Echo 2.0. Share God s Word, Share His Love, and Do It Now!

Transcription

1 Christ Lutheran Newsletter Echo 2.0 Share God s Word, Share His Love, and Do It Now! Christ Lutheran 605 South Fifth Street, Norfolk, NE Introducing Tetsuya Sugita Konnichiwa! My name is Tetsuya Sugita and I am excited to serve you and this community as Director of Worship Arts. I was Director of Music at Peace Lutheran Church in Grand Island for about 14 years and I served at Zion Lutheran Church in Anaheim, California before that. I graduated from Concordia University Irvine, California with a church music degree and Christ Lutheran continued to study Organ Performance / Piano Pedagogy at California State University in Fullerton, California. I am married to Julie and currently she is a teaching director of Community Bible Study in Grand Island. We have four children, Josh and his wife, Emma (live in Lincoln), Hannah (junior at Concordia University Seward), Sarah (senior at Heartland Lutheran High School), and Leah (freshman at HLHS). The rest of my family will move to Norfolk this summer after Sarah graduates from HLHS. Leah will attend LHNE. We are looking forward to getting to know you and the community, and we will have fun worshiping Him together! Malawi Team United! By DCE Matt Wingert & Pastor Goehmann God has placed it on the heart of 5 high school students, 2 college students and 9 adults to go to Malawi this May. Our Mission trip to Malawi will be filled with service, evangelism, education, and VBS. Please keep these people in your prayers as they prepare to spread the Good News in the name of Jesus Christ! The cost for each of these missionaries from Christ Lutheran is around $2,400. If you would like to financially support a specific individual or family please make a check out to Christ Lutheran Church with Malawi Scholarship" in the memo. Thank you for your continued prayers. Tetsuya Sugita joins the Christ Lutheran Staff as Director of Worship Arts. Inside this issue read more about: Children s Ministry Lenten Worship Schedule Houston Servant Event Stewardship Bible Study

2 Christ Lutheran Congregation News Preschool Registration Now Open By Sarah Moje, Preschool Director Christ Lutheran Preschool is currently accepting registrations for the school year. Morning and afternoon classes are available for our three and five-day programs and a morning session is offered for the two-day program. Children must be at least three years old by July 31, 2018 in order to enroll in the Tuesday/Thursday or the Monday/Wednesday/Friday programs. The Monday-Friday program is reserved for children who are four by July 31, Our preschool teachers and aides have over 60 combined years of experience working with young children and teachers are certified by the Nebraska Department of Education. Please keep in mind that class sizes are limited. Waiting lists will be generated for classes that are full. A registration form is available at the school office or on the school website at clnorfolk.org. For more information call the school office at We would love to schedule a tour and answer your questions. Lower top: CLS students Zachary Baumann and Will Bryant offer a trumpet duet and bottom: Esther Molina and Amber Bockelman played a clarinet duet for an Advent worship service. Preschoolers experience snow outside as well as indoors. (above) catching snowflakes; (lower) snowball toss in the gym. 2

