December S t. M a t t h e w L u t h e r a n C h u r c h, I t h a c a O H. Worshiping God, Growing in Faith, Serving Neighbors--near and far

Transcription

1 Page December 2012 S t. M a t t h e w L u t h e r a n C h u r c h, I t h a c a O H Worshiping God, Growing in Faith, Serving Neighbors--near and far Midweek Advent Services Again this year, we invite you to join in worship, in addition to each Sunday of Advent, for a special Wednesday evening service. Advent begins December 2nd and continues December 9 th and 16 th. On December 23rd, we will celebrate the season with our annual Christmas Program. Midweek services are December 5th, 12th and 19th and will begin at 7:30. Christmas giving envelopes available Everyone has one!! A person they just don t know what gift to give them for Christmas!! We have 2 funds available of which you can give back to the church in their name. All you do is pick a fund envelope from our giving tree, place your donation inside and place it in the offering plate. We will do the rest!! If you choose, you may also pick up a postcard to send to your special person, letting them know that you donated in their name. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE If you are interested in participating in our Lesson s & Carol s Christmas Service this year, practices have been scheduled for three Saturday s in December. Please come to church at 10 a.m. on the 8th, 15th and 22nd for practice. We will also be practicing on Sunday, December 16th during Sunday School hour. We hope to see any children, youth or adults who feel called to participate at practice. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Please join us on December 23, during worship, for a youth led Christmas Service of Lessons and Carols. A brunch hosted by the LYO will follow in the basement. Please plan to stay for good food and fellowship, and to help the youth raise funds for 2013 activities! CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE Please join us for our annual Candlelight Service with Holy Communion on December 24, at 7:30 p.m. Come and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!!

2 Page 2 The Messenger December 2012 Christmas Poinsettia s What is Christmas Eve service without seeing beautiful poinsettia s placed around the altar? A sign-up sheet is available for ordering your Christmas Poinsettia s. This years choice is either red, white or marble, and the cost is $12 each. The deadline for ordering is Sunday, December 2. The idea is that you buy them, allow the church to beautify the sanctuary with them on Christmas Eve, then you are invited to take them home. Payments should be made through the offering. Just place your payment in an envelope and mark it poinsettia. Annual Meeting Thank you to everyone for your patience and thoughtful consideration of all the items discussed at our Annual Congregational Meeting last month. We are happy you stayed, asked questions, and were willing to be informed with the business of St. Matthew. As a result, a new Constitution was adopted for St. Matthew. You can view it at our website Favorite Recipe Cookbooks are available again this year. Cost is $11.75 each. If you didn t get one last year, or would like to give one as a gift this year, please consider supporting our youth with this fundraiser. If you would like a book, see Pastor Joene or Faye Harman. Advent Devotion Booklets These beloved booklets are back again this year!! Thanks to everyone who took some time out of their busy schedules to write a devotion! Copies are FREE and our gift to you!! They will be available on the back table on the first Sunday in Advent. The Lutheran Magazine It is, once again time to renew our yearly subscription to The Lutheran magazine for our regularly attending members. If you are receiving your free copy (courtesy of St. Matthew), and would like to cancel it.or if you are a new member, and would like to have your name added to the listing, please let Shannon know ( ). A yearly subscription cost is $7.95. If you would like to reimburse St. Matthew for your copy, place a check in the offering for that amount.

3 Page 3 The Messenger December 2012 Our Women s group will meet on Tuesday, December 11 at 7 p.m. in the home of Earlene Morris. (Change of day this month due to Advent Services) Our bible study is titled Shake it up, based on Acts 4:31 Please bring 12 pieces of Christmas treats to be shared by all. At the November meeting, we voted to give Wernle Youth Center $ and GRCC $ and our yearly gift of $80.00 to the local Hospice. Please join us in December for the Bible Study and a bit of Christmas fun. Prayer Quilts Prayer quilts are being made and are available 4 were given out last month!! If you would like to give a prayer quilt to someone, please contact Pastor Joene, or Suzanne Lammi. During the holidays there are people who may have lost someone special and this will be the first holiday without their loved one. Or maybe there is a special person who just needs to be thanked for being a special blessing to so many others without thought to themselves, or a prayer quilt could be that special gift to a lonely child. Please ASK before you give the gift of a prayer quilt; surprises are not appropriate. Ask if the person to receive the quilt will accept your gift of prayer. Ask what they would like you to pray for. Ask what information about their situation may be shared with others. Always remember the Prayers & Squares motto: It s not about the quilt, it s all about the prayers. The purpose of this ministry must be to promote an active prayer life among the participants, not just to make and give away quilts. We strive to involve as many people as possible in our prayer efforts. Head Start Mitten Tree Hats and mittens for the head start mitten tree are due by December 9. Please bring your donations to church and place them on the Christmas tree. Kids sizes 3-5 years are preferred! Castine Food Bank Packing The Castine food bank will be packing Christmas boxes on December 17 at 6 p.m. Please join us in helping others to have a nice meal for the Christmas holiday. If you would like to donate items for the boxes, please see the list below. Christmas needs for the Castine Food Bank: Donated items need to be at the church on or before December 16. Thank you in advance for helping to brighten someone s holiday!! chicken broth potatoes (10 lb bag/5 lb instant) jello/lite green beans corn lite fruit cocktail noodles (12/16 oz.) cookies candy Toilet paper dish soap shampoo Laundry soap toothpaste & brushes bar soap

4 Page 4 December 2012 The Messenger Altar Flower Signup Sheets for 2013 are posted and ready for your signature!! Prices for flowers have not changed!! It s still $25 for a centerpiece or $30 for a set of vases Please see the bulletin board in the back of the sanctuary (or see Mary Hofacker). Payments can be made by placing designating altar flowers in on your offering envelope. Come, All ye listeners!! The Village Singers will perform The Sounds of the Season Catch one of their performances and start your Christmas Season off with a song in your heart!! November 29 The Darke County Home 7 p.m. Christmas Caroling We will be Christmas Caroling on Sunday, December 9, meeting at the church at 2:30! (weather permitting!) Please join us for a heartwarming afternoon of singing. ALL voices are invited! December 2 Trinity United Methodist, Arcanum 2:30 p.m. (Also performing The Gotham City Brass Quintet) Church is Handicapped Accessible Refreshments will be served after this concert In case of Church cancellation due to bad weather, we will continue to use our One Call Now update system for our regularly worshipping members. If you do not receive a call, tune into the following: TV: Channel 2 or Channel 7; Radio: AM 1290, 97.5 FM News Talk Radio WHIO, K99.1 FM; OR WEB: or

5 Page 5 The Messenger December 2012 From the Pastor I may be turning into a curmudgeon. Curmudgeons are usually men, old and filled with stubborn ideas and traditions; curmudgeons are often seen as ill-tempered or crusty. I may be turning into a curmudgeon because I don t want to hear Christmas music on my radio before Thanksgiving. I may be turning into a curmudgeon because I don t think its right that retail stores will be open on Thanksgiving, to sell stuff that will still be there the day after. I may be turning into a curmudgeon, but I value the church season of Advent. Advent is the four weeks before Christmas, and Christmas season is Christmas Day and the following eleven days up to Epiphany. In spite of what you may think if you ve been out shopping, the Christmas season is not from Halloween up to Christmas Day. The season begins with the celebration of the birth of Jesus and continues for eleven days, until we celebrate the Wise Men arriving to worship the babe. I may be turning into a curmudgeon, but I don t want to celebrate HalloThanksMas. The extension of the Christmas season back to Halloween has nothing to do with recognizing the birth of Jesus and everything to do with retail profits. I know that stores need to make profits to survive, and I know that for most stores, the profit break comes the fourth quarter, with holiday sales. Yet I m not willing to let go of the primary reason for the season. I may be turning into a curmudgeon, except I do enjoy the anticipation of Christmas, and I enjoy the season of Advent. Advent is a time of preparation, preparing for God breaking into our world God with us Emmanuel. Advent is a time of preparation; carrying boxes of decorations up from the basement, baking, caroling, planning get-togethers for family and friends. Advent is a time of busyness and a time for reflection. To help keep track of this busy and reflective time, at SMLC we gift families with children and youth an Advent calendar. The calendar tells the story of the birth of Jesus, and gives a sweet treat, as it counts down to December 25 th. Advent is a time when the celebration of Christmas can naturally break through, bit by bit; at SMLC we put up a Christmas tree and decorations early, but the tree is first decorated with hats and mittens for children who are in need in Darke County. We will celebrate Advent by bringing joy to others, through caroling on December 9 th and by packing Christmas dinners at Castine Area Food Bank on December 17 th. We will celebrate Advent, preparing a bit more each day, by reading our annual devotional, filled with reflections from SMLC members and friends. At SMLC this year we will sing a hymn each Sunday in early December that is both Advent and Christmas, culminating on Sunday, December 23 rd, when we will celebrate Christmas early, with a youth led Lessons & Carols, followed by a brunch in the basement. We will return the next evening, December 24 th, for a traditional Christmas Eve service, culminating by singing Silent Night as we stand, bathed in candlelight. I invite you to join me this year not by being a curmudgeon but by celebrating both Advent and Christmas. By remembering that the season isn t really about fourth quarter profits or fitting as many parties as possible into a few weeks, it is about the miracle of God coming to earth, not with great power and might, but as a baby, very human, innocent and helpless. May you use the weeks up to Christmas to prepare to receive God With Us, in the world, in your home, in your heart. In Christ s Peace, Pastor Joene

6 Page 6 The Messenger December 2012 Please remember in your thoughts and prayers those who s needs we were made aware of last month : 3 Kim Guttadore Gary & Jane Brown 51st 5 Jane Buschur 6 Joyce Knick 7 Judy Small Linda Kinninger 8 Ron & LeeAnn Laird-48th 10 Pam Yeomans 14 Carolyn Fourman 15 Ken Bailey 18 Jim & Carol Castello-35th 19 Hailey Pahl 20 Joseph Mills 21 Beverly Zimmer Ron & Sharon Rismiller-48th 24 Dorothy Hunt Rick Harman 26 Phyllis Fisher THANKS!! Thanks to everyone who called and sent cards after the loss of my dog. Mickie Ary Thanks to everyone for the cards, prayers, s, and for the lovely prayer quilt. Phyllis Fisher Myron Brown Phyllis Fisher Ron Fasick Tom Knick Kristine Herr Linda Kinninger Mickie Ary Pam Yeomans Judy Wilson Frank Flint Heather, Devon & Hannah Eley Gloria Scheiding Dave Shoemaker Sandy Thompson Helen & Karl Garner Alice & Ralph Stutz Pastor Hilbert & Mary Piel Pastor Joene Ruth, Dan & Denise Collins Marcy Morris Bea Zimmer Sue Bayham Abbey Endicott Pastor Laura Shreffler Shane Knick Hurricane Sandy victims Aiden Myers Delores Bruner Raymond Jr & Janet Ritz Carrie Steele Penny Smith Eric Warner Daryn Wright Patty Mong Nathan McDermott Bob Riffell Pastor Chuck MacKeen & family Wendy & Eric Trozzo & sons Craig Linder Dave & Beverly Virginia Phillips Doris Curtin Bethany Weaver Clint Fitzpatrick Susie George Ester Heltzel Jean Ann Smith Keith Baker Doug Smith Mike & Kathy Allen Johnny Graham Bill Mills Winnie Netzley Suzanne Dillahunt Prayers of sympathy and healing for the families of: Bob Schaarf Dawn Cox Martha Leach Lisa Wright (Sink) Helen Brown To reach us for the prayer chain, please contact Rhonda Kress at or rhonda.j.kress@gmail.com This year, we raised $325 for the Crop Walk and $470 for the blanket appeal. Thanks to the wonderful people at St. Matthew for your donations!!

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 Communion 6-7:30 Confirmation Lector: Rhonda Kress Acolyte: Hannah Eley Bread: Anita Schneider Advent Candle Julia & Josie McCullough 9 2:30 Christmas Caroling 6-7:30 Confirmation Lector: Sherry Marten Acolyte: Joel Hoke Advent Candle Joel Hoke & Hannah Eley 16 Program Practice ( SS hour) 6-7:30 Confirmation Lector: Pam Yeomans Acolyte: Pam Yeomans 23 Christmas Program Advent Candle Karr & Anna Stump 30 Lector: Bob Brown Acolyte: Julia McCullough 3 7 pm Council meeting Newsletter entries due 6 pm CAFB Packing 24 7:30 Candlelight Service Lector: Chris Stump Acolyte: Hannah Eley Bread: Anita Schneider Advent Candle: Donna & Cory Miller pm WELCA Christmas party 7:30 Advent Service Lector: Julia McCullough Acolyte: Julia McCullough :30 Advent Service Lector: Ron Fasick Acolyte: Karr Stump 7:30 Advent Service Lector: Mickie Ary Acolyte: Mickie Ary am Clergy Meeting/W. Milton am Clergy Meeting/W. Milton December Greeters: Donna & Cory Miller 8 10 am Program Practice 10 am Program Practice 10 am Program Practice Page 7 The Messenger December 2012

8 Page 8 Church Address 6825 St. Route 722 Ithaca, OH Office Phone/Fax: skmccullough@earthlink.net Pastor Joene Herr Phone: joeneherr@yahoo.com Wheelchair accessible + Elevator on premises + Holy Communion celebrated - 1st Sunday of every month- major church festivals We re on the web!! Facebook: St. Matthew Sunday Worship services: 9 am Traditional worship 10 am Coffee Break (food & fellowship) 10:15 am Sunday School for all ages St. Matthew Lutheran Church Ithaca 7820 State Route 722 Arcanum, Ohio Dated Material