Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 9700 Neenah Ave, Austin, Texas 78717 Phone 512.671.6100 Fax 512.671.6103 www.lordoflifeaustin.org March 2013 Edition Volume No. 1303 Inside this issue: La Vern and Butterflies 1 Kindred Sisters 2 Birthdays/Anniversaries 2 Come, Holy Spirit Conf. 2 Preparing for Sunday 2 Stephen Ministry 2 Greeting Card Ministry 2 Church Clean-Up 2 Youth Focus 3 Prayer List 3 Crop Walk 3 Game Days 3 From Mary Vaughn 3 Game Night 3 Memorials 3 Holy Week Services 3 Synod Assembly Volunteer 4 Job Search Ministry 4 Lutheran World Relief 4 Habitat for Humanity 4 Book Club 4 Library Notes 5 Global Initiatives 5 State of the Church 5 New Life Children’s Center 5 Worship Leadership 6 Calendar 7 JSM Flyer 8 God’s Work, Our Hands La Vern and Butterflies An old shed sits near the fence in our backyard. Vines cover one of its sides, and last month bright yellow flowers were blooming on those vines. I noticed that a butterfly was busy collecting pollen from those flowers, flitting first from one and then to another. February seems too early for the blooming of flowers and the appearance of butterflies —even in a place like central Texas. But then Easter Sunday—almost always associated with the beauty and warmth of the spring season—also arrives early this year, that is, on March 31 st . That means, of course, when you receive this issue of Life-Lines, we will still have thirty days left of the season of Lent. Still, just as some flowers blossomed early this year and butterflies emerged from their cocoons, let's turn our attention then to the Resurrection. Some years ago a pillar of the congregation I was then serving—her name was LaVern—was diagnosed with a malignant and inoperable brain tumor. She was the kind of Christian that so many others admire. As well as doing volunteer work in the larger community, she was able and happy to give of herself to the ministries of the church. She headed the altar guild. She prepared food for funeral receptions and for those who were sick. She sang in the choir. She always participated in the adult Sunday school class. And more. But she never tooted her own horn and once even scolded me for thanking her for something she had done. As La Vern's cancer spread, her husband was no longer able to care for her at home, and she was moved to the local nursing center. On the day of my first visit, I noticed that some brightly colored paper butterflies had been taped up on the wall of her room. Her grandchildren had made them for her when they were still young. Another time I saw more paper butterflies, which were suspended in the air by strings hanging from the ceiling. Later on even more butterflies appeared, including several in the medium of stained glass. By this point her room was filled with them! What had happened was that every time her daughter and daughter-in-law visited her, they had brought along some of their butterfly artwork. La Vern loved butterflies. So decorating her room with them was one of the ways in which they expressed their love. Even after she was no longer aware of her surroundings, the butterflies remained. Their presence not only demonstrated the love of family members, but also served as a powerful witness to others — nursing staff, friends, neighbors, and me as well. As a symbol of the Resurrection, they reminded all of us of God's promise of eternal life even in the midst of death and dying. After La Vern's death, her daughter-in-law presented me with a gift—my own stained-glass butterfly. I still have it; it sits on a windowsill in the kitchen. Every time I see it, it reminds me of La Vern. It also reminds me that as the season of winter must finally give way to the warmth and sunshine of spring, so death itself will vanish in the coming of the new life of the Son. Pastor Alan
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Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 9700 Neenah Ave, Austin, Texas 78717 Phone 512.671.6100 Fax 512.671.6103 www.lordoflifeaustin.org
March 2013 Edition Volume No. 1303
Inside this issue:
La Vern and Butterflies 1
Kindred Sisters 2
Birthdays/Anniversaries 2
Come, Holy Spirit Conf. 2
Preparing for Sunday 2
Stephen Ministry 2
Greeting Card Ministry 2
Church Clean-Up 2
Youth Focus 3
Prayer List 3
Crop Walk 3
Game Days 3
From Mary Vaughn 3
Game Night 3
Memorials 3
Holy Week Services 3
Synod Assembly Volunteer 4
Job Search Ministry 4
Lutheran World Relief 4
Habitat for Humanity 4
Book Club 4
Library Notes 5
Global Initiatives 5
State of the Church 5
New Life Children’s Center 5
Worship Leadership 6
Calendar 7
JSM Flyer 8
God’s Work, Our Hands
La Vern and Butterflies
An old shed sits near the fence in our backyard. Vines cover one of its sides, and last month
bright yellow flowers were blooming on those vines. I noticed that a butterfly was busy
collecting pollen from those flowers, flitting first from one and then to another.
