We're building a bigger heaven and better lives!
LifeLesson Series: Reconnecting with God
Do you want God to bless you? Do you want to see God working miracles through your life? Do you want to sense His presence and His power? Reconnect with God and experience His blessing, His working, His presence and power.
What Makes God Smile?
If my purpose is to bring pleasure to God, how do I do that? How do I make God smile on my life? Are there any examples in the Bible? We’ll seek answers this Sunday, September 27 at 10:45 a.m. 101 Pecan Drive, in Schertz [map and directions].
Free Audio Bible
Reconnect with God this week! Get a FREE New Testament download in one of over 311 languages. I recommend the English - ESV Dramatized Version. The Audio Bible Download Manager makes it easy to get the entire New Testament to your computer quickly. Listen from your computer or sync it with your mp3 player and listen daily! Download your copy today at http://www.lcmsbibledownload.com.
Nursery (infant to age 4)
A 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 Becky Peterson at 945-7952.
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.
The team is compiling a quarterly newsletter and they would like to add your story of answered prayer. Please share YOUR story and/or become a part of 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’re lifting up missionary pastor Eleandro Gretschmann as he reaches out to people in Aquidauana, Brazil and beyond. We support their work through the gift of 10% of our Sunday morning offerings to Brazil Mission Society (BMS). To find out more about BMS, visit www.BrazilMissionSociety.com.
NEW LifeGroups
For Mothers of Daughters
Sundays 9:45 a.m.
map and directions
Your daughter’s growing up. The world has a lot to say to her, and she’s starting to listen. It’s time for you to tell her some things she might not know—or might have forgotten—about who she is in God’s eyes. Join us for Five Conversations to Have with Your Daughter beginning THIS Sunday at the 7th Day Adventist Bldg. in the Mother's room. Questions? Becky Peterson, beterson2@sbcglobal.net or 945-7952.
For Youth (Grades 7-12)
Tuesdays 7:00 p.m.
Our culture does not value or hold dear those things which are important to Christians. Set aside time each week to reconnect with young Christians and with Christ. Learn from each other and from adult examples, how to shine your light for Jesus in the dark hallways of your life. Join us THIS Tuesday at the Osgoods, 3740 Limestone Mesa, Schertz. Questions? 508-2073.
For Women
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m.
Dive into the Bible to discover the treasures and answers it holds. Learn key concepts of our faith and break down the Bible to make it come alive! Great for new believers and those unfamiliar with Scripture. Meet at Sherri Smith’s home, 3309 Dusty Crossing, Schertz THIS Wednesday. Questions? Call Sherri, 659-2585.
For Women
Wednesdays 7:00 p.m.
Join us for Living Free: Learning to Pray God’s Word, a study by Beth Moore. We’ll meet three Wednesdays of the month and take one week off (the third Wednesday) to do a service project in our community. Our first session will be October 7 at Becky Peterson’s home, 2839 Pond Apple. Questions? Patti Mitschke, 566-1650 or Patti@WordofLife4u.com
For Readers
Wednesday 6:45 p.m.
Meet new friends and share insights on various readings at this monthly book discussion group. Meet at the NEW Schertz Library, 608 Schertz Parkway, meeting room on October 21. Questions? Patti Mitschke, 566-1650 or Patti@WordofLife4u.com
For Men
Thursdays 7:00 p.m.
Meet with other men for discussion, prayer and encouragement. We’ll meet three Thursdays of the month and take one week off (the last Thursday) to do a service project in our community that week. Join us this Thursday, October 1 at the Smith's, 3309 Dusty Crossing Questions? Ken Mitschke, 566-2237 or Ken@WordofLife4u.com.
Leadership TEAM
Your new Leadership TEAM met this last week to discuss and assign responsibilities. Here’s how TEAM members will be serving:
President: David Smith
Vice President: John Goeke
Treasurer: David Christiansen
Secretary: Greg Peterson
Relate TEAM: David White
Share TEAM: Toby Molina
Invite TEAM: Mike Hilman
Worship TEAM: John Goeke
Serve TEAM: Greg Peterson
Our Strategy - How we’ll get to where God wants us to be.
Organization Chart - How we're structured to get where God wants us to be.
Next meetings:
Monday, October 5, 7:00 p.m.
at the Goeke home, 21927 Paseo Corto Dr, Garden Ridge
Thursday, October 29, 7:00 p.m.
at the Smith home, 3309 Dusty Crossing
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
Lord, Save Us From Your Followers is a fast-paced, highly engaging documentary that explores the collision of faith and culture in America while opening up this important conversation to all of us. The movie will be opening in limited engagements across the US next week. In San Antonio, it will be showing at the Santikos Palladium theater, I-10 at The Rim.
Let’s go together to the 4:30 showing THIS Sunday, September 27 to see this engaging and challenging documentary. Want to carpool? Meet at Stemmermann’s, 1013 Gate Creek at 3:30 p.m. Youth are encouraged to attend too! (Parent’s note: the movie is rated PG-13 for thematic elements and some language.) This activity will take the place of Hang Time for this evening. Lord, Save Us From Your Followers delves into religious hot-button issues with candor, humor, and balance. It will change the way you talk about faith!
To find out more about this movie, visit the movie website.
Hire a Youth Fundraiser
Every three years, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) hosts a national gathering for high school youth. The next gathering is scheduled for July 17—21, 2010 in New Orleans, LA. The theme for the Gathering is "We Believe," based on John 20:31: "But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
Several Word of Life youth are planning to attend this life-changing event. They are working now to raise money for the trip. One way you can help is to “hire a youth” to help with projects around your home. The youth are available for everything from babysitting to painting. You get to check a project off your “to do” list, and the youth get one step closer to New Orleans. To schedule youth, call Mark Stemmermann, 508-2073.
