Peace Church Council

Joyce Hanson Peace Lutheran Church

PO Box 164
Barrett, MN 56311
baskets@runestone.net
320-424-9726

Gaylene Hanson
May 2018
PO Box 198
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
gaylenehanson@aol.com
MAY SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Lois Scherer
26873 Grand View Road #1 We only have two more weeks of Sunday School!
Elbow Lake, MN 56531
loisscherer@gmail.com
218-685-4465 On May 6th our kids will be making Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
cards for their parents – and a special greeting for our congregation.
Jim Johnson Hope everyone can make it!
18643 193rd Ave
Barrett, MN 56311 Our last day of Sunday School is May 13th. We’re planning something
papajim@runestone.net
320-528-2393
special but we need to know how many kids will be in attendance.
Please let me know if your child will be there. Thank you!
Todd Schneeberger
26875 Oak Point Rd It’s not too early to start thinking of Vacation Bible School. We wel-
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 come your input about what works best:
tbschnee@runestone.net ~Dates and times
218-685-5210
~Three days or five days
~ Program in church the Sunday after VBS
Robert Shervey
21738 180th Ave
~Theme?
Barrett, MN 56311
rshervey@runestone.net Please contact me with your ideas and suggestions and if you’d like to
218-685-4309
help in anyway. Thank you!

Kim Lang We also have to start thinking of new ideas for Sunday School as our
504 3rd Street
Barret, MN 56311 attendance has dropped to mostly one person each Sunday (whose
Urbangirl77@hotmail.com last year is this year). If we have no one coming, we’ll have to close
320-528-2290 down.☹️

Lexi Danner
PO Box 152
Hoffman, MN 56339
Sincerely,
alexis.danner@hotmail.com
320-986-2222 Joyce Hanson, Director
Peace Sunday School
Pastor Sarah Evenson: 320-424-9726
320-808-8772
sarahevenson@hotmail.com
 Peace Church Council Meeting, March 14th, 2018

Members Present: Joyce Hanson, Lois Scherer, Todd Schneeberger, Bob Shervey, Kim Lang, Lexi Danner,
Gaylene Hanson
Absent: Jim Johnson, Pr. Sarah, Sandy Kashmark
Visitor Attending: Heather Danner
Meeting called to order by President Joyce Hanson at 6:31pm
Secretary’s Report:
Motion to approve last meeting minutes made by Todd, 2nd by Lois, MCU
Treasurer’s Report:
Transaction Report: Motion to approve by Gaylene, 2nd by Bob, MCU Treasurer’s Report approved by
Todd, 2nd by Kim, MCU
Pastor’s Report:
Pr. Sarah will be meeting with the Mutual Ministry committee during this week. We will ask for a
report from this meeting and will request to have the committee attend our council meeting to be able
to discuss the needs of our congregation.
Old Business:
Council will have members on sub committees for the church whole. The committees are:
Building & Grounds, Stewardship and Education. Bob will be on the Building and Grounds
and Joyce will be on Education. We will discuss the needs for the Stewardship committee and
have revisit later.
Church Directory. Joyce will talk to Brenda Long to see where we stand on the finished project.
Concern that it is taking a long time to complete.
New Business
We will return the e-mail to Pr Erdal from the Synod in regards to signing the contract for Pr.
Sarah. The contract is for 6 months. There was some questions as to why it was for 6 months
vs 1 year. We will meet with Pr. Sarah to discuss the needs for our congregation.
Easter Services will be as follows: Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 5:30pm, Sunday
Morning at 7:00am by Pr. Sarah and then at 9:30am church service by John Zdrazil. The youth
group will be serving a pancake breakfast between services to raise money for the youth trip.
Pr Sarah will be on vacation from April 9-17th. We will request a supply Pastor for the Service on
April 15th.
The youth leader has been working to set up the trip for our youth. If it works, it would be
available to students going into 7th grade up to Seniors. It will include all meals, lodging,
equipment etc. We will ask families for a deposit to try to reinforce a commitment so we don’t
have people back out at the last minute. There are quite a few dates available yet. Motion to
approve the Youth Trip was made by Kim, 2nd by Lexie, MCU.
The council will ask sub committees for quarterly reports. We feel we will be able to know more
about our church needs by requesting these.
Motion to adjourn at 8:00pm by, Todd, 2nd by Bob, MCU
Kim Lang, Secretary
December of 2015 I was ordained. The church secretary from the previous church I served was much more crea-
tively gifted than I. As a gift for my ordination she wanted to make me a stole to wear during the church year and
also for that special day. In her planning she asked me about Bible verses that were important to me, and one of
the verses I gave her was Isaiah 41:10 which says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This is, for me, a
powerful verse of hope, strength, and encouragement. This verse came to mind as I planned for the conversation
that would take place between all three congregations and their councils. The meeting brought all three congrega-
tions together to discuss the future of this ministry and partnership.

As I reflected on the past year and the partnership between the congregations I have recognized some challenges
and opportunities. Last year consisted of many changes for Peace Lutheran. New ideas have been brought to the
table, some were accepted and tried, while some were not. As always the reactions to change and new ideas have
been mixed. People have been excited by different worship ideas and styles. At the same time others would pre-
fer to continue things as they were. What we are faced with are feelings of anxiety, fear, wonder, and question…all
the while we are looking around and seeing less and less people attending worship.

While I will not address all of the topics discussed at the meeting between all three congregations (please speak to
Joyce if you have particular questions), I will say that worship was at the top of the list, more specifically the time
of worship. Many have felt strongly that changing the worship time to 11 a.m. would increase the attendance and
encourage more young families to come. After much discussion it was decided that worship at Peace will be
moved to 11 a.m. starting Sunday, May 20th.

The change in worship time will be on a trial basis (from my understanding) to determine the effect it has on wor-
ship attendance, in particular the participation of younger families. This change in time will allow me to visit with
people after worship. On that same note, there may be Sunday’s when I am late to worship because of a longer
service at East or West Moe. Partnerships in ministry, or in general, are not always easy, they require a willingness
to work together and compromise. While the tendency is to hold on to feelings of anxiety or be fearful over
change and what we do not understand or cannot see; it is important that we remember whom it is that we put our
faith and trust in. God has told us in the verse from Isaiah that God is with us….not just in the good times, when
things are going well….but always. In this time of change, as we work together to discover God’s direction for
this congregation, we can trust that God is with us. As worship times change and new styles of worship are ex-
plored we can be confident that God is with us.

The reality for Peace Lutheran, and many other congregations, is that what has been done in the past is no longer
working. Family priorities have shifted, and church (sadly) is no longer at the top. The call for us as a church is to
continue to minister faithfully to all. This may require and involve stepping out of our comfortable box and trying
things that are new, different, and may in fact be something that has never been done in the history of this congre-
gation. What I ask is that you open your hearts and minds to what it is God is calling us to do, and who God is
calling us to be as a congregation in 2018 in Barrett, MN. Change can cause fear and anxiety. Yet we MUST re-
member that God is indeed with us.

Pastor Sarah Evenson

May 2018

Congratulations to our Confirmands:

Confirmation Sunday, May 20th-11:00am
Mark Adams
Braedon Blondeau
Ian Getz
Elly Schleicher
Cory Stevens
Jaden Stevens
Jordan Stewart

Congratulations to our Seniors:

Alliah Johnson and Kore Seifert
Greetings!
The Peace Youth have an exciting summer youth trip planned for July 7-14 in Colorado. Our trip will be guided
by Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp which will offer our Youth members the opportunity to grow in faith while
exploring the wonders of God's creation. I believe this trip is going to be a great opportunity for spiritual growth
within our group. Jon and I will be bringing 11 youth members and 2 additional chaperones along with us.
Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp is located in the San Isabel National Forest in Southern Colorado, about two
hours southwest of Colorado Springs. The trip will include three to five days of backpacking in the Sangre de
Christo Mountains, then two additional days of the groups choice of activities from backpacking, rock climbing,
white water rafting, low and high ropes course and a service project.
We would love it if you could pray for this youth trip experience. Pray for those who are going - that we would
be open to learning from the places we are visiting and grow closer as a group and closer to Jesus. Pray for the
Rainbow Trail staff - who will be guiding us during our trip. Pray for the people we will meet along our journey -
that we can help and honor them as well.
The Peace Youth would like to thank everyone for supporting us through prayer and / or giving. They have been
working really hard at fundraising for this trip and know this trip would not be possible without the generosity of
so many. Future fundraising plans: We are looking into the opportunity to have the Youth serve the meal at the
Memorial Day service at the school again this year and of course our annual Peace Youth car wash during
Barrett days. If anyone has any other ideas or suggestions please let me know!
Grateful for the places God draws us. Heather

Barrett/Hoffman Bloodmobile will be at Peace Lutheran

Peace Church Thursday, May 10th from Cemetery Association
1-6pm. There's a serious need for all
Blood Types. You can make an appoint- will hold their Annual
ment by calling Sandy Perry at 320-528- Meeting on May 6,
2343 or go online to www.redcross.org.
2018 at 9:30am.
 May 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5
6:30pm Council 11:22am 10am
Release Time Faithful Folders
3:30pm
Confirmation

6 7 8 9 10 11 12
11:22am 1-6pm 10am 11:30am
8:30am Worship Release Time Bloodmobile Faithful Folders Salad
9:30am 3:30pm Luncheon
Sunday School Confirmation

13 14 15 16 17 18 19
8:30am Worship 3:30pm 10am Ellard
9:30m Confirmation Faithful Folders Larson’s
Sunday School/last Celebration
Sunday of Life
Service at
11:00am
(Burial at
10:00am)

20 21 22 23 24 25 26
11:00am 10am
Worship/confirmation Faithful Folders

27 28 29 30 31
11:00am Worship
 Serving in May
May 6 Dick & Diane Puchalski
Alveda Rhude
Betty DeClercq
May 13 Ron & Kay Johnson
Bill & Barb Little

May 20 Jim Johnson

Mike & Jennifer McLaughlin

May 27 Joel & Melody Fjestad

Paul & Deb Erickson

Work Group # 2 Leaders Altar Guild

Ron & Kay Johnson Sandy Kashmark
Jim Johnson Diane Puchalski

Peace Lutheran Church

Invites you to a
Spring Salad Luncheon
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Serving begins at 11:30am
$10 per person
HELP WANTED::
Peace Church is in need of lawn mowing services. This is a paid
position. If you are interested apply to Joyce Hanson.
Email:baskets@runestone.net or Phone: 320-424-9726.

Note: Peace Church Council Meetings have been changed to the

first Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm.

Peace church directories have been ordered and should be arriving

soon.

New service time beginning May 20th: 11:00am

(instead of 8:30am) “church” will be held at
11:00am as of May 20th.

Ellard Larson’s Celebration of Life Service will be on May

19, 2018. Burial will be at 10:00am with a 11:00am service here
at Peace .

Lutheran World Relief Kits

WELCA is collecting for kits from April –September.
Information is out on the tables or contact Bea DeFrance if you
have questions.
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
PO Box 206
Barrett MN 56311

2 M
0 A
1 Y
8

Pastor Sarah Evenson: 320-808-8772

sarahevenson@hotmail.com
Office: 320-528-2536
office@peacebarrett.org
www.peaacebarrett.org