God s Work, Our Hands

Transcription

1 Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 9700 Neenah Ave, Austin, Texas Phone Hours Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Volume No God s Work, Our Hands September 2016 Edition Inside this issue: Message from Pastor 1 Global Initiatives 2 Prayer List 2 Sunday Readings 2 Baptism Festivals 2 Men s Fellowship 2 God s Generosity 2 Education Continues 2 Birthdays/Anniversaries 2 Regular Worship Time 3 Members Expectations 3 Summer of Service Results 3 Blessing Backpacks Pics 4 LOL s 20th Anniversary 4 Kindred Sisters 5 SignUp - Volunteering 5 Christian Education 6 Mark Your Calendars 7 Upcoming Events 7 Harvest Festival 8 Flood Relief 7 Family/Friends Day 9 Crosstrails Fall Festival 9 Coffee with Council 9 Crosstrails Labor Day Retreat 10 Mother/Daughter Retreat 11 Father/Son Retreat 11 Camperships 11 Council Minutes 12 Save-the-Dates 12 State of the Church 12 Worship Leaders 13 Calendar 14 What Am I I am seldom considered, though I do more to influence everything about you than virtually any one thing in your life. I often control the time you get up in the morning, the time you go to sleep, what you eat and drink and the very thought that runs through your head. I can make you either happy or sad, loving or hateful, cheerful or remorseful, congenial or spiteful and in doing so, control the very capacity that you have for success. No, you don t often think of me instead you BLAME the problem I create on the shortcoming of others, or the state of the economy, or your family or a million other reasons. Often at times unable to find anyone else to BLAME you look for shortcomings within yourself on which to lay the BLAME. When my impact on your life fully is considered in your every thought and action, when you are mindful of my awesome power, when you nurture and groom me for positive use in your life, I can become more contagious than the most prolific disease ever witnessed by man. My influence will spread to every person you come in contact with. Groomed and nurtured in a positive manner there will be no person or obstacle that can stand in the way of my success or fail to be impacted for the better. 'I Am Your Attitude' Author Unknown Several years ago, a number of creative bar owners repurposed the well-known phrase Happy Hour to Attitude Adjustment Hour. The implication was that coming to this particular establishment would afford the patrons the opportunity to properly adjust their attitude. The hours for attitude adjustment were most commonly the post-work hours of 5 7 p.m. Through gathering with friends and co-workers, tossing back a cold one or two, and grabbing some time to unwind and relax, one s attitude would change and life would become a manageable place again. About the same time, I remember seeing an outdoor church sign one of those with changeable lettering bolding proclaiming Attitude Adjustment Hour 11:00 a.m. every Sunday. Kind of quirky but I liked it then and I like it now! I must confess, there are more than enough things and more than enough people in my life that have an effect on my attitude. Not because they have power over me but because I give them power over me and I allow them to get my goat and tick me off. Oh my, I ve got an attitude just thinking about it! How about You? Well, do I have good news for you or at least Jesus does. And lucky for me and for you I can share the following: ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT HOUR 8:15, 9:30, 10:45 a.m. every Sunday LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH Stop in and hear the good news of God s love. Stop in and join in praising and worshiping God who sits high and looks low. Stop in and dine at the table where all are welcome and there is no price. In the name of Jesus, Pr. Skip

