A Newsletter for Members and Friends of Redeemer Lutheran Church Redeemer s Mission inviting all people to become students, believers and followers of Jesus Christ. SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT DECEMBER 4, 2016 Welcome to worship at Redeemer! We are pleased to have you with us today. We want to help make your time with us more worshipful by providing you with the following information: Welcome Center: in the narthex, please take home a water bottle with information about Redeemer as our gift for first time visitors Service of Friendship Cards: in pew racks, please sign and pass to the center aisle during the offering or scan the QR code Large Print Orders of Service: available from an usher Children s Activity Bags: in the narthex, contain simple activities for children to do during the worship service Children s Bulletins: in the narthex or from an usher, provide activities for older children to do during the service Fellowship Time: coffee is served in the narthex Restrooms: men s, women s and family restrooms are down the west hallway, an additional women s restroom is down the middle hallway Changing Tables: located in the family restroom and in the women s restroom down the middle hallway Questions? Please ask an usher, they would be happy to help Sunday School and King s Kids Each family is encouraged to complete a registration form and leave it with your child s teacher or in the church office. Completing a form will help us keep accurate and up to date information concerning the children and how we can best serve them. Church Nursery Available at all services; located in the Nursery room off the middle hallway; for children Kindergarten age and younger, staffed by volunteers. 1
Family Advent Worship Event If you or a loved one is hospitalized, please contact the church office or note it on the back of your Service of Friendship card so a member of our clergy staff can visit and bring a word of encouragement. During the very hectic days before Christmas, we take time to experience the comfort and joy that Christ brings with our Midweek Family Advent Event. The Family Advent Event will be on Wednesday, December 7. It will begin with supper and fellowship at 6:00 p.m., followed by worship at 7:00 p.m. Collection Items These collection items can be left in the narthex outside the offices: FOR THE YOUTH Inkjet printer cartridges FOR THE CHILD CARE Our Family Labels for Learning FOR THE PRESCHOOL Econo Foods receipts FOR THE LWML Cancelled stamps for Missions FOR THE HOSPITALS & BAY CLIFF Can Tabs Flowers The flowers in the chancel are given to the glory of God by Ron Provost in loving memory of his wife Martha. Youth Events Lift 7-12 Midweek Youth Experience December 14 from 5:30- RETURNABLE CANS & BOTTLES are being accepted by the high school youth. Please leave them by the pop machine in the gym. 2
Chamber Chorale Concert A Christmas Tapestry 2016 Music of the Season will be presented on December 9 and 10, 2016 at 7:30 pm at Redeemer. This 23rd annual concert will include performances by The Marquette County Chamber Chorale, and The Marquette Male Chorus, under the direction of Wayne Hamner, and accompanists Dawn Betts and Lynne Lanczy. Performers also include Tintinniere: Richard Beyers, handbells, Sharon Aho Farrell, piano. The performance will include Dale Jergenson s O Magnum Mysterium, Mozart s Laudate Dominum and holiday treasures, Up on the Housetop and Meli Kalikimaka, as well as favorite sing along Christmas carols. Please join us to celebrate 23 years of inspiring Christmas music. Freewill donations will be accepted. For more information call 249-9867. CHRISTMAS GIFT DONATIONS Please sign up today to donate a Christmas gift to someone who may not otherwise have gifts on Christmas morning. Sign up boards are in the narthex. Sign up by: 1) Finding an item on the boards to donate. 2) Sign up on the sheet. 3) Take the tag from the board. 4) Buy the gift. 5) Wrap the gift. 6) Attached the tag to the gift. 7) Return the gift to the church by December 11. Thank you to everyone who participates in the very important Christmas program. Please return gift cards to the office. Christmas Bazaar 2016 Thanks The Christmas Bazaar 2016 still has some items for sale in the Gym. Please check them out after the service. The Christmas Bazaar was a huge success again this year! Women s Ministry will be able to fund many worthwhile projects next year. We d like to thank the congregation for all they did to make the Christmas Bazaar such a huge success. So many people donated handmade items, baked goods, helped and attended our pre-bazaar classes, helped with Bazaar set up, worked the day of the Bazaar, and came and bought items at the Bazaar. Redeemer members have always generously supported the Christmas Bazaar and we d like to thank you again! 3
