WHO DO YOU SAY THAT JESUS IS?

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. (Matt. 16:13-20)

In one of the gospel passages from Matthew that we focused on in worship a couple of weeks ago, Jesus has taken his disciples on a journey with him to the foothills of Mount Hermon, some twenty-five miles northeast of Lake Galilee and near the city of Caesarea Philippi.

This area was not a part of the current day land of Israel or Palestine, but it did mark what once was the far northern border of Israel from the great days of King David and Solomon. Meanwhile, it had become, once again, a land of the Gentiles and not the Jews. That was most evident from the fact that this city and area was covered with over a dozen temples and shrines dedicated to various pagan gods, and even included a huge and marvelous temple built of white marble and dedicated by Herod the Great to the Roman Emperor Caesar.

Here, in rather dramatic fashion, amid all these gleaming pagan temples, Jesus gathers his twelve disciples and asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” They respond with what they have heard and what they themselves think: John the Baptist come back from the dead, Elijah or Jeremiah come back from the dead, for they knew and believed that a great prophet would come to herald the arrival of God’s great new King – Messiah. So then Jesus hones the question down to that more personal level: “Who do YOU say that I am?” And it is to Peter that the Holy Spirit of God has revealed the correct answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Peter’s great discovery points out to us that any of our human categories for Jesus, even though they are highly favorable, are inadequate to describe Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior. When people described Jesus as the great Elijah or as Jeremiah or one of the other famous prophets, they thought that they were elevating Jesus to the highest level possible. It was the belief of the Jews that for the last four hundred years God had failed to raise up a true prophet whose voice was heard clearly. But now people were saying that in Jesus of Nazareth people were hearing again the direct and authoritative voice of God. What a great tribute that was. Yet, it was not enough, for there ARE no human categories that are adequate to describe Jesus.

Twenty years later, as Peter might have reflected back on that scene and what he had said, he might have been able to give greater theological or even philosophical meaning to his confession that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God; yet he knew that any such attempt would prove to be rather inadequate.

This passage and the experience of Peter and the other disciples teach us that our discovery of Jesus and who he really is and what he really does is ever and always a personal discovery. Jesus comes to EACH of us with that question: “And YOU, who do YOU say that I am? What do YOU think of me?” In John 18, when Jesus is standing before Pontius Pilate for trial, Pilate asked him if he WAS the King of the Jews. Jesus then asked Pilate: “Do you say this of your OWN accord, or did others say it TO you ABOUT me?” Jesus asks that very question of you and me as well: “Do you say of your OWN accord that Jesus Christ is Messiah, Son of God, Savior and Lord, or do you think that this is just what others say but you don’t really believe it deep down in your own heart?”

Our knowledge of Jesus cannot ever be just a second-hand thing. You may know a great deal about Jesus and his life and teachings; you may know all the words and events surrounding his trials and sufferings and death and even resurrection; you may know all the arguments and theologies that have been put forth about Jesus over these 2,000 years and can summarize them all very well, and yet, still not be one who truly confesses Jesus Christ as God’s Son, Messiah, Savior and Lord. As you have heard before, Christianity never consists in merely knowing ABOUT Jesus, but ALWAYS in truly KNOWING Jesus as Son of God, MY Lord, MY Savior. As he did with Peter and the disciples and with Pontius Pilate and even the Jewish leaders, Jesus DEMANDS a personal verdict: “And YOU, who do YOU say that I am – what do YOU think of me?” Ah yes, what DO you think of Jesus, and how is that lived out, fleshed out in your daily life and conversation – conversation with God, with family, with neighbor and stranger? Then it is that you begin to understand what this life in Christ Jesus is all about. And wouldn’t that then truly make a difference in this world? Something to think about as we begin our school and fall activities and gather, hopefully with greater numbers and meaning, around our Christian fellowship, worship, Word and Sacrament at HLC and TLC.

Pastor John

COME TO RALLY DAY WORSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 11^TH!

SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICE WITH CHILDREN’S LITURGY CALLED

“EVERYBODY PRAISE!”

Back in HIS day, Martin Luther was wise enough and perhaps “maverick” enough, with his great love for music, to make use of the popular “secular” tunes of his day and mix them with Christian texts for hymns and liturgy in the church. He wanted to encourage the people of his parish to sing about God and Jesus.

These days, outside of our worship times or times at Bible camps or other church gatherings, people don’t gather much to just sing songs together. One exception may be at a ball game where everyone at least sings the National Anthem. Also, for the church today to use secular tunes in worship is hampered by copyright laws, so it is left with very few options.

Yet, using popular tunes has the advantage of not only being fun to sing, but also because most everyone knows them, even from childhood, even those who may not be a part of church very often. And young children can happily join in song.

On Sunday, September 11^th at our worship services, we will join together in a special children’s liturgy called “Everybody Praise!” and we will sing tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Row Your Boat” and “Working on the Railroad” as we celebrate our common faith and gather at the Lord’s Table.

So, join us for worship on a very special day, September 11^th, for it is also a special day of

remembering what happened in our nation four years ago in New York and D.C.

Worship at Hayward Lutheran will be at 10:30 a.m. The Sunday School meets at 9:15 a.m. and has some special, fun events planned for that day, including a carnival and a pot luck noon meal for all.

Worship at Trondhjem Lutheran will be at 8:45 a.m., with Sunday School following. Then members of the larger community are welcome back to TLC at 5:00 p.m. for the annual Ice Cream Social and meal.

EVERYBODY PRAISE!

Come Join In The Celebrations For All Ages

OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOLY COMMUNION

September 4 16^th Sunday after Pentecost

September 11 17^th Sunday after Pentecost

ADULT CLASS TO STUDY

THE ODYSSY OF PAUL

Our parish ADULT CLASS begins on Wednesday, September 28^th, at 10:15 a.m., with a duplicate class on Sunday evening, October 2^nd, at 6:30 p.m. We will gather together for eight sessions as we follow the travels of the Apostle Paul on his missionary journeys as reflected in “The Acts of the Apostles.” Our “guide” for these trips with Paul will be Dr. Paul Meier through his video presentations and following discussions. We hope that you can join us, either on Wednesday mornings or on Sunday evenings for this fine “tour” of the Mediterranean lands where the Apostle Paul journeyed, and to hear of some of the marvelous things that he accomplished for the church in the name of Jesus the Christ.

COLLEGE STUDENT ADDRESSES

We would like to have the addresses of those who are in college during this coming year so that we can send them the monthly Newsletter. If your student would like the Newsletter sent to them, please notify the Church Office of their address. Thank you!

TRONDHJEM NEWS

SEPTEMBER ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Betty and Jill Krause

Coffee Servers

September 11 Obert Haldorson

September 25 Barbara Prantner

Communion Assistant

Cheryl Lukes

Lectors

September 4 Linda Kraushaar

September 11 Elaine Lukes

September 18 Charlotte Lukes

September 25 Steve Kraushaar

SEPTEMBER ACOLYTE/USHERS

September 4 Cortney Thostenson

September 11 Daniel Jax

September 18 Jessica Naatz

September 25 Matt Reese

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

September 1 Ralph George

September 8 Kim Naatz

September 12 Cortney Thostenson

September 16 Ken Benesh

September 22 Michael Severtson

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

September 1 Ralph & Bette George

September 11 Arlyn & Joleen Krause

September 14 Dale & Elaine Lukes

September 22 Kiven & Cheryl Lukes

MEMORIALS

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Cecil Bremer by M/M Jim Benesh Sr.

In memory of Cecil Bremer by Emily Cech.

In memory of Lester Pell by M/M Jim Benesh Sr.

In memory of Rozenna Randel by Emily Cech.

In memory of Don Carlsen by Gilma Bothum.

In memory of Patrick O’Brien by Gilma Bothum.

THE PIE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING!!!

Remember to mark your calendars for the Pie and Ice Cream Social coming to Trondhjem Lutheran on Sunday, September 11^th at 5 p.m.

Those Trondhjem ladies sure know how to make pies!! And the men are really good “ice cream scoopers”.

And, those barbecues that come with the pie and ice cream -----mmmmm good!

COME AND TASTE. The fellowship is great too!

WELCOME, ALAYNA BETTY

Olivia Krause helped her parents, Arlyn & Joleen Krause, welcome home her baby sister, Alayna Betty. Alayna was born Friday, August 19^th and weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. at birth. CONGRATULATIONS!

TRONDHJEM WELCA NEWS

THANK YOU!!!

The Trondhjem WELCA Board members would like to THANK ALL of our church members for their generous support of our “LEADERS IN MISSION SCHOLARSHIP FUND.” We received a total of $410.25 for this fund. For every $2.00 we received, Thrivent will match a dollar. This was a very worthwhile project.

----Trondhjem WELCA Board

WELCA SYNOD CONVENTION COMING IN SEPTEMBER

The Women of the ELCA Synod Convention will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2005, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, MN.

One voting delegate and one alternate are going to attend from our church. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Music gathering is at 8:45 a.m. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be the meeting, lunch and speakers. Only members registered by August 28^th may attend. The registration fee is $18.00 per person.

A “Love Offering” will be received during the convention. The “Love Offering” is 3 yards of 44”or 45” fabric or 4 yards of 36” fabric. This must be cotton or cotton blend (No knit or 100% polyester)!!! Please bring this to any Board member by Sunday, September 18^th. This fabric will be sent to Lutheran World Relief to be used in programs. This will help young men and women learn how to sew and then they can make clothing to sell. This helps them to earn a living.

PLEASE HELP OUR CHURCH to be able to have a large “Love Offering” to take to the convention.

Thank you!

-----Trondhjem WELCA Board

HAYWARD NEWS

MISSION STATEMENT

We the people of Hayward Lutheran Church confess the Triune God, and strive to follow the words and deeds of Jesus Christ.

VISION STATEMENT

As a community of faith in Jesus Christ, we will demonstrate care and compassion for one another and also to a world in much need. God’s Word and the Holy Sacraments are central to our life of faith. As we grow and are nourished by these, we will bring the good news of God’s forgiveness, life and salvation to those around us.

HAYWARD LUTHERAN

OUR STEWARDSHIP FOR 2005

Month Where we Actuals Should be

January $ 8,540 $8,095

February $17,080 $15,353

March $25,620 $25,295

April $34,160 $32,237

May $42,700 $38,950

June $51,240 $44,664

July $59,780 $53,957

August $68,320 (Thru 8/14) $56,276

September $78,860 $

October $85,400 $

November $93,940 $

December $102,475 $

The Hayward Congregation Council would like to thank each and every one of you for your contributions over the summer. We appreciate your faithful giving and support so that we can meet our financial obligations. May God bless you as you continue to support your church with your time, talents, presence at worship, participation in the programs of the church and, of course, your financial support.

Hayward Congregation Council

CONGRATULATIONS to Bobbi Jo Jacobsma and Jason Betts who were married July 23^rd at Church of Christ in Albert Lea. The reception was held here at Hayward Lutheran. Darlene & McKenzie Gilby, Miranda Garduno, Dick & Gwen Hanson served the reception.

We pray God’s blessings on their life together.

