To you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Transcription

1 St Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church 4600 E 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN (612) December 2014 Issue 10 The Messenger To you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. The announcement of the birth of Christ is God s invitation to all people in need of light and joy and hope. It is an invitation to enter into the love of Christ as God s love has entered the world: completely, withholding nothing! May the good news of Christmas bring you joy and peace this season and throughout the new year. Our love and prayers and thanksgiving for the community of faith we share in all seasons, Sarah Zuber Pastor Sharon Kelly Rita Juhl Anika Kildegaard Deborah Wolking Jim Austin Pastor Julie Ebbesen INSIDE THIS ISSUE Christmas Greetings... 1 Kitchen Update... 2 Advent Worship...2 Gift Sunday... 3 White Elephant Party... 4 Holiday Concert... 4 CYF News... 5 SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST Fiber Arts Quilters Aebelskive Thank You Pub Theology Together in Mission Upcoming Holiday Fairs & Events

2 Kitchen Update It has finally begun! After months of assessing, planning, and fund-raising, renovation of the St. Peder s kitchen has begun. Xcel Energy did their work in October to make it possible for our electrical contractor to complete most of the electrical upgrade, and preliminary work for the air exchange system was done in early November. A team of volunteers has emptied the cupboards, determining which dishes, utensils, and cookware should be kept, which could be given away, and which should be thrown. And, demolition of the kitchen began on November 24. If all goes according to plans, the new St. Peder s kitchen should be completed by the end of this year! Once complete, the kitchen will have a pass through serving window, stainless steel countertops, easily accessible dish carts to hold plates, cups, and bowls, hand washing sink, a new dishwasher, and new air exchange system. While the kitchen is under construction, coffee hour will be served in the fellowship hall when possible, but we may utilize the lounge if needed, and those bringing treats to share should bring them already plated. We also ask that you not go into the kitchen as it is an active construction site. The kitchen door will be available for emergency exit only. (Please use the east door entrance.) After the first of the year, St. Peder s members will have an opportunity to participate in a kitchen shower. Many of the kitchen utensils Worship opportunities for the Advent and Christmas Seasons! Sunday, December 7-9:00 am and 10:30 am Holy Communion Gift Sunday at both services Sunday, December 14 9:00 am worship 10:30 am Sunday School Christmas Program and cutting boards have been removed from service because they do not meet code requirements, and will need to be replaced. In addition, in order to take full advantage of the dish carts, plates of a uniform size are best, and some new dishes will be needed. Sunday, December 21 9:00 am Song Service with singing around the Christmas Tree reception following worship No 10:30 am worship Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve: 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm Festival Worship 3:15 pm Danish Service Sunday, December 28 ONE SERVICE at 9:00 am Sunday, January 4, 2015 ONE SERVICE of Holy Communion at 9:00 am 2 So, just a bit more patience is required, and then we will be able to begin the new year feeding our members, body mind, and spirit, from our new kitchen. Allison O Day Kitchen Taskforce Chair

3 GIFT SUNDAY IS DECEMBER 7th! As you do your holiday shopping, don t forget the opportunity we have at St Peder s to share our blessings with others. This year s gifts will go again to the Center for Victims of Torture and The Division of Indian Work. Every year, your generosity is received with gratitude by these organizations! On December 7, you re invited to bring your unwrapped gifts or gifts cards forward as we gather them around the altar. (We do not need wrapping paper or ribbon.) Gifts for children are given to the Division of Indian Work. Books, games, toys and stuffed animals, as well as outerwear garments, are needed. Because many refugees are not from cold climates, The Center for Victims of Torture needs outerwear gifts for adults (gloves, hats, and scarves), thermal underwear tops and bottoms for both men and women (all sizes), warm socks, and heat packets for hands and feet that are sold at gas stations and sports stores. Many clients use public transportation in every kind of weather, and waiting for a bus can get cold! Gift cards for Target, etc. so that the recipients can purchase snow boots and appropriate winter shoes are helpful, too. If you d like to help organize the gifts for pick-up and delivery, please contact Pastor Julie. OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2015 are on the table in the narthex. Please take yours home after worship on December 7 or 14. (If you d like yours mailed to you, please call Sarah at the church office.) END OF YEAR OFFERINGS ARE DUE IN THE OFFICE BY NOON, DECEMBER 31. Our 2014 fiscal year ends that day, and we want to make sure any gifts you intend to give this year are counted. Thank you, as always, for your generosity! SHEPHERDING GROUP CHANGES Beginning in February, 2015, there ll be new Shepherding Groups. Shepherding Group Sunday is February 1. There ll be one worship service that day followed by coffee and then the new groups will meet to make plans for the year. Currently there are 12 groups, but we ll be dividing into 9 groups starting in the new year so that each group will be a little larger. Details will be explained when you gather with your new groups and there will be a reminder in the January Messenger. 3

