A Memorial Service in honor of Shelley Meglaughlin will be held at Gloria Dei on September 19 at 1:30PM.  Rev. Sharon Smith, rector of St. Catherine's Anglican Church will officiate and Pastor Vida Jaugelis, will preach.

Dear Family of God at Gloria Dei, 

I met with the Church Council last Saturday evening to give them the news that our son Tomas died suddenly last week.  On Sunday morning Al and I drove to church, so that I could announce the sad news in person to those gathered at worship. 

As a community we are still reeling from the news of our sister Shelley’s unexpected death. And now death has also visited the pastor’s family. The waves of sorrow keep crashing on our congregation’s shores and it feels overwhelming. Of course, Al and I and our family are devastated, and I will need to take 3-4 weeks of bereavement leave, but I plan to be with you this coming Sunday.  

On Saturday evening, the Council asked me, how can they and the congregation support me. Here was my reply: by continuing to gather together in worship and prayer and being kind to one another.  

As you know, I love being in community to worship God - source of all life, the ground of our being, and the One in whom we live and move and have our being.  I communicated to your Church Council that before I take some leave, I want to be with you on this coming Sunday. I think it is important for us to go ahead with our outdoor service and BBQ on September 8 and celebrate the Season of Creation.  In this time of sadness we need to be together, share a meal and continue to support one another.  In addition,  it will also be an opportunity to meet and welcome the women from our Community Kitchen program. They are excited to join us for our outdoor service and show off and sell the lovely painted tote bags which they have been busy crafting all summer.  The proceeds from the sale of the bags will go towards supporting our Community Kitchen program. 

In our pain and grief, our first instinct may be to pull back from community and isolate ourselves. Instead, I am encouraging you to lean into community, and not to be shy to be vulnerable to one another in our sorrow. As the words of the hymn, “Blest be the Tie that Binds,” (ELW 656) encourage us: 

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. 

From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin we shall be free, and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.”

I look forward to seeing you under the cedar boughs in the North Parking Lot at 11AM  on September 8. 

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Vida 

Join Us for our Annual Outdoor Church Service & BBQ

On September 8, 2024, at 11:00 AM, we will be holding a special outdoor church service featuring the Blessing of the Backpacks to celebrate the "Back to School" season. Following the service, enjoy a delightful BBQ with hot dogs. The women from our Community Kitchen program will also be joining us. We will have the opportunity to see and select one of the lovely tote bags they have been busy crafting all summer.

We warmly invite you to join us for this joyful occasion and partake in a time of fellowship and fun!

We look forward to seeing you there!