Worship in November Two services each Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday November 4- 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and Mark Roock presiding. Worship Theme: For All The Saints Sunday November 11- Rachel Asen will be preaching and Jim Bennett presiding. Worship Theme: Honoring Elder Wisdom Sunday November 18- Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and Mark Roock presiding. Worship Theme: Thankful Hearts and Minds, Confirmation Sunday. Sunday November 25- Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and presiding. Worship Theme: Christ the King THANK YOU Thanks to everyone who donated items to the winter coat collection. We were able to donate several coats, blankets and other winter items to God’s Helping Hands Ministry. They had a chili dinner and winter wear distribution on October 20th. Thanks again to all who donated. Volume 31, No. 12 NOVEMBER 2018 IMPORTANT CHANGES: Please revise your email address for the church office. The church email carrier has changed and the new email address is [email protected], please contact the office if you suspect you have not been receiving important church emails. Pastor Stephanie’s new email is [email protected].
Transcript
Worship in November
Two services each Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday November 4- 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and Mark Roock presiding. Worship Theme: For All The Saints Sunday November 11- Rachel Asen will be preaching and Jim Bennett presiding. Worship Theme: Honoring Elder Wisdom Sunday November 18- Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and Mark Roock presiding. Worship Theme: Thankful Hearts and Minds, Confirmation Sunday.
Sunday November 25- Pastor Stephanie will be preaching and presiding. Worship
Theme: Christ the King
THANK YOU Thanks to everyone who donated items to the winter coat collection. We were able to donate several coats, blankets and other winter items to God’s Helping Hands Ministry. They had a chili dinner and winter wear distribution on October 20th. Thanks again to all who donated.
Volume 31, No. 12 NOVEMBER 2018
IMPORTANT CHANGES:
Please revise your email address for the church office. The church email carrier has
changed and the new email address is [email protected], please contact the office if you
suspect you have not been receiving important church emails. Pastor Stephanie’s new
Dear Friends at CLC, As the months roll on since I began this interim pastoral position with you, I experience more and more the breadth and the depth of this congregation. In case you had not noticed this about yourselves, these truly are dimensions of strength on which you can enjoy the present and utilize as you anticipate your future. The breadth of love and compassion that I see in operation and the depth of thoughtfulness and intentionality in living out your faith are assets that cannot be quantified, but certainly are inspiring. You are to be commended since this is not experienced widely among congregations in general, in my experience. You have been most gracious to me as I adapt to your style and as we learn to operate together during this interim phase. These qualities will continue to serve you well when you welcome new pastoral staff and as new members join you. What it means for this congregation to be in transition is coming more and more into focus as time goes on. Your Transition Team is fully devoted to doing its best work under the capable leadership of Megan Meadows and Pr. John Mann. I encourage you to be present for the Life and History event planned for Monday, Nov. 12 at 7 pm. This evening will include a very significant piece of work that needs to be accomplished for the Transition Team to have a clearer picture of how CLC sees itself currently. Your voice and presence are important to creating this wholistic view that will shape the work going forward. As I reflect more on what needs to be communicated during this transition, I realize a need to communicate a bit on my schedule and how my time is spent. My office hours are being published as 8 am - 4 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I chose those days for two reasons. The first is that I am on a 3/4 time contract, so three office days seemed reasonable. The second reason is that most meetings which I attend occur on Tuesday- Thursday. However, I take the pastoral role seriously, so I fully recognize that being available for times outside of stated hours is necessary for pastoral emergences and for special occasions and events. For example, I enjoy going to the birthday parties at Laclede Groves on Mondays, and I make hospital visits on whichever days are needed. I usually write sermons in my home office on Friday or Saturday, after thinking through the study and reflection I’ve worked on throughout the week on the theme of the day. Additional responsibilities include attending two monthly meetings with Pr. John Mann. One of these meetings is designed especially for the ELCA team in St. Louis, for mutual resourcing and support for all people serving in interim capacities as well as those who are being trained to do so in the future. I was part of this group which meets on the fourth Thursday afternoon of the month for a year before I came on board at CLC, having served primarily as pulpit supply previously. The second meeting is available to anyone who wants to grow in understanding healthy family systems work (think Friedman, Bowen, Steinke, etc) and it is held on the first Thursday of each month from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Creve Coeur. All of us on the interim team are expected to be present for it as it is a very helpful resource in understanding congregational dynamics. If you are interested in joining, please let me know or just show up. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in service to God with you during this transition for you. Please contact me at 636.357.1987 if you need to reach me beyond office hours. Pastor Stephanie
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Join local artisans & fair trade vendors for our 4th annual festive day of holiday shopping. Lady Grey’s Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale will be held on Saturday, November 17th, 9:30-4:00 over at The Mead Center. Our amazing raffle prizes and fabulous Christ Lutheran bake sale will support Lutheran World Relief, Heifer International and ELCA Good Gifts this year. Please invite
your friends, family and neighbors!
Ninth Graders Prepare to Affirm Faith on November 18th
The ninth grade youth who will affirm their faith in the rite of Confirmation this year on Sunday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. are: Samuel Allen, Joshua Bruns, Sophia Bude, and David Ciorba. After attending two years’ of confirmation classes in middle school these youth are now attending the high school class on Sunday mornings. Please pray for each of these young people as they continue their faith journeys and acknowledge this milestone with them and their families at the 10:30 am service on Nov. 18, followed by a cake reception in their honor in the fellowship hall.
Christian Service will be sponsoring a Christmas Giving Tree for children who participate in Provident Counseling After school programs. Look for more details in the bulletin regarding when the wish lists will be available, and when to return the gifts. Thank you again to members of Christ Lutheran for their generosity and care of others in the community!
If you are planning to meet with Pastor Stephanie or Office Administrator, Lisette Kreitler at church during the week we recommend that you call ahead to ensure that they will be on site. There are a variety of tasks once handled by Pastors Keith and Penny that are being divided between Pastor Stephanie and Lisette, which means they will occasionally need to be offsite to complete these tasks. Regular office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8 to 4 for Pastor Stephanie. Office hours for Lisette are Tuesday from 8 to 4, Wednesday/Thursday from 8:30 to 3:30 pm and Friday from 8 to 4.
Call Ahead if You Plan to Meet with Staff During the Week
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ADULT FORUM
Adult Forum meets in the fellowship hall between services, that is during the education hour 9:15 to 10:15. We strive to have a program that discusses issues facing the Christian Community as it takes its faith to the world. Here is the schedule for November: Nov. 4 and 11 Faith & For the Sake of All is an inter-denominational program funded by Emanuel Episcopal Church. A trained team will help us deepen our understanding of disparities in health and well-being between African-Americans and white St. Louisans. They will show us what is being done now to close that gap and will guide us as we discuss why it matters to everyone. After they lead us through the data they will help us explore our call to care for one another so that we can each answer the question, "How am I called to respond?” November 18—Sarah Unsicker, the Representative to the Missouri Legislature from the 91st district and a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church in south Saint Louis will speak to us. She will share her path into politics and how we all can work with lawmakers to overcome political and rural-urban divisions. November 25—Sack Lunches. We will prepare brown bag lunches to be delivered to Gateway 180, a homeless shelter, where they will be distributed to people in need of them. A grant from Thrivent Financial provides provides food and supplies.
GIVE-A-MEAL-A-MONTH
November 2018:
• Canned Salmon or Tuna in water
• Canned Spinach
• Canned Fruit
• Tuna Helper
• Powdered milk or shelf-stable boxed milk or soy milk
Return to Church by Sunday, November 18, 2018
Optional Personal Hygiene items: Shampoo/Conditioner, Soap, Deodor- ant
A meal a month for you, a meal a month for your neighbor. Please fill a yellow shop-ping bag or two (available in the Fellowship Hall) with food items and return them to CLC. Any donation is appreciated! Optional donations of disposable diapers, diaper wipes , formula, feminine products, and hygiene products
COLLECTIONS: Did you know Christ Lutheran has a number of ongoing collections to benefit local charities that you can participate in ANY time of the year?! Here is the list as a refresher; feel free to drop off items anytime at their designated spots in fellowship hall:
• Box Tops for Education — local schools
• Gently used and new shoes — Get the Word Out
• Meal-a-Month food items — WRHM & Feed My People
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The weeks leading up to Christmas are all too often filled with lists and to-dos.
Instead of living in wild expectation of Jesus’ birth, perhaps you find yourself
standing in lines at grocery stores, boutiques and big box stores. Yet, Advent
beckons us to prepare for the arrival of a tiny infant whose frame was so small you
could cradle him in the palm of your hand. The purpose of Advent is two-fold.
