The Mirror

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April

2018

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior thecongregationalchurchofexcelsior.org infoccoe@aol.com (952) 474-5919

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

From the Pastor 1

Music Notes 2

Board of Christian Education 3

Board of Deacons 4

Board of Growth and Membership 4

Board of Missions 5

From the Pastor

When you receive this, Easter will just be over….but is Easter ever over? So it’s still more than appropriate to start off by again declaring this momentous triumph of powerless love over loveless power (“You may try to kill love but you can’t keep it dead and buried,” as Rev. William Sloane Coffin said of this victory of eternal life over the grave). And so we can all say together, wherever we are at this moment: “Christ is risen, Christ is risen indeed!”

But instead of doing the obvious and natural thing which is to say even more about the Resurrection (the miracle and mystery of which is inexhaustible!), I would like to change direction a bit. I think we can’t (nor should we) allow March----Women’s History month, to go by unrecognized and uncelebrated. To that end, I will now share an article (which I like to do from time to time when the spiritual subject is compelling---which this most certainly is). It was emailed to me (as well as to a chain of others I’m sure), a few weeks ago by Lydia. It’s entitled simply, “Deborah,” who was an important person in the life and history of ancient Israel, so important in fact that what she did is immortalized in Hebrew scripture and tradition. And while---like a Russian novel (by the way, who said that the Russian novel was invented by Russians?), the story of Deborah does not lend itself readily to verbal communication (preaching) since there are far too many strange names (at least to us in the 21st Century), to try to keep straight, it’s wonderful to read---and reread if necessary. (Rule Of Thumb: whenever there’s a story with a tangle of characters---and there are countless in the Bible, as those of you know who have tried to wade through both the Old Testament and New with all the tongue-twister names of people and places, I first read the passage through to just follow the main character. Then I go back, maybe several times, to sort through all the rest. So be patient with yourself; it eventually pays off in clarity and understanding).

So, for starters, we can truthfully say that---at least this year, “March came in like a lion and went out like a Deborah!” With that,

here’s a modern telling of the story of Deborah and her significance, as written by theologian Frederick Buechner and taken from his book, Peculiar Treasures. But first, let me suggest that you read the original, which is found in the Book of Judges, chapters 4 & 5. Here goes:

She summoned him to the palm tree and told him she wanted him to take ten thousand of his best men and beat the stuffing out of the Canaanite forces under a general named Sisera. Barak said he’d do it but indicated he’d feel more secure if Deborah came along. She said she would. She also said it was only fair to warn him, however that the main glory of the day was going to be not his but a woman’s since a woman was going to wipe out Sisera. In addition to her hats, Deborah was something of a prophet and had pronounced feminist sympathies.

Her prediction turned out to be correct, of course. Barak won the battle, but Sisera was disposed of by a lady named Jael in a rather spectacular way, which can be read about later in this book, and to make sure that Jael got all the credit that was coming to her, Deborah wrote a song to help spread the word around.

It’s a wonderful song, full of blood and thunder with a lot of hair-raising bitter jibes at the end of it about how Sisera’s old mother sits waiting at the window for her son to come home, Not knowing that Jael has already

(Continued on page 2)

The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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Pastor, from page 1

made mincemeat of him. Deborah composed it, but she got Barak to sing it with her. Barak looked like Moshe Dayan (without the eye patch of course), and it must have been quite a duet. The song brushes by Barak’s role rather hastily but it describes Jael’s in lavish detail and must have gotten her all the glory a girl could possibly want. Yahweh himself gets a plug at the end---“So perish all thine enemies, O Lord!” (Judges 5:31)---but by and large the real hero of Deborah’s song is herself. Everything was going to pot, the lyrics say, “until you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel” (5:7). And you can’t help feeling that Deborah’s basic message was that Mother was the one who really saved the day. And of course, with Yahweh’s help, she was.

