Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever;
From generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:13
Dear Friends and Members of Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church,
“What is stewardship?” People often consider stewardship to be a form of fund-raising. For others, it is simply the way congregations turn to their constituency each year to ask for the funds necessary to run the programs that the congregation has decided are important. Still others believe that stewardship is nothing more than the managing of user fees and dues. There may be a bit of truth in all of these views, but I think there is something more.
For me, stewardship is a matter of faith. Stewardship is my disciplined response of praise and thanksgiving to God for all that he has entrusted to my care. Perhaps the most impassionate definition for stewardship is this “Stewardship is about the growth in your relationship with God through the use of the gifts he has entrusted to you.”
As we prepare for Stewardship Sunday on November 15th, the day in which we offer our stewardship and financial commitments for the new year, I would like to challenge you with a few thoughts drawn from this definition of stewardship.
1. Stewardship is returning to God a portion of the gifts he has entrusted to you first as an act of faith. This is a biblical call to offer the “first fruits.” Many people, however, wait until they have covered all their desires and necessities, and then they may turn over a portion of what is left to God. Truthfully, we never really grow in faith when we only offer what is left to God. Faith is nurtured and grows when you begin by offering a portion from the very beginning. In this way, you learn to know God’s providence. You learn to trust that he will provide all that you will need. In this way stewardship becomes a way of knowing God and growing in a relationship with God by leaning on him. And you become more daring as God’s servant.
2. Return to God a portion of your gifts is more than simply giving money. In many churches, we define gifts as time, talents and treasure. They are all important. The kingdom of God needs your time. God desires your worship and praise. He knows that your presence in worship is important for your spiritual growth. It is where you come into contact with his word. Your talents are needed to touch the lives of other believers struggling in their journey. In the ELCA, we say, “God’s work. Our hands.” You and are needed to be the human touch of God’s mission. And yes, gifts do include your treasure. Jesus speaks about money more than any other topic in the Bible. People are always trying to hold onto their treasure, and keep it for themselves. And Jesus is always reminding them that it can be doing so much more- if they would simply return it to God’s service. Giving gifts is a part of the spiritual discipline which allows you to grow in faith.
3. Stewardship is a reminder that God has created all things, and that you and I are merely entrusted to take care of these gifts. That may surprise you. From our first years of childhood, we learn to say, “It’s mine” and “That’s yours.” It would be a different world if we learned to say, “It is God’s and he has entrusted it to me.” That is ultimately what we believe and hope to be our everlasting future.
My friends, God entrusted to you many gifts. What will you embrace as yours, and what will you dare to return to God? Stewardship is an act of faith which will allow you to grow in your relationship with God.
Peace, Pastor Arden Haug
Thank you to the Grade 1-6 Sunday School children for sharing their beautiful bell song on Reformation Sunday! Thank you also for making lanterns and singing in worship today on St Martin’s Day. It won’t be long before we start preparing for the Christmas program!
Here are some things to note on your calendar for the month of November:
Nov. 15: Winter clothes drive ends. All are encouraged to share new or gently used (and clean) winter coats, hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves and place in the barrels at either entrance of the church. Donations will go to PPL (Project Pride for Living) and Matter.
Nov. 22: 2nd annual “Family (Advent)ures” An interactive event for families with children of all ages to prepare for the Advent and Christmas season. Families will also participate in a service project assembling care packages for our college age students (see article for more details).
Nov. 29: Advent calendars (with chocolate!) will be distributed to children.
Looking ahead: Christmas program is Sunday, December 13. Final Rehearsal will be the morning of Saturday, December 12.
On Sunday, November 22nd, we will celebrate Thanksgiving at Lake of the Isles. Members of the congregation will offer their reflections on what they are thankful for this year. A pie fellowship will follow the worship service. You are invited to bring canned goods for the Food Shelf.
In honor of St. Martin and his legacy, our St. Martin Fest dinner will kick-off a winter clothes drive for Matter and PPL (Project Pride for Living). Participants are encouraged to share gently used mittens, gloves and hats, as well as new or gently used and cleaned winter jackets. Bins are located near church entrances.
A warm welcome to our new and returning kids in Sunday School!It is so good to have the classrooms filled with children again!We have a great staff of both high school and adult teachers making some wonderful connections with the kids.
Guardian Angel program kicks off this month. The Sunday School children will begin receiving communication from his/her Guardian Angel this month. If you are interested in being a Guardian Angel, please contact Diane LaMere (dlamere.loti@yahoo.com).
Here are October happenings in Children’s Ministry:
October 4: Blessing of the stuffed animals!Kids of all ages are welcome to bring their most treasured stuffed animals for a special blessing after worship with Pastor Haug.A fun and important tradition to honor St Francis enjoyed by all.
October 18: NO Sunday School – MEA break
October 25: Children ring bells in worship.Details will be emailed to families as we get closer to this date.
On behalf of the Church Council, I would like to thank you for your financial gifts. Surprisingly, in spite of the usual low, summer attendance, we were able to stay largely on budget, particularly with our expenses and to move towards a solid foundation for the fall. We faithfully count on September’s strong financial giving to pull us eventually out of the summertime slump. The month of September usually allows us to catch up on the lost income during the summer months and to pay the outstanding deferred expenses.
Unfortunately, this September’s giving was unusually weak. While attendance has been up, and new activities have begun, overall giving has not kept pace. As we head into the month of October with both the TC Marathon and MEA weekend, we anticipate lower income.
I would like to invite you to consider an additional or an extraordinary gift to carry the church through this period. As Pastor Haug has reminded us all in the past, the congregation has no reserves to draw from. We simply try to be good stewards of the gifts we have been entrusted.
Thank you for your prayerful and intentional gifts.
Ross Bartels, Treasurer
As you begin to look at your gently used winter gear from last year and find that your children have outgrown them, please set them aside to donate to our winter gear drive. Winter coats, hats, mittens and scarves are needed. Adults are welcome to contribute as well!
The choir has been rehearsing and is looking for new members to sing major new works for Sunday worship including a Buxtehude cantata for the blessing of the new church bell.
Choir rehearsal is Wednesday nights at 7:30 in Fellowship Hall.
Conversation and Cuisine is a casual evening of getting better acquainted while enjoying a meal in our homes (or choice of a restaurant). Groups of 5-7 members and friends of Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church gather for three meals during the course of the year. Four groups were formed this past year and from all reports, it sounds like they really enjoyed their time together. New groups will be formed so that everyone will have a chance to get to know some more Lake of the Isles members. If you would like to participate in the 2015-2016 groups, please let Janna Haug know by October 4th at the latest. You can talk to her during church coffee or contact her by phone (651-497-0099) or email (jannahaug@yahoo.com).
There was a great turnout on a beautiful September day for the pie and ice cream social. As you can see from the pictures below, everyone had great choices of pie and some very tasty homemade ice cream provided by Wendy Westerberg and Margaret Coleman. The Madson Family and Friends provided music during the worship service.
Members of the congregation will offer their reflections on what they are thankful for this year. A pie fellowship will follow the worship service. You are invited to bring canned goods for the Food Shelf.
The choir has been rehearsing and is looking for new members to sing major new works for Sunday worship including a Buxtehude cantata for the blessing of the new church bell.
