Special Happenings This Month

Feb 4 Council Retreat to determine goals

New Member Classes Feb 5 and 12 (p 3)

School Lunches Feb 10, 10am

Marriage Conversations Feb 15, 22 (p 3)

4-6 Grade Group Feb 19, 4pm

Youth Retreat in Valdez Feb 18-20!!

Lent begins Wednesday, March 1

Youth and Education Page 2

New Member Class in February 2

Council highlights 3

Women’s Group Study on Equality 3

Marriage Equality Conversations 3

Calendar 4

Council, Special Dates, Prayers 5

Inside this issue:

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February 2017

A Note from Pastor Amanda I had a disappointing church experi-ence. (Yes, it is ok to admit that!) The kids were sort of behaving themselves, I was surrounded by loved ones, the music was nice, the preaching was not boring… but it was still disappointing for me.

The much beloved pastor talked about praying “in Jesus’ name”; about how God uses our prayers to bring us together, to know God is listening, to helps us know God’s will, and to bring glory to God. But the undercurrent of the message – actu-ally, everything about worship – was “try harder to please God.”

These brothers and sisters in Christ sitting around me in this mega church were given the “right” way to pray. The way prayer “works”. They were given steps to follow to get closer to God.

I needed to hear how God comes closer to me even when I can’t get my prayers right. I needed to hear that even though my prayers are sometimes selfish, sometimes scattered, sometimes whiny, that they too are heard by God. And rather than trying harder to please God so God will bless me, I needed to hear that I am free to be who I am, and that includes my muddled, imperfect prayers.

An insightful illustration by Richard Rohr has been in the front of my mind the past couple months:

“A man met an angel walking down the road with a burning torch in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. Asked what she was doing, the angel replied, “I’m go-ing to quench the fires of hell with this wa-ter and burn down the mansions of heaven with the fire. Then perhaps we’ll find out who really loves God.”

I am a Christ-follower not because I’m saved from hell or promised riches and a future peace. It’s because I love this God who loves this imperfect me.

There are no “levels” to heaven. The same grace given to you is given to me, is given to the convicted felon, is given to the pope, is given to the murder, is given to the orphan, is given to the addicted. God comes close to everyone.

Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his love for us that while we were still sinning, Christ died for us.”

I’m sure the sinning didn’t please God. But it didn’t prevent God from drawing near. And that is exactly what God does in Jesus Christ. Comes among us, the bro-ken, poorly-praying us, to demonstrate in action and truth this overwhelming love of God.

God loves you for who you are – not in spite of who you are. May you be moved to love God for who God is too.

In Christ’s peace,

~Pastor Amanda

YOUTH

7-12 Grade Youth Group

Youth Group will meet once on February 5th at 6pm!

Join us for the Valdez Youth Retreat Saturday Feb 18-Monday Feb 20!

Youth from around the interior of AK will gather for fun, talk, Bible study, and games! Cost is $100 for hotel, transpor-tation, and food. Deadline is right now—

talk to Pastor Amanda immediately!

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4-6 Grade Group

Our next group is February 19th! Gather at Lord of Life to talk, play games,

and face a special challenge!

Join us for Sunday school where we are talking more about the questions we have

about God in our lives. Guess what, Jesus is a guy, not a rulebook!

Interested in being a committed part of the community at Lord of Life? Want to be counted and heard at important decision making events, and offer your gifts in an intentional way?

Or maybe you just want to learn more about this community, some of the things the Lutheran Church teaches, or you want to meet more people. You’re welcome to join in as well, even if you’re not ready to be a member.

Join us on Sundays February 5 and 12 at 9am as we discuss the gifts God has given us and how we live them out at Lord of Life. We discuss Baptism, Com-munion, membership in a church, ministries at Lord of Life, and God’s grace in the midst of it all!

We will then receive new members on Sunday the 12th during worship using the Affirmation of Baptism in the red ELW on page 234.

Adult Sunday School

Our Faith doesn’t stop growing!

The adult Sunday school class (Sundays at 9am) will resume again on February 5th, 2017. Session 9

from the book of Revelation will be discussed, and a new program on the book of Galatians will

be introduced.

This is an easy introduction into reading the Bible, and will give you tools and questions to boost your

confidence in reading on your own!

SUNDAY SCHOOL

NEW MEMBER CLASSES

We are looking for monthly volunteers for our Sunday school for our youngest ones.

I know what you’re thinking: I’ve already done that with my kids or grandkids. It’s time for the younger

parents to step up!

You have SO MUCH to offer these little ones as their faith forms!

