The News of Grace

Volume 37, no. 1 January 2014

A Blessed and Happy New Year

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-13)

I pray that this New Year has had a good beginning for you and I also pray that it will be a blessed one for all of you! The past couple of weeks here at Grace were very busy. It happens like that, especially during the holidays. That is why this newsletter is getting to you the first full week of the New Year. I just didnt get all my work done. So as I write this first page as it is called around the office, we have already gathered for a New Years Eve Service and we have also gathered for the first Sunday in the New Year which was the Second Sunday after Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas officially ended yesterday and today is Epiphany, sometimes referred to as the Gentiles Christmas. What will it take for you to have a blessed year in 2014? That may very well depend upon how you look at what it means to be truly blessed. As we enter yet another year, as I grow older with each passing one and am reminded how quickly they come, I am further reminded that to wish someone a Happy New Year may be a one time a year greeting that does not clearly express what we all need to hear. While happiness is what we all seek, it is not always a reality that we all have. Nevertheless that does not mean that those who are not happy are not blessed. Someone has called the beatitudes the be happy attitudes. I am not sure that clearly conveys what true happiness or blessedness really is. True and lasting happiness ultimately comes from the Lord with the assurance of sins forgiven for Christs sake and the promise of eternal life. You may be happiest when you have everything in order, but that doesnt always happen for us, nor do we always live as we have been called to live.

It seems to me that the anticipation and revelry that exists when we greet a new year quickly disappears as we resume our routines and face the realities of day-to-day living. Therefore the greeting Happy New Year is only temporary and maybe just speaks to the eve celebrations just past. It is more a wishful saying than a confident expression of a reality that we are experiencing. So as we enter this year of our Lord 2014 it is my prayer that your year will be blessed. St. Paul would have us know that those who call on the name of the Lord will be blessed. There is no shame for all who trust in Him. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Therein lies true happiness, true blessedness. One is truly blessed who knows that in times of happiness and periods of sadness, in years of great gain and in years when losses outweigh gains, salvation comes to all who call on the name of the Lord. That promise is the reality that gives each of us great blessing, true happiness. It is also my prayer that you will experience the joys that come from your family, friends, and vocation in the coming year, they too are Gods gifts to you. As we continue in the afterglow of Christmas and all the gifts that were exchanged, we are also reminded that the Lord has given all of us many and diverse gifts. We use these gifts in order to secure our daily needs and other material blessings that give us earthly happiness. Even as we endure the daily grind, the weekly challenges or the monthly bills, we must recognize the blessings, the very riches that the Lord showers upon us to endure, to survive, and to even thrive so that we might rejoice in His goodness shown to us for this life and especially for eternal life. Indeed there will be many challenges in the coming year for us individually and collectively as a congregation. There always are. There are many uncertainties in our world and even in our households. But the certainty for which St Paul speaks in the Romans passage above is a reality for all who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, all who call upon Him. The Lord bestows His riches on all who call on Him, who confess His name. May this year be a year you constantly confess Him and call upon Him and thereby know that true happiness comes from Him. As I mentioned in my Christmas letter to you, Christmas is Jesus birthday and we get the gifts. Before long you may not even remember what you received for Christmas but know that as you move into this New Year the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life are yours through Him whose birth we just celebrated and whose life, death and resurrection gives us life for an eternity.

A Blessed and Happy New Year! Pastor Walter

Director of Parish Music

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ! We learned a new hymn this year on Christmas Eve: Of the Fathers Love Begotten (LSB 384), and we sang it again on New Years Eve. I thought it went well and wanted to look a little more closely at the text. This hymn is very old, with the text dating back to the 4th century, written by Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, one of the greatest Christian poets. He wrote two collections of hymns, and the text of this hymn is taken from the ninth poem in his the Cathemerinon Liber (the Daily Round). The tune we use (DIVINUM MYSTERIUM) is 13th century plainsong (otherwise known as Gregorian chant). Stanza One: Of the Fathers love begotten Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And that future years shall see Evermore and evermore. This stanza clearly echoes the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3) Christ is the source of all that has been, is now, and will be. This makes a stark contrast with the next stanza. Stanza Two: Oh, that birth forever blessed, When the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore the Savior of our race, And the babe, the worlds Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face Evermore and evermore. The Creator becomes part of His creation, born humbly, not in a palace, with His birth proclaimed to lowly shepherds in the fields outside of a small town. This is not what we expect of a king. Yet He was the one promised since Genesis 3:15.

Stanza Three: This is He whom seers in old time Chanted of with one accord, Whom the voices of the prophets Promised in their faithful word. Now He shines, the long-ex-pected; Let creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore. All the Old Testament prophesies are fulfilled in Christ, indeed the entire Old Testament points to Him. Now He comes, and the whole creation praises its Redeemer and Lord. Stanza Four: O ye heights of heavn, adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing. Powrs, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, Evry voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore. As the Proper Preface begins: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord Christ is the Lord of Heaven and Earth, whether those on Earth recognize it or not. He has redeemed the world through His death on the cross, and has delivered the fruits of His cross through Baptism, the Lords Supper, and the preached Word. Thanks be to God for His great love in sending His only Son to redeem our fallen world. I will close with the words of Stanza Five. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Christ, to Thee with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory Evermore and evermore. Amen.

Peace in Christ, Nathan Beethe Director of Parish Music

THOSE WHO SERVE in JANUARY

ACOLYTE SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Ginger Litwa 10:45 a.m. Services Anna Kate Manchester COMMUNION ASSISTANTS January 5th 10:45 Service Greg Warren January 12th 8:15 Service Raymond Harrill January 19th 10:45 Service John Cavillo January 26th 8:15 Service Dave Graf USHERS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Tim Loyds team Bill Allaben, Bobby Bemberg, Ed Mahnken 10:45 a.m. Services Richard Sanders team Rudy Bischof, Jeremy Hammond, Ken Ross CANTORS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Randy Middaugh 10:45 a.m. Services Jeff Ralston GREETERS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Bette Bogart 10:45 a.m. Services Shaun, Justine and Maxwell Baker ALTAR GUILD SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Jim and Judy Keppel 10:45 a.m. Services Beverly Sanders
Wednesday Mid-Week Services Suzanne Raddle & Wilma Richter

If you are unable to serve please ask someone to fill in for you and then call the church office.

STEWARDSHIP BUDGET RE-CAP

2013 budget $514,660 which is an average weekly General Fund contribution requirement of $9,897 Average weekly contribution through week 52 Budgeted needs through week 52 Contributions to General Fund from all sources $9,810 $514,660 $510,117

GRACE FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES

WELCOME Mr. Michael Anthony Geater transferred to Grace from St. Johns Lutheran Church in Stuttgart on December 18th. Please welcome Michael to our Grace Family.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Jeanette Keehn who died at home on December 29th. Plans for her memorial service are pending. Jeanette is survived by her sister Margaret Peggy Jenkins. Please keep Jeanettes family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Donna Nichols who died on December 25th. Donna is survived by her husband Paul; children, Ann, Nicole, Melissa and Matt; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Robert and Carole Nichols. Please keep all of the Nichols family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Norma Bisgood who died on December 16th at Hospice Home Care. A private graveside service was held on January 4th at Mount Holly Cemetery. Norma is the mother of Lydia Bemberg and grandmother of Robert and Philip Bemberg. Please keep Bobby, Lydia, Robert and Philip and their family in your prayers.

Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Kevin Brink who died on December 17th. Kevin is the nephew of Margaret Schulz. Please keep Margaret, Eldon, Kestin and Kari and their family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Kitty Bryan who died on December 16th. Kitty is the grandmother of David Faulkner. Please keep David, Andrea, Lauren and Matthew and their family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to Jim and Florence Marvin and family on the recent deaths of Florences uncle Lazarus Samuel and her cousin Rev. Stephen Nathaniel. Please keep Jim and Florence and their family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family Dr. Guy Gardner who recently died here in Little Rock. Guy is the husband of Brigita Krasts Gardner and son-in-law of Monta Krasts. Please keep Brigita and Monta and their family in your prayers.

CONGRATULATIONS and GODS BLESSINGS Congratulations to Jonathan and Kristin Middaugh on the birth of their son, Benjamin Scott Middaugh, on December 10th. Benjamins grandparents are Riley and Randy Middaugh. Congratulations and Gods blessings to Jonathan and Kristin!! Congratulations to Sam and Yamaira Cate for the gift of a daughter Harper Anne Cate born on December 31st. Harpers grandmother is Rebecca Cate and her aunt is C.C. Cate. Congratulations and Gods blessings to Sam and Yamaira!!

THANK YOU STAINED GLASS on the Bridge: As you walk across the bridge take a moment to pause and enjoy the addition to the collection of stained glass art work that is hanging in the south windows of the bridge. You will notice that a new stained glass symbol for Easter was hung in December. Thank you to Nancy Wade for using her gifts to design and create this beautiful artwork. We appreciate Nancy and Jim using their talents to serve our Lord and His church.

GRACE ALTAR GUILD

One of the many opportunities for service here at Grace involves those who serve on Altar Guild. I greatly appreciate those who regularly assist by preparing the Altar for Sunday morning which may include setting up and putting away the elements used for Holy Communion and the care for the Communion are used for this Sacrament. I have asked Angie Proud to serve as the coordinator for our Grace Altar Guild which will involve assisting and scheduling those who serve as well as recruiting members to serve Grace in this way. I appreciate her do this in an organized way. If serving the Lord and Grace congregation in this way interests you, please call Angie at 501-240-5039. Once again I am most thankful those who serve the Lord here at Grace in this capacity. Pastor Walter

TAKE DOWN THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Saturday, January 11th 9:00 a.m.
On Saturday, January 11th, at 9:00 a.m. we will be taking down the Christmas decorations at church. Please take an hour or two out of your busy schedules to help us take down the trees and put away all the decorations. Thanks!!!

NOON DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR

Noon Devotions with Pastor is Thursday, January 9th, at 12:00 noon in Parker Hall. Bring a sandwich and join us for Bible study and fellowship. Drinks, chips, and dessert are provided. Bring a friend and join us this is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship!!

LWML EVENING GUILD

LWML Evening Guild will host their annual White Elephant Sale on Thursday, January 16th, at 7:00 p.m. Bring a new or used item and be sure to wrap it for the auction. We will decide where the proceeds go before the auction begins. This is always a fun evening and I encourage you to come!! All Grace women are invited to join in the fun!! If you have any questions contact Pat Funk at 663-3631 or patfunk@gracelutheranlr.org.

COOKIE WALK Thank You

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Cookie Walk in December. Those who baked, those who helped, those who bought, and those who donated. Through your efforts and support we raised $1,317.50! We were able to support 2 of our Grace families as well as one of the caregivers of Jeanette Keehn, who had recently lost their home and possessions in a fire. Thank you for your generosity!

FELLOWSHIP CLUB
Tuesday, January 21st 12:00 noon The Fellowship Club will meet on Tuesday, January 21st, at 12:00 noon in Parker Hall for a delicious lunch served by our ACTS friends. Join us for fun, food, and fellowship. Call the church office for more information.

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE COFFEE HOST SIGN UP

Volunteers Needed to Serve - Please take a minute and sign up for the Sunday on which you wish to serve. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the Parlor.

The schedule for January, 2013 is:

January 5th January 12th January 19th January 26th The Junkans Family LWML Evening Guild _____________________________ _____________________________

The schedule for February, 2013 is:

February 2nd February 9th February 16th February 23rd _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Thanks! We appreciate your help!!

YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY

Our Young Adult Bible Study group continues to meet every other Monday. Their meetings this month are January 6th and January 20th. They are studying the book of Romans. Please call or e-mail Vicar David Witte for information as to where they will meet each time. Contact Vicar Witte at drwitte@gmail.com or 630-738-3835.

