First Lutheran Church November 2018

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Marylou Weaver
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1 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV) When I was on my recent teaching trip to South Africa, I met a wonderful Dutch couple named Geert and Martien Van der Veen. They are Christian missionaries who have spent their lives sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. During our breakfast conversation, they talked about how they both became Christians one night when they went to hear Corrie ten Boom speak. They went, not because they wanted to become believers, but because Martien s grandfather had been a friend of the ten Boom family many years earlier. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and when the Van der Veens heard Corrie speak that night, they both gave their hearts to Jesus Christ! Corrie ten Boom was a prolific writer and speaker in the years after World War II. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, was made into a movie in The Hiding Place tells the story about the ten Boom family during the war. The war began in 1939 and the German army rolled into The Netherlands in May of The ten Booms were faithful Christians, and when they saw that the Nazis were rounding up the Jews, they decided to act. They asked a Christian neighbor who was a carpenter to build a hiding place, where they could hide Jewish people from the Nazi occupiers. Martien s grandfather was that carpenter! The hiding place in the ten Boom home became a sort of underground railroad where Jewish refugees were protected until they could be smuggled out of the country. But their secret was discovered by the Nazis on February 28, The entire ten Boom family was rounded up and sent to the concentration camps. Corrie never saw her parents again. She and her sister Betsy were sent to the Ravensbruck women s camp in northern Germany. Betsy would eventually die there on December 16, 1944, just fifteen days before the camp was liberated by the Allies. During their time in the camp, Corrie and Betsy never lost their faith. Corrie said that they learned to give thanks to God for even the smallest of things. A powerful example of this attitude is found in their story about the fleas. The barracks where they were held was overcrowded and flea-infested. One day they were reading from a small Bible that Corrie had managed to smuggle into the camp. When they came across 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Betsy decided that they should give thanks to God for the fleas. Corrie said that she would do no such thing! But Betsy persisted, saying that God could use anything for good. So Corrie gave in and they prayed to God, thanking him even for the fleas. Over the next several months a wonderful, but curious, thing happened. They found that the guards never entered their barracks! This meant that the women in that building were never assaulted. It also meant that they were able to hold Bible studies and prayer meetings without any interference from the guards. Corrie and Betsy were able to lead many women to faith in Christ. Only when the camp was liberated did Corrie learn why the guards had left them alone and never entered their barracks. One of the guards told her that they stayed away because they knew that the building was infested with fleas! And Corrie thought of her sister Betsy and her insistence that they give thanks for all things, even for the fleas. This Thanksgiving, I hope that you will give thanks to God for all of the blessings that he has given to you in your life. And if you are struggling in your life right now, if you are wondering if there is anything that you can truly be thankful for, try to remember the fleas of Ravensbruck. Try to remember to give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Pastor Shields Page 1

