Newsletter - Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church

Hello
Beloved
People
of God,
Now is a busy time. We are ever more connected to
each other and the world through technology and
while this can be a beautiful, life-giving connection, it
can also be exhausting. We are more aware now then
we have ever been in history that there is always
something more to do, to read, to say, to hear, to see.
It seems it has always been this way. Civilization has,
at least in the first world, been evolving at a breakneck speed for as long as we have recorded history.
This means that comparatively, “now” (whenever
“now has been) has always been a busy time. Which is
why it is as true as it is funny that Martin Luther is
said to have quipped 500 years ago that he has so
much to do that he must spend the first three hours in
prayer.
I think of that saying often because I find that I need
the reminder. If I am not deliberate about making
time for prayer and intentionally looking for value in
it, I will omit it or rush through it, eager to finish so I
can get on with the “real” business of the day, as if
there is business more real than prayer. And when I
fall into that habit, my life suffers—not just my
spiritual life, but my whole life. Little by little as I
prioritize other things above prayer, my stance toward
God, myself, and the world shifts until one day I look
around and don’t recognize the image of God in the
people and things I see (even in the mirror!) like I used
to. And then I realize that I have been “too busy” to
pray and have to repent and reorient myself and my
schedule.
we see and noticing what God calls good in creation.
This kind of prayer can be wordless, for me it often is.
And it can be hard to explain as prayer, because
connection with God sometimes defies words and
when we try to put it into words it comes out sounding
vague or trite. But nevertheless, I know when I have
been giving myself over in prayer this way and when I
have not because of the connectedness—or not—that I
feel with God and my sisters and brothers in Christ.
The second thing I do to reclaim prayer in my life is
set an alarm for three times a day and say a scripted
prayer at each of those times. It seems nearly the
opposite, doesn’t it?! But what kind of Lutheran
would I be if I didn’t pray paradoxically? (After all,
paradox is one of our trademarks!) The prayers are
short and easily recognizable and describable as
prayers. I like to use scripted prayer because it helps
me keep the prayer time focused and concise. When I
tried this method with extemporaneous prayer
(praying off the cuff) I found that I skipped prayer
time more, partly because I rambled in my prayer so it
took longer, and I still never felt like I’d covered
everything I “should” pray for. So now, I take a quiet
moment, read or recite the prayer, and then continue
on with the other tasks at hand. Sometimes this kind
of prayer feels like a pain to me because it interrupts
the many things I am doing that keep me so busy and
feel so important. But I try hard to make myself stick
to it and I never regret it when I do. (I often regret it
when I don’t, but I still sometimes choose not to do
it!)
From the Pastors
Cover
Events and Highlights
Calendar
2-5
Insert
Volunteer Schedule
6-7
People’s Kitchen Schedule
8
Our Church Family
9
Get Involved
10
This prayer from Archbishop Oscar Romero is longer
than I usually pray during my three prayer times but I
have been praying it lately (perhaps because I have
been so busy?) and I want to share it with you so we
can pray it together in the coming days:
It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long
view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
Does that ever happen to you?
It is even beyond our vision.
How do you feel when it does?
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of
What do you do to reclaim prayer in your life when it
does?
Nothing we do is complete,
Two things have helped me reclaim prayer in my life—
the first is expanding my definition of prayer from a
time when I close my eyes, fold my hands, and talk to
God in my head. Isn’t that what most of us think of as
the most common definition of prayer? Perhaps we
would replace talking with God in our own heads with
“talking aloud to God” or something like that, but
generally speaking when we hear the word “prayer”
that is the image we get. But prayer is so much more
than that. Prayer is a giving over of ourselves—in
many and various ways—to the presence of God and
the kingdom of God. That can happen during a swim
or a hike, while knitting or washing dishes, while
gardening or cooking, in traffic or at the grocery
store. I am not talking about multi-tasking. I am
talking about recognizing the holiness of our ordinary
lives, about looking for the image of God in the faces
Inside this issue:
the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Which is another way of saying that
Sunday Worship
at Mt. Carmel
The Kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that should be said.
No prayer fully expressed our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
Knowing that they hold future promise.
Continued on next page
8:45 am - Traditional Service
10:00am - Adult Forum
Sunday School
11:00am - Contemporary Service
Holy Communion is offered at all
Sunday worship services.
Child care available on
Sundays 8:45 am-12:15 pm.
2
Events and Highlights
Continued from cover
October2–NoAdultForum.
BlendedWorshipServiceat10am:
BlessingoftheAnimals.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produced effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything,
And there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
A step along the way,
An opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
But that is the difference
Between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders,
Ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future that is not our own.
Amen.
I hope this prayer will be a blessing to you and I give thanks to God for you
and for your partnership in ministry and in prayer.
Peace,
Pastor Valerie
Our County was a raging wild fire.
There were multitudes of fire fighters out risking their lives trying to
control this unyielding inferno. And
the Red Cross was there, providing
shelter, food, and comfort for those
responders who were trying to
protect the hillsides and homes.
Join us on Friday, Oct. 21, at noon,
when our guest speaker for the
Brown Bag Lunch Group will be a
Red Cross volunteer. He will speak about all the planning involved
and the thousands of hours volunteered to give the fire fighters what
they needed, physically and mentally, to keep fighting. Bring your
brown bag lunch, a friend, and your enthusiasm. Don’t miss this one.
August Financial Report Total Income for the two months ended August 31, 2016: $63,644; 15.4% of full‐year budget Total Expense for the two months ended August 31, 2016: $70,422; 17.7% of full‐year budget Net loss for the two months month ended August 31, 2016: $6,778. The two months' expenses include costs for VBS. October 2016
AdultForumsfortherestofOctoberwill
focusonpreparationsforthecoming
500thAnniversaryoftheProtestant
Reformationnextyear.
October9,October16,&October23—PastorValeriewillpresentaseries“LivingALutheran,”alookatLutheranpractices,
traditionsanddoctrinesinadiscussionsetting.Everwonderwhy
wearecalled“Lutherans”?—Itwasn’tMartinLuther’sidea...come
and indoutmoreaboutus.
October30:ReformationSunday—PastorJakeParsonswill
talkaboutthebackgroundoftheReformationandwhathappenedbeforethose95thesesgotnailedtothechurchdoor.
Fellowship of Faiths: Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 29 @ Mt. Carmel. Once again, Mt. Carmel will have the opportunity gather with members of the Mosque of Nasreen and UMC, for an afternoon of conversation, relaxing, and of course, eating. There will be no planned program, no speakers. Rather, this will be a chance to spend time in fellowship and fun, as God’s children, of multiple faith traditions. The afternoon begins at 4:00 with possible basketball, playing, relaxing and conversation. Bring a potluck dish of your choice to share, because at 5:00, we will move inside for a meal and more time to get to know folk you haven’t met before. Please don’t miss this very important event. It will be amazing! We’re going to need lots of help to make this day great, so if you would like to volunteer, please contact Nancy Priddy, 459‐9249.
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Fall Women’s Retreat: Two spots left! The theme this year is,
“Treasured Hearts.” Hear the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as we
engage in what it means to treasure the amazing promises of God in our
hearts. Our speaker will be Pastor Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun, Associate
and Campus Pastor of Salem Lutheran Church, Glendale.
DATE: Oct. 14 – 16
PLACE: La Casa de Maria
COST: $240, includes lodging, meals and program. Cancellation – $100
penalty
Invite a friend today! Questions? Nancy Priddy, 459-9249
October 2: NO SUNDAY SCHOOL (but bring animals or stuffed animals at 10:00am for a blessing!)
Confirma on, 4:30‐5:30
October 9: Bible Sunday – Presenta on of Bibles during worship to 3‐year‐olds and 3rd graders.
Sunday School @ 10, High School breakfast @ 10
CAT Team mee ng @ 12:15
Confirma on, 4:30‐5:30
October 16: Sunday School @ 10, High School breakfast @ 10
Confirma on, 4:30‐5:30
Men’sAdvanceRetreat:October14‐16th
October 23: Sunday School @ 10, High School breakfast @ 10
High School/CAT Team work day for Fall Fundraiser @ 12:15
Confirma on, 4:30‐5:30
This year’s theme is "The Masculine Journey" featuring Rev. Greg
Ronning, Mission Developer and Pastor at "The Table," and former
Campus Pastor at Texas Lutheran University. Through
October 30: Sunday School @ 10, High School breakfast @ 10 individual re lection on the stories of Jacob, Paul and Jesus, Pastor
Confirma
on, 4:30‐5:30 Ronning will be our guide seeking what it means to be men of
faith.CostfortheAdvanceis$150perpersonandincludes5meals,2
socials and a powerful time of personal growth through bible study,
music, fellowship and recreational activities at El Camino Pines Children and Teens has been so fortunate to have staff and so
Lutheran Camp. For further information, visit www.mensmany volunteers and CAT Team members step in and help with
Rally Sunday, Port San Luis Youth Bar-b-que, Prayer Rocks, Sunday
advance.org or contact: John Keisler, (805) 543-4259 or
School Opening Day, Middle and High School and [email protected]
tion. Trying to coordinate all of the people with activities that
need to be covered makes us appreciate all that Ingrid does each
Please join the Book Group
month!
in reading Being Mortal:
Medicine and What Matters
in the End (2014) by Atul
Gawande. Best selling author
and surgeon, Gawande, talks
about the limitations of the
medical profession, arguing
that the “quality of life is
the desired goal for patients
and families.”
Please be sure to pray for our Children and Teens and THANK
our staff and volunteers working Sunday School. Many of the
parents and volunteers appear in the wonderful photos Monica
Holman has of events for the Summit.
Milestone Ministry: Be sure and sign a Bible for a pre-reader and
3yr. old. On Oct. 9th, Mt. Carmel will provide free Story Bibles for
parents to read and introduce the Stories of Jesus and His Love to
pre-schoolers.
kick-off youth & family beach party
Annual high school
“Freshman Kidnap”
We will meet on October
23rd, at 6:00 pm at Pat
Ramsay’s home for engaging
discussion. If you have any
questions, feel free to
contact Sheryl Huffaker
([email protected]).
October 2016
We are excited to introduce you to
our newest Mt. Carmel members...
Jen DeClark recently
moved to San Luis
Obispo with her husband
Brian and son Brayden.
She has lived in Southern
California for the last
four years, but was born
and raised in Minnesota.
She enjoys hiking with
her family.
Tony Huffaker began
attending services at Mt.
Carmel when his 2nd
grader (now a college
sophomore) wanted to be
baptized. He thought he
should become a member
before the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
He is married to Sheryl, a
long-time member.
The Raveras join us from all over the map! Parents are Mark and
Chrissy. Mark is originally from Southern California, Chrissy from
Northern California, Lucca (age 9) is from Guatemala, and Nicco (age
7) and Miriam (age 5) are from Ethiopia. They currently live in Arroyo
Grande. These five enjoy family time, travel, their jobs as a teacher
and nurse, swim lessons, aikido, the beach, school, and music. The
Raveras thank you for welcoming them to Mt. Carmel.
Amy and Adam Fukushima love living
in San Luis Obispo. Amy is a labor &
delivery nurse and Adam works in the
transportation sector. They love
spending time with their two year
old daughter, Nora.
October
is...
A Prayer for our Pastors...
Lord Jesus, You are my great High Priest, who intercedes with the Father on my behalf.
During Your earthly ministry, You called [us] to be Your apostles, and still today You call
[us] to be pastors in Your Church—to proclaim the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins, to
baptize, to nourish Your people with Your Holy Supper, and to minister in countless ways
to Your flock.
Grant to my pastors fidelity to Your Word, wisdom by Your Spirit, and strength from
above, that they may carry out their callings faithfully. Make them fearless confessors of
Your truth. Keep them from error in their teaching and from scandal in their lives. Give
them courage to admonish those who stray, compassion to bind up the brokenhearted, and
discernment to apply Law and Gospel to all appropriately. May they protect Your flock
from ravaging wolves and shepherd Your lambs into green pastures.
Move the members of my congregation to have proper respect for our pastors...and to
gladly accept the Word preached to us. Keep our pastors and our parishioners faithful until
death, that together we may receive the crown of life; in Your name, O Jesus, the only
Savior of the world. Amen.
—Revised From Lutheran Book of Prayer (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2005).
All rights reserved.
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Volunteer Schedule
Date Time Oct 2 Coffee Servers COORDINATOR: Carol Harvey Communion Assistants Greeters Temporary Coordinator: Erin Parsons Church Office Ingrid Frokjer 481‐2418 544‐2133 544‐2133 10:00am N/A 8:45 Oct 9 Acolytes Greeter/C.A. COORDINATOR: Lily Hinds [email protected] Sid & Beryl Benne Bob and Carol Harvey Mike Dresp Nancy Priddy Ro Cannon‐Miller Sheryl Huffaker Bob & Mary Christenson Dorothy McCoid Be y Johnson Greg Zocher Carolyn Baker Sophia Parsons Sally Reck Diane Mansell Anneke Moersdorf Diane Mansell 11:00 John Cook Oct 16 8:45 Bob Harvey Bob Christenson Lisanne Mar nelli Maureen Dresp Be y Johnson 11:00 Amanda Lujan Mike & Val Lund Marilyn Brown Oct 23 8:45 Jack & Roberta Moen Dorothy McCoid Makenna Parkinson Sherri Parkinson& Marilyn Brown Rebecca Christensen Nancy Priddy Allison Schultze Vicky Tway Janis Sexton Diane Mansell Janis Sexton 11:00 Sheryl Huffaker Oct 30 8:45 Steve & JoAnn Benne Be y Johnson Mary Christensen Paula Jaster 11:00 Caleb Holman Tony Huffaker Dorothy McCoid Sherri Parkinson Makenna Parkinson Pat Forrest Ro Cannon‐Miller Ushers (coordinator: Jess Bathke ‐ 927‐9460 or [email protected]) 1st Sunday (and Jan. 31) 8:45 11:00 2nd Sunday (and May 29) 3rd Sunday (and Jul. 31) 4th Sunday (and Oct. 30) Jess & Pat Bathke Ed Dresp Glen Priddy Warren Quist Steve & JoAnn Benne Marc Frey Burke Jr. & Kathy Towle John Merrill Norm & Mollie Smith Cliff Baker Jack & Roberta Moen Carlyn Hinds Bob & Carol Grosse Mike & Val Lund Carol & Donley Winger John & Janis Sexton Jeanie Schultz Dorothy McCoid Pat Forrest Volunteer Needed Linda Schultze Volunteer Needed Andy Frokjer Subs tute ushers for 11am service: Bill & Karen Almas, & Diane Mansell Subs tute ushers for 8:45am service: John & Rebecca Keisler Children’s Church 11:00 Oct. 2: N/A Oct. 9: Deanna Schultze Pat Forrest
Dorothy McCoid
14-Oct
25-Nov
21-Oct
2-Dec
Friday Morning Office Volunteers
Carol Grosse
Mary Christenson
28-Oct
October 2016
Oct. 16: Erin Malone 4-Nov
16‐Dec Oct. 23 & Oct. 30: TBD Carol Winger
Maureen Dresp
11-Nov
9‐Dec 23‐Dec 7-Oct
18-Nov
30‐Dec 7
Date Time Lector(s) Assis ng Minister Soundboard Powerpoint COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: COORDINATOR: Wende Dong Greg Zocher Marshall Pihl Marshall Pihl 541‐3094 (h) 461‐3128 Oct 2 10:00am Mike Dresp [email protected] N/A John Perreault N/A N/A Oct 9 8:45 Greg Zocher Monica Holman Bob Harvey Dale Johnson 11:00 John Cook Marshall Pihl Stephen Parkinson Oct 16 8:45 Wayne Lippold Rebecca Christensen John Perreault Carol Harvey 11:00 Marilyn Brown Marshall Pihl Linda Schultze Amanda Lujan Oct 23 8:45 Wende Dong Greg Zocher Bob Harvey Carol Harvey 11:00 Janis Sexton Marshall Pihl Dave Parkinson Oct 30 8:45 Mary Christenson Paula Jaster John Perreault TBD 11:00 Bob Grosse Marshall Pihl Dave Parkinson Altar Guild
Oct. 2 Vikki Tway Oct. 9 Mollie Smith Oct. 16 Dorothy McCoid Oct. 23 Pat Forrest Oct. 30 Maureen Dresp Next Altar Guild mee ng: Dec. 15 @ 2pm *Reminder:
If you are unable to serve, please notify
your coordinator and the church office of
your substitute as soon as possible.
October 2016
8
Get Involved!
Mt. Carmel serves again on October 7th at
Noon at Prado Day Center.
Volunteers: Thank you, and be sure to check
the schedule below for what is needed.
LAST NAME
FIRST NAME
WHAT TO BRING
HOW MUCH TO BRING
DATE
Cummings
Sue
CANNED FRUIT
2 LRG CANS SMART & FINAL
10/7/2016
Bobell
David
CANNED FRUIT
2 LRG CANS SMART & FINAL
10/7/2016
Droege
Esther
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Krueger
Laura
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Forrest
Pat
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Winger
Carol
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Senter
Jean & Jack
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Malone
Erin
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Keisler
John
MILK
2 GALLONS WHOLE
10/7/2016
Martin
Julie
MILK
2 GALLONS WHOLE
10/7/2016
Columbo
Karen
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Meyer
Kathy
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Krueger
Laura
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Uder
Jan
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
10/7/2016
Christensen
Rebecca
CANNED FRUIT
2 LRG CANS SMART & FINAL
11/4/2016
Christenson
Mary
CANNED FRUIT
2 LRG CANS SMART & FINAL
11/4/2016
Bennett
Sid & Beryl
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Lex
Linda
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Sexton
Janis
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Roland
Sandy
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Tewell
Judy
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Tietje
Sheilah
HOT DISH
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Bathke
Jess & Pat
MILK
2 GALLONS WHOLE
11/4/2016
Coats
Elaine
MILK
2 GALLONS WHOLE
11/4/2016
Adams
Dorothy
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Almas
Karen
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Bockelman
Karen
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Rheinisch
Diana
SALAD
HEARTY 12 SERVINGS
11/4/2016
Mt. Carmel volunteers provide a hot meal for People's Kitchen
on the first Friday of each month. If you would like to provide a
hot dish, salad, milk or canned fruit with 12 hearty servings three
times in the next year (and you're not already a volunteer) please
contact Laura Krueger at [email protected] or 805-458-6012
October 2016
9
1 Dianne Draze
14 Carter Chambers
3 John Keisler
16 Doug Wood
4 Barbara Jauregui
17 Kelly Lund
5 Danielle Dong
20 JoAnn Bennett
5 Monica Holman
6 Marc Frey
20 Susan Bouvette
(Price)
7 Mary Anne Hopper
24 Bill Almas
8 Mike Lund
25 Chris Chambers
8 Dave Parkinson
26 James Porter
10 Amy Blasco
31 Dave Sullivan
10 Jack Moen
10 Daniel Schultze
13 John Rollefson
*Please let us know if
we missed your
birthday!
PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY:
October 2: Steven, Cindy & Adam Harding; Bob & Carol Harvey; Sharon
Haupt; Susan Hay; Carlyn, John, & Lily Hinds
October 9: Monica, Ariana & Caleb Holman; Mary Anne Hopper; Sheryl,
Tony, Lauren & Fiona Huffaker; Bev Humphry
October 16: Ed & Paula Jaster; Barbara Jauregui; Russ & Kay Jensen;
Steve Jobst & Jill Anderson
October 23: Dale & Betty Johnson; Katie Kahle; John & Rebecca Keisler;
Jackie, Steve, Sarah & Jenni Kinsey
October 30: Jerry & Judie Kirkhart; Susanne Krout; Laura Krueger;
Jeannie Ledford, Suzanne & Dante Leedale
Valerie Carlson
Dan Carlson
Cora Carlson
Ingrid Frokjer
Paul Woodring
Ruth Rollefson
Heather Babcock
Tony Bloodworth
Erin Parsons
Mount Carmel Staff Pastor
Pastor
Cora
Director of Children & Teens Ministry
Organist
Choir Director
Interim Director of Contemporary Music
Custodian
Parish Administrator
10-06-06 Sven Hammer & Kathryn Winfrey
10-10-70 Mike & Val Lund
10-10-81 Don & Sharon Allen
10-11-73 Walt & Helen Rehm
10-13-12 Kenji & Dana Yoshino
10-15-88 Bryan & Beverly Gingg
10-16-94 Jack & Patrice Hald
10-17-87 John & Rebecca Keisler
*Please let us know if we missed
your anniversary
Church Office Hours
8:30—3:00 Monday-Friday
Phone 805-544-2133 Fax 544-5356
Email: [email protected]
www.mtcarmelslo.org
Lutheran Campus Ministry
Email: [email protected]
www.lcmslo.org
Our pastoral staff is here for you.
In time of crisis, please contact the church.
October 2016
1701 Fredericks St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
Phone: 805-544-2133
Fax: 805-544-5356
Email: [email protected]
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Gather, Grow, Go
Southwest California Synod/Mt. Carmel
CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK!
For updates from Mt. Carmel, go to
http://www.facebook.com/mtcarmelslo
For updates from Lutheran Campus Ministries, go to
http://www.facebook.com/lcmslo
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
A SPECIAL EVENT OR SPECIAL SOMEONE,
CONSIDER SPONSORING
FLOWERS FOR OUR CHANCEL.
Each bouquet is $27.50 or $55.00
Contact: Jeanie Schultz, Altar Guild
or the MCLC Office
Have something you want to share, celebrate or commemorate?
E-mail the details/pictures to the church office
([email protected]) for publication in this newsletter and/or
our weekly “Vistas” e-mail!
Deadline for November “Summit” is Oct. 25th