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Minnesota Christian Convention Friday & Saturday, April 1-2, 2011 at the

St. Cloud Civic Center, St. Cloud, MN

“Becoming More Than What You Already Are” presented by Gene Appel.

Worship music led by Marilyn Walsh and a swing band from White Bear Lake

Vern Harris is serving as this year’s president.

Registration forms are available through the church office or by going to the Convention website: www.mnconvention.org. COST: Individuals $20; two adults from one household $35,

infants to age five $5, teens $25 (register on a special teen form).

Minnesota ministry update lunch on Saturday, April 2nd.

The cost for the lunch is $10/adults and $5/children under 12. Be sure to designate this on your convention registration form.

Easter Ensemble Anyone interested in singing with an

Easter Ensemble please let Vern know. Rehearsals will begin soon. Performances will be Good Friday evening and at both

services Easter Sunday morning.

Wednesday, March 30th 5:30-7:30 pm

Please meet at the church for supper at 5:30 then we’ll carpool to the

America’s Best Value Inn for a fun night of swimming. Kids - be sure

to invite all your friends!

The Teen Convention, which is being planned by Tim Thorman and Reggie Camarse will feature testimonies from Adam and Charles, two residents of the MN Teen Challenge program in Minneapolis. The worship music for the Teen

Convention will be led by Brad Jorde, a graduate of Crossroads College.

Missions Meeting

Sunday, March 6 following the morning

worship to consider our present and possible future

direction for missions involvement. EVERYONE

with an interest in missions is invited to attend!

Our deepest sympathies to Holly and Morgan and their families at the death of her sister and Morgan’s mom, Heather Qualley. She passed away Feb. 8th. Her memorial service was held at the church on Saturday, Feb. 12th. Please remember the family in your prayers.

Congratulations to Emily Hamberg and Jon Slack on the birth of their baby boy, Levi Robert. He was born Feb. 2nd. He joins his parents and big sister, Savanah. Bob & Sue Hamberg are the proud grandparents.

The Christian Workers meeting is Tuesday, March 1st at 6:00 pm. Devotion: Debra. Hostesses: Kathy and Kim. Communion prep for March: Joan & Kim. The March fellowship dinner will be held on the 13th. Please re-member to bring food items that are already prepared or have simple heating instructions.

One of our ladies’ ministries, the Mary/Martha Outreach, is looking for volunteers who would be willing to encourage some of our members. If you’d like to help out or if you know of anyone who would bene-fit from this ministry please contact Cindy C.

The camp credit program for students inter-ested in attending Pine Haven or NEICSC is in full swing. If you would like to sponsor a camper, the cost for a typical week is be-tween $100-$150 depending on age. Please designate your special offering as “camp scholarship” in the memo line.

Aim Hi will hold their lunch and monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 15th at noon. All are welcome to attend.

March is MN Food Share Month. Please con-sider a non-perishable food donation to help provide for those less fortunate. A container is next to the mailboxes in the hallway.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 13th. Be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.

Thank you notes were received from LeRoy & Edna Schocker following the death of LeRoy’s sister, Eleanor. Also from Wanda and Jr. Dorman for the kind lending hands at Heather Qualley’s funeral.

The 2011 ALHS Prom Committee is hosting their 2nd Annual Tiger Closet. If you or anyone you know has gently used prom, bridesmaid, or evening gowns and would be willing to donate them to the Prom Dress Exchange, please give them to Marsha Langseth by Wednesday, March 16th. Thanks for checking your closets.

March 2011 Serving Schedule 6 13 20 27

Communion Steve Jerry Bob S. Ken Offering prayer Jerry Bob S. Ken Dave A. Outside Usher Wayne & Ben LeRoy & Nathan Scott & Vern S, Troy & Rick Smalls Cindy A/Faith Sheila/Tyler Grace/Marissa Cindy A/Faith Communion prep Instruments Robyn/Sandy Video Projection Eric Sound System Bob N. Worship Team Kendall, Marsha, Justin, Rebecca Greeter/welcome Bob & Sue Back-up greeters: Jerry & Cindy

Joan & Kim

STATISTICS FOR JANUARY

General fund balance 1-1-11............. 6,712.99 Receipts.......................................... 11,647.07 Disbursements ............................... 11,441.04 General fund balance 1-31-11........... 6,919.02 Total all funds................................. 41,307.04 Average attendance: Sunday school ............62 Average attendance: Morning worship .......108

