Greeting, Sojourners        Pastor Dave Conrads

 I've been reading the great Tolkien epic, Lord of the Rings, to my son.  The hero is a "hobbit" named Frodo.  In this great adventure, Frodo finds himself at the center of an ages long conflict between good and evil.  Carrying a ring.  A ring that no one can handle without becoming intoxicated by its power.  And, yet, here it lies in the hand of Frodo...a "halfling" as hobbits are called due to their diminutive stature.  His task?  To destroy the ring by charging the gates of hell, so to speak, and flinging it into the all-consuming fires of Mount Doom.  On the journey, Frodo has many varied companions...humans, dwarf, elf, fellow hobbits, and, occasionally, the wizard Gandalf.  And it takes the skills and wisdom (and even foolishness) of all of them to achieve the impossible task of breaching the enemies lines without being consumed by them or by their own growing lust for the ring and its power.   As we are looking at James and the kind of faith he describes, I am reminded that, like Frodo and his companions, this faith calls us to a journey....with fellow sojourners.  And this faith, this real faith, is demonstrated in our love for God and one another and in our commitment to our task...to storm the gates of hell with the liberating message of redemption for all who receive the grace and forgiveness of God through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord!  May we never lose sight of the One who has made us, who has gone before us, and who will bring us to his side when all is said and when all is done.  Faith works!  May ours. I look forward to gathering in the Name of above all names this Sunday....together.  

God's grace and peace to you all, 

Dave

Renovations                                   Pastor Gail Mitchell  

Here are a few pictures from our ongoing renovation. The goal to finish and be in the sanctuary is October 25th. Come in and look around Sunday and sign your name on the floor before we carpet!

More News

Directory Updates

We will be updating the directory soon! We need EVERYONE to fill out their communication card this Sunday and turn it in with your information to be included in the directory. If you won't be here, you can email your info to us. You can also request an updated picture of your family be taken or email us one. We'd like to have a picture of each attending family. Please help us be as current as possible!

Faith Works in the Grant Wood Neighborhood
9 - Noon  Saturday, October 24

Register now to join the group at www.reclaimingroots.org to help with yard and trash pickup in the Wetherby neighborhood of Grant Wood School.

This is what's needed:

• Serving lunch to the workers. Contact Steve Good for this.
• Help canvas the neighborhood before the cleanup to sign up neighbors to help and be helped and drop of flyers

       Sunday October 11: 1.30-3pm

       (email luke@reclaimingroots.org to help)

       Thursday October 15: 5.30-7pm

       (email stan@reclaimingroots.org to help)

       No skill needed, just a friendly smile

       while you meet a few people!

Policies & Procedures Vote
Sunday, October 18th

We will have a quick vote on the updated Policies and Procedures that was discussed in September. It should only take a couple of minutes after the worship service and then you can go directly to your classes!

All these letters and more can be obtained from the Go & Share Board at The River.

Got a story of how God is working in your life? Please share it to encourage others!

God still speaks and His Word is living and active. Hebrews 4:12