Appreciate God s Christmas Gift

Transcription

1 Peace Lutheran Church, 1001 Center St. Hartford Wisconsin DECEMBER 2011 Appreciate God s Christmas Gift Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 Under the Christmas tree stood a giant package. To Linda, from James, the tag read. But when Linda started unwrapping it, she found another box inside of the first one. And then she found another and another and another, until she finally came to a very tiny box at the bottom. It contained a small gag gift from her brother. You can imagine how surprised she was to receive such a small present in such a large package. It is easy to put small gifts into large packages, but can you do the opposite? Can you put a large gift into a very small package? That is what God did! On Christmas Day he put the biggest gift of all into a very small package. He put his own Son into the world as a tiny baby. Just think of that! From the humble, human womb of Mary comes the Christ Child, the promised Savior. And the ruler of the universe is then rocked in his mother s arms. He who cares for the world needs the tender care of a human mother. He who is eternal now enters into time as a tiny infant. Even more he comes to shoulder our sin and share our pain. He comes to live our life and die our death. He comes to enter our tomb and leave it with the door forever open. He, true God, comes down to earth and becomes true man that you and I might be raised from earth to heaven. Paul was right when he called it an indescribable gift. Never will we find the words to describe fully what happened at Bethlehem. Inside this issue Worship Opportunities.. 2 Advent Suppers... 2 School News..3 4 Church Library... 5 Wings of Hope... 5 Stewardship Corner... 6 Flowers on the Altar... 6 Christmas Concerts... 7 Lutheran Radio.. 7 MLC Food Bank... 8 WLIM Gift Collection... 8 Charis Tree... 8 God s Gift cont Women s Retreat... 9 Fellowship Sundays... 9 Memorials BTIC Update Pastoral Activities Continued on page 9

2 2 Worship Schedule Thursday 6:30 pm Saturday 6:30 pm Sunday 7:30 & 10:00 am Weekly Bible Studies Sunday Morning 8:45 am Fellowship Hall Wednesday Morning 9:00 am Upstairs Study Room Thursday Morning 6:45 am Fireside Room Church Office Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am 3:00 pm Julie Ehlers School Office Hours Monday-Friday 7:30 am 3:30 pm Debbie Spriggs Church & School Bookkeeper Monday-Thursday 12:45-2:45 pm At the school office Jenna Heinz ext. 110 Special Worship Opportunities Midweek Advent s Wednesday, December 7 & 14 at 10:00 am & 6:30 pm PLS Christmas Friday, December 16th at 1:00 pm Sunday, December 18th at 6:00 pm Sunday School Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24th at 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight s Saturday, December 24th at 7:00 & 11:00 pm Christmas Day Communion Sunday, December 25th at 9:00 am New Year s Eve Communion Saturday, December 31 at 6:30 pm New Year s Day s Sunday, January 1 at 9:00 am Our services throughout this Advent season will follow the theme of Advent Characters and Songs. On the Sundays in Advent, we will focus on a particular character who is featured in the Gospel accounts surrounding the birth of Jesus. Each of our Wednesdays will feature a song that was sung at that time. The order will be as follows: Sunday, December 4 John the Baptist Wednesday, December 7 The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) Sunday, December 11 Joseph, the Husband of Mary Wednesday, December 14 The Gloria (The Song of the Angels) Sunday, December 18 - Simeon Happy New Year in the life of the church! Join us in Worship as we enter the season of Advent and prepare for the coming of Christ. Advent Suppers Before the evening Wednesday Advent services, we will be hosting Advent Suppers. These suppers will serve potluck style food from 5:00-6:15 pm. The next two suppers will be serving: December 7th Super Chili December 14th Hearty Winter Soups If you are interested in helping serve or clean up, please watch for sign-up sheets that may be coming soon, or contact the church office at

3 Peace Lutheran School 3 PLS Facts 11 State Certified Teachers 3 Teachers with Masters Degrees 1st 8th Grade Student- Teacher Ratio: 20-1 Panther Care Hours 6:30 AM 6:00 PM Computer Lab, Networked Classroom Computers, Projectors, and Smart boards Library Learning Center Band & Piano Sports God s Plan For Us Annual Musical Hot Lunch Bussing Spanish Instruction Access to Speech and Title I Reading and Math Support Accredited at the State, Local & National Levels School News Updates PLS Christmas s At Hartford Union High School on November 3, junior Cori Semler joined senior Aprielle Kugler as a member of the National Honor Society D e c e m b e r, The children of Peace Lutheran School will present their annual Christmas services at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 16th, and 6:00 pm on Sunday, December 18th. We would like to specially invite the older members of our congregation to join us for the Friday 1:00 pm service. Over 200 people generally join us for the Friday service, and the Sunday service usually requires additional chair seating. We hope you will join us this year as the children present, a service of Lessons and Carols. An audio recording of that service will also air on WTKM on Christmas Eve at 6:00 pm, as well as on one of the Charter Cable TV stations, to be announced. PLS Graduates Inducted into National Honor Society At Kettle Moraine Lutheran on November 7th, Senior Stephaney Scott, and juniors Alec Bergmann, Hannah Gresenz, and Grace Johnson, join seniors Kayla Ermer, Ryanne Mallow, Hailey Moldenhauer, Stephanie Randazzo, Kate Wierzbicki as members of the National Honor Society The National Honor Society is the nation s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. More than just an honor roll, NHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in areas of Scholarship, Leadership,, and Character. Congratulations to the new inductees! Pre-School News Jesus says Be kind to one another. Eph. 4:32 Principal Rademan visited the pre-k and kindergarten children to read a story called The Rainbow Fish. We have been learning about how to be kind and how to share. This story helped us see how a rainbow fish wasn t happy until he shared his most prized possessions, his scales. On December 16th at 9:00 am, tune into WTKM to hear the PLS Pre-K & Kindergarten sing live! The classes will also walk down Main Street, and sing at Faith and Giggles, Perk Place and Scoop deville.

4 4 In the next several editions of the Peace Messenger, we will share profiles of the faculty that serves at Peace Lutheran School. In this edition we meet three more teachers serving our school. Meet Your PLS Faculty Deb Wittig 6 th grade homeroom Church Organist Choir Handbells Personal Mission Statement John 21:15 Feed my lambs. What an awesome responsibility our Lord has given us. I relish the opportunity to be Mike Marquardt 5 th Grade Teacher Music Coordinator Personal Mission Statement Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 Personal Mike Marquardt has been at Peace since 2003, teaching Fifth Grade in the classroom helping children academically, physically, emotionally, and, most importantly, spiritually. Recent Coursework and Study This past summer I started taking classes at WLC toward my state teaching license. The class was called Educating the Exceptional Child and was a wonderful eyeopener as to the number of and upper grade Music classes, coordinating the school music activities, directing the Peace Lutheran Choir and assisting with worship music planning at the church. After graduating from Martin Luther College (MLC) with a degree in Elementary Education and Secondary Music Education, he spent a semester as an interim adjunct music instructor at MLC. He was assigned to St. Paul in Tomah, WI, in 2000 where he taught Sixth Grade and challenges students can have. I feel the most important thing I learned in this class was something the professor told us every day: Every child can learn. Personal I enjoy spending time with my family both here and back in Minnesota. Other things that I do in my free time are sewing and quilting, reading, watching sports, and playing with my daughter. served as Music Director until Mike currently serves broader ministry as executive director of Canticum Novum: a WELS Chamber Choir and as a choral consultant for the Southeastern Wisconsin District Worship Committee. Mike is an avid cyclist and resides in Hartford with his wife, April and sons, Seth and Matthew. Shelly Karstens 4th Grade Teacher Library Coordinator Musical Codirector Personal Mission Statement My goal as a Christian educator is to teach children to live in this world and the next. Personal Shelly loves to travel and read. Sewing, crafting, and gardening are some of the hobbies she enjoys. She is also in the church choir and helps with Teens of Peace.

