Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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- Yoked Communities of Faith and Service NON-PROFIT ORG.
c/o Zion Lutheran Church U.S. POSTAGE PAID
41 Whitmarsh Avenue PERMIT#205
Worcester, MA 01606-3296 WORCESTER, MA
NEWSLETTER JULY/AUGUST 2019 TIME SENSITIVE
PLEASE DO NOT DELAY
Our lives are formed by Word and
Sacrament, and we gather as the beloved
children of God around the means of grace
where our lives are in Christ.
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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PASTOR’S CORNER
Walking the WAY, following Jesus’ lead, what
does that look like? What does that mean?
Reports of Jesus’ life indicate he was situationally
aware 24/7; he “knew the room”, the make-up of
crowds, inclination of hearts, reality of locale,
potential outcomes to action or inaction. And our
Lord’s heart was inclined through Grace and
Mercy, the essence of God, towards everybody;
nobody has been, or ever will be, outside of the
care and concern of our Creator.
He traveled what has become known as the Via
Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) to the Damascus Gate
in Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday long ago to
bring Love to bear on the establishment and prove
once and for all that God cannot be overcome by
the world, but stands firmly for humanity!
You might be thinking “Whoa, that’s a lot, and this
is where I should be?”
God meets every one of us where we are with
whatever is going on in our lives and hopes we
know the embrace that the Spirit effects upon us,
working to give us what we need. The degree to
which we are aware, know this Presence, and
benefit from it in our lives depends upon our
orientation; towards or away from, God.
Walking the WAY of Jesus means being aware of
and willing to follow the Spirit’s lead. With this, our
situational awareness will develop as we let God
lead us in the ways of righteousness in bringing
Grace and Mercy to bear on people’s lives,
upholding justice and being certain every sister
and brother are treated with equity and dignity.
It takes baby steps to develop. Jesus walked and
intimately learned about our human condition for
his first thirty years of life. Reports have him
apprenticing with his dad, Joseph, during this
development period in his trade; while scripture
and some sources indicate that was carpentry, the
reality is that the land was deforested under King
Solomon and masonry was more likely the work
taken on. Sephoris was a Roman town 3-4 miles
from Nazareth, and the original cobblestone
streets are still present for visitors to walk upon,
the likely surfaces Jesus’ feet touched as he
followed his dad to work in service of building
projects for the Roman Empire.
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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So, as we stretch our legs, stretch ourselves,
through faith in walking the WAY, God in Christ by
the power of the Spirit will work within and through
us so our talents and abilities are best matched
and effective in bearing Grace and Mercy to the
world.
The more people who let go of being in complete
control of their lives for letting God in to work, the
better off we as individuals are and the world
benefits.
May the WAY find us increasingly compliant in
following and creation blessed by our presence! If
we think Roman projects are ancient, God’s love
and effectiveness for those of faith is exponentially
more so and eternally promised!
☩ Pastor Andrew
ELDER MEAL PROGRAM
We are in the process of firming up staffing and
will be sending out a targeted mailing to the
Greendale area Zip Code shortly. From the
mailing we anticipate a response of persons
interested in receiving meals from our Zion
location in the Palmer Room. From there we go
to Elder Services of Worcester and setup meal
times and delivery schedules!
These are exciting times as the Spirit who first
stirred this interest in 2012 or so, and the CAT
survey about a year and half ago confirmed with
people’s responses desiring a new ministry
effort, lead GRACE forward in further being
Jesus’ hands and feet at work within Central
MA!
Please hold this effort in your prayers.
