A memorial service has been set for Rod Nilsestuen for Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Visitation starts at 10:00 a.m., the memorial is at 1:00 p.m., and will be at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Avenue, in Madison.
Our Norway Grove family feels deep sadness for the loss of Rod Nilsestuen. Rod drowned this past Wednesday evening while swimming in Lake Superior off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He was in Marquette, MI, as a member of our Habitat for Humanity team. Prayers for the Nilsestuen family and the Habitat group are appreciated. When memorial services are arranged, we will post information here.
Several ladies have requested we make plans for another Women’s Retreat. We are awaiting a return call next week, to see what dates might be available. In the meantime, our ladies have been invited to an event beginning at 9am, coffee and registration, Saturday, June 12 at Living Water Church. The focus of this event is being the light of the world. Meryl Bishop, a devotional writer, will present “Keepers of the Light.” There will be a lunch at noon, program ends at 2:30pm. Cost is $10 for advance registration, or $12 at the door. Call Betty Olson at 347-6407, for more information. This could be like a mini-retreat.
Future plans for couples - who are interested - 4 to 6 couples becoming a group for a year, and go out a couple times for dinner – purpose being to become more acquainted. We look forward to your input and participation!
“Reflections of Faith - Building A Firm Foundation” books are now available. Cost is $10 per book, but for those who cannot afford that, the charge is negotiable. These make wonderful gifts, and a keepsake for many years. All of us have need of encouragement in our “walk with God.” These are hard times. As you can see by the stories in this book, there were hard times in the past, but with perseverance, dedication, and love, we overcome. We will have a new publication after June 14, for those who wish to yet contribute. Many thanks for all those who have contributed. This is an amazing book. Thanks be to God for you!
Evangelism Committee
A big thank you to everyone who made the service for the High School Graduates so special. We appreciate Pastor Kathy’s blessing, the choir singing, the music committee’s selection of songs and corsages for the students, and Betty Olson’s kind words and booklet given to the graduates. We also appreciate the support the entire congregation has given to our children throughout their time at Norway Grove Memorial, whether it was teaching them in Sunday School or Confirmation, being a chaperone for an outing, supplying cookies for the Cookie Walk, supporting their fundraisers, sponsoring them for Habitat, keeping them in prayer, and all the countless other ways this congregation has cared for them. Thank you!PARENTS OF THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2010
To My Dear Friends at Norway Grove,
Thank you so much for your attendance and support at my ordination service on April 11. It was a joy to see so many people there from Norway Grove! Thank you for all of the cards with beautiful messages and the gifts to me, especially the beautiful cross! Thank you, Pastor Kathy, for your presence as my “sending” pastor. You have been a blessing to me over and over again. Words cannot describe my gratitude for you all. We are well here at Trinity in Manlius, Illinois. Cally is growing fast and keeping Steve and me on our toes. We are preparing for a busy day coming up on June 6 when I will be installed as the pastor at Trinity. I keep you in my prayers with joy and thanksgiving, and I pray that Norway Grove’s ministry continue to be a place that reflects God’s love and grace in the community. I am looking forward to Norway Grove’s 60th anniversary celebration!
Peace!
Pastor Brenda Lovick
The following members of NGMLC helped with the 2010 Madison Area Lutheran Council (MALC) Jail Chaplaincy Quilt Auction. With your support, we were able to raise $11, 851.50 for this wonderful organization.
NGMLC Quilters and helpers were: Beth, Randy & Holly Krey; Carol and Darrell Potter, Jan Homuth, Laura McGoveran, Helen Brausen, Nancy Nelson, The High School Youth Group from Norway Grove and Christ Lutheran, Tom and Will Hewuse, Don & Anne Staniforth.
We would also like to thank Thrivent Financial for Lutherans East and West Dane Co., and Columbia Co. Chapter’s for their financial support.
For over 39 years, MALC has sponsored a chaplaincy program at the Dane County jail. This ministry has a vital impact on the lives of those held at the jail and with the law enforcement personnel who supervise them. Our chaplains bring the “presence” of Christ in so many vital ways - they console, comfort, and confront and are the human touch in an environment that is often without any source of the Word, Sacrament and Faith. Last year, over 12,000 inmates walked through the doors of the Dane County Jail and Chaplain’s John Mix and Julia Weaver were there.Many, many thanks for all of your help and support.
Anne Staniforth and Beth Krey, Co-Chairs of the MALC Quilt Auction Committee
Mark your calendars now for September 26th! Plans are well underway for the 60th Anniversary Celebration here at Norway Grove. Worship begins at 9:00 a.m. At 10:00 we will have a program. At 11:00 am, there will be a potluck meal. Former pastors are planning on returning for the event and it will be a celebration you will not want to miss!!! Rally Sunday we will take a group photo, special music is being lined up, and historical information and faith stories are being well documented. There is still room for you to help with the planning of this event….send or email your photos, history, stories, that you would like to share. Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. is the time to meet at the Church to help out.
Last year was a grape start to the annual Grape Harvest Festival. This year, the festival will be in conjunction with the Anniversary Celebration, so we anticipate even more people here to enjoy the fun time.
At 12:00 p.m. on September 26th, the Harvest festival begins. Again, we are looking for your contribution of home canned goods for the harvest booth, and baskets and items for the silent auction. Art work was a big hit last time, so bring on in those quality paintings and prints that you don’t currently have a place for in your home.
The grape harvest was fine this past fall, and the wine of 2009 is going to be another good year, so come and bid early and often for this rare opportunity to have Norway Grove vineyard wine in your home.
Adventure trips went over so well last year that we are encouraging you to think of an adventure trip that you would like to auction off this year. Hunting, fishing, kayaking, canoeing….whatever kind of trip you would like to take someone else on, (maybe you have a cottage that you would like to auction off for a week end????) Its all for a good cause, (the Ministry of Norway Grove), so thanks in advance for your generosity. Contact Rick Johnson, Kris Smith for the Silent Auction, or pastor Kathy with any questions you may have.
Summertime Worship for June….Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, and Sundays at 9:00 a.m. At many Worship Services this summer, a picture in time will be explored from a picture posted on the time line each week….How have events and ministry efforts of the past brought us forward to ministry now? And, what lies ahead in God’s plan for Norway Grove for the future? With God, all is good!!!June 2nd and June 6th Mary Weber preaching. Holy Communion on Wednesday evening only. NO Communion on Sunday June 6th.
June 9th and June 13th Pastor Kathy preaching. “Built Up in Christ.” At the beginning of this congregation’s life, hours and hours were spent scraping old mortar off bricks. With Christ’s help, community thrives yet today in this place. Holy Communion at both services.
June 16th and June 20th Pastor Bud Buchheim preaching. Outdoor Worship is on Sunday this week at the Western Green Park. Holy Communion at both Services.
June 23rd and June 27th Pastor Kathy preaching. “The Vineyard.” Not many Churches have their own vineyard like we do. Most congregations have to purchase their communion wine. We have a growing gift from the land and many Biblical ties to the Vineyard. On Sunday this week, our special guests will be the camp counselors from Sugar Creek here for Day camp!!!! Holy Communion at both services.
June 30th and July 4th Pastor Kathy preaches. “The Volunteer Church.” Back in the old country, Churches were State owned and run. Volunteers make the United States a rich place to live and to shape Christian Community. As we help each other and help our congregation, we thank God for our Independence, Military Chaplains, and for the freedom to practice faith in a loving God! On Wednesday this week, the Sugar Creek day campers will be sharing their camp experiences with the congregation ….come one, come all! Following the 9 am service on Sunday, we can all travel over to the start of the parade for Independence Day!
Sometimes giving generously is not always about the immediate need. It may be in addition to the immediate need. Our life experience teaches us what to anticipate or expect. How have you given generously to someone because you could foresee their circumstances?
Again we look at the familiar story of “The Good Samaritan.” A simple man traveling down the road gives directly. He meets the immediate need that appears before him—the need of the man who fell among thieves. His immediate needs were evident, but the Samaritan saw beyond these to provide for future care. Have gave two denarii to the innkeeper and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.”
How can we be generous to not only the immediate needs, but also those that others may not see? This can be difficult, because it sometimes requires trust of people or organizations we do not know. We may think that since we do not know them they don’t deserve anything good. Perhaps the need is foreseen, but the people nearby are not all that appealing. Yet if we are to be like the Samaritan, we are challenged to take this step in faith. How willing are you to give of your time and money to those you do not know well? How do you build relationships that establish trust?
Prayer: O God of abundance, help me not to judge the foolishness of a man who would travel alone on a lonely road surrounded with danger. Instead, help me to be generous in my time and money that I might grow in faith and trust in others with the gifts you have entrusted to me . Amen
The money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA