ADULT BIBLE CLASSES AT REDEEMER
THE REDEEMER REPORTER
REDEEMER LUTHERAN CHURCH The Rev. Kirk Griebel
1054 Truman Avenue Home - 451-5266
Owatonna, MN 55060 Church Office - 451-2720
Web site:www.redeemerowatonna.org E-mail - rlcowat@smig.net
A Congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
April, 2008
Dear Fellow Redeemed,
Mr. Michael Mann from the National Institute on Media and the Family spoke at a symposium I attended recently. He pointed out some startling statistics. Kids today spend more time in front of a TV or computer screen than any other activity except sleeping. The video game industry has now surpassed the movie industry in size and is growing at a faster rate. Violent video games are a factor in 95% of all school shootings. At any given time there are 500,000 predators on the internet. The average vocabulary of a high school graduate in 1960 was 40,000 words. The average vocabulary of a high school graduate today is 10,000 words.
The overall goal of television and other media is to teach people to expect instant fulfillment of all their desires. Since only 17% of a child's brain is developed at birth, children's brains can be heavily influenced by their environment. It is especially important for children to develop the ability to delay gratification. Studies have shown that the ability to delay instant gratification for the purpose of greater rewards later is more important than intelligence when it comes to achieving success in life.
Due to the constant changing of digital media, laws that regulate the industry are often outdated by the time they are enacted. In some countries people no longer go out and buy video games because they know the games will be outdated in a short time. Instead, they simply download the latest games from the internet. For some games it is even possible now for users to customize the games to fit their own preferences.
Despite the bad news about the influence of media in today's society, Mr. Mann did not say we should avoid all media. There are many good media products available including ones that can help build up children in the Christian faith and parents still have the biggest influence on child development. When parents do a good job of monitoring what their children are watching and make themselves aware of what's out there electronic media can be a real blessing.
On Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. a four-week session for parents will start at Redeemer. All parents are welcome. The influence of media on our children will be one topic that these sessions will address. There will also be time for parents to get better acquainted and support each other. I strongly encourage all parents to attend. Let's all strive to do our very best for the children God has entrusted to our care.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Pastor Griebel
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ADULT BIBLE CLASSES AT REDEEMER
SUNDAYS: Pastor Griebel's class, which meets in the Social Hall during the Education Hour, is studying the book of Deuteronomy. All are welcome.
WEDNESDAY MORNING: The Wednesday morning Bible Class resume March 23 for a six-week spring term. We will study the resurrection appearances of Jesus that are recorded in the New Testament. The Old Testament book of Ruth will be studied in the later sessions. Join us for the next six Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
All adults are welcome to attend our Bible studies
FOR ALL PARENTS: A four-session parents class will be held at Redeemer starting on Wednesday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. We will take time to get to know each other, talk about today's parenting challenges, and have parents share with each other what works for them. Child care will be provided on a free-will donation basis. All parents with children of all ages are welcome.
VALKOMMEN TIL NORSK-KURS What does this mean? To find out what this phrase means, plan to attend the eight-week Norwegian language class that will be offered at Redeemer starting on Tuesday, April 22 from 7-8:00 p.m. This beginner's class will be taught by Annie Larson who was born and raised in Norway. The cost of the class is $30.00. Call Annie at 451-1178 to register.
SPECIAL REDEEMER NOTES:
- PORTALS OF PRAYER AND MY DEVOTIONS for the months of April thru June are available on the register stand in the narthex.
- RIDES FOR CHURCH If you are in need of a ride to church, remember that Redeemer can provide rides to church in our church van. If you need a ride to church please call the church office, 451-2720.
- BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING will take place after the worship service in the Parish Nurses Office on the second Sunday of April. Sponsored by
Thrivent
-REDEEMER ONTHE AIRWAVES Charter Communications offers a one hour broadcast of our services on Channel 8 at 1:0 p.m. on Tuesdays and at 3:30 p.m. on Fridays.
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YOUTH TO YOUTH:
The youth meet every Sunday at 10:15 in the youth room. Come join us!
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SIGN UP FOR ALTAR FLOWERS
Would you like to provide flowers to beautify our altar for worship on a Sunday morning? If you do, simply sign your name on the 2007 Flower Chart located on a bulletin board next to the office. If you are giving the flowers in memory of a loved one, or because of a wedding/anniversary or birthday, you may indicate that on the chart and we will share that information in the bulletin. Once you sign up, place a check for $19.00, made out to Redeemer Lutheran Church, in a special envelope marked “Altar Flowers”. Take it to the church office or place it in the offering plate. If you wish to have a special arrangement, contact the church office.
DOWN MEMORY LANE
Redeemer will be celebrating her Quasquicenntenial (125th) anniversary on Sunday, July 20. The theme for this celebration will be "Ebenezer" . Thus Far Has the Lord Helped Us", based on I Samuel 7:12. Rev. Ken Klaus, speaker of The Lutheran Hour (who also vicared at Redeemer) will be the guest speaker. All former pastors, DCE's and sons and daughters of the congregation that have gone into the ministry will be invited to be our guests for the day. A special festival worship service will be held at 10:00 a.m. followed by an "Old Fashioned Ham" catered banquet. Tickets for the Banquet are $10 and seating is limited. Call the church office to reserve tickets.
