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Looking Ahead: Lutefisk 2017

Date: September 14, 2017
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: The Messenger

Make plans now to help with the 56th annual Lutefisk Dinner to be held on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Lefse bakes began on August 23 and will continue Wednesdays through October 18. In addition to lefse bakes, you can volunteer in many different capacities. Renee Solberg will continue as dinner chairperson; Shelley Gustafson and Marge Albright will again serve as co-lefse leaders.

If you have been looking to become more involved, the lutefisk committee welcomes new members. Our current members have all served many years and for this dinner to continue, new leaders need to join the committee. Please think about saying “YES”!

The lutefisk committee is pleased to report that most proceeds from the 2016 dinner and bake sale have been dispersed. Many organizations and groups have benefited from our proceeds. THANK YOU!

Lefse Baking Begins — GAME ON!

Date: August 16, 2017
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog, Featured
lefse

LEFSE BAKE SETUPS begin Tuesday, August 22, 1 pm to 3 pm, and continue every Tuesday through October 17. For questions about lefse bakes and lefse bake setups, contact: Marge Albright at (507) 421-5184 or by email at albright@kmtel.com or Shelley Gustafson at (507) 269-2597 or by email at slgusta@hotmail.com

POTATO PREPARATION begins Tuesday, August 22, 6 pm to 9 pm and continues every Tuesday through October 17 in the church kitchen. Potatoes will be provided. Bring your own peeler if you have a favorite one! To sign up for potato prep, please contact Becky Knoepke (check your directory or contact the office at (507) 364-7110 or office@stjohnskasson.org if you need her contact information).

LEFSE BAKES begin on Wednesday morning, August 23 and continue through October 18. Flippers and rollers are needed each Wednesday morning at 8 am for nine lefse bakes. Mixers–please report no earlier than 7:30 am. Make plans now to attend one or all of the bakes. No previous experience needed. Coffee will be served mid-morning.

LEFSE LAUNDRY. Another way you can help is with the lefse laundry. Lefse laundry consists of sheets from the cooling tables and the dish towels and rolling pin and rolling board covers used weekly. This is a great way to help behind the scenes and can be done in your home. Laundry is ready for pickup on Wednesdays at noon and needs to be returned to the church in time for setup the following Tuesday.

From young to old, there are so many opportunities to help with our lutefisk dinner preparation. Even if only for an hour or two, you are needed! In the next weeks and months, specific preparations will be highlighted in our announcements. Please consider the ways in which you can help.

Looking Ahead: Lutefisk 2017

Date: July 6, 2017
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: The Messenger

Make plans now to help with the 56th annual lutefisk dinner to be held on Thursday, October 26, 2017.  Lefse bakes will begin on August 23 and continue for nine weeks. In addition to lefse bakes, you can volunteer in many different capacities. Renee Solberg will continue as dinner chairperson; Shelley Gustafson and Marge Albright will again serve as co-lefse leaders.

If you have been looking for a new project to become involved in, the lutefisk committee begins meeting this summer. Our current committee members have all served many years and for this dinner to continue, new leaders need to join the committee. Please think about saying “YES”!

The lutefisk committee is pleased to report that most proceeds from the 2016 dinner and bake sale have been dispersed. Many organizations and groups have benefited from our proceeds. THANK YOU!

2017 Dates to Remember

  • Tuesday, August 22: First Lefse Setup and Potato Preparation
  • Wednesday, August 23: First Lefse Bake Begins
  • Sunday, September 24: Worker Signup Begins
  • Wednesday, September 27: Worker Signup Continues

Needed: 3 more helpers for Thursday

Date: October 25, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

We’re looking for three more people to help with Thursday’s Lutefisk Dinner. Can you help? We need:

Meatball disher-upper (fill the serving bowls)
3:30-6:00 pm OR 3:30-8ish (need one for each time slot)
Casual clothes and comfy shoes

Take-out room cashier
3:30-6:00 pm
Casual clothes

Contact Renee Solberg at (507) 421-8178 or solberg4@kmtel.com if you can help us out!

