Salem English Lutheran Church September 2019 The Excitement of Fall—Crisp, Fresh, and New The state fair is on, which can mean only one thing, fall is imminent and summer is...gulp...over. The school supplies are all ready to go, even if the kids are not, which can mean only one thing, summer is...sigh...over. These last weeks of summer are so precious and have been so lovely. But alas, fall is coming in like a freight train down the tracks. This summer will be particularly hard to bid farewell to. Baseball and waterparks, family and friends...it has been delightful and a bit lazy, as summer should be. However, as difficult as saying goodbye to summer may be, I have to confess, I love the fall. Yes, I love the fall. It never fails to be full of crisp air and new possibilities. I can’t help but feel most at home in a season of flannel, fresh apples, and pumpkin spice. I think that the freshness in the air often correlates with fresh ideas and new directions. Fall is exciting. Just as with everything else it seems, fall brings excitement to the church too. It’s the start of a new program year, Sunday school and youth group and adult faith formation get a jump start. It’s a time for visioning and change, a time to try new things. Fall is exciting in the church! So, what is exciting at Salem? You don’t need to look any further than the pages that follow to see a myriad of places that Salem is filled with life and a burst of fall “freshness”. I am most excited about… Gathering Sunday when all of SpringHouse gathers together for worship. What an amazing symbol of the church in the world when our three congregations come together in our “sameness” and in our “differentness” to worship. In a world that is so full of division, isn’t it wonderful to be part of a community that exists only in the breaking down of walls and building up of relationships? God’s Work Our Hands Sunday when we will gather in worship and put our hearts and hands to work in the world. We will put pen to paper and learn how to use a laptop to make a difference in policy in real time. We will use our hands to do projects that will make a concrete difference in Important Dates for your Calendar! Sunday September 8: Gathering Sunday Joint Worship at 10:30 am. (Sunday School and Youth at 9:15 am) Monday September 9: Sanctuary Switch—many hands make light work! Wednesday September 11: Theology on Tap at World Street Kitchen (6:30 pm) Sunday September 15: Salem returns to a two worship service schedule. (8:30 am & 10:30 am) Sunday September 15: GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS Sunday! Service/Advocacy during worship. Sunday September 15: Adult Faith Formation kicks off at 9:30 am in the gathering space! Sunday September 29: Intergenerational Event for ALL—Prayer our community. What makes it even cooler is that we join with hundreds of other ELCA congregations who will also be taking part in this wonderful September tradition. That’s a whole lot of difference being made! In the midst of transition comes exiting possibilities. As our interim summer youth minister, Craig Simenson, leaves to take up an interim call as associate pastor, we are working with several candidates on figuring out a good fit for our youth ministry position. I have the privilege of taking on some leadership during this transition time, making sure that youth ministry is kept a priority and our kids don’t skip a beat come Gathering Sunday. I am excited about working with our youth and their families and about the person God is bringing us to walk with them as we move forward. I could keep adding bullets with things I am excited about...but just keep reading and you will see most of them. I hope you get excited about them too. For today, I hope you are enjoying these last amazing August days and filling your soul with as much summer as you can. Drink it in like you are dying of thirst and it is life giving water...because it is. But get excited about what lies around the corner. Get excited about crisp air and flannel. Get excited about newness and possibilities, about opportunity and even change, as we launch into a new program year full of great ministry as this community of faith we call home. Blessings, Pastor Rhonda
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Salem English Lutheran Church September 2019
The Excitement of Fall—Crisp, Fresh, and New The state fair is on, which can mean only one thing, fall is imminent and summer is...gulp...over. The school supplies are all ready to go, even if the kids are not, which can mean only one thing, summer is...sigh...over. These last weeks of summer are so precious and have been so lovely. But alas, fall is coming in like a freight train down the tracks. This summer will be particularly hard to bid farewell to. Baseball and waterparks, family and friends...it has been delightful and a bit lazy, as summer should be.
However, as difficult as saying goodbye to summer may be, I have to confess, I love the fall. Yes, I love the fall. It never fails to be full of crisp air and new possibilities. I can’t help but feel most at home in a season of flannel, fresh apples, and pumpkin spice. I think that the freshness in the air often correlates with fresh ideas and new directions. Fall is exciting.
Just as with everything else it seems, fall brings excitement to the church too. It’s the start of a new program year, Sunday school and youth group and adult faith formation get a jump start. It’s a time for visioning and change, a time to try new things. Fall is exciting in the church!
So, what is exciting at Salem? You don’t need to look any further than the pages that follow to see a myriad of places that Salem is filled with life and a burst of fall “freshness”. I am most excited about…
Gathering Sunday when all of SpringHouse gathers together for worship. What an amazing symbol of the church in the world when our three congregations come together in our “sameness” and in our “differentness” to worship. In a world that is so full of division, isn’t it wonderful to be part of a community that exists only in the breaking down of walls and building up of relationships?
God’s Work Our Hands Sunday when we will gather in worship and put our hearts and hands to work in the world. We will put pen to paper and learn how to use a laptop to make a difference in policy in real time. We will use our hands to do projects that will make a concrete difference in
Important Dates for your Calendar! Sunday September 8: Gathering Sunday Joint Worship at 10:30 am. (Sunday School and Youth at 9:15 am)
Monday September 9: Sanctuary Switch—many hands make light work!
Wednesday September 11: Theology on Tap at World Street Kitchen (6:30 pm)
Sunday September 15: Salem returns to a two worship service schedule. (8:30 am & 10:30 am)
Sunday September 15: GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS Sunday! Service/Advocacy during worship.
Sunday September 15: Adult Faith Formation kicks off at 9:30 am in the gathering space!
Sunday September 29: Intergenerational Event for ALL—Prayer
our community. What makes it even cooler is that we join with hundreds of other ELCA congregations who will also be taking part in this wonderful September tradition. That’s a whole lot of difference being made!
In the midst of transition comes exiting possibilities. As our interim summer youth minister, Craig Simenson, leaves to take up an interim call as associate pastor, we are working with several candidates on figuring out a good fit for our youth ministry position. I have the privilege of taking on some leadership during this transition time, making sure that youth ministry is kept a priority and our kids don’t skip a beat come Gathering Sunday. I am excited about working with our youth and their families and about the person God is bringing us to walk with them as we move forward.
I could keep adding bullets with things I am excited about...but just keep reading and you will see most of them. I hope you get excited about them too.
For today, I hope you are enjoying these last amazing August days and filling your soul with as much summer as you can. Drink it in like you are dying of thirst and it is life giving water...because it is. But get excited about what lies around the corner. Get excited about crisp air and flannel. Get excited about newness and possibilities, about opportunity and even change, as we launch into a new program year full of great ministry as this community of faith we call home. Blessings, Pastor Rhonda
Salem English Lutheran Church
Salem Scene September 2019
Salem News
Theology on Tap—WSK Edition
Join us on Wednesday, September 11 at 6:30 pm for our next
Theology on Tap. We will meet at World Street Kitchen (right across the parking lot!)
There is much in the world to chat about in a safe place with friends of faith—we hope
to see you there! Oh—and it’s right next to Milkjam creamery, so there will be ice
cream!
Community Partners—Seasons of Giving
“I was a stranger
and you welcomed me.”
Matthew 25:35
This fall we will focus some of our energy on Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. With immigration and
refugees at the forefront of the conversation in our nation, it is
important that we, as the church, take a stand. Look for opportunities to learn and to give as we see the impact LIRS is
making right now. Here is a snapshot of what LIRS is about.
LIRS is an organization rooted in faith that believes that we are called to welcome individuals fleeing persecution and
seeking refuge in America. Over the years, our work has grown to encompass a wide-range of services:
•Refugee Resettlement: As a vital arm of the U.S.
refugee resettlement program
•Empowering New Americans: Employment services,
targeted education, and advocacy & leadership training
•Foster Care & Family Reunification: LIRS works with
vulnerable migrant youth and families to ensure that children in our network grow up in a safe, loving home.
•Immigration Detention Services: legal resources,
visitation ministry, and post-release services
•Community Engagement: Leveraging a nationwide
network of service partners and congregations
September Greeters
It’s Salem’s turn again! Could you take a
turn providing hospitality at the main SpringHouse doors on a Sunday morning
(10:10-10:30 am) in September? It’s a great way to connect with new folks and
be a resource for everyone at SpringHouse. See the sign-up sheet at church.
Stewardship Stuff
In an effort to streamline the work
that Laurie, our amazing office administrator does, the purchase of
a new laptop computer was made this week to replace the one she has
used for the past 6 years. This was long overdue.
While this purchase was not a budgeted item this year, we are
happy to report that we received generous gifts from two Salem families that made the purchase possible. In addition
we have utilized TechSoup to purchase non-profit, and
significantly discounted, versions of the updated software the office needs to operate.
We want to thank Scott Rusten for being willing to set up the
new computer and get it all ready for Laurie to work on. Having people in this community willing to put in time and
energy to help make things work is something we do not take for granted.
As always, we are so appreciative of the generosity at Salem
and are very happy that Laurie will have a new computer to do all of the wonderful things she does.
Sanctuary Switch
The next Sanctuary Switch will be
Monday, September 9, at 10 am. Salem will be moving upstairs to South
Sanctuary for the fall. We are looking for lots of help and some creative minds
to make this happen!
Salem English Lutheran Church
Salem Scene September 2019
More News
God’s Work. Our Hands Sunday
Join us on Sunday, September 15 for God’s Work Our Hands
Sunday! During both of our morning worship services we will
take part in service projects and advocacy work that is
important for our community and our church.
We will join with hundreds of other congregations who will be taking part in this ELCA-wide day of service that has become a
yearly event celebrated by Lutherans in all different kinds of contexts and in a myriad of different ways. Salem participated
for the first time last year and it was such a great success that we are doubly excited for this year’s event!
Last year we made tie blankets for LSS and wrote advocacy
letters to our congressional delegates both in Minnesota and Washington D.C. Join us on
September 15 as we join hands
to make a difference this year!
As summer comes to an end, we will return to our program
year worship times. Make sure your calendars are marked for September 15, when we will return to two services—8;30 am
Traditional Worship and 10:30 am Jazz Worship.
As we launch into a new year we will jump back into the narrative lectionary sequence. This is the year of
Mark...although we won’t actually get to mark until later in the year. We will begin the fall in Genesis as we revisit some of
the great Old Testament history, spend some time with the prophets, and then launch into Mark at Christmas. It’s bound
to be a great year of scripture and learning together.
Here’s the scripture coming your way soon:
Sept. 15: The Garden of Eden-Genesis 2:4b-25
Sept. 22: Isaac Born to Rebecca-Genesis 18:1- 15; 21:1-7
Sept. 29: Jacob Wrestles with God-Genesis 32: [9-13] 22-
30
Gathering Sunday
Make sure to join us we gather as a SpringHouse community
to ring in a new program year.
First—make sure all kids and youth join in the fun at 9:15 am. Kids will meet for Sunday School in the squiggle space and
youth (along with parents) will meet in Lydia.
Then we will all worship together at 10:30 am. One highlight will be hearing from those who traveled to South Dakota on
the servant trip this summer. Come hear about the Cheyenne River Reservation and their horse ministry and the adventures
our SpringHouse group had. Then join us for fellowship in the gathering space as we celebrate being back together again.
Salem English Lutheran Church
Salem Scene September 2019
SpringHouse News SpringHouse Office Hours
Starting after Labor Day, SpringHouse office hours will be back to Tuesday-Friday, 10-2. Staff are often around at other times,
but if you need to speak to someone in particular, it’s always good to call first to make sure your party is around. The main
SpringHouse number is 612-353-6292.
From the Building Coordinator
Did you know that the SpringHouse calendar is online? This is a great communication tool, and an excellent way to quickly
check if there is space in the building for your meeting or event. Find it at this link: https://calendar.churchart.com/
calendar/73956030
However, rentals that are still pending will not show up in the calendar, so if you need to reserve a room, please contact Deb
Murphy in advance (at least 24 hours, preferably more) at [email protected]. We can all help our building run
smoothly by planning ahead!
Adult Faith Formation
Paris to Pittsburgh by Elly Wagner
As a person who grew up near Pittsburgh when it was a very polluted steel mill city, I find it interesting that the president
singled it out as a city he was elected to represent rather than Paris, and that in response to the president's statement and
his pulling out of the Paris Accord, Pittsburgh's mayor, William Peduto asserted that "Pittsburgh is one of the cities leading
the fight on climate change." Peduto's statement inspired the
title of the documentary "The Climate for Change Is Now: Paris to Pittsburgh," which will be the topic for combined Adult
Education sessions on September 15 and 22. Join us in the Gathering Space at 9:15 a.m., to allow enough time to view the
video and discuss it, as well as consider actions that can reduce our carbon footprint as individuals and congregations.
Paris to Pittsburgh shines a light on the many forgotten communities and people who have been affected by the
climate crisis in our country and
captures what is at
stake for Americans and the inspiring
ways they're responding. Hope
to see you there
Share the Care Work Day September 7
Springhouse Building Committee is looking for volunteers for a
Share the Care event on Saturday, September 7 from 8 am to 1 pm. This session’s focus will be exterior maintenance, including
the wooden door surfaces, the garden, and tuck-pointing inspection with Mark Macpherson. Doughnuts, fruit, coffee and