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Grace Lutheran Church
Mission Statement
To ANSWER the CALL of our Savior.
To CONNECT with people in their everyday lives.
To ADVANCE the Gospel through God’s Word and fellowship.
To LEND ourselves in service, so that we may become instruments.
that LEAD others to salvation..
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WEEKLY DEVOTION
OCTOBER 22
Tuesday, OCTOBER 22, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“It’s Good to be Loved”
READING: I John 3:1-2, 11 – How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is…This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
Last Thursday I had a new adventure: I underwent a heart catheterization at Baptist Floyd. It was mostly the cardiologist’s “look-see” to make sure I have no other cardiac issues besides the leaky mitral valve that I have to have repaired in early January. I am happy to report that there are no major blockages, so the valve repair should be the only item on the agenda come January.
It’s a little weird to be on the “other side of the bed” after all these years of visiting people at that hospital. I’ve probably been in nearly every room at Floyd to visit folks about to undergo a procedure or a surgery. I’ve stood over their beds and read them the Scriptures, prayed with and for them, and celebrated with them when the news was good. I have also stood over their beds and prayed with and for them when the news was hard. I’ve been with them in pre-op rooms and waiting rooms. I’ve been with them in post-op, ICU, CCU, PSU, and in rooms scattered all over the hospital, but I have spent almost no time at all in the Operating Rooms. Until now.
I have to be honest that I don’t like it! You probably know what I’m talking about. You come to registration and from that time on, you are your birthdate! Every single person you interact with from that point on will ask you at least once, “What is your birthdate?” And then there is that infernal gown that defies being tied securely or discretely! And there’s the shaving of places never shorn before, the IV sticks, the monitor patches, the thirst you have because they make you be “N.P.O.” for half a day or more before they really need to. And then there’s the waiting…the seemingly endless waiting. They have you come to the hospital hours before they need you so you are available whenever the doctors find time for you. I’m not telling you anything new, am I?
What I will say is how good it is to be loved! I received text messages before and after the procedure from family members, parishioners who knew about it, from friends near and far. Some were messages encouraging me beforehand. Some were messages afterward inquiring of the results. Some were humorous, some were touching, but all of them expressed their love for me and their prayers for me. As I lay in my bed at home when it was all behind me, I thought about all those messages and tears came to my eyes. The thought came to me, “It’s good to be loved.”
That’s exactly St. John’s thought as he is writing out text for today. He talks about how lavishly God the Father loves us, then sits back and looks at what he has just written, then adds: “And that is what we are!” We are loved so much by the Father, and the proof of it is the fact that we are now THE CHILDREN OF GOD through Christ Jesus our Lord! St. John says in effect, “Wow! God loves us THIS MUCH!” And it’s good to be loved!
We don’t deserve that love. We know that. We believe that. We confess that. There is nothing in us that should earn God’s attention, let alone his love. Yet, in his mercy he could not turn away from us forever. He promised a Redeemer, and at just the right time in human history he sent Jesus, his Son, into our existence and he saved us. Now for Jesus’ sake, we are forgiven, redeemed, sanctified, and called to be the Children of God, loved and blessed. Wow! It’s good to be loved by God.
In addition now we can love one another in righteous and holy ways, too. Having been made right with God, we can now live rightly with one another. We care for, care about, and help one another because as God’s children we are also brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called by God to be his hands, hearts, voices, and ears to and for one another. That’s “double-love!” God loves us, and we love one another. It’s good to be loved.
I’ve had lots of opportunities to share my love for the people of Grace. I’ve been there in the good times and the hard times for a long time. I have confirmands with whom I can share stories about their great-grandparents; I’ve been here that long. The folks at Grace are not just my charges, they are my family, and so I have been often able to express my love and caring for them. Now I guess they will all be able to demonstrate their love for me. When my surgery comes on January 9, I expect I’ll get many messages before and after letting me know of prayers, hopes, and love. I’m sure that will do at least as much for me as the surgeon will because IT’S GOOD TO BE LOVED: by you and by God! Amen.
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) The PRESCHOOL is holding their “School Carnival” on Saturday, October 26, from 10-2:00. Games, prizes, food, and surprises for kids from 3-99. Bring your little ones and your middle ones. They’ll have a ball!
