Traditional Worship Service SUNDAY 9:00AM – Blended Worship Service SUNDAY 10:30AM – Blended Worship Service

The Link Newsletter October, 2017 PEOPLE'S CHURCH WORSHIP SCHEDULE SATURDAY 5:00PM – Traditional Worship Service SUNDAY 9:00AM – Blended Worship Service SUNDAY 10:30AM – Blended Worship Service Sunday School is at 9:15am The Nursery is available from 8:45am – 11:45am Love God. Love People. Show it. Fall Stewardship and Sermon Series Kick-off On Sunday, October 8, there will be one service at 10:00am followed by a special lunch to begin our Stewardship Emphasis, "Grounded in Faith, Growing to Serve." This year, there are two parts to our campaign: 1. Our regular annual appeal for the general fund. This is important in order to plan the budget and new ministries for 2018. 2. A special appeal for the maintenance savings account for major repairs to our facility - now and in the future. While you are enjoying lunch, you will have the opportunity to learn more about these needs. There will be plenty of time to ask questions. Thank you for continuing to connect, grow, and live with People's. Because of your generous giving, lives are being changed by the gospel of Christ. Hymn Sing at People’s Church 4pm - 5pm Oct. 15th Free and Open to the Community Bring your Friends and Neighbors Old Standards and New Favorites accompanied by Piano and Organ SPIRITUAL CARE AND DEVELOPMENT Discipleship Reflection: A Great Pumpkin Faith October is often defined by the last day of the month—Halloween. In the Peanuts cartoon series, the character Linus celebrates Halloween with his unwavering belief that “The Great Pumpkin” will come to the most “sincere” pumpkin patch, bringing toys and goodies to those whose faith don’t waver (think Santa Claus in pumpkin form). “The Great Pumpkin” first showed up in the Peanuts cartoon strip in 1959, at which point it became an annual tradition. Most of us are probably familiar with this story through the animated feature, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” which was released in 1966. Poor Linus. He waits and waits, enduring the scorn and mocking of his friends who doubt what they cannot see. Sometimes it seems that our Christian faith faces the same kind of scrutiny. Whether from friends or family, social commentary, or even our own doubting hearts, sometimes it seems foolish to trust in God when it appears that so much is wrong in the world. Where is God’s goodness and grace? Where is the peace of Christ? When we face disasters, loss, violence, and discouragement it can be especially difficult to hold onto faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” The chapter goes on to recall the history of God’s saving acts for the people of Israel. What this reveals to me is that sometimes we need help to remember that there is something deeper at work in our world. Jesus never leaves us on our own, and the stories of faith help us remember that this is true when we can’t see it for ourselves. This is why I think it is so important to be in deep relationship with other Christians, such as in a Growth Group, and to join together in worship regularly. We need to share our stories of God’s salvation, where Jesus has shown up in our lives. We need to listen to one another’s stories, especially when we are going through a season in which it is hard to trust in that which is unseen. We need to pray for one another and help to bear one another’s burdens. In this way, we reveal the love of God. 1 John 4:11-12 says, “Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.” We don’t need to go out to the pumpkin patch to wait for a benevolent pumpkin that may or may not arrive. We can gather together for worship, pray with one another, serve one another, laugh together. We already have Christ in our midst, as we share our love and stories of faith together. First Monday This month’s First Monday gathering on October 2, 11:00am-1:00pm, features a presentation by Pastor Kate Sweet titled, “What All This about Spiritual but Not Religious?” You may have heard friends or family members say, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” This is certainly a hot-button phrase these days. We’ll explore what people mean when they say this, and what this spiritual movement means to us in the Church today. If you’re 50+, please join us at the church for a potluck lunch and this interesting conversation! Care Team Resources: Caregiver Chronicles The Care Team at People’s church has been providing companionship and accompanying older adults and those with medical needs for over 15 years. We are supported by the umbrella organization Catholic Charities and their Respite Care Team ministry. They help organize and equip Care Teams in churches throughout Dane County. One of the resources that they provide is a monthly newsletter called The Caregiver Chronicles. This newsletter provides articles pertaining to caregiving issues, information about upcoming events and resources, and words of encouragement for those providing care to loved ones. If you or someone you know would benefit from receiving a copy of The Caregiver Chronicles, please let Pastor Kate know. We have electronic and paper copies available monthly. Grace and Peace, Kate Sweet Pastor of Spiritual Care & Development CHRISTIAN LIVING AND OUTREACH Living Our Faith “Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 58:10 In what ways can you let your light shine? Do you have an elderly neighbor who needs help raking leaves? A sick friend you could prepare food for? Can you participate in feeding the homeless, or working at the Oregon Food Pantry? Would you like to be part of the Connections Team or contribute to Wednesday Night Supper? What is your passion? There are so many ways we can do God’s work. If you need help connecting with a ministry, please talk to me at your convenience. I can be found in the office Monday through Thursday, or you can send me an email at [email protected]. Do you have a passion for a ministry that you would like to see church members become involved in? Please share your thoughts with me. The Oregon Food Pantry Needs Volunteers! With the move to the new building, there is a need for many volunteers. The move date has not been established yet, as it depends on the finishing of the building. Right now, it looks like it will be around the end of October. On moving day, there will be a need for trucks and strong bodies. Most of what will be moved is food. The only fixtures might be some shelving units. There is a need for people to help put together the new shelving at the Pantry. On October 22nd, from 1-3 p.m., volunteers are needed to help with the planting of items donated by Winterland Nursery. Bring gardening tools with you. The Pantry is also in need of a Donation Team of 6-8 people for large food drives. This would include date checking all food and separating by category. If you can assist with any of these activities, please contact me as soon as possible at [email protected]. I need to get back to the Pantry Operations Board with the numbers of volunteers. Volunteer: Oregon Churches Welcome Homeless Families The homeless families with children who are part of the Road Home's Interfaith Hospitality Program (IHN) will be our guests in Oregon the week of October 15th - 22nd. This is an opportunity for you to live out your faith as you help support their time in our community. The volunteer opportunities include helping to unload belongings, preparing and/or serving the Wednesday evening or Thursday morning meal, playing with the children on Wednesday evening, acting as one of the overnight hosts on Wednesday night, providing extra transportation during the week if needed, and helping to put supplies back in storage at St. John's Lutheran Church on the 22nd. When appropriate, new volunteers are paired with experienced ones. Please consider being a part of this important ministry. Contact Peg Schmidt @ 835-3049, Steve Staton @ 219- 0792, Anne Staton @ 335-3249, for more information or to volunteer. Connections The Connections Team and Hospitality Team need new members. If you are willing to commit a few hours per month to either of these teams, please contact me in the office, or send me an email at [email protected]. Kathy Smith Director of Christian Living and Outreach Youth Group for Middle and High School Students – led by Pastor Jason Youth Group has started again! During the school year, youth from 7th-12th grade gather on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6:00pm for planned activities for Youth Group. Other Wednesday evenings, the Youth Room is open for hanging out, talking and eating snacks. Next summer, our middle school students will be going to Milwaukee, WI on a mission trip.

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