Serving God and Others through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

APRIL2018

1409 South Eighth Avenue, East Newton, IA 50208 Church Phone: (641) 792-1683 www.htlchurch.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, pastor@htlchurch.com ken@ahntholz.com

P. O. Box 242, 8290 Hwy. F-62, East Sully, IA 50251 Church Phone: (641) 798-4651 www.standluth.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, pastor@htlchurch.com ken@ahntholz.com

Midweek Lenten services offered St. Andrew’s and HolyTrinity members and friends the opportunity to learnmore about some of the ministries the congregationssupportthroughtheirvariedmissioneffortsintheNewtonCommunity.Ateachservicerepresentativesfromseveralareaministriesbroughtamessagetothegroupregardingtheirorganization. Linda Curtis Stolper shared some oftheopportunitiesandthe challengesinvolvedinworking with the homeless community of Newton throughFriends inHope, anadvocacyandsupportresource organization,andNeighbor- Helping-Neighbor,agrouphelping sponsor“laundrynight.”

MattMcCombsfromtheSeventhDayAdventistChurch,talkedaboutthechurch’sbasicbeliefshelpingworship-ersunderstandthatwhilethetwodenominations’practicesdiffer,bothcongregationsshareacommonaccept-anceofJesusasGod’sSonandSavior.PastorMeghanDavis,PastorofFirstPresbyterianChurch,toldofherrecentmissiontripexperiencelivingontheU.S.andMexicanborderforafewdays.Herexperiencehelpedpeoplebetterappreciatethecom-plexityoftheimmigrationissuefrombothsidesoftheborder

JanDollinger,Noah’sArkPreschool Director, reported on what she offersthecommunitythroughherChristian preschool that frequently utilizesHolyTrinity’sfacilitiesfor programsandfundraising.JanelleCleveland,NewtonSalvationArmyCaptain,toldofthesupportivemissionstheSalvationArmyprovidesinNewtonandJasperCounty.Capt.JanelleidentifiedthelargestprogramrevenuesourcesfortheirprogramaretheannualChristmasRedKettleProgramandtheUnitedWay.The Lenten presentations seemed to stimulateconversation and sharing, indicating that together welearnedabitmoreaboutthemissionstowhichChristhascalled us in serving our neighbors in the community inwhichweliveandworship.The Lenten journey continues with a combination HolyThursdayandGoodFridayservicesonThursday,March29,at Holy Trinity at 5:30 p.m. and at Park Centre Friday,March30,at3p.m.

Easter worship at St. Andrew’swill be at 9 a.m. Sunday,April 1 and at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity. An Easterbreakfastwill be served at St. Andrew’s at 8 a.m.with afree-will offering for the congregation’s 2018 VacationBible School. The Easter breakfast at Holy Trinity isscheduled for 9-10 a.m. Participants are asked to bringbreakfastcasseroles,fruitorpastriestoshare.Coffeewillnotbeservedfollowingtheservice.

REPRESENTATIVES SHARE MINISTRY INFORMATION

TrainingClassesFoundHelpful

forChristianCaregiving

Dianne Clemon, Bill Hunter, Sue and Wes Ranard, andPastorAhntholzcompletedathree-weekclassonChristianCaregiving.MurielJohannesen,ELCAMinisterofWordandService,facilitatedthelearningexperience.

Goal of the class was to offer support for intentionalChristian caregiving. These classes offered training for atypeof caregiving that teaches participants how to reachout to another person in time of loneliness, grief orrecoveryfromillness.Supportwasprovidedindevelopinglistening skills, distinguishing between empathy andsympathy and learningwhat tosaywhenyoudon’tknowwhat to say in a particular situation. The groupwas alsoprepared for taking Holy Communion to the homeboundshould individualswish Communionmore frequently thatwhenthePastorvisits.The group plans to get together every month or two tosupport each other, encouragement and continuedlearning. The firstmeetingwillbeApril17at6:30p.m. Ifthere areotherswhowould like to bepart of thisgroup,contactPastorAhntholz.

