A note from Rebecca

 

I am currently taking a class at Trinity Seminary in Columbus.   The class is titled Person in Ministry, and it is a general overview of the psyche in relationship to ministry- what makes up the person, how to chart your faith walk, where do your characteristics come from, and how ones behavior is reflective of their upbringing.  It is a fascinating class and I have really gained great insight on what it means to be a professional church worker.  My most recent class was about shame, guilt and anger.  Our classroom conversation revolved around children and parents.  How children are disciplined now, will reflect on how they handle themselves when they are older.   If a child is shamed, yelled at or hit, there is a greater chance that those methods will be used towards their friends.  Not real ground breaking material, but it is always nice to hear it through another medium.  Our next project due is a genogram and reflection of our family.  We are encouraged to look back a few generations and chart behaviors.  How does my family deal with anxiety?  How does my family deal with anger?  I am pretty excited to dig a little deeper into my family.  I think it is a great way for my family to talk together.  I encourage you to talk about your family- How is everyone related? How did grandma and grandpa meet? Do you share characteristics of your parents?

Stay tuned for more exciting Seminary class work. 

 

Grace-

Rebecca

 

P.S. If you really get bored, you are more than welcome to read my papers for the class!

2^nd Annual Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Trunk or Treat

 

Join us on Saturday, September 27^th at 6pm

Chili Cook-off Dinner

Bring a side dish to share

Trunk or Treating to begin after dinner

Live music and games for the whole family

 

Invite your neighbors, coworkers, family and friends.

 

 

 

                Think you have the best chili in town, bring it

          and your church family decide!

 

What can you make your trunk?  Last year we had a bakery, pirate’s chest, and tailgaters, harvest pumpkin patch and much more.  There are lots of great ideas; you just have to let your imagination run.

 

If you have questions or want to know more about the event, call or email Rebecca: 496-6962 or youth@gloriadei-nky.org

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  Join Gloria Dei for a Silver Celebration!

 

     This Reformation Day on October 31 marks Gloria Dei’s 25^th anniversary. In recognition of reaching this most esteemed landmark, the 25^th Anniversary Steering Committee has planned a Silver Celebration of events on October 27-28. Please join us during these “glorious days” in a spirit of faith, fellowship and festivity as we look back on our church’s history and look forward to the ministry ahead.

     To kick off the celebration on Saturday, October 27, Gloria Dei will host its second annual “Trunk or Treat” at 5:00 pm. All are invited to decorate their car trunks, bring treats, and pass them out to children donned in costume for the occasion. Also, if you have children, feel free to bring them to trick-or-treat within a safe and secure setting!

     The evening will also include a Family Ministry Game Night, normally held on Friday nights but moved to Saturday this month in conjunction with the Silver Celebration. The Praise Band will be on hand to play some of your favorite songs, along with games, food (bring your favorite snack!) and an open youth room. All in all, the night will be packed with something for the whole family! Watch your bulletin and the website for further details about these events.

     On Reformation Sunday (October 28), the morning will start with the regularly scheduled 8:30 worship service, but from there the normal schedule will veer off a bit. Please note that on Sunday, October 28, the 9:45 contemporary service and 11:00 traditional service will be combined into one extended worship service, beginning at 9:45. The service will feature both traditional hymns and Praise Band music, and will include a special guest. Rev. Bill Gafkjen, assistant to Indiana-Kentucky Synod Bishop Jim Stuck, will deliver the sermon.

     After the service, the celebration weekend will culminate with a catered brunch and program, which will take place in the Fellowship Hall. Invitations will be sent to congregation members in early October. The cost to attend the brunch is $10 per adult, $5 per child, or a $25 family maximum. An RSVP is required to attend the brunch, so that we can provide an accurate food count to the caterer.

     To RSVP to the brunch, e-mail Debbie Hoydal at office@gloriadei-nky.org. If you plan to attend the brunch, please register early, as seating is limited.

     Finally, in late October the steering committee will offer for sale a very special 25^th anniversary memento, in the form of a customized, fine pewter Gloria Dei 25^th Anniversary Christmas ornament. The ornaments will be on sale for $10 each, and any proceeds collected will be donated to ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Watch your bulletin for more details on how to purchase one of these ornaments.

     So mark your calendar now for the Silver Celebration! Hope to see you there!

October is designated as Clergy Appreciation Month during which we are thankful to our pastor for all she does.  She works with our church leaders to plan the future of Gloria Dei.  She visits shut-ins and the hospitalized.  Pastor Vicki comforts us in our sorrows and rejoices with us in our good news.  Most importantly, she is our spiritual leader.  She plans and leads Bible studies, prepares and gives sermons, and teaches us God’s word and how it impacts our daily lives.  More than a pastor, she is our friend.  We have been blessed to have her for the past seven years (and many more, we pray). 

     During October, please take time to express your gratitude either verbally or by sending her a note to say “Thank you, Pastor Vicki.”

