Offerings received last Sunday totaled $1,274.00 in the General Fund and $146.00 in the Building Fund , $5.00 in the Mission Fund. We are 2 months behind in sending in our Benevolence for the mission work of the church.

The Fellowship Offering today will help our Lutheran Outdoors Bible Campers go to Bible Camp this summer. Thank you for your support!

The Education committee is looking for a volunteer to teach 4^th and 5^thgrade Sunday School class for the remainder of the year. Please contact Brenda at 882-3130 or Lorie at 882-4424 if you can help us out.

Vacation Bible School is around the corner. The Education Committee is looking for a volunteer or volunteers to coordinate VBS. We are also looking for teachers, helpers and craft coordinators. Please contact Dee Vetter at 793-2229 or Brenda McKee at 882-3130 if you are interested.

Pastor John will facilitate a discussion of the ELCA study on Ordination of Practicing Gay and Lesbian persons and the Blessing of Same Sex Unions. All who are interested in participating are asked to meet briefly after worship today to set times & dates.

Angel Dean, an acoustal guitarist and singer with a solid Christian message will be in concert at First Presbyterian Church, Castlewood on Wednesday, March 3 at 6:30 p.m. We encourage young people and young families to attend. Everyone is welcome. Confirmation students may attend this as an alternative to this week’s Lenten service.

You are invited to the next Faith Builders class, New Testament by Rev. Chris Croghan on Saturday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 21, 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Augustana College, Sioux Falls. Cost is $50. Register soon with Jodi Hanson at 605-274-4011.

Pastor Bjoern Meinhardt of Colman-Midway Lutheran Churches is leading a tour to Luther sites in Germany, November 4-15. There is an information meeting on Sat., Feb. 28, 3:00 p.m. at Midway Lutheran. See Pastor for directions.

Lenten suppers are not planned, unless a group wishes to lead a supper before or coffee hour after for a special fund raising purpose. That would be welcome. To set that up call the church office.

Our worship service is on television again. See it on ITC Cable TV in Castlewood on Channel 1 on Thursdays at 12:30 & 7 p.m. We have had some Thursdays without service, but ITC is working at improving that. We are planning to put our Lenten Service on too. Listen for an announcement. Tell your neighbors about the service on TV.

There are some openings at LO camps. If you want to go and have not yet registered, see Robin Gabur. If cost is a problem, talk confidentially with the Pastor. We’ll try our very best to help you out, even with the initial registration of $75. We’ll also raise funds with you including the current fellowship offering, and we are providing from the church budget.

Thank you to all who signed up for the prayer chain-calling list. God bless you and those for whom you pray. Yours is an important ministry.

Steve Green will be in concert March 13, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. Concert is at the Brookings Wesleyan Church , 1420 Orchard Drive, Brookings. Tickets are $12.00, ages 0-5 free, for more information or for tickets call 605-692-6671.

WELCA Medary Conference Spring Convention will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings on Sat. April 17.

Participants are sought for the World Day of Prayer Service at St. John’s Catholic Church on March 5 at 2:00 p.m.. If you are willing to help, please tell Jeri. All are invited to attend the service.

The ALCW will be serving supper to the Hamlin County Thrivent Board Meeting at American Lutheran Church, Castlewood today. This includes county officers and local church officers. County officers will meet at 2:30. Local church officers (and their spouses) and the county board will meet at 4:00 with Nancy York, the Lutheran Community Services Specialist. She will be able to explain programs and answer questions that you have. Supper will be served at approximately 5:00. If you can help with the supper, contact Sharla Hamen or Ruby McKee.

On Friday, March 5, at 8:00 p.m., the Luther College Collegiate Chorale from Decorah, Iowa will be performing a concert with the Brookings High School Choir at St. Thomas More Church – Brookings.

Did you know Lutheran Social Services residential services include education, counseling, family and after-care, recreation programming and relationship building.