Newsletter – May 2024
They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
John 12:13 NIV
From the keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum
Dear family and friends:
Greetings from Florida on a very warm and sunny spring day! Here is a picture of Tammy and I leading worship on Palm Sunday at the Grace Communion International congregation in Glendora CA. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, re-connecting with many of our long-time friends.
In June, I will be serving once again as Music Director for the Reunion weekend a Williams College in Williamstown MA. Our dear friend Martha Williamson has welcomed me for the past 22 years (except during the pandemic) to accompany and direct a Reunion Concert with alumni from the 1970s and 1980s. Martha is best known as the Executive Producer of the TV show “Touched by An Angel” and is now doing movies in the series “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” for the Hallmark Channel. In July I have plans to serve in congregations in Virginia and North Carolina. In August Tammy and I are thrilled to be traveling to Connecticut to spend two weeks with our daughters Heidi and Lisa, husbands Ryan and Jonathan and our seven precious grandchildren. Lisa and Jon and their five children will be visiting the US from Guinea in West Africa on sabbatical. It will have been two years since we last saw Lisa and family and there will be lots of hugs and tickles and music with the entire family! Lisa and Jon are missionaries in Guinea working for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) with Jon serving as a pilot and Lisa as the Country Director for MAF.
While we were in Southern California, I visited the Rotary Club of Pasadena, where I have been a member since 1980 and am now an honorary member. I led the gathering in the singing of “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.”
In September I plan to visit churches in the St. Louis MO area.
Below is a recent picture of Heidi and Ryan with Grace (almost 11) and Gabriel (8.) Heidi continues her work with the humanitarian organization BRAC and Ryan continues teaching theology at Yale Divinity School and as Associate Director of Yale’s Center for Faith and Culture.
Also pictured below is Lisa and Jon with twins Evelyne and Isaiah (almost 9.) Solomon (“Solo” 6,) and twin boys Aaron and Noah (4.) Their family recently traveled to Antalya, Turkey where they lived and served for several years. The children are thriving in Guinea and going to a French-speaking school. Amazingly they did remember their Turkish language on their recent visit! Guinea is a very dangerous place and the family faces a lot of challenges and we ask for your prayers for their safety and security.
We continue to pray for you and yours and really appreciate your prayers and support of our ministries and our families.
With heartfelt gratitude, much love and prayers for God’s richest blessings.
Ross and Tammy
From the keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum
