Lord of Life Lutheran Church
5051 Pleasant Valley Road Brighton, MI 48114
“God’s Work. Our Hands.”
You are invited to worship with us! 9:30 am Sunday Communion Service
Rev. Dale E. Hedblad, M.Div., Board Certified Chaplain Sheila Andring – Communications Coordinator
Labor of Love Daycare – Patti Fabisiack, Director
Contact us: 810-227-3113 or [email protected]
Visit us on the web: www.LordofLifeELCA.com
Follow us on Face book: Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Brighton, MI
Lord of Life 2018 Summer Newsletter
JUNE 2018 LORD OF LIFE SPECIAL EVENTS
Communion Worship is every Sunday at 9:30 am, followed by
hospitality.
The Board of Ministry meeting is Sunday, June 3rd
at 11:15 am, then will
recess until September 16th
Fish and Loaves will be Sunday, June 10th. Volunteers are always
needed and appreciated, please be at the church by 5:30 pm to help.
Congregational Meeting – Sunday, June 10th
, Immediately Following
Worship Service. Please consider attending this informational meeting
Youth Commissioning Ceremony and Send Off to the ELCA Gathering in
Houston, Tx is Sunday, June 24th
Vacation Bible School
Monday, June 18- Thursday, June 21
9:30 am – 11:0 am
Rally Day is Sunday, September 9th
Kroger Community Rewards Program
Dear LORD OF LIFE LUTHERAN CHURCH,
The Kroger Family of Stores is committed to bringing hope and help
to local communities. We do this through a variety of activities,
including charitable giving, sponsorships and the unique
Community Rewards Program of Kroger. We are also committed to
carefully protecting our customers' personal information. In order to
meet their expectation of privacy, we have adopted a simple policy
to never share a customer's personal information. Our privacy policy
applies to Community Rewards participation as well. As your
neighborhood food retailer, we deeply value our ability to support
local organizations like yours.
Your supporters (22 households) who shopped at Kroger between
1-31-2018 and 4-30-2018 (Cycle 17, Qtr 4) have contributed to your
$83.42 total donation.
To enroll your card simply go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com
Click on “sign-in” Put in your email address and password used
when you enrolled your card. Click enroll now.
Choose the group number for Lord of Life #
83096 Choose the organization
Click enroll.
June Message from the Pastor
“Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:31).
Greetings in Christ! As we begin the month of June, we begin the longest
church season of the year, Pentecost. Throughout the next five months, we will
focus our attention on spiritual growth. This season begins with the color red
which symbolizes the “fire” of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third part
of the Holy Trinity. The Holy Spirit was sent from God to be with us as Jesus
ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit is our protector, our teacher and our
guide throughout life. The Holy Spirit prays to God on our behalf and speaks to
us through our conscience.
The Gospels in the first part of the summer present us with a variety of ways in
which we receive blessings from God. Through our baptism into Christ, we are
reborn into a life that begins now and lasts throughout eternity. This loving
provision from Almighty God is the source for our security despite the many
storms we experience in life. The benefits of believing far outweigh the costs, as
we experience healing of body, mind, and spirit. In serving and worshipping
God and caring for others, we find a measure of abundance and fulfillment that
only God can give.
There is a metaphor from John’s gospel that describes Jesus as the “bread of
life.” This statement sums up all that Jesus said and did. Like the manna in the
wilderness as described in the book of Exodus, God provides all that we really
need each day. Each Sunday we receive a loving reminder of God’s faithfulness
when we receive the Holy Eucharist. This summer we will spend time reading
the Gospels from Mark and John. They are filled with life lessons that serve to
encourage and inspire us on our journey.
This year we will host “Splash Canyon” at Vacation Bible School, June 18-21
from 9:30 to 11:30. We anticipate over 100 people will participate in this event.
Sign up your children now and join us if you like by signing up on the bulletin
board in the entryway of the church.
Join us on Sunday, June 24 @ 9:30 for a special worship service featuring our
"VBS Splash Canyon" finale and our Youth Commissioning Ceremony for our 9
people going to Houston, TX for the Youth Gathering. This will be a wonderful
send-off for them as they join 30,000 other youth from around the world for a
week of praise and inspiration. I pray for a warm, relaxing, and fun-filled Summer for us all.
Serving with you,
Pastor Dale+
REMEMBER IN PRAYER All troops serving worldwide, Brett Bartrum, Linda Smith,
Dave Micula, Austin Reid, Kyle Simone, Heidi Rock,
Joel Disbro, Ann Marie Kargel, Desmond Mikula,
John Freeman, Erick Foster, Annie Sembor, Rachel Postma,
Sally Fetter, Sara Dykhuis, Tony Renger, Marissa Monte,
Matthew Johnson, Helga Jensen, Enga Higgins, Tom Zahm,
Kimberly McCarthy, Therma Curtis, Tommy Settles,
Tim McHugh, Dick Newburg, Dennis McComb, Lisa and Sarah,
Noelle Barrett, Carolyn Mendis, Linda Wilson, Dorothy Woycik,
Will Burgess, Frank Losert, John Staten, Patty Wilcox,
Jack Mingo, Larissa Kramer, Duane and Carol Lenninger
and Emma Roberts.
In sympathy for the family of Harv Wedell.
PEOPLE ALL WRAPPED UP
IN THEMSELVES MAKE A
PRETTY SMALL PACKAGE.
“Jesus replied, ‘. . . and love your
neighbor as yourself’ ” (Matthew
19:19).
About Lord of Life Lutheran Church
“God’s work. Our Hands.”
Welcome to Lord of Life – Pastor Dale Hedblad leads our worship each Sunday. Our worship is hands-free (no book). Just follow the Power Point liturgy on the big screen. Our Church – Lord of Life Lutheran Church is a member of the Southeast Michigan Synod branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ELCA is the largest Lutheran Church body, consisting of 4.6 million members worldwide. Lord of Life was established as a mission development on May 21, 1972. Our current pastor, Dale Hedblad, has a Master of Divinity Degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Oh. He is one of two specialized ministers in the Southeast Michigan Synod. Pastor Hedblad is also a Board Certified Chaplain and is on-call at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. If you would like to learn more about Pastor Hedblad, there is a brief biography under the picture of Pastor Dale and his wife, Colleen, as you exit the sanctuary. Currently, Lord of Life consists of 578 members. Lord of Life is active in the Brighton Community with several ministries including: Vacation Bible School, Love INC., Gleaners Food Bank, Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity, Juvenile Diabetes Research, Fish & Loaves, Red Cross Blood Drives, Kids Against Hunger, Bountiful Harvest Food Pantry and our annual Christmas “Adopt-A-Family” giving tree. Lord of Life is always open to joining or initiating new ministries that are consistent with our mission statement and our core values:
“Gods Work. Our Hands.”
Compassion
Discipleship
Hospitality
Commitment to excellence
JUNE ANNIVERSARIES
Have a wonderful anniversary!
14 – Howard & Debbie Renton
20 – Craig & Kathleen Johnson
27 – Chuck & Gloria McCracken
28 – Dan & Teresa Hedblad
JULY ANNIVERSARIES
2 – Douglas & Nancy Rice
15 – Phillip & Deanna Lamoreaux
17 – Alton & Shirley Bartrum
19 – John & Kathy Hartman
24 – Jeremy & Christine Hubbell, Jon & Bonnie Unruh
26 – David and Lynn Burgess
AUGUST ANNIVERSARIES 12 – Mike & DeLynn Garcia
JUNE BIRTHDAY’S
01 – Rylie Kay Madison & Alyssa White
02 –Joy Staisil, Colin Olsen & Nathan Hubbell
04 – Brendan Unruh
05 –Vicky Jollitz & Michelle Garcia
07 – Dennis Kallio & Monique Elphinstone
08 – Glenn Kelly
08 – Aaron Renton
09 – Katie Moore
10 – Erik Kallio
12 – Aaron Hawley
14 – Zane King
15 – Samantha Hawley
17 – Linda Lamoreaux
18 – Cris Keech & Gina Leinninger
19 – Kara Leinninger
20 – Ryan Hedblad, Julia Farmer
25 – Harper Grace Chewning
26 – Scott Myrand
30 – Lindsey Rowell
JULY BIRTHDAY’S
03 – Kayla Harper
04 – Dana Hahne
06 – Dan Raszkowski
09 – Marley Simpson
11 – Linda LaPlatt
12 – Michelle M White
13 – Andrea Burdick, Becca Hawley
14 – Mike Garcia
15 – Sara Wedell
16 – Andrew Everson
17 – Brian Klaus
18 – Duane Leinninger
19 – Dan Chewning
21 – Pastor Dale Hedblad
23 – Olivia Hubbell
28 – Vance King
30 – Megan LaPlatt
31 – Tanya & Timothy Newberg
AUGUST BIRTHDAY’S
03 – Ariana Hawley
05 – Charles White
06 – Jack Losert
09 – Zoeanne McCurren
11 – Alton Bartrum
15 – Matt Schreer & Christine Simpson
16 – Douglas Rice
17 – Carson & Eric Hahne, Emilie Elphinstone & Sheila Andring
19 – Alexa Lamoreaux
21 – Karen Dei, Gloria McCracken & Sharon Zizka
24 – Jennifer Ruso
26 – Allison & Alyssa Garcia
27 – Joseph & Justin Shigley
30 – Gloria Austin, Brett Burdick,
& Sally Sonkiss
God’s Draft Choices
Two of the most highly watched sporting events on television are not when
teams or athletes are competing against each other; rather they involve the
drafting of players for the National Football League (NFL) and National
Basketball Association (NBA) teams. For many hours, fans of professional
sports will watch intently to see whom their favorite teams will draft.
Most of us won’t be drafted by professional football or basketball teams, but,
as Christians, we receive a greater calling. We, in essence, are God’s draft
choices. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go
and bear fruit” (John 15:16). God has made us a part of His team. We are
not chosen by God because we are successful in our careers, great athletes, or
wealthy. God chooses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things. “But
God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the
weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of
this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the
things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28).
Through faith, we understand that we are among the foolish and weak
through whom God carries on his life-saving work. “But we have this
treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God
and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). God entrusts us—clay jars—with this
treasure—the Gospel. Even though we are frail and unworthy of our tasks,
God has chosen us to carry His message of love to the world. As humble
people of faith, we are empowered by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He
transforms and molds us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is
God Who does the drafting and the changing. Through faith, we will stay on
God’s team, and we will bear the fruit that He calls us to bear.
The professional athletes who are drafted are expected to perform. They are
paid large sums of money to do very athletic things. As God’s chosen
people, we may not receive large compensation, but our benefits are out of
this world! Therefore, we are eager to use our lives and resources in God’s
service for His glory. Paul wrote, “For we are God’s workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do” (Ephesians 2:10). What a privilege it is to be part of and serving on
God’s winning team!
Ronald J. Chewning
12 Months of Congregational Stewardship
SCRIP Remember, SCRIP Meijer reloadable cards are available
for reload every week. Please see Colleen to reload or
for more information. Thanks to all who are supporting
the Meijer reload program, it has been a huge success.
Make sure you have a Meijer reload card from SCRIP.
WANTED - USED INK CARTRIDGES
Lord of Life would be happy to recycle your used ink
cartridges. We received $2.00 per cartridge; this is an
easy fundraiser for the church. We have placed a plastic container on
the table in the narthex for you to deposit your used ink cartridges.
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Rally Day is Sunday, September 9th
.
Don’t miss it!
Congregational Meeting – Sunday, June 10th
.
Immediately Following Worship Service.
Please consider attending this informational meeting
Congratulations Confirmands
What a SUPER GREAT bunch of young women and men we have in
our congregation. It is gratifying that both our teenagers and their
families made a two-year commitment ending with affirmation of their
baptism at our wonderful Pentecost service. Thank you, Noah, Ryan,
Payton, Ashlee, Jade, Will, Adam and Michael for making my two
years with you so wonderfully rewarding. Thanks also to Pastor Dale
for his warm personal message.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has said:
“Confirmation ministry is a pastoral and educational ministry of the
church which helps baptized person through Word and sacrament to
identify more deeply with the Christian community and participate
more fully in its mission.”
This definition challenges us to broaden our understanding of
confirmation here at Lord of Life. Our confirmation ministry is much
more than just two years’ worth of classes. To “identify more deeply”
and “participate more fully” suggests that, regardless of our age, what
God wills for us and has begun in us has not been finished, nor will it
be at the completion of our Confirmation program.
By the grace of God, we continue – each and every day of our lives –
to walk in the newness of Christ Jesus. Confirmation at LOL intends
to instruct each individual (children and parents alike) in how to live
out their daily life while walking in the newness of Christ. It teaches us
the promises that God has made to us and how we can depend on those
promises during our lives. It seeks to make the Christian faith and trust
in God not merely an abstract concept, but a personal reality based on
the honest beliefs of each person. It encourages us to live out our
baptismal identity as God’s children through active participation in the
church and society.
Through an in-depth study of scripture, the Sacraments, and Luther’s
catechism in the 64 hour-and-a-half lessons (in class) and through
experiences of worship (sermon reports) and the Christian life
(service), students come to a deeper and more personal understanding
of their faith. At the completion of their two years of study and service
our eight students were called upon to make a confession of faith
before their congregation.
Confirmation is a journey of faith filled with new questions and
answers, new discoveries, new relationships, new responsibilities, and
always new possibilities. Clearly, confirmation is intended to be a
milestone, not a destination; it is not graduation! Rather, Confirmation
is a tool that equips for the lifelong process of living out Christian
identity in a community of faith.
Now, with all that said, I am unbelievably excited to see Sydney,
Rylie, Josie and Austin continue on toward their confirmation on
Pentecost Sunday 2019. So . . . if you know a seventh grader who
would like to join this super group of kids please let me know. We’ve
got plenty of room!
Together in Christ’s Loving Peace,
Mr. Craig