Pastor’s Message
Remembering Your Baptism…Not Just a One Time Event
Your
birthday is a special event. The day that you arrived from
your mother’s womb and that no one can take away from you. Our
birthday’s, especially as young children, are extravagant events.
Friends and family gather together. There is often great food
with a cake or pie, and there are plenty of memories and stories to
be shared. Mom’s and dad’s recall the blessed event with care.
But, want to know what? How many of us can remember the event? None of us can! We know that it happened because you are obviously here and reading this article but you probably have only heard stories of the event. Maybe how long your mother was in labor or that your father fainted when it was time to go to the hospital. Though you don’t remember it you celebrate it with all jubilation.
There is another blessed event that is just as important but does not seem to get the same excitement…your BAPTISM! On that special day you were born again with Water and the Word. On that day a pastor, or a chaplain, or maybe even your parents took water and calling you by name baptized you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
From that time on you were claimed as Christ’s own child. And what great gift this is. “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with
Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we to might walk in newness of life.” (Rom. 6:3-4) On that day you were claimed as His. What an awesome event!
But just as we don’t take our births into this world for granted, let’s not take our baptisms for granted and forget about them. It’s a joyous event to be celebrated just like a birthday.
So pastor, how can we do that? Well, if there are young members of your house who are only a few years old you may still have articles given to them by the church. They may have a baptismal candle, a white cloth, or a shell that was used in their baptism. Take them back out of the drawer and show them to your child. Light the candle for a few minutes. (It’s almost like lighting birthday candles.)
On that special day invite the sponsors over to celebrate. Remember they are the ones who promised to “pray for them, support them in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith, and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord’s Supper. They are at all times to be examples to them of the holy life of faith in Christ and love for the neighbor.” (LSB Agenda p. 7)
Many of us were baptized as infants and cannot remember the event just like our birth. Your parents were at your baptism along with your sponsors who can tell you about what happened.
Your baptism celebration does not just have to be a one day event. You can celebrate and remember it all the time. You celebrate with the saints of the congregation whenever our services begin with the Invocation. Those words remind you that you belong to God who is present with us in the Divine Service.
As you learned in the daily prayers from the Small Catechism you may make the sign of the cross in the morning and the evening to remind you of your baptism. That was the same sign that the pastor made on you in your baptism. “Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.” (LSB Agenda p. 6)
Even on the day of your funeral we continue to remember your baptism. Our congregation has a special piece of clothe that is decorated with a cross that may be placed on your casket before it is brought into the sanctuary. The pall helps those who are gathered to mourn your passing and to celebrate the eternal life you have with Christ and to remember that you are “clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covered all your sin.” (LSB Agenda p. 118)
Now that we come to the end of this article you might be saying, ‘I can’t remember when I was baptized and I’m not sure where my baptismal certificate is. How can I find out the date?’ If you were baptized here at Lutheran Church and School of Messiah we keep records of all who are baptized by our pastors past and present.
If you transferred here from another congregation we may still have the date if the congregation sent that information to us. Or you may contact that congregation if they did not send that information along.
Take some time to celebrate your baptism. It’s a life changing event!
In Christ, Pastor Storck
Holy Week Schedule:
Maundy Thursday
- March 20, 2008, at 7:00pm with Holy Communion
Good Friday – March 21, 2008 -
12:30pm, 7:00pm Tenebrae Service
Easter Sunrise Service With Holy Communion – March 23, 2008, 6:00am
9:00am Easter Festival Contemporary with Holy Communion (gym)
10:30am Easter Festival Traditional with Holy Communion
To
enhance our worship on Easter morning, we are asking you to share
your beautiful Easter lilies with your fellow Christians.
Please bring your lilies to the office, with your name on the bottom please, either Thursday or Friday by noon.
Thank you for enhancing our celebration of praise of our Risen Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ!
YUMMY! YUMMY!
Breakfast will be served following the Sunrise, approximately 7:15 – 8:45 a.m.
