CREST VIEW SUNDAY - JANUARY 29th

2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the Crest View Community!  As this new year begins, more opportunities for Crest View Senior Communities become available to enhance and expand their ministries of serving older adults.  On January 29th CEO Shirley Barnes will share the successes and improvements done in 2011 and the vision for the future in 2012.  

Did you know that in 2011 Crest View….

• Creating a virtual elder abuse shelter for elders who are in need of a safe haven
• Continued to improve the quality of their service as they strive for excellence.
• Continued to plan for growth in alliance with their strategic plans for expansion.
• Offered new programs within the Crest View Foundation for those who wish to remember Crest View in a charitable manner.
• Enhanced the rehab program within the Lutheran Home for people being admitted for short term stays.
• Continued to connect with Member (us) congregations and community churches to improve our partnership in ministering to senior adults.

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK

New Commitments for the New Year

Well it’s that time of year again when in a fit of optimism many of us make great promises to ourselves about what we are going to do in the New Year that we usually abandon about the second week in January.  Let’s be honest now. How many of you kept to the diet? How many of you actually kept going to the gym past February?

 Yea, I know this year’s resolution is “It’s going to be different this year.”  So…. I have made a couple of New Year’s resolutions I know I will be able keep this year.  Are you ready?  Here they are.  I have decided to eat more and exercise less. And I have decided to spend at least an extra half an hour a day with my feet. Now I might well be able to keep those kind of resolutions but they wouldn’t make a great deal of difference to my life, except perhaps to increase my waist size by several inches.

 Ok, they weren’t very good resolutions…but I would like some resolutions, some commitments which I guarantee will make a radical difference in my life and your life if you follow through on them.  In fact, what I want to do is to offer to you a way of starting the New Year which could significantly change your life. Here is what I want to suggest to you:  if you will make four commitments that God in His Word encourages you to make I guarantee you that the start of 2012 could become one of the most significant events in your life.  I want to challenge you to make 4 new commitments for this New Year.  Here they are:

1. COMMIT YOURSELF TO FORGET YOUR FAILURES
   2000 years ago one the first Christian leaders, Paul gave this advice “Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14. That advice from God’s Word has stood the test of time. I don’t know of any more relevant and practical advice for us at the start of 2012. God is here and you don’t have not live your life imprisoned by your past.
2. COMMIT YOURSELF TO GIVE UP YOUR GRUDGES
   I want you to listen to these words from the book of Colossians because in them you’ll hear the second challenge I believe God wants you to rise to if you want to make 2002 a significant turning point in your life. “Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”  Colossians  3:13.
3. COMMIT YOURSELF TO RESTORE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
   Every time I turn on my computer a little windows pops up that asks if I want to run a check to see if my programs are all working properly.  God in His word issues a very similar invitation. It is the invitation not to check to see if our computer software is working properly to but check whether our personal relationships are working properly. Here is how the Lord issues that challenge in “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”  Romans 12:18.
4. COMMIT YOURSELF TO TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS.
   In a book about the American Civil War the story is told of a leading confederate general, General Pettigrew. One of most interesting things was that after the war was over and the slaves had been set free many slaves decided to stay with their former master and continue to do what they were told. They were set free but they chose to live as slaves. The New Testament says that is exactly how many Christian choose to live. Christ died to set them free, the Holy Spirit has given them the power to be free, but just like those former slaves they still choose to obey their old master, sin.  Listen to these words from Rom 6 “Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires … we are no longer slaves to sin”  Romans 6:2.

That is the last challenge that I believe if you will rise to meet will make this New Year truly significant for you.  It all boils down to this: Will this New Year be just a calendar changing event for you or are you willing to rise to these challenges from God’s word and make these commitments and so make it a life changing event? This New Year will really be something to celebrate if you’ll make forgiveness the heart of what it’s all about for you.  Have the courage right here today…To forgive yourself and “forget the past”…To forgive others who have hurt you “and forgive whatever grievances you have”…Ask for forgiveness from those you have hurt and “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Let’s be clear about this: Jesus death broke the power of sin, the Holy Spirit can give us the power to resist sin and all of that means that you don’t have to go into this New Year still being defeated by the same old sin. You can have the victory over it. God says you are no longer a slave to sin so don’t live like one or act like one. If you will ask for God’s forgiveness for your sin and His power to resist that sin then this year can be for you not just a new era in history but a new era in your spiritual life.  Don’t miss that opportunity.

GLORIA DEI NEWS

THANK YOU! We would like to thank all of your at Gloria Dei for the cards, goodies, and gifts we received during this Christmas season.  We feel blessed to be in ministry with you here in this place,  Pastor & Diane, Jeannie, Angela

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated gifts to the Salvation Army this year. You generously gave up to $600.00 worth of gifts. The staff there was so excited when we dropped them off.

THANKS to Jean Brede, Meridel Christopherson, Arlene Derkson, Vera Klein, Patty Lyrenmann, Lorraine Niemela, and Mary Schneider for assembling the shut-in (love) baskets from Gloria Dei and delivering them. You put a smile on many faces.

MEALS ON WHEELS 2012 SCHEDULE has arrived.  If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please call Shelly Lausche at 651-631-9040 for all the information!  Our January date is Thursday, the 5th.

KOA/50+ January 19th at 12 noon!
Our theme will be “Relax”.  We will talk about things we enjoy doing and what we do to relax.  We will all get a little massage by Stacy Forte, a Certified Massage Therapist.  Her fee will be $5.  If you would like a massage sign up on the slip on the bulletin board.  Bring a lunch!

FINAL 2011 OFFERINGS This is a good time to remind you that the IRS makes it VERY clear that, for a contribution to be credited to the 2011 tax year, it must have been received on our premises, or postmarked, no later than midnight on December 31, 2011.  Dropping it into the offering plate on Sunday, January 1, 2012 with a 12/31 date on the check DOES NOT qualify.  The IRS is very firm about this and, remember: The IRS is THE GOOD GUYS; they give churches the one thing we cannot live without, a tax exemption.  All they ask in return is that we follow their rules.

CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS:

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS
Installation of all officers and board members will be held Sunday, January 8th at a special ceremony in our worship service.

2012 OFFICERS:

PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY Would you like to be a part of the confidential prayer chain at Gloria Dei?  At times we all need the support of others, and this is a great opportunity to share our requests and our thankfulness for answered prayer.  As prayer partners, your requests are brought before the Lord by fellow servants who will continue to pray for you and uphold you.  To be part of this wonderful ministry of praying for others, and to give a prayer request, please call the office and ask for the telephone numbers of: 
Muriel Lindstrom - daytime; or
Verlayne Sather - after 4 pm

OUR MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY IS BEING UPDATED!  Please let Jeannie know if any of your mailing or telephone information is incorrect by calling her at 612-781-1989, emailing her at info@gloriadeilcms.org, or leaving a note in her mailbox at church. Thanks!

WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY
10:00 am Sunday Mornings

THE MASTER GREETER

Actions That Build A Friendlier Church

Introduce yourself by saying, “Hi my name is…”. This is a simple introduction. Say it and then pause for them to give you their name. Most people will immediately give their name. If they don’t, then say, “Your name is….”. Then tell them you are glad to meet them.

How Can You Show Your Love?
Want to do something special for your spouse to show how much you care? Attend a Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekend and focus on just the two of you. Engaging presentations by both lay and clergy leaders give you tools and information while exercises and conversations with your spouse in the privacy of your hotel room revitalize romance, deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage

The Spring Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends in Minnesota are February 10-12 (think Valentines!) in Brooklyn Center, March 23-25 in Duluth and May 4-6 in Walker. Please register several weeks in advance. For more information, contact Dick & Judy Dehnel at 952-432-3105, Pete & Phyllis McMahon at 763-561-1575 or visit www.godlovesmarriage.org

Happy Birthday:

• 1st: Ed Idarraga
• 2nd: Renata Idarraga
• 13th: Tiffani Martinez, John Svac
• 19th: Lud Pafko
• 20th: Nova Richard Giernert
• 21st: Patricia Wilson
• 23rd: Keith Rocek
• 24th: Walt Krischuk
• 25th: Krystal Kruse
• 26th: Justin Gade
• 29th: Pastor Dean Gade, Jeannie Nelson

January Servants

Elders:

• 1st - Ed Idarraga
• 8th - Karmon Christopherson
• 15th - Ed Idarraga 
• 22nd - Karmon Christopherson
• 29th - Ed Idarraga

Counters: 

• 1st - Derald & Chris Hadrath
• 8th - Tom & Patty Lyrenmann
• 15th - Al, Pam, Aaron & Kim Morelli 
• 22nd - Jean Brede, Tom Harris
• 29th - Lorraine Niemela, Nanc Rixe

Greeters:  OPEN

Altar Care:  Verlayne Sather

Ushers: Dale Raschke, Krystal Kruse

January Providers

Flowers:

• 1st - OPEN
• 8th - OPEN
• 15th - OPEN 
• 22nd - OPEN
• 29th - OPEN

Candles:

• 1st - OPEN
• 8th - OPEN
• 15th - OPEN 
• 22nd - OPEN
• 29th - OPEN

If you sign up for flowers or candles after the newsletter is published, be sure and let Jeannie know. We want to make sure that flowers are ordered and you are properly acknowledged in the bulletin notes.

REFLECTIONS ON THE WISE MEN

1. They Didn’t Come Empty-Headed                 
These Magi were academic scholars and religious seekers. Somehow they knew what the Jewish writings all said of the Messiah. When they saw what was happening in the night’s sky somehow they knew!  A king had been born to the Jews.   Here are some men who decided to obey the Great Commandment… loving God with all their minds.

2. They Didn’t Come Empty-Handed
“Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” They understood the basic principle of worship: if you come empty-handed, you are nothing but a taker.  And worship that costs nothing means nothing.

3. They Didn’t Come Empty-Hearted
“Entering the house, they saw the child… they worshiped Him.” Even though this baby was unrecognized by others, these men were men of training and insight, fell face down on the floor – prostrate – before the King – and worshipped…

4. They Didn’t Come without Help
After hearing the king…the star they had seen.. led them.. and being warned in a dream   These men were wise, but they were still dependent on the grace of God.