GraceVine STEWARDSHIP GOD S REBATE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS GROWING SPIRITUALLY REACHING OUT. November 2011

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1 November 2011 STEWARDSHIP GOD S REBATE GraceVine Consider your offering, your gifts to GOD, as a rebate, giving back part of what HE has given us. Rebates are everywhere in today s world. We get rebates when we purchase cars, computers, TVs, food, gas, tickets; what doesn t come with a rebate attached? Why not give GOD a rebate? GOD has truly blessed us. HE gave us His only Son. HE gave us life. HE gives us food, clothing, and shelter by providing us with the ability to earn our living. HE blesses our lives with children and friends. HE has brought each of us here to Grace Lutheran Church so that we may worship HIM and give thanks. The month of November is Stewardship Month. Financially, this year has been a challenging year, for our members and for Grace Lutheran Church. The Lord has blessed us with your faithfulness during these tough times. We have kept the lights on in HIS house. We had to make some difficult budget adjustments at the end of the first quarter of this year which we would like to restore in the next two months. We are busily preparing our 2012 Budget. Can we continue to count on your financial support? Are you able to increase your support at this time? Stewardship is not just giving money, it is also giving our talents and our abilities. Grace Lutheran Church is truly blessed with an abundance of talented and willing people. With the LORD s help we will continue BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Published by Grace Lutheran Church E.L.C.A. 501 Valley Park Drive Libertyville, Illinois 847/ Fax 847/ gracelutheranil@att.net Website: gracelutheran libertyville.org GROWING SPIRITUALLY REACHING OUT 1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I and who are my people that we should be permitted to give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we only give you what is yours already. In HIS name, Stewardship Ministry Team

Staff Gordon Cavers..................... Pastor Cheryl Horgan........ Administrative Assistant Phyllis Cavers..................... Director of Contemporary Worship Ministries Jeff McClurg.

........... Director, Terrific Twos gwg-terrific2@att.net Sarah McAuliffe... Director, Tremendous Threes and Fabulous Fours gwg-trem3fab4@att.net 847/254-5820 Eva Balogh.

Judy Bridges (231-6515) Treasurer, Financial Management Renee Denault (680-8238) Outreach Sue Dolan (989-6007) Social Ministry Ted Bleck, (367-4910) Congregational Life Staff Email Church Office &

You can place your submissions for the Grace- Vine in LuAnn Schon s mail box in the church office, fax it to church at 367-7062, or email items to the church office at gracelutheranil@att.net.

2 Staff Gordon Cavers Pastor Cheryl Horgan Administrative Assistant Phyllis Cavers Director of Contemporary Worship Ministries Jeff McClurg Director of Family Life and Children s Ministries LuAnn Schon......Director of Communications Wendy Haase Choir Director, Organist Choir Accompanist Beth Zupkus Director, Terrific Twos gwg-terrific2@att.net Sarah McAuliffe... Director, Tremendous Threes and Fabulous Fours gwg-trem3fab4@att.net 847/ Eva Balogh Maintenance Engineer Council Brynn Schander ( ) President, Worship Life Gary Ringham ( ) Vice President, Building & Property Mike Quist, ( ) Secretary, Growth in Faith Judy Bridges ( ) Treasurer, Financial Management Renee Denault ( ) Outreach Sue Dolan ( ) Social Ministry Ted Bleck, ( ) Congregational Life Staff Church Office & Cheryl Horgan: gracelutheranil@att.net Pastor Gordon: pastorgordoncavers@att.net Phyllis Cavers: phylliscavers@att.net Jeff McClurg: jeffamcclurg@att.net LuAnn Schon: luann.schon@att.net Website/Newsletter Jo Hansen Website LuAnn Schon Newsletter Jeri Traub, LuAnn Schon and Jeff McClurg Photography Kay & Bill Kietzer Mailing Do you have articles to share with the congregation? Please drop the GraceVine staff a line! Articles for the next issue are due on/before the 15th of each month. You can place your submissions for the Grace- Vine in LuAnn Schon s mail box in the church office, fax it to church at , or items to the church office at gracelutheranil@att.net. Photographs are most welcome. Questions? For the newsletter, call LuAnn Schon at 847/ , and for the web site, call Jo Hansen at 847/ Please remember, not everything submitted may make it into the newsletter. Thanks for helping make the GraceVine and Web Site informative and interesting! 2 NEW ADDRESS! Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service November 23rd, 7:30 p.m. AND OUR ANNUAL PIE SOCIAL, A TRADITIONAL FAVORITE! One of our favorite traditions at Grace is the annual Thanksgiving Eve Pie Social. Join us once again this year, for a time of great pie, coffee and fellowship immediately following the Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23rd. This is a great time of sharing and reflecting on all that we have to be thankful for. Chances are good we will have your favorite pie flavors available, but if you want to make sure and you are willing to bake or purchase a pie to share with the group, please sign up on the sheet on the Gracevine bulletin board outside of the church office. The Church Office will be closed on November 24th and 25th. Sunday, November 26th there will be one service at 10:00 a.m. We Were Blessed... on Sunday, October 23rd, our High School Youth led Worship at both services. What a wonderful time together as they shared in their special ways the importance of living lives of balance through our relationship with God. Thank you to all the youth who participated and to Karen Kobeck, Jena and Jim Mertz, Phyllis Cavers and Jeff McClurg for their guidance, encouragement and support. Keep these young people in prayer and with your support as they share in life and ministry here at Grace.

