Volume 35 Number 2

The Monthly Newsletter of Pilgrim

Lutheran Church 3901 First Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409 (612) 825-5375

From the Desk of Pastor Pete

We can’t do it ourselves It’s an ancient tradition within the Christian church: a dab of ashes on the forehead, forty days before

Easter. Ash Wednesday falls on February 13 this year and we’ll observe the tradition once again.

The ashes, a symbol of sorrow, represent repentance. According to Luther’s catechism, repentance

means: A “change of mind” about one’s sin. The Bible uses the word “repentance” in two senses: 1)

sorrow over sin and desire to sop sinning; 2) sorrow over sin and faith in the forgiveness of sins.

Keep that last phrase in mind: the forgiveness of sins. We change our minds about sin because we

realize the hopeless direction of sin but we also know that God forgives. Sin drains us of hope but

genuine repentance is an exercise in hope.

We turn because we know that we can’t work forgiveness by ourselves. The God we turn to is a Savior

God. Join us on Ash Wednesday as we begin the journey with Jesus once again to see how far he went

to save us—all the way to the cross . . . and beyond that to the empty tomb.

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We still use the words as a blessing in worship services today. And look at what the Lord says about

this blessing: “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:27)

February 2013

Table of Contents

Sermons/Bible Studies……………………..Page 3 School News…………………….Page 9

Stewardship Verse…………………..………Page 4 Family Fun Time………………..Page 10

Birthday/anniversaries………………………Page 6 Children Fun Time……………...Page 11

Announcements/Thank you…………………Page 7-8 Calendar

He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene;

So his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.

He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head;

He put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

--Isaiah 59:16-17 Missions Emphasis: February 10

Our nation is changing, and we’ve all noticed. The United States has long been a haven for

immigrants from all over the world, and we’re in the midst of another great wave of immigration.

Many of the immigrants who arrive on our shores today come from countries where Christianity is not

common and where the name of Jesus is seldom or never heard. Some social commentators point out

that these newcomers are changing the face of our society. No doubt the observation is correct, but as

the Christian church we need to recognize that God is calling us to reach out with the gospel in new

ways to new groups of people.

On February 10 in the morning worship services our emphasis will be on mission work, especially the

mission work that God has given us to do right in our own community. Our speaker will be Pastor

Keith Free, Administrator for Home Missions. He’ll be speaking on Matthew 9:35-38. “A mission

heart has Christ like compassion.”

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

February

3: Sharing the Faith 2 Missions/Evangelism

10: Sharing the Faith 3 Mission Speaker

13: Ash Wednesday

17: Sharing the Faith 4

24: Sharing the Faith 5

March

3 Sermon Series and Bible study: Walking together

10 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together

17 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together

24: Palm Sunday

31: Easter

April

7: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 1 In the beginning

14: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 2 Until parted by death

21: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 3 Shameless

28: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 4 Love and Respect

May

5: Education Sunday

12: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Mothers’ Day)

19: Confirmation

26: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Memorial Day weekend)

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Need some motivation? Scripture gives us some clear motivations for giving. One of them is the fear of God “Make your vows

to the Lord you God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.”

(Psalm 76:11) To “fear” God means to respect him, to put him in “priority place” in our lives because

we know that he has loved us with an everlasting love in Jesus Christ. One of the ways that “fear”

shows is in the way that we give. In Malachi 3:8 God tells us that we rob him when we don’t bring him

our tithes and offerings.

A second motivation is our love and gratitude for God and what he has done for us. If we only give out

of fear, we are not practicing true charity and generosity. In 2 Corinthians 2:8 Paul wrote, “I am not

commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of

others.” True love shows itself in action.

A further motivation to give is to further our reliance on God. Jesus tells us, “Store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure it, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21) If we work to amass

wealth so we feel secure and don’t have to worry about our futures, we are making two disastrous

errors. Frist, wealth offers a false security and second, our treasure is no longer with God who saves us

for eternity.

A last motivation for giving is to express love for others. “Suppose a brother or sister is without

clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but

does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16) It takes money to clothe and

feed a body. Sometimes it requires our money. We should so love those made in our Creator’s image

that we willingly and joyfully give to provide for their needs. Beyond those physical needs are the

spiritual needs. “How then can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they

believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to

them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15)

Certainly any one of these is motivation enough to give. Take them together, how can we not give?

