Caroling 2018

Lorna Boggs, through a Thrivent Action Team, organized a special day of caroling for the Weekday School and church.  Below find some pictures and commentary.

The Weekday School group gathered before making the craft project (many not pictured) 

The above two pictures show the kids making Christmas Stars from clothespins.

After making the Stars they colored pictures to give away with the stars to those we visited in caroling.  Before leaving for caroling we had a pizza feast!

Carolers at our first stop the Neligh Care and Rehab Center, then we went to Antelope Memorial Hospital and then Pioneer homes.  Following caroling we returned to the church for hot chocolate and cookies.  We had 30 youth and 10 adult carolers!

Services Canceled Saturday December 1 and Sunday December 2

Church Services
Church Services are canceled for Saturday night and Sunday morning, December 1-2. 
There will be no Sunday School and Sunday School Christmas Program Practice in the afternoon. 

Missions Brunch 
The Missions Brunch has been postponed until Sunday, December 9.

Mission Speaker
Reminder Deaconess Cheryl Naumann will be at our church on Wednesday for presentations at Wednesday Morning Bible Class and after the Advent Service.  Join us to hear the work that she and her husband are doing.

Rev. Dr. Jonathan and Deaconess Cheryl Naumann serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries based in the Dominican Republic. As the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regional chaplain, Jonathan provides pastoral care to LCMS missionaries and their families in over 10 countries. He also teaches future Latin American pastors at the LCMS seminaries in this region.

Cheryl administers the Dominican Republic Mercy Center, teaching women to share the Gospel and to carry out acts of mercy with their neighbors. She also assists with the diaconal work in mission congregations and facilitates the Spanish translation and distribution of Lutheran biblical resources to LCMS missionaries, mission churches and partner churches in this region. Both Jonathan and Cheryl love to speak about Jesus with the people they meet each day.

Advent Wednesdays
Don't forget we will be starting Advent Services on Thursday at 7:30PM.  Our Theme will be: Come, Lord Jesus...and Show Us the Father
- December 5, Advent Midweek 1: Jesus Shows Us Our Creator, Psalm 95:1–7
- December 12, Advent Midweek 2: Jesus Shows Us Our Provider, Psalm 104:27–30
- December 19, Advent Midweek 3: Jesus Shows Us the Father’s Heart, Psalm 103:11–13 

Advent Devotions
The Advent Devotions that I put in the back of the church can also be accessed online at:  https://media.higherthings.org/reflections/
You can sign up/subscribe to get them sent to you daily as an email near the bottom of that same page.

Stay warm.  Keep in His Word.
Pastor Kuhfal

Confirmation Sunday this Sunday, May 6

Congratulations to our young man and women being confirmed this Sunday, May 6, at 10:30.  To be confirmed Kimberly Dreger, Trinity Graham, and Hannah Vraspir.  Caden Schwager will receive a certificate for completing classes in the Small Catechism.  Congratulations to these young men and women!

Picture left to right:

Pastor Kuhfal, Kimberly, Trinity, Hannah, Vicar Schaller

 

Dave Hoffman Benefit Sunday - April 29, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m

Join us to help Dave Hoffman this Sunday, April 29, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m at Grace Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Neligh.

A Pulled Pork meal will be served along with a silent auction.  Some of the items are listed below.  Dave Hoffman has been diagnosed with a mass growing in his brain.

