Serving God and Others through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church

MAY2018

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

ATraditionIsBorn...andContinues

Holiday Weekend Event Planned

It was so much fun last year that the Congregation

Councilsofourtwocongregationsareplanningarepeatof

theexperienceonSundayofMemorialDayweekend.

OnthatSundayin2017St.Andrew’sinvitedHolyTrinityto

worship with them. The service was followed by a

(potluck)picnic lunch. Peoplewhoparticipated felt “This

oughttobecomeatradition.”

Sunday,May27at10:30a.m.St.Andrew’sisagaininviting

Holy Trinity to join them for worship, followed by a

(potluck)picniclunch.Grilledhamburgers,hotdogs,buns,

lemonade and paper products (plates, cups, etc.) will be

provided.

Personswhostayforlunchareinvitedtobringsidedishes,

dessert, etc. If you don’twant to cook—comeanyway!

Therewillbeplentyoffood,andadonationbasketwillbe

out for those whowould like to pay a few bucks rather

thancook.NOSERVICEisplannedatHolyTrinitythatday.

ThisyearPastorAhntholzwillleadtheMemorialWeekend

worship.Theservicewillincludepatrioticelements.

CombiningtheBibleandSports

WORKUNDERWAYFOR

ANNUALBIBLESCHOOL

Workbegan this week for St. Andrew’s annual vacation

Bible school.Children,ages3 (potty trained)-10 yearsold

arewelcometoattendtheJuly16-20eventatSt.Andrew’s

LutheranChurch,from5:30-8eachevening.

EvenJesusneededateamtoshowuswhatteamspiritis.

The best part of being on a team is sharing experiences

together.MEGASportsCamp®TEAMSpiritshowskidshowtobegreatteammates.

Through both sports stories and Bible stories about Jesus

andHisteamofdisciples,kidswilldiscoverwhatitmeansto

put team first. Fun music, MEGA mascot, sports training,

and relationship-building small groups should help

introducekidstoaGodwholovesthem.

Registration is required to attend. Please contactMelanie

Sharp, VBS Coordinator, by phone or email with any

questions,orifaregistrationformisneeded,641-417-9688.

Melanie also needs volunteers to help with the school.

PotentialvolunteersshouldalsocontactMelanie.

WeareChrist'schurch.Thereisaplaceforyouhere.We are the church that shares a living, daring

confidenceinGod'sgrace.Liberatedbyourfaith,we

embrace you as a whole person--questions, com-

plexitiesandall.

JoinusaswedoGod'sworkinChrist'snameforthe

lifeoftheworld.

SYNODASSEMBLYTOCONSIDER

NEWGOVERNANCEPROPOSAL

Major itemontheagendatobediscussedanddecidedat

theMayassemblywill bea proposalby theSoutheastern

Iowa Synod that they feel would create a nomination

process that would better balance membership on the

SynodCouncil.

They feel the move to four-year terms on the Synod

Councilthatarenotrenewablewouldleadtomorepeople

serving inpositionsof leadership.Theyarealsoproposing

the combination of a chaplain in each conference chosen

byconferencepastorsanddeacons,andsynoddeanswho

are chosen by the Synod Council. Both positions would

becomeanextensionofthesynodstaff.

Currently the synod is divided into 11 conferences, with

theproposalfortheSynodCounciltoidentifypeopleinthe

six geographical subdivisions to be nominated for synod

leadership positions (Synod Council). Most of the area

subdivisions consist of the combined territory of two

conferences.

Acongregation’scost tosendtwovotingdelegate is$190

each for the 1½-day event, not including the cost of the

$107overnightaccommodationsattheCoralvilleMarriott

HotelandConferenceCenterinCoralville.

The Assembly will take place May 18 and 19 at the

CoralvilleMarriottHotel&ConferenceCenter,Coralville.

Thank You THANK YOU to the following for providing food, servingand/or helping clean up following the Lenten suppers:

Vicky and Bill Bennett, Linda and Bill Bennett; Marilyn

Butler, Lois Ahntholz, Bill Hunter, Ange Sevenbergen,

Marlene Sharp, Kathy Sevenbergen, Carol Wolfgram,

RhondaWolf,StaciArnold,andDianneClemon.