It’s hard not to bridle a little at the idea of her standing under a palm tree belting out her own praises like that, but after all, she had a country to run and a war to fight, and she knew that without good press she was licked from the start. Besides, maybe the more self-congratulatory parts of her song were the ones that she assigned to Barak.” Bottom line: Womanhood is powerful….so don’t mess with Deborah---if you know what’s good for ya’! Blessings, Rev. Tom

Music Notes \ Ann Lamott’s three prayers are: “Help! Thanks! Wow!” Easter is certainly a WOW prayer time! You will have heard the choir sing and whistle on Easter, April Fool’s Day this year, the anthem by Giovanni Gastoldi In Dir Ist Freude: “In thee is gladness, gone is all sadness, Jesus, sunshine of my heart. By thee are given the joys of heaven, thou the only Savior art. To serve thee ever, forsake thee never, we bow before thee, love and adore thee. Alleluia! Now is the story of Easter glory sung with glad voices the world rejoices. Alleluia!” Blessings as we sing joyous/wow/thanks songs in this “cruelest month of April” –HELP! Loving blessings to all from Lydia.

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Board of Christian Education

Happy spring to all from the CE Board!

At our last meeting, we elected Janet Holler to again serve as chair! Thanks for all of your hard work and creativity, Janet!

The Christian Education Board has hosted several fun events leading into the spring season!

Kick It in February featured a very successful Four-Square Tournament hosted by Janet! The fun activities continued in March with T-shirt painting - with real fish!

Our Sunday school and confirmation kids have been involved in the Children's Message portion of our service and learning a lot in Sunday school, continuing the theme of "Building our Faith, Brick by Brick." Janet H. and Janet K. are also starting a teen texting group.

The confirmation group continues their studies and will be making stoles this month.

We have included a photo a Purina label. Why? The lesson was about Jesus as a child. Luke 2:52. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." Physical, mental, social, religious - Janet challenge the kids to be balanced in these areas in their lives and to continue growing in each area. William Danforth wanted people to remember this message so, as the founder of Ralston Purina, he used the checkerboard square logo for all Purina products to illustrate the concept. Ralston Purina also made Chex cereal. "You can find Jesus in the pet aisle of the grocery store!"

Upcoming events include: Easter There will be an Easter egg hunt after church on Sunday, April 1. All youth are welcome!! Sunday School 1st Sunday of the month will have 2 groups. 2nd Sunday of the month will have 1 group all ages. 3rd Sunday of the month older youth will be in church. Younger kids have Sunday School. 4th Sunday of the month has 2 groups. 5th Sunday of the month has 1 group, and kids help collect noisy offering. Confirmation (6:30-8 p.m.) March 28; April 18 (Confirmation and teen night featuring a service project at Rogneys); May 9; and SUNDAY May 20 confirmation in church. Kick It (6-8 p.m.) May 16 Noisy offering April 29

Blessings, Kara Hartman, Chair Janet Holler, Carley Kregness, Karla Wennerstrom and Danielle Wishard-Tudor

The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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Board of Deacons

The Deacons and Rev. Tom discussed Holy Week events including Palm Sunday, Holy (Maundy) Thursday, and Easter.

There will be no coffee hour on Easter.

Flowers and the quilters’ quilt will adorn the altar on Easter.

If you ordered a flower, remember to take it home after worship on Easter.

Social Hour is an important part of our Sunday morning. Please take a turn making the coffee and arranging trays of goodies. We’ll provide you with a partner. Cups are disposable and the Deacons provide food, so it’s REALLY EASY TO BE A COFFEE HOST!! Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the office. In addition, while you’re at it, consider signing up to usher, be a lay reader or to provide Sunday flowers for the altar.

If you know of someone who needs a get-well card or friendly greeting, please tell Rev. Tom or a deacon.

Submitted by your Board of Deacons:

Sally Deke, Chair, Nancy Benson, Julie Boden, Betty Kuechle, Jo Marquardt, Sara Miler, Virginia Mitchell, Val

Stuessi, and Judy Wise

Board of Growth and Membership

Spring is here, and in spite of the remainders of our long, cold winter, your Growth and Membership team is looking forward to warmer weather and the start of our Burma Shave outdoor sign campaign along Third Street. The idea is to invite people to join us through a series of humorous rhyming signs that promote the benefits of our church. Here are a couple of examples:

Does daily living This is the church, Make you nervous? And this is the steeple. Join us for Come inside Our Sunday service! And join all the people!

