Vintage Grace: July 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

Worship into the Week- Conquerors

Worship into the Week-

Romans 8: 26-39

God's Everlasting Love

Some favorite phrases for me here in this reading:

the Spirit helps us in our weakness
the Spirit internees for the saints according to the will of God
for those who love God all things work together for good
conformed to the image of his Son
if God is for us, who can be against us?
who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us
nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God

Just reading and rereading this section these days.

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable
childrens-bulletin-romans-828-72620

Magazine cutouts

Colored pencils

Gelatos

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Prayers for Hadley

Siblings and cousins in a prayer time

for Hadley Grace.

DOT paints and Scripture.

Right onto the back of a cereal box.

Teaching them to pray Scripture

in time of need.

Because there are days and times

we just don't have a lot of words of our own.

The prayer can be pretty simple-

Heal Hadley.

Trying to understand just what a hospital is ...

Gathered together to pray.

We thank God for simple ways to bring requests

and praise to our Heavenly favor.

Praying in Color with children-

these tools and resources

bless our family.

And we give thanks to God

that little Hadley is out of intensive care.

And we keep praying...

Monday, July 27, 2020

Faith Grows in Waiting

We are living out some
challenging days in our family

with the illness of a granddaughter.

We have seen the outpouring of love

and encouragement from so many-
with a huge dose of HOPE.

The body of Christ has surrounded us with words

that show love

and the real way that faith in Jesus connects us.

This card came in the mail today

from a friend that offered

Romans 15:13.

It has become the verse

we cling to right now.

"May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace
as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Thank you Lord,
for some many that serve you
with hands and feet and hearts
for others. Amen.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Worship into the Week- Fear NOT

Worship into the Week-

The Parable of the Weeds Explained

Matthew 13: 36-43

Sometimes it really helped the disciples

to have a sit down

and explain it session with Jesus.

Probably most of the people

in the crowds had some questions too.

Summary:

Be good seed

Shine like the sun

Give it your ALL

Live in the Kingdom of the Father

Listen to the Father

Live as God's People

Supplies:

Visual Church Year Printable
childrens-bulletin-isaiah-448-71920

Magazine cutouts

Pearlescent Watercolors

Washi tape

Sharpie pen

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Strength in the Journey

Isaiah 43

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name;

you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Living in these churning up and down days

with the medical emergency

for our sweet granddaughter Hadley.

Like the undertow that pulls you out

as you get slammed with another wave

and you can't stand up.

When I can't even begin to think of

"to come"

because we live right now in just today.

And we pray:

Dear Jesus,

today I just

rest my wants and desires right onto

your heart.

You already know our hurt.

You have called, held and continue to hold

little Hadley in your masterplan.

Help me to be a helper and

lean hard and be strong.

Let me see the small promises,

and cling to your provision each day.

Bless our family as you always have in the past.

In your name we pray,

amen.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Worship into the Week- Bear Fruit

Worship into the Week-

Matthew 13

Listening

Understanding

Bearing fruit.

What does it mean to make

an uncommon mark on the world?

When our lives produce fruit-

of life in the Kingdom.

Praying this day for a sweet granddaughter

who is gravely ill and fighting for her life.

Coloring this page helped me in my prayers.

May the Lord to heal her and spare her life.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Bible Marginalia- Love One Another

Romans 10: 12-13

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;

for the same Lord is Lord of all,

bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

For everyone who calls on the name

of the Lord will be saved."

1 John 1:9-11

"Whoever says he is in the light

and hates his brother is still in darkness.

Whoever loves his brother abides in the light

and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness

and walks in the darkness,

and does not know where is is going,

because the darkness has blinded his eyes."

So many things to pray about

in these days of civil unrest.

Black Lives Matter

May the Lord restore hearts unto Himself.

We must simply love one another.

Supplies:

Illustrating Journaling Bible by Lifeway

Printables-@printprayslay

Black Lives Matter

Distress Ink

Monday, July 13, 2020

40th Anniversary of Ordination- JRD

Forty years ago today-

the anniversary of John's Ordination.

It was on a very, very hot day in Nebraska-

in a church with no air-conditioning.

Trinity Lutheran Church
in Auburn, Nebraska.

Installed by Nebraska District President-

Rev. Eldor Meyer.

This first congregation allowed years
to learn about ministry

and faith-life living that can

Light Up the Darkness.

A second call was to be a Campus Pastor at

Campus Lutheran at Kearney State College

in Kearney, Nebraska.

This is where we learned

there is a big world that needs Jesus.

Growing in experience

and loving ministry to young adults.

The third call was to

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

as Associate Pastor

in Springfield, Virginia.
(Service bulletin signed by Jessica.)

Serving on staff with

L to R- Rev. Ralph Wiechmann- Senior Pastor

Bob Schmiesing- DCE

and Rev. H. H. Wiechmann.

John became Senior Pastor in 1996

at Prince of Peace

and finished a Doctorate

from Fuller Seminary in 2000.

Twenty-four years in ministry

at this congregation and John often learned to say-

I Need Grace Today.

In May 2012 John was elected

to be the Southeastern District President.

The installation day was blessed

to be shared with our daughters-

Jessica, Sara and Laura.

John loves to participate
in ordinations and installations.
Here with Rev. Adam and Sonja Kosberg-
Calvary Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC.

This group of men - District Presidents-

stand together

to be strong and courageous.

Visionaries in a challenging time

to lead in our church.

This job can be rather lonesome sometimes,

and the load heavy.

Time to lean on the Lord

for recovery and Holy Spirit nudges.

A great love has been to take family and friends
to the Holy Land-
(here at Temple Mount-
where you have to stand apart)

In these years of ministry-

one of the greatest blessings

are the grandchildren.

Here in 2018 with six of them- all boys.

September 2019-

with the 7 boys and new granddaughter.

And another grandson is due September 2020.

During these Covid19 days

one of John's delights is to write

the worship service and lead ZOOM

worship for our family.

This is a service written for littles

and singing with the guitar (and some dancing)

and doing

family blessings.

We give thanks for the ministry

of John Denninger and thank the Lord

for all of His good grace in these 40 years.

May he be blessed in future years

of serving in the Kingdom.

Praise to Him!

(We also give thanks to the Vicarage year
at Faith Lutheran- Vista, California
for the shaping and experience there
with Rev. Beryl Droegemueller)