Sept - Christ Lutheran Church
Transcription
Sept - Christ Lutheran Church
Serving God by Serving People September 2012 The Mission of Christ Lutheran Church is proclaiming the Gospel, reaching lives for Christ and celebrating God’s love. Perry Culver, Pastor Tel: 318-671-1363 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.christlutheranlcms.org Newsletter Staff Editor: Joan Holland Proofreader: Bob Holland Feature Reporter: Judy Bartz Photographer: & Web Master: Glenda Conradi Contributors: Church Members —————————————— What’s Inside Page B’days/Anniv 11 Servant List 10 Chairman’s Article 6 Lutherans for Life 7 LWML Game Nights Fun Page Pastor’s Article Photo Pages 11 4 12 5 2 & 15 Prayers 10 Music Notes 13 Youth 9 Landscaping Beautifying Front of Church As you can see from the picture below, a very talented gardener has been taking additional steps to beautify the front of our church building. The bricks really add, not only to the color, but to the placement of new plantings. We thank God for all his work and for the pretty plants. The Adult choir put their hearts into singing, “Lamb of God’ during a recent Sunday morning service. Below, scenes from the last congregation meeting. At right, a photo of the Youth Group during their recent visit to the children at Shriner’s Hospital. Below, the ladies of the Daughters of Christ, during their first meeting of the season 2 FALL CRAFT & BAKE SALE! GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT FRIENDS RETURNING HOME - SATURDAY NOVEMBER 3RD Arla & Ken Stump are back home again after serving as counselors at the state park in Texas. Welcome home—you were truly missed …. 8:00 AM—2:00 PM CRAFTS—BAKED GOODS—ARTIST BOOTHS—RAFFLE LUNCH AVAILABLE. Taylor Foss just returned from her missionary trip to Australia. It was so For all interested crafters and artists: We will good to see her back home for a visit have spaces available for $20.00 It will be an 8 before returning to school at La Tech. or 6 ft. table, or a 5 ft. round table for you to decorate and showcase your merchandise. Please contact the church office to reserve your space (or leave a message and we will contact you). Central Christian Church 2010 Bert Kouns Shreveport, LA 71118 (318) 686-3060 [email protected] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nice to Hear From Old Friends Old friends who have moved from our area, Jay and Ruth Defillips, still receive our newsletter and enjoy reading about what’s happening at our church. They were members along with their sons, over 25 yrs. ago and sent Judy Bartz a lovely card. 3 Dress for Success The needs of this program remain the same—clean items of clothing to be worn by young woman seeking employment, shopping bags (with handles), purses’ hangers with the cardboard rolls in them, etc. We are delighted to have Sue Oppliger back in church after her wonderful vacation to visit family in Michigan. 6 P.M. Thank you for all your continued support. IN THE SANCTUARY [Sue Oppliger, Program Coordinator] ……………………………………………… Zumba Classes are discontinued until further notice! Game Nights for September Mondays, September 10th and 24th will be the ………………………………………………………. Game Nights this month at 6 p.m. When you come out for a Game Night, do bring your favorite snacks and get ready to enjoy having a fun evening with fellow members. You may invite any of your friends to come out with you. We’d love to get to know them. ………………………………………………………. Phonics Classes Resume These classes will resume on Monday, September 10th at 5:30 p.m. Steve Randolph and family from Waco, Mary List and Judy Bartz will continue TX. (Lori Culver’s brother) presenting this program at the parents’ request. 4 This last week, I was watching a documentary on TV (It was about animals) and a deer fell into a raging river. The deer fought the river and was doing a valiant job until it came to an area in the river that had a whirlpool. The deer kicked and fought, but the deer was being drawn into the whirlpool. The drawing action of the whirlpool was too much for the deer to fight and the deer vanished. I know it was horrible to see this happen to the deer, but I did get a theological view that I thought just might useful. I often hear people say that they have free will to choose God. I would beg to differ and say that man has free will on everything but the free will to choose God. I must admit that this thinking goes against human rationale and is very difficult to understand. We want to be in charge of our own destiny, and whether to submit to God is our choice! Isn’t it? Please bear with me. Because we are sinful when conceived (Ps 51:5) and born spiritually dead (Eph. 21-4). We are unable to respond to the Lord, only God can give us the gift of life (2:1–2). When sin entered the human race, it left everyone helpless. We cannot come to God unless he draws us. The Bible says in John 6:44“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is not our own awareness that we are sinful people that first turns us to God. Rather, it is God who in his mercy awakens that awareness within us in a similar way to how Jesus summoned Lazarus from the dead (John 11:43–44) or like the deer being drawn into the whirlpool. The Bible tells us that no one is righteous and can seek the Lord. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one (Rom. 3:10-12).” So we see that we all fall short and come into this world sinful and in need of salvation. As a parent, I know that little kids and even infants fall into this category. We all need a savior and that is where Jesus Christ comes in. And even Jesus said himself “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last (John 15:16).” Our help, our salvation, our saving must come from outside of ourselves… and it does! Ephesians 2:8-10 makes this very clear: 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. You see that it is a “gift” from God. Like a drowning person cannot save himself, a life ring must be thrown to him to save him. It is God who throws you the life ring. How do we receive this life ring? By the Means of Grace, that is through the Sacraments (especially your Baptism) and through God’s Word. The Book of Romans 10:17 states: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Now, if you have any doubt about this, I will end with this verse which should blow it away. Ephesians 1:4-6 states: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Another verse that goes along with this is from Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” I know it is hard to believe, but isn’t it wonderful to know that you are a child of God! —Pastor Perry Culver 5 PRAYERS Illness Jennifer Ainsworth, Lyle Anderson, Betty Andres, Eloise Culver, Gene Heppner, Jerry Joiner, Stephanie Kelly, Sylvia Ladage, Ceil Manning, Warren Manchester, Marilyn Meeks, Sharon Odom, Peggy Ray, Katie Reuter, Amanda Sparks, Marilyn Symmank, and Lewis Wiist. General Wellbeing Our Church, Our Mission and Our Pastor Culver. In the Military Paula & Eric Anderson Rebecca & Marcus Cooper Shelton Feibel, Jr. Raul Garcia III Richard Hester Jeff Kidwell Jennifer Kidwell . Russell Kirklin Warren Manchester, Jr. Brandon McCall Michael Manchester Clinton White Paul Gabor NOTE: Please notify Joan Holland, Editor, of any deletions, corrections, or additions that need to be made to this newsletter. We want it to be as correct as possible. Thank you. *************************************************************************************** • AT OUR LAST MEETING WE ELECTED NEW OFFICERS—NAMES TO BE ANNOUNCED IN NEXT MONTH’S NEWSLETTER. • WE BEGAN PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING IN 2013. • BRAIDED BREAD SALES WILL BEGIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE. That’s about all there is for this month. Terri Holland, Counselor 6 CONFIRMATION CLASSES LUTHERANS FOR LIFE BEGIN! Chapter #312 On September 18th at 7:00 PM ConDON’T FORGET—those th th firmation Classes for 7 and 8 graders Baby Bottles need to be turned will begin. For any questions, please speak back in by September 9th. with Pastor Culver. Every little penny goes toward the sanctification of life. One of Christ’s members had a big GOOD SAMARITANS clean out of “change” (which I could hardly carry!). When all the money is We are hoping to have our annual collected from the three parmeeting this September for our chapter. ticipating churches and deposited, we will Our Executive Secretary, Emily Oliver, is receive a portion from Thrivent Financial. looking and feeling so much better. She Then, when it all comes together, it will be continues to recover from her illness and presented to the Crisis Pregnancy Center. ask that you keep her in your prayers. Thanks to all of you who have so generWe’re also hoping to have a fundously participated. raiser in the near future. Any additional Our next meeting will be on Septeminformation about this will be included in a ber 9th, 2 pm at Immanuel. future newsletter. We will be discussing our next fundraiser Cindy Cummings and Pastor Cecil to be held in November. Wood are very encouraging toward our ministry to the clients at Bethesda in Cypress, Texas. Judy Bartz, V.P. PLEASE EMPTY YOUR MAIL BOXES 7 8 9 Sunday 23rd SERVANT SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER Elders – Rob Meyer & Russell Kirklin Sunday 2nd Ushers—Judy Bartz & Doris Moorehead Elders—Rob Meyer & Mike O’Connor Greeters—Bob & Joan Holland Ushers –Phillip Feibel & Bill Marshall Reader –Judy Bartz Greeters—Bob & Joan Holland Acolytes –Bethany Culver & Zachary Gramm Reader – Mack McKinley Altar – Terri Holland & Lori Culver Acolytes –Madison Foss & Phil Moorehead Nursery –Phil Moorehead & Dayna Meshell Altar –Judy Bartz & Doris Moorehead Flowers – Given by Judy Bartz in memory of husband Jerry. Nursery –Matthew Holland & Ben Culver Flowers –In Honor of Bernie Conradi’s and Elizabeth Jacobi’s Birthdays Sunday 30th Elders—Rob Meyer & Mike O’Connor Sunday 9th Ushers –Phillip Feibel & Richard Conradi Elders – Rob Meyer & Mike Reeves Greeters—Bob & Joan Holland Ushers—Phillip Feibel & Mike O’Connor Reader – Doris Moorehead Greeters –Bob & Joan Holland Acolytes –Dayna Meshell & Madison Foss Reader –Michael O’Connor Altar –Judy Bartz & Doris Moorehead Acolytes – Matthew Holland & Andy Culver Nursery –Matthew Holland & Zachary Gramm Altar –Melissa Meeks & Lori O’Connor Flowers –Given by Mike & Terri Holland in celebration of Wesley’s birthday. Nursery –Wesley Williams & Cheyenne Gramm Cleaning Crews—Saturdays Flowers - Given by Louise Moore in honor of her parents and Bob’s parents. 9/1—The Moorehead Family 9/8—Tammy Meshell & Diane Kirklin Sunday 16th 9/15—Mike & Lori O’Connor/Dottie McIntosh Elders –Rob Meyer & Mike Holland 9/22—Bernie & Glenda Conradi Ushers—Phillip Feibel & Bernie Conradi 9/29—Ken & Arla Stump Greeters—Bob & Joan Holland Mowing Crews 9/2—Russell Kirklin, Andy Culver, Matt HolAcolytes –Wesley Williams & Cheyenne Gramm land 9/9—Terri Holland, Mike Holland, Andy Culver Altar –Diana Kirklin & Sue Meyer Reader – Mike Holland Nursery –Andy Culver & Bethany Culver 9/16—Rob Meyers, Mike Reeves, Zack Gramm Flowers – Open 9/23—Phil Moorehead, Sr. & Phil Moorehead, Jr. 9/30—Russell Kirklin, Kristy Ring, Wes. Williams 10 Lutheran Women in Mission Daughters in Christ The Daughters of Christ have started meeting again as of August12th. Plans were made to prepare for our LWML Sunday to be celebrated on October 7th. We will again be collecting our “Joyful Noise” offering which goes toward our District Mite Ministry projects. Terri Holland and Lori Culver will be making a new society banner for the occasion. Our Fall Rally will be held on October 6th in Alexandria at Redeemer. It’s always a joyful occasion to be with our sisters I Christ. Pastor Culver will be doing our Bible Study. Our Ladies Day Out is to be held on Saturday September 22nd at the Macaroni Grill at 11:30 a.m. Plans for this outing are being made by Lavaun Marley. BIRTHDAYS Kinleigh Crank—1st Michael McMillon—1st Bernie Conradi—5th John Jackson—8th Dan Brocato—9th Dayna Meshell—9th Sue Meyer– 12th Kathy Seaton—12th Matthew Taylor—13th Jerry Brown—14th Tracey Constable—16th Mite donations collected for August was Hayden Cornelius—18th $82.00. Thanks for all those quarters, pennies, Tina Cornelius—18th etc. They really add up in a hurry. Our next meeting will be held on September 9th after service. Please plan on attending. Dickie MacMurray—20th Balyn Stewart—20th Shelby Carlson—25th Ken Stump—25th PUZZLE ANSWERS Melissa Meeks—27th leopard, dove, donkey, worm, fish, camel, butterfly, ant Wesley Williams—27th “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom, you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (Psalm 104:24, NIV) Bible Quiz: A and D (See Amos 7:14-15, NIV) Mary List—29th ANNIVERSARY Richard & Amity Conradi—6th “SEPTEMBER” SPECIAL DATES—September By all these lovely tokens Labor Day—3rd September days are here, Nat’l Grandparents Day—9th With summer’s best of weather Patriot Day—11th And autumn’s best of cheer, First Day of Autumn—22nd. —Helen Hunt Jackson 11 PUZZLES CARTOONS 12 MUSIC NOTES The Story of “Jesus Loves the Little Children” Steve Randolph During the Civil War, soldiers from both the Confederacy and the Union often sang as they marched. One of the most popular songs of that era was “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp”, composed by George Frederick Root. The chorus is printed below: Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching, Cheer up, comrades they will come, And beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again Of the free land in our own beloved home. Several years after the Civil War ended, Clare Herbert Woolston used this Civil War tune as he wrote lyrics to the children’s song, “Jesus Loves the Little Children”. This is one