FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION:
Church Address: 219 N. 6th Ave. E., Duluth, MN 55805
Church Telephone: 218-722-3381 and email:secretary@gloriadeiduluth.org
To reach all staff call: 218-722-3381. Church Staff include: Pastor David Carlson (pastor@gloriadeiduluth.org) Donna Gerdes - Church Secretary (secretary@gloriadeiduluth.org) Bob Forbort - Facilities Management Dr. Stanley Wold - Director of Music Georgia Swing - Organist Patti Maguire - Interim Chaplain (chaplain@gloriadeiduluth.org) Tanner Hall - Youth Director John McDonald - Custodian
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Pastor David Carlson
From the Pastor
Dear Friends in Christ,
I want to share with you the translation of a favorite Russian song found in the Ingrian Lutheran Church’s hymnbook, entitled, “Freely”: What is most beautiful in our life cannot be bought for any price. The bright sun shines for free, the moon smiles at us for free.
Refrain: Freely, freely, God gives forgiveness; freely, freely God gives salvation.
Freely on the plowed fields the rain falls with abundant generosity. For free the wind smoothes our hair, pulls the leaves from the oak tree with a strong hand.
For free we enjoy the bird’s songs, sunrises and sunsets; we meet those near and dear to us, and breathe the air without paying anything.
You don’t pay anything for the special touch of a child, for a spouse’s tender embrace, for love, for selfless friendship.
But most valuable, most precious of all, is the gift God has given us of eternal salvation in Jesus; receive it and smile happily.
This time of year, it’s no surprise to see why this song has been on my mind lately. Many blessings from God are all around us – in the gifts of creation, human community, and God’s promises in Christ Jesus. This song, and the Bible, speak of God giving freely and generously, joyfully, prodigally. What blessings do you recognize and thank God for regularly? How can we as the church grow in response to God’s grace through our own joyful and free generosity?
I see such joyful and free service given at our monthly neighborhood breakfast, which has been experiencing a higher turnout (well over 100) lately. I see joyful and free fellowship at our softball games, which are so full of camaraderie and laughter that we go home a winning team no matter what the score. I see joyful and free worship when members use their gifts in preaching, as high school graduate Kylie Dalager did last month, and when special musicians as well as our own gifted “in-house” musicians enhance our assembly’s worship of God and help convey God’s grace to us. I see joyful and free generosity when council members and others discuss the possibility of using part of their economic stimulus check as an extra offering in thanksgiving to God.
During Grandma’s Marathon last month, I received many grace-filled moments also. Along the course, and especially as I passed the Gabriel Project water station at mile 24 near Fitger’s, I can’t tell you what a lift it was to see familiar faces! Thank you for your support and well wishes for a first-time marathoner. Through your generosity in gifts and pledges, the Gabriel Project will receive over $714 to help meet the financial needs of our needy neighbors.
A common theme in all of these examples is that on the other side of free gifts are self-less givers. Someone has to provide (and prepare) the free breakfast, another reserve softball fields, another preach, another practice music, another hand out water.
Although God’s gifts are free, the church’s ministry in God’s name also depends on the regular financial offerings of all its members. Our operating budget is currently at a deficit (see p. 3). The church is able to pay bills only because we have not been spending our budget in some areas. There are perhaps several factors for our mid-year budget shortfall – many members may be feeling the burdens of higher food and gas prices, the uncertainty of the economy, or choosing among multiple projects to fund. THANK YOU for your commitment to Gloria Dei’s ministry (even during these summer months) and for remembering that regular offering is the priority and that designated giving, which is very appreciated, should be over and above regular offering.
In the midst of financially anxious times, our Christian friends in Russia, who have fewer resources than most Americans, remind us of God’s abundant grace, given “freely.” There is a difference between “cheap grace” and “costly grace,” as the Lutheran scholar Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it. God gives freely and abundantly, and such grace moves us not to take it for granted, but to respond with joy and generosity for our good and the good of all creation.
Yours in Christ, Pastor David Carlson
FROM THE YOUTH DIRECTOR
Hello everyone, As May speeds along into summer the Oasis group has been moving along at the same breakneck pace. We’ve spent the last several weeks preparing for confirmation and working on GIVIN projects. The senior high youth have really kicked their GIVIN responsibilities into high gear. One great thing about GIVIN (there are so many!) is that while people have individual and small group projects there are plenty of opportunities for the entire Oasis (and in some cases the entire congregation to participate). For example, last Wednesday at Oasis two different groups brought materials and we had a work night. It’s always nice to see a group of people so willing to help each other. Stay tuned as more and more of the GIVIN projects will be discussed in church, assuming we can get the youth to speak in front of people that is. One of the coolest events Oasis has been a part of since I’ve been here happened a few weeks ago. Along with 4 other local churches we met in the basement of Trinity with Duluth mayor Don Ness, and city council reps Tony Cuneo, and Jeff Anderson. All three men spoke briefly about why they got into politics and their experience with making a difference. We then split into three groups and the youth had a chance to ask questions, express concerns, there was even a little debate.Believe me the youth of this town have a voice and if they ever decided to use it, it will change this city I truly believe that. It being graduation season it seems appropriate to end with some tidbit of knowledge. It's an old African saying that goes something like this “Every time an old man dies it is like a library has burned down.” I would include women in that statement as well.Usually I encourage all you adults out there in Lutheranland to step outside your comfort zone and talk to a youth. This month I’d like to thank you for all the wisdom you possess and so willingly share with the youth of our church. Keep up the good work.
1. The focus for April was on matching Care Team members with congregants who would benefit from visits and/or phone. Letters were sent to each volunteer on April 17th and it seems that things are going well. Nineteen (19) volunteers as well as the Pastor and Interim Chaplain are in contact with various congregants either by phone, visits or bringing communion. On Saturday, May 31st there will be a support meeting of the Care Team Network to re-connect and share our experiences.
2. Blood pressure screenings are being done on the 2nd and 4th Sundays as well as at the Saturday neighborhood breakfast each month. A rotation for the nurses and health care folks who have agreed to help with blood pressures is being prepared. So far, Marcia Troy was there on April 13th and Catherine Hewitt on May 13th. We have begun using a screen to do the BP’s to insure privacy.
3. Training Opportunities: Five volunteers attended Alzheimer’s training on April 10th at Lakeshore. I also attended training on “Grief in Children and Teens” at SMDC on April 16th and a session on using complimentary medicine at end of life on Aril 21st at Peace Church.
4. Monthly meetings with the Arrowhead Parish Nurse Peer Group have been helpful not only for the networking but also for the health information provided. April 10th, I attended my first meeting with this group in Two Harbors and learned about community acquired MRSA from a speaker from the MN Dept. of Public Health. May 8th the meeting was in Virginia and the topic was children and teen checkups presented by the St. Louis County Public Health Dept. Next month the annual Parish Nurse meeting will be held at Lakeshore on June 12th.
5. Possible congregational training has been discussed. Marcia Troy offered to do a short program on falls that could be helpful for our congregation. Perhaps it could be offered after church during coffee hour. No date has been set. Other suggestions were funeral planning, health care directives and prescription reviews.
• National Nurses Week was May 5-11. Thank you to all nurses for their caring work.
- Patti Maguire, Interim Chaplain
"Empowered by Christ's love, Gloria Dei reaches out as an inclusive, welcoming church through worship and social action."
