Welcome Visitors & NewcomersA warm welcome to visitors & newcomers! It is great to have you worship with us today. Please complete the information in the black welcome pads as they are passed and then pass it to your neighbor. Please take a welcome packet from the tables at the entrance.At New Life we host an open table for Holy Communion. All are welcome to receive this free gift of God’s grace. We believe Jesus is ‘really present’ in, with and under the bread and wine. Even though the bread and wine do not change in physical form, Jesus presence in, with and under the bread and wine makes this much more than a remembrance or symbol of God’s love. Because of Christ’s presence we also believe the real effects or benefits of this meal are; the forgiveness of sin, life with God here and the promise of life with God to come. Children are welcome to come forward for a blessing. First communion instruction is scheduled before Holy Week for 2nd grade students. Gluten free wafers are also available for those that prefer that option. Note: The wine is red and the grape juice is white.The nursery is staffed during worship and is located south of the worship space.

This Week at New Life- Sunday 11.18.18 - Worship 8:15 & 10:30 am; Education Hour

& Christmas Program Rehearsal 9:30 am; Community Thanksgiving Worship 4 pm

- Monday 11.19 - Office Closed; Grief Share 6:30 pm- Wednesday 11.21 - Food Pantry 4:30-6:30 pm- Thursday 11.22 - Office Closed: Happy Thanksgiving!- Saturday 11.24- Men’s Breakfast Bible Study 7:30 am- Sunday 11.25 - Worship 8:15 & 10:30 am; Education Hour &

Christmas Program Rehearsal 9:30 am; Youth Tailgate & 1st Half Watch Party at Liedtke’s 6:30 pm

Worship Assistants

Recent Additions & Updates to the Prayer List*Philippians 4. 6-7 - Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NRSV)Illness or Injury * (A complete Prayer List is available in the back)Karen SamuelsonDiem DriftmierDave HixenbaughCarol Shafer - Lori Prier’s motherVerlaine HayesBernie Wilcox - John & Bev Wildman’s friendAdleigh PlotzPaula Greteman - friend of Halvorsons & HixenbaughsTony Miller - friend of Connie Thompson and Josh Miller’s cousin

Attendance last Week: (11.7 &11) 165November Memory Verse

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ Psalm 107:1

We are a congregation of the Southeastern Iowa Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

www.newlifenorwalk.orgOffice Phone (515) 285-5965

Rev. Nathan J. Liedtke - PastorPastor Nate’s email: njliedtke@gmail.com

We are a church that shares a living, daring confidence in God's grace. Liberated by our faith, we embrace you as a whole person--questions, complexities and all. Join us as we do God's work in Christ's name for the life of the world.This is Christ's church. There is a place for you here

November 11, 2018 25th Sunday after Pentecost

Why should we bother with such an ancient book? Isn’t it all myths and fairy tales? What about all that violence? And the contradictions? Isn’t it dangerous to take it seriously? Isn’t it only for Christians? Is it inspired? Can it help us? Just what is the Bible? Anytime we talk about the Bible, we have lots of questions. Weird ones, strange ones, lists of them. During this fall we have been looking at 14 of the most common ones we ask.-series adapted from the book ‘What Is the Bible?’ by Rob Bell © 2017

Today 8:15 Today 10:30 11.25.18 8:15 11.25.18 10:30

Ushers Loebes Dan Blom & Cody Bales Thompsons VanZuuks

Media Ron Groskreutz

Leslie Merriman Ed Kuhl Sandy

Anderson

Reader Connie Thompson Kristen Geisler Ron Fels Lisa Smith

Greeter Janice Andrews

Wanda Vetterick Jim Jones Jeri Trilk

Coffee Wanda Loebe

Karen Porter & Donna Sleeth

Christy Groskreutz

Abbie Olson & Theresa Drew

ServersE Schultze &

Richard Geist

Drews HayworthsKaren Porter &

Leslie Merriman

Nursery n/a Amy Thacker n/a Whitney Hutton

Scrip n/a n/a Kari Murray n/a

Host Connie Thompson Mike Geisler BJ Bengard Daira Driftmier

CountersAbbie Olson Karen Chapman

Jake Murray Ron Fels

Altar Guild Danene VanZuuk

11.18.18 25th Sunday after Pentecost

Order of WorshipGathering: Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty ELW 533 (8.15) Here I Am to Worship & This is Amazing Grace (10.30) Readings: Luke 15:11-32 page 850Message: What’s the Other Best Question to Ask When Reading the Bible?Song of Response: Our Father, We have Wandered ELW 606 (8.15) Lord I Need You 10.30) Offering Song: Amazing Grace ELW 779 (8.15) Special Music by Katie Liedtke (10.30) Distribution: Here is Bread ELW 483 (8.15) Good Good Father (10.30) Sending Song: Lord Dismiss Us with Your Blessing ELW 545 (8.15)

What is the other best question to ask when reading the bible? Why did this passage endure? Why did people protect and preserve it? Why have people literally risked their lives to reproduce and distribute this library of books? Why has this story/passage/verse/account resonated with people for this long? What does this teach us about what it means to be alive, here, in this world now? What is it that was true about this book or story or poem or letter for them at that time that’s also true for us, here and now? Take the parable of the prodigal son for example. In just a few words, we get this gut-wrenching story of two sons who are both separated from their father—one because of his bad deeds, one because of his good deeds. AND BOTH ARE WELCOMED HOME. It’s a story about exile, about all of the ways we wander from the love that’s been ours the whole time. Home, according to the story, is both a geographical location, and a state of being.

Community Thanksgiving WorshipNew Life Lutheran Church is pleased to be hosting the 2018 Community Thanksgiving Worship Service on this afternoon at 4 pm We will also host a time of community fellowship following the service. If you would be willing to provide a pie or some cookies this a f t e rnoon , p l ease con tac t Em i l y B lom a t emilyblom@hotmail.com.

Operation Christmas ChildOperation Christmas Child filled shoeboxes need to be returned to the church by noon today so they can be sent on their way to various destinations around the world.

Worship On WednesdaysSoccer on Sunday? Softball on Sunday? Traveling on Sunday? Gotta work on Sunday? Take advantage of mid-week worship - Worship on Wednesday! We meet at 6:30 pm and our form is evening prayer

Share a Recipe & Ingredients for ChristmasDo you have a favorite family recipe that doesn’t have too many ingredients? The Board of Outreach would like to gather recipes with the accompanying bag of ingredients to share with families who use our Food Pantry. Make sure to only include nonperishable items in your bag even if the recipe calls for perishable items (eggs, milk, etc.). Please have your bag and recipe to the church by December 9.

A Night of Christmas PraiseMark your calendars now for Wednesday, December 19 at 6:30 pm. Our Praise Team will present a Night of Christmas Praise. They will sing all of our favorites and there will be cookies & hot chocolate too!

Tailgate & 1st Half Watch PartyMiddle and High School Youth are invited to a Tailgate & 1st Half Watch Party at Pastor Nate’s on November 25 at 6:30 pm for the Packers/Vikings game. Please let Pastor Nate know if you plan on attending.

Noisy OfferingThe October Noisy Offering was given to The Norwalk Area Food Pantry and totaled $90.80. Thank You! Our November Offering will be given to Operation Christmas Child.

The Four GospelsPastor Nate is leading an in-depth study of each of the four gospels today at 9:30. This week we are exploring Luke. All are encouraged to commit to this four week study throughout the month of November.

OWLs Christmas LunchAll Older Wiser Lutherans are invited to a Christmas Lunch and White Elephant exchange at the church on December 7 at 11:30 am.

A Charlie Brown ChristmasThe JOURNEY Sunday school kids will present A Charlie Brown Christmas at 10:30 am on December 9.

Staffing UpdateStephanie Ferner has resigned from her position as Children and Family Ministry coordinator effective December 17th. She will continue in her role through that date.  We give thanks to God for Stephanie’s ministry among us for two plus years and wish her well. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Pastor Nate.

New Member ClassIf you've been visiting for a while and would like to become a member of New Life, please speak with Pastor Nate or contact the church office. A New Member Class is being offered on December 2 at 5 pm.

Baptized TodayAaron & Shannon Clausing called by the Holy Spirit and trusting in the grace and love of God, bring their sons Carter Roland & Cade Aaron to be baptized into Christ today at New Life Lutheran Church.

11.18.18 25th Sunday after Pentecost

11.18.18 25th Sunday after Pentecost