Wednesday, December 19 5:45 PM WOW. Saturday, December 22. 5:30 PM Chapel Service. Sunday, December 23. Wednesday, December 26 No WOW Worship

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1 DECEMBER Prospect Avenue PO Box 188 Windom, MN Our Staff: Sarah Larsen Tadé, Lead Pastor: Adam Roberts, Pastor: Lisa Petersen, Youth Coordinator: Melanie Shamp, Christian Education Coordinator: Karen Wojahn, Worship & Music Coordinator: Wendy Pigman, Financial Secretary: Gina Hauge, Assistant Administrator: Dorothy Fundahn, Custodian Judy Lindvall, Assistant Custodian Saturday, December 1 5:30 PM Chapel Service Please Join Us For Worship! Worship On Wednesday (WOW) at 5:45 PM Saturday Chapel Services at 5:30 PM Sunday. December 2 9:00 AM Worship w/holy Communion Wednesday, December 5 5:45 PM WOW w/holy Communion Saturday, December 8 5:30 PM Chapel Service w/holy Communion Sunday, December 9 9:00 AM Worship Wednesday, December 12 No Worship/Living Nativity Saturday, December 15 5:30 PM Chapel Service w/holy Communion Sunday December 16 9:00 AM Worship Wednesday, December 19 5:45 PM WOW Saturday, December 22 5:30 PM Chapel Service Sunday, December 23 9:00 AM Worship w/holy Communion Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) 3:00 PM Worship 5:00 PM Worship 10:00 PM Worship w/holy Communion Wednesday, December 26 No WOW Worship Saturday, December 29 5:30 PM Chapel Service Sunday December 30 9:00 AM Worship INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastors Message 1 Youth News 2 Worship & Music Notes 3+4 December Happenings 5 Good to Know 6+7 Welcome New Members 8 GLOW 9 For the Record 10 FYI 11 Shetek Canews 12

2 A Note from Pastor Adam Page 2 Ezekiel 1:28b-2:2a When I saw it (God & God s throne), I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking. He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet Dear people of American Lutheran Church and Bethany Lutheran Church, Ezekiel is one of the few lucky people to have been allowed to be in the presence of God. When he comes before God he falls on his face (prostrate) because God s awesomeness is overwhelming. In fact, it s so overwhelming that when God tells Ezekiel to stand, God has to put a spirit into him in order to give him that ability while in God s presence. When we worship God it s nice to have a direction in which to face. God is in all of our hearts but when we gather for worship we can t each face one another to worship God. When acolytes are trained they are told that we imagine that God is about where the altar is so that we all may face the same direction during worship. Acolytes are taught that when they are serving to remember where God is, to be respectful and reverent, to treat and view that area of the sanctuary as the place where God actually is and to take that seriously. Walk slowly, bow, be silent, in essence, behave as Ezekiel did while standing in God s presence. It s easy to forget how powerful and great and awe-inspiring our God is. Sometimes we become comfortable in our church and worship becomes routine. We still get a lot out of it, our spirits are lifted and we are rejuvenated, but we can sometimes forget that God is actually there as we worship and deserves our reverence. I would invite you to think about this the next time you come to worship. Before you enter the sanctuary prepare your hearts, maybe even close your eyes and remind yourself that God is here; maybe even imagine what God might look like as God fills that large space by the altar. Think to yourself that this amazingly powerful and loving God allows us sinners into God s presence to forgive us and build us up as unworthy as we are. And with those thoughts in mind enter reverently to worship, praise, love, and pray to our wonderful God. Pastor Adam

3 Youth News! From Lisa Petersen, Youth Coordinator Page 3 The Living Nativity will be on Wednesday December 12th, at 5:30 PM 7:30 PM. Confirmation Youth will be characters in the outdoor Living Nativity Scene. We will also be serving Tea, Coffee, Hot Cocoa, Apple Cider, along with some sweet treats in the Skylight Court. Freewill donations accepted. Dates to Remember: December 12th, No BAM-W or Confirmation 5:00 PM 7:00PM Youth Soup Supper 5:30 PM 7:30 PM Living Nativity Please attend this wonderful event! December 9th, 2:00 PM Community Christmas Concert. December 16th 3:00 PM BAM Christmas Program. December 23rd No BAM S. December 26th No WOW, BAM W, or Confirmation. December 30th No BAM S. SR League: Attention ALL 9th - 12th Graders! Senior League is YOUR community within ALC. Think about joining us on Wednesday Nights at 8pm. Everyone is welcome! This is your youth group... it can only be what you want to make it! Come get to know Jesus a little bit better and join the fun!! Come join the ALC Youth Community! JR League: Attention ALL 6th - 8th Graders! We meet every 1st and 3rd Sunday Evenings from 6pm-8pm.Typical Meeting: Arrival 6pm, Check In/Social Any questions, please give me a call at , my cell or send me an at lcpete2@gmail.com. Sincerely, Lisa Petersen

4 Worship & Music Notes for December By Karen Wojahn, Worship & Music Coordinator ( ) Page 4 As we move into December, our scripture lessons focus on how we can live with the promise of the coming savior, Jesus. We will be reminded of the faith of Esther, who found the courage to advocate for her people. We will hear the words of Isaiah, who promised the people that God had not forgotten them. And we will be reminded of the angel s reassuring words to Joseph. Join us as the story continues: Dec. 2 Faith as a Way of Life Habakkuk 1:1-7; 2:1-14; 3:3b-6, Dec. 9 Esther Esther 4: 1-17 Dec. 16 Light to the Nations Isaiah 42:1-9 Dec. 23 Jesus as Immanuel Matthew 1:18-25 Dec. 30 Genealogy of Jesus Matthew 1:1-17 Christmas music is in the air! Rehearsals of the Community Christmas Cantata continue and the BAM students are working on Christmas songs for their program. Mark your calendar and plan to attend these special events in December: The Community Christmas Cantata will be presented in our sanctuary on Sunday, December 9 at 2:00 pm. 45 singers from a wide variety of churches have been working hard on the music since early October and they are eager to share this wonderful cantata with you! A number of other music groups will also be sharing music at this concert, which is a benefit for the Windom Area Sharing Center. Hosting this event a wonderful opportunity for ALC to show hospitality to the community! Can you bring bars? Help serve? Welcome guests at the doors? Be an usher?

5 Worship & Music Notes for December Page 5 By Karen Wojahn, Worship & Music Coordinator ( ) WOW (Worship on Wednesday) will be held twice this month, on December 5 & December 19 at 5:45PM. The Living Nativity will be held on December 12 at 5:30PM-7:30PM, with many activities happening all around the church building, including musical entertainment in the Skylight Court. There will not be WOW on Wednesday, December 26. Our three candlelight Christmas Eve worship services will be at 3:00, 5:00 and 10:00 pm on December 24.. Holy Communion will be served at the 10:00 service. Our 3:00 pm service will be re-broadcast on KDOM Radio (101.3 FM) at 7:00 pm. Sign up to be a volunteer during our worship services in December! We need Greeters, Scripture Readers & Communion Assistants on Sundays and Ushers for WOW (Worship on Wednesday). Look for the sign-up sheets on the Worship & Music bulletin board. Get involved in your church! Sign up on the Worship & Music bulletin board to: Light Advent candles at worship this month Help host the Community Christmas Concert Share musical talents at the Living Nativity or on Christmas Eve Be a Communion Assistant on Christmas Eve at the 10:00 pm service See you in church!

6 Page 6 December Happenings Adult Learning Series 3: Faith, Charitable Giving and Taxes with Margaret McDonald. Sunday, 12/02/18 10:15 AM in the Meeting Room Come and explore this essential topic of our faith, brought to you by the Discipleship, Marketing & Stewardship Board. Holiday Hours Monday December 24th Office will be closed at 12:00 noon. Tuesday December 25th Building and Office Closed. Soup & Bread is a great fellowship opportunity for the 25ish 45ish. We usually meet on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month. We'd love to have you join us! Child care is provided. December Dates: December 2 December 16 For more information, contact Kathryn Ralston at (507) Sunday, December 2nd, 3:00 PM: Bring the whole family and join us for Cookie Decorating! Hosted by the Christian Education Board. Sunday, December 9th, 2:00 PM: Community Christmas Concert! Wednesday, December 12th, 5:00PM 7:00PM Youth Soup Supper 5:30PM-7:30PM Living Nativity Friday December 14th, 3:00PM: Sogge Christmas Party at the Good Samaritan Society for Mikkelsen Manor, Remick Ridge, and the Sogge Home. ALL ALC Women are welcome. Hosted by GLOW. Sunday December 16th, 3:00 PM: BAM Christmas Program! Coffee, Cider, & Cookies will be held downstairs following the program. Monday, December 24th 3:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Worship w/holy Communion

