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Website: www.portagelutheranchurch.org Email address: crossofchristportage@hotmail.com Facebook: Cross of Christ Evangelical Lutheran

Church

Church: (608) 742-5609 Pastor Scott Schultz: (608) 617-8409

Sunday Worship - 9:00 am Monday Worship - 7:00 pm

News & Notes

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Daily Walk with God 2

Pastor’s Article 3

Committee Reports 4-5

Monday Worship Service 6

2017-18 Confirmation & Sunday School 6

Weekday Bible Studies 6

Church Picnic 6

College Student Info 6

Mission Fest 7

LWMS Fall Rally 7

LWMS 7

School Calendars 8

Tuition Assistance Fund 8

NPH Items 9

WELS Websites 9

New Members 10

Shut-Ins 10

Thankful Giving Opportunities 10

Church Council 11

Newsletter Information 11

September 2017 Issue

My Daily Walk With God Inside This Issue

Sept. 1 1 Ch. 22:6 - 24; Psalm 149 2 1 Ch. 25 - 27:15; Psalm 122 3 1 Ch. 27:16-29; Psalm 40 4 2 Chronicles 1 - 5 5 2 Chronicles 6 - 8 6 2 Chronicles 9 - 12 7 2 Chronicles 13 - 16 8 2 Chronicles 17 - 20:30 9 2 Chronicles 20:31 - 24 10 2 Chronicles 25 - 28 11 2 Chronicles 29 - 31 12 2 Ch. 32 - 33; Psalm 60, 81 13 2 Ch. 34 - 36; Psalm 53 14 Psalm 43; Joel 15 Amos 1 - 5 16 Psalm 72; Amos 6 - 9 17 Hosea 1 - 7 18 Hosea 8 - 14 19 Micah 20 Isaiah 1 - 4 21 Isaiah 5 - 8:18 22 Isaiah 8:19 - 12 23 Isaiah 13 - 16 24 Isaiah 17 - 22:14 25 Isaiah 22:15 - 26 26 Isaiah 27 - 30 27 Isaiah 31 - 35 28 Isaiah 36 - 39 29 Isaiah 40 - 42 30 Isaiah 43 - 45

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Pastor’s Article

Why Should We Attend Worship Services On A Regular Basis?

As a pastor, people have told me many different reasons why they do not attend worship services at church on a regular basis. “I do not see the need to go to church because I believe what the Bible says.” “My parents forced me to go to church so much as a child, I got burned out.” “I was offended by what my church did.” “All the church does is talk about money.” “I have to work”. “My kids have a baseball tournament”. “We are going camping.” “Sunday is my only day to sleep in.” “I go once a month. That is good enough for me.” Do any of these reasons sound familiar? If they do, it is important you continue to read this article. In this month’s column entitled “Questions About Christianity” we will answer the question, “Why should we attend worship services on a regular basis?”

One reason we should attend worship services at church on a regular basis is because God commands us to in the Ten Commandments. In the Third Commandment God says, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” When God gave this commandment to the Old Testament Israelites, he was commanding them to rest from all of their work and worship him every Saturday. God still commands us to worship him on a regular basis today because Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

God commands us to attend worship services on a regular basis so we hear his Word through the worship service, the songs we sing, the Bible lessons, and the sermon, and so we receive the Sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion. Through the gospel message about Jesus and the Sacraments, God the Holy Spirit brings us to faith, strengthens our faith, and helps us live it so we can go to heaven one day.

God also commands us to attend worship services on a regular basis so we worship him. God has blessed us in so many ways. He has given us our life, health, family and friends, money, and possessions. Even more importantly, he sent Jesus to be our Savior to forgive all of our sins, brought us to faith in Jesus, and promises to take us to heaven one day where he will bless us in ways we cannot even imagine. When we consider all God has done for us, is it too much for God to ask us to worship him one hour a week in church? No!

