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APRIL NEWSLETTER
Over the past few years, I have attempted to plant trees and shrubs to help fill out our yard and to serve as a windbreak. There have been notable failures in my efforts, like when I got too close with a string trimmer and cut a spruce in half. It somehow survived, but it certainly won’t be stopping any wind anytime soon. Another unintentional failure was when our dog started to strip bark from an elm tree we had recently planted. Like the spruce, it managed to survive, and like the spruce, it’s quite a bit shorter than it should be. Despite my failures, mistakes, and shortcomings, I’ve learned quite a bit about how to properly plant trees, how and when to transplant them more effectively, how often they need water, and so on. It’s allowed me to ask questions of people who know far more than I do and to learn from their experience and recommendations. Learning from failures is a part of any journey towards success. There is still one component of tending trees that I suspect will always make me nervous: pruning.
We currently have two apple trees in our yard, and fortunately the deer (and the dog) have left them alone. But anyone who tends apple trees knows that healthy trees that produce the best harvests are regularly pruned. Every year I watch dozens of YouTube videos. I’ve talked with several owners of apple trees. I’ve been coached by more than one nursery worker on how to know what to cut and when to do it. It still makes me nervous. What if I cut too much off? What if I accidently cut the wrong branch? What if this results in us not getting apples this year? Mistakes are costly in time, finances, and fruit production – and I don’t have to tell you this knowledge doesn’t abate my nerves one bit.
As John writes Revelation, he writes a small letter to Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). The main concern is that they are spiritually apathetic. They are compared to lukewarm water; there is nothing appealing or beneficial in their spiritual life. Cold water is refreshing and rejuvenating and hot water is relaxing and used medicinally, but the people in this particular church were “neither hot nor cold.” What does God do with such Believers? He invites them to be reintroduced to Himself. When you have grounded yourself in who God is, you’ll find that surface-level acknowledgement and worship of Him is frankly humiliating. The Laodiceans had confidence in possessions, finances, and comfortable living, and yet God extends the invitation for them to truly discover Himself. This is something God prunes from us on a regular basis – mainly because we have an incredible tendency to return to this source of rumored happiness. Once temporary comforts have been pruned, we more readily see that Jesus is all we need and are willing to lay it all aside in order to follow Him. Jesus continues to knock, waiting for us to acknowledge our need of His good pruning so that we may produce true fruit – good fruit. Fruit that only comes from fellowship with Him.
Pastor Dan Hurner
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Preaching Rotation & Worship Texts
April 7
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold. (Pr. Mark) God’s Covenant with Abram Gen. 15
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Cliff Feggert) Abram and Isaac Gen. 22;1-18
10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsbrog (Pr. Mark) God’s Covenant with Abram Gen. 15
April 14
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold (Cliff Feggert) Abram and Isaac Gen. 22;1-18
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Mark) God’s Covenant with Abram Gen. 15
10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg (Cliff Feggert) Abram and Isaac Gen. 22;1-18
April 21
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold (Pr. Mark) Isaac and Rebecca Gen. 24
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Guest) Isaac and Jacob Gen. 27:1-40
10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg (Pr. Mark) Isaac and Rebecca Gen. 24
April 28
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold (Guest) Isaac and Jacob Gen. 27:1-40
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Mark) Isaac and Rebecca Gen. 24
10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg (Guest) Isaac and Jacob Gen. 27:1-40
Communion
Zion-Sarpsborg April 7
Tordenskjold April 14
Kvam April 28
April Council Meetings
Zion-Sarpsborg April 8 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
Tordenskjold April 15 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
Kvam April 16 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
Gideon Sunday
On Sunday, April 7th we will be hosting the Gideon’s are our worship services. We are grateful for the many years of support of the Gideon’s as a parish. Please come prepared to share as we will be taking a special offering on this Sunday. The following is an excerpt from the Gideons that explains their purpose: “The Gideons International is the result of a meeting between two men who wished to band commercial travelers together for evangelism. What began in 1908 as an Association of Christian business men placing Bibles in hotel rooms has evolved into an expanding mission to provide Scriptures to all people in nearly every facet of life. Today, we have taken more than 2 billion Scriptures in more than 95 languages to 200 countries, territories, and possessions across the globe. We exist as an advocate for the lost, to bring them the saving knowledge of the Word through not only placing and distributing Scriptures, but also through personal witnessing and by associating together for service.
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Confirmation Sundays
We are grateful for our Confirmation students who will be sharing their testimonies of faith and giving witness to God’s work in their lives during the last two years of Confirmation. Please pray for our students and families as they take this next step in their walk with the Lord.
Zion-Sarpsborg- Confirmation May 5th - Hope Rovang
Tordenskjold Confirmation- June 2nd – Kylie Akerman, Brook Lanoue, and Landon Leitch- Cronk
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Bible Study Opportunities
Tuesday Men’s Bible Study @6:45a.m
Underwood Café, studying the book of Acts.
Tordenskjold Bible Study
Family Truth Filled Bible Study each Tuesday
4:30p.m. – 5:45 p.m. in the Tordenskjold Church basement fellowship hall.
Kvam Ladies Prayer Time
Each Tuesday @ 10:00 am
Zion- Sarpsborg Women’s Bible Study & Prayer Time-
2nd,3rd & 4th Thurs.@ 4:40p.m.
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Parish VBS
We are excited to announce the dates of Parish Vacation Bible School, July 28-August 2nd. Please pray for this important time of outreach and growth for both children and adults. If you would like to be involved in any way, please let us know. It takes many willing hands and hearts. Thank you in advance for praying and being involved in this important ministry.
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Thank You to all who shared in our Lenten Services. We have had good attendance, meaningful times in the Word of God, and have shared meals together. Let’s continue to thank God for the good things that he is doing and will continue to do.
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Flamingo Fundraiser
This fundraiser was very successful and enjoyed by many in the community and surrounding areas. Thank You to Pastor Dan for all his work. Also to all the youth for their help!
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Ministerial Acts
Memorial Service-
Julie Henderson - March 15,2024
Baptisms
Ensley Kay Finkelson March 17th @ Zion-Sarps. Daughter of Cooper & Beth Finkelson
Maddilyn Jean Gunkel March23rd @ Kvam Daughter of Eric Gunkel & Amy Melby
Charlie Truman Hanson Raelynn Marie Hanson Hudson Lawrence Hanson @Zion-Sarp March 27th. Children of Reed & Tiffani Hanson.
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Donald Rocholl Benefit
A benefit for Donald Rocholl will be held on May18th at the Ashby American Legion. If you would like to donate items for a silent or live auction, please contact Chelsey Barry or a member of the Dalton Fire Dept.
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Sabbatical
Pastor Dan’s Sabbatical began April 1st and will go through the end of June. During this leave, please contact Pastor Mark for any pastoral duties. Our church deacons and youth advisors are also, always available for spiritual care and visitation.
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Daltonfreelutheran.org
Don’t forget to check the parish website for things that are happening in our churches. It is easy to navigate and also helpful to keep up to date.
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Services On-Line
If you are not able to attend in person or would like to introduce our churches to a friend or neighbor the 9:am Tordenskjold Service and the Zion-Sarp. Service @10:30 is available on our YouTube channel. Simply search Dalton Free Lutheran Parish and click on the service for that day.