Love or Money?
Brittany Swanson is joining us on this great fall day to tell even more people about life at Lutheran Lakeside Camp. She will lead, preach and teach, but we will not be celebrating Holy Communion with bread and wine this Sunday. Our communion with God and one another will occur as Brittany talks about camp life and Gayle shares pictures and stories about the group of children and adults who went to camp with her this past summer. Trusting Gayle’s wise understanding of God’s Holy Word, you may hear parables, other stories of fun and faith at camp, and special music. Come to worship prepared to hear something ordinary and extraordinary, with a twist that leads us to experience reality in a new way, even to the point of transforming our daily lives. Remember? That’s what Jesus’ parables do. You may even hear about Jesus boasting about a man who is a crook?  The surprise this morning may come from Brittany, from Gayle, from Jesus and the boss who shows mercy. The stories may remind you of the well paid farm workers who spent barely one hour in the vineyard. Or the father running out to welcome a shamed and destitute, long-lost son. Maybe even someone who’s been in the news lately. In God’s economy, people matter more than profits. The prophet (first reading), the psalmist, and Jesus, telling the parable, agree on this. The epistle writer adds a prayer for “a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity” for everyone, boss and beggar alike. Well, there it is – for all to gather in their own minds and hearts. Here it is, as it appears EVERY Sunday, God’s love is eternal, salvation by Jesus’ great and peaceful act is for ALL, and the Holy Spirit will make sure no one misses this message.
 

SUNDAY:  September 22
Worship
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School Begins
10:15 am – At FLC, All Church Activities & Picnic
1 pm – Slavic Worship
6 pm – Lutheran Adult Fellowship at FLC
September 22-24:  Pastor Sally to Fall Conference
in W. Des Moines

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, AT FIRST LUTHERAN & CHRIST THE SERVANT, Brittany Swanson, from Lutheran Lakeside Camp will be at both worship services to present news and updates from the camp.

FOLLOWING WORSHIP at FLC on Sunday, September 22:

MONDAY: September 23

TUESDAY: September 24
9 am-3 pm: Blanket Making Party at CTS

WEDNESDAY: September 25

THURSDAY: September 26
9 am – FLC Quilting
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: September 27
Office Closed

SATURDAY: September 28

NEXT SUNDAY:  September 29
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

Lost and Found
We have looked forward to today’s celebration for so long. Some of us, like Miriam Hibbs, who was baptized at FLC, are really going to love hearing from Bishop Burk and all the other former pastors today. But our readings for today tell us that God has a heart for losers. Well, that doesn’t describe Miriam, Martha, Harlan, or any of our older and long-time members. Today we hear how the risen Lord calls the violent, blasphemous persecutor, Paul, and tells parables about shepherds and ten silver coins.  We are reminded that God doesn’t abandon people even when people abandon God. The Bishop is sure to tells us how the cross and resurrection testify to God’s faithfulness in that regard. God rescues strays one by one, making the first move to find the lost and create new hearts in them.  On this day, when we give thanks for God’s blessing of our ministry throughout 150 years, we can testify to the faithfulness of God, shared with overflowing grace in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus, who is patient, forgiving, energetic, and ready to celebrate. So are we!! Come, meet old and new friends, enjoy the reunion with former pastors and others who will be participating in worship leadership. And finally, before the celebratory potluck and pictures with the Bishop and a box of cereal, Jesus hosts the worshiping assembly welcoming sinners and eating with us. He issues the invitation to His table and the word “sinner” no longer describes us. Today, we will experience being a forgiven guest at our own celebration. Be “graced,” “gifted,” “loved,” and “empowered.” Then we follow Jesus out of the gathered assembly and into the world as searchers of missing persons, determined to find the lost and the broken and issuing invitations to come home. And that brings us back full circle to our anniversary, to our gratitude, to God’s incredible faithfulness and undying love. Do not miss this Sunday.

SUNDAY:  September 15
First Lutheran’s 150^th Anniversary! 
     9 am – Coffee and Conversation 
     10 am – Worship with
Bishop Michael Burk 
                   Joint Service for CTS & FLC
(There will not be a service at CTS on this day.)
     11:30 am – Lunch served at Carpenter’s Hall
(1215 Court Avenue)

Please come and celebrate with us!

