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CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH24155 Griswold Road, South Lyon, MI 48178
248-437-8810Fax: 248-437-7708
www.crossofchristlutheran.org Email: [email protected] Like us on FACEBOOK at: www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouthlyon
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 7
Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.Holy Communion is celebrated on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of the month.
Sunday School: 10 a.m. – 3 years old through fifth grade Adult Bible Study: Sundays 9:00 a.m.
Youth Bible Study: 10 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays)Dear Beloved Members and Friends,
During the month of February, we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord on Sunday the 26 th. Transfiguration Day is also the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany.
The transfiguration of Jesus is an astonishing account, with a lot of moving parts. Jesus is radiating with divine glory. Moses and Elijah are talking with Christ about His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. There are the cloud of God’s glory and the Father’s voice from heaven. Peter, James and John were terrified. Jesus touched them and told them to get up and not be afraid. There are treasures in each of the things that the Holy Spirit has put before us.
Parents, God the Father gives us a good example to follow in our relationships with our children. We can love our children unconditionally. We can tell our kids that we love them and that we are well pleased with them. We can be well pleased with our children because they are our kids. We may be well pleased with what our children have achieved in their lives.
Let us listen to our Lord. Listen to Jesus’ Word on Sunday mornings and Wednesdays afternoons in Lent. Read His Word in the Bible regularly. Memorize Christ’s words. Let’s put our Lord’s Word into practice in our lives. Let us love Jesus by hearing His Word and by obeying His teachings.
What causes us to be afraid? We can identify causes of our fears by completing the sentence, “I’m afraid that . . . .” I’m afraid that I or a family member will die soon. I’m afraid that I or a family member will have a serious illness or injury. I’m afraid that I or a family member may need to go into a nursing home. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to pay all my bills. I’m afraid that I will go bankrupt. I’m afraid for our children’s or grandchildren’s safety. I’m afraid of getting attacked or killed. I’m afraid that I will fail the test or the class. I’m afraid that I won’t get my work done before the deadline.
Pastor’s letter continued . . . . . .
PASTOR’S LETTER
Jesus says to you, “get up, and don’t be afraid.” You can get up from your chair and not be afraid. Christ’s presence and words can calm your fears. Our Lord gives you the assurance of eternal life in heaven and the hope of the resurrection of your body. Jesus comforts you with His presence and peace. Jesus touches you with His healing hands and gives you physical healing. Christ gives you His grace, mercy and strength in your afflictions. Jesus will be with you wherever you live.
Our Lord will provide for your physical and spiritual needs. Jesus and His angels will protect you, your children, and your grandchildren from evil people. Christ will help you to study and pass tests and classes. Our Lord will guide and strengthen you to do your work on your job and at home.
Jesus says to you, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” You may be going through a storm in your life now. Christ is with you. Our Lord can calm the storm in your life. Jesus can calm your fears with His presence, words, and power.
Look up to Jesus in prayer and worship. Our Lord hears and answers your prayers. Jesus accepts your worship. Christ gives you physical and spiritual strength to do good works each day. Our Lord empowers you physically and spiritually to go to church, home, school, and work.
May our transfigured Lord bless you and your family this month of February and always! Sincerely Yours in Christ, Pastor Terry Nelson
Midweek Lenten Worship Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m., beginning Ash Wed. – March 1st
C H R I S T I A N E D U C A T I O N
“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
SUNDAY SCHOOL classes are held at 10 a.m. for children three years old through fifth grade. Children are dismissed to their classes from the worship service after the opening hymn.
YOUTH in grades 6-12 meet periodically for fun events. Watch your bulletin for updates. Bible Study is held at 10 a.m. on the first and third Sundays of the month. They will meet on February 5 & 19.CONFIRMATION instruction, for young people in 7th and 8th grades, is held Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in having your child join the group, give Pastor Nelson a call.
SUNDAY ADULT BIBLE CLASS
ADULT BIBLE STUDY has begun a new DVD study, entitled Revelation: A Testament of Hope. Join us Sundays at 9 a.m. for an in-depth study of this often misunderstood book of the Bible.
“For where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them.”(Matthew 18:20)
CROSS OF CHRISTCHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL
“Preschool With a Plus”
Our annual Cherrydale Farms fundraiser (featuring Sanders and Morley chocolates, food items, kitchen essentials, frozen desserts and pizza) will be available to our congregation on Sunday, February 26. An order form and brochures will be available on the table in the Gathering Hall. We appreciate your support of the Preschool. About 40% of the sales go to the preschool. The orders will be delivered in time for Easter.
If you are new to our congregation and would like more information, please call the church/school office (248-437-0871). We offer a play-based program for three and four year olds, with age appropriate academics and kindergarten readiness. Three year olds have the option of a morning or afternoon class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Four year olds will meet Monday, Wednesday, and an (optional) Friday – morning and afternoon sessions available.
We continue to take new students throughout the school year!
Cross of Christ Preschool will be closed for mid-winter break February 16, 17, 20 & 21. We follow South Lyon Schools for mid-winter break.
Gifts to our Preschool Scholarship Fund are welcometo give families with financial need the opportunity to attend our school.
ACTIVE FAITH
Thank you for your donations of non-perishable food items for Active Faith throughout the year. Donations are welcome in the box provided as you enter church. Our church has a monthly commitment of $250 to Active Faith. Your monetary donations are also invited. Thanks to Hal & Judy Nimer for transporting our donations to Active Faith.
The 2017 ALTAR FLOWER CHART
Thank you for signing up to purchase Altar Flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and in memory of loved ones. The 2017 Flower Chart is located in the Fellowship Hallway near the kitchen. Two vases are available each Sunday; you only need to sign up for one. The cost of one vase is $30. Flowers are taken home after the worship service. (When a Sunday isn’t covered, the church needs to pay for the flowers.)OFFERING ENVELOPES
Members, your 2017 Offering Envelopes can be picked up in your church mailbox, if you haven’t already done so.FINANCIAL TAX STATEMENTS
Financial tax statements will be mailed the beginning of February. If you do not receive yours, let us know. Thank you.PRAYER CHAIN
We are currently updating our Prayer Chain List. If you would like to be added to the list, please contact the church office. When a need for prayer is requested, people on the Prayer Chain pray for the need and then call the next person on the Prayer Chain list.
FUNERAL LUNCHEONS
THANK YOU to all who donated food for recent funeral luncheons. Help would be appreciated by donating a dish and/or assisting at funeral luncheons. This ministry is important to families in their time of grief. If you would like to be added to our “Helper” list, please contact Annie Nichols at 248-437-9599, [email protected], or call or email the church office.
COFFEE HOUR
February 19 Trustees March Preschool Board April Easter May Evang./Stewardship
You are invited to sign up on the Information Board to contribute items for the Coffee Hour. This helps spread the responsibility among our members. The hosting Board sets up and cleans up after Coffee Hour. Coffee Hours are typically held the third Sunday of the month.
THANK YOU
Dear friends and Christian brothers and sisters,
Once again our family has been blessed by your wonderful generosity and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. While we could never repay the love and kindness that has been shown to our family, we want you to know how blessed we are and how much it means to us. 2016 was a very difficult year for us as I continued to go through difficult chemotherapy treatments which left me physically debilitated and eventually forced me to stop working and go on full-time short term disability. At that time things seemed very bleak. I did not expect to return to work ever again and we had to begin preparing to go on long term disability which would cause significant financial hardships and countless other difficulties. Throughout it all we prayed that God would see us through and we remained faithful that He would take care of us no matter what. Through gifts such as yours, we felt God working and knew that we would be okay. As many of you know, I am no longer going to chemotherapy but am now in a clinical trial which has significantly improved my quality of life. I am also very happy to report that I was able to return to work in December. I still have various side effects and difficulties to deal with, but because of your awesome gift, we were able to fly our entire family to Florida to attend my sister’s wedding this month. Without your gift, I do not believe that I could have physically tolerated such a long drive and we therefore would have been forced to miss the wedding. I pray that all of you would be able to feel as blessed as we have, and feel the love of Christ that we have seen through you. May you always know that you have made a tremendous difference in our lives and may God bless each and every one of you! With humble thanks,Tom, Kelli, Amanda, Abigail, Lexie and Annabelle Hackbardt
POP TABS for Ronald McDonald House are still being collected. A container is available in the church kitchen.
We are no longer collecting CAMPBELLS’ SOUP LABELS and Education stamps. Thank you!EMAIL ADDRESSESIf you’d like to be added to our email list, contact [email protected]. If you’d prefer to receive the newsletter via email, please indicate that. To check out upcoming events, go to our web site at www.crossofchristlutheran.org. The monthly calendar and newsletter are available each month online.
Like us on FACEBOOK at:www.facebook.com/crossofchristsouthlyon
Love One Another
“It is a new commandment,” the Apostle John told his readers (1 John 2:8). That command is to love others as we have been loved. “Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another,” he repeated in 1 John 4:11. God didn’t just say He loved us. “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16). What are you willing to sacrifice in order to bring the message of God’s saving grace to others?
AREA NEWS
St. Paul Lutheran School – Northville would like to invite any interested families to a
Kindergarten / Young 5s Open House event on Tuesday, January 31st from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for prospective families and students to meet Mrs. Sara Mueller, our teacher, the principal, staff, and learn about our outstanding program. Please contact the school office at 248-349-3146 to register or to speak with the Principal, Mr. Weiss.
St. Paul Lutheran School – Northville would like to invite all congregation and families with preschool through Grade 8 students to join us for a School Open House and Family Fun Night on Friday, February 10th from 5:30 – 8:00 PM. Enjoy some food, learn about our school programs, tour classrooms, meet teachers, principal, and staff; while enjoying 6 interactive activities provided by Cranbrook Science Museum in our gymnasium Please plan to attend and invite family to an evening out with the St. Paul family. We look forward to sharing our classroom experiences, our school, and what we are all about. Come and be our guests! Please contact the school office at 248-349-3146 to register or to speak with the Principal, Mr. Weiss. (This event is co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial.)
St. Paul Lutheran School – Northville would like to invite all congregation and families with preschool through Grade 8 students to join us for a School Open House and Family Fun Night on Friday, February 24th from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. Enjoy some food, learn about our school programs, tour classrooms, meet teachers, principal, and staff; while enjoying 10 interactive activities provided by Ann Arbor Hands on Museum from 5:30 – 7:30 PM in our gymnasium. Please plan to attend and invite family to an evening out with the St. Paul family. We look forward to sharing our classroom experiences, our school, and what we are all about. Come and be our guests! An optional soup dinner is available at 5:30. Please contact the school office at 248-349-3146 to register or to speak with the Principal, Mr. Weiss. (This event is co-sponsored by Thrivent Financial.)
Lutheran High School Registration:Do you know an 8th grader interested in attending Lutheran High School Westland next year? Please note that the registration fee is $100 through January 31. February 1, the fee will go up to $150 (with $50 increases each month thereafter), so now is an ideal time for them to complete this important step! Contact the high school at 734-422-2090.
Summer Camp Early Registration Discount: Summer overnight camp sessions at Camp Concordia, just 40 minutes northeast of Grand Rapids, and about 2.5 hours west of Detroit, are available for children heading into grades 1-8 in 2017, and the early registration discount is available until January 31. Grades 9-12 are eligible for Leaders-in-Training sessions. See www.campconcordia.org/summer2017.
STEWARDSHIP CORNERHave a Heart
February: the month devoted to love. Stores are filled with heat-shaped boxes of candy and heart-shaped cards and vases of flowers with heart-shaped gift tags. All this is available for the consumer so that he can find the appropriate expression of his devotion to his loved one. If that expression of love has been preceded by a year of thoughtful and loving words and deeds, it is welcomed and cherished by the recipient. If not, it is just an empty ritual, done out of duty rather than true devotion.
Our relationship to the Lord is similar. He, too, desires our sincere devotion, not empty lip service. “And the Lord said: ‘…this people draw near with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, while their hearts are far from Me’ ” (Isaiah 29:13).
Stewardship is serving, helping, giving, but love is the basis for stewardship. Without love, our good deeds are empty and without merit. The first act of true stewardship is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus called this the most important commandment (Mark 12:29). With that love for the Lord in us, we are enabled to be good stewards. Then we can do acts of good stewardship, acts of true devotion. We are enabled to…
“Give to Him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to Him” (Deuteronomy 15:10).
“Do [His] statutes and rules with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 26:16).
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
God, through Ezekiel, promised, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to be careful to obey My rules” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). This promise He has fulfilled in His Son, Jesus, Who has followed His Father’s decrees and kept His laws for us. As we strive to live fruitful lives of stewardship, at the same time we rest in Christ Who has been the perfect steward for us.
Blessings on your stewardship journey!
ANOTHER THOUGHT . . . . . . . Rev. David Platt mentions in his book, Radical, that he often asks members of his church whether or not they are “receivers” or “reproducers of God’s Word.” He says that we are by nature receivers because we listen from a default self-centered mind-set that is always asking “What can I get out of this?” What if we changed the question whenever we gather to hear and learn God’s Word to, “How can I listen to His Word so that I am equipped to teach this Word to others?” When we realize we have the responsibility to teach the Word, it changes everything about how we hear the Word. May God grant us the passion to share His Word with all people.
Church Extension FundMichigan District-Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Seven Ways to Remember Your Favorite Ministry or Charity
Have you ever considered including those ministries most important to you in your Estate Plan? There are many ways to remember ministries in your plan, only a few of which involve any expense or professional fees. You may wish to consider one of the following options:
1. Amend an existing Insurance Policy to add Your Favorite Ministry or Charity as an additional beneficiary, or simply purchase a new one for their benefit.
2. Visit your personnel office and ask to amend your group life insurance policy or retirement plan to add Your Favorite Ministry or Charity as one of your beneficiaries.
3. Instruct your lawyer to prepare a simple, inexpensive codicil to your existing Will or Revocable Living Trust, creating a bequest for your favorite ministry or charity.
4. If you are over 65 and disappointed with the income you are receiving from your long-term stocks or your certificates of deposit, consider the benefits of placing some of your assets in the Charitable Gift Annuity. Most likely, your lifetime income would increase. In addition, you would avoid capital gain taxes and receive a current income tax deduction for a portion of the gift. After your death, the remaining principal would be given to the ministry or charity that you designate.
5. Deed your house to your favorite ministry or charity and continue to live in it. Your income tax savings from the gift may cover the legal costs.
6. Leave written or verbal instructions for your surviving spouse to include your favorite ministry or charity when redrawing his or her will.
7. If you have a sizable estate, you may consider a Charitable Remainder Trust that will pay a lifetime annual income to both of you, provide an income stream for a period of years to your children or grandchildren, before providing a significant gift to your favorite ministry or charity. The Charitable Trust will create a current charitable tax deduction for you.
There are many ways to benefit your favorite ministry or charity through planned gifts, some of which will provide you with positive benefits during your lifetime, reduce the amount of taxes that may be paid, and support the institutions that are most important to you.
Bill Burmeister Church Extension Fund – Michigan District 800-242-3944 [email protected]
This document is provided to assist you in your estate planning process and is not meant to offer financial or legal advice. Please contact your Attorney or Financial Advisor to obtain appropriate professional advice relevant to your particular circumstances.
FEBRUARYBIRTHDAYS
1 Amelia Hindley
Trenton Lach 2 Zachary Lanczki
Christopher Stevenson 3 Mike Conrad 4 Rosalynne Lockard 6 Charles Hamlet II 7 Marjorie Saner
Marci Wasilko 9 Lexie Hackbardt11 Noah Kreipke15 Lauren Lanczki16 Robert Beyer
Nancy Ulrich17 Myra Prueter18 Michael Faust21 Dominick Eldridge22 Patricia Wadkins23 Denise Gerke
Tammy Wyman26 William Reinwand
Andrew Schrom28 Paige Conrad
Kelli HackbardtTheodore LockardDustin Wyman
FEBRUARYANNIVERSARIES
10 Warner & Arlene Krause14 Mike & Sherry Bugar
Charles & Rose Eldridge
Please inform the church office of any missing dates or errors.
MEMBERSHP
WELCOMED:+ + Kari Ann Bye
By Adult ConfirmationJanuary 15, 2017
MEMORIALS
+ + In memory of Clarice French, a gift has been given by Ken & Lyne Nelson.
+ + In memory of Clarice French, a gift has been given to the Preschool Scholarship Fund by the Eldridge family.________________________________
We thank Thrivent Financial for continued donations to our church and preschool through the Thrivent Choice Program. If you are a Thrivent policy holder and have not selected Cross of Christ Lutheran Church or Preschool as your designated choice, do so at Thrivent.com/thrivent choice. For information about Thrivent products, contact Brian Bower, our church representative, at:
[email protected] call 734-531-8423.
Brian Bower will be hosting a FREE FAMILY MOVIE Event. They will be showing The LEGO Batman Movie and would love to have you join them. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please RSVP by February 4th to the phone number below. As part of the event, they are holding a food drive for the St. Paul - Hamburg Food Pantry. Free will non-perishable food donations accepted on site.
Please bring a guest. We hope to see you there!February 11th, 2017Raymond B Bower
9:45AM
Brighton Town Square Cinema8200 Murphy DriveBrightonMI 48116
Raymond B Bower
Financial Associate(734) 531-84236921 Jackson RdSuite 200
Ann Arbor, [email protected]
F E B R U A R Y, 2 0 1 7 CROSS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Email: [email protected] Office: 248-437-8810/ Fax: 248-437-7708 Web: www.crossofchristlutheran.org_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday+ Indicates Holy Communion
14:00-5:30pm Confirmation
26:30-8:30pm Brownie Troop
3 4
5 9:00am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP (Praise Team)10:00am Sunday School10:00am Youth Bible Study
6 7 8 4:00-5:30pm Confirmation 6:30pm Preschool Board
9 10 11
12 9:00am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP +10:00am Sunday School11:00am Choir Rehearsal
13 14 15
4:00-5:30pm Confirmation
16
PreschoolMid-Winter
Break Begins
17 18
19 9:00 am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP 10:00am Sunday School10:00am Youth Bible Study
20
PreschoolMid-WinterBreak Ends
Tuesday
21 10:15am Evang/Steward.
7:00pm Church Council
22
4:00-5:30pm Confirmation
233:00pm Abbey Park Worship Service
24 25
26 9:00 am Adult Bible Class10:00am WORSHIP + 10:00am Sunday School 4:00pm Rehab Center Worship Service
27 28
