From the Pastor
Dear Peace family,
Thanksgiving is a time in which we share conversations at the dinner table that we normally don’t have at other times. I’ve noticed that we tend to listen more attentively.
We had a Thanksgiving table like moment in early August. I say that because we had a table conversation that we typically don’t have in the Lucke household. We had decided to eat out for breakfast on a Monday morning. As we started our breakfast, I noticed a table in the front of the restaurant filled with Amish. Not having seen Amish in our area since our coming to Oregon in 2013, I invited one of them to speak with us so that we could learn more.
We covered quite a bit of territory. “Are there any Amish in Oregon?” I asked. “No,” was his answer. He went on to explain that they were from Ohio and had hired a Mennonite to drive the vehicle—driving vehicles is not allowed by the Amish. “What is worship like for you?” I asked. “We don’t have music. And we don’t have a pastor. We don’t have a special building. We simply have someone share straight from the Word,” he answered. “Are you certain of salvation?” I finally asked. His answer surprised me, “No. We are not certain of salvation. We have ‘hope’ for salvation. This is why we work the way we do all the way up to the point of death,” he shared.
What made this discussion meaningful was that I was able to listen to someone from a different faith background explain their faith to me. I wasn’t just
reading about the Amish from a book. This made me reflect that all too often we make judgements about other religions without hearing directly from those who hold those beliefs.
Peace will be offering a new Adult Bible Study series on Sunday at 9:00 am on comparative religions, “Honoring Our Neighbor’s Faith.” This begins on Sunday, November 3. All are welcome. This series is based on the explanations of people who practice these beliefs.
How do we deal with differences in beliefs? We honor our neighbor’s faith and trust that it is as heartfelt as our own, but where do we go from there? If we are Lutheran, presumably we believe that the Lutheran understanding of God is the most faithful. How, then, do we approach the beliefs of other faith groups? Are they equally faithful, just different? Are they misguided but essentially wrong? Are they flat-out wrong?
The plan for November is to cover these faith traditions:
- Sunday, November 3 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Sunday, November 10 Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Sunday, November 17 Jehovah’s Witness
- Sunday, November 24 Roman Catholics
We’ll continue this study in the month of December too. I’ll share the next set of faith traditions in December’s newsletter. If there is a faith tradition that you’d like to discuss, let me know!
In closing, I hope your Thanksgiving table conversations are meaningful! I am thankful for each of you and the opportunity to serve you as pastor.
In His Grace,
Pastor J
Peace by the Numbers
Plan for Worship
November 3 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion. Twenty fourth Sunday after Pentecost. All Saints Sunday. Wear white today.
November 10 – 10:00am Worship service. Veterans Remembrance. Twenty fifth Sunday after Pentecost.
November 17 – 10:00am Worship service with Communion. Twenty sixth Sunday after Pentecost.
November 24 – 10:00am Worship service. Last Sunday of the Church Year.
Join the Advent Jesse Tree Project!
The Advent Jesse Tree Project is a special way for everyone to mark the days of Advent as we trace Jesus’ lineage from creation to the manger. We will work together to make, collect, 3D prints, or color 25 different ornaments that tell the story of Jesus. We need all abilities to make this work! Contact Rachel Harrington if you are interested in joining the fun. Information about the project will be shared in the Fellowship Hall after service on November 3rd, 10th and 17th. Find out more at: https://www.faithward.org/jesse-tree/.
Men’s Breakfast in November
MEN’S BREAKFAST: The next Peace Lutheran men’s breakfast will be November 2nd at Benchwarmers Bar & Grill at 1895 NW 9th Street, Corvallis at 8:30am.
Come and enjoy another breakfast with your fellow Christian friends. Pastor Ted Schaefer will be the lead speaker. Start your day off right and attend!
Ladies Guild Bazaar Thank You
What an amazing church family we have! I want to thank each and every person who pitched in to help with our church bazaar. Although the Ladies Guild sponsors our bazaar, so many members helped make our bazaar a lot of fun and a huge success. Thank you all for your contributions of making cookies, creating craft items, donating to Granny’s Attic and giving your time to help us. We don’t have a final total yet, but it looks like we cleared over $7,000. We look forward to being able to help our community organizations and to help our youth attend the Youth Conference next summer. Thank you so very much!
Kay Glathar
Backpack Working Party Volunteers Needed
On Saturday, November 9th at 11:00am, we will be having our first backpack work party of the year. The work party typically lasts about an hour and needs volunteers to help place warming items (hats, scarves, gloves etc.) into a backpack, as well as hygiene items and food/snack offerings. We will be filling 100 backpacks to be handed out to those in need, especially those without homes. IF you would like to bring something to contribute, men’s warm socks (new OR laundered used) or individually wrapped snacks are always needed. There is no requirement for bringing items to help. We will be having three total backpack work parties throughout this school year. They will be held on November 9, January 1 and February 17 at 11 am. Please see Diane Crocker if you have questions. Thank you!
Peace Lutheran Ladies Guild News
November is Mite Box collection month! Bring your filled boxes to church on November 10. The grant being funded this month is:
Tanzania Children’s Homes
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Africa — $74,500
About This Mission Grant
The Tanzania Children’s Home welcomes albino children to offer security, care, and education. Albinism (limited melanin pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair) is especially prevalent in Tanzania. Children with albinism face health risks of skin cancer and visual impairment and are threatened by the pagan practices of the tribal religions that falsely teach their body parts have magical powers to make one rich, successful, and powerful. The home offers security and specialized care for the children that their families cannot provide and is located on the campus of the Lutheran Boarding School in Mwadui. They are raised in the knowledge and love of the Lord and are transported to the Mwadui Lutheran Secondary School for their education.
This grant will help purchase a bus for safe transportation of the children and will contribute to the support of the children.
A big thank you for everyone’s support and contributions to our Bazaar. A special thank you to the Bazaar Chair, Kay Glathar, for all her hard work and creative talents. Everything was beautifully displayed, and the Fellowship Hall was gloriously decorated. The exact dollar amount raised will be announced when all sales are
completed. Again, Thank You, Thank You.
NEXT GUILD MEETING: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 @ 10 am
The next Ladies Guild meeting will be Thursday, November 7, 10-12 in the Fellowship Hall. ALL women are invited! If you need a ride let me know.
Peggy Krueger, Guild President
Sanctity of Life Baby Bottle Fundraiser
Diane Heitmeyer, representative of The Ladies Guild and Peace will be partnering with Options Sanctity of Life fundraiser which runs October 6 to November 3. Options PRC is a faith-based, nonprofit medical clinic providing free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, patient advocacy, and community referrals. Through the love of Christ, they empower women facing unplanned pregnancies to make life-affirming decisions. They have been serving Linn and Benton Counties since 1986. This is a right to life organization.
Congregants can choose to participate in this fundraiser by taking home a baby bottle, which is provided, and fill the bottle with change. You can also write a check or put cash in the bottles. The checks are to made out to Options for Pregnancy. Bring the bottle back to Peace by November 3, 2024. At the end of the fundraiser, Options will come and pick up the bottles from Peace. Then they mail us a certificate with the amount we raised!
| Be sure to bring your filled bottle by November 3rd |
Vina Moses Center Christmas Program
For many years, Peace has supported the annual Vina Moses Center Christmas program. This year will be no different. We will place gift tags on Sunday, November 24th, on the side windows of the front door that contain the Christmas gift wishes of children from financially challenged families in Benton County. We hope that you will take a tag or two. If you do not have an opportunity to get a tag but still would like to participate, we are asking you to consider purchasing a new toy, game, book, or puzzle for the program. The children participating in the program are between infancy and 18 years of age. For many children, the gift that they receive through this program will be the only gift they receive this Christmas.
Please bring the unwrapped toy, game, book, or puzzle to the worship service on Sunday, December 8th. We will collect them in the Narthex.
If you are unable to bring the toy to the service, please contact George Abele at 541-730-0476 or [email protected] to make arrangements to pick up the toy. Thank you!
Granny’s Attic Thank You
I want to take a moment to let you know how much you are appreciated for the Granny’ s Attic donations. The sale couldn’t happen without all who made an effort to bring items to sell. I feel blessed to have you as my church family and together, we are able to give back to the community. Thanks,
Jani Burton
When Was the Last Time You Visited the Museum?
The Philomath Museum has been a museum since 1980 run by the Benton County Historical Society. This historic 1867 Philomath College Building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum has two galleries with rotating exhibitions of art and history, a research library open by appointment, and a small Museum Store. Jessica Hougen, Executive Director of the Benton County Historical Society and Philomath Benton County Museum presentation on the history of the Philomath historic college/museum building. This will be a fascinating presentation providing details about the museum and some historical tidbits from Benton County. We hope you can come and remember – lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lindy or Dan if you will be attending so we can plan the number of meals.
Veteran’s Park Dedication Ceremony
Paul J. Cochran Veterans Memorial Park is a 0.26-acre neighborhood park built in 2023-2024 consisting of a Veterans memorial and seating area with flag poles and peaceful landscaping. For multigenerational use, the park also has a play area with swings, a spinner, and a 2-5 play structure on an ADA “grassy” play surface. The park is located at 1545 College Street in Philomath.
In 2019, the City of Philomath received a land donation from the trust of Beverly Cochran Durham with the intention of developing the property into a park named in memory of her son, Paul Cochran, who was killed in the Vietnam War. The city was awarded a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) to build and install the memorial and flagpole area of the park. Additional features will be added to the park including a small pavilion.
On Saturday, November 9th at 11:00am there will be a dedication ceremony for the new park including the Northwest Scots Honor Guard and presentation of the Rotary Club Peace Pole.
Faith – by Bob Glathar
Although it is something I have,
I cannot give it to anyone else,
Nor can I convince anyone to get it.
I cannot prove to anyone that I have it,
Yet, no one can prove that I don’t.
I cannot describe what it is,
But I can express how it makes me feel.
No one can take it from me,
Nor can I take it from anyone.
It is beyond fact
Because facts cannot describe it.
It is beyond reason
Because reason cannot explain it.
It is beyond force
Because it cannot be forced on me,
Nor can I force it upon anyone else.
It is beyond the senses
Because although it is sweet, it has no taste
Or fragrance.
It is warm, but it has no heat.
It is radiant, but it cannot be seen.
It is jubilant, but it cannot be heard.
It is beyond belief, for I do not believe that I have it,
I know I have it.
Besides, it is unbelievable; Yet I believe.
It tears at the very heart of my existence
To be proclaimed,
Yet, I cannot fully reason and I cannot fully describe.
But, if, per chance, I can make you feel
The way it makes me feel
Then God has given you the gift of faith.
By Robert Glathar, November 16, 1986
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Music at Grace Lutheran on November 5
Meals on Wheels Volunteers
Meals on Wheels of Corvallis is looking for Volunteer drivers to deliver food to older adults and disabled persons in the Corvallis community. Volunteers work 1-2 days a week. Each volunteer shift is about 2.5 hours in length. Drivers deliver meals and connect with clients, helping to make sure they are safe in their home. To Volunteer Contact: [email protected] or call 541-812-6015.
Philomath Holiday Craft Fair
CEF National Day of Prayer
