U & I Together. Dates to Remember. Inside this Issue:

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1 Fall 2017 U & I Together Inside this Issue: Dates to Remember 1 President s Corner Mailing Information Convention Report and Information Convention Photo Gallery 4 YWR Reports 5 Christian Life Connection Dates to Remember September 15: Deadline for submission of District Grants to Patty Bennett September 16: Utah Zone Fall Event, Holy Trinity in Riverton, Utah October 1: LWML Sunday (celebrate when your society choses) Be Ready, In Season and Out of Season October 2: Deadline for designs for Logo for 2018 District Convention Servant Resources Report Call for Grants 7 October 7: Western Zone Fall Event at Pilgrim in Ontario, Oregon LWML Sunday 8 VP of Communications Mission Grants Mission Grant Application 9 Resources for Planning 10 Opening on Board 2018 District Convention Missionary Report 11 October 8: Central Zone Fall Event at Trinity in Eden October 13/14: LWML District Executive Board Meeting, Pocatello November 1: Deadline for U&I Articles Winter 2017 Edition November 4: Yellowstone Zone Fall Event - Hope, Idaho Falls Financial Report Election of Officers District Treasurer Report Zone News Book Review Pastoral Counselor 14 Officers 15 U&I District Mission Statement The mission of the Utah-Idaho District Lutheran Women s Missionary League is to develop and maintain a mission consciousness among the women of the district and to assist them in using their gifts to the glory of the Triune God.

2 It s hard for me to even begin with my thanks for all the hard work done by our Utah-Idaho District men and women at our recent National Convention in Albuquerque! I have had such great feedback from folks across the nation. Even the store owners in Old Town Albuquerque expressed their appreciation and enjoyment of having the LWML folks in town. I was also told, more than once, that there was ALWAYS a smile on the face of our volunteers no matter what the situation or time of day they were encountering! Praise God for the wonderful Western Hospitality that we experienced and shared with our Brothers and Sisters in Christ during that event! Thank you for your service at our LORD s convention. Mobile here we come!! As many of you know first hand, the convention was amazing. I was so pleased to be able to spend time with our two YWR s (Stephanie Kollbaum and Kristina Young), our Heart to Heart Sister (Meichun Julie Lin) and our four delegates (Judy Lucas, Betty Oloff, Cindy Sinclair and Colleen Parkin). Their hard work and dedication is so appreciated. We approved our new Mites Goal of $2,075,000 and selected a wonderful group of grants, along with new officers to serve on the National Board. These grants are all listed in our U&I for you to review, along with the monetary gifts brought in for special offerings. To God be the Glory!! Now, as we move forward, we have a full year ahead of us. LWML Sunday is just around the corner where we are to Be Ready In Season and Out of Season. Be ready for what, you might ask! Be Ready for Sharing Christ s Love, Faithful Service and Prayerful Giving as we have our 75 years and Counting Celebration. I encourage you to celebrate this 75th Birthday during your special LWML Sundays in your societies. Perhaps you have old photos or documents you can share, scrap books, etc. so there can be a time of looking back on what we have accomplished in the past and what we look forward to during our next 75 years! I look toward the next nine months with great mixed emotions. I m on my way out of office and there is a real tug at my heart as I anticipate not being with you at your Spring and Fall events as I have these past three years. I know that I will still see lots of you at Camp Perkins, conventions and perhaps will even be invited to go along on a visit to a zone on occasion. Now as we look forward I ask that you prayerfully consider running for an office on the society, zone or district level. It is something you will never regret as this group of ladies has become my extended family that is spread across the nation. As I was addressing the 3,500 participants at our National Convention, I told others I really wasn t nervous as after all there sat 3,500 of my BFFC (Best Friends Forever in Christ!). It is a true blessing to serve the LORD through the LWML. As I close I just want to say that Camp Perkins was such a blessing to us this summer. Linda Gage was wonderful as our presenter and we definitely had time to Refresh, Renew, Rejoice and Repeat. Our thanks to the ladies from the Central Zone for a wonderful retreat. It was such a blessing to us all... especially when the eagle went soaring across the sky during our final outdoor church service. God is so good!! Love to you all in Christ, Linda Mailing Information As Mailing Secretary it s my duty to remind all Societies to submit the names of Officers and contact information. This list will facilitate many LWML purposes: * Membership Dues and Quarterly orders in March * Serve as a mailing list for information * My contact information is: jacquierowen25@gmail.com or Old Fort Boise Rd., Parma, ID Jacquie Rowen, Mailing Secretary Fall Page 2

3 July 2017 National Convention Report A person can only imagine the actual event while spending months and months of planning the details for it. However, when I arrived at the Albuquerque airport and saw the enthusiastic greeters with their warm smiles, I thought, Here we are! This is it! This is the first glimpse of what we ll experience for the next four days! The smiles and friendly atmosphere continued throughout the following days of the convention. The many compliments shared with me and other workers are a tribute to the 79 Host Committee members and the 370 workers who let the light of Jesus shine through them. Even though I was privileged to be seated in the assembly hall during the meetings, my mind sometimes wandered, thinking about the Host Committee members who were keeping watch over their various areas of responsibility. Then the Mites in Action speakers helped to bring me back to reality, realizing the purpose of all this planning and work in which we were involved for the past two years. God brought us together to bring glory to His name; He guided us to share His love and salvation by carrying out the plans He had set before us. Thanks be to God for providing willing and talented workers for this convention, for the prayers and financial support of our congregations, and for His guidance every step of the way on our journey to ABQ. As we continue to serve our Lord, may He guide us and help us to be His beacon wherever His plan may lead us. God s peace be with you! Lois Anderson, Chairman 2017 Host Committee Convention by Numbers If you are interested in numbers, enjoy these from the Albuquerque convention, June 22-25: Total number of convention attendees was 3,471 of which 850 were first time attendees. Total Young Woman Representatives attending was 81. Tee Up 4 Mites raised $15, with approximately 48 people participating. The Mission in Motion/Mission Pledge Walk raised $72, with 1,132 participating. The blood donation drive had 106 participants. Gifts from the Heart donations provided: 340 Sheet Sets, 161 Baby Kits, 229 School Kits, 4,607 items of Underwear, 22 Boxes of Towels and Linens, and $31,256 in Gift Cards, Cash, and Checks. Servant Events participants provided the following items to non-profits agencies in the region: 432 Marked Bibles, 100 Hygiene Bags, 3,000 Personal Care Kits, 354 Fleece Blankets, 1,147 Cards for Phil s Friends, 99 Quilts, and 639 School Kits. Convention Offering #1, for the Mission Goal, received $48, Offering #2, a 75th Anniversary Thank Offering for the LWML Endowment received $51, Offering #3, for a bilingual worker priest on the US/Mexico border through Concordia Lutheran Church, Chula Vista, California received $31, Offering #4, for the God Cares About You mission in Albuquerque received $33, There were 71 Mission Flags representing the countries where LWML has provided mission grants. For the Mission Goal, 22 mission grants were selected for funding. Visit to learn more about the mission grants selected. Praise be to God from whom all blessings flow! Mission Grant Bookmarks Mission Grant bookmarks are now available here Fall Page 3

4 Convention Photo Gallery Worker s Photo A little competitive skating is always good during free time Melody taking a break at convention Taking a break President Linda with Meichun Julie Lin, our first Heart to Heart Sister Pretty in Pink Utah Idaho delegation (missing Pastor Von Busch) Fall Pastors ready to Party Page 4

5 YWR Reports From Stephanie Kollbaum (YWR) My time at National Convention was such an incredible gift - I felt especially blessed to have my interest in missions rekindled during our time there. LWML has been a part of my life as long as I can remember - my own mom went to convention in 2003, and I remember her excitement from meeting other women, reconnecting with old friends, and being a part of the choir. She was also excited to take a friend who didn't know much about the LWML - a strange and wonderful parallel to my own experience of partnering with Kristina Long for her first convention! Getting to follow in my mom s footsteps and connect with her on that level was very exciting for me! We plan on going together to the Mobile convention in 2019! My blessings in the few days I was in Albuquerque included (but certainly weren t limited to!!) worshiping with thousands of other Lutheran women, meeting new friends, connecting with old friends, learning more about the grant recipients at a national level, and having a spark rekindled in me for missions, both locally and internationally. I was reminded of the joy of watching God s hand at work - from breaking into the Doxology with about twenty women while working the Gifts of the Heart room, to later breaking into that same song with over three thousand women when we agreed that we shouldn t vote to break a tie between grant recipients, but rather, put our full trust in God s power and raise our mission goal to match both grants' needs. My prayer following convention is that God is able to use me to spread this new passion for LWML to my local congregation! Already, we ve been handing out new Mite boxes and have started a new Facebook page for our local society. Praise be to God! From Kristina Long (YWR) Prior to convention, I d only been star struck once- I heard Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O Connor speak as a high schooler. In one evening she taught me to walk with purpose and passion, to stand for justice, and not to let normality stand in my way. At the LWML National Convention the star struck feeling returned when past LWML President Ida Mall spoke on Living by God s Design. President Mall reaffirmed Justice O Connor s message with this added piece: walk the way God has made you to walk. From President Mall and my time at convention I learned that the LWML represents more than women on a mission. These women are enlisted by God, to walk with passion, and enact His love and mercy everywhere. Often we lose sight of our purpose-- or at least I do. As a Children s Ministry Director I am called to work for His glory in the lives of the families I serve. Still, I can miss the forest for the trees. Being around women of faith and experiencing the convention showed me that my daily work is a part of His greater mission and purpose. Convention reminded me to look forward at the kingdom He has planned. Most importantly, convention taught me that I am not alone in this fight. God is the head of this mighty army, and the LWML is a mighty force....if God is for us, who then can stand against us. -Romans 8:31b The LWML National Convention was a tremendous blessing. This organization has a remarkable history filled with conquering the odds despite the times. I know the same will be true in the years to come. These mission focused women are making a real difference in the world. I am honored to count myself as part of them. My prayer is for God to empower all YWRs to help educate their local societies about how God is working through Lutheran Women in Mission. Summer 2017 Fall Page 5

6 Christian Life Connection CAMP PERKINS REFRESH, RENEW, REJOICE, REPEAT LWML s Camp Perkins Retreat was a blessing for the 30+ women who were able to attend. Thanks to the leadership in Central Zone, we enjoyed a special time of fellowship and fun along with insightful Bible studies and new friends. Linda Gage, LWML s Gifts of Love representative from New York, bubbled over with enthusiasm as she led us in Scriptural insights to help us learn to Refresh, Renew, Rejoice, and Repeat! We also discovered something about each other as we answered questions such as sweet or salty? and up early or stay up late? At free time, some took to the water, some headed out to see Mountain Mama s Craft Fair, some read or visited, and some even took a nap! In the evenings, we enjoyed the company of the family campers, and later, we had our own fun back at the Retreat Center. After Saturday s campfire, we were blessed to have a sending service for Nichelle Dykema, as she will soon embark as a missionary to Peru. Sunday morning service rounded out our time together, followed by many good-bye hugs before we departed for home. Not able to attend this year? Maybe you also would like to rejoice in studying the same sections of God s Word that were studied at camp or maybe you were there and would just like to repeat the same ones so that once again you will be refreshed. Here are some of them: Phil. 4:4-7; I Thes. 5:16-18; Phil. 3: May we all be blessed and renewed by these Scriptures. Gerry Draper, V.P. of Christian Life Utah-Idaho ladies at Camp Perkins Summer 2017 Fall Page 6

7 VP Servant Resources Report The National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in June was a very exciting time. I worked in a lot of different locations throughout the convention. I helped with the registration, communion, and ushering. Now our district will be getting ready for our District Convention April 2018 in Pocatello, Idaho. Be thinking about some younger women in your societies and congregations who would be a YWR (Young Woman Representative) at the District Convention. We had two YWR s, Stephanie Kollbaum and Kristine Long, both from Pocatello, in Albuquerque, NM, in June. I can t wait to hear about their experiences. At our 2018 District Convention we will be voting on proposed changes to the Utah-Idaho Bylaws which will be: In Article XII, Section I, add In case of an emergency, the Board of Directors may take action by mail or electronic messaging and In Article XII Section 2, add In case of an emergency, the Executive Committee may take action by mail or electronic messaging. Grace Strauch, VP Servant Resources Call for Grants It s time to begin the processes of tracking down those individuals and groups that we would like to consider being recipients of our grant monies. Here are a few questions you may need answered. What is the District s Criteria? Have a mission emphasis, extending the ministry of the Word Fit into the plans & projects of the LCMS and be approved by the appropriate synodical district Be current and ready for implementation Be well documented Be assured and continued maintenance How do I begin? Obtain a copy of the Mission Grant Application form from either your society president, our web site or VP of Gospel Outreach. Have the form fully completed and returned by September 15, 2017 to the VP of Gospel Outreach. What happens to the Grant after it reaches the VP of Gospel Outreach? A committee meets, consisting of the VP of Gospel Outreach as Chairman and four additional members, one from each zone appointed by the Zone President. They review the applications and submit their selections to the District Board for the approval and inclusion on the ballot at the convention. And lastly, who can submit Mission Grant Applications? Individuals, societies, zones and any LCMS entities So ladies, please prayerfully consider who you would like to give an application form to. All societies will be receiving a copy of the form with their upcoming U&I. This is truly the work of your MIGHTY MITES in action helping to spread the Word throughout the world! PRAISE GOD! Patty Bennett, VP Gospel Outreach Fall Page 7

8 LWML Sunday Be Ready The first Sunday in October is traditionally set aside for the observation of LWML Sunday, but it may be celebrated at any time. Written by Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast, Jr., President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. A full worship service is available for download. As many pastors prefer to tailor their services to their congregation s needs, the sermon, litany and children s sermon can also be downloaded separately and may be inserted in any worship service wherever needed. All worship and devotional materials have received approval from LCMS Doctrinal Review. For assistance with downloading resources, call the LWML Office at (800) or lwml@lwml.org. Please continue to check for further LWML Sunday 2017 resource materials. VP of Communications Report The new logo was revealed during the 2017 Convention in Albuquerque. This is what it means: The heart of God is behind all that we are and do He has loved us so (HEART) God is seen in His only begotten Son His cross and sacrifice (CROSS) His cherished blood for us was shed for the forgiveness of sins (DROP of BLOOD) Therefore we lift high the cross of Christ giving thanks and praise and service (CROSS ABOVE HEART) So that His heart is impressed upon our own and by the Spirit we are blessed with joy and peace. Please go to to see the video reveal of the new logo or Respectfully, VP of Communications, Amy Hubach Biennium Mission Grants These Grants were approved for funding by the LWML Women at the Utah-Idaho District Convention held in Ogden, Utah on April 30, Grant Name Amount Funded King s Kids Ministry in Eden, Idaho $2,000 Funded Camp Perkins Outdoor Ministries: Hospitality Initiative $5,000 Funded Prison Bible Ministry in the Salt Lake City Valley $1,000 Funded Grace High School Music Ministries in Pocatello, Idaho $5,000 Funded Bethesda Lutheran Communities Wonderfully Made First Conversations about Disabilities and Supporting Families $5,000 In Progress Lutheran Hour Ministries Reaching Rahab Project in Kenya $5,000 $0 Haiti Outreach in Cap-Hatien, Haiti, Grace Lutheran, Sandy, Utah $5,000 $0 TOTAL $28,000 $0 Fall Page 8

