Creator Connection April 2023

Creator Lutheran Church and Preschool
Creator Connection
April 2023
Welcoming all to Worship, Grow, and Serve in God’s Grace.
Pastor’s Corner
A message from Pastor Amanda
Grace and Peace to you from God our Father
and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Looking around my home
office today, the titles of the
books on my current reading
list reflect aptly the upcoming
season of Easter:
• Limping with God by Chad
Bird
• Life is Impossible and That’s
Good News by Nick Lannon
• Low Anthropology by David
Zahl
• The Useful Sinner by J. David
Hawkins
• The Sickness and Health
Issue of the Mockingbird
• When True Simplicity is
Gained by Martin and Micah
Marty
• Free to Be by Jim Nestingen
• The Freedom of the Christian
by Martin Luther
Judging by these titles, our
humanity, our need is front and
center in my mind and heart
these days and so is God’s
grace and mercy. Our world tries
to run away from calling things
what they are. We tend to avoid
or try to re-brand or rename to
pull the thorn of offense out of
our conversations. Holy Week
is offensive. Because of our
sickness unto death— our sin—
Jesus is crucified. Easter in all
of its alleluias and joy includes
the offense of Good Friday. We
cannot have resurrection without
death. This is good news.
Continued on pg. 4

Table of Contents
Ministry
Pastor’s Corner..................................................
Pastor’s Corner cont. ........................................
Fellowship
Holy Week Services..........................................
Church in Society, Altar Guild..........................
Thoughts on Stewardship, Church Council
Highlights,.........................................................
Children, Youth, and Family
High School Bible Study, Confirmation
Schedule............................................................
Youth Mission Trip Participants.......................
VBS...................................................................
Preschool News..............................................
1
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Staff
Pastor:
Amanda Olson de Castillo
pastoramanda@creatorlutheran.net
Associate Pastor: Horacio Castillo
pastorhoracio@creatorlutheran.net
Office Ministry: Donna Reynolds
office@creatorlutheran.net
Music Director:
Nancy Betz
Communications Coordinator:
Marion Gil
communications@creatorlutheran.net
Bookkeeper: Marcie Reid
creatorbooks@creatorlutheran.net
Custodian: Leslie Noborikawa
Nursery Attendants: Debbie Eikland
and Cynthia Lowe
Sunday School Coordinator:
Kate Wire
News and Education.................................
11-17
Preschool Director:
Andrea DeDominces
Birthdays and Reminders.......................
Calendar............................................................
18
19
Preschool Teachers:
Andrea DeDominces, Ragan Allen &
Cheri Farrer
Funeral Coordinator:
Janee Theleman
2
Ministry teams and program leaders, please think ahead about what is coming up and
submit information, pictures or stories of impact to office@creatorlutheran.net by the 20th
of each month. Our Office Ministry Coordinator, will collect, format, and get the newsletter
out to the congregation by the first of each month. If you have any further questions,
please feel free to call the office (253) 862-7700.

Continued from pg. 1
Beyond the titles of books, we
are taught never to judge a book
by a cover; and yet we promptly
judge. Sometimes clues to our
internal condition are apparent
on the outside, but often times
we ourselves do not know what is
happening in our lives unknown
to us until it manifests in an
ache, pain or outburst. We live
our lives with innate dispositions
to either assume the best or
assume the worst until we are
confronted with evidence to the
contrary. Holy Week and Easter
is one such time in which God
steps in to tell us plainly who we
are, how we are doing and what
he has done and is doing about
these simple facts of being alive.
We are not enrolled in God’s
improvement plan. Our wills are
bound, bound to seek ourselves.
We cling onto hope that with a
little more time, a little more
instruction, or a miracle cure that
all will be well. We cling to hope
in other words that is not actual
hope. Our hope comes out of
death, out of our failure and our
need. Hope is only hopeful when
it is in Christ alone. Christ who
comes to bear the curse for us.
Christ who comes to name us
sinners, broken, and in need of
salvation. Christ diagnoses us no
matter what cover we show the
world or ourselves as hopeless
in ourselves.
It is in that diagnosis and in
Ministry
his arrival in our lives to die for
us that we begin to live. We live
not towards death but from our
deaths to life. In our baptisms,
we receive all the benefits of
Holy Week and Easter, we share
in Christ’s death so that we also
share in the resurrection.
Your cover story may have
gotten you through some crowds
and some encounters but Christ
is not fooled and has already
judged you. This is good news
because your Savior has come
to heal your every ill and be your
hope for today and tomorrow.
Peace be with you,
Pastor Amanda
Hope is only hopeful
when it is in Christ
alone.
3

