CONFIRMATION. Living Word Lutheran Church confirmed its sixth. What s InsIde

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1 LIVING WORD LUTHERAN CHURCH CHURCH NOVEMBER 2017 NEWSLETTER CONFIRMATION Living Word Lutheran Church confirmed its sixth class of confirmands on Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017 with Pastor Kent Groethe officiating. Trevor Nolting, Matthew Christiansen, Jessica Van Peursem and Aiden Boerger studied for one year under Pastor Craig Werling, focusing on the Bible and Catechism. In seventh grade they read much of the Old Testament and learned about Lutheran history and doctrine, the Lord s Prayer and the Ten Commandments. In eighth grade they learned the Apostle s Creed under Linda Anderson and about the Sacraments, under Nanci Van Peursem. They each spent time with their mentors Joanne Schmig (Trevor), David Kruger (Matthew), Jackie Olson (Jessica) and Deb Buttke (Aiden) learning about faith and writing and presenting a personal Faith Statement. We pray that our Father in heaven, for Jesus sake, continues to renew and increase in them the gift of the Holy Spirit, to the strengthening of their faith and witness, to their growth in grace, to their patience in suffering and to the blessed hope of everlasting life. Amen. What s InsIde Halloween St. Lucia Diabetes Support Group Youth News Fall 4 Jesus Women of the Word Pastor s Letter Council Minutes November Event Calendar Nov. Birth/Ann. Calendar

2 CommunIty halloween: Pastor Kent, Kay and devon Balling handed out candy and glow sticks at treat street downtown milbank. CommunIty Diabetes Support Group Milbank Area Diabetes Support Group will meet on November 19 at 6:30 PM. November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. Please help us raise awareness. Awareness is the first step to finding a cure. St. Lucia Breakfast Living Word Church Women are again in the process of planning a St Lucia breakfast event. It will be held on Saturday, December 9 starting at 9:30 AM. Women are invited to join us for traditional Swedish food, fellowship and a program of inspirational readings and music. Because of limited seating, tickets are required. The tickets are free and may be picked up at the church office during the week or before and after church services on Sunday. You may invite friends but be sure to pick up tickets for them also. Workers will be needed to help in the kitchen the morning of the breakfast and to assist with the cleanup. If you are willing and able to assist with food preparation and serving or with decorating prior to the event please sign up on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall.

3 youth youth news What a beautiful fall we are having. I have been amazed at the beauty of God s creation with the different colors of red, orange, yellow and green around town. What an awesome creator we have! The youth will be participating in a food scavenger hunt on Wednesday, November 22 from 3:30-5:30 PM. This will be for both the junior and senior high youth. We will be asking for volunteers to drive for this event so let me know if you would be willing to do that. A notice will be in the bulletin prior to the scavenger hunt so if we come to your home, you will have an idea of what kind of items we will be asking for. The food items will be donated to the local food pantry. The junior and senior high have an opportunity to participate in a weekend recharge retreat at Okoboji Bible Camp. The weekend for grades 6-8 will be November and for grades 9-12 it will be the weekend of November Pastor Kent and I hope that all the youth will take advantage of this opportunity to grow in Christ and deepen their faith. Contact Kay if interested in going I will need to register very soon. Continue to pray for the youth in our church and community. God has blessed us with amazing young people that have a heart for God. Keep praying that they can be lights and witnesses to others around them that do not know Jesus. In Him we serve, Kay ethan sullivan got his first deer on 10/16/17. he did a mentor hunt with his confirmation mentor Brad olson.

4 youth The Fall 4 Jesus festival was this past Saturday, October 28 from 1-3:00 PM and we had various activities such as bobbing for apples, pumpkin bowling, painting pumpkins, fall crafts and face painting. We had around 20 kids and 7 adult volunteers...a wonderful time was had by all!

5 Women of the LIvIng Word Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. I THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 When we feel burdened and worried about tomorrow, we can thank God for who he is and his promise to never leave or forsake us. We have been blessed with the free gift of salvation and eternal life. We should count all of our blessings and be thankful on Thanksgiving Day and all throughout the year. The annual BAKE AND CRAFT SALE will be Sunday, November 19. Everyone is encouraged to help by donating holiday goodies, candies, pies, yeast breads, etc. or purchasing them at the sale. We ask that baked goods be brought on Saturday the 18 from 4-6:00 PM or early Sunday morning. Sales will begin during Sunday School hour. We are also accepting donations of craft items. These must be priced by the person who brings them and if not sold, they will need to take them back home. All proceeds from the sale will go to Samaritans Purse, a Franklin Graham ministry, currently bringing help and hope to hurricane victims. MISSION PROJECT for November and December is the MITTEN TREE. The tree will be set up in the Fellowship Hall in November and you may place all sizes of warm mittens and gloves on the tree. They will be taken to the Grant County Courthouse for local needs. Plans are being made for the annual ST. LUCIA BREAKFAST which will be held on December 9 this year. A sign up sheet will be on the table in the Fellowship Hall for anyone who is able and willing to help with food, serving or decorating. The proceeds from that event will be given to Orphan Grain Train and designated for disaster relief. We are in the process of developing a KITCHEN AND FUNERAL SERVING COMMITTEE of about six women who will familiarize themselves with how funeral meals or lunches are served and where everything is located in the kitchen. Two of them would be available for each funeral, if needed, to assist Chairpersons of the Servant Teams in organizing the meals, set up and serving. They would also be in charge of identifying items needed and purchase any needed items for the kitchen. If you feel called to serve in this way, please sign on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall. One last item, the time and date of our DECEMBER GENERAL MEETING has been changed. It will be December 12 at 2:00 PM. Pastor Kent Groethe will lead the Bible Study and all women are invited to attend. New officers will be installed. Wishing you all a happy and Blessed Thanksgiving. Joanne schmig Living Word Women s Coordinator

6 Pastor s Letter BLIND AS A BAT II Corinthians 5:6-10 We live by faith, not by sight. (v. 7) You are as blind as a bat. People often use this phrase to criticize someone for not seeing or finding something they are looking for. While it is true that a bat s eyesight is extremely poor and of little use when flying, it is not true that they cannot see where they are traveling. Bats actually see very well, just not with their eyes. They see with their ears. As they let out sounds, echoes return and given them a clear terrain to avoid objects. In reality, they are marvelous navigators. They avoid objects easily. Their ears are the recipients of messages that are guides. Christians are called to be as blind as bats because we are people of the Word. Consequently, we live by what enters our ears, not by what we see with our eyes. God s Word is trustworthy. Our eyes deceive us. When our eyes see only death in a limp body, the Word declares that there is life more than ever. When our eyes see God nowhere, the Word claims that he is everywhere. When our eyes see that by giving away one loses, the Word states that by giving one receives. Our eyes see a future that may be without hope. The Word says that we have a certain future with Christ. Too often, we trust our eyes more than our ears. My wife, majoring in music in college, took ear-training classes. Maybe we should do the same. The bat automatically depends upon his ears. We need to learn to do the same. When the Word doesn t lead us, we see things imperfectly. When it does, we move swiftly and safely. We cannot trust reality as it appears, but we can trust His Word. Don t be afraid to be as blind as a bat! God, help me to trust in you more then what my eyes behold. Renew in me a respect for your Word. Help me to read it and allow it to guide me. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

7 CounCIL minutes Living Word Lutheran Church Council Minutes, October 11, 2017 MEMBERS PRESENT: Pastor Groethe, Dave Hepper, Larry Olson, Brad Olson, Mary Kinder and Roslyn Reich. Pastor Groethe opened the meeting with prayer. Meeting s agenda approved. SECRETARY AND TREASURER S REPORTS: Motion made by Larry Olson and seconded by Mary Kinder to approve reports. Approved. PASTOR S OBSERVATIONS: Pastor Groethe attended the LCMC Convention in Minneapolis October There were about 900 in attendance, from the 750 LCMC churches in the US and Canada. Pastor is planning to take vacation time the 1st week in December. A recommendation to use half the lights in the Fellowship Room when the room is not in use and consider an appropriate temperature setting. $235 will be used to purchase licensing rights to show movies. Pastor reminded us that God wants us all to go out and witness for God. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT REPORT: Brad Olson gave an update on the Audio/Visual upgrade for the sanctuary. The TV screen and sound board are here. The computer has not yet arrived. Linda Anderson is researching additional banners to be hung on the back wall. The extension of communion rail step landing is under consideration as to the best options for this project. Matching carpeting is being researched. Hail storm damage has been inspected by the insurance adjuster. Noble Roofing Company has been contracted to re-shingle the church and garage and replace gutters this spring. Replacement of damaged exterior lights resulting from the hail also will be completed. WORSHIP & EVANGELISM REPORT: Council sign-up for serving communion during church services updated. A recommendation to review Servant Team lists was made to accommodate snowbird availability. Roslyn will meet with Pam Nelson to review. YOUTH & EDUCATION REPORT: A table will be set-up on main street for Treat Street trick or treaters. The Shoe Box project was discussed. Congregation is encouraged to bring wrapped boxes that are filled with gifts. If there are not enough items to fill the boxes, council has approved money from Thrivent to be used to purchase additional items. OLD BUSINESS The automatic door openers have been installed. A reminder will be issued to turn off openers before propping doors open. The curb and gutter project has been completed. Asphalt will be completed this fall. NEW BUSINESS Visitor Welcome packets will be assembled. Mary will meet with Pam to organize. The annual budget was reviewed. Annual reports and annual meeting planning has been scheduled for November 19. A nominating committee update was given. Meeting adjourned with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, roslyn reich

8 Arnold Rehn Ardell Barck