ASSIGNMENTS

Altar Guild

Cammie Tennis & Carole Eggum

Coffee Servers

September 4 Neal & Jean Skaar

September 11 Paul & Min Westland

Kris & John Schultz

September 18 Chris & Kay Skaar

Tracy & Sue Skaar

September 25 Shirley Olson

Ushers

*Paul & Min Westland

Brian & Ben Berhow

David Westland

Faye & Michelle Learn

Kris Schultz & Melissa Sather

Lectors

September 4 Phil Tennis

September 11 Gwen Hanson

September 18 Dan Johnson

September 25 Jeanne Schermer

Communion Assistants

Sonja Johnson

Pat Frydenlund

SEPTEMBER ACOLYTE/USHERS

September 4 Lacy Wright & Caylee Tennis

September 11 Mitchell Skaar & Dahna Wright

September 18 Julie Erickson & Hunter Gilby

September 25 Louis & Logan Tufte

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

September 1 Wes Tennis

September 2 Logan Tufte

September 3 Brooke Woitas

September 5 Mabel Larson

Paul Miller

September 6 Lucille Anderson

September 7 Jack Thisius

September 9 Amy Larson

September 13 Darrell Storlie

Vanessa Storlie

September 14 Kevin Learn

September 15 Nathan Westland

September 16 Holland Ravenhorst

September 17 Polly Noland

Paul Samuelson

Jerry Noland

September 19 Audrey Cox

September 20 Lila Johnson

James Skaar

Dale Westland

September 22 Patrick Noland

September 24 Kristin Schultz

Mac Noland

September 25 Sue Skaar

September 27 Galen Johnson

September 29 Camilla Frydenlund

Brock Noland

SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

September 6 Doran & Shirley Gray

September 13 Ashle & Harriet Skaar

September 16 Kelly Jo & Shane Christensen

September 28 Paul & Barb Miller

WE EXTEND OUR SYMPATHY to the family and friends of Donna Thebiay who passed away July 3, 2005. Her funeral was on July 8, 2005 at First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar, IA. Rev. Myrwood Bagne officiated.

MEMORIALS

LIFT FUND

In memory of Cecile Bremer by Helen Dockwell.

In memory of Beverly Nelson by M/M Kendall Johnson.

In memory of Rozena Randall by Helen Dockwell.

GENERAL FUND

In memory of Helen Kycek by Barbara Edmon

In memory of Donna Thebiay by M/M Paul Westland

In memory of Corey Goodnature by M/M Vern

Frydenlund

LUTHERAN YOUTH ORGANIZATION

In memory of Corey Goodnature by M/M Phil Tennis

And M/M/ Wes Tennis

GREETINGS FROM OUR MISSIONARY FAMILY

PSALMS

Somehow, many have come to mind these past weeks. Where better are our deep emotions captured in Scripture?

Our three daughters – Jenny, Kirsten, and Heidi, have joined us for the summer (and now just back to the States, all three to college). We have rejoiced repeatedly in their presence. How we give thanks to God for their very being! Psalms of praise and thanksgiving, especially the whole of Psalm 33.

Katie and Annie visited us for six weeks – a special privilege for all of our family. Their father struggles with a life limiting illness and tremendous care needs. How could precious daughters be allowed away at such a time? We shared lots of joy. A family of steadfast hearts, as we read in Psalm 57.

Salome and Flora, two young women at the end of their lives, each dying (dead, now) in miserable and isolated circumstances of AIDS. I read over and over the first two verses of Psalms 4, 5, and 6. How long indeed, oh lord? How can there be such suffering? Must we always be so helpless in the face of such despair? Read all of Psalm 25 as if the one speaking/writing/crying might be someone with AIDS.

Joe Shenk, a fellow missionary with the Mennonite church, died after an accident last month. We will always remember Psalm 91 with fondness towards Joe, and thanksgiving to God that a life dedicated to service was faithful to the end. Though such grief at a tragic, unexpected death. And such unwelcome change in the lives of his entire family – the Bible school community in Musoma and all of us who have come to know Joe. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”.

My work goes so slowly it seems, knocking on all kinds of bureaucratic and financial doors with minimal, if any, response. But it looks as if September will bring a rush of traveling again. And positive steps have been made all around. Nathan joins the boarding school in Kenya where Heidi attended, and Rebecca will add teaching and learning activities at the nearby Lutheran seminary and university (Makumira) to her many other interests. We enter a new time in our lives, Rebecca and I, of having a child around just intermittently. Time for a new patience in ‘distance parenting’, and a new learning of time together ‘alone’, along with everything else.

Psalm 19 is a favorite, and ends familiarly: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Kristopher and Rebecca Hartwig

ALTAR GUILD

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE FRESH FLOWERS?

Fresh flowers for the altar are a beautiful addition to our worship service. If you wish to furnish flowers, all you need to do is call the Altar Guild president, Marlene Thompson (373-3895). The Guild will purchase and display the flowers for you, and if you wish, will put an acknowledgement in the Sunday bulletin. Cost of the flowers is usually about $15. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Sunday, September 11^th will be Rally Day here at HLC. The Sunday School Board is planning a Noah’s Ark Theme Park to begin the year. Games, prizes and a pot luck noon meal for the whole congregation are part of the morning! Mark your calendars and plan to come – YOUNG AND ‘NOT SO YOUNG’ – and join in the festivities.

GOOD EARTH VILLAGE YOUTH BLAST!!!

ROADS IN THE BIBLE

A Retreat for Grades 3-6

October 7-8

October 14-15

November 4-5

There is a lot of action in the Bible that takes place on a road to somewhere. During this retreat we’ll take a look at some of these journeys: What happened? How were the people involved changed or affected? How can we relate this road trip to our own lives?

In addition to Bible studies, there will be time for games, hiking, worship, singing and meeting new friends!

Contact Gretchen at 507-346-2494 or Gretchen@GoodEarthVillage.org.

Cost: $30/Camper (Chaperones are free). The retreat starts at 7:00 p.m. Friday and lasts until 7:00 p.m. Saturday. Cost includes lodging, 3 meals and all programming.

Come and join us on this road adventure!!

Registration blanks are available in the Church Office.

OF THE FIVE YEARS I’VE GONE TO GOOD EARTH VILLAGE, THIS WAS THE BEST!!

Tate and Logan Tufte spent the week of August 7^th as campers at Good Earth Village. They have agreed to share some of their experiences from that week.

Tate was in the Pathfinders Program. This is what he had to say about his time at camp:

“I had three meals a day, did Bible Study and played some games. We had two canteens and two worships. One day we went hiking. Another we went to a pool. On Thursday we roasted hot dogs and had s’mores! We weren’t able to go to the creek because of a huge storm that hit! We had 3-hour worship!”

Logan was in the Pioneer Program. He says:

“The theme this week was Road Trip. The Road Trip referred to our road trip with faith and the numerous detours, scenic views, one ways and rest stops we find along the way. Each day we had three meals and every breakfast and supper we made over an open fire. One day we hiked to Bat Cave and then we creek-hiked back. It was fun! Another day we went creek splashing and that was super cold! During the week on Tuesday night we were hit with a thunderstorm. One tree fell down on a cabin’s porch and another’s trunk was split in half when a branch fell off. The Counselors there were nice and friendly. Of the five years that I’ve gone to Good Earth Village, this was the best!”

Thank you to the Hayward WELCA for their contributions to support the Camperships for those attending Bible Camp.

WELCA NEWS

FEISTY FOREBEARS:

Four Female Ancestors of Jesus

On Tuesday, September 27^th from 8:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., “A Walks of Boldness” presentation will be co-hosted by Good Earth Village.

Four pastors will lead Bible studies and discussions on the four female ancestors of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 1: Tamar from Genesis 38; Rahab from Joshua 2:1-24 and 6:17-25; Ruth from the Book of Ruth; and Bathsheba from II Samuel 11:12, I Kings 1:11-21 and 28-31, 2:13-21.

Each Bible study will be followed by a dramatic monologue of the woman presented by Shirley Gangstad, Spring Valley. After the monologue there will be a short discussion on what this woman has to say to us in our time.

The cost is $35, which includes the program, lunch, snacks and a wonderful time. Deadline for registration is September 13, 2005.

WELCA TO TOUR AMANA COLONIES

On Wednesday, September 14^th , the HLC WELCA will leave from the church at 8 a.m. and travel to Harmony, IA to take a bus tour of the Amana Colonies. Cost per person for the tour is $20. We will stop for lunch after the tour before returning to Hayward.

WELCA CONTRIBUTES TO HELP PAY BACK BUILDING FUND

The Congregation and Council want to say a BIG THANK YOU to the Hayward WELCA for their contribution of $1,500 to help pay back some of what has been borrowed from the Building Fund. Also THANK YOU to the ladies of WELCA for their donations and contributions to the bake sale, which helped to make this contribution possible.

THIS ‘N’ THAT

LOST & FOUND: A pair of clip-on sunglasses was found in the parking lot of Hayward Lutheran. They can be claimed in the Church Office.

WE DON’T NEED YOU ANY MORE

God is sitting in heaven when a scientist says to Him, “God, we don’t need you any more. Science has finally figured out a way to create life out of nothing. In other words, we can now do what you did in the beginning.”

“Oh, is that so? Tell Me,” replies God.

“Well,” says the scientist, “we can take plain dirt and form it into the likeness of you and breathe life into, thus creating man.”

“Well, that’s very interesting; show me,” says God.

So, the scientist bends down to the earth and starts to mold the soil into the shape of a man.

“No, no, no,” interrupts God. ‘GET YOUR OWN DIRT.”

RETARDED GRANDPARENTS

A teacher asked her pupils how they spent their vacation. One child wrote the following:

We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and Grandpa. They used to live here in a big, brick house, but Grandpa got retarded so they moved to California and live in Palm Springs with a lot of other retarded people. They live in condo-minimum and have rocks painted green to look like grass.

They ride around on big tricycles and wear nametags because they don’t know who they are anymore. They go to a building called a wrecked center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all right now. They play games and do exercises there, but they don’t do them very well.

There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with their hats on. I guess they don’t know how to swim.

At their gate there is a dollhouse with a little old man sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they sneak out. Then they go cruising in their golf carts. My grandma used to bake cookies and stuff, but I guess she forgot how. Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And they eat the same thing every night: early birds.

Some of the people can’t get past the man in the dollhouse to go out, so the ones who get out bring food back to the wrecked center and call it pot luck.

My grandma and grandpa worked all his life to earn his retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded one day too.

When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the dollhouse. Then I will let people out so they can visit their grandchildren.

Are you wrinkled with burden? Come to the church for a facelift.

+++

Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.

+++

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

+++

When praying, don’t give God instructions – just report for duty.

A GREAT REMINDER

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

“I love it,” he stated with enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait.”

“That does not have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.”

“Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away just for this time in my life.

“Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.”

“So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.”

+++

FIVE SIIMPLE RULES TO BE HAPPY

--Free your heart from hatred

--Free your mind from worries

--Live simply

--Give more

--Expect less

+++

Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.

+++

Never give the devil a ride – he will always want to drive.

GOD AND THE SPIDER

During World War II, a US marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire he had lost touch with his comrades.

Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed.

As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen.”

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.” Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he watched, listening to the enemy searching for him all the while, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. “Hah, he thought. What I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.”

As the enemy drew closer he watched from the darkness of his hideout and could see them searching one cave after another. As they came to his, he got ready to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. Suddenly, he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered for quite a while. “Lord, forgive me,” prayed the young man. “I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.”

We all face times of great trouble. When we do, it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways. As the great leader, Nehemiah, reminded the people of Israel when they faced the task of rebuilding Jerusalem, “In God we will have success!” (Nehemiah 2:20)

PARISH NEWS DEADLINE

The deadline for turning in articles and calendar information for the Parish News is the 20^th of each month. Thank you for your cooperation.

ADDRESS CHANGE? If you or someone you know has had a change of address or phone number within this past year, please inform the Church Office as soon as possible. Thank you for your help!