The Lamp. Grace Lutheran Church. Growing in Grace Making Christ Known. Pastor s Pew

Transcription

1 May 2016 Edition The Lamp Grace Lutheran Church Growing in Grace Making Christ Known Pastor s Pew Season s Greetings, No, my greeting above isn t a misprint. No, my calendar isn t broken. I m just merely thrilled that it seems as though spring has sprung! This past winter wasn t particularly harsh, by most standards, but it s nonetheless a wonderful joy to know it s behind us. I am writing this very letter enjoying the breeze through the open window in my office. Enjoying the birds darting past and singing in the sun as it strikes our (now) green courtyard. Enjoying the Cubs game on the radio (albeit enjoying it more if the score was different, but we can t have it all I guess). This all reminds me how much I truly am amazed at the creation that God has blessed us with, and everything that lives in it. Spring is that special time where animals appear, plants grow and life abounds. None of this comes as a surprise when we consider how it is that we usher in spring with the celebration of new life in Easter. After the death of winter, creation springs forth anew in spring. We experience this resurrection in the very world around us, and I can t help but enjoy it. Best of all I am reminder that, like spring, Easter is an entire season of the church year. We take an entire season to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, and with it, the resurrection of all of God s creation, including us! I pray that you experience the joy that comes with the renewed life found the passing of winter and death, giving way to spring and Easter life! Alleluia! Peace, Pr. Zak Wagner

2 Grace at a Glance: May Edition Mother s Day Is May 8 th! Join us as we give thanks for all of the women who have made our lives that much more special with their presence. We will pray for mothers past, present and future that they may know what a gift they are to all. Calling All Of Grace s Smiling Faces! We still need you to sign up to be in the photo directory! The schedule for photography is: DAY: TIME: Thursday, May 19 th 2 PM - 9 PM Friday, May 20 th 1 PM - 7 PM Saturday, May 21 st 10 AM - 4 PM The Studio will be located in the Fellowship Hall. Every session includes a complimentary copy of the completed directory and a free 8x10 portrait. There are 2 ways to secure your appointment: In-Person Sunday Mornings After Worship -or- (Just Follow The Link On The Left-hand Side) Pentecost/Confirmation Sunday Is May 15 th. Please join us for this special Sunday wherein we celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit and lift up the youth of our congregation as they come forward to affirm their baptismal promises. This year we celebrate 5 students who will be stepping into adulthood in their church. These students include: Jaden Christian, Katie Kucharski, Jenny Kucharski, Allison Moyers & Jordyn Reents. Thanks be to God for all of their hard work over these past 3 years of confirmation instruction! Book Group will continue to meet regularly as they finish their discussion of Mitch Albom s 5 People You Meet In Heaven. We will then turn our attention to our final book until the fall, C.S. Lewis classic The Screwtape Letters. A classic masterpiece of religious satire that entertains readers with its sly and ironic portrayal of human life and foibles from the vantage point of Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to "Our Father Below." At once wildly comic, deadly serious, and strikingly original, C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters is the most engaging account of temptation and triumph over it ever written. Copies of this book will be available for purchase through Pr. Zak at a cost of $5. All are welcome to join the conversation! Grace Hosting Wilmington Unity Worship Service On Sunday May 29 6PM. The Wilmington Pastor s Association hosts a Unity Worship Service on the 5 th Sunday of every month (that has one) and Grace is hosting it this month. Come and join the pastors and parishioners of the Wilmington Community as we together in worship. Worship will take place in the courtyard (weather permitting) as we take time to give thanks for God s church in all places and for those who have served our country on this Memorial Day weekend. Be sure to bring a blanket or chair to sit on! Pastor Jeff Urban of Christian Faith Center will be delivering our message. All are welcome! Barnyard Roundup VBS Is Coming! This year Grace has the honor of hosting the community Vacation Bible School. It is taking place June 13 th -17 th (9-Noon). Our theme this year is Barnyard Roundup: Jesus Gathers Us Together. Volunteers are crucial to making this process a success for all of the children who participate. Please consider volunteering to making Grace the best barn in town! All gifts and talents are welcome from teaching and crafts to kitchen and music! If you would like to help please contact Farmer Ziller for more details! Also be on the lookout for opportunities to donate supplies for VBS, wish-lists will be made available later in the month. New Members Sunday Is June 5 th! On this day we will welcome in all of those who wish to become rostered (i.e. voting) members of Grace Lutheran Church, as we pray with them as they take this step in the faith life. We will invite all of those forward who wish to join this congregation that we may encourage them in prayer and affirmation of our shared baptismal promises. If you are interested in finding out more about what it means to become a rostered member of the church, please contact Pr. Zak by May 23 rd so that time can be taken to have this important conversation. Also, if you are considering joining the church, please be sure to sign up for the church directory so that we may include your smiling face in this important congregational resource!

3 Grace Lutheran Church 907 Luther Drive Wilmington, IL Growing in Grace Making Christ Known Check out our website We re also on Facebook so like Grace today! Sunday Worship: 9:00a.m. Church Office Hours: Sunday School: 10:15a.m. Office Phone (Sept. - May) Mon.-Wed. 9a.m.-Noon Thurs. 8a.m.-11a.m. Fri. 8a.m.-Noon Pastor Zak Wagner pastor@gracewilm.org & Office office@gracewilm.org

4 Join the team! Visit the website: Click on donate and select Grace s team and/or any of the participants. The Relay for Life this year is at the Braidwood Park on June 4th from 2 p.m. until midnight. If you just want to take a nice walk, no need to join the team...just come out and visit that day, maybe have dinner with us, listen to some music, and/or join in the activities. This is a kid friendly event. At the church, the last two Sundays in May, we will be selling Luminaria at the church. They are $10 ear, and a great way to remember those who fought and those still fighting cancer. Thanks to all who donated during last Sunday s coffee hour, participated in the Painting Party and who attended the Norwex party. Your support is appreciated. Questions?? Please see Jackie Danalewich or Lynn Stehlik. Grocery Receipts Do you have any grocery receipts from Bellettini s? If so, you could help out the church by turning them in here at Grace. Bellettini s pay a 1% rebate on all receipts we turn in. They generously do this for all the non profits in town. If you could turn your receipts in to Grace, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you! In Our Prayers Members: Cindy Filas, Kim & Jim Bell, Arlene Hankins, Guy Warke, Susan Trimby, Teresa Klager & Marlene Brusa Friends and Family of Grace: Lorraine Stankus (Mother of Mary Kucharski), Christine (Deb Claar s mother), Kathie & Joe Parton (Kim Bell s parents), Kathy Jarosch (niece of the Warkes), Charles Thompason (Denis Graf s father), Gayle (cousin of Jackie Danalewich), Josh Faillo (friend of Joyce James), Paul Christian (Marie Christian s son), Lorraine M. (sister-in-law of Karen Nielsen), Marjorie H. (friend of Karen Nielsen), Deb D. (co-worker of Karen Nielsen), Sabrina Conforti (J. Danalewich), Donna (Bruce Elsner s cousin), Dustin Marcum (friend of Ray Family), James Winker (Christy Ziller s brother), Matt Prodehl (son-in-law of Dan Bell), Blake Shirey & Family, Home-bound: Lois Marshall (Miller Nursing Home); June Tanck (Our Lady of Angels, Joliet); Dolly Hoover (Sunny Hill, Joliet), Joann Thompson; Jean Goodwin

