Worship: Sunday 9:30 AM Bible Class to follow

GOD’S ENCOURAGING WORDI Need More…FAITHFUL FRIENDS

A friend is someone who knows all about me and likes me anyway. Have you heard that description of a friend? How would you define what a friend is? Are you happy with the friends you have? Do you wish you had more friends or different kinds of friends? That your friendships were healthier or more helpful?

People might define friends in various ways, but one thing is certain. God designed people with a need for friendship. When he created the first man, he offered this observation: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). We naturally feel the need that God observed, but faithful friends might be hard to come by.

In the internet world, friends often call each other BFF’s—Best Friends Forever. But those same friends often turn on each other and end up more as enemies than as friends. No matter how well someone knows and likes you, there really is no friend who knows all about you. Your innermost secrets remain locked within you, and there are deeper feelings than anyone could ever understand.

God wants you to know what you might have suspected all along. He does know all about you. He observes that you need someone to whom you can pour out your heart, and he is willing to be that one.

But do you want God to be a BFF, when deep down you know what he knows about you? As his own Word says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves” (1 John 1:8). Few of us would make such a claim, but the good news is that God still wants to claim us as friends, despite our shortcomings.

That is why Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came into the world long ago. He came to do what only the best of friends would do—he came to lay down his life for you. He came to stand in for you and take whatever punishment God’s justice demanded for your sins. And God accepted his own Son’s sacrifice to wipe out the guilt of your sin.

That is why God invites you to see him as your best friend. He knows all about you and everything that you need. He extends his love to you without conditions, for the sake of his Son’s death on the cross.

You will not find a more faithful friend than God. Look to the living God and learn more about his faithfulness and love. The more you learn, the more you will find that he is a true Friend that you can always trust.

- From the WELS Outreach Newsletter

10203 W. Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98908 Isaac P. Cherney, Pastorwww.redeemer-yakima.org (262) 204-8027

FEBRUARY 2019See http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/#/calendarnews

for most recently updated calendarSun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat

1 2

3

9:30am Worship11:00am Bible Study

4 5

6:00 pmLadies Bible Study atRedeemer

6 7

12:00 pmLadies Bible Study atGrace

8 9

7:00am Elders9:00am“Dying to Live”The Power of Forgiveness Study

10

9:30am Worship(Communion) 11:00am Bible Study

11 12 13 14

12:00 pmLadies Bible Study atGrace

15 16

9:00amGrace/RedeemerMen’sGathering

17

9:30 Worship11:00am Bible Study

12:00 pmLadies Group Meeting

18 19

6:00 pmLadies Bible Study atRedeemer

20 21

12:00 pmLadies Bible Study atGrace

7:00pmChurch Council

22 23

FEBRUARY 2019See http://www.redeemer-yakima.org/#/calendarnews

for most recently updated calendarSun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Sat24

9:30am Worship(Communion)11:00am Bible Study

25 26 27 28

DATE ATTENDANCE MINISTRATIONS -EVENTS OFFERINGS

Sunday, January 6, 2019 71 $4,782.00Sunday, January 13, 2019 81 19 $4,148.00Sunday, January 20, 2019 68 Voters Meeting $4,675.65Sunday, January 27, 2019 63 19 $2,168.00

Get to Know Your Redeemer Council:Secretary – Gary Tilley

Our final visit with a Redeemer council member takes us to our secretary for council, Gary Tilley.

Gary was born in the downtown Yakima area on December 8, 1950. He has an older brother, Dan, and an older sister, Pat. Spiritually-speaking, Gary was most familiar with the Assembly of God during his upbringing.

Gary’s introduction to Redeemer Lutheran Church is due in large part to his now wife, Judy. Confirmed and accepted into membership in 1999 by Kevin Westra, the “ink was hardly dry on” on the membership form before Gary was enlisted into service. He served two full terms as church secretary and joined the Building Committee when Redeemer took on the relocation project. The sound system Redeemer enjoyed for years at the near-the-hospital location was designed by Gary.

Though retired, you can find Gary down at the establishment he has worked at since 2004, Isaak’s furniture, on a number of days of the week. He and Judy share three children: Danette (age 46), Miranda (age 43), and David (age 34). Gary’s passions obviously include music/sound work, alongside antique cars and hiking.

When asked what gets him excited about Redeeemer’s future, Gary noted, “I believe our future is our youth, Seeing the church working towards attracting young people, and young couples with small children by offering a preschool and other youth activities to encourage our youth to attend and participate in church activities. This the way to help our church family grow.”

We thank Gary for his service and pray for God’s blessings in his and Judy’s lives!

Gary and Judy with granddaughter Eululia

An Opportunity to Help!

As a synod, WELS is constantly pursuing ways to enhance the training of our future pastors and teachers. One of those ways is the Immersion Program for studying Spanish that teacher-track and pastor-track students can use to become better Spanish-speakers. One such student is a friend of Grace and Redeemer congregations here in Yakima: pastor-track Evan Turriff. Evan is currently pooling resources to be able to make the most out of this unique experience… and we can help! Evan has a GoFundMe page going (https://www.gofundme.com/spanish-immersion-in-argentina) where you can donate to his cause of reaching Argentina for high-level Spanish training.

Just visit the link and see! There Evan describes the program:

Hey there! I'm taking a trip to Argentina with other like-minded people who are also going to Martin Luther College for Spanish teaching/pastoral ministry for an immersion/cultural experience. We will be taking a month's worth of classes as well as doing various excursions around Buenos Aires. We are getting much needed experience that you just can't get in a classroom or in the States. Our programs recommend at least 1 immersion trip. Since these trips are beneficial, taking 2 trips is often recommended. All of the students have to pay

for this on top of their regular tuition and it severely limits our power to earn money in the summer. Any help given will be appreciated!

The exact cost of the trip is $3,761 (not including airfare). This pays for the courses I am taking, housing, and things we do as a group.

My goal with this program is to be a world missionary preaching to the people of Latin America. On top of providing the word, we also help provide basic medical supplies, school supplies, and basic home necessities!

After the cost of my trip has been raised (trip + airfare), I will donate the rest of the money to the Immersion Program Fund to be split among the other participants.

If you can help Evan on his way to better language acquisition and ministry work, God bless! We keep Evan and all students of Martin Luther College in our prayers.