After working through

this set of questions

continue to reflect on what

is going on and ask a few

more. What do you

specifically need God to do

in regards to each person

or factor in the struggle?

Why should God do these

things? Articulate specific

reasons why God needs to

do what you ask. It is my

prayer as you do this that

you will find God is present,

and brings the start of

healing in your words and

actions. So what are you

waiting for? Get writing!

In Jesus’ Love,

Pastor Matt

Over the last month

and a half, as we have been

working through our

“Summer in the Psalms”

sermon series, I have typed a

lot of words. The messages I

have put together I pray have

been led by the Holy Spirit,

and have led you into

reflection. They also have led

me into reflection, and

caused a desire in me to

write down what I am going

through in life so I can look

back and see where God has

led me from those moments.

Jack London, the famous

author of The Call of the Wild,

said this about journaling:

“Keep a notebook. Travel

with it, eat with it, sleep with

it. Slap into it every stray

thought that flutters up into

your brain. Cheap paper is

less perishable than gray

matter, and lead pencil

markings endure longer than

memory.”

Thinking about this in the

context of the Psalms, we

can see that both the praises

and the laments of the

different Psalmists have

endured for millennia and to

this day can help guide us in

both the highs and lows of

life. David in Psalm 45 writes

this in a joyous time to the

Lord: “My heart is stirred by

a noble theme as I recite my

verses for the King; my

tongue is the pen of a skillful

writer.” To not only praise,

but write songs of praise to

the Lord is an amazing gift

and talent.

We all have difficult times

we need to work through,

and to write your own psalm

of lament, if you will, can

help process what is going

on. What now follows is a

guide on how to start this

process. Identify a recent or

current difficulty in your life.

Analyze the problem through

the three-fold lens of lament

(myself, others, and God).

After your analysis, write a

prayer that acknowledges

and names the aspects of

your struggle.

How did the difficulty affect

you? How did you contrib-

ute to or cause the prob-

lem? How did you feel? How did others contribute

to your hardship? How did

they help you? How did

they cause trouble or make

things worse? What did God do or not

do to help? How did

God’s action (or inaction)

make the problem worse

or cause the hardship to

continue without

resolution?

Write It down, by Pastor Matt

August 2017 Volume 1, Issue 11

Lifting our hands in

worship.

Holding hands in

prayer groups.

Opening hands by

sharing the love of Jesus

in our community.

Inside this issue:

Write It down

By Pastor Matt

1

Block Party

Ladies Bible Study

Music Outreach

2

Musical Notes

By Ron Mallory

3

Treasurer’s

Report

4

Quilts

LWML 75 years

Mites and Missions

5

Reformation 500

Sing with the Choir

Call For Artists

6

My Captain’s Course

By Joan Thomas

7

One Service

Sunday, August 6th

9:30 a.m.

There’s still a lot to do in

preparation for our second

annual Block Party. Join

Brian Nicholson and the

block party team to help

make this event as successful

as last year. Come share a

meal and talk with our Des

Moines neighbors. Help us

reach out with the hands of

Christ. Maybe you can even

learn a new dance step! Don’t forget to bring some

diapers for the drive!

Second Annual RLC Block Party

Page 2

Welcome all ladies to the new Bible Study,

“Faithful, Abundant and True.”

Three lives going deeper still into

The study of the Holy Bible.

Kay Arthur teaches from Hebrews.

Pricilla Shirer teaches from Ephesians.

Beth Moore teaches on the topic of discernment.

Join us on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Room 200

Contact Joan Thomas 253-315-9280

mimisgiftbooksjoan@gmail.com Resurrection Lutheran Church

134 S. 206th St. Des Moines WA

Contact Brian Nicholson

brian961@gmail.com

Ladies of Faith, New Bible Study

Spreading the Word Through Music

Thirteen years ago RLC sponsored a ministry/class at the women’s prison in Gig Harbor (for the purpose of spreading the Word through music). Since that time, it has come to be a very positive program and has been used as a base for other programs not only here but in other prison settings as well. The classes are monthly guitar and keyboard lessons with music theory taught in a group settings and covered under the chapel’s umbrella. The music is Christian based though the class is open to all eligible residents. Instruments for this program have been donated to the chapel and are loaned to the students while in the program as procuring personal instruments by residents is very difficult. As it is Garage Sale time of year, I would ask that should you happen to be at a sale and see a useable instrument (acoustic guitar or portable keyboard or cases for either) that could work for the program, please consider picking it up and donating it to the program. We are in constant need of instruments as the environment they are in is hard on them-- especially as some instruments have no case at all right now. “Green” donations will be taken as well as book/case replacement and repairs to instruments are also handled by donations. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Andrew (206-940-4783). Thank you all and God bless.

As we continue our sermon series "Summer in the Psalms," I've been using my

newsletter articles to take a journey through the history of Christian worship and

the origins of our worship traditions. (Much of what I've been presenting here

comes from Robert Webber's "Complete Library of Christian Worship," a copy of

which can be found in RLC's library in Room 113.)

So far we've looked at the music of the ancient church, as well as the rise of the

liturgy as Catholicism spread. This month we come to the time of the Protestant

Reformation. In 1517 Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the door of the Castle

Church in Wittenberg, Germany, challenging the authority of the Pope and the

Roman Catholic hierarchy on several important doctrinal issues. This resulted in

Luther's excommunication, after which he and his followers founded what became

the Lutheran denomination. The Book of Concord of 1580 outlines the basic

doctrines and practices of this new Lutheran Church.

The Book of Concord doesn't say much about worship styles, other than to

specify that worship should be conducted in "an orderly and appropriate way" as

called for by Scripture (1 Corinthians 14:40). In fact, specific formats for services

are placed under the heading of "adiaphora," things neither called for nor forbidden by the Bible. Luther himself did

write a setting of the Roman liturgy, the German Mass of 1526, in which he held very closely to the forms of the

Catholic Mass. Scholars debate whether this was because Luther truly considered this to be the best form for

worship, or because he wanted to stay within the comfort zone of a people whose religious experience had already

been turned on its head.

One of Luther's most important contributions to Christian worship, however, was the writing of his hymns. While

Luther's contemporary and fellow reformer John Calvin, in calling for a restoration of Biblical practices, insisted that

the only music in worship should be the singing of Psalm texts directly from the Bible, Luther encouraged the creation

of new songs and hymns. He contributed a number of original texts and several melodies, some of which were based

upon popular songs of the day. (Luther is rumored to have said, "Why should the devil have all the good music?")

Over the following centuries, others followed in Luther's hymn-writing footsteps and crafted the compositions

which have become the great hymns of the Church. In England, which had followed Calvin's lead in singing only Psalms,

a young Isaac Watts (1674-1748) complained to his father about the "dull indifference" their congregation felt towards

its worship music. His father challenged him to write something better, and over the next six decades Watts penned

hundreds of hymns, including such standards as "O God, Our Help in Ages Past" and "Joy to the World" (each of

which was loosely based on a biblical Psalm). Watts' contemporary Charles Wesley (1707-1788) began writing hymns

after returning from a mission trip to the American colonies. His "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Oh, for a

Thousand Tongues to Sing," and others have joined the list of the best-loved Christian hymns of all time. Throughout

the 19th and 20th centuries, hymn authors such as Fanny Crosby ("Blessed Assurance"), Robert Lowry ("Nothing but

the Blood of Jesus"), and Horatio Spafford ("It Is Well") made their own important contributions to the repertoire of

Christian music.

As new denominations have sprung up in the centuries since the Reformation, worship traditions have continued

to evolve. In recent decades, Christian worship has tended towards one of two paths: either reclaiming the ancient

forms of the Biblical church and Catholic liturgy, or breaking away from this tradition altogether in a missional attempt

to contextualize the Gospel message to the modern era. I'll explore both of these directions next month.

Musical Notes by Ron Mallory

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 11

The Castle Church in Wittenberg,

Germany, where Luther nailed up his

"95 Theses" in 1517

Page 4

Treasurer’s Report ~ June 2017 General Fund Opening Balance 34,510.79 Income Sources Envelope Offering (t) 18,578.00

Loose Offering (t) 500.00

Facilities Offset -

Misc Receipts -

Copies 7.00

Stock Sale -

Interest 54.58

FCEMR– Congregation Emergency Fund -

FMEM– Memorial Fund -

FSOCA– Social Action Fund (Thrivent) -

FPUB– Publications -

FTMP– Special Funds 72.20

FYOUTH– Youth Funds -

Total Income 19,211.78

53,722.57

From Sinking/Special Funds

From Funds 4,606.96

Total 4,6069.96

Expenses, realized

District Mission Pledge (956.63)

Salaries / Payroll (15,919.94)

Administration (214.93)

Elders (391.00)

Congregational Education (69.26)

In House Ministries (45.54)

General Maintenance (164.49)

Utilities Church (1,612.33)

Parsonage (551.99)

Uncategorized -

Spent From Special Funds (4,027.57)

Spent from Sinking Funds (579.39)

Total Realized Expenses (24,533.07)

33,796.46

Expenses, unrealized

To Special Funds (72.20)

To Sinking Funds (2,851.63)

Total Unrealized Expenses (2,923.83)

General Funds Ending Balance

30,872.63

Bank Statement Reconciliation

Bank Accounts

Primary Checking Account 56,466.85

Primary Savings Account 21,452.59

Facilities Expense Account 3,315.10

PayPal -

LCEF Steward Account (+0.00) 95,778.17

LCEF Supp Dollar - Demand (+0.00) 5,408.82

Schwab Account (+0.00) 0.10

Total of all Accounts 182,423.63

9

Special/Sinking Fund Balances

Less Special Funds Balance (36,974.47)

Less Sinking Funds Balance (111,412.36)

Total Special/Sinking Fund Balances (148,386.83)

34,036.80

Unreconciled Expenses

Less unreconciled Previous Month -

Less unreconciled Current Month (3,164.17)

Total Unreconciled Expenses (3,164.17)

General Fund Ending Balance 30,872.63

Special Use Funds

Endowment Fund (LCMS); May 31st, 2017 38,484.65

Investment Returns 73.66

Expenditures and Deposits

Endowment Fund (LCSMS) June 30th, 2017 38,558.31

Resurrection Women’s Missions

Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 11

More Hands, More Quilts

Save the Date: RLC Quilt Ministry will meet Wednesday,

September 6th, 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Room 200. We have plenty

of fabric, but short on help to launch our Fall quilting

schedule for needy people in our community. Come join

our camaraderie to help tie quilt layers. Comfortable table

height, easy method tying yarn knots.

Please prayerfully plan to come and bring a friend!

Diamond Dazzle Celebration

LWML is 75 years young and active! Ladies, pick up the Summer 2017 issue of

Lutheran Women's Quarterly" on the Narthex Kiosk provided by Resurrection

Women's Fellowship/LWML. Articles include life issues, Young Women's section,

mission grants at work, praying the Psalms and short Bible-based topics for

individual study. Women's Fellowship/LWML no longer meets for business but enjoys

fellowship on occasions and serving hands with each other within the RLC family.

A great way to get acquainted!

Many Thanks for Mites! Remember 75% of Mites donated are sent to

LWML WA-AK District for its designated

Grants and 25% are designated for its LWML/

Lutheran Women in Mission Grants. Your

coins and checks bring fruitful blessings to

missions at home and globally!

All Coins will be collected by Jana Northcutt

in the office. Checks may be written out to

Resurrection Women’s Fellowship. 2017–2019 Biennium

Mission Goal: $2,075,000

As he looked up, Jesus

saw the rich putting

their gifts into the

temple treasury. He

also saw a poor widow

put in two very small

copper coins. "I tell

you the truth," he said,

"this poor widow has

put in more than all

the others. All these

people gave their gifts

out of their wealth; but

she out of her poverty

put in all she had to

live on."

Luke 21:1-4

Overlake Christian Church, Redmond

Sunday, October 29, 2017

2:30 p.m. Fellowship and Exhibits

4:30 p.m. Festival Worship

Sing With the Choir!

