Pastor’s Page By Rev. Hal Toenjes

Among the many gifts I’ve received over the last few months, only one of them left me with the question: “Should I use it or not?” I did decide to use it, but the consequences could be significant. Which gift am I talking about? My brand new, Lutheran Church of Prayer license plate frame! Why should I wonder whether or not to use it? It’s a matter of

identification. Do I want my driving skills to be associated with my church?

It’s sort of like wearing a cross necklace or pin, except more specific. Many

people (including celebrities and star athletes) wear crosses, and some of

them live their public lives honoring Christ and His cross that they wear. To

God be the glory! But many don’t.

To “wear” an LCoP license plate frame … well, that’s not something

everybody’s doing. It’s local, identifiable. Do I want people to see my driving

and then know the name of my local church? Time will tell! But it left me

thinking about the bigger question we all face—whether we sport a public

believer ID or not—and that is are we recognizable as followers of Christ?

Do our lives give honor to the name we bear?

St. Paul understand the challenge before us: For as many of you as were

baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27) The meaning is

that we have “clothed ourselves” with Christ if we have been baptized into

His name. We wear Him—we bear His name. Others see and hear Christ

through us! Thinking about it this way makes the debate over putting on a

license plate frames seem trivial. We have “put on Christ!” He gives us His

name, His forgiveness, His love on a daily basis. And we have the privilege of

wearing Him, of being His hands and feet, of speaking His words to those

around us.

Among the many gifts I’ve received, a license plate frame is nice, but the

best gift has got to be Christ Himself and the gift of His name. Should I use it

or not? By His grace I will. And I pray you do too!

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8001 Panorama Drive Bakersfield, CA 93306 Phone (661) 871-1289

Fax (661) 872-6302 E-Mail: office@lcop.org

Website: www.lcop.org

September 2016 Volume 16, Issue 9

In this Issue

Pastor’s Page ....................................... 1 Birthdays & Anniversaries ............ 2 Member Info ........................................ 2 Board Articles ..................................... 3 New Member Class and more ...... 4 Wonder Window ........................... 5/6 Thank you and more Info .............. 7 Kids Fun ................................................. 8 Flier: Federwitz Calendar September event calendar Serving us in September

Newsletter Deadline! Thursday,

September 22nd, 2016

The Prayer Line

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MEMBER NEWS

Member changes or additions will be posted in this section.

Pastor Hal and Joyce Toenjes, Rachel & Ben 11120 Baltra Way, Bakersfield, CA 93306

661-800-5468

Cards, calls and prayers are much appreciated by our homebound members:

Ruth Jones Carol Kritsch

Delores Markell Norm & Margaret Snyder

LCoP Prayer Chain

When you have any prayer concerns, please let our prayer chain pray for you by contacting Chuck Jordin at 661-873-9565 or email chuck.jordin@yahoo.com.

Online Calendar! Did you know that our event calendar is online so you can access it anytime, anywhere, from the internet? Check it out at www.lcop.org, click on Info Center and Calendar. This will also be updated during the month as events change or are added! To update, please email info@lcop.org.

Join Our Email List! Are you on our email list to have the newsletter and event reminders delivered to your inbox? Subscribe by sending an email to info@lcop.org.

God’s blessings to everyone on your special occasion. If you don’t see your name, please call the office to make corrections or additions. We want to include everyone!

♥ SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES ♥

29 Larry & Jayn Luckey

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

7 Bob Kuster

13 Lane McClure

14 Daniel Cummings

14 Rylee Huens

15 Heidi Frye

16 Ryan Ruiz

18 Marlene Cawelti

18 Larry Luckey

18 Pat Rosenfeld

19 Carolyn Griggs

22 Megan Arnond

25 Ryan Gallardo

30 Trevor Blandenship

30 Olivia Ruiz

We honor birthdays and anniversaries on the Second Sunday of every month. If you would like to help with

refreshments for those who are celebrating, bring your treat to church that morning.

In the Hospital? If you find yourself hospitalized, I would like to visit!

But rather than relying on the hospital to contact me, please give me or the church office a call with your information. I’d be happy to stop by, share a word of Scripture and prayer.

If you have a planned surgery I’d be happy to visit before the procedure. Just let me know the specific hospital as well as the time you are supposed to check in and the time of the procedure. I’ll do my best to be there in between those two times.

Thanks! – Pastor Toenjes

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Wonder Window School Board Happy September from the Wonder Window School Board.

Our new school year is underway and we are having our open house on Monday September 12th. All students will be compiling folders and displays of their work for their parents and other guests on that evening. We are asking for help from the congregation to provide cookies for the refreshment table. A sign-up sheet will be available in the Narthex beginning Sunday, August 28th. Wonder Window will once again sell the coupon books, beginning Wednesday, September 14th and continuing for a 2-week period. The books have many great deals from restaurants and businesses in and around Bakersfield. We will have them available in the Narthex after church, see Vivienne Kuster or Chuck Jordin. You can also contact Charla in the office during the week. This is a fund raiser for Wonder Window. The cost of the book is $25., the same as the last several years. We have also completed the installation of a security system in the Administration Building which will be in effect beginning September 1st. It will affect the manner in which parents bring in and pick up their children from school. Many thanks to Roy Eynaud for all his work on this project.

God's Blessings to you, Vivienne Kuster, WW School Board

Women’s Fellowship Guild Our Women's Fellowship Guild will resume the monthly meeting in the church library at 10:30 a.m. on Monday,

September 12th. Please reserve the date and join us as we make plans for the coming year. Our hostess for the month is Carolyn Schaefer who will be planning

a surprise location for our Dutch Treat luncheon. Please RSVP to her at 283-0486. All women are welcome to attend.

In His service, Phyllis M. Whitfield Current President

Offering

The offering from Pastor Toenjes’ Installation Service, designated for the Federwitz Mission Project, resulted in $748.00 being sent to Lutheran Bible Translators for the Federwitz family. Praise God! Work day - Saturday, September 17th at 7:30am. All helpers are welcome!!

Properties Board Don Votaw, Communications

We would like to thank everyone who comes out on our work days. Your efforts are noticed and appreciated. Our next meeting is Monday sept 12th at 7pm. Our next work day is Saturday Sept 17th at 7:30am. We’re looking forward to seeing you. Continue to pray for our Pastor and family, for those states that are getting an abundance of rain and those states that are getting less rain than needed. Pray for our church body and the outreach programs that are going on. Thank you all.

God’s Blessings, Properties Board

Mission Board Meeting

LCoP Mission Board will meet on Tuesday, September 25st at 7:00 p.m. in the library.

Church Golfers, you need to come and join us Anyone interested in golfing, we golf every Friday morning For information please call or text Tim Hartnett at 661-319-8469.

Lutheran Church of Prayer’s 6th Annual Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 15th, from Noon-5:00pm on our campus. There will be traditional German food, beverages, cake walk, corn hole tournament and music by “The OG’s” (Old Guys Ed & Chuck)! There will be the popular theme gift baskets to win too! Best of all, is the time spent with family and friends in Christian fellowship. So please join us in celebrating the fall season and purchase your advanced tickets soon that are available in the narthex or from a SAM board member. Please sign up to help out for a short time in one of the booths and give everyone a chance to enjoy this fun event!

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Inquirer’s Class Pastor will be leading an adult confirmation class at Lutheran Church of Prayer on Tuesday nights at 7:00 starting September 13. The course will cover the basics of the Christian faith and life and will review the Bible’s teachings following the outline of Luther’s Small Catechism. If you are interested in attending, please contact pastor or the church office.

PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON

BUT WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR PRIVATE ROOM, SHUT YOUR DOOR AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN SECRET. AND YOUR FATHER WHO SEES IN SECRET WILL REWRD YOU. Matthew 6:6 The POWER OF PRAYER taken from the movie, WAR ROOM, will be the topic of the BIBLE STUDY that will be held at the home of Marilyn Wilson, beginning of Thursday, September 8th at 7:00 P.M. Contact her at 872-5299 or 437-7381.