4 You re invited to White Elephant Christmas Allison & Michael O Day s Date: Friday, December 5th 2014 Time: 7:00 pm Address: th Avenue S, Minneapolis To bring: an appetizer and beverage to share along with your tackiest, ugliest white elephant prize that EVERYONE will want to bring home with them. Call with any questions SEARCH TEAM FOR NEW STAFF MEMBER BEGINS THEIR WORK Work has begun to fill the position of Director of Outreach and Faith Formation. The Search Team Casey Clementson (chair), Kathryn Anderson, Craig Rocheleau, Dan Vetsch, and Pastor Ebbesen is reviewing and updating the job description so that it will define the scope of the position to meet our current and future needs. Once that task is completed, the position will be posted on several web-sites. It is our hope to complete this hiring process early in the new year. Look for more information in the January Messenger. COME TO A HOLIDAY CONCERT FEATURING TWO ST. PEDER S MEMBERS! Bring your family, friends and neighbors for a relaxing hour of holiday music and singing, followed by free refreshments! The 2014 Roseville Area Community Carol Sing-along, with the Roseville String Ensemble and Finn Hall (a Finnish- American band) takes place on Monday, December 8th at 7:30 p.m., at Centennial United Methodist Church, 1524 W. County Road C2, Roseville. Admission is free, but please bring a nonperishable donation for the food shelf. (Wendy Legge and Lisa Jensen play violin in the Roseville String Ensemble.) TAK! TAK!! TAK!!! Thanks to all of you who came to enjoy aebleskiver on Sunday, November 9th---and how wonderful to see so many friends and family return to St. Peder's for this special occasion! Many of our college students made the pilgrimage home for aebleskiver, and rumor has it there was even a contingent from one of our Lutheran colleges trying this Danish delicacy for the very first time--that's called outreach, St. Peder's style!:) A big thank you to Shepherding Group 7 & Jim Austin for set-up, to the experts in the kitchen whose skill at the aebleskiver pans fed nearly 200 of us, to all those who donated ingredients and made jam, to the helpful serving crew, and to the diligent clean-up crew who closed the kitchen down in style before renovation! Thanks to all of you, we are able to carry on a very unique and uplifting St. Peder's tradition which makes our Ingathering Sunday a day of true celebration. TAK! Gratefully, 4 Sue Nielsen, Lisa Jensen and Leslee Nestingen

5 The CYF Corner THE ST. PEDER S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM (GOSPEL OF LUKE, CHAPTER 2) LED BY THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH IS ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 AT 10:30 A.M. FULL DRESS REHEARSAL FOR ST. PEDER S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM! SAT DEC. 13TH! 9:30 am 11:30: All Children and Youth Practice If you cannot attend the practice, but want to participate in the Christmas program on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m., expect to receive your lines or part before. On Saturday, we will practice the whole Christmas Program twice! Youth are directing the play. Parents, if you are able to help younger children with playing games in the Sunday School room so that the morning does not get too long then please attend. CYF MEETING Children, Youth, and Family will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 in the library. Preliminary agenda items will be the Christmas Program rehearsal on Saturday, Dec. 13 and program and program on Sunday, Dec. 14 NATIVITY DISPLAY Christmas program Photo credit H. Brown Ton Photography Everyone is invited to share their nativities for the display case outside the church office. Please bring them Sunday, Dec.21 (4 th Sunday in Advent) so they may be in the display case in time for Christmas Eve worship. Please expect to retrieve your nativities on Sunday, Jan. 11 (The Baptism of Our Lord). CHRISTMAS CAROLING ALL ARE WELCOME! at Providence Place on 38 th Street. We will have light refreshments before sharing rides or driving separately to this rehabilitation facility which has hosted St. Peder s members needing transitional care. We can carol there for an hour from 12-1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13 th. Sign-up sheet is posted on the bulletin board outside faith formation office to ensure enough refreshments. All are welcome to attend either by carpooling from St. Peder's or meeting us at Providence. This event is for all of St. Peder s! Children, families and folks of all ages are invited 5 to come caroling!

