Pastors Corner- Senior Pastor Mark Friedrich. February Newsletter! February 17th, Dust and Ashes

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1 Pastors Corner- Senior Pastor Mark Friedrich February 17th, 2018 Dust and Ashes Remember O man that you are dust and to dust you shall return. These are the words that are said on Ash Wednesday to remind us of our humanity. Life is temporary and we want to be prepared for the end of our life. In the season of Lent we are preparing ourselves by remembering the suffering and death of our Savior. He died that we might live. He lives that we might never die. I think it is ironic that Ash Wednesday is on Valentine's day and and Easter is on April Fools day. When I think about that I truly believe that these 2 days coincide with the Christian faith. God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God's love for us is eternal and will never leave us nor will his love fail us. So it is good to remember that God has loved us and that love lives in us so that we might love one another. 1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! We are fools for Christ at least that is how the world would see us. We have a message that is foolishness to the world but is the power of God for us who are being saved. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 23 we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. So thank God each day for his love for us. Even though the world sees it as foolishness we know that in God's wisdom he chose to love us and to give his life for us that we could be His forever. Also know that when the world thinks us foolish for our values and our following Christ remember this statement, He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he will never loose. We have a Savior who has given us his eternal love and nothing in this world can separate us from that love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. February Newsletter! Welcome to the Nineth edition of the Mountain View Lutheran Church Newsletter. Please note that there is a new procedure for delivering new content to our editor listed below. It is our hope that this newsletter will begin a process to better communicate some of the current and future activities occurring at our parish here at MVLC. If you have ideas for content that you feel should be shared with the members, please pass your ideas to the following - address: newsletter.content.mvlc@g mail.com for possible inclusion with the next published newsletter. We request that you send text only (word, txt, etc.). We are hopeful that this newsletter will help to get the word out regarding the wonderful work that God is doing here at MVLC. Please provide your input for future newsletters to newsletter.content.mvlc@g mail.com by the 25th day of the month for consideration in the next month s edition.

2 Message from the MVLC Congregation President To all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I send greetings to you! The Lord through His mysterious ways put me in this position to lead MVLC into the future. I am absolutely humbled at having the privilege to address you in this monthly newsletter. It is hard to believe that the season of Lent is upon us. I have always found this a good time of the year for reflection: reflection on my relationships; faith life; attitude; and other personal concerns. Where am I when it comes to my relationship with Jesus Christ? It is a special time of year for me and I hope it is or will become that for you. To everyone at MVLC, my prayers are for you to have a most wonderful and joyous relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ - may you grow in love for your neighbor and service to the Kingdom of God. I wish you Gods blessings for His peace and good health. Dan Baker- President MVLC Head Elder News: Twenty-seven (27) services were held in December Thanks to the many elders who made it possible for all to run smoothly. There will be 17 services in January including the first polka service of the year on January 27 at 3:00 pm and at 10:30 am on Sunday, Jan. 28. There will be NO communion served at the polka services. Communion at all services in the sanctuary will be processional/aisle communion until after Easter, April 1, Communion is served the third Sunday of each month at the 10:30 am family service in the Youth Center. An elder is needed to assist with this. Lent and Holy Week Schedule is as follows: Midweek Lent: 2/14/18 (Ash Wednesday) 9:00 am & 7:00 pm 2/21; 2/28; 3/7; 3/14; 3/21 9:00 am & 7:00 pm Holy Week: 3/25/18 (Palm Sunday) 8:00 am & 10:30 am 3/29/18 (Maundy Thursday) 9:00 am & 7:00 pm 3/30/18 (Good Friday) 9:00 am & 7:00 pm 3/31/18 (Easter Vigil/Sat.) 5:00 pm 4/1/18 (Easter Sunrise) 6:30 am 4/1/18 (Easter) 8:00, 10:30, 10:30 am Dick Wagner, Head Elder

