Mission Statement: We, the Congregation of Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church (AFLC), declare that God the Father is all powerful and eternal, that His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the Living Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we aspire to live our lives according to the Word of God and to proclaim His truth to a lost and hurting world around us.

MARCH 2015 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church

The Lenten Season I Peter 2:4-10

“And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and pre-cious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture:

“Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who be-lieves in Him shall not be disappointed.” This precious value, then is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the builders rejected,

This became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for the they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chose race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you one were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

During the season of Lent some churches ask their people to give up something to make the season very special. They ask them to fast a food or a meal a day, or you could fast the newspaper, or TV, or something that you feel is important to your day. Make a sacrifice for Jesus sake.

I am offering to each of you a different type of fast; during the season of Lent sacrifice the desire to stay home from church on Sunday morning, or the service at the Columbia Apartments—Sunday at 4:00 p.m., the Bible Study at 6:30 Sunday evening, the Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper, 7:00 p.m. Lenten Service. Let’s go for 100% attendance on Sunday, and Wednes-day. The Bible tells us, “Do not neglect our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.”

Pastor Norr’s Page

March Activities & Reminders

If you want to enjoy awesome

praise and worship music

from our praise band, “Lifted

Hands” be here at 9:45 am

on Sunday mornings.

On Sunday,

March 22nd,

Minnesota

Adult and

Teen Chal-

lenge will be

at the Wor-

ship Service. An offering at

the door will be taken for this

program.

A Seder Passover Meal

presentation will be con-

ducted by Jews for Jesus at

7:00 pm on Thursday, March

26th.

Ministerial Acts

for March

Funerals

Wm. “Bill” Voigt

Baptisms

*Adult Joe Goerdt *Infant Logan Michael Boergers

If you have any prayer

requests, please call

Melissa Nissila at 865-

4769 or 780-7079, she is

in charge of the prayer

chain.

Inside this issue:

Program Updates 2

Volunteer Schedule 2

Council Minutes 3

Monthly Calendar 4

PAGE 2 GOOD SHEPHERD FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Coffee House North

Members of the praise band would like to start a Saturday evening of praise and worship music with readings. Eve-ryone is invited to attend and par-ticipate. If you are drawn by the Lord to praise him with song or readings join us. The first session will be March 21st at 7:00 pm at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. We will have a time of ‘Coffee an’ after the evening of praise and worship.

Marriage Seminar

Response to the marriage seminar held on February 14th at the church was “just what we needed” and “wonderful”. Linda Albert-

son, a counselor at Turning Point Counseling was the presenter. Her talk was based on the book Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Sue Johnson. Nineteen people participated in this seminar.

Quad City Food Shelf

We will be collecting food and mone-tary donations during the worship ser-vice the last Sunday in March.

Wanted: People to give their testimony at a church service. If interested, please contact Pastor Norr.

Youth Group

Oh, how we wish for warmer weather! Our February 13th, tubing party at Giants Ridge was cancelled because of the cold and windy weather. The new date for tubing will be on Friday, March 6th from 6-8 p.m. Pray for warmer weather with no wind!!

Lenten Services

We will begin Week 2 of our Lenten service on March 4th. Each service focuses on a biblical parable that connects to Lenten themes. The par-able for this Wednesday is

“Receive the Treasure: The Hidden Treasure and the Priceless Pearl”. Come join us as these ser-vices will continue every Wednesday at 7:00 pm through March 25th. A soup supper will be served at 6:00 pm before the service. Join us as we fellow-ship with each other.

New Member Classes

Pastor Norr will begin new member classes on February 26th, contact Pastor if you are interested.

Daylight Savings Time begins on March 8.

Volunteer Update

“WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!” MATTHEW 25.23

Thank you all for your service.

March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29

Greeters Kathy Zaiser Kathy Zaiser Deb Hanela Deb Hanela Linda Kolocek

Ushers Tim & Deb

Hunter

Warren Swartz

& Deb Hanela

Todd Niemi &

Art Lee

Gordy & Melissa

Nissila

Dave Stewart

& Todd Niemi

Readers David Saranen Linda Kolocek Tim Hunter Melissa Nissila Art Lee

Kitchen Clean-up Ellen Bane Paula Etter Deb Hanela Lisa Inman Sherry Johnson

Laundering Linens for the Month: Linda Kolocek

PAGE 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES

January 13, 2015

Called to order at 7:10 p.m.

Attendance:

Pastor Norr, Tammy Bechtold, Kathy Carlson, Tim Hunter, Lisa Inman, Sherry Johnson, Linda Kolocek, Sharon Maki, Paul Mattila, Todd Niemi, Gordy Nissila, Melissa Nissila, Joyce Rude and Warren Swartz.

Deacons: Keith Bechtold

Opening Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Opening Prayer

Motion was made and supported to approve the minutes of the December 9, 2014 Church Council meeting.

Treasurer’s Report:

The treasurer’s report was read. Motion was made and supported to approve the Treasurer’s report as read.

Financial Secretary’s Report:

The Ladies Fund, Radio Broadcast, Memorial Fund and Home Missions Fund was read, Motion was made and supported to approve the Financial Secretary’s report as read.

Sunday School Report:

The ending balance for the Sunday School was read. Sherry Johnson gave the report.

Materials were purchased for Craft Day. The Sunday School Children’s Christmas program went very well. Sunday School has started up again. Motion was made and supported to approve the Sunday School report as given.

Youth Group Report:

The ending balance for the Youth Group was read. There was no report given this month.

Deacons’ Report:

The Deacons’ report was given by Keith Bechtold. The Sunday Evening Bible Study was discussed and it is going along very well. Discussed the greeter program. Discussed the Annual Meeting meal. Sanctity of Life Sunday, January 25, 2015, a handout will be put into the bulletin. Marriage Seminar is set for February 14, 2015. Discussed the Men’s Wild Game Feed – it will be on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. with dinner at 5:00 p.m. Discussed Lent – February 18th is Ash Wednesday. New Member Classes will be starting in January. A date needs to be set for the Women’s Retreat - possibly on April 18th or April 25th. Discussed World Day of Prayer on March 6th, 2015. Talked about the children’s ministry – it will be on the 2nd & 4th Sundays each month. Discussed having set protocols for our church when they are needed. This will start with the new Deacon Board. Discussed visitation help also. Motion was made and supported to approve the Deacons’ Report as given.

Pastor’s Report:

Pastor read a letter from WEVE in regard to our Radio Broadcast contract staying at the same rate. Pastor read thank yous from RBC and Mesabi YFC, Care Partners and Range Respite. Also read a letter from First Covenant Church regarding World Day of Prayer. Un-decorating of the church was discussed and will be set for this coming Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. be-fore the Bible Study. Pastor will do the Funeral service for Jennifer Drobnick on Thursday, January 15, 2015 at the Resurrec-tion Church in Eveleth. We have reserved Pocket Planners for the year 2016. The Marriage Seminar will be on February 14, 2015. Discussed our Church’s 50th Anniversary this year. Motion was made and supported to approve the Pastor’s Report as given.

Old Business:

An update was given on Power Point. Discussed the monthly newsletter and were given a copy of a letter from our Secretary, Tammy regarding this issue. Motion made and approved to have a monthly newsletter. Name tags update was given. An-nual Meeting dinner was discussed. Dinner will be ordered for 60 people.

New Business:

We need to be thinking about VBS this year. Discussed having a sign-up sheet for those who would like to light candles for the service. Discussed the need for more people on the Finance Committee – Lisa Inman, Melissa Nissila, Sherry Johnson, Linda Kolocek, Tammy Bechtold, Warren Swartz, Marcy Zallar, Kathy Carlson.

Motion made and approved to increase our donation to RBC twice a year as we will be ordering more Daily Bread. Discussed doing a new Church Directory. Pastor will check with the company as to when we can have this done. Tim will see about putting together a 50th Anniversary celebration for our church.

Meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer and was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Nissila, Secretary

W E ’RE ON THE W EB

W W W.GSLV IRGINIA .ORG

Good Shepherd Free Lutheran Church

PO Box 229

230—3rd Street South

Virginia, MN 55792

Annual Women’s Retreat

Save the Date!

April 18, 2015

If you would

prefer to have

the newsletter

emailed to you,

please let Sherry

know.

If you have any news, concerns, or

requests, you can contact Sherry by

phone, text, or email.

Cell phone # 218-780-0659

e-mail: sherry.johnson222@gmail.com

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

9:00 am—Radio Broadcast/KRBT

9:00 am—Sunday School

9:45—Praise & Worship

10:00 am—Communion /Worship Service

4:00 pm—Columbia Service

6:30 pm—Sunday Eve Bible Study

2

12:00 pm—Pray for

our Nation

3

3:00 pm—

Washington Manor

Service

6:00 pm—

Celebrate Recov-

ery

4

6:00 pm—Soup

Supper

7:00 pm—Lenten

Service

5

8:00 am—Pastors’

Prayer Breakfast @

Northgate Café

10:30 am—

Edgewood Vista

Service

4:00 pm—Group

Home

6

6-8 pm—Tubing up

at Giants Ridge

7

8 Day Light Savings

9:00 am—Radio Broadcast/KRBT

9:00 am—Sunday School

9:45—Praise & Worship

10:00 am—Worship Service

4:00 pm—Columbia Service

6:30 pm—Sunday Eve Bible Study

9

11:30 am—Lake

Superior District

meeting in Cloquet

12:00 pm—Pray for

our Nation

10

3:00 pm—Washington Manor Service

5:00 pm—Deacons’ Meeting

6:00 pm—Celebrate Recov-ery

7:00 pm—Church Council Meeting

11

12:00 pm—Ladies’

Luncheon @ at

Grandma’s

1:00 pm—Spiritual

Teaching at RMHC

6:00 pm—Soup

Supper

7:00 pm—Lenten

Service

12

8:00 am—Pastors’

Prayer Breakfast @

Northgate Café

12:00—V.A.M.A.

Meeting

4:00 pm—Group

Home

13 14

9:00 am—Men’s

Monthly Breakfast

@ Northgate Cafe

15

9:00 am—Radio Broadcast/KRBT

9:00 am—Sunday School

9:45—Praise & Worship

10:00 am—Worship Service

4:00 pm—Columbia Service

6:30 pm—Sunday Eve Bible Study

16

12:00 pm—Pray for

our Nation

17

3:00 pm—

Washington Manor

Service

6:00 pm—

Celebrate Recov-

ery

18

6:00 pm—Soup

Supper

7:00 pm—Lenten

Service

19

8:00 am—Pastors’

Prayer Breakfast @

Northgate Café

4:00 pm—Group

Home

20

10:30 am—

Edgewood Vista

Memory Care Ser-

vice

Spring Begins

21

7:00 p.m.—Coffee

House North

(Praise and Wor-

ship Music get-

together) @ Good

Shepherd

22

9:00 am—Radio Broadcast/KRBT

9:00 am—Sunday School

9:45—Praise & Worship

10:00 am—Worship Service

4:00 pm—Columbia Service

6:30 pm—Sunday Eve Bible Study

23

12:00 pm—Pray for

our Nation

24

3:00 pm—

Washington Manor

Service

6:00 pm—

Celebrate Recov-

ery

25

6:00 pm—Soup

Supper

7:00 pm—Lenten

Service

26

8:00 am—Pastors’

Prayer Breakfast @

Northgate Café

7:00 pm—Seder

Presentation—

Passover Meal by

Jews for Jesus

27 28

29 Palm Sunday

9:00 am—Radio Broadcast/KRBT

9:00 am—Sunday School

9:45—Praise & Worship

10:00 am—Worship Service

4:00 pm—Columbia Service

6:30 pm—Sunday Eve Bible Study

30

12:00 pm—Pray for

our Nation

31

3:00 pm—

Washington Manor

Service

6:00 pm—

Celebrate Recov-

ery

March 2015