All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

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1 In peace and shalom, To Live and Tell the Story of Jesus Pastor Ponderings All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us. Matthew chapter 1 In the closed in warmth of a dark mother s womb, the advent of a baby s birthing begins. In the darkness of a cold, violent, frightening world, the very innocence of life is breathed into creation, into our hearts. Advent occurs in the darkest of times in our winter lives here in Wisconsin. A time when our bones feel the chill of the ever-swirling north winds, and death comes to those who feel the holiday blues and pains of left-behind and loneliness approaching near. Advent is not a time of false cheeriness or early Christmas lights, parties and gift-buying. Jesus arriving is subtle, gentle, meek and mild and to be found in the rustic, hidden and often denied places of our lives in the center of our heart. Advent gives us permission to step back into the corners and the fields into the quietness within, where the stirrings of God s Spirit whisper hope. We sit in the darkness waiting for light. Light is Hope. Hope takes practice. To hope when we are waiting for a visit of a friend, who often must reschedule, takes practice. Hope, while waiting to be released from prison or a treatment facility, takes practice. Hope, while waiting in the surgical waiting room, takes practice. Hope is not some false idealism. Hope is born out of the reality of darkness and uncertainty. Hope will be renewed every morning in the presence of the light of the coming birth a new life born from the twisted, miscommunicated, harmful, thoughtless turns our lives go through. Hope poured out by the breath of a Spirit God like water to the thirsty soul. We wait with yearning. We wait with hope. For God is with us! May the Spirit fill you with hope this Advent season and the anticipated joy as you follow the star-light s guidance to a special Birth-Day!

2 these cool crosses using shaving cream and paint! Happy Birthday Jesus!! We re having a Birthday Party And everyone is invited! Let s hear our kids tell the story of Jesus and enjoy good company and tasty treats! Please come and join us on Wednesday, December 19th at 6:00 pm.

3 We have compiled a list of items that would greatly help the needs of others. Thank you for your continued support of the Food Pantry. Food Pantry Needs Stove Top Stuffing Pancake Mix Syrup Apple juice Grape juice Breakfast t cereal except Cheerios Canned Pork & Beans Mac & Cheese Cake mixes & Brownie mix Pineapple Mandarin oranges Ketchup Mustard Chicken Noodle soup Happy Holidays from Redeemer's Treasurer As we enter this season of Advent it is hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner. It doesn't look like Christmas yet but I am sure that white stuff will be here soon. We had a shortfall for the month of October of $ which was covered from memorial funds. We will have already had a Listening Session on December 2 to discuss where we want to go from here as we have a budget that exceeds our income so we want input from our members and we certainly want to keep all informed. Jesus is not only "the reason for the season" but Jesus is our Savior every day and we need to give back some of what we have been given and what a better way to do that than by supporting Redeemer Lutheran not only by serving but also by providing financially. Please continue to pray for Pastor, staff, council and all members. I pray for blessed holidays spent with family and friends. Redeemer Treasurer,

4 Feel free to drop by and say hi. I d love to meet you all! There s a new book in the church library called THE TURNAROUND CHURCH by Mary Louise Gifford. Mary was a first call Pastor to a church that had dwindled from 900 members in 1950 to only 25 in When Mary came the church was considering closing its doors. Under Mary s guidance that church was able to reinvent itself as an important part of the local community, and attendance had grown to over 65 members. Truly a remarkable turnaround. The book is an easy read at just under 100 pages. I completed it in a little over 4 hours, and I m not a fast reader. In the book Mary does an excellent job of explaining what she felt was holding the church back when she came, and then explains the exact actions the church took to turn itself around. The primary changes revolved around worship, stewardship and leadership, and the book devotes a chapter to each of these areas. While the book clearly states that the changes implemented are not meant to be a cookie-cutter solution to all declining churches, I think it does speak to many of the challenges facing all churches today, and it gives concrete examples of how one church was able to overcome those problems and become a vibrant church with a positive attitude towards the future. I highly recommend the book for anyone who is looking for ways to help Redeemer move forward in the years to come. Kevin Stoddard Council President Hi Everyone! I d like to introduce myself as your new office administrative assistant. My name is Sue Pulver and I am from Pardeeville. I am married to my high school sweetheart Dan. We have two grown daughters, Kelly (Mike) & Renee (Kevin). Also 2 sweet cocker spaniels, Marley & Phoebe! I was born & raised in Shawano Wisconsin where I attended St. James Lutheran School from K-8th grade. When I saw your church was looking for a new administrative assistant, I thought I could do that! So here I am, and really loving it. I ve definitely had a crash course in learning my duties and thank you all for your patience.

