Volume XXVI, No. 7

From the Pastor,

I have been thinking about faith a lot lately.  It is on my mind because so many things in everyday life challenge faith.   We may experience faith, turn to faith, think our faith is good (or bad), wish that our faith could be better, think someone who disagrees with us doesn’t have faith, think it belongs (or doesn’t belong) in politics, seek it, shun it, doubt it….an endless list of options.  As people of God we are called to live by faith but I wonder if we are even on the same page about what we mean when we say ‘faith’. 

Webster defines faith this way, “to trust; unquestioning belief, specifically in God, a religion, etc; a particular religion; complete trust or confidence; loyalty.  (I think Webster is wrong about the unquestioning and complete part, but who am I to argue with Webster?)  The Scripture reminds us that faith is a gift from God and if we have just the tiniest amount of faith, the size of a mustard seed, we will have more than enough for the living of our lives.  Scripture also reminds us that God is trust worthy and that the faithfulness of God is the essential word about faith.

A couple of weeks ago I asked some people to ‘define’ the word faith.  They have each given me permission to quote them.  Barry says faith is, “jumping off a cliff and being caught up in/by God.”  Walda says it is, “Living in and trusting in ‘Come Lord Jesus’ now and forever.”  Jane says faith is, “Knowing that there is some one or something greater than oneself which is trustworthy, helpful, and loving in which one can dwell.”   Debbie says “that’s a good question, to me faith is knowing, it’s not a feeling, it’s not something you can see, but it’s something you know from within.”   I am moved by each of these answers for the perspective that they bring to the fullness of understanding faith. 

For me, faith is in the story of our lives lived in Christ; beginning, middle and end.  Yesterday I baptized a baby who had a look of shock when the water first touched her head but then she just seemed to relax and let everything happen.  Bringing a baby to be baptized before any of us know how that child will turn out is faith.  Last week Phil had a biopsy on a place on his side.  At this writing the doctor thinks the growth is benign but we will know for certain in a week or so.   Knowing that Phil is safe in Christ which ever way the biopsy turns out is faith.  A few weeks ago I stood beside the small casket of a child who had died.  Seeing that little casket there over the grave and trusting the child and his grieving family to God is faith.  Their turning to God in spite of the fact that this event defies understanding and in the midst of grief is faith.  I think that if faith cannot speak to us at the moment of death it cannot speak at all. 

I pray for you that your lives will be filled with faith.  For all of the ‘jumping off a cliff, now and forever, dwelling, living, beginning, middle and end places” that challenge and push on you, I ask God to give you the gift of faith.

How do you define faith?

                                                                  -Pastor Vicki

We have a new Sunday School Superintendent! Shawn Honnerlaw has graciously agreed to take the position along with Nancy Mlinarik.  Thank you Shawn and Nancy! Look for information about the start up of Sunday School for adults and children of all ages this fall in the August  newsletter edition.

The Power of Prayer

“Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”  (Isaiah 65:24)

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

As you listen to news reports and read the newspaper, do you sometimes feel at a loss about how to make a difference in today’s world?  With all the injustice, crimes and catastrophic events going on around us, do you often find yourself wondering, “What can I do that will have any significant impact?”  There is only one answer….PRAY!!!  It is not only in written in God’s Word, but throughout history that our Christian forefathers relied on prayer to be the foundation of their faith and greatest source of power in their lives.

Billy Graham tells us:  “John Knox spent much time in prayer, and the Church of Scotland burst into new life.  John Wesley prayed long and often, and the Methodist movement was born.  Martin Luther prayed earnestly, and the Reformation exploded across Europe.

Why was prayer so important to these spiritual giants of the past?  Because they knew they were up against almost overwhelming forces of spiritual opposition.  They also knew the urgency of the Gospel message, and that prayer was an essential weapon in advancing the Gospel to the ends of the earth.  Like Paul, they knew that ‘the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds’ (2 Corinthians 10:4).  Is our situation any different today?

God desires that we Christians be concerned and burdened for a lost world.  If we pray this kind of prayer, an era of peace may come to the world and wickedness may be turned back. ‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much,’ (James 5:16).”

