Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 In this month s Newsletter Freedom Fund & Stewardship Appeal, pg. 2 Wednesday Faith Nights, pg. 4 Youth Lock-In, pg. 4 All Saints Day Memorials, pg. 10 November 2013 GA Church This Month at GA All Saints Day Sunday, November 3 (9 & 11:15 am) At both services we will honor the memory of those who have died from our faith community this past year. Everyone is also invited to light a candle in memory of a loved one who has died in the past. More information on page 10. Town Hall Meeting Sunday, November 10 (10:15 am) GA Leaders and our pastors will share more information about our appeal this winter, Walk in the Light. Our appeal is taking place at an unusual time over Christmas into the New Year. What will it look like? Come and see! Roping Off the Gathering Area Every day, November The Gustavus Adolphus Freedom Fund receives gifts to pay off the renovation of our building that occurred in This project put a roof over what used to be an outdoor courtyard and opened up our Gathering Area for a welcoming space for fellowship, conversation, meals, even worship! What would it be like if we didn t have it anymore? Roping Off this space will remind us of what we gained and what we are still paying for with the mortgage on our building. [NOTE: The other pieces of the project library and nursery expansion, construction of larger restrooms, and one-level access to the building from both main entrances will continue to be available for our pleasure and use!] Give to the Max Day in Minnesota Thursday, Nov. 14 Give to the Max Day is an annual giving day for Minnesotans to come together to raise millions of dollars for thousands of non-profit organizations, including schools, churches and numerous charities. This year is the first year that GA will be participating and we hope that you will help us out by going to GiveMN.org on Thursday, November 14 th and giving an online donation to support the mission and ministries of our congregation. 10% of all donations will be tithed to Merrick Community Services to assist in providing emergency food assistance for those in need. For more information, contact Pr. Amanda Simons at a.simons@gachurch.org or ext Thanks for Giving Dinner Saturday November 23, 12pm Make a reservation for a dinner in your honor a thank you for the mission you make possible here at GA. RSVP by to Notices@gachurch.org, or calling the church office, Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie! Wednesday, November 27, 6:50 pm A traditional service of God s Word, song and offerings. We give thanks for God s abundance with us, and share our offerings of groceries and financial gifts to benefit Merrick Community Services. After worship, we ll have pie and coffee (or milk) in fellowship. Please bring a pie to share. There is no meal served before worship at 6:50pm, and no confirmation, K.I.N.G.S. or book group. GA Annual Craft Fair, Kaffestuga & Bake Sale Saturday, November 30, 9:00 am 4:00 pm More information available on page 7.

2 Page 2 SENIOR PASTOR COLUMN: WALK IN THE LIGHT! One of these is not like the other. Sesame Street used these catchy lyrics to teach children to notice when one item in a group was a bit different from the others. For instance, Big Bird helped show them that there was a larger bowl of bird seed. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the season of Epiphany (beginning January 5 through Ash Wednesday in March). In the darkest days of the year, we will let the light of Christ the star of Bethlehem shine into our lives. This winter at Gustavus Adolphus (GA) will not be like any other winter or appeal, either. We re going to walk in the Light of Jesus Christ over the next several months. By now, most of you have expected to hear more about the appeal to ask for 3-year commitments to the Freedom Fund. The Freedom Fund is a collection of all of your gifts to make principal and interest payments on our building mortgage with Thrivent. But you haven t heard much. Yet. The cover of this month s newsletter includes some of the early events of this appeal, woven in and with our worship. And beginning this month, you ll begin to receive information about The Freedom Fund, our mission and ministry plans for 2014, and opportunities to learn about walking in the light every day of your life! This stewardship appeal won t be like the others. For instance, with a set of four bowls of bird seed in front of him, Big Bird chose the largest bowl of bird seed. It was similar but different from the others. Most of you have expected to receive an invitation to make a commitment for one year of your financial support for the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ through the General Fund and/or the Capital Fund. But you haven t. Yet. Pastor Bonnie Wilcox Senior Pastor Instead, we are going to walk in the light of Christ in the season of Advent (the four weeks that lead up to Christmas), Walk in the Light Freedom Fund & Stewardship Appeal Winter Leadership & Organization Chart We walk in THE Light Jesus Christ! From Advent through Epiphany (when the wise men followed the star) and into Lent and even Ascension, Pentecost as we move into GA s 125 th anniversary year. Central Image: From this photograph, you can see a spiral Cradle to Cross Wreath. It is a devotional piece that moves a candle a day from the outside to the center for the 25 days to Christmas, and, with the addition of an extension, to mark the 40 days of Lent, Ash Wednesday to Easter. Key Bible verses: Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8:12 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

3 November 2013 Page 3 Financial Goals of the Appeal: One-year commitments to the General Fund (day-to-day operations of the church: staff, programs, utilities and maintenance, mission support to the greater church, etc.): $650,000 Three-year commitments to the Freedom Fund (to meet our mortgage obligation to Thrivent Mortgage, and pay interest to the GA Endowment Fund on the loan to pay down the principal of the mortgage): $380,000 ($127,000/ year) One-year commitments to the Capital Fund (major capital improvements and repairs): $ 50,000 Increase giving in the number of households who support the mission with their financial gifts. Increase giving per household who support the mission with their financial gifts. Communal & Spiritual Goals of the Appeal: Engage more people in worship & community. Introduce meaningful spiritual preparation and discipleship for Christmas, Epiphany & Lent/Easter. Connect people s values with outward action. Celebrate our 125-year heritage and look forward into God s future for us. Monthly Focus: November Education and Introduction December Spiritual Preparation for Christmas January Commitment and Conversation about the specifics February Continue conversation about mission with homebased gatherings March Cradle to Cross focus moves to the Lent journey Leadership Members of the Church Council and other key leaders have agreed to answer the call to lead this appeal. Remember them in your prayers and give thanks to God for the witness, their work, and their love for God and this community of faith! It takes many hands to do this work. Please pray, too, to know how you could be an active leader or worker-bee to help with this appeal. Project Manager: Christopher Stordalen Worship Team: Our Pastors, Bonnie Wilcox and Amanda Simons, Jerry Brakke, Director of Music and Worship Prayer Team: Janet and Len Peterson 2013 Mission Spending Plan (budget) Team: Maggie Kidnie and John Haller Education/Information Team: Dan Shogren and Len Peterson Communications Team: Deb Hogen and Aaron Bayer Social Events: Karen Landkamer and Wes Johnson Children & Youth Focus Team: Jean Muehlenthaler September Memorials IMO Bob Burg- E Rhode, B Holtz, E & D Montgomery, J Spear, S & R Johnson, R & K Landkamer, D & K Duncan,R Barduson, L Lloyd, L & M Nelson, B Johnson, R & L Gunter, H & D Viker, B & L Lund, J Hobbs, N Hobbs, A Higgins, D & E Haagenstad, E Oslund Senior Ministry-L & B Holmstrom, N Johnson, G & J Miller, Loaves & Fishes- M Woodford, D & E Berglund IMO Steven Carle- Sunday School- R & S Carle IMO Betty Morton- Loaves & Fishes- J & R Schwartz IMO Ruth Nadeau- Bev Challgren IMO Angie Barduson - D & E Haagenstad, B & K Nielsen, R Sundberg, S Munson, C Sideen, M Woodford, B & V Spiel, J & M Norquist, R & J Sanft II, J & B Surine, L & M Nelson, R & B Carle, G Wahman, R & S Johnson, R & S Lundgren, W & S Johnson, R & K Landkamer, L & E Pearson, R & N Relay B Haag, A Higgins, E Rhode Senior Ministries- G & J Miller, L & B Holmstrom, N Johnson Food Shelf- R & S Carle Loaves & Fishes- O & E Blyton Freedom Fund- G & C Johnson New Member Class Membership has its Opportunities and Responseabilities Join us, won t you? Make a public commitment to serve Jesus Christ through! Attend 2 sessions for new members on: Sunday, November 10, 12:15-1:00 pm (lunch and conversation) Sunday, November 17, 12:15-1:00pm (lunch and conversation) By November 3, contact Pastor Bonnie Wilcox in person or by , b.wilcox@gachurch.org, to register. Child care will be provided if we have notice by the same date.

