CHRIST COMMUNICATOR

January 2010

Pastor’s Message

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Dear children of our eternal God,

Change is certain as life itself. We witness changes each year that we grow older. We see changes in our families as our children grow up. We observe changes in the world around us. Some change makes us happy. Other change makes us fearful. The older we get, the quicker change seems to happen. What is our solid footing in a life of change and a world that seems to be changing quicker that we can see with our own eyes? JESUS CHRIST. What a wonderful comfort to know that Jesus, our Savior, does not change but remains constant and the same in a world of change. Imagine if Jesus would change and not be the Savior he came to be. Our eternity would be an endless agony of suffering and separation from God. Our life would be one of despair and fear. Imagine if Jesus’ promises to prepare our heavenly mansion or to come again to take us to be with him were changed to be false. What hope could we have for Paradise? There can be no higher hope and comfort as we enter another year than the truth of the Word that Jesus is changeless, faithful, and constant. He is our Redeemer. We have the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life. He is with us always. He will come again in glory. That truth of our changeless Savior enables us to step forward with confidence as his children and ambassadors of his saving good news. As individual Christians and as a family of believers in our congregation, we can serve our Savior and rejoice in his grace to us. No matter what change will come (and it will), we rest our future on Jesus, the same yesterday, today and forever. With his faithful promise, we step forward faithfully carrying out service to Christ in thankfulness, joy and love.

God bless your new year.

Pastor Philip D. Gieschen

SUGGESTIONS FOR MEMORIALS

At times memorials are received without any designation of the gift. Following are a list of approved funds as suggestions for your memorial gifts.

Radio Fund

Debt Fund

We extend our thanks for the memorials and gifts that were received in the past month.

Special Worship Services in January

EPIPHANY SEASON

Epiphany means showing. During this season of our church year we will focus on how Jesus showed himself to be the Son of God and Savior of the world. We designate Jan. 10 as Epiphany Sunday, marking the beginning of this new season.

USING TIME TO MANAGE MY CALLING

Your Stewardship Committee will be presenting a four part series of special stewardship services this year under the theme “Christ’s Love… Our Calling” We will focus on Christian management of God’s gift of TIME this year. Each quarter, we will offer a special service in which God’s Word will direct us in managing time for God, Family, Fellow Believers and All. Our first Stewardship worship service and Bible Study will be held on Jan. 17.

SERVICE OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE

A special service of worship and praise will be held on Sunday, Jan. 31 at the school gym. Service times will be as usual, 8am and 10:45am. Sunday School, Youth and Adult Bible Study will be held as usual. This service will share the similar structure of our Lutheran worship that focuses on the law and gospel in God’s Word with newer musical settings.

EDUCATION - Grow in God’s Word

Our Sunday Morning Bible Class continues to look at the ABC’s of worship. Sunday Bible Class resumes at 9:30am on Jan. 3. Men’s THURSDAY Bible study continues to work through the Book of Proverbs. Men’s WEDNESDAY lunch study is reviewing chief chapters in Old Testament Bible history. Tuesday Women’s Bible Study is review the Book of Esther. Sunday YOUTH Bible study will take a look at Scriptures guidelines for Christian stewardship.

Our weekly Bible studies are listed for you as follows:

Sun. Adult - 9:30am - ABC's of Worship

Sun. Youth - 9:30am - Christian Life Planning

Monday Eve - 6:30pm - Future Things

Tues. Women’s - 9:30am & 7pm - Esther

Wed Men’s Lunch - Noon - Chief Chapters of the Bible

Thurs. Men’s - 6am - Proverbs

Upcoming Events

ANNUAL REPORTS

The leaders of our congregation’s committees, boards and groups are asked to write a summary report of your group’s activities in the year 2009 along with any goals for the year to come. Reports can be dropped off to the church secretary by Jan. 8 so that the Annual Report of Christ Lutheran Church can be assembled.

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE – FEB. 7

Vicar Bodden will be working with our youth during this month of January to prepare and present a worship service that explains the important aspects of our worship service. The youth will have opportunity to use their talents to the glory of God and service to the Savior in this special service. We pray that it will serve to strengthen your faith through the Word and expand your knowledge of our Lutheran worship.

ANNUAL VOTERS MEETING - JAN. 20

Our annual voters meeting will be held Wednesday evening Jan. 21, at 6:30pm as we review our work for the Lord in 2009 and set plans for the coming year to accomplish the Lord’s ministry in our congregation and worldwide. Voters are encouraged to be present as we carry on our gospel ministry and plan, under God, for future ministry.

DAILY WALKS WITH OUR LORD

Please see the WELS website for daily devotions and meditations.

OTHER NEWS

Living Nativity Follow Up Discussion: Let’s get together and talk about our living nativity experience of this past year. We would like to get input from everyone including: behind the scenes people, set up people, planners, actors, food suppliers, spectators or any other way in which you may have been involved. Even if all you did was watch a performance, we would like your input as part of our family here at Christ Lutheran and St. John’s. We will host a gathering on Wednesday, January 6th at 6:30 PM in our school. There will be refreshments for all during this session as we discuss, plan, talk and brainstorm for next seasons living nativity presentation. So mark the date and come help engage a lively discussion as we plan this evangelism event to reach out in our community.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: We would like to welcome new members Gary & Kathy Groff to our family here at Christ Lutheran. Gary is a retired nuclear power plant control room operator and Kathy is a retired WELS teacher. They moved here from Michigan. Their hobbies include quilting, crafts and snowmobiling.

Council Notes - January 2010

2010 Congregational Theme: Your church council has set a new theme for the coming year 2010. We felt it would be nice to stay with the “family of believers” thought, since that truly reflects what we really are as Christians. We also thought it would be nice to stay connected with the school’s theme “Rejoicing in His Love”. Therefore, it wasn’t too difficult to pick the theme “A Family of Believers, Rejoicing in His Love”. Our 2009 theme “A Family of Believers, Serving Our Savior” still applies since as we rejoice in His love we will only feel compelled to serve Him as a response to His love.

Living Nativity Gathering: As a wrap up to our recent living nativity presentation there will be a congregation wide gathering to discuss how this years event went and how we may wish to proceed with this event in the future. We hope to see many members present, those who helped out and those who were spectators and all those in between to give some good input into this wonderful outreach program. There will be refreshments for everyone as we meet in the school on Wednesday January 6th at 6:30PM.

Board of Education: There will be a new Board of Christian Education Chairman this coming year. Tom Boettcher has been chosen as chairman and will represent the board at council meetings. He is replacing Tom Numrich who has served faithfully and well in recent years. We wish Tom Boettcher blessings as he serves in this capacity and thank Tom Numrich for his service.

Weeknight Services: Our Board of Elders is currently discussing a new proposal for midweek services to be presented to council and the voters. Watch for more information in the next couple months as we prepare for serving you with additional worship opportunities in the spring, summer and fall of 2010.

As a family of believers beginning a new year, let’s encourage one another to be faithful in worship and study. Let’s pray for strengthened faith through the Holy Spirit and thank God for our awesome Savior. And finally, let us serve joyfully as we rejoice in His love!

January 2010