 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
NOVEMBER 2008 LIGHT & LIFE Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk with him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Walking with Christ with a heart filled with gratitude… it is almost like walking on air. We feel so much better when our hearts are filled with gratefulness. The apostle Paul suggests time and again that we live lives expressing our appreciation for all that God has given us. That, by the way, is everything we have. All we have comes from our heavenly father. On a recent day while with a hospitalized person I was moved to read from Psalm Eight. ‘O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!’ My prayer for you today is that you can walk through your day expressing thankfulness for that which you have.
In a September sermon I asked you to do an accounting drill of sorts. The assignment was to make a list of those things that you were grateful for. After listing those items I invited you to submit them in the offering plate. Here are some of the results of the things for which people young and old alike were thankful; food, water, toys, children, mate, health, family, peace, less stress, job, kids (99% of the time), parents, beauty of the earth, joy and love of family, promises of God, and that we can go to the Lord in prayer.
As a follow up people were invited to list how they express their gratitude to God. That list is as follows; write a gratitude journal, praise God, use kindness in treatment of others, express gratitude in prayer, use words of praise, spend time with family, or take time for myself, smile for everyone, give money, give food, and give praise to God. Consider your methods of showing or verbalizing your appreciation. Don’t hold back and by making a practice out of showing your thankfulness will impact your demeanor. In all things give thanks.
Since we are in the month of giving thanks, note that there are three opportunities worth highlighting; All-Saints Sunday, Consecration Sunday, and First Communion Sunday.
First, come this first Sunday and mark All Saints Sunday as the day of honoring those saints who have gone before us. Bring along someone you know who may want to honor that special deceased loved one.
Second, you’re receiving letters reminding you that Consecration Sunday is the Nov. 9. On that day we ask you to pledge your support with time, talent, and make a pledge of your financial support to the mission of Christ Lutheran Church. Even in these challenging times this ministry of caring and proclaiming continues in earnest. You will be receiving phone calls or have already regarding signing up for the Celebration Brunch either between worship services or following the second. I hope you can make it.
The third gratitude event is First Communion Sunday. We also know Holy Communion as the Great Thanksgiving or Eucharist (Greek for thanksgiving). We have a small number of fifth graders who will be trained regarding this one of our two sacraments. They will receive their first communion Nov. 16. Please come and honor these young brothers and sisters in Christ on their special day.
November 23 will emphasize Global Mission efforts, and the last will have us looking forward to the First Sunday of Advent, November 30. Very soon we’ll be looking ahead to the return of our Lord, a time during which we will say, “Come Lord Jesus.” Make us part of your November calendar. I look forward to seeing you. And as always, if you’d like to take time to catch up please call me at 864-5077. I want to hear from you.
Pastor Brad
Reminder: Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service will be held on Wed., November 26th at 7 pm. Please bring a
non perishable food item for the food shelf to the service. They will be gathered during the service.
6Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray. Proverbs 22:6
This fall God’s pallet of colors has been exquisite. His canvas 3 months ago was subdued, waiting to burst forth in color. He slowly added colors to create a beautiful picture, which can not help but take our breath away.
God gave each of us a canvas to help him paint on. These canvasses are our children. During each stage of their lives we need to shape and mold them so they reflect the image that God wants them to be. We find these tools at church through Sunday school, Confirmation and youth activities. When we use these tools to their fullest we bring out the true colors of our children.
Members of Christ Lutheran Church, please have your children take part in the various activities that our church offers. These tools that we have provided you will help nurture your child in Gods faith. When they are out in the world their colors will radiate like the fall colors that we see around us. Everyone who sees them will know that they are the masterpiece of God, our creator.
Blessings to you and your family
Cheryl Leifermann
CLC Education Coordinator. ATTENTION ALL CLC MEMBERS!
YOUTH FUND RAISER!
Our CLC youth who will be attending the National Youth Convention in July 2009, are collecting used cell phones, all makes and models. Please drop off your phones in the designated cell phone box located in the church narthex!
Time and Talent for 2009!
A 2009 Time and Talent sheet will be included in the Light & Life article. If you are going to change any of the tasks on the Time and Talent sheet please submit the form to the church office. If everything stays the same as last year, a new form need not be submitted. If you have not filled out a form in the past, please take the time to do so. The church is always in need of helpers. Without volunteers the workings of the church would not always happen.
You may also submit a Time and Talent sheet on our website. Go to www.christluth.com and click on Time & Talent.
Change In Date and Location For November Food Outreach
The November Food Distribution originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 26th at the Panther Field house in Glencoe has been changed to Tuesday, November 25th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the McLeod County Fairgrounds. The October distribution will be held Thursday, October 9th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the McLeod County Fairgrounds. Volunteers are still needed and welcome for both days from 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Please contact Collette Ingenthron at 864-3097 or the Common Cup Office in Hutchinson at 587-2213, if you are able to volunteer. November Mission Emphasis
The mission emphasis for November is the McLeod Emergency County Food Shelf. We will have an ingathering of non-perishable food on Wednesday November 26th at the Thanksgiving Eve Service. Bring your non-perishable food items to the service. If you cannot make it to this service, we will be collecting food the whole month of November and you can bring it to the church and leave it in the grocery cart in the narthex.
Items that are needed:
Powdered milk
Crackers
Canned meat
Mac & cheese
Canned vegetables
Tomato products
Whole meat items
Personal care items
Tooth paste
Tuna
Soups
Pasta
Peanut butter
Canned juices
Pork & beans
Soaps
Cash donations are needed to buy hamburger, cheese, eggs, and other necessary food items that are not donated. Cash fills in the gaps of needed food.
The need is way ahead of last year. Marietta Neumann said in June the food shelves served 250 households. That jumped to 336 in July and 253 in August. Of the 336 households helped in July, 20 were of people 65 years and older. Marietta said that there is little carryover entering the fall and that has forced her to dip in its cash reserves to buy items it never had to buy before, like peanut butter.
Thank you for your help.
Mission Committee
MEMBERS OF CHRIST LUTHERAN!
IF YOU HAVE MOVED RECENTLY –PLEASE NOTIFY THE CHURCH OFFICE OF YOUR NEW ADDRESS! OFFICE PHONE # IS 320-864-4549 OR EMAIL ME AT office@christluth.com . THANK YOU!
On October 19th, 17 members joined the Christ Lutheran Church family. The new members are listed below:
John, Julie, Alec and Michael Schrupp
Brian, Tiffany, Porter and Hudson Mikolichek
Jenny Dahlke and Megan & Tyler Siewert
LuAnn Hanson
Ed & Margie Fairbairn
Ron & Sharon Knop
Please take the time to welcome our new members into our church!
COAT DRIVE –THANK YOU!
The coat drive committee of Common Cup Ministries would like to thank you for your assistance in collecting coats this year.
We have again received many good quality coats for others to use. The numbers should approach 600 this year. Thanks again for your generosity. As we did last year, any coats not used here will be passed on to other counties for use by their people in need. With winter fast approaching, we can all understand the need for a good warm coat.
Common Cup Diaper Collection One of the areas of service for Common Cup Ministry(CCM) is a monthly diaper distribution held on the last Tuesday of each month at First Lutheran Church in Glencoe. This distribution allows parents to receive one bag of diapers per child in their household at no cost. There are an average of 65 bags of diapers given away monthly. CCM member congregations are asked to participate in providing diapers and/or funds to support this outreach. Diaper sizes 3, 4, and 5 are most needed. A collection container will be placed in the Narthex for your convenience. If you would prefer to donate monies instead, there will be envelopes available at the collection container or you may use a regular envelope marked "Common Cup". Either envelope can be placed in the collection plate. Make checks payable to Common Cup Ministry. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible. At this time a local merchant is willing to sell CCM diapers at a case price allowing a small discount for purchasing their diapers. Thank you for your support in this community outreach! A New Prayer Service for Healing & Wholeness
We will be starting a meditative prayer service in November. The Taizé Service for Healing and Wholeness at Christ Lutheran Church will consist of beautifully peaceful and spiritually calming prayer songs, silence, meditation, anointing of oils, and prayers for healing and reconciliation. The prayer songs, sung over and over again like a mantra, are often drawn from scripture and may be sung in different languages. No sermons; no announcements. Candles are the primary form of light – symbolic of the light Christ brings into our dark world. For those who wish to come forward, there will also be a time for laying on of hands where one can receive prayers for self, for others, or for any concern.
Please join us for our Taizé Service of Healing and Wholeness at 7 pm on the 4th Sunday of every month from November through May.
Dates and Times:
4th Sunday of the Month: Nov. through May
Doors open for silent prayer and reflection at 6:30 PM
The service formally begins at 7:00 PM. The service is always over by 8:00 PM. Please mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:
November 23rd, 2008
December 28th, 2008
January 25th, 2009
February 22nd, 2009
March 22nd, 2009
April 26th, 2009
May 24th, 2009
About Taize Prayer The contemplative prayer form that has become known as “Taize Prayer”, takes its name from the Taize community of France, founded in the early 1940’s by Brother Roger. Brother Roger arrived in the village of Taizé, France in 1940. In the midst of World War II, he dreamed of creating a community where reconciliation was a daily reality. He began by giving shelter to refugees of the war, especially Jews. Brother Roger recognized that the search for reconciliation was within each individual as well as within the community. Initially, the Taizé founder lived alone, until brothers from various Protestant and Catholic backgrounds followed. Today, as an ecumenical monastic community, Taizé is a sign of reconciliation. People from around the world, especially young people; come to Taizé looking for meaning in their lives as they prepare for responsibilities in their own communities. More information on Taize prayer and the community can be found on the Taize website.
Any questions, please contact Pastor Kristi at 320-864-3111.
Minnesota Valley Conference Ambassadors in Mission (AIM)
Saturday, November 15, 2008 1st Lutheran, St. Peter, Mn 1114 W. Traverse Rd. Program: Pr. Brad Thom, Glencoe “Looking at the positives in Iraq” Coffee: 9:30 am, Program: 10 am Program & business meeting followed by noon meal. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND! November 2008
WELCA NEWS
Christ Lutheran Church Women
Your 2008 Coordinating Team:
Cheryl McDougall (Pres.) Jan. - Mar.
Linda Simonson (Pres.) April - June
Nita Enderson (Pres.) July- Sept.
Mary Ellen Bullert (Pres.) Oct. - Dec.
Charlotte Dittmer (Treasurer)
Please make note of the Coordinating Team for the year 2008. Please give them your support and include them in your prayers. Their months of responsibility are listed above.
2008-09 Bible Study
Attend a CIRCLE for study and fellowship. You may attend any of the circles; watch the Sunday bulletin for meeting times and places. SARAH CIRCLE meets the 2ND TUES evening of each month. NAOMI CIRCLE meets the 3RD THURS morning of each month. RACHEL CIRCLE meets the 2ND THURS morning of each month.
Join us for our new Bible study, The Hidden Hand of God: Wisdom Stories from Ruth, Daniel, and Esther. These stories help us think about our call to discipleship in the complexity of today’s world. You will see three recurring “H” themes throughout the study.
Hesed is a Hebrew word meaning extravagant loving loyalty that goes beyond the expected.
Heroic actions involve great risks to the one performing them. They are brave actions for the sake of others.
Hidden hand refers to the often-unseen presence of God in all three books.
Nov. Theme: Challenging Community
Sometimes situations or people challenge our communities by asking us to decide who’s in and who’s out. Sometimes our communities challenge us.
Ruth: A Place in Community
Theme verse: Ruth 4:11
The community Affirms Ruth’s Hesed
In order to secure a place for Ruth, Boaz will have to use his best negotiating skills to persuade the community to accept her.
Watch the bulletin for Circle meetings times and places. All women are welcome at anytime.
CLCW News and Notes
Check out Café the on-line magazine for Women of the ELCA. It features timely articles about faith and life, Scripture reflections, and an opportunity for sharing your thoughts with others. Come to www.boldcafe.org and feel your spirit refreshed.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, November 23rd will be the Thankoffering In-Gathering.
We will be filling out time and talent sheets on November 9th and 16th. Join a bible study group the studies apply to our daily lives and can be inspiring. Sign up to work or donate food for a funeral. Seriously and prayerfully consider being a funeral chairperson or joining kitchen guild. We will need more people to keep doing these services.
Sunday, November 23rd we will be receiving your Thankofferings. Any women may give an offering you don’t need to have been saving for it all year.
Charlotte Dittmer, CLCW Reporter 2008
National Youth Gathering Parents & Kids Meeting. Nov. 5th at 6:30 pm in the Fireside Lounge. We will be talking
about up coming fund raisers. Everyone who is going should try to attend along with a parent. ATTENTION SR. HIGH KIDS
Sun. Nov. 2nd, 6:30-9:00 pm Bonfire at Jon & Pat Bergsengs Come and join us for fellowship and fun. Please bring a treat to pass. Hot Dogs, Chips & Pop will be provided. Heaven Meets Hollywood Jr. High Kids & Friends
Date: November 16th
Place: Christ Lutheran Church
Time: 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Cost: $3.00
We will be getting together to watch some of our favorite oldies and not so old movies. Bring your friends for Pizza and a Movie. Sign up on CLC Kids of the Kingdom bulletin board.
Grade School Kids
God Squad, “Jam”mers, &
D.J.’s kids
Or
1st through 6th grade
Come for a Wednesday afternoon of fun! We will be doing crafts, games, singing and story telling. Please bring a sack lunch. We will provide Kool Aid or Water.
Dates: Nov. 5th & Nov. 19th
Time: 5:00 to 6:30 pm
****Please call to let know if you are attending so that I will have enough supplies for everyone. Call 864-3099****
Sunday School
Parents please turn in your Childs S.S. Registration Cards.
Offering for the month of November will be Can Soup (tomato, veggie, or chicken) or regular offering will be used to purchase Soup!
The children have donated or raise enough Spaghettio's to feed 440 people the month of September. 4th Grade Class will be receiveing their book of Mark Bible Study, November 23rd.
Memory Verse is John 3:16
Parents ATTENTION
NO Confirmation November 26th
NO Sunday School November 30th
Living in the Gospel: Mark/Luke November 2008 Book of Faith † Nov. 1: Mark 1
† Nov. 2: Mark 2
† Nov. 3: Mark 3
† Nov. 4: Mark 4
† Nov. 5: Mark 5
† Nov. 6: Mark 6
† Nov. 7: Mark 7
† Nov. 8: Mark 8
† Nov. 9: Mark 9
† Nov. 10: Mark 10
† Nov. 11: Mark 11
† Nov. 12: Mark 12
† Nov. 13: Mark 13
† Nov. 14: Mark 14
† Nov. 15: Mark 15
† Nov. 16: Mark 16
† Nov. 17: Luke 1
† Nov. 18: Luke 2
† Nov. 19: Luke 3
† Nov. 20: Luke 4
† Nov. 21: Luke 5
† Nov. 22: Luke 6
† Nov. 23: Luke 7
† Nov. 24: Luke 8
† Nov. 25: Luke 9
† Nov. 26: Luke 10
† Nov. 27: Luke 11
† Nov. 28: Luke 12
† Nov. 29: Luke 13
† Nov. 30: Luke 14
† Nov. 31: Luke 15
|