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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Herald of Grace

Volume 24, Issue 1

January 2016

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A Note from Pastor Pase

Dear Friends in Christ,

We have begun another year. Thanks be to the Good Lord for His blessings of 2015. I enter 2016 assured that

His blessings will be with me every day.

Here is an interesting, intriguing thing I saw on social media the other day: Get an empty jar. At the end of each

week write a blessing you had that week. (Notice I said blessing for the week, not every day.) Place that piece

of paper in the jar. And at the end of 2016 look back and read all the blessings you wrote. I like this idea very

much. I challenge you to do this, maybe even take it up a notch and write a blessing every day. (You will need

a bigger jar!)

If you do this (and I pray you do), label the jar so that it is a witness to you and to everyone else who sees it.

Speaking of witness, I remind you that this is our baptismal calling: to be witnesses of the grace and mercy the

Lord Jesus has showered upon us. This witnessing comes in a variety of ways, some with words spoken, some

with actions done and some with words written.

Sunday, December 20th, my Sunday School class began a study of The Smalcald Articles. This confessional

document in The Book of Concord can rightly be called Martin Luther’s last will and testament.

On that Sunday we began by talking about how we make our confession of faith; the importance of making

such a confession. One of the ways we can make that confession is through a Christian preamble to our Will.

No one present in the class had heard of a Christian preamble to a Will. It is an excellent tool to share with your

family the hope you have in Jesus even as you are now with Him in eternity.

Here is a snippet of a five-point preamble that I have copies of in my office:

In the name of the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

First, I want my loved ones to know that I place my full confidence and trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus

Christ, who promised: “I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me shall never die.” John 11:25-

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As Christians we witness all the time, in all ways, in all places. Many place a witness on the tombstone. Place

one in your Will as well. See me for a copy of this preamble that you can take to your attorney.

The blessings of the Lord are more than we can number. I anxiously look forward to see what 2016 has in store

for us. We know a building addition will be completed! We pray (writing this while I am praying) that our

Associate Pastor will be arriving soon!

We enter 2016 with the joy of the eternal Christ with us via our Baptism into His holy Name. We carry that joy

with us every day as we receive His blessings, as we count His blessings, as we share, witness to His blessings.

A very blessed 2016 to you all!

Pastor Pase

Romans 1:16

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Experiencing the Joy of Generosity In a couple of weeks, we will begin a three-week

stewardship emphasis titled “Experiencing the Joy of

Generosity.” This will be an exciting and beneficial

three weeks of sermon messages and devotions. We

believe this series will be a blessing to those who

already are experiencing the joy of being generous

with the gifts God has given to them, and we hope and

pray that this effort will help many more experience

the joy that comes from giving faithfully and

generously.

When we give to God through giving to our church and others, we experience one of the true joys of being

Christians. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts

20:35). God doesn’t need our gifts, but He asks us to give them. He

accepts and uses them and gives us joy in sharing them. As we respond

to God’s love for us by giving back to Him part of what He’s given to

us, He reacts by giving us even more. “Give, and it will be given to

you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will

be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured

back to you” (Luke 6:38). Although we don’t give so that we will

receive God’s blessings, God’s Word promises us that, when we give

faithfully and willingly, we will receive an abundance of spiritual

blessings and, for some, material blessings as well.

Have you ever wondered why you are left with such a joyful feeling

when you are able to give a gift to your church or to help a person in

need? The answer to that question may be rooted in us as Christians

who are being recreated in the image of God. To be made in God’s

image means we are made to be like Him whose nature is to give.

Giving helps us feel fulfilled as we reflect His nature. Although the

image of God was lost by sin, as those converted by faith in Jesus, we

“have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after

the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:10). Our Creator empowers us

to give joyfully to our church and others according to His will. With

this attitude of joyful gratitude, God keeps us close to Him, and others

see His image through us.

Our pursuit for fulfillment and joy culminates in the discovery that we

receive those things when, by God’s grace, we respond with eagerness

to God’s directive to give. Like David, we exclaim, “But who [are

we]…that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things

come from You, and of Your own have we give You” (1 Chronicles 29;

14).

We hope and pray that the emphasis “Experiencing the Joy of

Generosity” will be a blessing to you and your family.

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Experiencing the

Joy of Generosity (Beginning January 10, 2016)

The Joy of Receiving God’s Blessings

The Joy of Managing God’s Blessings

The Joy of Sharing God’s Blessings

Commitment Sunday is January 31, 2016.

Watch your mailbox for 2016 commitment form.