4 Page 4 CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY Wednesdays Family Faith Nights Young or old or anywhere in between, there is something for you and your faith on Wednesday nights here at GA 5:00pm Tasty meal served (suggested donation $3-4 per person) 6:00pm Faith for everyone! Adult Book Conversations: Good & Beautiful Community, by James Bryan Smith Confirmation for youth in grades 6-9 K.I.N.G.S. for children in grades K-5 Nursery care for young children 6:50-7:15pm Worship for all! * Wednesday Worship will include four distinct worship styles. All are welcome! They have been chosen to allow children, youth and adults to take a break from the busy-ness of life. Week 1 (Nov. 6) - Prayer Around the Cross A meaningful prayer service with music, God s word, silence and candles that was originally developed at Holden Village in Washington State. Week 2 (Nov. 13) - Labyrinth Prayer Worship A labyrinth is a walking tool for prayer and meditation for those seeking God. It is an sacred pattern for walking a path of pilgrimage popular around the world. This year we will use Psalm 23 for meditation. Week 3 (Nov. 20) - Campfire Worship, led by counselors from Camp Onomia Songs from Bible camp known to our youth plus skits, this is a active service of worship. Week 4 (Nov. 27) Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie! SCHEDULE CHANGE - A traditional service of God s Word, song and offerings. We give thanks for God s abundance with us, and share our offerings of groceries and financial gifts to benefit Merrick Community Services. After worship, we ll have pie and coffee (or milk) in fellowship. Please bring a pie to share. There is no meal served before worship at 6:50pm, and no confirmation, K.I.N.G.S. or book group. K.I.N.G.S. on Wednesday nights for Children in grades K-5 Creative Bible learning through Holy Moly, games, skits and play time in the gym led by our high school youth! Fun for all, free and no registration required. CONFIRMATION Classes continue on Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 13, 20 Dinner available 5-6 PM 5:00pm Meal (cost for youth included in yearly confirmation fee) 6:00 pm Confirmation Class & Small Groups 6:50 pm Worship for All! Nov. 6 John the Baptist Nov. 13 The 12 Disciples Nov. 20 The Other Disciples - Women Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Eve Worship, 6:50 pm * PLEASE NOTE! Nov. 27 No Family Faith Night or confirmation classes so that families may participate in the Thanksgiving Eve Family Worship at 6:50 pm and Pie Social following. Youth Lock-In / Youth Bake Sale November An overnight at church to enjoy with friends-- recreation, movies, good and fun! Parent/adult chaperones for 3-4 hour shifts are needed. And parents, come and bake with other adults at the Lock-In (it s more fun in a group!) Sign up at the Welcome Center. Confirmation Weekend Retreat at Camp Onomia February 21-23, For youth in grades 6-9 A fantastic weekend guaranteed to bring you out of your winter blaaaas. Mark your calendar now so you won t miss out on this great chance to come to camp! For more information about our Confirmation program, contact Sherrie Nordquist at the Church office or sherrie@gachurch.org.

5 November 2013 Page 5 SPARK!! Is at the Tree House this fall! Faith Formation for Children Age 3 through Grade 5 Abraham & Sarah November 3, 10, 17, 24 The Tree House for Kids! SPARK Bible Time for Preschoolers at the Tree House 10:10-11:10 AM Our preschool department uses a sign-in/sign-out system. Parents are encouraged to sign-up for Sundays to assist and provide & serve a snack. Sign-up is located on the bulletin board just outside the classroom entrance. We love hearing our GA kids sing! Our Tree House Children s Choir rehearses as part of Sunday School on Sunday mornings from 10:10-10:30. Children s Choir under the direction of Camille Farinella is open to any child in grades K-5! The choir performs at the start of the New Life Service on the last Sunday of each month. They will sing on Sunday, November 24 at 11:15! Service of Lessons & Carols The children of GA will join the adult choir in leading the Service of Lessons & Carols on December 15 during worship. Rehearsals will take place on Sunday mornings. WAYS TO BE INVOLVED AS A LEADER IN WORKSHOP ROTATION SUNDAY SCHOOL Workshop Leader Prepare and lead a faith-based workshop such as creative drama, art, Bible skills & games, Cooking, Science, Video. 2 - week commitment. Use your expertise and a little of your time to help us make a success of our new program for our Sunday School children. Shepherd Guide a small group of children through the workshops each week. Assist the workshop leaders with activities. Adopt a Workshop Room - Redecorate bulletin boards, walls, furniture. Materials & supplies provided. Contact Sherrie Nordquist at the church office for details. 651/ or sherrie@gachurch.org Come Play in Our Church Nursery! Loving care is offered for infants through 4 year olds on Sunday mornings from 9:00am through 12:30 am. All-Confirmation Service Project! Saturday, December 7 Serve the Seniors Holiday Luncheon, 11:30am 1:30pm Students are asked to wear dark pants and plain white or light shirt. Service Hour Opportunities! Acolyte at 9:00 worship or assist with Communion at 11:15 New Life Worship Sign up on the Youth Kiosk in the Gathering area! Greet Worshipers on Sunday morning Sign up at the Welcome Desk Parents Night Out Saturday, November 16, 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. Bring your child to a fun-filled night while you have some time to yourself, go to a movie, out to dinner, or just read a book without interruption. Your child will get to hang out with Children s Ministry adult leaders and youth: play games, watch a movie, play in the gym or just sit and chat. $10 per child, $5 for each additional child. Sign up at the Welcome desk or sherrie@gachurch.org or lojehoward@comcast.net. For more information about Sunday School and Confirmation programs, contact Sherrie Nordquist by calling the Church office (direct line) or sherrie@gachurch.org

6 Page 6 GLOBAL MISSIONS GRATITUDE This is the season of change. The nights are cooler, the leaves have shown their many hues and vibrancy, committees are geared up for this next church year and we know that holiday seasons are ahead. Isn t it wonderful that we have Thanksgiving first, and hopefully time to reflect with gratitude upon our abundance of food, shelter, loved ones, our church community? For some the reflective time is done through physical pain, stress of limited resources, and strained relationships, but with the knowledge that God is faithful in his love and care for each of us. We can still say Thank You, Lord! Then the Christmas season comes way too early if we look at the commercial industry! Again, a time of gratitude, more stresses and pressures of what we would like to do vs. what we feel we want to do or can do. Do we set our priorities or do we fall prey to the pressures from outside of our heart? In our Tanzanian mission communities, gratitude is always evident. Joy shared, fellowship a priority, small gifts of a coin or two, maybe some produce to be auctioned off following worship, all brought to the altar in thanksgiving. The Christmas service is a joyful celebration often a bit longer than the usual 2-3 hour service but the gift giving that we know is not a part of the culture. Just joy and celebration for the birth of Christ! Yes, they do add decorations to the church that stay up for many months! I hear from others that they too have learned within their families to try to rein-in some of the commercial spending during the holidays we already have so many things and find ways for the family to come together to share in an activity at a care center, give their time to packing food bags at Feed My Starving Children, sing carols with friends or family somewhere, read to children in a school, bell ring for Salvation Army. Thinking outside of themselves, and being in relationship with others. We are still in need of secondary student scholarships for our Kiponzelo Tanzanian students. Another way to reaching outside of ourselves in gratitude for what we take for granted is either adopting a specific student to sponsor, or share in a scholarship with many contributing what they can toward a scholarship. $ for a year of education doesn t seem an insurmountable amount of money to us, but to a student s family it is out of reach the annual income often is less than $300 a year. There is no better way to help anyone than to see that they get an education. That is true for young people in this country as well as in Third World Countries. Education is the change-maker personally, family-wise and into the greater community and country. We all win when people can take control of their own destiny and prosper. So during these weeks prior to the actual holidays (Holy Days), I encourage you to think BIG in your gratitude, and how we express our thankful spirit, and how that is expressed outside of ourselves. There is no right or wrong way to reach out to another when our gratitude reflects our love of our Savior. Try something different this season...you will find a new blessing and joy in your heart. Blessings, Jean Schwartz Global Mission Chr. MONTHLY MISSION EMPHASIS Nov- Dec- ELCA World Hunger PRAY FOR OUR HOLY LAND TRAVEL GROUP: Karen Landkamer & Ray Landkamer, Janet Peterson & Leonard Peterson, Dan Shogren & Susan Meyer, Verilyn Pelava, Nancy Johnson, Audrey Haller, Carol Sandberg, and Wes Johnson. Traveling in mid-november, we request your prayers for this group traveling with Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, and Pastor Hans Dahl, formerly from GA Church. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

7 November 2013 Page 7 COMMUNITY CARING Council Corner: As much as I like warm weather and golfing, I am always excited when November comes. I love the holidays and all the festivities. I love making soup on a cold day and starting to bake good things. It is also an exciting time for our church, our new Table Talk on Sundays, the craft show on Thanksgiving weekend, confirmation night for our youth, and our upcoming plans for the Christmas season in worship. I am so grateful to God for our changing seasons and our good changes at our church. Pr Amanda has brought many gifts to us; and she is now working and learning with Pr Bonnie; another of God s gifts. As we begin to move into our Stewardship plans, I pray that each and every one of us can bring our gifts to God with our time and talents. I am especially praying this month for better and more loving fellowship with each other, whether it is at our gathering time, worshipping together or helping someone that needs a friend. This is God s work in us, and a time to be so very thankful of all that God has given us including our beautiful church and its wonderful congregation. Ray and I are looking forward to our Holy Land Trip this month and hope to share with our fellow travelers the experiences that God will put in our path and bring us closer to him. I would appreciate your prayers for our safe return. May God bless all of you this month of Thanksgiving and praises be to God. Karen Landkamer, Congregation President GA Craft Show and Bake Sale Sat. Nov. 30, 9:00am-4:00pm Gustavus Adolphus church members, friends and the community are invited to a day of shopping, fellowship, and fun at the st annual Craft Show, Bake Sale, and Kaffestuga 9:00am-4:00pm, Saturday, November 30. A wide variety of handmade items, making attractive holiday gifts, will be on display. Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Food Shelf Collection Wednesday, November 27 6:50pm We gather to worship and give thanks for God s abundance and to share our offerings of food and financial gifts to benefit Merrick Community Services Please bring offerings of non-perishable canned goods or money which will be carried to the altar during the offering. Following worship we will gather for pie and fellowship. (Please bring a pie to share.) 551 Club Tuesday, November 19: 101 Market Lunch (much like high tea). Pick up at G.A. at 10:45. The cost is $43. Register by Nov. 11 Sunday, December 8: Crown College Christmas Concert Pick up at G.A. at 3:45. Cost $44. Register by Nov. 8 More information and registration forms can be found at the Senior Spirit kiosk in the Gathering Area. Greeters Interested in being a greeter at the 9:00 service on Sunday mornings? This involves standing by one of the entrances and greeting people as they enter church to worship. Call Nancy Johnson at Library News! The Ronald C. Peterson library is open between services from 10:00-11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Thank you for returning materials within two weeks. Librarians: Carol Sandberg, Karen Netwal, Marlys Siverson, Heather Nelson GA Women s Book Club meets the 4 th Tuesday of each month, at 1:00p.m. New readers are always welcome. November 26 is our next Book Club meeting. Copies of this month s book will be available to check out. Stop by the church library for details. GA Church Library Holiday Hanging of the Greens Sunday, December 1 10:00 11:00 am Stop in to help decorate the library for Advent, enjoy some special music and snacks.

8 Page 8 THOUGHTS FROM PASTOR AMANDA November will be the beginning of my fifth month at Gustavus. It s hard to believe that so much (and so little) time has passed since this congregation called me as their new associate pastor. The summer months of July and August went by quickly with the congregation vote, ordination and installation and getting accustomed to the routine of ministry life at Gustavus. September and October have been busy months with the beginning of our children, youth and adult education programs on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights as well as our new Wednesday night worship services at 6:50 pm. And now it s November and almost time for turkey and our annual stewardship campaign to continue the ministries of this congregation through support for the 2014 operating budget and pledges to the Freedom Fund to pay down our building mortgage. Whew! We ve got a lot going on at GA and I can t tell you how honored and excited I am to be a part of all this ministry. We truly are doing God s work in the world with our hands and I want to thank you all again for inviting me to join you in this holy work. When I think of November I usually think of Thanksgiving and cherished time with my family. Every Thanksgiving my family gathered at our family farm to cook and share a meal together with all the fixings turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, flatbread, green bean casserole, biscuits, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and lefse. From a very young age I was awoken at 4 am in the morning to help my grandmother and mother begin fixing our noon-time feast. Grandma would baste the turkey and fix it before putting it in the oven to roast while Mom would peel potatoes for mashing and I would begin pinching together my grandmother s pie crusts. We each had our place in the cozy kitchen and Grandma and Mom would trade family stories back and forth in the kitchen as we prepared the meal. My Grandpa, Dad, sister, uncle, aunt and cousins would hang out in the living room, watching the Macy s Day parade and shouting back to us in the kitchen who was leading what balloon etc. At noon we would gather to share in the feast that our hands had prepared, my grandfather at the head of the table and my father at the feet. Holding hands we would pray for our family members, absent and present, and go around the table, each person giving thanks for something special that year. Conversation would flow until all stomachs were filled then we all find our seats in the living room for the afternoon football games. Board games would be played in the middle of the living room by us kids as the adults talked and watched the game, and then in the middle of the afternoon, my dad would take my sister and I outside to go sledding down the hill towards the lake. It d be a wonderful day with my family. This year will be a little different. This year will be the first year without my grandfather to sit at the head of the table. The first year that my father s Alzheimers will be so bad that he won t be able to carve the turkey like he has for the last thirty years. I m sure you have both good memories of family times and Thanksgiving as well as moments of grief in your own life, moments of change when things are different around that familiar dining room table. What memories will you hold dear this Thanksgiving? Who will you miss around the dining room table? Who will you be welcoming to your table this year? How do you and your family give thanks for the blessings that God has provided to you this year? Change is difficult. It can be hard to let go and hard to welcome the new. I pray that this Thanksgiving you know God s love as you remember good times, create new memories, grieve what has passed and welcome joyfully what is new. For me and my family this year, my husband will take up the role of turkey-carver and I will no longer be the lowly pumpkin crust pincher but rather the chef. Changes come, some good, some bad, some not so bad. But a few things remain steadfast through the years God s love through my family and the spirit of generosity given to me by my parents and grandparents. Thanksgiving is the day we set aside as people of God and as a country to give thanks for that which has been given to us. A day to be grateful, a day to remember that God calls us to be generous with ourselves, our time, our love, our forgiveness, our gifts and our stewardship. So this November I ask you to take time to think about all the blessings God has provided to you this year, to give thanks for those blessings and to take that spirit of thankfulness one step further towards generosity and to be a cheerful giver in love, joy, and support to others and the mission of this church. Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor Amanda Simons Associate Pastor

9 November 2013 Page 9 Table Talk November 2013 Conversations on Faith & Life Sundays, 10:15-11:15 am in the Fireside Room November 3 The Making & Meaning of Icons: From a Greek word meaning, images, icons have been painted from ancient times and are one of the oldest forms of Christian art. Rev. Robert Brusic, retired campus pastor at Luther Seminary, will lead us in conversation about why icons are gaining popularity. November 10 Town Hall Meeting: GA Leaders and our pastors will share more information about our appeal this winter, Walk in the Light. (Our apologies that the Making Your Own Icon was cancelled.) November 17 Ordination Anniversaries: Come to a reception in the newly-renamed Olsenius Fireside Room to honor two living pastors on their ordination anniversaries: Rev. Marbury Anderson has been ordained 65 years, and Rev. Richard Borgstrom for 55 years. And we ll honor the memory of Rev. Leman Olsenius, who was ordained 75 years ago in (Pastor Deborah Stehlin, Assistant to the Bishop for the Minneapolis Area Synod, will not present