Star. Celebrating Renewal: Martin Luther The Gospel. Communion brings God s grace for you

Transcription

1 Star Northeastern Iowa Evangelical NOVEMber 2017 VoluME 30, Issue 10 Lutheran Church in America Celebrating Renewal: Martin Luther The Gospel Communion brings God s grace for you by Marcia Hahn OUR OPEN HANDS. GOD S WORK. Mission and service go hand-inhand with being a Lutheran. Women s groups sew quilts for Lutheran World Relief, youth join mission trips, and congregations support the broader church through mission support. The ELCA s annual God s work. Our hands. Sunday epitomizes the many ways that Lutherans use their hands and talents to serve God by serving others. Amid this busyness, Bishop Steven Ullestad reminds people that there is a time when it s okay to step back and let God be the one doing the work to present open hands to receive the bread and wine and God s gift of grace through Holy Communion. The most evangelical moment of a worship service is when the words for you are spoken as part of the sacrament of Holy Communion, Ullestad says. In communion we receive the body and the blood of Christ, given and shed for you. This is what brings the gift of faith in us and renews that faith in us, and God is the one doing the work. WATER, BREAD, WINE AND WORD Grace is received through the Gospel the Good News of Jesus Christ and through the sacraments of baptism and communion. Bishop Steven Ullestad prepares the Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly for communion. These are the means of grace, or the ways that God s grace is given. Ullestad says he likes to explain the means of grace to confirmation students by comparing it to the means of transportation, or the different ways that people travel cars, buses, bicycles, boats, planes, trains. A person who has faith in these words given for you and shed for you for the forgiveness of sin is really worthy and well prepared. Small Catechism The means of grace are the Gospel and the sacraments, Ullestad says. In This Issue >> Continued on page 2 Communion brings God s grace for you Where is our Nathan? Why is an offering part of the worship service? 5 7 Congregations 8 Prayer Calendar New Synod Networks

2 Communion brings God s grace for you << Continued from page 1 We have daily devotions to hear the Gospel and we attend worship every week. For the sacraments, we use the promise of God and an earthly element to make it real water, bread, wine and word. Without the means of grace, faith will wither on the vine and die. Faith begins through the sacrament of baptism. Ullestad says that Lutherans baptize babies with the word of God and the faith of the people to create faith in an infant state. Parents help the child grow in faith until the child can make the faith his or her own. Much like a parent chooses a child to adopt, God claims a child through baptism. Likewise, it is God s decision to show up in bread and wine through communion. In this sacrament the crucified and risen Christ is present, giving his true body and blood as food and drink. This real presence is a mystery. Principle 33, The Use of the Means of Grace Communion is where the faith is fed, and the body and blood of Christ is given and shed for you with Jesus really present, Ullestad says. Communion feeds the faith in spirit, and faith receives the mystery. It s about letting God be God. Lutherans baptize babies because a confession of faith is not required to be worthy. Traditions regarding communion, however, have evolved over the years regarding how frequently to use communion and at what age communion can be received. Ullestad encourages congregations to use the ELCA s document The Use of the Means of Grace to have conversations about the roles of the congregation and parents in raising children in faith. The Lutheran confessions say we should have communion on a regular or weekly basis, but in the early days of this country there was a shortage of clergy, so pastors traveled by horseback from one congregation to another, Ullestad says. He explains that this meant that communion was often offered about once a quarter, especially in the Midwest. Over time this changed to once a month and increasingly churches have returned to the confessional desire to have Holy Communion every Sunday. Ullestad shares how the congregation he served in the 1980s made the switch to weekly communion by having high school students take on the responsibility of caring for the communion ware. This relieved some of the work for the altar guild and gave the students an opportunity to serve. Weekly communion turned out to be