OCTOBER 2016 THE PASTOR S PRESS

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1 THE PASTOR S PRESS OCTOBER 2016 God rules all the forces: the stars in their courses and sun in its orbit obediently shine; the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains, the deeps of the ocean proclaim God divine. We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing; with glad adoration a song let us raise till all things now living unite in thanksgiving: To God in the highest, hosanna and praise! ~ELW 881, Let All Things Now Living On October 4 th we observe the feast day for Saint Francis of Assisi, renewer of the church, who died in He formed the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans), who took on poverty and the task of preaching "using words if necessary." Francis had a spirit of gratitude for all of God's creation. Francis preached the teaching of the Catholic Church, that the world was created good and beautiful by God but suffers a need for redemption because of the primordial sin of man. He preached to man and beast the universal ability and duty of all creatures to praise God (a common theme in the Psalms) and the duty of men to protect and enjoy nature as both the stewards of God's creation and as creatures ourselves. Legends of Francis are recounted in the Fioretti, a collection of legends and folklore that sprang up after his death. One such legend follows: In the city of Gubbio, where Francis lived for some time, was a wolf "terrifying and ferocious, who devoured men as well as animals". Francis had compassion upon the townsfolk, and so he went up into the hills to find the wolf. Soon, fear of the animal had caused all his companions to flee, though the saint pressed on. When he found the wolf, he made the sign of the cross and commanded the wolf to come to him and hurt no one. Miraculously the wolf closed his jaws and lay down at the feet of St. Francis. "Brother Wolf, you do much harm in these parts and you have done great evil", said Francis. "All these people accuse you and curse you... But brother wolf, I would like to make peace between you and the people." Then Francis led the wolf into the town, and surrounded by startled citizens made a pact between them and the wolf. Because the wolf had done evil out of hunger, the townsfolk were to feed the wolf regularly. In return, the wolf would no longer prey upon them or their flocks. In this manner Gubbio was freed from the menace of the predator. Francis even made a pact on behalf of the town dogs, that they would not bother the wolf again. Finally, to show the townspeople that they would not be harmed, Francis blessed the wolf. We gather on October 2 nd and 4 th to live into this calling to bless all creatures and be in communion with all of God s creation, praising God together! God s Peace, Pastor Deanna

2 We have two opportunities for participating in a Blessing of Animals: St. Peter Picnic Shelter Sunday, Oct. 2 nd, at 5pm Bring your animals of any kind (leashed or in arms, please!), or come to help bless others! Shenandoah County Animal Shelter 268 Landfill Road Edinburg, VA Tuesday, Oct. 4 th, at 10:30 a.m. If you would like to join us, please arrive at St. Peter's at 10:00 a.m. or meet at the Animal Shelter at 10:30 a.m. We could use some hands to help hold the kitties during the blessing. Parables and Pints! Join Pastor Deanna, Pastor Nate Robinson, and Pastor David Drebes as we study parables from the Gospels with our friends from Emmanuel and Prince of Peace. We will meet the first Wednesday of each month (this month Wednesday, October 5 th ) at 6:30pm at the Woodstock Brewhouse. This month we will be studying Building a Tower and The King Going to War in Luke 14:28-33, The Ten Maidens in Matthew 25:1-13. Bring your Bible and a friend! Pastor Deanna will be attending the annual Virginia Synod Gathering of the Ministerium in Virginia Beach, October 17 th -19 th. This year s theme is Reformed and Reforming: Past Faithfulness Future Vision. We will hear presentations from six bishops from both the ELCA and our ecumenical partners. North Mountain Parish Vote On Sunday, October 23 rd, each congregation will hold a special meeting to vote on the future of the North Mountain Parish. The votes will be held immediately following the worship services at St. Stephen, St. Matthew, and St. Peter. Please talk with a council member and read the distributed letter for more information regarding this vote to continue the North Mountain Parish. 5 th Sunday We will join together as a parish for worship on Sunday, October 30 th, 11am, at St. Peter. This Reformation Day worship will be followed by a covered dish meal. We will also be collecting canned goods for the local food pantry this day. Bring the family and a friend! CHURCH HOMECOMING St. Peter will celebrate homecoming on Sunday, October 9th St. Matthew will celebrate homecoming on Sunday, October 2nd

3 NURSES CORNER Welcome to October!!!! Many things come to mind: changing colors, falling leaves, walks on crisp mornings, sweater weather, and Breast Cancer Awareness. It is true that breast cancer is: the most common cancer in women; the most common cause of death from cancer in Hispanic women; the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, and Asian/Pacific Islander women, and the third most common cause of death from cancer among American Indian/Alaska Native women. In 2013 (the most recent year numbers are available) 230,815 women and 2,109 men in the United States were diagnosed with breast cancer (CDC Breast Cancer Statistics ). As you can see the incidence in men is much lower; however, diagnose and treatment are basically the same as are the signs and symptoms. Some people find out they have breast cancer after a routine mammogram. Warning signs include a lump in the breast or underarm; it is a primary sign and one that men frequently deny or ignore. Other signs include: swelling or thickening of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness or flaky skin on the nipple or the breast, nipple discharge other than breastmilk, could even be bloody discharge. Pain in the breast or change in size or shape of the breast are signs. You need to know your body. As bodies differ and what is normal for one may not be for another. We are different shapes and sizes, so know your body well. Diagnosis starts with self-exam, diagnostic mammogram, biopsy, breast ultrasound, and/or MRI. Risk factors that are common to both men and women include: Aging (women over 50, men over 68), family history, inherited genetic mutations, alcohol, obesity (for women especially after menopause), and hormone therapy. Other risk factors for men include: radiation exposure to the chest, liver disease, testicular conditions, certain occupations for men working in hot environments such as steel mills, and also those heavily exposed to gasoline fumes, and Klinefelter syndrome which is a congenital (occurring at birth) chromosome disorder which affects 1 in 1,000 and 1% of those with this syndrome are at risk for developing breast cancer. Risk factors exclusive to women include: early menstrual period, late menopause, late or no pregnancy, having dense breasts, lack of being physically activity, use of oral contraception, and women who took DES (a drug used between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage). Breast cancer treatment for both men and women are the same. The treatment options include: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and hormone therapy. The one major difference is that men respond much better to hormone therapy. Mark your calendars for November 13th education program on Diabetes. Time and place to be announced. Happy Halloween!!!!

4 St Stephen Men s Breakfast WHEN: Sat. Oct 29 th from 7 to 10 a.m. WHERE: St Stephen s Fellowship Hall FOOD: Sausage, Scrapple Sausage & Chipped Beef Gravy Fried Potatoes & Eggs Pancakes & Biscuits COST: Free will offering TIFFANY TAYLOR 8TH ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP DINNER WHEN: SATURDAY OCTOBER 15th from 4 to 7 PM WHERE: TOMS BROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT FOOD: Spaghetti with/without meat sauce Fettuccini with Alfredo Sauce Toss Salad Tropical Fruit Rolls Cakes and pies Tea/Coffee/Water COST: Adults: $10 Children (ages 6-10) $6.00 Children (ages 5 and under) free Proceeds will be used for a Cosmetology Scholarship at Triplett Tech In Memory of Tiffany Taylor

5 NORTH MOUNTAIN PARISH OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Wishing all a Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary ST STEPHEN ST PETER 1 Rosie Roe 9 Sabrina Orndorff Dover 8 Lonnie Moran 11 Ryan Baker 10 Susie Drummond 15 Lester Orndorff 11 Jessica Malone 16 Bob Gibson 13 Sue G Wymer 20 Evan Baker 15 Barbara Stoneburner 24 Nancy Proctor 21 James Baseler 29 Joan Gibson 23 Hunter Silveus 29 Keo Brown 24 Kirsten Ryman 25 Carole Ryman 29 Imogene Ryman ST MATTHEW 1 Jeff Strosnider 2 Donna Turrill 5 Evelyn Richard 14 David Barden 14 Mary Smoot 18 Barbara Conner 23 Alex Swanger ST PETER ST MATTHEW 3 Andrew & Teresa Orndorff Irvin, Jr. & Judy Kibler Charles & Joy Dyke Barry & Sherry Ritenour ST STEPHEN 15 Paul & Nikki Taylor

6 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SS= St. Stephen SP=St. Peter SM=St. Matthew 2 SM-COMMUNION SM HOMECOMING SP -5PM BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS 9 SP -HOMECOMING SP - 2-4PM CATECHISM 16 SP-COUNCIL MEETING SERVICE 23 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS FOLLOWING SERVICES AT ALL CHURCHES SS 4 PM HARVEST DINNER 30 SP -11AM JOINT PARISH WORSHIP 3 4 SS 10AM QUILTING 10:30AM BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS@ANIMAL SHELTER SM- COUNCIL MEET- ING SS 11:30 AM KATIE S LADIES LUNCH- 5 6:30PM PARABLES AND PINTS@WOODSTOCK BREWHOUSE 12 SS 10AM BIBLE STUDY SS 7PM COUNCIL MEETING TIFFANY TAYLOR ANNUAL SCHOLAR- SHIP DINNER 4-7 TOMS BROOK FIRE DEPT. 19 SS 10AM BIBLE STUDY SS 10 AM BIBLE STUDY SS 7-10AM MEN S BREAKFAST St. Stephen: 9am Worship St. Peter: 9:45am Sunday School 11am Worship 1 St. Matthew: 10am Sunday School 11am Worship (Children s Sunday School during church) NOVEMBER SUNDAY SCHEDULES

7 NOVEMBER 2016 Newsletter Deadline November Newsletter deadline is October 21st. Please send all articles and information to Connie Baker at North Mountain Lutheran Parish