Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 825 Golf Ave SW Pine City, MN 55063

Non-Profit U.S. Postage

PAID Pine City, MN 55063

Permit No. 2

WORSHIP TIMES Sundays

8:00 Traditional

9:30 Contemporary Sunday school resumes

January 5, 2020

Thursdays 5:30 p.m.

PLEASE JOIN US!!

MN Adult and

Teen Challenge Choir January 19 @ 9:30

Our Vision: Shining God’s light into the darkness,

bringing hope where there is despair, healing where there is hurt.

If you no longer wish to receive this publication, if you prefer to re-ceive it via email, or if you wish to read it on our website, PLEASE

contact the office at orlcoffice@gmail.com or call 320-629-2985. THANK YOU!

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Shining God’s Light Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

January 2020

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 825 Golf Ave SW

Pine City, MN 55063 (320) 629-2985

Facebook: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church www.orlcpc.com

orlcoffice@gmail.com Children, Youth and Families Director: Leigha Lange Ext. 204 youthorlc@gmail.com

Office: orlcoffice@gmail.com Ext. 201 Children of Joy Preschool: Casey Tyberg Ext. 207 orlckidz@gmail.com

This is a monthly publication. Deadline for articles is 4:30 pm on the third

Monday of each month.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take

my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you

will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Inside

Pastor Alvin greetings……….......2 APFU needs……………………..2 Tim & Maria………..…………...3 News from the Church Office…...3 Children of Joy………..……..…..4 New Program at ORLC..………...5 GivePlus, Anyone missing?.........5 Hear Ye, Financial Update….…..6 Family & Friends………...……....7 Schedule………………………….7 CYF Update: ..………….………..8 BackPack, Call Committee .....…..9 Bible Studies..……………….….10 Council Minutes…………….11-12 Calendar………………………...13

A PLACE FOR YOU MEALS…….NEEDS YOU!!!!

A Place for You is home to the homeless of our area, giving them a secure place to live. Our Re-deemer strives to provide two nutritious meals per month for the residents and we are looking for help. We have menus and procedures planned but need volunteers to shop, cook and deliver the meals. If you could do a hotdish meal on a Tuesday or a sloppy joe meal on a Thursday at some time this year, please contact Merrilee Eberhart, Carol Vanderhorck, or sign up on the chart hanging in the Volunteer area of the fellowship hall bulletin board. *Follow Christ’s teaching: “…as you do it to the least of these you do it to me.” Matt 25:40 *Earn confirmation service credits *No long term commitment: one and done Thank you for your help with this important com-munity outreach project.

Greetings from Pastor Alvin Luedke

We thank everyone for their warm greetings and for the

cards and generous gifts we have received. We wish you

God's richest blessings during this Christmas season and

in the new year.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve with you in ministry.

Pastor Alvin and Becky Luedke

A $10,000 anonymous donation has been made in memoriam of Leone Ledin, of which $3000 will set up a scholarship fund for the Children of Joy preschool, and $7000 will be used to set up a lighting fund for new sanctuary lighting.

Praise the Lord for anonymous members of

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!!!

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Dear ORL Church, We are so thankful for your warm welcome of us as well as your desire to com-mit to supporting us as a congregation. We wanted to send you our sending or-ganization's (Pioneers) link which allows you to set up monthly giving so it will automatically deduct each month and goes directly into our Pioneers account (pioneers.org; “Give to missionary” and use the Project Code #112861).

However, you can of course choose to do it by mail. Please write out the check to: Pioneers Act # 112861 Then mail it to: 10123 William Carey Dr, Orlando, FL 32832 Either way, Pioneers will send you a receipt and ensure that your gift is tax-deductible. Thank you again and please let us know if you have any further questions. All for Jesus, Tim & Maria

“Prayer is a radical conversion of all our mental pro-cesses because in prayer we move away from our-selves, our worries, preoccupation, and self-gratification—and direct all that we recognize as ours to God in the simple trust that through His love all will be made new.”

Henri Nouwen

NEWS FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE

Sunday morning announcements will continue to be limited. PLEASE have your announce-ments to the office for the bulletin NO LATER

than Wednesdays at noon.

If you have misplaced any keys/rings/earrings lately, please come check out the “gifts”

on the office desk!

Contact the Church if you have an emergency.

For Pastoral Care Press 1 Leigha Lange, Director of Children, Youth and Families Press 2 youthorlc@gmail.com Church Office Administrator Press 0 orlcoffice@gmail.com Casey Tyberg, COJ Preschool Press 4 orlckidz@gmail.com

Be watching for your year-end giving statement in the mail. Check it over and contact the office immediately if you think there are mistakes! THANK YOU for your support of the church office during this transitional time at Our Re-deemer Lutheran Church!!!

Diane

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CHILDREN OF JOY PRESCHOOL

The cold snap in early December meant being inside for a few days—students were

VERY excited to get back outside once the temps warmed up a bit. Having plenty of

snow has been extra fun.

December activities included fun Gingerbread activities,

learning about our 5 senses and doing assessments of each

student in preparation for Parent/Teacher conferences in

January. Our first official party was Wednesday, 12/18

where students and families watched a movie, enjoyed

Christmas treats and did crafts. Pajama’s were encouraged!

Vicki from A Place for You board came in and spoke with our students about how Pine City’s homeless shelter

assists their clients. APFY was a mission project for our students in December—they collected donations for

residents and made Christmas cards . The holidays can be an especially difficult time to be away from family.

In January, we will begin our new curriculum including Simple Machines. We look forward to receiving our 3

star rating from Parent Aware as well as another grant. The observation scores from SEED came back—they

were very high. We have an amazing staff and are very blessed!

THANK YOU to everyone who supported our pancake breakfast; we received over $480 in donations. We also

appreciate everyone who purchased scrip gift cards for Christmas.

We still have openings—please pass the word! If there is enough interest, we can open up a Tues/Thursday

class.

Patty Keyport

CoJ Board

C H E C K U S O U T A T : H T T P S : / / W W W . F A C E B O O K . C O M / C R E A T I N G J O Y I N L E A R N I N G /

B E S U R E T O L I K E & F O L L O W U S .

Y O U C A N A L S O E M A I L O R L C K I D Z @ G M A I L . C O M O R C A L L 3 2 0 - 6 2 9 - 2 9 8 5 E X T . 4

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.PINE CITY LIFEBLOOD REENTRY PROGRAM The Charter Meeting of Our Redeemer Lifeblood Reentry Group met on Thursday evening, December 5

th. While the number of volunteers outnumbered the participants, we

began to realize that though we may not have spent time incarcerated or have friends or fam-ily in the system, we all have spent time in captivity in one form or another. The program consists of a series of nine videos on subjects including Family, Hope, A Second Chance, Influence, and others. The videos are about 20 minutes long and include stories from men and women who have experienced incarceration, some for many years. These stories include the struggle, but also the restoration these once lost men and women have experienced through faith and the presence of Godly men and women in their lives. Af-ter the video the group breaks into discussion groups facilitated by our volunteers and attend-ed by all of us. The discussion guides call us to consider deeper issues than we may have understood or confronted in our past. We are only beginning to see the depth of this ministry opportunity to reach out to those who may have lost hope or faith in life and its struggles. Our volunteers come from churches across the community. This is a Christ-centered ministry that believes a relation-ship with Godly people eventually leads to a relationship with Christ and a changed perspec-tive and future. We will meet Thursday nights from 7 to 9 at the ORLC fellowship hall. If you have an interest in this ministry contact Jim Koppen or Jim Hanson, or ask Diane at the church office for information. We would love to get you involved.

NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAM

BEING HELD HERE

AT OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH

GIVEPLUS is our new eGiv-ing tool to help make contributing from your smartphone or iPhone easy! Download the free app when at Our Redeemer to begin or visit us on our web page orlcpc.com. You can also stop by the office for more infor-mation or help getting it set up. Your finan-cial gift allows us to continue our mission throughout the year. Thank you!

Is someone missing from church? Have you noticed that so-and-so has not been to church for a while? Did you receive a phone call from someone who needs a visit? Please contact Jeneice Carter or leave infor-mation at the church office.

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FINANCIAL UPDATE 11/30/2019 MONTH #2 of FISCAL YEAR 2020 November’s Income: $25,909 - General Offering Income 260 - Designated Mortgage Income 942 - Other General Operating Income $27,111 - TOTAL Available for Expense Payment $ 26,369 – Expenses Supported by General Giving November’s Account Balances $ 500 - Property Improvement Reserve 18,541 - General Operating Fund 43,488 - Restricted Funds 67,810 - Endowment Fund $129,839 - TOTAL CASH & SAVINGS Mortgage Balance: $39,851 Currently on the finance committee is Steve Schmidt (RRI Consulting), Diane Lombard (Treasurer), Sue Osterdyk (member), Kristi Davis (member). If you are interested in learning more or being on the finance committee, please let us know. Thank you for your generosity, love and trust with your financial giving. The council, committees and staff that use the funds given to Our Church try our very best to honor your monetary gifts in a mindful and financially sound way that is pleasing to God and that helps us to:

SERVE GOD TOGETHER!