Schaefer Bible Study – will start Wednesday, August 31st. Every Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M. at their home.

SAM (Service and Activities Ministry)

Have you ever wondered Who and What is SAM? As you can see from above, SAM is the Service and Activities Ministry board here at LCoP. Our purpose is to promote events and service projects that involve the Church, Wonder Window families, and the community at large. Some events that we have promoted include luncheons, suppers, Wonder Window activities, Oktoberfest, Trunk and Treat, parking lot sale, new member gifts and Thanksgiving gift baskets We are the largest ministry board (12+) but would love to have your thoughts and ideas and HELP! Our congregation has always jumped in to help when called upon! Thank you. If you would like to attend a meeting (yes we are a bit loud), we meet on the 3rd Monday of the month @ 6:30 pm in the Library. Have questions? See Linda Hartnett, Kristy Sturz or Kathy Vergon.

We would like to say a Big Thank You to all that

contributed to the gift card tree and helped with the

installation dinner for Pastor Hal, Joyce, Rachel and Ben.

We have been blessed in so many ways!

Pastor’s Page (Continued from page 1)

LCoP to D2MC

Soon after arriving in June LCoP received an invitation from Pastor Bob Newton, the president of our church body’s

California-Nevada-Hawaii District. The invitation was to participate in a series of regional missions training seminars

sponsored by the Pastoral Leadership Institute known as “Discipleship to Missional Community” aka “D2MC.” It is

an honor to be invited to participate, and after conferring with LCoP’s Board of Directors it was decided that we

would participate.

The goal is equip LCoP with a culture of reproducible discipleship, in faithfulness to Jesus’ own mandate to “make

disciples” (Matthew 28:19), with a focus on Christ that will lead us to communicate with and reach out to people on

the margins or outside of the church. The world around us is changing, especially in its view and appreciation of the

role Christians and Christian churches play in our community. We need to remain focused on our Lord’s mission of

making disciples and on communicating in ways that reach out with His clear Word of Law and Gospel.

The D2MC program commitment is for 2½ years and includes two “immersion experiences” each year (for a total of

five) at different west coast LCMS host congregations. The first event is in October in Oregon City, Oregon. Pastor

and Joyce will be attending, as will three LCoP members recommended by the Board of Directors who have agreed

to join in the D2MC program: Lyn Espericueta, Marilyn Wilson and David Madding. There will also be ongoing

training via conference calls and online discussions.

More information will be shared as they go through the program. Thank you for your prayers for D2MC and for our

own openness as a congregation to follow where our Lord is leading as we seek to make disciples by reaching out

with our Savior’s gift of life!

But what are we for? The same things that Jesus was/is for: people. We’re here for sinners who need a Savior even when they don’t yet realize it. We’re for the timeless truth of God’s Word. We’re for the Gospel, God’s gift of salvation solely because of His love for us all in Christ. We’re for our community, both at LCoP and the greater Bakersfield area, as people of God interested in serving others with the healing and mercy God alone provides.

We’re for these things and so much more! Doesn’t it sound so much more appealing to emphasize the positive and to live a life focused on it? We’re for you because God created you, loves you, lived for you, died and rose for you, and draws you to Himself in love no matter your background and no matter your sin.

I’m Pastor Toenjes and I approve this message!

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CHILDREN’S CENTER

Ms. Charla Herider

Director

Dear Wonder Window and Lutheran Church of Prayer family,

We’re off to a fantastic start of the school year and

we’re excited to share with you some of our upcoming

events. Please mark your calendars for the following

events and dates. On Monday, September 12th,

Wonder Window will be hosting our Back to School

night. We’ll begin at 6:00 pm, meeting in the church

sanctuary and then proceed to the classrooms. Along

the way, you’ll be able to stop and enjoy some treats.

We are expecting to be finished within an hour. We

hope you are all able to join us and look forward to

seeing you here!

While at Back to School, you’ll be able to pick up the

Save Around Coupon book sample. We always have

such a great response to these coupon books. We are

asking that you show them to family and friends and

take orders. This year, they are $25 and we make a 50%

profit from the sale of each book. It only takes a few

uses for one to “get their money back”. I once saved

$30 the same day I bought the book….my car needed an

unexpected repair and I had a coupon! Everyone who

sells more than 15 books will be placed into a drawing

to have a prize applied to their October tuition. First

prize is $100, second prize is $50 and third prize is $25.

Let’s get out there and sell!!

Our security system is now LIVE! A few reminders, the

fobs are coded to YOUR NAME! Be sure to not to hold

the door for others as their child will then not show

who dropped them off. There is no parking in the

round-about. Please park in a designated parking

space. Finally, if you are sending someone else to pick

up your child, they MUST be on the pick-up list and if

they don’t have a fob…they must arrive before 4:30

p.m. Thank you all for your cooperation!

Our students are enjoying Chapel with Pastor! He

always has a new song to teach us and he plays the

guitar. The children tend to clap when they are finished

singing. Sometimes, it feels like we’re attending a

concert. You can always check the lesson plans in the

classroom to see what Bible story we are focusing on

for the week. Some of our stories for September are:

Jacob’s Lie, Jacob’s Ladder and Crossing the Red Sea.

Remember, for the older children, there are memory

verses. Please help your child weekly.

Our curriculum themes for the month of September are

as follow: All About Me, My Feelings, My Family, Farm

and Farm Animals and The County Fair. The letters for

the 2’s and 3’s are A, B and C. The color is red and our

shape is a circle. Please refer to the teacher’s

information for the Pre-K children’s letters and sounds.

On October 6th and 7th, we will be having Lil Angels

Photographers here at Wonder Window. All children

will have their pictures taken and you will be sent a

proof and envelope to choose your photos. Be sure to

dress them in bright colors for the best photos. We will

make sure to wash up little hands and faces!

There are many other fun and exciting events coming

up throughout the year. Be sure to read the monthly

newsletter as it contains important information

including dates and items needed!

Finally, I would like to thank the members of Lutheran

Church of Prayer for taking part in our Back to School

Supply drive. Your participation allows us to focus our

spending on art supplies, books and outdoor activities

for the children. In addition, a big “THANK YOU” to

Donnie Votaw, Linda Hartnett, Chuck Poynor and Chuck

Jordin for moving and spreading out blue chip on the

playground, keeping the children safe from harm. Many

thanks also for refilling the sand boxes. I still don’t

know how they relocate so much sand!

In His love,

Charla Herider Director Back to School Night is quickly approaching on Monday September 12th and Wonder Window’s looking for some Cookies to serve our parents and children. If you can assist, please see Vivienne or call Ms. Charla at 871-7051. Thank you.

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Miss Vanessa’s Class Welcome to an exciting, new school year! We have had

a great start so far. It’s a joy meeting new children and

seeing those who have returned for the fall. The 2’s are

ready to learn and grow. We want to welcome all of

the parents and families to our Back to School night on

September 12th, beginning at 6:00 pm. We want to

wish Caterina a very happy 3rd birthday on September

1st! May God enrich your lives daily. God bless!

Miss Rachel’s Class

Our fall semester has begun and we’re ready to learn! I want to welcome all of our new students and say, “Welcome back” to our returning students. We will start with the letters A, B and C. Our color is red and our shape is a circle. The children will be given a memory verse to memorize on Monday and (hopefully) recite to me on Fridays. We are having a Back to School night on Monday, September 12th. I am looking forward to meeting all of our parents. We want to wish Andress a Happy Birthday on September 11th! God’s blessings on him! Thank you to all of the church member for the many school supplies…you’re awesome! Take care and God bless!

Miss Stephanie’s Happy September parents and families. It has been so

wonderful to see new and returning faces. Our class

has had such a great start and enjoyed getting to know

one another. If you haven’t read your Parent Letter

please read through the packet and return all items

needed. We have so much to learn, see and do this

year. Time seems to fly by entirely too fast. Please

review all work sent home with your child. As you go

over what they have learned with them in class, it helps

reinforce the concepts. During the month of

September, our phonics sounds will be Tt, Ii, Pp and Nn.

Our color is red and the circle is our shape. We have

many fun activities and events to come. If you have any

questions, please give me a call. Have a blessed month!

Ms. Joyce’s Class

Happy school year parents and families! I am very

excited to be with you and your child at Wonder

Window this year! We are off to a great start and are

ready for a year of learning and growing. Please make

sure you have read through all the information that was

sent home on the first day so you are aware of some of

the things your child will be doing this year. Look for

regular updates to come home! I’m looking forward to

seeing all of you at our Open House on September 13.

This month we will be working with letters p, n, c, k, e, h, r, m, and d. During math time we will work with numbers 1 -5 and sorting and classifying. We will have a special Red Day and also Circle Day to begin a review of our colors and shapes. Please continue to use the classroom book bags to read to your child daily and review any work that comes home to reinforce what he/she is learning at school. My favorite time of the morning is sharing Jesus with your child! I pray that their faith will grow this year and their love for their Savior will be strong. This month we will hear the Bible stories of Jacob’s Lie, Jacob’s Ladder, Crossing the Red Sea, and Traveling in the Desert. A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Lexi this month on the 26th! God bless you and keep you

Mr. Jacob’s Class I would like to welcome all of the new and old

“Mouseketeers” to the School Age class! It’s always good to see new and old faces. This month, the School

Age will be making crafts that have to do with: All About Me, apples and owls and the fair. We will also be

welcoming back Ms. Tammy to do Chapel with us. This is a little treat all of the children look forward to. I hope everyone has a blessed and good start of the

school year and I hope to meet some of you on Back to School night! God bless!

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THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FROM VBS BIBLE BLAST TO THE PAST - I would like to take a moment to say a thank you to so many. 2016 VBS Bible Blast to the Past was so much fun and the kids and adults had a great time discovering God's everlasting LOVE for them through, word, snacks, games, crafts, music and Cooper the Dog. I would like to say thank you to Pastor Toenjes & Joyce for sharing Bible Study time and Cooper the Dog puppet program. The kids love that dog. Thank you too Bonnie Grisso and helpers for serving up very tasty snacks in Backtrack Bazaar. Thank you to Chuck Poynor and helpers for all the fun water play and games that he provided every day. Thank you Teresa Hammett, Cyndee Street and helpers for the very creative craft time. Thank you to my very energetic music helpers who kept us all moving with song & actions. A very special thank you to our teachers, Marilyn Wilson & Teresa Wynn, Carolyn Schaefer, Megan Arnold & Matt Kraley, and their classroom helpers. Thank you to our very special Wonder Window teachers, Ms Charla, Ms Delia, Ms Rachel, Ms Vanessa, Ms Stephanie, and Mr Jacob. And a really big thank you to our LCoP Youth group and friends for being such great helpers. I would especially like to send out a very BIG thank you to all of you here at LCoP for your donations to VBS and our mission project The Jamison Children's Center. I am so blessed to be a part of such a loving and generous church family, all of you provided me with so much amazing support throughout all of the VBS planning, set up and take down. Chuck and I would like to say THANK YOU so much for the beautiful card and generous gift that we received from the VBS Staff and crew. We couldn't have done it without all of YOU and GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE. Blessings, Tammy Poynor 2016 VBS Director

Operation Christmas Child is a Franklin Graham ministry that our church has participated in for many years. Through these simple gifts, we give the children practical items they may need like school supplies, hygiene items & toys as well as the hope & love found in Christ.

A shoebox wrapped in Christmas paper, so the lid can be opened, is filled with items for a child. Now is a good time to find pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, colored pencils, small tablets on sale or multipacks of socks and underwear. You can pack your own personal shoeboxes or purchase items to be distributed in boxes at the packing party in November. See Gayle or Heidi Frye for a complete list of requested items.

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