THE TOWER. St. Luke s Lutheran Church. Growing in Grace. February 2017 Volume 10 ISSUE 2 VBS SIGN UP COMING SOON!

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1 ST LUKES THE TOWER 1 THE TOWER St. Luke s Lutheran Church Growing in Grace February 2017 Volume 10 ISSUE 2 OUR MISSION To worship, learn and grow together in the knowledge of God and His Word. We are then sent into the world to share God s love, teach His Word, and serve those in need. Pg. 1 BBA Trade Fair/VBS Sunday School Bowling Pg. 2 Partner s Page Pastor Frank Pg. 3 Pastor Robyn s Page Pg. 4 WELCA Scrapbooking Pg. 5 VBS Sign up info Pg. 6 WELCA News/Play & Learn/ Pool Party Pg. 7 LYO/ H2H/ Love U/ Sunday School Pg. 8 Calendar of Events Pg. 9 Luke Bible Study Pg. 10 Candle Celebration/ Stefanie Harasta Media Pg. 11 Thank You! Pg. 12 Birthday/Anniversary/ 2017 Kick Off Pg. 13 St. Luke s News Page Pg. 14 Health Ministry News Pg. 15 Participants Page VBS SIGN UP COMING SOON! BBA TRADE FAIR March 11th-12th At Bedford Senior High School Volunteers needed to man our spot! 2 people / 2 hour shifts. Sign up for event is on the Welcome Center. This year s theme: Hometown Hero! Come and show off St. Luke s! ST. LUKE S SUNDAY SCHOOL BOWLING FUN! When: March 11th, :00-11:30 A.M. Where: Forest View Lanes 2345 W. Sterns Rd. Temperance, MI Bowling, pizza, chips and drinks will be provided. Look forward to seeing you there!

2 ST LUKES THE TOWER 2 DEAR PARTNERS, We are blessed with an unusually long Epiphany Season this year. This gives us more opportunity to reflect on our theme for the season Let Your Light Shine! The entire month of February will continue to be the season of seeing the light of God s grace shine through Jesus and be challenged by the call for us to reflect that light to the world around us. Of course, this is a call that comes to us before the baptismal waters have even dried on our heads. Within minutes of baptism we are handed a candle (OK the parents take it on behalf of a little one) and given the commission with Jesus words from the Sermon on the Mount: Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. This is a commission we grow into over the years as we come to appreciate the amazing gift we were given on the day of our baptism. Because Epiphany begins with both light (the star leading the magi) and baptism (Jesus own) we have lifted up the Let Your Light Shine theme for the season. And we have been challenged to the Great Baptism Quest! It can be a great blessing to more fully own your baptism by finding out details about it (like when, where, with whom?) Claim that gift anew record it (with the church office and on your own calendar) and celebrate it regularly. Martin Luther used to begin each day by making the sign of the cross and remembering that he had been baptized. This became a formative part of his faith life. So being challenged to let our light shine can encourage us to consider the many ways that can happen in our life. We can seek to live out our identity as a Child of God given to us in baptism by making our relationship with God a priority relationship. As we make decisions, as we interact with those around us, as we utilize the gifts and resources we have been given to express God s love for all, we are living out this call. And it is a call. Most pastors I know have not necessarily chosen this career but have wrestled with it over the years and finally followed that call through seminary and into ministry. This is too often considered the only real calling in life. That is so out of line with our Lutheran understanding of call or vocation. In our baptism, we were all called to live fully in this relationship of faith, hope and love. Do you sense that call on your life? If you have been baptized, that call is there! You have been called to live out that faith to Let Your Light Shine in all the places you live and move and work each day. No matter what you do in your work, no matter where each day takes you, there you find your mission field the place God has called you to ministry. Let Your Light Shine! where ever that may be. With much love - your partner in the Gospel of Grace,

3 ST LUKES THE TOWER 3 Dear friends in Christ, The other day I was in the drive-thru for Tim Horton s and when it came my turn to pay for my meal I found the person in the car before me had already paid for mine. So in turn, I asked the cashier to let me pay for the car behind mine. There s no way to know how many times this had happened before me or how long it continued after. It may have ended with that next car. But, what I do know is that when the cashier told me my meal had been paid for and it wasn t because of anything I did and there was no reason at all for the person before me to show such kindness, my heart was warmed and I had a smile for most of the rest of the day. And when someone does such a kindness for you, it s hard to not respond in kind. Who wouldn t want other people to feel that same kind of surprise and unexpected joy? We have been freed in our lives of faith to act on behalf of our brothers and sisters in this world. We have been empowered by the cross to serve others without having to worry about our own standing because Christ took that on for us. We have been given the opportunity to fill this world with random acts of kindness and to perform senseless acts of beauty. Think of the many opportunities we have in a day to show someone a kindness to make their day just a little easier. Think of the many times that we can create something beautiful without a goal or cause except to bring light and joy and beauty into the world. In Micah 6:8 we read: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. So, I encourage you to be listening as we approach Lent for new ways that you may be challenged to find new ways to share random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty. Our Sunday school will be leading the way as Secret Agents of Grace this Lent. Not only will they be receiving a secret mission each week to do a random act of kindness, but so will the adults in our congregation. You will also receive a #RAKStLukes card to leave behind with your service duty. When we enter into the season of Lent with hearts that are focused on doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with our God, our secret missions of grace become a natural extension of ourselves. Go into the world, love God, offer random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty, and know that you have been freed to do these things by a God who loves us so deeply! God s blessings!

4 ST LUKES THE TOWER 4 St. Luke s Lutheran Church Women s Retreaters Date: Saturday, March 4, 2017 All-Day Scrap/Stamp Event Where: St. Luke s Lutheran Church, 1690 Sterns Rd. (corner of Jackman & Sterns) Temperance, Michigan Time: Cost: 9 a.m p.m. $40 (Includes cont. breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, beverages, prizes) Pre-register by February 28th to guarantee your spot (refunds given only in the event of a waiting list) Stampin' Up Demonstrator Glenda Hotchkiss will be doing a make & take card for $1. New this year will be Sandy Mallet to do a make & take scrapbook page for $1; and for an additional $5 you can make the right page to complete a 2 page layout. Massage Therapist Lisa Waggoner will be available. New dinner menu this year: Pulled pork sandwiches, mac & cheese, baked beans & coleslaw. We will have our baked potato bar for lunch! Complete registration form and remit with a check payable to WELCA Retreaters to Sharon Harasta. Up to four people can register on one form. If you want to sit together in a group up to four, please send one form with registrations and money for everyone. Any questions contact Sharon Harasta, harastasha@bex.net or (H) or Name Full Address Home and cell # s address Name Full Address Home & Cell # s address Name Full Address Home and cell # s address Name Full address Home & Cell # s address Mail form & check made out to WELCA Retreaters to Sharon Harasta, Secor Rd, Temperance, MI 48182

5 ST LUKES THE TOWER 5 VBS IS COMING!!!! REGISTRATION BEGINS MARCH 1ST! Online registration begins March 1st. St. Luke s Lutheran Church will host VBS June 26th through June 30th. Volunteers are needed. If interested in volunteering, please contact Jillian Weiss at (419) Stay tuned for more information!

