The Herald

February 2011

Dates to remember….
1st Prayer Meeting
2nd Groundhog Day
God’s Golden Gems
Praise Team Practice
Dinner & Movie
Choir Practice
Quilter’s Group February 12th
3rd Funfest
5th Free Medical Clinic 6:00 p.m.
7th RLCW General Meeting
8th Faith Circle
Rachel Circle
Prayer Meeting
9th God’s Golden Gems
The Youth Group will be making and
Praise Team Practice serving an Italian Dinner. There will
Choir Practice be a free will offering for the meal.
10th Funfest Dinner is at 6:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. we will see the movie.
12th Dinner & Movie No Greater Love, is the dramatic story of faith, forgiveness,
13th Bake Sale and the sovereignty of God. Jeff and Heather were the "lucky
Relay for Life Meeting ones." Best friends from childhood, high school sweethearts, and
Youth Group Meeting
married by 22. After the birth of their only child, however,
14th Happy Valentine’s Day Heather fell into an uncontrollable depression. Hopelessly lost,
15th Church Council Meeting she did the unthinkable...she abandoned her husband and in-
Prayer Meeting fant son – and vanished. Now, ten years later, Jeff’s world is
16th God’s Golden Gems dramatically rocked when Heather shockingly reappears in the
Praise Team Practice most unusual place.
Choir Practice
Evangelism Committee Seating is limited! Tickets are required for the
17th Funfest movie! (NO charge). See Tami in the church of-
19th Free Medical Clinic fice (989-725-5442) for your tickets!
20th Troop Sunday
21st President’s Day
22nd Men’s Club
Prayer Meeting
23rd God’s Golden Gems
Praise Team Practice
Choir Practice
Quilter’s Group
24th Funfest
26th Walk for Warmth
27th Youth Group Meeting
 PAGE 2 T HE HER A LD
The Blessing of Marriage
By Pastor Dave Woodby
February is the month in which we celebrate
the love that leads to marriage. Of course I’m refer-
ring to,
[We interrupt this article
for an important mes-
sage. Attention all men!
February 14th is St. Valen-
tine’s Day! Get the card,
order your flowers, make
the dinner reservations,
and buy the candy today!
We now return to your
regularly scheduled
newsletter article.] St.
Valentine’s Day.
Marriage was estab-
lished by God in creation. God
said, ―It is not good for the
man to be alone,‖ and he
brought Eve to Adam that
they might both be blessed.
God is still bringing men and
women together that they
might be blessed. Jesus said,
―Those whom God has joined together let no one put
asunder.‖ Italics mine. Studies show that marriage is
a blessing. Married men live longer, and are more sat-
isfied with life, than single men.
The blessing of marriage is freely given yet
costs everything. When a couple falls in love they give
themselves freely to each other. They also make
pledges of loyalty and fidelity to one another. This
type of love calls us to give up certain freedoms for the
good of the relationship. For example, what woman
would marry a man who said, ―We can’t schedule the
wedding for June 12th because that is my other girl
friend’s birthday and I have to be with her‖? Marital
love calls for an exclusive commitment to the one
you’re married to. You resolve to do what is best for
the relationship and to refrain from doing things that
would harm the relationship.
You may have read, or heard on the news, that
marriage is on the way out. People are redefining
what it means to be a family and that doesn’t neces-
sarily include marriage. This news came from a study
by the Pew Research Center, in association with Time
magazine, which highlighted the changing ideas of
what constitutes a family. 39 percent, of Americans
surveyed, said that marriage was becoming obsolete.
This opinion comes from the fact that 29 percent of
children, under the age of 18, live with a parent or
parents who are unwed or no longer married. 15 per-
cent have parents who are divorced or separated and
14 percent come from parents who were never mar-
ried. Within these two groups 6 percent have parents
who are live-in couples who opted to raise kids with-
out getting married.
NOVE MBE R 20 10
If your family is like mine, you probably have
family members who are living together without bene-
fit of marriage. I have a cousin that has lived with the
same woman for 20 years and they have three chil-
dren together. They say, ―We
don’t need a piece of paper to
make our relationship work.‖
Kids used to chant, ― Fred and
Mary sitting in a tree, K -I-S-S-I
-N-G. First comes love, then
comes marriage, then comes
Mary with a baby carriage.‖
What a quaint and dated poem.
How sad for our culture that
this is no longer the expecta-
tion.
As society changes,
Christians are called to become
more and more countercultural
by remaining, or becoming,
faithful to the teachings of the
Lord. We need to study the
Scriptures and come to a Bibli-
cal understanding of marriage
and divorce. We need to pre-
sent clear, teachings on this
subject so that our lives might
reflect God’s Word. We also need to confess and repent
of the many times that we have fallen short of God’s
ideals concerning marriage. This isn’t a call to con-
demn anyone or insist that we move into some kind of
legalism, as if having a perfect marriage makes us
more precious to the Lord. Rather, it’s a call to strive
to conform our lives to the teaching of the Scripture.
We need to do this for the good of society, the church,
and our families. Regardless of what we’ve done in
the past Jesus calls us to follow him into a better fu-
ture.
Being countercultural is nothing new for Chris-
tians. If fact, remaining faithful to the teachings of
the Lord was how we got St. Valentine’s Day in the
first place. St. Valentine went against the order of
Caesar and preformed wedding ceremonies for men in
the military. Caesar wanted soldiers to remain single
because he felt they would be better fighters if they
didn’t have a wife and children to worry about. St.
Valentine took a stand against this and was put to
death. We may not be called to die for people’s right to
marry but we are called by God to take up his word
and humbly accept what it says.
On February 14th, thank God for a man like St.
Valentine who took a stand for what was right. Let us
also ask God to make us like Him that, we too, will
stand up for the blessing of marriage. But more than
that, let’s pray that our lives may reflect the blessing
of the Biblical teaching on marriage, that we might be
salt and light to a society that is moving quickly away
from the Biblical Standard.
 NOVE MBER 201 0 T HE HER A LD PAGE 3

