Faith Lutheran News

From the Pastor’s Desk…

From the Pastor’s Desk…

Greetings children of God.

Mark 13:24-37But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels and gather the elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.

What would you do if the world were to end tomorrow? Reconcile with a family member or friend? Tell your children, spouse, parents, or siblings you love them one last time? Try something you said you never would? Finally finish something you’ve been working on? When once asked what he would do if he believed the world would end tomorrow, Martin Luther is said to have responded by saying he would plant a tree today. That’s how sure and confident he was in God’s love and promises about the future, so much so that he would invest in the present. And we can do the same because we are assured of that same love and promises of God about our future. What would you do if the world were to end tomorrow? Whatever your answer is, you don’t have to wait, you can do those things now. Forgive those whom you would forgive, embrace those whom you would embrace, love those whom you would love, do the things you’ve always wanted to do, and share your faith in Jesus with those around you. God created this time before Jesus’ second coming so we who have come to faith in Jesus can call others to that same faith. So when the opportunity arises, take advantage of it, for we don’t know when the time will come.

The deadline for ordering poinsettias is Sunday December 3. Please submit your order and payment to the office or to Ginger Walker.

On Tuesday December 5th, the Terra State Choral Society will be here again for a Christmas concert. There’s no charge to attend. There will be a freewill offering. Their show last year was fantastic. If you couldn’t make it last year, I highly recommend coming this year.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Tim

2023 – The Year of Story

2023 – The Year of Story

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
This just in…

This just in…

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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