-The Gloria Dei Prayer Group

Church Hayride!!!

 

The annual church hayride will take place on Sunday, October 21 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. with the rides starting at 4:00 and 6:00.  There will be cider and refreshments for a free will offering to cover costs.  Directions are available in the narthex.  Please call Claudia Miller at 491-2972 with questions.

Campus Ministry News

 

          What do UK, Purdue, Ball State, Indiana, and Indy Metro (Butler-IUPUI) have in common?  They are the five universities in the Indiana Kentucky Synod/ELCA that will be celebrating 100 years of Campus Ministry in October.  Please help our Social Ministry team contribute to this very worthwhile cause.  Look for the team jerseys and football helmets in the narthex the last Sunday in September and the first three Sundays in October.  Your gifts will make Christ known through the Campus Ministries of the IK Synod as pastors and ministers expand and strengthen faith, service and outreach to our college students.

Comings and Goings

 

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

 

          This month I will not let you know about work-trips to the Gulf Coast, how you can help with World Hunger or how to become an advocate for those in “need”.  October is Clergy Appreciation Month and I would like to get you thinking about all the blessings God bestows upon us through all our dedicated clergy, but specifically Pastor Vicki.

          One way the Lord keeps watch over us is through God’s Word.  Pastor Vicki has been ordained, is committed and dedicated to doing this every Sunday.  In each sermon she brings The “Living” Word of God to us.  She prays that the Holy Spirit will give her the words to speak and open our ears so that The Word will speak to us personally and as a community of believers.  She is the catalyst that enables us to be spiritually nurtured each Sunday and in the other groups she provides for us.  When we are spiritually nurtured, the Holy Spirit can give us all the blessings God has for us, the strength needed for difficult times, the love of Jesus and the understanding that we need a Savior, Jesus Christ.  For what more could we ask?  Thank you Pastor Vicki, and all clergy, for helping us to love The Lord Our God with all our hearts, minds and spirits and others as ourselves.

Adult Education Classes

 

          During the month of October, we will study the video presentation “Faith Lessons on the Promised Land.”  This study focuses on how God put His mark on a people and their land – a mark that He has extended through ancient Israel to the faithful today.  Teacher and historian Ray Vander Laan weaves together the Bible’s fascinating historical, cultural, religious and geographical contexts, and reveals keen insights into scripture’s significance for modern believers. 

            Join us each of the first three Sundays at 9:45 a.m. in Room F-1 of the Fellowship Hall.  There is no class on October 28.

Spirituality While Living With Cancer Support Group

          We are forming a support group for adults with the main goal to empower cancer survivors by helping them deal with the various physical, emotional, and social challenges facing them from diagnosis, to treatment, and through after-treatment by addressing the spiritual dimensions of the survivor through the Christian Tradition and our Lutheran Faith.  The Spirituality While Living With Cancer Support Group will meet weekly from 6:15-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights beginning October 23 (with some exceptions for holidays).  The group will meet twelve times.  Due to the nature of this group, once started new members will not be accepted.  Since space is limited, the number of participants is also limited.  If you are interested in joining this support group, you must contact the facilitator, Shawn Honnerlaw by Sunday, October 21.  Please contact Shawn on his cell phone (513-257-9220) and leave a confidential voicemail message with your name, contact information, and request to join the group.

 

Angel Tree Ministry

Since 2003, Gloria Dei has provided Christmas presents on behalf of prisoner parents to 180 children in Northern Kentucky.  This year we need to provide gifts for 60 children.  Each child receives two gifts: one is a toy and one is clothing, each costing $15-20.  If you would like to be a part of this ministry by sponsoring a child, contact Bonnie Handahl at bbhand@fuse.net or 331-7137.

The Power of Prayer

“Pray all the time.  Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes.  Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.”  (Ephesians 6:18)

PRAYER…A STEERING WHEEL OR SPARE TIRE?

           Holocaust survivor, Corrie ten Boom once asked, “Is prayer your steering wheel or a spare tire?”  If we consider this question honestly, most of us would probably have to answer that prayer is more often our “spare tire” than our “steering wheel”.  And that is because we often engage in prayer from one of two extremes, either as a fair weather friend or crisis believer.

          When we are in the fair weather friend mode and all is well, we may pause to give thanks to God and continue on our way.  But when everything unexpectedly begins to spin out of control and we suddenly find our selves shifting into the crisis believer mode.  We wring our hands and instinctively cry out, “God, help me!”  We are lost, our tanks are empty and we have exhausted all our worldly options, so we urgently send a pleading prayer to heaven.  In our desperation, we have finally turned to God, realizing he is our one true hope.  The sad fact is this is often what it takes for us to give Him our attention and to spend time talking with Him.  

           When we fail to make prayer the driving force behind our every action, decision and thought we are destined to run off course.  How differently things turn out when we give Jesus permission to be our steering wheel, instead of keeping Him for emergency use only.  What a disservice it is when we disregard His wisdom and power, when we forget that He loves us whether we have clear sailing or hit the potholes, or when we fail to remember He is always with us desiring to give us the best He has to offer.  What more proof do we need than His willingness to suffer and die on our behalf?  Furthermore, Jesus, Himself, is the greatest example of how to make prayer the steering wheel of our lives.  Through prayer, Jesus sought constant “GPS guidance” from the Father.  Even the disciples recognized this and asked Him to teach them to do the same.

           If, for no other reason, as believers we should pray to God at all times simply out of our love for and obedience to Him.  Our communication with the Father should be an endless conversation regardless of circumstances.  Each day, we should express our gratitude to Him for giving us a Savior, His Son, Jesus and to pray always in His name.  Ultimately, each of us should ask our selves, “Am I treating God like a spare tire turning to Him in emergencies only?” OR “Am I allowing God to steer, which may have kept me out of trouble in the first place?”……Who is in your driver’s seat?

         

         As of 9/9/07 we are running $16,000 behind in giving versus budget.   The dreaded summer slump must have hit us after a good start in early summer.   Please look at where each of you are versus commitment and catch up with your commitments if you are behind.   This is very important at this time of year as we begin to budget and makes our plans for next year.
           We already have eleven members who have signed up for automatic check book deductions to the church- a very convenient and easy way to meet your commitments and a big help to the church.
Get the materials by contacting Paula Ebert.
           The budgeting process is well underway and the Finance committee hopes to finalize it before the end of October.  Please prayerfully consider your stewardship commitments for 2008.   Consider committing a certain portion of your income to the church.   Certainly make a pledge to commit to the church if you are not currently doing so.  

 

Mission/Work Trip to The Gulf Coast November 11-17

 

       Would you like to participate or help out?

       (1) If you wish to go, call Pastor Henry Zorn of the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, Cincinnati, immediately at 513-474-4938.  There are 20+ people signed up and space at the Slidell, LA, church where the group will stay needs to be allocated.  It will cost each participant $25 per day plus travel costs and any incidental expenses.  Three members of Gloria Dei are signed up so far.  We expect to be doing reconstruction work.

        (2) If you cannot go in person, you can support this ministry (a) by your prayers and (b) by making a financial contribution in ANY amount to the participants’ expenses and materials they will need to buy.  Make your donation to Gloria Dei Church and clearly designate on the envelope that it is for the “Gulf Coast Mission Trip.”  Place the envelope in the offering plate or mail it to the church office at 2712 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills, KY 41017 so it received by no later than 11/4/2007.

        Please do not forget our brothers and sisters in Christ who continue to be in need as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  It will be a decade or more before recovery efforts will be completed.  Your participation in that effort is vital and greatly appreciated.

Supporting Our College Students

 

If you have a child (young adult) now enrolled in college, we’d like to have contact information to stay in touch and help extend a warm, Gloria Dei connection while they’re away from home.  Please send their name, college, the year of expected graduation, e-mail address, birthday, and mailing address to the church office or to Lisa Miller at tmiller5@fuse.net.

 

 

Recent Memorial Contributions

The Memorial Fund donations include the following:.  Michael and Jane Nicol made a donation to Evangelism to remember Sally Teipe. Jane and Bill Scheim made a donation to Pastor’s Helping Hand.  Ched and Susan Thornton remembered Betty Baker’s Father with an undesignated donation.  Tom and Jonna Bluemleim made an undesignated donation in memory of Kathy Murrey’s mother.  We thank you for all of your generosity.                               -Geneva Reimer

WELCA News

Ruth Circle is having a Baby Shower!!!  Gifts will be donated to the New Hope Center.   They need infant clothes through 1 year old, baby supplies, and maternity clothes.   All women of the church are invited to attend on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Bonnie Handahl's  home, 817 Deena Drive, in Villa Hills.   Sue Schmidt will have devotions.   Come join us for the fun!  For directions or more information, please contact Bonnie at 331-7137.  If you are enrolled in the Remke Caring Neighbor Program, Remke Markets are updating their records and you will need to resubmit the information for your favorite non-profit group: “470 - Mary Circle Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.”   Up to 2% of all qualifying purchases will be forwarded to Mary Circle. See Delores Cox or you may pick up the forms at any Remke store.

 

Mary Circle will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Delores Cox on Thursday, October 18.  Ginny Huenniger will lead devotions.  Charlotte Himmler will have the program.  Please join us!

 

Martha Circle will meet on Monday, October 22 at the home of Jean McCarter beginning at 7:00 p.m. with desserts and refreshments.  Sara Kieffner will co-host and give devotions.  Debby Rieselmann will present the program.

 

Hannah Circle will meet on Thursday, October 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Color Me Mine & Pub.  Contact president Christy Frey at 586-8393 for more information.