Applying Bible Principles

Circle & RLCW Schedule
An oxymoron is the use of two terms which
are contradictory in nature. “Jumbo shrimp” is an oxy- for February
moron. “Ferocious lamb” is another. “Dumb scholar” is Faith Circle: February 8th, at 9:30 a.m. in Re-
yet another. deemer’s library/conference room. The leader is
One of the saddest and most contradictory is Carol Lehman.
the oxymoron, “Stingy Christian.” Because we have Rachel Circle: February 8th, at 7 p.m. The host-
been redeemed through our faith in Christ, Christians ess is Pat Witte & the leader is Florence Work-
should be the most generous of all people. We have man.
been abundantly blessed of God, who has given us all
things richly to enjoy (Rom. 8:32). RLCW General Meeting: February 7th at 7
p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The hostesses are
James 1:17 expresses this truth clearly: “Every Doris Stromer and Ardelle Rodgers.
generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
Think about some of God’s good gifts: February Birthdays
God gives the seed (Gen. 1:11).
6 Dennis Schmiege
God gives the rain (Job 5:10). 7 Cindy Workman
15 Mitchella Eickholt
God gives health (Jer. 30:17). Debbie Schoenheider
God gives life (Acts 17:25). 18 Jim Belanger
Jerry McAllister
God gives strength (Isa. 40:29). Michael Hankins
19 Lois Church
God gives riches (1 Chron. 29:12). 23 Ardelle Rodgers
24 Kaitlin Macy
God gives grace (2 Cor. 12:9).
27 Allyssa Minarik
God gives eternal life (Rom. 6:23). Linda Northam
28 Rita Barnhart
And God gives us money and the ability to get
wealth. Solomon said that money is one of God’s gifts
to people. The purpose for which He gives us money is Thrivent News
stated clearly in Ecclesiastes 5:19 — for our enjoy-
ment. Attention all Thrivent Financial Benefit members. If
you have not designated your ―Choice Dollars‖ to a Lu-
Some of us make that the primary reason for theran non-profit (including Redeemer), please go
money. We major in pleasure and the things money online or call Thrivent to check the amount of eligible
can do for us. But there is another major purpose God dollars you have to donate. This is part of a new pro-
gives us money, something that also can bring great gram which replaced the ―Care in Congregations Pro-
pleasure: To give it back to Him. gram‖ through which Redeemer was given grants up to
$1300.00, You must now select a non profit for your
That’s why of all the oxymoron's in existence, personal eligible dollars to be designated. Your 2010
“Stingy Christian” is the most contradictory. We who Choice dollars may be designated until March 31, 2011.
have been given the most from God should be the In late January Thrivent will open it’s 2011 voting
most generous people in the world. event. Both benefit & associate members are eligible to
As the tombstone in an old cemetery read, vote for which non profit they would like Thrivent to
“What I spent, I had; what I saved, I lost; what I gave, I donate to. See Ardelle Rodgers if you have any ques-
have.” tions.
 Poetry by Randal Nicolli
Let’s Have Some Fun Together!

Only Jesus
On March 6th we will
have a Fat Tuesday/ Sorrow wraps her in a dark cocoon;
Sunday Celebration. Could ever a brightly hued butterfly
We are looking for
performers! We need skits, songs, instrumental- Emerge from this hopeless gloom?
ists, etc. etc. Your performance can be silly or No one can even hear her cry.
serious! The Staff Infection has already been
scheduled! The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. Her windows steadily trickle rain
with a Dessert Potluck (bring your most fattening That pools and never satisfies,
and decadent desserts!). Prizes for the best
acts will be given. Join the fun! Have a great Flooding the crusty earth in vain.
evening out with your church family! Oh, how I wish I could see inside,
That my love could reverse her plummet
Far from under self-disdain,
Quilters Needed! Up, up from the bottomless pit,
But I cannot even feel her pain.
Volunteers are needed to help She places the barrel in her mouth;
make quilts for Lutheran World
Relief. We will meet the 1st & last Wednesday’s of Only Jesus can save her now.
each month from 7:00—8:00 p.m. Beginners are
welcome. You will be taught what to do! See
Ardelle Rodgers if you have any questions. Leaping to Heaven
I wish again
This body of mine
Angel Tree Program a blessing to many! Would get traded in
Many thanks to all who participated in the 2010 For one divine.
Angel Tree Program. Whether you purchased gifts,
helped wrap gifts, delivered gifts & shard the Gospel
message your time and effort were greatly appreciated.
God was truly at work this year! Eight people accepted
Not death to reap
Christ and God opened a door that had been previously Nor debts to pay
closed.
I would gladly leap
To heaven this day!

But wait shall I

And further decay
For my time to die
Was not today...
 The Herald

is published monthly by

Redeemer Lutheran Church

2510 N. M-52, Owosso, MI 48867

Phone: 989-725-5442
Fax: 989-725-0022

www.redeemerowosso.com

Editor: Tami MacFadden

redeemerluthowo@frontier.com

Pastor: David K. Woodby

prdave1@frontier.com

Webmaster: Andrea Weinrick

aweinrick@gmail.com

Sunday Worship Schedule:

8:00 a.m. Traditional Liturgy

11:00 a.m. Contemporary Liturgy

Sunday School:

For all ages at 9:30 a.m.

Deadline for copy:

The third Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a.m.

available upon request

Relay for Life gearing
up for 2011!
The 2011 Relay for Life is planned
for June 10th & 11th. A Thrivent Finan-
cial/Redeemer Team will again be partici-
pating. If you want to join the team,
please come to a meeting on February
13th at 10:00 a.m. Many fundraisers are
planned to benefit the American Cancer
Society! They include selling luminaries in
honor or memory of cancer patients, sell-
ing candy bars, collecting returnable cans
& bottles, and hosting bake sales. The first
Bake Sale is planned for Sunday, February
13th. See Ardelle Rodgers if you have any
questions.
Youth Group
Info!
Mt. Holly Skiing! February 20th!
We will be leaving after the 11 am Worship Ser-
vice and returning before midnight. February
21st is President’s Day so NO School J! The
cost is $38.00 for lift tickets and $24.00 for rent-
als. For more info call Zach at 989-413-6052.
Acquire The
Fire is con-
fronting colli-
sions head on.
Young people from coast to coast will hear that
God wants to comfort, heal, and put them back
together. Although the enemy continues to steal,
kill, and destroy, Jesus binds up the broken-
hearted and releases prisoners from the
darkness. Redeemer is attend AFT on April
29-30. Tickets are still available! See Zach
Woodby is you want to come!