5 From the Shelves of the Church Library As another church years draws to an end, we are reminded that our days on this earth will soon end as well. We have just added the new release in the People's Bible Teachings series, End Times, which tells what God says about end times. This book, written by Thomas P. Nass, is the only book-length popular treatment of the subject written from a scriptural, Lutheran perspective. Check out our selection of Advent devotional books to help prepare your heart for the Savior's birth. Be Near Me, Lord Jesus, by Richard Lauersdorf, contains 37 devotions for Advent and Christmas. It shows us God s plans and promises of a Savior, builds our excitement for Christmas Day and gives us joy to worship and tell others. Are You Ready? explains why you need to be ready to meet your Lord whether at Christmas, on your personal advent day, or on the day when Jesus comes again. Use this book of devotions to meet the babe of Bethlehem-the glorified King of Heaven. In our children's section, we have several Arch books that tell the story of the birth of our Savior in a way that a child will understand and appreciate. Some of the titles are: Born On Christmas Morn, Just Look In the Stable and Mary's Christmas Story. Need a little quiet time? We have some adult fiction books especially suited for reading at this time of year. One is Colorado Christmas by author Rosey Dow, who creates three interesting Christmas stories from 19 th century Colorado. A second book is Cozy in Kansas by Nancy Mehl and contains three short stories about the citizens of Winter Break, Kansas, who keep Ivy Towers on her toes as she solves a series of puzzling mysteries. If you would like to remember a loved one or give a gift in honor of someone this Christmas, please contact Diana Zastrow or the church office at Check out our Activity books for the entire family Christ in Christmas: A Family Advent Celebration; Make a Christmas Memory and Create a Christmas Memory. Glory to God on the Highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests Wings Of Hope Support A support group for those suffering the loss of a loved one through suicide. Meeting the first Monday of each month 6:30-7:30 pm at Calvary Lutheran Church, Thiensville For more information, contact: Kurt or Connie Ebert

6 6 STEWARDSHIP CORNER Stewardship Corner A Few Words on WORSHIP What a special time of the year this is for God s people! December brings additional opportunities to worship our Lord and hear of his grace. What do you like best about December? Is it the children s Christmas services? Is it singing your favorite Christmas carols? Is it the preparation for the celebration of the Savior s birth? Is it the meditative candle-lit Christmas Eve service you cherish most or the joyful festive Christmas morning? I m guessing it s a combination of all of those wonderful things. So let s enjoy it as we come before him with joyful songs (Psalm 100:2). The pastoral staff looks forward to serving you with God s Word and Sacrament during this special time of the year. A Few Words on SERVICE This time of the year brings several opportunities for God s people to put their faith in action and reflect Christ s love as they look to serve others in love. Sometimes our service simply means looking for ways to help out. Consider helping to set up or clean up after one of the Advent Suppers, volunteer to serve hot lunch at school, or buying a Christmas gift for one of our Seminary students. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10). A Few Words on GIVING You may have noticed that our congregational budget is lagging behind by over $100,000. That s a significant deficit. This time of the year is a good time for all of us to do some evaluation. PRAY for the work we do together as a congregation RE-EVALUATE the gifts God has given to you REVIEW the gifts you in turn bring back to him CONSIDER giving a special gift to your church this Christmas season, over and above your weekly offering Think about this: Peace has over 600 families. Understandably, some of those families are struggling financially. But overall, do you think our Lord has blessed us with enough good things that collectively we would be able and willing to bring him good gifts in return? This season we ll see again how richly the Lord has blessed us, physically and spiritually. As we focus on all the GIVING our Lord has and continues to do for us, let s joyfully excel in GIVING back to him. In fact, wouldn t it be nice to see that budget deficit cut in half, or even disappear altogether? But just as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see that you also excel in this grace of giving For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:7,9). Flowers for the Altar The new 2012 Flower Chart is in the church library. Please consider placing flowers on the altar for special occasions. The flowers beautify our church and may be taken home with you after the 10:00 am Sunday service.