6 ST LUKES THE TOWER 6 WELCA NEWS St. Luke s Ladies Club This month, we went to Sage. We had gone there last year and it was very nice. Our waitress was named Kelly. We bought 2 cards; one for Siggi Deckman and one for Abby Holmblad. We all signed the cards with words of encouragement. Judy passed around a sheet to furnish a meal for Abby s family. I had a beautiful table prayer this month; written by Sharon Tipping. PLAY AND LEARN CRITTER DAY! Play & Learn Preschool continues to engage their students in fun and interactive learning the whole season long. Every year, Mr. Paul comes to school with a number of friends, furry or scaly, blue tongued or beaked, and shows diversity among the animal kingdom. New friends, four legged or winged, are made; great fun is had! This month, along with February and March, we are collecting for the organization that purchases beds for children in Bedford Township. This month we collected $ We had to update our luncheon schedule. In February, we are now going to Northwood Villa on Dixie Highway in Erie, MI. In November, we are going to the Italian Grille on Secor and Summerfield. A new schedule will be remade and put in your mailbox. In August, we are going to Judy Nieman s cottage on Wampler s Lake. We are going to have a White Elephant gift exchange. The gift must be wrapped. We are also planning a few games. This will be a potluck event. We all hope Siggi will be back with us next month. We all miss her. See you then, Nan Brushaber RECIPE OF THE MONTH Taken from Feeding the Flock; provided by Phyllis Snyder 1/2 lb ground beef 3 cup Chicken 3/4 cup chopped onion 4 cup diced potato 3/4 cup shredded carrot 1/4 cup flour 3/4 cup diced celery 8 oz. cube Velveeta 1 T. dried parsley 1 1/2 c milk 4 T. margarine 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1/4 c sour cream In 3 quart pan, brown hamburger, drain fat. Add onions, celery, carrots and parsley. Cook until tender. Add broth and potatoes; bring to boil Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender. In small skillet, melt butter. Add flour and cook and stir until bubbly. Add to soup, bring back to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, reduce the heat to low. Add cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat and blend in the sour cream. This was served at the 5th Sunday Soup Sunday on the 29th of January.

7 ST LUKES THE TOWER 7 LYO Our calendar for February has updated slightly. On Sunday, February 5 we will meet from 4-6 p.m. joint with H2H confirmation students for a time of fellowship. We will be making individual pizzas and have a sundae bar along with games. Sunday, February 12 we will meet at 4:00 p.m. to make the busy placemats for Ms. Erica s kindergarten classroom and the other Kindergarten classes at Jackman Elementary. If you have a sewing machine or sewing machine knowledge, it would be great helpful! Sunday, February 19 will be a fun event (possibly SkyZone) Sunday, February 26 will possibly be at Paula s House. More information to come. Tuesday, February 28 Shrove Tuesday meal Hello Everyone! LOVE U Shepherding is seeking donations for the Love U boxes that we send to the college students. These boxes will go out before Valentine's Day so we are seeking heart healthy snacks along with those sweet treats. Also, the kids love the school supplies and the notes of encouragement. The box will be in the narthex to accept any donations. Thank you, Jennifer Mayo LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT 2017 Ash Wednesday is March 1 this year. This season brings with it the opportunity to gather for mid-week worship services each Wednesday at 7:00 pm. As we have done for many years in the past, our Head to the Heart (H2H) confirmation students will help lead the service. However, there are some new features this year. We will learn and use a very beautiful service entitled Holden Evening Prayer. Our focus this year will be on looking at some of our ancestors in faith people from our faith family album. We hope you will plan to join us. ST. LUKE S BOOKCLUB The St. Luke s Book club will meet on Thursday, March 2, 7:00 pm at the home of Diane Paine The book to be discussed is The Whistler by John Grisham. All are welcome. Call Diane with any questions H2H Remember that we will have a joint fellowship event with the senior high LYO on Sunday, February 5 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Also, we will be working with the senior high LYO to provide the Shrove Tuesday meal for the congregation. More information will be coming home for this. SUNDAY SCHOOL LENTEN ACTIVITIES TOP SECRET KINDNESS PROJECT Sunday School students will begin before Lent on February 26th watching projects/film/ In this video, one act of kindness causes another person to want to do something kind for another, and so on. This is a great "real life" example of paying it forward, and sparks a conversation about how easy it can be to be kind. During Lent people have been know to "give" up something or in our past we've made monetary collections. Instead of a fast of giving things up or taking a collection the Sunday School children will be encouraged to choose a fast that works for good. This will be done by a "Random Acts of Kindness" a.k.a. "RAK" Project. Where the Sunday School children are becoming secret service agents for the 6 Sundays during Lent. Each Sunday the agents will receive secret random acts of kindness challenges to perform. For fun the challenges are to be done without the recipients knowledge. Agent report outs will be discussed weekly during Sunday School. Plus agents and recipients will be encouraged to post acts using #RAKStLukes. Be on the look out for some kindness carriers and feel free to participate on your own. SUNDAY SCHOOL EASTER EGG HUNT PREPARATIONS Sunday School is looking to collect small candy pieces to fit inside Easter Eggs for the Annual Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt. Candy bags can be provided to Abby Holmblad or placed in the kindergarten room.

8 ST LUKES THE TOWER 8 Calendar of Events February 1st 7:00 Chancel Choir 7:00 H2H February 2nd 7:00 Volleyball 7:30 AA/ Al Anon February 3rd February 4th February 5th 8:30 & 11:15 Traditional Service 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Adult Bible Study 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Family GiG Worship 4:00 LYO joint with H2H February 6th 10:00 Comforters 6:00 God Works! Meal 7:00 Volleyball February 7th 2:00 Evangelism Meeting 6:30 Chancel Bell Choir 7:00 Basketball 7:00 Endowment Trustees February 8th 10:00 Luther Haus Bible Study 7:00 Chancel Choir 7:00 H2H (Servant Event TBD) 9:00 Basketball February 9th 7:00 Volleyball 7:30 AA/Al Anon February 10th February 11th February 12th 8:30 & 11:15 Service of the Word 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Adult Bible Study 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Family GiG Worship 12:15 Packing Love U Boxes 4:00 LYO February 13th 10:00 Comforters 6:00 God Works Meal 7:00 Volleyball 7:00 Gospel of Luke Bible Study February 14th 6:00 Executive Committee Meeting 6:00 Chancel Bell Choir 7:00 Basketball 7:00 Ministry Team Meetings February 15th 7:00 Chancel Choir 7:00 H2H Confirmation February 16th 7:00 Volleyball 7:30 AA/ Al Anon February 17th February 18th February 19th 8:30 & 11:15 Contemporary worship 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Adult Bible Study 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Family GiG Worship 4:00 LYO February 20th 10:00 Comforters 6:00 God Works! Meal 7:00 Volleyball February 21st 6:30 Church Council 6:30 Chancel Bell Choir 7:00 Basketball February 22nd 10:00 Luther Haus Bible Study 11:00 Luther Haus Communion 7:00 Chancel Choir 7:00 H2H February 23rd Play and Learn Lock Down Drill 7:00 Volleyball 7:30 AA/Al Anon February 24th Play and Learn Lock Down Drill February 25th February 26th 8:30 & 11:15 Traditional Worship 9:30 Blood Pressure Checks 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Adult Bible Study 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 Family GiG worship 4:00 LYO 5:30 Volleyball February 27th 10:00 Comforters 6:00 God Works Meal 7:00 Volleyball February 28th 4:00 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner 6:30 Chancel Bell & Chancel Choir 7:00 Basketball 7:30 Technology Ministry

9 ST LUKES THE TOWER 9 LUKE FOR EVERYONE!! BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, You are invited to journey through the gospel written by St. Luke s namesake. This Bible Study will be offered on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, beginning February 13 th. We will use N.T. Wright s Luke for Everyone study guide. (Read reviews of this resource below.) The cost of the book is $6.00. Each week there will be time for an overview of the section of Luke being studied, small group discussion and, of course, some refreshments. This will be helpful to first-time Bible students as well as the more experienced student of scripture. Invite your family and friends!! Sign up in the back narthex or call the Church Office ( ). Direct any questions to Pastor Frank. Reviews Tom Wright's clear style is accessible for new readers of the Bible, as well as to those who are further on. With a scholar's mind and a pastor's heart, N. T. Wright guides us through the New Testament book of Luke, showing how we can participate in Luke s story by making it real in our own world. (Amazon Review) Each short passage is followed by a highly readable discussion with background information, useful explanations and suggestions, and thoughts as to how the text can be relevant to our lives today. Bishop Wright guides us through the Gospel of Luke with exceptional wisdom, scholarly information, but with an eye towards what the student should do with the new knowledge. The study questions prompt us to search our hearts for Jesus' relevance and significance today. (Alice, Tampa, Fla) Wright has an amazing ability to explain so much about the Bible in such a clear, brief commentary. (David, Good Reads)

