A variety show was held on Sunday, October 11th, as a fundraiser for Immanuel's Handbell Ministry. Joe Simons served as master of ceremonies. The variety show acts included the Bloomin' Idiots/Deadheads and The Adelaide Sisters performing musical numbers, a piano solo, harmonica music, several readings, handbell performances, a vocal guitar solo, a comedy routine by Lena Child Olson, an acrobatic routine by Flippin' Flyin' Jill Ann, and a guitar/piano duet.

A total of $767 was raised by the variety show for handbells and only $1,235 is left to reach our goal of $10,800. Thank you to everyone that has contributed towards the bells. Remember that it is not too late to still purchase a bell for $230 or to contribute any amount through memorials, honorariums and donations.

A big thank you from the handbell committee goes to everyone who assisted in any way to make the Variety Show a huge success. Thank you performers, photographer, office team, program team, kitchen help, food donations, and coordinators.

The Cuyuna Range CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) Hunger Walk took place Sunday, October 4th with about 60 walkers. This was a community fundraising and hunger awareness event to help raise funds and awareness for the Crosby Foodshelf and other domestic and global hunger relief projects.

FINK: Faith Inkubators (FINK) is Immanuel's confirmation program for students in grades 7-9. The students meet every other Wednesday during the school year. A simple meal is served at 5:45 pm followed by rockin' Christian music, learning, and sharing beginning at 6:30pm. All students in grades 7-9 are invited. You do not need to be a member of Immanuel to attend. The next FINK night is October 28th.

This year the FINK students will be learning about The Apostle's Creed, baptism, and communion.

Halloween: The FINK students will be helping the residents of the care center hand out candy on Halloween.

Middle School Gathering: The annual Middle School Gathering, "PRAY. ALWAYS." will be held at Cragun's November 20-21 or November 21-22. The theme for this year is The Lord's Prayer, the speaker will be Tiger McLuen and the band will be OWLs. Thecost is $30 and registration is due by October 18th. If you have any questions, please contact the church office at 546-6010.

Public Affirmation of Faith (Confirmation) On Sunday, October 25th, seven young people will publicly affirm their faith as they are confirmed at the 10:45am worship service. Please join these young people as they celebrate this important milestone in their lives.

Sunday School: Bible Song is held each Sunday at 9:45am. Everyone meets in the sanctuary for 20 minutes and then everyone moves to the fellowship hall for 20 minutes of art time in the fellowship hall. Every other Sunday the kids will be singing the song they learned during Bible songs at the 10:45 service. This new format includes kids and their parents/guardians. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please call Pastor Paul or Sandy Davis.

Herberger's Community Day Coupon Books: Coupon books for Herberger's Community Day on Saturday, November 14th are available from Sandy Davis. Each book is $5.00, and includes a coupon for $10.00 off one item, a 30% off coupon, along with several others. This coupon fundraiser will benefit the Sunday School program.

Upcoming Events for Youth and Children:

• October 18th - Book Fair
• October 25th - Confirmation
• November 20-21 or 21-22 - Middle School Gathering

The annual Spirit of Christmas Bazaar is less than a month away. The bazaar will be held Saturday, November 14th from 8:30am to 2:00pm. There will be "working huddles" each Monday night from 6:30pm-8:00pm each week until the bazaar to complete group projects. Many hands are needed to make this another successful bazaar! Thanks to everyone who has attended so far.

New or gently used baskets are needed for gift baskets. Please bring these on a Monday evening or bring to the church and place above the coat racks in the fellowship hall. Everyone is encouraged to take a basket home to fill with gifts and then return to the church. If you are looking for ideas for baskets, there is a list of ideas on the table in the bookstore area.

Confections for the bazaar will be made the week of the bazaar. Ingredients needed for these are almond bark (white and chocolate), Oreos with red and green filling, creamy peanut butter, plain Hershey bars, pretzel logs, caramels,chocolate and white chips, butterscotch and mint chips, sweetened condensed milk, pecans, mixed nuts, dry roasted peanuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios, craisins, brown and white sugar. Containers are also needed. They can be tins or decorative small boxes, small cello bags or small and large candy paper cups. Gallon zip lock bags are also needed for lefse.

It is preferred that bazaar items not be brought to the church until the week of the bazaar. If you are dropping off any of the supplies listed above, please leave them on the white table at the back of the fellowship hall just inside the alley door.

Please remember that everything that is sold at the bazaar needs to be handmade

Thank offering Weekend is November 21 and 22 at all services. This is the weekend you bring your thank offering donations you have been "giving thanks all year long" to church. FREELY RECEIVE, FREELY GIVE! Your offerings join with those of thousands of women throughout the church to make Christ known worldwide. Together they do what you alone cannot do and go where you may not be able to go. YOU will make a difference for women and children living in poverty.

There are still bowls, cake pans, and miscellaneous items on the serving cart in the kitchen. Please take HOME items that are yours.

Saturday, December 5th, at noon, is the Advent Luncheon. All ILC women are encouraged to bring guests to this potluck luncheon

W/ELCA Coordinator (s) are still needed for 2010!!! For information or questions contact Kay Partello or Melva Panitzke.

Upcoming events:

• October 12-November 9 -Bazaar work nights at 6:30 pm.
• November 14th-Spirit of Christmas Bazaar.
• December 5 -Advent Luncheon.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Immanuel, there will be Discovering Membership gatherings on October 20th, 27th, and November 3rd. New members will be received November 8th. Please indicate your interest on the welcome card or contact Member Ministry Coordinator Darlyne Larson at the church office, 546-6010.

The September Meal With a Mission was held Sunday, September 20th. Immanuel's Handbell Ministry was the beneficiary of this meal. Over $550 was raised that day for the handbells.

The Immanuel Fall Men's Retreat will be held October 23-24 at Camp Hiawatha. This retreat is for men of all ages. It will be a time of good food, fellowship, and faith moments. There will also be several hours of service projects at the camp. The retreat will begin with supper on Friday evening at 6:00pm and will end around 4:00pm on Saturday. The cost is $40 per person which includes lodging and meals. Please register on the welcome card or with Pastor Paul.

There is now a link on Immanuel's website at http://www.immanuelcrosby.org for this newsletter. If you know of someone that does not receive this newsletter and would enjoy reading it, please share this information with them.

This e-newsletter is sent monthly on the 15th of each month. Help is needed for gathering information, writing the articles, or taking photos. If you would like to do any of these things, please e-mail msegersten@charter.net. If you have suggestions for articles, please send them to msegersten@charter.net.