THANK YOU to Mark Collum for installing the security

lighting, and to Todd Sharp and Doug Bell for refinishing

thechancelflooratSt.Andrew’s.

THANKYOUtoeveryonewhobroughtfoodand/orhelpedwith theEaster Breakfast. Itwasverymuch appreciated.

The offering of $342 will be used for St. Andrew’s 2018

VacationBibleSchool.DougBell THANKS . . . to the congregation (HTLC) for all theirprayers.JimandIarehappytobewithyouall.

VerySincerely,PeggyHiemstra

AllAreWelcome...

InvitationCanReflect

theHospitalityofJesus

More than just “good manners”, hospitality is a

spiritualmatter.Inwelcomingandinbeingwelcomed,

we experience the love of God who breaks down

humanbarriersanddrawsusintocommunitywithone

another.

It’seasytoextendwelcometopeoplewhoaresimilar

to us, but how canwe offer awelcome to all? This

monththeBiblestudyfromGathermagazineexplores

through several Bible passages howwe canopen our

groups and congregations to diverse newcomers.

Studyparticipantsare invitedtoreflectondimensions

ofhospitalitywithinourlivesandcongregations.

MarilynButlerwill host theMay10Bible study at 10

a.m. at her house: 1511 South 13th Avenue, East,

Newton. Extra copies of the study will be available.

Join the learning and the fellowshipwithmembers of

bothSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinity.

WORSHIPATTENDANCEFORAPRIL

HTLCST.ANDREW’S

APR. 14855(Easter)

881(CombinedwithHTLC)

15Servicescancelled--Weather

223343

“Corporate Worship . . . brings us understanding,

strengthens our faith, gives us hope, fills us with

encouragement, and gives us the first-hand experience of

being loved by God - and that gives us the ability to love

others more fully. There is nothing we can do on Sunday

thatismoreimportantthanbeinginGod'sHouseandbeing

fedbyHisgrace-filledpresence in theBlessedSacrament.”

(episcopalnet.org)

The collection of books in the narthex at Holy Trinity

continues to grow for the school children of Houston,

Texas.TheHustonSchoolDistrictestimates74percentof

the students in the District come from families that

struggletoprovidebooksfortheirchildren.

In June thebookswill be taken to the 2018 ELCA Youth

Gathering,whichwill takeplace inHouston late in June.

BlakeSevenbergenfromHolyTrinityplanstoattend.

Donatedbooks (newor slightlyused) shouldbeselected

fromthe listbelow.MattinglyMusicBookstore,Newton,

willmake available to shoppers books from this list at a

discountprice.Moneydonationsarealsowelcome.

BadKitty(Series)byNickBruelElephantandPiggie(Series)byoWillems

FrogandToad(Series)byArnoldLobelIt’sShowTimebyMoWillemsandBrianCollier

LittleBear(Series)byElaHolmelundMinarik

MercyWatson(Series)byKateDiCamillo

Amulet(Series)byJazuKibuisjiElDeafobyCeceBellGhostbyRainaTelgameier

MightyJackbyBenHatkeRollerGirlbyVictoriaJamieson

SecretCoders(Series)byGeneLuenYangBrownGirlDreamingbyJacquelineWoodson

DiaryofaWimpyKid(Series)byJeffKinneyDogMan(Series)byDevPilkeyDragonMasters(Series)byTraceyWest

EerieElementary(Series)byJackChabertFishinaTreebyLyndaMullalyHunt

FrankEinstein(Series)byJonScieszka

GhostbyJasonReynoldsISurvived(Series)byLaurenTarshisLauraLinebyCrystalAllenMatildabyRoaldDahlNerds,Book1:NationalEspionageRecue,andDefenseSocietybyMichaelBuckley

OneandOnlyIvanbyKatherineApplegateOneCrazySupperbyRitaWilliamsGarcia

OrigamiYoda(Series)byTomAngleberger

SomeKindofCouragebyDanGemeinhart

TheCrossOverbyKwameAlexander

TheLionsofLittleRockbyKristinLevineTheYearofBillyMillerbyKevinHenkesWonderbyRaquelPalacioCreepyPairofUnderwearbyAaronReynoldsDragonsLoveTacosbyAdamRubim

LastStoponMarketStreetbyMattdelaPena

MargoAbuelaandMebyMegMedina

MarthaandtheBeautifulCockroach:ACubanFolktalebyCarmenAgraDeedy

PetetheCat(Series)byJamesDean

TheDaytheCrayonsQuitbyDrewDaywaltWhyAmIMebyPaigeBritt

Collection of Book Continues to Grow In addition to the book donations, money is being

collectedtohelpfundBlake’s trip to the Youth

Gathering. HTLC members are challenged to add their

pocket(orpurse)changetothejarthatissetoutateach

worshipservice. Sofar$250hasbeenraised,withagoal

of$500forBlake’stravel,food,offeringsandincidentals.

