The Portico. Saturday 5:00 PM Chapel Service traditional format Your Church Staff is here to serve you

Transcription

1 The Portico Dr. Martin Luther Church 325 S. Main Street Oconomowoc, WI PHONE: (262) Church Web Site: drmartinlutherchurch.org Cluster Web site: lakecountrycluster.org Saturday 5:00 PM Chapel Service traditional format Your Church Staff is here to serve you Senior Pastor Larry Harpster (262) Music Director Alison O Leary (262) Administrative Secretary Mary Engel (262) Volunteer Coordinator Bobbie Dierbeck (262) Sundays 9:00 AM Worship Includes a variety of musical styles, a blend of hymns and contemporary songs so that there is something for everyone at each service. Sunday School begins in worship at the 10:30 AM Praise Service Sundays 10:30 AM Praise Service Roll the Stone, our Praise Band continues to perform. Join us at this upbeat and energetic service.

2 Page 2 Our special fund appeal is in its final stage. Every member of our church has been asked to pray and consider commitments to our capital fund and our on-going ministry through our Seeds of Hope Fund Appeal. To all of you who have made your commitments to our appeal, we say a most heartfelt THANK YOU! If you have not yet completed your commitment form, please do so today and return it to the church office using the return envelope. If you were not contacted and wish to make a commitment, please contact the church office. As we look forward to our Christmas celebrations, please reflect on the words below: God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) God is love is the way the Apostle John describes God in 1 John 4:16. In the five chapters of his first letter St. John, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote eloquently about our God of love. And how does God show his love? He shows his love by giving! God so loved the world that he gave is the Biblical expression of how God really shows his love. The good news is that God loves the unlovable! God did not love the world because it was deserving of love. Because of sin, the world was broken and stained by sin and all its consequences. Yet God loved the fallen world and was determined that sin and death would not have the last word! Likewise, God does not love us because we are so deserving of love. The truth is quite the opposite! We are sinners and have been from before birth. Each day we confirm that truth with our sinful thoughts, words and actions. And yet God loves us. In fact, God loves us so much that he made that first Christmas so special he sent his only-begotten Son into our world to be our Savior. Christmas had its beginning with the love of God. And that love was shown in giving. Christmas is a celebration of God s great gift of a Savior. Perhaps that is why we also celebrate Christmas by giving. After all, because of Christ Jesus, we are the children of God. St. John said that so well in the opening words of his third chapter: How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! Children bear the resemblance of their parents in looks and actions. In the same way we as God s children are also to bear the family resemblance. We love because God first loved us! We give because God has first given to us! So this Christmas as we give and receive gifts may we be reminded of the great love and gift of God in a Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. We can also give ourselves another gift by reading and reflecting on the five chapters of St. John s first letter. Merry Christmas! May the love of God shine upon us and may we reflect that love back to God and to one another as we freely and generously give to support the work of the kingdom and bring joy to others. In that way we demonstrate that we really are the children of God.

