JOY TO THE WORLD
Joy Lutheran Church, Richmond, TX
Pastor’s Pondering’s
John 2:13-22
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the FEBRUARY 2021 temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the 15 moneychangers si ng there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of INSIDE THIS ISSUE: the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the 2 Prepare for Worship pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 3 Upcoming Events 17 His disciples remembered that it was wri en, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 So, the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 4 On Going Events 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 5 GiFT The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 6 Crosstrails When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had 7 Dune Restoration said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. Beach Trip The scripture above is quite striking. It reminds us that Jesus is the temple of God for 8-9 Men’s Bible Stude us. This temple is a living, breathing temple that lives in and through every believer 10 Thank You Notes by way of the Holy Spirit. As we approach Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, we can see that we need a sanctuary away from the things that taint our faith. Jesus 11 Pastor’s Ponderings saw the commercialism of the temple to be defiling and cheapening of the place Cont.. where believers gather under the Father’s name. Jesus is the name of this temple 12 Prayers where we gather, a temple not built with hands, but with faith in the death and resurrec on of our Lord and Savior. He is the sanctuary of our souls. A place that should never be defiled by the influences of the world. We need to cleanse our hearts, like Jesus cleansed the Jerusalem Temple. We need to drive out the thoughts, a tudes and inten ons that can destroy our souls. Life is tough enough without adding to the confusion and stress of living it in opposi on to God. Every worldly influence has the possibility of pollu ng the pure faith that comes to us through God’s grace. Not that we can ever be fully holy in this life, but that we would con nually strive towards the example of and standard that Jesus commanded for us. Con nued on page 11
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.
EPIPHANY 5 TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD February 7 February 14 Isaiah 40:21-31 Exodus 34:29-35 Psalm 147:1-11 Psalm 50:1-6 1 Corinthians 9:16-27 2 Corinthians 3:12-13,4:1-6 Mark 1:29-39 Mark 9:2-9
ASH WEDNESDAY 1st SUNDAY IN LENT 2nd SUNDAY IN LENT February 17 February 21 February 28 Joel 2:12-19 Genesis 22:1-18 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 Psalm 51:1-13(14-19) Psalm 25:1-10 Psalm 22:23=31 2 Corinthians. 5:20b-6:10 James 1:12-18 Romans 5:1-11 Matt.6:1-6, 16-21 Mark 1:9-15 Mark 8:27-38
FINANCIAL SUMMARY GENERAL FUND JANUARY 2021 $21,103.75 (AVG. WEEKLY GENERAL FUND OFFERING FOR JAN.) 2/28 Rick and Paula Curry 34 yrs $4,220.75 TOTAL MONTHLY GIFTS from all funds: 24,118.75
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
Installation Service for Pr. Randy Joy will not be hosting Pancake Supper or Soup Suppers this year Please join us Sunday, February 7th at 3pm for the service of installation. Dean Kris Brower will be here to Install Pr. Randy as Pastor of Joy. There will be a small reception of cake and punch in the parking lot immediately following the service! Pr. Randy request that you bring your screw drivers and In the over abundance of caution, Joy will not host wrenches to ensure proper the Pancake Supper or Soup Suppers this year during our Lenten season due to Covid-19. We want to make installation! sure we all stay safe and Joy Life feels that eating at Joy is just not the right time yet. Keep an eye out for the Lenten Worship schedule that Pastor Randy has Joy’s new Parish Planning Board for 2021 will be put in the newsletter. But… installed on Sunday, February 7th at both services. But, as we were thinking of the great fellowship we Please join us! have had over the past few years with the Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday, a wonderful thought crossed our minds. Joy Life is proposing if possible that Joy families get together at home on Tuesday, February 16th and do a family Pancake Supper. This will be a good time for the family to get together to really re lect and prepare for the coming Lenten season. Joy would love to have pictures of the Ash Wednesday & Lenten Worship Schedule individual Family Pancake Suppers to share with the congregation in the March newsletter. So please enjoy, take pictures of your pancakes, family and fun th Ash Wednesday - is on February 17 at this year. and then email them to the of ice at Joy. Stay Safe! There will be a service at 12:00 PM (noon). It will be a shorter and quieter service with imposition of In God’s Peace, ashes for those on their lunch break or who prefer Tammy Soward and Paula Curry driving in the daytime hours. Then, a full in-person Joy Life Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 PM that same evening with the bidding prayer, Holy Communion and imposition of ashes. Both will be posted online. Wednesday Lenten services - Weekly Wednesday Super Bowl of Caring Worship (WWW) online at 12:00 PM (noon) and in- person each Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. Its that time of year again, lets help Pr. Randy will offer a Lenten Bible Discovery class Helping Hands ill their pantry. Please bring that will begin on Tuesday, February 23rd and each nonperishable food items; peanut butter, canned Tuesday up until Holy Week. It will be online at 10:00 soups and vegetables, dry beans and rice, hygiene AM and in-person at 7:00 PM each week in Lent. products; toothpaste, deodorant, bar soap, etc to the cart in the fellowship hall.
