10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” – 2 Kings 5:10

Our study of the Holy Land could not be complete without a stop at the Jor-dan River. These waters are so central to the preaching and teaching of John the Baptist, and they mark the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. They are the waters where so many begin their journey of faith, and, for that reason, this river holds a special place in our faith story.

The river, as a body of water, is little more than a muddy stream. It is not impressive by geological standards. It is not clean, clear, refreshing water that invites people to swim. It is not the river’s value that draws us to it. When Elisha sent this message to Naaman, a general in the Syrian army, Naaman was offended at being told to go dip in the dirty waters of the Jor-dan.

Like us, the river gains its treasure from how it is used by God.

We came to the river early in the morning, knowing the day would be un-bearable in the scorching heat. It was well over 95 degrees at 8:00 am when we arrived. There, on those banks, we read the story of Jesus’ bap-tism in the waters of the Jordan. We heard the words of Matthew describing God’s voice, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

We remembered our own baptisms in these muddy waters. We remembered that we, too, gain our treasure from how we are used by God. We are a muddy little stream, washed clean by God’s grace, transformed into water that can change people’s lives forever. God can and will use us to change the world, one person at a time. May we forever be listening to the still small voice that urges us to go.

To God be the Glory,

Rev. Shari Schwedhelm

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH Our mission is to reach out to others, proclaim God's word, share our faith and celebrate His love.

NOVEMBER 2019

Preaching and

Presiding in

November

Pastor Shari

Schwedhelm

Pastor’s Message 1-2

Salem Little Saints 2

Stewardship Series 3

Baptismal Anniversaries 4

Birthdays 5

Wedding Anniversaries 6

Gratitude 6

News 7

Financial Update 7

Salem Information 8

Page 2 SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

Merciful God,

gracious and

benevolent,

through your Son

you invite all the

world to a meal

of mercy. Grant

that we may

eagerly follow

his call, and

bring us with all

your saints into

your life of

justice and joy,

through Jesus

Christ, our

Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of the day

November 3, 2019 Lily Bowman Director of Salem Little Saints Childcare

“O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

November always brings to mind the abundant blessings we have enjoyed during the year. This year, like others, I could make a long list of things for which I am truly grateful. Salem and St. Timothy are certainly at the top of that list. This year has seen my lifelong calling of serving in ordained ministry become a reality, and that would not have been possible without you. This year has been filled with absolutely once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you have made possible. So, today, I thank God for you and for our journey together.

Our journey is not an easy one. God called us to do difficult things together. I was called here to serve as your leader at a time when both Salem and St. Timothy were making some of the most heartbreaking decisions in their history regarding their called leadership. I am, in some ways, the physical embodiment of your loss of full-time pas-tors. We have done some amazingly difficult things together.

More than that, we have done some incredibly beautiful things together. As I reflect back on this year, my heart overflows at the hugs and smiles, the baptisms and the weddings, and even at the holy moments shared during funerals. God is at work here. God is at work in our community. God is at work through each and every one of you, and I could not be more thankful that I am right here to be walking alongside you on this journey.

Thank you for calling me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for being part of God’s story in Fremont, Nebraska.

To God be the Glory!

Rev. Shari L. Schwedhelm

We are kicking off November 1st with a pajama day! After a night of trick or treating it will be nice to relax the day after.

Daylight Savings Time ends on the 3rd! Fall back in time and turn those clocks back one hour! You’ll lose an hour of sleep but a good nap can always fix that.

Miss Kay will be out again from November to January to have her second knee re-placement. She was missed greatly her first go around and I can’t imagine it will be any different this time. Heal quick Miss Kay!

This month will be Parent-Teacher conferences for all the children that are enrolled in Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten. Parents will have a chance to talk with Miss Michelle to see the growth their child has made since they started, as well as what they have in store for the rest of the school year.

The holiday season is starting, so please make sure you check for days the center will be closed. This month the center will be closed Thanksgiving and the following Friday. We hope everyone spends some loving time with their families.

Another holiday favorite for us is our Christmas Program! This year’s program will be on December 5th at 7:00pm. Duckies through the Bears are all welcome to join us for the Program. The Sharks will have their own programs at school. More details to come!

Page 3 NOVEMBER 2019

O God, our

eternal

redeemer, by the

presence of your

Spirit you renew

and direct our

hearts. Keep

always in our

mind the end of

all things and

the day of

judgment. Inspire

us for a holy life

here, and bring

us to the joy of

the resurrection,

through Jesus

Christ, our

Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of the day

November 10, 2019

Stewardship Series 2019 - Loving Generously

Sunday, October 13th, we will begin our fall Stewardship program entitled Loving Gener-ously. This is the second part of the series we started last fall and carries on the story of the Donovan family as they learn what it means to love generously. Each week we will see a glimpse of their journey as they take risks, experience suffering and joy, and find them-selves transformed by the call to love others as Christ loves us. You won't want to miss a single Sunday!

Life is busy, and it is easy for our hearts to be distracted by the demands we face so that we can be blind to those that cross our paths. May this series prompt us to take an invento-ry of the relationships God has entrusted to each of us. As we do, I hope we will be inspired by a new awareness of the goodness of God.

Each week, we will also hear stories of faithful relationships from some of our members, and we look forward to growing closer to our family of faith through these messages as well.

At the end of the series, we will allow you to share how you have been impacted. What an opportunity for our church family to celebrate God's generosity! Will you join me in praying that God will prepare our hearts to hear His message of relational generosity? And will you commit to coming each week?

Sunday, October 13th - Banquet: Tearing up the Place Cards that Separate Us- - Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c, 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Luke 14:1, 7-14 - Jesus tore down the barriers that separated people. Who are you inviting into your life?

Sunday, October 20th - For Sale: Blessing vs. Burden - Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31, 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5, Luke 18:18-27 - As we give ourselves to God, we give ourselves to one another. - What do you own and what owns you?

Sunday, October 27th - Kind: Loving those who are Different from Me - Scripture: Proverbs 19:17, Romans 3:19-28, Luke 18:9 – 14; -We are called to a love that crosses barriers: social, economic, cultural, and ethnic. (The Freedom of a Christian!)

Sunday, November 3rd - Called: Sharing Christ’s Suffering and the Suffering of Others - Scripture: Isaiah 1:10-18, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12, John 15:12-20 - Loving like Jesus can lead to persecution.

• Sunday, November 10th - One to Another: Being United with Christ to show His Love - Scripture: Job 19:23-27a, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 6:27-36 - Giving yourself to loving everyone God puts in your path.

Page 4 SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

November 1 Shana Clapper

November 4

Mitchell Schlieker Justin Nott

November 5 Kirstyn Dunn Kirstyn Leffler

November 6 Aspen Fernau

November 7

Patrick Godfrey Kaden Meyer

November 8 Angela Cook

Michael Phelps Sandra Schafersman

November 9

Bob Flittie Sawyer Greenough

November 11 Sharon Carlson

Jeff Kuhr

November 12 Amanda Wheelock Kadyn Wheelock Skye Wheelock

Sydney Wheelock

November 13 William Bolden

Thomas Stamper Teleri Stamper Teresa Stamper Richard Tank

Dominic Tunink

O God, the

protector of all

who trust in you,

without you

nothing is

strong, nothing

is holy. Embrace

us with your

mercy, that with

you as our ruler

and guide, we may

live through

what is tempo-

rary without

losing what is

eternal, through

Jesus Christ, our

Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of the day

November 17, 2019

November 16

Mary Sekera

November 17 Michael Buehler Sharon Hancock Anita Kentopp Ted Osterloh Mack Patrick

November 18 Lauren Clapper Matthew Tacner Carole Tremain James Tremain Deborah Werst

November 19 Donald Durand

November 20

Adam Baker

November 21 Christine Johannesen

November 22 Bonnie Gengler

Joan Miller Julie Nuzum

November 23 Rhonda Heiman Jodi Schlieker

November 25

Rebecca Hartmann Megan Schwarz

November 28

Melissa Mahoney

November 1

Keziah Danquah Michael Minter II

November 2

Austin Dye Griffin Neubert

November 6 Jennie Franke

November 7 Kayla Reese

November 8 Jean Kinport

Andrew Peters

November 10 Kaylee Guhde

Amanda Tunink

November 11 Melissa Mahoney

November 12

Olivia Sims

November 14 Kole Hendrickson Mary Magstadt

November 16 Terrence Dowd

November 17

Eileen Tant Janice Wulf

Page 5 NOVEMBER 2019

November 18 Ryder Knapp

Shelley Schiessler Helene Svitak-Larson

November 19 Marin Phelps DeAnn Reese

November 21 Kashtin Wavrin

November 22 Dylan Holverson

Rich Ronnenkamp

November 23 Tammy Flittie Marie Gottsch Sharon Vance

November 24 Matthew Tacner

November 28

Mary Green Amyiah Ross

November 29

Rosella Brei Leroy Lidberg

November 30

Elliot Foster Dennis Heinrich Shane Knapp

O God, our true

life, to serve you

is freedom, and to

know you is unend-

ing joy. We wor-

ship you, we glori-

fy you, we give

thanks to you for

your great glory.

Abide with us,

reign in us, and

make this world

into a fit habita-

tion for your di-

vine majesty,

through Jesus

Christ, our Savior

and Lord, who

lives and reigns

with you and the

Holy Spirit, one

God, now and for-

ever.

Amen.

Prayer of the Day

November 24, 2019

Pastoral Acts in October

Baptism

October 13

Aurora Elizabeth Ivy Fritchman

Funeral October 22

Frederick J. Bengston

Page 6 SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

+ + + + I want to thank Bruce and Kaylene Krueger for the beautiful altar flowers they gave in honor of their 58th wedding anniversary. Also to congratulate them on their anniversary. Thank you to Bernitta Wheelock for delivering them to me. God Bless you all, Janice Spes + + + + To My Salem Family, I just want to thank everyone who prayed for me and visited me. The visits helped me. Thank you for cards, food, gifts, and your encouragements. Thank you to Pastor Shari for being at the hospital before surgery with a Bible verse and prayer. I received altar flowers that were given by Cindy Gustafson, Joan Sales and Carrie Kiger. The were all so pretty and we enjoyed them for weeks. Thanks to Bernitta Wheelock for delivering them. Her visits are always special. God’s Blessings to you all, Bob Olson + + + + Thank Salem for the beautiful fall colored altar flowers and I thank Cindy Sandeen for delivering them. Always enjoy her visits. Virgene Muller + + + + Thank you to Pastor Shari for her prayers and Bible reading before my surgery. Thank you members of Naomi Circle for your prayers and cards. Gods Blessings to All, Karin Henkens + + + +

Stir up your pow-

er, Lord Christ,

and come. By

your merciful

protection save

us from the

threatening dan-

gers of our sins,

and enlighten

our walk in the

way of your sal-

vation, for you

live and reign

with the Father

and the Holy

Spirit, one God,

now and forev-

er.

Amen.

Prayer of the Day

December 1, 2019

Dennis and Kathy Chapman November 2, 1973-46 years

Gene and Marian Nott

November 27, 1957-62 years

Michael and Jill Phelps November 28, 1987-32 years

If we accidentally missed your anniversary this month, please let us know (402-721-6158)

so that we can correct/update our computer records.

Naomi Circle will be serving Coffee Hour in November.

November 3rd— Marian Nott and Rosella Brei

November 10th—

Karin Henkens and Jeanne Shires

November 17th— Bev Weitzenkamp and Joanne Miller

November 24th—

Shirley Severa and Marilyn Harms

Thank you to Ruth Circle for serving in October.

Youth Garage Sale will be Saturday, November 9th, from 8:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

If you would like to donate items to be sold please bring them the week before November 8th.

All heavy items bring the night before. All proceeds will be used to fund Salem youth mission trips.

Joint Service

Wednesday, November 27th, 7:00 P.M. at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. Fellowship and Pie following the service

in the fellowship hall.

Happy Thanksgiving From the Staff at

Salem Lutheran Church

Page 7 NOVEMBER 2019

Council Reports Newsletter articles are due by noon on are due by noon on November 6, 2019 November 20, 2019

Designated Funds— $74,979.27 Member Contributions—

FINANCIAL UPDATE August August YTD Budget YTD

Income $26,793.73 $223,073.51 $199,992.00

Expenses $25,819.06 $217,581.06 $233,533.05

Net Income/Loss $974.67 $5,492.45 -$33,541.05

Matt Wilson, Finance *Budget column was the predicted income and expense

Lead Pastor Pastor Shari Schwedhelm

Salem Little Saints Director Lily Bowman, Director 402-727-6300 salemlbowman@gmail.com

Administrative Assistant Verna Kimball 402-721-6158 slutheran6386@msn.com

Adult Choir Director Rosie Parde 402-721-0944 salemrparde@msn.com

Adult Handbell Choir Director Matt Wilson 402-727-9467 Mewilson520@earthlink.net

Custodian Virginia Sagastume 402-721-6158

Records Volunteer: Jeanette Stinemates

Assisting Ministers TBD

Acolytes Melissa Godfrey & Tammy Flittie 402-720-6491 or 402-981-0140 Musicians Projection Sound Video TBD

Children’s Message Communion Set Up Readers Barbara Anderson 402-727-4585

Greeters TBD

Ushers Don Godfrey 402-720-6491

Address 401 East Military Avenue, Fremont, NE 68025 Phone 402-721-6158 Voice 402-727-0482 Fax Email slutheran6386@msn.com Web www.salemfremont.org Facebook Salem Lutheran Church

8:30 a.m.– Worship Service Holy Communion on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month Fifth Sunday is a joint service with St. Timothy Lutheran Church Sundays 9:00 a.m.

Radio: Big Dog 98.9 FM KHUB-1340 AM Cable: Spectrum Channel 1304 Wednesdays 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm Thursdays 12:00 pm & 6:00 pm

9:45 a.m.– Sundays Intergenerational Education Time 7:00 a.m. Fridays Men’s Bible Study/CG 11:30 a.m. Fridays Bible Study/CG

Email Updates

Please contact the church office if you have an email address and are not receiving the weekly

email news and opportunities that are happening. Contact the church office at

402-721-6158 or email slutheran6386@msn.com

Monday—Thursday 8:00 a.m.—Noon 1:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m.—Noon 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m.

Signup Sheets for 2019 Altar Flowers, Radio Broadcast,

and Donuts are up on the bulletin board by the

stairway to the office.

November Dates available: Flowers: none Donuts: 17th Radio Broadcast: none December Dates available: Flowers: 1st, 8th, 15th Donuts: 8th, 15th, 22th, 29th Radio Broadcast: 15th, 29th

Cost for flowers—$30.00 Cost for Donuts—$30.00

Cost for Radio Broadcast—$150.00