Tuesday, December 25th. W/ELCA Christmas Festival Potluck. Wednesday Advent Services December 5th, 12th & 19th. Grades 4K-6th Christmas Program

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1 2018 ParishVisitor Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church (715) In This Issue Page 2 Pastor Terry s Message Pages 3 Bishop s Christmas Message Page 4 Stewardship Giving Options Page 5 Parish Events Page 6 C-YA & ASP Page 7 ASP Pizza Order Form Page 8 Sunday School Confirmation Page 9 Food Pantry Prayer Shawl Ministry WELCA Page 10 Worship Assistants Sponsorship Thank Yous Page 11 December Calendar Wednesday, December 5th 12:00 noon W/ELCA Christmas Festival Potluck Wednesday Advent Services December 5th, 12th & 19th Sunday, December 16th Grades 4K-6th Christmas Program Sunday, December 23rd Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata 6:00 PM 8:15 8:15 & 10:45 Monday, December 24th Christmas Eve 4:30 PM Candlelight Service w/holy Communion 9:00 PM Candlelight Service w/holy Communion Tuesday, December 25th 9:00 Worship with Holy Communion Sunday, December 30th 9:00 Worship with Holy Communion All 2018 offerings must be in by Noon on Monday, December 31st.

2 Who cares about waiting? I want Christmas to be now! Waiting is too boring. Those were several of the many comments I heard about Advent a few weeks back from our 8 th Grade Confirmation Class. I'd just started a short video that presented an overview of seasons from the church's perspective. Advent, the narrator began, is all about waiting... and the grumbling began. Perhaps it was the colder temps that had shown up earlier than these most recent years, perhaps it was the several measurable snowfalls we'd already received and now seemed to have settled in for the duration, or maybe it was just some of our young members expressing their perception of the world we have made known to them. They have a hard time waiting because waiting has become hard work. Dr. Seuss, author of Oh, The Places You'll Go!, has labeled waiting as the worst of all places to find yourself. Have you ever noticed how all of our Prayers of the Day throughout the season of Advent begin the same way?...with the same six words? Our Advent Prayers of the Day have been borrowed from old, old medieval church worship books and when translated into our common language all begin like this... Stir up in us O Lord... The first part of that familiar Advent phrase, Stir up comes from Latin word excita, which as you likely already guessed it is where we get the word excited from. So maybe I'm with the kids on this one. I'm excited (stirred up) for Christmas to come this year and I want that excitement to permeate Advent, spill over into Christmas, and linger throughout Epiphany. I don't want to wait this year and I admit that my reasons are pretty selfish. This is the first year that Valerie and I & Jon and Lori will be blessed to hold a grandchild of our own descent. In fact, if the predictions put forth by those in the know are even close, we'll all be welcoming a gift of new life right around the first day of Advent. It is my prayer that Advent; the beginning of the church's new year, the beginning of the story of God incarnate, the beginning of our eternal descendancy as God's holy children brings you excitement, great joy, and hope. God's peace and joy to all, 2

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4 Stewardship Update Can You Believe..That our Stewardship Messaging request to increase weekly contributions has resulted in $ paid off from our Line of Credit Loan as of 11/20/18 with your designated gifts. THANK YOU to all whom have been able to increase your giving by $5 or give a special gift toward this effort. (Make sure to designate your line of credit gift with a note attached, or on your envelope so your donation goes to where you would like it.) Can You Imagine..How great it would be for our church to have our Line of Credit Loan paid back and go into the New Year with a fresh start. With every member s help this hope can become a reality. Stewardship Breakfast Thank you to all that came to Stewardship Breakfast on November 11, We hope you all enjoyed the great food and Sunday Morning Fellowship! $341 was earned from the breakfast- $ went toward the Line of Credit Loan and $ went into the general fund to help with expenses. Special Thanks to Barbara Larson for her Thrivent Action Gift which sponsored the supplies for the Breakfast, T-Shirts and Gift Certificates for the drawings. Also a big Thank You to Lorna Peterson for donating a Thanksgiving Basket and Carmel Corn for the drawing. Thank You to the Stewardship/Finance Committee for cooking the breakfast! Congratulations to the drawing winners and again THANK YOU to all our Veterans for their service! Giving Options at OELC Offering envelopes Let the church office staff know if you would like offering envelopes mailed to you. Simply Giving Pick up a form in the office or on the OELC website. Text OELC to and follow the prompts. Request an invite to Realm This is our church software. You can do so in the church office or at Noisy Offering Last Sunday of every month bring your loose change to throw in the metal pot Thrivent Choice Dollars & Action Teams must be a Thrivent Member Amazon Smile go to amazon.com and look up their Smile program or visit our website for the link 4 Thrivent Action Teams in 2018 Thank you to the following individuals for applying for a Thrivent Action Team to help offset the costs of events at OELC: Shirley Bagley January Stewardship Breakfast Mary Jo Halvorson March Stewardship Breakfast Dale Amundson Soup Suppers Curt Skoyen ASP Construction Workshop Shirley Amundson Harvest Supper Supplies Shirley Bagley Lefse Supplies for Harvest Supper Robert Rongstad 125th Anniversary Program JoAnn Rongstad Quilting Thread & Backing Jane Stanek Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bedding Dale Amundson C-YA Random Acts of Kindness Barbara Larson November Stewardship Breakfast If you are a Thrivent Member and would like to know more about Action Teams, contact Molly 0r Deanna in the church office or call your representative. If you did an Action Team in 2018, but are not listed above, also let us know. Thanks!

5 Dec. 1st Stouthearted Men at Whitehall H.S. Committee Reports Due for Annual Mtg. Poinsettia Orders Due Dec. 2nd Rev. Erin Nelson, Assistant to the Bishop Dec. 4th WELCA Christmas Stocking Making Dec. 5th WELCA Christmas Buffet Dec. 5, 12 & 19 ADVENT Mid-Week Worship Service Dec. 8th Dec. 9th Lions Club Breakfast with Santa at OELC C-YA Random Acts of Kindness Prayer Shawl Work Day Jubilate at South Beef River Church Dec. 16th Sunday School Christmas Program Jubilate at South Beef River Church Dec. 20th Life Line Screening Dec. 23rd Chancel Choir Christmas Cantata Dec. 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Services at 4:30 & 9:00 PM Dec. 25th Christmas Day Worship at 9:00 Dec. 30th 1 Worship Service at 9:00 Jan. 6, 13 & 20 6th Grade 1st Communion Classes Jan. 25 & 26 ASP Pizza Making Jan. 27th 6th Graders Receive 1st Communion OELC Annual Meeting March 6th Ash Wednesday March 13th Soup Suppers & Lenten Services Begin March 10, 17 & 24 5th Grade 1st Communion Classes March 31st 5th Graders Receive 1st Communion April 7th ASP Steak Fry & Auction April 14th Palm Sunday April 18th Maundy Thursday April 19th Good Friday April 21st Easter May 5th Confirmation Sunday Men's Breakfast & Bible Study ~ The men of OELC are invited to meet for Breakfast & Bible study every First Tuesday of the month at 7 in the west room of the Norske Nook. Our next session will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 7 Our December study will be entitled I Have Fought the Good Fight. Bring your own bible or use the handouts provided. Newly Installed Assistant to the Bishop To Visit ~ On Sunday December 2, 2018, Rev. Erin Nelson, Assistant to the Bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, will join us for worship and will be preaching at both services. Our emphasis for the day will be Stewardship. Come and meet your new synod servant! Chapel Dedication Service at OELC On Sunday, December 30th, 2018 we will have only one worship service and it will be held in our new chapel at 9 The family of Wilmer and Edna Dahl, who have provided a very generous gift of financial support and help in construction, will join us as we dedicate this new worship and multipurpose space to the glory of God and acknowledge it as a gift given in loving memory of Wilmer & Edna. After the service, refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall. All are welcome to attend. Leah & Lori Reynolds and Hailey Ness would like to thank the Endowment Committee for their support in helping us get to Godstock. They had an amazing time and are all new members on the Synod Youth Board for the Dairyland Conference: Leah 2-year Representative Hailey Alternate 1-Year Representative Lori Adult Representative Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. Romans 12:11 5

