MARCH 2014

The season of Lent is upon us. With Ash Wednesday, we began our forty days to the cross. The forty days of Lent recall the 40 day fast of Jesus in the wilderness after his baptism (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:1-2) and Moses' 40 day fast on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28). It is a time of simplicity and preparation. A time to focus. Its easy to lose our focus in our everyday lives when we are being pulled in so many different directions school, work, family, and other responsibilities. To-do lists are long and time is short. How do we simplify, prepare, and focus our lives in the midst of chaos? One of the ways to simplify, prepare and focus is to adopt a Lenten discipline. This discipline is not meant to be some kind of punishment. The point of it is to do something that will catch your attention every day, and every time your attention is caught, you focus your mind on God, remembering what God has done for you. There are two basic kinds of disciplines. One is adding something to your life, and the other is giving something up. Adding something. Your life is already busy and full, so adding one more thing might seem impossible. But you should choose something that you need in your lifesomething that the other things in your life need to make room for. For example, you might be unhappy with your prayer life. Perhaps you pray irregularly, or not all. A good Lenten discipline might be to say the Lords Prayer every morning when you get up and every night before you go to bed. It is a small thing, but it catches your attentionyoull start noticing that every day before you belongs to God, and every day behind you was guided by God. Giving something up. When you take something out of your life, its to remind you that you depend on God and nothing else. You can survive without all kinds of things youre used to havingbut you cant survive without God. A certain type of food, a bad habit what is something that is getting between you and God? That might be a prime candidate for something to give up for the season of Lent. What if you mess up? Its not the end of the world. A Lenten discipline isnt a pact between you and God so that youre in big trouble if you make a mistake. It should be entered into freely and lovingly, with the intention of honoring God. Every day is a fresh start. Give it a try! May this season of Lent be a time of focus and place our thoughts on God and the grace He gives us each day. May we all become more aware of the love God has for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Pastor Lindsay

Red Oak Grove Church Council Meeting January 13, 2014 The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Gary Ulland. Pastor Lindsay led devotions that focused on goals based on the mission statement. In attendance: Gary Ulland, Karen Johnson, Ardell Swenson, Scott Basness, Dean Peterson, Shad Rudlong, Dean Christianson, Bob Kittelson, Angie Wagaman, Beatriz Cardenas, Marilyn Ulland and Laura Tjomsland. Pastors Report: Pastor will be attending continuing education, Marilyn Ulland has agreed tohelp with the service on January 26th. Pastor will be on vacation from February 13th 25th. Red Oak Grove will be hosting the Zumbro River Pastors Conference. Planning for Lent includes: Soup Suppers, Mid-day service on Ash Wednesday, Bible Study using the Passion stories, Growing in Faith, Groovie Grovers write our own devotional, working on Annual Report, sixteen visits including 7 communions and 4 hospital visits. Secretarys Report was accepted as read. Treasurers Report was accepted as presented. Deacons Report: Marilyn reported that they are still in need of Sunday School teachers and the focus in on the Lords Prayer. WELCA Report: Karen reported on the successful events this past year including the Strawberry Festival and a detailed report on the number of quilts that had been completed. Trustees Report: Still looking for the phone that came with the elevator and requested that anyone with information about it should talk to one of the Trustees. Old Business: Set up the schedule for Lenten Soup Suppers, March 12th Dorcas Circle, March 19th Council, March 26th open, April 2nd Confirmation youth and Sunday School, April 9th open. New Business: We will have Coin Folders. Service focus for 2014 discussion followed how, who, what and where should we provide service? Amanda Herdina helping with her mission, Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, there may be many other places that we can reach out by going to serve. The meeting was adjourned and we closed with the Lords Prayer. Respectfully submitted Laura Tjomsland, Council Secretary

