Good Fellowship Dinners – Spring 2025

/in , , , /by

Looking to connect with others in our church community over a relaxed meal? Join the Good Fellowship Dinners, a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow members and build new friendships. Adults will gather in small groups at each other’s homes from February through May. If hosting isn’t feasible or if you can’t commit for all four months, you can still participate as a substitute.

How It Works:

  • Who: All adults are welcome! Whether you’re single or part of a couple, you can join in.
  • What: Monthly dinners with rotating hosts and guests, offering a chance to meet different people each time.
  • Where: Hosts will choose the location—be it their home or another venue. Creativity is encouraged!
  • When: Hosts will coordinate with their assigned guests about two weeks in advance to set the date and time.
  • Bring: Hosts provide the main entrée, while guests bring appetizers, sides, or desserts. Everyone is responsible for their own beverages.

If you need to cancel, let your host know as soon as possible so a substitute can be arranged. For any questions or to contact a host, reach out to Nancy Papp at nancy.papp@harrynorman.com or Jill Gadebusch at jillgadebusch@gmail.com.

Sign up here

Don’t miss this chance to enjoy great food and even better company!

less bible study, more book club - experience the bible in a new way this january

Immerse Bible Book Groups Starting in 2025

/in , /by
Read more
Damage in Asheville, NC from Hurricane Helene

Western NC Disaster Relief Trip This December

/in , , , /by

By Mark Brosch and John Osberg

Many of you have expressed an interest in volunteering your time and talents to help the victims of Hurricane Helene.   Though we are beginning the holiday season, and it is obviously not the best time of year to plan time away from home.  But there are so many victims suffering every day now, in so many ways, and in so many places because of the disaster it is a bit daunting to figure out where the best place for us to serve is.  The answer to the question of when the best time to help is obvious:  ASAP!

We have decided that to make the greatest impact, and to immediately help at least some of those struggling, we are organizing a trip to North Carolina Wednesday, December 4 through Sunday, December 8.  Some volunteers may chose to leave early Thursday morning instead.  We have been invited to stay at Lutherock Camp and Conference Center at Newland, North Carolina (near Banner Elk/Boone, NC). The travel time is about 5 1/2 hours. We are fast-tracking this effort knowing there are many details still needing to be firmed up.

The Lutherock Camp itself has received significant damage from Hurricane Helene. It is estimated that over 2,000 trees were downed.  In addition, considerable damage was done to various buildings including the retreat center and the office building.  But the camp can accommodate, and is able to adequately function, for disaster response teams now.  We are focusing on this volunteer opportunity for two main reasons:

  • First, until the damage repairs are substantially completed, Lutherock will be unable to operate the camp facility for the hundreds of campers that are already scheduled to arrive in the spring.  They envision many of the campers will also be helping provide disaster recovery services to the community.  (FYI – Over 50 youth organizations have contacted Novusway, the owner of Lutherock, Lutheridge and Lutheranch, regarding volunteer opportunities for over 700 young adults.).
  • Second, Novusway is working with Lutheran Disaster Response (Carolinas) to provide lodging for volunteers coming to the Asheville/Boone area to help with overall disaster recovery efforts.  Please read the description below provided by Novusway.
All the details are not flushed out yet, but here is what is known at this time:
  • In attempt to beat the first snow, a trip is planned for leaving the afternoon of Wednesday, December 4th (or early morning Thursday, December 5th) returning Sunday, December 8th.
  • The biggest need seems to be for assistance with tree removal.  Also needed are volunteers to do drywall work, painting, laminate flooring installation and deck repair.  A complete work list will be provided as the date approaches and the number of volunteers is known.
  • There will be some cost for food and lodging.  We will provide that information as soon as it is known.

Please prayerfully consider volunteering to help Lutherock recover from the ravages of Hurricane Helene.  It was severely damaged but will, with God’s help and servants like us, be ready to host campers in the spring and other sorely needed disaster response volunteers.  We need your expression of interest and availability! 

Listening to God, 

Mark Brosch  + John Osberg 

Email the church office to get connected with Mark or John
 

Note from Novusway Camps:
Dear Camp Friends,
We remain overwhelmed by the realities of this situation, including what our staff and neighbors are experiencing. Today, we can finally share with you that we have been working closely with Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) Carolinas since Sunday to partner in providing disaster response efforts based out of both Lutheridge and Lutherock. This will be for groups of adults, college students, and youth. This won’t simply be summer groups, but year-round opportunities for years to come – as that will be needed. LDR is in this for the long haul and so are we!
Our goal is to provide a place apart that serves as a base camp for groups to do disaster work throughout Western NC. Logistics are forthcoming, and we are confident it will happen. We have been doing this type of work through our Luther Springs camp in Florida for years.

The Spiritual Practice of Gratitude

/in , /by

As we navigate November and encounter a mixed bag of emotions: from the exhausting election cycle to the beauty and gift of Thanksgiving, we want to invite you to consider adopting the spiritual practice of a daily gratitude meditation.

Gratitude not only fosters a deeper sense of connection with those around us but also helps anchor us in the present, even during stressful times. Research shows that gratitude can have a profound impact on mental health. In a study highlighted by Misty Pratt in the article, “The Science of Gratitude” on Mindful.org, nearly 300 adults participated in writing weekly gratitude letters for three weeks. The gratitude group reported significantly better mental health than the control group, with effects lasting up to 12 weeks after the study.

Another practice, “Three Good Things,” in which participants wrote down three things that went well each day and identified their causes, led to increased happiness and decreased depression for up to six months after the study. By dedicating time each day to reflect on gratitude, we can cultivate greater happiness and resilience throughout this season of community and thanksgiving.

We invite you to engage in this practice daily throughout November, pausing to reflect and then writing down three things you’re grateful for. Whether big or small, these reflections can help nurture a heart full of appreciation and gratitude that extends beyond this month.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a short guided exercise you can follow:

Gratitude Meditation Practice:

Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can sit or lie down.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, releasing any tension with each exhale. As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, bring to mind three specific things you are grateful for today. These might include moments like enjoying a peaceful walk, completing a task at work, or having a warm cup of tea.

Visualize these moments clearly, and feel the gratitude filling your heart, spreading warmth through your body. Sit with these feelings for a few minutes, noticing how they uplift your spirit. Afterward, take a moment to write down the three things you’re grateful for.

When you’re ready, take a few deep breaths, and gently open your eyes, carrying that sense of gratitude with you into the rest of the day.

 

Daily Practice Example:

Day 1: “I am grateful for the quiet morning I had to read, the helpful advice I received from a colleague, and the warm sweater I wore on a chilly day.”

Day 2: “I am thankful for having time to cook dinner at home, the encouragement from my friend, and finding a parking spot right away.”

Day 3: “I am grateful for the full 8 hours of sleep I had, the fresh air during my evening walk, and the positive feedback from my boss.”

Through this simple practice, we can strengthen our sense of gratitude and experience its lasting benefits throughout the season and beyond.

Hope Amid the Wreckage

/in , , , /by

By John Osberg

Last month, I went up to north GA and SC for disaster response volunteering. It really affected me emotionally this time. I didn’t see flood damage—that’s further north in NC. But seeing so many devastated families really hurt me.

The winds weren’t as strong as tornadoes or the hurricane, but Helene was an incredible wind event like I’ve never seen before. Mile after mile, in all directions, huge trees were downed.

The group picture of our team shows a truly fun group that was amazing to work with. Three-fourths of the team were Methodists, and we stayed at a Methodist church camp in the NOVEMBERa area. Mark Brosch, our team leader, kept everyone busy and productive. I have to call him the Eveready battery bunny (from that old commercial). He worked harder than anyone and even woke up early to fix us all eggs and bacon.

I ran a brand-new, high-end 50cc Husqvarna chainsaw. It was an amazing machine! The picture of me with the little guy, Erik, captures a special moment. Earlier, out of the corner of my eye, I saw him watching me running that loud chainsaw. He went inside, grabbed his own set of music headsets that looked like my hearing protection, and gave me that look like, “I’m ready, coach!” He pulled himself up on the tailgate and joined me while I was taking a break.

His parents were still dazed by their loss, and I told them they’d look back on this as a bad dream sooner than they think. I swear they stood up taller, like a load was lifted off their shoulders.

Hope is a powerful thing. That’s why I do disaster recovery volunteering.

Discover Purpose and Community at the 2025 Men’s Retreat

/in , , /by

Men of LCR, mark your calendars for the Seventh Annual Men’s Retreat, happening Friday, January 31 – Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the beautiful Lutheranch in Tallapoosa, Georgia. This year’s theme, 40 Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things, invites you to consider how Jesus can use you—right where you are. He doesn’t seek our ability but our availability, faithfulness, and willingness to say yes to Him.

Last year, over 40 men from six different churches, including those from Marietta, Decatur, Clarkston, and even Spring Hill, Tennessee, gathered at Lutheranch for a meaningful weekend of faith stories, discussions, and time for reflection. Conversations were rich and deeply inspirational, attendees developed a closer relationship with Jesus and one another and renewed their commitment to caring for others and volunteering for the common good.

In 2025, we’ll continue this tradition of community building, reflection, and great fun, with plenty of time for fellowship and relaxation (including happy hours with adult beverages). How might Jesus use you in your current situation? Let’s explore that together.

Details:

  • Dates: Friday, January 31 – Sunday, February 2, 2025
  • Cost: $175 per participant (double occupancy) or $250 (single occupancy), includes 5 meals.
  • Location: Lutheranch, Tallapoosa, Georgia
  • Contact one of these folks for more info or to register:

Invite a friend and join us for an unforgettable weekend!

Our Walk with ILAG – Iglesia Luterana Augustina de Guatemala

/in , , , , /by

By: Suzanne Demosthenes

To understand our partnership in this ministry one needs to come to know our partners. ILAG’s focus has always been to minister to those on the fringe of society, the forgotten, the discounted. At the end of the 16 year civil war in Guatemala those who had fled largely to Mexico but also beyond returned to their homeland. However these refugees were not allowed to reclaim their homes, but rather were deposited in rural regions that were unfamiliar and undeveloped with no infrastructure or resources. Essentially they were left to make their own existence. These were the individuals that ILAG chose to minister to and this was the nidus of the rural communities that now comprise the eighteen congregations of ILAG. They span the various regions of Guatemala. From the outset ILAG recognized that to teach and embody the love of Christ and the saving grace of the Gospel encompassed addressing the quality of the people’s daily lives: their health, education, nutrition, and livelihood and so the ministry of this church has struggled to do.

In 2012 LCR began its walk alongside ILAG. Pastor Bob Bear was among the first…“I have always been amazed as to the effect global missions have, not only on those we serve and visit, but also on the lives of those who participate. Because of the personal relationships shaped over many years in our partnership with ILAG, our ministry in Guatemala has been especially meaningful and will always remain so to me, locked in my heart.”

And the memories impact us still:

Mike Mynhier: “On one of our trips to the village of La Israel we helped families install efficient and vented wood cooking stoves in their homes to replace the open fire cooking rings they were using. These new stoves used less wood, eliminated burn hazards to the young children, and reduced health issues of smoke inhalation to the women. For a couple of nights I was a guest of one of the families who had just received a new stove. The last night, before going to bed I went outside to wash in the rain barrel at the back of their house. I will never forget seeing the young mother of the house, alone in the cooking area, lightly patting her new stove with one hand as she slowly walked all the way around it with a contented smile on her face. Yes, what we do for Guatemala has a great impact and is worth it!”

Jill Gadebusch: “We traveled with 8 members of LCR to ILAG in February 2012. (Pr. Bob Bear, Mike Mynhier, Betty Didicher, John Didicher, Karl Sidor, Kirk Gadebusch, Jill Gadebusch and Adele Dengel (Jill’s mother). The theme of the mission trip was Puedo Ayudarles? (May I help you). During our time at ILAG Betty, John, Bob and Mike prepared meals for the leader’s conference, while the rest of the group painted, reinstalled a tile floor and repaired the water system. A satisfying part of serving was watching the participants in their studies intently learning more about Christ and the church. The participants were warm, compassionate and very dedicated to the ministry God had given them. They were clearly appreciative of what little we were able to do for them.”

Betsy Olson: “As far as memories go nothing will replace ‘my early to bed to read’ only to be serenaded by the heavenly sounds and voices from the girls in choir practice just upstairs from our room. God was in that place and still is.”

Marge Mynhier: “When I visited one of the villages on a mission trip to Guatemala, I stayed with one of the midwives, Anna, who we brought delivery kits to for their use. She and her granddaughter Katerina shared their home with Jenn and I during our stay. To my surprise Katerina was one of the Milagro girls that we met on our next visit. It was such a joy to see that she was  being given a chance to escape the cycle of early marriage and motherhood that is so common in the villages.”

John Mellott has been instrumental in advising Pastor Karen of ILAG over the past decade:
“I remember sitting with Pastora Karen, with tears in her eyes, listening to her describe the lives of young women in rural Guatemala. I remember her saying how we needed to find a way to help them…..  If you have doubts that God remains active in our world – you need only visit Milagro.”

Karen Bear: “Hearing the Milagro’s girls sing hymns enthusiastically and beautifully, is music that transcends all language, and fills my heart with joy.”

Suzy Mellott: “When Milagro first started, Bob Bear asked me to paint quick watercolor portraits of each participant and their teacher. These were made into notecards and each student wrote her story for the backs of the cards. As I painted each participant and read her story, I could feel her joy and gratitude for the Milagro program.”

Suzanne Demosthenes: “I recall on one visit to Milagro hearing the girls each speak of  their dreams …mirroring those stories Suzy spoke of. They spoke confidently and eagerly…

Sonia: “I see myself as a teacher in a school but also a teacher for my village, giving new skills to my people and making a better living.”

Karen: “My dream is to finish high school, to help my family develop all together, to be a leader in my church. I want to create a new environment to live peacefully and equally regardless of gender.”

Paulina: “I want to be a lawyer, a leader, a helper in my church, and with a good job to help my family. I’m going to be able to change my future and also the future of my church and family.”

Violeta: “In my future I see myself getting a lot of experience and becoming a leader in my community, an agent of change. My dream is to become a nurse, to give that benefit to my village, and to create my own clinic to help people who are sick or hurt.”

Brenda: “I am in the Milagro house because I want to learn new things, be a brave woman, and good leader. My dream is to start my own business, to become a chef.”

Johana: “My dream is to share my new skills with the girls and boys in my community, to reproduce that knowledge. I have a new vision.”

And we have seen many of these young women realize their dreams, becoming teachers, lawyers, nurses, bakers, accountants. And they are each very brave women and good leaders. We thank you Pastora Karen and the staff of ILAG for your vision and perseverance that shaped this ministry that you so willingly shared with us at LCR.”

We invite you to join us in this ministry, expect to see this miracle for yourself.

Take a moment to listen to these young women as they tell their stories on video.

Gala Gathering
Carpool with us Saturday evening September 14th to the gala gathering at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Suwannee.
Visit our online calendar for the link to carpool.

Hear Pastor Karen preach
Sunday morning September 15th at LCR

 

 

Join Us for Book Club!

/in , , /by

by Cristi Minard

Puddy’s Pages book club, formerly the LCR book club, is named after our beloved leader Meribeth Cooper. Puddy was her nickname and after her passing, the book club wanted to remember Meribeth, her love of books and her ability to bring us together. She was the leader for 6 years and the book club has met for more than 20 years!

My favorite aspect of Puddy’s Pages is the casual setting where we discuss the books, and members share opinions as well as life experiences. Members have even shared memories and photos from travels in regions related to the books. Hearing their firsthand experiences makes for great discussion and provides a deeper perspective on a topic or setting. We even learned how an elephant chased a member!

The club meets every 6 weeks, and readers are welcome to bring food and drinks to share. At the end of the year, readers suggest books for the next reading season. We then vote on the books we would like to read. Each month, we ask a volunteer to lead that month’s book discussion which can be done either in-person or virtually using whatever format they prefer.

Puddy’s Pages will have their kick-off party in September for the 2024-25 reading season. A Zoom link is also available each month for anyone who cannot attend in person. Please join us for the season or even just a month. All are welcome!

Monday, September 16, 2024 @ 6:30 pm
LCR Youth Pavilion
Book discussion: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

2024-25 Book Club Meeting Dates

· September 16, 2024 @ 6:30 pm Kick-off Party

· October 28 @ 7:00 pm

· December 9 @ 6:30 pm: Christmas Celebration

· January 20, 2025 @ 7:00 pm

· March 3 @ 7:00 pm

· April 14 @ 7:00 pm

· May 26 @ 6:30 pm: Book End Celebration