4 th Sunday after Pentecost~~June 19-20, 2021
June 20, 2021
My dearest Hope Family-
This past Wednesday, we began our Book Club as we shared and discussed the first two chapter of Brad Aronson’s Human Kind. I have to tell you, it was such a joy to share in these conversations – and I was overwhelmed by the ideas on this first week. Here they are:
If you see something that needs to be done just do it-don’t wait to be asked.
Ask family about needs of the individual-re: diet or other preferences
If you are in lines of any kind, let others go ahead of you
If you have no success after reaching out the first time– try again
Take trash cans out or bring in for someone
Try to keep a positive Christian attitude
Be observant of others’ needs
Respect it if someone says “no” to your offer to help-try to not let it hurt your feelings
Inject humor where possible
Don’t overthink
Always try to help-don’t regret lost opportunities
Be kind to the helpers
Remember the needs of the caregivers
Don’t forget to share holiday or regular meals with others since not everyone has family nearby-invite folks to the Hope community Christmas and Thanksgiving Day meals
Pay it forward-like buying a McDonald’s meal or gift cards
Take time to develop trust
Don’t forget the underdogs of our society-homeless, vets, immigrants…
Don’t stop educating kids about kindness and respect-be an example-they are watching!
Don’t let the baggage of your life weigh you down-instead, use it as an example or tool to help others
Accept gifts of thanks
Collect prayer suggestions from servers or others who help you
Offer others to share prayers
Be a good listener
Promote and share good news
Pass on the kindness-instead of repaying someone, take the gratitude you have and extend kindness to someone else
Offer assistance to people who need it-ie people in wheelchairs in grocery stores etc.
Plant a tree
Return grocery carts
Write a note praising someone who helped you or offered good service
Bring baked goods or drinks to firehouses or police stations to show gratitude
Pick up litter
Offer honest and sincere “Thank You”s with eye contact
Check news outlets to discover people in need
Offer a free chair fitness program for seniors to develop balance and strength
Any other ideas??? Please share them-the Holy Spirit is speaking through YOU!! Email your ideas so that they may be added to the list! We will take these generated lists of actions and share them widely, implementing some of them parish-wide so that we can increased the kindness quotient in our community through Hope’s Kindness Initiative. What a blessing to do God’s work with our hands! What a privilege!
Saturday June 19 is a new federal holiday, Juneteenth. from our ELCA website, it states: “Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It recalls how the states of Louisiana and Texas heard the news that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Slavery continued in those two states for more than two years after the proclamation was signed beaus the word had yet to travel there. Texas and Louisiana finally got the good news on June 19, 1865. Former slaves broke out in spontaneous celebration. These were dangerous times. Even in the face of resistance and threat, the formerly enslaved Africans found ways to give voice to the wide range of thoughts and emotions at the announcement of the end of legalized slavery in the United States of America.”
Together, let us pray: Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us, like those of generations before us who resisted the evil of slavery and human bondage in any form and any manner of oppression. Help us to use our freedoms to bring justice among people and nations everywhere, to the glory of your Holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This weekend we also honor all fathers and those who provide fatherly kindness and love in our world. Let us pray: God of all creation, pour out your blessing on all fathers and those who provide fatherly care. You have made them in your image and given them children to love and care for in your name. Bless them with a heart like your heart: discerning and thoughtful, bold and decisive, compassionate and loving. As they model for their children the life that is lived by faith and not by sight, grant them courage under pressure and confidence in your power. When troubles threaten to overwhelm them, grant them your coping calm. When doubts give rise to anxiety, shore up their trust in your promises. When joy fills their days, grant them a keen gratitude for your abundant supply of grace. Season them with a lively sense of humor, Lord, for it will make life richer for us all. In all circumstances preserve them as your own. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Thank you to all the men in our lives who provide us with love, kindness, direction and care! My love is with each of you and my prayers are for you~~ Pr. Jen Schaefer +4 th Sunday after Pentecost~~June 19-20, 2021. The Prayer of the Day O God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Gospel : Mark 4:35-41 Jesus’ calming of the storm on the sea reveals his power over evil, since the sea represents evil and chaos. The boat on the sea is a symbol of the church and invites us to trust God amid life’s turbulence.
