News and Announcements

Health Matters  by Linda Franke

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

(and Diabetes is Preventable)

What is diabetes?

Nearly 29.1 million Americans have diabetes, a serious disease in which blood sugar levels are above normal. Most people with diabetes have type 2, which used to be called adult-onset diabetes. At one time, type 2 diabetes was more common in people over age 45. But now more young people, even children, have the disease because many are overweight or obese.

Diabetes can lead to problems such as heart disease, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, and nerve damage. One out of four people do not know they have diabetes. Many people do not find out they have diabetes until they are faced with problems such as blurry vision or heart trouble. That is why you need to know if you are at risk for diabetes.

What is prediabetes?

An estimated 86 million Americans over age 20 have prediabetes. Before people develop type 2 diabetes, they usually have prediabetes which means their blood sugars are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be called diabetes. People with prediabetes are more likely to develop diabetes within 10 years and they are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their weight; if they are overweight, that’s 10 to 14 pounds for a 200-pound person. Two keys to success:

· Get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days a week

· Eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and reduce the number of calories you eat per day.

It really is not too difficult to prevent diabetes. To find out more about what things put you at risk, talk to me, your Parish Nurse. I have a test you can take that will tell you if you are at risk for developing diabetes.

Next month: Survive the Holidays without gaining ‘too’ much or ‘Make better choices’ when it comes to food. Yeah, I know…….

There have been lots of building updates from The Springs – starting August 4^th, once money started flowing from WELS CEF (Church Extension Fund).  In just three months we have gone from bare dirt to a fully enclosed structure!  As we’ve progressed, we realized a few snags but are working through them.  A lot of different people are involved in various sub-committees working on things like: altar paraments and communion ware choices; the style and color of the pews and chairs; the color of the cement floor which will be stained.  I have left a 3-ring binder with pictures at Shepherd – you can see the latest updates there, or you can follow us on Facebook for weekly updates.

We have no crystal ball, but the it would seem that we will see completion in February or March.  We are still gathering funds through our “1 to 1” Faithful to the Finish Building Fund drive.  To date, nearly $60,000 has been given, which when matched will be $120,000.  The goal is to reach $300,000 by the time we close on our loan which will be in July of 2017.  We are also selling bricks for $100 which will help raise fund for children’s ministry and perhaps some playground equipment.  More information will be coming soon on this.  The bricks will be placed outside in the fellowship plaza.

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS!

We welcomed 7 new members on Oct. 8: Harry and Lydia Reed and their children, Lexi, Sia and JD who transferred to us from Mt. Olive Lutheran in Las Vegas.  Standing next to me is Karen Cotton, and not pictured is Darlene Libro.

In September we also rejoiced with David and Karlee Boyd, whom the Lord blessed with a little boy, Flynn Scott Boyd.  Also in September, the Lord called home to his side one of our oldest members, just a day shy of her 89^th birthday, Bernice Baird.  With these membership changes we now stand at 176 members and 136 communicants.

Thank you to all for your continued prayers and support!

Pastor Steven Hillmer

Christmas for Kids will be Saturday, December 10 from 10:00-1:30! This is an event for children of our congregation and community to get ready for the celebration of Christmas. We will learn the true story of Christmas – how Jesus came to be our Savior. We'll have songs, crafts, and games focusing on the gospel. All this while parents get the opportunity to do Christmas shopping or take a break! Please invite any children you know ages 3-13 to join us. To register children, please speak to Pastor Derme. If you would like to help us put this event on, please speak to Ardelle Foster.

    “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. (1 Chronicles 29:14-18 NIV84)

    It has often been said that congregations don't need nice church buildings, because buildings don't spread the gospel; people do. There is some truth to that statement, but King David wouldn't agree with it.

    When David was the king, there was no temple in Israel. The Lord still dwelled in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was the portable house of the Lord that the Israelites had made at Mt. Sinai after they came out of Egypt and before they entered the promised land. David wanted to change that. He decided that he would build a temple for the Lord. But the Lord didn't want David to build him a temple. David was a warrior king. The Lord wanted his son Solomon, a man of peace, to build the temple.

David may have been disappointed that he didn't get to build the temple, but that didn't stop him from making plans and gathering supplies for the building. In fact, the plans that David came up with were from the Lord. Before he died, he gathered all of the officials of Israel and publicly gave the plans to Solomon. He also told everyone about all of the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and precious stones that he had gathered for the project. Then the leaders of Israel gave gifts toward the building project, as well. They all gave their best gifts to the Lord for his house.

    Finally, David prayed. He asked the Lord to bless the building project and his son who would oversee it. But mostly he gave thanks. He thanked the Lord for giving him the opportunity to contribute toward the Lord's work. His prayer expressed the truth that God deserved all the glory. David was honored to serve him.

    The Lord no longer dwells in a temple in Jerusalem. Now Jesus says that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name he is with them. The Lord can meet with his people anywhere the Word is proclaimed and the sacraments are administered, building or no building. But Christians throughout the ages have found it to be helpful to meet in buildings. 

    We are blessed with a building, where Lutheran Christians have been proclaiming the Word and administering the sacraments for 40 years. On the corner of Lakeside and Peckham, people's sins have been washed away in the water of Baptism. Their faith has been strengthened by receiving Jesus' body and blood in Communion. They have heard the good news of Jesus' life and death for them. Could this work have been done without a building? Theoretically, yes. But it would be hard to imagine how it all would have happened. The Lord has used this building to give us a place to do his work. Here he has worked through us.

    Now we are blessed to maintain the building God has given us. Building maintenance may not always seem like a blessing, because it is a lot of work, and it is very expensive. But, as David pointed out, everything comes from God, including our time, talents, and money. When we give those things back to God to glorify him, he will bless our generous gifts. When we give gifts to keep our facilities in good repair, we are giving those gifts to God. When we give our time to work at church on a work day, we are giving that time to God. Praise God that he has given those gifts to us in the first place! Praise God that he has given us the opportunities to glorify him with them!

    Our building isn't the only one that we're working on. Our offerings are being used to support The Springs Lutheran Church as they build, as well. God is using our gifts so that there will be a place in Spanish Springs where the Word will be proclaimed in its truth and his sacraments will be rightly administered. The Lord will use that building to do his work!

    Who knows what other opportunities the Lord will give us to build and maintain? Yes, God uses people to proclaim the gospel. But God does use buildings, too. Sometimes even buildings themselves proclaim the gospel; for example stained glass windows, crucifixes, and other Christian artwork often tell the story of what the Lord has done for us. And church buildings are a testament to the world that this gospel is important. When we give our best gifts to build and maintain God's house, it shows the world, ourselves, and the Lord that his gospel is valuable to us.

    Building isn't cheap. Maintaining isn't either. But we do it for the Lord. And he uses our buildings to give us his priceless gospel. It's worth it!

             Audrey Krause's memorial service was on Monday, September 26^th. We look forward to seeing Audrey again at the resurrection of all people. May the Lord bless her family with his peace.

                           The Springs and Shepherd of the Mountains will have a booth at the Oktoberfest Harvest Jamboree at Victorian Square on Saturday, October 15. Our musicians will play German music and we will have the opportunity to tell people in the community about our congregations. Would you like to play music or sit at the booth and hand out information? We need volunteers to make this outreach event a success! Please speak to Daniel Ellsworth or Pastor Derme if you can help.

             The Lutheran Women's Missionary Society Fall Rally will be on Saturday, October 15, at St. John Lutheran Church, Vacaville, CA.  Please sign up on the sheet at the Communication Center if you wish to attend.  The theme is "In All Things, Rejoice!"  and the guest speaker will be Missionary (and former pastor from Lodi) Guy Marquardt by Skype from India.  You will hear about mission work in an area of the world where it is difficult for Christians to share their faith.  If you are interested in participating in the choir, email Pastor Scott Stone for the music at stnsctt@yahoo.com.

Mission box offerings are due Oct. 2 as well.  They can either go in the offering plate (checks made out to SOTM and designated for LWMS) or in Jan Bennett's box.  Twenty-five percent of the collected money will go to the national office of LWMS to support their projects.  The remaining portion will be divided between a world and a home mission chosen during the rally.