March 2019 Abiding Savior Lutheran Church The Grapevine Rev. Gary P. Lissy, Pastor Phone: 480-947-7495 E-mail: revlissy@gmail.com Website: www.aslctempe.com A Word From Pastor Gary In November 1930 The Chicago Examiner reported the story of Harry Havens, who went to bed and stayed there for seven years, with a blindfold over his eyes, because he was angry at his wife. Havens had always tried to be a good husband. He worked around the house, took care of the yard, carried out the trash, and even helped with the dishes. One day his wife complained that he wasn't doing it right, and Harry decided that enough was enough. He said, "All right, if that's how you feel, I'm going to bed. I'll stay there for the rest of my life and I don't want to see you ever again." Harry went to bed, put a blindfold over his eyes, and stayed there. He finally got up again when the bed started to feel uncomfortable... seven years later. The article's headline states, Man Spites His Wife By Staying Blindfolded in Bed Seven Years. Maybe his exile did get on her nerves somewhat, but who did Harry really spite? Who was the biggest loser in this extended temper tantrum? It was Harry himself. He lost seven years of his life. He lived seven years in darkness. No reading. No laughter with friends. Just seven long, miserable years trying to settle a score that maybe was never settled. This illustrates how foolish un-forgiveness is, and how it ultimately hurts the un-forgiver more than anyone else. Corrie Ten Boom said, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." In Colossians 3:13 Paul tells us, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another..." Then he goes on to say: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace." (Colossians 3:15) There's a connection between forgiveness and peace. Jesus said as plain as day: "Forgive and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37) He also said it in the Lord's Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. (Matthew 6:12) Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, has taken all of our sins to the cross, and remembers them no more. As we continue to walk in his forgiveness, God calls us to walk in forgiveness toward others! That's why Jesus stated emphatically: Forgive us as we forgive others. God s Richest Blessing, Pastor Gary P. Lissy
Scriptures March 3rd Transfiguration of Our Lord Exo 34:29-35, Ps 99, 2 Cor 3:12-4:2, Luke 9:28-36 March 6th Ash Wednesday Isa 58:1-12, Ps 51:1-17, 2 Cor 5:20b-6:10, Matt 6:1-6,16-21 March 10th 1st Day in Lent Deut 26:1-11, Ps 91:1-2,9-16, Rom 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13 March 17th 2nd Day in Lent Gen 15:1-12,17-18, Ps 27, Phil3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35 March 24th 3rd Day in Lent Isa 55:1-9, Ps 63:1-8, I Cor 10:1-13, Luke 13:1-9 March 31st 4th Day in Lent Josh 5:9-12, Ps 32, 2 Cor 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Altar Guild and Communion March 3rd [ Transfiguration of Our Lord] 10:00 am service Lori DeVries and Joy Miller March 6th [ Ash Wednesday] 7:00 pm service Lori DeVries and Tamara Hartrick March 10th [ 1st Day of Lent] 10:00 am service Eleanor Brierley and Joy Miller March 17th [ 2nd Day of Lent] 10:00 am service Cree Abbott and Linn Palmer March 24th [ 3rd Day of Lent] 10:00 am service Cree Abbott and Joy Miller March 31st [ 4th Day of Lent] 10:00 am service Cree Abbott and Eleanor Brierley
Church Council Abiding Savior Lutheran Church Staff Executive Board Janet Berge President Kurt Parks, Treasurer Emalie Wiley, Secretary Board of Elders Worship, Youth & Education Ministries Sheila Bitterman & Jeff Bialobak Board of Deacons Church Community and Neighborhood Outreach Keith Kelly & Carol Toll Board of Trustees Facilities, Budget & Staff Ministries Jay Grant & Jeremy Jones Please keep our Pastor and Church Leaders in your prayers. Rev. Gary P. Lissy, Pastor revlissy@gmail.com Dominic Smith, Worship Director music@aslctempe.com Kurt Parks, Treasurer kurtisaparks@gmail.com Eleanor Brierley, Office Manager eleanor@aslctempe.com Debra Marrero, Secretary secretary@aslctempe.com Abiding Savior Lutheran Church Prayer Chain General Prayer requests can be made with the office at: 480-947-7495 Voicemail messages will be monitored 7 days a week and distributed to the prayer chain Please direct any life threatening situations that need immediate / emergency attention directly to Pastor Gary at 480-823-3033
Celebrating March Birthdays! Blessings and Happiness to Everyone! Derek DeVries. March 08 Paul DeVries... March 12 Carl Dietrich... March 15 Janet Kramer...... March 28 Emalie Wiley... March 27
We cannot do this without YOUR HELP For a SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY SCHOOL We need help for volunteers 2 weeks at a time Must have CPR training + background check Contact Shelia Bitterman
Treasurer s Rabbits 1 Characteristic of a Healthy Church Biblical Giving Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. Mark 12:43 When it comes to trusting God, the widow sets a high bar in her witness to us. _2,018 2,019 Change Attendance 307-316 = +9 2.9% Offering 12,644-11,460 = $1,184 9.4% January 2019 Expense Offering Short / Over 16,902-11,460 = $5,542 32.8% Budget Offering Change 18,493-11,460 = $7,033 38.0% Sincerely, Kurt Parks, Treasurer P.S. Questions? Call or text 602-677-8189, or email <treasurer@aslctempe.com>
Ash Wednesday signifies the beginning of the season of Lent which extends over 40 days and culminates with Easter. Services are held in churches of most Christian denominations and a key ritual is the smearing of ash on a person s forehead, in the shape of a cross. This practice is largely followed by the Catholic and Anglican Church. The significance of using ash to create the symbol of the cross is explained in the phrases uttered by the person who performs the act. One of the common phrases used is: Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return Turn away from your sins and believe in the Gospel The reference here is to the fact that everyone no matter how great and powerful or how poor and lowly is reduced to the same dust when they die. The only true exaltation exists for those who have heard and accepted the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. In addition to wearing their faith on their forehead on Ash Wednesday, for the entire period of Lent the faithful are required to observe fasting and abstinence and do penance. Christians (mainly Catholics) who are 14 years and above are not supposed to eat meat on Ash Wednesday and on any of the Fridays after that till Easter. This is meant to commemorate Good Friday the day on which Jesus was crucified. This requirement does not include eggs and milk products, soup, butter, margarine and lard. Some people also choose to abstain from other things that bring pleasure such as alcohol, chocolates, unnecessary spending and even sexual intimacy, to focus on the suffering and death of Jesus.
Choir Sign Up Greetings from your music minister! I would like to invite you to be part of our church s choir this Lenten Season. What: Abiding Savior Choir made up of members of the ASLC community singing choral/praise music to prepare for Easter Week Services and beyond. When: Starting on Feb 27th and continuing each Wednesday night after Lenten Services. Where: In the Sanctuary Why: Psalm 100: Shout for joy to the lord, all the earth/worship the Lord with gladness/come before him with joyful songs We are called to make a joyful noise. Not perfect, not beautiful, but joyful. My hope is that our joy increases with every note we sing. If you love singing praise to our good God, this is perfect for you! There is a signup sheet on the table outside. I can t wait to make a joyful noise with you. In Christ Dom
ANNUAL TALENT SHOW We will have our annual talent show on Saturday, May 4 th. We will start with a Cinco de Mayo supper at 5:00pm, followed by the best of Abiding Savior entertaining us all. If you sing, dance, play an instrument, do standup comedy or do all of the above, consider joining us for an evening of fun and festivities. We will hold a dress rehearsal on Thursday evening May the 2 nd. There will be a signup sheet on the patio today to signup for the talent show Any questions, see Jay Grant
SOUP SUPPERS ARE COMING It has been a tradition at Abiding Savior for many years to have a light meal during the Lenten season. The tradition was started when congregation members who worked full time complained that it was hard to concentrate on the message because they were hungry. The original intent was to provide something that would tide people over until they could get home for a full meal. No salad, no dessert, no side dishes, just soup and crackers. Iglesias Christiana church meets in the Hall on Wednesdays at 7:00. They are very happy to have us share the Hall during Lent but they do request that we be finished and gone by 6:45. The Church will provide the bowls, spoons, napkins, place mats and crackers. We ask members of the congregation to sign up to bring a soup. Please prepare enough for 8 servings. We suggest that you bring it in a crock pot because it stays warm that way and there is no cleanup and we do not use the stove. We will start at 6:00PM each Wednesday. Cleanup will start at 6:30. We ask that all containers be taken out of the Hall and not left in the kitchen. Returning to the kitchen to pick up personal items after our service will disrupt Iglesias Christiana. Our first supper will be Wednesday the 13 th. We will put a sign up poster in the narthex starting Sunday the 3 rd. Our suggestion is that the ministries each take a week. Altar Guild will take the 13 th. Men s Ministry, Music Ministry, and the various Table Talk groups could fill out the calendar quickly. We need a minimum of 4 soup varieties each week. This simple fellowship adds a personal dimension to our walk to the cross.
Have you noticed The large white bookshelf in the lobby? Have you dismissed it as just a large white bookshelf in the lobby a place to pickup newsletters and offering envelopes? Actually, that IS a part of the reason for its being. Ahhhh, perhaps it is an opportunity for so much more!!! This property, this building, the furnishings all belong to God to be used for His purposes. The bookshelf seems too valuable a bit of real estate to just be standing there!!! Can you see/hear how He might use a Bookshelf Ministry?. to minister to our church family and guests, by providing resources for growth, comfort, outreach, welcoming, even humor! Perhaps a Take one or Leave One shelf for Christian literature - adults and kids. But not just books perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. So many other ways the bookshelf can be a resource center to aid us in becoming a healthier, growing, caring, ministering church. Can you see/hear how He might be asking you to consider how a Bookshelf Ministry could be an opportunity to use your gifts, talents and time? The opportunity is here. The question is, is it you He is asking? Carol Parks 602-677-8502
Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 10:00 am Service 4 5 LWG 3 7pm 7 Men s Ministry 7 pm 8 9 10 Day Light Savings 10:00 am Service 11 12 LWG 3 7pm 13 14 Men s Ministry 7 pm 15 16 17 * 10:00 am Service 18 19 LWG 3 7pm 21 Men s Ministry 7 pm 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 10:00 am Service Council Mtg 6pm Men s Ministry 7 pm 31 *17th Office Hours 8a.m.- 2p.m. Tues. Thurs.