Happy 500th Birthday, Lutheranism! In October 1517, the Reformation was born. This started the

Happy 500th Birthday, Lutheranism! In October 1517, the Reformation was born. This started the movement for the beginning of the Lutheran Church. Over the years it has taken on many forms and I am thankful for the church we have today. Throughout the month of October there will be opportunities for you to dive deeper as to what it means to be a part of the Lutheran Church and how our church differs from other churches. We will learn the beauty of our church and hopefully feel more connected to the church, the ELCA and even Luther himself. Luther s Seal Reformation Study with Pastor Joe at Faith Monday, Oct. 2, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. Reformation Sunday, Oct. 29 WEAR RED! Reformation Celebration Oct. 30 at the Parsonage To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, we will have a good old-fashioned party Monday, Oct. 30, at the parsonage (1 Church St., Gardner, Mass.), hosted by Pastor Joe, Katie and the family. You are invited to come! Feel free to arrive any time after 5 p.m. and stay as long as you like. The McGarrys will have appetizers and chili and other goodies to eat. The most enduring symbol of the Lutheran Reformation is the seal that Luther himself designed to represent his theology. By the early 1520s, this seal begins to appear on the title page of Luther s works. Here is how Luther himself explained its meaning: First, there is a black cross in a heart that remains its natural color. This is to remind me that it is faith in the Crucified One that saves us. Anyone who believes from the heart will be justified (Romans 10:10). It is a black cross, which mortifies and causes pain, but it leaves the heart its natural color. It doesn t destroy nature, that is to say, it does not kill us but keeps us alive, for the just shall live by faith in the Crucified One (Romans 1:17). The heart should stand in the middle of a white rose. This is to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace it puts the believer into a white, joyous rose. Faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). This is why the rose must be white, not red. White is the color of the spirits and angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12). This rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that a joyful spirit and faith is a beginning of heavenly, future joy, which begins now, but is grasped in hope, not yet fully revealed. Around the field of blue is a golden ring to symbolize that blessedness in heaven lasts forever and has no end. Heavenly blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and better than any possessions, just as gold is the most valuable and precious metal. (From: Letter from Martin Luther to Lazarus Spengler, July 8, 1530 [WA Br 5:445]; tr. P. T. McCain) CONTINUED

HAPPY 500th, Lutheranism! I hope you take some time over the next month and join me in learning a little more about our church and the wonderment of the development of the church. We will meet Mondays at 6 p.m. in October at the church. Our final meeting on Oct. 30 will be at the parsonage to have a Reformation Celebration. Pastor Joe Women s Reformation Celebration Oct. 14 in Holliston New England Women of the ELCA invites all women at Faith to a Reformation Celebration Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Holliston, Mass. Registration, which includes lunch, is $20. Please contact Sister Virginia by Oct. 4 for more information or to carpool. Special guest: Katy Luther, who will tell all about hubby Martin. It wasn t easy living with a former monk. Reach the Beach Oct. 15 Sept. 18-19, 72 people who deeply care about Camp Calumet ran more than 200 miles for Reach the Beach, a fundraiser for Camp Calumet. To date, they have raised more than $80,000. This year, Faith is sponsoring Bill Smith. On Sunday, Oct. 15, Bill will join us in worship and share some of his experiences at Reach the Beach. We will take a special collection for Calumet that Sunday. Bill is a 10-time Ironman competitor and a Calumet alumnus. He is an amazing father and friend. Please join us Oct. 15 to meet Bill and support Calumet. Women s Luncheon Oct. 17 On Tuesday, Oct. 17, women from Faith will meet for lunch at the Mountain Room, Monty Tech, Fitchburg. Please notify Maxine Pincott if you would like to join us. She needs a head count. You can meet in the parking lot at Faith at 10:45 a.m. to car pool or be at Monty Tech by 11:30 a.m. Monthly Meetings at Faith Outreach, Monday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. Congregation Council, Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m. Men s Group, Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 6:30 p.m. Planning Your Funeral Continues Oct. 4 and 11 Our informational sessions on planning a funeral continue Wednesdays, Oct. 4 and 11, at Faith 12:30 p.m. with lunch provided by a grant from Thrivent Financial, and again at 6 p.m. All sessions are free. The public is invited. For more info, call the church office or speak with Maxine Pinchot or Sister Virginia. Speakers and topics: Wednesday, Oct. 4, Planning My Church Funeral, with Pastor Joe, with ample time for questions; Wednesday, Oct. 11, Writing My Obituary, with Sister Virginia. How do you want to be remembered? Writing an obituary after a loved one has died can be a stressful experience for those left behind. Sister Virginia, a former reporter and religion communicator, will guide participants in writing their own obituary now to either highlight their achievements and proudest moments, or to tell a simple story of a quiet life. All Saints Sunday, Nov. 5 We will lift up the names of those who have died during the past year on Sunday, Nov. 5. If you would like others, now in the Church Triumphant, to be remembered on this special day, please give their names to the church office by Sunday, Oct. 23.

