Sharon Lutheran Church: October 2007 Newsletter

I love a good story. I love to read them. I love to hear them. And I like to tell them. This fall our annual stewardship campaign theme is “Stories to Tell and Gifts to Share”. We will be spending time hearing stories from folks in the congregation and we will tell some stories of Sharon Lutheran. We will hear stories about how God has been at work in our lives and thorough our lives. And we will be challenged to think about how we want to shape our personal stories and the story of Sharon Lutheran as we move into the future. I am excited because I love a good story and I know God will be at work as these stories are told.

As we celebrate “Stories to Tell and Gifts to Share” we will also be asking all people who call Sharon Lutheran their church home to share a bit of their story through the completion of a time and talent survey. This will provide opportunity for everyone to consider how they want to be involved in this community. We want to know what you like doing, what you want to do and what you do well so that a place can be found (or created) for you to offer those gifts to the ministry of this congregation we strive to grow into God’s story for us. I am excited because I love a good story and I know God is already at work in your lives.

There is still one more piece of “Stories to Tell and Gifts to Share”. I want to create a collection of your stories and the stories of Sharon Lutheran. This will be an ongoing project and I hope it will result in a ‘book’ that tells the story of God’s people in this place. The stories can be personal. The stories can be about the congregation or community. The stories can be about work, or family, or school. The stories can be about good times and those that weren’t so great. In them all, I hope to hear, or to find a way to lift up the amazing presence of God.

The Bible has been called ‘the greatest story ever told’. I pray that as we tell our own stories we will realize ‘the greatest story ever told’ is found not only in Scripture but has a place in our individual stories as well. So, young and old, children, women and men...

Let’s tell stories... maybe you can begin like this:

Our newest addition to Sharon’s worship schedule is our Saturday evening worship. This worship begins at 5:00 pm when worshipers are invited to enjoy a cup of tea or cocoa as they enter the Fellowship Hall. This new day and time may appeal to those who work on Sundays, or those who are looking for a spiritually uplifting beginning for their Saturday evening activities (athletic events, the movies, etc,)

Bibles and ‘With One Voice’ hymnals are provided, along with handouts containing the scripture references for the week and additional songs for worship.

The tone is prayerful, contemplative, informal and relaxed. Much of the music for the Saturday worship comes from the Taiz? tradition, a monastic, ecumenical faith community begun in France in 1940.

Taizé is a unique style of worship music that reflects the meditative nature of the Taizé community. Taizé music emphasizes simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms or other pieces of Scripture, repeated and sometimes also sung in canon. The repetition is intended to aid meditation and prayer.

Probably the most unique thing about our Saturday worship is that the sermon time is really more of a conversation than a traditional sermon. While the pastor will certainly strive to illuminate the good news as revealed to us in the biblical texts for the week, worshippers are also encouraged to share their own thoughts, feelings and experiences as they connect the texts with their daily lives.

If you have not yet found a ‘worship home’ perhaps this is the worship experience you have been looking for. If so, we hope you will join us.

“Declare how much God has done for you.” – Luke 8:39

“We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard!” – Acts 4:20

We all have stories to tell: humorous happenings, learning experiences, news about our families, triumphs and tragedies, and plans for the future.

And as the people of God, we have stories to tell about what God has done for us and about the difference that God’s grace has made in our lives. Sometimes we are less aware of these stories until they are coaxed out of us—but they are there, part of whom we are.

That’s not all. Whether we know it or not, we also have stories to tell about what God has done through us—stories about how God has used us to make a difference in the lives of others. Getting to know those stories makes us even more aware of God’s grace.

The Bible is a collection of stories about people with gifts to share—stories about people whose lives were so changed by God that they were able to make a difference in the lives of others. This fall during the annual stewardship program at Sharon, we will be focused on storytelling and on giving—and to think of both storytelling and giving as grateful responses to the grace of God.

During October and November, we will hear stories from people in the congregation. We will share stories of life and faith, stories of giving and receiving, real stories from real people. All of this storytelling is a way to help us focus on God’s action in our life, as individuals and as a community of faith.

“Home for the Holidays” Saturday, November 3, 2006 10AM-2PM Luncheon 10:30am-1:30pm.

Let’s make this the best Bazaar ever!! It can happen with everyone’s help. Crafts-We are looking forward to your many craft items. Baked goods-many are needed. Bring your cookies, bars, breads, pies & other favorites. Produce, plants, candy, pickles, jams, jellies are all well received. Donuts-make ahead, freeze or bring fresh. Both will be sold at the Bazaar.

Ethnic foods-Make your favorite family recipes from your heritage to sell. Lefse-has been made and will be sold fresh or frozen. White Elephant Sale-Clean out your closets, cupboards & garage for games, toys, knick knacks, etc. (no clothes please) and bring them to the church starting Wednesday Oct. 31 through Friday, Nov.2.

