MARCH 25:30-6:30 pm Soup Supper7 pm WorshipSacraments—A Tapestry of Traditions

MARCH 69 am Worship with Holy Communion10:15 am Sunday School

MARCH 95:30-6:30 pm Soup Supper7 pm WorshipMoney—The Joy of Sharing

MARCH139 am Worship10:15 am Sunday School10:30 am—12:30 pm CommunionMilestone Class and Meal

NewsletterMarch 2016 Grand Meadow Lutheran Church

WORSHIP SCHEDULEMARCH 165:30-6:30 pm Soup Supper7 pm WorshipCommunity—An Unexpected Family

MARCH 209 am Palm Sunday Worship with “FirstCommunion” Milestone10:15 am Sunday School

MARCH 247 pm Maundy Thursday Worship atBear Creek

MARCH 257 pm Good Friday Worship

MARCH 277:30—8:45 am Easter Breakfast9 am Worship with Holy CommunionNO SUNDAY SCHOOL

115 1st ST. NEGrand Meadow, MN 55936

507-754-5203officegml@arvig.net

GrandMeadowLutheranChurch.org

Pastor Krolak@gmail.com

Office Hours:Monday 9-noon

Thursday Noon-8 pmOther days by appointment

Lord,As we gather together as family andfriends we invite you once again intoour lives.May the hope of your resurrection colorour days.May the promise of your spirit workingin us light up our lives.May the love you revealed to us shapeour giving.May the truth in your word guide ourjourneys,And may the joy of your kingdom fill ourhomes.

As we gather together underneath thebanner of your life,We thank you for all the wonderful foodthat we can now enjoy,And celebrate your gloriousresurrection.

Thank you Lord.

Amen.

Read more: http://www.living-prayers.com/events/easter_prayers.html#ixzz40G98ig9X

Easter Dinner PrayerWhat if our community leaders decided toeliminate the causes of hopelessness?

Would we institute a Department of Hope?

Would we require people to apply for itsprograms—to fill out forms, to be approved, to“qualify”?

Would we set up a rehab program forhopelessness? Would we seek a cure for it?Would we create an immunization against it?

Would we distribute multi-colored ribbons andbracelets to remind people constantly of thecourage it takes to face up to hopelessness?

Would we establish “Hopeless Shelters” where wedistribute generous portions of hope three times aday and put a roof of love over people, totemporarily protect them from the evil that rainsdown on them, from all the causes ofhopelessness?

Would we rally around the elimination ofhopelessness, and have bake sales and car washesto raise funds for people who are experiencinghopelessness?

Would we declare hopelessness as a crime againsthumanity?

Would we train professionals to deal with theimplications of hopelessness for children? Wouldteachers see it as a learning impediment and workto counter it?

Would we make up slogans and hold rallies toencourage politicians to stop the spread ofhopelessness?

When budgets are cut, would large, multinationalcorporations be asked to fund this work? Wouldfoundations be set up to fund the fight againsthopelessness? Would nonprofits spring up to “filla gap” in services?

OR

Would we find that our churches already are ourcommunity’s “Departments of Hope”?

In the hope of Christ’s resurrection—Pastor Beth

Reflections...on Hope

March Volunteers

Colossians 1:11-14May you be made strong with all the strength thatcomes from his glorious power, and may you beprepared to endure everything with patience, whilejoyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has en-abled you to share in the inheritance of the saintsin the light. He has rescued us from the power ofdarkness and transferred us into the kingdom of hisbeloved Son, in whom we have redemption, theforgiveness of sins.

DATE ACOLYTES USHERS LECTOR GREETERS

MARCH 6 Ethan GilbertBrittney SkifterZac Hendrickson

Paul & Pam Persons Kathy Berge Mark & TracyJacobson

MARCH 13 Alex NesbittMatthew Nesbitt

Tyler & Trevor Sloan Dorothy Jacobson Paul & JeanieSchultze

MARCH 20 Blake LudemannBrittney Skifter

Mike & DonnaFenton

Joann Nesbitt Paul & Pam PersonsFamily

MARCH 25GOOD FRIDAY

Kameron Bacon

MARCH 27 Ethan GilbertBrittney SkifterZac Hendrickson

Jim & BrendaBlomgren

Sara Lee Einar & MargeneMyhre

HEAD USHER: Deb Lester ALTAR GUILD: Ila Johnson / Mary MontyCOMMUNION ASSISTANT: Eric Lee

Isaiah Gronvold—Age 7

1. What is your favorite thing about Easter?Hunting for Easter Eggs.

2. Does your family have a special traditionat Easter? Hunt for Easter eggs.

3. Why do we celebrate Easter? Because it isa holiday.

4. My family includes: Dad-Cody, Mom-Tiffany,Brother-Ryder, Sister-Abigel.

5. My favorite food is: pizza.

6. What is your leastfavorite chore at homeand why? Picking updog droppings becauseit is yucky!

7. What do you likemost about SundaySchool? Coloring.

What Does Easter Mean To You?An Interview with the Sunday School Class

Lauren Queensland—Age 9

1. What is your favorite thing about Easter?Going for Easter egg hunts.

2. Does your family have a special traditionat Easter? We go to my Grandma’s house forthe day each year on Easter.

3. Why do we celebrate Easter? Jesus washung on the cross and then he rose again.

4. My family includes: Dad—Ryan, Mom-Susan, Sisters—Riley and Kendyl.

5. My favorite food is: steak.

6. What is your least favorite chore athome and why?Cleaning my room. Itgets really messy andtakes so long to cleanit.

7. What do you likemost about SundaySchool? Singing.

Jennifer Skifter—Age 11

1. What is your favorite thing about Easter? Seeing my family.

2. Does your family have a special tradition at Easter? We go to my Aunt Shelly’s house.

3. Why do we celebrate Easter? That’s when Jesus was risen from the cross.

4. My family includes: Dad—Jeff, Mom-Renee, Brothers—Jayson and Brian,Sister-Brittney.

5. My favorite food is: chicken alfredo.

6. What is your least favorite chore at home and why? Dishes.

7. What do you like most about Sunday School? We get to learn about Jesus.

SUNDAY SCHOOLREMINDERS:March 13—Communion Milestone Classand MealMarch 20—”First Communion” Milestone

