St.

Petri Evangelical Lutheran Church

804 Grand Avenue
Story City, Iowa 50248-1417

You can also view the newsletter online at www.stpetrilutheran.weebly.com

The St. Petri Messenger

A publication of St. Petri Evangelical Lutheran Church

St. Petri Worship Schedule

9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Coffee/Fellowship

St. Petri Church Office Hours

Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
except, Wednesday afternoon
Church Office Phone: (515) 733-4623
Email address: stpetrilutheran@gmail.com

Pastor – Rev. Tim Malek

Youth Director – Megan Gustafson
Missionaries– Patrick & Jacqueline Bencke, Japan
Parish/Financial Secretary – Veronica Wright
Custodian – Connie Valentine

JULY 2022
 ST. PETRI LUTHERAN CHURCH, STORY CITY, IA
JULY 2022
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Every Sunday AM 1 2
(unless noted) Pastor’s Day Off
9:30a Worship Service
10:30a Coffee//Fellowship

3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Paula Van Brocklin Independence 9a-3p Bethany 2p Story Time Pastor’s Day Off 10a-noon St. Petri
8a Men’s Bible
Farewell – cake served in Day Quilters Picnic at Bergen serves at Loaves &
Study 10a-11:30a Fishes food pantry
fellowship hall
Office closed 12p Pastor Text Creative Arts
Study Camp at Bergen
7:30pm Church Bonfire
at St. Petri
10 Communion 11 12 13 14 15 16
10:30a Staff mtg. 9a Bethany 2p Story Time 8a Men’s Bible Pastor’s Day Off 9am Women’s
Picnic at Bergen Study Weekend Bible Study
Quilters at McDonalds
6p Church Picnic
12p Pastor Text at Grace UMC 2p WELCA Circle 1:00pm Emma Grinde
Study 6p Property/Trustee Ordination at St. Petri
Comm Mtg Ice cream to follow
7p Council Mtg.
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
9a-3p Bethany Aug. Newsletter 8a Men’s Bible Pastor Day Off
10:30a Staff mtg. Quilters articles due 9am Book Club at
Study 10a-11:30a
12p Pastor Text 2p Story Time Creative Arts St. Petri
Study Picnic at Bergen Camp at Bergen

24 Communion 25 26 27 28 29 30
---- LWR Quilt making 9a-noon Mon-Wed ---- 8a Men’s Bible Pastor Day
9a Bethany Study Off
10:30a Staff mtg. 2p Story Time
Quilters Picnic at Bergen
10:30a Coffee
with the council 31 12p Pastor Text
Study

St. Petri Messenger
JULY 2022
Pastor Tim Malek
Faith Seeking Understanding
Ah summer! The joys of growth and life
outdoors and yet the frustrations of unrealized
expectations. We revel in our gardens, yet
despair for weeds. We savor the cool water of
the pool on a hot day, yet simmer with the
aftermath of sunburn. We champion the
outdoor barbecue grill, yet subdue the
disappointment of yet another
overdone/underdone burger. Perhaps the
greatest of these summer paradoxes for me is
the game of golf. For me a delightful game of
misadventure, scrambling from one hazard to
another, with a truly mediocre shot
occasionally mixed in to spur me on.
On a visit to Scotland, General
Ulysses S. Grant was treated to a
demonstration of a game he’d
never heard of before, something
called golf. His host wanted to
show Grant how the game was
played, even though he wasn’t
much of a golfer himself.
While Grant watched, the man
placed a ball on a tee, stood back
and took a swing. Although he
missed the ball, he did tear up a
patch of grass. He tried again,
with the same result. Again and
again he sent patches of dirt and
St. Petri Messenger
grass into the air without once
hitting the ball.
Grant looked from his perspiring
host to the ball, then back to his
host. “There seems to be a fair
amount of exercise in the game,”
he said, “but I fail to see the
purpose of the ball.” — James C.
Hume, More Podium Humor (New
York: Harper Perennial, 1993).
I’m not sure golf can be easily used in a
theological reflection, but does this description
remind you of your discipleship? To the
uninitiated does your life of faith look
puzzling? Do people see you working up a
sweat, tearing up the ground, yet fail to see
the object or goal of your effort? None of us
are perfect disciples, yet we all have the gift of
faith given by the Holy Spirit. We all have the
ability to proclaim the good news of the
kingdom of God. The good news that God is
near to us, loves us, and is merciful to
sinners. I hope you all have a fun filled
summer and that wherever you go, the people
around you can clearly see the purpose of
your faith.
The saying is sure and worthy of
full acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to
save sinners – of whom I am the
foremost. But for that very
reason I received mercy, so that
in me, as the foremost, Jesus
Christ might display the utmost
patience, making me an example
to those who would come to
believe in him for eternal life. – 1
Timothy 1:15-16 (NRSV)
Now, can anyone tell me to how to get out of
this sand trap? – Pastor Tim
 YOUTH DIRECTOR NEWS
As seen in her email, dated June 30,
Megan Gustafson is resigning as the
Director of Youth and Family Ministries
effective August 1, 2022. For the last year
and a half this has been a 25 hour per
week position that is shared between
Bergen, St. Petri and Grace UMC.
St. Petri’s share was roughly 31%. All
three pastors of the churches listed see
great potential in continuing this shared
ministry but also see a need for careful
discernment, visioning and planning for
the future of Youth and Family Ministries.
Please talk to our Church Council
members about thoughts, dreams, ideas
in the days and weeks to come.
Our next Council meeting is July 13th.
Also please consider attending the
upcoming Joint Youth Committee Meeting
being held after church Sunday, July 10th
at 11:15/11:30AM at Bergen Lutheran,
Roland. At that meeting all three churches
will also discuss this topic. Please take
this next month to express your
appreciation to Megan for her important
work with our youth and please continue
to support and pray for her as she goes
forward in new directions and new
ministries.
Congratulations to the
Bishop-Elect of the Nebraska Synod:
St. Petri’s former pastor,
Rev. Scott Johnson!
EMMA GRINDE ORDINATION
By the grace of God and
the call of the church
Emma Clare Grinde
will be ordained into the
Ministry of Word and Sacrament
in Christ’s one, holy, catholic, and
apostolic church.
Saturday, July 16, 2022 1:00pm
St. Petri Lutheran Church
804 Grand Ave, Story City, IA
Also available by livestream on
St. Petri’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJLq
URkzSgk
The color of the day is red.
All are invited to wear red.
An ice cream sundae reception
will follow the service.
Emma has been called as the pastor of
Mindoro and Lewis Valley Lutheran
Churches in the La Crosse Area Synod
of Wisconsin.
Our Japan Missionaries
Patrick & Jacqueline Bencke
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Wednesday, August 3rd at 6:00pm
our missionaries will be coming to
St. Petri!
We will have a potluck and enjoy
listening to their journey.
This will be an event for St. Petri,
Bergen, & Grace UMC.
Come enjoy the food & fellowship!

