Walks With Christ November 2013

Christ Lutheran Church

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUES Thrivent Choice Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 4 Samaritan Bethany Appreciation . . . . . . . . Page 6 Annual Congregational Meeting . . . . . . . . . Page 10 Advent/Christmas Service Schedule . . . . . . Page 11 Wellness Seminar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sharing Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Christmas Goodies Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service . . . . . . . Page 16 Consecration Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 2014 Youth Mission Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18

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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR STEVE But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. ~2 Timothy 3:14-17 The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy encourages and reminds Timothy of the importance of knowing the sacred writings. During the Reformation, Martin Luther and other reformers emphasized the importance and authority of the scriptures. In the first centuries many churches had fragments of the scriptures that had been copied by hand. It wasn’t until the Reformation, around the 1500’s, that wealthy citizens could dream of owning a Bible (very expensive), much less reading it (not many people could read). With the advent of the printing press and improved printing technologies most people today can buy a Bible for the cost of minimum wages for an hour. With affordable Bibles and an abundance of scriptures, how many of us read on a regular basis? Do we know the scriptures? For Lutherans and those from other denomina-tions that believe the scriptures are the final authority, the lack of literacy in the Bible is really discouraging. Look for resources in the narthex such as the One Year Bible and the Bible Companion. The one year Bible has 365 daily readings arranged by date. Each day has an Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm and Proverb. In about 15 minutes a day you can read the Bible this next year. If that seems daunting, you could start by reading the New Testament about 5 minutes a day.

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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR JACK

In Hebrews 11:1, the author writes, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. I looked up the words “sure” and “certain” in my dictionary. Similar words were used to define both words. Words like “free from doubt”, “confident”, “positive”, and “to be trusted”, were used. My question is, how free from doubt, how confident, how positive, how much trust is needed, to be called faith. I am Lutheran. Some folks would call Lutheran my faith. Others would say that knowledge is ones faith, such as believing that Paul was the author of Hebrews. The author of Hebrews is saying something more when he uses the word faith. I talked with a pastor once that was very well educated. He told me how he spent most of his working life preaching and teaching what he knew. He had a great theological background, he was faithful to the teachings of the Gospel and he was a good pastor. He was a good man. Late in life, he told me, I discovered that much of what I taught, and preached was a head trip. It was knowledge, but not the faith that the author of Hebrews wrote about. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.

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Habits like attending worship, a small group or circle, daily devotions and reading scriptures give your soul oxygen and fuel for a life of love and service to God and your neighbor. Understanding God’s written word will bless your life and your relationships. Partners in God’s Mission, Pr. Steve Rheingans

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The author of Hebrews 11:11-12 gives us a more accurate illustration of what faith is. “By faith, Abraham, even though he was past age, and Sarah herself was barren, was enabled to become a father, because He considered him faithful who has made the promise. And so from this one man, and he was considered as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as stars in the sky and as countless as sand on the seashore.” What do you see here that makes Abraham and Sarah’s faith special? In spite of their age what God promised became part and parcel of their being. They trusted into God not just in God. They had a faith that made a relation-ship something to be lived out in their lives in spite of the uncertainties. They trusted God enough to do what He asked. They did not just believe in God, they lived God out in their lives. They had a baby when they were in their nineties. Their faith was God in them lived out to His glory. What a gift He has given us. Pr. Jack Friedli

THRIVENT CHOICE DOLLARS

Important Notice: From October 1st through November 30th, Thrivent will double all Choice Dollars directed by members to the church. Eligible members can designate Choice Dollars, based on insurance premiums, contract values and Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership. Choice Dollars can be directed to Lutheran organizations you prefer nationwide, including our local Lutheran congregation.

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THE POWER OF PRAYER IS AMAZING!

The following people are in need of prayer:

Members of CLC: Mavis Perry, Ed Nelson, Les Harleip, LaVon Lenox,

Donna Cahill, and Donald Dennison Others: Kevin Ash, Dennis Kunz, and Terry Larson

and all service men & women.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO...

