The St. Olaf Caller

From the Desk of Pastor Matt

"We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord."

2 Thessalonians 2:13

I recently read a story about a family that received a Thanksgiving Day card. The card had a picture of a Pilgrim family walking toward a church. Mom showed her children the card and explained that the Pilgrim children liked to celebrate Thanksgiving Day by attending church with their parents. One of her skeptical children asked his mother, "Well, if those children liked to go to church so much, why is their father walking behind them with a rifle in his hand?"

It’s not always easy to give thanks -- people irritate us…nothing goes right at work…the house won’t stay clean…and the kids are complaining too much again.  Yes, there are times being thankful is hard work, especially when something’s not going right.  And there are more of those days than we want to count.  So most of the time being thankful is a most difficult task in and of itself. 

Perhaps that is why we only celebrate Thanksgiving once a year.  Yet it is often on this holiday when we are supposed to feel most thankful that we often feel the least.  Usually the most difficult times to be thankful are when others are around--especially when too many others are gathered in a small house.  Tempers become shorter as the congestion rises.  Other people’s little habits become their most annoying habits, and our feelings of thanksgiving quickly turns to anxiety.  Finally, the only time we do feel thankful is when everyone has finally left.

Yet Paul writes, "We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, beloved by the Lord." Hard words to swallow when we are encountering the practical world of everyday life.  And the ones we feel least thankful for are the “brothers and sisters” we encounter most often. 

But Paul tells us to be always thankful for them, and his words are not to be taken lightly.  Paul often writes about the more difficult truths in life and in our relationship with God.  Often Paul appears to be off the mark, but when we examine what he says more closely we find his words are quite valuable.  I believe that is true with his words about thanksgiving.  Paul bases his thanksgiving on the belief that all things come from God, and thus God takes care of all things – the food we eat, the jobs we have, the houses that provide shelter for us, our children and parents, and grandchildren and grandparents, our neighbors, our communities and, yes, even our government.  All things are a gift from God in order to help take care of and maintain all things. 

God uses these gifts to take care of the world God has created.  God gives us teachers to provide us with education.  God gives us farmers to provide us with food.  God gives us carpenters to provide us with shelter.  God gives us government to provide us with civil order, and the police to return society to order when things go awry.  And God does not just provide us with the material, each other and our gifts to take care of ourselves; God looks over, cares for and nurtures all of us as a good Father does.  God is always there guiding and providing for us all with our own daily needs.

Yes, life is not always easy, but blessed be God our Father who blesses us with all our needs.  It is to God we have to give thanks, and to all those who God uses to help us in our lives

Let us pray: Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for looking over and caring for all your creation, but now we ask you to look over and care for us.  Remind us of your love and strengthen our faith.  In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

            In Christ,

            Pastor Matt

St. Olaf’s Weight Loss Challenge
Join us in the St. Olaf’s Weight Loss Challenge. We are meeting ever other Saturday at 9:00 a.m.  You can join anytime and there is room on all teams. 

We will plan some kind of activity on the days of weigh ins such as a hike, guest speaker, or have people share their ideas on diet, exercise, or latest research.

Upcoming meeting dates are November 7^th and 21^st.  Hope to see you there.

Contemporary Worship
Our Praise worship services will continue with the first Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m.  Get the word out, pray for us, and join us! 

This is a message for EVERYONE!   
Whether you have children or not, UFF-DA is for you.  On Sunday, November 15 we will have our first UFF-DA (Uniting Faith and Forty Developmental Assets) class during our education hour at 10:15.  We’ll be making a craft to take to Shorehaven during our winter class.  We need people of all ages to help and make crafts as well.  Come and enjoy the intergenerational fun we can have together.  We’ll learn together along the way, so please join us. 