The next time you begin to feel your prayers won’t make a difference, remember the “spiritual giants of the past” and do the one thing that does makes the biggest difference…PRAY!!

Reminder:  It’s summer but Gloria Dei still needs your regular giving.

Please send in your contributions if you cannot make it, or give in advance if you will be gone. 

The capital campaign has now received or has in pledges a total of $813,581 versus the goal of $850,000 or 96% of goal.  For those not yet pledged please help us get that last 4%.   We have received some money from people who were not able to pledge.  Thank you and please keep this up.  

Water for Muhororo Rwanda

When Hansel Ramathal and the Greater Cincinnati chapter of Engineers Without Borders travel to Rwanda in July they will be taking with them  prayers, greetings and gifts from the people of Gloria Dei.    Members of our congregation have donated over $ 5600 to their water project for the community of Muhororo Rwanda; this gift will be matched by a $1250 donation from Thrivent Financial .    The children in our Sunday School wrote letters and cards to the children in the orphanages to be served by the new water system and members of the congregation signed a card of greeting to the members of the community.   Mark Sunday, August 17^th on your calendars!   Hansel will give us a report on the work done by his group and bring pictures of the new water system.   The Cincinnati group is already studying other communities in Rwanda in need of accessible clean water, and we look forward to the possibility of working with them on future projects.

Five women from Gloria Dei are attending the Women of the ELCA Triennial (every 3 years) Convention and Gathering in Salt Lake City.  The I-K   Synod delegate is our very own Debbie Rieselman.  She will represent the women of Indiana and Kentucky at the convention business sessions.  The other women attending are Gail Cato, Shirley Benken, Ginny Huenniger and Lisa Miller.  We are looking forward to hearing inspiring messages; learning of new ways to minister to women in our country and around the world; sharing in the fellowship of Lutheran women from churches all over the county and world; and sightseeing.

We are taking gift cards to be shared with the needy in Salt Lake City as well as a monetary gift that will provide education and assistance to women worldwide. 

Ginny and her daughter, Val, plan to participate in a 4K walk to raise money for WELCA’s health initiative, “Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls” and the American Heart Association.

We are so blessed to live in the USA where women have freedom and opportunities to develop their talents and interests and choose their life’s path. We thank all of you who ate at “Fridays” last year to help defray a portion of the cost of this event for each of us.  Please join us vicariously by going on line to (www.womenoftheelca.org/tg08) and click on News.

WELCA Circle News

Mary Circle – will meet Thursday, July 17 at the home of Beverly Broomhead  who will also lead devotions.  The program will be a sharing of experiences at the Salt Lake City – Triennial WELCA Gathering by Gail Cato, Shirley Benken and Ginny Huenniger.  We meet promptly at 7:00 p.m.  Visitors are welcome.  Call 331-4956 for directions.

Hannah Circle – will meet at Barleycorns-Five Mile House in Lakeside Park on Wednesday, July 23 at :00 p.m.  Our service project for July will be a project for the Women's Crisis Center.  If you need information about this project or about Hannah Circle, please contact Tina Smith at 261-6030 or hannah@gloriadei-nky.org. annah Circle welcomes all women of the church to our meeting. 

Martha Circle – will meet on Monday, July 28 for their annual summer dinner out.  Please contact Lisa Miller at 331-8655 for the restaurant location which was yet to be determined  as this newsletter went to print and for car pooling information.

The Quilters - Need Twin size bed sheets.  Please watch for sales on flat twin bed sheets.  We can also use gently used flat sheets of any color.  Just leave them in the green bin near the grocery cart in the narthex.  Join us Thursday, July 3 at 6:30 p.m.in room F2.  Or meet at Bob Evans on Orphanage Rd. at 5:00 for dinner before hand. 

Stitchers - will have their fingers flying over yarn and needles on Mondays, July 14 and 28.    Please join us in room Ff2.

A Note of Thanks from Peggy & Dolores

We want to thank Pastor Vickie, church members/staff and the Task Force, involved in hiring the new director, for their hard work in making the reception held in our honor so memorable.  Words cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciated all that you did to make our retirement reception so wonderful.   It was so kind of you to honor us in such a special way.

