≈≈≈≈≈ ≈≈≈≈≈

If someone were to ask you to recite the Ten

Commandments, how many might you

remember? How important is it

for us to live these out?

To abide in these commandments make our

lives SO much more

life-giving and healthy.

Therefore, we are going to briefly explore

them for the four weeks of June.

June 2-3: “Nineteen comes before Twenty” Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-1; Matthew 22:34-40

June 9-10: “The First Table–Tuned into God” Exodus 20:3-11; Matthew 22:34-40

June 16-17: “The Second Table–Turned Toward the Neighbor” Ex. 20:3-11; Matt. 22:34-40

June 23-24: “The Desires of the Heart—Do Not Covet” Ex. 20:17; Matt. 22:34-40

This is most of the Pietz extended family from MinnesOta (five of us siblings ranging from 49 to

67 years old, plus our children and children’s children). We gathered together at noon on Saturday (as

I was arriving home from Washington D.C.) and they stayed till early afternoon on Monday. It was

the most time we have ever had together as a group (not just an afternoon/eve but multiple days

together). It was amazing how God bonded us, deepened our conversation about life and faith

matters, and even reflected on the sermon for the weekend. I told them about the Mission Trip to

Swaziland and several indicated sincere interest!

Pastor’s Note

A weekly letter from Pr. Tom Pietz, St. Olaf Lutheran Church

May 28 – June 3, 2018

Sunday, June 3rd at 10:15am

Interested in hearing more about St. Olaf? If you’d like to renew or become a member of St. Olaf’s we have a simple gathering to share more about the church and to get to know you. Please join us in the Fellowship Hall.

Day of Service at St. Olaf

Hartford High School's "Day of Service" on Thursday, May 24th was a success! Of the 1300+ students who went out in the community, 19 teens came to St. Olaf to work, including two of our own youth Jordyn Sutrick and Catherine Van Lare. They did a

wonderful job around the church, washing screens and windows and other odd jobs. They even finished early and had a little time for fun and relaxing. Thanks to the adults that helped me facilitate and coordinate this project. --- Justine

* * * * * * * * * * *

Today’s scripture reading from the latter half of Acts chapter 2 we will get to in a moment. Let’s recall first that today’s reading follows directly after the story of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit had been experienced powerfully not only by the gathered remaining followers of Jesus, but also by many others in Jerusalem in the neighborhood of their gathering (2:1-13). Peter had given the first Christian evangelistic sermon, explaining that what the people were experiencing was the end-times gift of God’s Spirit promised by the prophet Joel, now poured

out on them by the risen and exalted Christ (2:14-36). The response to the sermon was tremendous: Three thousand people repented, were baptized, and joined the Jerusalem Christian community (2:37-41). This week’s passage describes what the life of the resulting community looked like.

One of the most impactful messages I have ever heard is John Ortberg’s “It all goes back into the box”. Here’s a 3 minute clip to set up our theme for today. Click link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6bUUmelbyw

What Matters? What really matters? Memorial Weekend can be a deeply reflective and contemplative time, especially if we visit the graves of loved ones who have passed away. My family particularly thinks of our mother/grandmother Shirley who passed away a few years ago. We may miss these precious people dearly and we hopefully cling to the hope that they are in a much better place

awaiting our homecoming 😊. But we all know that

whatever stuff they had during their life on earth, they did not bring it to heaven…it was all left behind, given away, or put back into the box.

Now on a brighter note, my siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews and their children who gather in this space today for our family reunion, all know me well enough that I really enjoy playing. And the parsonage next door has a lot to play with (frisbee golf hole, bocce ball, swing sets, firepit, bean bag toss, and a golf course down the road). I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve been playing the game of monopoly too. Although it is nice to no longer be a home owner and now having a short walk to work. Much of the “stuff” at the parsonage was given to us as gifts along our 25 years of marriage or second hand. We recognize that it is to be shared, and from God’s point of view, it’s not the Pietz family’s stuff, but God’s stuff to be managed by us to extend ministry and hospitality. The early church understood this well, and in an even more sacrificial way. Their MINDSET was about blessing others. Their mindset was to DO LIFE TOGETHER Jesus’ way. What does that look like? Let’s read it together now in Acts 2. So what mattered to the followers of the Way as they were called, or Christians as we call ourselves today, meaning Christ followers. This is what mattered…

