“Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.” These are words we’ve been hearing in worship during these “Bread Sundays” in this year’s lectionary. In yesterday’s sermon I quoted Joe Sittler, a pastor and professor emeritus of theology in Chicago, who had gone nearly blind in his old age and, before he died, shared these thoughts about life after death. By request, here is that quotation:
“Intellectually, I cannot put any content into the word “live” with regard to the time after I die. Because the only life I know is the finite one that I love before dying. I certainly don’t want to do this all over again. I definitely do not want to continue to love the present carcass into all eternity. That is an absurd and not at all pleasant idea. But what life beyond death might be, I have no notion. If all life is engendered and created by God, then that relationship will not be destroyed by the periodic appearance and disappearance of this particular person with my name. Something continues, but what that will be I’m perfectly willing to leave in the hands of the Originator.”
And, in the hands of the Originator is a pretty good place to be, both for eternity and for every day until then!
This coming weekend, Sept. 18-19, we will be putting in the hands of “the Originator” our students and teachers on our annual “Blessing of the Backpacks” weekend! With school around the corner, what better way to begin, than asking God’s blessings on our children and their teachers. Our children are asked to bring their backpacks and our teachers to bring their lesson plans books, all of which we will lay under the altar as we come into church. At the time of the prayers during worship, we’ll invite the children and teachers to come forward for a blessing. In addition to this we will also be gathering an offering for “Backpacks for Suriname” this weekend. This year the Lutheran Church in Suriname is one of the places we will be helping students, in an orphanage there, with school supplies. Our offering (of any amount) will be going toward purchasing backpacks which will be supplied with a school uniform, shoes, and gym clothes along with pencils, paper and other school supplies. The cost of each fully stocked backpack is $50. Any amount you’re able to give will go toward this project, and we’ve already had an offer from someone to purchase a number of these backpacks and “even out” whatever amount is gathered to fill more backpacks. As an added bonus, one of our own college students, Ben Smith is making plans to go to Suriname to volunteer at that orphanage. If we can arrange the timing of it all, Ben can actually bring the gift and present it in person, as well as work with the children at the orphanage. So, plan on joining us for worship this weekend as we come to receive the Bread of Life, send our children and teachers into a new school year with that blessing, and also share that Bread in a tangible way with some children in Suriname.
On a “for your information” note, tomorrow, Tuesday Aug. 14 will be “Glue Day” at Our Savior as our property guys, headed up by Mark Davia, will be securing the pews to the tile floor. If you haven’t yet seen the completed tile project, you will be impressed. It’s really beautiful, and all the tile contributes to a great, bright sound and wonderful singing.
For other information about life at Our Savior, be sure to visit our website at: www.oursaviorelca.com, which will, by the way, receive some major updates in the not too distant future….so keep posted.
May you all have a blessed week. Pastor Jack Diehl +
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