Pastors operate with three calendars. There is the secular calendar regulated by the orbit of the earth, beginning in January. There is the Church Calendar organized around the salvation story, beginning with the birth of Jesus. And then there is the parish calendar, organized around the yearly rhythm of church activities. It begins the week after Labor Day and continues until the next summer slump.

There are several "New Beginnings" on our September church calendar. THE FIRST IS RALLY DAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. It is the kick-off of another year of growing in faith through Sunday School and Adult Bible Classes. All families and children are encouraged to come after worship to the fellowship hall for refreshments, games and the annual balloon release.

The second "New Beginning" will take place on Sunday, September 19 when Pastor begins a "FAITH RENEWAL" class for adults. Pastor will lead a detailed study of all the major articles of faith every Christian should know. It is open to those looking for a faith and a church as well as those who feel a need to renew and refresh their faith. Through Bible reading and discussion the class hopes to fulfill the slogan "If you don't have faith, we will give it…If you have faith, we will refresh it."

When people unite their voices in the praise of God, it not only pleases the Lord, but it lifts up the spirits of all other members of the church.

FIRST are all those who took part in the 175^th Anniversary of Lindenwood: Paul Donohue who supplied the hay wagon, Tracy Komadina and her crew who decorated it, Rob Thurow for his tractor to pull it and 30+ adults, teens and children who passed out literature along the parade route. The following letter brings it all together…

As part of the Lindenwood 175^th celebration committee, Ken and I would like to thank the people of the church for all your support to the festival. So many of our church family took part in this celebration of a "small town community". Your help made the weekend a huge success and we were able to touch hundreds of people along the parade route with the Immanuel story. We are proud to be called members of Immanuel.

THE SECOND VOTE OF THANKS AND PRAISE goes to Tracy Komadina – coordinator of the Vacation Bible School and the 15+ adults and teens that made it a great success. Over 50 children enjoyed learning of the love of Jesus and eating the many foods that taught them of God's Word that feeds the soul. A special thanks to the Timm family who worked in the kitchen, providing snacks for everyone.

THIRD are those I call the "WATER BAILERS". As everyone knows, a month ago a large amount of rain fell in a very short time and, as usual, the water found its way into the basement and boiler room. Our grateful thanks to KEN MANON who delayed his vacation to get a larger sump pump and save the boxes of food and furniture from loss; THE TIMM FAMILY who worked many hours mopping and drying floors; STEVE BARTEL, who got the boiler room under control and unplugged a drain and AARON SMITH who set up the fans that finally dried things out. Our special thanks to GLENN HOFER who brought his skills and crew into the basement, spayed against mildew and fungus and made the basement more usable than it has been in years.

IN THIS CONNECTION, the Church Council has undertaken a study of the water problem, come up with proposed solutions and will get it done so we do not flood out again.

Our church’s annual Pork Loin Roast will take place on Saturday, September 18 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. The Pork Loin Roast is an outreach program designed to involve as many church & community people as possible to help individuals, families or community projects. This year our pork loin roast is going to help a local Lindenwood family who needs some assistance for extensive flood damage to their home.

John and Cheri Dreska have had extensive damage to their basement with the floods that hit the Lindenwood area at the end of July. The Dreska family had bedrooms in their basement for 4 of their children. They lost their furnace, water heater, freezer, refrigerator, beds, dressers, clothes, toys, computers etc. They also had clean up expenses and the costs associated with drywall, painting, flooring and fix up for the rooms. All of this had a much higher cost than what insurance would cover.

The Dreska’s have been an outreach project themselves. John & Cheri have been Foster parents for several children. They recently adopted 3 children, all from one family because they felt these children needed a caring loving family and should be kept together. The natural parents of these children had another child a couple of years ago. Under the foster care guidelines the Dreska family was strongly urged to take this child in also. They willingly did this, but the child has put an extra burden on them due to health issues. John & Cheri are in the process of adopting this child also. In total the Dreska family has 8 children.

We can use all of the help we can get for this program. We need kitchen help, table runners, cooks, dish washers, pie & cake donations etc. The sign-up list will be posted in our church. Any help will be appreciated and we pray for a very successful outreach program.

Tickets are $8.50 for adults & $4.00 per child

Immanuel Lutheran exists because the members believe God wills the church to be. But if the church is to go on, it will take the efforts of volunteers to maintain its grounds and facilities.

Painting the crossbars in the sanctuary; outdoor landscaping; sealing the door jam at the north end of the fellowship hall; sealing cracks in the parking lot and general cleaning beyond the usual. COME WHEN YOU CAN. LEAVE WHEN YOU MUST. EVERY BIT HELPS.

At the July Voters meeting the members made a selection on the new lighting for the sanctuary. The lights selected were simple in appearance and meant to provide lighting without being the architectural focal point in the sanctuary. Also, new wall sconces and pendent lights for the chancel area will be added. The total cost estimate for all of the light fixtures is $6900. This does not include the installation cost. The members charged the committee with the task of getting the quotes updated to include energy saving fluorescent lights and adding dimming capabilities.

Research is now underway to determine how much of the project can be completed by our members and how much will have to be done by an electrical contractor. Rob and Cindy Timm indicated that they would like to see the remaining funds from Wally Timm’s memorial be used for this purpose. Due to the heat in the attic area above the sanctuary, the actual work will not be done until the temperature cools and makes the working conditions more favorable.

In July, the Board of Elders tested a way of celebrating Holy Communion using "Continuous Communion". Members came up the center aisle, received the sacrament on the floor-level and returned to their pews by the side aisle. An informal poll after worship revealed that most did not have a problem with continuous communion as long as it was not over-used. Some felt it took away their time at the communion rail. Since it was only a test, the Board of Elders will only use continuous communion on those times when a large number of people are present.

In 2006 Immanuel Lutheran assumed a mortgage of $315,000 for up-grades to the church and the addition of a fellowship hall. In April of 2010 we launched a capital fund drive,"From His Hands to Ours", in an effort to reduce the mortgage and repair/replace lighting in the sanctuary. The total pledge for this endeavor was $60,000. As of August 12, 2010 those who pledged have given $29,368 and helped reduce the mortgage to $172,754. We are only 4 months into the two-year drive and we are doing a great job keeping the pledges coming in. Thank you all for the continued support of “From His Hands to Ours”. In February 2011 the 5 year renewal will take place.

THANK YOU

Pat and I would like to thank all who have expressed sympathy & cards for the passing of our love ones within the months of April and June. It is always hard to lose those in family that are close. It is in God’s plan that it happen when it did and they are with him in heaven. He has plans for all of us to use our time, talents and treasures wisely here in this short journey on earth. We will look forward to when he takes us to be with him and calls us home.

Have you ever wondered what makes LWML work so effectively on the district and national levels? Have you ever had an idea for a mission project that would work on the district or national level and didn’t know who to contact to get it started? Or, have you ever wanted to get to know more personally some of the LWML ladies you elect to district or national positions? Maybe you have simply wished for a spiritual shot in the arm that will make you want to shout for joy to the Lord. Well, there are three upcoming LWML events that hold the promise of giving you all this and more!

First, our LWML Zone will be having a Fall Joyshop on Saturday, October 2 in Rock Falls. Come and spend a few hours praying, enjoying a bible study and getting to know the women that make up the individual LWML societies from the many different churches in our Zone. Save the date and look for the upcoming poster on our LWML message board that will list the details and time.

Then, at our NID LWML District Convention on Saturday, October 23 in Mt. Prospect, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Servant Event that will bring a little of God’s joy to Phil’s Friends, a ministry that comforts cancer patients. You will also be able to meet the outgoing LWML District President, Sherrie Smith and greet the new President that you may help to elect. All this plus a guest speaker, bible study, music and a fabulous luncheon will cost you only $40.00 for the day. More details can be obtained on our NID LWML Web site, nidlwml.homestead.com. Go to the Nid bits link and click on the August 2010 edition. Then, go to the convention insert at the end. Another special opportunity is coming up in 2011 when the National LWML Convention will be held in nearby Peoria, Illinois on June 23-26. If you ever wanted to attend a national convention but felt it would be too expensive and too far to travel, this is the perfect time to go. You can obtain more details on our national Web site, lwml.org. Go to Events at the top of the page and click on Conventions.

CHECK THIS OUT!

Daily Mustard Seed Devotions available through the LWML. Follow this link:

http://www.lwml.org/resources/devotions/index.html

Shingles comes from the Varicella Zoster virus, also known as chicken pox. Shingles appear as a blistering rash that forms in line with the nerve patterns. This is the reason for the severe pain associated with them.

You can only get shingles if you have had a case of Chicken Pox. The virus lays dormant (not actively growing but protected) until you have a stressful event such as an acute illness, or a life altering trauma. Shingles are not contagious so you cannot get them from another person. You can however get the Chicken Pox virus if you have not had them. For that reason you need to avoid contact with children, and expectant mothers when the shingles pustuals are moist, and draining. After the rash is dried up there is no longer a threat of transmission.

The vaccine against Shingles is a live virus and can be detrimental to anybody that is immuno-compromised, on steroids, currently ill with a fever or has a life threatening illness. Vaccinations are available through your local physician's office. Call ahead to make sure they have a current supply on hand. If your doctor will write a script, you can get a vaccination from your local pharmacy clinic at a lower cost. Medicare will not pay for it. You will need to ask your supplemental insurance if they will cover. You may have to pay for the injection up front and then be reimbursed when your physician has provided them with the appropriate documentation to verify the injection was indeed given.