Bring all creatures great and small -- or photos of them if they are shy or not easily transportable.
A favorite celebration of God's creation at New Life during Sunday service at 9:00 a.m.
Coming Up at New Life
New Life: Sunday, Oct. 2
Worship at 9:00 a.m. -- Join us for Sunday worship on the New Life land, this Sunday includes Blessing of the Animals (see above).
If you're not comfortable with in-person worship, you can tune in on Facebook Live -- no account needed.
Sunday School for all ages -- 15 minutes following worship.
Come to the adult class. See more about children's and youth classes.
Throughout October during the service:
Teaching Kids to Worship: Offering -- See the details from Paster Candice below!
Helping Hands Sunday, Oct. 9
Lindy Orr, President of Helping Hands, the Dripping Springs Food Pantry, will join us in worship and Sunday school on Oct. 9. Come hear about Lindy's passion for feeding the hungry, and how we can help meet the needs of folks who are hungry in our community. You won't want to miss this!
November Book Club, beginning Nov. 3:
The Tree of Knowledge is a dynamite read... reminiscent of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code but smarter, sharper... A thrill ride with no seatbelt but what an incredible view. Wow! Book Club meets again at 6pm, Thursday Nov. 3 at Kym Oltrogge's house. Potluck dinner. This book is available on Audible. Please RSVP to k2o@austin.rr.com, and join the feast with us.
Lutherans Walking Boldly: Walk to End Alzheimer's, Nov.12
This weekend is one of our favorite fall Sundays, the Blessing of the Animals. We conclude our Season of Creation honoring Saint Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was known for living a life of radical simplicity and conforming his life to the Way of Jesus. We will honor this saint who was said to have preached to the birds - who listened to him. I am looking forward to seeing your furry family members in person, with a photo, or phone image.
We turn then to a new chapter in our celebration of the Season of Pentecost, "Grace in Action," our 2022 stewardship campaign and annual meeting. The following six weeks we will hear about the grace-full things that New Life has accomplished in 2022, the grace we have given to our community, and our plans for 2023. Watch for an introduction letter from our "Grace in Action" team next week. Our Facebook page will have new posts, too!
With gratitude and grace,
- Pastor Candice
Get the Details
Winter Structure Update:
We learned recently that we must get a site development permit to build the metal pavilion for worship. This requires hiring a civil engineer to survey our property. This permit process cannot be completed by Dec. 1. The leadership has been preparing for this contingency with multiple other plans. At the same time, we learned that we also need a permit for our winter tent since New Life is now in the city limits. City hall has been working with us to help us get the right permit. Please keep praying for our winter structure. Look for another update at the end of October.
Teaching Kids to Worship
October Topic: Offering
Did you know that giving an offering is an act of worship? It's the way we thoughtfully give back to God a portion of what we were first given. We use our skills, talents, and spiritual gifts at work, and then we receive a paycheck deposited electronically into our bank account. We acknowledge that God made us, loves us, and provides abundantly for us.
In a post-Covid church, many of us make online donations on a regular schedule, and we carry cash a lot less than we used to. Our children see money less than we did growing up. So we have to be thoughtful about showing them how our families use money.
When should we begin? It might be years before we teach our children to pay bills and check an online account, but even toddlers can be taught the value of simple chores like bringing dishes to the dishwasher and putting dirty clothes in the right place. They can earn coins or stickers on a chart so they can see that parents value their work in the family. Now is the perfect time to teach them about giving something back to God.
During October, Pastor Candice will be inviting the children to return to their parents during worship to make a small gesture of offering. This could be something they drew or a few coins. Parents will know what is best for their children's development. Our children will really enjoy learning this new way to participate in worship.
For students who are already learning about online banking, this is a good moment to talk about your giving practices. Help them setup their accounts to follow your values, whether it's regular online donations or end of year giving. Train them in the way to live, and they will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
For more parenting help, check out your Preschool Bible: "Manna in the Desert" and "Jesus Feed a Crowd." And in the Spark Story Bible: "Manna, Quail and Water" and "Jesus Feeds 5000." Ask your teens to put their Bible on the dinner table Sunday night and read about manna, Exodus 16:1-18; 17:1-7, or loaves and fishes in John 6:1-14.
If you have an item for the Thursday weekly newsletter or something to add to the website calendar, please email Renee Carlson. Due date for the newsletter is 7:00 p.m. Wednesdays.
So about the weather: Weather permitting, we worship outdoors year-round under the oaks.
New Life is an outdoor worshipping church that is active in the Dripping Springs community, serving our neighbors. We welcome you to find out more about us!
Donate online to New Life's environmentally-focused mission of spreading the Good News of God's great love. Donate via PayPal to "New Life Lutheran Church of Dripping Springs Texas."
