This past week will be one that many of us will remember until senility sets in. I can’t remember any week in my long life that was filled with so much emotion. On that Wednesday evening, I was in my study waiting for the Education Committee Meeting to begin, when I received the bad, sad news that Rod Nilsestuen had passed away. From then on, at least for many of us, our emotions began their roller coaster ride. Through it all, I learned that Carol and her sons have a strong faith that can handle just about anything. I also learned something about this congregation: The thorough way in which you prepared your church for the huge funeral crowd on Monday and the hospitable way in which you welcomed and fed them - - was simply magnificent. I thank you and commend you for the unity, cooperation and devotion that I saw in operation this past week.

We paid our respects, we said our sad goodbyes to Rod Nilsestuen, whom among many other virtues, will be remembered in Norway Grove as a tireless bridge-builder among us. I saw some of the results (and you did too!) of that bridge-building last Monday. You know and I know that spirit needs to continue and grow among us. This congregation still has a number of “bridges” to cross, but the way we honored the memory of “Rod” this past week, was a strong, hopeful sign that we are on the way and moving in the right direction.     - Pastor Bud

“GATHER US IN”At our recent meeting, the Church Council made the decision to implement an extensive calling (visitation) plan to reconnect with the membership of Norway Grove Lutheran. It will not be a visit asking for money but rather an opportunity to: 1) to hear your ideas about what you would like to see happen at Norway Grove and 2) how your gifts might be utilized to help make it happen. The visits will be made and completed (hopefully) the last two weeks of August.During the month of August, our “hymn-of-the-month” will be “Gather Us In.”

Gather us in the lost and forsaken; Gather us in the blind and the lame;

Call to us now and we shall awaken, We shall arise at the sound of our name …We are the young—our lives are a mystery; We are the old who yearn for your face …Gather us in the rich and the haughty; Gather us in the proud and the strong;Give us a heart so meek and so lowly; Give us the courage to enter the song.(M. Haugen)In this world of “love and shove” this hymn shares a needed reminder of how much we need each other. In Passion for Life we read these words: “The increasing coldness of human life, the increasing inability to feel for others and thus form communal relationships is a most ominous threat to the human future in Western Society, for without the formation of communities, there can be no solution to the dehumanizing which is taking place in the political, economic, cultural and natural dimensions of life.” (Juergen Moltmann)This thought came to mind when Norway Grove made the courageous decision to return to a one-service Sunday schedule. I hope the day is not far off when this congregation will return to the two-service schedule. But for now, we need each other in the “numbers” that one service encourages. We need each other to encourage community versus individualism; interdependence versus independence; cooperation versus competition. We need each other to remind us of how much we need each other.God has arranged the members of this gathering. We are God’s gift to one another. We are to care for one another. We are to give thanks for one another.Give us to drink the wine of compassion, Give us to eat the bread that is you;Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion; Lives that are holy and hearts that are true.It is the hope and prayer of these planned visits that our “Lord will indeed gather us in and give us the courage to enter the song.”

Peace, Pastor Bud

Should we worry about “The Slow Death of Congregational Singing,” as suggested in a popular article written by Michael Raiter a couple of years back?  Not anytime soon at Norway Grove if I have a say!A recurring theme in committee and staff meetings the past couple of weeks has been Pastor Bud’s reminder to all of us to remember to celebrate the small successes along with the big ones. Focusing on the positive aspects of our church lives can make our spiritual journey feel that much more special and personal. This is so true!I want you to know I’ve been doing a lot of celebrating at Monday morning staff meetings this past year about how strong and inspiring our congregational singing is becoming. I love to be part of a church that likes to sing, that regards congregational singing as a central part of the worship service; that finds a way to engage the heart and soul and mind and body in singing to the Lord. When we add our voices together in harmony we are not just creating music, we are creating community.I like what Ray Pritchard, senior pastor at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL, says about identifying a healthy church by its congregational singing efforts. “That’s one factor that I never fully appreciated until I started traveling and preaching in different churches. Healthy churches love to sing. This is not a statement about worship style, hymns vs. choruses, Power Point vs. hymnals, and it has nothing to do with denominational preference, church size, location, or the beauty or lack thereof of the sanctuary. I am speaking of a church that truly loves to sing, where a visitor can’t help but join the rising chorus of praise to God. If the people aren’t singing, you can tell it. If the singing is anemic, preaching is more of a challenge. I’ve yet to visit a troubled church with strong congregational singing.”Visitors to Norway Grove often seek me out following services to thank me for the music that morning and comment on how much it moved them during worship. Through the music, the swell of the voices, and in the poetry of the readings, they can find and feel a message of joy, hope, faith, and love. This is something we should be proud of, something we can celebrate, and something we can continue to build on! 

