Bible Presentation Day September 23

Sunday, September 23 is Bible Presentation Day to Salem's 3-year-olds and 3rd graders at the 10:30 service.  Following the service is the Bible Workshop for all 3rd graders and their parents (siblings are welcome, too) in Fellowship Hall.  We will have pizza, then games and activities to learn about your new Bible!

Affirmation of Baptism September 16

On Sunday, September 16, Salem will celebrate Affirmation of Baptism.  During the 9am hour, please join us in Fellowship Hall as confirmation guides host a reception.  The Affirmation of Baptism will take place at 10:30am worship.  Students to be confirmed are: Eric Aurand, Scott Aurand, Kayley Aase, Brenden Berg, Alyssa Feuerbach, Carly Fischer, Alona Glogovsky, and Kortney Jones.

Salem Creative Arts Fall 2012 Schedule

Whooo...me?
On the Hunt for Praise...

Please say "Owl Give Praise to You!" and register for Creative Arts groups at Salem's Lower Level Display this August.  Bless the Lord and Salem congregation with your gift of praise!

All choirs begin Wednesday, September 12

Puppets and bells begin Thursday, September 13
New to puppets? Intro to Puppets 5:30pm, Sept. 13
New to bells? Intro to Handbells 7pm, Sept. 13

Cherubs (singers 4 years old through 1st grade)
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:15pm - choir room

Choristers (singers in 2nd-5th grades)
Wednesdays, 6-6:45pm - choir room

Disciple Song (singers in 6th-12th grades)
Wednesdays, 6-6:45pm - chapel lounge

Celebration Voices (adult or HS singers)
Wednesdays, 7:15-8:30pm - choir room

Puppet Praise (Grade 5 and up, youth and adult puppeteers)
Thursdays, 6:15-7:15pm - choir room

Sounds of Grace Bells (Grade 6 and up, youth and adult ringers)
Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm - balcony

Salem Praise Team (Adults and HS youth)
Saturdays, 8:30-9:30am once a month - sanctuary

HS Youth Group Rally Meeting September 9

Smoothies & Games Night
September 9, 7pm

Bring your favorite ingredient for smoothies (strawberries, bananas, chocolate, etc.).  Bring your favorite board or card game!  All high school youth invited - bring friends!

Sunday Nursery Available

Children are always welcome at worship.  However, if needed, there is a staffed nursery available on Sunday mornings in the upper west wing.

Infants, toddlers, and children under age 5 are invited to explore Salem's Shining Stars Nursery.  Our nursery attendant, Brittany Sheldon, would love to meet your child.  Nursery staff wear yellow Shining Star t-shirts for easy identification.

Rally Day September 9

It's time for Sunday School to begin at Salem!  Rally Day will begin September 9, 2012 from 9:15 to 10:15am.  You can register your child(ren) by going to their classroom(s).  Teachers will be there to greet you, answer any questions you have and help you fill out the registration/medical form.  They will also have other information to share with you about the year ahead.  We can't wait to see all your smiling faces and share God's love and words with your child(ren).  Also on September 9 at the 10:30 service our Sunday School teachers, helpers, substitutes, and co-superintendents will be commissioned for the year.  Come show your support and give a wave, wink, or cheer for our awesome Salem Sunday School staff!

Summer Choir

Salem Summer Choir is a fun and easy way to share your gift of song.  Singers meet for a half-hour to learn a simple piece to share in 10:30 worship that day.  All ages and voices are welcome!  Summer Choir will rehearse from 9:45-10:15am in the Choir Room these Sundays:

June 10
July 1
July 29
August 12
September 2

Come whenever you can!  Your voice will be a gift to God and our congregation.

Are You an Impact Adult?

Impact adults are ordinary people of faith who become extraordinary in the eyes of middle school youth by sharing their time and their faith stories with them.

The Confirmation Ministry program is looking for a few adults who love God, like middle school kids, and are willing to be involved in the Christian growth of 5-6 young people for one school year.  The confirmation program meets Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm from September to April.

Guides commit themselves to learning, playing, and promoting Christian service with and among the youth in their small group.  A guide will grow in his/her own faith and learn from and with the youth as they travel together on a faith journey.  Each guide is paired with another guide and together they act as facilitators of small group discussion (guides are not teachers!).  Guides are mentors who lead a small group by being models of the Christian faith.

Other qualifications for those in this caring position include (but are not limited to) the following: regular in worship attendance, a commitment to praying for the young people and confirmation leaders, a desire to grow in their faith, and a willingness to be welcomed into the confirmation family of Salem!

If God is calling you to respond in this area, please contact Judy Waterfield (815-751-4062, judyw1011@yahoo.com).

Teachers, Helpers, and Substitutes Needed

Salem Lutheran Sunday School is currently looking for teachers, helpers, and substitutes!

Requirements for these positions are easy!  Love for God and children and a need to share that love with the children.  That's all it takes!  Lessons are provided for you.  Great support team behind you all the way.

* 1-3 hours a week - including prep time and class time
* 2-3 meetings a year (usually with food!)
* 38-week commitment
* holidays and summers off
* weekly pay: all the smiles and love you can handle
* yearly bonus: hugs, handshakes, pats on the back, words of encouragement and appreciation, more smiles and more love

If this sounds like the position for you or you would like to learn more please call, text, or email co-superintendents April Olson (815-901-4801, BlanesDino@aol.com) or Vicki Reed (815-501-6021, dvareed24@yahoo.com).  Operators are standing by to take your calls!!

Confirmation Class Registration

Registration materials and the calendar for the 2012-13 confirmation year are available now on the Salem website and at the Welcome Center.  Returning parents will receive these documents via email also.

Please fill them out and return them to the registration box in the Welcome Center by August 30 so that we can coordinate leaders for the small groups.

If you have any questions, please contact Judy Waterfield (judyw1011@yahoo.com).

NIS Video to Be Shown August 11-12

Many of you may know the Northern Illinois Synod of the ELCA celebrated its 25th anniversary at this year's Synod Assembly in June.  As part of that celebration, Karin Graddy of Salem (who serves as the Synod Communication Director) created a video highlighting ministries across the 165 churches of our synod from snapshots sent in by congregations.  Ron Vanatta, Salem organist, played hymns for the background music.

A short version of the video will be shown in the sanctuary as a prelude to our worship for August 11-12 worship services, and the complete video will be shown between services at 9:15 a.m. in Fellowship Hall at the Hospitality Hour on Sunday.  Salem voting members sent to the Assembly will also be on hand to share highlights of the gathering.

Please come to worship and the hospitality hour to gain deeper insight into the work and life of our church locally and abroad.  Have fun watching for Salem snapshots featured as well!