Worship: Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 8 am & 10:30 am Wednesday 6 pm

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1 Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Sheboygan Falls, WI Permit No. 11 Address service requested CONNECT WITH US Bethlehem Lutheran 1121 Georgia Avenue Sheboygan, WI WORSHIP & BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES Worship: Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 8 am & 10:30 am Wednesday 6 pm Bible Studies: Saturdays 4:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Sundays 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Church: (920) infochurch@ourbethlehem.com School: (920) infoschool@ourbethlehem.com ourbethlehem ourbethlehem Rev. James L. Hartman Administrative Pastor Sunday School: 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Toddler Time: 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Pastor-led Bible Study Led by Pastor Boettcher Mondays-6:30 pm Pastor-led Bible Study Led by Pastor Hartman Thursdays-7am All Bible Studies held in the Century Room Rev. Alan D. Kubow Associate Pastor Patrick Vanic Principal Lutheran Church Missouri Synod MEMBERSHIP Sheboygan Lutheran High School Association Sheboygan Area Lutheran Schools Association

2 December Calendar at

3 The Bethlehem Visitor December 2016 What do you do to prepare for Christmas? This is the time of year when everyone starts getting ready for Christmas. The stores are packed with people buying gifts. Shopping center are filled with the musical sound of Christmas. Those boxes packed away months ago are brought out and all of that lovely Christmas stuff is put out. The houses are decorated with lights and trimmings and yards become the showcases of Christmas splendor. In my house there is a mass cleaning effort. The whole house is cleaned from top to bottom to get everything in tip top shape. Before any decoration can be put out the whole house gets a good cleaning. When the cleaning is complete; the house needs to be arranged for the decorating. The living room gets rearranged to make room for the Christmas tree and all of the other decorations. The whole house is given a new look in preparation for the decorations. After all of the proper arrangements have been made, the decoration come out and everything begins to take on the look of Christmas. The tree is set up with lights strung from top to bottom and ornaments are scattered on the branches. The final preparation for Christmas revolves around the gifts. Lists of certain wants of specific needs are created and the shopping begins. Multiple trips are made to various stores and shopping centers. The shopping is done so that we can give and receive gifts on Christmas Day. All of this is a great illustration of how God wants us to prepare for Christmas. When we truly prepare for Christmas, there is a personal cleansing. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8. When we truly prepare for Christmas, there is a new arrangement of our priorities. But see first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33. When we truly prepare for Christmas, there is a new decorating of the heart. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26. When we truly prepare for Christmas, there is a receiving and giving of gifts. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Please remember Bethlehem in your prayers and remember her with your financial support. Your gifts to the Lord not only support our ministry in this community, but support the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world. So, where are you with your preparations for Christmas? Are there some areas of your heart that need to be cleaned? Maybe your need to rearrange some things to make more room for Christ in your life? Perhaps your heart is fairly barren and needs some of God s blessings for decorations. This year the wonder of Christmas can come alive for you in brand new ways. Come to Bethlehem. Come and worship Christ the King. God Bless you in Jesus name Rev. James L. Hartman Advent Services - Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Christmas Services Saturday, December 24, 4:00 p.m. Sunday School Service Saturday, December 24, 6:00 p.m. Family Service Saturday, December 24, 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service Sunday, December 25, 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Service New Year s Worship Saturday, December 31, 5:30 p.m. New Year s Eve Worship Sunday, January 1, 8:00 a.m. New Year s Day Worship Sunday, January 1, 10:30 a.m. New Year s Day Worship

4 STEWARDSHIP LCMS Stewardship Article December 2016 Every Christmas present that sits wrapped under your Christmas tree will wear out. It will break or go out of style. This fact was there, somewhere, in the back of your mind even as you bought them, but you bought them anyway. For you love the person you bought them for, you wanted to see that look of joy it brings to their face. So also God gives to you. But greater. What He gives will never wear out, break down, or go out of style. For what He gives is His eternal and only-begotten Son, wrapped in your flesh, and placed upon the tree of the Cross. He gives His Son for you. He gives that you may have everlasting joy. He gives because He loves you. This is why the Word became flesh to dwell among you. And that is who is given to you. The Word who is God yet was with God from all eternity. The Word through whom all things were made. The Word who is the only-begotten Son of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, being of one substance with His Father. The One who called all things into existence, the One who spoke to Moses from the bush that burned yet was not consumed, the One whose glory filled the tabernacle to dwell among His people, God Himself, has taken on your flesh. Even though the Word is made flesh, even though God became Man, His Divinity is not lessened. His Divinity is not changed. His Divinity remains, pure and unchanging, but your flesh, your human nature, is exalted. Your flesh and humanity is assumed into God. God became man so that you would become like unto God holy and righteous, without sin, without death. And so it is that the Son given to you wrapped in your flesh is placed upon the tree of the Cross. And no tree was ever adorned more beautifully. Its ornaments were nothing less than the Blood of God, poured out as an atoning sacrifice for your sins. Its garland the Body of God, hanged in death that you may have life. Its light the incarnate Light of the world, strung up to call you and all men unto Himself, to enlighten you, to make you His own. He gives you HIs life, He gives you joy and peace peace with God in heaven and peace with one another on earth. And from the tree of the Cross the Lord Jesus places another gift for you upon the Altar. It is the Fruit of the Cross, His crucified and risen, living Body and Blood, the Fruit of the Tree of Life, wrapped in bread and wine and given to you. He fills you with His Glory. He makes your mouths and your hearts His manger. He abides in you and you in Him. The Word became flesh to be placed under the Cross for you. You are forgiven. This is why we give. We give because He has first given to us. And just as it was a joy for Him to give all He had to us. It is a joy for us to give to one another and His church so that this message of forgiveness, life, and salvation may be proclaimed.