Take out meals available

Date: October 19, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog
Take out meals will be available for the Lutefisk Dinner. If you wish to call ahead and have a takeout meal delivered curbside to you in the parking lot, please call (507) 634-7110 beginning Monday, October 24. Inform the parking lot attendant if you have called ahead and are picking up a takeout meal; they will direct you to the takeout parking area.

2016 Lutefisk Dinner

Date: October 18, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

Join the hundreds of visitors and volunteers for our annual Lutefisk Dinner! This event is a family tradition, bridging across all ages and groups in our congregation and bringing families from throughout not only our community but from all across the country!

Thursday, October 27, 2016
Serving: 11 am – 2:30 pm & 4:00 pm until all are served.
Bake sale: 9:00 am until sold out

Adults $16, Children (under 10) $6
No advanced ticket sales.

Menu: Lutefisk, lefse, meatballs in gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, rutabagas, cabbage slaw, Norwegian baked goods

Be sure to check the Lutefisk Dinner webpage for news about volunteer needs, carry outs, and other details.

Lutefisk Dinner room setup

Date: October 15, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

We’ll be setting up for the Lutefisk Dinner on Sunday, October 23, beginning at 11 am. Please let Renee Solberg (solberg4@kmtel.com) know if you can help with covering floors and setting up rooms.

Norwegian Cookie Bake

Date: October 11, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

Please join us for the annual Norwegian Cookie Bake in the church kitchen on Monday, October 17, beginning at 2 pm.

Last lefse bake October 19

Date: October 11, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

The last lefse bake will be held on Wednesday, October 19.  There will be a celebratory brunch served mid-morning.  Sign up for the brunch with Shelley Gustafson (slgusta@hotmail.com) or Marge Albright (albright@kmtel.com) by Monday, October 17, if you can join us! A very special thank you to Becky Knoepke and the many volunteers who cooked and riced potatoes for nine Tuesday evenings in the church kitchen. Tuesday night volunteers are also welcome to attend our brunch on October 19. This year’s lefse bakes went very well and we have some great lefse to serve at our Lutefisk Dinner!

Donations for Lutefisk Dinner

Date: October 11, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

Each year St. John’s mails each family a letter asking that you donate an item or financial gift to our annual Lutefisk dinner. If you have not received a letter, please contact the church office by October 20. Your donations are so important to the success of our dinner! Food donations and bake sale items will be accepted beginning October 26. Monetary donations can be mailed or left in the church office at any time.

Needed: Ice cream pails

Date: October 11, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

If you have any empty ice cream pails with lids that you could donate, please bring to the church office before October 20 to be used the week of the Lutefisk Dinner.

Fall Start-Up

Date: September 7, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: The Messenger

RandyFettPastor Randy Fett
Lead Pastor

Fall start up. Families are buying school supplies. Students have their class schedules. Fall sports have begun. Farmers are praying that frosts are delayed and they will have a full harvest. Families are spending their last days at on vacation. Things are gearing up for Fall. Some of us can hardly wait for the first kick off. Anticipation is building.

In churches, (and in the past here), we call the Sunday after Labor Day “Rally Sunday.” This year, St. John’s is calling it “Gods Work, Our Hands” day. We invite everyone to share in a very special day of service in connection with our worship on Sunday, September 11. This is a national and synod wide emphasis throughout the ELCA.

Worship time changes: Wednesday evening worship will change to 6:15 pm. We are trying this to accommodate families who desire to have their children home from the evening activities at an earlier time. Sundays will return to 8:00 am with Traditional style liturgy worship and 10:15 am with the Blended style worship.

Fall also includes the installation of our educators and volunteer leaders, the presentation of Third grade Bibles, and the wind up for our 9th grade confirmation class (33 students), who will be confirmed on Sunday October 2 at the 10:15 am worship service.

