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Thursday, December 12, 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter


December 12, 2024

Courage to Be - article by Joel Hempel


What courage do you need to believe and be what God needs you to be and believe?

 

In the narrative leading up to Christmas, we learn that God presented Mary with a need – and no one could ever have imagined it would be God’s need. He needed her to be the birthmother of God’s Son. How can this be? She asks the angel, Gabriel. She’s not saying no. She just doesn’t understand. It doesn’t make sense.

 

Theologian Timothy Keller states, There are two kinds of doubts: dishonest doubts and honest doubts. Dishonest doubts are arrogant, he contends. A dishonest doubter proclaims, “That’s an irrational and absurd assertion!” And then the person walks away with an air of superiority. By contrast, honest doubts are humble because they lead to asking questions instead of putting up a wall.*

 

Mary has an honest doubt.

 

Put yourself in Mary’s place. Imagine an angel appearing before you – maybe while you are in the kitchen preparing supper or out in the yard. Then he says to you, Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you. First, you have to get past the shock of seeing an angel. Then you have to figure out what he means by calling you favored.

 

While you are wiping your eyes and looking around to see if someone is playing a trick on you, the angel continues: Do not be afraid . . . You will conceive in your womb and bear a son [fathered by the Holy Spirit], and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High . . . (Luke1:26-38).

 

Imagine the courage needed to believe what God asked Mary to believe – and then to be!

 

Mary is the kind of believer all Christians want to be.

 

Some of you may be at the beginning of the faith journey. The whole assertion about Jesus dying on the cross for us, taking our sins upon himself, and then giving us life in abundance now and for eternity may seem too impossible to believe. And yet, the Spirit of God keeps working on you, preparing you to say with Mary, Yes, let it be according to your word (Luke 1:38). As God created the life of Jesus within Mary, he wants to create the life of faith within you.

 

Others of us are being faced with different kinds of challenges. God is asking something of us that seems beyond our ability to accept. He is asking us to trust him and his love as we face seemingly overwhelming circumstances: Broken health, a failing marriage, unreasonable job demands, a family in distress, or a host of other trials you know are too big for you to handle.

 

God invites us to let Mary serve as our guide. Own your doubts. Question God. But don’t build a wall of indifference or impossibility. Ask God for the courage to believe and be what he asks of you. Then, receive his strength to face the adversity.

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

 

*Encounters with Jesus, Timothy Keller, pages 198-99. 

Advent Potlucks


Potluck 5:30, Worship 6:30


Bring a Dish to Share


Wednesday, Dec. 18

Poinsettias


There's still plenty of time to purchase a poinsettia plant! Forms are by the mailboxes, or you can call or email Michelle with the number of plants you would like, plus any dedication. Plants are $7 each and can be purchased any time up until Christmas.

Finance Update

Next Sunday's Bible Readings

Exodus 13:1-3, 11-15; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 2:22-40

Worship Leaders

This Sunday - 12/15

Lector: Steve Phelps

Children's Message: Jon Chapa

Communion: Jerry Nicolaus & Seminary Student

Greeters: Terry & Jennifer Buchholz

Sound/Video: John Steele

Ushers: Ken Clark, Ron Froesel, Tony Petzoldt, Mike Toney

Next Sunday - 12/22

Lector: Ann Jonas

Children's Message: Ryan Philpot

Communion: Tony Petzoldt & Seminary Student

Greeters: Bob & Debbie Jacobson

Sound/Video: Terry Young

Ushers: Lisa Grossenheider, Judy George, Becci Sasser, Jeanne Lipinski

The Word Within the Word
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Glendale Lutheran Church

Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm

(314) 966-3220

glendalelutheranchurch@gmail.com

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