February, 2018 Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Auction Saturday, Feb. 3 at 6:00 p.m. See page 4 February 14 . to be the Heart, Hands and Voice of Christ . to be the Heart, Hands and Voice Worship: 7:00 a.m./12:15 & 7:00 p.m. Mission Our Wednesday Lenten Series www.kogcarmel.org ‘FUL’ of It Being a Christian in a Non-Christian World ELCA ELCA Worship from 7:00-7:30 p.m. See page 4 King of Glory EQUIPPING THE SAINTS Mission Support: What Is It? theran Child and Family Services, The Sharing Place, The Christmas Store with In Galatians 6:2 we are told to “Carry each other’s burdens, and LCFS, Clay Township Trustees, Habitat in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” So how do we at King for Humanity, Friendship Bible Study, of Glory make sure we “Carry each other’s burdens”? We have a adult and family mission trips, School ministry team with just that purpose in mind – it is called the Mission on Wheels, Campus Ministry, Lutheran Support Team with Carole Rahn as its deacon. Camps, Lutheran Disaster Relief (USA), Ready Set Learn, Chaucie’s Place, Pre- This team was once called the Social Ministry Team with the follow- vail and youth mission trips. ing purpose: “To study social conditions and issues in light of Christ’s teachings, reach out beyond ourselves in ministry, and support those Last September we ventured into a new in need of one-on-one or through the institutions and structures of area and worked with our Synod on a our Church and society.” As time passed the term “Social” came Day of Service. “God’s Work our Hands” to mean something other than what was intended for our purpose. was a fun day of service for a variety of After much prayer and discernment the decision was made, with the needs both here and around the world. blessing of the church council, to change the name to Mission Sup- Some worked with Habitat for Human- port Team. That name speaks more to what this team does. ity, some baked cookies for the police and fire fighters, some made cards of The Mission Support Team is charged with the responsibility of mak- encouragement for Meals on Wheels ing sure our benevolence funds are dispersed appropriately. 2% of and LCFS, some made dresses for Lit- all giving to the KOG General Fund goes to support those in need tle Dresses for Africa, some served an in the local area – that includes all of Indiana and the United States. elderly woman in need, some sang to 1% of all giving to KOG General Fund goes to support those in need those in a nursing home. We are look- around the world. Twice a year we look at what funds we have and ing forward to doing it all again this year. disperse them to a variety of organizations. Decisions as to what We will need help – help with ideas, help organizations to support are made by looking at organizations KOG with leading a small group, and help with members are involved with, historical involvement and new opportu- prayers for God’s guidance. nities that are made known to us. As you can see, this team does a lot One of our joys is our relationship with our missionary, Karen Ander- and keeps KOG in line with Galatians son. She is serving in Santiago, Chili and has been there for many 6:2. We need more help, either on the years. Karen heads up an organization called EPES, focusing on team or with one of our various projects. providing the underserved in Chili with health education and sup- If this is an area of interest to you please port. Check out the notebook at the information desk for her latest contact the deacon of Mission Support, news. Karen has visited us on her home assignment – last summer Carole Rahn. One area of particular she visited our VBS and 2 years ago she visited our outdoor worship need is with the Friendship Program. and spoke to our congregation. It meets Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM and works with those with developmen- Other missions around the world include: World Hunger, Lutheran tal disabilities. Contact either Jim Pal- World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response (International) and Little ecek or Dick Otto if you can serve. Dresses for Africa. Your King of Glory Elders For missions closer to home we are or have been involved in: Lu- Synod Assembly Representatives The Synod Assembly will be held this year in Fort Wayne May 31- June 2. This is a time for members of the ELCA to worship, hear inspiring talks, learn what other churches are doing and make decisions about where the Synod is heading and who will be leading it. KOG gets to send 2 representatives (1 male and 1 female) to the Assembly. If you are interested in attending as a representative from KOG please prayerfully consider and then let Council member or Pr. David know. If you need further information feel free to talk to last year’s representatives – Greg and Donna Frazier, or any of the past representatives. 2 PASTOR’S COLUMN You Always “New” It You see, it’s not that the good wolf does As our understanding of our faith deep- “good things” and the bad wolf does “bad ens, so does our understanding of what things.” The truth, as revealed by Jesus the Christian life looks like – including and by Paul is that we can never do much why we need to worship God as often good if we try to do our own will. Our as possible. inherent sinfulness often twists our best intentions into confused or even bad be- In our modern day, people have become havior. To go back to the old saying, we so busy with so many things, includ- “feed” the good wolf inside us when we go ing more hours at their jobs, that it is to a church service to pray and hear the very tempting, even for a faithful Chris- gospel read and preached in worship. tian, to turn away from weekly worship. Some complain that it’s “the same old, You see, it’s at worship, week after week, same old.” What they don’t know is that, that we hear that the Holy Spirit is work- in some ways, we need the “same old, ing inside of us, seeking to lead and guide us into doing God’s will, same old” message because it’s a mes- nurturing the New Adam/New Eve. Not hearing the Word of God and sage we need to hear in order for our not praying to God can mean that the New Adam/New Eve is pushed “new selves” to survive. aside by our Old Adam/Old Eve, our sinful, selfish nature. As Paul once said, “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Worship That’s right. Worship, in its earthly es- helps us identify with and encourage the loving Christ that Jesus has sence, is survival. I say “earthly” essence put within us. because weekly worship is not a “work” that we do in order to earn our heavenly I ran across some old advertising sayings that help us understand this salvation; instead, worshiping God every continual process. Walmart’s slogan used to be “Save Money. Live week is, at its best, an activity that the Better.” Likewise, when we worship we save time spent on the flesh, Holy Spirit inspires us to do for our ben- to spend on the Spirit, and we live better. Coca-Cola used to have efit, and the benefit of all people that God a saying, “The Pause That Refreshes.” It’s the pause we take to wants us to help and serve. worship God that guides us into a new and wonderful life! (And you always ‘new’ it!) You see, even after we come to faith in God, we (and all Christians) have a bat- One more slogan – it was used by Apple: “Think Different.” We sin- tle going on inside of us between our two ners cannot think differently on our own – we need, in worship, to hear selves – the old, sinful self (the old Adam God’s promises of grace, and receive His gifts of love in Word and the or Eve) and the new, godly self (the Lord’s Supper – regularly, in order to be, as Paul put it, “in the mind new Adam or Eve). There’s an old say- of Christ.” ing about faith that you may have heard that applies here: “There’s two wolves, a good one and a bad one, always fighting each other, deep inside of every person. Which one wins? The one we feed.” Don’t Want to Give Something Up for Lent? Not a problem. How about adding something?! After all, Lent is not just about fast- ing; it’s about feasting. The main reason for giving up something is to make more room for God in our lives — so that we can feast on God’s mercy. Adding a spiritual discipline is a great way to observe Lent. It can draw you into a heightened aware- ness of God’s presence in your daily life and truly prepare you for the celebration of Easter. 3 KOG BULLETIN BOARD An Invitation for You! Support our Youth Group AND enjoy an evening of SOUPer Bowl of Caring Did you know American chili & baked goods delicious beyond your wildest consumers spend more imaginations! that $10 billion on food and other items for the When and Where Super Bowl each year? Saturday, February 3 at 6:00 p.m.