Greetings from the Pastor... Preparation for Christmas. What s on your gift list this Christmas? Dec. 18th ~ Sunday School Christmas Pageant

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1 IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 20 Monterey Circle, Lakewood NJ ~ visit us at: & ind us on Facebook 2016 The Lantern I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of the life. John 8:12 Pastor ~ Rev. James McKinley Phone: (home) (cell) Pastor s jem.mckinley@gmail.com Church Secretary ~ Roxanne Rossano Phone: or secretary@ilutheran.net Greetings from the Pastor... Preparation for Christmas As we enter December we enter a new Christian calendar year. The Advent season starts the year with preparation for the coming of Christ which we celebrate with the story of His birth in Bethlehem. The Church however recognizes that we are expecting His coming again. For some this is a time of anxiety, for others a time of hope. For us it should be a time of preparation not quite the kind of preparation prepers make building shelters, storing food, buying guns, but rather the preparation that God asks of us, preparing a place within our hearts for Christ to enter in. In what ways is this different from hanging greens and erecting decorated trees, preparing festive meals and lavish parties and expensive gifts? (Christmas is now second only to New Years in consumption of Alcohol) What preparations will you make for the coming of Christ? More frequent worship attendance, more time spent in prayer? Is not the proper preparation all of these things plus most important of all to welcome Christ in the needy, in the stranger in those materially less fortunate than ourselves. Perhaps we could put more effort into providing for those less fortunate individuals than we spend lavishing gifts on ourselves, our close friends and family. Last year I gave my wife a goat through the Good Gifts project of ELCA World Hunger. At first I must admit I thought of it as a gag gift, but I came to see it as the best gift I gave. For it meant a whole family would have milk perhaps enough to share with others. Servers, & Celebrations... p. 2 Information p. 3 Christmas Poems.. p. 4 Santa s Workshop... p. 5 Dec. Calendar... p. 6 Flower order form. p. 7 HELP NEEDED p. 7 Food Pantry p. 8 A copy of the Good Gifts Catalog is available in the Narthex or on line at ( ) What s on your gift list this Christmas? Pastor McKinley Christmas Events! Dec. 18th ~ Sunday School Christmas Pageant Dec. 24th ~ Christmas Eve Services 4:30 PM ~ Traditional Service 9:00 PM ~ Special Music Service

2 Page 2 December 4 D E C E M B E R S E R V I N G S C H E D U L E Lay Assistant... Terry Stahlhut Acolyte... Jenna Browne Lector... Heather Bulin Ushers... Lana Hyer &... Eva LaBrozzi Altar Guild... Donna Palzer December 18 Lay Assistant... Todd Engle Acolyte... Emily Patterson Lector... Todd Engle Ushers... Roberta McGilvery &... Millie Martin Altar Guild... Donna Palzer December 11 Lay Assistant... Kris Calabro Acolyte... Chase Hudson Lector... Kris Calabro Ushers... Sharon Rollier &... Carole Hepp Altar Guild... Donna Palzer December 25 Lay Assistant... Roberta McGilvery Acolyte... Lexi McLain Lector... Roberta McGilvery Ushers... Scott & Kim Brown... Altar Guild... Donna Palzer BIRTHDAYS 2nd: Kileigh Murphy 3rd: Kyle Vasys 7th: Kameron Murphy 9th: Adam Hepp 16th: Lexi McLain 23rd: Cindy Camp 23rd: Carole Hepp 27th: Pat Scalzo ANNIVERSARIES 5th: Charles & Elaine Turansky 9th: Bud & Edie Gurley 31st: Jim & Judy Wolfer ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING! On Sunday, January 22nd we will have a congregational meeting to vote for new church council members and other items. If you think you would be interested in serving on Church council please speak with pastor, Karin Holldorf or any current member of council. All Committee Reports are due by JANUARY 8th to the secretary! Thank you, Roxanne Rossano

3 Page 3 All Seafarers bags need to be returned by Dec. 4th THE 2017 OFFERING ENVELOPES are on the table in the Narthex. Please stop by to pick yours up. They are in numerical order. Thank you. If you would like offering envelopes, please contact the church office Christmas Angels Please be a Christmas angel and pick up a toy for a child from our food pantry list. Toys are highly recommended as our new clothes dona ons are plen ful. All dona ons are appreciated. All dona ons should be in by December 18th. Anyone willing to help set up Sunday December 18th at 7 pm or help with guiding the parents to pick out gi s on the 19th at 10 AM, please contact Janice Henry. Bringing Holy Communion to our homebound members is an extension of our weekly worship. If you are unable to come to worship at Immanuel and would appreciate being put on the list of homebound members, please notify the church office so that the Pastor and the members of the Visitation Team can bring the sacrament to you. We want to make sure that those who wish to receive communion and are unable to get to worship are cared for. Additional volunteers for this valuable ministry are needed! Please contact Pastor.

