CLEF July 2014

15
First English Ev. Lutheran Church Inside this issue: Pastor Veres Sunday Sermon 2 Call Process Update Summer Schedule 4 With the Members 5 Adult Education 6 Gift Wish List Tuck pointing Organ Fund Columbarium 7 Board of Social Action Gardening Team 8 Board of Fellowship Sunday School/Youth News 9 Recycle Preschool Kroger Rewards 11 July Birthdays 12 Serving in July 13 Calendar 14 SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST Dear Members and Friends of First English, In our Church’s Calendar we are now in that time of the many “Sundays after Pentecost.” Now this year, with Easter being later, there will not be as many “Sundays after Pentecost.” We only have 23 Sundays before we come to “Christ the King” Sunday, the last Sunday of the Church Year prior to the “Season of Advent,” the beginning of a new year. Now I have been around the block a few times and I realize that talking about the “Church’s Calendar” probably is not the most exciting of topics, but believe it or not there is meaning and logic in our “Church’s Calendar.” The “Church’s Calendar” is divided between the “Festival Half’ and the “Non Festival Half.” Now again, I will admit, maybe not the most catchy of titles, but the early church was more interested in substance and teaching rather than glamour! The “Festival Half” is so named because it contains the “Major Festivals of the Church;” namely, Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. This “Festival Half” of the Church year highlights and emphasizes and celebrates what God has done for us the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, his innocent suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, and the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His church at Pentecost. The “Non Festival Half” of the Church Year, which contains all of those “Sundays after Pentecost,” while always properly focused upon God’s great love for us; shifts the emphasis to you and to me, to our response to the Gospel! Indeed, if we stop and think about it, does not God’s great gift of a Savior and the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit demand a response on our part! To focus our thinking, just ask yourself “for whom would you be willing to die?” Indeed the lessons assigned for the Sundays during the “Non Festival Half” of the Church Year center on what it means to be a child of God, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ. I do not remember who to credit, but one short line from a commentary on Jesus’ Parable of the “Workers in the Vineyard,” sticks in my mind and I believe summarizes the reality of the church today, and that line is, “The greatest problem with the workers in the vineyard (i.e. members of Christ’s Church) is absenteeism !” Now yes, we all know and realize how hectic life is today. We all seem to have so many demands on our time and our energy. But I ask you why is it that we neglect the most important part of our life, our relationship with Christ and His Church??? I do not claim to have all of the answers, in fact, I am not even sure of all of the questions of life today; but maybe, just maybe the reason for our lack of commitment to Christ and His Church is because we can! My point is that our gracious God is so good to us and continues to uphold us even when we take Him and His love for granted, that we do just that we take Him for granted! What do you think? We use the term “faith practices,” and we grow in that which we practice, right? Please join with us for these “Sundays after Pentecost” as we offer up our thanks and praise to God, as we hear His Word and receive His Blessed Sacrament, and together grow in our faith relationship and what it means to be a true Child of God! See you at worship! God’s Blessings, Pastor Schmidt J ULY 2 0 14 J ULY 2 0 14 J ULY 2 0 14

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Transcript of CLEF July 2014

First English Ev. Lutheran Church

Inside this issue:

Pastor Veres

Sunday Sermon 2

Call Process Update Summer Schedule

4

With the Members 5

Adult Education 6

Gift Wish List

Tuck pointing Organ Fund

Columbarium

7

Board of Social Action

Gardening Team 8

Board of Fellowship

Sunday School/Youth News

9

Recycle

Preschool

Kroger Rewards 11

July Birthdays 12

Serving in July 13

Calendar 14

SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST

Dear Members and Friends of First English,

In our Church’s Calendar we are now in that time of the many “Sundays after

Pentecost.” Now this year, with Easter being later, there will not be as many “Sundays

after Pentecost.” We only have 23 Sundays before we come to “Christ the King” Sunday,

the last Sunday of the Church Year prior to the “Season of Advent,” the beginning of a

new year.

Now I have been around the block a few times and I realize that talking about the

“Church’s Calendar” probably is not the most exciting of topics, but believe it or not there

is meaning and logic in our “Church’s Calendar.”

