Heritage Lutheran Church


 

Highlights

Sunday School Offerings Put to Good Use

From September 2009 through the end of May 2010, the children of our Sunday School donated $1,074.59 for two mission outreach efforts.  These donations have been divided between “Amigos en Cristos” and our Children’s library. 

“Amigos en Cristos” is a project which provides Bibles to Spanish-speaking children through the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (Worldwide Lutheran Translation Projects).  They are receiving $500.00. 

The remainder is going to the Children’s Library to purchase new DVD’s to replace the outdated VHS tapes.  So far there are 23 new DVDs, 15 of which are Veggie Tales and also Luther (the Thrivent-supported film), The Nativity Story and the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. 

We thank the children for their generosity.

Worship for Shut-Ins 

At our April meeting of the Voters Assembly our three mission endeavors for 2010 were decided.  We will continue to support Food for the Poor and The Women’s Center of Northwest Indiana, each with $1000 in 2010.  We have also included an organization which has brought worship into the homes of those unable to attend church.  It is called Worship for Shut-Ins.  Based in Fort Wayne for the past 28 years, Worship for Shut-Ins is a Lutheran television 30 minute worship service.  It includes the Bible readings for the day, prayers, and a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastor delivering a message that is one-on-one to the viewer.  Also included are appropriate choir selections for the day.  It is not a tape of a Sunday morning service, but a special production done just for the viewer at home who is shut-in, or who cannot attend church for whatever reason.  A variety of LCMS pastors can be heard from week to week as there is a group who serve on a rotating basis.  Currently you can access Worship for Shut-Ins on Sunday mornings at 11:30a.m. by turning on the TOTAL LIVING NETWORK (TLN-Cable channel 138), or, if you have DIRECTTV you can go to THE TOTAL CHRISTIAN TELEVISION (TCT) - channel 377) at 10:30a.m. Central time (11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).  Heritage has pledged to support Worship for Shut-Ins with $1000 in 2010.  Your contributions to any one of our three mission endeavors is greatly appreciated.  If you would like more information about Worship for Shut-Ins you can call toll free 888-286-8002 or go to their website—www.worshipforshutins.org.

2010 Church Officers and Board Members 

President:  Dale Sandquist                                              Vice-President:  Don Hitzeman

Secretary:                                                                         Treasurer:  Paul Flasch

Assistant Treasurer:  Betty Werner

Elders:  Russ Adams                                                        Board of Parish Education:

 Dan Amling                                                                      Marlene Bartholomew

 Bill Maar                                                                           Jill Blakley

 Glen Piper                                                                         Karen Higbie

 Ken Schroeder                                                                   Martin Steinbach

 Kraig Tonne                                                                      Beth Stocker

Trustees:  Neal Arndt

    Jan Blakley                                                                       Board of the Endowment Fund:

    Ben Gardner                                                                     Judy Marshall

    Rich Koeppen                                                                  John Peters

    Jonathon Kruger                                                              Lora Sienkowski

    Sandy Peters                                                                     Frank Zoll

    Larry Sellers

    Rich Stocker 

Our Partnership in the Gospel 

It takes many people to pull off a Sunday at Heritage! Think about our facility being prepared for worship. Custodians, trustees, altar guild, greeters, kitchen help, and ushers all lend a hand (or two!). That worship folder you're holding was prepared by our secretary. You see the pastor and elders. You hear the organist and choirs. You hear the pastor's words thanks to our sound man. All of these people, and more, share in a most unique and wonderful partnership - a partnership in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. St. Paul put it this way in his Letter to the Philippians 1:3-6. 

              I thank my God every time I

remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership

              in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to

              completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 

And then after worship the partnership continues as we fellowship in the Parish Hall. Did you think the doughnuts and coffee magically appear??? No, they get ordered and cut and brewed and set out on tables very nicely for us to enjoy as we enjoy fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Then it's time for Sunday School, Youth Group, Catechism instruction and Adult Bible Class - all further opportunities for partnership in the gospel, thanks to the leadership of dedicated teachers and staff. When it's over the Trustees will turn out the lights, turn down the heat, and lock up; but not until something very special has taken place - God's people have been forgiven and fed and nurtured in their faith thanks to His Word and Sacraments. 

Thank you to all who contribute to the smooth functioning of each and every Sunday morning. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ and its proclamation. 

You think a smooth-running Sunday morning at Heritage requires alot of people, how about the daily/weekly/monthly smooth-running of the congregation??? We have been blessed by God over the years with dedicated individuals serving on church boards and as officers of this congregation. The list of names could (and would!) go on and on, but let it suffice to thank the efforts of our President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, and Secretary. Also, we thank our Boards - Elders, Trustees, Parish Education, and Endowment. Again, the coordinated, collegial, and Christ-centered efforts of these individuals and groups make for a wonderful partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ! May God bless our partnership in 2010.