3 Mary-Martha Guild Mary-Martha, which is the branch of LWML at Mountain View, meets the first Thursday of every month, October through April. The next meeting, February 1st, will focus on Habitat for Humanity, with Mike McLane as our guest speaker. Mary-Martha raises funds for a variety of mission efforts, both locally and internationally. We are beginning a short term meal assistance program in which we are inviting all members of MVLC to participate. There will be a signup sheet in the narthex if you would like to help by providing a casserole or other meal helps for those who have short term health problems and limited resources for help. Watch for more information in the bulletin. March 1: Election of officers for ; sign up to attend the Spring Zone LWML Celebration; cooking demonstration by Ginger Buck, food service manager at Discovery Point Retirement Community in Mesa; collection of paper goods, laundry detergent, toiletries, etc. for CAAFA (Community Alliance Against Family Abuse). April 6 (9:30 AM): Prayer service and installation of officers in the sanctuary, followed by business meeting and potluck salad luncheon in the Family Life Center; collection of non-perishables for the AJ Food Bank. Like many LWML groups, our membership is getting older and finding willing volunteers to serve with us. We currently have a couple of Committee Chair vacancies: we need someone to co-chair with Cindy Friedrich on the Promotion Committee and someone (or two) to chair the Short-Term Meals Committee. If you can serve in one of these capacities, please contact one of the officers or the church office. Thank you! Lynnda Haupert, president; Kristi Egre, vice-president; Cathy Bartlow, secretary; Diane Leone, treasurer.

4 MVLC Dollars for Scholars Thanks be to God and our family of Christian worshipers, the MVLC Scholarship Fund has been able the financial help to several students in the form of a financial grant. This grant assists with the cost of extended education needed to fill their commitment to fulltime church work as a Pastor, DCE, Parish Worker, Deacon or Teacher. This program s original plan stipulated that an applicant s qualifications, regardless of gender or age, must in some way connected to MVLC including distant relatives. The reasoning was proper; however, it did create limitations. The Scholarship fund does have dollars to award and the committee is thankful for the continued donations. In order to enlarge our parameters, and with the blessings of our Church council, applicants are not required to be related to a MVLC member. Since we all belong to the body of Christ, the requirements of the applicants are as follows: a) enrolled and attending an accredited Lutheran College, b) going into church work, and c) known by a MVLC member or associate. Should numerous applications be received, those with a MVLC connection will take precedence. Good news! At present, we have added two members to the committee. Marcia Nelson and Ray Needham join Pastor Mark, DCE Dave Minster, Velma Shipley and Don Stoterau, chairman, We have a great committee and $18, available to award, We are looking forward to using these dollars to extend God s Kingdom work. Don and Kay Stoterau, Small Group Ministry Coordinators

5 Head Trustee s Thoughts: We continue to be blessed with a wealth of resource available to us here at Mountain View Lutheran Church. Along with our material resources, comes responsibility to keep and maintain what we have. We have assembled a fun and exciting group of willing and able-bodied men and women and we need your help! The yard-workers meet on Tuesdays at 7am. Workers may however assist on any day of the week at their convenience. Many thanks for those who participate or may consider participating in this very important activity to keep our campus beautiful and attractive. - Erich Schoenfeld, Head Trustee Evangelism Committee Thoughts - Terry and Bill Pope Evangelism is simply telling what God has done! In that day you will say: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted (Isaiah 12:4, NIV) Much of the Book of Isaiah operates as a twofold prophecy. It has immediate import as a prophecy about Judah, but also points at the coming Messiah who will deliver Israel and subsequently all humanity. Here Isaiah speaks of an evangelism that works in both timelines. Judah will be able to proclaim what the Lord has done to deliver the nation from its sin, and God s future people will be able to exalt God s name for what he s done for mankind.

