Building Bridges To God Through the Cross of Christ EQUIPPING THE SAINTS The Newsletter Ministry of All Saints Lutheran Church March 2015 Please join us Wednesdays of Lent: March 4, 11, 18 & 25 7:00 Worship Christ on Trial ~ A Lenten Service Series Palm Sunday, March 29 @ 10:00 am Maundy Thursday, April 2, w/communion @ 7:00 pm Good Friday, April 3 @ 7:00 pm Easter Prayer Vigil, April 4 from 9-4 Easter Breakfast, April 5 @ 9:00 am Easter Service, April 5 @ 10:00 am
This Lent, I ve been re-reading March 2015 my well-worn copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer s classic Life Together a discussion of Christian fellowship. Early in his book, he writes: It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God s Word and sacrament. The words, permitted to gather jump out at me for a couple of reasons: 1. First, I m thinking of those Christians living in predominantly Islamic territories, especially those places controlled by ISIS. More and more, we re hearing of their capture and confinement and even their deaths simply because of Christ and their Christian faith. What would they give for the joy and support of being able to gather freely, to worship and pray and commune once again? 2. Second, I m all-too-aware of what our recent cold weather has done to our congregation s ability to gather for worship on a Sunday morning! We actually had to cancel a Sunday service on February 1 because of snow and cold! In Bonhoeffer s book, he writes: Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ. Maybe as a pastor I m more attuned to this idea of church as community than other folks, because my calling has taken me to live for long periods of time in various locations (Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio). And because I have never had a lot of biological family nearby, I tend to look at church people as my family. I experience your care for me your prayers for me yes, even your love for me as a daily blessing. I can t imagine not having you as the community of Christ for me, here! I can t imagine how bleak my life would be, without you, my family! The church as the community of Christ is a big deal! When folks choose not to share in this community, or to depart from this community of Christ and find a new community (or choose no community at all), I m saddened. I miss them! Even if things haven t always been good among us (and what family ever gets along perfectly, always?), their departure or absence leaves a void, a hole in the fellowship of Christ in this place. Sometimes we are privileged to welcome into this community of Christ some new faces and people. Last year we welcomed a dozen or so new members. Thanks be to God! We also lost some, through death or transfer to another church. Sad! But we continue to be a strong, faithful community of believers, committed to serve our Lord in whatever ways we can. So thank you for your partnership in this community, this ministry, this family of faith! Each and every one of you is important, and precious in the sight of God (and in the sight of the rest of the congregation, too). Thank you for being my family, my community. Together we are Christ in the world! + Pastor Rich
REMEMBER To turn clocks ahead one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 7th. Installation of newly elected Council Members and Officers during Worship on Sunday, March 8. New Members are Rosa Linda Brown and Jim Burkhardt. Officers are same as last year: President, Judy Reber, Vice President is Norm Merkel and Secretary is Rose Thomson. Share a meal with us and enjoy Lenten Worship, on the Wednesdays of Lent. Please sign up if you d like to bring soup. Sign-up sheet is posted on bulletin board.
TOLEDO WALLEYE FAITH AND FAMILY NIGHT Presented by YES! FM and New Method Sunday, March 22 @ 2:00 pm Faith and Family Night begins at 2:30 with an opening set from Cedar Creek s band, followed by music from the Christian rock band, New Method. Between sets, the Walleye Chaplin will say a few words about faith. There will be plenty of fun things for children to do, with inflatable games, face painting, mascot appearances as well as photo opportunities. Tickets are $15. Includes entry to the pregame event and the Walleye game starting at 5pm. For tickets and questions, contact Hannah Tyson at 419 725-9258 or email at htyson@toledowalleye.com Last month we celebrated the Baptism of Sofia Grace Byram (Daughter of Mary Byram & Brian Lorigan) and Kenzi Rain Dillon (Daughter of Debbie & Jason Dillon). Connie Byram is the Grandmother and Mary Richie is Great Grandmother. ALTAR CARE NEEDED FOR APRIL Please sign up if you d like to do Altar Care for April. Also, if you d like to have flowers placed on the Altar for any given Sunday, look to the Sign Up board above the Guest Register. Flowers are $12.00, please make checks payable to Emery s Flowers and put in Carole s mailbox.
2015 1 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 3 4 5 6 7 9:00 S. S. 7:00 Strategic Planning Comm. with Marc Miller 7:00 Hymn Selection 7:00 Lenten Service Lost & Found Concert in Ottawa, OH 8 9:00 S.S. Installation of New Council Officers Coffee Hour ~Daylight Saving Time Begins~ 9 10 7:00 Property 7:00 W & M 11 7:00 Lenten Service 12 13 14 9.00 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:00 S.S. 5:30 LSS Annual Mtg at Hilton Garden 7:00 S.O.S. 7:00 Service 7:00 Council Begins!! 22 9:00 S.S. 1-3 Carole Fletcher using Preschool Room 2:30 Toledo Walleye Faith & Family Night 23 24 6:30 Ragan Woods Block Watch 25 7:00 Lenten Service 26 27 28 9:00 29 30 31 April 1 April 2 April 3 April 4 7:00 Service 7:00 Service 9-4 9:00 S.S. Easter Prayer Vigil 9-4
MARCH VOLUNTEERS READER GREETERS March 1 Barb Moungie Judy Mizer March 8 Rex Yarger Rex & Kathy Yarger March 15 Peg Loehrke Wilma Lupe March 22 Jim Burkhardt Bev Rose March 29 Donnajean Stockmaster Judy Grimes March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 MARCH COMMUNION PREP/ASSISTANT Barb Moungie & Pat Toepfer Tim & Amy Merkel Sue Slater & Judy Grimes Jim & Diana Burkhardt Chris & Donnajean Stockmaster ALTAR Mary Lou Houle March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 COUNTERS Rose Thomson & LaVerne Bussdieker Sue Merkel & Judy Reber Mary Lou Houle & Pat Toepfer Mary Lou Houle & Janet Caskey Sue Merkel & Pat Toepfer OFFERING Jim Burkhardt Judy Reber Rosa Linda Brown Norm Merkel Rose Thomson USHERS Chris Stockmaster, Hassan Brown Ralph Fritsch Bob Krueger, Hassan Brown, Ralph Fritsch Bill Reber, Hassan Brown, Ralph Fritsch Chris Stockmaster, Hassan Brown Ralph Fritsch Bob Krueger, Hassan Brown, Ralph Fritsch
3/6 Irene Weygandt 3/7 Pat Toepfer 3/8 Hassan Brown Marilyn Krueger Don Sundby 3/14 Carole Johnson 3/15 Gary Johnson Sr. 3/17 Carmelina Hollingsworth 3/21 Joan Moomey 3/24 Eloise Way 3/25 Wilma Lupe 3/27 Virginia Schad 3/28 Taylor Momenee 3/29 Bill & Judy Reber ~ 18 yrs. If we ve missed your Birthday or Anniversary this month, please notify the office so we can correct our records. March Altar Flowers 1 Judy Grimes 8 Rose Thomson 15 Judy Mizer 22 Open 29 Open
All Saints Lutheran Church 5445 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, OH 43614 www.allsaintstoledo.org (419) 865-7701