July 2010 Newsletter
Transcription
July 2010 Newsletter
Tri-angles Trinity Lutheran Church 300 S. Ardmore Avenue, Villa Park, IL 60181 630/834-3440 www.trinitylutheranvp.com July 2010 In This Issue The Lion’s Roar 23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. (The Holy Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton : Standard Bible Society, 2001, S. 1 Co 10:23-24) “Keeping the Shoulds and the Oughts in Their Places” Lions Roar Graduates Bday’s/Anniv. Memorials Thanks Youth Music Financial Rep. Parish Nurse Calendar Think for a minute how often you say the words should and ought. Especially when we discuss our faith, we say it way too much. These are law words and while the Law is important it is not the primary aspect of our faith. Gospel is always primary. I first noticed this fondness for the Law when reading sermon reports from my confirmation students. I could preach the most Gospel oriented sermon of my life and they would still turn it into law! I would say, “God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us so that we can live eternally in heaven.” They would report, “We ought to love God because he did so much for us and we should thank him by going to church.” Where did that come from? I never said that! But human nature loves the law. We are rule oriented people. Give us a rule and it makes us happy because we can promptly begin feeling superior if we are good at keeping it or we can begin trying to find a way around it; an exception, a loophole and unanticipated application. Eat all of the fruit of the garden – EXCEPT FROM THAT ONE TREE! What did we do? We went right over and ate from that tree. Give us any chance, we’ll take it. Give us any rule, we’ll break it (Sclemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated). You have to be a TV addict to get the last reference. At any rate, the point is that we like having lots of rules and we like breaking them and that is just the product of original sin. The more important point is what we might do about that. St. Paul states from the beginning that we are not burdened by the Law. “All things are lawful,” he says. The Law is our tool to help us determine what we want to do. It is the only inerrant measure for right and wrong, but how do we get to where we desire to do right? That is the real challenge. And the answer is Gospel. continued on page 2... 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 July 2010 cont. from page 1... Through hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments (remembering the power of our Baptisms and receiving the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion), our faith is strengthened. As our faith is strengthened, we take a firmer grasp on the Grace of God that he gave us through the death of Jesus on the cross. The more firmly we grasp Grace, the more we will desire that which is right and holy. That is the only way the formula works. The words “should” and “ought” only apply in reference to expectations of a predictable result. For instance, “When I hold a flame to the wick of a candle, the candle should light.” Or “When I water and fertilize my plants, they ought to bear fruit. Or “When my faith is strengthened through Word and Sacraments at church and my grasp is firmer on Grace, I ought to desire what is beneficial; I should desire what is right.” In His Service, VBS VBS REGISTRATION – This summer’s Vacation Bible School, God’s Team, will be held July 12th – 16th from 9-11 AM. The program is open to children entering preschool through entering 5th grade. Children will explore God’s word while learning about teamwork and sportsmanship. Registration forms are available on the website under the Special Notices tab. Anyone wishing to volunteer, please contact Marna Rundgren at 630/834-8659 or [email protected]. Junior high and high school volunteers will earn service hours. Pastor Rev. Robert A. Rogers Pastoral Staff Rev. Dr. Roger Pittelko Asst. to the Pastor Mary Stahlke Kantor Judy Bruschuk Youth Director Debbie Johnson Parish Nurse Margaret Cotterill Secretary Lay Leaders Dave Heuser Executive Director Jeff Blankensop Asst. Executive Director Warren Sheridan Treasurer Sue Lotter Dir. of Christian Ed. Scott Golz Dir. of Church Property Jerry Graunke Dir. of Evangelism Diane Bruschuk Dir. of Human Care Steve Gehrt Dir. of Lay Ministry Carol Boettger Dir. of Parish Fellowship Matt Thompson Dir. of Stewardship Mike Ticaric Dir. of Youth Ministry Jill Kelly TCNS Chair Heather Grant Dir. of Trinity Christian Preschool Jenn Ellsworth Public Relations Dir. Kathy Golz Housekeeping Marilyn Felz Altar Guild President Suzanne Gagliano Dorcas