Our Christian Home

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OBITUARY

James E. Robinson

April 23, 1959 – July 29, 2020

James (Jim) E. Robinson, 61, Elizabeth, IN, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday in Pioche, NV. He was born in New Albany, IN, to James W. Robinson (deceased) and Patricia Busby. He graduated from Floyd Central HS in 1977 and went on to graduate from Purdue University in 1981 with a BA in Aeronautical Engineering. He was an entrepreneur in Aviation and a Visionary Man and a World Traveler. Along with operating several companies as Owner, President and Chief Pilot, he also had several ongoing cutting-edge projects. One thing he frequently quoted was, “You can be a pioneer or a settler and I choose to be a pioneer” and he certainly was.

Survivors, his sons, Joe Robinson and Sean Robinson; daughter, Jenny Laios (Chris) along with six grandchildren, Owen, Kelliann, Wyatt, Maggie, Daxon and Shelby.

Also survived by his mother, Patricia Busby (Arthur) and step-mother, Phyllis Robinson; four sisters and five brothers, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday August 10, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Market Street Chapel of Naville & Seabrook Funeral home at 1119 East Market St, New Albany IN.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. with visitation prior to service. Service to be held at Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, IN with burial to follow at Kraft-Graceland in New Albany, IN.

Expressions of sympathy in honor of Jim to Challenge Air at challengeair.org. With over 17000 hours of flight time in the air he never lost his passion to pass on his love of aviation to the next generation.

THE CHURCH IS PROVIDING AN ONLINE VIEWING OF THE SERVICE AT 11:30 AM ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
https://glcna.online.church

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Vn4JFP_IQP8JQ3f8QwADQ

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WEEKLY DEVOTION AUGUST 11

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Pastor Bruce Kischnick, Grace Lutheran Church, New Albany, IN

“Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble!”

READING: John 16:29-33 – Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Have you ever had a week in which it seems every single thing you were involved in went south? A week where it seemed that no matter what you tried your hand at, it didn’t go as planned? A week when junk mail, solicitors on the phone, and even companies you trusted told you half truths or outright lies? Well, I had one like that last week, and am I glad that week is history and in the rearview mirror! I wouldn’t live it over even if the Lord offered me 3 bonus weeks of life for doing so! Let me tell you about it!

So, the Robinson family was suddenly bereaved the week before last, and they called me Monday to ask if I would conduct their father’s funeral on Saturday. Certainly, I said, and we began to make plans. But he died in a helicopter crash in Nevada, and Nevada is one of the few states that requires the coroner to complete and sign a death certificate before a body can be shipped out of state. The coroner sent it, but it was incorrectly completed and had to be redone. Then the funeral home taking care of arrangements had four employees go out on quarantine because one of them contracted COVID-19! It took until Friday to get all the kinks worked out of the situation, so the funeral is taking place today.

Then, Thursday we had a Red Cross blood drive at the church. So, since I was there and have been a long-time donor, I went through all the hoops and barrels you have to jump through in order to give a unit of A-. When I laid myself down on the table and met my blood tech, I could tell he was rather new at all of it. He was slow and apologetic, but very nice and talkative. Then, when all the prep work was done, he had trouble spotting a vein. He asked another tech for assistance, and she pointed one out to him. Then he came at me with the needle, tentative and obviously unsure. In went the needle, and immediately he was asking another tech to come because he wasn’t getting much blood. The long and the short of it, he went through my vein, and I developed a rather large hematoma which has now become a big bruise, and because he had collected a little blood in my bag, they couldn’t try the other arm. No nice, fresh A- from Pastor for someone who’s going to need it this week!

Then, Friday morning I had a plumber come to the house to replace the flush valve in the second-floor bathroom. He put in a brand-new valve I had purchased at Ace Hardware that week. It only took him a few minutes and he had it mounted. Then he went down into the basement to check on something else. Uriah, my youngest grandson, and I were playing wiffleball in the living room when I noticed the kitchen table was all wet. I wondered about that until I noticed a steady stream of water running off the light fixture above that table! The brand-new valve was stuck in the open position and had run over the tank, flooded the floor, and drained through the ceiling.

Add to that the notice from The Smithsonian Magazine telling me my subscription would soon be running out when I have only received the first two editions so far. Or, the “Special Offer” from Whirlpool telling me my water filter in the refrigerator is near the end of its life span and offering me new ones for much money when in fact we just bought that refrigerator in April! And, there’s dozens more irritations and troubles that come along on an all-too-regular basis.

