Thank You
The "Boys" and their families thank everyone who stopped by to visit or bring treats to Dad at the farm as well as during the last year at Dale Commons. We heard about and tasted them all ! We would also like to thank every one for the food that was brought over to our home after Dad died. It really came in handy with all the family in town. Thank you to the "Funeral Committee" for preparing another excellent lunch for those who came back to the church. And, thank you for all the cards and prayers. We feel very lucky to be a part of a wonderful church and community.
Thanks again,
the Strand Families



In Memorium

Eddie Strand
May 30, 1910
March 28, 2003

Mattie Johnson
September 11, 1911
March 30, 2003

Grayce Thieman
July , 1909
April 20, 2003

We give thanks for these faithful servants of God, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We commend them to the eternal care of our gracious Lord and pray for their families and friends.

Bible Study
On Thursday, May 1, there will be Bible study in the Fireside Room at 10:00 am led by Pastor Victor. We will be using the study from Lutheran Women Today focusing on the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection. If you would like a copy of this study so you can join us, please contact Suzanne in the church office.
Also on May 1 at 7:30 pm the Priscilla Circle will meet in the Fireside Room with Arlene Payne as hostess and Mary Adrian leading the same Bible study. All women of the congregation, members and friends are invited to join us for fellowship and study.
On Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 am men are invited to join our no host breakfast at Cocina Michoacana Restaurant in Paddock Village. Our study continues in the First Letter of John, Chapter 3.



Newsletter Deadline
Your help in getting your information to Suzanne for our next issue of The Messenger by June 15 will be greatly appreciated.



Fellowship Circle
Our April meeting was our Annual Men’s Feed. The men prepared a delicious meal and afterwards Bob Dahlin, two of his students from Riverbank and Ashley Dahlin presented a great program. What talent! It was great. Thanks to all the men who helped. It gave the women a night out of the kitchen.
Come and join us for our May meeting. We will begin with a potluck dinner at 6:00 pm on Saturday, May 10. Watch the bulletin for information about this month’s program. This is a great opportunity to get together with others from the congregation for a meal and fellowship. Everyone is welcome!

Meet the Family
This month’s family is Monty and Jackie Sappenfield. Jackie and Monty attend the 8:00 o’clock service. Jackie was born in Texas and Monty was born in New Mexico.
Jackie attended schools in Amarillo and Monty went to school in Oklahoma. They met in Amarillo. Monty had a service station and Jackie stopped at his station. She said she did not know if she got him or he got her, but they will soon be married 40 years. They have a daughter, Tiffaney, who is in the Air Force, and they have three grandsons.
Monty retired from Livermore Lab last August. Jackie retired from San Joaquin County as a temp. worker.
They both like to walk and at one time could walk 12 1/2 miles a day. They both have lots of interests. Jackie likes to knit, cross stitch, paint, and likes to go antiquing. Monty likes to play golf, does woodworking, paint, and gardening. They really manage to keep busy. This family is a friendly, pleasant one who we enjoy having in our midst.



Attendance and Offerings
Date 8:00 10:30 Offering
4/06 14 87 $ 2939.00
4/13 18 100 $ 2813.00
4/20 32 132 $ 2139.00
4/27 14 63 $ 1338.35

Kid’s Korner
Congratulations to Todd Carlson for being offered an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. He has accepted. He was recruited to play water polo and will be playing for the Academy this fall.
Congratulations to Brian Carlson. He was one of two freshmen chosen to play on the Beyer High School golf team this spring.
Congratulations to Katelyn Cook and Jennifer Shipley who went to the San Joaquin Science Olympiad. Jennifer and her partner placed sixth in Straw Egg Drop and Katelyn and her team placed ninth in Hot Air Balloon.
Jennifer also received an award from the Masonic Lodge in Escalon through their schools program. She was chosen from among the 5th grade students at Dent as the student with most exemplary characteristics teachers would want in a student.
Yannika Ehde is burning up the tennis courts with her partner, an exchange student from Finland named Antti Hakala.



Mount Cross
Memorial Day BBQ
Come and see what Mt Cross has to offer your family. This year Mt Cross will hold the Memorial Day celebration on Monday, May 26 beginning with worship at 11 am. Proceeds from the BBQ and other donations will be used for camperships through the coming year. Mt Cross is our Lutheran Camp located in Felton among the redwoods not far from Santa Cruz. Each year, many of our young people attend a weekend or week long camp and have a great time. Lots of fun activities are available: swimming, bounce houses, hiking, horseshoes, volleyball, softball, archery, roving musicians, raffles, silent auction, and worship.
Donations for the BBQ are $12 for adults, $5 for children 9 and under with 3 and below free.
Marriage Encounter
Married couples … if you were able to make a wish right now for one gift for your marriage, what would it be? Perhaps you're thinking about more intimacy, better communication, the atmosphere in your home, the healthiness of your lifestyle, adjusting to an empty nest, and your appreciation of each other. Maybe you'd love to spend some time together away from the distractions of everyday life. If these are your desires, you'll like the difference a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend can make! The next Marriage Encounter weekend is June 20 - 22 in Pleasanton. For more information call Greg & Debbie Duncan at 707-447-6353, or via e-mail GregnDebbieDuncan@msn.com, or call the national LME info # at 1-800-235-1010.



Who is Graduating
Please let the office know if you are graduating from Junior High, High School, college and beyond. We would like to let everyone know about your accomplishments



News Flash
You may receive a letter from The Lutheran magazine publishers indicating that Saron recently canceled its group subscription plan for the magazine. Please disregard the letter; there was a mistake in the circulation department, and the mistake is in the process of being rectified.


God’s Global Mission
At our annual meeting in January, the congregation voted to participate in God’s Global Mission through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We will give financial support as well as spiritual through our prayers.
The missionary we have selected to help is Dr. Robert L Young who is currently serving in Guyana. His home church is Faith Lutheran in Elko, NV. He is a well educated man with an experienced background. He has been Medical Director of Municipal Health for the City of Baltimore, MD, a clinical instructor at Johns Hopkins Hospital, a part-time consultant for Johns Hopkins International Education, he has taught surgeons in Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Zaire, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Haiti and Greece. He also had a full time practice in Elko, NV. He currently is serving as a parish pastor as well as working worth the medical outreach program of the Lutheran Church in Guyana.
Like many of us, he likes gardening and also classical music. He began his service in July 2001. We will correspond with him and tell him of our congregation and about our town. In turn, he will let us know about his work in Guyana. From time to time there will be an article in the Messenger sharing information from him.
We ask you to keep him in your prayers as he goes about serving those so far away in Guyana. His birthday is June 11 and possibly we can send him a birthday card with as many as possible in the congregation signing the card.
Mary Ann Olson
Witness and Service Committee