The Grapevine FROM THE PASTOR... I m Certain of Salvation Because of God s Grace

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1 Volume 327 July 2015 The Grapevine FROM THE PASTOR... Gloria Dei Grapevine is the monthly newsletter of Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran Church. For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact us. Pastor Dennis J. Himm 5005 McCandlish Rd. Grand Blanc, MI Phone:(810) FAX (810) FREEDOM: One can t help but think of freedom as you celebrate the 4 th of July. The parades, the outdoor grilling, the family gatherings, and the fireworks, all remind us of our Independence fought for and won in the late 1700 s. Now we have freedoms of which many other countries our jealous. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equal rights, etc. But all these freedoms pale in comparison of the freedom that our Savior fought for and won in the early 1 st century when he suffered on the cross and rose from the grave. He gave us freedom from sin, eternal death, the power of the devil. He gave us freedom for serving him now and forever. Cherish your freedoms both as an American and as a dearly loved child of God. I m Certain of Salvation Because of God s Grace By grace I m saved, grace free and boundless; My soul, believe and doubt it not. Why waver at this word of promise? Has Scripture ever falsehood taught? So then this word must true remain: By grace you, too, shall heav n obtain. By grace God s Son, our only Savior, Came down to earth to bear our sin. Was it because of your own merit That Jesus died your soul to win? No, it was grace, and grace alone, That brought him from his heav nly throne. Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal - 384:1-2 Our world is flooded with uncertainty: fluctuations in the job and stock markets; the ups and downs of gas prices; turmoil in places like Ukraine and Gaza; threats of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. Those uncertainties lead to uncertainties in our minds. What will these things mean for me and my family? Then there s the uncertainty about spiritual matters. How can I be sure I m right with God? Have I done enough good to make God happy? It sure doesn t feel like it. Continued on page 2 1

2 I m Certain of Salvation Because of God s Grace Continued from page 1 When we look inward for certainty or at the world around us, we will never find it. The world changes so quickly. The promises of a better future fade away with another economic downturn. And my life is too sinful. I don t consistently think the right thoughts or have pure desires. I speak hurtful words and harbor unforgiving attitudes. If I m to be right with God, how can I know I ve been good enough when I so often just see myself doing the wrong thing? The Bible has a different message for us. The Bible urges us to look away from ourselves and look to the promises of God where he says that we are saved because of his grace. What is grace? It is the love God has for those who don t deserve it simply because that is what God is like. God is love. His love is free and boundless. By his grace, his Son left his heavenly throne and became a lowly human being. By his grace, Jesus sacrificed himself on a cross as the payment for the sins of the world. By his grace, God has touched your life with his message of grace so you might believe it. In a world of uncertainty, when you re surrounded by spiritual uncertainty, be certain that you are saved because your relationship with God and your place in heaven hinge entirely on God s grace. So then this word must true remain: By grace you, too, shall heav n obtain. Can you help? We are in need of your assistance in all areas of service in our church. We need people to sign up to volunteer as ushers, greeters, counters, cleaners, pow e r point assi stants, communion set up, and fellowship. The more people we have serving the easier it is on everyone. Training is available if you are unsure about what you will need to do. If you can help in any of these areas please speak to Pastor Himm or Val Hoppe. Our Gloria Dei Soccer team is off to a great start this summer! They still have games all through the month of July and would love to see you there supporting them. Games are Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm. The game schedule and directions to the different soccer fields is posted on the bulletin board. Thank you! 2

