Inside This Edition God’s Work. Our Hands. Hymn by Dr. Wayne Wold Pg. 3 How to Become a Preschool Partner Pg. 4 WELCA Fall Gathering—Explore the Holy Land Pg. 4 Youth Mission Trip Thank You(s) Pg. 5 God’s Work. Our Hands. Weekend of Service Pg. 6 LEAD Turns 3! Pg. 7 Blessings in a Backpack is Back Pg. 8 Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Education & Conversations Pg. 9 Garden Stories to Nurture Faith & Stormwater Survey Results Pg. 10-11 2019 ELCA Churchwide Assembly Pg. 15 A Special Note of Thanks for Global Missions Support (Pangani) Pg. 20 and so much more… August 23, 2019 REVEREND MIKE LOUIA Senior Pastor ([email protected]) One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" 29 Jesus an- swered, "The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:28-31, NRSV) Well here we are, three months into our reflection on the shema, that section of Deuteronomy Jesus quotes as an answer to the scribes’ question above which our Jewish siblings pray every day, morning and evening, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; 30 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This month, as I began reflecting on loving the Lord our God with all our mind, I breathed a sigh of relief! Finally, unlike loving God with all our heart and soul that involves trying to understand how we love God with our intangible emotions, feelings and life essence, something logical and tangible! And at least on some level, loving God with all our mind does in fact involve loving God from an intellectual perspective. Loving God with all our mind engages our intellect through bible study, conversation, listening to sermons, and the like. Loving God with all our mind in so many ways makes loving God actually something that is attainable … something that we can learn to do. The thing is, if we’re truthful with ourselves, loving God is so much more than anything that our limited human brain can comprehend. Many times, I’ve heard people say that faith is something caught … not taught. Even Luther believed that our faith itself was a gift from God. Which makes me wonder, does loving God with all our mind involve more than simply focusing our minds on loving God … on simply learning how to love God? Yes! Loving God with our whole mind moves beyond some logical, intellectual exercise when we open ourselves up to the possibility that loving God with our minds can be transformational. Loving God with our minds can lead to having our minds transformed to parallel God’s mind. And that possibility, that our minds can become parallel God’s mind, is truly life changing! When our minds are transformed to parallel God’s mind, we are led to a place where we look at our neighbor and see our neighbor as a reflection of God’s very self (after all, all people are created in the image of God). When our minds are transformed to parallel God’s mind, we are led to a place where we can offer forgiveness as radically as God does. When our minds are transformed to parallel God’s mind, we live in a place where grace, the very grace that connects us eternally to God, also connects us eternally to our siblings … all our siblings. Loving God with all our mind in so many ways, allows God to include us in God’s kingdom work in the world. And that is truly a gift, as mind-blowing as it might be, for which we can say, “Thanks be to God.” See you Sunday (or Wednesday or Saturday), Pastor Mike 1 REVEREND TAMIKA JANCEWICZ Associate Pastor ([email protected]) In 1979, The Reverend Earlean Miller became the first African American woman ordained in the Lutheran church in North America, and the first African American woman ordained in Lutheranism ever. I’ve never had the honor of meeting Reverend Miller because she died in November 2014, which was a year before I started my seminary journey to becoming a pastor myself. From what I’ve heard of her, she was a phenomenal preacher, amazing pastor, and she certainly paved the way for black women pastors like myself. This past Churchwide Assembly (August 5-10) was packed full of new memorials, resolutions, and statements, and a celebration of ordained women in the ELCA. As I watched from afar, through Fa- cebook posts, and the live stream, my heart was overjoyed to see so many women pastors pro- cessing in their vestments with such joy on their faces. It made me think of the many times of uncer- tainty I had throughout seminary, and how often other women, especially other ordained women of color, would surround me in love and encourage me to keep going. I remember the many times that others would say, “You are a gift to the church.” Or “Your voice matters.” Those few words of assur- ance often helped me to get through the papers and assignments, and the doubt and fear of not be- ing enough. It also made me think that it must have been tough and maybe even lonely for those who came first. I’m sure they had family, friends, and colleagues who supported them, but to not have the representation of women in leadership in the same way that I do now, must have felt isolat- ing at times. But they continued, and for that I am grateful. And I take this heart-filled gratitude with me next month on September 14, as I preach for the event, A Revival and Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of Black Woman Leadership in the ELCA. This event is hosted in the Metropolitan New York Synod at a church in Brooklyn called Je- hu’s Table. My friend and colleague, Pastor Lenny Duncan, is the pastor of the church and I was honored when he asked me to be one of the preachers. I ask for your prayers, church, as I go and celebrate with our other siblings on such a momentous occasion and I take you all with me as I preach the gospel. Peace, Pastor Tamika Source: (https://www.southernohiosynod.org/aws/SOS/pt/sd/news_article/99597/_PARENT/layout_details/false ) 2 DR. WAYNE L. WOLD Director of Music Ministry ([email protected]) I was thrilled and honored to have written the hymn that was chosen by the ELCA as the new theme song for God’s Work. Our Hands Sunday. We will be singing it on September 8, but here is an ad- vance copy to give you a head start: God’s work: our hands, working together, building a future, repairing the world, raising up homes, planting new gardens, feeding the hungry and shelt’ring the cold. Bless, God, our hands as we work in your name, sharing the good news of your Gospel. God’s work: our feet, trav’ling together, following Jesus to places unknown, walking as friends, marching for freedom, running the race with God’s future the goal. Bless, God, our feet as we follow your way, sharing the good news of your Gospel. God’s work: our voice, singing together, praising, proclaiming to all who will hear, praying for peace, shouting for justice, claiming God’s love for the lost and the least. Bless, God, our voice as we speak in your name, sharing the good news of your Gospel. God is at work in and around us: seedlings are sprouting and bread’s on the rise! Washed and set free, humbled and honored, gifted by grace, we respond in God’s love. Bless, God, our lives as we answer your call, sharing the good news of your Gospel. Thanks to all members and guests who provided musical offerings over the summer months. Our choirs return soon, and all welcome new and former members. Here is the line-up: • Jubilate Handbells—Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the sanctuary, beginning September 5 Contact Jenne Burnham ([email protected]) for more information. • Children’s Choir—Sundays at 9 a.m. in the Social Hall, beginning September 15. • Adult/Teen Choir—Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Choir Room, beginning September 5. Join us! And keep singing! Wayne 3 JENNY JAMES Director of Preschool ([email protected]) Preschool Partners! First Lutheran Preschool is looking for people who enjoy the playful outlook of preschoolers to be a Preschool Partner (formerly known as the Foster Grandparent Program). The program is designed to place volunteers in our preschool classes to partner with children in their play. Preschool Partners can sign up for 20-30-minute sessions on days that are convenient for their schedule. Examples include: Accompanying children to chapel on Wednes- day or Thursday mornings, playing with children on the playground at recess time, joining a group at the Playdough table, or playing Bingo or other simple board games with a small group of children. Preschool Partners are never alone with children and are always under the supervision of the classroom teach- er.