Dr. Paul Maier scheduled to speak at Grace on Saturday, January 17, 2009 from 9:00am-3:15pm.
Dr. Maier will be speaking on two topics:
“Christ or Caricature?” – At a time when the broadcast media, books, and our news magazines offer caricatures of Christ, his genuine portrait becomes even clearer with new evidence from history and archeology.
“Christianity and the Competition” – With all the world religions claiming to teach the truth, what makes Christianity any different? The credentials of our faith are compared with those of religions in the East and West. No contest!
You will also have the opportunity to speak with Dr Maier and have books autographed.
Dr. Maier will also be our guest preacher for our Mission Weekend, January 17-18. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet him!
It is not too late to register for Assuring our Faith 2009! For the 3rd year, this great collaboration of LCMS churches with Rochester Central Lutheran School (RCLS) offers you a choice of four different classes to assure your faith. The classes are for five weeks in January and February. They are held at RCLS on Sunday January 11, 18, 25 and February 1, & 8 from 4:00-5:30pm with childcare offered. A meal is offered immediately afterwards for a small offering. Come join us! Registration forms can be obtained at church or call the church office.
There WILL be Sunday School on January 4, 2009
The Miracles of Jesus: There will be a special Sunday School program for all 2nd through 5th grade students kicking off with a movie and popcorn on January 4, 2009. The five week rotational program will include music, drama, stories, cooking and art. Please invite your friends to join in on the fun!
4th & 5th grade will not need to bring their Bibles to the rotational program.
Gals of Grace will meet for lunch at the Olive Garden on January 20th at 12:30 pm. Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there. We are looking for new ideas for our group to do monthly, etc.
As is traditional for the beginning of the year, January is World Mission month. This theme is in keeping with the visitation of the Wise Men to Jesus and the sharing of the Gospel with Gentile nations. Our global outreach will continue with both the Ablaze! theme and Russian commitment by adding to our Russian missionary team, Missionary Matthew Heise. Matt was born in Dearborn, MI and is a lifelong member of Guardian Lutheran Church in Dearborn. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree from Wayne St. University and a degree in divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. He is the grandson of Russian-German immigrants and is currently working with LCMS and Lutheran Hour Ministry in Georgia, a country near the Black Sea between Caucasus Mountains of Russia and Turkey. You may have heard about Georgia in the news when there were conflicts and invasion of one of Georgia cities by Russian troops. Matt partners with the church of Ingria and teaches seminary courses as well as English-as-a-second- language classes. Matt is tutoring three students so that they can complete their course work for a bachelor of divinity program so that they can establish a congregation in Kutaisi, Georgia. During January you will be learning more about Matt and his ministry in Georgia. Look for new pictures on the mission bulletin board! Please pray for safety for Matt and all other missionaries and for “a boldness to witness to the hope that I have in Jesus Christ, with gentleness and respect.”