The Messenger – King of Glory Lutheran Church – 1

The Messenger - March 2019

Lent Line-Up! Lent begins this year on March 6 with Ash Wednesday. We have an exciting Lent line up. Lent at KOG has a tradition of supporting ELCA World Hunger. These monies change people’s lives…literally! We are proud of making certain more of our brothers and sisters around the globe have food to eat and opportunities to make better lives for themselves. As you also know, the ELCA is a public church. By that I mean that we take seriously Jesus’ command to love and care for our neighbor as we do ourselves. The witness of the church in society flows from its identity as a community that lives from and for the Gospel. Our faith lived out in action calls for justice in relationships and structures of society. Read more at www.rmselca.org/public-church. Therefore during Lent we are going to reflect on advocacy, immigration and prison ministry. Our own Pr Carlos Schneider will lead us off on March 10 with an introduction to Immigration. Carlos will present from his own lived experience growing up in Brazil and working as a clergy in California. He has a heart for the poor and for justice. Peter Severson (Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Colorado) from the Rocky Mountain Synod staff will be with us on March 17 in worship and for Faith Formation to speak about advocacy ministry in Colorado. The next two weeks, March 24 and 31, Carlos will continue conversation about immigration from a faith filled perspective. Then on April 7, Pr Terry Schjang will join us. She is the pastor of New Beginnings, an ELCA congregation inside the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility. New Beginnings received a Domestic Hunger Grant from the ELCA this year. This Lenten line-up will give us much faith filled food for thought!

From the Pastor – Lent -- Giving Up or Taking On? As you know, many Christians use Lent as a time of committed spiritual muscle training. Six weeks is a perfect amount of time to either give up a habit or take on a new one. We don’t do it ‘just because,’ we do it in remembrance of Jesus who gave up His life in love for all of us!

This year, I offer you the ELCA Wholeness Wheel as perhaps a way to focus your thoughts and hearts. This wheel was developed to assist ELCA Christians to reflect upon the whole of our lives centered in, and grounded upon our Baptisms. Take a look at the

various sections. Intellectual, Emotional, Social, Physical, Vocational, Financial, all encompassed by who we are as Spiritual beings. Looking at this wheel, if you could color in the sections, which ones are you paying the most attention to right now? The least attention to? Is there a section that draws your attention? Is there any area you’ve been thinking about recently? Wanting to do more exercise? Get your finances in better order? Stop to smell the flowers and be kind to your heart? What might you like to either ‘give up’ or ‘take on’ from one of these sections? Pray about it. Ask God to help you take small but first steps to get there. Make a plan – pray God into that space. And at the end of every day in Lent, remember that in Baptism, God has already made you new, forgiven you and loved you for who you are right in this moment. Need support or more ideas? Give me a call! Walking towards more wholeness with you, Pastor Ruth Ann

Mardi Gras Sunday Yes, Lent is coming! But before the forty days of this church season, we are going to celebrate Mardi Gras on Sunday, March 3. Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is just one event of the celebration of Carnival which begins on Epiphany and culminates the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.

Inside this Issue

From the Pastor 1 Upcoming Events 2 Groups & Studies 3

Thank you/Outreach 4

People/Finances 5 Celebrations/Calendar KidsPak/World Hunger

inserts

2 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

Carnival is celebrated around the world and has been since ancient times. The days leading up to Lent are full of feasting, parties, parades, costumes, and general "excess" in merrymaking. These are in anticipation of the fasting, prayer and penitential events of Lent. The French brought the tradition to the United States with the first Mardi Gras in 1699 in New Orleans. When the Spanish controlled New Orleans, they abolished the celebration, but with the Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana becoming a state, the celebration resumed in 1812. Mardi Gras colors were established by the Rex Crewe Parade in 1872. Purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power. Another tradition includes the "new" plastic beads that are thrown to the people from the parade floats. The idea of "throws" seems to have been passed from the British, who threw sugared nuts during parades. These later evolved into the beads. Music, of course, is a part of the tradition, also. King of Glory will be honoring the rich New Orleans

heritage with Robert Ray's "He Never Failed Me Yet" gospel classic featuring the KOG's Glory Singers and University of Northern Colorado graduate student and soloist, Stephen Vaughn. Liturgy for this special Sunday will explore the variety of gospel songs included in Lutheran hymnals.

So…come and revel in this festival of fun before Lent! Wear purple, green, and gold that emphasize justice, faith and power of our church and its members. And celebrate the diversity offered at King of Glory.

- Dr. Jane Andrews

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

Lent: Vittles and Vespers! We heard you loud and clear…you miss Lenten soup suppers! Well, come and join in for some soup vittles and Holden

Evening Prayer vespers. The evening begins at 5:00pm, with the short 20 minute Holden liturgy at 5:30pm. You’ll be fed in body and spirit by 6:00pm and on your way for the night. Soup will be served until 6:30pm so come join in as you are able! We are looking for various groups to bring and serve soup for the five Wednesdays in Lent. Our newly named “Leadership Team” (“Council”) has already jumped at the first Wednesday to serve. If you’re interested, please contact the office or Pastor Ruth Ann.

Angel House 2019! We are excited to be hosting Angel House here at KOG March 17-23, and the signups are up! This ministry is a combined effort by all who participate. It would not be successful without you! We appreciate our many volunteers who give so graciously of their time and talents. If you are feeling called to serve, please sign up for a position you feel most comfortable doing. We look forward to reaching out to the many families as they experience our warmth and hospitality. May our actions speak louder than our words! If you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact us. - Linda Bower, Nancy French, Pastor Ruth Ann

Needed: Followers of Jesus who are interested in helping prepare, serve and clean up meals at funerals. This tangible gift of food and fellowship on a day of grief, gives just as much comfort as what happens in the sanctuary. Many of our ladies have worked for years and they are ready to retire from this calling. We thank them for their service! We are thinking of new and more efficient ways to serve; including having one shift of volunteers prepare before the funeral and another shift serve and clean up. Pray and see if God is calling you to this ministry of hospitality!

Habitat for Humanity, Loveland Our ELCA Build days this year are March 16, June 8, August 17, and October 12. Trinity, Zion and King of Glory are all working together to help build a home for a family in Loveland. Our own Bill McDivitt serves on the Habitat board alongside of Pr Chris Davis from Trinity. Right now from KOG, we have a few faithful volunteers. We’d love to have more support this worthy cause. If you are interested in volunteering,

King Cake What is Mardi Gras without King Cake? We don't have to worry about that because we will have plenty between services for February 3, Mardi Gras Sunday. The cake itself is thought to have come to our country around 1870 via the French. The oval-shaped cake, itself, is a combination of coffee cake and French pastry flavors, decorated in the three Mardi Gras colors of green, purple, and gold sugar. An added feature is the mystery of who will find the baby in his/her piece of cake, thus having good luck for the coming year. So, join the Mardi Gras festivities in the fellowship room and enjoy the King Cake!

3 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

please talk to Don McDaniel or Pastor Ruth Ann. On March 16th, KOG will be providing lunch for the workers. Let us know if you wish to help! STUDY & FELLOWSHIP GROUPS

Dinner-4-8 is evolving into something NEW! A new exciting opportunity is coming for everyone to participate in “Dinners or “Lunch”! We would like to involve everyone in this congregational fellowship. This could be in potluck lunches or suppers. We may put out suggestions for meals, but everything would be voluntary; a sign-up would be helpful so that we can get a good variety of dishes! We encourage families, singles and couples to join us. Any suggestions as to the types of dinners / lunches are welcome! Contact me if you have ideas - Sarajane Grandia (970-667-8785.)

Sonrisers – The men’s theological book study group meets every Thursday at 7:00am year-round at Perkins on Eisenhower. For more information and the current book title, please contact Bill McDivitt (970-669-4090)

Prayer Shawl – Knitting & crocheting group

welcomes all levels of crafters. We meet on the first Monday of the month, March 4, at 1:00pm in the church library. Our snack hostess this month will be Jane Kanda. For more info please contact Barbara (970-213-3256).