2 Life-Lines Page 2 GLOBAL INITIATIVES - links Through the benevolence we pay to the ELCA, we are supporting these global initiatives. A link is available on our website under Giving, so you can keep up-to-date on what the ELCA is doing to reach the world for Christ. PRAYER LIST Ann Willman, Angie Parr, Marge Robison, Ilamay Bartholomew, Herman Haenel, Doug Arnold, Linda Vaughn, Roger Adamson, Crystal Dyer Allbritton, Peggy Suggs, Kathy Vitek, Lanae Ortivez, Sylvia Ramirez, Pat Snyder, Faith Bales, Angie, Ilene Dunn, Carol Scherer, Ronnie Czajkowski, Ashley Lichtenstein, Dianne Schoss Mike Dean The Family of Herbert Wallignford SUNDAY READINGS September 4 Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Psalm 1 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33 September 11 Exodus 32:7-14 Psalm 51: Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10 September 18 Amos 8:4-7 Psalm Tmothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13 September 25 Amos 6:1a, 4-7 Psalm Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31 BAPTISM FESTIVALS Anyone who has not been baptized is invited to come and wade in the waters of eternal life. Please contact Pr. Skip for a pre-baptism appointment. The remaining Baptism Festivals for 2016 are: Sunday, September 11 (Sunday nearest Holy Cross Day) All Saints Day, November 6 Contact Pr. Skip as soon as possible concerning which day works best for you. MEN S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST Men s Fellowship Breakfast will be on September 10th with a new start time of 8:00am. All men are welcome and encouraged to attend. Contact Mark Waggoner waggmar@gmail.com or RESPONDING TO GOD S GENEROSITY Giving freely of what has been freely given to us Unconditional LOVE, FORGIVENESS, ALL that WE HAVE LOVE GOD, LOVE ONE ANOTHER and OURSELVES FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER and OURSELVES GIVE GENEROUSLY from our BLESSINGS Time Talent Treasure OUT OF THANKS for each. GIVE UNTIL YOU FEEL GOOD CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CONTINUES 3 NEW SUNDAY MORNING STUDIES BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 4th. Everyone is invited and encouraged to participate in the any of the new Sunday morning studies beginning Sunday, September 4th at 9:30 a.m. 1) The Jesus Fatwah: Love Your Muslim Neighbor as Yourself. (Cafe) 2) $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America (Sanctuary) 3) A Study for Women - Topic of interest to the group (Conf. Room) Birthdays: Dakota Simpson Walter Krizov Lyn Caldwell Mary Vaughn Clayton Wachsmann David Smith Madeline Smith Lee Penland Monica Kaloustian Courtney Warnsman Diane Saegert Janet Krejci Lauren Brown Jonathan Wolski Beverly Al-Tabatabaie Melinda Prather John Duarte Zackery Klotz Stacey Mathews 09/03 09/05 09/08 09/08 09/08 09/11 09/11 09/12 09/15 09/17 09/18 09/21 09/23 09/25 09/26 09/26 09/28 09/28 09/28 Anniversaries: Gilbert & Melinda Prather Matthew & Keri Gold Joseph & Nellita Womack Pr. Skip & Felicia Wachsmann 09/03 09/18 09/18 09/21

3 Volume No Page 3 Summer of Service Drives - THANK YOU!!! Thank you to all those who donated to the Lord of Life Summer of Service drives. Together we donated 960 diapers to Austin Diaper Bank, 148 lbs of food to Bread for All (as well as a noisy offering monetary gift) and 39 backpacks filled with school supplies (valued at approx $40-50 each). Your generous hearts have helped those in need in the community and are much appreciated.

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5 Volume No Kindred Sisters Page 5 Kindred Sisters met at The Egg and I Restaurant at the Lakeline Target area for our August 2, 2016, meeting. We all enjoyed a "Dutch Treat" meal and time of fellowship after a special devotion given by Marge Kretschmar. We remembered members and friends that weren't able to be there. After our meal, we discussed plans for future meetings and passed a sign-up sheet around. We are hoping to get more programs lined up for future meetings. The new sign-up sheet is on the board in the Koinonia Cafe. If you know of a good program or presentation, or can be a hostess for a monthly meeting, please sign up! Our September meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6th, at the Koinonia Cafe at LOLLC. Marge Kretschmar will guide us in a Bible Study. Please bring your own sack lunch, and dessert and refreshments will be provided by our hostess for September, Joanne Forseth. All ladies and friends of LOLLC are cordially invited to attend. We are collecting cancelled stamps for our Stamporee Project, so if you have been saving cancelled stamps, there is a collection container in the church narthex. If there are any questions, please call Glenace Klinker at or Joanne Forseth at , or contact at joforseth@gmail.com. LOLLC LADIES KINDRED SISTERS Monthly Meeting 1 st Tuesday Morning Upcoming Opportunities Tuesday, September 6, :30 am - Café Bible Study led by Marge Kretschmar Tuesday, October 4, :30 am - Café Program: TBA Please Sign Up on the Fall 2016 Program and Dessert Hostess Chart Bring your saved cancelled postage stamps For LWR Stamporee Box Questions: Joanne Forseth

6 Life-Lines Page 6 Christian Education Opportunities EDUCATION IS GEARING UP AGAIN! CLASSES START THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 TH AT 9:30AM. We will be having SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR YOUTH AGES 2 YEARS-12 TH GRADE. The young kids, 2 years through 5 th grade will meet in the elementary room for a shared opening, and then the younger ones will move to the adjacent Nursery room for a preschool lesson geared towards children 2 years through 4 years. Kids ages 5 (kindergarten) through 5 th grade will remain in the elementary room for their lesson. Come join us for a DEEP BLUE ADVENTURE!! MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH will meet in the Middle School room for lessons/discussions/dvd s geared just for them!! HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH will meet in the High School room for discussions on topics of interest to them. IF YOU MISSED REGISTRATION ON AUGUST 28 TH, PLEASE FILL OUT A REGISTRATION FORM ON THE FIRST DAY YOU ATTEND, ASK YOUR CHILD S TEACHER FOR A REGISTRATION FORM! Questions, feel free to contact Wendy Waggoner at or wcwaggoner@gmail.com. ADULT EDUCATION RESUMES ON SEPTEMBER 4 TH AS WELL. We will be starting the year off with 3 classes for you to choose from. Please choose a class and join in when you can. Choose from the following classes: 1. THE JESUS FATWAH: LOVE YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF Much of what passes as information about Islam is weed-like disinformation rooted in stereotype and watered by fear. In The Jesus Fatwah, Islamic and Christian scholars offer reliable information about what Muslims believe, how they live out their faith, and how we all can be about building relationships across the lines of faith. This is a DVD based class featuring seventeen Islamic and Christian scholars. This class will meet in the Café and will be facilitated by Pastor Skip. 2. $2.00 A DAY: LIVING ON ALMOST NOTHING IN AMERICA Is it possible that there is a level of poverty in the United States so deep that no one even knew it existed-until now? This book follows a handful of families living this meager existence, speculates as to why this phenomenon is growing and suggests principles to guide the search for a solution. This is a book and study guide based class. This class will meet in the Sanctuary and be facilitated by Dick Fink. 3. A STUDY FOR WOMEN This class will focus on topics of interest to the women of the group. This class will be facilitated by Felicia Wachsmann and will meet in the office conference room. TUESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY WILL RESUME MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 6 TH AT 6:30 IN THE CAFÉ. We have completed our study of Matthew and will start a new book of the bible beginning on the 6 th. Please join us as we journey deeper into the Bible each Tuesday evening.

7 Volume No Page 7 9/4 - Family & Friends Sunday 9/5 - Labor Day - Office Closed 9/6 - Kindred Sisters 9/10 - Men s Breakfast 9/11 - Baptisms 9/18 - Pastor s 40th Ordination Anniversary Come Join Us on Sept. 18! On Sept. 18, we will celebrate the 40 th anniversary of Pastor Skip s ordination. There will be a potluck lunch immediately following late service. Plan to join us and bring a salad or side dish to share. Cake will be provided. Worship Volunteer Training on Oct. 8 The Worship Team Leaders will provide detailed training for all volunteers beginning at 9 AM on Oct. 8. We ll be available all morning so if you volunteer in multiple areas, you ll have time to train in them all. Whether you ve been volunteering during Sunday morning worship for years, or have never done so but would like to know more, I encourage you to join us. Questions, see Deb Grunska. All Saints Sunday, Nov. 6 On All Saints Sunday, we will have an opportunity to remember members of Lord of Life and our friends and family who have died this past year, and to honor the saints in our lives. Please submit names to the church office before Oct. 24.

8 Life-Lines Page 8 HARVEST FESTIVAL & CRAFT SHOW Our 11th annual Harvest Festival & Craft show is coming together on November 12 th, 9am-3pm, but it won't work without you! We have sign up sheets in the back of the Narthex for baked goods items, set up, assisting vendors & baked goods table on Saturday, clean up, and lots more! If you have any questions or would like to volunteer please Katie Reidy at LoLHarvestFest@gmail.com and she will direct you to the coordinator in charge. FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS The ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response is making an appeal for funds to help flood victims in Louisiana and Texas. LOLLC Evangelism Ministry feels our congregation should respond to this appeal. During the month of September, the Evangelism Ministry is asking members and friends of LOLLC to give financial gifts towards this appeal, above and beyond your regular gifts. Please mark your gift Flood Relief or similar. The Evangelism Ministry will match $1 for $1 up to $500 from its budget for Community Outreach and forward your gifts and the match to Lutheran Disaster Response.

