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Lord of LifeLUTHERAN CHURCH

Safe Sanctuary Training

Music Mania and other Fall programs

August 19, 2015

Capital Campaign Update

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations...Psalm 90:1

As I look around our congregation, so many generational transitions are happening in our midst...

• Parents sending their preschoolers off to KOK for the first time, and the excitement and tears that we see as we greet those little ones and their parents as they come through the door for the first time...

• Families sending children off to new schools this fall -- grade school, middle schools, high schools...

• Our youth who seem to have grown up way too soon, heading off to the adventure of college for the first time...

• Parents figuring out how to live in this new “empty nest” time as they let go of their children...

• Families facing the stress of packing up and moving again as a result of job changes - Lord of Life experiences that a lot as we welcome new folks and say good bye to precious others...

• Adult children adjusting to a more responsible role as “the child becomes the parent”...• Folks who are finding the big house is too much for them and find themselves letting go of many memories

in a familiar place to step out into one more life transition...

In all of these transitions, we can get to feeling disoriented, lost, unsure of who we are in this new time and place in our lives. The good news is that whatever changes may be happening in our lives, whatever new home we are transitioning to, we always have a “home “ in the heart of our God. And that is the one thing that never changes. When we live confident in the “home” of God, perhaps transitions can be less of a closing and more of an opening; less of a threat and more of an adventure; perhaps we can see in each transition how God is working to bring about a new possibility, whatever our age... and when this life is over, the promise of our completely new home in God!

Whatever generational transitions you and yours may be facing , wherever you may move, one thing always stays the same:

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations...”

Blessings on the journey, keep us posted, and call us when you need us - we’ll keep the porch light on...

Grace and Peace, Pastor Gary

Educational and Family Events

Pastor’s Bible Study

Tuesdays - 11:30 am

BUNCO

1st Tuesday of month - 7 pm

Baptism Anniversary

2nd Sunday of each Month

Men’s Breakfast

2nd/4th Saturday of each month

DRAFT at Goose’s Acre

2nd Thursday of month - 8 pm

RuthAnn’s Remnants

2nd/3rd Thursday of each month

Hug-A-Bears

4th Thursday of each month

Homeless Ministry

4th Tuesday of each month

Youth Gathering

Sundays - 6 pm

Knitting Group

2nd/4th Saturday of each month

Prayers n Squares

4th Thursday of each month

Food Pantry Sunday

1st Sunday of each month

PJ’s CornerHave you ever felt like you just wanted to escape life? To run

away from it all and start anew? Ever felt like you just didn’t fit?

Or that you just can’t take it any longer? So you retreat. You go

away to reframe and reorient your life. For some reason or another

that reframing and reorienting is often the most helpful thing to do to help you and possibly your family or coworkers. In that getaway

is there a space to take the time to remind yourself that you are grounded by a love that is beyond measure and often beyond words?!

Scripture tells us in Romans 12:2 (from The Voice translation):Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be

transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good,

pleasing, and complete.

But how does that happen? Let me tell you a story…..Click here (lordoflifeonline.org/media) to read the rest of the story.

Tune In - Listening Team

On the weekend of August 29-30, Lord of Life’s Listening Team will be commissioned at all worship services. We hope you can join us for this special blessing. What is the Listening Team all about? Who is guiding this process? What are they doing now? Check out this link, LordofLifeOnline.org/Resources, at the Listening Team’s blog for updates.

Capital Campaign UpdateThe three-year Sharing God’s Abundance Campaign has been successfully completed, funding several necessary and desired projects throughout our church facility. Congratulations!

The Church Council, in response to the Leadership Retreat’s highest of three priorities for the year 2015, has chartered a Capital Campaign Steering Committee to evaluate the possibility of a new campaign to address ministry needs we now face. The congregation will commission and be introduced to this Capital Campaign Steering Committee during worship services on September 5 and 6.