one of the best kinds of outreach to new members we could have had, he says. Many Catholics were divorced and looking for a church that had a high regard and respect for the sacrament. We also found that medical workers would go months without receiving Holy Communion. During that time our attendance grew 50 percent. The congregation also studied why a certain age or level of knowledge was required before taking communion. The congregation concluded that the decision to begin communion can be made between the pastor, child and parents within the parameters of the congregation. Each family had its own understanding of when their children would be ready for communion. Common mission among the congregations of this church depends on mutual respect for varied practice in many areas of church life including the ages of first Communion. Principle 37, The Use of the Means of Grace The congregation offered communion preparation classes as much for parents as the children. Many parents had not studied at the church since confirmation, so they were eager to learn more, Ullestad says. I think it was a decision that added great vitality in faith in all generations. Ullestad says his favorite memory related to communion came more recently when he visited a congregation where he met a five-year-old child who understood perfectly the meaning of communion. The boy showed Ullestad how he held his hands to receive the bread, with one hand on top of the other. He told me that this was the manger, and I put Jesus in the manger, Ullestad says. This was the best description of the real presence of Christ that I have heard. Find The Use of the Means of Grace document at Worship under the General tab. 2 Northeastern Iowa Synod

3 Bishop Where is our Nathan? It is raining tears tonight. Yet another time of deep sorrow. Innocents are once again slaughtered. We feel helpless and hopeless. Weapons outnumber citizens. Weapons of war have become household fixtures. The massacre occurred once again. We weep but nothing changes. I remember the rape of Bathsheba. David had all the power. He killed who was inconveniently in his way and took what he wanted. No one could stop his violence. But Nathan, the prophet, could tell the truth. You are that man. Where is our Nathan? Who is that man? We sacrifice our children and other innocents to a false understanding of the Second Amendment. A wellregulated militia does not mean an individual with dozens of semiautomatic weapons massacring 58 humans who were fish in a barrel. We are the only country on earth that tolerates this domestic terror. The time to change is now. No more Columbine. No more Sandy Hook. No more Las Vegas. If a safe nation is our vision, let us begin. Steven L. Ullestad Bishop, Northeastern Iowa Synod Gospel Reflection Jesus sees in us what no one else can by the Rev. Bill Peters, One in Christ Lutheran Parish Then Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost. Luke 19:9-10 Zacchaeus we all know the Sunday school song as well as we know the story. But sometimes we get lost in this story, and we focus on the wrong things. We see the large tree and a short Zacchaeus. Our emotions tingle thinking about being rich and tax collector. Our ears perk up with the grumbling and command Come down! Our justice is served and our pockets hurt as Zacchaeus responds half my possessions and pay back fourfold. But we may miss the most important point. It is both interesting and encouraging to notice how Jesus treated people whether it be the woman of the streets or the tax collector in the tree. He saw something no one else could see. That is the first thing we need to see. Jesus was more eager to see Zacchaeus than Zacchaeus was to see him. So it was with the Samaritan on the road, the invitation to the banquet, the lost sheep, coin and sons, the children, the blind man Jesus was more eager to care for invite find bless heal and forgive than anyone was ever ready to receive. (Reflection based on Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Awaiting the Passage of Jesus by James Tissot The Northeastern Iowa Synod is celebrating Renewal throughout 2017 by focusing on the Gospel and the witness of Martin Luther. Each issue of the Star newsletter will feature a Gospel Reflection based on familiar sayings and parables from Jesus. Look for companion art work and reflections in the synod s e-letter. november

