THE PARISH VOICE. Finley Lutheran Parish December 2016

Transcription

1 THE PARISH VOICE Finley Lutheran Parish December 2016 Come, Lord, Jesus. When I grew up the prayer I remembered was the table prayer, Come Lord, Jesus. Be our Guest and let these gifts to us be blessed. As short as the prayer is it often was just one more thing that prolonged the waiting until we could actually eat. Kids get hungry and when they do they want to eat, NOW! Christmas is coming and we have to wait. We have to wait until Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to open presents, to eat our favorite Christmas cookies or whatever the traditions may be. Advent is a season of preparation, anticipation, and yes, waiting. The Church looks and waits for the coming of her Savior. The Church encompasses all the facets of the season in the single word that defines our Advent worship: Come! Throughout the Advent season that single word is our sure and certain hope as we wait. Come, Lord Jesus! While we wait we make outward preparations for the outward celebration of Christmas. But there is also the inner preparation of our hearts and minds. We are preparing our hearts and minds to welcome our Savior, who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In order to prepare for his coming we wait. How do we do that? Special points of interest: Pastor Cheryl Prayer Requests Christmas Schedule Angel Tree Archer s Parsonage Roof FL Minutes Military Gifts Calendar Quiet time and worship helps keep your faith focused on the right things, enabling you to properly wait for Christ s coming in your life each day not just waiting for Christmas Eve. Worship services not only keep our hearts and minds focused on Christ but keeps us connected to each other as a family of faith who celebrates the God who became human flesh and dwells among us. Please come to worship this season and know you are most warmly invited. Sunday, December 11, 9:00 AM Sheyenne Valley has worship with the Golden Harps Choir Sunday, December 11, 3:00 PM Blue Christmas Worship Service Sunday, December 18, 10:30 AM Finley Christmas Program Sunday, December 18, 4:00 PM Ostervold Christmas Program Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 2:00 PM Sheyenne Valley Saturday, December 24, Christmas Eve, 4:00 PM Ostervold Sunday, December 23, Christmas Day, 10:30 AM Finley Come and worship! Come celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus! A most blessed and holy Advent and Christmas to you all! Pastor Cheryl Berg Pastoral Acts: Funeral November 26, 2016 Zachary Fife

2 Your Prayers Are Asked For... Families of Zach Fife and Carl Kvislen and Michael Cameron during his deployment If you have prayer requests, please contact the office at , call or text Gina , or send a to finleylutheranparish@mlgc.com. Weekly Prayer Families... Please include these families in your personal prayers throughout each week. The month of December, we will be praying for the following families: December 6th: Dana & Carol Carlson, Craig & Melissa Carlson, Robert & Irene Nygord, Susan Ostenson, Mike & Holly Stromsodt, Jeff & April Swenson, Bob & Judy Verwest December 13th: Tina Carlson, Dennis & Darlene Carlson, Bob & Christine Paulsen, Bill & Carolyn Paulsen, Hadley Verwest, Russ & Pam Walcker, Jason & Heidi Walswick December 20th: Gordon Carlson, Evonne Carlson, Karen Smith, Kasie Smith, Loretta Wendlick, Larry & Linda Wendlick, David Wigen December 27th: Jeff & Jodie Carlson, Larry Carlson, Brenda Voelker, Eldris Wilkens, Thelma Olson, Jeff Wigen, Trevor & Emily Wigen Christmas Schedule Christmas Programs Sheyenne Valley - Dec.11th - 9am Golden Harps Choir with a Lunch to follow. Free Will Offering will be taken for the group Information on Golden Harps below Finley - Dec.18th - 10:30am Worship Ostervold - Dec. 18th - 4pm with a potluck - no 9am church service Christmas Eve Services - Dec. 24th Sheyenne Valley - 2pm Ostervold - 4pm Christmas Day Service - Dec. 25th Finley - 10:30am Ever wonder what Heaven Sounds Like? The Golden Harp Choir consists of 7 local harpists. They gather once a week to learn and play together. They travel to local nursing homes and spread hope and harmony through healing harp music. The began performing together in 2013 under the direction of Arioso Music Academy in Grand Forks. Sounds like Heaven! Happy Harping! Amariah Pearlstein