35When evening had come, [Jesus said to the disciples,] “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HOMILY : Jesus and his disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee. They are moving from the Jewish side to the Gentile side, the side where they are at home to the side where they are strangers, the side where life is familiar to the side where it is new, different, and unfamiliar. We may have never crossed the Sea of Galilee but we’ve been in that boat. You see, this Gospel is not just a story about the weather and a boat trip. It is a story about life. It’s a story about faith. It’s a story about fear. Wherever you find one of those you will find all three. They cannot be separated, ~~~Sometimes the sea of life is rough. The wind is strong. The waves are high. The boat is taking on water and sinking. We all know what that is like. Each of us could tell a storm story. Some of our stories will begin with a phone call, a doctor’s visit, or news we did not want to hear. Some of them will start with the choices we have made, our mistakes, and our sins. Other stories will tell about the difficulty of relationships, hopes and plans that fell apart, or the struggle to grow up and find our way. Some storms seem to arise out of nowhere and take us by surprise. Other storms build and brew as we watch. On top of these personal storms, we have all weathered a global pandemic, incredible political and social unrest in our nation, an increase in violence and domestic terrorism, and a weakening of confidence in our democratic institutions.
~~~But the fact is, for us as humans, storms happen. Storms of loss and sorrow. Storms of suffering. Storms of confusion. Storms of failure. Storms of loneliness. Storms of disappointment and regret. Storms of depression. Storms of uncertainty and second guessing, Storms of thoughts and voices. Regardless of when or how they arise, storms are about changing conditions. Life is overwhelming and out of control. Things don’t go our way. Circumstances seem too much for us to handle. Order gives way to chaos. We are sinking. The water is deep and the new shore is a distant horizon. ~~~Notice in our Gospel, the disciples are quick to make the storm about Jesus. “Do you not care that we are perishing?” We’ve probably all echoed their words in the storms of our lives. “God, help me! Do something. Fix it. Make it better.” Heal my broken relationship, heal my family member, stop the pain and violence-stop the storm, O Lord.” In the midst of the storm Jesus seems absent, passive, uncaring. How can he sleep at a time like this? Sleeping Jesus is not what they want or what we want.
~~~However, notice this too. Sleeping Jesus is in the same boat and the same storm as the disciples. He is surrounded by the same water as the disciples, blown by the same wind, beaten by the same waves. His response, however, is different. While disciples fret and worry he sleeps. The disciples want busyness and activity. Jesus sleeps in peace and stillness. His sleep reveals that the greater storm and the real threat is not the wind, waves, and water around us – the circumstances in which we find ourselves – but within us. The real storm, the more threatening storm is always the one that churns and rages within us. ~~~That interior storm is the one that blows us off course, beats against our faith, and threatens to drown us. Fear, vulnerability, and powerlessness blow within us. The sense of abandonment, the unknown, judgment and criticism of ourselves and others are the waves that pound us. Too often anger, isolation, cynicism, or denial become our shelter from the storm. But we quickly learn that they are really no shelter-no comfort-just things that take us into the arena of fear and make faith more difficult.
~~~“Peace! Be still!” Jesus speaks to the wind and the sea. Jesus isn’t changing the weather as much as inviting the disciples to change. He’s speaking to the wind and the waves within them. The disciples have been pointing to what is going on outside them. Jesus now points to what is going on inside them. “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ~~~Jesus’ words are more about us than the circumstances of our lives, the storms we meet. Storms happen-they are a part of this life. Faith, more faith, better faith, stronger faith, the right kind of faith do not eliminate the storms of our lives. Faith does not change the storm. It changes us. Faith does not take us around the storm but through the storm. Faith allows us to see and know that Jesus is there with us. Faith is what allows us to be still, to be peaceful, in the midst of the storm. It means we do not have to give in to the fear of the storm because we know and trust in something more.
~~~The Spirit of God blows through and within us more mightily than the winds of any storm. The power of God is stronger than any wave that beats against us. The love of God is deeper than any water that threatens to drown us. In every storm Jesus is present and his response is always the same, “Peace! Be still!” In every storm there are choices to be made. Will we give in to fear of the storm or will we rest in Jesus’ peace? Do we put our faith in the power of the storm or in the power of God in Christ? That’s the profound question to which Jesus calls us today. Amen..
Prayers of Intercession
Let us come before the triune God in prayer. A brief silence.
Holy God, you gather your people from east and west, north and south. We pray for the mission of the church throughout the world, that your steadfast love may be made known to all peoples. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
You laid the foundations of the earth and the waters are the womb of creation. The morning stars sing your name and all creation shouts for joy. We pray for your blessed creation, that it may continue to flourish and magnify your glory. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
You keep watch over all nations. We pray for countries experiencing violence, hunger, and unrest ( especially). Guide worldwide and local community organizations in their efforts to establish safety and justice. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
You are close to the brokenhearted and near to those in distress. We pray for those who are experiencing oppression. Liberate us from the systems and chains that bind us. Remove the barriers that separate us from one another. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
You dwell with us in this faith community. We pray for our leaders and elders ( especially). Grant them knowledge, patience, and kindness, that through their leadership you may be exalted in this assembly. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Your love endures in all situations. On this Father’s Day, we pray for those who are fathers or wish to be fathers, for those with broken or strained relationships, for those who are missing their fathers, and for fathers who have lost children. Bless and strengthen them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
The blessing of the living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, surround and sustain us, keep us from harm, and fill us with courage. Amen
Let us go out into the world in peace, sharing the Good News of Jesus and his love, as together we are led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all! Thanks be to God!
HOPE HAPPENINGS
We welcome all who worship with us today. Please complete one of the visitor cards at our guest table. If you would like to make Hope your church home, please speak to Pastor Jen. Everyone is welcome at Hope Lutheran Church.
Next Week’s Readings: Lamentations 3:22-33; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43
The July thru September Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS FINANCIAL INFO
Altar Guild: Candy Ogden Income thru May $56,765.90
Usher: Karl Kaukis Expenses thru May $63,474.11
Counters: Pr Cheryll A-K & Karl Kaukis Income less Expense $ 6,708.21
Flowers donated Kris Hinterberg
PRAYER LIST
Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation.
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Herb Sixbury for healing
Neil Lohmeyer for healing
Pator Tom Barbret for healing
Al Bucharelli for healing
Kim for healing
Monica for healing and God’s presence
Cyndi and Fred for healing
Ian for sure and strong presence of God’s healing grace
Doris Puerner for healing
Marirose for a healthy pregnancy
Helen for healing after surgery
Dawn Seibert for healing
Carol for healing, hope, and God’s will.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, for healing.
John Greene, Millie’s husband, for strength and healing & healing for all their family
Cheryl Burke who is in need of healing
Larry and Barbara Brady, as they focus on healing.
NEW AT HOPE
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY Starting July 7 th we will resume our socialization and game playing on Wednesday nights. Between 5:30 and 6:00 PM we will provide some light snacks but feel free to bring your own food. At 6:00 PM the games begin. All are welcome and bring some friends. The more the merrier.
HOPE LOVE PANTRY is looking for a volunteer to restock the pantry on Thursday mornings during office hours which is 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. If you can assist, please contact Linda Kraigenow.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness is healing after surgery and could use prayers and good wishes from our Hope family. Her address is Laura Everill, Room 601, Ashton Creek, 4111 Park Place Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46845. Her email address is leverill@comcast.net.
HOPE BOOK CLUB The book Human Kind by Brad Aronson will be discussed on Wednesday between 10:00-11:00AM in the Fellowship Hall to produce ideas and strategies to implement more kindness in our world.
KIWANIS SHOES FOR KIDS PROJECT runs through July 25, 2021. Please consider dropping off shoes or making a monetary donation and we will purchase the shoes for you.-
CRAFT SALE Linda Kraigenow will be selling her gorgeous homemade gemstone jewelry at the North Port Craft Fair on July 17, 2021 between 10:00 and 3:00 at the George Mullen Center Gymnasium, 1602 Krame Way, North Port, FL. Linda generously donates all proceeds to support Hope Lutheran Church.
SAVE THE DATE – Hope Lutheran Bazaar scheduled for December 4, 2021.If you know of any vendors that would like to rent space, please contact Fran Kostrowsky.
HOPE LOVE PANTRY – The pantry could use tuna, crackers, pastas, tomato sauce, peanut butter, shampoo, boxed milk (dollar tree has best price), juices and canned fruits. Thank you for your continued support and donations. This is our opportunity to serve God and share Christ’s love with all.
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY on God sightings every Monday at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
HYMN REQUESTS If there are any hymns that you would like to hear at worship, please submit the names to Pastor Jen at hopeluthern1@comcast.net. If our licensing agreement permits, look forward to hearing them soon.
HOPES AND DREAMS FOR HOPE – If you have a suggestion for a Hope or Dream for Hope Lutheran Church, Pastor Jen and your council would love to hear it. Please feel free to place any Hope or Dream in the mailbox in the hallway leading to the Fellowship Hall. All requests will be kept confidential, and you will receive a timely response.
2021 HOPE LUTHERAN COUNCIL MEMBERS
Pastor Jennifer Schaefer 813.391.2027 hopeluthern1@comcast.net
President Jill Mead 941.350.5209 jillmead3059@gmail.com
Vice President Linda Kraignow 941.623.9188 lindak41549@gmail.com
Secretary Roberta Balint 941.830.2381 roberta.in.paradise@gmail.com
Treasurer Karl Kaukis 405.334.1511 karl@kaukis.com
Financial Secretary Lorraine Maass 540.419.5961 yar0227@ymail.com
Pr. Cheryll Armstrong-Kaukis 405.762.0564 cheryll.kaukis@gmail.com
Fran Kostrowsky 813.316.5295 fkostrowsky@gmail.com
Candy Ogden 217.899.7086 roncandyogden92@gmail.com
Donna Turner 941.276.4696 jag01@embarqmail.com
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