9 UTAH-IDAHO DISTRICT MISSION GRANT APPLICATION The deadline for receiving project proposals: September 15, 2017 District s criteria for mission grants are: A. Have a mission emphasis, extending the ministry of the Word. B. Fit into the plans and projects of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and be approved by the appropriate synodical district. C. Be current and ready for implementation. D. Be well documented, recognized Service Organization of the LCMS, or sponsored by LWML member, society or zone. E. Be assured of continued maintenance. F. Submission of an application does not guarantee placement of the project on the ballot. Additionally, preference will be given to new projects over ones that are seeking funding for a second consecutive biennium. Please describe this project, with emphasis on how it meets the District s criteria. Provide any additional information that would help us evaluate this project. Describe how it addresses each point. Applicant Information: 1. Name: 2. Organization: 3. Address: 4. Phone Number: Sponsor if not LCMS approved: Project Information: 1. Name: 2. Amount requested: 3. Address: 4. Goal of project (Be specific): 5. Funds to be sent to: Address, phone & Specifically how will the funds be used: Please provide 6 hard copies of this application for committee use. Upon your Grant s acceptance by the Board to be placed on the ballot, you will be asked to your Logo, 3 different digital pictures that best represents the work to be funded for the purpose of presentation at the convention. Please return this application to the Vice President of Gospel Outreach: Patty Bennett S 1380 E Sandy, Utah (801) pjeanben@yahoo.com (This form may be duplicated.)

10 Resources for Planning Programs resources for Planning Programs This grab and go resource provides two years of thematic monthly meeting plans. You can print as many copies as you need of any of the resources which include Icebreakers, Devotions, Bible Studies, Sketches, Mission Servants Projects, and Mission Grant References. Opening on District Board 2018 U & I District Convention Available for purchase in printed form (237 pages, 3 hole punched, in plastic sleeve) or FREE as a download: resources for Planning Programs Many of you know about the new position that our Secretary, Nichelle Dykema, has taken as an LCMS Missionary to Peru. Because of this new direction in her life, Nichelle will not be able to complete her term on our District Board as Secretary. The Board is now looking for a replacement for Nichelle who will complete her term through April of If you know of anyone who might consider filling this position for us beginning this fall, please let me know as soon as possible. I will then send the job description and we can go from there. Perhaps you are at a point in your life where you would like to step forward into a position where you can serve our LORD with Gladness through the LWML. Please prayerfully consider this. I also ask that you keep Nichelle in your prayers as she goes on this new exciting adventure in the Mission Field. She told us that she considers herself not just an LCMS missionary, but an LWML missionary too! We will miss her, but look forward to being a part of her life through , her blog and possibly a mission trip to Peru! Linda The U&I District Convention is approaching fast! It will be April 27-29, 2018, at Grace Lutheran Church and High School, Pocatello, Idaho. The verse is Psalm 30:11-12 ESV with a theme of Clothed in the Joy of the LORD. Come join us for great Bible study, fellowship, mission speakers, a national LWML representative, book review, and undoubtedly, chocolate. We will elect new officers and vote on our mission grants for the next two years. We will be staying at the newly renovated Best Western Hotel just down the hill from the church and school. Get it on your calendars now it will be a great time. Watch for more information and registration forms after Christmas. We are looking for designs for the logo for the convention, so if you are artistically inclined, please submit a design by Oct 1 (based on verse and theme) to district President Linda Larson ( on last page of U&I) for board consideration. Cheryl Brunson, VP Public Relations Please submit your design to President Linda by Oct. 1 Verse: Psalm 30:11-12 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Fall Page 10