3 Angel Tree At Finley Motors It s as easy as 1, 2, 3!! 1. Stop by Finley Motors & choose an ornament (or two!) off of the Christmas tree. These ornaments list gender, age and their wish list. 2. Bring the items wrapped back to Finley Motors; along with the ornament and place by the tree by December 12 th. Steele Co. Social Services will distribute them to families in our community. Christmas: The Real Story Bible Study December 1,8,15, and 22 at 9:30 AM The Bible tells a very adult story of Jesus' birth. Social outcasts and Gentiles were honored witnesses; a powerful king became fearful and murderous. This course explores these issues, and reexamines traditional Western assumptions about the first Christmas in the context of Middle Eastern customs and culture. Come and go deep into the Christmas story. Meet in the Fireside room of Finley Lutheran. Steele County Food Pantry For December: In addition to the regular canned goods and non perishable goods, there is a need for Diapers & Baby Wipes. They are urgently needed by our local community! These essential items are not covered under food stamps or other assistance. Partially opened diaper packs are welcome. Will take all sizes. Big thanks to everyone who brought a filled box or supplies to fill the boxes and to the people that packaged all the shoe boxes and delivered them to Cooperstown. With everyone's help this project reaches over 100 countries. Ostervold & Finley Welca paid for the shipping of the there boxes. Christmas Crafts December 7th at 5:30 PM Come join us for a night of fun making Christmas crafts. Open to everyone in the community and all ages. Supper will be served. Bring your friends! Caroling at 7pm weather permitting!

4 Christmas Poinsettia If you would like to purchase or have the church purchase a poinsettia for Christmas in memory of a loved one let the church office or Lori Mehus know by December 14. Ecumenical Blue Christmas Worship Service Sunday, December 11 th. A simple reflective and quiet worship service will be offered with words of comfort and hope from the Bible. Candle lighting, prayers and singing of gentle Christmas carols will help all who are suffering or find the season less than joyous for whatever reason. Come hear words of hope and understanding. Come, bring a friend and enjoy the hope of Christmas. The community is invited to attend. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. Reminder to let the office know when/if you are leaving for the winter so your newsletter can be delivered to you wherever you are going. Bulk mail does not forward. Hello from hot Mendoza, Argentina! Happy Thanksgiving! It is hard to believe that 2016 is coming to an end. God has certainly been faithful in guiding us through the joys and the trials. The more we know Him, the deeper we sense His love and care!... Thank you for praying for L. Although we don t see her as often, she has made it a point to stay in touch with us. She came to the last apologetics study where we invited one of the pastors of the local church we attend to come and share with the group. His testimony was well-accepted. Please continue to pray for L and for the Sunday apologetics study.... Thank you for praying for our trip to Salta. We are grateful for God's care for us. Please pray for Vince as he is assuming some treasurer responsibilities on top of being the field director.... We are grateful for the Thursday apologetics group. They are Christian young people who live in a spiritually hostile environment at the university. They come eager to learn, ask questions, and talk about difficult contemporary issues. Pray that they will be able to stand firm in the Truth.... Thank you for praying for my parents (Ruth s). They are continuing to adjust to new circumstances. Please pray for continued physical well-being for my mother and for grace as my father continues with his struggle with Alzheimer's.... We thank the Lord for our coworker, Rachel Stull, who has served with us this year. Pray for her as she now moves to the city of Córdoba to begin an exciting ministry with university students who live in a residence setting for girls. Pray for us as we make a trip to Córdoba next week to help her with the move.... We consider it a great privilege to serve in Argentina. We are so thankful for partners who stand with us through prayer and finances. We are soon returning to the US for a couple of months to report back to some of the churches that are a part of our support team. HMA (Home Ministry Assignment) entails traveling thousands of miles across the country. Please pray earnestly for us during these next months so that we may be a blessing as we challenge those we meet to become more involved in missions! May you experience an extra-meaningful Christmas this year! Vince and Ruth Archer

