The Grapevine FORGIVEN! FROM THE PASTOR... Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

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1 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Volume 334 February 2016 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) W hich is your favorite Shrove Tuesday or Ash Wednesday? Shrove Tuesday, better known as Fat Tuesday, is all about Carnival, which comes from the Latin words meaning farewell to the flesh, has also been used to describe Mardi Gras. Closer to home here in Michigan we have our Paczki. Who s not to love Shrove/Fat Tuesday? Ash Wednesday, on the hand, has nothing to do with party or jelly-filled pastries, but everything to do with sin and repentance. It is a reminder that we nothing but ashes. For me, I m an Ash Wednesday guy. How refreshing to soberly consider who I am, what I have done and failed to do, and all the while remembering who Jesus is and what he has done for me! Join me on Ash Wednesday, February 10, as we gather for worship at 7 pm to honor this day and our Savior. (Yes, we will be treated to a nice don t know about fat meal at 6 pm). FORGIVEN! Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Acts 2:38 Ted didn t know what to do anymore. He was losing more and more sleep at night. If the hollow, empty knots in his stomach didn t wake him up at 2 o clock in the morning, then the hopeless and helpless dreams he was having at night would. Every trip to the mailbox took longer and longer fear and nervousness slowed his every step. Every trip back from the mailbox brought either a sigh of relief or an overwhelming depression that actually caused his hands to tremble and shake. His debt used to be manageable, just a credit card or two, but now he was in over his head way over his head. Debt. We were all in debt way over our heads in debt. Just take a walk out to the stone mailbox of God s holy law and take an honest look at what s inside. Open the envelope the statement of each one of God s holy commandments and consider the debt that our sins of thought, word, and deed continue to accrue not on a monthly basis but on a daily basis, an hourly basis. With each commandment our debt mounts. With every covetous thought, every deceitful word, and every self-serving deed, Continued on page 3

2 Serving in February February 7 Ushers: Jim Luisier, Tim Major & Eric Metz Greeters: Joe & Sharon King Communion Set Up: Furnner Power Point Assistant: Noah Gresock Counters: Kritzman & Leplow Cleaners: Hoppe February 10-Ash Wednesday Ushers: Logan Moore, Mark Moore & Allen Mortimer Greeters: The Moore Family Power Point Assistant: Zach Kritzman Counters: Mortimer & Major February 14 Ushers: Scott Mortimer, Jim Sharich & Wes Siebert Greeters: Jim & Penny Sharich Power Point Assistant: Rachel Gresock Counters: Neuwirth & Moore Cleaners: Gresock February 21 Ushers: Ralph Dudley, Harold Fox, Tom Furnner Greeters: The Edgett Family Communion Set Up: Furnner Power Point Assistant: Ashley Kritzman Counters: Callahan & Kost Cleaners: Fox February 24 Wednesday Ushers: Kent Kerwin, Brian King & Joe King Greeters: Bob & Susanna Kost Power Point Assistant: Tobias Edgett Counters: Mortimer & Metz February 28 Ushers: Kurtis Cooley, John Kritzman & Zach Kritzman Greeters: The Kritzman Family Power Point Assistant: Reagan Moore Counters: Kritzman & Leplow Cleaners: Edgett February 17 Wednesday Ushers: Mark Barton, Tim Bliese & Jeff Dodge Greeters: SueAnn Callahan Power Point Assistant: Shelbie Edgett Counters: Siebert & Luisier

3 FORGIVEN! Continued from page 1 the balance due on our spiritual accounts escalates. Minimum payments? Even if we could make them, God demands payment in full. Compounding interest? It spiraled out of control the day we were born. Given an eternity, we could not pay for one sin. Repent and be baptized, every one of you... for the forgiveness of your sins. In Baptism God forgave us. He forgave our debt; he cancelled it. The debt we owed, Jesus paid in full. He said as much just before he died. It is finished! He was talking about our debt. Not monthly bills, not a credit card, and not the mortgage, but the wages of our sin and the debt we owed God it s paid in full. Christ was crucified. He suffered hell in our place. He endured God s wrath and punishment in our place. He paid for our sins with his death on the cross. Our debt is cancelled; it has been forgiven we have been forgiven. How can we be so sure? Because we hold the stamped receipt in our hands of faith! That receipt is the empty tomb. Jesus resurrection is our guarantee that God the Father accepted his Son s one-time payment for our continual sins. Christ wiped out our debt. By grace and by grace alone, we stand forgiven. Enjoy that receipt because it has your name on it. You are FORGIVEN! Registration for the Today s Christian Women s Retreat Continues. The retreat will be held April 8-11 at the Crowne Plaza Lansing West Hotel. Highlights from the retreat include the Saturday night after-dinner program featuring The Lutheran Ceili Orchestra. Regular registration ends February 29, See more details and register online at The password for registering online is the word retreat.

4 Birthdays in February 2/01 Michael Richmond 2/01 Brian King 2/01 Ray Tanner 2/02 Jamie Stevenson 2/03 Matthew Sharich 2/04 Kaitlyn Sharich 2/04 Raymond Tanner 2/04 Terry Callahan 2/07 Garry Viele 2/07 Scott Mortimer 2/09 Paul Zoch 2/13 Dianne Harris 2/19 Bob Smith 2/20 Devon Dudley 2/21 Brian Reinke 2/22 Justin Neuwirth 2/22 Anna Hoppe 2/23 Pat Robertson 2/23 Abby Himm 2/23 Michelle Bliese 2/26 Tom Furnner 2/28 Lesa Neuwirth 2/29 Clara Buyack MEN ALIVE RALLY February 20, 2016 Doubletree Bay City Riverfront Be Strong and Courageous...the Lord Your God Is with You Wherever You Go. - Joshua 1:9 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Be Strong and Courageous The Lord Your God Is with You Wherever You Go (Joshua 1:9). Mr. Henry Tyson will share his experiences of how the Lord has fulfilled the promise of our theme as Mr. Tyson serves as Superintendent of St. Marcus Lutheran School in inner-city Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Tyson is a WELS called worker. BREAKOUT 1: Be Strong and Courageous When God Changes Your plans--mr. Doug Skene will share how the Lord gave him strength when an injury ended his NFL career, and encourage us to be strong and courageous even when our plans change. Mr. Skene is a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Grand Blanc, MI. BREAKOUT 2: Be Strong and Courageous When Science Denies God s Word--Dr. Kevin Peil will encourage us to be strong and courageous in the face of strong opposition as he presents the Top Ten Science Questions Asked of the Bible. Dr. Peil is a research scientist at Dow Chemical and a member of St. John s Lutheran Church, Bay City, MI. BREAKOUT 3: Be Strong and Courageous When Diagnosed with a Debilitating Disease--Mr. Mark Hayes will share how the Lord has been with him as he faces the diagnosis of Lou Gehrig s disease (ALS), encouraging us to live each day strong and courageous for the Lord. Mr. Hayes is retired from General Motors and is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Bay City, MI. YOUNG MEN BREAKOUT: Be Strong and Courageous as You Come of Age--Mr. Henry Tyson will encourage the young men to be strong and courageous as they come of age in a society that is increasingly hostile to God, his Word, and his people. Cost: $60 Men; $40 Young Men Register: The February Men's Breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, February 13 at 8:00am. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

5 Serving in March March 2 - Wednesday Ushers: Mark Barton, Tim Bliese & Jeff Dodge Greeters: The Moore Family Power Point Assistant: Zach Kritzman Counters: Callahan & Furnner March 6 Ushers: Ralph Dudley, Harold Fox, Tom Furnner Greeters: Barb Lambert Communion Set Up: Hoppe Power Point Assistant: Rachel Gresock Counters: Moore & Neuwirth Cleaners: Viele March 9 - Wednesday Ushers: Kent Kerwin, Joe King & Bob Kost Greeters: Jim & Penny Sharich Power Point Assistant: Shelbie Edgett Counters: Mortimer & Major March 13 Ushers: Mike Hoppe, Brian King & Spencer King Greeters: Priscilla Lynn Power Point Assistant: Ashley Kritzman Counters: Siebert & Luisier Cleaners: Sharich March 16 - Wednesday Ushers: Jim Luisier, Tim Major & Eric Metz Greeters: SueAnn Callahan Power Point Assistant: Tobias Edgett Counters: Sharich & Kost March 20 Palm Sunday Ushers: John Kritzman, Zach Kritzman & Allen Mortimer Greeters: The Edgett Family Communion Set Up: Hoppe Power Point Assistant: Noah Gresock Counters: Mortimer & Metz Cleaners: Moore March 24 Maundy Thursday Ushers: Mark Moore, Logan Moore & Scott Mortimer Greeters: Scott & Donna Freimark Communion Set Up: Hoppe Power Point Assistant: Reagan Moore Counters: Kritzman & Leplow March 25 - Good Friday Ushers: Jim Sharich, Wes Siebert & Mark Barton Greeters: Tom & Pat Furnner Power Point Assistant: Zach Kritzman Counters: Callahan & Furnner March 27 Easter Sunday Ushers 7am: Mark Barton, Tim Bliese & Jeff Dodge Ushers 9am: Mike Hoppe, Kurtis Cooley & Tom Furnner Greeters 7am: Bob & Susanna Kost Greeters 9am: Joe & Sharon King Power Point Assistant 7am: Rachel Gresock Power Point Assistant 9am: Shelbie Edgett Counters: Moore & Neuwirth Cleaners: Kritzman