3 Serving in July July 5 Ushers: Jim Luisier, Allen Mortimer & Dave Adams Greeters: Bob & Susanna Kost Communion Set Up: Kost Communion Assistants: Tom Furnner & Gary Richmond Power Point Assistant: Reagan Moore Counters: Arlowa Himm & Tammi Neuwirth Cleaners: Viele Serving in August August 2 Ushers: Tim Major, Harold Fox, Tom Furnner Greeters: Dave & Sharon Adams Communion Set Up: Furnner Communion Assistants: Tom Furnner & Scott Mortimer Power Point Assistant: Logan Moore Counters: Arlowa Himm & Tammi Neuwirth Cleaners: Gresock July 12 Ushers: Jeff Dodge, Ralph Dudley & Kent Kerwin Greeters: Joe & Sharon King Power Point Assistant: Shelbie Edgett Counters: Siebert & Luisier Cleaners: Moore July 19 Ushers: Tim Bliese, Mark Moore & Logan Moore Greeters: The Edgett Family Communion Set Up: Kost Communion Assistants: Mark Barton & Tim Koinis Power Point Assistant: Rachel Gresock Counters: Arlowa Himm & Tammi Neuwirth Cleaners: Hoppe July 26 Ushers: Eric Metz, Mike Hoppe & Kurtis Cooley Greeters: Paul & Geri Zoch Power Point Assistant: Zach Kritzman Counters: Deb Mortimer & Cheryl Major Cleaners: Kritzman August 9 Ushers: Bob Kost Sr., John & Zach Kritzman Greeters: The Kritzman Family Power Point Assistant: Tobias Edgett Counters: Siebert & Luisier Cleaners: Edgett August 16 Ushers: Wes Siebert, Scott Mortimer & Jim Sharich Greeters: Scott & Donna Freimark Communion Set Up: Furnner Communion Assistants: Mark Barton & Gary Richmond Power Point Assistant: Noah Gresock Counters: Arlowa Himm & Tammi Neuwirth Cleaners: Sharich August 23 Ushers: Joe King, Spencer King & Brian King Greeters: Tom & Pat Furnner Power Point Assistant: Ashley Kritzman Counters: Callahan & Kost Cleaners: Fox August 30 Ushers: Mark Barton, Jeff Dodge & Jim Luisier Greeters: Bob & Eileen Smith Power Point Assistant: Josh Leplow Counters: Mortimer & Metz Cleaners: Viele 3

4 Birthdays in July 7/01 Luke Simmons 7/01 Adeline Lawrence 7/03 Donna Freimark 7/06 Catherine Mueller 7/07 Bill Yencso 7/09 Randy Neuwirth 7/10 Makenna Mueller 7/13 Eileen Smith 7/14 Jerra McGowen 7/15 Baylor Cicalo 7/16 TJ VanKeuren 7/16 Tim Major 7/19 Garrett Edgett 7/20 Rachel Gresock 7/21 Mark Moore 7/21 Wes Siebert 7/21 Tammi Neuwirth 7/26 Alissa Neuwirth 7/26 Kaitlyn Straub 7/27 Stacy Meyer 7/29 Priscilla Lynn 7/29 Anthony Simmons 7/30 Andrew Peterson 7/31 Donna Fox Anniversaries in July 7/07 Davon & Dorothy Balgrove 7/20 Bob & Dianne Harris 7/27 Mike & Val Hoppe 7/27 Dennis & Lavonne Hipps 7/30 Mark & Chris Barton 2015 Family Bible Institute (FBI) Come, Lord Jesus is the theme of this years FBI and we ve got two more sessions that you re not going to want to miss. FBI is open to everyone, children & adults, members & non-members, so be sure to invite your family and friends to join us as we gather around God s Word, strengthen our faith, and grow in our Christian life. July 8 Come, When No One Loves Me The Ten Lepers July 15 Come, When I am Afraid Jesus Calms the Storm The FBI begins at 6:30 pm and runs until 8:00. All are welcome. Hope to see you there! The next Men s Breakfast and Bible Study will be on July 11 at 8:00 am. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board. 4

