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The November Messenger Issue #461
The November Messenger Issue #461
Nov 1, 2006
From the Pastor “I M BLSSD” I noticed this license plate displayed on the car in front of me as I drove home the other day. It made me smile and then it made me wonder – for it was proudly displayed on the back of a large BMW 700 series sedan. The question formed in my mind – did this sense of blessing result in simple, personal contentment or did the realization of the source of this “wealth” compel the recipient to share the blessing with others? As I pondered this question in light of our Stewardship/Generosity Program this November, I recalled a beautiful story I received through the mail several years ago: My friend Gregory told me that in church last Sunday he was waiting for the collection to be taken. He had two bills in his pocket, one twice the denomination of the other. The smaller one, he decided, would be a perfectly adequate donation. Without any warning, however, he remembered a little episode he had read about the Vietnam War. Two American soldiers in a combat zone were eating their field rations while a young Vietnamese boy of about eight or nine years old, homeless and hungry, watched them intently. When they had finished their meal, one of the soldiers took the piece of chocolate that was part of his ration and handed it to the child. The little boy looked at it for a moment. Then, very carefully, he broke it into three pieces, put the smallest in his ragged pocket, and solemnly offered the other two pieces to the soldiers. "The memory of that story came right out of nowhere," Greg said, "just as the collection plate arrived." "And so?" I prompted. He smiled. "Do you have to ask?" he said. - Arthur Gordon The collection plate will be passed by Messiah on *Consecration Sunday, December 3rd, for the purpose of planning our giving and teaching ministries for the coming year. We cannot offer to teach, feed, provide worship and grow a community of God without financial support. It is in helping others that we are doing the work of Our Lord and perhaps, at times, meeting the Lord as we come in contact with the needy and the unchurched. You will receive an Estimate of Giving Card and a Time and Talent Sheet by mail in mid-November. Please let us know you support the work of the church by responding to our generous God, the source of all blessings. If you do not receive a Card or Sheet, let us know. If you offer a one time gift, if your offering is to pray for the ministries of this church, whatever you want to put into the plate, please do so by responding and placing the Card and Sheet on the altar at a service on December 3rd, or by turning them in to the office by that date. The more support received as a thank offering to God, the more we can give in support of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, Pastor Paul *Consecrate – to set aside for sacred purposes. Noteworthy News REACHING OUT TO CHILDREN IN NEED Beginning November 5th, Messiah will start bringing our Sunday School Program to the Pediatric Unit of Lutheran General Hospital. This new outreach fits so well with Messiah's new mission statement, and we are very excited about this! The Child Life Specialists will review our “Firelight” curriculum and we will attempt to bring the same lessons we are teaching, making part of the lesson more global so that all can enjoy. Most of the curriculum's deeper-learning activities, with minimal adaptations, will be global enough for all children, so that we will be able to keep the main lessons the same as our Sunday School program. We need adults who would like to participate in this outreach Sunday School Program on a regular basis to go through the hospital's volunteer orientation program. Each time we go, we need to have at least 1 certified volunteer along so that the Child Life staff does not need to be present. Any questions can be asked of David Swanson, or myself. Blessings! Julie Holzer LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF TRAILER REPORT Messiah’s InGathering was great. Ten ladies and three men, (Don Kovach, Skip Handzel, and Bob Bisgard) assembled and packed the following items: 42 Quilts 37 Health Kits 67 Layettes 7 lbs Children's Clothing 9 lbs Women's Sweaters 9 lbs Men's Clothing Many of the ladies work at home, making quilt tops, knitting sweaters, making receiving blankets, and washing clothes. They also shop year-round looking for items on sale and at garage sales needed for this project. If you would like to work at home, contact me at the 8:30 A.M. service or Millie Anderson at the 11 A.M. service. Several ladies have expressed a desire to learn to knit. If you are interested, contact Carol Smith. To all who donated to the LWR Friendship Kettle/Angels in the Narthex, or any other way, we give you a big thank you. It enables us to purchase the needed items for the layettes and especially the health kits. "He won't forget the love you have shown his people." ~ Hebrews 6:10 Thanks, see you, and God bless, Eva Thoren, Chair Upcoming Events THE MESSIAH HARVEST FESTIVAL Saturday, November 18th, 10 AM – 3 PM This is our Autumn Fundraiser and Fellowship Event! There will be a Craft & Vendor bazaar down in the Fellowship Hall. We will have concessions and a bake sale with yummy harvest goodies too! We will also have a raffle - tickets will be available at the Festival, as well as a prior to the event. Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Pantry and receive 1 FREE raffle ticket. At the same time, we will have a Fun Fair for the children in the "Kid's "Corral" (a.k.a. the Multipurpose Room) with games & prizes, craft projects, face painting, and more! The fundraising part will come from raffle ticket sales, and the bake sale. Crafters and vendors will donate many of the items to raffle off. Outside vendors will pay a table fee. Members and CC family vendors are requested to make a donation to the raffle. If you have wares to sell, contact Julie Holzer about setting up a table. Tell your friends - entrance to the Festival is FREE, the proceeds benefit the General Fund, and this is a GREAT time to get a jump on that Christmas shopping!!! THEN… KAREN THAMES VOCAL RECITAL Saturday, November 18th at 3 PM Come for the fun, stay for the Voice! Karen Thames will be performing a recital of classic “vocal art” songs and spirituals. She studies voice with Karla Clark, a voice teacher at Maine East High School. Karen did a concert for us last summer, and her voice is truly amazing. Accompanied again by our own Sue Fox, this concert is free, and open to the public. If you come for the Harvest Festival, wander upstairs at 3 PM and enjoy the music. NEW MEMBERS INQUIRY CLASS Saturday, November 18th 11 – 1 PM Anyone interested in joining Messiah should speak with Pastor Paul. We will be accepting new members on Sunday, November 19th, and an Inquiry Class will be held on the 18th from 11 to 1 PM. Attending the inquiry class does NOT obligate you to join Messiah, it can be for your information only. CONGREGATION CELEBRATION Sunday, November 26th @ 9:45 AM This will be another Pancake Breakfast (the last one was a HUGE success!) that will feature a program from Rev. Phil Knutson, our missionary in South Africa. We will also use this opportunity to kick off our Hat/Mitten/Scarf Tree charity drive, as well as our gift-buying for needy families through LSSI. We will have a special Manna order on that day to help with our charity gift giving, and we ask that everyone bring a hat/mitten set (adult or child) to the breakfast for our tree! REMINDERS! Naomi Circle Thursday, November 9th at 9:30 AM at Charlotte Baumgartner’s house. Call the office if you need her phone number for directions. Men’s Breakfast Saturday, November 11th at 9:00 AM at Old Country Buffet in Park Ridge (Dempster and Luther Lane). Friendship Day PLEASE NOTE - Due to the fact that Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday, our November meeting will be on November 16th. If you plan to stay for lunch, bring a sandwich or whatever you like to eat. We start about 9 AM…come whenever you can and stay as long as you are able. Delicious snacks will be served. Also, remember to save and donate old sheets, blankets, drapes, and any material to us to make quilts. They may be left in the Tower Room metal box or the LWR box across from the office. WELCA Board November 1st @ 9:00 AM Child Care Board November 15th @ 7:00 PM Property Development November 28th @ 7:30 PM Executive Committee November 28th @ 7:30 PM COMING IN DECEMBER… Consecration Sunday LSSI and The Night Ministry-Chicago Charity Drive Christmas Programs and Schedule Youth Corner MISSION OPPORTUNITY FOR TEENS There is a need for teen volunteers to just visit and hang out with the hospitalized teens. If any of the youth are interested in doing this, they can go through the hospital's volunteer orientation program in December. Or they can come along at the same time as the outreach Sunday School, if they aren't a certified volunteer, and want to help out. Talk to Julie Holzer for details. CONFIRMATION CLASS SCHEDULE The Confirmation Class meets every Sunday at 9:45 AM during Christian Education Hour. They will also meet with Pastor Paul every other Saturday from 10 AM – 12 PM. The dates are November 4 and 18, December 2 and 16, no class on December 30. We will revisit this schedule for 2007. This Month in Worship WORSHIP SCHEDULE AND READINGS All Sunday services are at 8:30 and 11 AM. Nov. 5 – All Saints Sunday Isaiah 25:6–9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1–6a; John 11:32–44 Nov. 12 – Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 17:8–16; Psalm 146; Hebrews 9:24–28; Mark 12:38–44 Nov. 19 – Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost Daniel 12:1–3; Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11–25; Mark 13:1–8 Nov. 23 – Thanksgiving Day (10 AM) Joel 2:21–27; Psalm 126; 1 Timothy 2:1–7; Matthew 6:25–33 Nov. 26 – Christ the King Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1:4b–8; John 18:33–37 SPECIAL WORSHIP SCHEDULE There is something special happening at EVERY Sunday service in November! Nov. 5 – Kurt Hendel, guest preacher from ??? Nov. 12 - WELCA Thank Offering during both worship services. Special envelopes will be available for this annual offering that goes to ministries throughout the ELCA. Nov. 19 – Receiving New Members at 11 AM, reception following the service Nov. 26 – Rev. Phil Knutson (Missionary), Dedicate New Hymnals, Kids Sing in Church! PLUS – Thanksgiving Day (November 23) worship service at 10:00 AM St. Lukes Park Ridge will also have an Ecumenical Service on Wednesday, November 22nd at 7:00 PM. ADULT FORUM SCHEDULE Nov. 5 – Kurt Hendel, Martin Luther and his Theology Nov. 12 – Linda Stoltz, Trip to Africa Nov. 19 – John Fox, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: A Religious Document? Nov. 26 – Rev. Phil Knutson, South African Mission (He will speak at our Congregation Celebration/Pancake Breakfast.) FLOWERS AND BULLETINS The sign-ups for flowers and bulletins are in the narthex by the hall to the Educational Wing. Flowers are $30, and the Bulletins are $10. Envelopes are provided next to the sign-up calendar, or you may simply write “Flowers” or “Bulletin” on your regular envelope in the Other box. PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO PAY FOR YOUR FLOWERS OR BULLETINS! Note to all those purchasing flowers: Your flowers are yours to take home! If you wish to donate them to one of our shut-ins, please be sure to let the Altar Guild know. Thanks! Nov. 5 – Flowers are given in honor of John and Sue Fox’s 27th wedding anniversary. Nov. 12 – Flowers are given by Char Lobitz in honor of Jarrett Lobitz’s fourth birthday. Nov. 19 – Flowers are given in memory of Rev. and Mrs. Harold E. Larsen by David and Donna Hanson. Nov. 26 – Flowers are given by John and Sue Fox in honor of Andrew’s tenth birthday. Bulletins are given in honor of Rick and Edith Reeve’s 22nd wedding anniversary. Messiah Ministries UNITED POWER REPORT About 100 people attended the Illinois Senate Candidate Forum sponsored by United Power for Action and Justice, which was held here at Messiah on October 22nd. A big thank you to all the Messiah members who supported the event. The meeting allowed the community to learn more about Senator Axley and candidate Dan Kotowski. Some powerful stories were told to illustrate the issues in education funding, substance abuse, housing, and health care. Both candidates answered yes they would work with United Power on the 7 questions asked regarding the 4 issues. United Power wants to work with whoever is elected and was promised a meeting 3 months after the election. (Barak Obama made the same promise, which he kept.) Respectfully submitted, Charlotte Baumgartner CROP WALK 2006 At first tally it would appear there were about 170 walkers, 38 volunteers and a first deposit of about $14,500 from contributions turned in on the day of the walk. Below is a listing of the number of walkers from each church. There are still many donations to be collected, but both reports are that Messiah’s contribution to the Walk this year DOUBLED over last year. Congratulations to walkers, pledgers, and all who were involved! Redeemer Lutheran (7 walkers) St. Mary's Episcopal (13 walkers) St. Luke's Lutheran (30 walkers) St. Andrews Lutheran (6 walkers) Messiah Lutheran (7 walkers) Our Lady of Ransom (24 walkers) Mary Seat of Wisdom (2 walkers) First United Methodist (19 walkers) Park Ridge Presbyterian (31 walkers) Niles Community Presbyterian (4 walkers) Park Ridge Community (24 walkers) Maine Township (2 walkers) Thanks to Tom Daniels, John and Peter Fox, Trudi Handzel, David Hanson, David Swanson, and Linda Stolz for walking this year! REV PHIL KNUTSON From: Rev. Phil Knutson October 4, 2006 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, If you looked on the ground at the ELCA Youth Gathering in San Antonio, TX and at the Global Mission Event at the University of Massachusetts this past summer you might have seen some 3 1/2" green cardboard circles with the words "PICK ME UP" written on them. If you did pick one up and looked on the other side you would have read: "BAM! You just picked up a landmine. Thousands of children each year mistake them for toys, and the explosions leave them without arms, legs or eyesight. Many die. The U.S. still hasn't signed the Mine Ban Treaty, though more than 140 countries have. Visit www.lwr.org/advocacy to take action. Sadly, the issue, like millions of buried landmines, won't go away easily. It is estimated that more than 110 million active mines are still scattered in 68 countries around the world. It will take hundreds of years and billions of dollars to remove all of the mines. Anti-personnel mines cost $30 to manufacture, but cost $300 - $1000 to neutralize. Overall, African children live on the most mine-plagued continent. Angola and Mozambique are two land-mine-affected