Volume 34 Number 10

The Monthly Newsletter of Pilgrim Lutheran Church

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

From the Desk of Pastor Pete

From the fullness of his grace

As most of you have already heard, my father Rev. Carl S. Leyrer was called home to his eternal rest on September 1, 2012. He was 93 years old and had been dealing with cancer for more than seven years. The last time I saw him on this earth was August 20 when my family and I traveled to Milwaukee. I was grateful for the trip; we knew he wouldn’t live much longer and had a great visit with him. He talked and laughed with us, carefully asking each of our children about their lives and plans. The visit was especially meaningful for our oldest daughter Liana who moved to Shanghai, China that week and was not able to attend the funeral.

My dad served in ministry most of his life. He started congregations in Big Bend, Wisconsin and Zion, Illinois. He also served as the dean of students at Northwestern Preparatory School and College in Watertown, Wisconsin. (It’s now known as Luther Prep School; the college amalgamated with Martin Luther College in New Ulm) My younger brother and I were born in Watertown. All told, Mom and Dad raised five boys and two girls. Most of my growing up happened in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where my dad served as pastor of St. Lucas Lutheran Church. Eventually he would retire from that congregation, but he remained active in his early retirement years, serving congregations in Wisconsin and a few other places. He even served as a civilian chaplain to military bases in Europe for a while.

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October 2012

Table of Contents

Birthdays/Anniversary …….……………….……..Page 8 Children’s Fun Time………………….. Page 17 Announcements/Prayers ……………………...…..Page 9-12 Church Calendar Upcoming Events …………………..……………Page 13 School News………………………………………Page 14-15 Family Fun Time………………………………….Page 16

My mom, Leah nee Seidensticker, and my dad celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary the day before our last visit with him. Their marriage always provided a good example for us kids. Late into their retirement years people often remarked on what a loving relationship they had. I remember that at their 65th anniversary Dad said he would gladly take another 65 years if he could have the same wife.

My mom is doing okay right now. Not great, but okay. A few health issues complicate her life, but she is able to live alone. She’s decided to move into a smaller place and with help from my sister has chosen an apartment. She described it as “classy” and my sister thought that was exactly what Dad would have wanted for her. We’ll probably get together to help her move some time in the next few weeks.

Pastor Robert Gurgel of St. Lucas preached dad’s funeral sermon. His text was John 1:16 “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” He reminded us all that God’s grace constantly delighted and surprised my dad. Dad knew that everything he had was a gift of God’s grace. He never tired of reminding people that he didn’t deserve any of the blessings he had received, and that he certainly didn’t deserve salvation, but that all of it came to him because of God’s grace.

Now in grace the Lord has called his faithful servant home. Thanks to God’s grace I know that I’ll see him again. When I do he’ll tell me, “Look at all this! And it’s all because of God’s grace!”

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

Sermons and Bible studies for October 2012

October

7: Education Sunday celebrates the Ministry of Pilgrim Lutheran School.

This November Minnesota voter will be asked to respond to the following referendum: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?” In four Bible studies we’ll look at the Scripture’s teaching about sexuality and marriage. It’s not the role of the church to tell people how to vote, but God does call us to educate on important moral issues. We’ll let the Scripture speak clearly on human sexuality and call us to live as compassionate witnesses to the truth.

The sermon series for the month looks at some spiritual questions that take the spotlight at this time of year: Are ghosts and demons real? If they are, should I be afraid? The series leads us to the celebration of Reformation Sunday (November 4) and the good news of freedom in Christ.

14: Bible study The Christian’s role at the polls 1 Sermon: Spiritual warfare 121: Bible study: The Christian’s role at the polls 2 Sermon: Spiritual warfare 228: Bible study: The Christian’s role at the polls 3 Sermon: Spiritual warfare 3

Prayer Walk

The 2nd annual City Prayer Walk is Friday , October 5 at 5:30pm. We walk the city together and keep our eyes open for ways we can pray for our church to minister to, share Jesus, and meet the needs of the people in the city.   We’ll return to church after the walk to have a spaghetti supper and offer up prayers for the city.  Please bring  a jar or a can of spaghetti sauce, and Pastor Pete and Tammy will be cooking the noodles and preparing the sides. We had a great time of fellowship last time, so hope you can come! If you can’t walk, come to church around 7:00pm and enjoy the supper and prayer time. Let me know if you can come! tleyrer@stcroixschools.org   or call my cell 612 229 6544 .

Education Sunday

On October 7 we’ll celebrate our Fall Education Sunday. Pilgrim Lutheran School is a vital ministry to children and families of our community. Children and their instruction are important to our Lord, so those things are important to us.

There will be a pancake breakfast that morning beginning at 9:00. The children of the school will sing in the 10:30 worship service.

Come out to encourage our children and be encouraged by them!

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

November

4: Reformation Day. Free in ChristBible study: The Christian’s role at the polls 4

11: Bible study: WELS connectionSermon series: Life is just a trailer 1 (end times)

18: Saints Triumphant. Sermon series and Bible study: Life is a just a trailer 221: Thanksgiving worship and pie social25: 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 Eve25: Christmas Day 30: What to do with the gift of Christmas Bible study: WELS connection31: NY Eve

January

6: Guest speaker. Pastor in China13: Live presentation from China20: Life Sunday Sermon and Bible class27: Sharing the Faith 1 Missions/Evangelism

February

3: Sharing the Faith 2 Missions/Evangelism10: Sharing the Faith 3 Mission Speaker13: Ash Wednesday17: Sharing the Faith 424: Sharing the Faith 5

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Sermons and Bible studies at Pilgrim Lutheran Church

March

3 Sermon Series and Bible study: Walking together10 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together17 Sermon series and Bible study: Walking together

24: Palm Sunday31: Easter

April

7: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 1 In the beginning14: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 2 Until parted by death21: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 3 Shameless28: Sermon and Bible study: Marriage 4 Love and Respect

May

5: Education Sunday12: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Mothers’ Day)19: Confirmation26: Sermon and Bible study: Christian family (Memorial Day weekend)

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October Birthdays

Isaac Denn 2Greg Johnson 5Michel Denn 7Gerald Hartwig 7

Joshua Homan 10Judy Fick 11Natalie Josephitis 11Nicholas Nix 11Gary Schatzlein 12Sharon Fischer 14Eric Michaelson 16Cedrick Steward 16Germechu McKonnen 18

Jeffrey Ahlberg 19GlynnisMaki 20Craig Knutson 24Amaya Penn 24Jeremy Heilman 26Nichole Chernohorsky 27Philip Thumann 27Mary Jean Florin 29Charles Combs Jr. 30Nathan Moy 30

October Wedding Anniversary

Calvin & Karma Huggar 2Michael & Peg Heilman 3David and Rachel Josephitis 9

Craig & Rena Knutson 10Michael & Dorothy DeYoung 30

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Announcements/Prayers …

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 FOUNDLost and found items are in a basket by the tracts in the narthex (1 st 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 lightsPilgrim 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; Ardelle Bloedel; Connie and Bill Bonde; Mabel Emde; Brian Florin; Ken Gostchock; Joy Kilber; Jean Loescher; Helen Magnan; Rebecca Herzig; Aubrey Minea; 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.

Automatic External Defibrillators

The AED units have been delivered and are installed. The two cabinets housing the units are hung next the school office and in the gym. Thank you to the generous donors that made this purchase possible! We hope to provide in the near future, a brief training tutorial, open to anyone interested.

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 pilgrimIf 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!

Assistant toddler teacher positionShepherd’s Lambs’ Child Care Center, a ministry of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (WELS) in New Hope, is looking for an assistant toddler teacher.  We are looking for a fun-loving, hard-working, creative individual with lots of patience.  Must be asst. teacher qualified by Rule 3, with at least 12 class credits and 1 year experience in a licensed center preferred. Please send your resume via email to slcc1231@gmail.com.  Call 763-533-0600 ext. 209 if you have any questions.

