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Newsletter of Gloria Dei Lutheran
Church
2718 Dixie Hwy.
Crestview Hills, KY 41017
October
, 2006
Volume XXIV, No. 10
From The Pastor,
The church
is in need of renewal. I don’t just mean here at Gloria Dei Lutheran
Church, although I can sense that we need renewal too, but I mean across the
board, all the way from individuals to Church-wide.
That’s the
unique and wonderful thing about being a Christian- it constantly requires
renewal. God simply didn’t make us in such a way that one religious experience
was enough for a lifetime. In fact, every religious experience that we have was
designed to touch us where we are at the time and to make us know the need of
more--even as it gives us the gift of satisfaction and a sense of well
being. That’s because religious experience and renewal are about
relationship with God. God made each one of us to desire more relationship
with God.
When we seek
relationship with something or someone ahead of God we call that
idolatry. And idolatry is never satisfying. If we seek money ahead of God, for
example, we are never completely satisfied. We may worry about whether or not
something can take it away from us. (By the way no one can take God away from
you because God holds you not the other way around.) Or we may worry that
we don’t quite have enough. (God knows how much of God you need and always gives
enough even if it doesn’t seem so at the time. God even knows when you need to
be in a spiritual dry spell.)
So how can
you (when I say that I mean myself as well so please hear the ‘you’ as ‘all
of us’) be renewed? I have some suggestions. Since renewal is about
relationship with God put yourself in places and activities
that focus on relationship with God. There are a number of things that the Lord
promised will renew you if you do them.
Worship
is one. If you aren’t already attending worship regularly make a commitment
to God and to yourself that you will come to at least one worship service
every week and then keep the commitment! (If you already attend regularly, try
more than one service each week for a time. Choose a “style” of worship that
doesn’t otherwise appeal to you but come not looking for what’s wrong with that
service but for some unique way that God will speak to you in the differences.)
And when you do come to worship, watch and listen for every way in which the
Lord is at work. Put a positive spin on things. Perhaps that crying child
isn’t a distraction but a reminder from God that new life buds up all around us
even in threatening times. Jesus promised to be present when we gather
so trust that he is there and watch and listen for him. Open your heart to the
music, the preaching, to every aspect of worship, not for whether or not it
entertains you or moves you but for the presence of the Living Christ. Reframe
things. For example, the Biblical word for Resurrection is a word that can also
mean “stand up”. So every time that we stand up let that be a small
Resurrection experience to you.
Prayer
is another gift for our renewal. Can you maintain any relationship without
speaking to the person? (I’m assuming that your answer will be “no”.) The same
is true with God. God promises to be present to us when we pray. If you don’t
pray because you don’t think you know how to pray we have prayer groups and
classes on prayer and Morning Prayer and individuals who would be very willing
to pray with you. Richard Foster says that the best way to learn to pray is to
pray. Just get started. Keep a list of prayer requests and once a month go
back and contemplate
the many requests that have been answered (even if it wasn’t what you thought
should have happened) and remember God knows better than you do what you really
need. If you don’t pray because you don’t have time then ask yourself what
takes up so much time that you don’t have time to pray. Whatever it is may well
be the source of your idolatry and the very thing that is keeping you away from
God.
Bible study
is another gift for renewal. The scripture
promises that when you study it, your faith will grow. Check out and attend any
one or all of the many Bible studies and Sunday School. What really is the
reason why any of us couldn’t be in church for at least two hours each week?
Giving
is another gift for renewal. If your faith is stagnant try increasing your
giving by 1% or 2% (or more) of your income. Doing that will help you to let go
of your tendency to make money more important than God. The same with
serving. Serving helps us to stop making ourselves the center. So try
plugging in to the many social ministry opportunities at Gloria Dei and in the
community.
Sharing the Gospel
with someone else also renews you and encourages the other person, and it has
the added benefit of renewing the church as well. Make a commitment to have at
least one conversation that is “God talk” every day. You can start at home and
expand as you go. Tell someone, anyone who will listen, what God has been doing
in your life! If you do, your faith will be renewed by the conversation.
Do all of the above.
You’ll be busy but then again what could be better than being busy for the Lord?
Relationship with the Lord gives life satisfaction and a sense of well-being.
Let’s be renewed! We can do it!
-Pastor Vicki
The Annual Congregational Meeting
is scheduled for November 12 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service (approx.
12:15 a.m.). All discipleship chairs need to submit their reports to Debbie
Hoydal by October 22, preferably by email to
kygloriadei@fuse.net. New council members and
synod representatives will be elected at the meeting. Brief bios of those
running are attached:
Jim Corbit
(Church Council)– Jim transferred to Northern Kentucky in August, 1988 from
Chicago with John Morrell & Company. He is currently the director of
ham/bacon/forecasting for Morrell. Jim is married to Patty and they have three
children, Cody, Kris, and Kacy. They have been members of Gloria Dei since
1988. Jim’s hobbies include fishing, cooking, and woodworking.
Don
Shattuck (Church Council)-
Don joined Gloria Dei with his wife, Joy, and three sons Steven, Scott and Mark
in September 1988 after moving into the area from Pennsylvania. He has worked
for Ticona in various management roles over the last 30 years. Don has been a
Lutheran his entire life. Since joining Gloria Dei he has served in many areas
of church life- on Church Council as head of the Property Committee; as a Sunday
School teacher; as a member of the Fellowship Committee; and currently as the
chairman of the Safety & Boundaries Committee. Don also sings in the chancel
choir; and assists in various worship services as communion assistant, usher,
and greeter. Don has served on two Long Range Task Forces; co-chaired the Bridge
to the Future Campaign that provided the funding for the expansion of the
fellowship hall and kitchen facilities.
Tracy Hurley
(Church Council- No bio was provided.
Bob Tubesing
(Synod Delegate)- Bob has been nominated to run
as our delegate again this year having served that position in 2005. No bio was
provided.
Jennifer Ables
(Church Council)- Jennifer has been employed as
an Internal Auditor at Argosy Casino and Hotel in Lawrenceburg, Indiana since
2002. Jennifer hopes to be able to serve the congregation for a second term on
the Church Council by bringing new ideas to the table and to help be a visionary
leader of the church. Jennifer has been a disciple for Gloria Dei for 17 years.
For the last 3 years she has served as Council secretary and Council liaison to
the Discipleship of Nominating Committee. Some of her involvement at Gloria Dei
includes Sunday School teacher, VBS volunteer, Children’s Church, nursery
attendant, lay assistant, usher, and reader. She is a proud parent of her
two-year-old daughter, Macey Marie. In her free time she enjoys reading,
spending time with her friends and daughter, and shopping.
Kelli Sittason
(Church Council) – no bio was provided.
Steve Kieffner
(Church Council)- along with his wife, Sara, and
children Brittany and Ben, Steve has been a member of Gloria Dei since 1985.
Steve has served on Church Council the past three years, as well as for two
years back in the late 1980’s. He has also served as the church treasurer. He
has been the vice president of the congregation and liaison to the Discipleship
of Finance for the past two years and previously was the Chair of the
Discipleship of Worship and Music. In addition to his involvement on Council,
Steve has been active in ushering, counting the offerings, the development of
the Safety and Boundaries policy, and serving on the Feasibility Task Force for
the renovation project. Steve, a former bank executive, now operates his own
business transition consulting company. Steve is running for Council again to
further his leadership commitment and provide continuity to the new organization
structure.
Walda Helvie
(Synod Delegate)- Walda has been a member of Gloria Dei for 5 ½ years serving on
the Altar Guild, Education, and Nurturing Committees. She visits shut-ins and
members living in nursing homes and is a founding member of the Friendship Bible
class. She has served as the chairman of our conference council and attended
the 2005 convention as Gloria Dei’s delegate.
 Coming
October 21 is the Family Fall Hayride at Mullens' Farm. All ages are invited for
this fun, harvest event. A sign up sheet is posted in the narthex. Please
contact event co-chairs Len Hegna at 859-282-1768 and Ed Budrick at 859-727-6543
for more information. If you would like to lend your help with this event, we
would love to have it!
Adult Education News
In October, we will study two sections of the
video series “Jesus, the New Way.”
The first
program is entitled “Announcing the Kingdom: Startling Surprises.” Jesus’
healings were symbolic. They were the actions that formed the focus of His
kingdom announcement. They were concrete deeds that said: this is where the
kingdom of God is coming, and this is what it looks like. The Sermon on the
Mount was a challenge to Jesus’ hearers to be the true Israel, the light of the
world. He summoned several hearers to give up all and come with Him. Some He
commissioned to share in the work of announcing the kingdom.
Our next section is called “Longing for a
King.” Did Jesus really believe He was the Messiah? What did first-century
Jews mean when they talked of a Messiah? This program looks at His teachings
and actions which affirm that, yes, He believes He is God’s Messiah. They also
underline His belief that He will be vindicated over His oppressors.
Join us on Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in the new
classrooms in Fellowship Hall to learn about Jesus, the New Way.
Don’t forget to set your clocks BACK ONE HOUR on
Saturday, October 28 before you go to bed. Otherwise, you’ll be an hour
early FOR CHURCH!
Friendship Bible Class
The Friendship Bible Class will begin again
on Thursday, October 19 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. If you know of a mentally
handicapped adult (ages 18 and older) who could participate in our group please
contact Walda Helvie at 344-0103. Volunteers are also needed. It is an
uplifting learning and worship experience for all.
 Gloria
Dei Men's Group Hike
OK all you GDLC men...it's that time of year once again to dust off
those hiking boots, fill up those water bottles, and head on down to the
beautiful Red River Gorge to enjoy a day of superb fall hiking and fellowship.
We will be hiking on Saturday, October 28 (the last Saturday in
October)...leaving church around 7:00 a.m. and returning after 6:00 p.m. The
current plan is to: come fed, car pool down, hike, bring your own lunch to eat
on the trail, devotion on the trail, another short hike to a beautiful overlook
and then dinner on the way home at the famous Caintuckee Diner in Winchester.
Look for the sign up sheet
in the narthex of the church and be sure to include your email address and
phone number for future updates. Hope you are able to make it- a good time
will be had by all!
News From Our Seniors
Historic
Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum 'a museum without walls' is one of the top
tourist attractions in Greater Cincinnati and GUESS WHAT?! The Gloria Dei
Seniors will be touring Spring Grove on Tuesday October 17th at 11 A.M. We have
reserved a guide and the tram so we don't have to walk. Please go with us.
Call Charlotte Davis at 342-8883 and let her know you want to go. This should be
an exciting time.
 Ladies,
mark your calendar for the yearly women’s retreat at St. Anne’s in Melbourne.
The dates are Friday evening March 9 and Saturday, March 10. We begin with
Dinner at about 5:00 p.m. and end shortly after lunch about 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday. We do spend the night at St. Anna’s in our own small private room.
It is a relaxed atmosphere with meaningful fellowship and getting to know each
other better. This is a great time to bring a friend or relative (daughter,
sister, mom, aunt, in-laws, or others). If you have questions ask most any
female member; they have probably gone before. For more specifics, contact
Geneva Reimer, Marjorie Mueller, or Susan Schmidt.
WELCA Circle News
Martha Circle-
will meet on Monday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Linda Byrne. Joy
Shattuck will co-host and give the devotions. Lisa Miller will present the
program. We always enjoy visitors- if you’ve never joined a circle and would
like to see what we’re all about- please join us! Call Jean McCarter at
331-8894 for car pool information.
Mary Circle-
will meet on Thursday, October 19 at the home of Delores Cox, 4287 Richardson
Road. Please call 37l-3220 for directions or a ride. Gail Cato will have an
interesting program. Come and join us!
Ruth Circle
- will meet on Thursday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m. at Bonnie Handahl's home. This
is our annual baby shower. Bring a gift for our 'babies'. Donations will be
given to New Hope, a local center for teen/young adult pregnancies. Dessert &
drinks will be provided. Sue Thornton will have devotions. It is great fun to
ohhhh and ahhhh over the baby items. Come join us! Call Bonnie at 331-7137
for directions.
Hannah Circle
- will meet at Bucca Di Beppo at Rookwood at 7:00 p.m. We will be collecting
Winter Coats.
More News From Hannah Circle…
This August Hannah Circle worked with Welcome
House to redecorate and restock the playroom at the homeless shelter. Over the
course of three very warm nights on the third floor, the women of Hannah Circle
transformed the playroom from a depressing room with only a few dilapidated
toys, to a bright, inviting space with lots of new and gently used toys for the
children. A special thanks to Sharon Frondorf who secured donations, designed
the theme, sewed the curtains and oversaw all of the work. Thanks also to all
the Hannah Circle members who helped clean, paint and donate toys. The
children's books collected during Vacation Bible School were also brought to the
Welcome House playroom. Thanks to all the VBS families who donated books.
Hannah Circle plans to keep this as an ongoing project and to touch up the
paint, clean and replace toys as needed.
A Friend of My Own
The Social Ministry Committee along with Hannah
Circle would like to befriend the children of Welcome House. Throughout the
month of October, we will be collecting new dolls, trucks and stuffed
animals in the $5-$10 range. These will be donated to the children of
Welcome House. Because of limited space, when new families come to the homeless
shelter at Welcome House, they are allowed to bring very few possessions with
them. Their children have nothing of their own during this difficult time of
transition and upheaval. Through this new program, A Friend of My Own, each
child will be given a doll, truck or stuffed animal that will be theirs to keep
even when they leave Welcome House. If you would like to help, please place a
donation in the green Social Ministry collection box throughout the month of
October.
 For
the October UNITED MINISTRY SHOPPING CART we will be collecting laundry
detergent, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and
diapers.
A Change of Name…
Nominating Discipleship is now called Spiritual
Gifts Discipleship!
 In
order to clarify responsibilities, the Spiritual Gifts Discipleship will manage
the Time and Talent Survey. Using the data from this survey will enable this
discipleship to make recommendations for Chairs and committee members. In
compliance with the bylaws, the Nominating Committee will be comprised of six
voting members of our congregation, two of which shall be outgoing members of
the Church Council in order to seek Church Council nominees.
As you are
contemplating your Stewardship commitment this fall, we are also asking you to
contemplate how you are using your Spiritual Gifts. In order to efficiently and
effectively run any organization, many volunteers are needed. We volunteer our
time and energy to serve the one that loves us most - our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. He has blessed each of us a hundredfold - how can we return His
generous bounty? Just look at the Time and Talent Survey - there are so many
opportunities to serve Him during our church services, congregational functions
and our community. Because we now have four services we need additional
volunteers in almost all aspects. Please take a few moments to complete or
update the Time and Talent survey that is posted online or you can find a copy
in the narthex.
Let us all do our part: volunteer, commit, be a
trustworthy servant and steward for Christ!
Angel Tree Report
This month we will receive the names of 50
children for Angel Tree. All children receive two gifts, each costing $15-20.
It is such a joy to see the happiness on their faces as they get Christmas gifts
from their mom or dad in prison. In this way, those involved are sharing
Christ’s love with the prisoner parent and the child. If you would like to be
part of Angel Tree, contact Bonnie Handahl at bbhand@fuse.net or 331-7137.
Reprinted from the regional
Prison Fellowship News and written by Bonnie Handahl:
KENTUCKY CHURCH RESPONDS: A LIFE IS BEING
RESTORED!
"I gave my family autographed photos of Martha
Stewart and it didn't mean a thing to them. What was special to them were the
gifts Angel Tree® brought. When I talked to them, my youngest child went on and
on about the gift he had gotten from me."
Those words were spoken at our annual church
women's banquet by Kathy Knox who was in prison at the same facility as Martha
Stewart. She was even released on the same day, except that Martha went out the
front gate amid the flashes of press photographers while Kathy was quietly
ushered out a side door. As Kathy said, "Martha flew home; I took the bus!"
My husband was part of the Angel Tree team that
delivered gifts to Kathy's children. He sent her a Christmas card afterwards
telling her about the visit with her family. She sent a thank-you note, and when
she got out of prison and returned to our area, she called to thank us again.
She was staying with her brother who lived only a couple of miles from us. We
invited her to church and said we would pick her up and take her with us. That
was the beginning of our friendship.
When she moved into her own efficiency
apartment, my women's group from church helped furnish it with dishes, pots and
pans, linens, decorations, etc.