WATCHFORIT!

ToddSharpplanstostartayouth

groupthisfallatSt.Andrew’s

NAMEPLATE INSTALLATION OFFICIALLY COMPLETES WINDOW PROJECT Individual nameplates were attached to many of the

windowsills at St. Andrew’s recently. The effort was to

complete the window restoration project that was

approved in 2016. The work was done last fall by the

WilletHauserCo.

Total cost for theplaqueswasabout$500, Ibelieve.The

donorwallplaquewasdonatedbyBarryDeJong.

Followingarethepersonsmemorializedwithplaques:

• InMemoryofRobertandVirginiaBell

• InMemoryofElmerandCatherineSoberg

• InMemoryofRobertandGertrudeSchnell

• InMemoryofBobKleinendorst

• InGratitudetoGodbyBobandEloiseSward

Two window plaques were updated, and the original

woodenplaquesfrom1944weregiventosurvivingfamily

members. Those plaques are for George and Ruby Van

GorkomandMr.andMrs.BertDeJong.

Thanks to Norene andMike Paulson for their work with

the window project, including getting and installing the

nameplates.

WhatIsYourLevelofGiving?

HTLC MARCH OFFERINGS DOWN

The March weather wasn’t the only thing that could

have used some improvement. In looking at the

treasurer’s report for Holy Trinity, offering receipts

werealsodownsignificantlyforMarch.

Total receipts for March were $4,733.57, while

expenses totaled $7,258.98. Expenses during the

winter months are typically higher because of heating

and snow removal costs. Bill Bennett, treasurer,

reports receipts need to average about $6,000 per

month to meet the congregation’s financial

commitments. Offerings during March were $1,200-

$1,300belowthataverage.

Undoubtedly, many members are already contributing

significantofferings tohelp in themissionandministry

atHolyTrinity.Thisisthefirsttimeinrecentyearsthat

offeringshavebeensignificantlybelowwhat isneeded.

Hopefully, everyone will review their giving and

prayerfully considerwhether that figure is up to one’s

potential.

Acopyofthetreasurer’sreportispostedonthehallway

bulletinboardeachmonth.

MAYBIRTHDAYSANDWEDDINGANNIVERSARIES

HappyBirthdayto:

MAY1MaverickHuyser(S)

4MarilynBerthelsen(S)

5NorenePaulson(S)

9MadelynFenner(S)

11DarrellBoettcher(H)

13JoeFenner(S)

15MarkBell(S),ColleenCastorf(S)

17DorothyKleinendorst(S),SamuelPhilby(S)

19GaryClemon(H)

24BobFisher(H)

25TimOnnen(H)

WeddingAnniversaries:

MAY4BillandVickyBennett(H)

5WesandSueRanard(H)

20KeithandKathySevenbergen(H)

31PaulandRuthElzey(S)

HolyTrinity(H),St.Andrew’s(S)

May Special Mission Offering Designations

Recipients of the special mission money for May for the

two churcheswill be for twodifferent causes, one for an

at-homemissionandtheotherforaworldmissioncause.

VacationBibleSchool

St.Andrew’s specialmissionoffering forMaywillbe their

JulyVacationBible School. The school attracts, not only

children from St. Andrew’s, but many children from the

community. There is no registration fee for the children.

The cost is covered by donations from members and

friendsofSt.Andrew’s.

DonationsfortheEasterbreakfastweredesignatedforSt.

Andrew’s vacation Bible school. A total of $342 was

received,agoodstartforhelpingfundtheevent.

Donations may be made using your regular offering

envelopeorbyusingaspecialenvelopeandwriting“VBS”

ontheoutside.Cashdonationsarealsowelcome.

Missionary

Holy Trinity’s $300monthly budgetedmissionmoneywill

be sent to a missionary for her work with people in the

areainwhichsheworks.

Shesaysofherwork,“Whatajoy it istoknowthatmany

are coming to Jesus because of the faithful ministry (of

Christianleaderswithwhomsheworks)andtheprayersof

peoplearoundtheworldforthelost!”

For several years this young ladyhas beendoingmission

workabroad. For severalyearsalsoHolyTrinityhasbeen

helping support her work financially with the special

monthlymissionfunds.

Additional donations are welcome and may be made

through your regular offering envelopes or in the special

envelopes in the pews at church. Be sure to designate

“Missionary”ontheoutsideoftheenvelope.

Jesussaid, ‘Letthe littlechildrencometome,anddonotstop them; for it is to suchas these that thekingdomofheavenbelongs.”(Matthew19:14)

REMEMBERYOURCHURCHINYOURWILL

Shareyoublessingswithgenerationstocome!

FoodfortheEasterbreakfastatHolyTrinitywas

broughtbyasmallgroupofpeoplewhosharedin

thebreakfast.

DevonWolfreplacingthepurpledrapeonthecrosswiththe

whiteone.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the

celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection special at both

churches. Thanks for bringing and/or serving food,

themusic, theEaster flowers,serving,workingwith

thekids to tell theResurrectionstoryand forbeing

thereforthecelebration.

Easterwillcontinuetobecelebratedatworshipeach

SundaythroughMay13.TheFestivalofPentecostis

May20,andHolyTrinityisMay27.

EasterSunday,April1,wascelebratedbybothcongregations

with food, fellowship, Easter music, worship and Holy

Communion.

The 9 a.m. worship at St. Andrew’s followed a breakfast of

waffles,pastries,fruitandeggcasseroles.DougBellprovided

the primary leadership with others sharing in the food

preparation, serving and cleanup. The donation basket

revealed$342forSt.Andrew’s2018VBS.

PatJohnsonandDougBellservebreakfastatSt.Andrew’s.

SistersPeytonandKahliaSharpenjoybreakfast.

EasterStoryissharedbythechildren

CELEBRATINGEASTERWITHFOOD,FELLOWSHIP,WORSHIP

StudyofOldTestamentProphets

ContinuesSundayMorningsatHTLC

The Sunday 9 a.m. Adult Bible Study group continues to

journey through the Old Testament, focusing during the

comingmonthonseveraloftheprophets.

Ezekielwas called toproclaimthemessageof restoration

tothepeopleofGodwhowereinBabylonialanguishingin

defeat and apathy. God allowed them to be taken into

exile because theychosenot to listen toGodand instead

worshipothergods.

Thenextprophetwhoalsowas sent tobringhope to the

exiles was Daniel. When we hear the name, Daniel, we

usuallythinkofthestoryof“DanielintheLions’Den”,but

more can be learned from the study of Daniel. Daniel’s

message was telling the people that God was still full of

mercyandpower;theirfuturewasinthehandsofGodand

nottheBabylonians.

It’snevertoolateto jointhediscussionSundaysat9a.m.

atHolyTrinity.Biblesandstudymaterialsarefurnished.

HOLYTRINITY’S

byBillBennett,Jr.,Treasurer

In April members of Holy Trinity gave $368 in

benevolencetoELCAMissionSupport,representing10

percent of the non-designated funds given to the

churchinMarch.

Our mission emphasis for April id the Lutheran

ChaplaincyOutreachattheUniversityofIowaHospitals

andClinics.Wehavereceived$380indonationssofar

thismonth(thereisoneSundayleftinAprilatthetime

thiswaswritten),andourbudgetedfundsof$300will

beaddedtothat.

CHURCHPICTORIALDIRECTORY

Peoplehavebeeninquiringwhenthenewdirectorymight

be ready. The first draft of the pictorial directory was

received. Changes havebeenmade, and thepageswere

returnedtoBruceandPaulaDodgen.

In the process of seeing the draft, we discovered several

people/families did not have a picture in the new

directory.Thesepeoplehavebeencontacted,andweare

stillwaitingtoreceiveseveralpictures.

If you want a non-pictorial directory that includes

information on members and friends of each of our

churches, copies are still available at your respective

church.Thedirectorieshavecontactinformation,birthdays

andweddinganniversarydates.

NEWTONCHILDREN’SCHORUS

SHARESMUSICATHOLYTRINITY

Children from the NewtonChildren’s Chorus provided

special music at Holy Trinity’s worship April 8. Jana

Sevenbergen,amemberofHolyTrinity,singswith the

group, which is under the direction of Jane Johnson.

Many members of St. Andrew’s were worshiping at

Holy Trinity that day due to the strong fumes of the

floorrefinishingprojectatSt.Andrew’s.

Selections included:“Christ IsRisenFromtheDead”,a

TraditionalFrenchCanon;“ThankYouFortheWorldSo

Sweet”, music by Betty Bertaux: “Yonder Come Day”,

(GeorgiaSeaIslandsFolkSong),arr.JudithCookTucker.

Lunchwasservedtoboththechildrenandworshipers.

Thanks toVickyBennett,MarilynButler, LoisAhntholz

andSueandWesRanardforprovidingthefood.

REMEMBERINPRAYERPersonsStrugglingWithIllness:JoyceSabel,DorothyLickey,BobFisher, Peggy Hiemstra, Midge Wilson, Ellen Onnen, Deb Line,

Billie Farland, Ashton Line (Keith Line’s grandson), Robert

Hechinger (Wes Ranard’s supervisor), Florence Hunt (Sue

Ranard’s mother), Palmer Boettcher (Darrell and Linda

Boettcher’s grandson),Myrtle Jentz (LoisAhntholz’ssister), Joan

Kinrade (Peg Troyke’s friend), Alice Murray (Judy Humes’

daughter), Richard VanderKeif (Midge Wilson’s brother), Steve

Matsen, Lee Fields (Denny and Pat Farland’s son-in-law), and

JamieAnderson(KathySevenbergen’sniece).

SYMPATHYisextendedto--PastorJerryEgelonthedeathofhiswife,Gaye,April22in

Colorado.FuneralMonday,10a.m.,CrossofChristLutheran

Church,Broomfield,CO(PastorEgel,3330BoulderCircle,#101,Broomfield,CO80023)--JoanandDavidMasononthedeathofJoan’sbrother,Roger

HasselbrinkwhodiedApril16inArizona.Hisfuneralwillbe

Friday,April27,inCedarRapids.

--MarilynBerthelsenonthedeathofherhusband,John

BerthelsenFeb.22.MemorialservicewillbeFri.,April27at

WallaceFamilyFuneralHome,Newton.

CollegeStudents:--DaltonWolf,BuenaVistaUniversity,

--DevonWolf,(DMACC),Newtoncampus

MilitaryFamilies:--MaryGorball’sgrandson,MichaelGorball,U.S.Marinesin

Kearney,NE(wife:Kerry;tripletsons:Luke,JacobandIsaac)

--PastorKenandLois’granddaughter,NatashaMartinez,

stationedwiththeU.S.ArmyatFt.Meade,MD

PRAYERCHAINREQUESTSmaybegivenorcalledto:AliceLadd,

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.StudiesfromGathermagazineYOUTHDISCIPLESHIPEDUCATIONSunday9a.m.DuringWorship(St.Andrew’s)Wednesday5:45-7p.m.(HTLC)

HolyTrinityLutheranChurch(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)1409SouthEighthAvenue,East

Newton,IA50208

INDOOR ESTATE SALE BittersweetAcres

1042HoodSt.,Newton

• 3,000books--$1each

• CraftandQuiltingBooks

• LotsofQuiltingFabric

• Women'sClothing--AllKinds(Largersizes)--$1each

• SilkFlowersforMemorialDay

• Baskets,Miscellaneous

Thursday,April26,Noonto6p.m.

Friday,April27,9a.m.to6p.m.

Saturday,April28,9a.m.to1p.m.

Congratulations to: IanBennett, graduating fromGrandViewUniversity,

Des Moines, Sat., April 28, with a B.A. degree in

Business Administration, Finance concentration, and

minorsinGlobalStudiesandHonors.

Charlie Bennett, also graduating from Grand View

University with a B.A. in Graphic Journalism and

minors in InteractiveMedia,User ExperienceDesign

andHonors.

IanandCharliearesonsofBillandVickyBennettand

grandsonsofBillandLindaBennett.