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“I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2
“I lift up my eyes to the hills”, said the 121st Psalm writer. Our families had many opportunities to look up to the hills and mountains as we rode down the Icefields Parkway from Jasper to Banff.
Lisa Miles and Pastor Lueck completed the 292 kilometre bicycle ride in five very hot +35 degree Celsius days in July, 2006. We strongly felt the support and encouragement of so many people of Faith and St. Timothy. It helped us keep going up and up those long grades to the Sunwupta Pass and the Bow Pass.
Bicycling allowed us to hear the water running in the brooks, streams, and over mighty falls. We heard the birds singing for joy and we relished in the silent moments “in the hills”, inspired by the awe and majesty of the mountains. We felt the thrill of the fast rides down the long hill grades.
The Psalmist said, “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.” We were blessed with no injuries or illnesses on the ride. Whatever obstacles or challenges we faced, the resources became available to deal with them.
We are thankful to God for such an inspiring time. We are thankful for the prayers, the personal encouragement, and financial donations to the congregation’s ministry in recognition of our bicycle ride. Finally, we bicyclists are thankful to Carol, Lee, Greg, Alexa, Ashna and Jamal, for all their work before and during the ride to bring it to completion. Their patience and hard work were invaluable.
We believe our congregations are vital communities for serving in Christ’s name to refresh and renew lives. One of our goals for the mountain ride was to encourage support for our ministries.
“Mountaintops are for the views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys. God will sometimes allow us a view from the hills, but only so that we might be refreshed enough to return to the valley – where the action is – that we might be of service to Him.”
- Billy Graham
From Where Will our Help Come?
We ask for your fervent prayers and substantial financial support, all to strengthen our ministries into the valleys.
Minimum donation to Faith -- $100.00
This amount represents the level grade roads in the valleys, by the Athabasca River outside Jasper and by the Bow River close to Banff.
Large donation to Faith -- $500.00
This amount represents any of the higher, gradual highway climbs 2 km to 17 km long each.
High level donation to Faith -- $1,000.00
This amount represents the steep climbs to Sunwapta Pass (6750 feet); and to Bow Pass (6800 feet), the route’s highest points.
Please offer this extra gift in addition to your present charitable donations. Charitable receipts are provided by Faith Lutheran to you.
UNTO THE HILLS SUPPORT
I / We commit ourselves to donate $___________ to the
UNTO THE HILLS Faith Ministries project.
I / We understand this commitment may be offered in one or several payments any time during 2006.
____________________________ Date _____________
Signature
____________________________
Printed Name
Lueck & Miles families bicycling in the mountains for Faith Ministries.
Pastor Dennis Lueck and Lisa Miles along with the participation and support of their families are cycling in “the hills”, the Canadian Rockies, from Jasper to Banff (290 km), July 19-26, 2006. This physical goal is requiring diligent training and planning, but we feel it is well worth our effort, for our personal health and for Faith ministries. The beauty and majesty of the mountains will make the ride a great inspiration. Going on this ride has been Pastor Lueck’s personal dream for some 15 years.
We believe Faith Lutheran Church, Regina, is a vital community of serving people in Christ’s name, with plenty of “action” opportunities to minister to people in their “dark valleys”. We believe in our ministries that serve many people to refresh and renew lives in Christ Jesus our Saviour.