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Grace and peace to you in the name of the Triune God!

I have heard the comment that part of the reason some people struggle with reading the Bible is that it seems so ancient and removed from our current day context that it is difficult to connect to, it is difficult to see the relevance of scripture for our daily lives. Certainly these centuries old documents do present a challenge to us due to when they were written. However, God’s ability to use the Bible to speak to us today is not diminished over time and scripture remains relevant to our daily lives.

One of the prime examples of this is the book of Psalms. Psalms is a collection of 150 songs that were used in the midst of worship by the Hebrew people. They were written by many an various authors over many years. Though some of the situations that gave rise to the psalms are different than the situations that we might encounter now—worship surrounding the enthronement of a new king, for example—the psalms reflect the depth of human experience and span the range of human emotion. There are psalms that look to make meaning out of what is happening in the world around us and psalms that explore individual experiences. There are psalms of praise and thanksgiving, psalms of joy and happiness, psalms that are reflective and wonder at God and creation. There are psalms that ask questions of God, psalms of lament, psalms that cry out to God out of pain and exhaustion, psalms that are pleas for help and assurance. There are psalms that exude confidence in God and God’s promises and psalms that express doubt and struggle. No matter what you are experiencing in life, there is a psalm that will resonate with you.

Through the season of Lent, particularly during our mid-week activities, we will be exploring the broad diversity of the psalms. Each week we will reflect on a different theme presented in the psalms. We will connect the psalms to our lives through Bible study, engaging in spiritual practices, and through worship experiences.

As we enter into our 40 day journey to the celebration of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, I invite all of us to walk together, no matter where we are at in our journeys of faith, no matter the difference we have in our lives and experiences. Let us walk together through these forty days looking and listening for God through the psalms, deepening our connection to God and to one another. I look forward to our journey together.

In Christ,

Pastor Dan

From the Pastor’s Desk

March 2019 Monthly

Newsletter

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The Songs of Life:

A Journey in Psalms Join us for an experience of the rich depth that can be found in the book of

Psalms! The book of Psalms holds a wonderful treasure of writings that

creatively express the depth of human experience. Throughout our Lenten

journey, a time for reflection on God and life, we will use the Psalms to

guide us. We will look at a different Psalm each week and explore how it

connects to daily life through Bible study, spiritual practices, and worship..

May God bless us as we embark on this journey together!

Wednesday Schedule

5:30pm - Soup Supper

6:00pm - Cross-generational Education

6:35pm - Worship

Weekly Themes

March 13 - Thanksgiving (Psalm 100)

March 20 - Creation (Psalm 104)

March 27 - God’s Presence (Psalm 139)

April 3 - Silence (Psalm 88)

April 10 - Confession and Forgiveness (Psalm 51)

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It’s time for Trivia once again!

When: Sunday March 31

Time: 4:30 p.m. Check in and Food will be served

5:15 p.m. – Trivia play begins

Cost: $15 per player which includes a Meal Deal

Proceeds of our fund-raiser will be used for Y.O.T. renovation

Trivia Play Sign up begins on March 10 during Jazz Sunday Potluck and continues each Sunday during coffee hour. Sign up as a single player or sign up as a team of 6. There will be 8 Rounds of Trivia play with an intermission after Round 4.

Meal Deal:

Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich or Beef Maid Rite Sandwich with Chips, Cole Slaw, Cookie and Drink. Ala Carte items also will be sold if you are hungry and need more than the Meal Deal!!

If you would like to volunteer or donate Food items or Gift cards for Door prizes, please sign up on the Bulletin Board outside the Choir room.

If you’d like to donate a Silent Auction item, please see Tibe Vander Linden or Cindy Hermann.

2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off Sunday, March 10th

The 2nd Annual Chili Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, March 10th, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.

here at Grace Lutheran Church. $5.00 per person for a tasting punch card. Come sample

tasty chili’s, purchase tickets for raffle baskets, delight in our Dollar Desserts, and vote for

YOUR favorite chili by funding their “chili bowl” !

Plus, Tony Tone is back again to judge and emcee, so come out and support our youth in this

fun and delicious event!

Want to enter your chili?

Call Traci Lippelgoes at 563-260-7019 or register online by visiting our event page:

Facebook.com/gracemuscatine.com

Hurry, deadline to submit your chili is March 3rd.

Sponsored by the GLC Youth

Winners will be announced between 5:30 and 6pm

Chili entrants do not pay the punch card fee.

Grace Trivia Night

Take me out to the ballgame! Wear your favorite team gear!