Fellowship
4

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU
to Creator members. We had a very successful
Layette Drive and delivered diapers, wipes, baby
clothes, and blankets on March 13th to Pregnancy
Aid of Auburn. The volunteers were so happy and
said to be sure and thank you all.
Food that you donate is delivered to New Hope
Resource Center for the homeless the 1st Friday
of every month. Thanks to all who donate food.
If you are interested in helping, please check the
weekly announcements for more info.
March 8th - The CIS team helped with set up
and cleanup for the Lenten Soup Supper
April 28 - Peace Lutheran Dinner in Tacoma:
We will resume providing a lasagna dinner, salad,
rolls, cookies, and drinks. Cathy Coleman is
coordinating this activity. If you would like to help
Cathy organize this activity, please let her know.
The CIS team will provide lunch and snacks
for students helping with some upcoming Habitat
for Humanity projects.
Creator distributed funding in February to the
following:
• Sumner Food Backpack Program - $300
• Sumner Food Bank - $200
• Bonney Lake Backpack Program - $300
• Bonney Lake Food Bank - $200
• Open Hearth - $500
• Helping Hands House - $500
Open Hearth Ministries and Helping Hands
House provide care for families with children
experiencing homelessness in Pierce County.
Fellowship
Church
In Society
Welcome to Spring! Lent is almost over! This is a season of celebration and increased activities
for Altar Guild as we support Pastor Amanda and Pastor Horacio in preparing for worship on Palm
Sunday, Holy Week and Easter services including a sunrise service at Driftwood Point Park. Please
consider joining us if you are looking for a new way to serve or to meet more people in your Creator
family. Please contact Linda Reed via text at (253) 820-1757 or send an email to 84lkreed@gmail.com
for answers to your questions or to set up a training appointment. Peace to you!
5

Fellowship
Thoughts on
We are so grateful for your
support and taking a step in
generous living by giving to
Creator. Trusting God with our
finances can seem intimidating,
but as we give, we continue to
see that God can do so much
more in our lives when we trust
Him in areas like this.
Lent is a special time of
drawing close to God and
reflecting on our relationship
with Him. As we do so, we
may recall significant times of
God’s hand in our lives through
answered prayer. It is also the
daily, less momentous, events
and circumstances where we
know God has been by our side,
guiding our path, comforting
our hearts, and reminding us
He is restoring our soul. This
awareness can be the motivation
and inspiration for our giving,
generosity, and willingness to
serve in church. The time we
give blesses both Creator and
ourselves, and our time and
support is always needed and
appreciated.
Creator continues to play a
critical role in this community.
The faithful tithing of the church
has allowed us to support
several programs. Not only
does our giving support the
synod, but we consistently give
to the foodbanks and several
resources that support our
neighbors in need. Always know
the money you give is not only
helping the operation of Creator
Lutheran Church, but so many
in the Bonney Lake/Sumner
community and beyond. When
you give and volunteer your
time, it enables us to make an
even broader impact.
We appreciate you.
Church Council Highlights
Following are highlights from our Council meeting held on Tuesday March 21, 2023. These are not
the official meeting minutes, but a brief summary to aid communication. Approved minutes will be
posted on the bulletin board across from the office.
• Pastor Horacio opened the meeting with a reading from Martin Luther titled 365 Daily Devotions.
• The new building phones are up and running. Upcoming building repairs were discussed. Specifically
the roof and furnace.
• Future council and nominating committee leadership qualities in future candidates was discussed.
• It was decided that June 11th would be the start of going to one service for the summer.
• Meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
6