At Norway Grove we use many different musical styles. The music we play, sing and hear in worship ranges from congregational hymns to Christian lyrics set to popular music melodies. This variety in musical styles reflects the musical tastes and backgrounds of the people in our congregation. Some churches may have eliminated hymns altogether in favor of rock bands and radio-friendly songs, but I like congregational songs, and I am committed to congregational singing. Like Martin Luther, I find that “My heart bubbles up and overflows in response to music, which has so often refreshed me and delivered me from dire plagues.”

Keep up the inspired singing, Norway Grove!

Jill Buchheim, Music Director

SouthernCare Hospice Center, Portage, is looking for “Friendly Visitor’s” for the DeForest Area. Neede are persons to visit one on one with a Hospice patient in their home, in the DeForest Area. Your role would be one of socialization. Possible activities could be playing a board game, working on a puzzle, maybe reading a book or the Bible. What ever the need for your visit would be much appreciated.The commitment would be a minimum of 3-4 hours a month at your convenience. Hospice will provide the training. A background check and TB skin test are required of all persons working/volunteering with the patients.If interested, please contact Gretchen Lambert, Volunteer Coordinator at 608-833-3295 or 1-866-419-2773. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a group from NGMLC involved with Hospice? I am starting the training soon and would love it if you’d join me.

Anne Staniforth

In celebration of the 60^th Anniversary a brick can be purchased for $60 per brick - through December 2010 only (price goes up in January!) These bricks can commemorate anything you wish – and are available for everyone to purchase. Personalize a brick as a memorial to a loved one, or to honor a birthday or an anniversary. Brick Personalization Forms are available at the usher’s table at church.

Council continues to be very active, trying to do what is best for our Congregation and serve God the only way possible (with all our hearts and the knowledge that we do not know his plan). In June and July we had many meetings (five or more), some highlights of these meetings are listed below:¨ We worked with Pastor Kathy during her departure in an attempt to make sure no balls are dropped or loose end untied. There will likely be some things we’ve forgotten, for those I apologize.  Please let us know if you have any concerns that may need our attention.  Especially, if you know of someone in need of counseling or maybe just a friendly ear (because of confidentiality that knowledge isn’t necessarily passed from Pastor to Pastor).¨ We’ve been reviewing our financials. Although we still have some difficulty paying our current bills, we are starting to see some positive signs. It is too early to speculate but we are hopefully that some negative trends have turned around. Thank you all for your giving and please keep up the good work.¨ Bud Buchheim has agreed to be our Interim Pastor for July, August and September. This agreement is a great gift to our congregation. Not only has Bud offered to be our Pastor for a meager salary he also brings with him his vast array of experiences as a Congregation Pastor, Interim Pastor, Wartburg College Professor and Past Bishop. Bud also brings an assortment of ideas and youthful enthusiasm that has brought inspiration to staff, Council, and many others. Please join me and thank him for his leadership at every opportunity possible.¨ We’ve discussed plans for a future Pastor. With the help of Bud and our entire congregation (including you) we are hoping that by our September Council meeting our path will become clear. We may be able to continue with Bud Buchheim as our interim Pastor or we may choose to contract with another interim   recommended by the Synod based on our Congregation’s needs. Either way at that time we will also be looking for individuals to be part of the “Call Committee” to find our next permanent Pastor. If you are   interested please let a Council members know.¨ We completing all the employee performance reviews.¨ We started preparing for an exciting and busy fall season at Norway Grove with Rally Sunday (September 12^th), the 60^th Anniversary Celebration (September 25^th & 26^th), the Grape Harvest Festival (September 26^th), Youth Rock (October 2^nd & 3^rd) and even more to come.During the month of August your Council members will continue to work on revitalizing the committees, watch the financial situation closely and create a “Gathering Committee” to contact our Congregation to gather ideas and let you all know how important you are to the family that we know as Norway Grove Memorial Lutheran Church.

Respectively submitted by: Jim Simpson (Jim.Simpson@charter.net)

Bringing back a special tradition to know that NGMLC is a family who celebrates one another by remembering the birthday of its members. This, being the year of celebrating our 60th Anniversary, is the right time to carry on John Voegeli’s ‘Ministry of Caring’ by sending birthday greetings from the church to you.How can you be a part of this ministry?  Supplying cards – several of you do stamping as a hobby. Perhaps you are in a club already, but how about getting together as a small group at the church? Can you come on Sunday afternoon, August 22, at 1:30 p.m. (fun time) for making and supplying the birthday cards?  Everyone is welcome.  If you have extra birthday cards, or old cards sitting around that can be used, or parts of cards used for making a new card, that would be wonderful. Elaine will help start us off, by bringing her stamping supplies, and if anyone else wants to do that, it would be wonderful.  Contributions of forever postage stamps would be most welcome. The price is soon changing. Or be responsible for a month of sending out the cards. Already signed up is Elaine Jaeke, Pat Lovick, and Ginger Pippert who will each take a month.  We need a total of 12 people.The Evangelism Committee thanks each of you who choose to participate in celebrations of birthdays. You are the church. We can do all things, by faith, love, and hope.  We want everyone to be involved in  “GROWING THIS FAMILY OF GOD!”

Your ideas and gifts are appreciated and welcome.  Come to the table – the board is spread. All ye who are able, come and feast. The love we have for one another will be felt by this whole community. It is with pleasure that WE SERVE a risen Christ. GET ALL EXCITED –GO TELL EVERYBODY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD! We will get this ministry flying again.  Thank you!

Giving time and moneyLike people’s lives, sometimes the same story offers many lessons. This is particularly true of “The Good   Samaritan.” The Samaritan gives himself, his time, and his possessions. There is no false comparison of those gifts as though one is more important or more readily given than the others. The Samaritan doesn’t  argue, “Look, I have time to give, but no substance.” He doesn’t say, “Here, take my stuff, but don’t bother me.”The Samaritan gives himself in a very personal way. Cleaning wounds, bearing beaten bodies, tending the man in his recovery is about as personal a gift as could be given. The Samaritan doesn’t begrudge the giving of his time - at least a day, more than that most likely. And, the precious possessions that he has - they too are given freely: wine, oil, bandages, transport, and money.Have you ever found it easier to give time than money? How about easier to give money than time? Sometimes our busy schedule or financial situation influence this decision process. Yet Jesus asks us to give both and more. We are invited to share a portion of all that we have received. How are you sharing your time and money?Prayer: O God of abundance, help me to be generous with everything that is precious to me: my self, my time, and my possessions - signs of your gracious love. Amen.Money Leadership devotions are developed by the Evangelical Outreach

and Congregational Mission Unit of the ELCA.

In past five years, confirmation has taken a different form from the confirmation classes most parents were a part of years ago, but the purpose is the same – to bring the students to the place where they can say with confidence, “Yes, I believe” on that day when they affirm their baptismal vows first made by their parents. We are seeking to plant the seeds of faith, and water them, and nurture them so that each student will develop a strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ.As a warm-up to confirmation, Kings Kids began in 2005 with 5^th and 6^th graders in mind. Kings Kids include times of worship, special small group learning sessions during Lent, music, prayer, faith sharing, humor, fun service projects, learning from others, and games. Getting comfortable with growing in faith for a lifetime is a goal.Music Director, Jill Buchheim, contributes to the excitement and fun for each gathering. We have relied on contributions from many volunteer guide leaders, chaperones, guest speakers and other supporters. They bring the joy of God upon us.

Students have the opportunity to contribute to the DeForest community in a variety of ways, including shopping for the food pantry, ringing bells for the Salvation Army and other activities. All students are encouraged to participate in Youth Quake - a regional weekend event for middle school youth designed to build a caring community among youth and adults, grow a faith in Jesus Christ, and develop healthy relationships among peers.