| Pastor Biermann's Message Next to Christmas, my hands-down favorite holiday as a child was the 4th of July, and it was a very close second place to the great December celebration. To understand my love of the 4th, it is essential to recall that times and modes of celebrating have changed significantly since I was a child in rural Nebraska. It wasn't the picnics, homemade ice cream, watermelon, or parades that made the day special (I don't ever recall a July picnic as a child, and parades always happened later in the summer during the local town festivals). Neither was it the patriotism that hung in the air during those days that was significant. No, what mattered was the gunpowder that hung in the air; it was the sound of popping firecrackers that made the celebration wonderful. There were few things more exciting or satisfying than spending the days leading up to the actual holiday roaming the neighborhood with my friends with a glowing punk, and a pocketful of ladyfingers and "inch-and-a-halves". But the highlight was the fireworks show that would unfold on the gravel parking lot between the parsonage and the church on the actual night of the Fourth. Small Nebraskan towns had no public fireworks displays--so each family or neighborhood had to manage on their own with their little stockpile from the local fireworks tent. Sparklers, bottle rockets, pinwheels, fountains, Roman candles, and super-sized rockets made up the show, and roughly in that order. The memories remain vivid. As a child, I didn't give much thought to the "why" of the July celebration, but was content simply to enjoy the means of celebrating. That has changed. Now, the arrival of the 4th of July each year provides a great reminder to thank God for the gifts of this land and government and the many blessings that he delivers to us through this nation. There is much to celebrate and for which to thank God. So, this year, I'll be safe, observe all state and local ordinances regarding the use of fireworks, have a wonderful picnic, enjoy a world-class parade, take in a fabulous public fireworks display synchronized to music, and thank God for his many good gifts given to me as a citizen of the USA...but not a small part of me will still sorely miss the thrill of casually tossing a hissing Black Cat into the street to explode into so many scraps of paper--I can smell it now.
|
| Help Needed with St. Paul's College Hill VBS St. Paul's Lutheran Church in College Hill will be hosting an EVENING VBS again this year, and we are asking for groups who might VOLUNTEER for ONE EVENING of the 5 we have planned. We are planning on July 24-27, and August 1 in the evenings (5:30-7:30, with a meal provided). I hope we can count on a group from your church to help out one evening with this important outreach to our community. Pastors Jim Kirschenmann and Dave Andrus
|
 Altar Flowers Have any celebratory events coming up in July? We still have three available Sundays this month to sign up for altar flowers--July 16, 23, and 30. Sign up on the Flower Chart by the office or contact Michelle! |
| Firewood Need firewood for next winter? With the upcoming removal of the dead tree from the GLC property, we might be able to help with that. Contact Jerry Nicolaus or the church office if you're interested. |
New Portals of Prayer  The new devotional books are out by the mailboxes, and in case you weren't aware, the author for the month of July is our own Pastor Albers. Pick up your copy today...get 'em while they're hot! |
July Rummage Sale  We are scheduling this annual event for Friday July 21 and Saturday July 22. Items can be dropped off at the gym the week of July 16. A sign-up sheet and sale hours will be posted soon. Check the kiosk. |
| Funnies (used with permission)  |
| Pastoral Care If you need pastoral care for any reason, don't hesitate to contact the church office or one of the vacancy pastors directly. Pastor Biermann will be at the church on Monday and Thursday mornings most weeks, and Pastor Erkkinen is available on campus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. |
| Worship Attendance Saturday 6/24, 11; Sunday 6/25, 89 = 100 Total |
| Worship Leaders
Worship Leaders
| This Sunday (7/2)
| Next Sunday (7/9)
| Preacher/Celebrant
| Pastor Biermann | Pastor Biermann | | Liturgist | Pastor Biermann | Pastor Biermann | Lector
| Greg Frimel | Cathie Albers | | Pianist (Saturday) | Bill Lubben | Carol Benninghoff | | Organist (Sunday)
| Joy Elowsky | Joy Elowsky | | Acolyte | --- | Spencer Moore | Communion Assistant
| Mike Toney | Steve Albers | | Lay Assistants
| Terry Buchholz | Karen & Greg Frimel | Greeters
| Kathy & John Brugere | Miriam & John Lee | Sound/Video
| Tony Petzoldt | Mike Toney | Ushers
| Ron Froesel, Joel Bergt, Frank Moret, Gary Riley | Carol Froesel, Beverly Dixson, Jeanne Lipinski, Lisa Grossenheider | Nursery
| Sandy Barbercheck, Brian Skouby | Cyndi Moore, David Moore | Children's Message
| --- | Janet Leet |
|
| Next Sunday's Bible Readings PREPARE FOR NEXT WEEK'S WORSHIP through a careful, prayerful reading of the appointed lessons for the day: Zechariah 9:9-12; Romans 7:14-25a; Matthew 11:25-30 |
July Birthdays & Anniversaries 1 - Beverly Dixson Molly McClanahan 4 - Steve Jagels 5 - Ruth Wussler 6 - Debbie Bert Gale Reed 7 - Jessica Nelson 15 - Marilyn McDermott 16 - Doug Bert Gayle Sappington 17 - Julie McClanahan-Gubser 20 - Kiyah Hempel 21 - Landon Climer William DeBord Harold Oberle 23 - Tom Crabtree 24 - Clayton Toney Julie Atwood-Wise
| 27 - Doug Allen 29 - Kristen Eads Jerry Nicolaus 31 - Ken Orloff
6 - Jack & Janet Hurley 9 - Gil & Theresa Canania 10 -Annemarie & Mike Schloeman Ashley & Jake Philips 11 -Frank & Sharon Gaal 14 -Greg & Karen Frimel Douglas & Kathy Grimm 15 - Jason & Lisa DeBord 17 -Fred & Mary Aufderheide 18 -Bill & Patricia Richter 25 - John & Pat Steele 27 - Mike & Lisa Grossenheider |
|