3 Children s Ministry Christ Lutheran Lisa Moreno, Children s Ministry Coordinator lmoreno@clnorfolkmail.org Parents and Twos! Do you have a two year-old in your house or know someone who does? We have a wonderful Sunday school class for two year-olds and their parents! Last month, they had a Happy Birthday Jesus party. This fun class, taught by Karen Petersen and Phyllis Glaser, offers a chance for parents to get to know each other as they nurture their children s faith. It is a great place to discuss the joys and challenges of parenting and encourage one another. Children enjoy playtime, puppets, special games, activities, and crafts just for two year-olds while they learn about Jesus s love. Come to room 206 of the school from 9:30-10:30 on any Sunday morning to try out this class. Younger siblings are welcome, too! Staff Needs: For more than a year, we have been in need of an additional station leader. Station leaders choose the Sundays they wish to work, so if they have plans to be out of town, it is not a problem. They can also choose the type of activity they lead, if they wish. Each class comes with their teacher, so the station leaders are not in charge of students on their own. Activities which they lead are prepared for them, and are sent out days in advance so they can be tried out at home. Station leaders typically work the last half of the Sunday school hour. If you would be willing to volunteer as a station leader 1-2 times a month, please contact Lisa Moreno. Save the Date Vacation Bible School July You won t want to miss this exciting week of fun and fellowship exploring God s Word. Mission Offerings Since December, students have been collecting offerings for Mercy Meals. Many people have helped pack these meals, but our offerings will help pay for these meals and get them to the people who need them. Just 12 cents will pay for one meal! February 11 and 18 are the last two Sundays to contribute to this. VBS Preparations: Vacation Bible School has been set for July 22-26, At this time, we are choosing curriculum, and seeking station leaders at this time. We run one set of stations for preschoolers, and one for grades 1-6. Station leaders will have 1-2 assistants. If you would like to be a station leader, please contact Lisa Moreno soon! February Children s Ministry Schedule February 4: Sunday School Philip and the Ethiopian (snack station, newsletter) February 11: Sunday School The Conversion of Paul (experiment and music stations) February 18: Sunday School Dorcas (activity and music stations) February 25: Sunday School Peter and Cornelius (craft and music stations) Looking Ahead in 2018: Sunday, March 25: Sunday school sings for Palm Sunday, 10:45 am service Sunday, April 1: Easter Sunday no Sunday School July 22-26: Vacation Bible School Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sundays at Christ Lutheran School 3

4 Christ Lutheran Christ Lutheran School Steve Stortz, Principal Playground Fundraiser Meals In January, the first of three meals was served. The parents of students in Preschool Grade 4 hosted a sloppy-joe meal at the start of Lutheran Schools Week. The teachers will be sponsoring a Lenten meal on February 21 and the parents of students in grades 5-8 will host a meal on Sunday, March 18 after Bible class. Please join us for good food for a good cause. Playground Update Conversations continue to take place to facilitate the relocation of the playground to north of the school. Representatives from the site-planning committee met last month with officials from the city of Norfolk regarding ideas for the playground and the alley. We also have received a $1,500 grant from the Jim B. & Lillian F. Cooper Foundation through Midwest Bank. Please keep this project in your prayers. Something New to Collect Thank you to everyone who collects those 10 boxtops for education. Last month we received a check for $ Best Choice is now offering 3 for each UPC code turned in. These may be sent to the school office, or turned in at church in the wooden stand by the north coat rack. Upgrades for Science and Music Thanks to a generous donor and to a giveaway at the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resource District, both subjects have received an update this Fall. The music room has new chairs for vocal and band classes. The science room has new equipment including beakers, test tubes, hot plate, flasks, pipets, and microscopes. The chairs are already being enjoyed and the science equipment is being put to use in the upper grade science room. Dates to Note Scrip sold Tuesday & Friday from 7:40-4:00 in school office and online every day at Chapel every Wednesday at 8:20 a.m. You don t have to have a child at CLS to attend. All are welcome! Feb. 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences Feb. 2 No School, Teacher in-service Feb. 3 Fremont JV Boys Tourn., Pierce Varsity Girls Tourn., Columbus JV Girls Tourn. Feb. 6 Kindergarten Open House 5:30-7:00 Feb. 9 No School, Norfolk/Plainview Area Lutheran Teachers In-service Feb. 10 Varsity Girls Tournament here Feb CLS Varsity Boys Tournament Feb. 22 Kindergarten Open House 5:30-7:00 Feb Concordia University Girls & Boys Tournament Feb. 27 Board of Education Mar. 2 Spring Break No School Mar. 7 Kindergarten Registration Day Two Kindergarten Open Houses Left If you missed the first open house in January, there are still two opportunities to learn about our kindergarten program. Join us from 5:30-7:00 on February 6 and February 22. Bring along your questions about how you can get started in being a part of the Christ Lutheran School family. Kindergarten teachers will be available to answer questions about curriculum, expectations, and to make your child feel at home. Be sure to bring your child so they can scope out the classroom and meet future classmates. 4

