A Monthly Publication of Atascocita Lutheran Church 7927 FM 1960 East, Humble, Texas September 2010 Volume 16 Number 9 Attention: All Creatures, Great and Small St. Francis of Assisi is considered the patron saint of animals because of the respect he showed to all of God’s creatures. In recognition of the Feast of St. Francis, Atascocita Lutheran Church will have a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 3 rd at 4 p.m. We are inviting ALL neighbors of our com- munity to bring their furry, feathered or scaled friends for a special service and blessing to be held on ALC’s lawn. Please ask your pet-loving friends to join us. For the safety of everyone, pets need to be on a leash or in an appropriate container. New Member (Discipleship) Class to Begin September 12th If you have been visiting with us at Atascocita Lutheran Church, or you know of someone who might be interested in joining our community of faith, there will be a ―New Member Basics‖ class offered, beginning October 12th. The class will run for seven consecutive weeks during the Sunday School time, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., in the Pastor‘s Study. Whether you are a life-long Lutheran, have practiced your faith within another Christian tradition, are just looking to know more about what it means to be a Christian, or are even a current member who is interested in a refresher course, this will provide an opportunity for you to learn and meet new people. The format of the class will be informal and non-threatening. If you wish to join us, or if you have any questions, please give me a call at 281-852-7333. Pastor Gary L. Anholt
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A Monthly Publication of Atascocita Lutheran Church
7927 FM 1960 East, Humble, Texas
September 2010 Volume 16 Number 9
Attention: All Creatures, Great and Small
St. Francis of Assisi is considered the patron saint of animals because of the respect he showed to all
of God’s creatures. In recognition of the Feast of St. Francis, Atascocita Lutheran Church will have a
Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 3rd at 4 p.m. We are inviting ALL neighbors of our com-
munity to bring their furry, feathered or scaled friends for a special service and blessing to be held
on ALC’s lawn. Please ask your pet-loving friends to join us. For the safety of everyone, pets need to
be on a leash or in an appropriate container.
New Member (Discipleship) Class to Begin
September 12th
If you have been visiting with us at Atascocita Lutheran Church, or you know
of someone who might be interested in joining our community of faith, there will be a ―New Member Basics‖
class offered, beginning October 12th. The class will run for seven consecutive weeks during the Sunday
School time, from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., in the Pastor‘s Study.
Whether you are a life-long Lutheran, have practiced your faith within another Christian tradition, are just
looking to know more about what it means to be a Christian, or are even a current member who is interested
in a refresher course, this will provide an opportunity for you to learn and meet new people. The format of the
class will be informal and non-threatening. If you wish to join us, or if you have any questions, please give
me a call at 281-852-7333.
Pastor Gary L. Anholt
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
From MEMBERSHIP to DISCIPLESHIP is going to be the focus of all of our
upcoming programming. What is the difference you might ask? I would suggest
that fifty to a hundred years ago, membership and discipleship were perhaps not
exactly the same, but at least similar.
However, in our modern culture, membership has taken on a whole new meaning.
It has more to do with the idea of entitlement. We have memberships in video
stores, health clubs, book clubs, men‘s or women‘s organizations, country clubs,
etc. We join because of the benefits. We fill out some basic information, pay a
fee, and we are in. As members, we have rights and privileges, and receive preferential treatment and praise. If
we at any point believe that we are not getting a good enough ―bang for the buck‖, we discontinue our
membership and look elsewhere. After all, there are an unlimited number of organizations promoting their goods
and services trying to convince us that in order to be truly fulfilled, we need to join their club.
But membership doesn‘t ―go‖ anywhere. It is more about having arrived than it is a journey. Membership
requires very little of us since they do not want us to be burdened, hence we take our membership elsewhere. As
you can see, this kind of idea is deadly for the church. It goes against everything that Jesus taught when he
invited people to follow him.
Indeed, membership promotes spiritual immaturity. Sensing they are now officially ―in‖, members are free to
learn as much or as little as they desire; to be as involved or inactive as they prefer; to give as much or as little as
they find convenient; and to attend as frequently or as infrequently as they find helpful. I know this to be true,
because I am a ―member‖ of a local health club, and my attendance has been a little infrequent lately.
You see, this model for membership does not require connecting to the ―Head‖, nor does it require the
connection to the other parts of the Body. Subsequently, we have promoted a sense of personalized spirituality
that reflects the needs of our culture, but not the design of the body of Christ, the Church.
Discipleship, on the other hand is something very different. To say the least it is biblical, which is not the case
with membership. The Great Commission in the 28th chapter of Matthew confirms that the call of Jesus is to be
disciples, and the command of Jesus is to make disciples. This is Jesus‘ ONLY plan for growing the Church and
bringing forth God‘s Kingdom.
Of course this takes time. If Jesus took three years, 24/7 to make those first disciples, isn‘t it presumptive for us
to think that we could do it in less time – say one hour a week on Sunday mornings, that is, if there are no other
conflicting opportunities at that time.