OurthankstoMurielJohannesenforvolunteeringhertimetomake this trainingavailable tomembersofHolyTrinityandSt.Andrew’s.

REFORMATION THEME OF PROGRAM FOR WOMEN’S SPRING GATHERING Retired Pastor Alan Thoreson will be the featured speaker for the Spring Gathering of the Women of the ELCA Cluster 2 Saturday, April 7. Women of Trinity Lutheran Church, 1011 South Third Avenue, Marshalltown, will host the morning event that begins with registration at 8:30. Registration cost is $5. Other agenda items include: Bible study, business meeting, coffee time and offering. Please RSVP to Pat Kolpin at 641. 750.6661 by March 30.

WhyDidtheBoyEndUpinthePigPen?

“ProdigalSon”StoryCanBeViewedSeveralDifferentWays

Everytimewereadorhearsomething,weinterpretitsmeaning based on our education, culture, lifeexperiences,andwherewelive.Thesame is truewithhowwe interpretaBible story.People may identify with different character,experiencing the story of a particular story character.Ortheymayfocusonthemessagetheauthorintendedto convey, while others may be concerned with howthestoryengagesandaffectsthemintheircurrentlifesituation.

The Bible study Thursday, April 12, for members andfriends of Holy Trinity and St. Andrew’s LutheranChurches is the New Testament parable of “TheProdigal Son” based in Luke 15:11-32. The story is afamiliarBiblestory,studiedbySundaySchoolstudentsandheardinsermonsmanytimes.

However, theBible studywriterchallenges readers tolook at the story from different perspectives. EachBible story can have multiple meanings; no story hasonecorrectinterpretation.April’s study is the fourth and final study from theGather magazine that looks at a variety of NewTestament stories focusing on the multiple meaningsofeachstory.

MarciaGoodrichwillhosttheApril12Biblestudyat10a.m. at her house: 1105 North 15th Street, South,Newton. Extra copies of the study will be available.Join the learning and the fellowshipwithmembers ofbothSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinity.

WORSHIPATTENDANCEFORMARCHHTLCST.ANDREW’SPARKCENTREMAR. 44151729---Lent29112827 14?---Lent2918?26 2123---Lent26253331“CorporateWorship...bringsusunderstanding,strengthensour faith, gives us hope, fills us with encouragement, andgivesusthefirst-handexperienceofbeinglovedbyGod-andthat gives us the ability to love others more fully. There isnothing we can do on Sunday that is more important thanbeing in God's House and being fed by His grace-filledpresenceintheBlessedSacrament.”(episcopalnet.org)

ThecollectionisaneffortbymembersofHolyTrinityandSt. Andrew’s) for the school children of Houston, Texas.The Huston School District estimates 74 percent of thestudents in theDistrict come from families that struggletoprovidebooksfortheirchildren.In June thebookswill be taken to the 2018 ELCAYouthGathering, which will take place in Houston. BlakeSevenbergenfromHolyTrinityplanstoattend.

Donatedbooks (newor slightlyused) shouldbeselectedfromthe listbelow.MattinglyMusicBookstore,Newton,willmake available to shoppers books from this list at adiscountprice.Moneydonationsarealsowelcome.BadKitty(Series)byNickBruelElephantandPiggie(Series)byoWillemsFrogandToad(Series)byArnoldLobelIt’sShowTimebyMoWillemsandBrianCollierLittleBear(Series)byElaHolmelundMinarikMercyWatson(Series)byKateDiCamilloAmulet(Series)byJazuKibuisjiElDeafobyCeceBellGhostbyRainaTelgameierMightyJackbyBenHatkeRollerGirlbyVictoriaJamiesonSecretCoders(Series)byGeneLuenYangBrownGirlDreamingbyJacquelineWoodsonDiaryofaWimpyKid(Series)byJeffKinneyDogMan(Series)byDevPilkeyDragonMasters(Series)byTraceyWestEerieElementary(Series)byJackChabertFishinaTreebyLyndaMullalyHuntFrankEinstein(Series)byJonScieszkaGhostbyJasonReynoldsISurvived(Series)byLaurenTarshisLauraLinebyCrystalAllenMatildabyRoaldDahlNerds,Book1:NationalEspionageRecue,andDefenseSocietybyMichaelBuckleyOneandOnlyIvanbyKatherineApplegateOneCrazySupperbyRitaWilliamsGarciaOrigamiYoda(Series)byTomAnglebergerSomeKindofCouragebyDanGemeinhartTheCrossOverbyKwameAlexanderTheLionsofLittleRockbyKristinLevineTheYearofBillyMillerbyKevinHenkesWonderbyRaquelPalacioCreepyPairofUnderwearbyAaronReynoldsDragonsLoveTacosbyAdamRubimLastStoponMarketStreetbyMattdelaPenaMargoAbuelaandMebyMegMedinaMarthaandtheBeautifulCockroach:ACubanFolktalebyCarmenAgraDeedyPetetheCat(Series)byJamesDeanTheDaytheCrayonsQuitbyDrewDaywaltWhyAmIMebyPaigeBritt