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GRACE LIFE: Karen Woods has volunteered to be Grace Life Chair and Katie Green will be Grace Life Council Rep. Trivia Night changed to March 31st with proceeds to support the YOT renovation.

COUNCIL JANUARY ITEMS: Reviewed and discussed the summary and recommendations from the Worship and Music Board

concerning the Worship Conversations. These will be presented at the annual meeting on January 20th. Council Retreat is tentatively scheduled for February 23rd at an off-site location. Council approved three recommendations from the Property Board: (1) To obtain a contractor’s quote to repair or replace the large heavy partition that splits the large room

utilized by LSI and Sunday School. (2) Approved the purchase of a cleaning/filtering system for the heating system. (3) Approved changing diagonal parking to parallel parking in the front along the farmer’s field. Lines

will be painted when weather permits. SOCIAL MINISTRY:

Literacy will resume on January 29, 2019 The next Loaves and Fishes meal provided by Grace will be March 23rd.

WORSHIP and MUSIC: Jazz Service will be March 5th Bell Choir to play once a month Chancel Choir is planning an Easter Cantata

Meeting Adjourned: 7:50 p.m. Length of meeting: One hour 20 minutes Respectfully submitted, JoAnne Fisher, Council Secretary

MEMBERS PRESENT: Don Ager, Pr. Baldwin, Brenda Erber, JoAnne Fisher, Cindy Hermann, Karen Hessel, Don Kelly, Sam Paul, Jane Theobald, Julia Moravec

MEMBER EXCUSED: Katie Green GUEST: Terry Hogenson

ACTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS COUNCIL MEETING—January 17, 2019

What’s in a Name? Part Two

Hello dear GLC family. Last month I shared with you a couple of basic differences between a song and a hymn: “in general, a song will have verses and a refrain . . . a hymn usually only has verses.” I usually will play a song on the piano and a hymn on the organ. The reason for that has to do with the structural differences between the two.

A hymn will usually have one note for each syllable of the hymn text and a different chord for each note of the melody (this is called the harmonic rhythm, which moves with the beat in a hymn). Hymns also are written in four parts: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. This musical texture is best realized on the organ. You can recognize this in our ELW hymnal when there are two staffs with the text in between them (see #277 in the ELW for an example).

In a song, there is usually one chord per measure of the music (a measure is a group of beats) and thus, the harmonic rhythm is slower than a hymn and works better on the piano with the sustain pedal able to sustain the chords beneath the melody. Also, a song will usually have just a melody and not necessarily harmony parts such as alto, tenor or bass. (see #293 in the ELW for an example).

March’s Singing Tip of the Month: keep you jaw relaxed when you sing. This helps created a nice resonant space in your mouth for a beautiful tone. (remember the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, he needed his jaw oiled so he could talk. In other words, “ya gotta open you mouth!”

Blessings and peace to all, Bob Romza, Minister of Music

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GLC Ministry of Literacy

What a winter! The Literacy program had to be cancelled several times putting us almost two weeks behind schedule. The students were ready and so were the volunteers. It has been good to get back on schedule and

moving forward. If you have a free hour even once a month, we certainly would appreciate your time to help work with us. March is covered but we will be looking for volunteers for April. If you can volunteer, please contact Debbie Holiday. There is always a need for snacks and the kids are certainly hungry when

they come from school. If you can help with snacks, please contact Karen Hessel or fill in the signup sheet across from the literacy office. They like snacks such as cookies, chips, popcorn, crackers etc. and a fruit or vegetable, they like canned fruit, bananas, carrots, mandarin oranges, grapes, they generally eat most things.

Karen Hessel can give you ideas on the amounts and what is needed for drinks. It can be very simple. The program couldn’t exist without your help and support. We are very thankful for our church family.

Grace Women News

By Karen Hessel and Mary Hovick

An Invitation: All women of Grace are invited to join us on Tuesday March 12th at 9:30. We will meet

at Grace in the lounge. We will continue our new bible series focused on seeking and finding faith.

During this session we look at passages you are familiar with as Nicodemus comes to Jesus with questions of

faith, the women at the well who talks about religious practices and an official who seeks healing for his son.

We will look at understanding Jesus and his teachings as he tells us “I am the bread of life.” You are invited to

be a part of the group, to join in the discussion or just listen, everyone is welcome.

No Board Meeting

Loaves & Fishes Meal Saturday, March 23rd

Grace will once again be serving the Loaves and Fishes meal on Saturday, March 23rd at the MCSA Building, 312 Iowa Avenue (lower level). We are again in need of monetary donations to buy the supplies for our meatloaf dinner. We will also be asking for donations of homemade cookies or bars as well as volunteers to join the fun and help with the following:

9:00 a.m. meal preparation 11:30-12:30 serving 12:30 - 1:15 clean up

Please contact Vicki & Carlin Lawhead at 263-8012 or cclawhead@machlink.com.

