A Place to Come Home To…

January Newsletter

In this Issue:

From the Pastor….

The word “epiphany means manifestation, and for us as Christians, The Epiphany of Our Lord is celebrated on

January 6th – the coming of the Wise Men, by the leading of the star, who worship Jesus and offer Him

their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The speed of light is the story of Epiphany. The light of the star leads people far and near to worship the

newborn ruler of the world. The Epiphany story reminds us as God’s people to hold Jesus the Light of

the World high so that all people may be drawn to Him as the Word made flesh - God made manifest for our

world today. You and I are living in a society and culture today that that needs Jesus. It is a society and culture that

wants freedom from religion rather than freedom of religion. This is evidenced by the removal of the

acknowledging of God, the honoring of God, and the referencing of God in the public arena. In that context,

you and I are called to live as Christians in the world today in such a way that we influence the world today. More than ever, it is our calling and our mission to

shine brightly with the Light of Jesus wherever we go and in whatever we do and say. And that begins right

here in our church family in our relationships with one another.

Jesus enlightens us about our true condition and promises the Holy Spirit to illumine our lives. St. Paul

saw his purpose and ours as bringing “to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for

ages in God.” (Ephesians 3:8-9). This is why the church

Pastor Bill

From the Pastor Annual Meeting Church Directory Pictures

Youth & Family

Youth & Family Schedule

LCMC Youth Event

Family Waterpark Event

Special Feature

First of Three-Part “Missing Keys” Article by Kirk Olson

Regular Features

Bible Studies

Mission Focus

Service Group

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Calendar

LCMC

Pastor Bill Bakewicz

215 9THSt SE Long Prairie, MN 56347

320-732-2932

American Lutheran Church

americanlutheranchurchlp@gmail.com americanlutheranchurch.org

American Lutheran Church

From the Pastor (Continued)

has often viewed the days around Epiphany as a time to focus on outreach, mission and evangelism.

The festival of the Baptism of our Lord strengthens the Epiphany emphasis. In Jesus’ own baptism, His public ministry begins. God’s Word authenticates

Jesus’ mission, and the power of the Holy Spirit propels him in his far-reaching ministry. Isaiah’s promise of a

“light to the nations” is fulfilled in Jesus (Isaiah 42:6). Jesus’ baptism and mission are closely tied together.

Our baptism and God’s mission for each of us are also tightly tied together. As this season of Epiphany lifts up Jesus as the Light of the World, we remember the

charge given to the newly baptized: “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and

glorify your Father in heaven.” One very important way that we as God’s people

worship the Lord and shine brightly for Him is by bringing our gifts to Him just like the Wise Men did. Those gifts take many different forms and are expressed

in many different ways. Use the gifts that God has given you to shine for Jesus.

Let’s continue to lift Jesus higher for all the world to see, because He said, “If I be lifted up from the earth, I

will draw all people unto Me.” May His Light be our light and shine through us in ever brighter ways and be manifest in all we do and say to the glory of God.

Sincerely, Pastor Bill

Peggy will be taking pictures January 12th and 26th before and

after the service.

Annual Meeting

Sunday, January 26th

11:30 a.m. Order of Business

Opening devotion

Approval of minutes

Reports of Pastor, Council, Treasurer,

boards, committees and others

Youth & Family

Coming Up:

TeamKID happens every Wednesday night from 6-7 for 1-6 graders! January 5th: Sunday School classes resume January 8th: Confirmation & TeamKID resumes January 10-11: Mega Fun February 7-8th: IF:Long Prairie February 9th: Family Waterpark Event February 12th: Youth Missions Family Night Supper

How’s life? Want to talk

about it? Feel free to

contact me…..

Kari Christians (320)533-3021 karichristians@yahoo.com

LCMC Youth Event

CALLED 2: LOVE

JULY 21-24, 2020 | DES MOINES, IA

If you’ve ever wondered what God’s call on your life is, or wanted to gain

a better understanding of what God might be calling you to do in your local

community, you’re not alone. Join other students and youth leaders from

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ at our summer youth event

and find out!

Open to youth currently in 8th-12th grade. All details and registration

information on the Youth and Family Board!

Mark Your Calendars!

