Epiphany

Upcoming Sunday

Youth Confirmation Information

Sunday Night Confirmation Classes
Our winter Sunday night sessions begin at 6:30pm on January 22. During the winter the first year students will meet with Mike to discuss the Ten Commandments. The second year students will meet with Pastor Gaertner and discuss the Lord’s Supper, how to share the Christian faith, and prepare for the Rite of Confirmation on May 7.
 

Youth Information

Winter Olympics and More
The IMAC group (4^th-6^th grade) will gather on Sunday, January 22 at 12:15pm for an afternoon of Winter Olympics and more Winter Fun!

This group regularly provides opportunities for 4^th-6^th grade students to gain confidence in their Christian faith and friendships. IMAC stands for “I’m a Christian.”

Bowling
The LAC group (7^th-8^th grade) will go bowling on Sunday, January 29. The plan is to meet at 2pm and enjoy knocking down the pins.

Michigan District Youth Gathering
Registration is open for students who will be high school (9th grade) the fall of 2017 through those who graduate in the spring of 2017. The cost of the gathering is $285. A $50 deposit will hold the spot for a student, and the annual Garage Sale will provide a portion of the registration cost. Most meals are included in the registration. We will give special financial consideration to families who have more than one student participating in the gathering.

Students and parents should come to an informational meeting that Mike Hausch is holding right after the 11:00 am worship service on Sunday, January 8. We will provide lunch before the meeting. The meeting will start at 12:30 pm, and it will last about one hour. Mike will pass out registration materials, and the group will discuss fundraisers.

Luther500

2017 is the 500^th anniversary of the posting of the 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg. Throughout the year there will be different events to celebrate the Reformation.

Mike Yagley and I are recording a podcast on the events of the Reformation. You can listen to the podcast at GraceOnTap-Podcast.com.

LutheranReformation.org is a wonderful website full of information on the Reformation.

Reformation Motto: VDMA

Verbum Domini Manet in Aeternum (The Word of the Lord Endures Forever) is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation, a confident expression of the enduring power and authority of God’s Word. The motto is based on 1 Peter 1:24–25. It first appeared in the court of Frederick the Wise in 1522. He had it sewn onto the right sleeve of the court’s official clothing, which was worn by prince and servant alike. It was used by Frederick’s successors, his brother John the Steadfast, and his nephew John Frederick the Magnanimous. It became the official motto of the Smalcaldic League and was used on flags, banners, swords, and uniforms as a symbol of the unity of the Lutheran laity who struggled to defend their beliefs, communities, families, and lives against those who were intent on destroying them. It was found inscribed inside churches, over doorways, on foundation stones, even on horse’s helmets! The VDMA logo and statement has appeared throughout Lutheran churches worldwide and remains an enduring motto of the Reformation to this day.
 

Voters’ Meeting

January 29 at 12:15pm there will be a voters’ meeting. The agenda for this meeting includes electing new church council members, passing the 2017 budget, synod proposed constitutional change, local mission dollars.

There will also be an election of three council members (If you are interested contact Pastor Gaertner or Chuck Simpson.) All people are encouraged to attend this meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, there will be an opportunity for members of the congregation to become voting members by signing agreement to the constitution.
 

Stewardship

Have You Taken the Survey Yet? Identifying Family Needs

No two households are exactly the same, so a series of self-identifying questions will guide you to the clusters of items most reflecting your home life. 

It is anonymous and confidential. An outside firm analyzes the data and will provide us a report. The report will encourage conversations about families and homes in our congregation and community.

http://stpaulhamburg.com/survey