What s Happening in February and March!

Transcription

1 Christ the King Lutheran Church South 42 nd Street (3 blocks south of Harrison) Newsletter Growing in Faith Love and Service to the God who loves us Christ the King Lutheran Church 7308 South 42 nd Street Bellevue, Nebraska RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED What s Happening in February and March! Tues., Feb. 5, 11:30 am Women s Bible Study Wed., Feb. 6, 8:00am Lum s Breakfast Group Sat., Feb. 9, 8:00am Men s Breakfast 10:00am - 11:30am Council Retreat Sun., Feb. 10 First Communion Sun. Mon., Feb. 11, 7pm Mosaic Party Wed., Feb. 13, 7:00pm Ash Wed. Worship Fri, Feb. 15, 5-7:00pm Fish Fry #1 Sat., Feb. 16, 10:00 am - Confirmation Wed., Feb. 20, 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Worship Fri., Feb. 22, 5-7:00pm Fish Fry #2 Sat., Feb. 23, 7:00 pm Tales of Malawi Wed., Feb. 27, 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Worship Sat., Mar. 2, 10:00 am Confirmation Tues., Mar. 5, 9:00 am LWR Quilting Wed., Mar. 6, 8:00 am Lum s Breakfast Group 6:00 pm Soup Supper 7:00 pm Lenten Worship Sat., Mar. 9, 8:00 am Men s Breakfast 10:00 am Polka Dot Party Wed., Mar. 13, 6:00 pm Soup Supper 7:00 pm Lenten Worship Sat., Mar. 16, 10:00 am Confirmation Tues., Mar. 19, 9:00 am LWR Quilting 11:30am Women s Bible Study Wed., Mar. 20, 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Worship Thurs., Mar. 28, 7:00pm Maundy Thurs. Worship Fri., Mar. 29, 7:00 pm Good Friday Worship Sun., Mar 31, 7:30 am Sunrise Service 8:30 am Breakfast 9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Worship 11:15 am Egg Hunt

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3 Grace and Peace! Do you believe God can change the world through his church? Do you know that Jesus has given the responsibility to us, as his followers, to serve the poor, care for the broken, and reach out to the lost? (Matthew 25: 31-46, John 20:21-22) Over the past few generations, the American church has suffered from a bit of an identity crisis. Too often, we ve wrongly emphasized churchianity over Christianity. Too much focus on the institutionalization of the church, and not enough on the mission Jesus Christ calls his church to carry out. Too much time wasted forming and sustaining committees, upholding traditions, and meeting budgets, and not enough time dedicated to making disciples. Too much talk, and not enough walk. The sad result is while Americans consider themselves more spiritually active today than previous generations, participation in church is in steady decline and not just mainliners the same can be said for evangelicals, Roman Catholics, and churches with an African American heritage. That s a problem. To me, a profoundly disheartening problem. Still, there s hope. God is on the move. God is at work. A large and growing number of have stepped away from a humanly contrived and controlled system of doing church, in favor of fully embracing our God-given identity as followers of Jesus. It s not about us or our dreams for what church should be. It s about God, and surrendering our will to his, renewing our commitment to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and live out the Great Commandment (Mark 12:28-31). This is who we are, and this is what we do. With that in mind, I want to ask you to ponder and pray about where and how God is calling you to take part in his church today. This Lent, let this be your prayer: Lord, what do you want me to do, and where do you want me to serve and get more involved, as a part of your church, to accomplish your will in the world today? Imagine what else we might get done as a congregation, if we all rise up together, inspired by the love of Jesus Christ to serve and care and love the world around us? I like that dream, and I want to encourage you to do your part to make it come true. Please never underestimate the potential for what God can do through ordinary people like us, when we follow his lead. It turns out the church is the hope of the world.

4 True Wealth Series By Aimee Robalik I am currently taking a class in college called Economics from a Biblical Perspective. At first I thought that it would shake my faith but it has done the complete opposite. This week I had to read an article on What is True Wealth? I would love to share my journey through the class with my friends at Christ the King. Below is part of the article that led me to a better understanding of Stewardship. What is stewardship? To many Christians, the word 'stewardship' conjures up visions of periodic pleas from the pulpit to give more money. Or a church building program that will require a financial commitment for the next three years. In reality, stewardship is understanding that everything we own belongs to God, and we are responsible for making the very best use of the resources that God has entrusted into our hands -- whether great or small. From a biblical perspective, stewardship involves much more than just our money. It means viewing all of your resources (your time, talents and relationships) as clay in the Potter's hands -- to be shaped, molded and used for His glory. This is not easy, but learning stewardship has been the most rewarding step of growth that I have ever taken in my life. I discovered the joy of stewardship about 10 years ago, when I rededicated my life, my family, and my business to the Lord Jesus Christ. In the parable of the talents, Jesus reveals the key to enjoying kingdom living on earth: using our resources wisely. In fact, we are commanded to be good stewards or face the prospect of losing what we think we own. Notice that the amount of talents we are given will vary greatly, but the bottom line is the same -- use them or lose them! You see, the possibility of loss is an essential part of the Fathers plan to mature His children, just as discipline is vital to preparing our children for the real world. Gal. 6:7 tells us that God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows that will he also reap. Christianity alone can produce prosperity and justice in a family, a city or in a nation, over the long term. This is our heritage. But, over the last several generations our political and economic philosophy has shifted to a government-managed welfarism, which rewards slothfulness and punishes good stewardship. Is it any wonder why stewardship has been abandoned in the pubic policy arena? The good news is that we can reverse the curse by practicing good stewardship of our time, talents and money in our personal life while we begin calling our local and national leaders into accountability. Remember: true wealth is built intergenerationally (from father, to son, to grandson) and stewardship must be modeled starting in the home... not Washington D.C. So next time your pastor begins a series on stewardship begin to applaud him... he really doesn't like begging you to give more money anyway. (Sound Economic Solutions with Craig R. Smith)

5 Winter is here with its cold and snow. As the calendar changes to February and March, we look forward to longer days and warmer temperatures even if we know winter is still here. Lent begins in winter. It is a time for exploring our faith and a time to be renewed in faith and discipleship. As you begin your Lenten Journey, may you find time and space for rest and renewal. Lutheran Women of Omaha will meet at noon on Tuesday, February 12 th at Luther Memorial, 6099 Western Avenue. Program is a speaker from the Humane Society. Project is used towels, rugs, etc. for the Humane Society. March 12 th, LWR will meet at Calvary Lutheran, 2941 North 80 th Street. Cost is $6. Contact Mardelle for reservations. Spring Gathering is Saturday, March 9 th at St Paul s Lutheran Church in Millard. Theme is Lift Up Your Hands in Praise. Bishop Brian Maas will lead the Bible study. We will celebrate the 25 th anniversary of the Women of the ELCA. Tangible offering will be received for MOSAIC. Items requested are art and craft supplies (water color paints, markers, paper), utensils (silverware and cooking utensils), bake ware (mixing bowls, casserole dishes, baking pans), towels (all sizes), giftcards and cash. Cost is $15 including lunch. See Mardelle for a registration form. Our Bible Study Circle will meet on Tuesday, February 5 th at 11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. (Note change of date. This is a one-month only change.) Jeri Lindauer is hostess. Phyllis Carlson will lead the Bible study. Our March meeting will be on its usual day, March 19 th at 11:30 am in the Fellowship Hall. Gayle Carmine is hostess. We continue our theme Gathered by God. No quilting in February. Calling all quilters! A Tanzanian Fabric, Fun and Facts Workshop will be held February 24 th 26 th at Camp Carol Joy Holling near Ashland. Kits of Tanzanian fabric will be available to purchase. To register call or log on at Cost is $195 per person, double occupancy. Please continue to save UPCs from Our Family products, UPCs from Campbell soups (the entire label), and General Mills Box Tops for Education. A box for these items is located on the piano in the elevator room. The Women of the ELCA recently unveiled a new website. Go to for free resources. Also check out Café, the Women of the ELCA online magazine for young adult women at It too has a new design In 2012 the Lutheran World Relief quilts, made in Nebraska, came to 100,000 pounds. It took six semis, from Brown Transfer to transport the quilts to the warehouse in Minneapolis. These quilts are a tangible symbol of God s love and compassion. In 2013 LWR is challenging Lutherans across the US to donate 500,000 quilts to be sent around the world. That s a 25% increase, the need never stops. So, what part did the quilt makers at Christ the King play in this? Of the 4-6 women that participate in tying quilts we sent 55 quilts. In 2013 we will continue making quilts for LWR. Thrivent for Lutherans has given us money, every year, toward the purchase of sheets, used as backing on the quilts and batting to insulate the quilts. BUT we ask, as always, if you have any unused sheets, blankets or bedspreads, don t throw them out! Save them for the quilters! If there are any women that still sew, we could always use remnants for quilt squares. Donations may be left at the church, attn: Phyllis Carlson. Thanks to those that have helped with the quilt project. Gayle Carmine, Mardelle Goscek, Jeri Lindauer, Marge Butler, and Leonard Schwalm for delivering our quilts to Brown Transfer. In addition, Gayle made 12 baby quilts for Luther Family Services.

6 Sunday Lenten Series Beneath the Cross of Jesus February 17 March 17 We live our lives beneath the cross of Jesus, beneath God's manifold love and grace that reach to us even from Calvary. Based on the hymn "Beneath the cross of Jesus", our Sunday series this Lent explores what it means for us to abide at the foot of the cross, to cling to the rock of our salvation, to dwell in the house of the Lord, and to confess our sins and receive God's forgiveness. We will look at how we respond to God s graciousness using our time and talents for the furthering of God s kingdom. Lenten Evening Worship Stations of the Cross Wednesdays 7:00pm Ash Wednesday is February 13 The Stations of the Cross is a very well-established and popular way for Christians to reflect on the passion of Jesus and its meaning. The stations focus, like the zooming in of a video camera, on the actual reality of the events on that way of the cross walked by Jesus, from Jerusalem to Calvary. The Stations ground us and our faith in the human facts of the passion helping us to understand again that God truly became man in Christ and suffered in his flesh for the salvation of all. They engage our imagination as we reflect on a visual image together with prayer and mediation. Why would we want to focus on such pain and sadness? Because in these events is the truth, about our sin and about the commitment made by Christ, to taking away our sin and the death which flows from it. The wounds of Christ are both our refuge and our inspiration. It is by them that we are saved, and by them that we are also given an example, a vision of what love is at its highest and best, and how it might be practiced by us in service to others. The series will continue during Holy Week on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at 7:00pm.

7 Palm Sunday A Living Lord s Supper! March 24, 2013 Studies show that 70 to 90 percent of those who join a particular church already have friends or relatives in that church. We know that getting an individual to attend worship for the first time is often the most difficult. We also know that every member of the congregation is called to be involved in the task of evangelism. March 24, 2013 has been designated as Bring a Friend Sunday. It s Palm Sunday and we are going to be doing a Living Lords Supper. It will be a thing to see. That Sunday is going to be a blast. You will have something more than ordinary to bring someone to. According to Jesus teaching in the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20 the primary purpose of any congregation is to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Bring a Friend Sunday is an effort to reach persons with the gospel and receive them as welcome guests. We understand this reaching and receiving to be the first step in making disciples for Jesus Christ. There are additional steps in the process, but this is the first step on the journey of a lifetime. Just as Andrew spent a day with Jesus and then brought his brother to meet the Lord as Philip met Jesus by the roadside, then found his friend Nathaniel and brought him to meet Jesus your commitment to bring a friend to church is important. Easter Sunday Celebrations March 31, :30am & 10:00am Breakfast Served 8:45am - 9:45am Egg Hunt 11:15am Come for a Celebration of the Hope of Easter. This would be an excellent opportunity to bring a family to come to worship with you! Breakfast, uplifting worship, and an egg hunt for kids it s the complete experience!

8 Ubmft! gspn! Nbmbxj! February 22 23, 2013 Friday February 15, 2013 Friday February 22, :30pm 7:00pm Fish will Fry again this year and it s still better than them other guys! You asked for it and you got it! We will be having 2 fish frys this year February 15 and February 22. We will be frying, serving and eating fish. Call Lee Fideline ( ) to help out. Invite your friends and neighbors! Men s Breakfast February 9 and March 9 8:00am Men s Breakfast meets the second Saturday of every month at 8:00 a.m. where men of Christ the King unite in fellowship, dialogue and service to others. Come yourself and bring a friend! The Papillion LaVista Arts Network will be putting on a production at Christ the King called Tales from Malawi ; a dramatization of Malawian folk tales. All proceeds from the production will benefit the Dorothea Bowers Kindergarten in Domasi, Malawi. The kindergarten prepares children for school by focusing on teaching reading. With only 34 percent of children reaching grade 5 this jumpstart to education is vital to success. Think of it as dinner and a show for our second fish fry. Tickets are $5 and can be reserved by calling Breakfast at LUMS! February 6 and March 6 At 8am!

