Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!

Hi...

I'm just practicing waving my arms in the air for next Sunday!
(Hey! I have to do something church-related on this blog sometime, don't you think?)

This blog is primarily for my FANTASTIC WORSHIP TEAM!!! In the words of the Fonz, "WHOA!" (If you don't know who the Fonz is, ask your parents!!!)

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAPPEN TO BE VISITING THIS, EITHER INTENTIONALLY OR BY ACCIDENT, here's our Holy Week Schedule... hope to see you in church!

If you need more info, check out our web page (www.prairielutheran.org), or call the church office: 952.829.0525.
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Palm Sunday - 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
Maundy Thursday - 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday - 7:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday - 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
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OK, here's the internal communication...


Did I ever tell you guys how much fun it is to work alongside you here at PLC? What a blessing it is for me! I enjoy just listening to you guys make music... thank you again for making my job so rewarding!

OK - THIS IS GOING TO BE A BOOK, but I want you to know what's going on the next couple of weeks.

This Sunday, we have a real treat! Wayne Luchau, one of our guitar players, is in a group called The Gloryland Gospel Band. They have agreed to lead worship this Sunday... it should be a toe-tappin', foot-stompin', ALMOST clappin' good time! Both services... So, no worship team this weekend... no piano, no band, no singers, no nothin'! I think it's going to be a huge success!

MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES ARE BOTH AT 7:00 P.M.

MAUNDY THURSDAY... Kim Leander is going to play piano Maundy Thursday and Good Friday! As you recall, the last time Kim was able to be with us was Maundy Thursday 2006... it will be good to have her back. No band... looking for singers. Here's who I have: Kim (piano), Paul M.; IF YOU CAN HELP OUT, LET ME KNOW ASAP. Here's what we're doing...
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Maundy Thursday Worship - April 5, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.
* - Opening Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Individual Absolution [KIM, I'll need you to play some music during this process!!!]
(Those wishing to receive individual absolution are invited to come forward at this time. Reflective instrumental music will be played.)
Foot Washing
Song: The Wonderful Cross
Offertory Response: Give Thanks
Songs for Communion: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound; As The Deer
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GOOD FRIDAY is VERY basic... All we do is sing "Abide With Me," a verse at a time. If you're in town and can help out for this, that would be nice...

BTW (that's how the kids say "by the way" in text messaging... if you have to ask what that is, NEVER MIND! Go back and listen to your 8 tracks!) - BOTH THE MAUNDY THURSDAY AND GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES ARE "SCRIPTURE-INTENSIVE..." IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ, LET ME KNOW... I'm going to ask the lectors first, but I think we'll need more readers. We also might need some people to help remove the items from the altar on Good Friday... if you are planning on attending the Good Friday service, can you let me know if you can help? Thanks!
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EASTER! In the words of that famous religious theologian, Dick Vitale...


"It's EASTER, BABY!!! RISE AND SHINE... THIS IS THE BIG SHOW!!!"

I'd like as many people who are available to come up and sing... We've got brass, we've got Liz Kelley singing,

I'd like to do "The Easter Song" again (you know... "Hear the bells ringing, they're singing, 'Christ is risen from the dead!""), but I want to add a video right before it. 'IT'S GOING TO BE 'UGE, BABY!!!"

April 8, 2007: Easter - Second Sunday of the month
Vocal Team:
Brad Askland, Kris Kuderer, Londa Amundson, Katie Erickson, Mike Koepke, Jodie Turner, Liz Kelley, Mary Jo Smith
Band: [DRUMS] Paul Kronlokken, [BASS] Joanna Bachmann, [EL. GUITAR] Wayne Luchau, [AC. GUITAR] Becky Lothe, [DJEMBE] Ryan Duffy, [PIANO] Rita Ward

We're also adding the PLC Boy-Girl Wind Ensemble!!! This group includes: The Lothe Family players, Paul Rosol, Becky Langdon, and Joanna Bachmann! (Andy wanted to play kazoo... I said no! Call me a party pooper, I'm sorry... I can't help it!)

AND FINALLY!!! Sunday after Easter...

April 15, 2007: Third Sunday of the month - Communion
Vocal Team:
Carolyn Kronlokken, Jodie Turner, Liz Kelley, Jerry Cziok, Mike Koepke
Band: [DRUMS] Jake Englund, [BASS] Joanna Bachmann, [AC. GUITAR] Becky Lothe, [GUITAR] David Bradsher, [PIANO] Rita Ward

Have a GREAT day! Pray for peace... and passion!

Prairie Pete

Monday, March 19, 2007

You gotta love Springtime in Minnesota!

Man, springtime must be my favorite time of the year!

The sun gets higher in the sky, the air smells fresh, the breezes get warmer, the birds are singing... I know many of you like the fall, and I do too, but there's something about the promise of springtime and the anticipation of summer that warms the heart!

And the MN Twins are in spring training... the boys of summer are back!

We're coming up to Easter, which is a great time for those of you who might be looking for a new church home to check out Prairie Lutheran Church here in beautiful south Eden Prairie. We have great preaching, fantastic music (of course, I'm a little biased!)... most of all, you'll find a warm, inviting, and welcoming atmosphere where people look forward to meeting you and are genuinely happy to see you.

For directions and worship times and info, head on to our webpage, prairielutheran.org... all the info you'll need is there!

I hope you and your loved ones have a safe, happy, and blessed Easter... and one more thing: when you have a cancellation in your Blackberry or Palm, do me a favor: don't book something else! Take a walk, spend time with your family, say a prayer... I think you'll get more out of that than one more thing to do!


Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

See you in church! - Prairie Pete