CALL to WORSHIP
“Share the Joy of Growing in Christ’s Love”
Published Monthly September 2015
Pastor Steve Weston, interim Office Hours: Mon. – Fri.
www.unitedinchristlutheran.org Office Phone: 744-2694
Inside this Issue:
A Message from Pastor Steve
Choir Rehearsal Schedule
Sunday School Classes to Begin
Women of the ELCA News
Boundless Love Concert
VLM Camp News
Grief Seminar
Family Portrait Schedules
Health Ministry Message
Sunday Morning Volunteers
September Calendar
United in Christ
Lutheran Church
201 Station 44 Road
Eveleth, MN 55734
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
On the first Monday of September our nation celebrates Labor Day, which is intended to honor ordinary workers and celebrate the contribution they make to the common good. It was one of Martin Luther’s insights that all useful work is holy work. All work that serves others serves God. You don’t have to be employed full-time by the church or some other Christian organization for your work to be God’s work.
We tell our children that God gives us the things we need in this life– food and clothing and tools and toys and so forth. So when farmers produce food, miners produce natural resources, manu-facturers make the things that improve our lives, wholesalers distribute them and retailers sell them to us, whose work are they doing? God’s work.
We teach our kids that God made them. So when parents raise children and teachers educate them and coaches encourage them and other adults mentor them, whose work are they doing? God’s work.
We look to God for protection. So when folks in law enforcement, fire departments, the military and other such fields do what they do, whose work are they doing? God’s.
We pray to God for healing. So when doctors, nurses, therapists and other caregivers apply their skills to help sick or injured people get well, whose work are they doing? You guessed it: God’s.
There’s an old hymn (not in our hymnals) with the repeated line, “God will take care of you.” Whenever we care for others, in big ways or small, whether we’re doing it as paid work or just because it’s good to do, whose work is it? Even if we’re not thinking of it as God’s work, it’s God’s work.
These are the ideas behind the Lutheran doctrine of vocation. A vocation is something God calls you to do. People often think of “special” individuals – monks, nuns, clergy, etc. – as having a calling, but the truth is every Christian has a calling from God to do something useful in the world. No calling is more holy than any other. The calling of making an honest living by doing useful work and raising a family is every bit as holy as preaching the Gospel.
The 2006 film, Amazing Grace, tells the true story of William Wilberforce (1759-1833). Wilberforce was a British Member of Parliament when he experienced a conversion and became a zealous Christian. Convinced that God was calling him to a life of holy service, he consulted his pastor about whether he should stay in politics or become a clergyman.
His pastor was none other than John Newton (1725-1807), the man who penned the words of the hymn, Amazing Grace. Newton had been in the slave trade and even a slave ship captain. At some point after coming to faith, he became convinced that the slave trade was morally wrong and gave it up. He became an Anglican priest after he repented of the cruelty he had committed in plying that trade. Profiting by treating other human beings as property was most definitely not God’s work. It was his life in the slave trade that Newton was thinking of when he chose the word wretch in that first line, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”
Newton, together with other friends and colleagues, persuaded Wilberforce that serving God and working in Parliament to reform British society could be one and the same thing, and that his holy calling was in politics. History records that Wilberforce led Britain to abolish the abduction of human beings for importation as slaves in 1807, a year before the Americans did. He led Britain to abolish slavery entirely in 1833, a full three decades before America did, and without a civil war. Whose work was William Wilberforce doing? God’s.
Whose work are you doing as you go about your daily business? If what you’re doing helps other people live better and contributes to the common good, it’s God’s work and something to celebrate.
Peace & blessings!
Pastor Steve
FREE CONCERT!
to Benefit Area Food Shelves
Rain or shine the concert will go on to benefit the local food shelves! “We are the Range” featuring the Iron Range Musical All Stars free concert will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, from 1:00–9:00 p.m.
at Olcott Park in Virginia. This is a Cats Under the Stars 40th Anniversary Tour and will also include The Divas, Paul and Greg Mayasich, Christopher David Hanson Band, Casey Aro, Doug Ellis and more! Please bring non-perishable food items as a donation or a cash donation would be appreciated for our local food shelves.
Did you know that during the month of June 2015 Quad City Food Shelf in Gilbert served 1,102 individuals and distributed 31,317 pounds of food? To accomplish this, volunteers gave 373 hours of their time! This Food Shelf was started in 1981 and has been in continuous operation since then. The Quad City Food shelf is in need of volunteers on a regular basis. If this is something you may be interested in, please call them at 741-1371. They are open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.
PHONE NUMBER AND
ADDRESS CHANGES
If you have disconnected your land line, please notify the church office of your new phone number. New addresses are also needed for all the youth that are off to college, working, or the military.
GRIEF SEMINAR
GETTING TO THE
“NEW NORMAL” AFTER LOSS
The Truths Behind the Transformation
The Iron Range Chapter of The Compas-sionate Friends is hosting a Seminar on Getting to the New Normal After Loss—The Truths Behind the Transformation. Every- one talks about a new normal in life after loss. The success of your transformation to a new normal unveils what you leave behind as your life changes.
The Grief Seminar will be held Saturday, September 26, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Nichols Town Hall on Nichols Avenue in Parkville (Mt. Iron). Speakers will be Nan and Gary Zastrow, nationally known speakers on Grief, who are the Founders of Wings – A Grief Education Ministry out of Wausau, Wisconsin. The Seminar is free and open to the public.
Please register by calling (218) 749-2089 or
as space is limited.
BIBLES TO BE AWARDED
3rd Grade Bible Milestone Celebration will be recognized on Sunday, September 20, at the 10:45 a.m. worship service. All 3rd Graders and their parents, godparents, family, friends, and congregation are invited to celebrate with the 3rd Graders, who will receive their bibles. Please pray for them as they receive God’s Word and continue on their journey of faith.
BOUNDLESS LOVE
An Evening of Faith, Worship,
and Inspiration
You are invited and welcome to share with Grammy award winning gospel singer,
Billy Steele, at a concert on Wednesday, September 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The concertwill be held in Virginia at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1111 8th Street South.
Pastor Mike Carlson, originally from Eveleth now from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Montomedi, will be a presenter that evening.
This is a free concert; however, a free-will offering will be taken to help with expenses. The sponsors are the Laurentian Conference congregations. (That includes us!)
Note to Parents: All confirmation students
in grades 7, 8, and 9 will be expected to
attend this concert as it is the kick-off to
the confirmation year.
The first choir rehearsal of the year has been set.
Anyone interested, adult or senior high youth, in singing in the choir is invited to their practices on Wednesdays beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church. The first practice of the season will be September 9 and they will sing September 13.. If you have questions about the schedule, etc. please call our choir director, Susan Lindmeier at
741-7573. Yes,
we do have an accompanist!
It is our practice to list the Gospel reading that will be used during the next few weeks on Sunday mornings. Please join the bible study group on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. as they study the next week’s lessons.
14th Sunday after Pentecost August 30
The Gospel Lesson Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
15th Sunday after Pentecost September 6
The Gospel Lesson Mark 7:24-37
16th Sunday after Pentecost September 13
The Gospel Lesson Mark 8:27-38
17th Sunday after Pentecost September 20
The Gospel Lesson Mark 9:30-37
18th Sunday after Pentecost September 27
The Gospel Lesson Mark 9:38-50
19th Sunday after Pentecost October 4
The Gospel Lesson Mark 10:2-16
20th Sunday after Pentecost October 11
The Gospel Lesson Mark 10:17-31
21st Sunday after Pentecost October 18
The Gospel Lesson Mark 10:35-45
Fall Worship Schedule
8:45 A.M. Traditional Worship
with Holy Communion
9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Refreshments served
9:45 A.M. Sunday School classes
10:00 A.M. Adult education class
10:45 A.M. Nontraditional Worship
with Holy Communion
DID YOU KNOW…
...that Camp Hiawatha and Camp Vermilion are available to host your next group gathering? Both sites have retreat space for any type of group - families, men, women, youth, crafters, fishermen (and women), committee, council, etc. You bring the group, and they’ll provide the gathering space and fabulous meals.
...that the VLM staff is available to assist with programming at your next retreat? A wide variety of hands-on, skill learning opportunities (i.e. bread making, paddle building, wood carving), as well as staff to help with worship and/or team building await you.
...that VLM offers programmed retreats and events all year long? See the “Upcoming Events” link on their website.
To learn more about year round opportunities with Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry, visit on-line at www.VLMcamps.org or contact the office at 800-331-5148 or .
“VLM has broken ground on a new foundation at Camp Vermilion and the Watch Them Flourish appeal is helping to build up on the solid base for ministry at camp. By October 2015 the plan is to have a roof on a weatherized and heated building, allowing us to reach a benchmark that will protect the building through the winter. The hope is to have the entire building functional by May of 2016. Now is when your gift will make the most difference in reaching our goals. Investing in a well-built foundation makes all the difference in the world. Every gift helps. Thank you for strengthening the foundations of God’s mission at camp!”
Joel Abenth, VLM Executive Director
Join one of these great VLM events!
September 4-6 – Family Labor Day Weekend
begins at Camp Vermilion
October 3 – VLM 25th Anniversary Celebration
begins at 4:00 p.m. at Park Hotel in Hibbing
October 11 – Fall Festival at Camp Hiawatha
October 16 - Father/Son “Top Secret” Retreat at Camp Vermilion
December 14 - Celebration of Light and Music at Camp Hiawatha
www.VLMcamps.org • 1-800-331-5148 or 218-666-5465
Camp Hiawatha, 36944 Camp Hiawatha Road, Deer River, MN 56636
Camp Vermilion, 2555 Vermilion Camp Road, Cook, MN 55723
SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES
TO RESUME
Hey, Everybody! Sunday School is right around the corner and will begin on Rally Sunday, September 13, at 9:45 a.m. Mark your calendars, and we look forward to seeing you then. A “snail mail” letter will be mailed out to your family. Please think and consider who you could invite to attend Sunday School at United in Christ this fall. All children, ages four through the sixth grade, are encouraged to attend. Also, a teacher is still needed for the very young children.
There is a special envelope in your packet which is labeled “Education Education”. Please be generous and include a gift for supplies for Sunday School. Otherwise, grab a pew envelope and mark it “Education” with your offering. You will see that amount credited on your quarterly statement.
W omen of the
E vangelical
L utheran
C hurch in
A merica
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NIV
Summer is on its way out and the smell of fall
is in the air as I attempt to get back into the September to June mode. I like the four seasons as each season has a surprise! So, the September to June mode is when I get ready for the organizations that I am a part of such as WELCA and other groups. Many of us get busy at this time of the year, which is why I will list some of the important dates this fall, Mark our calendars. There will be a WELCA Executive Board meeting before this is published, so watch next month’s newsletter for more information.
Mark this date:
Monday, September 14, 6:00 P.M.
Women of United in Christ potluck dinner in the church social hall. Bring a dish to share.
There will be other events this fall. Start plan-ning which salad you'll be bringing for the salad luncheon in October, and what goodies you will make for the bake sale. There will be a pastie sale the end of October. When someone calls you regarding these events, please join in helping to make these events a success. Volunteers are always welcomed and always needed.
Any suggestions for Women of the ELCA are always appreciated. Call Stancy 744-2639 with your ideas.
A potluck picnic was held at church to meet Pastor Westin and his wife, Pastor Evelyn, and their three sons, Sam, Ben, and Jon. Of course, United in Christ outdid themself with the potluck.
The following is a recipe that was at the potluck. I don't recall who made it, but will find out and give that person a Big Thank You for the recipe, it was enjoyed by many. This is a recipe from an old Faith United Lutheran Church cookbook, credited to a Feimi Talso.