Being aware of the personal and economic concerns people face, Norway Grove wants to “be there” for your prayer concerns. Beginning April 22^nd, and continuing every fourth Thursday of the month, our doors will be open from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. for a Prayer Hour. During that special time, two or more persons will be present at church to pray with you, or you can just be present in a quiet time with God at the altar, in the pews, or in the Fellowship Room. You can come and go as you wish, and if you know someone in need of prayer invite them

Early last year, many members of Norway Grove spent their valuable time in completing a “Ministry Review Survey.” Thank you very much for completing the review so completely and thoughtfully. Also, thank you to the team that took the time to compile and summarize the data. That team came up with recommendation for Council to take action on. During the recent annual retreat, Council reviewed those recommendations to verify that they were either completed or would be completed soon. A summary of our discussion for the recommendation is as follows:· Conduct the May 31^st, 2009 Congregation meeting – Completed last year, as well as other Congregational Meetings.

· Explore single Sunday service – Explored last for the 2009-2010 school year. This topic will be discussed again for the 2010-2011 school year. A Council recommendation will be given and acted on at the upcoming June 13^th Congregational Meeting.· Re-Establish Staff Support Committee – The Staff Support Committee was re-established last year with Beth Staniforth being the Committee Liaison to the Council. This committee has a term limit imposed by our Constitution. Vickie Adkins, the current Committee Liaison, will lead filling the vacant position/s. The goal is to have the position filled by the end of May.· Performance Plan for Pastor Kathy – This recommendation will be done during Pastor’s upcoming annual performance review.· Get Constitution Committees Operational – Some Committees have been meeting. The Worship and Music Committee is already fully operational. The Council’s goal is to have 5 of the 6 standing committees functioning by the end of May. The remaining standing committee (Long-Term Planning Committee) functioning soon after.· Reinforce the Behavior Covenant – Ongoing. If you would like to see a copy, please let Laura McGoveran or myself know.Other Recommendations pertaining to Pastor Kathy – These specific recommendations will be addressed during Pastor’s upcoming performance review (if not previously addressed).The 2009 Ministry Review Survey will continue to be a tremendous resource of ideas and comments. All your input will continue to go a long way to making NGMLC a better place and be a wonderful reference to help kick start our revitalized committees.

Respectively submitted by: Jim Simpson

Giving 

Generosity is a grace to be developed and practiced.

The Generosity Gene

Is generosity in your DNA? Is an understanding of generosity learned or inherited? Most people learn about generosity from their parents, grandparents, or other close family members. Who has been most influential in teaching you about generosity?

One of the most familiar stories in Scripture is “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10:30-37). In this story a man walking down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho becomes a symbol recognized by people who don’t even know much about Christian faith. And yet the concept of giving of oneself to care for others crosses almost all cultural barriers.

Why does this story make such an impression? It is not where someone is from. It is not one’s position or profession in life. It is not the order in which the persons appear. It is how each person responds to an opportunity to practice generosity. Sometimes this opportunity is in the most unexpected circumstances.

The Samaritan is not expected to be generous to a Jew. His action cuts through to stereotypes. His behavior is truly counter-cultural. Jesus calls us to giving behaviors that are counter-cultural also. People who are generous have an opportunity to do the unexpected, even if this is not the daily expectation in their culture.

How do we as Christians practice generous living in a culture that seems to be moving further away from our faith practices? We turn to examples from Scripture and those close to us. It is by developing generous practices in our life and looking for ways to demonstrate these practices that we both reflect Christ and teach others. How have you demonstrated generosity recently? How have others learned from your example?

Prayer: O God of abundance, open my eyes to see those who are truly generous around me. Help me to be prepared for the unexpected and to be generous in unexpected ways. May I understand how my living examples shape the life of others. Amen.

