Bishop Daniel' April 26, 2023 Email Mesage

 

Dear Friends in Christ, “They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).

Art "Road to Emmaus" by Robyn San Anderson Inspired by Josef Rheinberger's Abendlied called "Road to Emmaus". Listen to the music that inspired this painting. On Sunday morning, many of us heard the “Jesus Story” of the Walk to Emmaus, where the Crucified and Risen Jesus is revealed to two of His followers in the opening of the Scriptures and in the Breaking of the Bread. The Walk to Emmaus is a favorite Jesus Story for many.  I wonder if you have a favorite Jesus Story? If you do, could you share your Jesus Story “by heart”? Could you stop reading this email blast and just speak out loud your favorite Jesus story? Try it. How did you do? Our culture is primarily a written culture. Think of the books we read, the online posts we skim, and the contracts we carefully scrutinize before signing. The culture in which Jesus and His followers lived was an oral culture. These folks knew the Hebrew Scriptures by heart, and they could tell some splendid stories. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were great storytellers. And lest we forget… Jesus. Jesus could tell a great story, and while telling that story, Jesus could hold the crowd in wonder and in awe.   And that’s what great stories do. They cause us to wonder and keep us in awe. They challenge and they inspire. Stories have a way of moving our hearts, strengthening our souls, and transforming whole communities. Just 1 great story, and a small dash of people who believe the story, and live the story, can change the entire world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has. You and me, we get to tell. And we get to live the greatest story that has ever been told. The story of the Crucified and Risen Jesus. So, go ahead, and try it again. Take a moment to speak out loud your favorite Jesus Story. How did you do? I believe that you were simply splendid, so splendid that you might go and share that Jesus Story with another. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes.

A Few Comings and Goings

On Sunday morning, I was blessed to run the Owens-Corning Half Marathon in Toledo with a bunch of friends from the Toledo Roadrunners Club. A number of folks from our Northwestern Ohio Synod parishes also ran. It was the perfect morning for a run. Below is a photo of the 6:30 a.m. start. See if you can find me.

On Monday evening, April 24, I was at Peace, Bowling Green to participate in a Biblical Storytelling workshop called, “Stories from the Heart”. It was led by Pastor Doug Pretorius. On Tuesday afternoon, April 25, I met with the Conference Deans at St. John, Cardington. The Conference Deans include: Pastor Janine Shearer of the Maumee Valley Conference Pastor Mindy Elliott of the Maumee Valley Conference Pastor Will Stenke of the Central Conference Pastor Stacy Lauer-Scovanner of the Eastern Conference Pastor Shawn O’Brien of the North Central Conference Pastor Adam Sornchai of the Southeastern Conference Pastor Will Haggis of the Southwestern Conference Pastor Steve Bauerle of the Toledo Conference   On Wednesday morning, April 25, I will be joining many of the pastors from the North Central Conference for a day at Fifth-Third Field to watch the Toledo Mudhens play. I have been invited to throw out the first pitch. On Friday morning, April 28, I will be at Grace, Toledo, with members of the Global Mission Board to finalize our trip to Tanzania. On Saturday morning, April 29, the Northwestern Ohio Synod Council will be meeting at St. Paul, Jenera. From April 30-May 11, I will be traveling with a delegation from the Northwestern Ohio Synod, to attend the Consecration of Newly Elected Bishop Christian Ndossa of the Dodoma Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Please pray for us as we travel and build relationships with our Global Companions in Tanzania.

2023: The Year of Story Memory Verse “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Story of Jesus Bible Study

2023 Daily Bible Reading Guide

NWOS Highlights

Grace Between the Lines

My Current Learning Book: The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules and Making Change in Modern Africa by Dayo Olopade Audio Book: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann Podcasts: The Bible Project A Bit of Optimism: A Podcast with Simon Sinek Apps: Pray as You Go Centering Prayer

Bless you, Bishop Daniel G. Beaudoin Third Sunday of Easter