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 Liturgical Nerd Notes
Will we be able to have Communion?
Holy Communion is a central part of worship where the gathered people receive the Body and Blood of Christ. In this Holy Sacrament we receive forgiveness, refreshment in faith, and a drive to continue to share the love of Jesus with the world. While communion is not required for salvation, it has a giant role in how we do church. This has a lot of people asking if and how we can have communion.
You are not alone. In fact this is a question being asked around the globe. Timothy J. Wengert, a top Lutheran theologian in the United States recently wrote as essay titled, "Holly Communion and Quarantine". He wanted to make sure that outside of following medical professionals and governmental guidance, there is no right answer on how we do communion. How we view communion has changed and the frequency with which we participate in Holly Communion has changed even in our own church's history. With no clear cut answer to this question, please have faith and consider my current feelings on the matter.
Holy Communion is a public rite that takes place among the gathered assembly. Because of this, and i write this with a heavy heart, I am calling on our church to partake in the fasting of Holy Communion. We are postponing communion until we are able to physically gather in the sanctuary to worship and celebrate the Sacrament of the Alter.
In light of this I would like to give two points:
- This does not mean Holy Communion is not special, life-giving, and a staple of our worship.On the contrary,., it is out of respect for the sacrament that I call us a time of fasting communion.
- As the coronavirus outbreak lengthens and the possibility of not worshiping in the sanctuary lengthens, my interpretation of the gathered assembly may open up. I am open to changing this stance in the future.
One of the perks of fasting is growing an even stronger appreciation for what you have given up . It is my hope as your pastor and brother in Christ that all of us can hold off in a prayerful and faithful way. When we do finally get to come back to the altar be assured that your hunger and thirst for God's love will be satisfied!
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 The following have been elected to positions of leadership and trust at Augustana Lutheran Church:
Kathy Atwell, Bonnie Bandelow secretary, Bryan Johnson vice chairman, Nicholas Swanson, Emily Maertens, Jeanine Lees, Mindy Poppy, Linda Papoccia, Jeanine Westerlund, Michael Carlson and Pastor Reed Pedersen
Contact info. for all Council members found on Website Leadership Page...Link HERE
May God bless them, and direct their deeds in peace, that they may be faithful servants of Christ.
Congregation Council Highlights
March 8, 2020
- Luther Hall renovation is finished except painting the kitchen.
- Property Committee is replacing exterior doors at the Parsonage..
- Outreach Committee needs help filling Easter eggs for the Cambridge family. Suggestions include candy, Bible verses, money. Please fill eggs in increments of 5, with the same thing(s). Filled eggs can be left in the coat room. (This has been postponed until May.)
- There will be 2 Easter Services. 7 AM in The Chapel and 10:30 in the Sanctuary. (Now Canceled)
- Summer services will start at 9:30 on Sunday, 31 May.
- There will be outdoor services on Thursdays at 7 PM, weather permitting.
- Saturday, 28 March, is spring cleanup day (now changed).
The next Church Council meeting will be noon, Sunday, 19 April. Linda & Bonnie will bring lunch. (No Lunch but meeting will happen.)
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April Birthdays02 Logan Selander
04 Lois Floming
06 Laura Rickey
07 Patty Stinson
07 Pastor Reed Pedersen
12 Daniel Lindstrom
12 Aubree Gordon
13 Steven Klundt
14 Emma Poppy
16 Emmett Green
17 Tom Johnson
17 Wally Ladewig
18 Eli Hutchison
19 Doug Nelson
20 Amanda Nelson
21 Alec Gray
21 Leyton Carlson
25 Kathy Atwell
26 Bonnie Bandelow
26 Kyah Johnson
27 Anika Ruthaivilavan
30 Mikayla Poppy
30 Tabitha Barham
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15 Dave and Patsy Crippen
18 Chuck and Mary Bizarri
19 Mark and Ruby Anderson
24 John and Lori Foley
28 Daniel and Kelki Anderson
28 Adam and Sarah Kettler
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News Alert!
 Easter is not canceled, it is just going to be different. Please be mindful of your language and viewpoint. Jesus still rose from the grave. "He is Risen Indeed! Hallelujah!" will still ring true on April 12, God is with us in the ups and the downs. Jesus rose for us so that we have the promise of eternal life even when going through a pandemic. yes, we will have a big celebration once we are able to have worship in the sanctuary again, but I believe we can make a showing of strength and faith on Easter Sunday by celebrating it, virtually or drive-in, even in dark times like these. |
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Bishop Clements to Preach Online April 19, 2020
Bishop Clements will be posting a virtual sermon on the second Sunday of Easter. This is intended to provide a Sunday off from preaching for pastors in the synod.
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The church building will be locked until the stay at home order is lifted, currently April 8th. If you would like to give an offering, please send it by mail to our church address:
Augustana Lutheran Church
P.O. Box 157
Andover, IL, 61233
Historical Society Meeting, April 21 - Canceled
Founder's Day Service, April 26 - Canceled
Easter Egg Giving Opportunity for the Yenor Family - Postponed
Drive-In Church
To accommodate those without internet connection or a DVD player, Augustana Lutheran Church is looking into a drive-in worship. Like a drive-in movie theater, everyone would park their cars on the church property, tune to a specified radio channel, and listen/watch the worship service from their vehicles. Virtual worship would still be posted. Those with internet can choose which service to attend. Those without internet would have a wonderful opportunity to still gather for worship. This worship could start as soon as the stay at home order is lifted, which as of now is April 8th, If you are interested in this, please contact the church (309-521-8127) or Pastor Reed (515-370-5114).
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Spring Cleaning Opportunity
Every spring our church tries to have a big gathering of parishioners to help clean up sticks and leaves, trim hedges, and clean out any unnecessary items in the building. This event, like all church events through April, has been canceled, but that doesn't mean we can't work together to help clean up our church and church yard.
Once the stay at home order is lifted, currently set to lift on April 8th, we will open times for people to sign up to help clean up our church. This would mean that an individual or family would come out for an hour or two and help pick up sticks and leaves and put them on the burn pile. We would clean up the church yard over days rather than in one day.You can sign up for a time by calling the church (309-521-8127) or Pastor Reed (505-370-5114) and requesting a day and time slot. Hopefully, we can get enough people interested to be able to clean up the church yard and the yard around Jenny Lind Chapel.
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Congratulations to the Newlyweds, John and Daisy Poppy!
 On March 21st, John William and Daisy May Poppy joined together in holy matrimony . Please lift them up in your thanks and prayers for this wondrous occasion.
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Special Thanks and Praise
 Wally Ladewig would like to publicly thank and praise God for the person who donated their lungs to him so he could live. This month also marks 8 years of living with the new lungs.
Thanks be to God
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Church Modernization Projects Update
Augustana Lutheran Church would appreciate your continued support towards the Church Modernization Project. Our goal to raise $105,000 in three years to help pay back the Endowment Fund used to pay for these projects. Current status:
Goal = $ 105,000
# Pledges Received = 31
$ Pledged = $ 65,590
Total $ = $ 96,587
% of Goal (Pledges) = 62.5 %
% of Goal ($) = 92.0 %
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