Sometimes it's Both...
Our everyday lives are filled with questions and answers. They range in levels of specificity. Some questions have only one answer. Other questions have multiple answers. (Maybe that sounds like one of my sermons? LOL) There are moments where a questioner thinks their question is pretty specific. “Is it this or is it that?” The implication is that there are two possible answers. But what often becomes the reality? The answer you receive is “Yes.” While you were seeking some clarification, you just received some confusion. Along with Ruth and Lina, we attended the LWML Chesapeake Zone convention near Dulles Airport in Virginia. Was it fun or was it informative? Was it uplifting or educational? Was it about Jesus or about the people gathered there? Did you hang out with people you knew or did you meet new people? Yes.
First, the theme verse was “We are the clay, He is the potter.” Certainly we focused on the work of God in molding and shaping us, in the knowledge that clay can be made into one thing, then reshaped into something different. As we grow in the Lord, we find that we can help mold the people around us. We have been influenced by various people in our lives and the Lord leads us to play a role in the lives of children and grandchildren, coworkers, friends, classmates, neighbors, strangers. The Lord will work through us to help shape those around us.
Was it uplifting or educational? Yes. I hope you know that the work of the LWML is often accomplished through those little Mite boxes. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars are placed in those boxes and the Lord’s work is done. The convention workbook included the historical record of Chesapeake District
mission grants. I saw my congregation listed there, receiving $5000 in the 1960s. I saw my father’s
congregation in Maryland received a grant. It was educational to see the history and note the impact that those Mites have had in the lives of people.
It was also uplifting as recipients of the grants were invited to share how the grants had played a role in their ministry. Representatives were present from: Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, CHOT (Changing Hearts One at a Time )in the 7th and 8th Wards of DC, Bethania Ministries in India, and Flahntown in Liberia. (Flahntown is named after the great grandfather of Rev. Orlando Flahn, pastor of Our Savior, Laurel MD. LWML grants have helped build two wells and a school in Flahntown.
I did hang out with people I knew and I met some new people. Our Delmarva Zone had a party Friday night. It was fun being with reps from different congregations. I also met Sylvia Shives…again. Sylvia is a charter member of Concordia, Hagerstown. My father served that congregation and Sylvia was my babysitter! Her husband served in the 7th Army Signal Command and for a while was stationed in Germany. In 1984 our family took a trip to Germany and we used the Shives’ apartment as our ‘home base’. I never thought I’d ever see Sylvia again. I also got to see Karen Matthiesen, who was born in Wolsey, SD and was baptized by my grandfather. She and my dad attended the one room schoolhouse in Wolsey.
I did meet a new person, Con Ning Wen, and our encounter was uplifting, educational, and about Jesus. Sometime prior to 2010 Good Shepherd, Roanoke wanted to start a campus ministry at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The LWML provided a mission grant, as did the Southeastern District provide funds. My wife is a graduate of Virginia Tech. A student group continues to meet for weekly Bible study and Sunday afternoon worship. Con Ning Wen is a graduate student, who came to faith in Jesus Christ through that ministry and was baptized in 2020. She is very active in the ministry there and an active member of the Blue Ridge LWML Zone. We gave a gift and the Lord has brought growth! I was moved to tears hearing Miss Wen’s story as campus ministry is a challenge and how the people in Roanoke and Blacksburg trust in the Lord for His guidance.
I am serving as the Junior Pastoral counselor for the Chesapeake District and will be traveling to events several times a year.
So keep sticking your change in those Mite boxes! (Paper currency is fine, too.)
Molded by the Potter, but not moldy,
Rev. Jeremy Loesch
Junior Pastoral Counselor
First, the theme verse was “We are the clay, He is the potter.” Certainly we focused on the work of God in molding and shaping us, in the knowledge that clay can be made into one thing, then reshaped into something different. As we grow in the Lord, we find that we can help mold the people around us. We have been influenced by various people in our lives and the Lord leads us to play a role in the lives of children and grandchildren, coworkers, friends, classmates, neighbors, strangers. The Lord will work through us to help shape those around us.
Was it uplifting or educational? Yes. I hope you know that the work of the LWML is often accomplished through those little Mite boxes. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars are placed in those boxes and the Lord’s work is done. The convention workbook included the historical record of Chesapeake District
mission grants. I saw my congregation listed there, receiving $5000 in the 1960s. I saw my father’s
congregation in Maryland received a grant. It was educational to see the history and note the impact that those Mites have had in the lives of people.
It was also uplifting as recipients of the grants were invited to share how the grants had played a role in their ministry. Representatives were present from: Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, CHOT (Changing Hearts One at a Time )in the 7th and 8th Wards of DC, Bethania Ministries in India, and Flahntown in Liberia. (Flahntown is named after the great grandfather of Rev. Orlando Flahn, pastor of Our Savior, Laurel MD. LWML grants have helped build two wells and a school in Flahntown.
I did hang out with people I knew and I met some new people. Our Delmarva Zone had a party Friday night. It was fun being with reps from different congregations. I also met Sylvia Shives…again. Sylvia is a charter member of Concordia, Hagerstown. My father served that congregation and Sylvia was my babysitter! Her husband served in the 7th Army Signal Command and for a while was stationed in Germany. In 1984 our family took a trip to Germany and we used the Shives’ apartment as our ‘home base’. I never thought I’d ever see Sylvia again. I also got to see Karen Matthiesen, who was born in Wolsey, SD and was baptized by my grandfather. She and my dad attended the one room schoolhouse in Wolsey.
I did meet a new person, Con Ning Wen, and our encounter was uplifting, educational, and about Jesus. Sometime prior to 2010 Good Shepherd, Roanoke wanted to start a campus ministry at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The LWML provided a mission grant, as did the Southeastern District provide funds. My wife is a graduate of Virginia Tech. A student group continues to meet for weekly Bible study and Sunday afternoon worship. Con Ning Wen is a graduate student, who came to faith in Jesus Christ through that ministry and was baptized in 2020. She is very active in the ministry there and an active member of the Blue Ridge LWML Zone. We gave a gift and the Lord has brought growth! I was moved to tears hearing Miss Wen’s story as campus ministry is a challenge and how the people in Roanoke and Blacksburg trust in the Lord for His guidance.
I am serving as the Junior Pastoral counselor for the Chesapeake District and will be traveling to events several times a year.
So keep sticking your change in those Mite boxes! (Paper currency is fine, too.)
Molded by the Potter, but not moldy,
Rev. Jeremy Loesch
Junior Pastoral Counselor
District Leaders for 2024
