Faith Newsletter A P R I L 2 0 1 9 V O L U M E 5 4 , I S S U E 4

How does God

“Bring His

Children home?”

Through YOU!

When YOU invite

them to hear

the Word of God

with YOU!

Invite

a family member,

neighbor,

Co-worker, fellow

student, or friend

to join YOU on

Sunday

in attending.

Worship

Services:

8:00 A.M.

Traditional

10:30 A.M.

Contemporary

Sunday School

available Pre-K to

5th Grade

during services.

Bible Study for

H.S. to adult

at 9:20 A.M.

America means Mickey Mouse. The recreational mec-ca called Disney World has sup-planted America’s historical mecca called Washington, D.C., as the nation’s most popular tourist site. Some now argue that Dis-neyland/World is the spirit of Ameri-ca, the nation’s key sacred space, the bearer of the images that carry Ameri-can meaning and mission.

Disney’s mission statement is sim-ple and straightforward: “Provide Peo-ple Happiness.” In its quest to meet

this goal, Disney focuses all its ener-gies in the realm of fantasy—convincing the whole country that to find happi-ness involves es-caping reality. When you visit Dis-ney World, its cen-tral image is the Castle of Sleeping Beauty. Its grace-ful, soaring story-book towers and turrets preside over the rest of the

Faith Newsletter is published monthly by Faith Lutheran Church Riverside

4785 Jackson Street, Riverside, CA 92503 Phone: (951) 689-2626, Fax: (951) 689-3829

Visit us at www.facebook.com/faithriversideca

and at www.flcr.org

E-mail us at: faithriverside@att.net

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up! How can you have a dream come true if you don’t wake up first? This is a truth we live in because of what Jesus did for us on that first Easter! But what does it mean for our lives now that Christ has risen from the dead? There is more to the Christian life than just wishful thinking—we are called to reality and to action, as James 2:15-18 says.

Yet, many Americans like their dreams to be more dreamlike. Con-sider the deeply traditional pilgrim-age almost all Americans feel pulled to make at least once in their lives—to Ameri-ca’s new heart-land, Disney.

Disney’s role in America’s modern mythol-ogy is absolute-ly critical, even central. In-creasingly the world sees Dis-ney as the real symbol of Amer-ica. Forget the Statue of Liber-ty, the Consti-tution, the Bill of Rights—

FROM OUR PASTOR’S DESK… Pastor Paul Wenz

Continued on next page...

NEXT ELDER’S MEETING ON: April 8th @ 5:30 PM

NEXT B.O.D. MEETING ON: April 17th @ 6 PM

theme park below. Yet unlike all the other attrac-tions in this wonderland it is only a hollow shell—void of content. Except for a few novelty shops along the walkway that cuts through it, this beau-tiful symbol of Disney’s fantasy world come to life is empty.

But its very emptiness is full of meaning. For that is precisely the function of Disney World—to empty us of the harsh realities of life and render us unconscious to those things which are too hard to bear. That is part of the experience of Disney—to become “unconscious” of the real world and to enter a never-never land of fantasy and fakery. Fittingly Sleeping Beauty’s Castle—a monument to a trance-like sleep—serves as the portal to this plane.

If Disney entices participants to fall asleep in order to escape life, the church’s mission is to urge people to wake up—in order to experience an authentic and full existence. Easter is a call to all believers announcing the dawning of our new relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This is a radically new reality. The message of Easter wakes us, not just from a lethargic slumber, but also calls us forth from tombs of sin, bound in grave clothes of despair, to wear robes of right-eousness and hope! Easter is not an empty Disney-fantasy. Easter is the rousing, transforming power of God shaking each and everyone of us awake to a life in Christ, a life eternal.

But how apathetic the church can be in the face of this miraculous gift. We would rather slumber on in a fog than be awakened to the promise of the future. We can find ourselves sitting in church on Easter morning sometimes, rejoicing in the Good News with eyelids heavy and attentiveness droopy as a result of late night preparations and sunrise service celebrations. What really mobilizes us more—Sleeping Beauty’s empty castle or Jesus Christ’s empty tomb? The mission of the church then, is to make Jesus Christ as magical and mysti-cal as Disney has made Mickey Mouse. What is more amazing than rising from death!?

Wake up, church! Christ is risen from the dead! Wake up to the power the risen Lord brings to your life. Wake up, church. Open up to the power of the Scriptures to speak to your life. As Jesus called Mary’s name to finally stir her soul to consciousness (John 20:16), so Christ sends a personal wake-up call to each of us. Easter morning is an annual wake-up call addressed to Christ’s own body, the church. Body parts that have fallen asleep must be shaken back into circulation. If you are asleep or lounging about life, it is time to end your hiberna-tion. Wake up, get up and sign up to get the mes-sage out, as we “Make Christ Known to our Neigh-bors!” Let’s bring the whole world back to life!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Paul Wenz

Pastor and Kedma Wenz invite you to join them for the concert release of Kedma’s first CD, a Christian album named “Conduz…” (meaning “Direct me…”) through Melody Interna-tional (a Brazilian Music Label). The album is in Portuguese with 2 songs in English.

The album release and free concert are on April 13th at a church in Anaheim at 6 PM (1026 S. East Street). You can also listen to the music yourself on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes and many other music services.

As we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection this Easter, we pray this album glorifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, blessing many through the mu-sic! Christ is Risen! Amen!

S ince August of 2018, Faith Lutheran

Church has helped several children in fos-

ter care, through an online system known

as Care Portal. Recently I have had several

members approach me asking about CarePortal and

how it works. My hope is that this article will help an-

swer your questions about this important ministry at

Faith. Here’s a little history about the program.

About CarePortal

CarePortal is a platform launched in March 2015

by The Global Orphan Project, headquartered in Kan-

sas City, Mo. CarePortal brings faith and government

entities together by using a volunteer network and in-

novative technology to bring the needs of children and

families in crisis to the attention of local churches (see

the illustration of the process below). Child welfare

workers uncover the needs of children and families in

the foster care system. Care-

Portal works with churches all

over the country, but in each

case, a local church only re-

ceives requests from their im-

mediate area, giving them a real

-time opportunity to respond.

How does CarePortal work?

CarePortal is a technology

platform that connects vulnera-

ble children and families to peo-

ple who have something to give.

Social workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes

local churches aware, giving them a real-time oppor-

tunity to respond to the foster children’s needs for

basic items like a bed, clothing or school supplies.

Several times a day I receive an email with the needs

of either a child, or a family struggling to keep their

children. Each email lists the county the family lives in

and how many members our gifts impact. Once the

email is posted and a church responds, we have 7-10

days to fulfill the need.

How do CarePortal requests help?

What difference do these requests make for these

children and their families? Every single time a case-

worker submits a

request on behalf of

a child in their com-

munity, they will let

you know the pur-

pose. Your respons-

es could help

achieve goals like:

An update on Faith’s Vision to support Foster Care children and families through the “Faith in Motion” program in Riverside County.

preventing a child from entering foster care, making an

adoptive placement possible, or supporting a youth ag-

ing out of foster care to stay off the streets and in

school or in a job.

Needs

Requests come in for beds, clothing for children or a

parent looking for a job, diapers for an infant, strollers,

car seats, or groceries for a family—many of the things

we take for granted and that our Heavenly Father pro-

vides for us daily.

Now I have a question for you. Faith Lutheran’s goal

is to respond to a request once a month. Our social

worker interns, Ashley and Morgan have been helping

match the needs with our church

and getting things delivered.

However, they are finishing their

school year and will be leaving on

April 14th. We will need more

help itemizing what things our

church has to offer. I am unsure

of what needs we can fill as a

congregation, so I’d like to start a

spreadsheet of the items we can

fulfill. If you have donations or

would like me to respond to spe-

cific requests, I ask that you pray

about it and email me these things. Then if the need

arises I can make contact with you and together we can

meet another foster child or family’s needs. My email is

lindaburgo12@gmail.com. Together we can change

lives, one at a time! Remember Jesus’ words:

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in

charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happi-

ness!” (Matthew 25:23)

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was

thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger

and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I

was sick and you

looked after me, I was

in prison and you

came to visit me.

(Mathew 25:35-36)

Blessings in Christ,

Linda Burgo

April 3, 2019

Elder Dave Juengel serves the “Second cup” of wine during the Seder as part of the blessings and prayers to God who frees His people from bondage.

Deacon Andy Shaffer (top center) prepares for the celebration of Jesus’ “Last Supper” with (clockwise from top): Suzanne Shaffer, Grace Marti, Anna Wahlstrom, Norma Mae Burton, Bob & Susan Lamb, and Sandy Bedwell.

Ken Brody (left) followed by David Tito and Jamie & Missy Creacy are served traditional Passover fare of lamb stew along with a kosher fried chicken breat, by Cathy Cross and her helpers (at right), Theresa Rockwell, Diana Klaub and Frances Remus-Williams.

Each food item symbolizes an event from the Exodus and Passover event from the Bible.

Norma Mae Burton (left) is served by Cathy Cross and Frances Remus-Williams (center and right).

HEALTH NOTES by Marla Lichtsinn, RN, MPA, CIC, FCN, Parish Nurse

marla.lichtsinn@psd-lcms.org

APRIL:

SPECIAL EDITION

RADIATION EXPOSURE &

POTASSIUM IODIDE (KI)

In response to the growing anxiety in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes, tsunami and radiation leaks in Japan, the following information is provided by Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/japan/ki.asp)

KEY FACTS: ▪ Since March 20, 2011, CDC does not recommend that people in the United States take potassium iodide (“KI”) or iodine supplements in response to the nuclear power plant explosions in Japan that year. ▪ You should only take KI on the advice of emergency management officials, public health officials, or your doctor

WHAT IS RADIATION?

Radiation is a form of energy that is present all around us. Different types of radiation exist, some having more ener-gy than others.

WHAT IS RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION?

Radioactive contamination occurs when radioactive mate-rial is deposited in or on an object or person. Radioactive ma-terials released into the environment can cause air, water, sur-faces, soil, plants, buildings, people or animals to become contaminated.

WHAT IS POTASSIUM IODIDE?

Potassium iodide (“KI”) is a form of non-radioactive io-dine. Iodine is an important chemical needed by our bodies to make thyroid hormones. Most of the iodine in our bodies comes from the food we eat. “KI” is iodine in a medicine form.

WHAT DOES “KI” DO?

If radioactive iodine is released into the air after a radio-logical or nuclear event, it can be breathed into the lungs. In most cases, radioactive iodine in the body is quickly absorbed by the thyroid gland. After being absorbed, it can cause thy-roid gland injury. Because “KI” acts to block radioactive io-dine from being absorbed by the thyroid gland, it can help protect this gland from injury.

It is also important to know what “KI” cannot do. “KI” can-not protect parts of the body other than the thyroid from radi-oactive iodine. “KI” cannot protect the body from any radio-active elements other than iodine. If radioactive iodine is not present, then taking “KI” is not protective. To date (March 20), no radioactive iodine has been detected in the United States or U.S. territories.

HOW DOES “KI” WORK?

The thyroid gland cannot tell the difference between stable (non-radioactive) and radioactive iodine, and will absorb both

of these substances. When a person takes “KI”, the iodine in the medicine gets absorbed by the thyroid. When the thyroid gland becomes “full”, no more iodine – either stable or radi-oactive – is absorbed for the next 24 hours.

HOW WELL DOES “KI” WORK?

It is important to know that “KI” may not give a person 100% protection against radioactive iodine. How well “KI” blocks the radioactive iodine depends on several factors:

▪ how much time has passed between contamination with

radioactive iodine and taking “KI” (the sooner a person

takes “KI” after being exposed to radioactive iodine, the

better it works to block radioactive absorption)

▪ the total amount of radioactive iodine to which a person

is exposed, AND

▪ how fast KI is absorbed into the blood,

A single dose of “KI” protects the thyroid gland for 24 hours. Taking a higher dose of “KI”, or taking “KI” more often than recommended does not offer more protection and can cause severe illness or death.

WHEN SHOULD I TAKE “KI”?

