The King s Herald. June Vacation Bible School Mark Your Calendars! Church Picnic

Transcription

1 June 2017 Christ the King Lutheran Church Where We Are About God s Grace For God s People Inside this issue: Pastor s Corner 2 Special Senior Luncheon Planned Faith Formation News Offerings & Attendance Summer Educational Opportunities Those Who Serve 10 Calendar 11 Special points of interest: Vacation Bible School Fun Starts June 13th Senior Luncheon Picnic Style Christ the King Is Now A Voting Place Samaritan s Purse Operation Christmas Child Returns Vacation Bible School Mark Your Calendars! This year Christ the King is teaming up with a number of Lutheran churches for summer VBS! The host congregation this year is Trinity Lutheran in Stonington. Due to the distance (about a 30 minute drive), we will be renting a bus to bring our kids and adult leaders back and forth from Escanaba, Rapid River, and Stonington. Trinity pulls out all the stops and is known for hosting wonderful VBS weeks. Trinity will be transforming into an ancient Roman-era building as we focus on Paul and the Underground Church. VBS bus pick-up at Christ the King will be between 8-8:15 AM and we ll be returning shortly after 2:30 PM. Also, VBS will begin on Tuesday, June 13 th and go through Friday, June 16 th. Let s double the population of the Stonington Peninsula this June! Hope to see as many of our young ones as possible there! Enclosed in this newsletter is a registration form let us know if you need more or download the one on our Facebook page. Church Picnic Christ the King s annual picnic will be held at the pavilion in Ludington Park on Sunday, June 11th beginning at 12:00 noon. The church will be providing the meat and beverages. Those planning to attend are asked to bring a dish to pass, your own table service and a lawn chair. John Hendrickson will be smoking chickens and pork for pulled pork sandwiches. We hope that you can join us for good food and fellowship. Games will be planned

2 Page 2 Pastor s Corner Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Not too long ago our Synod Assembly voted to call Pastor Katherine Finegan as the next bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod. It was an assembly that was full of inspirational music, solid preaching, and a chord of hope for the future was strummed again and again. It was also bittersweet, saying goodbye to Bishop Skrenes after 18 years of faithful service yet joyfully looking forward to retirement and joyfully looking forward to find out who the next bishop would be. Keep Bishop Skrenes in your prayers as he and his wife look forward to the freedom retirement brings, but also pray all the more fervently for Bishop-elect Finegan as she takes the reigns and moves into the next stage of her journey of faith. I have a confession to make now though, some of you may already know. It s not a big, bad, dark secret but still something important to know. Yours truly was one of the candidates nominated for bishop. I don t say that to brag, only 8 people voted for me! Know also that I didn t vote once for myself! But I do bring that to your attention because it was so weird knowing my name was on the ballot. I felt guilty letting my name stay on there. For a while I felt as if I was betraying my church. I was warned by colleagues and friends that my name might appear, but I didn t take it seriously. However, when it did happen I also felt honored that some people (as few and far between as they were) thought I might have the qualities/skills to be a bishop. It was one of the weirdest days I ve experienced in a long time, but I m actually glad I left my name in for the running. It was so good for me to be told NO by the Holy Spirit (and by 251 other people too!). In the passage above from Acts, we see how Paul and his companions were told NO by the Holy Spirit in going to Asia (what we now call modern-day Turkey). The Gospel will eventually get there, but now will not be the time for Paul and the others. Why did the Holy Spirit tell them no? Because their gifts and talents and passion for the Lord were needed elsewhere, where they would be more fruitful. It is not without irony and the Lord s sense of humor, but where would Paul and Silas be more fruitful? In the pagan, hedonistic, Greek-speaking world. Wealthy Lydia becomes the first European convert. A prison guard and his whole family become baptized believers. The Gospel will soon cause a riot in Thessalonica. Greek speaking Jews become Christians; highstanding Greek citizens become Christians. Paul even goes the intelligentsia of Athens with the Gospel and calls them, implicitly and explicitly, ignorant! The Spirit s NO was meant for a bigger Yes! This is what I believe the Synod Assembly proved to me: The Holy Spirit

3 Page 3 (overwhelmingly!) DOES NOT want me to be bishop, the Holy Spirit DOES NOT like me entertaining delusions of grandeur, and the Holy Spirit DOES want me to be the best Escanaba pastor I can be. So it is with great joy the Holy Spirit kept me from the calling as bishop and it is with great joy I enter this summer with the hope I have for the future of Christ the King, the Northern Great Lakes Synod, and the mission of Christ s Church throughout the world, but especially here in the U.P.! Your brother in Christ, Pastor Chris Samaritan s Purse Operation Christmas Child We haven t even started enjoying summer yet and we are already looking towards Christmas. Last year we had an awesome response to how we handled our Operation Christmas Child (shoebox) project. You will find a table in the narthex with ideas/information concerning this activity. Each month we will highlight a few items to be collected. For the month of June we are seeking small toys such as. Yo-yo s, Jump Ropes, Balls, Play Doh, Slinky Toys, Small Dolls, Small Stuffed Animals, Cars and Marbles. These are just a few things that we thought of maybe you have some other ideas. Check out their website at for inspirational stories and additional ideas. Church Cleaning Bee Our annual cleaning bee at the church, coordinated by the Property Committee, will be held Saturday, June 3 rd. We ll begin at 9:00 a.m. and wrap it up around 1:00 p.m. Coffee and donuts will be served in the morning and lunch will be provided at noon. There are a variety of jobs large and small that need attention. Please consider giving an hour or two of your time. Church Office Closed Fridays The church office will closed on Fridays for the summer months. Office hours for Monday Thursday will be 9:00-12:00 noon and 1:00 3:30 p.m. Senior s Luncheon Picnic Style Our next Senior Luncheon in June will be the last one until we resume again this fall. We ll be doing something completely different this month as the church will provide the meat and dessert while all those attending are asked to bring a dish to pass. Pasta salads, potato salad or beans are just a few examples of what you can bring. John Hendrickson will be smoking barbecue ribs for us and we all know what a treat it is when John provides the meat. So, please join us on Tuesday, June 13, 12:00 noon as we gather together for good food and fellowship. As always we ask that you let us know if you are coming by signing the back of your worship response card or calling the church office.

4 Page 4 Faith Formation: Confirmation + THANK YOU to Patty Lindstrom for helping teach confirmation this year! We focused on Lutheran theology this year with a brief focus on the Small Catechism. Over the next couple of years we ll be digging deep into the Small Catechism with the Bible near at hand. We re looking forward to a restful summer and to new things God has in store for us next year! +Be sure to get in: Sermon Notes, Bible Study notes, and hour sheets! +Mission Trip Fundraisers: Elmer s Brat/Burger sale ~ We ll be wrapping this up soon! +Mission Trip Meeting: After worship on Sunday, June 4 th Faith Formation: End of the Year Date THANK YOU to the following Sunday School teachers and faith facilitators: Susie Cobb, Kim Heath, Laurie Tufnell, Corey and Elena Kang, Jamie Lippens, Rachel Pascoe Kim Burroughs, Beth Jacobson and Roland Jacobson. Special thanks to Carrie Boudreau who leads and guides this important ministry! Thanks also to everyone who has helped out over the year in whatever ways big or small! Youth Trip Summer 2017 This summer, July 16 th to July 21 st, a number of our confirmation students will be going to the Quad Cities. Four cities in two states form the Quad Cities, located in the heart of the Midwest on the Mississippi River. Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, Moline/ East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois, and surrounding towns make up a bustling metropolitan area that maintains a friendly, small-town feel. The four cities are located right on the Mississippi River at the only place where the river flows East to West. As in previous years, our mission trip will be through Youth Works whose purpose is this: We exist to connect teenagers to God, each other and communities through life-changing Christcentered mission trips. We ll be teaming up with them again this summer. Read more about Youth Works here: Brats/Burgers For The Grill We will continue selling Brats and Burgers as long as there is a need. A bag of (25) brats sell for $20 and the burgers (with or without cheese) sell for $25. Call the church office or sign up on the list posted on the office window. Thank you for your ongoing support of our youth and their upcoming mission trip.

5 Page 5 Synod News Praying for our Bishops As many of you know, after 18 years of faithful service and labor, Bishop Thomas Skrenes will be retiring this coming August. Cards of gratitude to the Synod Office would be warmly received. At this year s Synod Assembly in Marquette, we were led by the Holy Spirit in selecting a new bishop for the Northern Great Lakes Synod: Pastor Katherine Finegan. Please pray for Bishop-Elect Finegan as she gets prepared for bishop duties in September! Also mark on your calendars the day of her installation: Saturday, October 21 st at 1:30 PM in Marquette. Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton, will preside at the installation. Tanzania Youth Trip The Northern Great Lakes Synod will be bringing a group of youth to Tanzania this month! They will be flying out of Green Bay on June 15 th and returning July 2 nd. Our own, Patrick Kempf (son of Lisa Temple) will be embarking on this life changing trip. If you would like to listen to the young adult group sing before they leave, you are more than welcome to come to Bethel Lutheran Church in Menominee for a 6 PM concert on Wednesday, June 14 th. Lay School For Mission One of the great treasures of our synod and conference of churches in Delta County is Lay School. Students have been gathering from around our conference to dive deeper into their life of faith. Be sure to congratulate our Lay School graduates for 2017: Mary Jo Johnson, Lance Lindstrom, and Lisa Temple. Thanks be to God for all your hard work and perseverance over the last 3 years! Lay School will get back in session this Fall please contact Pastor if interested! Altar Guild Workshop The Northern Great Lakes Synod invites and encourages us to have our Altar Guild in tip top shape for the years ahead! Dr. Melinda Quivik (ELCA Pastor and former seminary professor of worship and preaching), along with the Synod Worship Committee, offers a day of learning for all those who serve on Altar Guild or might like to do so. The care and attention given to this ministry is very important! And be sure to thank the Lord for all those who currently serve at Christ the King! Date: Saturday, September 30 th 2017 Time: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM Location: Bethany Lutheran Church-Ishpeming

6 Page 6 Offerings & Worship Attendance For May Date 5 P.M. 10:30 Total S.S. Confirmation May 6/ May 13/ May 20/ May 25 (Ascension ) 10 May 27/ Average attendance for May: Offerings For May May 7 $6, May 14 $2, May 21 $2, May 28 $1, Total Offerings for May $12,152,03 Total Offerings needed for May $13, Difference: - $1, YTD Needed: $74, YTD Received: $79, Difference: $5, College Scholarships Available In August checks will be disbursed to students who apply and are approved for a scholarship from the Robert & Dorothy Loodeen and Helmer Johnson Scholarship Funds. Applications are available on the desk in the church office. Stop by, fill it out and then return to the church by Thursday, June 1st. All applicants must personally meet with the Scholarship Committee at a time yet to be determined. Thankfulness: An Online Opportunity to Give If you need a convenient way to make recurring contributions, are out of town and would like to give, missed worship and still want to give out of the generosity of your heart, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving option. As we get back into the routine of things, you may find electronic giving a most welcome routine and an easy way to make contributions. To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us online at and locate the Online Giving button on the right side of the webpage. Or if it's easier, complete a paper authorization form and return it to the church office. Thank you for your generosity and support of God s work through Christ the King!

7 Page 7 Thursday Theology N.T. Wright, professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St. Mary s College in the University of St. Andrew s in Scotland, tackles the biblical question of what happens after we die and shows how many Christians get it wrong. It s not so much about going to heaven; it s more about the resurrection and how heaven comes down to earth--a difference that makes all of the difference to how we live on earth. It s about life after life after death and how that future life which has invaded this present life transforms our present visions, hopes, and mission. This should be a very thought provoking time of discussion! Also, each discussion begins with a video (about minutes). It is asked that each participant donate $5 to cover the cost of the book used for further reflection. June 8 th Hope for the World June 29 th The Hope of the Resurrection 2017 Prophetic Books Bible Study This summer, we continue focusing on the challenging prophetic Scriptures, this time from Ezekiel. We hear warnings of judgment and punishment; we hear promises of healing, restoration, and salvation. We see visions, both bizarre and challenging. Be challenged by these ancient words and their relevance for today. The morning Bible Study group will be meeting throughout the summer. Here s what we ll be focusing on and when in June: June 7 th Ezekiel 1-2 Intro and Heavenly Vision in the Land of Exile June 14 th Ezekiel 3-9 The Watchman s Judgment June 21 st No Bible Study: Pastor in Minnesota for Continuing Education June 28 th Ezekiel Breaking Down Whitewashed Walls Farewell & Godspeed Dr. Guy Jeanblanc We bid farewell and Godspeed to Guy Jeanblanc who will be moving to Streetsboro, Ohio to be closer to family. Christ the King has been so blessed to have enjoyed his skills and attention to detail whether it was working on property or financial projects. As difficult as it is to bid him and his wife Judy farewell it is with joy too knowing that they will now be closer to their children and grandchildren. His final worship service will be on Sunday, June 4th so if you are here please extend your well wishes and gratitude for all that he has done. Never say Goodbye because on one sunny day we will meet Again.

8 Page 8 United in Marriage On Saturday, May 20th, Cassie Carlson & Brad Liberty were united in marriage with Pastor Chris presiding at the service. We pray that our eternal God will strengthen Cassie & Brad with patience, kindness, gentleness, and all other gifts of the Spirit, so that they may fulfill the vows they have made. Fill them with such love and joy that they may build a home of peace and welcome. Congratulations Cassie and Brad and may God bless. Supporting Hunger Many thanks to all of you who supported our efforts towards fighting hunger both globally and locally. Together with what we did during Lent with the Easter breakfast, Eggs, Soup Suppers and the quarters in the film canisters we were able to send our delegates to synod assembly with a check for $1,500. In addition to the offering we have taken in rather significant amount of food for the Salvation Army Food pantry. Again, thank you for all of your efforts. Readings for June June 4 The Day of Pentecost Acts 2:1-21; Ps. 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Cor. 12:3b- 13; John 20:19-23 June 11 The Holy Trinity Gen. 1:1-2:4a; Ps. 8; 2 Cor. 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20 June 18 The 2nd Sunday of Pentecost Exod. 19:2-8a; Ps. 100; Rom. 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8-23 Jun 25 The 3rd Sunday of Pentecost Jeremiah 20:7-13; Ps. 69:7-18; Rom. 6;1b-11 Matthew 10:24-39 The Roof Needs Replacing Recently during heavy rains we noticed water dripping on the outside brick walls in various spots. After checking out what that was all about it was concluded that the roof needs replacing. Our Property Committee is working diligently on securing bids. Once they have finished their job and have drawn up a proposal a special congregational meeting will be called. In the meantime we ask for your prayers for all those working on a solution to this problem. The Finance Committee will also be working out the details on how we will fund such an expensive endeavor. More details will be forthcoming. The Property Committee are seeking individuals who would like to serve on this important and productive Committee. Check in the office if you would like to know more about this.

9 Page 9 Let Us Pray For those Celebrating Birthdays On: June 1: Kyliana Albanez, Colten Carter, Arlene Cody, Erin Mattson June 3: Cathy Olson June 5: Patti Kenneally, Brigette Martin, Barb Smith, Chris Weber June 6: Ron Peterson, Deb Wayne June 9: Dalton Orzel June 10: Danni Kenneally, David Lindstrom, Carla Noel June 11: Andi Robitaille June 13: Tara Bruce, Patty Lindstrom June 14: Abbie Boudreau June 18: Jeff Possi June 21: Elaine Oman June 22: Abby Runkel June 23: Lorna Hiney, Mackenzie Jensen June 24: Ron LaCasse June 25: Austin Emmons, Lance Lindstrom June 26: Vi Oja June 27: Ray McDonald June 28: Lindsey DeMars, Isaiah Moran, June Pearson, Mike Saari June 29: Kris DeVet, Karl Kell, Connie Schmidt Quilting Material Needed The quilters have indicated that they are in need of large pieces of material to be used to sew quilts. Sheets (any size), bedspreads or large material makes for excellent backings. Please NO clothing! Our ladies strictly make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. They no longer ship clothing. Just as important as the need for material is the need for quilters. No sewing skills needed! If you can trace and cut a straight line then there is a job for you. Come on Wednesday at 9:00 Elmer s Rewards Points We have had a number of you contribute your Elmer s Reward Points to the churches Rewards Account and for that we say thank you. If you would also like to take advantage of this all you need to do is ask the cashier to transfer your points to our account. There is a minimum of 500 points that can be transferred but you certainly can do more. Donation cards, that list our account number, are available at the church

