pella lutheran church advent 2019 · psalm 149 psalm 98 ephesians 1:11-23 st. luke 6:20-31 11/10...
TRANSCRIPT
418 West Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
Phone: (406) 433-3350
Fax: (406) 433-3352 Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Pella Lutheran Church Web page: www.pellachurch.net
Radio Broadcast: 95.1 FM 9 am
PELLA LUTHERAN
CHURCH
PASTOR: Audrey Rydbom
[email protected] DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND
FAMILY MINISTRY: Janelle Leader Lamb
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Chole Butler [email protected]
PARISH ASSISTANT: Becky Reidle
[email protected] CUSTODIAN:
Brian McNutt
MISSION PARTNER Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy
COMPANION SYNOD Cape Orange Diocese
Evangelical Lutheran Church
of South Africa COMPANION CONGREGATOIN
Upington Parish Northern Cape, South Africa
THE PELLA
“AMBASSADOR” IS
PUBLISHED MONTHLY
BY PELLA LUTHERAN
CHURCH
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm
(Closed from Noon to
1:00 pm for lunch)
Pella Lutheran Church
418 West Main Street
Sidney, Montana 59270
Each one of us has a wandering soul. Each one of us is prone to wander
from God. Advent holds an invitation to reorient ourselves to discover the
life-changing journey toward Bethlehem and beyond. Advent is a journey
reflecting on seeking and being found by God. Scriptures guide us to the
unchanging truth to the One born in Bethlehem who has been pursuing us
every step of the way.
Advent 2019 I Wonder As I Wander
November 3 - All Saint’s Sunday
8:15 am Choir Practice
9:00 am Worship - Baptism
10:00 am Fellowship FH
November 4 - Monday
11:00 am Staff Meeting W
3:30 pm Jr Girl Scouts CR C
6:00 pm Daisy Troop CR B
November 5 - Tuesday
6:45 am Endowment FH/K
8:00 am Quilting CR D&E
11:00 am Text Study FH
4:45 pm Piano Lessons M
6:00 pm Den Mtgs CR B, D&E
7:00 pm Council Meeting CR C
November 6 - Wednesday
5:15 pm WBS/Praise Band
5:30 Handbells Practice
6:00 pm Community Meal FH/K
6:45 pm Confirmation/LYO
November 7 - Thursday
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast FH/K
7:00 pm Table Talk Meadowlark
November 10 - Sunday
8:15 am Choir Practice
9:00 am Worship - Praise Band
10:00 am Fellowship FH
November 11 - Monday
11:00 am Staff Meeting W
November 12 - Tuesday
8:00 am Quilting CR D&E
4:45 pm Piano Lessons M
6:00 pm Pack 143 Mtg FH/K
6:00 pm Den Mtgs CR B,C D&E
November 13 - Wednesday
5:15 pm WBS/Praise Band
5:30 pm Handbells Practice
6:00 pm Community Meal FH/K
6:45 pm Confirmation/LYO
November 14 - Thursday
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast FH/K
12:00 pm Faith Circle CR D&E
7:00 pm Table Talk Meadowlark
November 17 - Sunday
8:15 am Choir Practice
9:00 am Worship
10:00 am Fellowship FH
10:10 am Worship Budget Mtg
November 18 - Monday
11:00 am Staff Meeting W
3:30 pm Jr Girl Scouts CR C
6:00 pm Daisy Troop CR B
November 19 - Tuesday
8:00 am Quilting CR D&E
4:45 pm Piano Lessons M
5:30 pm Christian Ed W Room
6:00 pm Den Mtgs CR B,C D&E
November 20 - Wednesday
Newsletter information due
5:15 pm WBS/Praise Band
5:30 pm Handbells Practice
6:00 pm Community Meal FH/K
6:45 pm Confirmation/LYO
November 21 - Thursday
6:30 am Men’s Breakfast FH/K
7:00 pm Table Talk Meadowlark
November 24 - Sunday
Christ the King Sunday
9:00 am Worship
10:00 am Fellowship FH
November 25 - Monday
11:00 am Staff Meeting W
3:30 pm Jr Girl Scouts CR C
November 26 - Tuesday
8:00 am Quilting CR D&E
10:30 am Worship Ext. Care
4:45 pm Piano Lessons M
6:00 pm Den Mtgs CR B,C,D&E
November 27 - Wednesday
NO ACTIVITIES
November 28 - Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving
Office Closed
November 29 - Friday
Office Closed
UPCOMING EVENTS
December - January Dec. 1 First Sunday of Advent Dec. 4 &11: Advent Services -
Holden Evening Prayer
Christmas Eve Services
4:00, 7:00 & 9:00 p.m.
