Volume LV Issue 6 June 2020 Inside this issue: Saturday worship 2 Meals on Wheels 2 Vacation Bible School 3 College and High School Graduation 3-5 New Members Join 6 Feeding Brookings 7 WELCA 8 Finance & Membership 9 Calendar 10 Ministry List 11 Worship Schedule Saturday Drive-In Worship 5:30pm (begins June 6) Sunday Virtual Service 9:30am Facebook Live & YouTube Welcome One of my favorite movies is “Shawshank Redemption.” It ends with Red (Morgan Freeman) meeting Andy (Tim Robbins) on a beach; Red and Andy were prison inmates, and lived through many hopeless times together. Red, the narrator of the movie, says at the end of the movie, “I find I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope [he whispers].” As Red says those last words—"I hope”—you see him and his friend, Andy, embracing on the beach. They found freedom, hope, and love through their friendship. I know that many of you have felt imprisoned at home by this pandemic. These are hard times for some. Some of us will contract COVID-19. Some of us will lose incomes due to the economy. Some of us will even lose loved ones. When we feel imprisoned, in one way or another, we see the future as bleak and hopeless. However, Jesus says, “You are my friends…but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my father. You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:14- 16). Jesus chose you as his friend. When you are feeling imprisoned, “carry everything to God in prayer” as the hymns says. When hard times come, carry it to your friend, Jesus, in prayer. When you lose an income, Jesus will carry you. When you lose a loved one, Jesus will carry them into life eternal. Our friend Jesus comes to us, and gives us hope. When Mary and Martha had lost hope of ever seeing Lazarus again. Their friend, Jesus, came, wept with them, raised Lazarus, and gave hope. When Jairus’ daughter was at the point of death, Jesus, his friend, came to his house, and said “Little girl, get up.” She got up, walked, and hope shined in Jairus’ home. No matter what time it is in your life—good times, bad times, indifferent times—root these words of Jesus in your hearts: “You are my friends…” When Jesus, your friend, walks with you, he frees you from your prisons in life. When Jesus comes to you, God’s love embraces you, and gives hope. Peace, Pastor Stephen L. Palo
12
Embed
Volume LV Issue 6Brooke Bullington Parents: Mark and Tammy Bullington Plans: to attend Dakota Wesleyan University Verse: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Volume LV Issue 6
June 2020
Inside this issue:
Saturday worship 2
Meals on Wheels 2
Vacation Bible School 3
College and High
School Graduation 3-5
New Members Join 6
Feeding Brookings 7
WELCA 8
Finance &
Membership 9
Calendar 10
Ministry List 11
Worship Schedule
Saturday
Drive-In Worship
5:30pm
(begins June 6)
Sunday Virtual Service
9:30am Facebook Live
& YouTube
Welcome
One of my favorite movies is “Shawshank Redemption.”
It ends with Red (Morgan Freeman) meeting Andy (Tim
Robbins) on a beach; Red and Andy were prison inmates,
and lived through many hopeless times together. Red, the
narrator of the movie, says at the end of the movie, “I find
I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my
head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel, a
free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is
uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope
to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is
as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope [he whispers].”
As Red says those last words—"I hope”—you see him and
his friend, Andy, embracing on the beach. They found
freedom, hope, and love through their friendship.
I know that many of you have felt imprisoned at home by this pandemic.
These are hard times for some. Some of us will contract COVID-19. Some of
us will lose incomes due to the economy. Some of us will even lose loved
ones. When we feel imprisoned, in one way or another, we see the future as
bleak and hopeless. However, Jesus says, “You are my friends…but I have
called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have
heard from my father. You did not choose me, but I chose you.” (John 15:14-
16). Jesus chose you as his friend. When you are feeling imprisoned, “carry
everything to God in prayer” as the hymns says. When hard times come,
carry it to your friend, Jesus, in prayer. When you lose an income, Jesus will
carry you. When you lose a loved one, Jesus will carry them into life eternal.
Our friend Jesus comes to us, and gives us hope. When Mary and Martha had
lost hope of ever seeing Lazarus again. Their friend, Jesus, came, wept with
them, raised Lazarus, and gave hope. When Jairus’ daughter was at the point
of death, Jesus, his friend, came to his house, and said “Little girl, get up.” She
got up, walked, and hope shined in Jairus’ home.
No matter what time it is in your life—good times, bad times, indifferent
times—root these words of Jesus in your hearts: “You are my friends…”
When Jesus, your friend, walks with you, he frees you from your prisons in
life. When Jesus comes to you, God’s love embraces you, and gives hope.
Peace,
Pastor Stephen L. Palo
Page 2 June 2020 The Insight
Upcoming Meals on Wheels
Meals on wheels continues to work to supply food for those needing the service in our community and thank
all volunteers who have assisted them in the past. They are hoping volunteers from Ascension will help out
again, weekdays June 22-July 3. Meals need to be picked up from 60+ Dining at 11:00 am on the days of
delivery.
They are taking extra precautions with the home delivered meals to limit exposure for
both volunteers and those needing meals. A significant change at this time is that
recipients are asked to leave a cooler outside their doors for meals to be placed into.
Those without coolers already have been provided with one.
If you feel called to help out, please contact Joni in the office at 692-6565 or at
Moving towards normal with Saturday worship services
We haven’t been able to see much of each other for several weeks and haven’t had any Saturday night services
since early March. But that is about to change!
Beginning Saturday, June 6, we are planning to resume “traditional” 5:30pm Saturday services, complete with
communion! Only the congregation will not yet be entering the church. Services will be in the parking lot with
the congregation staying inside their cars. Everyone is asked to park in the north-most parking lot, if space, to aid
in vision and audio needs of all.
For the month of June, Sunday services will remain streaming at 9:30am on Facebook and YouTube only. July is
still uncertain as to whether services will be inside, outside, or transitioning.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! To make Saturday worship flow as smoothly as possible, we are looking for a few
volunteer “greeters/ushers” to be willing to stay at the parking lot entrances to hand out communion cups to
each car as they enter, as well as to receive offerings that people want to physically drop off. Please call or email
Joni in the church office by June 1st if you feel called to help out in this way. We will be needing volunteers to help in this way for every Saturday in June.
Ascension Online Fellowship The daily Zoom Fellowship meetings have been replaced by weekly Wednesday night Fellowship and will
continue as long as enough interest is shown. Everyone is welcome to join in at 7:00pm on Wednesday nights.
To join the Zoom Fellowship, check your Update or email for access information, or contact the church office.
This is a great chance to have fellowship with each other and talk
about whatever is on your mind!
The Pipe Organ is officially INSTALLED.
The organists are getting familiar with it and we
Page 3 June 2020 The Insight
Cross+Generational Ministries
Celebrating Our College Graduates
Congratulations to
Logan Newman
who graduated from
Creighton University
with a
Doctor of Dental Surgery
degree.
Congratulations to Ascension’s High School Graduates:
Congratulations to all the high school graduates of Ascension! Pictured here and on the following pages are our graduates who
were in attendance at our “Parade of Seniors” service May 17. Ascension Quilters provided the quilts that the families wrapped
around their graduates (while distancing from other families). Congratulations also to the two seniors who were not in
attendance: Joseph Browning and Marcus Kostboth.
Tabitha Bergstrom Parents: Jeremiah and Kristina Bergstrom
Plans: to Attend Minnesota State Mankato majoring in Graphic Design
Verse: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will
is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” ~Romans 12:2 (Graduates continued Page 4)
Congratulations to
Ray Munsterman
who graduated from
South Dakota State University
with a Bachelor’s degree in
Mechanical Engineering. ……...
Congratulations to
Cole Schneider
who graduated from
South Dakota State University
with a Bachelor’s degree in
Construction Management!
Good News! We will have VBS this summer for children ages 4-6th Grade (age 4+ as of
September 1, 2020) beginning Sunday, August 2nd-Thursday, August 6th. But, it’s going to look a
lot different this year because we are having At Home VBS! At a given time you pick up a box for
your child at the church and then each day of VBS there will be a bag in the box for that day.
Simply go to the Ascension Facebook at 6pm and engage in Sing and Play, Story Time, Bible Stories
and crafts. Register your child/children now by going to https://forms.gle/2ShKxcjWwP2quWX98
(the link is also on the Ascension website) and filling out the form online or email Pam at
[email protected]. You don’t want them to miss this fun, meaningful learning event! Deadline
Pastor ........................................................ Rev. Stephen Palo [email protected] 592-0028 (C) Pastor .................................................. Rev. Frederick Bartelt [email protected] (727) 403-8545 (C) Business Administrator ......................... Lanita Vanderbush [email protected] Director of Music Ministry .............................. Naomi Stout Joy Singers, Trinity Teens & Spirit Singers Director [email protected] Communications Coordinator..........................Joni Mueller [email protected] Administrative Asst for Faith Development....Pam Ishmael [email protected] Organists ........................................ Leah Brink, Joan Riessen
Executive Committee Congregational President ............... Brian Lueders, 651-3974 President-Elect .................................... Darcie Bien, 692-0802 Secretary ......................................... Mary Kidwiler, 692-2511 Treasurer ..................................... Larry Tidemann, 692-1267 Past President .................................... Kathy Miller, 692-7680
Council Members Christian Education ........................... Shar Quam, 697-5255 Church & Community ................. Gail Tidemann 692-1267 Church Finance ...................... Jennifer Soma, 507-230-0323 Membership Participation .................... Darla Biel, 690-7258 Operations & Maintenance .................. Steve Ust, 692-3150 Stewardship ........................... Jean Josephson, 507- 829-9094 Worship & Music ......................... Lori Bjorklund, 696-0750 Youth Ministry ............................................ Steve Scarbrough
Ministry Team Chairs Christian Education .......................................... Jamie Fryslie Church & Community ............... Jamie Grimsrud, 695-8377 Church Finance ............................... Dan Bielfeldt, 690-4859 Membership Participation ........Lori Munsterman, 695-7978 Operations & Maintenance .......... Don Jacobson, 697-5577 Stewardship ................................ Paul Richter, 612-518-8277 Worship & Music .......................... Tim Campbell, 480-1250 Youth Ministry ................................. Tami Thvedt, 692-5025
Endowment Committee Co-Chairs .............................................. Bill Kees, 697-7637 Steve Pohl, 692-9081
Mutual Ministry Committee Andy Stremmel ..................................................... 692-8833 Mari von Fischer……………………………………………692-3384 Chad Munsterman ............................................... 695-0628 Sarah Smith…………………………………………………..692-7114 Shar Quam…………………………………………………...697-5255 Ben Culver ............................................................ 690-5204