SHIPS LOG
St. Jude’s By the Sea Lutheran Church
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Volume XXIII, number 11 November 2008
Giving Thanks with a Grateful Heart
We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a worship service on
Thursday, November 27 at 9:00 a.m. The public is welcomed to attend!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - Sunday Brazilian Worship Services
November 5, 12 - JD’s Club Meetings and Activities, 3:30 p.m.
November 6, 13, 20 - Thursday Ladies Bible Study, 1-2 p.m.
November 9 - Camp Dixie Dinner
November 10 - Christian Service Center Meeting
November 10 - Elders’ Meeting, 5:00 p.m.
November 10 - Voters’ Potluck (5:30 p.m.)/ Mtg. (6:30 p.m.)
November 17 - JD’s PIE ORDER DEADLINE
November 26 - Church Thanksgiving Dinner
November 27 - Thanksgiving Service, 9:00 a.m.
From the Bridge...
The Final Days
The year 2008 is coming to a close, and what an interesting year it has been! First, our country experienced unusual storms and flooding rivers, the California fires, and the many hurricanes (including an erratic Fay that landed four times in Florida!). Then, our economy went crazy as we watched gas and food prices soar and the stock market spiral. Not to mention the long campaigning and eventual elections of the presidential candidates. All these events have made this a tumultuous year! It also brings to the minds of many Christians the Biblical warnings of the Final Days. Are we living in the end times? What should we do?
First, what are the "Final Days"? The Final Days are when Christ comes again to take believers to heaven. While we cannot be sure if these are the "Final Days" of Christ’s Second Coming, we can be sure that one day our own lives will come to an end on this earth. Since each person will experience his own "final days" on this earth, it is important to remember that those are the most important in a person’s life. When life on this earth ends, judgment by God begins, "For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat." (Romans 14:10b) So, while some people are ready, others will be caught off guard and are unprepared. How do we prepare ourselves for this? How will God judge one to be worthy enough to be received into heaven or not?
The Bible says in John 3:16-18, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." His son is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
In the world there are many people who are not prepared for their final days and judgment before God - and the reality is, as the Bible says, they will go to hell! Not only must we be ready, but we must also willingly share this Gospel message of Jesus Christ so others may also receive the gift of salvation in heaven!
In these troubling times, read your Bible to find true peace and assurance of God’s care. Share your faith and offer prayers to give you and others strength. May the true Church offer support through the Holy Spirit as together we await God’s glory through Christ. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. ~ Matthew 24:14
-From the "Skipper"
Pastor Deral Rollings
St. Jude’s by the Sea Lutheran Church
Fishers-of Men Tales...
Episcopal Bishops Seek to Defeat True Marriage
All six Episcopal Church bishops in California have taken up arms against Proposition 8, an amendment that would change the California Constitution to preserve the integrity of marriage as being between one and one woman, according to the Sacramento Bee. Proposition 8 will be voted on in the general election .
In contrast, a large number of faith communities in California have publicly united in avid support of Proposition 8, and are warning voters that the continued dominance of homosexual "rights" in California law will inevitably lead to the marginalization of religious rights.
Proposition 8 would reinforce the wishes of 61% of California voters who supported true marriage in 2000. The California State Supreme Court overturned the popular vote earlier this year by legalizing same-sex "marriage," outraging Californians who complained that a handful of activist judges managed to hijack the democratic process. -LifeSiteNews.com and Baptist Press
Pentagon to Spend $250 Million Studying Stem Cells
The Pentagon has announced it is investing a Quarter-billion dollars into stem-cell research, reports CitizenLink.com. The Pentagon plans to speed research in a five-year initiative to further unlock the ability of adult stem cells to stop scarring, rebuild tendons and grow bones, in order to aid injured military personnel. Adult stem-cell therapy works by harnessing the patient’s own regenerative ability, since the cells are harvested from the patient’s own skin, bones, or wisdom teeth.
Col. Bob Vandre of the Army’s Medical Research & Materiel Command, who authorized the initiative, expressed excitement at the possibilities of adult stem cell research.
Dr. David Prentice, senior fellow for life sciences at the Family Research Council, said there is little to suggest that embryonic stem-cell research carries the same promise, since only adult stem cells have a proven track record. "There’s such an obsession in the U.S. with embryonic stem cells," said Prentice. "About all embryonic stem cells have done is make tumors in rats". ~ LifeSiteNews.com- Pulpit Helps
Making Waves across the Sea...
A Local Mission Opportunity
During this month of Thanksgiving, how many of you will give thanks for the home you live in? In a related question, how many of you will give thanks to those men and women who risk their lives to save others and protect homes from the damage of a fire?
A few years ago, we invited the local Gulf Shores Fire Department career men to attend our Wednesday Thanksgiving meal along with our local members, associates, and winter friends. Pastor Rollings became a volunteer firefighter in the year 2000 when they only had 14 men serving on 3 shifts. He continues to serve as a volunteer and as a chaplain. With recent Homeland Security Grants accepted by the city during the past few years, the Department added about 36 paid personnel. Gulf Shores now has 45 career men with about 20 volunteers, a Fire Marshal, a Deputy Fire Chief, and a Fire Chief. Once again, St. Jude’s invites these paid professional personnel (which amounts this year to about 18 men) for dinner during their shift duty on Wednesday, November 26, the day before Thanksgiving .
We also invite our local members, associates, and winter friends to join us as we give thanks to our dedicated fireman and to God, the source of all blessings! If you can help with the meal , we do ask that you check the sign-up sheet to help coordinate what food items to bring (besides the turkeys). Pastor also needs a host(s) to help coordinate the meal. Please see Pastor if you can assist.
Thanksgiving Service on Thursday, November 27
A worship service of thanksgiving to God will be held on Thanksgiving Day at 9:00 a.m. Like our Pilgrim ancestors, may we take time to thank God, the source of all blessings!
Holiday Pies for Sale through Nov. 23
Our JD’s Youth Group will be holding their annual "Thanksgiving Pie Fundraiser" this month. The J.D.’s will be baking three different kinds of pies this year: pumpkin, pecan, and "Dixie" (pecan with chocolate!) All pre-paid orders will be taken from Nov. 9 to Nov. 17. These homemade desserts will be ready for pick-up on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving! Order forms are now available from the J.D.’s (see Tessa Moody) Please help support our Youth Group! The funds will be used to improve the east side play area and for outreach events.
Christmas Poinsettias for the Church
St. Jude’s will be purchasing holiday poinsettia plants to adorn the altar and church sanctuary and to share the festivity and beauty of the Christmas season. More details on how you may help with this special project through a donation will be shared next month.
Keep in mind that Advent begins the last Sunday in November!
Month of November Birthdays
5... Dossie Frey
10...Sandra Scurek
13...Mike Myers
14...Ronald Vice
28..Rivers Amison
Wedding Anniversaries
4...Michael & Robin Myers
5...Carl & Millie Nelson
7...Richard & Diana Watson
27...Roland & Barbara Bultemeyer
24... Ronald & Hertha Vice
28…Lloyd & Lois Budde
ST. JUDE’S OFFICERS AND STAFF
President: Gary Sinak Vice-President: Eddie Moody
Elders: Jack Peterson (Ushers), vacant (Music),
Joe Cotton (Education)
Treasurer: Joyce Hellbusch
Financial Secretary: Melissa Moody
Property: LeRoy Terveen, vacant, vacant
Recording Secretary (Voters Assembly):
Rev. H. Hoeferkamp (pro tem)
Altar Guild: Edna Baumann
Baldwin Lutheran School Association Representatives:
Glenn Baumann, Maynard Hellbusch, Joe Cotton
Sunday School Superintendent: Jean Rollings
Prayer Chain Coordinator: Carolyn Aldridge
Musician: Richard Hoff
Voter’s Assembly on November 10
The St. Jude’s Voter’s Assembly will be held on Monday, November 10. A pot-luck supper will be at 5:30 p.m., and the meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. This month we will focus on the church budget. All members are encouraged to attend!
The JD’s Wild Pumpkin-run!
Last month the J.D.’s went on a "pumpkin-run" to Elberta, only to discover a poor crop of potential Jack-O-Lanterns! A local trip to the Superstore provided us with a few more perfect specimens to carve. Two examples of our youth group’s creativity were displayed on the kitchen counter for all to enjoy! While the trip was really wild, the group enjoyed the orange grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato bisque soup that awaited them for supper! This month’s fun activity will be a trip to the Cobb Movie Theater to see the new "Madagascar" film!
NEW ON THE CHURCH WEBSITE…Listen to our weekly Sunday Services
on our website!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"The president of the United States hears a hundred voices telling him that he is the greatest man in the world. He must listen carefully to hear the one voice that tells him he’s not. "
~ Former President Harry Truman
