Is Easter Over? June 2 - Congregational Ministry Meeting and Lunch

Transcription

1 Westerville, Ohio May 2013 Is Easter Over? Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Every year in the days after Easter I hear the comment, Pastor, I bet you re glad Easter s over! It s true. The season of Lent leading to Easter Sunday is certainly an extraordinarily full time of the church year. Lent and Easter bring a tsunami of extra bulletins to be proofed and prepared by staff and volunteers. Ministry teams provide Wednesday evening soup suppers. There Easter has a is special Lenten Wednesday evening worship. Holy Week brings our Tueslife beyond day Eucharist and Luncheon as well one day on a as the sacred days of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Holy Saturday calendar. saw our children scurrying after Easter Eggs hiding in plain sight about the church property. And of course, we arrive at Easter, a Sunday celebrating the Finding the hidden Allelulia on Easter Morning miraculously empty tomb with the extraordinary fullness of people gathered in prayer, praise and thanksgiving to celebrate our Lord s resurrection. I ve come to cherish the seasons of Lent and Easter. For me it is the most spiritual time of the church year. Yes, even more so than the holly, jolly seasons of Advent and Christmas. We ve allowed the culture in which we live to hijack Christmas. The birth of Jesus gets one night while a chubby man in a red suit gets weeks and weeks to hawk retail seasonal specials. This is not (yet?) true of Lent and Easter. Why? I m Continued next page to attend!!!!!!!!!!!! me! try and ANN Plan AST! Everyone is Wel co is, Fair Min d ay asual Sun C s lude In c UAL PIG RO June 2 - Congregational Ministry Meeting and Lunch - more details to come

2 Is Easter Over? - continued from page 1 convinced it s the same today as it was that first Easter Sunday morning. The culture doesn t know what to do with a Galilean Jew who refuses to stay dead! But I m also never glad Easter is over because it never is! Easter has a life beyond one day on a calendar. For us Christians, every Sunday of the church year is an Easter celebration since as the Lord s Day every Sunday celebrates Jesus resurrection. This is why the Sundays in Lent do not count toward Lent s 40 days. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest, professor and author, describes Sunday as the weekly practice of eternal life. She also observes this weekly practice is excruciatingly difficult for us moderns because Sabbath involves pleasure, rest, freedom, and slowness, none of which comes naturally to North Americans. Most of us are so sold on speed, so invested in productivity, so convinced that multi-tasking is the way of life that stopping for one whole day can feel at first like a kind of death ( Sabbath Resistance, The Christian Century). The month of May brings two special celebrations: Pentecost Sunday (May 19th) and Holy Trinity Sunday (May 26th). After these festivals we enter the longest season of the church s year, the Sundays after Pentecost. And of course, the days of summer await us. But throughout this time the first day of the week remains Sunday, the day when Christians gather in community around Word, Water, Bread and Wine in prayer, praise and thanksgiving to celebrate the gift of resurrection. I m never glad Easter over because, thanks be to God, it never is! With you in the weekly practice Jarrod, Janice and Mark Will - a joy filled Easter day has begun of eternal life, Pastor Will Holy Saturday Easter Egg Hunt The VOICE of Grace May Page 2

3 An Introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls Sunday Morning Class Concludes With Trip to the Cincinnati Museum to View the Exhibit - Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times. Pictured above is a group from the Sunday Morning Class led by Pastor Hartfelder that explored the historical and religious significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This group traveled to Cincinnati together in a tour bus on Saturday, April 13th. Another large contingent drove private cars to the museum.. The bus left at 11:00 a.m. and returned at 7:30 p.m. Thanks to Randall Saunders for arranging the trip. A new study began on April 21 entitled A New and Mischievous Superstition : Early Christianity Through the Eyes of Non-Christians. It will be offered for six Sundays and will continue in the fall. Randall Saunders, who has a PH.D. in Roman History from the University of Cincinnati, will teach the class in Rose Garden #2 and 3. Photo by Eric Bush Joyful Noise Concert Series Headlines String Orchestra and Blue Grass Band Sunday, May 5 ~ 7:30 pm The Otterbein University String Orchestra The String Orchestra directed by Dr. Jim Bates, is a favorite at the Concert Series - A Joyful Noise. They play to a packed house and are very much appreciated by those attending. This ensemble provides students the opportunity to explore the standard string orchestra repertoire, but programming includes many styles. The VOICE of Grace Sunday, June 9 ~ 7:30 pm Grassahol Bluegrass Band Grassahol is a five-piece, acoustic band from Central Ohio. The high-energy sounds of their music and their tight vocal harmonies make Grassahol fun to listen to. Their music is a mix of the old, the new and a full measure of original songs. Their songs are a reflection of the many musical influences of the band members, themselves bluegrass, Americana, folk, blues, jazz and even rock. Bluegrass Unlimited magazine called their music, original, contemporary bluegrass at its finest. Grassahol is based in Columbus, Ohio and entertains audiences across Ohio and the Midwest, from community events to county fairs to multi-band festivals general audiences young and old in the city or out of town. May Page 3

4 , ini will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice Stewardship Corner Ten Principles for Graceful Giving* This is the fifth in a series on ten principles for the Christian disciple s graceful giving. Each principle is reflected in St. Paul s words (2nd Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9) to the new Christians in the prosperous, hustling and bustling first century city of Corinth. Scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version. Principle 5:-Christian giving is always purposeful St. Paul writes: 13I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between 14your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15As it is written, The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little. (2 Cor 8:13-15). Our Lord Jesus said to his disciples that the poor would always be with them (Mt 26:11; Mk 14:7). It is important, however, to note that Jesus is not saying, It s unfortunate, but life s tough and you can t do anything about it. No. He says in Mark, For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you want; but you will not always have me. The context in Mark is specific. It is the episode when in the house of Simon the leper a woman broke open an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment and poured it on Jesus head. Some scolded her claiming the ointment could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus defends her with words that are both a reference to the brevity of his time among them and a clear indication of our Lord s expectation that all who follow in his footsteps will practice his preference for the poor and care for them. In the community of Jesus the rich, the poor, and everyone in between are disciples together. As St. Paul directs, we give in order that there may be a fair balance. This is not socialism. It is giving that makes a difference. It is not right practice nor good theology when one hears, If everyone in this church simply gave (fill in the dollar amount) we d be just fine. God often gives some more than they need so they may give to those who have less than they need. Christian giving is always directly related to people people in ministry and people in need. Again, St. Paul: The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little. When it comes to our giving, God calls us to be conduits and not cul de sacs. Next: Principle 6: Christian giving always involves preparation *Based on John Stott s Ten Principles of Christian Giving Copyright 2002 John Stott Registration for Little Blessings Preschool Little Blessings Preschool is enrolling for the preschool year! Please share this with family, friends and neighbors looking for a preschool for their 3, 4 or 5 year old child. Call for information Little Blessing Preschool is dedicated to encouraging educational, social, emotional and spiritual growth of children in a loving, secure environment. Katharine Circle will meet in Rose Garden #1 Tuesday, May 7, at 7:15 pm. We are studying the series Couples of the Old Testament. Our lesson Confident: Hosea and Gomer will be led by Sue Mart. Come join us! lovingkindness and in compassion, And I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness Church Council President...Bill Kulju Ph: (614) kuljub@att.net Vice President...Julie Abrams Ph: (614) abrams.1@napls.us Treasurer...John Hicks Ph: (614) johnmh3@gmail.com Secretary... Joanne Figge Ph. (614) jcfigge@gmail.com Senior Pastor... Will Hartfelder Ph. (614) w.hartfelder@grace43081.org Members at Large: Jeff Brenning...jbrenni@att.net Ph: (614) Angela Hughes...angelajustine@gmail.com Ph: (614) Vanessa Stewart...vsrnc@aol.com Ph. (614) Randy Stoll...rstoll3@columbus.rr.com Ph. (614) The VOICE of Grace May Page 4

5 May s First Fruits Shopping List Honor the Lord with your substance and the first fruits of all your produce. (Proverbs 3:9) The growing season is upon us. If you plan to plant a garden, consider setting out extra that you could donate to W.A.R.M. It s an appreciated gesture that is enjoyed by the grower as well as the recipient. May s Grocery List Includes: q Canned items--mandarin oranges, pinto beans and kidney beans q Boxed items--pasta (no spahagetti), hot cereal, potato sides q Hygiene items--shampoo, diapers (sizes 5 and 6) and hotel/motel toiletries Contributions may be placed in our grocery carts at any time during the month with our main emphasis on the first Sunday of each month. If you wish to contribute a monetary amount, please make a check out to: Grace Lutheran Church, notation to WARM. Cash may be placed in the boxes located in the grocery carts or in an envelope marked for WARM and placed in the offering plate. To volunteer for a First Fruits Sunday at the service that you regularly attend, please contact Jill Morrison at God s blessings to all who are making this a part of your regular tithes and offerings in Next First Fruits is May 5 and then June 2 vapril 7 totalsv Food/Hygiene = 218 pounds (93 pounds from Girl Scout Cookies) Monetary = $255 Totals to date in 2013 Food/Hygiene = pounds Monetary = $1,846 WESTERVILLE AREA KIDS LUNCH CLUB by Jill Morrison A MONETARY WAY TO HELP WARM S KIDS LUNCH PROGRAM DEADLINE is SUNDAY MAY 19 Again this summer WARM will be spearheading the Westerville Area Kids Lunch Club. Two years ago, they had one site. Last year they established four sites and this year they are anticipating the increase of two more sites. During the summer months when children are not in school and therefore unable to receive free lunch assistance, WARM has set up these sites where children through age 18 may receive free lunches Monday through Friday. At each of the four sites in 2012, anywhere from 50 to 100 kids were served during the week. Backpacks were filled with additional foods and sent home with the children to help with meals during the weekend. If you make monetary donations to WARM in connection with our First Fruits emphasis at Grace, or if you would wish to help this specific outreach, in addition to your regular First Fruits giving, make your check out to Grace Lutheran Church with a memo notation to the Kids Lunch Club. The deadline for our collective effort to help WARM s Kids Lunch Club is Sunday, May 19. Then WARM will be able to obtain matching funds for our church s specifically designated contribution and any other donations made for the Kids Lunch Club before May 24..How easy is that! Plus it will help WARM assist our needy young people again this summer. Reaching out with the love of Jesus to grow disciples and serve our community The VOICE of Grace May Page 5

6 01 Tishia Skeie Kara Dugan Christopher Dychala Cayden Myers 02 Jacob Kotik Austin Yanichko 03 Stephen Miller Nathan Faught 04 Betty Petit Pete Schultz Victoria Trachsel Christine Schroeder Owen DeTemple 05 Steve Parsio Cassie Cohagen Amanda Gehringer 07 Dorotha Fuhrman 08 Jeanice Alexander Gloria Cochenour Lorraine McMahon 09 Dianne Nelson Connie Brenning 10 Alice Stauch Thomas Fullerton 11 Dorothy Drewes Sheldon Stauch Marge Cepek Mark Bennett BIRTHDAYS 11 Marissa Banks 12 Ann Korb Jim Bartholomew Diane Gearinger Savannah Dunn 13 Alexander Finy 14 Britton Thompson Lindsay Bale Addison Reynolds Andrew Reynolds 16 Lauren Hartfelder Paige Mangino 17 Lester Mohler Betty Semon Annie Gehlhar Eleanor Saunders Charlotte Holmes 18 Sara Smith Chris Gearinger Blaine Seitz Madyson Chitty 19 Audrey Clark Lauren Funk 20 Donald Slemmer Jo Ann Slemmer Ethan Haynes 21 Joann Hensley BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES 21 Cynthia Nordman Randall Saunders Nicolas Hager Nicholas Giumenti 22 Rachelle Roll Tyler King 23 Eric Seamon Erin Bopp Alexander Reynolds 24 Nicky Rothmannn Carson Bopp 25 Ashlie Bobb 26 Joanne Rockwood Christopher Detrick Edward Hardick Madison Byrns Christopher McGahhey 27 Barb Moser 28 Billie Bower Linda Stoner Lynda Evans Daniel Haegele Andrew Shuman Jillian Simpson Elana Evans 29 Marcella Barr Caleb Rowe 30 Cynthia Bertelsen ANNIVERSARIES 01 Wendell & Betty Nye Chris & Joanne Figge 02 Roger & Julie Wells 03 Aaron & Meredith Kessler 06 Stephen & Becky Miller 08 Joseph & Phyllis Drakulich John & Christine Kotik 09 Gene & Lois Turner James & Carol Schlea 11 Kevin & Karen Davis 13 David & Frances Quast David & Kathy Bell 14 John & Tami Workman 16 Kevin & Rebecca Young 17 Paul & Julie Hotchkiss 18 John & Kirsten Hicks 19 Todd & Tishia Skeie David & Sara Yourkvitch 20 Mark & Katie Langenderfer 22 Bob & Michelle Clark Howard & Bonnie Dyke 24 Ben & Karen Vann 25 Ted & Angela Ray 27 Ron & Sharry Hoch Bill & Anne Kulju 28 Jeremy & Cheryl Martin Tony & Lauren Funk 29 Jeff & Natalie Monroe 31 Jamie & Becky Rollo Walk in My Shoes by Earlene Wandrey Earlene will be at Grace for a book signing on Saturday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We look forward to seeing Earlene. She has two other book signing scheduled during her visit with us: One at the Old Bag of Nails on May 2, 4-7 p.m., and the Westerville Library on May 6, 5-9 p.m. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church has been serving the Westerville Community for more than 100 years, supporting local ministries such as the Westerville Area Resource Ministry, Westerville Partnership Habitat for Humanity and Westerville CROP Walk. Grace also supports Lutheran Social Services programs like Faith Mission and provides weekly meeting space for Boy Scout Troop 502 and two AA groups. The VOICE of Grace May Page 6

