Incarnation Image February 2018 Dear Pastor, I know relationships are important, but of late, I find my relationship with God suffering a bit more than usual. The snowy, cold weather of winter has kept me away from worship although I was feeling a separation from God long before winter began. I currently feel a certain disconnect from God and God s people. Where do I go and what do I do? What advice can you offer? Dear Parishioner, Long-term relationships go through cycles: ups and downs, hills and valleys, good times and bad. That s true in our spiritual life, too. For many of us, our spiritual life begins with a very powerfully personal relationship with Christ. We can feel like we are on top of a mountain and have laid claim to the most important thing in the world. And that strong and powerful feeling can stay with us and propel us for months and even years on end. But I have never met a person who feels that they have been able to maintain that state of spiritual ecstasy throughout the entire course of their life. Sooner or later, everyone wanders around in a spiritual valley. Interestingly enough, I recently talked to a woman who explained her situation exactly like that. Yes, it s true, she said, I ve been away from the church for a long time. But you know, it goes deeper than that. I ve not really had much of a spiritual life for a good number of years now. I don t know why. I used to be on fire for the Lord. I couldn t get enough of church. I read the Bible all of the time and prayed all of the time too. I found ways to serve Christ every single day. But I guess the newness of it all wore off, and I just lost interest. But then she added, I feel something stirring in me again. Could it be the Holy Spirit? I feel like I want to come back and renew my spiritual journey again. This young woman really put into words what all of us experience if we enter into a relationship with the Lord. That relationship doesn t stay on the mountaintop forever. Like Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration, we have to get on with our lives. We are called to be people who live in this world but are not of this world. Yes, there will be valleys and great stretches of hot, dry desert. We could very well drop out and even move in a different direction at least for a while. But those down cycles don t last forever and, more often than not, there come brand-new stirrings of the heart. What would it mean for you to fall in love all over again with the One Revelation 2:4 calls our first love? Lent is a great time to come back to the Lord, your first love. It is the perfect time to renew at an even deeper and more seasoned level the most important relationship any of us will ever have in life. Beth Dyer the author of To Love or Be in Love writes the following: As it happens, every Sunday when I attend worship, I enjoy a sense of peace. I feel an inner validation that God loves me, and I love God. In this weekly activity of gathering with fellow Christians, I affirm my belief. Many times, I have wondered why it takes going into church, sitting down and participating in the service to get inner serenity. Then the answer comes to me. I know why this act of worship is so meaningful. It is one of the few times that my love for Christ is a verb. Understanding that love is something I can do, not just feel, is a realization. Accepting God s love for me and my love for God is indeed a revelation. I finally understand that acting on these principles is, in itself, the reward. Fellow believer, it s my guess that the time has come for you to act on your feelings. It s time for you to once again experience, first hand, the love of your gracious and merciful God. We at Incarnation Lutheran Church await with open and loving arms your presence among us. We hope to see you soon. In Christ s name peace and love, Pastor Ralph
P A G E 2 F E B R U A R Y 2017 Notes from Congregational Meeting Thanks to these who have served on the Council 2018 Budget Approved -- New Council Members Elected Annual Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, January 21. 2018. Handouts included a complete collection of Council Committee Reposts, including one from Pastor Ralph. Also 2017 Disbursements-to-Actual Budget Report as well as the 2018 Proposed Budget. Pastor Ralph led us in Devotions and Prayer. Approval for the 2017 Congregational Meeting Minutes were approved. 2017 and 2018 Budgets were discussed with all questioned answered. 