For the month of APRIL ...

Welcome to Pastor Stephen Sylvester, who is our Interim. He has 30 years of experience lives in Lino Lakes. Loves dogs, cats and fat tire bicycling. He is married and has grown children. He will be a wonderful addition to our First Lutheran Church family and looking forward to working with him.

Greetings, First Lutheran Church! As I begin my time of doing God’s work with you as your interim pastor, I will take this opportunity to briefly introduce myself. I am originally from Missouri, but don’t hold that against me, as I got to Minnesota as quickly as I could, a few years after graduating from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. I also married a Minnesotan, and both our boys, Sam and Charlie, were born in Minnesota. So, I’m nearly a native. After graduating from Luther Seminary in St Paul in 1990, I served Immanuel and Little Plum Lutheran Churches in Pepin, Wisconsin, for my first call. After that it was on to Emanuel Lutheran in Minneapolis, then First Lutheran in St Paul, each for four years, before we headed south for another four years where I served as the second pastor on staff at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Dallas. We returned to Minnesota in 2007, where I served as lead pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Circle Pines, concluding my tenure there on December 31, 2022. First Lutheran in Hinckley is my first interim appointment, and I am excited to be working with you as you prepare to call your next “settled” pastor. My wife, Jennifer, from Owatonna, is a Speech and Language Pathologist with the Anoka-Hennepin School District. Jennifer is also a professional vocalist. She is presently soprano section leader with St John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St Paul, and she is also soprano section leader with the Minnesota Chorale. Sam, our elder son at 26, works with a native habitat restoration company out of the Twin Cities. Charlie, our younger son at 23, graduated from Luther College last spring with a degree in Environmental Policy and is presently traveling globally with his girlfriend as they work on organic farms. Like many of you, I have a passion for the outdoors. I have been a lifelong cyclist, including a bit of racing when I was younger, but these days I mostly ride for fun and with friends. I say “mostly,” because over the past several years I have participated three times in the Arrowhead Ultra, a 135-mile winter fat bike race on the snowmobile trail from International Falls to Tower. I was fortunate to finish in 2022. I also do some touring, and this summer will again be doing a gravel tour with three friends in northeast Minnesota. I have worked as a backpack guide in Colorado, a rock-climbing instructor with the University of Missouri, and as a canoe guide in the BWCA and Canada, including leading 7 high school boys on a 600 mile trip to Hudson Bay in 1990. Jennifer and I love to travel. Most recently, we met Charlie and his girlfriend in Norway last fall, and this coming summer we will be looking for Jennifer’s relatives in Switzerland. Enough about me. Before I sign off, I want to tell you a bit about yourselves. A few weeks ago, my three bike tour friends, who knew I had met with the leadership of First Lutheran, asked me how it had gone. This is what I texted to them: “It felt very good. No guardedness from the folks. Very open. Proud of their church, but aware of things that need to be addressed. Just felt healthy and straightforward, with no discernible undercurrent.” I’m looking forward to getting to know as many of you as possible. In fact, my time with you will begin with scheduling 1-1 conversations with as many of you who would like to sit down for a conversation as I work to get to know you and First Lutheran Church. I will see you soon!

Peace, Pastor Steve Sylvester

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LENTEN TABLE DECORATIONS

The idea for the Lenten fellowship hall table decorations dates back to 1989 when many from First Lutheran Church attended wonderful Cursillo weekend retreats in the area. While there, the tables were first decorated with a rustic wooden cross, and thereafter, at each meal, another Lenten symbol was added. Back at First Lutheran, Elsie Dieter’s husband, Swede, a great wood carver, mad the crosses we currently use. Every year we contemplate not using them, but Mindy, says the Faith in Action youth would miss them, so we continue the tradition. Pat Anderson 

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Pastor Steve Sylvester, Interim:  Monday - Wednesday & Sunday

Mindy Johnson - Days to be determined

Donna Martin - Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Kathy Thompson - Wednesday and Thursday

Rick Bicking - Mondays or Tuesdays, PLEASE call his cell phone

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Church Council will meet APRIL 12th, after service.

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**Acolytes schedule for APRIL....

(Remember if you cannot serve, PLEASE find your own substitute).  Thank You!

Palm Sunday, April 2- Jaxon Thom, Adam Alexander

Wednesday, April 5-Kieran Tvedt 7:30 am

Easter Sunday, April 9-Nolan Stiel, Ava Blowers 9:30 am

Easter Sunday, April 9-Owen Johnson, Thomas Wachsmuth

Wednesday, April 12-Preston Mettling

Sunday, April 16-Kenna Barnick

Wednesday, April 19-Jaden Blesener

Sunday, April 23-Blake Blowers

Wednesday, April 26-Riley Scott

Sunday, April 30-,Bailey Skutevik, Connor Olander

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Lectors for APRIL....

