WordofLife4u

We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!

Thanks, Mom

Join us in celebrating the gift of moms this Sunday. We'll have special gifts for unique moms who are present and a wonderful opportunity to thank God for mothers. We hope to see you this Sunday, May 10 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 4 at any time during the worship service on Sundays in the Mother’s Room, to the left as you exit the worship area.

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 this 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.

One Month to Live - Really?

Has anyone noticed the irony (warning) in the coincidental (prophetic) beginning of our One Month to Live series and the outbreak of the potentially dangerous H1N1 virus in one of our schools? What would you really do if you had one month to live? We’ll dig into this question and look to God's Word, specifically Psalm 90:12. This will have a profound impact on anyone's life regardless of where they are geographically or spiritually. This isn’t about how to add years to your life, rather how to add life to your years. (No hand sanitizer required.)

Continues Sunday, May 17: Leave a Legacy

Building a Bigger Heaven in Brazil

In our prayers this week, we’re lifting up missionary pastor Clóvis Blank as he reaches out to people in Itinga do Maranhão, Brazil. Last year we provided enough support for two missionary pastors and a motor bike by giving 10% of our regular offerings through Brazil Mission Society, www.brazilmissionsociety.com.

LifeGroups

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

For Women—Daytime
We're 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, 9:00 a.m.
Location: Sherri Smith's home 3309 Dusty Crossing, Schertz
Questions? 659-2585

For Women—Evening
Join us for a Ladies Movie Night as we watch, "The Gospel of John" beginning on Thursday, May 14, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Patti Mitschke’s home 1531 Jasmine Dr, Schertz
Questions? 566-1650

For Men
Join us this Friday, 6:30 a.m. as we study and discuss, Jesus' Final Warning: Hearing God's Voice in the Midst of Chaos by David Jeremiah.
Location: IHOP 17220 I-35, Schertz
Questions? 566-2237

Can-Do Summer Mission Trip

We have a great group of youth and adults signed up to travel to the Texas coast this summer, June 7—13, 2009. All who plan to participate will need to go through some special advance training sessions. The second training session will be:

May 17
5:00 - 6:30 p.m.
Sherlyn Scott’s house
831 Fern Meadow
Universal City

Everyone going on the mission trip needs to attend. Please bring a snack to share at our training sessions. Sherlyn will provide drinks. Questions? Contact Sherlyn, 566-2579.

Immediate Impact

Make an immediate impact upon people and help build a bigger heaven and better lives. We're thankful for the many who are continuing to serve the Lord at Word of Life in significant, fulfilling ways. However, there are areas which need immediate attention. Want to make an immediate impact? Is God calling you to help out? Peruse and pray, contact and impact!

Delivering Welcome Gifts
Service: Help first time guests connect with Word of Life by delivering a welcome gift at their doorstep. If they're home, engage them in a brief doorstep conversation and invite them to return.
Skills: Driving, Map Reading, People
Scope: Less than 30 minutes a week but needs to be done as soon as possible after a guest visits, ideally Sunday afternoon or Monday evening
Strategy Step: Invite
See: Pastor Ken, Ken@WordofLife4u.com or 566-2237

Greeting Guests and Members
Service: Provide a welcoming, warm atmosphere and help people connect with others by welcoming guests and regular attenders at Word of Life on Sunday mornings. May include welcoming, helping with name tags, introducing to others, handing out LifeLesson Notes and Announcements.
Skills: Smiling, Hospitality, People
Scope: About 30 minutes, about 2 Sundays a month
Strategy Step: Worship
See: John Goeke, jagdeepwater@yahoo.com or 651-3153

Setting Up and/or Taking Down
Service: Establish a place where people may hear God's Word, receive Christ's presence, pray and be empowered by the Holy Spirit by using your muscles and/or intellect to set up/take down the systems and supplies that facilitate worship services and more.
Skills: Moving, Following Directions
Scope: Setup - about 1.25 hours, Takedown - about 30 minutes, flexible scheduling
Strategy Step: Worship
See: Greg Peterson, gpete@sbcglobal.net or 945-7952

Constitution and Bylaws

The Constitution and Bylaws which we submitted have been revised in accordance with the recommendations of the Texas District Constitution Review Committee and have been approved in their revised form by both the Constitution Review Committee and the Board of Directors of the Texas District. Copies of the revised and approved Constitutions and Bylaws will be available at the Information Table in the lobby this Sunday and will be presented at a Congregational Assembly Meeting in a few weeks for final approval.

Nominations for Leadership TEAM

A Nominating Committee has been formed and is now accepting recommendations from members for Leadership TEAM candidates. The Nominating Committee will accept recommendations for at least three weeks and will consider all recommendations according to the qualifications stated in the Bylaws. They will contact each qualified candidate and seek to obtain his or her written consent to strive to meet and uphold the following qualifications and duties as stated in Bylaw III. B. 1.:

Qualifications and Duties – Members of the Leadership TEAM shall strive to:

  • Seek out non-churched people, pray for them, build relationships and share a verbal witness with them and invite them to groups, events and services;

  • Actively participate in a LifeGroup or Bible class;

  • Faithfully attend weekly worship services and receive the Lord's Supper;

  • Offer at least ten percent of their income to the Lord;

  • Pray for and support their fellow leaders, pastor and staff;

  • Support the values, mission, vision and strategy of the Congregation and assist the pastor in communicating them;

  • Make God-pleasing strategic and policy decisions which are driven by and consistent with the values, mission, vision and strategy of the Congregation;

  • Recruit, empower and lead TEAMs to accomplish goals that are driven by and consistent with the values, mission, vision and strategy of the Congregation;

  • Transact or supervise the transaction of all legal and general business of the Congregation (except that which is reserved for the Congregational Assembly), conduct business within the limitations of the annual ministry financial plan approved by the Congregational Assembly, annually report to the Congregational Assembly on the organizational and financial condition of the Congregation, and recommend an annual ministry financial plan at the annual Congregational meeting.

  • Be held accountable by fellow leaders for these duties; and

  • Hold fellow leaders accountable for these duties.

You may submit your recommendations to David Smith, Bob Gibson, John Goeke or Ken Mitschke.

RACAP Summer Food Drive

School will soon be out for the summer months and that means that many area children will be on their own for meals. RACAP is collecting summer staples to help families make it through the upcoming season. Ideas include: peanut butter, jelly, macaroni and cheese, tuna, canned/boxed pasta, cereal, etc… Place your donations in the RACAP box in the lobby this Sunday.

Blood Donations Needed

Amanda Conniff, Jayme Edward’s 14 year old niece, continues her battle against cancer. Amanda has had a difficult struggle and has needed a great deal of blood. You can donate blood to “replace” the units used by Amanda. Go to any blood donation station and let them know you want to give a replacement donation for Amanda Conniff, a patient at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s hospital.

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

Chaos Theory - "How I found sanity in a blanket fort..." [more]

Meet the Needs of Mothers  - "A Mother's Nine Needs..." [more]

Contentment That Starts Today and Lasts Forever - "Our peace is not dependent upon our circumstances..." [more]

Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings

We Thank God…

  • for giving us moms who nurtured us with kindness, for Jesus Christ who is the very kindness and love of God and for parents who’ve made a commitment to raise their families God’s way

  • for our guests and for those who invited and brought them

  • for blessing Jamie Leible with acceptance into radiology school

  • for granting Juan Pizarro leave to be with his wife during her graduation

  • for bringing Dustin Osgood home safely from Iraq

  • 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 be sensitive, supportive, sympathetic, straightforward, and spontaneous

  • to bless missionary pastor Clóvis Blank as he reaches out to people in Itinga do Maranhão, Brazil

  • 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 bring people forward who will make an immediate impact and help us build a bigger heaven and better lives

  • to comfort the victims of persecution, terrorism and disaster

  • to bless all affected by the H1N1 virus

  • to bless our leaders with godly wisdom and guidance that they may lead us according to His will

  • to bless college students as they study and take finals

  • to bless Ana Koester, Trey, Lesa Dumas, Mickey Molina, Chuck Tolsma & Brad Moser with employment

  • to bless Stacey Kohan as she works to keep her business going

  • to bless Julie Astrachan as she prepares for a tour in Afghanistan

  • to protect our troops abroad, especially Erik Moore, David Jason Berkland and Nathan Zimmerman in Iraq

  • to comfort Sally Renkopf and the family and friends of her father as they mourn his death and to comfort all who mourn

  • to bless Brittany Pizarro through surgery and recovery

  • to heal Lisa Flowers, Art Stemmermann, Sarah Gale, Max Stirnweis, Joe Tovar, Corinne Ricci, Tina, Ronald Ahr, Anni Rua, Dot Dacier, Katherine Knowles, Jordan Hernandez and Bea Bernthal; to heal those battling cancer: Sadie Norris, Matthew Provencio, Manuel Coloura, Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Brandon Landsbury, 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.

Survivor Funny

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES:

Six married men will be dropped on an island with 1 car and 4 kids each, for 6 weeks. Each kid plays two sports and either takes music or dance classes. There is no access to fast food.

Each man must take care of his 4 kids, keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, etc. The men only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. There is only one TV between them and there is no remote.

The men must shave their legs and wear makeup daily, which they must apply themselves, either while driving or while making four lunches. They must attend weekly PTA meetings; clean up after their sick children at 3:00 a.m.; make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4-year-old to eat a serving of peas.

The kids vote them off the island, based on performance.

The last man wins only if he has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called "Mother."

Just a Thought

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
-George Washington

Joy & Peace,
Ken
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!

www.WordofLife4u.com

Word of Life Fellowship LCMS
1531 Jasmine Dr
Schertz TX 78154-3738

Pastor Ken Mitschke
210-566-2237
Ken@WordofLife4u.com