NOVEMBER, 2026

“Jesus Satisfies”

     As we approach Thanksgiving 2026 the Bible reminds us that Jesus and Jesus only is the one who provides and satisfies the deepest longings of our soul.  Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the goodness of God and all that He has done in and through the person of Jesus Christ and through the person of the Holy Spirit.  When Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus how they should pray Jesus prayed what we have come to know as the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6 and Luke 11.  One of the petitions that relates so well to Thanksgiving is found in Matthew 6:11, “Give us this day our daily bread.”  As part of our Confirmation study we look at each petition and I would like to draw from some of the highlights from Luther’s Small Catechism and Explanation. The explanation given to “What does this mean?” is as follows:

“God indeed gives daily bread to all men, even to the wicked, without prayer; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to acknowledge our daily bread as His gift and to receive it with thanksgiving.”

     One observation that should cause us to be filled with thanks is the reality that “God indeed gives daily bread to all men…”  We are reminded that all we have is from God and that we are stewards of those gifts.  We first think of the person of Jesus, the “Bread of Life,” who alone can satisfy the deepest longing of our souls, by saving us from our sin and living within us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  We also understand that Jesus provides for our physical needs as well.  This is summarized in the catechism after the question “What is meant by daily bread?”

“Everything that is required to satisfy our bodily needs such as food and clothing, house and home, fields and flocks, money and goods; pious parents, children, and servant; godly and faithful rulers, good government; seasonable weather, peace and health; order and honor, true friends, good neighbors, and the like.” 

    These truths come from Scripture and most notably from Matthew 6:25-34.  God is the one who provides and He longs to care for His people.  He is the One who desires for us to pray for “daily bread,” and also to “work with our hands,” even though we have prayed for His sustenance.  At the heart of all of God provision again is the person of Christ.  Matthew 6:33-34 helps us to understand how God provides, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things these will be added to you.”  This is not the “prosperity gospel,” which some ascribe to, but this is saying that God provides salvation and the essentials to live spiritually and physically in this world.  I love this text because it strips away all of the other things that complicate life when a person’s goal in life is having more and more and more.  He knows our needs and provides abundantly!

     As we “seek first God’s kingdom” and seek to follow Him there are times that we may feel the pressures of life, with some things that are out of our control.  We continue to go back to God’s Word, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:34)  This is a tremendous promise where God call us to trust.  He calls us to continually move ahead faithfully, trusting in His provision and that He will take care of our needs.  As sinful human beings we may run to worry; trust in God’s plan and provision, He always comes through. 

     As we get closer to this special time of the year, let’s praise God together with thankful hearts for all that He has done, for all that He provides!

                                                                        With Gratefulness to God,

                                                                        Pastor Mark

 

Preaching Rotation & Worship Texts

November 1

9:00 a.m.         Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan) “What Does the Bible Say About Technological Advancement?”

10:30 a.m.       Kvam (Pr. Dan) 1 “What Does the Bible Say About Technological Advancement?”

10:30 a.m.       Zion-Sarpborg  (Jacob Z.) “What Does the Bible Say About Authority/Government?”

November 8

9:00 a.m.         Tordenskjold (Pr. Pr. Mark) “What Does the Bible Say About Unity?”     

10:30 a.m.       Kvam (Pr. Mark) “What Does the Bible Say About Unity?”           

10:30 a.m.       Zion-Sarpsborg (Pr. Dan) “What Does the Bible Say About Technological Advancement?”

November 15

9:00 a.m.         Tordenskjold (Pr. Dan)  “What Does the Bible Say About the Antichrist?”

10:30 a.m.       Kvam (Pr. Dan)  “What Does the Bible Say About the Antichrist?”

10:30 a.m.       Zion-Sarpsborg (Pr. Mark) “What Does the Bible Say About Itself?”

November 22

9:00 a.m.         Tord (Pr. Mark)  “What Does the Bible Say About Itself?”

10:30 a.m.       Kvam (Pr. Mark) 3 “What Does the Bible Say About Itself?”

10:30 a.m.       ZS (Pr. Dan) 2 “What Does the Bible Say About the Antichrist?”

November 29 (First Sunday in Advent)

9:00 a.m.         Tordenskjold (Pr.Dan) Advent Texts

10:30 a.m.       Kvam (Pr. Dan) Advent Texts

10:30 a.m.       ZS (Pr. Mark) Advent Texts

November Communion

Nov. 1                         Zion-Sarpsborg

Nov. 8                         Tordenskjold

Nov. 15                       Kvam

November Annual Meetings

Please be in prayer for our Annual Meetings and make an effort to be there.  These are very important meetings for the ministry of our churches.  It is truly a privilege to work together as a parish in the kingdom of God.  During this time we will hear various ministry reports and make decisions regarding leadership, financials and the future vision of our churches and parish as a whole.

Kvam                          November 22  (potluck)

Tordenskjold              November 22

Zion-Sarpsborg           November 29

(Tordenskjold Worship 10:30 a.m. Zion-Sarpsborg Worship 9:00 a.m. on November 22.)

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December Council Meetings

Kvam                 December 7 @ 7 p.m. (Deacons 6 p.m.)

Zion-Sarpsborg December 9 (following the Parish Christmas Party)

Tordenskjold     December 14 @ 7 p.m.  (Deacons at 6 p.m.)

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Ministerial Acts

Baptisms

Roy Michael Schmit

Son of Paige & Michael Schmit

Zion-Sarpsborg – October 11, 2026

 

Bethany Grace Johnson

Daughter of Peter & Chandler Johnson

Zion-Sarpsborg – October 25, 2026

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Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is in full swing and we'd love to see the people in our Parish be involved in this ministry. Shoeboxes, packing lists, and more information are available at each of our churches. Please have your packed shoe boxes back at our churches by November 22nd, with a $10 donation for processing (checks can be written to Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran). 

 

Fall Faith Focus 2026

Thanks to all our churches for making our Fall Faith Focus a priority last month.  We were blessed to have Pastor Mike Brandt with us.  For those of you who were not able to be here for the meetings, we want to encourage you to check out the Dalton Free Lutheran Parish YouTube channel to view the Monday and Tuesday night service that were recorded.  A special thanks to those who prepared and served the Wild Game Feed/Tasting.  It was a great time of fellowship and we look forward to doing this again as it had been a few years since the last time that we hosted this. 

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Parish Christmas/Advent Schedule

We are excited for the Christmas season as we celebrate the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Below is the Advent Christmas schedule

Dec. 2                   Kvam Advent Service @ 7 p.m.

Dec. 9                   Parish Christmas Party @ 6 p.m.

Dec. 13                 Sunday School Christmas Programs:

                              Tordenskjold 10:30 a.m. (Kvam Worship will be at 9 a.m.)

                              Zion-Sarpsborg   10:30 a.m.

Dec. 16                 Tordenskjold Advent Service @ 7 p.m.

Dec. 24                 Christmas Eve Services: 

                              Zion-Sarpsborg   4:30 p.m.

                              Tordenskjold   10:00 p.m.

Dec. 25                 Kvam Christmas Day Service 10:00 a.m.

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Parish Bible Study Continues

We have been blessed by the teaching of Cliff Fegert and Jacob Zacha on the topic of  “Living Today as a Christian.”  The series will continue each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. through November 18 at Zion-Sarpsborg and will resume after January 6th.  If you haven’t been able to be a part of this study, please come and be blessed as we seek to better understand how to reach others for Christ and learn about other false religions that are prevalent in our society.

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Parish Thanksgiving Service

Our Parish Thanksgiving Service will on Wednesday, November 25th at 7 p.m. at Tordenskjold.  Come and be blessed as we share testimonies of God’s faithfulness and spend time in worship and God’s Word. 

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 HARVEST FESTIVAL

Bake Sale and Supper

Saturday, Nov. 7

4:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Zion-Sarpsborg Church

Meatballs & Gravy, Mashed Potatoes

Glazed carrots, bread, dessert, beverage

$12 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12

5 and under are free

 

     Bake Sale

     Lefse,  baked items, candy, breads & more

         Everyone welcome!

    Proceeds for mission outreach

      and church improvements

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Bible Study Opportunities

  •  Thursday Night Women’s study, 7:00 p.m. at Zion-Sarpsborg.

  •   Kvam Ladies Prayer Group, Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at The Rock

  • Tuesday Morning Men’s study each week at 6:45 at Underwood Quik Stop.

  • Thursday Men’s Coffee & Prayer each week at 10:00 a.m. at Zion-Sarpsborg.

  • “Living as a Christian Today” each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Zion-Sarpsborg.

  • Zion-Sarpsborg WMF meets the First Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.  Study is “Women of Redemption”

  • Parish Women’s study at Tordenskjold each Tuesday from 4:30-5:15.  Study is “Better: A Study of Hebrews” by Jen Wilkin.

  • Kvam study each Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

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