1

“John

would

have

prevented

him,

saying,’ I

need to be

baptized

by you,

and do you come to me?’ But

Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be

so now; for it is proper for us in

this way to fulfil all my righteous-

ness.’ Then he consented. And

when Jesus had been baptized,

just as he came from the water,

suddenly the heavens were

opened to him and he saw the

Spirit of God descending like a

dove and alighting on him. And a

voice from heaven said, ‘This is

my Son, the Beloved, with whom

I am well pleased.’

Matthew 3:14-17”

In This Issue

Pastor’s Message

Council Update

Preschool

January Worship

Volunteers

This-n-That

Calendar of Events

Birthdays/Anniversaries

American Lutheran Church January 2016

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

Happy New Year! Often with a new year there is that feeling that a new start or a new beginning is before us. Because of that, many of us con-template and sometimes even write down our new resolves for the com-ing year with the hope that those resolutions will become a part of our daily living. For many of us, the beginning of the new year is a time to restart, to begin anew. And in a very real sense, that is what we under-stand when we consider the first verse of John’s Gospel. For in the first chapter of John, the author penned words that reminds us that our God is also about restarts and beginning anew.

In his Gospel, John begins, “In the beginning was the Word”. For many, those words take us all the way back to the very familiar words used at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning when God created …..” When we hear Genesis 1, we can almost see John penning similar words to indicate that through Christ, the Word made flesh, a new begin-ning, a new creation is at hand. For in Christ, God has come to us. And because of that a living, breathing promise of a new beginning to all of human history is ever before us. And it all happens because this new Word made flesh opens up for us the possibility of a new way to be in relation-ship with God.

In an online article entitled On New Beginnings and Audacious Promises, Philadelphia Seminary President David Lose shared the following to ex-plain God’s new beginning for us. “This is what I believe is at the heart of John’s Gospel – that in Jesus we receive a love letter mailed to us in human flesh and blood from the God who in the beginning created the vast cosmos, and is still creating more than we can possible imagine. And that Word – Christ Jesus - is also involved in creating and he makes us and all other things new, taking our resolutions and hopes as well as our fears and disappointments and binding them together in the promises of God.” John’s Gospel declared that “The Word became flesh and lived among us ……” and is guiding and directing us toward a relationship with God. But to become involved more deeply in that relationship and to discover the promises found in the new beginnings, how about making a resolution this year to open up the Gospels and discover more about the promise that God’s new beginning Word is sharing. Happy New Start! Pastor Carl

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JANUARY LECTIONARY

1st Reading Psalm 2nd Reading Gospel January 3 Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 147:12-20 Ephesians 1:3-14 John 1:[1-9] 10-18 January 10 Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29 Acts 8:14-17 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 January 17 Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 36:5-10 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 John 2:1-11 January 24 Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21 January 31 Jeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 4:21-30

NO SUNDAY SCHOOL on January 3rd

Sunday School will resume on January 10

th

Thank you

Thank you to all who helped with Meals on Wheels last month! Our next opportunity for Meals on

Wheels will be in June.

Altar Guild

Attention all Altar Guild Members there is a sign up sheet at the Welcome Center for you

to pick your favorite month to serve for 2016! Thank you for your time and service to this

ministry.

Milestones in January

January 10– Prayer Chests will be given to baptized newborns to Kindergarten.

January 24– 3rd Grade Bibles will be presented.

Giving Statement

If you would like your 2015 giving statement please contact the church

office or sign up on the sign up sheet on the Welcome Center.

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting will be on January 24 at 10:30. Please have all of your information

sent or dropped off to the office by January 10.

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Pastor Carl Larson

alcpastor@itcmilbank.com 605-432-5566 - Office

605-924-1121 - Cell Phone

Office Administrator Jenny Luepke

alcoffice@itcmilbank.com

Christian Education Amy Lease—Coordinator

amy.lease@americanlutheran.com

Preschool Nicole Scott—Teacher

preschool@americanlutheran.com

__________________

Church Council President Jason Mischel Vice Pres. Bob Biersbach Secretary Deb Homan

Treasurer Mary Bjordahl

Property/ Management Bob Biersbach

Neil Pauli Gary Wellnitz

Youth/Education

Deb Homan Sandy Kathman

Tim Lease

Finance/Stewardship Jason Mischel

Shane Schuchard Steve Wenzl

Worship/Evangelism

Ron Boe Troy Kastrup Shirley Olson

Rehearsal Practices Regular practice: Thursday, 6:00 pm

Everyone has something to offer… Care to share your talents musically

and instrumentally? We’d love to have you be

a part of the Manna Praise Band. For more information,

please contact Scott Torness. Upcoming Sunday Worship Performances

ANOTHER YEAR Frances R. Havergal

Another year is dawning, Dear Father let it be,

In working or in waiting, Another year with thee.

Another year of progress, Another year of praise, Another year of proving

Thy presence all the days. Another year of mercies,

Of faithfulness and grace, Another year of gladness,

The glory of thy face. Another year of leaning Upon thy loving breast,

Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, Of witness for thy love, Another year of training For holier work above.

Another year is dawning, Dear Father, let it be,

On earth, or else in heaven, Another year for thee.

Sunday School Christmas Program December 20, 2015

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The Season of Epiphany

The Day of the Epiphany - January 6, 2016

Epiphany is the climax of the Christmas Season and the Twelve Days of Christmas, which are usually counted from December 25th until January 5th. In most traditions, the day before Epiphany is the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the evening of which is called Twelfth Night. This is an occasion for feasting in some cultures, including the baking of a special King's Cake as part of the festivities of Epiphany. In some church traditions, January 5th is considered the Eleventh Day of Christmas, while the evening is still counted as the Twelfth Night, the beginning of the Twelfth day of Christmas the following day. In these traditions the Twelfth Day of Christmas is January 6th, the Epiphany.

The Season of Epiphany - 2016 - Theme: Jesus Manifests Himself as God Dates: Epiphany lasts from January 6th through the day before Lent on Tuesday, February 9th. Colors: In most churches, the decorations are green to symbolize growth and life.

Special Days: The Epiphany, January 6th The Baptism of Our Lord, on the Sunday after the Epiphany, January 10th Martin Luther King Jr., Renewer of Society, Martyr (1968), January 15th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18th to January 25th Conversion of Paul, January 25th Timothy, Titus, and Silas: Missionaries, January 26th Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe, Witnesses of faith, January 27th Thomas Aquinas, Teacher, January 28th The Presentation of Our Lord, February 2nd Ansgar, Bishop of Hamburg and Missionary to Denmark and Sweden, February 3rd The Martyrs of Japan (1597), February 5th Transfiguration Sunday, February 7th

Sunday, January 10, 2015 Baptism of Our Lord

Baptism is the beginning of a new story. It was for Jesus; it is for us. God claims us as sons and daughters, fills us with the Holy Sprit, and promises to travel the path with us—a path that will bring us to our eternal home. This year we will celebrate the Baptism of our Lord by distributing Baptismal Boxes to our

youth ages birth to 5 years old. Thanks to Clayton Olson for making the boxes.

Better than being the head of the family is being the heart of it.

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Chase

Sophia

Payton

Hailey Laney

Wesley

Callie

Bennett Cooper

Archer Jada Leigh Kannon Kyra

Mason

Care to help? Lots of ways...

Any help is greatly appreciated! Monetary Donations

(may be designated for certain item(s) or used for ideas such as equipment, furnishings, supplies, etc.)

Snacks/Juice Requested Items on Wishlist near classroom door

Amazon Wish List

Thrivent Choice Dollars Reading or Doing an Activity

Shady Beach’s Dine & Donate Program

(1st Sunday of each month from 5-9PM) Support our Fundraisers

Donations for Financial Scholarships*

*Please mark intended scholarship donations as such,

Classes held Monday-Thursday: 3 Year Olds: 8:15-11:15am | 4 Year Olds: 12:15-3:15pm | E-Mail: preschool@americanlutheran.com

Now Enrolling! For 2016-2017 School Year

(Must be 3 or 4 by September 1, 2016)

Registration forms available on church web-

site or on bulletin board near classroom door $50 Registration Fee

(fee includes student placement, school supplies, t-shirt, and snacks)

For more information:

E-Mail: preschool@americanlutheran.com ALC Office: (605) 432-5566

Happy New Year from ALC Preschool! The month of December was filled with much anticipation

and excitement for all the Christmas festivities both in and

out of the classroom. We were kept quite busy with prepar-

ing songs for our performance, enjoying the snow outside,

creating art projects and keepsakes, having visitors in our

classroom, and discussing ways in which we can give (ie

bringing items for the food pantry or donating items to a

cause). Our tradition is still alive of making and decorating

our festive gingerbread houses adorned with lots of candy.

The students thoroughly enjoyed this experience and were

very proud to take their masterpieces home to share with

their families. We want to say Thank You to our cadet teach-

er, Janette Hall, for her help in our classroom this first half of

the year during the morning session. She will be coming in

the afternoon starting in January.

Before our Christmas break, we enjoyed a fun-filled

morning of games, food, and gifts

at our Christmas

Pajama Party to end a great first

half-a-year of preschool with all

twenty students and many parent

volunteers.

Wishing you a wonderful

& blessed 2016!

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January 3 Greeters: Patti Frazee and Jerry and Sandy Kathman Ushers: Bryan Lambrechts Head Usher: Clayton Olson Lector: Becky Lambrechts Communion Servers: Jerry and Sandy Kathman, Shirley Olson Acolytes: Braden Femling and Harmony Johnson Coffee Servers: Welcome Center:

January 10 Greeters: Marilyn and Brad Hodenfield, Kirchberg family Ushers: Jerry Kathman and Gerald Grimm Head Usher: Clayton Olson Lector: Chad Nolz Communion Servers: Marilyn and Brad Hodenfield, Bryan and Becky Lambrechts Acolyte: Zander Campbell Coffee Servers: Daniel Thiele, Ria Teske, and Derrick Aho

Welcome Center: Amy and Nathan Bass

January 17 Greeters: Gordon Bracht and Jerry and Sandy Kathman Ushers: Jerry Kathman and Gerald Grimm Head Usher: Clayton Olson Lector: Kay O’Farrell Communion Servers: Shirley Olson and Sandy Kathman Acolyte: Elizabeth Smith Coffee Servers: Preschool Parents Welcome Center:

January 24 Greeters: Kay O’Farrell and Ken Johnson, Don and Margaret VanVeen Ushers: Don VanVeen Head Usher: Clayton Olson Lector: Chad Nolz Communion Servers: Mary Bjordahl and Kay O’Farrell Acolyte: Tarah Thyne Coffee Servers: Bailey Storm and Jake Stinson

God’s Work….Our Hands Note: For Communion, we need to have 8 servers. If you are willing and able to help, please notify the church office. If you are unable to

serve on your particular Sunday, PLEASE find a replacement and notify the Church Office.

Above all, THANK YOU for everything!

January 31 Greeters: Margie Stewart and Kevin and Mary Bjordahl Ushers: Jerry Kathman Head Usher: Clayton Olson Lector: Sandy Kathman Communion Servers: Kevin and Mary Bjordahl, Jerry and Sandy Kathman Acolyte: Marion Mischel Coffee Servers: Caden Bjordahl and Claire Mischel Welcome Center:

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Meet at 7:00 PM the Third Thursday of every month. All are welcome to join the group. We would also appreciate hearing about a good book someone has read that we might enjoy reading and discussing.

January: One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling An emotional tale of two mothers– strangers to each other– whose lives change forever in a single moment. February: Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain Sometimes the best intentions expose the darkest secrets. March: The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury Meeting at Parkview A hundred year flood, lost love, and the beauty of enduring friendships all center around The Bridge, an exceptionable bookstore. April: The Memory House by Linda Goodnight

Welcome to Honey Ridge, Tennessee and a house that is rich with secrets and brimming with sweet possibilities.

Blood Pressures will be on January 10th. We have gotten a couple memorials recently and we really appreciate them. Thank you.

Quilters meet every second and fourth

Tuesday at 9:00 am, come join the fun!

No experience necessary, and they could

always use an extra hand.

Not able to make it to church?

Are you wanting to listen to the service?

Consider a Radio Ministry sponsorship,

which gives others the chance to hear and listen via

KMSD-1510AM at 9am on Sundays.

(Sponsorship is $100)

Also, please consider enhancing the sanctuary with flowers.

Sign-up sheets are available on the Kiosk

located in the Narthex.

Dear Members of American Lutheran,

There is a ministry program in our

congregation to secretly pray for our students

who are confirmed until they graduate from

high school. This is open to both men and

women who would like to uphold the youth in

prayer. If you would like to be a part of this

program, please leave your name at the

church office. As students are confirmed, we

will pair you with one as names allow. You are

simply asked to pray faithfully for your student

and occasionally remember them with greeting

cards such as on birthdays or Christian

holidays but gifts are discouraged. Please

prayerfully consider being a part of this group.

Plant care taker

If you are interested in rotating with 3 others in

watering the plants please contact the office or

Kathy Mathiason. You would water the plants

once a week for your scheduled month. The

new schedule will be starting in January. 2016 Radio and Flower

Sign Ups

2016 Radio and Flower Sign ups are on the

Welcome Center.

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New Member Sponsors

Would you be interested in acting as a

sponsor for a prospective member or new

member? This would help prospective or

new members to get better acquainted with

American Lutheran by answering their

questions, talking about our programs and

activities that are available, showing them

around the church and just being there to

help make them feel more welcome. If you

would be interested, please contact Pastor

Carl or the church office.

When: January 24 at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Holy Word Theater

Come and join us for

Pizza, Popcorn, and a Movie!

Please sign-up at Welcome Center

if you are interested in attending.

When: January 17 at 5:00 p.m.

Where: Holy Word Theater

Come and join us for Pizza, Popcorn, and a Movie!

Please sign-up at Welcome Center

if you are interested in attending.

Mark your Calendars!

Ash Wednesday is February 10th.

Sign up sheets for Love In Action

Lenten Suppers sign up sheets will

be on the Welcome Center.

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Men’s Annual Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, January 24

10 AM-12:30 PM

American Lutheran Fellowship Hall

Proceeds go to youth attending Summer Bible Camps.

This an opportunity for the men in our congregation to be apart of an enjoyable event. We have a good time mixing, cooking, and serving cakes.

Anyone interested in helping, please contact Jenny in the office or sign up at the Welcome Center. Contact will be made the week of the event to set up times and duties.

Plan to attend– All are welcome!

Thank you

Thank you to all who helped out

with both Christmas Eve services.

Your help made both services a

success!

Choir Practice is every

Sunday at 8:15 am. Please

talk to Ray Ogdahl if you

have any questions. All are

welcome to join in on the fun!

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January 2016

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1

5pm Scouts

Lock In

2

3

8:15 Choir Practice

9:00 Worship

10:00 Coffee

10:15 Worship Planning

10:15 February LIA

6 Narcotics Anonymous

4

7:00 Scouts

5 6

9 TOT School

10 Bible Study

3:30/4:30 Confir-

mation

5:30 Bells

6 Council

7

7 Men’s Bible

Study

6 Manna

8 9

10

8:15 Choir Practice

9:00 Worship

9:55 Sunday School

10:00 Coffee

6 Narcotics Anonymous

11

7:00 Scouts

12

9 Quilting

13

9 TOT School

10 Bible Study

3:30/4:30 Confir-

mation

5:30 Bells

14

7 Men’s Bible

Study

6 Manna

15

Newsletter

Deadline

16

17 8:15 Choir Practice

9:00 Worship

9:55 Sunday School

10:00 Coffee

10:15 Sticky Faith

5 Movie Night

6 Narcotics Anonymous

18 19

12 Peace Circle

2 Alzheimer’s

Support Group

20

9 TOT School

10 Bible Study

3:30/4:30 Confir-

mation

5:30 Bells

21

7 Men’s Bible

Study

2 Church Ser-

vices @ St.

William ’s

6 Manna

7 Book Club

22 23

24

8:15 Choir Practice

9:00 Worship

9:55 Sunday School

10:00 Pancake Breakfast

10:30 Annual Meeting

5 Movie Night

6 Narcotics Anonymous

25

7:00 Scouts

26

9 Quilting

27

9 TOT School

10 Bible Study

3:30/4:30 Confir-

mation

5:30 Bells

28

7 Men’s Bible

Study

6 Manna

29 30

5-7:30 Preschool

Fundraiser

31

8:15 Choir Practice

9:00 Worship

9:55 Sunday School

10:00 Coffee

10:30 Annual Meeting

5 Movie Night

P.O. Box 287 | 401 Flynn Drive

Milbank, SD 57252

Phone: (605) 432-5566

Office E-Mail: alcoffice@itcmilbank.com

Pastor E-Mail: alcpastor@itcmilbank.com

Website: www.americanlutheran.com

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An open letter to the Muslim American community sent on Dec. 11, 2015 from the ELCA Bishop Elizabeth Eaton

Dear Muslim Sisters and Brothers, Grace and peace to you. I am writing on behalf of many Christians in this country who wish to share a word of solidarity, love and hope with you in these difficult days. In this season of Advent, we, your Christian neighbors, are pre-paring to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who commanded that “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … [and] you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31, NRSV). In our love for you, our Muslim neighbors, we are distressed by the ways in which you are being forced to bear the fears held by many in our nation. Therefore, we renew our commitment to find even more effective ways to protect and de-fend you from words and actions that assault your safety and wellbeing. We believe God calls us to resist what is divi-sive, discriminatory, xenophobic, racist or violent, and we want you to look to us as allies and friends. The global refugee and migrant crisis and the acts of terror committed in this country and around the world are challenges that demand our collective efforts and our common prayers. Therefore, we will seek to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as agents of peace, justice, understanding, welcome and reconciliation for the sake of the world that God so loves. In this holy season, when we anticipate the light that the darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5, NRSV), we are reminded of God’s gift of life abundant for all. Together with you, we are committed to building a stronger society based on the dignity of each human being, the value of diversity, the holiness of creation and the common good. We pledge our partnership and invite our local communities into continued dialogue and engagement to this end.

In peace, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Chili with the Bishop

Food and Fellowship with Bishop Dave January 28, 2016 – Hope, Summit

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STAMP

A Beacon of God’s Love | A Home for All People

P.O. Box 287 | 401 Flynn Drive

Milbank, SD 57252

Phone: (605) 432-5566

E-Mail: alcoffice@itcmilbank.com

Website: www.americanlutheran.com

Please inform the Church Office if we are missing your birthday and/or

anniversary, or you discover a wrong date. Thank you!

2 3 4 8 9 10 14

Greg Grimm Janelle Kelly Kirby & Rita Hins (w) Kathy Sussex Sean Zimny Keith & Diane Grabow (w) Deb Pauli Doug Dohrer Rosemary Goetschius Mark Granquist Jason Sitnson Matthew Unzen Aaron Anderson Robert Biersbach Monica Fischer Jennifer Roggenbuck Bradyn Wienk Stacy Anderson Marilyn Hodenfield Rebecca Welberg

15 16 17 18 20 22 23

Theresa Granquist Mervyn Larson Peyton Snell Brett Storm Holly Neuharth Michael & Monica Gruba (w) Patty Hamman Stanley Street Ryan & Whitney Saxton (w) Robin Cook Suzanne Unzen Jaxon Bear David Gulck Spencer Boerger Garret Christopherson Brayden Gomer Sandy Kathman Karmen LaRoche Lauren Lester Mckenzie Severson

24 26 27 28 29 30 31

Karen Smith Peggy Dohrer Ken Johnson Emily Madsen Olivia Barlund Samantha Madsen Alan & Linda DeLong (w) Jonathan Ash Gail Selgeby Marjorie Keller Madison Tesch Lois Buhler David Dorneman

January Birthdays & Anniversaries