Kay McKay and family on the death of Kay’s son, Craig McKay, of Rapid City, SD. Craig died on October 11, 2013. A funeral service will be held at CLC on November 16th. Visitations will be at 1:00pm with the funeral at 2:00pm.

Brennan Tyler Bondhus ~ October 6, 2013

Son of Garrett and Jill Bondhus

Kaylee Therese Wytaske ~ October 6, 2013 Daughter of Jeff and Marissa Wytaske

Sofia Rose Giese ~ October 20, 2013 Daughter of Matt and Jennifer Giese

Hallie Kay Meyeraan ~ October 20, 2013 Daughter of Tyler and Amanda Meyeraan

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NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

The deadline for the December Newsletter is Monday, November 18th. Please have your articles in promptly. Thank you Pastor Jack and Kaia Long for being so prompt with articles this month. Currently, I send out over 375 newsletters each month. To cut expenses I invite you to receive your newsletter via email. Each month, you will receive an email link that will take you directly to the church website where you can read the newsletter. If interested let me know. Go to clcbyron.org to check out the online newsletter. Christine Kunz, Administrator clcchristine@frontier.com or 775-6646

SAMARITAN BETHANY STAFF APPRECIATION Our church is one of seven sponsoring churches for Samaritan Bethany of Rochester. We are continually made aware of the mission and need for financial support and volunteer opportunities at the Samaritan Bethany Homes. About a year ago, our church "adopted" the 4th floor staff from Samaritan Bethany "Home on Eighth" to provide them with occasional staff appreciation gifts. These small gifts and accompanying notes of thanks have been appreciated by the 45 staff members who work on that floor. Please contact Nancy Hoegh at nhoegh@charter.net or at 775-7113 if you would like to help with these staff apprecia-tion gifts, if you have ideas to share, or if you have any questions about the project. Maybe a church committee or other small group from our church would like to do this occasionally as a service project. Your consideration of this opportunity is appreciated.

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BOOK LOVER’S LEAGUE The Book Lover’s League will meet on Monday, November 4th at 7:00pm at the home of Joan Prigge, 7621 34th Street NW, Byron. If you need directions call Joan at 282-8475. November 4th Wild by Cheryl Strayde December 2nd Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas January 6th Summer at Tiffany's by Marjorie Hart February 3rd Racketeer by John Grisham If you have any questions, please contact Christine in the church office at 775-6646.

NEW MEMBER JOINING

New Member Recognition will be held on December 1st during the service. If you or someone you know is interest-ed in becoming a member of the Christ Lutheran Church family, please contact Pastor Steve at 775-6646. If you have joined CLC since May of 2013, we ask that you mark your calendar and plan to attend. As the date gets closer we will be in contact with you.

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RIVER OF LIFE NEWS

The November River of Life lessons for kids age 3 years old through adult are: November 3rd – Solomon Writes Many Proverbs November 10th – Solomon Turns Away from God November 17th – The Kingdom Divides November 24th – Elijah helps a Widow Besides learning the above lessons, the kids will also be learning their parts and the songs for the Christmas program “The Christmas County Spelling Bee” which will be on December 8th at the 9:00am worship service. Many scholars believe that there are over 700 different names and titles given to Jesus in Scripture. Maybe the reason there are so many names for Jesus is because God knew how hard it would be for us to grasp in our weak little fallen minds, just how truly awesome the gift of His Son is! In the Christmas program, the kids compete in a spelling bee competition spelling some of the different names for Jesus. Please keep bringing your children to River of Life each week to learn more about God through the bible lessons. Also keep bringing your children so that they can learn their parts and learn the songs for the Christmas program on December 8th. It should be a program for all to enjoy and celebrate Jesus! November 3rd – the 2nd through 6th graders sing during the 9:00am worship service. November 10th – the 3 year olds through 1st graders sing during the 9:00am worship service. If you would like to help in any way with the Christmas program or with River of Life please let me know. Kaia Long, River of Life Coordinator 775-6777 or kaia08@charter.net

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PARENT/ADULT CLASS

Please Join Us!

The Parent/Adult Class began on Sunday, October 6th, at 10:00am. The curriculum follows the lessons that the River of Life Sunday school classes learn. This class is for all adults; we encourage those with children in River of Life to attend. A take home sheet is provided each week to facilitate a conversation with your child about what they learned. Adults without children at home or 7th through 12th grade youth are most welcome. Last year’s attendees enjoyed the fellowship of this class.

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Bible Study began on Thursday, October 24th at 9:45am in the Fellowship Hall. It is not too late to join this group; all are welcome to join. If you have questions, contact Pastor Steve at 775-6646.

STEWARDSHIP AND THANKSGIVING

In this season of thanksgiving, a sincere 'thank you' is in order to everyone who supports our congregation through-out the year with their attendance, service and regular financial contributions.

For those of you who are interested, the church offers electronic giving options for making donations on a scheduled, automated basis. It is convenient for you and provides much-needed financial consistency for the church. Please consider this option and pick up an authorization form on the kiosk or see Christine.

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SEPTEMBER ATTENDANCE

Worship 2013 2012 1st Sunday 159 (Labor Day) 110 (Labor Day)

2nd Sunday 277 (Rally Sunday) 266 (Rally Sunday)

3rd Sunday 247 253

4th Sunday 228 (Y.E. Team) 221

5th Sunday 324 (50th Celebration) 263 Total Atten. 1,235 1,113

ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Congregational Meeting of Christ Lutheran Church will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2013 at 10:00am in the Sanctuary. All active, confirmed members of Christ Lutheran are welcome to attend and be part of the decision making process of our church. Questions regarding the meeting may be addressed to any of the church council members.

2013 COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mark Turany Brent Hoegh Julie Hedlund Dorothy Norman JoAnn Brooks Jim Gronvold Lee Jacobson Laurie Magnus Brenda Nickles Candace Ostreng Jacob Ostreng Anders Long

GARDEN PRODUCE PROJECT

The Evangelism Committee would like to thank everyone who supported and participated in the garden produce project. Whether you generously donated your garden items or bought produce, your efforts were greatly appreciated! Your generosity resulted in $412.45 being donated to the Channel One Food shelf.

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ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE

December 1st ~ 1st Sunday of Advent

9:00am (Communion)

December 8th ~ 2nd Sunday of Advent

Children’s Christmas Program, 9:00am

December 15th ~ 3rd Sunday of Advent

Christmas Choral Service, 9:00am (Communion)

December 22nd ~ 4th Sunday of Advent

9:00am

December 24, 2012 ~ Christmas Eve Candlelight Services

3:00pm 4:30pm

9:00pm (Communion)

December 25, 2012 ~ Christmas Day

9:00am (Communion)

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CHRISTMAS CHORAL SERVICE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15TH

All of our music groups will be involved in presenting inspiring Christmas music during our 9:00am worship service; from the youngest Sunday School Sonbeams to the veteran singers and ringers of our adult choirs, our service will tell the joyous story of God's tremendous love for us through music and song. Come hear and sing the familiar beloved Christmas carols together as we worship on December 15th.

INSTRUMENTALIST NEEDED

On Sunday, December 15th the Christmas Band will be playing simple Christmas carols as the prelude, offering, and post-lude. We had a good group last year and they had fun! Will you join them? The more the merrier, especially at Christmas! There

will be one practice on Saturday, December 14th at 1:00pm. Music can be picked up early by emailing MarJean at mdamerval@charter.net or by calling 226-5638. Or, just simply show up at our practice. (Recommended for 7th grade and up.)

CORNERSTONE We are looking for an adult or high school student to play piano with the Cornerstone band. We normally practice 1-2 times per month and play monthly at the 9:00am

worship service. If interested in joining this group, please contact Carl Fugleberg, Director, at 254-6011.

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CHILDREN’S TONE CHIMES CHOIR PRAISE CHIMERS

It’s not too late to join the Praise Chimers Tone Chime Choir! Children in 3rd grade and up are welcome to join in the fun and fellowship as well as learn how to play familiar songs on the tone chimes. We practice each Wednesday from 5:30-6:00pm in the sanctuary. Keep in mind … no experience is necessary. For more information or with questions contact Stephanie Fugleberg at scurly00@gmail.com or 507-358-0101.