countries in the Southern Africa region where I work as Global Mission regional program assistant. Although a peace accord was signed in 2002, landmines still continue to take their toll on the population. Farmers in many rural communities cannot return to their fields because of landmines. The Lutheran World Federation and Lutheran World Relief, along with other organizations are working with the respective governments to raise awareness, train de-mining experts and to fund rehabilitation programs for victims. The Strategic Plan for Mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America entitled “Faithful Yet Changing” challenges us to "Step forward as a public church that witnesses boldly to God's love for all that God has created." I would like to encourage you to learn more about the effects of landmines and become involved in the efforts to ban their use and help the victims. Thank you for your continued participation in God's Mission locally and globally. Thank you for your prayers and support for our family and for the church and all God's people in Southern Africa. Yours faithfully, Philip Knutson ELCA Global Mission, Regional Program Assistant Cape Town, South Africa Milestones BIRTHDAYS Viviann Markech, 11/1 Grace Palos, 11/1 Valeria Bowman, 11/3 Charlotte Baumgartner, 11/5 Lisa Paulus, 11/7 Robert Reter, 11/7 Katelyn Hamden, 11/8 Laurance Johnson, 11/12 Richard Reeve, 11/15 Mary Jo Marchetta, 11/17 Shannon Hall, 11/18 Carolyn Kopij, 11/19 James Rosequist, 11/19 Joseph Milios, 11/20 Terri Hogan, 11/22 Kirsten Kaufman, 11/23 Carmen Loverme, 11/24 Donna Hanson, 11/25 Betty Stinnett, 11/25 Jean Strand, 11/25 Reena Wagner, 11/25 Brian Bittner, 11/26 Mark Wilson, 11/26 Andrew Fox, 11/27 Jenny Stabb, 11/28 ANNIVERSARIES John and Sue Ellen Fox – 11/3/1979, 27 years Alyson and Scott Allemeier – 11/7/2003, 3 years Richard and Edith Reeve – 11/24/1984, 22 years Messiah Leadership Team for 2006 President: Dave Kaufman (847) 788-0442 Vice President: Carol Hrodey (262) 652-3187 Treasurer: Brad Kovach (847) 297-4883 Secretary: Trudi Handzel (847)359-7830 Financial Sec.: David Hanson (847) 296-6796 Stewardship: Les Herak Evangelism: David Swanson Child Care Center: Donna Berzins Visioning Task Force: Floyd Yager For the Memorial, Honorarium, and Thanks to God Fund This report is as of October15, 2006. NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT MARK DONATIONS AS “BUILDING FUND.” PLEASE DESIGNATE EITHER “CAPITAL FUND” OR “PROPERTY RESERVE.” IT IS VERY CONFUSING TO YOUR CHAIR AND THE COUNTERS. THANK YOU. IN MEMORY OF OLAV JOHNSEN Given by: Ragnhild Hogelee, Mark and Anne Wiberg, Charlotte and Bill Baumgartner, Eva Thoren, Irene Luck, Paula DiVita, Rick Reeve Family, Salvatore W. Gaeta, Roger and Doris Elmer BEQUEST OF CLARENCE KNUTH, IN MEMORY OF ROLLAND KOEHR AND JOSEPH KUHEL Given by: Paula DiVita IN MEMORY GORDON LIND Given by: Wilbert and Elvera Beyer IN MEMORY OF BETTY HRODEY Given by: Millie Anderson, Gail and James Pearson, Dorothy Pollack, Les and Nancy Herak, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Baumgartner, Sheldon Township Cemetery, Teachers and Staff of Milford Grade School East Campus, The Cooney Family, Bev and Ollie Stair, Irene Luck, Linda Decker, Audrey Krell, David and Connie Kaufman, Mark and Anne Wiberg, Marilyn and Eugene Borgeson, Leeann Lambrecht, Susan Bromstad, Paula DiVita, Pat and Ron Langfield, Richard and Barbara Pittman, Sheldon Fire Department, Roy Sues, Rick Reeve Family, Robert Bisgard, Robert and Joanne Hrodey, Lutheran Deaconess Assoc. of Chicago, Doris Preinitz, Wilbert and Elvera Beyer The family has requested the memorials be given to the Capital Fund. NOTE: As of this date, the hymnals have been paid for. The sign fund is still open for donations as we wish to correct the signs not on church property and add more signs around the neighborhood. Millie Anderson, Chairperson (847)692-2385, E-Mail: MillieAnderson@CompuServe.com Prayer Requests Please include the following individuals and families in your prayers this month: Dolores Broezell Chuck Boomer Joe & Evelyn Burval Mr. Dennis Ardene Ejnik Lorraine Handzel Sue Horger Chris Jacobsen Richard Levy Susan Lyle Nancy Maher Sue Nugnis Aidan Ray Mary Reter Jenney Schafrik Pastor Sally Terrell Linda (Rodin) Ufkes We also want to remember in our prayers our military personnel: Kevin Hrodey, Jason Koesler, Tim David, Lars Johnsen, and Patrick and Claudine Ward. Directory Changes Please let the office know if you are moving! Thanks! Clare Rodin (C/O son Lee Rodin) 12638 W. Merril St. Avondale, AZ 85323 Mergitu Zenbaba 2708 Village Green Dr. Apt. A3 Aurora, IL 60504 Brian Uteg 11501 Beacon Ave. Huntley, IL 60142 New Phone Directories are available in our narthex. We have decided that we will only MAIL directories to those people who call and request them. If you are unable to come to church and pick up a directory, please call 847-823-6984 and ask Jennifer to send you one.
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