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20 Lutheran Life Celebrating Life's Moments Together While our lives of faith may have similar milestones—such as being baptized, receiving the Lord's Supper, or starting a job—they're also unique to the story God is writing in each of our lives. So we asked men and women from across the Synod to share a part of their life's story that has been shaped by their faith in Jesus. Becoming a Mom The day I found out I was pregnant with my first son, so many thoughts ran through my mind. The one that stuck out the most was that God chose me, at that time, to love and care for another human life. God is always near, guiding me on my path in life. —Stephanie DiDonato, Reliant Church, St. Louis, MO God's Care for His Servants Looking back at just over ten years of DCE ministry, I see more and more how God has used me in ways I couldn't even imagine. Through my aspirations, shortcomings, tri- umphs, and fears, God's glory shines through it all and I get to be a part of it. —Jaymes Hayes, DCE, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kearney, NE Answering Big Prayers When James was born and we learned he had Down syndrome, many thoughts of "Will he be able to . . ." flooded my mind. One was "Will he be able to be confirmed, take Communion, and learn about faith in God?" As so often is the case, James proves those early thoughts wrong. He knows His God and tells people about Him. He has worked hard to learn Scripture verses, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, how to ask for forgiveness, and how to live a life of faith. He was the class's favorite for dancing to praise songs. And on Sunday, May 23, 2021, James joined his class for confirmation, had his first Communion, and read his faith talk. Inclusion at its best. Thank You, Lord, for giving us this example of faith in You! In James's words, "God is my Rock!" —Linda Lohmeyer, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lake Arrowhead, CA 20 Lutheran Life

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