Atonem ent V isitor - Atonement Lutheran Church

June/July
2016
Volume 12, Issue 3
Upcoming Summer Events!
Mark Your Calendars!
New Summer Schedule Begins—June 3rd
Carmel Roll Ride—June 11th
Atonement Visitor
Vacation Bible School—June 13th
Cribbage Tournament Registration—June 15th
Parkwood Movie Night—June 21st
Brat Sale (Coborns/Centennial Plaza)—June 24-25
Parkwood Movie Night—July 19th
Minnesota Twins Lutheran Night—July 27th
Celebration for Deb Krogstad—July 31st
Day Camp—August 1-4
Parkwood Movie Night—August 16th
Inside this Issue:
Page
From Pastor Erica/Council/Deb Krogstad
2
Pastor Duane
3
Mission
4
Adult Ministry/Fellowship
5
Notices /Events /Noteworthy Facts
6
Service and Growth/Thank You
7
Atonement’s Mission Statement
“Reaching Up, Reaching Out”
Reaching Up To God: We build personal
relationships with God through worship,
prayer, Bible study and Christian fellowship.
Reaching Out To Others: God’s love leads
us to share the message of Jesus Christ with
others through our love, our lives and our
gifts in our faith community and the world.
From Council President
At the annual congregational meeting in January, the
congregation voted to call a full-time Associate Pastor
to serve Atonement. Part of the Associate Pastor’s
duties will include faith formation from birth to senior
adults and will relate to the Children, Youth, Adult and
Fellowship Committees. The new pastor will also
share preaching, worship leadership, teaching, visitation and pastoral care with Pastor Erica.
Most of the responsibilities of our current Youth Minister, Deb Krogstad, will become part of the new
Associate Pastor’s role. The responsibilities that are
not included in the Associate Pastor's role will be
assumed by lay leaders in collaboration with the
Children, Youth and Adult Ministry Committees.
A small group from the Staff Support Committee,
Executive Committee and Pastor Erica have been
working with Deb to provide support in this transition.
Below is the letter we received from Deb Krogstad:
May 23, 2016
Dear Atonement Family,
It is with much sadness and prayerful discernment that
I have decided to retire from ministry at Atonement
Lutheran Church. After twenty-five plus years it will be
hard to say good bye but I move on filled with joy and
love from this congregation.
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the
LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give
you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for all the
encouragement and support I have received in all
areas of ministry that I have served…administration
and youth and family. Many people have made my
work easier with their generosity of time and talents.
Atonement has given me the opportunity to grow in
faith. After I leave you will not be forgotten but in
order for new leadership to be successful I will not be
available to minister to you. I am confident that
Atonement Lutheran Church will continue to be a great
ministry presence in the St Cloud community.
On Sunday July 31st we will honor Deb for her invaluable
service and dedication to Atonement. Please plan to join
us as we thank and honor Deb for her 25+ years of service.
Don Stello
Congregation President
From Pastor Erica
Take Your Pastor to Work Days
At one of my former congregations, I used to visit with folks
in their work places and got to know a lot about what they
did outside of church stuff. I saw cool assembly lines,
learned about manufacturing, education, had good lunches
and cool conversation.
Starting this summer, consider a “Take Your Pastor to
Work Day”. Of course, not the whole day. Take me on a
tour of your workplace, show me your “digs” and teach me
about what you do for work…then let’s have lunch or
coffee at one of your favorite spots.
If you’re a retiree, invite me to join you in your
retirement work. We can bowl, hit a few golf balls, go for a
bike ride or pontoon ride, piece a quilt or play a game of
cribbage. I look forward to spending time with you!
Just invite me! I’ll have sign-up sheets available at the
church and the Weekend Visitor.
Looking forward to spending time with you!
In gratitude,
Mark Your Calendars!
SUMMER SCHEDULE
June—August
Summer Worship
Sundays at 9:30 AM
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly
praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of
you. Philippians 1:3-4
Please note we will have ONE weekend service
this summer.
I have been truly blessed by the people of Atonement!
Church Office Hours:
In Christ,
Deborah A. Krogstad
June/July Atonement Visitor
Monday — Thursday
8:30AM—3:30 PM
Friday closed.
Regular worship times and office hours will
resume, September 3rd.
Page 2
From Our Associate Pastor
Interim Pastor Final Report
(Church Council - April 28, 2016)
These are a few of my pastoral impressions of
Atonement, as an "outsider" who has had the privilege
to work as an "insider" as your interim pastor for the
past year. My observations come with also having
been pastor for eight other congregations over a
40-year career.
1. Atonement has devout worshippers. One can sense
it in the singing, the liturgy, the listening to the Word
and preaching, and in your demeanor in which you
receive Communion.
5. Also, in occasional conversation, someone will
express with melancholy that Atonement is just a
"remnant" of it's past. I reject that summary.
Atonement still has a "devoted majority". Yes, there is
a disgruntled fraction and an absent or lost minority.
But, you have a strong nucleus of active members. I
encourage you to keep moving beyond the divisions
with a determination that "we are in it together!"
Leaders, listen to all, but move ahead with a
consensus "for the common good." And remember, as
a congregation you cannot be or do everything for
everyone.
2. Atonement does quality service work in the
community. This includes various down-to-earth care
for people, such as Church-of-the-month partnership,
food pantry, ELCA world mission and world relief
partnership. Atonement also offers its’ building for
community service like blood mobile, pre-school,
NA/AA, and Laotian Bible Study, etc.
6. "Pastoral" care for your pastors: Atonement is
moving into some good years. However, a key
component is that you take care of your pastors, which
will tend toward longer tenure and avoiding constant
transitions. Several things can help. The first is to have
adequate pastoral staff. Atonement leadership has
made a major step forward by re-establishing a
3. Atonement has quality pastoral leadership. I have
2-fulltime-pastor system so that they can have the time
appreciated Pastor Erica's positive energy. At the same and energy both to lead and to work alongside
time she is bold enough to speak what needs to be
members in mission and service.
said, within the appropriate channels, with good timing,
with respect, and with purpose. Also, she offers a
The second consideration deals with your pastors' time
genuine partnership in leadership with Church
off and time away from their work. Working every
Council and other staff members.
weekend is a burden, since we live in a culture that
"schedules for the weekends." (When is the last time
4. Atonement still has "residue" of a shaky decade. In
you attended a family or friend's wedding, anniversary,
general conversation, one can sense that there has
baptism, or reunion celebration on a Thursday?) A
been division into three distinct groups: the 9:00 group Saturday evening service adds to the burden; however,
of the vast majority, the 11:00 band style followers, and having two full time pastors tremendously helps lessen
then the Saturday 5:30. A distinct musical divide was
that burden. Let me suggest two things for you to
also part of this dynamic that has been
consider (if you want your pastors to be refreshed for a
inconvenient for any pastor to frame out a worship
decade or more of service to you):
service focused on the Word. However, having said
First, establish a Pastoral Sabbatical policy according
that, I have seen even within this year a greater
to Synod Guidelines. I often wonder that if I would
partnership, cooperation, and communication among
have done this, maybe I might still be doing full time
the music leaders, seeking the good of the "Body"... a ministry. Second, I encourage you to offer your pastors
positive chord than can grow into greater harmony in
four "Release Weekends" each year. A release
worship and good will. Along with these divisions, there weekend is a personal weekend off while the other
are still "scars" (not really "open wounds") of an
pastor covers the Sabbath duties. At no extra cost to
instable and disruptive decade of transitions, some
the congregation, this is a most valuable benefit that
turmoil, and ELCA issues. "In Christ, you are a new
honors your pastor's family time and goes a long way
creation. The old has past away; the new has come." It in keeping your pastors refreshed.
was what is was. It is what it is. It will become what you
will make of it.
It has been a privilege to serve Atonement. God will
continue to work His Kingdom in you and through you.
Pastor Duane Semmler
June/July Atonement Visitor
Page 3
Mission
MINISTRY OF THE MONTH
JUNE
CENTRAL MN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Central Minnesota Habitat for
Humanity (CMHFH) is a non-profit
Christian organization with the
mission of gathering communities
to transform lives through affordable homeownership.
CMHFH works in partnership with low-income families
and community volunteers to build houses, creating
decent and affordable shelter.
CMHFH was founded in 1989. In the last 26 years,
CMHFH has built or renovated 86 homes, impacting the
lives of more than 430 people; 2/3 of whom are
children! CMHFH has also touched the lives of families
in other countries. CMHFH’s tithing program has helped
build 94 homes in Costa Rica, Paraguay, El Salvador
and Nicaragua.
This summer, Atonement will be partnering with
CMHFH on the Thrivent Builds/Apostle Build project,
which is located at 217-12th Avenue North, in St. Cloud.
The partner “family” is Jessy Rychart. He is working
hard on the 200 hours of sweat equity and 15 hours of
homeowner education classes that he is required to
complete before purchasing his home.
If you are interested in volunteering on the construction
site or providing lunch for Atonement volunteers, please
contact Nancy Sturlaugson (320-259-6451) or Loretta
Anderson (320-492-3153).
MINISTRY OF THE MONTH
JULY
PLACE OF HOPE
Place of Hope has been helping
people in need in the Saint Cloud
area since 1997. They serve
residents living in Benton, Crow Wing, Morrison,
Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties. There are no
fees charged for those needing services.
What we do with your help:
 Church of the Week Ministry of Hospitality
 Shelter for those experiencing homelessness
 Meals for Hope—Providing a community meal 365
days a year
 Living Hope Residential Center
 Sober Supportive Programs
 Hope for Veterans
 DOC Work Release
 Life Skills ~ Discipleship Programs
 H.O.P.E. on Ninth Apartments
 Kids Hope Outreach—Assuring hungry children are
fed and providing Bible fun, games, and a safe,
 secure place to belong, especially for children of
 incarcerated parents.
 Jail and Prison Outreaches—Bringing Recovering
Hope
 Program to St. Cloud Correctional, Stearns, and
Benton County Jails
You can support the ministries of the month by using the envelopes included in the Visitor.
Recent Pastoral Acts
Baptism
Funerals
Andric Jay McClanahan
April 9, 2016
Edward Peterson
April 4, 2016
Lena Ray Amundsen
April 16, 2016
Hazel Carr
April 8, 2016
STAFF UPDATE
We welcome April Carlson as our new
Office Administrator. She will continue to
coordinate and support the day-to-day
office needs and assist our members and
committees. April and her husband, John,
live in St. Augusta. April enjoys family time
with their four children, reading and
gardening.
Matthew Ryan Jelliff
April 30, 2016
June/July Atonement Visitor
Page 4
Adult Ministry / Fellowship
Coffee with the Council
June 3rd at 10:30 AM in the Atonement
Fellowship Hall. In order to keep members
of Atonement informed, council members
will be available to answer questions or
concerns.
Take me Out to the Ballgame
Twins 2016 Lutheran Night –
Wednesday July 27, 7:30 p.m.,
Twins vs. Atlanta Braves.
20 Tickets reserved. Group rate
$23/person. Tickets must be paid 21 days in
advance.
Please sign up sheet on board outside office.
Deadline is June15. Checks made out to Atonement
Lutheran Church with memo to Twins Game.
Submit checks to office. Questions? Contact
Stephanie Hensel 320-248-3441.
Girls Night Out
June 16th at 5:30 pm at Anton’s in Waite Park
July 21st at 5:30 pm at Molitor’s Quarry Grill in Sauk
Rapids
All are welcome to come and enjoy good
fellowship.
To RSVP, for more information, or rides,
please call Delores at 320-252-6577.
Atonement Book Club
The Atonement Book Club
meets at 5:30 PM on the third
Monday of every month.
June : Breaking Out of Bedlam by Leslie
Larson— Meeting at Pat Buttweiler’s home
July: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
— Meeting at Water’s Edge
For more information about the Atonement
Book Club call Debbie at 320-203-7643.
First Ever Atonement Cribbage
Tournament
Fifteen Two…Fifteen Four…Let’s spend the
summer playing cribbage together.
Here’s out it works…
Registration
Tournament registration sheets will be
available at church. Watch the Weekend
Visitor for more information. Register by June
15th to reserve your place in the bracket.
Schedule of Play
Brackets will come out the week of June 27th
and tournament play will begin the week of
July 3rd! You’ll need schedule a time with your
opponent and play sometime in the designated
week. You can play at each other’s house, the
coffee shop, or at church…whatever works
best for the 2 players.
Play
Play 3 games of cribbage, enjoy some laughs
and whoever wins 2 out of 3 games will
advance in the winner bracket. The “loser” will
advance too for another opportunity.
Attention Atonement Family and Friends! The
Fellowship Committee would like to invite you to get on
your bike and participate in the upcoming local “Carmel
Roll Ride”
Prizes
st
nd
rd
Where: Lake Wobegon Trail-Beginning in Albany, MN Awarded for 1 , 2 and 3 place!
When: Saturday, June 11
Time: 8am-10am Registration and check-in
For more information check out:
www.carmelrollride.com
June/July Atonement Visitor
Contact Dave Algoe at 320-492-8589 or
grayghost48@gmail.com or Pastor Erica at
320-252-6203 or
ericak@atonementlutheran.org for more
information.
Page 5
Notices / Events / Noteworthy Facts
Adventurer 55+ with Salem
The Adventurer 55+ program has been cancelled. If
anything changes, we will announce in future
newsletters.
Parkwood Movie Night
The Third Tuesday of each month
is movie night for Atonement members.
Meet at 5 for dinner before a movie.
Or see a movie and stay for fellowship.
Sign up sheets on bulletin board
each month.
Atonement Preschool Registration
If you are still interested in registering your child for
preschool. Please check out
www.atonementlutheran.org for more information
and to access registration forms. If you have
questions, call Kathy Young at 320-224-6366 or
email atonementprschool@gmail.com. Thanks for
considering our preschool for your child!
AARP Smart Driver Classes
The 4-hour refresher course will be
offered from 12:30 pm—4:30 pm on Thursday, June
16th and Thursday, August 18. The cost for AARP
members is $17.00, and non-members $22.00. This
includes materials, coffee, and snacks. To register,
call the church office at 320-252-6203 or Debbie at
320-203-7643.
Visitor Schedule
Reminder that the Visitor is published every
other month.
August/September
October/November
December/January
February/March
June/July Atonement Visitor
Deadline is July 15
Deadline is September 15
Deadline is November 15
Deadline is January 15
The quilters from Women of
Atonement are gathering items to
assemble Baby Care Kits for Lutheran
World Relief. We need the following
items donated: sizes for 6-24 months.
Lightweight t-shirts (NOT Onesies),
Long or short gowns/sleepers (without feet), cloth
diapers (flat fold preferred), jackets, sweaters or
sweatshirts with hood or hat, socks, dark colored
hand towels, diaper pins/large safety pins, bath
size bars of gentle soap, 4-4.5 oz. each (in the
original wrapper).
The quilters from Women of
Atonement are gathering items to
assemble School Kits for Lutheran
World Relief. If you would like to
donate any of the following items for
this project please mark them for this project and
drop them at the church office beginning July 1
through August 7th.
Each Kit will contain the
following:
4 – 70 sheet 8”X10” spiral bound notebooks,
wide or college ruled paper
1-- ruler with 30-cm marking on at least one
side
1-- pencil sharpener
1-- blunt, safety scissors
5 -- #2 pencils with eraser included
5 -- black or blue ink pens, not gels pens
1-- box crayons, 16 or 24 count
1-- 2 ½ inch eraser
Page 6
Service & Growth/Thank You
Looking for Blood Donors
This is a BIG request for
Atonement members to donate
blood to the Red Cross
Bloodmobile on June 7th and
July 5th from 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm
at Atonement. Just one generous gift of blood can
help save several lives. Call LouAnn Garner at
320-252-1555 for an appointment. Walk-ins are
welcome.
Needs for Place
of Hope:
Diapers, wipes, toilet paper, paper towels,
tooth brushes, tooth paste, shampoo,
conditioner, razors (for men and women),
deodorant, hand lotion, facial tissues. Please
put in donation center in the Fellowship Hall,
southwest side.
Looking for a Few Friendly Visitors!
Communion Servers for the Homebound
Items needed by Food
Shelf:
Jams and jellies, toilet paper,
facial tissues, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner,
tooth brushes, tooth paste, feminine products,
deodorant, incontinence supplies, razors (men and
women), baby diapers, baby shampoo, wipe
towels. Please put in the grocery cart..
Do you have any medical equipment in your
home that is not being used?
Global Health Ministries (GHM) can use them.
Items such as crutches, boots from foot problems,
arm slings, band aids, CPAP machines, and much
more. If you have something and you are not sure
they can use it call GHM at 763-586-9590 or
email office@ghm.org. Bring the donations to the
donation center in the Fellowship Hall on the
southwest side.
We have an awesome team of Friendly
Visitors who take communion to our
shut-in member and we’re looking for a few
more people to join the team. The people who
cannot get to worship on regular basis
deeply appreciate when a minister (a pastor or
lay person) from Atonement stops for a visit.
Many of our homebound folks miss
communion and connection with their church
when they only receive Holy Communion once
a month or sometimes every other month.
Friendly Visitors are communion servers who
give our homebound members an
opportunity to receive communion more often
and help keep them in the rhythm of weekly
worship life. Friendly Visitors serve 1-2 times
per month. If you are interested in being a part
of this ministry, please contact me at
ericak@atonementlutheran.org.
Thank Yous
Taste of Atonement, Celebrate our Diversity
Thank you to everyone who participated in this delightful fellowship opportunity! It is always a joyous
occasion when people and food come together. We had Russian, Dutch, Swedish, Japanese, Polish, Mexican,
Norwegian, Laotian, Asian, and more, it was delicious! Without the help of people to set up, and clean up it
would not be possible! You know who you are and without you this wouldn’t have happened! Of course,
those that shared the food to nourish us and blessed us, we thank you in many ways.
Thank you, Gracias, Merci, Grazie, Danke sehr, Shu Khun Mak Kha, Takk skal du ha, & Spasiba
June/July Atonement Visitor
Page 7
Atonement Lutheran Church
1144 29th Avenue North
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
St. Cloud, Minnesota
Return Service Requested
Permit No. 382
Atonement Lutheran Executive Committee & Staff
1144 29th Avenue North, St. Cloud, MN 56303
Church Office: (320)-252-6203
Office Hours
Monday—Thursday 8:30—3:30...Friday CLOSED
www.atonementlutheran.org
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Don Stello
Debbie Grzybowski
Sue Schmidt
Jon-Scott Johnson
donstello@cloudnet.com
nyla4@msn.com
tsjksch@cloudnet.com
prettygoodlutheran@gmail.com
Lead Pastor
Interim Associate Pastor
Youth Minister
Children’s Ministry
Office Administrator
Erica Kennedy
Duane Semmler
Deb Krogstad
Sheila Molde
April Carlson
ericak@atonementlutheran.org
duanes@atonementlutheran.org
debk@atonementlutheran.org
sheilam@atonementlutheran.org
office@atonementlutheran.org
Adult Choir Director
Director of Music/Organist
Susan Cogdill
Marcia Handahl
scogdill@csbsju.edu
mhandahl@atonementlutheran.org
Celebration Worship
Diane WisniewskiGrzybowski
geewiz11kids@charter.net
Jullian Euteneuer
music55@charter.net
Al Marquardt
Kathy Young
abmarquardt756@gmail.com
atonementpreschool@gmail.com
Assistant Director of Music
Ministries/Children’s Music
Handbell Choir Director
Preschool Director
Office Hours Monday—Thursday 8:30—3:30 Friday CLOSED
Call the church office (320-252-6203) to reach the pastor on call.
Phone Ext. 14
Phone Ext. 12
Phone Ext. 11
Phone Ext. 15
Phone Ext. 10
Phone Ext. 18