EWALU
Day Camp
Coming to
St. Petri!
St. Petri is so
excited to be
offering a
vacation
bible school
experience to
our youth this summer! If you have or know
a child entering 1st grade through 6th grade
this fall, please mark your calendars for
August 8th-12th!
The camp will run from 9 AM to 3 PM and
will include lunch.
EWALU is a Lutheran Bible Camp from NE
Iowa. Their trained youth ministry staff will
be bringing us a week of fun and growth
including games and activities, crafts, Bible
study, worship and music, story time and
community field trips or service activities!
The suggested fee for St. Petri members is
only $15 and $25 for our friends from the
community.
VOLUNTEER opportunities are available! If
you are interested in preparing or donating
meals or snacks, assisting the staff and kids
during the camp, or helping with various
tasks before or after the camp, please
contact Kara DeRidder
(munson.kara@gmail.com or 515-450-
4951).
Pick up a registration form from the table
outside the church office or request one to
be e-mailed.
St. Petri is organizing a separate morning
program for 3 year old-kindergarten ages as
well.
In June 2022
In Our Prayers
Pat Murken
Hospitalized in June
In Memoriam
Margo Lovig -Chuck (Patty) Van Patter’s
Sister; Angie Van Patter’s Aunt.
Ongoing Prayer Concerns
Olive Sampson, John Satre,
Marilyn Hanson, Howard Reisetter
Helen Zook, Paul Wierson, Gloria Severson,
Darlene Patterson, Kay Disbrowe,
Linda Fevold, Mark Helland
Prayers for those not near to us:
Patrick and Jacqueline Bencke, ELCA
Missionaries, Japan
Soldiers, Peace Workers, and
Humanitarian Aid Workers
Those in Ukraine and Russia
WELCA Report
July 14 2:00pm WELCA Circle Bible
Study. All women welcome!
July 25-27 9am-noon Quilt making
The Weekend Women’s
Bible Study Group will
meet the third Saturday of
each month. Our next meeting is Saturday,
July 16 at 9am at McDonalds. We are reading
from the New Testament. See you then!
 Congratulations to Layla Lou Healy,
Emilia Dorothy Healy, and Isla Lynn
Healy who were baptized June 12th!
Layla, Emilia, and Isla
are the daughters of Kyle & Nicole Healy.
Layla’s baptismal sponsors are:
Natalie & Andrew Murdoch and Garrett &
Sierra Healy.
Emilia’s baptismal sponsors are:
Kaitlyn Whitmore, Thomas Henry, and
Garrett & Sierra Healy.
Isla’s baptismal sponsors are:
Josh & Maria Ewing and Erick & Paige
Healy
Their grandparents are Mike & Ann Healy
and great grandparent John Satre.
Congratulations to
Benjamin Greg Olson
who was baptized June 26th!
Benjamin is the son of Randy & Kelsey
Olson and brother of Peter Olson.
Benjamin’s baptismal sponsors are
Steve Olson (Randy’s brother) and
Casey Conrad (Kelsey’s brother).
May we all be Christian examples to these
children, as well as to all around us.
Let your light shine before others that they may
see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven.
If you would like to view St. Petri’s newsletters
online, go to: www.stpetrilutheran.weebly.com.
CHURCH FAMILY PICNIC July 13 at 6pm
Grace United Methodist Church will host a Church
Family Picnic for the families of Grace, St. Petri, and
Bergen churches on Wed., July 13, at 6 p.m.
The get-together will be on the lawn behind the
parsonage, weather permitting. Grace will
provide meat & drink. Everyone else is asked to
bring a chair & a dish to share! Please RSVP by
Sun., July 10, if you are coming (although, we can
accommodate the crowd!).
Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. in the chapel.
No homework or advanced reading.
Just bring your Bible & your own coffee. Simply
enjoy fellowship and Bible reading!
Come check out the
books at
St. Petri’s new
Library Book Shelf!
You are INVITED to St. Petri’s Book Club!
Bring a drink and come to our
next meeting
Saturday, July 23 at 9:00am.
We will be discussing the book,
To Heaven and Back,
by Mary Neal.
Dr. Mary Neal is a spinal surgeon that has
experienced God’s love and learned to trust
the truth in all of God’s promises.
Books are available in the St. Petri office for $5.
We meet QUARTERLY, on the 4th Saturday in
October, January, April, and July, at 9am. We meet
at St. Petri on the couches downstairs.
 July 3: Kara DeRidder, Gary Fink
July 4: Kay Munsen
July 8: John Lekwa
Attention Bible Campers!
July 10: Paul Jacobson
Camperships are available for the 2022
July 11: Logan Greiner
Summer Bible Camping Season. Please contact
July 12: Vicki Anderson, Kailee Keltner
the church office (stpetrilutheran@gmail.com)
July 13: Alysann Patterson
or Kara DeRidder (munson.kara@gmail.com)
July 14: Kara Keigan, Brent McCaskey
for information on reimbursement.
July 15: John Grinde, Callie Henrichs,
St. Petri members love to send kids to bible
Mariana Henrichs
camp so they can build life-long friendships
July 17: Lorene Anderson, Carol Foss
and experiences!
July 19: Lucy Muhlenburg
July 20: Kelsey Nelson
July 21: Ordean Johnson, Bruce Swenson
July 22: Nick Sayre
NOTE: July 23: Patrick Halsey
The deadline to turn in information for the July 24: Linda Fevold, Paul Munson
August newsletter is Wednesday, July 20th. July 25: Karen Nelson
July 27: Rick Stover
July 28: Erin Schwartz
July 29: Blake Holm, Brett Schmitz
---------------------------------------------------------- July 30: Stephen Vize
St. Petri Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
(except Wednesday afternoon)
Help Each Other
-----------------------------------------------------------
“My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is
trapped in sin, you should gently lead that
person back to the right path. But watch out, and
don’t be tempted yourself. You obey the law of
Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
If you think you are better than others, when you
really aren’t, you are wrong. Do your own work
well, and then you will have something to be
proud of. But don’t compare yourself with
others. We each must carry our own load.
Share every good thing you have with anyone
who teaches you what God has said.”
Galatians 6:1-6 CEV
Hi, it’s Church Mouse!
JULY C.A.R.E. GROUP 2022
We enjoyed another collaborative bit of fun
CARE Group 4 Leaders
for the Scandinavian Days parade, with our
Cheryl Hoffman, Wanda Holm
float theme of “Come Grow with Us”.
Parade-going adults Cory & Jaye Anderson
were pleasantly Doug & Kendra Braucher
surprised to receive Joe & Kim Chelsvig Ver & Barb Frohling
seed packets, and kids Vivian Gossel Ray & Donna Guard
especially liked the Marilyn Hanson Allen Holm
candy. I have to say, Ordean & Liz Johnson Tom & Amelia Klett
Peter Olson has Marilyn Lekwa Pat & Jo Murken
impressive aim with his Jim & Karen Nelson Alberta Olson
candy-throwing arm. As of this writing, Jason Patterson Tim & Abby Patterson
somebody’s white watering can that was Kevin & Peg Patterson Richard Peter
used that day is still on the picnic table John Satre Gloria Severson
outside church though. David & Gail Sporleder
The Memorial Garden outside church has Scott & Shelley Stevenson
been especially beautiful in May and June.
It’s so peaceful to eat my lunch out there.
Congratulations to the Healy clan on the C.A.R.E. Groups have started up!
baptism of their girls! It’s neat the girls get You will be contacted by your C.A.R.E. Group leader
to share that experience with each other – as your month approaches.
and us! We will tell them how we enjoyed To start, we will be doing a modified Fellowship
being there and how similarly chill they after worship. Coffee will be served and some sort
each were during the baptisms. I spotted at of snack that will be placed on a napkin or plate to
least one Barbie doll in church that day. limit contact.
We will also begin our Taxi service. Please let the
My heart is full, church office know if you would like to be on the
weekly call list! Call 733-4623
Church Mouse

