Grace Lutheran Church is a caring community of disciples, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. July 2017

Transcription

1 Grace Lutheran Church is a caring community of disciples, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. July 2017

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6 Kiitos Paljon Thank You, Joe DeForge and Cara Wightman, for cleaning the ceiling fan in the sanctuary. Birthdays Macy Raffaelli 2 Elaine Aro 3 Liam Jeannotte 3 Robert Kamppinen 4 Tammy Harju 4 Katie Tormala 5 Tom Savola 6 Jolene Jenkins 6 Patty Savola 7 Eric Jackowski 8 James Maierle 8 Rick Verran 9 Tony Juntunen 13 Jenna Anderson 14 Eleanor Maki 22 Bruce Rundman 22 Carol Stevens 23 Alanna Sweeney 27 Delores Keranen 28 Donald Rule 31 Anniversaries Randy & Laurie Aho 6 Rick & Tina Verran 12 Rob & Michelle Jeannotte 16 Roger & Tina Puska 17 Ralph & Betty Tapani 21 Jim & Sarah Hanner 26 Our kitchen is currently in need of coffee. This is a great way for our church to save a little money by having members help supply our needs. There will be a box for items donated in the Narthex. Dish soap, sugar, bottled creamer, paper plates, napkins, and paper towels are also appreciated. Notes from the office Would you like to start receiving a weekly devotion from the church office on Mondays? Please send Katie your name and address. Newsletter items are due in the office the last week of the month. Please save your Econo receipts and return them to a box in the library. Grace receives 1% of the total receipts. If we do not have your birthday or anniversary, please let us know. Quilters Wednesday, July 5 th and 19 th Knit, Pray, Crochet Every Tuesday, 1:00pm All are welcome.

7 Wednesday Mornings Cup of Grace at 10:00am Bible Study at 11:00am Cup of Grace and Bible Study will continue throughout the summer months. Join us every Wednesday for some enjoyable coffee conversations followed by a bible study on the upcoming Sunday Gospel reading. If you are unable to make it, but would still like a copy of the bible study, please let Katie know. July Worship Text & Pulpit Supply Sunday, July 2 Pam Long Matthew 10:40-42 Welcome Christ in those Christ sends Sunday, July 9 Rev. Bob Langseth Matthew 11:16-19, The yoke of discipleship Grace Lutheran Church, South Range Saturday, Nov. 4 th 9am to 2pm. We are asking for donations of gently worn, clean clothing, with an emphasis on children s winter clothing. Please bring your donations to Grace Lutheran in South Range, starting Oct. 1 st. Remember, all clothing is FREE! Sunday, July 16 Bruce Johanson Matthew 13:1-9, The parable of the sower and the seed Sunday, July 23 Cheryl Stimac Matthew 13:24-30, The parable of the weeds Sunday, July 30 Kelly Ylitalo Matthew 13:31-33, 4-52 Parables of the reign of heaven

8 Sunday, August 6 th 11:00am Outdoor Worship at Grace with a picnic to follow. Bring a dish to pass, and your lawn chair. Hotdogs, the fixings, drinks, plates and silverware will be provided. Hope to see you there! Welcoming Ways (from NGLS Resources) Often, one of the first words congregations use to describe themselves is friendly. However, the experience of several Sneaky Visitors has shown many of our congregations to be less friendly than they think. Being friendly and welcoming goes beyond the look that acknowledges a new face, and beyond a smile from across the room. It even goes beyond the greeters who welcome people at the door, and beyond the ushers who hand out bulletins. Friendliness is measured just as much in the small talk that happens as worshippers wait to exit the sanctuary or gather for coffee in the Fellowship Hall. It is perhaps the fault of our stoic ancestors that the value of small talk and how to do it has not been a priority. However, conversing with people we have only just met does require some intentionality, and yes, friendliness. In the next few months, there will be a few tips on talking with visitors coming to wordship with us here at Grace Lutheran.

9 Love your neighbor as yourself. If you are aware of anyone that is in need of a home visit, please contact Katie at May we pray for you? If you know of any prayer concerns, please contact Katie at Grace Lutheran is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that, some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Our Hearts to Their Homes Elaine Aro at home Jan Mikkola at home Nancy Harris at home Delores Paavola at home Eleanor Maki at the Bluffs Amanda Mountjoy at home Susan Koskela at Lighthouse Laurel Johnson at Lighthouse Bill & Sandra Mannisto at home Gentle Reminder The office and financial staff do not work on Sunday mornings. Thanks for respecting their worship time with their families.

10 Service Workers for July Counters Fellowship Ushers July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Katie Bridgers & Still Needed None Heather Aro Karen Johnson None Chris Davis Angela Harju Fellowship hosted by Paul and Sue Slinde J. Baillod Sue Slinde None Jean Simila C. Stimac None Acolyte & Bell Ringer Youth Youth Youth Youth Youth Communion Assistant Reader Chris Davis Carolyn Rundman Chris DeForge Sue Slinde Pulpit Supply Pam Long Bob Langseth Bruce Johanson Cheryl Stimac Kelly Ylitalo passages taken from Unbinding the Gospel Real Life Evangelism We did discover heartening new developments in the study (the study of mainline evangelism), but decades of inattention to an inspiring evangelism that fits mainline theology have consequences we will live with for a long time. Evangelism in our churches is like a yellow Lego piece that skidded unseen under the refrigerator one hot July afternoon. By the time moving day rolls around four years later, that little Lego has collected more fuzzy dust and dog hair than anyone wants to look at! So what dust has our Lego, evangelism, collected during these years of snoozing quietly under the church s refrigerator? We found no rigid formula for success, no quick fix, no silver bullet. Each one of us must enter the great adventure by thinking, learning more, praying and asking God a humble question; Which small things can I do today to help more people know you?

11 June Council Highlights Pam moved that we ok the current list of Call Committee members, and the seven of them should meet ASAP. Janet seconded the motion and all were in favor. The Call Committee members are Joe DeForge, Matt Dompier, Katie Bridgers, Janet Kokko, Jeanie Baillod, Karen Johnson, & Jan Maierle. There is no word if the tenants living in the parsonage found a home to purchase, so we will continue to rent to them monthly for the summer. An FYI from Katie was that she gave permission to Gayle Moore to use our kitchen over Bridgefest weekend. She also parked and plugged in her food truck. A donation was given to cover electrical and water cost, as well as she cleaned up all of the areas she used. There were no objections to letting her use our facilities in the future. Grace Lutheran Congregational Contact Information Volunteer Coordinators Acolytes/Bell Ringers Kaie Bridgers Altar Duty Chris Davis Communion Chris DeForge Counters Marianne Bohjanen Funeral Servers Patty Savola Readers Cheryl Stimac Fellowship Carolyn Rundman Ushers Pam Long Greeters Heather Aro Ride Coordinator Katie Bridgers Office Volunteers Katie Bridgers Gardening Janet Kokko Building & Grounds Maintenance Paul Bridgers Dave Aro Tom Stimac Pennie Makela Joe DeForge Heather Aro Parsonage Maintenance Paul Bridgers Dave Aro Katie Bridgers Cheryl Stimac Grace Lutheran Council Cheryl Stimac (President) Joe DeForge (Vice President) Laurie Aho (Treasurer) Julie Belew (Interim Pastor) Heather Aro (Secretary) Chris Bohjanen ( ) Pam Long ( ) Janet Kokko ( ) Dave Aro ( )

12 Pennie s Pick of the Month Want a homemade effective way to kill grass and weeds growing in sidewalks and between pavers? Make a kitchen vinegar concoction, a mixture of 1 cup salt (about 228 grams) and one gallon (about 3.8 liters) of white vinegar (5% acetic acid) on hardscape will kill most weeds and grasses. To make it even more caustic, add 1 cup (about.28 liters) of lemon juice. To increase sticking power, add 2 tablespoons (about 28 grams) of dish soap. (Pickling vinegar is more acidic than regular white vinegar and probably more effective.) Place in spray bottle for easy application. Repeat as necessary. Be careful not to spray near vegetation you don't want to damage. How To Identify A Genuine Miracle (From The Lutheran Handbook) The term miracle describes something that causes wonder. It is usually used in reference to an event that defies logical explanation and appears to be the work of a higher force, suggesting a reality beyond the five senses. 1. Disregard most minor situations. The facts should indicate a situation of high order, such as one that is life threatening, one involving suffering, or involving an immediate threat. Finding your lost keys does not necessarily constitute a miracle. 2. Look for a lack of predictability. A positive outcome should be needed and wanted, but not expected. Miracles tend to occur out of the blue rather than as the result of an earthly cause, especially a human one. 3. Evaluate the outcome. Miracles achieve a life-giving purpose; they never occur outside the will of God. Suffering is relieved, God is glorified, Jesus presence is made manifest, the lowly are lifted up, evil is thwarted, creation is revealed, or life is saved. The outcome must be regarded as good, according to biblical standards. 4. Look for a divine agency. The ability to make a miracle happen, to guarantee the results, or to take credit for it is beyond human. Often, the event will defy what we know to be true about the laws of nature or probability. If anyone stands to make money or advance an agenda from an event, it is most likely not a miracle. 5. Adopt a wait-and-see perspective. A miracle will still be a miracle later on. Labeling something a miracle too quickly could lead down unhelpful paths, while waiting to make the call pondering the event in your heart will enhance your faith journey. Be Aware 1. The most overlooked miracle is that God shows up in everyday life events and in such ordinary forms as bread, wine, water, words and people. 2. The miracle of life in Jesus Christ is a daily event and should be regarded as a free gift.

13 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4 th :00 Worship Pam Long 10:00 Cup of Grace 11:00 Bible Study 1:00 Quilting 8:00 AA 9 11:00 Worship Rev. Bob Langseth 4:00 to 6:00 Let s Eat :30 Knit, Pray, Crochet Lunch at LaCantina 1:00 Knit, Pray, Crochet 3:00 Call Committee 12 10:00 Cup of Grace 11:00 Bible Study :00 AA :00 Worship Bruce Johnson 12:00 Fellowship hosted by Paul and Sue Slinde 6:30 Prayer Service 1:00 Knit, Pray, Crochet 10:00 Cup of Grace 11:00 Bible Study 1:00 Quilting 8:00 AA :00 Worship Cheryl Stimac 11:00 Worship Kelly Ylitalo 31 1:00 Knit, Pray, Crochet 10:00 Cup of Grace 11:00 Bible Study 8:00 AA

14 Bible Emergency Numbers When in sorrow, call on John 14:1-4 If you want to be fruitful, call on John 15:1-27 When you worry, call on Matthew 6:25-34 When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139:1-18 When your faith needs stirring, call on Hebrews 11:1-14 When you are lonely and fearful, call on Psalm 23:1-6 When you grow bitter and critical, call on 1 Cor. 13:1-13 When you feel down and out, call on Romans 8:1 When you want peace and rest, call on Matt.11:28 Your prayers grow narrow and selfish, call on Psalm 67:1-7 How to get along with fellow men, call on Romans 12:1 If you are depressed, call on Psalm 27:1 If you re losing confidence in people, call on 1 Cor. 13:4-8 If people seem unkind, call on John 15:12-13 When you are sad, call on John 14:1 When people have failed you, call on Psalm 27:1-2 When God feels far from you, call on Psalm 130:1-3 When your faith needs encouraging, call on Hebrews 11:17-40 When you feel you re failing, call on Psalm 121:3-4 When you are scared, call on Psalm 23:4 When you want to do good works, call on John 15:5 When you need courage, call on Joshua 1:7 When you don t feel loved, call on Romans 8:38-39 When you have sinned, call on 1 John 1:8-9 When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:25-34 When you are hurt, call on Colossians 3:12-17 When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39 When you are seeking rest, call on Matthew 11:25-30 When you are suffering, call on Romans 8:18-30 When you pray, call on Matthew 6:9-13 When you are in need, call on Philippians 4:19 When you are losing hope, call on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27 When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17 When you don t understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9 When you want to get along with others, call on Romans 12:9-21

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