Falling on the fourth Thursday of every November, Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States where friends and family come together to give thanks and recognize the sacrifices and blessings of the past year.
The origin of Thanksgiving dates back to 1620 when 102 people left England and arrived in the States in search of a place to freely practice their faith. After arriving, these colonists who became known as the pilgrims were helped by local Native Americans to grow and harvest food. It’s said that a Native American man named Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to catch and produce local food, which led to first successful corn harvest. In November 1621, both the pilgrims and Native Americans came together for a feast to enjoy the food they had grown – and this marked the first ever Thanksgiving. The alliance between the two groups soured later, which in recent years has caused debates over the traditional narrative of Thanksgiving which critics claim paint a rose-tinted picture of US history.
Thanksgiving typically revolves around big, delicious meal with a turkey as the main dish. The menu is also likely to contain turkey, mashed potato and cranberry sauce.
| Date | Attendance | Offering | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-01 | 57 | 3136.00 | 20.00 |
| 10-08 | 69 | 2149.00 | |
| 10-15 | 69 | 12367.33 | 10.00 |
| 10-22 | 66 | 3168.00 | 10.00 |
| 10-29 | 66 | 2511.00 | |
| Debt Retirement | 500.00 | ||
| Ladies Restroom Renovation | 1183.03 | ||
| LED Lights | 300 |
We will have openings for two new Elders and a Chairman next year. Anyone interested please talk to a current Elder or Tom Norris
Please notify Joy if anyone could be removed from the Prayer List.
Annual Voters’ Meeting will be after worship, Sunday, November 12. If you are going to be absent from church on that Sunday, please see Tom Norris after worship on November 6th.
We give thanks for the Baptism of five young people on September 17, 2023.
We welcome into our family of God – Haleigh Elizabeth Beck, Presleigh Grace Beck and Carter Jay Beck children of Jonah and Amber Beck; Zoe Marie Spence and Camdyn Wayne Sisco children of Eric Sisco and Jessica Maffett. We ask God to bless these young people and their families.
Our sympathy to the family of Georgia Oltman who passed away on October 4 in Centennial, CO. Georgia was born November 6, 1951 in Key West, FL.
The El Paso Emergency Squad will be hosting a chili supper on Saturday, November 4 from 5 to 7 at the El Paso Fire EMS Station at 700 S Fayette St El Paso. All proceeds will benefit Ethan Jeffreys local firefighter/EMT battling cancer. The $10 meal includes a bowl of chili, all the fixins plus dessert. There will be raffles, prizes and a 50/50 drawing.
The Ladies Bible study will be discussing lesson 2-Forgiving Family Wounds on Wednesday 11/08/23 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. here at church. Please feel free to join the group or start the study on your own, there are 5 short sessions that are in each lesson. There are additional copies of the book at the back of church. If additional books are needed, let Tom Norris know so additional ones can be ordered. “The more we gather in community to learn forgiveness and live it out daily, the more influence we as Christ followers will have on the fabric of society”. from the study: Forgiveness: received from God, extended to others by Donna Pyle.
Thanksgiving Food Baskets – Items needed are peanut butter, cereals, canned pasta, tuna, fruit and pudding cups, chunky soups, mac and cheese, canned meats, and stuffing mix. There is a box here at church for any items you wish to donate. Bring items by November 12th. If you wish to make a monetary donation, that can be mailed to Chenoa Women’s Club, Box 103, Chenoa IL 61726
In November the Book Club will be reading Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Grams. A gifted research chemist, Elizabeth Zott, has a major detour in her career when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show. We will meet Thursday November 16th at 6:30.
In November a basket will be placed in the narthex for a Christmas collection for our adopted Seminary Student. Donations need to be received by December 3. A letter from our Seminary Student and a note are enclosed in this newsletter along with a picture of his family. If you wish to donate by a check, it can be made to St. Paul Lutheran as one check will be issued to David Krueger.
In Honor of Veterans’ Day, November 11th, we want to give thanks to God in honoring the men and women and their families who faithfully answered the call to serve in the nation’s military:
| Gary Bashford | Joe Bertsche | Terry Bittner |
| Robert Brucker | Earl Ellinger | Duane Haney |
| Gerald Holzhauer | Bob Nylander | Loren Poppe |
| Greg Pulaski | Jim Raymond | Darwin Rhoda |
| Fred Rhoda | Gerald Schuler | Roger Seeman |
| Pat Wahls | Roger Wahls | Mitchell Ward |
| Dennis Wiechman | William Wilkerson |
Bake-less Bake Sale—It is time once again for the Ladies of the Church’ Bake-less Bake Sale. The Ladies sponsor a seminary student throughout the year by sending monthly checks. This year our adopted seminary student is David Krueger. The Ladies also provide meals for the families at a funeral and send monies for the community Thanksgiving baskets. You can place your donation in the Sunday offering marked—Ladies or give it to Judy Bertsche or mail it to Judy Bertsche, 27651 East 2700 North Road, Chenoa IL 61726.
Dear Ladies Aid of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Thank you so much for your very generous gift. My wife and I are very moved by your love that you show us. We pray that Christ may bless you and keep you in His grace forever.
Hopefully, you are all doing well. We are enjoying the beautiful creation of God while all the trees change color.
Greetings in Christ –
David Krueger
“Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word; curb those who by deceit or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from your Son
And bring to naught all He has done.”
