March is marching right into happening! Oh my goodness, will it be a full month.

So many things to tell you about so I’m just going to jump right in.
First of all, our GA Mania tournament of hymns will begin.  The music and worship committee took a look at the number of hymns and decided it would be best to break it up into a few tournaments throughout the year.  Beginning Sunday, March 5th we will sing four songs a week and vote on our favorites. 
Secondly, Wednesday Lenten worship begins on Wednesday, March 1st with Ash Wednesday and then five more weeks of Dinner Theater Church.  All Wednesday worship services will begin at 6:30. There will be no meal with Ash Wednesday worship but beginning March 8th we will have a meal served family style and pot luck side dishes and desserts.  Please see the ‘Dinner Theater Church’ section further in the newsletter for more details on helping provide meals or side dishes.
What is Dinner Theater Church?  Well, basically, it is worship centered around the serving of a meal with some mini plays during the message time.  We have actors lined up (still need a few so if you’re okay with being part of a reader’s theater let Pastor Ivy know!) to perform the little plays on Martin Luther’s evolution from monk to reformer while you eat your food – all during worship!  This is another of our Holy Experiments – come check it out!
Next, with all of the misinformation, controversy, and tension surrounding immigration and refugees in our state and the country as a whole, I have invited Darci Asche with New American Consortium for Wellness and Empowerment in Fargo to help us filter through what is truth, what is not, and what her experience with refugee resettlement has been.  She has some fantastic stories and information to share with us.  Please set aside coffee hour on March 26th to come and hear what she has to say - and bring your questions as well.  We can talk about the challenges and opportunities of resettlement with someone who works with it every day.
Lastly, we still have a few openings for our trip to Germany this coming November.  There are brochures and itineraries available in the entryway of the church and if you have any questions, please contact me!  The more the merrier!
“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Philippians 1:3-5
In Christ,
Pastor Ivy Schulz

Dinner Theater Church Meal Suggestions:
We are planning for about 80 people/ week
Meals will be served family style so please prepare items that can be easily served to tables (meal ideas given below) Cooking for 80 people is a lot for one person – consider getting a group of friends to divide and conquer Please have food at the church and ready to serve by 6:00 pm.  Worship will be at 6:30 pm and food will be served around 6:40. (We can keep food warm in ovens, crock pots, roasters, etc.)
Examples of easy to serve meals:
Soup and sandwich, BBQs and chips, Tacos, Baked potato bar, Pans of hotdish/lasagna (8x8 disposable pans are easy to serve and easy to clean)

Sides and desserts will also be brought pot luck style by those who are not providing the main meal. If you’re providing a potluck dish please bring those items in ice cream pails or Tupperware containers