The Summit

Since 1517, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the church doors in Wittenburg, Germany, the evangelical Lutheran movement has celebrated what history has called the Reformation.  The Church underwent a transformation in its Protestant expression, and Luther has been revered as the prime mover who put the movement into motion.  Lutheran churches around the world will celebrate the 494^th anniversary of this evangelical movement, teaching that we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in Christ, not by buying or earning our way into heaven.  We’ll sing Luther’s most famous
hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” based on Psalm 46.  And we will declare that the Reformation must be a continuing movement in our day, not just a celebration of history.  Finally, at our second service we will confirm four of our young people.

Participating in the Rite of Affirmation of Baptism (Confirmation) at the 10:30 service are Megan Gustafson, Haley Novak, Korissa Ostic, and Chase Pottinger. We wish them God’s blessings as they become Confirmed members of Alpine Church, and we pray that they continue to nurture and serve their faith in their days to come.  Congratulations to their families for raising these fine young people!

FINAL ADULT FORUM THIS SUNDAY A SPECIAL ONE: Holly Mathiesen from Thrivent
Financial will lead our last stewardship forum this Sunday at 9:30.  It will deal with leaving a legacy beyond our earthly life, which is an extremely important topic to all of us.  I would encourage you to make a special effort to participate in the forum this Sunday, Oct. 30.  She will offer us a very interesting education into how we can do legacy giving for the benefit of future generations.  Thank you for your participation!

Thoughts for the Week: “Pleasure is very seldom found where it is sought. Our
brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.” ~ Samuel Johnson ~

Those Who Serve for Oct. 30^th

Ushers: (8:00) Alan Geeser, Carol Johnson, John McCue, Jack Phillips

(10:30) Mike Bukowski, John McCue, Michelle Turecek, Darold Walker

Ambassadors: (8:00) Vince & Liz Bertolotto, Irv Johnson, Carol Rogers

(10:30) Marlene Bukowski, Jari & Jennifer Sproule

Elements: (8:00) Chuck & Janet Gentry (10:30) DiAnne Beynon, Mari Hanson

Acolytes: (8:00) Brianna Geeser (10:30) Conlan Pottinger

Lectors: (8:00) Cally Damken (10:30) Bob McVinnie

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Cally Damken, Rachel Cooley (10:30) Bob & Laurel McVinnie

Altar Guild:

Praise Singers: Holly & Renee Stohle

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Each Congregation Can Make a Difference

As we look forward to the visit of one of our missionary families this Saturday, Oct. 22 at 5 PM, the Randy Stubbs family serving in Tanzania will share about their ministry of music.  They teach at Makumira University College in Arusha, working with pastors, church musicians and music educators in the thriving church there.  As I stated last week, members of other Rockford churches who also sponsor the Stubbs will join us.  To make it even more fun we are calling this an international pot-luck dinner, in which you can bring a dish representing any one of five regions of the world.  So we will enjoy a nice dinner and fellowship, and also learn more about our companion church in Tanzania. As good hosts I hope to have a big turnout.

The next day I will travel to a Region 5 ELCA meeting for the World Hunger Appeal, representing our Northern Illinois Synod, to learn more about our commitment to eradicating Malaria in the underdeveloped world. The ELCA hopes to raise several million dollars to help wipe out a disease that kills a child every minute in parts of Africa and Asia.  As each of our 10,000 congregations give as they are able, much progress can be made.

I also want to encourage all Alpiners to participate in the final two forums that we are holding between services on Sunday.  Holly Mathiesen from Thrivent is leading us in discussions of good money
management, which is part of our stewardship emphasis this year.  On Oct. 30 she will discuss estate planning, so that our giving can carry on beyond this life.

Thoughts for the Week: “When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” ~ Helen Keller ~

Those Who Serve for Oct. 23^rd

Ushers: (8:00) Arnie Johnson, Les Johnson, Curt Moen, Gil Okeson

(10:30) Jim Burnett, Martha Carlson, Bob Fanello, David McCue

Ambassadors: (8:00) Roger & Bettie Everson, Don & Judy Gugliemetti

(10:30) Diana Sundeen, Taylor Boustead, Bud Manson, Maribeth Gillette

Elements: (8:00) Andrea Tack, Samantha Todd (10:30) Diana Sundeen, Taylor Boustead

Acolytes: (8:00) Katy Damken (10:30) Haley Novak

Lectors: (8:00) Donna Seefeldt (10:30) Jari Sproule

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Rollin Greenland, Alan Garrett (10:30) DiAnne Beynon, Karen Conti

Altar Guild: Janet Gentry, Shirley Franks

Praise Singers: Chuck & Lynn Valentine

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Sign up to help with International Dinner

Are you aware that as a congregation we sponsor missionaries in far-away places?  Or that we have partner congregations in India and Tanzania?  Or that we sponsor theological students in Nigeria?  Yes, we do all the above.

