Glimpses of Glendale Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter | | | We’ve been studying all of the scary stuff in Revelation but this week we all experienced the horror of the Texas school shootings. There are no words that can explain the evil. All words of comfort sound worthless. Families have lost their precious children.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. If anyone causes a little one to stumble it is better that they put a millstone around their neck and be tossed into the sea.” Jesus valued the lives of children. Imagine how he feels about these murders. He is the only one who knows the pain of the families.
Christ calls us to share the pain of death. No one can absorb it alone. We need a community where death is mourned as one. We await the resurrection with hope. Come Lord Jesus! Take away the pain of all this grief. Make everything right. Restore heaven and earth, including those children. We weep with Uvalde. | | CCLS Staff Appreciation Lunch Tuesday 5/31
This Friday marks the last day of an amazing school year for our CCLS students. Next Tuesday (5/31), we will be putting together a lunch for our teachers to thank them for showing and teaching God’s love to His littlest children at our school. If you would like to help show appreciation to our CCLS teachers, you can bring a light salad, dessert, or help grill some brats and hotdogs! Please have food dropped off in the Family Life Center by Noon on Tuesday. Please Steph Chapa if you would like to help serve or make food! (320)-510-4862 | | Dartball
Join GLC's dartball enthusiasts the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Youth Room! | | Eyes of Faith - article by Joel Hempel
Do you have the same vision St John the Apostle had? Actually, you do. It is true, we have not been given the supernatural revelation John received on the Island of Patmos. But we do have the ability to see heaven – or at least glimpses of heaven.
When John was given that extraordinary vision, God broke into his reality: “Write what you see,” God said. I don’t know if anyone at GLC has received this kind of divine vision from God. It is certainly not beyond God’s ability or will to grant such a gift. But for the most part, we don’t need God to capture our attention in such a supernatural way. He has given to each of us what Pastor Scott called the “eyes of faith.” Such sanctified eyes and holy ears have been given to all who are graced to believe in Jesus Christ as Risen Savior and Lord.
Truthfully, we don't know where heaven is – "up there" or in a spiritual universe beyond, behind, and beneath our day-to-day reality. All we know is that Jesus said he was leaving his disciples on earth to “prepare a place for us.” He then ascended. But because Christ is Spirit and God is Spirit, we only know for sure that heaven is – for now – in the spirit world. So, when Jesus followers die, our spirit (or soul, if you prefer) goes to be with Jesus (Luke 23:43). That is, we leave our known reality and break into God's heavenly reality, where we await Jesus’ second coming and the resurrection to fullness of life.
But, we don’t have to wait to die before we receive the blessing of heaven. Heaven has come to us. We have God's Holy Word and His graced Supper – here and now experiences of the divine. And, we have ourselves. That is, when we rise above worldly values and devilish temptations by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are experiencing the divine – God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. When you love sacrificially, bear the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), and forgive beyond what is reasonable, you are introducing the world around you to the Spirit of Christ within you. That is, those around you will have received a glimpse of heaven – whether or not they recognize it as such.
God may never call out to you in an audible voice or appear in a dream. But we can know with absolute certainty Christ is with us, and the Spirit is within us. God has entered our reality!
Need help seeing God in your life? Pastor Scott or a deacon is available. | | Voters' Meetings
The Leadership Council is calling two Voters’ Meetings to take place in the Family Life Center immediately after the service on June 5, 2022, and June 26, 2022. The agenda for the June 5, 2022, will include a first reading of the proposed 2022-2023 Church Budget and the Leadership Council will request voter approval for the Budget at the June 27, 2022, meeting. Please make sure to mark these dates in your calendar so you can attend and ask any questions you may have. Other agenda items for the June 5, 2022, meeting include updates on the Playground, information on funding efforts for the Playground, a request to approve funding a CCLS scholarship from our bequest funds, and a request to approve the purchase of a sewing machine for our Christian Friends of New Americans family from our bequest funds. | | Lutheran Foundation Playground Grant
The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis has agreed to provide a $50,000 challenge matching grant toward the playground improvements the congregation approved. As part of the grant process, the Lutheran Foundation will match any individual member gifts up to $5,000 per gift until the $50,000 grant total is met. By way of example, if we have 10 members contribute $5,000 each, the Lutheran Foundation will match the entire $50,000. Please note this matching provision does not apply to the bequest funds the congregation has dedicated toward the playground. Congregation members can contribute toward the playground fund any time before August 1, 2022, which is the deadline the Lutheran Foundation has set for contributions it will match up to $5,000 per donor toward the $50,000 total.
Additional information on the Lutheran Fund matching grant can be found on the bulletin board in the atrium. You can also reach out to Kelly Climer if you have any additional questions on the grant. | | Offerings vs. Budget Update | | Next Sunday's Bible Readings | | Genesis 11:1-9; Acts 2:1-21; John 14:23-31 | | This Sunday - 5/29 Lector: Jerry Nicolaus Communion: Mike Toney Greeters: Ken & Jeanne Clark S/V: Paul Barbercheck Ushers: Jeanne Lipinski, Becci Sasser, Tori Williams Children's Message: Steph Chapa | | Next Sunday - 6/5 Lector: Beth Nicolaus Communion: Steve Phelps Greeters: Jerry & Beth Nicolaus S/V: Mike Toney Ushers: Ken Clark, Gerry Lucas, Jack Hurley Children's Message: Tim Cosby | | | Glendale Lutheran Church Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm (314) 966-3220 | | | | | | | |
