Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week we’re going to celebrate the Festival of the Reformation. Reformation is officially October 31 so this is about the earliest Sunday in October we can observe it! The story of Martin Luther has all kinds of twists and turns but at its heart it is about a pastor who wants his people to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are saved completely, entirely, and only by God’s grace through His Son Jesus Christ. The Reformation is all about stripping away the junk that piles up in our thinking about Who God is and how He should act and turning us to the one center and shining Light of faith: Jesus. When it all boils down, the Christian faith is about Him. He is our Savior. He gave His life and rose again, obeying the Father to save you. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t deserve it. But because He’s done it, we have the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. When our ears are bombarded by so much bad news and negativity on a daily basis, the message of Martin Luther and the Reformation is the Good News of Jesus that we need to always hear! So we’ll observe the Festival of the Reformation this Sunday and Wednesday and give thanks for this eternal gift!

TRUNK OR TREAT THIS SUNDAY
We’re having Trunk -or- Treat this Sunday at Noon. We’ll gather in the back parking lot around 11:30am. Decorate your trunk/hatch and we’ll go trunk to trunk starting at Noon. Come out and enjoy some family fun. A few guidelines: Please no gory/explicit decorations or costumes. Please only hand out individually wrapped treats. Please no homemade treats. Please wear a mask.

BONFIRE NEXT FRIDAY
For another opportunity for some Fall Fellowship, join us next Friday, October 30 for a Bonfire. We’ll gather about 6pm. At 7pm we’ll pray Evening Prayer around the fire and then have some S’mores and Hot Cocoa. Bring a chair and roasting sticks if you have them. Let’s enjoy some outdoor fellowship before winter gets here!

COVID UPDATES
The Elders and I are keeping an eye on the Covid numbers and updates of guidelines. We are NOT CHANGING ANYTHING at this time. As always, please don’t plan to attend in person if you are not feeling well. That’s probably the biggest factor in loving our neighbor and keeping one another from catching illness. We will continue our current schedule of worship and Bible Studies, and streamed/recorded services.

Voters Meeting
Our Fall Voters Meeting is Sunday, November 15 at 9am (Between services: We will not have Bible Study or Learning the Faith that day). The main business is election of officers and board members which was postponed from our May meeting.

Bible Study Opportunities:
Take time to grow in God’s Word!
Sundays:
Bible Study – 9:00-9:30 AM in the Narthex. Reading the Epistle of James
Learning the Faith (all ages) – 9:45-10:30 AM in the Gym.
Tuesdays – Bible Study at 10:30 AM in the Narthex. (Gospel According to St. Matthew)

STREAMING:
Our Sunday service is available to watch live and recorded here:
We stream live on our FACEBOOK PAGE HERE.
Our videos are also live and recorded on YOUTUBE HERE.
The simplest way to watch online (not live) is probably through our church’s website HERE.

LCMS DISASTER RELIEF:
It’s certainly been a whirlwind of natural disasters lately from fires to storms all around our country and the world. LCMS Disaster Relief is on the front lines in many places to help those who have been displaced or are in need. If you’d like to help out, you can make an offering directly to LCMS Disaster Relief RIGHT HERE. Click the “Give” button or select a particular area to give.

Martin Luther suffered many years from a troubled conscience, unsure he could ever get rid of his sins. What a relief to realize that he couldn’t and that he didn’t have to. Jesus already did! That’s the Good News we need to hear over and over our whole lives long. So come and hear it again as we celebrate the Reformation. See you in the Divine Service!

In Christ,
Pastor Buetow

Pictures from our Drone Photo Session this week!

Download this week’s Bulletin, Daily Devotions, NewsNotes and Volunteer Schedules from our website here:

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