Do you have a background in choral singing? Are you inspired at the thought of singing at a

once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the Reformation? The Northwest Reformation 500

Festival Choir, led by Artistic Director Kyle Haugen, will gather singers from across the

Puget Sound region to participate in the Festival Worship service. The choir will be part of a

massive, inspiring procession at the start of the service.

The choir is open to ages 14 and up. (Note: the choir will be arranged according to voice part.

All participants must register in advance by September 10, 2017.

Sign-up sheets available on rolling cart in the Narthex as you enter the RLC Sanctuary.

Packets will be sent to singers by postal mail in mid-September or before. All music is yours to

keep.

South Sound: Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Tacoma

North/East: Saturday, October 21, 2 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Bellevue

Mandatory Rehearsal: Saturday, October 28, 2 p.m. at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Bellevue

Mandatory Early Arrival: Sunday, October 29 at 2 p.m. at Overlake Christian Church, Redmond

Tools to help singers prepare, including mp3’s of voice parts, will be available at this website

by mid-September or before. For more information about attire, repertoire, and

rehearsals, please visit the website nwreformation500.com

Protestant Reformation Celebration 500th Anniversary

Page 6

...it’s still all about Jesus

Call For Artists

WE’RE CELEBRATING THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

In celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation,

John Knox Presbyterian Church is sponsoring an art exhibit titled “Sola.”

The theme of the exhibit is based on the five “Solas” of the Reformation: Sola Gratia

(Grace Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), Sola Scriptura

(Scripture Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (To the Glory of God Alone). All artwork

submitted to the exhibit should in some way reflect one or more of these cornerstones

of the Protestant Reformation.

For more information or to submit artwork, please visit www.johnknox.life.

All entries are due by Friday, September 1, 2017. Questions? Contact Rachel Morris,

Director of Worship, Music and the Arts at rachel@jkpcusa.org.

Poem, by Joan Thomas

Page 7 Volume 1, Issue 11

MY CAPTAIN’S COURSE

I hold within my empty, barren hands

All my plans, hopes, and dreams of yesterday

Like sunken ships buried in the sea’s sand

Ship wrecked-—never to sail in the sun’s rays,

Sorrow surrounds me as I ask and weep

“Lord, why did my dreams sink and slip away?”

Within I hear, “First, God’s will you should seek

Then build your dreams on rock and they will stay,

Now chart a new course with love, hope and prayer

Be like the mighty mariners of old

Who endured and survived the storms and dared

To live righteous, faith-filled lives and were bold,

Sail with me and be a fisher of men

I’ll give you bigger dreams and work to do.”

Though God’s wisdom I can’t comprehend

I’ve set a new course for His Word is true,

Now God’s my ship’s Captain and at the helm

And I no longer need to fear or grope

Sailing through the stormy sea and on to heaven’s realm

For The Lord’s good plans give me a “future filled with hope.”

By Joan M. Thomas © 06/2011

“And He saith unto them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

Matthew 4:19

“For surely I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans for your

welfare and not harm to give you a future filled with hope.”

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

Lifting Hands, Holding Hands, Opening Hands

We’re on the web:

www. resurrection-lcms.org

Phone: 206-824-2978

Fax: 206-824-2979

secretary@resurrection-lcms.org

134 S. 206th St.

Des Moines, WA 98198

August 2017

Calendar of Events

Sunday Services

Traditional Service 8:00 a.m./ Contemporary Service 10:30 a.m.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m. ~ Tuscany at Des Moines Creek

Women’s Bible Study, Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. ~ Room 200

Combined Service, Sunday August 6th, 9:30 a.m. ~ Sanctuary

Elder’s Meeting, Monday, August 7th, 7:00 p.m. ~ Room 200

Block Party, Tuesday, August 8th, 6-9 p.m. ~ Upper Parking Lot

Executive Council Meeting, Monday, August 14th, 7:00 p.m. ~ Room 200

Newsletter due to office, Monday, August 21st

Moravian Meeting and Potluck, Saturday, August 26th, 11:30 a.m. ~ Room 200