Sunday, Sept. 12, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Easter by the Lake, Cost $5

This is the year’s first COGS!  Summer Camp Confirmation students are expected to attend with their mentors. 

7th Graders will have the opportunity to meet their official mentor groups and mentors- bring your parents!. 

8th Grade groups will reconnect after the summer.  Crazy games will be played, fun will be had, and you will grow in faith.  Bring $5 for pizza, which is served for lunch.  October’s COGS will be Sunday, Oct. 10, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Easter by the Lake.  Contact Pastor Sarah with questions, pastorsarah@easter.org or 651-452-3680.

Bell Choir Registration:
Registration for bell choirs is important because there are a limited number of ringing positions in each choir.  Please register before September 1 so we can include everyone in a choir.  You can register for Choir Chimes or Tintinnabula using the form available online (Learn/Elementary) or at either church site.  To register for Strikepoint, please contact Kris Henry at khenry@easter.org.

Choir Chimes        Grade 5            Wednesdays, 6:30-7:10 p.m.
Tintinnabula        Grades 6-8        Sundays, 5-5:45 p.m.
Strikepoint        Grades 9-12        Sundays, 6-6:50 p.m.

The AMen are Back!
The AMen is an acappella ensemble for high school guys.  Rehearsals are on Sunday mornings 11:15 a.m.-noon and begin on September 26.  Contact Kris Henry at khenry@easter.org if you are interested in participating. 

Children’s Singing Choir Registration:
Register now to participate in Music Explorers, Cherub Choir or Choristers!  You can find the registration form online (Learn/Elementary) or at either site.

Music Explorers    3 and 4 years old        Wednesdays, 5:15-5:55 p.m.
Cherub Choir        5 years, K, Grade 1    Sundays, 11:10-11:55 a.m.
Choristers        Grades 2-5        Sundays, 11:10-11:55 a.m.


Music for Adults

Senior Choir
Rehearsals for Senior Choir begin on Wednesday, September 8, at 7 p.m. in the Music Room.  New members are always welcome!  Please contact Kris Henry so a folder can be filled for you.  khenry@easter.org 

Jubilate Ringers
Save your Thursday nights starting September 9 for rehearsals!

Exultate Ringers
First rehearsal is Thursday, September 16, 8:15-9 p.m. in the sanctuary.  There are openings in this ensemble; no ringing experience is necessary
but the ability to read music is helpful.  Please contact Kris Henry at
khenry@easter.org if you would like to participate.

October 8-10 and November 12-14, Cable, Wisconsin, Cost: $60
Join Pastor Paul for mountain biking, hiking, golf and couch potatoeing as well as good bonding, Bible study and learning.  Men will leave Easter at 6 p.m. on Friday and be back by 5 p.m. Sunday.  For more information email Pastor Paul paulharris@aol.com.  Reserve a spot by writing a check to Easter Church with “Telemark Retreat” on the memo line.

Have you ever wondered how God’s word compares to or can be integrated into your personal job?  This message contains the thoughts that have crossed my mind as I spend more time trying to improve my relationship with God and more time learning how to improve my skills as an account manager.

It is said that “He who holds the gold rules.”  In account management the client holds the gold.  In our lives God holds the gold and it is eternal life… which is more precious than gold.

Easter by the Lake
Confirmation students and parents, pleases plan to attend the appropriate kickoff meeting at Easter by the Lake.  Confirmation students who will attend 7th or 8th grade confirmation camp in August do not need to attend these meetings.

7th Grade Wednesday Confirmation:
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 6:30-8 p.m.
(Reminder: the 7th Grade Retreat is Friday, Sept. 17-Saturday, Sept. 18)

8th Grade Wednesday Confirmation:  
Sunday, Aug. 29, 12:15-2 p.m. (NOTE TIME CHANGE!)
(Reminder:  the 8th Grade Retreat is Friday, Sept. 10-Saturday, Sept. 11)

9th Grade Confirmation:  
Sunday, Sept. 26, 6:30-8 p.m.
(Reminder:  the 9th Grade Retreat is Friday, April 15-Sunday, April 17)

10th Grade Confirmation:  
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 6:30-8 p.m.
(You will need to register for one of the retreat options--either Saturday, Sept. 11-Sunday, Sept. 12  OR  Saturday, Sept. 18-Sunday, Sept. 19)

Students are expected to attend their scheduled kickoff.  If you have an unavoidable conflict, please call Jennifer Peloquin in the church office at 651-452-3680 or jpeloquin@easter.org.

First Communion classes are offered to students in 5th grade or higher who have not yet had first communion instruction. Registration forms are available at the Information/Welcome Centers, or on the easter website.

Option S
Sundays, Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10 and 17
6:30-8 p.m. at Easter on the Hill
Parent attendance is required on Sept. 26 and Oct. 17

Option T
Thursdays, Sept. 23, 30 and Oct. 7 and 14
6:30-8 p.m. at Easter on the Hill
Parent attendance is required on Sept. 23 and Oct. 14

Option R (Retreat) Teacher Convention break
Thursday, Oct. 21, 9 a.m .- 4 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. - Noon
Parent/Child Session:
Sunday, Oct.  24, 6:30-8 p.m., Easter by the Lake

Easter by the Lake, Cost $10 for lunch/snacks
Parent attendance is required at the Sunday evening session.  This class includes relationship building games and activities as well as first communion instruction.

Children who complete the classes may commune at any service after their last class session.  Holy Communion is celebrated at all services the first and third Sundays of the month and the preceding Saturday.  Holy Communion is celebrated by intinction at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake and at both services on the Hill on the other Sundays of each month.  Questions?  Contact Pastor Kevin Olson or Pastor Sarah Clark at 651-452-3680.

Serve at Easter Church by helping clear sidewalks at Easter on the Hill during the snow season (November through April).  Three or four volunteers are scheduled to be on call for a week at a time.  If it snows during the on-call week, the volunteers come to the church to clear snow with church-owned snowblowers and shovels. Volunteers are generally on call about 4 times during the season. If this opportunity is right for you, contact Laurel Gaard at 651-452-3680 or easter@easter.org.  A schedule will be mailed in October.

Adult help is sought for the church office on Saturday mornings (9 a.m. – noon), answering phone calls and inserting the pink Response Sheet into bulletins.  A staff person is also in the office each Saturday. Choose 3-5 dates between September 2010 and August 2011.  Please contact Laurel Gaard at 651-452-3680 or easter@easter.org with questions or to volunteer.

An orientation/scheduling meeting will be held on Saturday, September 11 at 9 a.m. at Easter on the Hill (continental breakfast provided).

September 2010 News:
Two new DVDs added to the collection in the Spiritual Resource Library deal with monasteries and monastic life.   Into Great Silence is a film by Philip Groning.  It films the Carthusian Monks in the French Alps.  There is no score, yet it depicts life in the monastery:  daily prayers, tasks, rituals and outdoor excursions.  With this film, one can experience total immersion in monastic life.   This film gives the viewer an opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and reflect in prayer.  There are also some special features showing The night office and the making of chartreuse by the monks.

Monasteries is a film featuring seven monasteries in the United States.  Most  of the monasteries featured in the film are Roman Catholic; however, there is a “one-of-a-kind Lutheran monastery” also featured. This film points out that monasteries are not only places to go to for spiritual direction; they also welcome travelers with a place during travel.  Hospitality is part of monastic mission.  This film is narrated by award-winning author Jim Murphy. 

August 2010 News:
About 60 new DVDs have been added to the Spiritual Resource Library.  These may be checked out for one week, two per household.  

This month we are featuring biographies which have been added to the collection.  The titles are The Great Souls series narrated by David Aikman (broadcast journalist and author) on Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Billy Graham, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, John Paul II, and Elie Wiesel.  These six spiritual people have had a marked impact on the 20th century, and their lives are each documented in their own DVD.  Also we have added Opening The Door To Luther narrated by Rick Steves, and Morning Star of Wittenberg: The Life Of Katie Luther. The Luther DVDs recount their lives and roles in the Reformation movement in Europe and offer insight into that time period. 

The Easter Job Transitions Group was featured in a story shown on WCCO-TV on Tuesday, August 24.

See the article and video on the WCCO website.

Learn more about the Easter Job Transitions Group