10 ST LUKES THE TOWER 10 A CELEBRATION OF CANDLES CANDLEMAS You are invited to bring any candles you will use during the year ahead for a special celebration and blessing on Sunday, February 5 th. This will be another dimension of our Epiphany theme Let Your Light Shine. You might not be aware of this ancient Christian observance, sometimes called Candlemas so let me explain: February 2 is 40 days after Christmas when Mary, who had given birth, was purified so she could rejoin the worshiping community. This was also the event of Jesus appearing in the Temple with his parents for the first time. The story is told in Luke 2: The elder, Simeon, had been waiting in the temple to see the Lord s promised messiah appear as he had been promised by God that he would not die before that happened. Taking the child in his arms as Mary & Joseph brought him there, Simeon spoke the words that we have often used as we leave the communion table, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. With this being Jesus first appearance in the Temple the religious center for the people of Israel who had been awaiting his arrival and with the words of Simeon declaring him to be A light for revelation to the Gentiles the theme of light stands out. This day, then, became the day when the chief source of light in the ancient world candles were blessed for use in the coming year, a reminder to all who came to worship that Jesus was the light of the world. Following this ancient tradition, on the Sunday closes to February 2 we will bless the candles to be used in our worship. In order to encourage a connection between the lighting of candles at home and the lighting of candles in worship reminding us of Jesus, the Light of the World - you are invited to bring some of the candles you will use at home to share in this celebration and blessing. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE! STEFANIE HARASTA MEMORIAL MEDIA SYSTEM At the 5 th Sunday Bash on January 29, we dedicated this memorial gift. The Stefanie Harasta Memorial Media System was facilitated by memorial contributions for Stefanie Harasta who loved taking part in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, many congregational fellowship events and family celebration times. The system provides audio and video in the Koinonia Center for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and any other church functions within the Center. The system has two large monitors and speakers mounted on the north end of the east wall, with a rack of equipment located securely within the northeast corner classroom. The monitors are protected from stray basketballs and volleyballs by clear sheets of bullet-proof Lexan. The system can play videos from DVDs, as well as from the internet, and can play audio from any Bluetooth-enabled device. The system can also be hooked to a computer and can be used as a PA system using the included wireless microphone. Eventually, the system will be able to play audio and video sent from the sanctuary. The system allows the Sunday School staff to easily provide a media-rich program without any setup or take-down of projector and screen equipment.

11 ST LUKES THE TOWER 11 THANK YOU! Thank you Pastor Frank & Pastor Robyn for your visits and prayers for my kidney stones operation. Also Thank you for the prayers from my church family! Mel Van Wormer From Douglas Road Elementary: Thank You so much for helping our DRE family this Christmas! They appreciate it more than you will ever know! Sincerely, Amanda Heams From Jackman Road Elementary: Thank You for your kindness and generosity this holiday season. Your giving hearts are a blessing to our school and community. May joy and peace be with you throughout the new year! Warmest Regards, Michelle Kontak & Brenda Mack (JRE Student Stupport Coordinators) and The Staff of Jackman Road Elementary! From Bedford Public Schools; District Nurse St. Luke s staff and congregation: We thank you for your kindness and generosity shown to our students who received gifts at Christmas through your Angel Tree program. We are grateful for your giving hearts! Sincerely, Mindy Klawonn We would like to thank Pastor Frank and Pastor Robyn and all who called, sent s and cards, and comforted us and our son Brady and his wife Anna upon the sudden loss of their baby son William Bruce Emerson. It meant so very much. Shawn and Collin Emerson From the Holmblad Family: Carl and I want to extend our gratitude for the thoughtful cards, the loving meals provided, the hospital visits and the prayers lifted. Raising a large family is a lot of work especially when one of the parents is hospitalized. We can t thank our church family enough for taking our family in your hands and providing for us. Warm Regards, Carl, Abby and Boys Thank you to Ramsey Bristol. Ramsey served as our Epiphany Planning Chair for our Worship Life team, working with Pastor Frank and Pastor Robyn as we looked ahead to Epiphany. Ramsey researched and wrote all the Epiphany moments on the different parts of the world that we considered throughout the Epiphany season. Thank you Ramsey for your leadership this Epiphany season! To My St. Luke s Family, Thank You so much for the prayers, cards and phone calls all of you showered me with over these last few months. Also, Thank You Pastors Frank & Robyn for your hospital visits. Thank You ever so much, Linda Leichty Thank You!! Thank you Pastor Frank & Pastor Robyn for being with me for prayers before my surgery. Thank you to the prayer chain for all of your prayers and good wishes upon my recovery. To all the ladies from the Ladies Club, thank you for providing all of the good dinners for me and Ben while I was recovering. And last but not least, thank you to the church congregation for the 50th anniversary celebration with the wonderful cake and gift. Can t hardly believe all of the support from our church family and congregation. So glad to be a part of St. Luke s Lutheran Church! Sincerely, Siggi & Ben Deckman