Kitchen & dining room many volunteers are still needed. Please sign up on the sheets in the narthex.

Evangelical Lutheran Worship, our new cranberry worship book is in place in the sanctuary. Thank you for your generous memorial and honorary gifts, which covered purchase of enough books for all the pews, the accompanist’s books, and the leader’s editions. Thank you to the Altar Guild and to Mary-Martha circle for moving and sorting the old books. Thank you to the Senior Choir for moving the new books into the sanctu-
ary. Thank you to Dave Braaten for repairing the book racks on the pews. Thank you to Joan and Molly in the office for preparing the bookplates and note cards.

If you gave a donation for a green Lutheran Book of Worship, or for a blue With One Voice, you may take it home if you wish. The Altar Guild has organized the books on tables in the narthex. If you would like to have an LBW or WOV without your nameplate, you are welcome to make a free will donation for those books. We expect to donate some of the LBW’s and WOV’s to Valley Memorial Homes, and we will keep some of each for potential use here.

With a community of faith the size of Sharon Lutheran it is helpful for you to share your name when greeting one another. It isn’t a bit odd (just a bit awkward) if you say, “Hello (good morning), I am not sure we have met, my name is ___________. Some of you may hesitate with the excuse, “What if that person has been a member for years, that’s embarrassing.” Please remember, we are a large church and it is not possible for all of us to know one another. Sharing our names is simply good hospitality, even with fellow members of this congregation.

If we routinely greeted each other with our names, soon it would become a blessed habit. Plus, this is good practice for greeting visitors and other unfamiliar people in the congregation. In fact, for those of us who sometimes experience a memory lapse (even with those we know), sharing names is an indescribable blessing! Please consider stepping out of your comfort zone and you will help develop the outreach of Sharon Lutheran as well.

Simply Giving is an electronic service that transfers your Sunday offering from your bank account into Sharon Lutheran’s bank account. Your signature and bank information is all that is needed to begin a new enrollment or to make a change in an authorized amount. No more waiting for envelopes. No more missed offerings. You may use the form in this newsletter or contact Joan in the church office.

Church in Society: Karen Axvig, Director

Planning a local mission trip for November. Will be partnering with Calvary Lutheran for this event. Watch for more information.

Christian Education: Vicki Ronkowski, Director

Stewardship: Wayne Zink, Director

Fall Stewardship Campaign: Stories to Tell & Gifts to Share. We ask members to share their stories. Please accept invitations to share your stories.

Church Properties: Stan Vistad, Director

Add mulch to South side of church before the snow.

Christmas Decorating-If some one would like to help organize this call Stan Vistad.

Youth: Marsha Vistad, Director

Fall programming has started.

Next year’s Mission Trip is a mystery. Are you curious?

Lay Ministry: Alice Senechal, Director

Fellowship Hall computer replaced through memorial gifts.

Welcome new board members Lacey Bartosh, Josh Dahlen & Laurie Dahlstrom

Parish Fellowship: Barry Branvold, Director

“Mercy Me” Concert at the Chester Fritz in Oct.

November White Elephant Sale for the Bazaar

We continue to supply coffee & donuts on Sunday mornings and are always seeking volunteers to serve.

Public Relations: Kristen Shea, Director

Graphic Design help is needed to design posters for church events. If interested call Kristin Shea

Our fall stewardship emphasis is only the beginning. During the coming year we want to start collecting stories of the people of Sharon Lutheran and this community of faith. We want to hear the stories of young and old, recent members and those who have been around a while. If you have a story to tell, we want to hear it!

Think about: a time of want, when things were not going well (either because of finances or other concerns)? a time of plenty, when things were going well? What did your faith in Christ mean to you during those times?

Think about: a gift that you have received – either as a child or an adult? a gift that you offered to another at some time in your life. How did you feel about receiving and giving those gifts? What does giving and receiving mean to you?

Think about: events in the life of Sharon that have been important to you. who you’ve invited to or told about Sharon Lutheran Church the funniest thing that has ever happened at Sharon Lutheran Church the ways you have participated at Sharon and what that has meant.

You can drop off stories at the office, simply label them “Stories to Tell”. You may also stories. We will be creating a collection of the stories and will share them at various times in the coming year.

There is new and easy way to raise money for Sharon Lutheran just by searching the Internet with GoodSearch.com. Last year, search engines generated close to $6 billion in revenue from advertisers. With GoodSearch part of this advertising revenue will now be directed to Sharon.

We hope that not only will you use GoodSearch as your main search engine from here on out, but will also pass this message on to your friends and family. The more people who use this, the more money will go to support our ministry.

GoodSearch donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities selected by its users. The pennies quickly add up. For example, if 1,000 people searched just twice a day, we would receive an estimated $7,300 per year.

What’s great is that you use GoodSearch just as you would any search engine. Again, it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get proven, high quality results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and enter Sharon Lutheran as the charity you want to support. The more people who use this site, the more money we’ll earn so please spread the word!

This support group is designed to offer hope, healing, and a safe place to explore your feelings and work through the grief of losing a loved one or friend through suicide.

The group meets the 3rd Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm at Sharon Lutheran Church.

S.A.S.S. is sponsored by T.E.A.R.S. (Together we Educate About the Realities of Suicide) And Altru Health Systems.

A choir specifically designed for Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders. Bright Lights members learn basic music fundamentals and begin the art of creating a beautiful singing tone. Their choir experience will be in an atmosphere where they are recognized as a loved child of God and an important part of our church family. Bright Lights rehearses on Wednesdays from 4:45 - 5:15 p.m. and sings approximately one Sunday and/or Wednesday per month.

A musical experience for third, fourth and fifth graders. This group focuses on expanding their knowledge of music fundamentals, begin part-singing and explore the use of "hands-on" instrumental accompaniments. Shine! members utilize their musical gifts in a variety of ways throughout the year! Shine! rehearses on Wednesdays from 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. and sings approximately one Sunday and/or Wednesday a per month.

By Grace is for middle school kids and serves as a unique opportunity for youth to create and build relationships with their peers and their church through the arts. By Grace provides experience for musical and spiritual growth, as well as a regular opportunity for service. By Grace determines when rehearsals occur and perform approximately every six weeks. Check bulletin board for rehearsal date and time.

Staff and leaders of Sharon have been working hard to be responsible stewards of all the resources of this congregation. We appreciate the care and concern that has been shown by many as we are moving to become a stronger and healthier community of faith. The challenges are many, but the blessings are greater. Thank you for your continued support as together we grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God.

Regular, sustained giving – As people of faith, Scripture teaches us to give regularly, proportionately and first to God (first fruits). Participating in Simply Giving provides that opportunity. Your offering can be made to Sharon Lutheran through an electronic transfer of funds. Weekly, once or twice a month you can offer first to God. It is a wonderful way to grow in consistent faithful offering and it is a blessing to the church in its reliability. Forms are available at the church or contact the office.

Capital Campaign – Undertaking a capital campaign was approved at the congregational meeting held August 15. This financial appeal will address reducing long term debt (mortgage), and other important things such as an elevator, an appropriate sound system and furnishings for the sanctuary and other facility needs. The possibility of developing new ministries/outreach and supporting any additional staff would also be a part of planning for this campaign.

The Sacrament of Baptism marks a significant moment in the life of an individual as well as the family and the congregation as God joins us to Christ and declares us to be children of God. Sharon Lutheran Church highlights this sacrament in some very specific ways. One is by offering a “Welcome to Baptism” orientation on the first Sunday of each month at 2:30 PM. This one-hour class, led by a pastor, offers information on the theology and practical aspects of baptism for the family anticipating a baptism.

The second method of highlighting the sacrament is by focusing on baptism the second Sunday and the following Wednesday of each month. Baptisms may be scheduled at any of the services that day, and adequate time and emphasis will be devoted to the sacrament. Occasionally, because of family circumstances, a baptism may be scheduled at another church service during the month, but the encouragement is to plan ahead, in consultation with the pastors and church office, to schedule the baptism celebration on the second Sunday (or following Wednesday) of the month. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the pastors or church office.

To prepare for the celebration of Baptism. These important helps are offered on the first Sunday of each month from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. for those anticipating a baptism (scheduled or not yet scheduled).

“Welcome to Baptism” is designed to answer common questions about baptism including:

"Welcome to Baptism” will be led by Sharon Lutheran pastors. If a baptism in your family has already happened, those involved are also welcome to participate.

Baptisms:

09-16-07 Mary Ann Pung

09-16-07 Anna Marie Pung

09-16-07 Gordon Michael Pung

Weddings:

09-01-07 Mark Satek & Jennie Belanus

09-08-07 Eric Arndt & Kelly Jones

09-14-07 Mark Sonnenberg & Carissa Storbakken

09-15-07 Robert Buzick & Amber McFarland

Funerals

Daniel Krueger by Charlie & Jan Bridgeford, Karen & John Wong, Steve & Roxy Benson, Karen Durkin, Dayl & Terry Anderson, Yvonne & Dan Welsh, Mark & Sandy Rios, Virgil & Amy Schmidt, Kathy, Mike, Derek, Bri Jones; Charlotte Gilbertson by Wayne & Ellen Houska; Max Baker by Sam & Bernice Martinson.