Serving God and Others through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church
MAY2018
1409 South Eighth Avenue, East Newton, IA 50208 Church Phone: (641) 792-1683 www.htlchurch.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, [email protected] [email protected]
P. O. Box 242, 8290 Hwy. F-62, East Sully, IA 50251 Church Phone: (641) 798-4651 www.standluth.com Kenneth H. Ahntholz, D.Min., BCC, Pastor Pastor’s Phone: (515) 720-0172, [email protected] [email protected]
ATraditionIsBorn...andContinues
Holiday Weekend Event Planned
It was so much fun last year that the Congregation
Councilsofourtwocongregationsareplanningarepeatof
theexperienceonSundayofMemorialDayweekend.
OnthatSundayin2017St.Andrew’sinvitedHolyTrinityto
worship with them. The service was followed by a
(potluck)picnic lunch. Peoplewhoparticipated felt “This
oughttobecomeatradition.”
Sunday,May27at10:30a.m.St.Andrew’sisagaininviting
Holy Trinity to join them for worship, followed by a
(potluck)picniclunch.Grilledhamburgers,hotdogs,buns,
lemonade and paper products (plates, cups, etc.) will be
provided.
Personswhostayforlunchareinvitedtobringsidedishes,
dessert, etc. If you don’twant to cook—comeanyway!
Therewillbeplentyoffood,andadonationbasketwillbe
out for those whowould like to pay a few bucks rather
thancook.NOSERVICEisplannedatHolyTrinitythatday.
ThisyearPastorAhntholzwillleadtheMemorialWeekend
worship.Theservicewillincludepatrioticelements.
CombiningtheBibleandSports
WORKUNDERWAYFOR
ANNUALBIBLESCHOOL
Workbegan this week for St. Andrew’s annual vacation
Bible school.Children,ages3 (potty trained)-10 yearsold
arewelcometoattendtheJuly16-20eventatSt.Andrew’s
LutheranChurch,from5:30-8eachevening.
EvenJesusneededateamtoshowuswhatteamspiritis.
The best part of being on a team is sharing experiences
together.MEGASportsCamp®TEAMSpiritshowskidshowtobegreatteammates.
Through both sports stories and Bible stories about Jesus
andHisteamofdisciples,kidswilldiscoverwhatitmeansto
put team first. Fun music, MEGA mascot, sports training,
and relationship-building small groups should help
introducekidstoaGodwholovesthem.
Registration is required to attend. Please contactMelanie
Sharp, VBS Coordinator, by phone or email with any
questions,orifaregistrationformisneeded,641-417-9688.
Melanie also needs volunteers to help with the school.
PotentialvolunteersshouldalsocontactMelanie.
WeareChrist'schurch.Thereisaplaceforyouhere.We are the church that shares a living, daring
confidenceinGod'sgrace.Liberatedbyourfaith,we
embrace you as a whole person--questions, com-
plexitiesandall.
JoinusaswedoGod'sworkinChrist'snameforthe
lifeoftheworld.
SYNODASSEMBLYTOCONSIDER
NEWGOVERNANCEPROPOSAL
Major itemontheagendatobediscussedanddecidedat
theMayassemblywill bea proposalby theSoutheastern
Iowa Synod that they feel would create a nomination
process that would better balance membership on the
SynodCouncil.
They feel the move to four-year terms on the Synod
Councilthatarenotrenewablewouldleadtomorepeople
serving inpositionsof leadership.Theyarealsoproposing
the combination of a chaplain in each conference chosen
byconferencepastorsanddeacons,andsynoddeanswho
are chosen by the Synod Council. Both positions would
becomeanextensionofthesynodstaff.
Currently the synod is divided into 11 conferences, with
theproposalfortheSynodCounciltoidentifypeopleinthe
six geographical subdivisions to be nominated for synod
leadership positions (Synod Council). Most of the area
subdivisions consist of the combined territory of two
conferences.
Acongregation’scost tosendtwovotingdelegate is$190
each for the 1½-day event, not including the cost of the
$107overnightaccommodationsattheCoralvilleMarriott
HotelandConferenceCenterinCoralville.
The Assembly will take place May 18 and 19 at the
CoralvilleMarriottHotel&ConferenceCenter,Coralville.
Thank You THANK YOU to the following for providing food, servingand/or helping clean up following the Lenten suppers:
Vicky and Bill Bennett, Linda and Bill Bennett; Marilyn
Butler, Lois Ahntholz, Bill Hunter, Ange Sevenbergen,
Marlene Sharp, Kathy Sevenbergen, Carol Wolfgram,
RhondaWolf,StaciArnold,andDianneClemon.
THANK YOU to Mark Collum for installing the security
lighting, and to Todd Sharp and Doug Bell for refinishing
thechancelflooratSt.Andrew’s.
THANKYOUtoeveryonewhobroughtfoodand/orhelpedwith theEaster Breakfast. Itwasverymuch appreciated.
The offering of $342 will be used for St. Andrew’s 2018
VacationBibleSchool.DougBell THANKS . . . to the congregation (HTLC) for all theirprayers.JimandIarehappytobewithyouall.
VerySincerely,PeggyHiemstra
AllAreWelcome...
InvitationCanReflect
theHospitalityofJesus
More than just “good manners”, hospitality is a
spiritualmatter.Inwelcomingandinbeingwelcomed,
we experience the love of God who breaks down
humanbarriersanddrawsusintocommunitywithone
another.
It’seasytoextendwelcometopeoplewhoaresimilar
to us, but how canwe offer awelcome to all? This
monththeBiblestudyfromGathermagazineexplores
through several Bible passages howwe canopen our
groups and congregations to diverse newcomers.
Studyparticipantsare invitedtoreflectondimensions
ofhospitalitywithinourlivesandcongregations.
MarilynButlerwill host theMay10Bible study at 10
a.m. at her house: 1511 South 13th Avenue, East,
Newton. Extra copies of the study will be available.
Join the learning and the fellowshipwithmembers of
bothSt.Andrew’sandHolyTrinity.
WORSHIPATTENDANCEFORAPRIL
HTLCST.ANDREW’S
APR. 14855(Easter)
881(CombinedwithHTLC)
15Servicescancelled--Weather
223343
“Corporate Worship . . . brings us understanding,
strengthens our faith, gives us hope, fills us with
encouragement, and gives us the first-hand experience of
being loved by God - and that gives us the ability to love
others more fully. There is nothing we can do on Sunday
thatismoreimportantthanbeinginGod'sHouseandbeing
fedbyHisgrace-filledpresence in theBlessedSacrament.”
(episcopalnet.org)
The collection of books in the narthex at Holy Trinity
continues to grow for the school children of Houston,
Texas.TheHustonSchoolDistrictestimates74percentof
the students in the District come from families that
struggletoprovidebooksfortheirchildren.
In June thebookswill be taken to the 2018 ELCA Youth
Gathering,whichwill takeplace inHouston late in June.
BlakeSevenbergenfromHolyTrinityplanstoattend.
Donatedbooks (newor slightlyused) shouldbeselected
fromthe listbelow.MattinglyMusicBookstore,Newton,
willmake available to shoppers books from this list at a
discountprice.Moneydonationsarealsowelcome.
BadKitty(Series)byNickBruelElephantandPiggie(Series)byoWillems
FrogandToad(Series)byArnoldLobelIt’sShowTimebyMoWillemsandBrianCollier
LittleBear(Series)byElaHolmelundMinarik
MercyWatson(Series)byKateDiCamillo
Amulet(Series)byJazuKibuisjiElDeafobyCeceBellGhostbyRainaTelgameier
MightyJackbyBenHatkeRollerGirlbyVictoriaJamieson
SecretCoders(Series)byGeneLuenYangBrownGirlDreamingbyJacquelineWoodson
DiaryofaWimpyKid(Series)byJeffKinneyDogMan(Series)byDevPilkeyDragonMasters(Series)byTraceyWest
EerieElementary(Series)byJackChabertFishinaTreebyLyndaMullalyHunt
FrankEinstein(Series)byJonScieszka
GhostbyJasonReynoldsISurvived(Series)byLaurenTarshisLauraLinebyCrystalAllenMatildabyRoaldDahlNerds,Book1:NationalEspionageRecue,andDefenseSocietybyMichaelBuckley
OneandOnlyIvanbyKatherineApplegateOneCrazySupperbyRitaWilliamsGarcia
OrigamiYoda(Series)byTomAngleberger
SomeKindofCouragebyDanGemeinhart
TheCrossOverbyKwameAlexander
TheLionsofLittleRockbyKristinLevineTheYearofBillyMillerbyKevinHenkesWonderbyRaquelPalacioCreepyPairofUnderwearbyAaronReynoldsDragonsLoveTacosbyAdamRubim
LastStoponMarketStreetbyMattdelaPena
MargoAbuelaandMebyMegMedina
MarthaandtheBeautifulCockroach:ACubanFolktalebyCarmenAgraDeedy
PetetheCat(Series)byJamesDean
TheDaytheCrayonsQuitbyDrewDaywaltWhyAmIMebyPaigeBritt
Collection of Book Continues to Grow In addition to the book donations, money is being
collectedtohelpfundBlake’s trip to the Youth
Gathering. HTLC members are challenged to add their
pocket(orpurse)changetothejarthatissetoutateach
worshipservice. Sofar$250hasbeenraised,withagoal
of$500forBlake’stravel,food,offeringsandincidentals.
