Holy Week Worship Schedule - Agnus Dei Lutheran Church

Agnus Dei Lutheran Church
Gather in grace
Grow in faith
Go in service
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agnusdeilutheran.org
Lenten Midweek Worship Through March 16
Holden Evening Prayer, Wednesdays at 6:45 PM
Soup Supper Host Schedule
March 2 by Sign Up
March 9 Men’s Square and Proper es Team
March 16 Church Council
Faith Practices Lenten Small Group Study
Saturdays, through March 19, 10 to 11:30am, Childcare provided
Led by Pastor Seth, Pastor Stephanie and Kimberly Morgan
We invite you to join in study about prac ces important to us as Chris ans. Find a snippet here: bit.ly/1RPzx4Q The
study will include words from current religious thinkers and discussion together.
MAR 5 ∞ MONEY ∞ THE JOY OF SHARING ∞ SHANE CLAIBORNE
MAR 12 ∞ SERVICE ∞ THE NEEDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU ∞ ENUMA OKORO
MAR 19 ∞ COMMUNITY ∞ AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY ∞ DOUG PAGITT
Holy Week Worship Schedule
Palm/Passion Sunday, March 20
Worship with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11:00 AM
Educa on Hour is “All Together Now” in the Parish Hall, the topic is Palm Sunday and Holy Week
Maundy Thursday, March 24
Worship with Holy Communion at 7:00 PM
The first of the Triduum, a single worship service, spanning three days, in which we
celebrate Christ’s Passion. The service pauses in silence un l we return on...
Good Friday, March 25
At 7:00 PM we reconvene in silence and darkness for the Tenebrae service (Tenebrae
is La n for “darkness”) again, the service pauses in silence un l we return for...
The Vigil of Easter, March 26
7:00 PM, our three day worship concludes as we celebrate with a vigil fire,
welcoming new members into our community, and the first Holy Communion
of Easter.
Easter Sunday, March 27
The Fes val Service of the Resurrec on of our Lord
Worship with Holy Communion at 8:30 and 11:00 AM
From Our Pastors
At the end of February, I (Pastor Stephanie) spent two great days at Pacific Lutheran
University in Tacoma, WA. I was there for lectures and conversa ons about hope and
resilience.
It was a great two days and I heard a lot of great speakers. One panel I went to was
about hope and resilience in rela on to disaster relief around the world. On the panel
were representa ves from Oxfam, Catholic Relief Chari es, Lutheran World Relief, and a
medical unit. (Moment of Lutheran bragging - did you know that 1 out of every 50 people in this country are
served by one of the many Lutheran social service organiza ons? That's more than ANY other
denomina on). They had amazing stories of hope and resilience in their work. They have passion and skills that
help them equip people to thrive under extreme pressure. I was incredibly impressed by their work and their
stories.
On behalf of the congrega on, I asked them this ques on,
"Our congrega on is incredibly financially generous, especially to ELCA World Hunger. We also do the offering of
le ers with Bread for the World. I (and I feel others) are always looking for ways to do more. What is the next step
for us?"
Side Note: Did you know that out of the almost 10,000 ELCA congrega ons in this country, our (rela vely small)
congrega on is #17 in the rankings of amount of dollars given to ELCA World Hunger? NUMBER
SEVENTEEN!!! OUT OF ALMOST TEN THOUSAND!!! Amazing. God's Work, Our Hands! THANK YOU for your
generosity.
Here is what I heard from them that I thought was important for you to hear too!
- Keep sending cash - it is the MOST effec ve way to assist in disasters around the world. Suppor ng organiza ons
that are well equipped, well connect with local people, and efficient goes incredibly far. The doctor there from the
medical team spoke of people arriving in Hai to help a er the earthquake that became a burden on the local
popula on, because they came with no plan and no resources (food, water filtra on, etc) whereas experienced
teams come completely self-sufficient.
- Keep yourself informed and aware. Explore the websites of organiza ons doing important work to stay updated
on their greatest needs and the issues they are facing.
- Advocacy is VERY important, but can be in mida ng. Organiza ons like Oxfam and Bread for the World have
great resources to help you become more comfortable contac ng your representa ves.
- Don't forget to no ce the systemic issues that are a part of disaster situa ons. Things like racism, socioeconomic
class, government policies (or lack thereof), are intricately woven into many of the situa ons that call us to reach
out.
I wanted to share this feedback with you, because some mes giving money 'doesn't seem like enough'. It was a
great reminder to me that money is powerful, but we should also be discerning about who and where we give. So
let's stay informed, stay generous, and stay hopeful and resilient!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Stephanie and Pastor Seth
Please let Pastor Seth and/or Pastor Stephanie know if you are in need of pastoral care. If you
would like to be contacted by one of our pastors please call the office at 253-851-6222 or email
them at pastorstephanie@agnusdeilutheran.org or pastorseth@agnusdeilutheran.org. In an emergency, you can reach Pastor Seth @ 253-448-3481 or Pastor Stephanie @ 253-234-7752.
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Pastor’s Visits
We are thoroughly enjoying ge ng to know you all be er! We con nue to work through the directory, se ng up mes to
meet with each household, either in your home or here at church. So, if your last name starts with A - O, know that we will
be contac ng you soon to set something up.
The sole purpose of the visits is to get to know you be er!

What are the greatest joys in your lives?

What are your greatest challenges?

What do you love about Agnus Dei?

What are your dreams for the church?
We look forward to visi ng
Pastor Seth and Pastor Stephanie
From Your Church Council
February 2016 Council Mee ng Minutes Summary
Thanks to our faithful members, financially Agnus Dei is off to a great start! As of the end of January
we were at 97% of our budgeted income. We are op mis c that our strong giving trends will
con nue through the calendar year.
Stewardship: Mike Snowden of the Stewardship Commi ee reports that we have 74 pledges totaling $306,302, more
than $24,000 pledged than last year. More of our members are taking advantage of automa c electronic giving. If you
haven’t done so already, consider enrolling in this program, it’s easy for you and great for the church.
Building Security: Our alarm system is now armed and working well. Most of the me you’ll never no ce it because
someone has already arrived and disarmed it. But should you need to enter the church during “off hours” just pick up a
key and a temporary entry code – we will provide you with instruc ons on how to disarm and rearm the system.
Padded Folding Chairs: Thanks to Daryl Daugs for taking care of picking up our new padded folding chairs for use in the
fellowship hall.
New Child/Elder Care Safety Policy: The faith forma on and personnel commi ees are in the process of revising our
policies for individuals who work with children and the elderly to ensure their safety and security. Once the new policy is
complete, we will begin implemen ng them immediately.
April 3 Congrega onal Mee ng: The congrega on will be mee ng between services at 9:45 AM on April 3 to approve
the final budget for building renova ons. Construc on is scheduled to begin in June.
Yours in Christ,
Randy Spitzer
Council President
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Stewardship
by Mike Snowden, Stewardship Commi ee Chair
During the month of January the small group Bible study centered on stewardship as presented in Mark Allan
Powell’s, Giving to God. This is a book that had a profound effect on the stewardship commi ee. For many Chris ans the
word stewardship has become a fancy word for fundraising, but it is much more than that. This ar cle will talk about three
reasons why Chris ans make offerings to God: our offerings are part of our worship, they are an expression of our faith, and
they are on type of spiritual discipline.
What do you think of when you hear the word, ‘stewardship?’ For many, stewardship has become a fancy word for
fundraising. This misconcep on happens, in part, due to the once a year stewardship campaign that occurs in many
churches (including Agnus Dei). During this campaign members are asked to pledge their monetary support for the church
and its ministries. What is missing from this is the meaning of stewardship. We are told in many places in both the Old and
New Testaments that all things come from God (1 Chronicles 29:14, Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26, 2 Peter 1:2-4, Hebrews
2:10). Chris an stewardship is a way of life - we are caretakers of what God has given us, and then give back to God some of
what has been given.
Each Sunday part of the worship service at Agnus Dei (and almost all other churches) is devoted to the ‘offering of
our thes and gi s.’ Mark Allan Powell asks: “Do you experience this moment in the liturgy as an act of worship, or does it
just seem like an occasion for taking care of business?” In the Old Testament the only purpose for the offerings was to
worship the Lord. Why else would offerings such as bulls, rams, and lambs be burned and drink offerings poured out on the
ground as described in 1 Chronicles 29:21? “And on the next day they made sacrifices to the Lord and offered burnt offerings
to the Lord, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all of Israel.”
None of these could have been about business as usual. They weren’t used by anyone, they weren’t saved for future needs;
the only possible purpose of these offerings was to worship God.
As Chris ans, our offerings are a response to the faith we have been given by God that tells us who are. We are not
only God’s crea on (Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord is God, It is he that made us, and we are his”), but we have been
redeemed by God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “You are not your own, for you have been bought with a price.”). We are God’s
people, and God has given us everything to use as stewards. When we truly believe this, how does it change our thoughts
about giving to God? When this is our faith we should be able to joyfully give back to God as in the following liturgy: We
offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us-ourselves, our me, and our possessions… . No ce that this is far
more than just our money. We all have me, talents, etc., that can be given to God.
As I have go en older (and become more concerned with my health) I have worked on establishing a healthy
discipline of exercise. I can see the effect of daily exercise on my blood pressure and blood sugar. In the same way, Chris ans
