All Things Give Thanks

Transcription

1 C AMPUS NEWS FOR VICTORY LU THERAN CHURCH NOVEMBER 2018 Thanksgiving EVE WORSHIP WEDNESDAY 4:00PM NOVEMBER 11 HONORING ALL WHO SERVED THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE In All Things Give Thanks Thanking God one day a year is not an adequate response to the many blessings that He has showered upon us, but it can be a good starting place. During the month of November our worship messages will focus on how we can transform Thanksgiving from a noun into a verb. We re going to take advantage of several special days on the church calendar and combine it with our familiar focus on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving so we can take an in-depth-look at Thanks-living. FOR ALL THE SAINTS ALL SAINTS NOV 10/11 SOME GAVE ALL VETERANS DAY NOV 17/18 ALL I NEED THANKSGIVING DAY DEUT. 6:10-12,20-25 NOV 24/25 WHEN IT S ALL OVER CHRIST THE KING REVELATION 21:1-8 NOV 3/4 HEBREWS 12:1-3 JOHN 15:9-17 Victory s Annual Congregational Meeting One of the primary purposes of our annual meetings is to celebrate the ministry that was accomplished in the previous year and to lay the foundation for what God is leading us to do in the following year and beyond. We highlight each of our annual meetings with a video summary of the past year, featuring many pictures of the people who made that possible. QUESTION & ANSWER PRE-MEETING FINANCIAL FORUMS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10 & 17, 5:00PM, FH SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11 & 18, 9:00-10:30AM, FH VICTORY LUTHERAN CHURCH 5946 E. University Drive, Mesa, AZ Office Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8am-4pm VictoryLutheran.com Larry Kassebaum, Senior Pastor Steve Lien, Pastor of Growth Ministries Floyd Anderson, Visitation Pastor Jim Glesne, Seasonal Pastor Jeremy Walloch, Pastor WORSHIP WITH US: Saturday 4:00pm Sunday 8:00 & *9:30 Sunday 10:30am *with communion

2 LETTER FROM THE PASTOR CHEAPER ISN T ALWAYS BETTER Pastor Larry Kassebaum No one can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24 We are finally moving from our summer oppressive heat into the comfortable days and lovely nights of fall here in the desert. It is a joy to welcome so many of our seasonal members and friends back to Victory and the valley. It won t be long before we are ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. I think there is good reason to look at that word Thanksgiving in a new way. It is really two words, thanks and giving. The first word thanks speaks to an important attitude. Because Christ died for our sins and opened the way to eternal life, we have a lot to be thankful for even if we are not as rich, healthy or as comfortable as we would like. The word giving is a reminder that we may well pay a high price if our giving doesn t reflect both an attitude of genuine gratitude, as well as total commitment to our relationship with God. A Haitian pastor illustrated this point to his congregation with the following parable. He spoke of a man who wanted to sell his home for $20,000. Another man wanted to buy it badly, but was greedy, and didn t want to pay the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one small stipulation. The seller would retain ownership of a small nail protruding from the front door. After several years the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner did not want to sell. So the original owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from that single nail he still owned. Soon the house was unlivable. The family that had been living there was forced to sell the house back to the owner at a fraction of its value. The Haitian pastor s conclusion, If we leave the devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage (fear, greed, envy, etc.) on it, making our lives miserable. According to Jesus, the nail in many people s lives, is their relationship with money and possessions. When we are unwilling to pay the full price of commitment as we give thankfully, we give the devil an opportunity to attach his rotting garbage to our lives. While we need to do this on a daily basis, there is also great value in an annual checkup where we make sure we are submitted to God s full ownership of our lives and all that we possess. This month, and especially on Thanksgiving Weekend, we have a special opportunity to examine both our gratitude and our giving. Here s a helpful little prayer that might guide us to healthy thanks-giving. Dear God, Your will, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. Amen. Grace & Peace, 2 Pastor Larry Kassebaum 48th Wedding Anniversary HAPPY BIRTHDAY PASTOR LARRY! Pastor Kassebaum is celebrating a super 70th birthday November 30th and Victory will be celebrating that milestone on Sunday, December 2 at 10:45am in the Fellowship Hall. The church will provide chili and baked potato soup. We are asking members to contribute potluck items to round out the meal (desserts, salads, or whatever the spirit moves). We will also be collecting birthday cards (no gifts) during the month of November and will present these to Pastor Larry on December 2. VLC FOUNDATION BOARD NOW ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS! DEADLINE: NOV. 25, 2018 New and start-up ministries Ministries serving our Lord Jesus Christ Pick up applications at VLC Office MondayThursday 8:00am-4:00pm OR download from our website at: VictoryLutheran.com > Learn More > Foundation Board For more information or if you would like to visit with a Foundation member or estate planner to discuss a gift to the Foundation, please contact the office at or contact our Foundation chairman, Ross Kirchway at

