Welcome to Lord of Life Lutheran Church You have heard many times that the Church is far more than a building. Most Christians also find that being a part of a church family is more than worshiping on Saturday night or Sunday morning. We have found that spiritual well being and involvement in the life of the Christian family go hand in hand. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. Romans 12:4-5 We invite you to become as active as you would like. We understand that different personal situations allow for different levels of participation within the community of Lord of Life. In the following pages you will find a wealth of opportunities for meeting new friends, growing in faith and engaging the world in Christian service. Others will be noted in LifeLines, our monthly newsletter, and the bulletin insert each week. If you are interested in any of these ministries or have further questions, please feel free to call the church office at 623-584-2000 or you can e-mail us at info@lolaz.org. The Holy Spirit gives gifts to all believers. We pray that you will use your gifts, both here at Lord of Life and in the community, to touch people with the love of Christ. May God bless you, as you are a blessing to others, Pastor Stephen Beyer Pastor Kim Sterner -3-
Index Worship Opportunities Page 5 Music Opportunities Page 6 Education Opportunities Page 6 Small Group Opportunities Page 7 Welcoming Opportunities Page 7 Service and Mission Opportunities Page 8 Care Ministry Opportunities Page 9 Office Volunteer Opportunities Page 10 Other Events and Activities Page 10 Lord of Life Staff Pastor Stephen Beyer, Senior Pastor Pastor Kim Sterner, Associate Pastor Deb Dorough, Business Administrator Dave Lien, Assistant Minister of Music Gloria Lien, Minister Of Music Carol Hokaj, Parish Nurse Milka Huerta Custodian Fran Penry, Event Marsha Shaw, Office Manager -4- Dave Wascher Custodian
Worship Opportunities Worship Schedule Winter Months Saturday at 5:00 pm Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 am Worship Schedule Summer Months Saturday at 5:00 pm Sunday at 9:30 am Annual Blessing of the Animals Each October in the Courtyard with people invited to bring their pets. Advent and Lenten Services Worship Assistants Acolytes Fellowship Altar Guild Greeters Lectors Ushers Cantor Communion Assistants -5-
Chancel Choir This choir sings on Sundays at either the 8:30 am or 10:30 am worship service. Rehearsals are on Thursday at 3:00 pm in the Chapel. This choir is active October - April. Celebration Choir This choir sings twice a month on Saturday at 5:00 pm and twice a month at the 8:30 am Sunday worship service. Rehearsals are on Wednesday at 3:00 pm in the Chapel. This choir is active October - April. Bell Choir Handbell choir requires individuals who can read music. Rehearsals are at 12:30 pm on Thursday. This choir is active October - April. A Cappella Singers This a cappella choir sings periodically at worship and special concerts. This is Music Opportunities The only choir requiring auditions. Rehearsals are at 10:30 am on Thursday during the winter. Visitation Choir This group travels to local care facilities to bring the love of Christ to those who find it difficult to attend church services. No rehearsals required just come and enjoy sharing music year round.. Instrumentalists A variety of string instruments (including guitar, bass, violin, cello, etc.) and wind instruments (including brass, flute, clarinet, oboe, etc.) add depth and diversity to our worship of God. Soloists/Small Groups Soloists and small groups are always welcome to share their gifts in a worship setting. Education Opportunities Congregational Small Group Studies Everyone is invited to participate in Bible studies during the fall and winter months. These groups meet both at church and in homes. Eye Opener Bible Study This is an opportunity to study the Biblical texts for the week. It is led by a Pastor and meets at 7:30 am on Wednesday. Men s Bible Study All men are invited to meet at a local restaurant every Thursday morning at 7:30 am for a breakfast Bible study. Women of the ELCA Bible Study Our women have numerous small groups called Circles which meet monthly, providing fellowship and Bible Study. Additional events are planned throughout the year. Women s Bible Study This group meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 am to study various subjects. -6- Special Classes / Discussion Series Throughout the year a variety of classes, retreats, and special speakers are also scheduled. Five Wishes This is a unique program that gives people an opportunity to express their end-oflife wishes in straightforward, understandable language. It is offered at regular intervals and includes funeral/memorial service planning suggestions. Library The Library contains books, audio, video tapes, CDs, DVDs and a network link. The library is open from 8:00 am 4:00 pm Monday Friday, anytime there are evening activities in the Social Hall and on Sunday morning.
Small Group Opportunities Book Discussion Group This group enjoys reading and discussing books together during the fall/winter months. Bridge Enjoy a casual game of Bridge each Thursday at 12:30 pm. Mah Jongg The Mah Jongg group meets at church in the Social Hall Annex at 1:00 pm on Friday. Come join us! Men s Group Our men meet the first Tuesday of each month at 7:30 am for continental breakfast, devotional time, fellowship and service. SOLOS Group Single men and women are invited to enjoy fellowship opportunities and social events together. They meet once a month for brunch or lunch. Greeting Card Group Would you enjoy creating hand made cards? This is an opportunity to learn to design and create cards that may be used in our Lord of Life ministries. This group meets the 1 st and 3 rd Thursday every month in a member s home. Grief Support Group A Pastor gathers with those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, and provides support and encouragement. Music, Arts and Writing Group Lord of Life now has an Arts Group. This is a place where our writers and poets can read their works to a larger audience. This group meets the 3 rd Wednesday of the month from January through April. Gleaners Group Lord of Life Gleaners work annually to clean fruit trees in the area and donate fruit and cash to the local food bank. Quilters This creative group meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month to make quilts that are donated to local causes and to Lutheran World Relief. Welcoming Opportunities Bread Baking Do you enjoy baking bread? Here is a chance to bake bread that is delivered to our visitors who have been at worship. Bread Delivery If meeting new people is your pleasure, this is an opportunity to deliver bread to the homes of our visitors. New Member Follow-Up As part of our hospitality we enjoy making a brief home visit to our new members shortly after they join. -7-
Service and Mission Opportunities Service and Mission opportunities invite our congregation to extend Christian care and concern to the local, national and global community. Together we respond to the needs of our neighbors everywhere. These opportunities include: Adopt A Family We provide gifts and food baskets for families at Christmas. Eve s Place and Eve s Treasures We actively support this safe house that provides shelter and empowerment based programs for victims of domestic violence and its thrift stores with donations and volunteers. Food Bank Brigade We support the Valley View Food Bank by volunteering the 2 nd and 4 th Saturday of each month. Grace Lutheran Homeless Project We collect donations and water, distribute clothes, and serve breakfasts to aid those who are homeless in downtown Phoenix. Habitat for Humanity We furnish the kitchens of all the new Habitat homes in the West Valley and volunteers join in hammering and painting as homes are built. Lutheran Thrift Shop We actively support this West Valley ministry with donations and volunteers. -8-
Thompson Ranch School We have an exciting partnership with this school, providing classroom volunteers and educational supplies. Tutoring Children We provide tutors for Pan De Vida in El Mirage, AZ and Nadaburg School in Wittman, AZ. Care Ministry Opportunities CDs of the Worship Service These are delivered to our homebound members. Eucharistic Ministers Holy Communion is brought to our homebound members. Meals These are delivered in the first days after hospitalization when needed. Prayer Chain Requests via telephone and e-mail have us pray for specific people and needs. Prayer Shawls These are knitted and crocheted to provide special comfort to recipients. Transportation Provided to local doctors appointments when usual means are not available. Stephen Ministry This is a specialized ministry which equips lay persons to provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care to those who are experiencing various life needs and circumstances, both in our congregation and community. Phone Ministry The Phone Ministry brings joy not only to the person who received the call but to the person who made the call. As part of our Care Ministry we have a Parish Nurse on staff. She is a registered nurse committed to the healing mission of the church and serves as a health educator, counselor, advocate, and referral source. -9-
Office Volunteer Opportunities Office Volunteer Some of the helpful tasks include answering phones, meeting and greeting people, and light typing. Bulletins & LifeLines If you enjoy fellowship and collating, join us on Friday mornings at 9:00 for the Bulletin and toward the end of the month for LifeLines at 8:30 am; the date and time noted in the announcement bulletin. Mailings Many hands are needed for our special mailings. There are no particular set dates or times. We will call when help is needed. Finances We count the church offerings on Monday morning at 9:00 am. If you enjoy working with numbers and have some knowledge regarding computer input this may be a rewarding job for you. Community Outreach Opportunities Alcoholics Anonymous AA members meet at Lord of Life each week on Tuesday at 1:30 pm for the regular meeting and will have a guest speaker each Tuesday at 7:00 pm. Prostate Cancer Support Group This meeting offers an opportunity to share experiences and concerns relating to prostate cancer. The group meets the 2 nd Thursday of the month from September June. First Light Support Group Support group, meeting at Lord of Life for those dealing with bi - polar disorder and/or depression, friends and family members invited. The meetings are on Tuesday from 5:30 7:30 pm in classroom #1. The meetings are sponsored by Mental Health America of Arizona. For more information so to www.mhaaz.org -10-
Other Events and Activities We welcome you to join us at the many special events that are scheduled throughout the year. Please watch our newsletter and announcement bulletins for current information.
The Rev. Stephen Beyer, Senior Pastor The Rev. Kim Sterner, Associate Pastor Gloria Lien, Minister of Music Dave Lien, Assistant Minister of Music Deb Dorough, Director of Administration Marsha Shaw, Office Manager Claudia Zombek, Church Accountant Fran Penry, Events Coordinator Dave Wascher, Custodian Milka Huerta, Custodian Mission of Lord of Life: Called by God to grow spiritually, welcome graciously, love unconditionally, and serve together faithfully as followers of Christ. Email: info@lolaz.org Web site: www.lolaz.org December 2015