VOLUME 71 - NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER

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1 VOLUME 71 - NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 2018 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11 One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called one of his older deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said, Lord, I hate buttermilk. The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, Lord, I hate lard. Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, Lord, I m not too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix them all together and bake them in a hot oven, I just love biscuits! Lord, help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we don t like, whenever we don t understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After You get through mixing and baking, it ll probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen. It is hard to know the mind of God, especially when circumstances seem contrary to our plans and dreams. Here is where our faith has an opportunity to grow and expand. What if we were to throw God into the equation? The words of the Prophets are written on the subway walls, said a poet of my generation. I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a good future! Reflect on the Third Petition of the Lord s Prayer from Luther s Small Catechism:

2 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 2 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is surely done without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may be done also among us. When does this happen? God s will is done when He hinders and defeats every evil scheme and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful self, which would prevent us from keeping His name holy and would oppose the coming of His Kingdom. And His will is done when He strengthens our faith and keeps us firm in His Word as long as we live. This is His gracious and good will. In keeping with His will, I am looking forward to a new fall season at St. Luke s. A new beginning for children s Sunday School, New Confirmation program, continuing programs that reach out to families through the Preschool ministry are just a few indications that God is at work, prospering us and giving us hope and a good future. Why not join in where you can and be a part of the miracle of God with us? Pastor Garry President s Message Wow, the final third of 2018 is here, with these upcoming events: START OF PRESCHOOL YEAR PARENT BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT START OF CHILDREN S SUNDAY SCHOOL START OF CONFIRMATION/ KIDS CLUB MOVIE NIGHT/FENCE DEDICATION FAMILY CAMPOUT PANCAKE BREAKFAST

3 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 3 You probably have other ideas that you want to see implemented at St. Luke s. Are you feeling compelled to get involved in a new way here? I m eager to hear what s on your mind; what changes you would recommend. Feel free to talk with me or any of our 11 other congregation council members: Leslie Andersen, Carl Coleman, Cheryl Coleman, Denzil Dunn, Bob Erickson, Pam Garcia, Susan Lande, Pastor Garry Mohr, Candice Pearson, Cia Salisbury; MaryAnn Saupe. St. Luke s congregation council meets monthly to make decisions on behalf of the congregation. I believe the following scripture is a guide for the council: I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 Grace and peace to you, Perry Saupe From the Crew What s up with the CREW?! We helped get kids ready for school on August 25 th at Martin Luther King Jr. Park By co-hosting a Back-to-school Bash We gave away 100 free backpacks with school supplies to the first 100 youth in attendance. Also, we had free hot dogs and fun games.

4 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 4 Our prayer was that God would be Glorified! Thank You, THE CREW

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6 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 6 View from the Pew or Blue Chairs Broom Hilda Cartoon It s funny, but it s not, and yet it is. I wonder if God really had people my age in mind while creating the Grand Scheme of human life. I wonder if God s head is where God s body is. Now that can t be, so how does that relate at all; or to me anyway? How does God relate to what God doesn t live? I laugh at the joke above, but somehow question the humor. Does God really understand how Broomie feels about the change in the physical and the mental of life? When you have a dilemma with God, where do you go? You go to the One who figured it out in in the first place. God wrote it all out, so surely, He had something to say on the subject. Naturally, I began looking up the word old along with a few similar words in the Bible dictionary to see how and in what context the word old is used. How does God want to deal with us? I found Colossians 3:9 where it says that God has not called us young or old, but of one body in His service. Colossians 3:14 went on to say that beyond all things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity, and it also says that whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. It seems that all I can do is reverse my thinking. Thanks be to God, for I believe that it is He that holds out His hand to help me up through each of you, and it is me who needs to hold my hand out for each of you. God probably laughs with and at me as I see the absurdity of my own self-centeredness. He showed me that what I need to do is reverse my thinking. Yes, I may need a helping hand up now and then, but it does not relieve me of my duty to give a helping hand in return. Last Note: The cartoon is still funny. Thank you for your wisdom. Susan Lande

7 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 7 9/8 Kaylen Patterson 9/11 Candice Pearson 9/22 Kay Follett 9/23 Gerardo Garcia 9/23 Stacy McDaniel 9/26 Earline Banks 9/27 Rylee Chaffee 9/28 George Follett 9/30 Hailey Hartley 9/18 Jim Susan Lande (53) 9/21 Mark Maria Hartley (22) 9/24 Bryan Luaine Koenen (30) Sept 3 Labor Day CLOSED Sept 5 Back-to-school 6:30 Sept 8 Parents Night Out ~ PNO Sept 9 Sunday School Begins Sept 12 Kids Club/Confirmation Sept 15 Movie Night/Fence Dedication Sept 16 Council Meeting Sept 19 Kids Club/Confirmation Sept 22 Family Camp Out Sept 23 Pancake Breakfast Sept 25 PS Board Sept 26 Kids Club/Confirmation Sept 27 Courier Crew

8 ST. LUKE S COURIER SEPTEMBER 2018 PAGE 8 The Courier is the newsletter of St. Luke s Evangelical Lutheran Church & Preschool Our website address is Stlukeslongbeach.org Facebook ~ stlukeslutheranchurchlb SLLC90808@gmail.com SLCP90808@gmail.com Church Office: (562) Preschool: (562) SUNDAY SCHEDULE Contemporary 9:00 AM Children s Sunday 9:30 AM Mingle 10:00 AM Adult Bible 10:15 AM Traditional 11:00 AM Youth 5:00 PM MIDWEEK Kids 4:00-5:00 PM Wed. Come visit us soon! You are welcome here! Rev. Garry F. Mohr Pastor Nic Chaffee Contemporary Music Director Dr. Marc Skuster Organist Bill Bode Choir Director Perry Saupe Office Volunteer/President Laura Hunter Church Secretary Candice Pearson Preschool Director Dr. Clifton Patterson Youth Minister St. Luke s Evangelical Lutheran Church To Know God s Love and Share It! St. Luke s Evangelical Lutheran Church & Christian Preschool 5633 East Wardlow Road Long Beach, CA Change Service Requested