9 Soup Suppers Wednesdays at 6:00pm February 20 March 13 Sign up to bring a soup or bread if you would like to share or just come for a simple meal and fellowship. Polka DOT Party Saturday, March 9 10:00am 11:30am I m a DOT! You re a DOT! And when we connect the DOTS we are the church! Come and have some fun with the other kids at Chjrist the King who are designed, original, and treasured by God. Wear some crazy polks dots for a great group picture, play Twister (it s a game of giant dots), have a snack and hear more about just how much God loves you! Bring a friend! Lent is a season in which people often give up something as a spiritual practice. In this challenge households are encouraged to give up something from their pantry or grocery cart for each day in Lent. Do it each day, once a week or just one time as you do your grocery shopping. Then bring those groceries to the food pantry shelves in the entryway. Food sacrificed at the temple often went to help the less fortunate. This challenge does the same.

10 Lenten Devotional Calendar for 2013 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Each day has a short reflection and suggested scripture reading for personal devotion during this sacred season. The outlined days are opportunities for worship at Christ the King. Sunday Morning Worship is at 10am, the Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services are at 7pm. February 13 Ash Wednesday This Lent, God wants us to quietly listen to the words of his Son. Matt. 6: In following Christ, the goal is not success, but self-denial and submission. Luke 9: Fish Fry! Celebrate in God s presence: gather your friends and eat your fill. Luke 5: When we follow Jesus, he leads us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Isaiah 58: Jesus speaks the truth in our hearts. Let us respond to it in word and deed. Romans 10: God reveals himself in relationship, not in duty or rumor. Matthew 16: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us words to pray when we have none. Matthew 6: It hurts to admit our faults, but confession and forgiveness are the balms that soothe. Psalm God is always giving himself up for us, providing whatever we need to find him. Matthew 7: Fish Fry! God is not glorified in selfish sacrifices, but in charity toward others. Matthew 5: When we aim at what is right, God guides our paths to pure targets. Deut. 26: March 1 2 Imitate models of faith; Christ, the saints and those who are living the gospel. Holding on to guilt can be painful. Let s trade it in for mercy. Your Word O God, is the greatest teacher. From it, we find all truth. Jesus was exalted in his humility and glorified in his suffering. May we share what we have with the poor and hungry, the sick and lonely. For strength in times of adversity, look to Joseph, sold as a slave. Much distracts us from following God, but the lost may always return. Phil. 3:17-4:1 Luke 6:36-38 Matthew Matthew 20:17-28 Luke 16:19-31 Gen. 37:3-4,12-28 Luke 15:1-3, Heavenly Lord help us to not remain dry and barren this year, but bear much fruit instead. Luke 13:1-9 Lent may not shine with Easter miracles, but it holds little acts of love. 2 Kings 5:1-15 Look not at one s debts, but at the contrition or mercy he shows. Matthew 18:21-35 God s wisdom is holy and true, no matter how old or new it might seem. Matthew 5:17-19 Be not afraid: the Lord, who casts away demons, is our strength. Luke 11:14-23 Nothing carries more value than this: to care for the least of God s children. Mark 12:28-34 As Jesus humbled himself to come to us, so must we humbly approach our God. Luke 18: Reconciliation is a way to become an upgraded version of ourselves. Gather your Family and share a time when the Lord filled you With life and joy. All God s people come together under one baptism in the name of the Trinity. When we reflect on Jesus resurrection, his divinity is clear. May our small acts of penitence testify to the truth of God s mercy. You never need to fear speaking the truth; the Spirit that sends you will protect you. Worry not about where someone has come from, but where he is going. 2 Cor. 5:17-21 Psalm 30 Ezekiel 47:1-9,12 John 5:17-30 John 5:31-47 John 7:1-2,10,25-30 John 7: Surrounded by critics? Turn from sin, and Jesus will restore your dignity. God s message Is always the same: be not afraid. I am with you In his rising to heaven, Jesus professes his glorious name to the world. The Father smiles when we yearn to please him with love and obedience. In God, our identity is one of an adopted child, a chosen love. Holiness isn t in avoiding the threat of evil, but in trusting the power of good. Caiaphas said, From the death of one man, all are united in God s name. John 8:1-11 Psalm 23 John 8:21-30 John 8:31-42 Genesis 17:3-9 Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 11: Palm Sunday Though we, too, will die someday, Jesus gives us hope in new life 25 The reality of the crucifixion Is frightening, but Christ knew God was with him 26 Show us how we betrayed you, Lord, so we can admit our guilt. 27 Jesus suffering began with the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, one of his own. 28 Maundy Thursday When you are full of compassion for another, feast in the divine overflowing. 29 Good Friday We flee and hide and deny our God, but today we are redeemed by his Son. 30 Holy Saturday Seek the Lord where he can be found: with his people, among the living Philippians 2:6-11 Psalm 27 John 13:21-38 Matthew 26: Cor.11:23-26 John 18:1--19:42 Luke 24:1-12

