SONGS OF THANKFULNESS AND PRAISE

I write this inaugural newsletter message to you, the good folks of Napa Valley Lutheran Church, surrounded by boxes and still wrapping up my ministry with the people of Trinity Lutheran Church in Alameda. In this in-between time of warm weather and ads with sweaters, scarves and hot pumpkin spice lattes, I am giving thanks – Thanks for this next season lived among you, thanks for the hope of new beginnings, thanks for God’s timing, thanks for a horizon of opportunity, thanks for the community of faith that has become extended family.

I’m sure many of you are also singing songs of thankfulness and praise to our God after four years (nearly 5!) of wondering who your next called pastor would be. I know there are many plans that have been waiting in the wings to begin and plenty of decisions that have been deferred. In those four years, the world has been changing. The Church as a whole looks markedly different from that first Sunday Pastor Cindy Beck joined you online in March 2020. Together we will work to become a congregation doing the same work God has always needed us to do in ways a new world needs us to meet them.

With all of that, let’s just say, my first couple weeks as the Pastor of Napa Valley Lutheran Church will focus on getting my physical footing by unpacking boxes at the parsonage and setting up my office to better serve you and our future. Our visits and outings may need to be around Advent and Christmas planning for the time being to make sure those essential pieces of community life together are set before I get to socialize and play. But – socializing and playing and getting to know you are top priority and one I am looking forward to.

Blessings on this season of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Pastor Stephanie

SECOND MILE GIVING FOR NOVEMBER

Your eyes are not deceiving you. Christmas is coming earlier this year. It might be the scrawniest little Christmas tree to decorate any church narthex in all of North America, but it has a special place in our hearts here at Napa Valley Lutheran Church! Each year it appears with its paper ornaments to invite us to remember those in our community who might otherwise be forgotten this time of year. The invitation is to purchase (or donate toward) gift cards from local food or department stores. These cards are then shared with our community partners at V.O.I.C.E.S. (the center for emancipated foster youth), NEWS (domestic violence and sexual abuse prevention and healing services), and the Napa Valley shelters, for distribution to those with whom they work. You can purchase gift cards in any amount that you desire – take home an ornament as a reminder. Or put a check in the NVLC offering baskets during November with “Giving Tree” on the memo line. Please bring in your cards no later than Sunday, December 1. The pastor will put on her Santa Claus hat and deliver your gifts to our partners so that they can have them in time to distribute to clients before Christmas. Donations received after that date may be saved and serve as a starter for next year’s giving tree.

REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER

The Mission Endowment Fund Committee is soliciting proposals for the 2025 distribution of the interest and dividends from our Endowment Fund investments. The procedures to be followed begin with your suggestions, which will then be evaluated by the appropriate Ministry Teams, Endowment Committee, and Church Council leading up to the adoption of the final grants at the Congregational Meeting in January 2025. If you need a proposal form, contact the church office.
The forms must be submitted by November 9.

THANKOFFERINGS are our opportunity to say thank you to God in both significant and ordinary moments. This tradition began in the early 1800’s as individuals set aside small amounts of money to show their gratitude. Thankofferings are usually collected at a service in November to support the ongoing ministries of women’s organizations: Justice & advocacy work, training of leaders, grants & scholarship programs, and much more. The enclosed envelope helps distinguish your offering to Women of the ELCA.

To the NVLC knitters & crocheters: It’s time to think about getting the hats together for a 2024 donation. The thankoffering Sunday will be November 17. And I would like to gather them before this date. If you’d like to just leave them with Leanne in the church office, I’d appreciate it. I will take them to the homeless shelter after December 1.

Thank you so much for your efforts. As a reminder, the church provides the yarn and I have patterns if you’d like to join us in the much-needed contribution to the community.

Thank you, Ellen Wulf

COUNCIL UPDATES

The Church Council met on October 8 and discussed various items related to the pending arrival of our new Pastor, Stephanie Johnson on November 1. The laundry is being moved to the main floor at 352 Jefferson, which will serve as a Parsonage. Decluttering continues in Luther Hall and the church office areas. A festive service of installation and reception will be planned for early 2025. Watch the Sunday bulletin announcements for work parties and other events to be scheduled in November.

INTERFAITH COUNCIL THANKSGIVING SERVICE

The Napa Interfaith Council will be having a Thanksgiving Service at the Napa First United Methodist Church on Tuesday November 26 at 6:00 PM. More information will be provided in the Sunday Bulletins.

A Free Community Lunch is served on the last Sunday of every month at 11:30 am at Napa First United Methodist Church, 625 Randolph St. Come meet & eat with neighbors & friends – No reservation needed!

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The October, November, December 2024 booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at [email protected] or 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.

Email Edie at [email protected] to register and receive the Zoom linkl
If you can’t wait to shop go to https://goodgifts.elca.org

Hope Circle remains suspended for the time being.

No Lunch Bunch in November. Join us on Thursday, December 5, at Bistro Don Giovanni. Contact Carol Holmes to make reservations.

Abode Napa Shelter for the homeless is in need of assistance this winter. With the help of Thrivent Financial the $250 seed money will be used to buy wool socks, wool gloves, and toiletries such as: shampoo, deodorants, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, razors and shave cream. Please help by providing any of these items by December 1.
A collection box will be in the Narthex.
Contact Carol Holmes for more information.

DIRECTORY UPDATES

Bill and Carlene Embree have moved and joined a new church in Aurora Colorado, and called to say hello to everyone at NVLC. We will be removing them from our membership directory, but for anyone wanting to check in with them, their new mailing address is: 21269 East 62^nd Ave., Aurora, CO 80019. Their phone numbers and email address remain the same.

Ruth and Lark Kern are moving to: 260 American Canyon Rd., #92, American Canyon, CA 94503. Their phone numbers and email address remain the same.

Thank you to the members of our congregation that have been sending in your contributions to the church office. It is much appreciated. Your financial giving to NVLC is still necessary for us to maintain needs of the congregation. Remember, that although we did not provide boxes of offering envelopes, as in past years, we still have the opportunity to make special offerings for special occasions, any occasion that is special to you!

NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH IS ONLINE!

Yes, we do have a website, and for the past several months, we have been working with a consultant to make it more useful. Have you checked it out? You can find it at:

https://napavalleylutheran.org/

We hope that the site will make it easy for folks in the community and visitors find out who and where we are, and we want it to be helpful for members, as well. If you have misplaced your NVLC newsletter, you can find it on the website, as well as the calendar. The Servers can find their schedule under the “resources” tab. If you are joining the Sunday worship on Zoom, there is a link on the home page, and you can even make your offering online with Tithe.ly! What else would you like to see on our website?
Please let us know and we will try to make it happen.
We have also established some new email addresses.
So if you want to contact the Pastor, you can email to: [email protected]
If you have news for the Secretary, You can email to: [email protected]
And, the Treasurer email is: [email protected]
The general email, [email protected] still works, too, for general communication with the church office.

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