October 2020 Newsletter

Grace, mercy, and peace are yours because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

Dear Family of God at Grace,

Chicken Little, after his bump on the head, yelled out, “The sky is falling,” and fellow barnyard buddies kept looking up and waiting. Aesop’s boy cried “Wolf,” and made everyone afraid, hiding under the covers and waiting for teeth and claws to come in the night. Over the last few months, I have received several videos and articles from members and friends saying that we are nearing the end of the world. Radio talk show hosts are playing on these fears to sell their programs. The news media is also peddling in the fearmongering business. Televangelists are adding to the fear with their prophesying. Are we nearing the end of the world? My simple answer is, we are closer today than we were yesterday, and we’ll be closer tomorrow than we are today. When will the end come? Only God knows!

Should you prepare for the end? Absolutely! That doesn’t mean you should sell everything and buy a bunker or compound somewhere in Alaska, no matter how wonderful that may sound…. Sorry, I just got lost in a daydream there for a few minutes.So how does one prepare for the end of the world or the second coming of Jesus? That’s easy, keep living your life in Christ and keep serving you neighbor in love. Go to church, receive the Sacrament regularly, pray, sing, meditate on the Word. Help those in need not because you must but because you love them because God, in Christ loves you. If you’re doing these things, keep doing them! If you are not, then start! Live your life in Christ each day like this could be the last day, the day He returns. Have hope and joy in your heart for that glorious day. Know that, in Christ you are ready for the end, whenever it comes. 

Please don’t get wrapped up in reading the tea leaves and trying to use the Bible as a geography lesson riddle book to the end of the world. You cannot use the book of Revelation as cosmic guide to the end of the world, saying this

beast is this country and they will do this in the battle for the world. The Bible is about Jesus and Jesus is not an American or Chinese or German. He is the Christ for the whole world. He is the Savior of the world! The only sign you need to worry about is that Jesus is risen and ascended and will come again. Any other sign has been around since Jesus ascended. There have been wars and rumors of wars and earthquakes and famines and so on and so on.  The end is about Jesus period.      

Dear brothers and sisters, keep the faith, come to church, love and serve your neighbor. Are we living in the end-times? Yes! But we have been living in the end-times for some 2000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven. Keep living, loving, serving until Jesus returns and only God knows when that will be. To paraphrase Martin Luther, go plant a tree and don’t worry about tomorrow. (you can look up Luther and his “plant a tree” quote)   Just so you know, we are planning to have the Reformation Celebration and the Oktoberfest on Sunday October 25th, unless Jesus comes back before then, which would be awesome if He did!

In His Service,

Pastor Lingsch                             

Endowment ApplicationsDue - October 22nd

Upcoming EventsSpecial Voter's MeetingSunday, October 18thbetween services

Quilters'Tuesday's 9:30 amFellowship Hall

Women's Bible StudyThursday's at 10:00 amContact Kami Jo

Weekly Events

Wednesday Dinnerand Prayer ServiceOn hold until a future date

Choir RehearsalsChoristers -Wednesday at 4:15pm

High School ChoirSunday at noon

Adult Choir

Wednesday 7:00 pm

Altar Flowers

We may have the sign up sheet hidden but you can still sign up for altar flowers by calling Rene Hazelett or Gwyn in the office. Flowers are $45 for one bouquet and $90 for both. You can put them on the altar in memory or honor of someone, or to remember your own birthday or anniversary. Let us know when you would like to sign up. 

Youth NewsKami Jo Mogelvang

October 18th: 12pm Education Board MeetingOctober 18th: 5-7pm Youth Night

Crime Prevention

Last winter we had the privilege of hosting Brian MacNeel for a crime prevention seminar. We had hoped to host another seminar, but they are on hold for now. In the meantime, Brian MacNeel is still selling the safety equipment he offered at the meeting. It can be ordered directly from him at 813-661-3700.

Small Key Chain Mace   $15.00Larger Belt Mace             $25.00Flash light/window breaker/seat belt cutter        $20.00Door Wedge Alarm         $25.00

ENDOWMENT GRANTS2020

It's that time of year again for the Endowment Committee to solicit from the congregation members grant proposals for funds to be distributed from the general endowment fund. Depending on the returns in the next few months, around $40,000 should be available for grants. The past couple of years a number of missions, church projects and scholarships have been supported through use of these funds, and we look forward to having some excellent proposals again this year. Grant application forms are available in the church office and should be returned to the endowment committee box in the church office by October 21, 2020. The criteria the committee will use in evaluating the proposal follows: 

Grant proposal must be submitted by a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Grant should not cover yearly congregation budget items. Grant should fit with congregation vision and mission statements; with

primary emphasis on the spreading of the Gospel. Priority will be given to the (1) congregation (2) circuit (3) district and (4)

synod, in that order. Scholarships should go to students going into full-time church work.

Our flag crew at work

Flags were displayed in honor of both Labor Dayand Patriots Day (9/11).

The summer crew of quilters displaying a quilt made by Jean Lindahl