January 2018 Volume 42 — Number 14 Milwaukee, WI. USA GraceNotes A publication of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church—LCMS We Christians believe that Mary is truly the mother of God-Man, Jesus Christ. The Greek word that describes it is "theotokos". it means "mother of God" or "bearer of God." PAGE 2 “I changed my mind” THIS MONTH AT GRACE January 7th Our dear Elaine Teske is now in Movie: “My Son, My Savior” | glory. To honor her, Pastor Ferd 10am wrote an interesting article in which he describes how January 8th important she was, especially Elders Meeting | 6pm when Grace decided to call January 15th Pastor German Novelli Jr. on Council Meeting | 6pm January 2011. // Page 10 January 21st Voters Meeting & Potluck | noon WWW.GRACE-OK.ORG 3030 W. Oklahoma Av. Milwaukee, WI. 53215 P a g e 2 G r a c e N o t e s JANUARY 2018 EDITORIAL Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Lk. 1:38) Christ’s Bearers othing is impossible for the work of the Holy Spirit, who about the mission of each one of us God! The angel Gabriel has placed Christ in our hearts. as individuals who carry Jesus in our told these words to the hearts? Virgin Mary, to explain As bearers of Christ, we Nthat she would conceive, and would also have a very important We must also share the carry in her womb, the Son of God, mission, this is a mission of faith. gospel, speak of God's love, invite the Savior of the nations: Jesus. We can’t lock up this faith in our others to grow with us in our hearts, especially while there are congregation, and reach out to our Mary could not believe it. so many people out there who friends, neighbors, and family This was very difficult to accept. But really need it. members. Do you know why? she did, and - in the power of God - Because this is what God does with she declared herself to be ‘the s The bearers of Christ are us all the time. Christ reaches us and ervant of the Lord.’ called to talk about Him with invites us each day of our lives, others, to comfort those who every time He comes to us, to love We Christians believe that suffer with the love of Christ, and us, to forgive us, to renew our faith, Mary is truly the mother of God-Man, to invite others to come to Him. and to remain in our hearts. Jesus Christ. The Greek word that This is the mission of the Church, describes it is "theotokos". it this is our mission as believers, Help us, O Jesus, that each one of us means "mother of God" or "bearer of and this is your mission in life as might be a missionary of your God." The Holy Spirit conceived a bearer of Jesus. Church! Fill our heart with the within her the Savior. She accepted faith and preparation we need to the challenge, and fulfilled the We are starting a new do it. Amen mission that God gave her. year, and this 2018 we will place special emphasis on GRACE's We too (in a certain way) are missions. We will make a huge bearers of Christ. He is not in our effort to support our local and wombs, but He is dwelling in our national missions, and also to hearts, in our lives, and in the life of support international missions the congregations. Christ walks in countries such as Uganda, Pastor Germán Jr. among us, and lives within us. This is Venezuela, and Chile. But what [email protected] INFORMATION P a g e 3 JANUARY 2018 G r a c e N o t e s Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 3030 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee, WI. 53215 Office: 384-3520—384-4817 Fax: 384-3528 E-mail: [email protected] JANUARY 7th Office Hours: TUESDAY-THURSDAY 9am-4pm Dave and Danny Gaus, Sheryl Pelican, and Lori Eshelman Rev. Germán Novelli-Oliveros, Pastor Mobil Phone: (414) 366-5299 JANUARY 14th Email: [email protected] Chuck and Alana Zielesch, Don and Karen Ewert Congregational Officers Terrence Donaldson, President JANUARY 21st Mark Jubeck, Vice-President Jim Barndt, Mark Jubeck, Marian Laub, Treasurer Dave Biermann, and Chester Zbrozek Staff JANUARY 28th Rev. German Novelli (Sr.), Pastor-Comunidad de Gracia Art and Amy Socha, Jane Donaldson, Office Secretary Terry and Jane Doanldson Telva Szymborski, Organist Dennis Szymborski, Choir Director FEBRUARY 4th Michelle Lenski, Bell Choir, VBS, and Youth Group Leader Lucia Novelli, Lay Readers Sue Pritzlaff, Lynda Trapp, Jane Donaldson and Marge Wodvarka, Altar Guild Brenda Nitz, and Shirley Lovas