Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The first of the –ember months is always a reminder that the year is ebbing slowly away. Only for schools and colleges is it a new beginning; for most of us it marks the end of summer and the approach of fall. The dichotomy shows us how the same thing can be read differently depending on who we are and what is going on in our lives. It has always been like that, but often we do not realize just how important who we are and where we are affects how we understand things. What do our young children in church make of the General Confession? What do they make of "not loving our neighbors as ourselves"? How do they understand Sin? It makes you wonder what the little children that Jesus picked up in his arms made of him. We know the apostles were not keen on having them so close to him and had to be reminded that the kingdom of heaven belonged to such as these; but what did the children think about him?

There were undoubtedly children at the crucifixion, after all it was a big event. In those days people did not worry about mental trauma. Crucifixions, like public hangings centuries later, were big public spectacles. Curiosity would attract children even if their parents did not take them. It is a sad thought that perhaps some of those whom Jesus picked up may have seen him crucified.

It is all a reminder that children see things differently from grown ups. If you have never read the opening of The Little Prince I recommend it as a caution about assuming we understand how children think, or they understand how we think. Yet Jesus told us that we must become as little children. What did he mean? In the baptismal service it talks about keeping joy and wonder in all God’s works. Grown ups can easily lose that joy and wonder; little children have it in abundance. That is why we need always to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit, to be as accepting as little children that there are so many things we do not know or understand but we can be safe in knowing that God loves us and will be with us always.

"For the thoughts of youth are long, long, thoughts" and we always need to take them seriously. Our young people of whatever age are exploring, and whether they realize it or not they are exploring God’s universe and their place in it. That is where the grown ups come in. Our job is to be the best guide we can be, and we do that through asking God’s grace for us in that holy work. It is not just our own children, but all the children and young people we meet. In helping them we can ourselves recover some of the magic and awe and wonder of what childhood is, and become what Jesus meant by being like little children and inherit the kingdom of Heaven.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Michael +

Submitted by
Pat Kuenstler & Pat Mueller

Submitted by

Pat Kuenstler

The Open Door Free Clinic for the uninsured and underinsured between the ages of 19 and 64 will be open every Wednesday in the months of August, September and October 2009. The clinic is located inside Unity Lutheran Church, 1025 E. Oklahoma Avenue.

Sign-in is a 5 PM and the medical staff will see patient’s from 6 to 8:30 PM or until the last patient has been seen.

For dates the clinic is open, you can also contact:

Telephone 414/481-1778 or Website – www.opendoorfreeclinic.org

Also please mark your calendar for October 10, when the Open Door Free Clinic will be having its annual spaghetti dinner. More information will follow.

GRAHAM STREUSEL BRUNCH CAKE
Ruth Resler

2 c. graham cracker crumbs            1 c. water
¾ c. chopped nuts                        1 pkg. yellow cake mix
¾ c. packed brown sugar                ¼ c. vegetable oil
1¼ tsp. cinnamon                            3 eggs
¾ c. butter, melted                        vanilla icing

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease and flour 9 x 13-inch pan. Mix crumbs, nuts, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter; reserve. Blend cake mix, water, oil and eggs on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium speed, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Pour half of the batter into pan, sprinkle ½ of reserved crumb mixture. Spread remaining cake batter and top with remaining crumb mixture. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Drizzle with vanilla icing.

The last of the pre-ordered stones have been "planted" in the Memorial garden on the south side of church. Thanks to Ed Mueller and Jim Stringfellow, for all their help. If you would like to order a stone(s), stop in the office and get a form from Bobbie. If you so desire, you can just have your name engraved on the stone as several members of the parish have done. Stones cost $50 each. If I receive some orders, stones will be ordered and "planted" next spring.

Submitted by
Art Kuenstler

These are the upcoming schedules for Bible Study and Confirmation Class. Please mark you calendars. If you have any questions, please see Father Michael.

BIBLE STUDY CONFIRMATION CLASS
(1^st Tuesday in month) (1^st Sunday in month)
(except for the 1^st one) (except for the 1^st one & April 11, 2010)

Tuesday                                             Sunday

September 29, 2009                             September 13. 2009
October 6                                            October 4
November 3                                         November 1
December 1                                         December 6
January 5, 2010                                     January 3, 2010
February 2                                             February 7
March 2                                                 March 7
April 6                                                   April 11
May 4                                                     May 2
June 1                                                   June 6

M+

13^th  Welcome to Sunday school
        Faith In Action                         Sunday school
        Confirmation Class

20^th   Childlike Humility                     Sunday school

27^th   The Gift’s of God’s People         Sunday school
         Quarterly Forum (Adult/Topic(s) to be selected by attendees)

29^th    Bible Study

October

4th    God's Plan for Companionship        Sunday school
        Confirmation Class
        Stewardship

6th    Bible Study

November

3^rd Bible Study

8^th The Joy of Generosity                           Sunday school

15^th The Coming of Christ                           Sunday school

29^th First Sunday of Advent                          Sunday school
       Quarterly Forum (Adult/Topic(s) to be selected by attendees)

December

1^st Bible Study

13^th Third Sunday of Advent                          Sunday school

20^th Fourth Sunday of Advent                         Sunday school

27^th St. John, Apostle and Evangelist               Sunday school

Sunday, March 23

Isaiah 45:21 "This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise."

Hallelujah! I am a child of God! I will always be a special person because God created me as I am.

Now that I have this special knowledge what will I do with it? Shall I put it in the closet to gather dust or shall I bring it out into the sunshine to bring forth more light.

How best can I praise my God than to do His will and live my life to the fullest following His commandments to the best of my ability.

God has given me special talents to use. God has also given me free will to choose whether or not I use them.

I choose to fill my life with song—to sing His praises in all the means at my disposal—be they caring for my immediate family or working at tasks He has given me to do in my church and community. All this can be done with joy if you let God in and remember to always praise Him even when there seems little to give thanks for.

It is sometimes very hard to sing praises when there has been hurt or injustice. But, I have found if I praise God, especially then, as in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose". Those things, which caused me unhappiness usually, work out so that some good does come of it.

For instance, it’s difficult to praise the Lord when your teenager, who claims to have no belief in God anymore, is seriously ill and you’re worried sick yourself. But, you can praise the Lord, when he suddenly turns to you and says, "I’m feeling better since you prayed for me. Thanks mom". Praise the Lord.

Dolly Seidel

How good it is to sing praises to our God!
How pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

Psalm 147:1

The choir will have its first gathering on September 13, 2009, after the coffee hour. Consider joining our ranks as we sing praises to our God. It is said that when you sing to the Lord you are praying twice. See you up front.

Marilyn L. Schräder

BUBBLES (for the kids in all of us)
Michael Timmsen

1 c. liquid dishwashing detergent (Joy or Dawn)
2 c. warm water
3 tbls. glycerine (at drugstore)
½ tsp. sugar

Mix together and store in airtight container

Unity Soup Kitchen is every Wednesday evening. On September 30^th St. Luke’s will be preparing and serving the meal. It is a fun time and all are invited to participate. Please see Andrew Eagan to volunteer or with any questions.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

Take a look at these gems from a group of Sunday School kids!

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy ladies.

The Bible is full of many caricatures, Michael Angelo painted them on the Sixteen Chapels.

Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.

One of Jacob’s sons, Joseph, gave refuse to the Israelites.

Joshua led the Hebrews in the battle of Geritol.

Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

Christians should have only one wife. This is called monotony.

Shadrach, Meshack, and To Bed We Go.

The epistles were the wives of the apostles.

Submitted by Dick Klaesing

  This insignia was designed by Richard Doornek for the Milwaukee Diocese ECW and was included in the artwork for the "Pre-Triennial 2009" of the Communique’.

Submitted by Yvette Presnell

As a spin-off to Treasures from the Trunk, we are attempting to create our own Lenten Day by Day for Lent 2010. Below are the Scriptural Passages (20) with either the entire passage or the theme of the passage to help you in selecting one, two, or more. There will be a sign up sheet in the Guild Hall or you can just leave a note in my mailbox if you want to be anonymous. All are invited to participate including teens, young adults, children, and adults. We all have feelings or thoughts about scriptural passages. We are seeing some written some years ago. Now it is our time.
Peace,
Marge

February 17 Ash Wednesday (Matt 6: 1-6, 16-21)
    Giving to the Needy/Fasting/Laying Up Treasures

February 18 Thursday after Ash Wednesday (Luke 9: 25)
    "For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or
    forfeits himself."

February 20 Saturday after Ash Wednesday (Luke 5: 32)
    "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

February 27 Saturday of 1^st Week of Lent (Matt 5: 44-46)
    Love Your Enemies

March 7 Sunday 3^rd Week of Lent (Luke 13: 1-9)
Repent or Perish/The Barren Fig Tree

March 27 Saturday of 5^th Week of Lent (John 11:50)
    "Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for
    the people, not that the whole national shall perish."

Lectionary Year C
Office Year 2

The feast of St. Michael and All Angels falls on September 29 (Tuesday). Our main side chapel is dedicated to St. Michael and All Angels and that is where we normally celebrate Evening Prayer (4 PM, Tuesdays) and the midweek Holy Eucharist (10 AM, Wednesdays). We will commemorate the holy angels at both mid-week services this year (September 29^th & 30^th).

Come and join us.

"Many have entertained Angels unaware."

Fr. Michael +