JAM to hold Bake Sale on November 20th We are holding a free-will donation bake sale to raise money for underprivileged people around the world so they can improve their lives.

OWLS Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 17th, 11:30 a.m Carole Karlenzig will be preparing the turkey and we ask that you provide a side dish or dessert for the day.

Take time to step back from the hustle and hurrying... from the shopping and planning... from presents and pageants.

Advent/Christmas Decorating to take place Saturday, December 5th at 8:30 a.m. Willing hands are needed to help decorate the church and sanctuary for the Advent / Christmas season.

com with any questions or to volunteer. Ladies Spa Day was a relaxing success!

3 JAM to hold Bake Sale on November 20th We are holding a free-will donation bake sale to raise money for underprivileged people around the world so they can improve their lives. More information will be available the beginning of November. Please stop at our Bake Sale in the Library after each worship service and pick up some goodies for a great cause. Thank you. OWLS Thanksgiving Luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 17th, 11:30 a.m Carole Karlenzig will be preparing the turkey and we ask that you provide a side dish or dessert for the day. OWLS, don t miss this festive event as we head into the holiday season. Be sure to set aside time to join the Women of Grace for An Evening of Light on Thursday, December 1st at 7:00 p.m. It is time to reclaim Christmas, which has become largely a secular and commercial celebration. Take time to step back from the hustle and hurrying... from the shopping and planning... from presents and pageants. Shift your focus to a genuinely Christian preparation for Christmas in your home and your heart, stirring up a renewed readiness to receive our Savior. Advent/Christmas Decorating to take place Saturday, December 5th at 8:30 a.m. Willing hands are needed to help decorate the church and sanctuary for the Advent / Christmas season. Do you have a knack for crafting or floral arranging? A few people are needed to provide some TLC for the Christmas decorations. Call Julie Rick at 847/ or ajrick@juno.com with any questions or to volunteer. Ladies Spa Day was a relaxing success! We had a great turnout and were able to partake in many forms of relaxation, from massages, hand paraffin dips, steam facials, aroma therapy and color therapy. We even had a delicious spread of treats and wonderful goodie bags. It was a great day. We would like to thank Audrey Johnson for opening her house to us for this special event. Change in Christmas Eve Services... Based on input from the Worship Life Ministry team, the Church Council approved a change in the Christmas Eve Services. There will be NO 8:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service. Services will be at: 4:30 p.m. Family Candlelight Worship Service 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Worship Service with Holy Communion. Christmas Day there will be ONE service at 10:00 a.m. MARK YOUR CALENDAR! THE 8TH ANNUAL COOKIE WALK IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 P.M.! The Cookie Walk Team is getting in gear! We have our recipes ready to hand out to our bakers, excited to share their Christmas baked goods. If you love to bake, especially at Christmas time, we can use your help! Starting Sunday, November 6th, we will have sign-up table for Cookie Walk Bakers in Café Grace, following both services for the next few weeks. Stop by and pick up a recipe booklet and sign-up to bake your favorite Christmas Cookie. We will also, accept cash donations towards ingredients, or the gingerbread house to be raffled off at the sale. If you would like to bake cookies or have any questions, please contact Marilyn Struss at 847/ , myaty@aol.com or Mary Peron at 847/ , Mary.Peron@matholdingsinc.com. We also have openings for helpers to assist with set-up, take down and sales. Grace Happenings. 3 4

We Care and Share... 'Tis the season, time to pack and pray!