Muslims and the Gospel, From Challenges to Opportunities

Getting to Know our Muslim Friends Rev. Dr. Abjar Bahkou

Saturday, January 9, 2016

9:00am-3:00pm Challenges…

Islam is the major world religion to rise since the birth of Christianity. It is the only major world religion to

claim to reform Christianity. And it is the only major world religion to use many Christian scriptures, symbols,

thoughts, and sentiments but interpret them with a different conclusion. This seminar will examine these

challenges.

Other challenging questions are: Are ISIS, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram and other terrorist Islamic group following

Islam or not? Why should we in the West, and here in Texas, be interested in Islam? What challenges does this

present to us as Disciples of Christ?

Opportunities…

What do Muslims believe? How do they see life? What moves their emotion? Where do we start when it come

to the Good News of the Gospel? What is happening in the world of Islam? The Seminar will encourage and

equip you to meet Muslims as friends and people who God loved and wants to include in His family.

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† Share God’s Grace

† Live His Word

† Make disciples

Open invitation to visit or join!

G.R.A.C.E. Connections are the congregation in

mission. They are groups of 4 to 12 people who

come together and are intentionally led in the

mission statement of our congregation:

Men’s/Women’s Groups

Men of Grace

We meet Wednesday mornings at

6:45am in the Altar Guild Room.

Sonshine Women

We meet Wednesday mornings at

6:45am in the Parlor.

S.O.S.

(Surviving on Scripture)

Meet 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 6:00pm. We

are single women ages 50+ meeting at

1105 Delmar.

Carol Massie, leader 638.4153,

Mary Morgan, apprentice leader

Grace Girls

Kelli Jones & Tiffani Hamilton, leaders.

Check back here for meeting

information!

Mixed Groups

Graceful Seniors

We meet 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 10:15am in

the Community Room. Pastor Pase, leader

God’s Groupies

We meet 1st & 3rd Tuesdays at 7:30pm.

Rotate homes. Bill Hartzoge, leader,

432.694.6417

B.A.S.I.C.

(Brothers and Sisters in Christ)

We meet 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

We are a couples group in our 20s & 30s

meeting at 2501 Texland Circle.

Childcare. Ryan & Tiffani Hamilton, leaders

559.7068, Will & Heidi Krueger, apprentice

leaders

The C.R.Ü.E.

(Christian Relationships Uniting Everyone)

We meet 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 6:30pm.

We are a couples group in our 20s - 50s

meeting in the Community Room.

Childcare. Chad & Lisa Dalager, leaders,

556.2957, Josh & Kelli Jones, apprentice

leaders

Midweek Adults Bible Class

We meet Wednesdays at 6:30pm in the

Altar Guild Room. All welcome.

Fern DeLaGarza, leader

Young Adults

Meet 2nd & 4th Wednesdays. We are post-

college, pre-children adults meeting at

rotating homes (watch GiA for info).

Ashley Bains, leader 288.4967

Seekers

Meet 1st Thursday & 3rd Friday at

7:00pm. We are a mixed age group,

couples & singles, meeting at 2419

Apperson. Gene & Millie Abel, leaders

638.5936, apprentice leader,

Dennis Wehmeyer

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In the News Calling Servants of Christ: Grace needs a few more able

bodies to deliver the DVDs of our service each week. This takes about an

hour each week (usually Tuesday). Take a month and see what joy you bring

to the face and life of those physically unable to attend our service in person.

The sign-up sheet is on the board in the east hallway.

January 4, 2016 we begin as a family reading the Word of

God with The Today’s Light Bible. The readings begin on

Monday so we will begin on January 4th. Watch Grace in Action for thoughts to keep us on track. We are

following the two-year journey.

Monday Service We offer our Divine Service on Mondays at 7:00pm August-June. In January

there will be divine service each Monday except for January 11th as Pastor will be at Circuit Visitors Conference.

Wednesday Meals If you haven’t ever joined us for the Wednesday Meals, you have no idea what you’re

missing! Meals start at 5:15pm, end at 6:30pm. Show your appreciation with a free will offering to help cover the

expenses. Thanks!

6th – Chicken Pot Pie 13th – TBA 20th – TBA 27th – TBA

Starting in January, the Bible Bunch will be studying lessons from Paul. We will be looking at

different inspired writings of Paul. Remember, we will not be meeting during Lent. We will resume AFTER

Easter. Thanks to all who helped with sharing their favorite Bible verses for the Bible Bunchers!

The Grace Quilters will resume their labor of love on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 9:30am in the Community

Room. Please feel free to join the quilters – Margaret Cloyd, Neta Gohr, Ione Graue, Gail & Toni Granat, Evelyn Gunter,

Annette Hill, Jerry Penick & Emma Ruth Stock. The quilts are given to the needy, cancer patients and those who are in

need because of a mishap in their lives. Anyone is welcome to check us out!