11 We so appreciate and want to thank our friends at Christ the King for the prayers and cards at the time of the death of our Granddaughter, Kathleen. God bless you all. Dick and Jeri Council President Council Vice President Council Secretary Members Committees 2013 Church Council Lee Fideline Judy Taylor (Stewardship) Telle Hines Muffy Bratsveen (Worship & Music) Debbie Cline (Christian Education) Vern Junker (Building and Grounds) Leonard Schwalm (Endowment Fund Board) Gayle Carmine (Nominating Committee) Bill Webb (Nominating Committee) Paul Dawkins (Nominating Committee) Nick and Beth Christy (Nebraska Synod Assembly) The positions of Congregational Life, Mission and Service and Finance were not filled at the Annual meeting. Anyone interested in serving in these capacities is invited to speak with a council member. February Anniversaries 3 Danny & Muffy Bratsveen 6 Steve & Ann Kennon February Birthdays 1 Jeri Lindauer 2 Norm Grob 2 Norma Manceaux 2 Deanna Raven 2 Reese Taylor 4 Harold Rice 7 Brook Pecka 8 Val Prismantes 11 Brandon Pecka 13 Ron Taylor 17 Lois Smith 18 Ashley Hansen 20 Jeff Heldt 21 Jeffrey McCulloch 25 Sharon Bernier 28 Marge Butler March Anniversaries 1 Harold & Caroline Rice 22 Mike & Carol Galaska 24 Richard & Jeri Lindauer March Birthdays 1 Katheryn Rice 1 Daniel Rice 7 Sarah Marx 9 John Thompson 9 Elijah Christy 13 Evan Lockwood 18 Val Johnson 19 Harriet Carlson 17 Haleigh Welshonse 24 Debi Marx 25 Denise Vaag 27 Regan Taylor 30 Brett Robalik 31 Jordan Dawkins

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13 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday February 1 2 9am Adult Study 10:00am Worship 10am Confirmation :30 TOPS 8am LUMS 11:30 WELCA 11:30 7pm Mosaic 7:30 AlAnon 8am Men's Breakfast 4-8 Arts4All Dominoes Pty :00 9am Adult Study 11:30 Ash Wednesday 10:00am Worship Dominoes 4:30-7:00 5:30 TOPS 4-8 Arts4All Worship 10am Confirmation 6pm Fish Fry Fish Fry 7:30 AlAnon 11:30am Choir Prep :00 Soup Supper 4:30-7:00 9am SS/Adult Study 11:30 7:00 Lenten Fish Fry 10:00am Worship Dominoes 5:30 TOPS 4-8 Arts4All Evening Worship 7:30 7:30 6pm Fish Fry 7:30 AlAnon Ubmft! Ubmft!pg! 11:30am Council Prep pg! Nbmbxj Nbmbxj! 9am SS/Adult Study 10:00am Worship Choir Sings in Worship March 1 2 6:00 Soup Supper 5:30 TOPS 4-8 Arts4All 7:00 Lenten 11:30 Evening Worship Dominoes 7:30 AlAnon 10am Confirmation am LUMS 9am SS/Adult Study 6:00 Soup Supper 10:00am Worship 9am Quilting 7:00 Lenten 11:30 8am Men's Breakfast 5:30 TOPS 4-8 Arts4All Evening Worship Dominoes 10am Polka DOT Party 7:30 AlAnon :00 Soup Supper 9am SS/Adult Study 7:00 Lenten 10:00am Worship 5:30 TOPS 11: Arts4All Evening Worship 10am Confirmation Dominoes 7:30 AlAnon 11:30am Choir :30 6:00 Soup Supper 9am SS/Adult Study Dominoes 9am Quilting 7:00 Lenten 7:00 10:00am Worship 7:00 5:30 TOPS 11:30 WELCA Evening Worship Good Friday Maundy 4-8 Arts4All 7:30 AlAnon Worship 11:30am Council Thursday Worship am SS/Adult Study 10:00am Worship LIVING LORD S SUPPER Choir Sings in Worship EASTER 7:30am Sunrise 8:30am Brkfast 9am Sun. Sch 10am Worship 11:15 Egg Hunt 31 5:30 TOPS 4-8 Arts4All 7:30 AlAnon 11:30 Dominoes

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