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 3 ON-GOING EVENTS
Many thanks to Jeanette Joyful Women’s Bible Study Richards for heading up Worship, & Robbie Conley for The Joyful Women Bible Study has begun a study on heading up Evangelism! Jeremiah on Wednesdays — either 3 PM (in person) Thanks to these wonderful or 7 PM (Zoom). We will pause during Lent. Our volunteers we now have our Last session will be Feb. 10th. We will pick up again ministry staff positions illed! after Easter!
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY 2021 FLOWER CHART The Prayer Shawl Ministry The new lower chart for 2021 is group meets every Friday at up on the bulletin board in the 10:00 a.m. in the Sr. High hallway. Please sign up for the Room! This wonderful Sundays you would like to bring ministry brings comfort and support to those who are experiencing illness, altar lowers in the new year! Be trials, etc. They are symbolic of an inclusive, sure to list memorial/celebrations you would like unconditionally loving God. acknowledged in the Toolkit. We have a lot of open All are welcome to join our group! dates available!
For Church repairs, maintenance or anything that At this time Helping Hands is in need of: might need ixing in or around Joy, please call or e- dry soup, jelly, canned meat, corn, peanut butter, mail the church of ice at dry pasta, single serve items, & soap. Bring your of [email protected] or items to the grocery cart in the Parish Hall! 281-762-3310.
We will put our skilled handy men on the job!
Bulletins We are not longer sending out the weekly bulletins and announcements for Sunday’s Worship Services by email. If you are worshiping from home and you would still like to receive a bulletin or in need any other information or assistance, please contact Paula Curry 713-515-7197. We will make sure you have what you need to stay connected!
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 4 GiFT (Growing In Faith Together
GiFT Ministry Team We are hoping to get Camp Joy up and running this summer, Please be on the We will meet brie ly lookout for more details to come! after 10:30 Worship on February 14th. We are beIng positive and prayerful VBS will be a go this summer - please join us as we do a quick review of the work of this team and start planning for VBS.
Crosstrails Ministry
Crosstrails Ministries is part of our benevolence giving from Joy. Obviously with much of camp cancelled last summer and other events they host cancelled, the Gala in March will be a huge help. Let’s join together and make a silent auction basket to show our support for this awesome ministry!
The theme will be “Garden”. Let’s ind all kinds of garden tools, pots, decorative items - be creative. Look for the basket with this ‘garden’ sign February 7th. All items need to be in the basket by February 28th. Thanks for your participation . If you want to make a basket yourself please go for it. Corinne will get them to Camp Chrysalis before the Gala. Also, look for an email blast for opportunities to bid and contribute to Crosstrails Ministry.
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 5 Page 6 JOY TO THE WORLD Beach Dune Restoration Trip On January 16th, Disciples of Joy took 83 Christmas trees to Surf Side Beach to continue building the dunes on the beach! Due to Covid they kept it small with 6 people going, Doni, Tammy & Dori Soward, Liam, Ben Taylor & Mike. They would like to give Fred Kunzler a big shout out for bringing 30 plus trees to Joy!
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 7 Men’s Bible Study
Standing at the Door
There is a small Lutheran Church located about 90 miles west of Houston, Texas. It’s a wood sided building painted white with the main door painted red as was the custom of Lutheran churches at the time it was built. The original Gothic-style stained- glass windows along with their original inscriptions in German are most magnificent even rivaling the beauty of the Painted Churches of Texas. The best way to view the windows is on a sunny day with the interior lights of the building turned off. The building was dedicated in 1904 and has served the community for over 116 years as an active place of worship. The congregation, presently affiliated with the ELCA, was formed in 1874.
The building has many windows, fixed pane and functional, all are stained-glass. While the common windows are impressive, each depicting certain events or stories from the Bible, the focal point of the building is the towering stained-glass window in the wall behind the altar. It is the first thing one sees upon entering the sanctuary. Thousands of adults and children, over the many decades, have sat in the original hand carved wooden pews during worship services, Baptisms, weddings and funerals in curious awe of the image created by the glass and lead seams.
The image is of a door surrounded by vines and Jesus standing at the door with his right hand placed on the door as if he were knocking for someone to come and open the door to let him in. Most people while mesmerized by the image in the window have no idea what the image is about except that Jesus is portrayed in a pleasing manner in the glass.
The image is perhaps inspired by an allegorical painting by an English Pre-Raphaelite artist named William Holman Hunt. The painting is called “The Light of the World”. He created the painting between 1853 and 1854, roughly 30 years before the window in the church was made. It is his signature work. The painting represents the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on an overgrown and long unopened door, illustrating Revelation 3:20; “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and I will sup with him and he with Me.”
According to Hunt, he painted the picture with the thought, although unworthy, was a divine command and not simply a good subject. Critics of the painting noted that the door had no handle to which Hunt replied; “the door can only be opened from the inside and represents the obstinately shut mind.”
The Book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, contains 7 letters that Jesus wrote to 7 churches that existed at the time that John had the vision. Each letter addresses things about each church that Jesus is pleased with and things that need work to correct. There are consequences for not correcting them and Jesus gives the solution for each. The letter in chapter 3 that pertains to verse 20 is addressed to the Church in Laodicea, the Lukewarm Church, and starts at verse 14: “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. (15) “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! (16) So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. (17) For you say, I am rich, I have prospered and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
(18) I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so you that you may see. (19) Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. (20) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (21) The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Page 8 JOY TO THE WORLD Men’s Bible Study Cont…
Previously, in chapter 3 verses 7-13 Jesus addresses the Church in Philadelphia in which he is pleased. Most church congregations would like to believe that they are the Philadelphia church. However many today, and over the ages, have more in common with the church in Laodicea. He says that the lukewarm church is blind to the fact that they are neither cold nor hot towards Jesus, which is why he ends each letter to the churches with the words “let he who has an ear to hear” so that even those that are blind to their situation can know what needs to change.
Many who are involved with evangelism use Revelation 3:20 as a means to bring people to belief in Jesus with the door representing the human heart as if the person can make that decision. But although the Spirit is continuously drawing people to Christ verse 3:20 is addressed to those who already believe and have received justification; the church, the body of Christ. Jesus says in verse 19 “Those I love, I reprove and discipline” like a loving parent disciplines a child so that their behavior improves for their own benefit. Jesus doesn’t want his church to become complacent.
Typically, the Lutheran church as a whole doesn’t spend very much time in the Book of Revelation possibly because of Martin Luther’s attitude towards it. So, it is interesting that the message portrayed in the image in the stained-glass window of a small-town Lutheran church has continued for 116 years.
Although everyone who enters that church may not understand the full meaning of the image portrayed or that it is a depiction of a verse in the Book of Revelation, they do see that Jesus is standing at a door and knocking and one can anticipate that he expects someone on the inside will open the door and that he will go in. The warning in chapter 3 is for the church not to become complacent towards Christ and leave him standing outside the door.
So, for 116 years it seems that the congregation has heard the message in the glass, although subconsciously, and have opened the door. They have heeded what Jesus said; Let everyone with an ear hear what the Spirit says to the churches”; even though in this case the Spirit is speaking through stained-glass.
Mike Meyer-Men’s Bible Study
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 9 THANK YOU NOTES Helping Hands - We received your generous gift of $488.23 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 $237.05. 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 $488.23. Your gift will assist us in continuing to pursue our goal, inancially, and will also support our efforts to educate NALC Seminarians and to form Pastors who are driven by our core values. Lunches of Love - Thank you for your generous donation of $122.06, love and support. Lunches of Love would not exist without our community embracing our program and the sweet children we feed.
WNALC WOMEN”S GATHERING
Dear Ladies, It is with a sad heart that the Spring Ladies Gathering to be held this April in Rosenberg has once again been postponed! The Planning Committee met recently and we felt for everyone's health and safety that it would be better to reschedule until next Spring 2022.