Silent Auction Items

John Deere Toy Tractor

Weedeater

Adult Hooded Sweatshirt

31/2 Ton Steel Heavy Duty Floor Jack

Case Toy Combine

Toy Semi with Grain Tractor

Toy Tractor with Implement Set

16 Foot Gate

Metal “Home Sweet Home” Sign

Handmade Pen Sets

Handmade S’mores Quilt

Framed 2015 Kansas City Royals World Series Championship

Farberware Performance Blender

Nutribullet Select

“Carols of Christmas” Clock

Cat 60 Lumens Worklight

2 Bags Seed Corn

Caseys gift card and Pizza Certificates

Hiway Mart gift certificates

Grand Island Parks & Recreation Family Day Pass

Egerton Explorit Center Days Passes

Subway Certificates

CE Theatres Norfolk Passes

Whiskey Creek Steakhouse Certificates

Napolis Italian Restrauant Certificate

Clearwater Rodeo & Concert Tickets

2018 NE St Fair General Admission Passes

Antelope County Fair General Admission Books

Crocheted Baby Blankets

One Pound Packages of Pork Sausages

Six Racks of Ribs

RTIC 30 oz Tumbler

Farmall ”M” Series Collector Toy Tractors

Culver's Certificates

Taco Bell Certificates

Original Painting

Plus More to Come

Easter April 1 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

Our theme for this Lenten Season has been, “Return from Exile: A Lenten Journey.”  Every journey is unique in its starting and ending, and this journey has proven to be unique as well.  Easter Day, our journey is complete.  From the Mount of Transfiguration to the empty tomb, we have come a long way.  We have journeyed through gardens, looked upon trees, explored mountains, traveled through the wilderness, and crossed rivers.  We have eaten meals and descended into pits.  But now we have arrived at the end of our journey, the fulfillment of our journey.  However, while the empty tomb points us to our final destination, the tomb is not the destination.  The tomb is empty; it is not and never will be our home.  Heaven is our home because Christ has risen and ascended; and where He is, there also we shall be!  Heaven is our home, where we gather around the throne of the Lamb in His kingdom.

Good Friday Mar 30 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

Tomorrow night is a night of burdens.  It is black Friday, Good Friday; and we feel the burden.  We feel the burden of our sin.  Yes, we know our sin is forgiven.  We know we are forgiven, and we believe it; but there is still that feeling, that despair, that darkness of this night.  Our Savior, the Son of God, hangs upon a tree, and His lifeblood flows down the wood and stains the ground.  His blood instead of ours.  This is a night of burdens.  Surely He has borne our sin and carried our sorrows—He is the Sin-bearer.  This journey began long ago in the wilderness as a goat received the sins of the people and was led out to the wilderness, to the evil one.  Now the journey has come to a cross and the Scapegoat, Jesus, carries our sins, pays our price, and gives His life for ours.  Jesus is our Burden-bearer, our Scapegoat, our Sin-bearer.  On this day, this Good Friday, we look upon the tree, and we see our sins laid upon the Holy One.  We see our sins, we see our Savior, and we see our salvation.

Maundy Thursday Mar 29 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

This Thursday evening we partake of a meal that the LORD God has prepared with His own hands.  It is a holy feast which nourishes our faith and restores our souls.  It is a rich feast purchased with the most costly coin, the Son of God.  Today we eat and drink; we remember, and we give humble thanks.  Other holy meals have brought us to this feast, all meals provided by the hands of the Holy One.  This day we remember the Passover meal and the blood of lambs on the doorposts that protected the Israelites from the angel of death.  We remember the Day of Passover and the Passover lamb because it points to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  It points us to this holy feast of this Lamb’s body and blood.  But there is one greater feast yet to come: the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end.  A feast provided by the hands of the LORD God.  A feast enjoyed in the presence of the Lamb in the courts of His heaven.  A greater feast indeed!

Wed Mar 21 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

A journey through a desolate place causes concern.  In the midst of a desert, we wonder if we have enough water and food.  In the middle of a drive across the wilderness of the Western Plains, we repeatedly check the fuel gauge.  We know that death awaits the unprepared in the wilds and woolies.  Indeed, the wilderness has always been considered a place of death and separation, a place of exile from all that we long for and hold dear, even from life itself.  A journey through the wilderness is dangerous; but what awaits those who arrive at the other side?  New life, a resurrection, a promised land where the Lord provides all good things, all life-giving and life-sustaining things.  These are the blessings that come to the people of God from God’s hand as He brings us out of the wilderness of sin into the paradise purchased by His Son.  From the wilderness to the promised land—from death to life . . . a return from exile!  Join us this Wednesday, March 21 at 7:30PM.

Baptism - Ensley Coover

Heavenly angels rejoiced with us as Christ poured out His gracious water of Baptism upon Ensley Coover daughter of Travis and Kayla Coover.  Her witnesses were Curtis and Amanda Brandt.  May God in His good grace keep her in the true faith by His Holy Word.

Wed Mar 14 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

God created man and woman, and they began their journey in the garden.  In the midst of that Garden of Eden were two trees more beautiful than the rest.  The tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life—what joy for the man and woman to come to these trees and worship God, giving thanks for His good and gracious gifts.  But one day there was an unwelcome visitor to their worship service: Satan.  He had things to say, things which seemed wise.  They were lies, but the man and woman listened and sin came.  Adam and Eve were exiled from the garden and from the tree of life.  How they longed to return to the garden and the beautiful tree, and God promised that He would lead the way.  Jesus Christ leads us from one garden to the next and from one tree to the tree of life in the courts of heaven.  It is a hard and treacherous journey for our Leader, and it required a stop at another tree: the cross.  The evil Satan, who used a tree to bring sin into world, was conquered by another tree, and our sin was washed away.  Join us Wednesday, March 14 at 7:30PM.

Wednesday, March 7 Schedule

Due to weather here is the Wednesday Schedule:

• No 9:30AM Bible Study
• Ladies Aid postponed until March 14th
• Confirmation and Weekday School as normal 4-5:15PM
• Youth Group as normal 6:30-7:15PM
• Lenten Service 7:30PM

Wed Mar 7 - Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

How do you escape from a bad situation?  Where do you turn when you are surrounded by brutality, slavery and death?  We often desire to flee; we want to find refuge.  We need to begin a journey that will set us free, but the result of our efforts is nothing more than going in circles.  We seek freedom, but we receive greater slavery.  We journey toward light and end up in deeper darkness.  How do we escape?  It is God who leads us on the journey out of this slavery to sin and death, and where does He take us?  To water—to the banks of the Red Sea, to the Jordan River, or . . . to the baptismal font.  There we are set free.  The bondage of sin and death, the claws of Satan no longer hold us, for we have passed through the water.  These are the waters of death for our enemies, but they are the waters of life for us.  The enemy of our old Adam is drowned in these waters, but the new Adam comes up to new life.  We have been rescued from the enemy by the waters, and we have been made the children of God.  Join us this Wednesday, March 7 at 7:30PM.

Baptism - Isabella, Lilli-Ann, and Dannyka Smidt

Heavenly angels rejoiced with us as Christ poured out His gracious water of Baptism upon Isabella, Lily-Ann, and Dannyka Smidt daughters of Jennifer Smidt.  Their sponsor is Jennifer Batenhorst and witness P.J. Batenhorst.  May God in His good grace keep them in the true faith by His Holy Word.

Wed Feb 28 Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

This Wednesday, February 28, we journey from mountain to mountain.  Mountains are amazing and awe-inspiring, but to journey through them or to climb them is no easy task.  When Abraham saw Mount Moriah he was not inspired, nor was he amazed.  His heart was filled with fear and dread for on this mountain he was supposed to provide a sacrifice—the sacrifice of his son.  It was a difficult mountain to climb.  Later, Mount Moriah becomes Mount Zion where the Jerusalem temple was built.  On this mountain the LORD God will provide.  God rescues Isaac from the knife of Abraham in order that God might provide another sacrifice, a perfect Lamb without blemish or spot.  Even though Jesus was sacrificed on Mount Calvary, His blood was brought to the Holy of Holies in the temple and sprinkled for our forgiveness, life, and salvation.  It was a difficult mountain for Jesus to climb; but His journey to that mountain leads us to the mountain of the new Zion—to heaven.  Join us Wednesday at 7:30PM.

Wed Feb 21 Lenten Journey: Return from Exile

Gardens are places of beauty.  Gardens are places of rest.  Gardens are places that bring joy to our hearts as we walk through their midst.  The Garden of Eden was such a place, a place of beauty and perfection, a place of joy and peace, but man could not resist temptation and the result was a view of the beautiful garden from the outside.  No more joy, no more peace; only pain and sorrow, sweat and tears. This Wednesday, February 21, our journey is from the Garden of Eden—from which we have been exiled—to an even more beautiful garden, the garden of everlasting life.  This will not be an easy journey.  There will be much stumbling and falling, many bumps and bruises; after all, the world has been infested by sin and all the hazards that go with that reality.  It is a difficult journey, but one that has been taken first by our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Because He has first made the journey and suffered all in our place, the gates of the new, heavenly garden stand open before us.  No more tears, no more sorrow; this garden is our place of perfect rest, of joy and peace.  Join us Wednesday, February 21 at 7:30PM.

Ash Wednesday - Heart to Heart: Sackcloth and Ashes to Robes of Righteousness

Sackcloth and ashes: the signs of mourning and repentance in the pages of Scripture. Ash Wednesday, February 14, day we begin our Lenten journey; we begin our return from exile.  This is not a journey that begins with rejoicing and excitement; rather it begins with ashes.  Our Lenten journey begins with ashes on our foreheads, a sign of broken and repentant hearts.  God does not desire our sacrifices, as if we could atone for or cover our own sin.  God desires broken and contrite hearts which He will not despise.  Any efforts to cover up, to pay for, or to atone for our own sin only result in more sackcloth and ashes—even death.  It is God who responds to the ashes of our repentance by sending His only begotten Son.  Jesus Christ, on the cross, has washed our foreheads of the ashes of our sins and removed the sackcloth of our guilt and clothed us in His robes of righteousness and garments of salvation.  The pure and holy white linen garments that adorn the saints in heaven cover us as we long for the day when we will join them around the throne.  Join us at 7:30PM this Wednesday, February 14.

Potluck this Sunday, February 11

Everyone welcome for a potluck following church this Sunday, February 11.  Bring something to share.  [No one in particular is in charge of potlucks, we all join together to prepare and clean up afterward -- its part of the fun and fellowship.]

Grace Lutheran Soup Supper, Friday, January 26

Join us Friday, January 26
for Soup, Sandwich, and Dessert.
11AM - 1:30PM
and
5PM-7PM

Adults - $6
Children under 12 - $4 

+ Diane Bolling + Funeral Service

Funeral Services for Diane L, Bolling age 81 of Neligh, NE will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, NE with Pastor David Kuhfal, Officiating. Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Clearwater Cemetery.  Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home of Neligh is handling the arrangements.  Diane passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2018 at her home.  Condolences may be directed to the family at www.beyresnidermemorialfh.com



Diane Lucille Bolling was born September 20, 1936 in Royal, Ne to Oscar and Sylvia Mae (Leslie) Ziegenbein.  She was the youngest of 10 children.  Diane grew up on a farm South of Royal, attended country school, and graduated from Neligh High School with the Class of 1954.  On June 2, 1956 she was united in marriage to Louis Richard Bolling at Neligh, Nebraska.  They had on child, Douglas Lee, and resided in Neligh together for 51 years.  Diane was very active in her community, serving as den mother for a local cub scout group, participated in the women's bowling league, served many positions at Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, and was instrumental in the organization and construction of the new Neligh Senior Center.  She also served 3 years on the Antelope County Area Board of Aging.  Diane spent her pastime attending to family, quilting, and doing needlework.  She had an avid love for cooking and travel.  Through the years, she was employed by the Neligh Cleaners, Neligh Public Schools, and Antelope Memorial Hospital.

Survived by son, Doug and Wendy Bolling of Neligh, Ne. 3 grandchildren, Krista Bolling, Mary Bolling, and Sara (Ian) Barnes. 2 great grandchildren, Andrew and Issac Barnes. Sister, Myrtle Blair of Winnetoon, Ne. Brothers, Herb Ziegenbein of Winnetoon, Ne and Harold Ziegenbein of Neligh, Ne.

Preceded in death by her parents and husband.  Brothers, Hugh, Glenn, Howard, and Ken.  Sisters, Ruth Carlson and Gyva Rodgers.