Rejoice! Voice. From the Pastor... o u r missio n To rejoice in, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with all people

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1 Rejoice is a congregation of the ELCA December 2015 o u r missio n To rejoice in, and share the good news of Jesus Christ with all people Rejoice! Voice From the Pastor... Rejoice! Lutheran Church 7855 Stow Road Hudson, OH pastor Mike Conklin pmconklin@rejoicelc.org contact R e j o i c e! fax parish nurse Mary Pat DeLambo mdelambo@laurellake.org c h u r c h c o u n c i l Jim Carr Dan French Peter Funk Monica Kreiberg Jennifer Radel Bob Radl Sharon Straka Jack Verser Chris Wisbar bulletin and newsletter Sunday Worship at Rejoice! Lutheran Church Traditional Worship: 8:45am Sunday School: 10:00am Contemporary Worship: 11:00am For some reason this time of the year always makes me reflective and philosophical. Perhaps it is all the emphasis on economics, budgets, and politics that makes me wonder out loud, What s it all about? or Why am I a pastor? Christians historically seem to get all gushy about life and people this time of the year, just in time for Christmas. After all, the story of God becoming a human being is one event that evokes a lot of human emotion. Instead of presenting us with a booming voice from the clouds, or some universal expression of cosmic power, Christmas Christianity insists that fully to imagine God is to imagine a human child weak and helpless. Two thousand years later, when all the tinsel has been pushed aside, it remains a shockingly subversive message. God is not to be discovered through study of the cosmos, but down on earth. Early astrologists looked into the sky for clues to the whereabouts of God, and the stars led them towards a barn on the outskirts of a small town in the Middle East. From then on, think of God, think of a crying infant. God isn t the old guy in the sky, not even a human being enhanced by superhero-like powers, but a gurgling, pink and fleshy human being. What if God was one of us?, was a popular song a few years ago. Perhaps we didn t like the connection that it made, that somehow we are responsible for or dependent on each other? It is true that Christians have not always lived out their faith. The history of the church is long and depressingly familiar. Christians have mistreated slaves, people of other faiths, women, homosexuals, other races, and any who differ from us solely on the basis that they differ from us and that somehow we are right and they are wrong. This is why many of us find a more understandable form of Christianity at the side of a 2,000-year-old crib. In other words, the point of Christianity is to encourage being human, not being perfect. Somehow this message of learning to live with each other and accept each other only comes around this time of the year. Maybe we can change that? Rejoice is of the Body of Christ. We are the gurgling, pink fleshy part. Our mission is to build a church for others and to be love in the world, that means we take this message outside the building to our neighbors, friends and strangers. We lift up being human and confront the harsh realities of this world with love and grace. We are not interested in judging others because the judgment has already happened. (The shadow of the cross is always over the manger.) But it is in the God becoming human that we understand what it means to live and be Christian by being human. Peace, Pastor Mike

2 PAGE 2 R EJOIC E! VOIC E In an effort to become better acquainted with families in our congregation, each month we will feature one Rejoice! Family to get to know a little better... This month let s get to know the Clark Family! Jim, wife Kim, Daughters Sierra & Samantha, Son Cody What do you do? Program Coordinator at Willoughby Parks and Recreation What do you do for fun or hobbies? Jim s hobby is SCUBA How long have you been at Rejoice? 2 Years What is the best thing about Rejoice? Like the funny film clips in the 11 am service. Christmas Eve This year we will once again be having two services on Christmas Eve. Service times will be a 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Both services will be Carols, Candle lighting, and Communion. Please invite your friends and neighbors to join us. Dinner for Eight Christmas Party The Dinner for Eight Christmas party takes place on Saturday, December 12 th at 6:00 pm at the home of Dave and Kathy Tiemann in Hudson. The entrée will be provided, please bring a side, salad or dessert to share as well as a wrapped white elephant gift. RSVP to Michelle Conklin or sign up at the Welcome Station by December 7 th with how many will be attending as well as what part of the meal you will be bringing. We will return to our regular small group rotations in January. New members are always welcome! For more information or to join Dinner for Eight, contact Michelle Conklin at mconklin5@windstream.net or pick up a form at the Welcome Station. Christmas Decorating If you are interested in helping decorate the building and Sanctuary for this Christmas season, please come and join the Worship Team on Saturday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. Christmas Program We are pleased to have the High School Class present a Christmas program on Sunday, December 20 th at the 11:00 a.m. worship service. This should be interesting!

3 PAGE 3 R EJOIC E! VOIC E From Parish Nurse, Mary Pat DeLambo, RN, BSN, MEd December 2015 Please contact me at address: mdelambo@laurellake.org or my cell phone whenever I may be of assistance. My office hours are flexible to meet your needs. Website: Dear Members of Rejoice! Lutheran, Christ Church Episcopal, and First Presbyterian Church of Hudson, Recently I have been given a Great Commission by my employer, Laurel Lake Retirement Community. I have been asked to build upon my work as a parish nurse and to expand the ministry beyond the walls of the 3 churches with whom I work and into the greater Hudson community. As a member of Laurel Lake s Community Outreach department, I will have a new job title, Community Wellness Coordinator as of January 1, In this role, I will work more closely with the social worker and Community Resource Coordinator, Kristin Keller, in reaching the health/wellness/and social service needs of those in need in Hudson and especially with the growing senior population in the Hudson area. Together we will provide consultations, home visits and assessments. My office location will change. Both my office and program resources will physically be located at Laurel House, our new Center for Community Outreach, which is located at 392 Boston Mills Road, adjacent to Laurel Lake. I will remain a resource for you, the church staff, and pastors. Please continue to call upon me to talk about health, wellness, and caregiving concerns. I will continue to provide blood pressure screenings but on a quarterly vs. monthly basis. I will also be available to help facilitate current programs as needed. I will be planning some new health and wellness events to offer on a larger community scale. I will keep you posted on those offerings as they develop. As is often the case when answering God s call, the details of the path are not always clear. My role will evolve over time as God leads the way. It is a blessing to have shared in your life journey as a parish nurse and I look forward to continuing the journey with you in my expanded role. Upcoming Parish Nurse Events & Programs Blood Pressure Screening December 20th (changed to 3rd Sunday for the Holidays!) Thursday Yoga 6:30 PM (*time may vary, please RSVP) in classroom using DVDs. Weekly Wellness Tips Contact Mary Pat to be added to list or go to Lunch and Learn Thursday Dec. 17th Lunch & Learn 12:00 1:00 Generations Lucy Bibbee Comfort Keepers Consultations with Mary Pat Available upon request Programs at St. Mary Church: Contact Lori Joseph as schedules & fees may vary: ext. 233 ljoseph@stmaryhudson.cc Tai Chi Thursdays 1:00 PM Liturgical Yoga: Wednesdays 9:30 AM Evening Yoga: Thursday Dec. 10th 6:30 PM Zumba Wednesdays 2:30 PM Faithfully Fit Fridays 11:30 AM