The “Church’s Calendar” is divided between the “Festival Half’ and the “Non

Festival Half.” Now again, I will admit, maybe not the most catchy of titles, but the early

church was more interested in substance and teaching rather than glamour! The “Festival

Half” is so named because it contains the “Major Festivals of the Church;” namely,

Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. This “Festival Half” of the Church year highlights and

emphasizes and celebrates what God has done for us – the birth of our Savior, Jesus

Christ our Lord, his innocent suffering, death, resurrection and ascension, and the special

outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon His church at Pentecost.

The “Non Festival Half” of the Church Year, which contains all of those “Sundays

after Pentecost,” while always properly focused upon God’s great love for us; shifts the

emphasis to you and to me, to our response to the Gospel! Indeed, if we stop and think

about it, does not God’s great gift of a Savior and the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit

demand a response on our part! To focus our thinking, just ask yourself “for whom

would you be willing to die?”

Indeed the lessons assigned for the Sundays during the “Non Festival Half” of the

Church Year center on what it means to be a child of God, a disciple of Jesus Christ, a

faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

I do not remember who to credit, but one short line from a commentary on Jesus’

Parable of the “Workers in the Vineyard,” sticks in my mind and I believe summarizes the

reality of the church today, and that line is, “The greatest problem with the workers in

the vineyard (i.e. members of Christ’s Church) is absenteeism!”

Now yes, we all know and realize how hectic life is today. We all seem to have so

many demands on our time and our energy. But I ask you why is it that we neglect the

most important part of our life, our relationship with Christ and His Church???

I do not claim to have all of the answers, in fact, I am not even sure of all of the

questions of life today; but maybe, just maybe the reason for our lack of commitment to

Christ and His Church is because we can! My point is that our gracious God is so good to

us and continues to uphold us even when we take Him and His love for granted, that we do

just that – we take Him for granted! What do you think?

We use the term “faith practices,” and we grow in that which we practice, right?

Please join with us for these “Sundays after Pentecost” as we offer up our thanks and

praise to God, as we hear His Word and receive His Blessed Sacrament, and together grow

in our faith relationship and what it means to be a true Child of God!

See you at worship! God’s Blessings,

Pastor Schmidt

J U LY 2 0 14J U LY 2 0 14J U LY 2 0 14

2

Sixth Sunday of Easter Sermon from May 22 & 25, 2014

Grace and peace to you my sisters and brothers from God our Father and from our Lord and

Savior Jesus the Christ.

Sunday is the day that we Christians celebrate again and again the great mystery of the

resurrection. Here at First English during the summer months we also celebrate on Thursday

evenings!

Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, continues to shine upon us with the warmth and

graciousness of God’s love – Sundays and all through the week.

Believe it or not we are still celebrating Easter. In the church’s liturgical year this is the sixth

Sunday of Easter. And, believe it or not, we still have yet another Sunday – the seventh

Sunday of Easter to celebrate before we arrive at Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Why such a long drawn out time to celebrate Easter?

The jellybeans and marshmallow peeps are long gone!

These seven weeks in the church year of course coincide with the time Jesus remained on

earth after his resurrection.

A time when he appeared to his disciples:

Assuring them,

Teaching them, about all that had happened,

And making some promises to them for the times ahead.

Our seven weeks of Easter are likewise a time for us:

To be assured

To be taught about all that has taken place

And to be reminded and receive once again the promises of Jesus for the times ahead.

Today’s gospel reading is a continuation of last Sunday’s text. The location and day have not

changed. It’s Thursday evening before the crucifixion. Jesus is gathered with his disciples in

the upper room. They have shared a meal together and Jesus has shown them an act of selfless

love and service – he washed their feet. There is an uneasiness in the air.

Even though Jesus has assured them with the promise:

That he goes before them to prepare a place for them,

That they are not to let their hearts be troubled because he will return and take them to the

place where he is….

Despite these assurances and all the marvelous things they have seen him do and lessons

they have been taught, the disciples are distressed! Jesus is going away!

This is what the threat of loss does – it shakes up our sense of safety and security. The

disciples have troubled hearts, and so do we at times.

