FROM THE PASTOR'S HEART

The Symphony of the Christian's Life

It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your name,… With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp ,with resounding music upon the lyre. For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
- Psalm 92:1-4

Once, when Sir Michael Costa was rehearsing with a huge orchestra & choir, one of the piccolo players thought, "In all this noise no one can hear me." And so he stopped playing. Suddenly Mr. Costa stopped the rehearsal and threw up his hands. Everyone stopped playing. Then he cried aloud, "Where is the piccolo?" The trained ear heard the piccolo's absence and the symphony's beauty was marred by its absence.

Each Christian has a part to play in the "symphony" that is the Holy Christian Church. But sometimes we feel like that piccolo player. We think that our labor and effort are of no avail, and that the church can do without our talents and presence. And so we cease to play our part in the symphony.

And though we might not think anyone notices, there is One Who surely does. Our Lord, Who like Sir Michael Costa, recognizes our absence and says, "Where is Mr. Smith? Where is Mrs. Jones? Where is Bobby? Where is Amanda?"

Though we may not feel that our part in Gloria Dei Congregation is important, God says, "Yes it is!" The beauty of the symphony of the Christian life here in this congregation is marred by your absence from worship and volunteer service, your absence from Bible Study, and the fellowship of the Kids Our Age group, and Sunday School. Jesus died for each of us because He believes that each of us is important. Each of us has an important task to perform in the symphony of the Christian life of this congregation and of His Church. The music of God's Church is made richer and sweeter because of the harmony exhibited by God's people as each plays his or her part in the Lord's symphony. Our ensembles are important.

We also recognize that at times the discordant sour notes of our sin mar the symphony. This is where the score God has given in His Word becomes most important. As we live in daily contrition and repentance, and receive in our humble and penitent hearts the blessed sweet notes of the Gospel of Jesus Christ's forgiveness our harmony is restored and God's symphony grows sweeter.

It matters not whether our abilities are large or small or whether the task is great or seemingly insignificant. What matters is that we use the gifts and talents God has given us to praise, thank and glorify Christ in the symphony He has called us to play. As we live by faith, we grow in our ability to play our part in the symphony. And as we rely on His grace we are able to face the future with joy and gladness, knowing that Christ blesses us with His love and grace and enables us to be blessed by the sweetness of His Gospel here on earth - which will enable us to be part of the perfect eternal symphony of Christ's Church in heaven.

A blessed February to God's saints who have been called to play in His symphony here at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Pastor Dean W. Gade

GLORIA DEI NEWS

PORTALS OF PRAYER
You might have noticed in your envelope box an envelope for Portals of Prayer.  The cost for a years’ subscription for regular print Portals of Prayer is $3.40, and $11 for the large print Portals of Prayer.  Please use the envelopes designated when you make your payment.      

A REMINDER ABOUT FLOWERS AND CANDLES – When you order flowers, Jeannie will send you an invoice.  When you request a candle, the cost is $6.  No invoice will be sent.

MEALS ON WHEELS  
We have TWO dates this month - Thursday, Feb 2nd  & Thursday Feb 9th. Several long time deliverers have retired so more help is needed!!   If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please call Shelly Lausche at 651-631-9040 for all the information! 

Kids  Our  Age 50+
February 16th at 12 pm – Our theme will be “Make ‘Em Laugh”. We will talk about all the funny things in our lives. What we’ve done or what others have done to us-jokes, pranks, even silly things we didn’t mean to do. Think about it and maybe write some things down so you will remember them at our meeting. Invite a friend. We can all use a laugh. Bring your lunch. Dessert will be provided.

COINS FOR MISSION

Who: Gloria Dei Members together with all members of the MNS District congregations

What: As many of your coins as you wish to give

When: Now through June 10th! Yellow containers in back of the church

Why: Supplies needed for start-up funding for Ostego Mission

Ostego is located to the north of I-94, south of the Mississippi River, to the west of Rogers and to the east of Monticello.  This area experienced rapid growth through the mid 2000’s and is still growing!  Our pastoral and lay delegate will bring those coins to the Opening Service of the Convention where they will “make a joyful noise to the Lord” as they deposit the coins in the collection buckets!  Pray for an offering that might exceed $15,000!

GOING INTO THE HOSPITAL?  PLEASE REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW IN THE CHURCH OFFICE.  THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE KNOW AS THE HOSPITALS DO NOT CONTACT THE CHURCHES ANYMORE.  PASTOR WOULD LIKE TO VISIT BUT CAN ONLY DO SO IF YOU LET HIM KNOW.  THANK YOU! 

SALVATION ARMY FOOD SHELF 
Please remember those less fortunate by filling our grocery cart.  Things that are needed are canned fruits & vegetables, soups and spaghetti sauce and noodles, canned beans, macaroni & cheese, tuna, crackers, jelly, peanut butter, cereal, etc. Our last donation was 109 pounds of food.  Thanks!

EPIC continues to collect cans for missions.  We are sending the proceeds to the Jake Gillard family who is serving in Uganda.

A VALENTINE GIFT FOR BOTH OF YOU

Leave the rest of the world behind and enjoy some quality time for just the two of you on a Lutheran Marriage Encounter weekend. You’ll spend two nights in a comfortable hotel and enjoy five delicious meals from Friday at 7:00 pm to Sunday at 5:00 pm. Engaging presentations by four Lutheran couples, including a clergy couple, give you valuable tools and information which are followed by exercises and questions the two of you discuss in the privacy of your hotel room, There is no counseling or required sharing.
The Spring Lutheran Marriage Encounter Weekends in Minnesota are February 10-12 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.

WE CARE SO WE SHARE

Dear Church Family,

“Blessings to all of you in the new year” would have closed this column – had there been a column for January.  You would be amazed at how much ribbing your reporter received about being a “u-sta-could” and how many of you categorized yourselves as being one of those, too.

At Irv Schneider’s Christian Divine Service, Pastor Gade remembered Irv, not as he was in the final days of his earthly suffering, but as the man in charge of the dishwasher at funerals; the friendly usher with the collection plate on the pulpit side; the man who served as a watch and clock doctor; the man, who with his wife, delivered Meals on Wheels; the man who could fix so many things, or who could offer his suggestions.  All of us have our special memories of Irv who pushed hard not to be a “u-sta-could”.  My special memory is of Irv telling how appropriate it was that Mary’s birthday fell on March 17th, because “it was my lucky day when she was born.”  In more recent months, when talking to him, I counted him saying “Mary” eleven times in one paragraph.  I chose to mention to him that if he chose to brag, it was nice that he picked a wife with a short name.  What if he had married a Wilhelmina?  Our Christian sympathies and love are extended to Mary and her family.

Gloria Dei also extends its loving remembrances to the family of Audrey Ek, a former long-time member of our choir.  Audrey has lived in Taylors Falls many years.  Their family quintet was once designated in this column as “The Von Ek family”.  (Sound of Music fans will understand!!)
Our Jeannie in the office has pictures to show.  Jeannie loves being a grandma (Mimi) and Clara is a cutie.

Verlayne expressed some concern, before her retirement, of how she would keep herself occupied.  Because Verlayne is Verlayne, neither her ignition nor her oven have been turned off as she gives rides to, or bakes for others.

Vera says, “A four day wedding celebration with family members of the Jewish faith does not help one bit, when you come home to “weigh in”.  (How true!!)

Lil keeps a Sunday schedule: (1) Church; (2) a trot through Target just to look; (3) often times something with Debbie’s family, if not, they get together during the week; (4) Sunday supper with Diane’s family.  Lil confesses to being predictably boring.  She always works to be on time to help wherever needed at Gloria Dei.

Leota, Cindy & family and Pastor recently found out that they are “kinfolk”.  Not being particularly interested in genealogy they would have to break that down for me to make it relatively simple. Pastor’s note: It isn’t so simple… but 5 generations ago in the little towns of Wittenwater and Stadorf, Germany our families (Leota’ father’s family and my father’s father’s family share heritage in a brother (my side)  and sister (Leota’s side) have the same parents.  (See… not really very easy to explain!)

Thank you to the Kleinwolterinks for all their special musical gifts during the Advent Christmas season.  Also a big thank you for those who worked so diligently putting up and taking down the banners, the trees, etc.  Your hard labors of love certainly beautified the church.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the Gloria Dei sweethearts plus Happy Birthday, Millie E., another of our “always”  there helpers.

To God be the glory!
Miss Informed

A detailed report is available if you call the church office.

CHURCH DIRECTORY By now you should have your updated church directory. Please take a moment to look through it and let Jeannie know if there are any corrections that need to be made. Also, if you move or get a new phone number, please let Jeannie know so she can keep the records as udated as possible. Thank you!