Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The start of Lent (Ash Wednesday) is not until March 5, but I am so excited about what we are doing in Lent that I wanted to dedicate my February newsletter cover article to this theme. I hope that you already know some of what is happening, having received a letter from the Unbinding Your Heart leadership team. The team includes Kris Emerson, E-vent coordinator; Peggy Grothe, Small Group coordinator; Emily Kann, Children and Youth coordinator, Maribelle Lund, Prayer coordinator, along with our musicians, Jennifer Wagner and Debbie Swanson, Mary in the office, and myself.

Unbinding Your Heart is a six week study of prayer and faith sharing. Ideal for existing classes and small groups, and also for new ones formed just for the study, Unbinding Your Heart is designed to enrich church community life; help individuals grow in their face-to-face encounters with God, and teach people how to talk about their faith.

The purpose of this year’s Lenten discipline is to discover the role of prayer in developing a closer relationship with God; teach us how to share our faith while increasing our comfort to share; and provide opportunities to practice prayer and faith sharing as a means of spiritual growth and development. Sign up for being in a small group and ordering your book begins on Sunday, February 2. The approximate cost of the book is $10. You may reimburse the church for the book on a freewill basis. It is up to you if you want a book for each member of your family, or if you will share books. There will be temple talks in

Newsletter- February 2014

February to help explain what is going to happen.

The small groups will meet at selected times of the week, starting Sunday, March 9, and ending on Wednesday, April 16. There will be a chapter of the book to read each week, as well as a daily prayer journal and Bible reading. The small groups will discuss the reading and will pray for one another. Our Sunday worship services will have a supporting message for each week’s reading and music fitting to that subject.

The Wednesday evening schedule will be a soup supper at 6:00, with small group time at 6:45. There will be a small group at that time for our 7-12th graders, as well as children’s activities.

Our world is full of people, many of them right outside our doors, who need to hear the very message we sometimes take for granted. Unbinding Your Heart is important because we need to be revitalized in our own walk with God, and because there are others who desperately need God’s healing and wholeness in their lives and we may be the very ones God is calling to make that happen. Our church will certainly be blessed by Unbinding Your Heart, but more importantly, you will be blessed personally, as will be the world around you.

Love in Christ,Pastor Mark

Unbinding the Gospel summaries

Last fall the Congregation Council, Evangelism Committee, and some of their spouses studied the book Unbinding the Gospel. Hopefully the following summaries of the chapters of that book will increase your anticipation for our Lenten study of Unbinding

Your Heart:

CHAPTER 1

The most important finding from the Mainline Evangelism Project is that a vivid relationship with God lies at the heart of real evangelism. People who share their faith love God and believe that other people’s lives would be better if they were in a relationship with God, too. They want to share a driving force in their own lives. They learn to talk about their faith.

The heart of evangelism is being in love with God, being part of a church you love, and caring about other people who do not know that faith. Sharing our faith focuses on relationships – not “bringing in more people.”

People in evangelistic churches can tell you what difference being a Christian makes in their own lives. They believe passionately that having a relationship with God and being part of their church community will help both friends and people they’ve never met.

At its core, evangelism is people sharing with others their belief that life is better, richer, truer if one has faith in Christ and lives in a faith community.

CHAPTER 2 – Why Do Evangelism

First we might ask this question – why does Evangelism matter? In my thoughts and in this book “Unbinding the Gospel,” we find Evangelism does matter and these can be the thoughts. First, it is sharing our faith and relationship with God. Second, hospitality and helping others find a close relationship with God.

This chapter did bring out that we do love our church

and feel we have a loving relationship with God but as a church we fall short doing significant Evangelism. Perhaps it just isn’t the thing to do – talk about our faith. In some churches it is called the “E Word”. In some mainline churches a minority is important to talk about Evangelism and love sharing their faith while in other churches the majority hear the word Evangelism and begin to feel queasy and back quietly toward the door.

There was another part of this chapter that said again “Why Do Evangelism.” This answer was given – “We must remember the purpose of Evangelism is to help new men, women and children begin a new life with a relationship with God.” Then the church supports that relationship!

We must remember, though, that the typical lay people in many congregations are hesitant to talk about their faith. We must talk about God in a personal way and this is where prayer comes in. We must pray about it and in our church we do have a “Prayer Group.”

