T h e “ We e k l y Re a d e r ” f o r 2 2 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 9

Lutheran Church * 2480 W Dublin-Granville Rd * Columbus, OH 43235 * (614) 889-2292

www.acceptingall.com

Illuminati To Perform in Worship Next Sunday

Illuminati, the sacred music ensemble of the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus, will provide music for our 9 AM service on Sunday, September 29, 2019.

The ensemble was established over 15 years ago by members of the Chorus who wanted to sing in faith-based celebration with houses of worship that accept everyone as part of God's creation and plan. Illuminati is the nation's only LGBTQ-identified chorus to focus on sacred music. Illuminati

provides service music to at least one church or synagogue each month during a season of the Columbus Gay Men's Chorus. CGMC was founded in 1990 to support and represent LGBTQ individuals through a voice of sung music pursuing the mission of "Voices Raised, Lives Changed." This month marks the start of their 30th season. Lord of Life has supported CGMG over the years by hosting the Chorus in the final performance of its holiday concert, Joy!, which, this year, will be Sunday, December 15.

2

Pastor Katie Kerrigan, Director for Evangelical Mission, will be worshipping with us today! In addition to worshipping, she will be giving the results of the Congregational Vitality Survey. Pastor Kerrigan will also be talking more about The Collaborative and how our congregation can benefit from this initiative. She will give her presentation in Room 309 during the education hour and in the Sanctuary after the 11:15 service. We look forward to seeing you at one of the presentations! Also, the Pastoral Integration Team has completed their time. Please thank the team for their time. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Council Communicator at council@acceptingall.com, or by contacting anyone on Council.

Thanks to the Pastoral Integration Team!

I would like to extend my thanks to the members of the Pastoral Integration Team that have worked over the last year to help inform and facilitate my ministry as a new pastor at Lord of Life. I found their insight and suggestions to be invaluable as I eased into my role in this vibrant and active congregation. Thanks to Joel Frederick, Ben Buss, Linda Douce, Barb Jackson, Nate Huntsberger, Jerry Nelms, Suzanne Robinson, and Heather Reeves for their hard work an dedication to our ministry together!

- Pastor Martin

3

Fall Clean-Up

Saturday, October 12, 8 AM to Noon

All ages welcome!!

Light Breakfast provided

What can you bring? Just bring a helpful attitude and appropriate clothing.

We will be focusing on:

Weeding memorial garden in preparation for winter

Caulking lower windows

Washing exterior windows

Trimming bushes / raking leaves around property

Prepping parking/ property for winter

General cleaning

Contact Kendra Hanson with questions: (614) 889-2292, ext 306 or email: khanson@acceptingall.com

A Note From the Connections Coordinator

To my loving church family,

This week I turned in my resignation from the Connections Coordinator position. It has been a privilege and honor serving you over the past two and a half years, but now it is time for me to focus on family priorities and self care. My last day will be October 14th, however I will still remain on as a congregant and the crossCurrent band leader. Thank your for your love, support and prayers over my time on staff.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Rippel

4

Tuesday Afternoon Bible Study

Grief is a part of every person’s life. There is the grief that comes from the death of a family member or friend. There is the grief that comes from moving to a new city, and there is the grief that comes from losing or ending a job or a career. Some of us even grieve the ending of a good book. So many losses consume our lives.

In October we are using Lamentations and a few Psalms to look at what the Bible says about grief. What gets us through grief? What is the church’s role in aiding those experiencing loss? Grief in all its forms will be discussed this month in Bible Study.

There is going to be strong discussion and reflection this month, and we invite you to join us. We meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month in the Fishbowl at 1:30. We love new members! If you have questions, contact Cyndee Schoenhoff at in Realm.

Perhaps as John Green said in The Fault In Our Stars, grief reveals you rather than changes you.

Panera Book Club

Please join the Panera Book Club on Sundays during the education hour at Panera Bread down the street from LoL at 2750 Martin Road Dublin 43017. The group's next book will be "Heaven Is For Real” by Todd Burpo and will start on September 1st. Please have the first two chapters read for that day to begin discussion. ALL ARE WELCOME TO JOIN ANY TIME!

Adult Faith Formation Opportunity!

One of the opportunities to provide for Faith Formation is through educational opportunities where we can hear and share our questions and thoughts on various topics. Beginning Sunday, September 15th at 10:15 am in Room 205, we hope you will join us in exploring the Reformation Roots. Each session, we will watch a short video and then discuss how it fits or changes what we know and how it impacts our church and the world today. See you then!

Please join us:

When: Sundays during the education hour Where: Room 205 Start time: 10:15 AM

5

Adult Affirmation Class

Martin Luther famously wrote, “This life, therefore, is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness … not being, but becoming.” He understood that discipleship is not something we learn as kids, but something we are figuring our whole life long.

Beginning Sept. 29 we are offering an Adult Affirmation group to run parallel to our youth Affirmation program. We will cover the same topics (the Apostles’ Creed, Worship, The Commandments, etc. ) but from the more seasoned perspective of one who has lived and wrestled with these topics awhile.

Whether you are the parent of an Affirmation student, never went through a “catechism” program, or are just interested in further exploring the basics of our faith, this group is for you. We will meet in room 309 (across from the offices) at 10:15 am. The class will be led by Pastor Martin & Jerry Nelms.

AFFIRMATION CLASS

All Sundays in September and October

Sunday morning classes at 10:15 in Rm 211

Sunday, September 29

Parents may wish to attend the adult Affirmation class at 10:15 in Rm 309

Sunday, October 13

Sunday afternoon workshop 12:30 - 3:00 PM. Lunch will be provided.

6

Our new Wi-Fi system!

Lord of Life is officially rolling out a new and improved Wi-Fi system accessible throughout our building, This comes as a byproduct of networking upgrades which will better support our meetings and faith formation needs as we look toward the future ministries of our community.

Our Wi-Fi is robust with much faster downloads and stronger signal strength than our previous version. This is an Unsecured Network so treat it accordingly.

Here is the information to use the Wi-Fi on your device:

1. Go where you select Wi-Fi networks on your device

2. Select the network: LOL

3. On the “Landing Page” that opens, click “terms of service” and read them, then click the checkbox to agree to the terms of service and click “Connect”.

4. You will be asked for a password, which is: dojustice

Then your device should be connected to the Internet through our Wi-Fi.

For questions, please contact John Peterson or Ben Buss, call the church office at 614-889-2292, or email techteam@acceptingall.com

Communion Assistants

If you've ever thought about becoming a communion assistant in the past, now is the time. There will be a brief training session for anyone who would like to participate after both the 9 AM and 11:15 worship times this Sunday (9/22) Please see Lynn Kensinger if interested.

7

Coffee Ministry

Lord of Life’s guiding principles are extravagant

grace, radical inclusion, and relentless compassion.

One way that we live out those principles is through

hospitality: a kind word and a fresh cookie make a

pleasant welcome!

If you have the spiritual gifts of hospitality and

service, consider helping us add a fourth principle to

the Big Three: extravagant grace, radical inclusion,

relentless compassion… and cheerful caffeination!

To find out more, contact Bill Roberts in Realm or

talk to a coffee volunteer on Sunday.

Buddy Bags – They’ve changed to BUDDY BOXES and MORE

Starting Sunday October 6th to October 27th, we will be collecting food and money for BUDDY BOXES. Last Spring the kids told me we should call them Buddy Boxes. So, this session we will implement the change. We also have many other changes. Our partner Family Mentor Foundation is now serving 1500 students per month. That is an increase from the 800 students they fed each month last year. Even more amazing is that they are up from 250 students fed per month when LoL first became involved!

The list of food items going into the Box has also changed. Lists and samples can be seen in the Narthex. The list doesn’t include a vegetable, but that’s because they are purchasing a vegetable juice box. Those are special order items, so they are not included on the new shopping list. We will use the money we collect to buy the juice boxes. As always, everything we collect whether food or money will be given to the Family Mentor Foundation.

Please reserve Saturday November 2nd when we will prepare for packing day. Sunday November 3rd we will fill the Buddy Boxes. Our goal is to support 300 students for a month which will require 1200 Buddy Boxes. As always, your help is appreciated.

Money given should be by check and made payable to, Lord of Life, and have “Buddy Box” written in the memo line.

8

9

When we need God’s Love Most

When do we need God’s love most? Of course we need that love ever second of our lives. But at times God’s love is especially precious to us, times when:

we lose a loved one;

life becomes so confusing that we do not k now where to turn; or

life just becomes meaningless and depression sets in. At times like these, it is very important to have someone who cares. Our congregation has trained more than 20 lay people, Stephen Ministers, who offer a ministry of Christian caring here at Lord of life. If you or someone you know, has a need a for a Stephen Minister or is interested in learning more about the Stephen Minister program, contact:

Jan Hoffman, Referrals Coordinator at 614-226-3148 or jan@consultjan.com, or Nancy Lentsch, SM Leader at 614-562-8851 or nlentsch@yahoo.com, or Bill Hoffman, SM Leader at 614-313-3039 or bill@consultjan.com. NOTE: All contacts are kept strictly confidential, even between Stephen Ministers.

First Gifts to Jesus Nominations

We, First Gifts ministry, are seeking nominations for possible recipients of our First Gifts to Jesus. In the past, we have gathered crock pots & cookbooks for First English, bought an industrial toaster for Faith Mission, donated to an agency assisting with new immigrants, bought freezers for the Smokey Row food pantry and donated gift cards to Choices. Think big or small...

We are asking for your ideas to be sent to Donna Leitzel in Realm by October 6, 2019.

10

Fire Drill

On Sunday, September 29, there will be a fire drill between 10:15-10:30 AM. The purpose of the drill is to see if all those present can leave the church in an orderly and quick fashion.

So where should you go?

Every room with chairs, with the exception of the Sanctuary and the Narthex, has posted on the wall where the Emergency exits are. Please follow what the signs say. Those in the Sanctuary or Narthex should simply head out the nearest door.

In the classrooms, teachers are responsible for ensuring their students leave in an orderly fashion as quickly as possible. One teacher should lead the students out in a single file line with another teacher in the rear making sure the students stay in line until they are all at the end of the parking lot where the dumpsters are located.

For those children in the Nursery, the toddlers will walk out using the Kids Grab and Go Walking Rope they have been practicing with, and for babies the crib with wheels will be used to take them outside.

For those in the ONEbody annex, if you hear the alarm please exit from either door and proceed to the end of the parking lot out by the dumpsters.

Parents should also proceed to the parking lot area/grass furthest from the buildings. They may find their children once in this area. DO NOT go looking for your child(ren) in the building.

The Parish Business Administrator (PBA) will be asking each Teacher/Nursery attendance if all of the children in their class that day have been accounted for once they are in the Parking Lot area. Once all of have accounted for the drill will end.

DO NOT drive away during the Fire Drill as there will be lots of people in the parking lot. Please wait until the fire drill is over and everyone has returned to the buildings.

The recently retired PBA will be conducting the drill and will be providing feedback after the event.

11

Last Sunday’s Spiritual Arithmetic

Worship Attendance: 179 Operating Fund Giving: $8251

OUR MISSION

To reach people with

the love of Jesus Christ.

OUR VISION

Lord of Life Lutheran Church is a community of Christ where we experience God's grace, comfort and acceptance through each other. From here, everyone is empowered to share, teach and give what each has received.

OUR VALUES

1. The Gospel calls us to unconditional regard for all people.

2. Prayer is necessary for our relationship with God, one another, and the world.

3. Scripture provides the foundation for our lives of faith.

4. The authority for our ministry is founded in Jesus Christ, the head of the Church which is the Body of Christ on earth. An elected Congregation Council provides administrative authority; our called pastor (s) provides the spiritual authority of the Office of Word and Sacrament Ministry.

5. Each member is uniquely gifted by God for ministry and is expected to mature in discipleship of Jesus Christ.

6. Any ministry based on our Mission, Vision and Core Values is valid for our congregation, and may, at any time, evolve or end.

LoL is on

Find us at www.facebook.com/AcceptingAll or search for Lord of Life Lutheran and “like” us for daily updates and inspirations

@ Lord of Life Church

Sunday 8:00 AM Contemplative Worship

9:00 AM Traditional Worship

10:15 AM Life Passages

10:15 AM Affirmation, Rm 211

10:15 AM The Collaborative, 309

10:15 AM Adult Faith Formation Class, Rm 205

11:15 AM crossCurrent Worship

12:30 PM The Collaborative, Sanctuary

Tues. 10:30 AM Weekly Staff Meeting

8:00 PM Alcoholics Anonymous”, Rm 309

Weds. 5:15 PM Wonderful Wednesdays Dinner

5:45 PM Grace Choir, Rehearsal Rm

6:00 PM Cherub Choir, Rm 309

6:25 PM Five @the Font

7:00 PM Adult Choir Rehearsal

Thurs. 11:00 AM Alcoholics Anonymous*, Rm 309

6:30 PM Alliance Choir*, Gath Space

6:30 PM Prayer Shawl Ministry, Narthex

Fri. 8:00 PM Alcoholics Anonymous*, Rm 309

Sat. 8:30 AM North/South Foundation, Education Wing Rooms

8:00 PM Alcoholics Anonymous*, Rm 309

Sunday 8:00 AM Contemplative Worship

9:00 AM Traditional Worship

10:15 AM Life Passages

10:15 AM Habitat Planning Team, Fishbowl

10:15 AM Affirmation, Rm 211

10:15 AM Adult Affimation, 309

10:15 AM Adult Faith Formation Class, Rm 205

10:15 AM Fire Drill

11:15 AM crossCurrent Worship

Check us out on the web at:

www.acceptingall.com

12