Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
~Matthew 5:9
Don’t forget to set your clocks back Saturday November 4th before going to bed
or you will be early to church Sunday November 5!!
This past Saturday was our fourth Burrito Blessings event. I continue to be amazed by the willing volunteers who come each month to cook, to roll burritos, and to distribute them.
This month, we had so many willing hands that we rolled 240 burritos in 15 minutes! What an amazing sense of service, community, and commitment.
I went downtown with a small group to distribute burritos. We traveled from the library to the TARTA hub, and in a loop back to the library. We gave away winter hats, gloves, scarves, and water in addition to the burritos.
It both warmed and broke my heart. I was touched by the smiles and the reaction to our presence.
There is such great need for basic necessities in our community. Burrito Blessings is a great effort, as our Blessing Box, food pantry collection, and Personal Needs ministry. What else might we do? How else can we show the love of God by sharing what we have?
Ideas are percolating at Grace; from a community garden to expanding Burrito Blessings to other dreams.
Dream with me about how we can witness in this way! Please pray about these things, and share your ideas.
God has blessed us as the people of God at Grace. Let’s find new ways to Bless the World: Be God’s Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Brenda
Operation Christmas Child
In the month of November we are asking for monetary donations. They can be dropped off in the Sunday offering or to the office during the week.
Please join us – Sunday Fellowship Time
In Fellowship Hall between services
November 5 – Praise Team
The Readings for Sunday November 5, 2023
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
Ruth Circle will be sponsoring an Election Day Bake Sale on November 7, 2023. We are asking for donations of baked goods to be brought to the church, marked “For Bake Sale”, on Sunday November 5th or Monday morning November 6th. Proceeds from the sale go to purchase “Christ in Our Home” magazine, Lutheran Social Services, Leading Families Home, and Northwest Ohio WELCA whose services include housing for domestic violence victims. Thank you ahead of time for your support.
By Vicar Dave
I remember back in high school, a very long time ago, we had a football coach who was as big as a house. And I don’t mean that in a good way. This man was way overweight and smoked like a chimney stack. I don’t begrudge him his lifestyle choices, that’s up to him. But he was tasked with training the young men on the team as athletes. He also taught health and nutrition classes to the rest of the student body. It seemed ironic to me that the man in charge of telling us how to live a healthy lifestyle had trouble making it down the hall to the classroom in time for class.
The Pharisees referenced in today’s Gospel seem to have a similar problem. They are charged with teaching the people the law. Even enforcing it. Yet the lives they live are way out of step with what the law intends. Whenever they do some good work, they do it with a lot of fanfare, showing off for all the people to see. They enjoy the attention that their position brings them. They love the authority given to them and use it to make others feel less worthy than they are. In short, they are hypocrites!
When I worked in the visiting room at the prison, I had an opportunity to see how a lot of the inmates interacted with their children. Some of them would tell me that they didn’t want their kids going down the same path as they did. Some of them meant it and tried to change their lives to set a better example for their children. Some of them did not. I remember one guy in particular who had his wife bringing drugs into the institution for him to sell by concealing it in their child’s diaper. His excuse was that this was the only way he could make money to support his family on the outside. Not unlike the Pharisees, he would set high expectations for his children as they grew, but he wouldn’t live up to those ideals himself.
I’ve always looked up to my dad. He’s a great example of how to be a loving father and a husband. He was hard working and when he had time off, he was almost always busy doing something for the family. He not only taught us the rules of life, but he also lived by them. I can’t imagine hearing him say “do as I say, not as I do”. But that’s how I imagine the Pharisees. They’re like parents who tell their kids that they shouldn’t smoke while they’re puffing away on a cigarette.
I pray that we will not just talk the talk of being Christians, but that we will also walk the walk.
Operation Christmas Child Packing Party November 12
The gift boxes to be sent to children somewhere in this world will be packed on Sunday, November 12.
Please, join us in Brenner Hall to help with the packing of a box of items for a child who will also have the opportunity to hear teachings about THE Savior Jesus Christ.
Join us if you can for this opportunity to put together a box of gifts for a child and the opportunity to know of Jesus the Savior.
Celebrating the love of God! Sunday October 29, 2023
Thank you, Janet Moore for the great pictures!
Thank you Mallory and all who helped Saturday!
I cannot leave Nurse Gretchen and Pastor Brenda unattended!!!!
~Cathy
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24
Recent Comments