The News of Grace

Volume 36, no. 11 November 2013

THE HARVEST
And Jesus said to them, Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And he told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? And he said, I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be? So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:15-21)

It is that time of year throughout our nation as the harvest is being gathered. Some farmers may have finished this task a while ago and their grain bins may be full or maybe only half full depending on the yield. Others may still have some fields to harvest and are counting on good weather so that their harvest may go well. The Scriptures record these words of Jesus, that the Lord makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) There are those who live only for themselves spurning the God of creation, failing to recognize that He is the great Provider, who may have a more abundant harvest than those who humble themselves before God and acknowledge Him to be the source of all of their blessings. That should not be a surprise. However the real surprise is found at the end of Jesus parable. In the parable found above we find that a rich man was truly blessed by his land, the sun and the rain that aided the growth of his crops. He had so much bounty from his harvest that he had

to figure out what he was going to do with it all. It is kind of like going out and buying a few clothing items and finding that there is no room in your closet for them. Do you have more than your drawers and closets can hold? Do you find it difficult to part with some of your stuff while at the same time desiring to have more? I have some things that I should have gotten rid of a long time ago. There are some things that I have that leave me wondering why I got them in the first place. What happens next in this earthly story with a heavenly meaning is really puzzling if you think about it. The rich man determines to take down his existing barns and build larger ones so that he can store this great harvest and then take life easy. Wouldnt it make sense to just add on to what he had or just build a couple of new barns? Please notice as well that nothing is mentioned about thanking the Lord for his windfall or using a portion of his bounty to share in the Lords work. Nothing is mentioned about using any of his bounty to assist the poor or the vulnerable. He certainly is concerned only about what I refer to as the unholy trinity, me, myself and I. We may need to confess that about ourselves. As November comes around we know the end of the year is not far behind. With that come all of the holiday festivities which begin as we observe a National Day of Thanksgiving, this year on November 28th. Just what that means anymore is up to interpretation. The Thanksgiving meal for many may be fuel for the energy needed to get those door buster bargains that have moved into various parts of Thanksgiving Day. Here at Grace we gather for worship that morning and are fed with Gods Word and in turn offer Him our thanksgiving and praise for all that we have from the harvest. The Service has been well attended by members and guests alike. I know that there are local congregations that meet on Wednesday evening for their Thanksgiving observance and others that do so the Sunday before or the Sunday after. Nevertheless I am always puzzled why all the church parking lots that I pass on Thanksgiving morning are empty. The very name of the holiday implies that we focus not on ourselves but upon someone else. Obviously we do not thank

ourselves. Certainly we all need to thank the one who does the food preparation for the family and friend turkey dinner. Maybe you could volunteer for the cleanup detail. At the same time let me encourage you to remember to thank the Lord and invite His presence with you and those you celebrate that holiday with. Let me further encourage you to begin that day here at Grace to offer thanks to God for the bounty we receive from the harvest. As we conclude one year and prepare to move into another we all need to take an inventory of all that we have and the barns we use to store all of our stuff. We also need to ask if we are using a portion of our respective harvests to be rich toward God. Properly understood the things we store in our barns are a trust from the Lord. They are to be used for our well-being and enjoyment, as well as giving us an opportunity to be more than the rich man was who became a fool in the parable. What good was all that he had stored away when the Lord told him, this night your soul is required of you? Then Jesus gives us the personal application of this story. So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. Please remember to support the Lords work that we do together here at Grace. First of all involve yourself in that work. Be faithful in worship and the study of Gods Word. Use your time and your talents in service to Him as an offering of your thankfulness for all that He has done for you. Further give from your treasures to share in the costs of ministry that we do here as well. A proper balance of each of these three, time, talent and treasure is what it means to be rich toward God. Finally it is always good to have pews that are filled with Gods people for an hour or so one day a week. Think about that, one or two hours in a week that has 168 of them. During that time the Lord is preparing you for an eternal harvest, a heavenly banquet where He is the host and you are the guest, where there is an eternal abundance stored up for you forever. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Pastor Walter