6 We would like to take a moment and welcome our newly elected officers Pete Straub President Tim Bliese Financial Secretary Mark Leplow Board of Education Ray Tonchen Board of Education Jim Luisier Board of Elders Mike Hoppe Board of Stewardship John Neuwirth Board of Trustees Lent this year starts on February 10. We will be having our regular 6:00 p.m. Lenten Meals followed by the 7:00 p.m. service every Wednesday thru March 16. Food will be available until 6:30 p.m., which allows time for those serving to clean up before the service starts. We need 3 or 4 families to sign up each week to provide a light meal. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board. Feb 10 Feb 17 Feb. 24 March 2 March 9 March 16 March 24 March 25 March 27 Dates to remember Ash Wednesday; Meal at 6:00 p.m., Service at 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday; Pizza at 6:00 p.m.; Service at 7:00 p.m. Good Friday; Service at 7:00 p.m. Easter Sunday; Service at 9:30; Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Brunch follow We would also like to take a moment thank those who s service has ended Mark Barton President Pete Straub Board of Education Tom Furnner Board of Elders Ben Peterson Board of Evangelism Eric Metz Board of Stewardship Ralph Dudley Board of Trustees Tom Pustelnik Treasurer

7 Bible Study for February DATE OLD TEST. PSALMS PROVERBS NEW TEST. 1-Feb Gen. 49, Mark 4 2-Feb Ex. 1, Mark 5 3-Feb Ex. 3, Mark 6 4-Feb Ex. 5, Mark 7 5-Feb Ex. 7, Mark 8 6-Feb Ex. 9, Mark 9 7-Feb Ex. 11, Mark 10 8-Feb Ex. 13, Mark 11 9-Feb Ex. 15, Mark Feb Ex. 17, Mark Feb Ex. 19, Mark Feb Ex. 21,22 35: Mark Feb Ex. 23,24 35: Mark Feb Ex. 25, Luke 1 15-Feb Ex. 27,28 37: Luke 2 16-Feb Ex : Luke 3 17-Feb Ex. 30, Luke 4 18-Feb Ex. 32, Luke 5 19-Feb Ex. 34, Luke 6 20-Feb Ex Luke 7 21-Feb Ex. 39, Luke 8 22-Feb Lev Luke 9 23-Feb Lev. 4,5 44: Luke Feb Lev. 6,7 44: Luke Feb Lev. 8, Luke Feb Lev. 10, Luke Feb Lev. 12, Luke Feb Lev Luke 15

8 IRONIES OF THE PASSION This year s midweek Lenten sermon series theme is Ironies of the Passion. Gloria Dei will be exchanging pulpit with Good Shepherd, Burton and Shepherd of the Lakes, Fenton. The 7 pm worship will be preceded by a 6 pm meal. All are welcome. February 10 February 17 February 24 March 2 March 9 March 16 This Man Went Home Justified - Pastor Himm He Had Been Wanting to See Jesus - Pastor Loersch It Is Better That One Man Die for the People - Pastor Ewald We Have No King But Caesar - Pastor Krueger Not During the Festival - Pastor Himm Don t You Fear God? - Pastor Loersch PIONEER PINE CAR TRACK UPDATE Fundraising for the new Gloria Dei Pine Car track is speeding along. The cost of a 3 lane track, timer and software is around $ This is the same type of track used at the national completion, allowing us to better prepare for our ultimate goal, a first place finish at the national race. At last count we have raise $669.00, which includes $ from the Youth Group fund. Please help us reach our goal with your generous donations. Fundraiser Status $221 to go $169 from Donations $500 from Youth Group Fund as approved by the Voters on October 18th Lost in Service One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the Narthex of the church staring up at a large plaque. It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it. The six year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up; stood beside the little boy, and said quietly, Good morning, Alex. Good morning Pastor, he replied. Still focused on the plaque he asked, Pastor, what is this? The pastor replied Well, son, it s a memorial to all the men and women who died in the service. Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque. Finally, Alex asked, his voice barely audible and trembling with fear, Which service Pastor? The 8:00 am or the 10:30 am? WITH SINCERE THANKS Kay and I sincerely thank you for once again remembering us on Christmas Eve with the card and the generous gift. As you know with a daughter in college, another grandchild on the way, and numerous other life events, the gift will be used, giving thanks to the people we are privileged to serve here at Gloria Dei. Blessings in Christ Jesus, Pastor Himm