OPPORTUNITY FOR MEDICARE ASSISTANCE THROUGH BYRON NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS

Choosing a Medicare health plan can be confusing: supplements, HMOs, cost plans, PDPs, and the list goes on; plus companies may have made changes to their health plans. Are you a senior or other Medicare beneficiary who would like to make sure the plan you have is still the best option? Medicare Open Enrollment is currently in progress until December 7th. Now is the time to get one on one help. Byron Neighbors Helping Neighbors has partnered with the Senior LinkAge Line ®, Minnesota’s One Stop Shop for Seniors, to offer assistance. Certified Medicare Counselors from the SLL® will be available to meet in-person with Medicare Beneficiaries to provide plan comparison and enrollment assistance. This is the perfect opportunity for someone who has to make a change, wants to make sure their plan is still the best option, or is feeling overwhelmed by their choices. Call the BNHN at 507-218-3275 to set up an appointment. This is a free and confidential service; no one will try to sell you plans.

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DISCOVERING THE HEART OF WELLNESS

SAVE THE DATE – All women of Christ Lutheran Church: You are sincerely invited to join us on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 9:00am–12:30pm at our "Discovering the Heart of Wellness" event. Also, please invite your friends to join us as we have fun, listen to an inspirational speaker, enjoy delicious food and become more aware of how our mind, body, and spirit all contribute to our wellness. More details to follow in upcoming newsletters.

~The Evangelism Committee

The church office will be closed on Thursday, November 28th in observance of Thanksgiving and on Friday, November 29th. Christine will be out of the office the week of December 1st through December 6th. There will be some volunteer coverage while she is out. Details will be forth coming. Christine will return on Monday, December 9, 2013. The church office will be closed the week of Christmas. Monday, December 23rd through Friday, December 27th. In case of an emergency during the holidays, please call the church office and the recorded message will have instructions on who to call.

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CLC SHARING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

This year the Sharing Tree, sponsored by the Altar Committee, will collect items for the residents of Samaritan Bethany Home on Eighth. Individual residents have ‘Special Delivery’ tags on the tree in the

narthex. Congregation members may pick an individual tag from the tree that includes the resident’s first name and desired or needed items. We request that the purchased items be returned beneath the tree with the individual tag attached.

Donations need to be received by Sunday, December 15th. The residents love treats when they play BINGO. Other ideas for anyone are: • 6 packs of 8 oz. cans of pop, any variety is fine (name

brand pop preferred) • Individual serving size snacks of any cookies • Individual serving sizes of salty snacks (not nuts) such

as any pretzels, any chips (Potato, Sun Chips, Doritos, Chex Mix, Cherrio mix etc.)

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CHRISTMAS GOODIES SALE DECEMBER 7TH, 9:00-11:00AM

The annual Christmas Goodies Sale, sponsored by the Memorial Commit-

tee, will be held in the Narthex on Saturday, December 7th from 9:00 to 11:00am. Each family of Christ Lutheran Church is asked to provide a batch of a favorite Christmas treat or a craft item for the sale. The money raised will go into the Faith Chest fund, to be used for supplies for the Faith Chests given to our newly baptized members. Christmas Goodies will be sold by the pound, which allows buyers to walk along the tables of goodies and pick an assortment. Please bring your donated goodies or craft items to the church on Friday, December 6th between 4:00 to 6:00pm, or bring them on Saturday, before the sale begins at 9:00am. Thank you for your donations. Hope to see you at the Goodies Sale!

THANKSGIVING ECUMENICAL SERVICE

Wednesday, November 27, 2013 7:00pm

Byron United Methodist Church 507 1st Avenue NW

Byron, MN

Please mark your calendars and plan to worship with us at this year’s Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service.

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NOVEMBER 10, 2013

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in every-thing He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

~ Thomas Merton The theme of our stewardship campaign this year is Grateful Giving. It is especially important for our member-ship this year to be intentional in our giving as we strive to deliver on Christ Lutheran Church’s mission in 2014. You will be receiving a mailing from the Stewardship Committee around November 1st. Please complete the Faithful Giving Covenant envelope for 2014 and the Time and Talents inventory that will be enclosed and place them in the basket on Consecration Sunday, November 10th. We hope you will join us for the Grateful Giving appreciation brunch in the Fellowship Hall following our Consecration Sunday service. Yours in Christ, The Stewardship Committee

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2014 YOUTH MISSION TRIP

JULY 27TH – AUGUST 1ST

Cairo (pronounced Cay-row, unlike the city in Egypt) is a small town that sits at the southernmost tip of Illinois. Since this is the spot where the Ohio River meets the mighty Mississippi, Cairo was once a significant stopping point for traffic on the river. The town's history is rich as well as difficult. Cairo has experienced a lot of racial tension over the years, some of which can still be felt today. Unfortunately, the decline of the river industry led to a loss of jobs and an increase in poverty and difficulties for those who've remained in Cairo. As a YouthWorks Beyond site, Cairo has a focus on Racial Justice. In Cairo, we invite older students to wrestle with multifaceted issues the community faces – specifically issues surrounding poverty and race and how, in this community, they are closely connected. In addition to serving through Work Projects, Kids Club and Outrageous Sports Camp, we give added emphasis to the idea that listening carefully can also be service to the community. Students will get to hear from community members – both their stories of a difficult past and also their hopes and efforts toward a better future. As they listen and learn, we know that students may reach questions without clear answers, but we hope, in the process, they more deeply understand the complex issues of race, poverty and economic instability in the community of Cairo. We want students to recognize the hope this city has and how that same hope exists to their own community back home. We have 15 spots reserved for CLC and BUMC. Youth currently in 8th–12th Grade are able to go. A $125 deposit is due to CLC by January 12th. With fundraisers our goal is to keep the cost to a maximum of $225 out of pocket per youth. Please visit youthworks.com or contact Holly Jantzen, Steve Nelson or Pastor Steve for more information.

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ALTAR FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS The altar committee welcomes donated poinsettias in ‘memory of’ or in ‘honor of’ a loved one. The poinsettias will be used to beautify the church for the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. The cost per plant is $10. Donations will be recognized in the Christmas Eve bulletin. You may take your poinsettia home after the Christmas Day service.

Order Deadline: Sunday, December 15th.

Red ________ x $10 = _________ White _______ x $10 = _________ Total Amount Due: $ _________

In Memory or Honor (circle one)

of: ____________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ given by: _______________________________________ _______________________________________________

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MOVIE TIME

Sunday, November 10, 2013 ~ 2:00pm

Just Where I Belong

A withdrawn foster child makes a Christmas discovery that strengthens her bond with her adoptive family, and makes her a kindly new friend. A lonely child without a family of her own, Julia is elated when she rescues an injured bunny on Christmas Eve. Later, with the help of a kind-hearted farm woman (Florence Henderson), Julia nurses the animal back to health, and realizes the importance of being with the people you love during the most wonderful time of the year.

Sunday, December 8, 2013 ~ 2:00pm

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey

The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey is a story of love, redemption and above all hope. When a broken hearted boy loses the treasured wooden nativity set that links him to his dead father, his worried mother persuades a lonely, ill-tempered woodcarver to create a replacement and to allow her son to watch him work on the new piece. The commission takes their relationship to unexpected places as the young boy makes greater and more difficult demands of the woodcarver’s ability, and as Christmas approaches, the three of them struggle to come to terms with each other, their painful memories and the process of putting their unhappiness behind them.

OCTOBER MEMORIALS

In Memory of Dorothy Brakke Kitchen Fund ~ Earl & June Hart

In Memory of Ronald Radke

Bell Tower Repair ~ Bob & Jeannette Tweite

In Memory of Craig McKay Bell Tower Repair ~ Bob & Jeannette Tweite

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FLEA MARKET

The First Annual Flea Market of Christ Lutheran to be held during Byron Good Neighbor Days is set for Saturday, July 19, 2014. A workgroup is needed to make a few decisions about the event so that we can start advertising for vendor spots. This event will be a good opportunity for the church to be a part of the city’s celebration and to start a new tradition. Not to mention a good fundraising opportunity. To sign up please see the information on the kiosk or you may email JoAnn Brooks at gpsw20@charter.net

CLC RENOVATION TO CONTINUE

Many thanks to all who so generously donated their time, talents, and money to renovating our church this past year! While these changes have been signifi- cant, a number of improvement efforts remain. Some of these efforts are low cost and need several workers, while

others are more costly and will require funding in the annual budget and/or special fundraisers. The Church Council has asked Lois Hjellming and Sue Briske to coordinate these improvement efforts by working with the appropriate com-mittees on solidifying requirements, prioritizing projects, and developing proposals for the Council to review and approve. There are two projects that have been prioritized to start this year: cleanup/standardization of the River of Life classrooms and cleanup/renovation of the current youth room. Please be watching for opportunities to help in these areas.

PILLOWS FOR GIVE-A-WAY

River of Life is no longer using a number of standard size bed pillows that are in good condition, but need washing. Please stop by the church office and help yourself to as many pillows as you like. Any pillows remaining after Monday, November 11th will be discarded.

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NURSERY UPDATE

Volunteers are needed for a nursery workgroup to help make some decisions on how to run the nursery and to help clean and reorganize the nursery.

Volunteers are needed to rotate during the Sunday worship service. The more volunteers we can get the less each person will have to serve. Please consider being a part of this ministry in the church. CLC has many young families that are looking forward to the nursery reopening. There is a sign up sheet on the kiosk in the narthex or you can email JoAnn Brooks at gpsw20@charter.net

COOKBOOKS MAKE GREAT HOLIDAY GIFTS

New Pricing: 1 book $10; 2 books $18; 3 books $25 Please spread the word about the cookbooks with family members, co-workers and within your social circles. We have approximately 200 books left to sell. Thank you!

50TH ANNIVERSARY

The 50th Anniversary Celebration was a success. We worship with 324 people including some former pastors and members. After a wonderful program a delicious meal was served to over 190 people. Many great stories were shared and friendships reunited. Thank you to the numerous groups that helped with this special event: Anniversary Committee, Altar, Building/Grounds, Education, Evange-lism, Worship & Music, Capital Campaign, and all those be-hind the scenes. DVD’s which includes the worship service, program, and video presentation are available in the library at no cost; although, a free will donation would be appreciated.

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FIRST COMMUNION

Congratulations to the following students who have finished preparations for First Communion.

Annika Anderson Morgan Bausman

Avery Blank Taylor Borgschatz

Jake Braaten Tyler Brossard Kyle Cloutier

Tiffani Harmon Evan Hart

Nick Hoerle Isaac Hughes Easton Hulke

Taylor Kroening Tori Meyers Elle Prigge

Alexander Schoeppner Hailey Thomforde Sacia Vanderpool

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REFRESH, RE-ENERGIZE & RECONNECT ON A LUTHERAN MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND!

Whether you’re newly married – or have been married for decades – good communication is the key to keeping your love relationship vibrant and strong! And only the right communication tools can help your relationship be all that it can be. Marriage Encounter Weekends have enhanced millions of marriages by teaching married couples a simple communication technique that allows them to privately explore important areas of their personal relationship in a spirit of love and understanding. And by continuing this technique, husbands and wives can continue to grow closer together to live more joyful and purposeful lives. A Marriage Encounter Weekend is for married couples who value their relationship and desire a richer, fuller life together. Learn more about this unique marriage enrich-ment weekend opportunity for you and your spouse by going to GodLovesMarriage.org Upcoming Marriage Encounter Weekends: Duluth, MN Brooklyn Center, MN April 25-27, 2014 November 22-24, 2013 February 14-16, 2014 If you have questions you may email Andrea Petersen, CLC member, at petersen.andrea@mayo.edu or call her at 269-0819.

God Marriage

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HOMEBOUND, HOSPITALIZED, IN CARE FACILITY?

If you are homebound, moving to a nursing home or a care facility, please call the church office. We will have Pastor Jack contact you. If you’re going to the hospital or are hospitalized and would like a pastoral visit, please contact Pastor Steve. The church office number is 775-6646.

INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK (IHN)

Thank you to the more than 40 volunteers that helped with the September host cycle for IHN. About 250 hours of time was volunteered for the week. The next host cycle is November 2nd-9th. Upcoming train-ing for new volunteers and volunteers that need to renew their training are scheduled as follows:

Sunday, November 10th – 11:45am Mount Olive Lutheran

2830 18th Avenue NW, Rochester MN

Thursday, December 12th – 6:30pm Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church

214 3rd Street SW, Pine Island, MN The following coordinators would love to answer any questions you might have about volunteering for IHN. Bob & Karen Brekke 775-6339 Jim Peterson 775-6128 Elaine Meek 775-2061 Dorothy Norman 775-2950 Hertha Lange 775-6726

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DONATION OPPORTUNITIES MILK MOOLA – This program gives organizations an easy way to earn cash! Simply save the caps and bag tops from specially marked Milk Moola products. KWIK Trip, Inc. will give us 5¢ for each cap and bag top we redeem and 10¢ for each Glazers price oval from Glazers dozen or half-dozen boxes of donuts that we redeem. Go to milkmoola.com, to ‘Frequently asked Questions’ for a complete list of eligible products. It’s that easy ~ start saving today!!! A black and white milk can is in the office for your caps and bag tops. This project supports the youth of our congregation. PHONERAISER – Bring your old cell phones to us and we will turn them into cash. You may leave on the table in the office area. The profits from this fundraiser goes to the Youth Committee to support our youth. PRINTER CARTRIDGES – Please save all your used printer cartridges and bring them to the church office. We receive cash from Staples for recycling them. All money received helps reduce the cost of office supplies used at the church. POP TOPS FOR THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE – There is a wooden collection house in the office for your pop tops. If you would like to volunteer to take these pop tops to the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, on Second Street (normally just once or twice per year) please contact Christine in the church office. CAMPBELL SOUP LABELS – Please bring to the church office and Christine will get them to the appropriate group that collects these labels. CHANNEL ONE – There is a barrel in the narthex for non-perishable food items. Cash donation are accepted and can be used to purchase more food than a donation itself. Channel One supports our local food shelf in Byron. Please, do not place expired foods in the barrel.

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CHURCH FINANCES THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS AND FAITHFUL GIVING!

Expenses – The budgeted expenses through September 30th were $224,891 with the actual expenses at $208,416. This means our expenses were 93% of the budgeted amount for the first nine months of the year. Income – As of September 30th our year-to-date budget for total income was $234,095 with actual income of $211,690. This means our total income was approximately 90% of our expected income. The year-to-date budget for Sunday giving through September was $223,500 with actual Sunday giving of $199,997 (not including the 50 for 50 campaign). This is 89% of our expected Sunday giving. Line of Credit (LOC) – Through September we have not had to borrow money from the bank thanks to your giving. Thank you to those who have been generous so far this year. As we move through fall and into the end of the year, we ask that you stay current with your intentional giving. The finance committee would like to get through the rest of the year without having to borrow from the line of credit and to have a strong ending to 2013. One option to stay current with your giving is by enrolling in Simply Giving program. This is an electronic giving program. All banking information kept on file will remain secure and confidential. The Simply Giving program gives the church a steady income, even at times when church attendance is down. The program also helps you with your budget and ease of not writing a check weekly or monthly. If you have any questions regarding this program please contact Christine in the office at clcchristine@frontier.com or 775-6646. An authorization form can be found in the kiosk or online at clcbyron.org Click on ‘About’ then Documents/Policies. The document is titled ‘Simply Giving Authorization’.

