Covenant Highlights
Volume 36, Issue 3 March 2016
PASTOR’S CORNER
From the beginning of time God set times for holiness. The
seventh day was to be observed for worship and rest. There
are other times. Times that are set apart to worship and
remember. The Easter season is such a time.
Easter comes at a time of year when we are coming out of
winter. The earth is ramping up for spring and summer. In the
midst of this busy time we are given the opportunity to slow
down and reflect on the most important event in human
history, the death and resurrection of our Lord. The season
of Lent is a time of preparation and anticipation.
Holy week begins with Palm Sunday, the celebration of
Christ’s entering Jerusalem as king. This year we will have a
Maundy Thursday service at 6:15 p.m. in the church
basement following a supper at 5:30 p.m. This service will
include Holy Communion. We will once again host the
Community Good Friday service at 7:00p.m. on March 25. It
is always good to gather with our brothers and sisters from
other congregations and remember Christ’s death on the
cross for us. It is a solemn service but it is important for us to
try to grasp the price Jesus paid for our salvation.
Easter Sunday will begin with a breakfast at 9:00 a.m. put on
by our youth. There is no cost for breakfast but a free will
offering will be taken which will go toward our youth ministry.
Our Easter Sunday service will begin at 10:00 a.m. We will
celebrate our Lord’s victory over sin and death and it will be a
great time!
It is not possible to overestimate the importance of Christ’s
resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:14, Paul says: “And if Christ
was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your
trust in God is useless.” In verse 20, Paul goes on to say,
“But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He
has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be
raised to life again.”
How good it is to know God personally through Christ and to
have the hope of the resurrection! I am looking forward to the
celebration and I hope you are to.
Pastor Dan
WELCOME ZACH!!!
My name is Zach Klein and I am from Buffalo,
MN. I graduated from Buffalo High School in
2008 and went on to Northwestern College
(now University of Northwestern, St. Paul)
where I started as a Broadcasting major, but
changed my major to Youth Ministry halfway
through my sophomore year. I graduated in
December 2012 and have served at Maywood
Covenant Church for 3 years before now
coming to Clear Lake. I also worked at Lake
Beauty Bible Camp for 4 summers and did a full
year internship (2011-2012).
I am passionate about a few different things. I
love music. I am a drummer and music has
played a major part in my life. I also love
sports. Football is my favorite sport to watch
and the Vikings are my team! And no, I won't
be changing my allegiance to the Packers. I
really enjoy playing golf, going bowling, and
playing games like Ping-Pong and foosball. I am
also very passionate about youth ministry. I
really enjoy helping students to see God's love.
Plus it gives me an excuse to not really grow
up!
I am very excited to get to UCC and get to
work very soon. It is crazy to see how God has
brought me to this point in my life and I am
very excited to see what He has for me in this
place. I can't wait to get to know everyone!
Zach
LITTLE LAMBS
Little Lambs Preschoolers have been exploring
their colors, numbers, shapes and alphabet
through experiments and play. Every Monday
morning is Bible lesson time. They have been
discussing that God’s love never ends; no matter
what happens he will always love us. Speaking of
love in the February we had a Valentine’s party.
Valentine’s goodies were exchanged; the children
wore red, white and pink clothes. We read a story
and concluded with a dance party!
For His children!
Miranda Pittman, Preschool Teacher
LBBC Summer Camp 2016
All Aboard! The train is pulling into the station and we invite
all campers to get on board the train Heaven Bound!
CAMP PROMO SUNDAY AT UCC!!!!
Sunday, March 13th Lasagna Fundraiser
(for LBBC Camp Scholarship)
Please sign up at “Sign Up Central” to bring…
A pan of Lasagna, salad or garlic toast!
PRAYER
Sweet Hour of Prayer
Tuesdays 8:00 a.m. in the UCC Library
Anyone is welcome to come. Please write your prayers, with
or without your name, on the prayer cards provided in the
pews. Place them in the golden bowl located in the foyer.
They will be kept confidential asking the Lord to give you
encouragement, growth in your faith and abound in
thanksgiving with praise. Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for
you”.
FELLOWSHIP SUPPERS
What: Wednesday Night Fellowship Suppers!
When: Every Wednesday night-unless there is no regular
Wednesday night programing
Time: 5:30 p.m. Followed by (6:15 p.m.) programs for
children/youth/adults
March:
2nd: Soup and Sandwiches
9th: Meal
16th: Soup and Salad
23rd: No Wednesday Night
30th: Potluck Meal –Please bring a dish 
WOMEN MINISTRIES
Women’s Bible Study’s
Women’s Bible study meets on Tuesday mornings 8:45 a.m.,
at UCC and Tuesday evenings 6:45 p.m., at Lynn Pickard’s
on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. The evening bible
study will be starting the study “War Room” in the month of
March.