Dec. 24 Office Closed at noon
Dec. 25 Office Closed Dec. 25 No Wednesday
activities
Jan. 1 Office Closed
Jan. 1 No Wednesday activities
Jan. 3 Annual Reports Due
Jan. 26 Annual Meeting
Room Codes: FH = Fellowship Hall, K = Kitchen, CR-D&E = Double Classroom, CR-C = Corner Classroom, CR-B = Kindergarten,
CR-A = Preschool room, L = Library, N = Nursery, CR-Comm = Classroom Commons, M = Music, GC = Gathering Commons,
NX = Narthex, S = Sanctuary, W = Work room in Office. Basement areas: YR = Youth room, LL-CR = Lower Level Classroom
November 2019
Ambassador
11/3 All Saint’s Sunday
Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Psalm 149
Ephesians 1:11-23
St. Luke 6:20-31
11/10 Time after Pentecost
Job 19:23-27
Psalm 17:1-9
2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17
St. Luke 20:27-38
11/17 Time after Pentecost
Malachi 4:1-2
Psalm 98
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
St. Luke 21:5-19
11/24 Christ the King Sunday
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 46
Colossians 1:11-20
St. Luke 23:33-43
Scripture for November
Page 8
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Time to change your clocks! Remember to turn all your clocks
back one hour by
2:00 a.m. on November 3!
Worship on November 10 Confirmation students and Praise Band have teamed
up to plan worship for you on Sunday, November 10.
Join us in praising God with special music as the
students add some instruments to Praise Band!
Wednesday, November 27
No Activities or Community Meal
Happy Thanksgiving!
MEMORIALS
Set Free to Serve
In memory of Beverly Kilde
Ruthann Hillesland
In memory of Elroy Hoverson
Jim & Linda Tibbits
Gene & Judy Sondeno
Terry & Synneva Meldahl
In memory of Christine Thompson
Ruthann Hillesland
In memory of Darrell Goebel
Ron Steffens, Violet Tharp
Kerry Rasmussen
Mark & Kathy Iversen
Ed & Toni Eberling
NOVEMBER
ACOLYTES
3 Amara Iversen
Matthew Savage
10 McKenna Haralson
Rylee Mickelsen
17 Alexander Karanjai
Parker Brothen
24 Landry Larson
Corey Christensen
November 2019 Page 7
Continued from Page 1 …
During these times we as a people need to listen to what really is going on rather than insinuate they
are out of their minds for not appreciating they are home, safe and have it good.
Each warrior is different. Transitioning home is not the same for everyone. Some might express their
needs and others may be silent. The best we non-warriors can do is to let each one know their service
is appreciated and we are never too busy to listen when civilian life becomes uncomfortable.
November 11th is Veteran’s Day. This day we acknowledge all warriors, whether they served in
combat or in other capacities; whether they just returned home or returned home many years ago.
Help them all to know they do not have to navigate this life alone.
In Christ, Pastor Audrey
Council Summary — October
Financials: General balance is $125,601.54, Money Market account is $205,272.83, the Dedicated
Funds balances; income for September was $31,731.03 with expenses being $26,888.20. Set Free to
Serve is currently owed at $231,221.58 with the current year change at $100,046.37.
Pastor Report: God’s Work Our Hands activities went well. The North parsonage basement flooded
resulting in removal of carpeting, sheet rock and insulation.
Christian Ed: Pre-planning for Christmas and VBS programs in the process. Janelle is having parent
meetings for each age group. Youth will be leading church services in October and November.
Property & Grounds: Purchased a snow blower for the church. The Scout building addition is on
hold. A pre-made shed will be purchased for storing equipment. Discussed the repair of the North
Parsonage basement.
OLD BUSINESS: Computer replacement rotation - will be on a two per year basis. At this time it
appears the two that will be replaced first are the Administrative Assistant’s and the Treasurer’s
computers. Benevolence payments from July, August and September were paid so we are now
current. Any changes to this will need to be voted on by the congregation. Nominating Committee
will consist of the three council members going off the council and Mark Olson and Greg Miller.
2020 Budget - each committee will be given budget sheets, November will be budget month.
NEW BUSINESS: 2020 Pastor health insurance and benefits - Council approved the presented
insurance plan. Live Streaming issues - A suggested solution would have a base cost of $1,150 plus a
monthly fee. Leif said he will take another look at the equipment for a potential fix.
The next regular Council meeting will be on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
Page 6 Ambassador
FROM THE DOG HOUSE
Hello,
Duke here this month. I am sooooo happy to be here. Lot’s of other friends to play
with, lot’s of good food to eat. That stuff called “Bacon and Eggs” OH MY GOSH
THAT IS SOOOOOOOO GOOD! I’m just happy! Happy to bark at people passing
by, happy to run and herd everyone else. Happy, Happy, Happy!