9 Volume No Page 9 Please join members of council for coffee and some great discussion. We want to hear from you regarding any questions or concerns you may have. The three September dates are: September 11 at 7:30 am September 25 at 12:00 pm September 28 at 6:00 pm Council members look forward to hearing from you and getting to know you better.

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11 Volume No Page 11 MOTHER/DAUGHTER RETREAT For daughters in grades 4-6 and their mothers. October at Ebert Ranch. Early bird cost: Daughters: $80, Mothers: $120. It's a luau...texas style! Spend a weekend away together reconnecting in your faith with God and one another. Grow together through horseback riding, arts and crafts, high ropes, as well as interactive Bible studies and worship. Leave this weekend with new memories a n d a s t r e n g t h e n e d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h Christ. Register at THE "DANGEROUS" RETREAT FOR SONS AND THEIR DADS For sons in grades 4-6 and their fathers. October at Ebert Ranch. Early bird cost: Sons: $80, Fathers: $120. Spend a weekend growing closer to God and one another through the manliest of activities, Bible studies and worships. This year's "Dangerous" retreat will focus on hunting! Fathers and sons will spend time together learning gun safety, hunting tips, and more! And of course no "Dangerous" trip to Ebert Ranch is complete without riding horses, high ropes and skeet shooting! Register at CAMPERSHIPS Both Lord of Life and Cross Trails (Camp Chrysalis and Ebert Ranch Camp) have campership funds. Because Cross Trails offers such wonderful experiences people continue to make generous donations to these funds. If cost is what is keeping you from attending a retreat please talk with Pastor Skip ( ), Barb Haskins ( ) or Cross Trails ( ).

12 Life-Lines LORD OF LIFE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 18, :30pm In attendance: Pastor Skip, John Paul Crawford, Mark Waggoner, Randi Ladolcetta, Erica Smith Page 12 Call to Order John Paul Opening Prayer Pastor Skip Devotional Randi Ladolcetta Nothing Worthwhile is Every Easy We discussed how we handle failure. Talked about how we like to be assured of success before the experiment. If we fail, it means we didn t do it right. Discussed how the church views these things the same way, need to talk through and plan things into the ground, before willing to proceed with an experiment the church likes to know it will succeed and not risk failure. Our task as leaders is that we remain faithful and God will provide the increase, whether the increase is numerical, financial, or spiritual. Pastor Watt s Report Discussed on the churches history and interpretations and conflict surrounding a lot of decisions. We talked about how decisions were made and that there are two or three viewpoints regarding all the decisions. We have decided we will hold coffee with council to reach out to members who may be feeling conflicted about things happening in the church. While our meetings are open we want to encourage more discussion regarding conflicts within the church. Closing Prayer and Adjournment Pastor Skip July Net Cash Flow - +$6K YTD Net Cash Flow - $0 SAVE-THE-DATES Oct 2 - LOLLC 20th Anniversary Celebration Oct 4 - Kindred Sisters Oct 8 - Men s Fellowship Breakfast Oct 30 - Trunk or Treat Nov 1 - Kindred Sisters Nov 6 - All Saints Day Nov 12 - Men s Fellowship Breakfast Nov 12 - Harvest Festival & Craft Show Worship Attendance 08/07/ /14/ /21/ /28/ Weekly Average: 80 YTD Total 2917 YTD Weekly Avg 83

