St. Peter Lutheran Church Mission Statement

Transcription

1 August 2018 Inside this issue: No way... or God s way? page 1 Five Year Plan Seminar page 3 Time, Talent, Treasure in Summary page 4 Upcoming Preschool Event page 6 Experience Tree of Life Bible Camp page 10 July Voters Meeting Update page 13

2 On the Cover From a vantage point high enough to overlook a sprawling city one can be amazed by the massive accomplishments on display. The evidence is obvious showing what individuals and teams of people did to produce this skyline. We must remember, however, that all the skills and talents to accomplish this are gifts from the Lord to believer and unbeliever alike. Keeping this truth in mind we should be continuously thankful to the Lord for giving these skills and talents to us. No one is without talents or skills. We should continuously ask the Lord to provide opportunities where we can use the skills and talents He has given us in ways that are pleasing to Him in our communities and in His Church Merle Ave., Modesto, CA Phone: FAX: Website: stpetermodesto.org Pastor Daniel Schroeder ( dan7schroeder@gmail.com) St. Peter Lutheran Church Mission Statement As people saved by God s undeserved love, we want to share the Word of forgiveness and tell of Jesus Christ. Remembering Jesus love, we seek to strengthen and serve each other and our neighbors daily, acting through faith in our Lord Jesus, as guided by the Holy Spirit. Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00 am Bible Class and Sunday School: 10:30 am Saturday Evening Worship: 6:00pm (First Saturday of the month) Slate, August 2018 Edition

3 No way or God s way? What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31,32) Insurmountable odds. No way possible. Can t be done. If you ve read books or watched TV series about the Revolutionary War and those who marched with General George Washington, you see how much was stacked against those early Americans. The whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration of Independence would have amounted to little more than words on paper. How did a group of ragtag farmers defeat the world s greatest empire? In his book 1776, author David McCullough vividly shows they did it with a great deal of suffering, determination, ingenuity and, McCullough notes, luck. All this for a cause they believed in. As disciples of Jesus, we too share in a noble cause, a cause we believe in. Our Savior commands us in the Gospel of Mark to go into all the worlds and preach the good news to all creation. But we struggle with this cause. It s an expensive cause one that costs real dollars and impacts real budgets. As of this writing, we will have approved a ministry plan that costs real dollars to carry out the Savior s gospel work here at St. Peter and around the world. It is a difficult cause one that challenges us to share the gospel with a diverse and troubled world. It is a dangerous cause one that draws persecution and conflict by many who oppose it. And, yes, at times, it becomes an overwhelming cause moments when we feel powerless and ineffective and feel the wheels spinning. And we think, It s not working. So what do we do? Ask someone else to do God s work? Tell God we have other priorities more important than his that need our attention? Or maybe we can just throw in the towel and give up and solve the problem that way? No, Continued on page 2 Slate Page 1 August 2018

4 Continued from page 1 our response is to turn to our God and once again take him at his word. If God is really for us, can anything stand in our way? If God really loves us enough to send his own Son into the world, won t he give us everything we need to faithfully serve him and carry out his cause? God s answer is a resounding yes! How can a group of ragtag disciples like us take on these seemingly insurmountable challenges? Easy. We put our faith in a God who is on our side and for us in every way in every way. We trust in a God whose love for sinners compelled him to give us all that we need, even his own Son. With faith-born determination, ingenuity, and yes, even suffering, we carry forward our Savior s noble and loving cause. In Christ s service and yours, Pastor Schroeder Connect Groups (September-November Session) Wanting to start a Connect group at St. Peter? Well, we are starting another round of our Connect groups. Connect groups exist mainly to knit the people of St. Peter together so they might share their lives as God s Word directs them to. Sharing of one s life certainly happens in a Bible study. But it happens in other ways as well. Thus, we have three types of Connect groups. Study groups meet to study, discuss, and apply God s Word Service groups identify ways to serve the church or specific people or groups Social groups meet to enjoy recreational fellowship If you want more info, pick up a handbook today in the entryway of church to get more details and see some examples. Brief training will be provided to help plan for a Connect group. Leading a group is not hard. Give it a try! If you didn t start one in the last session, but had wanted to, here s your chance. Forms for groups need to be submitted by Sunday, August 12. We will have a Connect Groups Fair after worship on August 19 to sign up for groups of your choice. Slate Page 2 August 2018