Pastor Audrey and Eric call me a big loveable goof. I’m 46 pounds and crawl up on their laps and
they rub my back and I smile. I catch the ball and give it to Ruby to take back to whoever threw it.
Catching is fun and easy, that taking it back part is a lot of work, so I let Ruby do it. I have noticed
something though. I’ve noticed that when I do things, it makes Pastor Audrey and Eric laugh and
smile. When I just lay there as the tennis ball bounces by me because I just don’t want to catch it
anymore, they laugh and smile. When I crawl up on their laps and they pet me and I smile and hug
them, they laugh and smile. When I listen and come back from the top of the hill, they laugh and
smile and say “Good Boy.” When I dig up and steal the bones Gunner carefully buried, they laugh
and smile. It seems that a lot of the things I do make Pastor Audrey and Eric laugh and smile.
I’ve decided that making people laugh and smile is a good thing. Sometimes Pastor Audrey and Eric
aren’t so happy, they have bad days too, but I do what I do, and pretty soon, they laugh and smile.
And maybe that’s my talent, my purpose. I’m young, but I’ve figured out that happy is better than
sad, especially as far as people are concerned. Maybe if we were all goofy just a little, once in a
while, or maybe if we figured out how to make someone we know smile once a day or so, the whole
world would be a little happier. Making people laugh and smile makes me feel good too, usually
because I get petted and a milk bone, but that’s beside the point. A smile and a kind gesture can
make someone else’s day, and that’s a good feeling. So, I think for now, I’ll just keep being a goof
and making people smile. Until next time … DUKE
Community Choir Practice
Sundays at 2 pm, Mormon Church.
Performance will be Dec. 8 at
Middle School.
November 2019 Page 5
Fall Fun!
After leading worship on
Sunday, October 13,
a group of LYO
(Lutheran Youth Organization)
students traveled to Williston
to enjoy some fall fun.
It has become a tradition to visit
Cottonwood Forest, which is a
pumpkin patch, a hay bale maze, a
pillow jumper, zip lines, go karts and
so much more. Students and adult
leaders had a nice afternoon of
innocent fun — kids being kids!
Greening the Church
We will need volunteers to help us put up the
trees, wreaths, garland, etc. before Advent.
If you can help sometime from Sunday,
November 24, thru Saturday, November 30,
please contact the office with your availability.
Page 4 Ambassador
Advent & Christmas Activities
We are by no means trying to rush things. Please enjoy your November, your Thanksgiving and all
that comes with it. However, we cannot wait for the December issue to let you know about this
year’s Advent and Christmas activities — it would be too late! So mark the following on your
calendars and on your hearts … we would love for you to join us as we prepare for Jesus’s arrival
and celebrate his birth!
Sunday Advent Activities
Each Sunday in Advent we welcome people of all ages to a time of fun and fellowship … and food.
We will meet after worship (about 10:30) for the following activities on the following days:
December 1 — “Tree” crafts
December 8 — Baking and decorating cookies
December 15 — Caroling (delivering goodie boxes)
December 22 — Making ornaments
Watch for sign-up sheets in the Gathering Commons about mid-November.
Wednesday Advent Worship
On Wednesday, December 4, and Wednesday, December 11, please join us in the
Sanctuary for a midweek Advent worship. We will come together to praise God
with the Holden Evening Prayer service at 6:45 p.m. So after enjoying a
wonderful meal, join us to in worship.
WBS Christmas Program
Please join us on Wednesday, December 18, for the children’s program
celebrating the Christmas season. The program will start at 5:30 p.m. in the
Sanctuary. The meal following the program will be a lighter fare than we’ve
had the past couple years. We encourage everyone to join us after the program
for food and fellowship.
Christmas Eve Worship
Worship on Tuesday, December 24, will be held at 4, 7 and 9 p.m. We look
forward to celebrating Jesus’s birth with your family. As always, we will be
calling on our wonderful volunteers for assistance during these worship times.
Please watch for signup sheets to appear in the Gathering Commons this month.
Page 3
November 2019
Food Challenge The annual holiday food collection for seniors and people living with
disabilities is underway Nov. 1 to Nov. 30. Pella is being asked to donate:
100 small cans of mandarin oranges
100 small boxes of stuffing mix
100 packets of gravy mix
We can combine this effort with some additional Food Bank needs to accomplish Thrivent’s “November Food Shelf Challenge.” By collecting 500 food items, we can
earn $500 for the Food Bank. Some additional items needed are:
There is a table behind the information desk in the Gathering Commons. Please place your food
items on or underneath the table. The Food Bank board thanks Pella for all that we do to help keep
food on the shelves and meat in the freezers. If you have questions, please contact Candy Markwald.
Year 3 Confirmands Serving at Food Bank During a service night on Wednesday, October 23, a group of confirmands helped transfer food from
IGA to the Food Bank, where it was shelved. Thanks to the students and leaders for their service!
Confirmands Sienna Boehler, Drew Ellingson, Corben
Holler, Kevin Hutzenbiler, Aren Larson,
Garrett Larson, Thressa Oland, and Parker
Syth
Leaders
April Boehler, Kaci Dean, and
Kristin Larson
Instant potatoes Canned fruit — all kinds (15 oz.)
Ramen noodles Dry milk, nuclear milk, boxed milk
Canned soups Hotel soaps and shampoo
Canned carrots Egg cartons
Kidney beans, western chili beans, pinto
beans, dry beans
Ambassador Page 2
At Camp: Upper Missouri Ministries
Camp UMM has 2 important events coming up this month:
November 8-9 — Beautiful Girl Retreat
For girls in grades 5th thru 8th. Cost is $50 (scholarships
available). This is a 3-day weekend, so if you’re looking for
something special for your young ladies to do, let Janelle know.
November 17 — Annual Meeting
Worship begins at 3:00 pm (Central), followed by the meeting.
Vacation Bible School 2020 The theme for VBS 2020 is …
Knights of North Castle: Quest for the King’s Armor!
Save the Dates: June 15-19
Save the Boxes!
Yes, you read that correctly.
We have a vision of building a
cardboard castle, so we are collecting
cardboard boxes that reams of paper
come in. If you can provide any of these,
please bring them to the church.
To the left is a sample of the type of boxes we are collecting.
Organ Workshop and Organ Crawl Mark your calendars for this one-time event. Renowned organist Dan Miller is
planning to come to our area May 30-31, 2020. The organist workshop will be
on Saturday morning (May 30), with individual appointments at each of the
following churches (Lonsdale, Pella, Trinity and St. Matthew’s) in the
afternoon. The Organ Crawl will be held on Sunday (May 31) and include a
Hymn Fest at each of the four churches, along with a performance by Dan
Miller. Watch for more details in future Ambassador Newsletters.
November 2019 With Christ; We Welcome, Nurture, Equip and Serve.
Pella Lutheran Church
Ambassador
I earned my undergrad degree at Carroll College, Helena, Montana.
Carroll is a Catholic college. There are some lessons from Carroll I will
always remember. One such lesson was given by Father Peoples. I don’t
remember the title of the class, but I do remember the day he drew an
illustration on the black board. He was demonstrating how there is a need
for every vocation. As he drew the need for teachers, doctors, law enforcement etc. … the statement
which stood out over all others was: “There are some who cannot protect themselves; they are not
strong enough; and this is why those who have the talents for military are needed.” Due to the
brokenness of the world, God did indeed need to give some ability of protecting those of us who
are unable to protect ourselves. We need warriors to protect those who are unable to protect
themselves.
Psalm 41: “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak, the Lord delivers them in times of
trouble.”
Those who currently serve and those who have served … are all veterans created with talents that
are not given to all humankind. However, even though these individuals are given abilities others
are not it doesn’t mean what is asked of them can be considered easy or disregarded as “that is what
they do.” There is nothing easy about leaving the life and people a person knows for a life which is
regimented and calls you to suddenly work as a team with a group of strangers. Basic training can
be disorienting. Individuals are taught to go from boredom to high stress and alert in the matter of
seconds. When a person joins the military their life is no longer considered his/her own; it is the
property of the government. Most give at least four years of their lives to this way of living. It is not
easy. Therefore, returning back to civilian life is difficult as well.
When our warriors return to “life as they knew it,” “life as they knew it” is no longer there. Friends
and family have continued to live without them, knowing they were safe because the warrior has
been protecting them. Some friends have married and started families; others careers; and some
have grown old and can no longer be who they were when their warrior left to serve. Coming home
can be as disorienting as basic training once was. Suddenly the structure of military life and always
having someone else to watch your back is gone. Returning home is not as great as most warriors
and family have imagined it to be.
As I stated, the abilities of a veteran are only needed due to the brokenness we all share. Therefore,
it is important that all of us bear in the burden of warfare by not only how we bring our warriors
home but how we walk alongside of them for the rest of their lives. Remember life for our warriors
is not as it once was. Just like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness that started longing for
their days in Egypt when they were slaves, the warrior may begin to believe civilian life is not for
him/her. Pastor’s article continued on Page 7 …