Senior High Bible Study
Children, Youth, and Family
High School Bible
Study Schedule
High school Bible Study 6pm-
8:00pm
Dinner at 6pm
Sundays from 6pm-8pm at Creator Lutheran Church.
Students in grades 9-12 will gather for a meal, faith
discussions, and FUN!
We have moved the Senior High Bible Study to Creator.
However, we will be meeting at the same time.
Bring $5 for pizza if you are able. For more information, or if
you have any concerns, please contact the church office or Pastor
Amanda.
• April 2 and 9: No Bible
Study
• April 16: Veggie Tales and
Bible Study
• April 23: Service Project
and Bible Study
• April 30: Game Night and
Bible Study
• April 23: Service Project and
Bible Study
• April 30: Game Night and
Bible Study
Confirmation Schedule
Confirmation is a wonderful time for youth to grow in faith
and come to understand what it means to be Christian and to
follow the path set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sunday classes are at 9:45 am between worship services.
Wednesday classes at 7 pm and will be done by 8:30pm.
• Sunday, April 2:
Understanding the Holy
Week Services
• Wednesday, April 5:
No Class, Holy Week
• Sunday, April 9:
No Class Easter
• Wednesday, April 12:
Connecting Holy Week,
Easter and our Faith
• Sunday, April 16:
Prayers and Games after
Congregational Meeting
• Wednesday, April 19:
Freedom of the Christian
• Sunday, April 23: Daniel
(Brief Intro to Apocalyptic
Literature)
• Wednesday, April 26:
1st Article and
Commandment
• Sunday, April 30:
Old Testament Review and
Games
7

Children, Youth, and Family
8

Children, Youth, and Family
9

Preschool
Preschool News
April 2023
Finally, Spring is here! We ended the month of March with the
arrival of spring and now welcome April with hopes of more sunshine
and less rain
There will be no school from April 3-7 due to Spring Break. We
will resume classes on Monday, April 10.
We will celebrate the miracle of Easter in April and the new life
that spring brings.
In preparing for our White River Valley Museum field trip on April
20 and 21, we will be learning about the Pioneers who traveled west
and settled in our area (more information to follow). We will also
study birds.
The letters for the month of April are Y,y, K,k, and Q,q. Our color
is purple, and our shape is oval. The younger classes will study the
number 8 and the older classes will study the numbers 17 and 18.
As the end of the school year approaches, we thought it would
be helpful to know of some important dates in advance. Therefore,
please mark dates shown on the right under Save the Dates.
It is hard to believe that the school year is almost at an end. It
has been such a blessing to have your children with us this year.
Your teachers:
Andrea (Mrs. D), Cheri (Ms. Farrar),and Ragan (Mrs. Allen)
Save the Dates
• May 18 and 19: Mother’s
Day Tea (last 45 minutes
of class) *This is a date
change*
• May 18: T/Th class at
10:45am and T/W/Th
class at 2:15pm
• May 19: W/F class at
10:45am and M/F class at
2:15pm
• June 1 and 2:
Last day of school
Graduation - Ceremony/
Moving Up celebration
(last 45 minutes of class)
10

News and Education
11

News and Education
12

News and Education
13

News and Education
The Evening Bible Study now meets on
the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 6:30-8:00pm
at Creator.
Come to take a deep dive into scripture
with one of our pastors.
We will distinguish law and gospel togeth-
er as well as look at the context in Luke and
the rest of the bible. Come prepared to learn,
to wrestle and to hear how this is the Word of
God for us today and for the original listeners.
14

