THE GRACE GAZETTE. Keeping You Informed With Your Church February, 2018 Issue

Transcription

1 ! THE GRACE GAZETTE! Keeping You Informed With Your Church February, 2018 Issue A monthly publication of Grace Lutheran Church (Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod) 1250 Belvin Street San Marcos, Texas Office Fax Pastor Craig Dubois Cell craigdubois@live.com Deadline for March Gazette is February 23, 2018 Serving Christ through our Neighbors

2 ! Dear Members of Grace, The Lutheran tradition of having a special Lenten Wednesday evening service is a wonderful opportunity to meditate and reflect on God s love given to us in Jesus. This world is frantic in trying to find solutions for all that troubles. In Christ we discover all we need. Join us for this extra time of worship. Come early, at 5:30 and enjoy food and fellowship too. Pastor Craig LOOKING TOWARD LENT* Are You Willing To close your book of complaints and to open the book of praise? To ignore what life owes you and to think about what you owe life? To stop looking for friendship and to start being friendly? To be content with such things as you have and to stop whining for the things you have not?

3 February Time for Hearts and Math Can you hear the chocolatiers and florists gearing up for February 14 th? Remember that it is not fair to shop for your valentine in the power tool aisle unless. But so much for that. We have more important things upon which to set our hearts this month. Mark your calendar for Ash Wednesday Service on February 14 th with Lenten Services following on the 21 st and 28 th. Now for the math. One hears about people giving things up for Lent (subtraction.) How about adding something for Lent (and maybe beyond.) How about marking some of those Bibles for the prison ministry. If each of us took one bag, we would zip those precious books into the hands of people hungry for the word in no time at all. If your life is tied up in knots, you are qualified to help the quilters in the home stretch for This commitment is as short term as you want to make it. Each and every knot is valued and appreciated. Are knots not for you? Offer to help set up or clean up for the Lenten suppers. Even I can handle a dish cloth. If each one of us adds a little during this season, we will see exponential results. Save the Dates: All the special Wednesday services Submitted by Rover Woof! Every Sunday for worship and Bible Study.

4 BOARD OF OUTREACH FOR FEBRUARY! --MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The next Parent's Day Out is set for Saturday, June 30, 2018, with a FREEDOM theme (Freedom Rings! or Let Freedom Ring!, tied in with the 4th of July and our true freedom in Christ.) Planning will begin soon. Volunteers will be needed. Thank you for your service! --Watch for breaking news on our next project in support of either CTLC or GSMYC. Specific needs for both organizations are currently being reviewed. --Members are encouraged to bring their monthly food bank donations, as these have declined over the last several months. --Continued support for Pastor Meissner and the Belize mission church is strongly encouraged.

5 Library Pick of the Month LeSourd, Leonard E., ed. Catherine Marshall s A Clear Walk. Guideposts This is a compilation of journal entries of the iconic Catherine Marshall (A Man Called Peter) edited by her second husband. It is a stunning portrayal of a life dedicated to Christ. See Marilynn to check out.

6 ! Lenten Theme 2018 Body Examination: How Well Are You? Ash Wednesday: Mental/Heart Health February 21: Ear Check-up February 28: Eye Check-up March 7: Oral Exam March 14: Chiroplasty March 21: Podiatry The ladies of LWML will be serving a variety of soups and go-withs starting at 5:30 p.m. on Ash Wednesday, February 14, The Youth will serve the meals for the remaining Wednesday services. A free will offering will be appreciated.

7 Calling all Sweethearts & sweets lovers! Sunday, February 11 th, the LWML will sponsor its SWEETHEART CANDY SALE featuring homemade goodies of every kind chocolate suckers, boxes of fudge, white chocolate, peppermint hearts, and snack items of all kinds. Be sure to stop by and select items for your spouses, friends, colleagues, grandkids and others you want to remember with that sweet treat on February 14 th. The display tables will be open in the Fellowship Hall following early service, during Bible class and after late service. ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 th at 5:30 PM, the LWML will host their annual Soup Supper. Food service begins at 5:30 PM so choir members can be singing by 6 PM. The Ash Wednesday Lenten service begins at 7:00 PM. We will close food service at 6:45 PM so all members can attend the Ash Wednesday service. A free-will offering will be taken and used to support mission activities. Come Tie-the-Knot with the LWML Quilters any Tuesday morning beginning at 9 AM. We have boxes of quilt tops ready, backing available, and just need additional people to help us with the knot tying. No sewing experience is needed. Our quilts must be ready by Palm Sunday, March 25 th to be send to World Relief! Come volunteer for an hour or stay as long as you can. You are welcome every Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall! Adopt a Personal Care Kit Before going to church, to work, or to visit a friend, you turn on a water faucet and have

