Gracious is the Lord and righteous;
                                           our God is full of compassion.

                                                                                                  ~Psalm 116:5

Pastor’s Thoughts:

                What does it mean to be a generous person? Usually, I think of giving my time and resources to others when I think of being generous. I also think of using my gifts and abilities for the sake of others and the world.

                But what inspires me to be generous? It does feel good to give, but it seems to be more profound than that. I think at the heart of generosity is trust: trust that I will have enough … trust that what I give will be replenished … trust that my giving will have an impact. I think this is true in all the situations in life when we have the opportunity to share with others—including our lives of faith and how we share our time, talents, and money as a response to God’s generosity.

                This week, I am asking our Council members and committee chairs to begin reading a book called The Generosity Challenge: 28 Days of Gratitude, Prayer, and Faith by Scott McKenzie and Kristine Miller. The book invites the reader to consider how being grounded in gratitude, prayer, and faith can deepen our trust in God’s abundance and inspire us to be generous in our giving of our financial resources for the mission of our faith home. The book challenges readers to think deeply about how we use our money and how we might consider being more trusting and generous as we work together as Jesus’ disciples in the congregation and the world. We will be checking in each week with each other to see what we have learned through the reading and how it might affect us moving forward.

                Once this group has considered the ideas in the book, we will be sharing some of those ideas with all of you and inviting you to think about how you might be inspired to renew your trust in God’s abundance and generosity and how it might shape the way you think about your financial stewardship at Grace.

Nearly 125 years ago, a group of people trusted in God so much that they took a leap and established a new community of faith. For a century and a quarter, through hard times and abundant times, the people of Grace Lutheran Church and their generosity have proclaimed the Good News of Jesus in our community. This is our legacy, and our generosity toward the congregation’s mission is one way we show how much we trust God. It is also one of the ways we help ensure that Grace’s mission to Bless the World: Be God’s Grace! continues in the next part of our story.

In Christ,

Pastor Brenda

The Readings for Sunday September 15, 2024

Isaiah 50:4-9a

Psalm 116:1-9

James 3:1-12

Mark 8:27-38

Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time

In Fellowship Hall

September 15 – Praise Band

September 22 – Beth, Barb and David Charvat

September 29 – Mary Schneider and Carol Corbiere 

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, calls and cards while Bob and I “enjoyed” recovering from our surgeries. We still have a way to go yet but knowing that we have such a supportive family has kept our spirits up and can now see progress.

You are all a blessing to us.

JoAnne and Bob Vernon

Meditation

by Vicar Dave

Have you ever worked with someone who always seems to get all the attention from the supervisors? Some people seem to get all the praise for doing the flashy things. They also like to point out all of their accomplishments and awards while other people continue to do their jobs everyday without ever being noticed. Most organizations wouldn’t be able to function without the contributions of these hardworking yet anonymous contributors.

The world tells us that we should be seeking the limelight, that we shouldn’t shy away from bragging about our accomplishments. This is the way to get promotions and achieve the type of success that this world values. I’ve heard it said that you can’t get ahead in life if you don’t draw attention to yourself. But that’s not what our faith teaches us.

We are cautioned about bragging in both the Old and New Testament. Proverbs 27:2 says “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips”. And Psalms 75 warns us to “not speak with insolent pride”. St. Paul tells us not to boast about our selves and our qualities but rather to boast about Jesus.

The problem about boasting is that its origins are in our own pride. Pride is the source of many of our problems. It was pride that caused Adam & Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. They wanted to be just like God. Pride puts oneself before others. It causes us to think that we’re better that someone else. Remember the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector? The Pharisee in that story was proud of the fact that he was better than the Tax Collector. The Tax Collector on the other hand knew his sin and asked God for mercy. He went home justified while the Pharisee did not. “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God loves all of us, equally. Let’s not allow our pride delude us into thinking that we are better than anyone else.

Rally Day has come and gone and we have moved on to Sunday School year 2024- 2025. This year, we are challenging and reminding the children to act as a team; being kind, respectful and honest to/with each other I would also remind you that an offering is collected weekly and contributed to the Personal Needs Ministry here at Grace, then used to purchase needed items for this important ministry.

We will continue this year, to make the first Sunday of each month Mission Sunday for the children to donate personal need items in place of their offering if they choose.

