 |
|
|
From the Pastor |
|
Our observances of Lent are past once more. We are in the joyous season of Easter once again. Christ is alive! Alleluia! Jesus said, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." (Revelations 22:13) Christ's earthly life came to an end. He really died. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, was truly dead. His suffering and death paid the debt to God that we deserved, but could not pay. But for us Christians, that's just the beginning of the story. Christ was raised from the dead, bringing glory to God in the highest and peace to men and women and children on earth! The power of sin, death, and the devil is broken. The power of God in Christ is being revealed to the world through God's Word and God's people. For us Christians, every day of our lives is to be a celebration of Easter. Every new day is the beginning of the rest of lives in which we can give praise and honor to our powerful and loving God. A blessed Easter season to all of you. Many thanks are owed by all of us to the many people who have helped make our Lenten and Easter celebrations both possible and special.
We thank Sandy, our secretary; our guest pastors; Jay, our lay deacon; Patty and the adult choir; our organists, Lori, Susan, & Carol; other singers and musicians; the members of Altar Guild, our elders, ushers, and acolytes; Frank & Deb, our janitors; all those who give of themselves all year through boards, committees, prayer groups, and church organizations; those who record telephone devotions; our good cooks; our Sunday School and parochial school teachers; the Good Shepherd Lutheran school singers; those who volunteer at school; those who help keep our yards and buildings in good repair and looking good; our LYF for all the meals and the Tenebrae service; our youth leaders, Jay, Jane, Mike, Angie and many parents. We all praise God from whom all blessings flow, and we dedicate our lives, our time, talents, and treasure to His kingdom, for His glory. God bless you all.
Pastor Hofman | |
|
Deacon's Discoveries |
Decisions! Many times in our lives we reach a point where we must make a decision, affecting our lives and many times the lives of others. One of my greatest fears is being chosen to be on a jury. I struggle constantly with fear of judging others and the lives that they lead. I don’t feel wise enough or enlightened enough to judge others. So I fear being placed in that position!
Others have no fear of making those decisions. There are those who have decided that in order for you or I to be politically correct, we should be tolerant of other religions, other life styles, while at the same time denying us our right to speak in the name of Christ. Christian’s have been labeled intolerant, narrow minded and disassociated with this modern society. Therefore we now have judges who are making decisions about what is or is not acceptable in the society we live!
Here is the trying part of being a believer of Christ. Some liberal believers of Christ would have us believe that when Jesus came to this earth he changed the law. Christ spoke of loving one another but he never spoke of changing the Laws that Moses was given on Mount Sinai.
Matthew 5:17-19 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus asks us to obey and teach other the Laws that his God his Father gave us and to shape the kind of community he would have us live in. He knows that all of us will fall short and sin. He sent his Son to die for our sins on that wooden cross. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die for us, so we could call him Father. Many would have us believe that because of his love we should over look the sin.
Jesus taught us to love one another even our enemies but never did he tell us to love the sin! We read in the scripture about Jesus confronting the crowd who wanted to stone the woman who had committed adultery. After the crowd had left we read in
John 8:10-11 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Our Lord said, “leave your life of sin” not “because I love you and sin you commit will be forgiven.”
On April 5 we have the choice of going to the polls and voting on the Proposition to Amend Article 15 of the Constitution of the State of Kansas. A yes vote reaffirms that marriage is between one man and one woman and all others are void. This would prevent the common law marriages accepted by any other state from being law in Kansas. I have discovered my children know right from wrong by hearing me say NO over and over until they understand right from wrong. I will not judge another lifestyle or that ones sin is greater than my own. I implore everyone to vote in the manner they believe is right. Pray to God and ask for guidance that our decisions be just in his eyes.
May the Lord bless you and keep always in true faith until life everlasting.
Your Brother in Christ
Jay Williamson | | |
|
News from Dr. Schmaltz |
March 2005I thank God for my safe arrival all the way from y home of Kissidougou to the USA to spend a short time with my family and then Texas, Kansas, JF and apparently Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky and Pennsylvania Lutherans congregations plus some medical schools and residency training programs!! He has been supportive and as I read letters and messages from congregation members inviting me to talk and have fellowship with them, this also shows support of me, the people of Guinea and the medical ministry started in Guinea and I am thankful. I am also thankful for the participation and partnerships developed for the medical work- even a signing of an agreement with an ngo for the nutrition project just before I left Guinea this weekend! I will be talking with LCMS WR, likely in May, when I will come to St. Louis for Presentations there and visits with everyone who wants to meet with me. I look forward to sharing with them and all others some of the needs medical as well as innovative projects I have had a part in and vision we have for more involvement in Lutheran congregations villages now that we have established ourselves in the medical government system. I pray God will bless and use my time, talents and service here in the USA as I share about my home and work in Guinea. The beautiful children in the CNY (nutrition) unit sand and danced a thank you (to you) for the gifts of blankets, clothes, etc, from Kansas “love Box” and some Redeemer, NJ left over things my parents brought in October- more about that and other patients’ stories soon.
In Christ,
Kristen | |
|
Scheduled Meetings and Special Events |
Dr. Kristin Schmaltz Returns
We will be privileged to have Dr. Schmaltz with us on Thursday, April 7th. She, accompanied by Marvin Kohlmeier, will speak at Good Shepherd Lutheran School at 2 p.m. Our TIM (Together In Mission) Committee is hosting a potluck supper at Good Shepherd Lutheran School at 6:30 p.m. followed at 7:30 p.m. by a report from Dr. Schmaltz on her medical missionary work in Guinea, West Africa. You may read excepts from Dr. Schmaltz’s March newsletter on page 6 of this newsletter.Quarterly Voter’s Meeting and Church Council
Mt. Calvary Church Quarterly Voter’s Meeting is scheduled for April 26th, at 7:30 p.m. in the church basement. Church Boards/Committees will meet at 7 p.m. on April 19th with the entire church council meeting at 8 p.m. Check your bulletin box on April 23rd for the tentative agenda for the quarterly meeting.
You may become a voting member if you have passed your eighteenth birthday and apply for such membership. The first step in becoming a voting member is to contact the pastor or one of the elders and tell them of your intent. Combined Choir
On April 10th during the Sunday Worship Service, there will be a combine choir of the Adult Choir and the Sunday School Students. We ask that all Sunday-School children plan on attending that day as well as the practices for the children which will be held for a short time on April 3rd and 10th during the regular Sunday-School time. Friendship Circle
The regular meeting of Friendship Circle will be on April 6th, at 1:30 p.m. in the church basement. Topic: Aloha Svoboda, Hostess: Evelyn Baker. Visiting: Ruby Blaske. Bring Mite Boxes. All women of the congregation are invited to come and join us for Christian fellowship.
May meeting will be May 4th, at 1:30 p.m. in the church basement. Topic: Leona Toedter, Hostess, Elda Allerheiligen, Visiting: Evelyn Baker Evening Circle
Next meeting will be Monday, April 25th, at 7:30 p.m. in the church basement. Devotion and topic will be by John Macy. Roll call is “A confirmation Memory.” Refreshments will be served by Velora Wollenberg & Velora Press. All ladies of Mt. Calvary are welcome to attend. Please join us for fellowship and devotions. Mother/Daughter Salad Supper
The date has been set. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, May 4th, at 6:30 p.m. for the annual Mother/Daughter Salad Supper sponsored by Mt. Calvary Evening Circle. Bring a salad and your tableservice. All the women and girls of Mt. Calvary are invited to the evening of fun, laughter, and fellowship. Altar Guild
Altar Guild will be meeting Tuesday, April 26th, at 7 p.m. Men’s Club
The monthly meeting for Men’s Club will be Thursday, April 14th, at 7:30 p.m. All men of Mt. Calvary are invited to attend.
LLL Spring Rally will be hosted here at Mt. Calvary on May 1st. Jim & Edie Jornes from Christian Childrens Concern Society will be guest speakers. Watch your bulletin for more information. GSLS PTL
April meeting of Good Shepherd Lutheran School PTL will be held on Friday, April 15th, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. This is the last regular scheduled meeting of the 2004-2005 school year. Thrivent News Highway Clean-up
Volunteers are needed to help with the annual Thrivent highway cleanup. Anyone willing to help is asked to meet at 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 20th, (rain date April 27th) at the church. We will head out to pick up trash, then come back to church for pizza and pop. Please plan on joining us--it's great exercise, great food, and helps our Thrivent congregational branch! | |
|
Simply Giving |
|
Would you find it helpful to have your offerings taken from your bank account as you do other monthly drafts? Mt. Calvary participates in a program called Simply Giving. We offer this service for people who wish to have offerings transferred electronically to our church's account.
Several who participate have told us how much they like the program because of its convenience. You choose the contribution option you like: weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly. They also mentioned that they appreciate that their financial gifts continue even if they are out of town or not able to attend a worship service.
Perhaps the Simply Giving automated giving program is a way to help you achieve your stewardship plan for Mt. Calvary. You can enroll at any time by completing the enrollment form in the brochure and returning it to me, Craig Lindhorst, or contact me and I will be able to assist you.
| | | | | | Site maintained by: Sandra Swart kdswart@charter.net 1710 Jenkins Street Marysville KS 66508 United States of America Phone: 785-562-2278 |
|
| |
| |