Again, “Why Do Evangelism?” From this chapter 2 I feel it can give us a closer relationship with God. It also gives us a close relationship with our Pastor and also members of our congregation. Above all it gives us: Peace, Hope and Love.

CHAPTER 3 If You Don’t Like Statistics, Skip This Chapter?

Membership in mainline churches has been on a steep decline. In percentage terms of total population of Americans, mainline church membership decreased almost 50% in the 40 years from 1960-2000.

A hundred years ago, it would have been difficult to find someone who didn’t know the Christmas story. Today all we’d have to do is walk into one of our high

schools. For lots of people, the thought of “going back to church” when in trouble won’t occur to them because they were never in the practice of attending church in their lives. For them, a church is an alien, possibly intimidating place – not a place of comfort and hope.

Congregations are realizing that they don’t do evangelism well. However, many churches are developing a deeper spiritual/prayer life and are paying more attention to scripture and through their spiritual discipline they wish to share their faith. They are starting where they are and are being open to the growth that may be in store for them.

CHAPTER 4 – Three Stories of Victory

(quote from Chapter 4)“Our denominations and many of our congregations have been on a downward pathway for decades. It would take a miracle to turn things around. . . the decline of the mainline church is not merely serious. In Soren Kierkegaard’s words, it is a “sickness unto death.” We must not ignore this fact.”

“We must do the only realistic thing. We need to look the facts in the face, to pray that God let us continue to love and honor God, and to see the state of the churches with as much clarity as each one of us able to bear. Then we can ask God to guide use, step by step to do whatever things we’re each suppose to be doing. If we really believe in crucifixion and resurrection, in a life of worshipping God and surrendering self, what real option do we have but to let God guide us through thought, study and open-spirited prayer?”

Story One: What do you mean “Sit and Pray”

Prayer – A newly formed evangelism committee was challenged by the Pastor to do nothing but pray for

three months. In addition to meeting together for prayer, every day at 7:30 wherever they were they prayed. Soon their numbers started to grow, going from 3 to 50 people involved. All sorts of ministry began to happen. Whenever things started to feel dry and rote, they realized that prayer slacked off. The church continues to emphasize the importance and priority of prayer. The entire church is still being impacted by this willingness to risk praying first.

Story Two: The gift from Honduras

Small groups are vital. They foster intimacy, connection and peer relationships. Yet, even more important, as taught by the Moravian Church, Honduras, is the ministry of intercession and fasting. The most important things the brothers taught them was to trust in the Spirit and to listen to God. Not talking: listening.

“Prayer is subtle and so hidden. . .You have to let go of the idea that numbers matter or that it’s visible results that count. That’s very difficult for Americans in our culture to understand. . . But if we can leave the results of our prayer to God, if we can praise God and listen to God rather than giving him a list of what we want, things do happen.”

Story Three: Tuesday Mornings with the Guys

Four pastors began to meet together once a week to pray with each other for two hours. The Pastors and ministries began to change and grow. “Prayer is more about receiving from God than it is about asking God for things or working hard at intercession. Prayer involves effort, habit, and focus; but it results in lightness and energy and excitement.”

“Pope John Paul XXII said to ‘keep a window open for the Spirit.” That’s one of the images I’m really working

with – to keep a window open for the Spirit to do something. Things are changing. There’s a real concern among the pastors for evangelism. That’s different. The competition is gone. We’re in this together. I think the Spirit’s doing that.”

About Prayer –1. A prayer life has two aspects – individual prayer

and prayer with other people.2. Trusting God for guidance is counter-intuitive.3. Prayer is a lifelong practice.4. We need somone to help us learn prayer.5. We need discernment and accountability.

“A life steeped in prayer is exciting and filled with change. . .We need practice, accountability to a group of Christians, and wise counselors to help us discern which ideas are nudges from God and how they should be acted upon.”

CHAPTER 5 – Real Life

(quotes from Chapter 5)

“We, as individuals, are made in God’s image. So the doctrine of the Trinity must say something about who we can be as people and how Christ’s Church (Christ’s body) can be. The doctrine of the Trinity, the idea that God is made up of relationships, shows us something important about the nature of people and church.”

A Trinity of Relationships1. Relationships with God2. Relationships with church members3. Relationships with people outside the church

“God works powerfully through these three sets of relationships in healthy churches. As individual relationships with God grow, people are able to be more real with each other within the

church. . .Everything affects everything!” “Positively or negatively, these sets of relationships affect each other. If one area grows and gets healthier, the other areas will change. . .A congregation that is out to balance, with strength in only one or two areas, is merely limping along.”

