|
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Austin, TX where Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller serves is doing a zoom ascension service tomorrow 5/21/20. Here is the link and instructions for getting onto the zoom service. The service will be at 6:30pm.
This Thursday, the LCMS Northern Illinois District will be holding an online Ascension service at Faith Lutheran Church in Oak Lawn, IL. This link will be posted at the bottom of this post for you and your families to be able to take an opportunity during the week to be apart of an Ascension service online.
Link for Service: https://facebook.com/events/s/online-ascension-service/579259679364729/?ti=ia Robert E. Mueller, 77, of Rockford, passed away Saturday, May 16, 2020. He was born on March 9, 1943 in Chicago where his father was stationed with the Army. He grew up in Polo, IL and Ottumwa, Iowa. As an infant, Bob became a child of God through the waters of Holy Baptism. He confirmed his faith as a youth at First Lutheran Church in Ottumwa. He often commented that he liked his name because it spelled the same both forward and back...B-O-B or B-O-B. He moved to Loves Park as a young man and worked in various factories. While visiting relatives in Iowa, he met "the most wonderful woman in the whole USA" and they married three months later on November 4, 1967. Remaining true to the vows they spoke that day, their marriage lasted through all of the humps and bumps of life, and she was always his and he was always hers. Shortly after their marriage, Bob accepted a job with Woodward Governor, and he returned with his new bride to the Rockford area. It became their permanent home. Bob found great pleasure and fulfillment in his career at Woodward, where he was affectionately known as Gage. Bob retired in May, 2009, after more than 41 years of employment. Concordia in Machesney Park was their church home for 33 years where Bob was active in Bible studies, ushering and served on several boards and offices. For the past 17 years they have been members of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Even as illness stole Bob's memory and body, as often as possible, Sunday morning found him sitting in the pew, speaking familiar words he could no longer read. As he became home bound, visits from his pastors provided peace and comfort with Words and Sacrament. He considered being a daddy to Kris and Amy as one of his greatest accomplishments. He was so proud of watching them grow from babies to teenagers to adults. He was always a strong shoulder to lean on when they needed one, a firm disciplinarian when they deserved it, and a big old softie when they wanted something. He was also a great help with all those math problems. He welcomed another man into his family when he gained his son-in-law, Chuck. In his later years, his greatest joys came from his role of "Poppy" to his grandchildren, Grace and Elijah. When they were toddlers, he was equally comfortable crawling in circles on the floor or sipping tea from a very small cup, with his pinkie in the air. As the children grew older, he rarely missed a school concert, birthday celebration and especially the Boone County Fair where he rode the ferris wheel with Grace, played games with Elijah and ended the evening with ice cream, dripping down onto their hands and clothes. Two of the highlights of their time together were trips to Creation Museum and Disney World. Those times were extra special because without their parents around, he could spoil them "real good." Bob served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1969. He was a loyal fan of the Chicago Bears, and spent many Sunday afternoons glued to the TV. Their house was always more pleasant when the Bears had a win. Known as Bobby to his siblings, he was the oldest of what became a blended family. When he was in his teens, two more sisters and a brother joined the family. Sadly, over the years he lost contact with a sister and brother, but remained close to the others. When they were together, reminiscing about their childhood was his favorite conversation topic. He dearly loved his in-laws, and thoroughly enjoyed his visits with them. Bob always looked forward to Tuesday morning coffee with his neighbors, and playing cards and spending Christmas Eve with long-time friends. Bob was honest and hard-working, firm but fair, caring and kind. A good man. And he was loved.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Donna; children, Kristine Mueller and Amy (Charles) Hoening; grandchildren, Grace and Elijah Hoening; brother, Bill Mueller; sisters, Susanne Spahn and Janice Mueller. Predeceased by his parents, Robert Mueller and Dorothy Swendsen; sister, Carole Bonnell and brother, Steven Mueller. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in Honquest Family Funeral Homes with Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 4311 N. Mulford Rd., Loves Park, Illinois 61111 with Rev. Frank Ciprys officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Private family burial at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials can be made to the Rockford Rescue Mission or ELCA World Hunger. Dear Members,
On Sunday, May 3rd, various leaders from the Elder board and Council met via Zoom. During the meeting it was agreed that information to keep members in the loop during this crisis, would be via the internet, mailings and possibly an all member Zoom meeting. For now it will be a letter. You will be notified if anything changes. It was great to find out that throughout this crisis, giving remains steadfast and stable. Although we aren’t where we would like to have been when we initially sold the Central Site, we are in a pretty good spot compared to other organizations. We ask you to continue praying for all of our members. Especially, the family of Martin Hermeling who passed away last week. May the resurrection of Jesus Christ bring hope, comfort and peace to all who grieve. Also, pray for all who are struggling during this crisis including those who are infected, the people on the front lines, those who lost their jobs and those who are unable to attend the private communion services. Also, our members who were recently hospitalized: Shirley Ahrens, Ruth Hintz and Ruby Dettman. Just a reminder…private family communion is available on Sundays. Just call Sue at 815-979-3952 so reserve a spot! Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 Wait for the Lord, Rev. Fisk Join on zoom. Please use your real name. :D
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84764915463?pwd=QUgwR0lhS0hwM2c3ZHUvMjVFODlOUT09 There are seasons and times, and they change according to the great orders set by God in the heavens. Sun and stars and moon and more are a grand, quantum clockwork of coming and going, now a little up, now a little down, been there before and going there soon again.
The magnificence of it all continues to inspire us, in spite of the many trials and dangers this life is constantly peppered with. Births continue to amaze us, no matter what our positions on “women’s health” politics. Deaths still stun us, and even stop whole civilizations in their tracks, whether in Wuhan or Winnebago. Every year, we sow from the harvest of recent memory. Every morning, we reap what we have sown. We kill viruses and bacteria with soap and anesthetic and prejudice. We upend whole economies, in order to make sure there is still a time and place that sick people can go to heal. We watch the stocks break down in catastrophe. A day later, we watch the entire thing build up again. We don’t know whether to weep in OCD worst-case scenario anxiety-overload, or to laugh hysterically at how silly we must look to any superior life forms who might be looking and wondering what we’re all so afraid of. We mourn, for our loved ones have just died in our arms. We dance, for our loved ones have just made full recovery. The stones you thought were so important to gather and build with suddenly don’t seem all the good you’d thought them to be. But now you can also see how good it will be to cast old weights away, in order to freely embrace the present for what it is. There is a time to resist the present, to fight back against the world and call your enemy what he is to his face. Because sometimes, you’re just going to lose anyway. Sometimes, you don’t so much need to win, as you need to be found. Sometimes the LORD gives. And sometimes Jesus takes away. Sometimes, he consumes your dross in fire and bleaches your stains in the purging glory of your own suffering. Sometimes, there is balm in Gilead. There is nothing sundered that shall not be made whole. There is nothing you have lost which your good King shall not with 100x interest restore to you. On that day, he will no longer keep silent, leaving his reign to the still small voice of Christian preaching, but with the voice of an archangel and the radiant blasts of heaven’s horn, he will speak to us all, “Beloved, it’s time to get up." On that day you will love, even though up to that point all your other times and seasons can’t help but have been filled with this cursed world’s hate. There is, then, after all, a time for war, and a time for peace. It is always, and ever shall be, called today. -- Be strong, and let your hearts know courage, Rev. Fisk A low tech service of darkness to suit your inner devotion as you shelter and pray. |
RSS Feed
