September

2020

www.cflconline.org

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Calvary Free Lutheran

Church PO Box 303

Arlington, SD 57212

605-983-

Many of us get a little bummed when we see those first few yellow leaves on the Cottonwood and Ash trees because it means Fall is coming. Fall is an interesting season because even though most of the green plants out our windows begin to brown up and die, it is actually season that is full of life! I do not know why January is the beginning of the year, Fall is when all the action happens. Our youth return to school and college, harvest keeps our farmers busy in the fields and the coming holidays keep many busy in the service and manufacturing industries. The church comes alive as well with Sunday school, Bible study, confirmation, new members classes and youth gatherings. Fall is not the season where things die, Fall is the season where things come alive! In this coming season of life, we as God’s people have the wonderful task of preaching the Gospel to a nation that more than ever needs to hear it. Satan has been working hard. But there is hope in the Gos-pel and many have forgotten that. Let’s be a church that goes into this busy season of life and reminds the world around us of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let’s be life givers. Let’s be a church that encour-ages and prays for strangers and ministers to struggling members of our communities. It says to preach the Word in season and out of season. Well, this is most definitely the “in season” and many are primed to here some Good News for a change. God loves you. I love you. And it’s an honor to be your pastor. God bless us as we give life through the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this coming season. Amen.

Pastor Aaron Olson

2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV)

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. As many of you know, the AFLC Annual Conference took place August 10-12 at the ARC in Osceola, WI. The first time I attended the conference years ago, I was puzzled beyond all belief. But over the years the form and function of the AFLC has be-come clearer. I thought it would be good to take some time and relay some of the things I have learned and I plan to do it in two ways: first, I will describe some of the AFLC’s structure, and second, I will briefly report on the 2020 conference. Much of what I am about to say concerning the structure of the AFLC can be found in Standing Fast in Freedom, an AFLC publication we have up at the church. To begin, the AFLC is not a synod, but an association. Each congregation is a separate, autonomous entity, and as a whole we “associate” with one another for the greater good of God’s kingdom. The governing Fundamental Principles of the AFLC (its kinda like a constitution, but not as binding) tell us in principle #7 that “a free congrega-tion gladly accepts the mutual assistance which congregations can give one another in the work for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.” The AFLC has structured this “mutual assistance” into corporations. There are four distinct corporations and two auxiliary ones. When I hear “corporations” I usually think IBM or GM. Similarly, the AFLC has corporations, but these are non-profit corpora-tions. The reason we have corporations in the AFLC is because it is required to have a legal entity to conduct business in the United States. To legally conduct our business as the AFLC, corporations are a necessity. The four main corporations in the AFLC are: the Coordinating Committee, the Schools, Missions, and the ARC (our AFLC camp in Osceola, WI). All four corporations have their own board of directors (often called “committees”), budgets, and in some cases staff. Below is a chart that summarizes what areas and departments these corporations oversee (see page 8 from Standing Fast in Freedom as well).

Something beautiful concerning the AFLC corporations is they are comprised solely by AFLC mem-bers, and these corporation members hold all the power. Take the Schools Corporation for example; the Schools (FLBC and FLS) have 50 voting members in their corporation (the majority required to be laity). These 50 individuals from all walks of life are who the board of directors answer to. Similarly, the Missions Corporation has 100 members in their corporation (majority laity) with the Missions Board answering to them. Likewise, the ARC Corporation has 50 members (your pastor being one of them) and their board is also subject to how the corporation votes on issues. The Coordinating Com-mittee is the odd one out. They do not have a large corporation and are populated exclusively by a committee of 7 members (but to be fair, they have 253 AFLC churches as their boss). All of these office holders (corporation members or board/committee members within the corpora-tions) are elected to their positions at the annual meeting. This is why it is so important to attend the AFLC Annual Conference. We as the local congregation truly have all the authority (governed by God’s Word and his Spirit). It reminds me a lot of our own congregation. Voting members have all the power and they in turn hold the council accountable and the council holds me accountable as your pastor. We are the priesthood of all believers and it is truly a blessing to see God’s people serve in all these roles in his greater kingdom!

Coordinating Committee Schools Corporation Missions Cor-

poration ARC Corporation

General Fund Free Lutheran Bible College World Missions Association Retreat

Center

Evangelism Department Free Lutheran Seminary Home Missions

Parish Ed Department

AFLC Youth Ministries

AFLC Annual Conference Report

(Continued on page 3…)

Now to shift gears for a minute, I would like to relay a brief report from the 2020 Annual Conference. The conference theme was “Will We Find Faith?” from Luke 18:8 and it was well attended. Wednesday’s registered attendees totaling 313 souls. This is huge considering COVID. Another highlight this year was the 11 men who were ordained and added to the clergy roster. Because of COVID and the Annual Conference being postponed until August, these men were actually or-dained at their respective congregations and not at the conference. Something new for 2020 was the formatting. Instead of non-stop meetings, there were electives both days from 1:15-3:15pm where anyone could come and learn about the different corporations and departments of the AFLC. It was really fun for me and I learned a lot! Another formatting change for 2021 is the conference will be moved to later in the week (Friday and Saturday) so more lay people can come and partici-pate. Something rather challenging this year was the financial strain that COVID has brought on the dif-ferent departments. Parish Ed for example lost most of their Sunday School curriculum sales from this spring because most churches were closed to indoor worship. The ARC has had many of the groups who rent the camp cancel due to COVID. Running a camp is unique in that there are opera-tional costs regardless of whether there are any campers occupying the camp. The Paycheck Pro-tection Program has been a wonderful blessing to ministries like the ARC this year. These are just two examples. Please join us in prayer with all the AFLC churches concerning the financial constraints many are experiencing. We are a very blessed congregation here at Calvary, both by where we live and fi-nancially. When we pray for the AFLC ministries, please also pray that God might make us part of the solution as he did with Nehemiah’s prayer. I will close with this. I know how many of us feel about our church and how much we love God’s Word and his people. We see so many blessings, and feel the grace and love of God here. When I look at our AFLC, I experience those same feelings when I attend the Annual Conference. I see friends from long ago. I see hugs and warm embraces (well…not this year), I see the Spirit of God moving in mighty ways and it is such a powerful experience. I highly recommend attending. Next year’s AFLC Annual Conference is being hosted by the schools in Plymouth, MN. It will be an excit-ing time as we will be joining in fellowship in the newly finished Student Life Center on campus. Thank for taking the time to invest in our church and our greater church body. I hope this helped us all understand maybe a little of what goes one in the AFLC and how we can be a part of our nation-al church body. God loves you and cares for you and uses this congregation to manifest his King-dom on Earth. God be praised!

Pastor Aaron Olson

NEW MEMBERS CLASS There will be a New Members Class which will be starting Sunday, September 13

th. There is a

sign up sheet on the counter in the Narthex. For more information, please talk to Pastor Aaron.

CARDS The time has finally arrived! NEW CARDS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED!! We are fully stocked with new and beautiful cards! There are cards of ALL kinds, so please take a look. Individual cards are $0.75 each. Boxed cards are marked.

**SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING RALLY SUNDAY** There will NOT be a Pot Luck dinner following worship this year.

Back to School Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for our students. As they begin this school year, help them to use the talents and gifts you’ve given them to do their very best. May they listen to their teachers with respect and open-minds. Help them to be honest and to always seek the truth. Help them to be kind to everyone at school, and to serve others as they would like to be served. Help them to make good friends and to be a good friend to someone in need. Lastly, help them to remember that You’re always with them and that You’ll never leave their side. May they love You and follow You with all their hearts, soul, and strength. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Pray Matthew 6:9-13

WITHOUT CEASING

Youth Freed

September 9 & September 23

6:30 PM

Free Youth will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month starting in September.

We will have supper and a lesson which will start at 6:30 pm and end at 8:00 pm.

As always, friends are invited to come!

Free and Living youth…Freed from our sins…Free for all to come

CALVARY FREE SHARES JESUS WITH OTHERS Calvary Free Lutheran Church contributes 15% of each month's offerings to a mission pro-ject. The amount varies monthly according to the offerings collected. Each of the monthly recipients is evaluated and selected annually by the Mission Committee which is made up of volunteers. The proposal is then approved by the CFLC council. The September recipient of the 15% is the AFLC Youth. The AFLC Youth Ministries exists to encourage local congregations to WIN teens to Christ, to BUILD teen believers in God's truth and love, to EQUIP teen workers to live and share their faith and to MULTIPLY maturing disciples in Je-sus Christ. One of the AFLC Youth Ministries that has been a special part of Calvary Free, is the National FLY (Free Lutheran Youth) convention which is held every other year at Estes Park, Co. A great many (hundreds) of our youth and their friends have been a part of this, coming back with changed hearts and lives! You are encouraged to pray for our youth - that God would strength them to stand firm in their Christian faith. The committee invites anyone to volunteer to be a part of the Mission Committee. This may be a special way that God is calling you to serve. If interested please contact Pastor Aaron.

