Lake Oconee Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 Lake Oconee Lutheran Church A Stephen Ministry Congregation Our vision is to become an expanding community of faith, growing in the Holy Spirit and practicing before the world a Christ-centered life. Lord willing, we will do this with Outreach that is inviting, interesting, and inclusive; with serving the seniors of our large area and with Worship that goes beyond Sunday morning. A Monthly Newsletter January 2017 Pastor Secretary Choir Director Rev. Andrew Schroeder lolc@plantationcable.net Deb Krahling lolcsec@plantationcable.net Art Hargrove Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. 1 st, 3 rd, & 5 th Holy Communion 2 nd & 4 th Morning Prayer Church School 9:00 a.m. Choir Practice 9:00 a.m Lake Oconee Parkway Eatonton, Georgia Church Office Visit our web site: Pastor s Column The Augsburg Confession Article VII: Of the Church 1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered. 2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. Nor is it necessary that human traditions, that is, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6. Philip Melanchthon who wrote the Augsburg Confession Identifies two things that Mark Chris s body the Church, as Church. 1. The Gospel is rightly taught: and 2. The Sacraments are rightly administered. Contrast this to Luther, who wrote about 7 marks of the Church: 1. The Word 2. Baptism 3. The Lord s Supper 4. Discipline 5. Biblical Offices 6. Worship 7. Suffering With the exception of Suffering, which our Lord, himself, said would come to those who followed him;

2 The other six can in truth be boiled down into the two Marks that Melanchthon writes of in article seven of the Augsburg Confession. The Word. Well, the Word of God is the Word the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us full of grace and truth. As St. John records in his Gospel. The Sacraments. Baptism and the Lord s Supper; these two are the sacraments. They are where the sacred come to us and makes us to be holy and righteous in God s sight. Word and Sacrament assume all the rest of Luther s list. Word and sacrament is How we follow Jesus. It is how we are Jesus disciples in this world. So, we are disciplined, disciple in other words as God s own people. The more we participate in Word and Sacrament, the more like Christ we become and the more of Christ we reflect to the broken and sin-filled world. Additionally, this assumes Worship, a formal setting where we receive God s Word and the Sacraments. Everything is of a piece. Word and Sacrament are front and center of what it is to be Church. The Word and the sacraments are also what unifies all Christians of every time and place. This means that it is not necessary the be united in one Church Body with all the man-made rules and regulations that that entails Nor is it necessary that all Christians look, act, or talk alike. When the Word is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered, they are as valid and holy and lifechanging and world changing when it occurs in a cathedral with thousands in attendance as when twelve men shared bread and wine and the Holy incarnate Word of God at that first Supper with Jesus at Passover. A Blessed Christmas and a happy New Year to you all. Pastor Andy

3 LOLC offers many opportunities for Bible Study and Fellowship Pastor Bible Study This class is each Sunday and is currently studying Lutheran beliefs. To know more about or to review what you already know about all things Lutheran, join us at 9 a.m. Women s Bible Study This class has suspended the study until the 2 nd week in the New Year. Thursday Bible Study Thursday Bible Study meets with Pastor Andy. Morning sessions start at 10 a.m. and evening classes start at 6:00 p.m. This class has suspended the study until the second week in the New Year..

4 Sacred Harp Workshop and Sing Saturday January 7 th 2017 First United Methodist Church South Campus 4741 Caret Station Road Greensboro GA Workshop begins at 10am Covered Dish Lunch at 12pm Community Sing at 1pm The Sacred Harp is a tradition of nondenominational community singing, using shape notes, that encourages participation not performance. The singers face inward in a hollow square, and the leaders are in the middle. Many leaders rotate directing the singing. The notes are printed in different shapes that indicate what syllable to sing. The group sings from The Sacred Harp, an oblong songbook first published in 1844 by B.F. White and E. J. King. The music is printed in patent notes wherein the shape of the note head indicates the syllables FA, SOL, LA, and MI. The repertory includes psalm tunes, fuging tunes, odes and anthems by the first American composers ( ), and also settings of folk songs and revival hymns ( ). The current 1991 Edition contains many songs in these styles by living composers. The workshop and singing will be conducted by the Atlanta chapter. If you have not tried shape note singing before, see our what-to-expect page. For general information, see Fasola.org and Warren Steel's Sacred Harp site. But The Sacred Harp is not for reading about. It is for singing. Please join us for a wonderful experience, this is a free workshop and community singing. For local information contact: Art Hargrove art.hargrove@gmail.com

5 Epiphany Season On January, the Sixth, Christmas officially ends and we enter the Epiphany Season. Epiphany is a Greek word that means manifestation in English. It is the celebration of the news that the salvation brought to us at the birth of Jesus and won for us by his suffering and death is not just for the Jews, it s for everybody everywhere. At the Epiphany of our Lord, Jesus is no longer confined to a tiny area in the eastern Mediterranean basin, called Palestine. Jesus is everywhere present with all who call upon his name, whenever two or three are gathered together; irrespective of race, nationality, gender, or any of the other many ways we are divided and cut off from one another. Epiphany is really Christmas for us gentiles. The coming of the wise men to visit Baby Jesus was when his appearing was made known beyond that tiny area of Judea. It is for this reason. our Orthodox brothers and sisters begin their celebration of Christmas, not on the 25 th of December, but on the sixth of January. Jesus first became known to the gentiles on that day. In the early Church, the celebration of the Epiphany was the second of the great festivals of the Church year to be celebrated. Easter was the first for obvious reasons. Since, then, this is one of the major festivals, it is only right that we celebrate the Holy Supper of our Lord; so that He may be manifest in our bodies, that he might be made manifest to others through us. Happy Epiphany! We are excited to welcome visiting missionaries Dr Jonathan & Deaconess Cheryl Maumann at the start of Epiphany on January 8 th. The next two pages describe their past experiences in Latin America.

