messenger contents 3 Children s Ministry Update 6 may 2017 PASTOR S LETTER excuses? Joyful Faith Circle 2 Men s Club Corner 5

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1 PASTOR S LETTER excuses? What follows is a devotion I read that comes from Lutheran Hour Ministries. I encourage you to go to their website and sign up to have their daily devotions sent to your computer. This particular devotion struck a chord with me and I wanted to share it with you. It s based on 1 John 1:8-9. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:8-9 You've seen it; I've seen it: people who are driving their cars and trucks while they are texting. We noted these drivers because there was something "off" in the way they handled their vehicles. Maybe they were driving too slow or too fast; maybe they were weaving from side to side; maybe they kept sitting at the stop light after the red light had turned green. There was always something which gave us a warning. That was the way it was for the anonymous female caller who phoned two Texas counties to report a driver who continued to text even as his white pickup swerved from one side of the road to the other. The police dispatched cars to intercept the dangerous pickup, but it was too late. Even as the squad cars were on their way, they received another call that said the pickup had been in an accident. It was an accident which took the lives of 13 church people: 13 seniors aged 61 to 87. Now, if we could ask the 20-year-old truck driver why he had done such a thing, he would probably, and most sincerely, say, he had never intended for such a tragic accident to happen; he didn't think what he had been doing was that bad; he had only taken his eyes off the road for a minute, and although he knew other people should never text and drive, he thought he could. You know, I imagine if I could visit with Adam and Eve after the fall into sin, they probably would have come up with a similar list. I know, over the years, many others have come up with a similar list after sin had brought tragedy into their lives and the lives of those around them. I know I have used that fine-sounding list myself; maybe you have too. Here's the problem: God isn't interested in our lists of excuses. He doesn't want to hear our justifications and explanations of why we have done wrong. The Lord wants two things from us. First, He wants us to come clean and confess our wrongdoing. Then, after He sees a repentant heart, He is able to offer forgiveness, which takes us to the second thing the Lord wants. He wants us to rejoice in the forgiveness His Son won for us and all of humanity on the cross and at the empty tomb. Scripture is plain: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Now let me ask, How has your worship life been? Have you taken every opportunity to be built up with Word and Sacrament that God has offered to keep you strong in the faith? The fact is, too many members of our church family are too rarely seen. Might you be one of those? Please note what God is saying: He will forgive us when we confess our sins; not make excuses for them. The past is the past. With the priceless gift of His forgiveness, we move forward with a new resolve to faithfully receive His blessings as we start each week, gathering with our church family in His house. In His name, Pastor Mark messenger may 2017 Joyful Faith Circle 2 Men s Club Corner 5 3 Children s Ministry Update 6 Bless Those Who Bless Us 4 May Confirmation 7 Calendar of Events Birthdays & Anniversaries Raising Christian Kids KICK News contents

2 Joyful Faith circle SUBMITTED BY JANIE RHODY Thrivent grant received to provide lunch for the Christ Lutheran School s Track and Field Day on May 12th. Carol has already purchased hot dogs. She will again do the shopping and purchasing for this event. Cookies will be bought this year although members are free to provide homemade ones if desired. (Please let Carol know if you will be making cookies.) Blessing Baskets discussed. We will provide a fruit basket to the free clinic this April along with church brochures and a thank you card. Help with Lenten suppers was more sparse this year. Less individuals helped with food and labor. A church picnic for this summer was considered. No one has volunteered to chair the picnic. Last year KICK put on the picnic as a fundraising activity with many games and activities. KICK also solicited many gift certificates and prizes for the kids. This year they are unable to sponsor this event. In the past, church picnics were done with an outdoors church service and potluck with a BYO meat, grills provided. Possibility of Joyful Faith providing a meat along with a regular pot luck considered. Topic tabled until next month after the Men s Club has met and, hopefully, discusses it. In Bible study we were encouraged to put ourselves into Sarah and Abraham s position and ponder how we would have endured these struggles. Many shared their own struggles and how their faith grew. Times of testing refine our faith, making it genuine and allow us to give God glory, honor and praise. Max Lucado Next meeting is May 17th. We will learn from Rehab the prostitute. Next month: All women are invited and encouraged to attend! Wednesday, may 17th at 9:30am MEN S CLUB Corner Thank you! MEN S BIBLE STUDY: Monday, April 17th: Colossians 1:15-17: Christian metaphysics. NEXT BIBLE STUDY: Monday, May 15th at 6:30pm: Colossians 1:18ff: Christ the Head of the Church. To Dave and VeeAnn Solum for coordinating, preparing, serving and cleaning up the Wednesday night Lenten dinners. We appreciate all of your hard work! Future Event Calendar: Saturday, May 6, :00am Breakfast Meeting June 12-16, 2017 Canada Fishing Trip mark your calendar! Annual Fishing Contest June 2nd,

3 CHILDREN S MINISTRY update SUBMITTED BY LINDA KUECHLE CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for Me will find it. - Mahew 16:25 Spreading Jesus message of love, forgiveness and eternal life is our most important mission. Never doubt how powerful God and His Word are to giving hope, peace and joy. When we do not know what to do, or where to start, pray for God to open our eyes, mind and heart to serve! God wants us to use our talents and resources for His glory. PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN: Lessons: God s Servant Stephan: Acts Chapters 6 and 7 Philip and the Ethiopian: Acts 8:28-39 Conversion of Paul: Acts Chapter 9 1ST THRU 5TH GRADE LESSONS/ACTIVITIES: Doubting Thomas (game) Faith in the Living Christ (skit) Come Alive (cooking) Memory Verse: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 Scripture Reference: John 21:24-29 Sometimes, the things I do turn out right. Other times, everything is a big mess. No matter how life is going, place your trust in God. Remember He is always with you, in the ordinary and not so ordinary life. God can help! Be certain of God s love, and confident that nothing is too hard for Him. In response, may we be willing to serve, even when the job is tough. God wants us to work for Him; we do not have to be afraid. There is great reward for those who believe! SPECIAL NOTE: Last day of Sunday School is May 21st Be faithful, even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelaon 2:10 3

4 BLESS THOSE W HO BL ESS OT HER S Please consider giving a church donation to Bless Those Who Bless Others. There is a basket in the narthex. Once a month we will be recognizing groups within our community and thanking them with gifts. In March we blessed our Christ Lutheran Church Sunday school teachers. In April the Joyful Faith Group blessed the Free Clinic of Chippewa Falls with a fruit basket, goodies and cards. In May we will be blessing the school bus drivers. Way to go CLC family! Over the summer, we are hoping that different CLC groups will coordinate a month to bless a local group. If you feel called to serve on this project, please contact the church office for more information. MAY conf irmat ion Acolyte Schedule: 5/7: Meal Providers: Alisha Sommerfeld/Ethan Schlageter 5/3: 5/10: Sommerfeld (last class for 6th/7th grades) Pastor Homp (class for 8th grade only) Congratulations to Alisha Sommerfeld and Ethan Schlageter for their hard work in preparing to confirm the faith that they were baptized into. Their confirmation examinations will be held on Sunday, May 14th and Wednesday, May 17th during church services. Their confirmation will take place on Sunday, May 21th. NEEDED suppl ies } 4 Coffee Cookies Napkins 8 & 12 oz styrofoam cups 6 inch styrofoam plates Hot chocolate mix packets Regular & Decafe Tea Rectangular Divided Styrofoam Plates Decaffeinated Coffee Liquid Dish Detergent

5 CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH May Birthdays and Anniversaries CELEBRATE WITH US FOLLOWING SUNDAY SERVICE MAY 21ST Irie Christensen 3 Robert & Mary Jo Buss 4 Jack Zwiefelhofer 5 Raymond Smith 6 Gayle Johnson 10 Jessica Pitsch 10 Jordan Bergevin 11 Elger Anderson 12 Bryan Bedford 12 Mike & Kayla Bodine 15 Josh & Laura Zwiefelhofer 15 Jamie Polzin 16 Jerry & Andrea Eslinger 19 Richard Winger 19 Barbara Marek 21 Kennedy Staats 21 Richard Bergevin 22 Alisha Sommerfeld 22 Breanna Freed 22 Logan Langel 23 Allen & Linda Bateman 24 Sandie Kohlhepp 24 Dan Alexander 25 Bryan & Stephanie Thompson 28 Angela Christensen 28 Shawn Rowe 28 Shelby Christensen 29 Eric Walters 30 Linda Salow 31 ADDITIONAL Information and dates may USHERS Dan Rhody Bill Greenwood Marvin Opsahl april FINANCIALS Monthly Contributions Needed: $11, Income Received for the Month of April: $13, april GIFTS Received from Marcie Greenwood in Honor of Muriel Shervey s 90th Birthday. prayer CHAIN church WEBSITE If you find a need for prayer in your life or in the life of a friend, you are invited to put our Prayer Chain to use. Please call Marcie Greenwood at: christlutheranchippewafalls.com Check it out! Access this newsletter, most recent Sunday sermon, worship times, church facebook page and much more. contact INFO CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 467 E. Colome Street Chippewa Falls, WI secretary4clc@gmail.com PASTOR MARK HOMP mhompster1@gmail.com 5

6 raising Christian kids SUBMITTED BY JANIE RHODY Kids of all ages love music and singing. Ever thought about how much theology we learn from songs? From Jesus Loves the Little Children to This Little Light of Mine kids can learn important Christian values and attitudes. It only takes having the songs available. Don t have a great voice? The kids don t care; they love your voice (until they re preteens and older). The kids don t want to learn verses? Put the verses to music and the kids will learn them despite themselves. Better yet find verses someone else has already put to music! Trouble getting the kids to settle down to sleep at bedtime? Play soft, calming songs for them to fall asleep to. Need enthusiasm with chores? Yup, turn up energetic music and everyone moves faster. Don t think you can afford to buy kids music? How about drinking tap water at the restaurant or fast food instead of coffee, soda or bottled water. Skip it at the gas stations and vending machines, too. Within a couple weeks you ll be able to afford buying music. Or, check the library, both public and church, trade with other parents, be creative. Let music do your work for you! Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs. -Psalms 100:2 K.I.C.K. news! SUBMITTED BY JANIE RHODY March s outreach event for K.I.C.K. was a visit to Lake Hallie Memory Care. The kids happily sang Easter songs. Afterward there were kid made fleece blankets to handout. The residents were so grateful. Some were even teary eyed! No matter how much of a memory problem someone has, they still love children and appreciate soft, useful gifts! The fleece used in making the throws for the residents was made possible by a grant from Thrivent secured by Amber Alexander. Plus, a lot of hard work by her, the K.I.C.K. kids, and the K.I.C.K. teachers. 6 Needed: Fellowship treats Please consider bringing in treats for fellowship following service on Sundays. There is a sign-up sheet located outside the kitchen in the fellowship hall. K.I.C.K. Classes for 3-11 years old will be held through Wednesday May 17th

7 CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :30PM CLS Spring Program & Art Fair 3 4:30PM Confirmation 5:30-6:30PM K.I.C.K. (3-11 years old) Service 4 5 may :00AM Men s Club Breakfast/ Meeting 7 9:30AM Worship/SS/ Communion 10:50AM Bible Study 8 9:00AM Peacemakers 5:30PM Bible Study 9 7:00PM CLS School Board Mtg 10 5:30-6:30PM K.I.C.K. (3-11 years old) Service/Communion 11 4PM-7PM CLS/ Down To Earth Friends & Family Event 12 CLS Track and Field Day :30AM Worship/SS CONFIRMATION EXAMINATION 10:50AM Bible Study 15 9:00AM Peacemakers 5:30PM Bible Study 6:30PM Men s Bible Study :30AM Joyful Faith Circle 5:30-6:30PM K.I.C.K. (3-11 years old) Service CONFIRMATION EXAMINATION :30AM Worship/SS/ Communion CONFIRMATION SUNDAY BIRTHDAY & ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 22 9:00AM Peacemakers 5:30PM Bible Study Newsletter Submissions Due to the Church Office Service/Communion :30AM Worship DEACONS & ELDERS MEETING 29 HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY Service 7