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS)

Grace continues to support the foster care program in the East Office of DCFS. Some of the items they need for the children coming into their office include: breakfast type foods (pop tarts, breakfast bars) peanut butter crackers microwaveable pasta meals diapers of various sizes toothpaste, toothbrushes soap If you can help provide any of these items, please bring them to the church and place them in the box for DCFS which is in the church breezeway. For more information, contact Pat Funk or any of the Board of Evangelism members.

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES AT GRACE

Our nursery, downstairs in the church, is also available to take care of the infants and toddlers during Sunday School/Bible Class time.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS - Pastor Walters Bible Class meets each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Parker Hall. Pastor is leading a study of The Augsburg Confession and Its Apology The Lutheran Confessions Series. Two sections of this study remain: Civil Government: A Gift From God and The Return of Christ. A study of The Epistle to the Hebrews will begin after the current study. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for children ages 3 through 6th grade are held in the lower level of the Family Life Center. Parents are invited to join us for the opening service at 9:45 each Sunday. Contact Colleen Moorman or Nathan Beethe. LCEF K.I.D.S. Saving Stamps are available from Ame Andrews during Sunday School opening time. JUNIOR YOUTH class meets at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday in their classroom downstairs in the church. Joel Junkans leads the class each Sunday morning. SENIOR YOUTH class meets each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in their classroom downstairs in the church. Dave Roberts leads the class each Sunday morning. YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY group meets every other Monday at 7:00 p.m. Their meetings this month are January 6th and January 20th. Contact Vicar David Witte at drwitte@gmail.com for additional information. MENS BIBLE STUDY class meets each Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. at St. Vincent Hospital in the 4th floor conference room (off the main elevator). Pastor Walter leads this Bible Study. All men of Grace are encouraged to attend. TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASS meets each Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the downstairs classroom in the church. They are studying Gods Word for Today on the book of Joshua. Contact Joan Ann Olsen for more information.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD'S BLESSINGS to Grace Family Members in the month of January: 1 - John Ketcher 2 - Edwin Mahnken 3 - Diane Roberts 5 - Sharon LeBlanc 6 - Jennifer Harrod, Joni Jones, Katie Litwa, Elsie Westerfield 7 - Perryn Andrews, Lindsay Zweifel 8 - Irvin Clawitter, David Cossey 8 - Bradley Stillman, Jason Sutterfield 9 - Kevin Derden 12 - Rudy Bischof, Larry Stillman 13 - Dennis Fastenau 18 - Holly Raney 20 - Brook Metzler 21 - Joe Gelzine 22 - Lori Bloom, Frank Royster 24 - Shaun Baker, Lily Woodyard 25 - Suzanne Raddle 26 - Susan Mahnken, Harold Wells 28 - Bailey Cannon 29 John Calvillo 30 - Joan Ann Olsen, Travis Starr 31 - Karen Camacho, Elisabeth Graf 31 - Judy Keppel, Cynthia McCrory

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to these couples in January: 3 - Judy and Tommy Borchert, Betty and Bob Bryant 4 - Susie and Ray Barlow 5 - Wendy and Bob Schmidt 17 - Kara and David Mainard 27 - Dorris and Allen Deislinger
We apologize if we have missed your birthday or anniversary; please let us know in the church office so we can update our records. Thank you!!

ECDC News & Notes

Wow 2013 is almost history! What a year it was! It went so fast guess Im getting older well I know I am . ECDC was and continues to be blessed with great kids with great parents, a wonderful, talented, loving staff; and Grace Congregation continued to be so supportive in so many ways! And, 2014 looks to be even better God continues to pour His blessings on us! December was a wonderful month as we celebrated Advent (or as the kids call it the countdown); learned the Christmas story with the kids telling, and retelling, the story of the birth of baby Jesus; made presents for our families and friends; had fun unwrapping all the wonderful presents from our families and Grace Lutheran friends, entertained family and friends at our annual worlds-shortest-best Christmas program including the enactment of the Nativity complete with microphones and ending with the singing of some of our favorite Christmas carols! What a Christmas to remember! But you know really every Christmas is a Christmas to remember. Because of what happened the first Christmas morning we have the promise of eternal life still the best present of all! We need to take care of some thank-yous first to all the families, staff, and Grace Lutheran members that gave us special gifts wow you all were sooooo generous! And, to the Board of Christian Education for hosting our Family Christmas Pizza Lunch following the kids program one of newest traditions has become quite popular! God continues to pour His blessings on us! January finds us learning all about space and transportation, and construction bet the Seniors will go ride the Trolley sometime during the month! During Jesus time we will learn about the Wise Men (they probably traveled by camel!), Epiphany, Jesus as a little boy (He learned to help His dad Joseph construct things), and baptism. Sure hope we dont have any snow days or we wont have time to get it all in!! Why dont you travel on into our space and build some new friendships with our great kids and staff just a thought for 2014.

Until next month, have a blessed Christ-filled season

Colleen

KrogerPlus Cards
Keep every swipe of your card benefitting ECDC?!

JANUARY is the month to RE-SIGN-UP your KrogerPlus Card for ECDC so you can continue Swiping for ECDC. Go to krogercommunityrewards.com. sign-in to your account. re-designate ECDC (NPO #80368). Your Done Thanks for continuing your support!
OR
if you would like to begin this no-extra-cost way of supporting ECDC Heres how:

Go to krogercommunityrewards.com and register your current Kroger Plus Card. (If you do not have a Kroger Plus card, you can pick one up at the Customer Service Desk at any Kroger.) Click on Sign In/Register If you are a new online Kroger customerclick on SIGN UP in the New Customer? box. Sign up for a Kroger Rewards Account by entering zip code, clicking on favorite store, entering your email address and creating a password, agreeing to the terms and conditions. You will then get a message to check your email inbox and click on the link within the body of the email. Click on My Account and use your email address and password to proceed to the next step. Click on Edit Kroger Community Rewards information and input your Kroger Plus card number. (If you use your phone number at the register? Call 800-576-4377, select option 4 to get your Kroger Plus card number.) Update or confirm your information. Enter NPO number (for ECDC it is 80368) or name of organization, select ECDC from list and click on confirm. To verify you are enrolled correctly, you will see your organizations name on the right side of your information page.

 Then just swipe your card each time you shop to benefit ECDC! If you need help with this or have questions, please give Colleen a call (663-0755) or email (ecdc@gracelutheranlr.org).

Painless Ways to Support Little Rock Lutheran Education!

Many of you already take advantage of company programs that provide financial incentives for Grace Lutheran ECDC and Christ Lutheran School that dont cost you any extra money for that we all say THANK YOU! These programs are really an untapped resource that benefits Lutheran education in Little Rock by providing funds for all type of budget needs! And all the programs are very userfriendly and simple - some only require scissors! Following are programs used by one or more of our Lutheran schools please consider this painless way to support Lutheran Education in L.R.!

KROGER PLUS CARDS Grace ECDC

The Board of Christian Education encourages you to enroll your Kroger Plus card at www.krogercommunityrewards.com today. Once you choose Graces ECDC program (code 80368), a portion of your eligible purchases at Kroger goes directly to the ECDC. Holiday shopping is around the corner so please support our ECDC. Every dollar you spend benefits this amazing program here at Grace. For questions or help with your enrollment, please contact Catherine Manchester (821-4140) or Colleen Moorman (663-0755). Thank you!

General Mills
Box Tops for Education
used by Christ Lutheran School

Campbells Labels
used by ECDC & Christ Lutheran School Heres how these work: - Remove box top for education labels from General Mills containers (ie Cheerios, Betty Crocker), and/or ENTIRE LABEL WITH UPC CODE from Campbells products (ie soup, juices). - collection boxes may be found on the bookcase next to the breezeway or the entry area of ECDC. - Box Tops for Education provide monetary support for the CLS Band,

Campbells Labels are turned into credit toward purchasing supplies and equipment for both ECDC and Christ Lutheran School.