12 ST LUKES THE TOWER 12 2/1 Noah Nieman 2/2 Melissa Kurek 2/3 Austin Bryant, Bob Matthews, Bill Fraley, Adam & Griff Crammond 2/4 Ryan Rightnowar, Jennifer Williams 2/5 Nylene Elwartoski 2/7 Doug Althaus 2/8 Audrey Kirk, Ellen Steffin 2/12 Sheila Elwartoski, Shawn Hoddinott 2/14 Susan Manore, Kaitlyn Kenyon 2/16 Louise Hafemeister, Carrie Bolander, James Cevizian, Kate Eaton 2/17 Cheryl Roberts 2/19 Thomas Shepherd, Ann Stahl, David Williams, Beth Horoszewski 2/20 Chelsea Carena, Brandon Carena, Cody Carena 2/21 Nicholes Nieman 2/22 Jaidyn Weiss 2/23 Zach Vogel, Herman Halter, Ryan Schoch, Mary Steinman 2/24 Virginia Nieman Laury Shepherd 2/25 Savannah Liggett Mark Anderson 2/25 Shelbey Spitler, Lorraine Webber, Sharon Merickel, Owen Majerski 2/26 David Domigan, Rudy Ondrus, Tracie McNutt 2/27 Denzil Bell 2/29 David Thompson 2/3 Sally & Fred Georgeson 2/9 Leonora & Charles Nieman 2/14 Sheila & Pete Abalos 2/17 Catherine & Joseph Kubera 2/19 Linda & Phil Ziemke ALTAR FLOWERS February 26th- In honor of Stefanie Harasta s 2nd Angel-versary (We Love you, Stef!) 2017 KICK START TO FUN! NOON YEARS EVE LYO LOCK IN

13 ST LUKES THE TOWER 13 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT LOCAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BUILD Were you aware that the Temperance s local Habitat for Humanity build is still on-going? At present, the house s progress is moving rather slowly and the Habitat teams are always looking available and able bodied hands to help finish the project. Currently they are working on inside building like flooring, carpet, cupboards, lighting fixtures, etc. If you are interested in volunteering time or expertise, the dates available to help are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They can always use a hand (or two). Please contact Phyllis Snyder so she can get you through to the proper people. Doing just a little helps so much overall. LADIES LUNCHEON CLUB The ladies lunch group would like to invite you to join them on February 1st at 11:30 at Northwood Villa on Dixie Hwy. If you re interested in joining, please contact Siggi Deckman by Monday, January 30th so they can arrange a large enough table. All women are invited for fellowship. WOMENS BIBLE STUDY Women s Bible study will meet on Thursday, February 2nd at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the chapter in our book titled: Chirren beginning on p Location TBA We will meet on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 p.m. for a time of fellowship. Location TBA. REPRESENTATIVES NEEDED The Social Concerns Ministry would like to thank the Congregation members who participated with us in our Christmas outreach efforts. With your help, we were able to provide 119 Christmas gifts to children through our Angel Tree in cooperation with Monroe Lutheran Social Services, Bedford Public Schools, Goodfellows and 7 individual families. Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets were provided to 10 families. Gift cards were included in each basket so the families could buy whatever meat they wanted for their holiday meals. We added some fresh fruit to accompany the canned food you donated. Not only did they receive food for their holiday meals but extra food to see them through a few more days, plus some personal grooming items and cleaning supplies. The organizations and families were extremely grateful for our assistance to make sure their holidays were more joyful than they might have been. Our Congregation was very generous and we thank you for your care and concern for those that God allows to cross our path so that we may be His hands in showing His love in our community. Phyllis, Vicki, Debbie, Judy and Sally 2016 DONATION STATEMENTS Statements are done and in your mailboxes in the side hallway. Please pick them up and save us the postage. Feel free to call Lori Neumeyer with any questions at There are three annual events coming up where congregations send representatives to take part in the needed organizational business that facilitates the ministry we are able to accomplish together. If you would like to know more or volunteer to attend, please call the Church Office. Below are the gatherings where we need representatives: Lutheran Ministries of Mercy (Formerly Luther Home of Mercy and Lutheran Social Services of N.W. Ohio) on March 13 5:30 pm (includes dinner). Genacross Lutheran Services (formerly Lutheran Homes Society) April 24 at 6:30 pm. Southeast Michigan Synod Assembly May 4-6 in Port Huron, Michigan. (need male rep.) GREAT BAPTISMAL QUEST As part of our Epiphany journey we are collecting baptismal birthdays and stories. Share yours in the church office. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS Our Parish Nurse, Darlene Cook, who is gracious with her want to make us all healthy, has officially moved her dates to do blood pressure checks to the 4th Sunday in the month. Normally she would operate on the last Sunday, but keeping in line with the 5th Sunday Bash events, it doesn t work. So if you re wanting to have your blood pressure checked by Darlene, she is available between the coffee hour and the 11:15 service.

14 ST LUKES THE TOWER 14 HEALTH MINISTRY NEWS Greetings, February, 2017 Recently we had a couple of classes at St. Luke s called "Care for the Caregiver" presented by Hospice of Northwest Ohio and also some of the information was taken from the Mayo Clinic Newsletter. I found it interesting and thought others of you may as well. Caring for a loved one may not all be hands on but if you are responsible to provide assistance to someone on a regular basis you are a caregiver. To be the best caregiver, one must care also for oneself. There were a few key steps on your part to make care giving smoother for both you and your loved one. Get to know as much as you can about the condition or disease so you might know what to expect; treatment options and resources available (a web site or a local agency). Keeping it simple - activities of daily life and routines it reduces potential for arguments over independence and control issues. Stay calm even when things are not going as planned, project a calm state since both calm and anxiety are contagious. Not taking difficulties personally a major stress for caregivers is feeling under appreciated. Some behaviors are actually attributable to illness rather than your loved one's feeling toward you. Do not forget your own needs. When one becomes so focused on caregiving that one's own needs are put aside, it leads to major problems. Remember the basics such as eating well, getting enough sleep, engaging in regular exercise, doing things you enjoy. Taking scheduled breaks from the caregiving role is very important. It may be that you schedule a time for a class, time to go out to lunch with someone. Respite care can be for someone to help with the personal care, just to come over to play a game or visit with your loved one, help with grooming, or exercise. In some cases it may mean hiring someone to allow you a" time out". In some cases an Adult Daycare may be an option. Another way to give yourself a break is to create your own space. Everyone needs a personal space time even or especially when you are a caregiver. Design a space such as a room, a corner you can make your own, a place to go when you are feeling overwhelmed. This could be a chair facing a window, a place with your favorite things, engaging in a hobby ie knitting, reading, tinkering with tools or gardening. Everyone needs a place or method to recharge your batteries. It makes a huge difference when returning to your responsibilities. Some resources you may find helpful: Local Area Office on Aging; National Institute on Aging ( National Caregiver Alliance ( Lotsa Helping Hands ( If you are not savvy on the computer, a librarian can help you gather more information from these sites mentioned above. When to get help: Feeling constantly overwhelmed (running on empty); Feeling trapped or losing touch with others; Easily losing patience; Feelings of despair; Feeling life doesn't matter; Frequent crying; Difficulty concentrating; Experiencing severe tiredness; Inability to sleep; Excessive use of alcohol or drugs to cope. Hopefully, you found the information of interest either for yourself or someone you know who may need it. Your Parish Nurse, Darlene Cook RN

