Jesus is out of his mind. That's what his family thinks. That's what the crowd thinks. Healing swarms of people and calling tax collectors and fishermen to follow him, Jesus upsets the expectations of those who know him and love him best. But more than being out of his mind, the scribes, who are part of the Jewish religious institution, believe that Jesus is Satan. They think Jesus is evil. Preaching, praying, cleansing lepers, healing people, teaching about fasting and the sabbath, and calling disciples, Jesus not only upsets familial and communal expectations; he upsets the heart of the religious institution of the day. He doesn't fit in the box in which the scribes place God, so they assign Jesus to an entirely different box. The scribes can't see what the readers of the gospel of Mark see—that God is at work in the life and ministry of Jesus, doing something new and unexpected.
Ministry Night Tonight!
Grace Room Donations Needed
Items most needed in the Grace Room include disposable razors, toothpaste, t-shirts, shorts, hats, baseball caps, body powder, boxers, tennis shoes, flip-flops and belts. With Heat Respite coming, we can use items like books, playing cards, and board games. Grace is taking the lead this summer; please reach out to Solveig or the church office if you are open to giving up some items or time toward this good cause. Thank you so much!
Pastor Sarah's Pen: Garden of Grace
The space is called Garden of Grace: A Place of Prayer & Meditation. When you wander to the south side of our property, you will likely notice first and foremost the labyrinth created by white bags against small, dark gravel. Spiritual director Teresa Blythe teaches that the labyrinth “is an ancient prayer practice involving a winding path that leads ultimately to a center and then winds back out to the point where it began. It is not difficult to walk—there are no dead ends as in a maze. The path is symbolic of the journey inward toward God’s illumination and then outward, grounded in God and empowered to act in the world”
Suggested Bible Readings for June 10
Parking Meters Now Live!
June & July Community Building Goal
The church as we know it, including Grace, is changing. With a focus less on the institution of church and more on Christian community, our community building goal for June is for each one of us to ask the name of a person whose name we do not know each time we are here—as a way of truly learning the name of every single person in our community.
Notes of Encouragement for Mission Team
Holy Week at Grace Lutheran Church
Partnership Spotlight: Desert Cross Lutheran Church
Desert Cross Lutheran Church is perhaps the longest-running, consistent ministry partner of Grace with an impressive 19 year history of serving the pancake breakfast! When Grace began serving the pancake breakfast every Sunday back in 1999, Desert Cross was one of the core congregations who served every fourth Sunday of the month with the exception of the summer months.
Grace Vine: June 2018
June Wilbur Emphasis: Diaper bag project
Heat Respite volunteers needed
Sermon: 5/27/18
Traditional Worship now begins at 10:15 am as part of our summer schedule
Organist wanted
Suggested Bible Readings for May 27
Video: The ELCA at work in the world
Creation-justice commentary
Lutherans Restoring Creation is providing timely creation-justice commentary on the Common Lectionary through the Day of Pentecost. Written by four eco-justice commentators, the commentary writings integrate care for creation and justice for all into the exposition of the texts and in reflections on the contemporary world. To access, go to lutheransrestoringcreation.org.
Lutheran Social Services "Come and See" Tour
The people of Grace and our friends are welcomed and encouraged to participate in a Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest "Come and See" tour on Tuesday, May 29, 12:00-1:00 pm, at the Central and Osborn location, 3443 N Central Ave. This brief tour will acquaint us with the various programs of LSS-SW including refugee focus, services for elderly members of our community, foster care, and services for folks experiencing homelessness.