The Glory BannerCross of Glory Lutheran Church (ELCA), a Wildfire Congregation November 2015

All Saints/Stewardship SundayNovember 1, 2015

Omelet Breakfast served between services

Dixieland WorshipNovember 8, 2015

Thanksgiving Eve WorshipNovember 25, 2015, 7:00pm

with Pie and Coffee to follow

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Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before

us,  looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of  the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-2

Laying Aside Every WeightBack in early September I cut down a couple of tall birches up on our land in Wisconsin. While the trees were dead, they were still in good shape for firewood so I cut them up. Unfortunately they were quite some distance from our cabin so all the wood had to be loaded into our wheelbarrow and hauled through the forest to the woodshed. As I read these words from Hebrews, I couldn’t help but think of how slowly I was moving by the end of the task. I guess I was persevering, but I certainly wasn’t running any races.

Many things weigh us down in life: health challenges, strained or broken relationships, worries about those we love, economic hardship, fears about the future, shame about the past. In our collective lives as the church we can feel plenty of weight these days as well. The author of Hebrews invites us to “lay aside every weight” that we may “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” But how?

This morning I received a phone call from Elsie Mikkola’s daughter letting me know of her sudden death yesterday at 97. She was in church on Sunday, as dear a presence as ever. She was a living witness to the grace and love of God in her life. She now joins that “great cloud of witnesses” that have gone before us, those who have molded and shaped us, those whose lives have been a testimony to both purpose and perseverance. She will be one of those we remember and celebrate on November 1, All Saints Sunday.

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The Letter to the Hebrews suggests that this great cloud of witnesses is one of God’s gifts that enables us to lay aside these weights that hold us down. While he invites us to look to Jesus’ work on the cross as the source of our hope and the center of our faith, he connects it to this cloud of witnesses, those who have testified with their lives and their faith to the power of this Good News.

Just as the Word became flesh in Jesus, so the Gospel word, the Good News of Jesus, most often comes to us from the mouths and in the lives of real people. In their lives we see broken yet beloved people like us striving to live faithfully amidst whatever “weights” the world may send their way. Their lives were marked by successes and failures, joys and sorrows just like ours. They found in Jesus someone to hold onto, a shelter in the storm, a source of both joy and peace. Our scripture reminds us not just to celebrate and remember them, but also to let their lives speak to our own, to enable us to set aside every weight and experience a measure of the joy of following Jesus.

Peace,Pastor Doug

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Sunday Bible Readings for November

11/1 ~ 1 Kings 12:1-17, 25-29 ~ Rehoboam and the need for servant leadership; the kingdom is divided.

11/8 ~ 1 Kings 18:20-39 ~ Elijah calls fire from heaven on Mount Carmel to reveal God’s presence.

11/15 ~ Hosea 11:1-9 ~ God’s passionate love for his children; despite their disobedience he cannot give them up.

11/22 ~ Isaiah 5:1-7; 11:1-5 ~ Israel is pictured as a vineyard. God looks for the fruit of righteousness but finds only injustice. God promises a faithful king who will judge with righteousness.

11-29 ~ 2 Kings 22:1-10, [14-20]; 23:1-3 ~ Josiah’s recovery of Scripture, reform and renewal.

Altar FlowersPlants on the Altar add so much to the beauty of our worship services. This is a thoughtful way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions in your life.

The 2016 flower chart is posted on the bulletin board outside the church office. Please sign up for the dates you desire.

The WMA Ministry Team has chosen to change the procedures we are using regarding altar flowers. Because of rising costs and shrinking flower sizes we have chosen to periodically purchase large flowering plants and keep them for a longer period. Our goal is to improve the look of the chancel for worship but it does change church procedures a bit:

1) The flower fund will be continued but will now be used to purchase flowers for shut-ins as needed. If you wish to donate to the fund and have a memorial, remembrance or congratulations placed in the bulletin you may do so just like before but there will be no plant to take home. Pat Proctor has graciously offered to maintain a chart much like before.

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2) If you wish to purchase and bring actual flowers for special events or remembrances, you are invited to do so and they will be placed on stands in the front of the church and you may take them home afterwards or leave them for delivery to shut-ins. Please get them to the church the end of the week or just bring them a half hour or so early on Sunday.

Sunday Morning Ministers

Ushers:8:30 a.m.

Charles Witry Dick MeroGordy Gunderson Don Custer

10:30 a.m.

Doug Lenarz Doug GraskeDon Halverson

Communion Servers:11/1 Al & Linda Knudsen

Jodi Quiner11/15 Don & Gayle Merritt

Judy Lewis11/29 Gil & Marcy Hartlage

Kris Simon

Lay Lectors:11/1 Gayle Merritt11/8 Dan Aulwes11/15 Bruce Vukelich11/22 Kris Williams11/29 Bev Hovde

Coffee Servers:11/1 OPEN11/8 Linda Knudsen, Judy Lewis11/15 OPEN11/22 OPEN11/29 OPEN

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Articles for the December, 2015 Glory Banner should to be turned in to Sue Vukelich by November 10th.

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50 + and FriendsNovember 14th is the time to

head for Nye, Wisconsin and West Immanuel Lutheran Church for their wonderful lutefisk dinner. For those

of us who don’t want lutefisk, there are meatballs and gravy. They serve potatoes, rutabagas, coleslaw and pie. On the way home, we will stop at Pine Tree Orchard where you can get all things made with apples as well as fresh apples. We leave church at 10:00am.

December starts the Christmas season with a concert by the National Lutheran Choir at the Basilica of St. Mary. After the concert we will return to Cross of Glory for Subway Box lunches. We have a choice of ham, beef or turkey sandwiches. Since it will be dark when we return, let me know if you need a ride.

January will be “The Wedding Singer” at the Old Log Theater. We have a choice of beef short rib, tilapia, or boneless chicken breast for lunch.

There are 30 reservations for the Tourco Christmas Party at Turtle Lake. There will be a lunch with entertainment, gifts and $5.00 on your players card. This is always a fun event.

I have reservations made for all but July – the Pops Concert, August – the Saints Ball Game and

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December. We tried to plan trips with little walking so that more of us will be able to come. Plan to join us!

Marian Priest

Women of the ELCA

The Circles will meet on the

third Tuesday, November 17th.

Community Needs Circle meets at 9:30am in the Fellowship Hall; the Glory Circle meets at 12:00pm in the Fellowship Hall; and the Mission Circle meets in a (continued on page 9) (continued from page 8)member’s home at 12:30pm. We will have the Hostess and Bible study leaders listed in the November Happenings.

W/ELCA Fall Bible Study

In November we will finish our three month Bible study by Rev. Liv Larson Andrews. She is the pastor of Salem Lutheran in Spokane, WA.

In the first session we heard God’s call to slow down and observe the Sabbath. In the second session we heard the psalmist asking God to hurry up, to deliver us from suffering and oppression.

In the third session we will look to Jesus for a third way, one that keeps Sabbath rest while working steadily for change.

Tempo GiustoTheme Verse: Luke 8:15 ~ But as for (those who fell) in the good soil, these are the ones who when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

Overview“To work to increase our love

for God and for our fellow human (and the two must go hand in hand), this is a life-time job. We are never going to be finished.” Dorothy Day,

By Little & By Little

“Now that I think about it, the idea of tempo giusto describes just about everything I do or aspire to.”

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John Demain, Artistic Director of the Madison, WI Symphony Orchestra

Keep This Date Open!Our Smorgasbord will be

Saturday, December 5th. Donna will have someone to entertain us. We will have punch at 11:00am, followed by a devotion (leader yet to be determined). We will eat about 12:00pm, followed by our entertainment at 1:00pm.

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In December, at the Smorgasbord, we will learn who has been praying for us this year. We will also fill out slips for a new prayer partner. If you have not participated before, think about it. Some send their partner a birthday card, anniversary card, and on other holidays. This is strictly your choice;

the important thing is that you pray for your partner during the year. You never know when your partner could need your prayers!

2016 Service Project

At our August W/ELCA Board meeting, a service project was discussed. No final decision was made. Any suggestions call Carol Sjoquist at 763-561-5546 or Carol Stejskal at 763-420-1076 or talk with your Circle chairwoman. March 10th

would be the date we reserved on the church calendar.

Toys of Joy Toys for Joy, formally,

The Giving Tree for CEAP’s Christmas Store will be up

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Sunday, November 8th through Sunday, December 6th.

There will be ornaments on the tree for gift suggestions for ages infant to 18 years old. Or you may buy something your child or grandchild would like. Bring your unwrapped gift and put it in the box by the tree.

The dates for registration are December 1, 2, and 3. Parents must register their children. A time is given for parents to shop on December 15, 16 or 17.

Community Needs Circle

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What is Via de Cristo?Via de Cristo is a Spanish phrase meaning “Way of Christ.” Via de

Cristo is a highly structured three-day weekend designed to strengthen and renew the faith of Christian people and bring them to a new awareness of living in God’s grace. It is a combined effort of lay people and clergy toward renewal of the church.

Dear Cross of Glory Friends,Please consider attending one of these special weekends. Several

of us at church have gone over the years, and we can highly recommend it!

There will be two weekends offered in January. The Men’s weekend is January 14-17 and the Ladies is January 21-24. The location is Lutheran Church of the Master in Brooklyn Center.

For more information please call or ask Maggie or Gordy Johnsrud ~ 763-537-2931.

Cross of Glory Office Hours:Monday through Thursday, 8:00am ~ 4:00pm

Contact us at:Phone: (763) 533-8602E-Mail: office@crossofglory.uswww.crossofglory.us

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Cross of Glory Lutheran Church Standard Mail5929 Brooklyn Boulevard U.S. PostageBrooklyn Center, MN 55429-2583 PAIDVolume 2015 – Issue 11 Twin Cities, MN

Permit No. 1412 Change Service Requested

Worship at Cross of Glory on Sundays 9:00 a.m. ~ Traditional Worship10:00 a.m. ~ Coffee Fellowship

10:30 a.m. ~ Sunday School/Safari Search11:00 a.m. ~ Crosswalk Contemporary Worship

To watch worship services: www.cogtv.info

Cross of Glory Staff:Lead Pastor: Bookkeeper:

Rev. Doug Mork ~ Mike Edstrom ~ dmork@crossofglory.us medstrom@crossofglory.us

Minister of Crosswalk Ministry: Administrative Assistant:Rev. Mark Hostetler ~ Sue Vukelichmarkhostetler@mac.com svukelich@crossofglory.us

Organist:Rev. Dr. Allan Mahnke ~ FuriusBib@comcast.net

Director of Senior Choir:Keith J. Williams ~ williams@csp.edu

Outreach:Rev. Christian Vincent ~cvincent@crossofglory.us

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