mt calvary connection...2019/11/10 · studies with the kids in sticky situations, but he is...
TRANSCRIPT
NOVEMBER 2019
MT CALVARY CONNECTION Visit our website: www.mtcalvarylutheranchurch.org
Email: [email protected]
GROWING UP
in the Word
OUT
with the Gospel
TOGETHER
in Christ
Rev. Jim Price, Pastor
Paul White, DCE
Alice Stohs
Secretary
Sharon Bush
Business Manager
Mt. Calvary
Lutheran
Church
17535 Say Road
Wamego, KS
66547
785-456-2444
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is un-seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” (2 Cor. 4:18). This passage reminds us that along with the visible/tangible realities of our world that are acces-sible to our senses, there are also invisible powers, forces,
beings, at work which are just as real even if they are unseen. Reflecting on this truth, schol-ar and writer, Nancy Pearcy, notes that as Christians, “We are called to make decisions knowing that the unseen world has a powerful effect on the seen world, playing an active role in human history.”
However, because we cannot see God or understand what He is doing, we are tempted to live as if He isn’t doing anything. We fall into the trap of fixing our eyes only on what we can see. When things are going well for us, we can become fixated on our comfort, health, good fortune, etc.—all the things that appeal to our senses. On the other hand, when things are not going well, we have a tendency to see no further than the difficult circumstances we are going through, forgetting the presence and power of God, or suspecting that He has abandoned us.
An illustration of what happens when we can see no further than the visible world is found in 2 Kings 6. On the occasion described there, God’s prophet, Elisha, appears to be trapped with his servant in a city that is surrounded by an enemy army. The servant can see all too well the enemy troops and he is filled with fear. He notes with alarm the danger they are in. Verses 16-17 report Elisha’s response to him: “‘Don't be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
One of the encouragements of this text is that even before the servant can see what God is doing to keep him and Elisha safe, God was already acting. The angels were there doing God’s will whether the servant could see them or not. It is that way with us too. God is con-stantly at work in our world and lives in thousands of different ways of which we are often completely unaware.
When we go through times of testing, temptation, and trial, we are invited by this account in 2 Kings to remember that God is present and powerful for us. God has given us this Word and others like it to assure us of His truth. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness so that we may believe His Word and have spiritual sight and say together with the author of Hebrews, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” (11:1).
In Christ, Pastor Jim Price
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LWML NEWS
2019 LWML Officers President: Arlys Hartmann V-Pres: Carol Brase
Secretary: Roxie Peterson Treasurer: Prudence Fager
Gifts from the Heart:
Non-perishable food items, paper products, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids
LWML SUNDAY NUMBERS -- Gathered for Lutheran World Relief:
29 personal care kits 31 quilts 10 fleece blankets 5 sewing kits $356.11 - door offering for shipping costs 45 school kits (from the Manhattan Zone LWML)
ALSO: $77.83 for mites for missions $61.00 from sale of books
DATES TO REMEMBER
3 - Mite Box/Stamps for Missions Sunday
7 - Executive Board Meeting - 1:30 p.m.
14 - LWML Bible Study Open to all Women of the Congregation Leader: Wendy von Seggern Hostess: Carolyn Stutzman
Jesus: A 365-Day Devotional by
Zondervan Publishing
Full disclosure: Last month I reviewed a de-votional that my son and I had been doing for a few years. In sum-mary I relayed that I would not choose that devotional. Well, we were still working our way through it (yet again) as I wrote the review imploring the
parents of Mt. Calvary to pick something else. So I went looking for something else.
Now I had a few goals in mind. I wanted some-thing that was more faith building than a morality teaching. And I wanted something that might ap-peal to a slightly older age bracket (think 8-14). My search brought me to this book.
Each day includes a scripture passage, the devo-tional content and concludes with a short prayer. This devotional focuses primarily on passages from the Old Testament and highlights how all of scripture points to Jesus, his life, teaching, death, and resurrection for You. My child misses the case studies with the kids in sticky situations, but he is building and constructing an overview of scripture and recognizing Christ’s role throughout it all.
