Come Darkness, Come Light

Transcription

1 December 2013 Come Darkness, Come Light December 1 1st Sunday of Advent 8:15, Communion Services December 8 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:15, Communion Services December 15 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:15 a.m. Service of Prayer for Hope Lessons and Carols December 22 4th Sunday of Advent 8:15, Communion Services December 24 Christmas Eve Services 3 and 4:30 p.m. Family-friendly services with lots of carol-singing 8 and 10 p.m. Services of Holy Communion 8 p.m. led by Colleen Everitt and musicians 10 p.m. led by Jim Hild, Saints Chorale and woodwind quintet December 29 Healing Services 9 and 10:30 a.m. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Preparing for Christmas at All Saints Invitations to join choirs for services: pages 4 and 8 Giving Market: back cover Family Christmas Caroling: page 7 Family Christmas Festival: page 7 Parents Night Out (time to shop?): page 4 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

2 A Word from the Pastor: Come Darkness, Come Light is our theme at All Saints during our Advent season. This is a time of year when darkness comes early and surrounds us for many hours of the day. How can we prepare for the light no darkness can overcome? Our services during this season begin with the lighting of candles on an evergreen wreath every Sunday. Why do we do this? The wreath is circular and has no beginning and no end, reminding us of God s unending love for all of us. The fresh evergreens are filled with life during the dark and bleak mid-winter season in Minnesota. They point to new life here and now even as we live in the cold darkness. God does bring life forth in the darkest of places. The five candles contrast darkness and light. One candle is added each week as we await the birth of Jesus on Christmas day. We see the light get brighter each week until the day when we celebrate the light of the world no darkness has overcome. The increasing light each week is what we focus on; it points to a promise of new life for all. Take time to see the light entering your life. This is a special time of expectation. Take time after the candles are lit each week to experience the light no darkness can overcome. What wondrous love is this! Pastor Antonio Machado amachado@allsaintsmtka.org x13 Peace Moment The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Group Ministry Survey Thank you for participating in the All Saints Small Group Ministry survey! Your input is helping us to design future ministry offerings. Keep an eye out for word about small group leader training in January, and the launch in February. ~Small Group Ministry Team Worship at The Glenn On Tuesday, December 2, All Saints will again worship at The Glenn, 5300 Woodhill Road, at 3:30 p.m. All of you are part of this mission outreach every first Tuesday of the month. I invite you to join us. Pastor Antonio Building God s Kingdom Draws to a Close For more than six years, your wonderful contributions to Building God s Kingdom have assisted countless neighbors locally and throughout the world. Your giving has helped our All Saints family grow in our faith, compassion, and awareness as we ve walked alongside our sisters and brothers. Building God s Kingdom also provided valuable funding for All Saints Discipleship Intern Program and our own facilities. At the end of this calendar year, Building God s Kingdom draws to a close. Please fulfill your pledges and offer any additional giving to Building God s Kingdom by December 31, Thank you for your generous support! Our new giving program, Beyond Our Doors, will go entirely to support outreach ministries. The Discipleship Intern Program, which trains our youth and young adults in accompaniment through outreach ministries, will receive support from Beyond Our Doors. The Finance Team and council have provided the necessary funding for our facilities within the general budget. Please continue your life-giving support of our outreach ministries that help make God visible by giving generously to Beyond Our Doors, which begins January 1, Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

