Installation of Rev. Garet Ellis- Christ Community - Leesburg VA

A special celebration was held on 

Sunday, September 9, 2018

at Christ Community

 and the Open Arms Preschool in Leesburg, VA.

It was the installation of Rev. Garet Ellis-

 shown here with wife Bethany, and daughters-

Norah and Emery.

 A beautiful setting of food ready for sharing.

The celebration also included 

the 10th Anniversary of the Open Arms Preschool

and the Installation of Heather Menser

 as Director of Leesburg Open Arms.

Heather Menser and husband Greg,

 and their children.

 R-Mr. Bill Nau shares

 a reading during the installation.

 President John Denninger 

reads the vows to Pastor Ellis.

The promises made by

a pastor

 to his congregation are very important.

Circuit clergy joined in to share 

a blessing and Scripture over Pastor Ellis.

A Visual Prayer shared with the Ellis family.
May the Lord continue to grow
 and expand the ministry of 
Leesburg Open Arms into the community
 for the sake of the Kingdom.

Grieving with Hope

Grieving With Hope

"Since we do not grieve 

like those who have no hope,

 just how do we grieve with hope?

Here is one suggestion. 

Use your loved one’s personal Bibles,

 hymn books, devotional booklets, 

prayer books, catechism, or

old Bible class studies

 for your own study and devotions. 

There is a visceral connection 

when your hands hold the books they held, 

your eyes see the print their eyes saw, 

your voice sings what they sang,

 and the same Comforter enters your heart

 that entered their heart.

Annotate some of these books 

with memories about times, thoughts, 

and prayers you shared. 

Give some of these books to your children.

 Do you still have any of the Arch Books 

or Purple Puzzle Tree books 

that your loved one read to children? 

Read them to the children again 

and give the books to them.

Some of my favorite tools 

for grieving with hope are: 

my mother’s hymn book 

(it was a confirmation gift 

to her from her brothers);

 a set of commentaries 

that was a gift to my father 

from the Sunday School staff that he taught; 

a copy of the Parallel Bible 

that my father used for many years

 and then gave to my husband 

that he also used for years; 

two hymn books that my husband 

used to prepare services; 

a Bible study 

that my mother’s mother wrote 

(my uncle had a copy 

and his children copied it for me.)"
Natalie Hartwig

What faith legacy things 

do you have to pass to the next generation?

Perhaps a Journaling Bible 

will lend a view to your heart prayers.

 Perhaps you will leave a filled out copy of

 "Walking with the Lord"

 in your Bible for your family.

I (Connie) have one filled out 
and in my personal Bible.

Here is the link to download the form:

walking-with-the-lord-worksheet
(it is a free download resource 
at Visual Faith Ministry)

Thanks to Contributing Writer-

Natalie Hartwig 

for these words of encouragement-

 written for a friend, 

but a blessing to all of us.

Landis Shepherd- O Give Thanks

On Monday, August 27, 2018, 

my great nephew, Tommy, 

celebrated his first birthday!

  First birthdays are celebrated 

daily across the world.

  What makes this one so special?

One word sums it up, God.  

In His infinite mercy and love for us, 

He brought this beautiful child to life 

after he was born, but turned blue.

 Tommy had seizures, 
and needed to be resuscitated. 

God worked through the hands

 of all who ministered to Tommy.

God heard all the prayers 

asking for healing in the name 

of His Son, Jesus Christ, 

to bring Tommy through 

this heart-wrenching time.

Not in our time, but in His time.  

How we fretted. 

 I felt so sorry for the 1st time parents,

 grandparents and for myself.  

Now there is no more antiseizure medicine, 

no more neurological testing.  

Tommy is whole, 

healthy and I am humbled

 in His presence. 

Thanks be to God.

Thank you to Landis 
for sharing this heart warming update
 of a challenging journey.
There are many many stories 
of days and weeks and months 
of "the unknown" 
and we love to see these glimpses of hope.

Artist Carolyn Fletcher

The Crucifer

in the church entrance of 

Faith Lutheran Church- Kinston, NC.

This young gentleman is 

one of the newly baptized members.

Taking Supplies to the Shelter

The Youth Group at Faith Lutheran Church 

taking supplies to the shelter.

Truly a Live Generously lifestyle.

This painting is part of a series of paintings 

for a show at the art center in Kinston 

called ”The streets of Kinston”.

 This show opens 9/6/18 and runs for 6 weeks.

It will feature all the artists 

in the studio that Carolyn is a part of-

 ART 105 

Carolyn will  have 9 paintings in this show.

Crepe Myrtle in Winter.

The City in the Rain

is a random scene from a 
photo that Carolyn liked.

  Currently she has been painting 

random people just living life.

She has 3 future exhibitions 

that will require art submissions,

 so she remains busy.

And every artist hopes- 

 there are sales-

 so she can keep on painting.

We give thanks to the very talented Carolyn Fletcher
 for her partnership in sharing information for this post.
Rev. Ron and Carolyn Fletcher 
serve faithfully at Faith Lutheran Church
 in Kinston, NC.