Beautiful Savior Ministry Leaders

Transcription

1 Along the Way December 2018 Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Pastor Jake Dickerhoff 8100 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage, AK Phn: Fax: Website: bslc.org Facebook: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church Inside this Issue Pastor s Corner...2 LSSA...4 Worship Schedule... 5 Church Happenings...6 Schedule of Helpers Bdays & Anniversaries Beautiful Savior Ministry Leaders Acolytes Leader Carolene Seitz JHDT Pastor Jake ALS Administrator Allison Chandler Kitchen Supplies Carolene Seitz ALS Board Chairman OPEN LWML Lori Schommer Altar Guild Diane Smith Men s Breakfast Dale Brainerd Congregational Pres Scott Hipsak Nursery Facilitator OPEN Congregational VP Mike Watson Office Administrator Lori Schommer Congregational Sec Donna Josephson Organist Donna Josephson Congregational Treas Cassie Jeremias Pianist Heidi Brainerd Cong Financial Sec Amy Davis Praise & Worship Team Jessica Collier Facilities Mgmnt Bob Bowlby Sun Morn Adult Bible Pastor Jake High School Youth Grp Scott Hipsak Sun Kids Studies Cassie Jeremias Kerrick Sawyer Thurs Morning Coffee Dora Sigurdsson Rachel Sawyer Women s Bible Study Lori Schommer

2 Along the Way December 2018 Page 2 Pastor s Corner Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy new year! The notion of yet another year in the books is incredible, and seemingly too early to even begin considering. However, while my New Year s greeting may appear to be a month early, I would argue that perhaps the rest of the world is actually a month behind. The First Sunday of Advent marks the end of the previous church year and turns our attention toward anticipating the birth of something new! As God speaks to His people scattered and exiled in Babylonian captivity, He calls them to look past their glory days and says: Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19) Throughout the season of Advent and Christmas, we bear witness to this work that God is doing and look forward to the life that springs forth! God says: Watch this! And as a church, we ask: Did you see it?! Oddly enough though, when it comes to Christmas gifts, we anticipate, prepare, and get excited without even knowing exactly what to expect. Ideally, we blindly trust that regardless of whatever the gift is we will love it simply because of who it comes from! In reality, though, we may get what we deserve and not what we want. In the same way, we spend Advent looking forward to this New Thing that God is doing! Do you not perceive it? Over the next few Sundays in Advent, we have the opportunity to bear witness about the work that God is doing through Beautiful Savior. In doing so, we also contemplate how and where God is preparing us for a New Thing that He is calling us to as we follow Emmanuel, the King of Kings. Do you not perceive it? In fact, while the rest of the world is trying to catch up, we will already be waiting! Knowing that God has already answered for the hope we have for salvation, the real question becomes: Are we ready? We each have a unique role to play in ensuring that our answer is a resounding yes! Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

3 Along the Way December 2018 Page 3 Pastor s Corner (continued) Throughout this Advent and Christmas season, how has God blessed you to be about the work of His Spirit? Perhaps you have the gift of compassionately caring for others, are you able to help give someone a ride to appointments or bring them to worship? Maybe you have begun to consider the legacy of your service, are you able to help us get closer or even achieve meeting our budget on giving so that we can start to discern how we might again support a full-time DCE or family life minister to serve our youth and young adults with even greater intentionality? Perhaps you are just trying to make sense of what it even means to follow Christ and know God better, you re in good company, and I d love to buy you a cup of coffee to find out more! Thank you for the opportunity to serve beside during this exciting time in ministry! Blessed advent from our family to yours! God bless!

4 Along the Way December 2018 Page 4 Lutheran Social Services of Alaska (LSSA) Thank you to everyone who helped make this year s Thanksgiving Blessing such a success. We were blessed with thousands of canned corn, green beans, stuffing and gravy, collected by Anchor Lutheran School, First Christian Church and our Lutheran congregations. Thank you also to those who contributed financially and to those who volunteered their time to help with set-up and distribution. Many thanks to Central Lutheran Church for allowing us to host the 1300 households we served that day. Citywide Blessing served close to 8,000 households. And also, thanks to Joy Lutheran Church for hosting this event for the Eagle River community. Thanks also to all who donated Christmas stockings for the children of the families we serve in the Food Pantry. These stocking with the Christmas story included bring hope and joy to our clients and their children. It is not too late to donate stockings as we distribute them through Friday, December 21st. Christmas will soon be upon us and LSSA is collaborating with the Salvation Army, Marine Corp Toys for Tots program, and the Food Bank of Alaska to host the Neighborhood Gift program. This program provides many ways to share the spirit of the season. First, you can purchase gifts and drop them at a Marine Corp Toys for Tots or a Salvation Army drop-off location. These are located in the various malls and stores throughout Alaska. We again will be using the Sullivan Arena as our distribution site on Wednesday, December 12 and Thursday, December 13 from 12pm to 7pm both days. We are also looking for people to volunteer during the event. Volunteer shifts are on Wednesday, December 12th or Thursday, December 13th from 10:30am to 3:30pm and from 3pm to 7pm for distribution. Volunteer on-line by going to the Food Bank of Alaska or The Salvation Army websites. Last January, approximately 711 men, women and children were served during the Project Homeless Connect in Anchorage. We are asking anyone who knits, crochets or sews to donate hats and/or scarves for this project. We are also collecting soaps, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste for hygiene kits. If you would like to volunteer at Project Homeless Connect, please visit The date of Project Homeless Connect is Wednesday, January 23, 2018 at the Egan Center. Soon you will have the opportunity to sign up for your 2019 PFD and we ask you to please consider a charitable contribution to LSSA through the Pick.Click.Give program. In October LSSA received $11,478 in contributions from 2203 donors. Thank you to all who contributed in the past and to our future donors! God has truly blessed us and for that we are grateful. Joy resounds in the hearts of those who believe in the miracle of Christmas! Wishing you all the peace, joy, and love of the season! Together caring for others, Alan Budahl Executive Director Lutheran Social Services of Alaska 1303 W. 33 rd Avenue Anchorage, AK

5 Along the Way December 2018 Page 5 Worship Schedule & Church Happenings Sunday Morning Worship Schedule 8:30am Worship Service 9:45am Coffee Fellowship Time, Adult Bible Study-Middle Classroom, #18 PWT & A/V Practice 10:30am Worship Service 11:30am Connect Meal 12:00 Noon Connect Activities (Sunday School for All Ages) High School Fellowship & Bible Study Wednesdays, 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Kerrick & Rachel Sawyer s Home Bring your friends! Light snacks provided. For directions/more info, contact Kerrick or Rachel, at mr.sawyer@alsalaska.org OR mrs.sawyer@alsalaska.org. ADVENT Prepare the Way Mid-week Advent Services Wednesday Evenings December 5th, 12th & 19th 5:45pm Fellowship Dinner (Potluck) 6:30pm Advent Worship Service Junior High Discipleship Training (JHDT) Wednesdays, 7:00pm 8:15pm Middle Classroom (Room 18) Men s Breakfast Faith, Food & Fellowship bring along a friend or neighbor 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9:00am 11:00am We will assemble hygiene kits Dec 15. If you can gather some shoe boxes, please bring them along. For more information. Contact Dale Brainerd ( or brainered@gci.net)

6 Along the Way December 2018 Page 6 Through the Spirit and Waters of Baptism, We Joyfully Celebrated the Rebirth of Collin Andrew Threlfall on November 25, 2018 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12 St. Collin with Pastor Jake and Family: parents, Grant & Dana, brothers Erik & Gorden, and sister Kyleigh YOU ARE INVITED! Anchor Lutheran School Christmas Music Programs & Cookie Walks Come Hear the Children Sing! Eat (and take home) some yummy cookies! Admission is FREE! Preschool Friday, December 7th, 7pm K-8 Friday, December 14th, 7pm Thank you to everyone who brought in cans of green beans and corn. Together, with Anchor Lutheran families, our Mountains of Blessings were built with 430 cans of green beans & 427 cans of corn. Each CAN helped Lutheran Social Services of Alaska provide Thanksgiving dinner to over 1,300 families in our community. O Holy Night Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Services 6:30pm & 11:00pm Glory to God in the highness, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14 Servant Event Sunday December 9th We are partnering again with Anchor Lutheran School to make fleece-tie blankets for Covenant House & CPC Pregnancy Center Since we have been able to take advantage of some great sales on fleece throughout the year, we already have lots of fleece to cut and get ready for December 9th. If you are able to prep a few blankets, please contact Lori in the Church Office.

7 Along the Way Page 7 December 2018 Share Your Christmas For the month of December, we are collecting ALL types of non-perishable food to share with our Neighbors at Lutheran Social Services of Alaska. Please place your donations in the LSSA boxes in the entryway. Goal: 200 Items For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matt 25:35 Many Hands make Light Work We need your helping hands to help decorate the Church for Advent Saturday, December 2nd, 2pm Hours of Operation: Poinsettias Help decorate the altar area for Advent by purchasing one of this year s Poinsettias. A sign-up sheet is available on Sunday mornings. They are $10 each and your s to take home after Christmas Eve services. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 9am to 7pm Wednesday, 9:30am to 7pm Friday, 9am to 5pm We are not open on the weekends. phone: Beautiful Savior pays an annual contract fee to Cornerstone. Under this contract, BSLC disciples receive a 20% discount for counseling services. Beautiful Savior is registered with Amazon Smile. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charities selected by customers. Look us up by name or click on our unique charity link: ch/

8 Along the Way December 2018 Page 8 39 th Annual Lutheran Women s Advent Brunch Saturday, December 1, :00 AM at The Egan Center The Jesse Tree Isaiah 11:1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit Our Rest in a Changing World (Psalm 62:1-8) LWML Sunday December 2nd We will be taking a noisy mites offering, so please gather your loose change! (We will also accept your quiet and handwritten monies too.) Don t forget to wear your purple! Ladies. It s time for our Annual LWML Advent Potluck Saturday, December 8th 10AM-12 Noon at Lori Schommer s home Please call Lori ( ) for directions and/or to RSVP. Bring a breakfast dish to share. For our ingathering, we are collecting pajamas, chapsticks, and lotions for the ladies residing at the AWAIC shelter. to all those who baked, bought, and/or wo-manned the tables for the November 6th election-day bake sale. We raised $695 for LWML missions. Beautiful Savior s Lutheran Women s Missionary League continues to collect TRAVEL-SIZE toiletry items for the teens at Covenant House. Please place your items in the basket on the LWML table. The January March edition of Portals of Prayer is now available. Pick up your copy on Sunday mornings.

9 Along the Way December 2018 Page 9 Ynot Wednesday?! Wednesday Evenings January 9th February 27th 5:45pm 7:30pm Ynot Wednesday is FUN, FOOD, FELLOWSHIP and FAMILY!!! January may be cold, but not in the multi-purpose room for Ynot Wednesday! Friends! Come to the Lutheran Center, (aka: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church & Anchor Lutheran School), Wednesday nights for a potluck and a variety of different events. Everyone shows up at 5:45-6:30 pm to eat then another hour of fellowship. All are welcome. January 9: GAME NIGHT. Bring a board game. January 16: FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT. January 23: VOLLEYBALL NIGHT and PRESENTATION NIGHT January 30: GAME NIGHT. Bring a board game. February... to be continued. Laugh, visit, get to know someone better, join in on the fun, and feel God's Spirit as we share His joy with one another during Ynot Wednesday! See you there! Potluck for January 9 - last name A-H please bring a hot dish last name I- P please bring a salad last name Q-Z please bring a dessert The 2019 National Youth Gathering is this Summer! There will be an informational meeting for students and parents Sunday, December 9th at 12:30pm in the Middle Classroom.

10 Along the Way December 2018 Page 10 Schedule of Sunday Morning Helpers Set-up/Take Down & Ushering Altar Guild Acolyte Counter A/V 12/02 Ty All Audrey & Ava Nancy Belinda 12/09 Steve Donna Gorden Cassie Natalie 12/16 Jeff Diane Griffin & Zach Sharon V Cody 12/23 Brett Diane Luke Sharon J Vanessa 12/30 Dave Rachel Griffin & Josephine Amy Cody December Birthdays Kevin Johnson 04 Steve Burgoyne 07 Belinda Ortega 07 Cindy Speer 11 Bob Carroll 12 Gavin Sample 14 Curt Burgoyne 17 Jerry Kudenov 19 DeWayne Schnorr 21 Tracey Hartung 22 Carol Thomas 24 Baby Jesus 25 Jacob Dirksen 26 December Baptismal Birthdays Dana Threlfall ~ 7th Todd Seitz ~ 8th Drew Anderson ~ 11th Elizabeth Anderson ~ 11th Erik Brainerd ~ 20th Oliver Dickerhoff ~ 23rd Luci Malloy - 27th Lester Younglove ~ 30th Amy Brassard ~ 31st Emily Parmenter ~ 31st December Wedding Anniversaries Jason & Cassie Jeremias ~ 26th James & Natalie Dean ~ 27th Together, these couples are celebrating 23 years of marriage! I m sorry if I missed your birthday or anniversary. Please call me in the Church office and I will make sure to add you to next year s list. Thanks!