of the best-known children’s hymns and it is sung around the world, although most people mistakenly believe that the chorus and alternate choruses are the entire song. The chorus and the alternate choruses, are: Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. Jesus died for all the children…. Jesus rose for all the children…. Jesus lives for all the children… Newer versions of the chorus have different lyrics for the line “Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight”. One version inserts the color “brown” between “red” and “yellow”. Another version rephrases the entire line: “Every color, every race, all are covered by His grace”. There are numerous other variations of the chorus. Two other versions are printed below: Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world. Fat and skinny, short and tall, Jesus loves them one and all, Jesus loves the little children of the world. Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world, English, Irish, Dutch and Jew, And the little Norwegian, too. Jesus loves the little children of the world. The little-known verses that Woolston wrote for the hymn are as follow: Jesus calls the children dear, “Come to Me and never fear, For I love the little children of the world; I will take you by the hand, Lead you to the better land, For I love the little children of the world” (Refrain) Jesus is the Shepherd true And He’ll always stand by you For He loves the little children of the world He’s a Savior, great and strong, And He’ll shield you from the wrong, For He loves the little children of the world. (Refrain) I am coming, Lord, to Thee, and Your soldier I will be, For You love the little children of the world; And Your cross I’ll always bear, and for You I’ll do and dare, For You love the little children of the world. (Refrain) But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16) 13 14 Enjoy these scenes from the weekend the Youth and Counselors enjoyed at the Jimmy Davis State Park last Month. 15 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Shreveport, LA Permit No. 314 Jesus loves . . . D Discover the Lutheran Difference! Bible Believing! Lutheran Christians believe the Bible to be the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. We hold the Old and New Testaments to be a special revelation from God concerning His plan of salvation for the whole world. Bible reading and Bible study are important to us as we continue in our relationship with the very Word made flesh—Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit Heeding! Lutheran Christians believe that we cannot by our own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called us by the Gospel, enlightened us with His gifts, sanctified and keeps us in the true faith. We were saved 2000 years ago when Jesus said from the cross, “It is finished.” The Holy Spirit applies that to each of us through the gift of faith. Sacraments Receiving! Lutheran Christians understand that God works through means. He has chosen to be active and present in the water of Holy Baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion as His Word is connected with these elements. God comes to us with His promises of grace, forgiveness and new life. Faith receives the blessings bestowed in and through these means of grace! Love Sharing! Lutheran Christians awakened to God’s grace in Jesus Christ and aware of His overwhelming love for lost and condemned sinners are eager to share this love with all people. Christ Lutheran Church is here to make everyone a disciple of Christ by teaching the world administering the Sacraments, by supporting one another in love, however necessary, and by using the gifts of the Holy Spirit daily. Cross Embracing! Lutheran Christians embrace a theology of the cross. We approach our faith realistically and the words of Christ truthfully when He told us that is the world hated Him and persecuted Him it would most certainly do the same and more to His disciples. St. Paul affirms this when he 16 said that when he was weak then was He strong. We understand we are poor, miserable sinners—saved only by God’s grace alone. New Life Living! Lutheran Christians enabled and directed by the Holy Spirit honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by living lives devoted to Him. Having received salvation as a gift, our response is to uphold the Ten Commandments, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and “love your neighbor as yourself.” At Christ Lutheran Church we are reminded by this simple phrase: Serving God, Serving People. (C)2009 Christ Lutheran Church, Shreveport., LA