Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Crestview Hills, Kentucky
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2718 Dixie Highway |
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Newsletter of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 2718 Dixie Hwy. Volume XXIV, No. 8 From The Pastor, Tommy Tenney in his book “Prayers of a God Chaser” says that the best gift that we can have in life is a hunger for God. And he worries out loud when he doesn’t see that hunger in the life of the church. “Sometimes” he says, “I fear the church has spiritual anorexia, or worse. We’ve grown content to subsist on empty calories or to simply ‘show up’ at the Lord’s dinner table but never eat. We are too busy talking about ourselves and criticizing the appearance and actions of others to stoke the flames of our spiritual hunger.” (p. 46) I don’t know Tommy Tenney. I don’t know his theology or his background. In truth there are things in his book with which I disagree, but these words stopped me in my tracks. As soon as I read them, I immediately stopped reading and started praying. (I invite you to stop now and pray about whether or not you have spiritual anorexia before you even read the rest of this article.) As I prayed I asked to be able to see the spiritual anorexia in my own life and the spiritual anorexia in the life of Gloria Dei. It was a hard prayer—but also a good and cleansing prayer—because it gave me insight that I know I need, both to be a believer myself and to be a good leader for Gloria Dei. Please understand I am not being hard on myself, or you, in doing this. I am not taking too much on my plate. I am also not making any excuses (you know, things like, its summer after all). I am just working to understand what God has chosen to reveal. I do see signs of spiritual anorexia; they are the times when we worry that there won’t be enough money to fund the ministry here, or when we excuse ourselves from Bible Study or prayer because we say we don’t have time, or when we get upset over little things that in the greater scheme of the Kingdom of God don’t really matter at the same time that we don’t get concerned over the weighty matters of the Kingdom, like the fact that there are people who don’t yet know Jesus, or when we come to worship only for what we will get out of it. Mark Powell says that Scripture teaches a model for worship in which we don’t come to worship for what we get out of it (even though we do get what sustains our life out of it) but because God is worthy to praised and worshiped. But the good news is that there is food for this spiritual anorexia. Since the Holy Spirit is the best teacher of prayer, the best way to learn prayer…is to pray. Since it is God who calls us to worship, the best way to be fed in worship is to just simply come and worship, every chance we get, and let God’s magnificent presence be “what we get out of it” and what feeds us. Since the Bible promises that we will grow in faith when we study the word, the best way to do Bible Study is to just come and join a Bible Study class and keep studying with all of the rest of us who have questions, simple and complex, about the Bible. I hope that you are aching for more of God! I hope that you recognize that you are starved for more time with God, more love for God, more insight about God. And I hope that you act on that hunger and come to God to be fed. What better thing could you do with your summer? P.S. I am considering the possibility of adding an early morning Eucharist one day a week. Please tell me if you are interested, and if you are, what day and what time. - Pastor Vicki
Hoorah for Hannah Fundraiser is a Tremendous Success! Over 185 people attended the July 14 event raising an incredible $25,000 to help offset medical bills for Hannah Frostman. A very special thanks to Mary Beth Eichinger and her crew of volunteers for providing a fabulous catered dinner. Thanks to the Praise Band and David Martin for providing musical entertainment throughout the evening. Thanks to the dynamic auctioneering duo of Stan Watson and Chris Mehling for the hilarious job they did with the oral auction which on its own raised close to $7000. Thanks to all the committees, groups, and individuals who donated gift baskets, artwork, vacation packages, volunteer time, baked goods, sports memorabilia and much, much more for the silent auction. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped organize the event. God was truly in our hearts as we came together to help Hannah and her family.
We’re also looking for volunteers to serve as hosts/hostesses during the photo sessions. You would work in pairs for several hour shifts to meet those coming to be photographed and gather their household’s information. It’s actually a lot of fun- you can sign up for one day or as many as you like. Our new directory will be most successful if we get EVERYONE to participate. Please help us make this happen! From the Outreach Team (formerly the “Welcome” Committee)
The ELCA has made the program Natural Church Development (NCD) available to its congregations. NCD is an exciting new tool for evangelism. It is based on studies of thousands of growing congregations all around the world and is designed to help congregations use the gifts of God effectively and naturally in order to grow, Last year Pastor Vicki and representatives of the church council attended a Conference wide workshop (held here at Gloria Dei) to learn about the program. We are pleased to tell you that the Outreach Team will be launching the program in the fall. The first step in the program is an information gathering survey which is to be given to a randomly selected group of people (total of 30) who are active in the ministries of the congregation. Hence, at the next Committee Night (September 11) we will have a random drawing among those who come for the meetings. Those who are chosen will take the survey at that time. The surveys are then sealed, sent to the ELCA, and analyzed. The data returned will give us a clear overview of our strengths and weaknesses for growth.
 Once
the data is returned we can celebrate what we do well and we can begin
work to “bring up”areas that most need to be strengthened,
which as illustrated on this bucket, may be preventing us from fully
living in God’s call. (You can only fill the bucket as far as the shortest
stave.)
Please, pray about this exciting new program! And if you are one of those who come to the committee meetings, please be sure to be at the September meeting, ready to do a survey if your name is chosen. Help us understand God’s great plans for us and do what God has called us to do. Sincerely, The Gloria Dei Outreach Team Dear Friends In Christ,
It seems as though I can keep no secrets from you! You already know that I always try to avoid having my picture taken. I don’t know what it is really. Perhaps it’s just that the camera doesn’t lie.
Now, I know that there are a lot of you out there who are very photogenic, so this photo directory project should be easy for you. But for those of you who, like me, consider a camera to be an instrument of torture, how about we take this leap of fun together?
