One Day You Will Run Out of Fuel

In 1991 an Air Canada flight ran into big trouble.  Passengers were enjoying an in-flight movie on the Boeing 767 when the jumbo jet's massive engines abruptly stopped.  At first only those without earphones on noticed anything.  However, soon it was apparent the jet was in trouble.  The pilot came on the speaker system and announced that Flight 143 would be making an emergency landing.  The 69 people on board were trapped in an agonizingly slow but inescapable descent to earth.
For several minutes a desperate silence hung over the cabin.  Then fear gave way to screams of anxiety as the landing neared.  All the latest technology could not keep the jumbo jet in the air.  What had happened was this.  The electronic digital fuel gauge was out of order.  So the flight crew had depended on the figures given them by the refueling crew before takeoff.  But someone on the refueling crew had confused pounds with kilograms.  Therefore, eight hundred miles short of its destination, that mighty jet simply ran out of fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing.  Fortunately no one was injured.
A multimillion dollar airplane, headed in the right direction, but running out of fuel. 
That's what's happening to a lot of people today.  They have everything in life going for them -- a new car, a wonderful home, a good education, and a good job -- and one day they run out of fuel.  At the center of their lives there is an emptiness.  They don't know why they are living.  There is nothing outside of themselves to live for.
Don't let that happen to you.  Jesus tells us that the power for successful living comes from God.  It is the promised gift that Jesus offers us.  "Peace be with you," he says.  "My peace I give to you, not as the world gives you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me"  (John 14).

Stewardship News
Our Stewardship for May         
First Four Sundays
Average Attendance    99
Year to Date              106
Communed               164
Average Offering    $2,530
Year to Date          $2,898
Budget                  $3,261

Also given in May
Helping Hand Fund    $35
Other Missions          $40
Building Fund            $50
Food Bank                $90
Piano Fund               $75
Memorials                $430
TV                           $35
Mowing                    $30

2nd ORPHANAGE
Our Lenten-Easter project this year has raised $2411.55.  Our goal was to raise at least $2,400.  That will allow us to send them $200 each month to replace a funding source they lost.

Preschool News

We have had an enjoyable year and the students have grown and changed so much over the past 9 months.
One highlight of our month was going on a field trip to Kent’s Nursery in Ferndale.  The students learned about our state bird, flower, tree and insect.
The last few days of school we studied about sea life and prepared for our end of the year concert on May 26.         
The last day of school was May 27 and we celebrated by decorating hats.   Preschool News updates will return in the fall.  Miss Naomi

Kids and Computers

If your kids or grandkids are spending time parked in front of a computer this spring, why not plug  JCPlayZone into their list of Internet “favorites”? 
The Web address is www.jcplayzone.com, and it’s loaded with creative stuff, Biblical goodies, and lots of neat things to do.  It’s fun.  It’s free.  It’s cool.  And it gives kids what they enjoy-variety.  Note also the companion web site for parents: www.jcparentzone.com. 
These sites are from Lutheran Hour Ministries.

“QUOTE”

Denzel Washington says, “I walked into the house one day and feeling full of myself, a movie star, and said, ‘Mother, did you ever think this was all going to happen?’ 
She responded, ‘Oh please, go wash the windows for me. You have no idea how many people have been praying for you when you were a knucklehead.’”  
Keeping things in perspective helps keep us humble.

Hazel’ s journal continued...

Afternoon of Nov. 13 …   We went to Angel’s school he is the young boy who was brought in 11 years ago with a cleft pallet.  Sandra our teacher at the orphanage, also works as a go between with the teachers and the students, had to sign some papers on his grades etc.  He is doing very well in his classes.  He has to be in special classes but is well liked by teachers and students alike he is truly our miracle child. 
Padro came this afternoon, he grew up in the orphanage till he was old enough to work then his papa came and took both him and his brother home. He is 19 now and we are trying to help him get into a trade school.  We have been going to his home every year when we visit the orphanage, it is just a hovel dug in the ground with a “lean to” over it.
With the help of Sandra he is enrolled in Mechanics classes. He loves soccer and is on the school team.  I pray this will be an incentive to keep him in school.  We asked him what he wanted us to bring him when we come to his home this year. He just wanted some soccer shoes and some clean clothes for his mom.  So we found several shirts and jeans for him and his brothers at the orphanage plus some outfits for his mom.  We will also have the back of the van full of other things for this family plus his soccer shoes.
Pedro’s home in Indaparatoe is a small village some 40 minutes from here.  We were very welcomed into their home. They have 3 sons Enrikie age 23, Lupe age 18 and Pedro and only 2 rooms with a make shift shower in the bedroom area.  The water ran out of the house on the dirt floors by way of a little ditch.  A make shift stove with a wood fire and a grate on top with a pan of some kind of corn soup in it. The roof was a corrugated metal and the bedding all bad news, mattresses you would not let your puppy sleep on.  No grass outside, no doors, it was an experience my 2 gals will never forget.  The papa had just come home from work. The boys work when they can the minimum wage around this village is about $5.00 US a day.  We bought them lots of stuff and they were thankful and happy we came.
Tuesday, Nov. 17 walked the kinders to school.  Phoned Tom then off to the Amanicer orphanage.  I was very impressed with how clean it was this year, much better than other years.  The monies for this little orphanage raised this year by Grace Lutheran Church took on a special “Love Loaf” giving program that lasted about a month.  Families took home a small bank in the shape of a loaf of bread.  Over $3,000.00 was donated.  There was enough to give them $200.00 per month plus buy lots of stuff and some cash left with Teresa the head mom out there.  She was thrilled, she had 2 volunteers from the little village there when we arrived.  These ladies work every day and their pay is left over food from the orphanage to take home for their families.  Before I left I slipped some coins into the cooks pocket and the volunteers too.  No big dog on the roof this year only 1 cat and 3 dogs at the Casa and no chickens running loose or pig in the back yard.  Big time progress for them.  (maybe they ate them?)  Teresa was so humble and thankful saying what we do for her little ones in the name of God is wonderful and so appreciated!

Summer Schedule
June 6th will be the last day of Sunday School for the summer.
Beginning on Sunday, June 13th, worship will move up one hour to 9:30 a.m.        

Grace Graduates:
Bryon Galbraith Graduated from WSU with a degree in Construction Management.  He has been hired by a firm and will be working in the Los Angles area for the next 10 months.                
Courtney Carleton will graduate from Blaine High School on June 11.  She plans on going to WCC and the WWU to become a teacher.   Congratulations!

MISSION LINKS

Grace Lutheran is linked to Central Asia, where Lutheran church leaders are learning from the instructional DVDs produced by missionaries Rev. Phil and Kerri Schielke, who are serving based in Texas. The Schielkes write, "Recently, I (Phil) completed two DVDs for use by the churches in Central Asia.  These include the first Kazakh language DVD I have worked on, an audio-DVD of the book, 'Jesus the Christ.' Previously, I had edited Russian and English DVDs based on this book, produced by the Multi-Language Publications division of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.  The other DVD I completed is the first of a two-part series on Luther's Small Catechism.  This series of conversations on the catechism was written by Pastor Gennadij Khonin in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and filmed when I was serving there. It is the first DVD where the writing of the material, filming, and editing was done completely 'in house.'  These DVDs will be used by pastors, evangelists, and other workers in both Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
"We have also been able to hire Boris, a gentleman who will assist with the filming work in Almaty.  He works closely with local pastors filming materials for use with our DVD program.  A young man named Aloysha, a long-time worker for us in Kyrgyzstan, carries out similar duties there.  We give thanks for these faithful workers that help us spread God's Word.  The material has been well-received and is being used throughout Kyrgyzstan already.  It is a blessing to be able to serve these Christians from so far away!"

