From Pastor's Desk
Every year I usually write something about Luther. Usually, it’s about how he changed the world, or helped us to better understand scripture. Today I want to talk about his death. Luther had to deal with a lot of physical and emotional trauma throughout his life. For one thing he dealt with “Sorrow” for most of his life. We would today call it “depression”. He had such an acute case of it in 1527. Some believe he had a heart attack that year since he had extreme moodiness afterword and went several Sundays without preaching. Luther loss of two of his children before his death. He lost a daughter who did not survive a year. In May of 1542 his fourteen-year-old daughter died from an infection.
In his own personal life Luther had suffered from Meniere’s disease, vertigo, fainting, tinnitus, and a cataract in one eye. In 1536 he suffered from a kidney and bladder stones.
His last sermon was in Eisleben, the place of his birth, three days before his death. At the church he suffered a fainting spell. He was taken up to his room where he lay down. He was given wine to help him sleep. He awoke at 9, and had a room full of people including his children. He asked his sons to pray for our “Lord God and his Gospel.” Later in the night he recited John 3:16, and Psalm 31:5. After word he slept peacefully for about a quarter of an hour. He let out a sigh that sounded like “Ja”. Shortly after his face grew ashen, and despite frantic efforts to revive him, he gave a deep sigh and moved no more. At 2:45 am on Feb 18th 1546 Luther died. Some have tried to paint Luther’s death as some horrifying experience, but he seems to me have died of heart complications and old age. He died with a house of people mourning his death.
A short time before his own death he attended the peaceful death of an old Aunt Lene. It was Kate’s relative who was living with Luther and his family. He said to her this: Your faith rests upon sweet Lord Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life. Thou Shalt not want. Thou shalt not die, but fall asleep as in the cradle and at dawn you will rise into eternal life.1
What a beautiful way to look at death. 2
1 H.G. Hail “Luther: an expirment in Biography”. Doubley and compay 1980. Page 325.
2H.G. Hail “Luther: an expirment in Biography”. Doubley and compay 1980. Page 325.
Reformation Dinner
Martin Luther will join us for our Annual Reformation Dinner, on October 29, 2023 at 11:30 am. Plan on joining us to meet Martin and hear him speak about the Reformation. Please prepare your favorite German based dish to share. The main meat, beverage and table service will be provided. There is a sign-up sheet on the narthex bulletin board. If you have any questions, please contact Jim or Judy Meyer.
LWML CHRISTIAN LIFE WORKSHOP
The Defiance Zone LWML invites all ladies to the Fall Christian Life Workshop on Sunday, October 8 at Zion Lutheran Church, Edgerton from 2-4 pm. Our guest speaker will present a program about the House of Ruth, Defiance,
Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk-or-Treat - Join us for our annual Trunk-or-Treat on Tuesday, October 31st 6-7:30 pm. If you are interested in setting up a trunk or would like to just pass out candy we would love for you to join us! (Plan on around 80 trick or treaters.) Trunk-or-Treat sign-up sheet is on the narthex bulletin board or let Emilie Parsons know via email or phone/text: emiliejoparsons@gmail.com or phone: 419-769-2212.
Greetings from Preschool!
Our Preschool is off to a great start for the 2023-2024 school year and we sure have been busy!! We currently have 16 children enrolled with 2 more waiting entry beginning in January of 2024. We have been so busy beginning to learn our letters, colors, shapes and numbers and also wrapped up our Apple study along with the Creation story just in time for October! We also introduced 2 new "furry friends" to our classroom as our pets and the children got to name them: Sparkle Jr. And Ms. Piggy. Class pets are a great way to promote mental health in the classroom and to teach the children about responsibility and taking care of animals. We enjoy having them in our room!
Our classes got to visit the Florida Library for their first time this school year and we appreciate everything they do to support our little learners! The classes walk to our library once a month if the weather allows and we are looking for volunteers to join us to help keep us safe. If you are interested in joining us on one of these days throughout the year, please see the signup posted outside our classroom or let us know! We also enjoyed a visit from Bill Grimes aka Johnny Appleseed and we got to visit Mahnke Orchard and Lily Creek Farms to learn about how the apples go from the Orchard to the shop. The apples we're so yummy and we even got to try some fresh apple cider. We look forward to our upcoming Fall Festival and Craft show on October 27 from 5 pm-7 pm. We are still accepting donations for candy/small toys along with baked goods for our bake sale. Please contact Emilie Parsons for any inquiries about volunteer opportunities as well!
Mrs. Arce
