St. John/Norrona News

 May 2022

Please have any reports or information to be included in the newsletter submitted by the 24th of each month. Thank you.  stjohn.norrona@sasktel.net

Pastor Carlton Larsen

Church – (306) 725-3113

Email – stjohn.norrona_pastor@sasktel.net

Website – stjohnnorrona.com

Scripture Lessons

May 1, 2022:

Acts 9:1-20                                           Psalm 30

Revelation 5:11-14                                John 21:1-19

May 8, 2022:

Acts 9:36-43                                         Psalm 23

Revelation 7:9-17                                  John 10:22-30

May 15, 2022:

Acts 11:1-18                                         Psalm 148

Revelation 21:1-6                                  John 13:31-35

May 22, 2022:

Acts 16:9-15                                         Psalm 67

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5                      John 14:23-29

May 29, 2022:

Acts 16:16-34                                        Psalm 97

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 2021           John 17:20-26

Pastor’s Message

Missions. What do you think of when you hear that word? Perhaps you have very positive connections and connotations. Perhaps you imagine the beauty of suffering people set free. You picture the grace of God ending a life of guilt and shame. In its place arises joy and hope and gratitude.

But that is only when missions are done well. Sometimes they are not. Sometimes missions are just part of a colonial power system. Sometimes the gospel of Jesus is distorted and used to subjugate or control populations so they can be exploited or robbed. It is very important that missions be done well because when the gospel is weaponized, it is very bad indeed.

This is why I am so proud of our Canadian Lutheran World Relief. CLWR works with faith groups and partners with people. CLWR does not barge in and impose “solutions” but takes the time to listen and find out what people need. Giving people what you think they should have is profoundly disrespectful and often also very destructive. It is always vital that the urge to help starts with the need to listen. Organizations like the Canadian Food Grains Bank also partner with CLWR and others in disaster relief and development projects.

I can hear a faint murmur. “That’s not missions! Missions is preaching!”

But what did Jesus do? He fed the crowds who were hungry. He did not preach to empty stomachs. Need will drown out words every time. Jesus said the mark of his people would be love. In the great judgment parable the sheep fed the poor, visited the imprisoned, clothed the naked, and gave water to the thirsty. They didn’t preach at them. Once real needs are met, it is possible to develop relationships and to explain why we have shared the love of Christ. Then there is the possibility of talking about Jesus. Only then can the words of the gospel be heard; after the works of the gospel have been done.

I am very proud of the work done by our parish in missions. We have supported our larger church in mission and specific ministries that have done true gospel work. We have drilled wells and built dams, delivered food and blankets and tents. We have fed and watered and visited and clothed Jesus as we have encountered him needing ministry. Christ keeps coming to us as “the least of these” and we have the opportunity to minister to the Jesus we see in each various face.

Can we do more? I think so. Let us examine our priorities, our bank accounts as a church and as families, and pray about this. What more can we do? Perhaps with our other local churches we can sponsor a refugee? Thousands are languishing in refugee camps all over the world. Whatever we do, let it be done in love and with joy and gratitude for we are tremendously blessed. And we can be a blessing. Let’s see how much of a joyful blessing we can be!

Amen.

St. John News

Roy Erickson’s Funeral will be on the May long weekend in the hall.  We no longer have the ELW to organize it. On behalf of our church, we feel that we would like to look after the lunch.  We will have two shifts.   Please contact Margot 725-7555 or Marilyn 725-7708 if you can help.  

Norrona News

The wiener roast after church on March 27 was a huge success and we plan to do that again, hopefully in June.  Thank you to Lowell Betker for agreeing to look after grass cutting at Norrona this summer.  Council is looking into getting quotes to have the church painted.  Teresa Kuski and Carrie Flotre will be looking into starting up Sunday school again this fall. 

     There will be a concert, hosted by Norrona church, on August 20 in the Strasbourg Community Hall featuring Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys.  We will also have our local musicians – Pastor Carlton, George Flotre, Brenda Small, Marvin Kelln and Peter Frostad performing as well.  Tickets will be available shortly and all the proceeds (after expenses) will go to Canadian Lutheran World Relief.  You can check out Jake Vaadeland and the Sturgeon River Boys on utube.  This will be a fun night so mark it on your calendars!

     We are sorry to be saying good-bye to Jon and Sharon Harvey.  The Harvey’s have been such an important part of Norrona for many, many years and will be retiring to Regina in mid May.  There is not enough room on this page to list everything they have been involved with or contributed to over the years.  Thank you, Jon and Sharon, and may God continue to shower you with blessings in your retirement. 

Norrona Lutheran Church

Financial Report – March 2022

Norrona Revenue

*Regular Sunday Offering (envelopes,

benevolence/missions (including CLWR),

loose, and other Norrona regular offering)    $2,200.00

*Other revenue (e.g. bank interest, Norrona

fundraising, and other Norrona-specific

revenue)                                                        $        5.78

Total Revenue                   $ 2,205.78  

Norrona Expenses

Paid to St. John

*Norrona portion of Parish Expenses (e.g.

Pastor salary, benefits, EI, mileage, Pulpit

Supply, office & worship supplies, telephone

office secretary)                                          $ 2,104.85

*Norrona Congregational Expenses (e.g.

maintenance, insurance, utilities, fundraising,

worship & office supplies, organist)             $   505.63

*Missions of the Church (e.g. Sask. Synod,

CLWR, and other Norrona specific mission

projects)                                                     $   195.00

Total Expenses                  $2,805.48

Net Income                       (-$599.70)

St. John Lutheran Church

Monthly Financial Summary

March 2022

Revenue

Total regular offering (includes for our

church, CLWR, Benevolence, Kinasao and

pre-authorized monthly giving)                      5,167.00

Total other revenue (e.g. rental property,

donations, interest, etc.)                                    958.72

Total revenue                                           $ 6,125.72

Expenses

Pastor Payroll (e.g. salary, benefits, EI,

mileage, etc.)                                              5,609.65                         

Missions (e.g. Benevolence, Sask. Synod,

etc.)                                                               692.00

Worship and services (e.g. Pulpit Supply,

travel time, mileage, worship and office

supplies, Organist, Secretary, Treasurer,

Envelope Secretary, etc.)                              1,164.52

Church properties (e.g. power, telephone,

natural gas, bank service charges, line of

credit, insurance, church maintenance,

etc.)                                                          _2,084.13

Total expenses                                         $ 9,550.30

Net Income                                          (-$ 3,424.58)

NOTE: On line donations for this month $240.00.