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COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES ~ OCTOBER 15, 2013

MISSION STATEMENT

Making Christ’s Love Known Equipping all Ages to Love and Serve God

Present: Mark Turany, Julie Hedlund, Brent Hoegh, Laurie Magnus, Brenda Nickles, Lee Jacobson, Jim Gronvold, JoAnn Brooks, Anders Long and Pastor Steve Rheingans Absent: Dorothy Norman, Candee Ostreng and Jacob Ostreng The meeting was called to order at 6:35pm by President Mark Turany. Council members shared their Joys and Concerns. Devotion and Prayer was led by Mark Turany. Brenda Nickles moved and Brent Hoegh seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented. Brenda Nickles moved and Brent Hoegh seconded the motion to approve the Secretary’s report. Treasurer’s Report Brent Hoegh moved to renew the $30,000 Line of Credit at First Security Bank, Byron MN. Mark Turany, President and Brent Hoegh, Treasurer will be signers on this line of credit. Christine Kunz, Church Administrator, will remain as a signer on the line of credit as well. Motion seconded by Brenda Nickles. Motion carried. Standing Committee Reports (online reports) Stewardship – Laurie stated that Consecration Sunday is planned for November 10, 2013. The Church Council membership of this church is encouraged to lead the con-

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Pastor’s Report (online report) Informational/Discussion Items Anniversary Celebration – JoAnn stated that there are ex-penses that have not posted. Anniversary cook books are still for sale. A final meeting still needs to be held. $50,000 for 50 Years Fundraising Final Results and Costs – The balance is not final, but there seems to be a surplus balance. Bell Tower roof leaking and damaged walls – The roof has been repaired. Brenda Nickles and Darrell Carlblom will be tearing down some walls in order to know what needs to be fixed/replaced. Refurbish & Repurpose of Rooms & Garage Clean-up – The Garage needs to be cleaned out and Committee Reps need to make sure that any excess (from the committee) needs to be removed no later than October 25, 2013. A report was given regarding CLC Facilities. Sue Briske and Lois Hjellming have formed a work group to update/improve the rooms. An article will be written by Sue Briske to explain the ideas. Altar Area – Re-carpeting the altar area and modification of the music area are under consideration. Funds may be available from $50,000 for 50 years capital campaign. Committee Reps should discuss this with their committee members. Constitution – A work group will be forming (after annual meeting) to develop a constitution that will reflect how CLC is governed. This constitution needs to be approved by CLC membership and SE MN Synod Council.

Continued on page 30.

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Dear Christ Lutheran Church Members, Thank you for sponsoring my stay at Camp Victory this past summer. I had a great time! I am planning on going to camp again next year. ~Abby Stringer Dear Christ Lutheran Church Members, Thank you for helping to pay for my trip to Camp Victory. I had a great time and plan on working there next summer.

~Connor Stringer

Dear Pastor Steve and all of you at Christ Lutheran, We would like to thank all of you for your recent flooring purchase from Hiller’s Flooring America. I hope that your new floor looks great and that the congregation is happy with it. Thank you for your business.

~Jeff Kalmes & Rob Higbe

Action Items Laurie Magnus moved and Jim Gronvold seconded the motion to form a strategic planning work group to be led by Julie Hedlund. Motioned passed. Brenda Nickles moved and Jim Gronvold seconded the motion to hold the annual meeting on January 26, 2014. Motioned passed. Brenda Nickles moved and Anders Long seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45pm. The council meeting was closed with the Lord’s Prayer. Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Respectfully submitted, Laurie Magnus, Acting Secretary

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CLC STAFF

Pr. Steve Rheingans Senior Pastor Pr. Jack Friedli Pastoral Assistant Christine Kunz Administrator Holly Jantzen Youth Ministry Coordinator Jane Cabaya Organist MarJean Damerval Chancel Choir Director & JuBELLance Director Carl Fugleberg Cornerstone Director Stephanie Fugleberg Praise Chimers Director Rose & Dave Gottschalk Custodians

CONTACT INFORMATION

Church Office (507) 775-6646 Church Fax (507) 775-2627 Web Site clcbyron.org Pastor Email clcpastorsteve@gmail.com Office Email clcchristine@frontier.com

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