Our Brothers Keeper Photos

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Say What!? Thats Not In The Bible

There are many phrases that we think are good and Christian; however, they are not actually found in Scripture at all. So we are looking at some of those phrases and exclaiming, “Say What?! That's not in the Bible.”

COVID-19 Killed Our Sense of Personal Progress

Read Whole article at https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/august-web-only/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-personal-progress.html

“The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short.” That’s how Oliver Burkeman begins his new book, Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. In it, he confronts readers with the disquieting truth that we have a paltry 4,000 weeks on this earth, and a lot of what we do with them is meaningless, at least by some human standards.

As bleak as it sounds, that is exactly the message we need to hear right now.

Life expectancy in the United States has dropped for the first time since World War II. Thanks in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans can now expect their 4,000 weeks to be reduced by roughly 78 weeks (or 18 months). The fact that life is hard and death is coming would be unremarkable news in any other time or place. But for those of us in the modern West (and perhaps America, in particular), mortality is a question we’ve found ingenious ways to avoid…..

Biblical Glasses - Book 1 Harry Potter

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Harry Potter Study Pics

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Cross Country: The Great Equalizer

Read the whole article at https://mbird.com/sports/cross-country-the-great-equalizer/

Every September, I get emotional about grass. A whiff of earthy sod on a crisp September morning means one thing to my mind: it’s cross country season. First as a spectator and then as a participant, I spent my September Saturday mornings from 1999 until 2011 running through the muddy grass of cross country courses. Sunday mornings were for church but also for scouring the sports section of The Sharon Herald to read results from that weekend’s invitationals. In the fall, life was cross country and cross country was life. And I loved it.

Week 6 RLC Together: Going

Welcome to Week 6 Contents.

• Pastor Cris Together Group Video

  • Meets Thursday 11am: Video Releases Friday Morning

• Together Group Video

• Discussion Guide

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Pastor Cris’ Together Group Meets
Thursday Morning at 11am
Video recording releases Friday mornings.

Together Group Video Week 6

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Discussion Guide | Week 6

[Sunday] Going - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Financial stress is just an everyday norm. Our view of money has become a burden in our lives. But Jesus says his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Don't Say No: The Ludicrous Nature of Faith

Read the whole article at https://mbird.com/everyday/dont-say-no-the-ludicrous-nature-of-faith/

How would you define faith? Does it require action or is it simply a form of trust? Is it better illustrated as taking a leap or sitting down in a chair? The word is used 270 times in the Bible, but its definition is endlessly debated. For such a familiar word, it feels difficult to translate into everyday life.

My wife and I recently moved our family from the town we called home for the past sixteen years. It was a daunting life change as both of us felt deeply rooted to our house, church and community. As our moving day approached, a friend of mine offered a three-word nugget of advice for after the move: “Don’t say no,” he said.

No Scrubbing Necessary

read the whole article here https://mbird.com/bible/no-scrubbing-necessary/

Matters of cleanliness took on a renewed importance about 16 months ago with the onset of the pandemic. People disinfected everything they could get their hands on (including groceries), but as we learned more about how the virus is transmitted, our need to sterilize waned and the need to put on masks (and get a vaccine when offered) waxed. One thing that hasn’t left is the common understanding of how important it is to wash our hands. 

When and how to wash your hands has always been a debated topic. It’s even a controversy Jesus addressed in his day, debating with some local leaders over proper adherence to social customs. Jesus was kind of dirty, actually — neither he nor his disciples washed their hands. The local leaders were aghast, but not because they cared about hygiene………………………….

Biblical Glasses - Harry Potter - Sundays 4PM

Good afternoon,

This email is for those at Grace or friends of mine who might have an interest in participating in this group...long awaited and eagerly anticipated by some (including me)...it's finally happening! Please invite others to join us, whether on Zoom or in person!

Beginning next Sunday afternoon at 4:00 eastern (9/19), there will be an 8-week study where we dive into discussion based around the Harry Potter movies (with a little context from the book thrown in a bit). I have Bible study materials to help me plan these discussions so they're meaningful.

See the attached flyer for additional details. Snacks will be served beginning at 3:45, and the ZOOM and live discussion will begin at 4:00.

Please complete this quick survey to let me know your interest, especially if you're not interested in receiving an email about this again. Haha! SURVEY LINK

I hope to see you next Sunday afternoon!

Coli Escher

Hufflepuff

Week 5 RLC Together: Giving

Welcome to Week 5 Contents.

• Pastor Cris Together Group Video

  • Meets Thursday 11am: Video Releases Friday Morning

• Together Group Video

• Discussion Guide

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Pastor Cris’ Together Group Meets
Thursday Morning at 11am
Video recording releases Friday mornings.

Together Group Video Week 5

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Discussion Guide | Week 5

[Sunday] Giving - Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
Financial stress is just an everyday norm. Our view of money has become a burden in our lives. But Jesus says his yoke is easy, and His burden is light.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Brothers Keeper; New Way to Serve.

We are beginning a new ministry to replace Backpack.

With the arrival of Covid we were unable to continue our food backpacks for children at Manatee K -8. Grace Packs stepped in and Manatee has chosen to stay with them.

Grace ran this ministry with Sunlight and All Villages Church for eight years, and I believe all will agree it was a success.

Now it is time to move on.

We are joining Sarah’s kitchen in ministering to the homeless.

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Every Tuesday Sarah’s kitchen delivers food to the homeless and we are going to piggyback on their deliveries with toiletries in a gallon Ziploc bag. We are beginning with 25 bags per month 20 adult and five children's bags.We will need the following items in travel sizes or the slightly larger personal size. You will find the dollar store is the best and most economical place to purchase these items.

• Toilet paper (no jumbo rolls as they will not fit in the bag),

• disposable face masks,

• shampoo,

• hair conditioner

• ,washcloths,

• bars of soap,

• toothbrush ,

• toothpaste,

• deodorant,

• hand sanitizer,

• Q-tips,

• bug repellent.

  For the children's bags we would include

• towelettes and

• children size disposable face-masks

• ( for the kids bag the toothbrushes and toothpaste with children's design or characters).

• Gallon Ziploc bags and

• mini Ziploc bags for the Q-tips. THESE ARE THE BASICS.

In addition we will take travel size

• mouthwash,

• hand sanitizer

• towelettes,

• individual bug repellent (the type in hotels when traveling).

Checks to purchase items should be made payable to Grace Lutheran and marked Brothers Keeper.

Our first packing will be Friday, September 24 at 9:30 AM at Grace in the new building.

Photos of items are on the bulletin board in the narthex to guide you. List of items for shopping is available for your use. If you have questions please see Leigh Liagre or Carol Coffman

A Reflection On The 20th Anniversary of 9/11

Read the Whole article here https://mbird.com/featured/a-reflection-on-the-20th-anniversary-of-9-11/

There is a land of love that I used to visit. It was lush and light. Full of sweet memories and conversations with both of my parents. I would show up there almost daily. In phone calls, text messages, long emails, and as many visits as we could manage. We could talk for hours.

I would recall to my mother how, as an adult, I have discovered I know almost no music from the 1980s. In my childhood she played Motown exclusively. We would laugh together remembering dancing in the dusty living room light to Aretha Franklin or the Temptations. And my Dad’s stories from childhood were always astonishing to me. One I would have him tell all the time happened at his father’s airport. It was kind of a hangout for local men and this odd pair of elderly gentlemen would meet weekly there to play chess, whisper quietly in German, and weep. One had been a member of the Nazi youth and the other was from a Jewish family who left Germany right before the Holocaust. I mean, who else has stories like that?………………………………..

Bible Study - Thursdays 11AM

We will be Studying 2 Corinthians Beginning Oct. 21’

Every Thursday we get together and read scripture. 

However this is not the old style of reading we are used to, we listen to the scriptures being read out loud by professional actors. This reading brings a dynamic life to the scriptures  and help you to understand what the scriptures our saying.  This study is also a great opportunity to ask very difficult questions about the scriptures. 

So join Pastor Cris and everyone else as we read the scriptures together. 

Occasionally Pastor Cris has meetings on Thursday. When this happens the study get canceled. Please call ahead if you are new just to make sure. Thanks - Pastor Cris

Independence Can't Buy Me Love

Read whole article here https://mbird.com/social-science/identity/independence-cant-buy-me-love/

I hear a lot of talk about independence the older I get. And I get it, I really do, independence is important if you want to successfully find a place to live in besides your parents basement. It’s also important if you want to find a job that can support you, but more importantly, one that can indulge your newfound pescatarian lifestyle and sustain your iPhone upgrades.

Week 4 RLC Together: Serving

Welcome to Week 4 Contents.

• Pastor Cris Together Group Video

  • Meets Thursday 11am: Video Releases Friday Morning

• Together Group Video

• Discussion Guide

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Pastor Cris’ Together Group Meets
Thursday Morning at 11am
Video recording releases Friday mornings.

Together Group Video Week 4

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Discussion Guide | Week 4

[Sunday] Serving- Red Letter Challenge

Action Item:
The more we do to serve in Jesus’ name, the more we will find the abundant life which we were made to abide.

Red Letter Challenge
Together Groups

Find some folk to go through this challenge together.

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What Had happened at Grace this week. 

Why we're Not Going Back to Church

Read whole article here https://mbird.com/religion/church/why-were-not-going-back-to-church/

When hosting a party, it’s hard not to take a person’s absence personally, especially if the reason goes unmentioned. Without an RSVP, the host is left to assume the worst. Did the person die on the way over? Or worse still, did they have better things to do and never really like you in the first place? Such is the case, it seems, for clergy who are wondering where some of the pre-pandemic stalwarts have gone. I’m currently in my third year of seminary and, as someone who is hoping to be a future leader in the church, I went to a Sunday service four times this summer. (My kids went once.) I could provide a list of excuses, but none of them feel truly legitimate.