2018 Budget approved. New Council Members were voted on and approved: Judy Trow and Don Kneisler. Our many, many thanks to those on the council whose term had expired: Lee Blom, Dan Rogers, Kaye Sterling, and Sandy Krakow. Days Sunday Sunday Wednesday Sunday Wednesday Dates Ushers Reader Refreshments February 4 Shirley Haskins and Jean Watson Karen Flood Barb Brumm February 11 Transfiguration Carl & Marlene Peters Carl Peters Diane Dombeck February 14 Ash Wednesday Myrna Herrbold & Karen Nantelle See note below February 18 Wayne and Kate Pagel Sarah Kneisler Sarah Kneisler February 21 Lenten Wednesday Myrna Herrbold & Karen Nantelle See note below Sunday February 25 Sandy Krakow & Eleanor Vogl Sandy Krakow Eleanor Vogl Wednesday February 28 Lenten Wednesday Worship Updates & Schedules-LENT BEGINS FEB 14 WEDNESDAY LENTEN SERVICES Begin Feb. 14 through March 21 6:30 pm - please see pages 7 & 8 SUNDAY SCHEDULE Worship 9 am Sunday School 10 am Fellowship & Bible Study 10 am Myrna Herrbold & Karen Nantelle Scrappy Stitchers Quilting: 2nd & 4th Friday 9:30 am - February 9 & 23 Women s Bible Study 1st & 3rd Thursday 9:30 am - February 1 & 15 See note below Note: Wednesday Lenten Gathering Meal at 5:45 p.m. If you wish to contribute, please sign up in the Narthex. Men s Bible Study 1st and 3rd Monday 6:30 am February 5 & 19 Church Council 2nd Tuesday 7:00 pm February 13
F E B R U A R Y 2017 P A G E 3 NEWS FROM THE ELCA OUTREACH 3 Ps of supporting the ELCA s global mission Our world is becomingly increasingly interconnected; the global is becoming local. New neighbors worldwide are bringing to the table their vitality of faith and the opportunity for renewal of communities. In our own neighborhoods, we see opportunities for a flourishing of the global church as we become increasingly aware of and connected to the many diverse parts that comprise the body of Christ around the world. The Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director of ELCA Global Mission, describes the three Ps of mission support: We are all called to witness to God s love for God s people in the world. Scripture challenges us to be ready to give an account of our faith. The ELCA program through the Global Mission unit offers us the opportunity to engage in ministry by praying for this work and that of our global companions, participating by growing and learning as missional congregations, and by providing the financial support that enables us to do this work. Here are three resources your congregation can access to engage more fully in the global mission work of the ELCA: PRAY the Global Church Sunday worship resource helps congregations and worshiping communities celebrate our connections and common mission in Christ s global church (bit.ly/gcs1nday). PARTICIPATE the Glocal resource digital binder has 10 components that can be used in your congregation or ministry on global mission-related topics such as immigration, accompaniment and becoming a missional congregation (bit.ly/glocalb1nder). PROVIDE the Missionary Covenant Sponsors Guide walks congregations and others through the possibilities of entering into a covenant relationship with a missionary to provide financial support from their budget, endowment funds or through special fundraising (bit.ly/ covenantsponsor). February 4th Bring your non-perishable food to bet on the AFC or NFC team. Everyone wins because donations go to Resurrection and Trinity Food Banks. Betting Table in the Narthex. Thank you so much. 2018 Reminder for Thrivent Members Your participation in the Thrivent Choice program helps Thrivent Financial distribute these funds effectively. Because of you and other members, Thrivent Financial is able to make a difference every day, across the country. Giving back is important to Thrivent Financial because we know it's important to you Direct your Choice Dollars to Incarnation to support our local ministry. Logon to My Thrivent at www.thrivent.com, or call 800-847-4836
P A G E 4 F E B R U A R Y 2017 A special outing - Green Bay Churches January 4 was the snow date for this outing, but well worth the wait. People travel the world to see the great Cathedrals, but these five in downtown are right here! Thank you Sandy and Linda for organizing this. Grace Lutheran. 312 S. Madison. German heritage. First Evangelical Lutheran 743 S. Monroe. Know as Otto Kaap s Church St. John s Catholic Church 413 St. John Street. Of French origin. The crew. Keeping with the Saint routine, lunch was at St. Brendan s Inn. St. Francis Xavier Cathedral 139 S. Madison. The church of the Bishop. German roots. Note: 1/2 of the organ pipes! St. Willebrord s Catholic Church. 209 S. Adams. Dutch heritage, now finding its mission serving the Spanish Community Want to see these pictures in color? Read your Newsletter on-line www.incarnationgb.com. Click Calendar & Events
F E B R U A R Y 2017 P A G E 5 Seems strange to have Valentine s Day and Ash Wednesday on the same day. Valentine s is a time of happiness, fun, and little candy hearts. While Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a serious, deeply thoughtful time in our Church. Remember John 3:16? Take a re-read. God gave up his Son on Good Friday because he so loved us. What a Great Valentine!