But then, I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already experienced yourselves! Some things are small potatoes and hardly worth griping about. Other things are life-changing or even life-threatening. This world is full of trials and troubles, and sometimes we just want to pull out our hair and howl at the moon…and then Jesus speaks to us! “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Oh, how we need his comfort, his strength, his promises, his counsel. How much we need his reassurance that he has overcome every manner of evil, grief, loss, shame, sorrow, and aggravation! How good to know that after this sinful, broken world has served up its share of heartache, there stands Jesus, victorious, risen, and bringing us peace!

It ain’t always gonna be like this! Jesus, our Savior and Lord, has overcome the world! And, he is already preparing a place for us that we may someday be where he is. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen.

PRAYER:

ANNOUNCEMENT(S):

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/uVxIGZV0X5w

pastork@glcna.com — (502) 797-7407

PRINTABLE PDF: WEEKLYDAug11.PDF

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WEEKLY DEVOTION
August 10

Monday, August 10, 2020

Pastor Matthew Woods from Grace Lutheran Church in New Albany, Indiana

“With Friends Like These”

I was watching a show the other day called Dr. Pimple Popper. This woman pulls things out of her patients that would make most people squirm. The episode I watched featured a man named Genner who flew all the way from the Philippines because he suffered from a very large cyst growing on the top of his nose. Of course, Dr. Lee (Her real name) was able to remove it and return the man’s nose to its former shape.

Prior to the surgery Genner spoke about how for fifteen years he had become extremely self-aware of this cyst. He even wore masks just so people wouldn’t stare at it. In the same episode, April, a mom of three had been living with a genetic condition that causes bumps to grow all over her arms. She found that it was genetically passed down from her father and was worried sick that her son may have the same problem along with the stigma that came with the condition. Dr. Lee removed 68 various sized globs of stuff that looked like raw chicken from both arms. Each time I have caught the show I have watch the patients like these express the same thing. They are very conscious of their flaws. In their attempted hiding from the public they become very lonely, guarded, and isolated. Thankfully, those like Genner and April are strongly supported by their families and their friends which makes their suffering slightly tolerable.

One finds out who their friends are when they face a long-term illness. And the best of friends are the ones that are still there when the worst of things come. With this mind I invite you to turn to Mark 2:1-5. “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus comes home to Capernaum and folks far and wide crowd the house to overflowing. Verse three starts off with “some men came, bringing to Jesus a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.” Who were these guys? First, look at their devotion to this man. Having had an uncle who was quadriplegic I have some idea of the level of care that is involved.

From the moment that my uncle woke up he was dependent on a trusted aide or his wife to show up in the morning, get him out bed and into the powered wheel chair, cleaned up, dressed, and fed and later in the day reverse the process. The commitment was total. It was a lot of work for the aide and a lot of concern for the family. He did actually learn to drive again. I’ll share that with you some other time.

These four men were probably late to the party because they, no doubt, had to complete some kind of preparation to get their friend cleaned up, dressed, and out the door. Not only so but the man’s condition probably meant that the mat they carried him on was soiled and stale at best. This is an important fact because these men did not concern themselves with becoming unclean by touching the mat. These four dedicated men didn’t worry about that. They could throw the mat away if they could just get to Jesus. So, each one grabbed a corner and headed down the street.

So, they came carrying the paralytic to the house. Everyone is crowded in to see Jesus; no way those four guys are getting through the crowd and none are eager to make room for this paralytic. In a very real sense this man’s brethren willfully became an obstacle to this man. It’s a small town—everyone probably knows everyone else and everything going on. And remember this was an era where it was believed that if you were sick you or a relative probably sinned and therefore deserved your condition (See John 9). The teachers of the Law definitely believed this man was a sinner because of his condition and many others mostly likely did too. That was the thinking of the day. And it should not be lost on us that the first thing Jesus does for the man is forgive his sins and then He heals him to prove to the critics that the forgiveness has taken hold. This may be partly because the people in the town knew this paralytic and held a belief that the man or his parents had sinned to bring this on.

These four friends thought nothing of the sort. They knew him and they believed Jesus could help him. Their compassion for this man was unstoppable. They cared about the paralytic. They cared that he had their help. They cared and, in their caring, did something about it. And notice the paralytic trusted them to give it a try. All these four determined friends knew was that they just needed to help their paralytic friend. And that meant get him to Jesus at all costs. That is the best kind of friend.

