All the texts for this Sunday transport the hearers to God’s eternal heaven and the coming of Christ, with life and death pulling on our ears and hearts.  Talking about heaven is difficult because we cannot fathom what it is like, but in today’s gospel Jesus doesn’t shy away from the subject.  To our many questions about what the afterlife will be like, Jesus speaks about the Lord as the God of the living. All believers, those alive and those dead, are alive in God. Come to worship, to receive this good news.

MONDAY: November 11
2 pm – Laplanders Quilt Guild at CTS
6:30 pm – Council at FLC

TUESDAY: November 12
8 am – Breakfast Gals
9 am-3 pm: Weighted Blanket Making at CTS

WEDNESDAY: November 13

THURSDAY: November 14
9 am – FLC Quilting
1 pm – Women of the ELCA
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: November 15
9-11 am: CCC at CTS
Office Closed
Newsletter Deadline

SATURDAY: November 16

NEXT SUNDAY:  November 17
Cinnamon Roll Sunday
Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
1 pm – Slavic Worship

Who are the saints, and what do they have to say to us? Rather than being perfect Christians, the saints are people who have been made whole by the grace of God, through baptism into Christ. The communion of saints is a diverse array of witnesses who remind us of God’s continuing faithfulness, past, present, and future. In the picture painted by the gospel reading from Luke, the saints challenge us to embody the surprising, world-reversing ways of the reign of God.  God has made into saints all who have been baptized into Christ, and on the festival of All Saints Day we honor especially those saints who have died in the faith. Their names may be unknown and their lives generally forgotten, but we sing our thanks that they are now held in God.

MONDAY: November 4
6 pm – Council

TUESDAY: November 5
10 am – FLC Worship Committee
11:30 am – Lucas Co. ICC at Chariton Presbyterian
1:30 pm – CTS Women’s Bible Study at CTS

WEDNESDAY: November 6
1:30 pm – Prayer Shawl Ministry at FLC

THURSDAY: November 7
9 am – FLC Quilting
6 pm – Council
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: November 8
Office Closed

SATURDAY: November 9

NEXT SUNDAY:  November 10
Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School
10:15 am – Executive Committee
1 pm – Slavic Worship
6 pm – Lutheran Adult Fellowship

We pause today in our liturgy to remember and celebrate the Reformation of the Church, led over 500 hundred years ago by Martin Luther. Today’s service is also an annual reminder that the Church of Christ is always undergoing reformation. Can we hear the familiar readings today and hear the current challenge to reform the church? How is God leading, not just the ELCA, but First Lutheran and Christ the Spirit, to an ongoing reformation? It is not easy to listen for God’s voice in our busy lives but God does continue to speak and does continue to call us to listen and to act based on what we hear. If we agree that “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold” (Ps.46:7) then we will respond to Jesus directive, “Continue in my word…you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Come to worship today to enjoy the procession, treasured scriptures, and songs of the reformation. Come prepared to hear God’s Word speak into our lives today.