This year, we will be adding a time for music (playing the bells) during Sunday School with Brenda Holderman and Kim Kondalski. Thank you to Kim and Brenda

for your contribution to the children’s Sunday School program.

Connie Thomas will continue to teach the group of youngest children, Nancy Lockard will be teaching second to sixth grade and Debby Fallon and Wendy McCall, those; high school age.

Thank you and bless you to all parents and grandparents and teachers for the many efforts made on behalf of children/grandchildren here at Grace.

Christian Life Formation Ministry Team

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24

Hallelujah!
                               Praise the Lord, O my soul!

                                                                                           Psalm 146:1

Rally Day! Sunday, September 8, 2024

Pastor’s Thoughts: 

I am frightened. I am sad. I am angry. I am overwhelmed. I am confused. I am weary.

Why? Because I am a citizen of the world in the 21^st century, and it seems that everywhere I turn there are wars and rumors of wars, famine, death from diseases that are preventable or curable, unimaginable and unconscionable poverty, violence, aggression, indifference, misunderstandings, abuse, and terror.

Our world is continually under siege, as people from this and every country harbor suspicions against one another, engage in acts of violence and aggression, abuse one another and the creation with which God has entrusted us, talk past each other (if they talk at all), and hurl epithets and insults … even as many go to bed each night without shelter, food, or healthcare. It is not hard to sense evil all around.

And yet …

I can still be comforted. I can still find hope: for justice, for peace, for equality, for mercy, for compassion, for meaningful and productive conversation between world leaders—without posturing and power-seeking, for the needs of all to be met.

Why? Because more important than my citizenship on Earth is my identity as a child of God, an identity given to me through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this identity that enables me to pray boldly each and every day for those I love, for the country and the world I live in and their leaders, for the Church, its people, and our witness in the world, for those around the world who are in such need, and even (perhaps especially) for those who would inflict pain or terror on others.

My identity as a beloved, forgiven child of God and my trust in God’s promises gives me hope for the future, because I know—I know—that ultimately our world is in the hands of God. And while God surely weeps at the chaos and destruction we cause and endure, God will never let us go, and the Spirit will find a way to move us to peace; even using us to bring about change and offer comfort in many and various ways.

As the saying goes, I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. Of that I am completely sure.

In Christ,

Pastor Brenda

The Readings for Sunday September 8, 2024

Isaiah 35:4-7a

Psalm 146

James 2:1-10 [11-13] 14-17

Mark 7:24-37

Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time

In Fellowship Hall

Rally Day – September 8th – Please join us for cake in Fellowship Hall! 

A One Question Bible Quiz

Bob Haaf

****************************

Fill in the blank: When Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”     Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom _________we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

Choose one: Shall     Will     Would     Could     Can

****************************

The Gospel reading for August 25 was John 6:56-69, and verse 68 in the bulletin included the word can, “Lord, to whom can we go?” However, if I’m correct [something that happens now and again] the more familiar version is, “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Confusing? What now? Obviously─consult the World Wide Web.

The website biblegateway.com offers 62 English translations of the New Testament. They include five different alternatives for John 6:68: shall (31 translations), would (15), can (8), will (5), and could (3). Now what? Obviously─consult the World Wide Web again.

The Gospel of John was originally written in Greek. So, consulting the WWW again, we find the word apeleusometha (απελευσόμεθα), which is translated as “we are released” or “we will be freed.”

Still confusing? Yes, but….Carefully consider the various translations before you fill in the blank, BUT don’t miss the really important question, which is. How will you respond when Jesus asks you the question He asked the twelve: “Do you also wish to go away?”

Fall Adult Class:

As we journey together as Christians and Americans toward the 5 November elections, let’s take this opportunity to talk about how we can best engage with each  other and the community around tough issues.

The Adult Class will begin a six-week study on the ELCA’s Civic Life and Faith   document on 8 September (Sunday) and 11 September (Wednesday). Each week, these two options for the class will study the same materials so that if you miss  Sunday, you can join on Wednesday.

Schedule:

8/11 September: Session 1

15/18: NO CLASS—Pastor on vacation

22/25 September: Session 2

29 Sept/2 Oct: Session3

6/9 October: Session 4

13/16 October: Session 5

20/23 October: Session 6

The Sunday class meets at 8:15 a.m., and the Wednesday class meets at 6:00 p.m. Both sessions meet in Room 3.

