Monthly Newsletter - Lutheran Church in the Foothills

January 2015
Growing Faith in
Individuals, Families
and the Community!
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
At least once a year, many Christians become aware of the great diversity of
ways of adoring God. Hearts are touched, and people realize that their neighbors' ways are not so strange. Traditionally celebrated between 18-25 January
(in the northern hemisphere) or at Pentecost (in the southern hemisphere), the
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity enters into congregations and parishes all
over the world. Visit www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/week-of-prayer
(World Council of Churches). Theme for 2015: Jesus said to her: "Give me to
drink" (John 4:7).
Our vision is for you to have a dynamic relationship with God, to
share his relationship with other believers, and to invite others to join
us in making Jesus known
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
Special Events in January!
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Consider your future legacy and your
Kingdom impact on families who
will need LCIF in the future. There
are many options to consider where
your passion to help can be realized
far in to the future. Please see Renee
or Pastor Jim.
Support LCIF
with gifts and
bequests!
11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall
Adopt 2015 Budget
Workshop to review the proposed budget
on Sunday, January 18 at 11:15 AM.
Annual Coat Collection!
Please bring new or gently used coats, jackets, or
sweaters to be distributed to needy folks in our area.
Your gifts can be placed in the Narthex/Entry
through January 25..
News from LCIF Call Committee
The LCIF Pastoral Call Committee (CC) is moving forward! We
have a stellar group of nine members and one alternate, To date
we have met three times in December. The first organizational
meeting elected me, Joe Johnson, as the CC chairperson, and the
second was a two-hour orientation/overview session led by Pastor Reg Schultz-Akerson, our Synod rep who will assist us as we
go through the process. Our third meeting initiated the congregational survey design process that will assist us in developing
our church profile. This will be used by the Synod to match us
up with potential pastoral candidates as we move forward in the
process. We will keep you apprised on our progress regularly!
For more information, please see Joe or any other member of
the call committee (Chris, Jeff, Dorothy, Ellen, Yvonne, Anita,
Carrie Ann, Rayne). Thank you!!
Directory Update
LCIF at a
Glance
Sunday Worship
Services:
8 & 10 AM
Holy Communion is celebrated at both services;
“family-style” at 8 AM
Christian Education for
adults and youth at 9 AM
Children’s Church
during the 10 AM service
Fellowship/Coffee
Hour: after the 10 AM
service
LCIF is updating our Photo Directory. If you took a picture with
your family during the holidays while you were all together, please
Church Office Hours:
email it to: [email protected]. Pictures will also be taken at
9 AM - 2 PM
church January 11 & 18 before and after both services.
Monday - Friday
God's Work Our Hands
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Bob Baldwin
Ruth Frain
Ty Fleming
Gayle Pinto
Connie Guritz
Anniversaries
Phil Drange
1/5
Norma
Jean & Dale Zuelow (13 yrs)
Susan Fleming
Christie Clarkson 1/17 Donna & Bob Fox (56 yrs)
1/22 Liz & Chris Craney (43 yrs)
1/27 Linda & Brian Spengler (53 yrs)
1/29 Linda & Bob Winters (49 yrs)
www.womenofthe
elca.org/apps
Off to a new start - that's what a new year can
do for us as a congregation. 2015 gives us a new
year to start fresh, starting some new ministries
as well as improving some existing ministries.
Thank God for His grace that enables us to be
off and running for Him in 2015.
We are called upon to be Christ's witnesses and
ambassadors. As we enter the new year, we
need to be open to serving Him more faithfully
and with more joyous zeal. We thank the Lord
for those who have served so well in the past
and who are continuing to do so. But we need
new blood to serve in such areas as ushering,
communion assistants, altar guild, offering
counters, choir, etc. There are many areas of
service. We can help you find a way to use your
talents. Without new helpers those who serve
can become "burned-out" and grow weary.
Please be open to the Lord's calling you to help
serve others. Let the Lord use 2015 as a year of
growth for us - personally in our spiritual lives
and corporately as our congregation grows.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jim
Birthdays
1/2
1/8
1/14
1/14
1/19
1/20
1/20
1/21
Daily Grace
Pastor’ Points
Women’s Evening
Bible Study!
Are you interested in a new evening Bible study
for women? Talk to Anita Stoker
([email protected]; (818) 813-1775) or
Lana Norton ([email protected]).
Free Immigration Workshop
Saturday, January 17 @ 3 PM
Come and become informed about the new Obama Immigration Executive order. We will have an esteemed lawyer that specializes in immigration, Marie A. Michaud. Discussions will include how to apply, how to qualify and how to choose a good
attorney. All are welcome. First Lutheran Church in Inglewood,
CA, 600 West Queen Street Inglewood, CA 90301
National Council of Churches
Over the years of its existence, the NCC has stood where it counts. This past
year has seen some monumental struggles for justice, and we have been proud to
stand alongside the churches that have been in the forefront of these struggles.
In Chicago, NCC met with an interfaith group addressing the violence that overwhelms certain communities in the city. Meetings like this help improve the ways
the NCC’s member communions approach issues of importance. We step out
and discover what others are doing to make life for the downtrodden better.
This was true also in Ferguson, MO. NCC was proud to know that the pastors
and leaders of our own member congregations were passionately preaching and
leading in Ferguson. The NCC gathered in November in St. Louis to hear both a
sobering assessment of the spirit of the community, and an inspiring vision of
how our churches can better engage with the youth of this generation for the
sake of justice.
In February, NCC will meet in El Paso, Texas, with the local church communities who minister in the midst of the complexities of life on the border. It will be
a rich time of engagement with our churches that work on these issues of such
importance.
I couldn’t be more proud to be standing with the National Council of Churches.
As the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA and NCC
Chair, I can tell you from my own experience how valuable it is to have the partnerships we have with other member communions of the NCC. Together we
can have a greater voice than we can have separately. -Rev. Roy Medley
ELCA Advocacy
That Congress successfully passed the
Achieving a Better Life Experience
(ABLE) Act is a monumental success,
and the speedy and bipartisan supported passage of this legislation is a clear
testament to the strength of the faith
community’s voice and to the necessity
of the ABLE Act.
Advocacy Summary of FY15 Spending
Package. The ELCA remains focused
on issues that affect our faith communities and neighbors: Nutrition, Environment, Abortion, International Affairs, Immigration, Money in Politics.
Learn about the issues at elca.org
Council - December 9
 Received financial reports and re-
ports from staff, committees
Next meeting: Tuesday, January 20 @
7 PM—ALL are welcome!
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the
CHILDRENS Church
W I S H I N G E V E RYO N E A H A P P Y & H E A LT H Y N E W Y E A R !
CRAFTS IN CHILDRENS CHURCH
The children were very busy learning about traditional Lutheran
Traditions in Childrens Church. They made advent calendars,
Gingerbread Churches, and Christmas Tree Ornaments. A big
thank you to Renee Brandt, Gretel Ujfalusy, and Cathey Seo for
helping out when I had knee surgery. My surgery went well and I
am blessed to have such support from my church family. Thank
you for your get well wishes and prayers.
- Lisa Jenks
Movie Night Success
With over 100 people in
attendance, the families had a
wonderful time watching the
POLAR EXPRESS and eating
holiday cookies! Children
made ornaments to decorate
their Christmas Trees and
also remember their time at
LCIF.
nnn
The Childrens Church wanted to thank the Adult Choir
for joining with them in singing on December 21st.
The children will be busy rehearsing for their next
performance in February. So, stay tuned!
J A N UA RY 2 0 1 5
LCIF YOUTH NEWS
Peace Out Man!
Ever felt that sometimes our relationships are
less than peaceful? Like with a brother or sister
or parent or friend? Too much drama? Does
peace mean I
just have to
get along and
do whatever
other people
tell me?
Throughout
January and
part of
February, as a
youth group,
we are going to study what peace can look like
in our lives and in our relationships with
ourselves and with others. We will, together,
discover God’s dreams of peace for our lives.
So, on Wednesday evenings come eat together,
study together, and play together (6:30-8:30)
Youth Calendar
January 4 — No Sunday youth gathering
January 7 — No Wednesday youth gathering
January 11 — Sunday morning hang-out
January 14 — Wednesday youth gathering
January 16 — Youth Movie Night (7-9ish)
January 18 — Sunday morning hang-out;
Detroit Trip Meeting (11:15)
January 21 — Wednesday youth gathering
January 25 — Sunday morning hang-out
Youth Director – Ryan Chaddick
Email – [email protected]
ts
n
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o
c
Up
“Youth Movie Night” January 16
Watching a movie, eating
delicious food (dinner will be
provided), drink sweet and
completely unhealthy but fun
drinks, and spending time with
each other! If that doesn’t sound
awesome, who are you?
Theme choices for us to decide:
- Watch Ratatouille and eat Melissa’s amazing version
of the dish.
- Watch an Action film and everyone dresses up as
their favorite action hero/heroine.
- Other themes? We can discuss and vote January 11.
Detroit Trip
Parents, youths, and all those going to Detroit! We have
a very important Sunday morning meeting January 18
in Ryan’s office at 11:15. We need to plan a February
Chili Cook-off. Please, please, please do your best to
attend. Thanks!
Sunday Mornings
We are meeting Sunday mornings from 9:00-9:50
Come, hang-out, chat, play games, enjoy donuts or
bagels.
Youth Band
For more information regarding band practice dates
see or talk to Linnea Norton or Ryan. “Jingle Bell Rock”
is just the beginning!
5
7:30 AM Kiwanis Board
Meeting
3:00 PM KAMA Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 PM COSA
7:30 PM ALANON
12
3:00 PM KAMA Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 PM Christian
Education Committee
7:00 PM COSA
7:30 PM ALANON
19
CCNS Closed
Martin L. King, Jr. Day
3:00 PM KAMA Choir
Rehearsal
7:00 PM COSA
7:30 PM ALANON
26
3:00 PM KAMA Choir
Rehearsal
4:00 PM Book Club
7:00 PM COSA
7:30 PM ALANON
8:00 AM Worship
9:00 AM Book Study Groups for
Adults
9:00 AM NO Youth Group Hangout
10:00 AM Worship/NO Children's
Church
11:30 AM La Cañada Korean Church
11
8:00 AM Worship
9:00 AM Book Study Groups for
Adults
9:00 AM Youth Group Hangout
10:00 AM Spirit Singers Rehearsal
10:00 AM Worship/Children's Church
11:15 AM Christian Education
Meeting
11:30 AM La Cañada Korean Church
18
8:00 AM Worship
9:00 AM Book Study Groups for
Adults
9:00 AM Youth Group Hangout
10:00 AM Spirit Singers Rehearsal
10:00 AM Worship/Children's Church
11:15 AM Budget Workshop
11:15 AM Detroit Trip Meeting
11:30 AM La Cañada Korean Church
25
8:00 AM Worship
9:00 AM Book Study Groups for
Adults
9:00 AM Youth Group Hangout
10:00 AM Spirit Singers Rehearsal
10:00 AM Worship/Children's Church
11:15 AM Congregational Meeting
11:30 AM La Cañada Korean Church
Monday 4
Sunday 7:15 AM Kiwanis
8:30 AM Women's
Breakfast
1:00 PM LCIF Knit
Together
3:15 PM Lango
5:30 PM ALANON
6:30 PM Youth Group
28
7:15 AM Kiwanis
3:15 PM Lango
5:30 PM ALANON
6:30 PM Youth Group
21
7:15 AM Kiwanis
1:00 PM LCIF Knit
Together
3:15 PM Lango
5:30 PM ALANON
6:30 PM Youth Group
14
7:15 AM Kiwanis
3:15 PM Lango
5:30 PM ALANON
6:30 PM NO Youth Group
7
Wednesday
Get the latest info at www.lcifoothills.org.
10:00 AM Quilting Group
4:00 PM Lango
7:00 PM CEA
27
7:00 AM Men's Prayer
Breakfast
9:00 AM Women's Bible
Study
10:00 AM Quilting Group
12:00 PM Quilt Group
Bible Study
4:00 PM Lango
7:00 PM CEA
7:00 PM Church Council
20
10:00 AM Quilting Group
4:00 PM Finance
Committee
4:00 PM Lango
7:00 PM CEA
13
7:00 AM Men's Prayer
Breakfast
9:00 AM Women's Bible
Study
10:00 AM Quilting Group
4:00 PM Lango
7:00 PM CEA
6
Tuesday
10:00 AM La Cañada
Korean Church Ladies
Bible Study
7:15 PM LCIF Youth
Band Rehearsal
7:30 PM Anthem
Chorale
7:30 PM RCA
29
10:00 AM La Cañada
Korean Church Ladies
Bible Study
7:15 PM LCIF Youth
Band Rehearsal
7:30 PM Anthem
Chorale
7:30 PM RCA
22
10:00 AM La Cañada
Korean Church Ladies
Bible Study
7:15 PM LCIF Youth
Band Rehearsal
7:30 PM Anthem
Chorale
7:30 PM RCA
15
10:00 AM La Cañada
Korean Church Ladies
Bible Study
7:15 PM LCIF Youth
Band Rehearsal
7:30 PM Anthem
Chorale
7:30 PM RCA
8
7:00 PM La
Cañada Korean
Church Bible
Study
30
7:00 PM La
Cañada Korean
Church Bible
Study
23
6:00 PM Youth
Group Movie
Night
7:00 PM La
Cañada Korean
Church Bible
Study
16
7:00 PM La
Cañada Korean
Church Bible
Study
9
CCNS Closed
7:00 PM La
Cañada Korean
Church Bible
Study
CCNS Closed
Church Office Closed
New Year's Day
10:00 AM La Cañada
Korean Church Ladies
Bible Study
7:30 PM RCA
Friday
2
1
Thursday
Saturday
8:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM Lango
10:00 AM Lango
31
CCNS Non-Working Parents'
Day
8:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM Lango
10:00 AM Lango
5:00 PM Sons of Norway
Potluck
24
8:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM Lango
10:00 AM Lango
17
8:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM Lango
10:00 AM Lango
10
8:00 AM CEA
9:00 AM CEA
3
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut or tear here to post on your fridge - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Don Volger
Roger Schulke
Donna Volger
Office
818-790-1951
[email protected]
Emilie Wrablicz
Annette Ling
Brandt Family
7:30 AM
Norma Jean &
Youth Group
Dale Zuelow
Andrew Beilfuss
Rayne Cumberworth
Don Volger
Joe Johnson
Linda Spengler
Brian Spengler
Janet Cassidy
Christian Gropper
Tess Gropper
10:00 AM
January 25
Larry Anderson
8:00 AM
Linnea Norton
Ellen Harrington
Susan Fleming
Tom Fleming
Phil Drange
Anne Reinhard
Janice Schettini
Harley Drange
Rianna Reinhard
10:00 AM
January 18
2015
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cut or tear here to post on your fridge - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Please check your calendar NOW. If you are unable to serve on the date shown here, please find a replacement and let the office know at
[email protected] or 818-790-1951. Thank you for your faithful service to the Lord.
Don Volger
Linda Spengler
Jeff Brandt
Jim Davies
Renee Brandt
Donna Volger
Dale Zuelow
Chris Craney
Doris Samuelson
Renee Brandt
Carole Brown
Grant Haxton
Miles Haxton
10:00 AM
January 11
8:00 AM
Liz Craney
Janice Schettini
818-248-1371
[email protected]
Coffee Fellowship
818-952-0104
Communion Servers
Ellen Harrington
Lectors
Office
818-790-1951
[email protected]
818-248-0320
Ushers
Yvonne Baldwin
Yvonne Baldwin
Lucille Seeley
Frederic Brandt
Olivia Brandt
818-790-1951
Altar Guild
Office
Acolytes
10:00 AM
January 4
8:00 AM
Worship Servers for
Lutheran Church in the Foothills
1700 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
www.LCIFoothills.org
Kogi Chronicle
Do not post on a webpage. Include this warning if you share.
When the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman
… so that he could adopt us as his very own children (Gal 4.4a,
5b)
What a joy it is to celebrate in a special way at Christmas the good
news that God sent His Son to earth so that we can become His
children! May God fill our hearts with the wonder of His great
love for us that lead him to send His Son to be our Savior.
When the right time came, God’s Word was published in Kogi so
that the Kogi people can read about the birth of Jesus and how he
was born, lived and died to be their Savior. The boxes of Kogi
New Testaments are ready to be distributed at the dedication ceremony on January 15, and the solar powered players with the audio New Testament are due to arrive for the dedication date as
well. The Kogis believers are thrilled that the New Testament is
now printed and recorded and are making plans to travel to the
dedication site to take part in this long-anticipated celebration.
Pray as we plan the details of this celebration that it would honor
God and lead to the further acceptance of His Word in Kogi.
Non-Christian Kogi leaders from several villages also plan to be
with us for this celebration. You may remember that the Kogi
ancestors taught their descendants that they had had a book from
God in their language but fell asleep and lost it, and that the
“younger siblings” as they refer to us non-Kogis will return it to
them before the world comes to an end. Pray with us that the
present day Kogi people will believe that the right time for the
fulfillment of this Kogi legend has come and accept the Kogi
New Testament as the book from God that had been lost and is
now being re-turned to them. As you know the Kogi pseudo
“traditional” organization is very opposed to Christianity among
the Kogis and seeks to force the Kogi people to reject Jesus.
The Kogis and I are excited that a number of those who support
the Kogi work will also join us for this celebration. The translation and publication of the Kogi New Testament would not have
been possible without the wonderful team of supporters and
prayer warriors God has given to us! A photographer is part of
the group so we hope you will “join” us in the dedication by video if not in person. A second dedication will be held in Bogotá on
January 18 so that we can celebrate with our Spanish speaking
friends.
We thank God for the strength He gave us over the last year as
we worked very hard to prepare the manuscript of the Kogi New
Testament for publication and for the many who helped us in this
process.
