Concordia Lutheran. Church. June Thoughts On 20 Years. "The wind blows where it wills..." John 3:8

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1 Concordia Lutheran "The wind blows where it wills..." John 3:8 Church June 2014 N W 3705 Harwood Rd., Bedford, TX Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Pastor: Rev Mark Lasch Office Phone: Sunday 9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. windsock@concordialutheran.org Thoughts On 20 Years I write these words on the threshold of the 20 th anniversary of my wedding. I celebrate with Catherine the joys and the sorrows of our years together, the victories and the defeats, but mostly I celebrate the oneness that is ours in the Life we have been given in Christ. 20 years have brought many blessings in our life! We met in Austin and graduated college together. From there we packed up our belongings (both of them!), and set course toward the Seminary. Catherine coached and cheered me through those years. When it seemed too tough, she pushed me. When I was ready to give up she helped me. By the time we were done it seemed that she could conjugate Greek verbs better than I. It seems appropriate to say that we graduated from Seminary together. What I didn t know then was that Catherine still had more to teach me. The professors at Seminary did a very fine job of teaching me theology. There is no better place to get a practical, historic, exegetical, isagogic education than I did. Yet seminary pales in comparison to marriage as a teacher about who God is, and the depth and breadth of His love. I thought I understood what marriage was on that June day when I said, I will. I thought I understood what it meant to have and to hold her in sickness and in health for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse. I thought I knew what it was to pledge her my faithfulness. What I didn t know was that the biggest threat to her would never be from outside of our marriage, it would be from within. God gave us a game plan for our life together. He said, Husbands love your wives, JUST AS Christ loves us. The Scriptures define that love as patient and kind, not jealous, conceited, or proud. It is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong and delights in the truth. When that love is freely given the love of spouse freely flows from it. I am happy to report that that kind of love has always been given in my marriage. But not from me and not from Catherine either. In reality, our marriage has been much like any other. There are those moments on the mountain top, when all is right in the world, and there are those moments when each of us have gone to bed fighting mad and woke up the next morning in the same spirit. There have been those moments when each of us have thought, Forget the whole thing, and, I deserve better than this, and You are not worthy of my love. That really is the point. We can learn a lot about our relationship with God by examining marriage. When God describes his relationship with us, he does so within the context of marriage. The church is called, The Bride of Christ. When God is fiercely angry with Israel, he threatens divorce. Ok, this is the truth: I have not been faithful to my God. I have been temperamental, jealous, arrogant, and boastful in my marriage. I have been selfish, and easily angered, dwelt on mistakes of the past, and walked in shadows. I have not been worthy of God s love. He deserves better than this. He could rightly forget the whole thing. What keeps Him from it? Him. His promise. He is patient with me, and kind. He is not jealous, conceited our proud. He is not self-seeking, or easily angered. He keeps no record of wrong and delights in the truth. He is Jesus. He is faithful. I am His wayward spouse. In the same way, I am called to be an imitator of God as a dearly loved child, and live a life of love, JUST AS, Christ loves me. In those moments when I am fighting mad at Catherine, why should I be patient and kind, and keep no record of wrongs? I said I would. I promised. I pray in the greatness of His grace my faithful spouse will empower me to be a faithful spouse. And in those places where I ve failed I ask my spouse to forgive me. In the greatness of His grace this month I celebrate 20 years of marriage. I am so very grateful for you Catherine I am eternally grateful. E S

2 Announcing the 2014 Servant of Christ Award Recipients Joel Lozzi Brad and Gail Shepperd The Servant of Christ award is awarded to those who have given exemplary service to the body of Christ at Concordia Lutheran Church. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE Vacation Bible School Gangway to Galilee End of School Pool Party Sunday June 8th All youth please join us immediately following the contemporary service at the Andersens house for Food Fun and Splashing until 3 pm! For more information please see any Youth member. From the Evangelism June 29 Bring a Friend to Church Sunday Adult and young adult visitors receive a Bible and "I Belong" bracelet. Evangelism encourages the congregation to pick up extra bracelets to share with others. Any Sunday visitors will receive "We're Happy You Popped In" popcorn with Church information. Concordia s Gangway to Galilee (Amazing Grace Adventures) Vacation Bible School will be held here on Saturday, June 28 from 9 am to 1 pm. Check in time is 8:45 am. Lunch will be Provided. Children ages 4 to 11 are welcome to attend. Please fill out the registration sheets in the Narthex for your children. At Gangway to Galilee children will visit exciting sites around the Sea of Galilee and discover how Jesus saves now and eternally. It will be a busy fun-filled day. Children will learn new songs, stories, games, and make crafts to take home. Don t miss the Boat! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer for this special VBS Day, please contact Dennis Murawski or any member of the Board of Christian Education. Vacation Bible School June 28, am to 1pm

3 LAY MINISTERS: Justin Randermann and Brad Shepperd LAY READERS June 1 Gail Shepperd June 8 Jeanice Gerlikovski June 15 Heather Finder Juen 22 Kathy Nelson June 29 Ulana Ratley Serving Concordia in June Beth Grover JoAnn Truelock JUNE USHERS Ruth Farr Garrett Coffey N.E.E.D. Needs June 1: Canned meat (tuna, spam, etc.) and Hamburger Helper June 8: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Rotel, and Refried Beans June 15: Canned Vegetables & Fruits June 22: Canned Tomatoes, Pasta, Rice, and Beans June29: Dry Cereals and Oatmeal Concordia Softball The Concordia Free Agents are back in action and will be playing a summer season at the park in Hurst on Precinct Line Road. The Season will begin June 13. The games are played on Friday nights. Come out any Friday Evening to cheer them on. Look for upcoming game times to be listed in the Sunday bulletins and on the July Windsock Calendar. This is a men s league and you must be over 18. The dues are around $30 and the jerseys are $20 for new players. If you are interested in playing, please contact: Steve Wilkins. steven_and_rebecca@sbcglobal.net JUNE BIRTHDAYS 1 Jason Carroll 2 Kelli Carrol 2 Rose Reaves 6 Lourdes McWithey 12 Sharon Brock 21 Lily Carrol 22 Dennis Murawski 23 Katie Maass 24 Elaine Faber 27 Robert Holley Before you were born, I set you apart. Jeremiah 1:5 If we missed your important date please share it with us so we may update our records. We will be sure to get it in next year. JUNE ANNIVERSARIES 5 Richard and Leslie McNeese 11 Mark and Catherine Lasch 13 Frank and Rose Reaves 14 Bruce and Kathy Nelson 14 Dan and Betsy Groulx 16 Jim and JoAnn Dickinson 22 Robert and Lisa Holley

4 Servant of Christ 2014 Awarded to Joel Lozzi June 1, 2014 I was born into a Catholic family. I never felt at home in the Catholic church so I stopped attending. I started reading the Bible in my 20s and developed faith and strong beliefs. Four years ago I met Pastor Mark Lasch and discovered my beliefs mirrored the Lutherans. I am blessed to realize there are others who believe as I do and to discover my church family. Joel Lozzi Welcome! Kailyn Sinéad Smeltzer. Born May 29,2014 3:21 p.m. 7 lbs. 12 oz inches Congratulations To Mike and Dana! Place: Fellowship Hall Date: June 17 Time: 5:59 PM Men s Network meets the third Tuesday of every month! Concordia Men s Network is a program designed for the men of Concordia. The evening will start with fellowship centered on the grilling of meat (each man brings his own steak, chicken, or whatever). Cold drinks, sides (Bubba s famous baked potatoes), and Blue Bell ice cream are provided for the meal. After dinner Pastor Mark will provide spiritual nourishment as attendees discuss and pray together. This event is sponsored by the Board of Lay Ministry.

5 Concordia Talent Show

6 Sunday June 29,2014 CONCORDIA ANNUAL PATRIOTIC PICNIC A single worship service at 10:30 a.m. is planned for Sunday, June 29. Sunday School will be at 9:15 a.m. After the worship Service and voter s meeting, the Properties will sponsor the Annual Patriotic Picnic under Concordia s mighty oaks. The menu includes Burgers, Brats, and Hot Dogs, with all the trimmings, Cold Drinks, and Ice Cream Sundaes for dessert. John Philip Sousa marching music will be played to assure a patriotic mood. Everyone gets a hand-held USA flag. Bring your lawn chairs and join us for good food, fun and Christian fellowship. Mark your calendars NOW. Join Us in Welcoming our newest Concordia Members At the Single Blended Service including New Member Reception June 29, :30 a.m. Voter s Meeting Sunday, June 29, :30 a.m. There will be a Voter s Meeting to elect new church officers for the coming year. All voting age members are urged to be in attendance to make your vote count.

7 June 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Important May Sundays June 8 End of School Pool Party June 8 Lay Ministry June15 Father s Day June 29 Bring a Friend to Church Sunday, New Member Reception, Voter s Meeting, Patriotic Picnic :00 am 10:00 am Sunday School :00 am 10:00 am Sunday School :00 am 10:00 am Sunday School :00 am 10:00 am Sunday School :15am Sunday School 10:30 am Blended 11:45am Voter s Meeting 5:30 pm Fellowship Properties Men s Network 6:30 pm Evangelism Christian Education Lunch Bunch Christian education Youth Girl Scouts Girl Scouts Girl Scouts Girl Scouts Vacation Bible School

8 Concordia Lutheran Church 3705 Harwood Road Bedford, Texas The Windsock is a monthly publication of Concordia Lutheran Church, 3705 Harwood Road, Bedford, Texas entered as third class mail at the Bedford, Texas post office under permit number 37 as a non-profit organization. Staff Editor: Rev. Mark Lasch Publication Manager: Heather Finder Director of Distribution: Bruce Nelson Internet Webmaster: Kate Randermann Cartoonist: Richard Hlad RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Concordia Lutheran Church 3705 Harwood Road Bedford, Texas Phone: (817) Fax: (817) Sunday School - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. OUR MISSION AT CONCORDIA Living joyfully in friendship, love and ministry Openly reaching out with the Gospel Visibly sharing the life of Christ through Word & Sacrament Encouraging spiritual growth and development SHARING GOD S LOVE & TOUCHING PEOPLE S LIVES