English Ministry News and Notes 11-10-13

• We welcome Rev. Michael J. Christensen to our pulpit this morning! He is the Di-rector the Shaolom Initiative for Prophetic Leadership and Community Development at Drew University; and International Director of Communities of Shalom for The United Methodist Church. Communities of Shalom is a global network of over 100 “shalom zones” engaged in social justice, community organizing, and community development--trained, equipped and promoted by the Shalom Resource Center at Drew University. Dr. Christensen was ordained in the Church of Nazarene and is a clergy member of the California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is the author or editor of nine books, including: C. S. Lewis on Scripture; Equipping the Saints: Mobilizing Laity for Ministry: The Heart of Henri Nouwen; a three-volume spiritual trilogy by Henri Nouwen on Spiritual Direction, Spiritual Formation and Discernment.
• Please Note: The church office will be closed on Monday, Nov. 11th for Veterans Day.
• Celebrating Stewardship Response Card – You are receiving a Celebrating Stewardship Response Card in the Messenger today. This is an annual practice we have to nurture intentionality in how we live out our membership vows in terms of our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Please take the card home with you and prayerfully complete. We will offer them to God on Thanksgiving Sunday.
• What are you Thankful for? Next Sunday, besides the Stewardship card that will be inserted in with the Bulletin, there will be a leaf –shaped piece of paper for you to lift up your thanks in 25 words or less (this includes your name, or you can be anonymous). Put them in to the collection plate, and they will be shared in our Thanksgiving Messenger bulletin.
• Thanksgiving Parallel Worship & Gratitude Potluck – We will celebrate Thanks-giving on Sunday, Nov. 24th, with worship beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Annex. Worship will be followed by a gratitude potluck. For those with last names ending in A-M: please bring a main/meat dish to share. For those with last names ending in N-Z: please bring a side/veggie dish to share. The church will provide the dessert.