Director of Parish Music

Greetings in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ! This month I will talk about All People That on Earth Do Dwell (LSB 791). The text is a paraphrase of Psalm 100 by a Scottish exile named William Kethe. The tune, OLD HUNDREDTH, was specifically written for this paraphrase. Before I talk about the specifics of the hymn, a note about why this hymn was written. In the Calvinist/Reformed tradition, the only music the congregation is allowed to sing in church are the Psalms, and paraphrases of them. Because of this, there were several books of Psalm paraphrased published in Geneva, beginning in 1542, leading up to the complete Psalter being published in 1562. This particular text was first published in the Trentre quartre Pseaumes de David (Thirty-Four Psalms of David) in Geneva in 1551. Since this hymn is a Psalm paraphrase, I will first quote the portion of the Psalm the stanza is based on, then give you that hymn stanza. Psalm 100:1-2: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Stanza One: All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice. Him serve with mirth, His praise forthtell; Come ye before Him and rejoice. We, all people on earth, are instructed to praise the Lord. This is a good thing, as we should certainly praise God at all times. But why? Psalm 100:3: Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Stanza Two: Know that the Lord is God indeed; Without our aid He did us make. We are His folk, He doth us feed, and for His sheep He doth us take. This is the crux of the hymn, the reason we should praise God. First, we praise Him because He made us. I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and all my senses, and still takes care of them (Luthers Small Catechism). He made us His people, and ultimately sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the Good

Shepherd, to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, and raised Him on the third day for our justification. Because of all this, it is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to God our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Psalm 100:4: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Stanza Three: O enter then His gates with praise; Approach with joy His courts unto. Praise, laud, and bless His name always, For it is seemly so to do. Because of all God has done for us, it is right that we praise Him, give thanks to Him, and bless His name. We use what God has given us, the Holy Scriptures, to return praise to Him. For what could be better than to use the very words He gave to us? Psalm 100:5: For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Stanza Four: For why? The Lord our God is good: His mercy is forever sure. His truth at all times firmly stood And shall from age to age endure. God is unchanging, which is a great comfort amid the chaos of this earthly life. For this we continue to praise Him. When Christians sing the Psalms, we usually add the Gloria Patri (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son) at the end of t he Psalm. This hymn does just that with a doxological stanza. Stanza Five: To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom heavn and earth adore, From us and from the angel host Be praise and glory evermore. Heavenly Father, God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly thank and praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace in Christ, Nathan Beethe, Director of Parish Music

Thanksgiving Day Service

November 28th 9:00 a.m.
Join us on Thanksgiving Day as we come together for worship and to give thanks for the many blessings the Lord has provided. Invite your family and friends!!

We will again be providing invitations for you to send to your family and friends. Look for more information in the Sunday bulletin or call the church office.

THOSE WHO SERVE in NOVEMBER

ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Worship Services Annalia Buchanan 10:45 a.m. Worship Services Lauren Faulkner Thanksgiving DayNov. 28th Acolyte Anna Kate Manchester Crucifer Jack Manchester COMMUNION ASSISTANTS November 3rd 10:45 Service John Calvillo November 10th 8:15 Service Gary Proud November 17th 10:45 Service Frank Royster November 24th 8:15 Service Raymond Harrill USHERS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Worship Services Dennis Fastenaus team Tommy Borchert, Sam Cate, Jack Funk 10:45 a.m. Worship Services Chris Pils team David Faulkner, Cole Hill, Wes Mainard CANTORS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Worship Services Paula Walter 10:45 a.m. Worship Services Suzanne Lambert GREETERS SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Worship Services Paula Walter 10:45 a.m. Worship Services Laine Krueger Thanksgiving Day Nov. 28th Kim and Lily Woodyard and Laine Krueger ALTAR GUILD SCHEDULE 8:15 a.m. Services Sandy Price and Pat Funk 10:45 a.m. Services Nancy Wade
Wednesday Mid-Week Services Suzanne Raddle & Wilma Richter
If you are unable to serve please ask someone to fill in for you and then call the church office.

STEWARDSHIP BUDGET RE-CAP

2013 budget $514,660 which is an average weekly General Fund contribution requirement of $9,897 Average weekly contribution through week 43 Budgeted needs through week 43 Contributions to General Fund from all sources $9,478.10 $425,571.00 $407,558.81

GRACE FAMILY NEWS AND NOTES

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mr. Ole Krasts, husband of Mrs. Monta Krasts, who passed away on Monday, September 30th, at Baptist Medical Center. A Memorial Service was held at Parkway Village Chapel on October 5th with Pastor Walter officiating and a private burial was held in Plano, Texas. Please keep Monta and her family in your thoughts and prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Lois Janet Polly Hicks, sister of Judy Keppel, who passed away on Monday, October 28th, in El Dorado, Arkansas. Please keep Jim and Judy and their family in your prayers. Our Christian Sympathy to the family of Mrs. Minnie Lucille Meins Staton, sister of Marion Meins, who passed away on Monday, October 28th, at Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock. Please keep Marion and Carolyn and their family in your prayers. CONGRATULATIONS and GODS BLESSINGS Congratulations to Kurt and Abby Stein on the birth of their son August Charles Stein on September 25th in Baltimore, Maryland. August is grandchild number seven for Charles and Mary Kathryn Stein. Congratulations and Gods blessings to Kurt and Abby!!

THANK YOU Thank you to my Grace family for all of your prayers and cards following my lung surgery and during my recovery. The surgery was successful and I have received a good report from my doctor.
Thank you and God bless, Elwanda Wells

Thank you to all of my Grace Family and friends for your care, thoughts and prayers following my recent knee replacement surgery. I deeply appreciate all you have done for me.
God bless, Jeannie Worlund

THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT Grace Lutheran Church is in receipt of a gift of two burial plots at Rest Hills Memorial Gardens in North Little Rock given by Gary and Linda Franzen of San Antonio, Texas. We appreciate the generosity of their gift. They were married at Grace in 1967.

NOON DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR

Noon Devotions with Pastor is Thursday, November 14th, at 12:00 noon in Parker Hall. Bring a sandwich and join us for Bible study and fellowship. Drinks, chips, and dessert are provided. Bring a friend and join us this is a wonderful opportunity for fellowship!!

FELLOWSHIP CLUB
Tuesday, November 19th Mark your calendar!! Watch the Sunday bulletin for more details.

ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER

First Lutheran Church 314 E. 8th, Little Rock First Lutheran LWML will serve their annual Turkey Dinner on Sunday, November 17th, following their 10:00 a.m. Worship Service. Tickets will be available in November. Suggested minimum donation for an adult ticket is $8 and suggested minimum donation for a ticket for a child, age 9 and under, is $4. Menu includes turkey and dressing, potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, dessert, and drinks. The money raised will be matched by a Thrivent grant to benefit Arkansas Rice Depot.

SIT AND SEW

Sit and Sew will meet on Tuesday, November 5th, at 12:00 noon in the Parlor to do a follow-up evaluate and wrap up for Fall Craft Show and Used Book Sale. If you have questions, call Riley Middaugh or Carole Nichols.

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS)

Grace continues to support the foster care program in the East Office of DCFS. Some of the items they need for the children coming into their office include: breakfast type foods (pop tarts, breakfast bars) peanut butter crackers microwaveable pasta meals diapers of various sizes toothpaste and toothbrushes soap If you can help provide any of these items, please bring them to the church and place them in the box for DCFS which is in the church breezeway. For more information, contact Pat Funk.

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE COFFEE HOST SIGN UP

Volunteers Needed to Serve - Please take a minute and sign up for the Sunday on which you wish to serve. The sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the Parlor.

The schedule for November, 2013 is:

November 3rd November 10th November 17th November 24th Maxine Biggers 90th birthday celebration Tim and Stephana Loyd Debbie Craig and Bill and Mildred Wilkins _____________________________

The schedule for December, 2013 is:

December 1st December 8th December 15th December 22nd December 29th Board of Parish Fellowship _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Thanks!! We appreciate your help!

GRACE FALL CRAFT SHOW USED BOOK SALE November 2nd 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Parker Hall Craft Show in the upper level Used Book Sale in the lower level
The Grace LWML will offer breakfast and lunch, for the convenience of vendors and shoppers. Back by popular demand- the Grace Bakers will have a booth selling German Chocolate Cake, Applekuchen and many more of your favorites. Tickets are available for purchase to win an original handcrafted quilt made by Riley Middaugh. The proceeds will benefit Kevin and Allie Ray at Concordia Seminary. Booth rental fees and bake sale and book sale proceeds benefit Kevin Ray, second year seminary student. Matching funds by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Contact Riley Middaugh at 954-9281 or ram0220@aol.com for more information. email at

LWML EVENING GUILD

LWML Evening Guild will send over 60 backpacks with school supplies to Lutheran World Relief on November 15th. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this project. We will meet on November 14th, 6:00 p.m., at Izzy's Restaurant for our "Giving Thanks Dinner". Families and friends are invited. Please call Joan Ann Olsen for reservations.

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD'S BLESSINGS to Grace Family Members in the month of November:
1 - Sheri Rivers, Christopher Paulson 2 - Nora Olivia Robinson 3 - Leah Sheridan, Barb Warren 4 - Maxine Biggers 6 - Chris Pils, Jeannie Worlund 7 - Tammy Hill, Rick McIntyre, Courtney Sutterfield 8 - Lauren Faulkner, Margaret Schulz 9 - Erich Cline 10 - Richard Bemberg, Jeanette Keehn 11 - David Faulkner, Mary Kathryn Stein 12 - Janie Ginnochio, Greg Keppel 13 - Richard Haddock 14 - Penny Kalinowsky, Joyce Wilhelm 15 - Evelyn Shrader 17 - Emily Junkans, Robert Guy Middaugh 19 - Diane Bruce 20 - Debbie Penny 21 - Pam Welling Smith 23 - Bill Allaben, Art Langlais, Nash Langlais, Florence Marvin 23 - Matt McIntyre, Verna Rieve 24 - Julia Malbrough 26 - David Jones 27 - Heather Rouse Starr 28 - Terry Clawitter 30 - Betty Wagoner, Mary Ellen McAllister

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to these couples in November:

4 - Diane and David Roberts 14 Elwanda and Harold Wells 17 - Danielle and Keylon Wilbert 18 - Jennifer and Richard Haddock 26 - Judy and Warren Rivers
We apologize if we have missed your birthday or anniversary; please let us know in the church office so we can update our records. Thank you!!

BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES AT GRACE

Our nursery, downstairs in the church, is also available to take care of the infants and toddlers during Sunday School/Bible Class time. ADULT BIBLE CLASS - Pastor Walters Bible Class meets each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in Parker Hall. Pastor is leading a study of The Augsburg Confession and Its Apology The Lutheran Confessions Series. The class will continue with Session 10 The Holy Supper of Our Lord. Come and review what we believe, teach and confess as Lutheran Christians. SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES for children ages 3 through 6th grade are held in the lower level of the Family Life Center. Parents are invited to join us for the opening service at 9:45 each Sunday. Contact Colleen Moorman or Nathan Beethe. LCEF K.I.D.S. Saving Stamps are available from Ame Andrews during Sunday School opening time. JUNIOR YOUTH class meets at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday in their classroom downstairs in the church. Joel Junkans leads the class each Sunday morning. SENIOR YOUTH class meets each Sunday at 9:45 a.m. in their classroom downstairs in the church. Dave Roberts leads the class each Sunday morning. YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY group meets every other Monday at 7:00 p.m. Their next meeting is November 11th. They are reading and discussing Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. Contact Vicar David Witte at drwitte@gmail.com for more details. MENS BIBLE STUDY class meets each Wednesday morning at 6:30 a.m. at St. Vincent Hospital in the 4th floor conference room (off the main elevator). Pastor Walter leads this Bible Study. All men of Grace are encouraged to attend. TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASS meets each Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. in the downstairs classroom in the church. They will begin the study of Gods Word for Today on the book of Joshua. Contact Joan Ann Olsen for more information. WITTENBURG CAF BIBLE STUDY meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Parlor. The next meeting is November 14th. Contact Mark Peterson for more information.

ECDC News & Notes

Whoa! Can you believe its almost November? This year has really flown! October was a great month at ECDC. The Juniors and Seniors went to Motleys Pumpkin Patch we went on a beautiful and chilly Fall day! Pig races, a ride on a cow train, a hay ride, picking out our pumpkins, a picnic and spending a lot of time running and playing in the sunshine were all on the agenda! The Sophomores and Freshman stayed at school and had a special pumpkin patch day all their very own finding mini-pumpkins hiding on the playground! The Nursery kids then posed for pumpkin pictures! Halloween we had a Pajama Party, enjoyed some spooky treats and activities, and Riley even made us real cotton candy! Now that November is here its almost time to dust off the our special stone th and enjoy our annual Thanksgiving celebration the 17 Annual Stone Soup Feast complete with kid-prepared soup, cornbread and pumpkin pies! It is such a fun meaningful way to learn about giving, sharing, and saying thanks. Consider having lunch with us there is always plenty and we love sharing and showing off our Thanksgiving attire! Please mark your calendars for Friday, nd November 22 we start serving around 11:30 a.m. In class we will be learning about the food groups, nutrition, manners, and community helpers. The Senior Class is going to the fire station to see community helpers at work and then to Cheers in the Heights to practice our meal ordering and math skills (i.e. paying for lunch). Jesus Time will find us learning about saying thank you for all Gods many blessings, and praising God through our music, prayers, and actiions. Well learn about the one man that told Jesus thank you while nine went on their way where do we find ourselves in this group? And, Parent/Teacher Conferences a great time for parents and staff to interact and hear how each of Gods little lambs are learning and growing! Thanks to everyone who has registered their KrogerPlus Card with ECDC! We pray this program is as beneficial as the last! If you are having trouble or need more detail give me a call. All your efforts supporting ECDC are very much appreciated! Until next monthGods continued blessings to each of you

Colleen
Painless Ways to Support Little Rock Lutheran Education!
Many of you already take advantage of company programs that provide financial incentives for Grace Lutheran ECDC and Christ Lutheran School that dont cost you any extra money for that we all say THANK YOU! These programs are really an untapped resource that benefits Lutheran education in Little Rock by providing funds for all type of budget needs! And all the programs are very userfriendly and simple - some only require scissors! Following are programs used by one or more of our Lutheran schools please consider this painless way to support Lutheran Education in L.R.!

KROGER PLUS CARDS Grace ECDC

The Board of Christian Education encourages you to enroll your Kroger Plus card at www.krogercommunityrewards.com today. Once you choose Graces ECDC program (code 80368), a portion of your eligible purchases at Kroger goes directly to the ECDC. Holiday shopping is around the corner so please support our ECDC. Every dollar you spend benefits this amazing program here at Grace. For questions or help with your enrollment, please contact Catherine Manchester (821-4140) or Colleen Moorman (663-0755). Thank you!

General Mills
Box Tops for Education
used by Christ Lutheran School

Campbells Labels
used by ECDC & Christ Lutheran School Heres how these work: - Remove box top for education labels from General Mills containers (ie Cheerios, Betty Crocker), and/or ENTIRE LABEL WITH UPC CODE from Campbells products (ie soup, juices). - collection boxes may be found on the bookcase next to the breezeway or the entry area of ECDC. - Box Tops for Education provide monetary support for the C LS Band,

Campbells Labels are turned into credit toward purchasing supplies and equipment for both ECDC and Christ Lutheran School.