N ? K W O

DID YOU KNOW? The CFLC nominating committee is elected at our Annual Meeting which is held in Janu-ary. They serve a very important role, as does everyone in the church. There are three people on the nominating committee. This year it is Shari Haufschild, Louise Hope, and Sandy Smith. When a person serves on the nominating committee, they start praying for God’s guidance and for clarity as to who they are to call upon. This committee needs our prayers. Please remember to pray for them as they begin to meet together in the coming months ahead. Please be in prayer for the positions in which this committee needs to fill. Pray for our church. Also, pray that you will keep an open heart. Are YOU being called?

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September 2020

RALLY SUNDAY Rally Sunday is almost upon us! We will be opening our Sunday School Season with Rally Day starting on September 13

th at 9:30am. This year

we will be changing things up a little differently and will be enjoying and “rallying” outdoors! We will meet in the grassy area on the East side of the church. SO, bring your lawn chairs, bring your blankets, bring your Bibles, bring your singing voices, and bring the JOY of the Lord because we will be coming together to sing praises and RALLY for Jesus! We will start our regular Sunday School classes the fol-lowing Sunday, September 20

th at

9:30. EVERYONE IS INVIT-ED. (There are classes for ALL ages, nursery thru Adult.)

~Rally Sunday~ Fall Schedule starting Sunday September 13th!

9:00-prayer in Adult Sunday School Room 9:15-Confirmation, 9:30-Sunday School

10:30-Worship Service

If your birthday or anni-

versary is not listed, please

let us know so that we can

celebrate your special day

with you!

September Birthdays

Ben Hauck 9-3

Kevin Nelson 9-5

Michele Smith 9-6

Hunter Hope 9-6

Barb Henderson 9-8

Dennis Miller 9-11

Mike Johnson 9-13

Linda Buck 9-13

Keira Steffensen 9-13

Nora Folsland 9-13

Sara Fosland 9-14

September Johnson 9-16

Travis Boyd 9-18

Shirley Knutson 9-18

Blanche Tschetter 9-18

Jerry Ellingson 9-18

Kiana Hoff 9-19

Evelyn Woodford 9-21

Tim Leighton 9-22

Kameron Hauck 9-22

June Ohm 9-22

Owen Hillestad 9-24

Richard Anderson 9-25

Arlys Jorenby 9-26

Rena Larsen 9-27

Skyler Hoyer 9-27

Beatrix Converse 9-27

Nathan Nuttbrock 9-28

David St. John 9-28

Karen Spilde 9-29

Kayla Rolsma 9-30

September Anniversaries Roger & Karen Spilde 9-1-1972

Mike & Julie Nemitz 9-4-2004

Brad & Crystal Steffensen 9-16-2000

Dennis & Annette Miller 9-18-2010

Butch & Sandy Smith 9-19-1965

Adam & Christy Leighton 9-21-2002

Bob & Shari Haufschild 9-21-1974

Ryan & Kira Kleinjan 9-21-2013

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Warning: This page will be different. I’ve read 98 books so far this year and have a large number to put in the library so there may not be much room to tell you about each one. There are five fictional Amish stories. “Promise At Pebble Creek” by Lisa Jones Baker is an adventure of the heart - Hannah Lapp lives for adventure and at her family‘s popular tourist store, she‘s fascinated by the different Englishers she meets - especially when Mar-cus Jackson comes to town. “A Summer Amish Courtship” by Emma Miller - Young widow Abigail Stolz must some-how help her troubled son adjust--even if it means working with Jamie‘s stern schoolmaster,

Ethan Miller. Two books in one: “The Promised Amish Bride” by Marta Perry -Returning to his Amish community after losing his job in the English world, Aaron King finds everything’s the same, including his childhood friend Sally Stoltzfus and he helps train a horse with her, and “His Amish Choice” by Leigh Bale - When Lizzie Bieler’s fiance cast her and his

Amish faith aside to pursue an English education, she vowed never to marry. Then he’s back and helping on her father’s farm. “Two Steps Forward” by Suzanne Woods Fisher - Sylvie needs a man to help her run her business and what she gets is Jimmy Fisher. - but he understands horses like no one else. “The Gospel Comes With a House Key,” by Rosaria Butterfield, is the story of her conversion as a backdrop. The author, now a pastor’s wife, invites her readers into her home to show how God can use the same “radical, ordinary hospitality” to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. “Where Is God When It Hurts,” by Philip Yancey, deals realistically with crisis, pain, and suffering. C.S. Lewis introduced the phrase “pain, the megaphone of God.” It’s an apropos phrase, because pain does shout. When I suffer pain over any length of time I try to reflect on the good which the Bible has promised pain is producing in me. In one such list, Romans 5:1-5, Paul lists perseverance, character, hope, and confidence or boldness. Alan Paton: I have never thought that a Christian would be free of suffering. For our Lord suffered. And I have come to believe that He suffered, not to save us from suffering, but to teach us how to bear suffering. For He knew that there is no life without suffering. The great preacher Phillips Brookes once challenged his people to “Pray not for light burdens, but for strong backs!.” “Homing in the Presence,” Gerhard Frost - Meditations for Daily Living. We can never fully realize how close we are to our Father until we learn to live in daily thanksgiving and take the time to celebrate the source of our being. Life takes on meaning and purpose when we add to it the deepening power of prayer. Praise is the most fitting of all human activities. Rather than hindering our work in the world, it enhances it. Rather than destroying or ham-pering our pleasure, it sanctifies it. “The Unchanging Word Of God,” by David Jeremiah, is a collection of his writings from three decades of his best-selling books. He writes: I believe the strongest evidence for a Spirit-filled life is gratitude. In Phil. 4:6, Paul seems to be mentioning several kinds of prayer, but he focuses in on one kind of response. And that is the re-sponse of gratitude. It is to be present in all of our prayers, no matter what the content might be. A devoted be-liever will pray for God’s deliverance from problems, but a wiser one will pray for God’s use of them. Know God - Know Hope. No God - No Hope. According to Isaiah 40:3, those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles. In a world in which we’re beset by burdens big and small, we have these strong gusts of hope catching our wings and sending us soaring heavenward as God’s hopeful, joyous people. “Still Waters,” by W. Phillip Keller, is the result of the author’s need for spiritual refreshment and longing for stillness and serenity of nature after living in an urban environment. His search for a secluded spot in the country led him back to the basics to “Still Waters,” a simple cottage beside a tranquil mountain lake. He writes: Only the free flow of the river of God’s own Spirit through my hard and stony life fashions it into something of beauty. Only the eternal impact of His presence produces a character of worth and loveliness. Ferne Liebsch 9-2020

Lines from the Library

Wedding bells are ringing for Beth Jorenby! She and her fiancé John will be married on September 25, 2020. Let's all honor Beth with a Bridal Card-Shower! There will be a gift box for cards on the counter in the narthex on Sunday, September 6-20th. **Note: the last day to bring a card is 9/20/2020.**

Area Bible Studies

Please call or email for more

information.

605-983-5254

info@cflconline.org Get Plugged In!!

Missionary Focus for the Month:

CALVARY FREE LUTHERAN CHURCH P.O. BOX 303 ARLINGTON, SD 57212

Missionary Focus for September ~Matthew & Ednay Abel ~

Matthew and Ednay Abel where commissioned as AFLC Missionaries at the 2015 Annual Conference. Matthew Abel completed studies at AFLBS and graduated from Northwestern College with a ICS major and a minor in Bible/Ministry. He attended AFLTS and Ednay attended AFLBS. Matthew and Ednay are serving in Bra-zil. They are working at the ARCA and with the Brazil churches. Both Matthew and Ednay will be continuing to complete their education as they work to support the ministry in Brazil. Birthdays: Matthew: September 29 Ednay: September 30 Prayer Concerns: Matthew and Ednay as they continue their education. Matthew and Ednay as they serve the ARCA and Brazil Churches For safety and Health

Arlington Wed. 8:30 p.m.

At Calvary Free

Larry- 605-983-3316

Lake Preston Wed. 7:00 p.m.

Jan-605-847-4700

Oldham Wed. 7:30 p.m.

Joel- 605-482-8404

Brookings Wed. 7:00 p.m.

Rich- 605-692-9817

Volga Wed. 7:00 p.m.

Kendra-605-690-5954