Newsletter
Newsletter
Archive for downloading
April 2021
Dear Friends,
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God
should taste death for every man. 10 For it became him, for whom are all things,
and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both he that
sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is
not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my
brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again,
I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath
given me. 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is, the devil…” Hebrews 2:9-14
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
This is the first stanza of a beautiful poem by the great poet Walt Whitman. The
poem is quite moving and serves as a wonderful tribute to Abraham Lincoln
following his death. The poem depicts our former president as the captain of a
ship arriving home after the mission is accomplished. Amidst the cries of
jubilant voices rejoicing in triumph, the ship finds her captain lying on the
deck “fallen cold and dead.” Indeed, Abraham Lincoln navigated the American
nation through a dreadful civil war. Although Lincoln succeeded in preserving
the Union, he would die less than a week after the war had ended, by way of an
assassin’s bullet.
We as Christians have an even greater Captain, Jesus Christ. The Captain of our
salvation navigated the stormy seas of this life, bearing the suffering and sin
that is rightfully ours. Through the blood that He shed, our sins have been
forgiven. Unlike the death of Abraham Lincoln, the death of Jesus Christ was
part of God’s plan all along. Our Captain tasted death for every human being, so
that death itself might be destroyed. Also, unlike Lincoln, Our Captain rises
from the dead to swallow up death in victory. “It is finished!” The
mission is accomplished. Jesus Christ has delivered us from sin, death and the
devil through His death and Resurrection. May God bless you all in this blessed
Easter season. Let the bells ring and our voices sing: Christ is Risen!
Alleluia!
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal
shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O
grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of
sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54-57
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Chuck Bylkas
DONATIONS RECEIVED...
In honor of Pastor Wayne Juntunen
From Richard & Renee Riemersma
In memory of Elmer Yliniemi
From Ellie Puumala
In memory of Edward J. Puumala
From Ellie Puumala
In memory of Don Bielinski
From Pamela Bielinski
In memory of Alice A. Harju
From Roger A. Harju
In memory of Jack Munter
From Roger A. Harju
In memory of Ernest Bylkas Jr.
From Judy Bylkas
In memory of Ernest Sr. & Martha Bylkas
From Judy Bylkas
In memory of Linda Aho
From Steve & Marilyn Dahlmeier
In memory of Melissa Dahlmeier Roeser
From Steve & Marilyn Dahlmeier
Honoring Paul & Lorraine
From Bob & Gert Antioho
THRIVENT/ inFaith COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
InFaith works collaboratively with Thrivent and its financial professionals to
help individuals make the most of their gifts. Through InFaith, thousands of
donors have given more than $1.68 billion in gifts to the charities and causes
closest to their hearts. The Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary is pleased to
hold its endowment fund with InFaith Community Foundation, a national public
charity that serves individuals, organizations, and the community through
charitable planning, donor advised funds and endowments.
Supporters of an endowment fund can make outright gifts like cash, securities,
real estate, or deferred gifts at death such as charitable life insurance,
bequest, charitable trust or gift annuity. Then transfer new contributions to be
held and invested by InFaith. Supporters may receive a charitable tax deduction
for their gifts. Endowment fund assets are invested in a large,
fully-diversified pool of low-cost institutional investments.
Individuals who create a donor advised fund through InFaith may choose from a
broad range of giving options. Certain portfolios include investment in Thrivent
Mutual Funds.
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.
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.
THRIVENT CHARITABLE IMPACT & INVESTING
formerly InFaith Community Foundation
Recently announced, InFaith Community Foundation and Thrivent have an expanded
partnership, which will include a shared brand and client experience. This will
allow InFaith to continue to provide all the same offering and services. They
will be operating under a new name, Thrivent Charitable Impact & Investing,
which highlights the close relationship they have had with Thrivent since their
inception. The Inter-Lutheran Seminary has an Endowment Fund through this
organization. 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.
We would love 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. For more additional information, please contact Kirk Otto,
Jr. at (715) 294-4343 or Cheryl Hendrickson at (906) 482-3337.
**PLEASE NOTE**
If you are receiving this newsletter in error or would prefer to be taken off
the mailing list, please complete the form below and mail to: P.O. Box 449,
Hancock, MI 49930.
Or call 906-482-3337 or email: cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Thank you!
Date:_________________
Name:_______________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________
I wish to be removed from the Inter-Lutheran Seminary’s mailing list.
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