Newsletter

Newsletter — February-April 2020

Clockwise from top left – Ross and Tammy enjoy visiting many historical sites; Lisa and Jonathan and family serve as tour guides; Grand-twins Evelyne and Isaiah love to “help” in the kitchen; Solomon, “Solo,” enjoys taking Grandpa on a treasure hunt; Ross leads a chapel service at a Christian ex-pat school; “Grammy Tammy” and “Grandpa Rossy” playing tourists

February-April 2020 Newsletter

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

Family Update – Without a doubt, the highlight of 2019 for Tammy and me was our four-week trip to Middle East to visit our daughter Lisa, husband Jon, and treasured grand-children Evelyne, Isaiah and Solomon.  In addition to some wonderful family time and music-making, I was privileged to lead worship at the English-speaking Christian church at the Cultural Center and also lead a chapel service at the Christian expat school.   We were also able to visit some amazing historical sites and meet many of Lisa and Jon’s friends and co-workers.  On our last day with them, Lisa invited us to join her and Jon at a visit to her doctor to see the sonogram of the two precious baby boys she is carrying – yes, Lisa is expecting another set of fraternal twins in May!  With Solomon turning 2 in April and the twins turning 4 in June, they will certainly have their hands full and I am certain would appreciate your prayers for Lisa and the twins’ delivery, and for the assistance they will need for their growing and delightful family.

Other Ministry Visits – November-December 2019   

Immediately our return from overseas I had the opportunity to serve on Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) at Royal Oaks Retirement Community in Bradbury CA in their Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living and Independent Living areas for one hour each.  Though these programs include a variety of musical styles, weaving both piano solos and vocals, there are invariably a number of requests for hymns and other sacred pieces.  This often leads to my being able to tell an inspirational story or two!  The incredible therapeutic power of music has been well-documented, especially in these wonderful facilities catering to folks in the twilight of their lives.  I have had many family members comment on what a difference these programs make in the lives of their loved ones – many of whom often feel lonely and disconnected — this is my opportunity to bring joy and happiness and hope into their day.  During December, I had opportunities to serve in four other communities similar to this one!

It was wonderful to make a return visit to South Bay Christian Church in San Jose, CA.  I believe this was the 20^th time to have been privileged to serve there in our 23 years of “State of the Heart!”  Our dear, long-time friends Pastor Mel and Barbara Dahlgren and Aletha and Brad Mann were delightful hosts and the dear brothers and sisters were so enthusiastic and encouraging as we worshiped together on the third weekend of Advent and as we enjoyed a Community Christmas Singalong that evening.  The following morning, I made a return visit to One in Christ Community Church in San Leandro CA and thoroughly enjoyed leading worship for Pastor Jun and Yolando Caranto and their beautiful congregation.  At both these venues, a delicious potluck was served and fellowship was excellent!

The weather cooperated the following December weekend when I traveled to Washington D.C. in order to serve once again at the Central Seventh-Day Baptist Church in Mitchellville MD and at Living Hope Christian Fellowship in Vienna VA.   I am so grateful to my hosts, Barbara and Dusty Miller and Sylvie and Torney Van Acker, for their hospitality, and to Pastor Dr. Lawrence Watt in Maryland, and Bonnie Edwards, Juanita Carlisle and Barbara Miller, pastoral team members in Vienna.  The rental car company graciously gave me a big Ford 150 four-wheel drive pickup truck for the price of an economy car, but thankfully there was no significant snow or ice that weekend and my 200 plus miles of driving went smoothly.

Ministry Contact Information

We are an established 501C3 California non-profit corporation and tax-deductible donations and CD orders can be done online at www.stateoftheheart.org or by calling 626-818-7113 or by writing to “State of the Heart Ministries” at P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre CA  91024-0056

Ross’ Ministry Schedule – February-May 2020

Newsletter — November 2019-January 2020

Clockwise from top Left – Ross visits sisters Robyn and Claire in Australia; Fun at the park with grands Grace and Gabriel; Reading time with “Grammy Tammy”; Lisa and Jon, Isaiah, Evelyne and Solomon in the Middle East; Our dear friend, Mrs. Robbie Trussell and part of my wonderful audience for a concert outreach program at Memorial Life Center in Johnson, Kansas

                                                                                  From the keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum                                                  

“From everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children.”               Psalm 103:17     

Passing of our dear brother-in-law, Richard Gerrard — In early September our dear brother-in-law Richard, beloved husband of Tammy’s sister Linda, ended his year-long battle with Stage IV brain cancer.  Richard was a wonderful father and cherished grandfather, treasured husband and a devoted follower of Jesus.  He leaves a lasting legacy and we all miss him greatly and look forward to that great family reunion God has in store for all of us!

Family  Update  — We were delighted to have Heidi and Ryan and children spend two weeks with us in August and we are very excited to be soon visiting our younger daughter Lisa and her family in the Middle East.  We will be thrilled to see where they have made their home and spend some quality time with our three “grands” and sharing in worship and ministry with the wonderful communities they are serving over there.

Ministry Visits – August-October 2019   

It was a delight to make a return visit in August to Christ Communion Church in Beaumont TX.  Then it was off to the land down under.  I hadn’t visited my family in Queensland in almost seven years and a quick 9-day trip gave me the opportunity to catch up with my brother and three sisters, their spouses and families, and especially to spend quality time with my middle sister Robyn, who was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  The latest update is certainly positive with her becoming more mobile, having better sleep and energy and gaining a little weight.   Your continued prayers for Robyn, her husband Ian and their children and grand-children would be most appreciated.

