August 5, 2008 and Beyond
We have received word that Jene Friedemann of Houston, Texas, long-time member of Salem, passed away on Friday, August 1st. A memorial service is being held in Houston today, but we will also have a memorial service here, probably some time in September. I will let you know the date as soon as I know.
Condolences can be sent to the family c/o Rudy and Maggie Friedemann, 6450 Jefferson St., Houston, Texas 77023.
Keep in prayer
Annette Cowell and family on the death of her brother Bill Ebertz on the deaths of two close friends, �comrades in arms�
Preschoolers and 1st-3rd graders in need of loving Sunday morning teachers!
4th-6th grade and 7th and up in need of adult classroom assistants.
You will be blessed! And they will too. These are our sisters and brothers in Christ.
Call or email me even if you are just wondering about it!
Our medical mission team members, Cindy Pennie and Kayla Rose, will be commissioned at both services on Sunday. Keep the team and those whom they serve in your prayers.
Flat Martin
Flat Martin has been spied in (1) Warsaw, Poland, (2) by a stained glass window of the Luther with a Bible, (3) at St. Olaf College and�(4) heading to Luther, Iowa! Thanks to Philip Gipson and the Eastman family for these sightings. Check out the pictures in our Parish Hall�
No Tuesday Memo next week as John and I will be in Chautauqua, New York, where I will have some Continuing Education. While there I will get to hear an outstanding preacher preach daily, attend daily lectures by two prominent biblical scholars, as well as listen to daily speakers on the theme of the week: �Food and Politics in the 21st Century.� Lots of good food for thought!
Coming attractions for the following week:
Wednesday August 13 Medical mission team leaves for Tanzania
Saturday August 16 SLY kick-off event at Lake Carl Blackwell 5-7 pm
Sunday August 17 RALLY DAY � 9:15 am All hands on deck to swab the deck and brighten up our rooms for Sunday school.
Looking back�to Sunday
Matthew14:13-21
God�s work�our hands�
How will you be asked to distribute loaves and fish this week?
Looking ahead�to Sunday
Psalm 85:8-13
Oh boy, this is one of the best! Read the whole psalm.
The community reminds God (and themselves!) of God�s faithful acts.
Then the community laments its current anguish, and pleads, revive us again.
The prophet speaks words of hope, and then come verses 10-13 � a beautiful vision of what happens when God saves.
C�mon, open up your Bibles and give it a read!
(Or look it up now, online at http://www.ncccusa.org/welcome/sitemap.html . Notice ELCA Bishop Mark Hansens� pic, 2nd from right. J )
I Kings 19:9-18
This is another great passage�Elijah and the �still small voice� or as the New Revised Standard Version calls it, the sound of sheer silence.
(A certain generation will now start humming, �Hello darkness my old friend�I�ve come to talk with you again�� That Simon and Garfunkel number
never made sense, but it was so meaningful�)
To get the full flavor of this passage, back up to the beginning of chapter 19.
Elijah has just impressed Ahab with God�s power and Baal�s weakness in a fiery showdown with 400 prophets.
But Jezebel is after his head, and Elijah is spent.
Have you ever felt beaten down, despite all of your best efforts?
Journey with Elijah to Mount Horeb � and find meaning in the sound of silence.
Romans 10:5-15
Paul is still in the middle of his discussion about how most Jews had rejected Jesus,
but how their election by God will someday be complete.
OK, learn something new everyday:
I was just reading that verses 14-15 are an example
of a �sorites�, in which the predicate of a preceding clause becomes the subject of the
following clause (how long since you heard them there words?) Check it out.
Paul is describing the work of evangelism -- backwards.
Bottom line: no one gets to know Jesus until someone steps up to tell him or her.
Who stepped up to tell you? How can you be the one who steps up to tell?
Matthew 14:22-33
The disciples see a ghost�and are terrified.
Well, who wouldn�t be frightened at what they see?
Why do you suppose Peter demands proof in such a way that he risks his own life?
Are you willing to test the waters of faith in risky ways?
Blessings,
Pastor Sally
