Our Redeemer News

Web Page:  www.ourredeemer-lcms.org
Telephone:  (586) 781-5567

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  Vol. 15, No. 3                                                                                 March, 2012      

 SERMON and SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR MARCH

March 3-4:
DEFEATING SIN:  “The Mother of All Wars”
(Romans 8)
READINGS:  Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38

March 7:  Lent 3
“The Wound of Apathy”
(Matthew 26:31-46)

March 10-11:
DEFEATING SIN:  “The Power to Change”
(Ephesians 4:21-27))
READINGS:  Exodus 20:1-17; I Corinthians 1:18-31; John 2:13-25

March 14:  LENT 4
“The Wound of Denial”
(Matthew 26:57-75)

March 17-18:
DEFEATING SIN:  “Being Faithful”
(Luke 18:8)
READINGS:  Numbers 21:4-9; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

 March 21:  LENT 5
“The Wound of Mockery”
(Matthew 27:24-31)

March 24-25:
DEFEATING SIN:  “When All Seems Lost”
(Lamentations 3)
READINGS:  Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:32-45

March 28:  Lent 6
“The Wound of Abandonment”
(Matthew 27:35-50)

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Who is He that makes me happy,
Who is He that gives me peace?
Who is He that brings me comfort
And turns the bitter into sweet?
Who is stirring up my passion,
Who is rising up in me?
Who is filling up my hunger
With everything I need?
Creator God, the Great I Am
The Lord of all.

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QUEST FOR CHRIST 

The Obstacle of Discouragement

     We all have expectations.  And whether they are reasonable or illogical, when our hopes fail us, we feel disappointed.
 There’s nothing wrong with this response, in and of itself – in life, some disappointment is inevitable.  Discouragement, however, is a choice, and a dangerous one at that.  In this state of mind, we allow our circumstances to consume us.  Then we stop striving for the goal and miss achieving our potential.
   Another consequence is a divided mind.  As we’re distracted from tasks at hand, we easily make poor decisions and then feel tempted to blame others for our predicament.  Anger can lead to retaliation and depression.  All the while, we are drifting spiritually.  Obviously, it’s important to resolve disappointment quickly.
     Consider what the Lord experienced in the garden of Gethsemane.  He not only faced a gruesome death the following day; He also knew He would be separated from His Father for the first time in all eternity.  His words in Matthew 26:38 reveal profound pain:  “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.”  Needing encouragement and support, He asked the disciples to pray and stay awake with Him.  And yet, they fell asleep.  Jesus must have felt let down and alone, but He didn’t allow hopelessness to distract Him from His purpose of procuring our salvation.
     Pray for God to keep you from discouragement.


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Lent Services
Mar. 7, 14, 21, 28,            6:30p.m.
(with soup supper at 5:30p.m.)

Palm Sunday
April 1                             8:00a.m.   
                                       10:30a.m.
(Easter egg hunt follows 10:30 service)

Maundy Thursday
April 5                             6:30p.m.

Good Friday
April 6                             1:00p.m.
                                       6:30p.m.

Easter
April 8                             7:00a.m. Sunrise Service
                                       8:00a.m. Easter Breakfast
                                       10:30 a.m. Worship


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   The Lenten Fair is Friday, March 18^th!  It’s from 6:00 to 8:00pm (during the Little Lambs Art Show).  It’s in the social hall and the old sanctuary.  Bring the kids – they don’t have to be members of our church.  They’ll have a great time playing games, making crafts, making and eating pretzels.  The Senior Youth will be selling food also during the fair.

 
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 SUNDAY,  MARCH 11
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS

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 LWML NEWS…

     Due to many of us not being able to attend our March 5^th meeting, we are sorry we have to cancel.
     There are still many things going on this month…visiting our friends at the Romeo Nursing Center (all invited) on Wednesday, March 7 at 10:00am, and quilting every Monday at 10:00am.  We will be attending the Lutheran Woman of the Year luncheon at Burton Manor in Livonia on March 20 to honor Janet Rohrbeck.
     The LWML decided to donate $500.00 toward the renovation of the bathroom floors in the old narthex.
     Time to start your SPRING CLEANING!!  You are given extra time this year.  The Trash to Treasure sale is April 20 and 21.  The large trailer will be open for donations on March 20.  20 percent of the profit will be given to the LWML chosen charity, The Macomb Charitable Foundation.
     The next meeting is on Monday, April 2.  Looking forward to seeing everyone there!!

Kathy Sowers,
LWML Secretary

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    Thanks to all the kids who participated in Children’s Ministry month.  Also, a BIG thank you to all of you who encouraged and gave compliments to our children!  I hope everyone noticed our display with some of the kid’s work.

     For one of our service projects, we sent Valentines and cookies to our college students to let them know that we are thinking of them and keeping them in our prayers while they are away.  This year we shipped 12 boxes.  Thank so much to Margie Kirsh who brought cookie dough for us to bake, pizza for us to eat, and stayed to help us clean up afterward.  Also, thanks to June Valcke who set up, washed dishes and cleaned up our huge mess of frosting and popcorn!!

Kathy Sowers,  MLF Coordinator

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From the Director of Worship and Music

Greetings!

     When Jesus began His earthly ministry He started with the statement: “The time has come; the Kingdom of God is near.  Repent, and believe the good news.”  (Mark 1:15)  This was right on the heals of John the Baptist who came “…preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  Jesus also repeatedly made the point that He had come to seek and save the lost.  And Paul gave us one of the great summations of the Gospel when he said, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” 
(I Timothy 1:15)
     One of Satan’s cleverest tricks is to convince us that sin is either unreal or unimportant.  Our culture today assures us that this is the case.  We don’t need a savior, because there is nothing to be saved from.  Unfortunately, some even in the Church have believed this.  Many churches don’t say much about sin or repentance any more.  Jesus came to make our already good lives even better.  Talking about sin is too negative; it only produces unnecessary guilt.  We’re not perfect, but we just need a touch up here, a bit of polish there, and we’ll be fine.  Jesus just provides the paint and polish.  This is a lie from the pit of hell.
     Even a cursory reading of the Bible makes it clear that there is no entering the Kingdom of God unless sin has been dealt with.  Our sin is a serious, serious matter, serious enough to send the sinless Son of God to the cross to die in our place. Sin separates us from God, tarnishes our most cherished relationships, skews our perception of life’s most significant events, prevents us from fully enjoying God’s gift of life, and eventually kills us physically and spiritually. Consider the words of hymn writer Thomas Kelly.  In his hymn Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted, he offers this meditation to those who contemplate the suffering Jesus on the cross:

Ye who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load;
‘Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

     What about us?  Do we, as another hymn writer inquires of us, “pass that cross unheeding, breathing no repentant vow”?  Have we recognized that we even have an “awful load,” much less given it to the Lord.  Jesus came to save me precisely because I need saving, regardless of all the sophistry I use to convince myself that I’m not so bad.  This Lent, let us put aside the soft-peddling of our own sin and get on with the business of repentance. Let’s come to grips with the weight of our sin and the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished for us.

Until next month,
Yours in Christ,
Roger Hackelberg,
Director of Worship and Music

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Talk to your parents before it’s too late
 
Talking to your parents about caregiving, end-of-life issues and their wishes is irtant, but many people put it off because of being uncomfortable.  Reduce the stress and start by discussing the locan of information, not the contents.
One tool that can help is a financial inventory, which should be updated annually and include:

·                  Legal documents:  property deeds, wills, trusts, living wills, health care and financial directives, and birth, marriage and military discharge certificates.
·                  Contact information:  attorneys, account-ants, financial planners, physicians and anyone who provides financial, legal and medical advice and care.
                 Current account information:  type, number and institution for all financial accounts, including checking, savings, retirement, investment, plus loans and insurance policies.

For financial guidance visit Thrivent.com.


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INSPIRATION                                                                                                                          Page 5  

What To Give Up For Lent

GIVE UP grumbling…Instead, “In everything give thanks.”
GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed…Instead, use that time in prayer.
Give UP  looking at other people’s worst points…Instead, concentrate on their best ones.
GIVE UP speaking unkindly…Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding.
GIVEUP your worries…Instead, trust God with them.
GIVE UP hatred and dislike of anyone…Instead, learn to love.
GIVE UP the fear which prevents Christian witnessing…Instead, seek courage to speak of your faith to others.
GIVE UP spending so much time watching television…Instead, use some of that time to study your Bible and to visit some lonely or sick person.
GIVE UP judging by appearance and by the standards of the world…INSTEAD, learn to give up yourself to God.

-          South Dakota District, Christian Growth Committee, 1986

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 Love is not possible without
sacrifice, and sacrifice
is not possible without love.

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God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.  (Max Lucado)

You know you’re getting older when

-      Happy hour is a nap.

-      You and your teeth don’t sleep together.

-      Somebody you consider an old-time calls you an old-timer.

-      You start beating everyone else at trivia games.

-   You realize that a stamp today costs more than a movie did when you were growing up.

-      Your childhood toys are now in a museum.

-      The clothes you’ve put away until they come back in style…come back in style.

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© Discover what pleases God and then make them habits.  ©

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SAMARITAN HOUSE NEWS                                                                                                    Page 6

MUD BOG EVENT 

Don’t know what a “Mud Bog” is?  We did not either until last year.  Samaritan House was contacted by Bad Seed Boggers Club and asked if we would like to be a part of their annual event, Sticks of  Romeo…..we said yes.  We learned a lot and had a blast!  This year, we are pleased to tell you we have been invited to again be a part of this event which will be bigger, better and of course muddier than last year.  On Saturday May 5^th, the Bad Seed Boggers Club is bringing Trucks Gone Wild back to Michigan for their 4^th Annual Sticks of Romeo 2012.  Samaritan House is looking for volunteers to assist with this fundraising event.  If you have ever been to a mud bog event, you already know, it is truly a family event packed full of fun.  If you are available on May 5^th for approximately a five hour shift to assist in parking cars or working the front gate, please call Kim at 586-336-9956.  Volunteers for this event must be 18 years and older. 


