God's hands - Reflection 9-6-17

 Texts for Sunday September 10, 2017
 God's work. Our hands.

 Amos 5:16, 21-24
 Romans 13:8-10
 Matthew 22:34-40


 Lutherans may seem fairly sedate and staid. But we do not simply wallow in our grace. We believe that because of God’s grace, we are freed in Christ to love and serve our neighbors. We trust that all of our life in Christ – every corner of life – flows freely from our confidence in God’s grace. We are even bold enough to call it a “living, daring confidence in God’s grace”!

Martin Luther wrote, “A Christian is lord of all, completely free of everything; a Christian is a servant, completely attentive to the needs of all.”  And “God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.” 

We are also certain that through God’s grace, each person has been created with unique capacities that are needed by those who are hurting and hungry. 



This Sunday, 9/10, is a day of service for our national church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We call it “God’s work. Our hands.” Sunday. Lutherans across the nation will be donning Hawkeye-yellow shirts saying God’s work. Our hands. and going out into the community to do God’s work with our hands. 

At Gloria Dei, between our worship services, adults and children will be selling pies and doing projects for Lutheran World Relief, The Common Fund of the Crisis Center, Lutheran Social Services of Iowa, our home-bound members, and for folks in our neighborhood.




In the afternoon, we’ll be scattered for service at 3 locations. 

1 - We will be doing outdoor clean up and landscaping at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area just off S. Gilbert/ Sand Road on McCollister Blvd. in Iowa City. This 152-acre area is a part of Iowa City’s Parks and Recreation department.

2 - We will be doing general yard work as well as some indoor cleaning at the Broadway Neighborhood Center. This is one of the Johnson County Neighborhood Centers which are community-based, family-centered human service organizations which offer programs in area schools and neighborhoods, providing a balanced mixture of programs and activities that built community and teach new skills.

3 - And we will be doing general yard work as well as indoor cleaning for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program who provide comprehensive support and advocacy services to victim/survivors, focusing on immediate and long-term safety, empowerment, dignity, and hope. They also work to end domestic abuse through education, accountability, and social justice.

Freed to serve our neighbor. Being God's hands. Not just a once-a-year event. Jesus invites us to "Love our neighbors as ourselves" every chance we get every day.


Reflect:
Whose hands have invested the most in bringing God’s blessing to you? 

How do you communicate blessing with your hands? 

When have you been aware of God at work in you? 

Where do you sense Christ is inviting you to serve others? 

Your comments are always welcome.

How to Find Us





Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Iowa City

Gathered by grace. Scattered for service.

123 E Market Street
Iowa City, IA 52245