Glimpses of Glendale Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter | | | As you know, we’ve started a relationship with Christian Friends of New Americans. We gave them over $20,000 from bequest money and member donations. They have used some of that money to hire a volunteer coordinator. This week I met her. She is Christy Hoehner of Concordia Lutheran.
Glendale Lutheran is recruiting 5-8 members to become a community support group for an Afghan household. We will be helping this family with English, homemaking, budget, St. Louis and building a resume. We will be trained be both the International Institute, a governmental agency, and CFNA. Then we will share the responsibilities for 3-6 months as we help this immigrant family assimilate. So far, Karli Auble, Jeanne Clark, Andrea Anderson, Josh Boehme and myself have volunteered. We have room for more. Pray about this opportunity. Call me or email me if you have questions.
Mary and Joseph relied on the kindness of others in the story of Christmas. This is our time to be kind and generous to immigrants who are in need. Let’s show them the love of Jesus. | | Missionary David Baker Family Update
The family is now safely back in Mongolia having made the trip in record time – less than 24 hours. This trip has at times taken a day and a half with hours of layovers between flights.
As a reminder, at the last Voters’ meeting the voters authorized a gift of $10,000 to the Bakers from our bequest monies. This advanced our world mission area of emphasis from these generous member bequests.
$6,000 of the $10,000 was used to retire David’s personal expense to secure a permanent place of worship and fellowship for his Mongolian congregation. David was completely surprised by this unexpected gift and very thankful. David asked that the remaining $4000 be held until he could identify a specific need for his Mongolian ministry.
This need has now been identified. His Mongolian partner in ministry, Pastor Azamat, has been using a well-used van to take the Gospel to the scattered settlements of the Kazakhs across Mongolia. Repairs to this older van had become an immense liability. David has asked us to allocate the remaining $4000 to help secure a new vehicle. This amount will be combined with other gifts that were already planned to fund a new vehicle but had come up short due to raising costs. Yes, costs are rising in Mongolia just as we have experienced here. To quote David in an email to us, “This vehicle will be a true blessing to Azamat and the ministry to the unreached Kazakhs scattered across Mongolia.” To God be the glory. | | One More Advent Potluck!
Please join us Wednesday, December 15, for our final Fellowship Potluck of this Advent season. Dinner is at 5:30 and the Advent Service at 6:30. Please bring a dish to share! | | The Shame of It All
Did you ever do something you considered dumb – or worse yet, others considered dumb? Too often, I feel like I specialize in it.
I just wrote something, and three minutes after I sent it, I thought, "Why did you do that? It didn't make sense?" I didn't intend to write something "dumb," of course. It's just that if I am not careful and think through and double-check what I am emailing, I can write something for which I later regret or have to apologize.
I also need to confess that I get irritated with myself when I forget something that needs to be remembered, or when I am not responsive and caring, or worst of all, when I let unkind words come out of my mouth!
Why am I confessing all of this to you? Because shame is crippling, and I don't want to be unnecessarily disabled. Nor is it healthy for any of us to be so ashamed of past sins, mistakes, and failures that we feel a need to hide.
Thank God for St Paul and his public confession of sins in Romans 7: 15 – 25, “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” Please note, this confession of ongoing sinful behavior occurs after his conversion, after becoming the superhero of a Christian he was.
“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” St. Paul then tells us how he can live with himself and, more than live, how he can thrive as a faithful servant of Christ: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
I know you can empathize. Your struggle may have a different identity than mine, but I know you are familiar with shame. I know it can make you say horrible things to yourself, and it can lead you to do something foolish – like quit or get stuck in depression or make some regrettable choice or…
God help us! God does help us. And God provides help for us. Ask for it. Expect to receive it. Don’t let shame have its way with you. Our Lord’s grace is sufficient to lead us to the healing needed.
Joel Hempel, Director Deacons’ Ministry | | Seminary Families Tree - Gifts due by December 12
Our Seminary Families Tree in the back of church is decorated with ornaments with the names of the children of seminarians, the moms and dads, and the families. Please select an ornament, if you wish to participate, and purchase a gift for the child, adult or family whose name is on the ornament. Wrap the gift and place it under the tree with their name and your name and address on it by Sunday, December 12. The gifts will be delivered to the families that week. The seminary families really appreciate our thoughtfulness and generosity in making this Christmas extra special for the families. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Skouby. | | Poinsettias
It's not too late to order your poinsettia! Order forms are by the mailboxes, or you can just email the office (glendalelutheranchurch@gmail.com) and tell Michelle how many you want to purchase. Poinsettias may be taken home following the 9:15am service on Christmas Day. | | 2022 Altar Flower Calendar
We have moved our flower chart online! You can sign up for dates to provide flowers by clicking here. Flyers are posted in a few spots throughout the building to explain the new procedure for sign-up, including a QR code you can scan to access the online sign-up on your mobile phone. A handy sign-up button has been added to our website as well.
If all this online stuff feels a bit daunting, fear not! You can just let Michelle know via phone or email (michellefiala1895@gmail.com, 314-966-3220) what date(s) you want to sign up for, and what the dedication will be.
Should you have any issues with the online process, please let Michelle know. Thanks for your patience as we try something new! | | Offerings vs. Budget Update | | Next Sunday's Bible Readings | | Micah 5:2-5a; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-56 | | This Sunday - 12/12 Lector: Ryan Barnett Communion: John Steele Greeters: Jack & Norma Bentzinger S/V: Mike Toney Ushers: Steve Phelps, Tony Petzoldt, Jack Hurley Children's Message: Pastor Scott | | Next Sunday - 12/19 Lector: Lisa Grossenheider Communion: Derek Don Greeters: Mike & Lisa Grossenheider S/V: Ken Clark Ushers: John Steele, Terry Buchholz Children's Message: Tim Cosby | | | Glendale Lutheran Church Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-4:30 pm (314) 966-3220 | | | | | | | |
