Grace and Peace to you! About a month ago, when we began our intentional time of reflect-

ing on Stewardship, one of the first things that we focused on is how good stewardship starts with

gratitude. The first step of being a good caretaker of what God has entrusted to us is to pay attention

to the many blessings around us and give thanks for them.

But now that we are at the end of our focus on Stewardship, I am also realizing that good

stewardship doesn’t just start with gratitude. It is consistently underscored by gratitude. As we are

thankful for what God has given, we respond by giving – of ourselves, our time, our possessions, and

everything else. And as we give, we notice how the act of giving also enriches our lives, and so we

are thankful. This isn’t some kind of “if you give, God will bless you” scheme. There is no quid pro

quo. And yet, I do believe that being generous is good for us, and that by living into this part of disci-

pleship, our lives in Christ are deepened.

And, thus, it’s a cycle, of being thankful and giving and being more thankful and giving more

and on and on (which ties in well to the upcoming Thanks-giving holiday).

And so, as we wind down our discussion on Stewardship, I am mindful of some of the things

for which I am incredibly grateful. One such thing is for this community that values the importance of

me taking some paternity time to transition to life as a family of four. It is a tremendous blessing to

me and my family. I’m also grateful for all the people – in particular Pastor Kristina and Pastor Ken,

but many others as well – who are picking up the slack to keep things running smoothly while I am

gone.

I also give thanks for a really cool gift that the congregation is receiving as a result of my

being gone on paternity leave. Since I will miss four Sundays, we have lined up four different pastors

to come and preach and lead worship while I am gone. This is actually a pretty special opportunity to

hear four unique voices (five unique voices if you include Jennie Taylor, who read my sermon for me

on the 21st) proclaim God’s word in their own different ways. That’s not the sort of thing that is possi-

ble too often, so it is truly.

Pastor Kristina is up first, and she will lead (or I suppose, by the time you’re reading this, she

has already led) worship on Reformation Sunday. Then Pastor Ken will lead on All Saints’ Sunday.

Then the next two Sundays will be led by each of my parents, with my mother, Pastor Mary Canniff-

Kuhn, leading worship on November 11th and my father, Pastor Tim Canniff-Kuhn, leading worship

on November 18th. All four of these fine preachers have their own style and voice when it comes to

preaching and leading worship, and so it is such a treat to get to experience this blessed variety for the

next few weeks. I am so grateful and so glad that they will be leading us through the next month of

worships, and honestly I’m a bit jealous of y’all, since I won’t be able to be there to hear them.

Thanks again for being an awesome, faithful, loving, generous community. It is an honor and

privilege to serve alongside of you in ministry, and even while I am away on paternity leave, I assure

you that I will still be lifting you up in gratitude in my prayers.

God’s Peace,

Lutheran Church of Our Father

The Word

November 2018

Message from the Pastor

1

Youth and Family Ministry Music Ministry

2-3

Food Pantry Election Voting Support Our Youth

4

Outreach 5

Pop Up Mall Sponsored by KinderNest

6

Members in Service Altar Flowers

7

Birthdays Anniversaries Food Pantry Items of the Month and Volunteers

8

Inside this issue:

Pastor Jesse Canniff-Kuhn

The Word

Chancel Choir Rehearsals are

Wednesdays at 7pm in the Sanctuary.

SUNDAY MORNINGS: Please be in the Sanctuary at 10:35am to warm-up and prepare for worship! Thanks so much!

A Note from the Director of Music

What purpose does the Choir serve in worship? Lutheran Church musicians LEAD the church’s song. We proclaim God’s Word in worship thru music and the spoken Word. We are responsive to our local context and cultures. We simultaneously care for local musical heritage and tradition while being bridge builders to the ever-emerging songs of the church. We delight in the riches from our past as well as the gems in our new songs and contemporary Christian music. We incorporate global music, the music of many nations and cultures including other languages, into worship as well. In short, we have a love of the past, a passion for the present, and excitement for the future!

Chancel Choir is a Volunteer Choir of varied ages, starting out as 6th graders. Very few of our

Choir Members actually “read music.” I teach and use our variety of talents to lead and grow the congregation’s voice. Above all, we all are called to EXCELLENCE in our music. The fact is, the Lutheran Church is a singing church and we work to keep and expand this singing musical tradition. This requires intentional rehearsals for all the music that we do and for all the volunteer musicians that work together to become one in and thru Christ Jesus.

