T RAN SFO R MED to be a Generous Giver
Contact: Nicole •
[email protected] To see a full listing of volunteer opportunities, visit southwoodlutheran.org/give-back/mission
November 13, 2016
Giving Trees
Chapter 25 (formerly Kids Against Hunger)
Tags are available beginning today!
Global Mission
Help make someone else’s Christmas brighter this year! Look for the Christmas Trees in the main entryway and by Education Station. This year the Giving Tree tags will feature gift opportunities for Southwood families, Tanzania Scholarship Students and 6 other local Lincoln nonprofits. Return unwrapped gifts (with tag) to the church by December 4.
Monday, November 21 • 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Chapter 25 Great activity for the whole family! Assemble packages of food to feed hungry families around the world. Sign up at Southwood Central or southwoodlutheran.ivolunteer.com Interested in traveling to Honduras or Tanzania? • Honduras: Trip Dates: March 11–18, 2017 (LPS Spring Break) • Approx. cost: $1,500 • Contact Jeremy Elder if interested
[email protected] • Tanzania: today • Noon • Multi-Purprose Room • Trip Dates: June 27–July 14, 2017 • Approx. cost: $3,500
Serve at Neighborhood Food Distribution
Tuesdays, November 29 and December 6 • 4:00–6:00 p.m. Help hand out food to over 400 people in our community. All volunteers need to be at least 10 years old. Sign up at Southwood Central or at southwoodlutheran.ivolunteer.com
Spirit of Giving Christmas Store
December 15 • 4:45–7:30 p.m. Southwood is teaming up with Mourning Hope this holiday season to provide some holiday joy to children who have lost a parent/caregiver. Children will have the opportunity to shop in our Christmas store for a gift for their primary parent/caregiver. Volunteers are needed to help with store set-up, meal, personal shopping, crafting, and gift wrapping. Volunteers must be 19 years or older. Sign up at Southwood Central or at southwoodlutheran.ivolunteer.com
Ongoing Community Missions
Details and sign-up forms are available at Southwood Central. • Clinic with a Heart—November 15 & 17 • Gathering Place—November 14 & 17 • Chapter 25 (formerly Kids Against Hunger)—November 21 • Matt Talbot—November 22 • Neighborhood Food Distribution—November 29, December 6 • Piecemakers—November 17 • Southwood Food Distribution in Palmyra—December 17
Eternities are Being Changed Amazing—that’s the word that comes to mind when I think about the number of lives touched by God working through people at Southwood. Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves. Over the past twelve months, God has used Southwood to show His love to people in our community over 80,000 times through the Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Clinic with a Heart, Matt Talbot, TeamMates, Gathering Place and other activities. That’s just the number outside of our walls. The number of lives impacted inside our walls is harder to determine for volunteers, but based on the stories I hear from people in this congregation, that number is in the thousands as well. Starting in September, for Sunday School alone, there are around 800 kids and 200 teachers involved—eternities being changed. Many of you tend to invite your friends and family to check out our church, which is a huge part of our growth—eternities being changed. Personally, God changed my life significantly through a few specific events—a trip to Honduras with my daughter, Men’s Group, and most recently a Spirit-Life retreat. At a smaller level, I feel God touching my life every time someone at a food distribution says “thank you,” a Meals on Wheels recipient takes time to visit about their life, or a child smiles at Matt Talbot. These service opportunities are possible because of the generous giving of people in this congregation. Count my life as one of the thousands touched by the things we’re doing as a church. Thanks to all of you for your generosity, and thanks be to God for the amazing things He’s doing through Southwood.
—Jason Pauling
Prayer Room
We have recently transformed the Library into a Prayer Room, providing a sacred space devoted to prayer, meditation and reflection. Stop in and prepare your hearts for this Season of Thanksgiving.
Prayer Room Hours: Sundays 7–12:30 Mondays 8–5 Tuesdays 8–5 Wednesdays 8–8 Thursdays 8–5 Fridays 8–5 Saturdays closed
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE Wednesday November 23 • 6:30 p.m. Take time to prepare your heart for Thanksgiving. Hear a powerful personal story of gratitude shared by a Southwood member and join us for worship on Thanksgiving Eve to reflect on the blessings in your life and give thanks to God! 402.423.5511 • southwoodlutheran.org
[email protected] Mailing: p.o. box 22767 • Lincoln, ne 68542 Physical: 4301 Wilderness Hills Blvd. Lincoln, ne 68516
Contact: Faye Koehn •
[email protected]
Contact: Pam Dinneen •
[email protected]
Contact: Jo Sheets •
[email protected]
Faith Stepping Stone: Baptism Class
QPR Training • Question–Persuade–Refer
Women’s Early Morning Group
TODAY • 11:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room
Unwrap God’s gift of Holy Baptism at the Faith Stepping Stone Baptism Class. At Southwood, we ask that all parents who are having children baptized attend one of these classes.
Advent Festival Sunday, December 4, 2:00–5:00 p.m. Come and begin your preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth at Southwood’s annual Advent Craft Festival. Bring your family, invite your friends, stop in for a short time or spend the afternoon creating small treasures that remind us of Christmas and Jesus’ birth.
Joyful Volunteers are needed to help
create fun memories for families at our annual Advent Festival on Sunday, December 4. Please consider helping with set up, assisting with crafts or clean up—you will love celebrating Jesus’ birth and you may even score a sugar cookie! Please contact Deb Raatz at draatz@ southwoodlutheran.org.
Contact: Drew Jagadich •
[email protected]
DELVE (Confirmation) • 6th–8th grade • 6th & 7th Grade: in the Fellowship Hall at 9:45 and 11:00 a.m. Today and Sundays, November 20, December 4, 11, 18 • 8th Grade: in the Fellowship Hall at 6:15–7:45 p.m. Wednesdays, November 16, 30, December 7, 14 Life and Lattes: Tuesdays • 3:00–5:00 p.m. at Southwood. Come enjoy a coffee beverage, games, and fun! Youth Group tonight • 6:00–8:00 p.m. We will do random acts of kindness in the community. Meal provided. Bring a friend.
What You Do Could Save a Life! ff Tue., Nov. 15 • 6–8:30 p.m. QPR is a three step process for helping a person who displays warning signs of suicide. Recognizing warning signs and being ready to respond is crucial. Attend this QPR session to learn the process. Meal and childcare provided. You never know when you might need these skills! Register at southwoodlutheran.org • Events
Renewed Hope
December 4 • 11:00 a.m. in the Group Room Renewed Hope is an ongoing group offered specifically for those who have experienced the death of a spouse. This group meets the third Sunday of each month, providing a supportive environment with others who have had a similar loss.
Ongoing Care Ministries
Held in the Group Room next to the Nursery `` Prayer Shawl Ministry—Nov. 16 • 6:30 p.m. | Dec. 8 • 10:00 a.m. `` Renewed Hope—November 20 • 11:00 a.m. `` GriefShare—December 4 • 11:00 a.m.
Caring 3 Tips for Everyday
GETTING ALONG DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES
We’ve known it forever, however it’s been very obvious over the past months that people have differing viewpoints. When passionate about their own perspective, it can create conflict with those holding different opinions. Consider these tips when in those situations: ff Be polite & stay cool—Even when people say things that warrant anger and outrage, expressing those feelings publicly will rarely make the world a better place. ff Pick your battles—If you find yourself edging towards a conflict consider whether it’s worth damaging your relationship. ff Refocus—If someone can’t be persuaded, you can at least avoid creating ill-will between you. You’ve done what you can for now, and that is enough. Focus on the positive in your relationship. The world is a complex place, God has created us each to be unique, with our own opinions and ideas. Let’s value how God has created us!
S.A.L.T. Sisters (Sisters All Learning Together) Thursdays, November 3–December 8 • 6:30 a.m. in the Group Room Feed your soul before you begin your busy day and explore the book of Romans in this six-week study. Paul’s letter to the Romans is very different than any of his other letters. Paul addresses many of the important questions that arise when one considers the relationship between God and creation, as well as topics such as salvation and grace. All ladies welcome. Cost $9.00, no registration required.
Men’s Studies: Half Truths by Adam Hamilton
Join Adam Hamilton in searching for the whole truth by comparing common Christian clichés to the message and ministry of Jesus. The clichés include: Everything happens for a reason. God helps those who help themselves. God won’t give you more than you can handle. God said it, I believe it, that settles it. Love the sinner, hate the sin. This study is offered at two times: • Thursday Morning Men’s Group November 17, December 1, 8, 15, 22 • 6:00 a.m. • Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfast November 19, December 3, 17, January 7 at 7:30 a.m. Register at southwoodlutheran.org • Events
Thanksgiving Eve Volunteers Will you help us make Southwood a welcoming place? We are looking for volunteer greeters, ushers, hosts, and communion assistants. Contact Michelle to sign up by emailing
[email protected] or calling 402-423-5511.
Visit southwoodlutheran.org for a complete listing of events and registrations.
