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Weekly View From Da Pews
September 24, 2021 “Life is not what it is supposed to be! Life is what it is! What you do with it determines your success!” In my 78 years of life I have known a few struggles and I have also observed many of the struggles of other people. I have observed that those people who have a “can do” attitude are those who succeed in life. If you say I cannot, than you will not. If on the other hand you ask God to help you, give it your best shot and still come up short, you may find that you have had a positive impact on those around you and that is success. Stay strong, stay the course and keep the faith! This past Wednesday I attended the worship service at Dekorra and I came away with a renewed appreciation for the youth of Dekorra. I was impressed by their positive attitudes and their willingness to engage in the worship service. Yes there were some gaffs, but they serves as learning experiences. Where all of us born knowing how to lead a worship service? It is a learning process that teaches us about our faith and prepares our youth for their future roles as leaders of Dekorra. I urge all of our senior members to attend these Wednesday night services, too interact with our youth and share your life experiences with them. When you come to church this Sunday there are a couple of things to remember. First of all worship is at 9am, second, remember to pick up your yellow bag and third, it is PIZZA Sunday. If you ordered a PAPA Murphy’s pizza from the youth they will be delivered this Sunday and you will need to pay the bill. The Packers play this Sunday night and it is a great time to enjoy that pizza. GO PACK! Very shortly we will be putting together the budget for 2022. If you are on a committee we will need to know what you expect to spend on your committees activities next year. Also, as we re-write the churches constitution we will need to re-write the “continuing resolution” for each committee and we would like you to be a part of that process. This would be a good discussion for ‘ALL Committee” night in October. Fearings continues to work on the upgrade to our Audio/Visual system. I have already noticed the improvement of the sound system. We continue to make good progress at the Habitat build in Baraboo. The electric is all roughed in and the plumbers are working on their part. We have a snag with two of the windows. We will not get them until mid-October so we cannot finish the siding on the back wall until then. We can use more help from Wednesday to Saturday. The same 5 or 6 volunteers are doing all the work and they are getting tired out. Worship Committee Needs a Minister of PowerPoint ASAP for a Short Project in September By September 20th, we expect to be able to use the new A/V system. This will include having the order and content of worship on the screens. That means we need to start the long process of transferring everything into PowerPoint. The bright side is that I have all of Trinity Lutheran of Lake Mill’s PowerPoint decks for worship with a lot of hymns. The templates just need to be edited, the readings transferred into slides, and some other tasks. If you are saying to yourself “I could help with that” or feel the Holy Spirit nudging you, then please call the office or shoot an email to Pastor Sterling at pastorsterling@centurytel.net. Thank you! From Social Ministry Committee: Quilts and School and Personal Care Kits Delivered to the Train on September 18th We will once again be leading the synod in amounts donated to this project. The committee put together 62 quilts 113 School Kits and 25 Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief. A huge “atta girl” to Kathy Pederson for all her hard work coordinating this project. The items above were delivered to the train on September 18th by Pete and Margo Holzman. Mission work in action, Thank you! 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. Worship Ministry Sunday, September 26, 2021 Worship Assistant: Marj Weingandt, Lay Reader: Dave Kinnunen, Greeters: Judy Brownrigg and Sharon Kampen, Sanctuary Ushers: Paul Knuteson and Bill Priske, Parking Lot Ushers: Bob Acker, Jerry Carncross and Harry Benson, Acolyte: None, Cantor: Bill Emmons, Stewardship: Sharon Kampen and Holly Priske That’s all for this week, time to get busy cleaning my home. william Weekly View From Da Pews
September 17, 2021 “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men!” Herman Melville It was good to see that connection on Wednesday night at our first Wednesday night Intergenerational worship service. There was a connection between the ages exemplified by the youth, the teachers, the mentors and just some of the old people like me who enjoyed the interaction between all involved. That interaction gives people my age a feeling that we will be OK, that we do have a group of young people who are concerned and committed to keeping the faith alive and growing. My hats off to Pastor Sterling for taking the time and putting in the effort to make this a success. It was also a very pleasant surprise to have the sound system up and running. Fearings has been working very hard to get us modernized and into the 21st century. It will be a nice addition to our worship experience when it is all done. Just a reminder that this upgrade is not cheap and council is counting on each of you to contribute a little extra each week to help pay off the loan. My hope is that you will respond like you did with the roof repair and pay off the loan way ahead of time. My hats off to the Property committee group for all their hard work installing the new light pole in the parking lot. It is a much needed improvement and a job well done. I have been toying with the idea of re-energizing the Dekorra Men for Christ. I would like to know if any of the men in our congregation or even non-members would be interested in a men’s bible study on Wednesday nights after church service. This would be a lay led study with input from Pastor Sterling and using the Master Builder Bible study section. I think we could keep the sessions to about one hour. If you are interested reply to my e-mail. Giving of Bibles to Third Graders – Sunday, September 19th at 9 am Worship As part of child Baptism, parents and guardians promise to place the scriptures in their kids’ hands, nurture them in their faith, live with them among God’s people, teach them the Lord’s Prayer, Creeds, and Ten Commandments, and other important things. On this Sunday, we will support those parents/guardians in keeping that promise by giving Bibles to the Third Graders in our community. We will pray over and ask God to bless these kids and their parents/guardians during worship. Sunday School Teacher/Coordinator Installation – Sunday, September 19th at 9 am Worship As we start a new youth education term, let us celebrate and ask God to bless our Sunday School Teachers and Coordinator A Packers Pizza Sunday – ELCA Youth Gathering Fundraiser, September 26th What are your plans for the big 7:20 pm Packers vs. 49ers game on September 26th? It could include supporting our youth (4 so far) by going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2022 and some Papa Murphy’s pizza! Details are coming but expect to see an order form in these announcements and for the tasty food to be delivered on the Sunday of the fundraiser. Pizzas can last 2 days in the fridge and a couple of weeks in the freezer. Work continues at the Habitat home on Lily Court in Baraboo. We are siding the exterior walls, running the electric wire and installing fixtures. This weekend they will be pouring cement for the garage floor and the front stoop. We are almost done with the use of the scaffolding and that can be returned to Sauk Prairie warehouse. The plumbers need to start their work and it won’t be long and we will be installing the wall insulation and dry walling. This next week we will go to Madison and pick up the furnace and air conditioner. That’s all for this week, time to clean my house and wash some clothes. Stay healthy, stay strong and keep the faith! See you all on Sunday. William
Are You Looking for a Deeper Faith Life? – Have You Been Wondering What God Has in Mind for You?
