Trunk or Treat Fun!
It was a great night for Trunk or Treat last Wednesday! We lucked out with a window free of rain for all our kids and families to enjoy the night! Thanks to all who hosted trunks, all who planned, and most of all – all who attended! We had several trunks note that they’d gone through at least 200 pieces of candy…that’s a lot of kiddos!
Soup Fest – Thank you!
Thank you to all who cooked, baked, set up, cleaned up, and served in any way for our Soup Fest! Through your help, and the attendance of community members, we raised $1,372.00 to be split evenly between the Almoner’s Fund (a community-wide fund that responds to emergency community needs) and Mission Support to the Southeastern Iowa Synod. Thank you for your help, and thank you for helping us support ministries that share God’s hope and healing with the world!
Support Elyse Eichelberger and Attend “Radium Girls!”
November 8 and 9; 7:00 pm
This coming weekend Elyse will be performing in “Radium Girls!”, the Muscatine High School fall play. Tickets are $6 online and $8 at the door. When you purchase tickets, be sure to note Elyse’s name so she gets credit for your ticket purchase! Thanks for supporting our Shepherds!
LSI Angel Tree
Donations due by November 29
In collaboration with Grace and Zion, we are sponsoring families who are a part of the Lutheran Services of Iowa Hopes Program. Hopes provides support for families with children prenatal – age 5 who cope with several risk factors (physical, social, financial, etc.)
SOTC has received 14 children to support by offering an educational toy for each child. Spending limit of $20/child. Note that a package of diapers is not requested this year (as has been in years’ past). This is due to the growth of our Community Diaper Bank.
If you’d like to sponsor a child, pick up a tag in the narthex or contact the main office.
Evenings of Gratitude with Bishop Current
As we look to November, we have much to be thankful for! If you’d like to share your thanksgivings, along with hear from others in the Southeastern Iowa Synod what is happening in local congregations and on the synodical level, you are invited to an Evening of Gratitude with Bishop Amy Current. Evenings will include a light dinner, conversation, and gratitude for the ministry we share in our synod. Interested? Look at what date/location is best for you. No need to RSVP; all are welcome! All events are 4:30 – 7:00 pm.
November 10 Christ the King Lutheran Church – Iowa City
November 17 Trinity Lutheran Church – Pleasant Valley
November 24 Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd -Des Moines
Congregational Budget Meeting
Materials distributed November 10
Meeting Sunday, November 24 following worship
Each fall, our teams, along with Council, put together a budget to plan for ministry in the upcoming year. Proposed 2025 budget, with explanation, will be shared with the congregation on Sunday, November 10.
Congregational meeting to vote on the budget, as well as recieve an update on the cell tower lease, will be Sunday, November 24 after worship. Questions can be directed to Delene McConnaha.
Looking toward Advent: Words for the Beginning
Advent is a season of endings and beginnings. As the calendar year comes to a close, a new church year rushes in. Christ’s birth usheres us into new ways of living and love – and yet, we feel the weight of many things coming to an end. The world as we know it spins madly on. So what are the reminders we will need in order to move faithfully through this threshold?
Much like a parent reminds a child of the words they are to hold close, God reminds us of the words that we are to hold close to our hearts. These words often are blessings, and have the potential to shape our lives whether in joy or in uncertainty. This coming season, we’ll be surrounding ourselves with these blessings – wrapping them around us as if wrapping ourselves in a warm quilt.
If you’re interested in learning more, and immersing yourself in our Advent theme, resources (devotional booklet, Advent calendars for kids and families) will be available Sunday, November 17. We look forward to preparing ourselves for the joy of Christ’s birth among us this season!
Poinsettias
Our Altar Guild and Worship and Music Teams are looking forward to a meaningful Advent and Christmas season centered around the theme, “Words for the Beginning.” To decorate for the season, we’ll begin asking for people to sponsor poinsettias beginning Sunday, November 10.
Christmas Eve Worship
December 24; 4:00 p.m.
As you begin planning your holiday schedules with family, be sure to worship with us! Worship on Christmas Eve will be at 4:00 p.m. at SOTC.