The Messenger Of Messiah Lutheran Church. October 2018

Transcription

1 The Messenger Of Messiah Lutheran Church October 2018 BIBLICAL HARVEST To many of us, harvest time is of little concern, because in our complex life we are far removed from the actual production of our food supplies, but for the Hebrew people, as for those in any agricultural district today, the harvest was a most important season. Events were reckoned from harvests. The three principal feasts of the Jews corresponded to the three harvest seasons: (1) the feast of the Passover in April at the time of the barley harvest; (2) the feast of Pentecost (7 weeks later) at the wheat harvest; and (3) the feast of Tabernacles at the end of the year (October) during the fruit harvest. The seasons have not changed since that time. Between the reaping of the barley in April and the wheat in June, most of the other cereals are reaped. The grapes begin to ripen in August, but the gathering in for making wine and molasses (dibs), and the storing of the dried figs and raisins, is at the end of September. Between the barley harvest in April and the wheat harvest, only a few showers fall, which are welcomed because they increase the yield of wheat. Samuel made use of the unusual occurrence of rain during the wheat harvest to strike fear into the hearts of the people. Such an unusual storm of excessive violence visited Syria in 1912, and did much damage to the harvests, bringing fear to the superstitious farmers, who thought some greater disaster awaited them. From the wheat harvest until the fruit harvest no rain falls. The harvesters long for cool weather during the reaping season. Many definite laws were instituted regarding the harvest. Gleaning was forbidden. The first-fruits were required to be presented to Yahweh. In Syria the Christians still celebrate id er-rubb ( feast of the Lord ), at which time the owners of the vineyards bring their first bunches of grapes to the church. The children of Israel were enjoined to reap no harvest for which they had not labored. In Proverbs the harvesting of ants is mentioned as a lesson for the sluggard. Figurative: A destroyed harvest typified devastation or affliction. The time of harvest, in the Old Testament frequently meant the day of destruction. Joy in harvest typified great joy; harvest of the Nile, an abundant harvest. The harvest is past meant that the appointed time was gone. Yahweh chose the most promising time to cut off the wicked, namely, when there is a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. This occurrence of hot misty days just before the ripening of the grapes is still common. They are welcome because they are supposed to hasten the harvest. The Syrian farmers in some districts call it et-tabbakh el ainib wa tin ( the fireplace of the grapes and figs ). In the Gospels, Jesus frequently refers to the harvest of souls. In explaining the parable of the Tares he said, The harvest is the end of the world.

2 ALL SAINTS DAY Please submit names of any loved ones who have died this past year and who you would like to be remembered on All Saints Sunday (November 4) -- to the church office by 9:00 a.m. Monday, October 29. Thank you. LIFESERVE BLOOD DRIVE LifeServe will hold its monthly blood drive from 1:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, October 26, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Please note the location change due to the Chicken Noodle Supper being held at Messiah. GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE THANK YOU There are not enough words to express our gratitude for all the love, prayers, and kindness that you have again shown our family. To everyone members, former members and non-members -- who worked, provided food, tables and chairs and clean-up, we say Thank you. We all feel blessed to be a part of the Messiah Family. Kim Marzen s Family Pastor Appreciation Month October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Here are a few ideas anyone can utilize to honor pastors: 1. Pray for them. 2. Write them encouraging letters. 3. Serve in the church. 4. Give generously. 5. Speak well of the church. 6. Encourage their families. USHERS & GREETERS Please take the opportunity to volunteer as ushers and/or greeters for November and December. Sign-up sheets are located on the table in the back of the sanctuary. NOTICE Messiah Endowment Fund Project Proposals Please note that any group or committee wishing to apply for money from the Endowment Fund must submit a project proposal, in writing, by November 15 th. Proposal forms can be found in one of the mailboxes or by asking in the church office. Please return completed proposals to the church office or to a committee member by the deadline. Committee members are: Chris Eldridge Janice Matthews Joe Nettleton Kathy Stevens MITTEN TREE This bare fall tree - with only 10 leaves - will be festooned with fall colored ribbons and lights to become the 2018 Messiah Mitten Tree. We are asking for your help to fill up the tree with mittens, gloves, hats and socks for elementary students at Washington and Lincoln schools. It will be set up in the church on Sunday, September 30 th. The schools appreciate having a supply of these items to assist students who need them. Donations may be added to the tree in the coming weeks and will be delivered to the schools after the chicken noodle supper. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Thank you to all who have signed up already, but volunteers are still needed on a weekly basis to make Messiah run smoothly. Please prayerfully consider volunteering. MEALS ON WHEELS Messiah Lutheran Church is responsible for Meals on Wheels the week of October 29-November 2. Please call for more information or to volunteer as a driver.

3 IN OUR PRAYERS Our Sick: Steve Buseman; Catherine Egesdal (Connie Schiller s mother); John Guthart; Gary Matthews (Noriene North s brother); Jim Matthews (Roy & Janice Matthews son); Elaine Poppinga; Diana Schwictenberg (Noriene North s daughter); and Hannah Wood. Our Shut-ins: Catherine 9 th Street Chautauqua; th Street; Charles City, IA Elizabeth 9 th Street Chautauqua; th Street; Charles City, IA Jim Clarksville Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center; 115 N. Hilton; P.O. Box 159; Clarksville IA Karen Johnston, Dorothy Meineke; Maryan Shipley, Bernice Taglin, and Hannah home October 2018 Worship Attendants SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 Greeters: Bill & Martha Cavanaugh Ushers: Karen & Anna Krumwiede Lector: Jane Hoppenworth Communion Asst.: Jane Hoppenworth October Altar Guild October Trash Takeout Bill & Kim Mainprize SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14 Greeter: Ushers: Bill & Martha Cavanaugh Lector: Chris Eldridge SUNDAY, OCTONER 21 Greeter: Sandy Schrage Ushers: Dean & Marcie Andrews Lector: Marcie Andrews Communion Asst.: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 Greeters: Gene & Mary Schrandt Ushers: Les & Rosemary Fjelstul Lector: Dean Andrews Please make sure that when you exit the building, that ALL lights are turned off and ANY door you exit through is completely closed and locked. We have been having some maintenance issues with the east doors. Thank you. Please remember that it is your responsibility, as a worship attendant, to find your own replacement if your plans change and you cannot fulfill your commitment. Please notify Messiah s office the Wednesday before the Sunday you are to serve. The office will then notify the correct person about the change.

4 SPECIAL DAYS IN THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS If we have inadvertently omitted your special day, Please notify the church office so we may update our records. OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER ANNIVERSARIES 1 Lia Schultz 7 Mike & Julie Newton-Jones Robert Cook 8 Randy & Tammy Elliott Brian Horn 15 Karl & Leila Horn 2 Bernice Taglin 16 Leonard & Eleanor Bornstein 6 Kari Marzen 20 Bruce & Chris Eldridge 10 Gabby Weber 16 Isaiah Marzen 21 Liliana Marzen Birthdays & Anniversaries 22 Bruce Eldridge 25 Chris Eldridge 30 Dorothy Meineke Messiah WELCA Wednesday, October 3 9:30 a.m. WELCA Board Meeting Naomi Circle 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 10 Bible Study: Sandy Schrage Hostess: Jane Hoppenworth Ruth Circle 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 11 Bible Study: Jeanne Meyer Hostess: Leila Horn CHICKEN NOODLE SUPPER Messiah s Chicken Noodle supper will be held from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, October 26. Once again, we will be asking the congregation to help make it a success. Sign-up sheets will be placed on the table in the back of the sanctuary on October 7. The menu will remain the same as last year; but the cost for adults has gone up. Adults cost is $10.00 each; children (6-12) $5.00; children age 5 & under are FREE. Tickets may be purchased at the door. There will NOT be a silent quilt auction this year. FOOTBALL PARTY Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 2001 W Bremer Avenue in Waverly, has invited Messiah to join them for tailgating in Redeemer s south parking lot from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 19, 2018, when Waverly- Shell Rocks plays Charles City. Redeemer will bring the chili and hot dogs with lemonade and you can bring a side dish, snack or dessert to share! They will also be collecting canned goods for their new mini food pantries that will be available in their parking lots--for those in need. After tailgating, everyone will head over to cheer on their favorite team! Game time is 7:30 p.m.

5 Warming Hearts with God s Love and a Good Pair of Mittens Far too often, children arrive at LSI s Beloit and Bremwood Residential Treatment Centers with very little in their possession. We give thanks for Iowa congregations who faithfully respond to these needs, year after year! As winter approaches, LSI relies on your loving support to meet the demands for winter apparel for children and youth at Beloit and Bremwood. Often, children in residential treatment have little control over their lives, so it s important for us to give children the opportunity, when possible, to shop for their new coat or mittens. Because of this, we ask that you please not donate articles of clothing. With your generous financial donation, many children will have the simple joy of choosing their new coat, knowing that they are loved and cherished. If you would like more information, please contact Deb Whitford, LSI director of philanthropy and church relations, at Deborah.Whitford@LSIowa.org or Our Mission: Lutheran Services in Iowa responds to the love of Jesus Christ through compassionate service. LSI is an affiliated social ministry partner of the Iowa congregations of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and a member of LSA (Lutheran Services in America). We proudly serve people of all ages, abilities, religions, sexes, gender identities, national origins, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientations. A Loving Companion When Tatyana came to LSI s Bremwood Residential Treatment Center in Waverly, she was lonely. She lost her mom at a young age, and her father was incarcerated. She didn t have anyone to look up to, and the only way she knew how to cope with trauma and anger was by yelling and hitting. When she began seeing her LSI therapist, she wasn t comfortable talking about her difficult past. Then she met a new friend, Max. Max is a three-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever, and a friendly face to everyone he sees on Bremwood s campus. Thanks to a generous donation by a local church and through a partnership between LSI and Retrieving Freedom, Max is now the official therapy dog at Bremwood. Max has been working with Tatyana for over a year now. He sits on the sofa next to her during every therapy session, which makes her feel safe talking to her LSI team. Tatyana practices calmly giving Max commands like sit or stay, which is teaching her that her voice is heard without needing to yell. She is using a calmer voice when she talks to others on campus too. The children and teens at Bremwood love seeing Max each day. And when more children like Tatyana walk through the doors for the first time, Max is there, ready to be a friendly face and let them know they will be loved and cared for at LSI. MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH (641) ccmessiah@mchsi.com FACEBOOK: messiah lutheran church charles city iowa website: Secretary: Aletha Berding-Powell Worship Schedule: 9:15 a.m. Worship 10:20 a.m. Sunday School Communion 1 st, 3 rd, & 5 th Sundays Office Hours: Aletha Mon.-Thurs.: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL Dean Andrews President Vacant Vice-President Secretary Karen Krumwiede Worship Cassie Michael Education Martha Cavanaugh Comm. Concerns Donovan CPA Firm Treasurer Vacant Ste-van (non-council) Bruce Eldridge, Property (non-council) Bill Cavanaugh, & Bill Mainprize Messiah s Mission Statement Witnessing God s Love Through Christ We do this through: Bible Studies & Small Groups; Prayer & Worship; Fellowship & Support; Service to the Community