Third Thursday
Mark your calendar for this month’s Third Thursday program and lunch on November 19^th beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Message from the Finance Committee
by Roger Johnson

Lately my message to the congregation has been about our church being in financial need, asking you to give thought as to what your church means to you, and to give thought as to what you might be able to do to help get your church over a few short term financial humps. 

I have GOOD NEWS that all of us should celebrate.  Enough of you gave thought to these questions and acted on them so that St. Olaf's has financially survived a tight summer.  It looks like we will be able to continue our mission until giving picks up as it typically does in the upcoming holiday seasons.

Financial problems will continue to exist until the mortgage principal is significantly reduced.  For now, however, THANK YOU to those who answered the call, and let's celebrate.

Windows of the Past
Join us for an Oil Lamp worship service on Sunday November 29^th at 6:00 p.m.  Experience singing old favorite hymns by oil lamp light, just like the early settlers coming to worship.

Turning the Corner at St. Olaf’s
A Personal Perspective
by Roger Johnson

            In recent weeks we received messages from the Finance Committee that no one likes to hear.  "Weekly giving is down from last year."  "Giving during the summer is always down, but it was down more than usual this summer."  "We may have to cut the Youth Director's position down to 1/4 time."  "We have a large insurance payment to make and have only $73 in the church checking account."  We have to make payroll and have $7 in the checking account."  We know that such announcements make some folks squirm uncomfortably in their seats.  Some will say that a church service is no place to discuss financial matters.  Some will be flat out angry that financial matters are discussed at all.  Some, however, will give thought to what their church means to them and, after careful consideration, will find the where-with-all to increase their financial stewardship to get their church past the latest financial crisis. 

            In the past, there was a huge fear to make such announcements because of negative reactions.  "Too much talk about money will cause people to quit the church."  Church leadership is in the process of losing their fear of talking about money.  We still don't like to make such announcements, but we believe in the power of communication.  I was part of a recent discussion on how our church is like an ancient Viking ship powered by many people at their oars all working together to reach the far shore.  I think that in order to get everyone rowing in unison, there has to be communication.  People may sometimes not like what's being communicated, but more than one church has closed it's doors in part because the communication about finances started too late.

            St. Olaf's Congregation has a reputation going back many years of always coming through in the clutch, and it has again.  Communicating our financial condition and asking what your church means to you has resulted in enough good and faithful members making special contributions to allow us to continue operating into the fall months when giving usually increases.  Coming through in the clutch is one of the reasons I love this church and came back to it when we moved back to the family farm.

            I can see the day coming when we will no longer have to operate in an atmosphere of financial scarcity; when we will no longer have to stand in front of the congregation and ask for ideas on how to get past the current financial crisis.  I can see the day coming when we can stop talking about merely surviving and can start celebrating for being a financially sound congregation.

            I see this day coming because we are overcoming our fear of talking about money. I see a creative and innovative church leadership beginning to lead out of a theology of abundance - confident in God's promises that collectively we have all we need and then some. 

I see a congregation that is beginning to respond to the concepts of recognizing and counting our blessings and giving of our "first fruits".  There are so many other organizations asking us for money for all sorts of products and purposes.  I see a congregation that will not fail to support the most important product in the world - the gospel.

Since our St. Olaf Heritage Weekend last October, various congregation members have come up with a variety of innovative ways to practice financial stewardship.  Eventually there will be a way to do so that will appeal to almost everyone who is willing to give a bit of thought as to how they can recognize their blessings through the giving of their time, talents, and/or money. 

Following is a list of opportunities to involve yourself through time, talents, or treasure. I know there are others not listed.  Keep your ears and eyes open.  You will learn more about them and others during announcements and in the Caller, and you will see exhibits about some of them in the gathering / coffee area.  If you have any other ideas, tell me about them.

Life Giving:  Planned giving, such as bequests, that will enable a lasting legacy through one's final act of stewardship

Simply Giving:  Evens out giving throughout the year

Battery Recharge (Recharging The Building Fund):  Children are afforded an opportunity to save and give and are therefore taught stewardship early.

Advertising in the church business directory

Matching funds

Increased pledge to the general and / or building fund:  Trust in God's abundant promises.

Undesignated gifts or gifts designated for a specific purpose

Purchase bonds to pay down the mortgage

Brat sales at Piggly Wiggly

Growing crops on the church land:  Stewardship of the land.

Better uses of the church land

Sales of garden produce

Sales of honey

Production and sale of maple syrup:  A cross-generational opportunity

Iron scrap drive

Aluminum scrap drive

Church heritage celebrations:  Our heritage is a powerful tool for fund drives and outreach.

Christmas In July:  Provides opportunity for special contributions for a specific church budget item

Scrip program

Lamp light services:  Income and outreach

Contribution of a percentage of income from a job done for a member of the congregation:  Currently being done by one member.

Participate at lutefisk dinner, ice cream social, and pie social

Memorial gifts

Good Samaritan fund

Cemetery tours:  Puts our rich heritage to work

Rental of the fellowship hall:  Weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, reunions, business meetings, etc.

Rental of kitchen:  Caterer, baker, or food processor

Daycare or after school program

 Sunday School will sing at the 9:00 worship service on Sunday November 8^th.

Upcoming Special Services
Contemporary Praise -  Sun. Nov. 1, 10:30 a.m.

Healing Service (with baptism) - Sat. Nov. 7, 5:00 p.m.

Thanksgiving Eve -  Wed. Nov. 25, 7:00 p.m.

Oil Lamp Service -  Sun. Nov. 29, 6:00 p.m.

Contemporary Praise -  Sun. Dec. 6, 10:30 a.m.

Children’s Christmas Program -  Sun. Dec.13, 3:00 p.m.

Christmas Eve - Thurs. Dec. 24, 4:00 & 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Day - Fri. Dec. 25, 9:00 a.m.

Saturday Dec. 26 - NO WORSHIP

Sun. Dec. 27 - Regular worship at 9:00 a.m.
                        Oil Lamp worship at 6:00 p.m.

Women of Grace
Mark your calendar for our November meeting on Monday, November 23^rd at 7 p.m.  Lutefisk is coming quickly!  Come help us plan.

Election for Bishop of GMS
September 30^th marked the departure of Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers.  He was the bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod for the past 7 years.  He accepted a call back into parish ministry on the West Coast.  Rev. David Olson has been selected as interim bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod. 

Each one of the clusters in our synod has held meetings of representatives of their respective churches to lift up names of leaders that may be candidates for bishop of the synod.  From these names will come a slate of pastors that may have interest in serving as our next bishop.  At the Lake Country Cluster meeting held September 29^th the three names we sent on to the synod office were: James Stein, Sandy Chrostowski and Ken Wheeler. 

November 2 & 3 there will be an open forum in Racine, to listen to the identified leaders that were raised up from our cluster gatherings. Each one will be asked to present a statement and then field questions. 

November 5 & 6^th the same forums will be held in the Milwaukee area.  Members of the congregation are encouraged to attend.

December 4 & 5 there will be a special assembly of the Greater Milwaukee Synod to elect a new bishop.  The delegates from each congregation that attended the annual assembly last May are asked to attend this assembly. The St Olaf delegates are Pastor Matt, Marie Galbraith and myself.  As Marie Galbraith will be out of town we may substitute another congregation member. Just a reminder, Saturday Dec 5^th is Lutefisk at St Olaf!

If you have interest being the representative at the special assembly please call Pastor Matt or myself.  We welcome your input and your prayers during this time of discernment in our synod.

Gwen Downing  
Secretary, Lake Country Cluster

Anniversaries
3     Tiernan and Christina Byerly                          
7     Rodney and Gwen Downing                          
20   Kathy and Lincoln Smithyman                        
28  Jeffrey and Lori Dauss
 

November Birthdays
1      Karl Monis
2      Timothy Stewart
3      Mary Ludwig
4      Justine Cadena, Paula Olson
5      Thomas Ziebell
6      Deborah Christenson, Claudine Scheife
7      Brandon Meier, Kendall Uhlman
9      Carmen DeBack
13    Tyler Christenson, Gene Eggert, George Monis
16    Inez Koester, Annabelle Sander
17    Carley Becker
18    Tito Cadena
19    Julie Bohen
21    Jacob Buth, Patsy Hodgson
24    Joyce Christopherson
27    Ariel Birkel, Dave Kraemer
28    Lauren Pietila, Nicole Ritger, Rae Anne Scheife
29    Karen Hoppe
30    Marie Galbraith, Hannah Scheife

Thanks to our St. Olaf Stewards!
October kicked off of our new St. Olaf Stewards program.  We want to thank the following members who helped in prayer, assisting in worship and in the maintenance of our church.  Special thanks to:  George & Elaine Monis; Steve & Jodi Anderson, Alyse, Alaria & Alek; Stacy Brakob & Amiah; Jeff & Tiffany Brewer, Austin & Zach; Gert Buth; Randy & Mary Buth, Jacob, Rachel, Joe; Mary Davy; Pearl Hermanson; Rob & Kathie Howell; Sharon Nelson; Janet Reed, Tylor, Kristy & Trevor; Laura Sander & Annabelle; Karl & Claudine Scheife, Hannah &  Raeanne; Bambi Schmidt; Duane Schuett; Becky Schuett; Scott & Lori Wolf, Rachel & Johnny.

 Each month’s leaders will be contacting their groups, so everyone can look forward to their time to help our congregation serve one another.

Contractor Donation
Kyle Johnson Remodeling and Handyman Services LLC Roofing, Gutter-guards, decks fences, rec. rooms, ceramic tile, screen doors, garage door openers, design / build, interior / exterior remodeling, garages, home maintenance & repair, shelving & storage 414-550-5502.  johnsoky@yahoo.com. For any job bids accepted by any member of St. Olaf for the remainder of 2009, I will donate to St. Olaf’s 10% of the price of the job.  This is over and above our family’s weekly giving.

November Lay Ministry Schedule

 Altar Guild: Jane Christenson & Jon Evert
Counters:  Randy Buth, John Roth, June Sumnicht
For questions regarding the following, please call:
Acolytes:   Tiffany Brewer 262-670-6788
Assisting Ministers: Gwen Downing 262-673-6717

Caring for Community
We sent 90 quilts and blankets, 12 Baby Layettes and 23 Sunday School Kits to Lutheran World Relief.  One quilt and 5 blankets were sent to Reformation Church in Milwaukee.  Thank you to all that helped in any way.

The Final Gift
A message from your Life Giving Committee

            We have supported our church throughout life.  A bequest provides the way for us to make a final gift to the ministries of St. Olaf's.  That single gift is often the largest gift one makes in their lifetime because it is derived from accumulated assets.  Even though the donor does not see it make an impact for the good of ministry, he / she has tremendous joy in knowing the gift has the capacity to b a tremendous blessing to others.

            A statement of Christian faith is made with a bequest to ministry.  It declares, "I want to see God's work continue."  But more, perhaps is the expression of confidence in those who will ultimately steward that bequest.  It is, like no other act.  It is an investment in the future.

            There is also the capacity to influence others to make a bequest to their church.  A bequest says, "You can do this too."  The example one sets can influence others to consider their circumstances and charitable dreams and plan accordingly.

            Talking about bequest plans with loved ones is as wise and generous as making them.  Don't let others be surprised.  Rather, let them anticipate your final gift as an act of Christian stewardship and give thanks.  After all, all one has is a gift from God.  Let your final act be one that gives glory to God.

