Greetings,
This is my first public post for the Swedlanda Blog. Hopefully, I will be able to keep up as the weeks progress. Several years ago, I began sending a weekly e-mail to college students from Swedlanda as a way of keeping them up to date with the latest at our congregation. I am not sure how many actually read these epistles, but a few would e-mail me back from time to time with a question.
Over the years, the e-mail list expanded to include Swedlanda members who no longer live close to the church. Some are young people who have graduated from college and have taken jobs elsewhere. Others have retired and moved away. Some are just gone from the Swedlanda community on a seasonal basis, but want to know what is happening back home.
As time went on, the e-mail list became more difficult to handle. For one thing, people began adding new e-mail addresses and I didn’t always know which ones were preferred or current. Also, as colleges became more security conscious, I didn’t always have access to e-mail addresses. A web site was added at www.lutheransonline.com/swedlanda but this did not prove a satisfactory way of sending out messages or announcements to the congregation.
After searching for a new way to provide this connection, I decided to try a blog. This seems a bit less intrusive than an e-mail. Those who are interested can access the blog at any time they choose and can even look at posts from previous weeks. It’s fairly easy to bookmark the site or even drag the link onto a toolbar or desktop. Or you can subscribe to the posts using a feed reader (click on the link at the bottom of the blog).
I also gave some thought to providing the weekly sermon to those who are interested. I didn’t really want to put my sermons on a public post or inflict them on those who didn’t ask for them. So I decided to try another option. My hotmail account is offering a free on-line storage called SkyDrive. Those invited can access a folder with the most recent sermons if they wish. So I put the e-mail addresses I have for Swedlanda “family and friends” on the invited list. A link was automatically sent out. The only qualification is that you have to have a hotmail or msn account to access the folder; these are available for free if you don’t already have one. If you are having problems in accessing the sermons, please let me know.
Thank you for your indulgence. I'm always open to suggestions. Here are some notes and announcements for this week.
In Christ,
Pastor Stewart
The boilers are on! It felt rather cool and damp when the choir began arriving on Sunday, so it was time to turn on the heat. Although much has been harvested, there is much yet to be done and the rainy weather has been slowing things down. All in all, we are grateful for what God has provided.
We sang “Happy Birthday” in church to Olga Shemukenas, who is 85 years young this week, and to Gail Dean, also celebrating a birthday.
Announcements:
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Volunteers are needed for the project in
Larry and Bonnie Rettmann have purchased a home in Belview and need some assistance moving, as Larry continues to recover from a hip injury and surgery. If you could help on Saturday, October 20, please call them at 833-2395. Larry and Bonnie intend to retain their membership at Swedlanda and their daughter is moving into the house they now live in.
The quilting ladies still have some Apple Crisp and Homemade Frozen Apple Pies for
The Wednesday morning Bible Study meets at 8:00 a.m. Bring along your Bible and join us. We are discussing the appointed Gospel Lesson for the week.
After many years of faithful service, Theresa Fink, has tendered her resignation as the Swedlanda Church Secretary. The congregation offers thanks for her dedication and efficiency. She has generously offered to help with the publication of the Annual Reports, for which we are also grateful. At its October meeting, the Church Council accepted Nancy Stewart’s offer to take on the weekly secretarial duties. Because of her work schedule, it will not be possible for her to have regular hours, but messages can be left for her at the church office (320-848-2490) or at the parsonage (320-848-2444). Bulletin notices can also be left on the secretary’s desk or in the box on the wall by Pastor Stewart’s office door. Notices or requests can also be sent to him at his email address, ckstewart@hotmail.com. He can also be reached by cell phone at 612-770-6201. These phone numbers and the email address are on a business card which has been distributed to church mailboxes.
Swedlanda has pledged $300 per year for 5 years to build a library for
At the October Council Meeting, it was decided to send ½ of the interest ($393.21) from the Eddy Anderson and Oscar Kulberg Mission Investment Fund to the India Library Project and ½ to the Kent Hillman family (Wycliffe Bible Translators).
The
We are still in need of a Sunday School teacher to do some team teaching! Please contact Eileen Roebke (848-2356) or Gail Dean (320-583-2545) or leave a message at the church. Thank You!
Habitat For Humanity Raffle tickets are now available!! This year, the Grand Prize is a candy apple red 2008 Ford Mustang convertible. Other prizes include a 15” Lap Top Computer, $500 cash, Apple I Pod 80 GB Video, and 27” Digital Color TV. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased from HFH Board members, Joyce Nyhus or Pastor Stewart. The drawing will be held on February 3, 2008.
All are invited so please join us!
Palmer and Haakon Vaadeland, the father-son vocalists from Park Rapids, will be with us on Reformation Sunday, October 28. They will need housing overnight on Saturday. If you would be willing, please let Pastor Stewart know. Thank you.
1 comment:
This is great! I feel like I've just caught up with Swedlanda happenings. Thanks for including me. Louise Stenberg
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