When the right time came, I was free to care for my mother in the
last months before she left her earthly body to join her Lord Jesus
whose birth we soon celebrate. It was very hard to lose my mother,
and yet I stand amazed at how God worked out things at the right
time for both of us. While checking the final details of the Kogi
New Testament, I was able to work remotely from Sacramento
and so be with my mother while she was still able to get out so I
could take her to church which was her favorite outing, and be
with her for her many doctors appointments. Just as we were finishing the preparation of the Kogi New Testament for publication in North Carolina, my mother’s health began to decline rapidly so after the New Testament was sent off for publication, I
was able to return to her. She will be with Jesus himself this
Christmas though I will certainly miss her.
When the right time came I was able to return to Colombia. It
took nearly two months after my mother’s death to settle affairs
that needed to be dealt with before I returned to Colombia on
Oct. 25. I was away from Colombia nearly a year, only the second
time I have been away so long during my 41 years in Colombia. I
was in the midst of planning surgery when my mother died, so
will need to return to the US for a double total knee replacement
surgery scheduled for Feb. 18. The recovery time is about six
months and during that time I plan to go through my mother’s
things and sell her house….a big job and one that is difficult emotionally. After this is done I will return to Colombia.
When the right time came I was able to visit the Kogi Christian
farm. This was the fulfillment of a dream for me and God opened
the way for me to visit. Security was good and as the Kogi New
Testament is printed and I have knee surgery scheduled, exacerbating my knee problems by riding a mule on the steep trail was
no longer a serious concern.
I have written you about the joy of standing in the congregation
of Kogi believers and worshipping with them. It was also a privilege to have the Kogi church and elders join together in praying
for me. Spending time with each of the 18 families that live on
this farm and hearing about their lives was a joy as were the hugs
from the precious Kogi children – my grandkids!
May your Christmas celebration be full of special memories as we
celebrate God’s love for us in sending Jesus to be born as a human baby to be our Savior,
Colombia Linda Gawthorne, AA 84804, Bogotá, Colombia, S.A;
phone (011-571-533-2357)
US after Jan 25: Linda Gawthorne, 6343 Lochinvar Way, Sacramento, CA 95823; phone (916) 429-9227
E-mail: [email protected]
For giving Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando,
FL 32862 (account 212941)
LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE FOOTHILLS
1700 Foothill Bl, L a Canada F lintr idg e, CA 91011
(818) 790-1951 (818) 790-8351 fax
LCIFoothills.org [email protected]
New Year’s Checklist
Altar Flowers: 2015 Altar Flower chart is available on the
bulletin board outside the church office. You can give flowers
in honor of or in memory of a loved one, for a special prayer,
or to the glory of God.
Communication: Let the office know if you would like to
be added/removed/adjustments from the email news group, automatic calling program or newsletter mailing list.
The Lutheran Magazine: Each month, LCIF sends The
Lutheran magazine to every family. The Lutheran comes to all
our households for the benefit of LCIF members. If you don’t
currently use it, please open the next issue or check them out at
www.thelutheran.org. You may want to consider that The Lutheran is provided as a general church expense paid for by
regular offerings. Special offering envelopes are included in
your January envelope packet or are available in the pew racks
if you consider The Lutheran as a special item that benefits
your family and qualifies for the low group rate since it is ordered by LCIF. Let the office know if you would like to make
changes to your family’s subscription (we can send to kids at
college).
Offering Envelopes: (more information about what we
do and why will be in the February newsletter.)
Don’t forget to *LIKE*
us on Facebook!
Ministers - All People of LCIF
Jim Bullock, Interim Pastor
([email protected])
Ryan Chaddick, Interim Youth Director
([email protected])
Mark Anzelon, Music Minister
([email protected])
Sun Coe, Pianist/Organist
Lisa Jenks, Children’s Worship Coordinator
([email protected])
Astrid Hirsch, Nursery Attendant
Renee Brandt, Newsletter Editor
([email protected])
Sherry Michel, Secretary
([email protected])
Book Club
Join us in the Conference Room
at 4 PM on
January 26 to
discuss Somewhere Safe with
Somebody
Good, the latest in the
Mitford Series by Jan
Karon. All
welcome!
2-1-15
Thank you to Nancy Bullock for the AMAZING
Cookies Galore celebration following the musical
celebration on December 21st.
Cookies Galore!
LCIF collected
and delivered
46 gift cards
($15 each for
Target) to New
City Parish.
Here being presented by Olivia and Frederic
Brandt and received by Pastor Scott Fritz
Thank
you for
Target
Gift
Cards!
Music at LCIF!
The new pictures in the Narthex celebrate music at LCIF. Thank you to
Deborah Tocco for this magnificent tribute to the musical artists at LCIF.