6 Dec. 9th ~ 2:00 PM at OELC Random Acts of Kindness ASP Stock Sale Every year, one of the biggest fundraisers for the mission trip is the ASP Stock Sale. The kids going on the trip send 5 letters to family & friends, mostly who live far away & can t come to the steak fry or buy pizzas, but some are from around here too. This is the letter they sent this year: Dear, Next Summer, June 14-23, 2019, I will be traveling with 24 high school students & 12 adult leaders to Kentucky to repair homes & transform lives. I will be helping make homes warmer, safer & drier, as well as forming a stronger faith and relationships that will last a lifetime. But I need help. I need your help investing in this trip. The cost of the trip is approximately $700/person, and while we fundraise most of it, we still need your assistance. With your purchase of stock, I ll be able to have an experience of a lifetime. No donation is too big or too small. So, here is your chance to buy stock in my spiritual life: basically it s the same idea as buying a stock in a business, but with an even greater reward! What do you get? a thank you note with a little description of the trip before I go a postcard while I am on the trip an invitation to our slideshow & spaghetti supper a picture of me on the trip, working on a home making a difference I really appreciate you investing in my trip and supporting my desire to be a servant leader. Thank you!!! Your Name(s): Mailing Address: I would like to invest in the spiritual life of (Print Name of Stock Seller): How Many Shares of Stock? Each share is $25 I would like: 1 Share at $25 2 Shares at $50 3 Shares at $75 4 Shares at $100 Other Amount: Make checks payable to: OELC 6

7 25 kids & 12 adults are gearing up for their mission trip to Kentucky in June 2019 to make homes drier, safer & warmer. Our first big fundraiser begins December 2nd at church with students here to sell the pizzas. They will also be here December 9th, 16th & January 6th. Pizzas will be made January 25th & 26th with pick-up or delivery Saturday, January 26th from 3:00-5:00 PM. You ll get them just in time for the Super Bowl!!!. You can also buy anytime from your favorite ASP participant or in the church office. OSSEO ASP PIZZA SALE INDIVIDUAL ORDER FORM Our Pizza Sale is a major fundraiser for our annual Appalachia Service Project (ASP) mission trip. Each summer high school youth travel to the central Appalachian Mountains and spend one week as volunteers working to make homes there safer, dryer and warmer. Your support helps to make this and other missions possible. Orders due: January 11 th, 2019 Return order form to: Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church or mail to OELC, Harmony St., WI or call Molly at Pizzas may be picked up between 3:00 and 5:00 pm on Saturday, January 26 th at Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church. Buyer s Name: Buyer s Phone #: Seller s Name: I WILL PICK UP Make checks payable to OELC Thank you for your support!!! SELLER DELIVER Type of Pizza Price/ea. Get 3/for... Quantity Total A 12 Cheese $ / $20.00 A B 12 Sausage $ / $23.00 B C 12 Pepperoni $ / $23.00 C D 12 Canadian Bacon $ / $23.00 D E 12 Vegetarian $ / $23.00 E F 12 Sausage & Pepperoni $ / $24.00 F G 12 Sausage & Mushroom $ / $24.00 G H 12 Supreme $9.00 3/ $25.00 H I 9 Cheese $ / $14.00 I J 9 Sausage $ / $15.00 J K 9 Pepperoni $ / $15.00 K L 9 Supreme $ / $20.00 L Total Pizzas Ordered Total Paid/Due Check # 7

8 December Worship Assistant & Confirmation Schedule The Sunday School kids will be hosting Coffee Hour December 2, The barn banks will be at every fellowship hall table for you to add your loose coins to which will all be designated to the God s Global Barnyard project. IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER December 16th 8:15am 4K-6th grades CHRISTMAS PROGRAM December 23rd & 30th NO SUNDAY SCHOOL 6th GRADE 1st COMMUNION CLASSES January 6th, 13th & 20th Instruction during Sunday School January 27th Receive Holy Communion at 8:15am service 5th GRADE 1st COMMUNION CLASSES March 10th, 17th & 24th Instruction during Sunday School March 31st Receive Holy Communion at 8:15am service We Express Sympathy to the family and friends upon the death of Laura Riphenburg, 50, died Sunday, October 28, 2018 in Osseo. The service for Laura was Friday, Nov. 2 at OELC. Chieko Anderson, 91, died Sunday, November 4, 2018 in Eau Claire. The service for Chieko was Monday, Nov. 12 at OELC. We Rejoice in the Baptism of: Ava Nicole Grace Miller, was born August 17, 2018, in Eau Claire, is the daughter of Ryan & Samantha (Springer) Miller. Ava will be baptized at OELC on Sunday, December 9th at 10:45 8 Sunday, December 2 8:15 A: Kaia M. C: Ada N. BB: Rae P. 10:45 A: Nathan M. C: Mia N. BB: Brenna S. Wednesday, December 5 Advent Worship at 6:00 Snack at 3:35; Class 4:00-5:00 PM Snack: Brogan K. & Lucas F. 6:00 PM A: Brody S. C: Ashton O. BB: Ayva O. Sunday, December 9 8:15 A: Cody S. C: Paige S. BB: Kadance W. 10:45 A: Torri S. C: Miah T. BB: Lucas F. Wednesday, December 12 Advent Worship at 6:00 Snack at 3:35; Class 4:00-5:00 PM Snack: Benji Tietjens 6:00 PM A: Brogan K. C: Karmen P. BB: Mason S. Sunday, December 16 8:15 A: Hayden S. C: Devyn V. BB: Connor A. 10:45 A: Benji T. C: Brian Z. BB: Eleice D. Wednesday, December 19 Advent Worship at 6:00 Snack at 3:35; Class 4:00-5:00 PM Snack: NEED VOLUNTEERS 6:00 PM A: Isaac I. C: Mitchell H. BB: Cayden G. Sunday, December 23 8:15 A: Nick J. C: Madi L. BB: Nathan M. 10:45 A: Lydia J. C: Alexis M. BB: Ada N. Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve 4:30 PM A: Ada N. C: Mason S. BB: Lucas F. 9:00 PM A: Benji T. C: Brogan K. BB: needed Tuesday, December 25 Christmas 9:00 Need worship assistant volunteers Sunday, December 30 Chapel Dedication 9:00 Need worship assistant volunteers A=Acolyte; C=Crucifer; BB=Bookbearer

