How Do You See God in the Summertime?

Last week I was driving on Highway 30 in the late afternoon. The sky was dark, and a light drizzle had started to fall. I glanced over at the ominous clouds to the north and was delighted to see a huge rainbow, stretching from the ground all the way overhead. I was entranced. I’ve seen plenty of rainbows in my half century on Earth, but they’re rare enough and dazzling enough to awe me every time. It’s no wonder the ancients interpreted rainbows as a sign from God. That’s how I see them, too.

 

But then I thought, why am I only seeing God in the rainbow? Why didn’t I see God in the rain? In the clouds? In the tail lights up ahead, or the shiny black cement beneath my wheels? Surely every created thing bears witness to the Creator.

 

I, of all people, should remember this. Two decades ago, during a time in my life when I didn’t believe in God, I had a mystical vision. It was summer, and I was walking my dog on the gravel road behind my house. I rounded a bend, and suddenly I was struck by the presence of God. All the colors seemed brighter, and I felt intimately connected to everything in the world–not only the wildflowers and stream flowing past, but also the rocks beneath me and the farm off in the distance. I stood utterly still, not even breathing. I had no doubt that I was seeing God, suffusing everything around me and in me. The experience lasted only a moment, but it transformed me. It was the most powerful feeling of my life.

 

The next day, and the next, I came back to that spot at the same time of day, hoping to recreate that feeling of bliss. But I found only a normal, quiet road. For weeks, I chased my fading vision, but it never returned. It still hasn’t.

 

I came to realize, though, that my eyes only needed to be opened once. The point of my vision was not to transport me out of my everyday world, but to show me that God is always, everywhere a part of my everyday world, creating our reality second by second. 

 

I’d like to say I always remember that lesson, but I don’t. I get distracted. I drive down Highway 30 listening to my audiobook and wondering if I have time to stop for gas before work. That’s why I’m grateful for rainbows. They shake me out of my stupor and remind me to see God.

Sondra Gates, Church Council

 

Greetings from Pastor Anne

 

Join us for worship on Sunday evenings three times this summer!

Summer is time when our usual schedules can get all crazy! And it can also be lovely outside (when it’s not too hot and muggy)! So, we thought, why not! Let’s have evening worship this summer at 4:30 on the second Sunday of the month!

That means on June 8th, July 13th and August 10th we’ll gather on the lawn behind the sanctuary, weather permitting, at 4:30 for worship with Holy Communion.

 

It will be recognizably worship, but it will also be something a little different from our usual style and we’ll always add something. On the 8th of June, which is Pentecost Sunday, we’ll be worshiping around a bonfire to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit like tongues of flame! Who knows, maybe the Holy Spirit will bring us s’more fixings!

 

 

News from Synod Assembly

On Saturday May 17th, more than three hundred Lutherans from 135 congregations in the southeastern corner of Iowa gathered for our synodical (regional) assembly. We gathered at Grandview University, a college of the ELCA for a day of worship, work and inspiration.

The work was quick, as there were no synodical elections this year (we will elect a local bishop next year in 2026 in Cedar Rapids!) but two actions were taken. The first was to align the bishop’s term of office with the other officers of the synod. Now a bishop in Southeastern Iowa will be able to serve two consecutive terms. They may run again after a term out of office. This is standard practice in congregations.

The second action the assembly voted on was to continue support for Iglesia Camino de Emaús, Road to Emmaus Church, in Davenport. They are currently a Synod Authorized Worshiping Community, which means they are in the first stages of becoming a free-standing congregation in our synod. Their pastor, Pastor Pilar Cabrera, the former bishop of the Lutheran church in Guatemala sought refuge in the United States and arrived in the Quad Cities. Camino, as the congregation is affectionately called, worships at St. Matthews in Davenport. Our assembly offering went to support Camino, and there will be other opportunities to offer support in the form of prayer and offerings.

Worship with more than three hundred people is always inspiring and we heard messages from members of the bishops staff: assistants to the bishop Pastor Leann Stubbs and Pastor Dan Kuckuck. For me it is always inspiring to hear what congregations are doing across our synod and to do Bible study and reflection with the assembly.

Next year the assembly will be held in Cedar Rapids, at First downtown. I am inviting you now (and I’ll invite you again next spring!) to come to the assembly to see and experience the larger church gathered together in worship and service to God and our neighbors. We will seek voting members of the assembly this coming fall, so they can be named and voted on at our annual meeting.

Pastor Anne

 

Youth Corner

Ellen Olson, Coordinator of Youth Ministries

Sunday School

Have a safe summer break and we will meet again in the fall.

Noisy Offering

Thank you for your generous gifts of coins and dollars for the April Noisy offering.    $81.15 was collected for ELCA Good Gifts.

 

Vacation Bible School

 

Mark your calendars for a week of FUN.  Vacation Bible School will be at the Vinton Presbyterian Church this year (and we are again partnering with Wesley United Methodist Church). We will be going TRUE NORTH as we learn in this wild world today that Jesus is always our true north.

The dates are Sunday, July 20 through Thursday, July 24 from 6-8 pm for those completing 4-year-old preschool through completion of the 4th grade.  An optional light supper for participants will be served at 5:30 pm each evening. Registration is open now. There will be paper registrations on the display table in the fellowship hall as well as a sign-up option on the website, vbspro.events/p/vinton2025

If you would like to volunteer to help in ANY way, please contact Ellen Olson.  

 

Spring Cleaning – Garage Sale

 

It is time to think about spring cleaning. Are you wondering where you will go with your stuff?  Well, we have the answer.  Bring it to our church garage sale!

Bring your quality items for our garage sale to be held on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 (which also happens to be Vinton city wide garage sales).  We will have the Bethlehem garage sale on both days; 8 am – 2 pm.  It will be a free will donation with proceeds this year going to Vacation Bible School and children’s program expenses.

Please bring your items to church Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5 between 8 am and noon or Wednesday evening, June 4 between 5 – 7 pm or call the church office to make other arrangements.

There will be tables set up and marked so you will be able to place your items on the appropriate tables.

On sale days, there will be coffee and sweet treats for donations as well.      Happy cleaning!!!

 

Hello Summer Food Service Program

 

Help feed kids this summer! Our school district is looking for volunteers who can help with lunches Monday through Friday at Tilford and Shellsburg Elementaries. Our church will be providing volunteers on Wednesdays in June and July. All kinds of tasks need doing, so don’t worry if you can’t lift a giant soup pot! All volunteers need to bring their driver’s license with them. Sign up on the bulletin board in Augustana Hall or call the church office 319-472-3784.

 

Ladies Lunch Out

 

On the second Friday in June, July, and August the Ladies Lunch Out group will be meeting at Celebration Park by the Cedar River in Vinton at 11:30 a.m. weather permitting.  Bring your lunch and enjoy the world God has created for us.

 

Food for Thought Book Club

 

Meets on the third Thursday of the month at the Brickside Brew N Chew at 12:00 noon

June book will be “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus

July book will be “Sold on a Monday” by Kristan McMorris

August book will be “Apples Never Fall” by Liane Moriarity

September book will be “Peace Like a River” by Lief Enger

October book will be “Trial of Innocents” by Michael Swiger

November book will be “Sisters of the Great War” by Suzanne Feldman

December book will be “Tales of a Paperboy” by Andrew J. Mair