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Announcements

Girl pioneersAll girls first grade through eighth grade are welcome to come to Girl Pioneers every first and third Wednesday evening of the month from 5:30-7:00. On October 3, 2012, we will start off the year with a picnic dinner, introduce leaders, and do a group craft. Parents are welcome to have dinner with us!If you are interested in being a Girl Pioneer leader, please contact Jodi Nelson at 612-861-1260.

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

Networking/Job Transition GroupStep 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 .  

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

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Announcements

Alter Flowers Cost for the arrangements are $17.50 for one and $35.00 for two.

Flowers have been requested during October on two Sundays .........Barbara Laux is providing them on the 7th and Dorothy Polivnay will have one on the 28th.  If there are any other requests please give me a call @ 952-544-1072.   There are several Sundays open in November as well.  At this time there will be arrangements on the altar on Nov. 11 (Les & Arleen Swanson) and on Nov 18 (Judy and Arne Fick). December requests have been made for the  2nd, 9th and 16th.  Thanks to all who have contributed to the altar displays this year. Lila Aske

LWMS CONVENTION – June 21-24, 2012

Mabel and Sheri Emde joined over 700 others at the 49th Annual LWMS convention in Winston-Salem, NC, June 21-24, 2012. It was a wonderful opportunity to gather together with other mission-minded WELS women for worship, fellowship, and learning about missions at home and around the world. LWMS is women dedicated to serving Jesus by increasing awareness of, interest in, and support of the mission outreach of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

The weekend convention, June 21-24, 2012, using the theme “Our God Reigns” provided opportunities to meet missionaries and hear first-hand about the work being done in the Apache Mission, Mexico, Latin America, Central Africa Medical Mission, East Asian Missions, Military Services, Antigua, Indonesia, and Hispanic Ministry. Among the presenters were Pastor Gary Lupe, Apache’s first national pastor, Arizona; Pastor Steve and Margo Schmidt, WELS Military Services, Ascension Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, NC; Pastor Andrew and Cindy Johnston, Antigua; Pastor Timothy and Amanda Bourman, Hispanic Ministry, Sure Foundation Lutheran Church, Queens, NY.

Other highlights of the convention included the presentation of $31,063.45 for the Thailand Project for World Missions, and $31,063.45 for the Summer Student Assistant Program for Home Missions. Under the Kids c.a.r.e., $81,886.25 was presented to the Home Missions Project - Partners in Apache Learning. There were also a variety of displays from different missions around the world.

The 50th Annual LWMS Convention will be held in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, June 27-30, 2013, hosted by the Winona Circuit. The theme will be “Like a tree planted by streams of water - Psalm 1:3”. From 1964-2013, Celebrating 50 Conventions of Christians “United to Serve Jesus!”

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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 MoneySeptember 27: Cash Flow Planning

October 4: Dumping DebtOctober 11: Buyer Beware

October 18: Role of InsuranceOctober 25: Retirement and College Planning

November 1: Real Estate and MortgagesNovember 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….

Chuck E. Cheese Fundraiser Oct. 17 4:00 – 9:00PM

Christ Be My LeaderEducation SundayOctober 7, 2012

♫ School Concert ♫10:30 Worship Service

Enjoy a Pancake Breakfast

9:00 AM – 10:30 AM$5 per person

OR$20 per family

(Proceeds benefit Czech Republic Student Exchange Program)

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What’s happening at West Lutheran….3350 Harbor Lane North Plymouth, MN 55447 Phone: 763-509-9378, http://www.wlhs.net/

For More information please contact the school office at 763-509-9378

Spaghetti Supper and Concert The annual West Lutheran Spaghetti Supper and Concert will be held October 16. Supper will be served starting at 6pm in the cafeteria with the concert starting at 7:30pm. Proceeds from the free will offering will support the West music department. Funds raised will be supplemented by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

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FAMILY FUN TIME

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CHILDRENS FUN TIME

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