Healthy Relationships in Churches1. People are real. They are honest. They share

their lives with each other in significant ways.2. People see each other for who they are, and

show repsect by telling the truth lovingly.3. Relationships are not sentimental. People

acknowledge their own frailties and sinfulness. They may have disagreements, but they find ways of resolving them without undue conflict or lone resentments.

4. Visitors can feel it when they walk in the door!

“Once you have a rich faith life and a healthy church, your questions shift from “Why would I do evangelism” to “Oh Lord, how can I help people see your face? Show me today, lead me to the ones you can reach through me. Let me be part of what you want to do next.”

Growing people are dynamic. Growing churches, comprised of growing people, help transform lives.

CHAPTER 6 - What New Members Want – Transformed Lives

In this chapter the author points out, all too clearly, that we often look at the world through “tainted” glasses. We see things from OUR prospective, rarely taking the time to put ourselves in the place of others. Our life influences, including the fact that we may have been raised in a church family, shape the way we think, talk and act. We so easily forget that words like grace, redemption, and original sin may be completely

unknown to the very people that we are trying to minister to. If we were honest with ourselves, the denomination that we are a part of, or the fact that we have a liturgical style of worship, are really just personal preferences that make no difference in our salvation or our true spiritual lives. Once we get our eyes off of ourselves and what our church “needs” i.e. people, families with young children, etc. but instead focus on the needs of others, our pews will begin to fill and we will not only transform the lives of others for Christ but we will have transformed our own lives as well.

CHAPTER 7 - How’s Your Church Doing? Bandwidths, Barriers and Bridges

The premise of this chapter revolves around the understanding of what Evangelism really is, and just as important, who are we to evangelize to? The author uses Bandwidths to describe different audiences that we should consider when looking at our evangelism program. These would start with our own children and progress through various categories including our children’s friends, inactive members of our own church, all the way up to non-Christians and people totally different from us. We are often intimidated by evangelism thinking that we have to convert people to Christianity, when in reality all we have to do is share God’s love and let the Holy Spirit do the work.

Barriers can be inside each of us or within our churches. These can be real or imagined, large or small, physical or emotional. If we try to live our lives and conduct ourselves as we would want to see other people respond…….we will see transformation……not just in our own lives, but within our church. We will build the bridges that the Holy Spirit can then use to grow the church within our communities and worldwide.

The best evangelistic churches with sustained vibrancy over time hold mystery and details together. The mystery comes from moments of faith which sink so deep they cannot be described--our candle lit Christmas Eve service, one phrase in a sermon written for you which unlocks your heart and so forth. The details concern how we organize ourselves and prioritize for evangelism. Faith has to be real for all of us. We also have to plan, to see, to evaluate, to change what we are doing if necessary. Evangelism is holiness borne in details.

Pastors have to keep focus on the evangelism plan which can be difficult when daily and operational details crowd out forward looking implementation of ideas. At the same time, congregational members can help the pastor by not asking the pastor to do things we, the members, can do.

One of the greatest gifts members (and pastors) can receive is leading someone to find faith. We need to look for the openings in conversations where we can say, “You know, going to my church really helps me. Do you want to come to church with me on Sunday?”

We need to plan and not be shy about asking others to come. When they do, if our prayer lives--both individual and group--are strong and vibrant, visitors will sense the genuineness of our faith and seek us out further to fill the voids in their lives, to find what they need spiritually.

CHAPTER 8

The best evangelistic churches with sustained vibrancy over time hold mystery and details together. The mystery comes from moments of faith which sink so deep they cannot be described--our candle lit Christmas Eve service, one phrase in a sermon written for you which unlocks your heart and so forth. The

details concern how we organize ourselves and prioritize for evangelism. Faith has to be real for all of us. We also have to plan, to see, to evaluate, to change what we are doing if necessary. Evangelism is holiness borne in details.

Pastors have to keep focus on the evangelism plan which can be difficult when daily and operational details crowd out forward looking implementation of ideas. At the same time, congregational members can help the pastor by not asking the pastor to do things we, the members, can do.

One of the greatest gifts members (and pastors) can receive is leading someone to find faith. We need to look for the openings in conversations where we can say, “You know, going to my church really helps me. Do you want to come to church with me on Sunday?”We need to plan and not be shy about asking others to come. When they do, if our prayer lives--both individual and group--are strong and vibrant, visitors will sense the genuineness of our faith and seek us out further to fill the voids in their lives, to find what they need spiritually.

