Leading the Way

A new kind of plane was on its first flight. It was full of reporters and journalists.  A little while after takeoff, the captain's voice was heard over the speakers.  "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm delighted to be your pilot for this plane's historic first flight.  I can tell you the flight is going well.  Nevertheless, I have to tell you about a minor inconvenience that has occurred.  The passengers on the right side can, if they look out their window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating.  That shouldn't worry you, because this plane is equipped with four    engines and we are flying along smoothly at an  acceptable altitude. 

As long as you are looking out the right side, you might as well look at the other engine on that side.  You will notice that it is glowing, or more precisely one should say, burning.  That shouldn't worry you either, since this plane is designed to fly with just two engines if necessary, and we are maintaining an acceptable altitude and speed.

As long as we are looking out the plane, those of you on the left side shouldn't worry if you look out your side of the plane and notice that one engine that is supposed to be there is missing.  It fell off about ten minutes ago.  Let me tell you that we are amazed that the plane is doing so well without it. 

However, I will call your attention to something a little more serious.  Along the center aisle all the way down the plane a crack has appeared.  Some of you are, I suppose, able to look through the crack and may even notice the waves of the Atlantic Ocean below.  In fact, those of you with very good eyesight may be able to notice a small lifeboat that was thrown from the plane.  Well, ladies and gentlemen, you will be happy to know that your captain is keeping an eye on the progress of the plane from that lifeboat below."

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations very similar to that plane flight.  Everything around us seems to be falling apart and the person in charge seems to be as remote as the captain in the raft on the ocean far below.

In the Gospel for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Jesus said:
 “My sheep hear my voice.  I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28).

The person in charge of our lives is not remote. He is our Shepherd and he is leading the way.  Leading us; giving us eternal life; assuring us we will never perish; and no one can snatch you out of his hands.

Our Stewardship for April
Average Attendance      127
Year to Date:               108
Last Year:                   104
8 Lenten Services:          41
Communed:                 281
Average Offering:     $3,158
Year to Date:           $2,985
Last Year:               $2,972
Budget:                   $3,261

… Don’t forget to remember to include the Lord’s work in your will.

Also Given for March & April
Helping Hand Fund:         $72
Mexican Orphanage:      $300
2nd Orphanage:            $483.85
Other Missions:             $345
Building Fund:               $100
Food Bank:                   $127.09
Piano Fund:                    $50
Haiti/Chili Relief:           $143
Memorials:                   $190
Easter Breakfast:           $244

                              
Registrations for the new school year in September have been quite brisk so if you know someone who might be interested please contact Gail Wildermuth or the parish office for an application.
We take Children 3½ years old by September and up. 

Preschool News

We began the month of April, at Grace Lutheran preschool by holding our annual trike- a-thon which is the annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  This event was held on April 1.  We were fortunate that the rain held off, despite many clouds in the morning.  We successfully raised $1100.00
We are learning about plants this month.  We  planted a few seeds in class and are anxiously waiting to see if anything grows.
We concluded our unit on communities this month by going on a walking tour of Blaine.
We saw the post office, library and police station.  The students really enjoyed mailing a letter home to their moms for Mother’s Day.

Human Need-Human Care Project

Thank you for your support of the LaCasa Hogar Villa Amanecer Orphanage. We gathered in many of the coin boxes on  April 25. 
Some have made contributions through the Sunday offering. If you still have your box, please return it soon so it can be counted with all the rest.  We are hoping for enough to send a check for $200 each month for a year.

Hazel’s Journal continued…

Sandra took us to the Casa Cuna the Catholic baby orphanage. This is an orphanage that children are more easily adopted from.  These are children that young mothers give up. Can you imagine the struggle they must go thru to give up a child they have carried for 9 months? These little guys are brought to the orphanage by the police or Church Clergy or the women themselves.
Some parents use this as a day care for their kids but most are true orphans who are here all the time.  The head Mother told us of a little 6 month girl found at the church with a note asking someone, anyone, to take this child and care for her.  The church called the DIF people (DIF is Mexico’s answer to our child protection agency) to come and get the child.  They did and DIF called the Casa Cuna to ask if they could bring this little girl to them.  The head Mother said yes but only if they had papers for the child.  Having papers for these kids is a big deal, without papers they are in limbo and they cannot go to school or anything.  True or not I do not know but it seems that DIF has the authority to make up birth certificates for the children and to pick names and birth dates.  It seems to work and the child is way ahead on the deal.  The only problem I can see is if a parent tries to find their child later in life they would not be able to.  This is a country full of beautiful babies more than enough to go around. The baby orphanage was very clean, and the head Mother was very sweet, funny, and clever and you could tell she was loved by the kids. The head Mother would allow only one picture as she does not want these kids exploited in any way.  We gave her some bucks to help with the kids and left, but not before we said some silent prayers for not only the babies there but also for the mothers who had to leave them.

