January, 2019 FROM THE PASTOR

Transcription

1 January, 2019 FROM THE PASTOR Merry Christmas to you all! We have each received God s gift among us my prayer for us all is that we will each experience that gift in some special way this season. God s almighty power now has been revealed in the perfection of giving up that power in exchange for intimacy and vulnerability in our flawed world. I offer for your reflection the lyrics to the following song, Mary Did You Know, written in 1991 and performed by many different artists. The only reason we don t sing it together in worship is that it is too challenging for group singing. someday walk on water? save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you give sight to a blind man? calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God Oh Mary did you know The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation? Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb? This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am! Mary did not know all of those things in advance, but God was working through and right next to her all along. We too do not always know all that God is doing in our midst but it is still happening through us and right next to us all along the way! To quote another Christmas classic from Dickens, God bless us everyone! Merry Christmas! Pastor Todd

2 Volunteers Needed The 11:00 service needs volunteers for assistant ministers, acolytes, communion assistants and greeters. Please let the church office know if you are available to volunteer for any of these positions. Reminder no Sunday school on January 27 th. WELCOME TO LORD OF LIFE On Christmas Day, Lord of Life welcomed Edison Daniel Esposito to our congregational family through the rite of holy baptism. We celebrated this great gift with his parents, Michael and Ashley Esposito. Edison is the grandchild of LoL members Dan and Rene Buchman. ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING Committees, please submit your reports to the church office by Sunday, January 13 th. This will enable us to put together a draft copy and answer questions prior to the annual meeting on Sunday, January 27 th at 10:00 a.m. Please make every effort to attend so we have a quorum. CHRISTMAS MEAL BOXES Thank you to everyone who donated food items and/or helped assemble and transport the baskets to Mt. Carmel. Your generosity has made a difference for many families in our community. SHROVE TUESDAY A committee to plan and implement a Shrove Tuesday family church dinner on March 5 th will meet on January 13 th at 10 a.m. Anyone interested in participating on this committee is encouraged to attend. For any questions, please contact Connie Allekian or Janet Haines. The 50 th Anniversary yearbooks are now on sale for $25.00 each. You can contact the church office, Marilynn Sells or Arlene Danielson to purchase them. DECEMBER COUNCIL RECOGNITION The council recognized the following groups at their December meeting: Pastor Joyce Gulliford for leading us in worship as needed Marilynn Sells, for everything she does Mark, for installing the remaining light fixtures and all his extra work Arlene Danielson and her 50 th Anniversary Book team for the beautiful anniversary book in time for Christmas Arlene and the Santa Lucia Committee; and to everyone who helped with the program and Swedish smorgasbord The Children & Hunger Committee for packing & transporting food baskets to Mt. Carmel The LCW for sponsoring the Christmas gift drive for the Downers Grove Family Shelter Rosita & Pr. Todd for the multiple worship services on December 24 th & 25 th Everyone who pitched in to decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season The entire LoL congregation whose continued support makes these endeavors possible

3 COUNCIL MEMBERS & COMMITTEES: Marilynn Sells Judy Padera Bruce Danielson Sue Randa Don Dibbern Elaine Sherman Donna Motes Ron Matta Toni Blesy Bob Eggert Carolyn Katt Titus Ngebeh Pastor Todd Pastor Todd & All Council Members Jim Kelly President Hospitality/Finance Vice President Evangelism Secretary/Property Wish List Wish List LCW Evangelism Property Worship & Music Finance Children & Hunger Christian Ed/Youth Vision Team Stewardship Treasurer UPCOMING MEETINGS The church office will be closed through January 2 nd. Please contact our council president, Marilynn Sells, if you have an urgent request. The next Hospitality meeting will be on Sunday, January 6 th between services. Shrove Tuesday A planning meeting is scheduled for January 13 th at 10:00 am. The next Lunch Bunch meeting will be on Monday, January 14 th at 11:30 a.m. at Chuck s, 8025 Cass Ave., Darien. Please RSVP to Marilynn Sells at (630) The Senior Spirits will be meeting again on Thursday, January 17 th at 12:00. Everyone is invited and is asked to bring either an appetizer, salad or dessert to share. The next Property Committee meeting will be on Monday, January 28 th at 1:00 p.m. If there are any questions about property concerns please contact Art Kardatzke.

4 Pray for other family and friends Prayer Requests: Please remember the following people in your daily prayers: Please pray for members JoAnne Dibbern Murph Haines Sue Silhan Nancy Malik Randy McNichols Diana Pehas Vera Rippe Carol August The Hospitality Committee continues to pray for everyone, including their very good friend, Eileen Wiberg. Please pray for relatives and friends struggling with cancer/tumors Angela DiLillo, niece of Laurie Gustafson Pete, friend of Allene Pitts Lance Brown, nephew of Chuck & Lois Sterba Dennis Schneider, friend of the Randas Dave Brongiel, friend of the Randas Karen Randa, daughter of the Randas Jim Gardner, friend of Cor Peterson Dorothy Koranda, friend of Cor Peterson Michelle & Bev, friends of Debi Scarpelli Provi Valentin, Elsy Eggert s aunt Chris H., friend of Sue Ames Linda Smaga, sister of Arlene Danielson Carson, grandson of the Gullifords Gloria Valentin, Elsy Eggert s sister Jaden Rhode, grandson of the Mattas Mark Jelen, friend of Janet Haines Lee Schramm, brother-in-law of Bobbie Sejnost Ryan Hart, friend of Cor Peterson Nancy Soltis, Sue Randa s sister-in-law Dean Bohne, friend of the Randas Elizabeth Gustafson, after knee surgery John Guzior, friend of the Haines Ella Jones, Eggert s friends new baby Larry Ritsert, friend of the Eggerts Jennifer Kimwia, friend of Amy Jimenez Scott Hutt, Judy Padera s brother Larry Goesch, friend of the Schaers Mary Wojtala, sister of LeeAnn Swanson Art, family friend of the Scarpellis Jim Woltman, brother of Debi Scarpelli Mary Haapoja, goddaughter of Mary Szyszka Margo Bonbrake, friend of the Waechters Ken Kettner, Sandy Waechter s brother Hannah Stapleton, great niece of the Sloneks Louise Cranshaw, Jack s mother The Rinaldi s, friends of Nancy Zavattaro Nance Nagy, friend of Nancy Zavattaro Kathy Evans, cousin of Andy Unewitz Sue Horton, daughter of Toni Blesy Joseph Capozziello, son of Toni Blesy Stephen Plunkett, cousin of Carolyn Katt Dalia Wenckus Joe Wenckus

5 Lord of Life Lutheran Church th Street Darien, IL Call us at (630) Web Address: lordoflifedarien.org Visit the ELCA home page on the Internet at Address Service Requested Lord of Life Staff Pastor Todd Napoli Rosita Yao, Church Musician Kathy Clinton, Secretary ( Mark Rokicki, Custodian All are welcome! Dated material-please deliver promptly January, 2019 Febr Sunday, January 13 th Annual Reports Due Sunday, January 27 th ; 10:00 a.m. Annual Congregational Meeting (No Sunday school)