Social Justice Team Presents "Poverty Perceptions"

Salem's Social Justice Team Presents "Poverty Perceptions" during Hospitality Hour at 9:15 a.m. on each Sunday in March.

Come, listen, and participate as we explore our knowledge and perceptions of poverty in DeKalb County as Christians and as a church family. There will be handouts and group discussions. We will talk about ideas and ways as a faith community we can help to prevent, reduce, and alleviate poverty. We will use as a reference Bridges Out of Poverty by Dr. Ruby K. Payne, Philip E. DeVol, and Terie Dreussi Smith.

Congregational Resourcing Event Saturday, March 19

Northern Illinois Synod Congregational Resourcing Event

Saturday, March 19
8:30am - 3:15pm

Kishwaukee College - Malta

"Rerooting in the Community: From the Kitchen Table to the Neighborhood"

Keynote speaker Rev. Stephen Bouman, Executive Director of Congregational and Synodical Mission, ELCA, will present how a congregation can have ministry for its community as a way to renew and revitalize its life and its evangelism.

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Registration and coffee
9:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. Welcome/worship
10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Keynote speaker
11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Workshop session A
12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. Lunch
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Workshop session B
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Workshop session C

There are over 60 different sessions to choose from covering a wide variety of congregational interests. For more information, visit the NIS website at www.nisynod.org/cre or contact Nancy Corey at 309-794-4004. A brochure of workshops available can be found at the Welcome Center table.

The registration deadline was March 1.

Childcare is available with pre-registration (free-will offering accepted for this service). Registration before March 1 was $17 per person with lunch provided. Registration after March 1 is $22 per person and lunch may be provided if enough are available.

Please note that Salem will cover the cost of this event for congregational members. Please register at the Welcome Center table or with Sue in Salem's office (815-895-9171) if you would like to attend.

Girl Scout Sunday March 13

Girl Scout Sunday will be celebrated at Salem on March 13, including a blessing of girl scout ministry at each service. Scouts are invited to come to worship in their uniforms and participate in worship as they are interested. Contact the church office (815-895-9171) for more information.

Girl Scouts from across the country will celebrate 99 years of community service on March 12!

Photos from Shrove Tuesday Dinner & Cake Auction

Shrove Tuesday Cake Auction & Dinner March 8

Annual Shrove Tuesday Cake Auction and Dinner
Salem's Fellowship Hall

sponsored by Salem's confirmation students

Tuesday, March 8
Dinner 6 p.m.
Cake voting period ends 6:45pm

Cake auction begins 7 p.m.

We will be serving pulled pork sandwiches, chips, veggies, and a drink. Suggested donation for the meal is $5.00 per person. Bring a cake to auction! Bid to take home your favorite cake! Vote for your favorite cake!

Funds raised will be split between 2012 National Youth Gathering, Samaritan's Village Orphanage, and Salem's Food Pantry.

Cake theme categories: The Apostles' Creed, Living Christ's Love, Salem's Favorites, Sports/Games, Food for Thought, TV & Technology, God's Creatures, Miscellaneous, and Age 10 & Under (all entries in this category win a prize!).

That's So Daniel Presented March 5-6

We're ready! Please join us for Salem's spring children's musical...

That’s So DANIEL!

Saturday, March 5, 5:00 Worship

Sunday, March 6, 10:30 Worship

Presented by Salem Creative Arts Ministry

Salem kids bring the Bible to life in a fresh and vibrant way with That’s So Daniel!, a musical about making good choices!

Meet Daniel, a young boy who sometimes stretches the truth, as he encounters the Biblical Daniel and learns lessons about honesty, obedience, choices, and worshipping the one true living God.

Join the cast as they portray a comical but genuine look at the biblical tale of Daniel, his encounters with King Nebuchadnezzar, a lion's den, and a fiery furnace.

3rd Graders to Celebrate First Communion February 27

On Sunday, February 27, at the 10:30 service, Salem's third graders will be celebrating their First Communion. When they were baptized, God made them part of His household, the family we call the Church. They are learning as we share the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we remember Jesus' death and His rising that first Easter Day, and how eating the bread and drinking the wine makes us one with Him and brings us closer to each other. They express their desire to join around the Lord's Table. Join us as we celebrate a very special day for seventeen of our young people.

Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed in February

February is Salem's month to furnish volunteers to deliver "Meals on Wheels" to Sycamore shut-ins for the Voluntary Action Center.  Salem furnishes two volunteers a day for each of three Sycamore routes (West, Central, and East) each weekday in February.  It doesn't take long to complete a route (usually 11am - 12:30pm) and your help is greatly appreciated!  Please call Salem's office to volunteer (815-895-9171).

We will need one person to help another volunteer on:  West Route - February 22, 24, 25, 28.

Scrappin' Bonanza February 18-19

Do you have photos just waiting to be organized into albums?  Maybe you love to create handmade cards and just can't find the time?  No better time than this to get it together!!

Come to Salem's Scrappin' Bonanza to get caught up on those projects you have put on the back burner.  We'll be in the Fellowship Hall from 8am to 10pm both Friday and Saturday, February 18 & 19.

You can come for a couple hours, or stay all day, both days.  Go and return to projects as your schedule allows.  These days are for beginning crafters as well as undeniable crop-a-holics in need of a little scrappin' therapy.

We will supply: fun crafting "toys" to share like Cricut die cutters, Cuttlebug embossers, and some stamping supplies.

What to bring: your photos, papers, embellishments, adhesives; items you need to work on your projects; snacks to share (optional); any scrapping-type tools you want to use or share; drinking cups/bottles (ones with lids are strongly recommended).

Meals are on your own.  Bring something, or money to pick something up (if desired).  The kitchen will be available.  We will have lemonade, coffee, and light snacks.

There is sign-up in the Welcome Center, but we'd still love to have you if you don't get signed up ahead of time.  Questions?  Contact Brenda Jones (815-895-6161) or Lauri Paulsen (815-895-8416).

Special Offering for LCM February 12-13

On the weekend of February 12-13, we will receive a special offering for Lutheran Campus Ministry at Northern Illinois University.  We offer our gifts in memory of those who were killed in the tragic shooting at NIU three years ago.  Even more than that, we share our gifts to support our very important ministry there which is a gift to students in impossibly difficult times like that one and in times of celebration and growing and stretching, too.  Please look for the special envelope included in your worship bulletin that weekend.

Blood Drive Saturday, February 12

Salem Lutheran Church Blood Drive
Saturday, February 12  8 a.m. - noon

Please call the church office (815-895-9171) to schedule your donation.  Walk-ins are welcome!  Photo ID required.  Donate blood and receive a $5 Dunkin' Donuts card!  This drive is being held in honor of those students who lost their lives on the NIU campus three years ago.