All children benefit from the additional adults who invest in their lives. Please consider taking 1 month in 2017 to encourage the faith of our younger ones.

We couldn’t have made it any easier!

CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS by Nancy Uptgraft

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1. Extended Epiphany season- Lent begins March 1st.

2. Pastor Amanda on vacation Jan 16-29; Nancy will fill in as Lay Presider.

3. The nominating team is still at work to fill two positions. Secretary and Mission & Social Ministry. Please consider a position.

4. 2017 is the 500th Anniversary of Luther’s movement to change the Roman Catholic Church! President Bishop Eaton has made our focus as the Catechism Book.

5. Teller training took place on Jan 22nd—talk with Evan if you missed it but are interested in counting Sunday’s offering.

6. Council retreat scheduled for Feb 4th.

7. Boiler tuned up and glycol to be added to the system to protect pipes. This will replace the acidic water currently being used. Thank you Jered!

8. New office manager-Zabrina Perez. Stop by and welcome her. Training will continue when Pastor Amanda returns from her vacation.

9. Congregation Vitality Survey will be passed out Jan 15th and 22nd. Please fill one out and return as soon as possible.

10. Ann Dulany’s last day in Day Care is Jan 29th. Talk to Pastor Amanda if you are interested in this job.

11. See Janis Robertson if you would like to donate to the food for the local schools each month. Next

opportunity to pack lunches for the Elementary and High Schools is Feb 10th at 10:00am.

WELCA/Women’s Group

We are gathering again on February 8th! We will begin our study on gender equality called

“Faith, Sexism, and Justice.” Study books have ar-rived, see Pastor Amanda for your copy.

Note: this study is open to ALL people—men and women—who care about justice for all.

Bible Study — Every Monday at 10:00am

Get a jump-start in thinking about God’s Word for the upcoming Sunday. It will open your eyes to things

during the week, and encourage you to notice God’s work around you!

Marriage Conversations

Conversations around equal marriage, faith, and Scripture are being offered again on

Wednesdays February 15 and 22 at 6:30 pm.

Your voice is vital to the shaping of our church’s witness to the community. Whether you’ve got a

formed opinion or are in a fog, there is a safe space for your voice to be heard. More sessions will be

offered in March and April—please request a day.

at Lord of Life

Lord of Life Lutheran

1005 Saint Nicholas Drive

Po Box 55791

North Pole Alaska, 99705

Office Phone: 488-6720

Pastor’s Cell: 322-2065

E-mail:

Amanda: pastor@lordoflifeak.com

Zabrina: office@lordoflifeak.com

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday 9am-1pm

Mission Statement "As God's children, we live, learn, and share our faith based on His word, to touch others

with His love,"

TO SCHEDULE AN EVENT AT LORD OF LIFE, contact the church office during office hours. A Building Use Agreement must be filled out. If

you want to reschedule or cancel an event, it is also essential to contact the church.

Check out our web page

www.lordoflifeak.com

Special Dates - Prayer Concerns

Birthdays

2/1 Mary Ash 2/3 Tessa Davis 2/8 De Skilbred 2/12 Kristi Boatman 2/15 Caleb Boatman 2/15 Sydney Uptgraft 2/16 Larry Rogers 2/20 Meghan Musgraves 2/22 John Warnke 2/23 Tim Walker 2/24 Nancy Uptgraft f your information is missing from the newsletter or bulletin, please call or email the office! We are in the process of updating our database!

Anniversaries 2/22 Steve & Donna Heideman

Please add to your prayers:

Mona - health, Lynne Skjefte’s mother Tim Hall Jr - healing from car accident

John and Tom’s families - grief

Send an email to office@lordoflifeak.com to sign up

for our prayer chain emails!

Our Prayer Partners: St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

Anchorage, AK

Please pray for:

- New Council that they might be strengthened in their faith and energized in ministry - Children’s ministry as they plan the Valentine social - Our Faith, Family, Fun night for February. - Synod’s “Rooted” cohort & leaders

March Newsletter/Calendar Deadline: Feb. 20th

Church Council - February 13, 7:00pm

President: Bob Thoma 488-2630 Vice President: Nancy Uptgraft 378-4633 Secretary: Treasurer: Donna Heideman 488-9250 Education: Samantha Aleshire 488-4692 Missions Social Ministry: Worship & Music: Curt Renner 488-4405 Meg Ojala 488-6190 Youth: Alan Griswold 907-317-0680 Stewardship: Evan Keil 460-6773 Evangelism: Janis Robertson 488-3253 Facilities: Jered Dulany 460-7771 Financial Secretary: Amie Maranville 488-0552

2017 CHURCH COUNCIL

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