(Continued on page 3)

WE’RE ON THE

WEB

www.feelc.org

MISSION STATEMENT

‘GO, MAKE DISCIPLES’

First English Ev. Lutheran Church

800 Vernier Road

Grosse Pointe Woods,

48236-1530

Phone: 313.884.5040

Fax: 313.884.4460

www.feelc.org

Senior Pastor

Dr. Walter A. Schmidt

[email protected]

Associate Pastor

Rev. Christina Veres

[email protected]

Education/Youth Coordinator

Renata Conger

[email protected]

Pastor Emeritus

Rev. Paul F. Keppler

OFFICE HOURS

8a.m. — 12:30 p.m. ****

1:30p.m. — 4:00p.m.

(Monday—Friday)

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE Through August 31, 2014

9:00 a.m. - Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion

10:30 a.m. - Traditional Worship (Holy Communion 1st & 3rd Sunday)

3

We’ve all known loss, each and every one of us, personally and deeply.

Loss of loved ones,

Loss of close and significant relationships through divorce or job relocation,

Loss of employment through downsizing or retirement,

Loss of good health or abilities through illness, accident or aging….

And the upcoming loss of a long time Pastor to retirement

Just to name a few.

All of these losses, even ones that were necessary or ones that resulted from a positive change in circumstances, all are difficult

to work through and are worthy of acknowledgement.

Jesus has gathered his disciples together to acknowledge the loss they are anticipating.

He knows that the fear of loss is not easy to defeat. It shakes up our sense of safety and security.

Can you hear the disciple’s sad refrains? How can we continue on with our ministry?

Who will lead the way? We love Jesus and have grown in relationship and knowledge – we are just getting started! This is all

so disheartening.

Jesus has a promise a remedy that will calm their troubled hearts, and stir them up at the same time to carry on in Jesus’ name.

Jesus has a plan that will not leave them orphaned, abandoned or alone. Jesus will send an Advocate, a “parakletos” to come

along beside them.

John is the only gospel writer to use this term “parakletos” to refer to the Holy Spirit.

We often don’t have a good way to describe the work of the Holy Spirit – other than some sort of ethereal being that we can’t

see but can sense the presence of.

Jesus is promising to send the disciples an advocate, a parakletos to come along beside them. So what is it that the disciples

need to hear from Jesus about the function and purpose of this Holy Spirit in this moment in time – a time when they are

fearful and distressed?

They might be asking and wondering:

What difference could this new advocate possibly make in our lives?

Why does our beloved leader have to leave now?

Why can’t there be some other alternate plan – we don’t like this one!

Here in the fourteenth chapter of John the Greek word provides some further definition you might find helpful.

The “parakletos”:

Is the one summoned or called to one’s side

Is the one destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles after Christ’s ascension to the Father.

Is the one who will lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel of truth

Is the one who will give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the

divine kingdom.

In short this advocate brings help, consolation, comfort, and encouragement & can also function in the legal sense, meaning

literally one who advocates for you in a court of law.

If you went to seminary, these are all definitions of the Holy Spirit we find in reference books such as:

“Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible – the Red-Letter edition no less.

This is a very present help in seminary classes especially where Greek and Hebrew are involved. But I believe there is more

here than has been spelled out in the “Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.

(Continued from page 2)

(Continued on page 10)

4

Update to the Senior Pastor Call Process

This is a quick recap of what has happened in the Senior Pastor call process thus far and what is

happening to move forward. On May 18 the church council decided to move forward with the call

process rather than have an interim pastor for a period of time after Pastor Schmidt’s retirement.

On June 1 the Church Council had a meeting and approved the following members for the call

committee;

John Nyquist – Chairman

Mark Balle, Jr.

John Blohm

Trevor Clor

Jeff Gates

Members of council were also given the task of working on the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) which

is the congregation’s resume and defines “who we are” to help in the selection of our new Senior

Pastor. Council members were encouraged to take the questions of the MSP to their board

members and other members of the congregation for reflection and input. The council met on June

22 to review and compile the MSP document. The call committee is meeting with Pastor Oberle

and Pastor Holland from the Bishop’s office on June 25 to learn details of how the call process will

work. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Marc Simone

President, FEELC Council

SUMMER SCHEDULE Just a reminder that we are now in our Summer Schedule of

Worship Services. Contemporary Worship is at 9:00 a.m. and

Traditional Worship is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School does not meet during

the summer months.

