Heritage Herald – March 2024 Edition
From Pastor’s Desk
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you”. – Isaiah 60:1
Lent can seem like a long, dark season. Ash Wednesday arrives while winter is in full swing. We leave the house in the morning in darkness and we return home in the dark. It’s easy to get the winter doldrums, the winter blues. As a penitential season, Lent fits in to that scene well. In Lent we contemplate all that our Savior suffered in order to redeem us. That contemplation brings sadness. Still, it is a very necessary part of our spiritual life and our ongoing pursuit of knowing our Savior better and growing in wisdom and knowledge of His Word. No one will ever fully appreciate the joy of Easter until and unless he walks with the Savior through the dark valley of Lent.
There is always light after darkness. Winter gives way to the longer, brighter days of spring. At the far end of a long tunnel the bright sun is shining. At the end of Lent the glorious light of Easter bursts upon our spiritual darkness. Jesus came to be the brightest of all light in this sin darkened world. “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” –John 1:4,5 The saints of old, before the arrival of Jesus, could only see the light of salvation as if peering down to the end of a long, dark tunnel. Yet God kept hope alive through his repeated promise of the coming Messiah. How blessed we are! Jesus has come. The bright light of grace has shattered the darkness. Of our generation Isaiah wrote, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.”
Every life will have its dark moments. But through them all we have the light of Christ in our hearts. The darkness is only momentary for the glory of the Lord rises upon us. It is hard to imagine the darkness of a world without Christ, but we live in a world with Christ. He still shines, he still forgives, he still saves, he still calls lost souls heavenward.
-Pastor Anderson
The Matins Canticle
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Treasurer Update
FY24 February Financial Summary
February Financial Summary
Council Updates
Director Reports
In reach – Game night will be February 25. The men will be serving Easter brunch. Fiesta Night will be May 5.
Spiritual Oversight – The Board thanked Pastor Merseth for his pastoral fill-in duties. The Elders also reviewed stipends for choir director and organ playing. Steve Cook will be the new director.
School Board –The Open House was a success with nearly all families attending also registering. There are currently 7 Kindergarten students registered for this fall. There are some licensing logistics to review with age discrepancy policies for lunch and recess with the grade expansion. Science Night is scheduled for March 7th 6-7:30. Volunteers will be needed.
Outreach – Lyle met with the school board for purposes of outreach.
Properties – The parking lot lights have been ordered. The teachers are requesting that the Kindergarten classroom be painted before next year. A volunteer crew will be assembled during spring break. A motion to approve Jesse’s company to paint fellowship hall and entryway was approved unanimously (Jesse/Micah). Anyone who would like to be on a decorating committee will be asked to join the properties board in an effort to improve communication.
Treasurer – none
Chairman– We are getting insurance quotes.
TLC/Office– Lenten suppers will begin this week. We will be getting a new printer/copier contract.
Heritage Lutheran School Grades K-2 Update
At the call meeting yesterday, the voters of Heritage extended a Divine Call to Miss MaKenna Adsit to teach preschool at Heritage. She is currently serving as lead preschool 5 teacher at Cornerstone Early Learning Center in Hugo, a ministry of Christ Lutheran Church in North St Paul. Please pray for her as she deliberates her new call to Heritage as well as her current position at Cornerstone. May the Lord guide her to what is best for his Kingdom.
In his service,
Dave Paulsen, Congregational President
John LaSalle, School Board Co-Director
Dusty Balliet, School Board Co-Director
TLC – The Ladies’ Connection
The Ladies’ Connection will meet on Saturday, April 6th, at 10:30 a.m.
Presidential Primary Voting at Heritage
Heritage is a new voting location for one of the Apple Valley Precincts. Voting will take place on Tuesday, March 5th from 7:00 am – 8:00 pm in the narthex. This date will be the first of three dates for voting this year with the final date being the November election.
Member Photo Directory
The photo directory is in the process of being updated. If you have a recent picture that you would like us to use, please send it to Katie & Kevin Henricks – 2k2nhenricks@charter.net
Pack the Pews – Food Shelf Month
We will be collecting food this month for 360 Communities for the Minnesota Food Share March Campaign. There is a table set up in the narthex if you would like to donate. During the 5 weeks of the food drive, there are different needs that are being highlighted – but any donations are appreciated:
Week 1 – Feb. 26-March 3 – The Great Food Shelf Bake Off
Week 2 – March 4-10 – Protein power
Week 3 – March 11-17 – Gather the Grains
Week 4 – March 18-24 – Juice it Up
Week 5 – March 25-31 – Can-U-Copia
Adult Bible Study Opportunities
Women’s Bible Study.
The Monday night Bible class meets in person on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Heritage fellowship hall. We are studying of Ecclesiastes. Contact Ruth B. with questions or to info on joining virtually.
Men’s Bible Study
The Men’s Thursday Morning Bible Class is studying 1 Kings and meets at church on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
Members Helping Members
Companions in Prayer
My Prayer Story
For some reason this month I have had difficulty finding a topic to share. It’s not that there aren’t hundreds of possible topics, but I just can’t focus on one. I have a file of ideas that I refer to that come from a variety of sources and I am going to share some of these random words that caught my attention and hope they give you words to ponder, words of comfort and words of praise to God our Father.