5 Congregational Five Year Plan Seminar August 26 Sunday, August 26, is our Congregational Five Year Plan Seminar. On that day we have the opportunity to come together to formulate this plan into a vision of ministry. The schedule for the day is: 9:00 am Worship We will gather for worship as normal to begin our day with the Lord and in His Word. 10:30 am Session 1: Overview and Brainstorming In this session we will put out as many ideas as we can. This is a what session, not a how session. Collectively we can inspire one another to think of more ways to increase the ministry at St. Peter. 11:45 am Lunch This is a time for food and fellowship and when you may leisurely add more to the lists created in sessions 1. 12:45 pm Session 2: Detailing the Plan, Digging Deeper In this session we will categorize the lists created from session 1, compare them with the ideas submitted in the suggestion box, and prioritize the list into short, medium and long term goals. 1:45 pm Session 3: Bringing it Together, Developing the Plan In this session we will confirm the list of top priority items and place them on a time line in the form of goals. We will also identify what we need and who we need to accomplish these goals. Please plan to participate in the seminar. For those with small children day care will be provided and you may have lunch as a family. This information from the seminar will be collected into a more formal document for distribution on the Five Year Plan Launch Day, October, 28, Reformation Sunday, when the real work begins. May the Lord bless and guide us as we gather to undertake this monumental and exciting task. Slate Page 3 August 2018

6 in summary ime alent reasure TTime, talents and treasures are what we could call the three main pillars of Stewardship. All three of them are given to us by God Himself, each as a gift for the very purpose of loving and serving our neighbor in his/her need. We saw each of the three individually: our time is given to us to spend it wisely, using it for proclaiming God s Word to this world (speaking to our colleagues at work, school, at the grocery store, etc., whatever time of day); our talents are also given to us to be helpful to our neighbor when they are in need of any kind of assistance; and our treasures are given to us to then give freely to our neighbor with generosity, not obligation. But how do all three parts of Stewardship really work together now that we know what each is individually? The key to understanding these three areas of Stewardship and how they all work together is found by looking at the doctrine of vocation. This is in large part how we carry out these roles of Stewardship as Christians in Christ s church, which has already been talked about in the previous articles. These areas of Stewardship also come out in our vocations as a husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, employee, employer, student, teacher, Pastor, citizen, etc. There isn t enough room in this article to go over even a couple of these vocations in more depth. For that, one resource I recommend which is fairly short and helpful is the book God at Work by Gene Edward Veith Jr. available through Northwestern Publishing House. However, what can be said here is that in each of our vocations we have particular ways of being stewards to our neighbor. Continued on page 5 Slate Page 4 August 2018

7 Continued from page 4 The main point is that these areas of Stewardship: time, talents and treasures are not separate from each other. They are still different from each other in their essence and function, but all three depend on each other. For example, when giving your time to your local church often involves simultaneously giving your talents. In this way you are setting aside the time to use your talents to help your neighbor. Using your time and talents in your workplace to bring home a paycheck can lead you, out of the generosity of the heart, to give some kind of your treasure (whether money or some other tangible item) to someone you know who is in need. Whether you are being a steward in church or in the secular world, doing these good works as Christians for our neighbor is for our good, His church. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8: 28 ESV). And probably the most important part of Stewardship is the understanding from God s Word that being a Steward to your neighbor is a responsibility for us Christians. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, Go in peace, be warmed and filled, without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2:14-16 ESV). The key to understanding this responsibility comes once we understand and embrace our justification by grace through faith alone. But like St. James says, the evidence of this faith is good works, in this case through Stewardship. Out of being forgiven, we know that we are in a position where we can serve our neighbor, and we can give our neighbor what they truly need, which is ultimately God s Word. Jared Johnson, Stewardship Elder Editors Note: We want to thank Jared for submitting this four part series on stewardship. Jared plans to attend Martin Luther College and then Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to be trained as a WELS pastor. All praise to the Lord for leading him to this decision. Remember Jared and his family in your prayers as he follows this path to serve the Lord. Slate Page 5 August 2018

8 Preschool page link Upcoming Pre Dessert Social Slate Page 6 August 2018

9 school Event Join us in welcoming our preschoolers in a SWEET way! Bring a dessert to share with our preschool families. Place: Fellowship Hall Date: Wednesday, September 12 Time: 6:00pm Slate Page 7 August 2018