If you are out of town on the weekend, please join us on Thursday

evenings for worship at 7:00 p.m. The Summer Schedule will continue

through Labor Day Weekend.

Waynette Hostetler

Chris Judson

Randie Kohler

Sue Ulmer

Congregational meeting scheduled for Sunday, August 17, 2014

When Pastor Chris came to First English her call was to be co-terminus with

Pastor Schmidt’s retirement. As the council discussed the transition from Pastor

Schmidt to a new Senior Pastor we felt that an extension of Pastor Chris’s call would

be beneficial and necessary. The purpose of the meeting is for the

congregation to vote on an extension of the call of Pastor Chris Veres. The church

council has scheduled a Congregational meeting on Sunday, August 17, 2014

directly after the 10:30 am service.

5

THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS We continue to receive your “Thrivent

Choice Dollars” gifts! Thank you to all of our

members who have directed their “Thrivent Choice

Dollars” to support the mission and ministry of First

English. Over $2,000.00 was donated last year to

First English through this program. If you are a

Thrivent policy holder you are eligible to also direct

your support to First English. The rules have

changed a bit in that now the gifting of the “Thrivent

Choice Dollars” must be done annually. You can

direct your gifts to First English by calling Thrivent

at 1-800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and state

“Thrivent Choice” or on line at Thrivent.com. Again,

thank you for your support; it is greatly

appreciated!

Did you know that private music lessons take place at First English Church?

Piano with Carrie Roach (586) 530-8872;

Piano/Organ with Donna Gorzelski (248) 990-3652 or

[email protected]; and

Saxophone, flute, clarinet, and oboe with Laura Schwanitz

(586) 744-5379 or [email protected]

Give them a call if you're interested!

ALTAR CLOTH

Have you noticed the new Altar Cloth

for our Contemporary Worship? Thinking

that it would be very meaningful to have an

Altar Cloth from the Holy city of Jerusalem,

we purchased this Altar Cloth on our recent

tour to Israel and Jordan.

Congratulations to our High School Graduates! On Sunday, June 15, 2014 we publically recognized our

graduating seniors and celebrated a “Stepping Into the World and Blanket Presentation.” Our prayers go with our

graduates as they move onto the next chapter in their lives and pray for them God’s richest blessings. You can see

their pictures and their futures plans on the bulletin board as you enter the sanctuary. Our graduates are: from

Grosse Pointe South—Allison Cornell; from Grosse Pointe North—Katelyn Kohler, Tyler Nelson, Amy Olson,

Julia Rustmann, Sarah Rustmann, Bobby Simone, Grant Strobl and Madison Vens; and from Hillsdale

College—Matthew Reck

Jim Haley passed away June 10, 2014. A Memorial Service will be (was) held for Jim on Saturday, June 28, 2014,

11:00 a.m. at First English. Thanks be to God who gives to us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

6

9:30 a.m. THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

– THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS

Our Thursday Morning Bible Study Group has decided to study the

Book of Galatians this coming fall. We will have approximately six

weeks this coming fall following Labor Day before Pastor Schmidt

retires, so this time frame gives to us a great opportunity to study this

relatively short but powerful Epistle of St. Paul.

Martin Luther considered Galatians one of the purest presentations of

the Gospel, and as one author put it, “The importance of the brief let-

ter (Galatians) is hard to overestimate. The declaration of the princi-

ples reiterated in these six chapters made Christianity a true world

religion.”

Our sessions will begin after Labor Day, meeting Thursday

mornings, 9:30 -11:00 a.m.. Please make your plans now to join

with us as together we explore this powerful book.

We still have a few copies of the book Killing Jesus remaining, which

would make great summer reading, and are available from Pastor

Schmidt, Pastor Chris and Sue, in the office, at the discounted price of

$15.00.

Grace Circle - Fourth Monday at 7:00 p.

Peace Circle - First Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

Faith Circle - First Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Hope Circle - Second Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

Check the calendar at www.feelc.org

WOMEN’S CIRCLE BIBLE STUDY

Our Women’s Circle Bible studies for this fall will

be: “Transforming Life and Faith.” This study

will look at the transforming power of Jesus, the

transformations of Paul and Moses and Lydia,

Philip and the Ethiopian, plus more. The Septem-

ber study begins with St. Paul and a look

at his transformation and faith - from one who per-

secuted the church to become her greatest missionary.

