During our 10:30 a.m. Sunday Worship on September 19th, the children will be excused for our first day of Sunday School.  Following Sunday School and worship, the congregation and guests are invited to share in our annual corn and sausage roast.  Please bring along a side dish or dessert to share.  You may also choose to bring along your own dinner service, although plates and utensils will also be provided.  Following lunch, you must stay for the seed spitting contest, egg and water balloon toss, bingo, and assorted games and prizes.  Invite a friend for this special Sunday!  You won’t want to miss it!

After church on September 12th, we’ll be working on cleaning up the landscaping.  Please bring gloves, trimmers, cutters, rakes, and wheelbarrows/yard containers if you have them.  There will be all  sorts of tasks to complete, from pulling weeds to trimming so people of all skills and ages can help out.  A huge thank you to Dean  Wiseman and his crew for working on the landscaping.

Stewardship Day

FAN THE FLAMES ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2010
Everyone is invited to help celebrate the start of Sunday School and our STEWARDSHIP  CAMPAIGN—WATCH FOR THE MAILING.   

Our first MNO went well at Reggio’s had a very nice response of five diners.  The next Nite Out will be at 6:30 on Wednesday, September 8th at “The Vine” in downtown South Bend, on the corner of Michigan and    Colfax Streets.  Please leave your reservation with the Church office at 232-1500.

Remember our Sunday services go back to 10:30 a.m. on Rally Day - Sunday, September 19th!

Organ Dedication Service

Mark your calendars for our special Service of Organ Dedication on Sunday, October 3rd at 3:00 pm.  There will be a Free will offering received.  The Guest Organist will be:
DR. CRAIG CRAMER
Professor of Music and Organ, Notre Dame

Come and celebrate our newly repaired organ with us!

We’re Back!  Women’s Fellowship’s first fall meeting will be at the church on Wednesday, September 8, at 1:00 pm.  We will be planning our year’s activities, so the more people who can come, the better.  All women of the church are welcome to join us for dessert, fellowship, and exchange of ideas.   And if you want to talk about what you did on your summer vacation that’s good too!

Ladies Nite Out

Dinner in August was amazing!  Not only did we have one of our biggest groups ever, but we welcomed two, yes two, new diners.  The food was delicious and plentiful at Reggio’s.  For our next Nite Out, we will meet at 6:30 on Wednesday, September 8th, at “The Vine”, located at the corner of Michigan and Colfax Streets in downtown South Bend.  Please leave your reservation with the Church office at 232-1500.  

LUNCH AT HONKERS.  It will be September 28th at noon.  Reservations can be made during coffee hour after Sunday services starting on September 19th and September 26th Please come join us for a few hours of great fellowship tasty food and lots of giggles and laughter.  See you at Honkers~!

We will serve dinner and leading the chapel service at Hope Ministries on Friday, October 8th.  We will need help from those who can prepare the food ahead of time.  If you can help, see Kim Baldwin.  The Confirmands will help serve that evening.

Ronald McDonald House

On behalf of the Ronald McDonald Family Room and those families you have helped, thank you for donating the collection of  pop tabs.  Your gift is very appreciated by the families of children in the hospital.

Saturday, October 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. is the date for our annual Fall Rummage Sale. As always, we need lots of rummage to sell, but we need volunteers also.  If you have never volunteered to help before, give it a try.  It’s fun to visit with others while sorting through the treasures that come in!  We need volunteers on Thursday afternoon and evening, and all day Friday prior to sale day to prepare the items.  We also need volunteers to work the sale, and then pack up the remaining items at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  Lunch will be available on Friday.
 
A volunteer sign up sheet will be posted in the hall. Mark your calendar now, and think of a time you can volunteer.

There will be a BAKE SALE that same day during the rummage sale.  We will need a lot of donations. 

Fish Fry

Our Fall All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry will be Friday, October 22nd from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.  Tickets to sell and purchase are available now. They are $8.00 each and $4.00 for children 6 to 12 years of age.  We need your donations of time and as always, we need plenty of desserts! Mark your calendars and plan to be a part of this!

Dear Friends,
My first grandchild was born on Monday, August 9, 2010 at 8 pounds, 14 ounces, and 21 inches long – and he is growing!  Above is his beautiful name.  The name, Michael, is from Hebrew origins and means, “Who resembles God?”  Well, I’m prejudiced but I think my grandson is pretty close!  The name goes all the way back to the angel Michael in the Bible - considered closest to God and also one of the two principal archangels (with Gabriel) of the Lord – I loved the movie with John Travolta too!  Jews, Christians, and Muslims all recognize the Archangel Michael.  In the Christian tradition, some believe that Michael was the  angel guarding the Tree of Life after the fall in Genesis (3:24).  Also the angel may have been the one standing in the way of Balaam in Numbers (22:22).  The book of Joshua refers to the angel’s discussions with Joshua (5: 13-15).  The book of Daniel records that Michael is the protector of Israel (10: 13 & 21), and finally the book of Revelation forecasts Michael’s defeat of Satan in the last battle (12:7-9).  The angel Michael is the commander of the Lord’s Armies and thus is the patron saint of police officers.  Many people seek the aid of the angel Michael against wrong-doers on Earth and all people in need of protection from crime or from physical or spiritual enemies may petition the Archangel for help.  My grandson is a little angel.  As I ponder that reality I am reminded of the quote: “A baby is an angel whose wings decrease as his legs increase.”  Having raised three sons, I could see that at times during the process!   I prefer to dwell on Carl Sandburg’s quote, “A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.”  Well, the world is going on and my life is enriched through this blessing of a grandson.  His birth has given me new perspective and hope.  God has a way of doing that for us all.  I wish that gift for you and yours!

Pastor Bill

 Sunday, September 19th will be our Annual Fall Rally Day and Corn & Sausage Roast.  The time of worship will be moved back to 10:30 a.m. that day and as well.  Hope to have you all with us as we worship, celebrate, and eat together!