Gloria Christi News. Volume 12, Issue 1 JANUARY 2012 IS IT THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT? 2012: HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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1 Gloria Christi News Volume 12, Issue 1 JANUARY : HAPPY NEW YEAR! IS IT THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT? And Jesus answered and said to them: Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14 Dear saints of God sanctified by the blood of Christ Jesus: Most of us have heard about the sensationalism about the end of the ancient Mayan calendar that is supposedly expiring in late December Many others hear of the writer Nostradamus or other supposed prophecies that are not from God. As we enter this year we also continue to hear of many troubling things in the world that almost seem to confirm these predictions crashing currencies, inflation, bank bailouts, consolidation of world governments, surveillance, new wars, maybe even a third world war. These things can happen without the end of the world being imminent. In fact, Jesus tell us that these things are not the chief signs that the end is very close. This doesn t mean that these won t be trials, involve great suffering, and produce hardship for Christians. Jesus says no one knows the day or the hour of the end. It shall come as a thief in the night, not when man predicts it. Let us be hopeful and live in the peace of Christ in this New Year, not because the world is peaceful or calm or orderly, but because Christ Jesus is our Lord, and He will come again in glory. We look forward to this with joy. There may indeed be times of testing for the Church, so be alert! As Jesus says, When the Son of Man comes again, will He find faith [in Him] on the earth? Persecution may indeed come again in our lifetime in where we live. But God still blesses us in His mercy as He abides with us. We begin this New Year 2012 in the name of Jesus, remembering that we are His baptized children. We are marked with the sign of the cross and the holy name of the Blessed Trinity. May we in this New Year focus on the one thing needful and have that be central, most important, and the thing we do not compromise on, even when there are other important or enjoyable things. Let each of you be renewed in Divine Service and Bible study attendance, supporting the work of the church, continuing in daily prayer, and seeing yourself as a pilgrim and citizen of heaven as you live in this world and serve God in your daily vocations in life. God grant us your grace, your holy presence, and your strength through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Lamb of God! Amen. In Christ Jesus our Savior, Pastor John Frahm

2 Where do we begin? Church Council Highlights December, 2011 No Church Council Meeting Next Council Meeting will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 7:00 pm NEW OFFICER INSTALLATIONS All individuals who will be serving on the Church Council as officers or as elected members of boards will be installed on Sunday, January 1st at both of the morning services. Whether you were just recently voted into office or are serving a current term, please plan to attend one of these services. Thursday, January 6, 2011 Divine Service 7:00 pm Come and worship the newborn King, just as those wise men did so many years ago! The Christmas season ends as we begin the season of Epiphany, the giving of God s gifts to the entire world, Jews & Gentiles alike. We will gather together as God s people and celebrate His gifts! There is nothing quite like a church family when it comes to getting things done, especially around the festival or holiday seasons! From Thanksgiving through the New Year, our lives are a constant buzz of activity inside these buildings. But it wouldn t happen unless YOU had been here to help. And so, to everyone here at Gloria Christi, THANK YOU! For your generous donations of food and financial support... the Elders were able to deliver multiple boxes of food to 6 families! For the dozens of individuals who supplied soups, breads, desserts, and more during the Advent season s Soup Suppers as well as the dinner following the Service of Advent Lessons and Carols. For the individuals who contributed toward the purchase of poinsettia plants at Christmas; the brightly colored plants always add a festive touch to the Christmas décor. For the individuals who have volunteered time and talents in decorating (especially the guys who do the top of the ladder jobs) For those who assisted musically, both vocal and instrumentalists For the teachers and students who retold the Christmas story and then shared that story through Christmas carols God continues to bless His people here at Gloria Christi and beyond our doors through His people! Thanks be to God! According to the Bylaws of Gloria Christi s constitution, we are to hold at least three Voters Meetings per year, one of which falls in January. The tentative date is Sunday, January 29th at 1:00 PM. This information will be confirmed at the next Church Council meeting. Watch your Sunday bulletin for any changes. Regular weekly choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, January 11th at 7:00 PM. We are always looking for new voices to join our little group as we prepare music for the glory of God and the edification of our Divine Services. Join us in the Choir Loft! Gloria Christi News Page 2