can develop disciplines of daily prayer and Bible reading to strengthen their faith. Making regular offerings to God is also a
discipline that can strengthen our faith. Very simply, Jesus tells us in Ma hew 6:21 that, “Where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.” We need to remember that our ‘treasure’ is not always money. It is whatever we value-frequently
money, yes, but it can also be our me, our possessions, our family, our physical bodies, etc. What we do with our treasure
affects our hearts and who we are. Giving to God is a spiritual exercise that strengthens the faith of the Chris an.
Stewardship is far more than just a fancy word for fundraising; it is a way of life where Chris ans take care of what
has been given to us. As part of that we give back to God from the me, the talent, and the possessions that God has given
to us. Each Sunday, our offering should be a me to worship God. It is our faith in who we are as people of God that should
make giving a joyful experience. Our final reason for giving to God is as a spiritual discipline that will help to make our faith
in God stronger.
Sharing our Gi s Stewardship Update
Thank you to all, good and faithful stewards.
2016 General Fund Giving Report
General Fund:
Goal
Annual
$416,000
February
$34,667
Year to Date
$69,334
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February Attendance
February 7: 156
February 14: 140
February 21: 133
February 28: 164
Actual
35,068
69,903
Feb 10 Ash Weds: 76
Feb 17 Weds: 52
Feb 24 Weds: 59
% of Goal
101%
101%
2016 Designated Giving Report
February
Building Fund
$332
FISH (local food bank) $370
World Hunger
$1185
Food Backpacks 4 Kids $370
Organ purchase
$275
Year to Date
$1652
$645
$2685
$640
$1445
Building Fund & Above and Beyond Balance
$167,414.36
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Thanks from Family of God Lutheran in E. Bremerton.
Human Concerns members held a “Sort-a-thon” of all the clothes and other items you
donated in January. Items were packed in black bags and “stuffed” into Jim and Linda
Ribary’s SUV. At Family of God items have made a big addi on to the clothing bank that
clients can access weekly. Good job, super re-purposers!
Our con nuing theme for Lent is “faith prac ces”. During our Wednesday evening
worship services we focus each week on one aspect of the ‘Faith 5’ (Share, Read, Talk, Pray, and Bless), a faith
prac ce we are excited to share. The offerings for each week will correspond to the ‘Faith 5’ focus of the week.
Thank you for your offerings benefi ng the Lutheran World Relief Baby Kits on Week 1-Share, and Spark Story
bibles for ADLC preschoolers on Week 2-Read.
March 2, Week 3 Talk Offerings will be given to ‘Parents Circle-Families Forum’ in Israel/Pales ne. It is a
grassroots organiza on of bereaved Pales nians and Israelis. They use communica on and dialogue to promote
reconcilia on as an alterna ve to hatred and revenge (theparentscircle.com)
March 9, Week 4 Pray Offerings will be given to Associated Ministries of Pierce County, an interfaith
organiza on dedicated to building our community stronger through educa on
and advocacy. Associated Ministries conducts Moments of Blessing, a prayer
service and blessing on the site of nearly every homicide in Pierce County.
March 16, Week 5 Bless Please bring offerings of Toilet Paper Drive for FISH ,
our local food bank. The folks at FISH have asked us to repeat the amazingly
successful TP drive of last year. We will begin collec ng packages on March 16
and start building another TP wall in the narthex a er Easter. Can we build an
even bigger wall than last year?
Word from Lutheran World Relief:
The Great TP Wall of 2015
You may remember that our October contribu on to LWR included 77 school
kits, 2 fleece blankets, 10 quilts, 11 baby kits and 6 fabric kits. The quilts must be in high demand, as our quilts
were shipped to Serbia on November 5, 2015, in me for cold winter weather. We don’t know about the other
items, but will check back with LWR and keep you informed.
Speaking of quilts…….the Quilters are mee ng twice a month now….the third Monday and the fourth Tuesday at
1 PM in the Community Room. We welcome all volunteers. You don’t really quilt, just e square knots.
We are very excited and grateful for the support we have received from Thrivent to purchase ba ng. Kudos to
Sharon Ebelt and Thrivent Rep., Bob Hartston for making that happen.
If you have any extra thread or crochet co on the quilters would be happy to have it.
Coming in April…Spring and Peace Dinner. The Peace Lutheran Dinner is Monday, April 18. We will provide and
serve a lasagna dinner to the community around Peace Lutheran in Tacoma. Look for the sign up board in the
narthex soon. When Spring will arrive is an open ques on.
Don’t forget those labels and coupons for the Labels for Educa on Program
to benefit the Navajo Lutheran Mission School in Rock Point, AZ. We are
collec ng labels in the large glass bowl at the dona on sta on.
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
Loren Carlander
Audrey Clinton

