Faith Lutheran News

Greetings children of God.

Romans 4:13, 20-25 – “For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith…No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “reckoned to him as righteousness.” But the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

Abraham’s life wasn’t without trial and tribulation, even after God came into his life. And even though there were times when he doubted, Abraham trusted that God was able to do what he promised. We too can trust that God is able to do what he promised. The trials and challenges we face in this world may tempt us to doubt God’s promises, but just as he did with Abraham, God will strengthen our faith, assure us of his promises, help us to trust him, and believe that he will fulfill all he said he would do, even if at the time it doesn’t seem possible. Let us pray, Lord, I believe. Assure me when I doubt and strengthen my faith in you. Amen.

This Saturday we will have a workday at the church. We’ve got some things to do both inside and out. We’ll get started about 9am and should finish up around noon, if not before. Please come and help if you are available.

The retired men’s group will meet Monday in the fellowship hall at 8am to continue our Bible study on the Book of Ephesians.

So far, $31,622.00 has been raised for the sanctuary updates. That means we’ve got $878.00 to go by Sunday.

Blessings on your day.

Pastor Tim

Dear Friends in Christ, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

Welcome to 2023: The Year of Story. We recently had our grandchildren visit with us, and in the evening as they prepared for bed, the request came every night.  “Read us a story. Tell us a story”. I love stories and I love storytellers: Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, John Steinbeck, Norman Maclean, but also Louise Penny, Colson Whitehead, and Louise Erdrich. Who would you add to the list of great storytellers? In addition to those listed above, I would add Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The writers of the four Gospels. And lest we forget… Jesus. Jesus could spin a yarn. Jesus could tell a tale. Jesus could narrate a great story. And Jesus also knows how to star in a great story. Our focus in 2023: The Year of Story will be on learning and telling the Story of Jesus. A story that many of us have been learning and telling our entire lives. The Gospel Story of Jesus matters. As St. Paul reminds us in Romans 1:16, the Gospel “…is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…”. The stories of Jesus that I learned in Sunday School, heard proclaimed from the pulpit, read in my illustrated Children’s Bible, loomed huge in my imagination when I was a kid. And that’s what great stories do. They loom. They challenge. And they inspire. Great stories have a way of enlightening our minds, moving our hearts, healing our relationships, and transforming whole communities. During 2023: The Year of Story, I want to encourage you and your parish to learn and tell the transforming Story of Jesus. Let us pray, “Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, which you have given us in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord”. Amen.                           (Evangelical Lutheran Worship pg. 72) As we begin 2023: The Year of Story, I invite you to start with two simple practices related to the Story of Jesus. Memorize Scripture: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. Acts 1:8 is the Year of Story Memory Verse. Read Scripture: Join a host of others across the Northwestern Ohio Synod as we focus on the Story of Jesus! In 2023, we will read through the writing of the Four Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. This week we are working our way through the Birth Narratives of Jesus.

Greetings children of God,

This year, the NWOS is inviting everyone to join them in 2022, as we read the Poets and Prophets. You can click on the link below to get the daily reading guide. Spending time reading God’s Word daily is something we should all do, however, many times it feels daunting or more like a task, something we have to do instead of something we want to do, because we’re not sure how long we should read for or how much we should read. The daily reading guide for the Poets and Prophets resolves these issues as the readings are the equivalent of about a chapter a day, sometimes less, sometimes a little more. Reading a chapter a day takes about 3-5 minutes and after reading, I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on what you’ve read. You may just be surprised as to what you think, feel or experience. I look forward to this journey with you.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Tim

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