April 22, 2007 Announcements

Today,       April 22  Pray for Lutheran Outdoors of SD

Newsletter Items are due TODAY!

Monday, April 23   Pray for Robert Sr. & Carna Miller

Tuesday, April 24   Pray for Alisha Nielsen family

Wednesday, April 25  Pray for Larry & Lorna Nielsen family

Thursday, April 26   Pray for Reid & Kari Nolte family  

Friday, April 27   Pray for Ashley Okroi

Friday & Saturday, April 27 & 28 

Saturday, April 28   Pray for Lynn Pearson

Sunday, April 29   Pray for Lutheran Campus Ministry

 Announcements:

Visitors, welcome!  Thank you for worshiping with us!  Please sign our guest book including complete address.  Come again, soon! 

 Pray for our brothers and sisters who are or have been ill including: Vivian Greenfield, Thelma Peterson (mother of Dolly Gasner), Todd Reese (Clear Lake Nursing Home), Clint Bruinsma,  Elsbeth Carlisle (Estelline Care Center), Roxie Kemink, Jerry Junker, Senator Tim Johnson, and Larry & Pat Dockter,  Pray for our military people in Iraq/Afghanistan:  Jeremy Pribbenow, John Wilde and Jim Selchert. Pray for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas in war.  Mission Prayers:  Pray for Compassion International and all agencies that serve children in need. Pray for our Ministry of the Month – – David Sensenig, missionary teacher at Martin Luther High School, Omaruru, Namibia.  Great and Loving God, we ask for your continuing support of the work dome by missionaries in Namibia as the church strives to spread the Good News of your everlasting love and forgiveness.  Open their hearts as they communicate in many languages and help them embrace the blessings offered by Christians around the world so that we might understand and pass on the diverse ways in which your love comes to us.  Prayer for worldwide missions:  Good and gracious God, we thank you for the signs of hope in Brazil today. Continue to enliven the churches in their witness to the hope in Christ that is brought within reach of men, women, and children in their everyday lives.

 Today:  Organist:  Lorene Tvedt  Reader:  Jida Aaberg Acolytes: Garrett Karst and Allison DeKam

 The children’s offering at worship goes to our new missionary, David Sensenig, serving as a teacher at Martin Luther High School in Nambia, Africa.  Everyone is encouraged to contribute.

 The ALC Family Camping Weekend will be August 10-12, 2007.  10 electrical spaces are reserved.  Sign up on the clipboard in the narthex.  For information talk with Gary or Robin Gabur.  Additional spaces can be reserved next to the group spaces by individuals beginning May 10^th.

April Servers:   *Dennis & Vicki Strait family,  Jack & Barbi Schulte family, Scott & Solveig Gasner family, Dean & Vonnie Kalt family,

Carmen Jankord family, Leonard & Jida Bleeker, Sherwin & Shelly DeKam family.  May Servers:Ushers: *Duane & Phyllis Selchert, Lynn  & Kristy Borer family, Dan Davis, Dennis & Anne Kemp family, Lowell Laue, Dale & Cheryl Hogstad, Cathy Tellinghuisen, Janell Bemis, Communion Assistant:  Stef Goldhorn, Communion Ware Care:  Sue Pribbenow and Leola Miller

 Offerings received for Sunday was: $1,792.00 ($80.00 is for Hymnals) - General Fund, $242.00- Building Fund, $58.17 ($18.17 for David).

 Today we receive our Quarterly Special Mission offering.  You may bring it next week, too.  See narthex cabinet for an envelope.

 Registration for the SD Synod Assembly in Sioux Falls on June 1 & 2 becomes $10 more expensive after April 27^th because of 1^st class mail costs (as opposed to bulk).  We are still seeking 2 delegates for ALC?  The congregation pays registration and lodging.  If you would do this, talk with Pastor or Rod Fischer by April 25.  Learn much about the synod and ELCA churchwide and help elect our next bishop.

