For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
~2 Corinthians 4:6
Pastor’s Thoughts:
Yesterday in worship at 9:30 a.m. Janet Moore drew attention to Psalm 147: 4 during the children’s sermon. The verse reads, “The Lord counts the number of the stars and calls them all by their names.”
Janet reminded us God also calls us all by name. What a wonderful reminder that we are all beloved by God, and created to be unique and amazing.
This also gave me a great opportunity to think about our Star Words! Many of us received a star with a word on it on Epiphany. The words are intended to give us a focus for the year ahead by reminding us to practice the idea behind the word and to notice how others offer it to us.
How are you doing with your Star Word focus? Is your Star hidden away or is it in a prominent place where you can consider what God might be calling you to practice and notice in your daily life of work, family, rest, leisure, and faith? If it has been a focus for you, how has that felt? Have you noticed anything new or had any insights?
My Star Word is “flexibility.” This is a real challenge for me, as I tend to like a pretty good idea of how things will go and what outcomes might be. I am learning to be open to what adjustments and pivots might have to teach me and to see them as opportunities rather than difficulties. That will be an ongoing process for me …
Soon there will be an opportunity to write a reflection about your Star Word to share with us. This can be done anonymously or with your name attached. It will be good to see how the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, encouraging us to stretch and grow as the year progresses.
If you did not get a Star Word, it is not too late! Let me know, and I will make sure you get one.
In Christ,
Pastor Brenda
Lent at Grace
Leading up to Holy Week the following services will be held at Grace during Lent:
Ash Wednesday services – Wednesday, February 14 – Noon and 7 p.m.
Wednesdays, February 21 and 28; March 6, 13, and 20
11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Mid-week Lenten Services
11 a.m. services will be followed by a simple meal.
7 p.m. services will be preceded by a potluck at 6
The 11 a.m. services will have the theme of “Lament”.
The 7 p.m. services the Holden Evening Service will be sung and
the meditations will consist of dialogues between Jesus and Satan.
These services will prepare participants for the events in
Jesus’ life that occur during Holy Week.
Behind the scenes at Grace….by Gretchen
- Did you know that the Sunday School Kids are doing a mission project? The kids and Miss Connie are collecting personal needs items for the Personal Needs Ministry that provides items to those in need on Tuesdays. Go Kids! What an awesome project!
- Gretchen met with the Youth Group this last Sunday and talked about participating in a Blood Drive. Did you know that every 2 seconds someone in the United States needs blood or platelets!!!
- Hang onto those treasurers for the Youth Group Rummage Sale! Large items will probably have to wait till after the election but there are spots for bags and boxes in the library.
- If you have an event including Sunday Fellowship, please remove or dispose of leftover foods that can spoil or dry out. We recently had a beginning bag of beginning compost in Fellowship Refrigerator with some mushy and smelly vegetables.
- Remember: Grace is not the building but the people of Grace carrying out God’s Mission!
The Readings for Sunday February 11, 2024
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
Meditation on Mark 9:2-9
By Vicar Dave
How do we handle it when we see something miraculous? We know what Peter does. He tends to react excitedly and speak before he’s had a chance to think things through. But then again, can we really blame him? Peter just saw his teacher and friend transformed into a dazzling being. He also saw two important figures from Jewish history, who have been gone for many centuries now, suddenly appear with Jesus, right before his eyes! Imagine the excitement we’d feel if something like that happened in front of us.
Artists have long tried to capture that moment in sculpture, or painting, or song. In the church I grew up in, right above the altar, there was a huge stained-glass window depicting the transfiguration complete with the three apostles that accompanied Jesus up to that mountain top. It was really quite inspiring to the child I was back then. I recently had occasion to visit that church again and still marveled at the beauty of that scene.
Peter’s reaction, though a bit rash, is completely understandable. Who wouldn’t want to stay there, basking in God’s glory? Then the voice of the Father, thundering through the clouds, telling them “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” That would have been awe inspiring all in and of itself.
This story reminds me of the awesome power that God has. It’s also a glimpse of what the heavenly kingdom will be like when it is fully here. How things will be so overwhelmingly beautiful that, like Peter, we may not be able to think straight at first. How the saints, and people we thought long gone, will be there with us, helping to guide us. I hope that when I see Jesus in all His glory that I will be as excited as Peter!
Healthy People! Healthy Parish!
Spring Drive!