Throughout the planning and decision-making process this fall, the congregation will be given information about proposed projects and will be asked for feedback. The Committee will host a roundtable discussion on Sunday, September 20 at noon, to share the information they have gathered and to seek the congregation’s sense of priorities. Input from the congregation will be gathered both from that roundtable conversation and through online communication tools. The congregation’s response will determine both the target goal of the campaign and which projects to include. This will lead to a congregational meeting, tentatively set for November, where the congregation would be asked to vote on the possibility of a capital campaign.

A link has been created on the Lord of Life website to a page which will be frequently updated with information (lolonline.org/welcome-one-another). Congregation members may send direct messages and questions to the committee, chaired by Ed Spaulding, at WelcomeOneAnother@LordofLifeOnline.org.

Safe SanctuaryAges ago, Isaiah laid out a vision for what God’s presence would create – a safe, joyous place for all those who follow Jesus. He said that those who gathered near God would be protected from destructive violence and surrounded by praise and God’s presence. But today, making Isaiah’s vision a reality in our churches doesn’t just happen without

intentional planning and hard work.

Keep Our Kids and Adults Safe: If you interact with any of the youth or adults at Lord of Life in a leadership capacity, you are expected to attend Safe Sanctuary Training. You will learn (or be reminded) about appropriate interactions, protecting yourself, our kids, elderly and our reputation in the community, recognizing signs of abusive situations and many other valuable insights.

Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00pm in the Fellowship HallRSVP your attendance to your specific ministry department.

Children’s Ministry (Preschool-6th grade): Jennifer Rowe (jrowe@lordoflifeonline.org)Teen Life Ministry (7th-12th grade): Patrick Nazaroff (pnazaroff@lordoflifeonline.org)

Adult Ministry: Mark Ruch (mruch@lordoflifeonline.org)Council: Tom Pinney (thospinney@gmail.com)

Office Volunteers: Rick Janacek (rjanacek@lordoflifeonline.org)If you are unsure of your department, contact the church office with your RSVP. 281-367-7016.Childcare will be available. Please let us know at the time of RSVP if you are in need of childcare.

Worship & The ArtsMusic Mania

It is time to get ready for an EXCITING year of MUSIC MANIA!! Music Mania will be open to students in 2nd thru 6th grade on Sunday evenings from 4:30-5:45 and Pre-K thru 2nd as part of Sunday School Hour starting Sunday, September 13th. We have some GREAT things planned and look forward to seeing you in September. Please be on the look-out for more information coming your way! Feel free to contact Katie Phillips at katie.j.phillips4@gmail.com for more information.

Winnie the Pooh Fine Arts Camp 2015Yet another wonderful year for the LOL Fine Arts Camp. The kids were fantastic and the set was magnificent! They really learned a great deal in 12 hours this week. Thank you to everyone in the music department and all of their extra helping hands for making this a fine production. What a fun night! #‎GodsAbundance

Religious Recognition for Scouts

Do you have a Scout (Boy, Girl, AHG) who is interested in earning the religious recognition award for Lutherans? We are collecting information about who might be interested in these classes, and may form fall classes for these awards. If you are interested, please contact Linda Davies at rogerdavies@earthlink.net and let her know what grade your Scout is entering in the fall and if a weekday evening or a weekend class would be better for you and your child. Volunteers are needed to help with the classes so please indicate if you are willing to help with a class. The classes for grades 1-6 may take 4 to 8 weeks to complete. The classes for grades 7-12 may take 3 to 6 months to complete.

August 22 Flippin’ for Jesus Kickoff September 11 Kids Night Out—New Time! September 13 Sunday school begins

Every other month, kids in grades 4—6 join Pastor Gary or Pastor Jennifer for bacon, pancakes, bacon, Bi-ble study, bacon, and fellowship. Check The Happen-ings each month for info and sign up. August 22 is our Kickoff pool party at Pastor Gary’s house for kids in grades 4—7. Sign up online!

A Closer Look at….

