ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMOR. Contemporary Worship Service Lucia Sunday Sunday, December 9, :00 a.m.

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1 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMOR County Hwy 74, Battle Lake, MN Church Office Website: Contemporary Worship Service Lucia Sunday Sunday, December 9, 2018 Today we celebrate the witness of St. Lucia, a traditional Swedish festival celebrating the legend of a young girl who saved Sweden from a famine. The Lucia promise, the promise of the Christ child and of the fulfillment of prophecy, are a part of the legacy of Christmas. WELCOME! It is a pleasure to have you worship with us this morning. Let us worship the Lord with gladness! If you are a visitor, interested in membership, would like to receive our newsletter, or would like a pastoral visit, please check the appropriate box on the fellowship pad. We hope to see you often. You are welcome at Zion. The Cry Room: It s great to have children in church! That s the sound of a healthy congregation. If you ever feel as if you would like to step out with your children, our cry room has a window and speakers to keep you involved with the service while caring for your child(ren) s needs. Origins of Advent Advent the first season of the liturgical year includes the four Sundays and weeks prior to December 25 th. Advent dates from the fourth century, when it lasted 40 days and included fasting and solemnity, much like lent. Advent is from adventus, Latin for coming, referring to Jesus birth in Bethlehem and also his second coming. The traditional colors of advent are purple for penitence or blue for hope. Names of the Advent Candles Over the years the candles of the Advent wreath have been given names. The blue candle lit the first week is the Prophecy Candle. The blue candle added the second week is the Bethlehem Candle. The pink candle for the third week is the Shepherds Candle. The blue candle that rounds out the wreath on the fourth week is the Angels Candle. TODAY: ANNUAL SCANDINAVIAN BAKE SALE! UFF DA! Scandinavian goodies will be for sale following the worship service. There will be no early sales. Gledelig Jul Dreams for Kids/Make-A-Wish Silent Auction ends TODAY after bake sale. Dreams for Kids is the local fundraising arm of Make-A-Wish. Funding local wishes is a tall order as wishes can cost as much as $10, YOU have the opportunity to support local wish children thru the Silent Auction. The gift baskets and silent auction items will be outside the office door during church and office hours. Pick up a gift for someone on your list and help a critically ill child at the same time.

2 Sunday School Program NEXT SUNDAY! Sunday, December 16 th during the 10 a.m. service our Sunday School children will perform The Meaning of Christmas Shines Through. Please come and support our Sunday School children! WELCA is collecting mittens, caps and scarves to be donated to LSS for needy children. There is a basket in the narthex/lobby for your donations. The last day to bring them is Sun., Dec. 16 th. CCLI License # Augsburg Fortress License # SAS ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMOR Phone Web site: zionamoroffice@prtel.com Pastor James Gronbeck History of Lucia According to legend, Lucia was a medieval saint who carried food and drink to hungry folk in the province of Värmland, Sweden during a period of famine. She was seen across Lake Vänern with her white gown and crown of lights. Today's costume has the same gown and crown. The Lucia legend is said to have originated in Syracuse on the island of Sicily. A young girl, about to be a bride, gave her entire dowry to the poor of her village and admitted that she had become a Christian. She was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake on December 13, 304 A.D. Much later in history, the early Church made her a saint - Santa (Saint) Lucia. Italian artists sometimes picture her as a blind girl holding a lamp. She is a patron saint for Italian fishermen and she is said to help guide them home through the rough seas during a storm. There are many legends about her and in each one Lucia stands as a symbol of light and hope to all. St. Lucia's coming begins the feasting, merriment, singing and the spirit of friendliness and goodwill that lasts all through the holidays. St. Lucia's day is a celebration of legends, but it is also a remembering of a young woman who truly loved Jesus. The white robe speaks of her purity and the red sash of her testimony of faith in her Savior even to dying. The tray of sweet breads reminds us that she loved and served the poor and the persecuted with her life. Finally, the crown of evergreens and the halo of candles speak of the eternal life Lucia now has in Jesus SHARE A POINSETA If you would like to share a poinsettia with Zion this Christmas, the cost is $10.00 per plant. You may take your plant home after the last Christmas Eve service. The plants may be given in memory or in honor of someone or can be purchased for personal use. Order forms are in the narthex/lobby. 2

3 Missions Reflection: Darkness, cold, disease, anger, hunger, anxiety, estrangement, depression, jealousy, cruelty, and the like, are not so far away, especially when we remember that we are responsible for others who suffer more than we do. Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. We lighten the darkest part of the year in a dry winter wilderness with candles and cookies, to show our faith in the God who sent His Son to be our Lord. In the midst of darkness, we celebrate the light of Christ, as we celebrate Christ s humble servant Lucia Against The Darkness: Cookies! Read Matthew 4. TODAY Lucia Sunday 9:15 a.m. 1:00 p.m. THIS WEEK AT ZION NO Sunday School Lucia Breakfast Worship Contemporary Coffee Fellowship Bake Sale Dreams for Kids Silent Auction Ends Youth Sledding at Luther Crest NO Faith N Films MONDAY 3:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry TUESDAY 6:30 p.m. Bible Study Common Meeting WEDNESDAY 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Pr Text Study Ruth Circle Potluck Council Praise team Choir New Members Welcome THURSDAY 2:00 p.m. Giving Tree Deadline FRIDAY 8:30 a.m. Dreams for Kids/Make A Wish Meeting Tiding Information Due NEXT SUNDAY Communion and Sunday School Program 8:40 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Sunday School Program Dress Rehearsal Worship with Sunday School Program Coffee Fellowship January Action Group Patrick Murphy Concert Thank you to the Praise Team for the special music this morning. Thanks also to Lucia and the Lucia girls for their participation in the breakfast and worship service. AND thank you to Lynn Melchior for leading worship and preaching today Lakeland Hospice Angel Tree A $10.00 donation to Lakeland Hospice will provide you the opportunity to decorate the tree with an angel or take the angel home with you. The Hospice Angel Tree is located in the narthex/lobby. Angel Ornaments are available at the tree after the service. 3

4 Need a Stocking Stuffer? God s Acres T- Shirts will be available for purchase today in the Narthex. Cost $ Proceeds from the sale will support 2019 God s Acres improvement projects FREE FOOT CARE CLINIC What: Foot care for those who cannot care for their own feet adequately When: Tuesday, Dec. 18 th - Appointments start at 8:30 a.m. Where: Zion Lutheran Church of Amor Who: Anyone in need bring and/or recommend a friend. How: Call the church office What to bring: A basin; one towel; your own clippers if available; your own lotion if you prefer. Call Marlys for more information. Thank you! A Performance by Patrick Murphy featuring Christmas and Holiday Music. Join us at Zion of Amor on Sunday, December 16 th at 3:30 p.m. for a fun, festive afternoon. Refreshments following concert. Free will offering to go to purchase of a new PA system for Zion! Refreshments served following concert Today s Stewardship Thought - 2 nd Sunday of Advent: And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value (PHILIPPIANS 1:9-10) Glittery holiday ads can blind us to our stewardship values and distort our needs and wants. It is important that during this season of endless buying we remember that each of us also has the need to give back to God and to those that are in need. Giving Tree 2018 THE TAGS ARE GONE!!!!! AMAZING how quickly they disappeared. THANK YOU!! Just a couple reminders: Please turn LARRYS money & all Walmart Gift Cards into the Church office along with those tags. If you could put the gift cards in an envelope and tape the tag to the front that would be great! (New this year: Make checks out to Zion) And please remember... every gift needs to be back at the Church (or dropped off at the Battle Lake School) by THURSDAY, Dec. 13 2:00!!!! THANK YOU!! 4

5 LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE: Experience God s Compassionate Love Thursday, Dec., 20 th at 6:00 p.m. Every year, some of us can t enter into the joy of the Christmas Season. It could be many things; mourning someone who has died or who may die soon, coping with the aftermath of divorce, job loss, illness any of the different, unfortunate and tragic circumstances that life sometimes serves up. The Longest Night Service is a way to acknowledge this reality. The service is a quiet, meditative time of remembering, sharing our hurting places with God, and preparing our hearts for the coming of Jesus. Come join us for prayer, scripture, readings and hymns. The name Longest Night reflects that during the season of long nights, those nights can be when sadness and loss seem overwhelming. It is especially difficult when, for others, it is a season of joy Mark Your Calendars.. Sunday, Dec 9 Lucia Breakfast at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec 9 Scandinavian Bake Sale at Sunday, Dec 9 Dreams for Kids Silent Auction ends Sunday, Dec 9 Youth Sledding at Luther Crest 1:00pm Sunday, Dec 16 Sunday School Program at Sunday, Dec 16 Patrick Murphy Concert at 3:30 p.m. *Free will offering to go to purchase of a new PA system! Thursday, Dec 20 Longest Night Service at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec 23 Pastor Vetter Story Sermon! Monday, Dec 24 Christmas Eve Services 3:00 p.m. Family 5:00 p.m. Traditional Candlelight 10:00 p.m. Candlelight 5