4 Page 4 Christmas Is Christmas is a magic time, And though outside it s cold, The goodness in each heart shines through, To warm the weary soul. The child in us still looks with awe, And yet a tear may flow Remembering the Christmases, We knew once long ago. It is a time of hopes and dreams, Of families and love, Of singing choirs and shining stars, Of blessings from above. Christmas is so many things, That this world can impart, But most of all, Christmas is A feeling in the heart. -By Louise Amanda Ritchie (Mother of Lisa McLain) Christmas Is Near There s excitement in the air, Hustle, bustle, everywhere, Shoppers rushing to and fro, In the sky, a look of snow. From the kitchen, smells so sweet, Presents wrapped up very neat. Tinkling bells and ho, ho, ho, Children s eyes with wonder glow. In the living room, a tree, Full of pretty things to see, Carolers singing loud and clear, Love abounds Christmas is near. -By Louise Amanda Ritchie (Mother of Lisa McLain)

5 Page 5 HEY KIDS! Come Shop At SANTA S WORKSHOP To Find Gifts for all Your Family & Friends! ALL ITEMS $1.00! FREE GIFT WRAPPING! SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11th (FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS PAGEANT PRACTICE) AND SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18th (FOLLOWING CHRISTMAS PAGEANT & PARTY) HELD IN THE EDUCATIONAL BLDG.

6 Page 6 I M M A N U E L E V. L U T H E R A N C H U R C H C A L E N D A R December 2016 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY :30 PM Immanuel Service 4 10:00 AM Immanuel Service :30 PM Council Meeting 8 10 AM 12 NOON FOOD PANTRY OPEN :30 PM Immanuel Service 11 10:00 AM Immanuel Service Christmas Pageant Practice :30 PM Immanuel Service 18 10:00 AM Immanuel Service Sunday School Christmas Pageant AM 12 NOON FOOD PANTRY OPEN Services 4:30 PM & 9:00 PM 25 10:00 AM Immanuel Service :30 PM Immanuel Service

7 Page 7 Order Form for Poinse as 6 $8.00 Name: Your phone # # of Plants Amount: (please indicate by circling one) I will / will not be taking home In Memory of: In Memory of: In Memory of: In Memory of: In Honor of: In Honor of: In Honor of: In Honor of: (more than one name can fit on each line) Please make checks payable to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Give orders to Church office no later than December 4, 2016 Place your order early to assure your loved ones name/s are in the bulletin. THANK YOU! HELP! VOLUNTEER S NEEDED We are looking for a volunteer who would be willing to pick-up the flowers for the Altar and Columbarium when we receive requests for such. All we need is your and the secretary would you in advance the type of flowers requested. You would purchase them for that weekend and leave a receipt for the secretary either on her desk, or in the box (top right) outside of the office door, stating who it s from and what it s for. Prices should not exceed; Altar flowers for 2 vases are $25.00, organ & piano vases (2) $15.00 and columbarium with vase included is $ (only one of those). Please let the secretary know if this is an area you would like to serve in. The office number is , or her at: secretary@ilutheran.net 2. Another area we need help with is the Altar Guild. We have a person who sets up the communion table but unfortunately the individual who was cleaning up after the serve is unable to now. Again please call the office or the secretary if this is something you would like to do. Someone will be more than happy to show what needs to be done. Thank you.

8 Food Pantry UPDATE: December at the food pantry is always a busy me of the year. Not only do we supply Thanksgiving dinners to our clients in November, we gear up for the annual Christmas gi give away as well. This will take place on December 19th. Stay tuned for more details in the January Newsle er. Janice Henry IMMANUEL EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH 20 Monterey Circle Lakewood, NJ Phone: FIRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID CITY, ST PERMIT NO. 000