The Christian Connection V o l u m e X X I V, I s s u e 3 M a r c h 2 0 1 8 Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 11611 NE 140th St. Kirkland, WA 98034 425.821.2424 www.orlckirkland.org Sweet the Moments, Rich in Blessing ORLCKIRKLAND In his Lenten hymn by this title, Walter Shirley invites us to times of contemplation at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. In stanza two (Ambassador Hymnal #68) we are reminded, Truly blessed is this station, low before His cross to lie, while we see divine compassion beaming in His gracious eye. The author Shirley, a Protestant friend of Wesley and Whitefield, saw the devotional value of loving contemplation, certainly a worthy spiritual exercise during the Lenten Season. It was in Jerusalem some years ago that Barbara and I walked the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow, as millions of Christian pilgrims have done over the centuries. The fourteen Stations of the Cross mark the pathway, and although we were with a tour group that had to keep moving, the experience of walking where Jesus carried His cross was very meaningful. Churches throughout the world have sought to reenact that experience by including the Stations of the Cross in their sanctuaries. One of the local opportunities to experience this is at the chapel at what is now Bastyr University in Kenmore. This beautiful building, now a popular venue for concerts because of its excellent acoustics, still has the Stations of the Cross for loving contemplation in its interior space. With its choir seating, I often am focused on one of the Stations of the Cross on the opposite wall as I listen to the concert, often with great sacred music. Of course, we don t have to be in such a setting to lovingly contemplate what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can meditate on the Scriptures that convey the suffering of our Lord on our behalf. We can be drawn into contemplation by moving music by gifted musicians that leads us to the cross. We may also be inspired by the visual arts as Jesus is portrayed as the suffering Servant before our eyes in painting and sculpture. The means God uses may be varied, but the intended focus is to bring us to see divine compassion beaming in His gracious eye. For although we will see both divine justice and divine mercy fully demonstrated on the cross, God s purpose is always to draw us in and not to drive us away. That is why this time beneath the cross, though at times painful, ultimately fits Walter Shirley s description, Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, which before the cross we spend, life and health and peace possessing, from the sinner s dying Friend. Contemplating with you, I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e : Vote to Call Mission Letter Sermon Themes Lenten Schedule Easter Chimers Volunteer Schedule Birthdays Church Chat Thank you Ameeta! Handbell Choir Would you like to join us Easter Sunday? Festival Sunday ringing celebrating Christ's resurrection! Rehearse 8:45 A.M. April 1. Ring in 9:30 worship. Thank you, Barbara Moland, Director The purpose of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is to worship God in a Bible-based, Christcentered ministry, evangelizing, discipling, nurturing and equipping people for the spiritual well- being of every life. 1
Unanimous Vote to Call ORLC s congregational business meeting on February 18 voted unanimously to send a pastoral call to Nicholas Schultz to serve as pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. The congregation met on February 25 to approve the specifics. Please pray for God s leading and provision at this important time. Questions/suggestions may be addressed to the call committee: Betty Halvorson - Joe Bottem Pastor Bob Rieth Choir Cantata Palm Sunday March 25 9:30 Worship Service Hallelujah! What a Savior! A combined choir from ORLC and The Door will present Hallelujah! What a Savior! to lead us in worship on Palm Sunday March 25th at our 9:30 AM Worship Service. This cantata of beautiful and inspiring music and Scripture readings will be a great way to begin our Holy Week worship. Plan to come to worship our Savior with your Hallelujahs! News from our Missionaries in Mexico February 2018 Dear praying friends, For a number of you this winter saw record cold temperatures. We set records for cold temperatures here in Mexico as well. It got all the way down to 38 degrees.... in the house :) The actual temperature was about 10 degrees outside. So when people here received the generous gift of a quilt made with love by Quilters in AFLC churches in the USA you can be very certain that it was HUGELY appreciated. Thank you for continuing to pray for the broken families and broken lives of people in our church. And thank you to all of you who have been able to support us with your gifts. They have been much appreciated. In Jesus love, Todd and Barb Schierkolk Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico 2