In addition to special time with the family, including an impromptu and very moving worship service for Robyn and Ian and two of their children in the hospital waiting room, I also served Grace Community in Carina (Brisbane) and at the Rangeville Community Church in Toowoomba, as well as gave concerts at West Haven Retirement Village and Symes Thorpe Nursing Home in Toowoomba, and also made a quick visit to our old home town of Warwick, about 50 miles away.  Two days after my return to California, it was time to head back to the Texas Panhandle and serve many dear brothers and sisters in Grace Communion Church in Amarillo, Calvary Baptist Church in Tulia and Community Fellowship Church in Clarendon.  An added treat was a 500-mile round-trip on Monday to Johnson, Kansas to visit with our dear friend and treasured ministry partner, Mrs. Robbie Trussell.  After two previous visits to give concerts in the living room of Mrs. Trussell, she decided to make it a community program at Memorial Life Center and what a delight it was.  I so appreciated my brother and friend Sammy driving  over 800 miles in two days!

Another ministry trip took me to Houston TX where I was delighted to give a program at the Solea Copperfield Retirement Community and lead an outreach worship service in a tent adjacent to Inn Town Suites.  I am so grateful to my hosts, dear friends and wonderful ministry partners, Debbie and Barry Wawak for arranging these opportunities.   Also, many thanks go to my hosts in other venues – Pastor James Scales in Beaumont, Pastor Eddy Helms in Tulia, Pastor Larry Capranica in Clarendon, dear friend Bill Edwards in Amarillo, Pastors Bob Regazzoli and Bharat Naker in Brisbane, sister Claire and Keith in Scarborough, sister Margaret and Lex in Ipswich, brother Bruce and Janine in Toowoomba, and for my wonderful nephew Peter, his wife Anchalee and “great” nephew Lewis.

Ministry Contact Information

We are an established 501C3 California non-profit corporation and tax-deductible donations and CD orders can be done online at www.stateoftheheart.org or by calling 626-818-7113 or by writing to “State of the Heart Ministries” at P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre CA  91024-0056

Ross’ Ministry Schedule – November 2019 – March 2020

Newsletter — August-October 2019

August – October 2019 Newsletter

From the keyboard of Dr. Ross Jutsum                                                  

 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14    

Clockwise from top Left – Ross with brothers and sisters from the Congo at Grace Communion, Calgary; Ross with a Congolese family he first met years ago in Ottawa; Ross gives a June concert for grand-daughter Grace and 100 of her 5-year friends; Evelyne and Isaiah with Solomon in the Middle East; Daughter Lisa enjoying our precious “Solo”

Family  Update  Tammy and I are looking forward to welcoming Heidi and Ryan and 6 year-old Grace and 3 year-old Gabriel for a 2-week August visit.  We will have to wait till November to see Lisa and Jon and their three (pictured above) in their new home in the Middle East, where they have been settling in well the past four months.

Ministry Visits – May-July 2019   May took me to serve as worship leader and guest speaker in Christian Fellowship Church in Chicago, IL and in Kenosha, WI.  Hosted by my dear friends of 48 years, Pastor Richard and Joyce Frankel, I was delighted to also lead a worship service at Meadowmere Nursing Home and give a community concert at St. John Lutheran Church.  The concert was videotaped and runs on Kenosha’s Community Cable TV station.  Back in Los Angeles, I was honored to once again provide music for the annual Armed Services Night Out at the Jonathan Club.  Then it was off to Williams College in Williamstown MA to help with music at three performances at the annual Alumni Reunion, hosted by our dear and long-time friend Martha Williamson, a Trustee of the college.  Tammy and I then spent a few days in Woodbridge CT with Heidi and family, where I was honored to give a concert for 100 plus Kindergarteners at Grace’s school.  This was definitely my youngest and most fun school audience ever!  The children really enjoyed my songs about unusual Australian animals beginning with the letter “k.”

I was honored to give a Father’s Day Concert at Villa Gardens Retirement Community in Pasadena CA and then take a ministry trip to serve in Grace Communion congregations in Phoenix and Tucson AZ.  The last weekend in June, I put more than 600 miles on the rental car to make return visits to Grace Communion congregations in Milwaukee WI and Fort Wayne IN.  I also enjoyed giving a Sunday afternoon concert at New Beginnings Community Church before driving back to Chicago and the home of my hosts Pat and Bill Giordano, near the O’Hare airport.  Thanks to Pastors Tracy Porter and David Howe, and my Fort Wayne hosts, Louise and Tom Jagielski.

In the month of July, I have been delighted to give concerts at 7 different nursing homes/retirement communities in the Southern California area.  The residents of these facilities are always so appreciative and love music so much.  It is very rewarding to bring smiles to their faces and see them singing along with their favorite songs!  I also made a return visit to the Ontario CA congregation of the Church of God Seventh Day.  Then it was off to the beautiful province of Alberta, Canada where I made return visits to three Grace Communion churches in three different cities – Edmonton, Red Deer and Calgary.   It was great to get to know the Congolese families in the Calgary congregation.  Our daughter Lisa and son-in-law Jonathan did missionary work in the Eastern Congo for four years and I wish they could have been with me to share in Swahili!  I am very grateful to my hosts, Pastor Bob Millman and Pastor David Sheridan.  I had a free day before traveling home and was thrilled to take a long hike with David to the amazing Johnson Falls near Lake Louise.   David and I go back 48 years to our time together as college students in England.

Ministry Contact Information

We are an established 501C3 California non-profit corporation and tax-deductible donations and CD orders can be done online at www.stateoftheheart.org or by calling 626-818-7113 or by writing to “State of the Heart Ministries” at P.O. Box 56, Sierra Madre CA  91024-0056

Ross’ Ministry Schedule – August – October 2019