JOINT THANKSGIVING SERVICE with REJOICE CALVARY

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1 On October 28th our Calvary Quilters were honored for all their work and dedication making and making quilts to be given where needed. Most of the quilts are shipped off to Lutheran World Relief and then shipped all over the world. Some of the quilts stay in our own community and are given to the Lakota Lutheran Center, victims of fires, and other needs. Some of the quilts are given to Calvary s graduation seniors. On behalf of the women of the ELCA and Calvary Lutheran Church, we thank the following women for their time and commitment to this ministry who completed 211 quilts this year!!!!!! Gail Bruflat, Marsha Bueide, Mabel Dedlow, Peg Edwards, Pam Eskam, Audrey Harvey, Peg Henderson, Mary Jo Huelle, Alice Johnson, Fran Johnson, Carmen Kleager, LuVerne Knoedler, Linda Lojka, Kathy Randall, Vicki Schmidt, Elnora Sell, and Marti Wegelin. JOINT THANKSGIVING SERVICE with REJOICE CALVARY On Sunday, November 18th our friends from Rejoice Lutheran in Gering will be joining us during worship for a Joint Thanksgiving Worship. A Joint Choir will be part of our celebrations as well as a potluck dinner immediately following the service so bring your favorite dish to share. ADVENT DEVOTIONAL BY AND FOR CALVARY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS! We will again be creating our own Advent Devotional for use during Advent. Please look for the sheet outside the Secretarie s office and sign up if you would be willing to write one or two of our devotions. After you sign up we will provide you with the instructions and guides for writing your devotion(s). All devotions need to be to the church office by Wednesday, Nov. 21st so that we can get them edited and compiled into a booklet by the first Sunday of Advent, December 2nd. Page 1

2 Dear Friends in Christ, On Sunday, November 4 th we gather to worship and celebrate All Saints Day. Technically All Saints Day falls on November 1 st, but generally we celebrate it on the first Sunday in November. So what is All Saints Day? It s the day we remember those who have died and now live with Christ forever and so during worship we take a moment to remember those from this congregation and our lives who are no longer with us and to give thanks for their faith and the power of God s resurrection. But we also celebrate, not just those who have died, but the fact that we are all saints. As Lutherans we believe that a saint is simply a forgiven sinner, so that means that all of us are saints. Most of us would probably demure if someone called us a saint to our faces, because we tend to use the term saint to refer to someone who is perfect or really, really holy. But in truth, even the holiest of saints, was still just a forgiven sinner. I ve been reading a book recently entitled In Search of Sacred Places by Richard Taylor. It s the story of Richard s pilgrimage to the island of Iona which is the birth place of what is known as Celtic Spirituality. One of the saints of Iona is Saint Columba, but in his travels he comes across a native of that area who has some not so flattering things to say about this particular saint. In reflecting on this experience Richard writes, I like my saints to be scoundrels, or at least have the potential for it, because I know I am a scoundrel myself. The hope provided by the lives of saints comes not because they are unfallen but because being fallen does not prevent them from living faithful and powerful lives. A saint who never lost his temper or never had to overcome the desire to sleep through morning prayers can offer me little encouragement for my own imperfect life. And so it is that we can indeed call ourselves saints, not because we are perfect, or even necessarily holy and surely not because we never lose our temper; but rather because we have been loved and forgiven by the only one who truly matters and that s what makes us saints! So, as we take time to celebrate All Saints Sunday this month, let us pause and give thanks for those saints in our lives, who weren t perfect, but who none the less pointed the way to God for us. And then give thanks that in Christ you also are numbered among the saints. From one forgiven sinner/saint to another, Pastor Sheryl HOSPITALIZED? PLEASE LET US KNOW If you are hospitalized, please contact (or have a friend or family member contact) the church office and let us know so that we can visit and pray with you. PLEASE NOTE: The hospital has discontinued the practice of providing clergy with a list of patients so it is now more important than ever that you contact us directly if you would like a pastoral visit. Providing pastoral care is an important part of our ministry, however, we cannot visit if we don t know, so please don t hesitate to call the church office or our cell phones, so that we can be there for you. Thanks! Pastors Sheryl and Chris Page 2