God has blessed us so much! We have so many new people at Gloria Dei. We have also had a number of families move away. That’s why it is so important for us to do a new directory and to get as many people as possible to have their pictures in the directory. Besides, a good photo directory trumps a faulty memory every time.
As for me, I’m just going to try to look younger, taller, and thinner than I did in the last directory.
Please sign up as soon as possible and come with a smile! We need you!
-Pastor Vicki
STARS Needs Volunteers
STARS: Grief Support for Kids”, a free grief and loss support program for kids and their caregivers, is looking for adult volunteers to join the current staff in facilitating the program beginning in September. Training begins in August. The program runs from September through May, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Gloria Dei. For more information, please call STARS at 859-292-0244.
Join thrivent in Building Homes for Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent is sponsoring a building day on Saturday, August 19 from 8:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. They need workers (no experience needed) and a group to prepare and serve lunch. To volunteer please contact Craig Holocher at 513-771-3991. WELCA Circle Information Martha Circle – will meet on Monday, August 28 at the home of Linda Moore in Independence beginning at 7:00 p.m. Sheeley Dick will serve as co-hostess and give the devotions. The program will be collecting items for a “shower” for the Women’s Crisis Center. Carpooling will be available from church at 6:45 p.m. All ladies of Gloria Dei are always welcome and invited to attend Martha Circle meetings. Please call President Jean McCarter at 331-8894 for more information.
Mary Circle - Mary Circle will meet on Thursday, August l7 at the home of Jane Pfarner beginning at 7:00 p.m. Charlotte Himmler will have devotions and Beverly Broomhead will present the program
Hannah Circle – will meet on Thursday, August 24 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Color Me Mine/8:00 at Carrabba’s. Call President Terri Stinebruner at 331-0226 for more information.
In 2 Samuel is a story about one of King David’s sons who rebelled against his father. There was a battle in the forest of Ephraim between men who were faithful to David and those who followed the rebellious son. David’s soldiers won the fight, and David’s son fled riding a mule. The mule ran under an oak tree and David’s son caught his head in the thick branches. He was left hanging there, trapped but alive. His father’s soldiers came upon him and ended his life. King David was heart-stricken when he learned about his son’s death. He cried out, “O my son _____, my son, my son _____! Would I had died instead of you, O _____, my son, my son!” What was the son’s name? A) Amnon B) Absalom C) Solomon D)Daniel
Volunteers for August
Youth and Family Events August
5th Middle/High School Youth Canoe Trip - Meet at the GDLC at 10am - Bring a sack lunch and plenty of water and $10 - Sign up on the youth board
6th Florence Freedom Game, 6pm - Newport Aquarium Family Night - Tickets are $7 - Please pay for them on the youth board - Open for all
7th -11th Youth Room Make Over - We will meet at 10am every day to paint and create a great space - Please bring painting supplies
7th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Borders
12th Family Ministry Luau, 6pm - Bring a dish to share - Hotdogs and drinks provided
13th San Antonio Reunion, 3:30pm - More details to come
14th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Borders
17th High School Bible Study, 7pm - In the new youth room!
19th-25th Rebecca on Vacation!!! J
28th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Borders
31st High School Bible Study, 7pm Youth Room
Mark your calendars now for September 5th. The youth are doing a fundraiser and all you have to do is eat. Max and Erma’s will give the youth a percentage of their sales from September 5th. All you have to do is take the coupon we give you, eat, and give the coupon to the wait staff. The youth make money and you get a great meal at Max and Erma’s. You can go any time in the day to eat. So grab your whole neighborhood to out to dinner!!
MISSION STATEMENT
The family of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church accepts the call of our Lord Jesus to "go therefore and make disciples" and to fulfill this call by: · Evolving the highest-quality worship experience · Establishing community outreach that is Christ-centered · Fostering spiritual growth · Maximizing human and financial resources · Transmitting our love for Christ to those in need
SUNDAY SERVICES
Summer Sunday worship services for everyone are offered at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday at all services. A nursery is also provided at all services.
GLORIA DEI NEWS
The Newsletter of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is published monthly. The deadline for articles is the 15th of the month. Articles may be e-mailed to the editor, Val Eason, at newsletter@gloriadei-nky.org or faxed to 578-0273.
CHURCH OFFICERS
Duane Skavdahl……………………………….……..President Steve Kieffner.…..………………………..……Vice President Lisa Huddleston...………………………………..…..Secretary Kurt & Kay Freyberger………………………...……Treasurer Paula Ebert……………………………...…Financial Secretary CHURCH STAFF
Vicki Garber………………………………….…Senior Pastor Rebecca Brode…...……Director of Youth & Group Ministries Debbie Hoydal……………………………....Church Secretary Terri Chapman…………………………………..…..Custodian
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Peggy Fisher & Dolores Kreutzjans…..….Preschool Directors Anita Carmack……………………...………….Music Director Ron Carmack………...…………………Senior Choir Director Mindy Barrett………………………Children’s Choir Director Bob & Bonnie Handahl…..Adult Sunday School Coordinators Terri Stinebruner …Children’s Sunday School Superintendent Nancy Mlinarik……Children’s Sunday School Superintendent
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Join
the Thrivent Bus Ride to the Indianapolis Air Show on August 26-27. Deadline
for registration is July 31. Look for more information on the bulletin board
in the narthex.
Because
of vacations and sickness we postponed our tour of the Dinsmore House to
Sunday August 13th following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Why not join us-
the more the merrier and we are a merry group.
