GLIMPSES OF GLENDALE: Weekly Newsletter

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale

Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter

July 3, 2025

Weakling! - article by Joel Hempel

What would you say if someone called you a milquetoast of a human, a weak-kneed coward who will not step up when needed? Well, that’s what Jesus called you, sort of.

When Jesus faced his greatest human test, he was under attack by evil and needed the support of his closest disciples, Peter, James, and John. Entering the Garden at Gethsemane, Jesus instructed his friends:

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.¹

As we know, the disciples failed in their support of Jesus – repeatedly! After being with the Lord Jesus for three years and having just heard how much spiritual angst he was experiencing as he faced extreme suffering and death, they could not be faithful to the man they loved so dearly.

Deeply flawed behavior! That’s our specialty.

God knows we have good intentions. He knows our spirit (our new, born-again, redeemed self) desires to serve God faithfully. We’re just not very good at it. Many of us who are much older like to think we have grown up spiritually and that the days of sin and transgression are behind us. However, our flesh continues to find new ways of doing the wrong thing.

So, is that it? Are we stuck being Jesus’ untrustworthy friends? Sadly, yes! But look what those first struggling disciples accomplished. Because of them and their imperfect love of God and service to the world, 2,000 years later, we are eternally grateful for their missional mindset. Despite their faults, they did their job. They served Jesus. They never gave up because the Spirit of Jesus emboldened them.

Nothing more or less is asked of us. Or, in Jesus’ own words: Go! Serve the Lord . . . Make disciples . . . Love as you have never loved before . . . And trust that I am with you.²

We can do this!

By God’s ever-present grace, we can love like the disciples, we can serve like the disciples, and we will fail like the disciples. But because we also live in the mercy of God, we will be forgiven like the disciples.

Jesus’ love and the Holy Spirit were all the apostles needed to be imperfectly but relentlessly faithful. Our Lord has assured us his Spirit will be with us, and his love will cover us.

Let’s go!

1. Matthew 26:41

2. Matthew 28:19-20; John 13:12-17, 34-35; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 10:25-37; Psalm 139:7-14; Psalm 145:18-19.

A Note of Gratitude - from Joel Hempel

Much to the pleasant surprise of the entire congregation, this past Sunday, Pastor Scott announced from the pulpit that we had just received an incredible gift of more than $200,000.00 from an anonymous friend. In one fell swoop, that gift wiped out our congregation’s debt. Wow!

Later in the afternoon, following the announcement, the choir and their spouses gathered for a potluck at church. As a couple of us talked about the generous gift, Jerry noted that the timing couldn’t be better.

What do you mean? I asked.

In the fall, we will begin the process of discerning God’s will for our church. We don’t know where God may lead us, but if the direction requires an investment, we will not be encumbered! Additionally, the funds allocated for debt relief are now available.

Thank you, Jerry, for that insight, and thank you to the giver of a good and generous gift!

Prayer Partners: Discerning God's Will for GLC

As proposed at a recent voters’ meeting, GLC members will have the opportunity to partner with another member for the purpose of praying for the Discerning God’s Will Process, which is scheduled to begin in the fall. Paper squares, pens, and a bowl are placed in the rear of the church. If you are willing, please write (legibly) your first and last name on a slip of paper, fold it, and drop it in the bowl. On Sunday, July 27, Pastor Scott will take a few minutes at the beginning of worship to draw the prayer teams. How you choose to partner up with your fellow member is for you to decide. You can meet in person, by phone, or via Zoom, etc. In addition, you may find that praying for other needs will be a natural part of meeting together as sisters and brothers in Christ.

Summer Potlucks

Join us on Wednesdays July 16 and August 13, for summer potluck! From 5:30 to whenever, join us in the Family Life Center for an evening of good food and fellowship! Please bring a dish to share.