Palm Sunday, April 2-Diane Ausmus 7:30 am

Easter Sunday, April 9-Elaine Garaghty 9:30 am

Easter Sunday, April 9-Donna Wachsmuth

Sunday, April 16-Carole Lahti

Sunday, April 23-Christy Dunkley

Sunday, April 30-Linda Libra

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Ushers for APRIL:

Troy Tvedt

Dennis Volden

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 First Lutheran Kitchen Committee 

APRIL:  Kathy and Ashley Thompson 

Please check the kitchen work list below each week, during the month you serve. Clean whatever day that is convenient for you

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APRIL:

N/A

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We are collecting a Noisy Offering, for month of APRIL.

If you are interested in giving for this,

proceeds are going to the ALTAR GUILD. 

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• 
• (NOTE; New time for Men's Text Study)
  

*Men's Text Study (every) Thursday

6:00 PM Coffee Fellowship

6:30 PM Text Study

(led by Men)

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*Women's Bible Study (every) Tuesday 

9:30 - 10:30 AM

(led by Women)

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*Women's ROMAN's Bible Study (every 2nd) Monday of Month 

4:00 - 5:00 PM

(led by Women)

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Women's Bible Study's ongoing mission project.

We ask members to join us and bring DEODORANT during the month of APRIL for 

homeless packets.  Please put them in the basket marked "Homeless Packets," in the

cabinet in the Narthex.

Thank You

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ALL BOARDS

APRIL 24th, 6:30 PM 

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Out to Lunch Bunch

Thursday, April 20th

Meet at 10:30AM at church to carpool

China Buffet, Foerest Lake      Eat at 11:30 AM

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Palm Sunday, April 2nd -9:30 am Worship

Holden Evening Prayer Service, Wednesday April 5 th - 6:30 pm Worship

Maundy Thursday, April 6 th -6:30 pm Worship

Good Friday, April 7 th – 6:30 pm Worship-Stations of the Cross

Easter Sunday, April 9 th - 7:30 am Worship

Easter Sunday, April 9th -8:30-9:15 am Easter Breakfast Easter Sunday, April 9 th-9:30 am Worship

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Easter Breakfast, Sunday, April 9th -8:30-9:15 am

Free Will Offering-1/2 Family Day Camp/ 1/2 Youth Camp

(Family Day Camp will be at St. Croix State Park this year date to be determined)

Please see sign up for donations (eggs, bacon, fruit, bread, milk, etc.) see sign-up sheets on table in Narthex.

We need adult and especially youth volunteers to work. Sign-up sheets on table in Narthex.

If you have questions, contact Bryan Gorsegner, Tom Wachsmuth or Elaine Garaghty.

Please sign-up to volunteer!

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Please Join us for the

Community Meal

5-6:30 pm the 1st Tuesday of Month-

April 4th

May 2nd

 

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The Parish Nurse, will be doing blood pressures for anyone who would like one:

Sunday - April 16th, during Coffee Fellowship.

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OPPORTUNITIES to Volunteer and Have Fun at the same time. Do you like to get together and have coffee and have snacks? If you do come and join our DREAM TEAM. Last year we got together and made the decorations for VBS and the Fall Gathering. There's much more going on this year. We need you. You can come to one event or all of them. If you can’t make it to the event don't worry you won’t get fired. We'll just do a toast for you with our coffee cups.

 

This is what is going on:

APRIL: Work on decorations for VBS and Mother/Daughter/Friends Spring Tea.

 

MAY: Mother/ Daughter/Friend Spring Tea, VBS decorations.

 

JUNE: Set up and take down of VBS decorations.

 

Doesn't that sound like fun? We'll be meeting on Thursdays.  Work dates April 6 & 27 at 1 PM, will announce other times as needed.

 

Contact Robin Hendrix if you are interested, even if you are mildly interested,

call me.

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Mother/Daughter and Friends Spring Tea

May 7th at 11 am

Make your reservations now

We will have great food, music, entertaining speakers and prizes.

Call the office with your reservations.

Questions check with Mindy or Robin.

 

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We express our Christian sympathy to the family of Ed Hohler (Kathy Thompson’s cousin). May they know the consolation of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and give them peace.

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Why is there a bench by the coat rack?

First Lutheran Church Hinckley ELCA has partnered with the Pine City Lions in a recycling program through NEXTREX. We collect plastic in the receptacle inside the church, this plastic in turn gets recycled into plastic composite to make outdoor furniture and decking materials. We participate in 6 month challenges to collect 500#’s of plastic, and if we succeed we receive a bench which is made out of the recycled plastic. The Pine City Lions helps all participants earn their benches by donating excess plastic to us, insuring each 6 month period we are able to earn a bench. What can we bring in to recycle?