In any moment of decision, the

best thing you can do is the right

thing.

The next best thing you can do is

the wrong thing.

The worst thing you can do is

nothing.

Theodore Roosevelt

HEAR YE-- HEAR YE!

ONE-VOTE MEETING

NEEDS ATTENDEES!!

January 26 between 8:00 and 9:30 services. (Campership breakfast serving 9-11) We are voting to accept/deny the 2019 Our Redeemer Lutheran church constitution, by-laws and continuing resolutions. This will be the only item on the agenda.

PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND!

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OUR REDEEMER FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO PRAY FOR: Chris Tindal, John Fedder, Ben Neel, Norm Opheim, Ella Mae Caroon, Sara

Helseth, Jeff Kuzel, Rosie Thorson, Carole and Carl Anderson, Bill McCartney, Ashley Jenkins,

Gerry Sell, Gail Rosenbaum, Margaret Menigo, LaVonne Nascene, Brian Holler, Paulette Renwick,

David Pixley (brother-in-law to Pam Wiener), Donna Mae Johnson, Rod Benson, Pat Turgeon,

Marilyn Arnold, Nicole Trujillo, Karen Blake, Liz Olson, Steve Martini, Sandy (daughter of Marilyn

Arnold), Jim Jacobson, Tonia Johnson, Betsi Moffatt Olson, Tom Davis, Patricia Taft, Laurie Madi-

son, Lynnette Simertz (Leigha’s friend’s mother), Bonnie Abbott, Karen Koecher (sister-in-law to

Julie & Lee Wiener), and anyone else that comes to mind.

PRAY FOR ALL WHO SERVE THIS COUNTRY!!

CONTINUING TO PRAY FOR: Deb Hagfors, Aine Casey (Judy & Larry Bothum ’s grandchild),

Evie Radke (great-granddaughter of Donna & Ron Pingree), Steven Mueller (brother-in-law to Jeff

Duzan).

Reminder: Names are not removed unless the office is notified.

Contact the church if you or someone you know is needing a hospital, home visit or phone call. You can leave a confidential voicemail or use one of the yellow forms in the basket on the office door. Just slip it into one of the envelopes provided, mark it and seal it, and slip it under the door, if need be.

JANUARY SERVICE SCHEDULE

Ushers: Jay and Tamera Samuelson/Dave and Mary Johnson

Altar Guild: Jenny Christensen

Acolytes Coffee Fellowship Hosts

Between services

Council Representative for the Month

Readers and Communion

Helpers

5) 8:00 Gabby Schumacher and Matthew Blake 9:30 Caden and Ella Schlichting

Tamera & Jay Samuelson (Fireside Chat)

Liz Olson Reader: Liz Olson Communion: Tom and Kristi Davis Jeneice Carter

12) 8:00 Owen Anderson and Eric James 9:30 Madyson and Paige Bombard

Sue & Dave Beckstrand

Reader: Ella Mae Caroon

19) 8:00 Arissa Rydberg and Kylie Nascene 9:30 Eric Abbott and Avery Kubesh

Deb Eck, Sheila Basta, Eileen Neville

Reader: Diane Vander Venter Communion: Gary and Lynn Drewa Chris Jahnz

26) 8:00 Elijah and Isaac Jahnz 9:30 Ashley Peters and Maggie Smetana

CAMPERSHIP BREAKFAST Serving 9-11

Reader: Carolyn Tuckner

If you are interested in being a reader or communion help please call Trudy Wood At 320-629-1199

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Youth Group (7th-12th grade) 2nd & 4th Sundays @ ORLC

6:30-8pm

Campership Breakfast - January 26 - 9 to 11 - Free Will Offering Come and support kids going to camp! All proceeds benefit our camper ship fund which provides scholar-

ships for summer camp.

Sunday school resumes January 5th. We will kick off our annual Food Drive that day! See you at 9:30! Kids of the Kingdom session 2 begins January 15 after school. If you did not receive an email with the signup link, please email Leigha. Confirmation resumes January 15. Dinner at 6 and class begins at 6:30.

Youth Group - January 12 & 26 - 6:30 to 8 - Dinner Provided

7-12 grade welcome

We're going to Feed My Starving Children on January 21st. We will be meeting at church at 7:30 and back by 1:30. First people to sign up are guaranteed a spot unless drivers are found. A sign up was sent via email to all parents of students grades 7-12. If you have any questions let Leigha know.

Wake up with Jesus (Bible Study) - Wednesday, January 15 & 29

7:15 - Cabin Coffee

Super Bowl Subs Fundraiser is back! Get your subs for the big day and support everyone going on the 2020 Mission Trip to New Mexico. Order forms will be available January 12 during worship. Each sub cost $7 The envelop fundraiser is back! If you are looking for a way to support the youth and the mission trip to New Mexico but you don’t want to buy anything please consider grabbing an envelop off of Leigha’s door.

Cardia Deo - Sr. High Retreat - Feb. 28 through Mar 1 - Forms due January 15 Forms have been sent VIA email and are outside of Leigha’s door

“We are Called, Gathering, Equipped and Sent to share the Heart of God (Cardia Deo) in the world. This year

we will focus on what it means to be Sent. Through Bible Studies, worship, and time together, youth and adults will experience and learn to share the hope of God’s love story in the world.

Cardia Deo is a full weekend of fun and faith-nurturing activities including Bible studies, a mystery event, ser-

vice learning, worship, and camp life - all planned and led by the LYO Board!

Cardia Deo is much more than an event. It is space in a busy worship to be - to be away from the demands and pressures of daily life, to be yourself in a safe space, to be in community with people who you as you are, to be challenged to learn and grow in faith, and to be loved by God… so you can return home trans-

formed to be the person God has called, gathered, equipped and send you to be!”

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During the month of January

the BackPack Food Program will be collecting individually packaged Mac and Cheese.

Please help by placing your donation in the box by the church office.

Your donation is making a difference in the youth of our community.

CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE

The Call Committee resumed its search for a leader here at Our Redeemer Luther-

an after receiving the news that our candidate of choice would not be joining our

congregation. The news, though disappointing in some ways, possibly may be the

best news we could get. This process is meant to include a great deal of faith from

our church and from the potential candidates.

We stress to all members of the committee and to potential leaders the need to be

certain of both your willingness to take on the challenge and that you are truly being

called into this new opportunity. We all have said at times, “I’ll pray about it” and

perhaps have not followed through at the level we should have. This situation de-

mands far more than lip service and to have someone share their hesitancy as

openly as their certainty of the calling is exactly the response that we should ap-

plaud. I realize I am probably “preaching to the choir”, but God has a plan in all of

this if we are willing to accept it. Thank you for all of your prayers throughout this

process. The interviews continue to move forward. Confidentiality limits our ability

to be totally transparent, but we believe with all our hearts that the truly called lead-

er is headed our way.

Keep up the prayers and smile at everyone, you never know who is in attendance.

Just kidding, candidates never attend the service prior to being announced. But I

love the smiles and so do any people considering us as a church family. We will

keep you informed as our journey continues.

Submitted By Jim Koppen

Our Redeemer Call Committee

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AA meets 7:30 p.m. Mondays in the Youth Room

Call Cindy S. at 320/279-1428 with questions

AA meets during holidays.

Befrienders meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month

at 4:00p.m. Contact Jeneice Carter Or call the church office at

320-629-2985

Narcotics Anonymous meets 7 p.m. Tuesdays

Hinckley High School room #107

(west side/south corner). Call Steve at 218/380-0805

for more information.

Healing Ministry

Second Tuesday of every month at ORLC 6:15 dinner/worship, 7pm meeting

All are welcome! You do not need to be a mem-ber of the healing ministry to bring yourself

and your ideas!!

Healing Prayers by appointment Call Lois Bengtson 320-358-4919

Personal Prayers available after worship the third Thursday and third Sunday.

SonRisers will not meet in January

Men’s Breakfast Bible Study meets every Wednesday morning at 6:30 am in the Fel-lowship Hall. Join them for food, fellowship and discussion on how God’s word applies to our every day life. (Resumes January 8)

Texting Prayer Team is available to

pray for your needs. Text Kris Gross at

651-236-0511

Al-Anon meets Wednesdays 12 pm

725 2nd Ave SW in Pine City. Contact David at 612-387-6094 with any questions

Grace isn’t a little prayer you say

before receiving a meal.

It’s a way to live.

Whole-ly Living Bible Study Tuesdays 5:10 p.m. (resumes Jan 14)

At Our Redeemer Contact Bonnie Menigo for more

details at 763-221-9448 or the church office 320-629-2985

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CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING Thursday, December 12, 2019 Present: Diane Lombard, Tom Davis, Brent Weiss, Ashley Espeseth, Jay Samuelson, John Oare, Rich Elliot, Jeneice Carter Absent: Kris Gross, John Schille, Wayne Hansmann, Liz Olson Guest: Steve Schmidt Meeting was called to order by President, John Oare at 7:00 p.m. Devotions and Prayer were led by Ashley Espeseth. Set Agenda: Rich Elliot was added as #3 under Old Business for update on call committee. Rich Elliot was added as #4 under New Business for discussion about Council Mem-ber of the Month procedures. Jay Samuelson made a motion to approve the additions. Motion was seconded by Ashley Espe-seth. Motion carried. Staff and Committee Reports: A written Office Administrator Report was submitted. Dis-cussion on report: Database needs to be completed. Ashley Espeseth will ask Diane to print a list of everybody’s name in the data base and we will have a committee help determine membership. A Parochial report of active members needs to be submitted to the Synod by February 15

th. Jay

Samuelson will contact Linda Haug to see if she would be able to help with the committee. Written Befrienders Committee report was submitted. Financial Report: Report was given by Steve Schmidt. Jay made a motion to accept the Financial Report. Brent Weiss seconded. Motion carried. Old Business:

Security Update: Brent Weiss read a report from John Schille. John Oare stated that they had talked with the Sheriff. They felt it was important to have a surveillance camera in the parking lot. Security light is needed in the back corner of the church. They need to get an estimate on costs for these items. Monthly fee security estimate versus our own equip-ment. John Oare will talk with John Schille regarding what is needed and should be done.

WINDOWS money suggestions: Suggestions for funds were Bloodline Program and Mary Murphy Fund. The Mary Murphy Fund is through the schools to help children who can’t afford things. The Homeless Shelter was another suggestion but we already donate to them. Jay Samuelson suggested that we give 50% to Bloodline and 50% to Mary Mur-phy Fund. After discussion it was suggested that we table till more info is available. Brent will contact Diane Fedder to see if money is needed and John Oare will contact Jim Kop-pen to see if money is needed for the Bloodline program.

Call Committee Update: Rich Elliot gave an update on the call committee. They are in the interviewing process. We will be following the Synod guidelines regarding Sabbatical.

New Business

History Committee request: The Heritage/History Committee would like the council to determine whether or not authority can be given to the group to keep or destroy whatever documents it believes are necessary for legal and/or historical purposes for ORLC. John Oare made a motion to give the committee authority to do this. Jeneice Carter seconded. Motion carried.

Church Service times: There was a request submitted that we have only one service at 9:00 a.m. during the winter. John Oare suggested the worship committee put out a survey to ask the congregation what their feelings are on this. Ashley Espeseth suggested we do a survey at the spring annual meeting for the next year. John Oare will talk with Doug Pie-per, Chairman of the Worship Committee about this.

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December Council minutes cont’d

Ash Wednesday is February 26

th. Just a reminder.

Council Member of the Month responsibilities: Rich asked about having to open up the

church and then also lock up after the second service. It is a long time to have to be at the church when you have small children. John Oare stated that he would be happy to open for anyone that needs him to, and to just give him a call. He is usually there early to make cof-fee anyway. Also, it is no longer necessary for the council member of the month to do the sound system.

Jeneice Carter made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:05 p.m. Motion was seconded by Tom Davis. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned with the Lord’s Prayer. Next Executive Board Meeting will be Thursday, January 2, 2020. Next Council Meeting will be Thursday, January 9, 2020.

Council member of the month for January is Liz Olson. Newsletter deadline is January 17

th.

Submitted by

Jeneice Carter, Secretary

YOUR AD HERE

Do you have a ministry you would like highlighted? Do you have a suggestion for anything you

would like to see in the newsletter? Have any pictures to put in?

How about news? See Diane

Our Redeemer would like to thank Jason Wiener and his wife Brooke for the use of the lawnmower during the

summer days of 2019! The wonderful way it takes care

of the grounds here at ORLC is much appreciated!

God’s blessings to you

in 2020!

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Council

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