Family Waterpark Event February 9th at Noon

Arrowwood Big Splash Waterpark

Alexandria, MN

Cost: $12.50 per swimmer

Under one year is free

Spectator passes are $5.00

Mission Focus for January – Page 1

Mission Focus for January – Page 2

Bible Studies

Please join the 5x5x5 Bible Readers group that will help you apply Christ’s teachings as you think through the Word of God. We meet once per month, the second Sunday of each month at 7 PM at the church

fellowship hall or church library. January Readings: The Book of Mark

Men’s Breakfast Group

Kirk Olson will provide breakfast and several choices of studies for a

breakfast Bible study group.

Time: The January meeting will be rescheduled to January 8th at 6:30 AM. (The meetings are normally scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 AM.) Place: American Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall Purpose: Spiritual support for men in their working years. All are

welcome. Kirk Olson 320-732-6895 C 320-219-2624

Missing Keys Article – Part 1

Missing Keys

What happens when a person has good mental and physical health, but has lost his house and car keys? That person is unable to complete tasks until the keys are found or new ones made.

Let’s find the keys our congregation needs. I suggest that there are three keys that we need to find and use, the Bible key, the relationship key, and the accountability key.

What follows is meant to be encouraging and not a criticism of the many good things that you

are already doing in families, the church, and the community. As we talk to God, don’t we all see areas where we can do better? Here is Key 1. Keys 2 and 3 will follow in later newsletters.

Bible study. Commands, blessings, and promises.

Are we spending enough in the written words of the Bible Monday through Saturday, reinforcing what we learned on Sunday? Do we sometimes have the impression that personal Bible study is

not needed, or that personal time applying the Word to our own lives is somehow an extra thing and not a command from God? Did we promise to be in the Word as we are able?

As we search the scriptures and bind God’s laws and God’s gospel in our hearts, we are blessed richly and become equipped for following Christ. Those able to read the Bible, listen to a

recorded talking Bible or use a “Bible app” can search the scriptures and apply them. Read to family members and friends who cannot read. Reading, searching, and binding scriptures in

our hearts is a command. Deuteronomy 6:8, Psalm 111: 10, Ephesians 6: 14, 15. Colossians 3: 1 – 3, 2 Timothy 3:15, Titus 1:9 and many other verses tell us to seek wisdom, search scriptures, put on truth, righteousness, and the gospel of peace, set our minds on things above,

and teach the Word. All these things require us to learn as much about God’s Word as we are capable of learning.

The more wisdom and knowledge you gain in this world’s kingdom, the more you need God’s

wisdom and knowledge from His Kingdom. All around and in the physical world we see clearly with our eyes, there is a battle of good against evil that needs to be perceived spiritually. Throughout scriptures, God’s people fell prey to evil when they felt they could figure it all out on

their own. The more your careers, callings, situations, and activities challenge your faith and morals, the more you need this blessing of the written Word. “Be wise as serpents and as

innocent as doves.” Matthew 10:16.

Adults being baptized, as well as parents and sponsors of baptized children, promised to learn and teach the Word of God. The congregation welcomed baptized members as “fellow workers in the kingdom of God.” We cannot begin to keep these promises to God without being in the Word

ourselves.

What do you think?

Submitted by Kirk Olson

Service Group 1 – January - February Service Group Responsibilities:

• Serve for funerals on a rotating basis every 7th Funeral.

• Serve for special events occurring during the two month period. Group 1 Leaders: Doris Peterson…………. 320-732-6317

Jane Olson……..………..320-732-6895

Group 1 Members: Anderson, Blair &………………………………….. 320-874-0755 Marchell………………………………… 320-630-8134 Baker, Misty…………………………………………. 320-367-8124

Chapin, Bob &………………………………………. 320-859-4454 Tammie……………………………………. 320-249-6094 Faust, Kevin & Donna…………………………….. 320-732-3361 Gustafson, Woody & Marilyn……………………. 320-491-5776 Haugen, Bryan & Linda……………………………320-732-6883 Hillig, Scott & Becky………………………………..320-815-0162

Krause, Ione…………………………………………. 320-732-3664 Monson, John &……………………………………. 320-874-0481 Helen…………………………….….(Cell) 320-760-7637 …………………………..…(Home) 320-732-3696 Olson, Kirk…………………………………….(Cell) 320-219-2624 …………………………………..(Home) 320-732-6895

Ostendorf, Jim &…………………………………… 320-232-7913 Patty………………………………(Cell) 320-492-0350 ……………………………. (Work) 320-732-2171 Parker, Chuck & Kathy………………………...... 320-732-3299 Richter, Ron &……………………………………… 320-760-6303 Jan………………………………….. Cell) (320-760-6523

………………………………..(Home) 320-732-6962 Rolla, Karla………………………………………….. 320-733-2782 Sanvik, Lowell & Carol……………………………. 320-285-7792 Schneekloth, Donna……..…………………(Cell) 320-760-5077 ……………………...(Home) 320-732-2603 Schneekloth, Gary & Pam………………………...320-732-2261

Schultz, Pat & Tracy……………………………………….. 320-630-4922 Simpson, Vicki……………………………………… 320-732-2869 Tirk, Al & …….…………………………………..…. 320-732-3765 Blanche…….………………………….……….. 320-219-266

January

Happy Anniversary

23rd Tom & Bonnie Kuehne

Happy Birthday

2nd Garrett Hasse 2nd Laurie Poegel 4th Hannah Hasse 5th Alli Rach 5th Sydney Rach 6th Scott Hillig

7th Ellie Goplen 8th Jason Voigt 12th Nicholas Eldred 13th Kari Christians 13th LaMoine Hatton 13th Braydon Karjala

16th James Kraska 16th Dennis Oliver 17th Delvin Durheim 17th Sam Olson 18th Ty Drum 21st Karl Lawin

22nd Gary Westerberg 24th Dorothy Hortness 25th Kristen Vanselow 26th Dannielle Berscheit 26th Joan Pesta 26th John Prill

26th Addison Young 26th Ellianna Young 27th Amanda Parker 27th Wanda Thompson 28th David Ruda 28th Jonathan Young

29th Olivia Browen 31st Elle Olson

American Lutheran Church Calendar – January 2020

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

2

3

4

Office Closed for New Year’s Day

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

8:00am Choir Rehearsal 8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Communion

10:15am Sunday School 11:15 am Youth & Family Committee Meeting

7:00pm Sarah Circle Nursing Home Birthday Party

9:00am Staff Meeting

10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

8:00pm Trustees Meeting

6:30am Men's Breakfast Group

3:00 pm Worship Committee Meeting

4:15pm 7th & 8th Grade Confirmation

5:30pm Family Night Supper

6:00pm 9th Grade Confirmation 6:00pm Praise Team Practice 6:00pm Team Kid - Grades 1 - 6 7:00pm Choir Practice 8:00pm Deacons Meeting

9:30am Chapel at Nursing Home

10:15am Chapel at Assisted Living

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

8:00am Praise Team Rehearsal

8:45am Children's Nursery Church Directory Pictures Before and After Service

9:00am Worship Service 10:15am Sunday School 10:15 am Active Threat Response Presentation

11:15 am Board of Education Meeting

11:15am Missions Committee Meeting

7:00pm 5x5x5 Bible Readers Meeting

9:00am Staff Meeting

10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

9:30am Esther Circle 11:00am Newsletter Articles Due 4:15pm 7th & 8th Grade Confirmation

4:30pm Audio-Visual Committee Meeting

5:30pm Family Night Supper

6:00pm Worship Team Practice 6:00pm Team Kid - Grades 1 - 6 6:00pm 9th Grade Confirmation 7:00pm Choir Practice 8:00pm Church Council Meeting

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

8:45am Children's Nursery 9:00am Worship Service with Communion

10:15am Sunday School

6:45pm Sarah Circle Valley View Hymn Sing

7:45pm Sarah Circle Bible Study

9:00am Staff Meeting

10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

4:15pm 7th & 8th Grade Confirmation

5:30pm Family Night Supper

6:00pm 9th Grade Confirmation 6:00pm Team Kid - Grades 1 - 6 6:00pm Worship Team Practice 7:00pm Choir Practice

26

27

28

29

30

31

8:00am Worship Team Rehearsal

8:45am Children's Nursery Church Directory Pictures Before and After Service

9:00am Worship Service 10:15am Sunday School 11:30am Annual Meeting

9:00am Staff Meeting

10:00am Music Ministry at Valley View

4:15pm 7th & 8th Grade Confirmation

5:30pm Family Night Supper

6:00pm Team Kid - Grades 1 - 6

6:00pm 9th Grade Confirmation 6:00pm Praise Team Practice 7:00pm Choir Practice

Mega Fun at Camp Lebanon for Grades 3 - 6