Pastor’s PageBy Rev. Hal Toenjes

The Gospel Call The past few months have seen a great deal of time and prayer focused on the question of who will be the next Director for our Wonder Window Children’s Center. In its forty-five years of existence there have been only five directors and now with the retirement of Charla Herider the end of May our challenge is to identify the sixth. A Call Committee has therefore been formed to guide the search process. Applications have been received from a number of qualified people in the Bakersfield area, with interviews commencing in March. We are grateful for the response of qualified, Christian early childhood leaders! The Committee is also considering the possibility of extending a call to a similarly qualified Lutheran School teacher to fill the position. The process for reaching out to such a person is similar to what LCoP was doing about one year ago in the pastoral search process that led to my (and my family’s) arrival. Individual names have been received through our Church’s California-Nevada-Hawaii District, contacts have been made, and interviews will be conducted. We are grateful for the possibility of extending a call to a Lutheran early childhood educator! In the end the Committee will consider all the candidates and make a recommendation. If for a local (Bakersfield area) person, then the School Board and Board of Directors will formally offer the position to that person. If for a Lutheran School teacher, then a special Voters’ meeting will be called to discuss and extend a call. It’s an exciting time for LCoP and Wonder Window as God is busy shaping the future of our shared Gospel ministry in this place! Please pray for His guidance for the Call Committee, for His blessing for Wonder Window families and staff and for our mission to be and make disciples.

Continued page 3

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

Fax (661) 872-6302E-Mail: office@lcop.or g Website: www.lcop.org

March 2017Volume 17, Issue 3

In this Issue

Pastor’s Page......................................1Birthdays & Anniversaries............2Pastor Cont..........................................3Board Articles................................3/4Announcements................................ 5Wonder Window..........................6/7Puzzles.................................................. 8

CalendarMarch event calendarServing us in January

Newsletter Deadline!Thursday,

March 24th 2017

The Prayer Line

MEMBER NEWSMember changes or additions will be posted in this section

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

Ruth JonesCarol Kritsch

LCoP Prayer ChainWhen 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.

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

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!

♥March ANNIVERSARIES ♥ John & Diane Lunsford Pete & Kate Zimmerman

March BIRTHDAYS Joyce ToenjesPayton HamptonGary AdamsFrank CressyDon VotawRoy EynaudMegan AndrewsShaun SturzJaime EspericuetaCharles KauffmanCourtney JaquetteRebecca SmithLeo LoudermilkJordan AdamsRobert PalmbachBennie LoudermilkTim HartnettMarilyn Wilson

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.

A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels

your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit;

recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.

—William Arthur Ward

2

Continued from Pastor,

Considering the need for a Director who understands not only the “ins and outs” of early childhood education but also God’s calling to serve, it’s quite important to remember that we ALL have a calling. First, we have a calling TO the Lord through the Spirit’s working via the Gospel message. It’s the call to believe and to receive forgiveness and life. Second, we have a calling FOR the Lord as He places us in His service. Paul wrote about it this way, in I Corinthians 1:1-2. “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” — that’s the call FOR the Lord. “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people” — that’s the call TO the Lord.Knowing those two callings we look to the future with great anticipation. The more we realize BOTH callings, the greater we will function as the Lord’s Church, and the more we will see God doing in our midst. May the Lord bless our efforts to hear Him calling to us and through us.

--Pastor Toenjes

Helping you further the Mission of the Church,Did you know that we have Mission Scholarships available for active members of LCOP? If you believe that God has given you the desire and willingness to spread the Gospel, we have funds available to help you with your Mission. Your Mission does not have to be to a foreign country, it can be in our local area. A copy of the guidelines and application forms are available in the Church office. Applications are due by March 31st and scholarships will be awarded with funds on May 1st. We at LCOP are committed to helping you share your faith and are willing to support you in any way God is leading you.

Work Day March 11th. All helpers

welcome! Properties Board

Our next meeting is Monday, March 13th at 7pm and the next work day will be Saturday, March 18th at 8am.  Weather should be a lot better to get some needed cleaning done, inside and outside.  And we will throw in a few repairs.

Continue to pray for our country, it’s needed.  We have a major war going on.  Prayers for pastor, family and our church body.   God BlessDonald Votaw

SAM(Service and Activities Ministry)

The SAM group is up and running with a full calendar of upcoming fellowship and fun events! We cleaned out the library. We still have some books left, and they will place on a table at the parking lot sale for free. The annual Parking Lot sale will take place on March 18th. (Start cleaning out those closets!). There will be donuts and hot dogs for sale. And free coffee! There will be tables available at a first come first serve basis. A Bunco party is planned for Saturday, May 6th. The proceeds help with the freight cost on the Christmas Shoe Boxes. Our church family is awesome and we want your ideas (and muscle) to make 2017 filled with fellowship and worship of our Lord all year! Our next meeting is Monday, March 27th @ 6:30pm. Blessings,Linda Hartnett,The SAM Committee SHOEBOX UPATE-Thank you again to all those who participated in our Operation Christmas Child project in any way at all!!!  Our shipping money was sent off and already received by Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham’s ministry that includes shoeboxes).  We completed a total of 256 boxes and they went to the Philippines. 

Women’s Fellowship GuildMeetings have resumed this year on the 1st Tuesday of the month in the Library at 11:00 a.m.  Lunch follows as

3

selected by the monthly hostess.  Our March meeting will be dedicated to setting up a Lost and Found with items accumulated in the kitchen areas.  These articles will be displayed on March 19th and the 26th and unclaimed items then will be donated to Assistance League of Bakersfield. Also, a list of items for the Wonder Window kitchen needs will be established. Most importantly please see Sheila Eynaud’s article this month on our ongoing Soup Project!P.S. March will be a bring your brown bag for lunch.

Shirley Curran Secretary

From the Mission BoardThis month’s missional outreach highlight is the Bakersfield Homeless Center. What is it and what does it look like and how can you get involved? Let’s start with a statement from the Bakersfield Homeless Center.“In these tough economic times the need for food continues to rise and many who have traditionally been self-sufficient, have suddenly found themselves seeking assistance for basic needs such as food baskets, or hot meals. Last year the Bakersfield Homeless Center provided 146,629 meals for individuals in our community. This constitutes a daily average of 401 individuals from both our sheltered clients as well as hungry members of the community. LCoP’s missional outreach in this case is extending charity and goodwill to those in need. It started with as idea from Marilyn Wilson. Marilyn shared her desire to help the Bakersfield Homeless Center with the members of the Madding Bible Study three years ago. From that time on you’ve seen Marilyn or someone else, handing out paper bags on the first Sunday of each month at the end of service to the members of LCoP that wish to participate. All we ask is that you return the bags the following week filled with nonperishable food. The food is then delivered to the Bakersfield Homeless Center. The Staff at BHC are so grateful for the food donations. Your food donations have a direct effect on members of our community. Thank you for your support! Wonder Window School Board Wonder Window's enrollment continues to grow which is a great blessing. We also have started our

interview process for a new Director of our school and ask for your continued prayers in that effort. God's Blessings on you all as we go through this season of Lent together.

Vivienne KusterWonder Window School Board

Golf TournamentCome join the fun at the 5th annual golf tournament Sunday, April 30th, at 1pm. Pairs modified best ball (format is explained on a sheet in the narthex). Singles will be paired to keep the game even. The cost is $65 per person which includes green fees, cart, and a dinner at the church after. If you are interested in sponsoring a hole, or verse there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Sponsorship's need to be in by April 9th to have time to make the signs.  Hole sponsorships are $100, If you know of someone or some company that may be interested we have a letter we can send them and after the tournament we will supply them with a tax number for taxes.  Verse sponsorships are ($50 for a sign near the green, $25 for a sign in the fairway). This is open to friends as well as members, and we all know - someone is watching so we are sure there won't be any sandbagging.Most of the funds raised comes from the sponsorship fees so the more the merrier, most of the entry fees go to the green fees and the dinner.  If you are interested in helping and not playing there is plenty of things to do, like the putting contest, signing people in, putting out signs. This year as we have lost two of our fellow golf members that did a lot for our youth many times over.   Funds will go toward the LCOP Youth Center Fund.May God BlessMichael Lehmann Golf CoordinatorMEN IN BLAQUE CONCERTLutheran Church of Prayer will be hosting this concert on Sunday, April 2, at 3:00 PM. You will

4

not want to miss hearing this great male choral group.  The Men in Blaque was organized in 1997 by Joseph Huszti Professor of Music at UC Irvine. The Men come from many professions and backgrounds.

In 2010, the Men in Blaque were awarded 3 Gold Medals and the Championship Trophy at the 6th World CHOIR Games in Shaoxing, China. There were over 25,000 singers participating. They have also presented concerts in Southern California in Europe, Central America and Korea. Joseph Huszti, recently retired as Professor of Music at UC Irvine but continues to direct the Men in Blaque. In July, they will be competing at the International Eisteddfod Music Festival in Wales. Mr. Huszti began his career at Bakersfield College and in 1965, he took the choir to the International Eisteddfod Music Festival in Wales and they won 1st place in the Mixed Choir Division. This Festval in Wales began in 1947 and the BC CHOIR was the first American Choir to win 1st Place. This choir went on to sing for Pope Paul VI in Rome and President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House. A Documentary is now in the process of being completed about this 1965 Bakersfield College Choirs' European Tour. There will be no admission charge for the Men in Blaque Concert but a free will offering will be taken to help defray the cost of the Documentary of the 1965 BC Choirs' European Tour experience.

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.

Save the Date for VBS!This summer LCoP will host two weeks of Vacation Bible

School!June 12-16: Wonder Window (9:00-11:30 a.m.)July 17-21: Church and Community (9:00-12:00 p.m.)Prayerfully consider how you can be involved in one or both of these outreach events!Questions? Please see Joyce Toenjes.

Charla HeriderDirector

Dear Wonder Window and Lutheran Church of Prayer family,

March is a bit of a quiet month for us in that we don’t have any BIG plans…and that’s okay.  We are

5

PARKING LOT YARD SALE!

Saturday, March 18th

7am-12noonClean out your Closets, Garage & Cupboards!

RENT-YOUR-SPACE for only $10! (1 car = 1 space)

Selling Donuts in the morning and Hot Dogs in the afternoon.

Last year was a great success with lots of fun and fellowship. Community, friends and family are also

welcome to sign up.A signup sheet will be in the Narthex. The Service and

Activities Ministry (SAM) will be posting more information in the future.

Contact Kathy Vergon in the office for more information. 871-1289

St. Patrick’s Day TeaSaturday, March 11th, at 11am~2pm Adults ~ $15 Children ~ $10The Loudermilk Home: 1916 Glenbarr Ct.661-703-2441It is a great time, there will be delicious food scones, sandwiches, desserts and more.Also, don’t forget “Real Men Drink Tea, Too” Ha!!! Guys are welcome to come and it is encouraged!

to take joy in everything the Lord provides, including quiet, peaceful moments.  God wants us to rest and listen for His voice.  Enjoy the quiet moments and thank the Lord that you can have them.  In today’s hustle and bustle world, it’s sometimes hard to fit down time in.Our overall theme this month animals.  We will learn more about our pets, zoo animals, reptiles and ocean life.  We’ll learn how to help care for our pets.  How zoos take care of animals and how life circles around in the ocean.  Our letters for the month of March will be S, T and U and the shape is a diamond.  Our colors will be lavender and purple.  We will continue working with the higher numbers and will move from the teens into the twenties with 19-21.  Chapel will begin with a lesson on the Good Samaritan.  We will then learn the story of Jabirus’ Daughter. So, that all the children will learn the “Good News”, we will begin the stories leading up to and including Easter.  We’ll include the Lord’s Supper, The Trial of Jesus and Jesus on the Cross.  We want to be sure the children know that we serve a RISEN Savior before those who are going on break leave.  I am positive that Pastor will have new and exciting songs for us to learn while we are at Chapel.  He has taught us so many songs and the children truly enjoy singing them not just in Chapel but during the day. 

Our Spring Break begins on April 10 and we will be closed on Friday, the 14th for Good Friday.  A note will go out the end of this month so that you can let us know if your child will be attending during this time.  Please give it thought so we can be prepared with proper staffing.  These notes need to be returned by Friday, March

24th so we can better serve your needs.  Thanks, in advance for your cooperation.  Be sure to check with your child’s

teacher for any special days that might be occurring in the classroom.  Birthday parties, family picnics, photo opportunities and just days of fun are always happening and we want to keep you all informed. For those of you who are interested, there will be a parking lot sale on Saturday, March 18th.  You can

purchase a space (one car space) for just $10.  Time to go through the house and see what you are ready to part with.  If you need tables, they will be available for rent as well.   Let’s Spring Clean…you’ll feel good about getting it done.Beginning March 1st, Ash Wednesday, Lutheran Church of Prayer will be hosting Lenten suppers at 6:00 p.m.   These are followed by a service at 7:00.  Please join in and learn more about the LCoP family.  The food is delicious, the conversation lively and the company loving and kind.  Every Wednesday, now through Easter.  Finally, we are happy to have the “Bunny Lady” returning to us on March 8th and 9th.  Please dress your children in bright, happy colors.  She will be bring in her rabbits to take pictures with each of the children.  We are excited to have her back as the photos are REALLY adorable. 

In His love,

Charla HeriderDirector

Days to Remember: Wednesday, March 1st, Ash WednesdaySunday, March 12th Daylight Savings BeginsFriday, April 14th, Wonder Window is CLOSED for Good Friday

Miss Vanessa’s ClassHappy Spring! Thankfully the weather is starting to warm up. We will celebrate Dr. Seuss and his birthday on March 2nd with some fun crafts and “green eggs and ham”. We want to wish Md. Delia and Ms. Joyce both a very, Happy Birthday this month. We will be working on the numbers 19-21 and the letters S, T and U during the month. I pray your month is filled with love, joy and laughter.

6

Miss Rachel’s ClassWOW! The year is moving along quickly! Not too many more months before it’s over. Until then, Spring is coming into being and there are flowers and trees blooming. Such a wonderful time to enjoy the nice warm weather. Our class continues to work like busy, little owls. Our topics for march will be pets, zoo, reptiles and sea life. We wish birthday blessings to Penny and wish her a wonderful day! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, to all. Take care and God Bless!

Miss Stephanie’sHappy March Parents and Families, During the first part of March we will be having our Dr. Seuss Pajama Day. It is so much fun filled with Dr. Seuss games, crafts, food and lots of stories. If you would like to come and read that day, please let me know. Every child can dress in their favorite PJ’s all night gowns will need shorts underneath. This month I will be testing all the students to find out where they stand academically. Every parent will receive a copy of this. Some students might need to be retested at end of school year. Remember every child learns differently and at different times. I have a very young class this year so I can’t wait to see where they all are. Our phonics this month will be Xx, ch, sh, er, numbers 16, 27, 28 and 29. The shape is Diamond and colors are green and gold. Please review all work at home. Happy Birthday to all the March babies from the Pre-K Class. God Bless

Ms. Joyce’s ClassMarch is here and hints of spring have sprung! Thanks to everyone who helped make our Valentine’s Day Party a success. I appreciate your many expressions of kindness. Thank you! This month we will be celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday March 2-3. Some St. Pat’s fun will be had on the 17th. We will also enjoy a family picnic on March 24. We continue to review and work with our letters and numbers in different ways to build our skills! It’s exciting

to see the many ways the children have grown this year! Happy birthday to Lily (1st) and Wyatt (23rd)! God bless you and keep you!

Mr. Jacob’s ClassIn March, the School Age class will be doing crafts for Dr. Seuss.  We will even be trying green eggs and ham!  We will also be doing St. Patrick’s Day crafts.  Pastor continues to come in on Thursdays and have Chapel with us. The children really enjoy and look forward to it.  We would like to wish Charlotte a Happy 6th birthday!  May the “Luck of the Irish” be with you all this month. 

.

7

8