Another reason God commands us to attend worship services on a regular basis is so we share his Word with others. As Christians God commands us to share his Word with others so the Holy Spirit can bring some people to faith and strengthen the faith of others. When we attend worship services and participate in the service, we share his Word with others and give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work on the faith of others.

There are certainly times when we truly cannot make it to church such as when we are sick or when we are called into work. However, as Christians we should not look for excuses to make us feel it is ok not to attend church. Instead, we should make every effort to attend worship services at church every week because this is what God wants us to do and because this is what we and others need for the good of our faith. If you are not attending worship services at a church on a regular basis, go to your church and do so. If you currently are not a member of any church, I encourage you to look for one. You are always welcome at my church and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.

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Fellowship Committee August Recap

Current Members: Adam Gaffney, Vi Burmeister, Sandy Beimborn, Joan Klappstein, Pat Eckert, Judy Trebatoski.

Card party will be September 9. Church picnic will be at noon on September 10 at Pauquette Park.

The Fellowship Committee will provide brats, hotdogs, condiments, lemonade, coffee, plates, and silverware. Members are asked to bring a dish to pass.

Campfire will be held in October. Everyone will be contacted about being on a Fellowship group.

Church Council August Meeting Recap

Church Council did not meet in August because not enough Church Council members showed up to hold a meeting. Church Council currently has three vacant positions. If you are a male who regularly comes to church and would be interested in serving on Church Council, please speak either to Pastor Schultz or Todd Miller the Church President.

Stewardship Committee August Meeting Recap Current Members: William Beimborn, Bonnie Dorniak, Bill Eckert, Dan Heckmann.

Items of interest: The deadline for SCRIP orders for September will be September 10 Next meeting will be on September 7. Accounts were set up for automatic withdrawals in January. It is not

too late to participate.

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Cross of Christ Ladies August Recap

Officers: Sandra Beimborn, Joan Klappstein, Pat Eckert, Jill Schultz, LWMS Reporter: Sandra Beimborn

We held our annual collection for our two Home Missions (Savior of the Nations Ev. Lutheran Church-Vancouver and Immanuel Hmong Luther Church-St. Paul) and our World Mission (Thailand). NPH gift cards will be purchased with the funds received.

The service project for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society fall rally of the Beaver Dam Circuit is collecting items for those affected by the Didion Milling explosion in Cambria. Donations should be brought to the fall rally in October.

We will resume normal gatherings on September 21. Information about the upcoming rally at Markesan and the WELS_CLO conference in Pardeeville will be shared.

The Cross of Christ Ladies encourage all ladies of the congregation to come to these gatherings. Children are welcome! Do not forget, they start at 6:30 p.m. All confirmed ladies of the congregation are members of Cross of Christ Ladies (CCL) and of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS).

Worship Committee August Recap Current Members: Scott Crosby, Cheryl Nicholson, John Otto

At their August meeting, the Worship Committee approved a redesigned bulletin. The bulletin was designed to be more guest friendly while also retaining the same important member information. The Worship Committee approved some minor changes to the worship services. Each week there will be one hymn where different people sing different verses. The congregation will remain seated for the Offering Prayer and we will only sing two verses of the last hymn. The Committee also approved a four week Reformation 500 celebration. It will take place on October 15, 22, 29, and November 5.

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Monday Worship Service

Mark your calendars!

On Monday, September 4 we will be moving our Wednesday evening worship service to Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. This service will be the same as the Sunday before.

Church Picnic The church picnic will be held Sunday, September 10 at Pauquette Park at noon following our church service and Sunday School. Those attending are asked to bring a dish to pass, their own beverages, and lawn chairs. Brats, hotdogs, buns, condiments, plates, and silverware will be provided. There will be games for both children and adults. We encourage everyone to invite friends and family to join us!

Weekday Bible Studies The midweek Bible Studies will resume in September. — Wednesday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m. — Thursday, September 7 at 3:00 p.m. Note: each Bible Study changed the day it meets.