2 Deadline for the Bulletin is Thursday morning 10 am. Deadline for the Newsletter is the 20 th of each month. Listen to or watch Pastor s sermons on our website. OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 22 & 23. Council Summary: October 9, 2018 Office Hours: 9-12 & 1-4 Mon. Thurs. Website: Check us out on Facebook. Phone: office.flcprinceton@gmail.com. Members present: Glenn Allen, Pete May, Judy Mugerdichian, Dianne Van Drew, Pastor Shields & June Ohlson. Excused: Mary Ann Smith & David Ohlson. September minutes and financial reports were reviewed and accepted. Pastor s report the usual monthly activities, he performed 2 private baptisms, leaves for Africa on October 12, attended Cubs Bus trip, Sunday School Rally Day, hosted LCMC Illinois District Pastors Meeting and did the Red Covered Bridge Radio show on WZOE. Marvin Dyer passed away October 8 th, and he asked for an additional Sunday off from preaching after Christmas, which council approved. Administrator s report Average September attendance 101. The 2019 offering envelopes arrived, the City s Electronic Recycling is October 20 th and we have several things to dispose of, we have acquired a SMART TV which Pastor would like to have mounted on the wall in the Library between the windows. Council gave approval. Property the push plate button outside the Elevator entrance, the ADCS Company from Princeton has replaced the transmitters and it is now working, a light fixture in the office is out, there is a bid to replace the spot lights in the sanctuary with money coming from Memorial, while those are being replaced, we will replace the smoke alarms in the sanctuary, keeping an eye on the spot on the ceiling, planning to get a roofer to check it out. Service & Mission Next Mobile Food Pantry is November 8 th, Our Table October 22, we provide entrée, desserts & volunteers. Men s Prayer breakfast October 6 th, send off for Kari Richardson, the next Freedom House collection is November 18 th, working on reallocating benevolences for Outreach & Fellowship Cubs Bus Trip great success, will do it again. Buddy Bags in October 5:30pm on Wednesdays at Hampshire Colony, Harvest Party is October 27 th at Scruggs Pond. Youth & Education - No meeting. Worship & Prayer Accompanists for December Advent services, Altar guild meeting on 10/7 after church, all candles on hand for Christmas, discussed Carol Sing details, will have a Hymn Sing on Dec. 9 th during worship, update Christmas swags, and discussed Advent suppers & Thanksgiving Eve Pie Social. Dianne will be on WZOE Open Line November 12 th. Finance & Stewardship Budget is behind $14,300 for the year. Endowment A request to give Pastor $3000 for missions to take to South Africa was approved by council. Memorial reviewed a proposal for lighting in the sanctuary and agreed to pay for the new speaker in the nursery. Council approved the sanctuary lights. New Business David Ohlson called from the LCMC Gathering to report on the event. Page 2

Pastor s Bible Studies 11:00am Wed. 7:00pm Thurs. NO STUDY Nov. 21 st & 22 nd.

Contact Karen May if you plan to attend.

River Bend Mobile Food Bank Thursday, November 8 th Kramer Building BC Fairgrounds Regis.

The Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long November 25 2:00pm Featuring: Charlie GeBeck on the organ The Monarch Brass will

It will be here before you know it! Ushers & kitchen help & food donations will be needed.

TREE DECORATING November 18 th After worship With the Carol Sing coming the next week, we need to get the

3 Pastor s Bible Studies 11:00am Wed. 7:00pm Thurs. NO STUDY Nov. 21 st & 22 nd. Rebekah Circle Meeting on Tuesday, November 13 at 9:00am. This is moved up 1 week due to Thanksgiving. Contact Karen May if you plan to attend. Kid s Club Super Sunday November 25 th Come for some fun activities today! River Bend Mobile Food Bank Thursday, November 8 th Kramer Building BC Fairgrounds Regis. 10:15am Volunteers report at 9am ANNUAL AUCTION SUNDAY, November 4 th And don t forget the Potluck Dinner! Be prepared to enjoy yourself. Thanks to Dave & Bernice Schuetz & David & Emalie Ohlson this year for organizing everything. The Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long November 25 2:00pm Featuring: Charlie GeBeck on the organ The Monarch Brass will be back and the Praise & Shine Singers will join this year. Tell you friends & neighbors! It will be here before you know it! Ushers & kitchen help & food donations will be needed. There will be sign-ups out this month. TREE DECORATING November 18 th After worship With the Carol Sing coming the next week, we need to get the decorations up. If you can help, gather after worship to decorate the sanctuary. Freedom House Wish List Please bring any of the following to church on November 18, plastic bags (quart & gallon) aluminum foil saran wrap paper towels powder dishwasher soap dish soap liquid laundry soap bath towels & cloths toilet paper body soap shampoo new or hardly used small blankets B-Part Bus passes for transportation T he Quilters Will not meet at all during N ovember and December. Prayer Shawl will not meet N ov. 13. Page 3

4 ADVENT WORSHIP & SUPPERS Again this year, we will worship a 7pm Wednesdays December 5 th, 12 th, & 19 th. Before we worship, let s share a meal of soup & sandwiches in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:30pm. If you would like to share your special soup one night, look for sign-ups in December. STEWARDSHIP TIME! The 2019 Stewardship season kicks off with the Auction on November 4 th. During November, the mailing with your 2019 pledge card and Time & Talent will be mailed. Prayerfully consider all of these things offering envelopes will be available to pick up in December. LCW NEWS 12 people attended the October OWLS Pie Fellowship. Thanks JoAnne Kloepping & Gay Kyle for serving them. The quilters packed their quilts for LWR on October 25 th, the final count will be in next month s newsletter. Thank you to quilters for the beautiful quilts, to everyone who contributed to the School & Personal Care kits and to Karen & Pete May for delivering the LWR items on Oct 27 th. The only November event is the Church Women United s Human Rights Day (formerly World Community Day) on November 2 nd, 6:00p.m. at 1 st United Methodist Church. The theme is In Harmony with God s People and Dianne Van Drew is our representative. All women are invited to attend. The Rebekah Circle will meet the 2 nd Tuesday (November 13 th ) instead of the 3 rd Tuesday. The Prayer Shawl ministry will not meet November 13 th. They will meet November 27 th at 10am. If you would like to join the prayer shawl group, they will teach you how to knit or crochet. The quilters will not meet in November or December. In December, the OWLS Christmas Luncheon is December 6 th with Rebekah & Lydia Circles hosting. All of our OWLS (Older Wiser Lutherans) are invited to attend. Great food, fellowship, faith, & friends! The LCW Christmas Luncheon is December 11 th at 11:30am at The Plantation Grill (restaurant at Chapel Hill-the old Country Club). We will order off the menu and have a sign up for those attending sign up at your circle meeting or at the back of the Church by December 4 th. The speaker will be Dana Van Autreve from Second Story. Several birthdays in November are for: Mary Ann Smith, Mary Lee Twidell, Kim Horton- Brenneman, Laurie Anderson, and Lani Swinford wish them a very Happy Birthday. Get Ready For Our Auction & Christmas Carol Sing!!! Page 4

OWLS Christmas Luncheon Thursday, December 6 th 11:00am All of our Older, Wiser Lutherans are invited to attend this event.

PIE FELLOWSHIP Join us for pie downstairs after the Wed. Nov. 21 Thanksgiving Eve Service!

LCW Christmas Luncheon Tuesday, December 11 th 11:30am @ The Plantation Grill (Formerly Chapel Hill or The Country Club) All ladies of the church are

2019 ALTAR FLOWER RESERVATION FORM I/we would like to donate Altar Flowers for the following reason: on or near, 2018.

5 OWLS Christmas Luncheon Thursday, December 6 th 11:00am All of our Older, Wiser Lutherans are invited to attend this event. Come for worship & communion at 11am and stay for lunch. You may RSVP to the office: PIE FELLOWSHIP Join us for pie downstairs after the Wed. Nov. 21 Thanksgiving Eve Service! If you have a favorite pie you d like to bring, that would be wonderful! LCW Christmas Luncheon Tuesday, December 11 th The Plantation Grill (Formerly Chapel Hill or The Country Club) All ladies of the church are invited to attend. Please tell your circle leaders that you will be attending. Dana Van Autreve of Second Story will be our speaker ALTAR FLOWER RESERVATION FORM I/we would like to donate Altar Flowers for the following reason: on or near, I/we would prefer to contribute $ toward an Altar Flower Fund to be used when needed at the discretion of the Altar Guild. Signed Altar flower forms may be placed in the offering or turned into the office. Please pay the florist directly for the flowers. Any florist you wish may be chosen. Flowers by Julia offers altar flowers at an approximate cost of $30-35 depending on the arrangement. Garden flowers are also welcomed. Page 5

First Lutheran Church September 2018

First Lutheran Church September 2018 Jesus said to his disciples, Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14, ESV) When I was serving in my first congregation, I was walking through