1

The children were sent home from class on Friday with the homework of filling the Easter baskets they were given. The goal was to fill them and bring them back to the party on Monday. Each child seemed enthusiastic at the thought of the party’s goodies that would be brought. That Monday, when the teacher asked the students to bring their baskets forward and place the goodies in the larger basket to share with the whole class, there were a few students who had awkward looks on their faces. Students were dumping chocolate eggs and bunnies, brightly covered candies, “Peeps” and other sugar-laden food into the basket, but the few others just stood there staring. When the teacher asked them to bring their baskets forward, they were shy, but not hesitant. They showed their baskets for all to see that there was nothing in them. The teacher looked puzzled at what to do next. Each child should hope to share in the party as long as something was brought to share. The teacher asked them why they didn’t bring something to share. Each of them said they had brought something to share. Even more confused than before, the teacher asked, “OK, what did you bring to share?” “Nothing,” the first student said. “Nothing is what the people found when they went to the place where they buried Jesus.” The teacher looked at them with a broad smile and understanding. She said, “Nothing is just great!” May there be much of “nothing” in your life. “Nothing” is the something that makes our lives have meaning, purpose and joy. A Joyful and Happy Easter to you all!

Pastor Chris Nolte

The Herald

Elim Lutheran Church, Port Orchard, WA

5911 E. Hillcrest Drive, Port Orchard, WA 98366 March 2016 Email: elimlutheran@yahoo.com www.elimlutheranportorchard.com (360) 871-0602

“Nothing” is Just Great

2

THE EDGE OF HUMOR

Office Hours and “Contact Us” Information

Elim’s office is open from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Please

drop in anytime or make an appointment to see Pastor Chris or Katie. We look

forward to serving you. Hospitals are not calling churches to let us know that you

have been admitted. Please let the church office know if you are going to the hospital

or are ill at home. A visit and/or remembering you in prayer are ways we can respond

once we know. Thank you for your assistance. Besides Pastor Chris calling you for a

visit, when you would like to have a pastoral visit you are encouraged to call the

office. Please call Pastor Chris (360-907-4289) in an emergency or a time of need.

Your call or contact is appreciated. Pastor Chris’ email is: prnolte@gmail.com

...and many happy returns to these loved ones who

have birthdays in January:

Grant Plummer 3/01 Ray Pardo 3/03

Hanna Ridings 3/05 Heather Ridings 3/5

Fran Olin 3/06 Les Miller 3/11

Isaac Cummings 3/17 Kathy Wilmarth 3/17

David Armstrong 3/18 Sandi Nolte 3/19

Quinn Fergesen 3/20 Rachel Burgett 3/27

Jordis Anelli 3/29 Monique Morey 3/30

3

From the Council President

March is a season of change from Winter to Spring, and often Lent to Easter; a time of

preparation for the planting of new life; a time of unpredictable storms and the

returning of sunshine; a time of reflection and planning ahead. We have had many

changes in the last year which contribute to our ongoing life as the people of God at

Elim. We are a people of God’s grace reaching out in love and support to our

community and to one another. Like Jonah, who is featured in our Lenten Wednesday

service, we all need to be renewed in God’s grace as we live out our call to share the

love of God. Let us continue through Lent to prepare for Easter’s Good News of God’s

gifts of renewing grace and life in Jesus.

We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 : “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the

same Spirit: and there are a variety of services, but the same Lord: and there are

varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all everyone.” As I

consider these words, I am thankful to Peter Kreidler for his years of service as Council

President, as well as Myrna Robinson and Barb Hahn for their service as members of

Council. We welcome and affirm Diane Hubert and Rachel Burgett who have been

elected to council positions. We give thanks to God for all the leaders in our

congregation and continue to be open to the same Spirit who empowers us all to serve

and continue this ministry in which we are engaged.

Old and new, new service books but many a familiar old hymn and ancient words

woven through, New year, an ongoing history, New website, Logo and the ongoing

mission and fellowship. New President and new members of Council and ongoing

members serving each other. We are all woven together to be Elim, an oasis of God’s

refreshing Word and Sacrament and Fellowship in His Spirit to be an outflowing light

and life to the world. A beautiful work of God’s Love and Grace; Child of God. You

are Loved.

Blessings,

Sue Anna Tucker, Council President

Reminder: March 13th is day we “spring forward” an hour, welcoming

the extra hours of sunlight into our daily routines. Don’t forget to set you

clocks ahead as you go to sleep the night before! This is also a good time to

refresh the batteries in your smoke detectors and to take care of any of the

other biannual activities you might otherwise put off!

4

Worship & Music Meeting — a monthly planning meeting is

on the first Thursday (March 3) at 11:30 AM. We meet in the

church’s library to design the congregation’s worship life. All are

welcome to join in.

Evening Prayer Service

Are your days busy from beginning to end? If so, you may crave the stillness and quiet

of a time in the sanctuary set aside for prayer and meditation. There are so many rea-

sons we need to set aside time for being in prayer together, and to be quiet, reflective

and responsive to God’s voice. Come to the glow of candlelight, a place of quiet, the

sound of music, the reading of God’s Word for us and experience the peace. We gather

each first Thursday which this month is on March 3 @ 7 PM. Come to the quiet!

The Season of Lent continues ...

“Soup and Bread” begins the evening at 6 PM and choir rehearsal follows

after worship. Each midweek service retains this schedule for March 2, 9 and 16.

The Sign of Jonah is the theme for our midweek services, considering the call of Jonah

and his response and story. Come to see how this story intersects how we can discern

new responses to God’s call in our lives.

Holy Week begins with Palm/ Passion Sunday (3/20) with a participatory drama called,

“The Cry of the Whole Congregation” by Walter Wangerin, Jr.

Maundy Thursday(3/24) invites us to recall God’s saving acts of liberation in the

Passover through participating in a Seder meal at 5:30 PM (please sign up on the

“Worship” bulletin board) and Holy Communion at 7 PM.

Good Friday (3/25) brings us to the cross with services of worship offered at Noon and

7 PM.

The Vigil of Easter (7 PM on Saturday 3/26) is a celebration of the new life we have in

Jesus. Come to explore this new opportunity of hearing another dimension of God’s

Word who is risen from the dead.

Interested in serving in some capacity for each of the services, please sign up with

Servant Hands.

Easter Sunday (March 27) announces the good news of Christ’s resurrection as we

celebrate together this great and awesome day. In a tradition of having numerous

flowering baskets adorning the altar on Easter, the Worship and Music team wants to

encourage that we have flowering azaleas as a better, non-allergenic alternative to

lilies. Order forms for azaleas will be available should you desire to make a gift in

memory or celebration.

Come on the journey, together in Christ!

Worship & Music Notes

5

New Hymnals—The ELW in our pews

The congregation has done well in providing 70 of the new hymnals in

the pews. The liturgy pages and hymn numbers are still a bit confusing,

but the promise of familiarity is always present. The American

Composers Forum's daily two-minute radio show reminds us that "all

music was once new." We need to keep that in mind as we engage a

new hymnal, as well as all musical styles and pieces. We are also

encouraged to “sing a new song to the Lord” in the Psalms. As we continue to do this,

let patience, curiosity and appreciation take the lead. We continue to hope for 100

hymnals in the pews. We are near our next order of 10 hymnals. Please consider a gift

to assist in providing more hymnals for our use in worship. Many thanks!

Bell Choir — has changed rehearsal day and time to Mondays at 6:30 PM.

Always on the hunt for people to “chime in,” please consider joining in the fun

and talk with Myrna Robinson!

CALENDAR MEETING — A meeting to plan ahead for the next 6 months to a

year is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 at 12 Noon. Bring a lunch, a calendar and

ideas from each church committee or team and come to this planning time at church.

Elim’s Website — elimlutheranportorchard.com

One the aspects of our newly launched website is the “Pastor’s Blog.” The goal of this

forum is to dialogue with “Q and A” on many topics or to “chime in” on topics raised

by Pastor Chris. This part of the media will require learning on Pastor’s Chris’ part, so

patience will be needed as we learn and engage together. But the hope of a lively

conversation and participation is always driving this page. Let us know what you think

of the new web page. Send us a message at elimmedia5911@gmail.com. Thanks!

Family Kitchen — Tuesday, March 22 at 4:30 PM. Please speak with Nobi for more

information on how you, too, can serve a meal to community folks at First Luther-

an Church. This monthly event is an outpouring of love and service that really helps

people. Please make yourself available now or in the future. Thanks

For You Are A Temple of God: Physical and Spiritual

Self-Defense Against Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Rape

Sunday, March 6, 2016 1:00-5:00pm Cost = free.

at Port Orchard United Methodist Church (725 Kitsap St, , P.O.)

