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Try one of our Summer Sermon Series:
May 20, 2015
Attitude is Everything!
Sometimes you get stuck in an attitude that is not so healthy. It doesn’t feel good, and it doesn’t lead to
anything productive. Join our pastors as they explore how our attitudes affect how we live. They’ll talk
about how we can change our attitude to grow into the good life God intends for us, and that Jesus died for
us to have. Learn how you can better live in alignment with some empowering attitudes, and receive some
scripture passages that will help you to deepen that attitude!
Our worship services continue to be Saturday@5, and Sundays at 8:30,9:50, and 11. Join us!
June 6 & 7:
“I can do
whatever I
need to do!”
Philippians
4:13
June 20 & 21
- Father’s Day
Weekend
“God meets all
my needs!”
Psalm 23:1
June 13 & 14:
“I choose to
live in faith,
not fear!”
I John 4:18
June 27 & 28:
“I always have
options!”
Galatians 5:1
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Receive some Biblically-grounded, practical tips for living in these attitudes, and a
“refrigerator magnet” to stick on your refrigerator or on your computer screen each week.
Blessings as your attitudes grow more useful and positive!
See you in church.
PJ’s Corner
Care and
Share
Confirmation
2015
Lord of Life
LUTHERAN CHURCH
PJ’s Corner
How are your grace-filled moments,
otherwise known as distractions,
going this week?
Educational
and Family Events
Sunday School for all ages
Sunday mornings - 9:45 am
The story starts with 3 men that are
wet, dirty and hungry all huddled
under one little umbrella in a Target
parking lot during the pouring down
rain. I asked if they needed some
help and all they said was that they were hungry. I invited them to hop
in the car and we went a few blocks to a place where we could get some
quick food. The ride was quick and smooth. The only thing they really said
was that they were worried about getting the seats wet. I watched these
courteous men shift in their seats for the whole minute it took to get to our
destination.
Pastor’s Bible Study
What happens next in the saga of grace-filled moments? Click here to
check out PJ’s Corner for more of the story.
Wednesdays - 9:30 am
It’s Game Night for the
Grown ups!
Friday, June 5th at 6pm,
Upstairs at Lord of Life.
$10 per person to cover the cost of
dinner. This month’s
menu: Italian! BYOB. (Tea, Water and
Coffee will be provided.)
We’ll have Poker, Rummoli, 42, Eucher and “Oh He!!”.
Bring your favorite Board Game to Share.
Kids age 6 weeks to age 5 are welcome in our free nursery.
Tuesdays - 11:30 am
Strong Women - Strong Faith
Wednesdays - 9:15 am
BUNCO
1st Tuesday of month - 7 pm
Women’s Bible Study
Baptism Anniversary
2nd Sunday of each Month
Ladies Lunch Bunch
2nd Wednesday of each Month
Men’s Breakfast
2nd/4th Saturday of each month
DRAFT at Goose’s Acre
2nd Thursday of month - 8 pm
RuthAnn’s Remnants
2nd/3rd Thursday of each month
Hug-A-Bears
4th Thursday of each month
Homeless Ministry
4th Tuesday of each month
Game Night for Grown-Ups/
Kids Night Out
June 5 - 6:30 pm
Worship & The Arts
From the desk of Rob Hunt
Director of Worship and Arts
With summer approaching, we look forward to some exciting events in the worship life of LOL.
Here are some highlights:
Pentecost, Saturday/Sunday, May 23/24 – Day of Pentecost celebrated with
multicultural music; choir and band at all Sunday services; a cappella vocal quartet
at Saturday@5 service.
Saturday, May 30 – James Sloan brings his bluegrass gospel
group to LOL to lead the music for the Saturday@5 worship service.
This is a well-established group of first-rate musicians with an
enthusiastic following throughout Montgomery County.
Sunday, June 7 – Summer Choir starts with rehearsal at 8:00; sing an easy or
familiar anthem for the 8:30 service. Open to everyone, including kids! Just show up
at 8:00 in choir room.
July 19-23 – Rob attending “Called to Be a Living Voice” Lutheran worship conference in Atlanta;
Emily Borling is guest organist/pianist for Saturday and Sunday services.
August 3-7 – Fine Arts Camp featuring Disney’s Winnie the Pooh! For children going into
grades 1-8, the Camp will be held each morning 9-noon, with the culminating production
of “Winnie the Pooh” on Friday evening. Children will learn singing and music-reading,
as well as acting and movement , and will participate in set construction and costumemaking. $25 per child. Auditions for principal roles will be held in June, TBA.
•
•
We have a pronounced need for helpers in our children’s music ministry. Please contact
Rob Hunt if you are available to help with Fine Arts Camp or with our regular fall music
activities.
Would you be interested in serving on an LOL Task Force for Youth and Children’s Music/Arts?
Contact Rob at rhunt@lordoflifeonline.org.
CONFIRMATION 2015
Lord of Life proudly celebrated the affirmation of baptism of 17 of its family this past weekend. The
2015 confirmands were:
Jill Elizabeth Bohnet
Coleman James Boyer
Brendan Cole Callihan
Braeden Clay Callihan
Brandon Lee Ching
Gregory Kent Collier
Aidan Reed Ecuyer
Torsten Dieter Henze
Logan Kiril Hoherz
Levi Kyle Machac
Dawson Ray McGuire
Carrigan Elizabeth Simmons
Matthew Scott St. Laurent
Garrett Phillip Tomasek
Leonard Lee Valka III
Lars Johnathen Walker
Sarah Riley Windham
Teen Life at LOL
Stock Sales continue throughout
May - Youth Group Latest
Fundraiser:
For the month of May, the youth group
is selling stock for the congregation.
Stock costs $30 a share and comes
with an invitation to the stock holders
dinner held in the fall. This fundraiser
gives you the opportunity to take stock
in our youth, to show them that they
belong to a congregation that values
and supports youth. These stock sales
help fund our trips that we take as a youth program. This year we are taking 23 youth and 5 adults to the
National Youth Gathering in Detroit. These types of trips can be life-changing experiences for our youth
and a chance to re-center our hearts and minds on Christ. Abbie Steiner, a graduating senior here at Lord
of Life, wrote the following paragraph describing her experience with the youth program and our summer
mission trips:
“The past few years that I’ve been involved with youth group have been life-changing and have helped
shape who I am as a person today. Every weekend I look forward to Sunday School and Bible Study/
Worship because that’s when I get the opportunity to strengthen my faith surrounded by the people I trust
and respect. It’s much less intimidating talking to your friends about your beliefs or doubts or just life in
general. The best way that I have found to get to know everyone is through Mission Trips. When you spend
8 or 9 hours in the back of a van with six other people, you get to know them pretty well. While painting a
gazebo, hauling shingles through the heat, and navigating the subway system with 70 people (it can get
pretty crowded) that’s when you become friends and I love every second of it. Even the message becomes
so much more meaningful once you’re surrounded by the people you’ve been living with for the last week.
In every mission trip I’ve been on, the final worship service has been the most powerful experience on
the trip. Youth Group and Mission Trips have been a crucial part of growing in my faith. Every summer I
look forward to what we will do, who we will help, and what I’ll learn on the Mission Trip (or National Youth
Gathering). Thanks, Abbie Steiner”
Mini Mission Trip for Rising 7th and 8th graders -August 2-5
This trip will go into Houston and be involved with serving organizations in the city of
Houston. In the past we have worked with the homeless, children, elderly, provided
meals and worked with Houston Food bank and this year we will have another great
experience. Cost: $50 a person (Sign up by June 1st with Patrick Nazaroff).
Service Project Sunday
Junior High kids pick up trash on the pathways as part of Service Project
Sunday, every last Sunday of the month.
Outreach Ministries Update
Hand of Faith 2nd Anniversary Celebration
Thank you to all who attended the 2nd anniversary event for Hands of Faith, our Fair
Trade store. The evening was a huge success with total sales of over $2,000. Proceeds
from the Hands of Faith Fair Trade Store support small farmers and artisans living in
poverty around the world, including countries like Nepal, where so many are suffering
from the recent earthquake. I also want to thank the many volunteers who came
together. Our store wouldn’t be so successful without you! ALL OF YOU! Together, we
are changing the world, one purchase at a time! We especially appreciate those who
invited others to come. It was very successful, and also, all seemed to be having a lot
of fun! The store was also a “spotlighted” ministry at the recent synodical conference.
Lutheran World Relief Quilts
I had to look at the numbers again—a record-breaking 150 quilts were made
this year!! Special thanks to Shirley Hurst and all the hard-working, dedicated
women who accomplished this! (It is very possible that some of these quilts
were given to refugees in Nepal—isn’t it a nice thought that the comfort of
these quilts may be a simple blessing to those who have lost so much?) 9,240
quilts have been seen to Nepal by Lutheran World Relief thus far.
Nepal Earthquake
Some of our vendors for Hands of Faith have been affected by the earthquake in Nepal. One group said
they had been impacted by the loss of the medical facility
close-by. Lutheran World Relief’s emergency response
funding is now more than $1 million and is actively raising
funds for additional programming. They are working in the
rural areas of the quake epicenter, where they already have
active projects. Staff from LWR’s Emergency Operations unit
are arriving now to assist Nepal staff on the ground. Be sure
to help those in Nepal by giving to Lutheran World Relief in
several ways:
•
Here at the table set up outside the sanctuary
•
Directly to Lutheran World Relief at 1-800-597-5972
•
Online at lwr.org
Please continue to pray with us for the safety of the people of Nepal, and all who work to help them.
Gebert Mission Outreach Fund
Here is the distribution of funds from Gebert Mission Outreach Fund, approved by the LOL Church Council:
•
CASA – $3,000 (trains volunteer to become advocates for children in Mont. County, who have been
neglected or abused)
•
Safe Harbor – $3000 (works with volunteers who help and provide support to children in
Montgomery County who have endured sexual abuse)
•
Kids of the Kingdom scholarships – $3,000
•
Fill the Gap – $3,000 (provides rental deposits for homeless families)
•
Principe of Paz (Prince of Peace) Lutheran Church – $2,500 (provides training for youth to implement
“Camp Hope.” Training provided by the synod office)
•
Lutheran World Relief – $3,000 (for Nepal earthquake victims)
•
Interfaith Community Clinic – $3,000 (provides dental care for those uninsured near poverty level)
•
Orphan Solutions – $1500 (provides support luncheon for CPS workers and for work in Montgomery
County which works to facilitate adopts and support foster parents in their role)
•
Montgomery County Childrens Museum – $3,000 (assists autistic children with special needs)
Food Pantry Sunday
Senior
Sages
The Lord of
Life Senior Sages group is reaching out to the
community and helping a very worthy local facility.
Inspiration Ranch is a volunteer driven non-profit
equine-assisted therapy facility founded in 2006
to enhance and transform the lives of children,
individuals and families struggling with mental and
physical challenges. Their annual fund raising event
is in the fall and the Senior Sages are helping them
build “paddle boards” for their bidding event. The
group is meeting at 10 am on Friday, May 22nd if
you want to help.
Kids of the
Kingdom Recycled
Book Fair
Thank you so much for donating
to the Recycled Book Fair
fundraiser for KOK's clean water
initiative. We were able to raise $427 for our clean
water service project. We purchased a share of
a water well, an irrigation canal, and many water
jugs through the ELCA good gifts organization.
May was another great month for Lord of Life as we
all stepped up to help our community during Food
Pantry Sunday. Check out what Jackie Easton said
on Facebook:
Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.
com/LordOfLifeLutheranChurchELCA
500th Anniversary
of the Reformation
In 2017, Bishop Mike will be
leading a group (maximum
24 people) on October
29-November 7 to Germany
in honor of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
Cost has yet to be determined. Please email the synod
at synod@gulfcoastsynod.org if you are interested and
would like to be added to the email list. The synod will
notify you with the information as it comes available.
And for more information as the ELCA looks ahead to
500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation http://
www.elca.org/News-and-Events/7727
Care and Share
It’s been a tough few months for our members and people in our
community. We’ve depleted our generous supply of freezer meals. Care
and Share Ministry needs your help. And you definitely don’t need to be an
accomplished cook! We like to have several frozen casseroles or entrees in
the freezer for our pastors to take ‘on the run’ when they are visiting those
with a death, illness, or accident in the family. Please put your casserole
or entrée in the church freezer on the top shelf with a label noting that it
is for Care and Share, name of the dish, date made, thawing and heating
instructions, and list of major ingredients. It’s that easy – your leftovers will
be fine too. If you’ve made too much, just freeze it and bring to church.
Meals for 2, 4, and 6 people are appreciated. If you have any questions please contact Nancy Steiner at
steiner.r.nancy@gmail.com.
Thank you to everyone who donated
to, helped with & attended the
2015 Pig Roast. With your help, we
raised over $30,000 for the
Pastor's Discretionary Fund!
Pig Roast 2015
Save the date: April 16, 2016
Mother’s Day Brunch 2015
Council
Notes
The Lord of Life Church Council meets on
the second Tuesday of every month at
7:00 p.m. Here are some of the highlights
from the December meeting:
Financial Statements
You should have received your first quarter
personal financial statement the first week
of May. Please review and if you see any
discrepancy in the statement vs your giving,
please contact Tommy Eubanks at tleubanks@
msn.com or 713-805-4386. Your feedback is
appreciated.
1. Ed Spaulding discussed the consideration of
a new Capital Campaign, and is overseeing a
steering committee approved by council.
2. Approved disbursements of Gebert Funds
3. In June the church council and staff will
begin the study of “5 Practices of Fruitful
Congregations,” to be followed by congregationwide study of the five practices in the fall.
What comes to mind when someone mentions “work”? Is your initial tendency to moan and groan, wishing
you could avoid work?
It might surprise you to learn that God described His creative acts as “work” and
that He brought “work” into being shortly after He created man. Adam worked
in the Garden before and after his fall due to his sin. Cain worked by raising
vegetables. Abel worked by tending sheep. Throughout Scripture, people worked.
Even the Lord Jesus worked while He was on earth, and He described God the
Father as having worked. Work has always been part of God’s nature and eternal
plan for mankind.
Wait a minute — if God created and owns everything, why should we His children have to work? Couldn’t He
just provide for us in some supernatural way that would enable us not to have to work? Surely, God could
do that, but He doesn’t do so. According to the admonition in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, one of the primary
benefits from working and providing for our needs is to be able to lead lives marked by integrity and a
healthy self-respect. And God’s plan is that we are best able to accomplish these worthy goals by working.
God also knows that by utilizing our talents and abilities through work, He will be able to minister to others
through us in an effective way. Work, then, is one of the primary avenues by which we can demonstrate our
Christian faith, particularly as we do our tasks to God’s glory. Work is also the primary way through which we
obtain money to give to God.
What should be the Christian’s response to work? First, thank God for work and for the ability to work. As
Solomon observed, this is a “gift of God.” Second, view your work as a means of bringing glory to God.
Third, whatever you do — no matter what your vocation or occupation — do it “with your might,” as unto
the Lord. And finally, remember that by providing work for us to do, God enables us to give to Him and to
His ministry at Lord of Life Lutheran Church.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
Non-Profit
Organization
3801 South Panther Creek Dr.
US Postage
PAID
The Woodlands TX 77381
Permit #17
Spring, TX
Lord of Life Lutheran
Church
281-367-7016
Fax 281-363-4716
www.lordoflifeonline.org
lol@lordoflifeonline.org
Kids of the Kingdom
Preschool
281-298-9901
We invite you to join us for
worship on Sundays
Your Church Staff
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
www.lordoflifeonline.org
Rev. Gary Heath
Michelle McGuire
Senior Pastor
KOK Preschool Director
Rev. Jennifer Fuhr
Janis Armstrong
Associate Pastor
Child Care Coordinator
Rob Hunt
Carla Summers
Worship & The Arts Director
Children & Youth Music
Lanette Jackson
Sarah Schlacks
Director of Finance
Bells of Life Director
Marna Arlien
Nancy Hauglie
Director of Connecting Ministries
Wedding Coordinator
Mark Ruch
Director of Adult Ministry
Patrick Nazaroff
Director of Teen Life Ministry
8:30 am
Contemporary Liturgical
Jennifer Rowe
9:45 am Sunday School
9:50 am
New Life Worship
Director of Children’s Ministry
11:00 am
Traditional Worship
Anne Swetich
Director of Outreach Ministries
Sandy DeSelms
Funeral Coordinator
Rick Janacek
Office & Communication Manager
Steve Shirley
Building Superintendent