November Highlights

News

Did you know? The world’s wealthiest people – 1/5^th of the world’s population - consume and/or waste 86% of the world’s resources (energy, water, food, products and services)? The average worker in the U.S. makes 75 times the annual wage of a rural family living in India, China or Haiti.

Again this year, your Outreach Ministry Team is offering simple gift alternatives for Holiday giving, Birthdays or anytime. Look for the display table in the entryway with alternative gift catalogs. Each catalog offers you a slightly different approach to giving a gift to a friend or loved one.

The Lutheran World Relief (LWR) catalog (through the SERRV program) provides beautiful handcrafted items from around the world. Each item you purchase provides vital income to artisans in developing countries allowing them to become more economically independent. An added benefit of your purchase is that SERRV will contribute 10% of its value to LWR to further it’s life-changing work in communities around the world.

The Alternative Gifts International (AGI) catalog provides authentic, life giving gifts – to honor your family and friends - that build a partnership with oppressed people in crisis and that protect and preserve the earth’s endangered environment. These gifts of justice provide hope and opportunity to families around the world. AGI is a nonprofit, interfaith agency. The funds from individual gifts are sent to the established international projects of several reputable nonprofit agencies for relief and development. A few examples are:

Rescue disfigured orphans in China

Save a coral reef

Build water wells in the Sudanese desert

Buy a computer, Teach Peace

Train women to prepare for floods

Release children from slavery

The ELCA Good Gifts Catalog – Love is a gift from God.  And, we are called to share it with others. Give water, animals, housing, scholarships, or disaster relief—just to name a few.  With so many different gift giving options at your fingertips, making a difference in the world has never been so easy. ELCA Good Gifts count twice: one for your loved one and one for someone you may never meet who is supported by our churchwide ministries. Many of the gifts you give continue to give for years to come. So avoid the hectic rush to buy Christmas or birthday gifts, that family and friends don’t really want or need. These catalogs show how even small amounts of money can stretch when used by our church and its partners to help people in need.

Kids - Check This Out! Are you looking for the perfect educational tool to help children learn about countries around the world? We have just the thing for you. AGI’s new Children’s Activity Book, My Friends Around the World, features 5 new life-saving projects taken from

My Shopping List for the World.

These projects are designed with special ‘price points’

that are affordable for children who are willing to help

their "friends around the world." The activity pages include

short informational paragraphs about the country and its

project, word searches, puzzles and much more! Hope the

Dove, AGI’s new mascot, is also featured for the first time

in this activity book! To request copies of My Friends Around

the World go to: www.altgifts.org or call 800-842-2243

will be purchasing Poinsettias for the Christmas Season.

You may wish to sign up to purchase one in memory or honor of someone for $8.00 each. They will be available to take home after the 10:30 a.m. service on December 28^th.

Sign up sheets will be in the narthex beginning

Sunday, November 16^th.

4^th Annual Women’s Retreat

March 6 – 8, 2009

Zion National Park

"Facets of Forgiveness"

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may

have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

 

A $25 deposit is due no later than November 1^st.

You are encouraged to make payments so you won’t have

to come up with $$ all at one time

or you may pay the total due up front.

Balance of your retreat weekend fees are due no later than 2-6-09.

No refunds after 1-15-09.

 

Please provide us with a picture of yourself (elementary school or younger)

for a "Guess Who This Is" game. The picture is due with your first deposit.

Be sure to put your name on the back and try to keep the size no larger than 4 x 6.

You can give your picture to Gloria Wenstrand or Cindy Keegan.

We can make a black and white copy in the office.

 

Scholarships are available. Please contact Gloria Wenstrand at

669-4316 or e-mail her at hartsmom@beyondbb.com

with any questions.

 

SIGN UP SHEETS ARE ON THE BULLETIN BOARD IN LUTHER HALL

The fee includes your lodging, auditorium rental, program costs and the speaker’s stipend, transportation, lodging, and food.

It does not include your meals, transportation,

Sponsorship Covenant

"God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." Matthew 28: 16-20 (The Message)

Relationship: we will covenant with Richard Young, serving in Guyana, to:

WELCA 

will be having election of officers at our February 14, 2009 General Meeting.

If anyone is interested in holding a position, please let Cindy Keegan, Penny Balint or Marlene Jacobson know. There are three positions – President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer

New Promise is looking for a volunteer willing to be a liaison for the World AIDS Day service held on December 1^st . Once a year, the Task Force holds a big fundraiser event, a walk; and the World AIDS Day Service on December 1^st. The service – A Time for Remembrance and Prayer – has been held at New Promise Lutheran church. If you would be willing to serve in this way, please talk to one of the pastors.

Did you know that each year there are at least 100 new cases of HIV infection in Utah and that Washington County has the second highest case rate in the state?  Did you know that over half of the newly infected got it from someone who didn’t know they were infected? Only you can stop this disease. This disease is preventable and does not need to destroy lives and families.

The HIV/AIDS Task Force of Washington County continues to try to educate the community. There is no cure for the infection and the best prevention is still knowledge and self protection. A recent survey of HIV positive individuals in Utah shows that they do not see the need to inform others (sex partners and/or drug works sharing partners) about their status.

The mission of the HIV/AIDS Task Force of Washington County is:

1. to provide free HIV testing monthly and at special events throughout the year.
2. to educate and raise the awareness of the community about the HIV presence in our area.
3. to support both those affected and infected in our community.

The HIV/AIDS Task Force of Washington County is involved with the following activities in the community.

1. Education about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
2. Free HIV testing at the Doctors Volunteer Clinic.
3. Provide emotional and financial support to those infected and affected by this disease.

The HIV/AIDS Task Force of Washington County meets on the last Monday of the month at 12 noon at the St. George branch of the Washington County Library. The meeting room is in the basement, usually the first room to the left at the bottom of the stairs. Please check the calendar to be sure.

Aging With Dignity

are Invited to Women of the ELCA’s

and lots of goodies. This is an event for Men and Women