Chancel Choir’s responsibility is to lead the congregation and offer anthems and special music. The formative work of the Choir is done during rehearsals. The PRESENCE of each Choir Member at Rehearsal is vital to the life of the Choir. Obviously, the Choir is most effective in their rehearsals when ALL the members are present and can work and learn together vocally as a team. When the Choir provides an anthem during the Offering or as a Call to Worship or as a Prelude, these are pieces they have worked on for hours, weeks, even months in advance. It is NOT background music. It is a proclamation of God’s Word: an important thread of the tapestry of the worship: an intentional offering to God using voices and instruments: a living breathing entity that prayerfully plants a song in the hearts and in the heads of the listener as well as the prepared proclaimer to sustain each for the days and the journey ahead.

We are a part of a dynamic, evolving vocation. Love does grow here! And as the song of the church changes, we remain committed to the joyful task of bringing the church’s song into our assembly to proclaim God’s Word, to celebrate His presence in our midst, and to prepare ourselves to do God’s work out in the world, in our communities and beyond.

We have begun work on our Advent and Christmas music. If you love to sing and would like to be a part of Our Father’s Chancel Choir, COME to REHEARSAL: YES! IT IS THAT SIMPLE! Wednesday evenings, 7pm in the Sanctuary. This is what we do. HOPE to see you

Wednesday night!

The Word Page 2

Music and Youth

Page 3 The Word

Music and Youth

OUR FATHER’S YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY

~ 5 Great Days of Serving ~

2019 Destination - Washington, DC

Sunday, July 7th thru Friday,July 12th

Graduating Seniors are invited to be a part of this trip!

$125 deposit per youth due beginning March 2019

If you will be a 6th grader thru High School age,

our Jr+Sr Youth invite you to come and be a part of serving others,

living in community & building relationships from within,

making friends for life!

Sunday, Nov 4th – Camden Place Care Center 1:30 - 3:30pm. Lunch HERE

then go serve & play games! Be back to the church 4pm.

Saturday, Nov 10th – Hiking Trip to Hanging Rock! Be here at the church

to leave by 9am. Bring a bag lunch & bottled water.

Sunday, Nov 11th – BAKE SALE! NO Evening Meeting

Saturday, Nov 17th – 2pm Setup for Harvest Meal in Fellowship Hall

Sunday, Nov 18th – Harvest Meal following Worship to celebrate

Thanksgiving! No Evening Meeting

Sunday, Nov 25th – Thanksgiving Weekend - NO Evening Meeting

Sunday, Dec 2nd – Lunch after Worship: Jamestown Christmas Parade!

Kids of all ages needed for the Nativity Float!

****LIVE DRIVE THRU NATIVITY is SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 6-8pm****

Entire Congregation needed for this Event

LYO is coming in February: $100 deposit per Youth due Jan 2019.

The Word Page 4

Hard to believe but the holidays are rapidly approaching, and again we will be providing special food

bags for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Depending on the size of the family, the bags consist of:

1 or 2 small canned hams, 2 or 3 cans of vegetables, a starch (rice, mac and cheese, boxed potatoes of

some variety or fresh if available), sweet potatoes (canned or fresh), either canned fruit and jello or

cranberry sauce, a cake mix and frosting tub, cornbread mix or box of stuffing mix. We will be using

a Thrivent card, but that will not cover all expenses and donations will be GREATLY appreciated.

The Christmas Boutique will be up and running after Thanksgiving. When our clients come for their

food bags on Wednesday they have to opportunity to look through these items and find gifts that per-

haps would not be in their budget. We were able to save things from the yard sale but could still use

gently used Christmas items, gift type items, winter clothes, jewelry and things for kids. So, hopefully

you have not totally wiped out your closet for the yard sale and can help us.

Thank you. Ron Joyner and the ladies of the Food Pantry

Food Pantry

2018 Election Voting Site

The LCOF Fellowship Hall will serve as an official Guilford County elec-

tion voting site on Election Day, November 6th. The polls will be open for

voting from 6:30 AM till 7:30 PM for voters in this district.

Mary McKinney will be dancing in the annual ballet performance of The Nutcracker presented by

the Dance Center of Greensboro. This will be Mary’s fourth year in this holiday classic. If interest-

ed, the shows are Saturday, December 8th at 7pm or Sunday, December 9th at 2pm. Tickets can be

purchased online (www.highpointtheatre.com) or by phone (336-887-3001) at the High Point Thea-

tre. Hope to see you there!

Support Our Youth

We will have our Harvest Meal on Sunday, November 18th after worship. Please make plans to be

there for this special meal together! Bring your favorite dish or two. Beverages are provided.

Harvest Meal

The Word Page 5

We are adopting a 4th

grade class from Sedgefield

Elementary and are looking

for pen pals. This is a great

way to encourage one or

more kids the easiest way

possible.

Be a cheerleader for our kids!

HOW?

Sedgefield Elementary are looking for Guest Readers

Can you give an hour one day, one hour each day or more?

You are 2 steps away from helping.

Step 1: Go on line and register as a volunteer.

Click on link https://www.gcsvolunteers.com/

Step 2 : Call The School 336-316-5858

2905 Groometown Road, Greensboro, NC 27407

Outreach Committee

Members in Service for November

Page 7 The Word

COMMUNION ASSISTANT

11/4 Erin Stevie

11/11 Erin Stevie

11/18 Susan Butler

11/25 Susan Butler

USHERS

11/4 Joe Holder and Others

11/11 “

11/18 “

11/25 “

ALTAR CARE

11/4 Stacey Hayden, Sally Eastman

11/11 “

11/18 “

11/25 “

ACOLYTE

11/4 Taylor Stevie

11/11 Morgan Ward

11/18 Aiden Anderson

11/25

GREETERS

11/4 Les and Diane Leamons

11/11 Frances Manning, Tammy Campbell

11/18 Betty Groh, Lori Leonard

11/25 Deborah Scharf, Deanna Smith

MAGI SERVANTS

11/4 Helen Wilson

11/11 Grace Titzer

11/18 Donna Anthony

11/25 Debbie Sink

COUNTERS

Scott McKinnon

LAY READER

11/4 Ron Joyner

11/11 Joy Anderson

11/18 Susan Butler

11/25 Jennie Hodge

Altar Flowers

11/4

11/11

11/18 Eastman Family in memory Bill and Alyne Quance

11/25

Page 8 The Word

Food Pantry Items for November

Canned vegetables, peanut butter

and jelly

Celebrations in November

BIRTHDAY

Barbara Ritchie 11/3

Shelly Osborne 11/5

David Wilson 11/6

Louise Turner 11/7

Ron Joyner 11/9

Tyler Baggett 11/11

Joyce Gregson 11/14

Cassie Norman 11/14

Wendy Haas 11/20

Cathy Rothermel 11/24

Scott Henderson 11/25

Catherine Rothermel 11/26

ANNIVERSARIES

Stacey and Jeff Hayden 11/2

Neal and Joy Anderson 11/3

David and Deborah Scharf 11/6

Ron and Judy Joyner 11/7

Hicham and Christienne Moudden 11/13

Ken and Brenda Osborne 11/22

November Food Pantry Volunteers

11/7 Jan Egan

11/14 Ron Joyner

11/21 Helen Wilson

11/28 Dorothy Gower

CONGRATULATIONS to Pastor Jesse, Lindsay and Witten!

Welcome Landry!

The Church Office - Pastor Jessie Canniff-Kuhn— Phone 336-299-0235

Secretary - Joan Thomas—Phone 336-299-0235

E-mail address is OFLC1961@gmail.com

Our Father's Web Page is available at: http://www.ourfathergsbo.com

Like us on Facebook “Lutheran Church Of Our Father”

Have an article for the newsletter? E-mail it to jpholdernc@gmail.com or the church email as listed above.

Lutheran Church of Our Father

3304 Groometown Road

Greensboro, NC 27407

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Lutheran Church of Our Father

The Word - November 2018

ALL are welcome to any of our worship services.

We come, as we are, knowing that our loving

heavenly Father meets us where we are and knows

our every need. As we live with God, and with

God’s people, we grow in faith, love, service, and

obedience to the will of God.

God’s Work Our Hands