Making a bequest is simple and inexpensive.  You, like no one else, knows what you hope to accomplish.  So spell out your intentions and communicate them in writing to your executor and to your family.  Our Christian values are that we think not only of ourselves and our family but also of others. 

We ask that you consider making a provision to be a blessing to others through a bequest to St. Olaf's at the end of life.  If you have not had a conversation with Pastor Matt or a member of St. Olaf's Life Giving Committee, consider doing so.  If you prefer anonymity, you can call Regional Gift Planner of the ELCA Foundation, Rev. Larry Westfield, at 262-224-9574.

Giving Tree is Coming
      Once again we will have a Giving Tree to collect Christmas presents for those less fortunate, especially during this tough economic crisis.  We will be collecting useful items such as diapers, soap, towels, etc.  A full list will be coming out soon. 
      We will also be collecting toothbrushes which can be hung on the Christmas tree.  Hebron house can go through 75 toothbrushes a day so we are going to help them with a special toothbrush collection.  Decorate our tree with toothbrushes and take a card from the tree for other needed gifts.  Look for the tree the Sunday before Thanksgiving.    

Taking Faith Home
Love, In the Time of Need
By Marilyn Sharpe (TYFI.org)

         Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.      I John 3:18

This is a time of acute fear and anxiety. Economies worldwide are in the tank. Individuals are facing layoffs, foreclosures, and desperate economic straits. Children sense our anxiety and fear, and don’t know what to do. They mirror the tension of their most beloved adults.

So, how do we love our children through this time? In this month when we celebrate Christ the King, Jesus’ triumph over the world’s greatest darkness, let’s explore a few simple, practical strategies for imbuing all of life with the hope, peace, and presence of Jesus.

This is the time, in the words of the writer of I John, to love with more than words; to love with our actions. We can do this through the Four Keys, simple faith practices that braid into daily life and infuse all of life with the holy.

CARING CONVERSATIONS The one gift God has given all of us in equal measure is time. I know how rushed and busy you are, but dedicate part of this gift of God to just being present with one another and with others who need you to talk to them and to listen to them. This is how we build the relationships that are emotional life vests in the midst of life’s roiling waters and storms.

FAMILY DEVOTIONS Keep God at the center. Help children name and claim the presence of God in all of life. Pray together. Open God’s word (and it is perfectly okay to use a children’s Bible) together and wonder aloud what God’s living word is for you today. Share it with others. Drench all of life in gratitude. Keep on the lookout for blessings. Thank God for all of them.

RITUALS AND TRADITIONS Light a candle when you share a meal (and it can be macaroni and cheese or fast food), remembering that Jesus is the Light of the world, the light that no darkness can overcome.            Tuck in your children, say a prayer, listen to their delights and concerns, and make the sign of the cross on each beloved forehead. Say your love out loud, over and over and over again. Slip a caring note into a lunch bag. Laugh at family jokes. Tell family stories. Celebrate joys together.

FAMILY SERVICE Our Native American brothers and sisters have timeless wisdom to share with us. For them, wealth is measured, not by what you have or keep, but by what you give away. Create a family treasure chest, decorating a little cardboard box or basket. Keep it where it is visible to all. As a family, brainstorm, “What do we have to give away?” Write each item on a slip of paper and put it in the treasure box or basket: “stuff,” things no longer used or outgrown, extras, something another might use; time and attention; something you can teach another; helping with a project; lending tools or dishes or toys. Or, try some of the family activities below:

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

1. Pray the newspaper. Take a first section of the newspaper. (It doesn’t have to be today’s.) Tear it down the vertical fold and give everyone one piece of it. Ask them to skim both sides of their sheet for three things: 1. What would delight God? 2. What would sadden God? 3. What can we do? Then, pray for what you named.

2. When grocery shopping, add one extra item to the cart. At home, add it to a bag for a food drive or food shelf. Take the whole family when you donate it. Talk about why we share food.

