This Week Reflection from the desk of Pastor Donald---- What are some basic ideas behind an effective irrigation system? Last week, we reflected on the necessity for connection to the water source, and how that idea might be relevant to us as God s irrigators. In this final installment of the series, I want to consider how a good irrigation system works with several components and aspects all fitted well and working together. There are pumps, valves, filters, pressure regulators, not to mention pipes, backflow preventers (I wouldn t have thought of that one), and so forth. The manufacturers rely on these components to work well individually and jointly, for the system to deliver. It is my strong desire that at TLC, we will continue to cultivate a culture that honors the various individual gifts and potentials which God has given us. In the celebrity culture of our day, people look for that larger-than-life champ who can always make it happen. In the Spirit-filled church, the Holy Spirit distributes gifts to us regular people who have yielded to Him. To create an environment where these gifts can participate and thrive is to honor the Spirit and to recognize each one s contribution. But there is also the working together. If the mission of God s irrigation system is to work effectively within our community and around our world, the individual aspects will need to work together in Christ-centered harmony for the purposes of Him who has called us into participation in His Kingdom. Let us remember though: an analogy can only go so far. We are humans, not machines. We are relational, not automatic. We are not used and discarded when we become worn or obsolete. We are partakers of the Father s everlasting love. But at least, we can draw a general lesson from a human-made system fitted together and working in efficient harmony. Some gifts may already be obvious and active in our community. Others may yet be veiled and need recognition and affirmation. Some may be tied to personality type, to age and experience, to skill, to unique perspectives on things, to specific areas of ministry passion and ability, to the diversity in origins and ethnicities the list goes on. As we learn the discipline of receiving God s grace, goodness and work in our own lives and then offering it to our world, may we also grow in recognizing each other as participants in this call and mission together. May the Lord grant us joy and gratitude in receiving the gifts He has bestowed upon His Church. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with [the Body of] Christ. (1 Cor 12:12) Wednesday, Aug. 1 Noon Eucharist: Small Chapel Friday, Aug. 3 Staff meeting with Pastor Donald: 4 pm @ TLC Saturday, Aug. 4 Vestry Meeting: 10 am in the Kolini Room Refugee Ministry Leadership Meeting: 11 am in the Kolini Room
Sunday, Aug. 5 Proper 13 (Vesting at the first service only Worship Services: 8:15 am & 10:45 am Pastor Donald will preach at both services. Readings: Exodus 16:2-4,9-15; Psalm 78:14-20, 23-25; Ephesians 4:17-25 ; John 6:24-35 Meet and Greet Pastor Donald, Becky, and family: 9:30 10:30 am in the Rwanda Room No Christian Ed Classes until Sept. 9 ESL Reading Class: 9:30 am in the ESL Classroom Nursery: Open from 8:15 am 12:30 pm for all children 4 and under Daughters of the King: 12:15 pm in the Clergy Office Clergy Meeting: 12:15 pm in Pastor Donald s Office Karen Worship: 12:15 pm in the ESL Classroom Tuesday, Aug. 7 NO Staff Meeting (Staff meeting will be next Tuesday, Aug. 14) Wednesday, August 8 NO Noon Eucharist Mission Board: 5:30 pm in the Rwanda Room. Guest Speaker: Habitat for Humanity Friday, Aug. 10 2 nd Friday Dinner: 6 pm, Valley Inn, 1997 S Wadsworth, RSVP to Paul Wegener (All Adults are Welcome!) Saturday, Aug. 11 Men s Bible Study/Breakfast: 8 am in the Downstairs Parish Hall (All Men are Welcome!) Next Week Sunday, August 12 Proper 14 Worship Services: 8:15 am & 10:45 am Readings: Deuteronomy 8:1-10; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:35-51 (Vesting at the first service only No Christian Ed Classes until Sept. 9 ESL Reading Class: 9:30 am in the ESL Classroom Nursery: Open from 8:15 am 12:30 pm for all children 4 and under Karen Worship: 12:15 pm in the ESL Classroom Tuesday, Aug. 14 Vestry: 7 pm in the Kolini Room Wednesday, Aug. 15 Noon Eucharist: Small Chapel Upcoming Dates and Announcements
It s a girl!!! Please Bring a Cross for the Wall at the Top of the Stairs Rev. Al Janssen s Books for Sale Thank you, Amy Croft, Bobbi Wegener, and Karen Torp News about Pastor Donald and family PHOTOS FOR OUR TLC DIRECTORY! Baby girl Peyton Harbor Poag was born July 19 th 6" 10 oz (Jon said she was the "standard" length and that they're all doing fine.) Wyatt is taking on the big brother role quite well! They hope to be in church Sunday. CONGRATULATIONS JON, KELLY, and big brother, WYATT! Recently, the Vestry appointed Amy Croft, a vocational artist, to help design an attractive wall at the top of the stairs that can be used to display art, pictures of various church events, or other items. In preparation for our big event of the 26 th, we d like to have a display of parishioner s crosses. Please bring a cross that has meaning to your family to display on our wall. Label your cross with your name and include a small write-up of how you received the cross, and/or, what meaning the cross holds for you. Amy will have a table in the foyer where you can drop off your cross and information. DEADLINE is August 19. Rev. Al Janssen s Books for Sale Sunday, Aug 12 th in the Narthex Fr Al will bring a couple of books he has co-written: God's Smuggler" and "Secret Believers as well as a few devotionals. They will be on sale between services. Have you noticed? The Celtic Cross and scripture reading on the hall wall at the top of the north door stairs? Thank you, Amy Croft! How the bulletin board in the foyer and the big one downstairs are kept up to date and done so well? Thank you, Bobbi Wegener! How clean the pews are in the Sanctuary? Thank you, Karen Torp! Pastor Donald, his wife Becky, and children, Rhodes, Knowles, and Rhyze will be at TLC this Sunday! Donald will preach at both services and you can meet the family between services (9:30 10:30 am) in the Rwanda Room. They will return on August 19. Great news! Their home in IL is under contract! Please pray that they will be able to find a good home here in Denver. They hope to live within 5 miles of TLC. Pastor Donald will soon be taking over the reins as Senior Pastor and we would like to help him get to know you. (and, help us get to know one another!) Our picture directory serves as a good way to help us place names with people, but it is outdated. In order to update we need one of the following: 1. Individual picture if you are the ONLY member attending TLC. 2. Couple picture if you attend TLC as a couple without any children attending 3. Family picture of those in your family who attend TLC Please do ONE of the following: 1. Email your picture (Needs to be a close-up and in the jpg format.) to jeaniep59@gmail.com by August 15. OR 2. Have your photo taken between Sunday services (9:30 10:30 am) this Sunday August 5 th, or the 12 th, or 19 th with Jeanie Hutton, our Church Administrator. She will have a table set-up in the Small Chapel. Most helpful would be for you to email your picture (according to above direction!) to Jeanie NOW while you think about it! Thanks! Entrusting Myself to the Hands of Jesus I ve come to think of the only, the supreme, prayer we can offer up, during these hours when the road before us is shrouded in darkness, is that of our Master on the cross: Into your hands, I commend my spirit. To the hands that broke and gave life to the bread, that blessed and caressed, that were pierced; to the kindly and mighty hands that reach down to the very marrow of the soul that mold and create to the hands through which so great a love is transmitted it is to these that it is good to surrender our soul, above all when we suffer or are afraid. And, in so doing, there is great happiness and great merit. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ
Dates to get on your calendars Christ Body Ministry: Aug. 19 look for sign-up in the foyer Pastor Donald s first service with us! Sunday, August 5 th at both services. Pastor Donald and his family will also be at TLC on Sundays, Aug. 19 and Aug. 26. Pictures taken for our TLC Directory Sundays between Services: Aug, 5, 12, & 19 Visit from the Archbishop of (Burma) Myanmar, The Rt. Rev. Stephen Than Myint Oo; our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Ken Ross; the Installation of our new Rector, The Rev. Donald Nwankwo; AND an All Parish Celebration Lunch: Sunday, August 26 @ 10 am (ONE Service), followed by lunch Please Sign-up to Help! Please Pray For To Make a Prayer Request Vestry Community Ministry 1755 S. Zuni Denver, CO 303-935-3428 ext 102 Email: contact@com ministry-denver.org We expect a big crowd for Pastor Donald s Installation and the visit by the Archbishop. (Maybe 300 persons!) We plan to celebrate this big day with a lunch following the 10 am service. Help is needed. If you can, please sign-up to help with the lunch in the foyer. Our new Pastor Donald Nwankwo and his wife, Becky, and their three children as they prepare to move to Denver. Pray that they can find suitable housing at a price they can afford, and that their house in Chicago will sell quickly. Pray that they and their belongings will arrive safely in Denver and that Donald, Becky, and their family will be blessed with tidings of God s love, peace, joy, hope, and ever increasing faith as they settle into becoming Coloradans. Pray also that God will prepare us to receive them with open arms and open hearts and that TLC will continue to glorify God by welcoming the stranger, showing God s mercy and grace, and by knowing Christ more fully and making him more fully known. Healing for: Don Bowker; Azra Dass; Carm Gardner; Eileen Height; Patty Hertel; Bonnie Hughes; Phillip Hoos; Nan Jesser; Jerry Lau, Bev Lusk; Luna Mendoza (baby daughter of Angela and Mike); Al and Liz Nielson; Jim Parker (on the loss of his wife, Joan); Skip Randleman; June Smith; Dick Taylor; Terrie Theurer; and Jan Veghte Thanksgiving for the safe delivery of Peyton, brand new daughter of Jon and Kelly Poag and little sister to Wyatt. For specific prayers requests, email Barb Padbury: barbpadbury@comcast.net. Prayer requests are shared with the Prayer Team and are usually posted on the same day as received. Vestry Board for 2018: Chair: Neil Peters. Members: Teddy DeBerry; Dean Ogawa; Stacey Stillwell; Mike Sorensen; and Mark Smesrud. Treasurer: Tom DeBerry; Secretary: Kathy MacLeod. If you have any questions or concerns, you are invited to share those with any of our Vestry members. Next Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, August 14, 7 pm in the Kolini Room Food Pantry Need: Soup and Ramen Noodles Also: soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby diapers, and pet food Pet Pantry and The Inner City Clinic are at CM on the 3 rd Thursday of the month from 10-11:30 am To place an announcement in the update or bulletin Contact Peggy Murray: peggy@tlcdenver.org. Items must be submitted by Tuesday and must be related to church functions and business only.