Volume 76 - Number 3 March 2014

Kingo Lutheran Church • Established 1909 Pr. Wendy Wirth-Brock Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastorwwb@kingo.org

9 am FAITH 5 10 am Worship

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

One of the joys of being Lutheran is that we emphasize that individual congregations are joined to the Church catholic,

the universal Church that stretches past the often-limiting boundaries of geography and even past the boundaries of past,

present and future. Being part of the Church catholic (notice the order of the terms – catholic means universal), for ex-

ample, means that we can share with each other insights about faith and life.

This month, it’s my privilege to share with you the insights of Pastor Gail Rautmann, pastor of our sister ELCA

congregation, Village Church. I receive Village’s monthly newsletter, for which Pastor Gail writes a column. I

thought her words in their February newsletter were especially powerful, as we prepare to enter Lent, the season of the

church year when we emphasize faith practices as a means to examining and strengthening our walk with God. With

Pastor Gail’s permission, I am sharing her column with you in lieu of my usual offering. May her words bless you, as

they blessed me! -- Pastor Wendy

A Few Words from Pastor Wendy

Back to Practice By the time I went back to swim practice on January 3, it had been two weeks since I had been in a swimming pool and I could feel it. I felt like we were swimming through molasses that morning and even one of my lane mates, Anne, com-mented to me, “You’re really not on top of your game today, are you? Did you lose your swimming mojo?” I wasn’t and I had and it was incredi-bly discouraging for me. Anne’s en-couraging words at the end of prac-tice were, “Well, after a few more Wednesday practices, you’ll be back in the game again!” I could only hope so. A few more practices would help my muscles to remember what they were supposed to do so that I could pick up the pace and get through the water more efficiently.

The lesson I learned when I got back to swim practice can be ap-plied to our faith practices, too. When we don’t “practice” our faith in active ways, our faith “muscles” can get a bit saggy and they forget what they were trained to do. When we don’t come to worship on a regular basis, it becomes harder and harder for us to get out of bed on Sunday mornings to make the trip to church. We have found other ways to fill that time. When we don’t pray or medi-tate, we have a hard time coming up with the words to communicate with God or making the space to sit qui-etly. We have found other ways to fill that quiet space. When we stop of-fering our time or our money for the sake of others or the sake of the

church, we find it difficult to get back in the game again. We have found other ways to spend our time and our money, usually on ourselves. We get out of practice. We lose our worship/prayer/giving mojo and we can feel it when we try to get back to practice again. It’s awkward and un-comfortable and takes more energy than we are often willing to expend.

I see this time and again as a parish pastor: people falling away from church and their faith for one reason or another and the difficulty of get-ting back to practice. We make ex-cuses --- not enough time, not enough money, what are people going to think, I have been gone from church for so long --- which only make the ruts in which we are stuck that much deeper. At that point I usually offer similar words to the ones Anne, my lane mate, offered me: a few more practices and you’ll be back in the game again. A few more worship services, a few more prayers, a few more minutes or dol-lars to spare, and you’ll get your mo-jo back. Just go to church. Just say something to God, even if it’s just “Help me,” or, “Thank you.” Just two minutes in silence to meditate. You are not going to get “better” at your faith practices --- and this is why they are called “practices” --- if you are not practicing any of them. Or, to offer another sports analogy from Nike, “Just do it.” God wants to hear from you. The community of faith wants to see you. The neighborhood and the world want your talents and your gifts. We are all diminished

without you.

I have discovered my best workouts happen when I swim with others, led by a coach. That is why I joined a swim team. I am motivated to swim faster and better when others are in the lane with me, either setting the pace or keeping up with me when I am setting the pace. The same is true when we practice our faith. We are encouraged by the presence of others, guided by their wisdom and strengthened by their support, even as we offer our own. We are made accountable to one another in com-munity and our absence is felt when we do not come to worship or offer our time for the sake of the church. And, like the coach who stands at the edge of the pool and tells the swimmers what to do, how long to do it, and how fast or slow, God stands with us in all of our faith prac-tices, calling us to be faithful throughout our lives, in all of our ups and downs. God reminds us that God is always with us and that oth-ers are with us, too, to share in our life’s joys and challenges, even in those times when we aren’t “going to practice.” And when we do get back to practice, we join with others who are at practice themselves, worship-ing, praying, studying, giving, serv-ing, and loving. We are all practicing the faith together, under the guid-ance and love of God, our lifetime coach, who is always encouraging us to be fully who God intended us to be.

Peace, +Pastor Gail

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Lent 2014

Freed for Life! Praying Ash Wednesday March 5 • 7 pm Begin the Lenten journey in this solemn service with Holy Communion and imposition of ashes

Fasting “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing.” Joel 2:12

Live in Lent with a longing that reminds you of your hunger for God. Consider giving up whatever it is that distracts you from having prayer time with the Lord.

Freed for Life! Sundays in Lent (beg. Mar. 9) • 10 am Return to the Lord and be freed from the bindings of sin and death.

Daily Devotions Daily Scripture, meditation and prayer lead you on a Lenten pathway to Easter. Devotion booklets available in the gathering space outside the Sanc-tuary (Narthex):

God’s Abiding Love by Henri J.M. Nouwen These Stones will Shout! for families

Making Change Midweek Worship (Wednesdays) • 7 pm Change is a constant in our lives. Change is hard. But God walks with us through all change.

Almsgiving / Serving Ending Hunger – One Dollar, One Letter at a Time

Ever wonder whether a dollar does much anymore? Or one letter to the editor, or to your congressional representative?

In a hungry world, one dollar and one letter do still make a difference.

One Dollar —This Lent, as part of your Lenten practice, consider contributing some of your dollars to the ELCA World

Hunger Appeal. The Hunger Appeal provides both domestic and international food aid and hunger education and awareness. Look for the World Hunger posters in the building, or pick up one of the brochures about the Hunger Appeal to learn more about the vital work the Hunger Appeal carries out on behalf of hungry people. Then

prayerfully consider how much you can contribute to the Appeal, either through a direct donation or through dona-tions to Kingo designated for the World Hunger Appeal.

One Letter—The Ending Hunger Team also hopes to lead the congregation in Bread for the World’s spring Offering of

Letters. What’s that? Each year Bread for the World encourages individuals to write to Congress to support a piece of legislation vital to the welfare of the world’s hungry people. This year’s Offering of Letters will focus on streamlin-ing the process by which US aid is sent to hungry people internationally. Why do this? Because each letter, when added together with those of other people, DOES make an impression on our elected leaders. This year’s budget cuts to the federal food stamp program, for example, would have been far worse without the advocacy of ordinary people like us. One letter – yours – DOES make a difference. Look for more about the spring offering of letters in the coming weeks!

~ The Ending Hunger Team

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Director of Cross+Generational Ministry, Carolyn Karl 414.520-3020 (call/text) / crossgen@kingo.org

Join Us for an All-Church Event!

Kingo’s Pasta Dinner,

Silent Auction and Talent Show

Saturday, March 1

The doors to Kingo’s Fellowship Hall will open at 5:00 pm

to browse the silent auction items. A pasta dinner will be served at 5:30 pm,

followed by a talent show and final bidding.

This is community-building at it’s best! Join us for good food, fun items to bid on,

and the opportunity to know other Kingo members and friends at a deeper level while having fun!

All proceeds will go toward youth servant experiences.

This is a wonderful opportunity

to invite friends, neighbors and family to Kingo’s welcoming community.

If you haven’t yet signed up to come,

please come anyway. If you would like to share a talent,

please contact Carolyn Karl to sign up.

Lenten Devotional for Children, Family and Youth Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5) and is the six week “countdown” until Easter. Traditionally, Christians focus on preparing for Easter by fasting (giving up something) and by almsgiving (giving to something). Lent is a time to focus on our faith and draw closer to God.

This year the daily Lenten devotional for children, families and youth is called “These Stones will Shout!” It is a small booklet that can fit easily in a backpack or purse or be kept at the kitchen table. Every day during Lent there is a Bible verse and a short reflection written about that theme. All of the themes focus around stones and rocks or strength. It begins on Ash Wednesday with Isaiah 28:16 (Jesus as a corner-stone) and ends on Easter Sunday with Psalm 18:46 (Blessed be the rock). It is a different way to draw into God’s Word, think about our faith, grow in our faith, and pray every day.