CHAPTER 9 - Smart Sailing

As in the Gospel of John the Spirit is the wind, moving the church through dangerous waters. Change is hard. God is trustworthy.

Hand God your feelings and ask what you should do next.

Growing Pains:Are a natural result of change. Pastors who work 80 hours a week can damage their spiritual lives, families, health or abilities to perceive situation and deal with them in the Spirit.Churches and pastors need to plan for these things.

Understanding and tact in making changes go a long way in helping folks adapt.There may be a need to ask someone outside the church to monitor and help deal with this change. Pray often.

Conflict:After a while we will have to sacrifice things we love to help new people move into faith.God is the North Star which we can navigate while the church sails, while the world swirls and buffets us.Since we love our church and God any fussing with those particulars can threaten us.In conflict people are angry and it is personal. Need to listen for clues conflict is brewing and talk about it. Flexibility is key. We need to identify early – get help – ask God for healing protection and leading Spirit. Need to stay on target – we are called to share the Gospel.

Distractions:People and churches that are stretched become vulnerable. Taking the attention away from the focus – sharing the Gospel.Need to base ministries on what God is calling us specifically to do. Need to pray about which one to do. If the church can hang in there during the distractions new growth will begin.Safety lies in God, not in our habits.

CHAPTER 10 - Getting Started

The only indispensable element of sharing the Gospel is that you love God and are trying to follow the Spirit’s leadings. All else is icing.Form an E-Team of six people who are outgoing, artistic, loving, people persons, intercessors who pray naturally, techy types.

This team works to figure out what it would be like to be a visitor in our church. Consider an outside coach to assist the Pastor. Pastors and E-team keep journals and notes of what they think, talk about and do. Jesus is the answer to all of these human problems – in scripture, in theology, in human experience.Nothing we can worry about or problem we have cannot be solved by Christ on the cross.We need to know what questions people are asking and show them Jesus is the answer.

Winter Sunday Schedule

8:30 a.m. Prayer time in library 8:30 a.m. Confirmation in the parsonage 9:00 a.m. Sunday School in the basement 9:00 a.m. Adult Sunday School in counting room 9:15 a.m. Choir rehearsal10:00 a.m. Worship

Souper Bowl of Caring

There will be soup pots at church doors on Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday, February 2. We will join people in churches across the country to collect money and cans of soup for those who are hungry and hurting. All of the money and food collected is donated to The Fellowship Cup - none of the money is sent to the Souper Bowl of Caring headquarters. Please support our church in this effort to “love our neighbors” by bringing your cans of soup and/or dropping your dollar(s) in the soup pot on February 2.

Lenten Devotion Books

Just a reminder that we are putting together a Lenten devotional book. Writers are needed for each of the 40 days, so please pray about your participation. You don’t have to be a professional writer to share a few thoughts about a Bible passage and your faith. Pastor Mark is eagerly waiting to hear that you are willing to be a part of this worthwhile project.

Baptism

The congregation is invited to a potluck at the parish hall in celebration of the Baptism of Riley Alyse Sovern, daughter of Jason and Kinsey (Olson) Sovern, following the service on February 9.

Churchmen Soup Supper

All are invited to the Churchmen-sponsored Soup Supper at the parish hall on Tuesday, February 4. Serving will begin at 6:00 p.m. The menu will include chili and oyster soup, relishes, desserts and beverages. Your freewill offering will enable the Churchmen to help support several local charities such as: The Fellowship Cup, Tolson Community Action Center, Henry County Habitat for Humanity, Christamore

Family Treatment Center, and Henry County Foods Resource Bank.

Worship and Music

The next Worship and Music meeting will be Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 7:45 p.m.

Women of the ELCA (WELCA)

We have started our sewing days, referred to as Mission Action in the yearbook; and we’d like to invite anyone, man or woman, to come join us. Each Wednesday we will be in the parish hall. The time is 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; with coffee breaks at 10 and 2, and a noon potluck.

We use sheets as backing for our quilts so if you have sheets you are not using we’d appreciate the donations. We prefer large or queen and king. We send our quilts out in April with Lutheran World Relief (LWR).

In the spring we do health kits. More information will be published later. These also go out in spring pick up.

