The Servant s Song. What s INSIDE DECEM BER Trinity Lutheran Church, 816 E Clark ST, Vermillion, SD Dear Friends in Christ,

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1 DECEM BER 2018 The Servant s Song Trinity Lutheran Church, 816 E Clark ST, Vermillion, SD What s INSIDE 2 Ministry Opportunities 4 Advent Christmas schedule & Health Ministry 5 Birthdays & Anniversaries 6 Stephen Ministry & Radio broadcast sponsorship 7 December Calendar Worship Saturday evenings Worship with Holy Communion, 5:30 pm Sunday mornings Worship with Holy Communion, 10:00 AM (Listen to the 10AM worship service on KVTK, AM 1570) Choir: 8:45 AM in the balcony Coffee fellowship: 9:00 AM in the gathering area ALL ARE WELCOME! Dear Friends in Christ, Watchful waiting. That s one of three approaches physicians describe to newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. When my biopsy came back positive in 2003, my urologist explained my options. 1. Surgery to remove the prostate. Follow-up with chemotherapy if necessary. 2. Hormonal therapy to counteract the testosterone which fuels the growth of cancer cells. 3. Watchful waiting to determine what the tumor(s) in the prostate are doing. I was in my late forties at diagnosis; an age when the appearance of prostate cancer is rare. It was a no brainer that surgery was the best of the three approaches. This December marks the fifteenth anniversary of the operation that made me cancer-free. Every December, I m grateful to my primary-care physician who found the abnormality, the urologist who did the biopsy, my wife, who used her contacts in the Texas Medical Center to find a great surgeon, who not only performed the operation but also accompanied me through the ten years of follow-up. I m also thankful that Heidi put up with me post-op, during those times when I was less than the model patient! We did not choose watchful waiting as our strategy when it came to my prostate cancer, but it is a fitting description as to what Advent is all about. Many of the readings over the four Sundays of Advent are about watching for the ways God is active among us now. Usually, they are little things: a word of encouragement or fit admonition. an unexpected kindness. a friend who will just be present with you, whether you need to talk or rest quietly. a family doctor who sends you to a specialist, saying, it s probably nothing, but I d like you to get it checked out. Of course, part of the watching of Advent is spending time in Scripture and prayer. Think of that time as an education in spiritual watchful waiting: learning the signs of God s activity as it usually comes to us by way of a flesh-and-blood human being. That brings us to Christmas, when we celebrate God s amazing intervention in human affairs by becoming a human being in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas! 1

2 The Servant s Song Ministry Opportunities & Reminders January newsletter Blood Pressure info. is due Friday, Screenings December 14 th. Before & After Worship Saturday, December 8 Sunday, December 9 Sletwold room Women s Bible Study December 13 th Esther: meets at Dakota Gardens at 10:00 AM Martha: M eets at Little Italy s restaurant on Dec. 13 th at 5:15 pm. Desserts afterwards at Erma Larson s home, 1107 W. Main ST Naomi: No meeting in December ANNUAL REPORTS are due by Friday, December 19 th. Please send them by to: office@trinityvermillion.org ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Wednesday weekly scripture study Men s Study: W ednesdays at 7:00 AM, First Dakota National Bank conference room Women s Study: W ednesdays at 10 AM, Sletwold room at Trinity. All are welcome to attend. We need your help to purchase lights for our Sanctuary (worship space). This new lighting will make a huge difference in being able to see clearly in all areas of the Sanctuary. Currently, each light costs $2,552 and, a total of 13 lights are needed. However, in 2019, the cost will increase by 18% per light (approx. $460 before taxes). We encourage one or more individuals and/or families to partner together to purchase the lights. Please think about it. And, if you have questions, please contact John Walker: , or leave a message with Karla in the office at: Total purchase is preferred, however, any amount given will make a difference in being able to complete this project. Thank you for your partnership in ministry. Do we have your correct information? Address(es) Phone Cell Number (s) address(es) Anniversary or Birthday (s) Thank you for sharing your correct information with us. Poinsettia sales will be occurring but the information was not available prior to printing. More information will be shared. 2