Do you want to be better equipped for Christian service? If you answered, “yes” to any of these questions, then Diakonia® may just be what you are looking for (and the Holy Spirit calling you to). Our Synod offers this program of 12 different 5-week courses. Students can participate in 1 to 6 courses a year, and after completing all 12 they have a graduation ceremony. They have now online so no extra driving to Madison. Instead, the time in class is the time commitment. This is an amazing faith formation opportunity. There is still time to register this year. To do that, or to learn more, please go to https://scsw-elca.org/diakonia/. Audio/Visual System Upgrades in Sanctuary and Building Begin 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! Thank You Quilters and Kit Gatherers! Quilts, personal care kits, and school kits left our building this week! We had 80 quilts this year, with some of them even going to our new Afghan neighbors who were displaced and now reside at Fort McCoy. We had 113 kits this year. Last year we had 84, which made us number one in the synod. Thank you so much! This is neighbor service. 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. Worship Committee Needs a Minister of PowerPoint ASAP for a Short Project in September By September 20th, we expect to be able to use the new A/V system. This will include having the order and content of worship on the screens. That means we need to start the long process of transferring everything into PowerPoint. The bright side is that I have all of Trinity Lutheran of Lake Mill’s PowerPoint decks for worship with a lot of hymns. The templates just need to be edited, the readings transferred into slides, and some other tasks. If you are saying to yourself “I could help with that” or feel the Holy Spirit nudging you, then please call the office or shoot an email to Pastor Sterling at pastorsterling@centurytel.net. Thank you! A Packers Pizza Sunday – ELCA Youth Gathering Fundraiser, September 26th What are your plans for the big 7:20 pm Packers vs. 49ers game on September 26th? It could include supporting our youth (4 so far) by going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2022 and some Papa Murphy’s pizza! Details are coming but expect to see an order form in these announcements and for the tasty food to be delivered on the Sunday of the fundraiser. Pizzas can last 2 days in the fridge and a couple of weeks in the freezer. 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. ONGOING AT DEKORRA AA – Fridays at 8 pm All Committee Meeting–is on October 12th at 6:30 pm Council Meeting– Special Meeting is on October 5th at 1:00 pm, Monthly Meeting is on October 14th 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 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
Worship Committee – 1st Wednesday of the Month, at 1:00 pm Constitution Committee –will meet on September 21st and October 19th at 6:30 pm. Hospitality Committee now meets on the first Tuesday of the month, at 10:30 am Youth and Family Committee- will meet on Sept.19th at 10:15 am Yellow Bags Food Ministry –
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF WORSHIP AND GIFTS: SUNDAY, September 12 WEDNESDAY, September 15 TOTAL GIVING: $4772.00 Attendance: 80 Attendance: 29 General Offering: $2864.00 General Offering: $550.00 Vanco Giving: $661.00 Screens Fund: $65.00 Screens Fund: $210.00 Youth Gathering: $397.00 Global Missions: $25.00 Worship Ministry Sunday, September 19, 2021 Worship Assistant: Merry Seng, Lay Reader: Kinzie Lintl, Greeters: Mary Dibble and Sharon Kampen, Sanctuary Ushers: Bill and Diane Buckley, Parking Lot Ushers: Dennis Cunningham, Pete Holzman, and Larry Johnson, Acolyte: Kinzie Lintl, Stewardship: Phil and Vicki Nugier Worship Ministry Wednesday, September 22, 2021 Worship Assistant: Soren, Lay Reader: Austin, Communion Assistant: Brianna, Ushers: Rachel and Riley, Acolyte: Olivia Video Assistant: Kira Worship Ministry Sunday, September 26, 2021 Worship Assistant: Marj Weingandt, Lay Reader: Dave Kinnunen, Greeters: Judy Brownrigg and Sharon Kampen, Sanctuary Ushers: Paul Knuteson and Bill Priske, Parking Lot Ushers: Bob Acker, Jerry Carncross and Harry Benson, Acolyte: None, Stewardship: Sharon Kampen and Holly Priske
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. Please see the Confirmation Summary included in these announcements. Watch these announcements, the website, and the newsletter for more information. Blessing of the Backpacks – Sunday, September 12th at 9 am Worship We ask that anyone in school this Fall (4k through Graduate School) bring their school bags and/or other school tools to worship. We will take the moment to pray for you and ask God to bless you and your growth. Sunday School Teacher/Coordinator Installation – Sunday, September 12th at 9 am Worship As we start a new youth education term, let us celebrate and ask God to bless our Sunday School Teachers and Coordinator. 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. Confirmation Mentor/Coordinator Installation – Wednesday, September 15th at 6 pm Worship As we start a new youth education term, let us celebrate and ask God to bless our Confirmation Mentors and Coordinator. From Social Ministry Committee: Quilts and School and Personal Care Kits Delivered to the Train on September 18th We will once again be doing School Kits and Personal Care Kits for Lutheran World Relief. Also, our quilters will be sending out their handiwork at the same time. The LWR train is taking donations from 7 am-11 am on Saturday, September 18th. Please deliver your donations by Friday, September 17th to the church. Check our August Newsletter for details. Thank you! Jaime Benson’s Ordination On August 15, 2021, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage, WI voted to call our own Jaime Benson to be their pastor. Congratulations to her, and truly, congratulations to them for snagging a good one. Jaime’s ordination will be Friday, September 17th, 5 pm, here at Dekorra Lutheran Church. Indoor protocols will be in place, except for the seating limit. Outdoor, Fellowship Hall and online (streaming and recorded) options will be available as well. All are welcome. Watch these announcements and the website for more information about her ordination and installation. Giving of Bibles to Third Graders – Sunday, September 19th at 9 am Worship As part of child Baptism, parents and guardians promise to place the scriptures in their kids’ hands, nurture them in their faith, live with them among God’s people, teach them the Lord’s Prayer, Creeds, and Ten Commandments, and other important things. On this Sunday, we will support those parents/guardians in keeping that promise by giving Bibles to the Third Graders in our community. We will pray over and ask God to bless these kids and their parents/guardians during worship. Worship Committee Needs a Minister of PowerPoint ASAP for a Short Project in September By September 20th, we expect to be able to use the new A/V system. This will include having the order and content of worship on the screens. That means we need to start the long process of transferring everything into PowerPoint. The bright side is that I have all of Trinity Lutheran of Lake Mill’s PowerPoint decks for worship with a lot of hymns. The templates just need to be edited, the readings transferred into slides, and some other tasks. If you are saying to yourself “I could help with that” or feel the Holy Spirit nudging you, then please call the office or shoot an email to Pastor Sterling at pastorsterling@centurytel.net. Thank you! A Packers Pizza Sunday – ELCA Youth Gathering Fundraiser, September 26th What are your plans for the big 7:20 pm Packers vs. 49ers game on September 26th? It could include supporting our youth (4 so far) by going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2022 and some Papa Murphy’s pizza! Details are coming but expect to see an order form in these announcements and for the tasty food to be delivered on the Sunday of the fundraiser. Pizzas can last 2 days in the fridge and a couple of weeks in the freezer. 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 7th) by October 31st 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. 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
Quilting – Thursdays at 1 pm Worship Committee – 1st Wednesday of the Month, at 1:00 pm Constitution Committee –will meet on September 9th and September 21st at 6:30 pm. Hospitality Committee now meets on the first Tuesday of the month, at 10:00 am Youth and Family Committee- will meet on Sept. 12th at 11:30 am Yellow Bags Food Ministry –
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF WORSHIP AND GIFTS: Last Week Attendance: 87 General Offering: $2858.00 Vanco Giving: $1371.00 Screens Fund: $40.00
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 inter-generational 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! Jaime Benson’s Ordination On August 15, 2021, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Portage, WI voted to call our own Jaime Benson to be their pastor. Congratulations to her, and truly, congratulations to them for snagging a good one. Jaime’s ordination will be Friday, September 17th, 5 pm, here at Dekorra Lutheran Church. Indoor protocols will be in place, except for the limit on seating. Outdoor, Fellowship Hall and online (streaming and recorded) options will be available as well. All are welcome. Watch these announcements and the website for more information about her ordination and installation. A Packers Pizza Sunday – ELCA Youth Gathering Fundraiser, Tentatively September 26th What are your plans for the big 7:20 pm Packers vs. 49ers game on September 26th? It could include supporting our youth (4 so far) by going to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 2022 and some Papa Murphy’s pizza! Details are coming but expect to see an order form in these announcements and for the tasty food to be delivered on the Sunday of the fundraiser. 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
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 Tuesday of the month, at 10:00 am Youth and Family Committee- will meet on Sept. 12th at 11:30 am Yellow Bags Food Ministry –
OUR STEWARDSHIP OF WORSHIP AND GIFTS
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