Writing Your Life Story Oct. 18 Who are you? This free four-session workshop, led by Sister Virginia Strahan, will help participants discover and record their life story. It begins Wednesday, Oct. 18, for four consecutive Wednesdays at 2 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 627 Green St., Gardner, Mass. This series is an expansion of Sister Virginia s Oct. 11 workshop on Writing My Obituary. Our lives are rich sources of stories. As more and more people search their family trees, many are inspired to leave a written legacy of their own story for future generations. This group will help participants develop written pieces that can be expanded upon later, and may help them discover more about themselves. Participants will start to organize their story by reflecting on events in their lives, then create a time line and write an outline before producing an initial draft. Sister Virginia will offer feedback and tips for readability and style. Participants also will be able to share these drafts with the group, if they feel comfortable in doing that, for additional feedback. Sharing can help the process. Participants will work on their stories in class, as well as at home between classes. Registration is required. To register or if you have a question, please call Faith Lutheran Church at 978.632.2271. Sr. Virginia Strahan Sister Virginia Strahan worked as a reporter and later news editor at The Gardner News before studying at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. She later served as a communication specialist for 10 years in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Sister Virginia has participated in several writing seminars, including one led by prolific author Ray Bradbury, who has inspired generations of readers to dream, think and create. She s also attended a workshop on writing an autobiography, and another on helping women to discover their achievements through writing their life stories. Sister Virginia is a member of The Deaconess Community of the ELCA and Faith Lutheran Church, Gardner.

Annual Church Fair Set for Nov. 18; Planning Session Oct. 2 Our Annual Fall Fair will be Nov. 18, the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The co-chairs, sisters Jen Chagnon and Paula Rocheleau, have scheduled a time to discuss ideas for the fair Monday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m., following our weekly Reformation Study. Bring your ideas for something new! In the meantime, here s something old: The Gardner News, Sept. 22, 1902 The four days fair of the Finnish-Swedish-Lutheran Church (on Leamy Street) concluded Saturday with the drawing of $113 worth of prizes. An entertainment, which consisted principally of dialogues, preceded the drawing. An amusing feature in the announcement of the names was the drawing of a pair of trousers and a box of cigars by two women and a lady s hat by a gentleman. Faith Welcomes Alcoholics Anonymous Monday through Friday 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Julie Pfeifle 10/01 Keith Jorgensen 10/03 Dorothy Sund 10/05 (88) Allie Rocheleau 10/06 Gunnar Robinson 10/07 (85) Jean Kiewel 10/09 (86) Eric Bourque 10/09 Alexander Jeleniewski 10/15 Joanne Opgenorth 10/15 Dorothy LaRoche 10/16 Stephen Ashmore 10/20 Sadie Beauregard 10/22 Macaylia Cochran 10/22 Ann Marie Frawley 10/26 Tricia Vorderstrasse 10/26 Rebbeca Kibbet 10/28 Jacob Desrosiers 10/30 On your birthday, may there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. St. Theresa Is your birthday missing? Please call the church office at 978.632.2271 so we may celebrate the day God introduced you to the world. Let Us Pray Betty Wiinikainen s daughter, Ruth Bisbee, 57, a 30-year resident of Ashburnham, died Wednesday, Aug. 30, in her home, after a lengthy battle with cancer, with her family by her bedside. The funeral was held Saturday, Sept. 23, in People s Church, South Ashburnham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Greater Gardner Relay for Life www. relayforlife.org/gtrgardnerma. May God comfort all those who mourn.