5 Parsonage Roof The parish parsonage has recently been undergoing a few updates. The roof was patched so the walls could be fixed and painted. The inside was painted, new carpet and linoleum was laid, fixtures were updated, new front and back doors, curtains, and odds and ends throughout. The roof was to be shingled yet this fall but with the cold weather already here, it looks like that will have to hold off until warmer weather in the spring. The cost of shingling the roof is approximately $ $8000 and, additional costs may surface once the old shingles have been removed. The expense for the roof is in excess to the regular bills that are occurred by the parsonage on a monthly/yearly basis. People donated their time, skills, money and materials for the parsonage this fall. Some donations have already come in for the Parsonage Roof Fund. If you would like to help out in any way with a donation towards the roof fund it would be greatly appreciated. Parsonage Committee Finley Council Minutes November 16, 2016 Present: Lori Mehus, Jason Rayner, Carol Anderson, Harlan Brager, Dale Good, Wayne Beckman, Art Krueger, Tom Campbell and Pastor Cheryl Berg. Secretary and Treasurer s Reports were received. Budget was approved for the next year. WELCA : 36 Christmas boxes for Samaritan s Purse sere delivered to Cooperstown. WELCA paid $250 in postage. Front doors have been ordered. Art Krueger and Thaine Hanson cleaned the leaves from the church yard and Steve Neva cleaned the gutters. Sunday School rooms need to be cleaned. Fire extinguishers need to be replaced or recharged. Weather stripping needs replacing on the back door. Blinds in the Pastors office are needed. A deacon and synod assembly delegates are needed. Paul Kroeplin is will to be a trustee. New members were officially received: Hadley Verwest, Wade, Sara and Devon Stalboeger. Pastor Cheryl Took the confirmation students to the Northland Rescue Mission in Grand Forks to help with meal preparation and then to the Islamic Center to experience a prayer service. There will be a Blue Christmas service on December 11 th Discussion of forming a staff support committee Next meeting is Thursday, December 15th

6 Care packages being sent to our troops. Suggested items include snacks, toiletries, games, books, socks, AAA batteries, & more. Thank you for helping us help our troops!

7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sheyenne Valley Ushers: David & Julie Hoverson Finley Ushers: Randy & Kathy Good FLC Decorating: Art & Sandy Krueger/ Steve & Audrey Neva FLC Altar: Judy Verwest & Donna Jacobson Ostervold Janitors: Glenn & Mary Jacobson 4 9:00 Ostervold 9:30 SS Finley 10:30 Finley 11 9:00 Sheyenne Valley presents Golden Harps Choir/ lunch to follow 10:30 Finley 2-4pm Santa Museum 3:00 Blue Christmas Service at FL 18 9:30 SS Finley 10:30 Finley/Communion 4:00 Ostervold Christmas Program Potluck Following 25 Christmas Day 10:30 Finley December :00am FL Quilting 3:45pm Confirmation 5:30pm Christmas Crafts at FL w/ supper :00am Pastor at Pastors Meeting Mayville Conf Meals-on-Wheels 7:00 School Concert :45pm Confirmation 21 9:00am FL Quilting Meals-on-Wheels 1 9:30am Parish Bible Study at FL in fireside room 8 9:30am Parish Bible Study at FL in fireside room 15 9:30am Parish Bible Study at FL in fireside room 7:00pm Finley Council 22 9:30am Parish Bible Study at FL in fireside room Christmas Eve Meals-on-Wheels 2:00 Sheyenne Valley 4:00 Ostervold 31 New Year s Eve

8 Finley Lutheran Parish PO Box Lincoln Ave. North Finley, ND Phone Pastor's Office: Return Service Requested The Parish Voice December Non Profit Org US Postage Pd Permit No 3 Finley, ND Finley Lutheran Parish Church Council Members Finley Lutheran President: Jason Rayner Secretary: Carol Anderson Treasurer: Lori Mehus Trustees: Harlan Brager, Wayne Beckman, Paul Kroeplin Deacons: Art Krueger, Dale Good Board of Ed: Angie Jerstad, Heidi Walswick, Chris Fife WELCA Rep: Diane Kroeplin, Mary Brager Financial Secretary: Chad Bomber Organist: Donna Smith Parsonage Committee: Duane Bakke, Thaine Hanson Sheyenne Valley Lutheran President: Julie Hoverson Secretary: Pam Monson Treasurer: Dave Hoverson Trustees: Lynn Carlson, Dana Carlson Deacons: Craig Carlson, Larry Carlson Financial Secretary: Keith Monson WELCA Rep: Ann Bremer Organist: Sexton: Dana Carlson Parsonage Committee: Jeff Carlson, Gordon Carlson Interim Pastor Cheryl Berg Ostervold Lutheran President: Karen Leslie Secretary: Carolyn Paulsen Treasurer: Pam Montag Trustees: Don Nygaard, Glenn Jacobson Deacons: Bob Paulsen, Kelly Jacobson Financial Secretary: Mary Jacobson WELCA Rep: Christine Paulsen Organist: Donna Smith Parsonage Committee: Jim Jacobson, Marlys Jacobson