April Special Mission Offerings Designated for Chaplaincy Fund Recipient of the April mission outreach donations forboth congregations is the University of Iowa HospitalsandClinicsChaplaincyFund.LutheranChaplaincyOutreach(LCO)providesfundingforPastor Cindy Breed to serve as the ELCA chaplain atUniversityofHospitalsandClinics.

Spiritual care is provided by two full-time RomanCatholic priests, a part-time pediatric chaplain, a part-timepalliativecarechaplain,andtheLCOchaplain,whoiscurrentlythree-quartertime. Thereare3-12chaplainresidentsor interns. On-callemergencypastoral care isprovided24hrs./day,sevendaysaweek. Onanygivendaythereare450-650hospitalizedpatients,ofwhich30-85areidentifiedasLutherans.

TheUofIowaHospitalsandClinicsprovidesofficespace,staff support, phone service and parking for chaplains,butnotfull-timesalaries,sothedonationsarewelcome.

HolyTrinity’s$300monthlybudgetedmissionmoneywillbe sent to the U of Iowa Chaplaincy Fund. Additionaldonations from both congregations are welcome andmaybemadethroughyourregularofferingenvelopesorinthespecialenvelopesinthepewsatchurch.

Collection of Books Growing In addition to the book collection, money is beingcollected to help fund Blake’s trip to the YouthGathering. HTLC members are challenged to add theirpocket(orpurse)changetothejarthatissetoutateachworshipservice.Sofar$150hadbeenraised,withagoalof$500. This includesmoney for travel, food,offeringsandincidentals.

THANK YOU Thankyouforyourgenerousdonationof$450.Wewilluse the money to support persons trying to find theirway out of homelessness and into a more stablelifestyle. It’s a tremendous challenge. We appreciatesupportivedonationsandprayers!Friends in Hope

REMEMBERHOLYTRINITYORST.ANDREW’SINYOURWILLShareyoublessingswithgenerationstocome!

AMAZING GRACE The Easter story is rich inpowerful contrasts.The birth of Jesus, a seemingly illegitimatechild,borninsqualor,livedalifeunderthreatfromtheverybeginning.Theprophet,teacherand Son of God was challenged, hunted andcrucified. Jesus experience such a dark andunfavorable beginning and short, harsh lifeandministry.

So when Easter day arrives, the tombstonerollsaway fora risenLord.OnEasterday thestone rolls away for us all! The victims anddowntrodden of this world are no longertrapped.Thedarknessofthetomboffear,sin,torture, death, pain and despair is filledwithlight. The contrast is truly astounding! Thenatureoflifeitselfischangedandtherhythmsof the universe transformed forever. A newheartbeat ofgrace flows in andaroundeveryaspect of a fallen world. Redemption is allencompassing and the justice of heavenreigns. Amazing love! Amazing grace! Truthaliveanddeathdefeatedforever!http://www.prayerscapes.com/prayers

