The Week of March 30

Dear Swedlanda Friends and Family,

What a difference a week can make! The Swedlanda sanctuary looked rather empty at the 2^nd Sunday of Easter service in comparison to the week beforehand. All of the out-of-town company went home and possibly a few regulars have finally decided to take a spring break. I don’t blame them, as the weather man is predicting another winter storm for the last day of March.

I wonder if the disciples were having some of the same feelings as they met together a week after Easter. All of the Passover crowds had gone home by that time and they were left to themselves. Even so, Jesus came.

But it was great to see some of our members who no longer live near the church. Several of them have “gone forth and multiplied” as was evident from the babies who were with us on Easter Sunday. Our community has changed and we miss the young people.

The Day of Resurrection is now past and we are waiting for spring to catch up. It seems like several events that were on hold before Easter are now being scheduled. I have included a few notices below in case you have the opportunity to take advantage of them. The sermon for the day is also available through the link on the right.

Have a great week.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Stewart

Notices:

Men In Mission will have a rescheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 9 at 8:30 p.m. Plans for the Midsummer Event need to be discussed, so bring your suggestions.

The Swedlanda Women of the ELCA will have a Unit Meeting on Thursday, April 3 at 1:30 p.m. Sandy Peterson has the program and hostesses are Karyn Lamb and Ruth Fredrickson.

2008 ELCA Global Mission Formation Event, May 2-3 Golden Valley Lutheran, Golden Valley. Registration $35 for a wide variety of workshops. Check the bulletin board.

Minnesota Valley Conference Ambassadors In Mission (AIM)

Saturday, April 12, 2008

St. Matthew's Lutheran/Fernando, Stewart

2402 County Road 7 Phone: 320-562-2647

Program: Pr. Rebecca Sullivan, Bethany Lutheran, Judson

"Conference/Circuit Relationships" MN Valley / Vryheid Circuit-SE Africa.

Coffee: 9:30 a.m. Program 10:00 a.m.

Program and business meeting followed by noon meal

ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

Attention: Farmers/Gardeners. Your expertise could be very valuable in our relationship with our Companion Conference, the Vryheid Circuit in South Africa. They are trying to develop skills in growing food in small plots to help improve nutrition in rural communities. Come to the AIM meeting on April 12 to find out more (see the above notice). Thank you.

There will be an open house to celebrate Winston Johnson’s 90^th birthday at the Hector Community Center on Sunday, April 6, from 2-4 p.m.

Palmyra Covenant Church is hosting a Spring Concert on Sunday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. featuring the Svenskarnas Dag Girls Choir from Minneapolis. The choir will sing in both English & Swedish. A free-will offering will be received. A lunch will be served following the concert.

“Good Grief” will be sponsored by Renville County Hospice. The sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings April 1,8,22,29 and May 6 from 7-9 p.m. at Renville County Hospital Conference Room, 611 E. Fairview Ave., Olivia. All are welcome and invited to this resource for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Please call 320-523-3451 for information and registration.

Jesus, Justice, and Jazz. The 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering will be in New Orleans, Louisiana, July 22-26, 2009. Youth and parents are invited to an informational meeting on Sunday April 6, 2008 at St. Paul’s Lutheran in Hector. The meeting will begin at 7 pm.

At a meeting held Oct. 7, the congregation voted to approve a recommendation from the council that covered several maintenance/repair projects: Replacement of the parsonage deck ($6-7,000); Church siding to be completed by 2009 ($23-25,000); Belfry floor maintenance; and a plan to replace shingles within 10 years. Your contributions toward these property items are much appreciated. Thank you. Total in the fund: $12,989.72.

The Week of March 23

Christ is Risen!

He is Risen Indeed!

Greetings to Swedlanda Friends and Family on Easter,

It was quite a day at Swedlanda, beginning with some blowing snow! I don’t recall ever shoveling the church walk on Easter before. But that did not keep worshippers away. It was great to see family and friends together today. Some of our “snowbirds” have come back and many of our “extended family” of faith returned with new additions. It was nice to have so many little ones in church.