The first is a celebration of the first arrival of Christ; the second is an anticipation
of Christ’s return. Advent gently reminds us of the “now” and “not yet” that
comes with being people of faith. Join us on December 1st on an advent-ure as we unwrap the wonder of Christ’s
Meals will be served Saturday through Sunday morning.
The swimming pool will be open during free time.
A monetary offering will be received Sunday morning to support the Leadership Lab Scholarship
Fund
(see www.leadershiplab.net)
Don't forget to bring your Bible.
2018-2019 ELCA South Cluster Youth Schedule
(Note: this schedule does not include Joint Confirmation classes/activities)
Sunday, November 4th
Trinity 6-8pm High School Youth
November 9-11 Central Southern Illinois Synod Youth Event in Carlinville, IL at Lake Williamson Retreat Center. Both Middle School and High School. Adults will be needed.
Sunday, December 9th
Gethsemane Christmas Party 5-8pm Middle & High School
Sunday, January 13th
Christ Lutheran 6-8pm High School Youth
Sunday, April 28th
Bowling at Tropicana Lanes Middle & High School
Tuesday-Sunday, June 25-30 Coalition Youth Mission Trip, 8th
Grade through College, Chicago, IL
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ELCA presiding bishop responds to Pittsburgh synagogue shooting Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I write to you with a broken heart – for the lives lost, wounded, and shattered by horrific hatred and violence at Tree of Life Congregation this morning. We join our Jewish neighbors and enter into mourning for all that has been lost. In our grief, God is our comfort. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).
From Pittsburgh to Portland, and around the world, Jews are living in fear. Anti-Semitism is on the rise. Public acts of hatred and bigotry against Jews are commonplace. As Christians, and particularly as Lutherans, we deplore and reject this bigotry. "We recognize in anti-Semitism a contradiction and affront to the Gospel, a violation of our hope and calling, and we pledge this church to oppose the deadly working of such bigotry, both within our own circles and in the society around us" (1994 Declaration of the ELCA to the Jewish Community).
We are reminded that hate-filled violence knows no bounds – whether a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, a Christian church in Charleston, or a Jewish synagogue In Pittsburgh. As people of faith, we are bound together not only in our mourning, but also in our response.
Therefore, in this tender moment of grief, let us reach out to those whose hearts are most broken – our Jewish neighbors. I encourage you to contact your local synagogue, or your Jewish colleagues, friends, and family members, to share your words of care, support, love, and protection. There may be specific acts you might offer to demonstrate your care, such as when the members of Faith Lutheran Church surrounded Congregation Beth Israel of Chico, California, serving as Shomrim, or guardians, as they observed Yom Kippur following a hate crime in 2009.
Such simple acts can go a long way to demonstrate our love, as an extension of God's love. As we seek to heal the brokenhearted, we are assured that God is near. There is no greater promise in the face of grief.
In peace,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop, ELCA
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Latvian Independence Centennial November 18, 2018 The Latvian group that meets at Christ Lutheran on the 3rd Sunday on the month will have a
special reason to praise God this November 18th. Along with their compatriots in Latvia, the group
will mark 100 years since Latvia first declared its independence. During World War II, Russian
occupation ended independence for the next 50 years, and drove many Latvians to become
refugees who eventually settled in the United States, Canada, Australia, or South America. In
every Latvian home, November 18th was still a meaningful date. Finally, in 1991 Latvia regained
its independence, and is now a member of the EU and part of the community of free nations.
Latvian-Americans are thankful for the blessings of liberty in the US, and thankful that the country
where they or their parents were born is free as well.
NEXT COMMUNITY BIRTHDAY PARTY Monday, November 5, 12:00 Noon, at Laclede Groves
Four more of our special members will be honored at Laclede Groves, as we celebrate the 90+ birthdays of Helen Hedderig, Thelda Bertram, Gloria Richardson and Bob Rivas! We’ve posted a signup sheet on the bulletin board in the parish hall, you can also call the church office to let us know you’ll be joining us. Food and birthday cakes will be provided.
Stephen Ministry meeting November 15 Discussion will be about Advance directives. We will meet at 7 pm in the CLC Conference Room.
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Name: Position:
Brett Bussler President
Dave Austin Vice President
Larry Hill Treasurer
Nancy Lissant Secretary
Jadee Lauer Fellowship Chair
Susanne Reimer-Fey Outreach Chair
Melissa Allen Christian Education Chair
Rachel Helton Worship Chair
Sharon Hornbeck Youth Co-Chair
Suzie McIntyre Youth Co-Chair
Sherry Mitchler Christian Service Chair
Sylvia Rogers Properties Chair
Joan O'Brien Stewardship Co-Chair
Lynnae Tanner Ruff Stewardship Co-Chair
2018 Church Council
Treasurer’s Report – Financial Results Through September 2018
Below is a condensed report for the nine-month period for CLC’s General Fund:
** Total Income is $6,400 (2%) below budget due to a 3% ($9,500) shortfall in actual vs.
Budget contributions year-to-date, although the month of September showed good
improvement due to ‘catch-up’ offerings received from several giving units. We
are very appreciative of all those who have helped us improve our income results
over the past two months, and hopeful that we can make up the remainder of our
budget shortfall in the final couple months of the calendar year.
** Expenses remain in good control, with one very significant exception: in the past few
months we have incurred approximately $30,000 for repairs and replacements to our
HVAC systems at the Church building and at Mead Center, far more than ever in the
past. More large equipment-related and building repair costs are anticipated over the
next few months. Further details will be communicated in the near future.
** We are most grateful for your generous giving to Christ Lutheran. Thank You!
Larry Hill, Treasurer
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STEPHEN MINISTRY Our scheduled meetings for the remainder of 2018 are as follows:
November 15 @7 p.m. in the CLC Conference Room
December 13 @6 p.m. at Linda Griffith's home
ANNIVERSARIES:
We don’t have any anniversaries to celebrate for November!
Please let us know if you have an anniversary in November so we can be sure to include you next
year!
BIRTHDAYS:
Timothy Bolhafner Dianne Deck Ellen Mead Thelda Bertram Joshua Bruns Christopher Arrington Alena Horn Katherine Uy Donna Munger Alicia Lewis Kirsten Glascock Jack Joern
Brent Wood Ruthie Helton Helen Hedderig Robert Rivas John Joern II Gale Nunn Tess Rogers Matthew Lindquist Melba Thomsen Perry Yee Tore Stole
LET'S CELEBRATE NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES AND BIRTHDAYS!
Congratulations and Best Wishes! Your Christ Lutheran family wants to celebrate you! Every month we will honor anniversaries and birthdays with a special cake, party fun, and decorations after the service.
This month we will celebrate on Sunday November 4, 2018.
Annual Stephen Ministries Holiday Party December 13th
The annual Stephen Ministries holiday party will be held at Linda Griffith’s house. More details to come.
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Our animal friends had a wonderful time at the outdoor “Blessing of the Beasts” service.
Perfect Fall fun at the Villa Antonio Wine tasting trip. Thanks to all who attended and for your support of our building improvement campaign.
Don’t Forget your FLU shot The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each fall. Beginning this year, as recommended by the CDC, those 65-years and older are eligible to receive high dose (HD) vaccine. Those 65-years or older will be given HD vaccine as supplies last. If HD vaccine is not available, the standard dose will be given.
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SAVE THESE DATES!
Friday, November 2 - 6:00 p.m. Views n Brews in
Mead center
Sunday, November 4th - 6:00 p.m. HS youth meet
at Trinity
Monday, November 5th- 90+ Birthday Celebration
12:00—2:00 p.m. at Laclede Groves Multipurpose
room.
Friday, November 9-11 - Carlinville Youth retreat.
Sunday, November 11 - 4 p.m. Confirmation class
at St. Mark’s.
Monday, November 12th - 7 p.m. “Come Grow with
Us” church meeting in the fellowship hall.
Wednesday, November 14th - 6:30 p.m. Worship Committee meeting.
Thursday, November 15th - 7 p.m. Stephen Ministry meeting.
Saturday, November 17th - 9:30-4 p.m. Lady Grey’s Holiday boutique, Mead
center, will support Lutheran World Relief, Heifer International and ELCA
Good Gifts this year.
Tuesday, November 20th - 7 p.m. Church council meeting.
Saturday, December 1st - 10 a.m. Annual Women’s Advent Brunch.
Lost and Found Are you missing something? Check with the office staff.
