Good News

from Grace & Glory Lutheran Church

March 2017
 Musings from the Minister
It seems only right that, after less than a month
of being here, we should be moving into Lent,
beginning this year on March 1st. For me, there
is no greater way to move closer to God and
deepen my faith and personal discipleship than
through the three disciplines of this liturgical
season--fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

As I grew up, Lent was traditionally a time when we would give

something up--something that was important to each of us.
Often it meant no chocolate, none of my grandmothers
amazing kuchen, or the loss of something I loved in my life for
40 days. I think then, as a child and moving into young adult-
hood, I didnt really understand the true purpose of Lent.

Lent comes from a German word for springtime. As with our

homes, it is a time for a spiritual spring cleaning--a time for us
to take a spiritual inventory of ourselves and our lives and,
then, make adjustments in our lives in order to deepen our
relationship with Jesus Christ.

So, it seems only fitting that the season begins with ashes--a
symbol of repentance, of turning around. It is important to
remember, however, that our Lenten disciplines are not in-
tended as a form of punishment or deprivation, but, ultimately,
to transform our entire person--body, soul, and spirit--and help
us become more like Christ.

In Lent we are invited to simplify our lives a little and live into
the disciplines of the season. Whether that means fasting from
an over-busy schedule to spend more time together as family,
giving more of oneself through time or money to serve those
with less in our community, or being more deliberate in setting
aside time for deeper prayer and Bible study--Lent is an
opportunity for us to deepen our relationship with God in Jesus
Christ.
What will be different for you this year in Lent? How will you
draw closer to God? I invite you to ponder these questions and,
if you are willing, to share your plan with me. I will share mine
with you. Perhaps, by doing so, we can support each other
become more connected as sisters and brothers in Christ, and,
most importantly, grow deeper in faith and discipleship as
people of God.

May you have a blessed Lent!

Peace,

Pastor Karleen

Message from Bishop Gafkjen:

You shall not bear false witness against

your neighbor. (8th Commandment)

As we move through this 500th year since the

beginning of the Reformation, many of us are
renewing our acquaintance with various writ-
ings and resources from and about that medieval movement
that changed the church and impacted the world. A great place
to begin is with Martin Luthers Small Catechism. A great time
to begin is the season of Lent.
Local faith communities might shape Wednesday worship
around sections of the catechism or add a brief time for explo-
ration and discussion of the catechism before or after worship.
Families could briefly read and discuss parts of it once or twice
a week before saying grace at dinner. Individuals might slowly
read through, meditate on, and journal about the catechism in
devotional time two or three times a week.
However we engage this important booklet, it wont take long
to realize that its content is not just for memorization by kids or
catechism classes and its wisdom is as relevant today as it was
the day Luther wrote it five centuries ago. Take his reflection
on the eighth commandment, for example:
What does this mean? We are to fear and love God, so that we
do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or
destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their de-
fense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in
the best possible light.
If there was ever a time and place when this understanding of
that commandment has been needed its here and now, in this
country, in social media and public discourse, and in our
churches. Scan through your Twitter or Facebook feed. Listen
to ten minutes of a news program. Reflect back on your own
conversations over the last week. How many lies or unverifiable
false claims have been made about others? How many times
has someone been betrayed or slandered or their reputation
sullied in some way? The answer? Too many. Too much of our
conversation (and thinking) about others these days blatantly
breaks the eighth commandment. Its one thing to disagree,
even vehemently, or to not understand another persons
choices. But, it is another thing altogether to use the disagree-
ment or lack of understanding as an opportunity to lie about,
betray, slander, or seek to destroy the reputation of a fellow
human being created in the image of God.
Every time we catch ourselves in or supporting this sort of sin-
ful behavior its time to repent, trust the forgiveness offered in
Christ crucified and risen, and to lean into and offer to others
the new and abundant life of Jesus by taking every opportunity
to instead come to their defense, speak well of them, and in-
terpret everything they do in the best possible light. Now
theres a Lenten discipline that, empowered by the Spirit and by
Gods grace, will not only change us, but will transform our
churches, our communities, our country, our world.

+Bishop Bill Gafkjen

 Reformation 500 Bookstore!
In 1517, Martin Luthers Ninety-Five Theses sparked a con-
versation about reform in the church that continues even to-
day. October 31, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary obser-
vance of the evangelical reform movement that was based on
learning and fueled by publishing.
You are invited to learn about the reformers and the writ-
ings that sparked a world-changing renewal in the church.
You are encouraged to explore the meaning of the Reforma-
tion for the ongoing life and mission of the church.
Beginning February 26th, we will be hosting a Reforma-
tion 500 Bookstore for two weeks. Please take a moment to
browse through the book offerings and then place an order
for a book or two that interests you. Prices are up to 50% off
retail and plus shipping is free.
Orders will be due on Sunday, March 12th.
 Second HelpingsMarch
Project Promise-Kits of Care for
Lutheran World Relief

Project Promise Personal Care Kits are shared with people who
have lost everything from a natural disaster or life-threatening
violence. During Lent, we will be partnering with Shiloh
Methodist in collecting funds and items for personal and baby
care kits. These kits will be put together by our pantry patrons
in April and shipped to Project Promise--a project of Lutheran
World Relief.

Items needed for the kits:

Light weight bath towels, between 20x40 and
52x27, dark colors recommended.
2 or 3 bath-size bars of soap
1 adult size toothbrush
1 sturdy comb
1 metal nail clippers.

Give hope through a bar of soap!

Free Indeed
Remember to pick up the new devotional book for
Lent, Free Indeed. This is a daily devotional based
on Martin Luthers Small Catechism.

Also, available is a 40 Days of Giving calendar

from ELCA World Hunger.
Lenten Worship Opportunities
Lent begins on March 1st with Ash Wednesday
worship, including Holy Communion and the imposition of
ashes. Worship begins at 7:00 p.m., preceded by a simple
soup supper at 6:00 p.m.
Sunday School for all ages begins March 5th, which is
the first Sunday in Lent. Over the five weeks of Lent, we will
study how our Lutheran faith shapes our perspective and
role in the economy. Each week, using the Sunday readings,
plus excerpts from Martin Luthers writings, we will look at
one key aspect of the economy and explore questions
related to economic justice.
Midweek Lenten services begin March 8th with Simple
Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m., followed by Evening Prayer
worship at 7:00 p.m., concluding at 7:30 p.m. Each week
we will focus on a different part of Luthers Small Catechism,
illustrated using film clips from recent movies.
During Lent, we will be partnering with Shiloh
Methodist in collecting funds and items for personal
and baby care kits. These kits will be put together by our
pantry patrons in April and shipped to Project Promise--a
project of Lutheran World Relief.

Please sign up to contribute soup,

bread or crackers for our mid-week
Lenten meals. Thank you.
 10:00-1:00 Pa

6:00 Soup Su
7:00 Ash Wed
worship

9:30 Sunday Worship 1:00 Pantry set-up 10:00 - 1:0

10:45 Sunday School
begins 6:00 Council 6:00 soup s
7:00 Eveni

9:30 Sunday Worship 10:00 - 1:00

10:45 Sunday School 1:00 Pantry set-up
6:00 soup sup
7:00 Evening

9:30 Sunday Worship 10:00 - 1:0

10:45 Sunday School
1:00 Pantry set-up 6:00 soup s
7:00 Eveni

9:30 Sunday Worship 10:00 - 1:00

10:45 Sunday School 1:00 Pantry set-up
6:00 soup su
7:00 Evenin
antry
10:00 1:00
upper WISE
dnesday

00 Pantry 10:001:00
WISE
supper
ing prayer

10:001:00
0 Pantry WISE

pper
g prayer

00 Pantry 10:00-1:00 10:00-1:00 Pantry

WISE
supper
ing prayer

0 Pantry 8:30-1:00
10:00-1:00 Spring Cleaning
WISE at church
upper
ng prayer
Worship Leader Schedule:
March 1, 2017 March 26, 2017
Greeter Marlene Greeter Rhonda
Usher Terri Usher Pat
Lector Holly Lector Gary
Assisting Min Jana Assisting Min Tami
Acolyte volunteer Acolyte volunteer
Altar Carol Altar Peggy
Counters Harold, Holly Counters Gary, Harold

March 5, 2017 April 2, 2017

Greeter Susan Greeter Holly

Usher Ed Usher Terri
Lector Pat Lector Mike
Assisting Min Bill Assisting Jana
Acolyte volunteer Acolyte volunteer
Altar Susan Altar Carol
Counters Ed, Gary Counters Terri, Chris

March 12, 2017

Greeter Peggy
Usher Harold
Lector Bill
Assisting Min Holly
Acolyte Lorelei
Altar Care Jana
Counters Terri, Chris

March 19, 2017

Greeter Pat
Usher Bill
Lector Peggy
Assisting Min Mike
Altar Care Holly
Counters Holly, Mike
Keep in your prayers...
Prayer can be a source of strength and healing both for those
who pray, and those for whom we pray. In Christian love, this
month we will pray for individual members of Grace and Glory,
and congregations in the South Central Conference of the
Indiana-Kentucky Synod.

February 26-March 4
Mike, Rhonda, Kevin, Shaun Montgomery
Third Lutheran and Rev. Stephen Renner
March 5-March 11
Harold and Peggy Coyle
Ascension Lutheran as they search for a pastor
March 12-March 18
Maria and Will Pippinger
Christ Lutheran & Revs. Ron Poisel, Bimen Limbong
March 19-March 25
Chris and Lucinda Porter
Faith Lutheran and Rev. Scott Meier
March 26-April 1
Brian, Amanda, Lorelei, Liam, Daniel Regan
First Lutheran and Rev. Austin Newberry

We also pray for those who are in need of our Saviors care:

Judy Rose and family, many health issues

Charles Edds, return of cancer
Emily Stinebruner, debilitating headaches
Ginny, facing reconstructive surgery
Sarah M, for faith and hope
Tim Koenig, recovering from knee replacement
Don Wright, recovering from surgery
Carridder Jones, friend of Pat Ehrhart
A Thank You from Chez Moi
Christmas arrived a little early this year for the girls at Chez
Moi. Several Grace Missions board members traveled to Port-au
-Prince in November to deliver handmade quilts for each of the
girls.
The quilts, months in the making, were lovingly assembled by
women of Sew Happy Saturdays at Grace and Glory Lutheran
Church in Goshen, Kentucky. Fourteen volunteers and several
months of fellowship helped create 30 quilts filled with joy and
prayers.
So, what drives the commitment to take on such a large
project? The answer to that question is simple. It is a labor of
love, and a commitment to share Christ's love with each other
during the process and to bless the girls. Our sewers ranged in
age from 21 to 85+. The team included students, moms, dads,
grandmothers, and friends. It included engineers, lawyers,
planners, healthcare workers, computer programmers, and
retirees. All were bound together in friendship. Add to this
countless others who helped purchase the batting, and those
who helped make cards, stockings, and packed the quilts and
you have more love and joy than you can imagine. And all this
before the quilts ever left for Haiti.
On November 12, Grace Missions Board members Joyce &
Steve RectorHayes, and Andy Harnack flew to Port -au-Prince
to deliver the quilts. They were met by Johnson Deshommes,
Stevenson Dimanche, and Andronic Hilairethree medical
students supported by Grace Missionsand Board member
Yolanda McMillan, who had come down several days earlier
from Birmingham, Alabama.
After a lot of hugs and kisses from the girls, everyone gathered
in Chez Mois big kitchen and a quilt and Christmas card were
distributed to each girl. Within minutes the girls were in their
bedrooms, each girl covering her bed with a beautiful quilt. On
Monday, the team flew back to the United States. It was a
short but wonderful trip that brought love and joy to the girls.
Joyce, Steve, and Andy know that was made possible
because the many quilters, friends, and members of
Grace and Glory Lutheran Church. All the girls at Chez
Moi know that, too, and say, Mesi! Thats Creole for
Thank you!

Food Pantry Update

In April of 2016, Bread of Life partnered with Dare to
Care's Agency Pick-up Program. This partnership enabled
Bread of Life to distribute an additional 46,985 pounds of
meat, fresh produce, dairy, bread and salvage items through-
out 2016. This ability to distribute fresh produce, meat and
dairy on a regular basis has greatly enhanced the quality and
nutrition of food that we distribute as well as increasing the
quantity of food.
In addition to our increased amounts of food from
Dare to Care and our partner agencies, our fundraising and
community contacts have allowed us to spend an additional
$11,500 on food and personal care items throughout
2016. Because we are set up like a grocery store and we
allow our clients to shop for what they need, we tend to run
out of certain items. Participating in the Dare to Care Co-op
in addition to our weekly shopping trips helps us maintain
well stocked shelves so that our clients can always depend
on us to have what they need for their complete nutritional
and personal care needs.
Birthdays
We congratulate those who are celebrating
birthdays in August

Gerrie Montgomery March 3

Will Pippinger March 10
Steve Zigrye March 13
Ben Stinebruner March 18
Maria Pippenger March 19
Katie Stinebruner March 28

If we have forgotten someone, please leave a note in the

church office.

Sermon Site
Miss a sermon or want to reconsider a good point you heard
Pastor Karleen make on Sunday? Check out Pastor Karleen's
sermons at karleenjung.blogspot.com.

Spring Cleaning Scheduled

Mark your calendars and set aside a few hours,
Saturday, April 1, for fellowship together as we
spruce up our church building. We will have a list of
jobs for all ages. The work day will begin at 8:30a
with light continental breakfast and end with lunch at
12:30p.
Council Capsules
Here are ideas and topics discussed at the January council
retreat. In attendance were Pastor Karleen, Bill White, Susan
Kreps, Steve Zigrye , Shelly Anderson, Harold Coyle and Holly
Kratzenberg.

Parking lot gravel is much appreciated

Betsy McElmurray will be our new pianist
Website to be updatedwe need to increase our social
media prescence
Pastor Karleen is looking at various cloud based CRM
systems regarding membership tracking
Harold Coyle to lead an initiative to create a Visioning
Committee for use of land
Spring Cleaning of the church will be April 1 from 8:30
1:00. Shelly, Harold and Steve will create a project list.
Worship planned for Lent: Ash Wednesday, soup at 6:00
and service at 7:00. Mid-week services, soup at 6:00 and
service from 7-7:30
Sunday school to begin March 5 with discussion of economic
justice using Martin Luthers writings
Looking to develop relationships with our community and
neighbors - Shiloh Methodist is interested in doing joint
events with us.
Reformation 500 Book Fair will allow us to receive 17 books
on Martin Luther. We will promote the fair and take orders
for books.
Food Pantry will receive shelves in freezer and a compost
system from 2 Eagle Scout candidates.
Pastor Karleen presented the council with several
documents regarding immigration and ways to help
immigrants in crisis.
Shelly will continue with the garden on the property. She
could use some help.
 Grace & Glory Lutheran Church
P. O. Box 577
Goshen, KY 40026

Ministers: The People of Grace & Glory

The Staff: Karleen Jung, Pastor
Susan Kreps, Administer
Betsy McElmurray, Pianist

Church Office

Telephone: 502-228-0650
Email info@graceglory.org
Web Site: www.graceglory.org

Mission Statement
Gather for worship, fellowship and nurtureGrow in trust and
knowledge of God and as followers of JesusGo to the places
in our lives where people are hungry for love, imprisoned by
fear, strangers to God, and naked of hope, so we can
Give what we have found in Christ.