Reflections June, 2017

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders,Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peacebe with you!”After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.The disciples were overjoyedwhen they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said,“Peace be with you!As the Father has sent me,I am sending you.”And with that he breathed on them and said,“Receive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Now Thomas(also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side,I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,“Peacebe with you!”Then he said to Thomas,“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him,“Because you have seen me, you have believed;blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus performed many other signsin the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.But these are written that you may believethat Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31, NIV)

In the Celtic Daily Prayer there is this simple exchange - Question: “What are the only human-made things in heaven?Answer: The wounds in the hands, feet, and side of Christ.” Sort of gives new meaning to the line: I want to leave my mark in the world.  Sadly, the marks we leave are too often scars.

In many ways, we need a God with scars. The wounds inflicted upon Jesus, now healed but scarred, somehow help us connect to him. It shows the human side of Jesus; that he, too, knows our pain and suffering through having suffered himself. It’s a familiarity and solidarity with our human condition – our LIVES - that did not end with his death. The scars of Jesus dignify the pain of all of us. Every personis precious and beautiful to God, even if that beauty is looked upon sometimes as scarred or locked behind layers of fear and chaos, shame, or loneliness. German poet and playwright, Bertolt Brecht, wrote: “The human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What's left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars.”

Yet, while scars are the physical reminders of struggles we have endured, bodily and emotional, they are also an essential part of the healing process. While some people see scars, and it is wounding they remember; they are proof of the fact that there is healing! (Linda Hogan)

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There is no such thing as an ugly scar! They’re all beautiful because they mean you survived. So never be ashamed of a scar - seen or unseen. It simply means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you; proof that God heals! As Kahlil Gibran wrote: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” This is part and parcel to what it means to be in Christian community! St Johns is not a place where everyone is perfect, but rather a place where we can show our scars and all of our character defects…our IM-perfections … with OUT the fear of ridicule or thought of as being less-than … to know we are loved unconditionally by a God who knows our every thought and deed; forgiven for all the things we have done and left undone! The good AND the bad! Accepted just as we are … scars and all! We may think this text is about doubt…but it’s about having FAITH! TRUSTING that we, too, are healed! Not just in these physical bodies that like fresh flowers today dry-up and are thrown into the fire tomorrow; but in our very souls! That we are healed into NEW life…ETERNAL life! This is why we can rejoice in the scars of Christ! He bore the shame and pain of the cross, the stripes on his back; the holes in his wrists and feet and side; the puncture wounds around his head and brow!

The story of Thomas reminds us once again of the grace of God through Jesus. It is through Thomas that we get the chance to touch the scarred hands and side of our risen Lord. And it is through Thomas that we, too, come to know Jesus – to have a relationship with Jesus – for anyone who has EVER doubted his identity: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe,” (John 20:29b). We believe without having seen the scarred hands and pierced side. We doubt and are reassured because of the loving encounter between Jesus and Thomas, freeing us from fear of the death that will come at life's end.

In our joys and in our sorrows. In our mountain top experiences or locked away in the dark rooms of our minds of fear and forgetfulness – Jesus comes to us … again and again and again … and like Thomas, we can do nothing else but fall on our knees before him and cry out, “My Lord and my God!”

And in that BELIEVING we have ETERNAL LIFE!

In Christ’s Love for you all!

Pastor Jay

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April’s five Sundays of offering plus an early Legacy gift helped keep the General fund shortfall to just $349, leaving $2,325 in the fund. At its special meeting on May 21, the congregation voted to replenish the General fund with $20,000 from the Bogas bequest.

April 2017 income and expense

Income: $14,076 ($47,240 year-to-date)

Expense: $14,425 ($56,813 ytd)

Shortfall: $349 ($9,572 ytd)

The final tally on Lent offerings was $1,319, which went to Almost Home.

CONGRATULATIONS

Pierce Kohn ~ On Your Confirmation

June 4th, 2017

A Confirmation Prayer for You

Each moment of your life, may you feel the Lord's embrace. May you sense God's guiding presence in each challenge that you face.

May God's peace and light be with you, and may you realize how deeply loved and precious you are within God's eyes.

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JUNE 4TH

Choir practice will be June 4th @ 9:30 before worship. Thank you for sharing your vocal talent with the congregation to deepen the sacredness of the worship service.

CONGREGATIONAL STUDY

Women and Justice

Proposed ELCA Social Statement

As a congregation, we will study the proposed ELCA social statement on Faith, Sexism, Justice after worship during the four Sundays of June. Please grab a goodie and join us at the far end of the fellowship hall (Salzmann) about11:20for an hour or so eachSundaythat you are able to attend -- you don't need to be there all four weeks. There are seven modules and an overall response form, so we hope to jointly complete two forms at each session. Paper copies of the materials for Modules 1 and 2 will be available. Talk to Sharon Speckhard or Dave Theis. You can also view and/or download the materials at elca.org/womenandjusticeto prepare for our first meeting. Bring your laptop/tablet to the sessions to read along, if you want to help us save paper.

ST. JOHN'S EVENT ~ JULY 2ndANNUAL POTLUCK

Patriotic Presentation

Lynn Tharp, Sr. will be speaking about his Vietnam experiences during his tour of duty in 1966-1967 and his recent return to Vietnam on the 50th anniversary of his time there. Please join us! More details to follow in next Messenger and future bulletins.

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COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

From May Meeting

  • Almost Home closed for the season at the end of April. Burger night at Eagle's Club raised around $400-500 to benefit Almost Home.
  • There will be discussions after worship services in June to discuss faith, sexism, and justice. This is part of a study from the ELCA task force.
  • DDCO and Inclusive Dubuque have shifted their primary focus. It was previously homelessness issues but they are now focused on race relations.
  • A summer potluck onJuly 2ndis being planned with a patriotic theme.
  • Over $7,000 was received in Legacy donations as of the first week in May.

Respectfully submitted by,

Jolene Duschen

Council Secretary

June 4th IS FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY

During the month of June, the Food Pantry would especially like donations ofjuices (any size), pancake mix and syrup, Ramen noodles, body lotion, liquid hand soap, bath gel and garden produce.

Maybe when you are out shopping, you could pick up one or two of these items and bring it to church on Sunday, June 4. Thank you so much for sharing what you can to help keep the shelves stocked at the food pantry so they can help those in need. You ARE the hands and feet of Jesus!

I want to thank everyone at St John’s for their prayers, support and well wishes during my hospital stay and while I continue to recuperate. I’d especially like to thank Pastor Jay for the visits and enabling me to have communion. God’s blessings to all, Verna.

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THANK YOU

FOR

A hearty thank you to each of you who has been able to contribute to our 2017 Legacy Campaign. As of mid-May, donations total $8,980. Praise the Lord! Thanks be to God! Your generosity confirms that you do indeed want to have our legacy of ministry and mission here in downtown Dubuque continue. If you have not yet had the opportunity to make a contribution to this campaign, your donation is most welcome at any time. God bless you as we continue to worship our God and make known Christ’s love to all those we serve.

SOCIAL CONCERNS AND

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Health Beat

Pancreatitis is inflammation in the pancreas. The pancreas is a long, flat gland that sits tucked behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas produces enzymes that help digestion and hormones that help regulate the way your body processes sugar (glucose). Pancreatitis can occur as acute pancreatitis — meaning it appears suddenly and lasts for days. Or pancreatitis can occur as chronic pancreatitis, which is pancreatitis that occurs over many years. Mild cases of pancreatitis may go away without treatment, but severe cases can cause life-threatening complications.

Acute pancreatitis signs and symptoms include:

  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Abdominal pain that radiates to your back
  • Abdominal pain that feels worse after eating
  • Fever
  • Rapid pulse
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Tenderness when touching the abdomen

Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes become activated while still in the pancreas, irritating the cells of your pancreas and causing inflammation. With repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis, damage to the pancreas can occur and lead to chronic pancreatitis. Scar tissue may form in the pancreas, causing loss of function. A poorly functioning pancreas can cause digestion problems and diabetes.

Chronic pancreatitis signs and symptoms include:

  • Upper abdominal pain
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Oily, smelly stools (steatorrhea)

Conditions that can lead to pancreatitis include: Abdominal surgery, Alcoholism, Certain medications, Cigarette smoking, Cystic fibrosis, Family history of pancreatitis, Gallstone, High calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcemia), which may be caused by an overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism), High triglyceride levels in the blood (hypertriglyceridemia), Infection, Injury to the abdomen, Pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatitis can cause serious complications, including: Pseudocyst, Infection, Kidney failure, Breathing problems, Diabetes, Malnutrition, Pancreatic cancer.

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Initial treatments in the hospital may include:

Fasting. Stop eating for a couple of days in the hospital in order to give the pancreas a chance to recover.

Once the inflammation in the pancreas is controlled, you may begin drinking clear liquids and eating bland foods. With time, you can go back to your normal diet. If your pancreatitis persists and you still experience pain when eating, your doctor may recommend a feeding tube to help you get nutrition.

Pain medications. Pancreatitis can cause severe pain. Your health care team will give you medications to help control the pain.

Intravenous (IV) fluids. As your body devotes energy and fluids to repairing your pancreas, you may become dehydrated. For this reason, you'll receive extra fluids through a vein in your arm during your hospital stay.

Once the pancreatitis is under control, the health care team can treat the underlying cause of the pancreatitis. Depending on the cause of your pancreatitis, treatment may include: Procedures to remove bile duct obstructions (ERCP), Gallbladder surgery, Pancreas surgery, Treatment for alcohol dependence.

Depending on your situation, chronic pancreatitis may require additional treatments, including: Pain management, Enzymes to improve digestion, Changes to your diet. Once leaving the hospital, take steps to continue your recovery from pancreatitis, such as: Stop drinking alcohol, Stop smoking, Choose a low-fat diet, Drink more fluids as pancreatitis can cause dehydration.

April 28, 2017 Shirley Cocayne, Parish Nurse

By Mayo Clinic Staff Shirley Cocayne, Parish Nurse

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LSI Bulletin/Newsletter Article and Story

June 2017, LSI Bulletin/Newsletter Article and Story

Happy Father’s Day!

At Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), we strive to build up and empower Iowa kids and families. For us, Father’s Day is a time to celebrate all the fathers and male role models we see every day.

In our Early Childhood fatherhood program, young men are learning to become dads. They’re becoming confident and active in their child’s life, and they are creating loving, bright futures for their families.

Many of the boys and young men that LSI serves in our residential programs have never had a positive male role model in their lives. But our volunteer mentors are there to help guide them.

At a gathering of mentors and mentees, a few of these children introduced their mentors to each other. When a boy from Beloit spoke, you could hear the quiet pride in his voice.

“This is Josh,” he said simply. “And he’s the mentor I’ve always wanted.”

You are making all of this possible through your support of LSI. Thank you for responding to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service!

Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of theIowacongregations of the ELCA (EvangelicalLutheranChurch in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations. Learn more at and .

Breaking Barriers

After years of living in fear, surrounded by violence in his home country of Burundi, Firmin wanted to create a better life for the family he and his wife, Emma, dreamed of.

They fled to Tanzania, where they lived in a refugee camp for 13 years. While there, Firmin worked as a principal in the camp’s school and he and Emma welcomed two baby boys, Dan and Joshua. But when the Tanzanian government closed the camp, he and his family were sent to live in the U.S. as refugees. When he arrived in the U.S., Firmin came to LSI’s Refugee Community Services to attend English classes and become familiar with his new home.

Firmin and Emma have spent the last 10 years raising their family in Des Moines, and Firmin is finding ways to give back and support more Iowa kids and families. During the school year, Firmin can be found in the halls and classrooms of public schools across the Des Moines district. He is one of several bilingual outreach community workers in the schools, translating for families who speak Swahili, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Kinyamulenge, and French.

In his free time, Firmin works as a direct support caregiver in the Des Moines area, and he spends his weekends as a pastor at a local church. He loves that he can help ease the congregation’s daily stresses and lingering trauma through prayer and worship.

Dan and Joshua are now in high school and Firmin and Emma have welcomed two daughters, Grace and Selah, in Iowa.

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Stewardship Committee