7 Upcoming Christmas Concerts & Events Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Winter Band Concert December 10th at 7:00 pm Christmas Concert December 17th at 5:00 pm 7 Luther Prep High School Christmas Concert December 11th at 3:00 pm Wisconsin Lutheran College Christmas Choral Concert December 1st-3rd at 8: 00 pm & December 4th at 3:00 pm Winter Band Concert December 9th at 8:00 pm Martin Luther College Christmas Concert December 4th at 4:00 pm Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Christmas Concert December 11th at 3:00 & 7:00 pm David s Star Living Nativity At Washington Co. Fairgrounds December 9th & 10th; 16th & 17th, 5-9 pm Jesus Care Ministry Christmas Divine Peace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee December 11th at 2:30 pm For more information on these events, please visit their websites, or call their offices: KML: LPS: WLC: MLC: WLS: JCM: Kettle Moraine Adult Chorale: St Paul s: Kettle Moraine Lutheran Adult Chorale St. John s Lutheran Church, Mequon December 4th at 4:00 pm St. Paul s Living Nativity At St. Paul s, Howards Grove December 2nd & 3rd, 6-9 pm; 4th, 4-7 pm Lutheran Radio Church Lutheran Radio Church has been around for 84 years, and is currently broadcasted on 1340 WJYI at 7:00 am Sunday Mornings. The areas to the east and south of Hartford are able to easily receive its signal. The broadcasts are also archived online at You can also listen live to the radio station at their website, Previously, LRCS was broadcasted on WTMJ radio. Due to the cost of broadcasting, LRCS was required to move to WJYI station. Despite this move, Lutheran Radio Church is still struggling to support its ministry. Please pray for LRCS. This program has always relied heavily on financial gifts to produce and present the broadcasts. If you would like to donate to LRCS, please mail your gift to: The Lutheran Radio Church ; Box 501; Brookfield, Wisconsin

8 8 For more information, please contact Judy Gosdeck at Martin Luther College Box Luther Court New Ulm, MN Martin Luther College Food Bank MLC has established an on-campus food bank for students with families. It depends on contributions of churches. We accept nonperishable food items, personal and household products, and monetary donations. Some examples of items that are needed include: Cake mixes Sugar Canned meats Canned soups Canned fruit Ramen noodles Cereal Peanut Butter & Jelly Coffee Crackers Granola Bars Laundry Soap Toilet Paper & Paper Towels Cleaning Supplies Gift Cards for Walmart, Kwik Trip, Hy-Vee Grocery Store WLIM has moved to a new address: 2323 N Mayfair Rd #480 Wauwatosa, WI Examples of Gifts: Men s, Women s, Children s Slippers, Pajamas, Socks, Shirts, Hats, Mittens Games Books & CDs Toiletries School Supplies Stuffed Animals WLIM Annual Christmas Gift Collection Each year, WLIM hosts a collection of Christmas gifts to be passed out to people and families who, because of poverty, institutionalization or economic hardship would not otherwise receive gifts. Donations of new gifts should be delivered to one of these locations: Northside Lutheran Ministries, Milwaukee Drop off December 1-3, 5-10, at 10:00 am 2:00 pm St. Peter LutheranChurch, Milwaukee Drop off December 5-9 at 10:00 am 2:00 pm Christ Lutheran Church, Milwaukee Drop off December 5-9 at 10:00 am 2:00 pm or December 10 at 9:00 am 1:00 pm Risen Savior Lutheran Church Drop off December 5-9 at 10:00 am 2:00 pm Charis Tree For Seminary Students Peace will once again be participating in the Charis Tree for the Seminary Students and their families. Six local WELS churches have joined together to provide gifts for each student and their families. In the Gathering Space, the Charis Tree is set up with the names of 44 Seminary Students. Please pick a name, and purchase a gift for the student or his family. Gift cards are also a great choice for this, and you can support Peace Lutheran School by purchasing from their Scrip program. Please bring your gifts, with the name attached, back to the church by December 18th.

