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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 8
Tuesday, OCTOBER 8, 2024
Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN
“Blinded by the Light”
READING: John 3:19-21 – This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
I have already told you about a number of mishaps that occurred to us on our summer fishing trip to Canada. But there’s more! The first afternoon on the lake, we fished until the sun was hanging low in the west. We finally decided it was time to head on in. Problem was, the sun was so bright that it blinded us and obscured some of our landmarks. We thought we knew where we were headed, and as we came around an island, we saw the camp ahead of us. I was running the motor so I headed at high speed toward camp. But as we entered a broad bay I began to have my doubts. I studied the camp and the surrounding landscape, and suddenly I stopped the motor and said to my partner Dennis, “That’s not our camp!”
Now what? Both of us had last been on this lake 6 years earlier. We were disoriented and unsure just where we were. We talked it over and headed back out of the bay and around a point. At that we could see the camp ahead of us. Cheered by the sight, I made for it at high speed. But as we got closer I suddenly stopped the boat again and said, “That’s not our camp either!” To our right we spied an island, and just off-shore were two men in a boat. We raced in their direction, now completely disoriented. When we got within hailing distance, I shouted, “Where is Expeditions North Camp from here?” They looked at us bemused, then one of them pointed off to our right at an angle. We followed that course directly into the sun. We could see nothing in its glare until finally the forest blocked its rays and there was our camp. We couldn’t see it until we were within a hundred yards of it, and mighty glad were we when we did.
Jesus was and is the “Light of the World”. In our reading for today he talks about the sad truth that many human beings did not welcome his light when it came into the world. They were creatures of the dark, happy to choose their own way and to live lives in defiance of God’s word and ways. Like any denizens of the dark, when the light shown on them, it blinded them. It challenged their way of life and exposed their sin for what it was. Jesus’ purity, goodness, and Godly wisdom were a direct affront to their “earthly wisdom” and turned their hearts against him. They could think of no solution other than to destroy the Light so they could remain in their darkness.
Things are really no different today. Human beings continue to convince themselves that they have no need of God’s word nor the illumination that word can give to their lives. They prefer to go their own way, in the darkness, because it suits them. God and his word are too bright for them. The Light threatens their notions of right and wrong. It contradicts their claims to the “right” to abortions on demand, multi-gender sexuality, the misuse of drugs, the redefinition of marriage, and the like. The Light blinds them with its purity and causes them to push ever deeper into the darkness.
You and I thank God for his light. We know we needed Jesus to free us from the hold of the darkness. No one else could, least of all our own sinful selves. His words and his actions “brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Now we can see what is good, what is right, what is needed, and what is Godly. His Law and his Gospel show us the darkness within, lead us to repentance, and bring us the good news of his forgiveness. The Light of Christ makes that possible. Hurrah for the Light!
Dennis and I felt very sheepish about being lost and disoriented out on the lake. We thought we were better navigators than that. It actually embarrassed us. But then we found out that my brother Alan and his partner were also lost and went in the wrong direction twice. In addition, Freddy, the “Master Fisherman” among us had also been headed in the wrong direction when Alan and Nate came across him. We had all been blinded by the light. We had all gone astray. We all needed to be directed in the right direction. God sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world so the darkness could be pushed back and overcome. That light is too bright for many, but to us who believe it is the “Light of Life”. Amen.
PRAYER:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) MARY MILLER CRUISE through the Locks is set for October 19. Interest was such that the bus filled immediately. We are also taking the van. The cost of the cruise is $38 per person. If you are signed up, please send or bring a check made out to “Grace Lutheran Church” to the office or in an envelope in the offering plate.
2) The Jackson County Lutheran Federation has again taken the initiative to place
Christian Christmas videos for children on our Louisville TV stations. This coming Sunday we will accept a Door Offering to support this effort. If you want to be part of that, you can send a donation marked “Christmas TV” and checks should be written out to “Grace Lutheran Church”. We’ll send all the proceeds on to our partners in Jackson County.
Youtube Video:
PRINTABLE PDF: WDOct8.PDF
[email protected] — (502) 797-7407
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WEEKLY DEVOTION
OCTOBER 7
Monday, OCTOBER 7, 2024
Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana
“The Hard Work of Forgiveness”
Some of us will remember the courtroom experience in 2019 when Amber Guyger, who at the time was a Dallas police officer was sentenced for fatally shooting 26-year-old Jean on Sept. 6, 2018. Guyger shot Jean while he was eating ice-cream in his Dallas, Texas, home after mistakenly entering his apartment believing it was her own. She was convicted of murder on Oct. 1, 2019, after a jury unanimously rejected Guyger’s self-defense claims in the fatal shooting. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which many in the family believe is too short. However, last week she became eligible for parole.
Back on Oct of 2019 Botham’s brother, Brandt Jean, 18, said he wished Amber Guyger, 31, nothing but the best. From the stand Jean forgave Guyger in Jesus. Then holding back tears, he asked the presiding judge if he could hug the woman convicted of murdering his brother. Brandt hugged Guyger. Brandt said it was his way of showing her that she is truly forgiven. Brand decided that his way for demonstrating his forgiveness was to show her with a gesture of love, thus the hug.
Many still hold many mixed emotions. There are mixed emotions even by the family. Many still believe that Guyger deserved a greater sentence. The family also believes that the sentence was too light and now feels that she should at least serve the whole ten years without parole. The whole case has demonstrated how hard forgiveness is to practice. By now also, much of the family has followed the lead of young Brandt in forgiving Guyger. They forgive her because Jesus forgave them and because forgiveness sets their hearts free. Brandt particularly said that I didn’t want to live the rest of his life hating anyone. Forgiving became the first step in healing. Their was a strong emphasis in a recent interview with ABC is that forgiveness does not mean that Guyger should not be punished to the full 10 years of her sentence.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/family-man-fatally-shot-police-officer-home-calls/story?id=114348835
Young Brandt understand better than most that forgiveness is the beginning of a process of healing and the first step toward genuine peace in a way that the world cannot give. Forgiveness is also never given independently of other godly characteristics. Colossians 3:12-17 teaches us this
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Right in the middle of a list of qualities is the practice of forgiveness. It’s connected to things like humility, peace, love, and most of all to Jesus and a gratitude for the gifts given to us in Jesus. This is the direction Brandt has chosen to turn. He understands that justice will not get him peace. Only forgiveness gives genuine peace a chance.
So, what do we learn about forgiveness so far. To forgive is the beginning of a long process toward peace. But I hope that you will notice what forgiveness is not. Forgiveness is not easy. It’s a lot of hard work not to let a sense of injustice cripple our faith. The Jean family will mourn on every birthday, milestone, and moment for son and brother, Botham. One cannot expect to feel like forgiving especially when emotions are raw. The deeper the hurt the longer the forgiving process will take. Of course, a parole offer after five years is going to feel unjust. Of course, grace under such conditions seems too good for the crime. Yet, faith says, Jesus’ death for my sin was also unjust and unfair and then appreciates what has been given for me and you.
Forgiveness also doesn’t pretend that nothing happened. Forgiveness does not suggest that I must forget. If anything it does the opposite. Forgiveness acknowledges sin. Jesus dying on the cross acknowledges our sin and our need forgiveness. Forgiveness eventually can lead to a point when the memory of a crime loses its intensity; something that seeking justice alone cannot do. I didn’t say that the crime loses its importance. The intensity loses the hold that it has on our minds and hearts so that grace gets more room to bring us peace. I also didn’t say this was easy. Anyone who has mourned will understand what the Jeans are suffering in their loss. The way in which it happened only makes it harder…but not impossible.
Forgiveness does not excuse anyone’s sin. Again, forgiveness acknowledges sin. Forgiving others is always costly. Jesus didn’t come to excuse anyone but to cleanse all of us of sin in and through Jesus. It cost Him; Jesus suffered greatly and then gave His life. Psalm 130:3-4 says it plainly. “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness…” Jesus paid the price and wiped our slate clean.
Forgiveness also doesn’t mean that one is released from consequences. The consequences for our sin was put on Jesus. “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” The famous distinction is wages verses gift of God in Jesus. We earn our sentence of death for sin. But God’s gift is the death of Jesus instead so that we may have eternal life. The consequences of our sin were placed on Jesus. Our guilt and sentence were all paid by the Lord. If one has committed a crime, however, and is sentenced to a ten year sentence then Guyger still has a responsibility to serve out that sentence. This is part of true repentance because at some level trust must be earned all over again by demonstrating not only humility but a willingness to do better. By one’s actions one will truly reveal their true selves.
Forgiveness also doesn’t offer any guarantees that the one who hurt us won’t hurt us again. Forgiveness by the Lord is given immediately and completely without asking for guarantees. Human beings will continue to fail other human beings. Asking for guarantees operates on a justice mindset. That isn’t going to give us peace. Brandt is exactly right on this one. Forgiveness will set oneself free even of guarantees. We cannot control what other people will do anyway. Guarantees will only frustrate the forgiving process and prevent real peace.
Brandt Jean demonstrated something very hard but also very powerful in that courtroom in 2019. To say that there were strong emotional reactions online is an understatement. As you listen today you may have a strong reaction as well. Forgiveness sounds simple when we go to church and hear the pastor talk about Jesus’ cross. Forgiveness is hard. Even after five years many still question the hug, Brandt forgiving Guyger, and the length of the sentence. Five years and the hurt is still fresh for the family. Yet gradually, forgiveness is still the choice the family is making and pursuing. As they pursue this forgiveness they are pursing the Lord more than their hurt. And that is the key. May the Lord bless us to have forgiving hearts in our own lives.
Pastor Matthew Woods
John 3:30
PRINTABLE PDF: WDOct7.PDF
Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/f6c78E4iHnI
[email protected] — (502) 523-9327
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50TH BUILDING CELEBRATION
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WORSHIP SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 — *5:00 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 — 8:00 & *10:30 AM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 — *5:00 PM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 — *8:00 & 10:30 AM
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