The next Blood Drive at Grace is Thursday April 18th from 1-6 PM. Please consider giving blood or asking a family member to donate in your honor! The Red Cross is experiencing an all-time shortage. If one of your family members or friends needed blood you would definitely want that to be available and it is a great way to give back to the Community.
Warm Hearts !!
Yep, we all want to have a Warm Heart but there are some people who do not have blankets and clothing to keep them warm .February is heart month and Grace’s Wrap Your Heart month .This will be the third year that we will collect blankets for Tent City . Tent City is held downtown every October. Tents are set up by individuals and groups to provide clothing, food, assistance, etc. to people living outside . Last year we collected 40 blankets and coats . Although this is held in October, we collect all year long . We also share if there is a need during Burrito Blessing 419 day or any other time of the year. The Wood chuck did not see his shadow so we are hoping Spring will spring sooner than last year so as you are putting away your winter blankets, quilts etc. please think about those you do not want anymore and donate . Look for the Blanket Chest and Cart in the back of the big church this week.
Potato Chips, Pretzels, Cashews, Bacon (are you hungry yet??)
These are some of our favorite foods and with the big game coming up this weekend we will all probably eat more than usual. Great tasting as they are they all have one great tasting thing in common – SALT!!!
We all need some salt in our diets, but Americans have a history of overdoing it – one more shake of the saltshaker and another handful of chips or my favorite soup in a can!
Salt /Sodium is what makes food taste good!
So how much do we really need? Aim for 2,300 milligrams and preferably 1,500 milligrams a day. Most American’s consume 3,400 milligrams a day!
Sodium/salt is one of the culprits in high blood pressure. We all know that high blood pressure damages our blood vessels which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and heart disease.
Lowering our salt intake can be done by:
- Lose the saltshaker – don’t add extra salt. If you are a confirmed saltshaker person – start gradually to start shaking less.
- Watch labels on foods – look for sodium free, reduced sodium or light in sodium.
- Check out the labels on foods that say, “low fat”. Fat also makes food taste good so if they reduce the fat, they often increase the sodium.
- Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Eat less processed food like processed cheese (the yellow brick in the yellow box!)
- We often eat more of these high salt foods than we realize so watch your portions.
- Try the salt free substitutes – they contain herbs that help with adding flavor but without the salt.
*** Come Sunday to Fellowship Hall! Checkout Salt!! How much is really in a serving of peanuts and some other good stuff! Can you taste the difference????
Opportunities for Fellowship at midweek Lenten Services
Opportunities for fellowship are provided at our midweek Lenten Services. A simple lunch will be provided after our 11 a.m. Wednesday service and a potluck will be held beginning at 6 p.m. prior to our 7 p.m. Wednesday service. If you are interested in providing a meal for approximately ten people at our 11 a.m. Wednesday service, please contact either Cindy Wood or Mary Schneider. If you will be attending the potluck on Wednesday evenings, feel free to bring a dish to share.
Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time
In Fellowship Hall
February 11- Valentine Fellowship Hour – Chocolate is the word for the day!!! If anyone can bring a chocolate treat, please let Sue Wagner know at suegrade@aol.com or 419 475-8972.
Operation Christmas Child 2024 Collection
It’s that time of year to once again donate/collect items to fill boxes sent to children all over the world. We ask that you would help in this effort by donating TOOTHBRUSHES for both children and adults during the month of FEBRUARY.
Your donated toothbrushes can be placed in the container marked Operation Christmas Child in the Grace Giving Room. Thank you for your support for this very worthwhile effort.
Operation Christmas Child Ministry
Fun at the Walleye game!!
Ann Augustin Ordination to Word and Service:
Ann Augustin will be ordained into the Diaconal Ministry of Word and Service on Sunday, 18 February at 4:00 p.m. at Glenwood Lutheran Church (2545 Monroe St. Toledo). Ann serves as a chaplain for ProMedica at Toledo Hospital. All are welcome!
Wednesday Adult Class in Lent:
Please note that due to the Lenten schedule, the Wednesday Adult Class will meet every other week in Lent, beginning on 21 February. We will meet 21 February, 6 March, and 20 March at 5:15 p.m. We will return to our regular weekly 6:00 p.m. meeting schedule after Easter. We will continue the study on Mark and tentatively begin the series on Death and Dying on Wednesday April 6.
The deadline for turning in articles for the newsletter is 10:00 a.m. Monday morning OR when the newsletter is full. 8 pages is the maximum we can send in the mail. Thank you!
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24
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