Peace Circle – Peace Circle will meet at Noon on March 13 for a sack lunch, fellowship and 1:00pm Bible study at the home of Elda Riegel. Please RSVP to Elda (970) 667-4107. All ladies are welcome!

Glory Readers Book Club – Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 21 at 12:00pm in the office conference room. The book selection for March is Wish You Well, by David Baldacci. For

more information, call Barb Brackin-Bartel (970-213-3256). New readers are welcome, please join us!

2nd Wind – Retired men, this group is for you! We meet at 9:30am on the 3rd Friday of the month (March 15) in the Fellowship Room. This group is

open to any retired guy – newly retired or even if you’ve had the hang of this for years! Snacks and coffee are always supplied. Topics are varied and the conversation

inspiring! Call Jerome Beckmann for more information. (970-669-0341). Pastor’s Thursday Bible Study Thursday morning Bible study continues at 9:30am

weekly. We examine the Bible texts for the upcoming week and we laugh a whole bunch! This is an easy Bible

study to join. You don’t need to know it all, or any of it! Just come – ask

questions – and open yourself up to God who meets us always in God’s Living Word!

Marty Mouse Marty Mouse had fallen asleep in the rocking chair

of the Sunday school room dreaming about his days

long ago when he listened to Father Martin teach

students who came to the

house. Then last Sunday

morning, he heard

footsteps. He quickly

slipped to a safe spot that

he might not scare anyone

- but where he could see

the children and teacher as they came in.

That morning, they were talking about the Good

Samaritan and how one man helped another who

was badly hurt.

“Oh how I love the Bible”, Marty thought. “I’m so

delighted that the children are learning the stories of

Jesus and God’s love.” He remembered that verse

in Proverbs, 22:6. ‘Train up a child in the way he

should go: and when he is old, he will not depart

from it.’

When class was over and everyone had left, Marty

scampered up to the table and found a bulletin with

the announcements. It said that Vacation Bible

School was coming to our church! This didn’t

4 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

sound like anything he had ever heard of, but if it

had to do with the Bible and a vacation….oh he

began to shiver with excitement! Marty resolved to

keep his ears open as he wanted to

help in any way he could.

(Hmm…will you?)

March NEWS from Lutheran Campus Ministry Every week Campus Ministry offers students food for their bodies, minds and spirits. Your prayers, food and financial support make it possible for young adults to explore the gifts God gives and ways to share those gifts. Don’t forget that Thrivent members can designate Thrivent Choice Dollars to Lutheran Campus Ministry and those dollars expire March 31! Go to www.thrivent.com and sign in to your account to direct your Choice Dollars. To learn

about all the ways you can support Campus Ministry please contact Pastor Deb Abbott at Lutheran Episcopal Campus

Ministry at University of Northern Colorado by visiting www.lecmgreeley.org or for Lutheran

Campus Ministry at Colorado State University contact Pastor Paul Judson by visiting www.lcmcsu.org.

Once a month during the school year we serve a meal and enjoy fellowship with the students who worship at Lutheran campus ministry. If you would like to help with the dinner, please contact Jan DesJardin. The next dinner will be March 3.

Thank you!

Dear King of Glory, Thank you very much for your 2018 donation of $4,100 to KidsPak and the Loveland Rotary Club Foundation. Your generous donation will allow over 600 students to receive weekend food bags over 36 school weeks. Thank you once again for your support. Sincerely, Suzanne Peterson, Trustee Loveland Rotary Club

P.S. The 3rd Annual KidsPak City Wide Food Drive will take place March 8th, 9th and 10th at various locations in Loveland and Berthoud. (see page 7).

Work Weekends: Volunteer at

Sky Ranch! The Leave A Trace program provides opportunities for groups and individuals to give their time

and skills to Sky Ranch as we work to keep our facilities safe and welcoming. We have the plans, you have the hands. Together, with your help, we can make a huge impact on Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp! Please contact Ally Plucheck at ally@skyranchcolorado.org.

