REPRINTED FROM THE NEWS HERALD/NEWS MESSENGER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2017 Charter member Hank Gurtz, left, Administrative Assistant Ellen Rofkar, center, and trustee Roy Martinez stand inside Resurrection Lutheran Church, which celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sept. 10. (Photo: Sheri Trusty/Correspondent) CATAWBA - Resurrection Lutheran Church celebrated its 50th anniversary last month with a handful of charter members and the only two pastors in the church’s half-century history. Tradition is foundational to Resurrection, whose biggest change was inspired by its refusal to change. The church was founded as a mission church in 1967 and was strong enough to terminate its mission status in 1968. Pastor Erwin Streng led the congregation through its first 10 years, and then Pastor Kurt Borows took over in 1978. He remains the church’s minister today. “Pastor Borows has carried the ball for 40 years, and he has been ordained for 53 years,” said church trustee Roy Martinez. “Our church is very traditional, and a lot of that has to do with Pastor Borows and his leadership style. We’re very open, very friendly, and we have a lot of volunteers.” Administrative Assistant Ellen Rofkar said she believes that friendliness, and the church’s unusual location, have contributed to its longevity. “Catawba Island is just a unique place, being on a peninsula. It’s very friendly. It’s really like family,” she said. “Even the summer residents, if they only come three or four times and you never see them again, they are like family while they’re here.”

RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH CELEBRATES 50th ANNIVERSARY MILESTONE On Sunday, September 10, 2017, the congregation of Resurrection Lutheran Church held their 50th Anniversary celebration with a special worship service and brunch at the Catawba Island Club. Special guests included Pastor Erwin Streng, who served as the first pastor from 1967 to 1977, Pastor Mark Chavez-General Secretary of the North American Lutheran Church, Pastor Robert Butcher-retired pastor of Firelands Presbyterian Church, and Pastor Janine Dress who was ordained at Resurrection in 1982. Also participating in the special worship service were Reverend Lisa Peterson-retired pastor of Peace Lutheran Church in Port Clinton and a current member of Resurrection, member John Hazzard, and current Pastor, the Rev. Dr. Kurt W. Borows. In May of 1966, the American Lutheran Church, Michigan District Convention was held at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton, Ohio. At this convention, Rev. Clarence Larson of the Toledo Board of Home Missions announced plans for a mission church on Catawba Island. Ground was broken for the church building in August of 1966 and the church was dedicated on March 5, 1967, as RESURRECTION LUTHERAN CHURCH . The Rev. Dr. Kurt W. Borows has been serving as pastor since January 1, 1978. Today, there are 10 charter members still with Resurrection. They are: Ron Bauman, Don & Mitzi Gulau, Hank Gurtz, Dr. Robert & Norma Nehls, Herb & Jackie Roder and John & Helen Jean Rofkar. The church is located at 2370 NE Catawba Road, Port Clinton. There is a dedicated website at: www.ResurrectionOnCatawba.com . Resurrection Lutheran Church is a charter member of the North American Lutheran Church. Worship service and Sunday school start at 9:00 a.m. Pictured above are (on left) Rev. Dr. Kurt W. Borows and (on right) Pastor Erwin Streng with the beautiful commemorative plaque celebrating the momentous milestone.

Well before Christmas 2016, someone well known and loved here at Resurrection wanted to do something special for Strength for the Journey. She took it upon herself to send out her own handmade costumes so these impoverished children and families in the Dominican Republic could re-enact the nativity. Sending them out in plenty of time, it was still a nail-biting, down-to-the-wire experience waiting to hear if/when they received these boxes. Fortunately, they DID receive them by December 19th. Not too late for Lindsay Kaufman, a retired school teacher moved from Ohio to the Dominican Republic, to take on the challenge of preparing for this task! Strength for the Journey is an organization of dedicated volunteers; dedicated to helping kids that find themselves in absolute poverty with little likelihood of overcoming their situation.

"THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE"

 

Text - JOHN 11:1--44

GRACE BE UNTO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND FROM OUR RESURRECTION AND OUR LIFE - OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.

On the day our text took place, Jesus spoke the most powerful and comforting words ever heard by human ears – “I am The Resurrection and The Life”.  And the way He said those powerful words and the situation in which He said them enabled people to understand Who Jesus is– as never before.

The month before Jesus spoke those words, He and His disciples were in Jerusalem where the opposition toward Jesus was growing steadily more violent. Each day, they crossed the Kidron Valley and entered the Temple where His opponents were at their strongest. 

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Branches In the Lord’s Vineyard

Text – JOHN 15:1--11  

GRACE BE UNTO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND FROM OUR CRUCIFIED AND RISEN LORD AND SAVIOUR - JESUS THE CHRIST.

Living in a land with no rainy season and only a brief month when any rain falls at all, the people prayed for and then thanked God for the morning dew which often provided the only real source of moisture for their grape plants growing along the otherwise bone-dry ground. It took great care to produce this cherished crop – but it was worth it. No plant was more cherished in Judea than the grape – because every other part of the plant could be used in so many essential ways.

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WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE

Text -- JOHN 9:1--41

GRACE BE UNTO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD THE FATHER AND FROM OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR … JESUS THE CHRIST.

 

"Just as I am, without one plea,

but that Thy Blood was shed for me,

and that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”

Last Sunday, that beloved hymn sprung to life as we saw Jesus bring living water and new temporal and eternal life to a woman scorned by every member of her society – and we remembered how we ourselves received that living water of Holy Baptism

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