Trunk or Treat
Wednesday, October 30, 6:00 – 7:15pm
Hosted at Grace Lutheran
Dig out those spooky costumes and come to a safe and magical Trunk or Treat event hosted by Faith Together Muscatine. The event will be held in Grace’s parking lot in conjunction with Family Faith Nights. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food donation to share with our local food pantry – but it is not required.
We’re looking for people to host trunks! Trunks need to be set up by 5:30. Bring your own candy and decorations. Games are encouraged but not required. Sign up to host a trunk by signing up via this link or the paper sign up in the narthex.
Invite your friends and family and we’ll see you there…if you dare!
Listen,God is Calling Stewardship Opportunities
Return Your Pledge Card
In late September, we distributed pledge cards and a pledge poster. Return your pledge cards to the box in the narthex this coming Sunday. Utilize the resources to prayerfully discern how God is calling you to respond financially to support the mission of Jesus through Shepherd of the Cross. We will share a total of our pledges during our breakfast potluck.
Return Your Pledge Poster
Pledge posters can also be returned to church throughout the month of October. The pledge poster is meant as an exercise for an entire family/household. Consider, and pray over, how God is calling you in your lives, in our congregation, and in our community. Reflect on your responses, write them on the poster, and then tape to our window wall in the narthex.
Join us for a Celebration Breakfast Potluck
Celebrate the invitations God has given us and our collective response of praise! To have a good spread, sign up to bring something! We’re looking for breakfast casseroles, muffins, fruit, and drinks. Sign up in the narthex or contact the church office.
Donate toward our Sock-tober Drive
Live out your response to God’s generosity by serving others! We’ll collect socks for Laundry Love, an initiative that offers low-cost laundry services to Muscatine families and basic essentials.
All Saints Litany
Each year, the church celebrates All Saints Day – a day to remember that we are all saints through Christ. This year, we celebrate All Saints Day on Sunday, November 3. Especially on this day, we remember and rejoice with saints who have been baptized in the past year, and saints who have died in the past year. If you have someone you would like remembered as a part of our litany during worship, sign up in the narthex, or contact Kathy or Pastor Aleese. Those desiring to remember a saint will be invited to light a candle in their honor as a part of our worship service.
Collaborative ELCA Discernment Team
This summer and fall, a team of representatives from our 4 ELCA congregations have been meeting to address short term needs within our congregations. Now, as we move forward, it is our hope that a discernment team will help carry this work forward.
This team will:
- Pray – pray individually and corporately for discerning hearts and to hear God’s guidance through the Spirit
- Pay attention – pay attention to what God is doing, and wants to do in and through the collaborative ministry of the 4 ELCA congregations
- Dream – consider what’s possible, opening themselves to God’s leading to an idea that may be outside the normal “church box”
- Make recommendations to a larger team for execution
- And will consider how the larger Muscatine community can be impacted by this ministry
The group will consist of no more than 8 people, ideally 2 from each congregation. Ideal candidates are:
- people who want to be a part of a team like this
- people who are FAT – faithful, available, and teachable
- people who are not currently in church leadership
- people who are dreamers/wonderers (not “do-ers”)
Commitment will be to meetings at least once/month, with the option for every other week meetings to begin.
If you are interested or want to learn more, talk to Andy Christy or Pastor Aleese. Please respond by October 27. Thank you!
Soup Fest
Sunday, November 3 | 4:00 – 7:00 pm
It’s coming up soon! Here’s how you can help:
- Share our event on Facebook, share this flyer, and/or distribute cards inviting your friends/family
- Sign up to cook, bake, or bring supplies – see the sign up in the narthex for more details and/or contact Kathy for what is still needed
- Volunteer to set up the fellowship hall, do dishes, or clean up after the event
Thank you for your part in making this event a success! Proceeds will be given 50/50 to 1) an emergency discretionary fund to support community needs and 2) mission support to the Southeastern Iowa Synod.
Literacy Program @ Grace Lutheran
The afterschool literacy program at Grace Lutheran Church needs help expanding theirr pool of volunteers. If you like to listen to youngsters read aloud, this opportunity is for you!
Volunteers are needed Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. Most volunteers need only be at the church from 4:00 – 5:00 pm once or twice each month.
If you are interested in volunteering or need to know more about this program, please contact Deb Holliday, at 563-299-2145. You can also contact our Director of Literacy, Karen Woods via email.
Things Happening at Zion
Zion Lutheran Church has a few upcoming gatherings to share with us.
Let’s Do Lunch @ Guadalajara – Thursday, October 10 – 11:30 am
Lunchtime Potluck Get Together @ Zion – Tuesday, October 22 – Noon
Z Book Club @ Diamond Daves – Monday, November 25 – 5:30 pm
*See flyers in Fellowship area @ SOTC for more information. All are welcome to join!
Cell Tower Update
Good news! At the beginning of September we recieved a signed cell tower contract from Crown Castle! This means that we are now officially in the “option period” time. We have received our first payment as a part of the option period. Rent payments will not begin until the cell tower is officially built.
In the meantime, as we await more information from Crown Castle, your Council has been discerning use of funds from the cell tower. Our hope is to have more information to share later this month and/or at our Budget Meeting in November. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to a Council member (Delene, Gladys, Erin, Linda, Kathy, Melissa, Joanne, Connie H).
2025 SOTC Budget
Distributed November 10
Each fall, our teams, along with Council, put together a budget to plan for ministry in the upcoming year. Proposed 2025 budgets 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.