If sewing is not up your alley, we could use a person to set up our noon potluck. Time span would be about 10:30 to 1:00. It would entail getting the food in oven, setting up the tables and getting the food out ready to serve at 12 o’clock. Everyone helps to clean up afterwards. If you think you could help call me, Betty Molander, and we’ll pick out a date.

Betty Molander, WELCA President

Freezer Meals

The Social Ministry Committee met on January 15 to make freezer meals. Thanks to those who helped,

especially our youth! So the freezer in the church basement is restocked, and the committee would like to remind you that these frozen meals are available to anyone! For a friend or neighbor. They are also there for our members to take and use for themselves. Just come in and help yourselves. There are family-sized meals, as well as single servings. There is also a limited quantity of food items available in the counting room. Please use these as well.

Congregation Council and Church Finance Notes

The Council meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2014 was cancelled due to snow. The next regular Council meeting will be Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.

Financial Report 2013 General Fund Activity (as of January 28, 2014)

Gifts $32,765.75Ministry Expenses $18,441.84Net Income $14,323.91

Movie and Pizza

Put Sunday, February 23 on your calendar! At 4:00 that afternoon the Evangelism Committee will sponsor a pizza, popcorn, and movie event at the parish hall. For our older kids and adults, the movie The Blind Side, will be shown. Even if you’ve seen this film before, it’s worth seeing again! We will also have an animated movie option for the younger children in the electric room. Popcorn will be served during the movie, with pizza afterwards.

The Evangelism Committee will meet on Monday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. to pass out invitations to the movie and pizza event to the residents of Swedesburg.

Tanzania Companion Coordinators

The Tanzanian Companion Coordinators are excited about the developments we have had in the last month or so!

We have improved communications! Pastor Mpinda works out of the Pare Diocese office from the Ngaeni Parish, still has many ties there and has offered to help us get communications back and forth. That means instead of relying on the mail to get our letters to them, we can email them to Pastor Mpinda who can get them to the people of the Ngaeni Parish. We are so thankful for his assistance with this!

We have sent our Christmas cards, some made by our Sunday School children and others signed by people of our congregation, to be distributed to the individual families of Ngaeni. We have heard from other Iowa congregations with partners that these types of cards and notes are very important to our companion congregations. In fact, often families decorate their homes with these cards all year round. Thanks to all of you who helped by making or signing a card.

Two banners have been purchased. One will stay with our congregation and an identical one will be delivered to Ngaeni Parish. We hope to have as many of our members as possible sign the banner before we send it over. When our church directories are completed, we will send one of those along, too, so that our companions can look up names and see the faces of their friends on the other side of the world.

Each month, we continue to send our church newsletter and a separate letter just for them that tells a bit about our community, congregation and members. Jackie Brawner has graciously been writing

these monthly letters. If you would be willing to help write part of this correspondence, please let Jackie know. The main purpose is to give them a glimpse of some of the activities in our church life and our daily individual lives.

There are several other activities pending. These are activities that will help us get better acquainted with our Tanzanian companions as well as learn more about their community and lives.

Our next meeting will be on Sunday, February 2 right after church in the church basement. We welcome anyone who is interested in getting more involved.

Confirmation Happenings

In February the Confirmation class will finish their study of the Ten Commandments, and then look at the topics of King David and the Exile. On Sunday, February 16 the class, along with the rest of the Luther League, will go skiing after church at Sundown Mountain Resort near Dubuque. On Wednesday, February 16 we will meet at the parish hall at 7:00 p.m. to make care packages for our shut-ins.

Choir Updates

In February, Choir rehearsals will be each Sunday at 9:15 a.m. and every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Altar Flowers

The 2014 flower chart is available in the narthex. If you are able to assist in beautifying the sanctuary on any date, please write your name on the chart. We appreciate your assistance.

Called Together in Mission (CTIM) Conference

Everyday Evangelists Deepen your faith. Share your story.Saturday, March 8, 2014First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids $20 per person

We are “Called Together in Mission”! Each of us is an everyday evangelist called by God to boldly live out our faith and share Jesus’ love. This year, CTIM welcomes Peggy Hahn, Executive Director of LEAD: Living every day as disciples, Gulf Coast Synod. Peggy will inspire, share ideas and provide resources that will expand your thinking and deepen your spiritual life. This is an event for everyone in your congregation – bring your entire evangelism team and council to participate!

