Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Crestview Hills, Kentucky
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2718 Dixie Highway |
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Newsletter of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 2718 Dixie Highway Volume XXV, No. 9 From The Pastor,
Psalm 138 says, “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. (The Hebrew here is literally, ‘you made me arrogant in my soul with strength’.)”
I would like to challenge everyone who reads this article (and please share it with others) to pause for a time and thank God with your whole heart. God has done so much for us. Sometimes I think we are so used to God’s blessings that we hardly notice them. How many times have we driven past a flowering tree and failed to thank God for the beauty of the tree? And for creating us and putting us on this planet that we might be in a place where we can see it? And given us eyes that are capable of seeing such beauty? How many times have we taken the love of our family and friends for granted? How many times have we scorned the challenges that come our way and make us stronger because we preferred an easier path and expected God to give us more than others have?
It seems to me that giving thanks to God not only helps us remember and celebrate the good of our lives but I believe that it also helps us to set aside false gods. “Before the gods I sing your praise” implies not only a fearlessness about praising God even when we are surrounded by false gods but it also means putting God before false gods. We live in a world that is full of false gods. A ‘god’ is, by definition, anything to which we are devoted and into which we trust our fate. Imagine all of the things that fit that definition. Don’t you know people who are devoted to money, so much so that making money is more important than their relationship with God (or anything else for that matter)? That means that money is their ‘god’ and it is a terribly false god because it can do nothing to save their life or give them eternal life. Walt Bouman used to say that he thought that ‘sports’ was the national god. Evidence? There are a lot more people in the stadium or in front of their TVs praising the team than in the church praising God. No one seems to resent spending a great deal of money on a game but doesn’t want the church to ask for their money, and so on. Once again ‘sports’ is a false god because it can do nothing to save our life or give us eternal life. Being genuinely thankful to God (which is what “from the heart” means) helps us to remain centered on the true God and to walk away from the false gods that surround us.
-Pastor Vicki
8:30 a.m. modern traditional 9:45 AM - Contemporary 11:00 AM - Traditional 5:30 PM - Contemplative
Fall Committee Night Scheduled for 12/10
Committee Meeting Night is scheduled for Monday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall for Council members and Discipleship Chairs. Team Members should arrive at 7:15. The 2008 Budget and other business items will be reviewed at this meeting.
The Power of Prayer “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2 NKJV)
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN PRAYERS
In the infancy stage of prayer many of us try our best to pray because we know we should, because we know it’s right and because we know it’s good. We are taught and have come to understand it is part of living out our faith, yet many struggle with where to begin, when to find the time and what we should say.
Prayer, like any activity, takes practice. It requires discipline. In the beginning, it is a conscious effort. Some days it seems distractions and meandering thoughts derail us from our original goal of spending time in prayer with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. The evil one uses this ploy to keep our minds wandering, turning our thoughts away from prayer and, ultimately, away from God and accessing His unlimited power. As Elizabeth George states in her book, A Woman’s Call To Prayer: “…it is an ongoing challenge to continue in the journey of prayer until we “get it,” until we can even say that we’ve begun to know something about prayer….a lot of us pray what I call “Christopher Robin” prayers. He’s the little boy who struggled with his evening “Vespers.” He became so distracted by anything and everything that he couldn’t remember who or what to pray for. He ultimately ended up praying “God bless ________” prayers, filling in the blank with each of his family members’ names. Like Christopher Robin, my mind wandered I didn’t know who to pray for and how to pray for them.”
Once we begin, Satan will do his utmost to lead us from growing in our relationship with God by this diversion tactic every time. Whether it’s busyness, apathy, unconfessed sin, procrastination or even laziness, he knows exactly what route will keep us from regular fellowship with God. So, don’t give up and allow Satan to keep you from growing in prayer, and ultimately, in your faith. Don’t fall victim to ‘Christopher Robin’ prayers and deny yourself access to the greatest power there is…the power of prayer through God!!
Our adult education class begins on Sunday, September 16, with a three-week study of the video “What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?” This is a landmark production that reveals Christ’s true impact on history. The documentary is a detailed exploration of how the birth of Jesus Christ has positively impacted nearly every aspect of human life as we know it today. Filmed in North America, Europe, India and South America, “What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?” features commentary from scientists, historians, philosophers, theologians and broadcasters. Please join us each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Room F-1 of the Fellowship Hall as we learn and discuss the difference that Jesus has made in our world. Sunday School Begins September 16 Registration for Sunday school will be September 16 starting at 9:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall. A Clown Ministry will take place this first Sunday school hour from 9:45 a.m. -10:45 a.m. Registration is also available on line at: www.gloriadei-nky.org/sundayschool.htm.
Caring Neighbor Program ChangesRemke’s Markets is updating their records and needs everyone to sign up again for the CARING NEIGHBOR PROGRAM. Delores Cox will have the new sign up sheets. Also the formswill be available on the table in the narthex. Please call Delores at 371-3220with any questions.
Comings and GoingsThe Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (Psalm 121:8)
You are invited to attend the East Kentucky Conference Assembly on Saturday, September 8 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Variety of Service: We are God’s Hands and Feet is our theme and we will meet at St. John Lutheran Church in Melbourne, KY (Pastor Phil’s church). We will have a chocolate chip cookie bake-off, and a short business meeting. You can help with a Thrivent sponsored Habitat for Humanity building project- those choosing to do this will leave around 9:40 a.m. The people remaining at St. John’s, will hear a presentation by Glenna and Tim Bertsch about Gulf Coast Recovery efforts and how you can help. Lunch will be provided for all whether you are at the “build” or at St. John’s. Please join us. It will be a FUN day! See the flier on the bulletin board in the narthex for more details. FUTURE WORK TRIPS TO THE GULF COAST: October 14-21 - Camp Coast Care in Longbeach, Mississippi. Call Chris Copeland, from Hopeful Lutheran Church, for more details at 859-802-4477. This is a Lutheran/Epsicopal recovery initiative. November 11-17 – Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Cincinnati will sponsor this trip to Slidell, Louisiana. Call Pastor Henry Zorn at 513-474-4938. A planning meeting will be held on September 18 at 7 p.m. John Huenniger, from Gloria Dei, will be one of the volunteers going on this trip.
WELCA Circle NewsMartha Circle – will meet on Monday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Joy Shattuck. Tollie Chavis will co-host and give the devotions. Pat Mehling will lead a discussion of the book “The Poisonwood Bible”.
Hannah Circle – will meet on Thursday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. at the Knotty Pine Restaurant. The project is collecting coats, hats, and gloves. Ruth Circle - will meet on Thursday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Sue Abramis. This is our birthday meeting. We each bring a $10 gift to exchange. Sue is providing dessert. Join us for a good time and fun. Contact Sue for directions at 581-1064. Ladies! Mark your calendars for Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th 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. 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 Todd Kuhse…......………………………………..…..Secretary Kurt & Kay Freyberger………………………...……Treasurer Paula Ebert……………………………...…Financial Secretary CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Vicki Garber…………………………….…Senior Pastor Rebecca Brode…...……Director of Youth & Group Ministries Debbie Hoydal……………………………....Church Secretary Terri Chapman…………………………………..…..Custodian
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Peggy Fisher & Dolores Kreutzjans…..….Preschool Directors Anita Carmack……………………...………….Music Director Ron Carmack………...…………..……Chancel Choir Director Mindy Barrett………………………Children’s Choir Director Lynn & Paul Goodridge……………….…Praise Band Leaders Bob & Bonnie Handahl…..Adult Sunday School Coordinators Terri Stinebruner …Children’s Sunday School Superintendent Nancy Mlinarik……Children’s Sunday School Superintendent
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So,
stop right now and pray an open and comprehensive prayer of thanksgiving. And
if it takes you several hours to thank God for everything, all the better!
The
fall worship schedule begins on Sunday, September 9. Please join us for one or
more of the following services: 
On
Sunday, August 12, the OWLS had an enjoyable afternoon when we hosted the Hebron
Lutheran Church Seniors for lunch in our fellowship hall. After lunch Tim Moore
entertained us with his impersonation of Simon Kenton, which everyone enjoyed
very much. Watch our bulletin board for pictures. On Sunday, September 9, we
are planning to go to Mike Fink's for lunch, and then on to see the murals on
the flood wall. If anyone would like to join us, we would love to have you.