Celebrate

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:24).

Prodigal Son Parable painting by Bertram Poole

I love reading the Gospel of Luke chapter 15, which includes the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:4-7); the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10); and the Parable of the Lost Son (15:11-32). In each parable the lost is found, which is always a cause for great celebration. The shepherd finds the lost sheep and exclaims, “Rejoice with me!” A woman finds the lost coin and shouts, “Rejoice with me!” A father regains a lost son, draws him close and cries, “Let us feast and celebrate!”

During these last few months our Northwestern Ohio Synod has had much to celebrate. In June a delegation from the Global Mission Board was able to travel to Serbia and spend time with our global companions from the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia, a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). This was the Global Mission Board’s first international trip since 2019.

In August and September, we celebrated three joy filled Ordinations and Installations, with three more right around the corner. Our most recent Ordination and Installation was Pastor Robin Small at St. Mark’s, Bowling Green, on September 10 (see picture below).

Last Sunday morning, we started a fire, when the people of God at Lutheran Church of the Master in Perrysburg gathered in the parking lot after worship to burn a mortgage (see picture below). There was a delicious meal accompanied by great stories and peals of laughter. Good food, great stories, and lots of laughter. It is so good to celebrate all that God does for us and through us.

So, what are you celebrating these days? Drop me a line. I’d love to hear about some of your celebrations.

Shiphrah & Puah

Collaboration with Pr. Sarah SchaafExodus 1:8-21 https://youtu.be/96wEa9JJk2Y Let us pray, Gracious God, there is no shortage of fear in this world. Ground us in our purpose and remind us who you have created us to be as your beloved children. When life feels...

read more

Rituals and Habits

“Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,” (Acts 2:46). Day by day… Hour by hour… Minute by minute… Habit by habit… So, what rituals and habits have you continued to keep...

read more

We are called by God

https://youtu.be/erS9W_KVLXY A New Testament verse and Prayer from this morning’s Daily Texts 2020.   “…the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).   Let us pray, Gracious God, you kept the promises made to your people Israel through endless...

read more

Annual Meeting Celebration

“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”(Psalm 150:6) On Sunday morning, I was blessed to worship with Pastor Matthew Musteric and the people of God at Bethlehem, Pemberville. Their mission is, “Transformed by the crucified and risen Jesus, we...

read more