The Anniversary committee has been compiling records of Redeemer's history. If you have any pictures or other memorabilia related to Redeemer's history please 451-0550 or 413-0015. We are especially looking for pictures of the confirmation classes from the years 1960-1966, 1970, 1988-89, and 1992. Make plans now to join us in the special day of celebration.
LUTHERAN HOUR
Radio broadcasts are on KDHL Sundays - Radio (920am) at 6:00 p.m. KJLY (93.5) at 6:00 p.m. or WCCO 830AM at 6:00 a.m. If you would like to receive email devotions from Pastor Ken Klaus go to www.lhm.org/dailydevotions.asp
ON LINE GIVING AND JOYFUL RESPONSE
It is now possible to make a donation to Redeemer through our web site using a debit or credit card. Simply click on the "Make a Donation" link and follow the instructions. It's very simple. We are offering this option on a trial basis until the end of May.
The Joyful Response electronic offering program is still being offered too. This program is also very simple and gives members a way to give their offerings electronically instead of writing out checks. If you need a form to sign up for Joyful Response, contact the church office.
HAVE YOU INCLUDED REDEEMER IN YOUR WILL?
Estate planning is an important aspect of our overall stewardship of the gifts God gives us. By including Redeemer Lutheran Church or Redeemer's Endowment Fund in your will you will provide this congregation with additional resources to serve many people in the years and generation to come. For more information please contact the church office at 451-2720.
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Receive Redeemer's Newsletter Online!
We now have the capability of sending Redeemer's entire monthly newsletter by email.
If you would like to sign up to receive your church newsletter on line simply email the church at rlcowat@smig.net. The church will not give your email address to anyone else and will not send you any junk mail. Also, due to privacy reason, the online newsletter will not contain the names of any members of Redeemer other than staff members.
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S.A.G.E.S SAINTS ALIVE - STILL GROWING! Older adult gathering on May 5 & 6, 2008 at the Best Western, 111 Range Street., North Mankato, MN 56003. Speaker will be Dr. Paul Maier. Entertainer will be Jan Struck. Registrations will be received until April 16, 2008. For information and registration form, see the church office.
DIAPER SHOWER The Board of Evangelism is again holding a diaper shower until Mother's Day for those in need throughout Steele county. This is the 4th year that the Board has collected donations to help God's children. Starting on Sunday, April 27, and continuing through Mother's Day, May 11, we will be accepting new packages of diapers, cash donations and diaper coupons. Please place them on the pink and blue table in the Narthex. The Steele County Crisis Center; Public Health and Food Shelf organizations have been thrilled over the years to receive the diapers we have collected.
NOISY OFFERING Sunday, April 13, is the date of our next "Noisy Offering." Everyone is invited to bring their spare change to church and we will pass the metal kettles around to noisily offer our coins to the Lord. This noisy offering will be designated for utilities for the church.
HYMN FESTIVAL featuring hymns written by Lutheran pastor Rev. Stephen P. Stark and area musicians of Rochester will be held on Friday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN. A choir comprised of members from 6 Rochester area LCMS congregations, brass, and organ music will be featured. The hymn festival is free and open to the public. Prior to the hymn festival, the youth of Christ Lutheran will serve a spaghetti dinner from 5:30 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. suggested donation is $8 per adult,$4 per child 10 and under. Christ Lutheran Church is located at 2904 20th St. SE, corner of Marion Road and 20th Street in Rochester. Call (507) 289-0271 for more information.
HOUSEHOLD ELECTRONICS RECYCLING The Retrofit Companies, in cooperation with Steele County Environmental Services, will host a free, one-day household electronics collection on Saturday, April 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The following items will be accepted at no cost: computer monitors, mice, keyboards, speakers, CPUs and printers, TVs, laptop computers, DVSs, VCRs, and fax machines. Items accepted for a fee include fluorescent light bulbs, $.50; ballasts $3.00; household appliances $20.00; air conditioners $30.00. The collection will take place at The Retrofit Companies Owatonna facility at 3855 Hwy. 14 West.
WORKING IN THE WORD Great multitudes followed Jesus, not only to see the miracles He performed, but also to hear Him preach. Some had accepted Him as their personal savior. Some admired His method of teaching. Some were curious. Others were interested in how He interpreted the Word of God. Still others were seeking to find fault with what He said. Many of these people listened to Jesus without really taking to heart the Word which He proclaimed. It was for this reason that He spoke the parable of The Sower, a story from the Word that gives direction for hearing the Word.
1. What is a parable? Find definitions in both a dictionary and a Bible dictionary.
2. Can you think of some reason why Jesus told parables during a portions of His public ministry? (Read Matt 13:10-17. You may want to consult a Bible commentary.)
3. Read the parable of the Sower in Matt. 12:1-9, 18-23. See also Mark 4:1-9, 13-20; Luke 8:4-8, 11-15. What is the seed? What is the ground?
4. Complete the following chart. Identify the four types of soil, the results of sowing the seed in different ground, and describe the four classes of hearers together with the corresponding results. The first line has been completed for you. |
5. Name a Bible example/character for each of the four types of soil. Are there people that fit these four categories today?
6. How can one's type of soil be changed into good ground? What soil processing must be done to be more fruitful? What obstacles make it difficult to be a good hearer? what changes in your life would "improve the crop"?
7. What is the lesson of the parable? Close with a prayer that your study may bear fruit, and by signing the hymn, "Almighty God, Your Word is Cast."
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