The Civic Life and Faith document will be available on 25 August so that you can read Session 1 in advance.

Sent in by Bob Haaf

Why do we shrink from change?  What can come into being save by change?     

~Marcus Aurelius                                                                                   

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.                 

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe   

 It’s an ill plan that cannot be changed.                                     

 ~Latin proverb

I make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes.

~Sara Teasdale

The old order changeth, yielding place to new, and God fulfills himself in many ways. 

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson  

                              from Inspired by Faith Word Search

Meditation

by Vicar Dave

      Have you ever read Gulliver’s Travels? One of the peoples he met called themselves that “Big Endians”. They were at war with another group called the “Little    Endians”. As I recall the story, this war had been going on for several years prior to Gulliver’s arrival in Lilliput. The source of this war was the insistence of one group that the only proper way to break a hard-boiled egg is at the big end, and the insistence by the other group that it needed to be broken at the little end. Can you imagine people going to war over something so frivolous as that?

Sometimes, we get so stuck in our ways about small things, we probably look like the Lilliputians to others. We get pretty attached to our traditions and our habits, and sometimes traditions can be a good thing. When they get in the way of advancing our ministry, that can be bad.

Change is a part of life, but it can be frightening. Just ask Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. His world was changing all around him. From his daughters defying tradition and marrying the men that they loved instead of the men Tevye had picked for them, to them being forced from their homes by the government. In order to survive, Tevye had to adapt to the changes in his life, whether he wanted to or not. Change is necessary for both growth and survival. One of the biggest inhibitors to change is the phrase “but we’ve always done it this way”.

Changes have been happening in the world of Christians since the very beginning. The ways we worship, the songs we sing and the styles of music we use have all changed dramatically over the centuries. Followers of The Way, as Christian used to be called, used to meet almost exclusively in their homes to worship. This was due in part to the fear of prosecution by the local authorities. As Christianity began to gain acceptance, they began to worship in public, eventually building beautifully ornate churches as their houses of worship. Then the Reformation came along, and people started changing the way they worshiped again. Some felt that the elaborate churches were too much and that we should be focused on loving our neighbors instead of building big churches.

Throughout its history, the Christian community has had to adapt to its changing circumstances, but the message has always been the same. That message being that Jesus came to the Earth to teach us and to offer us the gift of His grace and  salvation. As we adapt to how the world is changing around us, will we find ways to change and grow or will we stick our feet in the sand saying things like “but we’ve   always done it this way”? I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us to make changes that are good for us and for the world. Thanks be to God.

Sept 1 was T-shirt Sunday Here are some of the T-shirts – thanks Bob Haaf!!

YOU CAN HAVE PEACE AMID THE WAVES

A Breath Prayer Meditation

Breathe Deep and Know: You can experience God’s peace even in the fiercest storms.

Think of your heart and mind like a boat. A boat floats because of its buoyancy – the balance between the boat’s weight pushing down and the force of the water pushing up.

In a storm, as the waves crash against the boat, it stays afloat as long as it doesn’t take on too much water or tip too far. The boat must maintain balance.

A low center of gravity helps keep the boat stable even in high and heavy waves.

The stresses you experience are like the waves that rock the boat of your heart and mind as you navigate the waters of life. And God’s peace is like that center of gravity, a balancing, buoyant force holding your little boat steady as it’s tossed about on the waves of fear, anxiety, and difficult circumstances. His peace guards your boat from filling with too much water, keeping the waves from capsizing you.

It may seem impossible – a little boat staying afloat in a severe storm. But a boat remains steady not because of the size of the waves, but because of its stable center. You can have peace in the middle of your biggest storms when the Person of Christ is at the center of your life.

    From Breath as Prayer  by Jennifer Tucker

And the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.         Philippians 4:7 ESV

Inhale:

Guard my heart and mind

Exhale:

With your indescribable peace.

Church in the Wild 

What exactly is Church in the Wild?

It is for folks who want to use creative ways to connect with God outdoors.

There is a reading or two and a “sermon” reading.

Imagine worshipping God in a park and honoring God through nature.

You are not worshipping within four walls.  Suddenly you are out in the open – feeling God’s love through the wind, the sun, the birds, and, even the sprinkles and flakes.

Imagine others with you sharing God’s love and that connection to God through nature and being outside.

Imagine a peaceful stroll, listening to the trees, the birds, and nature, thanking God for the beauty you see and hear around you!

Add a scripture reading, and a short “sermon” reading.

Imagine sharing the peace with those who are worshipping with you.

Imagine being in peace.

That, my friends, is Church in the Wild.

 **Second Saturday Wild Church Gathering

Saturday, September 14th

Wildwood Preserve Metroparks (Rain or Shine)

8:30 am – 9:30 am

Please enter at the main entrance and follow the road to the parking lot BEFORE the playground (second parking lot)

Look for the “Wild Church Gathering” sign.

Please bring a chair and wear comfortable shoes.

We hope you will join us!

***ALL ages are welcome! ***

**Second Saturday Wild Church Gathering is led by Nancy Lockard.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24

Consider how the wild flowers grow

                                                                                           ~Luke 12:27

The church office will be closed Monday September 2 for Labor Day.

Pastor’s Thoughts:

Yesterday, a number of folks from Grace walked with over 200 hundred other people of faith from 28 communities of faith in the Toledo Pride Parade. This effort was called “Better Together.”

The effort intended to show our community that everyone is created in the image of God and should be welcome to worship without fear and without judgment.

As we walked, I overheard someone say, “Those are churches!” Another person said, “There are clergy walking!” It was good to hear that people appreciated this witness.

Fortunately, that was the overall feeling of the day. There was one person who stood yelling hateful things at those who walked and those who watched. That was painful. Hate is never the answer, nor is it a Christ-like response to differences of opinion or to different interpretations of important topics.

We can and will disagree about social, cultural, and religious ideas. But our faith in Jesus — who reached out to all kinds of people—compels us to try and meet people where they are, recognizing first and foremost that everyone is beloved by God and in need of the grace of Jesus. Starting there gives us some common ground and can help us having productive conversations where all can feel heard and valued.

That indeed makes is “Better Together.”

In Christ,

Pastor Brenda

Don’t forget!!! T-Shirt Sunday, September 1

Wear your favorite T-shirt to church

Meditation

by Vicar Dave

Do you remember the rose garden song by Lynn Anderson? The lyrics to this song go “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden. Along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometimes”. She’s singing about her relationship with someone, about how expectations of things being perfect just aren’t reasonable.

Our lives are like that as well. God never promised that things would always be easy, In fact, Jesus tells us that things will be difficult. After all, loving your neighbor sounds nice, but isn’t easy, especially if we disagree with them. In this political season, that can be particularly fraught. But that’s what God tells us to do.

We’ve all experienced “growing pains”. Growing up is difficult. There are lots of things to learn. Sometimes, we can learn by instruction. Sometimes we must do it the hard way. Good parents may try to shield us from the pain associated with the “hard way”, but that’s not how we grow. This process goes on throughout our lives. Even if we reach our 90’s, we are still going to be learning and growing, especially in our relationship with God.

We continue to grow as a people of God. Sometimes, we can accept what God is   trying to teach us through His Word. But a lot of what Jesus taught was hard to hear. Things like telling the rich man to give away his possessions or like loving our enemies. Change and growth are hard, but that’s what God calls us to. It’s not always going to go smoothly, but God, like a loving parent will be with us through all of the hard lessons of life.

The Readings for Sunday September 1, 2024

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

Psalm 15

James 1:17-27

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time

In Fellowship Hall

September 1st  Brenda Holderman and Cindy Wood

Rally Day – September 8th – Please join us for cake in Fellowship Hall! 

Grace’s 125^th Anniversary Celebration

On September 7, 2025 Grace Lutheran Church will celebrate its 125^th Anniversary with a special service followed by a celebratory lunch. To lead up to this big event we will have a Temple Talk each month on the history of Grace beginning on Sunday, September 8. On that day a 124^th anniversary cake will be served at Fellowship Hour. Let the celebration begin!

RALLY DAY…moving our way

…soon to be here at Grace Lutheran, Monroe Street, Toledo 

on September 8 for the kick – off of Sunday School

year 2024 – 2025. 

See you there!!

Fall Adult Class:

As we journey together as Christians and Americans toward the 5 November elections, let’s take this opportunity to talk about how we can best engage with each  other and the community around tough issues.

The Adult Class will begin a six-week study on the ELCA’s Civic Life and Faith   document on 8 September (Sunday) and 11 September (Wednesday). Each week, these two options for the class will study the same materials so that if you miss  Sunday, you can join on Wednesday.

Schedule:

8/11 September: Session 1

15/18: NO CLASS—Pastor on vacation

22/25 September: Session 2

29 Sept/2 Oct: Session3

6/9 October: Session 4

13/16 October: Session 5

20/23 October: Session 6

The Sunday class meets at 8:15 a.m., and the Wednesday class meets at 6:00 p.m. Both sessions meet in Room 3.

The Civic Life and Faith document will be available on 25 August so that you can read Session 1 in advance.

Behind the scenes at Grace ….by Gretchen

1. According to the grass it is officially summer – it is definitely BROWN!
2. The smoke coming from the west has led to some gorgeous sunrises!
3. The other official end of summer thing is the yellow buses driving past Monroe Street!
4. The new sound board is up and running and undergoing some “fine tuning”!
5. Don’t forget that September 8^th is Rally Day and besides being the first day of Sunday School it is also the day we decorate the Flower Cross. So, if you don’t want to sneeze (when there is not enough flowers, we decorate it with golden rod!) bring in some flowers from your garden to decorate with. This is not just a kid project but also adults can decorate it!
6. Have you lost something at church?? Don’t forget to check the lost and found box in the Coat Room across from the Office.
7. Remember: Grace is not the building or the contents of the building but the people of Grace carrying out God’s Mission!

Healthy People! Healthy Parish!

Fall and Winter Bugs!!

We are talking stink bugs looking for a hiding place, wasps looking for a place to hang out, crickets, moths, and other creepy crawlies looking for a winter motel! (Probably not praying mantis but these guys are making you read!)

No not really! We are talking about the other kind of bugs – Covid, Flu, Pneumonia, RSV!

Covid is rearing its ugly head again. Lucas County has reported an increase in the number of reported Covid Cases. It is important to stay on top of your booster shots. Being up to date can help to prevent Covid as well as if you do get may lessen the effects of it.

Flu is also just around the corner. The flu virus changes from year to year so it is important to get your flu vaccine every year. It takes at least 2 weeks after the      vaccine to be effective so the National Institutes of Health recommend that you should have your vaccine by the end of October. Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu shot. The flu season typically peaks in December or January. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people age 65 or older receive a “high dose vaccine or adjuvanted flu vaccine”. These vaccines have an   ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response.

RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms but in an older adult can develop severe symptoms and especially those with chronic disease (diabetes, heart, lung problems) or a weakened immune system. The CDC recommends that adults 60 and older should talk with their health care provider about whether they should receive the vaccine. RSV infections are most common in the fall and winter, so most people get the RSV vaccine before the season starts.

Pneumococcal disease is another serious infection that spread through the air and causes pneumonia. Older adults are also at high risk for getting pneumonia especially if you have other medical problems. The CDC recommends that adults over the age of 65 get the pneumonia vaccine.

Make sure that you are up to date and put that on the list of things to talk with your medical provider about!

Keep a vaccine record. Many pharmacies have a card that they will write down the date and what vaccine you received – if not keep one of your own and keep it handy!

Many of the vaccines are covered by Medicare and private insurances.

Keep the bugs away this fall and winter – get your shots!

Phobia of the week:

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Yikes if you can say this you are way ahead! It is not a fear of hippos or squirrels

or anything else that you can see in the word.

We can say it has almost all of the letters in the alphabet though!

BAN THE BUGS!  

1. Sing Happy Birthday 2 times_______________________________________?
2. Stay away from _____________________________________when coughing.
3. Wash your hands when ___________________________________________?
4. Use the ________ sign when sharing the peace on Sunday.
5. Cough into _____________________________instead of your hands.

Answers:

1. When washing your hands.
2. People
3. Before touching any food or eating, after using the bathroom, after handling animals or cleaning up after them.
4. Peace
5. Upper sleeve or elbow.

“Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infections” CDC (Center for Disease Control).

Answer to phobia

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

 fear of long words!

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24