JOY TO THE WORLD

Joy Lutheran Church, Richmond, TX

MAY 2019

FORMATION OF A CALL COMMITTEE INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Pastor Christ is contemplating retirement. No irm time-table 2 Prepare for Worship has yet been established, but in lieu of that future development, 3 Up Coming Events the Parish Planning Board is in the process of identifying persons to serve on a Pastoral Call Committee and preparing for 4 On Going Events their preparatory work. 5 Disaster Response Towards that end, we are inviting the congregation to suggest 6-7 Easter Day the names of persons whom you believe would serve well on the 8 Men’s Bible Study call committee. Obviously, we are seeking to identify persons who meet the spiritual criteria for leadership which we deem 9 Oromo Invitation essential to the long-term health of Joy Lutheran Church: 1) 10 FDIC faithfulness in worship, 2) involvement in on-going study of the 11 Thank You Notes Scriptures and 3) evidence of generous stewardship of time, talent and treasure in our congregational ministry. 12 Prayers

If you desire to submit possible names, we invite you to write those names down and place them in the mailbox of Chairperson Mike Gann. The mailboxes are located in the cabinets by the doors entering the Nave from the hallway. We ask that you do this during the month of May. We also invite your prayers and offer you our deepest gratitude for your assistance as we move towards this transitional time in the life and ministry of Joy Lutheran Church. Pr. Tim Christ

Joy Lutheran Church, 717 FM 359, Richmond, TX 77406 Office Phone: 281-762-3310 Office Fax: 281-232-2899 E-mail: offi[email protected] and [email protected] Web site: www.joyrichmond.org PREPARE FOR WORSHIP

Prepare for worship each Sunday by reading through the assigned lesson prior to worship. Take some time to pray and reflect upon what God might be seeking to say to you in worship.

EASTER 3 EASTER 4 May 5 May 12 Acts 9:1-6(7-20) Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 30 Psalm 23 Rev. 5:11-14 Rev. 7:9-17 John 21:1-9 John 10:22-30

EASTER 5 EASTER 6 May 19 May 26 Acts 11:1-18 Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 148 Psalm 67 Rev, 21:1-6 Rev. 21:10, 22-22:5 John 113:31-35 John 14:23:29

FINANCIAL SUMMARY OFFERINGS APRIL thru 21st GENERAL FUND: 5/24 Lu & Edla Epperson 50 yrs 23,768.31 5/01 Walt & Lynn Mueller 5 yrs (AVG. WEEKLY GENERAL FUND 5/04 Mike & Tracy Posey 28 yrs OFFERING FOR APRIL.) 5/15 Gene & Debbie Mannella 43 yrs 7,922.22 5/22 Doni & Tammy Soward 20 yrs TOTAL MONTHLY GIFTS 5/25 Chris & Laura Parnell 28 yrs from all funds: 5/30 Larry & Melissa Mikeska 30 yrs 30,189.51 5/31 Alfred & Candace Rieder 33 yrs

NALC WEBSITE For information for the NALC Newsletter visit their website at www.theNALC.org. If you have not been receiving the emails please notify the church office at: [email protected]

Page 2 JOY TO THE WORLD UPCOMING EVENTS

On May 19th at both services the Joy Choir will sing the May 12th Easter Cantata, “Footprints in the Sand”

Save the Date- Baccalaureate Celebration Jr & Sr. High T- June 9th Shirt Sale Sign up for t-shirts inside the folder in the fellowship hall. Please pay with a check, May 27th! ( T-shirt on memo line) and put it inside the envelope in the folder. All orders must be completed by May 12th

JOY QUILTERS The Joy quilters have begun meeting again! We meet every Wednesday from 4p to 8p (or however long it takes!) If you are interested in quilting or want to learn how to quilt please join us. Bring your machines (if you have one) and supplies. We will meet in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome! Please call Paula Curry or Melissa Mikeska for

JOY TO THE WORLD Page 3 ON-GOING EVENTS

Men's Bible Study is underway, and is held Joyful Women Bible Study on Thursdays at 7:30 in the Fellowship Hall The Joy Women Bible Study is taking a break, Please check the Toolkit for new information. The Joyful Women Bible Study is normally held on Tuesday evenings at 7:30pm.

Plan your Funeral! Yes Really! PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY The Prayer Shawl Ministry group meets every In light of the passing of several Joy disciples, Friday at 10:00 a.m. @ Mugs Coffee Bar on FM several folks have already asked me about 359. This wonderful ministry planning their funerals. I encourage such planning brings comfort and support to and am available at your convenience to assist, not those who are experiencing only with planning of the actual service, but also illness, trials, etc. They are symbolic of an inclusive, with information that will assist you in having all of unconditionally loving God. your affairs in order for the benefit of your family. Nothing is ever “set in stone” and can be changed or updated as circumstances warrant. Let’s schedule a time to visit to talk about the faith you 2019 FLOWER CHART desire to share as your legacy, as well as the The new flower chart for 2019 is up on the practical matters, whose preparation is an act of bulletin board in the narthex. Please sign up for love and care for those who will survive us. the Sundays you would like to bring altar flowers in the new year! Be sure to list memorial/ celebrations you would like acknowledged in the Toolkit. For Church repairs, maintenance or anything that might need fixing in or around Joy, please call or e- mail the church office at [email protected] or 4th Day Community 281-762-3310. Will Meet at Joy on We will put our skilled handy Sunday, May 26th, from men on the job! 4-6pm.

JOY TO THE WORLD Page 4 JOY TO THE WORLD Page 5 EASTER CELEBRATION

Page 6 JOY TO THE WORLD EASTER CELEBRATION

JOY TO THE WORLD Page 7 Men’s Bible Study

Praying for God’s Blessings

People say that God has blessed them because of various things like good health, wealth, family and prayers that seem to be answered in the manner requested. But how should they feel about those things when they are taken away or prayers seem not to result in the outcome hoped for? Is there no blessing when that happens or has God not heard the prayers? One might look to the first two chapters of the Book of Job for some insight. Job was a righteous man, so much so, that God used him as an example, as such, to Satan. Job prayed to God faithfully and made sacrifices daily for his children just in case they might sin against God in some way. God allowed Satan to strip him of his wealth, his income, his servants and his children and yet Job blessed God’s name. Then a second me Satan aacked Job and took away his health and Job sll said; “should we accept the good from God and not the trouble?” In the last chapters God restores Job but never tells him why it happened.

The Apostle Paul writes about an afflicon that he prayed to God three mes to remove from him, but God replied; “My Grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” God said no to Paul’s prayers; yet Paul believed he was blessed by God’s answer. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

Joni Eareckson Tada is a Chrisan author that has wrien over 48 books about prayer and hope through hardship. She knows firsthand about the subject since she has been a quadriplegic, paralyzed from the neck down, and confined to a wheelchair since she was 28 years old, she is 69 now. She prayed for God to heal her from the paralysis, but it didn’t happen. Aer many years of Chrisan ministry, helping others through her books and advocacy for the disabled, she came to consider herself blessed by God because she could not have done the things she has for others if she was not disabled herself. She exclaimed; “Oh Blessed Wheelchair!” as she realized what God had done for her and others through her afflicon.

It is wrien in Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord.” People may pray for a certain outcome in their lives or for family and friends yet somemes the result may not be as requested but that doesn’t mean that God is not caring or blessing by doing something else.

Garth Brooks the country western singer songwriter wrote a song tled “Unanswered Prayers” and in this song the man asks God to grant his prayer for a certain girl, in high school, to be his forever and if God granted this prayer, he would never ask for anything again. He didn’t get the girl. Later, aer the man had married another woman, he saw the one he had always thought he wanted at a high school reunion. As it turned out the man found that she wasn’t quite the angel he remembered all those years. He said; he figured that God knew what he was doing aer all and he thanked God for the (supposed) unanswered prayer.

How then should people pray if the answer may be contrary to what is requested? The answer is in Romans 8:26-27; “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

God hears the prayers through joy, sorrow, sickness, even death and answers according to what is best according to his will. It is wrien in Romans 8:28; “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called to his purpose.” All things work for good even when things don’t seem that good because God has already blessed everyone with his Son (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in him shall have eternal life.” God’s grace should be enough.

Men’s Bible Study meets Thursdays at 7:30 pm

Page 8 JOY TO THE WORLD JOY TO THE WORLD Page 9 FDIC

Jr and Sr High Youth T - Shirt Sale Fundraiser

T-shirts in youth, women’s and men’s sizes are available for order in the fellowship hall. Look for the bright yellow folder. Size informaon is on the board behind the desk in the fellowship hall. All orders must be complete by May 12th. Please pay by check and put “T- shirt” on the memo line. We must sell 100 shirts!! It has been so long since we’ve done a Joy t-shirt you might consider ordering two since it may be a long ll we do this again. Especially youth – kids will grow…… A big thank you to Andrea Light for doing all the leg work geng the t-shirts organized. Funds raised will go to help our youth in various projects and oungs. Thank you for supporng our youth and also our church as we share ‘Joy to the World’ as we wear our new shirts!

SAVE THE DATE – BACCALAUREATE June 9th As of right now we have 3 young Summer Sunday School men at Joy graduating from high school. Please call Corinne or Our regular Sunday School will Paula if someone is graduating th continue through June 9 . We will from college or some other continue to meet in June, July and program that we can recognize August as a large group with the and celebrate. exception of the Toddler class. Kids in 3rd – High School will be meeting to begin getting ready for VBS th through July 14 (hopefully). After VBS we will Easter Breakfast Thank You!! continue to meet to prepare for our Youth Lead Worship Service on August 18th / Rally Day. We would Many thanks to our Jr and Sr High youth really appreciate it if kids came to Sunday School as and parents who helped prepare and serve much as possible this summer. We know people will be in and out with summer plans but the VBS prep a great breakfast on Easter. Also, thank work will also relate to our Youth Lead service so come you to disciples of Joy for coming and as much as you can. Thanks for your support!! supporting our youth!!

