A Newsletter for Members and Friends of Redeemer Lutheran Church

1700 West Fair Avenue, Marquette, Michigan 49855 — www.RedeemerMQT.org

Redeemer’s Mission...inviting all people to become students,

believers and followers of Jesus Christ.

REDEEMER MONTHLY March 2016

Don’t Forget

Time Change “Spring Forward”

Sunday, March 13, 2:00 a.m.

Maundy Thursday Communion

March 24, 7:00 p.m.

Good Friday Worship

March 25, 1:30 p.m.

Good Friday Tenebrae

Service of Darkness March 25, 7:00 p.m.

No Worship on

Saturday, March 26

Easter Sunday

March 27 Holy Communion Celebrated

at all Three Services

Easter Sunrise Worship 7:00 a.m.

Easter Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Easter Worship 9:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

10:00 a.m.

Easter Worship 11:00 a.m.

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

ON MONDAY, March 28

Holy Week Services

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have

eternal life.” - John 3:16

Lenten Dinners

Wednesday – March 2

Wednesday – March 9

Wednesday – March 16

Everyone is invited to enjoy a delicious meal before we worship together at 7:00 pm. Sign up sheets are posted in the narthex. Please sign up on the sheets if you are able to help by bringing food or serving.

Volunteer sheets are on the Welcome Center. Please sign up to serve as an usher on Easter.

LWML Mission Grant Update

The North Wisconsin District Lutheran Women’s Missionary

League (LWML) has provided a grant of $10,000 to the

Alaska Mission for Christ (AMC). The monies are being used

to establish a full-time missionary to serve in Alaska.

The AMC is a group of only 14 LCMS churches who work

together to facilitate a bold witness for Christ in every

community in Alaska. They work with the help of short-term

volunteers, long-term volunteers and full-time staff. They

access remote areas by driving, flying and traveling by boat.

Alaska ranks 48th in the number of people who profess faith

in Christ. The suicide rate is three times higher than other

areas of the US especially with young men. The need is

great for someone to coordinate this ministry to a large

region of Alaska.

Rev. Keith Aschenbeck has accepted the call to serve in

Alaska and has moved his family to Tok, the upper Tanano

River Region, a remote area 200 miles southeast of

Fairbanks and 300 miles northeast of Anchorage. His focus

will be to work with volunteers and local Christians to reach

out with the Gospel of Christ.

Funds to pay for this Mission Grant come from “Mite Box”

gifts to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. The North

Wisconsin District is funding $100,000 in grants for the 2014-

2016 biennium. Nationally, the LWML has committed to

funding an additional $2,000,000 in grants for the 2015-2017

biennium.

Each month Redeemer’s Women’s Ministry gathers

monetary gifts in a large “Mite Box” placed on the Welcome

Center. Anyone can make a donation – large or small – and

all the funds will be sent to LWML to help fund ministries with

the focus of reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus

Christ.

Lutheran Women in Mission

North Wisconsin LWML

Stamp Program

Since the “Stamps for Mission” program began in 1994 it has provided over $12,500 to help spread the Gospel. Thank you to all who help provide the stamps for this program.

The value of commemorative stamps is 10-15 times more than common stamps. All commemorative stamps are now “forever” stamps.

You can help contribute to this program by bringing in your cancelled stamps. Please leave 1/4” of envelope space around the stamp. Torn or otherwise damaged stamps cannot be used.

Please deposit your cancelled stamps in the collection cabinet outside the office.

In 2015 the Endowment Fund financed

requests which included:

a premium payment of life insurance,

Women’s Ministry’s servant event –

Latreia,

servant grants for mission team

participants, and

a preschool scholarship.

A complete list of projects funded by the

Endowment Fund is posted at the Transfer

the Blessings display area near the

Welcome Center.

The Maintenance Endowment Account,

established by Randy and Esther Kivisto in

1998 allows the interest from the account to

be used for special maintenance projects to

update and improve the church facility.

During 2015 $2,246.72 was transferred to

the Trustees to be used for these projects.

Endowent Fund Update

March Happenings

Friday, March 4, from 6-8pm we are

going to have some Outdoor Fun! Join

us Friday night at Ray and Bonnie

Ranta’s house (2043 Granite St.). They

have an outdoor skating rink where we

can skate, play broomball, enjoy a fire

and have some fun! So bring your boots

and skates and join us!

Monday, March 14, at 5:30pm is our NYG Activity Day. Come

along for another bonding experience with the NYG Participants.

We will be having dinner together and learning more about New

Orleans as a city! *Remember that your next payment is also due

this day.*

Tuesday, March 8, TBD will be our Senior Shindig

March 19, from 10 am-2pm we will have our Confirmation Class.

Sunday, March 20, from 3-5 pm is our High School Hangtime-

PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE!!! Hangtime will be happening

earlier this month!

Sunday, March 27-EASTER

Once again, the Youth of

Redeemer will be serving Easter

Breakfast to our congregation on

Easter morning. The two

breakfasts are at 8 am and 10 am, but there are multiple shifts that

need to be covered. A letter will be sent to you with more

information, please consider giving back to our congregation by

being part of this event.

