December 24, :00 am Fourth Sunday ofadvent Service 7:00 pm Family Communion Service 10:30 pm Candlelight Festival Communion Service

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1 First Lutheran Church First Hand December 2017 First Lutheran Church 208 West Sandusky Avenue Bellefontaine, Ohio Fax: Website: Pastor Larry Novak Parish Secretary, Lisa Nevers- Director of Music, Judy Vassar- Bell Choir Director, Larry Walker- Inside this issue: From the Pastor s Desk 2-3 Advent Services 4 Holiday Events 6 December 24, :00 am Fourth Sunday ofadvent Service 7:00 pm Family Communion Service 10:30 pm Candlelight Festival Communion Service Christmas Breakfast 7 Dates to Remember 10 The Women s Corner 12 Parish Record 14 Thank You s 15 December B-days/Anniversaries 16 Serving In Worship 17 December Calendar 19 TableTenTalk 20 December 31, :00 am Lessons & Carols Service/Youth Sunday Upcoming December Events: 1

2 FROM THE PASTOR S DESK Every December, a family tradition of ours has been to pull out and dust off DVD s of many of those great Christmas movies, and we try to watch each one at least once during December. We ve got Miracle on 34 th Street, Elf, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Santa Clause, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It s a Wonderful Life, and many others. One of our favorites is A Muppet Christmas Carol, with Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge, and Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchet. Hands down, this is the best version of A Christmas Carol ever made, in my humble opinion! A Christmas Carol is perhaps the second most well-known Christmas Story in the world, second only to the one Christmas Story that is not a work of fiction: the Nativity story. And it occurred to me that this remarkable story; a story of a man transformed after a visit from the ghost of his dead partner and three spirits, can help us understand the most confusing book of the Bible-the Book of Revelation. Like Revelation, A Christmas Carol is a work of apocalyptic literature. Scrooge is taken on a journey through space and time. He visits his past, the present, and his future. He sees that if he stays on his current path, the future is indeed bleak. He will die alone; unloved and un-mourned. The material possessions he worshipped his entire life would be quickly divided among strangers who did not care for him and were not even grateful to receive them. His only nephew would mock his stinginess, and his only faithful employee would be too enmeshed in his own grief over the death of his young son to pay Scrooge any tribute. But Scrooge asks the Ghost of Christmas Future a very important question: Are these things you are showing me destined to happen, or can they be changed? Why would you show me these things if I am beyond all hope? By choosing a different path, Scrooge can change his future and the future of those around him, most especially the future of Bob Cratchet s young son. Scrooge can choose love over hate; generosity over greed; life over death. Revelation, with its seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls, all of which bring death and destruction, gives us a similar choice. Which path will we follow? Will the world seek power and glory through money and possessions and governments and military might? To follow this path leads to death and despair-to the release of the four horsemen of the apocalypse: 2

3 Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death. But the world does not have to end in destruction. We can choose a different path. We are not beyond all hope. We can choose God s way. We can choose to follow Christ: to build a world where the most cherished possessions are love, righteousness, justice, and peace. In Revelation, Christ only wields one weapon, a sword. And this sword comes out of his mouth. In other words, the Word of God is our weapon. Of course, this does not mean that we will never suffer misfortune. But it does mean that God will not abandon us during our ordeals. Choosing this path means that Death and Hell and the Devil will be destroyed forever. Hear the Good News of the Gospel. God has broken into our world. Let us celebrate the gift of life and peace, who came to us as a humble baby in a lowly manger. Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace among those whom he favors. And as Bob Cratchet s son, Tiny Tim, would say: God bless us, everyone! In the abiding hope of the empty tomb, Pastor Larry 3

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5 Sunday School Christmas Program December 17 th 10:00 am 5

6 December Sunday School Schedule December 3 & 10: 9am classes for all ages December 17: no classes. Christmas program Breakfast begins at 9am in Rice Hall December 24: no classes December 31: no classes All classes resume on January 7, 2018 Holiday Fundraiser for the Youth The senior high youth traveling to the National Youth Gathering in 2018 are doing fundraisers to help off-set the cost of this trip. During the upcoming holiday season, they will be offering to babysit your child or children while you go shopping, wrap presents or do some holiday baking. A donation to the Youth Fund, for this time, would be greatly appreciated. On Saturday, December 9 th from 10 am 6 pm bring your children to the church for a fun filled day of movies and games. Snacks and drinks will be provided. We will entertain your children while you finish up any last- minute holiday errands. Pastor Larry, Tori Geib and Ben Zoldak will provide the adult supervision. Please contact the church office if you have any questions. Let s Go Caroling! Join us to ring in the spirit of Christmas for some of our shut-ins! December 10 th - 12:00 pm lunch in Rice Hall (sloppy joe sandwiches, chips & cookie) -1 pm carol at Green Hills. We encourage you to stay for the 2:30 pm worship service that we will be hosting. December 17 th 12 pm carol at Logan Acres. We will host a fellowship time at the Homestead following the caroling. Please sign-up in the lower narthex if you plan to stay for lunch on Dec. 10 th and if you can be a driver to either care facility or both. 6

7 On Sunday, December 17th join us at 9:00 am in Rice Hall for breakfast. On the menu: egg casserole, fruit, pastries, milk, orange juice and coffee. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a wonderful breakfast and fellowship time with your FLC family. ** If you would like to help with the preparations for the breakfast come on Saturday, December 16th at 10:00 am. Sign-up on the sheet in the lower narthex. It s time to order poinsettias that will decorate our sanctuary during the Christmas holiday. We order these lovely plants from Wren s Greenhouse here in Bellefontaine. We are asking for donations of fruit, pastry items, milk and orange juice for our upcoming Christmas Breakfast. If you can donate items, please indicate this on the sign-up sheets located in the lower narthex. The cost for each poinsettia is $ Proceeds from the sale of these goes to the 175th Anniversary Appeal. Envelopes are located in the upper narthex. The deadline for orders will be Monday, December 4th. Would you like to have your very own Lutheran Reformation 500th Anniversary ornament? The church office will be taking orders from anyone that would like to purchase these ornaments. They are $9.99 each. Place your order by th Monday, December 11. With the estimated shipping time, they should arrive the week before Christmas, so if you want to order them as a gift, you should receive them in time. 7

8 Report of Director of Music Upcoming Dates: December 17 th - Youth Christmas Program 10:00 AM December 24 th services- 10:00 AM 4 th Sunday of Advent 7:00 PM Communion and Candlelight. Preludes begin at 6:45 PM 10:30 PM Festival Candlelight Communion. Preludes begin at 10:15 PM Looking ahead. Joint Epiphany Service at First Lutheran Church- January 7, 2018 at 3:00 PM Submitted by, Judy Vassar 8

9 Message from the Learning Ministry Team Noah s Ark Have you noticed Noah s Ark has come ashore in the lower narthex? We are asking for your help once again to fill our ark with new and gently loved stuffed animals that will be distributed with the LCS Toy Baskets at Christmas time. Last year we were able to fill MANY bags with animals. Christmas morning for many local children was made a little more special from your generous donations. Let s see how full you can make the ark this year! The Monday afternoon Bible Study will continue at 1:30 pm on December 4th and 11th before the group takes a break for the Christmas holiday. There will be no Wednesday evening Bible Study in December due to the Advent Services at 7 pm. We encourage you to join us at these special Advent services. In 2018 the Monday afternoon bible study will continue at 1:30 pm in the church lounge. what s happening through Christian Action Blood Pressure Screening Out to Lunch Bunch- December 3, 2017 There will be no December Out to Lunch Bunch. Do you want to know what your blood pressure is? Would you like to keep a check on it? Then stop by the library on December 3rd at 9:45 am to have it checked. The January OTLB will be going to Kiyomi Restaurant in Bellefontaine on Saturday, January 20th at 5:30 pm. All are welcome to come and be part of the fellowship. Contact Judy Vassar or the church office if you are interested or for more information. Come join us to form a prayer circle to bring all our concerns to God in prayer for our congregation, families, friends, community, and nation. 9

10 Please have any information for the January 2018 newsletter turned into the church office by December 11th. The church office will close at noon on Friday, December 22nd and then remain closed during the next holiday week: December 25th December 29th. Pastor Larry will be away enjoying time with family during this week. If anyone has an emergency where they need pastoral assistance, please contact Brenda Shively at December 31st will be a Lessons & Carols Service and Youth Sunday. Special lessons for the day will be read along with the addition of some of your favorite Christmas hymns. Worship begins at 10:00 am. You are invited to join the 2:30 pm worship service at Green Hills Foundation Hall on Sunday, December 10th. This service will be led by members of First Lutheran Church. *due to the holiday we will not collect Noisy $$ this day. **no Sunday school classes this day 10