9 Appreciate God s Christmas Gift (Continued) 9 We cannot adequately describe God s Christmas gift, but we can appreciate it. We begin by saying with Paul, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! Perhaps we said our thank yous in our Christmas services, or perhaps we already expressed them today in our prayers. If we haven t, then let s not pass up the opportunity in the services ahead or in our prayers later today. Again and again, day after day, week after week, month after month all the year through, until next Christmas rolls around, we need to say, Thank you, dear God, thank you. Nor will our appreciation end with words. Our use of God s Christmas Gift will also show our appreciation. The way we day after day lay our sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; the way we turn to him in all needs of body and soul; the way we walk day by day as his followers, led by him; the way we spend our minds and money, our minutes and our talents to his service, will even more loudly shout, Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! True appreciation for this gift that is beyond description God s Christmas gift of the Savior begins with our lips and involves our lives. This devotion was taken from Are you Ready?, edited by Lyle Albrecht (c) 2001 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Women s Retreat Ladies, please join us for the Pathways to Christ Retreat on March 9-11 at Martin Luther Church in Oshkosh. The 2012 theme is Reflections on His Cross and Ours. We are pleased to have as our keynote speaker, Prof. Daniel Deutschlander author of the book The Theology of the Cross. The theology of the cross is that teaching of the Bible that deals not only with Christ s cross for our salvation but also with the cross that each Christian must carry. Come share with us, as Prof. Deutschlander helps us examine more closely what the Bible has to say about the cross and from God s Word grow in our appreciation of it and gratitude for it. If you have any questions, you may contact the Pathway s Committee at (920) , or at retreat@new.rr.com. Fellowship Sundays Fellowship Sundays will be held the first Sunday of each month. After Sunday services, worshippers are encouraged to meet and greet one another in the Gathering Space. Light refreshments and coffee will be served out of the Warming Kitchen. Make sure to take advantage of these opportunities to meet new people in our congregation. The Next Fellowship Sunday is: December 4, hosted by the Board of Youth & Family

10 10 Memorials We gratefully acknowledge the Special Gifts given to our congregation, and wish to thank the donors for the gifts which were received prior to November 21, Given By: In Honor or Memory of: For: Orval & Mary Ann Roeseler Edna Belling Building Fund Koepsell Family Art & Marge Koepsell Altar Guild Joanne Horst Ray Horst Debt Retirement Family & Friends Orval & Mary Ann Roeseler s 50th Anniversary Don & Donna Hagen Ray & Bernice Bernschneider Debt Retirement Sermons Online We ve started to make each weekend s sermon available to read or view on our website. Early in the week, the sermon from the past weekend is uploaded online. Just visit to watch the sermons. Each week s sermon is posted to our home page; the previous sermons are also saved and archived on the website. Also, visit our website for updates to the calendar, and to find out important news and events! BTIC Building Fund Update As of October 31, 2011, the outstanding balance for the Building Fund is $324,015. Don t forget the Building Fund Over the past year, the monthly contributions have fallen off significantly. As we approach the end of the year, please consider a special gift towards the Building Fund. Remember your end of year contribution may provide you potential tax benefits.*consult your individual tax advisor. We thank you for your support! Pastoral Activities GAINS: By Baptism Nathaniel Bryan Fritz, son of Anthony Fritz & Jessica Priebe, on 10/29 (NM) Levi Floyd Greenman, son of Brian & Anna Greenman, on 10/30 Ethan Xavier Russ, son of Chad & Kelly Russ, on 11/6 (NM) Caitlyn Rae Matenaer, daughter of Anthony & Amy Matenaer, on 11/13 LOSSES: By Transfer Patrick Day to Resurrection Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN By Release Melissa (Johnson) Thiermann Please note some of the most recent membership changes.