Ken Hay and family


Richard Hermstad
Dick La mer

Barb Malich

Hal and Myra Snider


Jack S er
Rose VanderKlomp
Alene Wilkes

Jim Wilson


Faith Forma on for all ages Sundays at 9:45 AM.

Cross Genera onal Sunday School for adults and kids meets in the
Sanctuary for songs and stories and then moves to the Community
Room for hands-on ac vi es.

The Forum meets in the Parish Hall. The Forum in March includes
talks on two important Chris ans who through their lives and
wri ngs challenge us on how to live out our own faith. On March 6,
Marilyn Colyar will speak about Desmond Tutu, the re red Anglican
Bishop from South Africa who provided a strong voice against
apartheid during South Africa’s struggle for majority rule. On March
13th, Dan Dana will speak on the life and work of Dag Hammarskjöld,
Swedish economist and the 2nd Secretary General of the United
Na ons. Addi onally, we will touch on the characteris cs of
peacemakers, par cularly from the perspec ve of Chris an theology.
Upcoming in April, May, and June will be a study of Revela ons, an
ethics and environment series, a presenta on by Dan Wilson, former
pastor at Agnus Dei, and a series on sin by Dan Peterson. Stay tuned
for details, and please join us as much as you can for what should be
varied, informa ve, and challenging topics.

Confirma on for grades 6-8 meets in the Couch Room

All Together Now, our planned events for all groups to meet
together. The next All Together Now is on March 20, we will all meet
in the Parish Hall at 9:45, the topic is Palm Sunday.
Serving Our Country:



Jason Barelli, U.S. Navy
Ma Fistler, U.S.A.F. (Loren Carlander’s
Grandson)
Staton West, U.S. Army
Jim and Cathy Adair and family as they
mourn the death of Jim Adair Sr.
The family of Jeane e Carlander as they
mourn her death.
Ma and Pat Humlie and family as they
mourn the death of Ma ’s mother.
“God’s work. Our hands.”
Sunday
Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 11, when
congrega ons of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) will again have the opportunity
to par cipate in “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday
and celebrate who we are as the ELCA – one
church, freed in Christ to serve and love our
neighbor.
The 2016 dedicated day of service will also mark
the 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist a acks on the United States.
“The world can be a dangerous place. But there
are some who, when disaster strikes, run toward the danger. These are first responders, firefighters, police and EMTs,
who live out their bap smal voca on in service to their communi es in mes of intense need. They do God’s work with
their hands.” – ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton
“God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday service ac vi es offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic
convic ons as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of
life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.
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
This month our Faith Community Nurses are sharing
important informa on on the liver wri en by Marla
Lichtsinn, parish nurse in California.
The liver is a large organ on the right side of your upper
abdomen, above the stomach, gall bladder, and small intestines.
It is dark reddish in color, and weighs about three pounds. The
liver holds about one pint (13%) of the body’s blood supply at
any given moment. It is an amazing “filtration machine” that can
lose three-quarters of its cells before it stops functioning; and,
the liver is the only organ in the body that can regenerate itself.
Thank heavens for that! - You can live without some body parts,
but not without a liver!
Le t me t e ll you w hat I d o f or you. ..

