God's Loving Presence in a Hurting World

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

August 30, 2026

Musings from the Pastor's Desk

Luther’s Marks of the Church

Week 3: Holy Communion

This is the third week of Luther’s Marks of the Church. Martin Luther identified seven visible signs, or “marks,” that help us recognize where the church of Jesus Christ is present. These marks are not merely doctrines we believe. They are gifts through which Christ continues to meet us, shape us, and sustain us. We experience all seven marks in our weekly liturgy.

Last week, the second mark was baptism, as we remembered the baptismal anniversaries of Barbara Scherzer and of Linda and Dan Williams. What matters most is that we have been given an identity that endures: we are children of God.

This week, the third mark is Holy Communion. We come forward to the table with empty hands, a powerful image of grace. We do not come carrying our accomplishments or with a list of reasons we deserve to be there. We simply receive the bread and wine, signs of God’s promise to us, accompanied by the words “Given for you.”

For Martin Luther, Holy Communion was one of the essential marks of Christ’s church because here Christ gives himself to us in a deeply personal way, not merely for the world or our congregation, but for you.

We come to the table carrying all kinds of things. Some come thankful. Some come grieving. Some come worried about children or grandchildren. Some carry guilt. Some are frightened about the future. Some have strong faith, while others may quietly pray, “Lord, help my unbelief.” And Christ feeds them all.

The Communion table is wonderfully unifying. Young and old, wealthy and poor, longtime members and newcomers all receive the same gift. No one receives a larger share of grace. No one is more deserving than another. We are simply hungry people being fed by Christ. Communion does something else. It reminds us that we belong not only to Christ but also to one another.

We become what Scripture calls the body of Christ. We receive Christ’s grace and are then sent into the world to be signs of that grace for others, to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, comfort the hurting, and forgive as we have been forgiven. We come with empty hands. Christ fills them. Then Christ sends us out to open those hands to our neighbors.

Reflection: When you receive Communion, what do the words “given for you” mean to you?

Come join us at the Lord’s table to receive the life-giving bread and wine. We worship at 10:30 AM and are also on Facebook Live. Whether you come seeking healing, praying for someone you love, or simply longing for God’s peace, you are welcome. 

Peace+

Pastor Eric

Skip Fetter

Eternal rest grant him, O God, 

and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Today, we grieve for our sibling in faith, Skip Fetter, who went home to our

Lord on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The entire Hope family wishes the Fetter family peace, comfort, and love

during this time of grief.

Arrangements are forthcoming.

God’s Plan for Hope Lutheran Church

Last Sunday, our council hosted Pastor Tom Knoll. Bishop Phil Hirsch asked him to walk alongside Hope Lutheran Church as it considers its future. His role is not to make decisions for Hope, but to help the congregation step back, listen to one another, honestly assess where it is today, and explore the possibilities for its future. Pastor Tom will help facilitate conversations about Hope’s strengths, challenges, hopes, resources, and what options may realistically be available. His goal is to help the congregation discern together a faithful and responsible path forward—one that honors Hope’s ministry and history while being honest about its present circumstances and future possibilities.

Hope Lutheran Church — Proposed Next Steps

Pastor Tom proposed a Two-Session Congregational Discernment Process. The purpose of our work together is not to decide immediately what Hope should do, but to discern what a faithful and hopeful future for Hope might look like given our people, resources, building, community, and financial realities.

Session One —Listening and Discernment (date forthcoming)

Our first meeting will focus primarily on listening rather than planning.

We will explore four questions:

1.    Where are we?

What is happening at Hope right now? What is working? What isn't? What are we tired of? What are we proud of? What are we grieving?

2.    Who are we?

What gifts and strengths do the people of Hope bring? What is unique about Hope? What do we most want to preserve? What might we be willing to let go of?

3.    What is happening around us?

What do we see in our surrounding community that Hope might respond to? The community presents opportunities related to caregiving, aging, grief, families, economic stress, youth, and multicultural relationships.

4.  What might our future look like?

We will begin exploring several possible directions:

• Rebuilding Hope as a congregation
• Remaining a small but sustainable congregation
• Becoming a community ministry center or hub
• Developing a new partnership with another congregation or organization
• Dissolving as a congregation but creatively and faithfully using Hope’s assists to the glory of God.

We will end session one by asking one important question: “Which of these possibilities gives you hope?”

Session Two — Exploring Our Options (date forthcoming)

The second meeting will build on what we heard in the first session. We will identify the possibilities that seem most promising and begin exploring what each would require.

We will consider:

• What would we need to change?
• What resources and people would be required?
• What partnerships might be possible?
• How could we make better use of Hope's building and other assets?
• What could Hope realistically sustain with its current human and financial capacity?

We will also develop a clearer picture of Hope's financial situation, including its monthly income and expenses, building and staffing costs, available reserves, and opportunities to reduce expenses or extend its financial runway.

What Comes After the Two Sessions?

Following these conversations, we will develop a 3–9 month discernment and action process:

First 2 months: Listen, assess, and clarify Hope's strengths, finances, building, and priorities.

Months 3-4: Explore possibilities, potential partners, community needs, and new ministry models.

Months 4-6: Experiment with one or two promising ideas rather than simply planning.

Months 7-8: Evaluate what is creating energy, relationships, ministry, and sustainability.

Month 9: Make decisions about Hope's next chapter.

Our Guiding Question: The goal is not necessarily to preserve Hope exactly as it exists today.

Email Scam Alert

Someone is impersonating Bishop Hirsch using a different Gmail address. Synod staff will never send a request for money, gift cards, passwords, personal information, or other unusual requests. A common scam message is a vague request such as, “Are you available to discuss a favor I could use your help with?” Bishop Hirsch’s legitimate synod email is phirsch@metrodcelca.org.