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8 News Rev. Walter D. Volz, M.Div, STM, Th.D 7521 N.W. 8 th Court Plantation, Florida Land: Cell: wdv6@mindspring.com December 18, 2016 Rev. Andrew Schroeder, Pastor Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Eatonton, Georgia Dear Andy, This is a financial accounting for your records and financial folks for reporting mission offerings. On the weekend of September 17, 2016, I had the privilege of visiting Lake Oconee Lutheran on behalf of Food for the Poor. The congregation was most gracious in receiving me and supporting this ministry with gifts placed in the brochures which I received at the door or by using the self-addressed brochure to mail a gift to the Headquarters of FFP in Coconut Creek, Florida. Please direct this information to the financial officers of the parish or as you deem appropriate. The total amount received from the congregation, whether by the brochure, loose checks, cash or by mail was $2, This letter serves as an accounting and verification of the amount contributed to the mission of FFP, an amount that could be included on annual fiscal reports. If you have any questions regarding these gifts or any other questions regarding Food for the Poor, please contact me at any of the numbers listed above or by the address. Thank you for your response to the critical needs of the destitute whom we all serve in the Name of Him who has come to serve as we have also been called to be servants. We See Jesus in the poor. In His Name, (Rev) Walter D. Volz, Emeritus Beggar for the poor

9 Visiting Missionary Thank you note: Mark & Megan Mantey

10 Council Minutes December 2016 President Dave Ringer called the meeting to order at 11:55am. Pastor Andy opened the meeting with prayer. Pastor s Report Pastor Andy reviewed the book American Christianity Failed which addresses the decline of Christianity and church attendance in America. He will also address the needs for adult Sunday School classes to see if we have one or two classes next year. He has one confirmed new member and possibly two more to join LOLC. New Business Committee for Anderson Fund As discussed at the last quarterly meeting, a committee is needed to manage the Anderson donation for outreach uses. Elders Update With resignations and end of terms, 4 new elders are needed. Old Business 2017 Proposed Budget Kathie Kueven reported there have been no changes to the budgeted distributed at the quarterly meeting. Stewardship Pastor Andy reported that Consecrated Stewardship is complete and the pledge cards were mailed last week to be returned December 18. Next Council meeting should be January 8, 2017, 15 minutes after the close of the Service. Next Congregational meeting should be January , 15 minutes after the close of the Service. Respectfully Submitted, Ed Fritch for Robin Larson Church Web Site The LOLC web provider moved to a new server to improve security. There was discussion about improving our web site to make it more informative and inviting. Pastor Andy, Deb Krahling, Carol Schroeder, Linda Jorgensen and Ed Fritch will work on the web needs and find a designer for the new webpage design that can be updated and edited by LOLC staff. Mark your calendars: There will be a Congregational Meeting on Sunday January 22 nd 15 minutes after the close of the worship service.

11 Opportunities to Serve Habitat for Humanity ReStore Two of our LOLC members, Janis & Mara Lipacis, are faithful volunteers for Putnam County Habitat for Humanity, a vital organization that does much to benefit our community. According to Janis, the Habitat Furniture ReStore affiliate is in dire need of more volunteers. Please consider that the amount of time you donate is flexible and at your convenience plus you can meet new people. In addition, the variety of things you can volunteer for is tremendous. The organization especially needs Thursday afternoon cashiers; Mentors who give support and friendship to families selected to be homeowners and keep a record of their sweat equity hours; Friday and Saturday volunteers at the store; Construction team members; Help with pickup of donations that includes driving the truck; and A secretary to the board. Just stop at the ReStore at 1027 Lake Oconee Parkway and look around. Everyone in the store is a volunteer and always happy to share information. Help us to spread the word to anyone else friend or family who might be a willing volunteer. For even more first-hand information, talk to Janis after church or contact him at Worship Service You can become at vital part of the Sunday Worship service. Become an usher, a greeter, a communion assistant Or a reader! Contact Peggy Uehlin to sign up as reader; the church office for communion assistants and/or you can sign up yourself on designated sheets the round table.

12 Choir Notes Members Wanted -- Join Us Now No Auditions Warm Up and Vocal Coaching Contact: Art Hargrove Practice on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Coffee after Church Check your calendars and sign up for a turn preparing coffee and light refreshments for Coffee Hour after service each Sunday. A sign-up sheet is on the round table at the back of the church. Recycling Projects Remember the LOLC paper recycling program to include extra copies of the weekly bulletins and other white paper products. All collected paper goes to the recycling center. We are also collecting aluminum cans for Amber Bailey, the person who does such a great job keeping our church clean.

13 Lutheran Wisdom & Laughter Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Pastor, Rev. Andrew Schroder Church secretary, Deb Krahling Music Director, Art Hargrove Lake Oconee Parkway Eatonton GA Phone: Website: