Diakonia, GMS

08/29/2022

Want to see more posts to grow your faith? Join us at our new website, Growing in Faith/GMS Diakonia community!

https://www.facebook.com/Growing-in-FaithGMS-Diakonia-Community-106890362135998/

There was a moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God to tell him God's name. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name God gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.
Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels.
But scholars and Rabbis have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, or aspirated consonants. When pronounced without intervening vowels, it actually sounds like breathing.
YH (inhale): WH (exhale).
So a baby’s first cry, first breath, speaks the name of God.
A deep sigh calls God's name – or a groan or gasp that is too heavy for mere words.
Likewise, a person leaves this earth with their last breath, when God’s name is no longer filing their lungs.
So when I can’t utter anything else, is my cry calling out God's name?
Being alive means I speak God's name constantly.
So, is it heard the loudest when I’m the quietest?
In sadness, we breathe heavy sighs.
In joy, our lungs feel almost like they will burst.
In fear we hold our breath and have to be told to breathe slowly to help us calm down.
When we’re about to do something hard, we take a deep breath to find our courage.
When I think about it, breathing is giving God praise. Even in the hardest moments!
This is so beautiful and fills me with emotion every time I grasp the thought. God chose to give Godself a name that we can’t help but speak every moment we’re alive.
All of us, always, everywhere.
Waking, sleeping, breathing, with the name of God on our lips.
adapted from the writings of- Sandra Thurman Caporale from the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston.
Artist credit for graphic- Scott Erickson

08/25/2022

Don’t forget to visit and LIKE our NEW page Growing in Faith/GMS Diakonia Community
https://www.facebook.com/106890362135998/posts/107636988728002/?d=n

"Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob" (Psalm 81:1).

08/16/2022

https://www.facebook.com/Growing-in-FaithGMS-Diakonia-Community-106890362135998
This is our new page, please visit and like!

A place for Diakonia program alumni of the Greater Milwaukee Synod and others to connect, learn and grow in faith.

08/15/2022

Just a heads up...this page will be closing and migrating to a new page, Growing in Faith/Diakonia Program Community. There will be updates on the opportunities for program updates and online classes through the national Growing in Faith program, as well as updates on Greater Milwaukee Synod programs. Please watch for the new link soon and follow us there!

08/08/2022

The Grand Canyon Synod is currently offering in-person and hybrid format (Zoom) starting in September!

Grand Canyon Synod Growing in Faith: The Diakonia Program

Fall 2022 Foundation Year Class Enrollment in Progress!

Diakonia is a call to discipleship! After 40+ years, the Diakonia program has been re-imagined, taking the best of the current program and adding new elements and more flexibility.

When Jesus told his disciples, “Come, follow me,” (Mathew 4:19 NIV), it wasn’t simply a call for them to follow Jesus on the road. It was an invitation to life-long discipleship. That meant learning, listening, and sharing Jesus directly through his Word. In fact, the definition of disciple means follower or student.

Growing in Faith: Foundation Year– Six 5-week classes (for new students starting Sept 2022)

This first year of study will provide a strong foundation which will be built upon in year 2 and subsequent study. This foundation year of classes will be offered each year with in-person classes in various locations in the Grand Canyon Synod in order to establish the community that has been so important to this program. Zoom options should also be offered for those either not close enough, or with physical limitations, which prevent attending in person.

1. Christianity in a Lutheran Key

2. Intro First Testament/Hebrew Scriptures

3. Intro New Testament

4. Lutheran Creeds and Confessions

5. Living as a Christian in the world

6. Worship Matters

Growing in Faith: Practical Year – Six 5-week classes

Road to Service or Faith Formation Tracks (for second year students starting Sept 2023)

Students who wish to earn a Growing in Faith: Diakonia graduation certificate need to choose a track for the practical year. This second year is designed to put flesh on the skeleton of the foundation year courses. Additional classes may be taken after completing the two-year program as continuing education or Beyond Diakonia. These classes will be a combination of hybrid and on-line classes.

For more information visit our website at https://www.diakonia.education or email [email protected]

08/08/2022

“Fear not, little flock, for it has pleased your Abba to give you the kin-dom.

Sell what you own and give the money to poorer people. Make purses for yourselves that don’t wear out—treasures that won’t fail you, in heaven that thieves can’t steal, and moths can’t destroy. For wherever your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be.

Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit. Be like the household staff awaiting the owner’s return from a wedding, so that when the owner arrives and knocks, you’ll open the door without delay. It will go well with those staff members whom the owner finds wide awake upon returning. I tell you the absolute truth, the owner will put on an apron, seat them at table and proceed to wait on them. Should the owner happen to come at midnight, or before sunrise, and find them prepared, it will go well with them.

Understand this: no homeowner who knew when a thief was coming would have let the thief break in! So be on guard—the Promised One will come when least expected.
- Luke 12:32-40

08/07/2022

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Students of Growing in Faith/Diakonia share their experiences of the program. To learn more go to: http://www.diakoniausa.org