ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

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1 December 2016 Peace Lutheran Church A congregation of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ N. Jackrabbit Lane Belgrade, MT The Words Inside Upcoming Events 1 & 2 Pastor Bob 3 Pastor Jeff 4 December Ministry Teams 5 Calendar 6 January Ministry Teams 7 Birthdays & Anniv. Service of Hope Many Thanks Baptisms 8 Blessings of Peace Annual Report Reminder Youth News CGA 9 Financials 10 Gary Gee Pastor Bob Coughlin PrBob@peace2you.org Pastor Jeff Redlin PrJeff@peace2you.org Mike Hansen Council President Karlene Swenson Church Office PeaceLutheran@live.com ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE Sunday, December 4 Wednesday, December 7 Sunday, December 11 Wednesday, December 14 Sunday, December 18 Wednesday, December 21 Saturday, December 24 Sunday, December 25 th 10:00 a.m. Advent Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School & Adult Forum 2:00 p.m. Service of Dokken Nelson, 6:15 p.m. Soup & Bread 7:00 p.m. Advent Vespers Holden Evening Prayer 10:00 a.m. Advent Worship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School & Adult Forum 6:15 p.m. Soup & Bread 7:00 p.m. Advent Vespers Holden Evening Prayer 9:00 a.m. Advent Worship 10:30 a.m. Youth Christmas Breakfast 4:00 p.m. Christmas Caroling 6:15 p.m. Soup & Bread 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship Holden Evening 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Barn Sorensen s 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Peace 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Peace No Sunday School or Adult Forum WEDNESDAY S in ADVENT we have a Soup & Bread meal at 6:15 p.m. Following the meal at 7:00 p.m. there will be an Advent evening worship service. Please come and join us. There are signup sheets in the Fellowship Hall to provide soup and bread. Here we are in this "wonderful" and "busy" time of the year! We want to inform you of the events that will be taking place during the next few weeks of Sunday school. Dec. 4th Advent Lesson & Christmas Program Music Practice Dec. 11th Program Practice Dec. 18th Program Day (This will be during morning Worship. Please bring children by 8:45 a.m. NO SPECIAL COSTUME ATTIRE. NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AFTER CHURCH SERVICE. Dec. 25 th & Jan. 1 No Sunday School We will begin for the "new year" on Sunday Jan. 8 th. If you have any questions about these dates, please ask your child's teacher. Thank You, Peace Lutheran Sunday School Staff 1

2 December 4, Sunday - Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service in Bozeman, is hosting the 7 th Annual Service of Hope for those wishing to honor a loved one who has passed away. The service will include a message of encouragement, candle lighting, and a memorial slide show the service is free and all are welcome. For more information please call Christmas Mission Store Christmas is here and so is the Peace Lutheran Mission Store. December 11th & 18th the RePiecers will have our annual mission store set up in the Fellowship Hall. There will be crafts, jellies and goodies available with the proceeds going to our mission fund. The store will be open during Fellowship following the Sunday services with a basket to place your checks or cash. Any questions Carol White, Cheryl Bechtold, Diane Oddy, Marilyn Megaard or Laura Carter. December 18, Sunday Caroling We will meet at Peace at 4 p.m. for chili and snacks then head to Bozeman and around Belgrade for caroling. Everyone that enjoys singing and/or just wants to share some Christmas joy is encouraged to join us. Families are welcome and transportation is provided! Christmas Poinsettias If you would like to honor a loved one or just Praise His Birth with a Christmas Poinsettia, please have them to the church by December 15 (with your name on the botton). Your name, as well as your loved one, will be printed in the bulletin if you wish, so let the office know. After the Christmas Day worship, you may take your poinsettia home, or leave it at the church. December 18th, Sunday - Youth Christmas Breakfast - The breakfast will be served during Fellowship, following the Sunday Service. A free-will offering will be collected. Come to church hungry on December 18th! See Val Ross with questions or to help with food needs & preparation for the breakfast. CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHRISTMAS EVE BARN SERVICE 5:00 p.m. Peace Lutheran Church has a very special service on Christmas Eve. It is held in Dr. Bruce and Virginia Sorensen s barn on Bolinger Road. The barn is not heated and everyone stands or sits on straw bales, so dress warm. (From Peace Lutheran Church turn right on Jackrabbit Lane and right on Main Street/Frontage Road. Turn right on Bolinger and left at the second driveway next to the trailer. Parking is in the field next to Sorensen s home. If you have any questions, please call the church office) CHRISTMAS EVE PEACE- 8:00 p.m. CHRISTMAS PEACE 9:00 a.m. 2

3 Dear Family at Peace Lutheran, It s that time of year! Even though I have been warned well in advance, it always seems to catch me a little off guard. I find myself asking questions like: How did it come so fast? Where did autumn go? Though I often feel unprepared when the Christmas Season comes around, I am thankful for the Church calendar that forces me to look again at God s great gift to the world and the manner in which he gave it. I ve heard, read, spoke and sung about Christ s birth for most of my life. But, it still catches me with a sense of unexpected wonder. In wanting to show his love for us, God wrapped his gift and sent it to earth in a way that we couldn t even imagine. A baby, born to a young girl and her reluctant husband after they had journeyed several miles on a donkey, to a stable with an audience of shepherds and sheep and angels. I have heard the story so many times that it is comfortably familiar. But, examining it again this year, I am reminded of the marvel and miracle that makes Christmas. I must give the credit to the children I get to spend time with. Kids from the church, at Lady Bug Preschool, and my own grandchildren. They express excitement and wonder like well, like children. In speaking to the 3 and 4 year-olds at Ladybug, I watched them listen and share with enthusiasm as I told them of God s gift of love that he wrapped in his Son and placed him in a stable. What a story we have to tell! What love God has for us! It is my prayer that the Christmas Story captures your heart this season. That you are able to break through the been there, done that attitude that robs us of the majesty and miracle and childlike wonder. It is my hope that the services we offer at PLC help to bring that perspective into your life in the midst of the Holiday Season. The music of the Holden Evening Prayer service we are using on Wednesdays during Advent is uplifting, inspiring and thoughtful. Each Sunday encourages our watchfulness and waiting for the light that God brings into the darkness. May your celebration be joyous at Christmastime and throughout the year. Merry Christmas, Pastor Bob 3

4 It is Advent again. This year our mid-week Advent vesper messages are based on the devotional booklet From Heaven Above by Michael Hoy. If you haven t picked one up yet please do. They are placed on the Narthex table by the sanctuary doors. From Heaven Above is also the title of a hymn written by Martin Luther and we will be singing selected verses from that hymn during our Vesper services as well. Advent is derived from the Latin word that means coming. During the 4 week Advent season Christians understand that the subject of this coming is our Lord Jesus Christ and that his coming is to be considered in a two-fold manner. First, as Emmanuel, God with us, coming from heaven above, a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a Bethlehem manger. Secondly, as the triumphant King of Kings who will come again from heaven above to make all things new and to bring creatures and creation under his final, eternal reign. Bible translator and author J.S. Phillips writes in The Dangers of Advent, Nothing can alter the fact that we live in a visited planet. We shall be celebrating no beautiful myth, no lovely piece of traditional folklore, but a solemn fact. God has been here once historically, but, as millions will testify, he will come again with the same silence and the same devastating humility into any human heart ready to receive him. Advent; coming. When you think about it, it is only in God s coming, God s visits that even the Bible itself has meaning and value to us, let alone all the other things of meaning and value that Christianity brings to the world. For one example, the words of Jesus Christ, God in flesh, This is my body given for you would have no meaning or value without that particular body of flesh and spirit actually visiting earth in the first place! Now I have a word of caution to share with you. What we need to be careful of this time of year is that the miracle of God s initial visit to this planet on which we live would not be glossed over, brushed aside, or even rendered impotent by our over-familiarity with this miracle. What I mean is that our over familiarity with the wonder and mystery of the Christ child s birth could actually leave us spiritually unmoved or indifferent, thus putting us in danger of being spiritually unprepared for our Lord s second coming! With that in mind, the Advent season is much needed in the life of a Christian. In the midst of Christmas parties, cards, carols and company we can still hear and heed the ageless voice of John the Baptist, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. These words can serve to bring our Lord Jesus Christ closer to us, bridging the gap between heaven above and earth below. God, the one in whom all things were created and in whose image we are made, has visited us and will visit us again. And what visits they are! The first time was to redeem the world; the second time will be to restore the world. That is why behind all our Christmas season fun and games, the presents under the tree, the lights and decorations we display, the food we prepare, the friends and family we welcome into our homes, we should never lose the sense of awe, wonder, reverence, and even the proper dose of fear at what God has done, is doing and will do. From Heaven Above, God visits us. Hallelujah! Welcome to earth, O noble Guest, through whom this sinful world is blest! You turned not from our needs away how can our thanks such love repay? (From Heaven Above, verse 8) Love in Christ, Pastor Jeff 4

5 December Ministry Teams December 4 2 nd Sunday in Advent Piano Acolyte Usher/Lector/Refreshments December 11 3 rd Sunday in Advent Piano Acolyte Usher/ Lector/Refreshments December 18 4 th Sunday in Advent Piano Acolyte Usher/ Lector December 24 Christmas Eve 5 p.m. Barn Sorensen s Barn December 24 Christmas PLC 8 p.m. Communion Service Piano/Organ Acolyte Usher/ Lector December 25 Christmas Day 9 a. m. Worship Piano Acolyte Ushers Council for December Altar Guild for December Sing a New Song Advent Service Pr. Jeff Redlin Connie Holton Cameron Handsaker Steve & Tiina Smith Megan Paulson Waiting & Watchful Advent Service Pr. Bob Coughlin Lorrie Hansen Stara Bell Ashby & Linda Miller Carol & Bob White Lynn Johnson Waiting & Watchful Advent Service Pr. Jeff Redlin Jackie Currey Colter Handsaker Lynn Johnson Fred & Kari Haas Pr. Jeff Redlin Pr. Bob Coughlin Jackie Currey & Jinx Sorensen Blaise Bolich Dylan Swenson Smith family Pr. Jeff Redlin Jinx Sorensen Zach Sherman Bill Miller/Kari Haas/ Tiina Smith Misty Redlin/Jinx Sorensen Kristy Rieger 5

6 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00 6 p.m. Blood Belgrade Community Church Pr. Jeff s day off 9:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist 4 2 nd Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 2:00 p.m. Service of Dokken Nelson In Bozeman 5:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Choir 5 Pr. Bob s day off 5:00 6:00 PM Food Bank 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts 6 1:30 p.m. Crossways 6:30 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist Prayer 7 6:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 10:00 a.m. Peace Re-Piecers 11:00 a.m. Staff meeting 6:15 p.m. Advent Soup & Bread Supper 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship 7:30 p.m. Confirmation 3:30 p.m. Peacemakers 7:00 p.m. Bible Book Study 8 9:30 a.m. Worship Comm. Mtg. 3:30 p.m. Peacemakers 7:00 p.m. Council Bible Book Study 9 Pr. Jeff s day off 10 9:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist 11 3 rd Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Worship Chosen People/Dakota Road Children s Christmas Program 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 10:30 a.m. Sunday School Classes 6:00 p.m. Confirmation 7:00 p.m. Choir 18 4 th Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. Worship & Sunday School Program 10:00 a.m. YOUTH CHIRSTMAS BREAKFAST 4:00 p.m.. Chili Feed & Caroling 6:00 p.m. Confirmaiton 12 Pr. Bob s day off 5:00 6:00 PM Food Bank 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts 19 Pr. Bob s day off 1-4 p.m. Clothes Closet 5:00 6:00 PM Food Bank 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts 13 1:30 p.m. Crossways 6:30 p.m.7 th Day Adventist Prayer 20 1:30 p.m. Crossways 6:30 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist Prayer 14 6:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:15 p.m. Advent Soup & Bread Supper 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship 7:30 p.m. Confirmation 21 6:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting 6:15 p.m. Advent Soup & Bread Supper 7:00 p.m. Advent Worship 7:30 p.m. Confirmation No School 15 9:30 a.m. Mission & Outreach 1:00 p.m. Clothes Closet Training 3:30 p.m. Peacemakers 7:00 p.m. Bible Book Study Newsletter & Annual Reports Due 16 Pr. Jeff s day off Belgrade Comm. Choir 6:00 Peace 17 9:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist Christmas Eve 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist 5:00 p.m. Sorensen s Barn 8:00 p.m. Candlelight & Communion Service 25 Christmas Day :00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 4:30 p.m. Community Cafe in Bozeman Church Office Closed NO Food Bank 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts No School 1:30 p.m. Crossways 6:30 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist Prayer Karlene-Vacation 6:30 a.m. Men s Breakfast 11:00 a.m. Staff Meeting 9:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m. 7 th Day Adventist 6 6

7 January Ministry Team In December a council member will be calling the following January Ministry Team Members: Andrew & Tracey Bolich Lavern Brusven Michael & Michelle Clark Paul & Gayle Clifford Dee Feddes Paul & Theresa Flanagan John & Jennifer Handsaker Mike & Lorrie Hansen Marilyn Megaard Larry & Diane Oddy Stan & Doreen Olean Gary & Debbie Porter Kyle & Joni Sando Bruce & Virginia Sorensen Daniel & Amanda Swenson Jerry & Karlene Swenson James & Reyel Tex Jason & Tracy Weathers Bill & Marcia Zankowski If you would like to show your thanks for something in the next newsletter, please fill out a I give thanks to sheet and place it in the Give Thanks boxes that are located on the counter in the back of the Sanctuary and on a table in the Fellowship Hall. Kris Bell for arranging the acolytes every month! To all who provided supplies for Lefse. To all the huge Lefse crew! Those who made dough, set up the church, mixed, cut, rolled, grilled, and bagged lefse. You are all awesome, we could not do it without so much support!! Thanks to everyone who helped put up the Christmas Tree and decorate the sanctuary. Thanks to Cindy Gee for our altar flowers, as well as others who contribute throughout the year. 1 Ben Cestnick Cody Handsaker 2 Tiina Smith Nick Pipinich 4 Shelby Lee 6 Phil Davis 9 Kate Davis Lee Paulson 11 Mark Salo 14 Laura Leininger Brandon & Deanna Thurston 16 Megan Winchester 17 Ethan Campbell 18 Joe & Jodi Robbins 19 Mark Roadarmel 21 Dennis Bechtold Gilean Murray 22 Kevin Mattson 26 Kristy Rieger Julie Hanson 27 Lisa McCurley 28 Mark & Laurie Salo Phillip & Megan Winchester Al & Judith Arensmeyer 29 Michael Spinelli Max Weathers 31 Fred & Kari Haas Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service is hosting the ninth annual Service of Hope, Sun., Dec. 4, at 2pm at Dokken-Nelson, 113 S. Willson, for those wishing to set aside a time to remember a loved one who s passed away. The service will include a message of encouragement, candle lighting, and a memorial slide show the service is free and all are welcome. For info please call

