Grace Notes November 23, 2011

Grace Notes Nov. 23, 2011
"O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures
forever." Psalm 136.1

'Tis the season to be thankful. The turkey on the calendar is reminding
us. Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated officially since President
Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving Nov. 26, 1863. But God's
children have been giving thanks much longer.

An article in the morning paper tells that scientists are studying
thankfulness. Psychologists are identifying gratitude as one of our most
powerful emotions. Gratitude makes us happier and can change our attitude
about life. An emotional "reset button".

A key component of thankfulness is the way it connects us to others. While
it is good to give thanks for everything, we should remember that it's the
people in our lives that are most important. Family, friends, all who walk
with us on life's journey. When I remember to give thanks, I am reminded
that it is not just about me. All of life is a gift from our loving God,
often delivered by others of his children. And sometimes I am allowed to
deliver his gift to another…

Give God thanks as you count your blessings. And be a blessing to others.

Ron Vanatta

>Thanksgiving Eve Worship today, Wednesday, at 7:00 pm.
>First Sunday of Advent this weekend.
>Advent Holden Evening Prayer every Wednesday at 7:00 pm starting Nov. 30.
>Christmas Cantata, "Tapestry of Light,"at 5:00 Sat, Dec 10 and 10:30 Sun,
Dec 11.

Grace Notes, November 17, 2011

Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 16/17, 2011, hundreds and perhaps thousands
of people gathered at Salem to honor God's gift of Dee Palmer to this
community. Heralded as DeKalb County's "Music Man", the more of himself
he gave to his community, the more beloved he became. His seemingly
endless energy and enthusiasm carried him to almost 100 years of life.
While few people can say they have served at anything continuously for 63
years or have had a life-size statue erected in their honor, this man
humbly carried on his work, receiving joy and energy from the support of
the musicians who worked with him and the community who loved the music he
so ably chose and conducted.

While we pause to honor Dee and express appreciation, sorrow, and loss,
let us also pause to give thanks to God for one who so keenly loved the
work God created him for, and one who so faithfully fulfilled his role in
life. Family shared they never knew a more loving, kind man, one who
chose to look for the best in people and refused to blame anyone if he was
wronged.

Times like these are a gift to us if we use them well. While we are not
called to worship or idolize any human being, there are the "greats" in
our communities and world whose candle seems to shine a bit brighter than
those around them. If we take the time to learn from their lives, look at
their choices and values, and the results – seen or unseen – they can
become a worthwhile model for us, a "shining example". No one is perfect,
but some people certainly seem to make better use of God's gift of life
than others.

In faith we trust that God has welcomed Dee into the heavenly realm,
bestowing upon him unknown joy and love, that his heart might sing forever
God's praise and his soul know the Lord face to face. Thanks be to God.
Thank you, Dee.

Carla Vanatta, Associate in Ministry
Salem Lutheran Church, Sycamore, IL

Salem Reminders:
Christ the King Sunday completes the Liturgical church year this weekend.
Traditional worship at 5 p.m. Saturday &, 8:00 Sunday and Praise Team
worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Salem Sunday School Children are rehearsing
for their Christmas Program as well as regular class lessons at 9:15 a.m.
Sunday.

Thank you to all who have signed up to work at the Feed my Starving
Children pack days – Confirmation students and Families Friday night and
other Salem helpers on Sunday. Financial gifts are also welcomed to pay
for the ingredients @ 24 cents per manna pack.

Salem Christmas Cantata rehearsals continue Wed. evenings at 8 and Sunday
evenings at 6.

Take time to worship and give thanks. Plan to attend Salem's Thanksgiving
Eve worship next Wed. Nov. 23rd at 7 p.m. followed by pie and coffee in
Fellowship Hall. Invite a friend or your family.

Grace Notes, November 5, 2011

For some reason, I pulled from my bookshelves my old Confirmation Bible
this week. Written on the face plate in the front: "To Judy Oehlert, a
member of the Confirmation Class of Salem, at Sycamore, IL on the 21st of
Oct, 1956. Martin W. Gustafson, Interim Pastor". This is so special to
me. It has yellowed over time and is falling apart some, but the memories
come spilling out. I see that Matthew must have been my favorite in those
days; there is a lot of underlining, especially chapters 5 and 6. Here's
a taste: "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable
to the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell
of fire" (verse 22). See, this helped keep a rein on my tongue. I have
five younger brothers and sisters. There was ample opportunity to be
angry, or so I thought! But Mom and Matthew both said I shouldn't. Tough
combination. I tried to meet this goal. What do we say? You win some,
you lose some! But I had a goal that was clear: govern my tongue.

The last verses of chapter 5 state this, "You have heard that it was said,
'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy'. But I say to you,
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be
sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the
just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute
only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the
Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect." Jesus' logic is unassailable. But this goal is
harder. Of course my first question at that time was why in the world
would God shine his sun on the unjust? That's not fair! But one of the
things we have to learn before we can consider ourselves grown up is that
life is not fair. Another goal then: pray for our enemies.

The Lord' Prayer is next. Jesus gave us this perfect prayer. It is
ageless. It is part of me, essential to my prayer life, as it is to every
praying Christian.

And then starting in chapter 6: 24 is that lovely, vivid image of lilies
in the field. This was an important passage for me to read in High
School. I wasn't to be anxious! Clothing, the right kind of clothing was
terribly important then, as it is now for that age, and I sometimes didn't
have it. Yet when I read this passage, much of the self-consciousness
dissipated. What a blessing!

Chapter 7 begins boldly: "Judge not, that you be not judged." This aims
right at cattiness and gossip, doesn't it? What I said could be said
about me, so what would I want said? Ugly half-truths, imagined slights,
mean words? Of course not. One choice was to say nothing. Another,
better choice, was to speak up for someone being maligned. The latter was
the goal. And one certainly isn't to participate in slander. Sometimes
in our society, people mistake kindness for weakness. That's a big error.

There are more underlined passages, but these admonitions Jesus gave us
speak to our hearts. Clearly Jesus wanted us to "get" all these things.
Their clarity and words of one syllable tell us that. These are still my
goals over 50 years later. Jesus set the bar high. But He did it because
His Father made us to be His loving, obedient people.

Judy Bergeson, Diaconal Minister
Salem Lutheran

COMING EVENTS AT SALEM:

This Tuesday, Nov. 8th: take a coupon from the
Narthex at church & eat at Applebee's 11 AM to 11 PM!
15% goes to Feed My Starving Children

Nov. 13: Pastor Seth Sululu from Tanzania was invited by our
Global Missions Team to preach & visit with us at the
Coffee Hour. He is completing work on his Master's degree in
Music at NIU. Come hear! And Salem's puppets help celebrate
our relationship with the Arusha Diocese of Tanzania.

Grief Support begins again for the 5th year. From Nov. 6 for 11 weeks, we
meet in the Chapel Lounge from 3 till 4:30 PM every Sunday to offer
grieving people comfort through the holidays. No fee, no registration
required. Just come. Phyllis Castenson, Carole Lichty, and Judy Bergeson
co-lead this group.

Thanksgiving eve at 7 PM, we gather to give thanks for all our blessings.
Pie will be served in the Fellowship Hall after the service.

We look forward to Advent which begins at 7 PM Wednesday, November 30th.
Pastor Rob will tell us how "A Christmas Carol" is also a story for people
of faith.

Shop in the Red Sofa Lounge area two weekends after Thanksgiving for gifts
from the Fair Trade Fair. Unique gifts will be available.