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#GivingTuesday
One day a year, December 1, #GivingTuesday inspires the nation to give for a charitable cause. As their promotion points out: There is Black Friday and Cyber Monday; then there is GivingTuesday. It's a time to focus less on ourselves and wholely on ways to help the many people and causes that serve others in our communities. 

This GivingTuesday, New Starts...New Believers is partnering to support Sanctuary Manhattan Lutheran Mission's efforts at Laraway School. Your gift will provide the money needed for a special Christmas-time outreach to families in this Preston Heights School where there is a high percentage of at-risk kids. The first $2,000 in gifts will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by New Starts...New Believers, doubling your gift's impact. Be certain to follow us and share our updates on Facebook.com/newstartsnewbelievers. Visit our webpage at ni.lcms.org/GivingTuesday for more information or to make your gift there.

Walther Open House and Placement Testing
Walther Christian Academy, 900 Chicago Avenue, Melrose Park, invites you for a Placement Test or open house:

• Open House: Sunday, December 6, 2015, 3 p.m.
• Incoming High School Student Placement Test: Saturday, January 9, 2016, 8 a.m.; Saturday, February 27, 2016 8 a.m.; Saturday March 19, 2016, 8 a.m.
• Visitation Day & Placement Test: Friday, January 23, 8 a.m.

Walther offers a 25% tuition discount to students who match the standards of Walther's Scholars Program based on scores from the first two placement test dates. The discount is renewable based on academic performance. For more information call 708-344-0404 or visit Walther.com.

Concordia Plan Services "Be Well" Sneak Preview
A Concordia Plans Services representative will be at the Northern Illinois District Office, 2301 S. Wolf Road, Hillside, Tuesday, November 18, at 6:30 p.m. to talk about enhancements to the Be Well ... Serve Well program and the new Vitality platform. This presentation is for both workers and employers. Spots are limited so make sure to sign-up today. Email Ronda Wilmot or call 708-223-3101. Print flyer

Concordia Health Care Plan Changes for Retired Workers
Changes in the health care plan for retired LCMS workers in CPS Medicare take effect January 1. With the changes, retirees will now have three cost options instead of one. Health plan election for retirees is due November 3, but a limited safety-net is being provided for those who need help and miss that deadline. People are encouraged to call the Concordia Plan Services office in St. Louis with questions, 888-927-7526.

Employers: Name a Wellness Champion and Cap Your CHP Rates!
Concordia Plan Services is offering a rate increase cap of 4.9% on the 2017 Concordia Health Plan for all employers who commit to supporting wellness by submitting the name and contact information of a wellness champion for their organization.  Employers need to submit their champion information on the Be Engaged! letter by December 31, 2015, to secure their rate cap for 2017.
 
Having a wellness champion will be essential to supporting health and wellness at a local level. Print Being A Wellness Champion. For more information contact Concordia Plan Services at 888-927-7526.

St. John's Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln, Lombard, is hosting Cowboy Rick Pickren, singer/songwriter of traditional and original fold songs, and his ensemble Sunday, November 15, at 3 p.m. An informal reception with refreshments will follow. Admission is free; a free-will offering will be received and the public is invited. For more information, call 630-629-2515.

Classroom & Program Aide
Substitute Teacher
Immanuel Lutheran School, 200 N. Plum Grove Road, Palatine, seeks substitute teachers, and classroom and program aides to work part-time during the school year in the Early Childhood, Elementary, and After-School programs. Please visit immanuelpalatine.org/hr to review the position descriptions and complete an online application.

St. Peter Lutheran Church and School, Schaumburg is looking for a customer service driven individual to join our church and school team. This person must be willing to work full time with occasional Sunday morning and special event availability. Computer skills, clerical skills, organizational skills, flexibility and proper phone etiquette are required. For a full job description please contact Heather Collier - hcollier@stpeterlcms.org or call 847-885-3350.

Navigating the Currents of Endowments and Reserve Funds - Because people give to many worthwhile causes, including the church, leaders must make a case for how congregation's mission advances God's will. Print flyer

If you begin utilizing all five of these powerful follow-up tools you will undoubtedly retain more guests. No, the newest gadget has not, nor ever will, replace the power of human interaction. But, we can leverage the technologies that exist today to better connect with our first time guests and the larger faith community.

Emotional Wellbeing and Genesis 50
"Are you quick to forgive and committed to love in all of your relationships?"  Ouch. I called it the grudge question, and I'm convinced that being asked that question on a regular basis helped me avoid the kind of emotional anxiety that can gnaw on church workers and destroy the harmony in a church. Read more from Grace Place Lutheran Wellness Ministries.