5 Each Poinsettias cost $9.00 ( ) RED ( ) WHITE IN MEMORY OF: Please remember, if you are interested in a Poinsettia for the Church for Christmas, the deadline is December 16th! THANK YOU!! IN HONOR OF: GIVEN BY: PHONE: Complete this form and place in Offering plate or contact Melanie Gilbert at Or contact the Church Office at or at office@rioredeemerlutheran.org.. Please fill out a form for each Poinsettia ordered. December Birthday s December Anniversaries Staci Pribbenow Scott Swiggum Bev Stankiewicz Lee Roberts Norman Nobbs Marie Nobbs Helen Risgaard Norman Kearney Wayne Nelson Duane Nelson Pam Jaynes Nate Leu Barb VonAhsen Marigrace Roberts December 1st December 2nd December 2nd December 8th December 10th December 13th December 15th December 15th December 20th December 20th December 22nd December 23rd December 24th December 27th William & Marilyn Rowley December 11th Lee & Marigrace Roberts December 16th

6 For Adverse Weather! Adverse Weather Plan - If Rio Schools are closed on a weekday, our policy is that all meetings and classes will be cancelled as well. Should the weather be blizzard conditions and leadership determines worship is to be cancelled, we will let the congregation know via a message on the answering machine and on the church website. We will also report this on Channel 3 news. The Star - Throughout Advent you may notice the emphasis on the star as representative of the light of the Spirit leading us to a vulnerable baby in a manger the love of God in Christ. We will see the messengers of God as stars whose names are on star ornaments on the tree. On Christmas Eve we will receive Star gifts from the Spirit for our reflection throughout the year. The light of Christ shines this Advent season and always. ******************************************************************** SOMETHING TO SHARE... We received the following letter from a recent visitor: Redeemer Lutheran Church October 28, Lincoln Ave. Rio, Wi Greetings; I recently got an unexpected look inside your beautiful sanctuary, courtesy of Linda Olson, who is a wonderful ambassador for your church and community. A friend and I were visiting Rio on a weekday afternoon, an important stop on a sentimental trip my longtime friend Linda Swancina and I were taking to her hometown. We ve been friends since junior high, when her family moved to Northwest Arkansas. As long as I ve known her, she s spoken fondly of Rio and her home church. Both of Linda s parents, Doug and Henrietta Swacina, have died in recent years, and it occurred to me that it could be a nice thing to take an autumn trip back to her home. I d never been there. It was beautiful. We had a wonderful time. And a big part of our joy was meeting Mrs. Olson and thereby finding a way to see the church, which we d found locked. It was all so fortunate and has made a wonderful story about how kind and thoughtful some people can be. So please accept a small contribution toward maintenance of your landmark church on behalf of my friend and myself. I ll call it her Christmas Present. Thanks ever so much. Sincerely;

7 Approved Minutes Present: Kevin Stoddard, Sherri Kranz, Debbie Reierson, Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock, Darlene Cutsforth, Pastor Ann Walsvik. Late: Steve Gilbert, Brenda Price - excused. Absent: Renee Miles excused. was called to order by President Kevin Stoddard at 6:30 p.m. Approve Agenda Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of: New Business: a. Discuss Special Congregational Mtg.; b. Discuss from Geri Gorman regarding the church policy book. Seconded by Darlene Cutsforth. Motion carried. Devotions were given by Darlene Cutsforth. Renee Miles will have devotions for November. Spiritual Development Pastor Ann led a discussion of Chapter 9 from a book called Called by Mark Labberton. It is a book about the crisis and promise of following Jesus today. We are to read Chapter 10 for our next meeting. Review and Approve Minutes from September, 2018 Darlene Cusforth made a motion to approve the 9/17/18 minutes. Seconded by Sherri Kranz. Motion carried. Correspondence or guest: None. Financial Reports for September, 2018: a. General Fund - Larry was able to pay $1500. to the synod. b. Bennett Mutual Fund c. Memorial Fund Motion was made by Sherri Kranz to approve financial reports for September, Seconded by Darlene Cutsforth. Motion carried. Standing Committee Reports Property - Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock made a motion to spend up to $1,000. for a nativity set out of Property Maintenance Memorial money. Seconded by Brenda Price. Motion carried. WELCA WOC will be meeting to discuss budget, update circle book, etc.

8 with our supplies to them. Status of Town Hall A town hall meeting was held on Sunday, September 16, 2018 to discuss our church s financial situation/future. It was called Listening for Wisdom to get input from the congregation. There were a few comments made to be considered. Each person received a 3 x 5 index card and asked to write down any thoughts/ideas for the council. Kevin asked that everyone pray about this over the next week and write down any thoughts on their 3 x 5 cards and place them in the offering plate next Sunday. Discuss Funding for $1500. Organ Repairs The organ repairs have been delayed for some time and need to be done. Motion was made by Bonnie Pribbenow-Paddock to pay up to $1500. for organ repairs from flexible expenses account. Seconded by Darlene Cutsforth. Motion carried. Status of organist playing in November and December We learned that Linda Frevert will play one Sunday in November and one in December. New Business: Discuss Pastor s 2019 Insurance Package Kevin Stoddard said that the Stewardship and Finance team will be meeting to discuss Pastor Ann s medical insurance package. The committee will review and recommend what package they feel would be the best, doing their due diligence. Discuss 2019 Budget Process After the congregational meeting on Sunday, September 30 th, the Stewardship and Finance committee will be meeting to come up with a budget for Page 3 Redeemer September 17, 2018 minutes Discuss Pastor s August Newsletter Article The council discussed Pastor s September newsletter article. There was confusion by some council members over the council responsibilities listed in the article. New Push Lawn Mower for Parsonage This purchase will be made and will come out of the parsonage maintenance account. Thanksgivings: We thank Dave Kampen who provided 23 doz. ears of sweet corn, those who provided supplies, served sweet corn and helped in any way at the Rio Street Dance on August 25, All sweet corn was distributed. It was a big success! Thanks to all those who contributed to the Pine Ridge Retreat Center in South Dakota for God s Work, Our Hands Sunday, September 9, Thanks to Darcy Stoddard and Sherri Kranz for all their work organizing and purchasing items for Pine Ridge. Thank you to Joan Reierson for helping at At Home Again. Thank you to all who participated in the Town Hall Listening for Wisdom session on Sunday, September 16, Thank you to Dean Roberts for installing LED lights in the church. They re great! Thanks to Evelyn Tomczak for waxing church floors. Thank you to the anonymous donor who donated $400. in matching funds for Pine Ridge. Adjourn/Closing Prayer: Motion was made by Darlene Cutsforth to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Steve Gilbert. Motion carried. ad-

9 December Altar Guild Kit Schmidt & Sandy Helmer December 2nd December 9th ecember 16 th Music Sunday ecember 23 rd December 24th December 30 th Carols & Songs Communion Assistants Nancy Wescott & Sandy Helmer Sherri Kranz & Kit Schmidt No Communion Darlene Cutsforth & Geri Gorman Larry & Geri Gorman No Communion December Greeters Nancy Wescott & Delores Erstad Evelyn Tomczak & Volunteer Ushers Schedule Fellowship Hosts Robert Adams Ruth Circle Helen & Bob Risgaard Reader Ac Debbie Reierson Barb VonAhsen Melanie Gilbert George Scott Renee Miles & Michael Miles Steve & Melanie Gilbert Nancy Drehmel & Cindy Drehmel Tom Krueger & Family Music Team Sam Jaynes & Leslie Berndt Darlene Cutsforth Joan Reierson Melissa Benisch Anna R Ris As Lauf Mo Rei Lily W

10 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:00 am Rebekah Circle 2 9:00 am Advent Worship/Fellowship Informal Informational /Financial Status 6:45 pm Choir 6:30 pm Property 7:00 pm Mary Circle 5:15 pm Bells 6:00 pm Sprouts & Confirmation 6:45 pm Choir 6:30 am Men s Group at Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA 9 9:00 am Advent Worship/Fellowship :00 am Worship 1:30 pm Ruth Circle 5:45 pm Bells 6:00 pm Sprouts 6:30 pm Choir 7:30 Deborah Circle 13 6:30 am Men s Group at Hometown Café 11:00 am Covenant House 7:00 pm AA MUSIC SUNDAY 9:00 am Advent Worship/Fellowship 6:30 pm Council 5:15 pm Bells 6:00 pm Birthday Party for Jesus! 6:45 pm Choir 6:30 am Men s Group at Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA :00 am Christmas Worship/Fellowship 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Office Closed 5:15 pm Bells 6:00 pm Sprouts 6:45 pm Choir 6:30 am Men s Group at Hometown Café 7:00 pm AA :00 Festival of Readings & Carols Worship /Fellowship