Our 75th Anniversary Year Continuing Our Journey

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1 M A R C H Savior Divine Lutheran Church S. 88TH Ave. Palos Hills, IL FROM THE PASTOR Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m. Revisiting Our Jewish Roots Palm/Passion Sunday will feature a presentation by John (BJ) Kerstetter from Chosen People Ministries in our worship as we participate in joint worship with Moraine Valley Community Church. John s presence here will help us focus on our Jewish heritage that we have as Christians and to understand better the transition from Judaism to Christianity. We recognize that Jesus himself was a Jew and that he went into the synagogues to teach. He was going to his own people but would also expand the outreach of the good news to Gentiles. We can be grateful that Christ has come into our lives; however, it is still important for us to understand our Jewish heritage. We would also want to acknowledge that there are many of the Jewish faith who have come to accept Jesus of Nazareth as being the Messiah. John is one of them and we are pleased to have him come to Savior Divine. This presentation will take the place of the evening Paschal Meal that we had in the past. Pastor Marty Our 75th Anniversary Year Continuing Our Journey

2 2 Palm/Passion Sunday Worship The worship on March 20 will be at 10:30 a.m. and will be joint worship with Moraine Valley Community Church. Weather permitting, there will be the procession of the palms from outside the church. John (BJ) Kerstetter will be the guest speaker. Holy Week Schedule March 24 Maundy Thursday Worship at Hickory Hills Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. March 25 Friday Tenebrae Service at Savior Divine at 7:30 p.m. with an invitation to members of Hickory Hills Presbyterian to attend. March 27 The Resurrection of our Lord Worship is at 9:30 a.m. The Discipleship Group The group has finished the book The Case for Christ and will be starting a new book entitled All In by Mark Batterson. The focus of this new book is for a Christian to examine one s commitment in being a follower of Christ. If you desire to read along, please let pastor know in order to obtain a copy of the book. The next meeting is to be determined. Praise Dancers The Praise Dancers from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chicago will be back again to present liturgical dance for us during worship. The date for their coming is Sunday, April 17. This event will be joint worship with Moraine Valley Community Church at 10:30 a.m. Seeking Input for Our Ministry The council has been working on developing a direction for our ministry this year and would be open to any suggestions members might have. If you would like to give input, you may talk to pastor or one of the members of council. Jazz Passion Sunday March 13, 4 p.m. at St. Luke s Lutheran Church in Chicago. Hear and see the Passion and startling Resurrection in a musical setting as never before. The cost is free. Those signing up on the sign-up sheet will meet at 2:30p.m. at the church parking lot to car pool.

3 3 Outreach: Going Forward with Thrivent with work in our community, It is hard to believe that it has been a year since we began the Community Outreach and Thrivent Action Teams. We have done some nice things during our first year. If you were at the annual congregation meeting, you know we will be trying to participate in a few volunteering events, such as helping at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and helping distribute produce for Elsie s Food Pantry when the fresh produce truck comes. I will contact Beth Heinrich at and ask her for a produce truck schedule. When I was there in September with a group from Moraine Valley College, I saw that they needed a lot of help at that time. It is easy work, but they need a lot of hands. All you have to do is bag produce and hand it out. Also, there have been times throughout the year that many people in our congregation or community were in need of different things, such as a bed, linens, pots and pans, furniture, etc. We ask that if you have an item that you are about to give away, that you first advertise that item in the Sunday bulletin or Gospel Newsletter. Maybe someone in our congregation needs that item or knows of someone in need of that item. And, if you are need of an item, you might also advertise that need. For example, someone in our congregation right now needs a recliner. We have been looking in the thrift stores for one, but have not come across one yet. We do not have to use names, just let me or the Pastor know what you need or what you are giving away, and we can advertise it for you. If after a certain period of time, no one responds, then you can donate the item to the thrift store. Also, if an item is not found that someone needs, such as the recliner, then we can all continue in the search for one. Remember, Community Outreach is not my committee, it is Savior Divine s committee. Anyone can schedule a date for the Greater Chicago Food Depository or some other event. Just let us know and we will be sure to put the word out to the congregation. Helping in small ways sometimes makes the biggest impact on lives. As Thrivent said, Every day, life presents opportunities to help someone in need. Dare to be generous. Oops, this article was missed in the annual report. Sorry! Discipleship During the past year, the Discipleship Group has been reading and discussing the book by former legal editor of the Chicago Tribune, Lee Strobel, entitled The Case for Christ. This bestselling book documents this journalist s personal investigation of the evidence for the existence of Jesus, and in fact, that Jesus is the promised Messiah from the Old Testament. Lee Strobel was also a skeptic and considered himself to be an atheist. By legal-like cross-examination of Biblical scholars and experts over the course of two years, Strobel comes to the conclusion that there is overwhelming historical evidence that Jesus is who he claimed to be and was brought to faith and became a follower of Jesus. We will be concluding our study next Sunday. Please consider joining this group for lively discussion and debate as we learn how to continue our Christian journey in our community and today's world. Vicki Doherty

4 4 Winter Coat Drive The Congregation Council at its last meeting decided to collect coats to help people in need this winter who come to. If you would have a coat to donate, you may hang it up on the downstairs coat rack. We are also accepting hats and gloves. Elsie s Food Pantry - Items needed by the Pantry include macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, canned fruit, and cereal. Other types of food are also welcome. The food may be placed in the Amish Pie Safe. Also they need plastic grocery bags. These can also be left in the Pie Safe. SNOW SNOW We ve already had some, and more is sure to be on the way. Don t forget to give a donation to the Snow jar. THANKS! Time for a Change unfortunately with this change we lose an hours sleep. Remember to change your clocks at 2 a.m. on March 13th (ha ha like anyone does it that hour). It is Spring Ahead time so set them an hour ahead. Don t be late for church or we will know your forgot. BOB GOOD Bob Honored with Distinguished Alumni Award On January 28, a banquet was held and Bob was presented the Argo Distinguished Alumni Award for He was given a very nice award and some other Argo gifts. In addition, his picture will be hung on the Argo Wall of Fame, and a brick with his name in it will be placed at the base of the school flag pole. On January 29, he was invited to speak to the classes at Argo. Later that night he was recognized once again at the annual Alumni Night. He was very honored to be recognized as an Argonaut. Bob had attended Argo as a student from In the Fall of 1979, he assumed the position of Director of Bands at Argo and taught there for 33 years, retiring in During those years, the Argo Band Program grew and earned numerous awards and recognitions. In addition, he was District 1 President and member of the State Board of the Illinois Music Educators Association. He was selected as Chicagoland Music Educator of the year in 2011 and was inducted into the American School of Band Directors Association. Congratulations Bob!

5 March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30 Prayer Group Worship Planning 1 p.m :30 Elsie s Panatry :30 Combined Serv. MVCC 3-5 p.m H/H Presbyterian 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m No Worship Schedule March/April 2016 DATE ASSISTANT LECTOR REMOTE BREAD USHERS COUN- TER 3/6 Fourth Sunday of Lent Jill Cottrell Karen ALTAR Bev Yazumbek 3/13 Fifth Sunday of Lent Bob Diane Chathas Jeff Psolla 3/20 Jill Jackie Palm//Passion Sunday Cottrell Bellettiere 3/25 Friday Sandy Wackenhuth Matt 3/27 Resurrect of our Lord Sue Adamek Jeri Edwards Tery Jackie Bellettiere Bev Yazumbek 4/3 Second Sunday of Easter Paul Wackenhuth Elaine Schmudde Karen Jeff Psolla