I produce bile, which helps digest fats in the small
intestine during digestion, and carries away the waste
products left over from digestion of the foods you eat

I produce certain proteins that are necessary for
plasma (the liquid part of blood that carries blood cells)

I produce cholesterol (yes! Your body needs
some cholesterol, and I can make it for you!) and
special proteins to help carry fats through the body

I convert excess glucose (a form of sugar) into
glycogen for storage (I can later change the glycogen
back into glucose when you need it for energy... it’s like
a battery storing energy for future use)

I regulate blood levels of amino acids, the building
blocks of proteins used throughout your body

I process hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood
cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all cells of the
body (if you have too little hemoglobin, you are called
“anemic”) and I store iron necessary for oxygen transport



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I convert poisonous ammonia to urea (urea is the
final product of protein metabolism, and is excreted from
the body in urine... (Get it? Urea... urine....)
I clear toxins from the blood – drugs and other toxic
substances that would poison you if they were allowed to
build up in your body without being filtered out and
removed: these include alcohol (wine, beer, hard liquor),
drugs (prescribed and over-the-counter stuff as well as
the illegal ones), pesticides that haven’t been washed off
of foods you eat, chemicals and air pollution that you
inhale, etc.
I regulate blood clotting so that you stop bleeding
when you accidently cut yourself (without me, you’d bleed
to death!)
I resist infections by producing immune factors and
by filtering out the germs (like bacteria and viruses) that
are constantly finding their way into your body and your
bloodstream. Sometimes, I encounter a germ that likes to
infect me (hepatitis viruses, for instance) and if there are
enough of them to overwhelm me, I can become severely
inflamed (that’s what “hepatitis” means), and develop
scarring (“cirrhosis”), even liver cancer.
It ’ s w o r t h y o u r t i m e t o l e a r n w h a t y o u r l i v e r do e s f o r y o u ,
a n d t o l e a r n t o r e s pe c t i t a n d pr o t e c t i t . . .
How to be good to me...
watch those drugs ... all drugs are chemicals and when
you mix them up or take more than you should, you may
create something very toxic and permanently damaging
(those scars called cirrhosis are permanent...) Medicines are
sometimes necessary; but taking pills that aren’t necessary
are dangerous! Remember, you are making me work hard to
filter those chemicals out of your body!
be careful with aerosol sprays... remember I have to
detoxify what you breathe as well as what you eat and drink;
so, when you are cleaning with aerosol cleaners, make sure
the room is well ventilated, or wear a mask (that goes for
bug sprays, mildew sprays, paint sprays and all those other
chemicals, even perfumes and colognes)
watch what gets on your skin... those insecticides you
put on trees and shrubs not only kill bugs... they can kill the
liver cells that are trying to keep you healthy; so, cover your
skin with gloves, long sleeves, hat and mask every time
insecticides are in the air or if you’re handling them
don’t drown me in alcohol!... even one drink is too much
for some people, and you could be scarring me for life!
Se e your doct or if you not ice . . .
(these classic symptoms of liver disease)

nausea/vomiting


right upper abdominal pain
jaundice (yellow discoloration of skin and the whites of
your eyes)

fatigue/weakness/unintentional weight loss Progressive
liver disease, leading to cirrhosis, may add...


easy bruising
itchy skin (from bile salts left in bloodstream)


gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts)
ascites (accumulation of fluid in abdomen)

