Worship Service @ 9:30 AM Thoughts from Pastor Dave:

Many people inside and outside the church, see the church as a place of rules. The church becomes a duty more than a joy. God’s commands are really about showing us what it looks like to live as God’s people.

Jesus, in his story-telling, often used common things to remind people of his uncommon message. Bearing fruit was one of his many illustrations of living as God’s people. Now days, I wonder what is real fruit? They tell me the typical fast-food “strawberry” milkshake has 52 ingredients—none of which are actual strawberries. Surrounded by so much processed food, sometimes it is very hard to tell what we are really getting. We get so busy that convenience and cost-effectiveness, many times, take priority over what is real, and we accept a good imitation. Jesus tells us to bear real fruit. We ask what is the real fruit? Real fruit is the fruit of the Spirit that we find in Galatians 5 – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Now we know how God’s people live!

Peace, Pastor Dave

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Remembering our friends and family in prayer: Adelaide Boettcher, Judy Brookshaw, Edna Christenson, Judith Evanson, Ellen Monicken-Knuth, Doris Knutson, Gary Mead, the family and friends of Kathryn Ulvilden Moen, Roger Moniken, Merle Overvig, Evan Peterson, Wayne Ramberg, Ken Sabby, Angie Symanietz, the family and friends of Mons Teig, and Bob Traynor

If you would like your name added, or to add anyone else to our

list, please call Kathy Swenson at 715-425-6046 or see the church

website at rushriverlutheran.org/prayer-request.

Please submit your newsletter items to the office by email or drop

them in the basket on the office desk! June newsletter items are due by May 20th.

Thank you!

June 2019

Council Corner June 2019

UPGRADE DRIVEWAY TO “BALL PARK”

I can remember when our “Ball Park” was actually used for softball games. We fielded junior boys, senior boys and men’s teams that played against like teams from other area churches. Those fun and quite competitive games were played before good crowds of fans, happy for a night out after the cows were milked, and the fieldwork was halted until “tomorrow.” All of us who witnessed those games proudly recall men’s team windmill pitcher Dean Bergseng striking out batter after batter after batter.

Well, even though I’m not sure if a softball game has been played down there for fifty years, our “Ball Park” has and is enjoying a renaissance. It is being used for games and camping, outdoor services, picnics and even gardening. When the new shelter is completed, the possibilities for the site will multiply even more.

The Council has considered upgrading the driveway to the “Ball Park” for a couple of months. As you know, it is just a dirt path through the woods that becomes muddy and slippery with rains. Adding to that fact, exposed tree roots and uneven ground make the driveway a poor pathway for foot travel. Thanks to Gene Larson and his “Gator” for transportation to our outdoor services.

So, at our May meeting, we voted to go ahead with an upgrade to that driveway as we felt we had a unique opportunity to do so. There presently is a stockpile of crushed concrete for sale near Prescott, and, we have learned, crushed concrete is not always available. It is very similar to crushed rock and has been recommended to us by Tom Wang and others. If you google crushed rock vs. crushed limestone you will see that it compares very well. One area the two products do not compare well with one another, however, is price. Crushed concrete is substantially less expensive than crushed limestone. Tom Wang, who will haul and grade the product, has given us a very favorable price for his work. The total cost for the upgrade project is $3,500.00, and I will add that we have the money in the general fund to do so.

OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL

Council members have been to synod workshops in which we have been asked to consider the following question: “What does your church do well?” I believe RRLC does a number of things well, but I know for sure that RRLC DOES SUNDAY SCHOOL WELL!

Loree and I got into a conversation with a couple from Spooner last week, and we ended up talking about our churches. They belonged to a church that must be similar in size to RRLC as their average Sunday attendance was between sixty and eighty people. But, there was a major difference: they no longer had a Sunday School, and there was only one family with children in the church.

We were blessed this past year in that we have received many new members including families with young children who are now enrolled in Sunday School and active in church. I am sure there were a number of factors that made them choose to be members with us, but without a vibrant and active Sunday School, I doubt they would be here.

Our Sunday School kids work with a curriculum learning about God and God’s love, and then do monthly “Sundays of Service” projects in which they put God’s love into practice. On any given S.O.S. day, there may be as many as forty kids working on service projects.

So, as Sunday School comes to a close for the year, on behalf of this congregation, we offer our thanks to everyone involved with our Sunday School including the kids and their parents.

We offer a very sincere thanks to those people who directly work to make our Sunday School successful. Those people and their positions within the Sunday School are listed immediately follows this writing.

TOGETHER IN CHRIST, Don

SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS AND STAFF

2018-2019 Education and Youth Committee: Renee Davis, Alexa Gordon, Kim Haugen

Also valued leader: Nicky Brookshaw

Music and three year old to third grade opening session leader: Ione Hayes

Fourth through sixth grade opening session leader: Jim Knutson

Teachers: Nicky Brookshaw, Kim Haugen, Brandy Peterson, Sara Swenson, Jill Wang

Teacher Helpers: Tova Brookshaw, Kennedy Wang

Breakout Session leaders: Taylor Falde, Trista Falde, Lauren Kasten, Kylie Knutson

Sundays of Service leader and treasurer: Renee Davis

Sundays of Service assistant: Tarhia Davis

Sunday School Christmas program: Sara Enberg, Emily Pierson

Children’s sermons and special events coordinator: Tiffany Hayes

Sunday School bulletin board attendants: Brenda Lund, Jessica Mornson

Education and Youth / Congregation Council liaison: Kathy Swenson

High School Graduate Recognition Sunday

High School Graduation Recognition Sunday will be on June 2nd during our worship service, with cake being served in their honor following the service. Those graduating from Rush River Lutheran are Devin Kugel, son of Dan and Peggy Kugel, and Charlie Smith, son of Dean and Colleen Smith.

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June 9th

is Pentecost Sunday.

Please wear red to church if you can!

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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Building Strong Support for Elders

Friday, June 21, 2019 ~ 10 AM Roberts Park, Village of Roberts

Step Forward – Stop the Abuse – Join our Walk

Wear purple and walk with members of the ADRC of St. Croix County and St. Croix County Adult Protection staff as well as other community memebers.

Afterwards, join ADRC for music and free-will donation lunch at the Countywide Senior Picnic from 11 AM to 1 PM. Proceeds benefit the Elderly Nutrition Program. To learn more visit https://ncea.acl.gov or find ways to take action here http://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/weaad-home

2019 Calendar

Worship Leaders in June

Readers Communion

Assistants Greeters Ushers Altar Guild

June 2 Audrey

Bergseng

Nicky

Brookshaw &

Jim Knutson

Dave & Gloria

Davis

Larry & Karen

Knutson, Dave &

Gloria Davis

Karen Knutson &

Peggy Kugel

June 9 Toni Lubich Bob & Lisa Kotz

Stacy & Karen

Danielson, LuAnn

Johnson, Kathy

Swenson

June 16 Wanda Wells

Nicky

Brookshaw &

Jim Knutson

Jane Swenson &

Karen Miller

Kugel family,

Audrey Bergseng

Karen Knutson &

Peggy Kugel

June 23 Paula Knutson Jim & Paula

Knutson family Jim Knutson family

June 30 David

Austrom

Nicky

Brookshaw &

Jim Knutson

David &

Murlona

Austrum

Lawrence & Cindy

Johnson, David &

Murlona Austrum

Karen Knutson &

Peggy Kugel

Thank you to Cindy Johnson for baking communion bread for the month June! Thank you to Ariel Stephan for faithfully ringing the church bell!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Pastor Dave’s office

hours: Wed & Thurs,

10 AM – Noon

Linda’s office

hours:

Wed & Thurs:

