A PUBLICATION OF EMMANUEL L UTHERAN CHURCH, NAPLES, FL The Star November 2, 2014 - November 8, 2014 Saintly Sinners, Sinful Saints Sunday Prayers: Jim Duncan, Kay Curry, Lavon Engen and Gary Talarico. There will be a Memorial Service for Barbara Pierson on Tuesday, November 4, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. All Saints Sunday and the appointed readings are pregnant with themes of stark contrast: death and life, condemnation and redemption, sorrow and joy, suffering and relief, present life and future life. Such is life, too, as baptized children of God. The very nature of our lives is of stark contrast. By virtue of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are made S -S T F B S 1:00 P.M. L C ! saints while we are still sinners. Every day in this nautically juxtaposed life we navigate through rough waters such as sin, evil, pain, heartache, addiction, ! Thursday Morning Bible Study, November 4 Amos 5:18-24 Psalm 70 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Ma hew 25:1-13 abuse, hunger, disease, and war. But our bearing is always set, not by the North Star but by the Daystar, who has been the heading for the faithful of every generation. With the scriptures as our compass and the confessions our map, we sail as a part of the great flotilla of saints on the waters of baptism, with the wind of the Spirit at our backs, always pointed in the direction of our guiding Daystar. Today we give thanks for the saints who have gone before us, for the saints still among us, and for the saints of God still to come. We give thanks for the exam- Color: Green ples of faithful living that the saints have given us as they navigated the stormy Please join us every Thursday morning for the weekly Bible Study led by one of the Pastors. 9:30 a.m.— Stephen Ministry Rm. waters of life, and also for the faithful acts of service we are empowered by THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE is on Wednesday, November 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. You are also invited to a meal preceding the service at 5:45 p.m. in the Family Live Center. God's Holy Spirit to do in our own seas. We give thanks, too, for the fullness of eternal life in which the saints of God who have gone before us now partake and which we have yet to fully enjoy. SERVICE TIMES CHANGE TODAY! TODAY marks the beginning of our “Season” Schedule; in addition, hopefully you remembered to “fall back” last night. This schedule is from November—May: Growing Together Classes: 7:45, 9:30,11:00 a.m. (Regular services) Now - Dec. 17 10:00 a.m. (Contemporary ALIVE service) Dinner: 5:45 pm (Menu for November 5 – Linda Gemmer ‘s Chinese Cashew Chicken) Classes for all Ages: 6:30 pm Sunday School will be at 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Spanish-Speaking Service See Flyers for more details Please note that the remaining “Lunch and Learn” classes have been postponed due to lack of response. Class 1: Great Figures for the New Testament led by Pastor Wigdahl and Pastor Lee (Mary Magdalene) Class 2: Quiet Time in God’s Word led by Tom Gemmer Class 3: Get Some Exercise with the Walking Group (meet up after dinner in the FLC) Class 4: What does it mean to be a Lutheran (in Spanish) led by Pastor Lebrón For Children: 1st Grade - Grade 5 led by Margaret Wolff For Youth: Jr. and Sr. High Bible Study led by Dave Martinsen / Jim Cooper December 3: Charles Johnson Concert featuring Advent and Christmas music Dec. 10 & 17: Advent Services in the Sanctuary (Holden Evening Prayer) GLUTEN-FREE WAFERS AVAILABLE If you need a gluten-free wafer, simply ask a pastor or the person distributing Communion. The gluten-free wafers are now stored in a separate compartment of the intinctorium (the vessel holding the Communion wafers). Looking for people to help clean-up after Growing Together dinners. Please call the church office at 261-0894 for more details. Congratulations, Lauren, on your confirmation! Giving Your Gifts Electronically For those who give electronically and would like to put something in the offering plate, please use one of the offering cards located in the pews. Growing Together/Growing Great Kids for childr en in 1st through 5th grade, is having an Operation Christmas Child Packing Party and you can help by donating any of the following items: Toys – such as dolls, toy trucks, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, balls; School supplies; Hygiene items; Other – T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights. Drop them off at the church by November 