Though the devotion doesn’t have any questions attached it has already led to questions about characters and their place in the old testament. And we have celebrated a few “Ah-Ha” moments as my son has put together some higher-level type/archetype relationships between the old tes-tament characters and Jesus. Most of the devo-tionals are in chronological order as well so we can follow the big picture of scripture and piece it together as we go.
There is a little bit of evangelical choice doctrine (choosing Jesus as opposed to Him choosing you) in this book but not to the extent of most devotion-als. I would recommend this decotional to our members, specifically to our families with kids in middle elementary to middle school.
Thanksgiving Worship Wednesday,
November 27, 2019 6:30p.m.
Email: [email protected]
Katelynn Kolterman, daughter of Dan and Robin Kolterman, has taken a volunteer position at a nonprofit organization called Seeds of Hope-Peru. She coordinates the local and international vol-unteers who stay at the
facility and performs other management duties of the organization.
The mission of Seeds of Hope is to support chil-dren living in extreme poverty in Huaráz, Perú and to provide vocational training for those without economic means, enabling them to break the cy-cle of poverty. They provide outside educational tutoring, emotional encouragement, hygiene edu-cation and a nutritious meal at each session.
If you are interested in the work being done in Pe-ru, would like to support their efforts, or would like a volunteer opportunity in Peru, Katelynn encour-ages you to view the web site www.seedsofhope.pe/latest-news.html
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The Fellowship Board is planning to go Christmas Caroling in December. No date has yet been set.
Please be thinking of people in our congrega-tion or community that
would enjoy some hearing some Christmas music. If you have questions, please contact Diane Lan-don or Lindsey Blevins.
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ADVENT SUPPERS – If your group would like
to prepare and serve an Advent Supper,
please contact Alice at the church office.
[email protected] or 785-456-2444.
The LWML is serving on December 4th.
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Ladies, you won’t want to miss this year’s Ad-vent by Candlelight on Sunday, December 8th at 7:00 pm. The theme is “W.A.I.T. On the Lord.” Please plan to join us for an evening of visiting, beautiful music and delicious desserts. All wom-en of Mt. Calvary are invited, and are encour-aged to invite their friends to prepare their hearts for Advent. If you would like to help with this event please contact Trina Steinbach at 785-317-1057 or [email protected]
VETERANS DAY DINNER
NOVEMBER 10, 2019
12:00p.m.
Mt. Calvary Luther Hall
Relate360 Parent Meeting November 13th
6:30-7:30pm in the Sanctuary Does the idea of your child being old enough to be in a rela-tionship make your heart beat faster? What do our children think a relationship looks like? What are our roles as par-ents? How does technology change the dynamic of relation-ships compared to when we were younger?
Relationship360 out of Manhattan exists to empower the next generation to live with intention, love with integrity and expe-rience wholesome relationships. They are working with our local schools to help students make healthy choices when it comes to relationships and sex. Come hear about what they teach, learn about helpful resources, and ask questions that are on your mind.
Relate360 is a faith based organization and will have the op-portunity while meeting at Mt. Calvary to respond to your questions and inquiries from a Christian perspective. Open to the community.
- - - - - - - - - - Be looking for Advent-in-a-Box devotionals
for families just after Thanksgiving.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CONFIRMANDS! Sunday, November 3rd ~ 10:30 service
Addison Koch Colin Schuck
Brandon Krainbill Zoey Thompson
Raynesha Price Jackson Zeigler This month we will also be welcoming the fol-lowing students to join us at the Lord’s Table for Communion
Autumn Barnes Tasen Nickel
Brodie Cottam Addison Prater
Lily Krainbill Isaiah Steinbach
Emil Wolfe
Sunday Night Live
7:00-8:30pm
November 3rd and 17th
Invite a Friend!
The Theme for the Sunday School this year is TAG, which encourages our students to TAG others with the love of Jesus and to invite them to attend Sun-day School and church. We are also blessed to have the opportunity to be able to TAG children in other parts of the world through our fall mission pro-ject, “Operation Christmas Child”, a project of Samaritan’s Purse.
