Grace Notes, October 27, 2010

Unity in Christ

Two interesting events happened last Tuesday that remind me how we are
connected in Christ. First, Carla received a phone call from her cousin in
Sweden. It wasn't an ordinary call. She called from her evening choir
rehearsal so Carla could enjoy hearing them sing "Amazing Grace." (The
time difference was favorable for us…the call came about 1:00 in the
afternoon. For Carla to reciprocate with a call from our choir rehearsal,
her cousin will be receiving a singing phone call at about 3:00 AM in
Sweden.)

Later, a package arrived in the mail from a college friend who is a pastor
in France. He sent a DVD of a community concert he had sung in. While our
DVD player did not recognize the European format of the disc, it could
play in our computer. We had little or no idea what the director was
saying in the program notes and introductions to the pieces…my two years
of very elementary high school French didn't help at all. It seemed we
were foreigners…strangers. But when the choir began to sing Schubert's
Mass in G, we immediately felt at home…as if we were all back at a concert
at NIU. The notes of the melodies are not bound by country or language.
The text was sung in Latin, the universal language used by most composers
in setting after setting of the mass. We still sing or say most of these
words every Sunday…the Kyrie, "Christ have mercy"; the Gloria, "Glory to
God"; The Credo, "We believe"; the Sanctus, "Holy, Holy"; the Agnus Dei,
"Lamb of God"; and the Benedictus, or blessing.

How exciting to be reminded that we are united in Christ. Here in our
local community of faith at Salem, Sycamore. And also with the believers
at Grodinge Church in Sweden. As well as with our friend and his
congregation in Lyon, France. With the congregations at Kijenge Parish in
Tanzania. And with all Christians in every place and time. There are
differences of language and customs, to be sure, but we are all children
of the same heavenly father, sharing together Christ's saving love.

Ron Vanatta

Reformation Festival is coming soon! The rest of Sycamore may think of it
as Pumpkin Festival, but we Lutherans know the real reason for the
celebration…Festival Worship is at 5:00 pm Saturday, Oct 30. New members
will be received and there will be special music by all the choirs. A
catered meal follows at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall. Salem PuppetPraise will
share an extended program about the life of Martin Luther with dialogue
and music in a "Heavenly Hoedown." Sunday morning worship will be at 8:00
only.

Salem will host Peter Eide in concert Nov. 14th at 6:30. Watch for posters
announcing ticket sales.

Grace Notes, October 13, 2010

I can see it already … the lazy, hazy days of summer are gone … and the
"Frantic Fall" has begun. The excitement first appeared during summer
staff meetings when plans for the fall programming at Salem were roughed
out and we looked ahead to what programs are returning, what might be new,
and what we would like to do in the coming year.

And then, starting in September with Rally Day … it began! The Sunday
School Classes, the Choirs, the Puppets and Bells, Wednesday Confirmation,
the Salem Youth and the GEMS Groups, the Praise and GRACE worship
services, Monthly Morning Ministry, the Thursday Women's Bible Study, the
Boy and Girl Scout Troops and the 4H Club, the Piecemakers Quilting Group,
Lutheran Campus Ministry meals … they all begin to meet regularly and
pretty soon the fall programs were in full swing.

Then you add Bible studies, special speakers, a PederEide concert, special
projects and fundraisers, a musical cantata, plans for the Thanksgiving
and Advent Services … and before you know it you are thinking about
ordering the Christmas Eve worship bulletins!

All the while,Salem's weekly worship services, scheduled weddings and
baptisms, and the unexpected funeral services continue. There are also
people using the Food Pantry and people stopping in to ask questions and
to ask for assistance. There are phone calls to answer and e-mails to
respond to; record keeping and data processing to do; the calendar to
keep, space to allocate, and new member classes to prepare for. Monthly
meetings for 14 different committeesand Council are recorded.Special
mailings and schedules are mailed. The office equipment and sometimes the
software have a "glitch" or two (which can raise your blood pressure a
little). New software is installed … and you need to learn new programs
(and your blood pressure goes up a little more).

But you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love the
excitement and the sometimes "frantic" pace of Salem's office. I look
forward to seeing (and really, really appreciate) the many volunteers that
help keep Salem running smoothly. I enjoy talking to Salem's members when
they stop in and love to see them in worship. I appreciate the wonderful
people I work with and for. God has indeed blessed my time here at Salem.
I can't imagine working anywhere else. I am feeling and "Living Christ's
Love" right here at Salem.

God's Blessings,
Sue McMillan
Office Secretary
Salem Lutheran Church
Upcoming at Salem …

Wednesday – October 13
Special Fall Choir Trip to Seraphine Farm – 5:00 p.m.

Saturday – October 16
Monthly Morning Ministry – 9:00 a.m.
Worship – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday – October 17
Worship – 8:00 a.m.
Hospitality Hour – God's Gift: Our Response Discussion – 9:15 a.m.
GRACE Worship – 10:30 a.m.
Grief Support – 3:00 p.m.
New Member Class & Dinner – 5:00 p.m.
SPECIAL OFFERING THIS WEEKEND FOR "FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN"

Grace Notes, October 7, 2010

GRACE NOTES October 7, 2010

Have you read the nonfiction book Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson? It
has been on the best-seller list pretty much nonstop since it came out in
2003. I'm deeply into its sequel, Stones into Schools, which was
published last year. It is so timely on so many levels. The author
builds schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan, yes in this very decade, and
for girls yet, while a war is going on! The schools are built stone by
stone and in Taliban country.

Greg Mortenson's actions go beyond bold!

This is not a book review; this is not a plug for a book sale. But if you
ever find yourself losing faith in humanity, if you ever think that
nothing you do makes a difference, even if you think that God has gone to
some other galaxy and has no interest in earth anymore, do get a copy of
one or both of these books and build some time into your schedule.

Prepare to be awed. Prepare to be inspired. Prepare to wonder. Prepare
to be glad you are a human being. On this earth. Now. Prepare to sing
praises to our Lord.

And the books are not religious. The work they describe is not described
in religious terms. There is no God-talk.
Don't go looking for a paean to Christianity. You won't find it.
What you will find is a brilliant treatise on priorities. What do we
learn, over and over, as we grow in wisdom? What do we learn or some do
but most certainly not all, as we age?

We learn the vital importance of relationships.
We as Christians learn that God is relational. We as Christians learn
that we are relational. God wants us to love Him and God wants us to love
each other. That is relationship.

We learn that we really can't sleep right when we know that others around
us are cold.
We learn that we really can't eat guilt-free when we know that others
around us are hungry.
We learn that we are relational, communal beings. We want others to be as
comfortable as we are. We want life to be fair.

Greg Mortenson learned these things early and did something about them.

We can too. In fact, on a much smaller scale, we do too. What comes to
mind is our own church's Food Pantry. It is supported by church members,
who faithfully bring in bags of food or send in checks so someone can shop
(and we have shoppers too) to restock the shelves. And when we asked if
people have children's books just sitting around at home not being used,
and if so, would people bring them in to give to our Food Pantry children
for their very own, we have had books to give ever since. When school
started a month or so ago, our Pastor asked a local school if there are
any children who might be hungry over the weekend. Sure enough, four
children were identified right away. With family permission, we got
backpacks and loaded them with good food, pancake mix & syrup, soup,
spaghetti, canned fruit and vegetables, bread, peanut butter and jelly,
and took the backpacks back to school for the children to pick up after
school. Did we build a school? No, but we know that four families are
eating. We know that over this four day weekend we have coming up, four
families won't sleep more to stave off hunger. We know that four children
won't stay inside and not have energy to play due to hunger. Now we have
a Backpack Ministry!

We know that the more we intentionally strive to be God's hands in this
achingly beautiful world of ours, the better we are at being relational,
at being God's people. The more we align our will with God's, the surer
we are of our place in this world, God's world. It doesn't get any better
than that.
Amen.

Judy Bergeson, Diaconal Minister
Salem Lutheran

UPCOMING EVENTS:
This Sunday between services, you are cordially invited to the Fellowship
Hall for a "Davey & Goliath" film episode and conversation. All ages are
welcome!

A New Member supper and class will be held Sunday at 5 PM, October 17.
Please call the office if you are interested in learning more.

The Confirmands continue to sell pies between services for pickup right
before Thanksgiving. This is a win-win situation! The students make some
money to help finance their service projects and we bakers have one less
thing to do before Thanksgiving!

A team of dedicated people leave Saturday, October 16 for Ocean Springs,
MS again. They know that even five years post-Katrina there is so much
work left to be done. We pray for them, their work, their safe travels,
and their compassionate hearts.

Sunday, October 17 at 3 PM, the fourth year of Grief Support begins again
every Sunday until mid-January. The idea is to help people in grief from
the death of a spouse, child, sibling, someone special in their life, get
through the holidays with a warm and safe groups of others who understand.
We meet in the Chapel Lounge, which is to the right and all the way to
the end of the wing as one enters the church. Call the office at
815-895-9171 for more information.

Women's Bible Study meets the fourth Thursday each month in the Chapel
Lounge at 9:15 till 10:30. This year we are studying "God in the Golden
Age" by Dr. John Prabakhar. Come!
Bring your Bible! Have a cuppa coffee and learn together with friends old
and new.

Salem's October Fest is coming up! Dinner and entertainment will be served
Saturday evening,
October 30. Don't miss this fun family event!