Messenger The Pacific Hills

THE LENTEN SEASON The Lenten season is the fourth season in the church year (after Advent, Christmas and Epiphany). It begins with Ash Wednesday and is the oldest season of the church year. The original period of Lent seems to have been 40 hours. It was spent in fasting and contemplation on the sufferings of Christ. Later it became 30 days, then 36, and finally, in the reign of Charlemagne (about 800 AD), 40 days. Lent originally had one purpose — to prepare candidates for Baptism. For hundreds of years, the Baptism itself took place late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning before the dawn of Resurrection Day, during an all-night vigil. The 40 days of Lent do not include the Sundays. Sundays in Lent — like every other Sunday — were to be “mini” resurrection days celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and not part of the Lenten fast. The 40 days of Lent correspond to Christ’s 40 days in the wilderness. The date of Lent is determined by the date of Resurrection Sunday. The Council of Nicea (held in 325 AD) determined that Resurrection Sunday would be observed on the first Sunday following the 14th day of the paschal moon. Lent probably comes from the old English word for Spring: Lenten (it may also be related to the German word for the time when the days lengthen: lenz). The day before Ash Wednesday, Shrove (or FAT) Tuesday, is celebrated in many parts of the world with feasting. The French call it Mardi Gras; the Germans call is Fasching. The feasting comes from the custom of using up household fats prior to the 40 days of Lenten fasting when no fats were used. Today, many people have the tradition of “giving up” something for Lent or dedicating themselves to greater service and alms-giving during Lent as a way of focusing more attention on our Savior — who gave up His very life that we might live with Him in His heaven forever! However, more than “giving up” or “doing” something the Lenten Season is a bold exhortation and call to “repent” and return to the Lord! The Lenten Season has a strong repentance theme. What our Lord wants us to give up is our “sin” and then to bear fruit in keeping with that repentance … not just during Lent, but “daily.” Luther rightly taught they we are to “daily” drown the Old Adam within, so that the New Man might “daily” emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. May your Lenten journey be blessed and may the season be a reminder to you to “daily” answer our Lord’s call to return to Him in repentance and faith.

Blessings, Pastor Bryan E. Drebes

Church Events Sunday 8:00am Eucharist 9:15am Choir Rehearsal 9:15am Education Hour 10:30am Eucharist 7:00pm Pastor’s Conf.-Kearney Monday 8:00am Pastor’s Conf.-Kearney 5:30pm Lutheran Family Service 6:30pm Quilters Tuesday 8:00am Pastor’s Conf.-Kearney 9:00am Tai Chi 9:30am Care Ministry Committee 9:30am Alanon Wednesday 9:30am Eucharist 10:00am Fellowship 2:00pm Lenten Worship 5:15pm Children’s Music 6:00pm Youth Confirmation 7:00pm Lenten Worship 8:00pm Campus Ministry Thursday 6:30pm Tai Chi 7:00pm Elder’s Board 7:00pm Gamblers Friday 7:30pm Omaha Philatelic Soc. Saturday 8:30am Directors/Elders Retreat Daylight Savings Time Sunday 8:00am Eucharist 9:00am Blood Pressure Checks 9:15am Choir Rehearsal 9:15am Education Hour 10:30am Eucharist 12:00pm Worship & Music Comm.

MARCH 3, 2017, WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

PACIFIC HILLS LUTHERAN CHURCH

VOLUME 2 NUMBER 9

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave…”

