Welcome, Guests! We are pleased you are worshiping with us today. We invite you to fill out a “Welcome Card” located in the pew racks and either place it in the offering plate or give it to an usher. If you would like more information about First, please contact us at (507) 934-3060, or visit our website at www.flcstp.org.

We are a Reconciling in Christ Congregation Held in Christ, our center, and living in grateful response to God’s love and grace, we welcome everyone, without exception. We make known our gratitude and appreciation of all, including people of every race, sex, age, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic situation, education level and political affiliation. Please join with us as we seek to celebrate the image of God in all people, nurture meaningful relationships, and share our collective gifts in response to the world’s deep hunger for hope, love, grace, justice, and peace.

Children are Welcome White boards for children are available from the ushers at the sanctuary entrance. A staffed nursery (for ages four and younger) is available down the hall across from the library. An usher can assist you.

Welcome to the Lord’s Table All are welcome at the Lord’s Table. Please follow the guidance of the ushers. Grape juice is available as an alternative to wine. Gluten-free wafers are available; please ask your server. During communion, ministers will bring bread and wine to persons who are unable to come to the front of the sanctuary. Please notify an usher who will direct communion servers to come and serve you. Parents, please let the pastor at the rail know if your child would like a blessing in place of communion.

Altar Flowers Weekly sponsorships for altar arrangements ($30) are encouraged. Please contact the office, 934-3060, for more information or sign up near the nave.

Audio Devices—FLC has audio devices available for those who need assistance hearing our worship services in the nave. Ushers can assist you with the devices.

Happenings at FLC:

Noisy Offering Today!

Noisy Offering will be collected during the Offering time

at today’s worship service. You are invited to take your

noisy offering to the front and drop in the pot while the

ushers pass the offering plates. Noisy Offering & Sunday

School offering from this year will go to Lutheran

Disaster Response which brings God's hope, healing and

renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by

disasters. All are encouraged to contribute to the Noisy

Offering.

Today’s Altar Flowers

Are sponsored by Pastor Ted and Marcia Kunze in

gratitude to God.

Conversations about Children & Family Programs

Today we invite you to join the Christian Education

Committee in conversation about birth through 6th

grade programming at FLC, where we are, where we can

be and be a part of the congregational self-study. We

hope you will join us in the Conference Room at 8:30;

9:30 or 10:30 a.m. at whatever time works best for you.

First Forum

The FLC Transition Team in the Gathering Space

Next Week: Chad Winterfeldt will give a preview on

Christmas at Christ Chapel

GAC Music Scholar

Andy DeLuca joins us again today, playing the opening

hymn and the postlude. Thank you for sharing your

musical gifts with our community!

Book Fair today and Sundays through December 3

Shop faith-filled children’s books from Sparkhouse, a

part of Augsburg Fortress Publishing House, at a special

discount and earn money for First Lutheran Church

Christian Education Committee programming. There are

Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost + November 19, 2017

The Weekly

many selections for birth-teens for $5, $10, $20. FLC will

earn 20% on each sale. You can also enter to win $100

for you and $100 for FLC just by stopping by the table in

the Gathering Space. All orders placed by December 3rd

will be here before Christmas.

Thanksgiving Eve

You are invited to join the community at Union

Presbyterian on Wednesday, November 22nd for Saint

Peter's annual ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service.

Worship begins at 7:00 p.m. Our Interim Pastor Ted

Kunze will be preaching, and a community choir will

offer music during the service. If you have interest in

singing in the choir, rehearsal begins at 6:00 p.m. at

Union. All are welcome to come and give thanks and

praise to the God who unites us.

Mark your Calendars!

The First Lutheran Church Annual Meeting will take

place on December 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Gathering

Space. See you there!

Heading South for the Winter?

We would like to keep in touch with you if you heading

to warmer climes this winter. Please notify Michelle in

the office of your winter address so we can send any

church-related correspondence to you while you are

away.

Prayer Concerns •Marie Benson Kallie Brovold (grand-daughter of Sandy and Jan Brovold) •Claire Cardwell (friend of Monique Sebring) •Forrest Chaffee •Abigail Christenson (daughter of Kathryn Christenson) •Dorothy Eliason •Marilyn Erling •Heather Giefer Anne-Marie Gunderson (Stuart Johnson’s daughter) •Betty Gustafson •Ruth Hall •Janet Hamilton Christopher Johnson (Stuart Johnson’s son) Stuart Johnson •Wayne Johnson •Joan Kudla (sister of Sue Peterson) Lee Landgrebe •Elgene Lund •Judi Malmborg •Tom Michels (son-in-law of Betty Gustafson) Dick Muesing •Garrett Paul •Stan Solberg •Gary Woinarowicz (uncle of Shanon Nowell) All those we continue to include in our personal prayer petitions. Family & Friends of those who have died •Phyllis Olinger (mother of Randy Olinger)

•JoAnna Gostomczik (mother-in-law of Bonna Gostomczik) •Peter Larson (brother of Rachel Larson) Our sponsored missionary family: Carol & Randall Stubbs (Tanzania) & Reverend Alex LaChapelle (South Africa) Our Bishops: Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton & SWMN Bishop Jon Anderson Others: All those who are unemployed or under- employed so that they will find a fulfilling vocation and receive just payment for their labor, all caregivers, and our current month’s service list.

Community Announcements

Grief and Loss Support Group This group is for any adult who is mourning the loss of a loved one. Sharing experiences with others can often help us manage the pain that is a natural part of grieving. Please join us in a safe and supportive environment to express feelings, share grief and better understand the grief process. Wednesday, November 22 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the St. Peter Community Center Room 215. Contact Carol Ries, Community Living Coach, VINE Faith in Action at (507) 386-5571 if you have questions or need additional information.

Riverblenders Holiday Concert

The Riverblenders barbershop chorus and the Sweet

Adelines Minnesota Valley Chorus will present their

annual Holiday Harmony concert Sunday, November 26

at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Peter, 1802 W.

Broadway Ave. Admission is $10. Students are free with

non-perishable food contribution for St. Peter Food

Shelf. For more information, talk to Doug Peterson,

Bruce Gray, John Hall or visit www.singmankato.com or

www.minnesotavalleychorus.org.

Attendance & Offering November 12, 2017

Attendance 8:15 a.m. = 74 10:30 a.m. = 113 Midweek = 37 Envelope = $12,832.00 Other = $920.00

Today’s Worship Assistants Assisting Minister David Winterfeldt Council on Duty Brian Nelson Videographer Andy Regner

8:15 a.m. Worship Acolytes Anna LoFaro Tobias Twait Communion Servers Michelle Twait Chelsea Alger Greeters Tim & Dawn Kienlen Lector Michelle Twait Ushers Tim & Dawn Kienlen Paul Aasen Musicians Rebecca Carpenter Andy DeLuca

10:30 a.m. Worship Acolytes Katie & Natalie Petersen Communion Servers Ruth Edberg Lynn Kidder Greeters Mark & Frani Anderson Lector Lynn Kidder Ushers Brett Petersen Tom Thorkelson Musicians Rebecca Carpenter Andy DeLuca Sanctuary Choir

Calendar: November 19-26, 2017 Sunday, November 19 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost 8:15 a.m. Worship 8:30 a.m. Conversations--Children & Family Programs 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Education 9:30 a.m. Conversations--Children & Family Programs 10:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Conversations--Children & Family Programs 11:45 a.m. Handbells 2:00 p.m. Youth Return from Jr. High Youth Gathering Monday, November 20 9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer 9:30 a.m. Adult Study with Will Freiert Tuesday, November 21 9:00 a.m. MN Valley Conference of Pastors (Bernadotte) 5:00 p.m. Transition Team 7:00 p.m. Council Wednesday, November 22 7:00 a.m. Men’s Conversation 8:30 a.m. Staff NO Supper, Confirmation or Youth Group 6:00 p.m. Choir (at Union Presbyterian) 7:00 p.m. Ecumenical Worship at Union Presbyterian Thursday, November 23 Thanksgiving Day OFFICE CLOSED—NO Activities Friday, November 24 OFFICE CLOSED Sunday, November 26 Christ the King 8:15 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship/Baptism