2) CIRCUIT REFORMATION SERVICE on Sunday, October 27, at Concordia Lutheran Church on Broadway in Louisville. At 2:30 there will be an organ concerts followed at 3:00 with the service. After the service the congregation there will serve a meal of brats and stuff while a representative of the Synodical Mission Institute will make a presentation of the latest news from the mission fields. Take an opportunity to celebrate with other Lutherans from our area.
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/yvj8EwuduHU
PRINTABLE PDF: WDOCT22.PDF
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
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WEEKLY DEVOTION
OCTOBER 21
Monday, OCTOBER 21, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“The Weight of Weariness”
Ever struggle with weariness or the case of Mondays? A couple of years back a video went viral of a four-year old preschooler named Landry. The video was caught by the home’s outdoor security camera. Some called it ‘Landry’s case of the Mondays.’ The video shows the little guy walking out to the yellow school bus stop in the street at the end of the concrete driveway. It appears to be a dry, sunny, winter day. Landry is bundled up in his coat, hoody up over his head, and backpack, walking down the driveway. Suddenly, near the end of the driveway, Landry stops, bends over forward looking exhausted and then plops backwards on the driveway and just lays there exasperated. Even better the bus driver comes down the bus stairs and calmly reaches down to help little Landry back to his feet and together they get back onto the bus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPF_lgKrQnQ
Weariness. Godly people are prone to weariness like anyone else. Perhaps in spiritual ways, more so. Weariness is a kind of burn out that comes when too much with too little of you and seems to go on with no end in sight. Elijah became a wearied prophet in 1 Kings 19. The prophets of Baal and the idolatry they promoted had taken over the country. Jezebel relentlessly pursued Elijah to kill him and all of God’s prophets. We all remember how Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel in 1 Kings 18. It was a strong victory that Elijah thought would finally turn the tide toward repentance for Israel only to be threatened even more by Jezebel. Elijah flees to Mt. Horeb. Elijah is so run down and depressed that twice an angel has to make a meal and convince Elijah to eat it just make the long journey to Horeb.
Verse 9-10 lays it out. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” Where is ‘here’ for Elijah? The ‘here’ is weariness…”I’m the only one left…what’s the point?”
I was talking with a realtor from North Carolina this week. She was a member of a little church who is trying to help. One of the things she made clear is how the community was still in shock weeks after the hurricane. The community is devastated as we have all heard and still in a state of triage—still trying to evaluate the totality of the damage. In our conversation one thing stuck out more than any other was that the people are exhausted. They are running 7 days a week because there simply is not enough help yet. Not only that, but as does typically happen, many are falling through the cracks and not getting any help. The workers are few but the work is overwhelming. It is clear that the weariness has set in—too much to do and no end in sight.
Weariness is common. Too many arguments in a marriage makes one weary. Too much drama at work may drive you crazy enough to leave the job. Too many glitches with a computer gets old too. Too many visits to the doctor, the effort just to get there, the number of pills every day, another test one just gets tired of the lack of progress. Elijah is no different. Rather than stay he decides he’s had enough so He leaves the area entirely and runs to Horeb.
This is where that still small voice of God comes into the picture. God comes in a whisper to Elijah, not in an earthquake, in wind, or in fire. In a plain calm gentle whisper. In the sound of this whisper Elijah pulls the cloak over his face and realizes God is speaking to him. Essentially the Lord gently but firmly tells Elijah, “You are not the only one left. I am here with you. I have also reserved 7000 others like you. And if you think there is no end in sight look again. I am sending you to anoint Kings that will get the justice you are looking for. You will also train up Elisha who will continue the work after you are gone. This is not the time to stop, only to rest and collect yourself.
We all need that still small voice to speak to us too. Matthew 11:28-30 is the most notable as Jesus says, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” The “I” in this statement implies that God is here to give us rest. Jeremiah 31:25 also says, “For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” These are important places in scripture. Jeremiah preached in Jerusalem when it fell to the Babylonians endured many hardships that would have wearied any soul. Yet, he stuck to it because of the Lord’s promise to be with him. So please note first thing, and most important thing in weariness is that the Lord says you are not alone.
