ADVENT & CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 5 6:00 PM

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1 ADVENT & CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Advent Service Wednesday December 5 6:00 PM Advent Dinner served from 5:00 5:45 PM in Fellowship Hall Menu: BBQ pork sandwiches, chips, fresh vegetables, cookies Advent Worship Service Wednesday December 12 6:00 PM Advent Dinner served from 5:00 5:45 PM in Fellowship Hall Chicken rice casserole, green beans, dinner rolls, cookies Advent Worship Service Wednesday December 19 6:00 PM Advent Dinner served from 5:00 5:45 PM in Fellowship Hall Menu: Spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce, salad, rolls, brownies Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Monday, December 24 at 4 PM & 6 PM. Christmas Day Communion Service - Tuesday December AM. Please note there is not an 8 PM Christmas Eve service, or New Year s Eve service. Thank you. CHRISTMAS DECORATING DEC. 7 TH It is coming up on that time again to decorate the Sanctuary for the Christmas Season and we would love to have everyone come join us as we do the work on Friday evening, December 7 th. The fellowship we share while doing this with other church members brings us great joy. We start the evening at 5:30 PM with the collection of our supplies and then we all join together for a Carry-In Dinner at 6:00 PM. Then it is back to work. Please join us in the fellowship and work. Everyone is welcome! Any Questions can be directed to Kitty Davis. Senior Pastor: Rev. William S. Allison, Home Phone: Associate Pastor: Rev. Barry A. Akers, Home Phone: R.L.S Principal: Ruth Lavrenz, Business Manager: Jerry Kraase Church Secretary: Bev Beahrs School Secretary: Michelle Werich Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer Redeemer Lutheran School 705 Southway Boulevard East Kokomo, Indiana Church Office: (765) School Office: (765) Church Fax: (765) Website: LCOR@RedeemerKokomo.org REDEEMER REPORTER DEADLINE IS THE SECOND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH. PLEASE CONTACT BEV BEAHRS AT THE CHURCH OFFICE FOR MORE INFORMATION. LADIES CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON AT GOOD SHEPHERD - TUESDAY DEC. 11 Our sisters in Christ at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church invites the ladies from Our Redeemer and Zion to their annual Christmas luncheon, on Tuesday, December 11, The day starts at 11:30 AM with social time followed by a carry-in lunch beginning at 12:00 noon, and then a program. This year s program is a sing-a-long, led by David Britton and Good Shepherd member, Bob Sesko. LCOR / RLS ROOM CHART MH Mission Hall Misc. Miscellaneous Rooms FH Fellowship Hall S Sanctuary CL Church Library SCR School Conference Room CR Choir Room SR Mother s Room AER Adult Ed Room PRA Per Room Availability

2 PASTOR AKERS DECEMBER MESSAGE TO THE CONGREGATION TRADITIONS AND CHRISTMAS As you savor a candy cane this Christmas, say danke schön to the Germans, for that treat was first created in Cologne. As you admire your poinsettia, say gracias to Mexico, where the plant originated. Say merci beaucoup to the French for the term noel, and give a cheers to the English for your mistletoe. But as we enjoy our traditions and festivities of the Christmas season customs that have been collected from around the world let s save our most sincere and heartfelt thank you for our good, merciful, and loving God. From Him came the reason for our Christmas celebration: the baby born in that Judean manger more than 2,000 years ago. An angel announced the arrival of this gift to mankind by saying, I bring you good news that will cause great joy... a Savior has been born to you (Luke 2:10 11). This Christmas, even in the light of the sparkling Christmas tree and surrounded by newly opened presents, the true excitement comes when we turn our attention to the baby named Jesus, who came to save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). His birth transcends tradition: It is our central focus as we send praises to God for this indescribable Christmas gift. Join us for our three Wednesday Advent services as we prepare for this gift (Dec. 5, 12, & 19). The theme is An Advent Prayer as we look at the Common Table Prayer. Worship begins at 6:00 pm and is preceded by dinner in Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:00 pm. Join in the excitement of the newborn King at our Christmas Eve candlelight worship services at 4, & 6 PM. The celebration continues with Christmas Day worship with Holy Communion at 10:00 AM. Lord, we thank You for coming to join us on that first Christmas. During a time of the year filled with many traditions, help us to keep You first. Amen. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him (Romans 15:13). Pastor Barry Akers MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM RLS SECOND GRADE CLASS! Merry Christmas from the second grade class! Time has gone very quickly this year! In the fall, we went to the Indianapolis Zoo to learn more about animals and their habitats. We were able to visit several different animals and completed animal projects about what we learned. It was a fun day! In November, we were part of the school musical, A Technicolor Promise. We loved sharing the story of Noah and the flood. Thank you to everyone who came to see it! We love being challenged with our STEM projects! One of our latest ones is creating a bridge with toothpicks and marshmallows. After we built them, we tested each bridge to see which one was the strongest by stacking snap cubes on top of them. Some of the bridges were able to hold only a few cubes while others held several cubes. As we write this, we are looking forward to our Thanksgiving Break and the extra time we will be able to spend with family and friends. Mrs. Akers has been challenging us each day to think of something for which we are thankful. We are creating thankful chains to remind us to always be thankful for our blessings, even during difficult times. We are especially thankful that God sent His only Son to Earth to save us from our sins. Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and a happy New Year, Mrs. Akers and the second graders.

3 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DECEMBER SENIORS MARILYN MARSH WAYNE KINCAID TERESA KELLER December 3 December 6 December 13 BILL BARTON LOIS GROTRIAN CLARA BURNETT JOELENE BOYLES December 14 December 14 December 16 December 30 LUTHERAN WOMEN IN SERVICE BIRTHDAY PARTY AT KOKOMO RESCUE MISSION Please pray for these people during their birthday month of December: Robert, Barbara, Anthony 5 th, Cheryl 6 th, Chuck 9 th, David 14 th, Tim 16 th, John 22 nd, Joseph 23rd OUR REDEEMER S CHURCH LIBRARY FEATURED BOOKS FOR DECEMBER! 100 Days with Jesus by Diann Cotton. In 100 days Diann Cotton will take you on a walk through the 250 names that describe Jesus. Each day you ll look at Jesus through the lens of descriptive names and words. The verse where the name is found along with a simple dictionary definition will set up the prayer of response. Each day ends with a reflective question to ask yourself as you worship Jesus for who He is. Swimming in the Deep End by Christina Suzann Nelson. In this moving, masterful saga from best-selling novelist Christina Suzann Nelson, four women s lives collide. Their tangled courses and attempts to find grace in the midst of crisis combine in one heartfelt story showing the many faces of motherly love.

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5 For December 2018 A Word From Wess THE EMPTINESS OF CHRISTMAS 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV) Right away you may think the text from Hebrews does not seem to point us to Christmas. I can t separate Christmas and Easter. When I look at Christmas I see Easter. When I look at Easter I see Christmas. Easter is the time of fullness and Christmas is the time of emptiness. I think about the Christ child, the manger, the shepherds, the wise men from the east and even Herod which are all emptiness now. For Christmas and Easter to work there was emptiness in heaven. An empty throne. On earth there was emptiness also, an empty carpenter s shop, an empty cross and an empty tomb. All of this seems to be lost in all the celebration of the gift at Christmas. But that gift of God and from God is only concerned with a Kingly sacrifice and a throne that will never be empty again. At Christmas the beginning of this plan is exciting. I can understand why the angels would be singing verses of honor and joy because they knew once Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit the time for the plan of the redemption of man from his sin was now in full motion. One of my favorite Christmas songs is Jesus is Alive! by Josh Wilson because it connects the manger and the cross beautifully. Never forget Christmas is all about the cross and the single sacrifice made for our sins. So let me ask you to not just celebrate one part of the salvation plan but also think about the cross and the final celebration we all have to look forward to in heaven. Jesus came to earth as a babe, lived on the earth as a true man and true God. He fulfilled the promise made in Genesis 3:15. God s plan to redeem us has always been clear in His mind. Worship the Babe of Christmas but as our Creator, Risen Savior, Redeemer and One True God seated on His throne. Wess Mechler, PHD (Passed Having Doubts) Jesus is Alive! ESV - The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

6 ANNUAL NEW YEAR S PARTY Come, join friends for the annual New Year s Eve get-together, Sunday, December 31 st, from 7:00 PM 12:15 AM in Mission Hall at Our Redeemer. Please bring a snack and a game. Contact Juanita Martin-Davis. FT. WAYNE SEMINARY FOOD PANTRY Notice the green and white basket in the Narthex? While you are shopping, please remember the Ft. Wayne Seminary Food Pantry. Items needed are canned fruits, vegetables, personal hygiene products, paper products, etc. Buy one get one [BOGO] are great. Keep one item, give one. Let s help our seminary families wherever we can. We will be taking the pantry items soon after Thanksgiving. If you wish to send clothing, please contact Caroline Howard. Thank you. MISSION QUILTS! THANKS to many people, 125 quilts were recently delivered to Ft. Wayne for distribution by Lutheran World Relief. In addition, a total of 38 were given to Mission Possible, Redeemer School, Mexico and Hawaiian missions. We appreciate the donations of fabric and used sheets, which are always needed. More hands are always welcome on Thursday mornings at the church from 9:30 11:30 AM. Again, our heartfelt thanks to all who have helped in any way. It is our prayer that the recipients of these quilts will feel the warmth of God s love. DATE TELLERS 3 Teddi Heinzman, Mary Quinn, Sue Allison 10 Marjie Sullivan, Cindy Galford, Jama Youngdale 17 Ellen Benziger, Nancy Trout, Ross Morkal 26 [Wed] Vivian Heronemus, Betty Fahling, Sharon Morkal Teddi Heinzman, Mary Quinn, Sub Needed DATE SANCTUARY STEWARDS COLOR 2 Kitty Davis & Cindy Sewell Blue 9 Anna Gaunt & Jane Sipe Blue 16 Marie Harvath & Susie Yeakley Blue 23 Teddi Heinzman & Patti Stout Blue 30 Caroline Howard & Marietta Adelsen White ONLINE CALENDAR:

7 NYG PARTICIPANTS There are 3 fundraising opportunities coming up in December. You should have received an for sign-ups. Please sign-up on the website as soon as you know which you will be attending to help at. If you didn t receive this , contact Erin Jorgensen as soon as possible. Thank you! NYG PARENT MEETING DECEMBER 2 We would like to touch base with you about the upcoming fundraisers/information about NYG. Please plan on meeting in the Youth Room after late service on Sunday, December 2. PATHWAYS & GROUNDS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16: Pathways & Grounds, we will be going to the NEW ice skating rink located here in Kokomo! The cost is $10, but will only be $5 with the coupon on their website. Liability waivers will have to be filled out at the rink (located at the Jackrabbit stadium). Parents can drop off/pick-up from there. We plan on skating from 4:30-6PM. Friends are always welcome!

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