Verse 42 says, 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Holding up 3rd grade Bible) This mattered. The Apostle’s teaching, and teachings and wisdom from God given through Moses, David, Solomon, the prophets, and Jesus’ teaching. These ANCIENT WORDS, these Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world, for they resound with God's own heart. They are Words of Life, words of Hope. Oh they Give us strength, and help us cope. In this world, where e'er we roam these Ancient words will guide us Home. These Ancient words ever true are Changing me, and changing you. And so we come with open hearts and let the ancient words impart. Holy words of our Faith Handed down to this age. That came to us through sacrifice. So we heed the faithful words of Christ. These Holy words long preserved for our walk in this world. This church described in Acts had the Old Testament scriptures possibly accessible in their local synagogue or temple but the gospels and epistles had not been written down yet. But they heard such teachings from Jesus’ followers who were sent out as apostles, missionary teachers if you will. And people hungered to hear the teachings, miracles, and way of Jesus. A few weeks ago I sat down with the parents and 3rd graders as they received this Bible. They were so excited! We hadn’t written in them yet so we were going to take them back to do so. One child was so disappointed she could not take her Bible home that she cried because she wanted her Bible so bad. Oh, if us adults would desire to read our Bible as she did. There are others among us who want to learn from the Bible so they joined one of our weekly small groups. Way to go! And how they prayed together, totally turning to God for everything on their heart. We also heard that they devoted themselves to the fellowship. There’s a bonding that takes place when people gather, but it goes deeper than that. Koinonia is the fancy Greek word for doing life together. They had meals together, broke bread and drank wine remembering what Christ had done for them. And they did this regularly, even daily! Like our families, who still make mealtime at the table central to their way of life. But now imagine doing this daily with your neighbors? Wow! That’s why our weekly fellowship before, during, and after worship matters. This is the time when we hear

what’s going on in one another’s lives and can learn how to support, encourage, and cheer one another on. That’s Koinonia fellowship. It’s critical to our family life and church life.

As we read on we discover that the Holy Spirit is doing miracles through these apostles, like healings and life transformation and people coming to faith in Jesus on the spot. The trust and community bond among Christians was so strong that that shared what they had together, very differently than much of our society who hoards what we own. They even sold their stuff to share with the oppressed, the poor & poor in spirit. Have you ever thought of having a garage sale, and then giving the proceeds to anyone who had need? Most people in Ancient Days had few possessions for they were dirt poor. Just the opposite of most of us in this room. And most of us have grown up playing the game monopoly and in some ways are living out its principles of accumulating more, don’t you agree? These folks wondered how they can share with each other and especially with those who had nothing and desperately needed help, resources, and compassion. What a peculiar people these people were back then. What a peculiar people we are to some today. We gather here in this old church temple as the original Norwegian immigrants did over 170 years ago to worship this one God that was passed on to them in their homeland. We gather to read these Ancient Words of scripture. We gather to spur one another on towards love and good deeds. We share the money we make to advance the kingdom of God here locally, nationally and globally, bringing justice and peace to places in the world we may never trod. But we do so because that’s what Jesus would do and we want to be more and more like Jesus. We struggle, we often don’t get it right, but through God’s grace and forgiveness extended as we break bread together and drink from the cup, we are reminded WHAT REALLY MATTERS. And that’s our faith in Jesus. So we share Jesus with the world and let the Lord add to the number of those being transformed and saved. Amen.

I’d like to leave you with this last illustration of some young people who chose to live like the Acts 2 church. Jesuit Volunteer Corps http://www.jesuitvolunteers.org/

* * * * * * * * * * *

Pick up orders at church on

May 30th

6pm.

VBS Service Project

Donations Needed

* 70-sheet notebooks * 30-centimeter rulers * pencil sharpeners * blunt scissors * unsharpened #2 pencils w/ erasers * ballpoint pens * box of 16 or 24 crayons * erasers * sturdy drawstring bags, backpack style, cloth

SOAR Book Club

Come join us for coffee and conversation on Tuesday, June 12, at 2:00pm at The Natural Way Restaurant, 35 S. Main Street in Mayville. Bring your suggestions for books to read this next year, and we will decide on a list to begin in July. All are welcome!

Camping out in God’s Word

Vacation Bible School 2018

VBS is coming! We are preparing for many

adventures on August 5-9th Sunday-Thursday

from 6-8:15pm! Come join us for fun, games, music,

skits, stories, crafts, and snacks!

We can’t wait to see you all there! Bring your friends and call your neighbors to experience the Love of Jesus as

we learn to live as Children of God. Please return the attached registration form by July 15th to be guaranteed a

T-shirt. Any questions or like to help? Please contact: Kathy Monis 262-490-1552 kathas2002@yahoo.com or

Kris Pietz 262-490-4056 pietzkris@hotmail.com

Daily Readings (May 27 – June 2)

Sunday – Exodus 19:1-6; 20:1-2 Monday – Exodus 12:33-42 Tuesday – Exodus 13:17-22 Wednesday – Exodus 14:1-25 Thursday – Exodus 16:1-21 Friday – Exodus 17:1-7 Saturday – Exodus 17:8-16

The count-down has begun. . . mark your calendars for the annual Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride on Saturday, Sept. 8

th

Details and information available at ofhbikeride.com