The Open Door February, 2016 Behold, I have set before thee an open door Revelation 3:8

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1 The Open Door February, 2016 Behold, I have set before thee an open door Revelation 3:8 Jesus sets us free from our fears Lakeshore Presbyterian Church 5235 Lakeshore Road Fort Gratiot, MI lakeshorepresby@aol.com

2 Our Mission Statement: The Mission of Lakeshore Presbyterian Church is to seek God s will, serve by Christ s example, and share God s love with all people. Lakeshore Presbyterian Current Committee Leadership Session Stewardship Management Deacons Pat Moses Art Diefenbach Barbara Wismer Roger Sheldon Jerry Roberts Jane Tabor Dwaine Tabor Pat Moses Tom Fearnside Suzette Nett Roger Sheldon Mary Beth Sheldon Lloyd Lepien Deb Singer Pat Eppley Sheila Miller Marsha Hiller Worship Joyce Snyder Don Colwell Mike Nett Peggy Vermander Brian Nichol Jane Tabor Evangelism & Marcia Scheurer Outreach Memorial Committee Brian Nichol & Endowment Mary Ann Diefenbach Joyce Wilson Pat Moses Debi Singer Suzette Nett Mike Nett Sheila Miller Jane Tabor Mary Ann Diefenbach Office Hours Pastor Bill tries to be in the office Monday Wednesday & Friday, 9 Noon. He can be reached at or pastor.lakeshore@gmail.com. Secretary Nancy, is in the office on Tue, Wed, & Fri from 8:30 12:30.

3 We re reminded by the media that we have something to fear. This week it is the Zika virus, which is spreading rapidly in South and Central America. The virus is transmitted from person to person by a tiny mosquito. If this particular kind of mosquito bites someone who has the virus, the virus is carried by that mosquito to the next person that it bites and transports the virus to the second person. The Zika virus normally isn t life threatening, 80% of the time the person with the Zika virus shows no symptoms and has no idea he/she has the virus. But if the Zika virus is transmitted to a pregnant woman, her child could be born with microcephaly, a very small head and small brain. The type of mosquito that carries the Zika virus does not live where there is winter, so we in Michigan do not have to worry, but we still worry. A woman who may be pregnant should not travel to central or South America at this time. It s not likely that any of us in Lakeshore Church are pregnant, but still we feel somewhat afraid of the Zika virus. Regularly there is something in the news that drives up our level of fear. It may be the fear of tornadoes or floods one week, and the week before it was the fear of terrorist attacks. Fear is part of our cultural DNA. A low level of fear can be healthy. A healthy fear hopefully would keep a pregnant woman from traveling to Central or South America at this time. A healthy fear would keep us from walking through areas of Afghanistan that are controlled by ISIS. We are blessed in Michigan to have very little that we need to fear, but still we carry with us more fear than is healthy. Fear keeps us from experiencing the freedom that Jesus Christ offers. Trust in God diminishes our level of fear. The people in Biblical times had much more to be afraid of: bad weather destroying their crops, an enemy taking all they owned, disease taking all the members of their family. In spite of the world in which they lived, faith in God diminished their level of fear. The Psalmist says in Psalm 56:4, In God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? Trust in God is a sure remedy for excessive fear. All love comes from God through Jesus Christ. When we attain perfect love fear vanishes. The Bible says it this way, There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. (I John 4:18-19) God is telling us that the more we receive God s love, and in turn love God and our fellow human beings, the less fear we have. We don t even have to fear death, because Jesus has broken through the fear of death. He died and was raised, and because he was raised, we who live in faith will also be raised. Our love and trust in Jesus leads us to embrace life and not fear death. Many people in this area of Michigan fear living. They get all the news, which leads them to fear. They don t get the good news of Jesus Christ, and He is the remedy for fear. My hope is that in 2016 we will find new ways to share with our neighbors, Jesus Christ and the freedom from fear that Jesus gives to us. Bill

4 Lakeshore Presbyterian Church February 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Deacons 11:15am E&O 11:15am Worship Committee 11:15am Please help decorate the sanctuary for Easter by purchasing an Easter Lily. The cost will be $8.00. Please make a check out to the church for the quantity you wish to purchase and make note on your check or envelope that it is for Easter Lilies. Or you may use a pew envelope. Orders will be taken through March 20.

