DLC UPDATES (OCT 17 & 20)

Dekorra Lutheran Church
Weekly Announcements –October 17&20th, 2021

UPCOMING AT DEKORRA


Current COVID Response: Updated 9/3/21
When the Council met on August 12th it made several changes to our indoor policy. In the last couple of weeks, COVID activity and infections have gone from low levels in Columbia County to the same high levels as they were at Easter. Since even the vaccinated can spread the virus and we do not want to stop our ministries or visits to the homebound, here are the changes effective August 22nd: 1) Mask (i.e. multilayered cotton or silk masks with no vents, disposable surgical masks, N95 masks) will be required for all indoor activities for anyone 6 years old or older unless there is a medical exemption. We believe this matches the practices of Lodi Schools; 2) We will mostly remain seated during worship, avoid close contact during the sharing the peace, pre-distribute communion elements via the Fellowship Cups (you may bring your own), and return to limited indoor seating and social spacing; 3a) A/C or Heat in Sanctuary turned on 60 minutes before the start of worship; 3b) Engage the HVAC system in Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall 5 minutes before the start of worship only (have the fan running in the Sanctuary at that time) but only open the doors and windows away from CS and Smith Road, this should give us some of the benefits of airflow, keep our sanctuary a little more comfortable, and avoid most of the noise; and 4) Since the most dangerous thing we do is sing indoors as a group, we will stop doing that and rely on a single soloist/cantor once again. We are Christians. Our ancestors in the faith worshiped and experienced God by rivers, in homes, in deserts, and even under the Noon sun with no shade. While it was not the most comfortable option, it was the most faithful option at that time. Your Council believes the same here. Please be kind to one another and know that your Council remains vigilant and is monitoring the county’s weekly COVID report. 

Please Excuse our Mess – Audio/Visual Upgrade Update
Our screens have arrived but the work is not done. In the meantime, we will do little “holy experiments” to try to get the sound a little better. If you struggled to hear this week, then please let a member of the Worship Committee know right away. He hopes to be able to fully use the screens by November, God willing.

Outdoor Autumn Fellowship Hour: On October 17th, after the Worship, there will be outdoor fellowship and coffee hour! (weather permitted ). ​

N3099 Smith Rd, Poynette
(608) 635-7200
Pastor Sterling Lynk
dekorralutheran@centurytel.net
www.dekorralutheran.org
Find Us on Facebook & YouTube

           BIRTHDAYS
10/17 Ken Becker
10/17 Sandy Ollhoff
10/18 Paige Doherty
10/19 Noah Davis
10/19 Parker Olson
10/20 John Nelson
10/21 Pam Cunningham
10/21 Callie Kowald
10/21 Adam Ray
10/22 Don Harmon
10/22 Lyle Hendrickson
10/22 Sandy Holl
10/22 Linda Neuberger
10/22 Michael Poznanski
WELCOME FRIENDS, GUESTS, AND MEMBERS!
If you are a visitor, know you are welcome. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you feel at home. We have a gift for you in the basket on the table with the lamb on the wall near the door.
WANT HOME COMMUNION OR PASTORAL CARE? JUST CALL! *DEDICATED PASTORAL CARE OFFICE HOURS ADDED*
Wanting a little Dekorra touch? Need an ear or some advice? Missing Communion? Worried or not feeling well? Pastor Sterling is excited to talk with you and minister to you! We can connect by phone, Zoom, or for a short in-person visit. Call or email the office to schedule a time. If you are having a pastoral emergency, then please get the pastor’s cell phone number off the voicemail. Please do not be shy - the pastor is here for you! Also, starting on October 1st, 2021, the pastor has walk-in pastoral care office hours on Fridays from 10a-2p. No appointments are needed (and no appointments will be made). Just show up or call and he will engage folks on a first-come-first-served basis. If you call and get the voicemail, the pastor will return your call that day.

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8000 People are Refugees from Afghanistan at Fort McCoy – Here’s How You Can Help
This has happened so quickly, that the situation will change weekly. The Afghani refugees in our area are at Fort McCoy. At the moment, the Catholic Charities of La Crosse is working to get specific basic needs to these homeless human beings. Eventually, resettlement will begin, with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS)/Lutheran Social Services (LSS) resettling 100 families to the Greater Milwaukee Area. Jewish Social Services hopes to resettle 50 more families in the Greater Madison Area. Resettlement will be difficult. These folks will not be allowed to legally work for around 6 months, because that is the time it will take for them to get green cards. They will also not be able to access the social safety net until after that time. That means they will need material and financial support much longer than most refugees that our nation welcomes. If you want to learn how to help specifically, please see the September 9th of the Synod’s “What Matters” e-newsletter at https://scsw-elca.org/news/. 

Needed: Crafters for Prayer Cloth Ministry A prayer cloth is a mini-version of a prayer shawl. The crafter infuses prayer to provide love and comfort to the person who will receive the Prayer Cloth. They are small enough to be tucked in pockets, and purses.  They also can be carried into surgery and taken on vacations. Anyone who needs comfort or wants support in their prayer life could use one. Our Pastor could take them on visits, have a basket available to take, or donate to local community facilities. Are you a knitter, crocheter, or quilter? Just want to help? You can sign up on the bulletin board, and patterns and yard will be in the Fellowship Hall starting in October. Please contact Jill Emmons if you have any questions or details on what these look like – (608) 692-1425 or jillyemmons@gmail.com. Also, check out the October newsletter for more details.

Acolyte Training – October 24th, During Sunday School
Serving as an acolyte at worship is one of the traditional services 5th and 6th graders (as well as older kids and adults) share with our community. This year’s training will happen on October 24th. If you have a 5th or 6th grader in Sunday School, please try not to miss that day. Even in these strange pandemic days, acolytes are an important part of the worship team and we are excited to serve with our young people.
Please Wear Red on Reformation Sunday – Sunday, October 31st at 9 am Worship
October 31st we Lutherans celebrate the Reformation. The worship Committee will decorate the Sanctuary and you are invited to wear Red and other very bright colors.
Please Share Names of People to Be Remembered During All Saints Sunday (November 7) by October 31 
During this pandemic, we have missed so many typical opportunities to grieve loved ones who have died bodily. We will take the opportunity to grieve, remember and commemorate on November 7th during worship. Please call the office or email Pastor Sterling at pastorsterling@centurytel.net to let us know who you would like to be named during the service. Please include your relationship with that individual. The person you asked to be named and remember need not be family and does not need to have died in the last year.
Save the Date: November 2nd – 5th Wanting Professional Holiday Photos and to Support the Mission Trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering?
Dekorra member Sheri Birchler will be offering professional photography sittings in time for the holidays. She will donate the sitting fee to DLC for the 2022 ELCA Youth Gathering. Stay tuned for more details.
Thank Offering Service will take place on Sunday, November 14th with special guest  Katie Luther
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes will be collected for delivery the week of November 15th. If you would like to donate items or pack a box some ideas are…balls, dolls, stuffed animals, toy cars, jump ropes, yo-yo’s, musical toys. Health items include toothbrushes, a bar of soap wrapped in a washcloth in a sandwich bag, comb/brush. School supplies, coloring books, books, sunglasses, flip flops, hair accessories, small flashlights with the batteries. Drop them off at Church or wrap a box and fill it. It is a fun project to do with your kids or as a family. Any questions, call Kathy Pederson at (608) 592-7511 
Christmas Angels Coming Soon! – Supporting the Salvation Army and the DLC Youth Headed to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2022.   Watch your bulletins and newsletters.

ONGOING AT DEKORRA 
AA – Fridays at 8 pm 
All Committee Meeting–is on November 2nd at 6:30 pm
Council Meeting– is on November 11th at 6:30 pm
Bible Study The Chosen: Bible Movie and Study begin on Oct 15th till Dec 10th at 10:00 am (not on Nov 26)
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 meet 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  

• 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 October 19th at 6:30 pm.  
Hospitality Committee now meets on the first Tuesday of the month, at 10:30 am

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:
SUNDAY, October 10            WEDNESDAY, October 13                   TOTAL GIVING: $2216.00                                 

Attendance:  74              Attendance: 24            
General Offering: $1064.00         General Offering: $455.00
Vanco Giving: $626.00          Sunday School: $6.00
Screens Fund: $45.00 
Youth Gathering: $20.00

Worship Ministry Sunday, October 17, 2021
Assistant Minister: Sue Poznanski, Reading Minister: Judy Brownrigg, Greeters: Phil & Vicki Nugier, Sanctuary Ushers: Brad & Sara Simplot, Parking Lot Ushers: Paul Knuteson, Mike Keller & Harry Benson, Acolyte: None, Cantor: Merry Seng, Stewardship: Phil & Vicki Nugier
Worship Ministry Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Assistant Minister: Soren Lynk, Reader Minister: Briahna Lund, Communion Minister: Rachel Schmudlach, Ushers: Austin Browne, Acolyte: Riley Browne, Video Minister: Rachel Schmudlach, Cantor: Keira Cartwright, Jaylee Busser, Austin Brown
Worship Ministry Sunday, October 24, 2021
Assistant Minister: Al Bilse, Reading Minister: Marj Weingandt, Greeters: Jeff & Lisa Bothun, Sanctuary Ushers: Sharon Kampen & Bill Priske, Parking Lot Ushers: Dennis Cunningham, Pete Holzman & Bob Acker, Acolyte: Kinzie Lintl, Cantor: Barb Verbitsky, Stewardship: Sharon Kampen & Holly Priske
Worship Ministry Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Assistant Minister: None, Reader Minister: Soren Lynk, Communion Minister: Austin Browne, Ushers: Rachel Schmudlach, Jaylee Busser & Fayth Hesselberg, Acolyte: Emile Sile, Video Minister: Olivia Homewood, Cantor: Bill Emmons, Stewardship: Sharon Kampen & Holly Priske

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