GRACE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH Lifelines, January, 2018

FROM THE PASTOR“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because

they know his voice.” (John 10:4)

Some years ago the Oxford University Press published the 1,730 page World Christian Encyclopedia. It listed 33,800 different denominations within the Christian Church! With so many voices today, each claiming to be the authentic mouthpiece of God, how can anyone know the true voice or person to follow?Jesus said voice recognition is very important. "He goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers" (John 10:4b,5). But how does one recognize Jesus' voice among so many?Recognition comes from hearing... being able to recognize Christ's voice comes from hearing his voice often. Jesus urged his disciples, and he urges us, to read, study, and meditate on his living and life-giving Word. "If you abide in my Word then you are truly my disciples." (John 8:31). When you read the Bible you hear a particular teaching of God. When you listen to a sermon or attend Bible class, you hear Jesus’ teaching and his voice becomes increasingly clear. The more you hear Christ's voice and his teaching and promises, the easier it will be to recognize his true voice.The clearest example to how to separate the genuine voice of Christ from all the counterfeit voices of false teachers is recorded in Acts 17. When the followers of Christ in Berea heard the preaching and teaching of Paul and Silas, "they received the Word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). The early

Believers were obsessed with the fact that they wanted only the true, positive and life-giving Word to be at work in them (Thessalonians 2:13!). Thus they took the teachings they heard in their church and in the world, and constantly compared these to the voice and teaching of God. They were constantly perfecting their "voice recognition" (1 John 4:1).Read the Scriptures daily. Pray. Attend church where the Word of God is preached and taught based on Scripture. As you do this, your mind and spirit will become increasingly familiar with your Savior's teaching. You won't need to be confused by the “33,800 different voices” or denominations recently listed in the Oxford Encyclopedia. When you hear the Master's voice regularly, and can recognize it, you will then also be able to detect any false voices and false teachers. You will be able to prevent the evil one from infecting your mind with his false teaching. Then God will enable you to live each day without fear of being infected by false teaching or straying from the path. The rewards of a true and active faith are “peace and joy“ (Romans 15:13). The words of Jesus will be precious to you especially when he says, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28)In Christ, Pastor Jeff Forbes

Grace American Lutheran Church2001 Sixth Avenue SE

Austin, Minnesota 55912Jeffrey S. Forbes, Pastor 396-2483

Email: revforbes@gmail.com

Church Phone 433-3445Beverly Bridgeman, SecretaryAnn Hemann, Church OrganistDallas Apold, CustodianYouth Coordinator: Mark Ladd

2 January Newsletter 2018

Ministers: The People of Grace Lutheran ChurchEmail: gracelutheranchurch@hotmail.com

Web Site: “graceluthaustin.org”

GRACE LUTHERAN MISSION STATEMENT:

GOD’S PEOPLE SHARING FAITH WITHOTHERS THROUGH GRACE

We Remember in Prayer: Andy Arett; Derek Placek; Don Jackel; Mildred Ballantyne; Veleria Branstad; Todd Streightiff; Duane Klingerman; Jay Jessen; Nancy Jessen; Linda Anderson; Elaine Kitselman; Gary & Barbara Bendtsen; Sandra Rumsey; Betty Gabrielson; Lola Bab-cock; Tom Fargusson; Blake Pederson; Jacob Stark; Lisa Stevenson; Ann Hemann; Kenneth Gebel; Julie Skinnes-Bronner; Loretta Nelson; Gecky Gilson; Urma Norland; Myrtle Schleusner; Jerry Heard; Joanne Benson; and Emil (Butch) Laack.

PARISH REPORTFuneral: Beverly L. Breitbarth, December 8, 2017, at Grace Lutheran Church

SPECIAL SERVICES IN JANUARY

Worship is at 9:00 AM on SundaysPraise Service Wednesdays at 7:00 PM

Jan. 7 – Baptism of Our Lord Worship at 9:00 AM

Holy Communion

Jan. 14 – Second Sunday after Epiphany Worship at 9:00 AM

Jan. 21 – Third Sunday after Epiphany Worship at 9:00 AM

Holy Communion

Jan.. 28 – Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Worship at 9:00 AM Annual Meeting at 10:00 AM

Church Council minutesDecember 12, 2017

Call to Order: Approval of Agenda. Secretary’s, Treasurer’s and Pastor’s Report on file.

Committee ReportsBuilding & Grounds: Nothing for Council action. Lighting is bright and looks great!Coordinating: Nothing for council action. Discussion was held about refreshments at the Annual Meeting..Life and Growth: Nothing for Council action. There were 25 people at the Remembrance Service.Stewardship: Nothing for Council action. There were 53 Commitment Cards turned in.Worship: Nothing for Council action. Communion at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services were discussed.Old Business:

1. Hispanic Services: Will pay $300 per month due to reduced services. They appreciate Grace doing this.

New Business: 1. Christmas Trees: We need new trees,

because the old ones are falling apart. We are looking at trees that are seven feet and have lights on them. We need two.

2. Annual Meeting: Sunday, Jan. 28th will be the meeting date. Motion made by Randy Mickelson, second by Pat Jensen, motion carried.

3 January Newsletter 20183. Audit Committee: Discussion was made

in coordinating.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE CHAIRPERSONS:January 2018 – (Will decide at January Meeting of WELCA.

CIRCLE MEETINGS Sarah Circle: will meet Thursday, January 18th, at 7:00 PM at Grace Lutheran Church.

WELCA REPORTGrace WELCA will meet on Tuesday, January 9th at 11:00 AM to have our business meeting and make plans for 2018. All are welcome.

WEDNESDAY SCHOOLWednesday School is from 6:00-7:00 PM. After Wednesday School students and families are invited to attend a new Wednesday evening Contemporary Worship Service in the Sanctuary. Confirmation also meets during this same time. Our Christian education hour, therefore, will be followed by a worship service. Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 10th.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES Confirmation Class will continue on Wednesdays at 6:00 PM in the Social Hall of the church. Class will be over at 6:50 PM so Pastor Forbes can prepare for Wednesday night Praise service. Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 10th.

The Contemporary Praise Service is the second worship service at Grace and continues on Wednesdays evenings at 7:00 PM. The service is right after Wednesday School and Confirmation Class. It is about a ½ hour long with many Contemporary Christian music songs and a sermon.

JOHN’S MINISTRY TEAMMembers of John’s Ministry Team for January 2018 please volunteer to help with the services during this busy month. Sign-up sheet for John’s Ministry Team is located on the shelf in the narthex. If you notice an empty slot on the sheet and you are not a member of this Ministry Team – please sign up anyway. We need members to help out your church! Thank You in advance!

We do not have a chairperson for John’s Ministry Team. Please check the sign up

sheet and help where you can.Your help is always appreciated.

RACHEL’S MINISTRY TEAM Thank you to the volunteers from Rachel’s Ministry Team who helped during the busy months of December. Thank you also to the people who helped out and were not on this Ministry Team. Your help is appreciated!

Chairperson: Sandy Bonnes, Linda DeLaney

Shirley Jan (sister of Charlotte Braaten)

BudgetNadine Johnson Madelyn Wiedemann

Sandra Skinness

4 January Newsletter 2018

John MorrisonBudgetSandra Skinness

Beverly BreitbarthScholarship FundRay Goodew Lonnie & Linda DeLaney

Budget Brad Breitbarth & Susie Aager

Janet Sheeley Csrl & Kathryn Gerlach

Maydene NcDonald Lola Knipple

Robert McCabe & Holly Ager

Gladys Hertle The Gleason Family

Margaaret Haukom Judy Laskawitz

Don & Joan Yankowiak Ann Thorn

Tom & Cheryl Boyd Madelyn Wiedemann

David Wiedemann Charles & Gladys Bliss

Gary & Marlys Hackbarth Shirley Wickoren

Pastor Myrwood A Bagne Mike & Sue Gosha

Kenny Dalaager Bertha Hanson

Marilyn Berg Barbara Francis

Mya Erickson LeeAnn Johnson

Nadine Johnson

Billie Goodew Scholarship FundRobert Goodew

GIVING TREEThank you members of Grace for supporting the Giving Tree this year. We were able to help a total of ____ people. Your giving brought in a total of $_______. We pray you all felt blessed by your giving as the families did who received the gifts.