4 GENEROSITY Why is an offering part of the worship service? The following stewardship article first appeared in the October 2017 newsletter of Holy Trinity, Dubuque, and was written by Paris Comentino, a Wartburg Theological Seminary student who is serving as an intern at Holy Trinity. Christ. We are so entangled with God that it is impossible to separate our gifts to God and the gifts we receive from God. After the congregation shares a sign of God s peace As the plates are with one another and before the meal, there is the being passed around and we are offering part of the service for the offering. It starts with an invitation to offering, With table is being set and to God our gifts, the thanksgiving for God s gifts God is giving us an to us, let us offer ourselves offering right back and the fruits of our labor for God s work in the world. the gift of Christ. This invites the church to respond with thanks to God s gifts by giving back to God what is rightfully God s. The focus of the offering is in itself very practical: to collect material goods for the mission of God s church and to give the minister time to prepare the altar (the table) for the Lord s meal. During this time we typically sing a song, which emphasizes how humbled and grateful we are by all the gifts we have personally received from God. It is also very powerful and important to note that the offering is completely entangled with the preparing of the meal. God has given us many gifts, the gift of life itself, the gift of money, the gift of a particular skill-set the list goes on but the best gift we have been given is the gift of Christ who humbled himself and became human for us, even though he was rightfully divine; who suffered a terrible death for us; and who gave us new and everlasting life in his resurrection and ascension. There is no better gift in this world than Christ, and Christ invites us to gather with him around a table and literally take him in as we eat the bread and drink the wine, which are his body and blood. As the plates are being passed around and we are offering to God our gifts, the table is being set and God is giving us an offering right back the gift of Christ. Anytime we gather together we are the church. Anytime we celebrate communion, we offer to God ourselves, our time, our talents, and our money. Then God, who never stops giving, turns around and gives us a gift right back The very gift of Christ to us from God comes to us in the form of bread and wine, which we offer up to God from human labor in harvesting the grapes, making the wine, harvesting the wheat, kneading the dough, and baking the bread. We receive gratefully what God has given us and offer ourselves as participants in God s mission for the life of the world. Once we have stood up in praise of God and sang (traditionally) Let the Vineyards be Fruitful, we join together for an offertory prayer that brings together our offerings and the offering God gives to us at the table of the Lord, which then leads us right into the Great Thanksgiving. God of Life, you give us these gifts of the earth, these resources of our life and our labor (the bread, wine, and collection of monetary gifts). Take them, offered in great thanksgiving, and use them to set a table (for the Lord s Supper/Communion) that will heal the whole creation. Northeastern Iowa Synod Bishop Steven L. Ullestad ullestads@neiasynod.org Assistants to the Bishop Rev. Mark A. Anderson andersonm@neiasynod.org Rev. Stephen Brackett bracketts@neiasynod.org Linda J. Hudgins hudginsl@neiasynod.org ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission Rev. Dr. Joelle Colville-Hanson colville-hansonj@neiasynod.org Star Editor Marcia Hahn hahnm@neiasynod.org The Star is published 11 times a year by the Northeastern Iowa Synod, th Street SW, PO Box 804, Waverly, IA ; phone , FAX Send news for the December issue to Marcia Hahn by Nov. 10. We welcome story ideas related to the 2017 theme, Celebrating Renewal: Martin Luther The Gospel. Articles in this newsletter may be duplicated for use in synod congregations and organizations, with credit to the Star newsletter. Please notify the synod office with name and address changes. To receive an electronic version of the Star, rather than paper, send your request to hahnm@neiasynod.org. Paris Comentino 4 Northeastern Iowa Synod

5 New synod networks address immigration and racism Two new synod networks made their debut at the Fall Leadership Event in September and have set goals for the coming year. AMMPARO Welcoming Network A resolution adopted at the 2017 Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly called for establishing an AMMPARO Welcoming Network to share information to help congregations welcome and support migrant children and their families. The network is part of a broader ELCA Welcoming Congregations Network of AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities), which invites congregations to sign up to be welcoming congregations to make a commitment to: Welcome and minister to migrant guests and identify a contact person who speaks enough Spanish for basic communication. Attend occasional meetings of the Welcoming Congregations Network in the synod for mutual support, fellowship and training. Participate in conference calls about the current situation of migration of children and families and receive policy updates. Advocate for public policy to positively impact the current immigration crisis. The AMMPARO Network supports synod members and congregations to stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees. The network has been showing documentaries about the Postville raid in The network plans to promote the synod plan for ICE raids and share information through a mini fair and workshop. In addition, the network hosts the NE Iowa Synod AMMPARO network Facebook group for anyone who wants to learn more about the AMMPARO strategy and share ideas for congregations to welcome and support immigrants and refugees. To learn more or to join the network, contact the synod s AMMPARO Network coordinator, Paul Edison- Swift, at edisonswift@hotmail.com or NEIowaWelcomingCongregations Racial Justice Advocacy Network The synod s Racial Justice Advocacy Network was created as a way to encourage and equip leaders to combat individual and institutional racism in their congregations and communities. The network set four goals for the coming year: Support local congregations and leaders to discover ministry opportunities to combat racism and advocate for justice. Support and encourage congregational leaders to educate themselves about the issues surrounding racism and racial justice. Find ways to provide anti-racism training. First Lutheran, Decorah, hosts an AMMPARO table during God s work. Our hands. Sunday to send support letters for the DREAM Act to Congress. Research, curate, develop and provide resources to help leaders and congregations talk about race in their ministry settings to build up the body of Christ. According to Pastor Joelle Colville- Hanson, Director for Evangelical Mission, the Racial Justice Network was formed in response to inquiries from ministry leaders who were looking for ways to have non-divisive conversations in their congregations about race. Our goal is to find a way to address issues of racial justice in the context of the Northeastern Iowa Synod, Colville-Hanson says. She explains that the term white privilege, which is being used across the country, is an example of a term that can put a lot of people on the defensive if they don t understand what it means. A lot of people in Iowa work really hard their whole life and don t have a lot of luxury, so they don t feel privileged, Colville-Hanson explains. The >> Continued on page 6 november

6 Observance promotes organ donor awareness National Donor Sabbath Nov , 2017 Congregations of the Northeastern Iowa Synod are encouraged to join faith leaders from other religions to observe National Donor Sabbath to raise awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation. During National Donor Sabbath, faith leaders, donor families, transplant recipients, and donation and transplantation professionals participate in services and programs to increase awareness of the need for organ donors and to encourage people to sign up in their state registry as organ, eye and tissue donors. Why National Donor Sabbath? In 2015 the Northeastern Iowa Synod Assembly adopted a resolution to encourage congregations from this synod to observe National Donor Sabbath, which is annually set two weekends before Thanksgiving. This year s event takes place Nov Since people often turn to their faith leaders for help when dealing with life and death issues, National Donor Sabbath provides an opportunity for faith communities to share their views and join in the conversation. Many view donation as an act of compassion and generosity. Several free resources about National Donor Sabbath and organ donation are available for download, including a guide to help faith leaders reach out to their congregation members and communities. Visit Confirmation classes visit the synod office Confirmation classes are always welcome at the synod office. New synod networks address immigration and racism << Continued from page 5 word privilege doesn t mean that a person doesn t work hard. It just means that by being white, there are privileges people don t even notice, such as how they are accepted just by being in someone s neighborhood. The Racial Justice Network plans to offer workshops, a Facebook page and other resources to help congregations in their own spiritual formation and growth in fighting racism. Network facilitator Megan Graves, pastor for Our Savior s, Waterloo, and Reg Greene, a member of the network and Bethlehem Lutheran, Cedar Falls, attended the anti-racism workshop Transforming White Privilege: A 21st Century Leadership Capacity. They are available to share what they learned with congregations, Bible study groups, councils and other groups for a formal training session or to lead an informal discussion. Watch for more information about this network coming soon on the synod website. To learn more, contact Colville-Hanson at colville-hansonj@ neiasynod.org or call the synod office at A number of confirmation classes visit the synod office each year to meet the synod staff, tour the facility and learn about the organization of the broader church. To schedule a visit, contact the synod office at Pastor Mark Anderson, center, leads the confirmation class from St. Paul, Postville, on a tour of the synod office. 6 Northeastern Iowa Synod

7 Events November EVENTS 2 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 2 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, Immanuel, Cresco, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 4 Meeting, Synodical Women s Organization Board, Synod Office, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 9 Meeting, Deans and Chaplains, Synod Office, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 11 Meeting, SWO Board (snow date) Event, LMM Men s Retreat One Year to Live, Camp EWALU, Strawberry Point 18 Meeting, LYON, Synod Office, a.m Office Closed Thanksgiving December EVENTS 1 Meeting, Candidacy Committee, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. 7 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 7 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. Timothy, Hudson, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 8 Meeting, (snow date) Candidacy Committee 9 Meeting, LYON, Synod Office, a.m Office Closed January EVENTS 1 Office Closed 4 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 4 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, Trinity, Mason City, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 15 Office Closed, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 20 LYON, Synod Office, a.m. 20 Meeting, Treasurers, Redeemer, Waverly, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. 20 Meeting, Synodical Women s Organization Cluster, Synod Office, 8 a.m.-4 p.m Event, Extravaganza, Houston, Texas 27 Meeting,(snow date) Synodical Women s Organization Cluster FEBRUary EVENTS 1 Meeting, Interim Colleague Group, 9:30-11:30 a.m. 1 Meeting, Youth Ministry Network, St. Paul s, Waverly, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 7 Meeting, Assembly Planning Committee, Luther, Decorah, 4-6 p.m. 8 Event, Lutheran Day on the Hill 17 Meeting, LYON, Synod Office, a.m. Congregations ORDAINING Dr. Lynn Irene Banderob, Our Savior s, Cedar Rapids, Nov. 4 INSTALLING Rev. Cindy Krause, Our Savior, Osage, Nov. 19 Rev. Dr. Lynn I. Banderob, Unity of the Cross Parish, Ryan, Dec. 10 INTERVIEWING Elma, St. Paul, Rev. Charis Combs-Lay, interim; Lime Springs, St. Paul; and Harmony, Minn., Saetersdal Sumner, St. John, Rev. Lynn Groe, interim Waterloo, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Waverly, Redeemer, Rev. Nancy Larson, interim SELF-STUDY Charles City, Messiah Chester, United Denver, St. Peter, Rev. Alan Schulz, interim Dows, First Dysart, Zion Mason City, St. Paul, Rev. Burton Everist, interim New Hampton, Trinity (staff) Osage, Our Savior (staff) Radcliffe, Our Savior s and Zion Tripoli, St. John (Crane Creek) Waukon, St. John, Rev. Bill Odermann, interim ROSTER CHANGES Rev. James Glesne, removed from the roster Rev. Gary Olson, transferred to Western Iowa Synod Rev. Jennifer Bohls, disability leave Rev. Robin Luckey, on leave from call, transferred from Montana Synod Rev. Michael Rahlf, transferred to South-Central Synod of Wisconsin 150 Flood Buckets for 150 Years Thank you to St. John, Cedar Falls, for donating 150 flood buckets in honor of the congregation s 150th anniversary. The buckets will be stored in strategic caches around the synod, ready to be deployed when needed. november

8 Prayer CALENDAR NOVEMber 2017 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI sat Ellen Ward, Decorah 5 Madison, Ridgeway 12 Gracia Harms, Waverly 19 Rev. Dr. Kathryn A. Kleinhans, Waverly 26 St. Paul, Postville 6 Orleans, Ridgeway 13 St. Peter, Rockwell 20 Immanuel, Scarville 27 Our Savior s, Radcliffe 7 Rev. Robert L. Edwards, Story City Rev. William P. Thalacker, Waterloo 14 Rev. Gary G. Hatcher, Garnavillo 21 St. Paul, Balltown 28 H. George Anderson Fund for Leaders Rev. Michael R. Blair, Decorah Rev. Leo E. Combs-Lay, Cresco 1 Rev. Jane Granzow, Iowa Falls 8 Peace, Ridgeway 15 Bergen, Roland 22 Zion St. John, Sheffield 29 Stavanger, Ossian 2 Zion, Radcliffe 9 Rev. Corey W. Smith, Cedar Falls 16 Peace, Ryan 23 Faith, Shell Rock 30 Peace Lutheran Fellowship, Parkersburg (SAWC) 3 Deacon Kristin J. Johnson, Story City Rev. Ole Winter, Decorah 10 Middle East Peace Zion, Rockford 17 St. Peter, Saint Ansgar 24 Rev. Sandra M. Burroughs, Cedar Falls 4 Rev. Dr. Jennifer E. Edinger, Decorah 11 Rev. James R. Radatz, Dysart 18 Rev. Curtis C. Schneider, Waverly 25 Portico Reminders ANNUAL ENROLLMENT IS OPEN THROUGH NOV. 13 The individual plan member enrollment period for ELCA- Primary Health Insurance is open from Oct. 30 through Nov. 13. All ELCA-Primary health insurance members will need to visit myportico during this time period to enroll in their employer s option, buy up to a different option, or waive ELCA health benefits, if qualified. Anyone who anticipates any change in employment status between now and Jan. 31, 2018 such as retirement, or a new call or position should contact Portico immediately at , because the change may affect your benefits for FINISH YOUR LIVE WELL CHALLENGE BY NOV 30 Earn up to $400 wellness dollars if, by Nov. 30, 2017, you assess your well-being and take one small, healthy step forward. More than 4,000 members have already reported taking a healthy step. Visit myportico.porticobenefits.org. Congregation Treasurers Meeting Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 Redeemer Lutheran, Waverly Congregation treasurers, pastors, financial committee members, and others are welcome to attend the Congregation Treasurers Meeting set for Saturday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Redeemer, Waverly. Keith Oltrogge, CPA, will speak about W-2s and related forms, church payrolls, and contributions. The Rev. Stephen P. Brackett will provide information on the Minimum Compensation Guidelines and the Northeastern Iowa Synod H. George Anderson Fund for Leaders. As the benefits administrator for your organization, your pastors, rostered laypersons, and lay employees rely on you to help them navigate their ELCA benefits. Jennifer Prinz, Portico Benefit Services regional representative for Region 5, will provide resources to help you effectively sponsor your employees in the ELCA Retirement and Other Benefits Program. There is no charge to attend. A light lunch will be served. Watch for more information regarding registration.

9 Good News November 2017 Volume 30 Number 10 As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world. From the President For the Lord is good and his love endures forever. Psalm 100:5a This Psalm has been the basis for many a hymn and praise song. I find such comfort in the words endures forever. There is NOTHING that God s love cannot overcome. Not cancer or divorce or earthquakes or hurricanes. And not the roadblocks and mountains we create in our own lives. I was reminded in a sermon not too many weeks ago that as long as you focus on Jesus, you can overcome any challenges that this world can throw in our way! It seems that when I focus on Jesus, the problem I see is not so overwhelming. Remember, don t tell your big problem to God, tell your problem that you have a BIG GOD! Focusing on Jesus today and tomorrow, Diane Wills Mission Area: Discipleship At WELCA, participants practice seven marks of discipleship: praying, studying, worshiping, inviting, encouraging, serving, and giving. Whether it be making quilts and health and school kits for Lutheran World Relief or studying the Bible together, or assisting in worship, they grow in faith and share what they ve learned with friends and neighbors. ( Luther tells us, In the morning when you get up, make the sign of the holy cross and say: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the Creed and the Lord s Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer: I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest. Luther s suggestions for prayer through the day are found here, in an easily-printed format: Try them! You ll like it. Submitted by Jan Harbaugh Mission Area: Justice As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year, I am mindful that Luther in posting his 95 theses was trying to correct what he saw as an injustice in the church. Luther was moved to take action to correct the injustice. Today, we as Christians are faced with many injustices in our society. There are the issues of immigration and the burdens being placed on many of these individuals who are struggling to care for their families. There are also the issues of sex trafficking and human trafficking/slave labor, care for the earth, domestic abuse, corporal punishment of children, and the unmet needs of people facing natural disasters. As Christians we are called to be God s hands and God s voice in the world. When we hear of these things, do we ask what we can do to help alleviate and correct the injustice, and are we moved to action, not to judge or turn away, but to reach out and work to help those in need? In the book of Revelation it says, And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of The creation of God. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing. This would suggest that God does not look favorably on complacency: we are to be busy doing God s work, doing what we can to help those in need and those suffering due to the injustices in our world. Micah 6:8 says, He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? As we live into our All Anew theme, may we

10 CALENDAR Nov. 1 Dec. Good News deadline Nov. 4 SWO Board Meeting 9 a.m. 12:30 p.m., Synod office (snow date Nov. 11) Nov. 4 LWR Ingathering, Zion-St. John, Sheffield, 8 11 a.m. Nov. 4 LWR Ingathering, Olson s Explosives, Decorah, 7:30 10:30 a.m. Nov. 18 Living Waters Cluster G Fall Gathering, 9 a.m., Elk Creek, Kensett Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Day Dec. 1 Jan. Good News deadline 2018 Jan. 1 Feb. Good News deadline Jan. 20 SWO Board and Cluster Leaders 9:00 3:00, Synod office (snow date 1/27) Feb. 1 March Good News deadline Mar. 1 April Good News deadline Mar. 3 SWO Board, 9 12:30, Synod office (snow date Mar. 10) May 19 SWO Board, 9 12:30, McCoy Room, Wartburg College Apr, 1 May Good News deadline Apr. 28 Upper Iowa Cluster Spring Gathering, Big Canoe LC May 1 June Good News deadline May 4 LWR Truck Loading, First Lutheran, Decorah Jun. 15 SWO Board 7 p.m. 9 p.m., McCoy Room, Wartburg College Jun st Annual NE IA Synod Women of the ELCA Gathering, Wartburg College, Waverly Nov. 3 LWR Truck Loading, Decorah each seek to do what we can, by voting for candidates who are committed to helping those in need, etc. May we also each become actively involved in working to alleviate pain and injustices in our church and society. Submitted by Nancy Miller Mission Area: Stewardship Thankoffering: Gratitude for God s Blessings Stewardship encompasses so much more than just money. It is about how we use all that God has NEIA Women of the ELCA Executive Board Diane Wills, President wills.dianes@gmail.com Cindy Pogge, Vice President jpogge@comm1net.net Anna Jetson, Secretary amjetson@yahoo.com Beverly Sheridan, Treasurer sherida701@gmail.com 701 Serenity Drive Decorah, IA entrusted to our care. For many of us, November is a time when we focus on Thankofferings. The busy season of summer has come to an end with the arrival of fall. Fall is a time when we gather our harvest a time of reflection with thankfulness for our many blessings an opportunity to share the gifts God has blessed us with. For over 100 years Lutheran women have gathered their Thankofferings at their circle meetings or Sunday church services. 100% of the offering goes to the Churchwide organization for the support of ministries of the women s organization. Encourage everyone to give a gift so that we may continue the ministry efforts of women. Invite the entire congregation to participate in this service and host a brunch or a dinner as part of your event. Submitted by Della Benson Around the Synod/September From Avis Johnson, chair of Riverside Cluster F: We had a Spirit-filled day with a remarkable ride on the Empress riverboat with a delicious box lunch. We had 28 ladies attend. We went back to the church and had music, a skit, interaction with the women, mike time to share their faith. Thank God for the women of Cluster F and the leadership of all women of WELCA. From Audrey Lowin from Cluster C, Jubilee: 31 ladies attended the Cluster C fall gathering at St. Paul Lutheran, Cedar Falls, plus Sadie the dog, a future Retrieving Freedom Dog. We shared devotions and after the program Iris Hagen talked about pillow case dresses and offered patterns and cases to whomever might want some. Others shared about WELCA s various activities. We are still searching for a leader, but we will continue to meet and share as a cluster. Good News Editor Jan Harbaugh 112 W. Wilbur St., Hawkeye, IA jan.harbaugh@gmail.com Articles are due the 1st of the month for the next month's newsletter (e.g. April 1 for May issue). Please put WELCA in your subject line. (You can also send paper copies by snail mail.) Contact Women of the ELCA at: or , ext W. Higgins Road Chicago, IL NEIA Women of the ELCA website: neiasynod.org/women-of-the-elca

