January 2013 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
E-Mail: [email protected]
Hutchinson, Kansas
620-662-5642
Web Site: www.orlhutch.org
January, 2013
January 27, 2013
B
y God’s grace, for the past twelve or
Beginning Sunday, January 6th – 27th
so years, members of Our Redeemer
we will once again receive personalized
have supported the work
mission support for the
of our Missionary Family,
Heiney
the Heineys. These com-
special Mission Sunday
mitted missionary sup-
worship will be January
porters
made
27th to celebrate being an
month-ly gifts or special
important part of this
onetime
contributions
missionary work. We ask
over
above
their
each of you to pray for
regular church offerings,
this work and if God
have
and
family.
Our
and others have committed themselves to
leads you, please fill out the Mission
pray for our missionaries.
pledge card in the bulletin and place in the
Rev. Tim and Beth Heiney have served
Sunday offering.
over 20 years as missionaries for the Lord
Please pray for this family and
and the LCMS. We at Our Redeemer are
consider continuing as, or becoming a new
delighted once again to pledge both our
missionary partner with us and with
prayers and financial support to them in
them in God’s Work.
this work.
The
Heiney’s
have
four
children,
Jonathan, Joel, Kathryn, and Andrea.
January, 2013
Emphasis
Events for the
Ladies
Mission of Love at 9:00 a.m. Thursday,
January 10th. Circle I meets at 1:00 p.m.
Circle II meets Tuesday, January 15th at
12:30 p.m.
21st
Circle III meet Monday, January
at 7:00
p.m. Barb Geuy and Judy Henry are cohostess.
Circle IV meets Tuesday, January
7:00 p.m. at the church
22nd
at
LWML quarterly meeting, January 28th at
7:00 p.m. Our program will be the annual
Day of Prayer service. Circle II is hostess.
All women of ORL are cordially invited.
15:62 tells of a City
Joshua
of Salt at the tip of the
Dead Sea where the hills are
of pure salt! Almost sounds
like Hutch doesn’t it? We
also hear that there are
14,000 uses for salt. Wow!
Our own Mark Lindgren, Facility Manager
for the Morton Salt Company is going to
be our guest speaker for our January gettogether. We’ll hear about its history, what
goes on there, etc…don’t think we’ll hear
about all 14,000 uses  but we’re looking
forward to his presentation following our
pot-blessed carry-in dinner. Come enjoy
some time with each other on January 17th,
the third Thursday at noon!
December Parish Log
Baptisms
Sydnie Murray, 12-8-12
Riley Murray, 12-8-12
Deaths
Erma Marker, 11-20-2012
Address Changes
Kyle Gasho, 2008 Stockman Cir., Folsom, CA
95630
Ted Schoen, Dillon Living Center, Room 114,
1901 E. 23rd, Hutchinson, KS 67502
GOOD SAMARITAN BIBLE STUDY:
Perhaps you have read through the Lutheran
Witness Bible Studies each month and know
how great they are. These studies are used
monthly at Good Samaritan Home. In
December the lesson was entitled “Born of the
Virgin Mary”, a wonderful review of the birth
of Christ, following the words in our Apostolic
Creed. ORL’s Bible Studies at Good Sam are
the fourth Thursday of every month at 1:30
P.M. Please come and assist the residents. Any
donations of cookies for the residents to enjoy
would be appreciated. Please contact Arlene
Jones if you can contribute to this.
ADOPT 1-1-6 AND THE CALLING
BRIGADE: You are needed and appreciated as
you take the time to visit our homebound
brothers and sisters in Christ. When you take the
time to chat with an elderly, or ill, person once a
month, your life will be enriched. We read in
Proverbs that “a cheerful heart is good medicine” and
that is so true! Do visit or call someone on the
telephone to inquire about them and wish them
well. It would be good to contact the same
person for several months. If you do that, you
will notice a bond of friendship developing.
What a blessing that will be! Try it!
January, 2013
Emphasis
“Pressing On”
I
t is hard to believe that it has been a year
already! Where does the time go? In
some ways, it seems like only yesterday
that I was driving out to Hutchinson to
begin a new adventure that God was
Calling me to. In other ways, as I look
back at all that has happened, what has
been accomplished, and
the people that I have
gotten to know; it seems
like the family and I have
been here forever and this
is our home.
Last year the focus of
my newsletter articles was
“The View Through My
Win-dow.” It was a look at what I saw as I
looked at the congregation and the people
with fresh eyes. It was my perspective on
Our Redeemer, the ministry, and where
we are as a congregation. I hope that you
found some of the article to be insightful in
getting to know me, as your pastor, as well
as my perspective on the ministry. Yet,
with a New Year will come a new focus.