All high school and college-age women are invited to this one-of-a-

kind self-defense class! You'll learn not just physical self-defense to protect your body

from attackers – you'll also learn the spiritual tools you'll need to give you courage and

strength in the face of danger and sexual violence. Registration is required. Contact

Port Orchard UMC Youth Director, Katie Aosved, to sign up: kmaosved@gmail.com /

253-678-3968.

6

Men’s Breakfast — March 5 at 8:30 AM.

A favorite gathering for “dudes” in the congregation is the Men’s Breakfast held in the

Fellowship Hall. Coffee is ready for sipping at 8 AM and food is served at 8:30 AM.

Women’s Luncheon - March 5 at Noon

All women of Elim are invited and encouraged to bring family and friends for potluck

lunch, fun, fellowship and door prizes too. The theme this month is “Now the green

blade rises…Love is come again…” All are invited to work on quilts after. Or bring

projects to knit or crochet.

The Lutheran Church Women of Elim: Thursdays at 11:30 AM

This month’s fun event sponsored by the Women of Elim is the Chili Cook-Off on

Sunday, March 13 at Fellowship hour. Entering dishes need recopies (just an idea of

ingredients can do but full recipe is best to share) the week before. The winning dish

will be featured in April’s Potato Bake event, April 10.

Waterman Circle is continuing with Thursday Bible study and quilting, and LWR kit

assembly at 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Refreshments provided with potluck lunch.

We have ongoing boxes for donations for the Spring LWR kits that will also include

sewing kits.

The Blessing of the Quilts and Kits is celebrated on Sunday, April 24th. We are hoping

for 25+ quilts completed (five are done, one of which is hanging in the Fellowship hall,

and the others are on their way). All are invited to share — family and friends too —

in helping create the quilts, parts of which can be done at home easily. We need

sewers, block cutters and layout planners. We have one quilt in the fellowship hall

ready to be tied by available helpers. Also anyone with a talent in crochet, knitting, or

loom knitting is invited to create baby sweaters, hats, blankets and booties. Jeannine

Lutge, the daughter of one of our members, Zora Davis, donated 12 and counting

crocheted baby quilts and matching hats. Margaret Kvinsland always knits some baby

sweaters. If you are not gifted in such ways, the gifts of yarn and cloth, batting, thread

and kit items are always a blessing to be passed on to those in need. We have patterns

available too.

A donation receptacle for the Easter Food baskets supplies will be set in place in the

Narthex this month along with a list of suggested items. The baskets will be distributed

to people in our community in need of food in conjunction with Helpline.

Any questions about the many and varied women’s ministries at Elim, please ask

Maureen Jarrett (360) 871-2689 or Sue Anna Tucker (360) 981-4777.

Mustard Seed evening Bible Study - March 17th, at 7PM

All women are welcome to meet on the 3rd Thursday of month in the Fireside room

with the continuing “Gather Bible Study: Christianity 101/ the book of Philippians.”

Refreshments provided.

7

MISSION

DISCERNMENT

GATHERING

Tuesday, March 8 @ 6:30 PM

As talked about at the congregational meeting, we are in need of determining our

mission focus and defining our ministry direction and purpose. We begin that process

in this gathering. Should you desire to be a part of this devotional and discussion gath-

ering, please let Pastor Chris know for better preparation, or you can just show up.

Discernment begins with listening. The first step in this process is to gather to listen in

prayer and scripture to what God is saying to us. We will also be looking ahead to

how we will enter into conversations in our community, with our neighbors, friends

and others. You are welcome to come.

EDUCATION AND WORSHIP GATHERINGS

Southwestern Washington Synod

The SWWA Synod will be providing three all-day (10 am—5 pm) Education and

Worship Gatherings across the synod in the Spring of 2016. These gatherings are in lieu

of the annual synod assembly. Workshops, Worship and Lunch will be offered for all

rostered leaders, lay leaders and other interested congregational members. These

gatherings have the purpose of centering our lives in worship and learning with

members of other congregations and sharing our common interests in being disciples of

Jesus.

The three Saturdays and places for these gatherings are:

April 30 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vancouver May 14 at Gloria Dei in Olympia,

and May 21 at Silverdale Lutheran in Silverdale.

Congregational Leadership Workshops: Becoming Social Media Savvy; What Can

Lutheran Worship Look Like? ; Re-Tooling Stewardship and Fundraising ; Strengthening

Council Roles ; Treasurer and Financial Office Training and Resources ; Working with

LGBT Rostered Leaders.

