Blog Header About Contact Worship Youth Calendar About Contact

Salem News

Vacation Bible School at Salem July 12-16

All kids ages 5 to 12 years are welcome! 

JOIN EVERYONE AT BAOBAB BLAST!

God's Great Get-Together won't be the same without YOU!

The great baobab tree in the expansive African savannah is the setting for this year's VBS. This exciting get-together has something for everyone in the community to LOVE. Kids will be creating, running, jumping, and FOLLOW-ing with action-packed games; singing amazing new songs; and SHARE-ing the good news with everyone they meet.

TRUST us, this is the VBS you don't want to miss! It's all about being part of a community. CARE-ing for others, learning about the Bible, and having fun, of course!

Register today! Registration forms are available in Salem's Welcome Center or Online at Salem's Web Site: salemlutheransycamore.org

For more information or to register for VBS, visit the church office between the hours of 9am—4pm or call: Kim Polke at 815-895-8064 or April Olson at 815-895-5149.

Salem Food Pantry Volunteer Needed

We are in need of a Monday morning volunteer to assist people when they come to our food pantry and to keep the shelves stocked and orderly.
Please call Sue McMillan in the office (815-895-9171) if you would be interested in assisting with this much needed ministry.

Have Your Children Moved Out on Their Own?

We Need Your Help to Stay Current with Our Members.

Salem office staff have no way of knowing when a child moves out of their home and has their own address. We are increasingly aware of this when we prepare the weekly prayer calendar and see names of adult children who may even be married and have children still listed under their parent's names. We know we are not reaching young adults with church newsletters or information. We are not able to keep our membership records up to date. Children are baptized and confirmed at Salem, go off to college or begin working, and then we lose touch.

If you have a son or daughter who is no longer living at your address but is not listed separately in our church directory, we would sincerely appreciate an update of their contact information. They may be living far away or right in town. If they belong to another congregation, that is fine, but we need to know for our records. If they do not, then they are still Salem members and should receive church mailings.

Increasingly people are using email and social networking sites such as facebook to communicate. We realize that and would like to add email addresses in particular to our database for all members who use it. Anyone who is willing to share their email address with the church office can do so by sending an email to Salem at salem@salemlutheransycamore.org. There is also a facebook page for Salem found at Salem Lutheran, Sycamore, IL. At this time, however, Salem's constitution still requires certain church notices to be delivered by US Mail. Our monthly newsletter is now available online at Salem's website, salemlutheransycamore.org, which will be updated this summer. At any time members can choose to removed from the newsletter mailing list if they prefer to read it online.

Any time contact or personal information changes, please remember to inform the church office so we can be up-to-date.

Thank you for your help! Salem Staff

The Stewardship of Testimony

It's so easy to think of Christian Stewardship as pertaining only to the three "T's" of Time, Talent, and Treasure. But our commonly used definition of Christian stewardship indicates that stewardship is about a whole lot more than time, talent, and treasure. Our definition states that:

"Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God's family, the church, in managing all of life and life's resources for God's purposes."

TESTIMONY is the "T" for this article. It might seem a bit strange to talk about the stewardship of testimony.
Jesus instructed His disciples of all ages to make disciples, teaching and baptizing and encouraging people to follow God's teachings (Matthew 28:18-20). He also told His first disciples that they were to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

As modern day disciples we also desire to be faithful witnesses, saying and doing all that we can to give witness to our Lord Jesus Christ who wants everyone to be saved and come know the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). This encourages us to share the good news of Jesus with uncommitted or unconnected people in such a way that the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to work faith in their hearts.

St. Peter in his first letter (3:15) instructs us with these words:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Be ready at all times to give an answer to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you. But do this with gentleness and respect."

What a privilege to be able to do the work that the angels of God long to do---that is, give our testimony of the joy, peace, and hope that are ours because of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. And what added joy we will have to take into eternity when the words of Daniel 12:3 come true:

"The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever and ever."

Christian stewardship is definitely about our use of time, talent, and treasure, but it is also about our testimony as Christians.

When it comes to our Testimony of the Good News of Jesus, as with our other acts of stewardship, we desire to be maturing stewards who do the right things for the right reasons and strive for excellence in all we do!

Market Day Continues at Salem This Summer!

Proceeds from the sales will go for Salem's FoodPantry and LoveINC.

Order Forms for July are now in the Narthex.

July Order Forms are due back to Salem on Monday, July 12th.

You may also order online until 11 am on Wednesday, July 14th at:
www.marketday.com
Salem's Account is: 22701

The Pick-Up Date is Saturday July 17th
Pick-Up Time: 9—10 am

Summer Choir

Twice a month this summer we'll gather singers to prepare a gift of music for 10:30 a.m. worship.

Rehearsals will be from 9:45-10:15 a.m. in the Choir Room prior to worship.
Summer Choir will meet the 2nd and 4th Sundays of July, and August: July 11th and 25th - August 8th and 22nd
Your voice will be a gift to God and our congregation.

Carla and Ron Vanatta, Ministers of Music
Carla@salemlutheransycamore.org Ron@salemlutheransycamore.org

APOLOGY: My apologies to Tara Young for missing her name on the Salem Puppet Praise Team list in the June T&C—your ministry is most appreciated.

SINGING MEMORIAL: In Memory of Cathryn Hindenburg by her daughter, Carol Boise.

—Carla Vanatta, Salem Creative Arts

Salem G.E.M.S.

(Growing Every Member Spiritually) - for ages 60 years or better -

Thursday, September 16, 2010
Pheasant Run Dinner Theater
"Red Herring" — a murder mystery, comedy

G.E.M.S. MEMBERS & GUESTS:

Arrangements have been made:

Travel by Van Galder Bus . . . load at 10:45 a.m., leave Salem at 11
Arrive at Pheasant Run, St. Charles for 12:30 lunch
Play at 2 p.m. (approx. 2 hrs.)
Return to Salem approx. 5:30 p.m.

Cost: $38.38 for lunch, show and gratuity
12.50 for bus (Total: $50.88 per person)

Make your reservations NOW . . .
Write checks to: Salem church, G.E.M.S.
(on your check memo: dinner theater & bus)
Give or send checks to Mary Safford
(10036 State Route 64, Sycamore, IL, 60178)

We have reserved for 40 people, but we can take a maximum of 56 if all checks are in by the first of August. (Bus expense will stay the same, no matter how many reservations, and bus seating can hold 56 max.)

Questions: Mary Safford (815-895-5431)

Salem's Food Pantry Is Expanding!

We have strong new shelves and we have lots more room! Love INC. has asked if Salem would provide a "gap ministry" for Paper Products on a six-month trial basis. A "gap ministry" is set up to meet a known need in our community. We will see how well we can handle the additional demands this ministry will require. To provide for these needs, in addition to our food items, we will also need:
toilet paper
paper plates
dish soap
deodorant
paper towels
plastic silverware
laundry detergent
razors
kleenex
napkins
toothpaste
shampoo
feminine products
garbage bags
toothbrushes

Next time you are shopping, toss a few of these items in your cart for our "gap ministry." Thank you for all your wonderful support!

Vacation Bible School Snack Needs

The following items are needed for Vacation Bible School Snack Time. Please call Carol Saidat (815-899-8383) if you have questions AND to let her know what you are able to donate.

-23 gallons of Hawaiian Punch (Regular Red)
-1000 Handiwipes (Anti-Bacterial)
-8 Cookie Cutters (Heart Shaped) —Please put your name on them—

Following items not needed until July 6th or 7th:
-7 boxes of Ritz Crackers (regular size cracker)
-21 loaves of White Bread (20 oz. loaves)
-130 slices of Bologna (Oscar Meyer)
-12 Cucumbers
-3 boxes of Ritz Crackers (small ones)
-10 packages of Tortillas (8-12 in a package)
-6 jars of Salsa Sauce (regular strength)

Thank you ahead for all your help and prayers!

Vacation Bible School Craft Needs

Thanks for taking time to see if you have something around your home that we might be able to use! If you do have a donation, please drop it off in the church office.

-fleece material (African, animal, camouflage prints or solid colors)
-white tube socks (never worn) sized for children of various ages
-stamps, stencils, or stickers: (African, Christian, trees, zebra, monkey, elephant, meerkat, giraffe)
-flat (not puffy) fabric paint
-art /craft wire, any colors
-wood / plastic beads
-yarn
-white paper bags
-band aids, cotton balls
-individually wrapped candy
- hearts and crosses (1'-3' size)
-water based markers
-CARDBOARD egg cartons
-glass / plastic gems or pebbles
-tempera paint
-paper towel tubes
-brads
-self adhering GOOGLE eyes
-fabric or permanent markers

"Sparks" Bible Fundraiser for Sunday School 2010/2011

We are asking for donations in $15.00 increments to purchase new Bibles for our classrooms. The new Bibles will match the new Sunday School Curriculum "Sparks." You will find a Spark Bible fundraising board in the Narthex. Displayed will be our great children by grade level with the needs for each level.

Thank you for your great support in our church's youth.

Mission Trip to Ocean Springs, Mississippi

If you are interested in lending a helping hand, another mission trip to Ocean Springs for hurricane Katrina Relief is being planned. It is an opportunity to help those who are still in need even 5 years after Hurricane Katrina. Whether you are highly skilled in construction and remodeling or just know how to use a broom, everyone is needed and all are welcome to help. The week of October 18th through October 22nd is the week that is being scheduled for the trip.

Anyone interested in more information may call Scott Graves at 815-751-9896 or email him at sdgraves9896@yahoo.com or you may visit the Camp Victor website at www.campvictor.org

Blog Archive