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February Birthdays

Katelyn Witte 1

William Olsen 6

Vanessa Reinhardt 7

Kormasa Jallah 8

Aubrey Minea 10

Wayne Burmeister 13

Mary Elwood 15

Virginia Carlson 13

Carolyn Lyons 16

Donna Ditzel 17

Koleen Piske 17

Karla Sampson 17

Jeffrey Ditzel 18

Rachel Homan 18

Violet Lowry 19

Sarah Homan 22

Artez Hutchinson 23

Norma Seebach 23

Silas McAghon 26

Larry McGowan 26

February Wedding Anniversary

Pastor and Tammy Leyrer

February 14

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Announcements

Electronic News Letter

Did you sign up for the electronic version of our monthly news letter but are not receiving it? If you

answered yes to this question please get in touch with me. It is due to the way you signed up so I

would like to get that fixed for you. Zoe Herzig 763-360-6150

LOST AND FOUND

Lost and found items are in a basket by the tracts in the narthex (1st Avenue entrance) of the church.

Call the church office at 612-825-5375 to inquire about lost and found items.

Lock doors and turn off lights

Pilgrim Church highly encourages the use of our facilities by groups: Pioneers, Ladies Guild, Bible

Study, etc. We ask for each group, upon leaving, to verify all lights are turned off and doors are shut

tight. Doors need to be checked by pulling on them as they may not lock unless forced shut.

Numerous times staff members have arrived to find the doors not locked and lights left on. Not

checking the doors puts our property in danger of vandalism, theft and a host of other issues. Leaving

lights on causes additional funds to be sent to Xcel Energy that could have been used to spread the

Gospel.

PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for the United States military and the following enlisted and/or deployed service men and

women: Paul Bandelin, Errol Belanger, Justin Brandt, David Chernohorsky; Jason Fahey, Brent

Hassler, Jennifer James, Nicholas Neumann, Andrew Rolston, Cory Williams, and John

Zimmerman.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR OUR MEMBERS

People to pray for (Please call the church office if you would like a name added to this list.)

Gerald Belsaas; Connie and Bill Bonde; Mabel Emde; Brian Florin; Ken Gostchock; Rebeccca

Herzig; Jean Loescher; Rozetta Norman; Pilgrim shut-ins.

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Announcements Food Shelf

The food shelf is especially in need of canned fish and meat, fruit, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter,

and cereal. Any other food items that are useful to families are greatly appreciated! Thank you for

your kindness and generosity! A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with

the poor. Proverbs 22:9

Hosting Personal events at pilgrim

If you would like to host a personal event (baby shower, wedding shower, confirmation dinner, etc.) at

Pilgrim, please contact Tam Bandelin in the church office at 612-825-5375 between the hours of 7:30

a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (you can also leave a voice message). You will be informed of availability, fees (if

any), etc. Thank you!

Do YOU need a ride to Church?

Or, do you know someone who would like to attend a worship service at Pilgrim but has no

transportation? Pilgrim is reaching out in love to bring all those who want to worship in person to our

church on a Sunday morning. The benefits of being present in God’s house, sitting with others,

singing, praying and praising God are huge. If you would like a ride to church one Sunday a month to

attend the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service, please call Pastor Leyrer or Tam in the church office at

612-825-5375. A start-up date and pick-up schedule will be set up after we determine how many wish

to come and where those people are located.

2012 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS

Contribution statements are alphabetized in a box located on a table in the back of the church. If you

can’t find your statement, it is in your mail box in the copy room, or it has been mailed to you. If you

have any questions, please call the church office at 612-825-5375. Thank you.

Sixteen day tour of “The Best of China

Pastor James Humann, retired WELS pastor, and part-time teacher at Evergreen Lutheran High

School in Des Moines , WA , invites you to join him and fellow WELS members on a sixteen day tour

of “The Best of China , including a 4-day Yangtse River Cruise.” The tour leaves from the West Coast

on June 24, 2013 and returns July 9, 2013. We’ll visit Beijing , Xian, Wuhan , Yichang, Chongquing,

Canton and Hong Kong . In China you’ll see the Great Wall , explore the Forbidden City, see some

of the thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors and horses, enjoy a four day cruise on the Yangtse

River, taste fabulous food, and experience some of the best shopping in the world in Hong Kong. For

a colorful brochure describing the daily itinerary, tour conditions and cost, please e-mail Pastor

Humann at JHumann383@aol.com or call 253-839-9055. Be sure to include your name and mailing

address.

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What’s happening at Pilgrim Lutheran School….

Sports Update

The basketball season has started. Please come cheer the teams on to victory.

February 1st Home VS Cross of Christ

February 2nd

-3rd

B Team tournament at West LHS

February 8th

-10th

A Team League Tournament

February 15th

-17th

A Team New Ulm Tournament

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FAMILY FUN TIME

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CHILDRENS FUN TIME

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