Redeemer Lutheran Church
www.rlcw.org

Stewardship is...

how we use the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that God has first given us.


Gifts of Treasure
Through April 30, 2008, we have received $56,915.56 toward our congregation’s Operating (unrestricted) Fund (year to date). This is 96.1% of our budgeted total. By maintaining your financial commitment, you help us continue to make Christ known through all our ministries.
Please continue to pray about how you can be a growing giver. One way to do this is by growing your giving by 1% of your income so that you can eventually achieve a tithe (10% of your income given away) and beyond.
Remember, when Jesus was questioned by the rich man about what was needed be his follower, he challenge him to sell everything he owns, not just 10%! How can we grow so that we are 100% for Jesus Christ?!


Serving the Kingdom with Gifts of Time and Talent...

May Sunday Servants


Altar Guild: Nicky Francke


May 4 8:00 AM
Communion Betty Housby
Reader Kris Victory
Usher Tim and Luke Knudsen
Greeter Jim and Phyllis Ule
Acolyte Kyle Woodall
Nursery self-service


May 4 10:30 AM
Communion Dave Byers
Reader Kathie Schultz
Usher The Al Wilson Family
Greeter Anne Johnson
Acolyte Matisen Zoellick
Nursery staff


May 11 8:00 AM
Communion No Communion
Reader Al Henniges
Usher Jim and Phyllis Ule
Greeter Jamie Lynn Kassner
Acolyte Annie Simon
Nursery self-service


May 11 10:30 AM
Communion Carolyn Jurisch
Reader Gloria Peetz
Usher The Bill Schultz Family
Greeter Sheila Readel
Acolyte Neena Dechant
Nursery staff


May 18 8:00 AM
Communion Luke Knudsen
Reader Audrey Gillis
Usher LeRoy and Carol Knudsen
Greeter The Bob Tousey Family
Acolyte Joey Cubert
Nursery self-service


May 18 10:30 AM
Communion John Van Fleet
Reader Laura Byers
Usher Glenn Allen & Terry Madsen
Greeter Bob and Judy Connor
Acolyte Robert Jablonski Jr.
Nursery staff


May 25 8:00 AM
Communion No Communion
Reader Carol Madsen
Usher Ray and Arek Lucich
Greeter The George Simon Family
Acolyte KaitLynn Falco
Nursery self-service


May 25 10:30 AM
Communion Robert Jablonski Sr.
Reader Al Wilson
Usher Arne & Chris Olsen
Greeter Bill and Carol Lapp
Acolyte John Morefield
Nursery staff


Property

May Church Cleaners

Thank you to our families for serving in this very important ministry!

May 3 Terry and Carol Madsen
May 10 Joe Scholpp and Frank Bero
May 17 The Al Wilson Family
May 23 Dylan and Irene Berger
May 31 G. Allen, B. Housby and E. Phillip


Green Thumbs Wanted!
In order to save on our outside expenses, we will once again be mowing our own grass. Anybody interested in helping out this year please contact Al Henniges at (815) 338-4283.
For all the flower and gardening people out there, we would also like your help. You can even choose to have your own flowerbed to work on. If you are interested in this, be sure to put Saturday May 31 on your calendar as we will have our first “garden Gig” here at Redeemer. Watch the newsletter for more information about this event, sponsored with the Parish Fellowship Team
Social Justice

Daytime Drop-In Center Ends 7th Season at Redeemer
The daytime drop-in center opened every Thursday whether it rained, snowed, or was a foggy day. An average weekly attendance indicated 24.5 homeless men and women guests were able to have a warm, safe place to stay, complete with a meal at noon and laundry privileges. The warm meals were provided by eight Woodstock churches with each church providing, preparing, and serving the meal. This is done on rotation by: First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Grace Lutheran, Redeemer Lutheran, St. Ann Episcopal, St. John Evangelical Lutheran, St. Mary Roman Catholic, and Woodstock Free Methodist.
We are very thankful for the many volunteers who have either provided meals, laundered the linens, blankets and towels, helped in the kitchen, cleaned the fellowship hall prior to closing the site each Thursday or took an active part in making certain the doors of the fellowship hall were open. Most of all, we are truly grateful to our volunteers from Redeemer: Glenn Allen, Frank Bero, Judy Connor, Debbie Dechant, Kristina Johnson, Carol and Leroy Knudsen, Shirley Plankinton, and Thelma Schultz. We extend a special thanks to Helen Berry for her continued support of our ministry to the homeless.
A special note to everyone reading this: You are more than welcome to drop-in any Thursday beginning this November 6 – the doors are open at 7:15 a.m. until the Daytime Drop-in Center closes at 2:00 p.m. We look forward to continuing this ministry here at Redeemer. If you are considering serving in this vital ministry, please get in touch with Betty Housby at 815.338.6765 or e-mail brhous7@mc.net.

