“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his
poverty might become rich.” – 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
“Can you help?”
Maybe it’s a
man with a sign on the street. Perhaps it’s a bell ringer with a red pot. Or a
phone call from a local charity. Or a plea on a late-night television
commercial. “Can you give help to those who so badly need it?”
So you decide
to help. You start with your pocket change. Then empty the cash from your
wallet. You take your debit card to a nearby bank and empty your accounts. You
go home and collect all your things- ALL your things – and sell them on
Craigslist, along with your house and your car. You sell everything that you
own, including the clothes on your back, convert it to cash and take it down
personally to the charity, or bell-ringer, or man with a cardboard sign. And
you hand it over. All of it. Every last coin. “Yes, I can help.”
Unlikely? I
would venture to say impossible. For us, that is. Yet this is just a pale
comparison to what Jesus did for us.
God became
man. The almighty took on human flesh. The great King of the Universe takes on
the role of the servant of everyone. The one who created, owns and rules
everything lays it all aside because he wants to help. And help he does. He
gives it all, and more. He lays aside his crown and takes up our sorrow. He
gives his perfect obedience and his very life. He gives more than it is
possible for any of us to give.
Perhaps if we
did give away everything we own it could help a charity or individual in some
way. But eventually it would run out. More would be needed. Not so with Jesus’
gift of himself. “And by that will, we have been
made holy through the
sacrifice of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10) When Jesus became our sacrifice on the cross,
the sin that separated us from God was taken away. Through faith in Jesus we are
sons and daughters of the King. The very Son of God takes on himself complete
poverty. We, in turn, inherit riches: forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life
in heaven with Him.
“Can you help?” We
like to think that if someone asks this of us, we might find something we could
do. Yet often our situation, and at times our sinfulness, prevent us from doing
much.
Thank the Lord
that Jesus’ answer was “Yes.” And help he did.
He spoke to his beloved
Son: “Tis’ time to have compassion.
Then Go, bright jewel
of my crown, and bring mankind salvation.
From sin and sorrow set
them free; slay bitter death for them that they
May live with you
forever.”
Verse 7 of Hymn 377 “Dear
Christians One and All, Rejoice” by Dr.
Martin Luther from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal
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You
are invited to join us for our weekly chapel service this Thursday, September 10th,
from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Families and friends are invited to come and join us in
starting our day with the Lord. Our current mission offering is designated for Jesus Cares Ministries, which conducts
programs and assists
congregations in reaching out to people with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, their families and communities. Please keep them in your family’s prayers this week.
Parents,
Teachers, and Friends (PTF) has its first meeting on Thursday, September 10th
at 7:00pm.
Items on the agenda include the upcoming Health Fair and
Trunk or Treat.
All parents are invited and encouraged to attend. If you
did not get a chance to sign up for volunteer opportunities at the parent
meeting, you may do so at this PTF meeting. Most volunteer items only require an
hour of your time and can fit into the busiest of schedules.
Hope to see you there!
The
Cross-Country team practices Tuesday, September 8th and Thursday,
September 10th from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Junior
Choir meets Wednesday, September 9th.
Students should be in the church for practice at 12:20 p.m.
We
will be taking our all-school photo this Thursday, September 10th.
Students are reminded to be in uniform (either blue or
black) as usual. Please note: this is only the all-school photo. Individual
photos and classroom photos will be taken October 1st.
The students of Mr.
Zarnstorff’s room (grades 3,4, and 5) will be going on a field trip to the
Campbell Creek Science Center for Water
Discovery Days this Friday, September 11th. They will be arriving
there around 12:30 p.m. and will spend most of the afternoon there. Mr.
Zarnstorff has space for two parents to join them. Any parents that are
interested in accompanying them for this activity and a little hiking, please
contact Mr. Zarnstorff.
We
still have some school uniform polos available for sale at a discount as we use
up our stock.
Email or check in with Mr. Schneck to see if we have
what you need before you order online.
Do
you have school uniform shirts or khakis that are in good condition but no
longer fit your child? Would you be willing to donate them
to another school family? Bring them to the table next to Mr. Schneck’s room
upstairs in the fellowship hall. We will make “gently used” uniforms available
to other school families. Need something? Please help yourself.
We will have these items available in the fellowship
hall for one more week. After Friday, they will be stored in Mr. Schneck’s
room, but will still be available to look through if needed. See Mr. Schneck if
you want to take a look.
Coming up on Saturday,
September 19th is our PTF/Camp Luther Fall Parking Lot Sale.
The
sale will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Do
you have any items that you would like to donate? We have limited space to
store donations, so we ask that items for the sale not be brought until Monday,
September 14th or later. During that week items can be left in the
fellowship hall under the coat racks. Any gently used items will be welcome:
clothing, household goods, toys, tools, etc. Proceeds of this sale benefit the
school ministry though Faith PTF (Parents, Teachers and Friends) and Camp
Luther Alaska.
Do you know about
Toddler Time?
Toddler
Time is an hour of educational activities, structured play and a snack for
children ages 0-5 and their caregivers. Toddler Time meets this Wednesday,
September 9th from 10-11 a.m. in the Faith fellowship hall. For more
information contact Mrs. Cara Ewings at 907-792-9388.
Reminder to keep
checking.
Parents
please remember to check your student for signs of lice. The signs or symptoms may have gone undetected
at first. Please see the attached flyer
for more information. Now that hat
season is upon us remind your child not to share hats as well.
We are
still waiting for earthquake comfort kits for some students. Please return your
child’s comfort kit if you have not already done so.
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