Parish Newsletter - August 2010

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On The Horizon:

Parish and Worship Events:

 

August 1st – Egyptian Extravaganza: Joint Parish Worship @Bakersville Grove

            Come join us as we wrap our week of Vacation Bible School with a recap of the Journeys of Joseph and a time of fellowship between all of the congregations involved in VBS. 

August 8th – Ready for Action Sunday

            In today's Gospel, Jesus encourages disciples to invest their hearts and live fully into God's reign. Instead of facing life with fear, those who know God's generosity are to be ready to receive from God and to give to others.  Dressed for action, we should be ready to serve and ready to give our all for the sake of serving and meeting Jesus at an unexpected hour.

August 15th – Sunday of Mary, Mother of our Lord

            Today we remember Mary, mother of Jesus. The powerful words from Mary's lips in the Gospel have been sung throughout the church during the service of Evening Prayer. The haunting words of the Magnificat remind us that the child who grows in Mary's womb comes to change everything. No longer will some starve while others feast. These words come to us as both hope and challenge: hope for those in need, and challenge, at least, for those living in comfort.

August 22nd – Sunday of New Beginnings

            In today's Gospel, Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath, offering her a new beginning for her life. When challenged by a narrow reading of the sabbath command, Jesus responds by expanding "sabbath work" to include setting people free from bondage.  Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord’s day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. This day, let us rejoice at all the wonderful and new things God is doing.

August 29th – Entertaining Angels Sunday

            In today's Gospel, Jesus observes guests jockeying for position at the table. He uses the opportunity to teach his hearers to choose humility rather than self-exaltation. Jesus also makes an appeal for hosts to mimic God's gracious hospitality to the poor and the broken.  For as it says in Hebrews this day, do not neglect to show hospitaility to strangers for you may be entertaining angels unaware.  We never know when we might meet God.  Let us never fail to conduct a holy and hospitable life of worship and praise.             

The Return of Confirmation
A) For those Starting Confirmation – Attention Parents of 7th and 8th Graders
            If you have a pre-teen entering 7th grade, then it is time for them to begin Confirmation class. Confirmation is a continuing part of the promise we make at baptism to bring our children up in the faith: For its part, the church offers confirmation as a chance for youth to grow and profess one’s faith. For their part, parents enroll them and bring them to the class so that together we may live out our baptismal promises.   Please let Pastor Will know if you have a child who is eligible and that you would like to begin taking confirmation. 926-2215.

B) Informational Meeting – Monday, August 31st at 7pm @Messiah
Parents of 1st and 2nd year confirmation students (grades 7 and 8) and their teens should be advised that on Monday, August 16th, there will be an informational meeting at 7pm @Messiah Lutheran Church.  The meeting will include the following information:

  • Tentative schedule for classes, activities, and retreats for the coming year
  • Topics we will be exploring
  • Expectations for being in the program
  • Conversation about changing the class time from Sunday evenings to Wednesday evenings
  • Discussions about more parental involvement with home assignments and faith development
  • Permission forms for the year (please bring along your insurance information)
  • Questionnaire for students to fill out regarding this year’s topic for snow camp

Please let Pastor Will know if you are able to attend this meeting or not, so that you may still have your say in matters and receive the necessary information for the upcoming year of class. 
Once again, we will be having a joint confirmation between the NCLP and the Lavansville-Bakersville Lutheran Parish where Pastor
Will and Pastor Elisa will be team teaching. We are having this first meeting in order to pass out our yearly schedule and to go over guidelines and expectations for the year. [PS – In the coming weeks, parents should also receive a separate letter regarding this information.]

            3rd Year Confirmation Students: In the next couple of weeks, Pastor Will is sending out informational letters about your third year independent Service Project year of confirmation. Please look for those and let him know if you have any questions

Sequanota – Music in the Mountains Event
Join in this exciting day of great Christian music and fun at Camp Sequanota. The band Lost and Found will be our feature group in 2010. Check out their Website at www.speedwood.com. Other groups from the area will also be performing concerts throughout the day. In addition, there will be workshops and other fun activities. Youth groups are invited to come on Friday night and stay in our cabins or bring a tent. Fees for event:  
Tickets are $15 if purchased before August 21st.
Tickets are $20 if purchased at the gate.

 

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