5 Answers on page 9 5

6 You Might Be a Lutheran If......during the entire service you hold your hymnal open but never look down at it....rather than introducing yourself to a visitor at church, you check their name out in the guestbook....you have your wedding reception in the fellowship hall & feel guilty about not staying to help clean up....you forget to put water in the baptismal font but never forget to put water in the coffee pot....you think a meeting isn't legitimate unless it's at least three hours long....when you were little you actually thought the Reverend's first name was "Pastor."...you think you're paying your pastor too much if he gets a new car for the first time in eight years....you hear something really funny and smile as loud as you can....bach is your favorite composer just because he was Lutheran, too....you laugh out loud while reading this list, and relive your childhood at the same time....you actually think the pastor's jokes are funny....you know all the words to the first verse of "Silent Night" in German but can't speak a word of it....you have an uncontrollable urge to sit in the back of any room.... you dress up as your favorite reformer for Halloween....you think lime Jell-O with cottage cheese and pineapple is a gourmet salad....your congregation's first two operating rules are "Don't change" and "Don't spend."...the only mealtime prayer you know is "Come Lord Jesus."...Commandment #11--If it's never been done that way before, don't do it....you make your hot dishes with cream of mushroom soup and your salads with Jell-O....you sing "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" while sitting down....your idea of an affirmation is "This is most certainly true."...it's 110 degrees outside and you still have coffee after services....change means wearing your brown suit instead of your blue suit to church....every time something changes, the old one was better....you serve Jell-O as a vegetable. Planning for this years church picnic is in full swing. The picnic will be on August 2nd after the service. Meat will be provide and those attending are asked to bring a dish or two to share. The tentative theme this year is a 1950 s style Sock Hop. Look for more details and a sign up sheet in the near future. Take me out to the ball game Are you ready for a fun evening of baseball and fellowship? Be sure to keep August 22nd open on you summer calendar. We will be traveling to Lansing for a 7:05 pm Lansing Lugnuts Baseball game complete with fireworks! We have 30 seats reserved at $11 a seat. This is a wonderful way to enjoy some old fashioned fun with the whole family. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board and payment is due by July 26. 6

7 GOD S ESSENTIAL OILS Cinnamon, Cumin & Juniper Submitted by: Sharon Adams O il of cinnamon is mentioned 4 times, as is cumin and juniper from which oils were extracted in Biblical times. Cumin seed was also used as a condiment in cooking, and the fragrant branches of juniper were sometimes used to decorate and bring a fresh scent into market booths and dwellings. However, there is more for cinnamon. Both the bark and the leaves of the cinnamon plant produce oil. The oil of the bark is the strongest of the two and the one most familiar to us in the form of cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon found in spice shelves of modern supermarkets. Cinnamon was one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil of Exodus 30: Holy anointing oil is mention 65 times in the Bible, which is tantamount to 65 additional mentions of cinnamon oil. RELIGIOUS TOURS You are invited to join retired WELS Pastor Eugene Kock on either of the below tours: On April 4-13,2016 he will lead a tour to the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked. All key sites in the life of Jesus will be visited. On Sept , 2016 he will be leading a tour to Germany high-lighting places of the Reformation and much more. Beat the crowds and prices by going a few months before the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. There are discounts for early enrollment. Pastor Kock, who has led 50 tours, can be contacted at pastorkock@yahoo.com or (608) for more information. 7

8 Daily Bible Readings Date Old Testament Psalms Proverbs New Testament 1-Jul 1 Kings 18, Rev Jul 1 Kings Rev Jul 1 Kings 21, Rev Jul 2 Chr. 1, Rev Jul 2 Chr. 3, ,31 Rev Jul 2 Chr. 5,6 1 1 Matt. 1,2 7-Jul 2 Chr. 7,8 2 2 Matt. 3,4 8-Jul 2 Chr. 9, Matt. 5 9-Jul 2 Chr Matt Jul 2 Chr Matt. 7,8 11-Jul 2 Chr. 18, Matt Jul 2 Chr. 20, Matt Jul 2 Chr. 22, Matt Jul 2 Chr. 24, Matt Jul 2 Chr Matt Jul 2 Chr. 29, Matt Jul 2 Chr. 31, Matt Jul 2 Chr. 33, Matt. 16,17 19-Jul 2 Chr. 35, Matt Jul Song Matt. 19,20 21-Jul Song Matt Jul Eccl. 1, Matt Jul Eccl : Matt Jul Eccl. 6,7 18: Matt Jul Eccl. 8,9 18: Matt Jul Eccl Matt Jul Joel Matt Jul Obadiah Matt Jul 2 Kings 1,2 22: Mark 1 30-Jul 2 Kings 3,4 22: Mark 2 31-Jul 2 Kings 5, Mark 3 8

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