Dear Word of Life Family,
The warm and wonderful send-off that you gave to the Scott family will forever be cherished. From the box, presentation, and well wishes to the final Hang Time—thank you for everything. It was such a pleasure and a blessing for our family to serve and learn with you for the past seven years. Word of Life is such a bright light for the rest of the world to see. We look forward to hearing about all of the wonderful ways that God is going to use you in the future to build a bigger heaven. We know first hand that God uses Word of Life to build better lives... from these four people with better lives, “Thank You.” Chad, Sherlyn, Chesni & Kayla Scott
Vital Planning
You may know the Church Extension Fund as the ministry that provides vital low-cost building loans to LCMS churches and schools. Did you also know that CEF provides savings and investment opportunities to individuals and organizations of the LCMS? A vital benefit – while your investments are earning interest for you they are also providing the vital funds needed to create a place where ministry can impact lives. Please talk with our congregational representatives, Shirley or John Goeke about making an investment in the Texas District Church Extension Fund or call 1-800-951-3478.
Back to School Shoes
Randolph Area Christian Assistance Program (RACAP) has already helped 303 children in 136 area families to receive a new pair of shoes to wear back to school! RACAP provides vouchers to qualifying families. Family members can then redeem the voucher for a new pair of shoes at area PayLess Stores. PayLess then bills RACAP (less 10%) for the shoes purchased. RACAP uses donations to help cover the cost of the shoe program. If you would like to make a donation, you may use the RACAP envelopes available at the offering box in worship this Sunday. Make checks payable to Word of Life, but write RACAP in the memo line.
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
Bearing Spiritual Fruit - "Though no merit ever proceeds from our works, either those done before our conversion or those done afterward, good works are a necessary fruit of true faith..." [more]
Instrument in God's Hands - "A musician's amazing story of giving and receiving..." [more]
My Conversation with God - "I had no idea what God would do when I asked him to use me..." [more]
Prayer Requests and Thanksgivings
We Thank God…
for adopting us into His family and taking pleasure in us, for saving us by making us righteous, for blessing us and giving us everything to enjoy, for directing our steps and delighting in the details of our lives and for giving us Christ’s power to please God
for our guests and those who invited and brought them
for Texas Church Extension Fund and the low cost church building loans and the investment opportunities they offer
for blessing and refreshing drought stricken lands with rain
for the safe return of Logan Christiansen from his deployment
for our nation and our leaders
for standing guard over our troops and their families
for those who have sacrificed life and limb defending us
for all the resources God has entrusted to our care
for His promise to multiply our tithes and offerings to help build a bigger heaven and better lives.
We Ask God…
to inspire and empower us to love Him with everything we’ve got, to consistently follow His will, to honor and trust Him, to act by faith not sight, to do as He commands and to fulfill His purpose
to bless missionary pastor Eleandro Gretschmann as he reaches out to people in Aquidauana, Brazil and beyond
to direct us to negotiate for a property which will best help us reach our community with the Gospel and for resources to help buy it
to comfort the victims of persecution, terrorism and disaster
to bless our leaders with godly wisdom and guidance that they may lead according to His will
to bless our children through challenges and temptations and toward the purpose God has for their lives
to bless David’s Smith’s mother Jackie as she prepares to sell her house and move to a smaller place
to bless Ana Koester, Kelly McDonald, Harold Toomey, Phyllis Thompson & Chuck with employment and bless Maria Molina & Stacey Kohan with improved employment
to protect our troops and workers abroad, especially Erik Moore & David Sanchez in Iraq and Juan Pizarro & Julie Astrachan in Afghanistan
to bless the family and friends of Barbara Markwardt, of Louise Nordmeyer (Mary Flower’s mother), of Randy Krueger (Bill Krueger’s father) and of J.T. Medford as they mourn their deaths
to heal David Koester, Michelle Osgood, Laura Peebles, Lisa Flowers, Art Stemmermann, Ethan Cheatham, Devin Cheatham, Andy Tolsma, Daniel Sanchez, Mac Ray, Allen Conley, Paul Mitschke and to heal those battling cancer: Rachel Midgett. Kayla Nunnery, Alden Malachowski, Marcia Waldgeir, Sadie Norris, Matthew Provencio, Manuel Coloura, Todd Reineck, Zach Vangundy, Amanda Conniff, Pam Smith, 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.
Answers to Bible Brain Twister By John Kezer
I once made a re[mark] about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lu[lu, ke]pt people loo[king s]o hard for f[acts], and for others it was a [revelation]. Some were in a [jam, es]pecially since the names of the books are not capitalized, but the t[ruth] finally struck home to [numbers] of readers. To others, it was a real [job]. We want it to be [a mos]t fascinating few moments for you. Y[es, ther]e will be some really easy ones to spot. Others may require [judges] to help them. I will quickly admi[t it us]ually takes a minister to find one of the 17, and there will be loud [lamentations] when it is found. A little lady says
s[he brews] a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can com[pete. R]elax now, for there really are the names of 17 books of the Bible in these sentences.
Just a Thought
"A bishop of a century ago pronounced from his pulpit and in the periodical he edited that heavier-than-air flight was both impossible and contrary to the will of God. Oh, the irony that Bishop Wright had two sons, Orville and Wilbur! Wright was wrong. Sure of himself, but wrong." -Robert P. Dugan, Jr.
Joy & Peace,
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
KenMits - Twitter
Ken Mitschke - Facebook
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