November 2010
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“Year of Serving” The Messenger ~ November 2010 Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School ▪ San Clemente, California “Inspired to Love, Encouraged to Think, and Sent to Serve” “Give us this day our daily bread…..” As we journey deeper into the fall I can‘t help but In his explanation of the Lord‘s Prayer, Luther begin to think about Thanksgiving (and if truth be invites us to put away those things of which we are known how quickly Christmas will be upon us!). all too aware and focus instead on those things of I‘m sure that pastors across America are writing little which we should be aware. The very act of praying pithy comments about our need to be thankful for all the Lord‘s Prayer allows me to intentionally choose the many blessings in our lives. I can see it now: T that in which I will be aware. And something is for Turkey, H is for health etc…etc…. But happens when I allow myself to become aware of the sometimes I need to confess to you that I am more goodness and wonder of it all, I find myself, well, cranky than thankful. Sometimes it seems as if there becoming less cranky! I find myself beginning to are more problems than blessings; and while it‘s true balance the ledger from that of chronic complaint to you can always find someone who is more miserable emerging thankfulness. than yourself, sometimes even that isn‘t enough to spur a thankful heart. Try it. Try it right now. Can you make yourself aware of some goodness that God has graciously put I‘ve come to understand that thankfulness—much in your life: A sunset, a double double, a trusted like love—is not so much a feeling as it is a choice. friend, a loving pet, a cherished memory, a bullet I can choose to be thankful or I can choose to be that you dodged (either metaphorically or literally!)? resentful; but ultimately the choice is completely up From one beggar to another I offer this simple to me. I have found Martin Luther‘s words in the advice, if you find yourself more cranky than Small Catechism to be a helpful guide in moving me thankful you might want to consider what you‘ve from ‗cranky‘ to ‗thankful.‘ allowed yourself to be ‗aware of‘ and then make the choice to take a look at the other side of the ledger. In his explanation of the Lord‘s Prayer he approaches the ‗fourth petition‘ this way: ―Give us Peace! Pastor Jeff this day our daily bread. What does this mean? To THANKSGIVING SERVICE be sure God provides daily bread, even to the wicked, without our prayer, but we pray in this Sunday Night ~ November 21 at 7:00pm petition that God may make us aware of his gifts and Christ Lutheran Church enable us to receive our daily bread with 35522 Camino Capistrano, San Clemente thanksgiving.‖ Here I think is the key to the whole enterprise: ―make us aware.‖ his year we have been invited to a special T evening Thanksgiving Worship at Christ Isn‘t it true that we are constantly aware of our Lutheran here in San Clemente. Pastor Jeff will be neighbor‘s barking dog, dwindling bank accounts, delivering a Thanksgiving message and Our Savior‘s congested roads and all too common avarice and will be helping to lead some of the special music. greed in both the public and private sector? I am With many families leaving constantly aware of the foods I shouldn‘t eat, of the early in the week this Sunday vitamins I‘m not getting and of the pleasures in life night service allows for us to that have unfairly passed me by. All this awareness add a worshipful beginning to makes it hard to be thankful! our family celebrations. An Abundance of Thanks November Birthdays, Anniversaries & More ~ Birthdays ~ Elsa Keisker 11/3 Tammy Peasley 11/4 Charles Simon 11/4 Brad Wright 11/4 Todd Tunby 11/5 Dennis Davies Kiana Breshears 11/6 October 11, 2010 Heather Gilbert 11/6 We don't mourn as those Linda Howard 11/7 without hope and we remember Arlene Ross 11/8 the promise of life, even life Dennis Breshears 11/9 everlasting through our Lord Brandi Davies 11/9 Jesus Christ! Mark Schmitt 11/10 Calissa Hoye 11/12 Stu Phillips 11/12 Sean Peasley 11/13 Joyce Quade 11/14 Dee Hedborg 11/18 Emily Simon 11/18 Adrianna Young 11/18 November 7th Deborah Cloninger 11/19 Erin Crowe 11/20 We remember these members Vilma Groos 11/22 of our congregation who Ashton Peasley 11/23 have died this past year. Marie Boal 11/26 Barbara Cameron 11/26 Larry Key 3/17/2010 Colin Davies 11/26 Barbara Weber 8/17/2010 Carol Lawrence 11/26 Verna Kubow 9/13/2010 Bradley Schmall 11/26 Dennis Davies 10/11/2010 Jim Smoot 11/26 Anna Aitken 11/27 Hunter Peasley 11/27 Nancy McKee 11/28 Clayton Bauer 11/29 ~ Anniversaries ~ Charles & Beverly Simon 11/5 Gary & Trisha Marzolo 11/7 Michael & Karleen Marienthal 11/11 Peter & Michelle Lawrence 11/16 Sunday, Steve & Sandy Kos 11/20 November 7th at 2am. Iain & Joelie Buchan 11/21 Eric & Erica Bauer 11/26 (Remember to set your clocks back before bedtime the night before) 2 November 2010 ~ Music Notes When thinking about a ―theme for my Light the Fire with Firelight! November newsletter article, the first thought that came to my mind was looking for something Firelight has definitely caught on and we‘re all profound to write about that has to do with ―being having fun. This is a great children‘s program with thankful‖ and, as I often do, I turned to the World so many activities – every week is different. Now is Wide Web and Googled ―thankful‖. the time to join us! I found a ―blog‖ about an exercise that people all over the country have started doing. It is very What a great job Firelight did singing and ringing simple. List 100 things you are thankful for. Some bells on Sunday, October 24 at the 10:30 service. of the people had posted their lists. Here are some of And Wednesday, October 27 was fun with Trick or the entries, randomly selected: Trunk. Now Firelight gets to perform the ―Firelight Theme Song‖ on Sunday, November 7 at the 8:30 From “Forever His Angel” (1-9) am service. We‘ll have our final rehearsal on My Husband My Family My Friends My Job Wednesday, November 3. God that I‘m healthy that I'm Alive that I'm in Love my Insurance You can be a part of Firelight. We meet each Wednesday from 5:30 – 6:30. We‘ll perform on From “undisclosed to protect privacy” (24-43) November 7 (I‘ll get you the words to the song if you Rain pond moss on rocks photography math want to sing with us) then we‘ll start preparing for facial expressions body language 43things.com Christmas eve. Don‘t you think it would be fun to be little reminders the way God works secrets a part of the Christmas eve services? Join us now forgiveness peace comfort cell phones the and you can share the love us Jesus on Christmas bible family friends opportunities life death eve. From “another undisclosed” (91-100) Thanks for your support and prayers for the Stars Big Hugs Reunions with long lost friends ministries of Our Savior‘s. I pray that you will join Christmas Easter Fall Winter Snowflakes DQ us in our walk of faith. Ice Cream Cake Presents Peace to you, I have decided that a ―100 Blessings‖ will be my Mr. Bob November ―project‖. I can already think of many things that will make the list. One blessing is the opportunity to be here at Our Savior‘s worshipping with fellow believers. Thank you for being blessings in my life, In His Service, Karen Skipper, Director of Music 3 Youth and Children’s Page by Bob Cooper - Director of Youth and Children’s Ministry The Kids Are Alright Recently I have noticed a growing number of Program, and Pastor Jeff‘s adult bible study, whew! adolescents spending a lot of time in our It is a wonderful time to sit down and have piece of neighborhood park. Since this park is directly across pizza with those you may only pass in the parking lot the street from my house it offers countless hours of on Sunday, my family has enjoyed it for years. entertainment and some great people watching (that‘s right, we are watching). As I watch these But it‘s not all about what happens here, some of our young people I wonder if their parents know where middle school kids will be attending the Synod they are and what they are doing. Now mind you, Middle School Youth Gathering later this month, they are not doing anything wrong, just hanging out, that should be a blast (Disneyland anyone?). The still I wonder. Then it struck me, ―Do the members combined youth groups have been invited to join of our church have any idea what the youth are up with the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in to?‖ Well let me fill you in. Huntington Beach for some paintball as well (that could leave a mark!). Following Sunday services the sanctuary is filled with the joyful sound of teenagers rocking out with Coming next month there are some late night and all the Lord.