10 Opportunities to Grow in God s Word 3rd Quarter Adult Bible Studies Escaping the Deathtraps (Words Bringing Wisdom Facebook Study Group) With so many different Christian churches just in the Modesto area, we might wonder if there is a big difference. Using a story, Escaping the Deathtraps is a book that will help us answer questions like why does there have to be so many different kinds of churches? Does it matter that they teach different things? Read about 30 pages a week, respond to questions in a private Facebook group, and grow in understanding what can be a difficult topic. To participate, you will need to purchase a copy of this book from Northwestern Publishing House. Ask Pastor Schroeder to be admitted to this private Facebook group. You can still catch up and join in, if you d like. Peter Bold Disciple (Tuesday Men s Breakfast Bible Study) Peter the brash, self-styled leader often betrayed his own insecurity and confusion is one of Scripture s most endearing characters! In Peter s extremes we can see our own weaknesses, our quickness to judge, and our slowness to grasp divine truth. Yet in Peter s life we also see overwhelming evidence of God s abundant grace. Grow with Christian men in this study that takes place at Perko s on Tuesday mornings. (This study meets every Tuesday at 6:30am at Perko s Restaurant, 3500 Oakdale Rd., Modesto.) Slate Page 8 August 2018

11 James: How Faith Works (Monday Lay-Led Bible study) What s the relationship between faith and good works? Often we are tempted to say that it is not really imporatant what we believe but that we do good for others. Others try to pull us in the opposite direction: it is not what we do that counts but only that we believe the right things. James in his epistle sets the record straight. In a small group setting, grow in understanding this New Testament book (This study meets twice a month at the home of Kevin & Monica Hejnal. Check the calendar for August meeting dates.) Engage (Friday Women s Bible study) Faith, uncertainty, hope, grief, joy, loneliness, love we all experience them. In this video-based series, unpack real stories that will challenge the way you think and may even question the way you feel, but with a purpose: so that you learn more about the profound love God has for you through his Son. (This study will not meet in July, but will again in August at 10:30am. Please check the calendar and Notes and News for meeting dates.) Israel: The Land where Jesus Walked (Sunday Mornings, August 5 and 12, 10:30am) God became flesh and walked among us at a crossroads of continents, the land of Israel. Join us on the first two Sundays in August to see photos and videos of what Israel looks like today. Learn some Bible history, understand how certain customs in Middle Eastern cultures and Old Testament teachings impacted Jesus and his disciples lives. The Luihns, the Hejnals, and Pastor toured Israel in April and have some great things to share from their trip. Financial Peace University Would you like to know how you can get control over your money and plan financially for your future? Be on the lookout for Financial Peace University this September at St. Peter Lutheran Church to find out how to do just that! Please contact Stewardship Elder, Jared Johnson, if you have any questions and want to find out more. Slate Page 9 August 2018

12 Experience Youth ministry is such a vital component of the WELS church body. It builds the foundation of faith for future generations and strengthens ties to the church. Tree of Life Bible Camp (TOL) is one such youth ministry designed for kids going into 4th grade to just out of high school. It is an opportunity for young Christians in the Northern California and Nevada area to get together in the summer for a week of fun and fellowship! Held annually at a campground in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this is a great way to keep in touch with God s Word! Upon arriving at Capital Mountain Camp, you will be greeted by the TOL camp staff as well as the beautiful forestry of the campground. If you re preregistered, all you ll have to do is pick up your snack card and camp T-shirt, which you will be tie dying later in the week. Campers are placed into their correct age group that is either Continued on page 11 Slate Page 10 August 2018

13 Continued from page 10 Junior (4th-6th grade), Intermediate (7th-8th grade), or Senior (9th-just out of high school), and assigned a cabin according to gender and grade. After everyone has settled in and the week has begun, you ll start off every day with quality Bible study instruction. Separated by age group, you will have an excellent opportunity to grow in your understanding of the bible with your peers. Each class is led by trained WELS pastors who can provide truly comprehensive and consistent training for the young Christians at camp. In the evening, during perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of Tree of Life, you will participate in a camp-wide sing-along leading into devotion, where you will reflect on what you learned that day. Many other physical activities provide needed exercise and variety to the schedule such as soccer or basketball! Even though you will be playing a lot of water games and sports, there will also be time for hikes through the forest. The juniors and intermediates look forward to the nature hike in the morning, which is such an amazing time to appreciate God s creation and learn about the plants and animals around you. The seniors, however, get to take the night hike. Lying down under the stars and singing hymns together is truly an experience like none other. On Wednesday, the seniors will take time to enjoy another part of God s creation at the nearby Rollins Lake. During this outing, known commonly as the Overnighter, you ll have the opportunity to ride out on the lake and go tubing, knee boarding, water skiing, and more. You ll bring your sleeping Continued on page 12 Slate Page 11 August 2018

