Youth Fundraiser Spaghetti Supper Tonight!

Home-made spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and dessert! Gluten free pasta will be available.

Wednesday, April 17

5:00 – 7:00

Fellowship Hall

Free Will Offering: Proceeds will support our youth who are attending the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Dine in and enjoy the company of our church community, or take-out orders will be available, so you can have your spaghetti at home. Let us do the cooking for you!

Hymn of the Day for Easter 4 - April 21, 2024

Cantata #112 - “The Lord is My Faithful Shepherd” - J.S. Bach

This is “Good Shepherd” Sunday. Not only do we have Psalm 23, but the Gospel is from John 10:11-18, “Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd.” Jesus goes on to point out the difference between a hired hand and a good shepherd.  The hired hand does not care much about the sheep and abandons them when the wolf shows up, but the good shepherd cares so deeply for the sheep that he/she would lay down their life for their safety. The good shepherd does this not because it’s in the job description, but rather because he/she is so committed to the safety and welfare of the sheep.

As an “older” teacher, I sat on many hiring/interviewing committees. As a means to see a glimpse of where a prospective hiree’s motivations lie, we would always ask a question like, “Why did you become a teacher? What is it about teaching that would be a “mountain-top” experience for you?” I was always fascinated at those (music teachers especially) that would talk about their “love of music and their desire to share  that with their students”. This answer is an admirable one, but one that serves the wrong purpose. I think teachers don’t teach math, science, or music. They teach students using their subject to create more highly-skilled human-beings. Candidates that would talk about achieving student success, or experiencing a choir or band playing well and celebrating the students’ sense of accomplishment as developing musicians, problem-solvers, and human beings was the answer we craved. Public servants are best when they simply love the people whom they serve.  To see them “get it” is their mountain-top experience. That’s the person with whom I want to work! I hope all of you reading this have had the experience of working with someone who dedicates themselves to their job/ministry at this level of integrity and dedication. They are not only hard-working for the benefit of whom they serve, but they end up being an inspiration to everyone around them. These folks are the “good shepherds” of our world. 

For Psalm 23 today,  we will sing J. S. Bach’s Cantata 112. Bach wrote it for what was Good Shepherd Sunday at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany. It was first performed on April 8,1731. He used a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23 written by Wolfgang Muscules (1497-1563). Muscules was a Benedictine monk who left the monastery to serve as a deacon at the Cathedral in Strassburg. In 1549 he became a professor of theology in Bern, Switzerland. 

The text is in five stanzas. Bach used the tune ALLEIN GOTT IN DER HÖH which we use for “All Glory be to God on High” (ELW hymn 410). Here are the themes of each stanza with the instruments we will use. Some instruments are substitutes for the ones Bach had. The  congregation is invited to join the choir on the last stanza. 

Stanza 1, Good Shepherd, a polyphonic setting with the full ensemble

Stanza 2, Living Waters, contralto solo, clarinet, and bassoon

Stanza 3, Valley Dark, bass solo, string instruments 

Stanza 4, Table True, soprano and tenor duet, string instruments 

Stanza 5, Goodness and Mercy, a congregational setting

Peace!

Deacon Gary Butler

Habitat for Humanity Work Day - Friday, April 19

We are looking for volunteers to work at the site and also volunteers to bring lunch. The house we’ll be working on is right across the street from our church! The address is: 3094 Victoria. Most of the work will be inside. Potential tasks are painting, flooring, trim / finish work, kitchen cabinets and the back porch. If you want to help with construction, please sign up using this link: 

http://holyhammers.tchabitat.volunteerhub.com.

Please let Gloria Anderson know if you want to help with food for lunch on April 19. If this date doesn't work you can sign up for dates from April 15-June 14. There is a women-only build on June 7.

Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band - April 20

Join the Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band for their Spring concert at 7:00 pm at Bethel's Benson Great Hall on April 20. This is the kick-off for the band's 30th year. Attend in person or by live-stream. Both Brent Swisher (tuba) and Sue Strohschein (alto clarinet) are with the band. E-Tickets are available at https://www.bethel.edu/events/arts/music/2024/shoreview-northern-lights-variety-band

Youth Arts Showcase - April 21

Our annual Youth Arts Showcase is coming up on Sunday, April 21 during the education hour. All youth are invited to share their gifts and talents with us: sing a song, play your instrument, display your art work, read your poetry, dance, whatever talents you want to share!  

This is another one of our youth fundraisers to raise money for youth summer camperships and Lutheran Summer Music. We hope you will join us immediately after worship on Sunday, April 21 and give generously!  

Youth can sign up for the event on Sign Up Genius. Please sign up by Sunday, April 14. Email Rachel Wright at rachelwright72@gmail.com with any questions.

Busy Weeks for LCR Youth

The young people in our congregation are busy! Our high school students meet weekly to connect, reflect, and examine their faith. Some are involved in advanced instruction in church music and performance at Lutheran Summer Music. Others experience Bible study, chapel, games, and fun at Camp WAPO. Along with weekly Sunday school classes, the preschool and elementary kids have opportunities to get together and enjoy themselves, with older kids and adults at an annual late-over and other activities. And this year five high school kids are going to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans!

To support all of these activities, the Youth and Education committee is going to hold several fundraisers in the coming months. Below is a list of coming events! We hope you will be able to join us as we work together to help the kids as they grow in faith!

Wednesday, April 17  Spaghetti Supper

Home-made spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and dessert! Gluten free pasta and take-out orders will be available.

5:00 – 7:00       Fellowship Hall       Free Will Offering

Sunday, April 21 Youth Art Showcase – music and visual art to see and enjoy!

Sunday, May 5 Annual Bake Sale

Each year we send all of the proceeds to a worthy cause, either local or global. This year donations received at the bake sale will go to a global charity to be determined soon. 

Sunday, May 19  Caramel Rolls!

Enjoy delicious homemade caramel rolls after church! Just the smell will draw you in!

Sundays, June 9, 16, 23, and 30

We will start our sales of “stock certificates” in a fundraiser we’re calling Take Stock in our Youth.” More details to come!

June Car Wash

Questions? Contact Sue Hendrickson, Terra Swisher, Jason Koering, or Rebecca Sauer

Irish Pancake Fundraiser for Emmet D. Williams School on April 27

LCR will hold a pancake fundraiser (free will offering) to benefit the Emmet D. Williams school in the Fellowship Hall at LCR on Saturday, April 27 from 8:00 - noon. The breakfast will feature Irish pancakes, bangers (sausages), home-produced maple syrup, and Irish coffee (non-alcoholic). The event will include Irish music, provided by a renowned local Irish band. Volunteers are welcome to join the effort - speak with Phil Peterson.

Communion Class on April 28 

Children ages 4 - 9 (preschool - 3rd grade) are invited to learn about communion with Pastor Sarah on Sunday, April 28th from 11:30-1:00.

Whether your child has never taken communion or has been taking communion for a long time, whether they have attended a communion class before or not, this is an opportunity to learn about the Lutheran understanding of communion in age-appropriate ways.

We will:

• Receive a personalized book about communion (If your child has already received A Place For You, please bring it with you)
• Bake communion bread
• Practice taking communion
• Learn about the first communion with Jesus
• Find out what "eucharist" means

Click this link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AACAF29ABFBCE9-48865967-communion

Each child should plan to bring a grown-up with them (one grown-up per family group is fine). Older and younger siblings are also welcomed to attend the class, and/or eat lunch with us.

Bookworms Meet May 1

Bookworms will meet on Wednesday, May 1 at 1:00 in The Fireside Room. All are welcome! The book “Sooley" by John Grisham will be discussed.

“Sooley" follows the story of Samuel Solleymon, a teenager from South Sudan who is separated from his family because of an ongoing civil war while pursuing his dreams of becoming an NBA player. The text jumps between Samuel’s experiences in America and his mother’s experiences in a Ugandan refugee camp. The novel focusses on global inequality and the difficulties facing refugees, as well as the potentially dangerous consequences of a sudden rise to fame and fortune.

April Monthly Mission: MN Interfaith Power and Light

Earth Day is April 22, so it is fitting that our Mission of the Month for April is MN Interfaith Power and Light. MNIPL works in partnership with faith and spiritual communities and all Minnesotans to build transformative Power and bring the Lights of peoples unique gifts to addressing the climate crisis. Our congregation has benefited from some of the workshops MNIPL has provided and we hope to address climate justice in the future. Please take time to learn about this important organization and give via your monthly mission envelope.

David & Gloria Anderson 50th Anniversary Party

The Resurrection community is invited to attend the celebration of David & Gloria Anderson's 50th wedding anniversary in the LCR Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 4 from 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Click on the invitation for more information and to RSVP.

Moments of Gratitude

• Much gratitude for Maureen and Jane who keep our building sparkling
• VBS performances
• Thanks for Every Meal distributors

Sign Up for Every Meal Distribution Slots

Open slots for Every Meal helpers exist for the coming weeks. Please consider signing up to help with this project to address the needs of those living with food insecurity by packing meals for distribution. The sign-up slots are most often on Fridays, with a few weeks adjusted for holidays and school breaks. The site for signing up to help with packing meals is available at THIS LINK.

VBS Registration has begun!

Vacation Bible School registration has begun for summer 2024 and we hope that your kids will sign up and invite their friends. The week is Sunday, July 28 (1:00 to 4:00 pm) through Thursday, Aug. 1 (9 am to noon). Students age 4 through grade 6 (completed) are encouraged to register, and we are always looking for teen counselors- anyone who has completed grades 7-12! This year's musical is "Are We There Yet?", the story of Moses and the Israelites. The performance is Thursday, July 27 at 7:00 pm. Register online at 2024 VBS REGISTRATION

We hope your children can attend. It’s always a great week!

Questions? Please contact Rachel Wright rachelwright72@gmail.com

or Sue Hendrickson suehendrickson24@gmail.com

National Lutheran Choir Spring Concert: New Day

Our final concert of the first season with Artistic Director Jennaya Robison celebrates women composers including Hildegard von Bingen, Mariana Martines and Minnesota composer, Jocelyn Hagen.

Sunday, April 28 – 4:00pm at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, MN

For tickets and more information, visit NLCA.com.