St. Luke s Lutheran Church Newsletter for the Second Weekend of Advent, December 3 & 4, 2016.

Transcription

1 St. Luke s Lutheran Church Newsletter for the Second Weekend of Advent, December 3 & 4, Welcome to Worship! Members and Visitors Please complete the worship attendance cards in the pews and place them in the offering plates. If you are visiting with us, we welcome you! We hope to meet you at Fellowship time (Sunday, 9-9:25 am). Lesson for This Weekend: Matthew 3:1-12 Regular Worship Services Saturdays, 5:30 PM Sundays, 8:00 & 10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study Sunday 9:30 AM St. Luke s Vision Powered by the Holy Spirit we: Trust God! Live an Extreme Faith! Are Bold in God s Word! Bring People Home to Christ! Fully Commit to the Body of Christ! Pray and Worship with Enthusiasm! Expect Results! This Week at St. Luke s Sunday, December 4 8:00-Traditional Worship (Sanctuary) 10:45-Contemporary Worship (Sanctuary) 5:00-Montgomery Tree Lighting 6:00-Christmas Party (FLC) Monday, December 5 6:30-Cub Scouts (FLC & Kitchen) 6:30-Boy Scouts (Small Gym) 6:30-Girl Scouts (Classrooms) 6:30-Girl Scout Silver Award Training (Multi-purpose room) 6:30-Stewardship Ministry Meeting (Rev. Bussert s office) 7:00-Mentoring Group III (Library) Tuesday, December 6 1:00-Senior Bible Study (Library) 6:30-Girl Scout Gold Award Training (Multi-purpose room) 7:00-Choir (Balcony) 8:00-Men s Basketball (FLC) Wednesday, December 7 2:00-Early Dismissal / Teacher Meetings (Classroom) 5:00-Advent Supper (FLC) 6:30-Advent Worship (Sanctuary) Thursday, December 8 7:00-School Board Meeting (TBD) 7:00-Leadership Meeting (Library) Friday, December 9 Saturday, December 10 7:30-Mentoring Group (Library) 8:00-Praise Team (Sanctuary) 10:00-GO Team Meeting (Panera) 5:30-Worship Service (Sanctuary) 6:00-PADS (FLC, Kitchen & Small Gym) Upcoming Special Services and Celebrations Sunday, December 4 at 6:00 pm St. Luke s Annual Christmas Dinner & Party Wednesday, December 7 Advent Supper at 5:00 pm The School is hosting and will be serving a spaghetti supper. Worship Service at 6:30 pm Wednesday, December 14, & December 21 Advent Supper at 5:00 pm Worship Service at 6:30 pm Friday, December 16 at 6:30 pm, Family Life Center Children s Christmas Play Saturday, December 17 Worship Christmas Cantata, The Winter Rose at 5:30 pm Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 Family Worship Service at 6:00 pm Candlelight Worship Service at 11:00 pm Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25 Worship Service at 10:00 am New Year s Eve, Saturday, December 31 Worship Service at 6:00 pm New Year s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2017 Worship Service at 10:00 am 1

2 NO Sunday School & Adult Bible Study for the remainder of Classes will resume on January 8, Pausing The Story for Advent! Advent is a time for preparing for the coming of Jesus. We look forward to His coming by preparing our hearts and our homes. We are looking forward to this Advent season, as we will be anticipating the coming of Christ in some new and exciting ways during our worship services. We began our Advent study on November 26-27, pausing The Story study and the 9:30 education hour until after the new year. We will resume The Story, along with our adult education, Sunday school, and small group Story studies on the weekend of January 7-8, Dear Sunday School Parents, November 20, 2016 was the last regularly scheduled Sunday school class until January 8, We are taking an Advent pause from The Story. Please join us with your family during one of our regularly scheduled worship services to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus in some new and exciting ways. We will resume our study of The Story on January 8 with Chapter 13. We have been asked to join the day school choir on Friday, December 16 at 6:30 pm for the Christmas program. In order to best prepare our Sunday school students to sing, I have scheduled the following practice times: Sundays, December 4 and 11 at 9:30 am. If you have not yet done so, please respond to my so that I know which children will be participating. If we have Sunday school students who would like to sing, then I will make sure we have music copies available both here at church and for you to take home to practice Blessings, Stephanie Murray, DCE Holiday Meal Project The Human Care Committee is collecting to provide Christmas meals to our families in need. To make your donation, use the envelopes available at the Information Desk, and place in the offering plate or turn in to the church office. The deadline for donations will be December 18. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Freeman. Please join the children from St. Luke s Sunday School & Day School as they unite to bring you A Tree Lot Christmas on Friday, December 16 at 6:30 pm in the Family Life Center. Everyone is welcome! We are in need of help setting up the stage in the Family Life Center for our Christmas play. We will be setting up on Sunday, December 11 after the 10:45 service. Any questions, please contact Tami McGraw. Thank you! Christmas Cantata Presented by St. Luke s Music Ministry December 17, 5:30 pm The Winter Rose incorporates both traditional carols and newly composed anthems that visit the timeless Christmas story with fresh insight. Through use of music, narration and simple symbolism, the cantata presents the life of Christ from prophecy to passion. All are welcome! This is a community event. 2

3 St. Luke s Interactive Christmas Dinner Party Sunday, December 4, 6:00 pm Last year was a blast with the Not So New Newlywed Game. This year it will be St. Luke s Family Feud Christmas Edition, hosted by Steve Harvey aka Steve Steinwart! If you are into food, fun and fellowship, this is for you. Even if you re not, come join us anyway. We promise a good laugh and a full belly. We are currently in the process of forming our 2 families. If you see Mary coming for you, don t run away! Participate and have a blast! Even the school kids are getting involved by providing us with some fun commercial breaks! Please bring a side dish or dessert, and don t forget to sign up in the binder at the Information Desk in the Narthex. Bring your friends and family! Questions? - Please contact Mary Ruch at or jellybean30@.comcast.net. Help for Fellowship! Please consider joining Mary Ruch s team by becoming a Fellowship Team servant and help with St. Luke s special events such as the Christmas Party! Parties require planning and work! Help can be provided prior to the party in planning, shopping, set-up, etc, as well as the day of the party to help with coordinating, set-up, serving and clean up! Please contact Mary Ruch to volunteer! What a blessing it is to share this! Someone who has recognized the financial challenges that our congregation is facing and wishes to express thankfulness for a year full of extraordinary blessings, has given us a challenge for the end of this year. If we raise $50,000 by the end of December, they will match it dollar for dollar. That's a potential total of $100,000 to retire our current debt to CPS, catch up on our mortgage, and get current with our other vendors. Please prayerfully consider what you can do to help in this effort. All gifts are welcome. Please make your check payable to St. Luke's and write Matching Debt Reduction Fund (MDRF) in the memo or place the check in an envelope and write MDRF on it. St. Luke's is so blessed to have this opportunity. Please take the time to be a part of it. Steve Steinwart, Treasurer UPDATE: As of November 27, we have received $2, for Matching Debt Reduction Fund (MDRF). OWLS Christmas Party Luncheon The OWLS Christmas Party will be Thursday, December 15. We will meet at Grandma s Table on Douglas in Montgomery, at Noon. For our gift exchange, please bring a wrapped $5.00 gift appropriate for male or female. Let s have some fun and use our imaginations for the exchange! Please don t just wrap a $5 bill! It can even be something homemade! OWLS (Older Wiser Loving Seniors) is fellowship for all people aged 60 + or younger if you want to join us! Please remember to sign up on the OWLS Board! If you have any questions, call Barbara Murray at Food With Friends The December Food with Friends has no host, so it has been canceled. If you are looking to host, we still have March 2017 open!! Sign up in the binder at the information desk or call Bruce Twedt at January 15, 2017 Food with Friends will be hosted by Chancel Guild. Watch for details! Advent Supper Needs Host! We still have an open date for a Wednesday night Advent Supper. If you ministry can help by hosting on December 14, please contact the church office! 3

4 Monthly Financial Update As discussed at our March 1, 2015 Congregational Meeting, in addition to the financial information provided weekly, we are updating you monthly to show where we are. (Showing current plus previous 12 months.) As of: Monthly Need Previous Month s Contributions Accounts Payable Mortgage Payments Owed CPS Payments Owed 12/1/15 $87,595 $95,647 $13,740 0 $46,238 1/1/16 $87,595 $83,646 $5,971 0 $35,832 2/1/16 $87,595 $62,017 $5,115 0 $44,310 3/1/16 $87,595 $77,208 $10,787 0 $54,371 4/1/16 $87,595 $67,554 $9,184 0 $56,144 5/1/16 $87,595 $58,709 $8,079 0 $66,254 6/1/16 $87,595 $70,795 $14,797 $10,739 $67,544 7/1/16 $83,831 $64,889 $10,420 $10,739 $68,423 8/1/16 $83,831 $84,629 $15,490 $10,739 $67,367 9/1/16 $83,831 $66,853 $21,336 $21,478 $58,018 10/1/16 $83,831 $59,481 $17,817 $21,478 $68,222 11/1/16 $83,831 $82,822 $13,636 $32,217 $58,064 12/1/16 $83,831 $62,051 $19,196 $32,217 $57, Budget & Income (#s reported are as of 11/27/16) Monthly Need $83,831 Weekly Need $19,345 October Tithe $4,645 Accounts Payable $19,430 Concordia Plan Services (CPS) payments due (6) Monthly Anticipated Offering Income for November Current Month s To Date Offering Income Contributions to General Fund Current Month s To Date Income Received from School to General Fund Current Month To Date Contribution Total to General Fund Previous Month s Contribution Total to General fund $68,257 Mortgage Payments Past Due (2) $21,478 $65,415 $45,051 $17,000 $62,051 $82,822 Budget #s effective 8/2/15: 10.5% Tithe from your offerings includes.5% to LBT, 2% to Mission trip fund,.5% to LCC,.5% to Walcamp,.5% to San Pablo, 6% to NID,.5% to Joe Boway New Life. General Fund is used for mortgage, CPS, accounts payable bills, and payroll. Does not include contributions given to a specific fund or ministry (Parking Lot Fund, Youth, flowers, etc.). Accounts Payable includes maintenance, utilities, office supplies, printing, security systems, commercial insurance, ministry expenses (communion, worship, advertising, etc.), and school expenses. (Does not include payroll & mortgage.) Concordia Plan Services includes health care, retirement, and disability for church and school staff. Last Week s Attendance Regular Worship November 26 & Communed 145 Parking Lot Fund As of November 27, 2016, the balance in our Parking Lot Fund is $21, Thank you for your donations and continued support for this project as we save for the main parking lot. We will keep you updated monthly. Altar flowers for this weekend are given by Mike & Ann McCue in celebration of their wedding anniversary. Please pick up your December Focus on the Family Bulletin on the Information Desk in the Narthex. As always, great info on parenting and family! Give Online. It s easy. Stlcfamily.org Download a QR Reader app and scan here to make a contribution to St. Luke s from your mobile device. 4