6 Seeking DivorceCare Men's Ministry Leader : A male leader is needed to fulfill the need for a DivorceCare Men s ministry. The leader must be able to commit to 13-week program and have the following qualifications: 1. Currently divorced, or has been divorced and is remarried. Only someone who has been through a divorce can fully understand the trials and struggles of being divorced. 2. Healed from past hurts. A person who has not fully recovered from their own divorce can t effectively help others in need of recovery. 3. A shepherd. You ll be dealing with people who don t know which way to go or who to trust. The leader must be able to make people feel welcome, comfortable and free to share their thoughts and feelings. You ll need to show you are trustworthy. Whatever is said in the group is not repeated outside of the group. 4. Others-oriented. The leader should be driven by a genuine concern for others and an eagerness to service, understanding it will require sometimes to make a sacrifice on his part. You re a leader, not a dictator. Good listening skills are also required. 5. Comforter. Because you understand the trials and struggles, you can provide comfort and gently point others toward God and His direction for their lives. For more information about this ministry, visit the DivorceCare website at: Questions? Contact Marcia Goodrich or Bev Breit, DivorceCareWomen s Ministry Co-leaders SPECIAL NOTICE THE NEXT few MONTHS WILL HAVE many SERVICES. WE NEED POWER POINT OPERATORS DURING THESE SERVICES. A DVD DISK HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO INSTRUCT VOLUNTEERS ON THE OPERATION OF THE POWER POINT SYSTEM USING A CLICKER. CONTACT DALE LAURIN TO GET A DISK AND ARRANGE FOR HANDS ON TRAINING ( )

7 Service Times!

8 Mountain View Lutheran Church Endowment Fund Provided by Don Nelson-Endowment Committee Secretary What is the Endowment Fund and what is it's purpose? The Fund was established by the Voter's assembly to fill the need for a legal fund into which monetary gifts can be placed and managed to meet future growth and stewardship opportunities. Do you know that you have been given a gift that will last forever? God has promised each of us the gift of eternal life with Him in heaven - a gift that will indeed last forever. It is the best gift anyone can ever receive. Did you know that you can also give a gift that will last forever? Well, at least as long as the world lasts. When you give to the Endowment Fund your monetary gift will remain in the Fund forever, gaining interest that will then be used where and when needed in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Some facts about the Endowment Fund and Committee The Fund is a permanent fund. The Committee consists of five to seven members. This is not a fund-raising effort. All contributions are voluntary and can consist of cash, Wills and Trusts, life insurance. The donor might consider creating a charitable trust with the Fund being the ultimate beneficiary. No gifts of "real property" will be accepted. None of the Fund's earnings will be used for existing operational expenses. Seek out Committee members for additional information Kay Stoterau, Ch., Bob Gehrt, Evert Mueller, Don Nelson, Dan Tuchenhagen, Karen Brockhoff- Wagner, Pastor Mark Friedrich A brochure is available giving more detailed information about the Fund and is available to all MVLC members.

9 Genesis Project Genesis Project is a coalition of churches in the Apache Junction (including Mountain View Lutheran Church) area banded together for the common purpose of aiding the less fortunate. Genesis Project is a faith-based 501c3 organization seeking to feed the hungry and the homeless by facilitating hot meals, showers, clothing, and medical services. A very loyal team from Mountain View Lutheran Church have been meeting regularly on Tuesdays (7 am to 2 pm) each week to help facilitate the effort. If you are available to volunteer your time, the team is in need of additional volunteers during the summer months to help in the effort. Please contact Karen Mutschler (MVLC) at for additional information if you are interested in participating with the Genesis Project on Tuesdays. Meals are available Monday Friday 12PM -2PM for the 564 N Idaho Rd Suite 5 Apache Junction, AZ 85120

10 Homeless Facts Today s homeless population includes men, women, children and families. With your help, homeless or hungry men, women and children in the Apache Junction area can find hope at Genesis Project 1. 82,000 Arizonans are receiving emergency food boxes a week in Arizona. 2. More than 14,000 Arizonans experience homelessness each day % of Arizona s homeless population are children and teens. 4. In one year, the working poor in Arizona have seen a 10% increase in costs to maintain basic living necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. 5. Almost 50% of the homeless are women, children or families. 6. The fastest growing segment of the homeless population is families with children % of children living in homeless families are under the age of % of the single adult population suffers from some form of severe or persistent mental illness. 9. At least 40% of the adult homeless population has an addiction disorder % of homeless men are US veterans. Prayer needed from our Church! Praying for the MVLC additional Pastoral Call. Lord, you know everyone's heart. Please prepare the heart of the pastor you are calling, and our hearts to receive him. Guide us in the path you would have us go and give us unity of vision. In Jesus Name. Amen

11 SOS (Sister's of Strength) SOS (Sister's of Strength) We meet ever Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 AM in the Youth Building. All are welcome! We are studying Women of the Bible, but have started this study by delving into what the LORD requires of us as women. We are using Beth Moore's book A Woman and Her God. What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 God wants us to thirst and hunger for Him. Through His word that thirst and hunger is quenched. If you have any questions regarding SOS you can call Bonnie Gregrow,

