FROM THE PASTOR - Good Hope Lutheran Church

“Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: …This is
what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my
Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughter will prophesy, your young men will see
visions your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I
will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy.” Acts 2:14-18
Good Hope is preparing to celebrate an annual event that cherishes our 80 and over
members. We are celebrating “HOMECOMING.” I chose this text from Acts to
highlight the fact that Peter and the disciples see the importance of people of all ages –
young men and women to see visions; old men to dream dreams. There is a place for
all of us in God’s kingdom to have an essential role in sharing the love of Christ and in
the making of Christ’s love known to one another. You are never “too old” or “too
young;” “too inexperienced” or “too over-the-hill” to live out the love of Christ.
HOMECOMING is particularly special in 2017 because this year we celebrate that
Good Hope is 175 years old. We have been in the neighborhood sharing God’s love for
175 years! We have also been sending pencils to Tanzania; baby clothing to Africa;
gathering coats and mittens and hats for Bucyrus; backpacks for Toledo; Water packs
and filtration tablets to go with Pastor David Bliss on his last trip to Tanzania; sending
money through Lutheran World Relief to hurricane victims; supporting BORN – the
Bucyrus Outreach and Restoration Network and many, many other outreach
ministries…not to mention our weekly feeding program W.O.W. – Welcome on Wednesdays.
HOMECOMING is particularly special in 2017 because our guest preacher is Bishop
Daniel Beaudoin, the bishop of the Northwest Ohio Synod of the ELCA. We have one
worship service at 10:00am with Sunday School at 9:00am and a meal following the
service with an auction to follow. All are welcome to join in the celebration and to bring a
friend or two! Please make your meal reservations by calling the church office today.
HOMECOMING is particularly special because it offers a time for multigenerational
families to come to worship together. It is a joy to see the very young, the middle aged
and the not-so-young come to worship, sharing the love of Christ. We sing praises
together; hear God’s Good News; pray together and are sent out to share the
marvelous message of Jesus Christ with others.
I hope everyone who is able will join us for this particularly special HOMECOMING!
I look forward to sharing HOMECOMING with YOU!
In His Service,
Pastor Renee