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Grace Lutheran April 2012 Newsletter
16 On that day the Lord their God will save them,
as the flock of his people;
for like the jewels of a crown
they shall shine on his land.
17 For how great is his goodness,
and how great his beauty!
Grain shall make the young men flourish,
and new wine the young women.
Zechariah 9:16-17(ESV)
Martin Luther writes of this passage, “The people of the Gospel will be robust, energetic, and cheerful, both in spirit and in faith. After all, in Christ there is no old age but an everlasting bloom of youth.
As I grow older, it seems I run out of gas a little sooner. I look at the youngsters in our preschool jumping and playing on the playground or at chapel, run around with the youth in our Tuesday through Thursday divisions, and watch Vicar Isaac chase them individually in a high speed game of tag. They always want to do one more song, get together afterward, or ask for one more game of tag before we drop them off at their homes. They love the excitement of discovery, and exude the energy of youth. Just being with them energizes my batteries and makes me smile, because they reflect the life we have in Christ, one of everlasting youth.
That’s the promise and joy we have as Christians…a promise of everlasting life where we run and never grow weary, leap and never grow faint. Our Lord makes us invulnerable to the slings and arrows of this world, because they cannot harm us as long as He is on our side. He strengthens our stride and lengthens our days and we bask in the joyful sunlight of the resurrection of our Lord. We know as Baptized children of God, He runs with us and lightens our load. He answers our prayers for strength and protection, for guidance through his Holy Spirit.
Governments and rulers rise and fall here on earth, but the kingdom of God prevails forever. He watches over his own and sustains them in weakness and in strength, in sickness and in health, for worse and better. He makes his sun shine on everything and replenishes the garden with his rain. His kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting and will prevail over all. We know that because he has conquered death and dying once and for all. Jesus proved it, and because of Him, we all bow in reverence before him and dedicate our lives and strength, our energy and fortunes to him.
In the meantime, as we serve here as citizens, we make a difference because Christ made a difference for us. Serve Santa Maria makes a difference in our own community, as members of the many Christian churches come together to spruce up neighborhoods and parks, paint over and remove graffiti, and a host of other activities. Join us at the Abel Maldonado Center on Saturday April 14 at 8:30 a.m. as we register and get our assignments. Get ready to smile and be filled with the energy of working together as Citizens of the heavenly realm of our Lord.
A blessed Easter celebration,
Pastor Burch
Support Our Troops
I am again overwhelmed at the generosity of our Grace Lutheran Family! This morning we packed another five boxes to send to Chaplain Frese in Afghanistan. Last year we sent a total of 11 boxes to Chaplain Frese and 5 individual boxes to three airmen (EODs) from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
These boxes weighed between eleven and seventeen lbs.. each and were filled with flashlights, batteries, lotions, powders, handy wipes and a huge selection of candies, cookies, gum, trail mix, etc., which help our troops know that they are remembered and prayed for. I’m sure they all appreciate your notes of support also. Let’s keep up the good work in 2012. Our next mail out will be in May or June. A big thank you also for the many donations for postage. Each box costs $12.98 (military rate) and we could not do without your help.
Thank you to Larry and Vicar Isaac who manage to get the packages to the post office and to our LWML helpers.
A special thanks to Millie who somehow keeps us organized!
GOD BLESS AMERICA
Lois Harlow
Here we list those who find it difficult, if not impossible to venture from their homes. Call the office for their contact information.
They would appreciate a call or visit along with your prayers.
Phyllis Fetterolf Paul Spiese
Billie Grose Lucille Bentzen
Evelyn Olsen
Maxine Raymond
Sue Alderson
Bill Evans
Pat Homann
Adele Lippitt
Gene and Patti Rzyski
*A note of thanks to all those who visited the shut-ins with flowers and a card last month. I know they all enjoyed your visit!
Thank you to all of the people who so lovingly help with duties necessary to keep our church facility operating smoothly. Many hands make the tasks lighter for all. We are always looking for other willing workers to help in different capacities. If you have any questions please call the church office.
Thanks,
Millie
WHAT’S YOUR GIFT?
