Everyone had a great time at our first meeting of Life Together! In attendance were our 3 very youngest members, some of our oldest, and everyone in between!

We had great food brought in by everyone, had fun singing with Susan, coloring "body parts" (ask someone who was there!), and finally; meeting teachers, seeing classrooms, and hearing about what we will be learning in the coming weeks!

Missed last week? No problem! All are welcome anytime! Come for fellowship, learning, and good eats! Our gathering includes all ages!

We start serving breakfast at 8:45 AM in the fellowship hall downstairs. By 9:05 we're in classes for Sunday School, Confirmation, and Adult Forum.

We hope to see you as we enjoy Life Together!

Youth Group at Brandon Oaks!

Also on Sunday, our Youth Group had a great first meeting! We welcomed three new members: Layla, Madeleine, and Ryan!

We then headed to Brandon Oaks where we helped some residents celebrate Grandparents Day! We decorated and colored paper bags that are then taken to the Rescue Mission for them to use for lunches.

We also played a game of Headbands! Technically Pastor won, but we were cut short by time, so there may need to be a rematch!

Take Note

By Susan E. Short

Tuesday greetings! Just a reminder, that Josh Sherman is coordinating musicians for Olde Salem Days, this Saturday, September 14^th. We’ll gather on the porch (College Avenue) and all voices are welcome to join in the singing of familiar tunes from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Feel free to drop by to say hello, or for an hour, or for all three. If you have questions, please reach out to Josh. I look forward to seeing and singing along with all of you during worship this Sunday!

Looking ahead:

The hymns for Sunday include:

• O God, My Faithful God (LBW #504);
• “Take Up Your Cross,” the Savior Said (LBW #398);
• Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup (WOV #706); and,
• Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (WOV #775).

The LBW is the Lutheran Book of Worship (Green Hymnal) and the WOV is With One Voice (Blue Hymnal).

Looking in-depth:

Our recessional is What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine (WOV #780). The hymn is written by Elisha Hoffman (1839-1929) after graduating from Union Seminary (PA). He worked with the Evangelical Association's publishing arm in Cleveland and served in many chapels and churches in Cleveland and in Grafton. Anthony J. Showalter received letters from two friends who had lost their wives about the same time. He wrote back to express his sympathy and included a verse of Scripture: “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV). As he thought about that text, he wrote the music and refrain to this hymn. He asked Elisha Hoffman to write the stanzas. The hymn was first published in 1887 in The Glad Evangel for Revival, Camp, and Evangelistic Meetings, for which Showalter was an editor. (hymnary.org)

There are many recordings of this hymn. I hope you’ll take a moment to listen to a version of this hymn sung by Fountainview Academy. The academy is a Christian high school based in southern British Columbia (Canada). Students from all over the world are attracted to Fountainview because of its balanced approach to education. A recording can be found on YouTube at: Leaning On the Everlasting Arms | God So Loved the World | Fountainview Academy (youtube.com) I look forward to joining you for worship on Sunday as we celebrate the 17th Sunday after Pentecost. Soli Deo gloria – SES.

This Sunday, September 15, we join our friends in the Roanoke Area Lutheran Youth group! We'll meet at College Lutheran at 3:30 PM to carpool to Saint Philip Lutheran Church in Hollins. We'll enjoy some water games, food, and fellowship. Wear clothes that can get wet! Don't forget to bring a change of clothes and a towel! We'll be back at CLC by 6:30 PM.

Questions? Contact Kellie Rice at kellierice@collegelutheran.org or call (540) 389-4963.

Where we'll be meeting:

Saint Philip Lutheran Church

8115 Williamson Road

Roanoke, VA 24019

Grief Share Groups

Hello. My name is Cynthia Bowen and my Mom, Judy, died July 3, 2023 three months after she was diagnosed with metastatic gallbladder cancer. That’s how I introduced myself in January when I started attending GriefShare, a national faith based grief and loss support group here in Salem. I wanted to talk to you about it this morning because new groups are starting at two local congregations in September.

When, not if, you lose someone you love - a parent, a child, a spouse, a sibling, or a friend - you are changed forever. I have had several family members, including my Dad, participate in a Griefshare group so I thought I would give it a try as I worked to process my loss. I learned from other participants just how common death is and the many and various ways it can happen. Sometimes suddenly, and sometimes after a short or extended illness. The circumstances affect loved ones left behind very differently. Finally, and most importantly, I was reminded time and again that I am not alone on my grief journey. In seeking help for myself, I in turn helped my family, my colleagues, and my students.

 

It doesn’t matter if your loss was this past year or years ago. The groups meet once weekly and you are provided a workbook with helpful resources and journaling prompts. Salem Church of Christ and Bethel Baptist will host groups beginning September 3rd and September 9th. I am happy to answer any questions you may have or you can search online for more information or to sign-up for a group at Griefshare.org. Thank you. 

SAVE THE DATE COLLEGE LUTHERAN BLOOD DRIVE

Save the date for our College Lutheran Blood Drive on Saturday, September 28th from 9 to 1 pm. More information to come!

Don't Forget: Submit Your Picture for the CLC Photo Directory!

It's time for an updated photo directory of members and friends of CLC! Luckily, our existing membership record platform allows us to update and print directories as needed--we just need your photos to make it happen! CLC member Jon Osborn has graciously volunteered to coordinate this effort. Please email a JPG or TIF picture of your household members to 

jonosborns@gmail.com

Some things to remember:

• Try to have one photo with all members of your household.
• if available, and in addition to the Family Photo, please include individual photos of household members. If individual photos are not available, the Family Photo will work just fine.
• Avoid submitting a photo where someone is wearing sunglasses or otherwise would be difficult to see.
• If you do not have a digital photo, we can scan physical photos in the church office.

Thanks for helping us update our directory!

Wednesday Bible Study:

The Revised Common Lectionary

Our long-running Wednesday Bible Study led by Pastor Drebes meets at 11:15 AM in Stoutamire Chapel.

Starting this week, our Bible Study will focus on the upcoming lessons assigned for reading on Sunday mornings. To access the readings ahead of time, visit the Vanderbilt University Revised Common Lectionary Page.

Also on Wednesdays, we celebrate a brief service of Holy Communion at 12:15 PM. We hope to see you at one or both of these midweek gatherings!

Men's Spiritual Formation Group

Please join us for fellowship and spiritual studies, meeting on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM during Lent beginning on February 20. We will meet at the home of PK Hundley, near the church. For directions and more information, please contact the church office at (540) 389-4963, or Keith Hartman at hartmankeithe@gmail.com

Supporting Carolina Bowen, Young Adult in Global Mission

Carolina Bowen is now serving with the Young Adults in Global Mission ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We look forward to hearing from her as she spends this year in Cambodia!

If you would like to support Carolina's ministry, gifts can be given to College Lutheran Church with a memo line designating the gift to support Carolina Bowen. To give an online gift, visit www.elca.org/yagm/give and be sure to select "Carolina Bowen" in the dropdown menu.

CLC Card Ministry

Want to send a note to a fellow CLC member? This ministry is a great way to let others know that you are thinking about them and praying for them. Especially when someone is in the hospital, it can be difficult to send them a card. This is one way we can keep connected with one another.

How it works:

• Bring in a card of your own or use one provided on the table next to the mailbox.
• Place in the CLC Card Ministry Mailbox in All Saints Hall
• Our Parish Administrator will address, provide postage, and send cards

It's that easy!

And we thank Ashley Roop for painting the mailbox!

On Tuesday evenings from 4 to 6 PM, The CLC parking lot will be a drop-off point for Riverstone Organic Farm. Customers of Riverstone will be able to pick up boxes of produce that they have ordered through the farm's website. For more information about Riverstone Farm in Floyd, VA, click here.

Interested in fresh produce? Signing up ahead of time is necessary. Click here to sign up!

Announcements

Altar Flower Sponsors Needed for Worship Services

The 2024 Flower Chart is in the hallway for signup. Please contact Barbara Brandtner at 540-797-1886, if you would like to provide flowers for the altar.

Ushers Needed for Sunday Worship Services

Ushers are needed for Sunday Worship Services. Please see Joel Barfield or email joel.barfield@gmail.com.

Nursery Volunteers Needed

College Lutheran Church recognizes the importance of providing our parents with the opportunity for quiet worship, as well as, introducing our little ones to the love and care of a Christian community. In order to offer this service, we are seeking volunteers to watch over our littlest members during our 10 am service Sunday mornings. To volunteer, please contact Kellie Rice at kellierice5@aol.com or 540-797-2973. 

Catch up on past worship services

Did you miss a recent worship service? Want to hear that choir anthem one more time? Our video archives are kept on two different websites:

• Click here to visit our YouTube page.
• Click here to visit our Facebook page.

Resources for Daily Devotionals

Do you need some guidance in daily prayer? Consider downloading the D365 App! It's free, and very helpful. Click here to download it to your phone or tablet: https://d365.org/

Do you want a copy of the Living Lutheran magazine or the devotional Christ in Our Home? Let Parish Administrator Sandi Roop know! Just contact her at office1@collegelutheran.org or (540) 389-4963.

Are you interested in keeping up with the lectionary (assigned scripture readings for worship)? This calendar of scripture readings is available at a special website run by Vanderbilt Divinity Library. The site includes art for each day of the church year, and is accessible here: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/