During the Church Council meeting in October someone mentioned I flip flop between inviting the congregation to stand and inviting the congregation to rise. They were curious of the difference between the two. While these two terms may seem synonymous, and to some extent they are, they do differ slightly.

 The reason people stand during parts of worship is to give special  reverence to what is taking place during worship. We give special reverence to start the service when we sing our gathering hymn, confess our sins, and sing a canticle of praise. We then sit to hear the first readings from the Bible, but when it gets to the gospel reading (the part of the Bible which speaks directly of Jesus’ life) we stand to give special reverence again. Pre-communion and post-communion liturgy involves a lot of standing because it surrounds the most important meal of your life, the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

Because special reverence is the sole motivation for   standing during parts of worship, there has been a movement among churches to start using the word ‘rise’ instead of ‘stand’. They do this for two reasons: one liturgical, one out of compassion.
 
1) Changing from stand to rise accentuates the reverence taking place. While this act may be a physical one (i.e. going from sitting to standing), the main importance of the act is spiritual. We rise in order to set our hearts and minds on the holiness of what is taking place during worship.
 
2) Not everyone can physically stand. What does it say to those who are too weak to stand, paralyzed, or missing their legs when the command to stand is given? Does this mean they cannot properly revere God or truly participate in worship? Nonsense! Because rising accentuates the spiritual reverence of the moment, everyone can do it in their own way. Some will stand and rise. Others will stay seated and rise.
 
“The assembly rises” is an invitation that all our members, regardless of physical abilities, can do. This inquiry by a church council member has led me to be more responsible with how I invite people to give special reverence to God. It has also led to a change in the bulletins. They no longer say, “Stand as you are able.” Instead they say, “The assembly rises.”
  
Lastly, sit is the opposite of stand, but we do not have any good antonyms to use for rise. For that reason, we continue to have “The assembly is seated”, to let people know they no longer need to be giving special reverence during worship. If you can think of a good way to write it out differently we’d love to hear it!

The following have been elected to positions of leadership and trust at Augustana Lutheran Church:

 

Rocky Atwell, Bonnie Bandelow secretary, Bryan Johnson  vice chairman, Nicholas Swanson, Emily Maertens, Jeanine Lees, Mindy Poppy, Linda Papoccia, Jeanine Westerlund, Ed Williams and Pastor Reed Pedersen

Contact info. for all Council members found on Website Leadership Page...Link HERE

May God bless them, and direct their deeds in peace, that they may be faithful servants of Christ.
 

The next meeting will be Sunday, November 10, at 12 noon, after church

September Meetings
 

Joy Circle  Tuesday, November 12 - 9:00am Nikki Rehn, hostess

Peace Circle Thursday, November 14 - 1:30p  Lois Peterson, hostess
 
Faith Circle   Thursday, November 14 - 7:00pm Sally Rehn, hostess
Meeting at church

November
Circles elect officers and prepare 2020 schedule.

Lutheran World Relief Quilts
 

Did you know that six times a year a group of women from Augustana Lutheran Church meet in Luther Hall and piece together quilts? And these are not just ordinary quilts. These quilts are pieced together with love and a heart for mission because they will be sent with others from this area through Lutheran World Relief. This year 20 quilts were sent from Augustana Lutheran Church. With today’s technology the journey of the quilts can be tracked. Stay tuned and we’ll let you know where the quilts have traveled.

Thank you, quilters, for opening your hearts for missions.

Women of the ELCA Guest Day
Wednesday, Novemnber 6
Cambridge Lutheran Church
 
9:00am   Brunch
 
9:30am   Guest Speaker - Pastor Jackie Green

New Life for Women F.A.R.M
(Faith And Restoration Ministries)
 
Come learn about their good work
at the farm near Hillcrest.

 
Because the next two gatherings are around holidays, the next gathering for Women, Wine and the Word will be Thursday, December 5, 7:00pm at the church. We would love to have you join us!   Hope to see you there!

Sweden - the Place to Be
 

A travelogue, “Highlights of Sweden’s Countryside,” will be given at the Andover Historical Society meeting Tuesday, November 19, 1:00pm, at the American Woman’s League Building.  Carolyn (Peterson) Myers from Griggsville will tell about a recent trip made by members of her family to Sweden earlier this year. The trip included a visit to Andover’s sister city, Kristdala, where they met relatives, saw their ancestral home and visited the Kristdala church. They also spent several days in Stockholm. 

The Andover Community Blood Drive will be held on Saturday, November 16, in Luther Hall. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center will be collecting donations from 8:00am—12:00noon.

The Center now provides blood for 112 hospitals in four states. One pint of whole blood saves three or more lives.
  
New this year: all presenting donors will receive a voucher to redeem for a long-sleeve t-shirt! The best way to spread holiday cheer is to donate blood through the year,
  
Please call Kathy Swanson at 309.476.8548 or register at www.bloodcenterimpact.org to schedule an appointment.

Thank you!

November Birthdays

01    Lovadee Gunnerson
01    Ashley Carlson
02    Ruth Ann Newman
03    Wayne Swanson
03    Sophie Selander
04    Jina Newman
04    Caiden Carlson
05    Sally Rehn
05    Khloe Nelson
07    Nina Pysson
10    Kelly Peterson
12    Zachary Riddell
14    James Dobbels
15    Tammy Norberg
16     Donnie Larson
18     Doug Dahlberg
18     Micah Anderson
20     Karen Sayre
21     Susie Josephson
22     Lily Pysson
25     Mary Anne Lovdahl
25     Barbara Carlson
25     Ruth Swanson
26     Steve Gray
27     Anne Cervantes
30     Rolland Carlson

01    Darin and Jody Nimrick
04    Kent and Carolyn Engnell
08    Keith and Heather Poppy
10    Mike and Wanda Lowery
25    Wayne and Kathy Swanson

Northern Illinois Synod
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America
God’s work. Our hands.
 

Walking Together...loving Christ,   loving all, for the sake of the world

Bishop Jeffrey Clements invites you to one of three gatherings around the synod this fall to join in continuing      conversation together about the synod’s new mission statement.

Your input is vital as we discern how we will best walk together and live out this mission and these goals at the  synod level and in your congregations

Sunday, November 3 2:00-3:30pm
St. John's Lutheran, Rock Island

Daylight Saving Ends
Sunday, November 3 Clocks get set BACK one hour

Adult Education and conversation
meets in the Library Wednesdays at 9:30am.
Coffee is on! Come join us!

Stewardship Theme:
    Thanksgiving is Thanks-Living!
 

Our stewardship drive is this month! This is a very important time to figure out our church's budget next year along with the ministries we will be able to do. The stewardship drive is also a time where Augustana can better know the time and talents that people are willing to share with the congregation. We will have members of our congregation witness to their faith (also known as a temple talk) at the beginning of worship. We look forward to counting our blessings and hearing others witness to God's goodness! 
 
November 3 -   Gordon Rehn
November 10 - Nicholas Swanson
November 17 - Sally Rehn
November 24 - Ruth Swanson

Thanksgiving Worship   
 Tuesday, November 26     
  7:00 PM
 

Our Thanksgiving worship will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Orion on Tuesday, November 26 at 7:00pm. In this worship service our three congregations join together for thanksgiving and praise. Individuals from each of the congregations will take part in the service. We are also planning to have a combined choir share an anthem. Communion will be served as part of the service.
  
Following the service we gather in the Ark for a time of fellowship and dessert.
 
Please set aside this date and time and plan to join our sisters and brothers in Christ.

Assisting in Worship - December 2019

 

Communion Assistants
01  Wayne French             
08  Ken Poppy
15  Nikki Rehn
22  Nathan Swanson
24  (4:00pm)  John Zurcher
24  (11:00pm) Rehder Family
25  (7:00 am)  Kathy Atwell
29  No Communion
                              
Acolytes
01  Katie Angelos       
08  Ashley Rickey      
15  Emma Poppy      
22  Logan Selander
24 (4:00pm) Volunteer 
29  Katie Angelos

Lectors
01  Rachel Curry         
08  Dave Westerlund  
15  Sally Reinhart       
22  Nathan Swanson  
24 (4:00pm)  Bev Josephson
24 (11:00pm)  Paul Rehder
25  (7:00 am)  Kathy Atwell
29  Rocky Atwell

Greeters 
01  Rachel and Cody Curry               
08  Michael Carlson
15  Steven and Nancy Gray
22  Wally and Diane Ladewig
24  (4:00pm)  John Zurcher Family
24  (11:00pm) Rehder Family
25  (7:00 am)  Rocky and Kathy Atwell
29  Rocky and Kathy Atwell
 
Ushers
             Laura Angelos
             Steven and Nancy Gray
             Jan Gritton

Communion Set Up 
01  Steven and Nancy Gray
08  Lori Foley
15  Wally and Diane Ladewig
22  Ken and Diane Poppy
24  Kathy Atwell
25  Kathy Atwell
29  No set up needed

Altar Guild           
Sally Rehn, Sally Reinhart, Laura Rickey
 
Homebound Communion
Doug Nelson

November        Bonnie Bandelow
December        Doug Nelson

It is your responsibility to find a replacement if unable to serve.

November Thankoffering
  

Each church in the Orion Area Churches Association is assigned two months to collect food for the Orion Area Food Pantry. Augustana Lutheran collects in May and November.
 
In November, you are invited to bring canned goods each Sunday (or during the week) for the food pantry. Leave them in the wagon in the narthex. Your donations will be brought to the food pantry at the end of November.
 
All donations are welcome, but items especially needed are canned fruits, cereal, crackers, brownie mixes, Spaghetti-os, Ravioli and other canned pastas; rice/pasta mix packets, tuna or hamburger helper, ketchup, mayonnaise, muffin mixes, jello (regular and sugar free), and instant pudding mixes.
 
Cash donations are always needed and welcomed.
Thank you! 

Andover Christmas Walk 2019
Saturday, December 7
4:45 - 8:00 PM
 
4:45 - 5:00 PM   Andover Lake Park
Gazebo
Tree Lighting Ceremony and Sing-a-long
  
5:00 - 7:00 PM  American Legion Building
Soup Supper and Christmas Goodies
Holiday Craft Making
Face Painting for the children
Christmas Card Making for
Hillcrest Nursing Home Residents and
make one to share with a friend
Christmas Music played on the piano
Santa and Mrs. Claus handing out treats to children
Silent Auction featuring a variety of Christmas items
Christmas Cookie Walk - opportunity to purchase goodies for the holidays
Santa/Father Christmas Display
  
5:30 - 7:00 PM  Andover Lake Park
Tractor-pulled wagon rides –
(weather permitting)
(drop-off and pick-up by east pavilion)
  
6:30 - 8:00 PM   Jenny Lind Chapel
Tewanta & Company Trio, instrumental and vocal Ansemble   6:30 - 7:30 PM
 
The Orion Chamber Choir from Orion High School  7:30 - 8:00 PM
 
 
Stroll through the park to see the lighted Christmas displays
Drive around town to see holiday decorations 

On behalf of Pastor Reed, staff and council of Augustana Lutheran Church, we wish members and guests of Augustana a blessed Thanksgiving.

 

 

Augustana Lutheran Church would appreciate your continued support towards the Church Modernization Project. Our goal to raise $105,000 in three years to help pay back the Endowment Fund used to pay for these projects. Current status:

 
Goal = $ 105,000
# Pledges Received = 31
 
$ Pledged = $ 65,590
Total $       = $ 63.464
 
% of Goal (Pledges) = 62.5 %
% of Goal ($)             = 60.4%