5 Christ Lutheran Youth Ministry Matt Wingert, Director of Youth Houston Recap! Fourteen people from Christ Lutheran decided to ring in the New Year with a servant s heart. (photo below) Over the winter break from school, we traveled to Houston, Texas to assist the LCMS in their Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. We met up with our friends from Wilcox, Nebraska and traveled by van to Houston. While there, our group worked at 4 houses. Our students learned new skills, met new people, cared for the home owners, and prayed with families that were affected by the hurricane s destruction. It is estimated that over 200,000 homes were destroyed in the hurricane & flood. The Houston District in Texas is working hard to make a difference in the area. They aren t just fixing houses. They are hosting displaced families, feeding the hungry, & coordinating volunteer efforts. They mentioned they are very thankful for Orphan Grain Train, who has helped with much of the supplies and logistics. Christ Lutheran is planning a second relief trip to Houston the third week in June. Senior High youth and families are welcome. Want to get involved? Talk to Matt. Confirmation Retreat! The 8 th grade confirmation students have a great opportunity to get away for the weekend and experience a confirmation retreat at Camp Luther this March This year s theme is Taste and See and it s all about The Lord s Supper. It is our prayer that the confirmands will continue to see that the Lord is good and that He provides for us in every need. Mark the date on the calendar. You won t want to miss this event! Packets were mailed home in January. Come by the Church Office if you need one. Cost is FREE. Ash Wednesday Meal We have a FUNdraising opportunity this February. On Ash Wednesday (February 14) Junior High students will serve the Lenten meal to the congregation before worship. Those who contribute food and serve will raise money towards their youth account! Sign up to serve with Matt. Sr. High Students will serve the Easter Breakfast on Sunday April 1. 5 February Dates Wednesday 7 Confirmation Wednesday 14 - Ash Wednesday Meal Wednesday 21 - Lent Confirmation Sunday 25 - Jr. High Mercy Meals Wednesday 28 - NO Confirmation Every Sunday- 9:30 Bible Study Get Connected If you want to receive s, or sign up for an event, it all takes place online. Please sign yourself up on the website below. to so you can get text updates about events!

6 Christ Lutheran Stewardship & You Part 2 of 8 Bible Study This is Session 1-B of an 8 session Bible study entitled Stewardship Basics that will be included (as adapted) in the ECHO during It is presented for personal or small group Bible study. Answers from Session 1-A 1. The standard that the Lord sets is that the steward be faithful or trustworthy. It is nothing more than a servant faithfully doing his or her duty. What might the faithful steward look like in the 21 st century? The basic form of stewardship is daily work. One good place to look for what stewardship looks like in our time today is in Luther s Small Catechism. The table of duties is a great place to start. It deals with every aspect of life. 2. The faithful servant is the one who is found by his master doing what is expected of him. Faithfulness is marked by consistency in the execution of the general day to day duties which the master has given to his servants. 3. Jesus makes it clear that the response is blessing; not in material wealth but even greater responsibility. 4. The unfaithful servant is one who seeks his own comforts rather than the master s interests. In this action he gives up his role as steward (servant) and assumes the role of owner. 5. The servant caught unaware will receive the most severe of beatings. We do not know when the Master, our Lord Jesus, will return. We are simply to be about the daily task of serving Him by serving our neighbor. Unfaithfulness to stewardship matters does have consequences. The greatest consequence can come in the fact that our poor stewardship can threaten our relationship with the Lord Himself. 6. Our stewardship accountability is ultimately to the Lord! SESSION 1-B Stewardship A Basic Beginning Biblical examples of faithful and unfaithful stewards Read Genesis 39:1-6 and Genesis 39: Who is the faithful steward in this text? 2. How did he show this faithfulness? 3. What were some of the rewards for his faithfulness? 4. Were there ALWAYS rewards for his faithfulness? Skim Genesis In what way was the faithfulness of Joseph s stewardship rewarded here? 6. How does this stewardship eventually end up saving the very people who put Joseph into slavery? Read Luke 16: How is the manager (same Greek word that is translated steward) held accountable? 8. What were the consequences of his unfaithful stewardship? (Suggested answers in next month s ECHO) 6

