There is this crunching sound that happens in my left knee as I go up and down the stairs. I live mostly on one floor of my home, and Lord of Life doesn’t have any stairs, so usually I don’t notice it. But my sister’s house is huge, and I spent the weekend going up and down the 18 steps to and from her second floor. Her kids, 4 and 6 years old, run the whole length in seconds. It made me feel old.

I noticed a lot of other things that made me feel my age. In addition to church on Sunday morning, the kids each had two other activities in the two days I was there. They both had an evening Bible school event, and then Gabi had dance and Gideon had soccer. On top of that, they had plenty of active play time with STEM toys (these are toys that get the young mind to think through things scientifically) and were reading their picture books aloud with clear and confident voices. I’m certain I was not reading that well at their age.

I really enjoyed the time I had with them. I just think the world has changed so much in the last 40 years that it is hard to keep up with the way kids learn now versus the way it was when I was their age. It would be really easy to question all these changes to the point of feeling negative about it. Like anything else that shifts or happens outside our regular view of the world, if we aren’t familiar with or don’t understand an idea, we might reject it or worse, get irritated about it. It can lead to some complaining.

How often does some fluctuation in our accepted view of reality lead to us grousing about it? We know the appropriate way to dress for an occasion, and we rankle when someone wears something we don’t deem suitable. We know how to behave at a museum, and we seethe when we notice kids running around or other patrons talking loudly. We know the right people to vote for and are enraged at how many people don’t understand what is really happening in the world.

Sometimes, we find something to be mad about just so we have something to say in a conversation. Other times, our complaints are just a way to ignore unrelated problems we have in our own lives.

As an example, when I was sitting in the grass watching Gideon practice soccer, I heard a group of moms behind me gossiping and grumbling the entire hour we were there. These are all privileged parents who have the means to send their kids to private school and live in million-dollar-plus houses, and the only topics they could come up with were grievances about people who weren’t there.

Throughout his ministry, Jesus implored his followers not to dwell on earthly things. We hear from Paul in his letters that we need to move beyond the trappings of our mundane, day-to-day lives so we can focus on what is important. In Colossians 3:2, Paul writes, “Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth.”

If we mire ourselves in finding negativity in our daily lives, we can’t possibly notice good things, and we certainly miss the point of Jesus’ message of love, welcome, and inclusivity.

This fall, our Monday evening book study will be based on A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen. Throughout the study, we will discuss how our habit of complaining holds us back from enjoying life and spreading Jesus’ love; and we will challenge ourselves to break the habit and be mindful of our words.

I hope you’ll join me in our three-session journey as we work to transform our mindset and focus on the things that truly matter.

Complaint-free for at least two minutes,
John Johns, Music Director

Have you had your photo taken yet for the new Lord of Life online directory? The last few weeks, we’ve had a flock of photographers milling about in between worship taking portraits. They are taking the rest of August off, but will be back at it in September, so look for the photo booth on Sunday mornings and step up and say, “Cheese!”

Lord of Life is creating a congregational app. This app will make it easier to share information about worship, serving, and learning opportunities, access the church calendar, sign up for events, make financial contributions, search the online photo directory, and more. We hope to create greater connectivity and community with one another.

Don’t we all want more connectivity – or at least meaningful connectivity? Our online photo directory will help us put faces and names together beyond the moments when we wear nametags or greet one another in small group settings.

I’ve been thinking about names a bunch lately. On a recent Sunday, we sang the Matt Redman song, “Blessed Be Your Name.”

“Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful,
Where your streams of abundance flow. Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name when I’m found in the desert place,
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name.”

The lyrics help us remember that God’s name is blessed in any and all situations. One of the biblical words for “blessed” means adored and praiseworthy, holy and consecrated. When life is the best and the worst, God’s name and presence continue to be a source of grounding for us.

As we gather for worship, we often hear the names of matriarchs and patriarchs who helped lead God’s mission forward. Sarah and Abraham, Moses and Miriam, Esther, Isaiah, Mary, Martha, and so many more. Even if you can’t recall their entire story of struggle and salvation, there’s a good chance that these names are familiar.

We speak other names in worship, too. Most weeks, during our prayers, we read names from our congregational prayer list. One at a time, we name people who are sick, struggling, alone, waiting for answers, and grieving. Even if you have the tendency to zone out as the list of 20-35 names drones on, it is helpful to remember that these are real people with real concerns. Jonah, Steve, Janet, Shane, Wanda, et al. There’s power in saying someone’s name. Even if you don’t know them or their situation, for a moment, they are on your lips.

God knows your name. In Isaiah, God says, “I have called you by name. You are mine.” God knows our name and God calls us beloved. The Creator of the Universe is constantly initiating a relationship with us and yearning to meet us in our joys, sorrows, and hopes. Even more, Romans 12:4-5 reminds us that “we belong to one another.” As children of God, we are interwoven by the Spirit of God calling us into relationships and situations of generosity and loving care.

Here’s an invitation. Spend time learning names. September 14 is our Kick-Off Sunday, when we return to our rhythm of three worship services on Sunday (8, 9:30 & 11 am) with a learning hour for all ages at 9:30. Between now and then, introduce/re-introduce yourself to a couple of people in this community and try to greet them by name – especially children and those who are alone as we are together. There’s power in saying someone’s name.

Learning and growing,
Pastor Lowell

Thanks to the Thompson, Schneider, Fox-Linton, Gilbert, Fyffe-Wooten, and Spangler families for sharing their photos (top L to bottom R)!

When I picked Proverbs 16:3 as my confirmation verse in middle school, I seriously misunderstood the verse, which reads, “Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” My interpretation of that snippet of scripture was that if I just gave God the glory for my fame, I would be famous. I didn’t understand the Lord’s plans; I was very much focused on my own plans for my life.

If you told me I would someday work as an office manager at a church when I was in middle or high school, I might have scoffed at you. I was set to pursue an ambitious, competitive career. I’ve always been a planner, and I have always had a very clear plan for my life. When I was seven years old, I wanted to be an animal rescuer when I grew up. At 13, I was going to be a singer. At 15, an actress. Then, I decided I was going to be a novelist and an editor. I went into college with that goal in mind, starting out as a creative writing major. It was in pursuing some of my media interests that a friend introduced me to public relations (PR), a specialization under the journalism degree at my college.

I truly loved learning about journalism and PR and all the things that fell under that umbrella. By my junior year, I had decided that I would start out my career at a PR agency before hopefully becoming the Director of PR at a non-profit that I care about. Something about that still didn’t feel like a good enough plan because I remember praying, “I love public relations, but God, how am I supposed to use this career to glorify You?” Then, I waited for an answer that I wasn’t sure would come.

A few months later, I was applying for various summer internships. One position caught my eye: Director of Communications for a Methodist church in Perrysburg, OH. I applied, despite the thoughts of Oh, they won’t hire me. I’m not qualified. They want someone with a bachelor’s degree, and I’m still in school. I’m not even Methodist. And so on and so forth.

To my surprise, the senior pastor called me the next day and invited me to an interview. Long story short, I was hired as the Director of Communications. After graduation, I took on an additional role as the Media Coordinator for the church, as well. I truly had my dream job. God had plans for my talents to glorify Him even when I couldn’t see how.

Through my time at that church, God revealed to me that I had spiritual gifts of administration and hospitality. When it came time for me to leave Perrysburg and move to Cincinnati, He had given me a heart for church ministry. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but I wasn’t sure I would be lucky enough to find everything I wanted in a job. But I knew better than to settle for less than God’s plans for me, so I turned down the jobs that God wasn’t affirming for me, trusting that He was again preparing a way when there seemed to be no way.

Then I found the job listing for Office Manager at Lord of Life, and it checked every box on my list. Through much prayer and after seeking counsel from those close to me, I knew that this was what God had been preparing for me. I knew that this was where my career experience and my spiritual gifts met to serve and praise Him.

But that is just my story so far. Your story is just as important. Maybe you’re a dentist who displays the joy and peace of Christ to children who are scared or adults dreading their day of work ahead. Perhaps you teach math to freshmen and show them God’s patience and love when it seems impossible. Or you are a stay-at-home parent with a ministry to raise your kids to be more like Jesus.

My husband and I both work in ministry but in very different ways. We are extremely different people with very different gifts. While he has the gift of evangelism, I definitely do not. His spiritual gifts help him to thrive in college ministry. But we need people like me to send the church emails, and we need people like him to reach those who are lost, searching, or yearning, and we need people like you to be God’s light in the world.

We are the hands and feet of Jesus. We are one body of Christ. Each one of us has unique skills that are gifts from God to bring His kingdom to earth.

“Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:4-8

What gifts and talents have you been given? How has God positioned you uniquely to bless the world? In what ways are you trusting or can you better trust God to use your life for His glory?

Trusting Him always,
Maddie Pease

Even as my youngest child is almost done with grad school, this time of year is steeped in memories and feelings of those first days of school. August seems to roar into a frenzy of lasts of the summer and new approaching chapters. For our family, each year was different. We had seasons of sheer happiness going to school and others that were filled with anxiety and sadness. There were concretes, like the supply list, but countless unknowns, such as new teachers, subjects, and friends.

As parents or people who love the children in their lives, we want to take away the fears and pressures to create the perfect environment for our children to thrive. Oh, that we could! As we have experienced so frequently in our lives, there are detours and countless bumps. The road is blurry, and we can’t see the end. We can be their light, comfort, and guide, but we can’t clear the entire path.

The good news is that in the unknowing, we can leave space for God to act, and we can pay attention to the ways God is already acting. There is peace when we take moments to let go of our need for control, find patience, and allow ourselves to find the goodness of God. Our backpack tags this year are a reminder that the peace that passes all understanding is not only for us but to pass that peace to those around us.

As the new school year takes shape, we pray for all the children, teachers, staff, families, and care givers who are heading into this season of transition.

“O God, we give our own worries and desire for control to you. May we find peace in the unknown. Thank you for the gift of the first day of school and for all the days to come. May the children we love learn and grow, and may we learn and grow too. Teach us how to love you and our neighbor more every day. Amen.” (Adapted from “A Prayer for the First Day of School” in To Light Their Way by Kayla Craig)

Peace be upon you,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation

I’m in a unique position compared to many people. I know exactly where my family came from and when they arrived in the United States in every branch of my family, in every generation. In addition to that, I’ve participated in DNA testing services that give me a map of where my family is most likely to come from.

Usually, the tree of people I can name matches up with the DNA results. I can see exactly which generation came from England in the 17th century and were among the first settlers to expand into the wild west of Ohio, building on land that had been recently inhabited by Native Americans. Many of them left titles like “Sir” and “Lord” behind and took up roles like “Captain” and “General” to revolt against a tyrannical government. One of my ancestors, Nathan Hale, even spied for the newly formed United States.

In another branch, I can look at more recent family immigrations. One of my great-uncles was a guard for Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and convinced the entire family to flee to the U.S. when the German Empire fell in 1918. The family went on to run successful grocery stores, but public sentiment about German immigrants was pretty negative in some places. The “progressive” German views about allowing women to perform public roles, like serving beer at a pub, were enough to label them as leftists.

When I look at my DNA map, I see a few areas I can’t find other evidence for. My ethnically diverse features come from Southern Italy and Portugal, but I can’t name any family members from any generation who come from those places. That means at some point, some family members from Portugal or Italy migrated to England or Germany and claimed the new citizenship for their own, so that when I look at their records, I only see their new home countries represented.

I think I’m a pretty typical American mutt. I have some really cool people in my family tree who got here from different places at different times. Their prestige fizzled over time – I certainly didn’t inherit any titles or money. I would go as far as to say many of my family members are considerably worse people than my immigrant ancestors. My family has added some felons and drug addicts to the tree. But overall, they tend to be treated better than current immigrants who come to the United States now to escape the problems in other countries so they can scrape out a better life.

We are a nation built by immigrants. From the earliest settlers to those arriving today, each wave has shaped our society, bringing with them unique cultures, traditions, and hopes.

Jesus consistently challenged his followers to extend compassion and hospitality beyond the conventional boundaries of his day. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus intentionally chose an outsider, a Samaritan, to be the hero who showed mercy to a wounded traveler. This parable reminds us that our neighbor is not just someone who looks like us or shares our background, but anyone in need, regardless of their origin or perceived status.

For Lutherans, this often translates into a commitment to social justice and caring for the vulnerable. When we look at the immigrant experience through this lens, we are called to see the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, to recognize their struggles, and to respond with empathy and action.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Galatians (3:28), declared, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This radical assertion of equality in Christ dissolves societal distinctions and calls us to a unity that transcends national borders, ethnic heritage, and social standing. It’s a powerful reminder that in God's eyes, there are no "mutts" or "purebreds" – only beloved children.

My family’s journey, like countless others, is a testament to the enduring hope that draws people to new lands. While my ancestors might have faced skepticism, their integration was, in many cases, smoother than what some immigrants experience today. As Christians, and particularly as Lutherans, we are called to be advocates for justice, to welcome the stranger, and to participate in building a society where all people can find safety, opportunity, and belonging. This isn't a political stance. We can have our own understandings of what the government’s role should be for immigration. Instead, this is a profound expression of our faith and a living out of Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Yours in Christ,
John Johns, Music Director

Three simple words that have completely dominated my week this week. BE THE LIGHT.

Seems easy, right?

Mark 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Okay, no problem!

This week I traveled with 34 others to Harlan, Kentucky to spend the week with Appalachia Service Project (ASP) working to make homes warmer, safer, and drier for families in need. On the surface, that seems like an easy way to check off the may your good deeds glorify your father in heaven portion of Mark. But it turns out that helping others—and being the light—can be harder than it sounds.

Teams spent hours learning brand-new skills to be able to roof houses, lay insulation, and replace siding this week. I learned how to replace a ceiling and hang drywall. As a STEM teacher, I am great at reading books to my students about construction and architecture, but to actually hang a piece of drywall—That is not my gift!

Spending a week totally out of your comfort zone makes doing good deeds feel more like stumbling in the dark. And believe me there were plenty of moments I felt that way.

But when I look back on each day in Harlan it is not the confusion or imperfections I remember. It’s not the moments I didn’t know what I was doing. I think about watching youth I’ve known since their Sunday School years step into leadership roles, now as young adults, encouraging me and teaching me how to build a wall.

I think about members of our congregation—some I rarely see because we attend different services—coming together to move rolls of roofing materials down hills to their housing project. I think about holding up a sheet of drywall while my own son, now one of those young adults, screws it into place, building a ceiling for the very first time, alongside me. And I think about the families we’re helping—building four new bedrooms so their children will have warm, safe beds to sleep in.

Sometimes it’s easier to focus on the darkness when you are doing hard things. But it turns out, it’s the Light that transforms the darkness. And without darkness, we wouldn’t even recognize the need for light.
And this week I watched 34 people BE the LIGHT—through hard work, sweat, and unconditional love—and it made us shine even BRIGHTER.

Living, sharing, and celebrating!
Danielle Beneteau