Our Choir Director, Deb R. and organist Cyndi W. led our choir in some great Easter anthems: “Hallelujah, We Shall Rise” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” The Luther League, under the leadership of Jim R. and Brian L., provided a great breakfast for us. All in all, it was a very memorable day. And by the end of services, it had stopped snowing!

We had some sad news last week. Elaine Benson, the wife of Pastor Burdette Benson passed away. The two served the Swedlanda congregation from 1969 to 1986. Services for her were held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield on Holy Saturday. Many of our members remember the Bensons fondly and several were able to attend the visitation or funeral.

We also added Dale D. to our prayer list. Dale has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is seeing a doctor in Gainesville.

May the Risen Lord Jesus Christ bring new life and hope to your life!

Pastor Stewart

The Week of March 16 - Holy Week

Greetings from Swedlanda on the beginning of Holy Week

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look much like Holy Week outside; warmer temperatures are predicted later in the week, however, so there is hope for a snow-free Easter.

On Palm Sunday/The Sunday of the Passion our choir sang an anthem at the beginning of the service, before the Processional Gospel and the Blessing of the Palms. They have been practicing for Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday, so I hope you can be with us to hear them.

We added Olga S. back on our Prayer List because she had been hospitalized on Friday evening. But I went to visit her on Sunday afternoon and discovered that she had been released in the morning and was already back at Prairie View, where she continues her recovery. We also prayed for Doug T., who had a successful surgery last week. He is also at home now.

In the evening, a Palm Sunday celebration was held at the Hector Youth Center. There was a drama, interpretive dance, and singing. The Center was quite full, with many young people.

Please note the schedule below for Holy Week and Easter. As usual, the sermon for the day can be accessed on SkyDrive from the link on the right.

May you be blessed with the Good News of God’s Love at Easter.

Pastor Stewart

The Lenten mid-week theme, “Bread for the Journey” will continue this week as we observe a Maundy Thursday service and a Good Friday service at Swedlanda, each beginning at 7:00 p.m.

On Easter Sunday, the Sunrise service will begin at 6:45 a.m. and will be followed by the Easter Breakfast from 7:30-9:00 a.m. The Easter Service of Holy Communion will be held at 9:30 a.m.

At a meeting held Oct. 7, the congregation voted to approve a recommendation from the council that covered several maintenance/repair projects: Replacement of the parsonage deck ($6-7,000); Church siding to be completed by 2009 ($23-25,000); Belfry floor maintenance; and a plan to replace shingles within 10 years. Your contributions toward these property items are much appreciated. Thank you. Total in the fund: $12,964.72.

“Good Grief” will be sponsored by Renville County Hospice. The sessions will be held on Tuesdays evenings April 1,8,22,29 and May 6 from 7-9 p.m. at Renville County Hospital Conference Room, 611 E. Fairview Ave., Olivia. All are welcome and invited to this resource for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Please call 320-523-3451 for information and registration.

The Week of March 9

Greetings from Swedlanda!

It feels like we are on the verge of change in several ways this week. Days are getting longer and we have now moved our clocks ahead for Daylight Savings Time. The meteorologists are predicting a change in temperatures this week as a warm-up begins. Lent is coming to its completion; next Sunday will be Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. And our Scripture lessons for the week indicate that the Holy Spirit is stirring, bringing renewed life. For the day’s message, check out the link on the right-hand side of the page.

We began our time together on Sunday with the Swedlanda Family Sunday School, led by Gail D. We spent some time learning about our heroes of faith. I look forward to continuing the lesson on the second Sunday of next month.

Sunday was also the occasion for our Minnesota Valley Conference Assembly, which was held in St. Peter. The highlight was an appearance by John Ylvisaker, song writer and musician. He is responsible for many hymns we are familiar with, including “Borning Cry” which has become a favorite for many. In worship today, we sang another of his hymns, “We are Baptized in Christ Jesus.” After the Assembly meeting, John led a workshop on the “shapenote tradition” of hymns, in which familiar tunes are “shaped” for new words.

