We look forward to having you come to Sunday School in the New Year! Origins of Advent

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1 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMOR County Hwy 74, Battle Lake, MN Church Office Website: Contemporary Worship Service Sunday School Program Sunday, December 16, ZION S MISSION STATEMENT: We are claimed, gathered, and sent forth to serve and witness in Jesus name. ZION S VISION STATEMENT: Zion is a welcoming church where all people will experience a vibrant lifelong journey in faith through worship, education, mission and service. SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM: The Meaning of Christmas Shines Through 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. Thank you to our Sunday Schoolers! Terrific job kids! We thank you for sharing your love of Jesus and helping us celebrate his birthday. Thanks to all the families and friends for bringing them to Sunday School, church and other events here at Zion. We are appreciative of being able to help your child grow in their faith. We look forward to having you come to Sunday School in the New Year! 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.

2 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 Everyone needs help at some time At Zion, we have many ways to help you, a loved one, a friend or a neighbor. We can pray. Call anyone on the prayer chain. We don t go thru life alone. Stephen Ministers are lay people trained to provide one-to-one care to people experiencing a difficult time in life. Please call Pastor Jim at for more information Do you have hardships or short-term projects that you need help with? Helping Hands may be right for you. Contact the office at for more information. A Performance by Patrick Murphy featuring Christmas and Holiday Music. Join us at Zion of TODAY 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! 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. TODAY is the last day to bring them! ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMOR Phone Web site: zionamoroffice@prtel.com Pastor James Gronbeck: Home NEW MEMBER SUNDAY Sunday, January 13 th Please contact Pastor Jim or the church office if you or anyone you know is interested in membership or associate membership. TODAY Communion and Sunday School Program 8:40 a.m. 11:00 a.m. THIS WEEK AT ZION 3:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. MONDAY 5:00 p.m. Foundation Meeting TUESDAY 8 30 a.m. Foot Care Clinic Bible Study WEDNESDAY 9:30 a.m. Noon 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Sunday School Program Dress Rehearsal Worship with Sunday School Program Coffee Fellowship NO January Action Group Patrick Murphy Concert Youth Christmas Dinner at Mable Murphy s Pr Text Study Office Staff Meeting Confirmation Choir New Members Welcome 2

3 THURSDAY NEXT SUNDAY 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m. Pastor s Conference Meeting Longest Night Service Bible Study NO Sunday School Worship- Traditional Pastor Vetter s Story Sermon Coffee Fellowship Thank you to the Praise Team for the special music this morning. 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 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. All are welcome. GIVING TREE 2018 Another successful Giving Tree year! All of the packages have been delivered to school where they are awaiting distribution to families. MANY, MANY THANKS for your generosity and commitment to the project!!!!!!!!! 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.. Thank you! 3

4 Today s Stewardship Thought: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6) St. Paul reminds us that our God is an abundant God, the ultimate giver of gifts. He promises to give us all that we need. When we trust that God will take care of us, it is easier for us to share what we have been given. 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. Missions Reflection: Jesus is born for you. To what lengths will the Creator of the Universe go to have a relationship with humanity? In Jesus, God shows you how far God is willing to go to have a relationship with you: The Word is made flesh and dwells among us, killed, and is raised from the dead. It s as if God is singing to each human being, All I want for Christmas is You!. This Savior comes for people who are hurting and broken; not just for the people who think they have it all together All I Want for Christmas is You. Read Luke 2:1-20. Feeling Lucky? Want to feel like you won the lottery? Signup for 1 week of snow removal! (and hope for no snow!) Zion is looking for able bodied people (or teams) that will remove snow from the entryways. A snow blower is in the shed and we have lots of shovels. This process worked very well last year. Sign up calendar and more information is in the narthex/lobby 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 nd Annual Christmas Carol Sing Along Event Sponsored by the Ottertail Business and Community Association December 18 th, 6:00 p.m. Ottertail City Park

5 Mark Your Calendars.. 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 Story Sermon! CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES 3:00 p.m. - Family Service geared to younger families with children. Christmas readings, carols, and a children s sermon. 5:00 p.m. - Traditional Candlelight Service with carols, readings, choir, children s and adult sermons, and the lighting of candles. 10:00 p.m. - Candlelight Service with lots of joyful singing of Christmas carols and the lighting of candles. 5