Worship Services 5:00 pm: Children s Nativity Pageant 10:00 pm: Christmas Music 10:30 pm: Candlelight Service

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1 Worship Services 5:00 pm: Children s Nativity Pageant 10:00 pm: Christmas Music 10:30 pm: Candlelight Service First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1603 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA Office (804) Fax (804) info@felcrichmond.org Web pages: Rev. Dr. John T. Schweitzer, Pastor: mailto:pastor@felcrichmond.org Mr. Linwood D. Lunde, Director of Music: llunde@felcrichmond.org Mr. Brian Wingfield, Parish Administrator: mailto:bwingfield@felcrichmond.org

2 This year Christmas falls in the middle of the week: on Thursday, to be exact. That means Christmas Eve, a time when everyone wants to be in church, is on Wednesday evening. It s an ideal time on the calendar, and we look forward to our Children s Pageant at 5:00 pm and the traditional Candlelight Service at 10:30 pm, proceeded by choir music and carol singing beginning at 10. In spite of all the negative things that surround us, we are invited, as were the shepherds on that first Christmas so long ago, to come to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. And like them, we are to tell all without apology, without watering down the message, of the wonder of the incarnation. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John1:14). We too will see his glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. Please consider this your personal invitation from me to be in church on Christmas Eve! ~ Pastor John Schweitzer

3 Women of the ELCA Christmas Eve Nativity Our annual Nativity Pageant will be presented by the children and youth at the 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service. Parts will be available for all. Rehearsals will be held at 9:30 am on Sunday December 14 th and Sunday December 21 st. MY DANCE WITH GRACE (REFLECTIONS WITH DEATH) December 12 th will be our next meeting and Weldon Bradshaw will be our speaker. Weldon is a teacher and athletic coach at Collegiate School in Henrico and is also a free-lance writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch. He will do a review of his book just recently published. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for dinner at 6:00 pm; then we ll hear from Weldon and end with the business meeting. Soul Knitters will not meet during the month of December. We will, however, collect all lap blankets/shawls on December 14 th. These items will be mailed to our homebound members for Christmas. Thanks to all who have helped to make this possible! We will meet again, on the second Sunday of January following the 10:30 service. If you have new ideas for charitable projects, please speak to Carol Schweitzer or Andree Oldershaw. Again this Christmas we will decorate the chancel with poinsettias. If you would like to order one or more plants, at a cost of $14.00 each, please mail your check to the office, letting us know the dedication, or call the office, or complete the form on the white sheet in the bulletin on Sunday and place it, with your check, in the collection plate. Orders must be received by Sunday, December 21 st.

4 Temple Talk The following spreadsheet is the 2014 budget year to date referenced by the Temple Talk on Stewardship given by Rob Comet on Sunday December 7 th. First English Lutheran Church January through October YTD Actual 2014 Annual Budget YTD Prorated 2014 Annual Budget Revenues Committed Giving $134, $154, $185, Other Envelope Giving $63, $55, $67, Total Offerings (Includes Wed Together) $201, $213, $256, Total Other Revenues (Includes Foundation Grants) $78, $60, $72, Total Revenues $279, $273, $328, Expenses Total Social Ministry $17, $29, $35, Total Education $5, $7, $8, Total Outreach $ $2, $2, Total Congregational Life $1, $ $1, Total Worship & Music $2, $3, $4, Total Property $65, $69, $83, Total Stewardship $ $1, $1, Total Administration $32, $35, $42, Total Staff $166, $151, $181, Total Other Expenses $ $ $ Total Expenses $291, $301, $361, Net Total (Revenues - Expenses) ($11,647.41) ($27,517.20) ($33,020.64)