We will be packing a shoebox with specific items and sending it to a cen-tral pick up location in the U.S. Samari-tan’s Purse will ship them to locations around the world to be given out to children as a way to introduce them to Jesus. The children are invited to a 12 week discipleship class called “The Greatest Journey”. Here they grow in Christ and share what they have learned with their family and friends thus multiplying the gift that started with the shoebox!
We will be gathering our 50 shoeboxes in November and on November 17 we will have a shoebox blessing before sending them to the pick up point. For more information on our project, a gift supply list and a video on how to pack a shoebox, go to www.mtcalvarylutheranchurch.org/operation-christmas-child/
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Mt Calvary Piecemakers group is growing and on the move! We have now claimed the adjoining room (#s 6 & 7) with plans for an opening between the 2 rooms soon. We appreciate Paul, Gordon and Marcus for their time and energy to make that space available for our use. And THANKS to several supportive folks who have recently donated fabric, supplies and sewing machines.
Recently we held a workshop for kids & youth to learn of and appreciate the art of quilting. Over 20 came, with each making a heart block (some more than 1) that will be sewn into a quilt for raffle. Thanks to all the PIECEMAKERS and MOMS who helped out with cutting, sewing, ironing, etc.
We meet twice a month: 1st Tuesday at 6:30pm and the 3rd Friday at 9:00am. We are finishing up “super sized 9 patch
baby/kid quilts.” Some will be donated to Life Choice Ministries in Manhattan and others provided to area Foster Children. A joint lap quilt was recently completed and will be given to Dorothy Streiner.
Join us on Tuesday, November 5th at 6:30. Deanna Schaaf will demo “String Piecing” with hands-on materials for us to use and Joyce Mermis will do a tutorial on Chenille Quilts.
Blessed are the Piecemakers/Peacemakers for they will be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9
Workshop Photos—Friday, October 18
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Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church
Summary of October 9, 2019 Council Meeting
Call to order: Trevor Jensen, president
Opening prayer: Pastor Price
September Minutes Approved
Church financial report: Members discussed and reviewed current financial report.
New Business:
• Discussion item: Pastor Price shared that Kansas District urges congregations to collect
special offerings in the next few months for missions support. Motion made and approved that
MCLC designate Reformation Sunday as special offering day asking church members to do-
nate for missions and Mt. Calvary will match collected fund sup to $500. Matching funds
amount will be designated from church general fund.
• Time & Talent initiative: Marcus distributed the Time & Talent tabulated spreadsheets and
asked each church council member to study the data and follow up with all new names to their
board to assure the person is matched to an activity they have volunteered for.
• 2020 Budget: Trevor distributed 2020 budget. Each board chair will submit their 2020 budget
proposal by November 03.
Old Business:
• Elders – Lanny Bosse is nominated as Lead Elder for the next term.
• CYM –Ten high school youth are signed up for the District rally. The Sunday School ministry
is Operation Christmas Child. CYM is working on “Advent in a Box” as the initiative for Advent
season. November 3 is First Communion Sunday for the new confirmands. October 23 is last
confirmation class day. CYM has started work up for the church Christmas program. Report
submitted by Paul White.
• Stewardship – Annual financial pledge drive planning is underway with announcements and
letter to all congregation members to be sent out in late October.
• Fellowship – Board is sponsoring a congregation fellowship night at Liquid Art in Manhattan.
Start time - 6:00 pm. Piecemakers is sponsoring Child’s Workshop October 18, 9:00-noon.
• Pastor’s Report – Lutheran’s For Life chapter is meeting at Mt. Calvary, Sunday, October 13.
On Sunday, March 1 our Kansas District Area is sponsoring a curriculum on Apologetics, host-
ed at Mt. Calvary with the core demographic for the study being high school and college age
people. Pastor Salemink, leader of Lutheran’s For Life, will lead the class and will likely
preach at both Mt. Calvary’s worship services that day. Pastor Uber is ex-
pected to visit Mt. Calvary sometime in early December and may lead an adult
Sunday School class. Specific dates are not yet known.
Next Meeting Date: November 13, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Meeting Closed with The Lord’s Prayer
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Lutheran Action Needed: Unfettered Abortion Coming to Kansas
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Grace, mercy, and peace be to each of you from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ! The Kansas Supreme Court decision last April in Hodes & Nauser, MD’s v. Schmidt is nothing short of hor-rific. By ruling that the right to an abortion is found in our original state constitution Kansas now stands alongside New York as among the most pro-abortion states in America. April 26th, 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court took power from Kansas voters and created a nearly un-limited “right to abortion” in our 1859 State Constitution. Prior to the ruling, through abortion re-strictions and providing women with loving options, our state’s abortion rate has been reduced by almost 50%. Now, even taxpayer funded, late-term abortions could become legal in Kan-sas. Essentially, women and their preborn babies are being abandoned to an unregulated abortion industry. As Christians, we’re called to pray for our governing authorities and obey them (Romans 13), but as citizens of this state we have the unique opportunity to make our voice heard and speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, including the preborn. The Kansas District of the LCMS will be uniting forces with Kansans for Life, Lutherans for Life, and the Kansas Catholic Conference who is at the forefront of this mission. Together, united in this God-fearing role to protect the lives of the unborn, we can form a unique and energetic leadership role in executing a strategy to “Reverse the Ruling”. Even by uniting with individuals and organizations, one thing is clear; we will not be suc-cessful without strong LCMS involvement and active participation. We can reverse the ruling and keep life-saving limits on the abortion industry by amend-ing the State Constitution. To do this, we will need the support of a 2/3rd majority in both the Kansas House and Senate. From there, voters will weigh in at the ballot box in 2020. How can you help?
1) Prayer: Please pray for the passage of the amendment.
2) Contact your legislator at OpenStates.org or call the Kansas Legislative Hotline 1-800-432-3924. Urge them to support an amendment reversing the ruling.
3) A Petition has been given to all Circuit Visitors to be distributed to all district congregations. These petitions are to be signed and returned to the District Office no later than November 23rd.
May the Lord bless our work in reversing this horrible decision, and I thank you for your help and assistance.
In Christ,
Rev. Matthew Durance – Kansas District Life Coordinator
BOARD MEMBERS
Adult Education (chair.) Andrea White
Paul White Chris Blevins Ashley King
CYM
(chair.) Jessica Allen Charla Adcock
Josh Hahn Robin Kolterman
Angie Matthews
Communication
(Chair) ________________
Amanda Jantz
Kay Ann Hewlett
Nick King
Christy Roscovius
Kara Titus
Nomination Board
vacant
Elders
(chair.) Curtis Thompson Nick Adcock
Chris Blevins
Brian Blume
Lanny Bosse
Brett Bruning
Daniel Bush
Carl Griese
Erick Horton
Marty Jahn
Eli Jantz
Jamie Klein
Brian Koch Thomas von Seggern
Evangelism
(chair) Kenny Titus Sharon Jensen
Teresa Purkeypile Kara Titus
Fellowship (chair.) Lindsey Blevins
Prudence Fager Susan Hatfield Diane Landon
Incorporation (chair.) Prudence Fager
Carol Brase Krista Hahn
Missions
(chair) Todd Steinbach Robin Kolterman Rev. Rick Lovick Linda Highland
CHURCH OFFICERS
President Mr. Trevor Jensen
785-565-2455 [email protected]
Vice President Mr. Joshua Hahn
785-410-3656 [email protected]
Recording Secretary Mrs. Kelley Brummett
785-456-8349 [email protected]
Treasurer Mrs. Marcia Maurer
785-6337772 [email protected]
Stewardship Marcus Merritt
Trustee
(chair.) Gordon Stohs Pat Burns
Tim Winter
Kirk Zerbe
Paul Zillmann
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ATTENTION BOARD CHAIRS: Please look over your board members and let me know of any changes.
17535 SAY ROAD, WAMEGO, KS 66547
November 3—Daylight Savings Time Ends