APRIL2025
In 1968, a man named Dick Proenneke set to work building a cabin in the Twin Lakes region of Alaska (Southwest of Anchorage). During the previous summer, he had scouted the area for where to build. He also cut and stripped logs for them to dry out for building. With hand tools, work experience, and no small amount of grit, Dick’s cabin slowly started to take shape. The book, One Man’s Wilderness shares experts from his journal during the construction process. Towards the end of the summer, Dick eventually gets to the point of building his fireplace and you can almost feel his trepidation.
Building this addition to his cabin meant cutting a sizeable hole in one of the walls. It also meant a crash course in stone masonry. As the days of summer whittled away into fall, the chimney slowly and surely came together. In his journals, Dick mentions how finicky rock work can be. It’s more than just picking a rock and cementing it in place – it’s maneuvering it around to make sure it’s the best fit for where the build was at. Multiple times, almost on pure intuition, he’d pass on a rock because it wasn’t the right time to use it. Eventually, he’d reach a place where the neglected piece would be a perfect fit – as though it was meant to be there.
I think about this when I read 1 Peter 2. During persecution and suffering, Peter writes a general letter to the Church to bring them peace, encouragement, and instruction on how to properly view times of trial because of faith in Jesus. Peteruses three stone analogies to illustrate the work of Jesus.
The first is how Jesus is a cornerstone. Cornerstones are symbolic or commemorative now, but they were incredibly important for masons. By that stone, masons would judge was plumb and flush for the rest of the building. A poorly cut cornerstone would result in a compromised, weakened building. But Christ is a living cornerstone for God’s temple (we are God’s temple, by the way). He is the true standard for how God’s temple should be built.
The second stone is how Jesus is the capstone. Capstones are vital for building arches, sitting in the very peak position. They’re even larger than the rest of the stones in the arch. Capstones bear the weight of both sides of the arch – without this stone being properly set, the structure will collapse. The picture is how Jesus bears the weight of our sin, provides strength to His Church, and bears us up.
Third and finally, Jesus is a stumbling stone. A stone that was passed over by “builders” was the most important. Those who pass over or reject Jesus wind up tripping over Him. Peter writes how they will meet their fate because of their disobedience and folly. God’s desire is clear – rather than face destruction, God desires people to rely on Jesus as the “true stone.” For Him to build His Kingdom in us. For us to find our identity in Him.
Pastor Dan Hurner
Preaching Rotation and Texts…
April 6
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan) I Timothy 5:17-25
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Dan) I Timothy 5:17-25
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Mark) I Timothy 5:1-16
April 13 Palm Sunday
10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg ( ) Matt. 21:1-9, Phil. 2:5-11, Zech. 9:9-10
April 20 Easter
7:00 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Mark) Mark 16:1-7, I Cor. 5:7-8, Is. 53:8-12
9:30 a.m. Tordenskjold (Pr. Mark) Mark 16:1-7, I Cor. 5:7-8, Is. 53:8-12
9:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg (Pr. Dan) Mark 16:1-7, I Cor. 5:7-8, Is. 53:8-12
April 27 Gideon Sunday
9:00 a.m. Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan) I Timothy 6:1-10
10:30 a.m. Kvam (Pr. Dan) I Timothy 6:1-10
10:30 a.m. ZS (Pr. Mark) I Timothy 6:11-21
Communion
Zion-Sarpsborg April 6
Tordenskjold April 6
Kvam April 6
Council Meetings…
Zion-Sarpsborg April 8 @ 7p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
Tordenskjold April 14 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
Kvam April 24 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)
We are grateful for God’s work in our parish during this season a Lent. We are thankful to each one of you for taking the time to come to our suppers and services. A special thanks to all who have preached and taken part in the Sunday Services. We look forward to Holy Week and Easter as well as we look to Jesus, who suffered died and rose again for us! Below is the schedule for the remainder of Lent and Holy Week leading up to Easter Sunday:
Lenten Service
April 6 -6:00p.m. (meal @5:15) Tordenskjold “The Letter to the Church at Philadelphia” Rev.3:7-14
Holy Week
April 13- 10:30 Palm Sunday Parish Worship at Zion-Sarpsborg - Pr. Mark (Dinner following Service)
April 16- 6-8 p.m. Seder Meal/Teaching at Zion-Sarpsborg
April 17-1:30p.m. Maundy Thursday Communion Z/-S Pr. Mark
April 18-7:00p.m. Good Friday Communion at Tord “The Letter to the Church at Laodicea” Rev. 3:14-22 (Pr. Dan)
April 20-7:00a.m. Kvam Easter Sunday Worship ( Easter Breakfast)
9:30 a.m. Easter Services at Tordenskjold and Zion/Sarp.
Holy Week Seder….Wednesday, April 16th 6 p.m. Zion-Sarpsborg
The Seder Ceremony is a traditional part of the Jewish Passover Celebration. It commemorates God freeing the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and looks forward to the return of Elijah and then to the coming of the Messiah to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. This is the “Last Supper” Jesus shared with His Disciples the night he was arrested and betrayed. We’re celebrating it this year in conjunction with our Easter activities.
It consists of a four-part, 15 step ceremony with stories for the children, singing and remembrances for all ages. It includes both a ceremonial meal of small Hors d’oeuvres, four ceremonial toasts and a full Passover Meal including Lamb, Matzo Ball, etc., (and some chicken for those who don’t like lamb). This is a big undertaking! We’ve never done it before so we would really like an approximate head count so we have enough Lamb and Matzo balls. Please sign up online at Daltonfreelutheran.org or in person on the sign-up sheet at each church. It will be fun and a great remembrance as to why Jesus died for us. Please join us, bring the kids, and let us know that you’re coming by Wednesday, April 9th
LADIES SPRING LUNCHEON
Please Join Us For A SpringLucheon
Saturday April 26th, 2025 11:30a.m.
Tordenskjold Free Lutheran Church
Featuring The Moline Sisters
Come and enjoy a light hearted musical presentation. have your heart warmed with storiesof Gods
extraordinary love through faith filled women.
For reservations call- Susan Vukonich 218-770-9443
Judi Abramson 218-205-0861
VBS
Mark Your Calendar-Dalton Free Lutheran Vacation Bible School. Kick-off Sunday July 27th, 2025.
Theme for this year is True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.
Please consider joining our team as there are many roles to fill. There is a sign-up sheet at each church and more information on the back of April calendar.
We are excited to have Gideon representatives at our worship services on Sunday, April 27th. They will share testimonies of God’s work in the lives of people who have received, read and been changed by the mighty power of God through His Word and Spirit. We will take a special offering for the work of the Gideon’s at the close of the service.
Confirmation Sunday….May 4th.
Please continue to pray for our second year Confirmation students we prepare for Confirmation Sunday on Sunday, May 4th. This is a key time in the lives of our students and they will confirm their faith in Jesus Christ and share their personaltestimonies. This year’s students in include the following (Tordenskjold-Aubrey Borgos, Jaida Koehn) (Zion-Sarpsborg – Ben Bui, Luke Johnson, Maggie Mark, Jacob Warner, Luke Warner, Kylie Barry)
Ministerial Acts
New Members:
Cliff & Chris Fegert –Tordenskjold -3/16/2025
Clint & Lynda Converse-Tordenskjold-3/16/2025
Lyle & Susan Westrom- Z/S- 3/23/2025
Gage & Alyssa Olson- Z/S- 3/23/2025
Kevin , Lisa ,Quynn,& Ayden Behrens-Z/S - 3/23/2025
John Anderson –Z/S- 3/23/2025
Jesse & Kristin Schake –Z/S -3/23/2025
Annual Conference
The 2025 AFLC Annual Conference will be held June 11-14 at the Association Retreat Center in Osceola, WI. The theme for this year’s conference is “Abundant Life,” taken from John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The conference is a special time for our national church body to come together to pray, plan and seek God’s face in all areas of ministry as we seek to fulfill the Great Commission. Please pray for this week on ministry and also consider attending in person. For more information visit the AFLC webpage at aflc.org.
____________________________________
Bible Studies
April 1st & 8th - 4:30p.m. Tord. Women’s Study
April 3rd & 17th -1:30 p.m. Moms Bible Study
April 3rd & 10th – 1:30 p.m. Z/ S Men’s Study
Each Monday @ 7:00p.m. Young Men’s Study
Each Tuesday Men’s Bible Study @6:45 meets
At Underwood Cafe