8 ? December Dawn Pipinich Thane Adams Kameron Sando Brooks Bolich Bryleigh Larson Phil Davis Cameron Handsaker Anders Paulson Hudson Smith Colter Handsaker L.D. Severson Ngovib Akukwe Nick Pipinich Morgan Mitchell Judith Arensmeyer Devyn Sando Nancy Vitarius Blessings of Peace Matthew 7:7 says: Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you. This article is about the greatest Blessing that I believe we, at Peace Lutheran are given. That being the gift of Prayer. Prayer is a gift of our Father in Heaven to ALL of us. He encourages us to talk with Him as a child would talk with his Father. We don t need an appointment and we don t need to worry about how to express our feelings to Him. He loves us perfectly. When we pray, we know that our Father in Heaven is near and He is listening to us. Being able to pray freely to our Father is truly a Blessing. There are many Countries in the world right now that don t have this opportunity. In fact, Christians around the world are still being persecuted in Some Christians have to hide their Bibles; they can t meet together to pray; Pastors are imprisoned; believers in Christ suffer great bodily injury; Churches are bombed; Christians lose their legal rights, sometimes their homes; and many live in fear. We, as members of Peace Lutheran Church get to pray from our hearts and know that our Father will always answer our prayers in the way and in the time that will be for our best eternal good. We truly are Blessed!! Re-Piecers Christmas Store December 11 & 18 th in the Fellowship Hall Support this worthwhile and very productive mission. ANNUAL REPORTS Reports are due December 15 th from: Pastors, Congregational Life, Council President, Education, Library, Outreach Team, Servants of Peace, Worship Committee, and Youth & Family. This will be the last Blessings of Peace for a while. I have enjoyed visiting and being thoughtful about some of the Blessings that I see and feel with our amazing Church Family. I wish all of you a blessed Christmas season and pray that you and your families have a happy, healthy God Bless all of us. Phillipians 4: 6-7; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Jackie Currey 8

9 December Youth Events Thank you to the congregation for your support with your time and money for the Youth Group. Our fundraisers for Lefse and the Cat-Griz Flocking were big successes. Thank you all!! Christmas Breakfast! Sunday, December 18th, 2016 The youth will make and serve breakfast for the entire congregation after worship service. Come to church hungry!! Blessings! Val & Amy * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Each year, Christ's Gift Academy provides students and their families with a practical gift at Christmas. This year's Christmas Gift campaign, Food for the Holidays, will provide all of our CGA families with food to help sustain them during the long holiday. $20 provides food for 1 child for the school holiday break. $50 provides food for 1 family for the school holiday break. CGA s goal is to raise gifts to support 250 families. Please write checks out to Peace Lutheran Church and indicate CGA Food for the Holidays with your gift. We will be collecting donations until December 10. Thank you. 9

10 Gary Gee

11 Peace Lutheran Church 203 Jackrabbit Lane Belgrade, MT GUEST COPY Please take this with you if you are visiting. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the church office or us at The newsletter is available on the website If you do not have web access, we will be happy to mail the newsletter to you. Scriptures for December December 4 2 nd Sunday in Advent Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 December 11 3 rd Sunday in Advent Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146 James 5:7-11 Matthew 11:2-15 December 18 4 th Sunday in Advent Isaiah 7:10-17 Psalm 24 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25 December 24 Christmas Eve Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14(15-20) December 25 Christmas Day Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 2 Hebrews 1:1-6(7-12) John 1:1-14(15-18) Peace Lutheran Church 203 Jackrabbit Lane Belgrade, MT Phone: (406) Web Site: LCMC: Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Peace Lutheran Staff Bob Coughlin, Pastor PrBob@peace2you.org Jeff Redlin, Pastor PrJeff@peace2you.org Karlene Swenson, Office PeaceLutheran@Live.com 11