5 Scriptures to study during February February 7 Luke 9:28-26(37-43) February 14 Luke 4:1-13 February 21 Luke 13:31-35 February 28 Luke 13:1-9 Worship Helpers at Lakeshore February Elders February Deacons Barbara Wismer, Sheila Miller February 7 February 14 February 21 February 28 Ushers Counters Ushers Counters Ushers Counters Usher Counter Pat & Lynn Martin Jerry & Bev Roberts Dwaine & Jane Tabor Pat Moses & Suzette Nett Ushers and s are needed for The signup sheet is on the table in the Sunderman Hall. To accommodate those who cannot climb the stairs to the lectern, you may read from the main floor There is a signup sheet in the Sunderman Hall for coffee hour. Stewardship of Giving Total Expenses for the month of January $ Total Income for the month of January $ JOYS AND CONCERNS Following are those mentioned during Joys and Concerns recently. May we lift up to God these names and others who have been mentioned, both in hopes of God s healing and in gratitude for what God has done: Prayers of Healing: Carol & Jay Smith health issues; David Jarvis for continued recovery; John Pryor Marwood Care Facility; Jack Tabor Dwaine s father for strength for daily living; Bill & Arlene Olney; Brenda Silk complications from diabetes cousin to Brian Nichol; Joan & Gail Vermander health issues; Lynn Martin receiving treatment for bone cancer, Eddie Donbrosky may find the correct medication Sue Colwell; Geroge Singer accident with moped Prayers of Concerns: Erin Presbyterian Church finds their purpose and ministry Safe Travels Prayers of sympathy: Family of Joe LaRue; Jason Schultz tow truck driver killed while responding to an accident, Barbara Malfrol sister to Tom Fearnside; The family of Mark Knust Per Capita for 2016 is $25.04 per member. Lakeshore Church pays this amount for every member. Some members choose to reimburse Lakeshore for this amount. Per Capita pays the salaries of our Stated Clerk, Ed Koster and Executive Presbyter, Al Timm; it pays the cost of being a representative democracy of meeting seven times a year. Freedom is not free, and having a representative form of church government is not free; it costs us $25.04 per member in Trust God, Trust the Prayer Chain When you have a concern or a joy, please trust the prayer chain to bring your concern or joy to GOD from many different locations. Even when our members head south to Florida or west to Arizona, they continue to be part of the prayer chain. To get the Prayer Chain moving, call Pastor Bill at or Mary Beth Sheldon at When you call either Pastor Bill or Mary Beth, our seven Prayer Chain Captains will be called and they in turn will call their prayer warriors. So soon after you make your request known over 40 people will raise up your concern or joy to God in prayer. The Lakeshore Prayer Chain works miracles.

6 Safe Horizon s need list: Diapers & wipes, Shampoo, toothpaste & toothbrush, Razors, Deodorant, African American hair care, Flip Flops for shower, Laundry detergent & cleaning supplies, paper towels & toilet paper. If you have a prayer concern you want to have the church pray for you can activate the Prayer Chain by- calling Pastor Bill at If he is not available or cannot be reached call Marybeth Sheldon at Worship Committee Worship Committee is looking for your suggestions for making the service more meaningful for you. There is a mailbox slot for the worship committee. Please leave your suggestions there for them to review. We have artificial flowers for the altar. If you wish real flowers for a special occasion you may have them but you will be responsible for having the flowers at the church no later than 9:45 am that Sunday. To get the announcement in the bulletin, please contact the office the week before you will supply the flowers. Did you know that you can receive you newsletter three different ways. Pick up in your mailbox, ed (and it will be in color) or through the post office. If you want to change the way you are receiving the newsletter please inform the office. Sunday at 2pm we offer a non - denominational service at Lake Huron Woods. New Website Finally is completed the addresss is In January there were 114 people view the site!! I hope to have it updated this coming month. Nancy You will notice a new BORROWED sheet posted on the bulletin board. If you are going to be borrowing chairs, table etc from the church, please let the church know by signing them out on this sheet. I would like to say Thank You to Jane & Dwaine Tabor who came in and stapled together the annual report for me. I really appreciated it, as it gave me time to finish the year end taxes. Nancy Nunez Endowment Fund Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take, but what we give! Please keep the Endowment Fund in your thoughts and prayers.