Confirmation Cris Escher Confirmation Cris Escher

Baptism - Confirmation

Baptism

Baptism

The beginning of your life in the body of Christ.

In baptism, God names you, claims you, brands you as a part of the herd and adopts you into an eternal relationship.

Titus 3:4-7

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

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Brands

  • What makes a brand a brand?

  • Why do people pick branded items over generic items? How much more do you pay for a name brand than a generic item?

  • How is baptism like a brand? What does it show? What is it worth?


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  • Why do ranchers brand their animals?

  • Why do some people get tattooed?

  • What do brands and tattoos tell you?

  • How is baptism like both?

How does this scene relate to baptism? How does it not?


The Parent’s Promise

  • What do parents promise in baptism?

  • What is the parent’s role in keeping those promises?

  • How can the church help parents keep their promises?

  • What happens when parents don’t keep their promises to God?


Baptism

  • Being marked with God’s brand

  • Becoming a child of God through adoption into Christ’s family

  • A special sacramental washing away of sins and rising to new life in Christ

  • Being washed, sprinkled or immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

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[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 3

Vomited up on the shore of a new beginning, Son of Faithfulness must be reminded by God of his true calling. Will he grab the new beginning from God with everything in him, or will he just phone in another performance? Will the king come off of his throne?

Digital Bulletin OCT 11

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

Questions for the Week

  1. Can you share a time when you saw someone right a wrong or brought justice to an unjust situation?

  2. Read Jonah 3:1-5.  How much effort does Jonah make in bringing God’s Word to those in Nineveh?  Considering Jonah is a prophet in the Bible, what are the things you think he’s missing from his sermon?

  3. Read Jonah 3:6-10.  Here the king gets down from his power and throne and repents.  He then leads others to repent and hope for God’s mercy.  Describe  a time when you’ve seen someone repent and experience God’s mercy.

Give to Grace

---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today October 11, 2020

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week October 12 - 17, 2020

Columbus Day Monday

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM

Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon

ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM

     www.gracelutheranpsl.com

Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Mechelle Arbuzow - 10/12, Piper Neagles - 10/16

ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK: Phillip & Alie Griffin - 10/13 (8 yrs), David & Lorrie Vik - 10/14 (20 yrs), Jan & Jan Lendak - 10/16 (55 yrs)

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given by Paul & Sarah Yoo with the Korean congregation.

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly.  Phone directories are available for your convenience.  

GIVING - We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community.  Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community.    We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM!  Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person!  ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening,  at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.
“OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX PROJECT”:  Please keep your packed Shoeboxes at home until November 15-21,2020 between 9:00 and Noon.  Thank you, Judy

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Print and Submit Prayer Requests

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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We have Walls! Photos inside new building

We have mudded walls!

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I Love You Dead: The Good News of Incongruous Grace

In Luther’s words, “God’s love does not find but creates that which is pleasing to it.”

Love in the Ruins. The title of Walker Percy’s 1971 novel captures the book’s setting and theme — Thomas More’s Utopia this is not. But the phrase also catches a moment in the marriage of its protagonist, Dr. Tom More:

“Don’t you see,” says his wife, “people grow away from each other … We’re dead.”

“I love you dead. At this moment.”

“Dead, dead,” she whispered…

“Love,” I whispered.

The poignancy of this exchange is the paradox, the surprising wherewhen and who of this whispered love: it is “in the ruins,” “at this moment” of despair, this dead end, and it is “love” for “you” — for the “dead.”

……………………..

Read the rest at
https://mbird.com/2020/10/i-love-you-dead-the-good-news-of-incongruous-grace/

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Christians Must Learn To Keep Politics In Their Right Place

When politics becomes a cultural force, it provides a venue for self-expression, self-affirmation and a source of community that can ultimately divert politics from its right and just aims.

Earlier this week, we at RELEVANT ran an excerpt from a new book by Cameron and Stuart McCallister on a healthy Christian posture for the upcoming election. The piece connected and left a lot of people wondering about what that might look like on a practical level.

One way to get that question answered is to pick up the McCallisters’ book Faith That Lasts and read more of their argument. But we also thought we’d put in a call to Michael Wear, a former staffer for President Barack Obama who founded a consulting firm called Public Square Strategies LLC to help businesses, non-profits, foundations and Christian organizations navigate the tensions between faith and politics. Here are some of his thoughts about what direction politics is heading in the U.S. and how Christians can resist the tide towards defining themselves in terms of their political beliefs.

We ran a piece on how Christians should be politically engaged without putting their hope in politics to save them. But how do you actually do that?

Politics has become an even more prominent cultural force. When politics becomes a cultural force, it provides a venue for self-expression, self-affirmation and a source of community that can ultimately divert politics from its right and just aims.

…………….. Read the rest.

https://relevantmagazine.com/current/nation/christians-must-learn-to-keep-politics-in-their-right-place/

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[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 2

Jonah’s in the belly of the whale. This time of terribleness as Jonah lays next to all the old meals of this giant fish causes him to lament, causes him to think back and causes him to see salvation in the LORD alone.

Digital Bulletin OCT 4

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

Questions for the Week

  1. Describe a time of struggle in your life, where God used it to draw you closer to him?

  2. Read Jonah 2:1-3.  Jonah cries out from the belly of the fish.  What does Jonah see as God’s role in his current situation?

  3. Read Jonah 2:4-9.  What does God use this negative situation to cause Jonah to see?

  4. How has God used difficult situations in your life, to help you see His mercy more?

  5. Read Jonah 2 :10.  What eventually does God do to Jonah?  How has Jesus rescued you after going through a rough situation?

Give to Grace

---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today October 4, 2020

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

 Video Service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week October 5 - 10, 2020

LWML Monday 12:30 pm

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1PM

Adopt - A - Mile Tuesday 8:30 AM

Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon

ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM

     www.gracelutheranpsl.com

Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Bob Fox - 10/5, Clara Creelman - 10/6, Glen Hudson & Katie Hoffman - 10/7, Pat Bachman - 10/8, Lorie Schultz - 10/9.

ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK: Bernie & Shirley Mullins - 10/4 (23 yrs), Steve & Kim Glish - 10/5 (35 yrs), Paul & Pat Hasz - 10/10 (33 yrs)

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR one vase is given by Hatha & Terry Brown in memory of her daughter, Mary Ellen Padrick.   The second vase is from Shirley & Bernie Mullins in honor of their 23rd wedding anniversary.

LWML will meet this MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1:00 p.m. in the church fellowship area.  Join in snacks and fellowship at 12:30! ALL ladies at Grace are welcomed!  Bring a friend!

ADOPT-A-MILE (A WEEK EARLIER!) is this Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 8:30 AM!   Our meeting place will be on the corner of Torino and Conus.  For more information contact: Judy Fredrich (561) 315-9555  pjfred@outlook.com

CARENET BANQUET THANKS  Rough stats as of now, Thursday evening $70K, Friday evening $116K.   This will greatly help the development of a much needed Carenet center near Gatlin Blvd.  Thank you all so very much for your support to save babies and families.

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly.  Phone directories are available for your convenience.  

GIVING - We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community.  Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community.    We have added Paypal for online donations. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM!  Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!
BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person!  ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening,  at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.

Print and Submit Prayer Requests

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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ALZ Building Progress

photos of Progress

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Crafters Group Photos

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Love Across the Political Divide

You can laugh when you know with humility the limits of the truths you hold so dearly.

Life is not politics.

That has not been so obvious in these months. Everything is qualified (or disqualified) by whether you want the President to be our president or not. There is less and less tolerance, more and more nullification of any validity of any credibility depending on what you believe is best for our government. People speak of revolution and “saving our country” and fascism — when we are having an election in a month.

Read the rest at

https://mbird.com/2020/09/no-sense-love-across-the-political-divide/

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Is Your Church A Racist Monument?

Article written by a personal friend of Pastor Cris. Fellow LCMS pastor who has been working in North City St Louis. This is also the first location of Coli’s First Teaching Job. This is a Large National Magazine. Congrats Chris

Article written by a personal friend of Pastor Cris and fellow LCMS pastor who has been working in North City St Louis. He is also working in the location of Coli’s First Teaching Job. This is a Large National Magazine. Congrats Chris

Chris Paavola also works with Lutheran Hour. https://thred.org/

—— read here

During the Great Migration, millions of Black Americans fled the violence of the Jim Crow south for a new life in northern cities. In response, thousands of white Americans left their diversifying city to resettle in homogeneous suburbs in a reactionary migration known as white flight. Left behind in the systematically segregated communities of color was something white families couldn’t take with them– their churches.

White Churches………………………….

Read the Rest at

https://relevantmagazine.com/faith/church/is-your-church-a-racist-monument

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[Sunday] Jonah Chapter 1

Asleep at the wheel? Have you ever been driving and you then realize you are miles further than you remember? Scary stuff. Jonah is asleep at the wheel of his faith, just getting by and hurting people in the process. Perhaps his life can wake us from our slumber.

Digital Bulletin Sep 27

Service [above] Sermon releases at 10pm [under]

Questions for the Week

  1. What do you think is important about the story of Jonah in the Bible?

  2. Read Jonah 1.  What does God ask Jonah to do?  What does Jonah actually do?  

  3. As Jonah runs from God, describe what negative effect that has on other people.

  4. Describe a time you’ve gone an opposite direction of God in your life.  What were the results?

  5. How is Jonah ultimately rescued?  Read Matthew 12:39-41.  How does Jesus rescue us in a similar way?

Give to Grace

---- THIS WEEK AT GRACE - Today September 27, 2020

Worship Service 8:30 AM

Second Worship Service and

  video service www.gracelutheranpsl.com 10:15 AM

Zoom into Fellowship 12:00 PM - Noon

Korean Church Worship 1:00 PM

AA 7:30 PM

Rest of the week September 28 - October 3

Grace Crafters Monday, 10:30 AM-2 PM

Olivet School Tuesday, 8 AM - 1 PM

Individual/Family Communion Wednesday, 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 & Noon

ZOOM Bible Study Thursday, 11:00 AM

     www.gracelutheranpsl.com

Korean Church Prayer Saturday, 6:00 AM

For complete calendar information, go to www.gracelutheranpsl.com/calendar

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Maria Lambrechts - 9/27, Brooklyn Dressler - 9/28, 

Bill Strauss - 9/29, Augustyn Arbuzow & Karen Albano - 9/30, 

Rus Schulein, Coli Escher & Bill Kimball - 10/2.

THE FLOWERS ADORNING THE ALTAR are given by Claude & Pat Hessee in memory of their son Kevin whose birthday was September 16th. 

PLEASE CALL PEOPLE I realize I take for granted that people just come to the church on a regular basis. So that we all don’t descend into madness, let’s call and talk to each other regularly.  Phone directories are available for your convenience.  

Online Giving We have now added Paypal for online donations. We have been approved as a trusted non profit organization. If you would like to give through Paypal, please go to: www.GraceLutheranPSL.com and click the “GIVE” button on the upper right side of the page.

COMMUNION ON WEDNESDAY: If you, or someone you know, would like to celebrate Holy Communion but prefer a small group or unable to attend Sunday service, Pastor Cris has set aside Wednesday’s to celebrate the meal in small/family groups.   Please come by on Wednesday at: 11:00, 11:20, 11:40 or 12:00 (noon) and partake of this wonderful meal.   

SEE YOUR GRACE FAMILY ON ZOOM!  Pastor and Coli will be hosting Zoom to Coffee at NOON every Sunday for those who would like to join in fellowship “virtually” to see and chat with Grace members and friends.  All are welcome!

BIBLE STUDY FOR ALL Pastor Cris is conducting a “livestream” Bible study online (www.GracelutheranPSL.com) with ZOOM, for you to participate in on Thursdays at 11:00 AM** You are also welcome to attend the Bible Study at church, in person!  ** Seating with social distancing along with wearing your mask is now happening,  at the Bible Study on Thursday at 11 AM and at Worship on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:15 AM.

GIVING - Changing over to a social distance model of ministry has been quite challenging. We  needed to purchase new equipment and the overall church’s expenses did not go down even though we were not meeting in person.  We are here to provide “Grace and Peace in this Chaotic and Lonely Time” to those in our church and community.  Thank you for your past and continual prayers and financial support to Grace and your community.

Print and Submit Prayer Requests

What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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I Am Jonah

In the end, my only hope is that Jesus is always the initiator of mercy. He pursues me, even when I am unfaithful.

As a little girl, I learned that there was a prophet named Jonah that God rescued by sending a great fish to swallow him and carry him safely to land. As an adult, I learned that Jonah was, basically, a jerk who chose to run away from God rather than go and preach to his enemies, because he knew that God was going to have mercy on them and he didn’t want any part of that. Today, I learned that I am Jonah.

Read the rest at

https://www.1517.org/articles/i-am-jonah

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Jonah

Jonah is written like a comic book. Everything is big and impressive, and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt who is right and who is wrong. But the story goes to another level when we see it is actually holding up a mirror to ourselves, a mirror that asks us one simple question. What happens when God loves your enemies?

jonah logo.jpg

Jonah is written like a comic book. Everything is big and impressive, and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt who is right and who is wrong. But the story goes to another level when we see it is actually holding up a mirror to ourselves, a mirror that asks us one simple question.  What happens when God loves your enemies?

Sermon Series Playlist

Watch Full Services & See the Bulletin

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Kyler Baptism

Kyler Case

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Adaptive Leadership Strategies

Coli’s Handouts for Her PEC conference workshop.

Discussion and Reflection Questions

Open Questions

Resources to Explore the Topic of Adaptive Leadership During a Crisis

Open Resources
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Adapting for the Long Haul

Discussion and Reflection Guide

IDENTIFYING YOUR PURPOSE

  • Consider your organization’s purpose. 

  • What are your personal passions?

  • How might that purpose need to change during these difficult times?

COMMUNICATING YOUR IDEAS

  • Who hears your thought process and plans? 

  • What language do you use (verbal and non-verbal) to communicate your ideas? 

  • What about good news or bad news? How do you communicate those? 

  • Do your followers/partners understand why you make the decisions you make? 

  • How transparent are you with why you do what you do? 

  • How can you become a clear, thorough, and transparent communicator?

LISTENING TO OTHERS

  • How often have you stopped to listen since mid-March? 

  • To whom do you listen? 

  • What have they shared? 

  • How did you process their ideas/questions/criticism? 

  • How open are you to accepting help, suggestions, criticism, and feedback? 

  • Do your followers see you as approachable or a good listener?

DELEGATING AND COLLABORATING

  • How often do you engage in collaboration? 

  • When others in your organization bring an idea to the table, how likely are you to encourage him/her to run with it? 

  • In what ways have you (or can you in the future) given others opportunities to shine? 

  • How willing are you to delegate tasks to others? 

  • Can you stop to recharge your own self?

EMBRACING CONFLICT

  • When you think about conflict, how do you feel? 

  • How likely are you to embrace opposing opinions (dissenters) within your community or organization? 

  • When changes need to be made, how do you communicate with your team? 

  • How can you balance conflict in a way that others don’t feel threatened but instead have a chance for growth?

  • Consider the dissenters that challenge you and your organization. How can you give them a voice without giving them power?

THRIVING INSTEAD OF SURVIVING

  • What technical challenges have you tackled since mid-March? 

  • How can you shift the focus from those challenges into more adaptive change? 

  • How can you be more purposeful and Gospel-centered in your decision making? 

  • What is going to have to change for you to move from surviving to thriving?

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Elevator Encounters

Freedom to hear hurt and not to try to make it about me. Freedom to know that Jesus bears my own rage on the cross so he can carry the anger of those who rage against me.

https://mbird.com/2020/09/elevator-encounters/

Ihave been in two heated race-related situations in the past six months. Both of them have happened at elevators.

Several months ago I was leaving a doctor’s office and looking for the restroom in the corridor. A black man walked out behind me with a name tag and a clip board and I assumed he was a doctor in the practice. I turned and asked him if he knew where the restroom was. He snapped back, “I don’t work here!” To which I responded, “Got it. Sorry.”

Then as he headed towards the elevator and I headed on a hunt to empty my bladder he yelled back, “Stupid white bitch thinks I work here!”

To which I yelled back, “Sorry!”

He did not respond. He got on the elevator, and I found a toilet.

Then just last week we were on a family weekend vacation and were standing at the hotel elevator bank with our children. We had already lectured them about how we cannot go bounding onto elevators with other people. There were signs up about one party per elevator and I was not interested in bringing a corona virus strand back as a souvenir…………………

Read the rest

https://mbird.com/2020/09/elevator-encounters/


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