3. For Christmas or a birthday ... or as a random act of kindness, give a few hours of childcare as a gift to a frazzled parent, a close friend who needs some time out, or parents in your congregation who need time away.

4. As a family, pack zippered plastic bags with non-perishable food in individual portions: dried fruit, juice box, cheese or peanut butter crackers, chips, beef jerky or meat stick. Be creative. Say a prayer over the bags, that they might feed a hungry person, as God feeds all of our hungers. Keep a supply in your car to give to those on freeway off ramps whose signs say they are hungry or homeless.

5.       Volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen, not only to prepare or serve food, but to sit with guests and talk and listen. On the way home, discuss how the people you met served you.

Lutefisk Preparations
Mark your calendars for preparations for the Lutefisk Dinner and Bake Sale coming up on Saturday December 5, 2009  11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

We will be accepting Visa and Master Card this year.  Reservations can be made by calling Lyn Johnson at 920-474-3168.

Tickets are $14 for adults, $5 for children under 11 and $8 for St. Olaf members.

Changes Coming to Simply Giving
By now all of you should be aware that St. Olaf’s  participates in an electronic debit program called Simply Giving sponsored by Thivent Financial for Lutherans.  This has proven to be a popular program for those in our congregation who utilize it.  From its inception 10 years ago or so, Thrivent has completely funded the program so there was no cost for congregations to use it.  This will change January 1, 2010.  While Thrivent will still sponsor the program, there will then be certain charges the congregations must pick up.  We will be charged a small fee for every transaction that takes place and every change we make to a member’s account.

For this reason, we are asking that any of you who are considering signing up for Simply Giving to do it yet in 2009 while all these functions are still free.  Likewise if you anticipate changing the amount or frequency of your weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly donation to St Olaf’s for the new year, I would ask you make those changes still in 2009.  For those of you donating weekly through Simply Giving, if it honestly makes no difference in your financial situation what the time frame of your donations are, would you consider changing to a larger, but less frequent donation, either semi-monthly or monthly?  While the transaction fees are small, they do add up with multiple members over time.  For example, a member switching from weekly to once monthly donations will save the church $8 in fees per year.  We want to be the best stewards possible of any money entrusted to us.

If you have any questions about the Simply Giving program, don’t hesitate to see Denise.

Heartsaver and AED class
St Olaf is offering a class for Heartsaver and AED training on Nov 8th around 11:45 am.  The class will consist of the learning of CPR and the use of the AED that is in the church. Anyone interested should contact Shawn Piller or Sandy Friedl for more information and to get you on the list to come. The class will be of no charge but if you want to make any donations you can make them to St Olaf Church.

St. Olaf Sunday School presents
Jesus Is Born!

November 22-December 13 

The Gospel of Luke tells the wondrous story of how a group of every day people heard of and witnessed the birth of the Babe of Bethlehem. Shepherds watching their sheep are visited by angel messengers with the news of the coming Messiah. The long awaited Savior’s birth was good news of great joy. The shepherds rushed to Jesus’ birthplace and after giving thanks went out glorifying God.

The story of the coming of a Savior is a story for all of us. Luke tells of every-day, average working people in the midst of doing their jobs receiving the greatest news from God, news that would change their lives, change the world. The story shows God breaking in with joyful messengers. The shepherds’ response, after the glory of the moment, is the decision to go and see for themselves. After witnessing the miracle of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds spread the news. Then they returned to give God the Glory.  Our Sunday School rotation will focus on this wonderful gift that God has given us and reinforce the story from the Bible.

Sunday School Classes

In the Oasis Café we will enjoy a yummy snack that celebrates the coming of our Savior.

In Colors of Faith we will create an instrument or ornament that helps us to remember the love of God who sent us a baby as a Messiah.

In Creation Exploration we will see how we can help spread the news that Jesus is born!

In Jammin’ with Jesus we will play games to remind us of what happened when the angels gave the good news that Jesus was born.

 Our focus verse: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11