Secondly, the still small voice may come in subtle forms such speaking through other people. Perhaps something hit us as we notice other people saying or doing something indirectly related to us, yet we remember it for some reason. God’s voice may come directly as it did with Elijah through His Word. We are reminded in the Word that God is still working behind the scenes. Even when we feel like we are all alone God reminds us that the game isn’t over and good still being accomplished. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Some good will come in faithful efforts.
I am not going to suggest that weariness is cured simply by reading the Bible either. Elijah wouldn’t have done any good without the time of rest that he took. So, take some rest if you need it. Afterall, the Lord gave us a Sabbath each week. For Elijah it was for forty days. If the caregiver is strong then the care will be strong too. If the prophet is strong the work he does will be strong.
Lastly, at some point after listening to the Word of God its important to follow through. The Prophet had to get up, leave Horeb, and get going again. One cannot let weariness dictate your day. Make your bed. Get the kids to school. Get dressed. In the case of the prophet, just eating something on the way to Horeb. Each little thing that is done is another victory and a source of momentum. Walking back to Israel, anointing this person and that were each a new victory and momentum towards something good.
And note this. Weariness can turn into a new direction, a new path for doing what needs to be done. Previous strategies maybe didn’t work before. Now maybe you will be open to some new ideas. Maybe a journey through weariness may lead to a new job, marriage counseling, better money habits, or maybe it’s just a kind of perseverance in a unchanging condition. In the Lord’s hands some good will come, but we cannot passively just hold our breath for it to come. Like Elijah. At some point we have to get up and leave the cave.
So, may the Lord strengthen us in weariness. May we find rest at critical moments when we need it. May our weariness turn into a juncture that leads us to something good. Most important may the Lord give us ears to hear that still small voice especially in weariness.
The Meaning in the Monotony
Stephanie is a young mother with four children. Her typical day includes waking up at dawn, diapering and feeding one child while clothing another, preparing lunches for the rest, doing a couple loads of laundry, cooking dinner, and putting the kids to bed—all before falling into bed herself, exhausted. The exhaustion runs deep. Aren’t there more important things I should be doing? she asks, lamenting that she doesn’t have the energy for prayer and study. Many days, she suffers quietly and alone.
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WDOct21.PDF
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/QK6deAVePXE
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 — 5:00 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 — 8:00 & *10:30 AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 — TURKEY SUPPER NO SERVICE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3 — *8:00 & 10:30 AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9 — *5:00 PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10 — 8:00 & *10:30 AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 — *5:00 PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17 — *8:00 & 10:30 AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 — 5:00 PM
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24 — 8:00 & *10:30 AM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 — 5:00 PM
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 — *8:00 & 10:30 AM
* = Communion
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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9
Welcome to the Grace Lutheran Church and School web site. There is a variety of information here regarding our congregation and our beliefs. Lutherans are Bible-believing, sacramental Christians who trace their roots back to Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. There have been Lutherans since 1517, particularly in Germany and Scandanavia. Lutherans in America followed large immigrations from Europe in the 1840’s and 1850’s.
The congregation at Grace was founded in 1927 in a small room over a pool hall on State Street in New Albany. The congregation moved to Tenth and Oak, then to Charlestown Road, before building its current facilities on Klerner Lane in 1974. The congregation now numbers just over 1100 souls. We worship at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays and at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday evenings. The pastors are Rev. Bruce Kischnick and Rev. Matt Woods.
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50TH BUILDING CELEBRATION
Grace Lutheran Church
Mission Statement
To ANSWER the CALL of our Savior.
To CONNECT with people in their everyday lives.
To ADVANCE the Gospel through God’s Word and fellowship.
To LEND ourselves in service, so that we may become instruments.
that LEAD others to salvation.
Rev. Bruce Kischnick, Senior Pastor
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
Rev. Matt Woods, Associate Pastor
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
Rose Ebling, Part-time Interim Youth Director
[email protected] — (502) 442-1474
Mitzi Lyon, Family Life Director
Helen Bohannon, Music Director
Georgianne Weathers, School Administrator (812) 941-1912
E-Mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
www.gracelutheran.school
Karen.Meredith, Church Secretary