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12 Faith Circle Mission Projects for December are numerous! The Mitten Tree is up in the upper narthex until Sunday, December 17 th. Decorate the tree with mittens, hats, scarves & socks for children. These will be distributed in the ODB Christmas baskets to needy families. Sunshine bags for FLC members of concern will be filled at our next meeting, December 19 th. Also, LCS food pantry can always use donations of nonperishable food items and Our Daily Bread always appreciates donations of gallons of milk. The Mitten Tree is now up! Look for it in the upper narthex. The women of WELCA have sponsored this project for over 30 years. We ask the congregation to help decorate the tree with new hats, scarves, gloves, mitten and warm socks, which are distributed with the ODB Christmas baskets. The tree will be disassembled after worship on Sunday, December 17 th and the items will be taken to LCS. Please consider adding some decorations. The need is great! Thank you for your kindness. Sunshine Bags and Christmas Card Shower Help deliver Sunshine Bags! We need help getting all the bags delivered the week of December 18 th. If you would be willing to deliver one or several, and perhaps spend a little time visiting with the recipient, that would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. There will be a willing to deliver list for volunteers to sign-up on. Look for it in the upper narthex. Thank you in advance. Please do not take any bags for delivery until AFTER Tuesday, December 19 th or the bag will not have all its parts yet. 12

13 Ministry Team December Meetings- 12/4 7:00 pm Council 12/11 7:00 pm Christian Action Ministry Team Highlights Christian Action Ministry Team Trick or Treat 2017 Church Council Finance Ministry Team 2018 Budget Learning Ministry Team Sunday school classes Christmas program Cheri Comstock, Dick Griffith, Gail Keck, Adam Smith, Corey Van Hoose, Susan Wyckoff, Julie Zoldak Property Ministry Team Portico Roof Building & Maintenance Issues Worship Ministry Team All offerings to be credited to 2017 need to be received in the church office by December 31 st. It is necessary for our record keeping to close our books in 2017 before we can begin posting offerings in All offerings received after January 1, 2018 will be credited in Thank you to everyone that donated items to this worthwhile project that has brought so many smiles to young children throughout the world. Your generosity is greatly appreciated! ~ Christian Action Ministry Team Members Advent Services Christmas Eve Services Copies of reports from the monthly meetings of each ministry team is available for you to view in the Partners In Ministry Book located in the lower narthex. Food on the First As part of our celebration of the Holy Supper of our Lord, we are asking you to remember those around us who need to be fed. You can help keep the LCS pantry stocked by bringing basic food items on the first Sunday of each month. What is needed is canned items: especially fruits, vegetables, meats, and soups: and basic non-perishable items: cereal, flour, sugar and juices. There is a basket in the upper narthex to receive your donations. Let s remember Food on the First as part of our monthly celebration of Holy Communion. We will not be serving Our Daily Bread in December due to the distribution of the Christmas Baskets. The next serving date is January 15,

14 Sunday Attendance for November 2017 November 5-96 November November November Average:

15 Thank you for your donation to purchase bibles for our classroom. It is always a financial challenge to provide a quality program to all the 3 rd and 4 th graders in Logan County, many of whom have no other religious exposure. We cannot thank you enough for these gifts. We are so blest to have such a great community support. May God bless you for helping us. ~ Betty Kauffman, Weekday Religious Ed. Thank you for your gifts of $580 and $1,699 to Lutheran Disaster Response. With this gift you are providing emotional and spiritual care, supplying emergency relief, and addressing long term recovery. With your gifts you are making possible the support of unmet needs, the coordinating of volunteers in the United States through our local affiliates, and the promoting of disaster risk-reduction internationally, expanding knowledge and ability. Thank you for this gift and all your faithful generous gifts. Thank you for encouraging others to learn, act, pray and give with you. Thank you for living into God s words of justice and mercy and for joining with the whole church to love and serve one another. In God s grace, ~The Rev. Daniel Rift Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers following my fall at the church, which resulted in a broken hip. Pastor Larry and Margie Bixler stayed with me at the emergency room until my family arrived. I appreciate that very much! The altar flowers I received while at Logan Acres doing my rehab were beautiful and brightened my room. I especially enjoyed all the visits from my church family and friends as well as the delicious cookies and other goodies. You are all wonderful and I am blessed to be a part of such a caring church family. Miss you all, but doing well at home. I hope to be back at church soon. God bless you all! ~Connie Regula Thank you to everyone that came to my surprise birthday party. I had a wonderful time, up to when I fainted and had to go to the hospital to get checked out. I am doing better now and appreciate all the well wishes I have received. This is certainly one birthday I will never forget. Thank you to everyone that brought food to share. ~Mary Beth Stoltz Thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers following my mom s death. All your cards and messages of support were greatly appreciated. ~Rhonda Bingaman 175th Anniversary Appeal Giving Numbers Total Pledges- $335, Giving summary as of November 12, 2017: Congregation Giving- $325, New Life Charitable Foundation- 100, Noisy $$$- 5, TOTAL GIVING TO DATE: $430,

16 December birthdays 12/02 12/04 12/06 12/08 12/08 12/09 12/09 12/11 12/13 12/15 12/15 12/15 12/16 12/18 12/18 12/18 12/22 12/25 12/25 12/26 12/27 12/29 Rick Ramsey Mary Beth Stoltz Cheri Cooper Heath Allen Chloe Borgerding Colby Borgerding Jan Van Hoose Beth Marshall Cheryl Chamberlain Hilary Horn Connor Rose Nick Young Brandon Gamble Derek Bingaman Daniel Weikart Robby Weikart Pat Sebring Lauren Dixon Alex Pulfer Diane Anderson Cheryl Kramer Kris Swisher 12/22/1973 Dave & Peggy Ackerman 12/20/2003 John & Colleen Bodin 12/18/1955 Dan & Betty Fultz 12/18/1971 Don & Connie Johnson 12/10/1994 Brad & Stacie Jones 12/12/2012 Jim & Willie McClain 12/04/1968 Max & Mary Pummell 12/20/2008 Brian & Tiffanee Wagner Bellefontaine Downtown Christmas Parade and Events 80th Birthday Party for Jan Van Hoose! You are invited to join the Van Hoose Family in celebrating Jan s 80th birthday on Sunday, December 3rd from 2 pm 4 pm at the Church of Christ-Hall, 1669 Co. Rd. 11, Bellefontaine. Join us on Friday evening, December 1st for the Downtown Christmas Parade. First Lutheran will have a table and handout items. There will be a parade featuring Santa, food vendors, booths and stores with holiday specials. It will be fun for the whole family. The festivities begin at 6 pm. Please no gifts. You may shower Jan with cards by mailing them to her home, 244 Greentree Lane, Bellefontaine. We hope you can join us! 16

17 Ushers Serving in Our Worship DECEMBER 2017 Readers 10:00 am service -Wednesday Advent Services Walt Stephan, Don Voorhies Robyn & Kevin Miller 12/24 7 pm Kevin & Robyn Miller, Chris McKenrick 12/24 10:30 pm Don Voorhies, Walt Stephan, Dave Dishop, Ray Kramer Acolytes 12/3 Lucas McKenrick 12/10 Shelby Starkey 12/17 Olivia Reasor 12/24 10:00 am Lauren Dixon 12/24 7:00 pm Emma Swisher 12/24 10:30 pm Brett Belser 12/31 Connor Rose Crucifers 12/3 Emma Heath 12/10 Madison Jones 12/17 Megan Keckler 12/24 10:00 am Garrett Dixon 12/24 7:00 pm Emma Heath 12/24 10:30 pm Tommy Belser 12/31 Ryan Carman Communion Helpers 12/3 Madison & Marley Shields 12/10 Brayten Swisher & Noah Smith 12/24 7:00 pm Madison & Marley Shields 12/24 10:30 pm Kyndal & Karsyn Newkirk Altar Guild Cindy & Tom Weikart 12/3 Dan Shively 12/6 Julie Zoldak, Kris Swisher 12/10 John Bodin 12/13 Dave Vassar, Pastor Larry 12/20 Susan Wyckoff, Chris Tillman 12/24 10:00 am Jean Wright 12/24 7:00 pm Colleen Bodin 12/24 10:30 pm Brenda Shively 12/31 Madison Jones, Winnie Bodin, Connor Rose Communion Assistants 12/3 Jim & Janet Donnelly 12/10 Tina Keckler & Jinny Fergus 12/24 7:00 pm Colleen Bodin & Dave Comstock 12/24 10:30 pm Carl & Rachel Gillespie Greeters 12/3 Gary & Susie Shields 12/10 Sue Campbell 12/17 Tina Keckler & Jinny Fergus 12/24 10:00 am Margie Anderson 12/24 7:00 pm Josh & Abbey Shields & girls 12/24 10:30 pm John & April Fultz 12/31 Youth Sunday Worship Assistants 12/3 Brenda Shively 12/10 Dave Vassar 12/17 Sunday School Christmas Program 12/24 10:00 am Beth Harman 12/24 7:00 pm Cindy Weikart 12/24 10:30 pm Dave Vassar 12/31 Tyler Jones 17

18 J 12 th WELCA Winter Dinner Saturday, February 10, 2018 January 7, pm More details to following in the January newsletter 18

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20 TableTenTalk ~ 20