There were no voice recorders in the 1500s, so we don’t know whether Luther really said it or whether it is simply attributed to him, but here’s the quote so many love, “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” It is a hope-filled statement of defiance in the face of certain hopelessness. It would look foolish to the world. But… it is also an act of faith. That even amidst a ‘world going to pieces’ there will be a time when apples will come in handy.

May is one of my favorite months. My daughter Sarah was born this month; Mothers Day and my anniversary are this month. People are enjoying the outdoors, grilling, playing in their yards, walking, running and having graduation parties. Just a year ago, Perry and I had two weddings to attend and a graduation of a niece. We usually find time in May to camp for the first time in Bayfield, WI, with my brother and sister-in-law. This is usually a great month to connect with people and enjoy the outdoors.

April 12, 2020, those words were from my heart. April 22, 2020, and they still are heartfelt. I have been awed by so many people who are loving their way through this unprecedented time. I think of my grandparents often, members of what is called the Greatest Generation. I wonder what they would say and think and do. I think they would be afraid but would pull on their experiences of war and tell us we do this thing together, it is the only way. We pull together, we encourage each other through the fear and we sacrifice things we never considered sacrificing—like our ability to move freely around the world, our vanity, our wealth or our way of life.

INSIDE: Blood Drive, Friday Food Drives, OWLs Virtual Potlucks

Download here…

• Newsletter as PDF

To view the PDF files you may need the free Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. Want to view all this on your iPad or Kindle? Check out these tutorials…

Inside: 4:10 Prayers, Virtual Springfest, Blessing Graduates, Blood Drive

Inside: scholarship deadline extended, OWLs Virtual Potluck, HLC Food Pantry needs, and sidewalk chalk art wanted

Inside: Cinnamon roll Sunday THIS Sunday, Apr. 19, scholarship deadline extended, virtual Memory Cafes.

NOTE: Since we are not worshipping in-person, we are not printing paper bulletins, and in turn not creating a PDF of the publication. All current announcements are listed below.

NOTE: Since we are not worshipping in-person, we are not printing paper bulletins, and in turn not creating a PDF of the publication. All current announcements are listed within.

It hit me Wednesday night, March 11, as I was going to bed. I was ‘checking the scores’ of the night’s NBA basketball games when I saw the league had “suspended” the regular season because of COVID-19. I thought, “if a multi-billion dollar business thinks it’s in their best interest to shut it all down, then we’re all going to have to shut it all down. Even the church!”

It’s only been a couple of weeks, and I already miss all of you so much. My heart aches to be with you, to hear your voices and your laughter, to have our hugs and our conversations while enjoying coffee. I really miss our worshipping together, the singing, the prayers and our being together worshipping our God.

Many Lent small groups connected over the internet the last half of March using a group conferencing software called Zoom. The first week my small group connected, you could feel the relief and joy everyone in the group felt at seeing each other’s faces and hearing everyone’s voice. As you have probably figured out by now, being able to connect with others, even if not physically, is good for heart and soul…

INSIDE: Updated Holy Week Schedule, Message from Pastor Stanton and Pastor Karyn, Palm Sunday Prayer Walk, Faith Alive U: Holy Week… What Does it Mean?

Download here…

• Newsletter as PDF

NOTE: Since we are not worshipping in-person, we are not printing paper bulletins, and in turn not creating a PDF of the publication. All current announcements are listed below.

With Governor Evers issuing a “Safer at Home” order, we have now reached stage 3. This is the complete shutdown of the building except for an ‘essential’ staff person to ensure the proper function of the building, which is allowed through the order…

Announcements for March, 22, 2020

Today, our staff and leaders are reluctant to move us fully into stage 3 of our pandemic protocol which would completely lock down the building to all staff and groups. But we do believe we need to move into a sort of “Stage 2.5” where staff work from home, we end all church-related small group gatherings of any number, suspend funerals and weddings, and limit visitors to couriers who deliver packages…