HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Transcription

1 HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! The Newsletter for members of Grace Lutheran Church 422 Valhi Blvd. Houma, LA Pastor Rich Rudnik Phone Fax: Web Page: April

2 Pastor s Corner Consuming Gospel Six years ago, Bridgette and I went to Israel, but this month we re going for another visit. We ve been there, done that so why are we going again? It s not because the last trip was so enjoyable. It was great, but there are a lot of other places in the world I d like to see instead. And we re not going for the rest and relaxation it s a 14-hour trip across three flights after which days are filled with hiking, touring and packing up and moving around. We re going because there is so much to be learned that will help us grow spiritually. This trip is actually a course offered the past several years to students at my alma mater, Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, but for the first time is open to pastors and laity. I had no burning desire to return to the Holy Land, but when the trip was presented in November I couldn t sign up fast enough for one simple reason it will greatly deepen my understanding of God s Word. This desire to grow spiritually in Christ should be the goal of 2

3 every Christian. In Ephesians, St. Paul writes that Christ gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Chapter six of Hebrews begins, Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity St. Paul writes to Timothy, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. The irony is that as technology makes available more and more avenues by which to study Holy Scripture, biblical illiteracy among Christians is rampant. A 2015 LifeWay Research survey found only 45 percent of regular churchgoers read their Bible more than once per week and one in five didn t read it at all. Some folks in our adult Sunday School are shocked to discover for the first time some bible stories as we go through the videos Stuff They Didn t Teach Me in Sunday School. In conversations with young people who identify as Christian I m constantly surprised by what they think they know of Jesus and biblical teaching that is completely wrong. This Word is the Gospel that saves. If one does not eagerly seek to consume, reflect on and understand it through God s Word, whatever one is consuming from the culture will work to fill the void. The culture is not the Gospel that saves. 3

4 So this month s article is a simple admonition and exhortation study the Word of God that saves. Through Holy Week we ve just marked the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus for you. But this Gospel isn t just a yearly thing or a weekly thing. It s a daily thing an always thing. For the love of Christ, be in His Gospel! Here are just a few of the solid Lutheran websites providing varied opportunities for study of the Bible: There are also apps and podcasts galore you can put on your smartphone. Don t be content to be an uninformed Christian. That s near to being a misinformed Christian and that s just a step away from being a sinful-culture informed Christian, and that s just dangerous to the soul. Be a Gospel consuming Christian. Do it literally in the Supper on Sunday, and in the Word every day of your life in Christ. OFFICIAL ACTS FOR MARCH 2018 Iva Dell (Rippy) Kohls passed away March 3, 2018 and her name was removed from the membership role. Allison Claire Von Burgsdorff, daughter of Kevin and Katie Von Burgsdorff, was baptized in the Kingdom of God March 25, 2018 and received as a baptized member. 4

5 Columbarium Special Pricing Expires April 15 The Columbarium was dedicated January 11 and cremated ashes can now be interred. The special pricing of $1000 per niche has been extended through Sunday, April 15. After this date the price per niche increases to $1250. A portion of the cost is tax deductible. To reserve a niche make your check payable to Grace Lutheran Church and put columbarium niche in the memo line and contact Bonnie Dupre to complete the details. FOOD BANK SUNDAY Thank you to everyone who participated with Food Bank Sunday last month. $90.00 in cash and groceries were donated. Our next collection will be Sunday, April 8,

6 BUILDING SECURITY & STEWARDSHIP If you re among the last to leave the church building at any time, please be sure all doors are locked and closed completely. Also, please make sure all thermostats are returned to vacant-building settings. May 2018 Pipeliner articles are due Thursday, April 26th. You may these to Gordon Fitzgerald at Member Boxes Please remember to check your member box while at church. If you don t see your name on the list, please contact the church office at or send an to secretary@gracehouma.org. Biscuit Makers April 15 - Victoria Thalheim & Adriana Vitrano 29 - Shelby & Karoline Giroir Youth Group BBQ Plate Lunches The youth group is selling tickets for a BBQ plate lunch. The lunch will be on April 6, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the fellowship hall. You can dine in or take out. We will deliver to orders of 5 or more. Tickets are $10. Included in this meal will be bbq leg quarter, rice dressing, baked beans, salad, bread and a brownie. Please see a youth member to purchase your tickets ahead of time. Can you help? Lyle Souther is looking for a second hand freezer. If someone has one please contact him at

