This week's edition of This Week@ GLC is a "two for one" special. Because our parish administrator will be out of the office for a few days, the weekly email will feature two weeks of information in one email. There will be no This Week @ GLC on October 13. Weekly emails will resume on October 20th.

Office emails will be checked regularly during Sharon's absence. Thanks for your patience with our scheduling!

October is Mental Health Awareness Month. During these weeks, our Extending Grace group will be sharing brief reminders about mental health and the struggles that often go unseen or unspoken. Mental health challenges are more common than we may realize, and they are not a sign of weakness or a character flaw. There is help, there is hope and no one needs to struggle alone.

To learn more, follow the link below, watch for information in our weekly emails and hear from Extending Grace friends at the beginning of our Sunday services.

Last week Margaret Fossel celebrated her 101st birthday. She was tickled by the card and greetings her GLC family gave to her.

This Sunday, GLC’s Lutheran World Relief quilts and school kits will be dedicated during worship – and then they’re ready to be sent on their way!

It costs just $4 to send a quilt or school kit on its journey, carrying hope, health and love to friends around the world. Want to help with the postage? A donation box and envelopes are available in the Shalom Room.

Together, let’s send some Quilt & Kit Mail around the world!

Steps for David is the name of the team honoring David Nissen at this year’s Ames Alzheimer’s Awareness Walk. The event will be held this Saturday at Brookside Park in Ames. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 9:00 a.m. There is no cost to participate in the walk, but registration is requested. Use the links below to register, join Steps for David and find additional information.

Our new online church directory is connecting more and more GLC family members by the day. We have over 65 family units entered so far.

We’re asking members to share their contact information and photos with the church office for inclusion in the directory.

To be included, simply fill out and return a consent form to the church office. The form is part of an informational packet that also includes instructions for accessing the directory and details about security and privacy.

Packets are available just outside the church office. You may also request one by emailing office@gilbertlutheran.org or calling (515) 233-2421.

We look forward to seeing the many faces of GLC in our new directory – and to another way of staying connected with one another!

We received the following thank you.

Empty Bowls is a global, grassroots movement that raises money for food-related charities and organizations to fight hunger. Participating artists create and donate bowls, then organizers serve a simple meal. Guests choose a bowl to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. In addition to the pottery being provided by local artists, local restaurants and grocery stores also donate to the project.

Coordinated by the Ames Community Arts Council and done in partnership with several arts organizations and numerous Ames artists, the third annual Empty Bowls will be held Sat., Nov. 7 at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation (2622 Lincoln Way, Ames). Part of the proceeds from this event will benefit Backpack Buddies,

Tickets will be available for purchase through the church office soon.

Hello students! If you love snacks, singing, musical instruments and games, you will love Hosanna Children's Choir!

We would like to have choir practice on Wednesday afternoons from 2:45 - 3:15 starting October 7. But before we finalize plans, we need to have enough participants.

Sara Harbacheck will be leading the program, designed for students in grades 1 - 5. We'd love to be able to offer special music during GLC worship services throughout the year, and hope to make regular visits to share our music with the folks at Northridge Village in Ames.

If this sounds like fun, and fits into your schedule, please contact Sara Harbacheck (sara.harbacheck@gmail.com / (515) 290-6059) or Bre (bre@gilbertlutheran.org), or the GLC office (office@gilbertlutheran.org / (515) 233-2421) and let us know. Once we have enough students registered, we will reach out to confirm our starting date and time.

. . . God, music, games, youth, ways to serve, etc.

The ELCA National Youth Gathering is next summer! Sunday, June 27, 2027 through Friday, July 2, 2027.

Registration opens soon! So parents of 8th through 12th graders please be on the look out for an email from Bre with more information on the gathering and how to get registered soon!

SUNDAY SCHOOL!

Our kiddos have been Choosing Their Own Adventure and learning how important it is to choose our words wisely, choose to do good and help others, and to choose God. Our next series will take us through the book of Job.

IN OUR PRAYERS, WE REMEMBER . . .

Deb Barron (friend of Cindy & Jim Clark); Sharon Berryhill; Jim Clark; Peggy Drennan; Laurie Gommel (sister-in-law of Sharon Popp); Donelle Gull (sister of Denise Henderson); Jef Hadaway; Loleta Hansen (cousin of Barb Licklider); Kyra Harbacheck; Gina Hendrickson (mother of Hillary Eckert); the family and friends of Janice Henningsen (mother of Brent Henningsen); Kathy Henryson; LaDona Jergenson (friend of Tammy Tinder); Jacob Keller (grandson of Charlotte Keller); Nathan Kerns; Barb Licklider; Larry McHone; David Nissen; Reed Pattee (cousin of Barb Licklider); Shirley Pattee (aunt of Barb Licklider); Debbie Petersen (cousin of Barb Licklider); Mark Peterson (brother-in-law of Robin Fletcher); Scott Raymond; Kayla Rose (aunt of Rylee Tunyuck); the family and friends of Dave Schutt (father of Andrew Schutt); Bill Scott; Deb Smith (friend of Tammy Tinder); Randy Thompson; Tammy Tinder; Don Twedt; Anne Walden; Monica Wilson (granddaughter of Ellen Wilson); Iola Zimbeck (mother of Peggy Drennan); Helen Zimmerman (mother of Shelley Taylor).

WE OFFER NEW PRAYERS OF . . .

+ blessing for Margaret Fossel. Margaret celebrated her 101st birthday on Friday.

+ comfort for the family and friends of Janice Henningsen. Janice, the mother of Brent Henningsen, passed away Sept. 22. Her funeral service was held yesterday at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison, IA.

+ comfort for the family and friends of Dave Schutt. Dave, the father of Andrew Schutt, passed away September 21 following a six-year battle with liver disease. He entered hospice care shortly before his death. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held in March 2027 at Reiman Gardens. Here is a link to Dave’s obituary.

+ healing for LaDona Jergenson. LaDona, a friend of Tammy Tinder, is hospitalized in Audubon, IA.

+ healing for Nathan Kerns. Nathan will have surgery Friday at Mayo Clinic in Rochester to remove cancerous tissue from his mouth and throat areas. He is expected to remain hospitalized for one or two nights following surgery.

+ healing for Larry McHone. Larry has been experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath and will have stents placed on October 14.

+ healing for Tammy Tinder. Tammy had outpatient hand surgery on Friday.

THE TLC COORDINATORS for October are Mary Vannoy (1-15) and Peggy Jobe (16-31).