May 2013

May is a busy, busy month and a gateway to what is sure to be a busy, busy summer here at Red Oak Grove. Its summer camps, its polka worship, its preparing for an auction in the early fall. Check out page three for all the save the date events coming up! But before we too eagerly jump into June and the warm months that follow, lets talk a little bit about May. Its the month with Mothers Day and Memorial Day. The month in which the showers from April are told to bring May flowers. Its also the month of wait for it PENTECOST! The Spirit! The red flames! The speaking in tongues! Happy birthday to the church! Okay. I hear you. Too much enthusiasm about a word we dont hear very often in our daily lives? Lets back up. What is Pentecost? The day of Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. Its the day on which the church celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mission of God extending to the whole human family. [Source: ELCA.org] The day is all about the rushing of wind, flames, and Christ as the light to the world. The color of the day is red because its a festival day for the church. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. [Acts 2:1-4] This year, on the Day of Pentecost [May 19th], we talk about and celebrate a God who is at work. God was at work at that place in the book of Acts and God is at work here at Red Oak Grove. God is at work, changing lives and calling us to be Gods hands and feet in the world. God is at work in the Sunday School students we will recognize that day. God is at work in the dedicated teachers who spend Sunday mornings with them. God is at work in the high school seniors we will honor. Though we may not hear the rush of violent wind in the same way that the apostles did, or hear people speaking in different languages, the Spirit is here in this place. Our altar and pulpit will be wearing red. I think we should too. Wear your red clothes and join us at worship on the Day of Pentecost! Pastor Lindsay -1-

Red Oak Grove Council Meeting April 8 2013

The Council Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. Nancy Schwartz read Psalm 122 for devotions. Pastors Report: We received a thank you from the Zipse Family. This was shared with the Council. Easter services went well. 32 Personal Care Kits were assembled on Palm Sunday. The Revelations Bible Study will resume. There has been cross-generational quilting done during Sunday School. Confirmation is winding down. We will be collecting money for World Malaria Day. Three services at Prairie Manor and fourteen visits were made. Pastor Lindsay would like to hear stories about how our Mission Statement is being lived out. Secretarys Report: Correction to devotions. Marilyn Ulland read devotions in March. A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the correction. Treasurers Report: A motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the report. WELCA Report: None Deacons Report: None Trustees Report: Money for the roof on the parsonage has been raised. A window on the parsonage needs repair. Old Business: None New Business: Will check with auctioneers to confirm date for Auction. Will ask each family to donate one antique for the auction. Pastor will set up a date for a Polka Service. Plant Exchange is May 18 from 9 a.m. until noon. Decided military banner will stay where it is. A motion was made, seconded and passed to give $250 to our historian as stipend and every January give stipend by budget line item. Discussion was held on a memorial gift. Katie has resigned as secretary. Looking for a volunteer for this position. A motion was made seconded and passed to adjourn the meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m. The Lords Prayer was prayed. Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Ulland, Deacon

Take note The Church Council will be meeting at a rescheduled time in the month of May: 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14th.

Informational meeting on new hymnals: Sunday, May 5th following worship

At the April meeting, the Church Council approved a memorial gift that was given to Red Oak Grove for the purchase new hymnals for our worship space. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the hymnals, please join members of the Council and Pastor Lindsay following worship on May 5th for an informational meeting. -2-

ROG Prayer Chain

Did you know Red Oak Grove has a prayer chain? Whats a prayer chain, you ask? A prayer chain consists of people who receive phone c alls when a need for prayer arises. Then, that person prays. The prayer chain prays for our friends, families, and neighbors when they are sick, hurt, struggling, celebrating or mourning. Being on the prayer chain means that you would get a phone call with the prayer request and then you pass the prayer request onto the next person on the chain by giving them a call. Do you have a prayer request? Do you want to be a link on the prayer chain? Do you have more questions? Give Ardell a call! [507.437.2450]

Saturday, May 18th: Plant Exchange! Whether you are a first time gardener or an experienced one, exchange or buy bulbs and plants at the ROG Plant Exchange. This event will include perennials, seeds, bulbs and more. It will run from 9 a.m. noon in the garage/parking lot between the church and parsonage. If you can contribute or have questions, call Diane at 507-438-0579. Sunday, May 19th: Its Pentecost! Wear red! [Seriously. Lets all wear red!] Following worship, in celebration of Pentecost and our high school seniors and our Sunday School youth [who will be honored during worship], we will have a POTLUCK BRUNCH. Bring your favorite brunch food be it fruit, egg bake, juice, Captain Crunch, or whatever it is! Cake and coffee will be served by Wayne & Peggy Thompson in honor of Bernice Thompsons 90th birthday! [Paper products will be supplied.] Sunday, June 9th: God Speed for Amanda Herdina. Our sister in Christ, Amanda, is answering a call to serve the children and people of Uganda. We will hear from her during the church service and offer her our prayers. All are invited to stay following coffee hour for a more formal presentation by Amanda at 11a.m. A lunch will follow. Tuesday, June 11th: 72nd Annual Strawberry Festival, serving from 4pm 7pm. Work days TBA. Sunday, June 23rd: Polka Worship! Big Ben and Brian return to lead us in a polka worship service. Be here with your dancing shoes on! Saturday, September 14th: Auction time! Its back, its better, and its OLDER than ever! Red Oak Grove is preparing to host the ever-popular auction again this year but with a twist. At this ANTIQUE auction, the Church Council is asking each ROG family to scour the attic and look behind the cobwebs to donate one antique. Start looking and save the date. More information will follow in the coming months! -3-

Sonrise National Park Vacation Bible School will be held at First Lutheran in Blooming Prairie from June 3rd to June 6th. 3 year olds pre-school and Pre-K will attend from 6-7:30 p.m. and K-6th grade will attend from 6-8:00 p.m. The cost is Early Bird on or before May 19th $15 per child or $45 max/family and the cost after May 20th is $20 per child. Registration forms are available on the youth bulletin board in the education hallway. Sunday School Recognition Sunday will be May 19th during worship. Children will be invited to participate in various ways in this service on the Day of Pentecost. A potluck brunch will follow service too where the Sunday School kids will be our guests of honor! We want to thank everyone who was involved with our Sunday School program this year! Sunday School will resume in the fall. The Baccalaureate Service for Blooming Prairie high school graduates will be held at 7 p.m. on May 29th at First Lutheran Church. Graduation will be on June 2nd at 2 p.m. at the high school. Graduating from Red Oak Grove is Cody Wagaman and Adam Harber. We will honor them during worship on May 19th. CYF Team: In an effort to streamline our children, youth, and family ministries at Red Oak Grove, we are assembling a CYF Team. What will the CYF Team do? The CYF Team will meet quarterly to discuss and plan the CYF ministry at ROG. If you are a parent or an adult or young person who is passionate about the faith of our young people, please consider coming to our first meeting -Monday, May 20th at 7p.m.

Thank You to all of our faithful quilters. The ladies completed many quilts this year and will give them to various places. A Quilt Blessing will be held during church on May 5th. Judy Wambeam I am very thankful for all the years God has given me. For all the help I have received. I am thankful for my family and friends. Thank you for the beautiful cards and gifts. Thanks to WELCA for the lovely basket with all the green plants. It is so nice. Thanks to my dear children. I had a wonderful Day. Norma Hanson

Pastoral Acts

Baptism MiKinley Louise Forbes April 13th

Coffee Servers for May

May 5th Ardell Swenson, Connie Trihus and Judy Wambeam May 12th Carolyn Zipse and family May 19th Potluck Brunch Cake and coffee being served by the Thompson Family in honor of Bernice Thompsons 90th birthday. th May 26 First Grade Youth

-4-

HOP the ROG Frog

Its been a mighty long winter this year. *nod head in agreement* Thank goodness for the dedicated snow plowers at Red Oak Grove! Without them, I would have had no visitors here at church all winter long. I get pretty lonely as a frog; theres only so much I can croak to myself about. I was ever so thankful when Scott Basness, Gary Braaten, Aaron Christianson, Dennis Magnuson, and Dean Peterson would come and plow out the parking lots; then I knew people could get in and out and gather at church even in the midst of snowfalls and typical winter weather. These gentlemen volunteer their services and I, as a frog, appreciate it. I know the humans appreciate it too. The next time you see them, give them a high five, a thank you, or a five hop salute. Or all three!

Thank you to everyone who donated and participated in packing our Lenten service project of personal care kits. On Palm Sunday, we packed 32 kits of combs, soap, towels, toothbrushes, and nail clippers that will go to Lutheran World Relief and to people around the world who need them most. -5-