December Gwen. Inside

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December 2018 Inside From the Pastor 1 Prayer Concerns 2 Calendar Highlights 3 Cantor 4-5 Stewardship 6 Green 7 Calendar 8-9 News and Notes 10 Youth Leadership 11 Christian Ed 12-13 Service List 14

That s a beautiful thing about the liturgical year; it reflects our experience. We can experience the seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter, or Pentecost in our personal lives any time of the year.

I was geographically restricted because I was married to a pastor, and not many congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area were looking for a firstcall pastor.

I waited in that space, desperately wanting the wait to end and feeling powerless to make that happen. It almost hurt to hear Advent readings because they were so close to my experience.

1 December 2018 Inside From the Pastor 1 Prayer Concerns 2 Calendar Highlights 3 Cantor 4-5 Stewardship 6 Green 7 Calendar 8-9 News and Notes 10 Youth Leadership 11 Christian Ed Service List 14 Stem to Stern 15 I m grateful that I get to spend Advent with the good people of First Lutheran this year! I have lived years of my life in Advent, in that place of hopeful waiting. That s a beautiful thing about the liturgical year; it reflects our experience. We can experience the seasons of Advent, Lent, Easter, or Pentecost in our personal lives any time of the year. I have a lot of personal experience with Advent. Perhaps most significant was the five and a half years I spent after graduating from seminary waiting for a congregational call. I was geographically restricted because I was married to a pastor, and not many congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area were looking for a firstcall pastor. I waited passively and actively, patiently and impatiently, hopeful and despairing, feeling close to God and feeling far from God. I waited in that space, desperately wanting the wait to end and feeling powerless to make that happen. It almost hurt to hear Advent readings because they were so close to my experience. I was swimming in the depths of Advent s yearning and hoping. I knew the realities of Advent in my body, could feel them at a visceral level. So, like I said, I have lived Advent. Perhaps because of my personal experience, I am a big advocate for allowing Advent to be a time of waiting. I don t like to rush into Christmas right after Thanksgiving. I like to let it unfold slowly, as we light a new candle on the Advent wreath each week. Secular culture sometimes doesn t realize that the twelve days of Christmas START on Christmas Day. In German households, the Christmas tree wouldn t be decorated until Christmas Eve. Christmas lasts until January 5, so it would be liturgically appropriate to listen to Christmas tunes and keep all your decorations up until then. May God give you patient trust this Advent season. May God grant you quiet growth in all your Advents seasons of life. May God bless you in all your waiting and give you peace. Gwen 1

2 Prayer Concerns We are called to remember one another in prayer. The list below is for recent needs: Sarah Annexstad (daughter of Mary Ann Scharf) Gina Evenson (friend of FLC members) Clara Satre (mother of Nadine Haukoos) We also ask for your continued prayers for the below listed people with long-term or chronic needs: Marie Benson Forrest Chaffee Abigail Christenson (daughter of Kathryn Christenson) Dorothy Eliason George Fasnacht (father of Vicki Demers) Betty Gustafson John Hall Ruth Hall Stephen Hilding Mikkel Hustad (son-in-law of Paul and Helen Baumgartner) Stuart Johnson Wayne Johnson Joan Kudla (sister of Sue Peterson) Lee Landgrebe Elgene Lund Judi Malmborg Tom Michels (son-in-law of Betty Gustafson) Dick Muesing Tim Salmela (brother of Cheryl Kautt) Bev Wetherill Family & Friends of those who have recently died: Krista Amos LeRoy Ditsch (father of Nancy Timm) Jay Hansen (friend of FLC members) Douglas Witte Gary Woinarowicz (uncle of Shanon Nowell) To request being on either our current or long term prayer lists (or to be taken off), please discuss with Pastor Gwen, contact the church office at or or go to our website at and click on the Request Prayer button on the homepage. 2

3 Calendar Highlights for December December 2 Annual Meeting at 9:30 a.m. to pass budget, elections, and edit constitution December 16 Children s Christmas Program at 10:30 a.m. What s happening this month at First Lutheran? Sunday Dec 23, 30, & Jan 6 One service at 10:00 Christmas Worship Christmas Eve: 4:00 & 10:00 p.m. Christmas Day Lessons & Carols: 10:00 a.m. 3

4 Holden Evening Prayer From the Cantor Our Wednesday services at 7:15 will return to the sanctuary for the season of Advent, and we will worship using the beloved Holden Evening Prayer service for three weeks: November 29, December 5, and December 12. You are invited to join us for these special services. Christmas in Christ Chapel Pastor Gwen and Cantor Emily are taking a group of high school students on Sunday, December 2nd for dinner and the Christmas in Christ Chapel program. Thanks to the eight youth who signed up to attend! Rocks of Ages - December 9th Our gathering last month for casual hymn singing was a success! Thanks to all who showed up. We had some great requests and a choir room full of people! We meet again on December 9th at 9:30 - come to listen or sing! Community "Beer & Carols" Event You are invited to Third Street Tavern in Saint Peter on Monday, December 17th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy a drink and/or a meal, and join in the singing and merriment. Song books will be provided. We'll focus on the holiday favorites this time around - bring your jingle bells! Caroling at Heritage Meadows and Ecumen Prairie Hill Join our confirmation students on Wednesday, December 19th for an hour of caroling. Everyone is welcome to spread holiday cheer to our friends and neighbors. We meet at FLC at 6:00 p.m., divide into two caroling groups, and return in time for the Blue Christmas worship at 7:15. Blue Christmas Evening Prayer You are invited to the Blue Christmas service at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, December 19. This service is designed to acknowledge feelings of sadness, loneliness, depression, anxiety, etc. during the holiday season because of any kind of suffering or loss. Come to express these feelings and/or to help others work through them. Time will be provided for prayers of healing and lighting of candles. All are welcome. Epiphany Celebration In 2019, the Day of Epiphany (always January 6) falls on a Sunday. Be prepared for a special worship service of celebration and music at 10:00 a.m. that morning! 4

5 Christmas Choir From the Cantor Come and sing this Christmas Eve at the 4:00 p.m. service! Rehearsal will begin at 3:00 in the balcony, and all are welcome to join in proclaiming the Christmas message through song. Come one, come all! Nairobi Statement: Worship as Counter-cultural In last month's newsletter, I discussed worship as contextual and asked us to ponder the things we do differently or have added to worship to make this community "First Lutheran Church in Saint Peter, MN." While context is a key component of worship, the Nairobi Statement (NS) claims that those contexts need to fit within a counter-cultural framework. This passage of the NS reminds me of Christ's teachings about taking care of the poor and marginalized and giving of our earthly treasures and wealth for the good of all. The NS explains that "[s]ome components of every culture in the world are sinful, dehumanizing, and contradictory to the values of the Gospel. From the perspective of the Gospel they need critique and transformation." What components of our culture (in the U.S.; in MN; in Saint Peter; in FLC, etc.) are contradictory to the Gospel? Do you as a Christian take responsibility for the sins of the world? If so, how? If not, why not? The NS adds, "Contextualization of Christian faith and worship necessarily involves challenging of all types of oppression and social injustice wherever they exist in earthly cultures." How does FLC challenge oppression and injustice? The NS further states that to be counter-cultural "involves the transformation of cultural patterns which idolize the self or the local group at the expense of a wider humanity, or which give central place to the acquisition of wealth at the expense of the poor." What do we do to keep our worship and our lives centered on the counter-cultural message of Christ? Advent Devotionals are Available! An Advent Devotional Booklet, written by our very own members, is available in the Gathering Space. These daily devotions can be our guide as we walk through Advent exploring God s dream for us. Please feel free to take one for yourself and one for a friend! 5

Stewardship Committee If you read pages 8-10 of the October issue of Living Lutheran (the monthly magazine of the ELCA) you will be greeted by an article entitled: Mission Support-The Lifeblood of

6 Stewardship Committee If you read pages 8-10 of the October issue of Living Lutheran (the monthly magazine of the ELCA) you will be greeted by an article entitled: Mission Support-The Lifeblood of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Mission Support is that part of our annual Plan of Spending at First Lutheran that we give to sustain the work of the Southwest Minnesota Synod. It also supports the mission and ministry of the larger church in the United States and around the world. Our financial gifts from First Lutheran help in so many ways like: seminary education, disaster relief, foreign missions in many countries, and the list goes on. The Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Elizabeth Eaton puts it this way: We are the church. We are Lutheran. We are the church together. We are the church for the sake of the world. Mission Support goes beyond the walls of First Lutheran. It really is an extension of Christ s Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). In the past few years part of the Plan of Spending for First Lutheran was to give 10% of our total income for Mission Support. Could we see if we could raise our giving to 11% or 12%? Meanwhile, thanks for faithful and generous giving in order that good things might happen to God s people all over the world. Bob Stenson: Chair, Stewardship Ministry Committee 6

A Gift to be Simple Green Committee In past years when the FLC Green Committee has recommended simplifying Christmas, our friend Marie Benson would say, You re preaching to the Choir.

This year s ELCA Good Gifts Catalog announces gifts that grow the church, fight hunger, and transform lives.

7 A Gift to be Simple Green Committee In past years when the FLC Green Committee has recommended simplifying Christmas, our friend Marie Benson would say, You re preaching to the Choir. The Benson family has always given simple gifts. Marie would direct our attention, for example, to annual holiday catalogs sent by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America or Lutheran World Relief. This year s ELCA Good Gifts Catalog announces gifts that grow the church, fight hunger, and transform lives. Instead of another gadget that your family member really does not need, Go Tail It on the Mountain or Have Yourself a Dairy Little Christmas by giving a piglet to an African family in need or a share in a cow that will produce milk for deprived children in one of 83 countries, in honor of someone in your family or friendship circle. Similarly, LWR catalog, , includes dozens of meaningful gifts to share with those in need: goats, sheep, chicks, quilts, coffee seedlings, emergency water, tool sets, medical supplies--the list goes on. One evening with your giving list and catalogs like these can simplify your Christmas tasks, help care for God s Creation, including the human creation, and fulfill FLC s mission, to Go in peace and...serve the World. Coming in January Helping neighbors closer to home, mark your calendar now with a reminder to pick up extra energy-efficient light bulbs for First Lutheran s Lights for Epiphany campaign. Lights that you bring to church will be shared with families visiting the St. Peter Area Foodshelf. Watch your weekly Heartbeats for the January date. Thank you! 7

8 Decemb Sunday Monday Tuesday 2. First Sunday of Advent :15 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:15 a.m. Annual Meeting 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer in Chapel 9:30 a.m. Adult Study 7:00 a.m. Executive Committee 7:00 a.m 8:30 a.m 5:30 p.m Sandwich 6:00 p.m 6:15 p.m 6:15: p.m 6:15 p.m 7:15 p.m 9. Second Sunday of Advent :15 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:45 a.m. Youth Leadership Team 9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer in Chapel 9:30 a.m. Adult Study 11:30 a.m. Christian Education (GAC) 6:30 p.m. Green Committee 5:30 p.m. Building & Grounds Cmte 6:30 p.m. Social Ministry Committee 7:00 p.m. Council Meeting 7:00 a.m 8:30 a.m 5:15 p.m 5:30 p.m 5:30 p.m 6:00 p.m 6:15: p.m 6:15 p.m 7:15 p.m 16. Third Sunday of Advent Cookie Walk 8:15 a.m. Worship with Lessons and Carols 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Carol Sing-a-long 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship with Christmas Program 17. 9:15 a.m. Morning Prayer in Chapel 9:30 a.m. Adult Study :00 a.m 8:30 a.m 5:30 p.m 6:00 p.m 6:00 p.m 6:15: p.m 6:15 p.m 7:15 p.m 23. Fourth Sunday of Advent 10:00 a.m. Worship 30. First Sunday of Christmas 10:00 a.m. Worship 24. Christmas Eve 12:00 p.m. Office Closes 4:00 p.m. Worship 10:00 p.m. Worship 31. New Year s Eve 12:00 p.m. Office Closes 25. Christmas Office Closed 10:00 a.m. Worship with Lessons and Carols 26. 8

9 er 2018 Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1.. Men s Conversation (GAC). Staff Meeting. Supper (Shredded Beef es). Handbells. Fellowship Committee. Faith Formation (Gr 5-6). Confirmation (Gr 7-9). Worship (Sanctuary). Men s Conversation (GAC). Staff Meeting. Worship & Arts Committee. Supper (Pizza). Program Dress Rehearsal. Handbells. Faith Formation (Gr 5-6). Confirmation (Gr 7-9). Worship (Sanctuary) 6. 8:00 a.m. Finance Committee 9:00 a.m. Stewardship Committee :00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Blood Drive :00 a.m. Kitchen Cleaning Youth Cookie Baking. Men s Conversation (GAC). Staff Meeting. Supper (Tacos). Caroling. Handbells. Faith Formation (Gr 5-6). Confirmation (Gr 7-9). Worship (Sanctuary) Heartbeat Deadline :00 a.m. Mission Quilters 9

10 News and Notes Are your pledges up to date? As we are ending the calendar year our hope is that all 2018 envelope pledges are completed. Gifts for this year will be gratefully received through January 4, 2018 (checks must be dated no later than December 31, 2018). If you would like to prepay for 2019, we welcome that as well! Our individual gifts, when pooled together with the gifts of all members, do make a difference in our ministry both locally and globally. Looking for a December Miracle As of November 26, our income was about $27,000 less than expenses. Most of our income comes from generous members and friends who are committed to the good work of First Lutheran. Every year we hope that December will bring in contributions that allow us to end in the black. Are you the source of our December miracle this year? Slight change to the office schedule The church office will be open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but will close at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. Alternative to Material Gifts Good Gifts is your opportunity to provide critical support to developing countries; a $10 gift provides ten little chicks while a $30 gift provides a piglet. The ELCA Good Gifts Catalog highlights more than 50 unique, yet very helpful ways to provide much needed support. Give in honor of someone you love and let that be your gift to them. Catalogs Annual Meetings! Sunday, December 2 (9:30 a.m.) Pass budget for 2019 Elect council members Edit constitution Sunday, January 27 (9:30 a.m.) Receive the Annual Reports Elect delegates and others 10

11 Youth Leadership Team December is a busy month for our youth! Here are some of the highlights: New Youth Room: Room 7 (the corner room) has now been designated as a Youth Room. All youth in grades 8-12 are invited to meet with Pastor Gwen on Sunday, December 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 7 to discuss the future of that space. Please come and give your input! Cookie Baking: The youth who are planning on going on the Big Horns Backpacking Trip are invited to join Laurie Erickson in the FLC kitchen on Saturday, December 15 to make cookies for the cookie walk. This will be a great way to get to know each other, work together, and help fundraise for your trip. Annual Cookie Walk: On Sunday, December 16, the Youth Leadership Team will be hosting the annual Cookie Walk between services and after the second service. You will be able to pick a plateful of cookies with all the proceeds going towards the youth Big Horns Backpacking Trip. Christmas Caroling: All youth grades 5-12 (and any adults!) are invited to go Christmas caroling on Wednesday, December 19 at 6:00 p.m. Meet at the church for rides! We will be visiting Ecumen Prairie Hill and Heritage Meadows. Big Horns Backpack Trip: Deposits are due for this trip by December 31. This will be an amazing trip! Thank you to you all who continue to support our youth. We appreciate it! Sincerely, Amy Pehrson, Youth Leadership Team member 11

Christian Education 2018 Children s Christmas Program December 16th 10:30 a.m. Worship The FLC children and youth invite you to join with all creation in celebrating the Birth of Jesus!

12 Christian Education 2018 Children s Christmas Program December 16th 10:30 a.m. Worship The FLC children and youth invite you to join with all creation in celebrating the Birth of Jesus! Come One; Come ALL! A Noisy Offering will be collected during the program for the Children s Weekend Food Program DRESS REHEARSAL for ALL involved in the program will be held Wednesday, December 12th 5:30 p.m. Pizza will be served following rehearsal! Sunday School this Month 9:30 a.m. Opening in the Chapel December 2 & 9 - We will learn about Advent through a variety of activities December 16 - Rehearsal for the program December 23 & 30 - NO Sunday School First Forum-Sundays 9:30 a.m. December 2nd- Congregational Meeting in the Gathering Space December 9th - Get to Know Your FLC Library with Michelle Twait December 16th - Advent/Christmas Carol Sing-a-long December 23 & 30 - NO First Forum 12

13 Christian Education Adult Study-Monday Mornings 9:30 a.m. Bible Study on Book of Isaiah led by Bob Stenson will conclude December 17th Wednesday Suppers - Served 5:30-6:10 p.m.; $5/meal; RSVP by Mondays - ALL are welcome December 5 - Shredded Beef Sandwiches December 12 - Pizza - Children s Christmas Program Dress Rehearsal participants will eat after rehearsal December 19 - Tacos Confirmation Sessions in December 6:15-7:10 p.m. December 5th - Regular class time December 12th - Confirmation Students will participate in a group service project to create cards that will be delivered to Homebound members for Christmas. December 19th - Grades 5-9, Confirmation Mentors & any adults will be splitting into two teams and caroling at Heritage Meadows & Ecumen Prairie Hill at 6:15 p.m. and then return to FLC for 7:15 Blue Christmas worship. Please join us! December 26th - NO Confirmation Classes KwikTrip & Family Fresh Scrip Cards These cards would make great gifts and can also serve as a great way to show support to those that are doing a lot of driving to medical appointments for themselves or others. We have cards in a variety of denominations and they can be purchased through the office. Thank you for your support of our FLC ministries through this program! Sunday School Room Reorganization To accommodate a permanent Youth Room in room 7, we will now hold a Sunday School class in the Pioneer Parlor each Sunday morning. Short tables and chairs will be set up on the organ side of the room. No supplies will be stored in the room during the week, and the room will continue to be available for adult use during the week as this only effects the Sunday education hour. 13

Red Cross Blood Drive at FLC Please schedule an appointment for our next drive December 13, 2018 Noon-6:00 p.m. https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.

Jewison David & Paula Kennedy John & Sharon Malm Craig Nelson Chuck & Jan Netzke Jeff & Sara Orth Jeremey & Jessica Rodning Mark & Gabriela Roemhildt Gene Roemhildt Tom & Susan Stenson Steve & Laurel

14 Red Cross Blood Drive at FLC Please schedule an appointment for our next drive December 13, 2018 Noon-6:00 p.m. December Service List Coordinators: Cindy Rasmussen & Paul Aasen Kay Carlson Jon & Heidi Carlson Mark & Ellen Conover Holly Conroy Ruth Edberg Lee & Jean Gansen Jason & Heather Jewison David & Paula Kennedy John & Sharon Malm Craig Nelson Chuck & Jan Netzke Jeff & Sara Orth Jeremey & Jessica Rodning Mark & Gabriela Roemhildt Gene Roemhildt Tom & Susan Stenson Steve & Laurel Sturlaugson Gary Swedberg Nancy Timm Emil & Carolyn Trnka Cole & Liza Turrittin Has it been awhile since you have assisted in a worship service, or maybe you never have but would like to give it a try? Please check your calendar and find a role that fits! Check out our easy sign-up sites: Worship Assistant Sign Up, or on the First Lutheran Church website or you can sign up in the Gathering Space on Sunday mornings. Prayer Ventures Prayer Ventures are available in the FLC website at also available on the table in the Gathering Space. Paper copies are Financial Notes: Through October 31, 2018 Income $361,887 Expenses $403,448 Balance ($41,561) 14

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Renewed by Christ in Word, water, bread and wine, we serve the community and the world 1114 Traverse Road St. Peter MN 56082 Phone: 507-934-3060 Fax: 507-934-3847 E-mail: flcstpoffice@gmail.

m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship Monday Morning Prayer 9:15 a.m. (Chapel) Wednesday Worship 7.15 p.m. (Sanctuary) Worship Schedule Christmas Worship Schedule: Sunday December 23 and December 30: One service at 10:00 a.

16 Renewed by Christ in Word, water, bread and wine, we serve the community and the world 1114 Traverse Road St. Peter MN Phone: Fax: Address Service Requested We re on the Web! Public Access Channel 7 TV broadcast 3:00 p.m. Sunday 6:00 p.m. Monday 8:00 a.m. Tuesday 11:30 a.m. Sunday Welcome to First Lutheran Church Sunday Worship Schedule 8:15 a.m. Worship 9:15 a.m. Fellowship 9:30 a.m. Education 10:30 a.m. Worship Monday Morning Prayer 9:15 a.m. (Chapel) Wednesday Worship 7.15 p.m. (Sanctuary) Worship Schedule Christmas Worship Schedule: Sunday December 23 and December 30: One service at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 25 (Christmas Day) Lesson and Carols: 10:00 a.m. 16

Service of Holy Communion. Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Service of Healing. July 22, :00 a.m. First Lutheran Church Saint Peter, Minnesota

Service of Holy Communion. Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Service of Healing. July 22, :00 a.m. First Lutheran Church Saint Peter, Minnesota Service of Holy Communion Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Service of Healing July 22, 2018 9:00 a.m. First Lutheran Church Saint Peter, Minnesota Welcome to worship at First Lutheran! We especially welcome