            The flowers were beautiful, the cross and angel will be a constant spiritual reminder and we are looking forward to using our gift certificate by spending a leisurely and relaxing day at Sableux.

            Your kind and inspirational words touched our hearts.  Thank you again for everything.

                      -Dolores Kreutzjans and Peggy Fisher

Our group is busy having fun this summer.  In June we went to the butterfly show at Krohn Conservatory, followed by lunch at Porkapolis Restuarant in  Rookwood Pottery.   In July we will be going to the Kincaid Theater in Falmouth to see Big River.  It's a story about Huckelberry Finn and a friend who was a slave.  In August we are going to Elk Creek Winery in Owenton, KY.  The Primetimers of Hebron Luthern Church have invited us to join them at their church for lunch and entertainment in September.  We are happy to welcome Earl and Edoria Thomas, who joined our group recently. New members are always welcome.

Kentucky Food Donations for Kentucky Residents

It is commendable that P&G and Krogers are teaming up to provide food to the Free Store Foodbank.  HOWEVEVER, the food goes to Cincinnati!

United Ministries, Women’s Crisis Center, Welcome House, Brighton Center and others help to serve Northern Kentucky residents.  Gloria Dei supports all of the above. DO YOUR PART - KEEP YOUR DONATIONS IN KENTUCKY

What Attracts people to Church?

Why do people select a particular church?  A convenient location?  Yes.  A good speaker in the pulpit?  Yes.  Inspiring music?  Yes.  An attractive building?  Yes.

But a more essential element in attracting visitors, newcomers, and prospective members is friendliness – both in the pew and throughout the community.  Where there is a warm, dynamic congregation with an enthusiasm that’s contagious, visitors will usually be found, and will return.

A church can buy many advantages with money, such as nice buildings, trained leadership, effective advertising and an abundance of supplies for spiritual and social use.  But old-fashioned friendliness, of which the world is sorely in need, can’t be purchased with money.  It comes only from the hearts of dedicated people who love God and enjoy helping others feel at home in their church.

  Freedom

Each one of us is born most free

And we alone can choose

To do what God would have us do

To use what God would use.

Or, we are also free to seek

The proud and selfish way –

A life where other gods come first

To reign and hold full sway.

But when we follow where Christ leads,

We find that freedom’s place

Is really in God’s Will for us,

And we have chosen GRACE!

MISSION STATEMENT

We are saved by Grace through Faith and are called by the Holy Spirit to make Christ known.  In joyful response, we strive to…

v      Love God

v      Love others as God loves them

v      Live as disciples

v      Grow spiritually

v      Share the good news

SUNDAY SERVICES

Sunday worship services for everyone are offered at 8:00 a.m., 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.  There will be no Sunday School during the summer months. 

GLORIA DEI NEWS

 The Newsletter of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is published monthly.  The deadline for articles is the 15^th 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

Todd Kuhse…...……………………………….……..President

Steve Kieffner.…..………………………..……Vice President

Amy Honnerlaw……………..…………………..…..Secretary

Gabriele Vosmeier & Kurt Freyberger……....…Co-Treasurers

Paula Ebert……………………………...…Financial Secretary

CHURCH STAFF

Rev. Vicki Garber…………………………….…Senior Pastor

Rebecca Brode…...……Director of Youth & Group Ministries

Tom Pairan….....Volunteer & Christian Education coordinator

Debbie Hoydal……………………………....Church Secretary

Terri Chapman…………………………………..…..Custodian

PROGRAM DIRECTORS

Vance Wolverton……………………..Chancel Choir Director

Peggy Wolverton……………………………………. Organist

Mindy Barrett………………………Children’s Choir Director

Lynne & Paul Goodridge…….……….…Praise Band Leaders

Bob & Bonnie Handahl…..Adult Sunday School Coordinators

Shawn Honnerlaw...Children’s Sunday School Superintendent

Nancy Mlinarik……Children’s Sunday School Superintendent