Red Oak Grove Church Council Meeting February 10th, 2014 The meeting was called to order by Gary Ulland. Devotions were led by Pastor Lindsay based on Matthew 5 Salt and Light. Those in attendance were Gary Ulland, Marilyn Ulland, Dean Peterson, Bill Maxwell, Karen Johnson, Shad Rudlong, Scott Basness, Bob Kittelson, Dennis Magnuson, Dean Christianson, Pastor Lindsay and Laura Tjomsland. Breakout by committees, Deacons, Trustees, Executive team. Pastors Report: Pastors Conference was held here in January. Continuing Education was on Revelations, 1 funeral, 1 Prairie Manor service, 3 hospital visits, 7 other visits, Congregation reports art project, Lenten Bible Study on Sunday based on the Passion narratives, Lenten Devotional compiled, First Communion classes going. March 9th Council as Leaders, Sharing Food, Discovering Grace, 2-5 p.m. Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, Pastor was on vacation. Secretarys Report accepted as read. Treasurers Report accepted as presented. WELCA Report by Karen Johnson: June 10th will be the Strawberry Festival. Will paint and decorate restrooms. Deacons Report by Marilyn Ulland: Sunday School lacking in numbers. Will send a letter to parents about Sunday School. Dean is working to get readers for Sunday. Trustees Report by Scott Basness: Some water leaks in the mens restroom, walls and ceiling to be repaired in womens restroom, also repaired the cooler in kitchen. Old Business: Elevator phone has been located. Benefit for Amy Christianson Kamp after Easter, Lenten supper schedule was set up. New Business: Discussion of video camera. Dennis Magnuson will head the research. Amanda Herdina funds were approved to run through the church. Fuel has been half contracted with Freeborn Coop for Fall. Larry Helgeson will build a desk for the Pastors office. Dennis Magnuson will pay for material. Meeting was adjourned and closed with the Lords Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Laura Tjomsland, Council Secretary

WELCA Report The December 4, 2013, WELCA meeting was cancelled due to stormy weather and rescheduled for December 8, 2013. December 8th meeting had very low attendance due to cold weather no WELCA meeting again, rescheduled for January 5, 2014, during coffee hour. Church was cancelled on January 5th because of sub zero weather. WELCA was rescheduled for January 12, 2014. 24 present today. The meeting was called to order by out going President Dorothy Peterson. She opened the meeting in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Dorothy lead the reading of the purpose and also installed the 2014 officers: CoPresidents Karen Johnson and Madelon Collette; Vice President, Pat Hanson; Secretary, Linda Christianson; Treasurer, Lavonne Smith; Mission Growth, Viola Christianson and Mission Action, Judy Wambeam and Pat Hanson. Dorothy thanked all the 2013 officers for their service the past year. She then handed the meeting over to new President, Karen Johnson. Karen also thanked the past officers and Dorothy then thanked Doris Draayer for all her support in 2013 as Co-President. Lavonne gave the treasurers report from November and a report for the June Strawberry Festival. The festival brought in $5,372.25 minus expenses totaled $3,039.75. Annual report, checking $12,135.27 less expenses $11,508.51 equals $626.76 in checking. Saving account has $4,200.70. Secretarys report read by Linda Christianson. Thank you notes all written by Eunice Doocy. Correspondence: Red Oak Grove Church Council, Angela McGinley for servicemans quilt, Pastor Lindsay birthday and Christmas, Campus Center, Human Services, Austin, quilts-Rachaels Hope, 50 plus quilts, Peace and Power ($150) Albert Lea, Marie Sandvik $50, ELCA Chicago $25, Good Earth Village $50, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota $100. There was no unfinished business. New business: WELCA will serve Zumbro River Conference Pastors on January 21 st. Coffee at 9 a.m. and noon meeting. WELCA officers will make arrangements and serve the meal. Reports: Visitation, Linda, Doris and Arlene gave their reports. Quilting: Judy Wambeam gave a very detailed report of activity for 2013. Last Monday was November 18th. Total for fall was 40 finished, 8 for Doris Draayer, 28 youth, 3 graduation, 1 refurbished for Cindy Hingeveld. A run down for the entire year 2013 is as follows: January: Mitten Tree 47 items to Blooming Prairie and Austin Schools; 4 quilts given to Austin Family fire. February: Boys and Girls Club,1 large and 1 small. March: 112 finished. Fall of 2012 Spring 2013. April: 2 quilts helped Sunday School finish for Rachels Hope. Gave 2 adult and 8 child to Rachels Hope. May: 8 quilts and health kits and 6 baby to Welcome Center. 15 baby quilt s to Austin Hospital. June: 1 for raffle for Strawberry Festival; 3 large, 1 small to sell; 10 boys and 3 girl to Hayward Youth. August: 1 Good Earth Village Auction. September: 1 Cancer Auction in Blooming Prairie, 2 large, 2 small Red Oak Grove auction, 50 LWR, 1 sewing kit, 31 health, 5 school. November: 1 large 2 small Austin Relay for Life, 1 Nick Smith Benefit, 2 Social Services, Rachels Hope 10 large, 10 small, 1 overseas to soldier. We have black/white Log Cabin pattern all ready to quilt for 2014 Strawberry Festival. Made by Dorothy Kittelson. Prairie Star is available. Next meeting will be February 2 nd at 10:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Room. Linda L. Christianson, Secretary

WELCA Minutes for February 2, 2014 The Red Oak Grove WELCA met at 10:15 a.m. in the Fellowship room. The meeting was called to order by President Karen Johnson. There were 15 present. The purpose was read by the group and we sang the Birthday Song for 3 ladies. No devotions were given. In absence of Lavonne Smith a report was given by Pat Hanson regarding proceeds from the Zumbro Pastors meeting we served in January. $140 was taken in with $75 for groceries leaving a net of $65. Committee Reports: Prairie Manor: No meeting because of weather. Ardell said theyll try again. Quilting: Pat had quilt blocks for anyone to take to sew 2 sizes. Also showed 2 quilts to donate to Boys and Girls club. Childs quilt in greens - 41 x 54 and adults in salmon and teal - 60 x 80. Auction is February 8th. Visitation: Linda had sent many cards. No unfinished business New Business: Guest Day will be May 7th at 1:30 p.m. Voted to have the annual Strawberry Festival on June 10th. Womens bathroom and basement bathroom needs some updating. Council is discussing and may need help with money for repairs. Cooler in basement on south wall is not working and is being worked on. We will need before the Strawberry Festival. Lenten Suppers still need to have servers: March 5th-Ash Wednesday-no supper; March 12th-Dorcas Circle serves; March 19th-Council will serve; March 26th-Youth will be serving; April 2nd and 9th need servers. Offering was taken. There was some discussion regarding the flower offering. This offering should be kept separate from our regular offering. The Board will discuss this at their next meeting. Respectfully submitted, Linda L. Christianson

Thank you Red Oak Grove for being a piece of our puzzle all to benefit the children in our community served by the Blooming Prairie Boys and Girls Club. Thank you for hosting this project and for your individual and group donations. First Lutheran Church, Local Missions Committee, Cheri Krejci and Heidi Heimgartner, Marcy McCamy, Bernice Stender, Orlo and Kay Toquam. Thank you to the Hannah Circle and the wonderful ladies who graciously volunteered to help them serve the lunch for Doris Harbers funeral. The Harber Family

Pastoral Acts: Funerals Cecelia Helgeson February 8th Doris Harber February 15th

Lenten Bible Study will start March 9th and go through March 30th. We will be studying the passion narratives found in the 4 Gospels. Bring your Bibles, grab a cup of coffee and meet in the Fellowship Room after the worship services on those dates. No extra materials are needed and you do not have to sign up. Everyone is welcome! The Lenten Devotionals, Lenten Coin Folders and the 2013 Annual Report can be found in the narthex

Quilting will start on March 24th at 8:30 a.m. Potluck will follow at noon. Thrivent is sponsoring an Advocate Training to be held at the Austin Pizza Ranch on March 13th at 11:30 a.m. or 6 p.m. Red Oak Grove is allowed 8 advocates. They receive $50 each in Thrivent Volunteer Choice Dollars for a total of $400 that can be directed to Red Oak Grove. Interested? Call and reserve your spot at 437-6262. Confirmation youth: Check your mailboxes for information about a Saturday of Confirmation fun on March 22nd. Well be spending the afternoon together bowling, playing laser tag, and mini golfing. Talk to Pastor Lindsay if you have questions!

The Annual Meeting of the Red Oak Grove Cemetery will be held on Saturday, April 5th at 1:00 p.m. at the church. All are welcome to attend.

The local churches of Blooming Prairie challenge you to join together for Minnesota Foodshare Month. Can we as a community collect 500 bags of items for our local food shelves? One bag equals ten items or $5. Please bring your donations to church to be counted during the month of March. Needed items include non-perishable food items and personal care items like peanut butter, tuna, cereal, canned fruit and vegetables, cooking oil, flour, pasta, juice, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. Monetary donations are especially appreciated so the food shelves can purchase what they need most at lower costs than we can at our local grocery stores!