Centerpoint: Death: Grief and Growth

 

…The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  

–1 Corinthians 15:26

 

Starting this month, I will be teaching a course called Death: Grief and Growth at OU.  I taught a similar course at the University of South Dakota for almost ten years. 

 

People often look at me funny when I tell them that I teach a course on death and dying (it makes for great airplane conversation).  To many, it seems like an odd subject.  However, I am convinced that death is something we all need to think about, talk about and plan for.  It is, after all, the one thing in life everyone will experience.

 

My interest in the subject of death and dying began my freshman year of college.  I got up early one Sunday morning (I was teaching Sunday school at a local congregation) and interrupted a dorm-mate who was about to kill himself with an overdose of heroin.  Without actually knowing what to do, I managed to keep him alive until help came.  That experience started me on a journey to learn as much as I could about suicide: it's causes and prevention.  That led me to meet several individuals who had lost loved ones to suicide. Their painful stories of grief and loss led me to learn more about caring for those who are grieving. 

 

Since then, I have continued to study, learn and work with people who are dying, grieving and trying to make sense of their own mortality.

 

Long ago, I discovered that thinking about death often leads us to think more about life: our values, priorities, goals and faith.  While we, as Christians, believe that death will never be the final word over our lives, our mortality cannot be denied.  That mortality places limits on us, and acknowledging those limits can motivate us to work toward our goals, dreams and aspirations in life.

 

As a new year begins, what better time to take stock of these important things?  Not so that we can make resolutions we won't keep, but to consider where God is leading us in the course of our lives. 

 

May God bless you in this new year!

 

Peace,

Pastor Mike  

 

 

Worship Highlights

 

Baptism of our Lord – January 13

 

Isaiah 42:1-9, Acts 10:34-43, Matthew 3:13-17; Sermon:  The Right One for the Job

 

University Lutheran's annual celebration of baptism.  Those who were baptized in 2007 are invited to come to the front of the church for prayer.  Everyone is invited to remember their baptism and renew their commitment to Christ and his Church.

 

Second Sunday after Epiphany – January 20

 

Isaiah 49:1-7, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42; Sermon:  The Jesus Puzzle

 

Who is this Jesus?  Why follow him?  How does he provide answers to the deepest questions of human life?  To these questions Jesus says, “come and see…”

 

Third Sunday After Epiphany – January 27

 

Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, Matthew 4:12-23; Sermon: Christ's Own

 

We belong to Christ.  This truth stands at the heart of our lives as individual Christians and at the center of who we are as a congregation.  Christ's claim on us defines our mission and our ministry as his people.

 

Transfiguration of our Lord – February 3

 

Exodus 24:12-18, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9; Sermon: Whose Transfiguration?

 

Week in and week out we gather to get a glimpse of the Christ in word and sacrament.  But, what does this vision do to us and our lives?

 

 

Bible Reading

 

Hopefully, you are still reading your bibles!  To read your bible in a year, means reading approximately three chapters a day.  Here is a schedule for the third month: 

 

	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4
Sunday	Exodus 24-26	Deuteronomy 1-3	Deuteronomy 19-21	Joshua 1-4
Monday	Exodus 27-29	Deuteronomy 4-6	Deuteronomy 22-24	Joshua 5-8
Tuesday	Exodus 30-32	Deuteronomy 7-9	Deuteronomy 25-27	Joshua 9-12
Wednesday	Exodus 33-35	Deuteronomy 10-12	Deuteronomy 28-29	Joshua 13-16
Thursday	Exodus 36-38	Deuteronomy 13-15	Deuteronomy 30-31	Joshua 17-20
Friday	Exodus 39-40	Deuteronomy 16-18	Deuteronomy 32-34	Joshua 21-24
Saturday	Sunday's Texts	Sunday's Texts	Sunday's Texts	Sunday's Texts

 

“Sunday's Texts” can be found in the Worship Highlights column in the Shalom.

 

 

Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of University Lutheran Church and Student Center will take place on Sunday, January 27 at 2 PM.  At that meeting we will receive reports from our various ministry committees, get an update on the proposed building expansion from the Mission Advancement Planning Committee, consider our Mission Plan (budget) for 2008 and discuss any other business that is brought before the assembly.  This is a day to celebrate the ministry we have done, look forward to the year ahead and dream together about all that God can do in and through our congregation.  All voting members of the congregation are encouraged to attend!

 

The Annual Report of the congregation will be available to be picked up on Sunday, January 13. 

 

Building Update

Everyone in the congregation is invited to give feedback and ask questions about the plans for expanding our facilities.  The preliminary sketches from the architects are in the narthex.  Four opportunities for discussion will be held:

 

* Sunday, January 13 at 10 AM between services.  We will meet at Sooners For Christ (across Elm Street from the church).  Bring along your breakfast.  There is a good chance the architect will be with us that morning.

* Tuesday, January 15 at 3 PM.  We will meet in the fellowship hall.  We are providing this time for those who cannot come out in the evenings.

* Wednesday, January 16 at 8 PM.    We will meet in the fellowship hall. 

* Thursday, January 17 at 6 PM.  This will take place just before our regular monthly council meeting.

 

After we have received your feedback and questions, the architect will go back to work and make any necessary changes.  Following those updates, we will get an estimate of the cost (and may have to make further modifications based on what we can afford).  There will also be opportunity to ask questions at the Annual Meeting.   Hopefully, some time this spring, we will bring final designs to the congregation for a vote.   Please keep this very important process in your prayers!

 

SOUL's Taizé Tuesdays Resume!

Are you between the ages of 18 and 29? 

Do you know someone who is? 

All young adults are welcome at Taizé Tuesdays!

 

This group is for OU and other college students, as well as young adults who are already out “in the world” working.  The evening starts at 6 PM with a FREE supper provided by University Lutheran's excellent cooks.  At 6:44 PM we begin a prayer service.  This service is unlike any worship service you've ever attended.  We sing, read scripture, sit in silence and talk about life.  There are times for you to be creative or to sit in prayer.  Everything wraps up between 7:45 and 8:00.  This spring, Taizé Tuesdays will happen at the Triplex – the house on College Ave. just to the south of our parking lot.  Everyone is welcome!  Bring your friends!

 

Men's Prayer Breakfast

This month's Men's Prayer Breakfast will be Saturday, January 12 from 8-9:30 AM at the church.  All men of all ages are invited to attend.  We'll start with a hearty breakfast, then there will be time for bible study and prayer.  We'll wrap up with any business that needs attending to.  Please RSVP to Pastor Mike or Chris Lee by Friday, January 11 so we'll know how much food to prepare!

 

Sermon Talk-Backs Continue

Sermon Talk-Back is a bible study group that meets each Sunday night from 7-8 PM.  We begin by reading through the lessons from Sunday morning, and then open things up for questions, conversation and discussion.  Sometimes we even get to talking about the sermon!   New participants are always welcome!   Because each week is a different conversation, you can come and go from the group as time allows.  Please come!

 

NORDIC CHOIR FROM LUTHER COLLEGE PLANS CONCERT IN OKLAHOMA CITY

The famous Nordic Choir from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa will be in concert at the First Presbyterian Church, 1001 NW 25^th St (@ Western Ave) on Monday night, January 28 at 7:30 PM.

 

Nordic Choir, founded in 1946, is the flagship choral ensemble of Luther College. In 1948, Weston Noble took over as conductor, beginning a 57-year tenure that would bring the choir into national and international acclaim as a premiere collegiate choral ensemble and a national choral treasure. In Fall, 2005, Luther College selected Dr. Craig Arnold as director of choral activities and conductor of Nordic Choir.

Nordic Choir has toured extensively throughout the United States & Europe, performing in countless churches, schools, and concert halls, including Lincoln Center, New York; Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. the Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles; and the Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City. Nordic Choir has also appeared at national American Choral Directors Association conventions in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Kansas City, and at the Music Educators National Conference in Kansas City, Mo. In 2000 and 2003, the choir revisited the college's founding roots with tours to Norway and Scandinavia

Nordic Choir has also recorded extensively, releasing at least one CD per year. Auditions for Nordic Choir are held annually.

