I recently bought a book about living a Sabbath life. I haven’t even read it yet but already, I am feeling the draw of the book. It caught my eye because I know how much we need Sabbath in our lives, corporately and personally. Many of us come to worship, spend an hour with God and then find it difficult to find other time in our week for the quiet step that moves our life into the sacred. That is unfortunate because we have such a need for the sacred, especially in this day and time when so little is held as sacred.

You’ll know what I mean if you think about the last time you were shopping or walking down the street and heard the Lord’s name used. Chances are pretty good that it wasn’t used in a sacred way. More likely it was used as a swear word or an expression of frustration. I am always astonished at how easily the Lord’s name is used in non-sacred ways on television, in movies, in our day-to-day life, and in print. And if the misuse of the Lord’s name doesn’t convince you that we need more sacred in our lives, think about all of the many places that people meet to gather. Most of them are not sacred places. Even some churches don’t “feel” sacred in their design (allowing for individual preferences).

All of this brings me to share my gratitude for life here at Gloria Dei. There are many wonderful things here, among them, a sense of reverence and attention to the sacred. I am, for example, most grateful for the musicians, the choir and all of you who work and participate in the worship. We all manage to have fun, enjoy one another’s company, set aside our differences and still treat what we are doing in worship as sacred. I was particularly moved on Maundy Thursday when some members of the choir suggested that the best appreciation we could give for the beautiful pieces that they were going to sing was to observe a moment of silence. In fact, that was so moving to me that I would like to suggest that that be our usual appreciative response to the choir. It would tell the choir how much our worship is enhanced by their ministry as well as give us a few moments to reflect and to thank God for the insights that their music and the work that they do to prepare it give. I had the same powerful experience of the sacred on Good Friday. Several people shared with me that the nailing cross was a very powerful experience for them. Not only was it moving for me to listen to the nailings at the end of the service, but even more sacred was the time, after the service, that two others and I sat on the floor in front of the cross and carefully and quietly removed the nails, one at a time, and then held them in the palm of our hands and prayed for whoever it was who had nailed that nail. And then there was Easter, a reminder that reverence and attention to the sacred can be quiet and disarming as it was during Holy Week or it can be exuberant with trumpets and loud singing as it was on Easter.

I invite you to help enhance the sense of the sacred in our midst. Join me in making May a month of special prayers for the life-blessing and sacred presence of the Holy Spirit to be upon Gloria Dei, all of her ministries and all of her people.

Easter Breakfast A Big Success

This year our Easter Breakfast was one of the best attended we have ever had. The Men’s Group served 136 people, and made a profit of $242. Coupled with funds from Thrivent, this will enable us to bring the marionette show to Gloria Dei and to support the Angel Tree Ministry.

We once again received many compliments on the breakfast. Thanks to all who came. Our thanks also to everyone who helped in the planning, setting up, cooking, serving and cleaning up for this event. They include Len and Andrea Hegna, Dave and Mary Anne Hanson, Garry and Nona Hanson, Ed Budrick, Jim Eason, John and Dylan Ables, Bob Handahl, Erik Hanson, Jim and A.J. Bianchi, Warren Cato and Shawn Honnerlaw.

Golfers – We Need You!

Interfaith Hospitality Network’s 3^rd Annual Golf Outing will take place at A.J. Jolly Golf Course on Friday, May 12. You and 39 other fanatical golfers will tee off at dawn to play 100 holes of golf. Proceeds will benefit IHN of Northern Kentucky. Golfers get lots of golf goodies and the reward of doing something fun that benefits homeless children their families.

Interested? Please contact Donna Kimball at 356-3480 or the INH office at 431-6840 for more details.

It’s Time To Make A New Photo Directory!

Gloria Dei will be creating a new picture directory of its membership this year. Please mark your calendars for the project launch dates. We will be scheduling photo appointments August 21 - 31. Monday- Friday from 3:00-9:00 .m. and Saturday from 1:00 a.m. – 5:00 .pm.

National Day of Prayer

On Thursday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m., Gloria Dei will host its second-annual National Day of Prayer service, led by Pastor Vicki and the Prayer Group.

Days of prayer have been called for since 1775 when the Continental Congress designated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. In 1863, President Lincoln called for such a day.

The National Day of Prayer was established as an annual event in 1952 by a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Truman. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the national day of prayer.

We petition God on behalf of our leaders and those who are in authority over us, as we are instructed to do in 1 Timothy 2:1-2. As we humbly come before the Lord and seek His face, we pray our leaders will be granted divine wisdom, guidance and strength to fulfill their important roles.

Fellowship News

The Fellowship Committee will meet on Wednesday, May 24 at 7:00 p.m. at church. Anyone who is interested in helping with the Golf Outing, Church Picnic, or Fall Hayride is welcome and encouraged to come and take part in the planning. If there are questions, contact Jane Auge at 344-0419. Each event has a chairperson but we do need “worker bees”. Thanks!

Mulch Distribution Festival May 6

Saturday, May 6 from 8:30 a.m. till 12:00 noon we’ll get together to pull weeds, spread mulch, and perform other gardening tasks to maintain our beautiful church grounds. Please bring garden tools (pitch forks or scoop for mulch and leaf/garden rakes). Pizza and drinks will be provided for everyone who volunteers at noon. RSVP to Craig Bluemlein at craigblue@hotmail.com or 2505058.

Archives Project Being Initiated

The Communications Committee will soon be gathering old photos, slides, movies, and memorabilia of the history of Gloria Dei. Until we designate an area for our Archival Project, we would like to ask those who have these historical materials and would like to donate them to the church, to start identifying the people in the photos by name and date - being VERY CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE THE PHOTOS. You will also need to enclose your name and number along with your archives.

This will be a long-term project, but we would like to have a nice collection organized and presentable for our 25th Anniversary next year!

We need help from those who can identify people in these photos. To volunteer your time and knowledge, please call Bette Wappner at 342-9771 or email: bettewappner@fuse.net.

News from Church Women United

The Church Women United May Friendship Dinner will be hosted by Immanuel United Methodist Church on May 5 at 6:00 p.m. at a cost of $10 per person. The theme is “Signs of Growth”. Call Charlotte Davis at 342-8883 for more information.

WELCA Circle News

Mary Circle – invites you to the home of Ruth Paulis for their next meeting on Thursday, May 18, at 7:00 p.m. Please call 331-1484 for directions or a ride. Come for fun and fellowship

Ruth Circle - will be meeting on Thursday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. at church for the National Day of Prayer service. Our regular meetings will resume in June.

Hannah Circle – will meet on Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Indigo’s Restaurant in Ft. Mitchell. The service project will be a pasta drive for United Ministries.

Martha Circle- will meet on Monday, May 22 at the home of Sara Kieffner. Lynn Demi will co-host and give the devotions. Paula Ebert will have the program. Items to bring for the Women’s Crisis Center include deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.

Thank You to all the WELCA circles who prepared the varied and tasty dinners each week of the Lenten season. I felt this was the best group of different and well-prepared meals we could have possibly desired. There was really something delicious for everyone. Thanks to each and every Circle member who contributed their talents and time.

Thanks also to all of you who dined with us each week. The dinner money is a major source of income for the WELCA Board and allows us to support the special activities here at church.

Finally, a special thank you to Len Hegna and all the wonderful people he recruited to set up the tables and chairs in the fellowship area for each of the dinners. This has been a real dream come true to have the room all set up when the ladies arrive. Thanks to you, Len, and your great assistants. We did appreciate!

-WELCA Board

The summer service schedule will begin on June11 and run through September 3. The normal outdoor service will begin at 9:00 a.m., the indoor morning service will be held at 11:00 a.m., and the Contemporary service will move to 5:30 PM for the summer.

Adult Education News

In our last two sessions of the school year on May 7 and 14, we will have a presentation by Debby Rieselman on the similarities and differences of the Lutheran and Catholic faiths. Be sure to join us each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in the Conference Room to learn more about your faith.

May Youth & Family Events

2^nd Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Boarders

4^th High School Bible Study, 7pm at Panera

5^th-6^th 8^th-12^th grade Retreat

- Meet at the church at 8pm on Friday night

- We will be heading to Potter’s Ranch all day Saturday

7^th Confirmation, 6:30pm

- Dinner and fellowship with families

9^th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Boarders

11^th High School Bible Study, 7pm at Panera

12^th Youth Game and Movie Night, 7-10pm

- For youth in elementary school

13^th Family Ministry Hiking, 1-4pm

- Meet at the main entrance of Big Bone Lick State Park

- Bring water and outdoor toys

16^th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Boarders

18^th Youth to set up for Tex-Mex dinner, 6pm

- Dinner will be provided

19^th Tex-Mex Fundraising Dinner and Auction, 6-8pm

- Youth will be auctioned off for service

- Themed baskets to be raffled

20^th Middle/High School Bowling, 7-9pm

- Meet at the Super Bowl

21^st Confirmation Sunday, 11am service

- reception to follow

23^rd Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Boarders

25^th High School Bible Study, 7pm at Panera

28^th Younger Youth Pizza and Ice Cream Party, 12:30pm-2:30pm

- Bring your favorite pizza and ice cream topping

30^th Young Adult Gathering, 7pm at Boarders

Tex-Mex Dinner

May 19^th 2006 6-8pm

- Raffling Themed Baskets

- Youth Services to be Auctioned

- Yummy Food

*Help support our youth going to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in San Antonio

Volunteers for May

8:30 Service	May 7	May 14	May 21	May 28
Acolyte	Matthew See	Ashley Raney	Katie Stinebruner	Sarah Kuhse
Lay Assistant	Dan Zuziak	Jim Bianchi	Mary Chapin	Kelli Sittason
Reader	Rhonda Zuziak	Doug Wolff	Tom Chapin	Dan Zuziak
Ushers	Jack Mitchell Carole Gray	A.J. Bianchi Nan Swanson	Mike Nicol Jane Nicol	Todd Kuhse Harold Sauser
Communion Assistants	Paula Kiser	Ginny Huenniger	Donna Lancaster	Rhonda Zuziak
Visitor Hosts	Don Frey Arlene Frey	Bob Johnson Judy Johnson	Erv Moses Jane Moses	Miriam Gerlach