We sang “Happy Birthday” on Sunday to Deb R., who describes herself as Swedlanda’s “oldest organist”—not really that old. Others having birthdays this week include Eileen J. and Annabelle R., who is our oldest member at 96. She is a resident at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center now.

May God’s peace be with you this week and may the Holy Spirit fill you with new life.

In Christ,

Pastor Stewart

Announcements

A Palm Sunday Community Event will be held at the Hector Youth Center on March 16th at 7 p.m. The event will include interpretive dance, a youth band, and a drama. All are welcome.

The Southwest Area Parish Choir would like to invite you to the Tenebrae Service, “The Shadow of the Cross,” Sunday, March 16. Presentations will be at 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Franklin and at 7 p.m. at Augustana Lutheran Church in Gibbon.

The Week of March 2

The weeks of Lent have seemed very full, with the midweek services, meetings, and most recently, the funeral for Jim Anderson. This week also will provide opportunities to gather together as a community of faith. The Luther League will be providing the Wednesday evening meal at 6 p.m., followed by the worship service. The women of the church will have a Unit Meeting on Thursday at 1:30 p.m., with a program provided by Wendy W. On Friday at 1:30 p.m., a World Day of Prayer servie will be held at a neighboring congregation, Palmyra Covenant Church.

Next Sunday, we will have Swedlanda Family Sunday School during the educational hour, beginning at 9:15 a.m. If we are going to begin on time, we will have to remember to set our clocks ahead one hour; Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9. That is also the day of our Minnesota Valley Conference Assembly.

I’ve included a few of the weekly announcements below. If you wish to read today’s sermon, you will find a link on the right.

Have a blessed week,

Pastor Stewart

Notices:

Opportunities for personal enrichment

MN Valley Conference Assembly, March 9 at First Lutheran, St. Peter. John Ylvisaker will be there; he is a prolific song writer and enjoys both sharing his music and teaching. Swedlanda is encouraged to send 6 delegates, 3 men & 3 women. Others are also invited to attend as guests. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. and the meeting at 2:00 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. John will provide a workshop for musicians, worship leaders, worship committees, etc.

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers willing to receive Emergency Disaster Training. This training allows volunteers to get into a Disaster Zone and help people after a disaster has hit the area. The two day training is being offered at 8 a.m. March 27-28 (Thurs. & Fri.) at South West Initiative Foundation Building, 15 3^rd Ave NW, Hutchinson. Contact Kim Sheets at 507-326-5017 to register.

Stewardship of the Good News. An event for all. Peace Lutheran in Winthrop: April 8, 2008

2008 ELCA Global Mission Formation Event, May 2-3 Golden Valley Lutheran, Golden Valley. Registration $35 for a wide variety of workshops. Check the bulletin board.

Green Lake Lutheran Ministries-youth, family and special camps plus retreats. Check out the 2008 brochure and the bulletin board.

The Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra, along with the Woodbury Singers of Renville County, directed by Gerrit W. Lamain, will present a concert on Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 4:00 PM at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, 220 South Tenth Street, Bird Island. All of the offering will be given to the Renville County Food Shelf and supplemental funds will be provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Renville County Chapter.

A Palm Sunday Community Event will be held at the Hector Youth Center on March 16th at 7 p.m. The event will include interpretive dance, a youth band, and a drama. All are welcome.

At a meeting held Oct. 7, the congregation voted to approve a recommendation from the council that covered several maintenance/repair projects: Replacement of the parsonage deck ($6-7,000); Church siding to be completed by 2009 ($23-25,000); Belfry floor maintenance; and a plan to replace shingles within 10 years. Your contributions toward these property items are much appreciated. Thank you. Total in the fund: $12,964.72.