Christmas Eve Worship December 24, 2017 Candlelight & Communion 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

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1 THE TRINITY LUTHERAN December, Please join us for Midweek Advent Services A contemplative time of prayer and prophetic Bible readings November 29 December 6 December 13 December 20 Services begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary Christmas Eve Worship December 24, 2017 Candlelight & Communion 7:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.

2 ADVENT SERVICES will be offered on Wednesdays beginning on Wednesday, November 29 th at 7 p.m. through Wednesday, December 20. This is a time of peace and quiet with Scripture, prayer, and time for reflection. GET READY TO RING THE BELLS! Trinity will once again help with ringing the bells for Salvation Army on Friday, December 22, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Please check the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Narthex. REMEMBER WHEN will have their annual Christmas party on Wednesday, December 6. We ll be having our traditional Christmas lunch at noon with everything furnished. Please sign the green sheet or the sign-up sheet in the Narthex or call Ed & Darlene at BIBLE STUDY GROUP INFORMATION Attention: anyone / everyone interested in restarting Bible study at Trinity: There will be a short meeting immediately following worship Sunday, December 3, in the parlor. We will discuss different ways to organize Bible study and also possible times. Everyone will be welcome young, old, male, female, Trinity member, non-member. Please indicate interest using the green sheet. See Larry or Beth Saler if you have questions. POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE will be order on Dec. 11 th The cost is $10 each. Please sign up on the green sheet and indicate how many you are ordering and if it is in honor or memory of a loved one GREENING OF CHRISTMAS! Join us on Friday, December 1 st at 7:00 p.m. to begin decorating the church for Christmas. We will decorate, eat Pizza, and sing a few Carols. It s the season! A CHRISTMAS PROGRAM presented by our youth will be held during the worship service on Sunday, December 10. Practices will be today, Nov. 26, and next Sunday, Dec. 3 at 4 PM. Following the worship service we will have our Christmas brunch with chicken and waffles plus much more. Please plan to attend and invite your friends and neighbors to join us for some traditional Christmas fellowship. TRINITY COUNCIL is looking for people interested in being on the Audit Committee, Church Council and Synod delegates, for the coming year. Please speak to a council member if you are interesting in serving your church in one of these positions. CTF SHARING CHRISTMAS envelopes are available in the narthex now and through Sunday, December 10 for anyone who wishes to make a monetary contribution to Olney's CILA home for adults with developmental disabilities. All contributions - large and small - are welcome and will help the CILA staff provide a joyous Christmas for their residents. Cash or checks (made out to CTF Illinois) may be placed in an envelope and turned in with the weekly offering. Or anyone who wishes to may write the check to Trinity Lutheran Church and clearly mark the offering envelope as CTF Sharing Christmas. Any questions can be directed to Shirley Kessler or Beth Saler. Thank you! ADOPT-A-FAMILY: Trinity has adopted a family of eight this year for Christmas. Please check out the tags on the tree in the Narthex which indicates the family s needs & wants. After selecting a tag from the tree, please write your name on the line with the corresponding number on the tag. If you have questions, please contact Barb Stiff, Cindy Vaughn, or Jean Weber. Thanks for your generosity!!

3 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Bruce Peters, Interim President Carol Diel, Council Secretary David Britton Kevin Scherer Becky Holstrum Randi Cowan Bob Guinn Barb Stiff Victoria Goad Youth Representative ~ Carolyn Powell Mike Kurtz ~ Church Treasurer October Council Minutes *Council members present: Bruce Peters, Barb Stiff, Carol Diel, Victoria Goad, Becky Holstrum, David Britton, Bob Guinn, and Carolyn Powell. Absent was Kevin Scherer. Larry & Beth Saler also attended. *Beth Saler attended the meeting requesting approval to pursue starting a Bible Study *Mike Kurtz reported he withdrew $10,000 from municipal funds as a loan to General Fund *Council liaisons are working on committee budgets for 2018 *The hearing devices have been checked out and are ready to use *The Worship Committee is planning midweek Advent services. Christmas Eve services will be at 7:00 and 11:00 p.m. *Larry Saler volunteered to represent Trinity at the Good Samaritan Board meetings until a new pastor is in place *The monthly Discretionary Fund to assist those in need will be donated to the Good Samaritan through the end of the year *The youth will be making pumpkin pies for the community Thanksgiving dinners STAFF: (Pulpit Supply) ~ Rev. Dr. James Mutayoba Pianist ~ Keegan Tucker Choir Director ~ Andrew Flynn Sunday School Coordinator ~ Altar Guild ~ Carol Diel Church Secretary ~ Rhoda Slichenmyer Financial Secretaries ~ Bob Crum, Bob Guinn, Mike Kurtz Custodians ~ Adam/Hilary Donaldson WEEKDAY CHILDREN S MINISTRY: Board Members Vicki Fehrenbacher, President Bob Crum, Treasurer Sandy Britton Mike Kurtz Beth Saler TRINITY PRESCHOOL Director ~ Kristie Nosek Teacher ~ Tanara Ryden Teacher ~ Kelly Sager Teacher ~ Haley Cunningham COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: Bereavement ~ Convalescing Meals ~ Becky Holsturm Funeral Luncheons ~ Learning ~ Deanna Gillis Memorials & Special Gifts ~ Sarah Kincaid Property ~ Service ~ Randi Cowan Stewardship ~Becky Holstrum Witness ~ Karyn St. Pierre Worship ~ Barb Stiff Finance ~ Bruce Peters, Bob Guinn GROUPS: Remember When ~ Ed & Darlene Fritschle *The voting call committee is Alex Hansen, David Britton, Bruce Peters, Randi Cowan,, and Brenda Dehlinger.

