GLIMPSES OF GLENDALE: Weekly Newsletter

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale

Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter

September 4, 2025

The Foolishness of Prayer - article by Joel Hempel

Is prayer ever foolish? The short answer is Yes! If we pray to some other god than the Triune God, yes! If we pray for something that we know is against God’s will, yes! If we pray for something about which God has made us responsible, but we do nothing and leave it all up to God, yes! For example, if I pray for God to help me cut back on sugar consumption, and then I go out and buy Oberweis Banana-licious Chocolate Chunk ice cream because I need the potassium, it’s a foolhardy prayer.

When and how do we know with certainty that our prayers are not foolish? Here is how the Apostle John answers that question:

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.¹

This Sunday, we begin corporately Discerning God’s Will for GLC. How is it that we can be so confident entering this time of prayer for our congregation’s future? Because what we are seeking we know is God’s will. We are seeking to GROW – maybe numerically, but certainly spiritually, which God desires for his church.² We are seeking to be FAITHFUL to our calling as a congregation.³ We are seeking to GIVE GOD GLORY for however he blesses us.⁴

The specific results of our prayer have yet to be revealed. But we can know with absolute certainty that what we are seeking will be blessed. For our prayers are not to satisfy foolish fantasies or selfish desires. We seek God’s wisdom and Christ’s leadership into a future he has prepared for us.

And as we pray, we work!

A friend recently reminded me of a famous quote attributed to Martin Luther: “Pray as if everything depends on God, and then act as if everything depends on you.”

What concurrent “activity” are we to be about as we pray? Bible study! We have selected specific Bible passages to study that relate to our life together as a church. There may be other passages God brings to your mind that would also be relevant for us to pray over. But the ones selected will be our starting point.

As we read and reflect on God’s Word, ask yourself: What captures your attention? What words in the text demand your prayerful reflection? What in God’s Word convicts you like never before? How does God’s revelation apply to Glendale Lutheran Church?

To God be the glory!

1. 1 John 5:14-15

2. Ephesians 4:10-16; Acts 6:1-3, 7.

3. Acts 2:42-47; Romans 12:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 96:7-9; Matthew 5:16; 2 Peter 3:18.

Thursday Evening Women's Bible Study

The Thursday evening women's Bible study will resume on 9/4 at 7 pm. We are studying Max Lucado's book, "They Walked with God" and are midway through so it is not too late to join! If you do not have the book, it can be ordered through Amazon and is found also in Christian bookstores. We will look at the chapters Josiah and Lazarus, pages 121-142. For more information, please call Cathie Albers (314-882-2033) or email cathleenalbers@charter.net.

It's a Baby Shower!

Join us for a baby shower for Kelsey & Jon Spagnuolo on Sunday, September 28 after the worship service. You can see their baby registry online here, or write a check to the church with “Baby Shower” in the memo line and your gift will be put towards an item from the registry. Please call or email Ann Jonas with any questions: annjonas23@gmail.com or 805-345-6659.

Operation Christmas Child

The Operation Christmas Child Boxes are coming up in a couple of months, but now is the best time to take advantage of the Back-to-School Sales. Many items that students need are excellent for the boxes. For example; books (coloring, sticker), chalk, crayons, markers, color pencils, sharpeners, erasers, pencil cases, pens, glue sticks, notebooks, memo pads, staplers, scissors, or magnetic numbers. In addition to toys, clothing items, and musical instruments. Keep in mind the boxes are approximately: 11 1/2 x 7 x 4 1/4 deep. Boxes for filling and more information will be available in about a month. Questions, contact Laura Murphy.

Support Lutheran Education by Using Taxes You're Going to Pay Anyway

Taxpayers to the state of Missouri—both individuals and businesses—have the unique opportunity to direct up to 50% of their state taxes to Lutheran education. MOScholars is a tax credit* program that allows the Missouri District to convert these tax dollars into scholarships for qualifying students attending LCMS schools throughout the state. The deadline for helping these students is December 31, making now a great time for taxpayers to participate in MOScholars. Reserving these tax credits is easy and can be completed online in a matter of minutes. The Missouri District website (mo.lcms.org) contains more information about MOScholars, as well as the links to get the process started. Leah Sieveking at the District office can be reached at 314-590-6211 or leah.sieveking@mo.lcms.org with any other questions. Thank you for your participation in MOScholars through the Missouri District!

* A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the amount of taxes you owe. It is much more beneficial than a tax deduction, which decreases your taxable income. Therefore, a tax deduction lowers your tax bill by your tax bracket percentage. For example, if you are in the 22% tax bracket, a $1,000 tax deduction reduces your taxable income by $1,000, thereby reducing your tax liability by $220. On the other hand, a $1,000 tax credit reduces your tax liability by the entire $1,000. Obviously, a $1,000 tax credit is much more valuable than a $1,000 deduction.

Dates to Remember

September 7, 14, 21: Discerning God’s Will for GLC: Small Group Bible Studies.
October (and perhaps beyond): Pastor Scott, the process administrators (Andy Ryan and Joel Hempel) with the facilitators meet to seek a first draft of God’s Will for GLC, with the hope that we will have a concrete direction to bring to the congregation by Reformation Sunday, October 26 – which the congregation will then prayerfully consider.