Your testimonies are very sure,
and holiness befits your house, O Lord,
forever and forevermore.
~Psalm 93:5
Pastor’s Thoughts:
This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday. This day often goes fairly unnoticed, but this year it seems especially important to know a bit about it, as we consider our world, our country, our common life, and our faith.
Christ the King Sunday is celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. This day holds deep significance as it focuses on the sovereignty and reign of Jesus Christ over all creation. Established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, the festival day serves as a reminder that Christ’s authority transcends political systems, cultural trends, and earthly powers. By acknowledging Jesus as the King of kings, the Church invites believers to confess their trust and faith in him, affirming his role as the center of our lives and the true source of peace and justice.
The celebration also prepares us for the season of Advent, encouraging us to reflect on the coming of Christ—both in his humble birth and in his glorious return. It inspires hope and perseverance by pointing to the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom. On Christ the King Sunday, worship emphasizes Christ’s eternal and unshakable kingdom, which contrasts with the transient nature of worldly powers. Christ the King Sunday challenges believers to live with a kingdom-centered perspective, promoting love, service, and faithfulness as reflections of our loyalty to Christ’s reign and our role in God’s kingdom.
In Christ,
Pastor Brenda
Grace will be hosting a Thanksgiving Eve Service for our neighboring churches, Memorial Lutheran Church and Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27. Please consider attending the service and starting your Thanksgiving with a service of thanksgiving.
After the service a Fellowship Hour will be held. If you would be able to donate a dessert for the Fellowship Hour, please contact Mary Schneider.
The Readings for Sunday November 24, 2024
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
Please join us for
Sunday Fellowship Time between services
In Fellowship Hall
November 24th – Wendy McCall and Deb Fallon
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD PACKING PARTY
You are invited to join us on November 24, following service for the Operation Christmas Child Packing Party. We will be packing boxes with those items we have collected throughout the year. These boxes are then sent to children all over the world to share the love that Christ has for each of them. We usually pack 150 boxes.
Pizza, salad, and beverages will be available for packers.
Operation Christmas Child Ministry Team
6 December Art Event at the Toledo Museum of Art
Pastor Brenda will once again join with Pastor Chris Hanley from Glenwood Lutheran to offer another “art and faith” event on Friday, 6 December at 6:30 p.m. at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Join the group as we consider together pieces of art which reflect the Annunciation to Mary, the Nativity of Jesus, and other Advent/Christmas/Epiphany themes. We will consider the colors and figures in the pieces, what feelings the works may evoke in us, and what the pieces may be calling us to be about as the people of God.
Parking for members is available for free in the museum lot. Others may wish to park at Glenwood Lutheran and walk to the museum. We will gather in the lobby by the museum café, and then make our way upstairs into the museum after some introductory remarks.
Meditation
by Vicar Dave
What are you thankful for? Thanksgiving is next week. It’s one of my favorite holidays, and I’m very thankful for it. Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to express our gratitude for the many blessings we have received from God. Blessings that others might not have. Things like a warm, dry place to lay our heads at night, or food enough to feed ourselves and our families. And there’s another thing to be thankful for, our families. Something else we can be thankful for is the community of believers here at Grace Lutheran Church.
As Christians, we can also be thankful for our triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who created, redeemed, and guides us. We should be very grateful for the free gift of salvation given to us by the grace of God. We can express that gratitude by doing what Jesus told us to do. Specifically, loving our neighbors as Jesus loves us. Thanks to Jesus, we have shelter and nourishment. We should share that with those around us who need it.
Lately, there’s been a lot in the news about people not loving their neighbors. Saying untrue and hateful things about others who have come to this country in a lawful manner, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Threatening to impose slavery on certain individuals. Even some young men who think they have the right to impose their will on young women. Some might try to minimize these things as being a joke, or not being meant to be taken seriously. If they are meant as a joke, they aren’t funny and they aren’t an example of loving one’s neighbors.
This Thanksgiving let’s show our gratitude for all of God’s gifts by loving our neighbors and sharing what we can with those who needs it. Let’s make our community a warm and welcoming place for all of God’s children.
Christmas Gifts for Lucas County Children’s Services:
We will once again be collecting gifts for the children served by Lucas County Children’s Services this Christmas. Please see the list of suggested items in this newsletter. (There will also be copies in the back of the nave.)
We will collect items through Sunday, 24 November, so that they can be picked up and distributed the week of 1 December. Items can be placed in the back of the nave.
Thank you!
Behind the scenes at Grace……by Gretchen
- Hmm, was it Santa Claus coming early who was on the church roof this last Tuesday? No, he was very skinny and did not have a red outfit or beard. So, who was this person walking round with a leaf blower cleaning off the needles and leaves???
- As you shop for food for the Food Collection for Thanksgiving, please don’t forget Personal Needs. Having Kleenex and toilet paper and toothbrushes /paste is regarded just as much of a blessing as food.
- Do you know of anyone who would like a kids plastic playhouse – the big kind that sits in the back yard. We have one that CRC does not need anymore. If you would like please contact the church office. It is currently residing in the church basement.
- Please put dishes and other kitchen items away when finished. We have recently had bowls, pitchers and Pyrex dishes decorating the counters. Check out the Golden Rules for Church Building posted in the kitchens and on the Community Boards!
- Remember: Grace is not the building but the people of Grace carrying out God’s mission!
Healthy People! Healthy Parish!
What is in a color?
Remember a number of year’s ago when everyone was having “their colors done”, were you a yellow or a blue or a purple? Everyone bought clothes in their colors!
Not sure what happened with that, but one color still stands out and is often regarded as a “power color”!!!! And it is not the purple or yellow or blue but RED!!
Supposedly if you want to be seen as one of the “power people” you wear red, drive a red car, have your office decorated in red and the list goes on about power and red.
But red is also carries a power statement in another way! Giving blood is giving your power to potentially 3 other people! That is a real power statement in giving it away to help others.
Our BRRRR Winter Blood Drive is scheduled for Thursday January 9 from 12-6 pm. Come and show your power to give back. It is also National Oatmeal Month so come and have some oatmeal cookies and cocoa with us!
The schedule is open on the web site for the Red Cross, or you can call or email Gretchen to schedule 419-944-5166, gretchensue1205@gmail.com.
Speaking of Blood Drives !
We collected 20 units of Blood this last Tuesday!!! Yahoo! So, we were able to help potentially 60 people! Thanks to all who donated and the great volunteer Brooke Gideon!
“Sugar”
When talking about diabetes it is often said “I have sugar” and not specifically diabetes or the type of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes is the third type of Diabetes. The body is making very little insulin or none at all. It can be inherited but is more often thought to be an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented. This is where the body sees the beta cells in the pancreas and attacks them. Beta cells produce insulin. When the body destroys the beta cells an outside source of insulin is required.
It used to be called Juvenile Diabetes as it was thought only children had it but now it is known it can occur at any age.
People with Type 1 Diabetes must have insulin every day and it can be given by daily injections or often people have an insulin pump. The amount of insulin is determined by monitoring blood sugar levels. It is important to take insulin as prescribed – missing doses can cause life threatening conditions as well as long term damaging events.
The goal for managing Type 1 Diabetes is to balance insulin, exercise and diet.
Church Council Highlights – November 12, 2024 Meeting
- Pastor Brenda was nominated and received an invitation to Chautauqua Institute to participate in a study program .This is quite an honor .
- Plans are in the works thanks to Shawn Wilt for a Habitat for Humanity build in Guatemala in September following the Anniversary Celebration. More information will be coming.
- Committee reports were reviewed with the following being highlighted
- VBS for 2024 will be June 16th -20th , looking at doing in the evening but is not confirmed .
- Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child will be Sunday November 24 at 12:00 with pizza
- Review of cost comparison of cleaning supplies, and additional data will be collected . Will also ask for review of kitchen supplies.
- Treasurer’s Report – Deficit for year is $41,407.50, for month of October $6,962.20. Discussion of how to address.
Copies of the Council Minutes are available in “Council” Notebook in Library. Council meetings are open to members. Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm.
Women of Grace – Save the Date!
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Women at the Well will be sponsoring a luncheon for the women of Grace on Sunday, January 12 at 1 p.m. A program on SewHope, an organization that partners with the people of Guatemala to provide cervical cancer prevention (the leading cause of death for the women of Guatemala), assists with community development, and aids in the education of all ages. Dr. Anne Ruch, a Toledo-based doctor in obstetrics and gynecology is the founder and board chair of SewHope. If you are interested in learning more about SewHope check them out on-line at SewHope.com. More information regarding the luncheon will follow in December.
Saturday morning, November 30, will be a busy morning at Grace Lutheran Church. Not only is that our monthly Burrito Blessings outreach program, but the Nave and Chapel will also be decorated for Advent. Volunteers will be needed for both activities at 10 a.m. Come and experience the community called Grace! Questions can be directed to Mary Schneider or Pastor Brenda.
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24
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