9:45 Service	May 7	May 14	May 21	May 28
Reader	Ramathal Hansel	Donna Lancaster	Bob Tubesing	Margaret Berwanger
Ushers	Jean McCarter Roger Auge	Geneva Reimer Peggy Fisher	Nan Swanson KJoan Rylee	Barry Dick Emily Baker
Communion Assistants	Sue Schmidt Peggy Fisher	Joan Rylee Jane Auge	Leslie Barrows Peggy Fisher	Nan Swanson Jane Auge

11:00 Service	May 7	May 14	May 21	May 28
Acolyte	Kelsey Middleton Kacy Corbit	William Wadsworth	Ellen Wappner Drew Freyberger	Ty Youtsey Justin Youtsey
Lay Assistant	Debby Rieselman	John Middleton	Bob Tubesing	Clyde Middleton
Reader	Lisa Huddleston	Kathy Wuellner	Bob Tubesing	Ellen Young
Children’s Sermon	Pastor Vicki	Gail Cato	Rebecca Brode	Bob Tubesing
Ushers	Andrea Hegna Len Hegna Ron Holcomb Lynn Holcomb	Don Shattuck Leslie Barrows Suzanne Spicer Susan Bunnell	Tod Kuhse Steve Kieffner Herb Wedig Mitch Boese	Jane Nicol Mike Nicol Karen Miller Ed Huddleston
Communion Assistants	Linda Geisselbrecht Zandra Hoppe	Claudia Miller Chris Mehling	Doug Ebert Paula Ebert	Lisa Huddleston Jim Eason
Visitor Hosts	Gail Cato Warren Cato	Susan Thornton Ched Thornton	Mary Middleton Sue Schmidt	Dick Mueller Christy Lorenz
Nursery Attendant	Sandy Tubesing	Sam Skavdahl	Karen Miller	Jennifer Ables
Children’s Church	Sharon Frondorf	Lisa Miller Valerie Goldston	Jennifer Simpson Rebecca Brode	Lynn Holcomb Sharon Frondorf
Counters	Steve Kieffner Clyde Middleton	Christy Lorenz Tina Smith	Christy Lorenz Tina Smith	Joy Shattuck Paula Kiser

5:30 Service	May 7	May 14	May 21	May 28
Lay Assistant	Jane Ellen Jarrell	Ashley Brown	Sam Skavdahl	Mary Chapin
Reader/Communion Assistant	Donna Lancaster	Linda Geisselbrecht	Donna Kimball	Tom Chapin
Visitor Host	Steve Kieffner	Esther Shaffer	Jan Schein	Adam Green
Music	Sara Kieffner	Rebekka Butler	Bill Schein
Altar	Walda Helvie	Walda Helvie	Walda Helvie	Walda Helvie

WOW! Twenty-five Gloria Dei Seniors and friends are going to the Stained Glass Theater in Newport, KY to see the production of "Enchanted Garden" with dinner at Green Derby on Friday May 12th. The more, the merrier and this is a merry group. June 21-22 another merry group will be going on an over-nighter with MKL Tours to Northern Ohio for their outdoor drama of 'Johnny Appleseed'. It's not too late to join us. Call Charlotte Davis at 342-8883 for more information.

On Thursday, May 25, 2006 many denominations will observe the Ascension of Christ. The day focuses on the account given in Acts 1: 6-11. In that passage we read that Christ told his friends that they would be receiving the Holy Spirit and the experience would give them the power to be his witnesses. Afterward, he was “lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9).

1. The risen Christ is not with us physically, but wherever we are, Christ’s spirit is present as our guide and strength.

3. The Resurrection and the Ascension are conclusive proof that Jesus is Lord and King. He has defeated sin and death, and lives forever as our companion, supporter, friend, and Savior.

College student, Ben Kieffner, is available for hire this summer doing yard clean-up, mulching, mowing, odd jobs etc. Please call him at 250-9950 or 341-5131.

My sister, Pat Mehling and I, as well as are respective families, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Gloria Dei family and friends for all of the kind wishes, prayers and memorials that were offered during the recent passing of our father, Gordon Ebert. It was truly a demonstration of the love and concern that is characteristic of this congregation. We offer our prayers of thanks for this outpouring of support in our time of mourning.

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.

Easter Breakfast A Big Success

Golfers – We Need You!

It’s Time To Make A New Photo Directory!

Fellowship News

Mulch Distribution Festival May 6

Archives Project Being Initiated

News from Church Women United

Adult Education News

Volunteers for May

SUNDAY SERVICES

GLORIA DEI NEWS

CHURCH STAFF

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