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Strengthen Faith, Build Hope, Share Love in Christ Our Savior
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Christ Our Savior
Lutheran Church
ANDY KELTNER, PASTOR
5 South 8th Street
Louisburg, KS 66053
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Pastor Andy Writes...
 | | Pastor Andy Keltner |
Stewardship
I read a list of things that bothers Pastors. It was written in a publication of Christianity Today by Dan Cooley. I agree with his list. Number five stuck me as the crux of Christian Stewardship. Here is Cooley's list.
- If you feel compelled to advertise your Christianity in neon, post Scripture not slogans.
- Honor the worship service as a time for worship-no exceptions.
- Find your gifts by doing ministry in the body of Christ, not by a test.
- Don't manipulate Scripture to fit your proposals.
- Grow up, reproduce, and feed others. Getting spoon-fed is for babies.
Mature Christians live as managers or stewards of the gifts of God. God has called us out of the darkness of sin. He has set us apart from the world as his beloved children. Still we live in a sin broken world. He calls us not to be spiritual infants tossed to and fro. He calls us to be mature in our faith. We are to test the spirits and trust his promise. Cooley says we should grow up, reproduce, and feed others.
Stewardship is life lived sharing God's gifts. A mature Christian recognizes that God has provided. They recognize that everything in this life is temporary compared to the eternal glory. God has given what we need to extend His Kingdom. We are equipped for service in God's Kingdom. Instead of hiding under the awning of church, we are called to go and preach and teach. We use the resources God gives us in service toward others. Sadly many in our churches come with open hands waiting to be fed. I remember one time my mom said, "There is food in the fridge. You are a big boy. Fix it yourself and ask your brothers if want something." We have God's Word and Sacraments. We have been forgiven and loved. We are blessed in so many ways. What are we waiting for; "There is food in the fridge."
Number three on the list is also a Stewardship truth. We look for a gifts inventory or a test to tell us what our gifts are in the church. We wait for someone to ask us to serve in the church. We want to be told what we should do. After years of spiritual gifts inventories, I have found that they are ineffective. Things get done when someone sees a need and says, "I can do that". Sometimes the gifts lead the ministry and not vice versa. You, "Pastor this is what we need to do." Me, "Great how can I help you do that?" The questions we need to ask are: Is this consistent with scripture? Does this help us reproduce our faith in others? Does it feed others? The church prays. The church serves in her community. The church supports her members. The church provides solid food for Christians to grow. Instead of waiting for someone to tell you what to do; look for ways you can help. Instead of waiting to be asked, volunteer. Nothing is impossible with God.
The church is made up of sinners who need forgiveness. In Jesus we have forgiveness. We are called to forgive and serve. Are we maturing? Are we reproducing our faith, our church? Are we feeding others? These are stewardship questions.
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Blessings, Bounty and Beauty
"Blessings", "Bounty" and "Beauty" are the service themes for our Stewardship event the first three Sundays in October.
Plan to attend all of the Stewardship services and also the meal that will be served at noon on October 18th in the church basement. Reservation cards are in the entry way at church.
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Biscuits & Gravy Youth Fundraiser
Youth says - THANK YOU for your support!
We would like to say "thank you" to all of those who came to support our youth group Biscuits and Gravy this past Sunday. We had a great turnout and some great fellowship as well. We raised an additional $194 towards New Orleans! So thank you very much!! We couldn't make it to New Orleans without the help of all of you! Also "Thank You" to all of the youth and parents that showed up to help. We truly appreciate your help and donations! This group cannot function without your valued help and support of us! |
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COS "You"th October Outing
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What:
| Powell Pumpkin Patch/Eickhoff House
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When:
| Saturday, October 24
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Time:
| 4:00 p.m. - ?
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Where:
| Meet at the Eickhoff House - 30216 New Lancaster Road and we will carpool over to Powell Pumpkin Patch
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Supper:
| We will be roasting hotdogs and S'mores, hot chocolate, & a game of glow in dark capture the flag at the Eickhoff's after the Pumpkin patch.
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Cost:
| Admission is free to Powell Pumpkin Patch = depends on the variety that you get (2 for $1 to $20), Hayrides are free (30 minutes through the pumpkin patch), Corn Maze = $4- 12 and under, $2- 6-11, free 6 and under but the must be accompanied by an adult (30-45 minutes to complete the maze). Nature Trail - free (1/4 mile long), playground for smaller friends coming including a small hay maze, tires and a sandbox to play in (free).