Spring Work Weekend–April 26 - 28 Memorial Day Work Weekend–May 24 - 27

(Food and Lodging provided for the weekend)

Prayer Requests - If you have a special prayer request please contact the church office and indicate whether you want the prayer to be public or for the confidential prayer chain. You may call or email the church office (970-669-5983); office@aplace2grow.org, or Pr Ruth Ann at Ruthann@aplace2grow.org A Prayer for Lent: Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (ELW Hymnal, page 65)

The Next Messenger Deadline is March 17. Please submit your articles for

the next issue on time to office@aplace2grow.org. Thank you!

Recommended Donations for House of Neighborly Service (HNS) – March request is Paper Products. Please drop off your donation in the “House” in the center octagon. Thank you!

5 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

March 10!

Reminder -- Daylight Savings Time Begins

March 10!

King of Glory Staff

Ruth Ann Loughry, Pastor ruthann@aplace2grow.org

Kathy Gustad, Admin. Assistant/Editor office@aplace2grow.org

Dr. Jane Andrews, Music & Choir Director

jea814@gmail.com

Kathy Pensack-Rinehart, Worship Accompanist

Mandy Quijano, Choir Accompanist

Rachel Williams, Nursery Attendant

Darrell Phelps, Custodian/Maintenance

2019 Leadership Team2019 Leadership Team2019 Leadership Team2019 Leadership Team

Officers Eric Backsen, President Bryan French, Vice Pres Mark Francis, Treasurer Nancy Judson, Secretary

Members-at-Large Lynn Hamilton Lee Holmquist

Roxane Salazar Ted Schmidt

6 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

Count Us In…AGAIN! ELCA World Hunger’s 40 Days of Giving is a special opportunity for us to come together and lift up our church’s hunger and poverty ministry during Lent.

Since Lent is King of Glory’s traditional time to emphasize the hunger appeal and prepare for the Second Offering on Easter, the Hunger Team once again said “YES” to the invitation to participate in this challenge. Our goal is to collect $12,000 through Easter Sunday!

During the season of Lent, we will tell the stories of how your hunger contributions have made significant differences in the lives of neighbors near and far. AND, we will ponder together our calling to be a Public Church.

SO…welcome to this exciting journey: • Come to the Intergenerational Lenten Event on March 3rd to put a label on your coin jar, sign up

for weekly email stories, and pick up calendars and study guides.

• Keep checking the display area in the concourse to keep up-to-date on weekly stories about the work of ELCA World Hunger (and pick up jars, calendars, and study guides if you miss doing that on March 3).

• Learn about the projects your hunger contributions have supported and continue to support through weekly temple talks or videos in worship AND bulletin inserts.

• Ponder the litanies and prayer petitions focused on hunger and poverty work of our church. These will focus on the disciplines of Lent: self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, works of love, and sacrificial giving.

• Seriously consider ways you (and your children) can intentionally remember people struggling with poverty as you fill a coin jar or save for your Easter offering during the days of Lent. You are encouraged to set a specific goal for your offering this year and write it on the “coin” jar label.

• Participate in weekly adult education forums focused on our calling to be a Public Church. Pastor Carlos Schneider will do three sessions on immigration from a theological perspective, Peter Severson (Director of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry/Colorado) will do one session on advocacy and our priorities for this year’s General Assembly session. Pastor Terry Schjang (Director of New Beginnings, a congregation and ministry located inside the Denver Women’s Correctional

Facility) will do one session on prison ministry and the amazing success stories of women participating in the variety of programs she administers.

• PRAY for God’s vision of economic justice to prevail for ALL…then work to make that vision a reality.

Remember…last year we raised over $15,000 during Lent.

Anything is possible for those transformed by God’s love!

7 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

8 Phone: 970-669-5983 Web:www.kingofgloryloveland.com

King of Glory Lutheran Church 2919 N. Wilson Avenue Loveland, CO 80538-2461

Sermon on the web: www.kingofgloryloveland.com

“As God’s People, Graced by Differences, Nurtured by the Spirit, and Gifted to Serve, We Invite and Welcome All to Grow in Faith.”

King of Glory Lutheran

March 6 – Ash Wednesday Worship

Noon and 7:00PM at KOG

March 16 – Habitat Build Day Lunch

March 17-23 Angel House Hosting