The Christmas Shoebox is a simple gift, but OH so powerful! A quote from Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!

Brochures with gift suggestions and more information will be available by the display in Café Grace. If you have questions call Barb Schroeder, 847/367-7749.

Shoeboxes are due back at church by Sunday, November 20th when they will be blessed during 10:00 a.m. worship service. Starting on November 27th, we will be collecting for our Annual Giving Tree.

Just last year we collected $1000 in gift cards. We would like to make this our most successful Giving Tree yet!

4 We Care and Share... 'Tis the season, time to pack and pray! Hoping you'll join the social ministry team and thousands around the world in packing a Christmas Shoe box for a child that would otherwise receive nothing this Christmas. The Christmas Shoebox is a simple gift, but OH so powerful! A quote from Helen Keller: "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much!" To get started to fill a shoebox, first, always include a wash clothe, soap, toothbrush & toothpaste...then have fun filling the rest of the box. Brochures with gift suggestions and more information will be available by the display in Café Grace. If you have questions call Barb Schroeder, 847/ It was exciting to deliver all these boxes last year, and we look forward to doing it again this year. Shoeboxes are due back at church by Sunday, November 20th when they will be blessed during 10:00 a.m. worship service. Starting on November 27th, we will be collecting for our Annual Giving Tree. In the past we have collected gift cards that have benefited COOL Transitional Housing in Waukegan and other families in need. In 2008 when we started collecting gift cards, we collected $650. Just last year we collected $1000 in gift cards. We would like to make this our most successful Giving Tree yet! We are asking that gift cards be donated in the amounts of $15, $25 or $30 to Jewel, Walmart or Target. Gift cards need to be collected no later than Sunday, December 18th. Please help local families in need this Christmas! PLEASE JOIN IN THE FUN AT THE 1ST ANNUAL COOL 5K RUN/WALK! Saturday, November 26, 2011 Pre-race Registration at 8:00 a.m., Race begins 9:00 a.m. This will be a chip-timed race and walk through the Old School Forest Preserve, starting at Shelter C, St. Mary's Road, about 1/2 mile south of Route 176, Libertyville. Cost is $25 per participant, plus on-line registration fee. Register at - look for COOL 5K Work off the turkey & stuffing and help feed the hungry! Sign up friends and family! Please plan on joining us for this very COOL event. We ask that every participant bring several items (or a bag full of ) non-perishable food items to help stock the COOL Food Pantry. Volunteers are needed. All proceeds go to COOL Ministries. Additional funding supplied through Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Sponsored by St. James Lutheran Church, Lake Forest, IL. Contact Tom Meyer tom@tfmeyer.com (847) for more information. 4 The C.O.O.L. FOOD Panty Item for November : CANNED MEAT (Chicken or Spam)

), and tasted pumpkin bread. Now we welcome in November, the month to give special thanks. We will thank God each day for something different and learn our "Thankful Prayer.

5 A Word from the Terrific Twos... Our Twos did a lot of pumpkin activities in October. We finger painted a paper pumpkin, painted a real pumpkin, learned how a pumpkin grows, looked at and touched the inside of a pumpkin (some kids thought it was too yucky to touch!), and tasted pumpkin bread. Now we welcome in November, the month to give special thanks. We will thank God each day for something different and learn our "Thankful Prayer." We continue to say this prayer for the rest of the year at circle time. Also, our November activities include Ocean Life, Noah and his Ark, and turkeys. Terrific Twos families are responsible for providing our daily snack. The children soon learn that along with bringing the snack, comes special privileges - being the line leader, ringing the clean-up bell and picking the song from our song box at circle time. They are so cute, because this becomes a very big deal! Among my many blessings, is the time I get to spend with these adorable children. Thank you God! Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Beth Zupkus, Director, Terrific Twos A Word from the Tremendous Threes... October was filled with Community Helper visits and activities! We were thrilled to have Grace member- Tim Rick visit our classroom as Fireman Friendly. He does a great job teaching the children about firefighters & fire safety. He brought his equipment & the children were even able to spray a fire with his pumper tank. Mailman Rob brought his mail truck & we all climbed aboard. Dr. Laura Brown brought her dog Simon and showed us how a dog gets a check- up at the vet office. Also, officers from the Libertyville Police Department came with their squad cars & talked about police officers. It was fun to hear the siren, climb in the car, and see their uniforms & equipment. The kids got a sticker police badge & we made our own police hats to wear home. There are so many helpers & jobs to learn about in our community. We talked about construction workers too & practiced hammering golf tee nails into pumpkins. The finale of the unit was our walking field trip to Gino s East pizza for a kitchen tour & to make our own pizzas- yummy. We also talked about pumpkins & Halloween. Orange (Anaranjado) was our color of the month, Gail Gibbons was our author, and Sharing was our virtue at Chapel for all classes. We made tasty pumpkin shaped sugar cookies for Cooking Day. Also, Miss Ginger visited & did a Music-in-the-Box session for all classes. Growing in our Faith... A Word from the Fabulous Fours... The Fours finished their Farm Unit at the beginning of the month with their first field trip to Lambs Farm! It was exciting to see the animals we learned about up close and pet & feed some of them too. The train ride was a hit and we all picked a pumpkin from the patch to bring home. Noah s Ark was the next mini unit. We painted a huge ark & rainbow for our classroom & decorated animals to go in it. We sang many songs and learned about God s love & promises we blasted off into our Space Unit in the middle of the month. It is out of this world to explore all of the planets. We made moons with craters, rockets for our bulletin board, stargazers, decorated telescopes & more. We did some science experiments & made space slime. We walked on the moon with our homemade space helmets & jet packs. We worked on our Space Journals & letters of the week too. It was exciting to have our first time doing Centerswith a Halloween theme. There is so much to learn and do each day. Animal Adventures... We are exploring Forest Animals this semester! Each week we learn about a different forest animal. So far we know all about: skunks, raccoons, red fox, porcupines, squirrels, and bats! We explore outside at the beginning of class & play games like skunk spray tag, what time is it Mr. Fox, and pin the tail on the raccoon. We did nature scavenger hunts and bark rubbings too. We are working hard on our Forest Animal books we will bring home at the end of the semester. Also, lots of cool crafts too- a clay porcupine with toothpick quills, a raccoon mask, skunk puppet, and a bat mitten game. The snack matches the animal too. We dug in the dirt (chocolate pudding) for (gummy) worms when we were skunks. You never know which animal is next or what exciting adventure waits. Please consider getting involved in the Preschool ministries! We would welcome your time & talents in the class room! Contact me if you are interested in becoming involved with these precious children- 847/ Thank you! 5

6 From your Treasurer YEAR TO DATE As Of September 30, 2011 ACTUAL BUDGET DIFFERENCE LAST YEAR Cash Income $294,272 $318,835 -$24,563 $286,859 Expenses $307,973 $318,794 -$10,821 $300,698 Net Income -$ 13,701 -$ 13,839 Income has exceeded last year-to-date by $7,413; Expenses are $7,275 over last year-to-date and continue to be closely monitored. We are optimistically looking forward to this last quarter of 2011 to bring us to break even or better. God Bless you all, YOUR FINANCE TEAM Gentle Reminder about Financial Statements In an effort to save resources, Quarterly Giving Statements will now only be produced upon request for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters. Let the office know if you want them. The Annual Giving Statement produced for year-end will be printed and distributed as usual. Worship Volunteers for November 2011 Worship Volunteers: If you are unable to serve on your specified date, please contact the church office at 847/ with your replacement. Reminder: Lectors and Communion Assistants: Please be sure to check in with the Pastor 15 minutes before worship time for any special instructions. Ushers Greeters Nursery Lectors Communion Assistants Welcome Team 11/6 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Communion Ken Pinter, Art Struss, Mike Matthies and Ed Fischer Mike and Sue Dolan Gail Mack Ed Fischer Gail Mack 11/6 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship with Communion Victor Scholz, Craig Schander, Mike and Trish Mascek Mike and Trish Macsek Karen Semler Bernice Eskridge Jeri Traub Kelly Held LuAnn Schon 11/13 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship Ken Pinter, Art Struss, Mike Matthies and Ed Fischer Laverne Putman Carole Karlenzig Karen Kobeck 11/13 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Victor Scholz, Craig Schander, Mike and Trish Mascek Ken and Carol Kulas Jeanne Conte Judy Bridges LuAnn Schon 11/20 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship With Communion Ken Pinter, Art Struss, Mike Matthies and Ed Fischer Helen O Gallagher Mary Ann Genovese Mike Matthies Diane Phillips Steve Hacker 11/20 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship with Communion Victor Scholz, Craig Schander, Mike and Trish Mascek Kathy Brunner Debbie Lofchie Kathryn McClurg Carole Rasmussen Carole Rasmussen Craig Conte LuAnn Schon 11/23 7:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship Kay and Bill Kietzer 11/27 10:00 a.m. Traditional Worship Ken Pinter, Art Struss, Mike Matthies and Ed Fischer Scott and Leigh Beisner Nancy Bleck Verna Odom Jeanne Conte 6 5

7 November 2011 at Grace Lutheran Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 11:00 am. Grace Staff Mtg. 2 5:00 pm PADS 3 7:00 pm CHATT 4 5 2:00 pm - 9:20 pm Church Directory Pictures in Café Grace 6:30 pm Winchester Bingo 2:00 pm - 9:20 pm Church Directory Pictures in Café Grace 2:00 pm - 9:20 pm Church Directory Pictures in Café Grace Study (Narthex) NOVEMBER 6 7:00 pm Preschool Board Mtg. (Fell. Hall) 6 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS NAME TAG SUNDAY 8:30 am Traditional Worship With Communion 10:00 am Contemporary Worship Gathering with Communion Children s Ministries 10:00 am ROCK at Bagels by the Book 7:00 pm Confirmation 7 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 71 (Fellowship Hall, Café Grace, ROCK Room, Chapel) 1:30 Caring & Sharing Meeting (Café Grace) 8 11:00 am. Grace Staff Mtg. 1:30 pm Afternoon Bible Discussion Study (Café Grace) 9 11:30 am Libertyville Women s Club 7:00 pm Bookmarks 7:00 pm Social Ministry 7:00 pm Finance Meeting Fellowship Hall 10 7:15 pm Outreach 11 NO TODAY 12 8:30 am Men s Lamb s Farm 13 8:30 am Traditional Worship 10:00 am Contemporary Worship Gathering Children s Ministries 7:00 pm Confirmation 14 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 71 (Fellowship Hall, ROCK Room, Chapel) 7:00 pm Prayer Shawl 15 GRACEVINE Newsletter Deadline 11:00 am. Grace Staff Mtg. 12:30 pm Service Workshop 7:00 pm Council Study (Café Grace) :30 am OWLS 5:30 pm Daisy Scouts Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm CHATT 7:30 pm GABBRS :30 am Traditional Worship With Communion 10:00 am Contemporary Worship Gathering with Communion Children s Ministries JAM Bake Sale after both services Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes Due NO CONFIRMATION 21 1:00 pm Caring & Sharing 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 71 (Fellowship Hall, Café Grace, ROCK Room, Chapel) 7:00 pm Church Council 22 11:00 am. Grace Staff Mtg. 1:30 pm Afternoon Bible Discussion Study (Café Grace) 23 7:30 pm Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service followed by Pie Social NO TODAY 24 THANKSGIVING OFFICE CLOSED NO TODAY 25 OFFICE CLOSED NO TODAY ONE SERVICE ONLY 10:00 am Traditional Worship Children s Ministries Giving Tree in Café Grace 28 6:30 pm Boy Scout Troop 71 (Fellowship Hall, Café Grace, ROCK Room, Chapel) 29 11:00 am Grace Staff Meeting Study (Café Grace) 30 7:00 pm Confirmation 6 Grace Lutheran Church 501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville IL, 847/ gracelutheranil@att.net Web-site: 7

501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville, IL 60048 847/367-7050 gracelutheranil@att.net www.gracelutheranlibertyville.org Worship Schedule for Novemb

m. Contemporary Worship Gathering with Nursery and Children s Ministries 11/20 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Holy Communion 11/20 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Gathering with Holy Communion, Nursery and Children s Ministries 11/23 7:30 p.

8 501 Valley Park Drive, Libertyville, IL / Worship Schedule for November /6 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Holy Communion 11/6 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Gathering with Holy Communion Nursery and Children s Ministries 11/13 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 11/13 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Gathering with Nursery and Children s Ministries 11/20 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship with Holy Communion 11/20 10:00 a.m. Contemporary Worship Gathering with Holy Communion, Nursery and Children s Ministries 11/23 7:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve Worship 11/27 10:00 a.m. Traditional Worship with Nursery and Children s Ministries Join us for worship each Sunday and start your week out right!

GraceVine. December 2011

GraceVine. December 2011 December 2011 GraceVine Everybody loves a baby. They are cute and cuddly. They do amazing and surprising things. We like to hold them and cuddle them and love them. There are few encounters more engaging