Sermon Themes March 2018 9:30 AM Sundays Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our God, our maker. Lenten Services 2018 Wednesdays 6:00pm Soup and Bread 7:00 pm Lenten Service March 7 The Compassionate Word Sunday, March 4 Worship Service with Holy Communion The Temple of His Body John 2:13-22 Celebrating God s Presence Behold Your Son...Behold Your Mother John 19:26-27 March 14 The Suffering Word I Thirst John 19:28 Sunday, March 11 Fourth Sunday in Lent Look to the Cross John 3:14-21 Coming to the Light of Christ Sunday, March 18 Fifth Sunday in Lent The Fruit of Sacrifice John 12:20-33 Bearing Much Fruit Sunday, March 25 Palm Sunday Gloria Deo Choir Cantata Your King Is Coming John 12:12-15 Rejoicing in King Jesus March 21 The Dying Word Father, Into Your Hands Luke 23:46 March 29 Holy Thursday Holy Communion The Remembering Word In Remembrance of Me I Corinthians 11:23-26 March 30 Good Friday Tenebrae Service The Fulfilled Word It Is Finished John 19:30 April 1 Easter Sunday The Vindicated Word He Is Risen Matthew 28:6 Welcome to worship and to times of refreshing in the presence of our God. Your presence, your heart, your voice will be a blessing to others even as they are a blessing to you. Come, let us worship! Plan to come each week to hear Jesus words for you as He speaks to our hearts from the Cross. Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, which before the cross we spend. -Walter Shirley 3
Volunteer Schedule Please mark your calendars and if there are any conflicts with your schedule, please find someone to fill your spot and let Kristine Dootson know of the substitution. If you are unable to find someone to switch with you, substitute volunteers are Betty Halvorson @425-821-6477 and Kristine Dootson @425-753- 2020. Date Nursery Sunday School Lay Reader Flowers Coffee 3/4 Nancy Ostlund Kristine Dootson Duane Leach WMF 3/11 Pam Jussel Diana Daum Barbara Moland 3/18 Diana Daum Helen Long Pam Jussel 3/25 Ryan Douthit Barbara Moland Cheri Sorenson March Birthdays March Birthdays George Hartlein Mar. 3 Marty Crowther Mar. 4 Diana Daum Mar. 7 Kristine Dootson Mar. 7 Terry Luck Mar. 9 Sheila Bathurst Mar. 10 Bret Walden Mar. 14 Darlene Sterling Mar. 15 Nichole Clark Mar. 20 Griffin Watson Mar. 20 Piper Slonecker Mar. 21 Robert Paige Mar. 21 Ida Miller Mar. 22 Phyllis Swaffield Mar. 23 Bernie Kowalewski Mar.23 Martina Klecka Mar. 23 Naomi Moland Mar. 25 Michael David Hartlein Mar.29 Julie Marovich Mar. 31 Amber Kemmerling Mar. 31 4
Church Chat! Special heartfelt THANK YOU to Ameeta Chainani for producing/editing The Christian Connection these past seven years. Ameeta has done this while working fulltime at Boeing, going to graduate school and volunteering with search and rescue operations. In addition, she has been in the application process for a new career opportunity and now will be moving from our community to pursue her new job. ORLC has been blessed to have the Chainani family in our midst these last twenty years. Ameeta s adult children have now also relocated to other parts of the country. God bless you and make you a blessing wherever you go! So happy to have Nancy Ostlund back after a long illness. Residents at local adult family homes really enjoyed receiving the Valentine s Cards prepared by ORLC children on February 11 th. Sue Rosebrook s granddaughters lives are JOY-full! Joely has decided to attend Central Washington University this fall. Piper is in her sixth school play, this time, Great Expectations. Jillian will be in her very first play in March. Nancy Gould is recovering from a broken foot. Set your clock ahead for worship in March 11 th - we don t want to miss you! If you have a submission for church chat, please send it to orlckirkland@hotmail.com Two Hearts Concert Missionaries Matthew and Ednay Abel 10:00 am Saturday Brunch March 10, 2018 Matthew (Mafu) and Ednay will be with us for a missions brunch update on Saturday, March 10, at 10:00 AM in the Chapel. This wonderful young couple, grandchildren of pioneer missionaries John and Ruby Abel, will share about their opportunities to serve Christ on the Brazilian mission field. A free will offering will be received to support their ministry. Doug and Seiko Werts Saturday, March 17 2:30 PM Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Seiko and Doug welcome you to share in a selection of their compositions and also American and Japanese traditional music. Admission is free light refreshments will follow. 5
Our Redeemer Easter Chimers Children, kindergarten and up, are invited to join Our Redeemer Chimers on Easter Sunday, April 1st 9:15 am. Rehearse Saturday, March 31, 5:00-6:00 PM. For questions, call the ORLC office @ 425-821-2424 or Barbara Moland @ 425-821- 3434 The Christian Connection is edited and published for ORLC. It is also available on our website www.orlckirkland.org. If you do not want to receive it in your inbox, please let us know by emailing orlckirkland@hotmail.com. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church 11611 NE 140th St. Kirkland, WA 98034 6 K e e p i n g i n t o u c h w i t h t h e O R L C f a m i l y!