7 Good to Know Your Church Council Members: Page Kern, President Nancy Michalski, Vice President Lindsey Cartwright, Treasurer Keith Pohlman, Budget & Finance Tina Mesner, Christian Education Dorothy Fundahn, Church in Society Brandon Roskamp, Discipleship & Marketing Kevin Heggeseth, Properties Melanie Shamp, Worship & Music Jen Elness, Youth & Family Judy Trotter, Spiritual Life & Fellowship Jean Johnson/ Kathy Hiley, GLOW Page 7 The American Lutheran Church Constitution and Bylaws Some changes have been made to the ALC Constitution and Bylaws. A link has been put on the American Lutheran Church Website that shows the new updates. The updates are highlighted in blue and red. The items highlighted in blue refer to the Constitution and/or Bylaws that can be acted upon at the January 2019 Annual meeting. The items highlighted in red need to be presented at the January 2019 Annual Meeting and voted on at the next Annual Meeting in Go check it out at alcofwindom.com. BIBLE STUDY is back! Join Melanie Shamp for a meaningful Bible Study, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp on Wednesdays, 6:30PM- 7:15PM. This is a study that will prepare our hearts and minds for the magical season of Christmas. Tell your friends! Study guide is $5. Dave and Barb Anderson are leading a wonderful Scandinavia tour June 9-27, Castles, cathedrals, museums, fjords, and 2 homestays. Fun and Christian fellow- Lutefisk Supper Saturday, January 12, 2019 Serving 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Lutefisk, Meatballs, Lefse, and More Tickets are $15 and will be available December 16th, 23rd, 30th, & January 6th. You may purchase tickets in the church office or by calling the church office at (507) These tickets could make a great Christmas gift!! We are pleased to announce that we have hired Gina Hauge to be our new Administrative Assistant. We have also hired Melanie Shamp to be our new Christian Education Coordinator. We want to thank the entire staff at American Lutheran for their extra work during this time of transition. Gina will began her duties on November 14th. Gina was also installed into the Church on November 25th. Melanie will being her duties in December. Please welcome Gina and Melanie to their new jobs and the church family.

8 Good to Know Wednesday Suppers Wednesday, December 5th, 5:00 PM Tator Tot Hotdish, buttered bread, jello-cups, & cookies. Wednesday, December 12th, 5:00 PM Youth Fundraiser Chicken noodle soup, chili, buns, crackers, & bars. Wednesday, December 19th, 5:00 PM Goulash, buttered bread, corn, & cookies. Wednesday, December 26th No Supper Page 8 Summary of Minutes from ALC Council Tuesday, November 13th, 2018 Melanie Shamp elected as interim secretary. ALC s Charter Sponsorship of the Boy Scouts was discussed with representative Susan Buss. Approval of the hire of Gina Hauge as the Administrative Assistant. Annual Meeting set for January 20th, 2019, following 9:00AM Worship. Proposed changes to the Constitution reviewed. Presentation by Officers Norell and Derickson on A.L.I.C.E Safety training for ALC. Worship and Music proposes to Budget and Finance Board to have a catered meal at the Annual Meeting. Wednesday, November 21st, 2018 Approval of the hire of Melanie Shamp as the Christian Education Coordinator. GET INVOLVED! ALTAR GUILD is looking for new members male and female! Altar Guild prepares communion for worship, dusts the chancel area (around the altar) and changes the paraments. In both the sanctuary and the chapel. We have monthly business meetings (September - May) with dessert and fellowship. It is not a huge time commitment and it is a wonderful way to serve your church. Please consider this important ministry of American Lutheran. Questions? Please contact Kathy Hiley, or momhiley@gmail.com or Judy Holt, or jjholt51@gmail.com. SERVICE OPPORTUNITY: Individuals and groups of 4-6 from our church are needed to help pack food backpacks for the Winfair Backpack Food Program on the first week of each month. To sign up call Lisa Turner at (507) or sign-up on the sheets posted on

9 Page 9 Pastor Adam and Beth Roberts along with their son Xavier and daughter Penelope join us from Trinity Lutheran Church in Birnamwood, WI. The Roberts family transitioned to life in Windom in August, and Pastor Adam began his call here at American Lutheran on August 20th. Todd and Mary Schumann along with their adult daughters Audrey Schumann and Julia Schumann (not pictured) come to us from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lakefield, MN.