March 27—No Sunday School

WELCA NEWSThe Grand Meadow Women of the ELCA will be servingthe Grand Meadow Senior Living monthly birthday party inApril.

The Zumbro River Conference Spring Event will beThursday, April 21, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Church, DodgeCenter, MN beginning with registration at 4:45 p.m.Followed by dinner at 5:30 p.m. and program at 6:30 p.m.The service will conclude at 8:30 p.m. Cost of registrationis $12 which includes dinner. Guest speaker will be Mr.Garwin McNeilus. He is the founder of McNeilus Truckand Manufacturing and will be talking on "Women andGlobal Mission." Registration deadline is APRIL 6TH. Ifyou would like to attend this event please contact DorothyJacobson or Jeanie Schultze. Checks for registrationshould be written to "SE MN Synod WELCA. Check thebulletin board for more details.

WELCA will meet Wednesday, March 9th, at theMeadows Assisted Living beginning with Bible Studyat 1:30 followed by the WELCA meeting. Following themeeting we will join the residents for coffee in the diningroom.

February Council Minutes

• Discussed progress on the outdoor sign –because of the winter weather this project is onhold. Will resume in the spring when theweather is better!

• Carpet cleaning will be done in the spring byDenny Riedemann free of charge! Thank youDenny!

• “Renew” (previously known as Councils asLeaders’) is February 28th and we have 9 peoplesigned up to participate! This will be held inOwatonna.

• Review of Gifts Policy – council membersreviewed new policy written by Polly Glynn andit was approved. Thank you Polly!

• Holy Week and Easter schedule –ThursdayMarch 24th Maundy Thursday will be held atBear Creek Church. Friday March 25th GoodFriday services will be at 7:00 and SundayMarch 27th Easter Sunday Service will be heldat 9:00.

• ACT Testing will be help again this year in thefellowship hall on Tuesday April 19th for allJuniors from 7:45 am until 1:30 pm. Studentswill bring their own lunch.

• Annual Roadmap, which is a goal setting retreatfor council members, will be held here at thechurch on Saturday March 19th from 9:00 am to4:00 pm. Council members will bring a dish topass for a potluck lunch.

• The church is need of some volunteers to helpthe Memorial and Gifts Committee reviewfunds and Eleanor Riedemann has volunteeredfor this. Thank you Eleanor!

• Sara Lee has asked that Sharon be added as asigner on the Sunday school account. A motionwas made, 2nd and approved to have that done.

• Our next meeting will be held on TuesdayMarch 8that 7 pm

ANNOUNCEMENTSONE EVENT, THREE DAYS Holy Week worship is oneevent that spans three days—the triduum of MaundyThursday, Good Friday, and the Saturday Easter Vigil.Each service flows into the next day, and ends in a waythat is intentionally unresolved, indicating that there ismore to come. Children are welcome at all Holy Week andEaster services.

• Maundy Thursday, March 24, 7 pm – We are invited tojoin Bear Creek Lutheran Church for their MaundyThursday service, in which we remember and re-enactthe Last Supper.

• Good Friday, March 25 at 7 pm at Grand MeadowLutheran church

• Saturday Easter Vigil: we wait, and wonder, inindividual prayer

• We celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord onSunday, March 27!

• 8 am Breakfast (Donations to benefit the GMLYouth Group (G.A.P.))

• 9 am Easter Worship with Holy Communion

EASTER LILIES: You are invited to provide an Easter Lilyor spring flower for Easter services to help celebrate theResurrection. Flower donations may be brought to thechurch on Friday evening or Saturday morning (place ontable in chapel area at back of sanctuary). Please makesure to contact the church office to indicate your donation(indicate who the flowers are in memory of or in honor of)at 507-754-5203 or officegml@arvig.net Thank you!

BE A HERO. FIGHT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE in themonth of March, for Grand Meadow Faith CommunityFood Shelf. Drop off site for food and monetarydonations: Grand Meadow Lutheran Church. Makechecks payable to Grand Meadow Faith Community FoodShelf. Thank you for helping to eliminate food insecurityin our community.

Electronic Giving

Electronic giving is easy and allowsyou to set up automatic recurringcontributions and view your completeelectronic giving history fromanywhere you have access to theinternet. Simply go to the churchwebsite atwww.grandmeadowlutheranchurch.organd click on “Online Giving” in theupper right corner, then click on“Create profile.” Paper authorizationforms are also available in the churchentryway.

Grand Meadow Lutheran Church alsooffers a mobile version of our onlinegiving page to make it easy for you togive anytime f rom your smart phone.Simply scan the image you see hereusing your phone’s QR code reader orgo to the church website to locate theonline giving page.