The Week of November 23

Greetings from Swedlanda,

Today is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year. That means that Advent will begin next Sunday. Check the announcements below for Thanksgiving Eve and Advent Event schedules.

Last Sunday, I distributed dollar bills to illustrate the parable of the talents. A few more collected their dollar today, bringing the total to $71. How much will be returned on the investment? More importantly, what will we return to God for all the blessings He has provided? People have been doing some interesting things with their dollars so far. One member is using her dollar to help produce baked goods which will multiply the amount for more baking. If you have a story to share, please let me know. Names will be withheld upon request.

Speaking of sharing, do you have a good faith story that could be shared on the Swedlanda blog site? We have been talking about this extensively at our intergenerational Family Sunday School. Part of our mission involves telling others our story. Send me your story and I will pass it on with your permission.

Today we remembered many of our partners in mission, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa. Specifically, we prayed for the family of Dean Mkwananzi of the Umvoti Circuit, who recently died in an auto accident. The dean hosted two people from Olivia who traveled to South Africa this year on behalf of our synod.

I hope to see you soon at Thanksgiving time or at the Advent Event. God’s blessings during this week.

In Christ,

Pastor Stewart

Announcements:

The Swedlanda Thanksgiving Eve Program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, followed by fellowship, pie and coffee. Our guest speaker for the evening is Dale Hanson from Central Lutheran, Franklin (pictured with Dean “Scottie” Khumalo. He has traveled to the Vryheid Circuit (our companion conference) in South Africa and will share about his experience there and what our Partnership Committee is doing to further that relationship. ALL FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING PIES. The Men in Mission are hosting for the evening. On Thanksgiving Day, there will be a worship service at 9:30 a.m. Please join us. Offerings for Thanksgiving Day have been designated for the Renville County Food Shelf. Contributions will be matched by Thrivent.

The 2008 Advent Event will be held on Sunday, November 30. Crafts, gifts, baked goods and services will be offered at a live & silent auction. A meal will be served following the worship service and there will be decorating, crafts and a silent auction. Donations can be brought to the church anytime beginning today.

"Add a dollar, change a life." The Renville County Salvation Army is asking for our help this Christmas season. Traditionally, they ring their bells and collect donations in the red kettle. We will be collecting any donation you would like to make in the large jar on the narthex table. The money raised in this way will stay in Renville County. If you would prefer to contribute directly, you can mail your contribution to 612 East Lincoln Ave., Olivia, MN 56277 (at Renville County Heartland Express).

Santa’s Closet of Renville County needs your help. A list of suggested items can be found on the box in the entryway. Donations of gifts and/or money are welcome up until Dec. 2. Join the group from Swedlanda that will be working at Santa’s Closet in Danube on the morning of Dec. 3. Call Ruth F. for details. Financial contributions can be sent to PO Box 115, Olivia 56277.

The Week of November 16

Greetings from Swedlanda

Yes, it’s true. We were giving money away at church today. Everyone received a dollar bill, as a way of illustrating the message of the Gospel Lesson about the servants who received talents from their master. How have you made use of the abundant gifts God has given you? What kind of return might you give on a single dollar? One quick-thinking group decided to pool their dollars to purchase chickens! $10 provides 10 chicks to build an egg business through “God’s Global Barnyard” offered by ELCA World Hunger. Check out ELCA Good Gifts at http://archive.elca.org/scriptlib/DS/Giving/express.html. I’m hoping for some more innovative ideas like that. If you weren’t here to get your $1 “reverse offering”, talk to Pastor Stewart.

We had quite a few folks here for worship today, including a family that joined our congregation today, John, Angela and Cree G. It’s so nice to have them with us. The choir also sang “Simple Gifts” today, which fit perfectly with the theme for the day.

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Check the announcements below for upcoming events.

Announcements:

The Swedlanda Thanksgiving Eve Program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, followed by fellowship, pie and coffee. ALL FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO BRING PIES. The Men in Mission are hosting for the evening. On Thanksgiving Day, there will be a worship service at 9:30 a.m. Please join us.

Offerings for Thanksgiving Day have been designated for the Renville County Food Shelf. Contributions will be matched by Thrivent.

The 2008 Christmas cantata Journey of Hope will be performed on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia. Deb Rath is directing and Cyndi Washburn is the accompanist. Other Swedlanda members participating include Wendy Wulkan, Doug Toreen, Brian and Karyn Lamb, and Pastor Stewart. The cantata will be performed a second time at First Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 7 at 9:00 a.m. All are encouraged to attend. The Swedlanda Family Sunday School has been rescheduled for December 14 and other Sunday morning activities on Dec. 7^th have been canceled with the exception of the 10:15 a.m. worship service.

The 2008 Advent Event Silent Auction will be held on Sunday, November 30, so now is the time to work on your contribution. Crafts, gifts, baked goods and services are welcome. Donations can be brought to the church beginning Nov. 23.

The Week of November 9

“But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” ⁷Then all those bridesmaids^* got up and trimmed their lamps.” (Matthew 25:6-7)

Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.

Greetings from Swedlanda,

What a difference a week makes! There have been many changes since last Sunday—the results of national and local elections and the arrival of winter weather.

The recently re-elected mayor of Buffalo Lake was with us today; congratulations to Joyce Nyhus! May God bless all of our elected leaders and inspire all to acts of love and support for our neighbors.

We added some folks to our prayer list this week, including Werner A. and Eileen J., who both were hospitalized briefly and now are in nursing homes.

Todd and Lynn P. celebrated their 27^th anniversary by decorating our chancel with flowers.

Please note the announcements below. Looking ahead to Thanksgiving, the Swedlanda Men In Mission will once again host a 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve program, with pie to follow. Families are asked to bring their contribution of pies. A service of Communion will be held on Thanksgiving Day at 9:30 a.m. Then the Sunday following there will be an Advent Service followed by an event including an auction, church decorating for Christmas and crafts. I hope you can be there.

God’s blessings on the week,

Pastor Stewart

Announcements:

Minnesota Valley Conference Ambassadors In Mission (AIM) Saturday, November 15, 2008. First Lutheran, St. Peter – Pastors Alan Bray & Don Holmstrom. 1114 W Traverse Rd. Phone: 507-934-3060. Program: Pastor Brad Thom, Glencoe. "Looking at positives in Iraq". Coffee: 9:30 a.m. Program 10:00 a.m. Program and business meeting followed by noon meal. ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND

The Minnesota Valley Conference South African Partnership Committee meets at the Vets Club in Winthrop at noon on Thursday, November 20. All are welcome to attend.

The treasurer's books will close on Sunday, November 30th. If you are planning to make a contribution that you wish to have included in this year's report, please make it prior to that date. Thank you