 Lutheran Outdoors of SD still has openings for a great week of Bible Camp at NeSoDak, Klein Ranch (near Isabel), Outlaw and Atlantic Mountain (near Custer).  To register call Barbi Schulte at 793-9144, then get in on fund raisers to help lots with camp cost.  For more info see blue insert.

 We will need to decide what to do with the LBWs.  If you have an idea, please share it with a council member or Pastor John.

We will begin using the ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship) on May 6^th.  In preparation for that we will be placing memorial and “in honor of” plates in hymnals, so if you wish to have your gift of hymnals be in memory or in honor of someone please indicate so on the clipboard in the narthex ASAP.  Donations are still being received for ELW pew hymnals ($20 each), the Liturgy Accompaniment Edition ($55), the Minister’s Ritual Edition (Altar Edition - $140) and/or the Minister’s Desk Edition ($40).  If you want to give for ELW at this time, would you be able to do so by May 1^st? It would be so helpful.  Of course later gifts will also be welcome.  Thank you for your generosity.

 Married couples, Cornerstone Church is bringing a great event just for you to Watertown on April 27-28 (Friday 7-10 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.).  Get your ticket soon for  “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage” (helping couples get it right, get along, have fun and achieve a successful marriage).  Tickets are $30 now at Cornerstone Church, Seeds of Faith, & HyVee; at the door - #35.

 Could you help your congregation out by being a sound and video recorder at our worship service.?  We would be delighted to train you and put you on a regular schedule.

Confirmation will be on April 29^th.  Service time will be 10 a.m. to assist families coming from a distance.  Sunday School will be at 9 a.m.

 High School Students and Parents, consider attending the Lutheran College Fair in Sioux Falls at the Sheraton on Thursday, May 3, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Learn about schools and financial aid.  More details are on the bulletin board.

Please take notice that Blood Pressure and Foot Care Clinic will be this Monday, April 23 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 Thank you to each one who signed up to visit a St. Dysmas congregation worship service behind the penitentiary walls in Sioux Falls and to each one who signed up to help with a possible Castlewood Food Pantry.  Additional volunteers would help both of these ministries, so you may still sign up on the clipboards in the narthex. You must be 18 yrs. or older to visit St. Dysmas. 

 Sit comfortable!  As you can see the pew pads have arrived and are installed.  Donations can still be received until we have received another $200 for the pews and $286.80 for shipping, totaling $486.80.  Each pew pad costs $153.00.  Any gifts on envelope or memo line should be marked “pew pads.”  Thank you for your support and enjoy a softer sit and the warmth of more color.

 Help yourself to an ALC pictorial directory in the narthex.

 Here at ALC we are emphasizing prayer this year.  Each month in the newsletter calendar and also weekly in the bulletin calendar a family name is printed for every day so that you might be encouraged to pray for that family of our congregation.  Perhaps you might even say to those families, “We are praying for you this week.  I wonder if there is anything in particular that you would like us to pray for.”

 More on prayer – for some really solid material on prayer order the April 15 and 22 messages from Grace Matters by going to www.gracematters.org or writing to Grace Matters, 8765 West Higgens Road, Chicago, IL 60631-4101.  Listen to Grace Matters every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. on WNAX 570 AM radio.

 There will be a local National Day of Prayer observance service sponsored by the Castlewood and Estelline Ministerial Associations held at Hamlin Reformed Church on Thursday, May 3^rd starting at 7:30 p.m.  The theme for this year is “America, Unite in Prayer” and is based on the verse from II Chronicles 7:14 which states “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land”  This is an excellent opportunity for us to come together as a community in prayer as we remember our nation and the needs and concerns of our local area.  Refreshments will be offered after the service.

 Women of ALC are invited to Guest Day at Highland Lutheran Church in Brandt, SD on Wednesday, April 25^th .  A salad luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m.  Texas Swanjord from Bolaton. MN will speak on South Africia.