Be joyful in God, all you lands;

be joyful, all the earth.

~Psalm 66:1

 

 

Behind the scenes at Grace….by Gretchen

  1. Please remember to use the “What’s In It?” forms located in both kitchens. We have several Grace family members that have food allergies and it is very helpful to them to know what the food contains. This also goes for visitors. If a food is purchased, you can usually figure out what is in the food by checking the label and then filling out the form. We just updated the form with a “Vegan “check box. Plus, if someone falls in love with your dish, they know the name!
  2. We are no longer recycling so please feel free to take the opportunity to take your recyclables to your favorite recycling place. Our dumpster company only has bins for cardboard, and we do not generate enough cardboard to make it cost effective.
  3. We can definitely add a Killdeer to our menagerie list. A parent was in the parking lot faking a damaged wing to lure us away from the babies. So, watch for them and then look in the opposite direction and you may be lucky enough to see tiny birds with toothpick legs!
  4. Don’t forget empty small and medium empty plastic peanut butter jars.
  5. We had quite the display of upset feathered friends on this last Wednesday. A hugeamongous beautiful red tail hawk flew up into the oak tree outside the office and sat as though they were supreme .That is until the starlings and we think robins descended in attack mode – probably 10 minutes of that and the hawk moved on. Goes to show you that many can move not only mountains but a hugeamongous hawk!
  6. Interfaith Blood Drive was this last weekend. 40 Units were collected which can go to help as many as 120 people!!! Yahoo! Remember to let Gretchen know where your blood went. If the Red Cross has your email, they will send you an email in the next 2-3 weeks notifying you of where it went. We want to add it to the Blood on The Move! board. Thanks to all Grace members who donated and to those who brought cookies!!!
  7. Remember: Grace is not the building but the people of Grace carrying out God’s Mission!

 

Pastor’s Thoughts:

Over the last weeks, I have reflected on worship, Bible study, prayer, and giving as ways to connect with our faith. As we continue to consider how to lay a solid foundation for our lives of faith, I offer one last aspect to consider.

Fellowship with other believers is important. In our time with others who believe, we have the chance to voice our concerns, share our joys, and ask questions. We may not always agree with one another, but our faith can still be strengthened through such times, as we have the opportunity to stretch and grow, to be inspired and to be inspiring. These times need not be formal, directed classes or groups; they can happen over coffee or in casual conversation. Anytime we have the chance to talk about our faith, we will be nurtured—even if we feel challenged to give deeper thoughts to what we believe.

There is no doubt that the world is a chaotic, complex, confusing, and often troubling place. It is no wonder that there is a much fear and mistrust in the world. It is no wonder that people turn to religion and faith to try to make some sense of it all. As we live in this world, as we engage in conversation with each other, as we seek to be faithful to our God and God’s Word, let us continually turn to God for strength, for knowledge, for guidance, for patience, for mercy, and for love. Without that foundation, our discussions may be reduced to bickering and judgment … and the message of salvation and grace may be hidden in the process.

In Christ,

Pastor Brenda

** Stay tuned! Over the next few weeks, I will reflect on the trip to Serbia to engage with the people of the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession that Ron Hiatt and were blessed to be a part of from 20 June to 28 June.**

It was Sunday, Fathers’ Day and Miss Connie planned to have the Sunday School group, who that day was Collin and Mallory Moore and Lucas Rubley, make a gift to share with Dad on his special day. Lucas was more interested in the chalk and blackboard than the Father’s Day project.  After a time  he did join us at the table. He looked at all of us and said, “Sometimes you’ve just got to take a deep breath and count to five.”

And who could argue with such good advice?

So well delivered by a five year old.

 

Fellowship Time

Thank you to all who help!

July 3 – no fellowship hour

 

July 10 Outdoor Contemporary Service

On Sunday, July 10, an outdoor Contemporary Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. outside of Fellowship Hall. After the service lunch will be served. Though food will be provided, we are giving members the opportunity to bring salads or desserts to help supplement the offerings. If you are able to bring a salad or a dessert, please let Mary Schneider know or use the sign-up sheet on either of the Community Bulletin Boards. You do not have to bring anything to attend the lunch. The Worship and Music Committee is looking forward to this special   summer service.

 

Operation Christmas Child

July – Bar Soap – Ivory preferred and/or pencil sharpeners

 

Grace Full Friends is a ministry designed to share the love of Christ with adults who are developmentally disabled—a 90-minute event, open to all.

Included are the following: Welcome, Lesson, Prayer, Singing, Crafts, and Snacks. Grace Full Friends began in 2016 and continued successfully until Covid caused a temporary suspension in 2020.

Grace Full Friends will be offered on the third Tuesday of each month, beginning on July 19, 2022. The facility is handicapped accessible.

For information, contact Bob Haaf (rahaaf@aol.com)

 

Happy Birthday

David Charvat

On July 11!

If you do not see your birthday in the newsletter

it is because we do not have your updated information.

Send to the office – including the year!

Thank you, Beth, for watching out for your brother!

 

Opportunities to meet with Pastor Brenda

These times are a good opportunity to visit with Pastor, ask questions,

and share your dreams for grace!

Sunday July 10 after worship

Tuesday July 19 at 9:00 a.m.

Wednesday July 20 at 6:15 p.m.

Sunday July 24 after 9:30 a.m. worship

Healthy People! Healthy Parish!

Picnic

The word came from the French which described when a group of people met at a restaurant and brought their own wine. After the French opened the royal gardens to the public the term came to refer to groups of people who shared their meals outdoors!

Safe Summer Picnics!

– Wash your hands before touching any food!!

– Keep raw food separate from cooked food. Don’t put cooked food (meat, fish, poultry) back on a plate that held the raw food. Wash the plate or use new plate. Wash the utensils that handled raw food before using again.

– Marinate food in the refrigerator and not on the counter. Don’t reuse marinade that contained raw meat.

– Cook food thoroughly to kill any harmful bacteria. Hamburgers should not “moo” but be cooked to 160 degrees on a thermometer. If no thermometer, make sure that they are brown all the way through – not pink. Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees and no pink juice. If no thermometer – check it with a knife.

– Never leave food off the grill for more then 2 hours and only one hour if the temperature is 90 degrees or above.

– Keep hot food hot – wrap it well and keep in an insulated container. If bringing hot takeout food like chicken or barbecue, make sure you are going to eat within 2 hours of buying it.

– Cold food should be held at 40 degrees. Place foods like chicken salad and desserts that require cold directly on ice or in a shallow container set in deep pan filled with ice.

– Check for foreign objects in food – i.e., bugs, bees and even detached bristles from brushes used to clean a grill.

– Keep coolers closed and in shady areas

All these guidelines make for a safe, healthy and absolutely awesome picnics!!

 

Active Shooter Program Reminder!

The Active Shooter Program is scheduled for Thursday August 4th at 5:00pm in  Fellowship Hall.

We don’t want to think anything would ever happen at Grace, but we need to be prepared and aware of what we need to do should it happen.

This is open to all members of Grace and is strongly encouraged for all those who lead groups, usher, Sunday School and VBS, etc.

To plan on space, food and any handouts please sign up on the sheets located on the Community Bulletin Boards. Any questions see /call Gretchen Hiatt

419-944-5166.

 

Healthy People! Healthy Parish!

Sunday between services in classroom 3. Dates 7/3, 7/17 and 7/31.

If you would like your Blood Pressure taken at another time, please see Gretchen.

 

What is creepy and spooky in October but is oh so good?

 

Well bats, spiders and webs, mice, goblins and ghosts, full moons or no moon, vampires, rats to name a few!  So, what is really good is the ability to help 3 people and all it takes is about 1 and ½ hours and includes good treats.

Yep, it is time for a Grace Blood Drive!

Wednesday October 5th 1:00 -6:00 pm.

If you donated at the Interfaith blood drive, you will be able to donate again at this drive. You may start signing up now.

H.E.L.P. Closet Open House Sunday: July 10th between services!!!

 

Come and check it out!

The H.E.L.P. Closet is located in the hallway outside Brenner next

to the double doors.

EDU -Board is Back!

 

It is retuning on Sunday July 3rd in Fellowship Hall between services. Interesting healthy stuff as well as fun stuff is posted. Check out your “Bread IQ”, “Ben and Jerry’s IQ” and how to keep your brain healthy as well as how to divide your plate for healthy eating!

If you would like to see information on a health topic posted let Gretchen know!

 

Food for Toledo Update

Between June 7 and June 20 146 pounds of food was collected at Grace. Thank you to everyone who donated. I will not be at church on the following two  Mondays, July 4 and July 10. On July 10 I will be vacationing at a lake in Gaylord, Michigan with a good friend.  I will be looking forward to seeing how much food was brought in when I return on Monday, July 17!

And 11 jars of peanut butter was donated to meet the critical need that  Augsburg Lutheran Church’s food bank is experiencing.  Thank you to members that helped meet this need.

 

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart

 

 

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

~Psalm 118:24