Sanctity of Life- thoughts from Emily

I do understand how a woman could choose abortion.

I worked at a crisis pregnancy center for three years before we moved to Indiana.  When I started, I knew that abortion was wrong.

As I went through training, I learned that abortion is horrible.

I also learned that abortion is surprisingly common.

As I worked with women in crisis, I learned that abortion is extremely tempting.

To a woman whose picture of her future has just been shattered by a positive pregnancy test, abortion offers a way to put the pieces back where they belong.

Abortion speaks to her fears and offers a way to turn back the clock, to get out of the problem and return to the time when everything was normal.
It is a way to avoid poverty and homelessness.
It is a way to avoid divorce, or abuse, or parental abandonment.
It is a way for a child to have a chance to finish school. (yes, a child. I have worked with children as young as 12 considering abortion.)

I have never known a woman who choose abortion easily, or considered it light-heartedly.  I understand, as Frederica Mathewes-Green famously said,

  "No woman wants an abortion as she wants 

an ice cream cone or a Porsche. 

She wants an abortion 

as an animal caught in a trap 

wants to gnaw off its own leg."[1]

Not knowing what else to do, many girls and women choose abortion.

As I got to know many who did, I also learned that abortion hurts women.

Let us pray that God would use our hands to help those trapped, and those missing a leg.

[1] Mathewes-Green, Real Choices, 19).  

Part 1 of SOHL articles by Emily.

Tingling Ears

When God speaks to us, He expects us to listen.

But sometimes, we do not want to hear what He has to say.

We turn our backs. We cover our ears.

I don't want to hear it.

Father,

Help us to see how dangerous it is for us to cover our ears and refuse to hear Your word.  Turn us back to You, and grant us repentance for Jesus' sake!  Break us with Your Law that you may rebuild us with Your Gospel.  Make our hearts soft and our ears open to Your Word always, that by it we may grow up into eternal life. Amen.

Listen to Sunday's sermon here.

** see this link for the past six sermons- they are all finally uploaded!

Cheryl Heckman

We mourn with Mike and the family at the loss of his wife Cheryl. Visitation will be at Burkholder's in Seymour on Friday. Pastor Keinath will have the funeral on Saturday, also at Burkholder's. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery.

Update on Trevor...

Little Trevor passed away this afternoon. Will post when I have information about arrangements.

(see yesterday's news article here)

Lord God, we come to you on behalf of this family that is grieving Trevor’s death. In the midst of that mourning, raise up people to surround them with love, compassion, and strength. Draw them closer to you and grant them the peace that seems so elusive right now. May their questions be answered in Jesus Christ. Grant them your mercy, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen

(Prayer from Pastor Rich Shields via facebook)

January 15 Weekly News

NEWLY-ELECTED OFFICERS BEING INSTALLED TODAY:

Chairman: Doyce Eckelman

General Fund Treasurer: Mark Buss

Elder: Brian Purdue

Synodical Treasurer: Joan Otte

Third Trustee: David Claycamp

Board of Education: Paul Otte, Teresa Haley

Board of Evangelism: Jeffrey Kyler,

Beth Burbrink

Board of Stewardship: Janeen Blomenberg

District Convention Delegate: Louis Voelker

Ushers: Jason Bode, Kevin Kidd, Matt Taulman

Trinity Board Member: Tina Wise

SENIOR LEAGUE MEMBERS are reminded to meet THIS EVENING at 5:30 PM at Bob Evans Restaurant at West Hill for supper. Members will return to the Fellowship Room for their monthly meeting and fellowship.

PASTOR COOK will be attending the pastoral symposia at the Fort Wayne seminary Tues.-Fri. this week. Pastor Richard Rickus will be preaching Wednesday evening. Pastor Rickus is a retired minister, currently attending St. Paul, Clifty. The Cook family will be leaving on vacation Friday evening. Pastor Brandt will lead our worship next Sunday, and Pastor Juan Luna will lead the worship on Wednesday evening, January 25.

NEXT SUNDAY has been designated as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. We will have a collection of pennies, with each individual giving one penny for each year of life in which he/she has been blessed to live. A basket will be in the narthex to receive these offerings.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY will begin again on Wednesday, February 1, at 3:30 PM at the parsonage. The study will be based around the book, The Calling: Live a Life of Significance. This book is designed to educate readers on one’s vocation and what that means in terms of living out our life in our various and overlapping vocational arenas – family, professional, community, and congregational. Contact Emily Cook (447-8693) by this Thursday, January 19, if you would like her to order a book for you.

DEPOSITS OF $122.00 and $471.00 have been made in the church and school accounts, respectively, on behalf of the Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s Thrivent Choice program. Following are those members whose directed dollars were included in these deposits: Mildred Behrman, Shane Bontrager, Bettie Burbrink, Lloyd Meyer, Carolyn Peters, Brian & Annette Purdue, Ken & Kyra Bode, Greg Burbrink, Dean Claycamp, Ronald Ebenkamp, Richard Hercamp, Matthew May, Keith & Amy Mensendiek, Brad Schlehuser, Louis Voelker, Lindsey Von Fange.

“MANY THANKS to all for the prayers and cards given to me at the death of my dear father, Charles Zebell. Your kindnesses are certainly appreciated.” – Sally, Bob, Nick, and Abi Anderson

DISHES from last Monday’s funeral dinner are on the table in the hall by the Fellowship Room.

TRINITY LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL invites students and their families to an Open House on Friday, January 27, from 4:00-6:00 PM. All eighth grade students in attendance and their families will receive free admittance to the boys’ basketball game beginning at 6:00 PM. New applicants will also receive a $75 voucher to be used toward the price of admission for the 2012-2013 school year.

WHERE can your children experience Christian growth while riding horses, canoeing, swimming, doing arts & crafts, and playing games? At Camp Lakeview! The camp is currently distributing registration materials for campers (grades K-12) for its 2012 summer season. Sunday School children received brochures this morning (WCLS students got this information last Wednesday). Visit the camp’s website at www.camplakeview.com or call the camp office at 812-342-4815 for more information. The registration process begins on February 1.

prayer request

Please pray for Trevor, six-year-old who fell through the ice in Nashville this evening.

He was rescued by scuba-divers and has been taken to Riley.
His body temperature is now 70. They are working to bring him back up to temperature, slowly.

Update: 730pm they put him on cardiac bypass.

Update Monday am: He is still on life support. So far, no sign of brain activity.


Please pray for help for this little boy, and strength for the family.

January 8 Weekly News

PERSONS WHO placed poinsettias on the altar/in the narthex are asked to please take them home TODAY if you have not yet done so. Names are in the pots.

THE ANNUAL VOTERS’ MEETING will be held TODAY at 1:30 PM in the Fellowship Room. All confirmed members of our congregation, 18 years and older, are encouraged to attend.

GUILD MEMBERS are reminded of their meeting TODAY after the Voters’ Meeting (approx. 3:30 PM). Baptismal banners will be assembled, and plans will be made to serve Lenten suppers.

ORIENTATION MEETING: Pastor Cook would like to meet with all Evangelism Board members (old and newly elected) and all ushers (old and newly elected) this Thursday, January 12, at 7 PM in the Fellowship Room.

OFFICER INSTALLATION: All officers elected at today’s voters’ meeting will be installed during next Sunday’s worship service.

SENIOR LEAGUE MEMBERS are reminded to meet next Sunday, January 15, at 5:30 PM at Bob Evans Restaurant at West Hill for supper. Members will return to the Fellowship Room for their monthly meeting and fellowship.

SOUP SUPPER AND EUCHRE PARTY: St. Peter, Waymansville, will be sponsoring a Soup Supper and Euchre Party on Sunday, January 29. The supper will begin at 5:30 PM with cost of $5/person, and the Euchre Party will begin at 6:30 PM with also a cost of $5/person. Proceeds will go to the Seymour Lutheran Braille Workers and CSC Ministries, coordinated by Pastor Lepley of Redeemer, Seymour. Supplemental funds will be provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.