GOD SIGHTINGS
If you have a God Sighting to share, please send to: pastoraaron@ourfatherschurch.org or sherrymeola553@gmail.com
4/4/2022
OFLC celebrates 50 years of ministry!
This prayer was written by Sherry Meola, and is commended to you as we give thanks for all God has done through the people of OFLC, past, present, and future!
Dear Heavenly Father:
Thank you for being able to worship at Our Father's Lutheran Church. We are grateful for all those who came before us, who worked tirelessly to build a united congregation which has remained intact for 50 years. We give thanks for all the Pastors who have served at this church. Blessings and thanks to the volunteers who served You by teaching Sunday School and confirmation, participated in choir and sharing of their musical gifts, served on Council, worked in the office, brought and served food, made prayer shawls, prayed over prayer crosses, served communion, comforted the bereaved, celebrate the newly baptized and newly married. May our past 50 years of service create a solid framework for the future of Our Father's Lutheran Church.
We are blessed to be able to freely worship, study your word, sing praise to Your name, and serve our community. We dearly miss all those who have left this earth to be in Your Heavenly home. We are thankful for their footsteps leading us to You. All of us look forward to Christ’s embrace of overwhelming love such as we have never know on this earth. Your promise of life after death is a tremendous gift Jesus died on the Cross to give to all of mankind. Our Faith moves us forward to a better future.
Prayers for Your guidance and strength as we live in this turbulent world where there is much brutality and death. We pray for all those in need in our community and in our world.
May we always remember the importance glorifying Your name. Our Church will continue to have welcoming hands to reach out to our neighbors in times of need. In Christ’s name, we give thanks and glory. Amen.
This prayer was written by Sherry Meola, and is commended to you as we give thanks for all God has done through the people of OFLC, past, present, and future!
Dear Heavenly Father:
Thank you for being able to worship at Our Father's Lutheran Church. We are grateful for all those who came before us, who worked tirelessly to build a united congregation which has remained intact for 50 years. We give thanks for all the Pastors who have served at this church. Blessings and thanks to the volunteers who served You by teaching Sunday School and confirmation, participated in choir and sharing of their musical gifts, served on Council, worked in the office, brought and served food, made prayer shawls, prayed over prayer crosses, served communion, comforted the bereaved, celebrate the newly baptized and newly married. May our past 50 years of service create a solid framework for the future of Our Father's Lutheran Church.
We are blessed to be able to freely worship, study your word, sing praise to Your name, and serve our community. We dearly miss all those who have left this earth to be in Your Heavenly home. We are thankful for their footsteps leading us to You. All of us look forward to Christ’s embrace of overwhelming love such as we have never know on this earth. Your promise of life after death is a tremendous gift Jesus died on the Cross to give to all of mankind. Our Faith moves us forward to a better future.
Prayers for Your guidance and strength as we live in this turbulent world where there is much brutality and death. We pray for all those in need in our community and in our world.
May we always remember the importance glorifying Your name. Our Church will continue to have welcoming hands to reach out to our neighbors in times of need. In Christ’s name, we give thanks and glory. Amen.
1/19/2022 Heather Noble submitted this God Sighting from a blog post she wrote in 2020. It is her original work and is shared with her permission
HEAD RUSH: In entering in the night I can only see the flame, turning every which way but the dance of you never does cease to remain. Falling beneath the winds waiting for the season when my beautiful seed may grow, likened to the days I loved to see the leaves flow with ease as the sun rose. Only time has flown by as this worlds warmth would set on the other side and like a hydrogen to its oxygen it was to be divide one beneath the light of a luminous glow while the other surrounding her giving it breath and room to grow. Together a perfect beat for our music and his song being sewn. I close my eyes and try to give room for a rhythm to be made into his song as that which carried her through the whispers and planted its seeds to blossom in a garden we could call our own, where the rays and the morning dew for all four seasons are connected too and the summer solstice provides a way just as the threads from God still do the same.
UNITED CAREFULLY they have sewn just as so loving the world that he gave his own. After the rain the garden will bloom, after the reign the garden be shown. In its Full beauty though its bloom may have come and withered its seeds have been sifted with love, giving seed to the flowers our root giving life to our soul we bloom again and its heart never really slows. Yet still words may have a way of changing to and fro and I believe - no I know! Gifted through the resins each of us will grow and after the summer solstice no longer needs to be, the Solstice will be whole, to be all and forever with such glory.
Oh with the beauty of his reign wrapped around us as A CHRIST MASS AS WHITE as snow. Having been sown so merrily; a marriage vow of beauty and of grace; just as for Mary that of which marriage was given her name. For such as these the garden will no longer hunger and the marriage of the lamb will finally be where one and one still three being clear enough to see that this has always meant the Father; the Son; with you and me.. without the reflection of the moonlight, we maybe choose to see being no longer needed to see truth and the majesty. Where the Son’s light is the glow then seasons are no longer needed to bring in the change because we know and when we finally love the Father and the Son just the same, our love reflected back to him a light from which it came. Then I too will no longer be needing to walk through a place that I don't use these gifted senses as though I could not bear to see, and where the weight on top of my shoulders is no longer spread from like his from knee to knee; from one side where he rises to that of which he falls in the night when I feel these feelings of compassion divide us and the empathy no longer release, for the day will come where when he sets that darkness will not be. Oh, how I yearn for the day the bleeding of our core, the center no longer bleeds for he is no longer misunderstood; truth be deem.. The relationship with tithing so beautiful that it gave; the roots to our life; the anchors to our soul.. thirsting for the water truly seen and be known OH thy will be done father God and 3 becomes one.
UNITED CAREFULLY they have sewn just as so loving the world that he gave his own. After the rain the garden will bloom, after the reign the garden be shown. In its Full beauty though its bloom may have come and withered its seeds have been sifted with love, giving seed to the flowers our root giving life to our soul we bloom again and its heart never really slows. Yet still words may have a way of changing to and fro and I believe - no I know! Gifted through the resins each of us will grow and after the summer solstice no longer needs to be, the Solstice will be whole, to be all and forever with such glory.
Oh with the beauty of his reign wrapped around us as A CHRIST MASS AS WHITE as snow. Having been sown so merrily; a marriage vow of beauty and of grace; just as for Mary that of which marriage was given her name. For such as these the garden will no longer hunger and the marriage of the lamb will finally be where one and one still three being clear enough to see that this has always meant the Father; the Son; with you and me.. without the reflection of the moonlight, we maybe choose to see being no longer needed to see truth and the majesty. Where the Son’s light is the glow then seasons are no longer needed to bring in the change because we know and when we finally love the Father and the Son just the same, our love reflected back to him a light from which it came. Then I too will no longer be needing to walk through a place that I don't use these gifted senses as though I could not bear to see, and where the weight on top of my shoulders is no longer spread from like his from knee to knee; from one side where he rises to that of which he falls in the night when I feel these feelings of compassion divide us and the empathy no longer release, for the day will come where when he sets that darkness will not be. Oh, how I yearn for the day the bleeding of our core, the center no longer bleeds for he is no longer misunderstood; truth be deem.. The relationship with tithing so beautiful that it gave; the roots to our life; the anchors to our soul.. thirsting for the water truly seen and be known OH thy will be done father God and 3 becomes one.
