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!
Dem Bones
Remember the vision. There was a valley of bones, dry bones. They had been dead a long time. The bones were scattered, just as the people of Israel had been scattered. It was a hopeless vision... until... Discover the rest of the story this Sunday, March 29 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 are invited to Movers & Shakers 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 missionary pastor Arthur Benevenuti as he reaches out to people in Guarulhos, 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
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.
Location: The Peterson's home 2839 Pond Apple Drive, Schertz
Questions? 945-7952
NEW! For Women—Daytime
Beginning April 1, we will be studying I & II Timothy, looking into the instructions Timothy received for church leadership, and the encouragement Paul gave him for his faith. Join us on Wednesdays, beginning April 1, at 9:00 a.m.
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 28 John 13:21-30
March 29 John 13:36 -14:4
March 30 John 14:5-17
March 31 John 14:18-31
April 1 John 15:1-8
April 2 John 15:9-16
Easter Plans
Our plans for Easter are shaping up! When you decide where you want to help, 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, Ashley Kersten
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
Worship Team
Leader: Ken Mitschke, 566-2237
This team will make our Easter celebration complete by greeting visitors and enhancing worship with special music and drama. Already on this team: Greeter—Betty Tolsma; Drama/Music—Moores, Jayme Edwards, Archie Wortham, Whites, Mitschkes, Mary Flowers, Tyler & Michelle Osgood, John Goeke
Decorations Team
Leader: Shirley Christiansen, 830-885-6437
This team will help beautify our celebration with their special touches! Already on this team: Shirley Steward, Weissmanns
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.
Easter Music
Those of you who volunteered to help with special music for Easter, please plan to be at rehearsal this Friday night, March 27 and next Friday, April 3, at the White’s (7636 Forest Stream Rd, Live Oak.) Join us at 6:00 p.m. for a potluck supper or arrive at 6:45 p.m. when rehearsal starts. Questions? Call Isabella, 650-3166.
Easter Celebration
Breakfast
9:30—10:15 a.m.
Easter Activities for Children
9:30—10:15 a.m.
Easter Bingo
Face Painting
Easter Crafts
Egg Hunt for Younger Children
(Toddler—Age 6)
10:15 a.m.
Egg Hunt for Older Children
(Age 7—12)
10:30 a.m.
Door knob hanger bags with invitations and egg dye kits will be available at worship next Sunday, April 5. Be sure to pick up a supply and use them to invite your neighbors, friends and family to the celebration!
Invitation Distribution
All door knob hanger bags not picked up next Sunday morning will be distributed Sunday evening by the youth and other volunteers. If you would like to help with the distribution, meet at Greater Randolph church [map and directions] on Sunday, April 5 at 5:00 p.m. We’ll distribute the invitations in some of the newer neighborhoods, then head to the Mitschkes (1531 Jasmine Dr, Schertz) to stuff Easter eggs for the egg hunt.
Good Friday Tenebrae Service
Join us on Friday, April 10, at 7:00 p.m. for this special worship experience at 101 Pecan Drive, in Schertz [map and directions]. The word ‘tenebrae’ is Latin for shadows. The purpose of the service is to recreate the betrayal, abandonment, and agony of the events of Good Friday. The service is left unfinished, because the story isn’t over until Easter Day. Invite your friends and family to join you for this moving worship experience.
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.
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
Delay - If you love someone, and if you can help them, why would you not rush to their aid? [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 providing all we need to believe Jesus is the Messiah and see Your glory, for doing what is impossible for us while using only three words, for raising us along with Christ by the power of Your Word, for giving us the opportunity to participate in and see the miracle of the spiritually dead made alive in Christ
for providing a graduate nurse position for Brittany Pizarro
for bringing Howard Leasure safely home from Iraq and Myles Wortham & Cam Szala safely home from Turkey
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 rely fully upon Jesus Christ, to see Your glory, to devour Your powerful Word, to join with You in performing the miracle of raising the spiritually dead by the power of Your Word
to bless missionary pastor Arthur Benevenuti as he reaches out to people in Guarulhos, Brazil
to direct us to a friend, neighbor, coworker, family member 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 Darius Stewart who wants to attend seminary
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, Lesa Dumas, 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 heal Lisa Flowers, Art Stemmermann, Rob Gibson, 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, Vonda Boerger, Kurt Bickel, Susan Doering and to comfort and strengthen their families
to empower us to build a bigger heaven and better lives.
Join us in prayer wherever you are! You may leave prayer requests at 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Biblical Theme Songs Fun
Adam and Eve: "Strangers in Paradise"
Methuselah: "Stayin' Alive"
Job: "I've Got a Right to Sing the Blues"
Noah: "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"
Esau: "Born To Be Wild"
Moses: "The Wanderer"
Joshua: "Good Vibrations"
Samson: "Hair"
Jezebel: "The Lady is a Tramp"
Elijah: "Up, Up, and Away"
Jonah: "Got a Whale of a Tale"
Nebuchadnezzar: "Crazy"
Daniel: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: "Great Balls of Fire!"
Esther: "I Feel Pretty"
The Three Kings: "When You Wish Upon a Star"
Salome: "I Could Have Danced All Night"
Lazarus: "The Second Time Around"
Just a Thought
Stephen to Lazarus by C.S. Lewis
But was I the first martyr, who
Gave up no more than life, while you,
Already free among the dead,
Your rags stripped off, your fetters shed,
Surrendered what all other men
Irrevocably keep, and when
Your battered ship at anchor lay
Seemingly safe in the dark bay
No ripple stirs, obediently
Put out a second time to sea
Well knowing that your death (in vain
Died once) must all be died again?
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