From the Pastor:

It must be intentional, as we move closer to the celebration of Pentecost, that the assigned texts each week bring reminders of the Holy Spirit working in and through believers to spread the message of God’s great gift of salvation in Jesus Christ – either as a future promise from Jesus to his disciples before his passion or after the fulfillment of the promise to give “power to witness” to the disciples from Pentecost onward. On the third Sunday of Easter we heard Jesus tell the disciples “I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high,” referring to the coming of the Spirit (Luke 24:49). On the fourth Sunday of Easter, Peter speaks before the gathered leadership of the Jews in Jerusalem and, filled with the Holy Spirit, gives testimony to the power and authority of Jesus (Acts 4:5-12). On the fifth Sunday of Easter we hear about Philip being led out by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to join the Ethiopian eunuch on the road in his chariot, reading the text from Isaiah about the “sheep led to the slaughter.” Philip explains that Jesus fulfills the passage, baptizes the Ethiopian, and is swept away by the Spirit to another place, giving the term “spirited away” new meaning! (Acts 8:26-40). On the sixth Sunday we are introduced to Barnabas, “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith,” who is destined to be a colleague of Saul/Paul and introduce him to the church leaders in Jerusalem. In the lull between Jesus’ Ascension (40 days after Easter) and Pentecost (50 days after Easter), the assigned Gospel is from Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer (John 17:11-19), when, as he sends his disciples to witness in the world, he asks the Father that they be kept from the evil one and sustained in unity and truth. To these Jesus says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8) Finally we come to the Sunday of Pentecost, the long-established Jewish feast day on which the firstfruits of harvest are celebrated and offered, in trust that God will provide the rest of the harvest. The lesson is powerful: the 120 or so (Acts 1:15) gathered since the Ascension in the Upper Room, who have been praying together and waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Spirit’s coming, are the firstfruits of the church, offering themselves as witnesses, from which the greater harvest of these many centuries will spring.

On that day, Peter steps out, free from his fears, forgiven his denials, and with boldness, filled with the Spirit, gives his witness to the work and power of his Lord, Jesus Christ. He quotes the prophet Joel to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that is being witnessed there on that day: “In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). Jesus says of that day, “When the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me…" (John 15:26-27). Brothers and sisters, we stand “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1), empowered with the same Holy Spirit who led the early church to explode in growth, spreading the Kingdom from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, to the ends of the earth within 2 centuries, continued to bring explosive growth to the church whenever it depended on his power and not its own, and desires that the church continue to witness to the Cross of Jesus for the glory of the Father in our own day. Jesus said, “I will build my church!” (Matthew 16:18) You can count on it! And our prayer, as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit must be, “Lord, build your church, and use us!” Power to you! Pastor Pat

Our Prayers Are With You

Current Prayer Needs KN with adjustment and emotional issues   Marge with increased cancer markers and loss of her son Kim Markie and the process for cancer therapy Donna’s brother-in-law Glenn is in hospital Pastor Pat following sinus surgery  Pastor Perry, in Hawaii, recovering from accident We continue to pray for: Ron Nuessle Joan Rositano Claudette Rezos Rosemary Livesay Eva Duffy Gilda and Julien Carlsen Remember our shut ins. Send them a card to let them know you are thinking of them. Addresses can be found in the GDLC directory. The ELC as they continue to provide class for students. May they continue to grow and be a blessing for parents and students Lord's Pantry We continue to pray for our volunteers and staff to be considerate and compassionate to those they serve.

Praise and Thanksgiving We offer praise and thanksgiving for Pastor Pat and Ann. In this past year of challenges due to the pandemic, they have given guidance and direction to our congregation in worship and ministry. Continue to keep them safe and well. Thank you Lord for: all the cancer free diagnosis of those we have been praying for: Kim, Cathy, GA, Rich, Rama, Susan Return to church Baby Lane well and at home

To submit a prayer request: Please contact Joyce Boddie, Gail Castle, or Pastor Pat. You may also email the church office to add people to the Prayer List. We Pray for many people whose names are not published

What is the most important part of prayer? The how, when and where of prayer begins with a Foundation in Jesus Christ, a personal relationship and commitment to God.  If you look at the history of the church, the history of revivals, of great awakenings, it always was connected to people unifying and praying for the Lord to work in that situation. We, the body of Christ at GDLC, have been involved in developing a spiritually healthy and vital part of God’s mission in this world to preach the good news of grace and redemption through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah Spiritual growth is a slow process and dependent on the Holy Spirit. Humans can not grow to spiritual maturity by their own volition but only through a relationship with God, because of Jesus and through the work of the Holy Spirit. However, it is the responsibility of each Christian to discipline themselves to be in God’s presence daily through prayer and meditation, willing to die to self and to follow Jesus. “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross daily [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].’ ”  Luke 9:23 Amplified Bible And in this we are being transformed daily into His image… “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2nd Cor 3:18 NIV But how can I put into words the importance of a relationship with a living, loving and laughing God into a 2-dimensional document with a pen that skips? This is impossible because Jesus does not exist on paper but rather lives in the heart of every believer. We can tell others what God has done in our life but it is the breath of the Holy Spirit that gives life to the words we speak.

And so, we pray.  We eagerly seek God’s presence daily - through prayer We daily renew our vow to deny ourselves to follow Jesus - through prayer We rejoice in God’s assurance that we are being transformed into his likeness - through prayer Ann Fitzgerald

He restores my soul. He guides me in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3

God can lead us to better health if we let Him. We need to listen to His prompts to make needed changes. National High Blood Pressure Education Month Sponsored by the CDC, a US government health organization, Nat'l Blood Pressure Month raises awareness about the impact high blood pressure can have on health. Written as two figures, blood pressure is measured as the pressure when the heart has pumped (systolic) and when the heart is in between beats (diastolic). When the heart pumps blood, blood pressure is higher than when it is in between beats. The systolic measurement will be higher than the diastolic measurement. Normal Blood Pressure Levels: Systolic < 120mmHg Diastolic > 80mmHg At Risk Blood Pressure Levels: Systolic 120-139mmHg Diastolic 80-89mmHg High Blood Pressure Levels: Systolic 140mmHg or higher Diastolic 90mmHg or higher

Health Risks Of High Blood Pressure Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure increases the risk of serious diseases and conditions such as heart disease and stroke. In the US, heart disease is the most common form of death whilst stroke is the third leading cause. Other risk factors of high blood pressure include congestive heart failure & kidney disease. High blood pressure can have a huge impact on a person’s life. During 2007, over 46 million people in the US visited a health care provider about this condition. Overall, the incidence of high blood pressure is about the same in men and women. However, there are gender differences between age groups. In people under the age of 45, the incidence of high blood pressure is higher in men whilst in the over 65 year age category it is higher in women. There are also race differences; it is more common among African Americans than Caucasians and less likely to occur in Mexican-Americans. In the US, approximately 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure, however most people are not aware they have this condition due to a lack of signs or symptoms. Reducing High Blood Pressure High Blood Pressure Education Month encourages people to look at various lifestyle factors which may be contributing to high blood pressure. It is well documented that high levels of sodium (salt) is linked to high blood pressure. In the US, the majority of people consume more than twice the level of recommended sodium intake. Guidelines recommend up to 2,300mg of sodium per day for an adult. Those at higher risk should consume even less (up to 1,500mg of sodium a day). Higher risk groups include those who have diabetes, kidney disease, existing high blood pressure and African American people. It is also recommended that people eat potassium rich foods which help lower blood pressure. Potassium rich foods include fish, green leafy vegetables, bananas, citrus fruits and potatoes. Lifestyle changes which can help reduce blood pressure, include maintaining a healthy body weight, regular exercise, quitting smoking and following a healthy low sodium diet rich in fruit and vegetables. There are many affordable blood pressure monitors available for the consumer making it convenient to monitor your blood pressure at home.

This year the month of MAY offers these health topic observances Arthritis Awareness, Healthy Vision, Hepatitis Awareness, Mediterranean Diet, Melanoma /Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, National Cancer Research, National Celiac Disease Awareness, National High Blood Pressure Education, National Osteoporosis Prevention, National Physical Fitness & Sports, & Ultraviolet Awareness

Hymn for May From the compilation The One-year Book of Hymns Edited by Kathryn S. Olson Redeemed

Fanny Crosby didn't start writing hymns until she was forty years old, but she made up for the lost time. Only a rare few have matched the number of Christian songs she's penned. Blinded in infancy because of a doctor's error, Ms. Crosby demonstrates no bitterness in her songs. We find nothing but joy and longing for the Lord. "Redeemed and so happy in Jesus" is not just a line that sounds good in a hymn; it is the story of Crosby's life. Blinded to the light of this world, she had a light shining in her soul. Love is another major contributor to Crosby's work. She regularly marvels at God's love. “His love is the theme of my song.” Only as we come face to face with the overwhelming love of God can we begin to love others fully. As John says, “We love each other because He loved us first” (I John 4:19). And Jesus said that the world would recognize his disciples by the love they had for each other. “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” I PETER 1:18-19 Redeemed Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915) Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am. REFRAIN Redeemed, redeemed Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed, redeemed, His child, and forever, I am. Redeemed and so happy in Jesus No language my rapture can tell; I know that the light of His presence With me doth continually dwell. REFRAIN I think of my blessed Redeemer, I think of Him all the day long; I sing for I cannot be silent; His love is the theme of my song. REFRAIN I know I shall see in His beauty The King in whose law I delight; Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps, And giveth me songs in the night. REFRAIN

© 2017 by Robert K. Brown and Mark R. Norton – All rights reserved Paraphrased by Music Director, David K. Bakken, Ed.D. Art: My Child, by David Bowman

April Leadership Team Meeting was postponed due to scheduling issues  Here are highlights of current activities around the Church: Healthy Churches Thrive— Our Prayer Pods continue to be actively praying. Solar Project— Solar panels have been installed on the roof of the Pantry and the south facing roof of Luther Hall. The Solar company is working with PG&E and the City of San Jose to do final approvals for hookup to the electric grid. ELC— School is going well. Plans are in the works for Summer School. New students are continuing to join. We are waiting for a final bid on the fence for the ELC. Pastor Pat continues to visit each week. Lord’s Pantry— The Pantry continues to be very busy serving many individuals. The number of people we serve continues to grow. In March, we fed over 2,100 Families. The number of volunteers is very low and is impacting our success at feeding families. If you find you have a couple of hours a week to help, it would be appreciated. Caring Ministry— Donna and her team continue to serve our community through home visits, and phone calls. 114 individuals were served—8 home visits, and over 100 phone consults. Care Ministry Corner articles are sent out by Constant Contact each week. Worship Activities— We continue to worship online, either by live-streaming the service at 9:30 am Sunday, or later by Facebook or YouTube from the church's website. Our Small Group Studies continue through Zoom. We continue to do monthly “drive through” communion.  The Worship Team is making preparations for a return to “In Person Live” Church Services starting May 2nd

5 Joan Beecher 6 David Livesay 7 Joan Rositano 8 Don Martindale 9 Darlene Eliason 11 Aase Serra 12 Robert Borregard 17 Douglas Smay 19 Dan Rinerson & Alex Serra 22 Jon Kromrey 23 John Mlnarik 30 Peter Smay

If you are interested in viewing or printing the "Print Version" of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Newsletter you may do so below MAY Messenger pdf