4 Com. Assistant: Children s Sermon December 3 Gary & Randi Cowan Eric & Babbs Pitts Hannah Gillis Barb Stiff, Randi Cowan Cowan & Pitts family Bob Guinn Barb Stiff December 31 Jonah Donaldson Com. Assistant: Barb Stiff, Larry Saler Mike & Barb Stiff Com. Assistants: Com. Assistant: Greeter: Sound December 10 The Britton Family Carolyn Powell Kevin Scherer, Mike Kurtz Larry Saler Britton family December 17 Alex Hansen & Victoria Goad Rylee Stuck Becky Holstrum, Jay St. Pierre Alex Hansen & Victoria Goad Steve Berry December 24 The Diel Family Jakob St. Pierre Com. Assistant: Barb Stiff, Larry Saler Carol Diel Diel Family Children s Sermon: Christmas Eve Services Lector 7:00 TBD 11:00 TBD Acolyte 7:00 Owen Powell 11:00 Logan Mehl Com. Assistant: 11:00 TBD Greeters 7:00 TBD 11:00 TBD Sound 7:00 Bob Guinn 11:00 Steve Berry Birthdays in December 1 Sharon Kurtz 1 Larry Saler 2 Sidney Sue Mehl 3 Sirena Shan 3 Cathy Zellmer 6 Lain Burgener 7 Shari Russell 7 Margaret Strole 8 Hilary Donaldson 9 Alayna Rodgers 9 Jim Holstrum 13 Loran Budde 13 Chris Russell 14 Don Strole 16 Ed Fritschle 16 Brad Stuck 20 Chris Cantrell 20 Ray Zerkel 20 Kylie Holdren 21 Michelle Higgason 23 Jonah Donaldson 24 Don Hatten 24 Milana Karyn Lea 25 Bob McClenathan 28 Natalie Britton 28 Randi Cowan 29 Rob Scherer Anniversaries in December 18 Jim & Becky Holstrum 21 Joy & Rosemary West 27 Jerry & Linda Miller 30 Mike & Crystal Trout

5 SPECIAL CARE MEMBERS (as of 11/01/2017) Lorraine Arthur ARCH # A14, 410 Mack Ave Bernadene Brinkley Burgin Manor, 900 East Scott, Room #160, Olney Jeannie Cantwell Lavender Ridge, East Street,Room #19 Loren Gerber Brookstone #23, Don Harriss Brookstone #37, Robert Kessler RMH, 3rd floor, Room #306 Dorothy Lustfeldt 3 rd floor RMH #331, Elaine Pierzchalski Life s Journey, 705 Kenton St., Paris, IL, AT HOME MEMBERS: Connie Ashby 1026 East Cherry Street, Olney, Bill & Anna Mae Barber 3156 N. Hickory Hills Rd., Olney, Wilma Beck 6308 East Seven Hills Lane, Olney, Bob Berry 325 N. Indiana Street, Olney, Luella Densmore No address or phone number Roberta Holstrum 320 West St. John Street, Olney, Helen Meers 6943 N. Ste. Marie Rd., Dundas, Jean Miller 518 N. Boone Street, Olney, Mary Lou Sager 5322 N. Wood River Road, Claremont, Don & Margaret Strole 1000 E. Laurel Street, Olney, Elfrieda Zerkel 1311 Hall Street, Olney, COME JOIN US FOR WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY! Dear Fellow Member of Trinity: We will collect money for a congregational Christmas gift to be given to Pastor James. If you wish to contribute to this gift, please indicate your gift offering on your giving envelope or use a pew envelope and place your contribution designated for Pastor James in the offering plate any Sunday from now through Sunday, December 17 th. You may also give your marked envelope to the church secretary. If you have any questions about this, please contact Bruce Peters, President of Council or Randi Cowan, Vice President. Please accept our warmest wishes to you in this holy season.

