|
| |
This page is devoted to giving information about people in our church and
school families who are in the news.
We
honor those who have recently been "In the News" from our Immanuel
Family. Generally, these people are recognized because of personal achievement
but we also recognize our Lord at work in their daily lives.
He has blessed us with wisdom and skills. As we let our "light
shine" may those around us see the love and glory of Christ.
|
Exhibit celebrates
heritage
Traveling exhibition comes to Lena Area Historical Museum
By Jane Lethean
The Journal-Standard
Posted Sep 06, 20100 @ 06:00 PM
Lean, Ill. - As a smaller museum, the Lena Area Historical Museum is
celebrating the heritage of music in a big way. Tucked away in the village
of Lena, those who organize and direct the museum have something big going
on Oct. 17 — a traveling exhibition called “Celebrating American Roots
Music.”
This exhibit is on loan from The Smithsonian Institution and is made
possible by the Illinois Humanities Council. The exhibit will tour six
Illinois communities through January 2011. The mere fact that it is in this
back yard is exciting to one of the curators, Sharon Welton.
Welton is proud that Lena is able to feature an exhibition of this stature.
New Harmonies “Celebrating American Roots Music” is an interactive tour that
takes people on a musical journey of the history of American music. It is a
cultural history of the musical landscape of America. It offers a story of
the diverse mix of people interacting with a world where cultures and
customs met, mixed, and mingled to create new sounds. It is a distinct look
at the cultural identities of the people who carried on their customs
through sound.
Welton said this exhibit is coming to Lena because the museum met the
criteria of having a population under 8,000.
“It’s very exciting for our group and our town to have an exhibit like
this,” Welton said. “It’s something I’d never have imagined us having — a
Smithsonian exhibit in our small museum.”
Welton said the exhibit is “very professional” She attended a workshop in
May to be able to set up the interactive exhibit. The display includes real
musical instruments and a special kiosk set up with headphones to allow the
listener the chance to listen to their music of choice.
Roots Music
The mere name “roots” is the core of this exhibit, which includes blues,
country, jazz, folk, gospel and Cajun.
The exhibition tracks the unique history of many people reshaping each other
into one incredibly diverse and complex culture — American. It also promises
a fascinating, inspiring, and toe-tapping listen to the American story of
cultural exchange with its multimedia components. As a unique traveling
exhibition, it is full of surprises about familiar songs, histories of
instruments, the roles of religion and technology in shaping new sounds. It
offers the continuity of musical roots from the colonial period to modern
day punk and Hip-hop. The exhibition is comprised of six freestanding
structures containing interactive components and artifacts mounted in cases.
“This is a walking tour and it shows how many people in their music were
often escaping some form of religious persecution,” Welton said. “Not only
do we have this national exhibition, but we also have taken it upon
ourselves to have our own local exhibition of local musical history from
this area, which is a separate exhibition at this museum.
Meeting the Criteria
One of the stipulations the museum must meet to qualify for this exhibition
is to hold three separate events to celebrate the history of what this
exhibition means. While the museum has limited open hours, organizers have
said they will accommodate special groups and school tours by appointment.
Upcoming events include: Chautauqua
— This will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Historical Society
barn. This will be a rousing concert featuring gospel and folk music. There
will also be a special appearance William Jennings Bryant, who will play
“Roots music.” The cost for this event is $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Guitar camp — this will be held
Sept. 18 at the museum. It is a workshop for grades 2 to 6 p.m., with a
recital concert to follow. The recital will take place at 6 p.m. that day.
Pre-registration is required. The cost is $5.
Barn Dance — at 7 p.m. Oct. 2,
an old-fashioned barn dance will take place at the barn. Also featured will
be a caller for the traditional dance music. Watch and learn for $5.
Oktoberfest — at 7 p.m. Oct. 16
at the Lena Community Center, The Greg Andrews Band, known for their Polka
music, will perform. Get on the dancing shoes, have some beer and brats all
for the cost of $5 in advance or $7 at the door.
Copyright 2010 The Journal-Standard. Some rights reserved
Celebrate the music
When: Now through Oct. 17
Where: Lena Area Historical Museum, 427
Grove St., Lena
Hours: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday; 1 to 4 p.m.
Friday and Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost for the exhibit: $3 for adults and $1
for students
For appointment: Call (815) 233-2545 or
(815) 369-4135, or e-mail priceg@aeroinc.net.
|
|
Newspaper Column
The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg
Pastor, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois
“New in the Old
Testament”
(This week
Immanuel Lutheran is welcoming a new “vicar,” student pastor Brian Weaver
from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Weaver, a native of Texas, will
certainly bring new ideas to the congregation. We are also in a new school
year and there are many new things in our lives. What does the Old
Testament say about “new”? See if you can determine the answers to “New in
the Bible” without checking the Biblical reference.)
1.
I was the first “newborn” in the Bible—in fact I was the first person
“born” in the Bible. Who am I? (Genesis 3:1-2) (a) Abel, (b) Cain, (c)
Seth, (d) Abraham, (e) None of the above.
2.
I was called a new “king” in Egypt who began to oppress God’s people
many years after the death of Joseph and his family. By what other name am
I called? (Exodus 1:8) (a) Pharaoh, (b) Solomon, (c) Nebuchadnezzar, (d)
Cyrus, (e) None of the above.
3.
This “rule of law” about something new would exempt a person from
military service. What was this law? (Deuteronomy 24:5) (a) Person with
new property, (b) Person with a new vow to serve in the Temple, (c) Person
with a new wife, (d) Person with a new ox, (e) None of the above.
4.
I was bound with two new ropes because this was supposed to keep me
from attacking my captors. By the way, it didn’t work. Who am I? (Judges
15:13) (a) David, (b) Gideon, (c) Solomon, (d) Jeremiah, (e) Samson.
5.
This was returned to Israel after being captive for more than half a
year. Several “new” things were needed for its return. What was it? (I
Samuel 6:7-10) (a) Ark of the Covenant, (b) Temple brass, (c) Urim and
Thummin, (d) Brass serpent on a pole, (e) None of the above.
6.
This new place was built during the reign of Solomon and was
dedicated with great pomp. (I Kings 6:37-38) What was it? (a) Ark of the
Covenant, (b) Solomon’s palace, (c) The Temple, (d) City of Bethel, (e) None
of the above.
7.
I wrote that there was “nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes
1:9-10) (a) Solomon, (b) Koheleth, (c) the Preacher, (d) the Teacher, (e)
All of the above.
8.
I, Isaiah, wrote about this person and talked about singing a “new
song” to Him. Who am I talking about, under the inspiration of God?
(Isaiah 42:10ff.) (a) Solomon, (b) Solomon’s son, (c) Solomon’s grandson,
(d) the Servant of the Lord.
9.
This was the place where I, Jeremiah, sat during some of my prophetic
preaching and teaching. What place was this? (Jeremiah 26:10, 36:10). (a)
the new Temple, (b) the new Ark container, (c) the new King’s palace, (d)
the new gate at the Temple, (e) the new pulpit.
10.In
my prophecy in the book of Ezekiel I talked about many new things. One of
the key things that God told me His people would receive was this. (Ezekiel
36:26) (a) new Temple, (b) new Ark, (c) new heart, (d) new feet.
<ANSWERS: (1) b/Cain; (2) a/Pharaoh; (3) c/person
with a new wife; (4) e/Samson; (5) a/Ark of the Covenant; (6) c/the Temple;
(7) e/all of the above—all are names for Solomon; (8) d/the servant of the
Lord; (9) d/the new gate at the Temple; (10) c/new heart.
SCORING: 10 correct – This quiz wasn’t new to you; 9
correct – You have a good handle on new things; 8 – some things are old and
new; 7 or less – take a new look at the Old Testament.
The Rev.
Willis R. Schwichtenberg (Pastor Switz) is Senior Pastor at Immanuel
Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois. His E-mail is
wschwichtenberg@immanuellutheranfreeport.com.
|
|
Stefanie Weiss / The Journal-Standard
Tyler Le will be attending the Experimental Aircraft Association Young
Eagles Air Academy July 12 through 17.
|
|
Local woman perseveres despite physical trials
Photos

Jane Lethlean
Anna Marie Sieberns, 25, of Freeport lives a full life, despite suffering
from rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosed at the age of 5, she has climbed many
mountains. She looks forward to completing her college degree in the near
feature.
By Jane Lethlean
The Journal-Standard
Posted Jun 01, 2010 @ 03:05 AM
Freeport, Ill. —
For the past 20 years, Anna Marie Sieberns, 25, of Freeport has had her
struggles with pain. She remembers the day she first developed the pain that
has taken hold of her life. At the time, Sieberns was just 5-years-old.
She was in kindergarten and awoke one morning with severe hip pain. She had
recently fallen on the ice. Her parents, John and Nina Sieberns took their
young daughter to the hospital. The pain went away. Life resumed.
Two weeks later, the pain returned. It had spread to other joints in her
body. Sieberns said she remembers horrific pain. Her parents took her to a
specialist at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wis. The
diagnosis was juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as (RA).
This is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as
part of the body’s immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of
the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women.
At that time her future was unknown. The disease can be progressive. It
manifests itself differently in each person.
“I have been on steroids ever since I was diagnosed,” Sieberns said. “It
stunted my growth. I have osteoporosis and it has affected my bones.”
Sieberns smiles, despite her trials in life. She said having arthritis makes
life tougher, but this young women said she has enjoyed life to the fullest.
She takes medications to help get her through the difficulties. One
medication, methotrexate, is often used to treat patients on chemotherapy.
She has never lost her hair, which happens to many people using this drug.
The drug is designed to stunt the growth of the cells that create the
disease. There are some side effects, but Sieberns said she has tolerated
the drug well. She also takes a more common drug to treat rheumatoid
arthritis — Enbrel. Enbrel is a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases like
this form of arthritis.
Sieberns, who is only 4’ 10” tall, said she knows her limits, but this
hasn’t stopped her from living a normal life. She has regular bone density
tests. She said she feels fortunate to never having broken a bone.
Living The Good Life
“I have good days and bad days – I know my limits,” she said. Sometimes I
get down, but I am lucky – I’m an upbeat person.
“This is my life – the hardest thing is when I have to go off of my
medication to prepare for surgeries,” she added.
Sieberns has had both of her hips and knees replaced. She said “my feet are
crooked as a rainbow.” She faces more surgery on her curved left foot.
Walking isn’t easy for her. Her joint replacement surgeries went well. She
said the doctors told her, statistically, patients suffering from RA do
better with joint replacement surgeries than other people.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of pain in my life, but having had the surgeries has
been such an improvement in my life,” Sieberns said. “I focus on the
positive.”
Sieberns credits her sunny personality with having the support from her
parents and younger brother, David. She is attending the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater, working on a degree in biology. Her aspiration is to
become a psychologist — she loves helping others.
Sieberns said, despite having RA, she has good life. She said she had a
doctor tell her this case of RA was the worst he had ever seen. It was not
until she was an eighth grader she was put in a drug trial program, to help
offset the effects of the disease.
“Prior to that, I couldn’t even put my hands together to pray,” she said.
“The drug Enbrel changed my life — I pray a lot these days.”
Life’s Definition
Sieberns said she refuses to let the disease define her life. She still
feels like a lucky person – she has love and happiness in her life. This
young woman lives her life to the fullest. She will soon undergo surgery on
her ankle. After that, she looks forward to a strong future.
“Having this disease is more than an ache or a pain — it’s my way of life,”
she said. “Sometimes I punch life harder to see what I can do — I refuse to
let rheumatoid arthritis define who I am.”
Copyright 2010 The Journal-Standard. Some rights reserved
|
|