Messiah Messiah Lutheran Church Mounds View, MN VOL DATE ISSUE Sharing The Savior Developing Disciples Staff Ext. Senior Pastor Richard Steensma... 112 Director of Sunday School & Website Allison Burkhow... 111 Director of Preschool Annie Bilski... 114 Director of Parish Music Kay Knutson... 123 Director of Senior Youth Eli Sontag... 172 Administrative Assistant & Choir Director Heather McAllister... 110 Secretary JoElla Kath... 124 Bookkeeper Lowell Brutlag... 172 Custodian Curt Flor... 125 Custodial Assistants Ron Boyce Dave Anderson Church Office Hours Monday-Friday...8:00 am to 4:00 pm Phone Number... 763-784-1786 Sunday Schedule 7:30 am... Worship 8:45 am... Worship 10:00 am... Education Hour 11:00 am... Worship Wednesday Schedule 5:59 pm... Worship Church email Address messiah@messiah-lutheran.org MESSIAH GIVING TREE It is that time of year once again to begin thinking about our Giving Tree Program. The Tree will be up and ready by Sunday, November 17th in the Gathering Space near the office. We will be fulfilling wishes of people from our church and our community who need support. If you would like to participate, take an ornament from the tree, purchase the gift indicated on the ornament, wrap it and tape the ornament on the package so it can be identified. Place the gift under the tree before Sunday, December 16th. Thank you for your generous support! Church Web Site messiah-lutheran.org
STEWARDSHIP The Stewardship Campaign for this year will be conducted in November. Pastor Steensma will incorporate a discussion of Stewardship in his messages on November 4 th and 11 th. You should receive a mailing in early November that discusses Stewardship. Everyone will have an opportunity to fill out a pledge card for 2019. Pledge cards will be turned in on Sunday, November 18 th during the worship services. Your pledge cards should arrive in your mail in early November. XYZ XYZ will meet in November with a traditional German dinner potluck provided by you! It was so good last year and so much fun (special thanks to the O Malleys for adding to the fun!) See Aneita Hitzeman or Faith Graefe if you have questions. ORDER YOUR POINSETTIAS! Deadline to order poinsettias to help decorate our Sanctuary for Christmas is November 12. Order forms can be found in the office or as an insert in the News and Notes. 2
. NOVEMBER, 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 9:00 AM Lefse Making 2:00 PM Cribbage 7:00 PM Jubilant Bells 2 6:00 AM Men s Bible Study RJ Riches 9:30 AM Study of John 3 9:00 AM 2:00 PM Bazaar 4 7:30AM,8:45,11:00 AM Worship * Communion at All Services 10:00 AM Education Hour 5 4:00 PM Griefshare Group 6 9:00 AM Tuesday Crew/Quilting 10:30 AM Prayer Group Noon Women s Bible Study 7:00 PM Elders 7:30 PM AA 7 4:45 PM Community Meal 5:00 PM Joyful Ringers 5:59 PM Wednesday Service 6:00 PM Confirmation Orientation/Sr. Youth/Kids of Service 8 2:00 PM Cribbage 7:00 PM Jubilant Bells 9 6:00 AM Men s Bible Study @ RJ Riches 9:30 AM MOPS 9:30 AM Study of John 10 11 7:30AM,8:45,11:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Education Hour 12 4:00 PM Griefshare Group 13 9:00 AM Tuesday Crew 10:30 AM Prayer Group Noon Women s Bible Study 7:00 PM Elders 7:30 PM AA 14 9:30 AM Adult Bible Study 4:45 PM Community Meal 5:00 PM Joyful Ringers 6:00 PM Kids of Service/Sr. Youth 7:00 PM Messiah Singers 15 2:00 PM Cribbage 7:00 PM Jubilant Bells 7:00 PM Mom s Bible Study 16 6:00 AM Men s Bible Study @ RJ Riches 9:30 AM Study of John 17 18 7:30AM,8:45, 11:00 AM Worship *Communion at all services 10:00 AM Education Hour 19 4:00 PM Griefshare Group 20 9:00 AM Work Crew/Quilting 10:30 AM Prayer Group Noon Women s Bible Study 7:00 PM Leadership Council 7:30 PM AA 21 7:00 PM Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service 22 10:00 AM Thanksgiving Day Worship Service 23 6:00 AM Men s Bible Study @ RJ Riches 9:30 AM Study of John 24 CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED 25 7:30 AM,8:45, 11:00 AM Worship 10:00 AM Education Hour 26 4:00 PM Griefshare Group 27 9:00 AM Work Crew 10:30 AM Prayer Group Noon Women s Bible Study 6:30 PM Advent By Candlelight 7:30 PM AA 28 29 9:30 AM Adult Bible Study 2:00 PM Cribbage 4:45 PM Community Meal 5:00 PM Joyful Ringers 5:59 PM Wednesday Service 6:00 PM Confirmation/Sr. Youth/ Kids of Service 7:00 PM Messiah Singers 30 6:00 AM Men s Bible Study @ RJ Riches 9:30 AM Study of John
