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November 2011 Newsletter
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"Oh that people would praise the Lord for His goodness Now, if you don't mind writing in your Bible would you underscore those phrases right there, "the sacrifices of thanksgiving" and "declare His works with rejoicing." God has abundantly blessed us with all the we have, and we have much to be thankful for. Consider the blessings you might easily overlook, you’re able to read this because you have eyes that can see, many don’t, you have hands that opened this newsletter, many aren’t able to, you had a mailbox to receive it, many don’t even have a home or address that it could be sent to. In these uncertain economic times, we are faced with real choices. For some the choice can be as simple as not dining out or what stores we shop at, for others it can mean which bills get paid and which don't, for others it can mean feeding our children or filling our car with gas. The times we are living in can cause us to focus on all the things we don't have and miss all that we are blessed with; this too is a choice. In the midst of difficult times we are also faced with a critical spiritual choice: will we be filled with fear or faith? Will we allow our lives to be consumed with fears about our future, doubts about whether we will ever recover, and anxiety about what lies ahead? Or will we move forward confidently knowing that God has brought us all that we have and will continue to provide for us. To live in fear is to live as though it all depends on you. To live in faith acknowledges that God is in control. What will we choose? A true key to living a life of faith is understanding thanksgiving. To be thankful means we acknowledge the gifts we have been given, we acknowledge that we are not the source of all things, we acknowledge the Lord has been good to us. If we want to move from fear to faith then Thanksgiving has to go from being a day to a way. We must move toward living a life of thanksliving. When we no longer feel the burden of meeting all of our needs, when we acknowledge God as the source, when we remember how faithfully God has provided for us throughout our lives, we are on the way to thanksliving. We are moving from fear to faith. The apostle Paul understood the power of thankful living, because he understood what it meant to live a life of faith. As he doggedly shared the gospel with all he met, he endured great pain and suffering. He was ridiculed, shamed, arrested, beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately killed for sharing his faith. Through out all of his trials and tribulations Paul continually modeled faithful living, he showed us what could be called “thanksliving”. At the end of his life, while in prison, Paul wrote to Philippi, one the churches he helped establish. He wrote to them a letter of encouragement and thanks. He wrote in the midst of great personal suffering and with the knowledge that he would soon be executed. I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:10-13) Paul learned the blessing of thanksliving: to be content with whatever he had. He understood in a profound and real way that no matter what his circumstances, God was with him and providing for his every need. As we enter into the time of Thanksgiving, may we all be blessed to know contentment in the Lord and to live a life of thanksliving. |
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OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Shoe boxes will be collected Sunday, October 16th thru Sunday, November 13th. TOYS - Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch-A-Sketch, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries) SCHOOL SUPPLIES - Pens, pencils and sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books. HYGIENE ITEMS - Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc. OTHER - Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries). A PERSONAL NOTE - In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.) DETERMINE WHETHER YOUR GIFT WILL BE FOR A BOY OR GIRL, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Use the appropriate boy/girl label. Mark the correct age category and tape the label to the tope of your box. These labels will be available on the table at the back of the church. DO NOT INCLUDE - Used or damaged items, war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures, chocolate or food, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers, aerosol cans.
The Social Ministry Committee will be collecting new gift items for children ages 0-14 yrs. of age for the Salvation Army again this year. The decorations that are on the Christmas tree in the Narthex are only suggestions for gifts. You may purchase anything that is appropriate. There is a greater need for gifts for 0-3 and 12 – 14 year olds. We will be collecting the gifts from November 20th through December 11th. You may bring them to church and place them under the Christmas tree. Thank you! SALVATION ARMY FOOD SHELF Please remember those less fortunate by filling our grocery cart. Things that are needed are canned fruits, soups and vegetables, canned beans, spaghetti sauce and noodles, macaroni and cheese, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, etc. |
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GLORIA DEI NEWS |
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MEALS ON WHEELS If you or someone you know, could benefit from the services of Meals on Wheels, please call 612-789-6548. The cost per meal is $4.25, but there is a sliding scale for those who qualify. KIDS OUR AGE / 50+ ANNUAL VOTERS MEETING OFFICIAL ACTS: Funerals
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ACTIONS THAT BUILD A FRIENDLIER CHURCH Be excited when you meet others. Show genuine interest and love. Show a genuine excitement when you meet a new person. It impresses people when someone is excited to meet them. It is more than they expect. It demonstrates that you consider them important and that is what you want them to feel. LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER |
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NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH when we make our giving pledges for the coming year. During times of economic hardship we all tighten our belts, and that includes Gloria Dei. For 2011, on average, we have been short approximately $4,334.11 monthly. The only thing that has kept us afloat has been transferring funds from the Parsonage Proceeds Fund account. If we continue to run this kind of deficient in a few short years there will be no Parsonage Proceeds Fund account left. Therefore, as you consider your giving pledge for 2012 please keep our running deficit in your thoughts and prayers. If you are able to increase your giving during the course of the year, that would be great. If you can't, that is fine also. During this month when we ponder the blessings given us by God, lift this concern to Him in prayer. Nanc Rixe, Your Financial Secretary |
CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS
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| The Board of Evangelism would like to thank those who made the Baked Potato Dinner a success. Special thanks go out to those who helped with serving, set-up, food preparation, clean-up and ticket sales. Your helping hands played a big part in making this dinner a success and we sincerely appreciated the giving of your time to help us out. Thank you Patty Lyrenmann for the beautiful table decorations. Ed and Renata you did a wonderful job with the flyers and tickets for the event! Thank you Layne for setting up the lighting and sound system, and, Angela for piano accompaniment. Thanks to all who attended the dinner, it was a nice evening of food and entertainment. And last, but not least, a big thank you to those who showed off their talent after the dinner! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WORSHIP SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER
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NOVEMBER – DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN
Read through the Bible in 365 daily readingsThis is a daily Bible reading plan that invites you to share in all the benefits of a regular, steady diet of God's Word. The arrangement of this full-text Bible into 365 daily readings makes it easy for you to delve into these sacred words consistently. So if you are hungry for God, come, be fed!
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Dear Christian Friends, Are we waking up and counting our blessings for the great weather we have enjoyed in the past several weeks? Now as we think November, work the words: shovel; snow blower; salt; boots; mittens; ice; snow; careful step into your vocabularies. Two of our church family will not be on the mailing list of our November newsletter, Russell Pomerenke and Georgia Lundeen. Russ was at worship the day before his passing. He made his usual friendly, “How’s it going young lady?” greeting. He collected the offering on the lectern side. His sudden demise shocked many, but his family felt blessed that he did not have to go through the lengthy suffering their Mom had. Pastor Peterson was able to be there for the family as Pastor Gade was out of town. He had also officiated at Shirley’s funeral when his status was “working interim” rather than about to become a member once again. Georgia Lundeen, a long term member, has been on our shut-in list, residing at a Care Center in Maple Plain, for several years. Georgia’s health had deteriorated for many weeks before her passing. We are going to remember Georgia as being enthusiastic about our Gloria Dei activities and just wanting other people, too, to share in her love of her church and her friends. Everyone she came into contact with was “the best”, her neighbors, her doctor, her family, and yes even her pastors, one by one, but then on was the very best, leaving your reporter to wonder why. It was your Pastor Busboom. Georgia lived across the street from Gloria Dei. Pastor Busboom, after relocating, came back to visit. He spotted Georgia in her front yard, got out of his car, walked across the street, picked her up and swung her. She said she felt like a little kid, light headed and giddy. Russ and Georgia were special people in our church family. We send our loving regards to all of their loved ones. Another somebody who misses Gloria Dei very much is Walter. He is now back at Crest View. Walter tells us that not only are we his church family, we are his only family and we are special to him. His happy memory for the last year was when some of our church ladies helped him in serving the birthday cake he provided to celebrate their birthday with his family. We keep Walter in our prayers. Gloria Dei welcomes two new (or renewed) members: Pastor Gerald Peterson and Sandra Price and son Harrison. We are delighted to have your aboard. We call our special office administrator, Jeannie, but she now has another very special title “Grandma”! Congratulations and God’s blessings to George and Jeannie, brand new grandparents of Clara May Nelson. May all of your troubles be little ones! Our sick list and our bump and bruise list is a long one. Give yourselves longer prayer time – the list is lengthy. To God be the Glory! |