Haiti Mission Team
As we start getting ready for our trip to Haiti we have been communicating with the missionaries in Haiti. The economy in Haiti has basically become none existent. There is very little food and the food that is there the people cannot afford. There have been food riots in all of the major cities, we hope by the time we get there the immediate crisis will be over. The cost for the team going will be more then any time in the past. Please pray for the people of Haiti and the safety of the missionaries there and, for the team to raise the funds needed to get there.
Please watch for up coming fundraisers.


Social Justice

Woodstock Food Pantry
I attended the Food Pantry Board Meeting on Thursday of last week. We need servants to help us. The pantry is open 3 days a week – Mon., Wed., & Fri., from 9 am -3 pm. Each person works a 3-hour shift. 9 am-12 noon and 12 noon-3 pm. Please consider prayerfully consider serving. Questions? Call me Carol Knudsen 815-338-0239.


Parish Fellowship

Prayer List
The act of prayer is attested in written sources as early as 5000 years ago and, some anthropologists believe that the earliest intelligent modern humans practiced something that we would recognize today as prayer. But, no matter when people begin praying to a higher power it is well known that from Biblical times to today, the most common form of prayer is to directly appeal to God to grant one's requests. This in many ways is the simplest form of prayer. Through prayer, we acknowledge God's power and goodness, our own neediness and dependence. We also acknowledge our faith in God and the belief that he will grant our prayer. As believers we also realize that our answer that we are seeking is not necessarily in God’s plan. But, nevertheless we continue trust in His goodness and mercy.
Redeemer Lutheran has a very active prayer team and as disciples, we should all pray for each other as Jesus has commanded us. If you would like to receive the prayer list by e-mail and receive updates to that list. Please let Pastor Tom, Charlotte Scholpp or Marie Olsen know and you will be added.

New Members
Don’t forget to greet our new members that joined our family April 20. Wear your name tags to help us all remember our names. Welcomed into Redeemer on April 20 were the following three families:
We hope to have their pictures and a brief family biography in an upcoming edition!


Saturday May 31 – The Garden Gig!
Our next event is on Saturday, May 31, our first “Garden Gig.” Come for breakfast at 8:30 am. At 9:30, get ready to spruce up the outside areas around Redeemer. Share a plant from your yard or bring something lovely to plant. Bring your own tools, gloves, knee pads, etc. Look for additional details in the bulletin.
We are still in planning stages for the summer months. If you have any ideas, let us know. The Fellowship Committee will be sponsoring the games for the rally in September.
In review, we had a great time at the New Member Brunch on April 20. About 60 people attended. Thanks to all who brought a dish to share and all the help in cleaning up. Thanks to a great Fellowship Team; Pam, Ginger, Jo, and Liz.


The Library Corner – Let’s Share
I’m sharing a book with you that I recently enjoyed. It’s called Thursdays with Moses by Brad Densmore. Like Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, which is also written in first person, the book is arranged in short and thought provoking chapters.
While conducting research for his master’s thesis in Israel, an earthquake occurs which causes Brad to end up back in 1398 B.C. Ammon. The locals take him to their leader – Moses. Brad tries to explain who he is and where he came from. Moses states in reply,” …I’ve seen rods turned into serpents, rivers changed to blood, ….I watched the Red Sea part, and I brought the Ten Commandments down from the holy mountain after witnessing God etch them in stone. Now do you really think I’ll have a problem believing where you’re from, or do I need to continue?”
Thus begins Brad’s Thursday conversations with Moses. As a reader, I was drawn into their chats on wandering, the law, slavery, sacrifices human nature, commitment, faith, forgiveness, and others. Moses is getting his people ready to go into the Promised Land. He reminds his people “…understand that our God is God, faithful to a thousand generations of those who love and obey Him. Those who abhor Him, He will certainly destroy; but those who love Him will be blessed with ceaseless bounty.”
I highly recommend this book. Now, if you’ve read an interesting book from our church library, let me know. Judy Connor


The Lutheran
Here's a look at the May issue of The Lutheran, the news magazine of the ELCA (this is the larger church that we are part of...). You can check it out online at www.thelutheran.org or grab a copy from the rack in the entryway.
The focus topic of May issue of The Lutheran takes a look at environmental and ecological change—a challenge for faith. Articles on this topic include:
A one-page study guide is included in the print edition.

Other items in the May issue include:


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