Grace Lutheran Church
Let’s Celebrate Freedom and Give It Away
The Fourth of July in Blaine is an amazing day. The parade, the fireworks, and the other festivities provide various opportunities for us to celebrate our freedom. However, is that really what we focus on as we stare into the nighttime sky? We are so blessed as Americans and as Christians by the freedom that has been won for us. We must never take it for granted. Have you seen the movie, “Lincoln”? It was a powerful reminder of what it took to make the ideals of the Declaration of Independence real for every person in our country. Abra‐
ham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address, “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal.” We want freedom for ourselves, but we’re not as committed to freedom for people who think differently, act differently, or look differently than we do. We must fight to protect the liberty of all our people, even those who are Arab or Muslim. Lincoln ended his speech with these words: “We here today must highly resolve that those who died shall not have died in vain; that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.” Jesus said, “All who sin are slaves to sin, but if the Son makes you free, you are free in‐
deed.” He died and rose to set us free from our bondage to sin. Not only does Jesus for‐
give us, but He offers us an addiction to God that counteracts our addiction to sin. Paul says in Galatians 5, “For freedom Christ has set you free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit to a yoke of slavery. Brothers and sisters, you were called to freedom, but do not use that freedom as an opportunity for self‐indulgence. Remember you are to love your neighbor as you love yourself.” The freedom of Christ is the freedom to love, serve, and live as His disciple. Letting freedom ring is promoting love and concern for others. It’s not about me and my freedom or my wants or needs. Sacrifice comes with freedom. The signers of the Decla‐
ration of Independence were more interested in the freedom of their countryman than in their own safety. Many of them were tortured and killed. The last sentence of the Dec‐
laration says, “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protec‐
tion of divine Providence, we mutually pledge each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” A resident of the nursing home where I worked many years ago wrote these words:” I may not be able to walk or get out of bed by myself; I may not be able to take a shower without assistance or leave this building without lots of help. However, my spirit is free to soar with the eagles. My mind is free to think great thoughts. My mouth is free to build people up who are sad and tell others what Jesus has done for them. My arms are free to hug others who are lonely, and my soul is free to live with Jesus for‐
ever.” May we not only celebrate freedom, but may we live it and give it away by the power of Jesus Christ. ‐Dennis Conrad July 2013
Inside this issue:
Youth Page
2
Church Property
3
July Calendar
4
2013 Elected
Board Members
5
LWML Mission
Grant Story
6
Verse A Day
(Acts)
7
July Servants
8
Special points of
interest:
July 7 Join Us for Our
Patriotic Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.
Vacation Bible School
July 15-19th!
VBS Program July
21st!
Please submit any
newsletter articles for
August no later than
Tuesday, July 23rd.
Christian Education
Sunday school is over for summer vacation and will resume September 8. Vacation Bible School will be July 1519 with an ending program on the following Sunday the
21st. Registration is from 8:30-9:00 a.m. VBS hours are
9:00-noon. There will be a free will offering and the children are asked to bring school supplies for needy kids as
their mission project. Tell your friends and neighbors!
There are classes from preschool through 5th grade. We
will have a lot of fun!
Summer is a good time to bring out the Christian-based
books and videos for family time. The church library has
some good books you can take home to read and bring
back when you are finished. The library is in classroom
one. If you are looking to purchase some books or videos,
the Family Christian Bookstore in Lynden or Bellingham
can help you find age-appropriate ones for your children.
~Carolyn Higby
Vacation Bible School
VBS at Grace Lutheran Church begins
July 15-19 from 9AM-12NOON. This
event is FREE and is for preschool
through 5th graders.
Registration begins on July 15 as early
as 8:30. You can also stop by the
church office to fill out a registration
form. Hope to see you there!
High School Youth Meeting on July 28!! A new board has been added to our ministry and has elected members on June 9th. Rachel Hrutfiord is the Director, and Mary Johnson, Cheryl & Dan Persse, Paul Aguirre, and Ann Johnson all serve on this exciting board. They have decided to have a Youth Meeting on Sunday, July 28th after church. Pizza and pop will be served. Plans will be made for upcoming youth events. Page 2
Patriotic Worship on July 7
On Sunday, July 7 at 9:30 a.m. we will have a patriotic service
as we celebrate the freedom we have in Christ and the freedom we have as Americans. Some people will wear red, white,
and blue, and some won’t. It’s a special opportunity to thank
God for the freedom He’s given us. Unless you are away on
vacation, I encourage you to participate in this special service.
Board of Church Property-June Report by Jim Higby
We had a work party June 8th to wash windows. Unfortunately our turnout was not very big. Mary Johnson, Carolyn Higby, John Liebert, and
Lenore Onyon were present to wash windows. Yes, John does windows!
Carolyn brought snacks and drinks for the crew again to this work party as
she did the previous time we had a work party. We would like other volunteers to bring snacks when we schedule a work party in the future.
Our lawn mower had been broken for the past two weeks, so the grass
was beginning to get a little ahead of us. I used my self-propelled lawn
mower to do the front before our riding mower came back from the shop.
Mike Galbraith edged the lawn and mowed the back lawn to see if the
shop had the mower fixed. Guess the shop found that the mower had a
blown head gasket and replaced it.
I would like to thank the above mentioned people for their efforts to make
our church’s appearance better to our neighbors and visitors as well as for
our congregation.
As many of you can see, the entry to the parking lot has been repaired
with a concrete apron and shouldn’t require much maintenance in the future. The soffit around the sanctuary has been replaced and looks a lot
better without boards placed here and there to hold the old sheetrock soffit
in place.
We are looking to reface the two benches in front of the church with a
composite material that will be weatherproof and require little maintenance. If funds are available, we would also like to fill in around the steps
by the preschool room and the Sunday School rooms and level out a few
low places to make it easier to mow.
For Elma-Iowa-1948
Country girls were blessed
Those budding in quaint villages and farms
Where innocence was virtue
Charmed by forests, meadows, brooks, streams
“appareled in celestial lights.”
Gentle lasses about school bus lanes
With open faces, translucent eyes
Too honest to conceal emotion
Hail, then, to olden times
Lady, your charm still invades my mind.
Poem written by Ken Knutsen
Page 3
JULY
SUN
2013
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
2
3
4
5
6
Independence Day!!
7 Independence Day 8
Patriotic Worship
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
Vacation
Bible School
VBS
VBS
VBS
VBS
22
23
24
25
26
29
30
31
Church Service
14
21
VBS Program
28
Page 4
27
These are the newly elected Board Members for the next two years. Installation will be held in July
at a regular church service. The directors, as chosen by the Boards, are shown with an asterisk.
They serve on the Church Council. –John Liebert
Executive Director: John Liebert
Assistant Executive Director: John Veleber
Treasurer: Steve Nelson
Board of Lay Ministry
Board of Church Properties
Cheryl Persse
Jim Higby*
Steve Galbraith
Rick Faulkner
Mike Galbraith
Jean Cartwright
Al Shaulis
Hazel Rutherford
Steve Hrutfiord
Angus Pratt
Richard Johnson
Dick Johnson
Andy Higby
Lenore Onyon
Harold Olason
Board of Christian Education
Bruce Shelton
Cheryl Persse
John Veleber
Carolyn Higby
Leonard Wahl
Karen Halldorson*
Board of Youth Ministry
Gail Wildermuth
Mary Johnson
Kristi Galbraith
Dan Persse
Brenda DelaCruz
Cheryl Persse
Gladys Faulkner
Rachel Hrutfiord*
Colleen Huffman
Paul Aguirre
Megan MacArthur
Ann Johnson
Sandie Miller*
Board of Social Ministry
Board of Stewardship
Carole Liebert*
Jim Gregory
Pat Bucknam
Patty Berg
Jonathan Huffman
George Holmes
Karen Schletewitz
Jay Pukaluk
Shirley Pukaluk
Maxine Vogt
Board of Parish Fellowship
Board of Evangelism
Rika Kent
Lynne Shelton
Dolores Holleman
Ruth Chiko
Linda Thompson
Carl Chiko
Jo Galbraith
Leona Olason
Marilyn Mitchell
Susan Holmes
Jacquie Robbins
Carole Liebert
Joan Gregory
Page 5
Page 6
Verse a Day for July From The Book of Acts
July 1 4:4
July 2 4:10
July 3 4:12
July 4 4:13
July 5 4:20
July 6 4:31
July 7 4:32
July 8 4:34
July 9 5:9
July 10 5:14
July 11 5:29
July 12 5:32
July 13 5:42
July 14 6:3
July 15 6:8
July 16 7:51
July 17 7:59
July 18 8:3
July 19 8:17
July 20 8:31
July 21 8:36
July 22 9:4
July 23 9:5
July 24 9:15
July 25 9:17
July 26 9:20
July 27 9:22
July 28 9:25
July 29 9:26
July 30 9:31
July 31 9:34
But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
Let it be known to all of you, that this Man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom God raised from the dead.
Peter said, “There is salvation in no one else except Jesus; for there is no other name under heaven
given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.
For we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.
When they had prayed, the placed in which they were fathered together was shaken; and they were all
filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private
ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.
There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and
brought the proceeds of what was sold.
Peter said to Sapphira, “Tell me if you and your husband sold the land for the price you said.”
Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women.
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given to those who
obey Him.
Every day in the temple and at home they taught and proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah.
Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of
wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task.
Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit,
just as your ancestors used to do.
While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women,
he committed them to prison.
Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
“How can I understand Scripture unless someone guides me?” He invited Philip to help.
As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?”
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
He asked, “Who are You, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.”
But the Lord said to him, “Go for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring My name before
Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel.”
So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord
Jesus, Who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be
filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.
At night his disciples let Saul down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him,
for they did not believe he was a disciple.
Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in
fear of the Lord in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
Peter said, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” Immediately he got up.
July Servants
Servant
ACOLYTES
ALTAR
COMMITTEE
COFFEE
HOUR
FLOWERS
GREETERS
LAY MINISTERS –
July 7
July 14
July 28
Anna
Daizy
Holly
Johnson
Persse
Dehnke
Johnson
Rika Kent &
Rika Kent &
Rika Kent &
Rika Kent &
Carole Liebert
Carole
Carole
Carole Liebert
Liebert
Liebert
Karen
Ann
Halldorson
Johnson &
Carole
Aguirre &
& Rika Kent
Jim &
Debbie Roe
Nora
Carolyn Higby
Atwood
Ruth & Carol
Chiko
Jacquie
Robbins
Cora Dickey &
Linda Thompson
George &
Susan Holmes
Please sign
up
Carolyn
Higby
Cheryl Persse
&
Lenore Onyon &
Angus Pratt
Steve
Galbraith
COMMUNION
Please sign up
Carole Liebert
ORGANIST
Brent
Johnson
Brent
Johnson
Brent
Johnson
Brent Johnson
PIANIST
Cheryl
Fischer
Cheryl
Fischer
Cheryl
Fischer
Cheryl
SCRIPTURE
Sandie Miller
Carole
Carl Chiko
Tom Rutherford
Steve Nelson
& Dan Persse
Dick Johnson & Jay
Pukaluk
READERS
USHERS
Fischer
Liebert
Jim Higby &
Andy Higby
Art
MacArthur
& Angus Pratt
Page 8
July 21
Athena
July Birthdays
18 Jacquie Robbins
1
3
5
7
12
13
14
15
16
17
Kara Hinchey
Gail Wildermuth
John Smith
Noel Liebert
William Kuuskman
Amanda Craig
Dianne Muljat
Clarissa Renskers
Carolyn Higby
Georgia Gardner
Mark Halldorson
Carole Aguirre
Makaia Tewes
Torrence Nelson
Dan Dehnke Sr.
Andrew Onyon
Max Shelton
19
21
22
23
25
26
28
29
31
Rachel Johnson
Kristin Biggs
Quinn Scott
Dalton Mouw
Ron Scott
Jackie Ives
P.J. Aguirre
Mark Galbraith
Bud Halldorson
Pam Markusen
Angus Pratt
Susan Halldorson
April Mouw
Lenore Onyon
John Nelson
Colleen Anderson
July Anniversaries
11
P.J. & Carole Aguirre
24
Jeff & Jenny Wheeler
30
David & Jean Archer
Magnus & Melanie
Gervol
Page 9
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
702 G Street Phone: (360) 332-6589
P.O. Box 1646, Blaine, WA 98231-1646
www.blaine-grace-lutheran.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Blaine, WA
Permit No. 41
July 2013