3 News from our Preschool/Daycare Dates to remember Monday, Jan. 2nd ~ Preschool & Daycare CLOSED for New Year s Holiday. Tuesday, Jan. 3rd - Friday, Jan. 6th ~ Daycare open, no formal preschool classes. District 6 closed Monday, Jan. 9th ~ District 6 returns to school, formal Preschool classes resume, and rate increase takes effect. Monday, Jan. 16th ~ District 6 closed for MLK Day; Daycare only. Chapel If you haven t had a chance to check out the Story Bible, the Christian Resource Center has some in stock. The have been a wonderful addition to our Preschool program this school year. Chapel is on Thursday mornings at 9:15am. Please join us. Jan. 5th ~ The Visit of the Wise Men Matthew 2 (pg 287) Jan. 12th ~ The Baptism of Jesus. Matthew 3; John 1 (pg. 297) Jan. 19th ~ Jesus Calls Disciples John 11 (pg. 304) Jan. 26th ~ Jesus Changes Water into Wine John 2 (pg. 307) account to the general fund to assist with this year s shortfall of income. SCRIP has supplied a $5.00 preloaded King Soopers Card to each family, and the program is being explained to them in detail. It is our hope that these reloadable King Soopers cards will get the families started participating as much as the congregation. We would also like to thank you, the members of Gloria Christi Lutheran for the generous Christmas gifts for the staff. It is a blessing for all of us who work here to know our work is supported by you! Last month we... had a wonderful Christmas lunch with the children and their families. Mary has proven to be not just a cook, but a wonderful chef. Everyone really enjoyed her Thanksgiving and Christmas meals....had a beautiful Christmas Service/Program for the Preschoolers and their families. Many compliments were given to Pastor Frahm and Mrs. Michele for a very special time of sharing God s love and how much the children have learned about God s most special Gift to us. Thanks Thank you to all who continue to support and purchase through the SCRIP program. We were happy to make a donation from that Gloria Christi News Page 3

4 DYNAMIC MATURITY WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH Sunday, January 8, 2012 before & after both Sunday Services Check out the Book Section the winter months are an excellent time to enjoy a good book, and we will have several new books just out from Concordia Publishing. Bargain Sale Table we re always trying to clear out a few things from our inventory to make room for new, so check out the sale table, and see if there is something just for you. As always, if you would like to order anything special, see either Marlene Selden or Joy Johnston. Thank you for your continued support of the Christian Resource Center. LIFELIGHT 1 CORINTHIANS The Monday evening LifeLight Bible Study group will begin the first letter to the Christians at Corinth. LifeLight studies are divided into 9 weekly lessons. The participants work through the study questions and readings throughout the week and then come together to discuss the lesson as a group. Not only do we study and work through the appointed book, but the series also does a great job of bringing the Old and New Testaments of Scripture together as God works His plan of salvation. If you would like to be part of this study, please add your name to the list on the office window so that adequate books can be ordered. Books will be available to pick up on Tuesday, January 3rd. The first evening class time, then, will be Monday, January 9th. Most classes last about an hour in length. If you have any questions, please contact Randy Laughlin at :30 AM The location of our January get-together has not been decided as yet, but watch your Sunday bulletins for more details. In the meantime, save this date and time on your calendar! 2012 Flower Sponsors The altar flower chart for 2012 is up on the main bulletin board in the narthex. We need sponsors to provide altar flowers for each Sunday of the year. Why not check your calendar for those special days in your family... birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, or just because... and then sponsor flowers around that date? Some people use cut flowers (purchased or out of your own garden), while others use a potted plant. The only stipulation is that they are real and not artificial. If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to ask a member of the chancel guild: Deb Rees ( ) or Bev Antuna ( ). Will you help? More volunteers are needed to help with the Sunday morning Coffee Fellowship. If you would like to provide the treats once or twice a year for this time of visiting, please add your name to the Coffee Fellowship schedule on the office window. The board would also appreciate some help setting up & cleaning up each week, as this has been a major time commitment. Please indidcate on the sign-up if you are able to take on this responsibility for a week or two. If you have any questions, call Marlene Selden at Thank you for your assistance! Gloria Christi News Page 4

5 Since introducing SCRIP to Gloria Christi more than a year ago, sales continue to remain constant. Although the total number of individuals using the electronic gift cards is not large, the rebates keep adding up! Thank you to all of our faithful shoppers! To those of you who have been a bit curious about using SCRIP, please don t hesitate to ask Joleen, Betty, or Kirsten (Board of PS Education) to answer your questions. elabelsforeducation.com Now we can collect additional Labels for Education points electronically using our shopper cards! SCRIPNOW is available instantly online, and you print out your own gift certificate at home! AMAZING! Check it out at enrollment code A4D871EA Personally, I like to shop with SCRIP because every time I make a purchase.... groceries, gasoline, or whatever... I know that I am supporting my church and preschool! Remember, SCRIP order dates are the 1st and 3rd Sunday each month. If there is a 5th Sunday, you get a bonus order date! Once you purchase a reloadable card, you can reload it any time you want and not wait for the next order date. If you would like to get a King Soopers reloadable card, just ask for one at the SCRIP table or the church office during the week. King Soopers is not part of the Great Lakes Scrip program, but rebates us 5% for every $5,000 spent through the cards. It sounds like a lot, but it s amazing how quickly everyone s purchases add up. Sign-up online, and every time you purchase a Labels for Education participating product using your Shopper Card from participating retailers, you automatically earn 1 point our school can redeem for FREE educational merchandise. (Our school can still clip and redeem UPCs to earn the face value of Labels for Education points to earn even more for our school.) It s really that easy. Sign up today at There are dozens of participating retailers nationwide; the most common in our area are King Soopers and Safeway, along with Albertson s and City Market. For more information, go to the website listed, or get in touch with Pennie Hoke. Don t forget to save those labels, UPCs, and beverage caps from participating products! Drop them into our label collection bins Gloria Christi News Page 5

6 TREASURER S REPORT November 2011 Current Month Year to Date Weekly Offerings $13, $165, Mortgage Offerings 1, , Special Services , Non-Budgeted Income 5, , Church Income $20, $184, Church Expenses 15, , Net Church Activity $ 5, $ (6,947.46) PS/DC Income $9, $114, PS/DC Expenses 7, , Net PS/DC Activity $ 1, $ (143.83) Net Activities $ 7, $ (7,091.29) District Missions $ $ 4, Other Missions , DESIGNATED MISSION GIVING 2011 WE REACHED OUR GOAL! THANKS BE TO GOD! With the final giving in 2011, we were able to write a check in the amount of $400 for the Lutheran Theological Seminary in South Africa. That brings the total giving to $4,200, the amount we had set as a goal for the year. We praise and thank God for His faithfulness to us here at Gloria Christi and to His Church throughout the world. We pray that God will bless the offerings that they may be used to His glory and for the building of His kingdom. To God be the Glory! If you haven t yet done so, please pick up your offering envelopes for Do not use any envelopes left over from last year. If you cannot find envelopes prepared with your name, please call the church office or Diane Gaudian ( ), and she will be happy to prepare a set for you. To the members of Gloria Christi, Thank you all for the generous out-pouring of love you have shared with us this Christmas season! May our Lord continue to bless your work as you seek to serve Him this coming year! Pastor Frahm Betty Monson Pennie Hoke Michele Gonzalez Susan Vogel Erin Lengel Melissa Jaynes Kiersten Gonzalez Mary Ochoa Epiphany and Its Season Epiphany is one of the oldest seasons in the Christian Church Year, second only to the Easter season. This season of lights emphasizes Jesus manifestation (or epiphany, from the Greek epiphanecia) as God and man. The earliest Christians called the feast of the Epiphany the Theophany ( revelation of God ). When the Gentile Magi come to worship Jesus, they show that now everyone has access to God. Now all people, Jew and Gentile, can come to God s temple to worship, because Jesus is the new temple: God in the flesh. The Epiphany of Our Lord (January 6) marks the celebration of the visit of the Magi. Epiphany may include as many as nine Sundays, depending on the date of Easter. The season is marked at its beginning and at its end by two important feasts of Christ. On the First Sunday after the Epiphany, the Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord. The Father had sent Jesus to bear the sins of the world. So Jesus steps down into baptismal waters so that He is can soak up the sins of the world; He is baptized into our sins, so that our Baptism might be into His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. The feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated on the last Sunday in the Epiphany season, is a significant and uniquely Lutheran contribution to the Christian calendar. This festival commemorates the moment on the Mount of Transfiguration when three of Jesus disciples glimpsed their Lord in divine splendor, seeing Him as the center of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). He proclaimed to His disciples, then and now, that He was the long-awaited one who had come to die for the sins of the world and be raised again in glory. O Come, Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord! Gloria Christi News Page 6

7 Preparing for the Divine Service The Gospel outreach radio broadcast of Lutheran Hour Ministries can be heard each Sunday on the following radio stations: KOA (850 AM) 6:00 am KFKA (1310 AM) 9:30 am XM Satellite - Family Talk (XM170)12:00pm Broadcast sermons for January are: January 1 ~ "The Lord Will Have the Last Say!" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz The Lord Jesus saves, the Lord Jesus reigns, and in all things He will have the last say! We begin the new year in His Name. (2 Timothy 4:6-8) January 8 ~ "Jesus' Baptism: Solidarity with Sinners to Save Them!" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz Jesus stepped into the Jordan River for a baptism He didn't need in order to save a people who didn't deserve it. He showed solidarity with sinners so that they might receive God's forgiveness and mercy by grace. (Mark 1:4-11) January 15 ~ "Bought with A Price!" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz What are you worth? We live in a world that doesn't know how to answer that question. Your true value is found in a restored relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) January 22 ~ "Living a Life With Purpose" Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz In Christ, God has a plan for you-a life with purpose, life to its fullest measure, life in Him for others. (Mark 1:14-20) January 29 ~ "One With Authority" Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus Even Jesus' enemies had to admit that He spoke with authority. What's more, Jesus showed His power and authority to forgive sins and conquer death itself. (Mark 1:21-22) January 1 ~ Circumcision and Naming of Jesus Numbers 6:22-27 Galatians 3:23-29 Luke 2:21 January 8 ~ The Baptism of Our Lord Genesis 1:1-5 Romans 6:1-11 Mark 1:4-11 January 15 ~ Second Sunday after the Epiphany 1 Samuel 3: Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 January 22 ~ Third Sunday after the Epiphany Jonah 3:1-5, 10 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Mark 1:14-20 January 29 ~ Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Deuteronomy 18: Corinthians 8:1-13 Mark 1:21-28 Please study these Scriptures each week to prepare yourself for Sunday services. You are also encouraged to read the Christian Questions and Answers for communicants in the Small Catechism to prepare to receive the Lord s body and blood faithfully in the Divine Service (p.329,330 LSB). For those who would like a daily Bible reading schedule you are encouraged to use the one listed on page 299 in our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book. The Bible, the Catechism, and our hymnal are the three key books for Lutherans to use in devotions. Besides this it is good to be familiar with our Lutheran Confessions, the Book of Concord, which includes the Catechisms. See Joy or Marlene. to get a Bible, Catechism, Lutheran Service Book or the Book of Concord. Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105 Gloria Christi News Page 7

8 Deadlines for Newsletter and Sunday Bulletin Gloria Christi Staff Rev. John A. Frahm III Pennie Hoke, PS/DC Director (970) (970) Travis Goeglein, President (970) George & Berlyn Clear, (970) Sunday School Superintendents Andy Eberhard (campus ministry) (970) Betty Monson, Secretary and Choir Director (970) (H) (970) (C) We welcome and encourage submissions for our newsletter and Sunday bulletin. Please make all submissions in writing, on disk, or by . All material is subject to editing for content, clarity, and style, as needed. The deadline for the newsletter is the 15th of every month. The deadline for the Sunday bulletin is Wednesday at Noon. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith... Galatians 6:10 Gloria Christi Lutheran Church (LC-MS) st Avenue Greeley, CO Phone: Fax: Website: Return Service Requested The Epiphany of Our Lord Divine Service Friday, Jan. 6, :00 pm 2012