3 Hope and Fear a Stewardship Message Hope: Good morning! Fear: What do you want? Hope: Nothing, I m just saying Good morning. Fear: No one says Good Morning! like that unless they want something. Hope: No, really, this is just an exciting time for us. This is our time to estimate our gifts for next year. Fear: Estimate our giving I knew you wanted something. Are you going to tell me how much I should give? Hope: No. Fear: What do you want then? Hope: Nothing. Now, what God wants, that is something different. This time of year we look at our level of commitment to God. And we will look at what God expects of us. Fear: So, how much does God expect from me. And is that before or after taxes? Hope: I don t know. Fear: You don t know? If you don t know, then you can t know how much guilt to use in getting me to write my check. Hope: You won t get any guilt from me. But you do get things from God. Fear: Yeah, like Wednesday evening meals, music programs, prayer groups, and adult growth opportunities? I can get all those things somewhere else. Hope: How about love? How about support? How about salvation? Fear: And I should pay for that? I thought the best things in life were free! Hope: The best things are free. Fear: Then why are we going to talk about tithing, giving and everything else? Hope: Stewardship. Do you know what it means? It means taking care of the gifts we are given. Fear: But it is not a gift if I am paying for it! Hope: It s the other way around. We give because we have already received. God blesses us and we use those blessings to share God s love with others. God s blessings come as health, love, support, teaching, learning, playing, and in every breath of every day. Stewardship is how we use those blessings. Fear: But, why did God give them to us if we aren t supposed to use them for ourselves? Hope: Well, it isn t like we are going to live here on earth forever! Even our most prized possessions are just temporarily in our custody. We are just caring for them while we have them. Anyway, in Christ we are one people, one body. My gifts are yours. Fear: And mine should be yours? Hope: That is your decision. Fear: But so many have more things or are temporarily watching over more things than me. Can t they afford to cover me this year? Hope: It is not about covering a budget. It is not about evening things out. It is about responding to God in faith. Stop thinking about this as a bill to be paid. Our giving is between us and God. It is our response. God has given so much. The only question left is how we will use it. Fear: I m not sure. Hope: Of course you re not sure, that s why they call it faith. Fear: So, I am supposed to Hope: You are supposed to trust God! If not, you may live your whole life in fear. You may become so afraid that you even change your name to fear. Fear: But my name is fear! Hope: Let go of your fears, trust God. Fear: That s a big jump. Hope: That s what God is looking for from you big jumps. Let go. Trust God. Fear: But I have responsibilities: a family, a home, a job. Hope: And God knows that. God loves your family too! Try caring for them together with God. Remember, your responsibilities are part of God s gifts to you. Hope & Fear A Stewardship Message, written by Lee Yates, 1999, Adapted from: DiscipleShare. DiscipleShare. Used by permission 2014 Estimate of Giving Thank you to everyone who has completed a 2014 Estimate of Giving. If you haven t yet done so, there s still time to pledge. Copies can be found on the church website (look under the How To tab and choose Give) or an can be sent to lgaard@allsaintsmtka.org. Estimates of Giving help our council and staff plan for the coming year and help all of us to be thoughtful givers. Thank you! Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: 3

4 Sundays at Meet in the Loaves Room unless otherwise announced. This month we begin a special series on marriage. Watch for more details in the weekly news. The Bridge to a Long-Lasting, Life- Giving Marriage Marriage and Family therapist Joseph Noble will present his course The Bridge to a Long-Lasting, Life- Giving Marriage, focusing on the realities and challenges of marriage today. The course offers a framework for couples to see various areas of marriage wellness, and the presenter will focus on supporting concepts, such as Happiness (or, the myth of it); Psychological Priorities; Safety, Significance, Belonging in a Marriage; Cultural Addiction to Busy -ness; and Marriage in Isolation vs. Marriage in a Community. He speaks to each of these subjects in relation