confusion/lethargy
I’m working hard to keep you strong and healthy... I can’t
and won’t tell you I’m in trouble until I’m near “the end of
my rope”, so take care of me... this message may be
the only warning I can give you!
For more information, go to
www.mayoclinic.com
www.webmd.com
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/liverdiseases.html
by Marla Lichtsinn, RN, MPA, FCN, Parish Nurse
PERMISSION GRANTED TO REPRINT!
As many of you know, Richard Hermstad suffered a serious brain injury last month while playing racquetball. Richard
is working very hard in rehab and has a lot of recovery yet to do. Prayers of healing are welcome!
This message was shared by Marilyn:
When our daughter Kirsten was going through a rough patch in her life in 2009, Richard wrote the following as part
of an e-mail to her. When she came from DC the week a er his accident, she s ll had it on her phone and read it to
him. So she ministered to her dad with his own words:
I’ve spent some me talking about “wilderness” in the last weeks. There are so many mes in the Bible that God
shows up "in the wilderness," to make new beginnings. Moses was there at the burning bush. Elijah tried to hide in
some mountain cave—where God found him and told him he was not alone and there was work to do. Jacob had his
head on a rock under the stars when "Jacob’s Ladder" showed up, and Jacob realizes that right there, in the smack
dab mess of the wilderness, is where God dwells. So may you bump into the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
right there in your own wilderness. That’s where John the Bap st was too. And of course, wilderness is not always a
place, but can also be a me. But wherever, whatever the wilderness, we are not alone. I know you know that, but
some mes it’s o.k. to have a reminder.
Be er do some work ge ng ready for Sunday. Many weeks I wander in some kind of wilderness or other working
toward a sermon. So, think of me walking alongside you these days.
Love,
Dad
We sincerely thank you, our family in Christ at Agnus Dei, for all the healing gi s of ministry you, like angels, are
providing to us these days, as we wander in this wilderness. Richard is making good progress and the journey is far
from over.
Love,
Marilyn Hermstad
 To soup supper contributors and the
set up and clean up helpers for our
soup suppers.
 To our worship leaders for
Wednesday Holden Evening Prayer.
 To our properties team who are
always available for the many fix it
projects around the church building.
Save the Date!
Little Lambs Preschool
Registration
Registration is now open to the
community for Little Lambs 2016-2017
School Year.
If you or anyone you know are interested
in learning more about our wonderful
preschool program, please call the church
office at 253-851-6222.
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Agnus Dei Lutheran Church Calendar
March 2016
Palm Sunday, March 20
Maundy Thurs, March 24
Good Friday, March 25
Easter Vigil, March 26
Easter Sunday March 27
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Repea ng Event Details
Weekly Events
Wednesdays, 9:30 am--Back Packs 4 Kids Volunteers
gather in the community room to sort food dona ons
and fill backpacks with weekend food for students in
need in our local schools. Contact Phyllis Brandt or Pat
Borgen
Wednesdays, 10:30 am Lec onary Study with our pastors in the Youth Room.
Wednesdays, 1:30-3:00--Prayer Shawl Ministry meets
in the ADLC Youth Room. All kni ers and crochet enthusiasts are welcome! Contact Gwen Daugs
Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal Contact Shari
Shull
Thursdays, 10:00 AM Church Staff Mee ng
Fridays, 10:00 am--Augsburg Bible Study in the community room. Contact Rose VanderKlomp
Sundays, Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 AM, followed by
fellowship in the Parish Hall
Sundays, Educa on Hour for all ages at 9:45 AM Adult
Forum meets in the Parish Hall, Confirma on meets in
the Youth Room, Cross Genera onal Sunday School
meets in the Sanctuary
Monthly Events:
First Saturday, 8:30 am--Men’s Square at the Sunset
Grille, Breakfast and Bible Study. Contact Steve Carlson
First Saturday, 8:30 am--Women’s Circle at the Sunset
Grille, Breakfast and Bible study. Kayaking or walking
for those who wish. Contact Sonja Miller
Third Tuesday, Gather Bible Study in the community
room. Social me begins at 1:00 pm followed by the
study found in the Gather Magazine. For more informa on contact either Marge Olmsted or Barb Deák
Third Thursday 12:00 (Jan through May), Dining for
Women The Gig Harbor Chapter of DFW meets monthly for a program and lunch benefi ng global projects
that empower women and girls. All women welcome!
Third Thursday, Theology on Tap, 5:30 PM discussion
group meets at the Marketplace Grille. Contact Lyle
Miller
Third Friday, 7:00 pm--Agnus Dei Book Group in the
community room. Contact Neal VanDerVoorn
Fourth Tuesday 1:00 Quil ng for Lutheran World Relief meet in the Community Room to e quilts. Previous experience not required!
March Celebrations:
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
1
Selma Sloth
2
Zoe Holmes
3
Alicia Carter
5
Ryan Page
7
Gail Campbell, John Barelli
8
Kathy Chakerian, Chuck Anderson
9
Tracy Clark
11
Ghita Lorenz
12
Joseph Duncan
14
Ehren Gossler
13
Ryan Leacy
15
Christopher Frazier, Kimberly Morgan,
Martha Johnson
17
Aidan Meacham
19
David Schinkel, Pastor Seth Novak
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Doug McCraw, Marian Borg
25
Dave Horton
26
James Adair, Jr.
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Cathy Adair, Don Heinz
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John Spadoni
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Pat Humlie
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES
3/78 Doug McDonnell and Kathy Fox
25/95 Mark and Leah Frazier
Save the Date:
Synod Educa onal Event
Saturday, May 21, 10am to 3:30pm
Silverdale Lutheran
(Open to All)
Congrega onal Leaders Workshops:
 Becoming Social Media Savvy
 Conceptualizing Worship
 Retooling Stewardship and Fundraising
 Strengthening Council Roles
 Treasurer and Financial Office Training
Congrega onal Mission Workshops
 Being Lutheran in 2016
 Engaging Adults
 Faith Forma on for the First Third of Life
 Reaching Beyond Race: building toward a
mul cultural church
 Who Really are Our Neighbors?
 Welcoming LGBT members in your pews
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Serving in Worship March 2016
Coffee Hour Hospitality for March Coordinator– Marilyn Colyar; Team– Clark, Meacham, HarrisonHe nger, Babare, Page
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Serve in Worship Schedule Coordinators: Altar Guild: Dianna Carlson; Altar Flowers: Dianna Carlson; Assis ng Ministers: Shari Shull; Communion Servers and Greeters: Ghita Lorenz; Lectors: Marilyn Colyar; Offering
Counters: Linda Ribary ; Ushers: Ghita Lorenz ; Sound System: Ma Humlie
You are invited:
To read this book and join in a discussion on Friday, March
18th at 7 at Agnus Dei.
This book was recently introduced at Adult Forum and
provides a forum for an understanding of the complexity of
personal relationships in the Middle East.
Brief Synopsis
The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of
the Middle East
By Sandy Tolan
The tale of a simple act of faith between two young people – one Israeli, one Palestinian – that
symbolizes the hope for peace in the Middle East.
Description: In 1967, not long after the Six-Day War, three young Arab men ventured into the
town of Ramle, in what is now Jewish Israel. They were cousins, on a pilgrimage to see their
childhood homes; their families had been driven out of Palestine nearly twenty years earlier.
One cousin had a door slammed in his face, and another found his old house had been
converted into a school. But the third, Bashir Al-Khairi, was met at the door by a young woman
called Dalia, who invited them in.
This poignant encounter is the starting point for a true story of a remarkable relationship
between two families, one Arab, one Jewish, amid the fraught modern history of the region. In
his childhood home, in the lemon tree his father planted in the backyard, Bashir sees
dispossession and occupation; Dalia, who arrived as an infant in 1948 with her family from
Bulgaria, sees hope for a people devastated by the Holocaust. Both are swept up in the fates of
their people, and their lives form a personal microcosm of more than half a century of IsraeliPalestinian history.
What began with a simple act of faith between two young people grew into a dialogue of four
decades that represents the region’s hope for peace and self-determination. The Lemon Tree is a
reminder of all that is at stake, and of all that is still possible.
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The monthly newsletter of
Agnus Dei Lutheran Church
10511 Peacock Hill Ave NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332
Submit newsletter items, subscription requests and address
changes to Editor/Administrative Assistant: Cindy Beals
253-851-6222 office@agnusdeilutheran.org
Church Staff
Pastor: Rev. Stephanie McCarthy
253-851-6222, pastorstephanie@agnusdeilutheran.org
Pastor: Rev. Seth Novak
253-851-6222, pastorseth@agnusdeilutheran.org
Minister of Music, Shari Shull, A.I.M.
253-851-6222, sharishull@agnusdeilutheran.org
Church Musician, Susan Luebeck
Administrative Assistant, Cindy Beals
253-851-6222, office@agnusdeilutheran.org
Council President, Randy Spitzer
Treasurer, Lance Colyar
Financial Secretary, Pat Humlie
Asst. Fin.Secretary, Rose VanderKlomp
Zoe Holmes, Faith Community Nurse
Gwen Daugs, Faith Community Nurse
Teresa McDonald, Faith Community Nurse
Jack Stier, Parish Sexton
Council
Jim Adair, John Barelli, Lynette Brentin, Marlene
Bridgforth, Steve Carlson, Lance Colyar, Don
Krump, Ann Rousseau, Randy Spitzer, Tim Wilson
Little Lambs Preschool
Director/Teacher Shannon Moore
Email:lambs@agnusdeilutheran.org
Board President Debbie Snowden
Financial Secretary Kimberly Morgan
Secretary Kristin Page, Ardith Johnson
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