Centerpoint: Summertime Spirituality

 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.  Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

--Psalm 100

 

Summertime is here.

 

School is out.  Vacation season has arrived.  We all (myself included) look forward to getting away for a while, slowing down the pace and recharging our batteries.

 

In the church, this time of year is sometimes called the “summertime slump.”  Programs like Sunday School and Campus Ministry go on hiatus; worship attendance drops and offerings decrease as people head out of town.

 

Personally, I like the slower pace of summer.  It's nice not to have as many meetings, classes and programs to prepare for.  However, I also believe it is important for us not to neglect our spiritual lives during this season of recreation.  Going three months without hearing the proclamation of God's Word and nourishing our souls at the Lord's Table is not spiritually healthy. 

 

Here are some suggestions for keeping our faith nurtured, even as we are out and about:

 

Worship while on vacation.  Check out a different church when you are away from Norman.  Visit other Lutheran churches, or other denominations.  We can see our own worship life in new ways when we experience it through someone else's eyes.  It will also make us more aware of what visitors experience when they come to ULCSC.  Bring me a bulletin!  I love seeing what other congregations are doing!

 

Look for ways to serve others.  Take a vacation day or weekend to volunteer at one of the many agencies in and around Norman.   Donate a day of service to our congregation.  Check out places for service near your vacation destination (the Web is a wonderful resource for doing this.)

 

Re-claim devotional time.  When our lives get hectic, we often fall out of devotional habits.  Use the slower pace of summer to reestablish these important faith patterns.  While on vacation, spend a few moments at the beginning or end of each day with your family praying and studying scripture together.

 

Don't forget ULCSC!  When you are in town, join your brothers and sisters at University Lutheran making a joyful noise in worship!  During the summer we will be focusing on some of Jesus most loved parables, stories from the Old Testament and events from Jesus' life.  You don't want to miss the lessons these texts have to teach us!

 

Summertime can be a meaningful time to grow in faith and in our relationship with Jesus Christ!  Make participation in your community of faith an important part of your re-creation this summer!  You'll be glad you did.

 

Peace,

Pastor Mike

 

Pastor Mike's Open House Changed!

Due to the rainy weather and other set-backs, Pastor Mike still isn't quite finished with his new house!  So…  The Open House he and Terrie were planning won't happen as planned on June 10 (sorry).  Instead, he and Terrie have decided to celebrate their new house on August 5 starting at 3 PM!   Yes, it will be hot, but their new home has lots of wonderful shade trees!  Please join us!  Directions to their house at 1700 112^th Street (off Alameda, east of Norman) will be in the bulletin on August 5!  Everyone's invited!

 

Worship Highlights

 

Second Sunday After Pentecost, June 10

 

1 Kings 17:17-24; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17

 

Like Elijah before him, Jesus raises a widow's son.

 

Third Sunday After Pentecost, June 17

 

2 Samuel 11:26-12:10, 13-15; Galatians 2:15-21; Luke 7:36-8:3

 

Jesus teaches us a lesson about forgiveness and gratitude.

 

Fourth Sunday After Pentecost, June 24

 

Isaiah 65:1-9; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39

 

Jesus heals a man possessed by demons in the country of the Gerasenes.

 

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost, July 1

 

1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62

 

Follow Christ comes with a cost, are we willing to pay it?

 

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost, July 8

 

Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

 

Jesus sends seventy out to the places he intends to go, declaring that the “harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

 

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost, July 15

 

Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37

 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

 

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost, Lay Sunday, July 22

 

Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37

 

The story of Mary and her sister, Martha.

 

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost; Healing Service, July 29

 

Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13

 

Healing begins as we reach out to God in prayer.

 

Healing Service

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.  The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.  James 5:14-15 (NRSV)

 

Praying for the sick in body, mind and spirit is one of the most ancient practices of the Church.  Following the example of our Lord and the Apostles, we lay hands on those who are suffering and ask God to restore them to health and wholeness.  On Sunday, July 29 we will, once again, have a special liturgy of healing at both services.  Individuals will have the opportunity to come forward to have the laying on of hands and anointing with oil.

 

New Members at ULCSC!

We welcome these new members to University Lutheran!  They joined our congregation on May 6.  Carrie Bakr and her sister Theresa Balan.  Carrie works for the Chickasaw Nation and Theresa teaches for the Moore Public Schools.  Kara Harrison is the daughter of ULCSC  members Beverly and Bob Metz.  She joins with her three year old son, Lucas.   Steven Powers first came to ULCSC when he was a freshmen at OU.  He now works at Tinker Air Force Base.  David Sullivan is a graduate student at OU (he had ULCSC member Paul Kleine last semester).  Bill and Beverly Turner are rejoining ULCSC after having been away for several years.  Mike and Shelly White and their son, Jordan moved into the Norman area from Oklahoma City.  Please extend a warm welcome to these new brothers and sisters!  We're glad you're a part of our community of faith!

 

What Is This Summer For, Really?

Summer is for fun and games and sun and swimming and friends and camp and air conditioning.  At least it is now.  Growing up in a small farming community, I always knew summer as being for fishing and working.  Is the fact that summer and growing season coincide an accident?  I think not!  My first job was the summer after 8^th grade, bean walking; that's right, walking the soybean fields 8 hours, pulling weeds, half the summer, $5 an hour.  Fun, fun.

 

Now, I realize many Norman residents and many of their children don't do farming or even know many farmers.  Summer jobs, however, are still a blessing for parents and children alike.  Time is spent apart, money changes hands, lessons are learned, and everyone is happy.  Even with summer jobs, camps, vacations and everything else, there is still time to relax, even to be bored.  The TV shows are all reruns and it's too hot to do anything outside but sweat.  In those instances of extra time, I encourage you to use your time wisely.  Take a moment to read (the Bible), think (and pray), laugh with your kids (and at yourself), and reflect (on a devotion).  In the season of extra time, use the time you have for the worthwhile things.

Chris Lee

 

Summer Camp

Summer is here! It is still not too late to register for camp!  Camp OSDA EDASDI is the A-OK synods summer bible camp.  Located at the beautiful OAKS Indian Mission, it is a great opportunity for your kids to spend some time with other Christian kids and counselors.  They have great activities and programs for 3^rd through 12^th grades.  Discounts are still available so get your forms now.  See Chris for more information.

 

Babies!!!

Bob and Beverly Metz welcome a new grandson, Joshua Shane Enox.  Born on May 18 at 5pm.  He weighed 6lb. 13oz. and is 19.5 inches.  Parents are Donald and Lora Enox, older brothers are Dakota and Austin.

 

Thank you for the prayers and concerns for Dena Shehab.  Dena's parents, Sam and Sandra Shehab have now become the proud grand-parents of twins!  Dena gave birth on May 23rd to a healthy boy and girl. Jonah weighed in at 4 lbs. and Sanaa at 4 lbs. 10 oz.  Mother and babies are doing fine.

 

Welcome Home!

Our Grandson, Corporal Daniel Jacobson, arrived safely in California, the first of May. We would like to thank you for all your prayers for his safe return. God bless you all. Russ and Vivian Jacobson

 

Worship Enhancement Committee Update

As you may have noticed, our organ is gone!  We are happy to report that the organ has been taken away for renovation and will return in about 3 months.  During this time, we will construct the loft to house the wind chest and pipes.  We have received a bid for our video system and look forward to the installation sometime this summer.  We are thankful for the continued support of the congregation as we near the completion of our projects!

 

Church Picnic

The date for the Church Picnic has been changed to Saturday, June 23rd. at 6:00 in the evening. Hamburgers,Hot Dogs,Brisket and Drinks will be provided.  Bring a covered dish. Invite your friends!  There will be games for the kids.

 

Dear Members of ULC,

On behalf of Bill Scott and the other two members of our Construction 2007 Team, I want to thank everyone who supported us in our effort to raise money for building a chapel in Tanzania.  Many individuals helped us achieve this goal and I am impressed with the number of people who contributed.  Through the dinner tickets, clock drawing, cash donations and stock certificate sales we raised $7,100.  This amount allowed us to take advantage of a $1600 matching grant from Thrivent.  We also were helped by a generous collection of $2,345 from the Synod Assembly Breakfast and approximately $1,900 raised by one of our team members, Jim Sylwester, who developed a brochure and shared it with his fellow members of his current Lutheran church in Lawrence, KS and his previous church in Warrensburg, MO.

 

Your generosity will allow us to provide the construction materials for two chapels. These chapels in turn will provide worship homes for two separate villages of Massai who have been patiently waiting for a place to worship that keeps them in the dry during the rainy season.  It is not unusual for the villagers to walk several miles rain or shine to worship under the trees when Pastor Herb is visiting. The chapel also provides a meeting place for the Massai for choir practices, kindergarten classes during the week and other activities.

 

In addition to the chapel construction fund, another $2,100 was contributed for water wells and approximately $700 was given for support of Evangelists in the Mission District which came from individual contributions and ½ of the Lenten offerings that were designated for this purpose.  Any money donated to the Marshall Match was designated for Evangelism support and helps Pastor Herb meet the $30 per month salaries of 74 lay evangelists serving 101 preaching stations.  What a miracle that is!

 

Another huge dividend of the work being done among the Massai is that on matters of water wells and education opportunities, the Muslim, Christian and Traditionalists will work cooperatively.  It is not uncommon to see Muslims and Christians working side by side at the water well to plan for a shared school.  For every village that learns to work together on common causes that is one less village that will have to resort to killing each other 10 years from now  Think about it!  Africa does not have to replicate the Middle East.

 

So………….you see how much you are providing for our fellow redeemed in Tanzania.  I cannot think of any other way in which so much is accomplished for so little cost.

            Thank you very much and may God bless our humble efforts to make a difference.  Do pray for our Tanzania Team Three and follow our activities at:

www.ulcsc.org/tanzania

Blessings, Paul Kleine and Bill Scott

 

Women of the Word Book Group

WOW will be reading “The Memory Keeper's Daughter,” by Kim Edwards, for June.  It is a tale of regret and redemption, a fictional account of an actual event, a wonderful, heart-breaking, heart-healing story.  The July selection is “Good Grief,” by Lolly Winston.  You'll read more about this book in the July Sunday bulletins.  As always, books are available at Borders for a 10% discount.  Just ask at the desk for the University Lutheran selection.  Questions or coments?  Call Arlis Scott (xxx-xxxx) or Mary Sue Schnell (xxx-xxxx).  Please!  Come read with us.  We meet at noon on Fridays at the church.  Bring your lunch.

 

ULC Prayer List

Please keep the following in your prayers:

 

For those who are sick and recovering and their caregivers: Herb Kuhlman, Paul Brinker, Dorothy Thompson, Dave Alvis, Kirstin Schwandt, Ingrid Robbins, Richard Swenson, Lee Savage, and Mel Maytubby.  Dean Newlan, James West, Aneice Rodrigues, Orville Thomas, Taiyoko Payton, Susan Bastow, Zack Weight, Ari Williams, David Balan, David Volk, Sam Olkinetzky, and Anna White.

 

For those serving in the Military: William D. Petre, Justin Smalley, Andrew Watson, John Huston, Matthew Haddon, Scott Main, Welby Richardson, Billy Loving, Jeff Jorgenson, Joshua Bell, Michael Lewis, Trevor Downen and Mike Faulkenberry.

 

For those serving as missionaries of the Church: David and Alicia Brondos, in Mexico.  Sally and Tom Roach, and Herb Hafermann, in Tanzania.

 

For those who grieve the death of a loved one….. the family and friends of Mary Fuerbringer, Edna Mae Cole, and Paul Halbert.

 

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

2 - Krista Cannicott

     Jordan White

5 - Kris Ocker

     Lexi Wallace-Stinson

9 - Ethen Tretheway

10 - Dustin Downey

     Gretel Fischbeck,

12 - Bruce Snyder, Jr.

     Kara Stoltenberg

13 - Mimi Harm

     Sara Wallace

14 - Donald Maletz

15 - Roger Bain

18 - Mary Banken

19 - Audrey Stumpf

23 - Kimberly Hill

25 - Heather Bell

     Chris Lee

     Elizabeth Livesey

26 - Ken Jorgenson

     Emery Swenson,

     Norma Tretheway

27 - Jerry Black

     Dorothy Brinker,

     Herbert Kuhlman,

30 - Jane Douglass

     Lauren Swenson

 

 

JUNE ANNIVERSARIES

3 - Mary Banken and Terry Rizzuti

4 - Aaron and Amy Jones

5 - Nick and Sara Maddock

7 - Roy and Peggy Strom

10 - Roger and Deb Bain

11 - Ken and Barbara Starling

     Bob and Linda Crawford

13 - Kim and Ed Hill

14 - Jim and Sidney Lowery

18 - Joe and Janie Thompson

19 - Gary and Mary Sue Schnell

     Cal and Peggy Stoltenberg

21 - Jack and Breme Springer

24 - Renita and Byron Escobar

27 - Tom and Pennie Moulton

29 - Ken and Cheryl Jorgenson

 

JULY BIRTHDAYS

1 - Thomas Tretheway

2 - Roy Strom

3 - Esther Kuhlman

5 - Terrie Girlinghouse

7 - Eric Abraham

     Connie Hawkins

     Lester Wallace

8 - McKenzie Kudrna

     Randa Shehab

9 - Karin Gilje

10 - Jim Lowery

11 - Marjorie Kiecolt

13 - Susan Proto

16 -Joanne Klumpp

     Gwen Gransberg

17 - Klayton Madole

18 - Cynthia Alvis

19 - Stacie Lowery

20 - Larry Klumpp

21 - Marissa Metz

22 - Ken Cagle

25 - Melva Delbridge

     Pennie Moulton

27 - Sarah Mechem

28 - Matthew Gastgeb

     Jim Kudrna

     Mary Martin

29 - Scottie Davis

30 - Gary Schnell

31 - Janet Hansen

 

JULY ANNIVERSARIES

3 - Duane and Jane Winegardner

8 - Steve and Nina Livesey

15 - Jim and Jolene Kudrna

19 - Lester and Pam Wallace

22 - Theresa and Tony Balan

24 - Rodney and Janet Hansen

26 - Paul and Eilene Kleine

28 - Gary and Wanda Gress

30 - Genia and Dean Van Leirsburg

 

Statistics - April 2007    Worship Attendance

 

	4/1/07	4/8/07 *	4/15/07	4/22/07	4/29/07	Average
5:56		23				23
8:30	91	140	80	73	61	89
11:00	123	177	64	82	78	105
2007	214	330	144	155	139	194