Tidings from St. Philip s Lutheran Church Pr. Don s Message Save The Date Adult Education Begins Sunday November 11th 8:45 am Join Us! Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday November 4th Greetings on a chilly late October morning! Soon (this coming Sunday, November 4th) we will be celebrating All Saints Day, a time set aside to remember, honor and give thanks not only for those who have been canonized Saints by the Christian Church, but to those who have been important to us in our families, our communities, and our congregations. To help us celebrate the lives of those who are no longer living among us, we light candles during our Worship Service as we say thanks you God for letting these saints be a part of our lives and what we are today. I encourage you to be here Sunday for this All Saints Day Celebration! As I write this we are anxiously awaiting an answer from Pastor Tony Rhodes who we have called to be Pastor here at St. Philip s! It will be a new chapter in the life of St. Philip s with many opportunities for great things to happen. It s been a longer interim than interims usually are, so there s all the more reason to rejoice and celebrate not only the arrival of the new pastor, but to be ready to work together and see what great things God has in mind for His/Her church here in the Valley! There will be new ideas, new energy and maybe some new ways of doing ministry which are all good for renewing the work of the Holy Spirit in God s Church here in this part of the Valley. I have no doubt that God has great plans for each of you and for your life and work together here at St. Philip s. So be open, trust God and each other, expect change and look forward to great things happening for all of us and for the St. Philip s community. God will always be with us on this journey of faith and life!... And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age. Matthew 28:20 Don t forget to Change your clocks!! Peace & Blessings! Pastor Don
Treasurer s Report Tidings 2 Log Entry 10-31-2018: September September Income $13,002.00 September Expenses $16908.59 Balance $-3,906.59 November November Income $17,349.91 November Expenses $11,801.29 Balance $5,548.62 Your spare coins can change lives! St. Philip s has raised $ 136. 00 this year that will be donated to the Food Bank. Land ho! Land ho, barked the watch in the Crows Nest. Skipper replied, Sailor, what s the bearing? Sir, land sighted bearing above the starboard bow on the up-swell approximately 13 degrees, North by Northeast. The Skipper turning to the steersman snapped, Steersman, set course immediately, 13 degrees North by Northeast! We have a new chaplain to bring aboard! And so it happened on a sunny Sunday morning on the 14 th of October in the year of our Lord, 2018 that the members of St. Philip s Lutheran Church in Carmel Valley, CA issued a Call to Pastor Tony Rhodes. Skipper, ship s officers and the Call Committee sincerely appreciates your attendance at our Special Congregational Meeting as well as the unanimity of the vote. Thank you! Although we still don t have a firm welcome-aboard date, Pastor Tony is anxiously awaiting the start of his new ministry with us. As shipmates, we will need to support Pastor Tony in a multitude of ways to include: Through prayer and support for the pastor by the congregation, and specifically provide support with a Pastoral Support committee Assistance and creative collaboration in worship planning and expression, educational program development, and outreach efforts Coordinate and participate in congregational programs, fellowship events, service and outreach, and ongoing ministry activities Provide congregational administrative leadership through Council and Committee activities and efforts Faithful financial support and stewardship of congregation resources to support ministry and programs. On The Lighter Side of Scuttlebutt A new pastor was out visiting the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a business card and wrote Revelation 3:20 on the back and stuck it in the door. When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to the card was this cryptic message: Genesis 3:10. Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter. Revelation 3:20 begins, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Genesis 3:10 reads, I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked. ~ Skipper Mike
November Birthdays 16 th ~ Hal Dahlen 21 st ~ Marcy Rustad 24 th ~ Anke Richter 30 th ~ Brian Mahoney ADULT FORUM FOCUS FOR NOVEMBER 11 th THE PSALMS Do you have a favorite Psalm? Would you like to learn more about the different types of Psalms? Come to the Adult Forum on Sunday, November 11 th at 8:45 a.m. before worship, for conversation and an exploration of the wonderful collection of writings in the Bible we know as the Psalms. Bring your favorite Psalm to share and your thoughts on why so many continue to love reading the Psalms. We may extend to a second session on Sunday, November 18 th, if we want to continue our conversations. Tidings 3 Call Committee Update In the month of October, the Call Committee brought forward a candidate for the call to be our new pastor here at St. Philip s. On Sunday, October 7 th, we shared with the congregation why we as a committee found Pastor Tony to be a wonderful choice for us in our ministry. On Sunday, October 14 th, there was a Special Congregational Meeting to consider a Letter of Call to Pastor Tony and to approve a proposed compensation package, prepared by the St. Philip's Council. The vote was unanimous to proceed with the Letter of Call to Pastor Tony Rhodes, and the compensation package was also approved in a separate vote. The documents relating to the call were prepared by Council President Michael Berry, with some input from the Call Committee documents, and forwarded on to the Synod office for the Bishop to review and send on. We are very hopeful that once Pastor Tony has a chance to see the final details of our package and Letter of Call he will consider making St. Philip s his new church home. As a Call Committee, we want to thank you all again for your prayers and support throughout the call process. We look forward with hope and faith in our future plans for ministry and the opportunity to welcome Pastor Tony into our community. Anita Johnson, Chair, St. Philip s Call Committee Worship News As the church year comes to a close, there are several special opportunities to worship and praise God. This Sunday, November 4 th, is All Saints Sunday, when we remember loved ones, saints among us, who have gone on to be with our Lord. It s also a time to join together, reminding each other that we are all saints, children of God, worshipping Him. We will continue the tradition of allowing time in the service for all who wish to light a candle in memory of someone. It s been a very meaningful part of this Sunday s service and we encourage all family and friends to join us at 10:00 am service. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November, 22 nd. St. Philip s will again join in a community service on Tuesday, November, 20 th more information will follow as plans are formed. The last Sunday of the church year, Sunday, November 25 th, is Christ the King Sunday. The paraments on the altar for both of these special days are white, signifying light, joy, and celebration of Christ our Lord. The Worship Committee will meet Thursday, November 8 th, at 11:00 am, to begin planning for the new church year, beginning with Advent, December 2 nd and leading into Christmas. Anyone who would like to be involved is encouraged to join us additional input is welcomed!! Talk to any committee members Barb Battcher, Carolyn Berry, Mary Kramer, Justice Post, or Pastor Don. Thanks!
Tidings 4 The continuing Reformation Alan Thanks for heading up Bread For The World Sunday!!! To All those who participated in the Oktoberfest!! Deeper understandings - October 2017 Martin Luther was concerned about sin, death and the power of the devil. These forces mani fested themselves in ways unique to his time and place. Luther s genius was in recognizing how these threats were present in the lives of people around him. Sin, death and the power of the devil will always be part of our lives, but how are they present in our time? And how might we respond? Luther s world was characterized by much misery. Cities were growing, which brought its own problems. People fled the countryside in search of a better life, often to find that they were unqualified for the types of jobs available merchants or craftwork. Cities often didn t have the infrastructure for the rapid growth they experienced. Consequently people lived in unsanitary conditions that led to disease and death. People looked for hope in indulgences that would help them escape suffering in the next world even as they suffered in this world. The rulers and authorities took advantage of the poor by offering false hope. In both urban and rural areas, large numbers of people worked very hard to achieve little and had little opportunity to move up. Literacy rates were low perhaps as low as 5 percent for the overall population (although rates were much higher in cities). Education wasn t widely available. Luther advocated universal education. An educated citizenry, he said, created a stronger community. Thank You CALL COMMITTEE Your hard work is much appreciated by all in the congregation!!! During this period a sense of a common identity began to emerge out of a collection of small kingdoms and territories. Luther and others began to think that Saxons, Pomeranians and Swabians were all part of one German nation even if they weren t politically unified. Your neighbor, Luther said, wasn t necessarily the person who spoke and dressed like you. The economy was changing dramatically for many reasons, such as urbanization and the development of new technologies like the printing press. People s lives and the world around them were changing rapidly, and it didn t always feel like it was for the better. Luther talked about an identity that extended beyond the local and familiar. Do we also need to think about our identity beyond our nation? Luther ministered in an era when technology and commerce were changing lives. He counseled concern, compassion and care for those marginalized in writings such as Ordinance of Common Chest. How might we be encouraged and inspired by his witness? Continued on page 5
Tidings 5 My point in mentioning identity, changing economies and education is to say that these were potent forces in Luther s era and, I think, in our era as well. Luther talked about an identity that extended beyond the local and familiar. Do we also need to think about our identity beyond our nation? Luther ministered in an era when technology and commerce were changing lives. He counseled concern, compassion and care for those marginalized in writings such as Ordinance of Common Chest. How might we be encouraged and inspired by his witness? Recent events in the United States show that even though we may have come a long way since the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s, we still have a way to go. Christians are called to be a reconciling people. Just as Christ has abolished the law to create in him one new humanity and reconcile all of us to God (Ephesians 2:15-16) so, too, are we called to join Christ in this work of creating one new humanity. Justification by grace reminds us that our identity comes as a gift from God. The church is always reforming! None of us can know where we as a church are called to proclaim the gospel. We don t know if we ll be called to proclaim in words or in action. We only know that we are being called both as a church and as individuals to live faithful lives of discipleship, even while we find our hope and our identity not in what we do but in what God has done in Christ Jesus. David C. Ratke Ratke is dean of the College of Theology, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Hickory, N.C. Agricultural life (on left) and city life in 16th-century Germany.
Tidings 6 TAKE ACTION STEWARDSHIP Stewardship is one of the main themes in the Bible. Don t confuse stewardship with only money. Stewardship is what we do with ALL of God s gifts to us, our very being. What we do with those gifts to God s glory is stewardship! On the kiosk in the narthex are three main themes of stewardship in the church. Check them out as you think about stewardship. Now, for two action points: 1. Since we are not doing pledge forms this year, I would like you to make a personal pledge and note it somewhere so that it will remind you. Remember proportional giving: as your income increases, so should your giving. However, if your income decreases, you should not be locked into a specific pledge. 2. We are not doing What tasks are you willing to do survey sheets this year either. However, if you are willing to help out with your time at church. check out the TIME suggestions and contact the responsible person directly. I believe God will reward you for your stewardship. Thanks for your prayerful consideration, Lowell Battcher As we approach the season of Thanksgiving... Giving Thanks in All Circumstances Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We say amen to Paul s words whenever we prepare to receive the church s Thanksgiving feast, known as Eucharist, a version of the Greek word for thanksgiving. The presider sings or says, It is indeed right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, O Lord These words seem reasonable enough around a holiday table where delicious food, laughter, time and love are in unusual abundance. But that is only one of multiple scenes happening around God s beloved world today, many of which are starved for joy: Refugees huddle in danger and uncertainty. Soldiers share a few MREs (rations) and cigarettes in the back of an armored truck. Forgotten widows dine alone. Prisoners slink into Spartan cells. Native Americans feel the sharp edge of the all too familiar Thanksgiving story. A family stands around a gravestone in the snow. A sales clerk calls her kid from work because they need this job she hates. A pro linebacker does the same. The industrial turkey at the hospital is especially dry. The memories are especially painful. The holiday magnifies the hurt. Give thanks in all circumstances, Paul insists elsewhere going to great pains to produce his own resume of rotten ones. He claims it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. God in Christ knows something about unspeakable suffering too, so this urge to thanksgiving is probably about more than Pollyanna cheer or holiday protocol. For those in the throes of struggle, giving thanks is an act of resistance. It is a fresh breath of hope. It is a sliver of light. It gives a reason and maybe a direction to move forward. Giving thanks keeps the enemies locked out of your heart. It does not depend on winning the gamble of getting something better; it claims and cherishes what you already have, no matter how meager or tenuous it might appear. For those in abundance, giving thanks is at least equally important. Giving thanks loosens your anxious grip. It is the antidote to the soul poisons of ownership, among them pride, entitlement, fear of scarcity and deprivation and other people, worry, lost perspective. No matter how hard you ve worked, you didn t earn birth. Life is a gift, full of gifts, from God. Giving thanks enhances humility and appreciation, which keep the soul healthy, which is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Because God loves you. Always has. Always will. In all circumstances. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God! By Brian Hiortdahl from Living Lutheran, November 26, 2015
Join Mt. Cross Throughout The Tidings Year!! SPSYC Middle School Retreat: November 9-11 Advent Retreat: November 30 - Dec. 2 ALL AGES Men s Weekend: January 18-20 Dr. Sam Thomas from CLU will present on how craft & creating things with our hands connects with faith. UFO - Unfinished Objects Retreat: Feb. 8-10 Models, Scrapbooking, Quilting, Knitting, Carving... whatever your unfinished project, come to Mt. Cross for time to work on it! An option to come a day earlier is also available. SPSYC High School Retreat: Feb. 22-24 Taste of Camp: Saturday, April 27 - Try out camp before registering for the summer? Summer Camp: Offerings every week June 16 Aug.2, 2019 Women s Retreat: September 27-29 Mt. Cross 7
Tidings News From The St. Philip s Pews Congratulations Trevor!! Trevor Pandher and his golf team won the regionals and went on to place 5th in the West Virginia State finals. Trevor, 17, is still acolyting almost every Sunday at their church in Bridgeport, West Virginia. The Pandher s send their best to all at St. Philip s! 8
Tidings 9 Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, is pleased to offer a preventive health event at St Philip's Lutheran Church on 12/4/2018. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening, for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package which includes 4 vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. There are three ways to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, please call toll-free 1-888-653-6441 or visit http://lifelinescreening.com/communitycircle or text the word circle to 797979
Tidings 10 If anyone has any interest in attending please let Pr. Don know. Thanks!
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