Thank You! From the Pastor... May you have a blessed Christmas, Pastor Terrill

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1 Parish News December 2018 Britton Lutheran Parish Stories of the Music of Christmas Christmas Eve Candlelight Services Pleasant Valley First Lutheran First Lutheran 5:00 pm 6:30 pm 10:30 pm Wednesday, December 19 7:00 pm Come and join us as we hear again the old, old story of how God himself came into this world for us. Invite a friend or neighbor to celebrate the joy of this season in Word and Sacrament and beautiful music. Marshall County Ministerium invites you to join in a community celebration of some of our favorite Christmas music and the stories behind those carols and songs. Come and hear some of our neighbors share their musical talent and join in singing beloved carols. An offering will be received for the work of the Ministerium and refreshments will be served following the night of Christmas music. Come and get in the Christmas Spirit! The Pleasant Valley Christmas Program will be during worship on December 16 at 11:00 am. December 21 The First Lutheran Christmas Program will be at 4:00 pm on Sunday, December 16. 1

2 From the Pastor.... Two hundred years ago this December a parish priest in a small village in Austria had a problem. The priest was Father Joseph Mohr and the organ in his church was not working. History doesn t tell us exactly what the problem was, some legends say that mice had eaten through the billows, others that a flood had caused rusting in the pipes. Whatever the case, there was no organ and that presented a problem for the Christmas Eve service. Father Mohr had written a Christmas poem and thought maybe it could be set to music for a guitar. So he went to his friend Franz Cruber, a school teacher and organist and enlisted him in the project. As a result of their collaboration the church in that small village heard Mohr and the choir accompanied by a guitar singing Silent Night, Holy Night. For the last two hundred years that beloved carol has been a highlight of Christmas worship services all over the world. It is heard on the radio, TV, in stores and everywhere you can imagine. I even saw a couple dancing to it in one of the Hallmark Christmas movies. I suspect though, the way this carol is dearest to us is when we sing it in the glow of candle light on Christmas Eve. I have been doing that about as long as I can remember, and it has not gotten old and I imagine it is the same for many of you. There is something about that moment gathered together in the warmth of the candle light singing those familiar words to that lovely tune that seems to bring it all home. Let us give thanks to those who came before us like Mohr and Gruber who gave us that beautiful carol for 200 years. But more than that let us give thanks to the God who entered into our lost and sinful world in stable in Bethlehem. Let us give thanks for the truth that makes Silent Night meaningful, the truth that Christ our Savior is born. May you have a blessed Christmas, Pastor Terrill Thank You! On November 4th I received a wonderful surprise during worship. The basket filled with cards and notes of appreciation was extremely touching. It was a reminder of how fortunate I am to be your pastor and what a blessing the last 16 years have been. Thank you. You made my day! May God Bless You! Pastors Terrill and Sara 2

3 Service Roster Ushers December Kent and Sara Holland John Eye Kyle Hansen Dec 24 6:30 Brett Myklegard Drew Fredrickson Tom Farber Rob Palmer Dec 24 10:30 David Christenson Jeff Christenson Roger Christenson Scott Christenson Lay Readers Dec 2 Kurt Zuehlke Julie Hagen Dec 9 Dianne Yelkin Jennifer Vrchota Dec 16 Tyler Melroe Steve Hawkinson COFFEE HOUR December 2 December 9 December 16 December 23 December 30 First Lutheran Dennis and Jane Mattson Ron and Karen Tchida Carlson Families Luanne Jensen Anita Patterson Merry Christmas Potluck David and Gretchen Christenson Pleasant Valley Dec 23 Toni Mattson Kari Feldhaus December 2-9 Deb Eye Dec 24 Heather Landreth (6:30) December Jane Hansen Dec 24 Rhonda Hardina (10;30) Dec 30 Luanne Jensen Mary Ann Eye December 30 Carolyn Andrews Communion Assistants Dec 2 Connie Patterson JoAnn Hawkinson Karen Erickson Dec 24 (6:30) Sara Holland (5:00) Bonita Tory Kelley Beck Karen Erickson (10:30) Gretchen Christenson Roger Christenson Acolytes Dec 2 Addison Wade Dec 9 Aiden Wade Dec 16 Cassidy Biel Dec 23 BoDell Davidson Dec 24 (6:30) Faith Small (10:30) Dec 30 Ashley Hanson Christmas at the Food Pantry is December 14-15, They welcome donations to the Angel Tree/Christmas Store. The donations can be for children of all ages, men and women. Gifts must be new, unwrapped and can be dropped off at First Savings Bank, the Marshall County Community Building or the Price Funeral Chapel by December 12, Idea gift lists for children are available at First Savings Bank. For more information call Monetary donations can be sent to PO Box 216, Britton. The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul. G.K. Chesterton 3