LCMS WORLD MISSION

Wars… Earthquakes… Poverty… Crime… Lay-offs…
The headlines tell us what is happening in this world. But they are missing some vital information. Here are some other stories that you may not have heard from your traditional news sources:
During January and February, 33 people were baptized in Cambodia in the towns of Battembang and Morning Star Village. Missionaries Seth and Shannon Hoeppner write, “Everywhere we look we see dust.  It reminds us of our sins. But more importantly, it reminds us that through Baptism, we are whiter than snow!”
In Uganda, the pastors and vicars have been learning about servant ministry. They built a worship structure last year, which they also used during an agricultural workshop that was led by missionaries Delano and Linda Meyer. During the same month, church members from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, North Carolina flew to Uganda to see how they can support the mission and ministry in Uganda.
In New Jersey, missionary Rev. Jim Buckman is helping congregations reach out through ethnic ministries. Asian Indian, Muslim, Peruvian, Nigerian, and Ghanaian people are hearing the Gospel. Some of the ethnic ministry leaders would like to enroll in the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology, becoming pastors themselves!
Rev. Mark and Rose Krause report that the churches in Latvia and Lithuania are excited for outreach! In one year, the Lutheran church in Latvia grew by more than 3,700 people. Many of the new members are adults who grew up during the communist era.  They are now Ablaze! with the Gospel message and excited to tell people about their faith!
In the Dominican Republic, the missionary team has been supporting the people of Haiti since the devastating earthquake struck Port-au-Prince on January 12. In addition to that, the team is looking forward to opening their first group home in June 2010 to serve developmentally disabled orphans.
Through your prayers and financial support, you make this ministry possible.  Thank you.
Even as so much amazing outreach is taking place, there is still more work to do, and still more people need to hear the Gospel message. Please take the time to pray for and financially support the work of LCMS World Mission.  Your support will bring the saving message of God’s love to people living apart from Him.
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder
Executive Director

A Fine Example
Every pastor, some time or another, has experienced Murphy’s Law— if something can go wrong, it will go wrong.  Take what happened to a priest in Omaha one Sunday about 15 years ago.  To set the ball rolling toward the gutter, the organist didn’t show up, the lector wasn’t prepared, and the Bible readings were badly done.  Then in the sermon, the priest referred to the reading from Deuteronomy as a reading from “debauchery.”  He also judged that his sermon was so awful that he felt like crawling under the altar at the end of the mass, but he knew that he had to walk down the aisle and greet the people, as was his custom.
As the priest was shaking hands he spied one of his dearest and sweetest parishioners heading his way. He said to himself, “Today I find out how sincere she is.”  She grabbed his hand and exclaimed, “Father, your vestments are beautiful.”  The priest accepted the remark as one of the finest examples of Christian love he had ever witnessed.

Bookcase in Narthex
A  bookcase has been placed in the Narthex for congregational use.  Please feel free to take home and enjoy the books and return.  There are many children’s books also which may be taken home  and kept or used while at church.

CHURCH DIRECTORY  LABELS

Basic information about Grace Lutheran was left off our latest Church Directory therefore information    labels have been printed and can be placed on the inside cover of your  Directory.  They are NOW available on the table in the Narthex!  Please feel free to pick one up.

 “Life Quotes”  from Lutherans for Life
“God loves mothers.  His own Son was sacrificed for them.  ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15:13).    In turn, mothers are known to live sacrificial lives themselves.  Mothers will lay down their lives for their children.  My husband has watched, amazed, when I go to bat for one of our children.  Fortunately, my ‘mother bear mode’ hasn’t had to be enacted too many times, but I can feel the hackles rising on my neck even as I think about it.  Fiercely protective, loyal, providing for our progeny despite all circumstances, the Lord has given mothers a fervor and passion that reflects Christ’s for His children.  That’s why we’re here.  That’s why the womb should be the safest place on earth.”
Janet Fehskens—Lutherans for Life (888) 364-LIFE www.lutheransforlife.org

*Congratulations to Ted and Mary Onyon on  67 years of Marriage!

Baptism
Devon and Chloe, children of Chris & Laenette Carr were  received into God’s covenant of grace through the sacrament of Holy Baptism at Grace on Tuesday, April 20.

“My Mother’s Garden”

A Mother is a gardener,
Planting the seeds
Of faith, truth and love
That develop into the fairest flowers
Of character, virtue and happiness
In the lives of her children.
-J. Harold Gwynne

Death
Our Christian sympathies are with the family and friends of Mildred Johnson.  A Service of Victory for Mildred Rose (McCallum) (Olson) Johnson (August 30, 1917 – April 14, 2010) was held at Grace on April 25.
“May the Lord of Life give comfort and hope in the resurrection.”

Friendly Visitors seeks volunteers for senior outreach program
Seniors throughout Whatcom County who have little social contact with friends or family are waiting to be matched with compassionate volunteers who will visit them weekly at home through Interfaith Coalition’s Friendly Visitors program.  Individuals interested in working one-on-one with seniors in need of caring human connection are invited to participate in one of the following monthly orientation and training sessions:

Tuesday, May 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, June 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, July 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Please call 756-5179 for more information or to reserve a space.

Auction raises $133,000 for homeless housing and health care

Interfaith Coalition raised an all-time high of $133,000 through the unwavering generosity of friends and supporters at its March 20 spring auction.  Proceeds will support the coalition’s programs, which provide housing to homeless families and health care to families and individuals without insurance or the means to pay for care.
Our congregational gifts of a gardening wheelbarrow and two nights at Somerbrook Guest House with dinner at Semiahmoo Resort contributed to the success of Interfaith’s biggest fundraising event of the year.  In total, our gift and the gifts from other participating Interfaith Coalition member congregations raised $8,200 in the auction.
“In a year when we wondered how the economy would affect donations to our auction," said Lori Polevoi,  Interfaith’s communications and development director, “your congregation’s generosity, along with the generosity of other donors, demonstrated to us that, even as individuals and congregations may be feeling the pinch, compassion for people in need does not wax or wane with the state of the economy.”

VOTE  
The Thrivent members of our congregation can help raise funds for LCMS global ministries!

Thrivent Financial will distribute $1 million among 10 nationwide Lutheran and non-Lutheran charities.  Among the ministries selected are LCMS World Mission and LCMS World Relief and Human Care.  The amount each charity receives is based on their total number of votes.
Thrivent Financial is waiting to hear from you before May 21, 2010.  It’s quick.  It’s easy.  Record your vote today at Thrivent.com/choicevote.  You must be a Thrivent Financial member to vote.
Thank you for your faithful support of LCMS World Mission and LCMS  World Relief and Human Care.