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Newsletter – August 2023

August 18, 2023
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Gabriel and Grace with Grandpa at school concert

 August – October 2023 Newsletter

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”  Habakkuk 2:14

From the keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum

Dear family, friends, and ministry partners:

Tammy and I recently returned from celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary on a wonderful Alaskan cruise of the inside passage.  This has been a “bucket list” item of ours for some time and it was truly amazing!  The weather was perfect.  On one excursion we saw at least 25 humpback whales and 10 orcas in a two-hour period.  The breathtaking beauty of the snow-covered mountains, the glaciers and the beautiful ocean waters reminded me of the above scripture in Habakkuk.  God’s creation in indeed awe-inspiring and we pray for the day this prophecy is fulfilled!

On the way to our adventurous seafaring voyage, we made a stop at our old stomping ground in Southern California where we attended Tammy’s high school reunion.  It was so good to catch up with a lot of our long-time friends.  While there, I was privileged to perform the wedding ceremony for one of Tammy’s classmates.  I also paid a visit to the Rotary Club of Pasadena where I have been a member since 1980, and I am now an honorary member.  I played background piano music during the luncheon and then led the 100 plus guests in the singing of “God Bless the U.S.A.” and the Pledge of Allegiance.  It was delightful to see so many dear friends and former neighbors.

In early June, I traveled to Woodbridge, CT. I gave a concert at the elementary school attended by Grace (10) and Gabriel (7), children of our daughter Heidi and her husband Ryan.  It was a real treat to catch up with these 2 of our “grands” and to spend a half-hour entertaining almost 100 of their classmates.  The children particularly enjoyed my Australian folk songs and knew all the words to the song “Kookaburra”! I closed the program by singing “What a Wonderful World.” See over

I am looking forward next week   to making my fourth visit to give a concert at Trinity Wellsprings Church in Satellite Beach, FL – about a 90-minute drive from our home.  Also planned in September is a visit to a church conference in Destin, Florida where I will lead worship and give a special concert.  Tammy will travel with me and join me on some songs as she did on our church visits to Nebraska and Texas.  It is always a joy to have her sing with me.  People often ask why Tammy did not sing and record all my original songs!

Also in June, I made a return visit to Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts where I served as Music Director for the Annual Reunion Concert.  I have been privileged to do this for the past 22 years, except for three years due to the pandemic.  This William’s annual Reunion musical weekend is hosted by our long-time, dearest friend Martha Williamson, a Williams alumnus who also serves on the Board of Trustees. Though I never attended this college, after so many visits and performances there, I feel very much at home and “part of the family”

Please continue to pray for the safety of our daughter Lisa and her husband Jonathan and their five beautiful children (our other five treasured grand-children!) in Guinea in West Africa and their missionary work with MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship.)  They face so many, many challenges!

Thank you all so very much for your continued prayers for our family, our ministries, and for your very much appreciated financial support.

You and yours continue to be in our prayers.

With gratitude, love, and blessings,

Ross and Tammy

 

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About State of the Heart

We are an inter-denominational ministry of music and worship, founded in 1997 by Dr. Ross Jutsum, dedicated to building bridges and enhancing unity in the Body of Christ.

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