10 – 1:30

1

2

Worship @ 9:30 AM w/

HS Sr Recognition;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

3 Men in Mission,

___6:30 PM___ Cleaning Crew #5

4 Pastors

Conference

5 6 Quilters, 9 AM

7

8 Peace Circle ~

Meet @

Schuggy’s,

Hammond,

9 AM

9 Pentecost Sunday Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

10

Cleaning Crew #6

11 Council Mtg,

6:30 PM

12

13 14

15

16 Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

17 Cleaning Crew #1

18

19 20 Newsletter

items due;

Worship & Witness

Mtg, 6 PM

21

22

23 Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM 24 Cleaning Crew #2

25

26

27

28 29

30 Worship @ 9:30 AM;

Coffee Time, 10:30 AM

April Income: $10,404.01 April Expenses: $8,826.66

Please contact me with any questions or comments. Emily Pierson, Treasurer

We extend our Christian sympathy to the family and friends

of Mons Teig, who passed away on Saturday, May 11, 2019.

Funeral service for Mons was held at Central Lutheran Church

in Minneapolis on Saturday, May 25, 2019.

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Congregation Council Meeting - April 9, 2019 Summarized for the newsletter

Present: Pastor Dave, Don Austrum, Jerid Peterson, Emily Pierson, Wanda Wells, Kathy Swenson, Susie Mead, Bruce Ramberg, and Kathy Swenson Absent: Ken Cheever

New Business: 1. Synod Assembly delegates on May 4th: Myren Cowles and Toni Lubich

Pastor Dave will be honored for 25 years of ministry. 2. Council Job Descriptions - we are working on a list of responsibilities of the council 3. Leaking stool in men’s bathroom - Troy Johnson donated his services to fix it. 4. Doors/Locks - The committee is getting bids from Arrow Building and Glass Express. 5. Annual Membership Review . 6. New printer will be delivered Wednesday, April 10th 7. Water in the fellowship hall - We are getting a bid from Tom Wang about regrading the outside area

Unfinished Business: 1. Financial Sub-committee met on April 7th before worship to discuss plans for the financial oversight of

committees/groups within the church. Will meet again on April 14th to go over final copy of a financial binder. 2. The Sub-committee will meet again Sunday, April 14th to go over the “final” copy of the binder/file components.

Treasurer’s Report: Emily 1. Family Fresh points - 89,703 (no update) Car Wash Cards - 20 available

Amazon Smile - $6.28 (no update) Thrivent Choice Dollars - $498 2. Discussion of Check registry and Income/Expense report for March.There is an increased use of online giving

Pastor’s report: Pastor Dave 1. Lenten services have been well attended. Visiting/calls have increased this month with the nicer weather. 2. Men in MIssion Bunko night went well 3. 1st Communion on Palm Sunday - Mel Visgar team taught with Pastor Dave. She will help with communion

distribution. Pastor Dave would like to possibly move the 1st communion service back to Maundy Thursday as stated in the RRLC constitution next year.

4. Palm Sunday service will include kids processing in with palm branches. The Passion Story during the service will include readers within the congregation. Larry Knutson, Sara Gavin, Susie, Kathy, Don, Jerid, and Bruce will be reading parts of the story.

Committee reports: 1. Education & Youth – Kathy stated that students will be doing an SOS project this Sunday assembling soldier

boxes. Kathy will probably be mailing these boxes. May 5th will be the last day of Sunday School classes with Walking Taco treats. May 12th will be the last day of Sunday School. There will be a Reptile Lady here.

2. Worship & Witness - Susie stated Wanda will help students make Palm Crosses during Sunday School for Palm Sunday. Good Friday Cantata will perform this year. We are asked to leave in silence after the service. Large-print hymnals have been ordered for worship. Updated Time/Talent sheets will be available soon. Pierce County Ecumenical Choir will perform on April 28th.

