We began our observance of the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010 with dinner and fellowship from 5:30-6:30 p.m. followed by our first Midweek worship service at 7:00 p.m.  We hope you will plan to join us each Wednesday for the remaining five weeks as we take refuge from the stress of schedules and responsibilities to spend some quiet time with our Lord.   As in past years, each service will begin with our traditional “hymn sing”.

In the March 2009 newsletter I wrote, “In coming months a  ‘VISION TEAM FOR WORSHIP and MUSIC’ will be formed.”  One year later, that team has been up and running for six months. Guided by ideas and feedback gleaned from a “Congregational Worship Survey” conducted in all three services on November 21/22, 2009, a  number of wonderful things are happening.  Members of this Vision Team along with musicians, worship leaders, and tech team members will be hosting the midweek Lenten meal on March 3, 2010.  Proceeds from this dinner will go toward the estimated $2,000 needed for  additional equipment that would provide the   capacity to use additional instruments in our worship services, including the option of building a “Praise Band” for the 11:00 service.  This Vision Team meets monthly to continue discussion of the survey feedback as well as the questions and challenges we received through the “Strategic Ministry Plan” process begun last August with Mr. Jon Lorenz.  Feel free to contact a member of this Vision Team if you have questions or suggestions.  Team members are:  Vicki Sorensen (Chairperson), Rich Schurman, Cindy Skye, Karen Johnson, Mary Hilgenkamp, Jeremy Gierke, and Eric Sorensen.  Barb Gierke serves as the staff contact person and Pastor Tim Gierke is the pastoral advisor.