JULY/AUGUT ANNIVERSARIES 2019
Bethel
Dan & Samantha Hanks - 07/03 Liz & Dan Blash - 07/18
John & Nancy Berube - 07/22 Nancy Nims-Gentry & Grover Gentry - 07/25
Wilson & Pauline McIlvaine - 07/26 Anita & John Haynes - 07/27
Terry Hamilton & Mike Tift - 08/03 Barbara & Maurice McCarthy - 08/03
Shirley & Bill Connor - 08/06 Patti & Tony Benvenuti - 08/08
Judy Hodgerney & Peter DePierri - 08/10 Diana & Jay Stolberg - 08/11
Preston & Marie Sturdevant - 08/30
Zion Alan & Linda Wiinikka – 07/04
Albert & Lois Kane – 08/15 Don & Judy Leombruno – 08/20
Ann & Dave Spinner – 08/31
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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Phil Becker
Jackie & Vinny Walsh
Mary Johnson Jackie & Vinny Walsh
NEW ENGLAND SYNOD
YOUTH GATHERING
The weekend following Labor Day I will be
taking our young people to Hammonasset State
Park in CT for a Friday night to Sunday morning
adventure! I have been leading these trips for
the last fifteen years or so and our Synod does a
GREAT job planning and executing an
engaging/enjoyable time for youth and leaders
alike!
Registration is open to 7th – 12th graders, I
already have people signed up, so let me know
SOON so I can formally register us with the
Synod. More info at
http://www.hammoconnect.com/
PRAYER LIST Bethel - Arnold Ariansen - Helen Armstrong - Maya Belmonte – Lucy & Tom Brennan - Karen Carlson – Shirley Connor – Lori Deso - Jean Dowd – Matt DuHamel - Tom Forsberg - Liesl Voosen Fields – Silvia Forgit - Grover Gentry –Hope Grasso - Skip Hagberg - Paul Josephson – Patricia King - Tina Krol – Audra Layton - Kay Lemerise - Bill Lewis - Eric Lewis - Kay Malkasion – Susan Marriano - Tracy McLean - Joan Newman – Michael O’Neil - Amanda Parker – Sabrina Valastro – Gini Varg - Kay Venning – Pearl Wheeler
Zion - Patricia Lynch - Betty Nielsen - Renee'
Hall - Tracey McLean - Ruth Swan - Doreen
Earley - Barry Blomgren - Charlotte Rose Mac
Neil - Scott MacLachlan - Timothy Kenney - Julia
Engvall - Liesl Voosen Fields - Audra Layton –
Patricia Lynch - Dotty Petralis - Sara Spieght
Have you engaged with the prayer wall?
MEAL LINES RETURN TO
GRACE
We are looking forward to Pr. Matt Martin
bringing us the opportunity for helping fight food
insecurity in our area! Both Councils conferred
and agreed we should engage in this work, to be
sited at our Worcester campus in the Palmer
Room.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30th
Mark your calendars!
Starting in July, we return to the rotating schedule so that Pastor Andrew
can be at each parish for a full morning once a month. He will be at Bethel
all morning on the 2nd Sunday and at Zion on the 4th Sunday.
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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Doris Brick c/o Oakdale Nursing & Rehab. 76 No. Main St., W. Boylston, MA 01583
Audrey Sturdevant c/o Overlook Masonic Health Center 88 Masonic Home Rd., Charlton, MA 01507
Jeff Moody c/o Sandalwood Care & Rehabilitation Center 3 Pine Street, Oxford, MA 01540
Delores Bengtsson, Harold Johnson, Wilson McIlvaine c/o Care One @ Millbury 312 Millbury Street, Millbury, MA 01527
Mildred Lindblad, May Jacobson c/o Knowlwood Nursing Center 87 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, Ma 01606
Dot Reid c/o Lutheran Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center 20 Harvard Street, Worcester, MA 01609
Shirley Cummins 315 Holden Street, Holden, MA 01520
Henry Hirvi c/o Holy Trinity Nursing & Rehab. 303 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606
We are in the early stages of planning the 2019
Harvest Fair. This Grace Ministries event will
be held at the Bethel campus sometime in early
November. If you are interested in being part of
the team, please contact Marie Sturdevant or
Judy Sampson. Organizational meetings will be
announced soon.
Zion’s Council Update
Zion last council meeting was on June 9th, Coffee with council for the months of July and August will resume in the month of September. Enjoy your Summer with family and friends.
Zion is still reaching out for the Elder Meal Program. We as Zion are looking for 3 individuals to help, no cooking meals, they are brought in, we need set up and clean up. If you have questions please contact Pastor or myself.
The Seventh Day Adventist will be with us for a while longer, we are happy they will be with us. God Bless
Looking for volunteers to help with the cutting of the grass.
Respectfully,
Donna R. Hayes President of Church Council Zion Lutheran Church, Worcester, MA
Bethel’s Council Connection
Happy Summer! It’s time for kicking back a little and enjoying the nice weather. It also means it’s time for summer vacations. Please remember that Bethel’s bills don’t stop during the summer and keeping up with your financial gifts makes the cash flow easier to manage.
A big shout out to John Leslie for his special performance at Bethel on June 15th, and what a performance it was! John paid tribute to Liberace on the 100th anniversary of his birth with a one-man show that was out of this world. A free will offering was collected, and all the funds were donated to Bethel.
Plans are in the works for several activities this fall, with the Harvest Fair in early November, and a food line later that month, to be held at Zion some other Saturday afternoon. There is also a rumor that Pastor Andrew will be doing a travelogue on his trip to the Holy Land, which should be very interesting.
Please remember that we will be having Coffee with Council the 2nd Sunday of each month during the summer. Please stop by, even if it’s just for a quick chat, or if you have a question or issue to discuss. We look forward to your questions and comments.
Preston Sturdevant President/Bethel Congregational Council
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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JULY/AUGUST BIRTHDAYS 2019
Zion
Wendy Milton – 07/09 Karen Hakala – 07/13
Mark Fountaine – 07/14 Edith Keppetsch – 07/15
Sarah Ruffo – 07/16 Mae Swenson – 07/17
Vinny Ruffo Cabrera – 07/28 Bryan Blomgren – 08/01 Ruth Denman – 08/04 Robert Linna – 08/13
Lynne Buckley – 08/14 Richard Harms – 08/17 George Earley – 08/22
John Abbe – 08/23
Bethel Doug Nelson - 06/02 Roy Benoit Jr. - 07/04 Nicole Zifcak - 07/06
Amelia Nelson - 07/06 Sophie Stolberg - 07/12
Jillian King - 07/14 Gabriella King - 07/14 John Berube - 07/15
Louise Klaven - 07/16 Joseph Belmonte - 07/16
Kathleen Legg - 07/18 Debra Hagberg - 07/18 Lori Thompson - 07/20 Judy Sampson - 07/21 Mary Johnson - 07/23 Vinny Walsh - 07/24 Leah King - 07/26
Christine Belmonte - 07/27 Diana Stolberg - 07/29 Maya Belmonte - 07/29 Nicolas Spanos - 07/30 Judy Garneau - 08/03
Gini Varg - 08/05 Scott Carlson - 08/06
Barbara McCarthy - 08/07 Rick Hagberg - 08/09 Doug Hanks - 08/09
Helen Trilligan - 08/09 Jackson Zifcak - 08/09 Jeremy Baril - 08/13 Scarlet Schur - 08/13
Chris DuHamel - 08/14 Wilson McIlvaine - 08/15
Matt DuHamel - 08/16 Mimi Bylund - 08/16 Jay Stolberg - 08/17
Bette Elia - 08/19 Erica Ferreira - 08/21
Nancy Bjorkman - 08/23 Bill Lauzonis - 08/26
Madelynn Hanks - 08/27
A gift was given to the Bell Choir by Krantz/Baird Foundation.
Thanks you!
Grace Ministries,
Thank you! We greatly appreciate all of your efforts to advance our cause Walk to End Alzheimer. See you at the Walk on September 15th!
Worcester County Walk Committee
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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Report on New England Synod Assembly of
June 7-8 2019
God's Work. Our hands.
“WHAT IS YOUR STORY?”
I would like to thank the Congregation for voting for
me to attend this year's Synod Assembly as a
delegate. Because I am very much interested in the
Synod efforts and resources, it was helpful for me to
attend as a voting member of Bethel. Along with
Pastor Andrew Borden, Karen Borden, Lois
Toeppner, Deacon; Stephanie Harms, and William
Toombs who were the delegates from Zion.
Therefore, Grace Ministries was well represented at
the Assembly.
Prior to attending the Assembly information on
everything was available on line. Therefore, in order
to understand exactly what our responsibilities would
be, and how everything would be done, it was very
helpful to have much of this information prior to the
actual meeting.
Business matters, elections, reports from Bishop
Hazelwood, committees, and finances were discussed
on Friday. The voting on most everything was
unanimous due to the concise information presented.
As The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America dated
Spring 2019 wrote: “This is our time to tell the story
of the church we are becoming, a church confident
about who we are in Christ and what God is calling
us to do. As I have said previously, if God will that
there be a witness to the gospel through the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), no
force on earth, not even our own, can stop it.”
Story Tellers from Clergy, Lay Leaders and Others
told of their stories while encouraging all attendees to
do the same in workshops from around the Synod and
beyond to tell where God is in our story and how to
share it with others.
The Keynote speaker was Margot Leitman,
storyteller, comedian, writer. Special guest speaker at
Saturday's worship was the Rev. Leila M. Ortiz,
Assistant to the Bishop of the Metropolitan
Washington, D.C. Synod. Her interests are in
leadership, vocational discernment and discipleship.
There was opportunity to visit the various tables
outside the meeting rooms for all kinds of
information on both days.
In Bishop Hazelwood's report on Future Leaders, he
reports, “We are in the midst of a retirement wave.”
“We have two obstacles. The first is financial, the
second is recruitment.” “One is the cost of seminary
education. We are addressing this by awarding
scholarships to New England Synod candidates.”
“The other struggle is the level of Seminary debt by
current leaders.”
“We are now a synod of 178 Congregations. Of
those 45 are served by part-time, Sunday-Supply-
only, or in some arrangement of partnership with
another church. They frequently worship with less
than 25 on a Sunday, some have as few as eight.”
You can read the paper “Going Forward as a Synod
of Experimentation” the Bishop wrote last year at
http://bishop.nesnod.org/goingforward:pdf.
I would also remind everyone, as you have all heard
me say many times, God is in Charge! Through the
gifts of Forgiveness, Mercy, Love, Grace, and Faith
we may have to make changes, But God will never
abandon God's children.
Roberta F. Briggs,
Lay Leader
Dismas meals are always held on the last Friday of each month. If a volunteer would like to prepare a meal it can be done in the church kitchen around 4pm. Volunteers are also needed to deliver and share the meal (5:45pm). Dinner is over and hosts usually leave by 6:30. DISMAS: Fri, July 26th Fri. Aug.30th
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
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OUTREACH/SOCIAL MINISTRY Reaching out to a world in need
BETHEL On Wednesday, June 5th, Judy, Jackie and Marie attended the “New Home…New Beginnings” tour and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Florence House at their new location in Worcester. The Florence House is one of the two Teen Parenting Programs offered by Ascentria Services for Children and Families. This home is a place “where teen mothers and their children are provided transitional living in a safe, nurturing and therapeutic residential environment.” Our Social Ministry at Bethel helped support the Florence House in the past, and now we are looking to once again help support their program and new endeavors. We will be exploring ways our Grace Ministries Teams can support this program and will bring more information to our congregations in the coming months.
The new Florence House
The Grace Ministries host week for Interfaith Hospitality Network has been moved from the first week of July to the last full week of July, the evening of the 21st through the morning of the 28th. There will be a sign up for early evening shifts and overnights. During the month of June, the Kindness Tree was filled with tags with suggested items for the IHN home on June Street. We will be accepting these donated items through mid-July, so they may be brought to IHN during our host week. Thank you for your generosity in helping to support this ministry.
During the month of July, we will be supporting “Walking Together,” a ministry of presence within the neighborhood of Southeast Worcester. This ministry, which focuses on the dignity and worth of each individual and family, provides a service called Laundry Love on the second Thursday of each month, at Suds Up Laundromat on Southbridge Street in Worcester from 5-8 pm. This is an often-overlooked way to help the homeless and families struggling financially. In a conversation with a homeless man, the question was asked about how one could help in a meaningful way. The answer came, “If I had clean clothes, I think people would treat me like a human being.” For the month of July, look for tags on the Kindness Tree which will have suggested donations for this ministry. Social Ministry received a gift from the estate of Phil Becker in the amount of $4,990.35. Bethel was very special to Phil. Our lives are better for having known Phil, as we worked alongside him through the years. The Social Ministry Team wishes to thank all who helped support the Auburn Youth and Family Services Summer Program. Looking ahead, we will be planning another intergenerational project doing the meal line through End Hunger NE sometime in the fall.
ZION
We hope everyone is enjoying the summer. However there are some things that do not take a vacation, such as hunger. As you all know, we have been supporting Abby’s House for many years and they are very grateful for our contributions. What if everyone brought a non-perishable food item when they come to church on Sunday? It is a “feel good” thing to be able to help. Let’s try it.
Ingrid and Jean
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Ringer Notes
Bells of Bethel News
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before [the Lord’s]
presence with singing.” (Psalm 100 – KJV)
The Bells of Bethel are now on their Summer break. You will still hear us from time to time on select hymns
during Summer worship.
We would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU for your generosity and support as we continue to maintain our
handbells and replace worn out equipment. We received above and beyond the goal of $850 to replace worn
out clapper heads on all our handbells. Because of the extra funds we will be able to continue to replace some
worn out equipment. The Bells of Bethel have no real budget so we rely on gifts to help with many of our
purchases. If you would like to make a gift, please leave it in the offering plate or send it to the Church Office.
Please make note that it is for ‘Bells’.
As I have said before, all are welcome to ring handbells! No musical ability required. Music is marked and
notes are color coded for those who cannot read music. All you need to do is count to four! If you are
interested in giving ringing a try, please let me know! We have a wonderful and dedicate group of ringers that
would provide support to any new ringers. Speak to any ringer and they will tell you how fun and rewarding
ringing is!
God’s Peace+,
Adam Hanks
Director
Ringers: Roberta Briggs, Lauren Kneeland, Jackie Walsh, Pam Sutton, Ann Hanks, Kate Valleli and Brenda
Salvi
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CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES
High School
Brian Belmonte graduated from Shepherd Hill Regional High School and he is going to
run track at Merrimack College in the fall.
Naomi Bylund graduated from Auburn High School. She'll be attending Husson
Universality in Bangor Maine to start a Physical Therapy program in the fall.
Hannah Abbe graduated from Abby Kelley Foster Charter School and will be attending
Mass. College of Pharmacy & Health Service, Boston in the fall.
Derek Mangsen graduated from Wachusett Regional High School. He is planning on going to college next year for
computer engineering and working at the family business, Nordgren Funeral Home.
Emmalynn Pickett graduated from Marianapolis Prep. She will be attending Sacred Heart University in Fairfield,
CT to study Neuroscience
Emily White graduated from Burncoat High School with high honors & a member of the National Honor Society.
She will be attending Dean College in the fall.
Lauren Wiinikka graduated from Wachusett Regional High School and will be attending Quinsigamond
Community College in the fall.
Jack Valleli graduated from Tahanto Regional High School and is headed to the US Marine Corps.
Emily Wambach graduated from Auburn High School. She will be attending Western New England University in
Springfield, Ma. She has been accepted into their Bio Medical Engineering program.
College
Gini Benvenuti is graduating from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education
and English. She plans on a teaching career in grades K-6.
Michael Rapoza graduated from Anna Maria College with degrees in Education and History.
Christopher Rapoza graduated from Quinsigamond Community College with a degree in Business Administration.
Brianna Courteau graduated from WPI in Worcester. She plans on attending PA school.
Bailey Pickett graduated from Anna Maria College with a degree in nursing.
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GRACE MINISTRIES, ELCA – Yoked Communities of Faith and Service
MISSION STATEMENT
"To boldly share God's Love and Grace universally in and through our communities."
VISION STATEMENT
Modeling the welcoming nature of God, we are humbly called and driven by the Spirit to witness, engage and walk with each other authentically, as Jesus’ hands and feet, providing spiritual, emotional and physical nourishment.
Through evolving partnerships with ecumenical and other social service organizations we affirm justice and wholeness under the “agency of Grace” that feed the needs and hope of all.
The Rev. Andrew H. Borden, Pastor [email protected]
Ann Spinner, Parish Administrator
Adam Hanks, Treasurer Shannon Papandrea, Sexton
Pam Sutton, Kate Valleli, Garret Peters, Thom Carraher – Christian Education Team
Worcester Campus - Zion Lutheran Auburn Campus - Bethel Lutheran 41 Whitmarsh Avenue, 01606 90 Bryn Mawr Avenue, 01501 Office: 508-853-2009 Office: 508-832-3427
The-Community-of-Zion-Lutheran-Worcester.org BethelAuburnELCA.org
Organist – Karen Couturier Principal Organist/Choral Director – Brenda Salvi Choral/Bell Director – Sally Bond Associate Organist/Choral Director – Lois Toeppner, Deacon President – Donna Hayes President – Preston Sturdevant
Forward Leadership Team: Dave Valleli, Roberta Briggs, Stephanie Harms, Adam Hanks and Pastor Accountability Team: Jennifer Courtney, Linda Kikutis Kropp, Donna Hayes, Joan Parker and Janet Johnson
Yoke Council Co Presidents Preston Sturdevant (Bethel) & Donna Hayes (Zion) Secretary – Stephanie Harms (Zion) Marie Sturdevant
(Bethel)
Bethel Congregation Council EXECUTIVE TEAM: President – Preston Sturdevant Vice President – Dave Sutton Secretary – Marie Sturdevant
Kathleen Legg, Leanne Carraher, Doris Belk, Roberta Briggs
Functional Units Social Ministry – Marie Sturdevant & Judy Sampson
Finance Team – Lisa Ferreira, Chair Worship & Music Committee – Joan Parker, Chair Property Team – Garrett Peters, Rich Hagberg, Roy Benoit Jr. Altar Guild – Leanne Carraher, Chair
Adult Forum, Roberta Briggs
Preschool Preschool Director – Bev Sampson 508-832-9411 [email protected]
Teachers, Karen Borden, Shannon Papandrea, Teachers Aide, Kim Capaldi
Zion Congregation Council EXECUTIVE TEAM: President – Donna Hayes - Vice President – William Toombs Secretary – Stephanie Harms
Kristin White, Katherine Lehman, Bruce Blomgren, Don Leombruno
Functional Units Outreach Ministry Team – Ingrid Lawrence/Jean Harger, co-Chairs
Adult Forum – Dave Valleli Altar Guild – Virginia Carlson, Chair
A RECONCILING IN CHRIST SYNOD
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RELEVANCE OF A FAITH
Through the eyes of faith the beauty around us
becomes magnified and mountains made low.
I was closing the church following Wednesday
worship recently when I heard a knock at the front
door. Our neighbor to the parsonage wanted me to
be aware of three little boys who, now that school
was over for the summer, had taken to acts of what
she thought were vandalism and terrorism on the
street.
I called these three kids, no more than 3rd grade,
over and talked with them. Evidently they had taken
the next door girl’s stuffed toy from the yard and not
brought it back, and on this day were “having fun”
riding in circles around one of our older members
as they tried to get into their car in the parking lot.
Looking at the three, with this neighbor standing
next to me, I asked them if they went to church.
One said “No, not anymore.” Had they heard of
Jesus? Yes.
Simply, I explained in 1 minute or so that Jesus is
God who came to earth because God loves us and
wants us to know that. And how God wants us,
hopes that, we show love to other people, respect
and all of that.
We talked about how giving people a hard time is
not part of loving others, did they get it? That God
wants us to get along with each other and that is
what we talk about in the church, how I teach and
work with the people. I told them we had similar
issues with kids in the neighborhood about 10
years ago and when I explained this same stuff to
them we all got along and things worked out. What
did they think, could we get along?
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
Page 13
Without a faith core, direction, and “upkeep” of the
faith, any of us can fall into bad habits and ways of
being with the world and others that is not healthy
for anyone.
The church has become irrelevant to many who
used to darken her doors. Life has “taken over”, for
some it’s easier to sleep late and go to brunch than
make it to a house of worship, and many other
excuses. All of this has led to less Grace being
recognized, realized and allowed to permeate and
govern God’s children’s lives.
Some polls have indicated that the present younger
generation wants engagement in activities
associated with faith more often than worship
experiences; they feel connected to acting, to being
the hands and feet of Jesus. And it’s not just the
younger generation, either who can thrive on
service projects! So, it is vital that parishes offer
frequent opportunities for reaching-out and helping
where there is need: and gee, it is one of the acts
of our Lord he demonstrated for us to follow.
But, scripture also shows us how Jesus attended to
worship often, to hear scripture and talk about it,
instituting the Eucharist in that upper room so long
ago for the refreshment, renewal and well-being of
ALL for the opportunity of truly LIVING and NOT
just existing!
The relevance of a faith is in steering people away
from that which is harmful towards what is life-
giving. This is important so no one winds up getting
distracted by worldly claims and aspirations apart
from faith: not simply following what feels “good”,
leading so many times to malevolence, or engaging
in just downright self-centered/destructive behavior
that doesn’t honor creation or our fellow sisters and
brothers also blessed to take breath and
experience planet earth.
May we all give time to God, encourage our family,
friends and those we meet to do so as well, that
Grace, Mercy and Love might permeate, guide and
help this creation be more of what our Creator
hopes it can be!
LOOKING FOR A GROUP OF LUTHERANS TO MEET WITH AND SHARE
SOME EXPERIENCES AND HAVE FUN?
AS A SHARED MINISTRY WITH BETHEL/ZION, WHY NOT GIVE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING A TRY?
WOMEN’S: DOLs (Dine Out Ladies)
Tuesday, June 9th @ 6PM Hunter’s Grille & Tap Room at the Grafton Inn
Meet at the restaurant - each person is responsible for the cost of their meal. Sign up in the Narthex or call the Bethel Office.
“BOOKIES” Book Club The group will be making a trip to Old Deerfield Village on Wednesday July 31
st. We need
a final count by Monday July 22. Call Leanne Carraher 508-335-6421 or Jackie Walsh 508-769-0879 if you would like to join us. The book is The Captive Boy of Old Deerfield by
Mary P. Wells Smith. The Bookies meet again on September 23
rd in the Chapel. The book will be Before We Were Yours by
Lisa Wingate. All are Welcome!
Grace Ministries – July/August 2019
Page 14
Bookie’s Reading List for 2019-2020:
September 23, 2019: “Before We Were Yours” a novel, by Lisa Wingate
October 28, 2019: “The World’s Fastest Man; the extraordinary story of Cyclist Major Taylor”, a
biography by Michael Kranish
November 18, 2019: “Knowing Jesse” a memoir by Marianne Leone
December no meeting
January 27, 2020 : “The Story of Edgar Sawtelle” a novel by David Wroblewski
February 24, 2020: “The Death of Mrs. Westaway” a mystery by Ruth Ware
March 30, 2020: “The Second Mountain” a memoir by David Brooks
April 27, 2020: “The Chilbury Ladie’s Choir” a novel by Jennifer Ryan
May 18, 2020: “The Kitchen House” a novel by Kathleen Grissom
June 29, 2020: “The All Girls Filling Station Reunion” a novel by Fanny Flagg
Bookie’s meet the 4th or the last Monday of each month at 2:00 in the Chapel. Come to all meetings
or choose the date of the book that interests you. Bring a friend; all are welcome. There will be lively
discussion!