First Ev. Lutheran Church,201 N. Davis, PO Box 152 ,Oakland, NE, 68045 Office - (402) 685-5764 www.firstlutheranchurch-oakland.com, firstlutheranchurch_152@q.com Fax - (402) 685-5183

THE SPIRE

This fall I have been struck anew by the beauty of the world we live in as much of October seemed particularly bright and beautiful to me. The trees have seemed especially colorful and I have appreciated the many sunny cheerful days.

As I have enjoyed this beauty I have often been filled with awe regarding God’s creation, and I believe a few times I have whispered a “thank you” to God in my heart for being able to take it in.

The beauty of God’s creation is, of course, one of the many things for which we can be thankful as we approach Thanksgiving.

We can be thankful that in the midst of this creation God cares for each one of us as individuals. As part of his care for our lives we can be thankful that he provides for our daily needs. We can be thankful for the family and friends he gives us. We can also be thankful for his many other tender mercies in our lives.

Most of all, we can be thankful that we can experience a relationship with this God through his Son, Jesus.

In this Thanksgiving season may we at times find ourselves welling up in thankfulness towards God for all of his goodness to us.

God bless,

Pastor Mark

e Christmas season is a special

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Pastor’s Column 1

Announcements, 2

Sunday School & Bible Studies 2

Bible Studies, Altar Committee 3

Sewing Meetings & Dorcas Society 3

W.O.W. & Church Council Minutes 4

Prayers of Concern, Birthdays & Anniversaries 5

The November Calendar 6

Ushers, Greeters, Acolytes 7

Video, Sound, Organists & Coffee Servers 7

Christian Humor to Tickle Your Life 8

November 2017 Volume 5, Issue 10

By Rev. Mark Eldal

November 2017 Special Days

All Saints' Day — Nov. 1 Daylight-Saving Time Ends — Nov. 5 Veterans Day — Nov. 11 Bible Sunday — Nov. 19 National Bible Week — Nov. 19-Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Day — Nov. 23 Christ the King Sunday — Nov. 26

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Oakland Community Food Pantry is an agency of the Food Bank of Siouxland, which provides food for under 20 cents a pound. During the months of July, August, and September, the Food Pantry served 65 different families, representing 209 individuals. Thanks for your support and donations! Contact Cory Martin (402-687-2631 or cmartin@skyww.net) if you would like more information or are interested in volunteering.

The coffee and rolls on Sunday, October 1, were in honor of Elfie Nelson’s birthday! HAPPY 95TH BIRTHDAY ELFIE!!!

On Sunday morning October 22nd the rolls and coffee were in honor of Lois Messerschmidt’s

97th birthday!! WOW!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOIS!!!

We welcomed the Gideons on Sunday morning, October 22nd!

THANKS YOU’S

CHOIR HAS RESUMED Thanks again Bryan Bohn for leading our choir and our choir for singing!

If you would like to be part of our musical ministry, choir practice is every Wednesday at 7:00

pm.

Thank you Becca Bedrincek for the gift of your voice on Sunday, October 22.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Please notate our Sunday School kids sing in Church the second Sunday of November (12th) and our Christmas Program will be the second Sunday of December (10th)! A signup sheet will be sent out to help with coffee, costumes, etc so please mark the date and be willing to help.

For the month of November, we will be passing around our pay-it-forward plate on November 12th. The collections will go to the Scott Krutilek and Jeannie Tanksley families to help with medical expenses. Both families have dealt with some scary emergency situations and we wish them both a speedy recovery. Please consider donating and keep them in your prayers.

Our December pay-it-forward will be providing Christmas gifts to the surrounding communities for families that may be struggling financially. These pay-it-forward donations are helpful in so many ways and will bring gifts to unprivileged kids in our communities.

We had over 100 in attendance at our Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch fall outing. It was a beautiful day and hopefully everyone had a wonderful time! Thank you to First Lutheran Church for making this happen for our church families. If you would like to see just how much fun we had check out the pictures and videos on our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/First-Lutheran-Church-Oakland-NE-308938792621977/. Please feel free to click like and follow us to see all our upcoming events. It is helpful during the winter months with cancellations and notifications.

Thank you and Happy Halloween! ~ Angie Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive.

BIBLE STUDY NEWS

Confirmation will meet at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday and a meal will be provided.

FRIDAY NIGHT PUB. The "Luther’s Pub" dates for the year will be: November ? (pending), December 8, January 5th and 19th. We have a few volunteers signed up to help us chaperone. If you would be interested in helping the signup sheet is located in the multipurpose room. If you have any questions, please contact Connie Larson (402)380-5101 or Tess Johnson (402)380-5660.

The Spire Page 3 YOUTH GROUP will be meeting every Wednesday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. A meal will be provided. It is open to all current Junior and Senior High students in the community.

YOUTH GROUP MEAL SIGN UP SHEET – We have added a Youth Group Meal Sign Up Sheet to the bulletin board. to provide a meal, side dish or dessert every Wednesday night for 25-30 students throughout the school year. If you cannot provide a meal, but are willing to contribute funds to help cover the cost of meals please let Pastor Mark or Tess know of your willingness to donate funds. For planning, we would like to have volunteers sign up for meals, side dishes, dessert or donations at least a month in advance.

The Wednesday Night Youth group would like to give a big thank you to the WOW Group Ruth

for the very generous donation of $400. This will go a long way to providing meals as needed

or updates to our room upstairs. Thank you for being so kind!!

Men’s Bible Study is on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.

Growing Together – Pastor Mark will be leading a study on the first Chapters of Genesis during the month of November after church. The study will begin at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Shirley Olson & Sandy Mallette

SEWING GROUP MEETS every Monday & Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The sewing ladies will be packing the quilts for Lutheran World Relief and Open Door Mission on Tuesday Morning November 7th at 8:30 a.m. They would appreciate the help of some strong men to handle the heavy boxes of quilts. The ladies have made over 200 quilts this past year! WHAT AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT!!

If you are unable to give of your time but would like to donate monetarily …for every $1 you give to the LWR Quilt & Kit Shipping Fund, someone in need receives $8 worth of essential personal items. Costs to ship one item: Mission Quilt - $2.25; School Kit - $1.40; Personal Care Kit - $2.65; Fabric Kit - $1.00; Baby Care Kit - $1.30; Soap (18lb. carton) - $11.60, $100 would help send: 44 quilts, 71 school kits, 37 care kits, 100 fabric kits, 76 baby kits, 8 cartons. If you want to donate directly LWR this is the address: Lutheran World Relief, Quilt & Kit Shipping Fund, PO Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21198-9832. Be sure to note "Quilt & Kit Shipping Fund" in the memo line.

Dorcas Society - November 29 @ 2:00 p.m. @ Oakland Heights

WOMEN OF THE WORD (WOW):

➢ We are collecting fall and winter clothing for the Open Door Mission.

➢ Thanks to everyone who purchased fruit in July. We raised $1200!! This was divided equally between the Wednesday Night Youth Group, the BackPack program and helping to fund

November 1……..Bingo @ O.H. 9:30 a.m. ...Ruth November 6 …….Executive Meeting 9:00 a.m. November 8………Group Meetings 9 a.m. 2 p.m., 5 p.m. Clean Kitchen ….Ruth

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individuals in need with aid on their utility bills. What amazing fundraising they have done!! Thank you!!!

➢ FOOD BANK DONATIONS – We continue to collect non-perishable products, but did you know if you would prefer to give a monetary donation it is as simple as leaving a check at our local bank.

➢ Ladies Day Out – In September, we went to Omaha and saw the movie All Saints and enjoyed lunch. In October, we did another shopping day with lunch, of course. In Nov. and Dec. we will be going to places that have great holiday decorating ideas. If you are interested contact Connie Anderson at 402-685-5329.

First Evangelical Lutheran Church Oakland, Nebraska

The church council met October 2, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Greg Johnson, Nathan Anderson, Linda Jones, Sandy Husar, Carole Johnson, Jim Pelan, Karl Lundquist and Mona Tanksley. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. The treasurer’s report was reviewed and discussed.

Old Business: The Property Committee reported that the tree in the north lawn has been taken down. Sandy reported that she had done the touch up painting in the back of the sanctuary. Linda reported that she had met with Lela Heineman from the Dorcas group to discuss ideas for remodeling the kitchen off of the annex. Ideas include installation of cabinets and counter top, a new sink and faucet and possibly an opening between the rooms to use for serving coffee. Bids will be obtained, and more information will be coming. We discussed the meal that is planned for Reformation Sunday, October 29. The food will be prepared by members of the council. We will have a sign-up sheet available, so we can get an estimate of how many plans to attend. A movie about Martin Luther will be shown following the meal.

New Business: There was no report from the Evangelism Committee. We have been asked if the church building would be available for the Boy Scouts to use for their Thursday meetings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. It was agreed to allow the scouts to meet here. It was requested that people using the kitchen please clean up after they have used it so there aren’t dishes, food, etc. left when others come to use the kitchen.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned. The next meeting will be November 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Devotions for next meeting – Mona Tanksley

Communion Assistant: Nov. 4 – Arla Ogden Nov. 5 – Karl Lundquist

Mona Tanksley, Secretary

October Attendance 30 & 1……………176 7 & 8 …………… 176 14 &15 ………… 123 21 & 22………… 153 28 & 29 …………152

October Finances

Commitments $14,713.00 Designated: Sunday School $ 122.00 Wed. Nite Youth $ 50.00 Misc $ 269.00 TOTAL $15,154.00

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FIRST EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH IS PART OF LCMC,

To find information regarding our synod – http://www.lcmc.net/.

To Email our church - firstlutheranchurch_152@q.com

Please check out our updated website: www.firstlutheran-oakland.com

and we are now on Facebook as well.. come see our page…

https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-Lutheran-Church-Oakland-NE/308938792621977 and like it so you can receive feeds.

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 1 – Reg & Pam Linder 7 – Perry & Teresa Rogers 8 – Kyle and Laura Schnoor 10 – Mark & Laurie Carlson; Gail and Gary Elsasser 11 – Darrell & Cheryl Denker 14 – Norman & Janice Case 25 – Dan & AnnaBelle Olson 26 – Rachel & Gordon Nelson 29 – Chad & Andrea Schiermeyer

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 1 – Timothy Magnusson, Mindy Christofferson 2 – Rosemary Anderson, Dale Jones, Ivy Anderson 3 – Scarlett Johnson, James Peterson, Tom Meyer 4 – Dick Miller, Ashten Rennerfeldt 5 – David Pearson 6 – Jordan Johnson 7 – Ryan Nelson, Clohee Stucky 8 – Rachel Wise-Nelson 9 – Julie Easton, Megan Ahrens-Willer 10 – Preston Peterson Keesling, 11 – Julie Ehlers, Charles Krutilek 13 – Paula Modlin 14 – Keith Anderson, Megan Corwine-Loeffler, Tammy Schnick, Sam Schmidt 16 – Janice Case 17 – Earlene Paulson 18 – Larry Anderson, Ellen Magnusson 19 – Greg Ray 20 – Megan Bousquet 22 – Donna Larson, Robert Case 23 – Carla Corwine, Roger Ray, Makenna Miller 24 – David Deemer 26 – May Taylor 27 – Holly Olson 28 – Norm Case, Blake Denton, Brenda Anderson, Tammy VonEssen, Janet Wiltse 29 – Debbie Krutilek, Sandra Mallette, Ashlie Slatt-Mieth

IN OUR PRAYERS OF CONCERN PLEASE INCLUDE:

Lee Schinck, Tony Kochel (Hilda Benne’s nephew-in-law) Jeannie Tanksley, Scott Krutilek, Bonnie Goodrich, Krissa Schonert, Jerry Seick, Janice Johnson, Roger Maller, Nancy Poppe, Mel Swenson, Joe Keaschall, Alejandro Zeller, Pat Jorgensen, Oliver Nimmo, Moe Johnson, Nancy Moate, Stacy Long, Arizona Riecken, Lincoln Nobel Hangman, Andy Kruse, Landon Johnson, Delwin Benne, and Grace Meints, the family of Homer Uehling, our shut-ins, and our youth ministry.

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November 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 9:00AM MEN'S BIBLE STUDY

9:30AM BINGO @ OAKLAND HEIGHTS

6:30PM -8:30 P.M. YOUTH GROUP & CONFIRMATION

5:30PM COMMUNION SERVICE

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 9:30AM COMMUNION SERVICE

10:30AM FELLOWSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL

9:00AM WOW EXECUTIVE MEETING

7:00 PM CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING

7:30 PM A.A. MEETING

9AM, 2 PM, 6PM WOW GROUP MEETINGS

6:30PM -8:30 P.M. YOUTH GROUP & CONFIRMATION

5:30PM WORSHIP SERVICE

VETERANS DAY

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9:30AM PRAISE SERVICE

10:30AM FELLOWSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL

7:30 PM A.A. MEETING

9:00AM MEN'S BIBLE STUDY

6:30PM -8:30 P.M. YOUTH GROUP& CONFIRMATION

5:30PM WORSHIP SERVICE

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

9:30AM CONTEMPORARY SERVICE

10:30AM FELLOWSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL

7:30 PM A.A. MEETING

6:00 PM CONFIRMAND 1st COMMUNION DINNER

7:30 PM -THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE

THANKSGIVING DAY

5:30PM WORSHIP SERVICE

26 27 28 29 30 1 December 2

9:30AM WORSHIP SERVICE

10:30AM FELLOWSHIP & SUNDAY SCHOOL

7:30 PM A.A. MEETING

2:00PM DORCAS SOCIETY MEETING @ O.H.

6:30PM -8:30 P.M. YOUTH GROUP & CONFIRMATION

5:30PM COMMUNION SERVICES

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Nov 5 - Jonathan Dixon Nov 5 - Carson Thomsen 12 - Hannah Deemer 12 - Jonathan Dixon 19 - Kara Peterson 19 - Hannah Deemer (Thanksgiving Eve) 22 - Johnna Peterson (Thanksgiving Eve) 22 - Kara Peterson 26 - Carter Bousquet 26 - Johnna Peterson Dec 3 - Grant Seagren Dec 3 - Carter Bousquet (Sunday School Program) 10 - Brayden Selk (Sunday School Program)10 - Grant Seagren

November 2017 Ushers and Greeters Ushers: 5th – Sam Schmidt, Roger Moderow, Travis Thomson and Colton Thomson 12th – Norm Case, Larry Johnson, Andy Rennerfeldt and Ian Lundquist 19th – Norm Case, Dr. C. Seagren, Jason Klausen and Tom Ekhart 22nd - Thanksgiving Eve - Wyatt and Garrett Seagren 26th – Norm Case, Clare Wiltse and Jonathon Dixon

Greeters: 5th – Keri and Mia Thomson and Jacque Eldal 12th – Angie, Ashten, Anisten, Adilen and Ava Rennerfeldt 19th – Heather, Garrett and Gracie Klausen and Linda Von Essen 26th - Joanne Peterson and Mary Alice Pearson

Nov 5 –Bryan Bohn 12 –Cindy Blanc 19 –Ruth Wallerstedt 22 – (?TBD) 26 –Bryan Bohn Dec 3 –Bryan Bohn

Thank you for your help in these important areas. If you can't be here, please find someone to take your place.

Nov 5 – Dan Tanksley 12 – Tess Johnson 19 – Jim/Dan 22 – Tess Johnson 26 – Jim Pelan Dec 3 – Dan Tanksley

COFFEE SERVERS

Tess Johnson & Sharon Peterson Sunday, November 5, 2017 Janet Wiltse & Katie Selk Sunday, November 12, 2017 Rachel Wise-Nelson & Nancy Wonka(?) Sunday, November 19, 2017 Julia Wuestewald & Audrey Unwin Sunday, November 26, 2017 Karen Ahrens & Brenda Andersen Sunday, December 3, 2017 Downstairs with the Youth After Christmas Program Sunday, December 10, 2017

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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

First Ev. Lutheran Church

PO Box 152, 201 N. Davis

Oakland, NE 68045

Phone:

402-685-5764

Fax:

402-685-5183

E-Mail:

firstlutheranchurch_152@q.com

We are committed to providing

spiritual enrichment to ALL who

seek the Lord.

We’re on the Web!

Visit us at:

www.firstlutheran-oakland.com

CHRISTIAN HUMOR TO TICKLE YOUR LIFE

Non-Profit Organization Permit No. 11 Oakland, NE

68045 Non-Profit

Organization

Permit No. 11

Oakland, NE 68045