All women of First English are encouraged to

attend a Circle; please check the calendar for the various

Circles meeting schedule.

9:30a.m. ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

Our Adult Sunday School

offerings do not meet during the

summer months, but we take this

opportunity to thank all of our

members who participated in these

opportunities to learn and grow in

our faith. We also extend a sincere

thanks to our members who led

these classes when one of the

pastors was out of town. Thank You!

As we look to the fall, what would

you like to study??? Please share

your thoughts with Pastor Chris or

Pastor Schmidt

7

GIFT WISH LIST TUCKPOINTING AND PILLAR REPAIRS

ORGAN FUND

COLUMBARIUM FOR FIRST ENGLISH COLUMBARIUM PROJECT GIVEN FINAL APPROVAL

At the special congregational meeting Sunday, June 1, 2014 First English Congregation

voted to move forward with our Columbarium Project. Eickhof Columbaria, the company who

will be installing our Columbaria, has been contacted and now that they have formal approval to

move forward, will be getting back to us with specifics concerning construction.

We will continue with the same policy as approved earlier concerning sale of the niches, i.e.

before construction begins, the companion niches, which hold two urns, will be sold for $1,500.00;

after construction begins they will sell for $1,800.00. We will give the congregation sixty days

notice before raising the price to $1,800.00. Niches will be assigned on a “first come-first-served”

basis, with members being able to choose the location of their niche within the Columbarium. To

date twelve double niches have been sold, If you are interested in purchasing a companion niche,

please speak to Pastor Schmidt.

.

Our organ at First English is over fifty years old, and over the past 10 years has had switching

components beginning to fail. Because the original components of the organ console haven’t

been manufactured since the early 1970’s, the console and its related switching need to be rebuilt

to have the organ fully functional again. The three bids that we are looking at estimate repairs to

be approximately $300,000. Total funding at this point is at $66,363 in the Organ Fund,

including the gracious gift from the estate of Gladys Greenburg. If you wish to help with these

repairs, please mark your envelope "Organ Fund" and place in the offering plate or leave in the

office. Thank you! -The Board of Worship and Music.

This past year the first unit of our facility required tuck-pointing of the outer walls to

prevent costly water damage. In addition the pillars by the southeast entrance to the

Narthex required repair. Our Board of Church Properties received bids for the above

repairs and the Church Council approved these projects. The total cost was $19,600.00, and

these repairs have now all been completed. If you would like to assist with the cost of this

project simply mail your check to the church or place in the offering plate. Please designate

your gift for “Church Maintenance.” Thank You!

8

BOARD OF SOCIAL ACTION

BUILDING REMINDER With the busy schedule of events at First

English….a friendly reminder to turn off lights when leaving a room, and make sure that all of the doors are locked if you are the last one out. We want to keep our utility costs down

and our facility safe and secure for all to use. Please remember that all facility requests should be made through Kyle Clor ((313)-881-9703 or via her e-mail at

[email protected].)

SCHEDULES & CONTACT NUMBERS Just a reminder concerning the schedules of Pastor Chris and Pastor Schmidt. Pastor Chris’ day off is Friday and in an emergency she can be contacted at 248-231-5091. Her email address is [email protected]. Pastor Schmidt’s day off remains on Monday and his home phone number for emergencies is 313-882-3520. His email address is [email protected]. Church office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the office closed for lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sue’s email is [email protected]

Pantry

You’ve heard the expression “back to basics.” This time we’re talking food. Each month we’ll ask

members to donate another “basic” to restock our pantry. July is boxed mac & cheese and

canned fruit or vegetables. Consider buying one or two for our shelves. Obviously if you find a great deal

for other pantry basics, bring ‘em in. There’s always room for more!