Registration deadline is February 28. Contact the church office if you are interested in attending. The cost of the registration will be covered by SELC.

Food Pantry at SELC

The Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church has a small food pantry available. If you are in need for some food items, please feel free to pick up what you need from the counting room.

2014 Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly

The 2014 Southeastern Iowa Synod Assembly will be held on Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1 at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Coralville. The assembly will gather under the theme “Led by the Spirit.”

“Week after week we confess, ‘I believe in the Holy Spirit.’ But sometimes we take that Spirit for granted. The Spirit is God’s own presence among us. Like a holy wind, or a life-giving breath, the Spirit blows in, around, and through us. We gather remembering that we are ‘Led by the Spirit’ in all that we say and do in the name of Jesus.” Bishop Michael Burk

The assembly will include the election of the bishop. According to the constitution of this synod, “the bishop is elected to a term of six years and may be reelected.” Bishop Michael Burk was elected bishop of this synod in 2008. Bishop Burk shared with the Synod Council and with rostered leaders at the Fall Theological Conference that he is open to continuing this call and “would be privileged to serve a second term if elected.”

SELC has the opportunity and responsibility to send two voting members to the Assembly (one male, one female) as well as a youth voting member. Please prayerfully consider your serving in this way. Let Pastor Mark know if you are interested or have any questions.

Lutheran Services in Iowa

Positive parenting matters: February’s National Parent Leadership Month is an opportunity to publicly recognize and honor parents for their leadership roles in their homes and communities.

We work with so many parent leaders at LSI—grandparents raising grandchildren, foster parents, parents with little or no support, young or new

parents, parents who are worried about a child in crisis, parents of refugee status, parents who have had a child removed from home and many others. All of these parents are working hard to build better lives for their families. Your support helps provide the resources and tools they need to achieve their goals for their family.For more information on LSI, visit www.LSIowa.org. Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa.

An Iowa mother’s first-person story

“I was on unpaid maternity leave and my husband’s factory had hit a slow season. Not enough work, not enough hours, not enough money. Our OB/GYN referred us to LSI for assistance. When our son was born, we met Andrea, a worker for LSI. For the first time since our convictions we were treated as people, as first-time parents seeking answers for the well-being of our family as a whole. Andrea provided a positive energy and gave us hope; literally, Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success. (HOPES).

Through LSI’s HOPES program, Andrea provided us with information for every stage our son experienced, helped create and achieve family and personal goals and directed us to a number of resources. We are a one-car family. The fact that HOPES will come to you only shows how much they truly care about you and your family. From breastfeeding to table foods, crawling to walking and teething to tantrums, the HOPES program has been there every step of the way. Being more than just a helping hand, they have been supportive; turning a stressful time into what should be enjoyable and full of memories.

HOPES wasn’t only there for our son, but for all of us as a family. They gave my husband peace of mind that our family and baby needs would be met, regardless of

background or financial need. For me, it’s been so much more. My whole family lives far away. As a first-time mother, I can’t even describe how reassuring it was to speak with another mother who has gone through these stages before. HOPES has given me a sense of accomplishment and restored my confidence.

Our family has a new sense of community. We feel that we are part of a HOPES network of not just parents supporting parents, but as neighbors supporting neighbors. Even during the darkest of hours, there is always a sparkle of HOPES. Thank you LSI HOPES program.”

Display of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at Wartburg College

You are cordially invited to behold the wonder of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. The Saint John’s Bible: Illuminating the Word for a New Millennium will be displayed at the Waldemar A. Schmidt Art Gallery, January 10 through February 21, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily or by appointment. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten and illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in more than 500 years. At the request of Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, calligrapher Donald Jackson, with help from many others, produced the books—each 2 feet by 3 feet wide when open—with more than 160 illuminations and numerous special text treatments in the 1,150 pages. After February 21, two volumes of the Bible—the Pentateuch and the Gospels and Acts—will remain on campus for public viewing throughout 2014.

St. Olaf Band to Perform in Cedar Rapids

The St. Olaf College Band will perform in the Cedar Rapids area as part of its 2014 national tour. The concert will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the Linn-Mar High School Auditorium. The concert is free for all students, $10 for adults/seniors and group rates (10+) are available. Tickets are available on the night of the concert, in advance at stolaftickets.com or by calling 1-800-363-5487.