3 October 8, 2018 Financial Report: Beginning balance: $8, Ending balance: $8, Out of the Building Fund, we have paid $16,544 for repairs so far leaving a balance of approx. $11,000. NE Link check of $2,500 was deposited into the contingency fund. Giving is slightly down from last year. Board/Committee Reports: Nominating Committee Kent Holub, Jack Martin, Lynn Margheim, and Marti Larsen met on Sunday, October 7, Have a few names for Vice President, and Secretary. Jessica Laughlin agreed to chair the Board of Parish Education. Music and Worship: Made plans for the joint service with Rejoice on Nov. 18th. Moved to Setting 3 Liturgy for Traditional Sundays. Pastor s Appreciation the last 2 Sundays of October. Stewards: Consecration Sunday will be Nov 11th. Going to include the Lakota Lutheran Center in our Stewardship campaign this year. They were cut $20,000 in support from the Synod our goal is to raise $8,000 to help offset their shortage. No Time and Talent sheets will be done this year. We will be doing a survey of the congregation in January instead in January. Computer software for tracking offerings is obsolete, so we had to update to another program with a monthly fee. Transition to new software is still a work in progress. Outreach: Church Directory The church directory continues to be a work in progress. Pictures are still being added. A cover has been created. New Logo: With the Council s approval, the Outreach Committee will be encouraging and educating everyone to start incorporating the new logo into all materials. Scottsbluff High School Yearbook Ad: The Committee was approached about purchasing an ad in the SHS yearbook that would feature high schoolers that attend SHS and Calvary. The Committee thought that this was a good idea, and opened discussion about whether we should invest in other high school yearbook ads. The answer was yes, but the Committee thought that best practice would be to only consider purchasing ads from high schools where Calvary high school students attend and that the school would have to initiate contact with Calvary. Trustees: Removed the old ceiling in the narthex, and sheet rock up on walls and painted. Have a couple of things that need to be done before the new ceiling goes up. Need to get measurements for the tile, so it can be ordered. Social Ministry: Made it through the CROP Walk in the rain with a total of 40 people. Pastor/Staff Reports: Campus ministry is going slow. We have 3 students who have shown interest. The campus allowed us to meet on campus initially, but now they want us to become a student recognized organization or pay $50.00 each time we meet on campus. Have a couple people who have agreed to cover the cost because they feel it is an important ministry. October 26 6:30 pm Episcopal Annual Council Worship will be hosted at Calvary. Pastor Chris officiated at the funeral of Jim Dedlow. Both pastors officiated at the wedding of George and Jennifer Schlothauer. Confirmation is going well with 10 youth and great support from the parents. Lila Birch s funeral will be held at The Residency on Friday to allow the residents to attend. New Business: Budget worksheet process for 2019 Worksheets should be going out by the first week of November. Reminders: November 4 New Member Sunday November 11 Consecration Sunday November 18 Joint Thanksgiving Service with Calvary. Potluck Dinner to follow. Meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer Next Council Meeting: November 12, 2018 COUNCIL MINUTES SUMMARY A complete copy of the Council Minutes are available from the church office. Page 3

4 BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING Stewardship is the management and oversight of that which is not our own. As Christians we say all that we have: health, finances, food, clothing and the like all come from God s good and gracious hand and that God seeks to bless us as his children. Since the middle of September we have been recalling God s promise to Abraham, that God will bless Abraham so that in him all the world will be blessed, blessed to be a blessing. We share in that blessing of Abraham as God s children and we share in God s purpose for blessing us, to share that blessing. On Sunday, November 11 th we will celebrate Consecration Sunday and God s blessings to us with our pledges in support of the ministry here at Calvary. Three lines will appear on our pledge cards. The first is for the mission and work here at Calvary, the second is for the Church repair fund to meet repair and updating expenses to the Church of up to $30,000 in the aftermath of the car that accidently ran into the corner of the narthex and a third line for increased support of the Lakota Lutheran Center. Our extra support of the Lakota Lutheran Center is our reminder and opportunity to be a blessing to others. The Lakota Lutheran Center s funding from the Nebraska Synod is being cut as a result of congregational giving to the Nebraska Synod having decreased. A long time mission center of the Synod, the Lakota Lutheran Center has depended upon the Synod s support; support which it now needs to replace to stay open. We at Calvary Lutheran have supported and continue to support the Lakota Lutheran Center as a Partner in Ministry. Now their increased need is our opportunity to share our blessings. Our goal is $8000. If 30 people gave just $5 extra per week, a couple of lattes, we would essentially meet that goal. On September 16 th the congregation overwhelmingly gave approval for the council to spend up to $30,000 on repairs and updates to the church that will not be covered by the driver s insurance, BBQ funds or money in the trustees budget. We have 106 giving units here at Calvary that give $5/week or more. If 40 of those giving units gave just $15 more a week, we would easily cover the full $30,000. Please consider how you can be a part of sharing in the blessings first given to us by God. You will soon be receiving a letter including a pledge card. Please prayerfully consider how you might participate in Blessed to be a Blessing. THE BAPTISMAL FONT IS NOW FRONT AND CENTER! Well, it has always been in the front, now with more space in front of the Altar, the font is centered in the aisle. Why this change? Luther tells us in the Small Catechism, Baptism signifies that the old person in us with all sins and evil desires is to be drowned and die through daily sorrow for sin and through repentance, on the other hand that daily a new person is to come forth and rise up to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. Centering the font then is a reminder of this important daily purpose and also a reminder that we are as Paul says in Romans chapter 6, we are buried with Christ by baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised for the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. So as we approach the Altar we all come around the font reminding us also that baptism is our entrance into the Church, the Body of Christ. On a practical matter, in the old position on the left side, it was common to see many seated on the left side dip their finger into the water in the baptismal font, but few on the right side did so as it meant crossing in front of someone else. Now there is equal access for all to dip their finger into the water and remind themselves of God s grace first poured out to them in the waters of Baptism and given again in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Baptism and Communion belong together and placing the font in the center helps us to remember that God s grace is available to all again and again and again. Page 4

5 ALL SAINTS SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 4 This is the day we remember that because of Jesus gift to us on the cross, we are all saints in the eyes of God, but we also take time to remember those saints who have died from this congregation in the past year and have now joined the church triumphant: Henry Ashenbrenner James Dedlow Lila Birch Peggy Nelson Donna Schuneman NEW MEMBER CELEBRATION NOVEMBER 4TH During worship on November 4th we will be welcoming several new members to Calvary. If you are interested in becoming a member of Calvary and have not done so, please talk to Pastor Chris or Sheryl as soon as possible. CALVARY S NEW LOGO IS HERE! The Outreach Committee recently approved the creation of a new logo for use in our publications both printed and online. A special thank you goes to Brooke Samuelson for designing our new logo. Incorporating the church s cross and bell tower, the new logo captures the heart of our Mission Statement: Helping others receive grace, purpose and direction by proclaiming Christ s love. Centered in Christ, we call out to those beyond our doors inviting them into a relationship with the One who loves us. THE ANGEL TREE IS COMING! Look for information in future bulletins on how you can brighten a child s Christmas with just a simple gift. CHURCH REPAIRS/REMODELING UPDATE We continue to move forward on repairs from the accident back in February. It has taken longer than expected, but progress is being made. The drywall is done, the pew configuration is now changed with the back pew on the north side removed and two at the front removed providing a more open feel in the sanctuary and allowing for the centering of the baptismal font. Tile for the bathrooms has been ordered, as well as fixtures. Carpet will be ordered by October 30 th. The narthex ceiling should be installed by the end of next week. All major alterations are now complete and simply awaiting the tile, carpet etc. The remodel committee is wrapping up its task, but if you have any while we are at it ideas, please contact Jim Dorn or Bill Huelle. We really appreciate everyone s support and patience during this process. Our hope is the mew look in the narthex gives an inviting feel, a feeling of more space, more light and a greater openness. Oh, and to the many who have asked if the new cross window will be lighted, the answer is yes! Also the committee would like to thank the congregation for its input about the changes and its suggestions. They were taken seriously and led to a couple of changes, i.e. the choice of tile. While this took extra time, we feel the change was important. Thank you! Page 5

6 November Mission Project Our mission project for November is our THANKOFFERINGS. Thankofferings are those amounts of change or dollar bills that we collect throughout the year for the blessings we give thanks for on a daily basis. We have so much to be grateful for every day. These offerings are our way of sharing those blessings with others. Our blessings flow over to help women and children in living in crisis in this country and around the world. Look for the Thankoffering envelopes in the pews and put your donation in the offering plates. Thank you for your support. November Study Groups Meet November s session is Turning Points: Turning as the Church to the World. The word repentance often refers to an invitation that brings people into the church. But what happens when the church turns outward to the world? When the church has been complicit in abuse, racism, anti-semitism, and other attitudes and practices that lead away from God s reign, what happens when the church repents? Ruth Study Group Tuesday, Nov. 9:00 a.m. Fellowship Hall Priscilla Study Group Tuesday, Nov. 7:30 p.m. Angie Hinze s home 615 Valley View Dr. Scottsbluff Hannah Study Group Monday, Nov. 12@ 7:00 p.m. Beth Janecek s home Hilyard Drive, Mitchell Esther Study Group Tuesday, Nov. 9:00 a.m. Ruth Harris home 9 Brentwood Ct. Scottsbluff TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP Each Tuesday at noon a group of women meet at the church to study scripture together. Please consider joining us for a study and some great conversations. All ladies are invited to join any of these groups. OWL S (Older, Wiser Lutherans) Wednesday November 7 12 noon Come enjoy a great lunch! Chicken and Noodles over mashed potatoes! Devotions and some fun time! We ENCOURAGE every family of Calvary to participate and support our Food Pantry. The pantries provide important services to those in need and can really help aid those families who are less fortunate. This month the Food Pantry item: BAKING SUPPLIES This month s Backpack Program item: RAMEN NOODLES DECEMBER items will be: PACKAGED COOKIES APPLESAUCE Page 6

7 Pastoral Care/Prayer Requests Prayers for Healing: Geri Bartel and Beth Janecek. Prayers of Peace and Comfort: Family and friends of Lila Birch, Bob Dedlow, Sid Miller and Peggy Nelson. If you have Prayer Requests, please contact Nancy Steele through her or phone her at Set your clocks back Saturday night November 3rd! **** CONGRATULATIONS to George Schlothauer and Jennifer Baer united in marriage, here at Calvary on October 6th. Let us pray for their years together as husband and wife. May they walk together in God s blessing. NOVEMBER Bailey Nikont 11/3 Austin Miller 11/20 Masha Bueide 11/3 David Kleensang 11/21 Larry Blehm Jon Carlson Max Schlothauer Martha Wegelin 11/3 11/4 11/6 11/22 11/23 Judy Keller 11/9 Janet Miller Juanita Gibbs 1/28 Joyce Fulk 11/9 11/11 Kelsey Gregory 11/28 Roger Jensen 11/15 Erma Rusch Victoria Holub 11/20 Donna Hessler 11/29 11/30 Page 7 No words could ever express our family s appreciation for the support Pastor Chris and Pastor Sheryl have shown us after the passing of Jim and during his illness. We are also deeply grateful for the wonderful lunch served and prepared by the Ladies of Calvary Lutheran. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness and kind words during this difficult time. Jim was a great joy in our lives, and we will miss his fun loving nature and keen sense of humor. Thank you for caring. Wishing you happiness, health, and love always, The Family of Jim and Mabel Dedlow Hank Rahmig Twila Aschenbrenner 11/25 Gloria Gorr 11/26

8 CALVARY YOUTH NEWS - NOVEMBER JAM Wednesdays 6 p.m (4 yrs 6th grade) NOVEMBER 7 NOVEMBER 14 Mercy, Justice, Peace! God s Plan for Peace! - Breakfast Burritos - Enchiladas NOVEMBER 21 NO JAM! Happy Thanksgiving! NOVEMBER 28 Sunday School Christmas Program Practice Chicken nuggets/fries # # # # # # EPIC NOVEMBER 4 Lunch and a Movie! 11:30 the Hinzes 615 Valley View Scottsbluff November 18 Progressive Dinner w/ Methodist and Presbyterian Youth Groups right after church! November 21 No JAM/Confirmation SUNDAY SCHOOL 11:00 a.m. Page 8

9 If you would like to know more about how a Stephen Minister could care for you, or if you are interested in becoming a Stephen s Minister, please contact Nancy Steele ( ) or ( ) or Marsha Bueide ( ). Calvary s Church Office Phone number: (308) or Contact the Office by at: calvarylutheranscottsbluff@gmail.com Send physical mail/offerings to: 17 E. 27 th Street, Scottsbluff, NE Pastor Chris:Kester Beyer (402) pastorchriskb@gmail.com Pastor Sheryl:Kester Beyer (402) pastorsherylkb@gmail.com Youth & Family Ministry Dir. Angie Hinze: or at the Church office. adhinze@gmail.com Nancy Steele, PMA: nancysteele@embarqmail.com Deadline for weekly announcements is Wed. at 5 PM. Deadline for monthly Tidings Newsletter content is the 20 th of each calendar month. Find us on Facebook. Check out our WEBSITE WHEN YOU MISS WORSHIP: Its all online! The worship bulletin, sermon podcasts, God s Home inserts as well as daily devotions are all available on our website. Page 9 Page 9

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