15 ST LUKES THE TOWER 15 DATE/TIME GREETER USHER SACRAMENT LECTOR COUNTER COFFEE ACOLYTE NURSERY February 5 J Schmidt S Fye/A Stahl S Tipping 8:30 Folgers J Warren B Skiver Georgesons N Brushaber Kian Freker NEED ALL P Yockey K Nieman Rigdon SERVICES 10:00 Mayo Family Mayo Family ********** Weiss Freker 11:15 Louise A Crammond Jen Mayo GCrammond R Gephart Hafemeister K Crammond K Crammond Anna Garcia A Crammond February 12 N Patton S Tipping NEED ALL 8:30 YOU? J Waidelich ********** S Tipping Cooks Ryan SERVICES Moodys Ron & Kathy Scurlock 10:00 Hallstroms Hallstroms YOU? YOU? Neumeyers Watkins 11:15 J Sengstock N Bowlin J Sengstock ********** D Paine D Chase Ethan & Spencer Lingle February 19 Erdmanns S Ressler Cathy Bell S Tipping 8:30 S Ressler J Waidelich S Emerson S Harasta C Moody Leah Logan & NEED ALL 10:00 J Fair N Bowlin S Trevathan N Bowlin C Halter ********** D Chase Hafemeister Sue Manore Blake Theodorou SERVICES YOU? YOU? YOU? 11:15 B Steinman J Gephart J Gephart K Crammond A Crammond K Crammond J Schoch L Bourn Ana Williams February 26 Merickels B & N Fraley Judy Bock Georgesons 8:30 J & L Warren Carol Halter G Heigel Jacksons Grant Yeager YOU? NEED ALL 10:00 YOU? YOU? YOU? YOU? YOU? YOU? B Cook SERVICES 11:15 Erin Beard Erin Beard D Paine J Sengstock D Chase Julian A Crammond A Crammond S Fleeson Biansco A Crammond

16 ST LUKES THE TOWER 16 St. Luke s Lutheran Church 1690 Sterns Road Temperance, MI Frank Paine, Pastor frank.paine@stlukeschurch.net Robyn Kistemaker, Pastor robyn.kistemaker@stlukeschurch.net *Or * pastor@stlukeschurch.net office@stlukeschurch.net Phone Fax Worship Schedule 8:30 am Regular Traditional Service Weeks 1, 2, 4, and 5 The Majesty of liturgy, pipe organ, and choral music Week 3 Joyful worship with a contemporary feel 9:30-10:30 am Coffee Fellowship 9:45 Sunday School 10:00 am the FamilyGiG Contemporary praise, worship, and children s time. 11:15 am -Regular (Informal ) Traditional Service Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5 The Majesty of liturgy, pipe organ, and choral music Week 3 Joyful Worship with a contemporary feel

17 Women's 2017 Fall Retreat Welcome to all past, present and future retreaters. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us the weekend of September 15, 16, and 17, 2017 for our Fall Retreat. We will gather in the lovely and tranquil setting of Michindoh Conference Center in Hillsdale, Michigan. With comfortable accommodations in the charming Merillat Lodge, we have everything we need right under one roof. We are looking forward to a weekend of caring, sharing, study, worship, relaxation, snacks, fellowship, and FUN! This invitation to attend is for all ladies of St. Luke's. The cost is $158. But your participation in preparing for our WELCA Scrapbook Day will lower your cost to $110. Plans are being made for this event on March 4,2017 to be held here at St. Luke's If you have never shared this weekend with us, or haven't for a while, please accept this invitation to renew, refresh, and reconnect with friends. If you want more information about the Scrapbook Day or the Fall Retreat contact Sharon Harasta or Gloria Heigel. God's Blessings to you All Sharon Harasta harastasha@bex.net Gloria Heigel gloryb2u@bex.net