IWC Announces 2014Clifford and Maxine Manning

Annual Lecture Series

Rev. Dr. Renita J. WeemsThursday, February 27, 11 am Forum“So, You Want to Be a Prophet: The Book of Jeremiah”

Thursday, February 27, 7 pm“So, You Want to Be a Prophet: The Book of 1st and 2nd

Kings”

Iowa Wesleyan College Chapel Auditorium601 N Main Street, Mount Pleasant, IowaFunded by the Clifford and Maxine Manning Annual Speaker Series. Both events are free and open to the public.

EWALU Camp & Retreat Center

Living to Celebrate “For everything these is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” Summer 2014 Camp Ewalu brochures are available in the narthex. Come and enjoy the unique programs, fantastic staff, outdoor living, cooking over a campfire, a Christian community, and memorable conversations…you may check Ewalu out at: www.ewalu.org.

A Transfigured Christ for a Transforming World

Hymn festival: Friday, February 28, 2014, 7:30 p.m. at Wartburg Chapel. An evening hymn festival in the Warburg Chapel with organist/pianist Daniel Schwandt (Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago); commentary/reflections by the Rev. Paul Hoffman (former pastor at Phinney Ridge Lutheran Church in Seattle, and author of Faith Forming Faith). The choir will consist of Wartburg Kantorei and invited area church choirs. The hymn festival will also feature a new Transfiguration hymn, written by Dr. Karen Black of the Wartburg music faculty and text by Hoffman. Free-will donation requested and open to the public.

Reminder about Federal Privacy Laws

Because of Federal Privacy Laws (HIPPA), if you or a member of your family are hospitalized, and would like Pastor Mark to visit, you must contact the church and let us know. While the hospital may ask what church you are affiliated with and you ask the hospital to contact your pastor, they may not. Please let us know. You can reach the church office at (319) 254-2216.

March Newsletter Deadline

The deadline to have your group meeting times and activities or other items listed in the March newsletter is 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25. Submit your items to Mary McLerran in the church office at 254-2216 or email Mary in the office at office@swedesburglutheran.org.

The monthly newsletter is available on our website at swedesburglutheran.org. The newsletters are located

under “calendar”, then “newsletter”, just click on the month you wish to read. Also, watch the SELC website’s online calendar for any changes that may occur during the month.

Thank You’s Received Thank you so much for your gift from the SELC

fundraiser! I so appreciate your thoughts and prayers as I continue my Masters of Social Work program at Washington University in St. Louis. My semester starts next week and I am looking forward to learning and growing! Thanks again,

Kirsten Brown Thank you for the check. It will be put towards

books for this semester. Aaron Kempf

Thank you for your recent donation of $100 to LSI (Lutheran Services in Iowa)! Let me tell you what your donation means for just a few of our children, families and adults:

It means a young woman with an intellectual disability can live on her own for the first time.

It means a child at Beloit can move into a pre-adoptive home, having learned the skills he will need to be successful in a family.

It means a new mother has someone to talk to about her parenting fears and concerns.

These victories may seem small to some people, but you know they are not. We could not do this work without you. We, and those we serve, deeply appreciate your generosity.

Thank you for joining us in responding to the love of Christ through compassionate service!

With gratitude,Chris Andersen

VP of Advancement & Church Relations, LSI

P.S. LSI is celebrating our 150th anniversary this year, and we would love to keep you in the loop with our emails and newsletter! You can sign up for those at our site, www.LSIowa.org.

CONGREGATION REFLECTIONS

THANKS ARE DUE . . .to Michelle Hultquist, for her assistance with placement of the bulletin items during all the special holiday services.to the social ministry for packing freezer meals for those in need.to Craig Grothe for filling in for Pastor Mark on December 29.to the many talented musicians who assisted with the Chicago Folk Service.

PRAY FOR:ELCA missionaries Rev. Brian and Christine Palmer in Liberia.for Rev. Eliewaha Ezekieli and people of Ngaeni Lutheran Parish, our partner congregation in Tanzania.friends and loved ones experiencing health concerns.

Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church1897 140th Street, P. O. Box 88, Swedesburg, Iowa 52652-0088

Telephone (319) 254-2216 www.swedesburglutheran.orgemails: pastor@swedesburglutheran.org office@swedesburglutheran.org

1897 140th StreetP. O. Box 88Swedesburg, IA 52652

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Worship begins at 10 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Handicap accessible. website: www.swedesburglutheran.orgemail: office@swedesburglutheran.org