Grace Lutheran Church Non-Profit Org.
1024 West Eighth St. U.S. Postage Paid
Waterloo IA 50702 Permit 1368
319.235.6705 Waterloo IA
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
TO:
April 2025
Grace Evangelical Lutheran
APRIL 2025 WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday Worship – 9am
Communion - 2nd & 4th
Fellowship – 10:15am
Bible Class Hour– 10:30am
Men’s Breakfast/Bible Study – Saturday, April 5th, 8 am
Special PPC & Board Meeting – Monday, April 7th, 7:00 pm
Women’s Bible Study – Thursday, April 3rd & 17th, 9:30am
Sewing Circle – 8:30am-noon Most Wednesdays
Hannah Society – Monday, April 28th, 7:00 pm
This Month—
Wednesday Lent Services April 2nd & 9th Worship at 11 am and 6:30 pm
Maundy Thursday Service w/Holy Communion April 17th @ 11 am & 6:30 pm
Good Friday Service April 18th @ 11 am and 6:30 pm
Sunrise Easter Service w/Holy Communion Sunday April 20th at 7 am
Easter Service w/Holy Communion Sunday April 20th at 9 am
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April 2025 Office hours: Monday & Friday – 8am-noon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8a-noon, 1-4pm Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 8:30a Sewing 11a Wed. Ser. 5p Catechesis 5:15p Choir 6:30p Wed. Ser 3 9:30a Ladies Bible Stdy 6p Exercise 4 5 8a Men’s Breakfast/Bible Stdy 6 9a Worship 10:15 Fellowship 10:30 Bible Class / Sunday School 7 6p Exercise 7p Special PPC with all Boards 8 9 8:30a Sewing 11a Wed. Ser. 5p Catechesis 5:15p Choir 6:30p Wed. Ser 10 6p Exercise 11 Floors being waxed no one in building after noon 12 Building closed no one can come in Today 13 9a Worship w/comm. 10:15 Fellowship 10:30 Bible Class / Sunday School 14 6p Exercise 15 16 8:30a Sewing 5p Catechesis 17 9:30a Ladies Bible Stdy 11a Maundy Thursday w/comm. 5:30p Choir 6:30p Maundy Thursday w/comm 18 OFFICE CLOSED 11a Good Friday service 6:30p Good Friday service 19 20 7a Sunrise Easter Worship w/comm. 8a Fellowship 9a Easter Worship w/comm. 10:15 Fellowship 21 6p Exercise 22 23 8:30a Sewing 5p Catechesis 5:15p Choir 24 6p Exercise 25 26 1p Youth @ Palmers Fun Center 27 9a Worship w/comm. 10:15 Fellowship 10:30 Bible Class / Sunday School 28 9a Greeting Stuffers 6p Exercise 7p Hannah’s 29 30 8:30a Sewing 5p Catechesis 5:15p Choir |
April 2025
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
What does this mean? Answer: We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, nor defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
Heavenly Father,
Instruction: Here you teach me to love my neighbor as myself, to regard and protect his good name and reputation from lies, half-truths, slanders, and defamation of character. I ought always to defend his good name and reputation to the best of my ability.
Thanksgiving: Thank you for surrounding me with such wonderful neighbors who lovingly watch out for me, protect and speak up in my defense.
Confession: I confess, though, that I have not always defended my neighbor’s name and reputation. Far too often I belittle, betray, or slander him. I refuse, either out of fear or resentment, to defend him. Please forgive me!
Petition: I pray keep my neighbor’s good always at the forefront of my mind, to speak the truth honestly, to support him, defend him, and maintain his good reputation.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Almighty and everlasting God, heavenly Father,
Instruction: You teach me in this commandment to regard my neighbor’s name and reputation as though it were my own, to guard and keep it safe from all harm and danger. To defend him against every lie, betrayal, and slanderous accusation. Instead, to speak faithfully and truthfully about him, to uphold and sustain him, and to speak well of him as I want others to do for me.
Thanksgiving: I thank you, heavenly Father, for surrounding me with so many good and faithful neighbors. You bless me with their comfort and encouragement, their friendship and companionship. Their good name resounds to your praise and glory.
Confession: However, I confess that I do not always love my neighbor as myself. I have lied. I have betrayed. I have slandered. I have defamed. All of this when I should have told the truth, defended, praised, and upheld his good name among others. I have loved myself more than my neighbor and have often benefited from his loss. Father, forgive me.
Petition: Teach me to love my neighbor, his name and reputation, as I love myself. Lead me to always speak the truth in love, to rebuke with gentleness, to defend his good name and reputation with my words, to thank and encourage him, and uphold him.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
CHOIR NOTES
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;
Sing the ending of the fray.
Now above the cross, the trophy,
Sound the loud triumphant lay:
Tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,
As a victim won the day.
LSB 454:1
Yes SING! We in the choir will always tell you we love to SING of the Lord’s triumph. Won’t you join us on Wednesday early evening (5:15) prior to the Lenten services? Your voice will join with ours to sound that triumphant lay!
BABY BOTTLE DRIVE
We are doing the annual Baby Bottle Drive where we collect loose change for Alternatives Pregnancy Center. This drive helps support the life=affirming work that supports moms and dads through their parenting journey!
We will be collecting money until April 13 which is Palm Sunday. We will work on getting everything turned in to Alternatives by Easter. if you are unable to return your bottle by the 13th please let the office know, we need to keep track of the bottles.
Thank you for your help with the drive, it helps those families get the support that they need.
Dinner Theatre
LCMS U DINNER THEATER AT COLLEGE HILL LUTHERAN CHURCH
It's time for the 26th Annual Dinner Theater hosted by the college students of College Hill Lutheran Church. Join us for a night filled with fine-dining and laughter while supporting campus ministry in the Cedar Valley. You can help LCMS U continue to reach college students in the Cedar Valley by purchasing a ticket to Dinner Theater which takes place on Friday, April 11th. Doors open at 5:30 pm, Dinner at 6:00 pm with entertainment to follow. For now, tickets can be reserved by calling the church office at (319) 266-1274 or emailing collegehilllutheran@gmail.com. Cost will be $12 for adults, $7 for students, $7 for kids over 4, and kids under 4 free. Students will come by to sell printed tickets on one of the Sundays after they return from spring break.
MEN’S BREAKFAST/BIBLE STUDY on Saturday,
April 5th at 8:00 a.m.
Join us in the kitchen on the 5th for Breakfast and Bible Study. I know that a lot of fellowship takes place and that everyone leaves in a good mood. Please join us for good food, fellowship and learning. The menu will be pancakes, sausage and maybe some sweet rolls along with some drinks.
Prayer Chain…
Our Grace Prayer Chain is alive and well. If you have a request for the group – please call Denise in the church office (235.6705) or Dianna Seedorff (290.6513) to get the group on their knees.
ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED
Grace is asking for help with transportation for Joseph Sanogo at Valley Lutheran School. If you are willing to be an alternate or to take one of the other days, let the office know. It is our hope this will only be a short term as Janet is in the process of obtaining her driver’s license and buying a car. Also, if you know of anyone with a dependable car that is for sale for a reasonable price, please contact the Church office. Thank you to everyone that has volunteered.
Thank you to the members of Grace Lutheran Church,
Especially Pastor Kane, Gladys Cashman and the other “kitchen Ladies”, and the Care and Concern Committee. We greatly appreciate all of the support, cards and visits for mom these last 3 years. She enjoyed everything you did.
Peggy and the family of Hazel Erdman
FROM THE PIE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
We have stocked the freezer with some of your favorite pies for Easter. The 9” pies are now $9 and the 5” pies are $5. We have Apple, Cherry, Rhubarb, Peach and Blueberry.
Don’t forget that Mother’s Day and Graduation are also coming up and the pies make a wonderful gift.
LUTHERAN WITNESS
It is time to renew the Lutheran Witness or start getting it. This magazine is full of a lot information and ideas, they also have a Bible Study in each of the magazines. You can check out what they are like in the office.
The subscription is $20.65 for the year. That is 11 monthly magazines starting in July (the June/July months are combined into one magazine)
Please let me know by April 27th if you are interested.
IOWA EAST LUTHERAN LAYMANS LEAGUE
The Iowa East LLL District Convention is Saturday April 26, from 9 am to 4 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church 915 27th St. Marion Iowa. Cost is $18 per person which includes lunch. Registration deadline is April 20. You can register online at lhm.org/iowaeast-lll.
Keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, speaker of the Lutheran Hour. Highlights include: Iowa District East LCMS update and Iowa District East LWML update.
Check the posted flyers for more information.
CAMP IO-DIS-E-CA
We have received information on the Summer Camp so you can start planning which week you would like to attend. Please check out the bulletin boards for more information and what the cost is going to be for the camp.
They are also looking for those that would like a summer job.
There is a QR code on the poster to use for more information.
GRACE LUTHERAN FOOD PANTRY
The Food Pantry is still open by appointment! The purpose is to supplement a person’s existing food resources as an emergency stop gap measure for those in our congregation or friends of the congregation. It is NOT a competition for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. The Pantry is located in the church office. Thank you to everyone who has donated items. Top Needs are
Hair conditioner, body wash, deodorant (men & women), canned veggies (no baked beans), ramen noodles, hamburger helper
Pancake mix, syrup, stick butter, spaghetti sauce and noodles, peanut butter and 32 oz. juice.
If you or someone you know is in need,
please contact the office (235.6705).
Also we are in need of empty egg cartons that are for a dozen eggs
IDE TODAY
The IDE Today magazine will be offered online very soon. If you wish to receive a digital copy you can sign up at https://lcmside.org/ide-today-signup/. Because of the cost of printing they will not send out as many copies, but the digital copy will be able to have more pictures for you to see. You will also be able to read it before everyone else.
The Lutheran Hour
Sundays – 7:30 a.m. WHO/1040 AM
Sundays – 6:30 a.m. WMT/600 AM
Sundays – 8 a.m. KWAY/1470 AM
KFUO Radio LCMS news, music, and Gospel! 24/7
To support the world wide radio ministry, send your gift to
LCMS Radio Ministry
P.O. Box 66913
St, Louis MO 63166-6913
Our own Synod’s radio station is on 24/7. It is particularly awesome. Listening to KFUO Radio is easy…it is online all day and all night, around the world. Hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, the teachings that show why we believe what we believe, and hear the Word proclaimed daily. Since 1924, KFUO Radio is a listener-supported broadcast ministry of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Lutheran Worship, Sacred Music, and Informative Talk programming and news are all part of why KFUO Radio has continued to spread the Gospel with the help of its dedicated worldwide listeners. Check it out!
HOSPITALIZED?
Will you be receiving care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota? Trinity Lutheran Church of Rochester offers their TLCare ministry to out of town medical guests. We strive to serve people in many ways such as prayer support, a homemade meal, a visit from one of our caring members, free parking in our lot, a comfortable place to go between appointments, and more. An apartment (no cost) within walking distance of the Mayo Clinic is also available on a first-come basis for LCMS members. For further information, please contact Trisha at 507.218.1531 or Pastor Schwartz at 816.806.6797 at Trinity, or chaplain@RochesterHospital.
If you have a planned hospitalization, or are admitted in an emergency – please let the church office know as soon as possible. Because of privacy laws, the hospital can not tell us when you are admitted. Even when the hospital chaplain attempts to let us know, sometimes we are not notified.
We want to be able to minister to you in your time of need – please let us know. (235.6705)
BLACKHAWK HOCKEY TEAM has some nights that are called Faith nights. Churches, youth groups, and other groups in the church are encouraged to come those nights for $10 if we get a group of 10 people wanting to go. The date is Saturday April 12 at 6:05 pm. Let me know if you are interested and maybe we can get a group together. This can be a fun night for those that like Hockey.
CHECK OUT J.O.Y.
Valley Lutheran School is having a Just Older Youth event for the older adults every month. I have heard that it is a great fellowship time. It will be in the bulletin when the next one is.
ONLINE GIVING
We now have the option of online giving available on our website:
www.gracewaterloo.org You will enter a secure site and can setup weekly or one time gifts to your regular giving or to special funds like the building repair fund. Giving can be setup with either a credit card or your bank account. You can create an account that will remember your information for future use. This is a very secure site so you can setup giving with confidence that your information will be safe.
You can also setup giving using an app on a cell phone. Just search for Vanco in your App Store. Using this you will need to create an account with your information to allow the app to communicate with Vanco.
Our Mission:
As we are LOVED by Christ, we are LED by Christ to LIVE for Christ.
“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins...since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another...if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” I John 4:10-12
Join us for Holy Week
Palm Sunday is April 13 with the procession of Palms at the 9 am service
Maundy Thursday is April 17 we have service at 11 am and 6:30 pm with Holy Communion at both services
Good Friday is April 18 there will be service at 11 am and 6:30 pm
Easter Sunday is April 20
Sunrise service is at 7 am with Holy Communion
Fellowship at 8 am – 8:45 am
Easter service is at 9 am with Holy Communion
Fellowship at 10 am – 10:45 am
For the Fellowship time, we will have Cinnamon Rolls and coffee, juice and water.
If anyone would like to bring something to contribute to the table feel free to bring it.
Ideas would be a type of sweet bread, muffins, bagels, coffee cake or fruit.
The Van Nice family will be serving and cleaning up.
| IN THIS ISSUE | |
| 1) | HI SCHOOL |
| 2) | 4th-5th INFO |
| 3) | 6th, 7th & 8th INFO |
| 4) |
YOUTH INFORMATION
|
LETS GO TO PALMERS FUN CENTER ON SATURDAY APRIL 26TH AT 1 PM AND EXPERIENCE ALL OF THE FUN THINGS THEY HAVE TO DO THERE.
THEY HAVE THE GIANT BOUNCING PILLOW, GO CARTS, GOOFY GOLF, BATTING CAGES, DRIVING RANGE, LAZER TAG AND ARCHERY TAG. THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT PACKAGES FOR PRICING OFFERED SO YOU CAN DECIDE WHICH OPTIONS WORK THE BEST FOR YOU. DO YOU WANT TO TRY SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES OR ARE YOU A FAN OF A COUPLE OF THESE. THEY DO HAVE SOME DRINKS AND SNACKS AVAILABLE ALSO. LET ME KNOW BY EASTER IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COME OUT AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. INVITE A FRIEND OR TWO TO MAKE OUR EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE FUN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON EITHER OF THESE ACTIVITIES PLEASE CALL 464-2375 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE OR EMAIL ME AT YOUTH@GRACEWATERLOO.ORG.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NEXT MONTH? LET ME KNOW BY APRIL 15TH.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO A HOCKEY GAME THIS YEAR? WE CAN GET $10 TICKETS WITH A GROUP OF 10 OR MORE FOR THE FAITH GROUP NIGHTS. THE LAST GAME IS APRIL 12. WE NEED TO ORDER THE TICKETS TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE SO LET ME KNOW.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GOING TO CAMP THIS SUMMER? CHECK OUT THE BULLETIN BOARDS FOR MORE INFORMATION.
READ PSALMS 15 THIS MONTH. LET’S DISCUSS WHAT THIS CHAPTER IS SAYING TO US.
THE REGISTRATION HAS BEEN SENT IN BUT THERE IS TIME TO ADD SOMEONE IF THEY STILL WANT TO ATTEND.
THE NEXT GATHERING IS 2025 IN NEW ORLEANS. THOSE THAT HAVE COMPLETED 8TH GRADE BY MAY OF 2025 ARE ABLE TO ATTEND.
THE GATHERING IS JULY 19-23, 2025, IN NEW ORLEANS. THE THEME IS ENDURE AND THE TEXT IS HEBREWS 12:1-3.
APRIL
SORRY IF WE MISSED YOUR BIRTHDAY, LET US KNOW FOR THE NEXT TIME PLEASE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND MANY BLESSINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT EACH GENERATION, BUT THE GREATEST IS THAT IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND GET ALONG. I BEG TO DIFFER. GOD CREATED PEOPLE TO DESIRE COMMUNITY, AND WE CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR CONNECTION AND UNDERSTANDING. WE WANT TO BE SEEN AND KNOWN, A GIFT THAT GOD GIVES US THROUGH HIS CHURCH.
AS A CHURCH BODY, IT IS VITAL FOR US TO TAKE TIME DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER GENERATIONS.
YOUNGER GENERATIONS NEED THE LIFE-EXPERIENCE OF OLDER GENERATIONS. THEY NEED ADVICE, MENTORSHIP, AND GUIDANCE AS THEY NAVIGATE THE WORLD. GOD GAVE TEENS PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND OTHER ADULTS FOR OUR GOOD (SEE THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT AND ITS MEANING IN THE SMALL CATECHISM.) IT CAN BE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND THE GENERATIONAL HISTORY ADULTS THAT COME BEFORE THEM HAVE. THEY HAVE STORIES OF HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS WORKED IN THEIR LIVES. THIS PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS TO PUT SOME OF WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING INTO A LARGER PERSPECTIVE.
THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT OLDER GENERATIONS SHOULD CONSTANTLY LECTURE, BE OVERBEARING OR ARROGANT. INSTEAD, THINK OF YOURSELF AS A MODEL AND MENTOR. GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE SPACE TO LEARN BUT BE READY TO ENCOURAGE AND GUIDE THEM. AS WE ARE REMINDED OF IN 1 TIMOTHY 5:1-2, WE ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER, REGARDLESS OF AGE, BECAUSE GOD HAS BROUGHT ALL AGES INTO HIS FAMILY.
OLDER GENERATIONS CAN GAIN NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD, FIND WAYS TO CHEER ON YOUTH IN THEIR VOCATIONS, AND GROW IN EMPATHY FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS. THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE A WORLD THAT IS COMPLETELY NEW FROM WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED FROM YOUNGER GENERATIONS. UNDERSTANDING GEN Z AND ALPHA CAN HELP OFFER EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND YET, IN CONVERSATION, MATURE GENERATIONS WILL QUICKLY UNCOVER THAT THE DESIRE TO LEARN AND BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES IS COMMON.
”YOUTHESOURCE BY AVA SLAYBAUGH ON October 26, 2024
SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR CHURCHES? IT MEANS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION. THE ‘YOUNG PEOPLE’ SHOULDN’T BE SEPARATE ALL THE TIME FROM THE ‘OLD PEOPLE’. WHILE SPECIALIZED LEARNING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COMRADERY, INTERGENERATIONAL EXPERIENCES GREATER A RICHER, MORE RELATIONALLY CONNECTED CHURCH.
UNDERSTANDING ACROSS GENERATIONS CAN BRING BETTER INSIGHT TO WHAT EACH PERSON BRINGS TO THEIR VOCATIONS AND ROLES GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH. ACROSS GENERATIONS, IT HELPS US IDENTIFY WHERE WE MIGHT MISUNDERSTAND OR MISCOMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WORK TOWARDS NEW APPRECIATION FOR THE WAYS GOD HAS GIFTED HIS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.
LASTLY, UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF ALL THE GENERATIONS CAN HELP YOU BETTER SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THE WORLD! IT CAN INCREASE THE WAY IN WHICH YOU COMMUNICATE GOD’S GRACE AND GIFTS IN A WAY UNDERSTANDABLE TO EACH GENERATION. EACH GENERATION IS SO LOVED BY JESUS THAT HE DIED FOR THEIR SALVATION. CONNECTING ACROSS GENERATIONS CAN BROADEN YOUR PURVIEW OF WHY JESUS HAS COME FOR ALL PEOPLE THROUGHOUT ALL TIME.
“You are the salt of the earth . . . You are the light of the world”
(Mt. 5:13-16). One way to be salty and let our light shine is by
being good citizens on earth. Our vocation as citizens of both the
secular kingdom and God’s kingdom gives us the responsibility
to proclaim God’s Word and care for our neighbors. We are
called to engage the “public square” with our message of Christ’s
mercy for all. Please pray for God’s will to be done… in Jesus’
name.
AI technologies are now shaping the world in which we
live. All technology, however, carries the potential for
both good and evil. Academy of Ideas has produced a
video that explores the darker side of AI. If the dreams
of AI enthusiasts are realized, explains the video, “the
outcome could be the extinction of humanity or a
nightmarish technological dystopia. For riding the wave
of AI’s advancement is the fanatical ideology of
transhumanism, which is embraced by many in the
upper echelons of corporate, political and scientific
power. Transhumanism promotes integrating
technology into the brains and bodies of all humans.”
In his book, Dark Aeon: Transhumanism and the War
Against Humanity, Joe Allen explains,
“Transhumanism
is the great merger of humankind with the machine. At
this state in history, it consists of billions using
smartphones. Going forward, we’ll be hardwiring our
brains to artificial intelligence systems. Ultimately,
transhumanism is a spiritual orientation—not toward
the transcendent Creator, but rather toward the
created Machine.”
Joe Allen writes, “In the same way an automated
calculator can out-compete any human in a Math Bowl,
a sufficiently advanced AI will blow humans away at
calculation, persuasion, deception, replication, machine
control, resource acquisition, institutional organization,
military strategy, and pretty much any task it’s trained
to perform in the ‘digital ecosystem’ . . . As AIs
become even more complex and nondeterministic than
they already are, they’ll be able to operate across the
internet with greater autonomy. If allowed to improve
their own computer code, these AIs could replicate and
mutate like bacteria in an irradiated Petri dish. Once
one learns a new skill, countless more would learn
instantly.
” Ben Goertzel, a lead developer at OpenCog,
whose software powers the world-famous robot
Sophia, wrote that “. . . one thing that does seem
likely, is that once machines smarter than humans are
around, the era of human beings dominating the Earth
will be gone.” (Excerpted from the transcript of The Dark
Side of AI: Transhumanism and the War Against Humanity,
Academy of Ideas, February 17, 2025.)
What can we do? Watch the 25-minute video, The
Darkside of AI, provided free from Academy of Ideas.
(Academy of Ideas is subscription only; however, they
offer certain timely topics free via Youtube. You can
watch The Dark Side of AI here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lQbeMLgt6k)
Invite others to watch and then discuss the video. Ask:
In what ways is the Church prepared for the warp
speed of AI and transhumanism? How do we prepare
our children? After God’s Word, what resources do we
have for use in preparation? Read Dark Aeon:
Transhumanism and the War Against Humanity by Joe
Allen. If you are a Tucker Carlson Network subscriber,
listen to the interview with Ray Dalio about “America’s
Civil War” and his predictions concerning AI.
(https://tuckercarlson.com/tucker-show-ray-dalio)
Dalio reminds us of the importance of human
community. He may or may not be speaking to the
Church, the Body of Christ, but we can and must.
Please pray for a faithful Church in this present
world… in Jesus’ name.
Totalitarian Novels
Totalitarian novels depict regimes that exert complete
and pervasive control over the lives of their subjects.
In their novels, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Arthur
Koestler, and C.S. Lewis imagine the terrible
possibilities of unchecked modern tyranny. Christian
citizens are encouraged to join Larry P. Arnn, president
of Hillsdale College, and students of Hillsdale as they
explore 1984, Brave New World, Darkness at Noon,
and That Hideous Strength during an eight-lesson, 4-
1/2-hour length course offered by Hillsdale free of
charge. The course includes four lectures and four
conversations, each about 30 minutes long. It is
structured with one lecture about each book followed
Human Care & Public Square Issues – February 2025by a conversation between Dr. Arnn and the students
about themes from that book. Study guides are
provided to supplement each lecture. Lessons in the
course are 1) 1984: Pain, 2) 1984 History and
Language, 3) Brave New World: Pleasure, 4) Brave
New World: Drugs and Genetics, 5) Darkness at Noon:
Regret, 6) Darkness at Noon: Loyalty and Confession,
7) That Hideous Strength: Faith, and 8) That Hideous
Strength: Science and Bureaucracy.