11 Missionary Report Utah-Idaho District Secretary Receives Special Appointment as Missionary Serving with the LWML is a blessing in so many ways and God has used those blessings to open a door for me to serve as an LCMS missionary in Lima, Perú. Nichelle Dykema God placed a love for mission in my heart during my first mission trip to Mexico in 2002 and through serving with LWML he rekindled that fire and set it ablaze. This summer, I humbly accepted a special appointment to serve as LCMS Missionary Volunteer Coordinator and Communication Specialist to Lima, Perú. For the last 10 years, the Mission in Perú has served people from some of the poorest communities in and around the city of Lima by sharing the Gospel. We provide after school help, a program for kids, spiritual care (daily chapel, catechism classes and bible studies) and above all share the love of Christ to people throughout the city. With five mission sites currently, and a sixth starting this fall, we need the help of short-term teams and faithful supporters to continue to serve the people in Lima. I am so thankful for the time I ve spent serving the district and I am sad to announce I will be vacating my position as secretary this fall. But I am looking forward to serving as a representative for our district on the international mission field and carrying you with me on the journey. Want to find out more? Don t miss your fall Zone Rally! I will be speaking at each event this fall, sharing about the mission needs in Perú and my new role. Plus, you can invite me to visit your church, bible study, society meeting or school! I will be traveling the region this fall and I would love the opportunity to share with your group. Contact me today at: nichelle.dykema@lcmsintl.org; ; or go to Camp Perkins-Prayer Time/Sending Off for Nichelle Dykema for her Mission Work Fall Page 11

12 Financial Report Mites collected for the 1st Quarter (April-June) were: Central Zone: $ Utah Zone: $ Western Zone: $ Yellowstone Zone: $ Sincerely, Barbara James, Financial Secretary Election of Officers Here I am LORD, I heard you calling in the night Election of officers will be held at District Convention in April 2018 for the following offices: President VP Christian Life VP Human Care Treasurer If you are feeling called to serve in any of these positions, please contact your zone president or committee member: Central zone: Eileen Banholzer -ljlierman@filertel.com Utah zone: Dixie Funk -dixier@gmail.com Western zone: Cindy Wilson Yellowstone zone: Kristina Long- klong@gracepocatello.org For any questions or detail of job descriptions, you may also contact Betty or breimann65@gmail.com. Betty Reimann, Nomination Committee Chairman District Treasurer Report I want to remind everyone to consider taking part in JOYFUL RESPONSE. I have signed up some more individuals this month. We are getting in mites of $ per month from those enrolled. In July I issued a check to Barb James for $ for 4 months contributions. If you are interested, contact me and I will mail you the form and the instructions to complete for me to get you enrolled. Also please remember UT-ID District LWML for your Thrivent Dollars choice. I met with Linda Gage when she was here in July to help us get started in our endowment process. She left me lots of information to read and share. I have also contacted Patty Bennett to get the information for the next grant to pay. It has been a busy summer with lots going on. Karen Mueller (Kmueller7@cableone.net), Utah-Idaho District Treasurer Fall Page 12

13 Utah Zone News Greetings from the ladies of the Utah Zone. A lot of us had the privilege of attending the convention in ABQ. What a great experience. Personally as a member of the Host Committee I hadn t worked that hard in a long time. But it was a thrilling experience and I wouldn t change it for the world. I know that my sisters in Christ in Utah feel the same way. Looking forward to the fall (and cooler weather), the Utah Zone will be meeting at Holy Trinity in Riverton, UT on September 16th. Pastor Mark Christ will be leading us in bible study God Above all Gods. Cindy Sinclair, Utah Zone delegate, will be telling us of her experiences to the convention. We are also fortunate to have Nichelle Dykema. She has completed her training and is now a called LCMS Missionary to Peru. What a blessing to have her join us!! We will be supporting two organizations in the Riverton area with an ingathering. Below are items needed. South Valley Services (Domestic violence center): Paper towels, toilet paper, disinfecting wipes, large kitchen garbage bags, hand soap Concordia Learning Center (Holy Trinity): 5oz paper cups, small paper bowls, napkins, plastic spoons Please join us in Riverton to refresh ourselves in God s word. By September I am hopeful that the heat wave will be over. These 100 plus degree days have taken a toll on a lot of us. I love the fall!! Your Sister in Christ, Dixie Funk, Utah Zone President Western Zone News Dear Sisters in Christ, The falling leaves and beautiful colors are just ahead. The cooling temperatures bring the calendar to our Fall Event. Let s see if we can beat our attendance from the Spring Rally ladies attended and all were a blessing. The date will be Oct. 7th Our host society is Pilgrim Lutheran Ontario, 208 S. W. 1st Ave. Ontario. See you there. The theme, scripture, and ingathering are in the works, soon to be determined. We will have quilts to tie that were not completed at National. Thanks to all of you for helping me serve our Savior. Saved to Serve, Edie Miller, Western Zone President Yellowstone News Hello from the Yellowstone Zone, The Yellowstone Zone will have the zone event at Hope Lutheran, Idaho Falls, on Saturday, Nov. 4, Kristina and Stephanie, Young Women Reps. to our convention, will speak about grants for the biennium and the convention held in Albuquerque. Nichelle D. will speak about her plans to join the mission work in Peru. Information will be given to promote the District Convention held in Pocatello next April, at Grace Lutheran. May we all see God's direction on our work as we move into the fall months. Betty Oloff, Yellowstone Zone President Book Review Donna Pyle has just released a new Bible study book called "Forgiveness". It is a book that could be for an individual study or for small groups. This study will help you learn life changing ways God's Word offers about forgiveness. Understanding the forgiveness that Jesus had for us, it will encourage us to forgive others and to help heal your heart. Forgiveness is always very personal and can be very difficult to do but is never optional. Please help find the district's Donna Pyle's Bible studies "Your Strong Suit" and "Overflowing Abundance. Let Betty Reimann know if you know where they are located so others could share the studies. Thank you Fall Page 13

14 From our Pastoral Counselor God s grace, mercy and peace are yours in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we consider the various aspects of health, the first one I want to direct our attention to is spiritual health. Remember the 7 stave bucket I described in the previous newsletter. Spiritual health is one of the 7. The Scriptures are replete with references to the importance of spiritual health, also known as the heart. The following are a few of those references: Jeremiah 24:7 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart. Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Luke 6:43-45 For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Our spiritual heart health is of utmost importance and it is essential to understand that God is the one who gives us this health. As you have just read, it is the Lord who gives us a heart that is alive. It is the Lord who gives us a heart that will seek for Him. It is the Lord who transforms our heart from a bad heart to a good heart; a heart that produces good fruit. Therefore, all glory and praise belong to Christ for His work of redemption and salvation. What does this mean for you and me? I think it means we have hope. The Apostle Paul wrote in the 13th chapter of his 1st letter to the Corinthians about love. This passage of Scripture is often read at weddings to speak about the love between a husband and wife, but I am convinced that it tells us so much more. Because God tells us in 1st John 4:8 that He is Love, I believe we can insert His name in 1st Corinthians 13 whenever the word love is used. For example: 4. Love [God] is patient, love [God] is kind. It [He] does not envy, it [He] does not boast, it [He] is not proud. 5. It [He] does not dishonor others, it [He] is not self-seeking, it [He] is not easily angered, it [He] keeps no record of wrongs. 6. Love {God} does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7. It [He] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8. Love [God] never fails. Simply meditate on this truth. Ask the Holy Spirit to cause it to sink deep into your soul. Because of whom God is and what He does, we have reason to hope. Paul concludes this section by stating that there are three things that remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Faith, hope and love are signs of spiritual health; as Jesus said, a tree that is producing good fruit. God grants us spiritual health through His means of grace. In Article IV of the Smalcald Articles, Luther wrote, We will now return to the Gospel, which does not give us counsel and aid against sin in only one way. God is superabundantly generous in His grace: First, through the spoken Word, for which the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world (Luke 24:45-47). This is the particular office of the Gospel. Second, through Baptism. Third, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourth, through the Power of the Keys. Also through the mutual conversations and consolation of brethren, Where two or three are gathered (Matthew 18:20) and other such verses (especially Romans 1:12). We do not have to search for God s grace and forgiveness; He freely offers and gives it to us through His means of grace. Through faith we receive all that God is abundantly giving to us. It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we live a life that has been transformed by the love of Christ. It is through faith in our savior that we live as completely forgiven people. May God bless you according to His wonderful riches. Rev. Jim Von Busch, Pastoral Counselor Fall Page 14