PASTOR’S LETTER: THE GOSPEL IN ACTION
The other day one of our members said, “Till we meet again,” to her son-in-law at a memorial service hosted by our Fellowship at the Community Center. With the deceased man’s wife, daughter and grandchildren were gathered friends and neighbors he’d known over 20 years in Fernley.
This little family has struggled with huge issues: illness, major surgery, and theft of belongings, poverty, and the loss of their home in a fire. All they have left, really, is the Lord and each other. And now they’re missing one.
Sometimes we have enough faith in the Gospel just to take God’s word for it, even when the evidence is all to the contrary. Sometimes faith is strong enough to go without any visible means of support. But usually we need some physical means to carry that Gospel message into our hearts: food, a phone call, prayers, care and concern with the Word of God. Martin Luther called these the “means of grace.” They are the vehicles that deliver the goods of God’s love in Christ.
Our congregation has been delivering those means of grace in person to this family. One member of the family takes part in a small group of our congregation. The closer relationships found in a small group brought further caring, from the personal knowledge and trust that grows when people grow closer in Christ.
As neighbors and friends gathered around at the service, we fed them spiritually and physically. I think they got the message: God’s love is alive in Fernley, carried by his people at Gift of Grace Lutheran Fellowship.
I am proud of this congregation’s commitment to serve the cause of Christ. This memorial service was just one example. My faith is strengthened by seeing God’s people in action.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Developer Paul Theiss
Vendor Fair October 24th
Gift of Grace Lutheran Fellowship is sponsoring a Vendor Fair at the Community Center on October 24 from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Please stop by and see all the wonderful products for sale. It’s a great way to start off your holiday shopping! Some of the vendors that will be displaying their wares are Tupperware, PartyLite Candles, ICDA Photo gift cards, Mary Kay and many more. Join us for a relaxing shopping experience. See you there!
We still need volunteers to help with working the tables during the day and to help with the set up and take down of table and chairs. We also need people from the congregation to make goodies (candy, cookies, cakes, breads) to help with our bake sell at the Vendor Fair. June Dawson’s house will be the drop off location for all the baked goods. We need the baked goods by October 22. Please contact Marcie Vallejo at 575-6332 or June Dawson at 835-8502 if you have any questions.
On October 18 we will be selling raffle tickets for the raffle that will take place as part of the Vendor Fair after the church service. So please bring your money and support our Church. The tickets are $1.00 for one ticket or $5.00 for six tickets. Please see Marcie Vallejo or Connie Patterson after church service and get your tickets.
FREE CAR WASH OCTOBER 18 after WORSHIP
Sponsored by the kids of our Fellowship. Donations to the Food Pantry accepted.