Camp Joy! VBS / Camp Joy July 15 – 19

Sign up sheet to get a commitment/interest in VBS this year is on the table in the fellowship. We need a significant mass to make it feasible to have this program as well as some people to volunteer and make it happen. This is the time to talk to your grandkids, nieces, nephews, god children, neighbors and friends to see if they would like to participate!!! Youth participants, youth helpers and adults are asked to sign up now if you are able to participate and/or help. If we don’t have a significant mass committed by mid May, it will be cancelled for this year.

JOY TO THE WORLD Page 10 THANK YOU NOTES Helping Hands - We received your generous gift of $528.14 and want to thank you so much for support of our general operations. Big Heart Orphanage - Thanks you for your generosity, faithfulness, prayers and support! Cross Trails Ministries - Thanks you for your generous expression of support of $264.07. It is because of gifts from congregations like yours we are able to continue that we provide! North American Lutheran Seminary - Thanks you for your gift of $396.12 Your gift will assist us in continuing to pursue our goal, financially, and will also support our efforts to educate NALC Seminarians and to form Pastors who are driven by our core values. Lunches of Love - Thanks you for your generous donation, love and support. Lunches of Love would not exist without our community embracing our program and the sweet children we feed. Your donation in March provided 176 Lunches!

A big Thank you to Rick Elizalde for getting our School Supply donations down to the Valley for Big Heart Orphanage to pick up!

JOY TO THE WORLD Page 11 We Remember in Prayer

Prayer is one of the Marks of discipleship. We invite everyone to grow in your prayer life. These persons and concerns have been lifted up in the prayers of the people of the people of Joy over the past few weeks.

Our NALC Staff: The NALC, Bishop John Brodosky; General Secretary Mark Chavez; Mission Director Pr. Gemechis Buba; Assistant to the Bishop Pr. David Wendel; NALS President Rev. Dr. Amy Schifrin, STS; South Texas Mission District Dean Tim Christ; Director of Communications, Pr. Mark Ryman Our Sister Congregations & Synods: Church of the Living God (Chinese), Pr. Joshua Ong; The Oromo Evangelical Church, Pr. Kamiso Boru - Houston; Iglesia Lutherana de Christo Rey, Bishop Bezaleel Hernandez - Reynosa, Mexico; The Ethiopian Church, Mekane Yesus Congregational Leaders: especially our Pastor, Parish Planning Board & Staff

Congregational Members - On-going Concerns:

Mark Allen Kathy Faucett Lou Gross Walt Mueller

Carol Boenig Gail Frankevich Rudy Lopez Pittard family

Bill Bosse Bob Jahn Katria Lyons Martha Willis

James Goates Dick & Darleen Kastner Betty McDow

Relatives & Friends

Camryn Adkison & family Kenny Covarrubisas Rhett Gray Lori McGuire CB Parnell

Mary Arenson George Duarte Jeff Jinx Paul Moore Mary Ramirez

Janet Bellotti & family John Dunne Mark Kastner Michael Nagel Stephen Scarborough

Pr. Cathi Braash Ruth & Morris Hibbs Sandi Lacy Anne Oakes David Shifflett

Wilma Bryan Tom Hunt & family Pr. Paul Larsen Parrage family Doug Signell

Cory Collins Diane Evans Dorothy Lyons Pam Polly Wilmoth family

Our Values: Faithful - Family - Friends - Fun Our Vision - Joy to the World! Our Mission: Called by God, we reach out joyfully to share Jesus Christ with all people by building healthy relationships with God and one another.

Parish Planning Board - Rick Curry (Vice-Chair.), Mike Gann, (Chairperson), Doris Goates, Larry Mikeska, Judy Ronning, Tammy Soward, & June Tesch. Joy Administrative Staff - Tim Christ, STS-Pastor; Paula Curry - Administrative Assistant; Donna Rae - Treasurer; Laura Cabato - Social Ministry; Paula Curry &Tammy Soward - JoyLife; Corinne Light - Youth & Family Ministry; Bill Bosse - Communications; Joy Ministry Leaders & Teams - Darin Mielke - Choir Director; Susan Terry- Organist; Tammy Canterbury, Rick Curry, Susan Krabbe, Jeanette & Milton Richards , Ben Taylor- Praise Band; Vickie Schoppe- Joyful Women & Women’s Bible Study; Mike Meyer - Men’s Bible Study;