February seems too early for the blooming of flowers and the appearance of butterflies—even
in a place like central Texas. But then Easter Sunday—almost always associated with the
beauty and warmth of the spring season—also arrives early this year, that is, on March 31st.
That means, of course, when you receive this issue of Life-Lines, we will still have thirty days
left of the season of Lent. Still, just as some flowers blossomed early this year and butterflies
emerged from their cocoons, let's turn our attention then to the Resurrection.
Some years ago a pillar of the congregation I was then serving—her name was LaVern—was
diagnosed with a malignant and inoperable brain tumor. She was the kind of Christian that
so many others admire. As well as doing volunteer work in the larger community, she was
able and happy to give of herself to the ministries of the church. She headed the altar guild.
She prepared food for funeral receptions and for those who were sick. She sang in the choir.
She always participated in the adult Sunday school class. And more. But she never tooted
her own horn and once even scolded me for thanking her for something she had done.
As La Vern's cancer spread, her husband was no longer able to care for her at home, and she
was moved to the local nursing center. On the day of my first visit, I noticed that some
brightly colored paper butterflies had been taped up on the wall of her room. Her
grandchildren had made them for her when they were still young. Another time I saw more
paper butterflies, which were suspended in the air by strings hanging from the ceiling. Later
on even more butterflies appeared, including several in the medium of stained glass. By this
point her room was filled with them!
What had happened was that every time her daughter and daughter-in-law visited her, they
had brought along some of their butterfly artwork. La Vern loved butterflies. So decorating
her room with them was one of the ways in which they expressed their love. Even after she
was no longer aware of her surroundings, the butterflies remained. Their presence not only
demonstrated the love of family members, but also served as a powerful witness to others—
nursing staff, friends, neighbors, and me as well. As a symbol of the Resurrection, they
reminded all of us of God's promise of eternal life even in the midst of death and dying.
After La Vern's death, her daughter-in-law presented me with a gift—my own stained-glass
butterfly. I still have it; it sits on a windowsill in the kitchen. Every time I see it, it reminds
me of La Vern. It also reminds me that as the season of winter must finally give way to the
warmth and sunshine of spring, so death itself will vanish in the coming of the new life of the
Son.
Pastor Alan
Page 2 Life-Lines
Preparing for Sunday
March 3 Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9 March 10 Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 March 17 Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 March 24 Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 31:9-16 Philippians 2:5-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 March 31 Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 Luke 24:1-12
Birthdays:
Spilo, Walter 03/04
Parsons, Marilee 03/06
Sellers, Russell 03/07
Covington, Rebecca 03/08
Schroeder, Eric 03/18
Wiruscheske, Rea 03/20
Prather, Callie 03/21
Scott, Savannah 03/21
Weston, Greg 03/24
Eckermann, Austin 03/25
Willenborg, Shari 03/25
Breyer, Alan 03/27
Freitag, Damon 03/31
Anniversaries: Chuck & Julia
Neeley 03/12/1977
KINDRED SISTERS NEWS
Kindred Sisters will assemble Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Personal Care Kits on
Tuesday, March 5, 10:30 am in Koinonia Café. When natural disaster strikes or political
conflict flares, families often have little chance to gather their belongings before fleeing
the danger. They are dirty from traveling to a refugee camp or safety, and these simple
items in the Kit washes away dirt and sweat. Imagine feeling the softness of a towel,
smelling a fresh scent of soap, and knowing someone cares for you! We hope to meet our
challenge to LOLLC to do 75 Kits. Come join us, all ladies and friends of LOLLC are
welcome. Bring a Sack Lunch. Glenace Klinker is our Dessert Hostess. Questions: