Family and Friends of Alan Foster
PRAYERS: Jon Cook; Millie Mutka; Kathy Mayo; Barb Zima’s friends Dave Butschli, Mick, Steven and Marilyn Hummel; Gregory Bowens; Laurie Nelson; Amber Ross’s daughter Linda; Sandy Bishop’s brother Larry Barber; Randy & Diane Niemczyk’s daughter Julia VanAvery, niece Sarah Joda, and their dear friend Denise Hazel; Dick Volland; Valeria Hesselberg; Chris Markussen; Anne Verona’s sister/brother-in-law Pat & Woody Woodworth and friends Dennis Peterson and Natalie Madine; Ann Currie; Strong’s friend Erin Molle; Debbie Cyrtmus’ mother, Rose Wicker and sister, Corrie Trittin; the Ebert’s friend Patricia Kulzick and Gary’s son Matthew; Joyce Leander’s cousin Laurie Nelson; Ashley Clark’s friends Michael Loomis, Keith & Becky Hernandez; the Waggoner’s sister-in-law Cheryl Busse; Karen Engels and her niece Lisa and friends Bob and Dawn; Ann Carlson’s people Enid, Stacy, Dana, Julie, Michael, Denny, Richard and Troy; and peace for all nations and comfort for those in distress.
PRAYER LIST PROCEDURE – Submit your prayer requests to the office in writing, by phone, by email or in person. If requesting prayers for someone other than yourself or an immediate family member, please obtain permission – unless the circumstances are public in nature.
GUESTS – if you are visiting us today, please sign our book at the entrance to the sanctuary.
WORSHIP LIVESTREAM – Our Sunday 9:00 am worship is posted weekly on YouTube and Facebook.
DON SCHIESL – Mary Akins invites all of you to join her in celebrating the well-lived life of Don Schiesl. A Celebration of Life will be held Jun 21st at the Veteran’s Resource Center, 418 W. Pine, Eagle River from 3:00 – 7:00 PM. There will be a repast. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the VRC.
QUILTERS –Tie one on with the quilting group as they assemble quilts. Next gathering is June 4th from 9:30 to 11:30 am.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOOK DISCUSSION –Join us after worship for the “Ashes to Action” book study led by Chris Ebert. It is about the response & journey of Calvary Lutheran Church in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s murder.
BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK – has been moved to Sunday, June 8th due to a scheduling conflict.
POP up at POP for POPS! This coming week looks like a good time to start our pop-up at Prince of Peace for Popsicles On (the) Pier! We will be handing out popsicles – free for the taking-donations welcomed – out on the pier for anyone boating past. Ann from the Front Office will take on the inaugural shift and will report back as to how it works out. This is a way to use our pier and get people talking about our church.
PRAISE IN THE PINES – On Saturday, July 19th, 2025, Eagle River, WI, will host the second annual Praise in the Pines Music Festival. This full-day event features a free Worship Experience, food trucks, a Christian ministry faire, and a headline concert by the Newsboys. They are asking for prayers, donations, and hands-on help. Visit www.praiseinthepines.org today to donate or volunteer.
SHALL WE GATHER AT THE RIVER? – We will be kayaking to church on Sunday. You can arrive via whatever mode of transportation you desire. Those kayaking will leave the t-docks at 8:00 am.
GODS WORK – OUR HANDS – SUMMER FUN – Mark your calendars:
June 29th – PIE DAY Bring your favorite pie to share, at fellowship, following the service. Ice cream will be provided.
July 27th – POTLUCK PICNIC Bring your favorite dish to pass! Ham & Buns will be provided. Picnic here after worship.
Aug 24th – MINI GOLF Tee-time will be at 11am, following fellowship hour.
Sept 7th – GWOHs DAY Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Our Backpack Program.
MOVIE NIGHT – our first Movie Night will be June 24 at 6:00 pm. If you would like to sponsor a movie night – please contact Ann Carlson in the Front Office. The movie will be Peanut Butter Falcon – PG13. Open to all at no cost. Popcorn, water and candy will be on hand.
LOST & FOUND – If someone picked up a black jacket a couple of Sundays ago and realized it wasn’t theirs – please contact Diane Niemczyk 715-347-8866 to swap out jackets.
EGGS UPDATE – Moving forward – eggs will be brought in on a request basis. Please let Ann know when you need a dozen eggs and depending on egg production – eggs will be provided.
ALZHEIMERS MONTH – there is a lot going on via the ARDC in recognition of June being Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Please check out the hallway for all the upcoming events.
LIGHT THE FIRE FOR FORTUNE LAKE – Come worship around the fire while we raise funds for Fortune Lake Lutheran Bible Camp. Sunday, June 1 at 6 pm CT – Ascension Lutheran Church – 7937 Hwy 51 South, Minocqua, WI 54548. Can’t attend in person? There will be an opportunity to support the summer ministry at Fortune Lake through online giving to Light the Fire from May 23 – June 2. Visit fortunelake.org website for giving opportunities.
FUN FACT – This fact was not deeply researched – but researched enough to discover no one really has a good explanation. Came about because I was listening to “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” sung by the King’s Choir I believe. And the choir came into the sanctuary and seated themselves facing each other. And of course, Kate and Will’s wedding – at Westminster Abbey – the pews face inward. Inward facing pews mostly occur in Anglican churches. Some of the theories as to why are as follows: The reason for it was to keep people warm. Many of the old churches had individual stoves at the pew where hot bricks were placed to keep people’s feet warm. After the Protestant Reformation, the idea of pews from front to back became very popular. Not sure why this response would make inward pews better than forward pews. I also found this explanation: “A tradition in cathedrals where Sisters (Nuns) in the Roman Catholic Church would do the Liturgy of the Hours. Half of the Sisters would sit on either side, taking turns reading the liturgy (ex. Left side: opening hymn. Right side: preceding psalm. Left side: hymn). The pews are faced inward so the Liturgy of the Hours was able to be read to the Sisters simultaneously while facing each other.” During all of this ‘research’ – I found out the following – which I found to be very interesting. At Westminster Abbey inside the Great West Door in the centre of the nave, is the grave of the Unknown Warrior: an unidentified soldier killed on a European battlefield during the First World War. This is the site of the very first grave of the Unknown Soldier. The idea came from army chaplain David Railton, in 1920. The funeral was held on 11 November 1920, the second anniversary of the end of the war. While the Unknown Warrior lay in state for a week an est.1.25 million people viewed his gravesite. This grave is the only floor stone in the abbey on which it is forbidden to walk, and every visit by a foreign head of state begins with a visit to it. (Did not 100% fact check this).
NOTES FROM ANN – My devotional of choice is ‘Jesus Calling’ by Sarah Young. I have been inconsistent about reading it on a daily basis. Which is dumb because it gives me such a foundation to start my day. However, the other day I was reading the scripture that was included with the devotional for that day – The thought crossed my mind – is the Bible static? Are there more authors who are conduits of God? As I was pondering this thought – I picked up a book that was recently given to me called “The Gift” by Hafiz. I had browsed through the book previously. At this particular moment in time though – I decided to read the forward and read the following words,
“People from many religious traditions share the belief that there are always living persons who are one with God. These rare souls disseminate light upon this earth and entrust the Divine to others. Hafiz is regarded as one who came to live in that sacred union, and sometimes in his poems he speaks directly of that experience.”
Come on now – are you kidding me? When I told Burt how my question was immediately answered – he said – okay – next time ask for the lottery numbers. Pretty sure it doesn’t work that way.
If you were wondering who Hafiz (also known as Hafez — 1316-1390) was a Persian poet, whose collected works are regarded by many Iranians as a pinnacle of Persian literature. Following is one of his poems
Where Are the Tidings of Union? English translation by Gertrude Lowthian Bell
Where are the tidings of union? that I may arise
Forth from the dust I will rise up to welcome thee!
My soul, like a homing bird, yearning for Paradise,
Shall arise and soar, from the snares of the world set free.
When the voice of thy love shall call me to be thy slave,
I shall rise to a greater far than the mastery
Of life and the living, time and the mortal span :
Pour down, oh Lord I from the clouds of thy guiding grace.
The rain of a mercy that quickeneth on my grave.
Before, like dust that the wind bears from place to place,
I arise and flee beyond the knowledge of man.
When to my grave thou turnest thy blessed feet,
Wine and the lute thou shalt bring in thine hand to me,
Thy voice shall ring through the folds of my windingsheet,
And I will arise and dance to thy minstrelsy.
Though I be old, clasp me one night to thy breast,
And I, when the dawn shall come to awaken me,
With the flush of youth on my cheek from thy bosom will rise.
Rise up! let mine eyes delight in thy stately grace!
Thou art the goal to which all men’s endeavour has pressed,
And thou the idol of Hafiz’ worship ; thy face
From the world and life shall bid him come forth and arise!
Can’t really top that with any other words I may have today. Enjoy this wonderful day in God’s Country – the Northwoods!