Alternating months with Flippin’ for Jesus is Kids Night Out. At KNO, kids aged 5 years through grade 6 have fun playing dodge ball and other games. This year we are extending KNO until 9:00 and including a movie. Our first KNO is Septem-ber 11, 6:00—9:00 pm. $5/ kid for pizza, drink, dessert.

Sunday school for kids aged 3 years through grade 6 begins Sep-tember 13 at 9:50. Sunday school lessons follow the Lectionary so your kids will be discussing the same content covered in worship. The last Sunday of each month is Service Sunday when the leaders have time off and parents help kids complete service projects.

Where to Go Ages 3—5 Room 06 Grades 1 & 2 Room 02 Grades 3 & 4 Room 03 Grades 5 & 6 Room 22 (upstairs)

All children must be signed in and out of Sunday school, including 5th/6th graders.

Upcoming Events

Teen Life at LOLConfirmationWe kick off Confirmation Wednesday, September 9th. This night, we’ll divide up into our small groups, give parents a chance to meet the mentors of the program and go over new parts of the program.

Sunday SchoolSunday School starts on September 13th. Our Sr. High Students meet in the Youth Room and are taught by Kirsten and Phil Beckler. And our 7th and 8th grade confirmation students meet in the big confirmation room upstairs.

Jr High Mission Trip UpdateOur Jr High students did a great job serving 6 different organizations in Houston, Vita-living, Adopt-a-Cat, Meals on Wheels, Reach Unlimited, Houston Food Bank, and The Bread of Life community food fair. Our 7th and 8th graders served all these organizations with a joyful heart and showed the love of Jesus through their actions and words. A big thank you to all our drivers and chaperones and to especially our High School mentors: Amanda Sass, Alex Henze, and Anika Guttormson, they were a tremendous help in guiding and leading our Confirmation Youth. Thank you to new University of Texas Freshman, Amanda Sass for her efforts in planning and setting up our service organizations.

Droids Vs. Wookies - Bubble Soccer

We had a great afternoon of bubble soccer! It was hot and sweaty, but we had a blast. Congratulations to team droids for a much needed victory. To see more Teen Life at Lord of Life visit our website at LordofLifeOnline.org/Ministries.

The Youth Garage Sale raised $3100 for new furniture in the Youth room! Thanks to everyone who donated items and who bought items at this wonderful event. Special thanks to Tricia Sass, Belinda Eason, Pastor Jennifer and Marna Arlien for organizing and helping to facilitate the sale.

Fall 2015 LOLA’s DINERSShare good food and great fellowship at LOLA’s DinerLOLA’s Diner is a small dinner group consisting of 6 (three couples) people who meet monthly for a meal. By rotating hosting responsibilities everyone has a chance to invite others into their homes for dinner. You don’t have to be a gourmet to join us!!

Good old-fashioned home cooking does the trick; from BBQ to meat loaf and mashed potatoes, whatever you wish to serve. There are any number of ideas and creative ways to fulfill this fellowship ministry ~ it is up to you and your group.

At the end of the 3-month session, tables are reformed and you start over with new table mates after the next sign-up date.

Please call Chopin or Joan Kiang at (281) 259-5626 if you would like further information or to sign up via telephone. Also, plan on stopping by the LOLA’s display outside of the Fellowship Hallway this month to register as a delighted diner at a variety of Lord of Life’s premier home restaurants !

Better yet, please sign up via email anytime from August 23rd to noon, September 10th, 2015 by sending your names, email address, & telephone number to us at chopintx@gmail.com

If you are new to Lord of Life, we will be more than happy to explain what it is all about. If you are a member of Lord of Life and have never tried LOLA’s, maybe this is the time. If you are already involved with LOLA’s we urge you to continue! Through this fellowship, you will make new friends .

Please join us for good food and great fellowship!