We want to collect lots of ideas for this campaign, so please email yours to any member of the G&M team. We have also started on an update of the church web site, so please continue to email church event pictures to members of our Marketing Committee, and remember to include event name.

Janet Krueger janetchamberskrueger@gmail.com Marty Swain mheiberg@umn.edu Karla Wennerstrom karlawennerstrom@gmail.com MarySue Krueger marysuekru@gmail.com

Watch for the premier date of our web site update coming soon!

Happy Spring and blessings from your G&M team! Jenny Chappa, Margaret Demshar, Jeannie Handley, Janet Krueger MarySue Krueger, Chair

The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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Board of Missions

Happy early spring to all! The Missions Board is springing forth along with everything and everyone else and eager to start a fresh season.

Our ICA theme for April is Personal Hygiene, so bring in whatever you fancy—soap, shampoo and other hair-care items, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, lotion, feminine products, etc. These items will be so much appreciated by ICA’s clients. There are always coupons in the paper for products like these, and the items aren’t bulky to transport, so let’s give generously! And, as always, if you’d rather donate funds, just make sure you make your check out to the church and write “ICA” in the memo line; you can drop it in the collection plate or send it to the office.

April has a 5th Sunday, so save up your coins (and bills) for our first Noisy Offering of the year on April 29. The collection will go to Tree House, the youth organization we

In case, you were wondering… Project Blue Light

The blue light in our sanctuary window is there to honor public safety personnel. Police officers, firefighters and first responders work daily to protect and serve our community. Our blue light is an expression of our gratitude, as well as a memorial to those who have lost their lives in that service.

support with bi-monthly suppers and Christmas gifts. See more about this wonderful organization at www.treehouseyouth.org.

With thanks to all of you from your Missions Board,

Marty Swain (chair), Sharon Graef, Mark Krueger, Ross Rogney

Lundsten Circle Please join us for Lundsten Circle on Friday, Arpil 27 at noon in the Conference Room. We will be discussing Family History, so be ready to talk about parents, grandparents and their journeys – pictures are great. Bring your own lunch. Dessert and beverages are provided. Please RSVP Marge Windorpski by Wednesday, Arpil 25 if you plan to attend.

Mirror Articles Mirror articles for the May 2018 issue are due Monday, April 16.

Simpson Shelter We will be serving food at the Simpson Shelter at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24. Volunteers are always needed. If you are unable to volunteer, monetary donations are welcomed. Contact Gary Larson for additional information.

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West Suburban Grief Coalition www.westsuburbangriefmn.org

Our church supports the West Suburban Grief Coalition. Many have found their programs to be helpful in dealing with the grieving process. The meetings are held from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Refreshments and registration start at 4:00 p.m. The location rotates among area churches. The winter meetings will be held at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth,12235 Old Rockford Raod, Plymouth, MN (763-559-2775). Our coordinator for this group is Kathy Sherwood.

April 5th

“Hope After Loss” presented by Mary Christopherson

April 12th

“Self Care & Exercise During Grief” presented by Grace Wagnild

April 19th “Creative & Meaningful Ways to Honor Your Loved One”

presented by Steve Sims, Retired Bereavement Coordinator Judy Tills, Beareavement Coordinator

April 26th “Grief and Downsizing” presented by Marcie Spears

Around the World Wine Tasting Event

CCoE will be hosting an “Around the World” wine tasting event on Friday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. There will be wine tastings along with food pairings. Free will offering. Please sign-up in person or by calling the office at 952-474-5919 by Tuesday, April 3. Guests are welcome!

The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior/The Mirror

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The Congregational Church of Excelsior 471 Third Street

Excelsior, MN 55331

952-474-5919

We’re on the web: www.thecongregationalchurchofexcelsior.org

Around the World Wine Tasting Event

CCoE will be hosting an “Around the World” wine tasting event on Friday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. There will be wine tastings along with food pairings. Free will offering. Please sign-up in person or by calling the office at 952-474-5919 by Tuesday, April 3. Guests are welcome!