NOVEMBER Cornerstone of Faith Capital Campaign Update

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1 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH The Messenger NOVEMBER 2016 LEMONT IL On Sunday, November 6 we will be celebrating All Saints Sunday when we remember those who have died in the faith. So that you can be on time for worship, don t forget to turn back your clocks on Saturday night. Sunday, November 20 will be our Thanksgiving Service at which we ll celebrate the abundant blessings of God. November 27 will be the First Sunday of Advent. As that is the day of our Annual Meeting and the beginning of a new season, we will not have worship on Saturday, November 26. Confirmation Students at Hindu Temple Three of our Confirmation students and a couple parents had the opportunity to visit the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago. Our guide gave us an introduction to Hinduism and then a tour of the temple area. We observed a priest give a blessing to Hindu believers and the beginning of a celebratory procession. Over the course of the year, Confirmation students put their faith into action as they practice each of the baptismal promises they affirm on Confirmation day. With this visit, like our visit to the Islamic mosque last winter, we are practicing working for peace and justice in all the earth. Learning about our neighbors and fostering relationships is a simple way to work for peace. The opposite is to fear the neighbor and start to view them as other or even an enemy. Building relationships is holy work. Cornerstone of Faith Capital Campaign Update At our Annual Meeting on November 27, there will be a full report on our Capital Campaign progress. In the past month, volunteers have completed projects connected to the installation of the heating and air conditioning system including replacing ceiling tiles in the Community Room, painting, insulating pipes, and organizing the boiler room. The next major project is the installation of heating and air conditioning units for the offices and food pantry. We are awaiting permits from the Village. In October, the Capital Campaign Committee sent letters to friends of Bethany and area businesses seeking their additional support for our facility improvements. Already we have received responses and support! We will give you a full update at our Annual Meeting. Thank you for your continued support of our Cornerstone of Faith Capital Campaign! Visit us at

2 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE Offering envelopes are here. Please pick them up in the Narthex. They are in alphabetical order. If you have any questions, please call Sharon Ahlberg at Thank you to everyone who contributed insect repellent, cleaning supplies, trash bags, work gloves and more to provide aid to communities struggling to clean up from natural disasters such as the Louisiana flooding. On October 30, the Sunday School students went door to door trick or treating to collect donations for the Open Pantry. What a great way to raise awareness of the needs of some of our neighbors. Each year, Hope and Friendship supplies all the fixings for a Thanksgiving Dinner to those in need in our community. Please help us fill our neighbor s dinner plate with nonperishable food items including: cans of yams, cranberry sauces, and veggies, Stove Top stuffing mixes, and tin pans and turkey cooking bags. We will collect these items for only two weekends: November 5-6 and Thank you for your generosity! CALENDAR Saturday, November 5 Sunday, November 6 Monday, November 14 Sunday, November 20 Saturday, November 26 Sunday, November 27 Wednesday, November 30 Turn clocks back one hour before going to bed All Saints Sunday, 10:30AM Church Council Meeting, 7PM Thanksgiving Service, 10:30AM No Saturday service First Sunday of Advent, 10:30AM Annual Meeting following Worship Wednesday Advent Service, 7PM

3 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 3 MEMORIAL GIFTS to the Quilt Ministry in memory of Mildred Patterson by Ed & Glenda Anderson and Family to Sunday School in memory of Mildred Patterson by Ed & Glenda Anderson and Family to the Open Pantry in memory of Dick Gotlund by Lori & Keith Olkiewicz to the Memorial Fund in memory of Eleanor Anderson by Linda & Michael Naus to the Capital Improvement Fund in memory of Dick Gotlund by Alyssa Jaje to the General Fund in memory of Karen Rae from the Salmon Family to the General Fund in memory of Eugene Gutowski on the anniversary of his death on November 1st by Dolores Gutowski to the Capital Campaign Fund in memory of Carl Ahlberg on the anniversary of his birth on November 7th by Kerri & Corey Schroeder GIFTS TO BETHANY CEMETERY were given in memory of Dick Gotlund from Bruce & Jodi Taylor, Frank & Nancy Iwan, Rosalie & Jenifer Lind, Sue & Gary Gray, Nicholas & Patricia Turcic, Vivian Gunsaulus, Richard & Harriett Nelson, Pam & Bill Laasch, Glenn & Judy Sandberg, Sharon Ahlberg, Richard & Joellyn Gotlund, Rudie & Jamie Gotlund, The Salmon Family and Ed & Glenda Anderson. GIFTS TO THE OPEN PANTRY A gift was given in honor of Leo Cattoni s birthday from Tom & Denise Brown Book Club will meet on Wednesday, November 16th at 1PM at Tap House Grill. The Christmas Train by David Baldacci is the November selection. New members are always welcome! Thank you to everyone who is participating in the FMSC event in Lemont this weekend. Their efforts will help thousands of children battling hunger. Chuck Martinkus for painting the boiler room door and choir cabinet and adding trim in the Community Room Ardy Wakefield for tending the flower garden Jodi and Bruce Taylor, EJ and Marlene Ahlberg, Chuck Martinkus, Don Garling, David Kissick, David Bergmark, and Gary Gray for installing ceiling tile in the Community Room Bev and Cliff Wilson for replacing outlets in the Community Room David Bergmark, Jill Forkel, Sue Gray, Glenda Anderson, Sandy Doebert, and Pam Laasch for serving on the Worship Committee and planning for holiday services Sharon Ahlberg for preparing the boxes of offertory envelopes EJ and Marlene Ahlberg, Zach Howell, Sandy Doebert, Jodi Taylor, Joe and Kris Falese for their work on the Capital Campaign Committee particularly in reaching out to Friends of Bethany and area businesses for additional support Don Garling for repairing and painting the kitchen door Sandy Doebert and Chris Pohlman for tool donations Ross Wakefield for insulating pipe in the Community Room Bruce Taylor for installing hinges on radiator covers in the Sanctuary Jodi Taylor & Dave Czuchra for raking leaves from the entrances Erin Kissick for arranging the disaster relief collection Alyssa and Grace Krakar for hosting a Halloween party for the Sunday School children The McAdam Family for donating a laptop computer to the Sunday School program