Augusto LaCruz & Pablo Novelli, Worship Translators Sue Pritzlaff, Ruth Guild President/ LWML Sue Brahm, Sunday School Superintendent Marilyn Jubeck, Senior Fellowship/ LWML Kenneth Lovas, Interior Custodian Piece Makers Shirley Lovas, Altar Flowers and Thrivent Every Thursday Judy Zarzynski, Caring Connectors and Piece Makers 9:00AM-1:00PM Board of Directors Don Ewert, Board of Elders Come join us for a time of Jim Barndt, Board of Evangelism fellowship and in piecing Brenda Nitz, Director of Stewardship together quilts to keep James Van Acker, Board of Trustees our veterans warm. David Biermann, Board of Fellowship All are welcome! Kenny Lovas, Board of Human Concerns Any questions please call Judy Zarzynski at 414-327-5759 www.grace-ok.org P a g e 4 G r a c e N o t e s JANUARY 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS LWML P a g e 5 JANUARY 2018 G r a c e N o t e s LWML-SWD Events JANUARY BIRTHDAYS 1.– Julie Kacmarcik-Rinka 4.– Brittany VanAcker 2018 LWML SWD Winter Getaway 5.– Dale Potter “Finding Faith in Films” 6.– Virginia Hansen Jan 19-20, 2018 at Holiday Inn- Fond du Lac, WI James Klawien Keynote Speaker: Rev. Randy Raasch Bonnie Mathe 8.- Irving J. Blaesing Registration can be found at www.lwml-swd.org 9.– Lynda Trapp For any questions or further information, 10.– Nadine Hukarevic please contact Emily Woelfel: 15.– Mary Draeger Email [email protected] Phone 920-268-7773. 18.- Edna Hoffman 20.– Karen Ewert 21.– Bryan Miller James Teske 25.– Diane Blank James Beyer 26.– Angela Clark Katherine Deaton Kenny Lovas 27.– Joyce Budish Jose Elias Garcia 2018 LWML SWD Convention 28.– Kathleen Tuler June 22 & 23 Karen Paap Milwaukee Marriott West-Waukesha 31.– Bob Rothwell “How Beautiful” Lynnette Chadwick Join us to be Engaged, Encouraged, Educated, Equipped and to Enjoy! www.lwml-swd.org For more information about these and other events, please go to the LWML-SWD website’s Events Calendar. P a g e 6 STEWARDSHIP G r a c e N o t e s JANUARY 2018 New Year Stewardship t’s a new year. It’s a time when the local congregation is primary. generous amount. Ten percent was we take stock of the year past Your pastor is the one called to the standard for the Israelites. This in order to improve the year to preach the Gospel to you and was a command for the ancient come. It’s a time when we sit administer the Lord’s blessed Israelites. We can give as much as Idown to plan and implement what sacraments to you. Your we want, but ask yourself: do we we want to accomplish and even congregation is the place where really want to be less generous change. Part of that is planning our those things happen. Thus, when than was commanded of the stewardship for the coming year. God calls us to give to the church, Israelites? Is the job of the New Often we find this difficult He has the local congregation in Testament Church bigger or and daunting and even joyless. But mind. For “the Lord has com- smaller than the job given to it doesn’t have to be. In fact, it is manded that those who preach Israel? really quite simple and full of joy. So the gospel should receive their And how are we to give it? here are some tips to make that living from the gospel” (1 Cor. We give it with eagerness and planning less stressful. You begin by 9:14). earnestness. We give it cheerfully answering these three questions: How much do we give to and with love, not out of Who are you? To whom do I give? the local congregation? Our only compulsion. For through the And how much? instructions are these: to give preaching of the gospel and the So, who are you? The Table regularly (1 Cor. 6:1–2), administration of the sacraments, of Duties in the Small Catechism proportionally (1 Cor. 16:1–2; 2 God has made us His children, informs us. Are you a hearer of Cor. 8:12), and generously (2 Cor. forgiven us all our sins, given us God’s Word? Are you a citizen of 8:20) of our first fruits (Gen. 4:4; grace upon grace, promised us life society? Are you a member of a Prov. 3:9; Lev. 27:30) with a spirit everlasting with Him in His family? Stewardship covers these of eagerness (2 Cor. 9:2), kingdom, and filled us with His three estates: church, society, earnestness (2 Cor. 8:7), own Spirit, the Holy Spirit. This family. We don’t particularly cheerfulness (2 Cor. 9:7), and love makes giving a joy, as Jesus said, struggle to give to society or family.