E-signup by sending a short message of intent, your names, telephone number and email address to chopintx@gmail.com or Fill in the lines below and place it in church

box #93

Deadline for signing up is Sunday Noon, September 10th, 2015

Names: _________________________________ and_________________________

Telephone#( ) __________________ Email Address:_____________________

Coffee FellowshipDo you like Lord of Life to be warm and welcoming? Do you feel Coffee Fellowship is a great time in our church community for loving conversations? If you're available one Sunday every 4 to 6 weeks, we are looking for hospitable people to set up coffee and donuts before 8:30 worship. It takes less than 30 minutes and easy instructions/training

will be provided. Please email or call Ed or Mary Ross at rossedma@aol.com or 281-719-5568 if you are interested.

Small Group Opportunity This Fall at LOLComing this fall – we are asking you to JOIN US for 5 weeks of focus on “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations”.

“Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” describes practices that shape and sustain congregations. Vibrant, growing, fruitful congregations repeat and deepen certain fundamental activities, seeking to perform them with excellence: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. This is a coordinated event – 5 weeks of daily devotions, involvement in a small group, and worship focus. And not only for Lord of Life, but for many other Lutheran Churches in our area – this focus in encouraged, and crafted in part, by our Bishop – Bishop Mike Reinhart.

As part of a small group, you will have the opportunity to get to know one another - form connections with other Christians who support one another as you go deeper in your spiritual life and in pursuit of discipleship. As followers of Christ, we believe that God is with us when we are with each other in authentic and meaningful ways—when we are in community. We need community to help us develop as human beings, into spiritual awareness and mature relationships with God. We need communities that let us be ourselves as well as challenge us to grow and learn and change. We need communities that will show us Christ and help us find Christ in ourselves. May this small group be such a community for you. Please consider joining with us. Sign-ups will begin in September.

Lutheranism 101What does it mean to be Lutheran? For some of us in the ELCA who’ve grown up Lutheran, religious identity is intertwined with a sense of family and cultural traditions: beer and brats for some, lefse and lutefisk for others, familiar liturgy and hymns for all. But many of us were not raised in a Lutheran household, and the shape of Lutheranism worldwide is changing.

While the majority of Lutherans worldwide still live in Northern Europe, Lutheranism is growing rapidly in other parts of the world, according to the Lutheran World Federation. Today there are almost as many Lutherans in Asia and the Middle East

(7.4 million) as there are in North America (8.1 million), and there are more Lutherans in Africa (15 million) than there are in Germany (13 million).

So what does it mean to be Lutheran, beyond cultural heritage or geographical location? Join Mike Hall this fall during Sunday School to find out – room 26 – beginning September 13th!.

L.I.F.T : Tour of Krause Children’s Center9:00am Thursday, Sept 10th

Join us on Thursday, Sept.10th, to tour the Krause Childrens Center for neglected and abused teenage girls, that Lord of Life supports. Following that we will lunch at the Brookwood Center, with white linens and chef-prepared entrees (see their website--you will be amazed!) and then SHOP! We will see that transportation is provided. We will leave about 9:00am from the church. Contact either Dana Berlin at bdap4@yahoo.com or 281-818-1647 or Anne Swetich at aswetich@lordoflifeonline.org or 281-367-7016 if interested. Please respond soon as reservations are required for the café’.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - RESERVE YOUR WEDNESDAYS!!

NEW THIS FALL!! GOING DEEPERWe are creating a new opportunity for study and reflection – an opportunity to grow in our understanding of the Bible, Religion, and Faith in Action. We are calling it GOING DEEPER – and it will meet on Wednesday nights in the fall and spring from 7:00-8:30 (the same time as Confirmation).

We will begin this fall with Faith in Action – by spending this year engaging with and discussing our church’s Social Statements: designed to “guide the life of this church as an institution and inform the conscience of its members in the spirit of Christian liberty.” (ELCA social statement, “The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective.”) ELCA social statements are teaching and policy documents that provide broad frameworks to assist us in thinking about and discussing social issues in the context of faith and life. They are meant to help communities and individuals with moral formation, deliberation and thoughtful engagement with current social issues as we participate in God’s work in the world. The ELCA Social Statements are: • Abortion (1991) • Caring for Creation (1993) • Church in Society (1991)• Criminal Justice (2013) • Death Penalty (1991) • Economic Life (1999) • Education (2007) • Genetics (2011) • Health and Healthcare (2003) • Human Sexuality (2009) • Peace (1995) • Race, Ethnicity (1993)

Join us as on Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30 for study, reflection, and (probably) lively discussion, in the Fellowship Hall. Watch for more information.

