Countdown to Christmas Advent Devotional

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Adrian Baldwin
5 years ago
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1 Dear Friends- One of the great joys of the Advent season is looking forward to the birth of Jesus. To help you wonder as we get closer to Christmas, here is a special Advent devotional that will help you read, pray and anticipate the greatest gift God has given, our Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Peace, Pastor Tessa Countdown to Christmas Advent Devotional How to use the advent devotional: Advent is all about anticipation! As we look forward to the birth of Jesus, you are invited to use this devotional to Countdown to Christmas. Each day in December set a special time of day to sit down as a family and look up the scripture passage that is listed for the day. Read the passage out loud as a family and then write down and pray together a prayer that includes the theme of the scripture that day. Mark off the days as you go along. Feel free to add special things to this faith practice like sharing hot chocolate together after, lighting candles on an advent wreath, singing a favorite Christmas carol as a family, etc. Have fun and enjoy the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem where you will find God s greatest gift! 1. Psalm 98:4 - Joy 2. Isaiah 7:14 - Mothers 3. Isaiah 9:6 - Babies 4. Isaiah 11:1 - Family 5. Psalm 33:15 - Love 6. Zechariah 9:9 - Salvation 7. Matthew 1: Fathers 8. Matthew 1: People that feel Alone 9. Matthew 2:10 - Creation 10. Luke 1: People that are Afraid 11. Luke 2:10 - Good News 12. Luke 2:11 - Leaders 13. Luke 2:12 - Home 14. Luke 2:14 - Peace 15. Luke 2:19 - Health John 3:16 - Mercy 17. Romans 6:23 - Gifts 18. Romans 15:13 - Hope Corinthians 13:12 - Warmth 20. John 3:16 - Faith 21. John 13:13 - Forgiveness 22. Romans 6:23 - Heaven Timothy 1:17 - The Church 24. James 1:17 - Thanksgiving John 3:16 - Jesus

2 December 2017 Grove Lake Lutheran Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat st ADVENT 9:30 am Worship & Holy Communion. Potluck Brunch for New Members following. 10:45 am Sunday School/ Choir Practice :30 pm WELCA Christmas Party at Riverfront on Main. 6 pm Dinner/6:30 pm Confirmation Class/ 7:15 pm Youth Group meets nd ADVENT 9:30 am Worship. 10:30 am Sunday School/ Choir Practice & coffee pm Dinner/6:30 pm Confirmation Class/ 7:15 pm Youth Group meets :30 Hannah Circle Christmas Potluck at Riverfront on Main rd ADVENT 9:30 Grove Lake Sunday School Christmas Program No Confirmation Winter begins. 24 Christmas Eve Worship. 4 pm Candlelight Service and Holy Communion. (note: no morning service or Sunday School). 31 9:30 am Worship and Holy Communion No Confirmation. Blessings Christmas Day Pastor Tessa Hansen pastortessahm@gmail.com Grove Lake Lutheran Church / grovelake@loretel.net/website: grovelakechurch.com th Street / Pelican Rapids, MN 56572

3 Council minutes November 14, 2017 Members present: Karen Knoke, Tom Langseth, Steve Pickle, Craig Bakken, Rich Ness, Shawn Haugrud, Polly Fahrendorff, Wayne Woolever, Cindy Baggenstos and Pastor Tessa. President Wayne called the meeting to order. Secretary s Report: Minutes from the October 10, 2017 were reviewed. Motion made by Craig to accept minutes as presented, 2 nd by Steve and carried. Treasurer s Report: Sandy reported. October Income (year to date) $98, October Expenses (year to date) $102, October Net Ordinary Income (year to date) ($4,449.09) Motion to accept Treasurer s report as presented was made by Cindy B., 2 nd by Craig B. and carried. Pastor s Report: Pastor Tessa reported that she will be doing nursing home/shut in visitations the last Thursday of the month. Wednesday night Confirmation is going well. Holiday worship services are being planned. It was a very nice Confirmation Sunday. She explained about a World Hunger Giving Tree. Outreach Committee: Noisy offering for November will go to Salvation Army. It was decided that the outreach committee will designate noisy offering on a quarterly basis. Worship Committee: With Christmas Eve on a Sunday, we discussed if we would have Sunday morning worship at regular time and then Christmas Eve service at 4:00. Motion was made by Karen to not have morning services on Christmas Eve day. Motion was 2 nd by Craig and carried. Education Committee: Sunday School Christmas Program will be December 17 at 9:30. Practice for the Sunday School Program will be WEDNESDAY, December 13 from 4:30 6:00. Transportation will be provided from school to the church. Beginning Wednesday, January 10, th and 7 th grade students will be meeting at the church at 6:30 for Church School with Youth group following. Chris Thysell will be leading this class. Outreach Committee: Website subscription has run out. Motion made by Cindy B. to renew our subscription for 3 years at $284.41, 2 nd by Craig B. and carried. Melissa Bakken will continue with the website updating. Women s group: Cindy B. reported that the WELCA ladies got together November 1 to cut quilt squares and packaged 30 block bundles to be sewn together for tops. Then are available in the entry way if you could take some home and sew them together. Men s Group: The Men s Buffalo Supper is November 19, serving 4:30-7:00. Tickets are available from Rich Ness or any men of the church. Properties Committee: The work day October 14 went well. They put in drainage tile. Lance will do snow removal on the parking lot. Shovel and ice melt will be available in the entry way for whoever gets here early to clear the sidewalk and by the door.

4 Cont. Council minutes November 14, 2017 Youth Committee: PRAY (Pelican Rapids Area Youth) will be going to Nissawa on November 25 to package Food for the Hungry. They will be taking a bus. PRAY group will be doing Jesus BINGO at Pelican Valley Senior Living in December. OLD BUSINESS: Men will be doing church clean up on Saturday, November 18 before the Buffalo Supper. They will be replacing mop boards and cleaning light fixtures in the basement. This will begin at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 29 will be other cleaning and putting up Christmas tree and other decorations. This will begin at 6:00. A task force consisting of Laurie Buck and Greg Sjostrom, along with other suggested members, are going to be working on the task of finding a replacement for our church Treasurer Sandy. Unfinished Business: The projector screen was discussed and tabled until next month. Wayne will contact nominating committee to start on getting 2018 officers for the Annual meeting ballot. Next meeting will be Sunday, December 10 following church service. Motion was made to adjourn by Cindy B., 2 nd by Craig and carried. Meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Baggenstos, Secretary DECEMBER 2017 HEALTH NOTE FROM THE WELCOME PLACE December continues the Holiday season which started with Thanksgiving, both in many religious traditions and in the general society. It s a time of gathering for family and friends, sharing of traditional foods, gift giving, and fun. But what if this year is different for you because you ve lost a loved one, or a job, or there s been a lifestyle change? (divorce, family move, sharing adult children with another family for the first time, less money to spend). It seems like everyone else is filled with joy and all you want to do is pull the covers over your head until January 1. Some coping suggestions include understanding that your feelings are normal. A major change IS stressful and will probably exhaust you as you deal with it. Evaluate what activities are important to you and must continue (For example, do you have children who need some routine? Is church comforting?) What can you eliminate? (Skip cooking the big meal and hosting the family gathering. Can someone else do it or is it easier to get a pizza or eat Chinese food?) Skip the cards and send an e-note to friends and family. Do you enjoy holiday baking or is this the year you should pick some sweets up at the bakery? If you need a day to sit at home and cry, that s OK too. The point is, plan for the changes and do whatever it is that helps you get through it. As always, though, if your feelings descend into a deep depression where you can t function at all, contact your healthcare provider or a counselor for help.

Sunday, December 24th Worship will be held at 4 pm Candlelight Service and Holy Communion. No Sunday Morning Worship! Grove Lake Women s News: Wed. Dec. 6th WELCA will meet at Riverfront on Main at 1:30 pm for Potluck Christmas Party.

5 Sunday, December 24th Worship will be held at 4 pm Candlelight Service and Holy Communion. No Sunday Morning Worship! Grove Lake Women s News: Wed. Dec. 6th WELCA will meet at Riverfront on Main at 1:30 pm for Potluck Christmas Party. Bring goodies to share, Priscilla Circle will be in charge. Thurs. Dec. 14th Hannah Circle will meet at Riverfront on Main at 12:30 pm for their Christmas Potluck goodie share. Karen Hart will provide the main dish and Cindy Baggenstos will lead the Bible Study. Grove Lake Welcomes New Members in December! Amelia and Brennan Lemar and their children Jaelyn and Eleana. Heidi and Brayan Smith and their children Marlee, Mia, and Carson. Glen and Leann Smith. Jessica and Jason Fahje and their children Logan, Ian, and Colin. Karla and PJ Breen and their children Rachal, Mary Beth, and Myra. Jessica Williams. In the bond of fellowship and love, we welcome you to Grove Lake Lutheran Church. We pray you will experience spiritual growth. Let us minister to each other s needs and to those of humanity. We will celebrate the sacred moments of life s passage together. The Peace of the Lord be with you. Dec. Usher List: Dec. 3rd> Jess and Emily Hoadley. Dec. 10th> Rick and Jan Haugrud. Dec. 17th> Bob and Janis Perrin. Dec. 24th> 4 pm Orland and Mary Ohe. Dec. 31st> Steve and Brenda Pickle.

March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Ash Wednesday 1:30 am Hannah Circle meets at RFM. 13 LENT. 12 Quilting resumes.

March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Ash Wednesday 1:30 am Hannah Circle meets at RFM. 13 LENT. 12 Quilting resumes. What s happening at Grove Lake Lutheran Church this month! March 2019 Rejoicing in HOPE; Patient in tribulation; continuing in constant Prayer. [Romans 12:12] Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 Band of