During one of my recent devotions I came across the following story from the book, In Every Blade of Rustling Grass: Looking and Listening from God, (Abingdon Press, by Bass Mitchell). It spoke volumes to me. I hope it touches your heart also.

A children's message.
I showed children the offering plates and asked them to tell me what they were for. They all knew that we put money in them. I asked them if they knew why we did this. They looked kind of confused (as did some of the people in the congregation, confused and a little concerned at the direction this was taking). I explained that we give for lots of reasons, but mainly to: Say "Thank YOU!" to God for all the blessings God gives us. Giving our money helps remind us that all we have comes from God; that we are dependent on God for everything.
It’s a way of helping the church spread the news all over the world that God loves them and to help feed people and help people in many ways. I gave each child 10 pennies. I explained the tithe, that is, it would be 1 penny from the ten. I told them about making an offering, which, to me anyway, means that which we give beyond the tithe, that is, 2 pennies or more. Then I asked them to come up and make their tithes and offerings in the plates before they went out to children’s worship. A couple turned and ran out, clutching their pennies in tight little fists...(to the nervous laughter of some in the congregation)... Others came forward (somewhat gloomily) and dropped a penny in the plate...(to the silence of the congregation.) Others dropped in a penny and one or two other pennies...(some smiled in the congregation). The last child, a bright faced little girl with long brown hair that was tied with a yellow ribbon, came up to the table, stepped up on a step before it since she was so short, looked wide-eyed with wonder into the plate. She slowly put her hands over the plate, since it took both hands to hold the pennies, and let them all fall into the plate, the sound echoing through the sanctuary and she turned and bounded in joy out of the door with her other companions...(some looking kind of uneasy out there and others joyous)...Moved myself, I turned to the people and could only say, "I don’t think I need to preach today."

As we enter this month of Thanksgiving, I hope we all take time to stop and remember that all we have and all we are is a gift from our gracious God. God calls on us to share what God has first given us - our selves, our time, and our possessions - for the mission of God’s Church including helping those who are in need throughout the world. Through thankful giving - with God’s help - we can grow in the spiritual gift of giving and of bringing thanksgiving to God. May God’s Holy Spirit guide us as we grow in the gift of giving.

Let us pray: Loving God, your son came and taught us so many things and through such unexpected means. Jesus taught us about simple faith and trust through holding up the most powerless among us still - children. May I not be childish but childlike in my trust, in my giving, in my love this and every day. Make me ever aware and alert to the many ways you teach us through others, especially the little ones you still hold and bless in your arms. Amen.

5:45-6:30 p.m. Keep-It-Simple Meals (All Ages)
All are encouraged to gather together for fellowship as we break bread together.

6:15-7:15 p.m. Joyful Bells rehearsal (Adult)
Join the fun and fellowship as we ring God's praises. We would love to have you join us. Led by Jan Nyhus.

6:30- 7:15 p.m. K-5th grade Elementary Pre-Confirmation
Each class will spend two or three weeks learning with a parent or a sponsor about God, the church, and each other. Led by Pastor Tim and Anders.
4th Grade: September 30th, Oct. 7th & 14th; Topic: The Apostles' Creed
2nd Grade: October 21st, 28th & Nov. 11th; Topic: The Ten Commandments

6:30-7:10 p.m. 7th-8th grade Middle School Confirmation presentation.
We will learn about the Ten Commandments and our life as disciples. Led by Pastor Tim and Anders.

7:10-8:00 p.m. Confirmation small group time.
Time to discuss the day's lesson, our faith, and our life together.

7:30-8:30 p.m. Senior Choir (7th grade-Adult)
Join the fun and fellowship as we sing God's praises. We can always use your voice. Led by Diane Lande.

The Resolution reads as follows:

Continuing Resolution Regarding Rostered Ministry at Fjeldberg Lutheran Church:

Fjeldberg Lutheran Church is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Fjeldberg Lutheran Church, as a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, understands that it has the right to call, or refuse to call, as a pastor or rostered lay leader any person who is on the roster of ordained ministers or lay rosters or any candidate approved for those rosters.