9 Our next monthly meeting is Wednesday, December 5 from 1:00-3:00 PM. The group gathers the first Wednesday of the month. For more information, call Rosi at Sunday Prayer Shawl Workday Dec. 9 3rd Saturday of the Month At Fire station behind Stockmans 10:00-11:00 am 2nd Tuesday of the month 4:30-6:00 PM at Osseo UCC Greetings in Christ, At this time of the year I like to share a book that I reread each Christmas: Christmas Jars by Jason F. Wright. It s a heartwarming story that will restore your faith in mankind and make you want to start your own Christmas Jar tradition. A special thank you to the Bazaar Committee, Lisa Iverson, Maggie Seefeldt, and Amy McCune for the enjoyable and successful day and for the new and innovative ideas. Net profit was approximately $3500, all of which will be dispersed to local agencies in need. A generous gift to WELCA of $250 was received from the Osseo Family Restaurant. We thank them for there wonderful support of our church and community. Remember the Christmas Buffet, potluck, scheduled for Wednesday, December 5th at noon. The Dangertones (Osseo-Fairchild swing choir) will provide our program followed by devotions with Pam Pralle. Bring a friend! At this meeting we will also collect our thank offering which we then send in to the W/ELCA headquarters. Prayer partners will be revealed. Gifts will be collected for the Trempealeau County Health Care Center. Mittens, caps for the mitten tree. At this time of the year there is excitement in the air as we prepare for Christmas and the birth of our Saviour, and in our preparation let us not forget how much we can share and give of ourselves. In closing, if you want to be instantly rich, count your blessings! Rosemary Twesme W/ELCA BIBLE STUDY December 19 ~ 1:00 PM We will be doing November s lesson. Bring your Christmas baked goods to share. QUILTING Tuesday, Dec. 11th ~ 10 to 4 PM Bring a sack lunch. Coffee is at 3 PM. All are welcome! Any questions, call Connie We will once again be making Christmas stockings to be stuffed with goodies for the food pantry. The date will be Dec. 4th from 10AM to 3PM. Any and all help is appreciated. Bring a dish to pass. In October we shipped the following to Lutheran World Relief: 6 Quilts ~ 20 School kits ~ 14 Baby Layettes ~ 15 Personal kits Thank you to the workers and all who donated! 20 quilts were donated to the Trempealeau County bed project "Sleep in Heavenly Peace". 20 queen size quilts and 42 child/baby quilts were donated to Trempealeau County Social Services. 5 quilts were given locally (ASP, Benefits, etc). 2 queen size and 1 child donated to the Luther Park Bible Camp 1 Queen size and 1 Baby quilt to Morning of Renewal. 6 quilts to Missions. THANK YOU!!! What is W/ELCA? Women of the Church (W/ELCA) publish a booklet each year listing activities, opportunities for service, and work groups. All members are placed in a work group for the purpose of serving, primarily funerals. There are four work groups that rotate, so on occasion the chairperson will call and ask members to furnish food and perhaps to work. Funeral serving is a service provided by W/ELCA for families in a time of grief. 9

10 Date Time 12/2 8:15 10:45 Sue Coey, Kim Kubishak Dan & Linda Ness Nels & Nancy Gunderson Tim & Judy Johnson Kaia M., Ada N., Rae P. Nathan M., Mia N., Brenna S. Rosi Seffens Carol Dodge Team #2: Rick Tiller (Capt.) Team #11: Shaun Everson (Capt.) 12/5 12/9 12/12 6:00 PM 8:15 10:45 6:00 PM Volunteer Opportunities Anyone interested in being a delegate to the Northwest Synod Assembly - likely in early June in Eau Claire - let us know before the end of the year. Brody S., Ashton O., Ayva O. Cody S., Paige S., Kadance W. Torri S., Miah T., Lucas F. Brogan K., Karmen P., Mason S. c Naomi Bodway Bev Frase c Team #1: Mark Martinson (Capt.) Team #3: Marv McCune (Capt.) Team #4: Eric Johnson (Capt.) Team #5: Frans Carlstrom (Capt.) 12/16 12/19 12/23 8:15 10:45 6:00 PM 8:15 10:45 Looking for a volunteer to create fun music with our 4th-6th grade Sunday School kids from January - May. Practice is during Sunday School each week, and the kids perform during 1 service per month. Hayden S., Devyn V., Connor A. Benji T., Brian Z., Eleice D. Isaac I., Mitchell H., Cayden G. Nick J., Madi L., Nathan M. Lydia J., Alexis M., Ada N. S.S. Program Peggy Lundberg c Choir Christmas Cantata Team #6: John Balliett (Capt.) Team #10: Dan Ness (Capt.) Team #2: Rick Tiller (Capt.) Need volunteers Team #11: Shaun Everson (Capt.) 12/24 4:30 PM 9:00 PM Linda Dahl, Kay Vold Stu & Carol Dodge Sharon Jermstad, Jane Simpson, Deb Gregory, Betty Ward & Lisa Boettcher Ada N., Mason S., Lucas F. Benji T., Brogan K., need 1 more Vern Larson Marty Kempf Team #3: Marv McCune (Capt.) Team #8: Curt Skoyen (Capt.) Team #9: Larry Husom (Capt.) Team #12: Matt Nelson (Capt.) 12/25 9:00 Judy Hageness, Jane Stanek, Jody Groell & Stacy Holden Need 3 volunteers Betty Ward Team #1: Mark Martinson (Capt.) 12/30 9:00 Steve & Darcy Guntner Vern & Becky Larson Need 3 volunteers Tom Peterson Team #4: Eric Johnson (Capt.) to Linda, Rachel & Kaden Moseley for sponsoring the Security System for the month of December in memory of Fred Moseley 10 to Bob & Shirley Holmgreen for sponsoring the Newsletter for the month of December in memory of Gaylord & Emma Holmgreen

11 2 Holy Communion Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Assistant to the Bishop Erin Nelson Preaching 8:15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School, Endowment Meeting & Coffee 10:45 Worship 9 8:15 Worship 9:30 Sunday School, Pr. Shawl Work Time & Coffee 10:45 Worship with Miller Baptism 2:00 C-YA Random Acts of Kindness 2:00 Worship at Dove 7:00 Jubilate at S. Beef River 16 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE 8:15 Worship with Sunday School Christmas Program 9:30 Sunday School & Coffee 10:45 Worship 3:00 Jubilate at S. Beef River 23 8:15 Christmas Cantata 9:30 Coffee Fellowship 10:45 Christmas Cantata 30 Holy Communion 9:00 Chapel Dedication Worship Service 3 6:00 PM Girl Scout Meeting 10 9:00 Church Christmas Decorating 4 7 Men s Bible Study at Norske Nook 8 Staff Mtg Head Start 10-Noon Text Study 10-3 WELCA Stocking Making 11 8 Staff Mtg Quilting 10 Text Study 4:30-6 Ruby s Pantry at Osseo UCC Staff Mtg Head Start 10 Text Study 24 4:30 & 9:00 PM Christmas Eve Services with Holy Communion Offerings due by Noon 25 9:00 Christmas Day Worship Service with Holy Communion 5 Noon WELCA Buffet 1-3 Prayer Shawl Gathering 4:00 Confirmation 6:00 Advent Worship 6:45 Choir Practice 12 4:00 Confirmation 5-6 FREE Community Meal 6:00 Advent Worship 6:45 Choir Practice 7:00 Council Meeting 7:00 Craft Night 19 1:00 WELCA Bible Study 4:00 Confirmation 6:00 Advent Worship 6:45 Choir Practice 26 8:00 Newsletter Assembly IGNITE will resume Jan. 9th 6 6:00 PM 4-H Meeting 1 Due today Poinsettia Orders Committee Reports 7 8 8:30-10:30 Lions Club Breakfast with Santa 1-3 Rogness Christmas Party Tri County Food Pantry 20 8am-6pm Life Line Screening Little Parsonage For Rent Would you or someone you know like to rent the little parsonage? If you are interested, please inquire in the church office :00am Cantata Rehearsal

12 PARISH VISITOR is the newsletter of Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church Harmony Street Osseo, WI Osseo Evangelical Lutheran Church NONPROFIT Harmony Street U.S. POSTAGE PAID Osseo, WI OSSEO, WI Address Service Requested PERMIT NO. 5 * DATED MATERIAL * Please join us for Sunday Worship 8:15 & 10:45 Pastor: Terry Lorenz Our Mission at OELC: to share our faith and bring people to Jesus Christ, to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to minister to the needs of ALL people.