AUGUST C.A.R.E. GROUP 2022

CARE Group 5 Leaders
Betty Grinde, Patty Hoversten
Lorene Anderson Audrey Bauer
Gary & Hope Brown Nancy Carlson
St. Petri has a YouTube Channel Bev Christenson
We post videos past events and services… Tony Edwards & Jennifer Knutson
We hope to post more church-related events Michaelle Fevold Kiersten Fevold
John & Linda Fevold Carl & Evelyn Fink
in the future.
Clark & Betty Grinde Megan Gustafson
You can find the YouTube Channel at Seth & Willow Hill Patty Hoversten
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC44o0 Paul & Karen Jacobson
DUzQrLYR7CEJBHCegQ Questions? Lowell & Beci Lande Janet Mortvedt
Please contact: Abby & Tim Patterson or Paul Ness Randy & Kelsey Olson
Connie Phillips Shirley Stakey
Angie & John Hinz.
Rick & Angie Stover
Chuck & Patty Van Patter Wayne Williams
 ANGEL GIFT PROGRAM
IS PARTNERING WITH
BLAST BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT
From Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp
This year the Angel Gift Program is partnering
Dear friends,
with the Blast Back to School Event for our Thank you again for your partnership in the
school supply drive. The Blast Back to School Gospel through the ministry of Riverside!
Event has been helping our Story County You are such an important part of God’s
families since 2015. The BBTS event collects continued work in and through His camp.
We are so thankful for you! God Bless You,
supplies and backpacks throughout the spring
and summer, packs the backpacks with the Chris Dahl
Director, Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp
supplies, and then the participating schools
distribute the backpacks to any student that RIVERSIDE LUTHERAN BIBLE CAMP
registers for the event. The whole event is done
SUMMER CAMP 2022
through donations from our community
businesses and individuals, and community
volunteers.
If you would like to donate or read more about
the program, please visit
https://www.blastbacktoschool.org/
If you would like to register to get a backpack
filled with supplies, please fill out this form:
https://forms.gle/LYWZtCcL3iRjFbid7

Did you know that on average, families spend

over $100 per child to purchase necessary
school supplies? For many families this is just
not possible on limited budgets. Story County “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
Blast Back to School Event aims to relieve the Always be prepared to give an answer to
burden of back to school expenses for local everyone who asks you to give the reason for
families of K–12 students. the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15
The Blast Back to School Event has been The theme for Summer 2022 is Anchored In
helping our Story County families since 2015. Hope - our desire is for those who already
The BBTS event collects supplies and know Jesus to grow in their faith and see more
backpacks throughout the spring and summer,
of God's Kingdom around them and for those
packs the backpacks with the supplies, and
who have never heard the good news of the
then the participating schools distribute the
Gospel to begin a lifelong journey of walking
backpacks to any student that registers for the
with Jesus Christ. Please join us in prayer for a
event.
great summer!
There is NO FEE to the schools or students!
Check out Summer Camp at Riverside
The whole event is done through donations
Lutheran Bible Camp at: www.riversidelbc.org
from our community businesses and
to find out more information and/or to register.
individuals, and community volunteers.

Thank you to everyone who contributed
items to the Welcome Kits for
Refugees. Nine kits were assembled and
delivered to LSI Refugee Services in Des
Moines on June 3rd by Angie Rieck-Hinz
and Betty Grinde. The 3 adult bedroom
and 3 child bedroom kits each contained a
quilt and pillowcase made by St. Petri
members and friends. Each kit also had a
note enclosed welcoming the recipient to
Iowa from the members of St. Petri.
LUTHERAN SERVICES IN IOWA
NEWSLETTER JULY 2022
God’s work. Our hands.
As a social ministry organization of the ELCA,
Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) is so thankful
for your partnership in ministry! Thanks to
you, we are able to provide education to
parents of young children, empower Iowans
with disabilities, and offer critical mental
health care to community members of all ages.
This month, we would like to give special
thanks for those of you who have made LSI a
focus on your congregation’s “God’s work.
Our hands.” project.
On a planned day in September, each
congregation is encouraged to reach outside of
the church and do good deeds in the
community by participating in a project for
“God’s work. Our hands.” This is a perfect
opportunity to combine community projects
with a special project for nonprofits like LSI,
whether it’s raising money or contributing in-
kind gifts.
We thank you for your service! If you are
interested in supporting the Iowa children and
families served by LSI or would like to get
involved in a “God’s work. Our hands.”
project with LSI, please contact Deb Whitford,
LSI director of philanthropy and church
relations, at Deborah.Whitford@LSIowa.org or
563-676-2065.
Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to
the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate
service. LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of
the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSI
(Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve
people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender
identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and
sexual orientations. Learn more at LSIowa.org and
Facebook.com/LSI.Iowa.
Restoring Hope
Over the last year, LSI and its many
community partners across Iowa have come
together in a time of need. When hundreds of
Afghan evacuees needed a place to call home
in Iowa, LSI rose to the challenge to provide
crucial resettlement services.
Supporters from across the state rallied
together to provide financial support; they put
together almost 600 welcome boxes so every
individual had what they needed when they
arrived; & they volunteered their time to
provide assistance with transportation &
housing during a distressing time.
In our offices in Des Moines & Sioux City, LSI
was able to hire additional staff who speak 14
different languages. In December 2021, for the
first time in 10 years, LSI began welcoming
new arrivals to Iowa, & we have since
welcomed more than 165 individuals –
including many families – to their new home in
Iowa. Thanks to the support of our partners,
Iowa continues to be a space of welcome, a
place where individuals can find safety,
security, & a community where they can
rebuild their lives.
 Our Japan Missionaries
Patrick & Jacqueline Bencke
Masks: Why we will be wearing masks:
(1) we will have our home base with my 86-
year-old father
(2) Japan has incredibly strict testing
protocols for re-entry
(3) contracting COVID-19 during our tour
would require us to cancel many long-
awaited visits.