6 The 2017 Church Council Proposed Constitution Changes Changes to be voted on as per Section C16.03 of the Constitution of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at the January, 2018 annual congregation meeting. Proposed Constitution Change: C11.01 The officers of this congregation shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. a. Duties of the officers shall be specified in the bylaws. b. The officers shall be voting members of the congregation. c. Officers of this congregation shall serve similar offices of the Congregation Council The pastor will be a member and the spiritual leader of the congreation and the Congregation Council but may not be an office holder. The Congregational Council shall elect the officers of the congregation who shall serve for one year or until their successors are elected at its February meeting. Their terms shall begin at the February meeting and end the following February meeting of the Congregation Council. Proposed Bylaw Additions: Section IV Church Employees Item 1: All paid positions of the Church and its affiliates may be held by members of the Church with the exception of the Church Secretary s position. Due to the sensitivity of this position the Church Secretary is required to be a non-member of the Church. Item 2: A member or non-member may only hold one paid position within the Church and its affiliates at any give time. IUMC OUTREACH IMMANUEL UNITED METHODIST OUTREACH MISSION NEEDS HELP Once again this year, Immanuel is preparing and delivering Christmas meals in the community and would appreciate some help to accomplish this mission of service and care. They need people to help with the preparation of food, baking pies and cakes, kitchen clean up, monetary donations and delivery. Volunteers to help clean up are always needed! Due to Christmas Eve falling on Sunday, we will deliver meals on Saturday the 23 rd. Volunteers needed beginning Thursday December 21 through Saturday December 23. Duties are similar and preparation schedules will be announced at a later date. Please contact Judy Schnepper at or IUMC office at for any questions or to request a meal. The IUMC office hours are 9:00 3:00 Monday Thursday. Please information regarding pie or cake donations, or willing volunteers to jschnpr@yahoo.com. Thank you.

7 The Advent Wreath Tradition & Meaning In the Bible, Christ is referred to as the Light of the World in contrast to the darkness of sin. Long ages of human history passed before the prophesied Savior came to fulfill God s promise to make all things new. Advent is sometimes referred to as a little Lent. It is a season of the church year during which we are reminded that we continue to wait in an imperfect world (in darkness ) in hopeful expectation of Christ s promised return (bringing with Him God s perfected world). His kingdom is both a present and future reality. He IS king and He WILL ALWAYS BE king. As Christians we hold a dual citizenship. We live in the kingdom of this world, but are also citizens of the kingdom of the coming world. That is what ADVENT is about. THE WREATH: The Advent Wreath may be composed of several natural materials that each carry their own traditional Christian symbolism. The use of evergreens reminds us of our eternal life with Christ; pointy holly leaves represent the crown of thorns from Jesus Passion; holly berries symbolize his Precious Blood; and pine cones symbolize Christ s Resurrection. THE SHAPE: The Advent wreath is CIRCULAR, that is, without beginning or ending. This shape symbolizes God s complete and unending love for us a love that sent his Son into the world to redeem us from the curse of sin. It also represents eternal life which becomes ours through faith in Jesus Christ. THE CANDLES: The Advent candles symbolize the contrast between DARKNESS AND LIGHT. Each Sunday another candle is lit. Each candle brightens the darkness a little more as we remember the great drama of salvation history that surrounds the birth of God Incarnate. THE NUMBER FOUR: The Advent Wreath traditionally holds four candles which are lighted, one at a time, on each of the four Sundays of the Advent season. Each candle (and/or week) represents 1,000 years. Added together, the fours symbolize the 4,000 years that humanity waited for the world s Savior (from Adam and Eve to Jesus) whose birth was foretold in the Old Testament. Some Advent wreath traditions also include a fifth white Christ candle, symbolizing purity that may be lighted on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. COLOR: Violet is used to signify a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. It is also the color of royalty. It was traditionally used during Advent and Lent. More recently, blue has been used to differentiate Advent from Lent. The color blue symbolizes the night sky and the waters of baptism. THE WEEKS OF ADVENT The events on the church calendar are meant to commemorate God s acts of redemption through Jesus Christ. In Advent, the beginning of the church year, we are reminded, first, that God s faithful people waited eagerly for the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. And, secondly, we now await the fulfillment of the New Testament prophesies of His return found in Revelations. LIGHTING THE ADVENT CANDLES: During the first two weeks of Advent violet (or blue) candles are lighted as we look to the past. In the second two weeks of Advent, it is traditional to light first a rose (pink) candle on the third Sunday because the emphasis shifts from the past to the future and finally a third violet (or blue) candle is lighted on the fourth Sunday.