4 JAWS BYTES From Our Parish Records JAWS Christmas Gathering Wednesday Dec. 12, 6:00pm at the Parsonage All High School youth are invited to come to the parsonage on Wednesday We will do a little Christmas caroling followed by a wonderful feast of Pastor Sara s famous lasagna. We ll pause to give thanks for the gift of life and hope we have because our God came to us in Jesus born at Bethlehem. And, of course, we ll have annual goofy gift exchange. Everyone should bring a wrapped gift costing no more than $1.00. Make them as weird as you can. Then hang around and play games or just talk. Come join the fun! Ava Laura-Lynn Naylor, daughter of Zachary Michael and Tosha Nicole (Heitmann) Naylor, was baptized November 25, at First. She was born August 22, 2018 at St. Louis Park, MN. Her sponsor is Cody Heitmann. Reminder from FL Endowment Committee First Lutheran Trust Fund Scholarship renewal applications for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year college students are due by December 31, Applicants need to be members of First Lutheran. Applications are available on the Britton Parish website under Scholarship. If you have questions, please contact the church office at or a member of the Endowment Committee. If families or individuals plan to share a plant or floral gift during the Christmas season, please complete the form below and place it in the offering place so we can acknowledge your gift in the bulletin. Please bring them after December 16 and pick them up after the 25th. Blessed Minds Christmas Program December 12 5:30 pm If you would like to offer special music of some kind for any services please let Pastor Terrill or the church office know. We d love to have you take part in our worship. A poinsettia/plant is given in memory or honor of: Given by: 4

5 Women of First Many thanks to all who helped make the Bazaar a success this year. Thanks to those who made lefse, worked at the Bazaar, donated money, food, raffle and auction items. A big thank you to the confirmation students for their help with tables and chairs. And, as always, thanks to Pastor Terrill, Arden, Luanne and Gail. Have a joyous Christmas. Kim Peters MISSIONS On November 19, six First Lutheran quilters met for quilting. They tied two baby quilts and three large quilts. They pinned six, sewed seven and laid out three quilts. They donated quilts to the Marshall County Food Pantry Christmas Store. There will be no quilting in December. Pleasant Valley Lutheran quilters will meet on December 11 for quilting and potluck. There will be no quilting in January. Hope Circle Christmas Party Saturday, December 8-11:00am Eager Circle Potluck Tuesday, December 11 Noon Appreciation Sunday The Blessing Basket of cards and messages of congratulation/appreciation for Pastor Terrill's 30th Anniversary of his ordination was delivered on Sunday, November 4, However, we realize that there may be some of you who didn't get a chance to get yours delivered in time. Feel free to drop off any additional greetings at the church office, and we will get them added to his basket. Thanks. 5

6 Welcome New Members Sunday School Program December 16 at 4:00 pm New members were welcomed at First Lutheran on Sunday, November 4. Pictured here are Philip and Erin Pruitt, Chellon Robinson, Laken, Trey and Tanner Atkinson, Laura Peterson, Bryce and Brady Heitkamp. Men Of First Christmas Get-Together Sunday, December 9 6:00pm at First The Men Of First invite all men in the congregation to join us for a Christmas get together pot-luck supper. Along with food and fellowship we ll also: > Do a little Santa Claus work for the Sunday School > Have our traditional gift exchange game (Bring a wrapped gift in the $5 range.) > Stop and reflect on the reason God sent his Son into our world. This is always a fun evening. Even if you haven t come to a Men Of First meeting this would be a good time to try it. Reminder: All of our congregations will be having their Annual Meetings in January. If you are responsible for a report for the annual report you can drop them off at the church office any time. LED Light Fund Memorials LuAnn Larson Bob and Sandy Hastings Dorothy and Lyle Hair, Hilda and Dick Lenius, Ida Conn-Hair Howard and Dolly Lenius Donald Docter, Darlene Docter, Doug Docter, Mae Bodendorfer David and Kayleen Docter In Memory of Brett Farber Choir Fund Bob and Sandy Hastings 6