5 November 30, 2016 Dear Parents and Guardians, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday break. God has richly blessed us all this past year. We were able to worship openly and in our churches, we have had food and clothes, homes and transportation, and many wants that are not needs that God has given us out of His grace and mercy. Let us remember that Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love. So let us put that in action to help others in this season of joy. God has also blessed our church with an extraordinary unexpected gift that is the answer to our prayers. Our church struggles like many families to keep up with rising healthcare costs and repairs. God has graciously provided an anonymous donor that wishes to express thankfulness for a year full of blessings. This person has offered to match dollar for dollar up to $50,000. That means we have the potential to reach $100,000 by December 31. This will provide healthcare payments for our teachers and help our church to continue supporting our school. If you consider helping us with this challenge, all gifts are welcome and will be matched. (Gifts will be tax deductible and must be made out to St. Luke s.) This is an amazing development that gives heavy weight to the verse in Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Together in thankfulness and faith, Linda King Principal Food Drive Please help us support the Oswegoland Optimist Club in their effort to feed Christmas dinner to those less fortunate in the area. We will be collecting nonperishable food items until December 16. On December 17, the food will be distributed to over 75 local families. Thank you for your support! Kelli Quaid Greeting Card Center Be sure to visit the LWML Greeting Card Center in the Gathering Area. They have new anniversary, ministry appreciation, get well, wedding, thinking of you, and birthday cards. Cards still only 50 cents and the proceeds go towards LWML s mission projects. Save The Date! 2017 Photo Directory Photo Sessions January 10 January 14, 2017 Watch for details! Financial Peace University Coming January 19 Life is complicated today! And expensive! How does the average person balance a mortgage, car payments, bills, insurance, savings, retirement planning and also be generous to the needy and the Lord s work?!? To help people get a grip on their finances, St. Luke s is offering Financial Peace University, a nationally-known, nine-week seminar that has helped literally millions of people achieve financial freedom and stability. The class will begin on Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 pm in the school Multi-purpose Room. The first six to sign up are free! (after that, it s $99 per person or couple). This course will benefit people with many years of managing their finances, young people just starting out, and everyone in between! Call the church office to sign up! ( , or chris.hanson@stlcfamily.org) 5

6 Where s the Table With All the 2017 Offering Envelopes? It s no longer needed because we are switching to a new envelope system, and your envelopes will be mailed bi-monthly to your home. Your first set should arrive any day now. They will serve for January and February. With the new system, the Church Office will not have to order enough packets for the whole year actually having to order more than we think we will need and then throwing away a bunch at the end of the year. The mailing list is updated for every order just the number needed. People who transfer out early in the year won t have to dispose of a year s envelopes; people who join late in the year won t receive a bunch of obsolete ones. People who contribute electronically can opt out of the system by contacting Connie Pittman in the Church Office at connie.pittman@stlcfamily.org, or ext For those who give electronically but still wish to participate in the offering in worship, there will be a check-off box on the envelopes that says I give electronically. Fellowship Servants Sign up Time! The 2017 Coffee Hour schedule is now available in the Gathering Area. If you currently serve at a Fellowship Servant, please sign up for the dates that you can. If you are looking for a way to serve, this is a good opportunity! You would just need to pick up donuts, make coffee, and set up for coffee hour a few times a year. I m not sure we can go without donuts and coffee on Sunday morning! Please contact Mary Ruch if you have any questions! Help Put Gifts Under the Tree! Please help our local families feel the love of Christ this Christmas season. If you re interested, please choose an ornament tag off the Christmas tree located by the front door. There will be a sign-up sheet next to the tree. The ornament tag includes the child s first name, gender, age, clothing sizes and three special gift items thoughtfully prepared by the parents. Place the gift(s) unwrapped under the tree with the ornament tag attached by December 18. Thank you for your generosity! Your gifts will help make Christmas brighter for these children. If you have any questions, please contact Hollie Shriber at Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 1 John 3: Altar Flower Chart The chart is now up on the bulletin board outside the church office. Please take a minute to sign up for the weekend(s) of your choice. You can purchase flowers in memory of a loved one, to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special event, in thanksgiving of God s gifts, or simply just because! Just sign your name on the chart next to the date(s) you would like, then complete the form available in the green pocket below the chart. The form is necessary so that proper acknowledgement is made in the newsletter. Please turn in your form with the payment of $40.00 in the envelopes that are also provided. You can turn them in to the church office, or drop them in the offering plate. If you have any questions, please contact Connie Pittman. Wayside Cross Ministries for November UPDATE!! We have found out that the men in the Master s Touch Ministry at Wayside Cross are in need of COUGH DROPS, NON-ALCOHOLIC COUGH SYRUP, and other COLD MEDS! So, we have changed our collection for November from hats and gloves to these much needed items. If you have already purchased the hats and gloves, that s fine, the men can always use them! But for those of you who haven't shopped, please keep the meds in mind. Thank you for all the items you gave the men in October. The men were very thankful for everything and we are very thankful for the help you give to them, also! 6

7 Thanks so much to the decorating Elves.that took time from their busy schedules on Friday, November 25, to help decorate the Sanctuary and other areas of the church. Wow what just a few hands can do! Thanks to Julia, Brett, Luke & Henry Granholm, Debby & Howie Springborn, Brenda & Terry Kardatzke, Maddy Marcoux, Regina & Amber Arnold, Michelle, Wayland, Haley, Tyler & Dylan Middendorf, Shelly Izzo, Lori & Matthew Len, and Angie Daniels! Your hard work enables all who enter God s house to enjoy the beauty of the lights and decorations as we celebrate this season of our Savior s birth. Thanks also to the Chancel members who coordinated the decorating and provided cookies and beverages. Please take time to really look at and appreciate all the decorations and the symbolism they provide from the Chrismons on the tree to the angels, the red and gold colors, and the evergreens think of how they remind us of God s special gift to us this Christmas season. 7

8 Panera Bread Pick Up December 9 Lisa Steinwart Servants for the Weekend of December 10 & 11 Preacher/Liturgist Rev. Peter Hoffman / Fred Treftz Acolytes & Cross Bearers 5:30 Dylan Middendorf & Jose Sandoval 8:00 Megan Schraft, Jacob Rienton & Amber Arnold 10:45 Mike Witt & Ethan Odean Chancel 5:30 Julia Granholm 8:00 Debby & Howard Springborn 10:45 Lori Len Fellowship Thrivent & Chris Hansen Finance Assistants Ray Weeks & Barbara Murray Friendly Callers Nancy Vargo & Nancy Abbattista Greeters 5:30 Judy Bakalar & Tony Abbattista 8:00 Dave & Missy Hester 10:45 Ellen Rienton & Connie Pinks Information Desk Christine Benda Organist/Pianist 5:30 Ralph Gabrielson, Jr. 8:00 Beth Omar 10:45 Beth Omar Readers 5:30 Lesli Barron 8:00 Debby Springborn 10:45 Irene Pappa Sound & Video 5:30 Choir 8:00 Dave Black Ushers 5:30 Tim Scott & Chuck Granholm 8:00 Andrew Auersch & Howard Springborn 10:45 Greg & Bonnie Randa Worship Assistants Fred Treftz / Earl Wendorf Look for St. Luke s Lutheran Church on Facebook. Like us and turn on notifications! 63 Fernwood Road Montgomery, IL Church School Reverend Peter Hoffman, Senior Pastor Mrs. Linda King, Principal stlcfamily.org / churchoffice@stlcfamily.org Servants for Advent Worship, Wednesday, December 7 Preacher/Liturgist Rev. Peter Hoffman / Tom Hoffman Acolytes Ethan Odean & Luke Peterson Greeters Barbara Murray & Mariann & Christine Benda Organist/Pianist Beth Omar Readers Katie Moran Sound & Video Austin Albright Ushers Brett Granholm & Tom Kinney Worship Assistants Tom Hoffman / Dara Meas Planning Ahead Dec Book Fair Dec 12-Culver s Night Dec 14-Advent Supper & Worship Dec 15-Ladies Night Out Dec 16-School Christmas Play Dec 17-Girl Scout Brownie Event Dec 17-PADS Dec 18-Food with Friends Dec 19-Autumn Leaves Chapel Dec 20-PALS Meeting Dec 21-Advent Supper & Worship Dec 22-Christmas Break starts Dec 23-Chancel Prep for Christmas Dec 24-Family & Candlelight Worship Dec 24-PADS Dec 25-Christmas Worship DVDs are available! All services are recorded. If you would like a copy, please contact Lisa Steinwart, or leave a note on the credenza in the Narthex. To Reach the Church During Services If you have an emergency during a scheduled worship service, and need to reach someone at the church, please call (630) ext. 140, and the ushers will take your call. Newsletter Deadline Any new or updated articles and inserts for the weekly newsletter are due to the Church Office by 3:00 pm on the Wednesday before article is to run. Submit via to connie.pittman@stlcamily.org or mailbox #82. Any questions, contact Connie Pittman at , x