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Disaster Preparedness Event held in Knoxville, TN
On Tuesday, September 20, 2011, a Community Disaster Preparedness Event organized by Dick Hess, member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Knoxville and synod Volunteer Disaster Response Coordinator, was held at a local restaurant, Buddy's Bar-B-Q. Thirty-eight participants from the local Lutheran churches as well as community folks attended. Each participant received a canvas bag with preparedness items from the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a small weather radio and a Lutheran Disaster trifold. Congregational members completed an individual asset mapping form which Hess will use with congregations working on their preparedness plans.
The event was supported by the local Thrivent chapter. Thrivent gave away two battery/hand crank emergency radios as door prizes. Jon Biggs, serving with Lutheran Services in Tennessee/Lutheran Disaster Response, and a Knoxville Red Cross chapter representative each gave a disaster preparedness presentation.
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(Tea) Party Time
The women of St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church in Decatur, GA held their third Annual Tea Party on Saturday, October 22. This major fundraising event of the year turns the proceeds over to the general operating funds of the church. In a small, primarily immigrant parish, fundraising is important to the economy of the church but the challenge is to make it fun and cross-generational.
Pastor Helen Hollingsworth said, "The ladies of St. Stephen love the tea because it is part of our cultural heritage; we enjoy dressing up, and especially picking just the right crown (hat) to top it off. The young adults serve as hosts and entertain with singing and liturgical dance. It brings families and friends together who may not be a part of our congregation, but for one afternoon gather to share a meal together."
Laughter and hugs abounded, as well as a few well-deserved "oohs" and "aahs" as the hat parade took center stage! Pastor Helen remarked, "It is a time to reclaim part of our longstanding tradition of tea in the afternoon and a chance for the young people to be cognizant of their social heritage." Bon Appetit!
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Chartering of Celebration of Grace, Canton, GA
On Sunday, October 23, Celebration of Grace in Canton, GA opened its charter and invited regular attendees and participants to commit themselves to the work of the new mission by, among other things, signing the charter. There were about 50-60 people present with about half that number signing the charter. Dr. Everett Flaningan, Director for Evangelical Mission and Assistant to the Bishop in the Southeastern Synod, had the opportunity to preach and bring greetings on behalf of the synod, Bishop Gordy and the ELCA. Members and friends of Celebration of Grace were reminded that 4.5 million Lutherans were walking with them and cheering them on.
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Blessing of the Animals
P.P.S - St. John's freeze shelter is opened every winter to provide a warm place to
to sleep for the area homeless.
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Items Available
Incarnation Lutheran Church in Harvest, AL will soon close its doors for the last time. They currently have a few items available. If you would like to claim any of the items on the list, please contact Pastor Mark Borseth at 256-230-5387 to see if they are still available and plan for logistics to get the item(s). There is no charge for any of these items, but if you would like to make a donation, it will go to any costs remaining for Incarnation.
Sound equipment
Powered Mixer (7 channels, older model, but works)
2 Monitor/Speakers
3 Music Stands
3 Microphone Stands
4 Microphones
Several microphone cords
2 speaker cords
Electrical
Power Strip
Surge/Protector/Battery Backup
3 phone/dsl filters
TV Antenna & digital converter box
2 spotlights
Appliances/Furniture
Electric Stove
Couch
Tall Bookshelf
Hymn Books/Worship
75 LBW
50 WOV
Altar Cross/Candle Stick Holders/Baptismal Font (all with matching artwork by Jim Nelson from Messiah)
Altar Table (built by men of St. Mark's)
Chairs/Tables
8 - old, brown, heavy 8 ft tables, 2 plastic, light 6 ft tables
30 Metal Folding Chairs
Chair Rack
2 cloth office chairs (gray)
2 cloth office chairs (tan)
2 -step step-stool
6 white plastic lawn chairs
A few small end-tables to go with lawn chairs
Office Stuff
1 large "L"-shaped desk which needs to be reassembled
1 small cork bulletin board
1 large cork bulletin board
2 small whiteboards
1 Easel
1 Rolling filing rack for hanging files
Several Hanging file folders
Kitchen Stuff
Various Serving Utensils
Various Tablecloths
Plastic Pitcher
Serving Plates
Trays
Other
Large Manger scene (life-size)
Artificial Christmas Tree
Christmas Lights
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Photo of the week:
Attendees at the recent Leadership Convo atop Black Balsam Knob in Arden, NC
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Correction: In last week's Enews, we inadvertantly left Pastor Eric Pearson's name off those in the photo installation of Jo Hood's installation. Sorry, Pastor Pearson! | 
Today, I invite us to reflect on our church communities.
A tropical storm depression that began Oct. 10 produced heavy rainfall, primarily along the Pacific Coast of Central America. More than 90 people have died and hundreds of thousands of people are displaced from their homes and living in emergency shelters.
The Lutheran Study Bible is now an app for downloading to your favorite electronic device! Click the link below for details.
Nashville, TN
New for 2011: Register for either a regular day-time self-guided tour of the house on Saturday or the famous Candlelight Tour on Saturday night (timed entry for either ticket will be set up by LLMI - visit 
Have you ever been so sleepy when you were driving that you tried to keep yourself awake by turning up the volume on the radio or rolling down the windows to let the breezes blow on your face? According to the National Sleep Foundation surveys, half of all American adults consistently report that they have driven drowsy and approximately 20% admit that they have actually fallen asleep at the wheel in the previous year.
