October 2026
Rooted in Grace, Renewed for the World
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8
As the autumn air turns crisp and the leaves change color, we are reminded of the beautiful, natural cycles of change and shedding the old to make way for the new. In the Lutheran tradition, October is always a monumental month. On the last Sunday of October, we celebrate Reformation Sunday, a time to look back at our roots but, more importantly, to look forward to how God is continuing to reform us today.
Martin Luther’s breakthrough wasn’t just a historical event that happened over 500 years ago. It was a reminder of a timeless truth: we are justified by grace through faith. We do not have to earn God’s love; it is given to us freely.
But what does it mean to be a "Reformation people" in October 2026?
It means we recognize that the church is ecclesia semper reformanda— always being reformed. God is constantly shaping our hearts, our community, and our ministry to meet the needs of a changing world. Boundless grace doesn't mean we sit still. Instead, it frees us to step out into our neighborhood with bold love, deep empathy, and a commitment to justice.
This month, as we gather for worship, serve our neighbors, and enjoy the fellowship of this community, let us ask ourselves:
• How is the Holy Spirit stirring renewal in our own lives?
• Where is God calling our congregation to be a voice of grace and healing in the wider community?
Whether you are joining us for Sunday worship, participating in our fall ministries, or helping with our community outreach, you are an essential part of this ongoing story of faith. Come, let us celebrate the freedom of the Gospel together!
OCTOBER VOLUNTEERS
SUPPLY ACOLYTE
Oct 4 – Chris Dahl, Riverside
Oct 11 – Jolene Kruger
Oct 18 – Richard Echelberger
Oct 25 – Pastor Denise Lindemann Madi Muhlenbruch
USHERS ALTAR GUILD
Curtis Dow Linda Dow
David Ziesman Ruth Reingardt
DEACON BREAD BAKER
Angela Wharton Mary Anderson
COMMUNION Sunday, October 25th at 10:00 We will celebrate Reformation & Confirmation (wear red) COUNCIL MEETING Wednesday, October 7th – 6:00 p.m.
FREE COMMUNITY MEAL
Wednesday, October 21st from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Menu: Chili & cinnamon rolls
ALL ARE WELCOME
Prayer requests for Pat Meek, Louise Anderson, Linda Wilmoth, all our homebound and care center members. A special prayer to our farmers for a safe and productive harvest.
DOWS FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH Council Meeting
September 2, 2026
President, Kathy Thelke, opened the meeting with 8 members present. A motion to approve of the agenda presented was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by Jean Swanson. Motion carried.
DEVOTIONS: Kathy led us in a prayer.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT: Kathy Thelke Kathy reported that she had received two “Thank You’s”. One from Lisa Stuck for working the church food stand again for Corn Days and one from the Dows Corn Days Committee for sponsoring entertainment and parade entries.
SECRETARY’S REPORT: Jeanne Russell Jeanne read the minutes from the July 1st meeting as there was no meeting held in August. A motion to accept the minutes as read was made by Jean Swason and seconded by Mary Haugen. Motion carried.
TREASURER REPORT: Shelly Howard Shelly reported that the “Good Samaritan Fund” has been used a few times since June. UB&T notified Shelly that the Luther League account was dormant and needed to have a transaction done. She transferred $4,420.40 to a Savings Account and kept $500.00 in checking. This was done for interest purposes for the account. The church received a check for $554.52 for our portion of working in the Church Food Stand over Corn Days. Expenditures were made for t-shirts for the God’s Work/Our Hands Sunday on Sept. 13th and for additional items to make the personal kits. A motion to approve of the Treasurer’s Report was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by Bev Weidemann. Motion carried.
DEACON’S REPORT: Merle Reingardt will be moved from Ackley to Hampton Care Center. Members receive Communion monthly that are in care centers or home bound. Communion kits need to be brought in and refilled to be blessed for the Deacons to have when calling on our shut-ins.
TRUSTEES: Spraying around the church will be done by Hawkeye West Pest Control from Clarion this Fall.
STEWARDSHIP: Larry & Tammy Klatt – nothing to report
OLD BUSINESS: September 13th service will be the beginning of this year’s Sunday School classes. Backpack blessing will be done that day by Larry Klatt. Potluck that day following the service. Council members will be hosting this dinner. God’s Work/ Our Hands Project following the meal.