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14^th Annual Samaritan House Golf Outing

We know it sounds like a long way off, but at Samaritan House we are already preparing for our 14^th Annual Golf Outing at Heather Hills, on July 28^th.  Tickets are id=mce_marker00 and include: 18 holes of golf w/ cart, continental breakfast, lunch on the turn, buffet dinner, contests on the course and silent auction.  This event is sure to be sold out.  We are looking for golfers, volunteers, donors and hole sponsors; and praying for sunny weather.  If you are interested in golfing or being involved in our outing please contact Kimberly Dunn at 586-336-9956. 

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Quilt Raffle Sales
Coming soon!! 

This year’s Samaritan House Quilt, titled Amish Mountains, will be ready for viewing soon.  Once again, Jo Hearon assisted by Linda Willen, and a gifted group of quilters are busy creating this year’s masterpiece.  You only have a chance of owning this one of a kind heirloom quilt if you purchase our raffle tickets.  Tickets will be sold at our sponsoring churches, Art & Orchard Festival in Washington Township in June, Peach Festival Labor Day Weekend in Romeo and other summer functions.  The drawing will take place at the 2^nd Annual Samaritan House Harvest Time Walk on October 7, 2012.  For more information contact us at 586-336-9956. 

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FEBRUARY PANTRY NEEDS

Juice                     Jam/Jelly            Mac & Cheese
Rice                      Pasta/Noodles    Ramen Noodles
Sugar                    Deodorant           Canned Meats
Pancake Syrup      Flour                  Canned Fruit
Bath Soap             Oatmeal             Feminine Products
Cereal                   Cooking Oil         Baby Food
Shampoo               Toilet Paper        Tea
Ensure                  Diapers (size 4 & 5)

We have many clients who need sugar-free and no-salt-added foods.

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Angels Corner

This month we recognize the following for a special effort flowing from a special heart.  This month’s Samaritan House Angels are …House Angels are … 
…Peace Lutheran Church
…Kathy Markel, Margie Palazzolo, Ellen Galleran, Lisa Schocke,
…Cindy Kelly, Sharon Pewinski
…Rite Aid; Romeo United Methodist Church; Child Time;
…Great Lakes Rug Hooking; Armada Fire Fighters; SKF;
...Westview Orchards; St. Kieran K of C; Morgan Elementary;
…Edward Jones, Scott Allen; Employees of Home Depot;
…Washington Elementary Preschool; Kathy & David Wojak

Samaritan House
22324 VanDyke, Washington Twp. 48094
(586)336-9956
Business Hours:  Tuesday & Wednesday 10 am to 6 pm
Friday 10 am to 4 pm

Our weekly prayer list will include the most recent requests; the entire list will be printed here each month so that you can continue to keep all those in need in your daily prayers.

 TALK WITH GOD (Please remember these friends in your prayers)
THOSE WITH LONG- or SHORT-TERM ILLNESS:
                                                   
Jack Yearous (Srickers’ brother-in-law; cancer)
Dana Phillips (Ed Stricker’s sister; cancer)            Laura Williford
Don Persells (Hortop’s family)        Kay Wright (Agnes Hopp’s friend)
Tim Demczyk (Betty Moehle’s nephew; cancer)
Peggy Wensink (Linda Habrowski’s mother; stroke)
Tom Bradley (Lisa Harris’ father)            Sam Felax (Dennis’ father; cancer)
Corrine Quandt (Clark family’s friend; colon cancer)
Marilyn Pattyn (cancer; Hortop’s friend)
Patricia Doser (Mickie Bryk’s sister; Parkinson’s)       Jacklin Kinzer (Shirley Penzien’s friend)
 Brianna Steffen (Lou Brough’s great-niece)              
Howard Stade (friend of Penziens; cancer)        Martha Beleu (Jean Dehnke’s friend; liver cancer)
Jerry Turner (Burks’ friend; cancer)
Lou Kratky (Fran Reinhardt’s uncle)         Joan Presley (Dick Ferguson’s cousin; cancer)
Joey Caramagno (Betty Moehle’s friend; accident)
Patricia Flower (Shirley Penzien’s friend; cancer)
Olga Firchau (Debera Nemitz’s aunt)         Sharon Wood (Fogarty’s friend; cancer)
Mrs. Doug Kerner (Diane) (Shepherd’s friend; rheumatoid arthritis)
Nancy Dehnke (Jean’s sister-in-law; Huntington’s Disease)                                                         
      
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OUR FRIENDS & FAMILY ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES:

Jon Ede (June Shaver’s nephew)    Jim Pfahlert (June Shaver’s nephew)
Travis Smith (Lori Hackelberg’s nephew)            Brad Morris
Sean Duggan (Bridget Felax’s brother)        Nick Morris
Carey Herbert (Tricia Shepherd’s friend)            
Mary Hampton (friend of Orlin & Sharon Allen)
Eric and Shawna Hopp (Agnes Hopp’s grandson & wife)
Brian Marquette (Cy & Helen DeMeulenaere’s nephew)
Bryan Arendell (Don Tallman’s Godson)          
David Wales          Tim Reid