Four Things on Friday
May 3, 2019
An Interesting
Article/Podcast
I first heard about Nik Ripken on the Lutheran Hour. He
was interviewed there and spoke about his book The Insanity of God. He is considered an expert – perhaps the
foremost expert – on the persecution of Christians in the Muslim context. He
and his family served as missionaries in Malawi, South Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
and Somalia. The faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ as they face
persecution is inspirational, even if the stories are sometimes sad. This
article by Ripken speaks to cost of baptism in Iran.
Quote I’m
Pondering
“Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession
and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?” –
From the Rite of Confirmation. This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday and 6 of our
teens will confess their faith before the congregation. The following Sunday
there is an adult confirmation through Lutheran Campus Ministry of Kent here.
One Good Thing
This Week
Last Saturday we had our annual Council Retreat, and
then, on Sunday, we installed the Council. I am always thankful for the gifts
and abilities with which God has blessed our members. It is such a blessing to
have people join in the ministry of the congregation and its leadership.
Mike Emch is our in-coming Congregational President and
he wants to help us focus on the positive in the upcoming year. Such positive
thinking can be powerful and help to shape our direction.
At the retreat, Mike asked the council members to
consider what they see as the positives of Gloria Dei. We found that we feel
blessed to have capable leaders in our building program, skilled staff, and a
great setting. We also spent a lot of time talking about you, the members of
the congregation, and we noted that you have a great spirit that can be
observed in the way we accept one another, as diverse as we are, and this engenders
a lovely family feeling here.
So, here’s to being positive, because we are truly
blessed.
Our Scripture
readings for Third Sunday of Easter, which is also Confirmation Sunday, are:
Over the years, I have learned that those who read the
Scripture lessons and spend a little time thinking about them before church on
Sunday get more out of the service.
The sermon is: A Fisherman’s Story
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