While we do not expect to meet any

resistance to this, nor do we expect
congregations to reciprocate this protocol,
Dear Congregations,
I hope that by letting you know in advance
Greetings in the name of our our reasoning for this decision that you can
Lord, Jesus Christ! be comfortable when we visit and assured
that we are doing what we can to mitigate
Thank you for inviting us to risk and simultaneously provide an
join you this summer during our home opportunity for meaningful interaction.
assignment. We look forward to meeting you
and joining you on Wednesday, August 3rd! Again, thank you to everyone for helping us
prepare for this visit. We look forward to
Family: We (Patrick and Jackie) travel joining you for worship and/or for a time of
together for all visits. Hannah (age 13) may sharing.
join us for some of the visits as well.
Blessings,
Sermon: The message we wish to share will
be missional in content, probably centering
on the role of Christians “living and
worshiping missionally.” Neither Patrick nor
Jackie and Patrick Bencke
I are ordained ministers, so the tone is
usually more narrative or observational
rather than exegetical.

Presentation: Our Power Point presentation

is about 30 minutes. It includes a mix of
photos and general information about life in
Japan, Christianity in Japan, the Japan
Lutheran Church’s ministries, and our
mission work in Kumamoto. We encourage
those who attend to bring their questions and
to help us individualize the information we
present.
 St. Petri Messenger

The Bencke Family in Japan

July 2022: 94番

July 1, 2022

Special Prayer Service for

Ukraine

Kyushu Lutheran College

Blessed are the

peacemakers, for they will
be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

For today’s morning worship at Kyushu Lutheran College, we held a special service in
remembrance of all that is transpiring so many miles away from Japan in the country of
Ukraine. While news of the war is on television broadcasts daily, it is easy to become
numb to it or even dismiss it as something happening “somewhere else.” As Christians,
we are a part of a Body, empowered only by the Holy Spirit to stretch arms around the
world in an embrace of solidarity, hope, love, and compassion. We do so, too, for our
Russian brothers and sisters who are caught in the middle between their government
and warring factions.
The choir sang a hymn entitled Prayer for Ukraine, in the Ukrainian language.
We invited the faculty and staff to join in about 8 rehearsals, so the end result was a
choir of about 50 members accompanied by a nine-member brass ensemble. The
handbell team also played a selection re-titled A Child’s Prayer for Peace. It was really a
profoundly moving experience, I think, for everyone involved, including those who
came and participated in the worship service as a part of the assembly.
When we listen to larger groups performing at worship, I explained, the music is
not to be perceived as a performance for the worshippers. Instead, we consider it a
corporate offering made by the musicians on behalf of the entire congregation, to God.
We do our best to work toward excellence, as that is what is befitting for an offering to
the Creator of the universe, but we understand our
shortcomings both artistically and as human beings. It is in a posture of humility
that we offer what we have both individually and collectively through the music
we create.

Home assignment 2022

In a few weeks, our family will be heading back to the United States for the first
home assignment we’ve had in four years. We look forward to visiting our
partners in mission to catch up after a long period or meeting some
congregations for the first time. We will be visiting congregations in Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Minnesota this year. The reasons for having home assignment are
many, but among the most important include the nurturing of relationships that
define us as Church. As members of that larger Body of believers around the
world, it is vitally important that we remain alert and apprised of the very real
physical and spiritual needs of those who share in the Great Commission. The
goal is not only to preach the gospel, but also to foster and strengthen one
another’s faith. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just
as in fact you are doing (1 Thess 5:11).”
I (Jackie) will have our first opportunity to “move our daughter in” to college
(she’ll be a junior), which will be a gift. Emilie had the chance to come home for
a spell this summer, so she is enjoying re-connecting with friends she hadn’t
seen since graduating from high school in Feb 2020. Hannah will have a
chance to attend middle school (8th grade) while in the U.S. She’s looking
forward to it… I’m not exactly sure why…. But I’ll take it! We will leave Hannah
in the U.S. for an extra few weeks before she comes back to Japan so she can
experience a more meaningful chunk of time in her passport culture. We found
that that was a game changer for Emilie, allowing her to become familiar with
U.S. culture while she mentally prepared for college.
If we don’t cross paths this year, I pray that the opportunity arises in the
future! In the meantime, I pray that you are blessed with rest and refreshment
these summer months.