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What to Bring:
| comfortable shoes, jacket, gloves/mittens, blankets, chair to sit in and ALSO your favorite side dish to share with the rest of us!!
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Who can attend:
| COS Youth in Grades 6-12, your entire family and bring your friends!!
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RSVP:
| on the Youth Group poster board in the narthex by Sunday, October 18 or call the Eickhoffs @ 913-837-5276 (please leave us a message if we are not home) cell: 913-302-2795 (Gerry); 913-302-5282 (Michelle) - you can text us also. Or email us at: gmicough@hotmail.com
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COS "You"th Group Meetings
Every 4th Sunday this fall - 11:45a.m. - 1:15p.m.
| Who: | COS "YOU"th in grades 6-12 & friends/family
| | Date: | Sunday, October 25
| | Time: | 11:45p.m. -1:15p.m. - Right after church!!!
| | Where: | COS Basement
| | What to Bring: | Your favorite sandwich meat & cheese, (Drinks, plates, cups, bread and condiments provided) Yourself, Friends
| | What: | Preparing for KDYG; Get organized for Chili dogs/Chiefs tailgate party Fundraiser - November 15 after 2nd service; Get ready for Operation Christmas Child Shoe Packing Party/Potluck event- November 8- November fun event - Movie/Popcorn Night - when as November is packed or wait until December for Caroling party!!!
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Operation Christmas Child
 Youth Group is sponsoring Operation Christmas Child Shoes Packing Party Potluck Challenge for our October/November Servant Event
What is the shoebox challenge? It began at Herschend Family Entertainment in 2011 and has resulted in over 1 million shoeboxes collected through churches for needy children around the world. Their theme parks and attractions offer complimentary tickets to churches to encourage them to pack the shoeboxes. The more shoeboxes packed the more tickets a church can earn. In 2014, they began inviting others in the entertainment industry to join in using their influence to help grow the cause of Operation Christmas Child. Silver Dollar City is honored to participate in the Challenge this year.
To meet this challenge with a minimum requirement we as a congregation must pack either as a group or individually 25 shoeboxes. If we meet that, we get 3 tickets to Silver Dollar City. These tickets will be drawn for by those participating in the shoebox packing party on November 8. Your names will be entered in the drawing. To get another free ticket, we must pack another 25 more boxes. The youth group has decided to host a Christmas Shoebox Potluck Packing Party on Sunday, November 8 after service. We will have lunch together and pack our boxes together. The youth group will have 36 plastic boxes ready go. We just need your help filling the shoeboxes. We will have collection boxes in the narthex beginning October 11 for our first big collection drive. So to make it easy here is a schedule we came up with:
- Sunday October 11 - SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.
- Sunday, October 18 - HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
- Sunday, October 25 - TOYS: Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch,® toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky,® etc.
- Sunday, November 1 - OTHER: T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)
DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out- of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans.
We will be collecting items from the congregation again until Sunday, November 8. Operation Christmas Child pamphlets will be available soon if you would like to participate. We will also have prayer bookmarks and your prayers are essential to the work of Operation Christmas Child, so please join us during National Collection Week Nov. 16-23. The youth group will then deliver the shoeboxes to the drop off site in Louisburg on Monday, November 16. The goal this year is to collect 9.8 million shoebox gifts from the United States and nine other countries. During this collection time, we ask you to pray for the people packing the boxes, the volunteers who will be collecting, processing, and delivering the gifts, and for the children receiving them - thank you!
How to pack a shoebox:
Use an empty shoebox (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child's age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page. Please include at least one item a child can immediately embrace such as a stuffed toy, doll, ball or toy truck.
Please donate $7 or more for each shoebox you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our "Follow Your Box Donation" option, or you can write a check to Samaritan's Purse (note "OCC" on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoebox, please make one combined donation.
Place a rubber band around each closed shoebox.
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Youth Group to Cool Crest
 The youth had a great time on Saturday, September 26 at Cool Crest. They raced on the go-karts, played on the several 18 hole putt-putt courses and then hit the arcades hard for the "prize" tickets. Then we were off to Sonic for lunch. We were exhausted when we got back to Louisburg.
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