PRAYERS – Jon Cook; Karen Engels; Millie Mutka; Dan Laatsch; Bonnie Van Hise; Kathy Mayo; Barb Zima’s friends Mick, Steven and Marilyn Hummel, Nancy Ehlinger, Gregory Bowens; Laurie Nelson; Pastor’s cousin Brian Bohrtz; Amber Ross’s daughter Linda; Karen Stanton’s friends Don & Penny Waite and sister Pam Schweitzer; Jim Moravec and his son Brian; Randy & Diane Niemczyk’s daughter Julia VanAvery, Randy’s mom Beverly, niece Sarah Joda, Denise Runde and Denise Hazel; Valeria Hesselberg; Chris Markussen; Strong’s friend Erin Molle; Rachel Strong’s brother Matt Besant; Mark Lickteig’s daughter Missy; Debbie Cyrtmus’ mother, Rose Wicker and sister, Corrie Trittin; the Ebert’s friend Donna; Joyce Leander’s son Kevin Church; Bob Michael’s brother Tom Michaels; Ashley Clark’s friend Kristie Dehart; the Waggoner’s sister-in-law Cheryl Busse, and friend Chris Sturgeon; Karen Engels niece Lisa; Ann Carlson’s people Martha, Lou, Julie, Rebecca, Sherry, Armand, and Darren; peace for all nations and comfort for those in distress. Prayers for those traveling.
PRAYER LIST PROCEDURE – Submit your prayer requests to the office in writing, by phone, by email or in person. If requesting prayers for someone other than yourself or an immediate family member, please obtain permission – unless are public in nature.
OUT OF THE OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENTS – Ann will be gone from Oct 7 – Oct 25 – returning to the office Oct 29. She will have very limited connectivity. All concerns, questions, complaints need to be sent to Pastor Grant. HOWEVER, Pastor Grant will be in LaCrosse Oct 11 for a Spiritual Direction Cohort dealio. Adam Matyska is amazing and will be leading Worship. We are thankful for Adam and his family.
PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH – even though Pastor Grant is playing hookey on the official Pastor Appreciation Day of Oct 11 – you’re in luck – as pastors are celebrated all month long!
LOOKING AHEAD: The following church events are coming up on us FAST!
Oct 18 Consecration Sunday – Giving of your time & talents.
Oct 25 Reformation Sunday – Please wear red. (Isn’t mandatory – show up in maroon, magenta, or whatever is clean. 😊)
Nov 1 All Saints Day – the day we remember our people
GUESTS – if you are visiting us today, please sign our book at the entrance to the sanctuary.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR – Sign up for Fellowship Hour in the Fellowship Hall! Sign-up sheets through December are available.
QUILTERS UNTIE! – I mean unite to tie. Tie one on with the quilting group as they assemble quilts. Meet every first and third Wed of the month 9:30 to 11:30 am.
GET READY – Prince of Peace will be hosting “Leaving a Legacy of Faith” for churches in our conference on Thu, Oct 15 from 11:30a to 1:30p. Learn practical ways to care for your family while supporting the ministries you love including will, beneficiaries, powers of attorney and tax wise giving through trusts, CDs and IRAs. There will be a lunch served.
CHRISTIAN WOMEN’s LUNCHEON – Oct 15 at 11:30. Lunch will be at the Riverstone in Eagle River. Please RSVP to Jerrie at vanbeke@frontier.net.
PRAISE IN THE PINES – this event is coming up on Oct 18 at Northland Pines High School. We have received two complimentary vouchers – which have to be redeemed by Oct 12. If you are interested – please contact Pastor Grant.
NEW DIRECTORY IS OUT – and available in the Narthex.
PASS THE PEACE & NOT THE COOTIES – be mindful of cold and flu season. Plus all of the other nastiness floating around. There are masks and hand sanitizer in the Narthex. Use whatever you need. You can ‘fist bump’ like Jon. Give each other the elbow. Stand in a corner and wave. Do what makes you comfortable. Talk to your health care professional to find out if a flu shote is right for you. If you are feeling yucky – stay home. You can watch all the fun on YouTube. Wash your hands. Hydrate. Rest.
FUN FACT: About 30 years ago I made a list of things I really wanted to do. One thing was to traverse the Panama Canal. I have no idea why this became important to me. Four months ago, a friend of mine called Burt and I and asked if we were interested in going on a 16 day cruise. He had received a fantastic deal for the sail. Burt said “Absolutely not, but honey – go and have fun.” Tomorrow I am flying to Seattle. And boarding a ship for the canal on Friday. (Plans have been changed considerably due to weather and other issues. For a now 15 day cruise, we will only have two shore days. And we may be hitting some tropical storm weather. Full steam ahead!) I am excited and a bit apprehensive (lots of people and a confined (to me) space). Flat Luther is coming with me. The following is some additional information.
How Churches Helped Build and Give Away the Panama Canal
When President Jimmy Carter wanted to get the Panama Canal treaties passed in the U.S. Senate in 1977, the Baptist Sunday School teacher turned to gospel music. Or at least to a mostly-blind gospel music disc jockey.
Rev. J. Bazell Mull of Knoxville, Tennessee, was heard on the radio coast-to-coast each night — and elsewhere in North America and the Caribbean — with his “Mull’s Singing Convention” as he broadcast gospel tunes. The New York Times noted one such popular song: “I Went to an Old Camp Meeting with the Devil (But I Came Home with the Lord).” He had an audience of millions, to whom he also sold records and Bibles. And he hosted a Sunday morning TV show, on which Dolly Parton made her first TV appearance.
The 63-year-old Mull left the studio in the basement of his home for multiple trips to the White House to help Carter sell the treaties in which the U.S. gave control of the Panama Canal to the Panama government after controlling the 51-mile long waterway since construction had started seven decades earlier.
“I’m strong for the signing of the canal treaty,” Mull declared during a White House event. “Now suppose we had 9,400 Japanese or Russian troops marching up and down the Mississippi. Even though it was our land, here they’d be right in the middle of us. Do you think we’d like that? Do you? I’ll tell you right now: Doc, we wouldn’t put up with it — but that’s just what they want the people in Panama to do.”
“I had a little boy in the ninth grade in school call me and want to know something about the treaty for a class. I explained it, and he became convinced we should sign it,” the disk jockey-turned-treaty advocate added. “Everybody who understands the treaty is for it. Many of the American people don’t know about it so they are against it. I definitely think we are changing their minds.”
Mull also met with senators, including the key player who happened to be one of his own: Republican Minority Leader Howard Baker of Tennessee. Asked in November 1977 to predict the future of the proposed treaties Carter had signed two months earlier with Panama’s military leader Omar Torrijos, Mull said he believed it would pass. Whether his politicking made the difference or not, he proved prophetic.
The first treaty, which gave the U.S. the right to defend the canal from any force that blocked access to all nations, passed the Senate in March 1978. The second, which pledged the U.S. to transfer ownership and control of the canal to the Central American nation on Dec. 31, 1999, passed the following month. On both votes, 16 Republicans (including Baker) joined 52 Democrats (including freshman Joe Biden) in supporting ratification, while 10 Democrats and 22 Republicans opposed them. If just one more senator had voted against them, the treaties would’ve failed.
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For God & Country
After hundreds of years of explorers and colonial rulers dreaming about cutting a canal through the area to speed up travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific sides of the Americas, the French tried in the late 19th century to do it. But the effort failed after more than 20,000 men died from diseases and accidents and they spent the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars today.
The U.S. effort began first by supporting a coup. In 1903, when the territory was still part of Colombia, President Teddy Roosevelt sent U.S. warships to block the Colombian government from ending a Panamanian rebellion. After the Republic of Panama was declared on Nov. 3, 1903, the U.S. quickly recognized the new nation and kept it from being attacked in exchange for a perpetual lease on the land that became known as the Panama Canal Zone. But given that it was signed under the shadow of warships, many Panamanians came to view U.S. control of the canal zone as a violation of Panama’s national sovereignty
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NOTES FROM ANN – I have to say – I love Pet Blessing Sunday. I love the chaos. I love the furry faces. I have to give a shout out to Worry for raising his voice in worship. And Freckles for being so polite and asking for pets. And who doesn’t appreciate the Bauers bringing a pile of snow to us early? (Silly me – it wasn’t a pile of snow – it was Meekah! Their miniature Alaskan Eskimo.) I won’t try and name all of the pets, because I’ll end up leaving some furry face out and don’t want to hurt their feelings. A great day. A great message.
I realize this month is about transition. In nature, in the church and in our own lives. Some of our members are packing for a permanent move. Some are packing for a winter move. I may or may not be back by the time you head off to your new or winter homes. Please know – I wish you safe travels and safe landings. And hope to see your smiling faces at some point.
I’m off on an adventure. I love adventures. Not all of them have to be big like this one. Adventures can happen in your own backyard. And this one? Well – it has been adventure without even leaving the house. From getting ready, packing, to losing a day due to engine issues and the possibility of bad weather. I’m here for it. Hoping to hear about your adventures soon.
The picture at the top is Mark, Catherine and Jasmine. Mark and Catherine have been monitoring our blood pressure and we are thankful for them. Jasmine lives with Barb. At the bottom is our little imported pile of snow – Meekah.