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13 HELPING HANDS A pipe breaks, an electrical breaker needs replaced, the car is leaking oil, a closet shelf fell, or the yard is a mess, but whom do you call? Who can you trust to give you an honest estimate, do only the work needed and not rob you of your life savings? Good questions. We believe we have the answers among our MVLC members, and with this in mind, we are creating the Helping Hands list. In the Narthex is a clipboard with sheets labeled: Car Repairs, Electricians, Handyman, Landscaping, and Plumbing. If you provide any of these services, please put your name and phone number on the appropriate sheet. Maybe you know someone who has provided one of these services to you and was found to be honest, reliable and reasonably priced. Please put that person s name and phone number on the list. If you are a handyman, please briefly describe the type of work you are able to do, such as carpentry, appliance repair, painting, etc. Marcia Goodrich will create a master list for distribution to our members and will update it periodically. Words from our Director of Christian Education: David Minster January 2-5 we took volunteer leaders and student leader with our Young Life program to Oceanside, CA for a retreat. Aside from spending time with bonding each other and time on the beach, we made some great headway coming up with excellent goals for this semester regarding effective communication. We are already implementing these goals and strategies to influence success as we continue to pursue kids for God's Kingdom! On January 29 we kicked off our outreach youth ministry by taking high school students to a Young Life All-East-Valley event in Chandler, AZ. There were easily over 200 high school students there and it was a phenomenal kick-off event for our spring semester of ministry, outreach, and bringing the Gospel of Jesus to kids! We are looking forward to March 11 when we will host our annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser. Mark your calendars for this great event that makes such a massive impact to help our youth! This event helps our high school students offset

14 the costs of summer camp, where for six days straight they will hear the Gospel presented to them in its fullness, from Creation to Resurrection and today. On February 17 we are hosting a Family Bonfire night! Come and join us at 6pm outside the youth center. We ll provide the burgers, hot dogs, and s mores you just bring a side dish or dessert to share. In Christ, Dave Minster

15 Members News and Called to Glory: Bob Sherrard s committal service with military honors was held at the Mountain View Lutheran Church 4:20pm. The family requested Bob s friends presence at this outdoor service. A basket was available for expressions of sympathy and encouragement.** Patrick Wright was called to glory Saturday, January 11am following complications from pneumonia. Expressions of sympathy and encouragement may be forward to his wife, Jean, c/o Mountain View Lutheran Church. Robin Zimmerman-Gilbert s father died the night of Saturday, January 28. Expressions of sympathy and encouragement may be forwarded to the family, c/o Mountain View Lutheran Church. Roberta Bobbie Hanks was called to glory on Thursday, February 1, following declining health. A Celebration of Life will be held at Mountain View Lutheran Church on Saturday, February noon. Sue Oetting's mother, Theresa, was called to glory on Saturday, February 10. Please keep Sue and her family in your prayers during their journey of grief. Orrin 'Bud' Rinke was called to glory Monday, February 12 following a brain injury suffered in a recent fall. Please keep his wife, Barb, and family in your prayers during their journey of grief. Expressions of sympathy for both families can be sent c/o Mountain View Lutheran Church, PO Box 868, Apache Junction, AZ **The family of Robert Bob Sherrard wish to extend their thanks for the prayers and support received since Bob s death. Tax deductible memorials may be sent to: Honor Flight, Inc., Attn: Diane Gresse, 175 South Tuttle Road, Springfield, OH Your donation will help transport veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit THEIR memorials

16 Update Regarding MVLC Members. New address for former MVLC members: Millard & LuAnn Shaw 6901 N. Galena Road Lutheran Hillside Village, Apt. 412 Peoria, IL MVLC Calendar of Events

17 Church Security and Safety -Harlan Hall: AmazonSmile: When you #StartWithaSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to Mountain View Lutheran Church. Bookmark the link and support our youth ministries every time you shop. works: Bashas Community Support Card: Want a great way to generate funds to support our youth ministries? Here's how it MVLC purchases the Community Support Card and receives a 6% discount. The Community Support Card offers you, our supporters, a choice where to shop, as it is accepted at all Bashas', Food City and AJ's

18 stores. We then sell the Community Support Card our supporters at face value and receive a 6% profit. You may continue to use this card by reloading with the dollar amount you specify at any Bashas', Food City and AJ's Fine Foods stores. Our Youth Ministires continue to 6% of the reloaded amount. Earning are received on a monthly basis. Fry's Community Rewards Program: Did you know you can support our youth ministires just by shopping at Fry's? It's easy when you enroll in Fry's Community Rewards, beginning September 1! To get started, sign up with your V.I.P Card by visiting and select our organization, Mountain View Lutheran Church. Once you're enrolled, rewards will be earned for our organization every time you shop and use your V.I.P Card! NOTE: Current participants do not need to reenroll. Have questions? Call us at (480) or go online to ALSOsto.org. We are glad to help! Special NOTICE: Frequently Asked Questions How do tax credit donations work? If you pay taxes in the state of Arizona, you can redirect taxes that you already pay by making a donation to ALSO and claiming it as a dollar-for-dollar credit on yourstate income taxes. ALSO provides scholarships to children attending LCMS schools. Thanks to people like you, more children are now receiving a Christian education and growing in their faith each day. How much can I donate?

19 The maximumamounts of tax credits for Tax Year 2017 are as follows: When can I donate? You have until April 15, 2018, or until you file your taxes to make a donation. Note thatthere are many students in need who have applied for scholarships and can use your help with tuition today. Can my tax credit donation go to a certain school? Yes, you can recommend an LCMS school and create a scholarship for a child at that school. Can my tax credit donation go to a certain student? You can recommend a student in grades K-12 attending an LCMS school who is not your child. How is my tax credit donation used? Your tax credit donation is used to create scholarships for children attending LCMS schools in Arizona. I already give my tax credit to public schools and Habitat for Humanity. Can I give a tax credit for Christian education too? Yes, you can make a tax credit donation to support several causes such as Habitat for Humanity and public schools as well as a separate donation to ALSO to support LCMS schools. For Tax Year 2017, the state of Arizona allowed tax credits up to $4,377 for married couples filing jointly so you can support working poor, foster care as well as public and LCMS schools. Can I really get a tax refund? Hundreds of people make tax credit donations each year and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their state income taxes. Getting a refund depends on your tax situation.

20 and their tax credit donation qualifies for a full refund from the state. donation, reducing the amount they owe on theirtaxes. reditfor their Have questions? Call us at (480) or go online to ALSOsto.org. We are glad to help! CHRISTIAN PREAMBLE-> Your will or trust can contain a Christian Preamble to give witness of your faith as an enduring blessing to loved ones you leave behind. For sample preambles, contact Dennis Cox, Planned Gift Counselor, Concordia University Irvine at ordennis.cox@cui.edu. AVOIDING PROBATE -> Without a will or even with a will, your estate will be distributed in probate court. Probate is a long and costly process. Probate can be avoided with a revocable living trust. Beneficiary designations from retirement plans, life insurance, and pay on death accounts give property directly to the heirs by operation of law, reducing probate costs. To learn more, contact Dennis Cox, Planned Gift Counselor, Concordia University Irvine at or dennis.cox@cui.edu.

21 Church Elders Name: BAKER, DAN BURGESS, ROBERT BUSSONE, PAUL MUELLER, EVERT GEHRT, ROBERT KRAFFT, BILL MCLANE, MICHAEL MILLS, JIM NEAL, DENIS SCHNEIDER, NORM SHUTTS, DAN THIESSEN, NORM WAGNER, DICK FRIEDRICH, MARK MOUNTAIN VIEW LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL OFFICERS WELCOME 2018 COUNCIL OFFICERS! Congregation President: Dan Baker Congregation Vice President: Mike McLane Congregation Secretary: Dale Laurin Congregation Treasurer / Bookkeeper: Karen Brockhoff-Wagner Financial Secretary: Carroll Parchert Head Elder: Dick Wagner / Dan Shutts (co-chair) Board of Christian Education Chair: Shawn Ruth Board of Evangelism: Bill & Terry Pope (co-chairs) Stewardship Chair: Thelma Breen