GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH a Launchpad for God`s Kingdom

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
a Launchpad for God’s Kingdom
402.371.1044 [email protected] 416 W Park Ave, Norfolk, NE 68701
www.gracelutherannorfolk.com
Rev. Ray Wilke – senior pastor Rev. Chris Asbury – associate pastor
Make plans to
join us for our
Thanksgiving
Eve Communion
Service on
Wednesday,
November 26 at
7:00 p.m. Come join us as we give
thanks to God for our many blessings.
Lyla Fuhrman Appreciation Dinner
No one knows – not even Lyla or her
family – exactly how long Mrs. Lyla
Fuhrman has served Grace Lutheran as
one of our church organists. That gives
you an idea… it has been a good, long
time! Through these decades of service,
Lyla has led our singing and bolstered
our praises to the LORD of all Creation
and Redemption.
In order to properly express our
thanks to our LORD for Lyla’s faithful
service to Grace Congregation, we plan
to host a dinner in her honor on
November 16th following worship. Pork
dinner, baked potato, vegetables, salad,
and desert will be provided by Scott
Owen and our Family Life Ministry.
We hope you take the time to share your
thanks with Lyla by joining us for this
special meal, sending her gracious cards,
and perhaps even offering a gift in the
meal offering basket. All proceeds from
our Appreciation Dinner will go towards
several much needed organ repairs. What
a proper way to bless Lyla by adding to
God’s continued praises. Come, let us all
give thanks!
Deadline for articles for the
December newsletter is Thursday,
November 20.
Sour Grapes
Our good mother cats teach their young
how to hunt. The mother cats take their
kittens with them to show them how to
hunt.
Those kittens become good
mousers. The kittens also learn not to take
on a squirrel that is almost as big as the
cat because it turns into a mortal battle.
The mother cats that sit by the milk bowl
waiting for us to feed them also raise
kittens that sit by the milk bowl.
God had expected his people Judah in
the south to have learned from their sister
Israel in the north what behavior worked
and what behavior didn’t work. God had
been very clear about the things that
pleased Him and those things that did not
please Him. He made a list of Israel’s
offenses. God’s original observation was
given to Moses on Mt. Sinai at the close
of the commandments: “I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children to
the third and fourth generation, but
showing mercy to a thousand generations
of those who love me and keep my
commandments.”
God’s general
observation was that children are likely to
follow the modeling of their parents if left
to their own devices. This applies to both
good behavior and bad. But then God
identifies some exceptions. God identifies
those who had a good father, but still
In 1952 my father and 50 of his
salesmen were asked not to come back to
the meeting room of the Waldorf Hotel in
Norfolk because he brought 2 cases of live
chickens into the hotel. He gave 2
chickens to each of his salesmen to carry
in the territory when they were selling
chicken feed. Those who carried the
chickens actually sold more feed. The
manager of the Waldorf Hotel said that
live animals were not allowed in the hotel.
After that he took all of his meeting
business over to Ed Prengers Café. Ed
didn’t mind the chickens. He liked having
the business. I learned a lot of things from
watching my dad. Sometimes he did
things in an unconventional way, and
when that worked, it provided a good
lesson for me. And when it didn’t work,
that also provided a good lesson for me.
Those are the things that I didn’t try
because I saw that they turned out badly.
Things like driving his Buick sideways
across the corn rows. That always
resulted in him paying for another
alignment job.
Animals do that sort of thing all the
time; they model behavior so that their
young can experience it and then do the
same things, or not do the same things.
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learned to do evil, and those who had an
evil father, but still learned how to do
good.
I went to South Dakota to get hay with
a young man a couple of Fridays ago. We
talked a lot during the 300 mile trip. I told
him about my growing up years and how
my father had modeled inventive
behavior. And he told me a lot about his
growing up years. I asked him how he
was able to become a dentist without any
help from his parents. He said that he
developed produce stands and earned his
way through college and dental school by
selling produce. I asked him if he learned
the produce business from his father. He
said, “no,” my father was not particularly
industrious. I learned it by myself. I told
him that I thought that his behavior was
pretty remarkable, seeing that he didn’t
learn that kind of behavior from his
parents.
Throughout God’s journey with His
people Israel, God was always very
careful to identify good behavior and bad
behavior. He even sent the Prophets and
Judges to model good behavior for His
people. He clearly identified those things
that He judged to be good behavior and
bad behavior. Then He says that the old
observation, that the sins of the fathers
will fall to the children, will not happen
among His people who do rightly.
Ezekiel 18:2 says: “ The fathers eat sour
grapes and the children’s teeth are set on
edge.” He identifies the behavior that He
judges to be good behavior. Ezekiel 18:59 says: “Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right. He does
not eat the mountain shrines or look to the
idols of the house of Israel. He does not
defile his neighbor’s wife... He does not
oppress anyone, but returns what he took
in pledge for a loan. He does not commit
robbery, but gives his food to the hungry
and provides clothing for the naked. He
does not lend at usury or take excessive
interest. He withholds his hand from
doing wrong and judges fairly between
man and man. He follows my decrees and
faithfully keeps my laws. That man is
righteous; he will surely live, declares the
Sovereign Lord.” The opposite of all
these things is what the unrighteous man
does. God’s complaint against Judah is
that they have watched their sister Israel to
the north do all the unrighteous things and
suffer terribly for it, but they have not
learned.
Then God asks Ezekiel to model what
will happen to Judah if they continue in
their ungodly and inhumane behavior. He
tells Ezekiel to pack his bags in the late
afternoon, as if going on a long extended
journey. Then at twilight to go tunnel
through the wall surrounding Jerusalem
and go out into the night as if sneaking
away from a horrible siege. This was
supposed to model for the people of
Jerusalem what would happen to them as
God sent them into captivity. (But still
they did not turn from their evil ways).
Many today are wringing their hands
over the way our country is going. Many
are wringing their hands over the way the
church is going. Things that were once
considered to be sin are now sanctioned,
even by the church. (My wife was on the
phone with her sister talking about all the
biblical truths now being thrown out by
one of the Lutheran Synods). Mixing of
genders is OK. Sex outside of marriage is
OK. Killing of unborn infants is OK.
Doing whatever it takes to get ahead in
business is OK. Child and wife abuse is
rampant, often going unnoticed and
unchecked. Withholding help to the poor
and needy is OK.
When finally Judah was being carried
off to slavery in Babylon, they were
saying that God was not being fair or just
with them. They had gone so far in their
living apart from God’s plan that they no
longer recognized their sin. They had
stopped calling sin - sin! When I was laid
up with gout in my foot, I sometimes
watched movies on television to pass the
time. I was amazed at how hard it is to
find a movie that does not treat sin
casually. Any language and any foul
behavior is considered to be normal. All
the 50 years that Judah was in captivity,
some were looking forward to a Messiah
who would lead them into a new era of
Godliness. They were still a divided
people when God gave them permission to
come home. Some repented and desired
to live rightly, as they waited for Messiah
to come. Others returned to their old
ways. That’s when the Lord announced
that he would judge each one, according to
his trust in God’s promises and according
to his own conduct. This is what God said
in Ezekiel 18:30-32: “Therefore, O House
of Israel, I will judge you, each one
according to his ways, declares the
Sovereign Lord, repent! Turn away from
all your offenses, then sin will not be your
downfall. Rid yourselves of all the
offenses you have committed, and get a
new heart and a new spirit. Why will you
die, O House of Israel? For I take no
pleasure in the death of anyone, declares
the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
It is no small matter, or one to be taken
lightly, that every time we gather for
worship we confess our sins out loud for
all the world to hear. It is good to take
that confession personally and then to hear
the sweet sound of Jesus as He forgives us
everything because He bore all of our
offenses to the cross. Repent and live says
the Lord.
Pastor Wilke
Funerals
Called to her eternal reward: The Lord
has called the soul of Beth Cook to her
eternal rest. A Christian funeral was held
Friday, October 3. “Blessed are they
which die in the Lord.”
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Tuition
Assistance
Dinner
The Tuition
Assistance
Dinner will be on
Sunday, November 4, immediately
following the church service. The menu
includes pork roast, au gratin potatoes,
vegetable, and dessert. Come join us for
some wonderful food and some great
fellowship while supporting Christ
Lutheran and Lutheran High Northeast.
Youth Mission Trip Fundraiser
Grace youth are selling water softener
salt to help offset the cost of the Navajo
Reservation missionary trip. Our first
delivery will be Sunday, December 7,
2014. Please help us by purchasing your
water softener salt from us. For $5 per bag
you can get coarse (blue bag) or pellet
(yellow bag) delivered to your home! You
will be able to order salt any Sunday at a
table we will have set up in the new
addition by the new Mother’s Room.
Order your salt and help us get back to
New Mexico to spread the news of God’s
love through His Son, Jesus.
Baptisms
Baptized during the service on
Saturday, October 4 was Hudson Alan
Scott, son of Nick and Kelsey Scott. May
the Lord keep Hudson in his baptismal
grace.
Baptized during the service on
Saturday, October 18 was Lillyanna Mae
Mrsny, daughter of Josh Mrsny and Leslie
Workman. May the Lord bless and keep
Lillyanna in His care.
Baptized during the service on Sunday,
October 19 was Chantz Ames, Deztinee
Ames, Jazee Ames, and Jazper Ames,
children of Kevin and Jenny Ames. May
God’s blessings be with them.
It’s Time To Prepare!!
Graceland Sunday School will be
starting our preparations for this years
Christmas Eve Service. We will be
learning parts and songs during the
Sunday School hour throughout
November and December. Watch next
month’s newsletter for dates and times of
the group rehearsals.
“Faith is to believe what we do not see;
the reward of this faith is to see what we
believe.”
—St. Augustine
gives us long or short lives, we are
accountable to God for every act.
So why did Paul feel that he must live
to please Christ? What was the driving
power of his life or what is it in our lives?
Paul knew of Christ’s love for him and the
understanding of that love compelled Paul
to carry out his ministry. As John writes,
“We love, because He first loved us” (1
John 4:19). Our love springs from the
foundation of the divine love. Paul was
driven by the understanding of the love of
Jesus for Him. May God strengthen our
faith that we, too, might begin to
comprehend God’s great love for us
shown in His Son and be likewise
compelled to make every effort to please
Him.
Pleasing God
In the Apostle Paul’s second letter to
the church in Corinth, Paul laid out a
statement that helps us understand the
meaning of the Christian Life. Paul wrote,
“So whether we are at home or away, we
make it our aim to please [the Lord]” (2
Corinthians 5:9). This was the aim of
Paul’s life. His whole purpose in life was
to live so that he would be pleasing to
Christ. In view of God’s mercy and grace
to us, we live to honor Him and serve
others in His name. In the next verse, he
extends this idea to include the scene of
the last day when all people stand before
the judgment seat of Christ. He wrote,
“For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one
may receive what is due for what he has
done in the body, whether good or evil”
(verse 10). We should have some serious
concern when we realize that we are
moving on to a judgment in which we
must give an account to Christ of the
deeds we have done while on earth. Let
us make it our aim, whether in the body,
or out of the body, to be pleasing to Christ
in our day-to-day activities. Whether God
Faith Regional Health Services
Fundraisers
Volunteer Services at Faith Regional is
having a Masquerade Jewelry and
Accessories sale on Friday, November 21
from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
All
merchandise sells for $5. The sale will
take place in the Faith Regional Health
Services Nebraska Rooms.
Volunteer Services will also be hosting
a Books Are Fun! Book Fair on Thursday,
December 4 from 8:00a.m.-3:00 p.m. in
the Nebraska Rooms.
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November Birthdays
Noah Asbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/1
Rob Jenkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/1
Amy Chamberlin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/2
Michelle McNare. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/2
Blakelyn Meyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/2
Alexis Baumann.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/3
Robert Turley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/3
Michael Balfany. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/4
Matthew Dyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/4
Trenton Peterson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/4
Sherri Aldag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/5
Angie Baumann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/5
Adriana Faust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/5
Dan Brenneman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/6
Randy Simpson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/6
Erika Ferguson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/7
Aracili Latham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/7
Terry Riege.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/7
Katie Walmsley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/7
Riley Wilke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/7
Chad Wilke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/8
Lynette Barg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/9
Jasmine Ellenberger. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/9
Joni McDaniel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/9
Shirley Sanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/9
Darin Suckstorf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/9
Thiry Kern. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/10
Thom Newcomb.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/10
Lucille Poske. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/10
Chance Watson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/13
Emma Baumann.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/14
Jan Froehlich. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/14
Veronica Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/14
Ray Wilke II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11/15
Michael Pittet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Amy Swanson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brian Barjenbruch. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rebecca Bonsall.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beth Gubbels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vickie Jenkins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Craig Drenkow.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Donald Otjen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jordan Sukup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
John Gilman.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Judy Price.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taryn Zastrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jennifer Ames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lance Conroy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cloyde Stoltzman.. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sue Wyant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Travis Baumann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ruth Lorenzen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kelsey Scott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Becca Asbury. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fred Drenkow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kevin Sullivan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Missy Coler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sandy Jacobi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11/16
11/17
11/19
11/19
11/20
11/20
11/21
11/21
11/21
11/23
11/23
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11/24
11/24
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Lutheran High Northeast News
November 2014
“Sunderbucks,” which were to be paid to Mr.
Sunderman as he regulated the ads and
campaign messages. There was a runoff
election at the end of the first week, where
the top three candidates would continue on
through the second week. The students who
won the runoff election were: Jarrett
Engelbart, Taylor Friedrich, and Sora Wolff.
On Tuesday, September 23, all the students
were gathered in the gym after lunch for the
annual Student Council President Debate for
the surviving candidates. The questions were
written by students in Mr. Sunderman’s
social studies classes and vetted by a
committee of seniors that made up the
Sunderman Election Commission (SEC).
The candidates continued campaigning
throughout the week until the general
election was held on Friday, September 26.
The winner of the 2014-2015 Student
Council President Election was Jarrett
Engelbart. He has the opportunity to use his
position to lead Student Council meetings,
organize events, lead the student body in
school spirit activities, develop fundraising
ideas for students to be involved in, and take
ideas from the students to the administration.
Last year’s Student Council President, Alec
Wilcox, had many conversations with the
administration that ultimately led to a change
in cell phone policy at the school. Even
though the election is done, Jarrett’s
responsibilities and influence are just
beginning. It will be exciting to see what
things he comes up with and works to
accomplish during his last year at Lutheran
High!
From the desk of: Paul Leckband
Principal, Executive Director
Andrew E. Keseman of Lutheran High
Northeast was honored at the Plum Creek
Children’s Literacy Festival Teacher’s Day,
with the Nebraska Student Teacher of the
Year Award/Future Teacher of the Year
Award, a new Language Arts Education
Graduate of Concordia University in Seward.
The awards were presented by the Nebraska
English Languages Arts Council, an affiliate
of the National Council of Teachers of
English. Andrew will again be recognized by
NCTE at the national convention in
Washington, DC and next spring at the
NCTE/NELAC Honors Day at the Nebraska
State Capitol May 1st.
The past few weeks have been busy up at
Lutheran High. Not only have there been
classes and practices, but there’s also been
campaigning. That’s right! We just finished
the second annual Student Council
Presidential election. A few weeks ago,
seven seniors announced their candidacy for
Student Council President and campaigned
vigorously from September 15 through
September 26. The campaign began in Mr.
Sunderman’s senior government classroom.
Students who were not running for office
were selected to join the campaign teams of
the candidates. They spent time both in and
out of class making posters, flyers, banners,
buttons, putting cups on the fence, and
getting word out about their candidates. Each
advertisement cost a certain amount of
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Development News
The latest edition of the Eagle’s Eye
Newsletter is out, did you receive one in the
mail? If you would like to receive this
newsletter with information about what is
happening at Lutheran High Northeast,
please email or call us with you name and
mailing address. You can call us at (402)
379-3040.
Everyday is a GREAT day to use SCRIP!
With the holiday season fast approaching,
SCRIP can help you with your shopping and
your gift-giving. SCRIP is available each day
at Echo Lighting on Omaha Ave. in Norfolk
and at LHNE. SCRIP is also available at all
LHNE home Basketball games.
Chapel Schedule Walking in the Truth 3
John 4
Nov 5 Rev. Nelson-Mt Olive LutheranNorfolk
Nov 12 Rev. Goodman-St Paul LutheranWinside
Nov 19 Mr. Preston Sunderman-LHNE
Faculty
Nov 25 Rev. Weander-Our Savior-Norfolk
Note: Tuesday
Chapel is held @ 10:05 am, all are welcome
to join us.
Activities Update
Fall activities are either coming toward
the ends of their seasons or in the case of
drama and mock trial, just gearing up for
their first competitions. The Cross Country
teams finished their seasons at Skyview Lake
in Norfolk on Thursday October 16th. The
boys for the first time in a long time had
enough boys to score as a team and finished
the year with a couple of runner-up finishes
at two invites. Drama, under the direction of
Brittany Means, is working hard to get ready
for their competitions and performances
toward the end of November and beginning
of December. Mock Trial, with coaches
Preston Sunderman and Jason Doele leading
the way, have enough students for three
teams to complete. Their first round
competitions are November 10th and 11th.
They will have an open house scrimmage on
Sunday, November 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at
LHNE.
Spiritual Life sponsored a PIES for
PILGER night at the Oct. 21st volleyball
games vs. Columbus Lakeview. Over $600
was raised to support St. Johns in their many
needs. The student body was able to hear
first hand from Pastor Makelin at an October
chapel. It was a powerful message for all
who were able to hear his message.
Student Council has been sponsoring
dress down days and has also raised over
$600 to support pediatric cancer awareness.
Funds were given to Team Jack, Sammy’s
Superheroes, Alex’s Lemonade Stand and
Jessie Rees Foundation.
Seniors were involved with both County
Government Day and helping the local
public library process thousands of books.
The library director contacted the school
administration and was blown away by how
hard the students worked and how much they
got done. Kudos to the seniors.
The dance team, besides performing at
halftime of home football games, will be
taking their show on the road to the highly
competitive UNO dance competition on
November 9th. Their coach is Sara Ames.
Grace Lutheran Church
416 W . Park Ave.
Norfolk, NE 68701-5240
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Norfolk, NE
Permit No. 8
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Grace Lutheran Church Officers for 2014
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Finance Secretary
Phil Zastrow
Greg Rathke
Glenn Spreeman
Kristen Rosner
Melodee Drenkow
Elders
Brad Dinkel
David Drevecky
Bob Hering
Bryan Markes
Jim Schaefer
Justin Shaver
Glenn Spreeman
Maynard Thompson
Mike W iederin
Trustees
Craig Drenkow
Shawn Fuhrman
Rob Jenkins
Rob Mercer
Paul Rosner
Board of Education
Linda Baumann
Brian Boning
Phil Carlson
Melissa Dinkel
Barb Schaefer
Fam ily Life Board
Sherry Dinkel
Tim Ferguson
Lois Leckband
Lee Obermeyer
Kayla Shaver
Karri W iederin
Alyson W ilke
Sue W yant
Christy Owen
Mark Peterson
Tori Sullivan
Lynn W almsley
November 2014 Vol. 37, No. 11
Grace Lutheran Church
416 W. Park Ave.
Norfolk, NE 68701-5240
(402) 371-1044
email address:
[email protected]
Website address:
gracelutherannorfolk.com
Pastor
Rev. Ray S. Wilke
84607 Hadar Rd.
Norfolk, NE 68701-1009
(402) 371-3076
Associate Pastor
Rev. Chris Asbury
2800 Rolling Hills Drive
Norfolk, NE 68701-5240
(402) 371-3521