As is the tradition here at Messiah Lutheran Church, the men of our congregation will be cooking a great breakfast on Easter Sunday, Mach 23, 2008. These guys even do the dishes!! MEN, we do need your help in making this a success. Help is needed in the following areas: Saturday - set up chairs and tables; Sunday - cooking - dishes - serving breakfast. We will be running two serving lines this year from 7:15am - 8:45am, so we need lots of hands to make this run smoothly. Please contact Louis Hartbauer at 250-2731 or Joe Barcus at 434-8443 to volunteer your assistance with the Saturday set-up or Sunday cooking. Help is also greatly needed with kitchen cleanup and removal of tables and chairs immediately after the breakfast; please contact Scott Schultz to volunteer for clean-up at 241- 4267.
We celebrate the empty CROSS OF EASTER by filling it with flowers – symbols of joy.
Bring a cut flower to church on Easter morning and place it in the VICTORY CROSS, which will be located on the southwest corner.
President
Golter is coming!
President Randy Golter, from the Rocky Mountain District, will be coming to visit and preach at Messiah on Sunday, March 30, 2008. He will also instruct Adult Bible Class that day. No Joyful Praise Service on this Sunday.
Following late service a pot-luck will be held. Please come and welcome President Golter and his wife to Messiah. We ask that you please bring a side dish (either-salad, bread, hot veggie, etc..) to share with your fellow members.
NEW MEMBERSHIP
CLASS TO BEGIN
Interest in joining us in membership? Looking to take a refreshers course on our faith? Elder Eli Agajanian will be leading the next Adult Instruction Class to be held on Sunday morning during Bible Class and Sunday School Hour (9:15am-10:15am) starting on Sunday April 6, 2008. Class will be held in the Music Room, located upstairs past the first doors to the right.
LWML News
We will be meeting on March 15 to discuss some important issues like our spring workshop in Rifle and Fashion Show in May. We will meet at 9:30 a.m., location TBA.
Christian Life Workshop at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Rifle. Saturday, April 19th from 8:30-2:30 Registration is $5 and babysitting is available. Contact Caroline 245-2749 if you'd like to join us, carpooling is suggested. See inserts in coming bulletins.
ROADTRIP! Time to get ready for this year's LWML Rocky Mountain District Convention in New Mexico. This opportunity for fellowship, growth and fun is from June 20-22. Plan now to attend, your registration forms are in your Quarterly.
ATTENTION
8TH GRADE CONFIRMANDS AND PARENTS!
We will hold an informational meeting on April 6, 2008, at 11:30am, following late services, in the Fellowship Hall. We will be discussing flowers, pictures, etc. for this year’s confirmation, which is April 27, 2008. This is the only parent/confirm and meeting we will hold, if you are unable to attend please contact Cinda so the information may be sent to you.
If your child is eligible to start school next school year, make
plans to let them attend Kindergarten Roundup scheduled for Tuesday,
April 8, 2008, and Thursday, April 10, 2008. (They must be 5 by
September 15, 2008.) You pick one of the above dates for them to
attend school with Messiah’s kindergarteners from 8am to 11:30am.
Your Pre-K student will see how fun school is!
Information packets were distributed, or mailed, at our Kindergarten information meeting held in February. If you did not receive one, and would like your child to attend, please contact the office, 245-2838.
MOPS
Only 4 meetings left! Can you believe there are only four MOPS nights left for this year? We have had a wonderful time reaching out to area moms in a way that will benefit them as well as their children. If you know of any mother with children ages 0-5, feel free to invite them to our group. Please call either Caroline 245-2749 or Glacia 314-9712 with a heads up. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Monday eve. from 6-8 p.m. Dinner is provided as is childcare and the first meeting is free.
HEY CAMPERS,
CABINERS, AND TENTERS!
Get out your calendars and mark August 8, 9 & 10, to join us at Messiah’s Family Camp, which will again be held at Twin Peaks. Make plans now to join us for a fun weekend of playing, Bible study, and getting to know each other better. More information will be coming later with costs and sign-ups for cabins. Questions? Call Karen Skoog at 242-2986.
Messiah Fun Night Date Change!
March’s Fun Night will be on Saturday March 8 (2nd Saturday vs. 3rd) at 6:00pm. The theme is Mexican! (Can my Norwegian taste buds handle that?) Bring food to share and games to play and laughter. Questions? Call Karen Skoog at 242-2986.
Messiah Cub Scout News
Pack 360 is off to a great start! The boys have already sold popcorn, made a parade float, earned their Bobcat badge, served two soup suppers, and raced cars at their Pinewood Derby. These are just some of the wonderful things they have done. We are staying busy for the rest of the school year also.
On February 15th we held our Blue and Gold Banquet. We have been learning about Chinese New Year so that was our theme.
On February 23 the boys participated in Klondike which is an outdoor event on top of the Mesa. They will get to snowshoe and play snow games. They learned how to dress properly for the weather too!
In March Grand Mesa will be having their District Pinewood Derby! Representing Pack 360 at this event will be Colton Prout, Jonathan Dearth, Brandyn Root, Cody Baker, Ryan Cox and Jonathan Winthrop. Way to GO!
I cannot believe how much the boys have grown and how much all of us adults are enjoying our time with them. Thank you all for your great support, and a special THANK YOU to Jack Messenger who without his support and guidance we would not have the great program that we have.
Cub Scouts is open for all boys 1st grade through the 5th grade. We meet on Friday nights at 6:30pm here at Messiah. Any questions please feel free to call us at 314-9712.
In His Service, Glacia Peck
THOSE KNOWN HOSPITALIZED DURING THE MONTH:
Please remember the following people with your prayers, cards and visits: Elaine Hernandez, Anita Neuberger, Nora Goetz, Bryan Hetherington, Betty Samuel, and Gladys White.
A BIG VALENTINE THANK YOU !
We wish to thank the MESSIAH SCHOOL STAFF for the delicious dinner provided and served to the Blind Ministry members and volunteers Friday evening. We appreciate you and the generosity of your time and effort.
We thank you in advance!
When there is a funeral here at Messiah, our Funeral Committee always offers a meal to the bereaved. In order to offer these meals, the committee counts on members to provide salads and desserts, as it would be impossible for this small group to do it all on their own. So, if you get a call from someone asking you to contribute, would you please prayerfully consider bringing a dish? Thank you for your support!
The school year is quickly passing, and we have some awesome things happening which show how much time and effort has gone into our school year
The Kindergartners have finished all their letters, and lo and behold, they realized they already know how to read. Congratulations!
The First Graders are writing to their pen pals in Port Huron, Michigan. Together the First and Second Graders are studying about the presidents, passing along all kinds of interesting tidbits of information. The Second Graders will soon be studying the Iditarod dog sled race. Third and Fourth Graders are finishing up another monthly reading challenge against their parents, with the losing side providing lunch for the winners. March reading challenge is against Mrs. DeBerard, Mrs. Sigle, and Mrs. Miller—those ladies read to win, just for the enjoyment of it, so Third and Fourth Graders better get their books ready!
The whole school is getting for the track meet on April 24 and 25. The First through Fourth Grades compete on the 24th and the Fifth through Eighth Grades compete on the 25th. Please come and help us cheer on our team.
We
will also have our annual spring show entitled “Entertainment
Thursday Night”, on Thursday, March 27, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the
gym. We will have skits and music, provided for us by the
preschoolers through eighth grade. Don’t forget about the
Jellybeans, who always have a joke or two. The Silent Auction
will also start that evening, with lots of great items already
gathered. You don’t want to miss it!
This week (March 2 – March 8, 2008) is Lutheran Schools Week, and we’d like to thank Messiah for our wonderful school where not only do we get a quality education, but we also learn about the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing it is to know about this world in which we live, but also know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for each of us, that whoever believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life. We learn math facts here, but we also learn we are numbered with the saints in heaven. We study science and social studies, but we also get to know the Creator of our amazing world. Thank you, members of Messiah Lutheran Church, for making it possible for us to learn the one thing needful, that has eternal benefits.
To help us celebrate Lutheran Schools week, we will have a special chapel on Wednesday, where the children will all wear their school polo’s. We also get to eat donuts—yum! Thank you, Homestyle Bakery and the Wilkes. There will be essays that the children have written about our school—please be sure to check them out by the fellowship hall and various other parts of the building.
You Are Invited!!
Dear Friends and Neighbors of Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Mission South Africa is a three-year special mission project of the Rocky Mountain District to support the Lutheran Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa along with a number of human care projects in South Africa and Botswana.
The Evangelism Committee of Redeemer Lutheran Church has asked Mr. Harry Krueckeberg, a member of the Rocky Mountain District delegation to South Africa, to give a presentation at Redeemer on Saturday, April 26, 2008, at 11:00am. We are inviting congregations in our area to join us for this special event. Lunch will be provided.
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Please RSVP by April 14, 2008. If you have any questions or need more information contact the church office at Redeemer, (970) 874-3052.
Blessings in Christ, Redeemer Lutheran Evangelism Committee
Please order Altar Flowers through the office. Signup sheets are located in the office above the white bookcase behind the receptionist desk. The cost is $25.00 per bouquet, and must be paid upon ordering; please attach your check to the clipboard. We have several openings available in March, including Easter Sunday.
Altar Flowers for March- Traditional
3/02 Both open
3/09 Both open
3/16 Both bouquets for:
Don Starr in loving memory of his wife, Shirley, for their wedding anniversary.
3/23 (Easter Sunday) Both Open
3/30 Both Open
Altar Flowers for March – Joyful Praise
**All dates are open**
3/02-3/09/ - 3/16 – 3/23 (no Joyful Praise on 3/30)
Altar flowers may be ordered through the office. Cost is $25.00.
Acolytes for March:
8:00am Trenton Soriano & Trevor Summers
(note 6am on Easter Sunday)
10:30am Mason Walsh & Daniel Walsh
Lenten Services – 7pm:
Mar. 5 - Ryan Beshai
Mar. 12 - Sydney Avila
Mar. 20 – Maundy Thursday/Communion 7pm– Kylie Goetz & Margaret Harris
Mar. 21 – Good Friday
12:30pm – Jordan McEndree
7:00pm – Chakotah Kaus
Remember acolytes – if you cannot acolyte anytime during the month you are assigned, it is your responsibility to get a substitute. Please remember to call the office with the change. The acolyte list you received has names and phone numbers. Thank you!
Communion Cleanup for March Traditional Services:
Saturday Setup/1st Cleanup: Joyce Feliciano & Beth Weber
After 10:30am Cleanup: Becky & Louie Hartbauer and Marilyn Seeley
Communion Set-out & Cleanup for March Joyful Praise: Jeanelle Fillman & Marilyn Bargsten
Greeters for March:
8:00am Ronda Soriano & Ardella Topliss
10:30am Donna Bruns & Betty Jo Lewis
Elders for March Traditional:
8:00am Dave Gruner & Ray Seeley
10:30am Bud Neuburger & John McDowell (1st and 3rd Sunday's) Duane Sickler will take John's place on the 5th Sunday.
Elders for March Joyful Praise:
10:30am Ken Wilson and Scott Schultz
Elders for Maundy Thursday – 7:00pm:
March 20 – Eli Agajanian and Ken Wilson
Elders for Easter Sunday
6:00am Easter: Sunrise: Ken
Wilson & TBA
9:00am Contemporary Festival Service: Ken Wilson & Scott Schultz
10:30am Traditional Festival Service: Duane Sickler &Ray Seeley
Ushers for
March Traditional:
8:00am Roy Burandt, John Kornfield, Jake Rider, Gale McEndree
10:30am Ken DeBerard, Harold Larsen, Floyd Schneider, Walter Milburn
Please note: Council Minutes, Congregational Minutes and PTL minutes are available for you to pick up off the shelves in the narthex. Minutes are not approved until the following meeting. Also, all attachments are available from the office.