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This God Sighting was written by Sherry Meola in December, on the eve of the 1-year anniversary of her husband Jim’s death. If you would like to share your own written God Sighting, please send your submission to Pastor Aaron. Submissions are published to the congregation on Wednesdays.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” ~ Psalm 34:18 God sightings don’t have to be miraculous. They are often experienced in the routine of our lives. It will soon be one year since my husband, Jim passed away. As I gazed out at our living room window at the barn where my husband spent many fulfilling hours working on projects, I was overwhelmed with deep sense of sadness. There didn’t seem to be anything I could do to distract myself from the loneliness I felt. The Holy Spirit helped me remember I hadn’t returned a phone call to a person I used to work with who is home bound by Lupus. After I spoke with her, I realized it felt good to talk to someone who appreciates hearing from you. It is easy to forget many are lonely while you are busy with your own life. As this day progressed, I got an unexpected visit from a neighbor who had picked up my mail for me. We had a pleasant talk which picked up my mood. It is nice to talk to be able to talk to others. (I have three cats but they aren’t great conversationalist!) In the mail my neighbor delivered was a card and a plaque from a friend and co-worker who worked with my husband. The plaque said “When it rains look for Rainbows.” This thoughtful friend knew rainbows had special meaning to me as the song, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” by Israel Kamakaiwiwo’Ole, was a favorite of both Jim’s and mine. We both fell in love with this song when we went to Hawaii several years ago. The song was the closing song at Jim celebration of life earlier this year. In these small encounters, the events of the day which started out sad ended up with God saying, “it will be okay. You are loved by your Heavenly Father and I am with you always. This God Sighting was comforting and uplifting. |
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November 3, 2021
Wednesday God Sighting from “Mike” (Friend of Sherry Meola)
Ephesians 3:17-18: “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
My Dad was in the hospital and we were all coming to grips with the fact he was not going to make it. On New Years Eve, I received a call from one of my brother’s telling me I should come to the hospital as our Dad was not expected to live much longer. I got in the car for a four hour drive to the hospital. Upon arriving, Dad was in still in a coma as he had been for many days previously. My mother was there too. She had been sleeping in the waiting room every night for the month my Dad had been in hospitalized. She made quick trips home to change clothes. When asked why she insisted on staying at the hospital, she said she “wanted to be there just in case he woke up and needed her.” My parents’ great sense of love and commitment was born when my parents were high school sweethearts. They had been married for 56 years and hadn’t dated anyone else before making a commitment to one another.
Days passed with no response from Dad. My Mom’s birthday was January 4th. When she walked into Dad's room on January 4th, he opened his eyes and said “Happy Birthday Mom”! He even commented on her new sweater. How could someone who had been in a coma for days suddenly awake and know it was his wife’s birthday or be aware her sweater was new? No explanation for this other than a miracle from God! Dad was with us most of the day. Joking with the family and the nurses, just like Dad of old. A visiting Lutheran pastor stopped by and we all took communion. However, miracles don’t always last forever. My Dad stopped talking in the late afternoon and passed away days later without any further communication. My Mom’s birthday had most certainly been God's gift to my Mother and to all of us (two sons, and one grandson) in my Dad’s room that day. During my Dad’s illness and ultimate death, I learned the true meaning of strength and courage. It has nothing to do with physical strength. It was how my Mom and Dad conducted themselves. They had their faith to support them. I can’t imagine going through all of this without faith. It is the knowing with certainty you will meet again.
Wednesday God Sighting from “Mike” (Friend of Sherry Meola)
Ephesians 3:17-18: “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
My Dad was in the hospital and we were all coming to grips with the fact he was not going to make it. On New Years Eve, I received a call from one of my brother’s telling me I should come to the hospital as our Dad was not expected to live much longer. I got in the car for a four hour drive to the hospital. Upon arriving, Dad was in still in a coma as he had been for many days previously. My mother was there too. She had been sleeping in the waiting room every night for the month my Dad had been in hospitalized. She made quick trips home to change clothes. When asked why she insisted on staying at the hospital, she said she “wanted to be there just in case he woke up and needed her.” My parents’ great sense of love and commitment was born when my parents were high school sweethearts. They had been married for 56 years and hadn’t dated anyone else before making a commitment to one another.
Days passed with no response from Dad. My Mom’s birthday was January 4th. When she walked into Dad's room on January 4th, he opened his eyes and said “Happy Birthday Mom”! He even commented on her new sweater. How could someone who had been in a coma for days suddenly awake and know it was his wife’s birthday or be aware her sweater was new? No explanation for this other than a miracle from God! Dad was with us most of the day. Joking with the family and the nurses, just like Dad of old. A visiting Lutheran pastor stopped by and we all took communion. However, miracles don’t always last forever. My Dad stopped talking in the late afternoon and passed away days later without any further communication. My Mom’s birthday had most certainly been God's gift to my Mother and to all of us (two sons, and one grandson) in my Dad’s room that day. During my Dad’s illness and ultimate death, I learned the true meaning of strength and courage. It has nothing to do with physical strength. It was how my Mom and Dad conducted themselves. They had their faith to support them. I can’t imagine going through all of this without faith. It is the knowing with certainty you will meet again.