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Medicare Part D Open enrollment period changes If you join a private Medicare health or prescription drug plan, your plan can change how much it costs and what it covers each year. Even if your plan’s cost and coverage stay the same, your health or finances may have changed. Review your plan each year to make sure it will meet your needs for the following year. If you’re satisfied that your current plan will meet your needs for next year, you don’t need to do anything. You can change your Medicare health or prescription drug coverage for 2012 between October 15th and December 7th. If you switch plans your new coverage will begin on January 1, 2012. Help is available to seniors who would like to review their current Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan and determine which of the many plans is best for you. NE Seniors is scheduling individual appointments for seniors at our offices, 2510 Cleveland ST NE, on Tuesdays -- Oct. 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22, Nov 29 and Dec 6 -- to meet with a trained staff person from Neighborhood Health Source. Call NE Seniors at 612-781-5096 to schedule your appointment. If you need a ride let us know when you make your appointment. Another option for seniors is to call The Senior Linkage Line - RX Connect at 1-800-333-2433 or email the senior.linkage@state.mn.us for a consultation regarding Medicare options. The Senior Linkage Line has trained volunteers to help seniors who call. NE Seniors continues to offer:
For more information about these activities call NE Seniors at 612-781-5096. |
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| CHRISTIAN RADIO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE LUTHERAN HOUR WCCO 830 AM Radio November 6 - "Behold, Believe!" November 13 - "Be Encouraged by His Coming!" November 20 - "The Power of a Thanksgiving Life" A "thankful attitude" can bless a nation. Even more, an attitude of thanksgiving can bless your life! Confident trust in Christ and His Word is the source of true thanksgiving. - Luke 17:11-19 November 27 - "More Than He Seems" Originally, the word meek didn't mean powerless or impotent. No, a person was meek if he kept his power under control and used it for a purpose. That's the way Jesus was meek. Power for a purpose. - Matthew 21:4-5 Time of Grace Straight talk about God’s Word and real hope for this life. A strong gospel message delivered in an informal Bible study style. Pastor Mark Jeske
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WORSHIP FOR SHUT-INS is a 30 min television service that is distinctly Lutheran. It is a traditional weekly service that includes the assigned readings for the day, the Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer, sermon, and traditional hymns sung by choirs. The messages, shared by Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod pastors, are designed for individuals who do not go to church because they are not able or choose not. You can view this program on DIRECTV channel 377 at 10:30 am, or you can go to their website at www.worshipforshutins.org BOOK DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME The At Home Service is free for any resident of Hennepin County who is unable to visit the library due to illness, disability or visual impairment. How At Home Service Works… Library materials and services are delivered in person by a volunteer or sent through the U.S. mail, at no charge to you with return postage included. At Home Service provides you with access to a wide range of materials and services from the Hennepin County Library, such as: *Large print and regular print books *Audio books *DVDs *Music CDs *Magazines and newspaper articles*. Information from the internet*, answers to your informational questions located by librarians. To begin At Home Service call 612-543-8850 and apply over the phone. I would like to express my thanks to all of you who expressed your appreciation for your pastor… me, at the Potato Dinner and Talent show. Your words of encouragement and cards were truly expressions of love and support. We have been together for 7 ½ years and in God’s providence and will, my desire is to continue to lead you in your spiritual growth and nurturing in the coming years. May we together pray the words of LSB hymn 857: Lord, help us walk Your servant way To God alone be the Glory! |
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| SPECIAL OCCASIONS FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Happy Birthday:
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Happy Anniversary:
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November ServantsElders:
Counters:
Greeters: OPEN Ushers: Dale Raschke, Krystal Kruse, Wade Billmeyer Altar Care: Krystal Kruse |
November ProvidersFlowers:
Candles:
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Thanksgiving Day Service |
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Set your clocks back one hour at 2 am November 6th
The Board of Social Ministries is sponsoring Operation Christmas Child this year. In Christian love and spirit, please consider giving a shoebox to a child overseas who may not otherwise receive a gift this Christmas season. Here is what you do:
CHRISTMAS TREE