June 2017 Caring, Growing, Serving Ascension Day is not much celebrated in our churches, as it occurs 40 days after Easter, on a Thursday every year. That’s unfortunate, because the assigned texts (Acts 1:1-11; Ephesians 1:15-23; and Luke 24: 44-53.) talk about the most important element of a functioning church: Holy Spirit power. Jesus says in Luke, “Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power.” Jesus again says in Acts, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” Paul prays for the church at Ephesus, and by extension for us, “that we might know…the immeasurable greatness of his power for us.” The time from the Ascension to Pentecost, ten days, must have felt like a POWER OUTAGE for the disciples, with Jesus having ascended and the Holy Spirit not yet falling on them. It reminds me of the doldrums. The doldrums are specific parts of the oceans near the Equator where calm or baffling winds prevail. To be caught in the doldrums in a sailing ship means there is no wind to fill the sails or the wind is so erratic that sailing on is impossible. Sailing stories are full of details about sailors waiting out the doldrums, at the peril of death, or making the effort to break free. A recent film clip I saw was titled, “We Have Decided Not To Die.” While the film was nothing all that remarkable, in my estimation, the title spoke reams. Churches may find themselves “in the doldrums” and diminishing in size over time, and like sailors at sea, they must simply “decide not to die” and take appropriate measures to affect a turnaround. The point is that the Church was never intended to be in that position. The Spirit’s breath or wind is designed to fill the sails of the church and power it along its course of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism. But like the disciples caught in a power outage between Ascension and Pentecost, we try to do things under our own power all too often. So much so that Billy Graham has said, “If the Holy Spirit were taken out of the Church 95% of what goes on in the Church would still continue.” I was stung by that statement when I read it. I have to confess (and I invite each of you to some soul-searching as well) that often I am working under my own power and not leaning into the Holy Spirit at all. Ascension Day ends for the disciples with angels asking them why they are still standing around looking into the sky after Jesus’ departure. Certainly, there is a connection between Ascension and Jesus’ eminent return. We are invited to “watch and pray, for we know not when” he will return. But it’s also clearly obvious by this point in history that Jesus’ return is being delayed so that the Church he established may complete its work of evangelizing the neighbors, the communities, the nations and the world (“And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come” [Matthew 24:14]) The Holy Spirit is given to the Church to empower it to be the Body of Christ in the world to fulfill just that task. It is time for us to decide… Will we be caught in the doldrums, wishing for the survival of Gloria Dei, trusting the inheritance promised, watching for the eminent return of Jesus, while missing out on being his messengers to the world around us? Or will we set our sails into the wind of the Holy Spirit and depend on that power to drive us forward into the mission field that is ripe around us? Will angels be celebrating in heaven because, through our ministry, those who have not found Jesus to be relevant to their lives have found his love and redemption, or would they also ask us, “What are you doing, standing here looking to heaven…?” Let us pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. We are ready, Lord. Use us!” Power to you, Pastor Pat 1

HEALTH MINISTRY CORNER by Donna Zimmerman, RN, Parish Nurse Psalm 69:1 “Save me O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.” Summer warm weather means that more people will be heading to beaches. Every year we hear about unfortunate people who are killed by rip currents or sneaker waves. A little knowledge beforehand may make a difference. Have a safe summer. The following is from the website: How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current • Learn more about rip currents and beach safety developed by Texas A&M • Check water conditions before going in by looking at the local beach forecast before you leave for the beach and talking to the lifeguard at the beach. • Only swim at a beach with lifeguards. The chances of drowning at a beach with lifeguards are 1 in 18 million (U.S. Lifesaving Association). • Don't assume! Great weather for the beach does not always mean it's safe to swim or even play in the shallows. Rip currents often form on calm, sunny days. • Learn how to spot a rip current. The “Break the Grip of the Rip” free online training will help you learn how to spot a rip current.

a break in the pattern of incoming waves; a channel of churning, choppy water; an area with a noticeably different water color; and a line of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily seaward.

Rip currents aren't the only deadly beach hazard. You should never to turn your back on the ocean. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes, and most often form at low spots or breaks in sandbars and near structures like piers, jetties and groins. According to the U.S. Lifesaving Association (USLA), more than 80 percent of the surf beach rescues performed by lifeguards each year involve rip currents. They are not always easy to identify, but signs of rip currents include

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The month of June offers these health topic observances: Cataract Awareness Mo., Fireworks Safety Month (through July 4), Home Safety Month, National Aphasia Awareness Mo., National Scleroderma Awareness Month, National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Mo., and National Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month. In addition, June 1-7 is National Rip Current Awareness Week & June 8-14 is Men’s Health Week.

Health Sunday is June 4. Health Sunday is June 4. As usual, blood pressure monitoring is offered. I will be in the class room off of the fellowship hall during coffee time. Remember, if you don’t know you have a problem, you can’t help yourself! Many problems, if caught early, can be treated much more easily than if they progress to a more dangerous level.

PORT 101 – Church Membership Class Discovering Your Church June 4, 4:30-7:30 pm

PORT 101 – Discovering Church Membership This class is designed so that you can find out more about Gloria Dei! It is the basic introduction to what’s going on here. Discovering Church Membership is divided into four sessions with a break in between for dinner provided by the Leadership Team. Sign up with Pastor Pat or call the office (408-729-7563) to add your name to the list! Four things that unite us:  Our Salvation (What God has done for us)  Our Statement (Why we exist as a church)  Our Strategy (How we fulfill our purpose)  Our Structure (When and where we fulfill our purpose)

Please join us in the church for an hour of prayer as we continue to devote ourselves in seeking God’s will for the life and ministry opportunities here at Gloria Dei.

Thank you to all who donated to “Homerun for Habitat” at the San Jose Giants/Thrivent night on May 15, 2017. It was a great night for baseball as 250 people came to cheer on the San Jose Giants. More than $6,000 was raised for Habitat at the game. The Thrivent Community – Silicon Valley has raised $130,000 to date over the past 14 years for this great cause. Habitat is grateful for your donation which gives qualifying families a hand-up into home ownership in the Bay Area. We are accepting additional donations for the next two weeks. Please make your checks out to Habitat for Humanity EB/SV and mail to Thrivent Financial, 2021 The Alameda, Suite #140, San Jose, CA 95126. Thanks for making this event a “grand slam”!

In addition to praying at home, we have also opened the church up for prayer on Monday mornings from 9:00 am – 10:00 am and also Weds afternoons from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm.

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The Lord’s Pantry is a nonprofit, emergency food program that serves ` Clients from nine zip codes on the east side of San Jose. We are one of the largest Food Pantries partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County. Clients are pre-screened by The Food Connection (a 2nd Harvest Agency) and provide documentation of their income to qualify. No one is disqualified due to religious or ethnic background.

The Lord’s Pantry would like to give a great big thank you to Sal, Dennis, Pete, Dan & Wayne. Their teamwork and skills were put into action to install our much-needed new awning. Thank you, boys, for all the hard work! A special thank you to Dennis for coming out late at night to board up a window broken during an attempted break-in…AND…for replacing the window quickly!

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July 3 – 8, 2017

June 25th after church Sal’s Pizza oven will be here for the Youth Trip Fundraiser

MOVE is a 5-day High School event, designed to amplify Christ’s Call on Students’ lives to become Kingdom workers. Located on college campuses across the nation, MOVE provides a program for 30,000 high school students every summer. Students are challenged through intense, interactive worship, dynamic preaching, small group study and community building. Students at MOVE not only learn and worship together – they spend quality time with their church youth groups, discovering ways that God will use them to impact the world. **Please pray for our Pastor, Youth and Adult Sponsors in advance of this trip!**

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Sunday, June 4th

Semi-annually the Benevolence team meets to discuss and recommend distributions to faithbased organizations based on 10% of the general fund dollars received during the prior 6 months. The Leadership Team has approved distributions to the following organizations based on the recommendation of the Benevolence Team. Recipients are:            

Convalescent Hospital Ministry Food for the Poor Institute of Lutheran Theology Lutheran Bible Translators (supporting the work of Rob & Eshinee Veith) Real Options Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Center Sierra Lutheran Church SOLA Publishing Teen Challenge Water Mission World Mission Prayer League (supporting the work of Henrik & Patty Christopherson) World Vision

If you know or work with a faith-based organization that you’d like to recommend benevolence funds for, please fill out a form in the lobby of the church, or submit your suggestion through our website: http://gdlcsj.com/connect-with-us (click on the link for benevolence forms).

