You can read it below or you can download it HERE.

You can download it by clicking HERE or read it below.

Fall Worship, Fellowship, and Education Schedule
Beginning on Rally Sunday (September 12th), Sunday worship will begin at 9 am with fellowship and education hour happening immediately afterward. There will be an intergeneration service with Communion beginning on Wednesday, September 15th starting at 6 pm with fellowship and education happening immediately after worship.
 
 
Save the Date – Sunday School and Confirmation Starts
In-person Sunday School will start on Rally Sunday (September 12th) for 4k through 6th grades, immediately after worship (about 10 am to 11 am). Acolytes will train in the Fall (dates and times TBD). In-person Confirmation will begin on Wednesday, September 15th for grades 7th and 8th from 6 pm to 8 pm. Watch these announcements, the website, and the newsletter for more information.
 
Audio/Visual System Upgrades in Sanctuary and Building Begins September 13th, and a Special Thank You
If you have been around on any recent Sunday, then you know how much of a challenge our sound system has been. The system that has served us well is on its last legs. The good news is that you all voted to upgrade our sound and video capabilities. Those upgrades will begin after Rally Sunday. Also, a special thank you to a member to offered to donate hearing assistance devices for the new system. These have been desperately needed for our current system but were non-functional. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
 
Return of All Committee Night – Starting Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30 pm
The council president asks that committees set one of their meeting times to “All Committee” night, beginning on Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30 pm. The plan is to continue All Committee Night on the second Tuesday of the month after that date. If your committee chooses to meet on a different date/time, then you are asked to send a representative to All Committee Night. Right now, the committees are the most robust vehicles for mission and ministry in our congregation. Council will continue to meet on the second Thursdays of the month to act on recommendations and requests from the committees.
 
From Social Ministry Committee:
We will once again be doing School Kits and Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief.
They are shipped along with the Quilts that the quilters worked on all year. Please make your donations before September, 18th. Check our August Newsletter for details. Thank you!
 
Thank You From Our Youth and Leaders for Going to the 2022 ELCA National Youth Gathering!
Our youth and their families, along with the support of the Youth and Family Committee, have only been working on rallying support to send a group of our youth to this amazing faith formation event. They have already raised well over $2,200 so far! This is way ahead of our schedule. Your direct support, and all that you have done to rally your friends and neighbors, have made this possible. Thank you to God and thank you to each of you! Amen.

Congratulations Jaime Benson
On August 15, 2021, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage, WI voted to call our own Jaime Benson to be their pastor. Information about her ordination and installation will be shared when available.
 
ONGOING AT DEKORRA
AA – Fridays at 8 pm
Council Meeting– will take place on September 16th at 6:30 pm
Blood Drive –Next Blood Drive is December 13th, 2021
Registering ahead of time is encouraged. Walk-ins may be limited.
Hope Circle– 1st Wednesdays of the Month, 1 pm
Joy Circle– 2nd Tuesdays of the Month, 1 pm
Faith Bible Study The group will resume August 18 at 9:30 am and continue to meet thereafter on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 am. Anyone is welcome to attend the Bible study!
DLC Book Club 2021 – Always at 1 pm 

• September 15 – Small Great Things
• October 20 – The Nightingale
• November 17 – Family Tree

 
Quilting – Thursdays at 1 pm
Worship Committee – 1st Wednesday of the Month, at 1:00 pm
Constitution Committee –will meet on September 1st and September 9th at 6:30 pm. 
 
Hospitality Committee now meets on the first Thursday of the month, at 10:00 am
 
Youth and Family Committee- will meet on Aug. 26th at 5:30 pm to continue work on the ELCA Youth Gathering
 
Yellow Bags Food Ministry –
 

• Pick up bags at the shelf on last Sunday of the Month
• Deliver bags to the foot of the altar in the sanctuary on the first Sunday of the Month.
• See the most recent newsletter or www.dekorralutheran.org/news for the current needs of our food pantry partners.

 
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF WORSHIP AND GIFTS
 

• Last Week Attendance: 76    
• General Offering: $3310.01
• Vanco Giving: $661.00  
• Youth Fund: $242.00.
• Screens Fund: $75.00 
• Habitat for Humanity:  $50.00           

Weekly View From Da Pews
August 20, 2021
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”---Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
  Me, me, me!  When do we realize that it’s not all about ME, and we decide to help others to be all that they can be? 
  That’s what I like about Habitat.  It’s not a hand out it’s a hand UP!  It’s the act of enabling another person to achieve success, especially the children.
  Speaking of Habitat, we just completed a very exhausting and productive two weeks.  The roof is on the house and ready for shingles.  We can now complete the framing and prepare to start finishing the outside of the house.  We are still working Wednesday through Saturday and we welcome all who wish to come and participate.  “What are you doing for others?”
  Tomorrow, the property committee will be working in the church parking lot, installing a new light pole.  I am sure that they could use some help from a few of you.
  This Sunday, August 22nd, we will be limiting how many worshipers can be in the sanctuary, (60).  We will also use the fellowship hall and of course there is always the parking lot.  If you decided to be inside than you will be required to “mask up”.  We are also curtailing the singing at this time and please do not share the peace with physical contact.  A wave will suffice.
  I will NOT be sending out a message on August 27th and I will NOT be at Dekorra for church on August 29th.  I will be in Indiana chasing my great-grandchildren around and taking them to their church.
  The Lutheran Men in Mission retreat at the Mackenzie center on September 10,11 and 12 is still a go and we are still signing up men to attend.  I will attach a registration form to this message.  Do you want a better more meaningful life? Do you want a closer relationship with Christ?  Than this retreat is for you.  All adult ages are welcome, come with an open mind and be transformed into the man you want to be!
  I know that there is probably something that I am missing, however I am rather tired tonight so I am going to keep his short.  Stay strong, stay healthy and keep the faith!
Luv Ya All!
William, a Disciple of Christ
Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus.
Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating Him who we see.
To see His Majesty and to imitate Him, that is the sum of Christianity!
williamaschleichert@gmail.com
608-697-4434(c)

​Weekly View From Da Pews
August 13, 2021
“Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless!”
  Last night I met with some of those PRICELESS volunteers!  They are your church council!  Members of Dekorra Lutheran who have stepped up to be leaders and doers.  They are who make Dekorra a great place to worship and gather as a church family.  They generously give of their time and talents in order to make all that happens a good experience for each of us.  Last night was a very long meeting!  We had much to discuss and decide on, so that all of you will be safe amid this pandemic that won’t go away.  Pastor Sterling and Bill Buckley did a great job of leading the conversations and discussions on a variety of issues that will effect on how we worship in the future. 
  Beginning Sunday, August 22nd we are again limiting the amount of people who will be allowed to worship in the sanctuary.  When you arrive at church the ushers in the parking lot will hand out tickets for inside worship.  60 members will be allowed in the sanctuary and another 30 will be allowed in the fellowship hall.  We are also highly recommending that this Sunday you should mask up and starting on Monday it will be mandatory that you wear a mask at all times while you are at church.  This will apply even if you have full vaccination, as you can still spread the virus even if you are vaccinated.
  We will attempt to keep the worship service as “normal” as possible, using the Cantor and assistant Ministers.  We will also be switching back to using the wafer/wine cups for communion rather than the traditional bread and wine.  We are also going to NOT sing during worship starting on August 22nd. 
  Are we disappointed with going backward, especially since we just reopened!  You bet!  No one is more disappointed than your church council.  However, as the leaders of your church, it is our responsibility to make sure that you are safe while you are here for worship and other activities.  So, we the church council, ask that you please bear with us as we go through these troubling times.
  On a brighter note we will start to install our new audio/visual system on September 13th.  As with most things these days, they had to wait to get some of the components needed before they could start.  As of September we will have to start making payments on the loan we signed in order to do this project.  It will require an additional $15 per month from each of you, on top of what you ordinarily would be giving.  That’s about $4 each week.
  We heard from Lynn Lund about the youth group efforts to raise funds for their trip to the national gathering next year.  This will require about $1300 per person to attend and the youth are working very hard to raise those funds.  When they have a fund raiser like the recent “Brat Sales”, please get behind their efforts. 
  The property committee will be looking for some help on August 21st as they complete the installation of the new light pole in the church parking lot.  Bob Acker has already cut the asphalt so that we can bury the power lines to the new pole.  Thank you Bob for all that you do for Dekorra.
  Pastor announced that on Wednesday, September 15th we will start confirmation classes with worship at 6pm led by the youth.  We will also be changing our Sunday worship time to 9am on Sunday morning with Sunday school to follow.
  Bill Buckley presented an idea called “Ride Share” to the group.  It would require obtaining a van with which we could transport our elderly or disabled to church on Sunday mornings.  It was decided to pursue the idea. 
  Just a reminder, the church picnic for August 22nd has been CANCELED due to the increase in Covid-19.
  At the beginning of the meeting last night, Pastor Sterling handed out a “Self-Care “quiz for each of the council members to take.  I must admit I failed miserably.  The long and short of this is, “you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of others!”  I will try to do better.
  I hope to see you all this Sunday with your “mask up”.
William          

Weekly View From Da Pews
August 06, 2021
   “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
By Helen Keller
Covid-Covid-Covid!  I am so tired of you!
First, the worship team has decided to cancel the picnic. They unanimously agreed that we don’t know how to do it safely. We did consider doing two services – one that is worship alone and one that was worship with the meal – but the meal itself didn’t feel safe. We will do worship as usual this Sunday.  This coming week the church council will meet on Thursday and we will discuss and finalize how we will go forward with worship and activities at church.  We may have to go back to what we were doing earlier this summer.  I know this will be a big disappointment to many as it seems we are going backwards, however we will make decisions based on facts and with regard to the safety of all concerned.  Watch for my message next Friday with information from the church council.
  The habitat build is moving right along.  The walls are up and being prepped for the roof trusses.  They should arrive on site this coming Monday and we will start to put them in place on Wednesday.  This requires a large crew to man handle the trusses, so if you are available this next week, we could use your help.
  The Youth and Family committee are hosting a “Brat Fry” this Saturday in Lodi at the Lodi Meat Locker.  They are raising funds for the Lutheran Youth Gathering in Minnesota that will be held next summer.  Two weeks ago they did the same thing and earned almost six hundred dollars.  Someone from our congregation matched that amount and gave their efforts a huge boast.  Perhaps someone or a group of you could do the same this week??  Please make it a point to stop and enjoy a brat or two this Saturday and show the kids that we support their efforts.
  This will be a short message this week.  I am needed at the house build.
I pray for guidance for the church council during this difficult time.  I pray that we will all be safe and stay healthy.  I pray that those who are not vaccinated will change their minds.  I pray for the peace and understanding that comes from GOD. 
 
     William, a Disciple of Christ
Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus.
Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than imitating Him who we see.
To see His Majesty and to imitate Him, that is the sum of Christianity!
williamaschleichert@gmail.com
608-697-4434(c)