It’s not often, however, that we actually have a visit from one of the people we sponsor.  However, one of our missionary families in Tanzania (east Africa) is on home leave for a short time, and they will be with us to share about their ministry on Saturday evening, October 22, at 5:00 PM.  Randy & Carol Stubbs teach music at Makumira University College in Arusha, doing leadership development and evangelism through music.  They work with pastors, church musicians and music educators in the thriving church there.  The Stubbs are from my home church, First Luth. in DeKalb.

Joining us for the evening will be members of Shepherd of the Valley, Salem, and First Lutheran (Rockford) churches, who also sponsor the Stubbs. We are the hosts, though, so I expect that we will make every effort to show up in full force. To make it even more fun we are calling this an international pot-luck dinner, in which you can sign up on the sheet in the narthex to bring something from any
one of five regions of the world.  So we will enjoy a nice dinner and fellowship, and also learn more about our companion church in Tanzania. To learn more about this ministry, go to www.Stubbsmission.info .

Thoughts for the Week: “Follow an old path and you find the expected. Blaze a new trail and you have an adventure.” ~ Evelyn Loeb ~

“I know the Bible is inspired because it has inspired me.” ~ Dwight L Moody ~

Those Who Serve for Oct. 16^th

Ushers: (8:00) Jim Anderson, Shirley Finger, Bryan Garrett, Glen Lewis

(10:30) Russ Hornbeck, John McCue, Dick Nelson, Mike Schultz

Ambassadors: (8:00) Jan Anderson, Nan Strom

(10:30) Gwyn Brechtel, Martha Carlson, Jan Galster, Alyce Krusemeier

Elements: (8:00) Kathy Mund, Eugene Mund (10:30) Michele Scott, Ardy Stevens

Acolytes: (8:00) AJ Ostic (10:30) Chase Pottinger

Lectors: (8:00) Rollin Greenland (10:30) Collin Gillette

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Rollin Greenland, Sid Robinson (10:30) John & Nancy Fridh

Altar Guild: Kathy Mund, Cary Ralston

Praise Singers: John & Cary Ralston

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Everyone Is Expected to Participate

We have been blessed to keep our stewardship emphasis on a good and positive note during the last several years.  We don’t “cry” for money and we don’t make people feel guilty.  Rather, we talk about the joy of giving, the rewards of being generous, and the blessings of responsible churchmanship.

During the Sunday forum series in October between services, we will have a special guest with us, Ms. Holly Mathiesen from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, to lead a series called, “More than money matters: Communicating about money.”  It will teach us about financial matters, including setting goals, finding money to save, leaving a legacy, and good communication regarding finances.  As we have stated, our goal is 100% attendance of the active membership of Alpine!

Please join us for this forum series every Sunday in October, postponing your breakfast outings an hour or coming an hour earlier, depending on which service you attend.  We’ll start at 9:30 and finish at 10:15.  Also, please save the evening of Nov. 13 for a stewardship celebration dinner.  We’ll be invited to make our commitments to both the general/benevolence fund and the building fund for 2012 during this month. So please be thinking and praying about the support you are called to offer to God through Alpine Church for the coming year.  Thank you!

Thought for the Week: “Success is not a destination that you reach. Success is the quality of your journey.” ~ Jennifer James ~
Those Who Serve for Oct. 9^th

Ushers: (8:00) Rick Bried, Chuck Gentry, Irv Johnson, Dale Olson

(10:30) Dean Franks, John& Sharryn Franks, Marge Rakoczy

Ambassadors: (8:00) Pat Anderson, Jan Tack, John & David Linde

(10:30) Bud Manson, Doris Williams, Eric & LeAnn Peterson

Elements: (8:00) Matt & Debbie Hier (10:30) Eric & LeAnn Peterson

Acolytes: (8:00) Korrisa Ostic (10:30) Haley Novak

Lectors: (8:00) Lynn Valentine (10:30) Violet Peterson

Lay Assistants: (8:00) Chuck & Lynn Valentine (10:30) Bob & Violet Peterson

Altar Guild: Michele Scott, Laurel McVinnie

Praise Singers: Jaime Gillette, Bob McVinnie

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