We are praying and looking forward to all being together in fellowship at that time. We will be in touch with "Save the Date" information in January 2022.
Thank you for your understanding and prayers for a swift end to this pandemic. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Pat Dittrich at Peace Lutheran Church. (cell: 713-254-0044/email: [email protected]).
God Bless You All!
Peace Lutheran Church, Rosenberg St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rosenberg Joy Lutheran Church, Richmond
JOY TO THE WORLD Page 10 Pastor’s Pondering's cont…
We are part of his kingdom at his bidding and because of his invita on for us to accept the work he has done on our behalf. There is no place for pride in our s ving toward holiness. Because anything we set out to do, is con nually tainted by sin. That is where Jesus comes in. We need to clean out our hearts that house the throne room where the Father, the Holy Spirit and Jesus make their home in us. The temple of God travels with us, like the tabernacle traveled with the Hebrew slaves who escaped under Moses’ leadership. We too are traveling through life so that we can enter the Holy Land. Only this land is not a geographic point on a map. It is centered within the Holy Courts of God’s eternal temple. This temple is built with you and me. We are the living stones that are the temple for all followers of Jesus, which is called the Body of Christ. This means our journey through the 40 days of Lent is a me for you and me and all believers to purge their being of the things that pollute and destroy our faith.; that pollute and destroy our rela onships; that pollute and destroy our obedience to Jesus. I will offer opportuni es for every disciple at Joy to do this work of purging and removing the obstacles to walking with Christ daily. To help us all to “clean house” in our souls I offer the following opportuni es: (1) There will be an in-person Ash Wednesday worship on February 17th at 12:00 PM (noon). It will be a shorter and quieter service with imposi on of ashes for those on their lunch break or who prefer driving in the day me hours. Then, a full in-person Ash Wednesday worship at 7:00 PM that same evening with the bidding prayer, Holy Communion and imposi on of ashes. Both will be posted online. (2) Then a Lenten Bible Discovery class I will offer will begin Tuesday, February 23rd and each Tuesday up un l Holy Week. It will be online at 10:00 AM and in-person at 7:00 PM each week in Lent. (3) Then we will have our Weekly Wednesday Worship (WWW) online at 12:00 PM (noon) and in-person each Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. May your journey through the 40 days open your heart to blow out the cobwebs of sin and prepare your soul to receive that which God wants to give you in holiness and truth. This is your me to cleanse, purge and prepare yourself to be even closer to the Resurrected Lord and to become the best disciple of Jesus you can be! — Pr. Randy Conley
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 Joy over the past few weeks.
Our NALC Staff: The NALC, Bishop Rev. Dan Selbo; General Secretary Mark Chavez; Mission Director Pr. Gemechis Buba; Assistant to the Bishop Pr. David Wendel; NALS President Re. Dr. Amy Schifrin, STS; South Texas Mission District Dean Pr Kris Brower. 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:
Carol Boenig Andrew & Landrea Cabato Lou Gross Shirley Morris
Budd family Bob & Sue Jahn Rudy Lopez Pittard family
Curry family Dick & Darleen Kastner Joyce & Ewald Lopata Dan & Kathy Strode
Relatives & Friends
Heather Blankton Debbie Joshua Menang Ginia Reed Stephanie & Kade Widdon
Charles Briesemeister Buster & Cody Dolores Nelson Viviana Salazar Finn Vandivort
Kathy Bryan George Durate Ralph Newkirk Lou Sharp
Clifford Budd Lori Maguire Cody O’Brian & family Kim Stevens
Tania Conn Pr. Marty Leona Robert & Fran Phillips Windy Chapleau-Suhling
Betsy Clausen Bobby McDonald Joseph Pyle Susan Volk
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 - Allen Schoppe (Chairperson), Tammy Soward, (Vice-Chair), Judy Ronning, Amy Cabato, Kristen Curry, Ben Taylor, & Shena Ureste Joy Administrative Staff -Pastor Randy Conley- Pastor; Paula Curry - Administrative Assistant; Donna Rae - Treasurer; Laura Cabato - Social Ministry; Paula Curry & Tammy Soward - Joylife; Corinne Light- GiFT; John Garrou - Communications; Jeanette Richards- Worship; & Robbie Conley - Evangelism Joy Ministry Leaders & Teams - Darin Mielke - Choir Director; Borja Arsensi Flores - 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