Women Ministries Renewal Conference 2016
March 11th – 12th
Join women from across the Northwest Conference to be
refreshed, to be renewed, and to be transformed at the 2016
Renewal Conference. Our conference features dynamic
worship that will revive your spirit, powerful and engaging
teaching, and varied breakout sessions.
Our featured speaker, Nicole Bullock, is a church planter and
lead pastor at Blue Oaks Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park.
Come and experience this transformative and renewing
conference for yourself. The Women Ministries Renewal
Conference will be held March 11th -12th, 2016 at Redeemer
Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park, MN. If you are interested
please call the church office 715-263-2665.
Save the date……
Lake Pepin District Women’s
Spring Gathering
9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 2nd
Cederbrook Church, Menominie, WI
“Two ways to mend our souls”
(Lunch and childcare provided)
UCC Holy Week Schedule
March 20th: Palm Sunday
March 24th: 6:15 p.m. Maundy Thursday
Communion Service (meal at 5:30 p.m.)
March 25th: 7:00 p.m. Community Good
Friday Service @ UCC
March 27th: 10:00 a.m. Easter Service
9:00 a.m. Easter Breakfast
MISSION MOMENT
Our featured missionary for March is Galen Johnson from the
Seed Company. Galen is assigned to The Seed Company as
field coordinator to Democratic Republic of Congo and
Central African Republic. His 25 years of cultural experience
and language skills help him mentor national leaders and
structure translation projects that incorporate globally proven
strategies with a local community's determination and
resources. Bible translation brings substantial
transformational impact to “Bible-less” language
communities. We ask you to pray for Galen as he strives to
bring God's eternal hope, His Word, to hearts and ears as
they hear God speak to them in their language. UCC is one
of the missionaries we support.
Letter from Galen……
Radical faith is RISKY! Easy to say, hard to live. It calls for
faith. It calls for us to trust the promises of a God we cannot
see. The night of January 15th our dear friends Dr. Ken and
Jocelyne Elliott were kidnapped from their bed in Djibo. As
independent missionaries they established a hospital among
the Fulani and Touareg peoples of northern Burkina Faso
and Mali. They built the hospital from the ground up and for
43 years patiently served their Muslim neighbors in the name
of Christ.
But in one evening an Al Qaeda affiliated group attacked a
police outpost killing two, attacked two hotels and a
restaurant in Ouagadougou killing 29 and quietly spirited
away this beloved couple from their vital medical ministry to
the poor of Burkina.
It is now two weeks later and there has still been no news of
their well-being. The people of Djibo are gathering in support
of this couple saying, “They are not Australian foreigners,
they are citizens of Djibo.” Others have questioned how
attackers claiming to be “serving God” could take this 80+
year old couple who have poured out their lives for Muslims.
I usually stayed with the Elliotts when visiting our Fulani
friends in the north. Nearly every visitor we received to
Burkina Faso over 10 years was introduced to their
hospitality, a tour of their medical facilities and a taste of their
dry Australian humor. Ken, the only resident doctor for over
2 million persons in the north, performed as many as 150
surgical cases a month (including setting my broken
arm!). Jocelyne loved to discuss the bird populations and
was often visited by women needing help with their babies.
Please pray that they are together, for I know they are
strongest together. Pray also that the Fulani and Touareg
can use their networks to find where they have been taken,
and appeal for their release. But as I said above, radical faith
is risky. They have committed their lives to serving in Jesus’
name, so pray that they can be a “beacon of love” even in
the fear, uncertainty and possible abuse in being abducted.
Galen’s on the move! In January I made a quick trip to
Kinshasa to meet with leaders of the ECC (an umbrella
organization of 92 protestant denominations). They have
requested that the Bible translation organizations connected
to SIL and Wycliffe come to Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) to share how Bible translation, literacy and language
development could help advance the work of the church in
Congo. So in April a team will return there. Pray that these
meetings will engage God's body to be more intentional as
then seek to reach the most remote corners of the country
and the most forgotten members of every linguistic
community.
In early March I will be heading to eastern DRC for the
dedication of two New Testaments: Logo and Mayogo. This
will be a blessed time of celebration and remembrance of the
tremendous sacrifice of those involved in translation of the
past 30 years. I will be traveling with the family that first
started the translation work back in the 80’s. There are also
three members of a church in Memphis that have faithfully
bathed this project in prayer and supported the translators in
their work. So pray for the language committees, the local
churches and the visitors who come together to celebrate
God's faithfulness. May God's hand bless the reading of
each of the 10,000 New Testaments. Amen! Lots to report,
but “nuf said”!
Galen’s February prayer points:
1. Pray for the safety and release of Dr. Ken and Jocelyne
Elliott from the hands of their kidnappers. Pray also for their
family back in Perth, Australia.
2. Pray for the families of those killed in the attacks: 2
policemen and 29 patrons of the hotel/restaurant in
Ouaga. Pray for the families of the American missionary and
the 6 short-term Canadian mission visitors killed in the
restaurant while awaiting the evening airplane.
3. Pray for the Muslim population of Burkina (±50%) as they
consider the very different expressions of service “in God's
name”. Pray that the foreign perpetrators of these savage
acts would bow to the calling of God's spirit and repent.
4. Today is the beginning of the second two-week Bangui
Trauma Cluster workshop. The participants of the first group
are teaching the second group in Sango. Pray that the
stories being translated and shared will have
transformational impact is the communities. Praise God for
the testimonies of healing and reduction of stress, even as
Bangui CAR continues to be an unstable place.
5. Pray for Jill and I as we support our neighbors of 25 years
after the death of their wife and mother.
6. Pray for me as I travel “to and fro” to build the local
capacity to translate God's word into every tongue and for
every good work.
Galen Johnson
SEED COMPANY field coordinator to DRC/CAR
The Mission Ministry team was looking into the Community
that could possibly use our help as a church. Steve Kearney,
CLACC Volunteer Coordinator, said they could use the help
the day they plan to move the 'Thrift Store'. They will be
moving it from one room to another room in the Clear Lake
Community Center. Steve will notify the church when they
will be doing this. Volunteers…all ages!!!
UNITED COVENANT CHURCH ANNUAL MEETING
– JANUARY 24TH, 2016
Meeting started at noon at UCC with a welcome and Heart of
Worship song from Lucas.
Jim read scripture (Philippians 4:4-8) and asked that we
apply this into our daily lives. Verse 9: we need to live this
way – not boasting. Doug Otto prayed for our church and our
annual meeting.
12:08 Joel called our meeting to order.
12:08 Mike approved 2015 annual meeting minutes, Alvin
seconded. All approved.
12:09 Financial reports were given. Katie motioned,
Margaret seconded. All approved.
12:10 UCF director’s approval: Deb introduced herself.
Pastor asked a question regarding the term limits of the UCF
term limits. Art mentioned that we have 3-year commitments
each term. There are no numbers of term limits set. Pastor
asked church for volunteers to help the UCF board with their
service.
*Casey discussed intentional thought behind nominating
team and finding individuals with spiritual gifts for leadership
team.
*All approved
12:30 Budget -Financial meeting was held on Wednesday
before annual meeting for any questions that may be
present. Meeting had good turnout with great questions.
December 31, 2015 cash balance $7,656.92, bonds were
paid off at year-end and no outstanding bills were present.
Joel discussed how youth pastor cost was in budget. Youth
pastor was to be paid $24,000/year, home to be provided
currently and no health insurance provided.
Katie motioned to approve budget, Vicky seconded. All
approved.
12:39 Zach vote of affirmation
*Background will be performed soon. Dan motioned,
Gerianne seconded
*Many people welcomed Zach’s emotions, philosophy, story,
LBBC involvement, and other items
*Other involved with youth thanked Jim/Cindy, Joy/Casey,
and Katie for their involvement during this interim period.
*All approved
*Prayer for Zach through this transition
12:52 Delegates
LBBC delegates: Katie/Gina/Dayna
NWC in Duluth: Pastor – others come to pastor to join him
Question: what does the UCF do? Art responded with the
duties it represents with Little Lambs and Ridgeview under
the UCF.
12:54 Thank you to leadership team of 2015. Thank you to
Mike/Doug for past service. Thank you to committee
leaders.
Mike motioned, Gerianne seconded. All approved.
12:57 Old business – none.
12:15 Remaining reports
12:57 New business
*Fair dates mentioned by Dayna. Gerianne mentioned,
“touch” to fair people. The 7,000 was used to pay off bonds
and tithe to youth.
*March 13, 2016 LBBC promotion Sunday, Schenbergers are
coming to our church
*War Room movie coming soon, presented by women’s
ministry with meal and snacks
Jeff – maintenance committee
Prior year (2015)
There was the water problem downstairs so they made their
best effort towards fixing any future water in the basement
Current year efforts (2016)
Furnace replacement (both), boilers and heating system,
painting all areas, larger down spouts, phone system/wifi,
toilets, and water softener
Joel asked congregation to come to the leadership team with
any further small items. Cindy motioned, Pam seconded for
fixing items. All approved.
12:22 Approve Leadership team and nominating team.
Pam motioned, Dayna seconded.
Question changes?
*Mike, Doug, Jim terms up
*Jan, Jenny, Jim coming on
1:00 Pastor Dan prayed for Mike/Doug as they leave board,
for Jan/Jenny as they join board, and prayer for current
leadership team.
He then continued with thank you to Jim/Cindy, Jan/Casey,
and Katie for guiding our youth and growth they have created
within our church.
1:08 Casey mentioned a few topics including our continued
focus on our youth ministry. We will need a new
membership class soon with our growth.
Pastor thanked Joel for past years’ service. Communication
asked of congregation. First 15 minutes of each leadership
team is for our congregation.
1:11 Closing prayer from pastor. Dayna motioned Mike
seconded for closing of our 2016 annual meeting. All
approved. Meeting adjourned.
Happy Birthday
1st: Delany Vold
7th: Dave Clausen
9th: Ila Mae Newville
10th: Grace Grahovac
12th: Leah Pearson
14th: Erin Carlson
13th: Jane Solberg, Joel Marksuon, Hendrick Carlson
19th: Abigail Markuson, Alicia Peterson, Pete Cogbill
21st: Carter Carlson
22nd: Peggy Hagstrom
23rd: Michael Elmer
25th: Samantha Anderson
Music Team:
6th: 1
13th: 4 (Youth)
20th: 3
27th: 2
April 2016-10:00 a.m. Worship Schedule
Service Leader:
3rd: Keith Anderson
10th: Dirk Prindle
17th: Casey Keller
24th: Jim Mohrland
Hymn Leader:
3rd: Pam Moriak
10th: Sue Spurrell
17th: Pam Moriak
24th: Sue Spurrell
Piano:
3rd: Leah Pearson
10th: Heidi Clausen
17th: Sheryl Forshier
24th: Karna Markuson
Reader:
3rd: Mike Pickard
10th: Lynn Schone
17th: Pam Van Heuklom
27th: Pam Moriak
Nursery:
3rd: Lynn Pickard/Lily Elmer
10th: Katie Jurisch/Katie Keller
17th: Brenda Cogbill/Mikayla Peterson
24th: Andrea Clemmens/Olivia Peterson
Greeter and Usher:
6th: Jan/Keith Anderson/Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
13th: Carl/Ethel Paulson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
20th: Doug/Norma Otto, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
27th: Bob/Mary Benson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
(ushers Dave/Dylan Clausenl)
Communion: Dirk/Dayna Prindle, Linda/Louis Mayer
Happy Anniversary
12th: Dan and Gretchen Wallberg
Music Team:
3rd: 1
10th: 2
17th: 3
24th: 4 (Youth)
28th: Bill and Katie Elmer
March 2016-10:00 a.m. Worship Schedule
Service Leader:
6th: Casey Keller
13th: Jim Mohrland
20th: Derrick Meyer
27th: Cary Eastvold
Hymn Leader:
6th: Pam Moriak
13th: Sue Spurrell
20th: Pam Moriak
27th: Sue Spurrell
Piano:
6th: Leah Pearson
13th: Heidi Clausen
20th: Sheryl Forshier
27th: Karna Markuson
Reader:
6th: Lucas Carlson
13th: Sue Spurrell
20th: Tami Linden
27th: Cindy Mohrland
Nursery:
6th: Phyllis Luhman/Clara Pearson
13th: Andrea Moe/Kristen Katz
20th: Katie Elmer/Ruth Elmer
27th: Katie Jurisch/Nichole Keller
Greeter and Usher:
6th: Jan/Keith Anderson/Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
13th: Carl/Ethel Paulson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
20th: Doug/Norma Otto, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
27th: Bob/Mary Benson, Larry Benson/Jack Tanner
(ushers Dave/Dylan Clausen)
Communion: Casey/Joy Keller, Jane/Jeff Warren
CLAY- (Christ Led Area Youth)
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this
treasure in jars of clay, to show that
the surpassing power belongs to
God and not to us.
Pizza Fundraiser
Lucky’s Pizza
458 3rd Ave.
Clear Lake, WI 54005
715-554-0102
In House or Take-out Orders
Expires March 31, 2016
Selections
Cheese
12” $9 / 16” $13
Pepperoni OR
Sausage
12” $10 / 16” $14
Chicken Alfredo
12” $11 / 16” $15
Supreme
12” $13 / 16” $17