We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
Living Lent
Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a time to prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. The faithful rededicated themselves to the Lord and converts were instructed in the faith. By observing the forty days of Lent, Christians re-member Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days and journey with Him through the tests and temptations of life to crucifixion, death, burial and glorious new life!
Passing the Test
When Jesus was tempted, it wasn't to see if He would sin, but to prove that He wouldn't. Jesus passed the test, and if He passed the test, then He can help us pass our test as well. Discover how this Sunday, March 15 at 10:45 a.m. 101 Pecan Drive, in Schertz [map and directions].
Nursery (infant to age 3)
A caring nursery is available for children infant – age 3 at any time during the worship service on Sundays in the Mother’s Room, to the left as you exit the worship area.
Movers & Shakers (ages 2-4)
Children ages 2-4 will NOT meet this Sunday. They are invited to Movers & Shakers next Sunday during the LifeLesson portion of worship after the children's talk for a fun learning time. Join us in the Mother's room, to the left as you exit the worship area. Interested in helping with Movers & Shakers? Contact Isabella White at 650-3166.
J.A.M. (ages 5-8)
Children ages 5-8 are invited to join us for J.A.M., our age appropriate worship/learning experience for children, just after the Children's message this Sunday! Interested in helping with J.A.M.? Contact David White at 650-3166.
Just for Tweens (ages 9-12)
Kids ages 9—12 are invited to be a part of Tweens, a group specially designed for them. Join them on Sunday during the LifeLesson portion of worship for this fun learning experience. Want to know more? Call David White at 650-3166.
Grace Prayer Team
Know the miraculous power of prayer. Word of Life has a team of prayer warriors ready to pray for you. The team meets on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. [map and directions] to pray for the morning worship and other needs. Also, prayer partners will be available to pray with you or for you after worship. Just come to the right side of the worship area.
If you would like the team to pray for you throughout the week, just let Pastor Ken know (566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com), and he will share your request with the team. Want to be on this exciting prayer team? Contact Betty Tolsma 659-8107 or bettytolsma@sbcglobal.net.
Building a Bigger Heaven in Brazil
In our prayers this week, we lift up recent seminary graduate and missionary pastor André Mülling as he reaches out to people in Afonso Cláudio, Brazil. Ten percent of our regular offerings help support new missions through the Brazil Mission Society (www.brazilmissionsociety.com). In 2008 we provided enough support to send 2 pastors to begin new ministries and purchase one motor bike for a mission pastor to get to the 6 stations, on average, each ministry serves. It’s like having three pastors with two planting new mission churches in Brazil!
LifeGroups
NEW! For Women—Evening
Join us for a study of the passion of the Christ as recorded in the gospel of John. Mondays at 7:00 p.m. See the article below for a list of daily readings for this study.
Location: Patti Mitschke’s home 1531 Jasmine Dr, Schertz
Questions? 566-1650
For Students
Students in 7th grade and up are invited to join us on Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. Please note: there is NO Bible Study this Tuesday due to Spring Break. Be sure to join us again on Tuesday, March 24.
Location: The Peterson's home 2839 Pond Apple Drive, Schertz
Questions? 945-7952
For Women—Daytime
Join us on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. for the Beth Moore study, “A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place.”
Location: Sherri Smith's home 3309 Dusty Crossing, Schertz
Questions? 659-2585
For Men
Start your workday off right with time in the Word and with other men of God. Join us on Fridays, 6:30 a.m.
Location: IHOP 17220 I-35, Schertz
Questions? 566-2237
Passion of the Christ
The Monday night Women's Bible Study group is reading the story of Jesus' passion as recorded in the gospel of John. You can read along with them as they work through the story. Here are their readings for the upcoming week.
March 14 John 11:45-47
March 15 John 12:1-11
March 16 John 12:12-19
March 17 John 12:20-26
March 18 John 12:27-30
March 19 John 12:31-34
March 20 John 12:35-36a
March 21 John 12:36b-43
March 22 John 12:44 -47
March 23 John 12:46-50
Easter Plans
Thanks to everyone who stayed after worship last Sunday to help with our Easter plans. We came up with four teams which will be needed to help with our celebration. If you would like to help, please contact the team leaders listed below or sign up on the RSVP form at worship this Sunday.
Children’s Activity Team
Leader: Becky Peterson, 945-7952
This team will plan special Easter activities for the children which may include Easter Bingo, face painting, coloring, crafts, etc… Already on this team: Bingo—Ana Koester; Face painting/games—Maizey & Hayden Cardy, Hanna Weissmann; Color sheets—Jayme Edwards; Kites—Archie Wortham; Where needed—Mary Flowers, Cooper Osgood, Mick Molina
Invitation Team
Leader: Sherlyn Scott, 566-2579
This team will assemble invitations and egg dye kits into door knob hanger bags. These will be available on Sunday, April 5 for you to distribute in your neighborhood. Volunteers will be needed that evening to distribute the remaining bags and then stuff eggs for the egg hunt and coordinate the hunt. Already on this team: Deliver invites—Fites, Leibles; Tyler Osgood, Stemmermanns, Worthams, Toby & Mick Molina, Cheryl Gibson
Decorations/Worship Team
Leader: Ken Mitschke, 566-2237
This team will make our Easter celebration complete by greeting visitors, adding decorative touches to the worship area, and enhancing worship with special music and drama. Already on this team: Decorations—Shirley Steward, Weissmanns, Shirley Christiansen; Greeter—Betty Tolsma; Drama/Music—Moores, Jaime Edwards, Archie Wortham, Whites, Mitschkes, Mary Flowers, Tyler & Michelle Osgood
Breakfast Team
Leader: Bob Gibson, 945-7915
This team will provide a delicious Easter breakfast for everyone at worship. Check the Info Table for a sign-up sheet for necessary items. Already on this team: David Koester, Patrick Fite, Osgoods, Stemmermanns, Molinas, David Scagliola
Easter Donations Needed
We need donations of various items to assist with our Easter celebration. There will be a box in the lobby this Sunday for donations of plastic eggs and individually wrapped candy for the egg hunt. You may also deposit prize donations in this box. We’ll give these away in our children’s activity area. Also, stop by the Info Table and sign up to bring items for the Easter breakfast.
Famine Results!
Congratulations to our youth who participated in the 30 Hour Famine. They raised $882.86! Awesome! That's 2.5 kids fed for an entire year or 882 kids fed for one day! We are proud of each of you for participating and helping those that need help. WAY TO GO!
Women’s Seminar
All Word of Life women and their friends are invited to a one day seminar hosted by Bethany Lutheran Church in south Austin on Saturday, March 28, 9 a.m.—2:30 p.m. The seminar speaker will be our own Patti Mitschke. Her theme—My True Identity, based on Isaiah 43:1, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.” The cost is $25 per person and includes a catered lunch. Childcare will be provided. For more information, contact Patti Mitschke, Patti@WordofLife4u.com.
Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition (LINC) San Antonio
Area LCMS Lutherans are combining efforts and resources to intentionally reach the multi-cultural and urban people of the San Antonio area with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They plan to equip and train servant leaders for ongoing ministry to care for the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors. In the future, LINC will work to start new ministries in the area, support existing ministries and reach out to all cultures and ethnicities.
A planning task force has been formed and a ministry description has been written for a called Mission Developer. The Texas District has agree to help in this endeavor by providing a $50,000 matching grant. Now, the matching portion is needed through donations from local congregations and individuals. To find out more, pick up a LINC brochure from the Info Table this Sunday or talk to Pastor Mitschke.
Love Won Out
Do you have a family member, friend or acquaintance who is homosexual? Focus on the Family cares and wants to help you respond in a Christ-like way. Nationally known Christian experts will address issues ranging from why some people struggle with same-sex attraction to the profound significance of God’s created intent for sexuality. (Pastor Ken attended a training seminar led by the keynote speakers and recommends this conference.) You’ll also be better equipped to articulate God’s truth within your family, church and culture.
This one-day conference is only held five times a year. We’re blessed that it will be held in San Antonio this year on Saturday, April 18 at Westover Hills Assembly of God (9340 Westover Hills Blvd). The registration fee is $50 in advance and $60 at the door. To register, call 1-800-AFAMILY or register online at www.lovewonout.com.
Online Calendar
You've read through the WordofLife4u. You sense what God wants you to do, but how do you keep track of events to invite your friends and neighbors to, groups where you can grow, and ministries where you can use your gifts to make a real difference? Check out our online calendar at: www.WordofLife4u.com/calendar.
Shortcuts to the Word of Life Website
Now type www.wol4u.com to get to www.WordofLife4u.com!
Other useful shortcuts:
Listen Online to Worship at Word of Life
If you have a broadband internet connection, you can listen to audio streams of recent worship services at Word of Life, or you can download a recording of the service to your computer or mp3 player and listen whenever you'd like. Click here! and you'll be directed to our Worship at Word of Life page. Left-click on "Stream" to listen to a service right away or click on "Download" (some require a right-click) to download a service to your computer and/or connected mp3 player to listen to later. You can view, save or print a copy of the LifeLesson notes too.
"Better Life" Links
How does Satan tempt us? - "The devil has spent a lot of time studying us..." [more]
Being Tempted - "At times you may want to blame God for falling into temptation..." [more]
Lent - Several articles and resources for Lent, Palm Sunday and Holy Week [more]
www.LentenDevotions.net - Read, listen to or download these devotions to enhance your observance of Lent throughout the week [more]
Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings
We Thank God…
for giving us the strong weapon of His Word with which to fight off the temptations of the devil, for allowing Jesus to be tempted so we might know that we have a Savior who was tempted in every way but didn’t sin
for rain
for the safe return of Filip Malka from Iraq
for good or improving health
for our nation and our leaders, for standing guard over our troops and their families, and for those who have been wounded or who have sacrificed their lives defending us
for all the resources He has entrusted to our care, and we ask God to bless the gifts we offer Him today to help build a bigger heaven and better lives.
We Ask God…
to inspire and empower us to use His Word as a mighty weapon against the devil and temptation, to be strong inside, to flee temptation and pursue righteousness, and to commit to future things that last rather than current things that don’t
to bless missionary pastor André Mülling as he reaches out to people in Afonso Cláudio, Brazil
to direct us to a friend, neighbor, coworker, family members or acquaintance to invite to our Resurrection Celebration
to direct us to the piece of property which will best help us reach our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for resources to help us buy it
to comfort the victims of persecution, terrorism and disaster
to bless our leaders with godly wisdom and guidance that they may lead us according to His will
to bless Myles Wortham & Cam Szala with safety as they travel to and from Turkey with their school
to bless Juan Pizarro with leave in May to be with Brittany during her surgery and graduation from college
to bless John Hunter as he goes through Marine boot camp and Josh Yates in Army school
to bless Ana Koester, Mickey Molina, Chuck Tolsma & Brad Moser with employment
to protect our troops abroad, especially David Jason Berkland, Dustin Osgood, and Nathan Zimmerman in Iraq
to protect Howard Leasure in Iraq
to heal Shirley Goeke, John Bowden, Lisa Flowers, Debra Gutierrez, Art Stemmermann, Anni Rua, Dot Dacier, Katherine Knowles, Jordan Hernandez, Bea Bernthal and Erwin Michalk; to heal those battling cancer: Matthew Provencio, Manuel Coloura, Cindy, Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Brandon Landsbury, Ruie Pines, Natalie, Pam Smith, Ann Dube, Vonda Boerger, Kurt Bickel, Susan Doering and to comfort and strengthen their families
to empower us to connect our community to Christ.
Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Kids in Church Fun
Oak Harbor, Washington - When my older brother was very young, he always walked up to the church altar with my mother when she took communion. On one occasion, he tugged at her arm and asked, "What does the priest say when he gives you the bread?" Mom whispered something in his ear. Imagine his shock many years later when he learned that the priest doesn't say, "Be quiet until you get to your seat."
Grand Junction, Colorado - When I was younger, I believed the line was "Lead a snot into temptation." I thought I was praying for my little sister to get into trouble.
Just a Thought
A survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:
1. Materialism
2. Pride
3. Self-centeredness
4. Laziness
5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness
5. (Tie) Sexual lust
7. Envy
8. Gluttony
9. Lying
Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent). - Discipleship Journal
Pastor Ken Mitschke
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P.S. For past issues or to subscribe [WordofLife4u].
Word of Life Fellowship-LCMS
1531 Jasmine Dr
Schertz TX 78154-3738
www.WordofLife4u.com
210-566-2237
Ken@WordofLife4u.com
We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
Word of Life Fellowship LCMS
1531 Jasmine Dr
Schertz TX 78154-3738
Pastor Ken Mitschke
210-566-2237
Ken@WordofLife4u.com