19 Tuesday, May 17

9:30 a.m. Fellowship Hall

Hostess April 19 - Phyllis Martin May 17 - Ann Steltzner

Both groups study the same lesson. You can join either group at any time.

Women of the ELCA We are South Cluster!

You are invited to attend the 29th Annual Saint Paul Area Synodical Women's Convention:

April 29-30, 2016, Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church

1669 Arcade Street North-St. Paul, MN

This year's theme is: Blessed to be a Blessing Not a delegate, not a problem. Attend as a non-delegate. Non-Delegate registration is due by April 20, 2016. Information will be posted on the Women of Mount Calvary bulletin board. Contact: Marianne Adelmann

Bake & Craft Sale

Sunday, April 10

9:00 a.m. - Noon

Support the MCLCW by donating homemade baked items to sell

or stop and shop for these special treats

Craft items will also be available.

Donations can be brought to Mount Calvary on Saturday, April 9th between 1 and 3 p.m. or Sunday morning before Church services.

Page 14 April/May Messenger

Council Highlights from January

1. Finance update— Dave encouraged everyone to review the annual meeting packet,

and reported that mission giving/benevolence remains a concern for some in our congregation, there seems to be a growing awareness regarding our current financial position and the hard decisions that needed to be made to balance the budget.

2. Staff update—

a. Pastor Tom encouraged us all to attend the All-Ages Retreat/Family Camp at Luthercrest, July 8-10. He also attended a meeting of stakeholders interested in addressing the needs of the homeless population in Dakota County. This group hopes to form a steering committee to continue this important work.

b. Pastor Rome and the Worship Young team have planned to collect money to purchase chicks

through the ELCA Good Gifts program for February’s special offering. They are working to identify a need for the criminal justice advocacy program through the Link that could be collected in March, will do a collection related to the rain garden project in April, and will be contacting the ELL (English Language Learners) staff at Rahn Elementary to identify a need they have for May.

c. NaDyne pointed out that we have a large recycling dumpster now! Council discussed ways to acquire recycling containers to place throughout the building to encourage members to utilize that service. Lisa Johnson will be following up on some of the contacts and programs she has used for other projects.

3. You Are Loved project— Lisa Johnson presented a project to bring basic necessities to homeless people in Minneapolis. It was started by Sara Johnson, a young woman who noticed how often the homeless people she saw on her daily activities around the city who weren’t even acknowledged by people as they passed by. Sara created some packets of basic supplies that she hands out. We discussed how this type of project might fit well with the rising awareness of homelessness in the city of Eagan and Dakota County.

Council Highlights from February 1. Finance update— Dave asked council to consider paying down organ debt with surplus. Action Item—

Butch Raymond moved to use the surplus to pay down the organ debt. The motion was seconded by Erica White and passed by Council.

2. Staff update— a. Pastor Tom asked council to consider proceeding with the application process for a 2017 intern

realizing we will have to cover some of the cost in 2016 (not budgeted for) and will have to add this to the budget in 2017. Previously the intern cost had been covered by donors and that situation has changed. Action Item— Dave Jaede moved to proceed with the application process. The motion was seconded by Butch Raymond and passed by Council.

b. Pastor Rome met with the All Always Learning team so they could get to know each other and brainstorm. Listening sessions will take place in the next month and the team will lift themes from those sessions.

c. NaDyne announced that a maintenance service tech was hired. She is also talking with screen vendors to hear about options and getting quotes.

(Continued on page 15)

April/May Messenger Page 15

Volunteers Needed

April Church Spring Cleanup

Wednesday, April 20

4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Come join us to prep our yard for the summer, oil the church pews for the year, and cleanup the tables and chairs throughout the church. Our spring cleanup this year will be on Wednesday, April 20 from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. We will start at 4:00 p.m. with raking outside and applying lemon oil to the church pews in the sanctuary. Just a note, we will have cleaning tasks that are kid friendly. Refreshments will be served along with a healthy dose of appreciation! The phrase “many hands make light work” does apply!

Welcome Bob Grissom

To Mount Calvary

W elcome to Bob Grissom, our new maintenance service technician. Bob began with Mount Calvary in February and has taken over the responsibility of safety and maintenance for the church buildings and

grounds. Bob worked as an airline mechanic for 30 years and for the City of Richfield. He likes to rebuild old cars and enjoys snowshoeing in the winter. He and his wife, Sue, live in Apple Valley. Bob will primarily be working on Tuesdays, so if you see him, introduce yourself!

(Continued from page 14)

Page 16 April/May Messenger

Address Service Requested

Non Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID TWIN CITIES MN Permit No. 2611

Pastor Tom 1

Children, Youth & Family 3

C,Y,F & etc. 5

Music 6

April Worship Assistants 7

Calendar 8

May Worship Assistants 10

Fellowship 11

MCLCW 13

Administrator 14

I n s id e t h i s i s sue :

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday CLOSED

PHONE FAX (651) 454-2344 (651) 454-5505

E-Mail: worship@mtcalvary.com Website: mtcalvary.com

3930 Rahn Road

Eagan, MN 55122