Win-Some Women Spring Retreat 2016

The Win-Some Women Spring 2016 retreat will be in May on beautiful Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel. Women’s Ministry will be gathering women to attend the Tuesday, May 17- Wednesday, May 18 session.

Women can drive themselves or a van with limited seating will be available. Retreat registration is online at www.winsomewomen.org. Registration starts on March 12 at 8:30 am. Rooms are available for housing 1-4 women with pricing accordingly.

The sign up sheet will be on the Women's Ministry bulletin board.

Contact Donna Fegan at 249-2114 with any questions or if you need help registering.

Women’s Ministry

Thrivent Financial encourages their members to see needs and fill them using a Thrivent Action Team and a $250 grant. Members can bring friends and family together to make an impact on their community. Examples of project ideas include: host a workshop for families sending kids to college, clean up a park, organize a food drive, fill backpacks for school kids in need, or paint a room at the local homeless shelter. The possibilities are endless. Action Team flyers with more information are available at the Transfer the Blessings display area near the Welcome Center.

Thrivent Action Teams

Redeemer Lutheran Preschool

Redeemer Lutheran Preschool

2016-2017 School Year

OPEN HOUSES

Come and learn about opportunities

offered for 3, 4 & 5 year olds!

Saturday, March 12, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, March 15, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Enrollment Begins Tuesday, March 15, 9:00 a.m.

for congregation members and currently enrolled families.

Public Enrollment Begins Monday, March 21, 8:00 a.m.

Sunday School children are participating in a month-long special offering for the Heifer Project. The Heifer

Project works to end world hunger by empowering families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and

prosperity. Monies donated to Heifer are used to provide animals to families in poor countries. They are

taught how to care for the animals and pass on the first female

offspring of their livestock to another family.

From February 7 - March 13 we will be collecting our money in

our special “Mission Offering” boxes. When our monies are

counted we will select the animals we want to donate based on

how much money we collect.

A collection container is at the Welcome Center in the narthex for

anyone wishing to add to our collection.

Children’s Ministry

(WCP) Women Crafting for a Purpose will meet Monday, March 28 at 6:30 pm. This month’s craft project will be making centerpieces and/or favors for the Spring Rally for Women on Saturday, April 9 here at Redeemer.

Bring your scissors. We will have all other supplies available when you come. Come, bring your friends and share in the fun.

Contact Donna Fegan at 249-2114 with any questions.

Women Crafting for a Purpose

Plans are moving forward for the celebration of Redeemer’s 50th Anniversary in May 2016. We will take this opportunity to give thanks to God for his many blessings, recognize the commitment and dedication of so many, and celebrate the future into which our God will faithfully lead us.

The 50th Anniversary Task Force is working diligently to prepare for this special celebration. Please mark your calendars and save these dates:

FRIDAY, MAY 20—CONGREGATIONAL TREE PLANTING SERVANT EVENT

SUNDAY, MAY 22—SPECIAL “ALL CHURCH” WORSHIP SERVICE

We are looking for addresses of former members or charter members who live out of the area. If you have this information, please pass it on to the church office so they can be included in the invitation being mailed out to the congregation in early April.

If you have photos of any significant church events that you would like to share, please drop them off at the office. Be sure to label your photos with your name so they can be returned.

Please contact Toni Eppensteiner at 228-3512 or eppensteiner.t@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.

The Care Clinic Pregnancy Help Center provides free

and confidential services and resources for women,

teenagers, men and families. They are located at 1213

N. Third St. in Marquette and at 330 Fortress St. in

Gwinn.

New clinic hours of operation are:

Monday: 11 am – 5 pm

Tuesday: 11 am – 7 pm

Wednesday: 9 am – 3 pm

Thursday: 11 am – 5 pm

Friday: Closed

Thrivent Financial provides their members an

opportunity to direct some of Thrivent’s charita-

ble outreach funds to ministries of the mem-

ber’s choice. This year Redeemer received

$7,733 in Choice dollars to be used at Re-

deemer and the preschool. Members are re-

minded that their Thrivent Choice Dollars need

to be directed either quarterly or annually. For

more information about the Thrivent Choice

program contact Carl Pace at 906-204-5399.

Care Clinic Hours Thrivent Choice Dollars

50th Anniversary Celebration—May 2016

The 19th Annual Marquette County Community

Baby Shower will take place on April 22 at the

Negaunee Township Hall. The Community Baby

Shower is sponsored by the Marquette County

Health Department and helps families with much

needed supplies for their new babies. Families can

also learn about services that are available to

assist them.

April 1 through April 18 there will be a collection

site in the narthex for the collection of baby

supplies to be donated to the Community Baby

Shower. Please donate new or handmade items

(newborn through six months). Suggested items

are: diapers, wipes, shampoo, lotion, socks,

onesies, clothes, bottles and blankets. If you would

like to make a donation of cash or a gift card,

please leave it in the church office. These will be

used to purchase large

items like Pack N’ Play,

cribs and high chairs.

This is a wonderful way

to help families in the

area welcome their new

babies.

If you have any

questions please contact

Maryellen Arntsen at

236-3062.

The Altar Guild of Redeemer has ordered plants to

decorate the chancel for Easter morning.

If you would like to make a donation to help cover

the cost of these plants please fill out the form be-

low and return it to the church office by March 20.

I would like to purchase a plant at the cost of

$18.00 each to help decorate our church

Easter morning.

I understand that following the 10:45 a.m.

worship service on Easter Sunday I may

take my plant home.

I would like to make a donation towards the

purchase of an Easter plant.

Given by:________________________________

Checks should be made payable to

“Redeemer Altar Guild”

If you are purchasing your plant in memory or

honor of someone please indicate that here:

Please return this form with payment

Community Baby Shower

Victory Lutheran Mission

On Sunday, March 13, we will be serving a “Bit

O’Irish” Dinner to our Victory family. Our meal will

include everything from “Shepherd’s Pie” to

“Wearing O’Green” dessert.

Please help in providing food items and serving. A

sign up sheet and recipes are at the Welcome

Center in the narthex.

Be a Victory Volunteer!

It's a good thing!

Easter Flowers for the Chancel

Transfer the Blessings is an ongoing program that

assists members who are interested in financially

supporting Christian ministries and other favorite

charities and to assist them in putting a will or trust

in place.

During the year our Gift Planner Carl Pace informs

the members through articles in the newsletter,

bulletin inserts, web page information and

occasional seminars such as the one held in June

2015 focusing on Estate Planning Basics.

Five gifts were

received by

Redeemer during

2015 as a result

of the Transfer

the Blessings

ministry.

LCMS Youth Gathering

Be on the look-out in March for the next National Youth Gathering Fundraiser! This month’s

fundraiser is called Select-A-Stock.

Near the welcome center for the month of March you will find a board that has envelopes labeled with different amounts.

If you wish to support our 22 students who are attending NYG, simply take an envelope with the donation to the office! It’s that simple!

Around the envelope display you will find pictures and information about the 22 students who are attending NYG. We invite you to take some time to look at these pictures, read the information and get to know the students you are supporting a little better!

Redeemer’s Women’s Ministry is hosting a gathering for women on April 9, 9 am – 3 pm. This gathering will bring women from the UP together with a focus on mission outreach.

Our guest speaker will be Sue Pfeil, from Loretta, WI, telling us about her mission work in Kyrgyszstan. Allison Hein, from Laurium, MI, will lead us in the Bible study, “This is My Story, This is My Song.”

During the morning we will work on a project making hygiene packets for various agencies in the Marquette area. Participants are invited to bring a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and travel-sized toothpaste and shampoo. Using a washcloth and button that will be provided, we will make an “envelope” to hold these items.

Our schedule for the day will be:

9:00 am Registration and Refreshments

9:30 am Opening Devotion

10:00 am “God’s Mission in Kyrgyszstan” – Sue Pfeil

11:00 am Hands On Projects

12:00 pm Lunch

1:00 pm LWML Zone 2 Business Meeting

1:30 pm “This is My Story, This is My Song” Bible Study—Allison Hein, Christian Life Leader

2:30 pm Closing and Travel Refreshments

There will be a $7 registration fee. A sign-up sheet will be on the Women’s Ministry bulletin board for those attending. Some donations for refreshments will also be needed – check the bulletin board for specifics and to sign up.

Women’s Ministry to Host Spring Gathering

Transfer the Blessings

Sunday Morning Studies

9:30 a.m. Adult Study

Led by Pastor Steve and Pastor Chad Location: Fellowship Hall (gym)

9:30 a.m. “A Closer Look”

High School Study Led by DCE Anna Dauffenbach

Location: Youth Room

9:30 a.m. “Youth and the Bible” 7th and 8th Grade Study

Led by Arlette Dubord and Kelley Coughlin Location: Chapel Lounge

7:00 p.m. Adult Study

Led by Pastor Steve Location: Room 1A & 1B (Northwest Corner)

7:00 a.m. Men’s Study

Meets Year Round Led by Pastor Steve — Location: Chapel Lounge

This study meets regularly for a donuts, coffee and lively Bible discussion before heading off to work. Pastor Steve guides the men though a study of the appointed lessons for the week. You can plan ahead by going to Redeemer’s website (www.redeemermqt.org) where the weekly lessons are posted on the worship page.

9:30 a.m.

Women’s Study “Israel’s Mission”

Led by Deaconess Betty Knapp — Location: Room 2A & B

In this study we will glimpse the urgency and rewards of welcoming the strangers and prodigals the Lord longs to embrace. We will discover the mission that can give our life-and the lives of those around us-greater meaning than we ever imagined. Ran Vander Laan, renowned teacher and historian, will guide us through the lands of the Bible as he illuminates the historical, geographical and cultural context of the sacred Scriptures.

7:00 p.m. Adult Study

Led by Mark Mankowski and Tom Buck Location: Church Library

Vacation Bible School June 27—July 1, 2016

9 am—12 pm

Age 4 through completed 5th grade

Weekly Bible Study Opportunities

Tuesday Evening Studies

Wednesday Morning Studies

Thursday Evening Studies

7:00 p.m. New Member Class

Led by Pastor Steve and Pastor Chad Location: Classroom 1