From the Pastor
We are coming to the middle of our Lenten journey as the calendar page turns this month. Middle places can be hard. I feel like we have been stuck in the middle of bad weather for months, stuck in the middle of hard politics for years, and stuck in the middle of bad habits for what feels like forever. These middle places, they leave us exhausted. With none of the fresh energy that comes at the start, and still far away from any type of ending; middle places leave us wondering what could ever come next.
The funny thing is, it seems like God does some of God’s best work in the middle places. At the times we feel parched, dried up or “over it” seems to be the times we grow, even if we don’t realize it’s happening. So, while middle places are exhausting, I wonder can they be faith filled? If flowers need time to grow, and bread needs time to rise, what kind of time do we need to deepen our faith? How do these middle places move us to the next place?
These middle weeks of Lent are an opportunity to look for God at work. They are a continued opportunity for repentance, for turning away from the things that bring destruction and turning towards the ways of God. These middle weeks of Lent are also a reminder. That Lent does not last forever. Lent is merely a season. We are ultimately Easter people. We are made new by the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The middle is redeemed by the completion of the resurrection.
We can handle the middle. Because the promises of God come alive on the other side. We can be sustained in the middle by keeping our eyes fixed on what God is doing, and what God will do. A future is promised, change and renewal are possible. We are invited to proclaim this during the middle seasons, we are invited to live this change and renewal into the world. The resurrection is on the way, nothing in the middle can stop it.
Pr. Amy
From the Financial Officer
The average monthly Anticipated Offerings budgeted for 2019 is $7,500. We received $6,270 for February, which is $1,230 short of the budgeted amount for the month.
The Happy Hearts, Hopeful Future campaign (mortgage reduction) has received $88,067 to date with $165 received in February.
The 02.28.2019 mortgage balance was $148,731.
From the President
March 19 Council Highlights…
+We will be planning a Spring Clean-up day
+We will be planning joint Bible Studies beginning in May. Pastor Amy is looking for input.
+Semi-Annual Congregation Meeting (elections and celebrations) is scheduled for Sunday, May 5 at 11:45 am with a Mexican themed lunch to follow look for a sign-up sheet mid-April
+Please prayerfully consider what your heart is calling you to do. There will be council positions and ministry team positions that need to be filled (see the bulletin board in the gathering space for the descriptions of the elected positions)
+Semi-Annual Congregation Meeting (budget) is scheduled for Sunday, December 8 at 11:45 am
+Next Council Meeting is Tuesday, April 16 at 6:30
Royal Ball Run – Autism Awareness
All Saints Lutheran Church has been listed as a Royal Supporter for Royal Ball Run for Autism for the last several years and has been listed on back of 1,500 t-shirts because of your financial support! Anyone interested in donating again this year can place your donation (checks written to All Saints) into the offering plate on Sunday mornings, just make sure to designate the donation by marking the memo line Royal Ball Run and one check will be written from All Saints to support this great non-profit. Thank you for your donations!
The Royal Ball Run for Autism raises funds, awareness, and greater acceptance for royally remarkable children and young adults on the Autism spectrum. In our first 8 years, thousands of runners, volunteers, sponsors, and donors have helped the Royal Ball Run for Autism contribute approximately $200,000 to local programs serving children and families touched by autism. We are royally grateful for your support! To date, our signature events, the Royal Ball Run for Autism Race and Royal Ball for All Carnival has provided financial assistance for autism programs and services in the Quad City Area, which includes, the Quad Cities Autism Center, scholarships for speech and language therapy, peers program, Blackhawk Area special education center and others. At the 2nd Annual Quad City Autism Resource Fair in February 2019, we unveiled The Royal Guide which will help to be a resource for new or experienced caregivers, parents, or teachers with individuals on the autism spectrum. The Royal Guide will continue to evolve, and we will continue to ask for your recommendations. You can find the guide at www.theroyalguide.org.
We also provide a community of support for families of autism through parental networking, social skills development, and celebration/awareness events for families and their extended family and friends to come together. The fact that 1 in 59 children are now diagnosed on the spectrum means there are approximately 5,600 individuals in the immediate QCA (Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Davenport, and Bettendorf) who are on the spectrum.
Save the following dates:
Royal Ball for All Carnival and Fun Run will be Friday, June 21, 2019
Royal Ball for Autism Walk, 5K, and 5-mile run will be on Saturday, June 22, 2019
The Royal Ball Fundraiser will be on Saturday, November 2, 2019
All proceeds will support Royal Ball Run’s efforts to raise autism awareness as well as funds to support local autism programs. For more information about the Royal Ball events visit www.royalballrun.com.
Thanks,
Anne & Scott Holtan