Greetings children of God.

Matthew 26:26-28 – “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’”

On Monday evening, the Discovery channel aired NASA’s DART mission. If you haven’t heard about it, this mission was about planetary defense. Last November, the DART spacecraft, which was about the size of a golf cart, was launched in the 1^st ever human attempt to shift the position of an asteroid or other natural object in space. The target was Dimorphos, a moonlet of the larger asteroid Didymos and is the size of a football stadium. Neither of the asteroids poses a threat to the earth as they are 7 million miles away. The DART spacecraft had a camera that took a picture every second and sent them back to the earth. It was fascinating watching the pictures get closer and closer, until the feed was gone because the spacecraft crashed into Dimorphos. We won’t know for several weeks if the mission successfully shifted the asteroids path. One of the many great things about this mission is that it was a global effort. Scientists from all over the world took part in this mission. The ethnicity, skin color, religious beliefs, political leanings, or country of origin didn’t matter. Everyone came together in an effort to find a way to protect our planet in the event an actual asteroid threated to hit the earth and destroy it.

We’re 6 weeks away from mid-term elections and are being flooded with political ads. We’re more divided now as a nation than ever before and most of these ads do nothing but increase that division. This Sunday offers an opportunity to take a step towards decreasing that division. Every year on the 1^st Sunday in October, Christians around the globe celebrate World Communion Sunday. It’s a day to remember that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church and that every Christian church and any denomination that promotes Christian unity are one. Scientists from around the globe came together as one to discover a way to defend our planet from destruction. It’s time for Christians from around the globe to come together as one to work towards fulfilling God’s mission.

The words of the hymn, “We Are All One In Mission,” provide a great launch pad for us: We all are one in mission, we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single, great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ’s love. We all are called for service to witness in God’s name. Our ministries are different, our purpose is the same: to touch the lives of others with God’s surprising grace, so ev’ry folk and nation may feel God’s warm embrace. Now let us be united and let our song be heard. Now let us be a vessel for God’s redeeming word. We all are one in mission, we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

On Sunday October 9 at 9:30am, we will have our congregational meeting in between services in our fellowship hall. We will vote on our budget for 2023 and for our new council members.

Speaking of new council members, we need candidates for the deacon and secretary positions. If you’re interested or if you’d like more information on the responsibilities of either of these positions please see Pastor Tim, Niki Wasserman or Alexis Schneider.

Starting on September 29 and going through November 3, on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm-7:30pm, we will be holding a grief counseling class here at the church. There is no cost for this. If you are interested in this, there is a sign-up sheet in the coatroom so we can let the facilitator know how many to expect.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Tim

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

https://files.constantcontact.com/8f1c062f001/3c6eae47-693c-4c53-b78a-691c79b58c1a.pdf

Welcome to the Year of Vision!   Our focus this year will be on God’s vision and promise to make “all things new”. At the end of the Book of Revelation, God paints a picture of a new haven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, and a new Eden. God is in the business of making all things new and invites us to be a partner in the renewal of all things. The mission of the Northwestern Ohio Synod culminates in the renewal that God promises to bring. “And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.'” (Revelation 21:5a) I encourage you to memorize Revelation 21:5a and open your eyes to notice the places in your community where God is doing a new thing. And then allow the Holy Spirit to open your hearts to love the new thing that God is doing. And finally, open your hands to fully engage and partner with God to bring what is new in the community to life. In partnering with God to renew the community and the world, you will discover your own transformation. For it is in the renewing, that we are renewed.