to both the individual spouse and the marriage in its own entity. Bring your thoughts and experiences and learn how to deepen your marital bonds! December 8 Remodeling at All Saints The congregation is moving forward to plan for renovation of the All Saints building. The next step is formation of a Building Committee, appointed by the church council, to deal with all aspects of the remodeling/construction process, and a Capital Appeal Committee to work with fundraising and financing. Council members and Facilities Team members will be at the forums on December 8 to describe the committee goals, tasks of committee members, time commitments, and a general project timeline. They will answer any questions about the work completed to date in assessing the state of the building and how you can get involved in the upcoming project. If you are interested in learning more about the building project or want to participate on the Building Committee or Capital Appeal Committee, please come to this forum. Music and Worship Come Sing with Us Be a Holiday Choir Member You are invited to sing with our combined adult choirs at our annual Lessons and Carols service on December 15. Choose which rehearsal time is better for you: Sundays at 12:15 p.m. in the sanctuary with Colleen Everitt, or Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. in the Choir Room with Jim Hild. All Youth Choir alumni are invited to return and sing with the current Youth Choir on Christmas Eve at the 4:30 p.m. service. Rehearsal is on December 18 at 6 p.m. in the Choir Room. You are invited to sing with Saints Chorale on Christmas Eve at the 10 p.m. service. We will sing music by Benjamin Britten, Robert Shaw and others. Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. in the Choir Room. Advent and Christmas Services See the cover page for service times throughout Advent and Christmas. All Saints also offers special services on two days other than Christmas Eve: December 15. At 8:15 a.m. we have the Service of Prayer for Hope. All Saints is sensitive to the emotional state of those in this community who have recently lost loved ones or who are living with life-altering circumstances. This service provides a place of solace during the often frenetic days surrounding the celebration of Christmas. At, we will have the Service of Lessons and Carols. This is our annual service of nine lessons from the Old and New Testaments surrounded by beloved carols. All of our music groups will participate and the congregation is invited to sing along with these beloved songs. December 29 The services this morning are at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and are healing services. All of us need healing, be it physical, emotional or spiritual. Want to Sing with the Minnesota Chorale? Have you always wanted to sing the great choruses from Handel s Messiah? Now you can. Join the Minnesota Chorale and organist Dr. Lynn Trapp for a Messiah sing -a-long on Sunday, December 15, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis. Need music? Contact Jim Hild; we have lots of scores in our choral library. Jim Hild Director of Music x16 or jhild@allsaintsmtka.org 4 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

5 West Suburban Grief Coalition Speaker Schedule December 5, 2013 February 27, :30-6 p.m. Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth Old Rockford Rd Plymouth, MN December 5 Pastor Beth Horsch Grief in the Ordinary Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church December 12 Stuart Walker Journey Following Daughter s Death December 19 Chaplain Lin Butler Grieving During the Holidays December 26 Video Beyond Death s Door January 2 Lyndy Zabel A New Year Carrying Grief Baggage Associate Pastor, Messiah United Methodist Church January 9 Grace Wagnild Self Care During Grief January 16 Audrey Grossman How to Love Yourself During Grief January 23 rd Bob Haskin Beginning Your Steps Forward January 30 Heather Rykhus Journey Following Death of Parents February 6 Ted Bowman Loss of Dreams February 13 Kirsten Kessel The Little Things February 20 Mark Meyer Valleys of Sorrow to Rivers of Joy Journey Following Death of His Wife February 27 Participants Share your Personal Grief Journey This is a joint effort of area churches, who take turns hosting. The Grief Coalition s mission is to provide caring support and education for persons who are grieving the death of a loved one. Interested individuals are welcome to attend a meeting at any time. Meetings are held every Thursday at 4:30 p.m., with registration and refreshments beginning at 4 p.m. There are no fees and church affiliation is not necessary Where Is Pastor Heather? Starting on November 11, Pastor Heather began a sabbatical. Our sister has been burning the candle at both ends for a long time and that has created some health issues for her which need to be addressed while she recharges her batteries. The All Saints Executive Committee is hopeful that she will return sometime in December. As evidence that the Lord works in mysterious ways, All Saints long-time pastor Raita Neely was willing and available to step in during Pastor Heather s absence. Welcome back Pastor Raita! Please keep Pastor Heather in your prayers. Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: The Light of the World Early Christians celebrated both Jesus birth and baptism on Epiphany, January 6. Only in the fourth century did Roman Christians appropriate a pagan festival to celebrate what we now call Christmas a contraction of Christ Mass. But the origin of when we celebrate Jesus birth doesn t detract from the day s holiness. In fact, God has always transformed things of the world to serve his purposes and show his glory. The festival honoring the Unconquered Sun, held on what was then considered the winter solstice, was deemed the perfect time to praise the Sun of Righteousness (a prophetic name for Christ; see Malachi 4: 2). By claiming this day as our own, Christians profess that earthly darkness winter s seasonal darkness and the darkness in our hearts and lives is brightened not by a heavenly body that will one day cease to shine but by Jesus, the real unconquered and unconquerable Light of the World. Reprinted with permission from Newsletternewsletter.com Parents Night Out Saturday, December 14, 5-9 p.m. All children ages 2-11 are invited to come to All Saints and participate in games, a snack, movie, and craft while parents enjoy an evening out. Donations will go to help youth attend a summer mission trip or camp. Registration forms are at the Welcome Center. Contact Kristine Clemens ( x17 or kclemens@allsaintsmtka.org) with questions. 5

6 Outreach Ministry Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. Mark 9:37 About a year and a half ago I met a beautiful young lady at Casa Hogar Elim (CHE). She is an orphan there and she is confined to a wheel chair. She has trouble speaking and really can t say much because of her disabilities. Her name is Gladys and she is a most delightful young person. When our team planned to go to CHE this past November, I wondered if I would see her. She was the first person I met getting out of the van. I think someone had put her there just for me. I shook her hand and said hi, and we talked. There were several flies landing on her and annoying her. Because of her physical disabilities she couldn t shoo them away. We spent many moments talking and chasing those flies away. She smiled and communicated that it was good to see us all again. I could tell she was happy, as were many of the other kids. I think they deeply appreciate that there are those outside who care for them. There are so many children in this world children alone, without parents or family, sick, hungry, hurting and like Two Steps Beyond Our Doors The Outreach Ministry Team decided to designate Beyond Our Doors funding for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS) to its Kaleidoscope Place after school and summer youth development programs. The team chose this program because it will provide us with opportunities to serve and develop relationships with the youth in these programs. This includes ongoing individual volunteer as well as one-time group opportunities. The Team also determined Beyond Our Doors funding for Lutheran World Relief (LWR) would go to its Quilt and Kit Shipping Fund. The team hopes All Saints members will become involved with LWR through assembling personal care, baby care, fabric, or school kits or by donating quilts. Providing funds for shipping will allow us to track our donations throughout the world. To participate in LSS s Kaleidoscope Place or LWR s kits and quilts, please contact Mary, ( or marysimonsonclark@gmail.com) your Outreach Ministry Team Chair. The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid. ~Martin Luther Gladys with disabilities, struggling much just to make it. In many ways it is overwhelming. But Jesus asks us to welcome them, to welcome them in his name; to care for, to love them, to touch them to do what he did. So as we celebrate this thanksgiving and Christmas season, please consider things you can do to give, to care and to welcome, in Jesus name. Jesus came to give, to give us his love, healing, restoration, forgiveness and ultimately his life so we may have life with Him and that we may give. On behalf of the Casa Hogar kids, Hospitality House kids, Habitat families, and many more; thank you for giving, thank you for welcoming in Jesus name. Angel Tree Angels are out and available. Please follow the instructions and return the gifts by Tuesday, December 17. Thanks All Saints Giving Market Giving Market is being held on the first three Sundays in December. Plan to stop and shop on December 1,8, and 15. Check out the details on the back cover. George Rowley Outreach Ministry Coordinator x19 or growley@allsaintsmtka.org Philippine Typhoon Winds over 200 miles per hour left over 10,000 dead and millions homeless. You can help through Lutheran World Relief. Your donations help LWR respond quickly to emerging needs. Donating online at gets your help there the quickest. You can also donate by phone ( ) or mail (Lutheran World Relief, P.O Box 17061, Baltimore MD ). Planning Ahead for Your Mission Moments Does your outreach ministry group plan to do a Mission Moment? Your Outreach Ministry Team now schedules these three-minute opportunities during worship for you to share about your ministry. Please submit your request for a mission moment by 10 a.m. the first day of the month for the FOLLOWING month (e.g. 10 a.m. December 1 for Mission Moments in January). Please send all questions or requests to Mary, Outreach Chair, (marysimonsonclark@gmail.com or ). 6 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

7 Childhood Ministries Come Darkness, Come Light for Kids Twinkle twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are As you sing the rest of the song in your head or like me, just sing it out loud; can and without the dark, everything you picture that would be light, and you would never star in your mind? know if you needed a lightbulb. When do we see from The Dark, by Lemony Snicket stars? Not in the day, but in the night sky. As we get ready for Christmas, think of baby Jesus coming into this world, born in a humble stable, like a tiny twinkling star in the night sky. Jesus is the twinkling star that became the light of the world! Look to the right for an Advent Calendar for you. It is a list of activities and opportunities ahead. At the beginning of Advent, December 1, the trees in Fellowship Hall will be plain. As the trees in our church fill with ornaments representing the gifts given all around the world, they will become Giving Trees. The children of All Saints, including the First Grade Faith Adventure, Sunday School, WOW Wednesday and also the children at Hospitality House, will create the handmade ornaments for the Giving Trees. Each Sunday in Advent, you will have the opportunity to give a gift like a nylon backpack bag for a child at Casa Hogar orphanage in Mexico, or maybe a malaria net. As you give this monetary gift, you are invited to hang a child -made ornament on a tree to symbolize your gift. The ornaments will be in baskets you get to choose. When you give a gift in honor of someone, you may also select an ornament for them to enjoy. Come to the Family Christmas Festival on December 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. You can make a gingerbread house and watch Christmas Time, a play written by All Saints author Aaron Achartz, plus have lots of other fun and treats. Advent Blessings to you, Let your little light shine, Penny Meschke Childhood Ministries x18 or pmeschke@allsaintsmtka.org January December Childhood and Family Ministries 1 Su Sunday School Project Casa Hogar 4 W 6:15-7 p.m. WOW Wednesday 7-7:30 p.m. Children s Choirs 7 Sa 3:00 p.m. Family Christmas Caroling 8 Su 11 a.m. -2 p.m. Family Christmas Festival, lunch, make gingerbread house 1 p.m. Children s Christmas Play 11 W 6:15-7 p.m. WOW Wednesday 7-7:30 p.m. Children s Choirs 15 Su Sunday School in Sanctuary for Lessons and Carols 11 W 6:15-7 p.m. WOW Wednesday 7-7:30 p.m. Children s Choirs 20 F 3-5:30 p.m. make gingerbread house at Hospitality House 24 T 3 and 4:30 p.m. Family Christmas Eve Services 25 W Merry Christmas! 29 Su Sunday School is off 1 W No WOW Wednesday or Children s choirs 5 Su Sunday School resumes 8 W 6:15-7 p.m. WOW Wednesday 7-7:30 p.m. Children s Choirs Scan the QR code and check out our blog, littlehands@allsaints.blog.spot.com Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: 7