7 Grace Sunday School News The topics for the Sundays in May will be Jesus ascension, the great commission, and Pentecost. The Sunday School program will wrap up for the year on May 19. Thank you to all of the individuals who put in countless hours if time and talent toward the spiritual formation of the children and youth of Grace. Your dedication is greatly appreciated! Lisa Stoll Randy Stoll Bob Ayers Kim Haynes Tami Banks Patti Barb Carrie O Neil Dan George Ted Ray Larry Beckwith Lisa Kuhar Our Sunday School is blessed with many volunteers who step throughout the year to help in many different ways (including substitute teaching) on a moments notice. Molly Oakleaf Teri Roshon Joanne Figge Kirsten Hicks Nicky Rothmann Vanessa Stewart Sarah Peters Erin Bopp Kristi George We re so glad you asked.....a response to questions and concerns on a variety of topics. If you have a question, please put it in writing and deliver it to the Church Office or it to: office@grace43081.org. Questions must be signed. Question: We pray for the men and women who wear the uniform of our country and for First Responders every Sunday. Why? No matter how one may feel about our country s political and military policies, practices and engagements, we live in a world in which men and women serve in our nation s military every day. Our congregation includes those who are veterans and/ or who have family members and friends currently in military service. We are also a nation with members of the military serving in combat. Each Sunday we take a moment to include these men and women in our prayers. The recent tragedies in Boston and in West, Texas have brought home the vital role, bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who serve as First Responders. Every day and night First Responders go to work in Westerville, Columbus and across the country to serve and protect. Each Sunday we take a moment to include these men and women in our prayers. People and Ministry Coordination Surveys Complete Carolyn Martin and the PM Ministry thanks the members of the congregation who completed the coordination surveys. They are now being compiled and will serve as a data base by which the committee can coordinate our volunteer efforts throughout the church and our community. If you have not completed and survey and wish to do so, survey forms are in the office. Thanks to all for your willingness to help and fulfill our mission of reaching out with the love of Jesus, to grow disciples and serve our community. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE: As an effort to ensure the safety of all the children participating in any form of programming, as The Youth and Family Ministry and Learning Ministry well as follow best practices, we request that each youth/child want to emphasize that all children are welcome to have emergency health and contact information on file. Forms participate at any time throughout the year. If your child can be found on the website under children and turned into the child s Sunday School teacher. Thank you for helping us is only able to participate once or sporadically through maintain best practices. the year, we still welcome his/her involvement. The VOICE of Grace May Page 7

8 Join Grace Lutheran and St. Paul Lutheran churches for 2013 LOMO Day Camp Faith Alive Who: All children who will complete grades K-6 this spring (entering grades 1-7 in the Fall) When: July 15-19, 2013, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Where: St. Paul Lutheran Church Cost: $40 per camper if registered by June 23 $50 per camper after June 23 Campers will need to bring a white t-shirt with them on Monday of camp week for use in a craft early in the week. Registration: Pick up forms at the Grace office. On-line registration will begin on May 5. Preschool Vacation Bible School (VBS) St. Paul Lutheran Church 4686 E. Walnut Street Westerville, Ohio Preschool VBS is for children who have turned three (3) by January 15, 2013 through those entering kindergarten in the fall. July 15-19, :00-11:45 am daily. The cost is $15.00 per child (which covers everything, including their class t-shirt, craft supplies and a daily snack). Registration opens on May 1, Forms may be picked up at the church or online beginning May 5 at Click on Children, then click on Vacation Bible School. Online pre-registration for Preschool VBS and LOMO Day Camp will begin on May 5. Watch the bulletin for details. HELP NEEDED!!! We cannot offer this Day Camp to our children without the help of MANY volunteers. If you are able to help for any amount of time in any capacity, please contact Tami Banks (tami.banks@gmail.com) or If you have any questions, please contact: Erin Bopp (erinbopp@gmail.com) or CRAFT SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR LOMO DAY CAMP Empty Paper Towel Rolls (we need one per camper, approx. 100 total) Colored Pony Beads (plastic craft beads) Black, red, white, green and yellow HOST FAMILIES NEEDED Host families are needed to house our camp counselors during our Day Camp week. Counselors will arrive Sunday, July 14 and will return home Friday, July 19. Counselors must be housed in groups of 2 or more. Host families would need to provide a light breakfast Monday - Friday and dinner Monday - Wednesday (Thursday night is our picnic dinner and program and the counselors will be on the road back home Friday night). If you are able to help house counselors, please contact Tami Banks (tami.banks@gmail.com) or The VOICE of Grace May Page 8

9 May is our Anniversary Month Meeting on the third Sunday evening of each month in the Westerville Town Hall, Grace Lutheran Church found its beginnings with the first sermon preached on January 17, Soon, with increased attendance, regular worship was conducted on two of every three Sundays with a Sunday school organized in May (Built in the 1800 s, what was to be the town hall, this structure did not significantly change until 1930.) Source: Local History Center, Westerville Public Library Grace began as a mission congregation by the Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Westerville, (organized in 1852) Pastor C. W. Pflueger, who subsequently became the first pastor of Grace Congregation serving both parishes from 1909 to During the spring of 1909, members of the newly formed church requested permission of St. Paul s congregation that it form as a separate sister congregation to serve the growing Lutheran community of Westerville. On May 2, 1909, the new congregation formally organized as the Evangelical Lutheran Grace Congregation of Westerville. The first officers of the congregation selected were Ed Tedrow, elder, Peter Trapp, trustee, Milton Schott, deacon and treasurer and George Schick, Sr., secretary. A constitution was adopted June 6, This area, first known as Blendon Township, was settled in 1806 with many families coming from Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. With significant German ancestry and some with a Stay up-to-date on the ministries of Grace. Log on to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 100 E. Schrock Road, Westerville, OH PH: (614) Web: office@grace43081.org Rev. William A. Hartfelder, Senior Pastor VM 11 w.hartfelder@grace43081.org Rev. Richard O. Walston, Visitation Pastor Cell (614) rjwalston@msn.com Dr. Karen Eckenroth, Music Ministries VM 10 KEckenroth@otterbein.edu Linda Hoch, Organist Kathy Snead, Office Administrator VM 18 k.snead@grace43081.org Marjie Penn, Receptionist/Secretary Paul Hotchkiss, Custodian Jack Pfeifer, Property Manager wrtjack@yahoo.com Jocelyn Shuman, Preschool Director; VM 14 littleblessingspreschool@grace43081.org Pastor C. W. Pflueger and family Lutheran heritage the area was primarily family farms. Article by Grace Archivist- John Kleberg Supper Club Thursday, May 16th, 6:30 PM Barrel E Main St in Bexley across from Capitol University Sign up sheet at Hospitality Desk Please Note: Our reservations are arranged for the number of persons who have signed up at the hospitality desk. If you find that you will be unable to attend, please call Rosemarie ( ) or Bev ( ) so the restaurant can be advised. Thank You! Seraphina Sisters to Host Grace Kitchen Krew On Friday, May 17th, at 6:30 PM, Seraphina Sisters will be showing their appreciation to the Kitchen Krew by hosting a dinner at Grace. This will be a time to recognize the Kitchen Krew s hospitality and give them a well-deserved break from serving our congregation! For more information, contact Kirsten Hicks at or Amy Quinn at The VOICE of Grace May Page 9