PAGE 6 FEBRUARY 2017 On the calendar Church Calendar and all pictures in color on our website: www.incarnationgb.com YAHs off to the Car Museum Wednesday, February 28 This is a real gem of a car collection right here in Green Bay! It is THE AUTOMOBILE GALLERY and EVENT CENTER...a Sample of Automobiles Spanning Each Decade Of The Last 100 Years. Admission is $8 The Fine Art Street Creation is also on the agenda. St. Brendan s Inn for lunch. Please up in the Narthex. Leaving from church at 9:30 am. Bethel Aebleskiver Dinner Saturday, February 24 An annual favorite returns. Gobble up the Danish Apple Pancake Sausage, Cheese. Applesauce, Dessert, and Beverage. $8 age 12 - Adult We welcome our New Members on Sunday, February 4th. Friends join us for Christmas Worship, or the memorable Christmas by Candlelight. Invitations are extended so that our community in Christ can be experienced. And now we welcome new members. $4 age 4-11 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bethel Lutheran 1350 Bond Street. GB Update on sign Put this on your calendar. A packed house says Welcome! i in the most heart-warming way. The blue container in the kitchen is for recycling only. Please do not use it for waste. Many Thanks As of December 31, 2017 we have $12,243 given to our sign fund (this includes the $7,500 from the Olson Estate). Total estimated cost of the sign $15,210. Our target date for a new sign at Incarnation is sometime in April.
F E B R U A R Y 2017 P A G E 7 Not as I will, but as you will, Jesus prayed to his Father the night before he went to the cross for our salvation. And that is our prayer as well this Lent as we seek to do God s will in our lives, as we draw near to the observance of Christ s suffering, death, and resurrection during Holy Week, Written by Rev. Justin Roscow, each service in this series focuses on a different aspect of God s will at work among us. Biblical characters are used as insignificant reference points each week to guide us in following out Lord more dearly day by day. For Readings to be shared in each service, please visit www.incarnationgb.com. Click on Worship. Ash Wednesday Feb. 14: God s Will And God s Promise By faith, Abraham trusted the will of God when he promised that a son would be born to him. God s will was done when that son, Isaac, was born, and God s will was done when his Son, Jesus, came into the world to redeem his people. Sunday, Week 1 Feb. 18: God s Will And My Inadequacy At first, Moses did not think he could free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But God gave him confidence to set his people free. In Lent we remember that God sent his Son to do his will and set all people free from the Sunday, Week 2 Feb. 25: God s Will And My Dreams Anointed by God to rule in Judah, King David followed God s will to shepherd his people, but often failed to live up to God s dream for him. We welcome the Good Shepherd into our lives who fulfills God s dream perfectly to gather his wandering sheep into the sheepfold of heaven. Sunday, Week 3 Mar. 4: God s Will And My Identity In humility, Mary dutifully accepted the role God had given her to become the mother of our Savior. That Son would later accept his role, faithfully following the path his Father had in mind for him to save us all. Sunday, Week 4 Mar. 11: God s Will And My Worldview On the road to Damascus, Paul had his worldview turned upside down when God called him to preach the name of the Christ he had been persecuting. We follow God s will by putting the crucified Christ at the center of our worldview. Sunday, Week 5 Mar. 18: God s Will And My Response Lydia followed the will of God by responding in faith and hospitality when the Gospel message of Christ s sacrifice was preached to her. We follow the will of God by responding in love and service to one another in return for what Christ has done for us. For the Lenten Wednesday Services -- Feb, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, please see our website: www.incarnationgb.com. Worship page. Holy Week messages for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Food Friday and the joy of Easter Sunday will be in the March Newsletter. Adult Forum After Worship each Sunday at 10:15 a.m. From now to the beginning of Lent, Pastor continues to reflect on the Sunday Gospel. Additionally, beginning on Feb. 18 will be a study that comes with the Thy Will Be Done Lenten Study (please see above) so each Sunday's discussion will be a deeper dive into the theme for that Sunday. Thank you for your presence in worship during the Advent/Christmas season and for your very generous monetary gift given us during our celebration of Christ s birth. You are a blessing to us as a family. God bless you and yours in 2018. Pastor Ralph, Linda, & Aaron
INCARNATION LUTHERAN CHURCH 920 499-2011 incarnationgb@gmail.com 2071 Ninth Street Green Bay, WI 54304 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED We begin on Ash Wednesday, February 14 Once again, we will gather for soup and a sandwich, enjoying the community that comes with breaking bread. Meal begins at 5:45 p.m. Worship at 6: 30 p.m. If you wish to contribute to the Wednesday meals, please sign up in the Narthex. Ash Wednesday, February 14, is the first in the Lenten Series: Thy Will Be Done. This focus is on God s Will and God s Promise to Abraham and later to God s people. Please see page 7 for more information. The following 5 Wednesdays we look to Luke 40: 39-40: The Stones would Shout. 39 Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting! 40 But Jesus answered, If they keep quiet, these stones will start shouting. For Readings to be shared in each service, please visit www.incarnationgb.com. Click on Worship.