13 Volume No Page 13 Worship Leaders for September 2016 September 4, 2016 Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Skip Wachsmann Assisting Minister: (1st); John Paul Crawford (2nd) Lector: (1st); Carol Alessi (2nd) Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi (1st); Connor Sheehan (2nd) Communion Assistant: (1st); Deb Grunska, Oscar Lopez, Carol Alessi, Wendy Waggoner (2nd) Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert, Gary Parsons, Mike Brown & Fred Grampp (1st); Mike Kamensky, Mark Waggoner, Brad & Bryce Sheehan (2nd) Altar Guild: Pr. Skip (1st); Deb Grunska (2nd) Acolyte: Nicolas Duarte (2nd) Tellers: Dick Fink & Barb Haskins Cantor: (1st); (2nd) Flowers: Wachsmann family, celebrating son Clayton s birthday. Children s Time: Wendy Waggoner September 11, 2016 Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Skip Wachsmann Assisting Minister: (1st); Connor Sheehan (2nd) Lector: (1st); (2nd) Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi (1st); Dick Fink (2nd) Communion Assistant: (1st); Dorothy Crawford, Denise Sheehan, Jennifer & Kira Niedert (2nd) Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert, Gary Parsons, Mike Brown & Fred Grampp (1st); Brad & Bryce Sheehan, Mike Kamensky, Mark Waggoner (2nd) Altar Guild: Deanna Brown (1st); Avery Willenborg (2nd) Acolyte: Nathaniel Duarte (2nd) Tellers: Dick Fink & Barb Haskins Cantor: (1st); (2nd) Flowers: Nick & Barb Ferriola, Peace for All Children s Time: John Paul Crawford September 18, 2016 Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Skip Wachsmann Assisting Minister: (1st); Dick Fink (2nd) Lector: (1st); (2nd) Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi (1st); Lloyd Haskins (2nd) Communion Assistant: (1st); Erica & Chapin Smith, Mike Kamensky (2nd) Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert, Gary Parsons, Mike Brown & Fred Grampp (1st); Gene, Riley & Brady Kaloustian, Jon Wolski (2nd) Altar Guild: Lyn Caldwell (1st); Chuck Neeley (2nd) Acolyte: Luke Smith (2nd) Tellers: Dick Fink & Barb Haskins Cantor: (1st); (2nd) Flowers: Pr. Skip & Felicia Wachsmann, celebrating 20th Anniv. Children s Time: Felicia Wachsmann Wachsmann Family, celebrating Pr. Skip s 40th Ordination Anniv September 25, 2016 Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Skip Wachsmann Assisting Minister: (1st); Dustin Simpson (2nd) Lector: (1st); Carol Alessi (2nd) Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi (1st); Luke Smith (2nd) Communion Assistant: (1st); Deb Grunska, Oscar Lopez, Carol Alessi, Wendy Waggoner (2nd) Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert, Gary Parsons, Mike Brown & Fred Grampp (1st); Dave, Erica, Chapin & Luke Smith (2nd) Altar Guild: Deanna Brown (1st); Kori Weston (2nd) Acolyte: Erin Weston (2nd) Tellers: Dick Fink & Barb Haskins Cantor: (1st); (2nd) Flowers: Children s Time: (Vacant) (2nd)

14 Volume No Page 14 S e p t e mber 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:00 am Women s Bible Study (off-site) 6:30 pm Pack 150 Mtg 7:00 pm Property Mtg Mtg Family & Friends Sunday 8:15 am Early Svc 9:30 am Christian Ed 10:45 am Late Svc 5 Labor Day Office Closed 7:00 pm Education Ministry Mtg 6 10:30 am Kindred Sisters 6:30 pm Bible Study (Café) 7 11:00 am Prayer for Ministry 6:30 pm Praise 7:30 pm Vocal 8 10:00 am Women s Bible Study (off-site) 7:00 pm Stephen Ministers :00 am Men s Breakfast 11 Baptism Festivals 7:30 Coffee/Council 8:15 am Early Svc 9:30 am Christian Ed 10:45 am Late Svc 12:15 pm Worship Mtg. 2:00 pm Coding Grp 3:00 pm Troop :00 pm Educ. Mtg 7:00 pm Finance Ministry Mtg. (Conference Rm) 13 6:30 pm Bible Study (Café) 14 6:00 pm Conf. 6:30 pm Praise 7:30 pm Vocal 15 10:00 am Women s Bible Study (off-site) 6:30 pm Council Mtg 6:30 pm Pack 1502 Mtg Pastor s 40th Anniv 8:15 am Early Svc 9:30 am Christian Ed 10:45 am Late Svc :30 pm Bible Study (Café) 6:30 pm TIFA Meeting (Sanct) 21 11:00 am Prayer for Ministry 6:00 pm Conf. 6:30 pm Praise 7:30 pm Vocal 22 10:00 am Women s Bible Study (off-site) :15 am Early Svc 9:30 am Christian Ed 10:45 am Late Svc 12:00 pm Coffee/ Council 12:15 pm Evang & Outreach Mtg 6:30 pm Bible Study (Café) 6:00 pm Coffee/Council 6:00 pm Conf. 6:30 pm Praise 7:30 pm Vocal 10:00 am Women s Bible Study (off-site)