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We see a welcoming family, living the Gospel of Grace. We see a family where people can safely seek, question, and be revived. We see a family energized by the Spirit alive in our midst.
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Practicing Forgiveness
By Pastor Jennifer
So the other morning I was trying to carry everything to the car in one trip. It was silly. I don't know why I insist on this, but I do. In the process I spilled coffee on my shirt. Darn it! So Finally, I set everything down, and proceeded to carry a couple things at a time to the car. Jasmine asked me, "Mommy, why are you mad at yourself?" It made me pause... Why was I? Because I knew that making two trips would have been better, and I didn't. The result was a stain on my shirt. Jasmine's response, "It's ok mommy. You will get the stain out. You are good at getting the stains out!" She knows this from experience, as she sees me sorting and pre-treating clothes as part of our laundry routine. But the real gift in her statement was forgiveness. This wasn't a big deal. I made it a big deal. It has me wondering how often I am hard on myself?? How often are we hard on each other? It "should be" a certain way... but it isn't and we are disappointed or frustrated. Before we know it, we are "shoulding" all over ourselves.
In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his neighbor? Jesus answers not 7 times, but 77 times. This is really a metaphor, meaning A LOT. We don't forgive a little bit, but a lot! Often! More than you can count! Because really, how many of us want to carry around cards for each other waiting to forgive 77 times so then we can be justifiably angry? And how many of us want others to do that for us?
The first example I gave at the top really was a little thing. The best part was that 10 minutes later when we realized that Jasmine forgot something at home, I was able to practice forgiveness with her as she did with me. We made an adventure of returning home to get it. But, sometimes we do have big things with each other. It's hard to be humble. It's hard to say I'm sorry. It's hard to talk to the person and say this hurt me. It is much easier to just distance ourselves and step away. Yet, when we do this, we don't have the opportunity to know what we did. We don't have the opportunity to apologize. We don't have the opportunity to experience the death to new life God has for us in relationships.
Jesus' words still ring out for us. 77 times forgive her. 77 times forgive him. Go to him or her and talk about the relationship. May God guide us as we practice forgiveness, together.
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From Our Synod...
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Fall Small Groups - Check Them Out!
Check out our Small Groups and consider joining:
Wine and Women - A small group for women ONLY to gather for an evening of conversation about family, work, community issues and concerns or just about whatever a woman may need to get off her chest and bounce off other women of faith. Of course, there will be wine to sip, if desired. We will meet once per month on the 3rd
Thursday of each month at
7:00 p.m. at the home of Roxann Crabb. Currently there are 6-8 women who attend but plenty of room for more. Please contact Roxann at 262-412-0587 or [email protected]
with any questions.
Koinonia
- Leader Donna Johnson, Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Donna Jensen's home.
Messy Spirituality
- Leader Donna Johnson, Meets the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Donna Jensen's home.
Fabulous 50 Fellowship - Meet the second
Thursday of every month at
6 pm at various restaurants. All over the age of 50 are welcome to join us. Make reservations with Corlis Hachey at
[email protected] or on Spirit Alive! website under small groups.
Quilt Club - The Quilt Club is looking for people experienced in sewing to make quilts for those in need of extra prayers and for baptisms. Meeting times are flexible and sewing may also be done on your own at home. For information see Corlis Hachey after service or email at [email protected].
Questions God Can't Answer - This study will look at Jesus' questions and challenge us to answer them. This group will meet on 9/28, 10/12, 10/26, 11/9, 11/30 in the evenings at Dave Jordan's home. Talk with Dave if you have questions.
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Fall Kick-Off Brunch and
Small Group Sign-Up
On Sunday, September 11, join us after worship for brunch and the opportunity to check out the fall small group offerings. Sign up on the back table if you plan on attending and are interested in bringing food to share. We are also in need of fall decorations, so please let us know if you have some to lend for this event. Be sure to stay for the giveaways after brunch!
Flyer
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S
chedule for Youth Group
BREW: September 4, 11, 18 and 25 - 8:15ish at Starbucks
ChAngent/Adultish: The first Youth Group meeting will be September 22 at Donna Johnson's house, 6:30-7:45 pm for Middle School,
7:30-8:45 pm for Adultish. Questions: [email protected]
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Youth News!!!!
As you may have heard youth group is kicking off in just a few short weeks!!!! This year we are doing things just a little differently. OK, it really is not that much different, but there are some big things to notice.
First, we will be going back to the split Thursday youth schedule. ChAngent group will meet at 6:30 and run through 7:45. Adultish group will start at 6:30 and wrap up around 8:45ish. There is an overlap, which will allow for a transition filled with worship and hanging out.
Second, the ChAngent group will be adding in the 5th graders to their group. This is a strategic move to help this age group make a jump from Sunday School to youth ministry. With our Sunday School group having such a wide range of ages, often there is a disconnect for the older 5th graders. This inclusion into the ChAngent group will allow them to continue wrestling with their faith in an environment more suited to their needs. Also I am selfish and want to have an extra year to hangout with and get to know them. Should make for an interestingly awesome year!!!!
Third, St Paul's Lutheran will be joining us at youth group. Why? Well because they asked and I said yes. Ok, it was not that easy, and it has been a long process to get us to this point. The main point to know is this: we are all called to love our neighbors and in this case that love looks like opening our youth program to their youth. Much in the same way that we have worked with St. Mary's, and will continue to do so, we are bring youth together to grow in the faith alongside other youth from Kenosha. Here is what is not happening: we are not joining churches, we are including St Paul's youth with ours. We are not using their building. They do not have room for a joint youth group and Donna would shoot me if we left her basement. The program will be under my watch with my team, with St Paul's team coming along side to support what we are doing. If you have questions please, please, please ask me. I do not want assumptions made that lead to ill will. Call me if you have concerns or are unclear about what is taking place. Thank you!
There will be a tentative youth schedule posted as well for this coming year. I think it will give our youth much to be involved with and many places to grow in their faith. I know the team (Henry, Steve, Andrea and Donna) is ready to kick off this year, as am I!!!! Looking forward to see you all our amazing youth of September 22nd at Donna's rocking basement!!!!!
Youth Schedule
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Outreach for Hope Family Bike Ride
SEPTEMBER 10TH AT ST. BRUNO'S IN DOUSMAN
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PARTICIPATE! HERE ARE 4 WAYS:
1. Register and Ride - Once again, generous donors have teamed up to donate $25 for every registered rider or virtual rider registration up to $9,000!! Even virtual riders qualify for the donation! Online registration closes at midnight on Sept. 7th - Walk-up's are welcome the day of the ride.
2. Support a Rider - For every online donation to riders' web pages, a generous donor will contribute another $10 to Outreach for Hope.
3. Make a Donation - For your convenience on-line donations are possible at the
www.ofhbikeride.com Donations received via mail are also gratefully received and will be instrumental in helping us reach our goal of $110,000.
4. Volunteer - There are over 100 positions available. (
See Volunteer) We are in need of volunteers for various positions (road crossing guards, starting line/finish line assistants, rest stop assistants, setting up
for lunch, clean up and many more.)
If you are reading this after Sept. 10th the ride is over, but the need continues. Donations received by Sept. 30th help us reach our goal of $110,000 to assist 19 ministries of the Greater Milwaukee Synod.
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Open Spaces for Listening 
On August 4, 2016, a group of 12 adults met. We practiced listening to each other and inviting others to speak. We ask you to join us on one of the next four dates in September and October.
Wednesday, September 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm - St. Mary's Lounge
Thursday, September 22, 6:30 - 8:30 pm - St. Mary's Lounge
Sunday, October 9,
1-3 pm - tbd
Wednesday, October 26, 6:30 to 8:30 pm - tbd
*tbd - to be determined
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ELCA Block Party
It's coming up fast, so mark your calendars for the ELCA Block Party
September 24.
The party will include worship, shoe drive, health screenings, police and firefighter presence and more. Continue to save your new and gently used shoes for our shoe drive to support the ELCA Outreach Center (
6218 26th Ave, Kenosha, WI) community. Worship will be at 3 pm and we will be eating with our neighbors at 4 pm.
We are in need of volunteers for this event:
*Keep the shoe tables full (1 hour shifts between 4 and 6 pm.)
*Personal shoppers to help find just the right shoes (1 hour shifts
between 4 and 6 pm.)
*Set up volunteers 1:30 to 3 pm.
*Garbage collectors
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Congregation Meeting to Amend the Budget 
We have been pursuing a paid sound tech to ease our Sunday mornings, and help us grow in mission. We think we have found one. We ask that you come and be part of the discussion. Mark your calendars for the following dates to come and hear what we can do differently, and vote on a motion from the Leadership Team to adjust our annual budget. We want your voice! Please come!
Sunday September 18
: O
ur Proposed Sound Tech will run sound for worship in order to show us what difference digital equipment and a paid sound tech can bring. We will then hold a forum after service at 10:45
where we will give out printed information on the advantages of a paid sound tech, and the budget impact. This will be an opportunity to ask questions.
Saturday, September 24:
At the ELCA Outreach Center event our proposed Sound Tech or his wife will run sound for our outdoor worship in order to show you what difference digital equipment and a paid sound tech can bring.
Finally, Sunday, October 2
: W
e will hold a congregational meeting to discuss and vote on a budget or special gifts in order to support increased ministry expenses.
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Where is SpiritAlive Going?
We have some different things happening in worship over the next month or so, stay tuned!!!
Sunday, September 11, come for worship. Remember
September 11 and pray for those who suffer and for our enemies. Stay for brunch, and check out our small groups!
Sunday, September 18, join us during the sermon as we talk about what's next at Spirit Alive
. Stay for the forum and learn about our proposed budget and financial changes.
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SALT (Spirit Alive Leadership Team) 
3 Highlights from the recent SALT meeting-
There is a monthly pledged offering of $13, 275 and $9,621.49 being donated.
SALT recently held a retreat for the team, helping to plan out some activities to further grow Spirit Alive! while we celebrate our 10th birthday and thank our financial partners over the years that have allowed us to grow.
An exciting possibility for furthering the ministry has presented itself- more info will be provided to the congregation in September, so stay tuned!
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No  Worship on September 25
We will have worship at the ELCA Outreach Center (6218 26th Ave, Kenosha, WI) at 3 pm on Saturday, September 24. There will be no Sunday worship on September 25.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SPIRIT ALIVE!
Let's get ready to celebrate! Here are the preliminary plans for our 10th Anniversary celebration.
- Sunday, October 23 - Church picnic potluck - hosted by Donnie and Ruth
- Sunday, October 30 -begin creating a timeline of our history (through November 13)
- Sunday, November 6 - Continue Creating a timeline of our history
- Sunday, November 13 - Last Sunday to add to our timeline; Blessed in 10 challenges start; Pastor Larry returns to preach
- Sunday, November 20 - Blessed in 10 challenges continue - Send us a video of how God worked in that situation!
- Sunday, November 27 - Last Sunday for Blessed in 10 challenges - Send us a video of how God worked in that situation!
- Sunday, December 3 - Blessed in 10 challenge celebration and video!
Stay tuned for other celebrations... More guest preacher to celebrate our history, and an appetizer and dessert reception in January
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Sundays
9:30 am
Pleasant Prairie Elementary School
Wilmot Rd.
(Hwy C)
Pleasant Prairie, WI
262.658.2433
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Calling All Small Group Leaders
It's that time again! If God is calling you to lead a small group that grows deeper in faith and deeper in relationship with each other, talk with Pastor Jennnifer.
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Volunteer Coordinator Needed:
We are looking for a
Volunteer Coordinator. Copies of this job description are on the table. Can you help? Talk with Pastor Jennifer today.
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