There it hangs, just slightly up and to the left, above my computer, an unobtrusive looking sign with an intrusive message, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” Just because it has a pale blue background and a blue country ribbon doesn’t mean that it isn’t jolting. Because, the thing is, both God’s will and God’s grace invade our all too comfortable world space. In addition, our concept of where the will of God leads us is further complicated by the jumble of ideas about what God’s will is. Some people think that the will of God means, “Keep the Ten Commandments”. Of course, it does mean that. God didn’t add “if it suits you” or “this rule optional” to the Commandments. But Jesus describes keeping the Commandments as, “Love God with all your heart and soul and mind and your neighbor as I love them”. Now we are in that intrusive place, a place that unsettles our self-interest. Not only that, the word for love is agape, the Greek word for unconditional, forgiving, self-giving love. God’s grace does not allow us to imagine that all God requires of us is that we keep rules. We must also love unconditionally and we can only do that with and through God’s grace.

Some think (or at least watching their behavior indicates that they think) that the will of God is to punish wrong-doers. Yet Jesus said from the cross, “Father, forgive them.” Once again, intrusive. Apparently it is God’s will that we should live in and through forgiveness by allowing God to forgive us and by forgiving others. We all know how hard it is to forgive and to accept forgiveness. Once again, intrusive, unsettling to our perfect right to carry a grudge and get even, unsettling to our wallowing in old sins. And once again, we can only live in both parts of forgiveness through grace.

We live in a world of un-grace. No wonder we live in a world that seems to have so little regard for God’s will. We just cannot have the one without the other. Perhaps the best way to understand these concepts is to center on Jesus’ way of living out God’s will. Jesus knows that God’s will is that the gift of salvation would come to humanity. He also knows that for that to happen he (Jesus) must die. His prayer in the garden that “this cup might pass” but that “God’s will would be done” is a powerful image for understanding God’s will and the grace that God gives to live in it. Jesus’ poignant prayer is first of all recognition that even Jesus cannot dictate to God what God’s will should be. And second it is a plea for God’s help to make whatever he (Jesus) does fit into God’s agenda. In this way Jesus calls upon and employs grace to help him live in God’s will.

So stop imagining that you can tell God what is best (if like me you do that from time to time), and call upon the Lord for help to know and understand God’s will and the grace to live it!

By the way, please stay active in the church all summer. God doesn’t take a vacation from us!

PS: Just a small personal indulgence. On Easter morning someone gave me a beautiful vase of flowers. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to remember who it was. So, let me say “Please forgive me for forgetting! And thank you for the beautiful flowers.” (Oh, and by the way, please tell me who you are so I don’t have to wonder for the rest of my life who gave me those beautiful flowers.)

The summer worship schedule will begin on June 11 and run through September 3. The outdoor service (when weather permits) will be at 9:00 a.m., the indoor service at 11:00 a.m., and the contemporary service will move to 5:30 p.m. for this time period.

Confirmation marks the completion of the congregation’s program of confirmation ministry- a period of instruction in the Christian faith as confessed in the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Those who have completed this program were made members of the Church in Baptism. Confirmation includes a public profession of the faith into which the candidates were baptized, thus underscoring God’s reaction in their Baptism. Congratulations to our 2006 Confirmands: James Brann, Jr., Kacy Corbit, Kaitlyn Eichinger, Sarah Kuhse, Jordan Miller, Charles James (CJ) Schaffer, Joshua Smith, Maxelise Thorn, Richard Vando, and Ty Youtsey.

Vacation Bible School will be held June 19-23 from 5:30-8:3- p.m. We are in need of many volunteers to make the week successful. We are trying something new this year – serving dinner to all the kids. We need a crew to help make, serve, and clean up the meal. If you would like to donate your time or food to this, please let Nancy Mlinarik (344-1325), Terri Stinebruner (331-0226), or Rebecca Brode (331-4694) know. We also need volunteers to help with crafts, games, storytelling/drama, and worship.

Walk For Life June 4

New Hope Center’s 15^th Annual Walk For Life is Sunday, June 4 beginning at 4:00 p.m. New Hope Center will be partnering with area Life Coalition Partners in a peaceful walk across the Purple People Bridge. Walkers are needed to help raise funds for New Hope Center’s pregnancy care ministry. Contact Bonnie Handahl at 331-7137 or bhandahl@gloriadei-nky.org for more details on being a sponsor or a walker.

Please mark your calendars for the following Fellowship events!!

Golf Outing June 4^{th -} 3:00 p.m. This event is not just for golfers and includes a wonderful potluck dinner after golf at the Ebert Home right off the golf course. The cost is $22.50 for 9 holes with a cart. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the narthex or contact Paula Ebert at 525-7042.

Annual Church Picnic - Sunday, September 10 at President's Park in Edgewood. The Pavilion is reserved, the grills will be hot, so plan on bringing a covered dish and be ready for fun at this annual event for all ages. There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex, or contact Shawn Honnerlaw at 578-0293 or Jane Nichol at 586-7973 for information.

Fall Hayride - Fun fall activities for the whole family. Paint a pumpkin, hayride, s’mores, cider and more on Sunday October 21. Contact co-chairs Ed Budrick at 727-6543 or Shawn Honnerlaw at 578-0293 for more info and watch for the sign up sheet in the narthex later this summer..

