COFFEE HOUR. The church coffee hour is not the afterthought of the worship service at all. Instead it is its reality test.

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1 October, 2017 COFFEE HOUR The church coffee hour is not the afterthought of the worship service at all. Instead it is its reality test. Statistics show that the average newcomer or returnee comes back to worship six months after a major life change: cancer, death, divorce, or some sort of disappointment. Our job is not to find out what that crisis was on the first encounter, but to ready ourselves and the other person for that revelation. It is not just newcomers who need welcome at coffee hour. Old timers do also. When our shyness glues us to one comfortable person for the entire hour, something is wrong. Circulate. Move. Make it a point to speak to ten people. Really speak to them. Remember something about them: Isn't this the anniversary of John's death? How did your big meeting go this week? How is your mother doing? Don't always think of yourself as the asker of questions. You may be the one who needs to tell someone about something important that happened to you. When you say something about yourself, it gives other people permission to do the same. Worship Schedule 9 AM Adult Sunday School 10 AM Worship Service Children s Sunday School The goal of coffee hour, is to embody the welcome Jesus gives us to his realm. Its goal is intimacy, ordinary intimacy. It is kitchen talk. At their best, they are quick, deep, and self revealing. They are our weekly chance to demonstrate the love of God incarnate to one another, and to all who walk through our doors. Reprinted by permission from Ministry Matters.

2 Page 2 Sunday School Fall Mission Project: Operation Christmas Child Sunday School students are participating in Operation Christmas Child this year that distributes shoeboxes of age appropriate gifts to children all around the world. A Thrivent Action Team grant and offerings collected in Sunday School will go toward buying items for 25 shoeboxes such as toothbrushes, crayons, coloring books, chalk, small toys, etc. Every box will also contain a Wow Toy such as a stuffed animal or Nerf ball. As the boxes are handed out, each child also receives a Gospel book full of stories that tell about Jesus. Look for a Christmas Child Tree (just like an Angel Tree) outside of the sanctuary in early October with Christmas ornaments made by our Sunday School children. These ornaments will be labeled with toys and offering suggestions to help the Sunday School fill up the shoeboxes with needed items and cover shipping costs. How Can You Help? Here are five ways to consider: Choose a Wow Item tag from the Christmas Child Tree to buy and bring to church by October 29 th. Choose a Cost of Shipping tag from the Christmas Child Tree and make a $9 donation to cover the cost of shipping a box. This will allow our Sunday School children to follow the box online on its journey. (Checks can be made out to Hope Lutheran Church). Write a message or draw a picture for a child on a card near the Christmas Child Tree to include in a shoebox by October 29 th. Do you have a child of Sunday School age? Bring them to church on Sunday, November 5 th to pack shoeboxes. We ll need all the help we can get!! Pray!!! Pray for the children who will receive these boxes. Pray for their families. Pray that their hearts and minds will be open to the Good News. Pray for our Sunday School children as they pack and fill the boxes. Every shoebox plants a seed! O pumpkin pie, your time has come round again and I am autumnrifically happy! ~Terri Guillemets

3 News from our Missionary Sermon Schedule Thanksgiving VOA Bags Page 3 COMING EVENT: Thanksgiving VOA Bags - Watch the bulletins and sign up sheets on how you can help fill the Thanksgiving bags for Volunteers of American clients starting in mid October. Bag Pack and dinner night is Tuesday, November 21 starting at 5:30. October 1 "Power to Overcome Worry and Anxiety" Thanksgiving and anxiety are two opposing forces. Have you ever thanked God for your problems, pains, and suffering? (Philippians 4:4-13) October 8 "No Selfies Needed" God isn't afraid of messy people. He loves the broken, embraces the outcast, and seeks the lost. (Philippians 4:4-14) October 15 "Luther the Man: Called by God to Boast in Him " Although Martin Luther is widely regarded as one of the most influential people of the last 500 years, he knew he was no big deal, compared to Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) October 22 "The Enduring Reformation Moment and Message of Grace" The Reformation was quite a moment for Martin Luther, but also for people who suddenly heard of a merciful God Who really cared for them. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18) October 29 "A Reformation Invitation - the Just Live by Faith " 500 years ago, Martin Luther rediscovered a truth that turned the world upside down: the just shall live by faith. Can this message transform you today? (Romans 1:16-17) Bible Studies Men s Bible Study m eets o n Mo nday evenings fr o m 6:30 7:30 in the conference room at Hope. The current topic is Paul s letter to the Romans. Women s Every-other-Saturday Bible Study w ill m eet October 7 and 21 at church. 10 AM. We are reading the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. Sunday Adult Bible Study Sundays at 9 AM. Thursday Afternoon Bible Study 2 PM Independence Village. Book of Acts. Learn to Force Bulbs Sunday, October 8 3 PM Want to feel spring earlier than March? Join the Women of Hope and learn how to force spring bulbs during winter. Dana Kressierer Wakefield has graciously invited us into her home. She will give us a tour of her dahlia garden and then show us how to force spring bulbs early. Costs of supplies will be $7 per pot. You can bring your own 6" pot. Refreshments will be served. Please sign up since space is limited to 15. If you want to make multiple pots please indicate so to be sure we have enough supplies. We will meet at 2:45 at church for anyone wishing to carpool. Any questions? Call Cheryl at I love the leaves, I do not know why. Is it their colors, or how they fly? ~ Beth Paulsen

4 Page 4 Server s List Date Music Worship Assistant Greeters Ushers Reader Acolyte Communion PPT/Sermons October 1 Lori Andy Donna Colin Dan October 8 Lynn Dave R Sheila Anthony Bob Melissa Ava Donna Dan SERMON Judy Belal None Dawn SERMON & PP October 15 Lori Fred Lynn Andy George Paul Sheila Stella Carol Glenda Andy SERMON ONLY October 22 Lynn Bob Del Sue Dave R. Dave B. Lori Austin None Dawn SERMON & PP October 29 Lori Chris Carol Ruth G Bob Anthony Karen Ava None Dan SERMON Laugh with Norma October 17 7 PM Carol E s home Streetsboro Mathews County, Virginia, is a remote outpost on the Chesapeake Bay with little to offer except unspoiled scenery but it sent an unusually large concentration of sea captains to fight in World War II. The Mathews Men tells that heroic story through the experiences of one extraordinary family whose seven sons (and their neighbors), U.S. merchant mariners all, suddenly found themselves squarely in the cross-hairs of the U- boats bearing down on the coastal United States in This is a non-fiction book. Please join us for a lively discussion. Bring an appetizer to share. A Sunday school teacher was teaching her class about the difference between right and wrong. "All right children, let's take another example," she said. "If I were to get into a man's pocket and take his billfold with all his money, what would I be?" Little Johnny raises his hand, and with a confident smile, he blurts out, "You'd be his wife!" Q: Where do ghosts like to water ski? A: Lake Erie Please book Master calendar appointments with Dawn! She can be reached at OR dghlc456@gmail.com. You can check the calendar and mark it if the day and time are free, but please let Dawn A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween. ~Erma Bombeck

5 Women of Hope November 12 3:00 PM at church Women of Hope will learn how to make origami Christmas stars and /or Christmas tree card. No COSTS! Taught by an experienced origami teacher. A Broadway Star! Lulu revealed! Meredith Wakefield, of Aurora, dances on Euclid Ave. in front of Playhouse Square Wakefield and Harper Schmid were picked to play the character of Lulu in the Broadway tour of Waitress. The two mini actresses are cast as the daughter of the lead character. Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer September 27, The show kicks off it's tour in Cleveland. Meredith is the grandchild of Sheila and Fred. Thanks to Andy for ing copies of Pastor s Sunday Sermons. If you d like to receive them, please let Andy know and he ll add you to the routing list! Thanks to Colin, Lisa and Thrivent for the wonderful night at the movies. Everyone enjoyed Martin Luther: The Idea That Changed the World. Thanks to Anthony and Lynn R who are helping Donna set up for communion. Coloring Book Sale October 29 during Fellowship brunch Women of Hope will be selling adult coloring books for $6 each. They would make a great Christmas gift for young and old. Check them out. No orders taken, cash and carry. So don't think twice! Cookie Bake Sale November 19 Cookie Sample Day and Order Day After Worship Women of Hope are sponsoring their annual cookie bake sale. Anyone who would like to participate is invited to do so. On November 19, bring samples of your cookies to church. Order forms will be available for people to sign up. Then, you bake and take your cookies to church on December 19! "Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." ~ Emily Bronte

6 Emma E 01 Sarah W 03 Jonathan V 10 Jacob B 17 Lila V 20 Richard K 31 Please select Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, OH when you shop at Amazon. smile.amazon.com Hope Lutheran Church 456 S. Chillicothe Rd. Aurora, OH Congregational President Dan Coleman dcolemansr@windstream.net Phone: Prayer Chain Captain Debi Schuster Home Rev. Powell Woods, Minister church home cell Jennifer Lynagh, Director Pre-School Director