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As you enter the sanctuary of the church in the next several weeks, I hope you take the time to notice the quilted tree that stands in front of the pulpit. The quilt was made by Shirley Richlen (with some help from Denny) and it represents the ways that this congregation reaches out and provides shade and support to God’s world.
Hopefully you will see the leaves that we will add to the tree every week before worship. Different committees and groups will highlight how this congregation uses the resources of the church to serve as God’s disciples to our community. Some leaves will represent the ways our building is shared with our neighbors. Some leaves will remind us of the ways we support outreach programs. Some leaves will indicate how we welcome folks into the life of our congregation.
Eventually, you will be asked to add your own leaf to the tree. None of the things we do at St. James is possible without your help and support. When you add your leaf to the tree on Consecration Sunday (October 24) you will be joining all the other members in celebrating your own ministry of discipleship.
The work we do is work we do together. Each service project done in the name of St. James is done by all of us because it takes the entire church to provide the necessary time, talents, and resources to fulfill the mission Christ has given this church. Please pray about how you will continue to support the ministries of this congregation, and on October 24 join us all in publicly affirming your own pledge to be a vital part of the work of this church!
Peace, Pr. Nate
A Note from Nancy’s Niche
We remain in the season of Pentecost. This season of the church year lasts from the end of May (occasionally it starts in June) until the end of November or start of December. It is often referred to as ordinary time. Most of our lives are lived in ordinary time. There is the everyday stuff of eating, sleeping, working, etc., and the everyday routine things like brushing your teeth, showering, getting dressed, etc. The ordinary routine is broken by brief periods of sadness or happiness. The sad or painful times seem to linger and last longer than we want while the happy or cheerful times seem so brief. Too often we are so busy in the ordinary that we don’t always recognize the brief interruptions that pass us. How about the baby that breaks out in smiles when you look their way? How about the person who greets you with a warm and friendly response? Have you ever considered attending church because someone who is there needs to see you that morning? Your presence may bring solace to someone who sees you worshiping. Take a day and be very aware of cheerful moments. They almost always involve another person. Think of how often you feel a warm loving sense just by seeing another person. Is that God reaching out to you in a very ordinary way?
Thank you: to Pat Larson, Yvonne Nichols, Marilyn Pieart, Judy Simonson, and Karen Stott for helping with the summer single’s meal on June 28th and August 23rd.
Shut-ins requesting visitors
Courtesy requires a phone call first, but the following ladies would appreciate visitors.
1. Dorothy Beckmann
2. Doris Goodall
Upcoming Events
Book Club: Tuesday, October 26, at 6:00 PM at Susie Sumstine’s house. We are reading “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson.
Gospel text discussions: continue on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM in the room across the hall from Nancy’s office. Feel free to join us, as each week is a new start. It is a great way to prepare for Sunday morning worship, and it helps to stay focused on the readings and sermon.
Women’s Fellowship Event: Our next Women’s Fellowship Event will be November 13th here at St. James from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The cost is $12 and will include a continental breakfast to start and lunch to conclude the event. The theme is God’s Gifts. We are busy planning what we hope will be a very meaningful experience for all who take the time to come.
Secret Spiritual Sponsors: I need secret spiritual sponsors for seventh & eighth grade confirmation students. If you are interested in praying daily for one of these students and are willing to send them cards or small gifts on a regular basis, please let me know.
From the Quilt Block
School kit donations are still being accepted, especially scissors, rulers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, spiral-bound paper and cash. You have all been so supportive of this opportunity to be involved in world relief I cannot thank you enough.
September’s Quilt day is Tuesday the 23rd . Quilt day will return to the day time of; noon to 4:00 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday of the month. There are quilt kits to sew together and we are now in need of more School Kit bags to be sewn.
The fall Lutheran World Relief Quilt pick up is October 16th. That is when the school kits and quilts we have made since spring will be transported to Cedar Rapids for shipment.
On Saturday October 2nd the fall Cluster 6 work day will meet from 9:00 a.m. to noon here at St. James in Bettendorf. All Lutheran women are welcome. There will be a short business meeting with coffee, breakfast breads and fruit and other type goodies. Then we will roll bandages and tie quilts. This is a great opportunity to meet and visit with other involved women while helping bring comfort and relief around the world.
Pieces be with you,
Shirley Richlen
If you have a loved one who is serving the military whom you would like added to our prayers list, please contact the church office and we will be honored to add him/her.
Deadline for items for the next Epistle is September 20th Submissions can be emailed to stjamesbett@q.com or left on my desk. If you handwrite any submissions, PLEASE write clearly! Don’t forget to leave your name and phone number too, in case there are questions.
Sharon
We are collecting school supplies for Lutheran World Relief in the box in the narthex. We need donations of:
· spiral notebooks (150-200 sheets),
· blunt scissors,
· rulers with centimeters and inches,
· pencil sharpeners (not the kind you attach to the wall),
· pencils,
· erasers,
· construction paper in assorted colors,
· boxes of 16 or 24 crayons, and
· sturdy cloth bags about 12”X14” with cloth handles or drawstrings.
Choir practice starts September 9 at 6:30 p.m. If you’d like to join, please see Ellen Hogbin.
OINKtemberFISH Festival!
Mark September 12th on your calendars, as that is “Rally Day” which is the kick-off for our Sunday School year, as well as the afternoon of our “OINKtemberFISH” festival, featuring:
huge bouncies, children’s games galore, prizes, face painting, dunk tank (a favorite of the Youth Group as we can usually talk Pastor Nate into a turn at being the dunkee!), cake walk, a DELICIOUS ribs/pulled pork/fish BBQ with homemade desserts, and lots more! It’s a fun filled day, so bring your friends and neighbors. Many of the games with prizes are free, and others have a nominal ticket fee. So mark you calendars and issue your invites today. We need volunteers: bakers, cooks, face painters, dunkees, game attendants, etc. but for only about 1 hour of the afternoon, so you can still have fun and eat, eat, eat. We also are requesting sponsors for the games and the food so that we may use the proceeds to fund our current evangelical projects. So, if you’re an individual who can spare $25 or more, or a business that can spare $50 or more, we’d appreciate your donation. Make checks payable to St. James with “OINKtemberFISH” sponsor on the notation line, and drop them off at the office or deposit in the offering. You will be recognized at the festival and in the bulletin/epistle. Volunteer sheets should be available soon, but if you’d like to volunteer now, or be a part of the Welcome Team Committee which executes this festival, please write your name, number, and what you’d like to do on a piece of paper and drop it in the Welcome Team mailbox in the office.
Volunteer Schedule for September 2010
September 5th 8:30 AM 11:00 AM
Greeters: Denny & Shirley Richlen Keara & Kiley Gross
Ushers: Ray & Pat Larson Fritz & Karen Voss
Assistant Minister: Darryl Worley Mara Gwin
Acolyte: Andy White Kain Evans
Lector: Carol Bednarik Janice Burkley
Visitor Welcome: Denny Richlen Fritz Voss
Nursery: Tiffany Otero & Tonya Ranum
Altar Guild: Marilyn Pieart & Diana Worley
September 12th 8:30 AM 11:00 AM
Greeters: Dorothy Hinrichsen & Kendra Marinaccio & Lisa Lewis
Ruthann Martin
Ushers: Audrey Lovell & Flo Mangels Tom & Karen Stott
Assistant Minister: Denny Martin Keara Gross
Acolyte: Jill Mekalson Hanna Murray
Lector: Betsy Freitag Kiley Gross
Visitor Welcome: Gary Pribble Kendra Marinaccio
Nursery: Tiffany Otero & Barb Stansbury
Altar Guild: Marilyn Pieart & Diana Worley
September 19th 8:30 AM 11:00 AM CHOIR
Greeters: Jason Forari & Donna McCracken Wes Otero & Jean Nowicki
Ushers: Jackie Schneckloth & Susie Sumstine & Janice Burkley
Don Urbatsch
Assistant Minister: Judie Brooks Karen Voss
Acolyte: Bailey Schmidt Sarah Oswald
Lector: Mary Meumann Emily Oswald
Visitor Welcome: Mary Crafton Fritz Voss
Nursery: Tiffany Otero & Keara Gross
Altar Guild: Mary Meumann & Renee White
September 26th 8:30 AM 11:00 AM CHOIR
Greeters: Flo Mangels & Shirley Niewald Janice Burkley & Flo Doty
Ushers: Denny & Shirley Richlen Derek & Neal Crooks
Assistant Minister: Tony White Ellen Hogbin
Acolyte: Andy White Shane Rowell
Lector: Renee White Carol Leacox
Visitor Welcome: Shirley Richlen Janice Burkley
Nursery: Tiffany Otero & Gracie TouVelle
Altar Guild: Mary Meumann & Renee White
October 3rd 8:30 AM CHOIR 11:00 AM
Greeters: Melissa & Jason Forari Ellen Jewell & Frieda Houldsworth
Ushers: Dale & Judy Simonson Bill Martin & Judy Larson
Assistant Minister: Mary Meumann Kathy Ortiz
Acolyte: Maddie Schmidt Gracie TouVelle
Lector: Diana Worley Kendra Marinaccio
Visitor Welcome: Connie Groth Bob & Ann Grable
Nursery: Tiffany Otero & Cathie Carber
Altar Guild: Ellen Hogbin & Anita Wilson
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE AT THE TIME SCHEDULED, PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE WITH THE NAME OF YOUR REPLACEMENT. THANK YOU!
Thanks to everyone who made our May Blood Drive a success. We had a goal of 20 units and we collected 25! Special thanks to Frieda Houldsworth for all her assistance in making this event so successful and everyone who worked the day of the drive and baked the wonderful cookies!
Donor recognition: MaryAnn Ackley (milestone 6 Gallons), Ed Arp, Harlen Briggs, Judy Brooks, Maxine Duhm, Jason Forari, Melissa Forari (milestone 5 Gallons), Lora Gwin, Heather Hogbin, Geraldine Krumbholz, Ray Larson, Donna Larson, Shirley Niewald, Margaret Pickett, Steve Pieart, Larry Ranum, Rex Ridenour, Molly Skovronski, Karen Stott, Tom Stott, Rusty Suiter, Jim Wegener, Tom Wilson, Donna Winkler (First time donor), Diana Worley, Darryl Worley, and Sharon Wren.
Please mark your calendars for the next blood drive on November 22nd, from 3:15-6:30 p.m. Signup sheets will be available starting in October.
God Bless, Ellen Hogbin
New Church Office Hours!
Starting September 1st, the church office hours will be 12-3, Monday through Friday.
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Shirley Holden on August 15th.
Genesis Medical Center is looking for volunteers who would be willing to volunteer 2 to 4 hours, once or twice a month. We have volunteer opportunities at both East and West campuses. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Sandy Hull at 421-2186 or hulls@genesishealth.com or Colette Blake at 421-1095 or blakec@genesishealth.com.
The Crooks family requests the honor of your presence at the
Eagle Court of Honor for
Derek and Neal Crooks
Boy Scout Troop 89
Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 3 p.m. Bettendorf Presbyterian Church, 1200 Middle Road, Bettendorf
Refreshments following ceremony.
In lieu of gifts, guests who wish may bring a food pantry item for our local food bank.
St. James Sunday School needs your help! As the summer is winding down and most kids have started back to school, we are looking forward to our big Oinktemberfish Rally and the start of Sunday School on September 12th. We are asking for snack donations for our weekly classes. The following is a list of desired items that have been approved for people with peanut allergies.
Fresh fruit (we would need to know ahead of time if you wish to donate this)
Nabiso 100 Calorie Packs - Lorna Doone Shortbread Cookie Crisps, Chips Ahoy! Thin Crisps, Oreo Thin Chips
Nabisco Oreos
Nabisco Wheat Thins
Nabisco Chips Ahoy!
Kraft Handi Snack - Breadsticks n Cheez
Kraft Handi Snack - Pretzels n Cheez
Twizzlers
Mott's applesauce
Honeymaid Graham Crackers
Cheez-Its
Kellogg's Fruit Snacks
Kellogg's Nutri-grain Bars
Kellogg's Rice Krispie Treats
Betty Crocker Fruit Roll Ups
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Hostess Ho-Hos
Hostess Ding Dongs
Individual juice boxes
Bottled water
There will be a basket labeled "Sunday School Snacks" in the narthex for those that wish to donate. Without your support, we wouldn't be able to have such a successful Sunday School for our children.
Thank you, The St James Sunday School Volunteers
Well it is that time of year again when school starts and soon Sunday school will start as well! For me the most exciting news is that KIDS FOR CHRIST Puppet Club will be starting also! KFC will start Wednesday, September 8th! It will be starting at 5:15pm and going until 6pm. I hope to see you and your youth there! I look forward to a year of fun, music, games and laughter. If you have any questions or would like to know if your young one is old enough please contact me, Mara Gwin on a Sunday when I am back from college! Have a great day and I hope you will consider what a wonderful group we have here at St. James!
Social Ministry News
The monthly meeting will be on Monday, September 13th at 6:15 p.m., not on September 6th (Labor Day).
Food Pantry work day is Friday, September 10th, at 9 a.m.
Bingo is on Thursday, September 16th at 2 p.m. at Bettendorf Health Care Center.
We will be serving the Churches United Salvation Army Free Meal on Monday, October 25th. We are in need of servers. If you can assist, please call Connie Groth.
Deep Thoughts
Don't let your worries get the best of you; Remember, Moses started out as a
basket case.
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