The new year of Christian education at St. Paul’s began with a festive “Rally Sunday” on Sept. 20, replete with a “bounce house” (resembling an “A Mighty Fortress” castle!) and a procession through the church with handmade percussive instruments! Sunday School for children of all ages is offered at 10 a.m. each Sunday, with the children arriving in the sanctuary in time to receive the Lord’s Supper with the community.

Dale Banke, retired pastor, continues to convene the adult class which meets at 9 a.m. in the library. For 3 consecutive weeks beginning Oct. 18, Pastor Roger Rogahn, ELCA missionary to El Salvador and Egypt, will present adult forums on ELCA global mission.

10/18: Global Mission & the changing scene in the 21st century

10/25: Mission service in El Salvador

11/1: Mission service in Cairo, Egypt

Pastor Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director for California Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), is our guest preacher on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 25, at St. Paul’s. Pr. Salvatierra formerly was Executive Director for CLUE-LA.

A gifted preacher of God’s Word, she will proclaim the Gospel among us and update us on ways the Gospel is being lived out toward a more just and fair wage in our state and local community. The Rev. Salvatierra is an ordained ELCA pastor.

On the eve of Reformation Sunday (Saturday, Oct. 24), the New City Parish (NCP)holds its 8th Annual Fall Event with a dinner and silent auction at Mt. Olive Church, 1343 Ocean Park Blvd, in Santa Monica. NCP invites us to celebrate the reformation with an ongoing commitment to “glocal” mission in our neighborhoods and around the world. Keynote speaker is The Rev. Twila Shock, Director of ELCA Global Mission Network. $50 donation is requested.  RSVP (310) 673-2584.

Finally, on Reformation Sunday afternoon at 4:00, a Westside ELCA Reformation celebration takes place at Mt. Olive Church in Santa Monica with a Bach cantata sing-a-long followed by (what else but) a potluck dinner! Semper Reformanda (and don’t forget your jell-o mold)!!

Rest eternal grant them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.

+ Beverly Weddle + Stacey Manuel Twist + Elmer Hansen +

Sunday, November 1 is the Festival of All Saints.  We give thanks for the life and witness of all our beloved dead, who are now at rest in God’s eternal embrace and in resurrection hope.

You are invited to submit the name(s) of your departed loved one(s) for the printed listing of those from among us who have died.

All Saints Sunday is also a time for a parish community to remember those in particular from its fellowship who have died in the past year.

As we gather on that Sunday, we hear the promises of scripture which describe a time when tears shall be no more, and a place where there will be no more sadness and pain, only light and joy in the presence of God.

We will sing, pray, name the names of our departed loved ones, toll the chimes, light candles, and keep silence as we commune with the saints.

Congratulations to Maggi and Nathan Swisher & Penelope in the birth of baby daughter and sister Scout Violet in August.

Congratulations to Holly & Nik Meller in the birth of baby son Luke Leon Meller.

Congratulations to Betsy Elliott who turned 90 years of age on Aug 9!

Hats off to our sewing group, the Piecemakers, for creating 25 quilts for Lutheran World Relief and commissioned on Oct. 4!

Nancy Patterson, Joan Baggaley, Millie Garbinsky, Molly Johnson and Arlene Wagner.  They’d like to train a few more in the art of quilting!

Services at St. Paul’s, Wednesday, October 28, 11 a.m. 

Elmer was born in Davenport, Iowa, on March 11, 1918, the second of five children of Fred C.E. and Carrie Hansen. His father was a Lutheran minister and his mother was a school teacher. The family moved around the Midwest to the various churches where the Rev. Hansen served as pastor. Elmer was a basketball player and cross country runner at Milwaukee’s Riverside High School, from which he graduated in 1936. After working at various jobs he studied at Dana College in Blair, Neb., before joining the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served in the Air Corps as a B-17 pilot and pilot instructor, which lead to a lifelong interest in aviation.

Elmer and his first wife, Evelyn, whom he met in Council Bluffs, Iowa, moved to Southern California in 1958 with their daughter Kathleen. He became an agent for   Allstate Insurance, a company he would remain with for 38 years.

The family eventually settled in Santa Monica and became members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Following Elmer’s retirement, he and Evelyn moved to Solvang. Alzheimer’s disease claimed Evelyn’s life in December 1993.

Elmer and Charlotte Bayer renewed acquaintances when he was in Santa Monica to attend a Sunday service at St. Paul’s in early 1996. They began meeting for lunch dates in Ventura — the midway point between their respective homes in Solvang and Santa Monica. They were married at St. Paul’s on Dec. 7, 1996.

During the next 12½ years they spent weeks at a time living at Charlotte’s longtime home in Santa Monica Canyon, then drove up to Solvang for lengthy stays at Elmer’s condominium there. They enjoyed the camaraderie of a wide circle of family and friends in both communities and worshiped regularly at both St. Paul’s and at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang. They traveled often, including trips to Scandinavia, Canada, New England, the Midwest and the Northwest in addition to touring California extensively.

Elmer was hospitalized after a fall in June and his health began to steadily decline. He passed away Oct. 13 at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica at the age of 91.

He is survived by his wife Charlotte, daughter Kathleen Quigg of Paso Robles, three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, his sisters Rhoda Daggett of Wisconsin and Deloris Bengtson of Illinois, and numerous nephews, nieces and step-relatives. 

In addition to today’s memorial service at St. Paul’s, a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Solvang Cemetery, where he will be buried next to Evelyn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to St. Paul’s, the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.  

Congratulations to Jenn & Chad Fitzgerald on the birth of twin baby boys, Charles Ryan & Joseph Isaac.

Congratulations to Cheryl & Tony on the birth of Smith Dennis Chargin.