Church Staff Pastor Joe McGarry Organist Sue Sawyer Band Director Bob Boutwell Office Secretary Andi Hinckley Sexton Ray Pfeifle IV Pastor Joe McGarry Contact Us Faith Lutheran Church 627 Green St., Gardner, MA 01440 office@faithgardner.org 978.632.2271 www.faithgardner.org Church Office Hours Andi, our church secretary, is usually in the Church Office: Tuesdays, 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 978.632.2271 Please Call the Church Office When: You or a family member is sick or in the hospital; You are planning a meeting or scheduling an event, so it can be placed on the church calendar; A baby is expected in your family; You want to arrange for a baptism or wedding; A family member has died; Your telephone number or address has changed or if you are planning to move, locally or out of town; You feel the Church can help you in any way. Pastor Joe McGarry is available by appointment. Please call the office: 978.632.2271 or email pastor@ faithgardner.org. In an emergency, you can reach Pastor Joe on his cell: 978.410.9729. Sunday Worship Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 9 a.m., Contemporary worship with praise band 10 a.m., Sunday school 11 a.m., Traditional worship with organ Lutheran Rehab Oct. 15 Pastor Joe will lead worship at the Lutheran Rehab in Worcester on Sunday, Oct. 15, in the afternoon. If anyone would like to join him, please let him know. Pastor Joe Away Oct. 20-25: Ministry Training, Bishop s Convo Pastor Joe will be at the Training Institute for Cathedral in the Night Oct. 20-23 in Springfield. This is a street ministry training for church leaders. He will then head to Connecticut to attend the annual New England Synod Bishop s Convocation Oct. 23-25 at Holy Family Retreat Center, West Hartford. Sister Virginia will attend convo, as well. Guest Preacher Oct. 22 Sister Virginia, and perhaps Katy Luther, herself, will serve as guest preacher, Sunday, Oct. 22, and preside at the Eucharist. Congregation Council President Ray Pfeifle III Secretary Jennifer Chagnon Treasurer Steve Pincott Congregation Council meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Faith. Open sessions. Minutes will be posted on the bulletin board. Watch Pastor Joe s latest sermon on YouTube: faithgardner.org/youtube Connect with us on Facebook: facebook. com/faithlutherangardner

On the Calendar at Faith Faith Lutheran Church / 627 Green Street / Gardner MA 01440 / 978.632.2271 October 1 (Sunday) October 2 (Monday) Outreach 10 a.m. Reformation Study 6 p.m. Fall Fair Planning 7 p.m. October 3 (Tuesday) October 4 (Wednesday) Planning Your Church Funeral 12:30 p.m. with lunch and 6 p.m. October 5 (Thursday) October 6 (Friday) October 7 (Saturday) October 8 (Sunday) October 9 (Monday) NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Reformation Study 6 p.m.; October 10 (Tuesday) Congregation Council 6:30 p.m. October 11 (Wednesday) Writing Your Own Obituary 12:30 p.m. with lunch and 6 p.m. October 12 (Thursday) October 13 (Friday) October 14 (Saturday) Women s Reformation Celebration, Holliston October 15 (Sunday) October 16 (Monday) Reformation Study 6 p.m. October 17 (Tuesday) Women s Luncheon, Monty Tech, Fitchburg October 18 (Wednesday) October 19 (Thursday) October 20 (Friday) October 21 (Saturday) October 22 (Sunday) October 23 (Monday) Reformation Study 6 p.m. October 24 (Tuesday) October 25 (Wednesday) October 26 (Thursday) October 27 (Friday) October 28 (Saturday) OCTOBER 29 (REFORMATION SUNDAY) October 30 (Monday) Reformation Celebration 5 p.m. October 31 (Tuesday) Men s Group 6:30 p.m. Newsletter Deadline: Oct. 9 (FIRM) office@faithgardner.org