GOOD NEWS FROM LUTHER MEMORIAL

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1 December 2017 PASTOR S CORNER Thank you all for the warm and friendly welcome my first week at Luther Memorial. I m really happy to be joining you as your Interim Pastor this Advent. Advent, just a reminder, is the season of the church year all about expectation and hope as we prepare for the coming of Christ. So the next four Sundays will focus on this theme of waiting, and expectant hope. I guess some folks have some specific hopes: that we will restart a contemporary service. I don t know. Here s the plan: I m getting to know and respect the Council, and their commitment to lead and serve the whole church. I m meeting this week with the Worship and Music Committee so we can start planning worship together. Other folks want to know what s happening with Confirmation. I have the same plan: get to know Pr. Dick Inglett, and our Education team, and collaborate. Really the Lord knows your future, and our job is to get to know each other, pray and listen to God, and discern together how to face the immediate challenges. One of our main Christian beliefs about Christmas is the Incarnation. Simply said, this is the idea that God (all powerful, all knowing, beyond our complete ability to grasp or know) took flesh in the person of Jesus, so we human beings could know and touch and hear and see and love God. God works through stuff: bread and wine, people, our abilities, our stories, our gifts, our weaknesses. So I trust, and believe, that God is at work at Luther Memorial, and will continue to lead and guide into a flourishing future here. My own call is to love and coach you in the transition time. Someone asked me, isn t it vulnerable to be an Interim Pastor. Yes. Yes it is. But I believe that God called me into this particular ministry. I ve served four churches now, and a year ago, as my relationship with an Episcopal church in Madison was drawing to a close, I didn t want to move. I could easily work as a settled pastor if I was willing to move, but my spouse is almost 60 and loves his ministry as a chaplain. He moved to Madison so we could get married, and I don t want to take him away from home. My son, who is 22, just got his first professional job in Madison. My mother, who is almost 80, lives in Assisted Living in Madison - and I m one of her caregivers. So I was praying about my particular circumstances, and my gifts and weaknesses, and I sought counsel from some wise pastor friends, who said, why not try Interim work? Then God opened the door for me to serve a very large ELCA church in Pewaukee as their Interim Senior Pastor. I was there a year, and I really enjoyed working with the leaders and finding ways for them to resolve immediate problems, identify their strengths and long term challenges, and look for a pastor who was good at those kinds of problems. So now I trust that God is the one who placed me in relationship with your congregation, and God will guide me in the future, too. A few folks asked me, how long I will be with you? That s a reasonable question, given the changes you ve experienced recently. The Council and I have a six month contract, and we can renew it if the work is not finished. We ll know the Transition work is about finished when the Transition Team can write a Ministry Site Profile (a detailed description of Luther Memorial, Delavan and Walworth County that Synods and pastor candidates can search online) and when we share the description with the congregation, everybody in the community more or less agrees, yes, that s us. Yes, those are our (longer term) needs and challenges. Yes, those are our gifts and strengths. So six months may do it, or it may be longer if the Council, Synod and I agree to that. Meanwhile, please know that I am praying for you every day, and I really look forward to being with you in this particular season of Luther s life and history. Pastor Paula

2 Page 2 FUN FOR EVERYONE!! Join us for fellowship to help support our confirmation's Youth Quake weekend! Youth Fundraiser Bowling Event at Delavan Lanes Sunday, December 17 noon - 3 pm Tickets cost $10.00 each which includes 2 games & shoe rental ~ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17th ~ Christmas Program The name of the Christmas program this year is Small Things by Denise Day Spencer. The Christmas program will be December 17th during the service. Papa Murphy s Pizza will also be available as part of the Fundraiser and 50/50 Raffle! (If you don t bowl or are unable to attend you can buy a ticket with 100% going to the youth.) See any one of our confirmation students for tickets. Inreach will be decorating the church on Sunday, December 10th after the service. All are welcome to stay and help. Hot chocolate and candy canes will be served! As you are baking your Christmas goodies this year, please bring in 1 doz. on Saturday, Dec. 23rd. After the Christmas Eve service there will be plates of goodies for anyone to take and deliver. We are asking families to take a plate and deliver to someone who is working on Christmas Eve... hospital, gas station, fire dept., police, etc., or someone you know who needs some Christmas cheer! Poinsettias can be Ordered for Christmas Order forms are available in Sunday bulletins now for Red Deluxe Size Poinseas Greenhouse Grade $15--Complete with Gold Foil and Glier. Orders must be placed by Sun., Dec. 10th. Wishing Everyone A Merry & Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

3 Page 3 Sun., December 17th Christmas Program 9 am (1 service only) Sun., December 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Services 9 am Advent Service 5 pm Candlelight Service Our Sunday worship attendance is up! November 5th - 65 November 12th - 59 November 19th - 63 November 26th - 80 Sun., December 31 New Years Eve 9 am (1 service only) Join Pastor Paula at the house for Thursday morning Bible study from am. Installation of Council Please join us as the congregation installs the newest officers and members of the congregational council, at worship on Sunday, December 10 at 9 am. Council affirmed the following at the Dec. 18th meeting: Joel Ollerich, Scott Emmerich, and Jeff Zimmerman for installing the blinds in the church office and inspecting the church roof Steve Carlson for repairing the plumbing in the sacristy Karen and Bob Dahl for shopping for and acquiring the blinds and carpets for the church office Gerry Petersen for sharing his time, talent, and faith with us at Luther Memorial during the interim between interims Elaine Lundgren and Carol Seitz for decorating the church with red balloons for Reformation Sunday Dave Mueller, Tim Mumm, and Millie Veto for sharing Temple Talks regarding stewardship Elaine Lundgren for donating the toilet paper dispensers for the women s and men s restrooms Confirmation students for their Crop Walk, Trick or Trunk, and Vintage on the Pond mission involvement all who volunteered their time to ring the bells for the Salvation Army Grandma Quilters who do diligently work their magic to create and deliver some sincere care and comfort to many in need Larry Plapp for reinstallation of Office software to computer Alice and Brian Davis for preparing and presenting the proper paraments for our worship space Elaine Lundgren for donating the cake for our coffee fellowship gathering thanking Pastor Petersen for his service to Luther Memorial the anonymous donor of a new and much -needed step ladder the altar guild for preparing the sacrament of holy communion Coffee fellowship providers and servers for delivering the refreshments for our weekly post-service gatherings the entire congregation for remaining strong and steadfast and keeping faith in Luther Memorial Bob Dahl for arranging our worship accompanists through January

4 Page 4 Celebrating A Birthday This Month! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: 12/01 Ethel Taylor 12/01 Nicholas Ertl 12/02 Alice Davis 12/02 Mike Moyer 12/03 Timothy Griffin 12/05 Zach Miller 12/07 Dennis Rice 12/11 Donn Fisher 12/13 Scott Miller 12/14 Kathie Plapp 12/19 Sophia Abel 12/20 Jamie Rodebush 12/21 Daniel Stanton 12/23 Wallie Leitzke 12/24 Brycen Rodebush 12/27 Bob Murray 12/28 Joseph Bores, Sr 12/29 Payton Hintz 12/30 Ann Wick 12/30 Dan Butt 12/31 Ellyn Schmelz PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Our members: Paul & Sandy Moyer, Dennis Bergstrom, Lois Griffin, Claudette Uher, Evelyn Klein Others in our prayers: All our Military, Ben Rupnik (father of Ted Rupnik), Deb Bernstorff (sister of Cindy Schenk), Gail Groth, Nelsine Christensen (Chris Groth s mom), Cindy Rapp, McCarthy Family, Mai & Bob Horn (Carol Mueller s parents), Ashley, Misty Mitchell, Paul Lockwood, MaryAnn Trussler, Kelly Armstron, Vicki, Barb, Sam M., Bonnie Rice, Mary Spangler, Wasik Family, Tim Dobbins, Sonny, The Cain Family, Kaitlyn Vegter and her family, Cindy, Becky Greco and family, Jake and Janet Hetzel, Adam Nielson & family, Stephanie (sister of Chelsey Matthews)

5 Page 5 Dear Parents, We will be having some extra Christmas program practices the dates are: Thursday November 30th 5:15-6:30pm(snack included) Thursday December 7th 5:15-6:30pm(snack included) Dress rehearsal will be Saturday December 16th and we would like your input on the time that Saturday. It would be either 10am-12pm including lunch or 3-5pm including dinner. Please let us know which dress rehearsal practice will work for you so we can pick one. Also let us know if your kids are coming to the Thursday night practices so we know how many will be there. ***All families will need to bring 3 dozen cookies on the day of the program December 17th for coffee fellowship. REMINDER TO THRIVENT MEMEBERS Thrivent members have $250 of fund available to use in an Action Team event. It s easy to apply for. Just go to Thrivent.com and sign in, go to Thrivent Action Teams and Apply. You just need to answer a few questions regarding the event and give them about 2 weeks to get the money card to you, plus your team gets free Live Generously t-shirts. Any questions you have can be answered via the website or you can call the phone number also given there. Events can include: Food for local food pantry, supplies for Sunday School or a special need for the Church, Etc.. Do it soon for funding for special Holiday projects! God bless, Jane Olinger Sunday December 31st! We collected $ in November for Blessings in a Backpack. Our next collection date is Sun., Dec 31st. Let s make a joyful noise for a great cause! Sunday, December 31st is our food pantry collection day. Please bring with you any non-perishable food items you are able to donate. Thank You!

6 Page 6 Worship Helpers for the Month of December December 3 Opener/Closer Lector Linda Cook Sandy Vander Zee Communion Alice Davis Fladten Family Usher Dan Veto and Paul Olinger Acolyte Sophia Seitz Diane Sherin Coffee Fellowship Delores Grover December 10 Opener Lector Sandy Vander Zee Marilyn Carlson Communion Lorraine Ollerich Steve and Marilyn Carlson Closer Usher Jane Olinger and Isabelle Garreau Ginny Andersen Acolyte Christopher Hamell Alice Davis Coffee Fellowship Carol Mueller December 17 Opener/Closer Lector Millie Veto Millie Veto Communion Ginny Andersen Ruth and Floyd Rosenquist Usher Sandi and George Ballman Acolyte Christopher Hamell Lorraine Ollerich Coffee Fellowship Sunday School December 24 Advent Service 5:00 pm Candlelight Service 9am Opener/Closer Lector Bob Dahl Tim Mumm Bob Dahl Communion Linda Cook George Ballman 5 pm Opener Bob and Deedee Murray Dave & Carol Mueller Marilyn Carlson Usher Brian and Alice Davis Hetzel Family 5 pm Closer Acolyte Gannon Emmerich Sam Hetzel Charlotte Finch Lorraine Ollerich Sandy Vander Zee December 31 Opener/Closer Lector Joel Ollerich Joel Ollerich Communion Diane Sherin Steve and Marilyn Carlson Usher Seitz Family Acolyte Dawson Lenz Sandy Vander Zee and Diane Sherin