News and Education
Daily Devotions
Pastor Amanda is starting her
devotions back up! They will take
place Tuesdays and Thursdays at
9:00am. You are invited to watch
the recordings which are posted or
consider joining us at 9:00am via
zoom. Pastor Amanda turns off the
recording after her reflection on
the reading and we have a time of
discussion and connection with one
another.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.
us/j/633840757
Meeting ID: 633 840 757
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,633840757# US (Tacoma)
All worship services and devotions will be
posted after completion on both YouTube
and the creator website: https://www.
youtube.com/user/CreatorLutheran and
www.creatorlutheran.net
New Hope Resource Center Meal
THANK YOU to everyone
who donates food for Hope
Resource Center. Our next
lunch will be Friday, April 7th,
2023. New Hope Resource
Center is providing 40-50 sack
lunches M-F for our homeless
neighbors. New Hope has
asked that we help by donating
food appropriate for the sack
lunches. Please see the list of
food needed on the attached
link.
All food should be dropped
off at the church no later than
Friday morning at 10:00 AM.
Creator members will pick up
the food from church and deliver
it to New Hope in Puyallup.
Volunteers at New Hope will
prepare and distribute the sack
lunches. Please sign up below.
You will get a reminder email.
Volunteer sign up link:
https://www.signupgenius.
com/go/20f044fa8ac2ea5f85-
newhope
**** On the sign-up sheet
click the “sign up button” next
to what you want to bring, then
go to the very bottom of the
page and click “Submit and
Sign up” and there you will
enter your information. New
Hope Resource Center is in
downtown Puyallup and serves
the unhoused in Pierce County.
The mission of New Hope is to
assist homeless adults in their
efforts to find safety, health, and
stability.
15

News and Education
Thursday
Morning
Bible Study
The
Thursday
morning Bible Study meets
every Thursday morning
from 10-11:30. The study
book is The Greatest Story
Bible Instruction. Meetings
will now be in person at the
church. All are welcome.
The Creator Men’s Club
will have it’s meeting Monday,
April 3, 2023 at Aversano’s
Italian Restaurant, 6015
Parker Rd. E., Sumner at 6
p.m.
Discussion will focus on a
field trip and volunteer work
projects. All church men are
invited to attend.
16
Grieving with Grace is a support group led by Pastor
Amanda where adults learn about the grieving process and
how to care for themselves as they work through the grief of a
loved one’s death.
We will be meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays
of each month at 10:30 am in Pastor Amanda’s office.
Men’s
Fellowship
During “All things Covid”
the Wednesday night
Men’s group has been
using Zoom. The meetings
start at 7:00 PM and get
over by 9:00PM. If you
are interested in joining
the meeting please contact
Scott Perkins with your
email address and he will
send you a link for Zoom.
Scott.perkins@hotmail.
com or 253-230-3416

News and Education
Upcoming Adult
Education Schedule
Sundays, 9:45 am between services
Join us between services in the multi-purpose room for Adult
Education! Learn from different teachers (including our pastors
and sometimes guest speakers) about a variety of topics ranging
from God in our lives to retirement plans. If you have any questions
please contact the church office.
• April 2: Baptism
• April 9: No Adult
Education
• April 16: No Adult
Education
• April 23: Holy
Communion
• April 30: Holy
Communion
• May 7: Holy Communion
• May 14: No Adult
Education
• May 21: Holy
Communion
17

Birthdays and Reminders
Remote Worship
Worship will continue to be live-streamed on Facebook Live and
Zoom. To join via Zoom, follow the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89375602512?pwd=M3hPK0pIMGIz
Z2M0eEhmTitoM3NQdz09
Meeting ID: 893 7560 2512 Password: 435230
One tap mobile:
+ 12532158782,,89375602512#,,,,0#,,435230# US (Tacoma)
Call in option: Zoom offers the option to call in to listen to the
service. Call into worship while it is open - usually a minimum of
five minutes before 9:30am until 11:00am - +1 253 215 8782 and
enter the meeting number: 89375602512 when prompted. You
will be able to hear the worship service.
CREATOR LUTHERAN NEW GIVING APP
Creator Lutheran is changing our mobile giving app! Vanco,
our eGiving provider, has launched an updated mobile app called
Vanco Mobile to replace GivePlus Mobile. You can download the
Vanco Mobile app for free from the App Store or Google Play.
Download Vanco Mobile by September 30. Vanco will
remove GivePlus Mobile after this date.
If you have questions or need assistance with our new mobile
app, please contact the church office at (253) 862-7700.
Pastoral Emergency Fund
Creator has a fund available to be used at the discretion of Pastor
Amanda to support congregation members and the community
as needed. If you or a member another member of the Creator
Community has a particular financial need at this time, please
reach out to Pastor Amanda for support. We are here for one
another at this time. This fund is also open for additional
donations from the congregation.
Recycle Your
Ink Cartridges
Don’t throw away those printer cartridges or used cell phones.
The Youth will recycle them for you. It’s good for the
environment and the youth program receives a small concession.
Just deposit old cartridges in the drawer in the narthex.
18
April
Birthdays
2 - Eric Andersen
2 - James
Knickerbocker
3 - Jacklyn Davis
3 - Kristin Liedtke
4 - Taryn Gaulke
4 - Elizabeth
Lindgren
5 - Arnie Jensen
7 - Carter Dickson
8 - Dan Linggi
8 - Venell Wilson
9 - Taylor Berg
9 - Stephan Brown
9 - Brad Doll
9 - Karen Ekse
9 - Blane Mead
9 - Nita Rutkosky
10 - Alanna Davis
10 - Clark Serdahl
11 - Rexanne
Graham
13 - Gregg
Hochstein
14 - Jim Swigart
15 - Vanessa
Parkhurst
15 - Troy
Williamson
16 - Briana Halaas
17 - Nani Bracken
17 - Alissa
Ramberg
18 - Kyle Rutkosky
19 - Finn Gardner
19 - Alexis
Morales
20 - Roger
Coleman
20 - Alta Lane
23 - Joanne Hall
23 - Maureen
Kallinen
23 - Collin
Morrow
24 - Jim
Hollenbeck
25 - John
Schreiner
26 - George Kelley
27 - Wendy
Kintigh
27 - Marinella
Pena
28 - Karyl Lawlor
28 - Dan Totten
29 - Laura
Brannan
29 - Tyler Parsons

APRIL
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
2:05pm Petra Karr
Memorial Service
2 8:30am Worship
Service
9:45am Adult
Education
11am Worship Service
3
6pm Creator Men’s
Club
4
6:30pm Women’s
Bible Study
5 7pm Men’s
Fellowship
7pm Choir Practice
6
10am Thursday
Morning Bible
Study
7pm Maundy Thursday
7pm Fellowship
Ministry Meeting
7
New Hope Lunch
7pm Good Friday
8
1pm Easter Egg
Hunt
9 7am Easter Sunrise
Service @ Driftwood
Point
8am Easter Breakfast
8:30am Easter Sunday
Service
11am Easter Sunday
Service
16 8:30am Worship
Service
9:45am Congregational
Meeting
11am Worship Service
6pm High School Bible
Study
10
17
6:30pm CYF Team
Meeting
11 9am Morning
Devotions via
Zoom
5:30pm Property Team
Meeting
6:30pm Finance Team
Meeting
18 9am Morning
Devotions via
Zoom
6pm Church Council
Meeting
12 10:30am Grieving
with Grace
7pm Confirmation
7pm Men’s Fellowship
7pm Choir Practice
19 7pm CIS Meeting
7pm Confirmation
7pm Men’s Fellowship
7pm Choir Practice
13 9am Morning
Devotions via
Zoom
10am Thursday
Morning Bible Study
20 9am Morning
Devotions via
Zoom
10:30am Thursday
Morning Bible Study
14
21
15
22
23/30
8:30am Worship
Service
9:45am Adult Education
11am Worship Service
12am New Member
Luncheon (4/23)
6pm High School Bible
Study
24
6:30pm Evening
Bible Study
25
26 10:30am Grieving
with Grace
7pm Confirmation
7pm Men’s Fellowship
27 9am Morning
Devotions via
Zoom
10:30am Thursday
Morning Bible Study
28
29 6pm Appalachian
Sunrise Gala and
Auction
19

Creator Lutheran
Church and Preschool
Welcoming All to Worship, Grow, and Serve in God’s Grace
creatorlutheran.net (253) 862-7700 office@creatorlutheran.net
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00AM - 3:30PM
16702 South Tapps Drive East, Bonney Lake, WA 98391