The Church Family
Congratulations to Jacque King and Eric Schutte who welcomed their second son, Ethan Charles Schutte on October 14th. Jim and Penny King are grandparents; Marian Penn is great-grandma.

Financial Update
September Year to Date

Income $18,947.32 $184,880.68

Expenses $184,880.68 $207,717.82

Working balance: $7,720.25

Property Committee
Work on the new restrooms is now complete. There is some finishing work to be done in the entryways. In the near future, we will be closing the “old” restrooms and begin a refurbishing project on those. A rebuild of the 3rd Street entry to the church is underway. Concrete replacement is being done by Granger Builders and the brownstone finishing work by Dean Dufek. A matching railing will be added in the spring.

Church Offices Closed
The church offices will be closed Monday and Tuesday, November 2 - 3, while Darrel and Karen are attending a conference at the Presbytery offices in Superior.

Radio Broadcast Changes
Because of contractual requirements wit the Green Bay Packer Radio Network, some changes will be made to the Sunday Radio schedule. Our service will not be broadcast on the following Sundays: November 1, 8 and 22 and December 13, 20 and 27.

Newsletter Editor Needed
Do you like working on documents on the computer? We are looking for someone who can help out with the newsletter on a monthly basis. Duties include: sending out reminders of when information is needed for the newsletter, “cutting and pasting” information received for the newsletter or retyping the information if it wasn’t received electronically, and formatting the newsletter layout. A template is available to use, or if you’d rather, you can redesign the layout to whatever format you’d like. We are currently using Microsoft Word and are more than willing to train you in. If you would like more information, please call Pam Linder at 682-9451 or email plinder@charter.net, Julia Trojanowski at 682-1302 or email jtrojan@northland.edu, or contact the church office.

Bell Ringers Needed
The Salvation Army is seeking volunteer bell ringers during the Christmas season. Funds raised are critical to assist people in Ashland/Bayfield counties with emergency assistance. Last year, $48,022 was raised by local bell ringers. Your help is needed! If you'd be willing to ring for an hour or several hours, please call 715-682-3928.

Thanksgiving Food Drive for the B.R.I.C.K.
Instead of Thanksgiving Baskets this year, the youth are sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Food Shelf at the B.R.I.C.K. The hope is that by holding a larger Food Drive we will be able to reach out beyond the 20 or so families that the Baskets would be able to help. If you'd like to participate in our congregation's annual tradition of reaching out to those needing a hand in our community over the holiday season, the following items can be dropped off at any time on or before Sunday, November 22nd in the Youth Kitchen:
-cans of veggies (corn, green beans)
-cans of cranberry sauce
-cans of pumpkin pie filling
-cans of evaporated milk
-packets of gravy mix
-bread rolls
-potatoes
-boxes of stuffing
-boxes of jello
-boxes of pie crust mix
-eggs
-margarine
-Personal items (There's a huge need for laundry soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. even though these aren't your traditional Thanksgiving items.)

Thanksgiving Dinner
Plan to attend the annual Thanksgiving dinner held following worship in the church dining room on November 15. We will be asking for helpers as we prepare the meal, serve it, and cleanup. It is a wonderful church tradition and a great meal. We hope you will be there.

Community Thanksgiving Eve Service
This year’s community Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at our church, November 25th at 6:00 p.m. A community choir will be singing, and various pastors will participate in leading worship. We are following tradition in having pies and other desserts after the service. Join us for a time of Thanksgiving and celebrate our unity in Jesus Christ.

Women's Fellowship and Bible Study
A group of women from the church are meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month for an early morning hour of fellowship and Bible Study. The group meets at Sara Heisler's home, 1321 Chapple Ave., Ashland from 6:30-7:30 a.m. It's early, yes...but a great way to start the day. All women are welcome!

Men’s Bible Study
Men’s Bible study meets at 7:00 a.m., November 2nd and November 16th (avoiding deer season!) with December meetings on the 7th and 21st. We meet in the lounge. All are welcome.

Volunteers Needed for Study Group/Task Force
We are creating "study groups" to explore two important objectives in our church family life for the immediate future:
1. Strategies for reaching, welcoming, supporting, and incorporating young families into the church community.
2. Strategies for reaching, welcoming, supporting, and incorporating single parents and single persons into the church family.
One or two members of our church session will lead the study group. We invite three or four members of the congregation with strong interest in these objectives to join the study group. If you would be willing to serve in this capacity, please contact Darrel or call the church office.

Church Directory
It’s been six years since the church last did a directory and people, like the pastor, are looking distinctly different! So, its time for a new directory. We'll be working with a company called LifeTouch, with an excellent reputation and a good product. As always, you will have the opportunity to take a variety of family and personal photos and be able to purchase these, if you wish. However, we have been guaranteed - NO PRESSURE ON SALES. Everyone will receive a complete directory and there are other "perks." More information will be coming as we draw closer to the photography week, January 27 through January 30, Thursday through Saturday. We'd like to get as complete a directory as possible. Put the dates on your calendar and plan to participate. If you are gone on a winter vacation you can submit a photo and it will be included in the normal alphabetically arranged photos.

Meetings
Worship Committee meets after church on November 1st in the Lounge.
Property Committee meets November 11th at 5:30 p.m. in the dining room.
Session meets on November 18th at 5:30 p.m.

Christmas tree for 2009
If you have a nice balsam or spruce that would make a good Christmas tree for the church this year, please let the church office know at 682-3093 or email us. In recent years, John and Jill Rogers and John and Mary Moore have provided most of the Christmas trees. We don't want to deforest their property! Ease of access is important. We need about a 16-18 foot tree.

Christmas Decorating at the Church
Plan to participate in an evening of Christmas decorating at the church at 6:00 p.m. on November 28. We will raise and trim the tree, drape the garlands, and decorate the sanctuary. It's a great way to transition into the anticipation of the Advent season which begins the following day, the first Sunday of Advent, November 29. We need your help!

Remembering our Young People in Military Service
The church would like to collect addresses for our guys and gals serving in the armed forces. Drop a line if you get a couple minutes-they would love hearing from you. We know there are other men and women that are also serving in the armed forces that we may have missed or for whom we don’t have an address. If you know someone who is missing from this list or have an address for someone we don’t, please contact the church office.

Capt. Luke Fischer (in Iraq)
C Troop 6 - 6th CAV
ATO APO AE 09393

Capt. Lindsey Fischer (at Camp Leavenworth)
15944 Tamarack Lane
St. Robert, MO 65584

Aaron Adams (at Fort Hood)
911 Washburn
Leander, Texas 78641

Gerard Randall

SGT. Scott M. Kramer
MNFI / CJ2 - PSD
Unit # 42002
Camp Slayer
APO AE 09342

SSG Jeremy Walworth (in Iraq)
11th MP Brigade
Company 1 1-128 INF
APO AE 09342

Project of a Generation
Work continues on the construction of two new restrooms in the downstairs entryway. Ceramic tile, cabinets, countertop, and utility connections are in place. Our goal is to have this part of the project complete by the beginning of Sunday school. The two existing restrooms will be upgraded this fall/winter.

We are also accepting bids on work to reconstruct the 3rd Street entry to the sanctuary. Hopefully that work will be done this fall.

Many thanks to Jim and Evie Roguskie, Sue Harvey, and others who have worked to keep the grounds lovely this summer. With the sustained dry period, much watering was required. The flowers look great!

Men’s Bible Study
The Men’s morning Bible Study will resume on Monday, September 14 at 7:00 a.m. meeting in the Lounge. This year’s study will continue our reading of 1 & 2 Kings,, picking up with the story of King Solomon’s reign and all the events that followed. There are life lessons throughout the Old Testament stories. Come and join the discussion. Coffee and rolls provided and great fellowship.

Choir Rehearsal
Just to let you know, I am planning to begin choir rehearsal at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16th. The choir will sing on September 20th. Everyone is welcome to join. If you have any questions, contact Mary Hymans at 682-5286.

Bible Bucks Store
We are requesting children’s items for the Sunday school Bible Bucks store. We can use any new or gently used items for 3 to12-year-olds. Some ideas: toys, cars, jewelry, walkie-talkies, compasses, fishing gear, stuffed animals, DVDs, art supplies, figurines, or water bottles.
If you have any questions, please contact Becca Crumb-Johnson at 373-0358.

Women’s News
Ladies of the church, summer vacation is almost over and we have recently received word from Cluster One’s Enabler, Carol Bohlin of Minocqua concerning the date for the fall meeting. The fall meeting is scheduled for September 21st, an earlier date than usual, at the Community Presbyterian Church in Lac Du Flambeau. Mary Daniels, moderator of Presbyterian Women of Northern Waters will be sharing highlights of the world-wide gathering, and Sharry Kairis will present fashions for difficult times.

More information about the fall program will be forthcoming later in August. Mark the date on your calendars, and if you are interested in attending call Karen at the church office at 682-3093. Also, Association meetings resume Monday, Sept. 14th at 9:30 a.m. in church dining room.

Women’s Association Mission News
With fall approaching, we again focus on some of our mission projects. If you sew, there are some lap robe kits ready to be taken home and sewn. We hope to deliver some to the nursing homes later this fall. Another project is making crib size quilts for needy babies and children
at risk. There are directions for these and for knitting scarves and hats for the Seafarers in Duluth, and preemie and newborn hats, as well as for prayer shawls for comforting those who are ill or grieving, or just need a hug.

Don’t forget to save the UPS barcode and the small logo on the Campbell’s labels and General Mills Box Tops for Education. These can be left in the craft basket in the dining room, as well as any sewing and craft items for Morris Fork Craft Co-op in Kentucky. We no longer collect greeting cards because the St. Jude’s Ranch cannot accept any more. Many thanks to all of you for helping out.

Good News Delivered Electronically
The church is now sending the monthly newsletter via email to all of our members with computer access and email accounts. Over the last few months, many of you received the newsletter in this fashion, perhaps to your surprise-hopefully to your delight.

We are, of course, continuing to use normal mailing of the newsletter to all those without Internet access and any others in the congregation who would like a print copy of the newsletter rather than an electronic one. There will also be print copies available at the church on the rear sanctuary table and in the dining room.

We hope this change will be well received. Please give us your feedback. If the church does not currently have your email address, we invite you to provide it to us. All of our electronic mailings are sent out to an undisclosed list, so no recipients are identified.
Darrel

Parking on Sundays
Associated Bank is asking that folks keep lanes and access open to the new ATM machines they have installed in the drive-throughs. They are happy to continue to let us park on their property but ask to keep the ATM's in the drive-throughs accessible to customers.

A Welcoming Church
Churches like to believe they are friendly and welcoming. I like to think that our church is exactly that way. But welcome happens not based on what we like to think but what we actually do. When you see a new face at church seek that person out, introduce yourself, express your delight at their presence, invite them to stay for coffee, if possible. It is you and me, one by one, who make the church welcoming.

When You Are In The Hospital
Just a reminder that things have changed at hospitals in recent years (HIPPA laws) so that no
information can be given to anyone about your presence there without specific release or request. This means that not even the pastor can check the general registration list to see if a member of the congregation is in the hospital (I used to do this three times a week). Please, if a loved one is
hospitalized, let us know at church. This summer we've missed several folks. I always feel badly that I've not visited when I learn after the fact about a hospitalization. I'm not too busy, it's what I want to do. We need your help in communicating this information. I suspect many people still assume the minister can find out at the hospital if someone is there just by checking a list. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen anymore. Darrel

BUILDING PLAN INFORMATION:
Proposal Letter
Conditions Report by CMG & Associates, Inc and Martinson Architects, Inc
Phase 1 Suggestions
Probable Cost Statement

Food Shelf

Items for the food shelf can be put in main entryway anytime of the month.

The Legacy Fund

The Legacy Fund is the fund we have dedicated towards paying for our current building project. People have contributed to the fund through gifts of equities and cash. Many members have pledged their gifts over a five year period. Because more than fifty percent of our project will be completed this year, our fund is currently stretched thin. A letter is being sent to all church members and friends updating them regarding current contributions to the fund and asking if they might be able to pay ahead on pledges or make a contribution immediately rather than wait until December. Please, if you haven’t pledged or contributed to The Legacy Fund consider a gift now. It is a big project and requires the participation and support of everyone. No gift is too small—every gift is appreciated. No longer is the projecttheoretical; the results are here and we are delighted at the construction that has been accomplished. If you can help us financially in the next month it will be greatly appreciated! And thank you to all who have given!

Endowment Fund

Our church is blessed with an Endowment fund that has enabled the congregation to stretch its limits in terms of mission and ministry across the years. Most recently we utilized $250,000 (about a third of the fund’s value) to address costs of renovating the church facility. The fund exists only because members of the church in year’s past provided gifts (bequests) as memorials, naming the church as a beneficiary in their wills. The Investment Board elected to assist in overseeing the fund will begin a low key effort to encourage our members to consider including the church in their estate planning. Information will be provided describing how the fund is managed and how gifts can be made in a wide variety of ways, often with significant tax advantages. This fall the Board will host a gathering for people interested in learning about the importance of making a will and how to do that, family trusts, the roles of powers of attorney and much more. It is the Board’s desire to provide helpful, practical information as well as hold before the congregation the many ways our Endowment fund allows the church to do ministry and maintain our beautiful facility for future generations. We’d like to think it is worthy of your consideration as you plan for the eventual disposition of your estate.