Found: A hearing aid (Starkey brand, silver) Found: Glasses (multicolored paisley pattern)
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NOVEMBER 2018 "WHO-DO" LIST
November 4 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Bill Scholle Mike Hoyer Assisting Minister John Hoffmann Acolyte John Hoffmann John Hoffmann Ushers Mike Hoyer/Roger Rose Lector Vic Saeger Mike Wagner Presenters Linda Elkin & Mark Smith Mike & Kristin Hill Altar Guild Carolyn Lange & Janet Roock Flower Team Sandy Hoyer Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Sarah Keifer/ Dave Austin Refreshments Melissa Allen / Katie Ciorba / Kate Dopuch
November 11 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person John Hoffmann Peter Jordan Assisting Minister Flo Saeger Acolyte Shalom Yee Harrison Ringkor Ushers Brett Bussler / Jim Bennett Lector Larry Hill Kim Donermeyer Presenters Larry Hill Peter & Becca Jordan Altar Guild Keith & Nancy Lissant Flower Team Ellen Mead / Joan Rivas Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Dave Fey / Tore Stole Refreshments Carolyn Crowe / John Hoffmann / Sandy Hoyer / Tiggerr & Katie Schleicher
November 18 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Jerry Kuziel Keith Lissant Assisting Minister Carolyn Crowe Acolyte John Hoffmann Luther Ciorba Ushers Becca Jordan / Mike Wagner Lector Andrew Schleicher Katie Ciorba Presenters The Schleicher Family Donna Munger / Joan O’Brien Altar Guild Kathy Kuziel / Angela Bratcher Flower Team Nancy Lissant / Faith Moore Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Sarah Bender / Susan DeBusk Refreshments Erin Eftink / Sarah Keifer / Janet Roock / Judy Wessler
November 25 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Key Person Vic Saeger Joan O’Brien Assisting Minister Kersten Horn Acolyte Nessiah Yee Marc Horn Ushers Joe Bartek / Joan O’Brien Lector Flo Saeger Carolyn Lange Presenters Jim & Sally Wachtman Gale Nunn / Sylvia Rogers Altar Guild Sally Wachtman / Harriet Scholle Flower Team Sandy Hoyer Nursery Lynnae Ruff Counters Joe Bartek / Joan O’Brien Refreshments Carolyn Lange / Ellen Mead / Flo Saeger
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November 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 All Saints Day 6p Fitness Group
2 6p CLC Views n Brews-Mead center
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4 7:45a Childcare 8:00 and 10:30a Wor-ship and fellowship 9:15 Adult forum in fellowship hall. SS in Mead. 6pm HS Youth meet at Trinity
5 12p Birthday cele-bration at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group
6 10a Bible Text Study- Conference Rm
7 7:30p Choir practice
8 6p Fitness Group
9 Youth retreat at Car-linville
10 Youth retreat at Car-linville
11 7:45a Childcare 8:00 and 10:30a Wor-ship and fellowship 9:15 Adult forum in fellowship hall. SS in Mead. 4:00p Confirmation Class at St. Mark’s
12 12p Sr. Fellowship at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group 7p Come Grow with Us in fellowship hall
13 10a Bible Text Study- Conference Rm
14 6:30p Worship Com-mittee meeting 7:30p Choir practice
15 6p Fitness Group 7p Stephen Ministry Meeting
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9:30a to 4p Lady Grey Holiday Bou-tique and Bake Sale at Mead Center
18 7:45a Childcare 8:00 and 10:30a Wor-ship and fellowship 9:15 Adult forum in fellowship hall. SS in Mead
19 12p Sr. Fellowship at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group
20 10a Bible Text Study– Conference Rm 7p Church Council meeting
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22 Thanksgiving
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25 7:45a Childcare 8:00 and 10:30a Wor-ship and fellowship 9:15 Adult forum in fellowship hall. SS in Mead.
26 12p Sr. Fellowship at Laclede Groves 6p Fitness Group
27 10a Bible Text Study– Conference Rm
28 7:30p Choir practice
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Christ Lutheran Church, ELCA 1 Selma Avenue at Lockwood Webster Groves, MO 63119-3199
November 2018 Highlights
11/2 6:00 p.m. - Views n Brews in the Mead center. 11/4 6:00 p.m.– HS youth meet at Trinity. 11/5 12:00 p.m– 90th Birthday celebration at Laclede Groves. 11/9-11 Carlinville Youth Retreat. 11/11 4:00 p.m.– Confirmation Class at St. Mark’s. 11/12 7:00 p.m. - “Come Grow with Us” church meeting in the fellowship hall. 11/14 6:30 p.m. - Worship Committee meeting. 11/15 7:00 p.m. - Stephen Ministry meeting. 11/17 9:30-4p.m. - Lady Grey Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale in the Mead