Looking at who we are is helps.
Getting to know the pulse of the
congregation and learning what is
important and what is not are always
important for any pastor. Taking the time
to do this as a new pastor is especially
important. And still, in all aspects of life
we should never remain comfortable in
where we were or where we are; we strive
to move forward. Paul puts it this way to
the people of Philippi:
“Not that I have already obtained this or
am already perfect, but I press on to make
it my own, because Christ Jesus has made
me His own. Brothers, I do not consider
that I have made it my own. But one thing
I do: forgetting what lies behind and
straining forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of
the upward calling of God in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14)
So that is what this new year is going to
be about. It is going to be about pressing on
toward the goal. It is going to be pressing
on toward the goal that God
has for each and every one of
us as Christians. In the letter
to the church of Philippi Paul
is encouraging the people to
remain strong in their faith,
to “look out for the dogs”
and “evildoers.” To say it
another way, they are to
continue
to
grow in knowledge,
understanding and living out the Gospel
as Christ’s disciples. This is how we press
on toward the goal as individual
Christians.
This means that we remain constant in
the Word of God through prayer, personal
and family study and devotion, worship
and bible study. Then as a community of
believer we live out the calling that God
has for us in this specific place at this
specific time. As we grow individually as
His disciples, we also grow together as a
congregation, working together in symphony toward the mission that He has
called us to.
Over the next year, you will hear a lot
more about this though my regular
newsletter article, “Pressing On.” You will
begin to hear about a mission and vision
for the church. This does not mean that we
will forget the past, never!
We will
embrace the past as we press on together to
what God is calling us toward in this place
as we wait in anticipation for His return.

January, 2013
Emphasis
I hope you are as excited about this future
vision as I am. I hope you are looking
forward to the next 20 years and what God
has in store for Our Redeemer of
Hutchinson, Kansas as I am. I also pray
that you will keep our church, our
ministry and the community in which we
have been placed in your prayers. I know
I will. The harvest is indeed plentiful, now
is time for us to find out how God can use
us to reach the lost of our community.
We already saw a glimpse of this last
month in “The Streets of Bethlehem.”
Over 1750 people came through the doors
of our church and heard a strong Gospel
presentation and we helped bring into
their lives the true meaning of why we
celebrate Christmas. We pray it touched
some to seek out Christ in their lives.
This next month you will see even more.
First, on January 20th, we will be observing
“Life Sunday.” This is something that
always falls on the Sunday closest to
January 22nd in observance of the Roe vs.
Wade decision.
You will find more
information in the newsletter about
Lutherans For Life and Life Sunday in an
article by Fern Bohling. I thank Fern for
helping me with this important ministry,
something I was active in while in St. Louis
through Lutherans For Life and Churches
For Life.
Second, on January 27th we will once
again have our Mission Sunday. This is
when we will make our pledges to support
the Heiney Family in Africa. This is done
through one time gifts and yearly pledges.
I ask you to begin praying about this and
how God is leading you to help support
the important mission work they are
doing. Before January 27th envelopes will
be made available. There will be special
music, video and presentation in the
service and we will encourage each person
to once again come and bring their
offerings and pledges forward and place
upon the altar of our Lord.
There truly are some amazing things
going on at Our Redeemer and I feel very
blessed to be a part of it. I know that has
called me here at this time and in this place
for a reason. I see it every time I walk
through the doors. Do you feel the same?
When we all come together in this calling
nothing will be able to hold us back and
the gates of hell will not be able to prevail
upon our community.
All For Him,
Pastor Chad
SUPER BOWL SUB SANDWICHES
Sunday, February 3rd
T
he youth will once again be making their incredible Sub Sandwiches for Super Bowl
Sunday on February 3rd . Be watching - order forms will be available soon.
Church Un-Decorating on Saturday, January 12th at 9:00 a.m. All hands are needed to put
away all of the beautiful Christmas decorations. Coffee and snacks will be provided.
January, 2013
Emphasis
Lost in Translation
G
enerally, when it comes to Biblical
translations, I do not have a whole lot
to say about them. If someone is reading
their Bible, that makes me happy and that
is good enough for me. I have on hand
several translations of the Bible, and will
use many of them at different
times. I even have a copy of “The
Message” which technically is not
a translation, but a paraphrase
and I even pull this out from time
to time and read from it.
However, I do not use this as the
main source of study or devotional work.
Like I said, for the most part, I am just
happy if people are actually opening up
their Bibles and reading. That’s something
that we probably could all do a little more
of in our lives.
However, there is one translation out
there today that is a little sneaky. It has
changed drastically in a new revision and if
you did not know any better, you would
buy one and study it or give it as a gift
without even knowing the difference. It is
a translation that we have loved for years
and promoted, but now I would strongly
discourage you from purchasing. It is the
new 2011 Translations of the New
International Version (NIV).
For years, the LCMS has used the NIV
in the church. It has been the translation of
worship, the Small Catechism and even the
Concordia Self-Study Bible.
However,
without ever printing on the new Bibles
that it is even a new translation the 2011
edition of the NIV changed the translation
to be gender inclusive.
For the most part it would not cause
many people offense if they get past the
fact that the inspired Word of God has
been changed in order to be more
acceptable in our culture today. The third
person singulars have been changed to
third person plurals. (he, she, it changed
to they, them, their, those) However, there
are also some significant theological
problems with the translation.
To give you a couple
examples, in the order of creation
we know that the account in
Genesis says that God created
man, then caused man to fall into
a deep sleep, took a rib and made
Eve. However, in the 2011 edition of the
NIV it says, “let us make mankind in our
image so that they may rule over…” This
does not help out the order of creation.
Yet, this is not the only place where
there are problems. There are also other
places where the Bible talks about man in a
way that foreshadows the Son of Man,
Jesus and as you can guess has been
changed to gender inclusive also. When
we seek to change the unchanging Word of
God to fit into our changing culture; we
lose, little by little, who God is by not
looking at His true Word in which He has
revealed Himself to us.
Therefore, if you are looking for a
Bible, the ESV is a great translation. It is
the one that we use all the time at Our
Redeemer. The Lutheran Study Bible is
extremely helpful with its new study notes
and articles. If you have questions on
other translations ask me. I would love to
help. Don’t be afraid to ask. I have seen a
lot of good and bad translations. One time
I even went to church with a Watchtower
bible I found at a garage sale, but that is an
illustration for another day.
Pastor Chad
January, 2013
Emphasis
Calendar of Events
st
rd
Fri.-Sun., Feb. 1 – 3
Sunday, Feb. 3rd
Friday, Mar. 22nd
Youth Quake – Wichita
Sub Sandwiches
Baked Potato Bar Fund Raiser (Armory)
5:00 p.m.
7:30 a.m.
4:00 p.m.
Confirmation Dates
th
th
Fri. & Sat., May 10 -11
Thursday, May 30th
Sunday, June 2nd
Confirmation Retreat
Confirmation Banquet
Confirmation Sunday
Jan. 18th
6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
8:30 a.m.
Sage Williams
Jr. High Youth Quake
February 1-3, 2013
Theme: “THRIVE”
Text: Jeremiah 29:11
Youth
Quake is a yearly three day, two nights
gathering at the Wichita Marriott of about 400 7th &
8th graders from Kansas, Oklahoma & Missouri. We’ll
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future
-Jeremiah 29:11
have excellent music, inspirational speakers and you’ll
have choice of workshops to attend. Cost is $75.00
(meals included).
January, 2013
Emphasis
Super Bowl Sub Sandwiches
Sunday, February 3rd
7:30 a.m.
The incredible Sr. Youth Sub Sandwich making assembly line
begins at 7:30 a.m. All Sr. High youth are requested to share
their fill-em high sandwich making talents!
Baked Potato Bar – Fund Raiser
A
Friday, March 22nd – 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
National Guard Armory (11th & Severance)
ll Jr. & Sr. High youth are needed to help with the Baked Potato
Bar Fund Raiser. Please come to the Armory as soon as you can after school on
Friday to assist with set up, so we will be ready to serve by 4:00.
DILLON’S CASH CARDS
Youth Fundraiser
Our Redeemer Youth are selling DILLON’S CASH CARDS for $5.00
(The $5.00 is still yours but it is needed to activate your card).
The old Dillon’s gift certificates are no more.
The new cards are really easy to use and...
The youth earn between 4% - 5% on each dollar the congregation spends.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 !
Purchase a DILLON’S Gift Card from the youth.
1. Reload your card with additional value when you shop at DILLON’S.
2. Pay for your purchases with the DILLON’S Gift Card.
a. You may reload your card with any amount up to $500.
b. You may pay for your reloaded card with cash, check, or credit card. Dillon Cards
c. You will need to reload your card at the register before your purchases are scanned.
The gift card is accepted in all Kroger Affiliated Stores throughout the U.S.: Dillons
Stores, Freed Meyer, Ralph’s, Fry’s & Fry’s Marketplace, King Soopers, Kroger, Kwik Shop,
Smith’s Food & Drug, City Market, QFC, Food 4 Less, Owen’s, Foods Co., Hilander, PayLess,
Cala-Bell, Baker’s, Gerbes, JayC, Fred Myer Jewelers, Littman & Barclay Jewelers.