4 R EJOIC E! VOIC E PAGE 4 Annual Rejoice! Chili Cook Off The annual Rejoice! Chili Cook Off will be held on Saturday, January 16 th at 5:00 pm at the church. This will be a fundraiser for youth attending the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston. We are in need of volunteers to make their best chili recipes! Categories are: Traditional, Hot/Spicy, Vegetarian and Most Original Recipe. We re also looking for volunteers to donate beverages, cornbread/bread. Sign-ups are located at the Welcome Station for chili as well as other items. Invite your friends and family for a night of post-holiday fun! Acme Community Cash Back Program Keep saving those Acme receipts with a Community Cash Back amount listed at the bottom. The program continues through January 6 th and is good on all store branded merchandise. Acme will donate 5% of the total submitted, which will be used toward expenses for our youth attending the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston. A box is located at the Welcome Station for receipts. Thank you! Missing Jacket! Christmas Cookies Needed On Sunday, December 20 th the Fellowship Team will host a cookie and punch reception following the 11:00 am service, where our young people will present their Christmas program. Please sign up at the Welcome Station if you are able to donate 2 dozen cookies. Please check your coat closets at home to see if you might have a black fleece ladies jacket by mistake. One of our members jacket was taken by mistake several weeks ago; we think someone may have just grabbed the wrong jacket. There are several unclaimed jackets here at church, maybe one of them is yours? December Birthdays 6 Chelsea Yanda 8 Kara Schvartz 11 Christopher Marshall 13 Scott Morgan 15 Evan Juliano 16 Mike Ramsey 16 Jameson Thomas 20 Jean Binger 20 Peg Carr December Anniversaries 3 Chris & Ellen Wisbar If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed or it is incorrect, please help us update our info. Contact Carla Maurer at October 2015 Financial Report 2015 Oct Actual Oct Budget Oct Variance YTD Actual YTD Budget YTD Variance 2015 Budget INCOME: General Revenue $15, $13, $2, $146, $135, $11, $162, Capital Revenue $4, $6, ($1,593.00) $54, $60, ($5,233.41) $72, Total Income $20, $19, $ $201, $195, $5, $234, EXPENSES: Total Expenses $20, $20, $73.57 $207, $208, $1, $250, Benevolence Giving $ $ ($296.93) $ $4, ($3,655.10) $5, INCOME - EXPENSE: Variance ($461.87) ($1,326.23) ($6,150.61) ($13,262.30) ($15,914.80)

5 REJOICE! LUTHERAN CHURCH 7855 Stow Rd. Hudson, Ohio Phone: Fax: We re on the web! Headstart Holiday Gift Shop We are asking Rejoice to contribute toys and games for boys and girls ages 0 to 12 years old. They can be new or gently used items. All donations are greatly appreciated. We will be collecting donations Nov Dec. 13. This will be the last year for this project. Paying it Forward Rejoice has been so blessed by many mission partners. Let us pay it forward to others who need our blessings! December s 3 rd Sunday of the month loose offering will be given to the Rejoice Samaritan Fund which benefits members and nonmembers, as needed. Many thanks to those who contributed in November to the OASIS L u t h e r a n Y o u t h Program in Akron. We collected $ Care Packages Thank you to everyone who donated items and postage money for the care packages for Rejoice! college students. 16 packages were assembled for our students to let them know we are thinking about them during exams. Parents Night Out Babysitting Enjoy an evening of babysitting on us! Kids ages 3-12 (must be pottytrained) are welcome to join us for an evening of games, movies, pizza, crafts, snacks and loads of fun!! Saturday, December 5, 2014, 6:00-10:30 p.m. Call or visit for more details and to download a registration form. Reserve your spot (spaces are limited) by faxing or mailing a registration form to the church office at (fax) or Rejoice! Lutheran Church, 7855 Stow Rd, Hudson, OH Drop off no earlier than 6:00 p.m. and pick up no later than 10:30 p.m. You must sign your child(ren) in and out, and provide cell phone and emergency contact information. Adults and teens will be on site to provide and supervise activities. This event is cosponsored by Rejoice! Lutheran Church and our local Girl Scout troop! TMJP (Teenage Mutant Jesus Praisers aka Youth Group) The Teenage Mutant Jesus Praisers (formerly known as Youth Group) had 11 members in attendance at our November meeting! We assembled care packages for Rejoice! college students, made Christmas ornaments for the residents at Hattie Larlham and sorted food for the food drive. Our December meeting will be a Christmas party and will take place on Saturday, December 19 th from 6:00-9:00 pm at the church. Pizza and drinks will be provided, bring food to share (veggies/dip, cookies/dessert, chips, etc.). Those attending should also bring a $5 non-gender specific, wrapped gift for a gift exchange. Consumable items are usually a popular item for the gift exchange. Please RSVP to Michelle Conklin by December 25 th if you plan on attending. All youth in grades 6-12 are welcome to attend as well as friends.