When Kathy was hospitalized, one of our members
spent the hours in the ER with her. We visited her in the hospital, took her
home when she was discharged and helped her with the cost of her medicines.
At our church's annual women's banquet I spoke
about Angel Tree®. Kathy attended the dinner as our guest. Most of the women
only knew I had met her through Angel Tree®. After I finished speaking, Kathy
told the women she had been one of the prisoner parents. She told how much the
gifts had meant and how the Christmas card had cheered her.
Our entire church has become involved with Angel
Tree®. The women purchase gifts at Christmas and the men hold a fundraiser. They
also have a chili sale on Super Bowl Sunday to raise money to send Angel Tree®
children to camp. Members of all ages deliver gifts at Christmas and send cards
and correspond with the prisoners.
We keep in touch with Kathy. She comes to our
church women's monthly group meetings, and we have her over for dinner every two
to three weeks. We hope Kathy is as blessed with our friendship as we are with
hers.”
 Several
individuals have made donations to the Memorial Fund to remember or honor
someone or just to make a loving donation. Paula Kiser’s mom, Jane Smith, was
remembered by Chris & Pat Mehling and Sara & Steve Kieffner (undesignated
fund.) Duane Skavdahl’s birthday was honored by Geneva & Buck Reimer
(undesignated.) Eugene & Susan Brown (undesignated) and Mary & Tom Chapin
(Pastor’s Helping Hands) made donations to the Memorial Fund. Thank you for
your generosity.
-Geneva Reimer, Memorial Secretary
We
Say YES!
During this year’s stewardship program, we are
considering four questions that are asked in the Bible: Where are you? What have
you done? Who is your neighbor? Who do you say that I am? Each of these
questions reminds us that God calls us to a certain way of life and holds us
accountable. This is not a requirement for salvation. Instead, being
accountable to God is a joyful response to the good news of love and salvation
through Christ.
How will you be accountable to God for the
great love and sacrifice God has given you? How will you use your time,
abilities, strengths, and resources in joyful gratitude so that others will know
the gospel through the dedicated work of our congregation and synod?
We consider these questions for ourselves,
but what if we think about what our Gloria Dei congregation can accomplish. We
serve God’s mission in our community and beyond, but how much more could we do?
Consider these numbers.
Data from the city of Crestview Hills
shows the average household income was a bit more than $56,000 in 2005*. That
same year 270 members (giving units or families) contributed more than $490,000
to the work of God through Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. That is approximately
$1,815 per giving unit. We don’t know the average household income of our
members, but let’s assume $56,000
is representative. Therefore, our member’s average gift or pledge was slightly
more than 3% of their annual income.
The potential of our
congregation is incredibly exciting. If we each give 5% of our income, our
congregation would have over $750,000 to do the work of the Lord! If we follow
the Biblical model of tithing 10%, we could commit over $1.5 million to the work
of the Lord each year. Imagine the joy and impact of that kind of generosity!
We can consider being
generous with our time in a similar way. We have about 112 waking hours and
giving 5% to the Lord’s work is 5.5 hours per week. If all of the
congregation’s 540 confirmed members spend 5% of their time that would be more
than 370 working days per week dedicated to serving others and spreading
the good news of Christ.
As you contemplate
your response to these questions, we encourage you to be a “trustworthy steward”
as explained in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (4:2). God has entrusted
us with much and we are asked to give joyfully in response to God’s generosity.
The Stewardship Committee,
Phil Schmidt and Becky Sittason, co-Chairs
Burt Lloyd, Susan Bunnell
*http://www.city-data.com/city/Crestview-Hills-Kentucky.html
MISSION
STATEMENT
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:
·
Evolving the highest-quality worship experience
·
Establishing community outreach that is Christ-centered
·
Fostering spiritual growth
·
Maximizing human and financial resources
·
Transmitting our love for Christ to those in need
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 15th
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
Duane Skavdahl……………………………….……..President
Steve Kieffner.…..………………………..……Vice President
Lisa Huddleston...………………………………..…..Secretary
Paula Ebert……………………………...…Financial Secretary
CHURCH STAFF
Rebecca Brode…...……Director of Youth & Group Ministries
Debbie Hoydal……………………………....Church Secretary
Nancy Mlinarik……Children’s
Sunday School Superintende
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