(From the Pastor continued:)  The second word we can think about in thanksgiving and stewardship is whole hog – 100%.  Whole hog sausage means not just some of the cheaper cuts of pork went into the sausage, but the whole pig went in – hams, roasts and all – 100% when it comes to stewardship it is whole – hog.  We should be giving 100% of our life and income to God.  That may be shocking and call for some changes in our thinking.  We could get confused and think that what we put into our church offering envelope is what we give to God.

We need to rethink that what we pay on our mortgage is money we use to serve God by caring for our children and family.  The money we spend at Wegmans or Tops is money spent in God’s service to care for people we are responsible for.  The same is true of money we spend on gas, education, entertainment and such things.  What we put into the church envelope is also part of this service to God through the organized work of religion in our world.

When we think of stewardship as whole – hog we then pray for guidance to be good and thoughtful managers of our whole life and our responsibilities with and for other people.  This involves money and also a lot more.  Stewardship becomes a way of life as we follow our Lord.

Following our Lord brings up the third word in this package:  pilgrim.  We are all pilgrims on the way of life with different talents and blessings.  Some people have more money while others have more talents or time to share.  Pilgrims are people who travel along the road of life and know that they do not own the road or any part of it.  They also know that they change on their journey from babes and children to people in their prime and then on to age and dying.  They know also that the shadow of the cross is over the whole road as well as the light of Easter.  Because change is part and parcel of a pilgrim’s life on the road they have different responsibilities and opportunities along the way.  There are times in life when 10% given in charitable contributions is beyond them.  There are times when 10% is way below their ability and position in life on the journey. As pilgrims they need to pray and think about what good stewardship is at this point in their life and in their community.

We also know that those people or congregations who lose vision beyond the self are heading into death.  When Jesus said that those who save their lives lose them he is simply stating a fact of life and statement of God.  If anyone ignores that he or she or they still die.  If we open our eyes we can see case histories of this all over.

We can also see that those who lose the self for the Gospel in mission save their life and see it grow into more than they ever could dream.  We at Salem need to challenge each other with mission and vision in prayerful, thoughtful and concrete ways.  We then open our hearts and minds to see the words stewardship and thanksgiving come together in our lives.  We will then be pilgrims  following  our  Lord  in  life  that  is  “whole-hog” – 100% in the goodness of the Holy Trinity.  We’ll be pilgrims on a road from here to eternity where stewardship and thanksgiving come as natural as - - snow in Buffalo.

                                                                        Peace,

                                                                        Pastor Wurster

 

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Lutheran  ‘30’  Broadcast  Schedule:  33th YEAR, 2003-2004

 

Each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. on WXRL (1300 AM), Lancaster, N. Y.

November 2 – Salem, Springville

November 9 – St. Luke, Cheektowaga

November 16 – St. Mark, North Tonawanda

November 23 – Immanuel, North Tonawanda

November 30 – Calvary, Buffalo

 

ADVENT  FAMILY  POTLUCK  AND  CRAFTS Sunday, November 30, 2003   Immediately after worship service, we will be making crafts for the shut-ins, as well as anyone who wants to make wreaths or ornaments for the church Christmas tree.  There will be some expense for material.   Sign up on Sunday, November 16 and November 23 on sheets in the narthex and other entrance of church.  For more information, call Richard Landseadel – 822-9695; Ruth Carr – 823-3900; Joanne Kushka – 823-8461.   COME AND JOIN US!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	REFORMATION   SUNDAY   A very special thank you to all the cookie bakers and helpers who made the Reformation Sunday Reception such a success.  All of your efforts were greatly appreciated.            Joyce Vassallo, L.W.M.L. President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A  NOTE  OF  THANKS  FROM  BUFFALO  CITY  MISSION . . .

 

“Dear Friends,

 

We here at Cornerstone Manor, staff – women  -  children, wish to thank all the folks in your church that recently presented our facility with all the wonderful and much needed gift donations.  All the time and energy that was expended by VBS, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and The Salem Piecemakers is very commendable and much appreciated.

 

As you may know, we serve many women and children in our facility that come from difficult life situations and are in need of much help.  We are very pleased that God has placed us in this ministry and that people like you are willing to help.  The many, many bags of personal care items and the wonderful quilts are items that we can use all the time.

 

God bless you for your concern, kindness and compassion for the less fortunate in our community and for helping us to fulfill our commitment to them.  It is particularly nice to have the Christian community participate in outreach.  Thank you and God bless you!

 

                        Sincerely, Lora Warkentin, R.N., DNS – Director, Cornerstone Manor”

                 THANKSGIVING   WORSHIP   SCHEDULE

                                    The annual  THANKSGIVING  EVE  SERVICE, sponsored by the South Buffalo Ecumenical

                                    Association, will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 at St. Martin’s Parish,

                                    1140 Abbott Rd., Buffalo, NY.   We hope many will attend this community event to give thanks

to God for another year of abundant blessings upon us all.

Our   THANKSGIVING  DAY  SERVICE  will be held at  10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 27, with Holy Communion.  As had been our tradition, we ask everyone to bring food items  (as much as a grocery bag full, if possible) for the South Buffalo Community Table on Southside Avenue in Buffalo; and leave them in the narthex on the way into church.  Cash gifts are desired and can be dropped in the offering.  (Food and cash can be brought in before Thanksgiving Day, too, if you'll be away for the holidays.)

What a privilege we have to gather in church as a congregation family to give thanks to God for

another blessed year!  Let's all contribute through our presence, prayers, our generous offerings

of food and cash for the South Buffalo Community Table, as well as for our own church!

Generous thankofferings also will help us to meet our commitments and eliminate our deficits for the year.  What better motive for doing this  THANKS-GIVING?

 

 

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                                 S U N D A Y     S C H O O L

 

Let’s take a moment to think about Thanksgiving and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives.  The 23^rd Psalm reminds us that God provides everything we need;  that no matter what – in the shadow of death, in the presence of our enemies, or in the midst of our deepest sufferings—God is with us.  It is His presence that inspires our gratitude.  This does not mean that we will never grieve or feel pain, nor does it mean that we will be perpetually happy.  Instead, the 23^rd Psalm teaches us to live in gratitude for the reality that God is forever with us, and we are forever with God.

This month, our Sunday School will give thanks on November 23 by singing in church in celebration of Thanksgiving.  Also, our first ensemble Christmas Pageant rehearsal will be held on this day.  Prior to that, Mr. Sylvia will be working with the children in small groups during Sunday School time.

Our Christmas Pageant rehearsals will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the following Sundays: November 23, December 7, December 14.  On these days all Sunday School children in grades 3 through 8 will be asked to bring bagged lunches to eat after church.

Primary Department children will attend the December 14 rehearsal only.

Our Christmas Pageant will be presented during our 10:30 a.m. worship service on December 21^st.  Children will report to Sunday School as usual at 9:00 a.m. for a final rehearsal.  A birthday cake for Jesus will be cut during the pageant and will be served in the lower parish hall social room after the pageant.

If anyone is interested in helping out by serving cake and ice cream during the Birthday Party for Jesus after the Christmas Pageant, please contact David Sylvia at 627-5812 or dsyl1113@cs.com

Reminder to grades 3 through 8:  Junior Choir began after church on October 5, 2003.  Lois Jones, assisted by Choir Mother, Monica Thomas, will direct the Junior Choir this year.  Registration forms are still being accepted.  It’s not too late!!!

Reminder to Sunday School Teachers:                           David Sylvia, Sunday School Superintendent

Next Meeting is November 13, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.             

W O R S H I P

 

The Worship Committee has developed a page for the DOVE that will communicate to the congregation the themes, liturgies, sermon texts and titles and other points of worship.     (LW = Lutheran Worship            TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal             W O V = With One Voice))

Hymns and liturgy are being chosen by Pastor, the Music Director, and the Worship Committee.  Comments are invited for future growth.

SUNDAY           LITURGY              1^st   HYMN                     SERMON  HYMN           COMMUNION HYMNS       LAST  HYMN             TEXT and TITLE

November 2 All Saints (white)	LW 158 Communion Gospel Procession		LW 191 – “For All the Saints”	LW 361 – “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me;” “Come, Holy Spirit;”  “Holy Is the Lord;”  “Seek Ye First”	LW 190 – “Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright”	Matthew 5:1-12 – “Peacemakers With Salt”
November 9 Third Last Sunday (green)	TLH 32 Matins	LW 371 – “O God, My Faithful God”	WOV 778 – “O Christ the Same”		LW 182 – “Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love”	Mark 13:1-13 – “Beware of Time Table Religion”
November 16 Second Last Sunday (green)	Communion Youth	LW 381 – “Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus”	WOV 752 – I, the Lord of Sea and Sky”	LW 362 – “Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness;” “More Precious Than Silver;” “Spirit of the Living God”	LW 171 – “Holy God, We Praise Your Name”	Mark 13:24-31 – “Is Your End Personal?”
November 23 Last Sunday Christ the King (white)	LW 158  WORD	LW 179 – Rejoice, the Lord Is King”	WOV 776 – “Be Thou My Vision”		LW 368 – “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”	Mark 13:32-37 – “Alert and Alive”
November 30 Advent 1 (blue)	Youth/Contemp		Youth choice			Luke 21:25-36 – “Stars and Fig Trees Greet Him”

Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class – Fall 2003

Faith, Stories and Prayers

Making peace with head, heart, tongue and both hands

Mission:  Peace/Salem – As Father sent me, I send you

Vision:    Preach, Teach, Heal/Care – doing what Jesus does

            Lutherans are people with One Lord and 3 books (Bible, Catechism, Hymnal)

Date                 Bible                                                          Catechism                                                  Hymns/Prayers

Nov. 2                Jeremiah the preacher –                             Lord’s Supper                                             Psalm 116

                            Jeremiah 7, 26                            

Nov. 9                Jeremiah prays and lives –                          Lord’s Supper                                             Psalm 103

                            Jeremiah 15 & 16

Nov. 16           Jeremiah’s Hope – Jeremiah 31                  Lord’s Supper                                            Psalm 23

Nov. 23           Micah Judges – Micah 1 – 3                       Keys                                                          Psalm 137

Nov. 30           Micah Promises – Micah 4 – 5                   Confession                                                 Psalm 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A D V E N T    C O I N    F O L D E R S

 

They will be sent out before the first Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2003 for your use during the Advent season.  Please insert them in the reminder envelopes, to be mailed with the December DOVE.  If family members of the household which receives the DOVE need more reminder envelopes, you will find them on the table near the mailslots or call the office for the secretary to put them in your mailslot.

 

Please return your coin folders at one of the holiday services, December 14 or 21.  Deposit them in the special box on the narthex table, rather than in the offering plate because of bulk.  All monies received in these folders will be used for various charities listed in our budget.  Also note that all Christmas festival envelopes will automatically go to Synod and District for missions, unless marked otherwise.

 

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Remember to use the Wheat  Ridge  seals

from Lutheran Hour Ministries included with this

DOVE to brighten your holiday mail, and then give

a donation to church for them before the end of the

year; make all checks payable to

“Salem Lutheran Church.”