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Thursday, October 10, 2024

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter


October 10, 2024

Up, Down, Up, Down, Up - article by Joel Hempel


This past summer, Marcia and I went to Branson and Silver Dollar City for a few days. Silver Dollar City, as some of you know, is a cross between an amusement park and an entertainment venue. A popular roller coaster ride at the park is Fire In the Hole. I would not go on it, but Marcia did. She likes the wild, up-and-down ride. Not me!

 

St. Paul gives us a different kind of up-and-down ride – but not for our amusement. Look at the sequence of the following passages from three back-to-back-to-back chapters in Romans 6:4, 7:19, 24, and 8:1. Note the italicized and enlarged words (my emphasis).

 

UP: We were buried therefore with [Christ] by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

 

DOWN: I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Wretched man that I am!

 

UP: Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 

DOWN: So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

 

UP: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

These verses – which St. Paul generously shares from his own experience -  are a gift to every Christian because they reveal the vulnerable, up-and-down struggle all Christians experience in our spiritual roller-coaster journey through life.

 

For a while, we feel good about our walk with God; then, we take a nosedive, succumbing to temptation. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit reminds us we are God’s beloved child, and we take hold of God’s grace and repent. In time, we again entertain destructive thoughts that lead to an unwise decision, unkind words, or selfish behavior. But in time, we see the error of our ways and by God’s grace turn away from our foolishness . . .  

 

Although there is no getting off the spiritual roller-coaster, as we grow by the power of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual ups and downs become less severe as we intentionally depend on and use the resources God provides for the journey (see 1 Cor. 10:13; James 4:7; Gal. 5:16-17, 22; Eph. 6:13; Phil. 4:6-8, 12-13; James 5:13-16).

 

As we grow in faith and faithfulness to Jesus, we may still get discouraged or even frightened that we keep messing up and sinking into sin, but God has given us a blood-bought promise: You are mine! I will not let go! I will do for you as I did with Peter sinking into the Sea of Galilee. I will help you UP!

 

Believe it; it’s true: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

Live in the now

Handbell Opportunity


Are you interested in ringing handbells? Plans are being made for music this Christmas and we want you to be involved! Contact Seth today at glendalelutheranmusic@gmail.com for more details.

Voters' Meeting


The Leadership Council has scheduled a Voters’ Meeting for Sunday, October 27, 2024, immediately following service. Our primary agenda item will be to elect Leadership Council Members and Elders. We will provide a slate of candidates once nominees are finalized. Additionally, we will be providing our quarterly update regarding the congregation’s finances. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Lutheran World Relief - Hurricane Aid Donations


Lutheran World Relief is rushing bottled water and other urgently requested items to our partners in North Carolina and Florida. We are also sending a minimum of 10 truckloads of LWR Quilts & Kits to affected communities in North Carolina, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana. More will be mobilized as needed.


Thanks to your support, we are providing cash grants to many of the same local organizations who will be distributing Quilts and Kits. The grants will be used to amplify their efforts, including providing food, water, essential supplies and temporary housing. Most of these organizations are smaller but deeply embedded in local communities, so your gifts are expanding critical front-line responses that really need extra support.

Finance Update

Oktoberfest


This Saturday, October 12, starting at 6:00 pm, we will host Oktoberfest on the patio featuring Petzoldt brats and microbrewery beer from Dan Grossenheider. There will also be games in the gym for the kids. Bring a dish to share! Bring a friend! See you there!

Next Sunday's Bible Readings

Ecclesiastes 5:10-20; Hebrews 4:1-13; Mark 10:23-31

Worship Leaders

This Sunday - 10/13

Lector: Greg Frimel

Children's Message: Ryan Philpot

Communion: Steve Phelps & Sem Student

Greeters: Bob & Debbie Jacobson

Sound/Video: John Steele

Ushers: Sandy Barbercheck, Judy George, Lisa Grossenheider, Becci Sasser

Next Sunday - 10/20

Lector: Beth Nicolaus

Children's Message: Janet Leet

Communion: Tony Petzoldt & Sem Student

Greeters: Terry & Marilyn Young

Sound/Video: Terry Young

Ushers: Rodger Lubben, Jack Hurley, Terry Buchholz, Gerry Lucas

The Word Within the Word
Online Calendar

Glendale Lutheran Church

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

(314) 966-3220

glendalelutheranchurch@gmail.com

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