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March 2019, LSI Bulletin/Newsletter Article and Story

March is National Professional Social Work Month

March is National Professional Social Work Month, a

time to recognize social workers and thank them for all

they do. At Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), we’re

grateful for the many social workers who have

dedicated their lives to serving our community!

Maybe you’ve never had a social worker involved in your life. Yet, whether you realize it or not, you’ve had

the benefit of their behind-the-scenes work in your community. Social workers help people help themselves in

overcoming life’s most difficult circumstances or managing challenges of everyday living: poverty, abuse,

mental illness, depression, addiction, disability, and many other situations.

Iowa wouldn’t be the same without the patience, guidance, and empowerment that social workers provide.

Happy National Professional Social Work Month!

Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations. Learn more at www.LSIowa.org and www.facebook.com/LSI.iowa. Finding a Support System

Aubreigh knew something needed to change.

She was struggling with substance use and alcohol. She couldn’t find a way to take care of her mental health.

She was unable to provide a safe home for her son, who needed to move in with his dad. When she finally took

a step in the right direction and found a home, all her belongings were stolen.

Through LSI’s Family Safety, Risk, and Permanency Services, Aubreigh connected with her worker, Kelsy.

Together, the duo is working on budgeting Aubreigh’s money, finding a good job, and building a safe home

environment for her son.

“I was in a bad situation, and I’m really thankful for LSI,” she says. “Without them, who knows where I’d be.”

Aubreigh now meets with Kelsy once a week and feels like she is finally on the right path after plenty of hard

work. She is working with her son and his father to build a healthy co-parenting relationship, and she knows

Kelsy will always be in her corner, ready to cheer her on.

“Kelsy has been an awesome resource. She helps if we have issues co-parenting, and we do a lot better now as

a family,” Aubreigh says. “If I have any problems, Kelsy is there.”

Grace Night Out—Sunday, March 17 @ 5:00 p.m.

With this winter we certainly need a break from the weather and a time for some fellowship. Due to the Chili Cook-off, Grace Night Out will be held the third Sunday in March. Please join us Sunday March 17th 5:00 p.m. at the Family Restaurant (parking lot of Mall). There will be a sign-up sheet on the credenza but even if you decide at the last minute you are still welcome. We have a good group and can always make room for more. A great time for fellowship with our Church family.

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Parking Lot Change-Angle Parking Along Farmer’s Field

As approved by the Church Property Board and Council, due to congestion created and potential damage that

could occur when vehicles back from the current marked island parking spaces, no angle parking will be

allowed along the farmer’s field. Parallel parking will be marked later this Spring, however, if snow removal

from “island parking area” and “rear parking access driveway” fills in part of the parallel parking spaces, NO

PARKING WILL BE ALLOWED in this area. Please see diagram below. Thank you.

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REMINDER Please remember to notify the office with any name, address, email changes, birthdays, anniversaries,

or other pertinent information, so that we have correct information in our Shepherds Staff member file

system and email system. Call the office at 263-5680 or email us at glc@machlink.com with changes.

Thank you.

Pray for each person on their birthday or anniversary. By the end of the year, you would have prayed

for everyone in the congregation. If we have missed an anniversary or if corrections need to be made,

please call the church office at 263-5680. Thank you.

March Birthdays

Joyce Reed 03-02 Peggy Heither 03-21

John Simmons 03-02 Karen Woods 03-21

Lynn Schuur 03-08 Tom Fahy 03-22

Jordyn Bengtson 03-11 Brenda Erber 03-23

Maggie Lofgren 03-12 Ron Gear 03-24

Judy Maxwell 03-13 Paula Lofgren 03-24

Logan Skipton 03-13 Margaret Stadtwald 03-26

Griffen Jones 03-16 Roger Erber 03-27

Ila Barrington 03-18 Sue Bengtson 03-28

Velma Jean Theobald 03-31

March Anniversaries

Gary & Barbara Schmelzer 03-02

Ron & Pam Houseman 03-05

Darrin & Renee Kemper 03-10

Ron & Jane Gear 03-15

Carlin & Vicki Lawhead 03-24

Daylight Savings Time starts on Sunday, March 10th, so don’t forget to set your

clocks an hour ahead before you go to bed on Saturday night.

Also, it is a good time to remember to check and change the batteries in your

smoke detectors.