3 The Servant s Song December 2018 Christmas Is Coming!! The BLAST Christmas Program is during worship on Sunday, December the 16 th. Christmas Eve Worship, Dec. 24 th 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm Both with candle-lighting & Holy Communion Trinity Choir Trinity Choir Come to choir and sing with us we d love to have you! We meet on Sunday mornings at 8:45am in the balcony. Visit with Paul Almjeld after worship about the choir. You can also talk to anyone on staff or anyone you have seen participating with the choir about it. All ages and singers are welcome! DECEMBER WORSHIP LEADERS December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 December 30 Acolytes Sophia Jerke, Mariah Steffen Acolytes Tegan Johnson Acolytes Dawsyn and Gavyn Jepsen Acolytes TBD Acolytes TBD Jolene Klemme Shelly McPherson Deacons Teresa Gilbertson, Jeaneite Lorenz, Alyssa Walker Bob and Kathy Nelson Jenny Orr Mike and Shelly Hauck Deacons Darlene Bottolfson, Alyssa Walker, Jeaneite Lorenz, Nancy Nelson Jake and Kara Terry Scott Schempp Wess Pravecek Teresa Gilbertson Lyle and Edna Timm Deacons TBD Deacons TBD Deacons TBD Rick and Susanne Steenholdt Heidi Fowler Lye and Edna Timm Clare Wagner TBD TBD Rich Walker Larry Madsen Bill Huber TBD TBD Elayne Lande, Jolene Klemme, Dennis and Robin Iverson Todd and Mary Brevik, Jeanne Roberts, Quentin Larson Craig DeVelder, Tyler DeVelder, Kevin and Cindy Brown Mark and Pat Meyers, Darlene Bottolfson, Erma Larson Jim Orr, Lyle Timm, Leanne Brown, David Biehl 3

4 The Servant s Song Advent and Christmas Schedule During the Sundays of Advent and on Christmas Eve as well, there will be an Advent devotion and candlelighting liturgy based on the first reading of the day. With one exception, we will observe our normal weekend schedule during the month of December. Here are the highlights: The Christmas Program will be presented as part of worship on Sunday, December 16, at the regular 10:00 am service. On Christmas Eve, Monday, December 24, there will be candlelight services at 4:00 and 7:00 pm. There will be no service on Saturday, December 29. For our final weekend service of 2018, we will have a simple service of readings and carols on Sunday, December 30, at 10:00 am. Health Ministry Merry Christmas from the Trinity Lutheran Church Health Ministry and thank you to everyone who participated in our year-long health challenges. Congratulations to Kara Terry who won the Organize October Challenge! The next Health Challenge is Kindness December, urging us to carryout our Lutheran ministry. Did you know that acts of kindness have a profound impact on the doer's health? Being supportive to someone in need, making someone laugh, volunteering, or being generous with your time and talents improves your mood and your blood pressure as well as helping the recipients. So bust out a grin, put your arm around someone, lend your ear, or take someone in need a meal or treat. The health benefits of kindness stream in all directions. Complete at least 20 days of kindness. Mark your calendar and submit your challenge slip by Sunday, January 6, 2019 for an opportunity to win our Kindness December Challenge prize. This should be an easy challenge for our wonderful Trinity members! Enjoy being kind. Your heart will thank you. God Bless from the Trinity Health Ministry. Our Wish for December is CEREALS all varieties. (Please be sure to check the dates. Expired items will be discarded.) More information is on our website: To apply to volunteer: volunteer@vermillionfoodpantry.org; or Call us at Thank you. 4

5 The Servant s Song December 2018 December Birthdays 12.2 Brenda Job; Janice Olson 12.3 Chris Harvey; Linda Iverson; Richard Kellogg; Maxine Tanderup 12.4 Paul Granaas; Donnie Stewart; 12.5 Diane Nesselhuf; Karla Tawzer; Ella Wittmuss 12.6 Fynn Riedel 12.7 Curt Haakinson 12.8 Jan Mattes; Cody Sommervold; Josh Stewart Roger Gilbertson; Sheri Morse Elaine Brown; Shaun Klemme; Deb Nelson Brian Schott Christine Sorensen Sid Johnson Bill Huber Linda Baedke Jacob Peterson; Sarah Wells Sara Marker; Eric Martinson Natalie Gerten Mark Helenurm Derek Iverson Cheryl Mockler Talon Johnson; Steven Mattes Shirley Brunick; Carol King; Bowen Miller; Kara Terry Steven Deal; Darren Martin; Sandy Pederson; Donna Sommervold Knox Buckman Harold Edwards, Candy Joy, Michael Kjose, Sarah Plate Dwight Berglin; Liz DeVelder Jill Becker, LaKayah Lucas Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, and he will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. If we inadvertently omitted your birthday or anniversary, please let us know so that we acknowledge you next month. Thank you. December Anniversaries 12.2 Bruce and Ruby Plate 12.8 George and Sharon Hendricks Reed and Caroline Anderberg Chad and Denise Peterson Michael Granaas and Clarice Wagner Roger and P.K. Holmes Mike and Amy Richardson Trinity Lutheran Church Scholarship Applications are due to the office by Friday, January 4 th. Applications can be picked up from the church office or found on our website: WORSHIP (tab) and Forms (heading). Applications will be reviewed and the recipients will be awarded at our Annual meeting on Sunday, January 27 th. All details of the scholarship is on the form. If you have questions, call the church: [Note: If you have received a scholarship at another time, you are not eligible to apply.] 5

6 The Servant s Song Wake awake, for night is flying, The watchmen on the heights are crying, Awake Jerusalem at last. Midnight hears the welcome voices, And at the thrilling cry rejoices: Come forth you maidens! Night is past! We are entering the season of Advent; the time of waiting for the birth of the Christ Child and for the second coming of Christ. The scriptures on the Sundays leading up to Advent have been preparing us. We have heard about the ten maidens with the lamps and we learned we must be watchful and prepared, because we don t know when the bridegroom will come. We heard about the servants who were given five talents and two talents and one talent, and we learned that we must not waste the gifts that have been given us. They must be used. We heard about the faithful who welcomed and fed and clothed Christ by doing so to strangers, and about those who failed to do these things to Christ because they did not do so to strangers. As Lutherans we know that we are saved by grace through our faith in Christ. Jesus secured our eternal life with him with his holy and precious blood. But these scriptures make it plain that we are not to sit back like couch potatoes and wait for him. We are to be watchful and prepared. We have each been given gifts that we are expected to use. And we have work to do to welcome the stranger, feed and clothe those in need, visit the sick and imprisoned. Jesus makes it very clear that these are expectations that God takes very seriously. Yes, Advent is a time of waiting, but a time of active waiting. And when the waiting is over, the promise is of bliss beyond all dreaming. LUKE 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! The bridegroom comes! Awake! Your lamps with gladness take. Alleluia! Rise and prepare the feast to share; Go, meet the bridegroom who draws near. (Wake, Awake ELW 436) The Stephen Ministry program at Trinity is devoted to providing loving, listening ears to anyone who would like to visit in confidence with another person. If you or anyone you know would benefit from this ministry, or if you would like to be part of providing this ministry to others, please contact Barb Schwartz, Pastor Jim or me for more information. Janice Olson, Stephen Ministry Leader Radio Broadcast Sponsorship in 2019 Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the gathering area. $80.00 sponsors a Sunday morning radio broadcast. The WORD is shared with family, neighbors in the community, and the surrounding areas. Thank you! 6

7 The Servant s Song December Calendar 7

8 Trinity Lutheran Church 816 E. Clark ST Vermillion, SD U.S. Postage PAID Vermillion, S.D. Permit No. 1 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Problems? We d like to make it right! Misspelled Name Wrong Address Remove from mailing list TO: Matthew 1:23 And they will call Him Immanuel God with us. The Servant s Song December 2018 Contact Information Phone: Website: Facebook: Trinity Lutheran Vermillion, SD Pastor James Fowler Karla Tawzer, Office Manager Marcy Lund, Parish Nurse Paul Almjeld, Choir Director jim@trinityvermillion.org office@trinityvermillion.org grandmother_marcy2@hotmail.com palmjeld@yahoo.com Mission Called by God Forgiven in Christ United in Spirit Sent to Serve 8