10 Page 10 GLOW Gals Living Our Witness December Events Women s Bible Study Saturday, December 8:30 a.m. River City Eatery Thursday, December 2:00 p.m. ALC Meeting Room December Gather Magazine Devotional Fear Not page 22 God is at work beyond our ability to imagine. Questions? Contact: Carolyn Torkelson Sogge Christmas Party Friday, December 14 3:00 p.m. Sogge Good Samaritan Please come and share the Christmas spirit with our ALC family at the Sogge Campus. Enjoy Christmas goodies and a Christmas sing along with Rozanne American Lutheran Church Women's Ministry 2018

11 Page 11 Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 From 5:30pm to 7:30pm THE AMERICAN LUTHERAN CHURCH To drive-by Nativity from 10th Street turn south on Prospect Ave View the manger scene by vehicle or walk by. Come pet the animals both inside and outside. Carriage Rides. Music inside the Skylight Court. Cider & popcorn in the Skylight Court. Holiday Bake Sale with proceeds for the ALC Youth. **Church in Society Board will be taking donations for our Windom Area Sharing Center. Please bring food or cash donations to the Living Nativity! Soup & Chili Served by the Youth 5:00PM to 7:00PM Our Christmas Eve Services on Monday, December 24th, :00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion

12 For the Record Page 12 From the Church Records: Baptisms: Isla Joy Smith, daughter of Mike and Tanya Burials: Robert Kirstein Florence Hunter Orville Berkness Jon Hunter SUNDAY USHERS FOR December: Ron Vought, John Berge, Kermit Twait, Steve Nasby, Kyle Ludewig, Keith Bloomgren, Jay Mickelson, John Holt, Todd Mattson, Bruce Turner, Paul Turner, Steve Haglund, Travis Friewald, and Jason Rupp. SATURDAY USHERS: December 1 Jean Blanshan December 8 Rob Becker (Noisy Offering, Communion) December 15 Lori Seifert (Communion) December 22 Cheryl Hochstein December 29 Lori Seifert ALC FINANCIAL UPDATE As of 11/26/18: Income: $375,081 Expenses: $417,375 Borrowed to date: $45,000 These figures do not include November end-of-month commitments and benevolences. $45,000 has been borrowed from our operating special fund to meet commitments to date. ALC books for 2018 will close at noon on Friday, December 31, Let s work together and meet all 2018 commitments here at ALC. No gift is ever too small. Memorials: Renovation Fund In memory of Robert Kirstein, DeLorris Quiring, Robert Brodin, Florence Hunter and Orville Berkness.

13 Page 13 Share Christmas greetings with your ALC family! Post photos and/or holiday letters on the bulletin board by Pastor Adam s office. Did you know that you can see sermons on the ALC WEBSITE? Don t miss out. Go to and click on the Media tab to hear a sermon that you might have missed in the last two weeks. HAVE YOU BEEN receiving weekly s from us here at ALC with weekly happenings? If not, and you would like to, please call the church office so we can update your address and keep you posted on events! IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE are hospitalized, going through any medical treatments or need pastoral care of any kind, please call the church office to let us know Have you recently cancelled your telephone landline or changed your cell phone number? Please let the church office know, so that we can stay in touch with you! ALC Prayer Chain Request Change: All prayer chain requests will now be handled through the church office. To activate ALC s Prayer Chain please call the church office at or an may be sent to winalc@windomnet.com. If you are not part of the ALC Prayer Chain and would like to be, please send the church your address. Thank you! Bits and Pieces PRAYER SHAWLS: If you know of someone in our church family who could use a Prayer Shawl, call the church office. KEEP SAVING those empty printer ink cartridges. They are turned in for cash for our Education Department. The container is located in the hallway by the offices. CONTINUE to remember the Windom Sharing Center in the coming months. Monetary gifts may be sent to PO Box 173, Windom. Contributions may be left here at the church or at the Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm. Call , PRAYER CHAIN: To activate ALC s Prayer Chain, please call the church office at or an may be sent to winalc@windomnet.com. REMEMBER 2nd Thursday of every month at Senior Dining. Join your ALC family once a month for lunch at the Windom Community Center. MISSING A CAKE PAN? Our collection of orphaned pots and pans in Room 102 is growing! Please stop in and see if one of them is yours. Thanks for all the food you have shared! WANT TO RECEIVE THE MESSENGER ELECTRONICALLY? Save the church paper, ink and postage! Contact the church office to share your address. THANK YOU! We would like to thank everyone for your prayers, condolences, and support in the passing of Robert. Thank you to all who helped with the meal. Also, a special thank you to Pastor Sarah for your touching service. Carol Kirstein & Family.

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