CANDY OCTOBER 28TH 12:15 1:30 PM POPCORN SODA COSTUMES

Transcription

1 The St. Paul OCTOBER 28TH 12:15 1:30 PM Epistle CANDY POPCORN SODA COSTUMES

2 COME & JOIN THE OUT AND ABOUT GROUP - FELLOWSHIP, LAUGHS AND FUN! November 1 st. Tuesday, December 4 th, we will meet at El Jacalito, 1225 W. 4 th Street, 11 am. Please RSVP to Debby by November 30 th. Carpooling is always available!! GIVING August 1-31, 2018 Tuesday, October 9 12 Noon we will meet at the Franklin Grove Café in Franklin Grove followed by a walk through the Franklin Creek State Park (1872 Twist Road, Franklin Grove) on the wheelchair accessible walking path. The scenery will be beautiful! Please RSVP by October 1 st to Tuesday, November 6 th, we will meet at Galena Steak House, 1101 N. Galena Avenue, 11 am for lunch. Senior specials are now being served at Galena for $9.99. Please RSVP to Debby by Income: $15, Expenses: $15, $ Out & About Group at Monroe, WI Cheese Days

3 RACHEL CIRCLE will meet Tuesday, October 9th in the Fellowship Hall. Janet Searls with be the hostess and Marge Asplund with lead the lesson. The Rachel Circle is open to all ladies in the congregation every month. support hundreds of new congregations, enable congregations to grow their ministries, and work with members of numerous ethnic background to establish networks and resources for ministry. Your giving will also help send 230 missionaries to 48 countries and support more than 84 young adults in Global Mission in eleven countries. Wow, that really is a lot to be proud of! That takes care of 43% of the dollars in Mission Support. Look next month for the rest of the story. will be held Sunday, October 21st during the 10:45 am service. Stewardship Confirmands: Samantha Tourtillott Caden Wittenauer Elenor Zimmerman St. Paul members can feel proud that in our budget, we designate $10,000 to the ELCA for Mission Support. One of the top concerns often expressed for our own congregation is to grow our membership. Growth is the most important concern for Mission Support as well. Twenty-five percent of the dollars given are used to grow the ELCA in the United States and eighteen percent to grow the Lutheran Church around the world. As a giving member of this congregation, you can say that YOU help Welcome back, students! September began another wonderful school year here at St. Paul and with the new year came a few changes. First, we have added another classroom! Joyce Craney has graciously agreed to teach in the Noah s Apprentices classroom, Judy Garnhart will teach in the Faith Builder s classroom, and Rebecca O Donnell will teach in the Rainbow classroom. We are pleased to also announce that we have a returning member of St. Paul that is assisting in the Rainbow room and is interested in doing some teaching as well. Our walls have seen some changes as well; please feel free to stop upstairs to take a look or even pick up a paintbrush! Seeing how excited the kids are to see the changes is certainly motivation to get this project back on track and hopefully finished quickly! Looking forward, we will be having a Halloween celebration in our classrooms, so keep your eyes peeled for news on that. And as early as it may seem to be for this, we will be planning our Christmas pageant soon! We will keep everyone updated as we know more (including how you can help). Speaking of help, we are always happy to accept snack donations for the Sunday school. Our hungry kids appreciate any low sugar snack items and juices or water being sent our way! We also never turn away anyone who would like to assist in the classrooms or would like to be a fill in teacher in case of an absence. Thank you all for your support and here s to another GREAT year! --Rebecca O Donnell

4 It's Fall! Please Pray and remember all who have served our country in every branch of the military OCTOBER These prayer concerns are offered by those attending weekend worship services at St. Paul. On Mondays, the prayer team meets at 10:00 a.m. to pray again for these people or issues. Also included are prayers for our staff, the ill and homebound, those in care facilities, committees and ongoing concerns. Please feel free to join us at anytime. God be with you! Roger, Diane, Randy, Bill, Andy, Marian, Peg, Sandy, Jim, Linda, Ray, Annette & Leo, Valdes Family, Sonja, George & Josie, Grant, Pat, Larry, Lloyd, Cheryl, Patti & Darla, Jan, Louise, Veronica, Jake & Bailey, Henry & Penelope, Marilyn, Marshall, Bernice, Duane, Colleen, Wendy, Kyle and his family, Lila, MaryJane, Margaret, Rosie & Lupe, John, Matthew, Melissa, Mindy, Aniesha, David, Ofelia & Jose, Bell Family, Mona & Family, Hurricane Victims, John McCain s Family and Senate Followers, Family of Carol (McClanahan) Miller, Sheri, Shirley, Dalton, Edgar, Pastors & Deacons in our Northern Illinois Synod, Marge, Jason, Kaity, Justin, Debbie, Bob, Steve, Everette, Ray, Dale, Judy, Josh Okay, before you read this article, promise you're going to read it all the way to the end. Go ahead, make the promise. I'll wait. No, seriously, say it out loud, "I promise to read the whole article." Okay, I'll tell you why, but then you have to promise. I'm going to say a dirty church word, but you should still read the whole article, all the way to the end. So, go ahead and make that promise now. Okay, you ready? Stewardship. There, I said it. Now we can move on. It's fall, and among the wide array of things almost everyone celebrates in the fall (football, Halloween, harvest, Thanksgiving, shopping for presents), for those of us in the church, it's also our pledging season, to help us plan for the coming year. And I would like to ask you to do one thing, and strongly consider another. First, please fill out a pledge card. This information helps us to make plans. If you're not sure about your pledge, that's okay. A guess is better than not having the information. If you're uncomfortable sharing that information, then would you please fill one out anonymously. Again, the most important thing is that we have the figures to help us plan. Second, please strongly consider and pray about how you might find a way to increase your giving, even just a little. If every person who gives would add $1 for every hundred they give now, we'd raise another $2000. If every person who is currently giving less than $100 a year could find just $5 more for next year, we'd raise almost another $2000. And I know not everyone will be able to do that, so if you are able, consider adding just a little more to help share the responsibility of those who can't. We've been blessed with an amazing church that is growing in times when other churches aren't, and we have a wonderful community here in Dixon and here in this church. Thank you for helping it to be what it is, and thank you for the support you give to make it happen. Pastor Joseph

5 What Can I Get for That? More Than a Thank You! In September, I had the blessing of being able to go to the Synod's Professional Leaders' Conference, where people from almost all of the churches in the Synod got to hear from the Bishop and ask questions (something you can also do if you participate in any of the "Coffee with the Bishop" events), as well as hearing new music that might find its way into our worship and to learn from Dr. Benjamin Steward from LSTC. At the very least, Dr. Steward's lessons will make it into the Pastor's Bible Study (Mondays at noon), but he and I also spoke about the possibility of him coming to St. Paul and offering an adult education class. At the September council meeting, we had a visit from a local ELCA Pastor who came as a representative of the Synod to thank us for the support we provide to the Synod - with our prayers, our financial giving, and those members who participate in Synod events. This combined with the Bishop's report that giving to the Synod is down again this year and a member of our congregation asking me why we support the Synod, helped me to realize this is something we should talk about more. So I want to share a few insights with you. First, our Synod staff is amazing. Pr. Gary Erickson is the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) which means he helps us to spread God's word locally and throughout the world. Part of the DEM program helps open new churches, but it's also a resource for congregations that are still viable but struggling, through the congregational revitalization program. Pr. Kurt Nordby runs Stewardship and Development for the Synod, and he has written and provided both a stewardship program we used once before, "First We Give of Ourselves," but also one we're considering for the future. These programs would cost hundreds to thousands of dollars, but they are free to us. He also organizes the annual Treasurers Workshop, among myriad other things, too many to mention. Pr. Marilyn Hanson is our Assistant to the Bishop and she helps coordinate events and is our main contact if we need Synod support. She is also in charge of Call Process Coordination, which alone is worth every penny we give to the Synod. I'll explain more about that later. Their are at least eight others working directly for the Synod, including Karin Graddy, who helps manage St. Paul church's website, all of whom I wish I had the space to provide more information on, who are just as valuable to us as those three, not to mention dozens of volunteers who support Synod committees, both clergy and non-clergy church members, including myself as a member of the Synod's Constitutional Review Committee, and up until recently, Peg Miller who helped lead the Synod's youth program. But I want to go back to the Call Process - the system the Synod uses when it's time for a church to call a new pastor. Each year, graduates from ELCA seminaries enter a process called "Assignment," which we often informally call a "draft," because of the similarities it bears to sports drafts. Our Synod staff, prior to these events, looks at the churches that are seeking to call pastors, the churches whose pastors might be retiring this year, and pastors who are considering leaving their call, and assesses what the needs of those churches will be. Not all pastors, as I'm sure you're aware, are the same nor do they have the same strengths. This last year, where most of the 65 Synods in the ELCA received 1 or 2 new clergy, our Synod somehow managed 5. What's more, this process of calling clergy to our Synod helps bring people whose gifts are best for the churches in this area. Without this process I would have likely returned to Wisconsin or stayed in North Carolina, my third and forth choices were Pennsylvania (lots of Lutherans there) and the Dakotas (they pay off seminary student loans). I doubt I would have even looked at Illinois if I had been making the decision. Yet I believe the Synod made a good match. In fact, you might be surprised to learn I was considering a different congregation in our Synod and at the last minute, the Synod re-evaluated and sent me to Dixon instead. And I suspect we are happier here than we would have been there. But even more than that, this candidacy and call process helps to vet and evaluate all the pastors in the Synod by keeping a Roster, and coordinating that with the ELCA and other Synods. Recently, I learned about a congregation that decided to leave the ELCA. Their pastor chose to stay in the ELCA, which means the call came to an end and the congregation had to find a new pastor to call without the help of the Synod. And they did! They found a former ELCA Pastor who was looking for a congregation to serve. A member of the church's call committee shared her excitement about being on the verge of calling him as their new pastor. Luckily, the person she was talking to knew the pastor's history. He had been removed from the roster (equivalent to what the Catholic church calls "defrocking") for sexual impropriety. As I recall, there was no record for a background check to bring up because the family (families?) chose not to press charges. That church was lucky. The Synod would have helped avoid that to begin with. As I said, that alone is probably worth every penny we send to the Synod.

6 I'm pretty sure Anna's going to tell me my article is already too long, and we've only seen the tip of the iceberg. The Synod also organizes our part of the Youth Gathering, Congregational Resourcing Event, Professional Leaders' Conference, continuing education opportunities for clergy and non-clergy, communications between churches, Synod Assembly, support for our seminaries and for seminary students to help provide clergy in the future, support and coordination for projects like the Tanzania Nursing Project (of which they've raised $100,000 already, and we are a significant part of that), not to mention working to ensure clergy have and pursue continuing education, including boundaries workshops at least every five years, so that your pastor stays well informed and is reminded of how to keep our church environment safe for all. And there's much more beyond that, including how our Synod sends 55% of everything they receive to Churchwide, which provides its own collection of benefits. But I'm out of space and still have two things to say. Thank You! Thank you for every dollar you give and every quarter you put in that jar. There is amazing work being done at every level of the church to which you belong, and you're a part of making that happen. But thank you even more, because this year we doubled our giving to the Synod over recent years, during a time when the Synod's total collection from 147 congregations is down $63,000 for this year alone, and when Churchwide is being forced to consider reducing benefits for staff (including Bishop Eaton) to make ends meet, you've stepped forward and made a difference. And finally, while we often want to know what we get for it when we spend money, and I hope we can all see that we get a lot, the real question should probably be, "What do we get... to be a part of?" Because your support for the Synod is helping people come to faith throughout the world, it's feeding hungry children, providing life saving medical care in Tanzania, supporting the programs of LSSI, including adoption programs; it supports disaster relief, education, music, and advocacy. And what we really get, is that we get to be a part of that. We - myself, clergy, the Synod - probably don't tell you enough about the amazing things happening, but they are. And I'm certain we don't tell you enough, "Thank you." Thank you, for all you do in this church, in our community, and to support the work of the church in our Synod and in the world. Thank you. In Hope, Faith, and Love, Pr. Joseph O'Donnell Notes from the Council Marian Myers Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the Special Meeting on September 9. The majority passed the motion to move $50,000 from the Thrivent Investment Fund to the Operating Reserve. This move is like a savings account to pay bills if the giving does not meet the expenses. At this point, there is still enough money in the General Fund to pay the bills, which means we do not need to use the Operating Reserve Fund right now. We expect the $50,000 to keep us going for at least 2 or 3 years. Maybe longer if the giving increases. Again, THANK YOU for giving our General Fund Treasurer and Council peace of mind. St Paul is housing Buddy Bags and various organization come each Wednesday during the school year to pack the food for the backpacks at the school buildings. We are scheduled to pack the lunches on Wednesday, October 3 at 5:00 PM. If you would like to help, give me a call at If you cannot help this time, still call me for future times. Home of Hope Cancer Wellness Center is having a Fifth Annual Giving Tuesday Celebration to be held on November 27. This year s theme is One Day of Giving = 365 Days of Hope. We will have a special giving weekend on November 24 & 25. I will remind you again in November. The Holiday season is approaching, which means we will also be asking for cash for the LSSI Holiday Hope Chest. Also starting after Thanksgiving, the ornaments will be on the tree to buy gifts to be donated to Good Fellows. Please plan in your budget to help with these projects. The giving for both trees has become a tradition at St Paul. These are meeting the goals of reaching out into the community to help others. The Council has made helping the PADS Home for Women & Children a priority. PADS has sent a letter asking for more help because $50,000 is needed. The goal is to be open by Christmas and the campaign is called Home for the Holidays. We are planning an event on Tuesday, November 13 at 11:30 to give financial support to PADS. This will be a lunch and a band that Aaron Johnson, former member, plays in with 2 others. You do not want to miss this one because they are good and the building will be filled with music. There will be reservations to know the amount of food needed and a free will offering. The new Bibles now have the name plates on them of the giving member and who it was given in Memory of or Honor of. The dedication will be All Saints Day, November 3 & 4. The new Bibles will be out on September 29 & 30 for the giving members to take home and write a personal note about the person you have given in honor or memory. NOTE: use only a ball point pen, no liquid pen or pencil. The Bibles must be returned to church by October 21. The old Bibles will be taken out of the pews on Monday, October 22, which means there will be no Bibles in the pews for October They will be placed in the Gathering Area for members to take a Bible that was dedicated to someone you know, or you can take a Bible.

