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March 2019
Dear Friends,
“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might
trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a
Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted
loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and
be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but
that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the
fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any
means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had
already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may
apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus.” Philippians 3:3-14
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminds us of what truly
matters in this life. He warns us about finding confidence in our own strength,
instead of what God has done for us in Christ. Paul would have had every reason
to boast of his own heritage and religious piety, but when Jesus appeared to him
on the road to Damascus, everything changed. His gaze is shifted away from self
and toward the Cross of God’s Son.
This truth did not go unnoticed by Sir Isaac Watts the famous English hymn
writer. In his hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, Watts beautifully
captures the true nature of repentance:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
When God brings us to repentance, He strips away that which we value most, so
that we may clearly see the gift He has given to us; the “Prince of Glory.” In
the death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ, we have been given the
forgiveness of sins in His blood, life and salvation. God has brought us into a
blessed union with His Son, which Paul describes as being “…found in Him…” It is
God’s “…love, so amazing, so Divine…” that transforms our lives forever.
May God grant us grace to celebrate the victory of the finished work of Jesus
Christ this Lenten season as you survey His wondrous Cross.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Chuck Bylkas
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
MEMORIALS RECEIVED...
In memory of John Jukuri
from David & Jackie Aalto
Pastor Ernest Bylkas III, Joy and family
Calumet Electronics
Joseph & Doris Galetto
Dr. David & Barbara Gilbert
Tim & Paula Hals
Marilyn Jukuri
Theresa Jukuri
Larry & Mary Jo Kristapovich
Erik & Karen Kukkonen
Ann Lepisto
Les & Sara Liimatainen
Anthony & Phyllis Locatelli
Bill & Ruth Lucier
Dale & Joanne Mattinen
Dylan & Cassie Parske
John & Jan Pelto
John Sullivan
Neil & Debra Sunnarborg
Gerald & Rosemarie Switzer
Paul & Lorraine Tomasi
Joseph & Marion Waananen
Kurt & Kristy Weise
In memory of Oscar & Ailie Sunnarborg
from Neil & Debra Sunnarborg
In memory of Luuk & Rebekka Wahala
from Larry & Sharon Wahala
In memory of Paul Suomala
from Paul & Dorothy Suomala
In memory of James Mickelsen
from Charleen Ahola
Pastor Ernest Bylkas III, Joy & family
Nancy Fenton
Ruth Johnson
Joe & Judy Pelkola
Ken Seaton
Gary & Helen Westerholm
Fayth Wolfe
In memory of George Lepisto
from Lee & Judy Haltunen
Ken & Sylvia Hanninen
Francisco & Sara Nunez
Gregg & Cheryl Patrick
In memory of Dr. Al Saari
from Roy Saari
In memory of John Besonen
from Reuben & Anita Aho
In memory of Vieno Stalo
from Donna Flaherty
In memory of Ross Wolfe
from Fayth Wolfe
In memory of Ron Liimatainen
from Pastor Ernest Bylkas III, Joy and family
Les & Sara Liimatainen
ATTENTION: SUPPORTERS
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SEMINARY.
Have you ever have used Amazon.com to do your shopping? Now AmazonSmile offers
the same products, same prices and same service and will also donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Inter-Lutheran Theological
Seminary whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Simply log use in by using this link….
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0918317
which will bring you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of our
organization.
THANK YOU - $253.70 was donated to the seminary during 2018 as a result of
your purchases!!
The Thrivent Choice® program offers a way members can recommend where Thrivent
Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach funds. As a benefit
member, your ownership of Thrivent Financial products and services help make
this support possible.
Remember….If you are an eligible member 16 and older you can recommend how to
distribute Thrivent Financial charitable grant funds thought Choice Dollars®.
Member eligibility and the Choice Dollars designated are based on:
• Holding a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position; or
• Having $750 or more in annual premiums of qualifying
insurance products; or
• Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying products.
For more information about Choice Dollars, visit http://www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
or call 800-847-4836 or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
In 2018, the Inter-Lutheran Seminary received $2,470 in Choice Dollars and WE
THANK YOU FOR THAT!
INFAITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:
Several years ago, the Seminary board of directors established the
Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. Funds contributed to the endowment are
not used for current day to day operations. Only the annual earnings of the
endowment will be used for the seminary’s needs thereby ensuring the continued
existence of this funding source. This is the preferred method used by many
non-profit entities, especially ongoing religiously focused organizations such
as seminaries.
While this is an excellent strategy, it has proven a challenge for us to
actually meet the minimum funding requirements. Until now, the fund has existed
but remained unfunded. By the Lord’s grace we have been blessed with a large
contribution to fund the Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. We would love
to build on this generous contribution to grow our endowment into a major source
of ongoing seminary support.
Although the seminary still needs the financial ongoing regular contributions of
our supporters, please consider the endowment fund for your planned giving
needs. The seminary has chosen the InFaith Community Endowment Fund (the renamed
Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation) to administer our endowment fund. They will
provide experienced legal advice to help guide you with any contribution
questions done through estate planning in addition to lump sum contributions,
IRAs, property and securities. For more additional information, please contact
Kirk Otto, Jr. at (715) 294-4343 or Cheryl Hendrickson at (906)482-3337.
**PLEASE NOTE**
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Hancock, MI 49930.
Or call 906-482-3337 or email: cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Thank you!
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Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone: 906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694