7 Christ Lutheran Pastor s Ponderings Rev. Chip Winter, Director of Ministry cwinter@clnorfolkmail.org Until Christ Returns 2018 Midweek Lenten Series: Thy Will Be Done When I was a young assistant pastor in St. Louis one of the members, then the congregational chairman, took me aside to speak with me about my preaching. He had noticed that I would often focus on heaven and the price paid by our Lord Jesus to gain our entrance there. Virgil didn t have a problem with that. It s just, as he explained, we are going to spend a fair amount of time in this world until heaven, God willing, and we need some help, encouragement and teaching concerning how we can live as God s people here and now. by Starla Landkamer Midweek Lenten services begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14, and continue through the weeks of Lent. Service times will be 12:15 and 6:30 p.m. With the exception of Ash Wednesday, the 12:15 services will be held in the chapel. Preceding all of the evening services, meals will be served by various organizations from 5:00-6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. A few years ago, Pastor Rosenthal and I were talking about how that s an easy habit to establish thinking that Jesus died and rose so that when we die we can go to heaven. We had noticed it in the answers we would get in children s messages, as we taught classes in the school and from the confirmands. Not as I will, but as you will, Jesus prayed to his Father the night before He went to the cross for our salvation. And that is our prayer as well this Lent as we seek to do God s will in our lives, as we draw near to the observance of Christ s suffering, death and resurrection during Holy Week. Written by Rev. Justin Rossow, each service in the series Thy Will Be Done focuses on a different aspect of God s will at work among us. Biblical characters are used as insightful reference points each week to guide us in following our Lord more nearly day by day. C. S. Lewis had an excellent point when he said that when you focus on this world you get nothing, but when you focus on heaven you get this world thrown in, too. But to focus only on getting to heaven leaves much of the rest of the scripture out of the conversation. God s people, Old Testament and New, are called to walk in the light, to pick up the cross daily and follow Jesus. We are called to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit and to bear one another s burdens. We are called to be chaste in our living and generous in our giving and caring. Ash Wednesday God s Will and God s Promise: Abraham and Isaac by faith, Abraham trusted the will of God when he promised that a son would be born to him. God s will was done when that son, Isaac, was born, and God s will was done when His Son Jesus came into the world to redeem His people. As we enter Lent in this month of February, we will have a chance to examine our lives. This will naturally lead to repentance and a greater appreciation for the sacrifice made by Jesus to forgive our sins. Bolstered by the assurance that we are deeply loved by God, we will endeavor in our worship and our teaching to grow in our understanding of God s will for our lives, for however many days we have until Jesus returns. February 21 God s Will and My Inadequacy: Moses at first, Moses did not think he could free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But God worked through him to set his people free. In Lent we remember that God sent His Son to do His will and set all people free from the slavery of sin. - LENT continues on page 8 7