WATCHFORIT!
ToddSharpplanstostartayouth
groupthisfallatSt.Andrew’s
NAMEPLATE INSTALLATION OFFICIALLY COMPLETES WINDOW PROJECT Individual nameplates were attached to many of the
windowsills at St. Andrew’s recently. The effort was to
complete the window restoration project that was
approved in 2016. The work was done last fall by the
WilletHauserCo.
Total cost for theplaqueswasabout$500, Ibelieve.The
donorwallplaquewasdonatedbyBarryDeJong.
Followingarethepersonsmemorializedwithplaques:
• InMemoryofRobertandVirginiaBell
• InMemoryofElmerandCatherineSoberg
• InMemoryofRobertandGertrudeSchnell
• InMemoryofBobKleinendorst
• InGratitudetoGodbyBobandEloiseSward
Two window plaques were updated, and the original
woodenplaquesfrom1944weregiventosurvivingfamily
members. Those plaques are for George and Ruby Van
GorkomandMr.andMrs.BertDeJong.
Thanks to Norene andMike Paulson for their work with
the window project, including getting and installing the
nameplates.
WhatIsYourLevelofGiving?
HTLC MARCH OFFERINGS DOWN
The March weather wasn’t the only thing that could
have used some improvement. In looking at the
treasurer’s report for Holy Trinity, offering receipts
werealsodownsignificantlyforMarch.
Total receipts for March were $4,733.57, while
expenses totaled $7,258.98. Expenses during the
winter months are typically higher because of heating
and snow removal costs. Bill Bennett, treasurer,
reports receipts need to average about $6,000 per
month to meet the congregation’s financial
commitments. Offerings during March were $1,200-
$1,300belowthataverage.
Undoubtedly, many members are already contributing
significantofferings tohelp in themissionandministry
atHolyTrinity.Thisisthefirsttimeinrecentyearsthat
offeringshavebeensignificantlybelowwhat isneeded.
Hopefully, everyone will review their giving and
prayerfully considerwhether that figure is up to one’s
potential.
Acopyofthetreasurer’sreportispostedonthehallway
bulletinboardeachmonth.
MAYBIRTHDAYSANDWEDDINGANNIVERSARIES
HappyBirthdayto:
MAY1MaverickHuyser(S)
4MarilynBerthelsen(S)
5NorenePaulson(S)
9MadelynFenner(S)
11DarrellBoettcher(H)
13JoeFenner(S)
15MarkBell(S),ColleenCastorf(S)
17DorothyKleinendorst(S),SamuelPhilby(S)
19GaryClemon(H)
24BobFisher(H)
25TimOnnen(H)
WeddingAnniversaries:
MAY4BillandVickyBennett(H)
5WesandSueRanard(H)
20KeithandKathySevenbergen(H)
31PaulandRuthElzey(S)
HolyTrinity(H),St.Andrew’s(S)
May Special Mission Offering Designations
Recipients of the special mission money for May for the
two churcheswill be for twodifferent causes, one for an
at-homemissionandtheotherforaworldmissioncause.
VacationBibleSchool
St.Andrew’s specialmissionoffering forMaywillbe their
JulyVacationBible School. The school attracts, not only
children from St. Andrew’s, but many children from the
community. There is no registration fee for the children.
The cost is covered by donations from members and
friendsofSt.Andrew’s.
DonationsfortheEasterbreakfastweredesignatedforSt.
Andrew’s vacation Bible school. A total of $342 was
received,agoodstartforhelpingfundtheevent.
Donations may be made using your regular offering
envelopeorbyusingaspecialenvelopeandwriting“VBS”
ontheoutside.Cashdonationsarealsowelcome.
Missionary
Holy Trinity’s $300monthly budgetedmissionmoneywill
be sent to a missionary for her work with people in the
areainwhichsheworks.