6 MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP... WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP The Wednesday Quilting Group will meet only once during December. There is still lots of work to do, so join us for as much time as you are able to share. WHAT: WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP WHEN: DECEMBER 3, 2014, WHERE: CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL TIME: 9:30-12:00 NOON Joan Gerth GATHER BIBLE STUDY The Gather Bible Study will not meet in December. We will meet again on January 15, If possible, study Session 4, Faith in the Family, at home during December. In January we will study Session 5, Repent and Forgive, as a group on January 20, FIBER ARTS Fiber Arts meets this month on meets this month on December 6th & 20th. Whether you are experienced or just starting out, you are welcome to join us! Questions? Contact Melba Granlund NO GROUP BIBLE STUDY IN DECEMBER. Joan Gerth To our friends at St. Peder s, On hold for the holidays: Koinonia/Grown-ups Luncheon Pub Theology Gather Bible Study enjoy time with family and friends and join us again in 2015! We are so grateful for your donation of kids kits, birthday cards and blankets. Our work with disaster-impacted children and communities is possible because of the generosity of organizations like you! Thank you for playing a role in helping to build resiliency, restore hope and change lives. Blessings, 6 The Camp Noah Staff

7 Thought You d Like to Know Dear stewards of God s gifts, St Peder s generously established an endowment fund back in 1984 (called the Tabitta Kassen fund which means little ones in Danish) whose interest or earnings are to be shared with ministries and missions outside our congregation. This fall, the Council approved the Social Ministry Committee s request to give to the following organizations: ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response: Ebola Outbreak Response - $5,000 Impact Health Vietnam - $5,000 Meals on Wheels - $2,000 Lutheran Social Service for homeless youth - $2,000 Center for Victims of Torture - $2,000 A gift of $4,000 was also given this summer to Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh When we began the Generation to Generation Capital Campaign, we committed a tithe of our pledges to be shared with Trinity Lutheran/Riverside and our global companion synod, the Lutheran Church of Nigeria. The Minneapolis Area Synod shared some good news in November: as a synod we exceeded our goal of raising $450,000 over two years for health ministries in Nigeria! St Peder s gifts are a part of that goal and it s exciting to be a part of the effort to support and extend the capacity of Demsa Hospital in Nigeria. Your generosity allows us to support God s work across the globe and in our own community. In this season of thanks-giving, we are thankful for the opportunity to give as we ve received! In Christ, Pastor Julie Ebbesen Photo credit H. Brown Ton Photography Together in Mission The offerings of your financial resources allow us not only to support the mission of our congregation, but to share our resources with others in ministry so that all may know of Christ s love. TOGETHER we work on Christ s behalf in the world - none of us can do it alone! Thank you for your offerings through the tenth month of A detailed financial summary report is available at the church office for anyone who d like to see it. Income Expenses Month of October $ 16, Budget for the month $ 23, Year to Date $ 211, Budget Year to Date $ 238, Month of October $ 26, Budget for the month $ 26, Year to Date $ 245, Budget Year to Date $ 239, Mission Support to Minneapolis Area Synod YTD $ 20,

8 SUNDAY SCHOOL BIRTHDAYS Eleanor Munnich 12/5 Evan Brown Ton 12/16 NOVEMBER VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE December 7 Gift Sunday Greeters: William & Judy Anderson Ushers: 9:00am Peter Paulson and Bob Vetsch 10:30am Lisa Jensen Acolytes: 9:00am Alaiyah Nelsen-Tobechukwu 10:30am Helen Anderson Communion Assistants: 9:00 am Betty Caspar, Paul Aitchison, Tim Anderson 10:30 am Cameron Jamison Communion Set-Up/Clean-Up (Intinction): 9:00 am Kristin Lerstrom 10:30 am Karen Vetsch Readers: 9:00am Karin Roof 10:30am Kate Anderson Nursery: 9:00am Curt Petersen Counters: Steve Austin & JeriLynn Young LSS Safe House Dinner for December 8: Gerda Lyon and Tim & Elizabeth Anderson Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 10 December 14 Sunday School Christmas Program at 10:30am Greeters: Nancy & Stephanie Hawkinson Ushers: 9:00am Dale Montgomery and Paul Aitchison 10:30am Andrea Wollak Acolytes: 9:00am Cole Nelsen Readers: 9:00am Kristi Lahti-Johnson Nursery: 9:00am Emma Johnson Counters: Marcia Rocheleau & Doreen Skraba LSS Safe House Dinner for December 15: Mark & Jody Jenson, Shawna Nelsen & Steve Wills Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 11 December 21 Song Service 9:00am Worship Service, 10:15am Sing around the Christmas Tree Greeters: Chris & Mindy Anderson Ushers: Craig Rocheleau and Paul Jensen Acolyte: Rasmus Gantriis Reader: Melba Granlund Nursery: 9:00am Julie Ebbesen Counters: Cameron Jamison & Karin Buchen LSS Safe House Dinner for December 22: Judy & Mike Hogan Council to host Social Time. Thank you for volunteering your time and talent at St. Peder s. Please try to arrange your own trades. If you are pressed for time or have questions or concerns, contact the church office at or office@stpeders.net. 8 December 24 Christmas Eve Services 2:00pm Festival Service Greeters: Joe & Annalise Munnich Ushers:Cameron Jamison & Dan Vetsch Acolyte: Volunteer Needed Reader: Joe Munnich 3:15pm Danish Service 5:00pm Festival Service Greeters: Lis & Iver Jorgensen Ushers: Paul Jensen & Al Nielsen Acolyte: Volunteer Needed Reader: Lis Jorgensen Greeters: Volunteers Needed Ushers: Jim Austin & Steve Austin Acolyte: Rasmus Gantriis Reader: Elizabeth Anderson December 28 ONE Worship Service at 9:00am Greeters: Ron & Kathy Moir Ushers: Lisa Jensen & Greta Gantriis Acolyte: Evan Brown-Ton Reader: Shawna Nelsen Nursery: 9:00am Scott Wilson Counters: Annalise Munnich & Tim Anderson LSS Safe House Dinner for December 29: Daniel Peterson & Kristin Lerstrom, John & Doreen Skraba Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 12

9 DECEMBER 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 7 GIFT SUNDAY 9 am Worship w/ Holy Communion 10 am Social Time 10:30 am Worship w/ Holy Communion 14 Sunday School Program 9 am Worship/Faith Formation 10 am Social Time 10:30 am Sunday School Christmas Program 21 Song Service 9 am Worship/Faith Formation 10 am Social Time 10:15 am Singing Around The Christmas Tree 28 ONE Service 9 am Worship Service 10 am Social Time 1 2 6:45 pm Search Team pm Longfellow Faith Forum :30 am Quilters 10 am Medicare Sessions 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30pm Confirmation 10 11:30 am Foot Clinic 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30 pm Confirmation 7:00 pm Committee Meetings 17 11:30 am Foot Clinic 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30 pm Confirmation 7:00 pm Council 24 Christmas Eve 2 pm Festival Worship 3:15 pm Danish Service 5 pm Festival Worship 4 7:30 pm St. Peder s Choir 11 7:30 pm St. Peder s Choir 18 Newsletter Articles Due 7:30 pm St. Peder s Choir 31 New Year s Eve New Year s Day 5 7:00 pm White Elephant Anderson s 6 2 pm Fiber Arts :30 am Christmas Program Rehearsal 12 pm Providence Place pm Fiber Arts 25 Christmas Day 26 27

10 ST. PEDER S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH ST. PEDER S AFFIRMS THE WELCOME OF GOD TO ALL PERSONS. St Peder s welcomes you to a community of faith nurtured by God s abundant grace, Christ s peace and the Spirit s lively presence! In response to such love, we open our hearts and hands and doors to joyfully serve our neighbor whether it s you or someone across the world. We invite you to join us for worship or any activity at the little church on the corner of 46 th Avenue and 42 nd Street in south Minneapolis Church Staff: Pastor: Rev. Julie Ebbesen pastorjulie@stpeders.net Interim Director of Outreach and Faith Formation: Rev. Sharon Kelly faithformation@stpeders.net Office Coordinator: Sarah Zuber office@stpeders.net Accounts Manager: Debbie Wolking bookkeeping@stpeders.net Anika Kildegaard Choral Director Rita Juhl - Organist Caretaker: Jim Austin St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA 4600 E 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Phone: Fax: office@stpeders.org