June 2007

Ah Spring! Green is bursting out all around us! Have you noticed that spring seems to capture all of the senses? The colors are a feast for the eyes, the fresh smells delight the nose, the grass and flowers feel plush and soft, the birds make music that soothe the ear, and there are many fresh tastes as life renews itself. Spring gives most of us a sense of renewal. The ancient Hebrews knew that it should do that. They saw spring as proof that God was still with them, for spring always follows winter. God made life to be renewed.

Which leads me to ask, “How are you renewing your faith today?” The renewal that God built into the creation—God also desires for you. Each one of us was made with a need and a desire for God’s presence and without it; we will always have a sense of emptiness in our soul.

As I look around the world I see a lot of people with an aching emptiness in their souls. In some people it is obvious, they simply don’t care about God and they don’t care that they don’t care. They live for themselves and then wonder why they are lonely. They do whatever they want without even feeling bad about it, without feeling anything for that matter.

But there are also those for whom the cause of the ache is less obvious. They don’t always know that God is what’s missing; they just think to themselves that there must be something more. Perhaps they are so busy that they never have time to pray or spend time with God or reflect on what really matters. Perhaps they worry so much that they never quite get to the place of trusting God. Perhaps they value things that won’t really make them happy. And then they drift. They start thinking that faith isn’t important, maybe a drink will make them feel better; that God doesn’t care, maybe sleeping with a stranger will make them feel cared for; that there are no answers to the emptiness within, so why try.

Not only that, but the world doesn’t make it easy for us to turn to God. This week I heard about a cartoon that was left on the Xerox machine at a woman’s office. The cartoon depicted a man lying on the couch talking to a psychiatrist. When the psychiatrist asked the patient what his problem was the patient confided that he had all kinds of fears about the future. "Doctor," he began, "I'm worried about the energy crisis, inflation, the situation in the Middle East, political and social upheaval in Africa, our diplomatic relations with China." In the final frame the psychiatrist responded, "Shut up and move over," after which he proceeded to get on the couch with the patient.

The treasure of the church is that it is a place where we are invited to examine the emptiness and fears and lack of peace in our lives and in the lives of others around us and to hear the truth of Jesus, the one and only one who can actually fill the emptiness, defeat our fears, and bring us peace. So let me be the first to invite you to stay close to the church all through the spring and summer, after all, its time for renewal.

- That their hearts will be touched with the stories and experiences they have here.

-We safely arrive and depart from Ft. Wayne, and that Christ lead their hearts towards leadership of our Synod.

Paige Miller, Michalah Thorn, Matt Miller, Drew Freyberger, Justin Youtsey, Logan Spicer, Josh Lorenz, Adam Nicol, Brendon Vando, Clay Huddleston, Derek Smith, Callie Budrick, Jack Grimm, Mckayl Barrows, Ellen Wappener

- We safely arrive and depart from Lutheran Hills and that the experience brings them closer to Christ.

- We arrive and depart safely and that their minds and hearts are open to God’s call.

The summer worship schedule will begin on June 3 with a casual, contemporary outdoor service at 9:00 a.m. Bring your lawn chairs and sunglasses. The traditional liturgy will be offered at 11:00 a.m. and a relaxed, contemplative service at 5:30 p.m. Communion will be offered at all three services.

Committee Meeting Night Is June 4

Council members and Discipleship Chairs will meet at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Discipleship committee members will join them at 7:15 p.m. for their respective Discipleship meetings. Babysitting will be provided if necessary. Please contact the office at 331-4694 if needed.

Starting June 3 Pastor Vicki will lead a book study on Graham Tomlin’s “Luther and His World” on Sunday mornings from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Copies of the book are available in the church office for $10.00 each.

The Power of Prayer

“Whatever I ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (John 16:23)

Are you truly satisfied with your prayer life? Do you spend time in the Lord’s presence on a daily basis? What prevents you from making prayer the lifeline to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? What things and activities keep you from “praying without ceasing?”

These thoughts are at the heart of the following excerpt, Jesus’ Prayer Program, from “HOPE FOR EACH DAY, Words of Wisdom and Faith” by Billy Graham. In it, he tells us:

“One of the most amazing things in all the Scriptures is how much time Jesus spent in prayer.

He had only three years of public ministry, yet He was never too hurried to spend hours in prayer. He prayed before every difficult task confronting Him. He prayed with regularity---not a day began or closed in which He did not unfold His soul before His Father.

How quickly and carelessly, by contrast, we pray. Snatches of memorized verses are hastily spoken in the morning; then we say good-bye to God for the rest of the day, until we rush through a few closing petitions at night.

This is not the prayer program that Jesus outlined. Jesus pleaded long and repeatedly. It is recorded that He spent entire nights in fervent appeal. No one could have been busier---but He was never too busy for prayer.

What keeps you from making prayer a priority in your schedule?”

Information Needed for Gloria Dei’s 25th Anniversary

The Communications Discipleship has begun collection 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!

Simple Giving®

Would you find it helpful to have your offerings taken from your bank savings or checking account as you do other electronic funds transfers at no cost to the congregation? Thrivent Financial for Lutherans sponsors a program called Simply Giving®, which offers this safe and convenient service for people who wish to have offerings transferred electronically to their church’s account on a weekly, semi-monthly or monthly basis. If you have questions or would like to participate in the Simple Giving® program, please call Paula Ebert at 525-7042.

Comings and Goings

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

My passion in helping to alleviate World Hunger has opened up many more doors for me. In order to alleviate World Hunger, many other social justice issues also need to be addressed. In September 2000, all Member States of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration, agreeing to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and cut poverty in half by the year 2015. The Millennium Development Goals are as follows:

One thing I did this month was to buy 6 string bags that I use at the grocery to alleviate my use of plastic bags. Go on-line and check out “Alternatives for Simple Living”. The web site is: www.simpleliving.org. They have a great catalog of products and information. They will have a display at the Global Mission Event at The Ohio State University in Columbus on July 21st.

In the months to come I would like to discuss more ways to live simply so that others may simply live. Let me know what you are doing at your household. We can make this an interactive column. walda.helvie@fuse.net or 859-344-0103.

Thank you to all who supported the New Hope Center's Walk for Life. Between your generous gifts and funds from Thrivent we raised $1,233. Thanks go to those who walked: Bonnie and Bob Handahl, Lynn Colomb and Holly Handahl.

Mark your calendars and get your golf clubs ready! The Golf Outing will be held on Sunday, June 24 with tee times starting at 3:00 at Boone Links Golf Course. After golf, everyone is welcome for food and fellowship at the home of Doug and Paula Ebert. Their condo is conveniently located on the Boone Links Golf Course. Signups for golf and dinner will be at the church. Hope to see you there!

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 action in the baptism. Congratulations to our 2007 confirmands: Felicia Johns, Nicole Mlinarik, Ashley Raney, Matthew See, Ryan Stivers, Laura Sullenbarger, and Ellen Wappner.

       Through April we trailed last years contributions by $3000 and trailed budget. However by May 13th we had made up this shortfall and collected $185,955 versus a budget of $183,825.
       Thanks to all who helped us by fulfilling their pledges and bringing us up to date. The summer months are traditionally slow. Please help us out by giving in advance of your vacations either through the Sunday collections or mailing them in.
       For easy hard to forget payment plans, please contact Paula Ebert for direct deductions from your checking account.

We have been researching the square footage basis of our insurance costs and have discovered some long standing errors, which should bring down our future expenses.

Martha Circle –will meet on Monday, June 25 at 6:45 p.m. at church to carpool to the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption for a tour at 7:00 led by Ralph Kunkemoeller. After the tour we will go to Reality Tuesday for desserts, a brief business meeting, and socializing. We’d like to invite all ladies of Gloria Dei to join us for the evening. Please RSVP at Lisa Miller at 331-8655 so we know how many to plan for.

Mary Circle – will meet on Thursday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Ginny Huenniger. Ginny was on a recent trip to Germany and will have an interesting program.

Hannah Circle – will meet on Thursday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Oriental Wok on Buttermilk Pike.

Ladies! Don’t let free money go down the drain! WELCA needs to open 1000 new accounts with Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA in order to receive $25,000 for the WELCA Triennial Convention being held in Salt Lake City in 2008. Many of us can afford a $25 investment- that’s all it takes to open an account. You never have to put in another cent, you earn interest, you can get your money out whenever you want, AND you help build churches in the meantime. How about it ladies? Will you help? Call Joy Shattuck at 344-0527 for more information.

The ladies of Martha Circle will be spearheading a project to provide desperately needed diapers made from tee shirts to hospitals in Honduras this summer. Large and extra large sized, used tee shirts will be needed. They can be any color and may have printed logos. Please go through your family’s supply of old tee shirts and bring them to church. There will be a collection box in the narthex. We will also be looking for sergers, sewing machines, scissors, and volunteers to assemble the diapers on Monday, August 27 at church. For more information, contact Val Eason at 344-6675.

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.

Many thanks to everyone for their healing thoughts and prayers, cards, flowers, meals and get well wishes during my by-pass surgery, hospitalization and recovery period. It was greatly appreciated.

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

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 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.

Information Needed for Gloria Dei’s 25th Anniversary

Comings and Goings

SUNDAY SERVICES

GLORIA DEI NEWS

CHURCH OFFICERS

CHURCH STAFF

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