March, 2018 Crosses and Lent Here at Friendship Lutheran Church of Joy we are Christians, little Christs. We are named with His name. What is the center of Jesus saving work? It is the cross. That s what being a little Christ means. Crosses are always part of what a Christian is. We do suffer and sacrifice in the life of faith. As Christians, we are cross-bearers. That usually sounds pretty tough. You probably can t handle it. Never fear. Part and parcel of cross-bearing is receiving relief, life, and joy in the cross of Jesus. His cross carries you while you re bearing yours. The Holy Spirit changes you to the most blessed state possible. As the Gospel continues having its way with you, the Holy Spirit makes you stronger and stronger in Christ. You become more and more glad to give and sacrifice and even to suffer for Jesus and those He loves. That can be hard to imagine! In the book of Acts, Peter and the apostles were thrown in jail. The ruling religious council ordered them not to speak of Jesus or do anything in his name. Finally, they were all beaten before they were let go. If that happened to you, wouldn t you be outraged or feel betrayed, even despair? That s me, for sure! Time to lawyer up! But here s the disciples reaction as they were battered and bleeding: Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for [Jesus ] name. Acts 5:41. You ll really never enjoy suffering. But we know at least three things: You will suffer and sacrifice for being a Christian. God will give you joy in spite of your crosses. Believe it or not, you will sometimes find joy because of your crosses! Christ shares with us what his cross has accomplished total victory and life forever. UPCOMING EVENTS March 4 LWML Meeting March 11 Mission Sunday Wednesdays-Lenten Services INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Church Updates 2 Budgets Updates 3 Musical Opportunities Pastor Schedule LWML In the Know 4 Word on our Missionaries 5 Elder s Corner In Our Prayers 6 Celebrations Calendar 7 Community Information 8 Church Information Lent is upon us. In that season, you and I will look to Jesus cross. Our crosses are overshadowed by the cross that reaches across eternity. That cross killed the Lamb of God. We live in the shadow of that suffering, that sacrifice. No matter how our crosses may grow, we still live in the shelter of God s forgiveness and love. We live in Christ s victory and we live in His divine joy. Visit the calendar at www.friendshiplutheran.com Pastor Milbreth, Grace Lutheran Church 1
BUDGET UPDATE (1/1/2018-2/28/2018) Offerings (Year-to-date) $ 32,523.50 Expense (Year-to-date) $ 36,599.62 Principal Pay-down (Year-to-date) $ 418.00 WHATS GOING ON AT FRIENDSHIP??? Even though we are without a Pastor, the activity at Friendship has not slowed down! Have you been wondering what ministries are still happening here at Friendship so that you can get plugged in? I have been compiling a master calendar, and I found that there is a lot going on! If you are involved in a ministry, please contact Lisa Hellmer lisahellmer89@gmail.com with the details so that it can be added to the master calendar. Here is what I have so far: Worship every week at 9 a.m. Communion 1 st & 3 rd & 5 th Sundays. Coffee time after worship. Sunday School every week for all ages 10 a.m. Other special services such as Advent, Lent, Holy Week, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. Elizabeth Circle meets the first & third Mondays of the month at 11:30 for lunch & study. Men s Bible meets every Tuesday at 7 a.m. Thursday morning Bible meets every Thursday at 9 a.m. Council meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Elders meet the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. Prayer Shawl meets the last Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Sarajane Annin s house. Panera Pick Up is every Friday night at 9 p.m. Canteen Run is various Sundays (Eric Rodzen) and various Tuesdays (Dave Beth). Leadership meetings once a month on Saturday or Sunday. Praise Team meets after Lenten service. Schedule will change. Seasonal Choir meets at 6:15 on Wednesday before Lenten service. Youth for Christ Parent Life meal provided second Monday of the month. Pregnancy Resource Center baby bottle drive in the summer. Prayer Chain is done thru email to Marian Rodgers marin_rodgers_175@comcast.net Prayer & Praise meets during the week. Ask Allison Arends for details. Even though they don t meet regularly, we also have Altar Guild, LWML, Special Music, Seasonal Choir, Drama, Ushers, Greeters, Readers, AV, V2, Parish Nurse, & Trustees. If you would like more information on any of these groups, please contact Lisa Hellmer or the office. 2