3 OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX COLLECTION DEADLINE NOV. 18 The Annual Shoebox Ministry is one of Victory s Global Missions. What goes into the box is fun, but what comes out of it is eternal. Be a part of changing children s lives all over the world in Jesus Name through the power of a simple gift. Our goal is to collect 300 boxes! Pick up your box in the lobby. FOLLOW YOUR BOX LABELS Each shoebox must include a check/ m o n e y o rd e r f o r a $ 9 mailing fee to cover critical shipping and ministry costs. If you make this donation online, you can Follow Your Box and receive a tracking label. Attach the label to your shoebox, and use the Look-Up Tool to find out the country where your box will be delivered with the message of Christ s love. BLESSING OF THE SHOEBOXES NOV. 17/18 AFRICA PRESENTATION & POTLUCK SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 11:00AM Don t miss a great meal and an opportunity to learn more about our 2018 mission trip to South Africa. Sunday, November 4, at 10:45 in the Fellowship Hall. The church will be providing soup, and the congregation is asked to bring all the other fixin s. Following lunch most of the fifteen people who went on our 2018 mission trip will share stories, show slides, and thank you for your prayer and financial support. For those interested, our 2019 mission trip dates are August 15-26, Registration is now open! Talk to Pastor Steve Lien if you have questions. Growing Growing Growing 201-GROWING CLOSER Discovering Spiritual Maturity SUN, NOV. 11, 1:00PM Many of you have heard or read about our intentional strategy for disciple-making that includes enrolling in four different courses: 101 Knowing More; 201 Growing Closer; 301 Serving Better; and 401 Living Boldly. We recently held our first 101 class, and we are now opening up enrollment/registration for our 201 class. This course will meet on Sunday, November 11, at 1:00pm in the Chapel (enter through the courtyard). This course will explore the holy habits that contribute to the abundant and joyful life of discipleship to which Jesus invites us. Pastor Lien and Paul Christoffers will be teaching the course. If you are a member of Victory, we would love to have you enroll/register, but class size/enrollment is limited. Please sign up at the Welcome Center at weekend worship, or call or stop by the church office. EAST VALLEY CHORALE, choir NOVEMBER 11, 3:00PM The East Valley Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Bruce Cochran, has been performing since They began with 12 members and have grown to nearly 100 singers. This group unites singers from over 50 Phoenix area churches to share God s message of love throughout the community. In this Veteran s Day concert they will be sharing a wide range of pieces, from patriotic to religious. POSTERS AVAILABLE! Pick up your concert season poster at the Welcome Center or if you would like a poster mailed to you to share in your community, business or other location, please ehernandez@victorylutheran.com with your name and address. 3

4 NOVEMBER 2018 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY YTD STATEMENTS PLEASE NOTE The Quilters will be meeting after Thanksgiving on November 27 & 28. If you have any clean usable fabric or sheets we would appreciate any donations. See you then! 4 5 NEW MEMBER COMMISSIONING 7:00-11:30am - Morning Fellowship - FH 8:00am - Traditional Worship - SA 9:15am - Stephen Ministry - FS 9:30am - Worship & Communion - SA 10:30am 11:00am - Africa Potluck & Presentation - FH 11 VETERANS DAY 12 7:00-11:30am - Morning Fellowship - FH 12:30-2:30pm - GriefShare 8:00am - Traditional Worship - SA Surviving the Holidays, Rm. 10 9:30am - Worship & Communion - SA 1:00pm - Prayer Over Mesa 10:30am 1:00pm Knowing More Class -CH 2:00pm - Prayer Group - CH 3:00pm - East Valley Chorale Concert - SA BLESSING OF THE SHOEBOXES 18 7:00-11:30am - Morning Fellowship - FH 8:00am - Traditional Worship - SA 9:15am - Stephen Ministry - FS 9:30am - Worship & Communion - SA 10:30am 1:00pm - Annual Congregational Meeting - SA 19 ELECTION POLLING SITE 13 kmichel@ victorylutheran.com 7 9:30am - VLCW Board Meeting - FS 12:30pm - Alanon, Rm. 23 & FS 1:30pm - LYFE Group, Rm. 10 1:30pm - Men s LYFE Group - FS 5:00pm - Bell Choir Rehearsal - SA 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal - SA 8:00pm - AA, FS / Alanon, Rm :30am - Ruth Circle - Meet in Home 1:30pm - Esperanza Circle - FS 1:30pm - Mary Circle - Meet in Home 2:00pm - Naomi Circle, Rm. 10 4:00pm - LYFE Group - FS 7:00pm - AA Men s Meeting, Rm :30pm - Alanon, Rm. 23 & FS 1:30pm - LYFE Group, Rm. 10 1:30pm - Men s LYFE Group - FS 5:00pm - Bell Choir Rehearsal - SA 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal - SA 8:00pm - AA, FS / Alanon, Rm :00pm - Council Meeting - CH 4:00pm - LYFE Group - FS 7:00pm - AA Men s Meeting, Rm :30pm - Alanon, Rm. 23 & FS 1:30pm - LYFE Group, Rm. 10 1:30pm - Men s LYFE Group - FS 4:00pm - Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service - SA 8:00pm - AA, FS / Alanon, Rm :30am-2:30pm - Quilters - FH 4:00pm - LYFE Group - FS 7:00pm - AA Men s Meeting, Rm :30-11:30am - Quilters - FH 9:00am - Mission Team Mtg, Rm :30pm - Alanon, Rm. 23 & FS 1:30pm - LYFE Group, Rm. 10 1:30pm - Men s LYFE Group - FS 5:00pm - Bell Choir Rehearsal - SA 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal - SA 8:00pm - AA, FS / Alanon, Rm. 23 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE :00-11:30am - Morning Fellowship - FH 8:00am-Traditional Worship-SA 9:30am - Worship & Communion - SA 10:30am 4 6 9:30am - VLCW Bible Study Leaders Meeting - FS 4:00pm - LYFE Group - FS 7:00pm - AA Men s Meeting, Rm. 23 Year-to-Date Statements will be mailed out the first week of November. If you have corrections, please Kathy Michel so that we may fix them before the end of the year. Thank you!

5 Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm :00am - Nehemiah s Men - NLC 10:00am - Communion Service at Citadel 8 5:00pm - I-HELP, Rm :00am - Nehemiah s Men - NLC 22 THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY OFFICE CLOSED 5:00pm - I-HELP, Rm :30-11:30am - Chapel Time at 9 9:30-11:30am - Chapel Time at 16 9:30-11:30am - Chapel Time at 23 NO Chapel Time at 3 NEW MEMBER COMMISSIONING 8:00am - Men s Bible Study - FS 3:00pm - Fellowship - FH 4:00pm - Traditional Worship - SA 5:30pm - Orchard: Africa Zoolights & Fundraiser (Bus leaves Victory at 5:00pm) 10 8:00am - Men s Bible Study - FS 3:00pm - Fellowship - FH 4:00pm - Traditional Worship - SA 17 BLESSING OF THE SHOEBOXES 8:00am - Men s Bible Study - FS 3:00pm - Fellowship - FH 4:00pm - Traditional Worship - SA 24 8:00am - Men s Bible Study - FS 3:00pm - Fellowship - FH 4:00pm - Traditional Worship - SA DECEMBER 4 Christmas Decorating of Church, 9am DECEMBER 8 VLCW Annual Christmas Luncheon, 11:00am DECEMBER 9 VLC Choir & Bells Concert, 3:00pm DECEMBER 22 4:00pm Worship DECEMBER 23 8:00 & 9:30am Worship DECEMBER 24 CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP 3:00pm, 5:00pm, 7:00pm 11:00pm (communion) DECEMBER 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 10:00am (communion) DECEMBER 26 OFFICE CLOSED 29 5:00pm - I-HELP, Rm :30-11:30am - Chapel Time at Communion is offered every Sunday at the 9:30am service and first weekend of the month at all other services. CH CY FH FS LB NLC SA = Chapel = Court Yard = Fellowship Hall = Fireside Room = Lobby = New Life Center = Sanctuary 5

6 I-HELP PROGRAM AT VICTORY Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest has honored a Lutheran tradition of service to neighbors by compassionately offering quality services and resources. Today, a staff of over 500 work in 10 Arizona counties and serve 1 out of every 90 Arizonans. We answer community needs in 4 core areas: Aging and Disability, Children and Families, Emergency Services and Refugee & Immigration Services. We express God s love to ALL people. What a blessing to be part of the I-HELP Program at Victory! Our congregation has been so generous with money for Christmas gifts for the ladies and a steady stream of donations to keep our personal supplies filled. Thank you for your faithful support of this unique ministry that is now being replicated in the West Valley. I-HELP operates on a July 1 fiscal year. From July through September, 60 new women have joined the program. These ladies join up to 20 ongoing or returning participants. During this time, 20 have moved into permanent housing, 27 are now employed and 9 are enrolled in post-secondary education programs. Many of the ladies are with us for a brief time because the case managers are able to identify family members in other parts of the country who are willing to step up and help. Some ladies have serious mental health issues and are referred for more appropriate placements where they can enter treatment. Victory s I-HELP runs smoothly with a group of dedicated volunteers who prepare and serve dinner, pack nutritious lunches, help set up beds for the night, visit with the ladies, offer prayer and wash sheets and towels. Special thanks to our Visitation Pastor, Floyd Anderson, who comes early Friday morning to greet the ladies and sort the laundry baskets so they are ready for pick up by the laundry ladies over the weekend. He is truly an unsung hero! Working together, we are God s helping hands, sharing His love and concern for others as commanded in Matthew 25: VLCW Victory Lutheran Church Women SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 11:00AM This years featured speaker is Michelle Tessendorf, Executive Director & Co-Founder Orchard:Africa. In the first ten years, Orchard grew from being a church-led feeding project for thirty children, to becoming a multi-programmed response to the daily social and economic injustices that plagued vulnerable individuals in Africa. Over the next 15 years, Orchard grew beyond being a church mission in the town of Mafikeng and extended its reach to over 600 community churches and 100 funded programs in sub-saharan Africa. Ticket sales for the luncheon will begin the weekend of November 17/18 and end December 2nd. Cost $10. AT VICTORY HOST WEEK: NOVEMBER 11-18, 2018 Volunteers are needed to prepare meals, serve as evening hosts, overnight hosts and donate food items. Monetary donations are also accepted to offset the cost of providing a week of groceries for four families. Please use pew envelopes and indicate Donation for Family Promise Ministry. SIGN UP sheets will be posted in the lobby the weekend of Nov. 4/5. Contact one of our coordinators: Kathy Michel / kmichel@victorylutheran.com Lois Burton / lois4431@aol.com SAVE THE DATE - FEBRUARY 10, 2019 Psalm 107:1 6 Come for lunch and learn about Family Promise s expansion to the East Valley.

7 CRISMON CAMPUS SNAPSHOTS Join us for worship some Sunday at 10:30 at University & Crismon! VictoryCrismon.com Crismon Upcoming SUNDAY KIDS Baptism Sunday (11.18) Christmas Eve Service ( pm) Alpha Weekend (11.3) Kids Church Reboot (11.11) Life Groups Launch (1.2019) ALPHA CLASS FRIDAY CHAPEL Above Left: Pastor Jeremy being recognized for receiving his grant at the LCMC Convention, October 7-10, SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS VLC FACILITIES RENNOVATION UPDATE This month there s more to see than hear when it comes to improvements to our facilities. If you haven t already noticed, you might want to venture into the Fellowship Hall and take a look at the new curtains we ve added to three of the four walls. Not only do these curtains make the big box we call a Fellowship Hall look a little more attractive but they also improve the acoustical qualities of the room. A new air conditioning unit for our Sanctuary will be installed in the next six weeks. We will be replacing our oldest unit, a 25 ton monster that is on its final legs. There are two advantages to making that change now. One, since this unit serves our Sanctuary, its best to make the change while the temperatures are moderate so as to minimize the stress on the organ that would be caused by radical temperature swings. Two, we can salvage the two fan motors from this old unit and replace one in our 12 ton unit that recently failed. Because our worship attendance is starting to increase, it s not likely we ll be able to do many additional modifications until early next summer. Thanks to all of you who have speeded up your special offering gifts to take advantage of a matching funds opportunity. It looks like we were able to utilize about $225k of the $250k target. That s good stewardship and gratefully appreciated. (ONE SESSION) MON, NOV. 12, 12:30PM Workbook Cost $5 LOSS OF A SPOUSE (ONE SESSION) MON, DEC. 10, 12:30PM Workbook Cost $5 Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can t be recreated? Our Surviving the Holidays seminar is especially for people who are grieving a loved one s death. You ll learn: How to deal with the many emotions you ll face during the holidays What to do about traditions and other coming changes Helpful tips for surviving social events How to discover hope for your future For more information contact: Blair Revak blairmom@cox.net Pastor Floyd Anderson fanderson@victorylutheran.com 7

8 5946 E. University Drive Mesa, AZ WORSHIP WITH US! WORSHIP SCHEDULE Saturday 4:00pm Sunday 8:00, *9:30 Sunday 10:30am *Communion Served ALL 3 PM CONCERTS SU N DAYS RECEPTION TO FOLLOW 11/11/18 EAST VALLEY CHORALE, choir We are delighted to once again present a 12/9/18 CHRISTMAS, VLC Choir & Bells variety of amazing talent! Whatever your 1/13/19 OPERANTICS, opera-influenced voice 2/17/19 UNION/32 QUINTET, Beatles-inspired Jazz 3/10/19 LENTEN CONCERT, VLC Choir 3/31/19 DUO DE LA LUNA, flute & guitar musical tastes, you will appreciate these artists. Following each concert enjoy refreshments and a time to talk with performers. Donations gratefully accepted. Bring a friend and prepare for an unforgettable experience!