Ripples Stillwater Free Lutheran Church Sharing Jesus Christ with Our Neighbors 1401 Church Drive Pastor Craig Scavo Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 253-7003 (406) 257-4614 Youth Pastor Dan Wilhelm E-Mail Address: stillwtr@cyberport.net (406) 261-8004 www.stillwaterlutheranchurch.com Office Hours: 8:30-1:30 Tues Fri November Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1Chronicles 16:8-9 NIV
From the Pastors Desk As we enter into November thoughts of Thanksgiving aren t far away. So, with that in mind what are you thankful for? Is it family? Friends? Having a job? Enough food? I could go on and on. BUT as we near this holiday we call thanksgiving, it might help us to remember why it was established in the first place. Thanksgiving, which occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, is based on the colonial Pilgrims' 1621 harvest meal. That is where the Pilgrims, Indians and turkeys all come from, but it can actually be traced back to 1619, when a group of English settlers landed at the Colony of Virginia. Their charter required that a day of thanksgiving be observed every year on the day of their arrival. It was in 1789 that President George Washington proclaimed and created the first Thanksgiving for the United States of America for Thursday, the 26th day of November next. He wrote: Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
And then from there on out various Presidents and state governors declared days of Thanksgiving. It was finally in 1941 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a law establishing the day of Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday of November. It s interesting that this day continues to be a day to gather for food, football and family. I often wonder what ever happened to thanking God for His Provision? Maybe because it didn t fit with the three F s mentioned earlier? Did you know, depending on the translation you use, the Scriptures uses the word Thankful or Thanksgiving over 100 times? And in almost all of those instances we are encouraged to give thanks to God for the multitude of blessings He has given us! And that is exactly why the Holiday was created to give Thanks to God for all the blessings He provided! Now, as we think about the blessings God has given to us, what better gift to be thanking God than the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ? The Psalmist says: Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Ps 106:1) The Psalmist is thanking God for the forgiveness of sins of the people. So, as we prepare for Thanksgiving and Family, Food and Football, lets also, as Christians, take some time and Thank God for His many blessings, especially the forgiveness of sins through His Son Jesus! God Bless and
Free Flyers Youth Group The Free Flyers are committed to serve the community through our strength in Jesus Christ. November Youth Schedule Nov. 7th - No youth group Nov. 14th - 6-7 Middle school, 7-8 High school Nov. 21st - Thanksgiving Eve Service @7. Please be ready to help serve pie afterwards, Thanks! Nov. 28th - 6-7 Middle school, 7-8 High school Our study in the book of Acts has been good. Come out learn more about it! One Wednesday we went to the Fritz Corn Maze. It was fun and challenging because you needed to know direction and Montana geography! Looking ahead, FLY convention is this summer. The best price rate is before Jan 31st. Please start to discuss with your parents! We also need adults to possibly take our youth to FLY. This year I am working as staff and need to be there earlier. If you are interested please let me know, thanks As always please pray for our youth and myself! Thanks Feel free to call me with any questions or concerns at 406-261-8004
November 4 th Pastor Appreciation Potluck @ Darryl & Rose s Home 3:00 p.m. November 21 st Thanksgiving Eve Service @ 7:00 p.m. We will have a pie social afterwards so bring a pie to share December 15 th Christmas Parade in Kalispell @ 4:00 p.m. Let us know if you want to ride on the float and hand out candy! December 21 st WMF Christmas Potluck & Party @ Bonnie s @ 6:00 p.m. December 23 rd Children s Christmas Program @ 10:00 a.m. Please come see our program! December 24 th Christmas Eve Candle Light Services @ 7:00 & 9:00 p.m. Don t forget to turn your clocks back Saturday November 3 rd before you go to bed!
October 18 th We had 9 ladies present at our meeting. Elaine opened with Devotions and prayer from Our Daily Bread titled We ve Got The Power. Nicole read the minutes from September and they were approved. Bonnie led our Bible study # 10 Hope Through Prayer: Finding God Faithful. Our retreat at Early s was a real success. Thank you Early for being such a great hostess! Linda gave the treasures report, we have $637.04 in the bank. At our next meeting we will decide who we will send the birthday money to and how much. We would like to thank Hatti for the beautiful decorations for the tables for our harvest dinner Thank you Hattie! Our harvest dinner went very well, thank you to the many ladies that helped make meatballs and lefsa, and also to all who set up and cleaned up. We will be having a Reformation Festival at the church on October 31 st. There will be food, games and candy. There will not be any AWANA that night, so if you can come and help out call Nicole. The Thanksgiving Eve service will be November 21 st at 7:00 p.m. Pie will be shared after the service so please bring your favorite pie to share! On December 21 st Bonnie will host a potluck dinner for our Christmas Party. Please plan to attend and bring your gift for your secret prayer sister as the secret will be revealed. Also bring a dish to share and goodies if you would like. Our meeting was adjourned and a very delicious lunch was served. Our next meeting will be at Nicole s house with Elaine as the co-host on November 15 th at 10:00 a.m. Our lesson will be #11 titled Hope Realized: When Hope Becomes Sight. Elaine will lead our study. Please plan to come. Elaine Lessor; Secretary
Building Committee Report As of October 25th we are now operating from our new well. The old well will be abandoned soon. Thanks to Miles Erickson (MWC Viking Pump,), Jeff Timlick (Kalispell Electric) and Shay Evanoff (Phil s Plumbing) and their helpers, for bringing this phase of our project to a close. Proper documents and inspections as per MDEQ requirements are in process. Our architect Ted Clarke has left to spend the winter in Arizona, but before he left he gave a copy of his final drawings to Pastor Craig for our use as we proceed with the next steps of the project. He also gave a copy to Roy Beekman, project manager at Matt Lee Construction, formerly Meredith Construction Co. Roy is developing a detailed estimate for us to review, much the same as he has done before. As was stated in last month s report some committee members are collecting detailed information on metal buildings. Sometime after the first of the new year a special congregation meeting should be scheduled to compare the details of a wood frame structure to a metal building. Please keep this matter in your prayers, as there will be big decisions to be made by the congregation. After adding two new members (*) the committee was ratified at the October 18 council meeting. Members are Lindsey Erickson, Mike Hirtes (*), Tom Lund, Shelby Switzer (*), David Tutvedt, Ed Van Scoten Ken West, and Danny and Sharon Wilhelm. Ed Van Scoten will continue as chairman. Since this meeting Tom has requested he be removed from the committee. As always, we ask for your prayers for the committee and our building project that God s will might be done. Respectfully submitted, Ed Van Scoten
Flash Back!! From the November 1996 Stillwater Church News:
As we near the Christmas season, please be in prayer for Stillwater Church and all your brothers and sisters in Christ. Christmas can bring times of joy, happiness and blessings; but it can also bring times of sadness, stress and depression. Pray that we all give glory to God and see His infinite miracles around us to uplift us and remind us of His promise. Pray for our church council and the open positions that will need to be filled. Pray for Pastor Craig & Sherri and Danny & Sharon as they lead us in faith and worship. Pray for those who are homeless and cold as well as those who struggle to make endsmeat during the winter months. Thank you all, brothers and sisters, for your prayers! We will be decorating the float for the Christmas Parade starting near the end of November. Watch the bulletin for dates and times! Any and all help would be appreciated!
Stillwater Free Lutheran Church 1401 Church Drive Kalispell, MT 59901