THIS MORNING’S ALTAR FLOWERS were given by the congregation in honor of St. Luke, Evangelist Day. We thank the congregation for this floral tribute.

ADULT BIBLE CLASS/FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY TODAY – All are welcome to join Pastor in the Fellowship Hall at 10:45 a.m. this morning for Adult Bible Class, as well as refreshments for Fellowship Sunday. Today we will be reviewing the events surrounding the Reformation, using the “Luther” movie as an illustration and basis for our conversation. Part 2 of this discussion/movie will take place during next Sunday’s class. We hope you will join us!

THANKSGIVING PLACE MAT COLORING EVENT TODAY - Hey, kids! Do you enjoy coloring? If so, we hope you’ll stick around after church today to help color some Thanksgiving place mats that will be used on tables during St. Mark’s Fall Harvest Potluck on the 26th. The place mat coloring will take place in the “Kids’ Corner” area of the Fellowship Hall during the Adult Bible Class. Kids will enjoy snacks and juice while they are hard at work creating colorful mats that will be seen, used, and admired at the Fall Harvest Potluck.

HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR COPY OF THE “FAITH COMES BY HEARING” AUDIO BIBLE? – If you haven’t, please be sure to pick one from an usher as you leave church this morning. This CD, containing the New Testament, is provided for our members FREE through a generous donation by the Bible translation company Faith Comes By Hearing. Each disc contains an audio drama of the New International Version of the Scriptures, the same version in the red Bibles we use at St. Mark’s in Bible classes. The files are in MP3 format, which play in computer CD players, portable music players, many recent DVD players, and in many newer car stereos. Faith Comes By Hearing was chosen by our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to produce audio Bibles for their distribution in mission programs. They are currently working to translate the Scriptures, produce them in audio format, and get them into the hands and ears of people around the world, many of whom cannot read. They have provided enough copies of the discs so that each person in our congregation can have their own copy. They are also providing copies of the New International Reader’s Version for kids. All they ask that we collect a free-will offering to help support their translation and production work. Toward that end, St. Mark’s will be receiving a free-will Door Offering after church today. Donations may be left in the offering plate near the ushers’ stand as you exit the sanctuary.

THANKS TO ALL WHO HELPED with last Sunday’s Fall Clean Up at St. Mark’s. At least a dozen people participated, and a lot was accomplished! A Board Work Room was created in the old DCE office, gardens were weeded, and some of the old, overgrown bushes were removed from around the building. Lunch was provided by Audra Brandt (the soup was delicious!), Cathy Fitzgerald, Tammy Hurley and Debbie LoCascio. Again, thanks for everyone’s hard work in helping to keep the God’s House, and its surrounding grounds, looking nice.

REFORMATION SUNDAY DIVINE SERVICE - Please plan to join us for the Divine Service on Reformation Sunday, October 26, as we hear God’s Word, receive the gifts He gives, and celebrate our heritage as Lutheran Christians with special hymns, choir and handbell music, a cross processional, and Part 2 of our Reformation Bible class.

NEXT SUNDAY IS THE FALL HARVEST POTLUCK - You, your family, and friends are cordially invited to attend St. Mark’s annual Fall Harvest Potluck on Reformation Sunday, October 26, from 3 - 6 p.m. We ask that you please bring a dish to pass, if possible, but if not, we hope you will join us anyway. The pleasure of your company is what’s most important. For those of you who would like to bring a dish, a signup sheet has been posted in the Narthex. Some pumpkins will be provided for carving, however, you are welcome to B.Y.O.P. (bring your own pumpkin). Carving tools and Jack-O-Lantern templates will also be provided. The pumpkin seeds that are collected will be cooked in the church ovens, and each family will take home a bag of seeds to enjoy. Lastly, as we all prepare for the fall season of Thanksgiving, those attending the Potluck will have the opportunity to participate in creating a “Tree of Thanksgiving” that, once completed, will hang on the wall in our Narthex through Thanksgiving Thursday. We hope you will join us for an afternoon of fun!

ORDER LCFSA CHRISTMAS CARDS NOW - Christmas cards are now available to order from Lutheran Child and Family Services Auxiliary of Michigan. The front of each card shows a beautiful, quilted wall-hanging of the nativity. The inside contains a verse from Isaiah 9:5 as well as the words, “May all the joy and beauty of that still Holy Night be with you at Christmastime and make the whole year bright.” The cost for each package (8 cards/envelopes) is $8.00 and the proceeds will help to serve children/families throughout Michigan with counseling, residential treatment and foster care. To view a card, or place an order, please see Debbie in the church office.

JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AT ST. MARK’S CRAFT SHOW/BAKE SALE! St. Mark’s Annual Craft Show/Bake Sale will be held in our Fellowship Hall on November 8, and a lot of help will be needed to make it another huge success. Volunteers are needed to help with the Show itself, and many positions are available--kitchen help, working the baked goods table, donations of baked goods, etc. Even if you can only work at the Show for an hour or two, it would be appreciated. Dorothy Vermeersch and Ellen Bushre have offered to oversee the kitchen, and Jennie and Karen Kaufman will preside over the Bake Sale. See them if you can help in any way. Also this year, we need men to help remove the Narthex furniture and set up tables on Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m., and also to help take tables down, and replace the furniture on November 8 at 4:30 p.m. Also, any Craft Show workers who own St. Mark’s red t-shirts are encouraged to wear them during the Show. If you don’t have a St. Mark’s t-shirt, but would like to purchase one, you may place your order by listing the appropriate information on the T-shirt Sign-up Sheet posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex ASAP. All table rental and Bake Sale proceeds will go to St. Mark’s Missionary League in order to help support future mission work.