14 Continued from page 11 bag and spend the night with everyone under the stars. This is also the time when the pastors will answer some of your questions around the campfire. The Overnighter is a fun way to explore the Bible and enjoy God s wonderful creations. Friday is a day of skits and awards. Juniors and intermediates, prepare for some friendly Olympic-style competition in activities such as archery, drawing, softball throw, and more! You ll be awarded ribbons for all your hard work. Everyone will also have the opportunity to win a tile award for being such an awesome camper. To wrap everything up, campers will perform the skits they ve been working on all week, a long-time Tree of Life tradition. Sadly, Bible camp is coming to a close and there have been fun and games for everyone. However, after all the end-of-the-week festivities, the seniors traditionally take time to acknowledge this conclusion by participating in the prayer circle. Hand in hand, everyone has the opportunity to share their thoughts as they sit in unity with everyone else. Whether you re looking back on the long week and what it meant to you or looking to the future and where it will lead you, it s a truly amazing opportunity to reflect under the stars with Christian friends on every side. The prayer circle is an excellent reminder of how just one week at TOL has the potential to impact campers in remarkable ways. However, even if you re not a senior, you can have the same experience at Tree of Life Bible Camp. These memorable moments will continue to bring people together through time spent in God s Word. With Christ as our focus, we can all thrive as one in fellowship and learning. We prosper in the miracle of the gospel and we will thrive in the miracle of Christian friendship. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them. - Talise Sarwanoke and Amber Vasquez Editor s Notes: A big thank you to Talise and Amber for this wonderful report on their experience. For more about TOL please speak with them in person. At the TOL website, treeoflifebiblecamp.org, you can see many more pictures. Slate Page 12 August 2018

15 July Voters Meeting Update Along with accepting the slate of officer candidates, adopting the proposed budget, and an update report regarding the Five Year Plan, we addressed two other major issues. Seeking Ministerial Assistant Candidates One is the passage of the recommendation from the? Ministerial Assistance Research Committee to hire a part-time assistant to serve as coordinator and point person for fellowship and evangelism activities. The responsibility for seeking candidates and filling this position falls to the Council and will appear as a new business item on the Council s August agenda. This will be an in house hire meaning that it will be a member of the congregation. The selected candidate will work under the direction of Pastor Schroeder to develop a team effort in all related responsibilities. Anyone from the congregation who feels they can fulfill the duties may apply for the position by contacting any of the Council members or Pastor Schroeder. (There is no formal application process.) The position has flexible hours that are at least somewhat determined by the season of the year. Specific duties will be activity related and coordinated between you and Pastor Schroeder. The position offers a monthly salary of $800. Anyone presently employed elsewhere who feels it s possible to take on this position as a second job may also apply. All candidates should also remember that a six-month review from date of hire will be conducted to determine the effectiveness and affordability of the position. This position will remain open until filled which may be as early as August 21, the next Council Continued on page 14 Slate Page 13 August 2018

16 Continued from page 13 meeting date. The exact start date will be coordinated between Council and the selected candidate. Building Committee Action Item The other major issue is the passage of the recommendation from the Building Committee regarding the proposed modifications to the fellowship building. This one, however, included an amendment to the proposal that becomes the next operative action for the committee. The amendment states that the committee seek an estimate of the cost to prepare engineering drawings sufficient to submit to the city to determine a more accurate cost for the total modification project. After receiving this estimate the committee will return to the congregation with another proposal regarding the continuation for project. This may require a special, single item, congregational meeting to make this determination. Our constitution provides for special meeting with the stipulation of a minimum a two week notice. Once the committee is ready with the estimate, the recommendation will be published and the meeting announced unless the timing is such that it can be included in the regular October congregational meeting. Depending on the timing of this task, the proposed goals to submit a final recommendation (resolved #6), to publish interim reports relative to a final recommendation (resolved #7), and for the congregation to take action on a final recommendation (resolved #8) may be delayed. All this care is proper and in order when considering a project of this magnitude. It may seem that the wheels grind slowly at times but, as was commented by one attendee, That s OK. We have time. As we address these and other items with the singular goals to spread the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into our community and the world let s all remember to regularly seek His blessings and guidance. Regardless of what we may consider to be a very good and solid plan for the future, let s all remember that the Lord may have something else for us and we should be open and flexible to redirect our thoughts and actions as He reveals His will for us. Slate Page 14 August 2018 Dan Kreger