If a radiological or nuclear event occurs in the US, local pub-lic health or emergency management officials will tell the public if there is a need to take “KI” or other protective ac-tions. After a radiological event in the U.S., you should fol-low the instructions given to you by these local authori-ties. Use only FDA (Food & Drug Administration) ap-proved products, and use as directed!

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) monitors for radioactivity through a national network of monitoring sta-tions called RADNET. Scientists are tracking the location of radioactive iodine released from the power plant in Japan, and, as of this writing (March 20), no radioactive iodine has been detected in the U.S.

Throughout the US, there are stockpiles (SNS, or strategic national stockpiles) of emergency supplies, including “KI”, which will be distributed in the event our Nuclear Emergen-cy Response Plan is activated.

Rather than responding with denial or anxiety, begin to prepare yourself and family by gathering emergency sup-plies, making and practicing a family disaster response plan, and getting educated!

There is an enormous amount of material available – you may begin by contacting your local public health agency’s disaster management office, or by searching the following websites for information about disaster response plans and emergency supply kits:

www.fema.gov/hazard/nuclear www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/radiationemergencies

www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.d8aaecf214c576bf971e4cfe4318aa0/?vg...

www.be.cdc.gov/radiation/japan/ki.asp http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/disasters/

Jamie Haas 4-2 Emily Wenz 4-6 Wayne Nelson 4-7 Leanna Beasley 4-7 Veryl German 4-10 Jim Godec 4-10 Betty Winters 4-10 Christopher Vargas 4-11 Sherina Kabing 4-16 Delbert Schroeder 4-18 Jennifer Creacy 4-19 Dale Smalley 4-22 Athena Williams 4-24 Sue Chapman 4-27

Susan Kruger 4-28 Louise Cammarota 4-30

Early MAY BIRTHDAYS Delaney Creacy 5/2 Barbara Danbo 5/2 Jamie Creacy 5/3 Marilyn Austin 5/5 Sandy Bedwell 5/5

If we missed any birthdays or anniversaries, please contact the Church. Thanks!

William & Judy Summers 4/6

GAINS IN MEMBERSHIP — 0

LOSSES IN MEMBERSHIP — 0

MEMBERSHIP NOW STANDS AT: 228 Baptized, 185 Confirmed

March 26, 2019 Faith’s Social Worker In-terns, Ashley Robinzine and Mor-gan Spurlock, will be leaving us as of April 14th, as their school year at CBU is ending. Morgan will have another year of her Master’s program in Social Work, while Ashley will be grad-uateing with her MSW and hope-fully getting a Social Worker job with Riverside or San Bernardino counties.

During their school year at Faith, each intern had specific educational goals to achieve. Ashley worked on her Capstone Project on training Faith’s Social Ministry volunteers on how to handle various situations with the homeless. Learning about crisis situations and how to deal with things like mental illness, drug abuse and safety issues, Ashley gave our volunteers the tools to better serve our neigh-bors without homes.

They have also worked on a resource handout to give to those in need, with updated info on the shelters and crisis cen-ters in Riverside. Pastor Wenz attended a meeting for LYNC (Love Your Neighbor Communities) at the Mayor’s office on Feb. 13th to discuss the future of the program. The City of Riv-erside has secured a 3 year, $350,000 grant to continue the So-cial Worker Internship program, which means we will continue to have 2 inters at Faith these next 3 years!

Morgan set up the Thrivent info brunch on March 17th to help members to use their $250 Action Team money towards ministries at Faith. Ashley has helped us apply with Second Harvest and Feeding America—2 food banks that sell groceries to food pantries for pennies on the dollar or give away goods to help our food pantry become self-sufficient!

Ashley and Morgan have been doing such a great job of keeping track of those they have helped and working on pro-jects the resource booklet and training volunteers in social min-istry. We want to honor and thank them in a farewell reception on April 14. between the worship services from 9:20-10:20 AM. Please join us in thanking and saying goodbye and God-speed to our amazing Social Worker Interns for 2018-2019.

Ashley starts a training video for the ladies after the food distribution (above left). Those in attend-ance were (pictured clockwise at right from Ashley): Jo Ellen Nelson, Cathy Dupree, Karen Rumpel and Stephanie Michaud.

