email salem@salemluth.net

website www.salemluth.net

Okay, we can all agree it’s been a hard winter.

The first two winters in Creston lulled me to sleep. I wasn’t sure you could even define that as winter in any true sense of the word. For me, winter is a long season of cold weather and wind chills and bad roads and "scooping" (yep, I’ve learned that word) snow from the driveway. And I was okay living in a place with no winter.

Now this has been WINTER, the old-fashioned kind, with an extra helping of ice thrown in. I confess I am tired of winter and have been so for several weeks. I am really looking forward to spring. Warm days, clear walking trail, no more scooping—it’s going to be sweet!

Strange, isn’t it? Thanks to the harshness of winter, spring is going to be a great deal more joyful than it was the past two years. This year we know what we are celebrating and it’s wonderful!

That reminds me of the dynamic going on in the story of the Prodigal Son. A huge feast was prepared when the wayward son returned, while no one threw a party for the "good son" who had always been there. It’s easy to get used to the good times, so much that we take them for granted. It is the hard times that remind us of how good we have it, that cause us to truly celebrate when they are over.

That’s the value of winter; it reminds us of how good we have it. That’s also the value of Lent. We celebrate the pattern of seasons in the church year for the same reason that God put them into the rhythm of nature. They keep us alive both to reality and to the range of possibility.

If we ignore Lent, then Easter isn’t such a big deal. While Lent may be something of a long ordeal for us; it reminds us that it was far more of an ordeal for Jesus. By focusing on the grim realities of the powers of darkness and on what Jesus had to suffer to overcome them, Lent reminds us how good we have it. It reminds us that the new life we have in Christ is not just a pleasant thing but a miraculous escape from a bleak existence.

Lent reminds us why Easter is worth celebrating. Not just as a pleasant little holiday diversion but as a huge and desperately needed relief from the stranglehold of death.

Salem Church Council Minutes

February 21, 2008

The meeting was called to order by President Warren Woods, with the following members in attendance: Bert Henry, Mike Linch, Joan Lienemann, Helen Mosman, Dennis Nardy and Sherri Nissen. Also in attendance were: Flossie Roberts, John Schlaht, LuAnn Snodgrass, Chuck Taylor, Pastor Nate and Margaret Kneedler.

Warren Woods led devotions.

M/S/C by Helen Mosman and Flossie Roberts t approve the February minutes as presented.

Correspondence: none at this time.

Pastor’s Report:

Pastor presented t the council a final total of $ 4.700 for Union County Crop Walk, with Salem having the best presentation.

The Ministerial Alliance has become better organized and are meeting monthly with increased attendance.

Synod Assembly is set for June 6^th and 7^th this year in Storm Lake. Pastor would like to have two representatives from the congregation to attend.

Lenten Services have begun with members sharing their faith stories, and these are going very well.

Treasure’s Report was presented by Mike Linch. A form will be placed in everyone’s mailbox explaining the option of using automatic deduction for giving.

M/S/C by Joan Lienneman and Chuck Taylor to approve the treasure’s report.

Old Business:

Warren Woods discussed the west yard light for the playground. Alliant Energy wants $600 to set a pole, so Warren will discuss this with Troy Schroeder.

New Business:

a) M/S/C Bert Henry and Joan Liennemann for the Easter Offering to be divided

equally between the Ministerial Alliance and the Well Drilling program in

Tanzania.

b) M/S/C by LuAnn Snodgrass and Helen Mosman to upgrade the copier to a

Konica C450 color MFP. This will have many features to allow more efficient

use in the office and have know penalty with our current agreement. Funds of

$ 250.00 from Replacement Fund will be used to cover the cost of an upgrade

for the network and installation fee.

c) M/S/C by Helen Mosman and Dennis Nardy to send the $525.00 Reva Roeder

Memorial money to Synod, as requested by the family, to be used for the Well

Drilling program in Tanzania..

d) Sherri Nissen requested the use of 8 old tables to be used April 19^th by

Crestubille for prom. Also the YMCA will have an E-Trailer at the Home

Show March 1^st, for discarding old computer equipment. Mike Linch

volunteered to take the old printer for disposal.

e) Chuck Taylor presented a report and recommendation from an audit done

by Alliant Energy. M/S/C by Flossie Roberts and John Schlaht to use $ 2,000

from the Replacement Fund to pay for following recommendations: six inches

of blown insulation, programmable thermostats, light exit signs and 50 energy

efficient bulbs. Alliant will pay for half of the bulbs and the church will

receive a $ 1062 rebate, which will be put back into the Replacement Fund.

This will be an estimated savings of $700-800.00, with the actual cost to

the church after rebate being approximately $ 832.00

Committee Reports were presented:

a) Christian Education:

*January 30^th, seventeen youth and chaperones from Salem and

Presbyterian Churches attended Jesus Christ Superstar at Civic

Auditorium in Des Moines. They enjoyed supper at Spaghetti Works

before the show and were thankful for the weather cooperating.

b) Evangelism—has not met.

c) Social Ministry

* Will be hosting the Ecumenical Services & Supper on March 2^nd.

*They have been in contact with Lutheran Services of Iowa to assess

area needs, where they can help more locally.

d) Church Property

*See the above information pertaining to the energy audit.

e) Worship and Music

*Discussion of Lenten Services and Easter were held. Also

discussion of members sharing their musical talent when the choir isn’t

singing.

f) Stewardship—has not met.

g) Finance

*Would like interested members to inquire about the committee. They are

need of two more members.

M/S/C: John Schlaht and Dennis Nardy to adjourn the meeting.

The next council meeting will be March 10, 2008 at 6:30 pm. Opening devotions will be led by Sherri Nissen. The meeting adjourned and closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted;

Sherri Nissen, Council Secretary

03/01 Marilyn Engelson 03/14 Linda Mahn 03/21 Donovan Richardson

03/03 Ryan Cook 03/15 James Paup 03/23 Peggy Cass

03/04 Sandra Gross 03/16 Greg Cook 03/25 Nicholas Henry

03/06 Lori Paup Suzanne Stofferahn 03/28 Lois Rose

03/09 David Abildtrup 03/19 Gail Peterson 03/29 Roland Peterson

03/10 Ray Courtney 03/20 Zach Henry Eleanor Toycen

03/12 Steven Shaffer Janet Nesbit

03/13 Carole Fox 03/21 Jerry Nissen

03/25 Mike & Raquel Linch

AVERAGE SUNDAY ATTENANCE WEDNESDAY EVENING

97 51

DATE LOCATION MINISTER

March 2^nd Salem Lutheran Rev. Jane Willian

March 9^th UCC Rev. Diana Leaf

March 16^th First Christian Rev. Dan Moore

March 21^st Holy Spirit Church Rev. Nate Aaseng

March 2, 2008 March 5, 2008

Greeters: Ben & Helen Herzberg Ushers Ben & Helen Herzberg

Ushers: John & Lynne Schlaht Acolyte: Ryan Cook

Bill Kunert, David Ekblad

Reader: Lynne Schlaht March 12, 2008

Acolyte: Kaleb Cook Ushers: Bill Kunert, John Schlaht

Communion Assistants: Bill Kunert, Ryan Cook Acolyte: Kaleb Cook

Coffee & Cookies: Herzberg’s and Schlaht’s

March 9, 2008 March 20^th, Maundy Thursday

Greeters: Larry & Claudia Peppers Greeters: Ben & Helen Herzberg

Ushers: Sue Bergstrom, David Ekblad Ushers: Bill Kunert, John Schlaht

Ben & Helen Herzberg Acolyte:

Reader: Lynne Schlaht Communion Assistants: Bill Kunert

Acolyte: Emily Schroeder

Coffee & Cookies: Bergstrom and Schlaht March 21^st, Good Friday

Greeters: Ben & Helen Herzberg

John Schlaht

Ushers: David Ekblad, John Schlaht March, 30, 2008

Ben & Helen Herzberg Greeters: Larry & Claudia Peppers

Reader: Lynne Schlaht Ushers: David Ekblad, Bill Kunert

Acolyte: Ryan Cook Larry & Claudia Peppers

Communion Assistants: John Schlaht, Ryan Cook Reader: Lynne Schlaht

Coffee & Cookies: Peppers & Mosmans Acolyte:

Coffee & Cookies: Herzbergs

Sunday, March 23^rd, Easter Sunday, 1^st Service Schlaht

Greeters: Ben & Helen Herzberg

Ushers: David Ekblad, John Schlaht

Bill & Carol Ott

Reader: Lynne Schlaht

Acolyte:

Communion Assistants: John Schlaht

Greeters: Rodney & Linda Mahn

Ushers: Rodney & Linda Mahn

Sue Bergstrom

Reader: Elaine Fargo

Acolyte: Alec Paup

Communion Assistants: Warren Woods