Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Parent Connection September 8th, Issue #4

“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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