GOOD TIDINGS. I m not talking about Thanksgiving company, but hosting company over at LCOS!

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1 1 Lutheran Church of Our Saviour Volume 17, No.11 Pastor Katie s Corner Once again in November, we find ourselves playing host. November 2017 I m not talking about Thanksgiving company, but hosting company over at LCOS! This month, we re starting something brand new and innovative--so new and innovating, in fact, that we can t find any other church that is venturing do this: we are joining our Sunday morning Christian education offerings with St. Luke s United Methodist Church. The suggestion arose from the parents of our small-but-mighty group of children. After combining youth groups a year ago and VBS programs over the summer, the question became, Well, what if we did joint Sunday School? St. Luke s UMC, it turned out, was wondering the same thing. Joining our children s classes allows a number of benefits for each church: we ll have enough children to fill agespecific classes, enough teachers to teach them in rotation, and enough attendance (we hope!) so no child will be left as the only student in her or his class. Not only that, we re joining our adult education offerings. One adult and one seniors class will meet at St. Luke s and one adult class will meet at LCOS. We hope this will also help bolster attendance and fellowship. We ll also host the youth class. So remember, we ll not only be the beneficiaries of this new venture but also the host. We ll have to set out tables in the preschool wing for adults and children and clean them up in time for worship (and in time for the St. Luke s folks to get to their service). We ll have to show up to welcome others so we can all learn together. We will not just join in the fellowship of these classes but contribute to it. Pastor Lisa put it this way in her November Pastor s Letter to St. Luke s: A lot of discussion and prayer has gone into this decision-making...it says a lot that laity, not clergy, originated this idea that has only increased in scope since it was proposed...st. Luke s and LCOS collaborate in this new adventure for no reason other than this: that our faith in, and knowledge of, the Scriptures might increase...in the collaboration, the give and take, this ecumenical way, St. Luke s and LCOS are gathering around the Gospel. So come, let s gather around the Gospel. I ll be looking for you there! I m excited to co-teach the Bible Study on the Book of Job that is migrating over to LCOS. Find out more on page 2 -- and plan to join us -- we ll be setting a seat for you! Your servant, Pastor Katie

2 2 VOLUME 17, NO.11 St. Luke s Children: Pre-K Lower Elementary Upper Elementary Adults: Crucial Conversations Book Study Led by Rev. Lisa Sykes Seniors: 70s & 80s Joint venture between Lutheran Church of Our Saviour + St. Luke s United Methodist Classes for all ages! Sundays 9:15am 10:15am LCOS Youth: Middle & High School Adults: The Book of Job Led by Gary Dunlap & Rev. Katie Pocalyko CLASSES START NOVEMBER 5TH CHILDREN S CLASSES KICK-OFF PARTY NOVEMBER 5TH

3 3 VOLUME 17, NO.11 Richmond Interfaith Inter-Racial Thanksgiving Service Hoods Temple AME Zion Church November 19th at 4:00pm Preacher: Rev. Brent Melton, Rector at All Saints Episcopal Church Joint Community Thanksgiving Service Walmsley Boulevard United Methodist Church 2950 Walmsley Boulevard Richmond, VA Tuesday, November 21st at 7:00pm Preacher: Rev. Katie Pocalyko Joint service of : Elkhardt Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, Lyndale Baptist Church, Southminster Presbyterian Church, St. Luke s United Methodist Church, and Walmsley Boulevard United Methodist Church Joint Community Thanksgiving Service Combined Choir Walmsley Boulevard United Methodist Church November 21st at 7:00pm The choirs of the churches listed above for the Joint Community Thanksgiving Service will be combining to perform In the Spirit of Thanksgiving by Joseph Martin, arr. Brad Nix.

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5 5 This Christmas, St. Luke s at is going to tell the best story ever, CHRISTMAS Vacation Bible School! On 4 Wednesdays, November 15, 29, December 6 & 13, from 5:30 7:30 pm, Children from age 3 to 5th grade are invited to learn the Christmas story a little better, through drama, art, lesson, music and celebration time! The program includes a meal and all the materials for our manger crafts. An optional $5 donation per night ($20 for four sessions) will go toward craft supplies and the kid-friendly dinner meal provided. Parents, drop the kid(s) off, and then go have dinner out, do some Santa shopping, or take a nap! Parents, we ask you to return at 6:50 pm to pick up your child in their classroom and join us as a family for that night s kid-centric celebration of the Christmas story! The children will perform their Christmas songs of praise, and we will recap what the children have learned, thank God for our blessings, and sing 2 Christmas Carols by candlelight! Let us help you tell the best story of all time, at the best story-time you can find this Christmas! Spaces are limited. Registration information on St. Luke s UMC Facebook Page. Questions? Call

6 6 VOLUME 17 NO.11 Lutheran Church of Our Saviour + St. Luke s United Methodist 2017 YOUTH GROUP SCHEDULE November 5: Pancake Lunch Fundraiser (After Worship) November 11 (Saturday): Help with LCOS Craft Fair November 19: Christmas Skit Practice (4pm-6pm) December 3: Christmas Skit Practice (4pm-6pm) December 10: Christmas Dinner Play (4pm-7pm) December 17: Christmas Light Show (5pm-8pm) *Youth group meets at St. Luke s UMC unless noted otherwise. THE GIVING TREE PRESCHOOL The children had so much fun at their class parties and the trunk or treat costume parade in the parking lot! This month we concentrate on learning about our families and being thankful for the many blessings we all have. The children will learn about the Native Americans helping the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. The bible story is The Ten Lepers and how only one returned to say thank you. We will have our Thanksgiving Feast on the 21 st. The Police Department will also visit.

7 Lutheran Church of Our Saviour 19th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair Saturday, November 11, :30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 7 Arts and crafts, re-purposed furniture Baked goods, canned goods, & Cupcake corner Breakfast and lunch concession This year s proceeds will support: Richmond Friends of the Homeless Richmond Fisher House Giving Tree Pre-School Bring your family and friends for a day of fun, fellowship, good food and holiday shopping! Directions: Our church is located at 9601 Hull Street Rd. N Chesterfield, VA /4 mile east of Courthouse Rd. on the right (We re across the street from Wells Fargo Bank.)

8 8 History of the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother The Christmas Mother Program began in 1972, when Miss Lucy Corr, then Director of Social Services, found she could no longer handle the special needs of those in our area who would not have Christmas without help. Miss Corr enlisted the aid of volunteers from the community to raise funds, secure sponsors and promote the purpose of the Christmas Mother Program which is to ensure that no child in our community is without food, new toys, and clothing, and no elderly person is forgotten as we celebrate the holidays. A Christmas Mother has been chosen each year to represent and promote these ideals. Each year since 1972, this committee of volunteers with the generous support of their community, has provided assistance during the holiday season to those who are less fortunate in Chesterfield County and the City of Colonial Heights. LCOS Christmas Mother Gifts Once again our church will joyfully participate in the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Program. This will be our 24th year helping families at Christmas with gifts of clothing, toys, and beautiful quilts sewn with love by our Ties That Bind ministry. We will be sponsoring 5 families this year. The tree containing ornaments with the families desires will be in the narthex until November 19th. If you would like to participate in this program, please do the following: Select an ornament from the tree and record your name on the sheet provided. Return item gift wrapped with the ornament taped to the outside of the package. Only tape the ribbon portion of the ornament, as we need to be able to read both sides of the ornament. Avoid gift bags if possible. They are difficult to pack up for delivery. All gifts need to be returned to the narthex by Thursday, November 30th. Please contact Clare Haack with questions or concerns. (804) or chaack87@gmail.com

9 9 VOLUME 17, NO.11 December 3: Hanging of the Greens & Advent Wreath Making 4pm December 10: James River Ringers Concert 3pm December 17: Tri-Church Christmas Choir Southminster Pres Church 7pm December 24: Christmas Eve Services of Holy Communion 10:30am & 8pm December 31: Service of Lesson & Carols 10:30am

10 10 VOLUME 17 NO.11 ANNOUNCEMENTS Rebecca Circle On Thursday, November 2 at 10:00am, all women are invited to join Rebecca Circle for Bible study and fellowship. They will conclude their study taken from the GATHER magazine on the 3 rd Article of the Apostles Creed, I Believe in the Holy Spirit. Lutheran Family Services: Thanksgiving Baskets Items still needed: mashed potatoes, and stuffing (4 each); hot chocolate and small boxes of tea (6 each). All other items complete. Please bring remaining items by Sunday, November 5th. Your generosity and help with this project is greatly appreciated. 5 th Sunday Dining Out The Sunday Diners will be going to Candela s Italian Restaurant on Sunday, November 19 th at 12:30pm. The restaurant is located in the Ivy Mount Shopping Center on Midlothian Turnpike. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex by November 12. I have enjoyed coordinating Dining Out for over 15 years and now feel it is time for someone else to take over. Could that person be you? -Frances Peterson BLOOD DRIVE LCOS will host a blood drive on Saturday, November 11 from 9am-Noon. For questions or to make an appointment please contact Sharon Johnson sgj1220@gmail.com Appointments are preferred, walk-ins are welcome. *Long sleeve holiday t-shirts for participants! (While supplies last!) Annual Congregational Meeting LCOS Annual Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, November 12 th immediately following 10:30am worship. We will elect 5 council members: 3 for three-year terms, 1 for a two-year term, and 1 for a one-year term. We will also approve the 2018 budget. Pancake Lunch The LCOS + St. Luke s UMC Youth Group will be making and selling pancakes after worship November 5th as a fundraiser for their trip to the ELCA National Youth Gathering in Summer 2018.

11 11 VOLUME 17, NO.11 To My LCOS Family, As we approach the end of 2017 and look ahead to next year, our congregation faces several challenges. LCOS as a congregation is experiencing difficulties in Christian education, finances, and leadership in the ministries that are vital to the health of our congregation. The past couple of years we've found that we cannot serve our congregation and community as we have in the past. To meet these challenges, we successfully partnered with other local churches, for music, outreach (CARITAS), VBS, and youth group activities, and now education. Although these partnerships have been successful in keeping these ministries going, and while we have formed strong alliances with these other church families, there is an underlying problem within LCOS that has been growing over the past few years, and leaning on these partnerships has enabled this problem to grow to a critical point. The problem is a lack of participation, along with a complacent attitude toward the mission of LCOS, which as our mission statement says, is to nurture God's people through worship, study, and fellowship, preparing them to go forth as disciples of Christ, proclaiming the Gospel to the world. I realize we don't have the numbers on our own to do all of the work we've historically been able to accomplish at LCOS. Most of us have served this congregation faithfully in many ways over the years, but now, at this critical time, I'm urging you to devote more time to help fulfill the mission of LCOS. Consider these verses from the Bible: 1 Peter 4:10; Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God s grace in its various forms. Colossians 3:23; Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Romans 12:11; Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Next month we will be holding our annual Congregational Meeting and at that time we will be nominating candidates for the Church Council for This year it's even more critical that we get a commitment from the congregation to elect a fully staffed strong Council for two reasons. 1. Because we lost two Council Members in 2017 and we'll have to replace the usual three, we need five new council members to start in As our Ministry Teams have withered away over the past few years, it's imperative that the Council pick up much of the planning and execution that used to be done by the Ministry Teams if we wish to continue to support our Mission Statement and the partnerships we've formed with other local congregations. In keeping with the theme expressed by Pastor Katie in her recent sermon from Matthew 22, I am inviting you to come join me on the Church Council as we plan the future direction of LCOS. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I'm hoping we can get enough people to commit their time and joyfully accept this invitation. We need to have a list of candidates by Sunday Nov 5th to prepare for the meeting the following Sunday. If you'd like to accept, please let us know with a reply to this or by contacting Pastor Katie or any of the church council members before November 5. One final verse from 2 Corinthians to close: Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. In Peace, Walt Strohecker, Church Council Member

12 12 VOLUME 17 NO.11 Birthdays Gail Kimpfler 11/01 Donald Turbin 11/02 Jessica Williams 11/02 Ruth McClintock 11/03 Bryce Weaver 11/06 Adam Caudle 11/14 Susan Kish 11/14 Craig Nelson 11/14 Keith Pomroy 11/17 Victor Caudle 11/20 Angela McCoy 11/24 Dino Montez 11/27 Stephanie Dorton 11/29 Cindy Huston 11/29 Anniversaries Sam & Shirley Hawthorne 11/01 Richmond & Judy Zehmer 11/01 Charles & Wanda Crowder 11/12 Charles & Jennifer Ward 11/12 Bill & Cammie Walker 11/14 Bob & Gail Falk 11/26 Donald & Lori Turbin 11/26 Herbert & Frances Peterson 11/30 December Newsletter Deadline The deadline for the December newsletter is November 25th. Please or call Emily Cruciata with your information. or Did we miss an anniversary or birthday? Please let us know! or call

13 29 10:30 AM Worship Service 11:30 AM Reformation Potluck 5 NOVEMBER 2017 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service 11:30 AM Council Meeting 11:30 AM Youth Group Pancake Fundraiser 12 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service 11:30 AM Congregational Meeting 19 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service 12:00 PM 5th Sunday Diners 26 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Worship Service :00 AM - 6:00 PM Reformation 500 Event in Washington D.C :30 AM Richmond Friends of the Homeless :00 AM Rebecca Circle Office CLOSED - Thanksgiving 30 3 Office Closed 10 Office Closed 17 Office Closed 24 Office Closed 1 Office Closed 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Outreach Meeting :30 AM - 2:30 PM Craft Fair 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Blood Drive VOLUME 17, NO.11

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16 16 LUTHERAN CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR 9601 Hull Street Road North Chesterfield, VA Phone: Fax: Richmond Friends of the Homeless The Outreach Ministry served 82 Richmond Friends of the Homeless on October 11, Those who prepared casseroles were: Jane Avery, Diane Beall, Pat Dorton, Kayleigh Dumont, Clare Haack, Shirley Hawthorne, Cindy Huston, Sharon Johnson, Gail Kimpfler, Kaarina Modiri, Jules Roinnel, Angie Seay, Robin Scheivert, and Betty Spivey. Those who served were: Jane Avery, Shirley Hawthorne, Gail Kimpfler, and Jules Roinnel. Thank you to all who prepare casseroles and serve each month. We always serve RFOH the second Wednesday of each month and welcome new helpers all the time! We could not provide this ministry without your support. Richmond Friends of the Homeless still need casseroles for Wednesday, November 8th! Please see the sign-up sheet in the narthex! Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Thank you to everyone who helped with the potluck. Al those who set up, took the food in and got it on the tables, cleaned up afterwards and set up for preschool. Also, a big thank you to all who prepared the delicious food. Frances Peterson You have been so thoughtful praying for my health and so many other things including fun on my birthday! I have wanted to thank everyone individually but my eyesight is not up to it. I pray for you also and give thanks that I have friends such as you in my life. Thank you all for your affections. With Love, Helen Bailey A HUGE thank you to Walt Kimpfler and Jules Roinnel for renovating the outside bulletin board! It looks brand new and is really eye catching to advertise all the exciting things going on at LCOS! Thank you!