Yes, discipleship takes time. It is a
transformational journey in which the goal
is to become more ―Christlike‖. Instead of
joining for the benefits, we become
disciples in order to be humble servants to
one another and the world. It does not cost
a ―minimal monthly fee‖, but rather it
costs us our very lives.
Gary L. Anholt
Q & A - STEWARDSHIP KEY LEADER
Q: WHAT IS ATASCOCITA LUTHERAN CHURCH
PLANNING TO DO AS A RESULT OF THE STEWARDSHIP KEY LEADER PROGRAM THAT
IS UNDERWAY?
A. The contributions from commitments pledged this fall will be
utilized with two purposes in mind:
#1—to grow our faithfulness in mission forward while;
#2— by making payments on the new mortgage that began as we
dedicated the New & Renewed Worship Center and upgrades earlier
in 2010.
“I’ve always wanted to know…” ALL WET*
ALL WET* … how are hymns chosen?
The Director of Music Ministries, Zane Barra, selects the hymns (and
other music) for each worship service. There are several criteria used.
First, what is the theme of the day (season of church year, the lessons
and prayers chosen for the day)?
Next, what liturgical actions are scheduled for the day (baptism, Holy
Communion, installation of volunteers)?
Third (and most particular), what is the purpose for each hymn? The
opening hymn gathers the community and a closing hymn sends it
forth. The hymn of the day serves as the congregation‘s ‗amen‘ to the
sermon and hymns sung during distribution of communion can be
meditative reflections on the Eucharist and the theme for the day.
Take a moment to share your thoughts about hymn selection with
Zane AND take a moment to thank him for his service.
* WORSHIP ENRICHMENT
TEAM
2010 FUNDS APPEAL
FOR GROWING THE
MISSION FORWARD
IS UNDERWAY
The 2010 Stewardship Key
Leader stewardship education s
appeal for financial commitments to grow our mission
forward for God began on August 29th.
The 2010 commitments place an emphasis upon growing
our ministries forward by securing contributions over a
three-year period that underwrite the mortgage payments.
With commitments in place for the mortgage payments
leaders will be able to utilize the week-to-week disciple-
ship stewardship giving to enrich, expand and be more
creative in our faithfulness in mission.
Sunday, October 3rd will be COMMITMENTS & CELEBRA-
TION DAY. All constituents will be invited and encouraged to
make a 3-year financial commitment. In 2007 the Faith Ven-
ture appeal resulted in commitments of $434,512. At the end
of July contributions had exceeded the 80% level for those
commitments.
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE
(AUGUST) Discipleship giving for the 2010 Mission Spending
Plan and Faith Venture 2007, the funds appeal for
the new worship center, have been underwhelming
during June, July and early August! The chart else-
where in this edition provides a month-to-month pro-
file of the contributions for the first seven months.
Though leaders expect contributions to improve after
school resumes, there is a important need for contri-
butions to improve greatly so that sufficient funds
will be available for both the Mission Spending Plan
and the mortgage payments.
Thanks in advance for catching up...help us stay
on task and on target with our plans for faithful-
ness in ministry.
Q & A STEWARDSHIP KEY LEADER
Q. WHAT PERIOD WILL THE 2010 COMMITMENTS COVER?
A. This will be a 154 Sunday program commit-
ments beginning on October 3, 2010 and concluding
on the last Sunday in September 2013.
Third Graders to receive Bibles
An important part of the ministry this congregation shares with the children is the presentation of a Bible
to each student in third grade.
This year they will be presented on October 3 during the worship services. (You may attend either ser-
vice.)
Please give the full name of the child so that the Bible may be engraved.
To ensure correct spelling we ask that you submit the name in writing.
2010—2011 Third Grader _______________________________________________
Parent Name __________________________________ phone # ________________
Return in offering plate or church office no later than September 5.
Chrysalis
School News The Chrysalis School kicked off their 12th year
of preschool on August 31st. We have an exciting staff
that has been hard at work creating high quality program-
ing to meet the educational needs of preschool children in
a church setting. We are happy to say that two of our
classrooms are full and three of our church families have
children enrolled with us.
Please keep the Chrysalis School staff in your prayers
as they work to "make Christ known" in this school year of
learning and fun. We do have some spots still open, so for
more information and a tour of the preschool, please con-
tact Renee Wallace at 281-852-6002. Our website is
www.thechrysalisschool.org.
J. A. M. (Jesus and Me)
Elementary Age Youth Group
JAM is Atascocita Lutheran Church‘s elementary
age youth group that exists to nurture friendships
between the school age children of the church, pro-
vide a strong foundation for discipleship training
and spiritual formation, and to stress service minis-
try.
JAM is dependent on parental involvement to be a
successful group. Parents (even dads) are asked to
participate in all aspects of the monthly meetings