SUMMARY OF THE FEBRUARY COUNCIL MINUTES Meeting called to order by Dave at 7:45 pm. Steve opened with a devotion & prayer. Minutes of the January meeting were read and approved. Minister's Report: 1) Very busy month. 2) There have been several requests for copies of the sermon. 3) This is the busiest month for the state convention. MCEA work is being reduced as much as possible. 4) Home visits are progressing. 5) More short meetings are being planned – VBS, Christian Ed/Youth, missions, worship. Elders' Report: 1) Reviewed a few changes to the 2011 proposed budget. 2) Bob S. made a motion to approve the purchase of a hard drive, digital converter & manuals to allow us to digitally record sermons & burn CD’s. Ken seconded. Carried. Plans are being made to put the sermons on the church’s website. 3) Ken motioned that the church donate to Derek & Amanda Olsen’s church planting work in Bismarck. Steve seconded. Carried. Much of the amount received was from a special offering. 4) VBS scheduling & planning was discussed. The week of July 18th was recommended. 5) The elders will be turning the leadership of Haitian Ministries over to a board consisting of representatives from interested churches that have been involved over the years. Haitian Ministries Report: Typical month for giving. Treasurer's Report: A good 5 Sunday month. The general fund was ahead. The financial report included the 2011 proposed budget. Two of the larger special funds were included to give a truer representation of the overall finances. Deacons' Report: 29 have signed up for the February Banquet at the Moose Club. New Business: 1) Vern suggested doing a pool party for the youth in March. All agreed the idea was worth pursuing. 2) Discussed streamlining worship services, announcement and prayer times. 3) Discussed our possible future youth ministry. Ken made a motion to adjourn, Steve seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned with prayer at 9:00 pm. Ken Fiscus, board secretary

Focus on Our Families Scott & Janice Schroader

Scott and Janice have been married for 16 years. They have three children, Chad, Tara and Jena, and six grandchildren. Janice most recently worked for Crest Services for 14 years. After a car accident three years ago in Rochester she was left unable to return to work. Janice is a Red Hatter and goes to TOPS. She enjoys read-ing, sewing and spending time with her grandchildren. Janice enjoyed taking a vacation to Massachusetts last summer.

Scott has worked at Streater for 32 years. For the past three years he has been rejuvenating the Apple Park Orchard. Other activities include donating blood to the Red Cross, playing chess, cribbage, and frazzle. He hopes to do more fishing than he has done in the past few years. “Our last vacation together was a motor coach trip to Michigan where upon arriving our luggage didn’t make it to our room. They searched all the rooms for our luggage not finding it anywhere. We insisted they look on the bus - there it was still in the luggage compartment!”

• Marcelene, Holly’s mother-in-law, severe stroke

• Dolores, recovering from a fall • Kim Harris, pregnancy • Bobby Newton Jr, surgery • Laura Knudsen, health • Bob Newton Sr, health concerns • Joe, Steve’s employee, cancer • Vern & Pam to sell their home • MN Christian Convention • Our youth • Our nation/the world PRAYERS OF PRAISE: • Hank is recovering well from

surgery • Ben, improved health

Vern’s View: Full Partners of the Gospel After salaries the single biggest line item for the use of our tithes and offerings is designated to Missions. We are significant supporters of Haitian Ministries; the Minnesota Christian Evangelizing Association; Crossroads College; International Disaster Emergency Services; Christian Student Fellowship; and Pine Haven Christian Assembly. We also support at least quarterly Youth for Christ; the MN Christian Convention; and The Salvation Army. We will be having a special Missions Meeting after our worship time on March 6th to consider our pre-sent and possible future direction for missions involvement. EVERYONE with an interest in missions is invited to attend! It is our hope that we will get a clearer view of what we intend to accomplish for our Lord with our missions program, and how we might better allow our missions program to become an area of praise and satisfaction for our entire church family. One area of discussion will be the following list of possible criteria that we might adopt for considera-tion of support but there will be much more to consider, such as statements of mission and purpose. Please consider joining us for this meeting. It will begin at noon and conclude at 1:00. From this meet-ing we hope to identify those who will make up our Missions Committee as well as gaining insight into the heart and mind of this congregation for missions ministries both global and local. Criteria for consideration of requests for missions contributions

1. To our knowledge, does this mission/missionary conform to the standards, Biblical and doctrinal beliefs that are acceptable to ALCC? 2. Do we have a personal knowledge or relationship with this missionary or the leadership of this mission? 3. Has there been or could there be personal interaction between this missionary/mission and the church family of ALCC? 4. Does the need of this missionary/mission fall within the budget realm of ALCC making it something we can financially support? 5. Is this missionary/mission willing to relate to ALCC requested financial information making them financially accountable? 6. Is this missionary/mission willing to relate to ALCC requested ministry reports making them fully accountable while providing the

means of sharing their work and progress with our church family? 7. Does this missionary/mission meet the acceptable expectations of ALCC regarding performance and productivity for the KOG? 8. Do we, the missions committee of ALCC, find ourselves in agreement with the stated goals, objectives, and mission statement

forwarded to us by this missionary/mission? 9. Does anyone within our committee or congregation have important information to share regarding this work that would aid this

committee in our decision regarding support? 10. Do we, the missions committee of ALCC, see the support of this missionary/mission as a temporary or long term and continuous

commitment?

CHURCH OF CHRIST 1705 SE Marshall Albert Lea, MN 56007

MINISTER: Vern Harris

Office 507-373-0814 Cell 320-248-1842 vern.alcc@q.com

ELDERS: Dave Anderson 402-6000

Steve Borge 391-4333 Bob Snow 684-2010

HAITIAN MISSIONARY: Jean Paulite

809-861-7069 jeanpaulite@hotmail.com OFFICE MANAGER:

Kim Storvick 507-373-1533

kim.alcc@q.com WEBSITE:

www.albertleachurch.com