8 Christ Lutheran Membership Roll Call Starla Landkamer LENT concluded February 28 God s Will and My Dreams: David Anointed by God to rule in Israel, King David was called by God to shepherd His people, but often failed to live up to God s will for him. We welcome the Good Shepherd into our lives. He who fulfills God s will perfectly to gather His wandering sheep into the sheepfold of heaven. March 7 God s Will and My Identity: Mary In humility, Mary dutifully accepted the role God had given her to become the mother of our Savior. That Son would later accept His role, faithfully following the path His Father had in mind for Him to save us all. March 14 God s Will and My Worldview: Paul On the road to Damascus, Paul had his worldview turned upside down when God called him to preach the name of the Christ he had persecuted. We follow God s will by putting the crucified Christ at the center of our worldview. March 21 God s Will and My Response: Lydia Lydia followed the will of God by responding in faith and hospitality when the Gospel message of Christ s sacrifice was preached to her. We follow the will of God by responding in love and service to one another in return for what Christ has done for us. As we prepare for our journey through the Lenten season, we pray you will join these Biblical characters each week and learn from their experiences in the walk to the cross with Jesus. Celebrating Birthday Blessings Those celebrating birthday blessings of 80 years or more in the month of February include: 1: Donna Eckert 4: Willard Vyhlidal 7: Carl Mellor, Duane Zautke 9: Dorothy Wetzler 11: Gladys Meisinger 16: Bonnie Loyd 20: Don Walker 21: Kenneth Timm 23: Ilene Schmidt 24: Lois Miller, Russ Sila 25: Gaynel Hofmann 28: Dee Jenkins 8 Roster Changes Transfer In: Cody Cleveland, 105 West Walnut Avenue, Norfolk from Mt. Olive, Norfolk. Kenneth Timm, 1802 West Taylor Avenue, #206 Norfolk, from Mt. Olive, Norfolk. Janice Nicholas, 500 South 18 th Street, #221, Norfolk, from Mt. Olive, Norfolk. Profession of Faith: Jerry and Renee Bauer, Highway 35, Hoskins, from St. John, Norfolk. United in Marriage: January 6: Collier Miller and Hayley Wallace Called to Eternal Rest: Joan Larson, February 1, 1938 December 17, 2017 Helen Reeves, August 30, 1919 December 27, Ken Harstad, August 2, 1938 December 30, 2017 Lois Wagner, June 17, 1921 January 7, 2018 Elaine Nitz, October 2, January 12, Marvin Bobb, March 14, 1925 January 10, If you have recently changed your address or phone number, please notify the church office so we can update our contact information and keep our records current. Annual Hearts to Help Campaign The Board of Christian Nurture is once again sponsoring the Hearts to Help campaign to aid in replenishing our Human Care Fund that supports Good Neighbors. Monetary donations sre requested. The campaign runs from February 4 to March 4, however donations may be made anytime throughout the year. Reminder cards in the Narthex will help remind you of this special campaign to help the less fortunate in our community. Funds received help support the Good Neighbors and Norfolk Community Food Pantry. Thank you for your generous support in the past. Please prayerfully consider how you can continue open your heart and share God s love.

9 Christ Lutheran From the Photo Album HELPING IN HOUSTON Top right: Share God s Word, Share His Love, & Do it Now! That was the motto for our team from Christ Lutheran as they went to Houston to assist with hurricane relief. Here is a photo of the team at 5:00 a.m. the day of departure, smiling faces as they look forward to the 14-hour drive ahead. Top left:. Andrew Glaser screwing in some drywall after hanging insulation throughout one of the four houses we worked on. Lower left: Ashley Hogendorn (Left) Gina Bredehoeft (Right) texturing a house after the new drywall has been hung. This trip was perfect for the skilled worker as well as the unskilled. Many students learned new trades. Lower right: The Glaser Family listening to the home owner s story of how she lost everything in the flood. She is still making payments on appliances that floated away. 9

10 Christ Lutheran Printing Costs for This Month s Echo 2.0 Paid for by Donations from These Sponsors Abbey Christian Store Bev Mauch, Coldwell Banker Dover Realtors Norfolk Implement Dr. Dan Blomenberg Eye Physicians PC Elkhorn Valley Bank & Trust Dinkel Implement Dr. Leon Gebhardt Freudenburg & Associates LLC Taylor Creek Physical Therapy Jerry s Trailers & Campers Randy Oertwich, United Farm and Ranch Management Krivohlavek & Hatfield, D.D.S. Christ Lutheran Church 605 South Fifth Street Norfolk, NE phone fax School 511 South Fifth Street phone fax Helping Hands Childcare 600 South 4 th Street Next ECHO 2.0 deadline is February 10, 2018 Send items to echo2@clnorfolkmail.org