February 4, 2024 Newsletter

Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God!
             How pleasant it is to honor God with praise!

                                                                                           ~Psalm 147:1

At Grace, we will begin a 6-week study of death and dying on Sundays and Wednesdays on 10 March. There will be another opportunity to discuss this in a slightly different format. Together with the congregations and clergy of Grace, Hope and Olivet we will join together for an hour of song, guest presentations, prayer and small group discussion.  To accommodate various congregational schedules there are 3 options for participation.

 Wednesdays in Lent (February 21-March 20) at Hope Lutheran, 2201 Secor, Toledo

11:30 Soup meal, 12-1:00p.m.  Round table worship, guest presenter in person, small group discussion.

Thursdays in Lent (Feb 22-March 21) at Olivet Lutheran, 5840 Monroe, Sylvania

11:30 meal, 12-1:00 p.m.  Round table worship, guest presenter on video, small group discussion.

Virtual option

A video of the presenter, music, and prayer will be available to view through a link provided by your own congregation.

Topics:

Week 1:  How do we define death?  How does the medical community define it?

Week 2:  What to do after a diagnosis?

Week 3:  Mourning and Grief

Week 4:  How to plan a funeral—funeral home decisions and church funeral services

Week 5:  Advance directives—what are they and what do they do?

We’d love to have you join in for any and all of these opportunities to share and learn during this Lenten season.

Join us Wednesday evenings for a study on the book of Mark. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. as usual on January 31 and February 4. There will be no class on February 14 which is Ash Wednesday. We will begin again on Wednesday February 21 at 5:15 p.m. and continue at the 5:15 p.m. time during Lent.

Grace Office hours are

9:00am to Noon – Monday through Thursday

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Friday

Pastor’s Thoughts:

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

                I know we all understand what it feels like to be “weary.” We can be physically tired after a busy or after a few of them in a row. But the word “weary” really gets at something deeper, doesn’t it? We can be emotionally exhausted. We can be spiritually low. Sometimes, the world and our daily lives can wear us out, as we juggle responsibilities and face challenges.

                Jesus understood this. He knew, I think, that when we are physically tired, a good night’s sleep or even a nap can help us be better able to face the day. But the other types of weariness call for something more …

                Sometimes what we need is rest for our souls. We need a place to lay down the burdens which fall upon us … a safe place, where we can find a different kind of rest. This kind of rest comes from the promises of God in Jesus. This rest is the love, hope, comfort, and assurance that Jesus offers when he promises that we will never take a breath or spend a moment of our lives separate from the love and presence of God.

                How do we find this place of rest? Bishop Beaudoin has offered our synod the opportunity to reflect on what it means to find rest in Jesus and is providing some resources to assist us. Below, you will find a calendar for February, which offers a different way to rest each day. There will be a new calendar with new suggestions each month.

                I encourage us all to take a look at this resource and to use it to help us find rest in Jesus—who loves us so much and knows us so well that he gave his very self for us. Some of these ideas may be new to you, but they may open new ways to dwell in the presence of God and to find rest for your soul.

In Christ,

Pastor Brenda

The Readings for Sunday February 4, 2024

Isaiah 40:21-31

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

Mark 1:29-39

Important Winter Weather Information!

Winter Weather Policy (Approved by Church Council 3/8/22)

Lucas County:

Snow Emergency Level 1 and Level 2 – church services will be held.   All meetings are at the discretion of the group and/or committee. The chairperson of the group will be responsible for notifying members of   their group if the meeting is cancelled. The Chairperson will be responsible for notifying the Church Office if their meeting is cancelled as the church office may receive calls. Office staff will report to the church per routine.

Snow Emergency Level 3 – automatic cancelation of church services, committee meetings, meetings by outside groups and /or rental groups. The Church Office will be closed.

Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time

In Fellowship Hall

February 4th – Barb, Beth, and David Charvat  

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.

Behind the scenes at Grace …. By Gretchen

1. Lutherans do know how to have a marvelous potluck! Talk about a selection of food and great fellowship – Sunday’s potluck was wonderful.
2. Burrito Blessing was held this last Saturday. The construction crew built like crazy! Burritos were given out along with clothing, canned goods and even some dry dog food was donated! Burritos were also given out downtown! Our next build is Saturday February 24^th – come and join the crew – we start building around 10:00am and distribute from 11-12.
3. Have you checked the Community Bulletin Boards? Events are posted as well as the need for assistance with some projects and you might just be the perfect person to help out!
4. The Treasure Hunt is coming (i.e. Youth Rummage Sale) the end of April. We are a little limited in space until after the election and then will have more room so please hold onto the larger treasures. We have some limited space for bags and boxes.
5. Remember: Grace is not the building but the people carrying out God’s Mission.

Healthy People! Healthy Parish!

February is Heart Month!

Heart Attacks!

A recent study showed that both women and men delayed seeking medical attention for hours for chest symptoms! Men took about 3 hours and women 4 hours! Yikes!  Time can be the difference between life or death!

Symptoms between men and women can be similar and also different.

Chest pain is the most common symptom. Women can experience the chest pain as a squeezing or fullness and the pain can be anywhere in the chest just not on the right side of the chest like men often have. Some people describe it as a vice or an elephant sitting on their chest. It can happen at rest or with activity.

Pain in arm(s), back, neck or jaw. This type of pain is more common in women. The pain can be gradual or sudden. It can wake people up.

Stomach pain. Sometimes this is confused with heartburn, the flu, or a stomach ulcer. Women may experience sever abdominal pressure.

Shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness. Having trouble breathing for no apparent reason could be a sign of a heart attack.

Sweating. Breaking out in a nervous, cold sweat is common among women. It feels like more stress related sweating than perspiration from exercising or spending times out in the heat or hot flashes.

Fatigue. Some women feel extremely tired, even if they have been sitting still or haven’t moved much. Some people complain of “tiredness in the chest”.

The key is if you are experiencing symptoms  -GET HELP!! Don’t wait even if you are not sure what is going on get checked out. It can be the difference between life and death!!

How All Kinds of Love Affect Our Heart!

Family Love – The warm , fuzzy feeling you experience when you are in the company of family members is a sign that your stress level is down.

Dog Love – A dog shows unconditional love. They help to focus on something besides yourself and avoid loneliness which helps the heart. Probably we could include any pets under this!

Nature Love – Nature is available to all people whether looking out the window or walking in the park but helps with depression and reduced stress. Exercise while out helps the heart.

Our Friends – You may not get warm fuzzies from your family but that is where friends come in with helping to avoid loneliness. Loneliness has been found to lead to increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Love Yourself – Research has shown that loneliness and isolation is not good for us but it can be different if we choose to have some “alone” time just to ourselves. The peacefulness and quiet can provide just what we need.

A.E.D!!!  What? Where?

AED – is Automatic External Defibrillator!

Did you know that Grace has one! It is located next to the Office door on the wall in the white metal cabinet. When the door is opened a buzzing sound goes off and that is to alert others that the cabinet is open and someone may need help.

If you hear the buzzing, please go check it out as someone may need help.

If you need to use the AED for someone who has had a cardiac arrest the device will talk and walk you through what to do. Have someone call 911 Immediately.

Grace address 4441 Monroe Street

We will be holding CPR classes that will include how to use the AED coming soon!

January 9th Church Council Highlights:  

1. Multifaith Council worship to be held at Grace on March 4, 2024.
2. The purchased camera for the front entrance will be installed in mid-January, 2024.
3. The Council retreat will be on February 3. 2024 from 9-12:00 at the 577 Foundation in Perrysburg. Council is encouraged to read the assigned book and bring our dreams for Grace.  
4. A Pickleball group wants to use Brenner Hall. A motion was made and approved to allow this.

The Church Council meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in Room 3.

Meditation on Mark 1:29-39

By Vicar Dave

Word travels fast, doesn’t it? In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals one woman, who immediately thereafter begins serving Him and those with Him. Next thing you know, the entire city is gathered at the door of the house where the woman was cured with all their sick people as well as those who were possessed by demons. Jesus cured these people as well and got the demons to leave. After all of this, I’d think He’d want to rest. Maybe sleep in the next day or even take the day off. But instead, Jesus gets up before everyone else and seeks out some privacy, in order that He might pray.

Sometimes when we’re tired, physically, or emotionally, we just want to rest, maybe take a nap. I’m sure that the work of curing illnesses and casting out demons must have been draining. Keep in mind that Jesus was fully human along with being fully divine, so I’m sure He experienced exhaustion. But Jesus had important work to do. So, instead of taking His ease, He went to pray and get direction from His father. That act of praying was a form of rest for Him, giving Him time to commune with the other members of the Holy Trinity. He certainly left it with the energy to continue His mission. I think that Jesus must have gotten some motivation and energy from His prayers.

Sometimes we grow weary in our efforts here on Earth. The work can seem never ending, and that’s probably an accurate assessment. I imagine how some of the folks who work with the poor can feel like they’re trying to bail out a boat with a teaspoon. After all, Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. Working with that population must be emotionally draining as poverty is such a multifaceted problem for individuals and families.

When we get tired from our labors here on Earth, we should follow Jesus’ example, and rest, and pray. Our Bishop has designated 2024 as the year of rest. Bishop Beaudoin has invited us to consider that God calls us to rest in various places within Scripture. God even gave us the Fourth Commandment, instructing us to keep the Sabbath Day Holy by resting. He even set the example for us by finishing His labors in six days and the resting on the seventh. (Genesis 2:2-3) So when we’re tired, we should go ahead and rest. God will give us direction and strength to continue doing God’s work with our hands.

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