A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY

A GIFT OF LOVE AND UNITY
Cross of Grace received an unexpected letter from Pr. Robert G. Schaefer, Director of Worship with the ELCA. Here is some of what he said. "Here are some tools for your hands to use in God's work! The Churchwide Assembly began, ended, and was centered in word and sacrament, prayer and song. Enclosed is the gift of a set of communion vessels that was used at the liturgy of Holy Communion celebrated at the center of each day's work at the assembly. This gift comes with our prayer that the means of grace, the weekly gathering of the assembly around word and sacrament, will stand at the center of the life of your congregation, just as the eucharistic liturgy stood at the center each day of the assembly's life. The global origin of the tools we are sending you serves as a reminder of the universal nature of God's work. Each communion vessel is hand-made of natural and recycled material by local artisans of fair-trade companies."

Cup
The hand-blown glass cup was made by Palestinian artisans at the Hebron Glass and ceramics Factory.

Pitcher
The hand-blown recycled glass pitcher was made in Dhaka, Bangladesh, at Jahanara Cottage Industries. Artisans sort, wash, melt, and reform the glass. Locally harvested palm leaf fibers are washed, dried in the sun and woven over the glass.

Basket
Spiraling patterns in earth tones of dark brown, adobe, and wheat adorn this hand-woven basket from Uganda. Natural and dyed raffia palm leaves are woven around banana fiber.

Basket Liner
The colorful basket liner was woven by women in San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala.

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All of these items are centered around local and/or villages industries to assist in helping people, especially women, become economically independent.

We praise God for their work and for these lovely gifts that will be used when Cross of Grace Lutheran Church begins worship.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

Our country is in the grips of one of the most heated domestic debates that has occurred since the Civil Rights era. It is a debate that has caused a myriad of reactions ranging from heated discussions to downright mean and vicious comments. The debate has brought out the worst and the best of us as a nation as we wrestle with the issue of providing health care to the people of our nation.

Health care reform seems to have developed emotion that is wrapped up around several concepts, taking in to account foreign health care systems:

• It is socialized medicine.
  


• We will end up like other countries with nationwide health care, rationing through limited choices, and long lines to receive health care.
  


• Foreign health-care systems are inefficient, bloated bureaucracies.
  


• Cost controls stifle innovation.
  


• Health insurance has to be cruel because it is impersonal.

In addition, there are claims that we will, if not directly then indirectly, develop a practice of euthanasia. I don’t believe that, but the issue is whether you do.

As responsible citizens, when we hear these comments, we need to find out for ourselves to what extent, if any, they are true. We need to determine for ourselves the responsibility of this country for all of its citizens. Politicians, no matter what side of the fence they are on, will paint a picture favorable to their perspective.

There are deep concerns about the overall cost. Those concerns are real and need to be honestly evaluated by our national leaders.

At its recent Church-wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the assembly approved the following resolution: RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Assembly, commit this church in all of its expressions to the premise that “each person should have ready access to basic health care services that include preventive, acute, and chronic physical and mental health care at an affordable cost.

This is a commitment we can make. As the ELCA believes, adequate health care for the wealthiest country in the history of this world is a right, not a privilege.

TELLING BIBLE STORIES

Beginning a new mission is not just knocking on doors and attempting to identify prospects for the new mission. Of course, that’s the primary purpose. However, there are other areas to focus upon. One of those is to serve where God has called.

Several months ago, when I returned to Jonesborough to live full time, I was asked by Wellington Place, an assisted living community, to teach a Bible class to Alzheimer residents with other residents participating. I said to myself, “O God, what should I do?” Well, I agreed to do it. Subsequently, I decided to tell stories. (After all, we live in Jonesborough.) I use PowerPoint and images from the internet.

Since we began this story telling in Lent, I began with the passion of Christ. Then, we moved to Jesus’ resurrection. Afterward, we went back to the beginning. We started with creation. We have now finished Joshua and the Judges.

It’s been a joyous experience for me. Yes, some are Alzheimers “victims.” Some have various stages of dementia. Then, there are those who are residents for one reason or another who cannot take care of themselves. They all enjoy the stories. The images presented by PowerPoint provide a focus for the residents as the story unfolds. I enjoy telling them.

My major theme is that God loves us. I always attempt to remind those present of that love through the stories that are told. We always end singing, “Jesus Loves Me.”

What began for me as a fearful request has ended as a blessing.

MUSIC ON THE SQUARE

Music on the Square was a very positive experience. The weather was beautiful. the performers were outstanding. The crowd was large.

Over 40 people from 5 congregations of the conference assisted in promoting Cross of Grace Lutheran Church by distributing bottles of water.

There was great fellowship and sharing of the gospel.

We hope you enjoy all the pictures.

MUSIC ON THE SQUARE

On Friday evening, July 10, beginning at 7:00 PM, Cross of Grace Lutheran Church will be the featured sponsor for Music on the Square. Please join us. This will be an opportunity to enhance the awareness of Lutheranism in the Jonesborough area.

The featured soloist is Shannon Whitworth. Here is what is said about her:

With songs steeped in southern elegance, Shannon Whitworth's impact in the world of Americana music over the past several years has created lofty expectation by fans nationwide. With her debut solo release, she reminds us that innocence has No Expectations. So pure, strong and heartfelt, she catches the ears and touches the hearts of even the most unsuspecting bystander.

Shannon's musical background begins with picking circles in the back of a Vacuum Repair Shop in Boone, NC with men twice her age. Whitworth made her mark with her captivating voice and definitive songs as a founding member of The Biscuit Burners. On her former band's 2004 release, Shannon's ballad, 'Come On Darlin' was chosen as the IPOD Hotpick Bluegrass song of the year of 2004, while the album was chosen in the Top 10 Bluegrass Albums of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. National touring and exposure created an international fan base, and now her fans, and fans of southern roots music, can enjoy the heartfelt innocence of No Expectations.
Come join us at Music on the Square and enjoy great bluegrass music in old downtown Jonesborough.

DESSERTS -- PLUS
On Tuesday, June 23rd, Cross of Grace Lutheran Church will be hosting a fun time for all who would like to attend. We’re calling it “Dessert – Plus.” The time of the event is 7:00 PM and it will take place at The Dining Room, 148 East Main Street, in Jonesborough. It’s located in the old Town Hall. The building faces Boone Street. It’s also known for its great Cuban food.

Christ calls us to be in relationship. First, of course, is to be in relationship with God. We can do that through being in relationship with other people. That’s what Cross of Grace desires to facilitate.

People representing Cross of Grace have knocked on over 400 doors. Approximately 50 people have indicated a desire to know more about this new mission congregation. This event is a good way to bring interested people together to find out what’s happening, what people might consider interesting, and to sense a little bit of our faith journey.

When Jesus connected with people, more often than not he was eating with them. And so it could be with us. The Dining Room prepares wonderful desserts. We will be able to indulge in them while visiting with people in the Jonesborough community.

Please join us.

MUSIC ON THE SQUARE

Music on the Square has begun its 11th season. It happens every Friday evening, beginning at 7:00 PM. Several hundred people gather to listen to good old country music, blue grass, rock and roll, or other varieties of enjoyable music. We take our folding chairs and listen to the music under the stars in downtown Jonesborough in front of the courthouse.

Why is this part of Cross of Grace Lutheran Church? Well, first of all, Cross of Grace is part of Jonesborough. We hope that we become integrated into the community. In addition, Cross of Grace Lutheran Church is a sponsor for Music on the Square. Every week, when the performance begins, the Music on the Square banner is smack dab in back of the performers. Our logo, name, and the comment “Claimed, Gathered, and Sent” is on that banner.

Christ also calls us to be in relationship with one another. That not only means being in relationship with those we already know or within our own community of faith. Christ wants us to be in relationship with the world, the world in which we live. After all, we are claimed, gathered, and sent for the sake of the world. In order to respond to the world, we need to live in it and relate with it.

Come join us for Music on the Square.