5 Our trip to the Exploration Station was a huge success! The bus ride was one of the many highlights, and the Exploration Station was wonderful. We had so much fun coming to Preschool Sunday. It was wonderful to see everyone and sing for them. All of our practicing paid off! Pastor Zak's story was great and the "noisy" offering was fun! We appreciate all of the donations. Our year end party is soon and it s amazing that Graduation is already upon us. Graduation is May 18th at 6:30pm. Everyone is welcome to join us. We are accepting registrations for the upcoming school year. Please pass along the news! I want to thank Grace Lutheran members for the support they have shown the preschool. It is great to be partnered with such a great congregation. Mary Kay Hays, Preschool Director Missionary for a Day 05/01 Earl & Sharon Folkestad In Celebration of Todd & Katie s Anniversary 05/01 Dee & Bruce Elsner In Celebration of their daughters 05/01 Jim & Arlene Hankins In Celebration of Tracy Harding s Birthday 05/02 Frank & Doris Dickey In Celebration of Doris Birthday 05/08 Joyce Stranich In Memory of Loved Ones 05/17 Roy & Bonnie Hill In Celebration of Nick & Zack Cieslak s Birthdays 05/21 Jackie Danalewich In Celebration of her Birthday 05/29 Marie Christian In Memory of Jerry s Birthday 05/30 Gary Gruhn In Honor of Memorial Day Birthdays for May /02 Doris Dickey 05/03 Olivia Blackburn 05/03 Maryann Ricken 05/08 Joyce Stranich 05/14 Megan Winebaugh 05/16 Leaha Salazar 05/18 Tommy Oaks 05/19 Scott Christian 05/19 Marcia Mandac 05/21 Jackie Danalewich 05/24 Marsha Keller 05/27 Ken Winebaugh Anniversaries ~ May /02 Joyce & Dan Stanich 05/03 Nancy & John O Brien 05/14 Gina & Mitch Wills 05/30 Paula & Kevin Webb

6 The People of Grace - May Report Known to Have Been Hospitalized or Undergo Medical Care Kim & Jim Bell and Kim s parents Kathie & Joe Parton New Parents Matt & Jamie (nee Dzak) Hauert at the birth of their son, Kolton David Hauert on April 5 th. Thanks be to God for the wonderful gift of new life and blessing to the new family! The Bereaved Family, friends and loved ones of Phyllis Enright (friend of Helen Warke). Mission Moment As the body of Christ we witness to the presence of the resurrected Lord at Grace Lutheran, but we are also called to serve the larger body of Christ around the world. Every month we will celebrate the ways in which we engage the larger ministry of the church outside of our 4 walls. This month we give thanks for the work of the People of Grace and the Confirmation Class for their efforts in assembling School Kits for Lutheran World Relief. Thanks to the generosity of the congregation, the Confirmands were able to assemble over 50 kits during their lock-in on April 22 nd. Each kit included over 9 different school supplies necessary to ensure that children across the world will have the essentials needed in order to get an education. This mission project was shared with the Faith Lutheran Joliet Confirmation Class who likewise assembled over 50 Personal Care Kits at the lock-in. What a wonderful way for our churches to share in our joint call to mission. We will bless our kits this fall when we package them to be sent out. Thanks to all who helped make this mission project such a success! Thanks be to God for the ministry at Grace and the larger church! Confirmation Corner What a busy month it has been. Classes have resumed on Wednesday nights as we continue to study the stories and people of the Old Testament. Our lock-in on April 22 nd was a great success as 16 students from Grace Lutheran & Faith Lutheran (Joliet) gathered to discuss our baptismal call and the importance of living out that call in Confirmation and beyond (the official theme was Let Your Light Shine ). Over 50 LWR School Kits were packed at the lock-in where we also roasted marshmallows in the courtyard, played hideand-seek and even slept a bit too! The 8 th graders to be confirmed on May 15 th have been working hard on the Personal Faith Statements, which will be shared with the congregation during worship on May 1 st. Summer is just around the corner, and with it...campfirmation!!! There is plenty to be thankful as we get ready for the (welldeserved) summer break! Community Service Help Needed! The Properties Team are looking for volunteers to come and help guide individuals who are working around the church for community service. No experience needed, just a willingness to give a few hours to oversee our volunteers and to guide them in their service. Lists of jobs to be completed will be provided. Please see Properties Co-Chairs Cindy Filas or Jim Hankins for more details.