Please join us for a Happy New Year Breakfast! Sunday, January 10, 2016 at 8:30am. The Board of

Education is happy to provide this special treat after hearing so many positive comments from the Groundbreaking event!

Starbucks coffee, breakfast casseroles, fruit and more to be served. It's really as easy as 1,2,3!

1. Fill your plates with a delicious breakfast

2. Fill your cup with your favorite coffee

3. Fill your heart with God’s word & love at your favorite Sunday Morning class!

Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. (2 Peter 3:18)

Graceful Seniors We will be meeting in January only on the 4th Tuesday at 10:15 am in the Community. Our current

study is Zechariah.

Mother/ Son Bowling Saturday, January 23rd from 2:30-4:00pm at Bowlero on Loop 250. Please R.S.V.P

to the church (phone or email) by January 15th.

Voters Assembly will meet Sunday, January 24th immediately following the divine service. Lunch will be served.

Teller$ are needed for February & the remainder of the year. Anyone interested can sign up on the MIT board (east

hallway) or contact Jerry Damm. A teller assists Jim Raven, Grace’s Financial Secretary, in counting the tithes collected

after Sunday service. It normally takes about one hour. No prior training is needed. Jim will show you on the spot how to

help, and your presence serves as an important “control” in ensuring more than one person is present while tithes are

counted.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Y’all are so good to me! I really appreciate all of the cards & gifts & goodies

from everyone! I pray you all have a blessed year! Jessica Morrison

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Thank You! A huge ‘thank you’ to all the Grace members for your very generous Christmas gift! It was truly

appreciated! Looking forward to being here for years to come! Manuel Gardea & Geneva Gavaldon.

I am Blessed to Serve You! Jane and I thank you for the generosity and love shown to us this Christmas,

and every day for that matter. We remember you all in our prayers. Pastor and Jane./

Baumann Family Scholarships It’s not too early to be thinking about applying for these scholarships.

These scholarships are for high school seniors or Midland College students who plan to enroll at a four-year college in

Fall, 2016. Forms are available in the church office. Completed forms, along with transcripts through the Fall, 2015

semester should be delivered to the church office, attention: Endowments Committee. Financial aid from these

scholarships amounts to $1,000 per year, payable at the rate of $500 per semester.

ΛΏ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot

fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

ΛΏ In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.

Psalm 102:25

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Birthdays & Anniversaries

Birthdays 1/1 MORGAN GOHR

1/2 COLTER LANGE

1/4 ROBERT PASE

1/4 AMBER PELLETIER

1/8 CHAN PRICE

1/9 BILL HARTZOGE

1/10 MICHAEL PERRY Jr.

1/10 SAM RING

1/10 SANDY TRAUGHBER

1/12 GENE ABEL

1/13 DENAE SCHUMACHER

1/14 KELLI BAUMANN

1/17 MARGA PIPES

1/17 CHRIS POTEET

1/18 ALLISON FOX

1/22 EMILY TRAUGHBER

1/25 LINDSAY HALE

1/27 LINDA GILMORE

1/28 SHANNON BYRD

1/31 CONNIE BARNES

Baptismal

Birthdays 1/1 BRADLEY BAINS

1/1 CHERYL BAINS

1/1 POLLY CLARK

1/1 MARGIE ENGELKE

1/1 LINDA GILMORE

1/1 FRANCES HALEY

1/1 BRENT KEESEE

1/1 LAURIE KOBER

1/1 TEDDY POKKY

1/1 CHARLOTTE POPP

1/1 RICHARD POPP

1/1 LAWRENCE RHODES

1/1 GEORGE ZIMMERMAN

1/5 SARA JOHNSON

1/5 MARGA PIPES

1/7 COREY NICHOLAS

1/7 JOE NICHOLAS

1/13 TYLER SEEDIG

1/17 MADISON RICHMOND

1/19 JANE PASE

1/23 AMBER PELLETIER

1/24 ELLA GANNAWAY

1/25 EVAN HALE

1/28 RYAN HAMILTON

Anniversaries

01/10 Terry & Mike Wells 18 Years

01/18 Jim & Cheryl Werner

24 Years

Status of the Budget

The following is a summary of Grace’s actual revenue and actual

expenses along with the amount budgeted thru November 2015:

Cumulative:

Actual Revenues $570,772.54

Actual Expenses $499,565.76

Revenue less expense: $ 71,206.78

Budget thru November: $685,156.01

Questions on the budget or other financial issues may be

addressed to the treasurer, Larissa Keller, 432.234.4056.

Sunday Morning

Donuts, coffee & juice

in the Fellowship Hall

9am

Sunday School begins

at 9:10am

Li’l Lambs

0-2 years

Nursery

Bibleville

3yrs.-6th grade

East Fellowship Hall

7th to 12th grades

Youth Room

Adult Bible Classes:

Pastor Pase’s class

West Fellowship Hall

Adult Ladies Class

Library

Parent’s Class

Community Room

Young Adults

Room 10

Sunday Lessons

Parlor

Divine Service begins

at 10:30am

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Grace Lutheran Church

3000 West Golf Course

Midland, Texas 79701

Phone: 432.697.3221

Fax: 432.697.3536

www.GraceLutheranMidland.org

gracelutheranchurc@sbcglobal.net

Grace Prays for January 2016 WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING: Protection for our armed forces & strength for the families that have loved ones involved. Wisdom for military leaders as they use their skills to bring peace. Forgiveness for our share in the sin that has brought war. Continued guidance and blessing for Pastor Pase and his family. Strength and commitment in tending our baptismal journey. Our Stephen Ministers and their Care Receivers. Our Early Childhood Program. Our Board of Elders.

OUR HOMEBOUND MEMBERS Polly Clark Marion Mayhall, Brookdale (formerly Emeritus at Saddleridge Lodge),

#1106 Delores Meek Richard & Charlotte Popp, Brookdale (formerly Emeritus at

Saddleridge), #1115 Dick Ragan Lena Teinert, Cimarron House #129 Leona Teinert

OUR MEMBERS WITH ONGOING HEALTH PROBLEMS Shirley Ouzts, Dell Wehmeyer, Jane Pase

FAMILIES WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS Ronnie, in a bad accident 11.07.15, in CCU (Midland College employee) (11.09.15)

Stephen Byrd, broken leg 11.03.15, surgery 11.09.15 to put a rod in his tibia went well; the fibula will heal on its own (11.09.15)

Judy Marcis, the mitral valve is leaking, deciding on heart clip or open heart surgery (Jane Pase’s mom) (11.09.15)

Margaret, sinus surgery 11.17.15 (Mary Morgan’s sister) (11.17.15)

Colton Corder, born 07.10.15 12 weeks premature, home & doing better but still needs lots of prayers (Margaret Cloyd’s great-

grandson) (11.17.15) Brandon Stewart, back surgery 11.30.15 (Mina Fitting’s grandson) (11.30.15) Meredith, struggling with suicidal tendencies, has a 4 y/o son (daughter of a friend of Sandra Parsley’s) (12.09.15) Jessica Gengler, recovering, hysterectomy 12.14.15 (Richelle Gengler’s daughter-in-law) (12.14.15)

Margie Engelke, moved to SeniorCare room 310 for rehab (12.15.15) David Stock, parathyroid removed 12.15.15 (Emma Ruth Stock’s son) (12.15.15) Doris Turner, in HealthSouth after a fall (12.19.15) Luke White, 3 mo., Down syndrome & a heart condition, heart surgery 12.21.15 (son of Margie Norton’s friend) (12.20.15) Michaela Brown, 17, 15” abdominal tumor removed 12.21.15, doing well (daughter of a friend of Stephanie Mitchell’s) (12.21.15)

SUFFERING FROM CANCER Roy Harrison, stage 4 liver cancer, go back to Houston in 4 weeks to see if the tumor is growing or if he has scar tissue-if it's

growing, he will undergo another round of radiation (Kathy Harrison’s husband) (10.07.15)

Charlotte Hatton, breast cancer, being treated with chemo to try & reduce the size of the tumor before deciding how to proceed (Bill

& Jenny Bartlett’s niece) (10.27.15)

Henry Baker, bladder cancer (friend of the Bartletts) (11.06.15) Gene Baker, stage 4 liver cancer (Jessica Morrison’s extended family) (11.11.15)

SUFFERING FROM CANCER John Wood (former Grace member) Our Servicemen: Daniel Frank, former member Betty Patterson’s son-in-law, stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC; Patrick Haralson,

Dorothy Horsley’s grandson, Army Special Forces, NC; Ryan Carnahan, Shirley Ouzts’ great-nephew, Afghanistan

For updates to Grace Prays, please email Jessica at gracelutheranchurc@sbcglobal.net or call the church office, 697.3221.

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This month we pray especially for our

Board of Elders:

Josh Jones,, Board Chair

Gene Abel Bradley Bains

Bill Bartlett Steve Byrd Steve DeShaw

Bill Hartzoge Brent Keesee Will Krueger

Pete Lufhoolm Dennis Wehmeyer Thomas Wolfmueller

ΛΏ

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand

years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering

toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

~II Peter 3:8-9

ΛΏ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1

ΛΏ

““I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the

Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8