Newsletter

October 2008 Newsletter

“Spiritual Work Out”

“It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

One of the benefits of attending a small Christian Liberal Arts College is the small classes and the commitment to speak and teach values and faith. Plus you meet the neatest people at a small college. Susan and I met at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in the spring of 1968. Yes forty years ago. Of course that meeting changed my life. But there was a class that first year that all freshmen were required to take. It was a physical education class. I learned progressive relaxation. You bet that has come in handy more than once. Another assignment in that class was very practical and extremely forward looking. The professor challenged us to come up with a plan to for physical exercise that would fit with our career. I started exercising when I was in junior high. My body was changing and I found that I could actually increase my muscles. Now we were being asked about keeping fit for life.

I developed a plan that I took with me into the parish and have continued working that plan. I listened in that class and made a plan and kept it all these years doing a physical workout on a regular basis to keep myself fit physically, mentally and spiritually.

I am also committed to life long learning and to keeping my mind exercised. So I read now more than ever. I attend conferences, continuing education events, workshops and community education classes. Recently I learned that if you exercise physically before you go to learn something your mind is more alert and ready to receive.

The other part of our whole being is the spiritual. You can be physically and mentally awake, but what about spiritually? The apostle Paul encourages us to work out our salvation. Salvation can’t be left on the shelf. Salvation needs to be toned and fine tuned. What would a salvation work out plan look like? It would include regular worship with a community of believers. It certainly means reading the Bible and prayer. Remember our vows when we became a part of the Body of Christ: prayers, presence, gifts and service that would be a good salvation workout and as John Wesley would say a way of staying in love with God.

I challenge you to develop a salvation work out plan. Yes, salvation is a gift. You have heard me say that many times. But, even a gift needs to be opened and used.

Wayne Walther

Servers Appreciated

Thank you to the following members who served communion to 35 of our members who were unable to attend communion at church on Sunday, September 7.

Dave and Barbara Grunzke, Cory Thorson, Kirby Hanson, Yvonne Childs, Bea Kizer, Hilde Schmitt, Don and Algene Larson, Lynne Otterness, Rose Marie Bosshard, Margaret Foster, Helen Ottman, Linnea Horvat, Alexis Muller, Andrew Lancman, Josh Munson, Isabella DiNatale, Sumner Boldt, Tia Everett, and Jordan Munson.

UMW Rummage Sale

Rummage Sale Time October 16-17, 2008. As you are getting ready for the Fall and Winter seasons, keep the Rummage Sale in mind. We can use clean adult and children's clothing, kitchen items, Christmas items. No computers. Small appliances, if clean and in working order. You can begin bringing in the items you are donating to the sale on Monday October 6 and throughout the week at 9:00 am until 4:00 pm through the carport door by the Fourth St. entrance. Men will be needed at 6:00 pm on Sunday, October 12 to help set up the tables. Women are needed to help Monday October 13 through Wednesday October 15 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Thursday October 16 before the sale starts. The sale will run on Thursday October 16 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm and again on Friday October 17 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Lunch will be available on Friday which will be sandwiches, bars/cookies and coffee. - Sal Baringer

October Funeral Committee

Inez Chicquette Ruth Ann Lyndon Joyce Roper

Liz Ciccone Carrie McMahon Jane Tombarge

Sue Hamberg Delores Meyer Doris Von Bargen

Stacey Harstad Karen Nelson Lisa Warwick

Marilyn Lawrence Barb Olson

After worship, UMW members deliver the altar flowers to church members who are ill, shut-in, or are celebrating a special occasion. Thank you to those who deliver and those who pay for the flowers.

Thank you for the flowers given to me for by birthday in August and thank you to Yvonne Childs for delivering them. Also, thank you to Yvonne and Jane Baker so much for bringing communion to me. It is very much appreciated.—Stu Samsel

Thank you for the beautiful gift of altar flowers I received for my birthday. Thank you to Ruth Ann Lyndon for delivering them to me.—Joyce Roper

Thank you for the beautiful flowers given to me on my birthday. Special thanks to Bev Warwick for delivering them and for making my day. It was all appreciated.—Inez Chicquette

New Members: Welcome to our newest members who officially joined our congregation on Sunday, September 21—Eric and Angie DiNatale and their children Isabella, Sophia, and Eliza; and Dale and Michelle Meyer and their children D.J., R.J., and Samantha.

Also—Congratulations to our new Confirmands: Parker Bluhm, Colin Brueschke, Josh Munson, Nick Plein, and Braxton Wilburn. They were confirmed September 28.

Many thanks go to all of the church members who keep in touch with our parents, Tom & Marilyn Josephson, through your visits, phone calls, letters, prayers and notes on their Caring Bridge site. We are most thankful for the gift of love and time you give them. Thanks, especially, to the dialysis drivers for Tom three times a week every week for over a year now.—Love, Ron, Roy and Mary Ann Josephson and families

Dear Pastor Walther, Barbara G., Rose Marie , Jane S., Yvonne , Margaret , Lorraine, Algene, Jordan, Josh, Millie, Ruth Ann, Muriel, Sam, Barbara K., Jane B., Lou and Inez—Thank you so much for your gifts of time and talent in serving the residents here. Your hospitality, warmth and welcome are a wonderful extension of God’s love for God’s people. Your time here was greatly appreciated by me, the staff, and the residents. Thank you also to Margaret for organizing and being the point person.—Blessings, Rev. Cheryl Izaro, Chaplain Fairview Seminary Home

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Notice: Please pick up your cake pans in the pantry downstairs next to the kitchen. Any pans left will be put on the rummage sale this month.

Needlework

The Needlework group will meet,, October 9, at 10:00 a.m. in Fellowship Hall. We would love to have you join us. Susan Walther

MINISTRY APPRECIATION MONTH

October is Ministry Appreciation Month! During the month, please make an effort to show your appreciation to those who minister within our church. Certainly, first and foremost, that includes Pastor Wayne! In addition, it includes our faithful employees (Cindy Johnston for the ministry of office administration, John Albright for music ministry, Nicole Schmidt for children’s ministries, and Bruce Nelson for maintenance ministry), choir members, Sunday School teachers, chairs of committees, and all those others who serve the church in some way. Also, give yourself a pat on the back—remember, we are all ministers! If you doubt that statement, be sure to listen carefully to my sermon on October 19, Laity Sunday, when the theme is “One in Spirit, All in Ministry: In the Spirit of Fellowship.”

Jane Stone, Lay Leader

Mission Market Changeover

For those of you who regularly visit the Market you've already seen the beginning of the change from fresh to a combination of fresh and ornamental and seasonal items. Soon it will be all the latter. Our goal of $1000 is now in sight and as of September 21^st the total was $739.37. Please continue to shop the market or just look it over, and any produce you have may be contributed. When we reach the goal we will be able to have Heifer International place 2 goats, 1 heifer, and 1 water buffalo with families that have been trained to raise them and to pass on the gift of another offspring animal with other families in their area. See you at the Market.—Mardell Bartlett

ADULT FORUMS

Adult forums are planned for this fall. Programs will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Friendship Room upstairs and will last 30-45 minutes. Forums tentatively scheduled include the following:

· October 19 - Faithful Advocacy for Children, presented by Jody McCardle of

ICAN (Interfaith Children’s Advocacy Network)

· November 16- Faith in Action

· December 21 - Who Is America? Immigration and the Call to Hospitality, a DVD from the Minnesota Annual Conference

LAY LEADERSHIP

What is it? Formerly known as Nominations, Lay Leadership and Training is the group responsible for identifying, recruiting and training leaders for our church. The Lay Leadership Team has decided to invite everyone to an information table, Sunday, October 12^th after worship in Hamline Foyer or Fellowship Hall on the different leadership groups in our church: Outreach, Hospitality, Membership, Trustees, Finance, and Church Council. In preparation for this event, our Lay Leader has suggested that we can go to www.umc.org and take a spiritual gifts inventory.

Wayne Walther, Chair of Lay Leadership

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

Calling all seventh through twelfth graders: Mark your calendar for our Youth Halloween Party, Friday, October 31^st 5:00 pm at Walther’s 1825 Woodland Dr. We will eat and then go door to door for UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). We will have fellowship before and after our service to others. Please be there.

The next day is All Saints Day and it is the Annual Rake-a-Lawn with Faith-in-Action. It begins early as the saints which are all of us arise with the light and gather to serve a neighbor. Juice and donuts get us going and after we have raked a lawn or two we return for pizza. Gathering site will be announced later. Please mark your calendar for this once a year service project now.—Wayne Walther

Consecration Sunday Is Coming

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

Our congregation’s finance committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?”

During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.

Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and Church Council members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.—Paul Karlen, Council Chair

EARLY CAMP REGISTRATION SAVES MONEY

We have received a letter from Camp Kingswood about Urban Servants Camp for next year and if register early we get last year’s price, a savings of $15.00 per person. The new Confirmation Class students are expected to attend but we have room for more. It is a life changing experience. Again this next summer July 12-17, 2009 we will participate in Urban Servants, being servants to others in Jesus’ name and then we will rock climb on the shores of the St. Croix River near Taylor’s Falls and St. Croix Falls. Please look at you calendar and let Pastor Wayne know by October 15^th if you plan to go. An adult female leader is needed also. This counts as spiritual, physical, and mental exercise.

Wayne Walther

Couples Bible Study

Starting on October 5th, the first and third Sunday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Friendship Room, there will be a couples Bible Study class focused on couples exploring the Bible and learning about the Bible together. There is no prerequisite. The plan is to start with the basics. Susan and Wayne Walther will be leading. They have been reading the Bible together for a few years.

STEPHEN MINISTRY WORKSHOP

Have you ever wondered about being a Stephen Minister? What is the Stephen Ministry Program and would it be right for our congregation? There is a local workshop at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Maplewood on Saturday, November 8^th from 9:00 until 1:00 pm. If you are interested, please let our Lay Leader Jane Stone or Pastor Wayne Walther know, or leave a message at church (651) 388-3262 or email Pastor Wayne at redwingrev@msn.com

Monthly Bible Study at Seminary Plaza

On the second Wednesday of each month our Pastor leads a Bible Study open to everyone at 10:00 am on the top floor of Seminary Plaza. In October we will study I Peter chapters 3-5.

Kevin Horvat Update 9/23/2008

Kevin would love to hear from friends and family!

Kevin Horvat's contact information:

His cell phone does not get service where he is so in order to call him use the following number: 218-624-7384

Kevin Horvat

C/O Jerry and Theresa Carr

5642 Halie Road

Duluth, MN55810

horvat_kevin@yahoo.com

Kevin is currently staying with family in Duluth and on a medical leave of absence from his teaching job at Red Wing High school. His sister, Theresa, and her husband, Jerry, and four kids: Julia, Clare, John and Dominic, a family based foster care home that has 10 bedrooms and 5 1/2 bathrooms. Currently, Kevin's mother, Judy Horvat, and his grandmother, Geri Wall, are living there as well so there is an intergenerational group surrounding Kevin during his time of recovery.

Kevin has had medication adjustments while in Duluth that have made a positive impact on his mood and sleep issues. Unfortunately, the Parkinson's symptoms have worsened significantly and he spends more time in the state of what he calls "off his meds." In addition he re-injured his right shoulder rotator cuff following a fall so has had to deal with pain issues. Kevin has had physical therapy, individual therapy and will start Qigong this week. He is working hard on his plan of care. Overall he is remaining positive and is on track for the deep brain stimulation (DBS) .The Mayo DBS team will meet to discuss his case on October 21 so please think positive thoughts for his surgery approval on that day. Return to home is undecided at this time. Ideally he will come home before the DBS surgery and recover after the surgery in Red Wing. The ultimate goal is for him to return to school as of second semester after a two month period of adjustment to the DBS stimulator.

Thank you to friends and family for your continued support.

Kevin and Linnea Horvat

Charge Conference Coming

Tuesday, November 11^th our new District Superintendent Clay Oglesbee, will be with us for our Annual Church meeting at 7:00 pm. He promises that it will last only one hour. It will be worth your time. This is grass roots participation in our church. Please come.

Welcome Back!

We are now a month into Sunday school this year and it’s going to be a great year.

First I’d like to introduce our Teachers.

· In the Pre K and Kindergarten Class our Teachers are: Kelsey Bystrom, Hanna Hill, Dan Horvat, Chad Larkin, Jared Nelson & Erin Marcks as class support.

· 1^st & 2^nd grades Angie Harlow & Ernie Schmidt

· 3^rd, 4^th & 5^th grades Katie Bystrom and Ada Seeker as teacher support.

As you may notice we are in need of a teacher for our 6^th & 7^th grade students. If you are interested please email at christianed2@q.com or call me. Our teachers find teaching our youth very rewarding.

For those of you who have contributed to the Sunday School Student’s crafts supplies, thank you very much. We are always in needs of craft paper, yarn, and unique things.

Parents please read the notes that your child’s teachers give you. We will be planning activities and events; this will keep you informed and enable your child to participate. Also our Group Room is now in Wesley Hall. All Students should meet in Wesley Hall at the beginning of Sunday school at 10:15am and parents will need to meet their child at their class room at 11:00am.

Thank you all for the support you give our Sunday school!

Warm Wishes,

Nicole Schmidt

World Communion Sunday October 5, 2008

World Communion Sunday is a time to be in communion with Christians all over the world and to enable us to “press on toward the goal” of serving God in life-changing ministries. When churches take the offering for this special Sunday, the proceeds provides ethnic scholarships for international and United States racial and ethnic minority graduate students and scholarships for racial and ethnic minority persons seeking second careers in church-related vocations.

Fifty percent of the special offering goes to the World Communion Scholarship program of the General Board of Global Ministries. These scholarships enable persons from churches in nations other than the United States and from ethnic and racial minorities in the United States to prepare for leadership in mission in church and society.

From Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East, as well as from racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, Crusade scholars are committed to the life and mission of the Church, as well as to its ministry to society and the world. Since the inception of the program in 1944, the Crusade Scholarship program has funded nearly 4,000 students. Please give generously.

Faith Community Network

The Human Rights Commission of Red Wing and the Historical Society of Goodhue County, with a grant provided by the Red Wing League of Women Voters, will be sponsoring a public forum entitled “The Native American Perspective on Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial.” This event will be held on Monday, October 6th at the First Lutheran Church in Red Wing from 7:00—9:00 pm. The featured speaker will be Mr. Terry Janis, of the Indian Land Tenure Foundation. His presentation will be followed by roundtable discussions on the topic of how society records its history. There is no charge for this event. The public is invited to attend and participate!

Heifer International Forum

This article is a part of a presentation of the forum held on September 21^st following church.

The founder of Heifer International, formerly Heifer Project was Dan West, a farmer from Indiana who in 1939 was serving as a relief worker in Spain during that country's civil war. His job was to dispense powdered milk to the children of both sides of the conflict. Often there was still a line of children when the milk ran out. He reasoned, "Not a cup but a cow is needed." He wrote encouraging his friends and family to send heifers.

Heifer's first big shipment was in 1944 when 17 heifers were sent (no location was given). A partial list of placements of animals by Heifer follows:

· heifers to post WW II China

· goats to post war Japan

· heifers to Russia during the cold was as a sign of friendship

· goats to N Korea

· “Guns for Cows” to Albania during civil unrest there

Since 1944 Heifer has supplied animals and the opportunity to become self-reliant for food and income to families in 125 countries and 40 states in the US.

Because of the 12 cornerstones for just and sustainable development, Heifer continues be successful under unbelievably poor conditions.

The office for Heifer is located in Little Rock, Ark. Operations for Heifer and learning centers are Heifer Ranch at Perryville, Ark and website: www.heifer.org/ranch

LAY LEADER LEARNINGS

Fall has arrived, and with it comes the realization that there are unfinished summer projects. The rooms I intended to paint still wait for paintbrush and roller. The chair with the ripped caning still waits for repair. The storage room where I stash all my school and craft supplies still waits for organization.

I guess I need to get to work! 2 Timothy 2:15 says:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

If I’m going to be a workman, I guess I’ll need some tools, so let’s see what I can find in the toolbox.

· Level

A level helps us line things up and do them with precision. That’s how we

should approach life. The Word of God should be our level. What we do in our lives should line up with the Bible and its message.

· Screwdriver

A screwdriver is one of the tools we use most often. It turns screws in curves as we put them into something and goes the opposite way when we remove them. What about us? Are we going the way God wants us to go? Do we follow His lead?

· Nuts and Bolts

Nuts and bolts are amazing in their ability to hold things together. They hold up despite tremendous pressure. How about us? Do we lean on Christ while dealing with the pressures of the world?

· Adjustable Wrench

This handy tool can accommodate various sizes of nuts and bolts. Likewise, we should be flexible and try to react to situations in a Christian way.

· Chisel

A chisel has a sharp edge at one end and is used to chip and carve into something solid, such as wood, stone, or metal. Do we chip out the things that aren’t necessary in our Christian lives?

· Hammer

We need to use a hammer from time to time to put things in place. Do we have things hammered in place in our lives as Christians? We should have things like Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance hammered in place in our lives.

· Pliers

Pliers will hold things together by pinching them and allows us to work on

things needing precision work. Sometimes we need to grab hold of

something and work on it—our faith, prayer life, witnessing, etc.

· Tape Measure

No matter what kind of project we’re doing, there will be times when we need to measure things. In our Christian lives, we also need to measure things from time to time. Are we growing in God’s Word and in our service to Christ?

The verse in 2 Timothy not only talks about being a “workman” but also talks about studying God’s Word. Knowing the Word of God will help us put biblical principles into place in our lives. The Bible is full of things that we can use as tools to improve our Christian lives and our relationships with God.—Jane Stone

Praying with the World

I want to see justice run like a river,

Bringing healing and peace to the nations.

I want to sing the songs of my sisters and brothers.

I want to tell their stories,

Dance their dances and recite their poetry . . .

I want the eyes of my heart to see the grace of God

That is present in every child, woman, and man I meet.

I want to be able to see differently,

To think differently, to live kindly, to walk humbly,

To serve graciously and gratefully.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Prayer from the Philippines

Prayer Chain

If you have any prayer concerns and/or if you would like to be part of the prayer chain, please call Marilyn Josephson at 388-2050, Donna Dummer at 388-6998, or the church office.