November 2019 • Volume 73 • Number 10 Thanksgiving By Lars Olson, Executive Pastor In This Issue “I thank my God every time I remember you, for their friendship in Christ even while he is experiencing an constantly praying with joy in every one of my uncertain future and the loss of his freedom. In a very deep • God, Miracles, and the Modern World. .2 prayers for all of you because of your sharing in way, he is filled to overflowing with the blessings of God— • Eschatology: End of Days ..............2 the gospel” (Philippians 1:3-5). friendship, distress, and especially faith. • Thankful Stewardship .................2 Giving thanks seems easy when the harvest This is similar to how our congregation shares in the blessings • Advent .............................2 is plentiful; bank balances aren’t troublingly of God together. A member dies; we all mourn and pray. • Meet the Women of Lois Circle ..........3 low; and relationships with family, friends, and A member is baptized; we celebrate together the death and • The Road to Dignity: Hope Haven .......3 neighbors are solid, loving, and caring. Yet it is in the times resurrection of Christ. We do not just experience the joy of life • Grieving a Loss During the Holidays .....4 of plenty that we often neglect to appreciate all that we have. with one another, but we experience the struggles and burdens • Milestone Minute ....................5 On the other hand, giving thanks in times of need, worry, and that come among us. And at times, we find deep divisions • That Time of Year ....................5 hardship can be a burden in the midst of stress-filled lives. It within the congregation that threaten to split us apart. Capital • Council News, Nominations ............6 just seems disingenuous to be thankful for things that we don’t campaign votes, financial crunch, disputes between ministries • Senior Lunch ........................6 really like, want, or appreciate! over use of space and resources all can seem too much to handle. All need to be attended, but even more to the point, • Gifts and Memorials ..................7 Every November in our nation, however, the gears of progress Christ calls us through the words of the scriptures to pause, • Media Sponsorships Available ...........7 and commerce come to a halt for a day in order to give thanks. remember one another, and give thanks time and time again • Essential safety services are available, but by and large everyone How Will they Hear if No One for one another because in the times of ease or difficulty, we gets a day or two off work to rest and give thanks. If we’ve had Tells Them? .........................8 are united by a common hope and faith. • November Special Offering: Pueblo de Dios a year of plenty or a season of trial, we pause together and give thanks. If we’ve lost friends and family, or if we’ve gained new Paul wrote how we dare to give thanks in everything and Vecinos Unidos . 8 relationships through birth or meeting new people, we stop for a exceedingly well toward the end of Philippians. “In any and all moment of thankfulness. There is a great gift for us in this holiday circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of that reminds us to give thanks for everything God has given. going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:12- And I mean everything—the plentiful and the sparse, the A Prayer in the 13). Whatever the particular circumstances of my day bring, I good and the bad—for our lives are full of so much of both. know Christ Jesus is to whom I give thanks and praise to God Our focus tends to be trained on one or the other, but St. Paul Spirit of Thanksgiving for everything. offers us another perspective in his letter to the Christians at Lord God, of all nations … guide your people Philippi, what we call the book of Philippians. At the very With thanksgiving to God for each of you, of these United States of America to be a beginning, he lets them know that he gives thanks to God for Pastor Lars republic that stands in a humble position of them. He writes these words from prison, expressing thanks sails unfurled, yes, wide open … filled by the directing inspiration of your Holy Spirit for greater justice and peace. Grant us what prosperity may be your will; but above God’s Grace: all things, give us faith in you, that our nation may bring glory to your holy name, and Our Heritage and Future blessing to all your people on earth: red and Capital Campaign Update yellow, black and white, each precious in your At the special congregational meeting held on September sight. One nation under you, O Lord, within 29, the $5.3 million capital campaign was approved by over your kingdom come. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 63% of the members present. Now the fundraising portion of the capital campaign, God’s Grace: Our Heritage and – Pastor John Christopherson Future, begins. Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to support the campaign. The next step is member visits, which will take 3-4 months. Thanksgiving Eve Dinner and Worship Watch for more information via U.S. Mail. You will then be contacted by a First Lutheran pastor or a member of Wednesday, November 27. A tasty Thanksgiving meal with the church leadership to arrange a visit. If you would like all the fixings will be served 5-6 p.m. in Reformation Hall. to schedule your visit, please contact Jean Hoff, Capital Homemade apple and pumpkin pie donations are needed. Campaign Coordinator, at (605) 339-1983 ext. 242. Sign up in the Youth and Family office Thanksgiving Eve service is at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. What are you thankful for? Here is a fun activity for the whole family. Choose a large pumpkin; wash and dry it thoroughly. Over the next few weeks, using a medium-tip permanent marker, write all the things The church office will be you and your family members are thankful for. On Thanksgiving use the thankful pumpkin as a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving meal. Around closed on Thanksgiving Day the table talk about the things written on the pumpkin. and Friday, Nov. 29. 2 First Word • November 2019 ADULT EDUCATION AND DISCIPLESHIP Advent Musings God, Miracles, and the Modern World Join LaMoyne Pederson for two Thursday evening classes in apologetics, focusing on miracles. Among the issues to be discussed are: • What are miracles anyway, and do they happen today? • How would you know you had seen one? • How are miracles related to the laws of nature? • Does science tell us miracles cannot happen? • How were miracles understood in biblical times, and was it easier to believe in miracles back then? The class will meet in the Friendship Room on Thursdays, November 7 and 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m. LaMoyne Pederson, emeritus professor of philosophy, will offer comments and lead the discussion. Wednesday Mid-week Worship Services. This year, the season of Advent starts on Sunday, December 1. We will not only celebrate each Advent week in Sunday worship, but we will also have mid-week services on Wednesdays, December 4-18, Eschatology: End of Days 6:30-7:30 p.m., in the Sanctuary. What would you do if the world were going to end tomorrow? Would you reconcile To complement our Advent worship, we will offer a podcast series throughout Advent with a long-lost family member or friend? Finish a project you started years ago? Tell with some practical conversations led by Pastor Jeff Backer. Topics will include: special people in your life you love them one last time? What would you do? • Advent I: What is Advent? Why is it important to recognize this season of the church when everyone has been focused on Christmas since October? Asking these types of questions has an amazing way of clarifying for us those values and • Advent II: The traditions of Advent: Why the funky wreath with four candles? priorities we hold dear. And it’s not a bad question to ask as we move—or perhaps better What do these traditions stand for and symbolize? yet, “glitzen and blitzen”—from the festivities of Thanksgiving to the headlong “dashen” • Advent III: The hymnody of Advent: some of the stories behind our favorite Advent toward Christmas. Why? Well … because as we often think: “How is it that we so easily and Christmas music get caught up in the cultural pressure to have the perfect Christmas that we can lose a • Advent IV: O Come Emmanuel: The eve of Christmastide sense not only of what Christmas is supposed to mean, say nothing of ourselves?” We hope that through worship opportunities and the engagement in the podcast Advent is a season, a time to ponder, the sheer “comfort and joy” of Christ’s advent conversations, Advent will prepare you for the “Comfort and Joy” of the birth of the among us—now, and still to come. Advent is a time that offers us space, a time for us Christ child. as Christians to be quiet, to experience a bit of calm, and to be reminded of who we are as God’s beloved children. These Scripture First studies on the theme of “End Times” will be held on Sundays Celebrate Advent, Christmas, and at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. in the Friendship Room: • November 10, Pastor John • November 17, Pastor Lars • November 24, Pastor Jeff Epiphany at First Lutheran Watch for Pastor Jeff’s Advent podcast series coming in December.