8 clean water for bathing and brushing teeth. You have ready access to a toothbrush and toothpaste, a bar of soap, and a comb for your hair! Thousands across the world DO NOT have these basic necessities due to poverty, political conflicts, natural disasters, and other calamities. Many are fleeing for their lives! A Personal Care Kit allows refugees the opportunity to wash away the dirt and sweat with the fresh scent of soap and the softness of a towel. The LWML ladies organize the kits by purchasing all items in bulk and on-line. Each kit contains a dark colored towel, nail clipper, toothbrush and 2 wrapped bars of soap! Help the less fortunate by adopting a Personal Care Kit. Look for the envelopes in the church pews and drop in change or bills! We began the New Year by re-organizing the LWML closet! With the help of faithful workers, everything in the closet was removed, sorted, re-organized and shelved in new shelving. Thanks so much to each lady who participated the afternoon of Tuesday, January 30 th. Your efforts have given us a fresh start in the New Year! Sandy Thomas and the Grace LWML women in mission at work serving the Lord with gladness. Want to be a part of a significant group, changing the world for Christ? Join us the THIRD FRIDAY of any month for our regular meeting 6:00 PM

9 Reformation Minute: The Elders highlight a passage each month from the Lutheran Book of Concord, which is the definitive Lutheran confessional. You are encouraged to read the full article/part from the Book of Concord for a more complete understanding. Epitome, Article V, The Law and the Gospel, p485, [8], 7. Concerning the revelation of sin, Moses' veil hangs [2 Corinthians 3:12-16] before the eyes of all people as long as they hear the bare preaching of the Law, and nothing about Christ. Therefore, they do not learn from the Law to see their sins correctly. They either become bold hypocrites like the Pharisees [Matthew 23:1-39], or they despair like Judas [Matthew 27:3-5]. Therefore, Christ takes the Law into His hands and explains it spiritually (Matthew 5:21-48; Romans 7:14). In this way God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all sinners [Romans 1:18], so that they see how great it is. In this way they are directed back to the Law, and then they first learn from it to know their sins correctly -- a knowledge that Moses never could have forced out of them. - Citation taken from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions-A Readers Edition of the Book of Concord by McCain, Paul T, General Editor -

10 2018 Noisy Collection Recipients January GSMYC (Greater San Marcos Youth Council) (~$80.00) February The Salvation Army of San Marcos March Hays County Jail, Chaplain s Office April Hays County Food Bank May Hong Kong Lutheran School for the Deaf, Pastor Bush June Lutherans for Life July Hays-Caldwell Women s Center (women s shelter) August New Life Children s Center September Wimberley Crisis Bread Basket October LWML Mites November Grandma s Stocking Guild December Southside Community Center (homeless shelter) 2018 FOOD BANK REPORT Thank you for your contributions to the Hays County Food Bank and the Wimberley Crisis Bread Basket! Hays County Food Bank January: 40+ pounds Wimberley Crisis Bread Basket

11 Smoked Mac and Cheese 1 (16 oz.) package of elbow macaroni, cook and drain according to directions. Do not rinse. 1# of Velveeta cheese, diced into ½ inch cubes 1 can Cheese Soup, undiluted 1 large can (15 oz.) evaporated milk - (I like to add an additional 1/3 C. milk for a creamier texture) 1-2 C. shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese ½ tsp. liquid smoke flavoring - (Can be omitted.) 1 stick butter, melted - (Reserve 3 Tbsp. of melted butter to add to the crumb topping.) 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed - (Add the 3 Tbsp. melted butter to the Ritz cracker crumbs for the topping.) Mix the first 7 ingredients over low heat until the cheeses are melted. Transfer to a sprayed 9 x 13 pan. Top with the Ritz cracker crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees, uncovered, for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly. Variations: Add 3 cups diced ham to the mixture for a great casserole. Add diced ham and broccoli florets for a colorful dish. Par boil or steam the florettes 3 minutes and shock in iced water. Drain and add to the mac and cheese. This recipe receives raves anywhere I take it!