June 2014
Ascension Announcer
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F r e e d o m
I watched 12 Years A Slave recently. It was easy to see how it won so many awards as
well as garnered so many nominations.
Without recapping the whole story, the general plot is one that was familiar in pre-Civil
War America. Solomon Northrop, a free African-American man, is kidnapped and sold
into slavery. He is learned and talented but those are not things prized in a Louisiana
slave. He’s forced to hide his gifts, keep his head down, and perform the brute labor
that he’s been bought to do. The story has many twist and turns as Solomon seeks a
way to get word to his family in the North about his plight. With the help of a
wandering Canadian carpenter, Solomon is finally able to get word to his friends in New
York.
The movie climaxes with a carriage pulling up to the cotton plantation where Solomon
lives. He’s working in the field when he’s called over to identify someone. It’s a man he
knew a life-time ago in Syracuse, New York: Mr. Parker. Solomon is asked a few more
questions to verify that he is who he says he is. Once Mr. Parker is sure that this is the
man he is looking for, he forcefully guides Solomon Northrop to the waiting
carriage. But not easily. The plantation owner, Mr. Epps, sees a $1000 investment
trying to walk off his land. In a short but violent scene, Mr. Fisher forcibly asserts that
Solomon is free while Mr. Epps argues that Solomon belongs to him. The scene is short
and, I believe, a sort of filler to get to what the director wants to really portray:
Solomon’s leaving of another slave, Patsy. But this scene between Mr. Parker and Mr.
Epps encapsulates what it’s like to be a Christian. It’s there that you’ll find a wonderful
picture of a theological truth.
That interaction between Mr. Parker and Mr. Epps is a fantastic embodiment of the
classic Latin theological phrase: simul iustus et peccator which means, every man is
“simultaneously saint and sinner.” There is a constant argument over identity that
wages inside each and every one of us. On the one hand is Satan and his minions who
are like Mr. Epps. They curse at us, swear at us, tell us that we are nothing but a slave
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to them. They spit and fume and fuss. They tell us that they own us. They tell us that we
aren’t worth anything and we aren’t going anywhere. They remind us that we are sinners. We
have always been sinners. We will always be sinners. They seek to keep us in slavery.
On the one hand there is Christ and His Holy Spirit who are like Mr. Parker. They tell us that
we are free, that we are not meant for a life of slavery, that we are loved beyond all measure,
that we are worth much more than $1000… or whatever price we think has been paid for
us. Christ reminds us every day that we were always intended to be free men but were
kidnapped by sin and sold into slavery. This is was never our intended state. Christ tells us
every day that we are saints, forgiven men and women, because He has paid the price for our
redemption. We are saints and we will live with Christ in holiness forever.
“For freedom Christ has set you free…” –Galatians 5:1 For a little while yet, we are still
slaves to sin but we look forward to that day when a dear Friend of ours from a different
lifetime comes to call us out of this life of slavery and into the freedom that He has prepared
for us.
Pastor Tom
“Haitian View” By Pastor Daniel Paul
“Imagine that, the price of fuel is $10.00/gal and that you
still have the same job for the same salary you do not have
money. Your truck needs fuel as energy to run so that you
can go everywhere. In the next few days, a visitor comes
and fill up your tank. How would you receive his action?
He helps you, health, your economy, your truck and your
job.
This is the same thing and even better when you help the kids in Haiti to find their energy
with a hot meal a day trough Trinity Hope. The parents are not able to buy food for their kids
because they do not have job and the price of food is expensive. The kids cannot study at
school because they do not have energy. But you as supporter, you are the one who brings
back energy in these school kids in Haiti. You help: the country, the parents, the church District Presidents, the teachers, the feeding program directors, the vendors, and the cooks. For
Jesus says in Matthew 25: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.”
Trinity Hope is preaching Jesus’ love in our schools in Haiti. Please bless Him so that He can
bless Haiti as well.”
Pastor Daniel Paul, Ounaminthe, Haiti
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Lutheran Women’s
Missionary League
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League will not be meeting during the summer
months.
However, our Large “MITE BOX” will greet you in the Narthex, on the second
Sunday of the following three (3) months:
June 8th, July 13th and August 10th. We wish to take this opportunity to “Thank
You” for your consistent help in the past with projects in the Mid-South District, as
well as, distant places.
A big Thank You
Carolyne Willis
Elsa Krengel
Jennifer Meyers
Ora Mae Golter
goes to our outgoing officers. They are:
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Election of officers for next year took place at our May meeting.
The new slate is as follows:
Ora Mae Golter President
Cherri Walker
Vice President
Linda Fritz
Secretary
Carolyne Willis Treasurer
“Retired Old Men Eating Out” will meet on
Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 8:30 am. They
meet at the Rivergate IHOP at 2219 Gallatin Pike N in
Madison. All are welcome!
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Fifth Sunday Potluck
June 29, 2014
Potluck will begin after worship.
Hope to see you there with your yummy dish!
Coming August 3
Wendysue Fleugge
Wendy Sue is a Lutheran musician winding her way
from Florida to her home in Wisconsin this summer.
She’ll be stopping to sing at Ascension on Sunday
night, August 3 at 6:30 p.m. Her program is
contemporary and VERY kid friendly.
Make plans to join us!
NOTES FROM THE BALCONY
The Choir will be gearing up to sing again on Pentecost
Sunday, June 8. It’s not too late to be a part of our
choir. Contact Dennis Anderson
(rdathepa@hotmail.com) for more info!
