Several weeks
ago I was at the lab at the hospital to have some blood work done and as I
waited for my turn; I overheard a woman screaming at the receptionist. I won't
tell you exactly what she said because every few words were "four letter" in the
most demeaning way. But the gist of her complaint was that she was angry
because the lab couldn't do her ### tests because she didn't have her ###
doctor's orders with her. She had left them at home ### and she would ### go
home and get them but that was a ### and would ### make her late for her ###
appointment (now multiply that by enough complaining to fill a full five minutes
and you have the picture). The receptionist behaved patiently. She didn't
raise her voice or ask the woman to leave; she just firmly reiterated the
hospital policy. Finally the woman left in a huff, swearing loudly as she went
off into the distance. She reminded me of the old cartoon character, Dustpan;
her words surrounded her like a cloud of dirt. After she left, I went to the
desk and said to the receptionist, "May I apologize for her on behalf of the
whole human race?" The receptionist's response was very telling. She looked as
if she might cry and she said, "Thank you. You don't know how much I needed to hear that."
Why are we so
negative? Why is it so easy for us to be critical? I heard enough of this
tirade to know that the situation was entirely the woman's own fault. Why do we
so often take our internal frustrations out on others? Sometimes we are nice to
strangers but hateful to our families. Why is that?
Ours is a tough
world. Negative. Critical. Blaming. Hateful. Disagreeable. Unforgiving.
It sometimes seems to me to be like a pandemic, it's everywhere we go- in our
homes, businesses, on the road, in the grocery store. Unfortunately, it even
happens sometimes in the church.
That's why I
included this reading from Philippians 2. The nature of the world may be
negative, but Jesus' is not. I know that I cannot change the world. I cannot
swing a magic wand or give a powerful sermon or write a stunning newsletter
article that will reset the world into encouragement, consolation, sharing,
love, compassion, joy, or sympathy. But I can allow the mind and love and
presence of Christ into my heart so that I am changed. And
so can you. And when you and I change we do impact the
world.
What do you
think would change in the church and in the world around us if every one of us
took Paul seriously? If we really didn't do anything from selfish ambition or
conceit, but rather behaved with humble regard towards others and saw them as
better than ourselves? How different would we be if we really did look not to
our own interests, but to the interests of others?
We are
followers of Jesus Christ. Let that mean that we have the same mind as Christ.
Not only do we need it but so also does our world. Start
today.
Marionette
Show A Big Success
“I’ve been coming with our boys to the show
for 10 years now, and we wouldn’t miss it,” said one Gloria Dei father. “My
two kids have been asking for weeks when we could see the marionette show,”
offered a mother of a Gloria Dei pre-schooler. “‘Peter and the Wolf’ is my
grandson’s favorite story,” added another Gloria Dei member. These were just
some of the comments heard at our annual performance by the Frisch’s
Marionette Co., who presented the double-bill “Peter and the Wolf” and “The
Frog Prince” on December 3.
Not
only has the show become a very successful family event at Christmas time, but
also one of the best fundraisers for the Men’s Group. With matching funds
received from Thrivent, we were able to raise $520 for Angel Tree Ministries
to help provide Christmas gifts for Kentucky children who have a parent in
prison.
Many people deserve our thanks for making
the marionette show such a success. Thanks to Bob Handahl for organizing
the event; Tim Moore for securing Thrivent funds; Jane Auge, Denise Bosma,
Bonnie Handahl and Kyra Lorenz for refreshments; Len Hegna for set-up; and
Buck Reimer, Geneva Reimer, and Ed Frondorf for clean-up after the show.
Angel Tree Report
On Saturday, December 16, fourteen volunteers
delivered gifts to fifty Angel Tree children. They shared the love of the
prisoner parent for the child and the love of God through gifts purchased by
Gloria Dei members. Thank you to Ed Budrick, Geneva Reimer, Greg and Mary
Land, Bob and Bonnie Handahl, Rebecca Brode, Jim Bianchi, Bob Young, Jan
Skavdahl, Ben Kieffner, Kim Stowers, Walda Helvie and Dick Mueller.
Thank you also to those who shopped,
purchased, and wrapped all 100 gifts. You have blessed the lives of many
people through this ministry.
The Power of Prayer
Have you ever felt as if your prayer life
could use a boost? Would you like to be able to pray with more conviction and
with a greater understanding of prayer? Would you like to be able to take
your prayer life to the next level? Then THE POWER OF PRAYER, a
new feature column in our monthly newsletter, may provide you with direction
and encourage you in your prayer ventures. The purpose of this new section
is to help enrich your prayer life through the various thoughts, stories and
quotes that will be included. Ultimately, we hope these insights will
strengthen your lifeline to God and lead you into a deeper, more fulfilling
faith life with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This month’s excerpt is from “Hope for Each
Day” by Billy Graham:
PEOPLE OF PRAYER- “Lord, teach us to
pray.”
(Luke 11:1)
“Thousands pray only in times of great stress,
danger, or uncertainty. I have flown through bad storms and found myself
surrounded by people praying for the first time in their lives. It is
instinctive for us to pray in times of trouble. Only then do we realize our
helplessness.
But Christ instructed His followers to pray at
all times, both by His teaching and His example. So fervent and so
direct were His prayers that once, after he finished praying, His followers
pleaded, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). They learned to be in
touch with God, as they knew Christ was.