MEMORIALThe new carpet runners in front of the narthex doors were given in memory of Grace Members who passed away in 2017.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting for Grace Lutheran Church will be on Sunday, January 31st, after the second service.

CHURCH DIRECTORIESThe new Church Directories have arrived and are being distributed to those who had their portraits taken first.

LEAD stands for “Living Every day As Disciples.” It is a program that was developed by another Synod in the ELCA to revitalize and support churches in their mission to serve God and neighbor. It starts with a group called a cohort and seeks to grow leaders within the congrega-tion and expand that leadership base to serve the local church and the Synod. Since it was started just over a year ago the LEAD members have been gathering information, like the survey last spring, to share with the congregation at a later date when the information is put together as a Vision for Ministry at Grace.

OAXACA MISSION: On Sunday, January 14th, we will have a Tem-ple Talk about the Oaxaca Mission trip in 2018. Jan Helgeson and others will be going to Oax-aca the end of January. We will be having, therefore, a door offering for the Mission in Oax-aca on Sunday, January 14th, before they leave. Please consider a gift.

CURRENT PHONE NUMBERSIf you no longer use a land line for your home phone service, please call or leave your current phone number at the church of-fice, or call 433-3445 and leave the message on our voice mail. We would appreciate the phone numbers for our church directory. Thank you

5 January Newsletter 2018

We are continually trying to keep our mailing list up to date. If you, or someone you know, is not getting the newsletter, has a change of address, or would like to receive it, please let our church administrative assistant, Bev, know. Thank you!

KWIK TRIP “MILK MOLLA”Please help us earn cash for our Wednesday School by saving Kwik Trip plastic caps and plastic bag tops from selected Kwik Trip products. With your help, they will add up fast, as so too will our earnings. You can leave your caps and tops at the church office.

ASSISTED LISTENING RECEIVERSAssisted Listening Receivers have been assigned to individuals so you can use the same receiver each week. If you are a visitor and wish to use one, please ask the deacon or an usher. Pick up your receivers in the sound room in the narthex. When you return receivers to the sound room, please turn them off.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYSA Happy Birthday to members of Grace Lutheran Church celebrating their birthday in January. We wish you all a very Happy Birthday and God’s Blessings.

NEWSLETTER NOTE: The next Newsletter will be the February 2018 Newsletter published the end of January 2018. Please plan any articles for the newsletter accordingly. Any news for February 2018 must be in by the 20th, of January. Thank you!

December Offering & AttendanceOffering Attendance*

Dec. 3 $3,463 75 Dec. 10 2,350 75 Dec. 17 2,425 76 Dec. 24

GIVING MOMENT Grace Lutheran now has giv-ing online available on the church web site! Giv-ing online is easy and also allows you to set up automatic recurring contributions and view your complete online giving history from anywhere you have access to the Internet. All you have to do to get on is visit the church website at www.-graceluthaustin.org, click on the Online Giving button at the bottom of the first page, click on the Create Profile button after you are sent to the Online Giving web page, then just follow the onscreen instructions to create an online profile and to schedule your recurring contributions or give a one-time donation. It’s easy. It’s impor-tant! And it’s up to you! Thank you!

We thank everyone who has found it and taken the time to register and give to the mission of Grace!

Pastor Jeff and his children, Alex, Abby and Caleb, would like to thank everyone who graciously sent us Christmas cards and gifts during this Holiday season. Your generosity and support is sincerely appreciated! Thank You!