HOLYTHURSDAY/GOODFRIDAYWORSHIPwithHolyCommunionThursday,March29,5:30p.m.HolyTrinityLutheranChurchHOLYTHURSDAY/GOODFRIDAYWORSHIPwithHolyCommunionFriday,March30,3p.m. ParkCentreDiningRoomEASTERWORSHIPSunday,April1,9a.m.St.Andrew’sSunday,April1,10:30a.m.HolyTrinity(Noadultstudygroup)EASTERBREAKFASTSSunday,April1,8a.m.St.Andrew’sFree-WillOfferingforSt.Andrew’sVacationBibleSchoolSunday,April1,9-10a.m.HolyTrinity

APRILBIRTHDAYSANDWEDDINGANNIVERSARIESHappyBirthdayto:APR.10 MarciaGoodrich(S) 12MaxineShutts(S) 13TomNetzel(H) 17PegTroyke(H) 30MelanieSharp(S) KathyNetzel(H)WeddingAnniversaries:NoneHolyTrinity(H),St.Andrew’s(S)

What’ssoimportantaboutEaster?It’simportantbecauseitprovedthatJesuswaswhoheclaimedtobe.HewasGodintheflesh,andhecametoearthtosaveus.Jesusdiedtopayforoursins.Wedeservedpunishment,butJesuspaidthepenaltyforyou.Easterisnotsomememorialtoanice,goodreligiousteacherwholived2,000yearsago.It’sacelebrationofthefactthatheisalivetoday.Becausehelives,weshallliveagainalso.FromRickWarren'sMinistryToolBox,afreeweeklye-newsletterforthoseinministry,www.pastors.com.Usedwithpermission.

HOME CHOIR CONCERT IN APRIL The Grand View University Choir recently returnedfrom a 10-day 2018 Spring Tour through Iowa,Missouri, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, andNew York. Theywill perform theirHome Concert onSunday,April8at3p.m. inLutherMemorialChurch,DesMoines. Choir Director is Dr. Kathryn PollmannDuffy,MusicDepartmentChair. GrandView Seniorsand Holy Trinity members Ian and Charlie Bennettperformwiththechoir.

The program,New Life Will Grow, arises from theChristian church’s Lenten and Easter seasons aswellasthespringtimearoundusinnature.Itdrawsusintothehope that Christ’s death and resurrectionbrings.In doing this, the concert program consists ofmasterful works from the sacred choraltradition.Theology in song shines through themagnificence of ancient chant in modern guise,masterful renaissance polyphony, and moving worksbymoderncomposers.

In the Middle East 2,000 years ago, an event occurred thatpermanently changed theworld. Three events occurred in adramatic succession on that Easter weekend: Jesus’ trial,Jesus’death,andfinallyJesus’resurrection.Let'slookateachofthoseeventsandtheirimplications.TheTrial: Jesusactuallywentthroughsixtrials. Inonenight,hewas brought before Annas, Caiphas (the high priest), theSanhedrin(the religiousSupremeCourt),Pilate(thegovernorofJerusalem),Herod(thegovernorofGalilee),andthenbacktoPilate.Attheendofthosesixtrials,whatgroundsdidtheyhave?Nothing. Afterbringingphonycharges,theyconvictedhimononecount:claimingtobetheSonofGod,theSaviorofthe world, the sole reason Jesus went to the cross. Jesusallowedhimselftobeputontrialsotherewouldbenodoubtabout who he was. He could have stopped the trial at anymoment. He knew hewould be proven guilty and killed. Heallowedittohappenaspartoftheplan.

TheDeath:Afteranightofbeatingsandmocking,afterbeingcrownedwithpainfulthorns,Jesuswascrucified,probablythemostbrutalandtorturousdeathpenaltyeverdevisedbymen.His hands were stretched out wide against the cross andnailedthroughthetwobones ineachwrist.Asthenailswentthroughthispartoftheflesh,theywouldstrikethenervethattravelsupthearmandcauseexcruciatingpain.

If you hung this way for any period of time, the musclesaroundyourchestcavitybegantobeparalyzed.You’dbeabletobreatheinbutyoucouldn’tbreatheout.Deathonacrosswould have been a simplematter of suffocation, except theRomansdidn'twanttomakeitthateasy.They’d take a person’s knees and bend thema little bit andnailthefeettothecross.Amanwouldhangthereinabsoluteagonyuntil the pain in his chestwas about to explode.Thenhewould lift himself up on his nailed feet to grab a breath.When the pain in his feet grew unbearable, he’d let himselfback down again--until the pain in his lungs becameunbearable.Itwasincredibletorture.

