Sunday School is trying something different
Back in May the Sunday School planning team got together to explore the different things we could try in order to engage our youth and adults. Here are the different things we are going to try:
1) Sunday School will start at 9:30 a.m.
a. It is our hope that this later time will help give parents a little extra time to get kids ready and to the church.
2) Youth choirs will join together at the end of Sunday School to practice music.
a. Terri Nelson has graciously offered to lead the children’s choir. Practice will be 10:00am - 10:15am
3) “Something Else On Sunday”
a. Four times this year we will have a special lunch, lesson, and activity time for the kids after church. Augustana will feed the youth and then they will have an experience similar to Vacation Bible School with different themes. The parents can join for lunch, all of it, or they can go enjoy a nice lunch together.
b. Our first attempt at this will be September 8. The children (along with the rest of congregation) will have brunch after worship, learn about what it means to do God’s Work with our hands, and then do some sort of fun activity that will help the people in our community.
4) We will have a prayground for our kids in the back of the sanctuary.
a. No, I did not misspell that. Starting in August our church sanctuary will have a designated area within the sanctuary where the kids can color and play using the themes for the Biblical stories that Sunday. A volunteer will watch over the kids and assist them while the parents are given the opportunity to fully participate in worship. (If a parent would also like to be in the prayground with their child that is fine, too.)
5) Adult Education hour will be moved to Wednesday mornings with Pastor Reed.
a. I will begin teaching the adult Sunday school on Wednesday mornings. There will be different subjects during this education hour. Some mornings we will be delving through a book in the Bible. Other mornings we may be doing something fun like looking at the faith background of past presidents. All in all, this will be an opportunity to focus on expanding our knowledge on faith, God, and the Bible.
b. I will be posting what we talk about on the Pastor’s page of our church website for any people who are unable to make it to a Wednesday morning education hour. If this goes well enough and we get enough people who would like the education hour in the evenings we will do that.
c. In light of Adult Education, we will be having a coffee hour before church in Luther Hall on Sundays from 9:30am - 10:20am. This will be a time for fellowship for our members. This is a time to sit down and talk to one another. This will also be a place where parents bringing children to Sunday School could come to instead of having to go home. There will be faith conversation starters during this time for those who would like to engage in it. All in all, I think this will be a great opportunity to be together.
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 Liturgical Nerd Notes –
Confessing Our Faith in Worship
Right after the hymn of the day it is common for a church service to continue with confessing a Creed (Apostle’s or Nicene). Just as we confess our sins at the beginning of worship, the creed portion of the worship service is a moment when we can confess our faith. This summer during Sunday Worship we are confessing our faith in a different way. We are going to confess our faith through Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.
What is Martin Luther’s Small Catechism?
This little book is the primary teaching tool Martin Luther wrote which is intended for lay people to learn about God. Every person must learn it during confirmation.
How are we going to be confessing our way through the Small Catechism?
We actually started on June 23! During the regular part of worship where we would normally confess a Creed we are instead reciting (confessing) together different parts of the Small Catechism. We are starting at the beginning with the 10 commandments (we are currently doing two a Sunday) and going all the way through the Sacrament of the Altar. By the end of the summer (Sunday before Labor Day) we will have walked through the entire Small Catechism.
For some this will be an introduction to Luther’s Small Catechism. Some people will be revisiting an old friend. Either way, may the teachings of Martin Luther refresh your mind and hearts with the Lutheran faith
Please note: This is a reminder to everyone of the congregation that you have the right to help me in finishing the elements. In seminary it was common for people to go back to the table during the postlude to finish off the elements. If you feel so inclined you can come after worship and finish eating the body (wafers or bread) or drinking the blood (wine or grape juice). May it fill your soul!
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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.
Council Highlights
June 11, 2019
- 7:00pm Thursdays … an opportunity to worship even if your weekend is busy.
- God’s Work Our Hands Sunday will be September 8. The plan is to have our worship, followed by a brunch, and then go out to work in the community.
- Life Touch will be here to take photos for a new pictorial directory on September 10 and 11. (Since the time of the council meeting the photo sessions have been changed to September 3 and 4.)
- The Scholarship Committee met and approved 4 scholarships.
- Jeannine Lees, Doug Nelson and Pastor Reed are delegates to the Northern Illinois Synod Assembly June 14 and 15 at Augustana College,
- The Sunday School Committee has met and are planning to do something different come fall. Stay tuned for further information.
- There is still time to sign up for the August 5-7 bus trip to Branson to see SAMSON. Contact Jeanine Lees for details: (cell 309-236-5920 or jeanineorion@frontiernet.net
The next meeting will be Tuesday, August 13, at 7:00pm. Nick Swanson will furnish refreshments and do devotions.
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July Meetings
Joy Circle Tuesday, July 9 9:00am
Breakfast Potluck
Peace Circle Thursday, July 11 TBD
Lunch Out
Faith Circle Wed, July 17 9:00am
Meet at church for outing
Destination to be determined
NO Mission Sewing Day
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Women, Wine and the Word
 Thursday, July 25th, 7:30at the home of
Megan Pedersen
Each month we will focus on a different woman of the Bible. Everyone is welcome!
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Memorial Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 9
5:30 pm in the Library
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July Birthdays01 Vivian Hutchison
03 Stephen Sayre
05 Garrett Pysson
07 Nicole Bruckman
14 Emma Jones
15 Loran Anderson
Kenlee Carlson
17 Connie Dismer
19 Nelda Stephens
Patsy Crippen
20 Mark Lindquist
22 Rachel Engnell
24 Amanda Peterson
Rachel Swanson
25 Heather Poppy
26 Roger Catlett
Nathan Swanson
27 Donald Lindstrom
28 Dena Mueller
John Poppy
29 Olivia West
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July Anniversaries03 Dick and Sally Rehn
09 Martin and Nikki Ruthaivilavan
19 Jessica and Wade Carlson
20 Ansley and Joyce Carlson
21 Rolland and Barbara Carlson
31 Aaron and Ashley Poppy
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G.W.O.H. Sunday Date Chosen -
September 8, 2019
Augustana Lutheran Church will be partaking in God’s Work Our Hands Sunday on September 8, 2019. On this Sunday our members gather for worship then go out to do projects for our community. Activities for G.W.O.H. Sunday range from helping beautify our park and town with different paint jobs to tying blankets we can give to shut-ins and nursing homes. All of these serve the purpose of doing God’s helping work in the world through our hands.
This year will be a little different because will be celebrating G.W.O.H. Sunday along with Rally Sunday for our Sunday School. To do so, our Sunday schedule will look like this:
9:30 - 10:15am - 1 st Day of Sunday School
10:30 - 11:00am - Worship Service
11:00am - 12:00pm - Rally Sunday/G.W.O.H. Brunch
(Pancakes and Bacon!!!!!)
12:00pm - 2:30pm - Community Projects
There will be more information about the specific projects in the next newsletter, but for now we are giving you a heads up because  we need to order our T-shirts for G.W.O.H. Sunday!!! In a sign of solidarity it is common for churches to wear special T-shirts that say, “God’s Work. Our Hands.”, on the front of the shirt and the name of our church on the back. We do not have a cost yet, but we do want to start getting a number for how many shirts we need. They have both adult and youth sizes. Please contact the church office with your shirt sizes so that we can have them made for everyone by September 8.
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Let’s Talk Halloween!
 Even though Halloween is still four months away it is not too early to think about Trunk and Treat. Let’s make this years bigger and better than last year! If you have any ideas, suggestions, or would like to help with planning please contact Jeanine Lees, 309.236.5920. Thank you. |
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St. Paul Lutheran Church
Annual Pork Chop Supper
and Ice Cream Social
Wednesday, July 3
Beginning at 5:00 PM
Great food, fellowship, and
music provided by the Orion Community Band
This event is held on the same day as the Orion Lighted Parade and fireworks display.
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Swedona Lutheran Church
1493 Knoxville Road
Lynn Center IL 61262
 Homemade Ice Cream Social
Thursday, July 18
Serving from 5:00 - 7:00pm
Menu
Swede Burgers Hot Dogs
Potato Salad Baked Beans
Chips Drink
Homemade ice cream
Toppings
Pie Cake  |
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Because of the Fourth of July holiday,
there will be no Thursday evening worship
service. We’ll see you again on July 11.
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We are getting a new church directory!
It has been 5 years since Augustana Lutheran Church has had a new church directory made. The church council has agreed that it’s time we make another one. The church directory is a collection of photos of our congregation members along with fun history and news representing what we’ve been up to and contact information so that we may keep in touch with our fellow congregants.
We will be using Lifetouch to help create our church directory. They will be taking family photos at our church on Tuesday, September 3 and Wednesday, September 4. Please keep one of these dates open on your schedule. If it is not open then please contact the church office.
These photo shoot days are an opportunity to get your picture taken for the church directory, but also to update your family portraits! Lifetouch offers many options for photos that can be made and sent to loved ones. Please join and us on Tuesday, September 3 or Wednesday, 4 so we can be a church together (in print).
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Active Shooter Training During Coffee Hour
August 18, 2019
Our world is becoming more dangerous every day and it seems soft targets like churches are no longer immune to mass shootings. It is a sad statement to type and read, but it is the truth. Some people in our congregation have voiced concern over this and wanted to have active shooter training for our church members.
Kevin Johnson, Nicholas Swanson, and Jeanine Lees have offered to give a presentation on active shooter training during coffee hour after church on August 18. This presentation will go over the generalities of what to do in case of an active shooter, but it will also go into the specifics for what we can do if an active shooter were to enter our sanctuary during worship.
Please know that while I, Pastor Reed, am pastor of this congregation guns (concealed or otherwise) will not be allowed on the church grounds. Our church is a holy space. Because of this, it is important to know what to do if an active shooter were to enter our sanctuary. It is my hope and prayers (and I hope yours too) that the knowledge shared on August 18 will never have to be used, but it is worth learning. Please join us for this important opportunity.
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Assisting in Worship - August 2019
9:00 am Worship Service
Communion Assistants
04 Laura Angelos
11 Bonnie Bandelow
18 Ken Poppy
25 Kevin Johnson
Acolytes
04 Ashley Rickey
11 Logan Selander
18 Katie Angelos
25 Emma Poppy
Lectors
04 Gordon Rehn
11 Doug Nelson
18 Kathy Atwell
25 Patsy Crippen
Greeters
04 Wayne French
11 Ken Poppy Family
18 Michael Carlson
25 Kevin Johnson Family
Communion Set-Up
04 Kathy Atwell
11 Laura Rickey
18 Steve and Nancy Gray
25 Wally and Diane Ladewig
Counters
04 Emily Maertens
Jeannine Westerlund
11 Linda Papoccia
Ed Williams
Ushers
Wayne French, Mindy Poppy,
Gordon and Nikki Rehn
Altar Guild
Sally Reinhart, Connie Dismer
Homebound Communion
Bonnie Bandelow
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Assisting in Worship -September 2019
9:00 am Worship Service
Communion Assistants
01 Deanna Swanson
08 Mindy Poppy
15 Wally Ladewig
22 Kathy Atwell
29 Ruth Swanson
Acolytes
01 Ashley Rickey
08 Kile Johnson
15 Katie Angelos
22 Logan Selander
29 Emma Poppy
Lectors
01 Deanna Swanson
08 Connie Dismer
15 Rocky Atwell
22 Kevin Johnson
29 Ruth Swanson
Greeters
01 Deanna Swanson
08 Jeanine Lees
15 Jan Gritton
22 Ray/Ruth Ann Newman
29 Mike Lowery
Communion Set-Up
01 Ken and Diane Poppy
08 Lori Foley
15 Kathy Atwell
22 Laura Rickey
29 Steve and Nancy Gray
Ushers
Rocky and Kathy Atwell
Bob and Linda Papoccia
Altar Guild
Jan Gritton and Kathy Atwell
Homebound Communion
Jeanine Lees
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July Nancy Gray
August Bonnie Bandelow
It is your responsibility to find a replacement if unable to serve.
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Acolyte Schedule
July-September
9:00 am Worship Service
Note: please be at church no later than 15 minutes before the service. Find Pastor for instruction.
If you cannot acolyte on your scheduled date, trade with someone else and let the church office know ASAP about the date. (309.521.8127) Save this schedule and parents phone numbers.
Laura / Katie Angelos 309.235.5910
Kevin / Kile Johnson 309.428.5433
Jennifer / Kile Johnson 309.428.5433
Laura/Ashley Rickey 309.235.4259
Michele/Sophie Selander 309.721.3162
Diane/Emma Poppy 309.794.1691
July 7 Emma Poppy
July 14 Ashley Rickey
July 21 Logan Selander
July 28 Katie Angelos
August 4 Ashley Rickey
August 11 Logan Selander
August 18 Katie Angelos
August 25 Emma Poppy
September 1 Ashley Rickey
September 8 (10:30am) Kile Johnson
September 15 Katie Angelos
September 22 Logan Selander
September 29 Emma Poppy
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Vacation Bible School
Monday, July 15 - Tursday, July 18
6:00 - 8:00pm (Light meal at 6:00pm)
This month Augustana Lutheran Church will be hosting Vacation Bible School July 15-18 for our church youth and the youth in our community. VBS is space themed this year with the title, “Miraculous Mission”. Kids will get a chance to enjoy space themed meals, arts and crafts, music, and games. All of this will be in light of different stories highlighting the miracles of God shown in the Bible. VBS takes place in the evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will feed the kids dinner at 6 and the rest of the fun will follow!
Please come join us for the closing ceremony worship service at 7:30 on the last day, Thursday, July 18.
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Church Modernization Projects Update
As things heat up this summer our sanctuary will not!
This will be our second summer with Air Conditioning in the sanctuary, and many visitors have complimented the beautiful paint job from last year. 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 $ = $ 54,954
% of Goal (Pledges) = 62.5 %
% of Goal ($) = 51.9 %
As you come and enjoy a beautiful and cool sanctuary this summer please consider contributing towards the project further.
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Augustana