10 Page 10 Those Who Serve Readers June 3/ 4 5:00 Deb Wayne 10:30 Connie Schmidt June 10/11 5:00 Lin VanEffen 10:30 Sandy Jacobson June 17/18 5:00 Nancy K. Norberg 10:30 Lisa Temple June 24/25 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Lance Lindstrom Acolytes June 3/ 4 5:00 Ashton Moran 10:30 Brett Schlenvogt June 10/11 5:00 Mackenzie Jensen 10:30 Camree Bonifas June 17/18 5:00 Isaac Berthaume 10:30 Caydence Carter June 24/25 5:00 Brett Boudreau 10:30 Tregan Lippens Altar Guild June 3/ 4 Mary Jo Johnson & Beth Jacobson June 10/11 Lin & Bob VanEffen & Judy Anderson June 17/18 Laverne Picard & Connie Schmidt June 24/25 Julie Smith & Marlene & Tom Raeder Assisting Minister June 3/ 4 5:00 Sam LaMarche 10:30 Julie Smith June 10/11 5:00 Bob VanEffen 10:30 Lance Lindstrom June 17/18 5:00 Nancy K. Norberg 10:30 Roland Jacobson June 24/25 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Connie Schmidt Communion Assistants June 3/ 4 5:00 Sam LaMarche 10:30 Mike & Julie Smith June 10/11 5:00 Bob VanEffen 10:30 Lance Lindstrom & Pat Johnson June 17/18 5:00 Nancy K. Norberg 10:30 Roland & Sandy Jacobson June 24/25 5:00 Mary Jo Johnson 10:30 Leigh & Connie Schmidt

11 June 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:00 Coffee with the Staff 11:00 Property Committee Mtg :00 Cleaning Bee 5:00 Communion :30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion, Recognition of Graduates 12:00 MissiionTrip Mtg. 9:30 Bible Study 10:00 Coffee with the Staff 11:30 Thursday Theology 5:00 Wedding Rehearsal 1:30 Johnson/Burie Wedding 5:00 Communion :30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 12:00 Church Picnic 11:00 Executive Committee Mtg. 12:00 Senior Luncheon 9:30 Bible Study 10:00 Coffee with the Staff V a c a t i o n B i b l e S c h o o l 5:00 Communion 18 9:30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion :00 Coffee with the Staff :00 Communion :30 Coffee Hour 10:30 Communion 9:30 Bible Study 10:00 Coffee with the Staff 11:30 Thursday Theology 5:30 Finance Mtg. 6:15 Church Council Mtg.

12 Christ the King Lutheran Church 1230 North 18th Street Escanaba, Michigan Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Bulk Permit No. 179 Escanaba, Michigan Address Requested Phone: (906) We re on the Web! This issue of the King s Herald is given in loving memory of James P. Stasewich by Gayle Stoykovich KING S HERALD June 2017 CHURCH OFFICE PASTOR Rev. Chris Johnson address: pastorchris.ctk@gmail.com CHURCH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Arlene Cody address: c.lutheran@att.net Website: WORSHIP SCHEDULE: Saturday 5:00 p.m. Worship Sunday 9:00 a.m. Youth Faith Formation; 9:30 a.m. Coffee Hour; 10:30 Worship Holy Communion is celebrated at every Saturday and Sunday service. At the 10:30 a.m. service communion will be distributed using continuous communion.