Quarterly Newsletter
Mark Niethammer, Lead Pastor
A couple of weeks ago, along with most of the rest of the Christian Church on earth, we celebrated Pentecost. Although watered down over time, the celebration of Pentecost should awaken each of us to the movement of God’s spirit in our lives and communities.
As I see it, there were a couple of amazing things happening at the first Pentecost (Acts 2). People were coming to faith in Jesus in droves, which is pretty amazing; people were speaking in languages they didn’t know, which is pretty amazing too. But, it is no good if people are speaking in other languages if they aren’t understood. I think that’s the big miracle: people were listening and understanding. That is what happens when the Spirit of God blows: people are brought together in new and unexpected ways.
I think that has been the most fun thing to watch happen at St. Olaf since I began my ministry with all of you. Almost from day one, the Spirit of God has been moving in this place in new ways; and it was that Spirit of God that opened up this faith community to seeing the needs of the community around and not just our debt or conflict.
When the Spirit of God blew, St. Olaf leveraged ugly Crocs into food (and subsequently empowering other churches to follow our lead). When the Spirit of God blew, St. Olaf provided socks for our kindergarteners’ wet feet, gloves for our Banfield neighbors, care packages for active duty military, food for hungry college kids, supplies for new mothers. The Spirit of God blew and St. Olaf answered the call to be For Our Neighbors.
Since I announced that I was completing my ministry at St. Olaf and beginning a new chapter in Iowa, I have been asked what St. Olaf was going to do. What would happen to St. Olaf? Who would lead us?
While I cannot predict the future, I do know two things to be true. The Spirit of God continues to blow and move and equip in this place. Secondly, all of you are able to discern what God needs of this faith community next. My fervent prayer for you all as a faith community is that you look forward, not back. God’s call to St. Olaf always pushes us to lean forward, to trust that God will show up again. Listen for the Spirit to blow and then follow as it leads you in the future that God has prepared.
God’s blessings to you all,
• Supporting our youth attending the ELCA Youth Gathering
• Adult Education & Continuing Education Day • Holy Week & Easter Sunday
Baccalaureate / Graduate Recognition
Program Year Wrap Up
JUNE 2024 // ISSUE 4 // VOLUME 5
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Connected to Christ Through Each Other
Supporting St. Olaf’s Youth Going to the ELCA Youth Gathering
On Wednesday, February 28, the people of St. Olaf prepared and served an old-fashioned salad luncheon dinner buffet for our Lenten meal. Salads were narrowed down and chosen because they were a favorite salad, but more likely because they were salads that brought back memories of the Saints of St. Olaf’s past.
Here’s a snapshot of the night!
- Salads made: 24
- Helpers in the kitchen: 25
- People served: 150+
- Money raised for our youth: $1,181.50
- Stories shared about the Saints of St. Olaf: Hundreds
- Times Lyn ran to the grocery store: 3
- Pounds of butter used: 20
- Quarts of Mayonnaise/Cool Whip/Miracle Whip: 4
- Times Pastor Mark provided the “correct” definition of a salad on Wednesday: 18
A place that feels like family and where memories live on: Priceless!
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Connected to Christ Through Each Other
Supporting St. Olaf’s Youth Going to the ELCA Youth Gathering
A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to all who came to Pizza Ranch to support our students as they fundraise their way to New Orleans this summer! Between the March 4th and April 29th Pizza Ranch fundraisers, St. Olaf’s youth raised right around $2,000, which will all go towards their ELCA Youth Gathering costs. The 8 students, their families, and Lyn are exhausted from all of their hard work...and so, so grateful to the communities of Austin and St. Olaf for continuing to invest in their faith journeys.
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Connected to Christ Through Service
Here are some photos of St. Olaf Lutheran Church volunteers busy preparing for the oldfashioned salad luncheon on February 28. `
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Connected to Christ Through Learning Adult Education
Dr. John Toso, former family physician here in Austin and former member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, presented during the adult education time between worship services on Sunday, April 28 on the topic of grief. He reviewed the stages of grief reading representative poems of these stages from his recently published book, From Shadows to Light - Poems of a Grieving Man. Following the presentation, there was a discussion focusing on the formation of a Grief Support Group at St. Olaf.
In his book, Dr. Toso chronicles his intimate and painful journey of grief after the loss of his wife and childhood sweetheart, Joann, from cancer. The 58 poems in this 3-part anthology progress from the gloom of death,
to disorientation of bereavement, and finally to discovery of meaning and new life. One of Dr. Toso’s reason to publish this book of his private grief journaling was that he found that very few grief support books are written by men.
Dr. Toso’s career has stretched from primary care in Minnesota to missionary medicine in Madagascar and Tanzania. As a co-founder of Global Health Ministries of Minnesota, Dr. Toso and his second wife Jan Johnshoy regularly volunteer at this grassroots organization supporting Lutheran healthcare worldwide. St. Olaf frequently has youth volunteer days at Global Health Ministries in Fridley, MN.
A limited number of his books are available for purchase from Kathy Jensen. Otherwise, they may be purchased directly from Dr. Toso by contacting him via email at: john.toso@gmail.com
Continuing Education Day
Continuing Education Day, part of St. Olaf’s Caring Ministry, put together by the Senior Ministry Committee, occurred on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The topics of discussion included: What’s New in IT, Scams, and Other Tech Topics presented by Dick Flisrand. Also the Power of Music Therapy presented by Emma Evans-Peck, a board-certified music therapist and neurologic music therapist from the MacPhil Center for Music, in Austin. Ms. Evans-Peck explained what music therapy implies with a focus on the neurologic underpinnings, leaving the participants with the tools to utilize in their daily lives to enhance their quality of life.
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Connected to Christ Through Worship & Learning
Holy Week: Palm Sunday & Easter Celebration
During Holy Week at St. Olaf, the church hosted Palm Sunday services on March 24, 2024, at 8:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Between these services, St. Olaf held an Easter celebration for Sunday school-aged kids at 9:30 a.m. The theme was “Who’s in Your Basket?” where students talked about the many ways we can experience Jesus in our lives and through Holy Week and Easter.
Check out the video of Palm Sunday and the Easter Celebration by clicking the image, or use the QR code below with your phone’s camera app.
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Connected to Christ Through Worship & Learning
Holy Week: Maundy Thursday & Communion Workshop
During Holy Week at St. Olaf, the church hosted a Communion Workshop with 3rd-6th grade students and their families. This workshop included teachings on Holy Communion, fellowship with one another, bread baking communion bread for Maundy Thursday worship, and dinner. After, students attended the Maundy Thursday service on Thursday, March 28, at 6:00 p.m.
Watch a video of the Commuion Workshop and the Maundy Thursday service, including the stripping of the altar, by clicking the image or scanning the QR code with your phone.
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Connected to Christ Through Worship & Learning
Holy Week: Good Friday & Easter Sunday
Participants from St. Olaf Lutheran Church presented a reader’s theatre presentation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, March 29, 2024. Then, on March 31, 2024, during St. Olaf’s three Sunday services, the congregation gathered to celebrate Easter Sunday.
Click on the image to watch a recap of the Good Friday and Easter Sunday worship services, or scan the QR code with your phone’s camera app to view the video.
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Connected to Christ Through Worship
Brian Williams, Director of Worship & Music
March 3rd Organ Recital
On Sunday, March 3, Brian Williams gave an organ recital between services as a way to celebrate the expanded possibilities of the new organ console, and to present music appropriate for the season of Lent. Celebrated composer and improvisor Marcel Dupre composed his “Passion Symphony” in 1924; the piece began as an improvisation at the Wanamaker Store in Philadelphia in December 1921. Brian presented the last two movements - Crucifixion and Resurrection.
On Good Friday, March 29th, the St. Olaf Church Choir presented an aria, Mache dich, mein Herze, rein, from the St. Matthew Passion by J. S. Bach.