Questions ? Contact Michelle Cross – 620-727-1682 (cell).
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH!
January, 2013
Emphasis
Bright Lights!
H
ave you taken all the Christmas lights
down from inside and outside your home?
Although I knew I would have no family
coming home this holiday season, I still
decorated with plenty of bright lights - and
angels! I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity of
bringing my third grade ORL Youth Club class
to my home each year to help me
celebrate Jesus’ birth amidst the
bright lights! A Happy Birthday Jesus
cake - plus ice cream - adds to the joy
of it all.
We are entering the season of
Epiphany, which is a season of light, a
time when Christians are reminded that Christ
came to overcome all the public and private
versions of darkness. It is during this season
that we hear about the Wise Men and how they
followed the star to find Jesus. I have several
manger sets in my home and the children know
that the Wise Men and their camels are not near
them. They are in another area of my home
“waiting” for the star to guide them. They
know the Wise Men were not at the manger
when Jesus was born.
Christmas is God’s idea and with it He
showed how much He loves us, so much that
He gave His only begotten Son, so much that
we are allowed to live in His grace, so much
that He provides for our every need - and He
wants us to walk in love with one another. I
found this interesting: A woman heard a knock
on her door and she called, “Come on in!” the
man entering, found the room in total darkness
M
but the woman called out, “There is a light
switch right by the door. I don’t need the light
for I am blind but you will need it to find your
way around. My light bill is cheaper than
yours.” The darkness of the room had not
blotted out the light of her soul, which gave her
a contagious smile and winsome personality.
With that light she could have love in
her heart for other people.
There are many Biblical passages
containing the word “light”. “The
Lord is my Light and my Salvation,
whom shall I fear.” Psalm 27:1.
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and
light for my path.” Psalm 119:105. “I am the
Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life.” John 8:12. “Arise, shine, for your light
has come.” Isaiah 60:11. And, one of my
favorite: “Let your light so shine before men
that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
Do you honestly want to be a part of the
great Epiphany celebration? Do you truly want
to let your light shine for Christ? Do you enjoy
bringing your gifts to Jesus, gifts of “gold,
frankincense and myrrh”?
As we begin our worship services, candles
are lighted near (or on) the altar. This is done to
remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World!
He brightens our lives as we gather to worship
Him as members of His family. Come and
continue to worship the newborn King and let
His light shine brightly in your life - always!
--Grace Dahlke
USIC MINISTRY AT GOOD SAMARITAN: This Ministry continues, thanks to those from
ORL who are willing to give one hour each month to bring joy to the residents of Good
Samaritan Village. The Lord continues to bless the efforts of the many folks who have become
involved in sharing His love with others. If you are new members at ORL we encourage your
participation. There are no rehearsals. Just come and join the group on the second Thursday of each
month at 7 P.M. Come - smile - sing known songs and hymns and notice how eager many of the people
residing at Good Sam are to have folders of music so they can sing along. Praise the Lord for the love
and happiness we are able to share! Just come and join in!
January, 2013
Emphasis
Lutherans for Life
Life Sunday – January 20, 2013
R
ecently at the Sunday School Bible Study
on Daniel led by Pastor Chad, it was
interesting to note some similarities with our
current times. Daniel 6:12-23 tells us about an
unrighteous decree that was conjured up by evil
men to destroy human life.
Once they
convinced the king to issue this decree, it could
not be changed. “When the king
heard this (the indictment of Daniel),
he was greatly distressed; he was
determined to rescue Daniel and
made every effort until sundown to
save him” (verse 14). But even the
king was helpless in saving Daniel’s
life and finally gave the order for
Daniel to be thrown into the lions’
den. After a restless night, the king
went to the lions’ den and asked, “Daniel,
servant of the living God, has your God, whom
you serve continually, been able to rescue you
from the lions?” (verse 20b). God was able
and Daniel was saved from the mouths of the
lions!
As we approach Life Sunday on January
20th, I am encouraged with this Scripture. A
decree has been implemented in our country
that destroys life – that of the unborn. The
ruling of the Roe vs. Wade decision has stood
since 1973. The statistics of millions of babies
killed since then is mind-boggling but the
Scripture above reminds us that God is able to
“rescue and save”…perhaps using us in that
mission. Like the king, there have been those
who have “determined to rescue” and “made
every effort…to save” through a variety of prolife organizations each with different emphasis.
