“Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” (Mark 2:18-20 NIV)

Happy Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras (which is French for Fat Tuesday). Traditionally Christians, mostly Roman Catholics, have celebrated today as a day of feasting in preparation for the 40 days of fasting that begins tomorrow with the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday. And why not feast and celebrate today? Not of course, in the way many in New Orleans might be celebrating today, but in a way that expresses the joy and thanks that comes from knowing Christ loved us so much that He was willing to die for us. That he has given everything that is his and made in mine by uniting himself to me in the marriage of faith. How can we not celebrate while he is near! And starting tomorrow, how can we not quietly watch in amazement what that love for us cost him.

Tomorrow: Worship with communion starts at 7 PM. You will have a chance to place an ash cross on a Lenten banner as you enter into the chapel for worship. (We have done this during worship in the past but because of the great participation, we will do it before hand as preparation for the Lent worship) Communion will also be celebrated.

We do have a supper scheduled for tomorrow. Would you be willing to bring a soup and help serve? Reply to my email.

Prayers you can offer this week:

For Ashton and Niko Roybal, Ryan Curry and Ezra Gilbert who were baptized.
For Greg and Heather Thamm who were blessed with a baby girl, Adelyn.
For Mary Griswold as she awaits the call to eternity.
For our Lenten journey here at Lord of Life.
For our Palm Sunday Friendship Sunday and Easter 2012 outreach preparations.

See you tomorrow God willing,
Pastor Sievert

The 40 days of Lent start this coming Ash Wednesday.  Join us for worship and time with our Savior each Wednesday at 7 PM as we focus on God’s forgiveness.  Soup suppers are served beforehand – starting at 6 PM for your convenience and for our fellowship.

The WELS International Youth Rally is June 27-30^th at the University of Tennessee.  This is a great opportunity to meet and grow spiritually and socially with hundreds of other teenagers from WELS churches throughout the world.  We’ll have an informational meeting immediately after 2nd service on February 26^th.  All teens (incoming freshmen through outgoing seniors) and their parents who are interested in attending the rally are strongly encouraged to be at this meeting.  If you want to take a look at some of the specifics before the meeting, visit http://www.wels.net/news-events/events and click 2012 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH RALLY on the left-hand page.

Save the Date:  Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School is preparing for its second annual Gala Dinner and Auction which is set for Friday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Arvada Center (70^th & Wadsworth).  All funds raised will go to the RMLHS Building Fund.  All are invited.  The Gala committee is asking for generous donated items that can be auctioned at the event.  If you can donate an item or if you are in a position to offer matching funds, please check out the donation forms found in the Narthex or at www.RMLHS.org. The deadline for donations is March 16^th.

Join us during Bible Class hour as we look at how to choose a Bible translation.  The Bible Lord of Life has used for all 27 years of its existence is no longer in print.  We, along with our church body, will have to decide what translation to go with in our worship services.  How do we choose?  What makes a good translation?  What are some guidelines?  Find out during the next month in the chapel at 9:20 AM.

You might be interested in the latest release from our church body’s publishing house, Northwestern Publishing House.  The book examines a number of seemingly contradictory teachings in the Bible and shows us how to apply them to our lives by letting each teaching stand alone, without trying to resolve them – the Lutheran narrow middle.  A bulk order is being placed from the Denver area which gives us a great discount – around $13 a book.  A sign up sheet is in the entry way.

There is also a sign up sheet for a new book on Christian Freedom you might be interested in.

Come eat at Culver’s on 98^th and Washington this Wednesday, January 11^th, from 5-8 p.m. and 10% of all sales that night will be donated to our youth group.  Proceeds from the night will help our teens attend the International Youth Rally in Tennessee this summer.  Invite your family, friends and neighbors.  Flyers on the narthex table.

Life Groups are starting up after next Sunday.  These are small Bible Study groups that meet weekly for six weeks (up to Ash Wednesday).  The prayer is that these groups will help us build relationships with each other, and more importantly, with God.  The studies will be based on the sermon lesson from the previous Sunday.  A sign up sheet is on the table in the entry way.

Today and next Sunday the Stewardship committee is asking you to turn in your Stewardship Plan for 2012 (located in your mailboxes with extras on the table in the entry way).  God calls us to use His gifts to His glory and we pray this will be a tool to help you respond to His love.

Next Sunday, January 15th, at 6 PM we will hold our annual congregation meeting.  Officers for our church council will be elected, reports of the past year will be presented and plans for the future will be shared