4 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 4 IN OUR PRAYERS Bethany Members Ginny Connelly Peyton Kirk Fern Epler Norm Epler Frank Iwan Theora Kujawa Vivian Gunsaulus Marie Heeren Leona Nelson Norma Johnson Carl Slip Johnson Virginia Hoster Cynthia Pytlewski Friends and Relatives of Bethany Members Joanne Bauer friend of Jim & Ginny Connelly Gene Sobba uncle of Carole & Jim Ross Eleanor Slager friend of Bethany Bernie Schroeder father of Cheryl Hagedorn Diane Reyes mother of Cheryl Sabourin Bethany Lutheran Mission Statement Bethany Lutheran Church works to be a growing, living, faith community focusing on outreach. Following the example of Christ, we will share love, grace and hope and commit the resources of time, talents and wealth to our church, our village and all of God s creation. Gary Cobbett friend of the Bergmarks Will Pukula friend of the Olkiewicz Family Dan Herzing friend of the Iwan Family Gen White aunt of Lori & Keith Olkiewicz Frank Heeg friend of Karen Rae Audrey Gee relative of Virginia & Bob Hoster Susan Newton friend of MariLynn Bergmark Pat Genardo friend of the Connellys Stella Slowik friend of Kim Stowe Kyle Williams friend of Sue Gray Anne Pohlman friend of Sandy Doebert Sean Clark friend of Kelsey Schroeder Frank Roy friend of Barb & Michael Woods Rudy Cozzi friend of Glenda & Ed Anderson Don Filla friend of Kelsey Schroeder Ryan & Lindsay Wright relatives of Jim & Carole Ross John Shea brother-in-law of Heather & Mike Nilles Marianne Carlson friend of Ginny Connelly & Karen Rae Justin & Stephanie Wormsley friends of Jodi & Bruce Taylor Tim & Virginia Schroeder aunt and uncle of Jim & Carole Ross Frank Miller brother-in-law of Marlene & E.J. Ahlberg Pastor Melissa Kuemmerle friend of the Bergmarks If you would like to add anyone to the Bethany Prayer List, call or the church office OR drop a note in the offering plate be sure to include your name. Conversely, if anyone listed is no longer in need of our prayers, please notify us as well.

5 BETHANY LUTHERAN CHURCH LEMONT IL PAGE 5 Joint Ecumenical Commemoration of the Reformation On Monday, October 31 in Lund, Sweden, Lutheran and Catholic leaders joined together in prayer and commemoration of the 499th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Thesis to the Wittenburg Church doors. Among the leaders present were Pope Francis and Lutheran World Federation President Bishop Dr. Munib Younan. The day began with Common Prayer in Lund Cathedral, a service focused on thanksgiving, repentance and a commitment to joint witness. During the services, representatives from both church bodies signed a Declaration of Intent, mutually committing the global Christian organizations to deepened relationship and cooperation in humanitarian response and sustainable development. Festivities continued in Malmo Arena where 10,000 visitors were present to witness this historic day. This event starts a year of celebration and commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Ashley Vass Sullivan is hosting a masquerade ball to benefit WAR, International on November 11 at the Monte Bello Estate in Lemont. Women at Risk, International (WAR, Int'l) is a Grand Rapids based, nonprofit organization working in over 40 countries, including the US, battling the crime of human trafficking and sexual slavery. WAR, Int'l steps into dark places, providing emergency intervention, medical aid, and safe houses for rescued women and children. For more information, visit THANK YOU TO ALL WHO DONATED FOOD STAPLES TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY St. Patrick Church John Rosier St. Alphonsus Church Mooseheart International Lemont Environmental Advisory Commission Lemont Township Lemont S.D. 113A Emmanuel Baptist Church Ed & Glenda Anderson Ashley Sullivan Simply Yoga Lemont Citgo Petroleum Corp. T.O.P.S Jurgis Matulaitis Mission Addyson Connolly MONETARY DONATIONS TO THE BETHANY OPEN PANTRY WERE GIVEN BY Lemont Junior Woman s Club Donald & Patty Krengiel Thomas & Sandra Kotek Simply Yoga Lemont Mooseheart International Tom & Denise Brown Citgo Petroleum Corp. Elsie Schultz Mark & Maureen Skowronski Lois Miller La Dolce Vita Restaurant Fred Schmitz T.O.P.S