Click on the image to the left to watch the aria!
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St. Olaf Wraps Up the Program Year
The last day of Youth Group for the year was on May 1. Here is a group photo in front of St. Olaf church.
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Photos of the last day of St. Olaf Sunday School & Sunday School Choir for the year on May 5.
A photo of the last day of St. Olaf Confirmation for the year on May 15.
Graduate Recognition at St. Olaf
On Sunday, May 19, St. Olaf held a baccalaureate graduate recognition at the 10:45 a.m. service, where St. Olaf’s high school seniors and their families received a blessing for their future endeavors and a congratulatory gift from the congregation. We are excited for them and what God has in store for each of their lives. Please continue to pray for our graduates, who include:
(L to R in top photo:) Casey Davis, Garrin Wilson, Marcos Castro, Ryan Soucek, Jacob Quitmeyer, Shawn Stahl, Max Larson, Allie Alm, Ellie Lunt, Olivia Bolster, Brynn Bastyr, Bhan Kerjiok (not pictured), and Brayden Maricle (not pictured).
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Reflecting on a Joyful Year
It is hard to believe that the programming year for 2023/2024 is completed. There were so many activities and so much enthusiasm every Sunday & Wednesday. I will surely miss all of them. Time flies by fast when you have fun with kids. Sunday School was a fabulous weekly event. This year, we studied familiar Bible stories from both the Old and New Testaments. With a mixture of crafts and science projects, we fully immersed ourselves in the story each Sunday. Music with Brian Williams started the day. He gets the kids moving and engaged with whatever song they are singing. We read the story of the week, moved to the gym to play a group game, and spent the last few minutes working on the projects. Sundays do not seem the same without the energy of young kids running around all three floors. The same could be said of confirmation and youth group. There were 15-30 kids on any given week for supper, and some of the older kids brought friends to
celebrate youth group activities. My 5th and 6th graders completed the lesson outline of the Bible. We tap danced through most of the books to find out why they are included. In the last few weeks, we raced through the New Testament books other than the Gospels. This year was the information year for the deeper lessons of the Bible with Pastor Madison. The last night of confirmation included an energetic night filled with Bible trivia. This night amazes me as all the kids come up with answers from the past year. They remember the most random facts from lessons and are very competitive when we play games.
Throughout the year, we did some community projects. Lent focused on how simple it is to give food to our community. We continued with this theme by going to Dollar General to buy items for our Little Pantries on either side of the church. Of course, the last youth group meeting is always well attended. Hide and Seek in the church is full of fun and a challenge for those seeking. I love how the kids are eager to explore their church.
Preparing Salvation Army meals continues to be well supported. Every month, two families come in on a Saturday morning to create two meals for 60 people each. In typical Lutheran kitchen fashion, they spend the time getting to know each other while working on the meals. Most meals are simple comfort food recipes that can be frozen for a limited time so the Salvation Army workers can easily warm them up to be served. We receive positive feedback every month on how many people we feed with our meals. The ultimate compliment is when they ask for the recipe so they can prepare it themselves. I value this ministry both for forming a community bond in our church and for supporting our local families with their basic needs.
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Lyn Meany, Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries
Gifts & Memorials
Backpackers
IMO Chuck & Mary Moline
Given by Stephanie Grotbo
Building
IMO Andrew Anhorn
Given by Randall & Wendy Kramer, Gayle & Lavonne Bergstrom, and Marie Cano
Decorating
IMO Mary Anderson
Given by Darrell & Diane Ingvaldson
Endowment
IMO Carol Bulson and Glenn Bakke
Given by Paul & Joanne Worlein, Darlys Smith, David & Diane Dammen, Janice Krambeer, and Norma Wangen
Foundation
IMO Carol Bulson & Glenn Bakke, Bob Koch, Glenn Mair, Harry & Ruby Larson, Joel Gullickson, and Mary Moline
Given by Darlene Koch, Dwight Larson, Daniel & Carla Conradt, Thomas & Gwendolyn Morem, Renae Bakke, Barbara Mair, and James & Jeanine Nelson
Music
IMO Carol Bulson
Given by Darrell & Diane Ingvaldson
Our Home
IMO Carol Bulson, Glenn Bakke, Larry Diggins, Teckla Baskin,
Given by James Braaten, Duane Dahlback, Robert & Susan Petersen, Darlene Aakre, Keith and Carolyn Eilertson, Sharron Mills, Ronald & Lois Peters, Larry & Sherry Andersen, Darlene Koch, Paul & Joanne Worlein, Walt & Sharon Alms, Alan & Alice Holst, and Ron & Lois Peters
General
IMO Carol Bulson, David & Peggy Tollefson, Enid Thompson, Glenn Bakke, Larry Diggins, Mary Anderson, Mary Moline, and Robert Koch
Given by James & Mary Herrick, Janet Lees, Jeanette Ramseth, Jim Braaten, John & Janet Westendorf, Judith Bungum, Karen & Linda Baier, Karen Herreid, Keith & Sharon Barnes, Kenneth & Doris Hagen, Kyle & Kersten Tollefson, Larry & Joyce Crowe, Larry & Sherry Andersen, Lawrence & Joyce Crowe, Lois Gunderson, Lora Lee Bauer, Lowell & Gail Sim, Michael & Karen Lewis, Michael Ruzek, Nancy Allen, Neal & Cindy Grotsun, Norma Brown, Page Petersen, Richard & Judith Bergen, Robert & Karen Pedersen, Ronald & Alice Anderson, Rose Folken, Sarah Shaw, Steve & Barb Kime, Steve & Cheryl Greenman, Steve Bjoraker, Tamara Underwood, Carol Bulson’s Friends & Family, Dave & Mary Crandall, David & Brenda Raffelson, David & Kathy Bjorge, David & Mary Jo Swoboda, Deanna Ashley, Dennis & Joy Blaser, Dianne Barrett, Esther Antonisen, Dana & Suzanne Miller, Daniel & Rebecca Astrup, Darlene Koch & Family, Cheryl Dunlap, Collen & Bob Weimer, Craig Johnson, and Barbara Mair
Prayer Shawls
IMO Glenn Bakke
Given by Judith Bungum
Radio
IMO Glenn Bakke
Given by Deanna Bakke, Mr & Mrs Raymond Kyllo, and Arthur & Sharon Nott
Wee Learning Center
IMO Glenn Bakke
Given by Frank & Faye Learn
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Looking Ahead
St. Olaf’s Vacation Bible School 2024 July 15-18, 9:00-11:30 a.m.
Rising Pre-K through 4th Grade can sign up by July 11th by visiting www.solc.org/vbs
Volunteers of all ages are needed! Please contact Lyn Meany via email or by calling the church office for more information or to volunteer.
St. Olaf’s Fair Diner at the Mower County Fair Fair Dates: August 6-11
Look for volunteer sign up sheets at St. Olaf this summer for pie making, pre-fair work, and fair shifts.
WORSHIP WITH US!
Sundays in-person: 8:15 a.m. + 10:45 a.m.
Livestreamed online: 8:15 a.m.
On the radio: 10:45 a.m. (KAUS 1480AM/99.9FM)
Check us out on our social media pages!
/stolafchurch
@stolaflutheranchurchELCA
@stolaflutheran
Sign up for our weekly Holy Ole e-newsletter by visiting www.solc.org/subscribe
St. Olaf Staff
Pastor Mark Niethammer Lead Pastor mniethammer@solc.org
Pastor Madison Chelberg Pastor of Faith Formation madisonc@solc.org
Eric Buntrock Business Administrator ericmb@solc.org
Lyn Meany Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries lynm@solc.org
Mark Metcalf Custodian markm@solc.org
Sarv Mithaqiyan Communications Coordinator sarv@solc.org
Brian Williams Director of Worship & Music brianw@solc.org
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