Sunday, October 16 is Confirmation Sunday. It s when students affirm the faith into which they were baptized.

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1 Black Forest Lutheran Church October, 2016 Vol. II The Scribe Sunday, October 16 is Confirmation Sunday. It s when students affirm the faith into which they were baptized. On Sunday, October 23 our new members will also affirm their faith. On both Sundays you will hear 5 promises. It s helpful for us all to reflect on these promises and consider what they mean. Here are a few of my comments on each of them: Do you intend to continue in the covenant that God made with you in Holy Baptism? Live among God s faithful people. A Christian is not a solitary figure. We live among other believers who encourage and support, challenge and help one another. Hear his word share his Supper.In worship we encounter the risen Christ who teaches us through his word and fills us with himself through bread and wine. You find this no where else. Proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed. Jesus says, You are my witnesses. For good or ill. How does your walk and talk reflect the one who gave his life for you? Serve all people following the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus washed feet. How does his presence in you shape the way you serve others? Strive for justice and peace in all the world. We can t change the world, but we can change a part of it. Consider what is fair, honest and right and pray for God s help to do it. Every Christian is called to live a life in a manner that fits the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27) I pray this can be a time of growing deeper for you as a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ.

2 Confirmation Sunday October 16 at 10:30a service. Being confirmed are: McKenzie Petch, Noah Devolve, and Parker Johnson. BFLC BOOK GROUP TITLE FOR OCT. Our title this month is Chasing Sylvia Beach by Cynthia Morris on Wed., Oct. 19th at 1 PM All are welcome to join us at the church for discussion and refreshments Stewardship Drive Thru Nov. 20 Our theme this year is Discipleship. Be praying about your own discipleship journey and how you feel led to respond to God s call. Several Committees w ill each take a Sunday to encourage us from their perspective as it impacts being a disciple of Jesus Christ and how that informs our giving of our selves, our time and our possessions to the glory of God. Fill out your estimate of giving on our website, or bring in the paper form which was mailed to you.

3 SUNDAYS IN Confirmation Sunday October 16 at 10:30a service. Being confirmed are: McKenzie Petch, Noah Devolve, and Parker Johnson. New Member Reception October 23 between services. Wear your nametags. Welcome our New Members. Reformation Sunday October 30 wear red. October 16: 4:30-6pm Children, youth and family Scarecrow making event. This will be a time of fellowship with all generations. We will also be sharing tips on how to keep fanning the flame of our faith. Please sign up to participate or to be a helper! Senior Social Oct. 26 at 1:00p Will resume in January, 2017 Join us for our monthly get together to socialize, play dominoes, or do crafts. There is no obligation to participate in the games. Individuals bring their own crafts to work. Others use the opportunity to just sit and talk. Light snacks provided.

4 Pine Ridge Reservation We will be sending Christmas Elder bags and toys to Kyle, South Dakota this year. Our goal is 50 Elder Bags and toys for children 2-8 yrs. old. Gently used blankets, adult and children s winter jackets and baby supplies will be gratefully accepted. The collection of these items will start in October and continue to the first week of December. Thank you for your continued support. Elder Bag Supply List: Gloves men and women Dish Soap Toothpaste Toothbrush Bar of Soap Deodorant Chapstick Men Crew Socks Plastic Container Can of soup, chili or stew Package hot chocolate Wash Cloth Dish Towel Recyclable Bags

5 Military Care Boxes We will be sending out Military boxes for Christmas, so if you would like to help by bringing in any of the following: Jelly Beans Comics Chapstick Peanuts Lemonade (ind. pacs) Gum Snack pac of cookies Sm. Hygiene products Cracker Snacks Protein bars Trail Mix Slim Jims Jerky (ind. pacs) Lifesavers Please mark them military and put them in the laundry cart in the narthex. Thanks for supporting our military members in this way! Aging Grace Fully As you get older, have you wondered what God says about aging? Join a new small group Aging Grace-Fully in exploring God s word about when we get older. Talk to Jan for more information. Christmas Program Important: Do you enjoy working with children and parents? Would you prayerfully consider leading this year s Christmas Program? Please connect with Sedra, Dave Wintermute, Maureen Lang or the Church office. Musical talent skills are not required.

6 Listen to Luther God s Mysterious Ways As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5 God leads and directs his people in mysterious ways. In the Bible we read, Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen (Psalm 77:19) Christ himself told Peter, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. (John 13:7) We need to learn how God guides his people as they grow and develop. I too have often tried to dictate to our Lord God a certain way in which I expect him to run things. I have often said, O Lord, would you please do it this way and make it come out that way? But God did just the opposite, even though I said to myself, This is a good suggestion that will bring honor to God and expand his kingdom. Undoubtedly, God must have laughed at my so-called wisdom and said, All right, I know that you are an intelligent, educated person, but I never needed a Peter, a Luther, or anyone else to teach, inform, rule or guide me. I am not a God who will allow himself to be taught or directed by others. Rather, I am the one who leads, rules, and teaches people. Young Adults Getting together at Sedra and Kathryn s house at 7pm on Tuesdays. Great atmosphere, good topics, good people! If you have any questions please ask the office and let Sedra know. Topic: The DNA of Relationships based on Philippians

7 Sundays in Dec. 4-Putting together Elder boxes for Pine Ridge between services. Dec. 11-Cantata both services. Dec. 18-Christmas Program Dec. 25 Christmas Day Dear Friend, Thank you for remember what Thanksgiving is all about. Major Richard Larson Salvation Army Council Nominees Fall is arriving and with it the annual Church Council effort to find the best possible future leaders for our church. I am leading this year s council nomination committee and look forward to hearing from you. We are seeking volunteers and recommendations for positions on the 2017 Council. Membership on council is both fun and rewarding, providing the opportunity to shape both the present and future ministry of our church. If you are interested in this important leadership role or would like to recommend someone for council, please contact Kathy Schwindt or Jan Duncan in the church office.

8 Thanksgiving Eve Service Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7:00p Thanksgiving Food Drive We will have our traditional food offering for Black Forest Cares. All items are appreciated for a turkey dinner. The office will be closed Nov. 24 & 25. Nov. 27 Advent Begins- Children will be doing a special activity every Sunday during Advent.

9 Join us at RTLC on Nov for a weekend in the wilderness filled with fun camp activities, a thought provoking study, enthusiastic RTLC staff, delicious home-made meals and serenity that only the mountains can offer. Along with the RT Staff, this weekend will be led by an RTLC staff alum, Dan Bock. In celebration of its 500th anniversary, we ll be exploring the Reformation and how it is relevant to our lives today. We ll discuss what Reformation means to our Lutheran identity, and how we can change the world around us by standing up for what is right. Cost: $75. Any questions contact Sedra. BFLC BOOK GROUP READ FOR NOV. The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe on Wed., Nov. 16th at 1 PM This month s book is non-fiction, a memoir of a son about his mother. Mary Anne Schwalbe is waiting for her chemotherapy treatments when Will casually asks her what she's reading. The conversation they have grows into tradition, and soon they are reading the same books so they can have something to talk about in the hospital waiting room. The ones they choose range from classic to popular, from fantastic to spiritual, and we hear their passion for reading and their love for each other in their intimate and searching discussions. All are welcome to join us at the church for discussion and refreshments Copies of the book on loan from the Pikes Peak Library District Book Club Collection are available in the church office to be signed out. Please call Nancy Lord with any questions.

10 Christmas Card Party for those in Prison Sunday, Nov 6, 1-3 pm in the Fellowship Hall Last Christmas our congregation sent over 200 cards to prisoners in Colorado, Florida and Oklahoma. Prayer for Prisoners International over all sent over 20,000 Christmas cards. Prayer for Prisoners International (PFPI) is based in Canon City with outreach to prisons all over the U.S. and even in Uganda. Many prisoners don t receive anything for Christmas, so a card from a stranger with a note inside means a lot to them. They get to see Jesus through that card, which is why we send only Christian cards. We would like to help with this mission. On Sunday, November 6 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the Fellowship Hall we will meet to write & sign Christmas cards. The cards must be Christian, no Santas, snowmen, or other secular greetings. The reason we send Christmas cards is to show them the love of Christ, the reason for the season. We will have Christmas music and cookies. Please sign up in the narthex to indicate how many cards you will bring. If you have any questions, please contact Susan Stewart or Dave Reily. Just a reminder to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 6

11 Mini Fair Trade Fair It was a big hit last year, so we have scheduled another fair trade fair to make your Christmas shopping a happier, easier experience with just a walk into Fellowship Hall on Sunday, November 13 between services. When you purchase an item from any of the displays, you are buying a unique gift and impacting a life in another country. On display will be olive wood from the Holy Land, beads, aprons, bags from Uganda, coffee, tea, chocolate from the Fair-Trade program and a variety of other items, such as Christmas decorations, purses, beans, etc. through the Lutheran World Relief program. Remember, we can only accept checks or cash. I would also like to mention that our friend, Micheal Zoughbi, has a carving of Martin Luther, and it is beautiful and priced at $55. It s timely in that the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation will be celebrated in A new item - As a way of supporting Micheal Zoughbi s grandchildren s scholarship fund, I have made doll clothes for an 18 doll (includes American Girl doll), which will be offered for sale with 100% of the proceeds going to the scholarship fund. Reasonably priced from $6 - $12. CARE NOTES are a simple way of ministering to a wide variety of hurts in our community. People who are hurting know what s real. CareNotes deal with the real, the truth, and they do it in the most unobtrusive way. CareNotes inspire and console at times of tension, turmoil and stress. Check them out and take one for yourself or someone else you may know who is hurting, they are on counter in narthex.

12 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 26 Oct. 30 Nov. 6 Nov. 13 Confirmation Sunday New Member Sunday Senior Social Reformation Sunday Daylight Ends/Christmas Cards Mini Fair THE MERF COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST The Mensa Education & Research Foundation college scholarship program is unique in that its awards are based totally on essays written by the applicants. There is no requirement for applicants to be Mensa members nor is consideration given to grades, academic program, or financial need. (From the MERF Web page at What could be simpler than writing an essay describing your goals and filling out a very simple application? And the applicant requirements couldn t be simpler, either: The applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of the US who resides in a participating local group's area; the applicant must be enrolled in a degree program in an accredited institution of higher learning during the academic year following the application date; and lastly, the applicant must submit an application and essay of not more than 550 words explaining their academic and/or vocational goals. Please note: The deadline for entries is January 15, So, if you re in a degree program or about to enter one, check out the MERF Essay Contest. There will be at least one prize of approximately $300 given out from our local area, along with the potential of winning up to $1000 at the national level. And remember, you don t have to be in Mensa to participate, so if you have a friend or relative who would qualify, direct them to the MERF web-site for the complete rules and application, or have them contact Sandy Halby, , or mandshalby@comcast.net.

13 OUR STAFF Pastor - Kenneth D. Hohag Director of Ministries - Jan Duncan Youth & Ed Director - Sedra Fitahiana Raz Administrative Assistant - Lisa Regennitter Organist - Barbara Gurnett Senior Choir Director - Melanie Hohag Ministers - All Members Weekday Hours 9:00am-2:00pm OUR HOURS Tuesday-Friday (Closed Mondays) Sunday Hours Phone: Fax: bflc@bflchurch.org Web site: bflchurch.org SUNDAY WORSHIP SUNDAY SCHOOL SUMMER WORSHIP 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. 9:30 am (September - May) 9:00 am (June August) Contemporary Worship Schedule 8:00 & 10:30 am 1 st Sunday of each Month 10:30 am - 3 rd Sunday of each Month Communion is offered at all services. OUR MISSION Our mission is to reach out to the world with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through worship, education, service and witness.