11 Living Faith Dear Faith Shapers, There is a chilliness in the air, thanksgiving meal ingredients are featured on our grocery store shelves, the media is obsessed with pumpkin spice anything all signs that fall is upon us. As we approach the holiday season, it can be tough to steer kids away from constantly wanting things. The media and stores knows exactly how to reel us in. In this newsletter, you will find a couple great ways to foster a sense of gratitude and thankfulness. A gratitude pumpkin is a great family activity and visual reminder of all God has given us. Page two of this newsletter features a wonderful family worship box idea which I have implemented at my church and it has been amazing! My kids are so much more engaged in worship and my church has been delivering the pictures and prayers that the kids draw to those they visit during the week! Making our boxes was also a great church project. We were able to use the talents of others to make some of the items like our palm crosses. Our church administrator even added symbols in our bulletin to go with the boxes. We are having so much fun with this and I hope you do too! With gratitude and thankfulness, Lisa Kammerer, Deacon November Family Faith Shaping Activity Gratitude Pumpkin What are you thankful for? Write one thing each day of November. This information is prepared for you by the Northeastern Iowa Synod-Home Life Network for use by families and local congregations. Like our page on Facebook and our posted resources will appear in your newsfeed. Our page is Northeastern Iowa Synod Home Life Network ELCA

12 These boxes are available for families with small children and are filled with interactive tools to help them experience and participate in worship with their family, while learning the significance of the parts of the service. Battery Operated Candle Light your candle when the candles are lit at the front of the church and hold it up high. Turn the candle off between uses and place back in the box. The candle reminds us that Jesus, the light of the world, is with us. Wood Palm Cross Take out the cross and hold it tight during times of prayer. Listen for: * Prayer at the beginning of the service called confession when we ask God to forgive us. * The prayer of the day when we pray to begin worship together. * The offertory prayer when we offer our gifts to God. * The prayers of intercession when we pray for those who are hurting and places in the world that need God s help The Lord s Prayer Prayer after communion when we thank God for the gift of forgiveness. * The Benediction Pouch of Stones when it is time to share the peace, take one stone from the pouch and give it to someone who is new to you as you share the peace tell them that each time they hold it in their hand, they are reminded of God s peace, and to keep Jesus in their heart. Ribbon Wand use this ribbon on a stick when you want to move to the music. Gently wave it over your head, down low, or even take it into the aisle to twirl near your seat (be careful not to go very far and don t get wild and crazy). When the music stops, put it back in the box. Spark Story Bible-Look in the bulletin for this week s Gospel. Look up the story for this week, read it and look at the pictures. What do you learn about God and Jesus from reading? Clipboard Listen to the Bible readings and other things being talked about in worship. Draw a picture of something you hear or feel during worship today, and/or work on your children s bulletin or coloring sheets. Reusable Envelope use this envelope to give a gift of love to God. You may include money, write a note about something you will do to help others this week, write a prayer, or include the picture you drew in worship today. Place it in the offering plate when it is passed around. Stickers as you leave worship, place one of the stickers on your clothing to remember that you are sent into the world to tell others about Jesus. As worship concludes, be sure all items are back in the box, ready for the next family to use it. Worship Box Idea from Kari Nilssen Erickson, Director of Children & Family Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, MN