One of these organizations is Lutherans for Life
which is a recognized Service Organization of
the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as well as
other Lutheran bodies. It emphasizes
education with the realization that
exposing the truth and thus changing
hearts is the most effective way to “rescue
and save”. The LFL mission statement is
“Equipping Lutherans to be Gospelmotivated voices For Life”. Through the
Gospel we know that God not only creates
Life but also loves Life – from conception
through old age. In His love, He also can
forgive those who have, in the past, chosen to
end a life.
The LFL National Office is headquartered in
Nevada, IA with a staff headed by Rev. Dr.
James I. Lamb. States are encouraged to form
federations under this organization. Kansas
has organized to carry on the work of the LFL
and I serve as one of the Board Members.
Anyone interested in learning more about
Lutherans for Life, in becoming involved or
supporting this work may contact Pastor Chad
or myself.
Submitted by Fern Bohling
Phone contact: 620/585-2151
ON PRAYER... “Sing to the Lord, all the earth, proclaim His salvation day after
day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise, He is to be feared above all gods”. I
Chronicles 16:23-25. Bring your Prayer Request to the Lord for He will listen. Call
Verla Choitz (665-5184) or Tim Givan (669-8297) and your prayers of requests and
Thanksgiving will be placed on ORL’s Prayer Chain, either the telephone or e-mail
chain. Let us continue to pray for one another
January, 2013
Emphasis
The Streets of Bethlehem
t is with much thanks to God that I
look back at the incredible ministry we were able to carry out in His
name. From the urgings of Howard
Frees, to the unselfish work of the
steering committee, costume mistresses, cookie bakers, ushers, actors,
volunteers and every word each of
you shared about the “Street” to
another can we truly give God
thanks and praise for what he did
through this church.
I can say with most certainty this
outreach ministry brought, joy,
comfort and grace to those nearly
1,800 guests who walked the “Streets”. I can also say with equal certainty this ministry blessed us as a
congregation as we gave of ourselves for a nobler good.
It is my prayer that this ministry that St. Peter’s, Holyrood, has cared for throughout these many
years, will continue to be used by God to remind His children, both young and old, of His never ending
love for us.
Serving Him,
Henry
I
Receipts, Disbursements, And Balances For Period Ended November 30, 2012
Checking
Account
Beginning Balance
Receipts:
Offerings
3,691
________
33,017
4,532
36,708
CASH ON HAND
211,803
33,017
Total
Interest, Transfers, etc.
Disbursements:
Checks Written
Missions
Interest, Transfers, etc.
Mortgage Payment
Total
Escrow
Funds
216,335
26,368
3,000
________
29,368
7,340
215,876
January, 2013
Emphasis
Birthdays
2
Helen Janke
Garrett Rempel
Laura Lindgren
3 Arlene Githens
Nila Wagner
Robert Popp
4 Alex Macleod
Gene L. Mehl
Colton Chalmers
Charles McKay
5 Kirk Fry
6 Wilma Haesemeyer
7 John Schneithorst
Janna Choitz
8 Jean Vestle
Norma Kolb
Lisa Bohlen
Lorry Ebeling
Dennis May
9 Marie Gianakon
10 Elizabeth Mehl
11 David Wilson
Kyra Delventhal
12 Shirley Andsager
MaryAnn Kelley
Kate Spencer
Alyssa Ebersole
Kristen Jerrick
13 Don Kueck
Kathy Haag
14 Scott Miller
Erma Westfall
Mikyla Atkinson
15 Kevin Schoon
17 Michael Holland
Sarah Bartley
Nick Cash
18 Janine Osborn
Sage Williams
19 Dee Scheuermann
Kyle Domsch
Sam Starks
20 Wilma Pettay
Charlotte Mandalek
Gretchen Gier
Matthew Mehl
21 Leah LaGreca
Brock Sivils
23 Lloyd Deaver
Michelle Sketchley
24 Pat Krase
26 Don Haesemeyer
Raymond Burns
Beth Dandini
27 Jeremy Brown
28 Jan Potter
29 Barbara Armbrust
30 Cindy Jefferson
31 Elna Fager
Sarah Davis
Wedding Anniversaries
If a date is incorrect,
or your name
does not appear,
please call the
church office
at 662-5642 to
update our records
We don’t
want to miss anyone
1
3
6
15
Marvin & Jean Wambsganss
Don & Wilma Haesemeyer
Michael & Lisa Gasho
Sandy & Don Janda
25
27
28
30
Jill & David Cox
Anita & Larry Graves
Dan & Kathy Beckman
Darrel & Rosalie Tucker
January, 2013
Emphasis