7 Vacation Bible School 2018 The theme for this year is: " Splash Canyon - God's Promise on Life's Wild Ride". The date for this year's VBS is Sunday, June 10 - Thursday, June 14. We will meet 6:00-8:15 p.m. A VBS meeting is scheduled for Sunday, April 29 at 12pm (after Sunday School). Volunteers are needed! In the palm of God s Hands HEALTH CONCERNS: Ann Perryman, Connie Oswalt, Jerrie Fitzgerald, Jerry Ledet, John Lewis, Joy Stegall, & Richard LaCour CHRONIC CONDITIONS & ELDERLY: Allen & Betty Carpenter, Edna Marie Sevin, Laura Naquin, Linda Meyer, Myra Thalheim, & Paul Gerken MOURNING A LOSS: the families of Idabelle Fabrizius, Iva Kohls & Rick Bass. SERVING IN OUR ARMED FORCES: Allen Trahan, Chandler Crawford, Dave McClellan, Doug Mandel, Heather Darce, Jack Hansen, Kyle Turcott, Leo Lampinen, Matthew Spolarich, Nigel Koorie, Ronnie Joe Ojeda, Timothy DeSoto, Todd Mueller, Tom Hemminger, & Victoria Shroyer COLLEGE STUDENTS: Alec Cunningham, Connor Cuneo, Hannah Cuneo, Jacob Cinnater, Jared Moise, Kara Kraus, Karly Kyzar, Matthew Gros, Michael Thalheim, Ross Reaves, & Satin Ursery 9

8 10 Acolytes April 1 Gabriella Crawford 8 Raymond Godail 15 Allie Clark 22 Cassie Domangue 29 Karoline Giroir Ushers April 1 Dave Akins/ Dennis Armstrong/ Gordon Fitzgerald/ Joey Souther 8 Gordon Fitzgerald/ Bart & Donovan Domangue 15 Youth Group 22 Dale Boger/Gordon Fitzgerald/Bart Domangue 29 Dave Akins/ Dennis Armstrong/ Gordon Fitzgerald/ Joey Souther Altar Guild April 1 Pastor Rich Bridgette (Superfrontal & White Prmnts) 8 Mary Lou & Donna 15 Marilyn & Jerrie 22 John & Patsy 29 Pastor Rich & Bridgette Scripture Readers April 1 Mona LaCour 8 Bonnie Dupre 15 Adrian Vitrano 22 Dale Boger 29 Jeannie Thalheim Offering Stewards April 1 Brigitte & Jeannie 8 Joseph & Brigitte 15 Rana & Barbara 22 Brigitte & Jeannie 29 Joseph & Brigitte Greeters April 1 Bonnie Dupre & Charlene Shroyer 8 Dennis & Gwen Armstrong 15 Youth Group 22 Lisa Giroir 29 Gordon & Jerrie Fitzgerald

9 11

10 Prayer Listings in Bulletin March 31st marked the end of the quarter and we are attempting to clean up the prayer request list in the bulletin. If you wish a request to remain in the bulletin, please let the office know via to secretary@gracehouma.org or by dropping a note at the church office or by calling (985) Ext. 1. On behalf of all those who benefit from your faithful prayers, thank you and thanks be to God. Christmas in July Fall Festival Rummage Sale Saturday, July 14th 6:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Please gather your rummage sale items together (no clothes, please!) and call the church office at Ext. 1 or Bonnie Dupre at for item drop off information. Please box items if possible due to limited storage space. We will also be calling on our bakers for some goodies to sell at our rummage sale. A little boy was overheard praying: 'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it. I'm having a real good time like I am.' A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, 'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?' One bright little girl replied, 'Because people are sleeping.' After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.' 12