Volume 34 Number 11

The Monthly Newsletter of Pilgrim

Lutheran Church 3901 First Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409 (612) 825-5375

From the Desk of Pastor Pete

Content

What would it take to make you content? We might hear a lot of similar answers to the question: “If I

were happy I’d be content.” Or if I were rich . . . successful . . . needed . . . useful.

Contentment can seem pretty elusive, but the apostle Paul said he had learned to be content no matter

the situation. If he had abundance or need it didn’t really matter: he was content. I have to admit that

I’m not there yet. How about you?

The world around us tells us that contentment comes when we drive the right car, live in the right

neighborhood, talk on the right cell phone. But when Paul wrote to Timothy he told his young friend

how to be content. His words still speak to us today.

Trust in the right things, he wrote. Wealth is uncertain. Along with every discarded lottery ticket is

somebody’s dashed dream of striking it rich. And don’t forget the many stories of lottery winners who

found out that their new wealth only brought more strife into their lives. Paul says money isn’t what it

takes to be content.

(Continued on Page 2)

November 2012

Table of Contents

Birthdays/Anniversary …….……………….……..Page 8 Children’s Fun Time………………….. Page 17

Announcements/Prayers ……………………...…..Page 9-11 Church Calendar

Upcoming Events …………………..……………Page 12

School News………………………………………Page 13-15

Family Fun Time………………………………….Page 16

Trust in God. He created us and provides for us every day. Trust in his grace—God’s unmerited

undeserved love for us. Trust in those promises of God that you have tucked away in your hearts,

words like “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.” Or “He who did not spare his own son but

gave him up for us all, how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?”

Trust in your identity as a child of God. If we know who we are we’re more likely to be content. In our

baptisms God claimed us his children through Jesus Christ. Other labels that we may hang on ourselves

can come and go, but child of God is an eternal identity. Claim that identity for yourself and be content.

Know who you are and whose you are.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a

trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love

of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and

pierced themselves through with many griefs. Command those who are rich in this present world not to

be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who

richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good

deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

--1 Timothy 6:6-21 (selected verses)

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

November

4: Reformation Day. Free in Christ

Bible study: The Christian’s role at the polls 4

11: Bible study: WELS connection

Sermon series: Life is just a trailer 1 (end times)

18: Saints Triumphant. Sermon series and Bible study: Life is a just a trailer 2

21: Thanksgiving worship and pie social

25: Christ the King Sermon series and Bible study: Life is just a trailer 3

December

2 Advent begins Sermon series and Bible study: Righteousness (Jeremiah)

9 Repentance (Malachi)

16 Rejoicing (Zephaniah)

23 Restoration (Micah)

24: Christmas Eve

25: Christmas Day

30: What to do with the gift of Christmas Bible study: WELS connection

31: NY Eve

January

6: Guest speaker. Pastor in China

13: Live presentation from China

20: Life Sunday Sermon and Bible class

27: Sharing the Faith 1 Missions/Evangelism

February

3: Sharing the Faith 2 Missions/Evangelism

10: Sharing the Faith 3 Mission Speaker

13: Ash Wednesday

17: Sharing the Faith 4

24: Sharing the Faith 5

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

March

3 Sermon Series and Bible study: Walking together

10 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together

17 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together

24: Palm Sunday

31: Easter

April

7: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 1 In the beginning

14: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 2 Until parted by death

21: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 3 Shameless

28: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 4 Love and Respect

May

5: Education Sunday

12: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Mothers’ Day)

19: Confirmation

26: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Memorial Day weekend)

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Showing our Gratitude

God gives us his love, goodness and mercy daily. He has given us victory over sin and death through

his Son. Christ has given us the blessings of forgiveness, justification, a new life and eternal hope. Do

we ever take all those things for granted?

If Christ were to come into our homes in physical form, certainly we would express our thanks in

tangible ways. We would make him comfortable, run errands for him, offer our best food and give him

our time and attention. We don’t have that opportunity so we show gratitude to him in different ways.

One way that we express our gratitude is to give thanks throughout the day in our prayers and thoughts.

When we see life and its blessings as gifts we are prepared to offer our thanks. We express

thanksgiving when we use the faith God has given us to live in obedience to his word. God hears and

sees our gratitude through the lives we live. When we generously share our time and money with others

in Christian love, we show thanksgiving for our gifts. Our giving reflects Christ’s love in us. We

extend our thanks to our heavenly Father when we give him praise and glory in weekly worship and

privately throughout each day.

As stewards we find that our gratitude to God opens our hearts to receive more of God’s love which

enables us to be more faithful with our time, talents and treasures. In response to God’s love and grace

we give our resources and ourselves. When we acknowledge God as the creator and owner of all we

will serve the Lord faithfully out of gratitude for all his gifts to us. Our gratefulness to God will enable

us to give thanks even during bad times because God promises to comfort and sustain us in all things.

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November Birthdays

Bob Florin 1

Bill Brust 3

Nickiah Nix 3

Floyd Rodmyre 4

Dorotha Dorschner 5

Oliver McAghon 5

Les Swanson 5

Andrea Neumann 6

Heather Herzig 7

Michael Klein 7

Violet Eichers 8

Linda Petroske 11

Jasmin Brown 2

Donovan Cambrice 14

Chaisjon Combs 14

Dennis Jensen 14

Elisa Sorensen 14

Cierra Cumber 17

J’Quan Santiago 19

Alaris Russell 20

Heiress Russell 20

Corey Puterbaugh 22

Shirley Jensen 24

Natavon Nix 25

Jodi Nelson 27

Eunice Johnson 30

Caroline Odegard 30

November Wedding Anniversary

Leslie & Arleen Swanson 14

William & Sondra Brust 23

Harlan & Margaret Johnson 23

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Announcements

Electronic News Letter

Did you sign up for the electronic version of our monthly news letter but are not receiving it? If you

answered yes to this question please get in touch with me. It is due to the way you signed up so I

would like to get that fixed for you. Zoe Herzig 763-360-6150

LOST AND FOUND

Lost and found items are in a basket by the tracts in the narthex (1st Avenue entrance) of the church.

Call the church office at 612-825-5375 to inquire about lost and found items.

Lock doors and turn off lights

Pilgrim Church highly encourages the use of our facilities by groups: Pioneers, Ladies Guild, Bible

Study, etc. We ask for each group, upon leaving, to verify all lights are turned off and doors are shut

tight. Doors need to be checked by pulling on them as they may not lock unless forced shut.

Numerous times staff members have arrived to find the doors not locked and lights left on. Not

checking the doors puts our property in danger of vandalism, theft and a host of other issues. Leaving

lights on causes additional funds to be sent to Xcel Energy that could have been used to spread the

Gospel.

PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for the United States military and the following enlisted and/or deployed service men and

women: Paul Bandelin, Errol Belanger, Thomas Bonde, Justin Brandt, Jason Fahey, Brent

Hassler, Jennifer James, Andrew Leyrer, Nicholas Neumann, Andrew Rolston, Cory Williams,

John Wolter, and John Zimmerman.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR OUR MEMBERS

People to pray for (Please call the church office if you would like a name added to this list.)

for Gerald Belsaas; Connie and Bill Bonde; Mabel Emde; Brian Florin; Ken Gostchock; Joy

Kilber; Jean Loescher; Helen Magnan; Rebecca Herzig; Rozetta Norman; Jim Petroske; and

Pilgrim shut-ins.

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Announcements

Food Shelf

The food shelf is in need of non perishable food items. Thank you to those who have already donated.

Donors Needed

We are in need of upgrading our wall-unit air conditioners throughout Pilgrim’s classrooms. Most of

our window/wall units are in excess of 15 years old and no longer function or are repairable. Please

consider generously donating so we can provide a comfortable working and learning environment for

our Pilgrim staff and scholars. Please contact Mike Denn with any questions and/or big checks!

∞ Property Management ∞

Hosting Personal events at pilgrim

If you would like to host a personal event (baby shower, wedding shower, confirmation dinner, etc.) at

Pilgrim, please contact Tam Bandelin in the church office at 612-825-5375 between the hours of 7:30

a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (you can also leave a voice message). You will be informed of availability, fees (if

any), etc. Thank you!

Networking/Job Transition Group

Step up your job search efforts in the 2012 by joining the St. Michael's Networking Group. We meet

at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Bloomington (address: 9201 Normandale Blvd; 952-831-5276)

normally from 6 pm to 7:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting is Thursday,

October 11th. We share information on contacts, support each other, work on networking skills,

resumes, interviewing and other job search skills. You do not have to be a member of either Church

to join this networking group. The group is listed on www.Linkedin.com under St. Michael's

Networking Group. Paul Dahl is listed as the owner of the group. The Co-Managers of the group are

Ruth Arves (St. Michael's member) and Geri Geiselhart (Pilgrim member). For more

information, contact Geri at 612-822-2318 / geiselhart27@msn.com or Ruth Arves at 612-869-0393 /

ranna630@gmail.com .

Do YOU need a ride to Church?

Or, do you know someone who would like to attend a worship service at Pilgrim but has no

transportation? Pilgrim is reaching out in love to bring all those who want to worship in person to our

church on a Sunday morning. The benefits of being present in God’s house, sitting with others,

singing, praying and praising God are huge. If you would like a ride to church one Sunday a month to

attend the 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service, please call Pastor Leyrer or Tam in the church office at

612-825-5375. A start-up date and pick-up schedule will be set up after we determine how many wish

to come and where those people are located.

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Announcements

Baby blankets: Deny it if you like, but it will be cold here soon! This year as part of our Christmas

worship we’d like to gather baby blankets as a gift to Christian Life Ministries. CLM provides a wide

range of services to women in crisis pregnancies and their babies. If you’re able to contribute a

blanket this winter, CLM will find a baby who needs to stay warm! It’s one small way that we can

share the love of Christ this holiday season. There’s no special pattern or size requirement for the

blankets. Make them yourselves or purchase them, just make sure they’re clean and ready to be a

blessing to a baby.

We’ll gather them at church and would like to present the blankets to CLM by December 1.

Questions? Contact Pastor Pete

Flower Requests: Any flower requests can be made by calling 952-544-1072 or e-mailing lilaaske1072@msn.com. At this time

there are requests for arrangements on Nov. 11 and 18.....Les and Arleen Swanson and Arne and Judy Fick.

The arrangments cost $17.50 for one; $35 for two. Michael Dieter has a special talent for creating these

floral displays. Many thanks to those who have added living color to the altar this year.

God Bless,

Lila

Schwan’s fundraiser 11/1-11/15.

To order online the campaign ID # is 41157.

Proceeds will go towards the Spanish program at Pilgrim.

The order deliveries and trucks will be at Pilgrim Sunday, November 18th

from 10a-noon – just in

time for Thanksgiving!!

Ladies Guild Make N Bake Sale

Pilgrim members…Keep November 18th

on your calendar for our annual Make & Bake Sale. There is

always a lot of fun stuff and wonderful baked goods to buy. See you between services!

Girl pioneers

Girl Pioneers are selling wreaths and swags again this year. Cost is 15.00

Orders can be placed until November 11.

Sign in church basement or call Jodi with your order 612-861-1260

Mark your calendars: Girl Pioneers will be having there Make N Bake Sale on December 2nd

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Upcoming Events at a glance

Financial Peace University (FPU)

Starting this month at Pilgrim

We all need a plan for our money. Financial Peace University (FPU) is that plan! It teaches God's ways

of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities,

FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be.

This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much

more!

The average family pays off $5300 in debt and saves $2700 in the first ninety days.

FPU’s nine lessons include:

September 13: Super Saving

September 20: Relating with Money

September 27: Cash Flow Planning

October 4: Dumping Debt

October 11: Buyer Beware

October 18: Role of Insurance

October 25: Retirement and College Planning

November 1: Real Estate and Mortgages

November 8: The Great Misunderstanding

Cost for the course is $89. Classes start September 13 6:00 – 7:30.

A number of pilgrims have been through FPU and enjoyed it. For more information or to register

contact Dale Mueller (612 554 9121 or dalem9999@yahoo.com) or Pastor Pete.

Sixteen day tour of “The Best of China

Pastor James Humann, retired WELS pastor, and part-time teacher at Evergreen Lutheran High School

in Des Moines , WA , invites you to join him and fellow WELS members on a sixteen day tour of “The

Best of China , including a 4-day Yangtse River Cruise.” The tour leaves from the West Coast on June

24, 2013 and returns July 9, 2013. We’ll visit Beijing , Xian, Wuhan , Yichang, Chongquing, Canton

and Hong Kong . In China you’ll see the Great Wall , explore the Forbidden City, see some of the

thousands of life-size terra cotta warriors and horses, enjoy a four day cruise on the Yangtse River,

taste fabulous food, and experience some of the best shopping in the world in Hong Kong. For a

colorful brochure describing the daily itinerary, tour conditions and cost, please e-mail Pastor Humann

at JHumann383@aol.com or call 253-839-9055. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

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What’s happening at Pilgrim Lutheran School….

Sports Update

The basketball season has started. Please come cheer the teams on to victory.

November 9th

Home VS Mt. Olive, Delano

November 16th

Away at King of Grace

November 30th

Home VS Good Shepherd

December 7th

Away At Crown of Life

December 8th

Away at Trinity, Belle Plaine

December 14th

Away at Christ Lutheran

January 4th

Home VS Bloomington

January 11th

Away at St John’s

January 18th

Home VS Salem, Stillwater

January 25th

Home VS Salem, Greenfield

February 1st Home VS Cross of Christ

February 2nd

-3rd

B Team tournament at West LHS

February 8th

-10th

A Team League Tournament

February 15th

-17th

A Team New Ulm Tournament

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1200 Oakdale Avenue * West St. Paul * StCroixSchools.org * 651.455.1521

What’s happening at St. Croix Lutheran….

Children's Theatre Production

The 2012 Children's Theatre production is Stone Soup, based on the popular fable. How do poor

travelers make soup with a stone? Will everyone get fed? Answers will be revealed in performances at

the St. Croix auditorium:

10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 16

2:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 17.

Tickets are available at the door -- Adults are $5; students PreK-8 are $1; students 9-12 are $3; and

senior citizens are $4.

The annual Festival of Seasons Crafts Boutique

will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2012, 9am-4pm, in the Commons and Gym. Hand-made crafts

of all kinds and baked goods are available for purchase from 100 vendors. The Boutique is open to

the public at no admission charge.

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West Lutheran High School is proud to host the 2012 WELS Regional Choral Fest November 16-18!

West Lutheran will welcome over 200 singers from nine different WELS high schools including:

Arizona Lutheran Academy • Phoenix, Arizona Evergreen Lutheran High School • Des Moines, Washington Great Plains Lutheran High School • Watertown, South Dakota Luther High School • Onalaska, Wisconsin Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School • New Ulm, Minnesota Northland Lutheran High School • Mosinee, Wisconsin Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School • Northglenn, Colorado St. Croix Lutheran High School • West St. Paul, Minnesota West Lutheran High School • Plymouth, Minnesota

Plan to Attend

There will be two special concerts that everyone is invited to attend: POPS Concert on Friday, November 16, 7PM Sacred Concert on Sunday, November 18, 2:30PM

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FAMILY FUN TIME

American Thanksgiving Puzzle

ACROSS

1. Who were the first settlers that celebrated Thanksgiving?

3. These are the people you eat Thanksgiving dinner with.

5. What is the most common main dish for Thanksgiving dinner?

8. Who did the pilgrims celebrate Thanksgiving with?

9. What big holiday is celebrated in November?

14. You watch this Thanksgiving morning on TV.

DOWN

1. This pie is orange. [HINT: You see alot of them at Halloween.]

2. What can you find inside of a Thanksgiving turkey?

4. What is another word for "sweet potatoes?"

6. Dad's watch this game on TV after Thanksgiving dinner.

7. This food is red in color.

10. Who is the famous guy who appears at the end of the Thanksgiving parade?

11. What does a turkey say?

12. What animal loves to beg for some of your turkey dinner?

13. What do you do most of on Thanksgiving day?

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CHILDRENS FUN TIME

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