- “Even though sinners like us mess things up in spite of our belief that we are making things better, God still does all things well. He still forgives. He still saves. He still promises to listen to our pleas, to hear our prayers, and to help us in our needs. He even helps us with our needs that we didn’t realize we had because we were too arrogant or stubborn to listen to him.” (Meditations 9/17/21)
- “Although you can see nothing in front of you, He will get you through the fog and enable you to arrive home safely.” (Mediations 12/31/20)
- “Prayer is your privilege and a special grace given to you be God. (Meditations 7/30/22)
- “While we wait for his return, we have access to many promises Jesus has made including: I am always with you; I will never leave you or forsake you; I will provide for al your needs; I will make all things work out for for your good; Your loved ones who’ve died in faith, they are safe with me; I have a place in heaven waiting for you.” (Meditations 6/4/22)
Congregation Prayer Suggestions:
Intercessory prayer – prayers on the behalf of others – are a part of a Christian’s life. If you have a request for Companions in Prayer at Heritage to pray for you or someone you know, please contact Alice Schmidt, Pastor Anderson or the Office.
Each of you have a list of those you pray for, but consider adding these to it.
- Pray for the Heritage family members who are facing serious adversity, especially those facing critical illness or loss.
- A call has been placed to Miss MaKenna Adsit to teach preschool at Heritage. She is currently serving as lead preschool 5 teacher at Cornerstone Early Learning Center in Hugo, a ministry of Christ Lutheran Church in North St Paul. Please pray for her as she deliberates her new call to Heritage as well as her current position at Cornerstone. May the Lord guide her to what is best for His Kingdom.
- For all 1st Responders who daily risk injury or even death as they carry out their duties. Especially give comfort to the families and friends of those who recently died in Burnsville.
Serving in March
March Greeters April Greeters
3/3 – T. Oachs 4/7 – Dennis & Ruth Braun
3/10 – Henkemeyer 4/14 – Chapman
3/17 – Salava 4/21 – Henricks
3/24 – A. Schmidt 4/28 – Nikoley
3/31 – Siewert
Greeter Guidelines
To provide a consistent, friendly, and sincere greeting every Sunday to all members and visitors to Heritage Lutheran Church, guidelines have been developed to help accomplish that goal. Following are some of those guidelines:
- Please mark your calendar for the date you are assigned. The date assigned will be published in the Heritage Newsletter for a two-month period.
- Please be ready to greet no less than 20 minutes before each service for which you have been assigned.
- As you greet visitors, please encourage them to sign our guest book. If there are two people greeting, one of you could escort them to the guest book while the other continues to greet. Ideally you should try to introduce them to another member standing nearby. Sometimes this is difficult to do as the service is starting. In that case, try to chat with them after the service and introduce them to other members after the service.
- Stay at the door until the service is underway; visitors quite often show up late and really need extra help in getting bulletins and a place to sit. Feel free to involve the ushers as needed.
- If you have a chance, get their contact information from the guest book or by asking them for it, and then follow up with a thank you text, email, or note sent to them thanking them for visiting our church. If you inform the church office, they could help with this task.
- If you are unable to greet at both services, please ask someone to fill in for you. If you find out at the last minute, text the following who are willing to help – Remus 651-800-5827, Braun 612-237-1064, Fahning 952-200-2870, Eisenbeis 651-230-4423, Barb Oachs 952-465-5272
- If you have a conflict with the date you were assigned, please contact someone from your month or the next month and trade with them. This helps those doing the scheduling with juggling all the rescheduling. Thank You!
March Ushers & Acolytes
3/3 – 8:00 – Chris Nikoley, Jef Sutton/Cooper Sickmann
10:30 – Steve Cook, Dan Schwanz/Josiah Mears
3/6 – (Wednesday) Kevin & Nicholas Henricks/Ushers
3/10 – 8:00 – Bruce & Nathaniel Reedstrom/Ushers
10:30 – Jesse & Fischer Chapman/Ushers
3/13 – (Wednesday) – Micah Steward, Dave Paulsen/Ushers
3/17 – 8:00 – Tim Oachs, Dave Paulsen/Jaycen Steward
10:30 – Josh Mears, Phil Holz/Josiah Mears
3/20 – (Wednesday) – Tim Oachs, Dan Schwanz
3/24 – 8:00 – Jacob Calhoun, Craig Remus/Ushers
10:30 – Oliver Cook, Elijah Cook/Ushers
3/28 – (Maundy Thursday) – Steve Cook, Chris Nikoley/Josiah Mears
3/29 – (Good Friday) – Dave Paulsen, Larry Sickmann/Cooper Sickmann
3/31 – 8:00 – Micah Steward, Howard Sickmann/Jaycen Steward
10:30 – Jesse Chapman, Dan Schwanz/Cooper Sickmann
March Recording
3/3 – Stan Miller
3/6 – Martin Paulsen
3/10 – Libby Paulsen
3/13 – Stan Miller
3/17 – Martin Paulsen
3/20 – Libby Paulsen
3/24 – Stan Miller
3/28 – Libby Paulsen
3/29 – Martin Paulsen
3/31 – Stan Miller
March Altar Guild
Shirley Schwanz/Hannah Anderson
March Fellowship
3/3 – Eisenbeis
3/10 – Open
3/17 – Open
3/24 – Open
3/31 – Easter Breakfast (Served by the men of the congregation)
March Birthdays
4 Michelle Chapman
5 Sarah Robb
8 Chan Smith
8 Adam Bobka
10 Shirley Schwanz
12 Jared Bosak
14 Jack LaSalle
19 Logan Bosak
19 Jeanne Braun
21 Alice Estes
22 Robert Auren
26 Darlene Lansing
26 Jesse Smith