7 8/20/18 Dear Members of St. Paul: YOU VE GOT MAIL! Thank you for the flowers. Your concern of Mike s health and our family is greatly appreciated. Yours in Christ, Phyllis Sutton 9/6/18 Dear St. Paul Lutheran Caregivers: Just a note to say thank you so much for being so faithful at sending cards, notes and prayers for Mom (Virginia Burnell). She is at Liberty Court now and has adjusted very well. OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Jule Tourtillott 3 Laura Gaulke 4 Robert Conley, John Cover 5 Colin Beauchamp 6 Matthew Moore 7 Kimberly Bradley 9 Martha McWethy 12 Allen Bollman 13 Michael Bradley, James Marshall 15 Catherine Hughes, Joyce Wing 19 Faith Garnhart 20 Katy Bell, Nancy Kane 21 Shawn Day, Jenny Huff, Connie Laidig 23 Brad Apple, Rebecca O Donnell, Paulette Stanek 25 Leo Patterson 27 Mark Thrasher 31 Christian Stanek *Weekends are denoted in blue God Bless you. Cindy (her daughter) ALTAR FLOWERS SEPTEMBER 2018 Jensen Family Phil & Evelyn Cornwell Schulte Memorial Fund Marian Myers Willa Huffman

8 St. Paul Lutheran Church Non Profit Org 421 S. Peoria Ave. U.S. POSTAGE Dixon, IL PAID Dixon, IL Website: Permit No. 185 Office Hours Monday-Friday 9 am 2 pm Phone: Pastor O Donnell (Cell) pastor@stpauldixon.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Joseph O Donnell Pastor Anna Meller Office Administrator Lorraine Hussung Special Funds Barb Strom General Funds Custodian Lyndon Farm Council Marian Myers President Joyce Craney Secretary Linda Patterson Glen Hughes Patty Hallquist Vice President Sharon Colglazier Connie Clayton Dennis White ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH OCTOBER 2018

9 October 2018 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 10 am Prayer Team Noon Bible Study 6 pm Property pm Craftshop 7 pm Praise Band 7:45 pm Worship/ Music 4 4 pm Planning Meeting at Immanuel 5 6 5:30 pm Worship 7 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Fellowship/Sunday School 9:35 am Sr Choir 10:45 am Worship 11:45 am Christian Ed 8 10 am Prayer Team Noon Bible Study 9 Noon Out & About Franklin Grove Cafe 1:30 pm Finance 2 pm Rachel Circle 6 pm Outreach 10 2 pm Craftshop 7 pm Praise Band :30 pm Boyscouts am Dixon Health Worship 1:30 pm Liberty Court Worship 13 5 pm Coffee Gathering Area 5:30 pm Worship 14 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Fellowship/Sunday School 9:35 am Sr. Choir 10:45 am Worship am Prayer Team Noon Bible Study 16 5:45 pm Council 6 pm MS 17 Noon Lunch & Posthouse 2 pm Craftshop 5:30 pm Confirmation LOMC 7 pm Praise Band Epistle Deadline :30 pm Worship :30 am Worship 9:30 am Fellowship/Sunday School, 9:35 am Sr. Choir 10:45 am Worship with Confirmation Celebration 10 am Prayer Team Noon Bible Study No Heritage Square Service 2 Craftshop 7 Praise Band 5:30 pm Worship 28 8:30 am Worship 9:30 am Fellowship/Sunday School 9:35 am Sr. Choir 10:45 am Worship 12:15 pm Trunk or Treat am Prayer Team Noon Bible Study am Caregivers 2 pm Craftshop 7 pm Praise Band Happy Halloween!