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

T

hu

F

ri Sat

1

7:3

0 p

m N

A

2

7:3

0 p

m N

A

3

11

am W

hisp

ering

Fo

un

t. Bib

le Stu

dy

4

10

:00

am B

ible S

tud

y

6:0

0 p

m Y

ou

ng

Cham

pio

ns P

rog

5

Pa

stor’s d

ay o

ff [O

ffice op

en 9

am-1

pm

]

6

7:3

0-9

am M

en’s

Break

fast Bib

le Stu

dy

9:0

0 am

Altar G

uild

7

8:0

0 am

- Trad

ition

al

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

9:1

5 am

- Ad

ult B

ible

Stu

dy

10

:30

am-C

on

temp

orary

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

11

:45

am Jr. C

on

firm.

8

5:3

0 p

m E

lders’

Meetin

g

7:3

0 p

m N

A

9

9:1

5 am

Fo

od

Distrib

.

Set-u

p

7:3

0 p

m N

A

10

10

:15

am F

oo

d D

istrib.

11

am W

hisp

ering

Fo

un

t. Bib

le Stu

dy

11

10

:00

am B

ible S

tud

y

6:0

0 p

m Y

ou

ng

Cham

pio

ns P

rog

.

12

Pa

stor’s d

ay o

ff

Do

nn

a o

ff

13

7:3

0-9

am M

en’s

Break

fast Bib

le Stu

dy

14

8:0

0 am

- Trad

ition

al

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

9:1

5 am

- Ad

ult B

ible

Stu

dy

10

:30

am-C

on

temp

orary

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

11

:45

am Jr. C

on

firm.

15

7:3

0 p

m N

A

16

7:3

0 p

m N

A

17

11

am W

hisp

ering

Fo

un

t. Bib

le Stu

dy

6

:00

pm

BO

D M

tg.

18

10

:00

am B

ible S

tud

y

1 &

7 p

m M

au

nd

y

Th

ursd

ay

Serv

ices

6:0

0 p

m Y

ou

ng

Cham

pio

ns P

rog

.

19

12

& 7

pm

Go

od

Frid

ay

Serv

ices [O

ffice op

en 9

am-1

pm

]

20

7:3

0-9

am M

en’s

Break

fast Bib

le Stu

dy

9-1

1:3

0 am

WA

LK

TO

CA

LV

AR

Y

10

am L

WM

L

21

6:0

0am

Easter S

unrise

Serv

ice 7

-10

:30

Easter B

reakfast

8:0

0 am

- Trad

ition

al

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

10

:30

am-C

on

temp

orary

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

22

7:3

0 p

m N

A

23

9:1

5 am

Fo

od

Distrib

.

Set-u

p

7:3

0 p

m N

A

24

10

:15

am F

oo

d D

istrib.

11

am W

hisp

ering

Fo

un

t. Bib

le Stu

dy

25

10

:00

am B

ible S

tud

y

6:0

0 p

m Y

ou

ng

Cham

pio

ns P

rog

.

26

Pa

stor’s d

ay o

ff [O

ffice op

en 9

am-1

pm

]

27

7:3

0-9

am M

en’s

Break

fast Bib

le Stu

dy

28

8:0

0 am

- Trad

ition

al

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

9:1

5 -A

du

lt Bib

le Stu

dy

10

:30

am-C

on

temp

orary

Wo

rship

[S.S

. K-5

th]

11

:45

am Jr. C

on

firm.

29

7:3

0 p

m N

A

30

7:3

0 p

m N

A

COME BE A PART OF GOD’S GREAT GIFT! As an act of Grace — undeserved love for us — God sent Jesus

“to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21b

Jesus took our sin & death and in exchange — week by week — we receive forgiveness,

eternal life and the status of holy children of God. Please join us at Faith each Sunday for:

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH 4785 Jackson Street Riverside, CA 92503 TIME SENSITIVE RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

God Bless Those Who Deliver This!

8:00 A.M. Traditional Worship Service

9:20 A.M. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class

Opportunities for all ages (preschool to adult) to be planted, nurtured, and grown in faith through God’s Word.

10:30 A.M.

Contemporary Praise Service

nonprofit u.s. postage paid

riverside, ca permit no. 890