8 All Saints Preschool and Child Care The children and staff are all looking forward to the magical month of December! Children in both programs will learn about Jesus birth and Christmas celebrations around the world. They will Preschool and Child Care have a chance to visit with Santa and tell him their wishes. Full day program children are excited to meet some real reindeer and take a sleigh ride. The children carefully prepare special gifts for their parents. Both programs will also host their special Christmas programs. You are welcome to join us. Full-day Program: Friday, December 13, 3:30 p.m. Half-day Programs: Thursday, December 19, 10:45 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. Friday, December 20, 10:45 a.m. We wish all of you a very blessed Christmas and a happy We give thanks for the love, support, and prayers that All Saints staff and congregation members send our way. Please help us, too, by spreading the word about our programs. Registration for the fall of 2014 will start for the half-day preschool program on January 6 for current and returning families and All Saints members. Please contact Carla Nelson ( or cnelson@allsaintsmtka.org) to schedule a tour or for more information. Registration for the full-day program is ongoing. Please contact Heather Charmoli ( or hcharmoli@allsaintsmtka.org) for more information, or visit our website ( Ring Those Bells! A two-hour shift ringing bells raises enough money for two nights of shelter and four warm meals for the men, women, and children who enter the Salvation Army s doors every day. To register for bell ringing in the Twin Cities, sign up online at or call the bell ringing hotline at ipod Nanos Needed Do you have an ipod Nano that you are no longer using? The Child Care Center is looking for a few used ipod Nanos to reset and use in classrooms as a teaching tool. Please contact Heather Charmoli ( or hcharmoli@allsaintsmtka.org) to offer your donation or with questions. OWLS CHRISTMAS PARTY (Older, Wiser Lutheran Saints) Saturday December 14, 5 p.m. Marilyn Swanson s home Bring heavy hors d oeuvre or dessert $3 for expenses food gift or money for ICA Expect good food lots of Christmas spirit carol singing good time together as we celebrate our Lord s birth For you to do sign up at the Welcome Center put the date on your calendar bring someone new All hooters (anyone 55+) are welcome. Watch for more details in the Sunday bulletins. Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day. ~Helen Steiner Rice Contemporary Worship Come experience a beautiful evening of carols, candlelight, communion and special music presented by New Voice Ensemble, the Worship Band and Rick and Colleen Everitt. Celebrate the greatest gift of all Jesus. Carols, Candlelight and Communion December 24 8 p.m. If you would like to be a part of this special Christmas Eve service, please join us on Sundays after service for rehearsal from 12:15-1:15 p.m. Contact Colleen Everitt (ceveritt@allsaintsmtka.org) for more information. 8 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

9 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :15, Worship/ Communion Sunday Forums Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Saints Chorale 10:30 a.m. Sr. High Sunday Gathering 12:20 p.m. New Voice 7 p.m. Advocates for Peace 7:30 a.m. Saints Men s Breakfast (offsite) 6 p.m. Executive Committee 7 p.m. Boy Scouts 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Quilting 1:30 p.m. ASLC Staff Meeting 3:30 p.m. Worship at The Glenn 6:30 p.m. Mission Resource Team 7:30 p.m. Men s A.A. 1 p.m. Prayer Shawl Knitting 5 p.m. 8th-9th Grade Operation Christmas Child 5:30 p.m. Community Dinner 5:50 p.m. God Pause 6:15 p.m. WOW Wednesday 6:45 p.m. Just for Adults 7 p.m. Hosanna Choir 7 p.m. Alleluia Choir 7:45 p.m. Saints Chorale 7:15 a.m. Prayer Group 10 a.m. Bible Study 5:30 p.m. Small Group Ministry Team 6 p.m. Youth and Family Team 6:30 p.m. BeFrienders 6:30 p.m. Alpha Band 7 p.m. Carillon Choir 3 p.m. Funday Art at Hospitality House (offsite) 6:30 p.m. Crossroads 9th Grade Igniter 8 a.m. Men s Ministry Group Meeting 10 a.m. Saints Brass 3 p.m. Family Christmas Caroling 4 p.m. Our Saviour s meal prep 6 p.m. Minnetonka Music Assoc. Concert :15, Worship/ Communion Sunday Forums Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Sr. High Sunday Gathering 11 a.m. Family Christmas Festival 12:20 p.m. New Voice 1 p.m. Festival Play 5 p.m. Youth Choir 6 p.m. Senior High F.I.R.E. 6:30 p.m. Facilities Team 7 p.m. Boy Scout Leaders 10 a.m. December Scribe submission deadline 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Quilting 1:30 p.m. ASLC Staff Meeting 7 p.m. Finance Team 7:30 p.m. Men s A.A. 5:30 p.m. Community Dinner 5:50 p.m. God Pause 6 p.m. Youth Choir 6:15 p.m. WOW Wednesday 6:45 p.m. Just for Adults 7 p.m. Hosanna Choir 7 p.m. Alleluia Choir 7 p.m. Crossroads 7:45 p.m. Saints Chorale with Alleluia, Hosanna, Youth and New Voice Choirs 7:15 a.m. Prayer Group 10 a.m. Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Alpha Band 7 p.m. Carillon Choir 3:30 p.m. Child Care Christmas Program 8 a.m. Men s Ministry Group Meeting 2 p.m. Saints Brass 5 p.m. Parents Night Out :15 Service of Prayer for Hope Lessons and Carols Sunday Forums Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Sr. High Sunday Gathering 12:20 p.m. New Voice 6 p.m. ASLC Council 1:30 p.m. ASLC Staff Meeting 7:30 p.m. Men s A.A. 1 p.m. Prayer Shawl Knitting) 5:30 p.m. Community Dinner 5:50 p.m. God Pause 6 p.m. Youth Choir 6:15 p.m. WOW Wednesday 6:45 p.m. Just for Adults 7 p.m. Crossroads 7 p.m. Hosanna Choir 7 p.m. Alleluia Choir 7:45 p.m. Saints Chorale 7:15 a.m. Prayer Group 10 a.m. Bible Study 10:30 a.m. Preschool Christmas Program 2:15 p.m. Preschool Christmas Program 6:30 p.m. Alpha Band 10:30 a.m. Preschool Christmas Program 3 p.m. Funday Art at Hospitality House (offsite) 8 a.m. Men s Ministry Group Meeting :15, Worship/ Communion Sunday Forums Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Sr. High Sunday Gathering 12:20 p.m. New Voice 6 p.m. Sr. High and College Ugly Sweater Party 6:30 p.m. Mexico Leadership Team ASLC office closes at 12 noon 3 and 4:30 p.m. Family Christmas Worship 7:30 p.m. Men s A.A. 8 and 10 p.m. Services of Holy Communion ASLC closed Merry Christmas to all ASLC office open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ASLC office open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 8 a.m. Men s Ministry Group Meeting and 10:30 a.m. Healing Service ASLC office closes at 12 noon 7:30 p.m. Men s A.A. End of Year Contributions Thank you for your generous financial support of ministry at All Saints. Remember that any donations you may make that are delivered to the church or postmarked by December 31 are included in your 2013 contribution statement for tax purposes. If you have any questions regarding your contributions or pledges, please contact Laurel Gaard, Business Administrator, at Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: 9

10 Crossroads Confirmation Information See below for upcoming information on our Crossroads Confirmation Program. Contact Kristine Clemens ( x17 or with questions about Crossroads. Operation Christmas Child 8th and 9th Grade Crossroads Youth, Guides and Jr. Guides Only Wednesday, December 4, 5-10 p.m. All 8th and 9th grade Crossroads youth, Guides and Junior Guides will meet to serve the evening at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse in Bloomington. We will meet sharply at 5 p.m. and take a bus to the warehouse. Participants should wear tennis shoes and bring a sack dinner. We will return to All Saints by 10 p.m. 9th Grade Igniter Friday, December 6, 6:30-10:30 p.m. All 9th Grade Crossroads Youth and Junior Guides will meet for the annual 9th Grade Igniter at All Saints. The night will be focused on igniting our relationships with others and God through games, activities and a candlelight worship service. Youth should bring a snack to share with the group and dress comfortably for the evening. Parents are needed to help that evening. Wednesday Night Worship Wednesday, December 11 Topic: Sermon on the Mount-Part Two Crossroads Dad s Night Wednesday, December 18 Topic: Birth of Jesus Dinner served: 5:30-6:45 p.m. Large Group Time: 7 p.m.-7:45 p.m. Small Group Time: 7:45-8:30 p.m. All Crossroads youth, Guides and Jr. Guides will meet for regular Crossroads. Everyone should bring their Bible and money for offering. Crossroads Confirmation Servant Night at Feed My Starving Children on Wednesday, November 13. Together they packed $17,496 worth of meals! 10 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website:

11 Sr. High Gatherings Sunday Mornings 10:30-10:55 a.m. in Youth Room All 9th-12th grade youth and friends are invited for fellowship, treats, coffee, juice, a short devotion and a worship song or two on Sunday mornings. Come early or plan to stay after to attend a worship service. Hope you will come and check it out! Senior High F.I.R.E. Sunday, December 8 6-7:30 p.m. All 9th-12th grade youth and friends are invited to Senior High F.I.R.E. This month we will play a few games like sardines and other good ones, as well as enjoy snacks, worship, fellowship and a devotional. F.I.R.E. is open to all 9th-12th grade youth and friends. 3rd Annual Senior High & College It s time again for the annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party for all 9th-12th grade youth plus all college-aged kids. What the evening will entail Ugly Sweaters Yummy Holiday Food Games Christmas Carol Sing Along Prizes & Giveaways White Elephant Gifts Charlie Brown Christmas Come in your ugliest Christmas sweater and bring a white elephant gift and holiday goodie or snack to share with the group! 2014 Senior High Mission trip to Wyoming July 12-20, 2014 There are still spaces available for the 2014 Senior High Mission Trip. Registration forms are located at the Youth Board. Please submit your registration form to Kristine by Sunday, December 8. Whitewasher Saturday, January 11 9 a.m. 9 p.m. All 7th-12th grade youth and friends are invited to a day of skiing and/or snowboarding at Welch Village. More information to follow. Save the date! Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: 11

12 All Saints Lutheran Church, ELCA Pastor Heather Hammond Pastor Antonio Machado Excelsior Boulevard Minnetonka MN Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Hopkins MN Permit #212 All Saints Lutheran Church is called to make God visible. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Photos may be taken at church events for use by All Saints in print publications and on the website. If you do not wish to have your picture taken, please inform the church office and/or the photographer. Don t Give an Unneeded Tie or Sweater Shop at the All Saints Giving Market Don t give another unwanted or unneeded gift that will need dusting, storing, or repairing. Instead, shop at the All Saints Giving Market from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. the first three Sundays of December; 1, 8, and 15. Give Christmas gifts that will make a real and positive change in people s lives. Bring joy to someone you love and/or admire by giving a gift in their honor a gift that also will make God visible to our neighbors. This year s gift market will feature a few inexpensive gifts that children may enjoy giving or receiving as well as gifts for your friends and family of all ages and interests. Your gifts can support All Saints ministries such as our quilters and prayer shawl knitters as well as our Families in Need and Love Fund that assist our neighbors facing challenges. You can honor people with gifts to local programs such as the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Teens Alone, Our Saviour s Community Services, or Luther Seminary. Your donations can help our sisters and brothers globally by choosing from a variety of gifts that support ELCA World Hunger ministries. You can also honor someone by contributing to the All Saints Foundation. Avoid mall and online hassles that result in accumulating more stuff. Instead, shop at the All Saints Giving Market in the Narthex during Sunday mornings, December When you shop in our market, you ll also receive an ornament, made by our Sunday School children, to decorate our Giving Trees. Give gifts that bring double joy joy to the people you are honoring and joy to the people you are helping. If you can serve at the market for an hour or two, please contact Mary (marysimonsonclark@gmail.com or ). 12 Find the Scribe and other information on the All Saints website: