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2008 |
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In one of the themes for the month of April the title is “What
Blocks Your View?” The story is told of the appointment of Stephen in
Acts 6 to help with the ministry to the widows and the daily distribution of
food [v. 1]. What arose was a dispute with Stephen due to the fact that
no-one could stand up against his wisdom and understanding of the Scriptures.
Inevitably the dispute led to lies being told about Stephen and eventually to
the stoning of Stephen. It would appear that if Stephen said the color was white,
those who would disagree would say it is black. Yet Stephen was undaunted. He believed the words of Scripture
“the precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of
the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes” [Psalm 19]. Sometimes the view of the Lord can be blocked by such things
as pride, anger, and self-righteousness. The temptation is to know what is
right but yet to go one’s own way. It is almost an argumentative attitude
that one cannot see the way of the Lord due to man’s own obstacles in the
way. One has to ask oneself what really blocks one’s view of the
Lord and how He wants to work through His child. Sometimes the Child of God
hears the knocking of the Lord on his heart but is too pre-occupied trying to
prove in one’s own mind that someone else is at fault or in the wrong. David at the end of Psalm 19 sums up well the attitude that
can open up one’s view of the Lord and how the Lord wants to work through His
child. David writes “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer”. To unblock the view many times has to begin with a child-like
trust believing that the Lord knows what is best and to trust in His
guidance. Life truly becomes more JOYFUL when rather than trying to find
fault one opens up one’s heart to the Lord and tells the Lord – lead me Lord,
Lead me! In
His Service, Pastor Stenzel |
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Our beloved Pastor Stenzel has
been diagnosed with prostate cancer. He
has been a blessing to us and a gift from God to Shepherd our congregation
since his arrival and installation on August 11, 2002. Now it’s our turn to be a blessing to him and
Barb. How can you be a blessing to our
Pastor and his wife? That’s up to
you. Reflect on the many ways he has
helped you, and the instructions listed below to us from the Bible. And remember, we are blest to be a blessing!
We are blest to be a blessing!
On
Maundy Thursday Jesus gave us a new Commandment ~
“Love”
a new Commandment I give unto you,
“That
ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 13:34
In
Luther’s Small Catechism, Section 3 under the Table of Duties, under
“What
the Hearers Owe Their Pastors” it states,
“We
ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you
in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold
them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live
in peace with each other.” 1 Thess.
5:12-13
And…remember
the “Golden Rule”
So
in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” Matthew 7:12
By
stating this positively, Jesus made it more significant. It is not very hard to refrain from harming
others; it is much more difficult to take the initiative in doing something
good for them. The Golden Rule as Jesus
formulated it is the foundation of active goodness and mercy – the kind of love
God shows to us every day. Think of a
good and merciful action you can take today.
Life Application Study Bible
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THE PARABLES The Parables will meet on April 26th. We will be meeting at the Shaw’s house,
1205 Alpine Dr., at 4:00 pm. Bring a
dish to pass to go with BBQ and your ball gloves and bats for a fun filled
softball game. This is a family
event, so come prepared to preview summer activities. COME AND JOIN US! |
MOPS International
Mothers of Preschoolers
MOPS International is coming to
To receive a complimentary registration, please email your
information to Athena Hall at athenalee_hall@yahoo.com or call her at (406)
727-1263, by March 30th. A
light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
LUTHERANS FOR LIFE
SPRING SEMINAR
RENDER UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS THAT ARE GOD'S?
Lutheran's for Life of
Montana Spring Seminar
Friday 6-9 pm and
Saturday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm APRIL 4 and 5
No Charge
Rev, Terry
Forke, Montana District President, will have the opening Bible study/devotion
on Friday evening and a special section for men on Saturday. Cheryl Forke will meet with the women and
encourage the concept of Titus 2 Teas.
The Montana LFL
sponsors workshops in different areas of the state every spring. All expenses
are covered by the state and this is your opportunity to learn more about the
life movement. There is no charge. The refreshments on Friday evening and
Saturday's breakfast bar and lunch are a part of the package.
Young people
are particularly encouraged to attend as the issues are ones that are changing
society. New videos and "hands-on events” are part of the agenda. Come for
a portion or the whole event.
Please take time to read the Personhood Amendment No. 100:
We
have until the end of May to collect the needed 44,615 signatures from around
the state to obtain a place on the ballot. The amendment to the
Petitions
available for your signatures are located at:
Beltone Hearing
Five Loaves Bakery
4117
Petitions
are available, if you, or your church, or your organization, would like to collect
signatures for the petition. The petitions must be notarized after
they are completed, and this can be done through the above listed
addresses.
Personhood Amendment:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
Section
1. Article II, section 3, of The Constitution of the State of
"Section 3. Inalienable
Right to life and inalienable rights. (1) Every person has a
paramount and fundamental right to life.
(2) All
persons are born created free and have certain inalienable rights
from the moment of conception. They include the right to a clean and
healthful environment and the rights of pursuing life's basic necessities,
enjoying and defending their lives and liberties, acquiring, possessing and
protecting property, and seeking their safety, health and happiness in all
lawful ways. In enjoying these rights, all persons recognize corresponding
responsibilities.
(3) As used in
this article, "person" includes a human being at all stages of human
development or life, including the state of fertilization, regardless of age,
health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency.
(4) Subsections (1)
and (3) and the language regarding the moment of conception in subsection (2)
must be implemented by legislation.
NEW SECTION. Section
2. Submission to electorate. This amendment shall be submitted
to the qualified electors of
[] FOR
amending the constitution to provide that all persons have a right to life and
defining "person" for the purposes of Article II.
[] AGAINST
amending the constitution to provide that all persons have a right to life and
defining "person" for the purposes of Article II
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Our theme for the year is “Be
Joyful”! There are a number of
passages in the Bible that talk about this theme! One of them is found in
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer”. It is one thing to say that
one loves each other. That sincerity of love stems
from the belief that God has called His child to service not only in the church but in all
aspects of life and has given to that child various gifts to help in that service to the
Lord. God calls His child to be
joyful in hope that is being confident that God has confidence in His child to do
the will of the Heavenly Father. Also that “joyful” attitude
also refers to being patient when events don’t always turn out according to one’s
view. God still is in control of this world and of events in this world and the Lord has
promised that He will always be at the side of His child. That “joyful” attitude
through faith in Christ leads the Child of God to continue to pray, “not my will but the Lord’s
will be done” and to trust in the promises of the Lord. The Lord is faithful and does
not go back on His promises! So be joyful for the Lord is
risen from the dead and lives and reigns
to all eternity! Hallelujah! |
PARK TIMBER THANK YOU
Trinity
Lutheran Congregation received a letter from Mr. Park Timber of Lame Dee,
Montana, thanking the congregation for its contributions to his education
fund. Mr. Timber is studying to be an
ordained minister through the LCMS Ethnic, Immigrant Institute of
Theology. In this program, seminary
students train mainly viva the Internet with mentoring from their local pastor. A significant portion of Mr. Timber’s
education expenses have been met by Trinity through an allotment from the TLC
Endowment Committee and form the proceeds of the Reformation Day Pie Auction.
FRIDAY LADIES BIBLE CLASS
The Friday
Ladies Bible Class will meet on the 1st and 3rd Fridays
at the Johnsten home,
Wee
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Our registration for the 2008-09
school year is underway. Please
contact us if you, or someone you know, is interested in Christian Education
at Wee Disciples. We offer
Kindergarten and First Grade full day academic programs and an after school
program with transportation from various elementary schools. Morning and afternoon preschool sessions
are offered for children ages 3 to 5 years of age. Preschool programs prepare children
spiritually and academically for future education. Childcare for children who are 6 weeks and
older offers many planned activities appropriate to young children and their
developmental stages. Summer programs
include childcare as usual and a full day school age program. All children will participate in worship
and a combination of educational and just for fun activities. Some of the favorite activities of the
older children include swimming lessons, picnics in the park, museum visits
and field trips to many local businesses.
If you are interested in sharing
your time or a special activity with the children, please talk to us. We are always willing to provide materials
and we have many staff members that would enjoy working with you. Devotion times are flexible and a wonderful
way to share your faith – you are always welcome. It is one goal in worship to help the children see that the
Holy Spirit wants them to tell the world about Jesus and His love. We want
them to know that the Holy Spirit sends them people to talk to and tells them
what to say so that others can believe in Jesus as their Savior. God’s special blessings, Debbie Lee 799-5881 & Peggy
Norris 799-4480- |
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The Youth Group would like to thank everyone who came to the
Easter Breakfast. Also a big Thank You
to all the food donations and all the helpers.
Without you the Breakfast would not have been possible.
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Our regular Board meeting will be April 1st at 2:00 pm. The LWML Group Gathering will be April 12th
at
9:30 am. Hostesses will be Dorothy Allen and Betty Wandke. We will need our Spring Lutheran Women’s
Quarterly. We will also have out in the narthex, on Sunday April 6th, a
container for the Gifts from the Heart Project for the Montana LWML Convention
in
Care Net
Pregnancy Center
of Billings
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Body wash, Soaps |
Cards, Candles |
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Net scrubbers |
Small journals, Notebooks |
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Combs, Brushes |
Wrapped candy, Mints |
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Lotions, Nail Polish |
Little zipper bags |
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Chap stick, Lip stick |
Formula (any kind, brand type) |
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Individual Kleenex packs |
Diapers (newborn size and sizes 4,5,6) |
The Lutheran Center-Billings
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Paper products |
Towels, |
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Household cleaning products |
Tea |
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Light bulbs: 40, 60
watt; 3-way bulbs |
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For a complete agenda of the LWML Convention in
After the March LWML Board meeting, Betty Wandke resigned as
secretary. Alice Schuman has graciously
agreed to fill in for April and May.
When I leave the office of President, I will, with our Father’s help,
finish out the Secretary’s position.
Also at the LWML Gathering, the President asked for a Nominations
Committee. With no response, the board
will be the Nominating Committee. They
will meet on the 25th of March. They
will be calling within days after that.
I, once again, ask you to keep this process in prayer and to prayerfully
consider, if you are called, to serve.
Again the offices open are President, Co-Vice President of
Christian Life and Vice- President of Communications.
HE IS RISEN
INDEED!! ALLELUIA!!!
Blessings to all,
Sylvia Adams
INSTALLATION
The Rev. Kevin Peterson will be installed as Pastor of Shepherd of
the
All are welcome to both the service and the potluck!
Anniversaries
– April, 2008
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Apr. |
2 |
Martin ♥ Jennifer Eberly |
Apr. |
19 |
Stephen ♥ Melinda Mikulecky |
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6 |
Joel ♥ Tina Kempff |
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22 |
Gregory ♥ Tamara Grosenick |
Birthdays
April, 2008
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Apr. |
1 |
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Apr. |
16 |
Lidia Neumann |
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Anita Pecukonis |
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17 |
David Sand |
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3 |
Alec Jones |
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Roni Williams |
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4 |
Jeremy Cotton |
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18 |
Amanda Mansch |
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Jennifer Eberly |
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19 |
Monique McCurdy |
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Jeanne Myers |
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20 |
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Ruth Wilke |
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21 |
Garrett Nelson |
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6 |
Nathan Green |
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24 |
Carl Andersen |
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Teddy Young |
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Haley Hansen |
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7 |
Emma Millet |
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Richerd Hutchinson |
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8 |
Emil Neumann |
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Timothy Meehan III |
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Marlin Wilke |
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Jeramy Myers |
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9 |
Ryan Copp |
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Diane Thompson |
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Melba Mauseth |
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25 |
Frances Short |
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10 |
Trey Mans |
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26 |
Wesley Bauer |
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Nevaeh Cree McCurdy |
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27 |
Sarah Clark |
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Jerry Schlehr |
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Treve Mans |
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Bill Wegner |
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28 |
Sandra Heinert |
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11 |
Marlene Stidham |
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Corrine Johnson |
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Matthew Woods |
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Arleen Nelson |
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13 |
Jeannine Eastley |
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Brent Stanger |
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Colleen Mans |
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29 |
Taya Hartelius |
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14 |
Cindy Stene |
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15 |
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