We see the depth of their love, compassion, and their faith that Jesus could heal the man in their determination. They would not wait for Jesus to come out and chance missing Him. And if they couldn’t go through the crowd they would go over it. They muscled the man up to the top of the roof and began to dig. The roof was likely made of dried mud and sticks. They likely had to find tools to hack away at the hard, dried mud and the sticks that the roof was constructed of. And it must have been a bit disturbing for those inside who were no doubt having dust, mud, and stick fragments fall on their heads. They had Jesus’ attention now, totally disrupting Jesus’ teaching. Finding some rope or perhaps using their own robes they lowered the man through the hole right in front of Jesus, who I believe is smiling from ear to ear at their display of faith.

The effort is rewarded in full view of everyone who didn’t make room for this man and his four friends. The paralytic is forgiven and then healed. “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Now who’s carrying the mat? He carries his own mat much to the joy of his four friends and to the shock of the teachers of the Law. After that, every time those in Capernaum saw this man, they didn’t think of a sinner but of a miracle performed by Jesus. He was a witness to Jesus just by walking around.

Thank the Lord for good friends and family. Good friends gladly risk Covid to make a difference. Good friends are loyal in good and in bad. Good friends keep coming around when everyone else has faded back. They are initiators because the paralytic in us tries not to bother them too much. “I’m fine” doesn’t stop them from doing something for us. Good friends are willing to hurt our feelings if necessary and cut through our garbage and occasionally rip us a new one when we need it. Good friends never stop caring. They are supportive and make it a point not to miss important events. Good friends and family are a blessing and I would encourage you to stay close to them. Those like the four men in Mark 2 are the best kind. With these kinds of friends, we will know Jesus much better.

Of course, none is more of a friend then Jesus. Jesus’ death and resurrection go much farther and accomplish much more than we will fully realize on this side of creation. But we will soon enough realize just how good Jesus is to us once we cross over into heaven. No one needs a mat or wheelchair or a Dr. Pimper Popper there. Jesus loves us even with all of our flaws, sins, and problems but in heaven those are all removed because of the cross. He remains with us when all others would abandon us. He is a friend that gives generously. When you call Him, He is ready to listen. His love for us is eternally complete. What a friend we have in Jesus! May the Lord bless us with friends like those in Mark 2. And may the Lord bless us to be that kind of friend to someone who needs us to help carry them a little while too.

And now the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with His favor and give you His peace. Amen.

Pastor Woods — John 3:30

PRINTABLE PDF: WeeklyDAug10.PDF

Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/a3xAyADLwzI

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Sunday School and Grace-on-Wednesday

Due to the ongoing concerns and unknowns regarding COVID-19, Sunday School and Grace-on-Wednesday will not be able to meet for the next several months. Both staff and a number of parents have raised concerns about health issues that remain unclear.

We will, however, be producing weekly video lessons that will include live-action skits, puppet plays, music, and the like. These will be available at our website beginning in September.

7th & 8th grade Confirmation classes will be meeting after Labor Day. We will meet jointly in the Fireside Room with precautions. They and their parents may expect letters to arrive in early August, with details. Obviously, as we see progress in virus control, or as a vaccine becomes available, we will re-address the situation

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Coming in September – Virtual Classes

It has been decided to continue in a virtual mode with Wednesday night classes and Sunday School. Children’s Ministry and the Youth Ministry are working together to provide videos with skits, music, and a Bible story. Details are still being worked out. Keep watch in the News & Tidbits, the church website and app, and the Grace Lutheran Children’s Ministry Facebook page. There is also a GLCNA Children’s Ministry YouTube channel which houses the Summer Grace videos. If you have any questions, please contact Sabrina.haug@glcna.com.

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For more information (Your Bulletin) check out
NEWS & TIDBITS at the top right box

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For more Devotions check out RECENT DEVOTIONS
at the top right box

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CHECK OUT BAPTISM – OBITS

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SERVICES IN THE BUILDING AND ONLINE!

PLEASE, we ask that you do not attend if you are older than 65, have any illness or underlying health condition that makes you more vulnerable to the virus, or if you are feeling unwell, or are just not comfortable yet, we encourage you to stay at home and watch us online. Online Sunday services are a new addition and will remain indefinitely. For those planning to attend, we encourage you to wear a face mask, refrain from hand shaking and hugging. We will sanitize everything before and after services. We also will be spacing people apart in the Sanctuary. (No Sunday School or Bible Classes, just yet. More on that later). No VBS for 2020

Saturday, August 15 – 5:00 pm (Communion)
Sunday, August 16 – 8:00 & 10:30 am (Communion 8:00)
Saturday, August 22 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, August 23 – 8:00 & 10:30 am (Communion at 10:30)

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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.