more than ever. During your busy times this fall don t forget your friends, and don t forget your church.

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1 Welcome to our Pastor s Notes winter 2016 newsletter. What an amazing summer? Have information you want in the newsletter or do you want to help? I know many of you were busy just like I was this past summer. My family found ourselves traveling back and forth to Calumet as I participated as chaplain in the resident camp and both Logan and Addyson attended camp for a week, we visited with family and friends and we took a few day trips to enjoy the wonderful weather. us at FOLLOWING FAITH FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH newsletter@faithgardner.org In my September 24th article for the Gardner News I talked about three lessons I learned from driving over 3,000 miles in one month. I won t rehash that article (you can find it on the Gardner News website or my blog pastorjoe.me) but I was thinking about the business of the summer and that led me to think about the next three months at Faith and all that we are going to do with one another. I want to look at the lessons I learned and apply it to the exciting things ahead. Lesson 1: The Importance of Family Over the next three months we will celebrate many things (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas) and it will be important to get together with family and celebrate the thing that brings us all together..love. You may not like some family members from time to time but deep down you may have love for them. In October we have family wedding to go to, in November we are traveling to Florida with my parents to visit my brother and his family and sometime during Christmas we will get together with our families to celebrate, to remember and to love. more than ever. During your busy times this fall don t forget your friends, and don t forget your church. Lesson 3: The Importance of Learning and Giving I love learning. I am constantly listening to Podcasts (you can listen to mine 2baldpastors.com) and reading and studying. I was never a great student but when I am interested in something I like to dive in and learn as much as possible. We will have many ways for you to learn this Lesson 2: The Importance of Friends I love my friends as much as I love my family. We are there with and for one another. We constantly find ways to connect and to support one another through life s transitions. I also think about everyone at church. I love you as much as I love my family as well. During the busy times of life I need my church friends/family Continued page 3 October November December Julia Pfeifle-1 Susan Horvath-8 Ann Lehoux-2 Keith Jorgensen-3 Danielle Johnson-13 Karen Sharpe-3 Shannon Stickney-4 Mark Knoll-15 AJ Rocheleau-8 Dorothy Sund-5 Robert Nyman-15 Sylvia Dube-9 Allie Rocheleau-6 Marissa Knoll-17 Marvin Bernstein-11 Jean Kiewel-9 Pastor Olson-17 Ethan Pfeifle-11 Eric Bourque-9 Marcus Carlberg-20 Ray Pfeifle IV-11 Joanne Opgenorth-15 Helvi Palojarvi-22 Cheryl Bourque-14 Dot LaRoche-16 Jeff Belitsky-22 Sara Jorgensen-16 Steve Ashmore-20 Ruth Cormier-24 Joyce Tyson-18 Ann Marie Frawley-26 David Blouin-26 Gail Hoisington-19 Tricia Vorderstrasse-26 Karen Tresback-30 Scott Anderson-23 Sharon Hoover-28 If your birthday is not listed and should be or is incorrect, please leave a note in the newsletter box on the secretary s office door so we can update our records. Gratitude & Greetings! Welcome back to America, Daniel Knoll! Liz Beauregard and Jen Chagnon for chairing the Church Fair! Thank you! April Lunny & Katie McGarry for organizing the Sidewalk Sale Booth! Thank You! Rachael Sharpe, Tamara Taylor, and Kendall Marinelli for chaperoning Project HELP s Cooking Retreat at Calumet! Thank You! Outreach Committee will be honoring three special birthdays this fall. October 9, Jean Kiewel will be 85. November 22, Helvi Palojarvi will be 92. December 9, Sylvia Dube will be 80.

2 Church Choir & Praise Band The Choir and Praise Band are looking for new people to join them! If you are interested please contact Carol Devine or Bob Boutwell for more information! Youth Corner Camp Sunday Yes, it s that time of year again. Camp Sunday be- Opportunities to Give Donate clothing to the St. Pauly s clothing shed. plates and/or snacks for Sunday Camp. A two drawer file cabinet Gardner CAC Food Pantry This is also needed. months item is soup. Donate juice boxes, small paper Donate paper plates, cups, dish soap or coffee for From the Earth Community meal. Offer to make a meal for Bob & Janet Clark! See Julie Meehan for details. gan on September 18th at 10:00am. We will meet each and every Sunday except for combined service Sundays. We are beginning the year learning about putting on the armor of God as we face a new school and church year. We have a knight who is visiting with us downstairs. So come and visit as we make our armor for the Lord. Camp Sunday is open to all ages from toddler, preschool to fifth grade. Older students and adults are always welcome to come lend a hand or just see what s going on. * We can always use non-perishable snack items and juice packs * * We also need a two-drawer file cabinet and a storage cabinet if you have one you are not using * Junior Youth-Junior Youth is open to children in grades 3-5 and yes, you can bring a friend or 2. Dates: October 16th, 12:00-2:00 Carving Pumpkins Pastor s Notes (continued) fall, learn about your faith, learn about your life and learn about the wonders of God in this world. You will also be asked to give, this is something that is so important to the life of the church and the development of our personal discipleship. We give of our time to the amazing ministries of the church, we give of our talents, because we are all blessed with gifts from God and we give of our blessings to better the lives of the people around us and we give of our money. Everything we have belongs to God and it is a blessing to be able to give back. November 13, 12:00-2:00 make a Thanksgiving basket I hope that you experience the joy in these three lessons and that you find time to spend with family and friends and you find opportunities to learn and to give. See you on Sunday! Be Blessed! December 11, 12:00-2:00 Christmas cooking and a movie Hope to see you here and if anyone has a pumpkin or more to donate that would be great!! Confirmation - Confirmation kicked off on September 25th with a potluck dinner, information about confirmation and a How to read the Bible lesson. Confirmation is open to all children grades 6 and up who wish to be confirmed. LIPY Events- Open to confirmation youth and high school youth We are trying to find out if there is any interest of reforming a worship, prayer and study group. Don t know what it will look like, but want to know who might be interested. If you are interested, please see Barry Tresback, Pastor Joe or contact the office. Or better yet just sign up today on the sign up sheet on Pr. Joe s door. Thank you! October 23-Cathedral In The Night, an outdoor service and dinner provided by the youth for homeless in Northampton, MA. November 12 Cradles to Crayons in Boston is a non-profit that provides everything a child needs to thrive. We ll be collecting gently used clothing and toys, brand new school supplies and hygiene products.

3 Did you know that 6 people fro Community Backpack Project Thank You, Faith Lutheran! Through the collaboration of 8 local churches, numerous businesses, organizations and individuals, a total of 217 brand new backpacks and school supplies were distributed! Also, over 300 brown bag lunches were enjoyed by students and their families! From all of us at the Gardner CAC, THANK YOU! You have helped make a great impact on many families in our community. ~ Julie Meehan, Executive Director, Gardner CAC Church Fair The Church Fair is scheduled for Saturday, November 19th. Liz Beauregard has generously agreed to chair the Church Fair this year! Volunteers are needed in all areas -to head tables, bake bread, make crafts, setting up and breaking down the event. Many more are needed for behind the scenes work too. See Liz Beauregard or Jen Chagnon to find out how you can help! Here are key dates to start: Craft Nights October 26th, November 2nd, November 9th Help prepare crafts to be sold at the church fair! Swedish Coffee Bread Baking November 16th Come learn how to make Swedish Coffee bread and prepare it to sell at the church fair! We remember the family and loved ones of : Richard Wickman who entered into eternal life on January 17, 2016 Evelyn Minkkinen who entered into eternal life on March 31, 2016 Rita Wickman who entered into eternal life on June 29, 2016 David Thompson who entered into eternal life on July 15, 2016 Read about their exp From: Dot & Jules LaRoche So much history to digest in a short period of time. Walking cobblestone streets, touring monasteries and old churches, even Wartburg Castle where Luther was in hiding for 10 months, are some of the many sights and experiences to file away in my memory banks. Many of the towns and cities were effected by various wars and conflicts over the centuries, including the bombings during WWII. It was interesting to see how much emphasis has been placed on preserving and restoring ancient structures. This even occurred in East Berlin under communist rule. Definitely gives a person a feeling of 'you are there'. It was surprising to realize how important the church was to people in that period of time, especially regarding personal salvation. The church's enthusiasm in profiting from this is disturbing. Luther's courage was remarkable. To recognize a wrong and to try to correct it, knowing the powers that be are plotting your demise, but also knowing this is what God wants you to do is truly awesome. The power of the written word...no television, radio, phones, no instant messaging. Communication by talk- ing, letters and books. Putting thoughts on paper and being able to read are wonders we take for granted. Stepping back in time has been thought provoking and inspiring. The power and message of the Word of God is as vital today as then. From Peg Knowlton It was thrilling to look through the old Wartburg Castle window of the tower room to those same distant hills that Martin Luther saw from the small room where he translated the Bible into the common German language, and came to his epiphany, that The righteous shall live by faith, Romans 1:17. In the city of Wittenberg Luther s home (which survived WWII in tact) was the ancient St. Mary s Church with the original pulpit from which Luther preached a few thousand sermons, the church in which he was married and with the baptismal fonts in which his children were baptized. This was probably my highlight of the trip. We also visited other interesting sites: Erfurt with its Augustinian Monastery (where Luther was a student and a monk), and the small town, Eisleben, where Luther was born and also died at the age of 62. The sites mentioned above were not damaged during the bombing of WWII, as were many of the other places we visited. They are preserved as to be expected after 500 years of caretaking, and they are really special places indeed!

4 om Faith went to Germany? periences here! From Pr. & Linda Olson Six of us from Faith, Linda and I, the Knowlton s and the LaRoche s spent the early part of September in Germany visiting Lutherland. Our Collette Tour was well organized and combined high speed rides on the famous Autobahn with much walking on ancient cobblestone streets in places like Erfurt, Eisenach, Eisleben and the center of Lutheranism-Wittenburg. These places were not accessible until 1990 when the famed Berlin wall came down. Thankfully, most of the places where Luther lived and worked were small towns that survived the destruction of WWII. It was deeply moving for us to see the door at the Castle Church in Wittenburg where the 95 Theses were posted on Oct. 31, 1517 and even more so to be in another Wittenburg church where Luther preached 2,000 sermons and at the Wartburg Castle room where he translated the Bible into German. At a church connected to Luther s monastery days, I was invited to read the Gospel at a Vespers service, a never-to-be-forgotten moment. Not many Lutheran pastors can say they did that! I think our tour guide worked behind the scenes to arrange that lasting memory for me. Thanks Alexander. Fast-paced tours are exhausting but wonderful meals together brought relaxation and deepened friendships. German food was a special treat and the beer oh, the beer flows in Germany-and I thank those who were kind enough to keep passing what they didn t drink my way. Immigration is bringing change to Germany these days but the roots of our Lutheran heritage are very much treasured and honored as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation approaches next year. Hello! I m Reggie just hanging around this summer! What you might not know is that I hear a lot of things talked about in church. I see things that even Pastor Joe doesn't see! Here are a few things I ve seen or heard: Jules and Dot LaRoche adopted a new dog, Sparky, in September! Barry Tresback led adult Bible study at Hammonasett! David Palojarvi was the t-shirt man, spending Friday night sorting and handing out t-shirts to campers. Eric Anderson, Karen and Nils son, just got married! Guaranteed Donation!! If you want to make sure your weekly or monthly pledge to Faith happens, consider using our Simply Giving system. You can text your pledge or have it automatically deducted from your checking or savings account each month. Many of our parishioners use Simply Giving today. See, or call Paul Carlberg to get more details at pcarlberg@gmail.com or You can now make a contribution to Faith Lutheran Church with a quick text message! Simply send a text to with the amount you would like to contribute. Make sure to include the dollar sign before the amount. Example: $25. Within a few minutes, you'll be sent a text with a link to register. Click on the link and enter your cardholder name and credit or debit card information. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a text verification and a receipt via . For future giving, simply send a text with the amount you wish to give, and it will process automatically! Praise Report! Janet Clark is coming home! After a long health journey, Janet will be returning home this week. Bob wanted to thank everyone for their prayers through this long and difficult journey. Please continue to pray for them (Bob could really use a good nights sleep too!) To help Bob & Janet, please consider making a meal for them one night. A list of dates and details is on Pastor Joe s door. For questions and/or details please talk to Julie Meehan at It is the one year anniversary since Sue Cochran s father had a liver transplant. He is doing extremely well! Her family is extremely grateful for their father s health and they hope that the family who donated their son's liver knows that they gave us a gift we could never re-pay them for.

5 Rachael Sharpe Goes to New Orleans! Every three years, the ELCA holds its Churchwide Assembly. All of the ELCA s 65 synods are represented by Bishops, pastors and lay people of various ages. A year ago at the New England Synod Assembly, Faith s own Rachael Sharpe was nominated and elected to attend the Churchwide Assembly as a young adult representative with the New England delegation. Rachael even got up at the microphone in front of thousands of people to talk passionately about an issue that was being discussed. We re proud of you, Rachael! Hello Faith Lutheran! Many of you may not know that this past summer, I spent a week in New Orleans attending the ELCA Synod Assembly. If you are unfamiliar with what this is, it is a gathering of representatives from each synod across the country that gathers to discuss and vote upon important matters of the church. I was voted to go by the New England Synod as a representative of the youth and young adult category. Although I traveled there by myself, I was part of a group of about 15 other New England Synod members. In total, there were around 1,000 voting members on the floor and a significant amount of people that went as volunteers. It s difficult to describe the trip, but I can say that is was amazing, eye opening, and even life changing. To be a part of the inner workings of the ELCA was a very neat experience. Each day, we participated in 2 sessions (each lasting a few hours) in which we voted on issues, debated topics, and listened to some wonderful guest speakers. When we weren t in session, we were enjoying a lunch together or attending worship. Even though the trip was business orientated, worship remained a large part of the gathering and to worship God with over 1,000 people was an incredible feeling! In my spare time, I made friends with other young adult voting members from all over the country; to this day, we are still in contact! Together we explored the city, and even started a project in which we gathered food and toiletries from the attendees of the assembly and distributed them to the homeless of the city. In total, over the span of two days, I believe we fed around people in need. If anyone is interested in hearing more about what kinds of topics we discussed and voted on, I would be more than happy to talk with you! I have every report, and can even show videos of the guest speakers we heard from. Gods blessings to everyone! Rachael Sharpe Social Ministry Team From the Earth Meals The Team has served meals continuously since August of 2015 and had a busy 2016 summer with two August luncheons, one in conjunction with CAC at Faith and another, at Monument Park, called Hotdogs in the Park where 80 people attended. We followed up with a dinner meal on September 13 and will continue to serve dinners in October, November and December from 5 to 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday (a change from Tuesdays) of each month. Thrivent grants have already been secured for the October and Novem- ber meals. We wish to thank our amazing volunwe have a couple of things we would teers for their help with funding, adverlike to have the congregation consid- tising, shopping, meal planning, cooking, serving, and cleanup. In particular, er. If you are a member and are eliwe want to thank Lucille McClurken, gible to receive grants from Thrivent Gunnar Robinson and Ruth, Steven for this program, would you please consider From the Earth as an option. Blanchard, Bob Clark, Steve and Mary Chace, Lena Carlberg, Dot LaRoch, KaWe will help with the application. The Team will also be planning meals ren and Nils Anderson, April Lunny, Rachael Sharpe, Logan and Addy further into the future so it can let meal supporters know what food will McGarry, Marion Knoll, Keith and Carol be needed in advance, allowing them Jorgensen, and Robin, Jace, and Cameron Henrie for their belief and particito make food donations to augment menus and reduce costs. Please keep pation in this mission. Faith s community meals in mind. God Bless. Faith Lutheran in the Gardner News Dogs in the Park Faith Lutheran hosts free lunch at Monument Park Reporter: Andrew Mansfield 8/17/2016 Gardner A day in the park is much better with a dog and friends. Equipped with steaming hot dogs and buns, chips, water and all the condiments a reasonable person could ask for, Faith Lutheran Church served a free lunch for local people on Tuesday at Monument Park. It s important for us to not just say, Hey, we re Faith Lutheran Church, you need to come to us. Our church wants to be part of the community, said Pastor Joe McGarry. The church located at 627 Green St. just past Mount Wachusett Community College near Route 140 normally hosts a dinner every month, but took the summer off and will start back up again in September. The hot dog day at Monument Park was a way to keep serving people in the meantime and do so in a more centralized spot than the church, more readily accessible for people to congregate. Church member Fred Hoisington organized the event, and he counted about 70 people in attendance. It s been very successful, he said. Many people walked over and sat at the park benches or brought chairs. The environment was casual and conversational. It s all socializing. You just get to meet a lot of nice people, said Bob Cormier, who attended with his wife, Carol. They were also joined by Grace Marshall, all being members of the Annunciation Parish. I have met a lot of people that I probably never would have, said Marshall. I enjoy the friendship and everything else. This has helped us mingle with the other churches. While the lunch sponsored by Faith Lutheran Church was its own event, in spirit and concept it is in the same vein as the free Thursday lunches many Gardner churches have put on with the help of the Community Action Committee this summer. Rev. James Hinds of First Baptist Church, one of the churches that helps put on the lunches, was in attendance on Tuesday. The major thing is to meet a need. There are people who are hungry, he said. Longtime Faith Lutheran Church member Dorothy Dot LaRoche is a frequent volunteer for the church. Like her, a few of the other volunteers were retired. Especially given the noon start time of the luncheon in the middle of a typical workday their willingness to help was a valuable asset. You just have more time and as you get older you see the need out there. It s great that communities are offering things like this more than they used to, said LaRoche. The main thing is to have a time of fellowship with others. Coming up on Thursday, Aug. 18, First Congregational Church at 28 Green St. will host a free lunch at noon. On Thursday, Sept. 1, First Baptist Church at 14 High St. will also host a free lunch at noon.

6 This vision event, will present a "snapshot" of the past eight months. Its purpose is to better communicate the State of "Faith" on all fronts: Socially, Financially, and Spiritually. Save the Date! October 9th Combined Service is at 10:00 AM and, although chances are slim, if the weather permits we will have our service outside! State of Faith will be held in the fellowship hall immediately following worship. Light snacks will be provided. Council is very excited about our event! Come celebrate all that we have here at Faith, share how we can improve and together choose the path towards an amazing future. We want to encourage your participation! Please plan to attend! MARK YOUR CALENDAR October 2 Worship 9 am & 11 am November 1 Social Ministry Meeting 6:30 pm November 30 * Dinner and prayer 6 pm October 4 Social Ministry Meeting 6:30 pm October 9 10am Combined Worship State of Faith Event October 10 Gardner Rehab Worship Service 10am October 11 Council Meeting 6:30 pm October 12 From the Earth Dinner 5 pm Music & Worship 6:00 pm October 16 Worship Theme: Social Stewardship Junior Youth: Pumpkin Carving noon-2:00 pm October 23 Worship Theme: Financial Stewardship w/guest preacher Pr. Tim Roser Council & Finance Meeting w/pr. Tim Roser LIPY Event: Cathedral In The Night in Northampton, MA October 26 Church Fair Prep & Craft Night October 27 Men s Group October 29 Game Night sponsored Fellowship Team November 2 Church Fair Prep & Craft Night November 5 Stewardship Group Session November 6 - All Saint s Day Worship Theme: Spiritual Stewardship November 9 Menders Cooking Class TBD From the Earth Dinner 5 pm Church Fair Prep & Craft Night November 12 LIPY Event: Cradles To Crayons in Boston, MA November 13-Stewardship Sunday Make a pledge today! Junior Youth: Thanksgiving Baskets noon-2 pm November Pastor Joe at Bishop s Convocation November 16 Swedish Coffee Break Making Night November Pastor Joe on vacation November 19 Church Fair November 20 Worship 9 am & 11 am November 24 Church office closed December 4 Inside Out Advent series: Sadness December 7 * Dinner and prayer 6 pm December 10 Church Fundraising Dinner December 11 Inside Out Advent series: Fear Junior Youth: Christmas cooking & movie noon-2 pm LIPY event: Inner City Gift/Wrap event in Worcester, MA December 14 From the Earth Dinner 5 pm followed by worship at 6 pm December 18 Inside Out Advent series: Joy Christmas Pageant December 21 * Dinner and prayer 6pm December 24-Christmas Eve Worship times TBD December 25-Christmas Worship 10 am January 1 New Year s Day One worship service at 10am * Mid-week Advent dinner and prayer All ingredients are provided for you to come and prepare a meal together, then spend some time in prayer Faith Lutheran Church 627 Green Street Gardner, MA office@faithgardner.org Worship Times: 9:00 AM 11:00 AM We re on the web! October 30 - Reformation Worship Theme: Personal Stewardship November 27-Advent begins Inside Out Advent series: Anger/ Disgust