The Summit

One of the most important times of year for many Christians, including us Lutherans, is LENT. This is the 40-day journey that precedes Easter, in which we are invited to consider the sacrifices of Jesus for our sakes, and reflect on our commitment to the Christian life that we are called to.  There are disciplines in Lent that help us with this journey:

Prayer: We give every family a special devotional booklet to read each day.  This one is called, “From Death to Life,” by Dr. Rich Bimler.  We encourage you to read and share it with your family for an enriching way to observe the season.

Fasting: This discipline challenges us to give up a meal and spend some time in  reflection about our relationship with God.  Even if we just modify our diet, or “give something up” for Lent, we can make a special offering to a hunger-related ministry at Easter, such as the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.

Worship: In addition to Sunday worship, during the Lenten season we also have worship services on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 during Lent, preceded by soup suppers at 6:00. Our liturgy will be the Holden Evening Prayer, but we will also feature special ministries that we want to learn about and support:  Feb. 29, the ELCA Malaria Campaign; March 7, Love, Inc.; March 14, the Rockford Rescue Mission; March 21, Kids Around the World; and March 28, Rockford Reach-out Jail Ministry.  Please try to attend as many of these services as you can.  They will help you make a sacrificial Lenten journey in preparation for Resurrection.

May you take seriously and make good use of your Lenten journey.  I hope to see you frequently throughout this very special season!

Thought for the week:

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’”

~ Erma Bombeck ~

Those Who Serve for Feb. 26^th

Ushers: (8:00) Arnie Johnson, Les Johnson, Curt Moen, Gil Okeson

(10:30) Jim Burnett, Martha Carlson, Bob Fanello, David McCue

Ambassadors: (8:00) Alan & Marlene Garrett, Kathy Mund, Eugene Mund

(10:30) DiAnne Beynon,  Louise Dorris, Jeff & Jenny Schiess

Elements: (8:00) Kathy Mund, Eugene Mund (10:30) Pam Hodges, Kyle Davison

Acolytes: (8:00) Katy Damken (10:30) Samantha Gustafson

Lectors: (8:00) Cally Damken (10:30) Terry Hodges

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Cally Damken, Rollin Greenland (10:30) Terry Hodges, Craig Shelton

Altar Guild: Janet Gentry, Shirley Franks

Praise Singers: Chuck & Lynn Valentine

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The Epiphany season in the church ends this Sunday on a high note, as Jesus is “transfigured” (changed bright as light) on the mountain-top in the presence of his three closest disciples. Scripture says two Old Testament heroes, Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets) were seen with him. This was certainly a mountain-top experience for the privileged few disciples, but they could not stay there. Their mission was to preach the Gospel in the real world, in the valleys, so to speak, where people lived and worked.

We, too, may look for mountain-top experiences to rejuvenate our faith. These might include a spiritual retreat, a church camp, or a service project.  But we can’t stay on the mountain.  We’re called back into the “real world” of daily living, where exemplifying our faith is most important and necessary.

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, we begin our Lenten journey again with Ash Wed. services at 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM. We’re reminded of our mortality and our need for God.  It is a time of repentance, reflection, and sacrifice.  We gather more frequently for worship, and we contribute as we are able to special needs in our community.  During the Wednesday evenings of Lent, starting Feb. 29, we’ll gather for a soup supper at 6:00 and worship at 7:00.  Again we’ll use the popular Holden Evening Prayer service, and also learn about special ministries that we want to support.  At present those scheduled or invited are: the ELCA Malaria Initiative, Love in the Name of Christ, the Rockford Rescue Mission, Kids Around the World, and Rockford Reach-out Jail Ministry.  We are all invited to observe the 40 days of Lent as a spiritual exercise to help build up the Kingdom.

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”

~ Helen Keller ~

Those Who Serve for Feb. 19^th

Ushers: (8:00) Jim Anderson, Shirley Finger, Bryan Garrett, Volunteer

(10:30) Russ Hornbeck, John McCue, Dick Nelson, Mike Schultz

Ambassadors: (8:00) Lee & Jane Karlberg, Karl & Deb Okeson

(10:30) Bob & Chris Deuel, Craig & Barb Shelton

Elements: (8:00) David & Laura DeNale (10:30) Bob & Chris Deuel

Acolytes: (8:00) Conlan Pottinger (10:30) Jacob Greeny

Lectors: (8:00) Becky Toro (10:30) Terry Hodges

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Alan Garrett, Sid Robinson (10:30) Lori Fanello, Terry Hodges

Altar Guild: Kathy Mund, Cary Ralston

Praise Singers: John & Cary Ralston

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VISION/MISSION COMMITTEE LETTER REFERED TO IN SUMMIT

LINK TO ARTICLE FROM THE LUTHERAN MAGAZINE

Although we made our congregation’s annual report available even to those who didn’t attend the annual meeting, I can’t assume that everybody read it.  Therefore, I would like to highlight a few things from the report submitted.

1. This is our 70^th year as a congregation.  I would like for a few volunteers with a history here to step up and plan a few anniversary related activities. (The church started on “the edge of town” in a school at State & Alpine!)
2. This is my 40^th year in ordained ministry, the last 16 at Alpine.  During this time we have trained and mentored 10 interns (vicars) who are now serving God all over the country (world).   We also have two Alpiners in seminary.
3. Because of births in the congregation not keeping up with deaths, and since some in our fellowship departed after an ELCA decision in 2009, our average worship attendance has slipped to 202 from a high a few years ago of 242.
4. My five years of service on the Northern Illinois Synod Council will come to an end in
   June.  However, I have agreed to help lead an effort to raise aware- ness and funding for our ELCA’s Malaria Initiative, which hopes to raise an additional $15 million over the next few
   years to control its effect.  Malaria kills a child in Africa every 45 seconds, even though it is preventable.
5. Our Alpine Academy will be hiring a new principal soon.  My priority is that it be a person who will also connect well with our church. Good news awaits!
6. I must determine an accurate recording of membership in our congregation, since we report many more members than we actually have at present.

Thought for the week: “Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~ Charles Dudley Warner ~

Those Who Serve for Feb. 12^th

Ushers: (8:00) Rick Bried, Chuck Gentry, Irv Johnson, Dale Olson

(10:30) Dean Franks, John & Sharryn Franks, Marge Rakoczy

Ambassadors: (8:00) Matt & Debbie Hier, Volunteers

(10:30) Diana Sundeen, Taylor Boustead, Larry & Nancy Matthews

Elements: (8:00) Matt & Debbie Hier (10:30) Diana Sundeen, Taylor Boustead

Acolytes: (8:00) Brianna Geeser (10:30) Brett Williams

Lectors: (8:00) Lynn Valentine (10:30) Collin Gillette

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Chuck & Lynn Valentine (10:30) Holly & Renee Stohle

Altar Guild: Michele Scott, Laurel McVinnie

Praise Singers: Jaime Gillette, Bob McVinnie

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Scout Sunday at Worship on Feb. 5

If you were in church last Sunday you saw a fine representation of the children and youth of Alpine as they took part in every aspect of the service, then served the meal before the annual meeting.  We were very proud of them, and are pleased to see their faith development.  Now this Sunday we affirm one of our youth-related ministries as we celebrate our relationship with Boy Scout Troop 57 and Cub Scout Troop 157, which we have sponsored for many years.  Also, because it is Super Bowl Sunday, our work-campers will be offering sub sandwiches for sale at a reasonable price as a fund-raiser for 2012 work camp.

As I stated during the announcements last Sunday, we need for our youth to be active in their faith and church life, because they will need to assume leadership as the older generations pass away.  Just in the few days since my return from vacation we’ve had three long-time active members of the church die.  Lucille Thoren, Steve Hemenway, and Kay Okeson were very active in the life of the congregation, but God has called them home to His Eternal Kingdom.  While we mourn their passing, we also invest promise in our young people.

Our youth ministries are varied, but each is important:  Alpine Academy school, Sunday School and VBS, TACT camp, work camp, scouting programs, Confirmation, etc.  We are especially grateful for adult leaders as well who mentor young people in the ways of the Lord and good citizenship.  Thank you!

Thought for the week: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you will help them become what they are capable of becoming.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~

Those Who Serve for Feb. 5^th

Ushers: (8:00) Larry Graham, Michele Scott, Andrea Tack, Don Torgerson

(10:30) Scouts & DiAnne Beynon, Leroy Dokken, John Gustafson, Volunteer

Ambassadors: (8:00) Joni Graham, Lillian Hagen, Ruth Lindgren, Clara Rader (10:30) Scouts

Elements: (8:00) John & Sharryn Franks (10:30) Scouts

Acolytes: (8:00) Alex Todd (10:30) Joseph Barron

Lectors: (8:00) Roger Bastian (10:30) Scouts

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Roger Bastian, Dale Olson (10:30) Dick Nelson, Keenan Perry

Altar Guild: Gwyn Brechtel, Ardy Stevens

Praise Singers: Jan Hill, Tina Howe

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