places; when I sit in the back I am always tempted to make connections.
This person helps in the Food Pantry, that person sings in choir, the next
one counts money Monday mornings, he mows Salem's lawns, she bakes
wonderful rice pudding for G.E.M.S. He serves as Assisting Minister, they
like to help give communion, he answers calls for help when something
needs moving or pinning or washing up high. She teaches Sunday School and
gets hugs from her children. Some fold bulletins, others put together the
Town & Country. Someone else assigns all the acolytes. She organizes
Confirmation. They sit in meetings and together make decisions for the
good of Salem. And on and on. By no means have all the different tasks
around Salem been listed. People of God, busy! Working in God's service
as God's people. Doing things. Doing things that aren't necessarily what
people want to do and not necessarily when they want to do it either. But
all these people carry out their commitments and willingly and unselfishly
and gladly.
This warms my heart, over and over again. If all these folks didn't pitch
in, what would Salem look like? We might as well take down our steeple
and block the parking lot. Right? Everyone seems to know that, no need
to discuss it, just get busy and get it done, whatever the task is this
week. Wonderful! This is one of the greatest blessings of getting a call
to serve God in a church. I am the most blessed diaconal minister you'll
find for miles and miles around!
But there's one more thing that is so big I haven't tackled it yet.
Prayer. All our members pray together. When we are gathered in the
sanctuary, we hear the raised voices together, in prayer, in song, in
laughter sometimes. And we pray for so many things together. Remember
ACTS? the four kinds of prayer? Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and
Supplication. Whether we're together or home or wherever we are, we pray
at least one of these every day, don't we? They are our lifeline to our
Lord. They are our means of conversation with our Beloved God. So please
add your voice, your heart's stories, to the song we all send Heavenward.
God definitely wants to hear from you! Fold those hands and bow that
head. There is much to talk with God about again today!
Blessings galore to all,
Judy Bergeson
Diaconal Minister
COMIN G UP AT SALEM:
At the 8 AM service, Confirmation Guides will be installed, and
Confirmation students will receive their Confirmation backpacks and
Bibles. At the 10:30 service, Sunday School teachers will be installed.
This weekend is also Rally Day, the beginning of Sunday School for
children, parents, and teachers. Parents and children meet in the
classrooms to register from 9 till 9:30 AM. It is also a solemn Day of
Remembrance as it has been 10 years since terrorists struck on American
soil. We gather at 9:30 on the west lawn to pay our respects to all those
who died and all those who tried to help on 9/11/2011 and ever after.
Tuesday, September 13th from 5 till 8 PM is Family Night at Culver's,
right across the street from Salem. Magic Matt the Balloon man will be
there! 10% of sales in that time period will go to Salem's Food Pantry,
so please go! And be hungry! And if you take a food item or several, you
will also receive a small scoop of ice cream! Don't miss this event!
Confirmation classes start on Wednesday, September 14 at 7 PM in Salem's
Fellowship Hall. All 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are very welcome! All
choirs start
tonight also.
And Thursday evening, puppets and bells begin!
We have the opportunity to order Holiday gift boxes from the Northern
Illinois Food Bank. The box includes everything a family would need for
Thanksgiving dinner. If we order by October 14, we can purchase these
gifts for $15. See any member of the Social Justice Team or call the
church office for further information.
God bless & keep every one.
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