between services, but will be our guest preacher on this date.) November 24 Conversations on Matthew: Our own Dr. Arland Hultgren will introduce the first Gospel of the Bible. We re going to hear readings from this book of the New Testament for the next year. How was it written? Who did Matthew write this book for? Who is the Jesus as understood by what Matthew writes? ONLINE GIVING (aka Simply Giving) Simply Giving is a free service to you, provided by Thrivent Financial and benefits the church s cash flow all year. Gifts may be made weekly, or on a schedule that fits your personal needs. Consistency in giving helps the church, whether you are unable to attend worship because of illness, business, vacation, or other reason. Sign up at and click on Donate Now on the left side. HAVE YOU REMEMBERED GA IN YOUR WILL? Newsletter Submission Deadlines GA Newsletter submission deadline is the 1st Monday of the month for the upcoming month newsletter: 1st Monday in November for December s Newsletter 1st Monday in December for January s Newsletter 1st Monday in January for February s Newsletter 1st Monday in February for March s Newsletter If you are responsible for a monthly article, please put these dates in your personal calendar. Send your article to info@gachurch.org. WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY Thursdays, 10:00 am Learn more about the Scripture passages for the coming Sunday, led by Pastor Bonnie Wilcox or Pastor Amanda Simons. A legacy gift will help continue the 125-year tradition of mission at Gustavus Adolphus. With the advice of your attorney or tax adviser, the following language may be added to your will, trust or codicil: I bequeath X% of my estate to Gustavus Adolphus Lutheran Church, 1669 N. Arcade, Saint Paul, MN 55106

10 Page 10 NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 Jesse James Bruce Pelava Ruth Swanson 2 Marlene Schelen 3 Thomas Miller 4 Sharon Johnson 5 Don Lattimore Benjamin McLellan 6 Rene Billings Marylu DeVahl 7 David Husnik Marge Schwartz 8 Spencer Goodman Linnea Haller Erik Jones 9 Chris Pfankuch Jerry Stern 10 Chance Doherty Vicky Uphoff 11 Harold Froelich Austin Johnson Alexander Schmidt Donna Viker 12 Dorothy Stelter Jessica Stelter 13 Dakota Monette Len Peterson 14 Nancy Anderson Michael Capeder Cindy Higgins James McCann 15 William Bidon Neal Lund Trevor Lund Ed Oslund 16 Cassandra Farinella Aidan Lee Joshua Lundgren Alex Neamy 17 Jacklynn Joyner Samuel Troska 18 Thomas Nelson Marion Svendsen Anna Wegscheider Cheryl Westman 19 Michael Domagall Laura Hamrick Gene Haugen Verilyn Pelava Hal Rude 20 Camille Lund 21 Eric Buzay Marguerite Hagglund LaDonna Osborne 22 Brian Relay Yonatan Tola 23 Diane Beckman D.A. Deiman Madeline Holthaus Megan McShannock Lukas Miller- Sederstrom 24 Karen Netwal 25 Barbara Holmstrom 26 Carissa Severson 27 Paul Claypool 28 Alex Damico Lorraine Hathaway- Taylor Nicole Pfalz 29 Lisa Burton Cameron McDonough 30 Nicole Nielsen Christine Patino LECTIONARY TEXTS November 3 Isaiah 1:10-18 Psalm 32:1-7 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, Luke 19:1-10 November 10 Job 19:23-27 Psalm 17:1-9 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, Luke 20:27-38 November 17 Malachi 4:1-2 Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 November 24 Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 All Saints Day Names of those who died in the last twelve months, and whose service was led by our Pastors Dorothy Haugen, Carrie Kelly, Clara Haller, Edward Reinert, Floyd Olson, Erika Neihart, Rita Lewis, Marion DeVahl, June Person, Thomas Kroll, Ida Dreyer, Lois Lundeen, Marv Merrick, Robert Schwartz, Vivian Buzay, Margaret Klas, Fern Bomgren, Violet Ronhovde, Rita Frederick, Robert Sanft, Charles Estes, Roy Davidson, Ruth Nadeau, Angie Barduson, Gordon Coverdale, Robert Burg, Roy Derickson, Doris Shogren, Bernice Cournoyer, Ilene Oslund

11 Gustavus Adolphus (GA) Lutheran Church 1669 Arcade St St. Paul, MN Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage P A I D Twin Cities MN Permit No. 585 Gustavus Adolphus (GA) is a member of the Saint Paul Area Synod ( of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Church Staff & Contact Information Bonnie Wilcox, Senior Pastor Amanda Simons, Associate Pastor Susan Schoon, Visitation Pastor Jerry Brakke, Dir. of Music Sherrie Norquist, Dir. of Christian Education Open Position, Business Manager Brit Barkholtz, Administrative Assistant Judy Hitchcock, Administrative Assistant b.wilcox@gachurch.org a.simons@gachurch.org susanschoon@comcast.net jerry@gachurch.org sherrie@gachurch.org (none) brit@gachurch.org judy@gachurch.org Rick Arons, Nelson Tracey & Kevin Berglund, (none) Custodians Kathy Laramy, Wedding Consultant Kendra Nielsen, Diana Williams, ASL Interpreters ironkl@hotmail.com