July 2010 Let s put it in Perspective

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1 Glory of Christ Lutheran Church Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4040 County Road 101 o. Plymouth, M Office phone Pastor: Rev. Klemet Preus Asst: Jo Ellen Braun Assistant Pastor for Missions: Rev. John Fehrmann Visitation Pastor: Rev. Dean Weibel Organists: Carla Claussen, Zelda Malo, Maddie Marshall & Sarah Miller, Adult Choir Director: Carla Claussen Bell Choir Director: Brenda Richards, Music Coordinator: Zelda Malo, Children s Bell Director: Ellie Leimer July 2010 Let s put it in Perspective I spent two days last week in dismal humidity teaching about the Augsburg Confession to a small but enthusiastic group of Lutherans from Marion Ohio. Currently I am drinking coffee and looking out at the mountains of Utah where I am resting in anticipation of the Higher Things conference held in Logan, beginning this afternoon. There I will speak to I would guess - 80 or so high school kids on the topic of God, Marriage and Sex: in that order. Following that, I rush home and have a baptism Sunday while also preaching and giving the Holy Communion. Then during that week I will give communion to all of my shut-ins about six, visit the widow of a man who passed away ten days ago and have the last make up of my Christian Doctrine class for those who need it anticipating membership since we will receive four new families on July 18. Then on the ninth of July I will travel to Texas to help as the LCMS delegates seek to make decisions which, arguably, will be the most important and potentially far reaching in a couple of decades. Here is your question. Of all these tasks and obligations which is the least important. Think about it. OK. The answer is drinking coffee although I have heard that the salutary effects of that mild stimulant are greater than most of us had thought. Seriously, we need to put the convention into perspective. Of all the things that the church does, and all the things that pastors do, attending conventions pales in comparison to teaching, preaching, baptizing, communing, consoling and the mutual consolation of the brothers as Luther says years from now the gospel taught and proclaimed and sacraments administered will be praised by those who, at the feast of the lamb, credit Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven Church Elders: Carl Harness, Bud Hitchcock, Dave Koosman, Garry McCreary, Mike Olson, Jason Paradis, Ben Rolf and Mark Swenson. ******************** President of Congregation: Christian Preus Treasurer: David Teske Secretary: Brenda Richards Church Council: Kim Diemand, Travis Dorweiler, Eileen Esget, Tim Lavanger, Russ McBroom, Andy Madson, Marcus Olson& Brenda Richards. ******************** Church Office Hours: Pastor is in the office Monday through Thursday. (He can also be reached anytime on his cell at ) Church Office Telephone: (763) Church joellen@gloryofchrist.org Church Fax: (763) Pastor s Home Telephone: (763)

2 them for their current blissful circumstances. And the 2010 Convention of the synod will be unremembered and unextolled. Having said that, I believe that the convention, and many conventions, do play a role in making the ministry more or less possible. We can do things which encumber the word or make us frustrated, or divide us or distract us and we need to avoid that. And we can do things which energize us, potentially unite us and make us hopeful. I believe that we have the capacity at a convention to fulfill the prayer, that thy word as becometh it may not be bound. And if we can do that then the 8 days of heat and humidity in Houston may serve to awaken our synod to encourage pastors and congregations to do the things we all know are the one thing needful. Pray for the delegates that they may elect good leaders and make good decisions that serve to further the church by focuses our attention on the Word and Sacraments of Christ. Klemet Preus GoC book selection for July, 2010 GoC Book Club Next meeting: July 24th, :00 am Perkins Restaurant (494 and Highway 55) The Spiritual Society: What Lurks Beyond Postmodernism? Frederic W. Baue On the Narthex Table From an Amazon Review: The book should be read by anyone, layman, clergy or seminarian, who has lost their way in the morass of spirituality (that has nothing to do with God) and religiosity (pious sentimentality) that abounds these days and that can be found within any denomination. I would also recommend it to those free thinkers who find themselves toying with whatever a popular actor might be experimenting with today and makes them feel good. Although Baue's book is concise,and even easily understood, it has more meat on the bone than most popular books we find when entering the local book store / coffee shop. It is worth the brief time it takes to read it, and the benefits may last forever. In any event, it should encourage you to explore more. It might even get you wondering if the idea (being sold today by some with a dark agenda) that there are no absolute truths isn't true at all. On the Narthex Table for $15.00

3 Church Council Update The Church Council has been busy with several items in recent months. Most significantly, the Council has studied the options and costs associated with replacing the church roof. Because of the cost involved, the Council submitted this to the Voters Assembly, which approved borrowing funds to replace the roof. In the weeks to come, the Council will select a contractor to do the work. If all goes according to plan, we hope to have a new roof by the end of the summer. The Church Council has also studied the financial viability of a new sound system recommended by the Elders. This is a five-phase project that will significantly improve our current sound system and give us far more flexibility and capability when making audio and video recordings of Church events. The funding for all five phases is included in the loan approved by the Voters Assembly. A big thanks goes to the Board of Elders for their research and recommendation. A new webpage for Glory of Christ is in the works. This complements the upgrading of our sound system, and should help with evangelism and other church activities. The Church Council has also followed up on the congregational survey conducted last year. Two committees have been appointed: a Children / Youth Committee and an Evangelism / Domestic Missions Committee. It is anticipated that both committees will begin their work soon. The Council also appointed and Endowment Fund Advisory Board, to begin the efforts for raise funds for and eventually assist in the management of the Endowment Fund. One more notable action by the Church Council is the appointment of a Building and Grounds Committee. The initial focus of this Committee will be to address landscaping and maintenance issues that need attention. We have been getting behind on a few things. This Committee would greatly appreciate anyone willing to volunteer a few hours this summer to help with the work needed to maintain the church property. Look for announcements for opportunities to help, or ask Andy Madson or any other member of the Church Council. Christian Preus President, Glory of Christ

4 Services in the months of July July 4 and 5, The fifth Sunday in Trinity : The Epistle is the well known passage in I Corinthians which discusses wisdom and power and concludes that the proclamation of Christ crucified is of greater value than all worldly wisdom and all worldly power. During July we will follow divine service I. There will be services on July 5 July 11 and 12, the Sixth Sunday of Trinity: The Epistle lesson from Romans 6 is one of the greatest and post encouraging passages in the Bible about Baptism. It tells us to trust our baptism both for our identity as Christians and for the strength to live like Christians. Pastors Preus and Fehrmann will be in Houston at the synod convention. Pastor Weibel will preach. July 18 and 19, the seventh Sunday of Trinity: Sin causes death in two ways. It leads to hell for those who do not learn to repent. And it leads to more and more sin and more and more misery and death for those around us. But the gift of eternal life has the opposite effect. So says Paul in Romans 6 the second half of the chapter. Come and hear how this is true. July 25 and 26, the Eighth Sunday of Trinity: We looked at the passage immediately after this text (Romans 8:12-17) on June 27. The whole chapter is about living like triumphant Christians in the face of a world which seems to defeat us every day. So can we be confident not only of the ultimate victory in heaven but also here and now? Yes. The text tells us why.

5 July 4th July 11th July 18th 25-Jul COFFEE SERVERS: Koosman E. Walter M. Olson B. Larson Koosman A. Walter D. Olson J. Larson ACOLYTES: 9:00 AM S. Olson D. Corey M. Swenson ELDERS: 9:00 AM C. Hartness M. Swenson M. Swenson J. Paradis M. Olson J. Paradis D. Koosman D. Koosman USHERS: 9:00 AM D. Werts J. Fahnhorst H. Braun L. Albers J. Olson M. Lindh J. Braun Z. Albers ALTAR GUILD; J. Koosman C. McCreary J. Larson P. Hemingway K. Swenson S. Torkelson G. McGriff M. Scharlau OFFERING C. Smith C. Kuenzel J. Eickhoff K. Rudeen COUNTERS: C. Smith D. Kuenzel J. Eickhoff J. Franzmeier BREAD BAKER C. Smith S. Edenborg G. McGriff C. Zitzlsperger BREAD DELIVERER C. Smith B. Schoolman J. Preus C. Hartness

6 7/03/000 Todd Zitzlsperger Birthday 7/04/000 Hal and Jo Ellen Braun Anniversary 7/06/000 Ben & Dawn Rolf Birthday 7/09/000 Brenda Richards Birthday 7/10/000 Jim and Jean Small Anniversary 7/14/000 Samantha Olson Birthday 7/18/000 Juanita Miranda Birthday 7/21/000 Andy Madson Birthday 7/21/000 Robbie Richards Birthday 7/23/000 Jacob MCCreary Birthday 7/23/000 Michael Diemand Birthday To fellow members of Glory of Christ and Pastor Preus: Thank you so very much for your prayers, cards, and outpouring of love shown us during Chuck's illness and now at this time of loss. Thank you to all the ladies who provided food and their time at the wonderful luncheon following the funeral. Also, a special thank you to the Youth Choir for the beautiful cross they gave me. Our family was so touched by your kindness. We rejoice that Chuck is with our Lord in Heaven. In His Love, the Heeren family

7 Glory of Christ Lutheran Church Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4040 State Hwy. 101 No. Plymouth, MN Office: (763) Rev. Klemet Preus Pastor Jo Ellen Braun Admin Asst. Service Schedule Sunday Services 8:00 & 10:30 am Bible Class 9:15 am Summer Schedule Begins May 30th Sunday Service 9:00 am Bible Class 10:20 am

8 Upcoming Event Dates Event Date Time Annual GOC 8/21/10 4:00 pm Golf Tournament Glory of Christ Annual Open Golf Tournament Golfers of all abilities are being recruited to play in the annual Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held on Saturday, August 21st at 4:00 pm at the Hollydale Golf Club in Plymouth. Please mark your calendars. Please sign up in the Narthex. Bethesda Thrift Shop - is open in their new location at Highway 7 and 101 in Minnetonka, close to the Cub Store and part of the Westwind Plaza. It is bigger and better, please come and check it out. Donations are accepted and appreciated at the back door behind the shop (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday). The store would like to expand their hours and days of operation so more volunteers would be appreciated. Contact Ed/Arta Walter at or Ruth Decker at for more information. Glory of Christ continues to work the 4th Saturday of each month, it would be nice to have a few extra people to join us.