MONDAY: September 16
7 pm – Quilt Guild in Fireside Room

TUESDAY: September 17
Noon – CTS Women’s Bible Study (place TBA)
3:30 pm – CTS Worship Committee
4:30 pm – CTS Task Force

Wendy will be on vacation September 17-19.
In case of emergency, please call
Pastor Sally (906-231-0048) or
Gayle Bortz (641-203-0677)

WEDNESDAY: September 18

THURSDAY: September 19
9 am – FLC Quilting
Noon – Wayne Co. Ministers Meet
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: September 20
9-11 am – CCC at CTS
Newsletter Deadline
Office Closed

SATURDAY: September 21
8:30 am – WELCA Fall Cluster
at Centerville, First Lutheran

NEXT SUNDAY:  September 22
Worship
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10 am – CTS Sunday School Begins
10:15 am – At FLC, All Church Activities & Picnic
1 pm – Slavic Worship
6 pm – Lutheran Adult Fellowship at FLC
September 22-24:  Pastor Sally to Fall Conference
in W. Des Moines

ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, AT FIRST LUTHERAN & CHRIST THE SERVANT, Brittany Swanson, from Lutheran Lakeside Camp will be at both worship services to present news and updates from the camp.

FOLLOWING WORSHIP at FLC on Sunday, September 22:

Freed—From and For
Pastor Sally is back in the pulpit today. Healthy and strong, ready to proclaim God’s great love and blessings on all. Freedom flows through all the readings this day. Moses reminds the people of Israel they have the freedom to choose between life and prosperity or death and adversity. Moses tells the people they are free to choose bondage to God and life or bondage to sin and death. Either way they will be bound to something. She will proclaim the good news found as Paul reminds Philemon that he—Paul—is not free but is a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” Paul reminds Philemon that he has the freedom to hold on to his slave Onesimus and the freedom to grant freedom. In the gospel Jesus speaks a word, that resonates in ways that might make us all feel a tad uncomfortable. Do you own your stuff or does your stuff own you? Jesus seems to suggest that our stuff, our possessions, could make it difficult to follow faithfully.  In Christ, freedom comes from letting go. Freedom comes through giving away and trusting Jesus. In Christ we are free people. Free to choose life, free to choose faithfulness, and free to open our arms wide and receive the free grace of God. This is the God who chooses to never stop loving us.
Is this the Sunday we find ourselves freed, freed from all our stuff, freed from slavery to things and others demands? It is God’s Work…Our Hands Sunday. Is this the Sunday we sing with gusto, “Give it away, Give it away?”

SUNDAY:  September 8
“God’s Work, Our Hands” Sunday
Holy Communion
9 am – First, Chariton
11 am – Christ the Servant, Corydon
10:15 am – FLC Sunday School Begins
10:15 am – Executive Committee at FLC
1 pm – Slavic Worship

2-4 pm – Visitation for the family of Martha Milnes
at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home
in Chariton

Lutheran Adult Fellowship has been postponed
until Sunday, September 22

MONDAY: September 9
10:30 am – Funeral for Martha Milnes at First
Lutheran followed by burial and then
lunch at the church
2 pm – Laplanders Quilt Guild at CTS
6:30 pm – Council at FLC

TUESDAY: September 10
8 am – Breakfast Gals
5-7 pm – St. Paul, Albia – Free Community
Spaghetti Supper

WEDNESDAY: September 11

THURSDAY: September 12
Noon – Women of the ELCA at Red Haw
7 pm – Slavic Worship

FRIDAY: September 13
Office Closed

SATURDAY: September 14

NEXT SUNDAY:  September 15
First Lutheran’s 150^th Anniversary! 
     9 am – Coffee and Conversation 
     10 am – Worship with
Bishop Michael Burk 
                   Joint Service for CTS & FLC
     11:30 am – Lunch served at Carpenter’s Hall
(1215 Court Avenue)
Please RSVP for the lunch by September 8.  A sign-up form will be passed during all worship services prior to the celebration, or you can call or email the church office. (641-774-4875 or flcchariton@iowatelecom.net)
Please come and celebrate with us!