For everything there is a season,
            and a time for every matter under heaven…
                                            Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, New Revised Standard Version 

Fathers be good to your daughters,

            Daughters will love like you do.

                        Girls become lovers who turn into mothers,

                                     So mothers be good to your daughters too.

                                                 Daughters, by John Mayer

Greetings in Christ!  As I’m writing this letter, it is hard to keep my eyes off the distant foothills of the Cascades, covered with their first dusting of winter snow.  It always amazes me how quickly the seasons change.  Time to put away spring and summer shorts and finally get out  the warm sweaters of fall and winter. 

So it goes, too, with the seasons of life.  Unfortunately, the relationships of life aren’t quite so easy to take out and then store away for another season.  As we go through life we find ourselves changing in relationship to others, as the John Mayer song quoted above so aptly states.  A daughter becomes sister, aunt, perhaps mother and grandmother, and so it goes throughout the generations.  Sometimes the changes are smooth and sweet, other times, as in death, they can be hard and wrenching.

In the midst of the changes of the seasons of life, I’ve always found it easier to go through those changes in the midst of a community of faith.  Specifically, a community of folks gathered around the cross of Christ.  It is at the cross where we are rooted in a love that will not let us go in the midst of the worst.  It is at the cross where we find a community that stands with us in the best and worst life has to offer.

During the month of November those who call Sammamish Hills their community of faith will find room at the cross to celebrate all the seasons of life.  The first Sunday in November is the feast of All Saints, a day for giving thanks for the saints we carry so deeply in our hearts who now rest from their labors.  Later in the month we will welcome new members to our faith community.  The month ends with the grand celebration of Christ the King.  The day we look to the unknown day, perhaps near, perhaps far away, when all will gather at the greatest family reunion of all time.

As much as all of this promises, it isn’t easy to be a community of faith throughout the seasons of life.  Friday night and Saturday, November 3-4, we will have guests in our midst who will help us wrestle with how to respond to the call to community in this time and place.  But not just any sort of community.  A community of the cross sharing all of the seasons of life together with strong worship, committed fellowship, always seeking to better equip one another for life as Christ’s servant hands and feet in the world.

Mike Breen is a name you have perhaps heard, now is the opportune time to meet him face to face.  Come, hear the call to a new/ancient way of being together in the community of the cross.  Take time to reconnect with your own longing to know and be known in this community of the cross throughout the seasons of life.

See you in Church!

Seasons of life…November celebrates them all as we experience baptisms, new members, first Communion, All Saints Sunday, and finally, Christ the King.  The month begins with thanksgiving for all of our saints who now rest from their labors on All Saints Sunday.  On this day there will be a guest preacher, Rev. Michael Breen.  Mike is highly sought out as a preacher, speaker, and lecturer around the world. A good day to invite a friend to worship.

Click here to read more about worship in November

On Sunday night October 22^nd we held the Blues service and sang just the refrain of the great old song, Just a Closer Walk with Thee.  “Just a closer walk with thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”  This is one of my favorite hymns.  You can really belt it out or sing it softly, and the words are amazing.  It is a prayer, really.  And it gets you to thinking.

The way we walk together as a community has been on my heart in the last few weeks.  Pr. John got me thinking about it and now I cannot stop.  As we seek to be a safe place for all who find Sammamish Hills there are some questions that come up.  How do we know we belong?  Are we in step with each other?  More importantly, are we in step with what God wants for us?

These questions seemingly only produce more questions for most of us.  The great question in light of our knowledge of the good news of Jesus Christ is, “how then should we live?”  We know there must be a change, but we are not often sure of what that change should look like.  So we ask, “If the love of God makes a difference, what difference does it make?” 

Here are some places to find answers.  November begins with the LifeShapes Conference and ends with Christ the King Sunday.  The conference on the 3^rd and 4^th of November will examine how we walk as Christians.  Christ the King Sunday marks the end of the church year and it is on this Sunday that we will hear John’s account of Jesus’ interaction with Pontius Pilate.  We are followers of Christ.  How does Christ lead?  Read John 18:33-37 and see what you come up with as an answer.

If we look closely at who we are, to whom we belong, and who we want to be, I think we find ourselves singing this great old hymn whose author has been forgotten, but whose words have not.

I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.

Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,
if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

Refrain

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.

Refrain

-Author Unknown

Peace to you on our journey,

Pr. Will
prwill@shlc.org
 

• YOU are invited!  November 3-4 we’ll be hosting the first ever Northwest LifeShapes conference Seismic changes are occurring in the church and culture, and leaders need to know how to navigate this new terrain. Jesus led and lived with a passion that changed the world.

  Join us at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church, November 3-4 to gain new hope and confidence in reaching people and communities in our postmodern world with the Gospel.

  If you’d like more details, either pick up a flyer at the information desk in the sanctuary lobby, or go to www.shlc.org and click on the “LifeShapes” banner on the front page.

   

• The FIRST Annual Holden WOMEN’S RETREAT is scheduled for March 9-12, 2007.  This retreat is for any women of Sammamish Hills and their friends.  For more information, contact Pr. John, prjohn@shlc.org.
   

• Congregational Snow Retreat is now set for March 30-April 1, 2007, at The Firs Ski Chalet on Mt. Baker.  For more information on the Firs, go to:  http://www.thefirs.org/index.php?page=mt_baker_chalet_rental.  We’ll have exclusive use of the facility.  More information to follow in the coming months, but mark your calendar now!
   

• Do you like to catch BIG fish? 
  Late August 2007 is a long way off still, but dream just for a minute. 
  August 29-September 3, 2007, Pr. John and Cheri will be leading a group of eighteen folks who like to fish to Tanaku Lodge in Elfin Cove, AK.  You don’t have to be an expert in the area to enjoy the time at Tanaku.  Located due south of Glacier Bay, the scenery is awe-inspiring, the wildlife incredible, and the fishing, well, fantastic!

  For more information on the lodge, go to www.tanaku.com.  Thursday, December 14, the LaMunyons will be holding a presentation on the trip in their home at 7:30 p.m.  If you’re interested, contact Pr. John, 425.392.7799, ext. 13, or prjohn@shlc.org. 

   

You can help to Make Hunger History! In November we focus on answering “what can one person do?” with activities that have both a global and local impact.

Click here to read more about "Make Hunger History", Sammamish Hills' Ministry of the Month

Thinking About Adopting or Becoming a Foster Parent?

• Join the Journey!- Foster Parent Information:  Lutheran Community Services has a wonderful opportunity for you to become a foster parent to refugee youth from around the world who are unable to live with their family of origin due to war and civil conflict.  We serve children who arrive as unaccompanied refugee minors, asylum seekers, and immigrant children.  We are looking for families willing and able to provide a safe, stable and loving home as these children begin a new future in the United States.  Please consider the impact you could make in transforming a child’s life!  To find out more information contact Meg Hall, mhall@lcsnw.org or at 206.694.5755.
   

• To learn more about US adoption, please visit Lutheran Community Services at 206.694.5700 or AdoptUSKids at www.adoptuskids.org
   

• For information on international adoption, please visit Rainbowkids.com at www.rainbowkids.com

Consider some alternative ways to give this year.  I’m sure many of you have been in Costco and seen the front aisles already full of Christmas merchandise.  Perhaps you’ve weaved your way to the back of the store for a Halloween costume or the massive bags of candy, attempting to put it out of your mind and hang on to what remains of fall.  My blood pressure always rises a little when I start to think about the oncoming holiday season, the preparation, the planning, the parties, the time commitments, and I often resent the early intrusion of holiday lights before I’ve even carved out a pumpkin with the kids.  Imagine this compounded while facing losing a job, a major illness in the family, eviction from your home, wondering where your next meal will come from, or being alone or lost.  Where will a holiday dinner come from if I don’t know how we’ll eat next week?  Can I keep my lights and heat on, and still watch my child’s face light up Christmas morning?  How and where will I stay dry when the rain comes?  Look around, because people asking these questions may be next to you in line, in front of you at the traffic light, in a car, on the corner holding a sign, or handing you a sandwich through the drive-thru window. 

Sammamish Hills Christmas Gift Drive will be kicking off in November.  This will be your opportunity to give people in our community who need it a little, or a lot, of extra help.  This will also be the opportunity for alternative gift giving through Sammamish Hills.  We will be supporting five local organizations this year: The Issaquah Food Bank, Hopelink, YWCA family village, Compass Center, and the SHLC homeless.  Opportunities will exist for needs ranging from warm socks and a toothbrush, to a children’s bike or even an entire family’s wish list.  Prayerfully consider what you may be able to do and give with a joyful heart.  We will be collecting a bit earlier this year to ensure gifts are where they need to be in time.  Here is a summary of some need to know dates for now:

• ASAP- bulletin boards going up in narthex with specific organization info
• November 5^th- lists of specific needs and gift tags posted
• November 19^th- collection boxes for gifts placed in the narthex
• December 3^rd – gifts due for Issaquah Food Bank, Hopelink, and YWCA

The Compass center and SHLC homeless will have a little extra time, but we are hoping all will be collected and finished by mid-December. 

Please consider giving in someone’s honor as an alternate gift, or just giving and sharing your family’s love of the season.

Peace from your Christmas Gift Drive team.
 

Though “moderate” alcohol use seems to have some health benefits, anything more than moderate use can clearly negate any positive effects. Moderate drinking is defined as two drinks a day for males under 65, and one drink per day if you’re a female—or a male over 65.  A “drink” is defined as 12 oz. of beer, a 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1.5 oz. of  80-proof distilled spirits. 

Click Here to Read More...

Get ready for the week ahead on Sunday Night! – Dinner at 5:30pm, AWAKEN 6:15pm, and Worship at 7:30pm at the church.

Come serve Jesus and get some service hours! You are invited to join other high school students from around the area for a Workday on November 18th. The fun goes from 10am – 2pm at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church.

It’s time to get your broomstick and padded shorts! The amazing broomball adventure returns this year on November 18th!
 

Middle School & Confirmation News
Click Above to see more!

By Brelin Rismiller, Director of Middle School
& Confirmation Ministries

It’s November!  Be sure to check out the Middle School Calendar to see the FUN things that are happening this fall!

• Confirmation Camp dates have been set - July 12-15, 2007 @ Shoshone Base Camp! More Details Coming Soon!
• Middle School and High School Mission trip to YAKIMA! - July 29th - August 3rd! Details Available Soon!
• Questions?  Talk to Brelin-- brelin@shlc.org

Don't miss these incredible "OUT" opportunities! Email Brelin for more info!

• Find and bring donations needed to Eastside Baby Corner in Issaquah.
• Want to be part of the worship tech team? Email Brelin.

Networks, and the Children’s Ministry department is here to assist by providing tools and resources for children and parents to follow Jesus throughout their daily lives. Every month, Networks will focus on a specific topic.  Revolving around this topic every month you will find: articles just for kids, a Parents Corner, a Kid’s Puzzle, and Family Activities. In addition, Networks will include news about events and programs happening for families at SHLC.  If you’d like to check out Networks, download a copy at www.shlc.org.  Look under the Children’s Ministry page.

Sunday School has also begun! This fall, get ready to discover with us the adventures of Moses and Joshua.  Kids in our Sunday school program will see how God parted the Red Sea, we'll walk with Moses as he brings down the 10 commandments from the mountain, and also celebrate as the walls of Jericho come tumbling down. 

Faithweaver isn’t just for Sunday either.  This curriculum is designed to encourage kids and parents to continue learning and applying scripture throughout the week.  Because every student, across all age levels, learns the same Bible story, this will make it easier for you to incorporate family discussion time after Sunday School.   In partnership together, through activities here at Sunday School and those at home,  we can build a foundation of faith in our children’s lives.

New this fall are Family Fun Activities.  Join us for our first  one.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

November is a great month for remembering to say “thank you” to God ~ for all His blessings and for giving us Jesus. And then to say “thank you” to each other, for the many ways we can be like Jesus using our hands and hearts to make our world a better place! This church community has been like Jesus to us with your support and encouragement this past year. Your prayers have fueled our growth and now we have a full staff of 10 terrific teachers and nearly full classes for 64 terrific little ones to learn and grow with! We have quite a few new families this year (only six of our students are church members) and so we fulfill the desire to be a strong and thriving “outreach ministry” of this church. We have a fabulous Ministry Team that guides our program and who faithfully serves like Jesus with planning and support activities that make this program the best it can be!

We are truly blessed and since it’s November, it’s a perfect time to say “thank you!”

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
 

How to Contact a Council Member:

President:

Frank Tordillos:

Vice-President:

Carolyn Kaiser:

Secretary: 

Tom Ryan:

Treasurer: 

Sandy Dahl:

Member at Large:

John Forsyth:

Member at Large:

Shana Tischaefer:

Kevin Ostendorf:

Do you have a question or concern for the Church Council to hear?
To Contact a council member, please click here .

Click here to view the Church Calendar