Also Linked

Grace Lutheran is linked to India, where Rev. Herbert Hoefer serves.  He writes, "On Sunday, there were mass Baptisms in two locations, 120 in one place and 110 in another.  Actually, the second location had a total of 173 people, as the pastor held another Baptism service in the morning.  I discussed the Baptisms with the pastors of the area. There have been more than 1,000 Baptisms over the past three years.  We agreed that it is time to  focus on nurturing those who have joined the church. 
No doubt, through these more mature Christians, the work will progress much more broadly and effectively in the years ahead.
"It's a custom here to provide the new believers with a white saree or white shirt and pants for the Baptism service.  It symbolizes their new life in Christ. In my message to the two groups, I preached on the blessings and responsibilities of Baptism. 
One of those baptized was a teenage boy from another prominent faith in India.  Because of opposition from the high caste Hindu groups, the Baptisms are organized in an outside location, with no public flyers or procession.  Even a large congregational gathering is not encouraged, just the congregation officers from the host congregation as witnesses.
These new believers will have to face enough persecution upon their return to their villages without our aggravating the situation unnecessarily."

Volunteers needed by Whatcom Hospice

Hospice seeks top-quality, caring volunteers to provide assistance-such as respite  sitting, light chores, transportation, comfort, and  friendship or volunteer in other capacities to those facing a life threatening illness.                       
Informational meeting: 
Tuesday, June 15 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.                          
Lower Level Conference Room, 800 E. Chestnut St., Bellingham
or contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 788-6892

Interfaith Coalition
Interfaith Coalition relies on volunteers to maintain our nine Interfaith Family Housing units, which provide shelter and case management support to local homeless families.  There are many opportunities for volunteers to keep our houses in tiptop shape.  Some spring and summer projects needing volunteers include indoor and outdoor painting, cleaning gutters, minor electrical and plumbing repairs, carpentry projects, and yard work.  We are developing a list of volunteers that we can call on for occasional help.  Interested?   Please call us at 734-3983.

"Life Quote" from Lutherans For Life

"What a valuable reminder that while teens may not be known for their ability to verbalize their feelings, they have the same needs as when they were tiny.  There is no replacement for Dad’s attention, love, acceptance, and healthy affection.  In its absence, a substitute will be sought.  May Father’s Day be every parent’s reminder that their child really needs them!"
Janette Clausen, LBSW, Lutheran Family Services of Iowa  www.lutheransforlife.org.

 Life Quotes

“If, therefore, I do anything or think anything or say anything or know anything that is not purely for the love of God, it cannot give me peace or rest or fulfillment or joy.”       
 -Thomas Merton

I like that Thomas Merton quote above.  It really addresses how our lives should be focused if you think about it.  A good motto or thought to keep uppermost in our lives as a congregation and as individuals is: "It's all about Jesus."  If what we are doing is not about Jesus, then we are, to paraphrase St. Paul, a loud clanging gong.  We seem to be always busy with lots of things to do through the church office and in our private lives.  That is precisely why we need to keep our focus on Christ.  It is for Him, to His glory and for the benefit of His people, especially his young people that we are doing what we do.  Thanks be to God that He has given us that privilege.  And, in Him, we will have peace and rest and fulfillment and joy. 

Vacation Bible School 2010  July 12—16

We are expecting to have a great VBS again this year.  
If you would like to help please contact the church office at 332-6589, pick up a volunteer form in the Narthex or phone Niki Wildermuth at 371-4165.
                       

Our Choir is done until September.  THANKS to all for their faithful voices.  If you would like to be part of the SUMMER SINGERS please speak to Cheryl Fischer or Sandie Miller.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Our thanks to the Sunday School staff who have served so faithfully through the year: 
Thanks to Laura Nelson for music & the early childhood children; Valerie Renskers for the early childhood children; Yvette Pratt for the elementary children; Cheryl Persse for 5th & 6th grades; Dan Persse for fill in help and many thanks to Carolyn Higby for her leadership.

“A father’s words are like a thermostat that sets the temperature in the house.”
—Paul Lewis