Check out the beginnings of stories or poems written by this family of God. The beginning of this book is on the table in the narthex. It is not finished. We are waiting for your contribution of a favorite scripture, or an event in your life that would be meaningful in our walk together of learning about God, and what has influenced you that might help someone else. Just a little “walk with God.” John 14 has much to say about our walk. In the five passages in the Gospel of John, the Holy Spirit is defined and described both as to origin and as to mission. The Holy spirit, the Spirit of Truth, another Counselor, who will take the place of Jesus with the disciples, whom the world cannot receive, but the disciples only. Is that you and I? Alternately, Jesus Himself sends the Holy Spirit from God. His ministry as teacher will be: to remain with, and in the disciples forever, to teach them all things, and lead them into all the truth, to speak, not on his own authority, but as directed by Jesus, we will thus bear witness to Jesus and glorify Him, and remind others of what Jesus taught. Our  ministry is to carry on that work, by sharing our stories, and seeing God at work in ourselves.  John 15: 1  “I am the true vine, and God is the vinedresser.  Every branch of  mine that bears no fruit,  God takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit is pruned, that it may bear more fruit. Bear much fruit, abide in my love, so that Jesus’ joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.

We have all been pruned at sometime or another in our lives, and we all have stories to tell.  John 15:16

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from God, I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear much fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask God in my name, may be given to you.  This I command you, to love one another.”                                                           From Evangelism

The 3rd Annual Norski Duathlon will be June 13^th, and will benefit DeForest Area Needs Network (D.A.N.N.) Tony Armstrong, organizer of this event, is asking each church to sign up 10 participants, as well as volunteers. The Norski is a Run (5k) Bike (17.5) Run (2mi) event. All levels of racers are welcome – you can also sign up as a relay team! Register at www.deforestduathlon.com

DAY CAMP is back at Norway Grove! Day Camp will be held Monday through Thursday, June 28-July 31, from 8:45-3:00 each day. This is for children going into first grade up to fifth grade. The cost this year is $30 for the 4 days of camp. We have room for 45 children. Sugar Creek Bible Camp counselors bring Sugar Creek Camp to Norway Grove - for a week of Bible stories, music, arts & crafts, games and much more! Forms are available at church, or contact Veronica Eicher.

EXPLORER CAMP will be held on Tuesday, July 27, this year. Children going into 1st grade up to 5th grade will go to Sugar Creek Bible Camp for a day to find out what Bible camp is all about. There will be hiking, swimming, arts & crafts, games, Bible study, and food at Sugar Creek. The cost will be $15 for the day. We will leave church at 7:00 a.m. and be back about 5:15 pm. Parents and/or grandparents can come and enjoy the camp free for a day. Forms are available at church or contact Veronica Eicher.

OTHER CAMP NEWS: Our church is a member of Sugar Creek Bible Camp. Jake Sorenson will be here on Sunday, April 11, at both services to talk about camp. Sugar Creek Bible Camp has openings beginning June 13 for weekly camps for 3^rd graders to 12^th grade. Retreats for everyone are available throughout the year. Family events are available in August. Check out camp forms at church!

This year we are asking for your help to support Sugar Creek. We are asking each member of our church to donate $2.00 per person to help with the outdoor ministry of Sugar Creek. So if you have a family of 4, that would come to $8. Envelopes will be available for this ministry in the narthex starting in April. We also will have a poster entitled ‘Steer Project’ in our narthex. Each square will be $15.00 to help support the weekly camps available at Sugar Creek. The ‘Steer Project’ helps keep camp fees down for each child that comes to Sugar Creek. If you have any questions about Sugar Creek, please contact Veronica Eicher.

CAMP REGISTRATION: Now is the time to get people registered for summer camp. In 2009, 1200 kids were served at camp. There is now room for 1625! Please encourage youth to get registered. Consider offering them financial assistance. VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Sugar Creek could not function without its many volunteers. We need to keep track of these people so  we can thank than, include them and make them feel they are a part of our team!GROUNDSKEEPER In the summer, there is a lot of grass to mow at camp, and this work really stretches our staff. Help is needed to mow & care for the founds from May-September. (One or two days a week, maybe)EQUESTIAN VOLUNTEER To work with the 25 horses and check out tack. This could be one day a week or more. You would be keeping track of horse care and records.BAKER/COOK Do you like to bake goodies that make people feel really good? Make goodies for the campers? It is great to help make them smile!

THERE ARE MANY OTHER IDEAS … SEE KIOSK at CHURCH for more INFO!!

Due to increased Scrip Handling Fees, starting in March we will be ordering Scrip once a month. We will be ordering the 3^rd Sunday of the month with our next order being Sunday March 21^st. Please contact Anne Staniforth with any questions at 846-3352.

Also, Uno’s has filed for Chapter 11. Please use any Uno’s gift cards as soon as possible. Uno’s will not be available for sale through our Scrip Program, until they are out of bankruptcy. Thank you!

Council met Thursday, February 11^th, 2010. This was the first regular meeting of the newly elected Council. We discussed and planned for some events including: installation of the Council, the annual Council retreat (i.e. work day) and Ash Wednesday Soup Supper. We also discussed many other items, a summary of some of these items are as follows:  · The potential to reform a nursery during Sunday’s services. Veronica Eicher will work with others to hopefully restart a nursery in fall 2010.· Placing more training and importance on being a Greeter. Betty Olson is planning to lead an initial Greeter training class February 21^st.· The current lack of volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and the potential that this year’s trip may be canceled. Rick Johnson and others will place personal phone calls to our high school youth and hopefully bring more volunteers forward.· The budget, last month’s actuals and other information included in the Treasurer’s Report. Lisa Johnson led an informative discussion.· Assigning the Standing Committees to Council Members, so each committee has a designated “Liaison” to the Council. All standing committees now have a Liaison to the Council.

· Revision of the brick memorial rates to celebrate our 60^th anniversary. The rate was changed to $60.00 a brick for the anniversary year.

Discussion of how to reconcile the budget approved by the Congregation and Pastor Kathy Ulrich’s decision to not accept the reduced salary and continue at the salary stated in her last letter of call. The Synod and Bishop is to be contacted as soon as possible so Council will know what avenues are available to reconcile this difference. (FYI, the Bishop’s office was contacted the next day and the first meeting between members of our Council and the Bishop has not yet been scheduled but will likely be the week of March 7^th prior to our next Council meeting.)Council meetings are open to the public. As always you are invited to join us to bring forth your ideas and enter into the discussion. The Council regularly scheduled meeting is the second Thursday of the month starting at 7:00 pm. If you would like to be included in the Council meeting agenda and information distribution list, please let me know.Please continue to pray for and believe in the leadership of our Council. You have elected what I believe to be another great group of individuals that will continue to do what they feel is in the best interest of our congregation. Thank you for your support and the support you give to each other.

Prepared by Jim Simpson, President, please contact me with any questions or concerns (846-3564, jim.simpson@charter.net), thank you.

We will be studying Luther’s Catechism on Wednesdays during Lent.  Come for Soup at 6:00 p.m.  (If you have a favorite soup that you would like to share with Norway Grove, there is still time to sign up on a sign-up sheet on the usher’s table!)  Worship at 7:00 p.m., for about ½ hour. 

On February 17^th, Ash Wednesday started with Confession and the Forgiveness of Sins, along with the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion. 

February 24^th Topic was the 10 Commandments. The 8^th graders provided a skit for us on this evening called “Foundations”. Pastor Kathy’s reflection was on “Fear and Trust.”

March 3                Apostle’s Creed                                                Reflection     “I Believe”    by pastor Kathy

March 10             The Lord’s Prayer                            Veronica Eicher, Lay School participant, will be giving us

the message this evening.

March 17             Baptism                                               We have two baptisms this evening! 

Reflection “Baptized by God himself” by pastor Kathy

March 24             The Sacrament of the Altar          With Holy Communion this evening.

                                                                                                Reflection “God’s Standard” by pastor Kathy     

Holy Week

April 1                   Maundy Thursday                           With Holy Communion

7:00 p.m.                                             Message “What would you do if you knew this was your

                                                                Last Day on Earth?” by pastor Kathy

April 2                   Good Friday                                       Service of Light and Darkness Tenebrae Service

                                7:00 p.m.                                             Message “Behold the Life-giving Cross” by pastor Kathy

April 4                   Easter Festival Worship                 All services with Holy Communion           

                                Sunrise Service at 6:00 a.m.         Message “Why do You Look for the Living among the

Worship at 8 and 10:00 a.m.        Dead” by pastor Kathy