The Torch. To receive and share Christ s embrace

Transcription

1 The Torch Sept. Oct To receive and share Christ s embrace Out of the Can Where were you 17 years ago, Tuesday, September 11, 2018? That s the day that will always be remembered simply as 9/11. Most Americans can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing that day. Like this year, it was a Tuesday. I was working as the supervisor for a private security firm in Rockford, IL. My employer was contracted to a large manufacturing firm that operated eight facilities at five sites in the area. On that particular day, I was responsible for delivering the payroll to each of those plants and offices. I was on my second stop of the morning where they had a television set tuned in to the national news. That s when I saw footage of American Airlines Flight 11 smashing into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. I think everyone had the same thought as I: What a horrible accident. How can anything like this happen in this day and age? A few minutes later, on my third stop, I watched United Airlines Flight 175 smash into the South Tower and we all knew this was no accident. On my fourth stop, I watched the north tower collapse in a pile of rubble and by the time I returned to my office, the south tower had collapsed, and I knew that the world would never be the same. As we ve heard, we all have similar stories. We all knew where we were when the World Trade Center was attacked. We all knew where we were when American Airlines Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon. We all knew where we were when United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into an empty field outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All told, nearly 3,000 people died and over 6,000 people were injured that day. And thousands have been killed and maimed in the military action that continues to this day. What I remember most about 9/11 and the following days was the sense of panic. In a closing-the-barndoors-after-the-horses-have-escaped mentality, we suddenly went from a force of two security guards to 12 on duty around the clock. Doors that hadn t been locked in years were bolted shut. Employees who d never worn, let alone shown, a security badge had to sign in or be escorted everywhere they went. The knee-jerk reaction was laughable, really. Bosses were running around checking doors in the middle of the night as if we were right across the street from Ground Zero instead of 2,000 miles away. You d have thought they were assembling the next Star Wars secret weapon instead of milling machines. It was too late. The cat was already out of the bag. The terrorists had done their thing and given their all for Allah while their brothers in sin rejoiced at the triumph over the great Satan, the United States. There would be no turning back. For either side. No turning back. I used to do a demonstration for the middle schoolers in our school at my first church to make that point. I d ask for two volunteers and to the first one I d give a can of shaving cream. I d point to a bowl on a table and tell him or her to empty the can into the bowl. Of course, there was way too much shaving cream for the bowl, so we d make quite a mess. When the can was absolutely empty, I d hand it

2 to the second volunteer and say, Your job is to put the shaving cream back into the can. I actually had one young man try it, but usually they d look at me like I was crazy. Then I d share the New Testament reading for September 16 th : every kind of beast can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and we curse with it people who are made in the likeness of God (James 3:7-9). Like the shaving cream that can t be put back in the can, words that leave our mouths, can t be put back. Acts that we commit can t be undone. The ramifications of 9/11 are still being felt today. They unleashed a firestorm of death and destruction that can t be undone. We can t put them back in the can. Likewise, Eve s answer to the serpent s question, Did God really say? (cf. Genesis 3:1). can t be put back in the can. All she had was an excuse. All Adam had was blame: This woman who you gave me (c.f. Genesis 3:12). All we have is a Savior. All we have is One who came and said, I ll put it back. I ll fix it. In our Gospel lesson from Mark he confronts a spirit that has been actively destroying a boy s life, literally trying to beat him to death with violent convulsions and seizures. If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us, his father begged. And he did. The creator of the universe drove out the demon that was trying to kill the boy. The Great Physician cured dread diseases. He made the lame walk. He caused the blind to see, and the deaf to hear. And in return for his loving, caring acts of compassion and kindness he was killed. But and forgive me for this analogy they couldn t keep him in the can. The grave couldn t hold him. Death couldn t hold him. Satan couldn t hold him. You can t stuff him back in the can and undo everything he has done. Moving just a bit beyond our reading, James says that, the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace (James 3:17-18). Such is the message that we need to take to our congregations, the people of God, who must live in the world where so much violence and hate and animosity has been let out of the can. We can t by our own reason or strength undo all that has been done since Eden. But we can look to a Savior who has already done it all. Saved to Share,

3 OPERATION SPIRIT FROM THE HEART OF THE ROCKIES Homemade Cookies Needed Please! Chocolate is OK Thank you very much for your generous donations. No more magazines until further notice. Any cards and letters you would like to send would be GREATLY appreciated!! Monetary Donations are also needed to cover the costs of shipping and purchasing other supplies and items for the troops. Please make checks payable to First Lutheran Church and write Operation Spirit on the memo line. PLEASE PRAY FOR: Mark Cunningham, CH(CPT) James Brown, Anah Kotila, Tim Wilson, Kenneth Wilson, Thomas Sweet, Jake Engleman, and Garrett Taylor. PACK TROOP BOXES 9 A.M. TUESDAY Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 nd Katie Schroeder 7 th Catherine Tomasetti 9 th Gene Hapl 10 th Angela McConaghy 13 th Jennifer McConaghy 15 th Jacquelyn Stevens & Linda Gregory 16 th Kimberly Stevens 25 th Amanda Winter 30 th Linda Moltz SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 1 st Mike & Linda Hayden 11 th Larry & Catherine Tomasetti 19 th Gary & Kathy Martin 22 nd Mark & Janet Varhus OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS 3 rd Shawn Shuey 11 th Marilyn Bender 17 th Sandra Riggenbach 21 st Carl Fischer 24 th Gary Stevens 30 th Robert Kratky OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES 3 rd Keith & Darlene Surber 7 th Larry & Bobbie Soukup

4 UPCOMING EVENTS We are so excited to be starting a new season of KFLC. Our trial run day will be September 7, and we officially start September 14. KFLC has room for back-up tutors, volunteers, and room for more children. We meet Fridays at 9am. Please spread the word! Thank you to everyone who donated to the shuttle sponsorship, and to the ice cream social. Donations are always welcome! Please keep KFLC in your prayers. Thank You! Sept. 7 th KFLC Trial Run Sun. Sept. 9 th after service Congregational Meeting-11:30 Elder Meeting Sept. 11 th 9am-12pm Circuit Sept. 14 th 9am KFLC start Sept. 15 th 9am EVERYONE HIS WITNESS Oct. 7 th 11:30am Elder Meeting Oct. 23 rd Torch Articles Due Oct. 31 st KFLC Trunk/Treat First Lutheran Church will be putting out a cookbook next year. We will need all of your favorite, old, or family recipes. Please send to Sharon Blanchard by or put it in her box. ranchlady4560@centurylink.com

5 September 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00p 8:00p 9a Packing for 7:00p 8:00p 9a KFLC trial AA Meeting Troops AA Meeting run Breakfast HRRMC After service congregational meeting-11:30 elder meeting :00p 8:00p 9a Circuit 7:00p 8:00p 9a KFLC 9a Everyone AA Meeting Meeting/ AA Meeting His Witness 9a Packing for Troops Breakfast HRRMC :00a KFLC Breakfast HRRMC :00p 8:00p 9a Packing for 9a KFLC AA Meeting Troops Breakfast 30 HRRMC 10:15 Fellowship

6 October 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7:00p 8:00p AA Meeting :00a Packing 7:00p 8:00p 9a KFLC for Troops AA Meeting Breakfast HRRMC 11:30a Elders Meeting a KFLC Breakfast HRRMC :00a KLFC Breakfast HRRMC a KFLC TORCH ARTICLES DUE Breakfast HRRMC 2:30p Chapel Service KFLC Trunk/Treat

7 Comforters group is in need of printed cotton blend material, denim, curtain material, (not lace) can be used also. Our comforters have been a huge help to La Puente in Alamosa as well as sheets and blankets. Last season we put together 93 comforters, which was a huge help to La Puente in Alamosa as well as sheets and blankets. Last season we put together 93 comforters, which was a record. The material can be left in the comforter hallway downstairs on the shelves. Also, we need 1 or 2 extra people to assemble quilts. Monday mornings Thank you for your help and contributions! Jonnie McConaghy

8 First Lutheran Church Pastor Bill Cate Sunday 9:15 Worship Phone: bresnan.net Website: First Lutheran Church 1237 F Street Salida, CO