GLIMPSES OF GLENDALE: Weekly Newsletter

Thursday, August 4, 2022

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale

Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter

August 4, 2022

Last Wednesday I got a call from my sister saying, “Come quickly.” My mom was going to be moved to an acute care facility in the next week and there will be severe restrictions in seeing her. I flew to California the next morning. My mom’s recovering from a brain stem stroke which has impaired her swallowing, vision and balance. She aspirated and now has a trach breathing tube and a stomach tube. She can’t speak and has problems handling a phone for texting.

I spent almost all of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with her. I would applaud her physical therapy session and she’d roll her eyes as if to say, “Big deal, I can sit up.” We’d try to communicate with a form of charades or chicken scratch on a white board. She’d ask me if I was bored and I’d say, “No place I’d rather be.”

It’s hard seeing loved ones struggle like this. I know all of you have been through something similar. When we get to the end of life, we get stripped of our pride, dignity and abilities. It puts us in a position to rely on others and God. I’ve seen my mom’s faith my whole life; now I see how she handles this. She still has that spark of amusement, joy and faith. Keep her and my family in your prayers. Also keep our church secretary, Michelle Fiala, in your prayers. She was just diagnosed with Breast Cancer yesterday. Michelle is a valued member of this community and a friend. Let her know you care.

Daily Bible Reading

The Helper Needs Help - article by Joel Hempel

Truthfully, I found it jarring to hear Seminarian Oliver preach, "God does not call on us to do things as though he is relying on us to get his work done." But I kept listening. "Instead, God uses us as means." Okay, I get it. God does not need any one person to accomplish his will. If any one of us will not do what he needs us to do, God will find a way around us to accomplish his intended result. But he will find a way, and that way involves us – the Christians he left behind. That is, the Helper needs help!

In the 27 books of the New Testament, rarely does Scripture provide examples of God working directly – that is, without means – after the first four books. Of course, we see God working without the help of anyone in the miracles of Jesus. But starting with the Acts of the Apostles, the emphasis shifts from the Almighty directly intervening in people's lives to the disciples carrying out God's will. From Jesus's ascension to now, the emphasis is on us and the Holy Spirit working through us.

As we reflect on our calling as Christians and what it means to be the “means” through whom God works, Oliver assured us that we can relax as we go about serving the Lord. We don't have to be anxious that we will mess up God's good intentions. Instead, we can live our Christian lives knowing we are not alone. The Helper is at our side, offering guidance and counsel to those of us who seek it.

"As the Father has sent me," Jesus announces, "I am sending you” (John 20:21). To say that differently, for Christians not to take on our “sent” responsibilities and leave it up to God to find some other means to accomplish his goals is the exact opposite of what God desires. The Helper needs help, and we're it!

It is, as Oliver shared, an honor to be a part of God’s story. Consider this. God thinks enough about us that he has called us to carry on in his (physical) absence. If you are reading this, you are likely part of God's plan. You are God's means to his end. You and I are not only the recipients of God's love and mercy; we are his means for sharing it with others.

So, today and every day, God needs us to ask him: “Who do you want me to love today? Who needs your mercy? Who is broken by guilt or shame and needs your acceptance?" Every day that is the prayer God invites us to pray. Then, we set out with the Helper to get it done.

Lutheran Foundation Matching Grant

We have some great news! The final tally on our congregation’s playground contributions is $45,175! The Lutheran Foundation will fully match this amount so our total contribution toward the playground will be $90,350! When added to CCLS’s $52,500, the playground fund grand total is $142,850!

We are grateful to God for the many blessings He bestows on our congregation members and for our members’ commitment toward sharing those blessings toward our ministries. We will pray that the playground continues to help us raise our profile in the community.

In addition to God's bounty and support, it is amazing to think about the long list of contributors to this project beyond our leadership and membership, including CCLS, the Lutheran Foundation, Derek, Jerry, Kelly, James, our Pastor, and probably a long list of other individuals we have not mentioned. Thank you!!!