Today’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God by Vernon and Elaine Pearson in thanksgiving for all the blessings they receive daily. The 2017 Sunday Altar Flower Chart is located on the coatroom bulletin board. There are several weeks within the year still available for sponsorship. The cost is still $25. Pacific Hills is looking for a fill-in custodian to work when Mark Stastny, our custodian is on vacation or ill. Work hours would be flexible and training provided. Wages would be hourly, but a volunteer willing to step up and serve would be welcomed. Contact Jim Mueller at jmuelx@yahoo.com or call 402-390-2646 with any questions. Our Lenten Journey for 2017 — From the “Ripping of Cloth” on Ash Wednesday to the shouts of “Praising People” on Palm Sunday to the “Pounding of the Hammer” on Good Friday, our Midweek Lenten and Holy Week Sermon Series for 2017 will be: “The Sights and Sounds of Christ’s Passion.” Plan now to join us each week at 2pm or 7pm. Also featured will be a “He did this for me cross,” where worshippers throughout Lent can nail their sins of thought, word and deed. This will be our visual reminder that Christ’s Passion was for “me.” Comedy, BBQ, Men, Road Trip: On Sunday, April 2, at 5:30pm, the Men’s Ministry at Peace Lutheran in Grand Island, NE, will be sponsoring their annual “Man Feast Event” featuring Comedian Jeff Allen. This annual event, for men only, is an evening of fellowship, inspiration, music, prayer, great food and fun comedy. Pastor Drebes would like to lead a group of men from Pacific Hills. If you would like to attend and be part of the car-pool please contact Pastor Drebes at bryandrebes@pacifichillslutheran.org no later than, Monday, March 20. Tickets are $25.00. For more information go to http://www.peacegi.org. If you need to receive gluten-free communion wafers or alcohol-free wine, contact pastor, an elder, or an usher, for Sunday and Wednesday communion (and visitation to shut-ins). Lamb of God Preschool is looking for a classroom aide for the 2017-18 school year. The position is 20 hours a week (mornings) following a school year schedule. Must have experience working with young children. If you or anyone you know is interested in this position please contact director/teacher Kay Storck at 402-391-2288 or KayStorck@PacificHillsLutheran.org. OMAHA GIVES: Mark your calendar for May 24. This is the date of Omaha Gives. Omaha Gives is a community foundation that supports various community organizations and non-profits. May 24th is the big, annual day of giving. Plan now to participate and support Pacific Hills Lutheran Church. 500th Anniversary Reformation Tour --- Pastor Drebes will be leading a tour to Germany over the celebration of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation. The tour will depart on October 24 and return on November 4. Brochures are available in the church office.

This next weekend (Saturday, March 11th) our Board of Directors and Elders will be meeting in retreat on the UNO Campus. This will be a visioning and planning retreat led by our former District President, Rev. Russ Sommerfeld. One major outcome of this retreat will be to articulate 3-5 major areas of focus, so that we might “move the needle” at Pacific Hills toward a path of renewed strength and vitality. Questions will be asked such as: What makes us unique in God’s kingdom? What is our “DNA” as church? What are our strengths? Weaknesses? What opportunities are before us that we have not engaged? What are the needs of our community? What do we want to see change? What needs to stay the same? What threats do we face as a congregation? How do we want to focus our limited resources and energies to be most effective in God’s kingdom? Please keep your church leadership in your thoughts and prayers as we vision, dream, and plan and above all are open to where God is leading. --- Pastor Drebes Events of Other Congregations and Agencies

11th Annual Concordia Omaha Gala, Friday, March 3, Embassy Suites-West-LaVista. 5pm - Silent Auction, Cocktails, Benefit Drawing and Wine Pull. 7pm - Dinner followed by Live Auction and Entertainment. Dinner Menu: Blackened Shrimp Salad, Steak Filet, Seared Chicken Breast with Spiced Apricot Glaze, Garlic Smashed Potatoes, Roasted Vegetables, and Dessert Dash To register for tickets go to: http://www.concordiaomaha.org Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, 5529 Leavenworth St, “Celebrating 75 years of Commending Christ from One Generation to Another” prayer service” on March 4 at 9:30am. Refreshments served at 9am. Service lead by Pastor Andrew Gerike, Zone Counselor. L.E.A.F. (Lutheran Education Advancement Fund) Dinner and Silent Auction, Friday, March 31, at S.t Paul Lutheran School (5020 Grand Ave.). Speaker, Bob Ziegler, Education and Youth Ministries-Nebraska District-LCMS. Tickets—$25. See www.stpaullitheranchurch-school.com or call 402-451-2865 for more information. Concordia High School Athletics Department is seeking a head varsity football coach. Qualified candidates will also be active members of a Christian congregation and have a desire to lead, instruct and mentor student athletes in a Christian manner. A complete background check will be part of the application process. Interested individuals can send their cover letter and resume to Ben Ersland, Activities Director, at ben.ersland@concordiaomaha.org.

PRAYER LIST March 3, 2017

(Family and Friends: Please call the church office to add/remove names below.)

Vera Krengel (mother of Barbara Fremder) Alma Meseke (aunt of Barbara Fremder) Dave Minor (husband of Linda Minor) Bob Nelson (son of Barb and Lew Nelson) Both Nyun (family of Peter Chol) Heidi Padilla (niece of Doris Anderson) Jim Pape (father of Debbie Fraser) Jo Anna Perkins (friend of Dennis Grindle) Helen Small (grandmother of Kristen Karl) Charlotte Thompson (sister of Leon Siedlyk) Erika, Logan and Ellie Walker Gavin Webster (grandson of Larry and Judy Webster) Special Intercessions: Those who travel and those who protect us All who lead us ecclesiastically and politically Missions/Missionaries of the Church Our Campus Ministry program Our Lamb of God Preschool All Lutheran Schools The pastors, staffs, and members of our North Circuit congregations, schools, and preschools. Ministry of Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha Concordia University, Seward Mentally ill, their caregivers, and PHLC Care Ministries The ill, hospitalized, dying, and grieving Health and protection of all children, including the unborn Unemployed/financial difficulties End to terrorism and for justice and peace among all nations The incarcerated Pray for God’s grace and mercy upon all who face trials, chronic illnesses, or addictions, and upon all who lack a saving faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior Unrest in the U.S. and the world Victims of storms across the country

Readings for Sunday, March 12: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-8, 13-17; John 3:1-17

Birthdays Kay Barjenbruch 3/7 Geraldine Rueter 3/9 Christian Warneke 3/9 Ann Privitera 3/10 Sue Erickson 3/11

Death: Erna Melcher, (grandmother of Kay Storck)

PHLC Members: Frank Bladt, Grady Chastain, Mary Lou Chastain, Emily Demmel, Les Demmel, Duane Fieck, Jeannine Fulner, James Gatluak, Paul Gladman, Helen Glanzer, Dennis Grindle, Mike Horton, Sue Kelly, Christopher Kiihne, James Koun, Carol Lacz, Bob Loeck, Ramona Long, Harriet Moore, Vernon Pearson, Leon Rottmann, Geraldine Rueter, Leon Siedlyk, Alfred Simonsen, Chris Stastny, Dorothy Storek, Mary Sunderman, Carolyn Vierck, Marilyn Walker, JoAn Werblow, Roger Wohlers, Sara Young In Assisted Living Facilities: Charlotte Berkland, Mary Lou Chastain, Dorothy Ebener, Lois Eggers, Jeannine Fulner, Mike Lessmann, Norma Payne, Jean Schmieding, Alfred Simonsen, Marilyn Walker, Dena Zak, Bob Bailey, Ruth Baumgartner, Jan Bouc, Helene Stigge

Friends and Relatives: Tyler Adams (grandson of Don and Lorene Adams) Luetta Beckman (mother of Linda Minor) Sandy Botrell (cousin of Barbara Fremder) Oscar Brown (nephew of David Haar) Carol Copple (sister-in-law of Doris Anderson) Patty Dyer (niece of Leon Siedlyk) Ron Ethan (friend of Helen Glanzer and Kae Stille) Elizabeth Grindle (mother of Dennis Grindle) Sharlene Grindle (sister-in-law of Dennis Grindle) Nathan Kander in Military (nephew of Alice Osborn) Philip Kander in Military (nephew of Alice Osborn)