DATE IS SET FOR SECRET ANGEL DINNER – This year’s Secret Angel Dinner will take place on Sunday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kodiak Creek Inn, 8635 Cooley Lake Road (1/4 mile west of Union Lake Road) in Commerce. All ladies of the congregation are welcome to attend! Following dinner, the 2008 angels will exchange a gift (no gifts over $10, please) and then names will be drawn for 2009 angel assignments. This annual dinner is always a blast. You won’t want to miss it!

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY – The annual celebration of All Saints’ Sunday will take place here on Sunday, November 2 during the Divine Service at 9:30 a.m. Special music will be provided by the Adult Choir, and we will remember our members who have gone to be with Jesus during the past year by ringing a bell as their name(s) is read. We hope you will join us for this inspiring worship service.

ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS/VOLUNTEERS FOR 2009 BOARD POSITIONS - Are you bored? If so, serving on a board at St. Mark’s is the answer for you! Our church elections are once again approaching, and we’re looking for dedicated people willing to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ in various ways. The boards of church properties (facilities, repair/maintenance, and grounds), parish activities (planning, coordination, and carrying-out of meals, gatherings, etc.), evangelism (helping invent and plan ways to spread the Gospel), Christian education (Sunday School, VBS, etc.), and elders (spiritual caretakers of the pastor and congregation) could all use your help in this coming term. Please consider serving your Lord and your brothers and sisters in one of these ways, and be open to the possibility if you’re nominated. Call Pastor Ferry or Congregational President Kevin Hurley if you would like to use your gifts in one of these ways.

KROGER SCRIPS CARDS AVAILABLE AGAIN – Tammy Hurley has some Kroger Scrips cards available for those who would like to purchase them. Scrips is a program whereby the amount you pay for the “rechargeable” card is the amount you get to spend on items at Kroger. It’s dollar for dollar. However, the nice thing about Scrips cards is that with Tammy’s hard work, St. Mark’s will receive a cash percentage of each purchase made that can then be used for our ministry needs here. If you are a Kroger shopper, we hope that you will consider seeing Tammy, and purchasing some Scrips cards. They are available for purchase in various dollar amounts, and will also be sold at St. Mark’s Craft Show.

CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (CTS) located at 6600 N. Clinton Street in Ft. Wayne, IN invites you to participate in their upcoming LutherHostel from October 28 – November 1. LutherHostel will take you on a trip through church history and practice regarding our Lutheran Liturgy. For more information including costs, or to register, call CTS at (260) 452-2241, or visit them on their website at www.ctsfw@edu.

FOOD COLLECTION FOR OPEN DOOR CONTINUES – St. Mark’s is continuing to ask for non-perishable food donations or gift cards for the Open Door Outreach Center in Waterford through mid-December. The Open Door will be providing holiday bags of food for needy families in our area for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Food items needed include:

Gift cards from Meijer are also needed so that perishable items, such as pies, whipped topping, butter, potatoes, onions, turkeys, etc. can be purchased. Speedway gas cards are also needed. You may either drop off these items in the Open Door food donation box in the Narthex (gift cards should be given to Pastor or Secretary Debbie), or make up the complete holiday bag and leave it outside the collection box, or in the church office.

LUTHERFEST REFORMATION CHORAL FESTIVAL – The Lutheran Center Association (LCA) invites you to join in an afternoon of excellent Lutheran Reformation music and fellowship on Sunday, November 2 at 4 p.m. The concert will be held at beautiful, historic Epiphany Lutheran Church, 933 W. Seven Mile Rd. (just east of Woodward), Detroit. Safe, secure parking will be provided. Refreshments will be served following the concert. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is sponsoring the event with matching funds. Please consider financially supporting the LCA. Donations of any size are welcome and can be sent to: Lutheran Center Association, 16259 Nine Mile Rd., Eastpointe, MI 48021. A free-will offering will also be collected at the concert. Proceeds will help assure the continued presence of the Detroit Lutheran and the Lutheran Center Bookstore. For more information, please call (800) 572-6711.

MENTALL ILLNESS – Mental Illness Awareness Month is being observed by our Michigan District during October. Their Committee on Mental Illness continues to provide resources that congregations can use to help overcome mental illness stigmas, and encourage families affected by mental illness. The Committee recommends the following web sites for your information: www.pathways2promise.org, www.nami.org, and www.outreach.nimh.nih.gov. To find a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), call (517) 485-4049 or email: namimichigan@acd.net.

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF CONCORD	23RD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
LARGE CATECHISM	TEN COMMANDMENTS

Those who cling to God alone should be sure that He will show them mercy. He will show them pure goodness, not only for themselves, but also to their children's children.

Let everyone seriously take this passage to heart. For you it is a question of eternal blessing, happiness, and salvation, or of eternal wrath and woe. What more would you have or desire than God so kindly promising to be yours with every blessing and to protect and help you in all need?

But unfortunately, here is the failure: the world believes none of this, nor regards it as God's Word. For the world sees that those who trust in God and not in Mammon suffer care and want, and that the devil opposes and resists them. On the other hand, those who serve Mammon have power, favor, honor, possessions, and every comfort.

Those who have used all their care and diligence to gather great possessions, what have they finally gained?... They have never found happiness in their wealth.

For these words of the promise had to come true. Let not the devil and the world deceive you with their show.

Let us, then, learn well the First Commandment, that we may see how God will tolerate no overconfidence nor any trust in any other object. He requires nothing greater from us than confidence from the heart for everything good. Then we may live right and straightforward and use all the blessings that God gives. (paragraphs 39, 41-43, 46-47)