3. Building & Grounds – Bruce’s report was given during Locks/Doors discussion earlier in the meeting. 4. Endowment Committee - No report this month

Acknowledgements/Thank yous: NW Synod sent a thank for our $3000 gift. Tim & Wanda Wells - clean-up of water in fellowship hall Choir - Good Friday Cantata preparation Ecumenical Choir Concert on April 28th

Adjourn Close with the Lord’s Prayer Next Council Meeting May 14, 2019 at 6:30pm Wanda Wells

MEMORIAL STONE OF FIRST BURIAL AT RUSH RIVER

A new memorial stone commemorating the first burial at Rush River has been installed in our cemetery thanks to funding from the Harvest Dinner Committee.

The stone also memorializes the person beneath the stone, and how her husband found it important to bury his wife in consecrated ground at Rush River.

Mari was born in Norway in 1809, and she, her husband and their five children emigrated from Norway in 1849. They lived for a time in Jefferson County, Wisconsin before loading the family and possessions and traveling by oxcart to Martell Township in 1855. Tragically, Mari died giving birth that same year to a baby, who survived.

Her husband wanted his wife to have a Christian burial and had learned that a plot of ground about ten miles north had been consecrated that very summer. There were no roads so they followed an Indian trail and the Rush River until they reached that consecrated ground. We must remember that there was no church here in 1855, and what he must have found was just a hill with a view to the west of more open grounds and the view to the east being more wooded.

Parts of Mari’s original stone can be seen in the background of the photograph. Her name can barely be read, but it is easier to do so if the stone is wet or the sun is just right.

Thanks again to the Harvest Dinner Committee for providing funding for the stone. It is an important link to our rich history, and one that could very easily have become lost forever.

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Upcoming Events

~ Women of the St Croix Valley ~

Summer Retreat, July 18, 2019 @ First Lutheran Church in New Richmond Betty Bergland will speak about Bethany Indian Mission.

Celebrate & Support uther Point Bible Camp’s Many Ministries

Luther Point Bible Camp’s 31st Annual Summer Celebration & Auction

will be Sunday, August 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m.; Auction begins at 1:00 p.m.

The following donations are requested for this event: Quilts

Crafts Vacations Gift Cards Time Shares

Outings Other

For more information, please go to www.LutherPoint.org or contact them at: (715)689-2347 or info@LutherPoint.org.

Friends of Rush River – Opportunities for Outreach Themed Baskets Report – Through a Thrivent Action Project, members of our group purchased items for 7 themed baskets and sold tickets for the baskets. On May 5 names were drawn for winners. We took in $283.00 which will be used to continue the outreach done by Friends of Rush River. Thank you for purchasing tickets for our themed baskets and for your continued support of our mission to Reach Out in Love.

Journey House Campus Ministry – Lutheran Campus Ministry of UWRF provides meals for up to 80 students and families each Monday during the school year. They work to provide food security on campus and within the community. A Thrivent Action Project enabled us to provide a meal on May 6. Groceries were purchased and BBQ made by our members. We delivered BBQ, buns, beans, chips, coleslaw, bars/cookies, and containers to send extra food home with families. This was a new outreach for our group and was received with appreciation by the Campus Ministry.

School Supply Collection – Friends of Rush River has been very busy this year. We plan to continue our School Supply collection. Items may be brought at any time and left on the donation table. Cash donations will be used to purchase more items. Some will be used for School Kits for mission work through LWR (Lutheran World Relief). These are packed into backpacks and taken to the warehouse in So. St. Paul for shipment. Items will also be used for the River Falls School Supply Giveaway. If your school has a need for supplies, please let us know and we can distribute supplies there also.

Pencils, sharpeners, erasers, spiral notebooks (wide-ruled for LWR), rulers, scissors, glue sticks,

crayons, colored pencils, folders, washable markers, dry erase markers, black sharpie markers,

backpacks for older students, pencil boxes.

