EVANGELISM –
“A bridge of friendship”

A young boy from a non-Christian family named Palmer Ofuoku was placed in a mission school by his Nigerian parents because they knew he would receive a good education there. He attended the school for years, yet he did not convert to Christianity. He remained an adherent of a traditional African religion.

One year a new missionary came to the school who began to develop close relationships with the students, including Palmer. Eventually the missionary led this young Nigerian to Christ. Palmer Ofuoku explained the missionary’s influence like this: “He built a bridge of friendship to me, and Jesus walked across.”

That is a great definition of evangelism. “He built a bridge of friendship to me, and Jesus walked across.” That’s something all of us can be doing each day of our lives -- building bridges of friendship to the people around us so that Jesus may walk across.

LENT
The upcoming season of Lent followed by Easter gives us the heart of the Gospel -- the content of our witness. When we understand our lost condition and the depth of God’s love for us – that He would take our suffering and death upon Himself – we have the great Good News of the Gospel and the motive for sharing it.

ASH WEDNESDAY begins the season of Lent on February 22.
Our Lenten worship on Wednesdays will begin with Soup Suppers at 6:30 p.m. and worship at 7:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday will have the traditional imposition of ashes.

THE SIGN OF JONAH is the theme for our mid-week Lenten worship. Jonah for Lent may sound a little fishy, but it is a natural fit. When the Jews asked Jesus for a sign, He said, “I will give you only the sign of Jonah.” After three days in the belly of the Earth, Jesus rose to life in victory over sin, death, and the Devil. This series of special services for Lent explores the meaning of “The Sign of Jonah” as we follow Jonah on his journey and Jesus on his way to the cross.

Let these Lenten services guide you on a walk with Jesus to the cross and be part of your preparation to celebrate Easter.

ANNUAL REPORTS for 2011 and Budgets for 2012 are available on the table in the Narthex.

INERTIM MINISTRY PRESENTATION
On Sunday, February 5, Rev. Erv Wickner will be here from the district office in Portland. Pastor Wickner is a retired pastor who serves the district by being in charge of the International Intentional Ministry program. He will preach in the worship service and then address the congregation during the Coffee Hour. His role is not to tell us what to do, but answer questions. We can then make an informed choice. No decisions will be made on February 5.
We should be done by 12:30 p.m. or shortly after.
Come, be informed, and take an active role in the future of our congregation.

Preschool News
This month the preschool will be focusing on reading and investigating all different types of books. We will talk about how a story is written and how the pictures go along with the story. We will look at books with no words and make up our own story as well as “read” books that have simple cvc words for the kids to sound out. I will also read books with no pictures and have the children describe to me what they think the book is about as it is read. Parents are invited to bring a favorite book from home and share with the class during snack time in all classes as well.
In the 4 year old class each child will “write and illustrate” their own book. I am very excited about this project and the kids enjoy coming up with their own stories. The Little Explorers class will be drawing simple picture books for their first attempt.

On February 13th and 14th the preschool classes will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a day of fun crafts and games. We have made some special Valentine holders to hold all the wonderful Valentine’s Day cards from our friends.

Warmly yours,
Miss Michelle

Global Mission Links
Grace Lutheran is linked to Hong Kong, where GEO missionaries Alan and Shirley Piepenbrink serve.
They write, “One of The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod schools where we serve is Euon Lutheran Church, which has tried to start a Sunday school with little success in the past. We were very eager to help the Sunday school program. It was advertised that there would be
an English Sunday school, and
everyone was overjoyed and stunned with the blessing of 76 students who attended on the first Sunday! Praise God that 20 new parents have begun to attend the church service while their children are at Sunday school.

Everyone looked forward to the children presenting the Christmas message of Jesus’ birth to the church members through a play on Christmas Day.”

Hazel’s Journal
‘Trip To The Casa El Buen Pastor’

11-11-11 Friday Noon...
The trip this year was a hard one with too many delays and full planes. Not complaining, as we get our tickets at such a good price from my cousin Ken. It is just more stressful the older I get. No problem though as this is the last year I will be going to the orphanage due to many changes in my life. I love it here and will miss the kids so much but there is a time to step down and let others handle it.
This morning we got our money exchanged and went to Sams Club for party things. Lucky us we got here 2 days before the birthday party for this month, so since people out at BB Village gave money for a party we got the food, the drinks, ice cream and the cake.
The kids are so adorable this year as always. This year there are many more kids, 20 girls and 20 boys, so many cute little ones with lots of sad stories. There are some new helpers this year which is a good thing. One young woman, Nancy is new and in fact she started the day before we got here. She says she is willing to volunteer for a year, but will she burn out before then? Who knows?
Lots of changes here but still everything seems to stay the same. The orphanage is in good shape. The kids are too but with lots of colds and runny noses. That is not unusual, what would be unusual is for me to get home without a cold myself. HA!

7 PM…Tonight we went to a plumbing store and Melanie bought 2 faucets for the 2 kitchen sinks, she figured since she got her tickets at such a good price she could spend some of the money she saved on the new faucets. (about $70.00 US) They need this big time here in the kitchen. With young kids doing the dishes the faucets get a work out. On the way home we suddenly remembered we had cereal and fruit for breakfast and no lunch and no supper, so tonight we are going to the Catholic Church to have our meal. We get to bring 3 of our big kids with us. They will be thrilled to be asked to go out for a meal. But when we found out that they would be in their guitar lessons till 8 p.m. we decided that it would be better to just go to bed, which we did…

LCMS STEWARDSHIP
“I love you”
One of the best known days in February is Valentine’s Day. Some people are tempted to call February 14th “Hallmark Holiday.” Little wonder because in our country over 7,000,000,000 valentine cards are purchased each year. Most of these cards say “I love you” in one way or another. But what does “I love you” mean?