I encourage families to use these devotions. A devotional will be given to every high school youth and confirmation youth, because I know families will need more than one copy. Please contact me if your family needs additional copies.

Lenten devotionals are a great way to make time to focus on our faith together and live into a more complete faith. It doesn’t take a lot of time, but the results of spending time with God’s word and in prayer every day together has a lasting impact.

The Cross+Generational Ministry visioning and support for Kingo’s youth is expanding to more formally include a variety of members with different back-grounds, gifts and experiences. This collaboration will allow Kingo to further expand its vision as well as its ministry. It is exciting to see what God has in store for the Kingo community and our presence in the broader community!

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El Salvador Connection : A Brief History

1952 LC-MC missionary from

Milwaukee founds the first Lutheran congrega-tion in El Salvador.

1980 Brutal Salvadoran civil war begins; Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero assassinated while saying mass.

1982 Lutheran church opens the Fe y Esperanza

refugee camp.

1983 Lutheran pastor Medardo Gomez detained and

Tortured.

1986 Medardo Gomez conse-crated as first Salvadoran Lutheran bishop.

1988 Companion relationship between Greater Milwau-kee Synod and the

Lutheran Church in El Salvador created. Cross Lutheran (Milwaukee) and Resurrection Luther-an (San Salvador) be-come sister churches.

1989 Milwaukee provides sanctuary to Bishop Gomez who is forced into exile in because of threats against his life.

1992 Peace accords end Salvadoran civil war.

1994 First democratic elections held.

2000 First Mission of Healing to El Salvador

2014 Bishop Gomez welcomes our vote monitoring

delegation to El Salvador.

Kingo member Mary Lou Zuege traveled to El Salvador, representing the Greater Milwaukee Synod ELCA, as a part of the international election observation team for the presidential election in February. Here Mary Lou shares her reflections on witnessing the process:

What motivates a person in the later half of life to pack her bags and head to El Salvador to monitor the presidential elections?

When I saw the Synod’s email notice announcing the delegation, I responded to the call immediately. I had no doubt that God had been preparing me all my life to do this. I have always felt the call to seek justice and assist others in rising to their greatest potential. I have always been intrigued with the way govern-ments function (and even when they don’t function so well, I have never lost hope that the people will bring them into balance again).

Of our team of seven election monitors, only two of us were ‘newbies’; and, yes, I was not only the oldest

newbie, but the most senior overall. Thankfully, God has revealed to me, time and again, that age is not a limitation, but a benefit that allows me to try new things without fear of failing.

Our delegation was led by Tim Muth, a member of All Peoples, who has chaired the Synod’s El Salvador committee for the last several years. We spent the week experiencing Salvadoran culture and learning about elec-tion processes; we communed with our Salvadoran neighbors and listened to their hopes and dreams of a better society. We observed the election; and it was good. (Well, not quite good enough; because they will be returning to the polls on Mar. 9 for a run off between the two major contenders.)

Accompanying our Salvadoran brothers and sisters in their quest for a more just society was not just a gift to them, but a chance for me to see our own democracy through another lens. Their fledging democracy is only 25 years old, but the issues that bring them to the polls are not so different than ours -- jobs, capital invest-ments, drugs, violence, education. We all have hope that there is a better tomorrow.

I expected some of this, but I didn’t expect to witness the courage of our Synod’s faith in ac-tion. Our roots in El Salvador go so deep (see timeline to the right). I feel so grateful for those who demonstrate hope and assurance that when God’s people walk together we can overcome the brutality of war and live into a world of peace.

The Salvadorans say: “No se a la violencia; si a la vida!”* I say, “Amen!” *No to violence; yes to life!

SI A LA VIDA! (Yes to Life!)

We arrive at our polling place by 5 am Sunday morning and see the election kits locked up securely, table numbers on each of the boxes (in the US we would call these voting wards; in El Salvador they are mesas or voting tables).

It is 6am and still dark when poll workers are all in place and officials begin distrib-uting election kits to each station.

(1)

Once the doors are opened, voters rush in!

(1) This election was noteworthy in that

El Salvador moved to residential voting for the first time. New voting centers were set up in public buildings throughout the nation, allowing voters to find a station near their homes and villages. (In the past, citizens had to travel long distances to get to centralized locations.)

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Shalom Circle Bible Study Thurs., 3/6 • 1 pm Tanzania Room This month we’ll learn about 2

un-named women in Scripture:

The Daughter of Jephthah,

in Judges 11:1-40

The Anointing Woman,

in Mark 14:3-9

The 1st passage is “ambiguous”

and the 2nd, “audacious.”

Please join us for coffee and

conversation.

YOU ARE WELCOME!

Kingo Book Club Sun., 3/30 • 7 pm Being There by Jerzy Kosinski Being There is the story of Chauncey Gardiner—Chance–

an enigmatic but distinguished man who emerges from nowhere to

become an heir to the throne of a Wall Street tycoon, a presidential

political advisor and a media icon. Chance’s straightforward re-

sponses to popular concerns are heralded as

visionary. But though everyone is quoting him,

no one is sure what he’s really saying.

Being There is a brilliantly satiric look at the

unreality of American media culture that is, if

anything, more trenchant now than ever.

Wendy Lee Cooper will host the discussion

in her home, 4222 N. Farwell in Shorewood.

Kingo Care Co-op: Up and Running!

The Care Co-op is available to connect members of Kingo. For example, you can interact with your fellow congregants

by giving rides or getting exercise advice. Check out the posts that have been added,

or start your own thread! The possibilities are endless!

We have a lot of care to share – let our blessings flow!

Questions, feedback and offline access to the Care Co-op: Contact Lauren Benson

(benson.lauren@gmail.com / 609.802.8823)

Sign up and get information about the Kingo Care Co-op at: http://tinyurl.com/mu6fntf

Unable to serve on your scheduled date(s)?

Please trade and notify Danette in the office. SERVER SCHEDULES

Have a vacation or event planned for a future date?

Let us know and we’ll schedule around it. (kingo@kingo.org / 414.964.2620)

April April 6

Lent 5

April 13

Palm Sunday

April 20

Easter

April 27

Easter 2

Deacon Linda Jacobi-Miller John Mahony Debby Hughes

Sub-Deacon Bob Bresee Miranda Jacobi Lisa Zittergruen

Acolyte Eli Miller Nathan Karl Sydney Jacobi

Cantor Pam Wronski Steven Zittergruen Ellen Greever

Lector-1st

Lesson Mary Lou Zuege Steve Karl

Lector-2nd

Lesson Dick Merklein Lauren Benson

Alternate Jennifer Naeger Jennifer Naeger Connie Fowler

Greeters Lyle Einerson

Trish Naeger

Barb Loberg

Leisso/Turner Family

Bob Bresee

Nancy Romine

Usher Alec Jacobi

Steve Jacobi

Dan Martinson

Lauren Benson

Stacey Davis

Fellowship Host (last Soup Lunch –4/13)

Aleta Chossek

Jeanne Larsen

Kathy Hoth

Trish Naeger

Kathy Hoth

March March 2

Transfiguration

March 9

Lent 1

March 16

Lent 2

March 23

Lent 3

March 30

Lent 4

Deacon Lisa Zittergruen Miranda Jacobi Lyle Einerson Walt Chossek John Mahony

Sub-Deacon Debby Hughes Curt Fowler Stacey Davis Randy Hoth Mary Lou Zuege

Acolyte Nathan Karl Eli Miller Sydney Jacobi Andrew Jack Kevin Karl

Cantor Alexa Doebele Joe Simon Dave Drews Evelyn Burdick Randy Hoth

Lector-1st

Lesson Ellen Greever Dick Merklein Barb Loberg Curt Fowler Debby Hughes

Lector-2nd

Lesson John Mahony Sara Kruschke Dave Drews Aleta Chossek Steve Karl

Alternate Pam Wronski Pam Wronski Pam Wronski Mike Schindhelm Mike Schindhelm

Greeters Lois Wolf

Benson/Davis

Smith Family

Jeanne Larsen

Karen Merklein

Melissa McCorkle

Jacobi-Millers

Barb Loberg

Dick Merklein

Naeger/Schindhelms

Usher Steve Karl Dan Martinson Dick Merklein Greg Brock Lois Wolf

Fellowship Host (Soup Lunches begin 3/9)

Jeanne Larsen Evelyn Burdick

Jackie Davit

S. Davis/L. Benson

Melissa McCorkle

Kathy Hoth

Linda Jacobi-Miller

Connie Fowler

Bonnie Kindschi

EASTER SUNDAY

Worship servers

needed for Sunrise (6:30 am)

and Festival (10 am)

services.

Sign up sheet posted on the

Lounge bulletin board.

Thank you!

Extra readers needed on Palm Sunday.

Sign up on Lounge bulletin board.

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KINGO OFFICE HOURS 9:00 am — noon

Monday through Friday

(Please call in advance for afternoon visits / deliveries.)

SUNDAY MORNINGS: 9:00 am FAITH 5 for ALL 9:30 am Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am Worship 11:30 am Fellowship

Visit www.kingo.org for complete calendar of events. Italicized activities are community based.

WFB-Shorewood Nurs. School M-F 8:30am-noon, unless otherwise noted.

For emergency pastoral care:

Contact Pr. Margaret Schoewe

414.771.0441 w / 414.962.6983 h

For emergency pastoral care:

Contact Pr. Gail Rautmann

414.273.7617 w / 414.763.3401 h

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b i r t h d a y s 1 Melissa McCorkle

8 Karina Ward

17 Hannah Wallisch

18 Susan McCormick

22 Nancy Kosteretz

25 Connie Fowler

30 Curt Fowler

a n n i v e r s a r y 7 Aleta & Walt Chossek

(Please contact the Church Office

with corrections.)

Baptism . . . Baptism Anniversaries will

be celebrated in worship on:

March 2 —

Marion Albritton

Anthony Jack

Dennis Larsen

Jeanne Larsen

Grace Page

Alysha Pettit

Jeanette Piller

Sydney Smith

Steve Strommen

Aaron Westling

In Our Prayers Please remember in prayer:

Mary Behrendt

Ginny Connor

Wendy Lee Cooper

Al Green

Barb Jones

Gail Povey

Rhody Sorensen

Pam Wronski

• Lilliana Lucente and family

Kingo Prayer Chain Requests:

Debby Hughes

414.964.3277 /

hugs@wi.rr.com

From All Peoples upon receipt of annual mission support:

Dear Kingo, Thank you for your generous gift. Your ongoing support helps us fulfill our mission to let the glory of the Lord rise among all peoples!

Peace, All Peoples Church In response to 2014 calendars donated by Kingo members and friends for Luther Manor residents:

On behalf of the residents of the Courtyards, we would like to thank you for the generous donation of 2014 calendars collected by the congregational members of Kingo Lutheran Church. The residents enjoyed the variety and different styles of calendars to choose from. Once again thank you for your continued partnership with Luther Manor and for supporting our mission of sharing God’s love with the older adults that we serve.

Sincerely, Cheryl Schmitz Director, Volunteer Services Luther Manor

THANKS:

Church Council Karl Stuen, President

Sara Kruschke, President Elect

Randy Hoth, Secretary

Members-at-Large:

Steve Jacobi John Mahony

Lauren Benson Lisa Zittergruen

Church Staff The Rev. Wendy Wirth-Brock

Carolyn Karl, Cross+Generational

Ministry Director

Maria Koester, Organist

Alexa Doebele, Interim Choir Director

Danette Braun, Parish Administrator

& Kingo Call Editor

Kingo Lutheran Church

1225 E. Olive Street

Shorewood, WI 53211

Mission: Kingo Lutheran Church is a community centered in the Good News of Jesus Christ and led by the Spirit to walk joyfully with our diverse world in living out God's life-giving inclusive love.

Sunday Worship: 10 AM

Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9AM-noon

Phone: 414.964.2620

Email: kingo@kingo.org

Website: www.kingo.org

KINGO LUTHERAN CHURCH

1225 E. OLIVE STREET

SHOREWOOD, WI 53211

address label

(fold here)

Kingo Call deadline:

March 17

March 9