DECEMBER NEWS FOR CHURCH & SCHOOL CHURCH: Next Visitor Deadline If you would like to submit information for the January Visitor please have your information to the church office no later than

5 DECEMBER NEWS FOR CHURCH & SCHOOL CHURCH: Next Visitor Deadline If you would like to submit information for the January Visitor please have your information to the church office no later than Tuesday, December 20, You can it to or drop it off in the church office with a note attached that it is for the January Visitor. Bethlehem Mission Quilters Thank you to the members and friends of Bethlehem. We are truly blessed. On October 22, 2016, 94 quilts were delivered to the LWML box care to be distributed to people throughout the world in need. We have been blessed with prayers, donations, time & talents, and a small group of ladies who so faithfully work to make this project a success. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Please consider joining us on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday in the Century Room at 9:00 a.m. As our group relies on 100% donations for supplies, any fabric, batting or cash donations to keep our project for LWML going is greatly appreciated. WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Advent Services Wednesday, December 7, 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. - Advent service lead by Bethlehem 3K, 4K & 5K students. Wednesday, December 14, 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. - Advent service lead by Bethlehem 4 th, 5 th & 6 th grade students. Wednesday, December 21, 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. - Advent service lead by Bethlehem 1 st, 2 nd & 3 rd grade students. Soup Suppers in the Parish Activity Center Wednesday, December 7, 14 & 21 at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve/Day Worship Saturday, December 24, 4:00 p.m. - Sunday School Service Saturday, December 24, 6:00 p.m. - Family Service Saturday, December 24, 11:00 p.m. - Candlelight Service w/holy Communion Sunday, December 25, 10:00 a.m. - Christmas Day Service w/holy Communion New Year s Eve/Day Worship Saturday, December 31, 5:30 p.m. - Holy Communion Sunday, January 1, 8:00 a.m. - Holy Communion Sunday, January 1, 10:30 a.m.

6 IMPORTANT REMINDERS Pastoral Care When you are hospitalized, please notify the church office (of have a family member or friend notify us). Due to privacy laws the hospitals no longer contact the church. Personal Information Changes If you have changed your name, address, phone number etc. please notify the church office immediately with your information. You can call the church office at or jodi.damrau@ourbethlehem.com with your new/current information. Thank you for your help. Room Reservation Reminder Just a reminder to make sure that you let the church office know ASAP if and when you need to reserve a room so we can be sure that there are no conflicts. Thank you! Visit Us Online Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School is on Facebook.com. Look for updates and information by typing Bethlehem Lutheran School. For more school information, please visit us at our website, VISITOR SPONSORSHIP To help us defray expenses for producing and mailing our monthly newsletter, we have established a sponsorship program which includes a congregational contributor for a cost of $50 per year; and a commercial contributor for the cost of $120 per year. If interested, please drop off your payment or call the church office at Congregational Sponsors: Bev Fischer Lee & Bev Steffen Clifford & Gail Schlegel Fred & Ruth Fibiger Robert & Joan Osthelder Jim & Judy Heinecke Richard & Marjorie Hahn Advanced Disposal Ardyth Gross Anita Krimmel John & Jane Halverson Bob & Lori Gottowski Tim & Evie Grasse Leonard & Rogene Johnson Beverly Bauer Vi Gloede James Schmidt Roger H. & Sandy Fischer Commercial Sponsors: Advanced Comfort Systems Keith Wyckoff Siding Services Reinbold Novak Funeral Home Irish Roofing Boneck Printing Charcoal Inn

7 BAPTISMS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES Baptisms: Jameson Michael Schultz, son of Christopher M. & Andrea L. (Goostree) Schultz, baptized November 6, 2016 Piper Harlaquinn Payne, daughter of Ryan K. & Crystal A. (Lorfeld) Payne, baptized November 12, Zoie Willow Petzold, daughter of Andrew W. & Stephanie A. (Fredrich) Petzold, baptized November 12, 2016 David Charles Neese, son of Dustin L. & Louisa V. (Thurs) Neese, baptized November 13, 2016 Deaths: Richard D. Bayens, 88, passed away on October 20, Marriages: Abigail A. Teubert and Adam R. Guehna, wedding date November 12, SCRIP INFORMATION IMPORTANT--Holiday Scrip Deadline The last day to order in time for Christmas gift giving will be 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 5 th. Any special orders placed after this date will not be filled until after we return from Christmas break. There will be no weekday sales during the Christmas break. The last chance to purchase Scrip before Christmas will be Wednesday, December 21 st from 2:30-3:00 p.m. These sales will be only from our inventory on hand. Also, Scrip will NOT be sold the weekend of Christmas or New Years. Normal Scrip hours will resume on Monday, January 2, If you have any questions or concerns, please bethlehemscrip@hotmail.com. Beside Thy manger here I stand Dear Jesus, Lord and Savior. A gift of love within my hand To thank Thee for Thy favor. Oh, take my humble offering. My heart, my soul yea, everything Is Thine to keep forever. LWML How happy we all are to give and receive Christmas gifts, including giving our gift offerings of time, work and money to serve Jesus. We re really only giving back to Him what He has already blessed us with though. Even our faith in Him was kindled and is kept alive by the Holy Spirit working in us. So as we notice all the modern hoopla surrounding Christmas, which too often has nothing to do with honoring our Savior s birth, let s stay focused on the One who came to our rescue by giving Himself as His greatest gift to us. Then we can truly, joyfully celebrate Christmas! Our LWML will meet on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Century Room for a brief meeting and Christmas party (more party, less business!) All Bethlehem ladies are invited to join us for an evening of Christmas music, a special telling of the Christmas story, yummy Christmas treats to eat and we can t forget our red Christmas stockings we ve filled with change all year for Jesus. Ladies, please bring extra Christmas cards to use to invite Bethlehem s new members and young women to a special event being planned in spring. Please also bring children s Christian coloring books and sticker, crayons, markers, colored pencils, children s scissors, colored paper, etc for our Hispanic mission outreach. Our LWML will be serving for the Advent soup supper on December 14th with another group. We ll sign up at our December 6th meeting, so decide what you d like to bring or how you d like to help. Finally, if you know of any young women who d like to go to the LWML Getaway in Wisconsin Dells January 27-28, 2017, the registration deadline is December 1, but call Jeri Gundlach at if you re interested in going. Blessings of joy, comfort, and peace to you this Christmas season.

8 GREETERS SCHEDULE December 2016 December 3, 5:30 p.m. December 4, 8:00 a.m. December 4, 10:30 a.m. Mary Jo Cyr & Linda Nikisch Jeanne Chorowicz & Grace Hartman & Yolanda Graf Karen Hopf December 10, 5:30 p.m December 11, 8:00 a.m. December 11, 10:30 a.m. Jim & Phyllis Barts Jeff, Peggy & Mallory Jensen Jeff & Lana Holler December 17, 5:30 p.m. December 18, 8:00 a.m. December 18, 10:30 a.m. Ben & Gwen Engelhardt Ellen & David Vanic Kaytlin Lampe & Erin Quam Sunday School Service Family Service Candlelight Service December 24, 4:00 p.m. December 24, 6:00 p.m. December 24, 11:00 p.m. Phil & Rosie Buteyn David & Bev Fischer Dan & Malou Blackburn New Year s Eve December 31, 5:30 p.m. Roxy Mueller & Lewis Hartman Christmas Day December 25, 10:00 a.m. Art & Leona Winkler January 2017 January 1, 8:00 a.m. Todd & Easton Bauer January 1, 10:30 a.m. Georgiana Staff & Karen Hopf Thank you all for serving the Lord as greeters. Your smiles and handshakes make everyone feel welcome. If you can t greet on your scheduled day and time, please call or me and I ll do my best to replace you. My phone number is and my is grandmatito@yahoo.com. Thank you Cristel Hodges **I would like to expand the greeter list, you would only greet once in a 2-3 month period**

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Worship: Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 8 am & 10:30 am Wednesday 6 pm

Worship: Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 8 am & 10:30 am Wednesday 6 pm Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Sheboygan Falls, WI Permit No. 11 Address service requested CONNECT WITH US Bethlehem Lutheran 1121 Georgia Avenue Sheboygan, WI 53081 WORSHIP & BIBLE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES