Building up the ministry of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer

Pastor’s Page Packing for the Journey February, 2005

[Jesus] told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals….” Luke 10:4a

On February 9 at 7:00 p.m., we will begin our observance of Lent with our Ash Wednesday communion service. On this night, we join Christian denominations around the world in our annual journey with Jesus that leads us to the cross and new life. Although we take this 40-day journey every year, it is not the same journey. Every year presents a unique opportunity for us as individuals to examine our lives and ask ourselves "What is it that draws me more deeply into that which matters most, that which is eternal. What is it that stands in the way? What is it that we need to repent of or turn away from? Where do we meet the God who is always seeking to draw us near?

Every year Lent also presents a unique opportunity for us communally as we seek out common Biblical themes and relevant ways that we might more fully be together that broken and redeemed body of Christ in a hurting world.

On a recent day off I found myself already moving into this spirit of Lent. I was looking through my closet and wondering why I hold onto clothes that I haven't worn in so long. I was remembering how very little Jesus told his disciples to take with them on the journey. I remembered how very little Jesus carried with him during his own earthly life. I thought about how very little those magi from the East must have carried when they followed a star as they sought God in the world. And I remembered how much freer I felt during the year I studied in Luxembourg having only been able to take two suitcases worth of possessions with me. And so I tried a new approach to weeding through my closet. Rather than my usual method of sorting through clothes and thinking about what I could afford to let give to somebody in greater need, I took every item of clothing out of my closet and dresser and placed them in another room. With far more than two suitcases of clothing spread out in front of me, I then began to ask myself, "What is it that I really need for the rest of this life journey to which God has called me?" I can tell you that the results of that sorting were far more effective, and my closets and drawers seemed much more spacious and lighter when I was finished asking that question.

What is it that Jesus is asking you to pack for the rest of this life's journey? What do you most need physical, emotionally, spiritually? What is it that God is inviting you (perhaps pleading with you) to leave behind? I look forward to joining you on this 40-day journey with Jesus, that we might be of support and challenge to one another in asking these questions on the path of new life.

Peace, Pastor Robyn

What Is The Difference Between a Deaf and a Hard of Hearing Person?

From the online web site of the National Association of the Deaf814 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4500 - http://www.nad.org ~ NADinfo@nad.org

The deaf and hard of hearing community is very diverse, differing greatly on the cause and degree of hearing loss, age at the onset, educational background, communication methods, and how they feel about their hearing loss. How a person "labels" themselves in terms of their hearing loss is personal and may reflect identification with the deaf community or merely how their hearing loss affects their ability to communicate. They can either be deaf, Deaf, or hard of hearing.

Definition of "d/Deaf"

When we define "deaf", the parameters of the definition should be determined. The audiological definition can be used -- that is, one that focuses on the cause and severity of the hearing loss and whether or not hearing can be used for communication purposes. Generally, the term "deaf" refers to those who are unable to hear well enough to rely on their hearing and use it as a means of processing information. Or a cultural definition may be used, as Carol Padden and Tom Humphries, Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (1988) clarify:

"We use the lowercase deaf when referring to the audiological condition of not hearing, and the uppercase Deaf when referring to a particular group of deaf people who share a language -- American Sign Language (ASL) -- and a culture. The members of this group have inherited their sign language, use it as a primary means of communication among themselves, and hold a set of beliefs about themselves and their connection to the larger society. We distinguish them from, for example, those who find themselves losing their hearing because of illness, trauma or age; although these people share the condition of not hearing, they do not have access to the knowledge, beliefs, and practices that make up the culture of Deaf people."

Padden and Humphries comment that "this knowledge of Deaf people is not simply a camaraderie with others who have a similar physical condition, but is, like many other cultures in the traditional sense of the term, historically created and actively transmitted across generations." The authors also add that Deaf people "have found ways to define and express themselves through their rituals, tales, performances, and everyday social encounters. The richness of their sign language affords them the possibilities of insight, invention, and irony." The relationship Deaf people have with their sign language is a strong one, and "the mistaken belief that ASL is a set of simple gestures with no internal structure has led to the tragic misconception that the relationship of Deaf people to their sign language is a casual one that can be easily severed and replaced." (Padden & Humphries)

People lose their hearing in various ways. The most common causes of hearing loss are:

· Childhood illnesses (spinal meningitis and rubella/German measles are the most common examples);

· Pregnancy-related illnesses (such as rubella/German measles or dependence on drugs/alcohol);

· Injury (a severe blow to the head can damage the hearing);

· Excessive or prolonged exposure to noise;

· Heredity (scientists involved with the mapping of the Human Genome Project have identified approximately fifty (50) "deaf" genes to date, and they are working on identifying the remaining 350 "deaf" genes)

· Aging (progressive deterioration of hearing in older people, which is a natural part of aging process)

Definition of Hard of Hearing

The term "hard of hearing" refers to those who have some hearing, are able to use it for communication purposes, and who feel reasonably comfortable doing so. A hard of hearing person, in audiological terms, may have a mild to moderate hearing loss. The terms "deaf" and "Deaf" have been described above. What about "hard of hearing"? To answer this question, we turn to Deaf Life magazine's "For Hearing People Only" article (October 1997, page 8):

"'Hard-of-hearing' can denote a person with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Or it can denote a deaf person who doesn't have/want any cultural affiliation with the Deaf community. Or both. The HOH dilemma: in some ways hearing, in some ways deaf, in others, neither."

Later in that same article, the term is analyzed further:

"Can one be hard-of-hearing and ASL-Deaf? That's possible, too. Can one be hard-of-hearing and function as hearing? Of course. What about being hard-of-hearing and functioning as a member of both the hearing and Deaf communities? That's a delicate tightrope-balancing act, but it too is possible.

As for the political dimension: HOH people can be allies of the Deaf community. They can choose to join or to ignore it. They can participate in the social, cultural, political, and legal life of the community along with culturally-Deaf or live their lives completely within the parameters of the 'Hearing world.' But they may have a more difficult time establishing a satisfying cultural/social identity."

For everyone with a hearing loss, it is a matter of deciding whether to treat it as an audiological perspective or as a cultural lifestyle. It's all about choices, comfort level, mode of communication, and acceptance of hearing loss. Whatever the decision, the NAD represents all deaf and hard of hearing Americans, and advocacy work that the NAD does is of benefit to everyone, regardless of the type of hearing loss and background.

Submitted by Karen Idler

1 Mark Janssen

1 Anessia McDonald

7 Beth Jolly

10 Samuel Callander

11 Rich Keegan

15 Mary Forbes

17 Diane Winter

19 Bert Walima

20 Gary Franzen

21 Esther Mulholland

26 Patricia Stackpole

26 Daniel Mulholland

31 Trudy Franzen

Our Prayer List: Knowing that God hears prayers, please pray for the following this month.

Healing for: Dorothy Thalacker; Norm Millert following surgery; Norm Millert’s daughter Joyce; Jeff Ranstrom with additional brain tumors recently diagnosed; Ron Barrett; the divisions within our larger church and among dominations; Charlotte Allred; Sylva Barber; Grace Schauf; Grace Walima; Lisa Mulz’s mother; Deb Cunnagin; Maxine Dickenson; Sally Thayer; Goldie; Will Hodges recovering from back surgery; Jack; Richard, Jasper, Marie, Gran & Betsy.

Prayers for: Ali undergoing chemo for cancer; Christy undergoing surgery; Traci Oberg; Sarah Fernandez expecting a baby with her boyfriend; Intern Pastor Jay Wilson; the families of all who have lost their lives in the war in Iraq; Ron Raiber; Dawn Zimmermann’s family; Sharon Mobbs and all seeking employment; hurricane victims; a miracle for those in Africa; enlightenment for us to be wiser shoppers; Pastor and members of Peace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley.

Comfort & Strength for: Kim Bradley grandmother & her family; Tim Kreamer; Juanita’s mother; Louie; Peg Gregoire.

Comfort for all who grieve especially:

Marti Fernandez & Betty Purdy following the death of Marty’s Mother; Judy Vogt, family & friends of our beloved Fil Vogt; Tania Love’s family following the death of her grandfather; family of Pastor Carl Pihl & for the members & friends of Emmanuel Lutheran Church; Orte’s family; Doris Bozonier’s family; family & friends of Mary Jane Millert following her death; Marty Schultz & family; Lisa Mulz & family; family & friends of Robyn Sadowski following her death; Gwen & Gordon Lokke & family; family & friends of Cheryl Devol in her passing; family & friends of Laura Hausman; the Garquilo family in the death of Grandma Garguilo.

Thanksgiving for: the love of grandchildren; for family & friends.

Thank you to everyone who helped and participated and attended the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Family Worship Service.

Thank you to the Korean Church and all of their people who attended. Thank you for all of our Adult Angels and Shepherds, thank you for everyone that brought animals, and thank you to all of the children. This worship service was great, everyone that attended had a good time. (If you brought an animal and would like it back, please pick it up on Sunday or if you don’t want it back you can leave it for the next year’s service)

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
February 2005
		1 6:30 Worship Steering Team	2	3 9:30 Conference Clergy noon SCOGS	4	5
6 7:30 Loaves & Fishes 9:15 Sunday School 10:15 Worship/Distribute Hunger Bags/PFLAG presents award to our congregation/Fellowship 4:00 Confirmation cancelled	7 6:00 Internship Committee	8 6:15 Council in conference room	9 7:00 Ash Wednesday	10 9:30 Clergy Confirmation Planning at St. John’s	11	12
13 9:15 Sunday School 9:50 A SL Learning 10:15 Worship/Healing Prayers/Return Hunger Bags 4:00 Confirmation	14	15 SPIRIT ARTICLES DUE	16	17 noon Stewardship 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Lenten Service	18	19
20 9:15 Sunday School 10:15 Worship/Fellowship 4:00 Confirmation	21 6:00 Internship Committee	22	23	24 6:00 Soup Supper 7:00 Lenten Service	25	26
27 9:15 Sunday School 10:15 Worship/Fellowship	28