Victory Meal A CHRISTMAS INVITATION Experience the JOY of giving and join us at our local mission project, Victory Lutheran Church at KI Sawyer, as we prepare and serve a special Christmas sit-down roast beef dinner on December 11th. WHERE: Victory Lutheran Church 315 Explorer Gwinn WHEN: Sunday, December 11; be at Victory by 11:30 a.m. we serve at 12 noon WHAT: Prepare a dish OR buy and donate some supplies please have items to Redeemer by 10 a.m. on December 11. Come and help us serve and clean up Menu and items needed are on the Welcome Center in the Narthex WHY: To experience the JOY of giving and sharing God s love with fellow Christians who are having a rough time right now BE A VICTORY VOLUNTEER IT S A GOOD THING! Youth Events Senior Shindig Christmas Cookie Baking December 5 from 6-8 pm High School Hangtime December 11 from 4-6 pm High School Movie Night December 16 from 6-10 pm Children s Christmas Program December 18 at 10:45 am Belize Medical Mission Redeemer s Mission Board is planning a summer medical mission trip to San Ignacio, Belize, June 18-25, 2017. Please prayerfully consider if God is calling you to this important mission. There s something to do for everyone. This mission trip is through MOST Ministries out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Contact Donna at 249-2114 or John Fegan at 235-8160 for more information. Watch for applications at the Mission board display. 4
SHOP SCRIP FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS You probably know a few people who could use a little extra holiday cheer. Maybe it s the babysitter, a favorite teacher or even the friendly mailman! Want to buy them all a little something, without breaking the bank? Well, this holiday season you can purchase a Scrip card for them from Redeemer. Try Scrip Shopping Cards for Christmas. Give Scrip cards as gifts, or use them to shop from hundreds of nationwide vendors. Remember, Scrip doesn't cost you anything extra. If you purchase a $25 Scrip card, it is worth the full $25 value. Deadline for Christmas orders is 12 noon on Sunday, December 11. Buy Scrip on Weekends after each worship service and Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. in the church office. Using Scrip helps GENERATE INCOME FOR Redeemer Youth, Redeemer Preschool and Redeemer Child Care. Here's How... Redeemer purchases Scrip shopping cards from a distributor at a discount. Redeemer re-sells the Scrip shopping cards to you for full face value. Discounts range from 2% to 20%, and this money is Redeemer s profit and helps fund our youth group, Preschool and Child Care. You use Scrip shopping cards from your favorite retailers just like cash, for their full face value. If you purchase a $25 gift card, it is worth the full $25 value. NOW AVAILABLE... VISA $50 GIFT CARDS 5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Carrie Statt 12/3 Heather Lawless 12/4 Cassidy Meister 12/4 Dave Basal 12/5 Bea Dupras 12/5 Gavin Poquette 12/5 Kathy Schuck 12/5 Lola Sved 12/5 Gary Bilenky 12/6 Mike Carlson 12/6 Lisa Flood 12/6 Jake Bal 12/7 Gabe Erdmann-Lipp 12/7 Randy Plourde 12/7 Tom Buck 12/8 Sharon Carey 12/8 Sean Leahay 12/8 Peggy Aalto 12/9 Victor Wolf 12/9 Melissa Curran 12/10 Sue Fries 12/10 Adam Holloway 12/10 Chris Campbell 12/11 Maddy McMahon 12/11 Sun., Dec. 4 Mon., Dec. 5 Tues., Dec. 6 Wed., Dec. 7 Thurs., Dec. 8 Fri., Dec. 9 Sat., Dec. 10 Sun., Dec. 11 8:30 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 10:45 am 1 pm 10 am 1 pm 4 pm 4:30 pm 6 pm 10 am 1 pm 7 am 9:30 am 6 pm 10 am 6 pm 7:30 pm 10 am 5 pm 5 pm 7:30 pm 8:30 am 9:30 am 10:30 am 10:45 am 1 pm 4 pm CALENDAR Service of Praise with Communion Education Hour Coffee Fellowship Worship with Communion Chamber Chorale Little Lambs Staff Meeting Trustees Meeting Faith Moves Senior Shindig Elders Meeting Little Lambs Prayer Shawl Bible Study Divorce Care Men s Breakfast Bible Study Women s Bible Study Advent Dinner Advent Service Praise Choir Bible Study Childcare Board Meeting Little Lambs AA Meeting Tapestry Concert Confirmation Class Service of Praise King s Kid s Tapestry Concert Service of Praise Education Hour Coffee Fellowship Worship Chamber Chorale High School Hangtime CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP 3:00 pm 5:00 pm 7:00 pm 9:00 pm (with Holy Communion) 6
Weekly Bible Study Opportunities SUNDAY MORNINGS Adult Study Led by Pastor Chad Location: Fellowship Hall (gym) 9:30 a.m. Joseph In this Sunday morning Bible study, we look at one of these men, a common, ordinary carpenter. Like countless guys before and after him, he lives his life in obscurity, working hard to support his family and do his part in his community. He may not have worked with steel, but as we will see, Joseph was a carpenter with the character, courage and strength of steel. TUESDAY EVENING STUDY Adult Study Led by Pastor Chad Location: Room 1A & 1B (Northwest Corner) 7:00 p.m: Jesus>Religion Life isn t about us. It s about HIM. No more white-knuckling, teeth-gritting effort and comparison. We can never earn salvation, deserve God s blessing or climb our way to heaven. Full of grace and hope, this Bible study points beyond the exhausting cycle of performance and routine to the freedom of following Christ and living as part of His church. Jefferson Bethke creatively moves us from things that can never satisfy our souls to the joy of being truly known and deeply loved. WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY Women s Bible Study Led by DCE Anna Location: 2A&B 9:30 a.m. Dates of Classes: Dec. 7 & Dec. 14 "Christmas: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: An Advent Study" In this Advent study, author Richard B. Wilke focuses on people in the story of Christ s birth. There are those we associate with the joy and celebration of Christmas the wise men, the shepherds, and Joseph. Yet the author reminds us not to forget that the evil King Herod is also part of the Christmas story, and how it is because there is evil in our world that we so desperately needed and need a Savior. There will be no Women's Bible Study on Dec. 21, 28 or January 4. WEDNESDAY MORNINGS 7:00 a.m. Men s Study Meets Year Round Led by Pastor Chad Location: Chapel Lounge 7 THURSDAY EVENINGS 7:00 p.m. Adult Study Led by Mark Mankowski and Tom Buck Location: Church Library
SCRIPTURE READINGS Isaiah 40:1-5 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Romans 8:18-27 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is 8 no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. John 1:19-28 19 Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ." 21 They asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Finally they said, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" 24 Now some Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" 26 "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." 28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Saturday, December 3, 5:00 p.m. Worship Service Page 1 Acolyte: Jordan Haynes Elders: Brett Conklin, Mark Welke, John Fegan Altar Guild: Donna Taylor, Kay Beauchamp Ushers: Lynn & Dave Stahmann, Chris Barber, Penny Hassell, Mary Owen, Ruth Pickering Greeter: Don & Jane Ryan & Jazmine Flaska Scrip: Cindy Bal Media: Cheryl Paris Nursery: Emily Ott Musicians: Donna Fegan, Tom Buck, Dan Miller, Julien Malherbe, Samantha Conklin, Lindsey Stuef, Susan Martysz Sunday, December 4, 8:30 a.m. Worship Service Page 1 Acolyte: Ari Holder Elders: Carl Pace, Sean Leahy, Harry Erickson Ushers: Carol Holman, Gary & Sandy Bilenky, Sue Fries, Dan Klumb Greeter: Sandy Pritchett Scrip: Colleen Creech Media: Drew Lakenen Nursery: Donnie Berglund Musicians: Donna Fegan, Jeff Phelps, Dan Miller, Julien Malherbe, Samantha Conklin, Lindsey Stuef, Susan Martysz Acolyte: Elders: Ushers: Greeter: Reader: Scrip: Media: Coffee: Nursery: Organist: Sunday, December 4, 10:45 a.m. Worship Service Page 9 Riley Dickerson Mark Mankowski, Larry Carey, Tom Buck Brent Griffin, Larry & Sharon Carey, Kyle Martin, Ray Ranta Phyllis James Pastor Sheila Laing Zach Stanley Sandy Pritchett Donna Brege Lois DeWell Service of Friendship card QR Code MINISTRY STAFF Rev. Chad Ott W. 228-9883 Lead Pastor H. 273-0280 Anna Dauffenbach W. 228-9883 Director of Christian H. 228-3047 Education Carmen Albert W. 228-9883 Preschool & Child Care H. 228-5439 Director Donna Fegan H. 249-2114 Women s Ministry Director Pam Ott H. 273-0280 King s Kids Coordinator Carl Pace H. 204-5399 Gift Planner Donna Koskiniemi Praise Choir Director Dawn Betts Jubilation Choir Director Lois DeWell Organist Rev. Paul Weber, Emeritus Deaconess Betty Knapp, Emeritus ATTENDANCE LAST WEEK 539 STEWARDSHIP LAST WEEK General Fund $21,530 Gathered to Grow $4,394 (Total given to Gathered to Grow to date: $600,106) Redeemer Lutheran Church 1700 West Fair Avenue Marquette, MI 49855 P. 906-228-9883 F. 906-228-8912 Email: redeemer@redeemermqt.org Web Site: www.redeemermqt.org 9