Other Old Business: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Luther League bank account. Casey Simons was on this account and won’t be going forward. Mary Haugen will be the Parish Board of Ed person on this account now.
High School Sunday School Class & Youth Group: David Ziesman will teach this and work on activities to involve the youth of our congregation.
Confirmation: The two students in Confirmation have 6 weeks before they are confirmed in October. An Instructor will be needed to complete this course with them.
Harvest Festival: November 15th with Communion & a potluck following the service. Donation designations are: Dows Grocery, Crème’ de’ le Crème, and Dows Senior Citizens. A motion to approve this was made by Mary Haugen and seconded by Jean Swanson. Motion carried.
Christmas Card signing for Care Centers will be done after the meal.
Sunday School Christmas Program Date: December 20th & snow date, December 27th
Bethlehem Garage Sale Date: December 13th
Christmas Eve Sacks will again be assembled and distributed.
High School Youth will do the Christmas Eve service.
Supply: We will be doing Communion twice in November. On the 15th and the 29th (First Sunday in Advent)
Other New Business: The Council discussed the importance of finding a Pastor. A meeting with the Council & the Call Committee will be on Sept. 20th following the church service that day.
With no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Craig Russell and seconded by Jean Swanson. The meeting was adjourned.
Members closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
The next Council Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 7th at 6:00 pm.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell Council Secretary
JOINT COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
An approval of the proposed agenda was made by Mary Anderson and seconded by Mary Haugen. Motion carried. There were 5 Call Committee members present along with the youth member and 9 Council members.
Devotions: President Kathy Thelke led us in a prayer.
BUSINESS:
An update from the Call Committee on a search for a Pastor was given by Tammy Klatt. She said that she had contacted Paster Stephen Brackett and had not gotten a call back yet. The video that was made will been in May will need to be redone. The interviews will be kept the same.
The Clarion First Lutheran and the UCC Church are sharing supply Pastors currently and have a joint Call Committee.
Discussion was held on the program by the Synod called SAM, which is a 2 year program.
Shelly Howard reported that just in the NEIA Synod alone, there are 31 congregations without a pastor. Of these 31, 11 are for parttime calls and 20 are for full-time positions. The ones searching for a full-time Pastor are not getting any one to interview and parttime searches are the same issue.
The Presbyterian Church in Clarion is without a Pastor and so is the ELCA Lutheran Church in Thornton.
Lay Ministry programs are offered by NEIA Synod if someone in the Congregation would be interested in taking those courses.
Craig Russell said he feels that our congregation is really suffering from a lack of “Pastoral leadership”.
A discussion about the possibility of “Hope Lutheran” establishing a satellite site in Dows like they have done in other areas, such as Ames, Newton and Ankeny was mentioned.
Tammy Klatt, Chair of the Call Committee and Kathy Thelke, Congregational President, will get together this week to compose a letter to send to area churches to see about the possibility of doing a “shared ministry” with our congregation.
Mary Anderson said for Craig to check into seeing about a possible supply person from “The Reborn Ranch” in Hampton.
With no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Craig Russell and seconded by Mary Anderson. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by, Jeanne Russell Council Secretary
Confirmation Sunday
Please join us on Sunday, October 25th as we celebrate the confirming of two young ladies in our congregation. Ainsley Ahrens and Madilyn Muhlenbruch. A card basket will be placed in the narthex if you would like to leave your well wishes.
Baby News
We send our congratulations to Ashlynn Srigley and Isaac Dewolf on the birth of their son, Sebashen Oliver Lockhart Dewolf. We will have the baby table set up for the month of October.
Christmas Goodies
It was decided at the last council meeting to pass out the Christmas Goodie bags again this year after the Christmas Eve service. Now we know this is early, but if you see some deals on Halloween candy after that holiday, grab them and bring them to the church and we will have the box ready in the narthex.
Thank you!
The council would like to say thank you to everyone who helped to make our “God’s Work. Our Hands” Sunday a success. Donated items of towels, soap, combs, clippers and toothbrushes made it possible for us to assemble 78 kits. These kits have been boxed up and will be taken to Nazareth Lutheran in Cedar Falls in October. They will then be put on a semi to head to Lutheran World Relief where they will be distributed to those in need. Keep track of your yellow T-shirts as we may just do something again next year! Stay tuned.