Glad Tidings: Christ is with us Behind closed doors, in our doubt, in water, bread, and wine, May 2017 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 1706 Slide Road Lubbock TX www.gloriadeilubbock.org gdlclubbock on Twitter and Facebook Natural Church Development Update We are nearing the time for our one year Natural Church Development Study Survey. Thirty people completed the initial survey in May, 2016 and we have progressed through the various programmatic components in step with the NCD process. We shared the NCD booklets for all to read and assist in understanding the process. You may recall the eight quality characteristics typically noted in growing churches are the following: Empowering Leadership, Giftbased Ministry, Passionate Spirituality, Effective Structures, Inspiring Worship Service, Holistic Small Groups, Need-oriented Evangelism, and Loving Relationships. Our minimal factor identified by the initial survey was Holistic Small Groups. We made a concerted effort to focus on this principle and that of Passionate Spirituality as a related lower factor as noted by the survey results. We carried out the additional Bible Study of Luke to provide insight into how God s work was revealed while sharing in small groups the relevance of these scriptures. Several meetings were held with the intent of determining the focus for Holistic Small Groups. We had great input with approximately fifteen different suggested Holistic Small Groups. What we have subsequently experienced is the difficulty of operationalizing many of the suggested Holistic Small Groups while in reality several groups seem to be merged. An example of a merged group is the team of individuals who serve on the Worship Committee are also deeply involved in Evangelism. We determined that we seem to function as an aggregate Holistic Small Group. We acknowledge the various life events as realistic factors which have provided opportunities of shared meaning for our congregation including illnesses, deaths, and celebrations of life. We also celebrate the opportunity to acknowledge the relevance and meaning for the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation. Pastor Vayda focused on Luther s Catechism during Lenten Services. We look forward to additional ways of enhancing the shared vision of our congregation. We desire to carry out a follow-up survey according to the NCD process to see how we are doing with our minimal factor of Holistic Small Groups and the other quality characteristics as previously shared. The basic quality improvement model suggests the same process with
Page 2 Love God Love Neighbors May 2017 assessment, planning, doing, and reassessment. To this end, our ask of you as a member or friend of the congregation is to kindly plan to join us after morning worship services on May 7 th to complete the NCD Survey and celebrate this event with a potluck luncheon. The Gloria Dei Council, under the direction of Dr. Travis Casler, has worked closely with Pastor Jeffrey Vayda in this endeavor. In addition, we thank Pastor Steven Kanouse in his role of Evangelism Director of the NTNL Synod who provided guidance as we began the process. In addition, we acknowledge the guidance of Pastor Jeff Borgwardt, interim Evangelism Director for NTNL Synod. We await the potential guidance of Pastor Irma Banales, newly selected Director of Evangelical Mission of the NTNL Synod. Thank you in advance for your continued participation in the life and renewal of our congregation. I offer this update on behalf of the Gloria Dei Council, Pastor Jeffrey Vayda, and the Communication Task Force. Kathy Sridaromont Rachel s Day May 7th Please bring stuffed animals to the front pews so they can absorb the Word and Sacraments. These animals will be blessed before being sent out to children in our community who are victims of child abuse or neglect. Many of these children are infants and toddlers. Think of their safety when you choose stuffed animals. Over the past 10 years, more than 20,000 American children are believed to have been killed in their own homes by family members. That is nearly four times the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Five children die every day in America from abuse or neglect. An average of 4 children per day become victims of child abuse and neglect in Lubbock county. Taylor McCall June 4, 2017 Graduate Recognition Sunday May 14 Please contact the church office if you know graduates to be recognized
Page 3 God s Work Our Hands May 2017 Maundy Thursday Palm Sunday A big hearty thank you from Upbring for Gloria Dei s generous use of the Church and grounds along with all the wonderful cookies supplied by the congregation for Upbring s Easter Egg Hunt! It was a big success and we all had a good time!
Page 4 Love God Love Neighbors To those who helped during worship, including Paul Bjerk, Donna Perry, Carol Mitchell, Elayne Patridge, Bruce Callendar, Will Ervin, Avery Stangl, Lynda Pierce, Taylor McCall, Mark Gillen, Anita Asmussen, Kathy Sridaromont, and Susan Little To members of our Altar Guild and Diane Casler for all their work during The Three Days and Resurrection Sunday To those who brought eggs for our Easter Egg Hunt To those who bought lilies for Easter worship To Gail Bruns for planting and caring for our garden To Mary Johnson and Lynda Pierce for providing flowers for worship To the Greeting Card Committee for preparing Easter cards To those who helped to prepare for the baptism of Mikaela and Maddie To Travis Casler, Gerald Crenwelge, and Mark Gillen for keeping our grounds tidy and neat To those who helped to prepare our building and grounds for the Bishop s visit To those who prepared and cleaned up for Fellowship and those who shared food May 2017 Spring time in our garden
Page 5 God s Work Our Hands May 2017 Date Readings Flowers 5/7 Acts 42:42-47 Psalm 23 5/14 Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 5/21 Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:8-20 5/28 Acts 1:6-14 Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 Birthday 4 Joe Neary 8 Gail Bruns 20 Serenity Turnbow 23 Ashley Jensen 24 David Callendar 28 Jeff Vayda Wedding Anniversary I Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 I Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 I Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 I Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 John 17:1-11 Church Events 7 Rachel s Day Survey Potluck Dinner 14 Council Mother s Day Hedi Wise Open Open open Graduate Recognition 17 Worship and Music We ll be collecting school supplies for children in Upbring Foster Care. Pick up some supplies when you see a good sale! Updated Church Directory will be printed soon. Please contact the church office if your contact information has changed or was listed incorrectly in the last directory. 1 Joey and Halie Pierce 30 Jim and Lynda Pierce Baptism Anniversary 6 Mark Gillen Z Blessed are the generous for they feed the poor. Bring non-perishable food to the kitchen pantry to be donated to the Food Bank.
Page 6 Love God Love Neighbors May 2017 Madeleine Sophia Ervin Baptized April 16 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Like many of you, I have been deeply troubled by the news from Syria. First, there was the horrific chemical weapons attack on civilians. Then the U.S. missiles being used against the Syrian airbase understood to have perpetrated the earlier attack. In both instances, the lives of precious children of God have been lost. Lord, have mercy. The psalmist reminds us not to put our "trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help," but rather reminds us to place our hope in the Lord our God. He recalls that "the Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin" (Psalm 146). It is a time for prayer for peace, and for those seeking refuge during this time when there is no peace in Syria. Still, acknowledging our brokenness in sin, we recall that God created humans in God's image "made for life in community" and that our social statement, For Peace in God's World, encourages us to "pray for forgiveness, and for the faith that in love acts for earthly peace," and to work for it. While the path to peace remains unclear, our commitment to it should not waiver. Let us continue to pray, assist those in need, offer refuge to those fleeing violence, and encourage all efforts toward peace for all of the children of God created in God's image. We continue to place our hope in the Lord our God, the Prince of Peace. In Christ The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop