TODAY / September 5 / The 15th Sunday After Pentecost

NEXT SUNDAY / September 12 / The 16th Sunday After Pentecost
Second service at 11:00 a.m.
– Sermon Preview: “Searching and Sweeping.” The shepherd who searches for his lost sheep and the woman who sweeps the house in search of her lost coin capture our imagination this morning as they reveal truth about God who rejoices when the one who was lost is found. Though we might feel more lost than found, God welcomes both sinners and saints to eat together at the table God has prepared for all.

FROM THE POST FAMILY...On behalf of our family, thank you to all who prayed for and supported us throughout Curt’s illness. Heart felt thanks to all those who helped in so many ways for his funeral last week. The warmth of your friendship is felt and appreciated. Sarah

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EVERY MONTH is when we collect donations for our local food pantries. THANK YOU to all those who remembered and brought donations today for distribution to those in need.

THE FURNITURE LAYOUT FOR THE ATRIUM, SPANGLER ROOM AND RECEPTION/OFFICE WILL BE ON DISPLAY in the Narthex for the next few weeks. A second layout poster, along with samples of carpeting, tile, fabrics, and paint selections will be displayed in the East Hallway off of the Sanctuary. Stop by for a “sneak preview” of the materials that have been selected by the Interiors Team for our new building. If you know of anyone who is considering gifting a particular piece of furniture but would like additional information about that particular item, please contact either Gary Cartwright at 847/824-5499 or kahunagar@sbcglobal.net or Carolynn Joesten at 847/698-3045 or cjoesten@comcast.net. This gifting program offers a unique opportunity for members to donate funding toward a particular item, or simply give a donation that is designated to be applied to the cost of furnishing our dynamic new space.

GROWING IN FAITH GIFTING GUIDE – Be sure to pick up a copy (or check on the St. Luke’s Web Site) for the many furnishings and equipment items in our gift catalog. You may want to consider a gift in memory of, or in honor of someone as we seek to provide new furniture and equipment for our new building addition. As of August 29, the following items have been purchased from the “Growing in Faith Gifting Guide:”

• Atrium: 2 round tall café tables (pages 4 and 5)
• Automated External Defibrillator: 1 cabinet; all wall, directional and inspection tags (page 5)
• Spangler Room: 1 oak wood and glass curio, 1 sofa (page 6)
  1 companion club chair, 1 - 21” square accent table (page 6)
• Custom Built: 1 buffet cabinet (pages 8 and 9)
• Computer Lab: 6 chairs, 1 headset (page 10)
• Miscellaneous: 36 feet/sliders for chairs (page 11)
  1 wall mounted rack for confirmation pictures (page 12)
  1 - 24 x 60 classroom table (page 12)
• Kitchenette: 1 microwave oven; 1 dual airpot coffee brewer;
  (main level) 4 airpots (page 14)

Undesignated gifts approximately $1,700. The library has received a cash donation.

ALL CHILDREN KGTN-6th GRADE ARE INVITED TO ST. LUKE’S CHILDREN’S CHOIR FEST this Wednesday, September 8, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Both Cherub (K-2nd) and Junior Choirs (3rd-6th) will meet together for snacks, games and rehearsing in preparation for singing on Sunday, September 19, at the 11:00 service. For more information or to help, contact Melinda Hoiland at melinda.hoiland@comcast.net or 847/825-6659.

THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY. Each Thursday morning one of our pastors leads a study on the texts for the forthcoming Sunday. It’s like having your own private tutor to prepare for your weekly encounter with God in worship. Why not join the discussion on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m.? This Thursday’s meeting focuses on Luke 15:1-10. Pastor Weber will lead the study.

DO YOU HAVE A PAIR OF GYM SHOES YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO DONATE? The Sunday School program is looking for a pair of gym shoes for a project. As long as the shoes aren’t too stinky, call Jeannine before September 10.

WE ARE PUTTING A GROUP FROM ST. LUKE’S TOGETHER to head downtown this Saturday, September 11, to the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park for the Stars of the Lyric Opera, a star-studded, free concert featuring a spectacular selection of overtures, arias and ensembles from Lyric Opera's upcoming season. It's always a fun evening, and particularly when you share it with friends. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Bring your own picnic -- wine is permitted in the park. All ages are welcome. You can park underground in the Millennium Park parking garage. We'll save an area on the lawn by around 6:00. Please RSVP to Todd and Kathy Raeder so they know how much space to reserve on the lawn. (847/867-7153 or traeder@msn.com). Hope to see you there!

FAIR TRADE-CERTIFIED COFFEE AND TEA ARE BACK! Next Sunday, September 12, (Rally Day), we'll have a limited amount to sell, and will take orders for purchase the next month on the second Sunday. Let's remember why we buy these products: to help bring economic justice to the growers in their various countries, and because "mmmmm, it's so good!"

SLOW - St Lukes Organization for Women. The summer vacations have passed and the kids are back in school....it's time to "SLOW Down at Camp Scerba." Join us Thursday, September 16, at 7:00 p.m. for a wonderful evening under the stars where we can catch up or get to know new faces by the fire. We will also be planning events for the upcoming year. Bring a snack, a dessert or a beverage to share. Camp Scerba is at 500 North Home Avenue in Park Ridge. Please RSVP to Alelei Scerba at 312/593-8332 or a.scerba@ comcast.net. The purpose of SLOW is to get to know our friends at St. Luke’s better. All St Luke’s women are welcome. If you would like to be on the SLOW email list please contact Kara Clark at kara.clark@comcast.net. It's time to SLOW down!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNE EDISON-ALBRIGHT – Another member of St. Luke’s is headed to ordained ministry of Word and Sacraments. Uanimously called as pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Anne will be ordained at a festive worship service at St. Luke’s on Saturday, September 18, at 2:00 p.m. All are invited!

FROM THE LIBRARY. ELCA’s Draft Social Statement on Genetics will be discussed Sunday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m. here at St. Luke’s, led by the Reverend Roger Willer. We have several copies of this important draft available. You are invited to pick one up, study, discuss and share your comments, thereby contributing to the development of the proposed social statement for 2011. The drafts will be available on the table outside of the sanctuary, or in the church office during the week. The entire draft is also available on ELCA’s website. The library is undergoing some renovations, including painting, during the next few weeks. Please know that all books are temporarily packed and out of circulation for the time being. Please take good care of any books currently checked out until the library reopens. Thank you!

BEYOND THE BUMPS...As we journey down the highway of life we encounter bumps in the road – a job loss, an illness, difficult decisions. We will share thoughts on getting “beyond the bumps in the road” at St. Luke’s 4th Annual Women’s Retreat which takes place Friday, October 22 – Sunday, October 24, at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Camp in Oregon, Illinois. The cost of the retreat is $180 with a $100 deposit due by September 15 and the remaining $80 balance due by October 3. Please contact Julie Russell (847/721-1636) or Nan Clarke (847/518-9065) by September 15 to RSVP or for additional information. Contact Pastor Kristi for details regarding scholarships.

JOB POSTINGS. St. Luke’s has a CAREER TRANSITION MINISTRY (CTM). One element of the ministry is “Members helping Members.” Members, who know of a job opening, share the information, so that members seeking a job may have that information as soon as possible. There are two ways to share a JOB POSTING: There is a poster in the east hallway of the worship space. There are current job listings on the poster. The information may be shared with folks seeking positions. In addition there is a plastic envelope with copies of blank “Current/Future Job Posting” sheets. You are encouraged to fill out a form and drop it off in the church office mail box OR to e-mail the information to Paul Sheehan at pmsheehan91@gmail.com. CTM organizers will share the job posting with folks who are seeking positions.

FINANCIAL UPDATE AS OF AUGUST 29 – The offerings for the ministry programs during August totaled $47,430. The amount that is committed for the same five Sundays is $59,200. There was a short fall of $11,770 in August alone. As of July 31 we were in arrears by $23,000. Now we are behind by $34,770. We do not have the cash reserves to cover this amount of short fall. It is not unusual to fall behind in the summer months, but this is an unusual amount. At the same time our expenses are constant and in the summer months there are additional expenses as we prepare for the fall programming. Members are requested to bring their contributions up to date. Members who can are requested to contribute more, or to donor ahead, so that we may address this cash flow problem. Thank you for your prayers and support.

2011 OFFERING ENVELOPES will be ordered in early September. More members are using direct payments to the congregation through "Simply Giving" or through direct payment from their bank. Most have asked that offering envelopes not be ordered for them. Offering Envelopes are provided to members as a means for making their contributions regularly as a part of their worship. Unless we hear that you do not want offering envelopes, they will be available for your use and distributed in December. Those not desiring 2011 offering envelopes may note the same on the "pew card" or call the church office.

THEOLOGY OF PARK RIDGE begins its fall 2010 series, “The Mystery of Life Unfolds,” on Wednesday, September 15. Lectures are held at Our Lady of Hope Church, 9711 West Devon Avenue in Rosemont beginning at 9:15 a.m. Coffee and rolls will be provided. The fee is $10 per lecture at the door or $35 for the full series. Men and women are invited. Checks should be made payable to Theology of Park Ridge and sent to Mary Lou Murphy, 5813 North Nicolet, Chicago, IL 60631. Registration is requested by September 13. Our Lady of Hope Church is wheelchair accessible.

• September 15 – Dr. Richard Westley, retired Professor from Loyola University  “A Celebration of Woman–the Church of the Future”
• September 29 – Dr. Urban Von Wahlde, Professor of New Testament, Loyola University  “Reading Revelation Right”
• October 13 – Barbara Brotman, reporter and columnist, the Chicago Tribune   “The Journalism of God”
• October 27 – Rev. Dr. Richard Sparks, Old St. Mary’s Church, Chicago  “To Treat or Not to Treat: Ethical Decisions at the End of Life”
• November 10 – Dr. Pauline Viviano, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Loyola University  “For Everything There Is a Season”

ELIJAH PANTRY WILL HAVE ITS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER Saturday, October 2, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston between 4:00-6:00 p.m. Kyle Cartwright will be one of the performers. There will be other entertainment and a hors d'oeuvres dinner. Ken Schoy will sell tickets in September. See Ken or contact him at 847/823-3957 for additional information.

Activities for the Week of September 5

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Elijah Pantry – Maine Township Pantry
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion/15th Sunday After Pentecost
10:00 a.m. Holy Communion/15th Sunday After Pentecost

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Office Closed – Labor Day

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
6:00 p.m. Stewardship Team meeting
7:00 p.m. Operations and Management Cabinet meeting
8:00 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
1:15 p.m. Financial Management Team meeting
4:00 p.m. Spiritual Practices meeting
4:30 p.m. Choir Fest
6:00 p.m. Confirmation Orientation
7:00 p.m. Youth Choir rehearsal
7:30 p.m. WELCA/Sarah
8:00 p.m. Celebration Ringers
8:00 p.m. Al-Anon

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
9:30 a.m. Bible Study
12:30 p.m. WELCA/Rachel
6:30 p.m. Music and Worship Cabinet meeting
7:45 p.m. Chancel Choir rehearsal
8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Messenger Deadline/October issue
(Pastor Weber on call)
8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
8:30 a.m. Holy Communion/16th Sunday After Pentecost
9:45 a.m. Sanctuary Choir rehearsal
11:00 a.m. Holy Communion/16th Sunday After Pentecost
8:00 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous
8:00 p.m. Al-Anon
8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous
8:00 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous/Al-Anon
 

THE DEADLINE FOR ANY INFORMATION that needs to be included in the upcoming week’s Parish Notes is Monday at 9:00 a.m. (sorry, no exceptions). Here are some helpful tips to make it easier for you to submit announcements for either the Messenger and/or the bulletin:
1. Type (preferable) or print your announcement clearly.
2. Provide your name and a daytime contact number in case we have any questions.
3. Indicate Messenger and/or bulletin. And, in the case of the bulletin, the Sunday(s) you would like the information to appear.
4. In order to conserve paper, inserts will appear in the bulletin for a two-week period only. (The weeks need not be consecutive.) Please indicate which two Sundays you would like the information to appear and submit it in a “camera-ready” format. Thank you!

Sunday Ministers – All the members of St. Luke’s
Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Larson, Lead Pastor - ext. 11 - 847/696-9569 (home)
Rev. Kristina C. Weber, Associate Pastor - ext. 12 - 847/384-1084 (home)
Rev. Dr. Malcolm L. Minnick, Jr., Pastor Emeritus - ext 29 - 773/637-0081 (home)
Nancy Olson, Associate in Ministry, Member Care Coordinator - ext. 19 - 847/384-9861 (home)
Anne Krentz Organ, M. Mus., Director of Music Ministries - ext. 14
Melinda Ramseth Hoiland, M. Arts, Director of Children’s Choirs - ext. 15
Jeannine Oakes, Director for Children, Youth and Family Ministries, ext. 16
Jeanne Rice, Parish Coordinator - ext. 10
Annette Kern, Office Administrator - ext. 17