Some would say that “I love you” refers to being physically attracted to a person of the opposite sex. While it is true that physical attractiveness can draw people together we need to remember that physical attractiveness changes over time. Yes, it is an important kind of love, but it does not have the same lasting power as other forms of love.

Others would say that “I love you” means you are my special friend. Good friends are sweet blessings in this life as we find things that we enjoy doing with certain people we like and with whom we have so much in common. A friendship kind of love is very special but, sadly, we know from experience that friends come and go.

There is a deeper understanding of what it means to say “I love you.” The word that comes to mind for many Christians is “agape” which we call God’s kind of love. It is unconditional and keeps reaching out to other people even when they may not return this kind of love. That is certainly true of God’s love for us sinners. Even when we say and do sinful things God’s love reaches out to us. As the Scriptures teach, “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NIV). Jesus Himself said in John 15:13 (NIV): “Greater love has no one than that he lay down his life for his friends.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV) describes agape love in this way: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:1 (NIV): “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” Good and godly children imitate the positive characteristics of their good and godly parents. As the children of God through Jesus Christ we imitate the love of our Father in heaven. “We love because He [God] first loved us.” (1 Johns 4:19 NIV) What does our Father in heaven delight in doing? John 3:16 (NIV) says it so well: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

God delights in loving and giving. Empowered by the Holy Spirit we are God’s children, God’s disciples, God’s stewards. There is no better witness to what it means to be a child of God than for us to use all of life and life’s resources in a way that brings glory to God and blessings to those whose lives we touch. May our “I love you” always be God’s kind of love, God’s agape love.

Interfaith Coalition Choir Festival
Please plan to attend Interfaith Coalition’s Choir Festival on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m.
11 choirs will sing individually, as well as in a combined choir of over 175 voices.
Each year, the choir festival offers an opportunity for singers and audience alike to rejoice in the voices of our many faith traditions.
The concert, to be held at Assumption Catholic Church, 2116 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham, is free with an offering to benefit Interfaith Coalition programs, which provide housing for homeless families and health care for all in need.

Interfaith Coalition’s March 24 Auction
An evening of fun and community spirit awaits you at Interfaith Coalition’s March 24 Garden of Hope Auction. Proceeds from the coalition’s biggest fundraising event of the year support housing for homeless families and health care for all in need. The auction, which raises more than one-third of Interfaith’s annual income, begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Best Western Lakeway Inn & Conference Center in Bellingham. Tickets are on sale now for $40 each, which includes a sit-down dinner. If there are enough people we could have a Grace Lutheran table. Speak to Pastor Dennis.

You also may support the event by contributing an item to be auctioned. If you can provide a service, getaway home, or other sought-after item , then you have something to offer that would raise money to assist local people in need. The coalition also is seeking financial support to help underwrite the auction.

For more information, tickets, or to make a donation, please call Interfaith Coalition at 734-3983.

If you have an idea for some kind of gift booklet we could put together, and donate, please speak to Pastor Dennis.

A “Life Quote” from
Lutherans For Life

“Men, women, and children all have the same stake in the sanctity of life, because all have the same life—knitted together by the Father and embraced by the outstretched arms of the Man, Jesus Christ.”

Carl C. Fickenschner II, associate professor of pastoral ministry & missions and dean of certification & pastoral education, Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana –
www.lutheransforlife.org

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN
Thank you to everyone who has already bought and donated items.
We continue to gather items needed by our troops in the field in Afghanistan. There is a box in the Narthex along with a list of needed items.
Rob and Lenore Onyon’s son, Robert is serving over there.

Troop Needs:
Ground coffee
Non-Dairy Creamer packets
Trail Mix
Crackers w/cheese or peanut butter ( the orange crackers in a package or ones like that)
Instant hot cocoa mix (single serving size)
Jiffy popcorn (cook over a burner type)
Microwave popcorn
Flashlights (small-pocket size “cheap ones”)
Hand warmers (the ones you put inside your gloves)
Socks (warm ones various sizes)
Ear muffs (the ones that go behind the head not over)
Warm scarves (for men & women—not fancy)

Thank you once again.

MEAL MINISTRY
A reminder about the MEAL MINISTRY.
It is one way that you can help those in need and
we can reach others in the name of our Lord.

The small freezer in the church kitchen holds
about six frozen meals. They are available for
helping those in need.

NEW CHOIR DIRECTOR
Gail Wildermuth has retired from her position as Choir Director and Laura Nelson has already assumed the duties. Our thanks to Gail for her 23 years of service and blessings on Laura in the time to come.

DEATH
On January 20, Pastor Dennis conducted a committal service for Mark Dean Sanders. January 31, 1956—January 12, 2012

God “consoles us in all our affliction so that we may be able to console [others] with the consolation which we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Bookcase in the Parish Hall
A new bookcase located in the Parish Hall has a selection of books and videos from the church library.
There are books on various interesting topics from Aging, Alcoholism and Cancer to children’s books and are available for your use. Please feel free to take them home to read.

TRIVIA
Why was the treadmill invented?

In 1818, a British engineer developed a “tread wheel,” a Stair Master sort of device, that was aimed at reforming stubborn and idle convicts. The time they spent on the treadmill generated power used to mill grain and pump water.
By the late 1800s it was no longer in use—because it was deemed too cruel.

“O Love That Will Not Let Me Go”

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
George Matheson 1842-1906

Beginning February 22, 2012
Lenten Soup Suppers at 6:30 p.m. Worship at 7:30 p.m.