3 Page 3 MARTIN LUTHER TO MAKE APPEARANCE AT OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM I have no pleasure in any man who despises music. It is no invention of ours: it is a gift of God. I place it next to theology. Satan hates music: he knows how it drives the evil spirit out of us. (Martin Luther) This year our Sunday School Christmas program will be on December 20, as part of the 9 am service. There will be one thing unusual about the program this year, Martin Luther will make an appearance during the service. One of his Christmas hymns will also be featured. Christmas was an important part of Luther s faith journey. Martin Luther's conception of the Nativity found expression in his sermons and his songs. There is a book called Luther s Christmas Book that shares excerpts from his Christmas sermons. Luther in his preaching lifts up the humanity of the Nativity story. He reflects on Mary's distress at giving birth with no midwife or water, on Joseph's misgivings, the Wise Men's reflections and on Herod's cunning. In his preaching Luther suggests the question: If we had lived in Bethlehem when Jesus was born, would we have believed that this newborn baby was God in human form? And he reminds us that keeping Christmas is a year-around mission of caring for those in need. If you need a unique gift for a Lutheran this year consider his Christmas book. I hope you can join us on December 20 th and meet Luther in a special way. Blessings, Pastor Larry CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES Thursday, December 24 3:00pm 5:00pm Casual Family Worship with Holy Communion Children are actively involved in the service. This service includes congregational carols, vocal solos, music ensembles: Festival Choir, Rock the Cradle and Heaven s Bells, a children s sermon and lighting of candles. Candlelight Worship with Holy Communion This service includes congregational carols, vocal solos, music ensembles: Festival Choir, Rock the Cradle, Heaven s Bells and lighting of candles. CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE Friday, December 25 10:00am Festival of Christmas Worship with Holy Communion We will be singing many of the favorite old-time Christmas hymns and carols. Saturday, December 26 No Service Sunday, December 27 9:00AM Worship and 10:30AM Praise Worship Violet Elaine Ware, daughter of Brad and Michelle Ware, was baptized on Sunday November 15th. Sophia Kaylynn Helser, daughter of Justin and Jamie Helser, was baptized on November 29th. We pray God s richest blessing be with Violet and Sophia as they grow The Staff at Dr. Martin Luther Church wish you a Blessed Christmas and a New Year full of love and joy. Pastor Larry Mary Jody Alison Bobbie

4 Page 4 Quilting for Lutheran World Relief What s New In Sunday School! Here we are, already planning our Christmas program! We ve had an exciting start to our Sunday School year. In collaboration with the Seeds of Hope Building Campaign and Stewardship, all classes began with the discovery of their unique talents and how to use them to serve others within the church and beyond. Check out how talented our kids are; take a look at the Build Your Life With Jesus bulletin board in the education wing! Classes toured the church learning of the different ways people help others including St. Bens, Panera Breaad, Quilters, BAGS, the Wishing Well, prayer shawls, baby blankets, and home visits. Kids also helped clean the church, made gratitude journals, discussed practicing life lessons of stewardship and defined words used in Bible passages, made thank you cards for volunteers in our church and learned about tithing using M&Ms. The younger classes jumped into the story of Adam & Eve learning about how they were stewards of God and about forgiveness. And a round of applause for the families who made donations of 60 winter coats and sweatshirts for those in need this winter!! Congratulations to Isabella Meuer, Lucas Voelker, Brynn Wright and Joseph Zastrow! All received their very own Bible engraved with their name from Dr. Martin Luther Church. Thank you to B.J. Wright for making it possible! As I mentioned, it s been quite the start to Sunday School and we re not slowing down. Many are hard at work bringing our Sunday School Christmas program to life. The program will take place on December 20 during the 10:30 service. A birthday bash for Jesus will follow in Fellowship Hall with a special guest from the North Pole. Bring your cameras! There will be cake, a craft, gifts and best of all - fellowship with friends and family. Please see below for a few important dates and watch s for more information regarding the Christmas program and one more outreach project before our break. Blessings and Peace, Your DMLC Sunday School Team Dec. 6 Christmas program rehearsal 11:30-12:30 Dec. 13 Christmas program rehearsal 11:30-12:30 Dec. 20 Christmas Program & Birthday Party for Jesus Dec. 27 Christmas break NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Jan. 3 Christmas break NO SUNDAY SCHOOL Jan. 10 Sunday School resumes Quilters will not be meeting in December. See you all on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. Seasoned Lutherans will meet on Wednesday December 16 at noon for a sing along with James Eberlein on accordian. Christmas songs and maybe a couple of polkas!!! Join us for a home cooked Christmas dinner, friendship & fun! Super Kids Super Kids welcomed new 5th graders with a pizza party and a game of Halloween Twister in October! In November they rang bells for the Salvation Army at the Pick and Save at Pabst Farms. Super Kids is open to 5th and 6th graders who are interested in Christian fellowship and community service projects. Please contact Lesley Kountz for more information at or lesley.kountz@yahoo.com. Upcoming events: December 5: Bingo at Parkland Commons, 1:00-2:00pm January 9: Serving breakfast at the Hope Center in Waukesha, 8:00am December 7 All games start at 7:30pm unless other arrangements are made by teams playing each other. St. Mark s #2 will be starting their games at 8:00pm. DMLC at St. John s, Watertown December 14 St. Mark s #2, Watertown at DMLC December 21 Immanuel, Watertown at DMLC

5 Page 5 Psalm 33:1-4 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness ~ Heaven s Bells present the Advent song Guide me Oh Thou Great Jehovah during the 9am service ~ Youth Christmas Program during the 9am service ~ Come hear DMLC s Festival Choir, Heaven s Bells, and other special music during the Christmas Eve services at 3pm & 5pm ~ Christmas Morning service at 10am ~ No Saturday evening service due to Christmas Holiday Interested in getting involved with music in some way? Talk to Alison to learn more about joining ensembles and other ways to participate in the music ministry at DMLC! A Healing Blessing will be available during each service the weekend of December 12 and 13 Newsletter Deadline The deadline for the January issue of The Portico is Monday, December 14. All information for the month of January must be submitted by this date. WISHING WELL DECEMBER HAT, SCARVES, & MITTENS A tradition at DMLC for many years has been the collection of new winter hats, scarves and mittens during the month of December. These items will be divided and delivered to The Hope Center in Waukesha and Lake Country Caring located in Hartland. LCC s mission is to provide assistance to families in the Lake Country and surrounding areas. The Hope Center is committed to serving those in need throughout Waukesha County. They are a non-profit organization that has provided Hope for over 20 years. No one should have to live without Hope. SNOW REMOVAL CHALLENGE The sign-up sheet has been placed on the table in the Sanctuary. Please take time to review the dates and select a week-end that maybe your family would like to take the snow removal challenge. This challenge involves shoveling the sidewalks and the church steps. If you have questions regarding this opportunity to serve, please contact me in the office. I would be thrilled to hear from you!! COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP FOR JANUARY-MAY Please review the dates and pick one that you would like your family or church group to host. The sign-up sheet has been place on the table in the Sanctuary. There are many dates available so please be sure to sign up this weekend. Coffee hour is an excellent time to catch up with your fellow members and also an opportunity to welcome our newest members to DMLC. We cannot do this without your help. THANK YOU!!!! As another year is coming to a close I must take time to say THANK YOU to our very dedicated men, women and children who faithfully arrive each week(end) to assist and serve. As coordinator, I schedule volunteer duties quarterly. We have volunteers who are assigned on a rotation basis. WOW!! That is awesome. To all of our Greeters, Assisting Ministers, Communion Assistants, Acolytes, Ushers, Youth Ushers, Chancel members, Coffee Hour volunteers, Money Counters, Grass Cutters and Snow Shovelers, please accept my thanks and gratitude. I am truly blessed to be able to work with you and your families. YOU are a GIFT to me. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Volunteer Coordinator. Wishing you and your families a most blessed Christmas! Bobbie Dierbeck

