HANDS OF GRACE is in need of toothbrushes, egg cartons, plastic bags, cereal, and soup.  Thank you.

>>>Autumn Pot Bless…. With the arrival of fall, it’s a perfect time to join in the warmth of fellowship.  All are welcome on October 15th from 5:00 to 7:30 in the lower fellowship room for food and friendship.  To help us prepare, please RSVP by October 10th to Don or Emily Poudin 860-485-9299 or epoud@sbcglobal.net with the number attending and a favorite dish you would like to bring.

CHURCH VISION/PLANNING MEETING Saturday, October 22^nd, 9:00am – 11:30am (coffee and snacks provided).  Every member of the church family is invited!  This is a “brain storming” session!   We are looking for feedback and ideas for how we all can better serve the Lord in the coming months and years as we continue to “share at every opportunity the message of God’s unconditional saving love for all people found only in Jesus Christ.”    Thank you, Dave Yoreo

It’s a Savings Account and a Draft Account … The StewardAccount is available only from the LCEF and can be opened with as little as $100.  The StewardAccount is a ministry opportunity that pays competitive rates, provides access to funds as easily as writing a check, and offers an optional VISA Check Card and Easy Funds Transfers.  There is no monthly fee and monthly statements provide a record of account activity. To learn more, call 1-800-THE LCEF (843-5233).

Mormons – Who are they? What do they believe?…All are welcome for this study on Sunday mornings during the Christian Education Hour. This Bible study will look at the group’s origins (Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, Brigham Young, and others); the discrepancy between Mormon beliefs and orthodox Christian teaching and faith; the meaning of some of its rituals (baptism of the dead, endowments for the living and dead, temple garments, celestial marriage); and the prominence of the temple in the life of a Mormon. It will feature comments from individuals who have been deeply immersed in the Mormon belief system.

Lutheran Women Missionary League (LWML)…has a local Fall Rally taking place this afternoon in Holyoke, MA, and a District Retreat taking place on November 4th-5th in Enfield, CT. The topic for the Rally is “The First Rosa: Rosa Young – Lutheran Confessor, Educator, Church Planter” All women, men, students, and friends are invited. The theme for the Retreat is “Beautiful Feet”. Are your feet running in all directions, aching to be put up, or longing to walk alongside others? No matter where you are in your faith walk, the Lord has equipped you with uniquely beautiful feet! Please see the bulletin boards at church for more information on these events, or contact Deaconess Tiffany Manor.

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox today!

HANDS OF GRACE is in need of crackers, any kind, and juice, any flavor, laundry detergent, toothbrushes, and plastic bags.  Thank you.

***Autumn Pot Bless…. With the arrival of fall, it’s a perfect time to join in the warmth of fellowship.  All are welcome on October 15th from 5:00 to 7:30 in the lower fellowship room for food and friendship.  To help us prepare, please RSVP by October 10th to Don or Emily Poudin 860-485-9299 or epoud@sbcglobal.net with the number attending and a favorite dish you would like to bring.

***MARK YOUR CALENDAR!  Ladies Aid will be making wreaths for the annual Christmas Fair on Sunday, November 27^th, immediately following the 10:45am Service.  Details to follow.

NEW! Choir Informational Session… TODAY immediately following the 8:00 am worship for about 15 minutes. This will be an opportunity for current choir singers and those interested in singing in the future, to preview the 8:00am choir hymn selections for the Sundays in October and the Festival Choir selections for Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Another preview opportunity will be in late October, but this first optional informational session will allow singers to receive the music in advance and to listen to the festival choir music. Regular rehearsals for Thanksgiving and Christmas music will begin the first week of November. New choir singers, teen to adult, are always welcome! Please see Ruth Yeadon for more information.

Lutheran Early Response Team (L.E.R.T.) Training…will be held at Our Savior Lutheran in Topsfield, MA on October 1^st. Training will be provided by Deaconess Tiffany Manor and Brenda Bacon.  In order to better manage volunteers and resources, FEMA has established guidelines on credentialing volunteers for large-scale disasters.  These guidelines indicate that volunteers responding to a disaster should be trained and certified.  By providing this training, our District can establish LERT Teams throughout the District, and should a disaster happen, these teams would be put on call and may be asked to deploy in 72 hours or less to respond to the disaster. The registration deadline is fast approaching, so please see the information on the table in the narthex for more details and to register to be a part of this event. Deadline is today, so please see Pastor Manor if you are interested.

High School Youth…are invited to gather here at St. Paul’s for the monthly hangout time TODAY, from 3 pm – 6 pm. Pizza and drinks will be provided for supper. If you want to bring a favorite snack to share, feel free to do so. Bring a friend too!  Any questions? Text Marissa Manor at 309-310-5915.

Small Investments Reap a Big Reward … With only $100 you can make a real difference…  You can open a StewardAccount with Church Extension Fund.  Your savings will be drawing interest (with higher interest rates for larger amounts) as others use those funds to spread the Gospel through new, expanded or improved facilities.  To learn more, or call 1-800-THE LCEF (843-5233).