Please use in your church bulletin
Quilt Ingathering
Friends of Lutheran World Relief will be collecting quits and kits Saturday October 3, 9 a.m. to noon and Sunday, October 4, noon to 3 p.m. at the following locations:

• Messiah Lutheran Church, 1605 Vernon, Park Ridge, 847-823-6984
• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 4501 Main Street, Downers Grove, 630-968-6231
• Faith Lutheran Church, 353 N. Midland Ave., Joliet, 815-725-4213
• Zion Lutheran Church, 925 Fifth Ave., Rockford, 815-964-4609

For more information, visit lwr.org/friends

Octoberfest
All are invited to attend Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 3 , noon to 10 p.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church and School, 1550 Modaff Road, Naperville. The day-long festival includes music, kids' games and activities, German food and more. For ticket prices, the schedule, and more, please visit bethanylcs.org. Print flyer

Remembrance Ceremony
St. John Lutheran Church, 7214 South Cass Avenue, Darien, will host an event to remember our fallen soldiers and the sacrificies made by them and their families, Sunday, October 4, 1:30 p.m. You may have a soldier remembered during the service by emailing Support Coordinator Dawn Sands, or calling  630-739-7287 by September 28. RSVP by October 1. Print flyer

Reformation Concert and Hymn Fest
Please join Faith Lutheran Church, 1124 Westchester Blvd., Westchester, Sunday, October 25, 9 a.m., for a Reformation Concert and Hymn Fest to celebrate our Lutheran heritage. For more information, call 708-343-1030 or email Pastor Prentice. Print flyer

Pro-Life Curriculum Now Available for Schools and Churches
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has launched "What Is This? Looking at Life in the Womb," a new curriculum-and-video resource intended to bring ultrasound technology into all middle and high school classrooms to highlight the sanctity of human life. This resource is available free upon request. For more information or to order, send an email to Tracy Quaethem. Print flyer

Tips For Better Church Announcements
Here are strategies for improving church announcements:

1. Use more channels. Someone speaking at some point in your service is not the one and only channel you have for making announcements.
2. Make those channels valuable. Find ways to give back value through these channels so that when announcements do come across, it is hitting active readers.
3. Focus on the point, the mission, and the vision. The whole point of discipleship, mission, and service is not to make us feel better about ourselves, but if we can't picture ourselves in the announcement, we aren't going to connect or care.
4. Tell a (short) story. A different key question is: how will this event allow the people listening to affect others for the kingdom of God?
5. Cut as many details as possible. If you can use the previous two points to make a connection and inspire a response, you don't need details.
6. Have a call to action. There should always be a clear call to action.
7. Consider the context. Don't just think about the three sentences you are going to say in worship, but think about what is going on around you in the moment.
8. Target specialized announcements. Similar to using more channels, when you have an announcement that applies to a particular segment of your organization, consider if there is a better way to reach them than the up-front, large group announcement.
9. Create an announcement strategy. If you can have an intentional strategy and supporting policies ahead of time, it will help organize and streamline the whole process.
10. Consider an announcement worksheet and/or script template. Create a worksheet for people to fill in and submit if they have an announcement.

Source: Alban 

Healthy Churches Are HEALTHY Churches!
Healthy churches can truly be healthy places that care for body as well as mind and spirit. Read more from Grace Place Lutheran Wellness Ministries on why churches should be emphasizing physical wellness.