11 December 2011 Sun Mon Tues Wed Peace Lutheran Church 1001 Center St, Hartford Thurs 1 6:15 AM: Coffee & Scriptures 10:00 AM: HCC 10:30 AM: Emerald Ridge 11:00 AM: Gardens 6:00 PM: Lutheran Pioneers Girl Fri 2 8:10 AM: PLS Chapel Sat 3 9:000 AM-10:30 AM: Sunday School Christmass Eve Practice 6:30 PM: Worship e 4 7:30 &10:00 AM: Worship e 8:45 AM: Sunday School, TOPS, Bible Study 11:00 AM: OWLS Christmas Party 5 11:00 AM: Gardens Communion e 6:00 PM: Public School Catechism 6 6:30 PM: Altar Guild 7:00 PM: Open Gym 7 10:000 AM & 6:30 PM: Advent 6:30 PM: Worship 7:30 PM: FAC Meeting 8 6:15 AM: Coffee & Scriptures 8:45 AM-9:00 AM: 10:00 AM: HCC Wednesday Morning Bible 10:30 AM: Emerald Ridge Study 11:00 AM: Gardens 7:30 PM: Dartball at Peacee 6:30 PM: Communion 9 8:10 AM: PLS Chapel 10 3:00-6:00 PM: Divorce Care & DC4K 2:00-6:00 PM: Grief Share 9:000 AM-10:30 AM: Sunday School Christmass Eve Practice 6:30 PM: Communion 7:30 PM: Choir Practice 11 7:30 & 10:00 AM: Worship e 8:45 AM: Sunday School, TOPS, Bible Study 18 7:30 & 10:00 AM: Worship e 8:45 AM: Sunday School, TOPS, Bible Study 6:00 PM: PLS Christmas e 12 6:00 PM: Public School Catechism 7:30 PM: Board of Elders Meeting 19 6:00 PM: Public School Catechism 13 Board of Youth and Family Meeting 7:00 PM: Open Gym 7:00 PM: Mission Society 20 7:00 PM: Coordinating Council 7:00 PM: Open Gym 14 10:000 AM & 6:30 PM: Advent 6:30 PM: Choir Practice 15 6:15 AM: Coffee & Scriptures 8:45 AM-9:00 AM: 10:00 AM: HCC Wednesday Morning Bible 10:30 AM: Emerald Ridge Study 11:00 AM: Gardens 6:30 PM: Board of Child Discipleship Meeting 6:00 PM: Lutheran Boy 7:30 PM: Dartball at Pioneers Peacee 6:30 PM: Worship 7:30 PM: Choir Practice :00 AM: Wednesday 6:15 AM: Coffee & Morning Bible Study Scriptures 10:00 AM: HCC 10:30 AM: Emerald Ridge 11:00 AM: Gardens 16 8:10 AM: PLS Chapel 1:00 PM: PLS Christmas 5:00 PM: Basketball vs. Morning Star :000 AM-10:30 AM: Sunday School Christmass Eve Practice 6:30 PM: Worship e 24 7:000 & 11:00 PM: Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship 5:000 PM: Sunday School Christmas Eve Program PLS Christmas Break--No School 25 9:00 AM: Christmas Day Communion :00 AM: HCC 30 5:00 PM: Beine-Hicks Rehearsal 31 1:30 PM: Beine-Hicks Wedding 10:30 AM: Emerald Ridge 6:30 PM: New Year's Eve Communion 11:00 AM: Gardens PLS Christmas Break--No School

12 PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 1001 Center Street / Hartford, WI RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No. 88 Hartford, WI Please Let us WELS stands for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod: Wisconsin because our church body is headquartered here Evangelical because we proclaim forgiveness through Christ Lutheran because we adhere to the Lutheran Confessions Synod because we fellowship with like-minded believers