“Thank you” received:

In April, the Rush River Lutheran Sunday School Students SOS project was to pack care packages for military troops. These packages were sent to “Support Our Troops,” a national non-profit. The following “Thank you” letter was received:

“Dear Rush River Lutheran Church:

I am writing to thank you for your generous donation to the Support Our Troops Care Package Program. We were pleased to send your donation to one of the many units overseas who requested care packages from home.

Support Our Troops Care Packs enhance the morale and welfare of the deployed troops worldwide by seeking, receiving and shipping to the front lines care boxes containing items specifically requested by the deployed troops. This is especially important outside the established holidays.

I’m sure you have made some unit of soldiers very happy with your gift!

Thank you for thinking of them.

Thank you again.

Sincerely, Support Our Troops

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ONLINE GIVING

Forget your envelopes? Run out of the house on Sunday morning

without your checkbook? Relax! Online giving is available on our

website at www.rushriverlutheran.org

SAVE YOUR EMPTY PILL BOTTLES

Bring your clean, empty, plastic medicine containers to church. Please remove the label as best as possible. They can be left on the donation table by the elevator. Myren and Karen Cowles will get them where they need to go. If there

are any questions, their phone number is 715-441-5921. The Roberts Lions Club and 3 area Village Pharmacies in Baldwin and Glenwood City will get them to Matthew 25

Ministries.

http://www.evansburgumc.com/ministries/outreach/matthew-25-empty-pill-bottle-recycling/ In developing countries, medicines—when actually obtainable—are often dispensed into hands, pockets, leaves or any other available container. Matthew 25 Ministries accepts

donations of basic medical supplies such as empty pill bottles to help improve health care quality in developing nations. Donations of clean, unlabeled pill bottles help the poorest of the poor in many ways: Medicine can be distributed in sterile containers. Pill bottles that are not

appropriate for shipping are recycled for cash that goes towards Matthew 25: Ministries’ programs.

This plastic recycling program keeps thousands of bottles out of landfills each year. Placing a nickel, dime or quarter in each pill bottle helps with shipping costs to send the bottles to developing countries.

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts the following types of empty pill bottles: Prescription pill bottles

Large and small pill bottles Pill bottles with and without child resistant caps

Over-the-counter pill bottles

You can help improve the quality of health care in hospitals and health clinics in developing countries by saving and donating basic medical supplies such as pill bottles.

Kathryn Moen, sister of Pastor Richard Ulvilden, passed away on May 16, 2019. Kathryn was on the faculty at Luther and Augsburg Colleges and was also a faculty member at UW-River Falls for 32 years.

Thank you to Laura Bond for again planting flowers in the planters at our church entrance! They are beautiful and add to being a welcoming place!

Thank you to Kerry Licht for providing flowers for the planters at the basement entrance, which the Confirmation students planted!

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“You can walk hand-in-hand without seeing eye-to-eye.” ~ Author Unknown ~

Ultimate Car Wash Cards Available

Undercarriage Flush Presoak High Pressure Wash or Soft Foam Wash Triple Shine Vehicle Enhancer/Cleaner Spot Free Rinse 95 Second Super Dry

Does your car need a wash? We can help! The Ultimate Car Wash Card is good at any Kwik Trip or Kwik Star Store. It includes 5 Ultimate Car Washes for $36.00. The best part is that a portion of all sales stays here at Rush River Lutheran! Please contact Emily at 715.760.0573 with any questions or for your card!

the ice cream prayer Author Unknown

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked.

"Cross my heart." Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman.

With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."

Rush River Lutheran Church N8623 County Road Y

River Falls, WI 54022

Rush River Lutheran Church ~ June 2019 Please note Time Change for Worship Service ~ 9:30 AM beginning June 2

Fellowship Hour @ 10:30 AM

Church contact information: Pastor Dave cell: 715-557-0095 home: 715-268-9663

Church: 715-684-3701

Website Facebook Email

www.RushRiverLutheran.org Facebook.com/RushRiverLutheran Office@RushRiverLutheran.org PastorDave@RushRiverLutheran.org