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Summer
Sunday
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School
We are asking for volunteers to help teach Summer Sunday School lessons. Below are some key
things to know:
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All ages and grades will be combined into one class (except for the Confirmation & High
School students).
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Parents are asked to help with “crowd control.”
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The format of the class is up to the teacher for that week— start with the lesson, then
crafts, then a game or song, even a snack if the teacher wants.
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Lesson materials will be provided in advance.
A b o u t
o u r
S u m m e r
P r o g r a m . . .
About H2Oh! God Keeps His Promises
Dive into these Bible stories to discover the promises God made to His
people in the Bible and to us! Young explorers will jump into the Bible to
learn more about Noah, Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Naaman, Lydia, Paul and
others as they discover how God has poured out His love for His people in
these fourteen Old and New Testament stories:
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H2Oh! Everywhere (Noah)
Walking through H2Oh! (Crossing the Red
Sea)
Miraculous H2Oh! (Water from the Rock)
H2Oh! Survival (Elijah at the Brook
Cherith)
Fire and H2Oh! (Elijah and the Prophets of
Baal)
Cleansing H2Oh! (Naaman Healed)
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H2Oh! Ride (Jonah)
Revealing H2Oh! (John the Baptist)
Changing H2Oh! (Wedding at Cana)
H2Oh! Safety (Built on the Rock)
Servant H2Oh! (Jesus Washes the
Disciples’ Feet)
Meeting at the H2Oh! (Lydia is Baptized)
H2Oh! Rescue (Paul’s Shipwreck)
Living H2Oh! (The River of Life)
Youth at Ascension
High
School Activities
Movie Under the Stars
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Grades 9-12
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Date—Friday, June 27
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Time—7:30pm (movie will start once dark)
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Location—the Vanderbilt’s
What will we watch? It is up to you!
Bring a chair or blanket to sit on and a snack to share.
Our Seniors
We had 2 seniors graduating from High School this year.
Wendy Golter
Nathaniel Oehlkers
Hendersonville High School
White House Heritage High School
Wendy is the daughter of Greg Golter
and the granddaughter of LaVon and
Ora Mae Golter.
On May 16, she graduated from
Hendersonville High School with
Noteable Recognition.
One of Wendy’s best memories from
Youth Group was the National Youth
Gathering in San Antonio because it
was in San Antonio and she had fun
with friends.
Wendy plans to attend Tennessee
Tech University to study nursing.
Nathaniel is the son of Jeff and Pam
Oehlkers.
On May 18, he graduated from White
House Heritage High School.
Nathaniel’s best memories from
Youth Group have been the trips to
Youth Week at Camp Okoboji the last
5 years. “I loved being gable to make
new friends and be with kids who are
Lutheran as well.”
Nathaniel plans to attend Tennessee
Volunteer State Community College in
to study sports medicine.
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SERVING ASCENSION IN JUNE
LECTORS
GREETERS
ACOLYTES
June 1
Cheri Walker
Fred & Grace Lehman
Caleb Oehlkers
June 8
Dennis Fritz
Cherri Walker
Nathan Gupton
June 15
Robert Conner
David & Liz Brown
Zack LaLumondier
June 22
Rick Speitel
Trisha & Mark LaLumondier
Derek Kendall
June 29
Linda Fritz
Phil Weinert
Caleb Oehlkers
The Serving Ascension Page will only be mailed to participants without
email. Readers will still receive a copy of the bulletin. The Serving Ascension Page is available at www.ascensionmadison.com and it will be emailed
to each monthly volunteer. If you are unable to serve, please secure a replacement and call the church office at 868-2346.
USHERS
Jeff Meyers
Nathaniel Oehlkers
ELDER
Mark LaLumondier
ALTAR CARE
Pam Oehlkers
Cindy Dougherty
Happy Birthday
COFFEE HOUR
June 1
Rachel Oehlkers
June 8
Debbie Diers
June 15
Sandy Bradley
June 22
Cheri Walker
June 29
Amy Conner
Happy Anniversary
June 2—Alicia Houston
June 22—Cherri Walker
June 4—David Brown
June 23—Dawn Craik
June 5—Bob Wright
June 23—Ron Krengel
June 6—Derek Wiebbecke
June 24—Athena Graham
June 6—Mary Wright
June 26—Erin Fritz
June 9—Debbie Kendall
June 28—Hattie Pickel
Steve & Laurie Boggs—June 22
June 12—Alyssa Bice
June 29—Joan Johnson
Mark & Trisha LaLumondier—June 25
June 13—Sandra Jennings
John & Frances Boggs—June 14
Paul & Sandra Ohme—June 15
Yuji & Minae Hayashi—June 16
Pastor Tom and Sara Vanderbilt—June 28
June 16—Ashley Smith
If your birthday or anniversary is incorrect or has been left out, please call the Church Office so
our records can be updated. Thanks.
Our Mission: The mission of Ascension Evangelical
Lutheran Church is to connect people to the one true
God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—so that they may
come to know and believe they are saved for eternal
life by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Our Ministry: In faithfulness to the will of God as revealed in His word, using the opportunities He places
before us, we intentionally and actively seek to build
relationships with those outside the Church in order to
plant seeds of the Gospel, provide opportunities for all
to be nurtured in the Christian faith, and equip all people to put their faith in action.
A S C E N S I O N
L U T H E R A N C H U R C H
Rev. Thomas W. Vanderbilt, Pastor
610 W. Old Hickory Blvd.
Madison, TN 37188
Phone: 615-868-2346
website: ascensionmadison.com
e-mail: office@ascensionmadison.com
9:00 am
10:00 am
10:30 am
Sunday School
Fellowship
Divine Service