What are God sightings? They are supernatural experiences. They are experiences which aren’t easy to explain. Others rarely understand what you have just experienced. I mean, how do you explain LOVE? You just know it when you feel it.
One of my God Sightings happened when I was attending a Healing Ceremony in the old OFLC Sanctuary (currently the community room) of our church a few years ago. I was singing when suddenly a big gust of wind came over me. I was bathed in overwhelming love. I immediately looked at the people sitting nearest me. There were no expressions of awe or any expression on their faces that indicated something unusual just happened. I turned around so I was looking at the back of the sanctuary. I looked at Norie Siers (one of my spiritual teachers) as she sat in a back row singing. There was no special look on her face either. I was perplexed, but I continued to feel I was wrapped in love. It was a wonderful feeling of warmth, comfort, and specialness. It is different than love for another person.
For those logical minds: When the old sanctuary was being used for worship, the doors to the outside of the church were about 15 - 20 feet from the old Sanctuary door (community room). The wind would have had to come in from the outside doors, travel 15 or so feet, take a hard right, and travel up the aisle to my chair. I was sitting more to the northwest side of the room. I am directionally impaired so not sure if this is correct but you get the idea! I wasn’t sitting near the open doorway.
Later, I asked Norie if she felt a sudden breeze when attending the Healing Service. She replied, “No, why?” After I explained my experience, she explained the Holy Spirit is represented by the wind! I felt so special to be loved by God. We are ALL special children of our God. Go ahead, start thinking “I am Special, and I am Loved by God.
P.S. You may want to consider how others may perceive you if you walk around saying “I am special” repeatedly! It might be helpful to include the statement “I am Loved by God."
Finding out we are special and loved by God comes from being God’s chosen people which literally means a people of God’s own possession, that we are God’s own. Having been redeemed, purchased, by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we need to realize we now belong to God. How special this is!!
If you have a God Sighting to share, please send to: pastoraaron@ourfatherschurch.org or sherrymeola553@gmail.com
One of my God Sightings happened when I was attending a Healing Ceremony in the old OFLC Sanctuary (currently the community room) of our church a few years ago. I was singing when suddenly a big gust of wind came over me. I was bathed in overwhelming love. I immediately looked at the people sitting nearest me. There were no expressions of awe or any expression on their faces that indicated something unusual just happened. I turned around so I was looking at the back of the sanctuary. I looked at Norie Siers (one of my spiritual teachers) as she sat in a back row singing. There was no special look on her face either. I was perplexed, but I continued to feel I was wrapped in love. It was a wonderful feeling of warmth, comfort, and specialness. It is different than love for another person.
For those logical minds: When the old sanctuary was being used for worship, the doors to the outside of the church were about 15 - 20 feet from the old Sanctuary door (community room). The wind would have had to come in from the outside doors, travel 15 or so feet, take a hard right, and travel up the aisle to my chair. I was sitting more to the northwest side of the room. I am directionally impaired so not sure if this is correct but you get the idea! I wasn’t sitting near the open doorway.
Later, I asked Norie if she felt a sudden breeze when attending the Healing Service. She replied, “No, why?” After I explained my experience, she explained the Holy Spirit is represented by the wind! I felt so special to be loved by God. We are ALL special children of our God. Go ahead, start thinking “I am Special, and I am Loved by God.
P.S. You may want to consider how others may perceive you if you walk around saying “I am special” repeatedly! It might be helpful to include the statement “I am Loved by God."
Finding out we are special and loved by God comes from being God’s chosen people which literally means a people of God’s own possession, that we are God’s own. Having been redeemed, purchased, by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we need to realize we now belong to God. How special this is!!
If you have a God Sighting to share, please send to: pastoraaron@ourfatherschurch.org or sherrymeola553@gmail.com