16! If you want to make a donation to help with $7 shipping. Make a check payable to Samaritan’s Purse and place in the box on the display table. During the month of November, Spark Sunday School Kids will be learning about gifts that grow the church, fight hunger and transform lives as they work on crafts to raise money for ELCA Good Gifts. Last year they raised $500, enough money to purchase a goat, fish farm, pig, honey bees , sheep, chicks and water jugs! The Advent Craft Fair will be Sunday, December 7th in the breezeway. Good Gifts Catalogs and Piggy Banks are available now! The Wrecking Ball Helps Nicholas At last Sunday’s picnic our youth ministry held a mini fundraising tournament on one of the inflatables called “The Wrecking Ball”. The goal was to have fun and to raise money for our Compassion International sponsor child Nicholas from Uganda, Africa. The tournament winner was Baily Kimble (pictured) who went home with a small cash prize, and of course, Nicholas, who will receive $60, along with our love and prayers. Thanks to everyone who participated! Stephen Ministry News Lit and Latte Book Club Stressed? Feeling Down? Need Encouragement? Stephen Ministers don't just provide care for people experiencing a major crisis. They also provide care and support for people weighed down by the li le things in life. If you're feeling down, lonely, stressed or discouraged, you could beneﬁt from the care, support and encouragement of one of our Stephen Ministers, who are fully trained to provide Chris.an care by frequent visits. To ﬁnd out more speak with a Pastor or Carol Hartman @ 239261-0894 or [email protected]. Making Bread Ministry Pat Day, Linda Gemmer and Maria Wigdahl are starting a new ministry. They are looking for people who enjoy making and baking bread to be used in various ministries of the congregation. The first bread baking kickoff event is November 6th, making miniloaves of bread for the New Members joining in November. For more information contact Maria Wigdahl at 865963-1321 or by email, [email protected]. All women in the community are invited to join our group. Please feel free to bring house guests and friends as all are welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Abelove at 239682-0051 or at [email protected]. We meet in the WELCA room (above the church offices) monthly. Please join us on Monday, November 10 at 6:30 pm to discuss Kent Nerburn’s book “Neither Wolf nor Dog”. Please see the newsletter for further information. Name Tags - Please try to remember to wear your name tags. If you need a new one, call the office at 261-0894 OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE FLOWERS If you would like to give flowers for our weekly worship services in honor, memory, or appreciation of someone, please call Jennifer or Gina in the office (261-0894). Attention Worship Participants Needed Dates available: November 9, 23, 30; December 7, 21 Electronic Giving for Convenience and Consistency Looking for Assisting Ministers and Acolytes for the 9:30 and 11:00 services. (No experience necessary, we will train.) Please contact Joyce Finlay or Tom Gemmer at 239-261-0894. Thank you! Emmanuel Lutheran Church encourages all members of our congregation to create an automated, electronic giving schedule. It's a convenient way of giving that will bring consistency to the way you make your regular offering. You simply designate the amount, the frequency and the payment method. Getting started is easy. Sign up on our website at www.naplesemmanuel.org and click on "Resources" "then click on "Automatic Giving" on the home page or pick up an authorization form from the church office. EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA) 777 Mooring Line Drive, Naples, FL 34102 Sunday Services with Holy Communion 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.; Alive Service at 10:00 a.m. 239.261.0894 Fax: 239.261.1802 Web address: www.naplesemmanuel.org Email: [email protected] Rev. Steven E Wigdahl, Senior Pastor Rev. Frank Lee, Associate Pastor Rev. José Lebrón, Associate Pastor for Mission Development Jim Cooper, Associate In Ministry for Youth & Family Vivian Shea, Business Administrator Joyce Finlay, Associate in Ministry for Music & Worship Carol Hartman, Parish Nurse Dee Schleutker, Associate in Ministry for Service & Outreach Tom Gemmer, Associate in Ministry, “Discover Emmanuel” Coordinator Margaret Wolff, Children's Ministry Specialist If you need any information about Emmanuel Lutheran Church, please visit our website www.naplesemmanuel. org