Link March 2011

A story of hope from Obera, Argentina

Matthew 8:19-20   A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." ²⁰And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

On our travels in Argentina, we met a lot of wonderful people and shared many amazing stories. One of the most wonderful things about having companions in another country is that we can learn so much from one another and we can find hope in one another’s stories. We are, after all, the church - together. They are a part of us and we are a part of them. So, in a way, their story is our story.

The congregation of Olaus Petri in Obera has suffered a major schism. The council locked the pastors and 80% of the congregation out of the building, because they felt that the congregation should serve Swedes only - no one else. You need to know that the area of Obera is filled with immigrants from many nations. It is the capital of the immigrants for Argentina and they rejoice in being very multicultural.

The church council managed to get a majority vote by the jurisdiction (not something we have in the ELCA) at a special election, which resulted in the majority of the active members and the pastors of the congregation being kicked out onto the street. They literally worshipped on the street outside of the church building a number of Sundays until the Reformed Church offered them their sanctuary to use.

This, as you can imagine, was devastating for the congregation. Can you imagine being kicked out of your congregation for not wanting to be part of a cultural monopoly? Jesus is color blind after all and the church is to serve all people, no matter what country from which their ancestors came.

But, in death, there is resurrection. What seemed as a sure ending has really been a new beginning. By being in exile, the congregation has come to life. Mission centers have opened up in two locations for Bible study. People are opening their homes and wallets to serve God in ways they never had before. They are singing louder and with more passion. Worship means something to them again. The Spirit is moving and the people are on fire.

There are, of course, still some struggles as they try to figure out what their resurrected life will look like. But in exile, they have found life. They are able to be Jesus in the world, on the move, sharing God’s love wherever and whenever it’s needed. Jesus, after all, had no home. He was always on the move.

So here, in Nebraska, as members of the ELCA, we gather hope from the stories of our brothers and sisters in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Argentina and Uruguay who are living in the midst of conflict and yet finding life.  We pray for their continued growth as we celebrate with them the movement of the Spirit, fully understanding that when the Spirit moves, it’s not always fun or easy to follow.

Pastor Alena

 Mail bag

Dear Edensburg Cong.

Thank you so much for the $500 for my education.  This has helped me at Iowa Western Community college with paying for my books.  At IWCC, my major is General Studies.  I am majoring in General Studies to get all of my general education courses done.

Once I finish these studies, I will attend Iowa State University, where I will magor in Psychology and Governmental Affairs with minors in German and LGBT studies.  Once I finish at ISU I will try to get into Law school.  I want to use my education to become a politician.

Thank you, Michael Covington

Saunders County Food Pantry

Needs for March

Canned fruits and vegetables.

book club

On March 29, we will meet in Wahoo at Zestos at 6pm to discuss the book "My sisters Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. This is the story of a 13 year old who sues her parents for medical emancipation when she is expected to donate a kidney to her sister who is dying from leukemia. Along with our discussion of the book, we will also take a look at the latest ELCA study on genetics.

What’s happening

Community Happenings

Friday, March 4^th World Day of Prayer service First United Methodist Church in Wahoo on Starting at 2PM.

Friday-Sunday, March 11^th -13^th Wild Women Retreat at Carol Joy Holling Speaker Dr. Courtney Wilder and Karen Swift leading breakout sessions the more the merrier and per person cost is lower.

In Our Prayers

Prayers of blessings and celebrations for:

Larry is home and doing well

Allison is home and doing well

Christoffer is down to one crutch & walking a little

Prayers of continued healing for:

Linda Semrad

Frances Pokorny - mother of Marge and Maryann

Gary, Katrina’s father

Prayers of our concerns:

Rioting in Egypt, Libya and north Africa

Prayers of protection and comfort for:

 Josh Sladky and Justin Banghart now in Afghanistan

1^st Lt. Sean Lynch , serving in Afghanistan as platoon leader for the 101^st Airborne, 506^th Infantry Regiment and the 4^th Brigade Combat team, grandson of Darwin and Sharon, nephew of Gene, Cynthia and Lisa.  Sergeant Andrew Phelps, head medic with the 101^st Airborne serving in Afghanistan, friend of Gene & Cynthia.  Jake Fendrick, Katrina’s little brother.  Mitch Ledford, cousin of Katrina in Afghanistan and all the service men and women preserving our freedoms

Special Days in March

Birthdays

7th       Gayle Martinson
8th       Leon Vermeline, Alyssa Havlovic

10th     Teri Johnson

11th     Kim Heiser, AnnaBelle Vermeline

14th     Elizabeth Lindgren

17th     Eula Jane Peterson, Kyle Smidt

18th     Chad Bladt

19th     Braelyn Anderson

22nd    Bill G. Semrad

26th     Jay June

28th     Cole Barry

Anniversaries

3/8/46       Arnold and Arlette Johnson  Happy 65^th anniversary Arnold & Arlette

18th          Edwin and Barbara Malina

3/21/81     Rick and Pam Gustafson Happy 30^th anniversary Rick & Pam

3/24/90     Mike and Deb Barry

3/30/96     Tom and Teri Johnson Happy 15^th anniversary Tom & Teri

March Worship Assistants

Note to Communion servers:     all Communion during Lent will be served at the communion rail

Ushers:   Del & Chad

6^th                just today  10:30 AM service

Greeters:  Wayne & Marian

Acolyte:      Allie

Leader:      Del

Lector:        Alicia

Comm.:      Joel B.

9^th       Ash Wednesday

Greeters:   Muessel family

Acolyte:      Zach

Leader:      Bev

Lector:        Bev

Comm..:     Liz B.

13^th         now to the end of the month   8:30 AM service

Greeters:   Andy H family

Acolyte:      Colton

Leader:      Liz

Lector:        Maryann

Comm.:      Andre

20^th                       

Greeters:   Bev

Acolyte:      Natalie

Leader:      Bev

Lector:        Kim

Comm.:      Pam

27^th                    

Greeters:   Chad & Liz

Acolyte:      Raegan

Leader:      Del

Lector:        Elizabeth P.

Comm.:      Andy H.

April 3^{rd h}                  10:30AM service

Ushers:      Joel & John

Greeters:   Lange family

Acolyte:      Allie

Leader:      Liz B.

Lector:        Rhonda

Comm.:      Brett

 Our Lenten schedule:

Ash Wednesday – March 9^th Edensburg 7:00 PM

Wednesday, March 16^th - Czech Presby. 7:00 PM

Wednesday, March 23^rd - Edensburg 7:00 PM

Wednesday, March 30^th - Prague Presby.  7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 6^th -  Czech Presby.   7:00 PM

Wednesday, April 13^th – Edensburg  7:00 PM

Edensburg Lutheran Church                                                                      March    2011February                 2011

God’s purpose for Edensburg Evangelical Lutheran Church is to meet the needs of God’s people

                    by welcoming, worshipping, educating and serving, using His vision.

Pastor Alena Lamirato

pastoralena@yahoo.com

Edensburg church     -   402-642 5842

Alma church    -  402-624-3015

Residence   -   402-624-5069

Church web page at www.edensburglutheran.com