Fjeldberg Lutheran Church, in accordance with the 2009 Churchwide Assembly which resolved that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America “make provision in its policies to recognize the conviction of members who believe that this church should not call or roster people in a publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationship,” declares that this congregation will not call a pastor or lay rostered leader who is or intends to be in such a same-gender relationship.

Fjeldberg Lutheran Church declares that marriages, civil unions, or blessings of persons in same gender relationships will not be performed in this church building or authorized by this congregation.

Motion made to adopt the Continuing Resolution. Ballot for the vote in written form. The Continuing Resolution passed on a vote of 8 to 1. It will be submitted to the synod. Chairman Page will read the resolution to the congregation on Sunday.

Motion made to request that pastor lead a bible study in regard to “Moving Together Faithfully” that allows the participants in the study to look at and discuss arguments from both sides of the issue of same-gender relationships. Motion carried.

New Business: 1) Roof Repair Financing: part of roof has been completed; the flat part is left to be done. 2) Budget: will need to have committees complete needs lists by the November 9th meeting. Teresa will send out an email to committee leaders along with the current budget. 3) Kiwanis/Heroes: discussion held on Pastor and Anders joining one of these organizations. Will consider joining Heroes.

Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting: November 9, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. after All Committee Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 8 -- WELCA Thank Offering Sunday
(Envelopes will be inserted in your bulletins at both services.)

Thursday, Nov. 12
9:30 a.m. Naomi Bible Study Group meets in the Fireside Room.

1:30 p.m. Mary Bible Study Group meets at Ballard Creek.

Sunday, Nov. 15
9:45 a.m. Rebekah Bible Study Group meets between worship services at the home of Marilyn Greene.

Lutheran Woman Today

TO GOD’S BELOVED: PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS

Session 3-Hope Does Not Disappoint

Theme Verse: Romans 6:11 “So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Jesus Christ.”

This month we begin to dig into the second section of Paul’s letter as we focus on chapter 5 and the first 11 verses of Romans 6. Chapter 5 is one of those so packed that it seems to be bursting at the seams. Our author exhorts us to read it more than once if possible before coming to our group.

Paul explains to his listeners how the world is different for those who follow Jesus. Then in Romans 6, Paul uses the Old Testament story of Adam to remind us what a HUGE change God has made for us by the gift of God’s son.

Our author ably helps us focus on some of Paul’s techniques that aid in understanding his important message of reconciliation and hope in this portion.

Book ending helps contain a unit of thought. Using the phrase “Lord Jesus Christ” indicates the end of a thought almost like our “Amens” in our liturgy. And then there is the use of “therefore” and “then” to draw a conclusion or move in a new direction or both.

In chapter 6, Paul explores how baptism unites us with Christ. Two summers ago, we had a three month study on baptism. Did you find out the date of your baptism, the names of your sponsors, or any other interesting information when we did that study?

Our closing asks us to think of one thing that your baptism has meant for your life and be ready to share if you wish.

Sometimes people like to select one or two verses out of context and quote these to further their opinion or belief. Paul was quoted in such error of practice as a woman-hater. Read the article on p. 33 “What Paul Really Thinks About Women.” He had so many hard working women assisting in his sharing of the “good news” as did Jesus both before and after his death and resurrection.

Let us –(each and every one of us)–be seen and heard as we share our walk in faith and also share our joy with others.

I’m going to tell you a story about my father. I have his 1916 journal, which I’ve found to be very interesting, and I’ve learned many things about him which I’d never thought about before. He came from Racine, WI to Cedar Falls. At age 19, he’d owned a store in Racine, which he left to come to Iowa with little in his pocket. On his 21st birthday, he heard from two of his brothers. One sent a tie, the other a letter. He wrote back to them and wrote in his diary: “I have 5₵, and 4 of them will go for stamps. So I have 1₵ left. It’s time to find a job or starve. Hurrah.” Could he have gotten something to eat for 5₵? Probably, but he chose to write letters of thanks instead. And it was hard to find work in the middle of January.

I have never been in quite that bad a position, but know that for years I had a headache every time I went to get groceries. I had to figure out how best to use what little I had so as to feed my family.

My husband told how his mother had divided a quart of ice cream or a quart of canned peaches so each of her 7 children could all have some. They were happy and thankful, as we always were too.

My father became a very successful business man. He was always generous and faithful to his God and his Church and worked to instill in me these same traits. I am thankful for such a wonderful heritage, and wish I could tell him that now.

Beloved ones from the Fjeldberg Lutheran Church family called home to be with the Lord since last November are:

Elsie Helms, Palmer Saveraid, Clifford Birkestrand, Arlette (Rouse) Hansen, Evelyn Helland, Marilyn Hokel, Melba Hill, Derek Harmon, Floyd Erickson

Mark this day on your calendar. We will again be asking for donations of soups and desserts to share. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the food and fellowship and to join the non-denominational thanksgiving service following the meal. Pastor Tim will be giving the sermon. If you would like to participate in any way; planning, serving, or donating food, please contact the church office (597-2831) or Anne Quick at 597-2338.

Please take a mitten(s) and shop for the items listed.

Return the unwrapped gifts to the south entrance of the church by December 9th with the mitten (coded to identify the recipient) securely attached. The gifts are unwrapped so the parents will have the opportunity to see what their children are receiving. You may want to include some wrapping paper for parents to wrap the gifts for their children.

If you would like to participate but prefer not to shop, please make checks payable to the Christmas Angel Tree Project and place in the collection plate on or before December 6th and we will do your shopping for you.

Thank you for sharing your gifts and spreading the hope and joy of Christmas with those less fortunate.

The Lent season starts February 25. This year we will be looking at living a life of discipleship. The basic Biblical message has two parts: That we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and responding to Christ’s love and grace by living a life of discipleship. To have faith is to be involved in living out life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Faith involves action. Action flows out of faith. The body of Christ, the Church, lives a life in response to God’s grace by living that faith in our daily lives for through our faith we are empowered to live a life of discipleship, in other words we are to “love the lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind . . . and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) As disciples of Jesus we are called to live out the Marks of Discipleship, to have a life of faith with action. The below “Marks Of Discipleship” are ways we can live our faith in action.

MARKS OF A DISCIPLE OF JESUS

PRAY daily: God wants to hear from us. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to pray. It is a privilege to communicate to God our creator, our redeemer, and our sanctifier. It is our responsibility in that prayer is an act of discipleship.

OBEY the commands of Christ: As Jesus says in Matthew 22: 37-40, “love the lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” As Disciples of Christ we respond to God’s saving grace by loving God and reaching out in love to others around us and around the world.

WORSHIP weekly: The first great commandment is that we are to love our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The primary way we can show love for our God is through worship. That is, we come into the house of prayer to confess our sins before God, receive the renewal of forgiveness, hear from the Word of God, praise God for all the goodness shown to us, and pray for God's intercession in our world of sin and death. The third commandment has not been declared null and void. It still stands--"Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." We keep it holy through worship. Weekly worship also includes regular participation in the Lord’s Supper. The Lord's Supper is for all who believe and are baptized. The Lord's Supper strengthens our faith. The Lord's Supper is part and parcel of a well-balanced diet for healthy Christians. The Lord's Supper is not optional--our Lord has commanded that we do this in remembrance of what our Lord has done for us. Unless there is an urgent reason, members are encouraged to commune at each celebration of Holy Communion.

EXCITE others about Jesus: Because God’s grace is so radical we cannot help but be excited about Jesus and this shows through our words and actions, as we reach out with Christ’s love within Fjeldberg and out into the world.

READ the Bible: As a disciple of Jesus, we are expected to read and study the Bible, to learn, to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God and what God has done in our world. To help with this we challenge all disciples at Fjeldberg Lutheran to be involved in some form of Bible Study on a regular basis. This can include Sunday morning or Wednesday night studies or a small group study. Besides being an expectation, it is fun to be a part of a group that explores the marvelous grace of God.

SERVE at and beyond Fjeldberg: In response to God’s amazing grace, disciples give of their time and talent. Fjeldberg strives to offer a full and rich ministry to our community. This cannot be done unless each disciple gives of their time and shares the spiritual gift(s) God has given them. The Spirit of God has equipped us with many gifts to be used in building up our congregation and community through ministry. Someone once said that service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in this world. How true that is! God created us to be servants of God and servants of one another. Through the giving of our time and talents we live out that servant hood to which we have been called.

UNITE with and be in
RELATIONSHIP with other Christians: Through relationships with other Christians, we encourage spiritual growth in one another. We would like all disciples at Fjeldberg Lutheran to strive to be involved in small group ministry where study happens and relationships are created and grow.

GIVING of our time, talent, and resources: Jesus spoke very often about money. The income we have is a result of God's good and generous gift of resources to our world and to us. It is a gift, which implies responsibility to return for the Lord's use a certain portion of what we are given. All Christians are encouraged to strive toward the goal of giving 10%. Not everyone can start at that level. However, we are encouraged to grow each year in what we give. This is a good discipline for us. Through our giving we grow in our expression of our love for God.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION SET
The annual meeting of the Fjeldberg Lutheran Church Congregation will be held on Sunday, January 24, 2010 following the 11:00 a.m. worship service. Committee Presidents or Delegates during 2009: Reports to be included in the annual report are due in the Church Office by Tuesday, December 15, 2009. Thank you for your cooperation.

HELPING HANDS FOOD DRIVE
The Sunday school classes are encouraging all of our students to use their “helping hands” in an effort to support the Huxley Food Pantry and help those in need in our community this fall. Students are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to Sunday school each week. These items will be collected each Sunday and taken to the Food Pantry. This is strictly a volunteer effort. We appreciate your help and support!
~ Fjeldberg Social Concerns Committee

DO YOU NEED A RIDE?
We are fortunate to have several volunteers who will provide you with a ride to the doctor, pharmacy, bank, post office or grocery store if you are unable to drive yourself. If you need a ride, please contact our parish secretary Teresa Dalton at 597-2831. She will need to know when and where you want to go. She will then contact a volunteer. That volunteer will contact you to make arrangements.  Please try to give the volunteers a few days notice if possible.  Also, please keep ride requests to the local area.  Thank you.  Social Concerns Committee. 

PRAYER CONCERNS
If you would like us to pray during worship for you or a loved one who is ill, mourning or serving overseas in the military, please contact the church office. Due to privacy concerns, we will only pray publicly during worship for those whom the church office has received information from the individual or his/her family.

HOSPITAL VISITS
Associated with this, if you or a loved one is hospitalized or homebound due to illness, please contact Pastor Tim or Teresa in the church office so that you may receive pastoral care. Because of HIPAA regulations, we seldom receive information from hospitals, so please let us know. Pastor Tim would like to visit you and pray with you, but cannot do so if he does not know. Thank you.

HONORING OUR VETERANS
Veterans Day is November 11, 2009. During worship on November 8th, we will take a moment to remember and honor our veterans and also pray for our men and women currently serving in the military.

OPERATION SNOWSTORM
With winter approaching and as much as we don’t want to have a snowstorm, it is bound to happen. So when school is canceled because of the weather, all church functions will also be canceled. We will notify the following radio/tv stations if worship services are to be canceled: WHO, KCCI, KRNT, and WOI.

MADRID HOME FALL BAZAAR & BAKE SALE
November 22 * 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. * Madrid Home * 613 W North St. Madrid, IA 50156

CHRISTMAS with WALDORF 2009
Hanson Fieldhouse * Waldorf College * Forest City, Iowa
Saturday, Dec. 5 5:30 p.m. (Dinner); 7:30 p.m. (Concert)
Sunday, Dec. 6 3:00 p.m. (Concert); 5:00 p.m. (Dinner)
Reserve your tickets today!
Call 1-800-292-1903 or visit www.waldorf.edu/finearts/christmas.asp