 

Tickets can be pre-purchased online at www.luthertickets.com or you can call 1-800-4LUTHER.  Cost is $18 for Adults, or $10 for Students.  We are counting on the Lutheran Community to attend and support these fine young musicians. 

 

Lenten Services

This year, Lent comes early!  With Easter falling on the 23^rd of March (at the end of Spring Break week), Lent begins in early February.  Ash Wednesday services will be February 6 at 7 PM.  Midweek Lenten observances begin on Wednesday, February 13 with our usual soup suppers and worship led by our confirmation class.  This year's Midweek series is titled “Conversations at the Table” and focuses on Jesus' Last Supper.

 

From the DCE…

 

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.  ~Benjamin Franklin

 

So this will be a little far sited but the end of a year always leaves me looking back.  I know, you are supposed to look forward but I try to learn not to do the same mistakes from year to year.  The quote above was brought to my attention again this year and has convinced me that I still have work to do and if I am to improve by next December I may as well start now! With all the New Year's resolutions to be broken, old habits to fall back into, and other vices we are trapped under, this is not going to be an easy task.  I thought I'd start with this article.

 

Looking for some scripture to back me up, I thought Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the spirit.  Seeing as I need to work on my devotional life, I thought I'd share it with you.  Each month, I'll ponder and write on a different part of the fruit of the spirit.  Now I usually don't like to tie myself to something like this so please, tell me what you think of my articles, positive feedback is always welcome. 

 

Let us start this journey now!

 

Gal 5:22-23 “By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.

 

Moving Day coming up!

For our grand switch from ULC south to the Triplex for Sunday School, we will need a lot of help.  Years of collecting stuff at the house has resulted in us having a good load of stuff to move or dispose of.  We would be very appreciative of any help you could give, even if it is only for an hour.  We plan on having a moving party Jan 12.

 

Thank you!

East Main Place residents, children and coordinators would like to thank everyone who purchased gifts from the giving tree.  We managed to entirely fill the bed of a pick up with the gifts!  I never cease to be amazed by the generosity of this congregation.  Thank You!

 

Thank you ULC!

The Sunday School program was fun and entertaining for all of our participants and our audience.  Many thanks to everyone who came to support our youth

 

Calendar

Jan 5/12           Moving Day!

Jan 12              Men's prayer breakfast, 8am

Jan 13              Children's Sunday School Resumes @ triplex

                        Temple Talk about new construction

Jan 19              Potluck/ Fellowship, 530pm

Jan 20              Adult SS Resumes

 

Thanks!

Thank everyone so much for the generous outpouring of time and effort.  Thanks to everyone who helped, we got everything moved out of ULC south and into the Triplex on the 5th!  This Saturday, Jan 12, we will set up Sunday school classrooms and organize some of the supplies and stored items.  We will start and 9am and almost certainly be done by noon.

 

Also, a special thanks to the people that took care of the remodeling effort to make the Triplex a better space for Sunday School and Soul.

 

 

January Birthdays

3 - Sandra Bryant

5 - Dan Carr

6 - Art Sleizer, Sauk Rapids, MN

8 - Richard Reynolds, Ferndale, MI

9 - Daniel Livesey, Norman

      Ian Roberts

10 - Sarah Lobban - Norman

11 - Mathias Legler, Norman

      Joe Thompson, OKC

12 - Marilyn Brinker, Norman

13 - Heidi Somers, Bayshore, NY

14 - Sue Snyder, Norman

16 - Terry Bell

      Tyler Harrison Molskness, Minnesota

19 - Mary Sue Schnell, Saginaw, MI

23 - Larry Busking, Imperial, NE

      Paul Kleine

24 - Ann Gilje, Brooklyn, NY

27 - Amanda Atherton, LaMesa, CA

      Steven Gunnels, Pontiac, MI

      Hunter Hersey

28 - Nina Livesey, Cuba

 

January Anniversaries

5 - Lucinda and David James

22 - Larry and Debby Busking

 

Statistics - November 2007

Worship Attendance

	11/4/07	11/11/07	11/18/07	11/25/07		Average
8:30	76	91	75	55		73
11:00	91	77	78	90		84
2007	167	168	153	145		157