Shesaysofherwork,“Whatajoy it istoknowthatmany
are coming to Jesus because of the faithful ministry (of
Christianleaderswithwhomsheworks)andtheprayersof
peoplearoundtheworldforthelost!”
For several years this young ladyhas beendoingmission
workabroad. For severalyearsalsoHolyTrinityhasbeen
helping support her work financially with the special
monthlymissionfunds.
Additional donations are welcome and may be made
through your regular offering envelopes or in the special
envelopes in the pews at church. Be sure to designate
“Missionary”ontheoutsideoftheenvelope.
Jesussaid, ‘Letthe littlechildrencometome,anddonotstop them; for it is to suchas these that thekingdomofheavenbelongs.”(Matthew19:14)
REMEMBERYOURCHURCHINYOURWILL
Shareyoublessingswithgenerationstocome!
FoodfortheEasterbreakfastatHolyTrinitywas
broughtbyasmallgroupofpeoplewhosharedin
thebreakfast.
DevonWolfreplacingthepurpledrapeonthecrosswiththe
whiteone.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the
celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection special at both
churches. Thanks for bringing and/or serving food,
themusic, theEaster flowers,serving,workingwith
thekids to tell theResurrectionstoryand forbeing
thereforthecelebration.
Easterwillcontinuetobecelebratedatworshipeach
SundaythroughMay13.TheFestivalofPentecostis
May20,andHolyTrinityisMay27.
EasterSunday,April1,wascelebratedbybothcongregations
with food, fellowship, Easter music, worship and Holy
Communion.
The 9 a.m. worship at St. Andrew’s followed a breakfast of
waffles,pastries,fruitandeggcasseroles.DougBellprovided
the primary leadership with others sharing in the food
preparation, serving and cleanup. The donation basket
revealed$342forSt.Andrew’s2018VBS.
PatJohnsonandDougBellservebreakfastatSt.Andrew’s.
SistersPeytonandKahliaSharpenjoybreakfast.
EasterStoryissharedbythechildren
CELEBRATINGEASTERWITHFOOD,FELLOWSHIP,WORSHIP
StudyofOldTestamentProphets
ContinuesSundayMorningsatHTLC
The Sunday 9 a.m. Adult Bible Study group continues to
journey through the Old Testament, focusing during the
comingmonthonseveraloftheprophets.
Ezekielwas called toproclaimthemessageof restoration
tothepeopleofGodwhowereinBabylonialanguishingin
defeat and apathy. God allowed them to be taken into
exile because theychosenot to listen toGodand instead
worshipothergods.
Thenextprophetwhoalsowas sent tobringhope to the
exiles was Daniel. When we hear the name, Daniel, we
usuallythinkofthestoryof“DanielintheLions’Den”,but
more can be learned from the study of Daniel. Daniel’s
message was telling the people that God was still full of
mercyandpower;theirfuturewasinthehandsofGodand
nottheBabylonians.
It’snevertoolateto jointhediscussionSundaysat9a.m.
atHolyTrinity.Biblesandstudymaterialsarefurnished.
HOLYTRINITY’S
byBillBennett,Jr.,Treasurer
In April members of Holy Trinity gave $368 in
benevolencetoELCAMissionSupport,representing10
percent of the non-designated funds given to the
churchinMarch.
Our mission emphasis for April id the Lutheran
ChaplaincyOutreachattheUniversityofIowaHospitals
andClinics.Wehavereceived$380indonationssofar
thismonth(thereisoneSundayleftinAprilatthetime
thiswaswritten),andourbudgetedfundsof$300will
beaddedtothat.
CHURCHPICTORIALDIRECTORY
Peoplehavebeeninquiringwhenthenewdirectorymight
be ready. The first draft of the pictorial directory was
received. Changes havebeenmade, and thepageswere
returnedtoBruceandPaulaDodgen.
In the process of seeing the draft, we discovered several
people/families did not have a picture in the new
directory.Thesepeoplehavebeencontacted,andweare
stillwaitingtoreceiveseveralpictures.
If you want a non-pictorial directory that includes
information on members and friends of each of our
churches, copies are still available at your respective
church.Thedirectorieshavecontactinformation,birthdays
andweddinganniversarydates.
NEWTONCHILDREN’SCHORUS
SHARESMUSICATHOLYTRINITY
Children from the NewtonChildren’s Chorus provided
special music at Holy Trinity’s worship April 8. Jana
Sevenbergen,amemberofHolyTrinity,singswith the
group, which is under the direction of Jane Johnson.
Many members of St. Andrew’s were worshiping at
Holy Trinity that day due to the strong fumes of the
floorrefinishingprojectatSt.Andrew’s.
Selections included:“Christ IsRisenFromtheDead”,a
TraditionalFrenchCanon;“ThankYouFortheWorldSo
Sweet”, music by Betty Bertaux: “Yonder Come Day”,
(GeorgiaSeaIslandsFolkSong),arr.JudithCookTucker.
Lunchwasservedtoboththechildrenandworshipers.
Thanks toVickyBennett,MarilynButler, LoisAhntholz
andSueandWesRanardforprovidingthefood.
REMEMBERINPRAYERPersonsStrugglingWithIllness:JoyceSabel,DorothyLickey,BobFisher, Peggy Hiemstra, Midge Wilson, Ellen Onnen, Deb Line,
Billie Farland, Ashton Line (Keith Line’s grandson), Robert
Hechinger (Wes Ranard’s supervisor), Florence Hunt (Sue
Ranard’s mother), Palmer Boettcher (Darrell and Linda
Boettcher’s grandson),Myrtle Jentz (LoisAhntholz’ssister), Joan
Kinrade (Peg Troyke’s friend), Alice Murray (Judy Humes’
daughter), Richard VanderKeif (Midge Wilson’s brother), Steve
Matsen, Lee Fields (Denny and Pat Farland’s son-in-law), and
JamieAnderson(KathySevenbergen’sniece).
SYMPATHYisextendedto--PastorJerryEgelonthedeathofhiswife,Gaye,April22in
Colorado.FuneralMonday,10a.m.,CrossofChristLutheran
Church,Broomfield,CO(PastorEgel,3330BoulderCircle,#101,Broomfield,CO80023)--JoanandDavidMasononthedeathofJoan’sbrother,Roger
HasselbrinkwhodiedApril16inArizona.Hisfuneralwillbe
Friday,April27,inCedarRapids.
--MarilynBerthelsenonthedeathofherhusband,John
BerthelsenFeb.22.MemorialservicewillbeFri.,April27at
WallaceFamilyFuneralHome,Newton.
CollegeStudents:--DaltonWolf,BuenaVistaUniversity,
--DevonWolf,(DMACC),Newtoncampus
MilitaryFamilies:--MaryGorball’sgrandson,MichaelGorball,U.S.Marinesin
Kearney,NE(wife:Kerry;tripletsons:Luke,JacobandIsaac)
--PastorKenandLois’granddaughter,NatashaMartinez,
stationedwiththeU.S.ArmyatFt.Meade,MD
PRAYERCHAINREQUESTSmaybegivenorcalledto:AliceLadd,
WEEKLYWORSHIP:Sunday9a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(St.Andrew’s)10:30a.m.Worshipw/HolyCommunion(HTLC)ADULTFORUM/STUDY:Sunday9a.m.(HTLC)“DusttoGlory:AnOverviewoftheOldTestamentbyR.C.Sproul”SecondThurs.,10a.m.StudiesfromGathermagazineYOUTHDISCIPLESHIPEDUCATIONSunday9a.m.DuringWorship(St.Andrew’s)Wednesday5:45-7p.m.(HTLC)
HolyTrinityLutheranChurch(EvangelicalLutheranChurchinAmerica)1409SouthEighthAvenue,East
Newton,IA50208
INDOOR ESTATE SALE BittersweetAcres
1042HoodSt.,Newton
• 3,000books--$1each
• CraftandQuiltingBooks
• LotsofQuiltingFabric
• Women'sClothing--AllKinds(Largersizes)--$1each
• SilkFlowersforMemorialDay
• Baskets,Miscellaneous
Thursday,April26,Noonto6p.m.
Friday,April27,9a.m.to6p.m.
Saturday,April28,9a.m.to1p.m.
Congratulations to: IanBennett, graduating fromGrandViewUniversity,
Des Moines, Sat., April 28, with a B.A. degree in
Business Administration, Finance concentration, and
minorsinGlobalStudiesandHonors.
Charlie Bennett, also graduating from Grand View
University with a B.A. in Graphic Journalism and
minors in InteractiveMedia,User ExperienceDesign
andHonors.
IanandCharliearesonsofBillandVickyBennettand
grandsonsofBillandLindaBennett.