Eventually, soldierswouldbreak thecriminal’s legs tohastendeath by suffocation. They didn’t have to break Jesus’ legs,becausehehadalreadydied.Butjusttomakesure,theystuckaspearinhisside.

TheResurrection:AfterJesusdied,theytookhisbodydownandputhiminthetomb,andagiantmillstonewassetinfrontofthecave.Thereligiousleaders---worriedthatJesus’bodymightbestolen--askedforRomanguardstobepostedinfrontofthetomb.Theydidn’twanthimcomingout!Buthedid.

WHAT’SSOIMPORTANTABOUTEASTER?

StudyofOldTestamentProphetsContinuesonSundayMornings

GodmadeacovenantwithIsrael,basedonhispromisestoAbraham, Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 12-50). As time passed,Israelbecamemoreandmoreinvolvedwithfalsereligionsandidolatrouspeople.

Because Israel would not repent and return to God, Godcalled several prophets to warn of God’s wrath andjudgmentonhispeople,whichincludedforetellingthefallof Jerusalemand Judah’sexiletoBabylon. Prophetsalsoproclaimedamessageofrestoration tothepeoplebeforetheywerebanishedfromtheircountryandwhiletheyweelivinginexileinBabylon.The Sundaymorningadult study atHolyTrinitycontinuesApril8at9a.m.withoneofthemostsignificantprophetsin Israel’s history. Ezekiel was called to proclaim themessageofrestorationtothepeopleofGod.Ezekielwasaman totally possessed by the Spirit of Yahweh, called,equippedandgrippedbythehandofGod.ThepropheciesanddramaticactsrecordedinEzekielhavebeendescribedassomeofthemoststrangeandbizarreinallofScripture.

Thenextprophetwhoalsowas sent tobringhope to theexiles was Daniel. When we hear the name, Daniel, weusuallythinkofthestoryof“DanielintheLions’Den”,butmore can be learned from the study of Daniel. Daniel’smessage was telling the people that God was still full ofmercyandpower;theirfuturewasinthehandsofGodandnottheBabylonians.LearningmoreaboutwhatiswrittenintheOldTestamenthelps Christians understand better what is written in theNewTestament. AsChristianswemustcontinue to learnmore about God’s work among His people, not onlythroughwhatJesusdid,buthowJesus’cametofulfillwhatwaswrittenintheOldTestament.

It’snevertoolateto jointhediscussionSundaysat9a.m.atHolyTrinity.Biblesandstudymaterialsarefurnished.

HOLYTRINITY’S

byBillBennett,Jr.,Treasurer

InMarch our congregation gave $690 in benevolenceto ELCAMission Support. Also, we sent $350 to ELCAWorldHunger.

Our mission emphasis in March was ELCA WorldHungerwaterprojects,andwecollected$410indirectdonationsandanother$778inLentenofferings,whichweredesignated for thesamemission.Alongwithourbudgeted$300,thatisatotalof$1,488thusfar.

There was a donation of $100 to HTLC’s “Take AwayHunger” fund. Eight teams packaged 14,688 blackbeans-and-ricemealsMarch24attheLynnvilleFriendsChurch. Thank you to the following team membersfromSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinityfortheirhelp:DougandJaciBell;MarkBell;BillBennett,Sr.;Vicky,IanandCharlie Bennett; Bill Bennett, Jr.; Brad, Teri, Jack andPayton Bowlin; Dorothy Kleinendorst and CarolNaeseth.FuturepackagingeventsforTakeAwayHungerareJuly7atSt. Luke’sUnitedMethodistChurch,Newton,andOctober13atHolyTrinity.

CHURCHDIRECTORIES

If you want a directory that includes information onmembers and friends of each of our churches, pick up acopy at your respective church. The directories havecontact information, birthdays and wedding anniversarydates.

