VOLUME 45 ISSUE 9

SEPTEMBER 2019

FROM THE PASTOR’S NOTEBOOK—

Helmar Heartlines 815-695-5489 helmarlutheran@gmail

helmarlutheranchurch.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Fall Schedule for Adults 2

Grandparents Wisdom 2

Birthdays & Anniversaries 3

Quilters, Men’s Night Out 3

Homeschool Classes 3

Wednesday Night Alive 4

Rally Day, Church Picnic 4

Those of us who have attended worship services for some time can tend to forget how challenging it is for people visiting a church for the first time. It can be a daunting experience. H. B. London offers some suggestions to help new attendees feel welcome.

1. Encourage greeters at the door to engage people in conversation. Make sure they know where the restrooms and drinking fountains are located.

2. When possible, ushers should seat people next to members who are positive and excited about the church.

3. Don’t have them stand to be introduced. People today like their anonymity.

4. Members should seek to connect with guests right after the conclusion of the service.

5. Don’t let anyone leave church without a contact from a member. Make it a mission!

6. Remember, people get an impression of the church on the first visit. They may be wanting to hear the Word and have biblical truth proclaimed but, also, they want a friendly church, a welcoming community of faith.

7. Remember, first impressions are very important, beginning in the parking lot.

8. We members must be willing to think like new attendees think. As such, how can we make their visit the best for them!

Think About….

Ever thank God? For a nice pillow to rest your tired head? For the purr of a kitten or wagging tail of a puppy dog? For taste, eyesight, and hearing? For church, friends, the nation, and community? For the smile of a new-born babe, an aged person, your family, minister, school, chores around the home?

General Eisenhower used to demonstrate the art of leadership with a simple piece of string. He’d put it on a table and say: pull it and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it and it will go nowhere at all. It’s just that way when it comes to leading people.

If someone paid you 10 cents for every kind word you said about people and collected 5 cents for every unkind work...would you be rich or poor?

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9). Pastor Steve

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Fall Schedule for Adults

Beginning on September 11th, we will resume our Wednesday schedule. Mac & Patty McKenna will be leading the afternoon Bible Study and will continue the study in James. It will meet at 1:30pm.

In the evening at 7pm, Pastor Steve will be teaching on the theme: "Call to the Wall!" a study in the book of Nehemiah. They will meet in the West Room (next to Library). There will be a time of prayer with Pastor at 6:30pm.

On Friday mornings, from 9-10am, the Ladies Prayer Hour will continue in the Fireside Room

On Sunday, September 17th, Sunday School classes will resume with Fred & Beth Alexander continuing their class on the Parables for adults. They will, again, meet in the basement.

Something new this year is a Men’s Bible Study on Wednesday mornings from 6:30-7:30am. The place is Southern Belle's restaurant, 56 Schoolhouse Rd. in Yorkville. Men of all ages are invited for a study in I John and to eat together. Contact Pastor Steve for more info or questions. Men, if it works better for your schedule, another Men's Bible study meets Saturday mornings at the church, 8am. It's a study in the book of Daniel. A great opportunity!

Sept. 1 Ryan & Crystal Cryder* Sept. 2 Taylor Adams Shira Christian Mark Frieders David & Shira Christian* Sept. 3 Sharon McKanna Sept. 5 Hannah Greven Owen Hageman Brad & Treva Mathre* Christian Pilon Sammy Swenson Sept. 6 Myrtle Duvick Justin & Rebecca Leggett*

Sept. 8 Eloise Meyer Brian & Carrie Pilon Ron Thorson Sept. 10 Marlon Mathre Sept. 12 Tim & Katie Blanchard* Henry & Pam Cryder* Gayle Schoenfielder Don & Gayle Schoenfielder* Laverne Spera Sept. 14 Tim Blanchard, Jr. Sept. 16 Brandon Niles Sept. 18 Diane Cryder

Sept. 19 Stephen & Sarah Meyer* Mike & Tina Perkins* Terry & Deena Schroeder* Sept. 21 Steve & Tammy Underwood* Sept. 22 Scott Anderson Sept. 24 Autumn Sucher Sept. 26 Bruce & Diane Meyer* Sept. 29 Lori Chelsen *Anniversaries

Q u i l t i n g w i l l begin September 11th at 9:00 am. We invite anyone to come and join us in the making of the quilts. We can teach you how to do the

various aspects of the quilts. We have a great time and wonderful snacks and desserts.

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Birthdays and *Anniversaries For SEPTEMBER

Men of all ages are invited to a special event, Saturday, October 5th, from 6-8pm at Helmar.

There will be fellowship, plenty of food, and a presentation by Joe Lombardo, former Navy Seal. He will recount some of his experiences during his time as a Seal.

Look for a sign up sheet for the event in mid September.

There are so many homeschooling families in and around Helmar that we decided to start a small co-op. Firm Foundations Co-op will

meet at church on Friday afternoons, from 12:30-2:30pm, starting after Labor Day. Thank you so much to Helmar for letting us meet at the church!

Things to think about:

• A great calamity is not to have failed,

but to have failed to try.

• The happiness of your life depends

on the quality of your thoughts.

• The secret of happy living is not to

do what you like, but to like what you

do.

A.F.L.C. Offerings (benevolence) for the

month of September will go to World

Missions.

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Join us for Rally Day at 9am! There will be testimonies from kids that attended FLY

and Bible Camp, also from Sammy Swenson on his recent trip to Ethiopia. The S.S. kids

will be singing a few songs and Kary has a fun skit planned. The 2nd graders will receive

their Bibles and Gary will give a devotional.

Following the Worship Service (in the sanctuary) we’ll have our

annual Church Picnic. Food will be served in the FLC with tables set

up on the north end of the gym and picnic tables right outside the

gym. Please bring a dish to pass, chicken will be provided. Fun and

games to follow so you might want to bring a lawn chair!

Wednesday Night Alive!

We will kick-off the fall season on September 11th with an

Ice Cream Social at 6:15pm.

Come and enjoy some fellowship before going to your class at 7pm!

Adult Class

"Call to the Wall!" a study in the book of Nehemiah with Pastor Steve leading.

BLAST, Bible learning and sharing together

Preschool through 5th Grade

20 minutes each of Bible memory work, Bible story time and Game time

BLAST t-shirts designed to mark progress on Bible memory work

Earn BLAST Bucks to use at the monthly Rocket Shop store

JAM Club, Jesus and Me Club

6th through 8th Grades

Bible story, life application and fun with friends

High School Bible Study

Fellowship and encouragement

Real life application of the Bible

Open Gym for all ages

6:30 – 6:55 p.m.

8:00 – 9:00 p.m Hope to see you there!

September 8th

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