One of the little projects our chapel committee

does is collecting bottle caps to earn money for
immunizations in one of our JELA companion
projects. Here, the girls are doing the tedious
work of counting caps, but doing so with a
joyful spirit and plenty of laughter.

St Petri Lutheran
Church
Approved May
Council Minutes
May 11, 2022 – 7 pm
Meeting called to order at 7:05pm by Ann H.
Pastor Tim opened with prayer.
Those present: Kara D., Rick S., Tim M., Betty G.,
Jo M., Ann H., Megan G.
April Minutes – Jo moved to approved, Kara
seconded. Passed. Pastor asked that notes from
Council Retreat in April be sent out to all council
members.
Financial Report – Expenses are pretty well on
track for 4 months into the year. Energy expenses
are well above expected. Giving is ahead of 2021,
but still not enough to cover expenses, so we’re
borrowing from dedicated accounts. Jo moved to
approve, Betty seconded, passed.
Pastor’s Report - Note cards sent out to folks not
attending seem to have paid off. Pastor attended a
video conference on hospitality which focused on
accessibility–handicapped, hearing, vision, signage
etc. & how to get people back to church after
Covid. He ordered one speakers book & may share
some insights on a future date. Sept. 11 is God’s
Work Our Hands Day. He will be attending an on-
line Homiletics conference next week. We still
need voting members for Synod Conference on
June 11. He & Kara will check with a few people.
It was suggested we have some kind of presence in
the parade. Rick will check with John Hinz about
using his convertible in the parade. Another
possibility is a couple families on bikes. Also
having some kind of banner displayed. Kara will
fill out parade entry form. Ann suggested we do a
bake sale in the narthex prior to the parade. She
will work on coordinating potato cake making on
Thurs or Fri prior to the sale. Jo wrote a bulletin
announcement to solicit baked goods. Betty will
also help with the sale and potato cake making.
Youth Min – Megan said there will be 1 more youth
group next week. On Sunday at Bergen at 3pm, ice
cream sundae’s will be served & summer youth/
St. Petri Messenger
adult activities revealed. This includes an I-Cub
game and monthly summer grill outs. St. P will do
August 3rd and pair it with our Missionary visit.
Fellowship- Karen sent a report saying care leaders
were updated to schedule 2 ushers per Sunday, &
they can serve as greeters, too. Some closets have
been cleaned. Ann will coordinate more cleaning
on the work day on May 21. Legs need to be put
back on some tables removed from 1 Sunday
School room.
Worship – Hymns have been chosen.
Property – Project list presented, but Pat was not
here to explain, so discussion will wait til June mtg.
Faith Formation – EWALU is available to lead VBS
(aka Day Camp) in August. They can
accommodate 30 children for $1300. Megan will
see if Grace wants to partner with us. St. Petri
Endowment is a possible funding source. We’ll
also ask families enrolling children to help pay if
they are able. Kara will be the coordinator. Betty
moved to approve this plan, Kara seconded.
Passed. Pastor will check with Riverside about
possible counselor housing. Members may also
offer housing to the 3 counselors for the week.
Camperships were discussed. It was affirmed by
acclamation to offer full ride camperships to
children attending church camp (however if the
family is able to pay part of the fee, that is
encouraged).
Old Business:
Tithe.ly – try to continue to use Weebly and update
that site. Rick will do more research on this.
Youth group waiver – discuss before fall
Committees vs. Coordinators – Coordinators will
recruit helpers for projects where needed.
Worship services update for Covid – same
Church Pamphlet – pending decisions about
Sunday School
Missionary visit this summer–scheduled for Aug 3.
Job reviews for Staff – Ann and Pat will coordinate.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10pm. Closed with the
Lord’s Prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Grinde, St. Petri Council Secretary