November, 2018 Head to Heart I am so excited to share with you what is happening in our confirmation program. Currently we have over 30 students in grades 6 8. Confirmation class is a place where young people learn about the promises God has made, why He has made them and how this impacts our lives today. In order to understand this we need to look deeply into the Bible, as a complete book, in order to see how God has worked throughout history and still continues to work today. With the goal of helping each child grow in their relationship with God and with one another we will begin using a program called Head to Heart. Head to the Heart (H2H) will help teenagers discover that learning about God can be fun! H2H takes confirmation from the lecture/classroom to a relational/experiential model. H2H is based on the latest in adolescent brain research, helping kids retain the information and helping churches retain the kids! H2H combines current life with Biblical truths, creating critical-thinking, deeply-caring, faithful young people. It features art, music, skits, and gameshows, while building lasting caring relationships at church. H2H blends learning, Christian service and fellowship. Why am I sharing this with you? Because I want you to know how blessed we are at Messiah! Blessed to have volunteers who have given so much of their time and talents to help our kids! Blessed to have kids who are hungry to learn about God and His love for them. Blessed to have parents who want their children to not only know about God s love but know how to share and show His love. In case you have not heard, I LOVE working with and growing with Middle Schoolers. Please take a moment to offer a prayer of thanks for our kids, for their parents, and for our amazing volunteers. Pray specifically that through the partnership of home and church our kids will indeed grow stronger in their faith. Sharing the Savior Developing Disciples Pastor Rich Steensma Senior Pastor Email: rsteensma@messiah-lutheran.org Facebook and Twitter: PastorRich Steensma 4
HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS COAT DRIVE 2018 UPDATE We collected 744 coats (600 in 2017). Way to go! We distributed 374 coats on Saturday. October 20 (266 in 2017). The remainder of the coats went to: the Mounds View School District thrift store, a street ministry in St. Paul (formerly Shobi s Table), St. Vincent De Paul and Luther Seminary (for foreign students) For over twenty years, members of Messiah Lutheran Church have annually delivered food and fruit baskets to families who have experienced a loss or are facing hardships. We are currently seeking financial donations for this ministry. Please plan now to share your time and blessings this Christmas season by making a cash donation in support of Messiah s Holiday Food Basket program. Cash contributions can be made by noting the amount on your weekly giving envelope or placing it in an envelope marked Holiday Food Baskets. On Saturday, December 15th, 2018 we will be seeking help with the delivery of these baskets. Thank you! 5
GREETERS Sunday, November 4: Sunday, November 11: 7:30 R. & C. Sroga 7:30 M. & B. Stickley 8:45 W. & J. Schuldt 8:45 R. & M. Schwanz S. Olson K. Tjosvold 11:00 N. & C. Birkeland 11:00 R. & D. Boyce Sunday, November 18: Sunday, November 25: 7:30 D. Rossbach & P. Hildreth 7:30 V. & I. Beyer 8:45 G. & K. Uthe 8:45 J. & J. Walther E. Visger J. Angle 11:00 V. Fish 11:00 R. Johnson B. Hansen C. O Malley BAZAAR When you receive this Newsletter, our Bazaar will be well on the way to being set up or perhaps it may be over. Either way, we want to thank you all for the many committees you ve worked on, the time you spent making crafts, baking, serving in kitchen, working and clean up. You are the ones who have made our Bazaar the success it is and has been over the years. Praise Him! WOM served many pans of breads, cookies and bars on LWML Sunday. Close to $200 was collected in mites which will help meet the LWML project goals. We blessed 31 quilts LWML Sunday, donated 1 to Habitat, gave 3 to the family who experienced a fire in their home, sold 4, and gave 23 to Bridging. Again, a big thank you to all of you who have donated material, sheets and other supplies that we use. Think of all the people you have helped to keep warm. Our November meeting is Tuesday the 13th beginning at 5:30 with a potluck. We will be filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, filling shut-in baskets, revealing our prayer partners and receiving our new prayer partner s name. If you would like a prayer partner, contact Shirley Olson before the meeting and she will see that you receive one. Advent by Candlelight is Tuesday, November 27. Check out the poster, Newsletter and News & Notes for further information. Have a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends. 6
SNOW SHOVELERS NEEDED! Do you enjoy being out in the fresh winter air? Messiah has an opportunity for you. Volunteers are needed for shoveling and blowing of the church walks this winter. You won t have to come in every time it snows and you won t be alone. Groups of volunteers are scheduled alternating weekends (Friday night to after church on Sunday) from November to April. If it snows on your group s weekend, you come in. If you would like to help please contact Curt at (763) 784-1786 or email me at cflor@messiah-lutheran.org Thank you. ASSOCIATE PASTOR UPDATE The Leadership Council has completed the necessary paperwork to begin the process of filling the Associate Pastor vacancy through the Seminary. We pray for God s guidance and blessings as we await the person God has planned for us. We also pray for that person as he completes his seminary studies. Prayer shawls, walker bags, chemo hats and kids fleece blankets are for you to give to others who would be blessed by a gift of comfort. Gift bags are available too. If you have a neighbor, friend, a shut in or someone who is sick, please feel free to take one as a gift. They are located on a rack near the west entrance. 7
TRUNK or TREAT! Thank you!!!! Thank you to everyone who decorated a trunk, donated candy or volunteered your time to make Messiah s 2018 Trunk or Treat a HUGE success! We are looking forward to next year already! We are in need of volunteers for our One Starry Night family program Are you able to help us out? We have MANY different areas in which volunteers can be used Set-Up Leadership Team Station Guide Bethlehem Villagers Outreach & Hospitality If one of these areas sounds interesting or like something you would like to do please let Annie Bilski know at abilski@messiah-lutheran.org OR sign up at church by the elevator. 9
Dads will join us in the classroom for donuts and some extra FUN times! Worship with us each month in the sanctuary Students will be hosting a Thanksgiving spread family style in the classrooms! How well does a 3, 4 or 5 year old know the Christmas story? Students will be telling the Christmas story in their words along with singing praises to our Lord and Savior It s a question I hear frequently, or the other typical one is how s the school year going? Well, to answer both of them, the kids are learning A LOT - and the school year, it s going quick! Both the Little Lambs and Fish Kids have been learning about the season of Fall during the month of October; why the leaves change colors AND fall off of the tree, they are learning about pumpkins and apples, animals who are preparing for hibernation and so much more! As we look forward into November the classrooms are changing, students are learning new routines of how to put winter gear on and we are starting to practice and prepare for our Christmas Program. A few things to note we would LOVE to see you join us for any of our celebrations, the Christmas Program or Chapel Pastor Rich and Mrs. Bilski lead Chapel each month, nothing big or long, but it is so amazing to worship with 40 kids - our next Chapel service is on Nov. 13th & 14th at 9:15am in the Sanctuary.
