Jesus Defeated - the Enemy!
     It was June 18, 1815, the Battle of Waterloo. The French under the command of Napoleon were fighting the Allies (British, Dutch, and Germans) under the command of Wellington. The people of England depended on a system of semaphore signals to find out how the battle was going. One of these signal stations was on the tower of Winchester Cathedral. 
     Late in the day it flashed the signal: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N---D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D." Just at that moment one of those sudden English fog clouds made it impossible to read the message. The news of defeat quickly spread throughout the city. The whole countryside was sad and gloomy when they heard the news that their country had lost the war. Suddenly the fog lifted, and the remainder of the message could be read. The message had four words, not two. The complete message was: "W-E-L-L-I-N-G-T-O-N---D-E-F-E-A-T-E-D---T-H-E---E-N-E-M-Y!" It took only a few minutes for the good news to spread. Sorrow was turned into joy, defeat was turned into victory! 
     So it was when Jesus was laid in the tomb on the first Good Friday afternoon. Hope had died even in the hearts of Jesus' most loyal friends. After the frightful crucifixion, the fog of disappointment and misunder-standing had crept in on the friends of Jesus. They had "read" only part of the divine message. "Christ defeated" was all that they knew. But then on the third day??Easter Sunday??the fog of disappointment and misunderstanding lifted, and the world received the complete message: "Christ defeated death!" Defeat was turned into victory; death was turned to life! 

Holy Week
April 8th - 15th 
     The most sacred and holy of weeks for the Christian begins this year on Palm Sunday, April 8th. In humble devotion we recall the deep love that our Savior has for us as he travels to Jerusalem to die on the cross for our sins. We contemplate the deep meaning of the Lord's Supper, the horror of the crucifixion, and the cost of our sins. On Easter we gather together to celebrate his glorious resurrection from the dead and to rejoice in the gift of eternal life that he brings to us. We encourage you to make use of every worship opportunity provided during this week. (Please note: the two Good Friday services and the two Easter services are basically duplicate services so you don't need to plan to attend both each day.)

Education Committee
     If you have read the Church Constitution lately, you will see that it provides for a number of important committees which are made up of members who assist the Pastor and the Minister of Education in the ministry of our congregation. You will also note that some of these committees exist only on paper or are made up of only the Council man chosen for that area of work. 
     As a result, our congregation has experienced some problems this past year in carrying out its mission. Because we did not have a fully functioning Education Committee for example, our Sunday school teachers have been struggling to carry out their primary responsibility of teaching the children of the congregation and receiving better training for that purpose because they have been almost forced to take over items the Education Committee needs to address. In spite of this challenge, they have done an admirable job of teaching as well as being involved in planning for special events and carrying out committee work. 
     However, we have run into some confusion as to who is responsible for what and who should be making important decisions. This was especially noticeable in what should be taught in the 7th and 8th grade Sunday school class and the choices of music that the 3rd - 8th grade students would sing for worship services. After several meetings and much discussion, we have reached a solution that seems to be working well and which has taken into consideration the concerns and helpful suggestions of the Sunday school teachers, parents, and other concerned members.
    However, we still face some serious challenges in our Education goals here at Salem as well as several opportunities which we hope will increase our effectiveness. For this reason our Education Committee no longer exists just on paper. Mr. Anderson, Jeff Greenwald, Dan Becker, and Pastor have been meeting regularly to overview the entire scope of our congregation's educational program and to provide a means by which we can improve conditions across the board and to provide new opportunities to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are currently finalizing a mission statement of our committee and the objectives of what we are doing as well as how we hope to accomplish them. Further progress of our committee will be highlighted in the monthly Council meeting notes.
     We look for your suggestions and input. Contact any one of the four men on the committee with your ideas and suggestions for how to improve what we are doing or to comment on the effectiveness of our program.
Pastor Vander Galien: 927-5353
Quin Anderson: 927-1825
Jeff Greenwald: 927-5489
Dan Becker: 927-3639

Evangelism Committee
     Matt Yuenger and Pastor have been planning our evangelism activity for Easter. We would like to invite the people of the Lowell area to our Easter worship services. Posters will be hung up in local businesses in Lowell and Reeseville. We will also be distributing invitations to households in Lowell inviting them to worship the risen Savior with us.
     We will be distributing these invitations on Saturday, April 7th, from 10:00 AM until about noon. If you can help hand out a dozen or so of these invitations, we ask you to be at church at 9:45 AM that morning to assist your evangelism committee.

On the Light Side
     I think sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. We tend to cringe at criticism and fear the well meaning attempts of others to improve our lives. I must admit that I take it personally whenever someone offers advice on the content and length of my sermons. And yet, those comments are often well meaning and helpful. 
     One common "joke" about sermons is their tendency to put people to sleep. In light of that, I have composed a parody of my own sermon delivery and its effects in a light hearted attempt to poke a little fun at myself at my own expense. I hope not to offend anyone and perhaps you too will get a little chuckle from the following bogus advertisement:

Sermonix
(The sure cure for insomniacs)
     Can't sleep? Tired of counting sheep until the rooster crows? Wasting money on Sominex and other sleeping pills? Then do we have a product for you! Sermonix is a proven device to help even the most alert and determined of people to sleep quickly and deeply. Just place this tape into your nearest tape player and get ready to dream your life away! The soothing effects of listening to sermons has been well documented in the Bible. Recall this stunning testimony in Acts 20:7ff
     7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead
     Pastor Vander Snoozer himself uses Sermonix in his office for quiet meditation and escape from the rigors of pastoring Salem Lutheran Church. 
     In fact, his sermons are so relaxing, that they've even put him to sleep while preaching them.
     The best testimony is that of it's satisfied customers. Children in mother's arms to men in their eighties have been able to escape the cares of this world and fall deep asleep in the arms of Morpheus in just a few short minutes of the droning effects of Pastor's sonorous voice.
     This tape is yours free! Try it today and realize for yourself the soothing monotony of one of the dullest preachers ever to grace the pulpit!
     Warning! Do not listen while operating heavy machinery or while driving a motor vehicle. The effects of this sermon are instant and may result in loss of consciousness, extreme drowsiness, or coma!
     Makes a great gift! Give it to the insomniac in your house or use it to put your children to sleep. 

Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Game
· Date: Friday, May 11th.
· Time: Leave at 5:00 PM
· Cost: Tickets are $14.00 each.
· Travel: We are looking at getting a chartered bus.
· Special Event: Tailgate Party 4:00 - 5:00 PM
     Brewers fans are excited about the new Miller Park stadium in Milwaukee. In fact, over 100,000 fans attended a special open house on March 23rd - 25th and the Brewers weren't even there!
     Your local branch of AAL together with our Lutheran Pioneers are coordinating a wonderful chance to go to a Brewers game at Miller Park on Friday, May 11th as the Brew Crew takes on the Pirates from Pittsburgh. (Here's a lame joke: How much did it cost the Pirate for an earing? A buck an ear!)
     Sign up by April 8th if you plan to go with us to the game. Cost is $14.00 for each ticket. Payment must be made by April 8th to insure your ticket. We are arranging busing to and from the game. Any additional costs for travel should be minimal.
Tailgate Before the Game.
     Brewers fans love to tailgate before the big game. We will do the same. However, so that we don't have to leave until 5:00 PM, our tailgate party will be held at the parsonage next to church. We ask that you provide your own food, beverages, and dinner ware. We will provide the grills, tables, and chairs. In case of rain, we will eat in the garage. 

Camp Wyalusing
Attention 3rd - 8th graders!
     Camp Wyalusing is a Bible camp held on the bluffs overlooking the mighty Mississippi River just south of Prairie du Chien, WI. Campers stay in modern cabins with spacious grounds, good food, well trained counselors, and excited campers from across southern Wisconsin. The past several years a number of kids from Salem have attended this camp and have had a wonderful time!
· When: July 15th - 20th. 
· Where: Wyalusing State Park
· Cost: $85.00 (bus from Madison included)
     Ask Pastor for registration forms. He will be the drama director again this year and looks forward to having you join him at camp. It's a great time away from home where you can make new friends and enjoy the great outdoors!

Church Council Meeting Highlights
     The Church Council met on Thursday, March 8th, with all members present. The opening devotion was based on Galatians 2:20 with the them: The Surrendered Life.

Financial Matters
Treasurer's Report

Beginning Balance...... $    38.79
Transfer from Savings  	$ 2,113.11
Receipts
General................ $ 6,432.50
Mission................ $ 1,090.21
Non-budget............. $   642.00
Total.................. $ 8,164.71
Total Balance etc......	$10,316.61
Disbursements
Salary items...........	$ 5,872.24
Utilities.............. $ 1,257.69
Supplies............... $   423.53
Miscellaneous.......... $    73.89
Total Budget Expense..	$ 8,717.56
Total non-budget
Expense................ $ 2,163.11
Total Disbursement.....	$10,880.67
Checkbook balance..... -$   564.06
Owing................. -$   592.00
Total Deficit......... -$ 1,156.06

Building and Grounds
     The partitions for the church basement have been ordered. We wait for them to be manufactured and installed.

Elders Committee
     We are looking into getting friendship registers for our church.

Building Committee
     We would really like to move ahead on this project this year. Volunteers will be sought for the committee and a survey will be distributed asking how much interest their will be in an addition to the northeast of the church building that would also include an education wing provided it would be affordable.

Unfinished Business
     The money from the Elda Firari estate has been formally designated to the Building Addition in light of a letter received from her daughter in that regard

New Business
     The current church building is almost 50 years old! November 25th, 2001 marks the 50th anniversary of the dedication of our church building. Pastor will be forming a special anniversary committee to celebrate this anniversary. Volunteers are welcome!

Pioneer Seder Meal
   The Lutheran Pioneers hosted a Passover meal on Tuesday, March 27th. The purpose of the meal was to educate us on how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover celebration in that he is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins so that God passes over them and counts Jesus sinlessness to us.
    Several dozen Pioneer families and their guests enjoyed the significance of this event, the searching for the afikomen, the lively music, and the fellowship of one another. Our thanks to Karen Greenwald and the Pioneer leaders for organizing this event and to Linda Kroeger for providing the literature on the Passover readings that we did.

Achtung! Deutsches Gottesdienstordnung.
(Which means "Attention! German Worship Service" in English.)
     St. Mark's Lutheran Church (WELS) in Watertown will again be having a special worship service in the German language for Good Friday. The service will be held at the church at 215 N. 6th St. in Watertown at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 13th. For those of you who know German (even eine bischen), it is a wonderful way to reflect on the meaning of Jesus' death. Contact Pastor if you would like transportation to this special service.

Rest in Peace
     One of our older members, Dorothy Luckow, passed away on Monday, March 19th, at the age of 88. She had been a very devoted member of the congregation, active in Bible class, and continued to come to worship on a regular basis until the last several months of her life. Her funeral was held here at Salem on Friday, March 23rd. The following gifts have been given in her memory.
(I apologize for any misspellings of names. The information I used was hard to decipher at times.)