The pantry is always open on Sunday mornings, so come take a look. Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE: Oktoberfest, FRIDAY, September 26, 2014

THE FEELC GARDENING TEAM THANKS the

Vitale Family, Ruth Platts, June and Tim MacMichael,

the McIntyre family, the Ritts family, Dennis Gates family,

Claudia Gram, Penny Damore, John and Betty Blohm,

Renee Strobl, Virg Ditty, Carol Sauter plus several

anonymous donors who donated flowers this year. A very

nice cash donation was given by Claudia Strozeski to be

used for the gardening effort this year. All was planted by

Judy Leo, Carol Logan, Nancy Heaphy, Virg Ditty and

Carol Sauter. Help is always appreciated for maintaining

ALL OF THIS during the summer months. Have an hour or

so, on occasion, to help?? Please call Carol Sauter at

(313 881-6959) or e-mail at [email protected].

9

BOARD OF FELLOWSHIP news

Summer is here. Please consider hosting coffee hour during the summer, which begins on June 1 through August 31. Summer Worship services for coffee hours are 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. There is a sign-up poster on the Fellowship bulletin board in the hallway. Tigers game outing will be on Sunday July 20 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are sold out.

Parish Education/Youth News from Renata Parish Education News The End of the Educational Year — Thank You!

Thank you all for a wonderful year of learning! Parents, we hope you will continue to read from the Spark Story Bible with your children this summer. A special thank you to all those who taught Sunday School, assisted in the nursery, were Confirmation small group leaders, acted as chaperones, or helped in any other way. We simply could not function if you were not so generous with your time, prayers, and creativity.

Sunday School will resume on September 14, 2014 with Rally Day. We hope to see you all then and hope that you will join us for Vacation Bible School this summer!

Youth News

Fundraising Updates Once again, the FEELC congregation has been amazingly supportive of its’ high school Youth. The Drive-in Lunch raised $327 for the Work Camp mission trip this summer. Thank you so much!

It costs approximately $3,500 for seven students to attend Work Camp and, thanks to your generous support, we have grossed over $2,500 so far!

10

Consider this:

Most of the words WE use to describe ourselves name relationships:

We are son/daughter, mother/father, husband/wife, sister/brother, pastor/teacher, friend/lover.

There are times when we conceive of ourselves as “pulling ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” This is the “American

Way”, isn’t it?

But I think you will agree that this self-reliant caricature cannot stand up to scrutiny.

When the sense of “I” is pursued, we always find it grounded in an interdependent “we.” We need each other. We have

been created to be in relationship with one another.

The Holy Trinity is the perfect example/model of this.

Christian theologians have characterized the inner life of the Trinity as “perichoresis.” What this odd sounding Greek

term really describes is the relationship between each person of the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Their existence together is considered as a co-indwelling that allows for the individuality of the persons to be maintained,

while insisting that each person shares in the life of the other two.

Now stick with me, because I think this is the heart of what Jesus is promising for his disciples as he is about to leave

them.

Another way of describing this “perichoresis” this relationship of the Trinity, is a dance, a life-giving movement that goes

round and round without beginning or end. This is the love and life of the Father, of the Son and of the Spirit.

THIS is the love and life that Jesus reveals and imparts to his disciples.

When Jesus promised to send another advocate to be with them, he is promising so much more than someone to fill in the

empty space left when he returns to the Father. He is promising so much more than an advocate to be with us only when

times are tough, when we feel lost and alone.

As children of God, disciples of Jesus the Christ, WE are being invited to join, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in this ongoing

dance of life and love. We have not been left alone as orphans, we are God’s own.

So what does this all mean? What can each of us walk away with today?

Quite simply- we are not alone- and we can face the challenges and opportunities of life with confidence whether it

involves – changes involving loved ones, changes that involve close and significant relationships such as divorce or job

relocation, changes of employment through downsizing or retirement, changes in health or abilities through illness,

accident or aging…. or even retirements or changes in our pastoral staff.

Whatever life sends our way, we can face the future with confidence. The promises of Jesus are truth. We have not been

left alone. God is with us forever and ever! For we are God’s and he is ours – forever and ever!

Now may the peace of Christ which surpasses all of our understanding, be and remain with you this day and always.

Amen.

Preached by Rev. Christina Veres on Thursday and Sunday, May 22 & 25, 2014

(Continued from page 3)

11

Accepting enrollment for 3 & 4 year olds for September 2014-15

First English Lutheran Preschool offers an academic program to help

prepare your child for kindergarten. With a small class size, our program includes Bible lessons, math, music, science, art, language,

beginning reading concepts and physical development. We have a very large and bright classroom for your child to spend their

morning socializing with friends.

Please contact Christine Simone if you, or a friend, is seeking a preschool for the fall. Call Christine at (313)655-7367 or email at [email protected] to

arrange a classroom visit.

RECYCLE PAPER BIN BRING YOUR

PAPER for

RECYCLING!!

Please take time to drop all your clean, dry newspapers, magazines, office

and copy paper, advertising inserts and junk mail into the recycle bin in the

parking lot. You don’t have to sort anything or remove staples. Please bag

your shredded paper.

NO CARDBOARD OR PHONE BOOKS ARE ACCEPTED.

The AbiBow Recycling, LLC program is designed for organizations to recycle

paper -- most of all, it’s an opportunity for us to recycle and help the

environment.

Have you enrolled or re-enrolled yet?? Please take the time to go online and

sign-up or renew your card and make your donation designation to First English

(#83535). It doesn’t cost you anything. If you don’t remember the email address

that you used previously to enroll, you can call (877)576-7587 to remove any

email attached to your card number and then proceed to enroll again. Our fund-

raising efforts, by participating in the Kroger Community Rewards Program, have

added up to significant money - just by purchasing your weekly groceries! DOWN

a little from the last quarter, our latest quarterly check was in the amount of

$263.40!!

If you have never signed up – go to Kroger’s website

krogercommunityrewards.com and follow the prompts. You will need your Kroger

card.

KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM - PLEASE Re-enroll

12

7/1: Mackenzie Campbell, Hira Herrington,

Samantha Potter, Jane Sowell,

Lucy Stevens

7/2: John Chantler, Charles Ulmer

7/3: Megan Faber, John Guest, Bryan Ulmer

7/4: Robert Balle, Alan Blohm,

Haley Rozycki, Janice Wilson

7/5: Christi Forsythe

7/6: Ashley Joondeph, Amy Warren

7/7: Robert Cassar, Tristan Duffey,

Yvonne Garvin, Reagan Moore

7/8: Emma Pangborn, Kirsten Schoensee,

Rachel Stein

7/9: Alexandra Berkesch, Noah LaMagno,

7/10: Susan Ulmer

7/12: Luke Kohler

7/13: Lindsey Warren

7/14: Jeffrey Bloom, Gordon Stewart, Jr.

7/15: Amy Clor, Jeffrey Gurney

7/16: Robin Breckenridge,

Whitney Joondeph, Logan Ritts

7/17: Margot Kahl, Brianne Langlois,

Cheryl Nelson

7/18: Jayne Blohm, Julia Henderson,

Courtney Kohler, Nora Smith

7/19: Roberta Kuhagen

7/20: Emily Damian

7/21: William Gierman, Lauren Link

7/22: Courtney Joondeph

7/23: Mary Kohler, Sara McClendon,

John Russell, Clarence Schram,

Richard Zwicker

7/24: Robert Foster, Pamela Southard,

Rebecca Tito

7/25: Heather O’Boyle, Alexandra

Tomlinson

7/26: Amy Cornell, Shane Spicer,

Deborah Trerice

7/27: Barbara Edwards, Brett Reardon

7/28: Marie Caputo, Michael Gates,

Mary Beth Seppala,

Rebecca Sloss, Jeffrey Stein,

Karri Tuuri

7/29: William Henderson, Loraine Lieder

7/30: John Balle, Ken Kohler,

Craig Mathes

7/31: Kyle Chase, William Hassig,

Lauren Nyquist, Gertrude Rush

13

GR

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July

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July

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15

VBS 2014

Registration Form

Child’s Name

_______________________________________________________________________Gender: M F

Grade Completed _____________Date of Birth ______________________Age___

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City ______________________________________________________________ Zip ______________________________

Preferred Phone ____________________________________ Alternate Phone ____________________________________

Email _____________________________________________ Home Church ______________________________________

Special Needs/Allergies

$10.00 per child OR $20.00 household maximum

——Bottom to be completed by VBS staff——

Payment Date ____________ Initial _______