Being a Thanksgiving. God s Work, Our Hands

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1 Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 9700 Neenah Ave, Austin, Texas Phone Fax Volume No God s Work, Our Hands November 2010 Edition Inside this issue: Being a Thanksgiving 1 Council Kindred Sisters 2 Preparing for Sunday 2 Memory Garden 2 Youth Focus 3 Remember in Prayer 3 Library Notes 4 Birthdays / Anniversaries 4 Angel Food Ministries 5 Growth Groups 5 Finances / Attendance 5 Welcome, New Members! 6 Job Search Ministry 7 Worship Leaders 8 Calendar 9 Angel Food Ministries Harvest / Craft Festival JSM Flyer 14 Upcoming Fellowship: Kindred Sisters Choir, Bells, Praise Growth Groups Growing in Christ Youth Activities GET INVOLVED! Being a Thanksgiving A few weeks ago, I had a rare critique of my sermon. Pastor, your cut your sermon too short. I could hardly believe my ears. The story was about the 10 lepers who were cured. Only one returned to give thanks to Jesus. The title of the sermon was, Gratitude Takes Practice. So I thought I would use this opportunity for the congregation to practice. I invited everyone to go about thanking others and I gave them specific reasons to go and thank someone. I didn t know how it would work. I was afraid no one would move. Fortunately, almost everyone got into practicing saying, Thank you. And the only response I received was, Pastor, your cut your sermon too short. We really liked sharing thank you with others. It was encouraging to hear, and even more wonderful to experience. People really cherished the opportunity to say, I thank God for you. That was just the beginning. How is the practicing going? I hope your still say, I thank God for. The blank can be filled in with so many things. But real thanks giving is not just words. It s so much more. How we live out our lives is a way to thank God. First pause and contemplate all that enriches your life. Then take the time to enrich someone else s life and become a thanksgiving to them. That for me was what made that sermon so special. While it s really great to hear that the sermon was too short, it was far better to watch as people gave thanks to God for others who became a thanksgiving to them. It s that time of the year to be thankful, and I know its said ever year, but it really needs to be repeated. Let s make everyday a new thanksgiving. Pastor Dave Council 2011 Seeking interested members to join. Interested in joining the 2011 Church Council? Opening positions are for: President-Elect, Secretary, Worship Committee Rep., and Evangelism Committee Rep. If you have any questions or would like to discuss these positions, please contact a member of the 2010 Nominating Committee: Deb Grunska grunskad@flash.net ; Olga Haenel herman.haenel@att.net ; Chuck Neeley chuck_neeley@urscorp.com ; or Erica Smith ericamathresmith@att.net

2 Page 2 Follow us on Search: Lord of Life Austin or link from our website. Coffee-Time Thanks to: Brenda Searcy Harley Ekrut Vada Bockhorn Paul Rohne Marge Kretschmar Darrel & Shaleen Carter If you are interested in providing snacks for Coffee-Time, please contact Rea or Marge. Preparing for Sunday November 7 Daniel 7:1-3, Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31 November 14 Malachi 4:1-2a Psalm 98 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19 November 21 Jeremiah 23:1-6 Psalm 46 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 November 28 Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 100 Philippians 4:4-9 John 6:25-35 Hill Country Ministries needs your SPAGHETTI NOODLES! Help our youth collect 100 pounds of spaghetti noodles for the month of November to support Hill Country Ministry s low supply. Every little bit helps! Life-Lines Tuesday, November 2 At 10:00 am, Kindred Sisters will leave the church to go to Concordia University. We will tour Concordia s new campus, especially the Nursing Dept, and have lunch in their new Cafeteria (Dutch Treat). Please sign Sign Up Sheet in Café for Transportation Planning. Last meeting, October 5, Kindred Sisters were enlightened with information about Lutheran Social Services Care-Connect program. Rhonda Prince, Program Manager explained about Geriatric Care Management being the one-stop resource seniors and families need to gather information, implement care, and monitor the care needed to be independent and safe as possible. She also introduced a new service branch : Care-Connect Home Care. No matter where we are in life, this information is important to know it is available for our various family needs. Kindred Sisters offers Christian fellowship and support to all ladies and friends of Lord of Life. Please join us whenever you are able to do so. Reminders: Save Stamps Place them in LWR Stamp Box in Welcome Center Check New Life Treatment Center, Canyon Lake s List of Needs in Café Any questions: Contact Marge Kretschmar or Glenace Klinker Memory Garden The memory garden committee would like to thank Bill Saegert for donating the oak tree to the memory garden and the men of the property committee who planted it in honor of Pastor Carl Schoss. A thank you goes to Mike Brown, Gary Parsons and others on the property committee who installed a water faucet & for helping to beautify the garden. Now we no longer have to haul water or stretch the hose around the building or across the deck. Thank you as well to Adele Evans who donated the St. Francis of Assisi statue and to Steven Plessala for the wrought iron bottle tree he made and donated that will be placed in the garden. The tree will have little silver leaves with the names of departed loved ones written on them. Blessings & thanks to all! Donna, Gloria, Rea and Marilee Memory Garden Committee

3 Volume No On October 2-3 the High School Youth met up for a fun filled evening of camping at Tracy's Family Ranch in Thrall, TX. Three of the youth participated: Rachel Brown, Natalie Smith and Brandon Traywick. The group met up at the church and left the afternoon of the 2nd. They played ladder ball built a monster campfire and prepared a hamburger dinner. The kids were brave and toughed it out through the grass as tall as them and went down to the river bed where they watched "Lilly" the wonderdog play in the water! Into the evening hours a monster campfire was lit and we roasted marshmallows. The kids roughed it out in a tent for the rest of the evening thankfully where the raccoon that circled our tent in the evening could not get to us! Again, "Lilly" the wonderdog was also watching over the kids very carefully! In the morning the kids awoke and ate breakfast and conducted their own church service and listened to gospel music courtesy of KVET After cleaning up we headed back into town and joined the rest of church for communion. It was a great time had by all!!! On October 23rd the Middle School Youth participated in a pumpkin carving contest! There were 10 fantastic entries. The parents filled out a score card and the scores were tallied. The winner was Avery, a friend of Raina Parsons, and she received a $25 gift card to Main Event! While carving their pumpkins the kids listened to some Halloween music and enjoyed a wonderful spaghetti dinner provided by the parents! Accolades for Our Senior High Youth: Ryan Sellers & Deirdre O Donnell Congratulations to Ryan Sellers! He has received two awards this past month. The first is an AP Scholar with Distinction Award from the College Board and the second one is a Letter of Commendation Award from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Deirdre O Donnell also deserves a round of applause for receiving an invitation to join National Honor Society at Anderson High School. Next time you see Ryan or Deirdre make sure you take a moment to congratulate them on these wonderful accomplishments! Page 3 Food Contributions to Hill Country Community Ministries October collections: 45 pieces Let s keep it going! REMEMBER IN PRAYER THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM ILLNESSES: Ruby Ivy, Fran Hendrix, Junette Gowen, Alberta Otto, Dot Harrington, Ella Symank, Lynsey Thurman, Angie Parr, Gladys Soiseth, Sharon Kraus, Joy Warriner Robert Sopronyi, Diann Sowell, Deb Durling, Cindy Kassel, Reileigh Mace, Teresa Plessala, Jeannie Jones, Katelyn Carter, Mary Ann McGuire, Kelli Egan, Laverne Welch, Lauretta Bennett, Clyde Czajkowski, Aaron Wood, Lanae Ortivez, Pat Snyder

4 Page 4 Life-Lines Library Notes: Suggested Reading By: Donna Estes NEW BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY THIS MONTH! The following 11 books have been recently donated and are displayed on the suggested reading shelf at the back of the library: 1. The Ruins by: Scott Smith 2. The Giver by: Lois Lowry 3. Faraday Road by: Ace Collins 4. Predator by: Patricia Cornwell 5. 3-book set by : Gregory Maguire 1. Wicked - The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West 2. Mirror, Mirror 3. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister 6. 4-books by : Frank Peretti (king of Christian fiction) 1. The Oath 2. Monster 3. Nightmare Academy 3. House ( by Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker) LOLLC LADIES: KINDRED SISTERS Monthly Meeting 1 st Tuesday Morning Upcoming Opportunities: Tuesday, November 2, 2010 Tour Concordia University Meet Church University s Cafeteria Tuesday, December 7 Annual Christmas Potluck 10:30 am Bring your saved cancelled postage stamps For LWR Stamporee Box Questions: Marge Kretschmar or Glenace Klinker Memorials In memory of Emmett Wiruscheske by Rea Wiruscheske & Family REMINDER - if you check out a book PLEASE write your name, title of book & date in the binder on the top shelf next to the door. Please do not just take the book from the library without recording it. Returned books go in the basket on the back wall next to the children's book shelf. Please do not reshelf books and do not forget to mark your name out of the binder when you return your book. Thanks so much for using the library! DaMommio, Chloe 11/05 Neeley, Allison 11/06 Parsons, Carter 11/06 Soiseth, Jeffrey 11/06 Grunska, Geoffrey 11/07 Johnson, Jennifer 11/08 Sheehan, Connor 11/10 Schroeder, Rex 11/11 Covington, Gayle 11/12 Holland, Brandi 11/13 Scott,, Robert III 11/14 Scott, Jr., Robert 11/15 Traywick, Blake 11/18 Wilks, Gary 11/18 Orr, Martha 11/20 Weston, Erin 11/20 Klotz, Kim 11/22 Lack, Katrina 11/23 Schroeder, Adam 11/23 Thurman, Becky 11/24 Rush, Marita 11/25 Traywick, Brandon 11/26 Creswell, Michael 11/27 Garcia, Steven 11/27 Wendlandt, Beverly 11/27 Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Friedrich 11/20/1982 Mr. & Mrs. Herman Haenel 11/30/1956 Mr. & Mrs. Ted Klinker 11/26/1959 Anthony & Laura Lopez 11/08/1997 Mr. & Mrs. Russell Sellers 11/24/1990 Eric and Courtney Warnsman 11/06/2004

5 Volume No Page 5 ANGEL FOOD MINISTIRES Angel Food Ministries (AFM) NOVEMBER Menu includes Six Boxes plus Five Special Boxes Perdue Split Chicken Breasts are featured in the Signature Bread of Life Box ($31) along with 17 other items. The terrific value Bountiful Blessing ($41) Box also features the Chicken Breasts plus 23 other items. Convenience ($28), T-Bone Steak ($25), and the Fruit/Veggies ($23) Boxes are available too. Allergen Free Food ($25) and Seafood Variety ($35) Boxes are also back. With the holidays approaching, pre-order AFM s Thanksgiving and Christmas Box ($36). Each Box includes a 7.5 lb Perdue Roasting Chicken, 3 lb Boneless Ham, along with all the dinner fixings for family of 8. What a savings to your food budget by taking advantage of AFM. The Christmas Box must be ordered by December 1, Please tell your friends and neighbors about this food relief/budget saving program remember, EVERYONE and ANYONE can participate in AFM. No qualifications just be hungry. Thank you for all the Donations that have helped our church family, as they are very much appreciated. If you know of anyone that would be helped with AFM, please contact Pastor Dave. NOVEMBER MENU Life-Lines pgs. 10 & 11 & Welcome Center NOVEMBER SCHEDULE Lord of Life Lutheran Church Office Neenah Avenue, Austin, TX At Office: Monday - Friday 9:30 am 1:30 pm Orders Due by: Sunday, November 7, 2010 Cash, Check, Money Order, or Lone Star Card Distribution Day: Saturday, November 20, :00 am 10:00 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church Boxes NOT picked up by 10:00 am will be donated to a family in need. No credits or refunds can be made. Are you willing to help take orders on the Last Order Sunday and/or help with Distribution Saturday? We hope so Any questions and willingness to help with this Outreach Ministry Opportunity, please contact Pastor Dave or Glenace Klinker Budget Year-to-Date September 2010 Actual YTD Budget Difference Pledge Contributions $156,370 $172,500 ($16,130) Other Offerings $26,605 $31,500 ($4,895 All Other Income $9,354 $4,665 $4,689 Total Income $192,329 $208,665 ($16,336) Total Expenses $212,399 $236,734 $24,335 Prayer lead by Deb Grunska, after late service on Sundays, at church. Hope lead by Peter Pichini, Mon. 7:00pm at the Pichini home. Book Study lead by Olga Haenel, Tues. 7:00pm at church. Matthew lead by Doug Searcy, Wed. 10:00am at church. Contact office for more details. Net Income (Loss) ($20,070) ($28,069) $7,999 Worship Attendance 9/5/ /12/ /19/ /26/ Weekly Average 108 YTD Total 3,726 Weekly Average 106

6 Page 6 Life-Lines Welcome, New Members! Keri Gold Keri works for Touchpoint Solutions as a pharmaceutical rep. She's been married to her husband, Matthew, for 6 years. They are expecting their first baby, a girl, in early December. Keri loves boating, working out, and helping others. Viki Parsons Viki is a software development manager for Crossroads Systems. Her family consists of her husband of 7 years, Jay, and son Benjamin, who is 4 years old. Viki enjoys sewing, gardening, volleyball, and singing. Barbara Snook Barbara is a proud mother of 4 and grandmother of 7. After the death of her husband, Dick, she decided to go back to work, and currently teaches pre-school at the Primrose School. Dick was a career air-force man, so they spent many years traveling, which Barbara still enjoys along with cooking, gardening, and reading.

7 Volume No Page 7 A New Ministry is Coming to Lord of Life Job Search Ministry (JSM) Mission: With God s help, provide a network of resources to help minister to the needs of individuals and families dealing with the physical, spiritual, and emotional impact of a job loss in our community. When workers are unemployed, they, their families, and the country as a whole lose. Workers and their families lose wages, and the country loses the goods or services that could have been produced. In addition, the purchasing power of these workers are lost, which can lead to possible unemployment for others who depend on those good and services for their jobs. The latest reported unemployment rates in Travis County is 7% and 7.2% in Williamson County, whereas the Texas rate is 8.4% and national rate is 9.2% respectively. Why does the church need to get involved? The real question should be why every church isn t involved in this national crisis. It is said that 48% of job seekers and 24% of employers search through places of worship to find each other; and that 57% of pastors report that the economy has negatively impacted their church over the last year. These statistics bring us many opportunities. Opportunity to minister to those who are weak and desperate to find hope. Opportunity to display and share Christ s love. Opportunity to grow the community of Christ through community outreach. Opportunity to guide those in need through a network of ministries and services to assist their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. What s in it for Lord of Life Lutheran Church? An active Job Search Ministry (JSM) could strengthen the financial health of the families and the church; and strengthen and protect families against personal hardships, which often go hand-in-hand with a job loss. It would increase the church s visibility and positions the church as a go to resource for families and employers in the community while keeping church members connected and actively engaged during a major crisis. It also has the ability to attract new members to the church. How can you help? First, pray for this ministry, that it will be led by the will of God; and help all those who come to it for assistance. Secondly, because this is a new ministry, we need volunteers to help. Below is a list of roles that have been loosely defined and need to be filled in order to launch this ministry. JSM Program Administrator an administrator will assist the ministry to create and maintain of all the JSM client logs, handouts/printouts and meeting agendas. The Administrator will work side by side with the program coordinator to run weekly meetings. JSM Partners the JSM Partners will be accountability partners. An accountability partner is a trusted and respected fellow Christian that will act as a goal-setting moderator. Through regular meetings the JSM Partner will challenge, motivate, mentor, encourage and inspire the job seeker to achieve maximum results. When will the JSM get started? JSM Committee is forming now. You will begin to see more and more information as it becomes available. The ministry is scheduled to launch in January 2011 with weekly evening meetings. Who do I contact to volunteer or request services? Send an to Patti Kassel, JSM Program pkassel@austin.rr.com or call her in the evening at

8 Page 8 Life-Lines Worship Leaders for November 2010 NOVEMBER 7, 2010 All Saints Sunday Color: White Presiding Minister: Pastor Dave Seddelmeyer Assisting Minister: Mindy Penland Lector/Petitioner: Debbie Grunska Communion Assistant: Nell Pennington Acolyte: Raina Parsons Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi; Chuck Neeley Bread: Jim Tarsi; Katherine Stewart Wine: Mary & Roger Vaughn Altar Guild: Debbie Grunska, Deanna Brown, Lauren Brown, Martha Orr, Tracy Pichini Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert; David Smith, Joe Petry, Mike Petry Inside Greeters: Outside Greeters: Tellers: Dick Fink, Julia Neeley Flowers: NOVEMBER 14, 2010 Fall Services Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Dave Seddelmeyer Assisting Minister: Marilee Parsons Lector/Petitioner: Dick Fink Communion Assistant: Gayle Covington Acolyte: Natalie Smith Media Assistant: Dee Smith; Rex Schroeder Bread: Wine: Mary & Roger Vaughn Altar Guild: Debbie Grunska, Deanna Brown, Lauren Brown, Martha Orr, Tracy Pichini Ushers: Doug Caldwell, Bill Saegert; David Smith, Joe Petry, Mike Petry Inside Greeters: Outside Greeters: Tellers: Dick Fink, Julia Neeley Flowers: NOVEMBER 21, 2010 Fall Services Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Dave Seddelmeyer Assisting Minister: Aaron Stratton Lector/Petitioner: Chuck Neeley Communion Assistant: Katherine Stewart Acolyte: Callie Prather Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi; Barry Kincart Bread: Wine: Mary & Roger Vaughn Altar Guild: Debbie Grunska, Deanna Brown, Lauren Brown, Martha Orr, Tracy Pichini Ushers: Roger Vaughn, Doug Searcy; Gary Parsons, Matt Parr, Beverly Wendlandt, Ted Wendlandt Inside Greeters: Outside Greeters: Tellers: Dick Fink, Julia Neeley Flowers: NOVEMBER 28, 2010 Fall Services Color: Green Presiding Minister: Pastor Dave Seddelmeyer Assisting Minister: Marilee Parsons Lector/Petitioner: Mike Petry Communion Assistant: Edith Swartz Acolyte: Maddy Penland Media Assistant: Jim Tarsi; Dick Fink Bread: Wine: Mary & Roger Vaughn Altar Guild: Debbie Grunska, Deanna Brown, Lauren Brown, Martha Orr, Tracy Pichini Ushers: Roger Vaughn, Doug Searcy; Gary Parsons, Matt Parr, Beverly Wendlandt, Ted Wendlandt Inside Greeters: Outside Greeters: Tellers: Dick Fink, Julia Neeley Flowers:

9 Volume No Page 9 November 2010 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 Election Day 10:00 Kindred Sisters 3 6:30pm Confirmation 6:30pm Adult Bell-Choir 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 4 7:00pm Finance Committee Meeting 5 6 9:0am-3:00pm HARVEST FESTIVAL AND CRAFT SHOW 7 8:15 Early Service 9:30 Sunday School / MiC Class 10:45 Late Service :30pm Confirmation 6:30pm Adult Bell-Choir 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal 11 7:00pm Council Meeting (AFM Due) 8:15 Early Service 9:30 Sunday School / MiC Class 10:45 Late Service :30pm Confirmation 6:30pm Adult Bell-Choir 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal :00pm Middle/High School Youth 21 8:15 Early Service 9:30 Sunday School / MiC Class 10:45 Late Service Thanksgiving :00am Angel Food Distribution 28 8:15 Early Service 9:30 Sunday School 10:45 Late Service 29 30

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