October 2013 St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church 4600 East 42nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55406 Phone: 612-722-8000 Fax: 612-722-8068 Website: www.stpeders.net STEWARDSHIP OF TIME AND TALENTS Whether you serve communion or serve at a funeral reception or serve on a committee or serve coffee on Marathon Sunday, you make our mission to joyfully live the gospel with open hearts, open hands and open doors a reality! At St. Peder s, we re grateful for all the resources you share to make ministry and mission happen - and this fall we ll be asking you to complete a Time & Talent Inventory. (I know we ve already asked you to participate in a strategic planning survey, but this is something different.) The Inventory will invite you to share how you d like to use your gifts in ministry, and that information allows us to help make volunteering a valuable experience for everyone. It s been some years since we ve gathered this information, so your participation in completing this inventory will be very helpful as we seek to be good stewards of ALL the gifts you share. Look for more information to come soon with details about how and when you can complete the Time & Talent Inventory. Grateful for your partnership in the gospel and the time and talents you bring, Pastor Julie Ebbesen Council President s Message Generosity Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17 It is Stewardship time again. Time for church leaders to create next year s budget. Time for church members to reconsider their giving commitment. This year I m going to challenge you to look at your giving plans from a different angle. Instead of thinking about your amount of pledge as a gift you give the church, think of the pledging process as a spiritual gift you give yourself. In the September 15 Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chris Farrell wrote an excellent article about generosity and its role in our financial lives. According to Farrell, generosity and the act of giving to others is at heart of good financial management. In this article Farrell states that when we give money away we think about how we d like society to be better, about the kind of legacy we d like to leave behind, about the social and philanthropic causes that move us deeply. These questions and conversations are meaningful. They touch at the core of who we are and who we are trying to be in our everyday lives. (continued on page 2)
Council President s Message (continued from page 1) I fully agree with Farrell. I believe that by considering the things we value, and the type of world we wish to create, we make our own thinking stronger. We solidify our own values and make it easier to make choices in our lives. We become firmer in our commitments and more grounded in our faith. So, as you consider your 2014 pledge, please keep in mind the things that make St. Peder s unique that add value within and beyond our faith community. Think about the kind of St. Peder s you d like to see in the future, and your role in it. Consider the gifts that God has blessed you with. Consider the role generosity plays in your faith. Then take a spiritual leap of faith by challenging yourself to give a little more, to take on an extra role, to expand your generosity. God s Blessings to You, Judy This coming Sunday, October 6, is Marathon Sunday! Stop by the front doors to greet our guests. 8:30 to 11:00. Contact Judy Hogan with questions (jahogan@earthlink.net) Brought to you by Shepherding Group 5 For All the Saints On All Saints Sunday, November 3, we will remember by name those who ve died since November 1, 2012. If you have a loved one you d like to honor on that day, please call or email the church office by November 1 so we can include them in the prayers. CELEBRATING CONFIRMATION! On Reformation Sunday, October 27, St Peder s will confirm Peter Anderson, Isabel Hansen, and Nathan Parshall at the 10:30 am service. Please remember these ninth graders in your prayers and congratulate them on this life-passage as they affirm their faith. We celebrate with them and pray God s blessings upon their lives! Congratulations, 9th Graders, on this special occasion in your journey of faith and life! MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW The annual Aebleskive Breakfast is on Ingathering Sunday, November 10 following the 9:00 a.m. worship service. (There will be NO 10:30 service that day!) It s a delicious way to enjoy each other s company and it s an opportunity to volunteer in some way to make this year s breakfast another successful venture in dining! Sue Nielsen will begin recruiting volunteers soon, so please consider how you want to participate and be on the lookout for the sign-up sheets! Thanks in advance for your assistance!
Congregational Invitation to Join us at: Faith Family Night Sunday October 20th 5:30pm - 7:30pm Games & Sandwiches! See the Faith Formation Newsletter for all Sunday Morning Adult Faith Forum Interested in exploring the history of the Bible or how we can make sense of what we read in scripture? Then join the Adult Faith Forum on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. in the Conference Room. Pastor Sharon Kelly will be the facilitator. Invite a friend and bring your curiosity and questions and insights! This fall session begins on Sunday, October 6. Grownups/Koinonia October Luncheon Join us on Friday, October 18 at noon for a Harvest Potluck! Bring a favorite harvest and autumn dish to share - and invite a friend to come, too! All retirement age folks are encouraged to attend. If you need a ride, please call Pastor Julie so we can arrange transportation! GATHER BIBILE STUDY: The Gather Bible Study meets in the church library. Refreshments & coffee are served. Session 2 is titled, Deborah, a Determined Leader. Date: October 15, 2013 Time: 9:30-11:00 Place: Church Library Women and men are welcome. We have extra lesson books in the Church Library Joan Gerth 612-722-6533 QUILTERS GROUP: The Wednesday Quilters Group meets in October Come and join us. Our supply of useful quilting material is getting low. If you have any large pieces of material to give away we would be happy to make quilts out of it. Dates: October 2 & 16 Time: 9:30 Place: Church Fellowship Hall Together in Mission The offerings of your financial resources allow us not only to support the mission of our congregation, but to share our resources with others in ministry so that all may know of Christ s love. TOGETHER we work on Christ s behalf in the world - none of us can do it alone! Thank you for your offerings through the eighth month of 2013. A detailed financial summary report is available at the church office for anyone who d like to see it. Income Month of August $ 20,386.78 Budget for the month $ 20,451.19 Year to Date $ 173,123.31 Budget Year to Date $ 182,770.50 Expenses Month of August $ 24,751.93 Budget for the month $ 23,351.57 Year to Date $ 181,455.79 Budget Year to Date $ 185,201.72 Mission Support to Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh YTD $ 2,666.64 Minneapolis Area Synod YTD $18,000.00
Letter from South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels Dear Worshipping Community of St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Minneapolis Meals on Wheels (SMMOW) thanks you for your extraordinary gift of $2,000 on July 15, 2013, and your continuing support of our work feeding those in our community who can t cook for themselves - a service that literally enables some to stay in their homes. In addition our volunteer drivers from your church and our other member churches provide a vitally important safety check to our clients. If a client doesn t come to the door, our coordinator follows up by alerting the client s emergency contact. But most important, the meals are delivered with a SMILE from our volunteers - for some it is the only face-to-face encounter with another person. We are also most appreciative of the years of service to SMMOW by Pat Bolstad, our coordinator, and Sandra Hultgren, our mailing secretary. The contribute many hours each year supporting the work of SMMOW and is board of directors. LIBRARY MATTERS: A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks Read the book. Join the conversation. ONE MINNEAAPOLIS ONE READ is a Minneapolis community read where everyone in town is invited to read the same book and encouraged to join in community conversation. The book is A Choice of Weapons by Gordon Parks, a compelling autobiography that tells how Parks escaped poverty and bigotry around him and launched a distinguished career in photography by choosing weapons given him by a mother who placed love, dignity and hard work over hatred. Two scheduled book discussions will take place at Roosevelt and East Lake Libraries in October and also St. Peter s Church Library by request. SEE YOU IN THE LIBRARY Fiber Arts Group meets Saturday, October 5 & 19 from 2:00-4:00pm. Whether you are a skilled professional or someone who is just starting out, please join us. We meet the 1st & 3rd Saturday of the month. Come share your gifts and talents. For further information, call Melba Granlund at 612-719-0435. Join Us at Pub Theology! Wednesday October 16th 7:35pm! Parkway Pizza! 4359 Minnehaha Ave Come join us for some lively conversation and appetizers! Topic: To Be Announced on Sunday October 13th! All those over 21 are invited to join us in for a relaxed happy hour type conversation around faith & God! Questions talk to Sarah Grans! Thomanerchor Johann Sebastian Bach s own, the legendary St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig Founded in 1212. First-ever American tour! Monday, November 4, 2013 8:00 pm Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis Tickets are available at www.centralmpls.org
Faith Formation Newsletter! Faith Family Night Sunday October 20th 5:30pm - 7:30pm Games & Sandwiches! We are kicking off a night of fun & service! We will be making 300 sandwiches for The Sandwich Project! Enjoying a build your own sub sandwich fest & playing some games to end our evening! All families are invited to join us for a night of fun and fellowship! Sign your family or yourself up to come and join in Sunday School Schedule! October 6th - Family Worship Sunday - No Class 13th - David 20th - Solomon Faith Family Night Event in evening 27th - Reformation Confirmation Service Sunday October 27th! All youth are invited to come and support your peers at the 10am worship service as they get ready to affirm their faith! 3rd Grade Bible Milestone Sunday! Sunday October 27th 9am Worship Service During the 9am worship we will be giving our 3rd graders a special bible for their use during Sunday School. Parents - please be on the look out for a letter explaining all the details.
October Volunteer Schedule October 6 Twin Cities Marathon Outreach Event Greeters: Gene & Marilynn Paulson Ushers: 9:00am Steve Austin & Glen Olsen 10:30am Dan Vetsch Acolytes: 9:00am Alaiyah Nelsen-Tobechukwu 10:30am Evan Brown-Ton Readers: 9:00am Karen Droegemueller 10:30am Leslee Nestingen Communion Assistants: 9:00am Peter Juhl, Karin Buchen, Craig Rocheleau 10:30am Sharon Kelly Bread & Wine: Kristin Lerstrom & Daniel Peterson Communion Set Up and Clean Up: 9:00am Nanette Geroux & Judy Anderson 10:30am Karen Vetsch & Joan Gerth Nursery: 9:00am Shawna Nelsen Counters: Cameron Jamison & Doreen Skraba LSS Safe House Dinner for October 7: Curt & Meg Petersen Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 7 October 13 Greeters: John & Doreen Skraba Ushers: 9:00am Ed Gleason & Dale Montgomery 10:30am Cameron Jamison Acolytes: 9:00am Isabelle Geroux 10:30am Peter Anderson Readers: 9:00am Lisa Rovick 10:30am Judy Hogan Nursery: 9:00am Volunteer Needed Counters: Steve Austin & JeriLynn Young LSS Safe House Dinner for October 14: Ken & Kay Kistler and Ford & Karen Droegemueller Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 8 October 20 Greeters: Daniel Peterson & Kristin Lerstrom Ushers: 9:00am Jim Nelsen & Paul Jensen 10:30am Bob Stanich Acolytes: 9:00am Nathan Parshall 10:30am Kate Anderson Readers: 9:00am Sonja Walker 10:30am JeriLynn Young Communion Assistant (Intinction): 10:30am Darrick Jensen Nursery: 9:00am Emma Johnson Counters: Annalise Munnich & Jean Evers LSS Safe House Dinner for October 21: Gene & Marilyn Paulson and Ott & Dolores Andreasen Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 9 October 27 Confirmation Service at 10:30am Greeters: Jean Evers & Lenore Austin Ushers: 9:00am Peter Juhl & Paul Aitchison 10:30am Lisa Jensen & Craig Rocheleau Acolytes: 9:00am Lauren Jenson 10:30am Jasper Gantriis Readers: 9:00am Martha Olsen 10:30am Confirmation Student Nursery: 9:00am Michelle Brown Ton Counters: Jackie West & Carl Jensen LSS Safe House Dinner for October 28: Sue & Al Nielsen Confirmation Families to serve. Thank you for serving St. Peder s by volunteering. If you would like to volunteer or are interested in a particular job, please call the church office at 612-722-8000. We d love to hear from you! Thank you for volunteering your time and talent at St. Peder s. Please try to arrange your own trades. If you are pressed for time or have questions or concerns, contact the church office at 612-722-8000 or kristin@stpeders.net. Sunday School October Birthdays Phoebe Anderson 10/15 Cole Nelsen 10/27
The Messenger St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church 4600 East 42nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55406 October 2013 T.C. Marathon Outreach Event Sunday, October 6th A wonderful opportunity to welcome our neighbors - near and far! Faith Family Night Sunday October 20th 5:30pm - 7:30pm Games & Sandwiches! See the Faith Formation Staff of St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church Rev. Julie Ebbesen - Pastor Sarah Grans - Director of Outreach and Faith Formation Kristin Lerstrom - Office Coordinator Debbie Wolking - Accounts Manager Rita Juhl - Organist Matthew Olson - Choral Music Director Jim Austin - Caretaker John Geroux III - Sound Engineer (volunteer) In this issue... Stewardship of Time and Talents Council President s Message Marathon Outreach For All the Saints Celebrating Confirmation Mark Your Calendars Faith Family Night GrownUps & Koinonia Potluck Luncheon Gather Bible Study & Quilters Together in Mission Letter from Meals on Wheels Library Matters Fiber Arts Group Pub Theology Faith Formation Newsletter October Calendar October Volunteer Schedule Grown Ups Potluck Luncheon October 18 at noon. Details inside.