Upcoming Pastor Schedule Churchwide Updates The Ladies at Friendship s Lutheran Women s Missionary League will have a short meeting at 11:00 am on March 4. All ladies of the congregation are encouraged to become involved in the LWML Everyone please give your mites to Mae by March 18th. LWML Grant #7 for the 2017-2019 biennium is Christian Hope Through Mass Media in Egypt. Countless refugees in the Middle East are trying to survive in camps without adequate human needs. They live desperate lives. The Lutheran Hour Ministries, Christian Hope Through Mass Media in Egypt offers hope through Christian television broadcasts from Cairo. The Egyptian-dialect is widely known and will reach many with the saving gospel message to provide hope for them. The Lutheran Hour Ministries media broadcasting from Cairo, Egypt provides Christian television for millions in the Middle East without hope living in refugee camps and countless others in this war torn area of the world. For more information go to www.lwml.org/2017-2019-mission -grant-7 3/4/2018 Tyler Arends 3/7/2018 Bob Frank 3/11/2018 Bob Frank 3/14/2018 Bob Frank 3/18/2018 Pastor Mike Damery 3/21/2018 Bob Frank 3/25/2018 Podoll 3/29/2018 Ehlers or Frank Holy Thursday 3/30/2018 Good Friday 4/1/2018 Don Ehlers Easter Sunday 4/8/2018 Bob Frank 4/15/2018 Pastor Mike Damery 4/22/2018 Podoll 4/29/2018 Don Ehlers 5/6/2018 Pastor Mike Damery 5/13/2018 Bob Frank 5/20/2018 Don Ehlers 5/27/2018 Pastor Mike Damery 3 The praise team is practicing immediately following Wednesday Night Lenten services. We would love to have you come join us! Join the Seasonal Choir!! Choir practice is Wednesday evenings at 6:15 pm before the Lenten Service. A new publication of Luther s Small Catechism with updated and expanded Explanation is now available through Concordia Publishing House for an introductory price of $14.49 per copy. If you are interested, there is a copy you may review at the church, or learn more at cph.org/catechism2017. There is a sign up sheet in the Narthax if you choose to purchase a copy.
In The Know Some updates are being made to those serving on the Worship Schedule. Our goal is to clarify the duties and to send email reminders each week to those serving. Below is a list of duties for each category. This list will also be posted on the bulletin board. If you would like to be added to the worship schedule, please call/email the office. As always, if you cannot serve on your scheduled day, please find a substitute and call/email the office with the change. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hellmer 586-7663 lisahellmer89@gmail.com INSTRUCTIONS FOR GREETERS * Welcome everyone to your church as you would welcome them to your home. *Please dress appropriately as if visiting God our King. *Greeters will be one or two adults or a family with children helping. *Arrive 20-30 minutes before worship service. *Wear a lanyard during the entire service (located on the bulletin board) to be visible to visitors. *Stand at the door (inside or outside) to welcome people. *Wheelchair located near Pastor s office if you see a need for it. *If there is a visitor and if you have the opportunity, please do the following: -if they have children, you can point out that we have crayons and coloring pages in the back of the sanctuary and/or that we have a nursery available in the basement. -Give them a Visitors Mug (a few located at the front door) -Chat with them, introduce them to another member, get their name, etc. *If you cannot serve on your assigned day, please find a sub and notify the office. INSTRUCTIONS FOR USHERS *Please dress appropriately as if visiting God our King. *Ushers will consist of at least two adults or a family. *Arrive 20-30 min before worship service. *Wear a lanyard during the entire service (located on the bulletin board) to be visible to visitors. *Make sure red books are in each row and collect the sheets after service then put the sheets on the main desk. *Stand at the doorway of the sanctuary to hand out bulletins. *Oversee and assist with taking the offering during the service. *Direct and/or assist communicants to the altar when necessary. *Address any questions to the Elder or Pastor. *Count number of people & give the number to the Opener (Council member) who is counting money in the small office. *Please sit towards the back of the sanctuary to assist visitors who need assistance during the service for example, looking for nursery, drink of water, restroom, etc. AV *Please arrive 20-30 min early to get sound checks done and the guest pastor a mic. This is especially important while we have guest pastors. READER *Please dress appropriately as if visiting God our King. *Please arrive 10-15 min early so the Pastor knows you are there. *Danielle will send you the reading during the week. OPENER/CLOSER, EDLER, COMMUNION SERVER *Duties as assigned & please arrive early. 4
Mission News Word On Our Missionaries This month I want to update you on some of Pascal s projects for the future. Pascal desires to increase his preaching as opportunities open up for him. Another goal is to have needed equipment for evangelism in the villages. By 2020 he would like to have a Missionary Training School in Cote de Ivoire to train missionaries to go out to places that have not yet heard the gospels. A third goal, on a personal level, is to open a shop where Mary could sell things she has made to augment their income. Thank you so much for your generous donations last month. We had $338 donated. Mission Sunday in March will be on the 11th right after the service. We will feature cookies or bars, or any Easter favorite you may have. Please consider bringing a donation. Also plan to take home goodies for your family. Thank you for your faithful support of Pascal and Mary. Each month we have a goal of $300. Read Psalms 96 from the Bible TRUE HOLINESS Elder s Corner Oh, Worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness (V.9). God desires Holiness for His people. Be Holy, for I am Holy is repeated several times in the Old Testament. The apostle Peter used it in one of his letters (1Peter 1:16). It means to be separated, unique and distinct for God, to be His child. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit work together to lead us into a life of Holiness. On Good Friday, Jesus went to the cross and died for our sins. On Easter morning Jesus arose from the grave to bring us back to God and make us Holy. Our sins were taken away. The Holy Spirit within us urges us to a Holy life by His power. Read the Word of God (Bible) to help us grow in holiness. Jesus said to His Father, Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth (John 17:17). For the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens (V.5). True Holiness is beautiful. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This makes for a beautiful life. This beauty comes by worshiping the LORD. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His Holiness; Trimble before Him all the earth (V.9). The person who worships the true and living God becomes beautiful more like Christ; Sharing, loving and helping others, becoming a servant, and finding the true JOY of the LORD. God has given you the necessary resources to live a Holy life. Allow His Word to teach you and the Holy Spirit to guide you. Live so that you may become more like Christ. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for He comes (V.11-12). 5
In Our Prayers Supplication (Requesting Something) Prayers for healing and comfort for Davaney Beth who is being treated for cancer. Prayers for my friend who is struggling with medical issues and having lots of tests. Prayers for healing all those who have fought the winter illnesses. Thanksgiving Prayers of thanksgiving for the Friendship Church family and the way they have pulled together during this time. Celebrations March Birthdays 3/1 Andrew Johnson 3/6 Kara Dennemann, 3/17 Gabe Luhrsen 3/18 Dianna Anderson 3/22 Davida Bluhm 3/24 Kailyn Dennemann 3/25 Dee Blaine 3/31 Kelly Dennemann March Baptisms Ron Arends, Drew Levan, Vanessa Levan, Blanche Stoller, Reagan Fisher, Jonathon Fisher, Scott Johnson. March Anniversaries 3/5 Jean & Roger Clapp 3/14 Garrett & Lona Oostdyk 3/28 Kim & Scott Johnson 3/31 Peggy & Paul Peterson 6
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 6:00 Elder Mtg. 4 *9:00 Service 10:00 Sunday School 5 11:30 Elizabeth Circle 6 7:00 am Men s Bible 7 6:15 Seasonal Choir 7:00 Lenten Service 8:00 Praise Team 8 9 10 11 MISSION Sunday 9:00 Service 10:00 Sunday School 12 13 7:00 am Men s Bible 6:00 Council Mtg. 14 6:15 Seasonal Choir 7:00 Lenten Service 8:00 Praise Team 15 16 17 18 *9:00 Service 10:00 Sunday School 19 11:30 Elizabeth Circle 20 7:00 am Men s Bible 21 6:15 Seasonal Choir 7:00 Lenten Service 8:00 Praise Team 22 23 24 25 9:00 Service 10:00 Sunday School 26 27 7:00 am Men s Bible 28 29 7:00 Service 30 7:00 Service TBD 31 * Bolded signifies communion will be offered at this service. 7
Friendship Lutheran Church of 3601 S. Duncan Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 217-355-0454 Pastoral Care Vacant Staff Danielle LeFaivre - Church Secretary office@friendshiplutheran.com (Office hours 8:30 12:30) In the Community The Two Kingdoms and the Role of a Christian in the Political Process Former Lutheran Hour speaker Reverend Gregory Seltz and Congressman John Shimkus will team up to help us discover the challenges and opportunities of being God s people in the Culture today. Together they will talk about the unique challenges that modern culture and politics are presenting to the church and how God s people can respond. Saturday March 17th 10:30 am Registration begins at 9:30 am St. John Lutheran Church 509 S Mattis Ave Champaign IL Adults $12.00 Visit us on the internet! www.friendshiplutheran.com Sponsored by CID Lutheran Layman s League 9:00 a.m. Service 10:00 am Sunday School & Bible Studies Holy Communion is offered on the 1st & 3rd Sundays. OUR MISSION: To Joyfully connect people to Christ and His family.