Information Needed for Gloria Dei’s 25th Anniversary

 The Communications Discipleship has begun collecting photos and other memorabilia for a display to commemorate Gloria Dei’s 25^th anniversary this fall.  Please take some time to go through your photos and any other items that could help make this display complete.  Place your information in an envelope with your name on the outside and leave it in the church office.  Your photos will be digitally scanned and returned to you within a few weeks.  Please help us make this celebration of Gloria Dei’s history one that everyone will enjoy!

GlobalFest Is Coming!

Do you want action, excitement, and diversity while immersed in God’s mission?  GLOBALFEST at the Global Mission Event will be held on Saturday, July 21^st from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, North America and Ohio will all have fun, educational, and interactive displays beckoning you to create, dance, sing, play, build, talk, shop, listen and learn!  Join in the fun for all ages.  There is no charge for Saturday’s GlobalFest events and several volunteers from Hannah Circle and our Youth Group will be on hand. Musical entertainment will also be presented.  Please check the “GlobalFest” flier in the Narthex for complete information.

 

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES: 

Meghan Eichinger - Ryle High School

Matthew Goodridge -Conner High School Samantha Skavdahl -Dixie High School 

 

COLLEGE GRADUATES: 

Allison Aiken - Bachelor of Science, Nursing, Northern Kentucky University

Dan Eason – Bachelor of Science, Media Arts & Design, Drexel University

Lauren McDaniel - Associates in Respiratory Therapy, Bluegrass Community & Technical College

Dennis Zimmerman -Master of Arts, School Counseling, Northern Kentucky University

Sanctuary Seating Changes

During the sanctuary renovation last year the choir seating risers were modified for safety and better comfort.  For compliance purposes it was necessary to slightly expand the risers.  Unfortunately this space modification coupled with the enhanced air movement system caused a slight relocation of the pews in the seating section closest to the music area, which in turn caused the aisles to no longer comply with code requirements.

To provide an interim solution to the situation, several pews will be removed from this seating section.  The chairs from the choir risers (which match the chairs on the opposite side of the sanctuary) will be used to replace the removed pews.  The existing chairs on the choir risers do not provide enough aisle space for choir members to easily pass and doesn’t allow sufficient legroom between the rows.  The choir chairs will be replaced with new straight-back chairs, which will better accommodate the choir members from a comfort, safety and overall space efficiency standpoint. 

This seating reconfiguration will be done by the end of June.  A special task force comprised of mostly choir members along with the church council will be evaluating options for this seating space.  Some of the options being considered are a) cut down the pews to fit in this area, b) permanently replace some or all the pews with chairs in this seating section, or c) purchase new properly sized pews that will be a close match to the remaining pews.  We welcome feedback from the congregation with respect to the eventual design of pews and/or chairs to adequately accommodate this seating section and the music area of the sanctuary.

The cost associated with this process is within the original approved renovation budget.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.                                     -Church Council 

That the cost of hosting the Gloria Dei web site is $25 per month and has been set-up the same way as the vigil light and alter flowers, as a donation from members of the congregation?  If you wish to sign up to sponsor the Gloria Dei Web Page for a month please contact The Communications Chairman: communications@gloriadei-nky.org or the church office at office@gloriadei-nky.org.

 

Did you know?

That video of the sermons for the last three Sundays are available on the Gloria Dei web site?

Did you know?

That between 50 and 100 people from several states (and occasionally from other countries) catch Pastor Vicki's sermons every month streamed from the Gloria Dei web site? 

Did you know:?

That the traffic on the Gloria Dei web site was lighter than average in May, but still had an average of  423 pages requested per day?

Comings And Goings

 

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.  (Psalm 121:8)

 

July 15^th is “GO And DO Likewise” Sunday.  The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is the Gospel text for this day.  This is a “once every three year” opportunity to Focus on the “GO And DO Likewise” programs of the ELCA’s World Hunger, Disaster Response and Stand With Africa.

 

“ELCA World Hunger is a connected, comprehensive, and compassionate program that helps individuals and communities lift themselves out of poverty into self-sufficiency.  Through our giving and caring, through our advocacy and action, we make a life-saving difference.”

 

“ELCA Disaster Response is known for its long-term healing presence after natural and human-caused disasters.  After a major disaster, go to www.elca.org/disaster to learn how ELCA Disaster Response is “prepared to care,” give a donation to help fund the response, and find information to share with your congregation.”

 

“ELCA Stand With Africa (SWA), an emphasis within the World Hunger Appeal, assists communities and churches in their work to fight HIV/AIDS, banish hunger and build peace.  SWA donation are directed to Lutheran World Relief, the Lutheran World Federation and ELCA companion churches in Africa.”

 

Look for the “GO And Do Likewise” insert in this newsletter and bring the donation envelope with you for an offering on Sunday, July 15.  Just as the Good Samaritan stopped to help a person in need, you can also help “your neighbor” in need. 

 

May God bless your generous response. 

                                                -Walda Helvie

The Power of Prayer

                                  

EMPTY POCKETS

 

‘We need to develop the habit of emptying our pockets, so to speak.  We must spread out our feelings before the Lord, prayerfully sort things through, and ask Him to dispose of the trash.  In so doing we will discover that we have exchanged our “spirit of despair” for a “garment of praise” (Isaiah 61:3)……..Alma Barkman

 

The only way to be opened to the abundant resources of God and to receive a “garment of praise” (be transformed) is through prayer.  By “praying without ceasing”, we grow closer to our loving Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As in any growing relationship, it is important to get to know one another, spending time together, sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences.  Through His ministry here on earth, this is exactly what Jesus did.  One of His greatest lessons came from the cross as He suffered an agonizing death on our behalf.  What did He do?  He prayed.   He prayed for the forgiveness of His persecutors.   “Father, forgive these people, for they know not what they are doing.”  (Luke 23:34/TLB).

 

In other words, as He was dying on the cross, He was still teaching, teaching us to pray for those we feel have wronged or offended us.  This concept is a paradox in the sense that it is nearly impossible to remain angry & bitter towards anyone when you pray for them asking God for His blessing.  Imagine the scene, our Lord disgracefully crucified with the crowd mocking, accusing, laughing, jeering and provoking.  But Jesus, in His wisdom, did not respond in like.   Instead, He prayed.

 

Prayer is such an amazing thing.  It can heal anything from broken bodies to broken relationships.  But healing cannot happen until we pray as Jesus did.  We cannot expect forgiveness unless we practice forgiveness ourselves.  It is only then that healing can begin, when we have “emptied our pockets” of all the resentments, hurts and injustices we have experienced and turn them over to God in prayer to use for our spiritual nutrition and growth.

Please make every effort to keep up your pledges to Gloria Dei through the summer months.   Many people have found that what works best for them is to pay in advance every month.   We are currently just slightly behind our year to date commitments and do not want to fall further behind over the summer.  

Ladies!  Mark your calendars for  Friday, March 7^th and Saturday, March 8^th for the women’s retreat in 2008 at Queen Anne’s convent  in Melbourne.  This is a great time for our ladies, young and old, to enjoy Christian fellowship, and to learn from several of Pastor Vicki’s excellent lessons.  It is a great time for sisters, mothers and daughters, mothers and daughters-in-laws, friends, grandma’s and daughter and granddaughters, or any other combination I may have omitted.  Please mark your calendars and save that time to join us.  We would love to see you there.  Questions can be directed to Geneva Reimer, 356-7911, or any lady who has attended in the past.