6 Page 6 DMLC Church Council Minutes All Men are invited to participate in a great casual learning and fellowship experience among the "Early Risers" that takes place on the SEC- OND Saturday of every month at the Cafe La- Belle (located within the Shorehaven complex) from 7:30-8:30 am. Please contact Chris Butschke ( ) or Mike Driscoll ( ) for directions/additional details. The Thursday Night Men's Bible Study Group will not meet in December. We will resume again on Thursday, January 28 at the office of Tricia Troops at 7:00 PM. We are currently studying the Books of Peter. Any one is invited feel free to bring a friend even if they are not a member of DMLC. It is always welcoming to get all views on the readings in the Bible. Any questions contact Mike Schmitz at GIFT (Growing In Faith Together) We will be taking off the month of December. Join us again when we resume on Thursday, January 14, All Women are welcome. October 25, 2015 Attendance: James Costigan, Erik Hayes, Joy Shong, Kathy Stultz, and Pastor Larry 1. Reflection time: Pastor Larry led council in reflection time about our Confirmation experience. 2. Approval of Agenda: James Costigan motioned to approve minutes, Erik Hayes second, and agenda approved. 3. Erik Hayes took minutes at last meeting and will forward them to council. 4. Financial Report: Given by Joy Shong. Giving this down this year. Our expenses aren t out of line at all, it s the giving that is down. Pledges are starting to come in now. The James Company stated more pledges come in typical during a capital campaign. The Seeds of Hope has $125, We are almost finished paying the James Company. 5. Capital campaign update: Rolled out last week and we had $97,000 come in early. Next week we will have approximately $225,000. We have commitments around $10,000 and $15,000 already. This week phone calls will be made by the committee reminding people to return their pledges. 6. Discussion about the requirements of the Land contract requirements. We are going to have to plant around the property and planting has to grow at least 7 Ft. tall. We will probably plant the trees during the May clean-up day. Were also going to spruce up the dumpster. Discussion about hiring a Landscape company who can recommend plants for us. We will also plant near the dumpster. 7. New Members: Pastor Larry reports that we have 4 or 5 new families joining the church. The new member class will start November 1 st. 8. Budget: Joy and Pastor Larry are working on the next Budget and a meeting has been set. 9. Prayer time 10. Next meeting Sunday, November 15 th at 11:45 a.m. Stewardship Report October Monthly Actual Budget Income $26, $26, Expense $23, $26, SAVE THE DATE! May 20, 2016 We have reserved the upper level at Lutherdale Ministries in Elkhorn for our Women s Retreat. Watch for more details to follow. Monthly Income Expense $2, Year to Date Actual Budget Income $230, $267, Expense $266, $267, Year to Date Income Expense ($35,944.51)

7 Page 7 Coffee Hour Server s Schedule Dec. 6 Dec. 13 Dec. 20 Dec. 27 Holiday Church Office hours: The office will be closed on Thursday, December 24; Friday, December 25; Thursday, December 31; Friday, January 1. Poinsettia Plants We will once again be decorating the sanctuary with Red Poinsettia Plants for Christmas. If you would like to order a plant, please call the church office at Your plant can be picked up after the Christmas Day service. Steve Vogt s Ushering Team Scrapbookers Tricia s Troops No Coffee Hour Homebound Cookie Project Please mark Monday, December 7 at 9:00am on your calendars. We will be meeting in Fellowship Hall to pack cookies for our homebound members. We are asking members to donate 2-3 dozen homemade Christmas cookies. Please fill out the form below and place it in the offering plate. Any questions please call Connie Higgins at (262) Drop off of cookies will be the weekend of December 5 th and 6 th or when you come to help on December 7 th. Please join us as we package some Christmas Spirit for those members of our congregation who cannot be with us. Homebound Cookie Project December 7 th at 9:00 a.m. [ ] I will donate 2 3 dozen Christmas cookies (drop off Dec. 5 and 6) [ ] I will help pack cookies on Monday, December 7 th at 9:00 a.m. Name 2016 Mission Trip to Harlan, Kentucky We're glad to announce an adult mission trip to Harlan, Kentucky in April of 2016, sponsored by St. Luke's Waukesha, Dr. Martin Luther Oconomowoc, Church of the Resurrection Pewaukee and Atonement Muskego. The date of the trip is April 17 (Sunday morning) to April 23 (Saturday evening). We're working with the Mennonite Central Committee at a SWAP (Sharing with Appalachian People) site in southeastern Kentucky. We'll have room for adults on this trip. We'll have an organizational meeting in January to give you the details of the trip. In the meantime we invite you to take a look at your calendar and check your availability. We expect this trip to fill up, so registration will be first come, first served. Who: Any adult, 18 year and older What: Appalachian Adult Mission Project When: Sunday, April 17 - Saturday, April 23 Where: Harlan, Kentucky How: Traveling in 15 passenger vans for a short! 10 hour trip to Appalachia Cost: $ per person (financial assistance available) Why: The opportunity to be God's hands and feet to those living in one of the poorest regions of the country; the opportunity to be in fellowship with some incredible people from Southeastern Wisconsin; the opportunity to travel to a region with a culture very different from our own; the opportunity to have a lot of fun! Name Phone Number: I am interested in going on the Mission Trip.