Advent by Candlelight will be on Tuesday, November 27th. Our guest speaker will be Tara Brueske. She is a pianist, singer, and story teller. The sign-up poster will be up the first Sunday in November on the bulletin board by the elevator. We need hostesses (usually two per table) to set a table and prepare a dessert for their table, along with up to 8 other attendees. Men are also welcome to join WOM at special tables for a fun filled evening. Punch and fellowship will start at 6:30 with program starting at 7:00. 11
Messiah s Audio-Video team is now offering USB flash drives for recordings of worship services and other memorable events. The majority of flat panel TVs manufactured in the last 4 years have a USB input and some have had them for 10 years. The problem we are encountering is that many DVD manufactures have discontinued making the discs. If you do not have USB capability, we will continue to provide DVDs for as long as DVD s blanks are available. Newer flat panel TVs have one or more USB receptacles. USB receptacles may also be found on DVD players and game consoles as well as computers. USBs have better picture and sound quality and we can put more information one flash drive then on a DVD. Note the difference between HDMI and USB receptacles. The USB receptacle may be found on the side or the back of the TV. If the TV is wall mounted or difficult to access we have USB extension cords available. Because every TV, media player, game console or computer is different, the instructions below are generic in nature. 1. Insert Flash Drive into a convenient USB receptacle. The TV can be ON or OFF. 2. On the remote press the input or source button. The input or source menu should now be displayed on the screen. 3.With the arrow keys on the remote move the high lighted area to USB and press the enter button. A menu of what is on the flash drive should now be displayed. 4.Select an item you wish to view (i.e. worship service, sermon). ~ The Audio Video team 12 Wednesday Worship: December 5, 12, 19 4&6 PM
WHAT: BAZAAR WHEN: Saturday, November 3 WHERE: Gathering Space, Cross Roads, Room 210, Blue Room, Fireside Room TIME: 9:00 2:00 WHY: Because Messiah consists of talented and crafty people who want to share their talents; To give one and all a chance to get rid of items taking up valuable space in their closets; Because the bazaar offers an avenue to earn money for mission projects here and abroad. IMPORTANT INFORMATION Items for Grandma s Attic may be brought to the east end of the Blue Room AFTER services on Sunday, October 28, and any time up to Thursday, November 2. Please have your items clean. Hunting and fishing gear, tools, and garden things are also welcome. Clothing, exercise equipment, baby cribs, car seats, tvs, and other electronics cannot be accepted. Large items can be accepted ONLY if you agree to pick it up after the sale if it is not sold. For security reasons, it would be best if antiques be brought to church not before Thursday, November 1. They can be dropped off in the Fireside Room. Cookies, baked goods, and all craft items may be brought to church on Friday, November 2, between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. The Cookie Parade is a VERY popular aspect of the bazaar. In order to keep our reputation high, we need cookie bakers. Please see the sign up sheet on the board next to the elevator. Recipes are provided. A dozen different kinds of Christmas cookies are sold. When bringing your items on Friday, you must stop at the table by the west door and sign the register. This helps greatly in record keeping and it will give you the opportunity to get a receipt for your donation. Please note that unsold items need to be picked up after the sale on Sunday. They will not be stored for next year s sale. Messiah has a good reputation for one of the best bazaars around, due to our large craft sale, Grandma s Attic for the clean, organized items, a room full of nostalgic antiques, and the Cookie Parade with a dozen different Christmas cookies. Also popular are the apple pies, freshly made lefse, many baked items, and lunch. Plan to attend and bring your neighbors, friends, and relatives. You will have a good time. Proceeds are divided equally between Outreach and Inreach projects. They are: Outreach: Habitat for Humanity LINC mission in the Twin Cities Global Health Ministries for water wells in Madagascar and Nigeria Inreach: Playground replacement fund Carpet replacement fund Audio video upgrade Proceeds from the sale of the quilt will go to North Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch. Proceeds from the Toy Room will go to Feed My Starving Children. 13
ALTAR GUILD 7:30 R. Roehl & N. Roehl J. Walther, P. Diehl, W. Fonken, A. Brutlag USHERS 8:45 B. Brolsma, C. Hayes, J. Kvitrud 11:00 B. Bargman, H. Bargman, M. Johnson ACOLYTES Sunday, November 4: 8:45 L. Panelli & D. Netland 11:00 A. Laughlin & T. Bargman Sunday, November 11: 8:45 L. Karger & E. Oslund 11:00 C. Burkhow & G. Herrald Sunday, November 18: 8:45 E. Masso & H. Kettelhut 11:00 G. Gerhard & C. Knoebel Thanksgiving Eve: Wednesday, 11/21 7:00 PM M. Thomas & D. Thomas Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, 11/22 10:00 AM J. Allen & E. Allen READERS Sunday, November 4: 7:30 B. Gaynor 8:45 Peterson Family 11:00 B. Bargman Sunday, November 11: 7:30 C. Hyatt 8:45 R. Bardal 11:00 A. Hitzeman Sunday, November 18: 7:30 R. Roth 8:45 J. Norell 11:00 M. Bardal Sunday, November 25: 7:30 G. Ness 8:45 R. Cobian 11:00 H. Hansen MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs: 27:1 Sunday, November 25: 8:45 R. Olson & C. Thistle 11:00 L. Burkhow & J. Allen 14
THANKSGIVING WORSHIP SERVICES: Wednesday, November 21: 7:00 PM with communion Thursday, November 22: 10:00 AM with communion When moving, changing address and/or phone, please notify the church office.