2017-2018 Sunday School and Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class Every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Classes start on Tuesday, September 5

Sunday School Every Sunday from 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Classes start on Sunday, September 10

College Student Information It is getting to be that time of year again when some of our young people will be away at college in the fall. We do not want to lose touch with them while they are away. Please give Pastor Schultz or Sandra Beimborn their school contact information so our church can stay in contact with them..

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Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) At the 2017 Convention in Orlando, FL there were 542 people registered representing 55 of the 60 circuits. Current membership is 831 congregations and twelve individuals. Officers are President, Emily Korn; President Elect, Cynthia Natsis; Vice President, Sheila Frey; Secretary, Donna Kuehl; Treasurer, Robin Christopher; Spiritual Growth, Ruth Schmitzer; Communications, Trish Babler; Pastoral Advisors James Douglas & Wayne Shevey,

Projects receiving mission offerings were Home Mission - Equipment Fund ($39,326.56) and World Mission - Nepal ($39,326.55). Projects receiving worship service collections were Home Mission - Cross-cultural Mission Conference and Training ($13,024.61) and World Mission - Repatriation Conferences ($13,024.61). Offering Totals: Mission Projects ($116,032.56) and Worship Service($26,049.22) Projects to be voted on next year are Home Missions: Caribbean Scholarship Fund and First Public Service Assistance; and World Missions: Cameroon Projects and Academia Cristo. Kid’s c.a.r.e collection for Family Ministry for Outreach was $37,379.45. 2017-18 project is Feeding Jesus’ Lambs in Nepal.

Mission Fest We will have a Mission Festival on Sunday, November 12, beginning, with a special worship service at 9:00 a.m. Our guest preacher will be Pastor Michael Duncan, counselor to Nepal and Pakistan. At 11:30 a.m. we will have a meal. More information will be in October’s newsletter and in the bulletin.

LWMS Fall Rally The Fall Rally of the Beaver Dam Circuit of the LWMS will be held on Saturday, October 21 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Markesan, WI. Registration begins at 9:15 with the Reporters’ Meeting from 9:30-10:00 am. The rally will open at 10:00. The theme of the rally is God’s Amazing Love and Grace. The Bible passage is Romans 3:23-24 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” . Our speaker will be Pastor Dustin Blumer from Amazing Love Lutheran Church in Frankfort, Illinois. He was our Befriend a Missionary a in 2015-16. The Service Project is to provide funds and supplies for the people affected by the Didion Milling explosion. If you would like to carpool please talk to Sandra Beimborn.

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School Calendars

September 4 - Labor Day No School

September 6—6:30 pm Freshmen Parent Information Night

September 9 ACT test

September 13 2 Hour Delay

September 17—noon Gemeutlichkeit Days Parade

September 19 Interim Reports

September 22—5:00 pm Homecoming Parade

September 23—7:30—10:30 pm Homecoming Dance

231 Woodland Beach Rd. (920) 648-2321 Lake Mills WI www.llhs.org

St. John’s Lutheran School 505 E. LaFollette St. (608) 429-3636 Pardeeville WI www.stjohnspardeeville.org

Tuition Assistance Fund

In order to assist parents in sending their child(ren) to one of these schools or another WELS school, Cross of Christ has established a Christian Education Tuition Assistance Fund. The goal of this fund is to give parents $100 a month for 10 months every school year which will be applied to their child(ren)’s tuition. If you would like to contribute to this fund at any time, please mark on the front of your weekly offering envelope how much you want designated to go to this fund.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

September 4—Labor Day No School

September 5—8:00 am School Begins

September 20—Pardeeville Late Start St. John’s in Session No A.M. Busing

September 26—8:15 am Picture Day

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Northwestern Publishing House Item

