Newsletter - Napa Valley Lutheran Church

A SEASON OF CELEBRATIONS AND COMMEMORATIONS

As we wrap up our Season of Creation and look into Fall, each Sunday takes on its own special theme to some degree. It’s easy to look at the months-long season of Pentecost as disjointed and unstructured, but really there is an arc to the lectionary found even with in this evergreen season. Here, entering October and November, we find some special occasions.

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4^th starts us out while closing the Season of Creation. In addition to Sunday worship on October 4^th, he will be commemorated with our Blessing of the Animals on October 3^rd. The weekend that was once a memorial to the explorer and colonizer, Christopher Columbus, is now an opportunity to celebrate and admire the lives, traditions, and spirituality of the First Peoples of the Americas and recognize how colonizers and settlers tried to remove them and their memory. We will honor Indigenous Peoples on October 11^th. The following Sunday, October 18^th we will welcome Regina Banks, the Director of the Lutheran Office of Public Policy in California (our October Second Mile Giving recipient) to share with us the work LOPP is doing to affect positive change in our state and our country legislatively, aligned with values, theology, principles, and teachings of the gospel as proclaimed in the ELCA. We’ll have a congregational BBQ that day to celebrate the joy of togetherness and our church family. October ends with a bang (on the door!) as we commemorate the Reformation and the call for the Church to keep itself grounded in the teachings of Jesus and nimble enough to adjust its traditions to better live out Jesus’ gospel. Then into November we head with All Saints Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, our national day of Thanksgiving and the start of Advent. So you see, this is almost a season in itself! – A season of celebrations and commemorations for pausing to remember our past and press on into our future.

Looking forward to sharing all that is to come with you!

Pastor Stephanie

COUNCIL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Linnea Laufer

I’ve been a Lutheran basically since I was born. I was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Inglewood, California. We then moved to Oakland and Hayward before ending up in Napa in 1961 and joined Emmanuel Lutheran Church. I was confirmed and married at Emmanuel. I met Edward while attending St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Northridge, California while attending college. Together we had been involved in various areas of each church including Napa Valley Lutheran. Edward has been in the choir, assisting minister, on council, was treasurer and served on the Endowment committee. I started playing the organ in 10th grade and started playing for services after I had taken some lessons. Now I mainly play my flute. I have also been on Altar Guild and Sunday School Superintendent over the years. At Napa Valley Lutheran I have been on the Health Ministry Team, Worship Team, Council, participated in book groups and women’s bible studies. Edward and I also enjoyed participating in Epiphany plays. Staying involved as much as you can helps to maintain the connections with other members.

COUNCIL UPDATE

The council met on Thursday, September 10th. Treasurer reported that we are continuing to see reduced charges from PG&E as a result of our new solar panels that were installed. Pastor Stephanie’s reported included the busy worship schedule and events happening from now through the end of the year. She also reported updates on the book group, women’s Bible study and health insurance updates for pastors. Pastor Stephanie has upcoming vacation and upcoming continuing education dates in October and November. Plans for the Church BBQ are in the works to be held on Sunday, October 18th. Minutes are posted on the bulletin board in the narthex for more detail.

CONGREGATIONAL BBQ

SECOND MILE GIVING FOR OCTOBER

Each month we designate a ministry partner for our Second Mile Giving emphasis, inviting members to donate as they feel moved to support the work of various synod, Churchwide, and community organizations. This month our Second Mile Giving recipient is Lutheran Office of Public Policy (LOPP). Here is some information from the LOPP website:

We represent the coordinated witness of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on issues of public policy in the state of California. In addition to our presence on legislative matters, we provide education and networking for our 400 ELCA congregations across the state. We work hand in hand with other faith-based and secular groups seeking peace and justice.

Our work is guided by the social statements of the ELCA. These statements are teaching and policy documents which provide a theological framework for discerning how to respond to issues such as criminal justice and immigration. Statements result from an extensive process of participation and deliberation and are adopted by a two-thirds vote of an ELCA churchwide assembly.

On the evening of October 15, we are invited to hear information focused on the current California Ballot Propositions. This is a virtual meeting. Please see the flyer on the next page for registration information. We are pleased that Regina Q. Banks, Director of LOPP will be joining us in person for worship on Sunday October 18 to share more information about how we can participate in the process.

If you would like to contribute to LOPP, you can make a donation (checks payable to NVLC) this month – just mark your gift as “2^nd Mile Giving” and include it with your offering anytime during October.

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

CHRIST IN OUR HOME: The October, November and December 2026 booklets are available now. If you would like to have one of these delivered to your home, please contact the church office at secretary@napavalleylutheran.org or 707-226-8166 to make arrangements.

IT IS NOT JUNK MAIL!

It’s that time of year again. The Mission Endowment Fund Committee is soliciting proposals for the 2027 distribution of the interest and dividends from our Endowment Fund investments. Members of the congregation will be receiving the announcement letter and suggestion forms in the mail soon. These funds are intended to extend the mission of the church. Perhaps you would like to submit a suggestion but aren’t sure how to do complete the form…Members of the committee will be available after worship in Luther Hall during the month of October to assist anyone who would like help filling out the suggestion form. The application forms should be returned to the church office by November 1.

ATTENTION USHERS

Please note that Pastor Stephanie has updated the list of responsibilities for this important job. What you do is so important to making folks feel welcome and comfortable during our worship service. Please check out the instructions on the table where the bulletins are placed. Questions and suggestions are welcome.

GREETING CARD MINISTRY

Do you enjoy receiving mail that isn’t an ad or a bill? Are you someone who sends “Get Well Soon” or “Thinking of You” cards? Have you been inspired by the response of our congregation to send cards to Doris Ellsworth or by the faithfulness by which Carolyn Nelson sends us thoughtful birthday cards? Pastor Stephanie would like to begin a greeting card ministry at NVLC, but she needs help.

Please let Pastor Stephanie know if you would be interested in a group of 2 or 3 others to help organize this ministry and get it off the ground.

ITEMS OF NOTE

THE WOMEN OF NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH are invited to meet together each month in Luther Hall.
Our next meeting is Wednesday October 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are interested, please notify Pastor Stephanie so she can make sure you are mailed your own copy of Gather, the quarterly magazine published by WELCA. During our meetings we discuss the themes presented in the magazine along with projects we may be interested in supporting or undertaking ourselves. Gather with us for community, prayer, and partnership in the Gospel. Please also let Pastor Stephanie know if you wish to be included but are unable to attend our monthly meetings.

LUNCH BUNCH will be on Thursday October 22 at Villa Corona in the Bel Air Plaza. Call Carol Holmes for reservations.

DIRECTORY UPDATES:

Connie Barri
1716 Creekside Dr. Unit 310
Folsom, CA 95630
(707) 812-4937

Doris Ellsworth
450 John Muir Parkway
Brentwood Grove MC, Rm. 110B
Brentwood, CA 94513

If you have an update, please contact the church office so we have your current contact information. The best way is by email at secretary@napavalleylutheran.org or by phone at 707-226-8166.

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 meet the 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!

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