Soft pliable plastics, like grocery bags, cereal bags, petfood bags, softener salt bags, water bottle case wrapping, shipping packaging, bread bags, ziplock bags, etc. It must be clean and dry. You can bring these items to the church recycling bin by the coat rack. What a wonderful way to help steward our environment!

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Kettle River Conference Spring Gathering

Saturday, April 15th

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Pine City

8:30 am Registration, Coffee, and Fellowship.

Theme: You Are Not Alone “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known to God” Philippians 4:6

Offering focus will be LSS Center for Changing Lives in Duluth

Pastor Brenda Wicklund will be with us for our service of Holy Communion

Silent Auction and Buy it Now Tables

Prizes for First Time Attendees!!

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NE MN Synod women of the ELCA Summer Convention/Gathering

Monday, June 12 and Tuesday, June 13

Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MN

If interested, you can pick up forms and information in the office.

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Synod Assembly Gathering Hope An Auction to End Hunger

Donate a Quilt for the NEMN Synod Assembly (April 28-30)

Quilts can be from individuals or quilting groups and can be:

➢ any size (from baby quilts to queen)

➢ any design (intricate to simple blocks)

➢ tied or machine quilted

➢ clean and new or like-new fabric

Refer to How to submit your quilt or item (sent to your church or on the NEMN Synod website) to get it in the on-line auction. Then either bring it or arrange to have it delivered to the Synod Assembly on April 28th .

Questions: Contact Amy Loken at 218-391-4260

Gathering Hope        An Auction to End Hunger

Donate to the Marketplace for NE MN Synod Assembly (April 28-30) Marketplace items can be: • buy now items: jellies, jams, honey, wild rice, dish cloths, towels, jewelry, soaps or other small items •

hand crafted items: woodworking, knit or crocheted, pottery, paintings or other fine arts. •

Baskets: baby/children items, toiletries, spa items, baking or cooking, wine, etc. •

Services: computer training, gift certificates, Italian meal, or a special skill you are willing to share. Refer to How to submit your quilt or item (sent to your church or on the NEMN Synod website) to get it in the on-line auction. Then either bring it or arrange to have it delivered to the Synod Assembly on April 28th .

Questions: Contact Amy Loken at 218-391-4260

NEMN Synod Assembly Quilt/Marketplace Auction

How to Submit a quilt or marketplace item for auction:

Please e-mail all your quilt/marketplace pictures and information (see below) to Bob and Barb Murray at: Rmurraymbei@gmail.com. They will be organizing/managing our auction website.

To get to our auction site go to: nemnquilts2023.givesmart.com. Your quilt/marketplace items will be added to the on-line auction site as your pictures and information come in. The deadline for submissions will be April 25, 2023, but submit your information as soon as possible.

Please submit the following information for your quilt or marketplace item: If you feel creative, name your quilt! (Otherwise, we might come up with an interesting name).

1. Name of individual, quilting group, or church donating the quilt/items; a phone number and email address so we can reach you if necessary.

2. Please share a brief story about your quilt/item, the design or pattern. (Sell your quilt by describing it with terms such as beautiful, gorgeous, whimsical, soft, cuddly etc),

3. Share any interesting history of your quilting group, or why you are donating to raise money to end hunger and poverty, etc. We are hoping to connect with many potential bidders who are outside our synod, may not be Lutheran, or are unfamiliar with the purpose of this ministry.

4. Quilt or item size (exact measurement)

5. Type of material (batting) used.

6. Binding method (all machine, machine and hand-stitched)

7. Quilting method (hand quilted, machine quilted, hand tied)

8. Care instructions

9. Pictures: We can have 4-6 photos

• The whole item (take landscape pictures rather than portrait)

• A close up of one block or design

• A close-up of one corner flipped so the front and back of binding can be seen

• A close-up of the quilting

• If there is anything else you would like to emphasize, take a picture of it.

Please estimate a fair market value for your quilt/item. That dollar amount will be used to calculate the opening bid on your item. If you’re unsure, we can set a price similar to other items.

What Happens after the Auction?

*Since the quilts and marketplace items will be displayed at the synod assembly, our quilt team will contact all the winning bidders, collect the on-site and on-line payments and make sure the quilts and marketplace items get to their new homes!

Questions contact: Amy Loken - call or text 218-391-4260. Problems submitting: Bob Murray- Email: Rmurraymbei@gmail.com or call or text 218-244-5074

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 We have been invited to a Women’s Spring Brunch

April 29th, 10 am-12:30 pm

Knife River Place- 2448 Jade Street, Mora

Cost $15 (cash only)-tickets available in office, (see Donna), and must be purchased by April 15.

Keynote: Aminta Geisler/Testimonial: Jean Entner Music: Willow Nelson Food: Home Town Catering Event sponsored by Hillman Baptist Church Women’s Ministry See flyer on bulletin board for more information.

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Prayers for all !