WELS Websites www.wels.net The official website for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. www.nph.net Northwestern Publishing House’s website that sells religious materials. www.whataboutjesus.com Learn more about Jesus, the Bible, how to deal with social concerns, etc. www.christianliferesources.com Stay up-to-date with important life issues and get answers to difficult ethical questions. www.goodsearch.com A search engine (comparable to Google or Yahoo) that donates money to the Wisconsin Synod when it is used. www.lwms.org The official website for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. www.welslibrarians.org The official website for WELS Librarians

Reformation 500

The Enduring Relevance of the Lutheran Reformation

Author: Curtis A. Jahn, Editor

Developed especially for the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation, this collection of ten essays highlights ways in which the Reformation movement and its theology are still relevant today. All essays are written exclusively for this collection by WELS professors, including John F. Brug, Wade R. Johnston, Paul O. Wendland, and Daniel M. Deutschlander, with a preface by synod president Mark G. Schroeder. Topics covered include "Luther and the Biblical Canon," "Luther on Infant Baptism," "The Lutheran Influence on Education," and "The Enduring Uniqueness of the Lutheran Reformation."

Hardcover, 270 pages. 6 x 9 inches.

Published 2016.

Catalog Item Number: OL-1500789

Price: $ 37.99

You can place your order by visiting www.nph.net or call Northwestern Publishing House at 1-800-662-6022.

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Shut-Ins Lila Freber Lois Plath

Elmer Glaeske Donna Portzen

Marian Kreitzman Audrey Zunker

Margery McCluskey

Even though these members are unable to come to regular worship services, please continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thankful Giving Opportunities In 1 Corinthians 16:2 God encourages believers to give their first fruits as offerings in church in proportion to their income. Believers do this to thank God for what he did for them and to support the gospel ministry.

Cross of Christ encourages all of its members to give their offerings for these reasons. It also offers other programs for its members to give to the church above and beyond their offerings, which do not support our church’s budget.

SCRIP: We offer a SCRIP program where members can buy gift cards for many different stores. A percentage of the money our members pay is given to the church. SCRIP deadline is always the second Sunday of the month. Order forms are available at church in the mailbox labeled SCRIP. If you need help, talk to Jeannine Heckmann.

MILK MOOLA: We offer a Milk Moola program where members can turn in their KwikTrip Milk Moola caps and labels into a box in the church basement. Church then gets money from these caps and labels. Keep saving those labels and bottle caps.

BOXTOPS: We also offer a Boxtop program where members can turn in their Boxtops for Education into a box in the church basement. These Boxtops are then turned into St. John’s Lutheran School in Pardeeville.

New Members

There are no new members this month, but continue to pray for the Lord’s work that is being done through the members we currently have at Cross of Christ!

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Cross of Christ Church Council Members

Questions or Concerns?

If anyone has questions, concerns, or comments about our church, please feel free to talk to someone on the Church Council because God has provided these men to assist you.

Newsletter Cross of Christ’s News & Notes monthly newsletter will be placed in your mailboxes the Sunday before the first of the month. If you have an article, meeting recap, note, or flier for publication, please either email your newsletter item to crossofchristportage@hotmail.com or place it in Sandra Beimborn’s mailbox by October 15, 2017.

If you do not wish to continue receiving this newsletter, please e-mail Cross of Christ at crossofchristportage@hotmail.com or call the church office at (608)742-5609 and leave a message.

Thank you!

Todd Miller President/ (608) 566 - 0344 Elder’s Comm. Chairman Matthew Buchholz Secretary/ (608) 354 - 8708 Education Comm. Chairman William Beimborn Financial Secretary/ (608) 566 - 6403 Stewardship Comm. Chairman Vacant Treasurer Adam Gaffney Fellowship Comm. Chairman (608) 617 - 9971 Scott McCluskey Evangelism / Outreach (608) 742 - 4025 Comm. Chairman Tim Scharenbroch Property Comm. Chair. (608) 742 - 2421 Vacant Worship Comm. Chairman (608) 617 - 4703