2018 Grace Gazette Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC) PO Box 10 Erhard, MN 56534 June Grace Lutheran Church A member of the LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) “Loving, Inviting, Teaching, Encouraging” U.S. Highway 59 in Erhard, MN Visit us online at – http://gracechurchoferhard.org Facebook Pages: The Foundry @ Grace Lutheran Erhard Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC) of Erhard, MN Grace Lutheran Church Women "GLW" & Friends To: A Lutheran community of faith engaging the present while embracing the Biblical and Reformation heritage of: Grace Alone: God, out of His great mercy, has reconciled humanity to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Acts of Christian goodness are a thankful response to God’s mercy shown to us in Christ. Faith Alone: God’s gift of faith apprehends the great work of eternal redemption accomplished for us by Jesus Christ. A faith relationship with the Triune God is the key to our eternal future and it brings meaning and joy to our present lives. Word Alone: The Bible is God’s authoritative Word to humanity. It is the sole and true guide for Christian faith, doctrine, and living. YOU ARE WELCOME AT GRACE Summer Sunday Worship: 9:00 am with Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month. Coffee Fellowship every Sunday after Worship. Morning Bible Study: Wednesdays at 8:00 am Prayer Fellowship: Every Wednesday immediately following Moring Bible Study. The Foundry (Youth Group) Gatherings: Meets the first and third Wed of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (unless otherwise specified).
Transcript
2018 Grace Gazette
Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC)
PO Box 10
Erhard, MN 56534
June
Grace Lutheran Church
A member of the LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ)
“Loving, Inviting, Teaching, Encouraging”
U.S. Highway 59 in Erhard, MN Visit us online at – http://gracechurchoferhard.org
Facebook Pages: The Foundry @ Grace Lutheran Erhard
Grace Lutheran Church (LCMC) of Erhard, MN Grace Lutheran Church Women "GLW" & Friends
To:
A Lutheran community of faith engaging the present while embracing the Biblical and Reformation heritage of: Grace Alone:
God, out of His great mercy, has reconciled humanity to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Acts of Christian goodness are a thankful response to God’s mercy shown to us in Christ.
Faith Alone:
God’s gift of faith apprehends the great work of eternal redemption accomplished for us by Jesus Christ. A faith relationship with the Triune God is the key to our eternal future and it brings meaning and joy to our present lives.
Word Alone:
The Bible is God’s authoritative Word to humanity. It is the sole and true guide for Christian faith, doctrine, and living.
YOU ARE WELCOME AT GRACE
Summer Sunday Worship: 9:00 am with Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month. Coffee Fellowship every Sunday after Worship. Morning Bible Study: Wednesdays at 8:00 am Prayer Fellowship: Every Wednesday immediately following Moring Bible Study. The Foundry (Youth Group) Gatherings: Meets the first and third Wed of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 pm (unless otherwise specified).
From Pr. Brad… He Prays for You
People of faith, you, me – we all pray. Even the not-very-religious pray. In all my years of visiting with people who would not want the label “religious” over their lives, I’ve yet to have any of them turn me down when I’ve asked if I could pray for them.
In its preface to The Lord’s Prayer, The Explanation to Luther’s Small Catechism covers the general topic of prayer with 10 basic questions and answers. Now I would venture to say that whether you’ve studied the catechism or not, you could answer those questions based upon your own experience with prayer. At the risk of violating your safe spaces and making you feel more uncomfortable than going on a blind date, I’m going to list these questions. And, because I’m a nice guy, I’ll give you the answers too, so relax and enjoy the ride.
1. What is prayer? Answer: Prayer is simply talking to God silently or aloud from my heart.
2. In whose name should you pray? Answer: According to Jesus in John 16, we should pray in His name.
3. What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Answer: I should base my prayers on what Jesus did for me on the cross and what He would want for me.
4. When should you pray? Answer: Because God is always ready to hear me, I should pray regularly, and have an attitude of prayer (1 Thess. 5:17, Eph. 6:18).
5. For whom should you pray?
Answer: I should pray for myself, the whole world, and even my enemies (1 Tim. 2:1-2, Matt. 5:44-45).
6. For what should you pray? Answer: I should pray for the will of God to be done (Matt. 6:10).
7. Does God always answer your prayers? Answer: Yes He does, when I pray according to His will (John 15:7).
8. Is God’s answer sometimes “no”? Answer: Yes, because sometimes what I ask for is with wrong motives and because He knows what is best for me (James 4:3, 2 Cor. 12:8-9).
9. Are all your prayers answered right away? Answer: While some are answered immediately, others are not, for God in His wisdom delays the answer.
10. What other divine person helps you to pray? Answer: The Holy Spirit helps me to pray, and also prays for me,
…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27, NIV)
Even though we might have all the answers to the basic questions about prayer, there are still times when we can draw an absolute blank – those times when we either don’t have a clue as to how we should pray or we’re just too discouraged.
It’s comforting to know that when those times fall upon us, the best prayers are actually rising up to heaven for us, because that’s when He prays for us! To God be the glory!
Grace Lutheran Church Unapproved council meeting minutes May 8, 2018 President Jeanette Ripley convened the regular meeting of the Grace Lutheran Church Council on May 8, 2018, at 7 P.M. in the chapel.
All other council members were present, including Duane Haiby, Jim Klitzke, Karen Nelson, Kim Pederson, Rachel Ronnevik, Cheryl Rotz, Phyllis Rossow, and Bruce Schaible, as well as Pastor Brad Soenksen and Treasurer Lucy Stadum.
Pastor Brad provided devotions, based on Psalm 66, and led the council in prayer.
Following Pederson’s motion and Rossow’s second, the agenda was approved on vote.
Following discussion, Klitzke moved to approve the minutes of the April meeting. Haiby seconded this motion, and it carried on vote.
The treasurer’s reports were filed for audit after Pederson’s motion and Ronnevik’s second. As of April 30, the General Fund checking account balance was $16,390.55, the Major Maintenance Fund balance remained at $11,726.14, the Building Expansion Fund balance was $21,295.00, and the Concert/Mission of the Month Fund balance was $2,245.82.
Pastor Brad presented his report, which included several visitations; meetings with the Grace Council, Grace Stephen Ministry group, The Foundry youth group, Grace Lutheran Women, Wednesday morning Bible study and prayer groups, the Pelican Rapids Ministerial group, with Youth Minister Tommy Olson, and a meeting regarding membership; attending the Grace concert, the Pelican Rapids area Farm Fellowship event, choir practice, the Gideon Banquet in Fergus Falls, the Augustana District Meeting, and the Grace Mother, Daughter, and Other Banquet; setting up for and attending the Grace Rummage and Bake Sale; and attending three Confirmation celebrations. He informed the council about six upcoming weddings. Pastor Brad gave an overview of the District Convention, saying that he is excited about the District, which is making things happen and providing structure, and that he’s glad that our church contributes to the LCMC Augustana District.
Old business: Discussion continued on evangelism and outreach and on updating our church’s mission statement. Ronnevik and Pederson will assemble several suggested mission statements for the council to consider at the June meeting.
Consensus was to set 6 P.M. as the starting time for future council meetings.
New business: Pederson led a discussion about the possibility of replacing the church sign with an LED sign that would be more visible and whose messages could be changed electronically from the church office without contending with weather and fading letters. She will do further research.
Klitzke moved to designate the Pelican Rapids Emergency Fund as mission of the month for June. Rotz seconded this motion, and it carried on vote. Our church refers requests for assistance to the Pelican Rapids Police Department, which administers this fund on behalf of several area churches. May’s mission of the month is Jail, Inc.
Haiby moved to adjourn; Schaible seconded the motion, which carried on vote, and this meeting closed at 8:05 with the Lord’s Prayer.
As usher for May, Ripley provided refreshments.
The next regular meeting of the Grace Lutheran Church Council is scheduled for 6 P.M. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in the chapel.
Phyllis Rossow Secretary
GRACE GAZETTE FINANCIAL INFORMATION
April 30, 2018
GENERAL FUND:
Balance, April 1, 2018 $10,064.21
April Receipts $20,672.58
April Disbursements ($14,346.24)
Balance April 30, 2018 $16,390.55
Average Attendance (5 services) 137
Mission Receipts-Hannah Peterson Family $671.75
Wednesday Concert – Gary & Dawn Timbs $385.00
GRACE BUILDING EXPANSION FUND
Balance, April 1, 2018 $21,235.00
April Receipts $ 60.00
April Disbursements ($ .00)
Balance, April 30, 2018 $21,295.00
GRACE MAJOR MAINTENANCE FUND:
Balance, April 1, 2018 $11,726.14
April Receipts $ .00
April Disbursements ($ .00)
Balance, April 30, 2018 $11,726.14
CONCERT/MISSION OF THE MONTH
Balance, April 1, 2018 $2,247.32
April Receipts $1,211.75
April Disbursements ( $1,213.25)
Balance, April 30, 2018 $2,245.82
Submitted by Lucille Stadum
Treasurer
Grace Lutheran Women Meeting Minutes Grace Lutheran Women met on May 17, 2018. Welcome and Table Prayer and we had brunch with Faye and Dianne serving. We had Bible Study with Pastor Brad, God is in the Laundry Room. We started our meeting by reading Ephesians 2.10 on page 4 of our booklets. Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were read and placed on file. Old Business:
• Thank you to everyone who helped set up, worked at the rummage sale or donated items for the sale.
• Thank you to the quilting group who made quilts for our senior graduates.
• Thank you to everyone who worked at church on clean-up day.
• We now have chairs for all of tables that match. • A cabinet for the bread room this winter was voted on.
Faye made a motion and 2nd by Myrna. New Business:
• Congratulations to those who were confirmed or graduated. Our best wishes for you.
• June 9th, the Gideons may use the church for their breakfast.
• June 9th Open House 50th Anniversary for Phyllis & Dick Rossow at their daughters home from 5-9:00 pm.
Thank you to Faye and Dianne for our great brunch. Next meeting is June 21, 2018 with Sheila and Donna serving. Birthday and Birthday song, offering and offering song. We closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Sheila Ouren, Secretary
JUNE LIBRARY CORNER Do you have friends, family, or neighbors who are not Lutherans? Have you ever supported a missionary or considered going on a short-term mission trip? The final books from the 200 Dewey Category – Religion – may be of interest to you. They include books about missionary work and spiritual renewal (260’s), the history of Christianity (270’s), Christian denominations (280’s), and other religions (290’s). Several of these books were recommended by Rev. Rod Spidahl, who taught our course on Islam two years ago. For example, from the 260’s, A Wind in the House of Islam, Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women, and Can Evangelicals Learn from World Religions? In the 280’s we have the story of Immaculee Ilibagiza, Led by Faith: Rising from the Ashes of the Rwandan Genocide. In the 290’s are more books about mission work among the followers of Muhammad. New Neighbors on the Street: Getting Acquainted with Muslims and a chart comparing Islam and Christianity may be helpful if you have Muslim neighbors or acquaintances. Four books are being displayed this month with the 260-299 books: Jesus Among Other Gods, Eternity in their Hearts, Christianity Rediscovered, and Handbook on Cults & New Religions. All of these books are on the top right-hand shelf where the “Other Religions” sign is located. We also have a movie about converts from Islam, More Than Dreams, telling how Jesus revealed Himself to Muslims who have no Christian witness available to them. These stories are miraculous! Next month we will look at the 300 Dewey Category, Social Sciences.
A few of the items include: 2004 JD X595 Diesel Tractor with many a�achments also for sale 2007 Bear Track Tandem Axel ATV Blue/Grape Carnival Glass Assortment
Please watch for a complete lis*ng in the Midweek and on Fabebook
Thank you, Carl & Renae Rocholl
THANK YOU!!! The Sunday School children
of Grace Lutheran Church
want to thank everyone
that par*cipated in their
2018 Chicken & Poultry Pro-
ject. There was $296.00
raised This mission project
through the Samaritan's
Purse organiza*on helped
provide impoverished fami-
lies by supplying baby
chicks, set up a coop or
offer basic veterinary
care. This not only feeds
their family with nutri*ous
food but also provides in-
come.
Your participation in giving towards this project is very much appreciated!!
2018 Foundry “Summa Time” Schedule Wed. June 6, 6-8 pm: Summa Time Kick-off at Grace (meal, worship, and games).
Wed. June 20, 6-10pm: Inspiration Point Christ Hike (6 pm meal at church, 6:45 pm leave (starts at 8:00, return 10 pm).
Mon. July 2, 6-8 pm: Foundry Parade Float Prep. (6 pm supper, float prep, Bingo in the Park set-up).
Wed. July 4, 10:30 am – 3 pm: Parade and Bingo (10:30 am parade line-up, 1-3 pm Bingo in the Park).
Thur. July 12, 3-7 pm: Day at the Lake
(Daren & Amy Tollefson’s lake place (35136 Co. Hwy 3, Erhard) for swimming, tubing, fishing, volley ball, and cook out.
Wed. or Thur. July 18, 19: West Otter Tail County Fair
(High School group grades 9-12)
Wed. July 25, 5-8 pm: P.R.A.Y.1 at Grace (Meal, Singing, games, Kickball and Volleyball Tournaments)
Wed. Aug. 8, 5:30-11pm: FM Red Hawks Game (Home vs. Chicago Dogs, 5:30 pm leave, own money for snacks).
Wed. Aug 22, 5:30-9 pm: End-of-the-Summer
Extravaganza (at Jerry & Kim Pederson’s for games, hay ride, cook-out, and swimming: 33418 US Hwy 59).