All of the above activities need worker bees. If you can assist such as providing a corn hole set we can use at the picnic, please contact Jane Auge jauge@gloriadei-nky.org or one of the co-chairs of the events. We need your help to make all of the planned fellowship events the best they can be.

Please Share Your Anniversary Info

We’re trying to compile a list of anniversaries in the church office (month and day). Please call Debbie at 331-4694 or email her at office@gloriadei-nky.org with your information.

Birthday Party Project

The Social Ministry Committee has started a new project to provide birthday party supplies for the children living in the shelter housing at Welcome House in Covington. The shelter serves homeless women and children and allows them to live in the shelter for up to 3 months while the women are gathering the resources to enable them to be self-sufficient. If the children have a birthday while living in the shelter, the Welcome House staff would like to be able to celebrate the birthday. The Gloria Dei Social Ministry Committee would like to help them by collecting birthday party supplies like plates, napkins, cups, etc. and also small toys ($5-$15) that can be given as gifts. The children range in age from 0 to 12 and both boys and girls live in the shelter. If you can help with this project, please bring in your donations and place them in the Social Ministry collection box in the narthex.

Gloria Dei Seniors’ Events

Our Seniors are looking forward to Monday, June 12 when we are going to Hebron Lutheran Church for good food, fellowship, and entertainment by their Prime Timers. If you’re available to go with us, you don’t have to be a member or a senior- just someone who is looking for a good time.

June 21-22 there are twelve of us going on an overnight with MKL Tours to see the outdoor drama of “Johnny Appleseed”. There are a few rooms still available.

For more information on all of the above, call Charlotte Davis at 342-8883.

Memorial Contributions Update

The Memorial Fund has once again received donations from many generous people. Pastor’s Helping Hand has received donations from the following: Mary and Tom Chapin, Megan Bosma, Tina Smith, Betty Baker, Jan and Bill Schein, Russel and Shirley Wilmhoff in memory of Jim Stutzman and Stan and Kathy Watson in memory of Gordon Ebert. Marty and Tania Cronin donated to Social Ministry along with Curt and Kathy Wuellner in memory of Gordon Ebert. Worship and Music received donations from The Chancel Choir in memory in Gordon Ebert and Bernice Schmidt, Bert and Roselyn Lloyd, Charlotte Davis in memory of Jim Stutzman, and Paula and Mark Kiser in memory of Gordon Ebert. The undesignated area of the Memorial Fund received donations from Jim and Mary Beth Eichinger in memory of Gordon Ebert, Evelyn Fogarty in memory of Linda Sue Horton, Steve and Sara Kieffner in memory of Gordon Ebert, Wanda Edwards in memory of Gene Schmidt, and Fred and Kris Miller in memory of Gordon Ebert.

Martha Circle – will meet on Monday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Marsha Boese. Jean McCarter will co-host and give the devotions. Marsha will provide the program. Items to bring for the Women’s Crisis Center include paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, etc. For carpool info contact Jean at 331-8894.

Ruth Circle - will meet at 7:00 p.m. on June 8 for a cookout at the home of Jan and Duane Skavdahl. Drinks, dessert and meat will be provided. Please bring your spouses or a friend.

Mary Circle - will meet on Thursday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Esther Shaffer who will also have the program. Please bring items for United Ministries.

Hannah Circle – will be collecting donations for Welcome House including toys that are safe for kids 3 and under. They have a play kitchen without pots and pans or dishes and plastic food. They also need baby dolls. Please look around and see what you have to donate. For more information contact Terri Stinebruner at 331-0226.

The Finance Committee is pleased to report that the general fund is ahead of budget for the first four months of 2006. A comparison of certain key financial components is as follows:

Offerings were 1.4% better than budget and 3.0% better than the same period last year. April was a very strong giving month due to Holy Week and there were 5 Sundays in the month. Offerings for January, February, March, and so far in May were behind budget.

Spending was 11.3% less than budget, and 4.5% more than last year. The increase in spending over last year was primarily in the personnel and property discipleships.

The resulting positive surplus variance of $21,181 to budget is only $1119 (5.4%) behind last year, despite the budgeted increase in spending. This variance excludes the donation made to three organizations that equated to $6500 or 10% of the cash surplus generated in 2005.

The Church (including the preschool) is in the process of moving its banking relationship to the Bank of Kentucky. The Finance Committee requests that any Church groups that have a separate banking account at another bank, kindly consider changing their relationship to the Bank of Kentucky (Crestview Hills branch) to obtain the Church’s reduced pricing and for better oversight by the Finance Committee. Any new bank checking account and/or credit card issued on behalf of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church needs to be approved by the Finance Committee. Some Bank of Kentucky banking products may be available to Gloria Dei members at a group discount. Any inquires should be directed to Lisa Hedrick, manager of the Crestview Hills branch. Thank you.

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:

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 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.

From The Pastor,

Please mark your calendars for the following Fellowship events!!

Memorial Contributions Update

SUNDAY SERVICES

GLORIA DEI NEWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

CHURCH STAFF

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