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MARK YOUR

CALENDARS! Sunday, JULY 2nd after church

ALL CHURCH PICNIC! BBQ Hamburgers & Hot Dogs will be flipped by some of our finest! Please bring a side dish or dessert to go

along with the BBQ!

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Ministry Services For The Month ACOLYTES 6-04 Lessa Hawkes 6-11 Nick Martinez 6-18 Katherine DeHart 6-25 Elizabeth Kromrey

BEARERS 6-04 Nick Martinez/ Katherine DeHart

POWER 6-04 6-11 6-18 6-25

ASSISTING MINISTERS 6-04 Sheri DeHart 6-11 Joyce Boddie 6-18 Donna Zimmerman 6-25 Jane Hendricks

POINT Jean Rinerson Elizabeth Kromrey Gabi Garcia Wendy Kromrey

READERS 6-04 Ann Fitzgerald 6-11 Libby Nelson 6-18 Ann Fitzgerald 6-25 Libby Nelson

COFFEE HOSTS 6-04 6-11 Sunday School Recognition 6-18 Sylvia Smith 6-25 Sal’s Pizza Oven – Youth Fundraiser

SOUND & LIGHTS 6-04 Pete Castonguay 6-11 John Mlnarik 6-18 Pete Castonguay 6-25 John Mlnarik

COMMUNION ASSISTANTS 6-04 Joyce Boddie 6-11 Sylvia Smith 6-18 Mary DeHart 6-25 Jane Hendrics

USHERS Robert Borregard/Dennis Eliason Ben Tobin/Ernie Moore

TELLERS Dan/Jean Rinerson WORSHIP PREPARATION Jean Rinerson / DeHarts

ALTAR FLOWERS Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God by: 6-04 6-11 6-18

Dan & Jean Rinerson in celebration of their 38th Wedding Anniv Donna Zimmerman in celebration of Jeff’s birthday The Moore’s in celebration of Naomi’s birthday and from Millie Chen in honor of Father’s day.

6-25

JUNE BIRTHDAYS 6-07 6-17 6-18 6-19

Lana Alanis Matthew West Jane Hendricks Bailey Beecher

6-19 6-20 6-22 6-26

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Don Phillips Don Myers Naomi Moore Johnny Mlnarik

June 2017 Facility Key: Ed Building = ELC; Sanctuary = S; Classroom = C; Youth Room = YR; Luther Hall = LH Sunday

Monday

May 2017 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Please pray daily for the people listed on this calendar

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9:30 AM Worship/S 10:45 AM Coffee Fellowship 2:30 PM Canyon Springs Conv. Hosp.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Jul 2017 S M T W T 2 9 16 23 30

3 10 17 24 31

4 11 18 25

5 12 19 26

6 13 20 27

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12:00 PM Bulletin deadline

1:00 PM Small Group/O

10:45 AM Coffee Fellowship 2:30 PM Canyon Springs Conv. Hosp.

6:00 PM -7:00 PM Church Prayer Meeting

Mary DeHart

9:00 AM -10:00 AM Prayer Group/O

10:45 AM Coffee Fellowship 2:30 PM Canyon Springs Conv. Hosp.

Fathers

25 9:30 AM Worship/S 10:45 AM Coffee Fellowship 2:30 PM Canyon Springs Conv. Hosp.

Sal's Pizza oven youth group fundraiser

8:00 AM Men's Breakfast Luther Hall

Mildred Chen

Joyce Cosce

4:00 PM Small Group/Wayne & Karen Hokanson's home

6:30 PM IMDC/S

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11:00 AM Worship & Fellowship/S 2:30 PM -3:30 PM Prayer Group/C 3:30 PM Confirmation/YR last class until fall!

JT DeHart

13 12:00 PM Bulletin deadline

1:00 PM Small Group/O

9:00 AM -10:00 AM Prayer Group/O 1:00 PM Small Group/O

Pastor Pat

26 9:00 AM -10:00 AM Prayer Group/O

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4:00 PM Small Group/Wayne & Karen Hokanson's home

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6:30 PM IMDC/ELC/S/C

9:00 AM ELC Bd. Meeting

Sheri DeHart

Mike DeHart

6:30 PM IMDC/S

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George DeHart

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2:30 PM -3:30 PM Prayer Group/C 6:30 PM Shared Supper

10:00 AM Worship @ Mt. Pleasant Conv. Hosp.

16 6:30 PM IMDC/ELC/S/C

4:00 PM Small Group/Wayne & Karen Hokanson's home

17 10:00 AM -10:00 PM CODA - Closed Event/LH

6:30 PM IMDC/S

Cathy Duncan

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Dennis Eliason

21

12:00 PM Bulletin deadline 6:30 PM Leadership Team Mtg

6:30 PM Shared Supper

Newsletter deadline Ann Fitzgerald

27 12:00 PM Bulletin deadline

Darlene Eliason

22

11:00 AM Worship & Fellowship/S

1:00 PM Small Group/O

Steve Goldammer

Katherine DeHart

7:00 PM Small Groups

3:00 PM LP Board Mtg

19

9:30 AM Worship/S

3

6:30 PM IMDC/ELC/S/C

7:00 PM Small Groups

Eva Duffy

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7 14 21 28

S 1 8 15 22 29

Saturday

6:30 PM Shared Supper

12

9:30 AM Worship/S

F

2

10:00 AM Worship @ Mt. Pleasant Conv. Hosp.

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4:30 PM -7:30 PM Port 101/LH Pentecost - Wear Red

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Friday

Pete Castonguay

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9:00 AM -10:00 AM Prayer Group/O

Thursday

4:00 PM Small Group/Wayne & Karen Hokanson's home

23

Therese Franzen

24

6:30 PM IMDC/ELC/S/C

2:30 PM -3:30 PM Prayer Group/C 6:30 PM IMDC/S

7:00 PM Small Groups

Elizabeth Fraasch

28

Abigail Fraasch

29

2:30 PM -3:30 PM Prayer Group/C 6:30 PM Shared Supper

Lessa Hawkes

9

Mike Glantz

30

4:00 PM Small Group/Wayne & Karen Hokanson's home

6:30 PM IMDC/ELC/S/C

6:30 PM IMDC/S

10:00 PM IMDC Women's Prayer Vigil/LH

7:00 PM Small Groups

Holly Hawkes

Virginia Fife

Terrance Hawkes

Jane Hendricks

Margie Glantz

Please pray for our members daily

JUNE 2017 GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH 121 SOUTH WHITE ROAD SAN JOSE, CA 95127-2993 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED TIME SENSITIVE INFORMATION~FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

CHURCH OFFICE PHONE: 408-729-7563 OFFICE HOURS: Varies

GDLC Web Site: http://www.gdlcsj.com/ CHURCH EMAIL: [email protected]

CHURCH STAFF

IMPORTANT PHONE #’S

Pastor: J. Patrick Fitzgerald Music Director: David Bakken Office Staff: Jean Rinerson Parish Nurse: Donna Zimmerman Sunday School Director: Wendy Kromrey

PASTOR’S HOME PHONE: 408-899-4343 MUSIC DIRECTOR: 408-858-9610 OFFICE: 408-729-7563 FAX LINE: 408-729-7578 PARISH NURSE OFFICE: 408-729-7563 SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR:

In cases of emergency, please call Pastor Pat at 408-899-4343 ELC Preschool Director: Rose Marie Duffy PRESCHOOL: 408-272-0321/[email protected] http://www.gloriadeipreschool.com/ Lord’s Pantry Director: Mary DeHart-Madson LORD’S PANTRY PHONE: 408-258-7563/[email protected] http://www.lordspantrygdlcsj.com/

DEADLINES FOR PUBLICATION Sunday Bulletin: Each TUESDAY by Noon! MONTHLY NEWSLETTER: Due in the church office no later than the 20th of the month.

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