Congregational Mission Workshops: Congregational Vitality and Sustainability Next

Steps ; Broadening Congregational Education Ministry / and Faith Formation ; Who

Really Are Our Neighbors?; Racism, Privilege and Partnership, and Internalized Racial

Oppression ; Building Strong Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

Attendance from Elim will be most likely on the May 21st Silverdale gathering, but the

other two are open for all people in our synod as well. All people from all

congregations are welcome. If you are interested in attending, please speak with Pastor

Chris ASAP. More information will be available soon.

8

Oh, Lord you have

Risen from the Tomb.

You bless everyplace we dwell,

Each room

Your blessings on everywhere we walk,

Every place we stand and all our talk

You are the blessing of the Promised Day

For you have taken our lonely night away.

The Son of Righteousness You are

The Bright and Morning Star

You’ve Risen with Healing in Your Wings

For which my grateful heart now sings.

Oh, Lord, I join with all who sing.

Oh, Lord, You are our everything.

OH, LORD, YOU ARE OUR EVERYTHING!

Happy Easter

Happy Resurrection Day

Happy New Creation Day

He has made all things new

2 Corinthians 5:17 ------Revelation 21

Sarah Linda Stanley

9

Su

n

Mo

n

Tue

Wed

T

hu

Fri

S

at

CW

D—

Co

ffee

wit

h

Dud

es

RE

AD

—R

ead

ing

Gro

up

TX

T—

Tex

t S

tud

y

1

2

CW

D

/ T

XT

6 P

M S

oup

& B

read

6:4

5 P

M W

ors

hip

7:3

0 P

M

Cho

ir

3

11

:30

AM

W

CB

S

11

:30

AM

W

or/

Mus

7 P

M P

rayer

Ser

vic

e

4

5

8:3

0 A

M M

en’s

B

reak

fast

12

No

on W

om

en’s

L

unch

eon

6

Len

t 4

9

AM

C

hri

stia

n E

d

10

AM

Wo

rship

7

6 P

M A

A

6:3

0 P

M B

ell

Cho

ir

8

9

RE

AD

/

TX

T

6 P

M S

oup

& B

read

6:4

5 P

M W

ors

hip

7:3

0 P

M

Cho

ir

10

11

:30

AM

W

CB

S

11

12

9 A

M

Alt

ar G

uil

d

Po

lish

ing P

arty

1 P

M W

este

rn W

A

13

L

ent

5

9

AM

C

hri

stia

n E

d

10

AM

Wo

rship

Da

yli

gh

t S

av

ing

s

14

6 P

M

AA

6 P

M

Ad

min

Mtg

.

6:3

0 P

M C

ounci

l

6:3

0 P

M B

ell

Cho

ir

15

7 P

M P

ort

of

W

ater

man

16

CW

D

/ T

XT

6 P

M S

oup

& B

read

6:4

5 P

M W

ors

hip

7:3

0 P

M

Cho

ir

17

11

:30

AM

W

CB

S

7 P

M “

Must

ard

See

d”

Wo

men

’s S

tud

y

18

19

9 A

M

Outd

oo

r

E

nhan

cem

ent

W

ork

Par

ty

20

P

AL

M/P

AS

SIO

N

SU

ND

AY

9

AM

C

hri

stia

n E

d

10

AM

Wo

rship

21

6 P

M A

A

6:3

0 P

M B

ell

Cho

ir

22

11

AM

A

ssem

bli

ng

E

aste

r B

asket

s

4:3

0 P

M F

amil

y

K

itch

en

23

8

AM

R

EA

D

10

AM

T

XT

24

11

:30

AM

W

CB

S

5:3

0 P

M

Sed

er

7:0

0 P

M M

au

nd

y

T

hu

rsd

ay

25

Off

ice

Clo

sed

12

No

on

&

7

PM

Go

od

Fri

da

y

Wo

rsh

ip

26

7 P

M E

ast

er V

igil

27

E

AS

TE

R

SU

ND

AY

10

AM

Fes

tiva

l

Wo

rsh

ip

28

Off

ice

Clo

sed

6 P

M A

A

6:3

0 P

M B

ell

Cho

ir

29

30

8

AM

C

WD

10

AM

T

XT

31

11

:30

AM

W

CB

S

Mar

ch 2

01

6

10

Elim Lutheran Church, ELCA 5911 East Hillcrest Drive Port Orchard, WA 98366

God’s Peace and Abiding Love to:

“Then they came to Elim...and they camped there by the water.” Exodus 15:27

Elim’s Website —

elimlutheranportorchard.com

Visit us sometime and pass it along