Lutherhill Gala, September 12, 2015Waterway Marriott Hotel--6:30PM

Need for Silent Auction Items and Live Auction Items

Lutherhill ministries is in need of (1) Silent Auction items and (2) Live Auction items for the annual Lutherhill Gala held at the Waterway Marriott. The Gala this year will be on Saturday, September 12.A Silent Auction item can be donations such as gift cards from restaurants, movie theaters, hotels, stores, or pieces of art, jewelry, etc. A Live Auction item is usually centered on the use of a recreational home, or airline tickets or a weeks stay at a vacation home. If you have a vacation home and would be interested in it being auctioned off for a week's stay---that would be ideal!Obviously all donations are tax exempt.If you are able to make a donation, please contact Barbara or Pastor Chuck Kindsvatter who serve on the Lutherhill Gala committee. Phone: 281-292-9853ALSO: if you would like to attend the Lutherhill Gala this year, you can also speak with the Kindsvatters.

Outreach Ministries Update

School Supply Collection UpdateThe school supply collection for Lutheran World Relief has been a great success. Thanks to your wonderful support, the Outreach Committee set a goal of 60 kits. We are still in need of 48 pencil sharpeners, black or blue pens, blunt scissors and rulers. If you are able to help provide items for the kits, leave them on the designated table in the hallway. We will continue collecting supplies until August 30. Thank you for touching young lives and helping to provide for their education.

Second Collection

Now the 1st Sunday of EVERY month!

Start saving your loose change for the first Saturday/Sunday of each month for a new “second offering” at all services. The proceeds from this offering will be earmarked for Montgomery County Food Bank’s Backpack Buddy Program.

The Montgomery County Food Bank feeds more than 40,000 people each month, and approximately 19,000 of those individuals are children. Many children benefit from reduced and free school breakfast and lunch programs when at school, leaving just one meal a day for their families to provide at home. On the weekends, however, those kids often go hungry as their families strain to provide meals.

Your generous “2nd Donations” support our sponsorship of 10 backpacks full of nutritious meals for food-insecure children on the weekends and holidays. If you have any questions about this outreach mission or wish to help in a more hands-on way, please contact Anne Swetich, Director of Outreach at 281-367-7016.

By the way: This 548 pounds of food for the CISD/MCFB Backpack Program PLUS the $634.20 cash that was collected at Sunday’s Second Offering in

August EQUALS full tummies for many of our neighbors. Thank You!

Come check us out!On August 30th, stop into the Fellowship Hall and see how to make Hug-a-Bears, as well as quilts by Ruth Ann’s Remnants & Prayers & Squares. Hug-a-bears offer comfort to small children in the ER and quilts offer beauty and function in remote areas of the world! Prayers & Squares are a concrete way of letting others know they are being prayed for.

God expects us to provide for our families.

“And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8).

One of the most striking accusations the Lord Jesus made when He was on earth was to label someone a hypocrite. Time and time again, He criticized the Pharisees and others for their hypocrisy. They said one thing but did something entirely different. They fit the description used by Zig Ziglar who said, “A hypocrite is one who is not himself on Sunday.”

That’s perhaps what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote to Timothy: “And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” In other words, to give credence to Christianity, to give lip service to following Christ and to trusting in Him as Savior and Lord, and then to fail to provide for our own family, is hypocrisy. To do so, in reality, is to deny our faith and to be considered as someone who has no faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and no interest in spiritual matters.

It seems like such a small thing — relatively speaking (pun intended) — that Paul is exhorting Timothy to do. Provide for your own household, your own relatives. Take care of those under your care. Minister to those closest to you as a demonstration of your Christian faith.

Yes, we are to give to His ministry here at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Yes, we are to be involved in ministering to others “on our own” and as part of the outreach of this church. But we are also to provide for our own families. We are also to minister to them and to care for them, for by doing so, we demonstrate the practical reality of our Christian faith. We thereby avoid the label of hypocrite since what we say is what we do.

How’s the balance in your life? Are you providing for the needs of this ministry and those of your household? As a result, do others (especially your family) see Jesus in you?

Council NotesThe Lord of Life Church Council meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. Here are some of the highlights from the August meeting:

• Discussed proposed changes to Constitution and By-laws

• Received progress update on a potential Capital Campaign

• Approved Safe Sanctuary policy updates

Income Distribution

8/7/2015 Lord of Life Lutheran ChurchFinancial Secretary Report

Regular Offerings vs Budget/Previous Year

Regular Offerings are ($65269) below budget of $711780 as of July 30

Monthly Attendance Income Distribution YTD

July 2015 attendance was 1455 vs 1342 in 2014July 5 capital campaign contributions $3226. July Property contingency $4156

$646,511

$118,261

$120,210

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

$900,000

$1,000,000

Designated Funds

Capital

Regular Offerings

1598 1597

1942

2209 2214

1408 1455

Jan Feb Mar April May June July

2015 2014

$1,233,700

$80,715

$163,332

$294,025

$392,437

$491,685 $567,766

$646,511

$1,230,344

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Cumulative Budget 2015 Regular Offerings 2015

Reg Offerings 2014

8/7/2015Confidential Information

8/7/2015 Lord of Life Lutheran ChurchFinancial Secretary Report

Regular Offerings vs Budget/Previous Year

Regular Offerings are ($65269) below budget of $711780 as of July 30

Monthly Attendance Income Distribution YTD

July 2015 attendance was 1455 vs 1342 in 2014July 5 capital campaign contributions $3226. July Property contingency $4156

$646,511

$118,261

$120,210

$0

$100,000

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

$700,000

$800,000

$900,000

$1,000,000

Designated Funds

Capital

Regular Offerings

1598 1597

1942

2209 2214

1408 1455

Jan Feb Mar April May June July

2015 2014

$1,233,700

$80,715

$163,332

$294,025

$392,437

$491,685 $567,766

$646,511

$1,230,344

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Cumulative Budget 2015 Regular Offerings 2015

Reg Offerings 2014

8/7/2015Confidential Information

Lord of Life Lutheran Church

3801 South Panther Creek Dr.

The Woodlands TX 77381

www.lordoflifeonline.org

Lord of Life Lutheran Church281-367-7016Fax 281-363-4716www.lordoflifeonline.orglol@lordoflifeonline.org

Kids of the Kingdom Preschool281-298-9901We invite you to join us for worship on Saturdays & Sundays5:00 pm Saturdays@5

8:30 am Contemporary Liturgical

9:45 am Sunday School

9:50 am New Life Worship

11:00 am Traditional Worship

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Rev. Gary Heath Senior Pastor

Rev. Jennifer FuhrAssociate Pastor

Rob HuntWorship & The Arts Director

Lanette JacksonDirector of Finance

Marna ArlienDirector of Connecting Minis-tries

Mark RuchDirector of Adult Ministry

Patrick NazaroffDirector of Teen Life Ministry

Jennifer RoweDirector of Children’s Ministry

Anne SwetichDirector of Outreach Ministries

Michelle McGuireKOK Preschool Director

Janis ArmstrongChild Care Coordinator

Carla SummersChorale Associate

Katie PhillipsChildren & Youth Music

Sarah SchlacksBells of Life Director

Nancy HauglieWedding Coordinator

Sandy DeSelmsFuneral Coordinator

Rick JanacekOffice & Communication Manager

Steve ShirleyBuilding Superintendent

Non-ProfitOrganizationUS Postage

PAID

Permit #17Spring, TX