5 Worship Assistants December 14 3 rd Sunday in Advent December 21 4 th Sunday in Advent December 24 Christmas Eve December 28 1 st Sunday of Christmas 8:15 Lector Pat McAfee Jane Stockman Kevin Murphy 10:30 Lectors 1. Wayne Clark 2. John Peterson 1.Polly Brickman 2. Debbie Lane 1.Deborah Hubbs 2.Sheryl Finucane 1. Chris Hamilton 2. Joe Smith Crucifer Daniel Jovin Nate Fenerty Cooper Hoke Ellie Fenerty Acolytes Kirk Fenerty Sydney Stricker Daniel Jovin Nate Fenerty Parker Vida Altar Guild Jim Byerly Emmett Heltzel Stuart Myer Libby Riggle Peggy Davis Greeter Roger Riggle Roger Riggle Roger Riggle Roger Riggle Communion Rob Comet Mary Elizabeth Ellis Joedy Smith Sheryl Finucane Assistant Head Rob Comet Rob Comet Rob Comet Counter Counters Joe Thisted Julie Goodman Joe Smith Bill Fenerty John Ritz Suzanne Stricker Ushers Debbie Lane Lynn Heltzel Jim Byerly Mark Crumpton Bill Fenerty Kirk Fenerty Joe Smith Linda Smith Sheryl Finucane Debbie Lane Lynn Heltzel Rob Comet Jim Byerly Bill Davidson Roger Riggle Nate Fenerty Hospitality Betty Cochran Lydia & Laura English Readings Isa 61:1-4, Thess 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, Sam 7:1-11,16 Rom 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 Isa 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14[15-20] Isa 61:10 62:3 Gal 4:4-7 Luke 2:22-40 ** Please find a replacement when you cannot serve and notify the church office at as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and service.

6 FELC People News We congratulate FELC member Marlene James upon receiving her PhD in health administration from Capella University. This is an important milestone in anyone s life and we re proud to have another doctor in the congregation. Happy Birthday to everyone celebrating a birthday in the month of December! Congratulations to all celebrating a Wedding Anniversary in December! Newsletter Deadline All submissions for the January issue need to be turned in to Cheryl Shiembob at ces217@gmail.com and the church office no later than Sunday December 28. Thank you for your cooperation. Church Office Staff

7 First English Evangelical Lutheran Church December 2013 Wed. December 3 Wednesday s Together 12:00 pm: AA - Wednesday Noon Group Mtg. 5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Bible Study 6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal Friday December 5 12:00 pm: TGIF NA Meeting 7:30 pm: AA - Not Saints Group Meeting Sunday December 7 2 nd Sunday in Advent 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:15 am: Handbell Choir Rehearsal 9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Congregational Life 12:00 pm: Worship & Music Committee Meeting Wed. December 10 Wednesdays Together 12:00 pm: AA - Wednesday Noon Group Mtg. 5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Bible Study 6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal Friday December 12 12:00 pm: TGIF NA Meeting 6:00 pm: Women of the ELCA Dinner & Meeting 7:30 pm: AA - Not Saints Group Meeting Sunday December 14 3 rd Sunday in Advent 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: Nativity Pageant Rhearsal 9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Betty Cochran 12:00 pm: Congregational Life Committee Mtg. Tuesday December 16 7:00 pm: Congregational Council Meeting Wed. December 17 Wednesdays Together 12:00 pm: AA - Wednesday Noon Group Mtg. 5:30 pm: Handbell Choir Rehearsal 6:00 pm: Dinner 6:45 pm: Choir Rehearsal Friday December 19 12:00 pm: TGIF NA Meeting 7:30 pm: AA - Not Saints Group Meeting Sunday December 21 4 th Sunday in Advent 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: Nativity Pageant Rehearsal 9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Lydia & Laura English Wednesday December 24 Christmas Eve 12:00 pm: AA Wednesday Noon Group Mtg. 5:00 pm: Pageant with Holy Communion 9:30 pm: Choir Rehearsal 10:00 pm: Christmas Eve Music 10:30 pm: Candlelight Service with Holy Communion Thursday December 25 Christmas Day Church Office Closed Friday December 26 12:00 pm: TGIF NA Meeting 7:30 pm: AA - Not Saints Group Meeting Sunday Dec. 28 First Sunday of Christmas 8:15 am: Service of Holy Communion 9:15 am: Sunday School 9:30 am: Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am: Service of Holy Communion 11:30 am: Hospitality Wednesday December 31 12:00 pm: AA Wednesday Noon Group Mtg. No Wednesdays Together

8 Kid s Page