Perhaps you haven’t spent much time, if any, pondering that question. God has given each of us at least one gift, though, and if even one of us does not use that gift, the Body of Christ suffers. Paul, in Ephesians 4:16 writes, “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Christian stewards tend to have a lower opinion of themselves than they ought, denigrating their abilities and talents and even their financial capabilities. When we keep in mind that it is God Himself Who has chosen our gifts and blessed us materially, we realize that to belittle these gifts is to question God’s wisdom and generosity. Again we read Paul’s words, now from Romans 12:5, “. . . in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” He goes on to say that whatever our gifts are, we are to use them as effectively as we can.
Yes, it is the pastor’s job to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments, but we, as stewards who have received the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19-20, are to be obedient also to Jesus’ command to tell the Good News to the whole world.
Yes, there are those in your congregation who seem to have more abilities and talents than you, and there may be members who have more money than you – perhaps may even be very wealthy. Does that exempt you from the responsibility to serve or to give? By no means! In 2 Corinthians 9:7 we’re commanded, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Each one is to give and to give cheerfully – of his time, his talents, and his treasures. God looks at the size of the heart of the giver rather than at the size of his gift. “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
If you are not using your gifts, if you are not giving your money, if you are not sharing your time, the Body of Christ suffers. We need each other and our individual gifts in order that we might carry out our responsibilities as stewards to the end that the name of Christ might be made known.
Peggy Johnsen
Stewardship Chair
MOTHER’S ROOM NEEDS
We are sprucing up the Mother’s Room and are asking for help with replenishing the toys and books for the SMALL CHILDREN to enjoy while staying in the room during the church services. In addition, if you have any small crib sheets in good condition that you no longer use, please consider giving them for the Mother’s Room also. Thank you for your help.
LWML
The Spring Rally for LWML was well represented by members from our church. In attendance were Gloria Byrd, Sandy Bunch, Markie Burch, Dorothy Abel, Millie Smith and Sue Alderson. The program speaker was Barbara Carr who presented a program on “Black History.” It was a terrific presentation.
Remember to give your mites every month. These mites are needed to fund all of the Mission grants.
We look forward to our LWML luncheon on May 19th at the Santa Maria Inn. Vicar Isaac Schuller will be our guest speaker. Watch for upcoming details. Remember we are also helping to fill the boxes that Lois sends to our Military personnel in Afghanistan.
Thanks be to God.
Sue Alderson, LWML President
Seder Meal
The LWML is sponsoring a Maundy Thursday Seder dinner as a Passover celebration of our Lord’s first Holy Communion. We would like to invite everyone for this meaningful evening of history and fellowship. The dinner will begin at 6:00p on Thursday April 5, 2012 in the Fellowship Hall. There will be a “free will” offering to raise money for Dorothy Burch’s mission trip to Guatemala. Please reserve you place by calling Markie Burch at 614-1912.
Easter Brunch
Join us following the 9:30am service in the Fellowship Hall April 8, 2012
Birthday Blessings
07 Hal Hougardy
08 Ashley Valencia
09 John Larson
09 Dylan Renteria
10 Alyssa Uvalle
13 Alyssa Wilkanoski
14 Kirk Troeger
15 Joshua Willoughby
17 Jeffrey Klein
19 Jill Renteria
25 Judy Birdsall
25 Alexandria Morales
27 Suzanne Alderson
28 Markie Burch
28 Alayne Uvalle
30 Roger Bunch
Movie Night
Friday, April 20 7:00pm
Fellowship Time @ Grace
Well March is doing what it should, just marching onward. Our soup supper March 16th was another fantastic one. Five mouth watering soups were enjoyed by 36 hungry people. Soup was good to the last drop. Our special thanks to Robin Roberts for providing the wonderful fruit salads. March 21 is the next supper. Hope to see you there enjoying our great cooks. Movie nite was a small group 8, but a great up lifting movie. “Secretariat.” The 8 of us enjoyed hot dogs, popcorn soda and each other. Come on out to movie nite.. The third Friday of each month, 7pm and best of all its FREE!
April brings our Easter Brunch after Easter Service. Sign up sheet will be in the narthex. Please sign up for some goodies. I believe that Pastor and Markie are going to make their wonderful ham again this year. We hope that all of you have a great month.
“You are the only you God made. He made you and broke the mold. You are heaven’s Halley’s comet.” From Cure for the Common Life.
Yours in our wonderful loving Savior,
John and Nancy