"Gather" Bible Discussion is held on the FOURTH Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. in the church library. Please note the new time.
Please feel free to join us!
There is a lot of important and interesting information in the Fall, 2025 issue of LIVING LUTHERAN. At my age, I look first at the (two) pages of death notices – there is always someone I know listed. In this issue there are 100 names of people ranging in age from 58 to 99. Just think of the years of service represented!!!!
There was a Churchwide Assembly held in Phoenix July 28 – August 2. I’m guessing it was good to be indoors there. Presiding bishop Elizabeth Eaton retired after serving two terms. The new bishop elected for a six - year term is Yehiel Curry. Newly elected secretary is Lucille Mills. The terms of the vice president and treasurer are continuing, making for a good transition.
A regular feature each month is I’M A LUTHERAN. It’s amazing the variety of people who are featured. This time it was Kathy Lueders, member of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Cocoa Beach Florida. She is a retired NASA executive. The column always has “fill in the blank” questions. One was about problem solving. Her response: “another problem I was able to solve was how to get commercial cargo and crew to the International Space Station. Its success similarly required solving a breadth of different challenges to actually perform the missions. It was painful but also a lot of fun.” The final question is always I’m a Lutheran because - - her response was “I am aligned with the spiritual and moral precepts of the ELCA. I can sit in a pew and listen to a sermon or participate in the liturgy, and there is alignment with the values of Jesus”.
Another feature is a list of birthdays for those 100 or older. This time there were 6 names, but probably more who were not submitted. I know that our Arnie Moe wasn’t on the list. I wish I had sent it in. On the same page is the monthly crossword puzzle. Many of you know that I enjoy them!!!
It was reported that more than 200 Christian families have left the West Bank since the Israeli government launched its attack in 2023. Where are they to go? I just worked on a program featuring the music from Fiddler on the Roof. One song is” Far From the Home I Love”. The key signature actually changes from major to minor as they remember the good times in the past and look ahead to having to leave. One of my grandsons played the tailor in the production at East High School in Mankato.
There was a big insert called BOUNDLESS. It’s about Lutheran Disaster Response, New Ministries, Young Adults in Global Mission and what happened when a church in rural Cogswell, North Dakota was facing challenges. They found a way for many to become lay leaders. I’ll try to give more information in future issues. God is at work.
By June Torrison