Have you ever said, “Lord, teach me
to pray?” Prayer shouldn’t be casual or sporadic, dictated only by the needs
of the moment. Prayer should be as much a part of our lives as breathing.
Never has our world stood in greater need of people who will pray. Will you
be one of them?”
(Should you have a personal story or testimony
about the impact of prayer on your life that you might like to share, please
feel free to contact any prayer team member with the details so we may include
it here also!)
Adult Education News
During January, we will view a DVD
presentation by Rev. Mark Powell, a professor at Trinity Seminary. Rev.
Powell gave the keynote speech at the Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly, in
which he talked about our commitment to worshiping God: why and how we should
worship.
Please join us for the discussion each
Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Room F-1 of the Fellowship Hall.
Preschool News
Preschool had a very busy December. We read
many stories of Jesus’ birth, Giving, and the Wise Men. Our Dramatic playroom
was set-up with costumes for Mary, Joseph, the Angel, Wise Men, Shepherds, and
Animals (donkeys, sheep, etc.) so the children could reenact Jesus’ birth.
There was also a manger set that was arranged and rearranged by little hands.
This year the children all made an advent
wreath in Art. The teachers explained the history of the wreath and a copy of
the history was attached to the finished wreath and sent home to share with
the children’s families.
A Monday’s Older 4’s class learned about the
true story of Christmas and why Jesus came to the earth. They made halos out
of gold wire in Art and each child performed an act of kindness to earn their
halo and became Jesus’ angels on earth (even Mrs. Fisher got a halo). The
children then visited church. As they exited church, one child said, “I wish
I could stay in there forever.”
We hope you all had a blessed Christmas.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION FOR THE 2007-08
SCHOOL YEAR
Registration packets for in-house students
will be placed in the children’s cubbies Tuesday, January 9th and
Wednesday, January 10th.
Registration packets for Church members,
Alumni and the Public will be available in the Church Narthex on
Tuesday, January 9th.
Church members
and Alumni completed registration forms must be returned by January 19th
either in person or by mail (2718 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills, KY 41017).
Tours will be available on Monday, January 22nd
at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, January 24th at 10:30 a.m. Please call
the Preschool office to sign-up for a tour at 331-1739.
Public registration must be postmarked
between February 1st and February 9th.
You know the old saying
"Time flies when you’re having fun"? It's true. The last seven years have
flown by. That is seven years that I have been leader of the Gloria Dei
Seniors and it was fun. Now it's time for me to share the fun. As of January
1, 2007 Shirley Benken will take over and I know she will have just as much
fun because she will be working with the same group of fantastic people.
I want to thank all the people who helped make
Gloria Dei Seniors the top group to join. We don't ask your age. We accept
everyone and make you feel welcome.
So right now make a New Years Resolution to
mark the second Sunday of each month (except May) to join the Gloria Dei
Seniors.
January, February and March we meet at church
with food, fun and good fellowship. See you Sunday January 14th following the
1:00 a.m.. worship service in room F1. No reservations needed.
THANKS and wishing each of you a Blessed New
Year.
-Charlotte
Davis
Martha Circle
– Will meet on Monday, January 22 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Jonna Bluemlein,
330 Iris Road, Ft. Mitchell. Kathy Murrey will co-host and give the
devotions. Lisa Miller will have the program. All ladies of Gloria Dei are
welcome to join us for an evening or every month. Call Lisa Miller at
331-8655 if you would like to car pool from church.
Mary Circle
– will meet on Thursday, January 18, at :00 p.m.at the home of Jane Pfarner,
3053 Prestwicke in Edgewood. The program will be Christmas Things We Do All
Year Through!
Ruth Circle
- will be meeting on Thursday, January 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Pauline
Kendrick's home. This is our annual potluck to plan our activities for 2007.
Bring a covered dish and join us! Call Pauline at 384-6546 for directions.
Isn't it strange how a twenty dollar bill seems like such a large
amount when you donate it to church, but such a small amount when you go
shopping? Isn't it strange how two hours seem so long when you're at church,
but how short they seem when you're watching a good movie? Isn't it strange
that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble
thinking what to talk about with a friend? Isn't it strange how difficult and
boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible, but how easy it is to read 100
pages of a popular novel? Isn't it strange how everyone wants
front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to
sit in the last row in church? Isn't it strange how we need to know about a
church event for 2-3 weeks ahead so we can include it in our agenda, but we
can adjust our agenda for other events at the last minute? Isn't it strange
how difficult it is to learn one fact about God and share it with others, but
how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip? Isn't it
strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we
question the words in the Bible?
Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in Heaven, but they don't want to
believe, do, or say anything to get there? Isn't it strange how we send jokes
in e-mails and they are forwarded right away, but when we are going to send
messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?
IT'S STRANGE ISN'T IT? Please bless someone else today by being kind and
behaving with a loving heart. Let someone see how much you love God. We should
all be more humble and love others the way Christ did. And please remember:
"When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely
opening your hands to receive something."
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
Sunday worship services for
everyone are offered at 8:30 a.m., 9:45 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
Todd Kuhse…......………………………………..…..Secretary
Paula Ebert……………………………...…Financial Secretary
CHURCH STAFF
Rebecca Brode…...……Director of Youth & Group Ministries
Debbie Hoydal……………………………....Church Secretary