What can we do? Enroll in “Totalitarian Novels” to
better understand the danger of totalitarian regimes
and to find the courage to resist tyranny. Visit
www.online.hillsdale.edu/courses/promo/totalitarian-
novels. You can engage in conversations with other
students on the dedicated discussion board or take the
course at your own pace and in the manner that best
fits your schedule.
Please pray for men and women who desire to serve,
not rule… in Jesus’ name.
IVF: A Victory for Families or
a Commodification of Human Life?
President Trump’s executive order aimed at expanding
access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) is framed as a pro-
family policy. The order states: “As a Nation, our public
policy must make it easier for loving and longing
mothers and fathers to have children.” In line with this
commitment, the administration has vowed to ease
restrictions on IVF. However, while the order
acknowledges that “implementation of these policies
remains subject to legislative and budgetary
considerations,” Trump’s actions are far outside his
constitutional bounds (and those of Congress as well).
The U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal
government authority over healthcare and medical
treatments. This includes reproductive technologies
like IFV. Beyond constitutional considerations, the
government-promoted expansion of IVF raises
profound moral and bioethical concerns.
IVF replaces natural conception with a controlled
medical process that requires hormonal stimulation,
surgical egg retrieval, and lab-based fertilization.
Women undergo ovarian hyperstimulation, receiving
hormone injections to produce 10-15 eggs instead of
the one or two released during natural ovulation. Once
mature, doctors surgically retrieve the eggs from the
sedated mother. Fertilization occurs in a lab, embryos
are monitored for 3-7 days, and a select few
transferred to the mother’s uterus.
What are the concerns? 1) IVF manufactures life.
Human embryos are treated as disposable biological
material. To increase success rates, far more embryos
are created than will ever be used. More than one
million frozen eggs and embryos are stored in U.S.
fertility clinics each year. IVF produces far more
embryos than will ever be born. An estimated 93
percent of all IVF embryos will never make it to birth.
They will be discarded, abandoned, or used for
experimentation. 2) Egg donation in the U.S. has
become a highly commercialized, selective industry
that targets financially vulnerable women, but also
seeks high-achieving students from elite universities,
medical trainees, and women with specific ethnic
backgrounds, offering “hundreds of thousands of
dollars per donation cycle.” This market-driven
approach prioritizes desirable genetic traits. That
reinforces eugenic undertones as the industry assigns
higher value to certain eggs over others. Meanwhile,
donors face significant health risks, including ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which can cause
severe pain, organ damage, and even death. Women
are left uninformed about these possible consequences
because long-term research on egg-donor health
remains inadequate. Additionally, the U.S. fertility
industry lacks oversight but enjoys government
support. This allows profit-drive selection criteria to
determine the value of human eggs. 3) The
cornerstone of IVF is surrogacy, an industry that turns
pregnancy into a contract, reducing motherhood to a
commercial service rather than a deep, human bond.
4) IVF, which began as a medical solution for
infertility, has opened the new frontier of selective
reproduction. Parents can now screen for intelligence,
disease resistance, and even personality traits. Among
those funding selective reproduction are Peter Thiel
and OpenAI’s Sam Altman who pour funds into fertility
startups like Orchid Health and Gattaca Genomics
which openly market genetic selection. (Excerpted from
“Trump’s IVF Expansion: A Victory for Families or a
Commodification of Life” by Veronika Kyrylenko, New
American, February 20, 2025)
What can we do? Pay attention. Do our homework.
Ask questions. Seventy percent of Americans currently
favor IVF, but how many of us grasp its full
implications? Is IVF only about helping couples to
conceive? Will we engineer future generations based
on arbitrary genetic preferences? How does history
warn against pursuing genetic perfection?
Please pray that God’s will, not man’s, be done… in
Jesus’ name.
Human Care & Public Square Issues – February 2025Human Care & Public Square Issues – February 2025