Guild President Mary Rinda LWML President July 2010 The Deadline is ... Memorials In Loving Memory of Joseph G. Johnson, Sr given by: Mr. & Mrs. John Johnson In Loving Memory of Norine Kowal given by: Mr. & Mrs. Michael Scherer In Loving Memory of Ethel Smelter given by: Mr. & Mrs. James Smelter The 19th of July for the July Tri-angles Newsletter. Please send any information or articles to Jenn Ellsworth at 134 E. Jackson in Villa Park, 60181, drop in the Church mail box marked Newsletter or email me at [email protected]. A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO... Arlene Johnson and Nancy King who assist with clerical work in the music room. JULY BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES: BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: 1-Anna Jones 2-Jane Gore, Austin Grote, Nicholas Janopoulos, Edith Schneider 3-Grace Graunke, Timothy Zoellner 4- Matthew Larsh 6 – Janice Bartnoski, Marie Kuba 7-Ryan Jacklin, Dan Sharon 8- Zachary Macholl, Neal Rodenbostel, Rachel Stahlke, Terri Swanson 9-Bret Golz 10- Karin Carlson 11-Dave Barry, Savannah Boetgger-Mudd, Jim Long 12- Keera Price, Kari Ramirez 13-Cheryl Belknap, Chas Golz, Bob Grant 14-Jill Kelly, Alicia Speers 15-Becky Elliott, Suzanne Gagliano, Daniel Larsh 17-Tyler Cwik, Emilia Serna 18-Cody Johnson, Jeffrey Harris, Jennifer Zeman 19- Kathy Golz, Megan Jacklin 20-Greg Ellsworth 21-Adrian Esposito, Tim Heaney 22-Richard Drews, Julia Kelinfall, Steven Seeger, Derick Snyder 23-Ben Farmer, Willard Kmen, Nelva Peiler 24-Marilyn Bloechle 25-Harold Burmeister, Marion Fritsch, Elfriede Lohrentz, Samantha Lynch 26- Neal Rogers, Betty Schlepp, Barb Wolski, Lisa Zientara 27-Marion Alessi, Sharon Mosetich, Liz Suriano 28- Jeremy Rodenbostel 30-Bev Gehrt 31- Sonia Buhman, Sue Lotter, Sam Montag, Kim Pennacchio ANNIVERSARIES: 3- Jenny & Gerald Gawat 6-Becky & Dino Apuzzo 9-Bonni & Robert Kleinfall, David & Michelle Speers 10-Jonathon & Lisa Ritt 11-Tammy & Jim Hoeflinger 14-Gary & Vicki Johnson 15- Kevin & Irina Kunde, Brian & Alicia Speers 23-Joanne & Willard Kmen, Kari & Christopher Ramirez 26-Jim & Debbie Long 28 – Steve & Julie Cochran 30-Laura & Dave Bernhard, Rosalie & Gregory Buenrostro 31-Kristen & David Scofield July 2010 A Night in New Orleans Friday July 9 7:00-9:00 PM Trinity Lutheran Church 300 S Ardmore in Villa Park Party New Orleans style! Delicious Food Coffee & Dessert Bar Amazin' Cajun Mocktails Jazz music Entertainment They've raised over $10,000 this year but are only 1/2 way to their goal. There is no cost for this event but bring your checkbook so you can help our youth get to the National Youth Gathering In New Orleans One of the many Youth activities: Breakfast with Santa this past December. July 2010 Music News Continuity and Variety A liturgy is a rite, or set of words and actions, prescribed for public worship. A key element of the liturgy is its juxtaposition of continuity and variety, exemplified in the Ordinary and Propers. The parts of the liturgy that do not change from week to week are called the Ordinary: Kyrie Gloria Credo Sanctus Agnus Dei “Lord, have mercy” “Glory to God in the Highest” Apostles’, Nicene, or Athanasian Creed “Holy, Holy, Holy” “Lamb of God” While the musical style may vary, the texts remain the same from week to week. Some of the Ordinary texts have been in continuous use for more than 1,500 years. As a group, the Ordinary texts express different ways that we address God, including penitence, praise, and confession. The texts of the Propers change from service to service, providing an explanation of the particular Gospel theme for that day. Their texts are usually taken from the Psalms. The primary Propers that have been used throughout church history are: Introit Gradual Alleluia and Verse Offertory Communion A song of entrance from the Psalms Usually a portion of a psalm that changes with the season of the church year An acclamation of praise (“Alleluia”) with a psalm verse directly related to the Gospel reading A choral setting of a Psalm passage sung while the congregation’s offering is carried forward Usually a psalm text sung during the distribution of the Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Mass Some of the Propers for the Divine Service in the Lutheran tradition differ from their traditional form. For example, rather than the singing of the Communion by the choir during the Eucharist, Lutheran congregations sing the Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) as a PostCommunion Canticle. Source: Kinnaman, Scot. Worshiping with Angels and Archangels: An Introduction to the Divine Service. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006. July 2010 May 2010 Financial Comparison Income Basket Unified Envelope Special Envelopes Debt Retirement Budget Income Non-Budget Income Income Expenses Budgeted Expenses Non-budgeted Expenses Total Expenses General Operating Fund 2010 2,503 112,080 13,761 17,909 146,253 2,221 2009 1,858 123,876 15,127 18,578 159,439 3,301 Diff. +645 -11,796 -1,366 -669 -13,186 -1,080 148,474 159,439 -14,266 161,082 511 157,538 825 +3,544 -314 161,593 158,363 +3,230 -13,119 3,727 -16,846 Our Income/Contributions are down $14,266. Our expenses are up $3,230. Our General Operating Fund is in the red $13,119 vs. $3,727 in the black last year or a swing of $16,846. We have spent $596 per week more than we took in. Should you have any questions on this financial comparison, please contact me, Warren Sheridan, Treasurer. Adopt-a-Student Financial Report – 4/30/10 Income Pending Payment Sent to St. Louis Fund Balance $2,273.00 -460.00 -1,813.00 $00.00 New Computer/Phone System Fund ($29,000 approved by 11/07 Voter’s Meeting) ($2,500 approved by 11/08 Voter’s Meeting) Expenses-Computer Dell Marketing L. P. CDW Chris Saunders - Software M.R. Keith & Associates Expenses-Phone Phone Total Expenses Income Donation by Members Net Amount Spent Beginning Balance Total Expenses Fund Balance (2/28/09) 8,705.32 9,689.67 139.30 6,112.57 4,964.00 29,610.86 1,000.00 28,610.86 $31,500.00 28,610.86 $2,889.14 July 2010 English District LWML Volunteers Across the Lifespan: A Parish Nurse Facilitates By Jamie Spikes, R.N., Ph.D. As a little girl in the middle of Illinois, it was an honor and a privilege to get to sell small fabric poppies on Poppy Day as a junior member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Along the same lines it was an honor and a privilege as a child to get to peel vegetables, LOTS of vegetables, for our small town’s annual homecoming where a community-made soup (Burgoo) was served. “Peel” is still held the night before the event, also called Burgoo. And again, it was an honor and a privilege as a child to get to gather all kinds of “things and stuff” including some special things I had handmade to send to missionaries and their families in places “a million miles away.” This was volunteering, and in the 1950’s. In the late 1980’s I asked my son and a couple of his friends to volunteer and help me with a small project for church. These elementary school-aged boys responded that they would help me, but asked what they did wrong. I was puzzled. I said they had done nothing wrong; the project was just something nice that we could do for others. They said when someone did something wrong at school, he or she had to do “community service,” and asked if this project was a kind of “community service?” So, somewhere along the way, volunteering went from an honor and a privilege to “punishment.” Since that time and lesson learned , our son has volunteered a number of times to do a number of things, and he sees the activity as something enjoyable, productive, and God pleasing. One of the most important tips when working with volunteers is to let them do what they have the ability to do and enjoy doing. Generally, even small children are willing to participate in craft activities and can make greetings cards for shut-in; trace their own shoes on construction paper, cut them out, and use them as directional signs; and hand out programs and church bulletins at church-wide functions. One of the photos accompanying this story features a Christmas card made by an enthusiastic 4-yearold girl. At the other end of the lifespan, many older people can stuff, address, and stamp envelopes; make phone calls; and again make greeting cards. Another photo with this story shows a “crocheted” get well card made by my homebound 94-year-old mother. Both volunteered to make these for distribution at a nursing home. Nursing students seem to have a natural inclination to help, and volunteering is a part of that tendancy. Once finished at a community clinical site, students often chose to go back as volunteers. The third photo with this story features two student nurses, a participant at an adult day care center, and me. The three of us helped the participants make, bake, and decorate 18 Swedish tea rings. Our time there was taped for a local community television broadcast. These are all examples of volunteering, of allowing the volunteers to provide a service that is both within their capabilities and that they can enjoy. Thus, the volunteers feel personally enriched by the experience, satisfied with helping others, encouraged to do more volunteering, and truly consider their service an honor and a privilege.