PleasecontactLoiswithanyadditionsorcorrections.

Bruce andPaulaDodgen are currently laying out thenewpictorialdirectory.

ANGELSDESCENDONCHURCH

Eachweek,usuallyonMonday,threeangelscleanandscrubthekitchenandbathrooms,dustwoodworkandfurnitureandvacuumcarpetsthroughoutthebuildingatHolyTrinity.Some-timestheytouchupthepropertyinbetweenifthereareadditionalgroupsusingthebuildingduringtheweek.ThankyoutoBillandLindaBennettandMarilynButlerfor their diligence in keeping the building sparklingclean!

WEEKLYWORSHIP:

Sunday9a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(St.Andrew’s)

10:30a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(HTLC)

ADULTFORUM/STUDY:

Sunday9a.m.(HTLC)

“DusttoGlory:AnOverviewoftheOldTestamentbyR.C.Sproul”SecondThurs.,10a.m.StudiesfromGathermagazine

YOUTHDISCIPLESHIPEDUCATION

Sunday9a.m.DuringWorship(St.Andrew’s)

Wednesday5:45-7p.m.(HTLC)

Heisrisenindeed!

HolyTrinityLutheranChurch

(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)1409SouthEighthAvenue,EastNewton,IA50208

REMEMBERINPRAYERPersons Struggling With Illness: Joyce Sabel, Peg Troyke,Dorothy Lickey, Bob Fisher, Peggy Hiemstra, Midge Wilson,TomNetzel, EllenOnnen,Deb Line, Billie Farland,Gaye Egel,Ruth Sharp, Marilyn Berthelsen, Virginia Bell and CashDickerson (Marcia Goodrich’s grandnephew). RobertHechinger (Wes Ranard’s supervisor), Florence Hunt (SueRanard’s mother), JoAnn Berger (Vicky Bennett’s mother),Palmer Boettcher (Darrell and Linda Boettcher’s grandson),Myrtle Jentz (Lois Ahntholz’s sister), Joan Kinrade (PegTroyke’sfriend),AliceMurray(JudyHumes’daughter),RichardVanderKeif(MidgeWilson’sbrother),SteveMatsen,andSteveParsons.GAYEEGEL:Go to thecaringbridgewebsitetosendanencouragingwordorprayer:https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gayeegelCollegeStudents:

--DaltonWolf,BuenaVistaUniversity,--DevonWolf,(DMACC),Newtoncampus--CharlieandIanBennett,GrandViewUniversity,DesMoinesMilitaryFamilies:--MaryGorball’sgrandson,MichaelGorball,U.S.MarinesinKearney,NE(wife:Kerry;tripletsons:Luke,JacobandIsaac)--PastorKenandLois’granddaughter,NatashaMartinez,stationedwiththeU.S.ArmyatFt.Meade,MDPRAYERCHAINREQUESTSmaybegivenorcalledto:AliceLadd,792.7162(HTLC),MarleneSharp798.4478(St.Andrew’s)orPastorKen,515.720.0172

CHRISTIAN ROCK MUSIC GROUP PLANNING CONCERT IN NEWTON

Cloverton, a contemporary Christian music andworshipbandfromManhattan,Kansas,willpresentaconcertofChristianmusicatDMACCNewtonCampusAuditoriumSunday,April22,7-8:30p.m.General admission tickets are $10/adults, $5/K-12gradeschoolstudents. ProceedsgeneratedfromtheticketsalesarebeingofferedtotheNewtonHighandMiddle Schools to benefit local youth. ProceedsgeneratedfromtheconcertwillbeusedfortheSilverCord Program to purchase cords for future studentsupongraduationwhohave100+hours incommunityservice,fortheClothingClosetforthehighschoolandmiddle school students, and for any equipmentmaterials and bussing for Special Olympics to helpSpecialNeedsPE.Tickets are available at EVENTBRITE.COM, or call641.792.3934(M-F8:30a.m.—12:30p.m.)

The event is being sponsored by First LutheranChurch,Newton. Foradditional information,contactKrista Baumgartner or Andy Breur at andy-breuer@yahoo.com