Lefse baking has started and plans are in motion for our annual Lutefisk supper in late October.  Visit http://stjohnskasson.org/lutefisk/ for details on lefse baking opportunities and the Lutefisk Dinner.

Thank you to all for your dedication to these significant missions and ministries of St. John’s. Your commitments are an inspiration to us all.

I have been thinking about how I might share a blessing each week with families. With each email response that I send out, I will share a special blessing from scripture and I will commit myself to pray for that special blessing on each of your homes. Think about how can you share a blessing with those around you. This is a call from our God. Let me begin with these words:

“O give thanks to the Lord of Lords, for he is good, who does great wonders. It is he who remembers us. O give thanks to the God of heaven for his steadfast love endures forever.” – inspired from Psalm 136. May this blessing be upon your home today.

God bless as we gear up for the fall, as we serve as God’s hands, as we begin anew with programming and ministries, and as we pray for those bountiful crops.

It’s Lefse Time Once Again!

Date: August 9, 2016
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog
lefse

Our first lefse bake of 2016 will be held on Wednesday, August 24, and will continue weekly through Wednesday, October 19.  Mixers will begin at 7:30 am each Wednesday. All others, please report at 8 am. No previous experience needed.  For questions, contact Shelley Gustafson (slgusta@hotmail.com).

If you can help with potato prep/cooking in the church kitchen on Tuesday evenings, please contact Becky Knoepke. Potatoes will be provided.

If you can help with lefse bake setups on Tuesdays from 1 to 3 pm 2 to 4 pm, please contact Marge Albright (albright@kmtel.com) for additional information.

We also need help with lefse laundry. Lefse laundry consists of sheets from the cooling tables, dish towels, and rolling pin and rolling board covers used weekly. This is a great way to help behind the scenes and can be done in your home. Laundry is ready for pickup on Wednesdays at noon and needs to be returned to the church in time for setup the following Tuesday. Talk to Marge or Shelley (info above) for details.

Lutefisk Dinner – THANK YOU!

Date: November 3, 2015
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: The Messenger

Thank you to the many people who made this year’s Lutefisk Dinner a success – planning, lefse baking, publicizing, setting-up, prepping, cooking, baking and carving for the sale, welcoming, serving, cleaning, and countless other tasks. Through your efforts, you reflected God to each of our guests and to each other as you worked together to create a really joyous experience for nearly 2,000 people!

Number served:
1,604 adults/children, 140 take out, 181 workers
Total: 1,925 meals served

Click here to check out more pictures from the big day.

It takes dozens of volunteers all YEAR to prepare for this event!

It takes dozens of volunteers all YEAR to prepare for this event!

It was a packed house all afternoon and evening in the Fellowship Hall.

It was a packed house all afternoon and evening in the Fellowship Hall.

Friday Roundup – October 24, 2015

Date: October 24, 2015
Author: Katie Livingood
Categories: Blog

Welcome to the first-ever Friday Roundup post! What have we, the people of St. John’s, been up to this last week?

Lutefisk Dinner

The BIG deal was the Lutefisk Dinner. This year’s event served 1,925 meals (1,604 adults and children, 140 take-out, and 181 workers).

It was a packed house all afternoon and evening in the Fellowship Hall.

It was a packed house all afternoon and evening in the Fellowship Hall.

It takes dozens of volunteers all YEAR to prepare for this event!

It takes dozens of volunteers all YEAR to prepare for this event!

You can view more photos on our Facebook page (yes, even if you don’t use Facebook).

Faith & Art

Member Wayne Hendricksen talked about his woodworking and his faith as part of our Faith & Art adult education series. Our final session is this Sunday, the 25th, at 9:15 and will be led by Gustavus student Karoline Stark on sacred dance.

High School Peer Ministry/PLAGUE

Wednesday night after worship, the high schoolers met at Buffalo Wild Wings in Rochester and then went shopping for supplies for Operation Christmas Child.