Christmas Worship Services at Grace Lutheran

Grace Lutheran Church 108 W. Somo Avenue Tomahawk, Wisconsin 54487 715 4534066 December 2017 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Christmas Worship Services at Grace Lutheran Fourth Sunday in AdventDecember 235:00 pm* Christmas EveDecember 24 4:00, 6:00, & 8:00 pm Christmas DayDecember 25 10:00 am Christmas Eve is on Sunday this year. There will NOT be services Sunday morning. We will have the traditional Christmas Eve services on Sunday afternoon/evening. * There WILL be a Saturday, 5:00 pm service on December 23 (Saturday) Cookie WalkCraft/Lefse Sale December 9th! (Details on page 9) Memory Tree Lighting December 96:00 pm (following 5:00 pm worship) Sunday School Christmas Program Dec. 16th 5:00 pm (Spoiler Alert on page 2) Christmas Cantata December 30 & 31 All Services Praising God + Serving Others + Building Friendships

Bulletin Board Thank you members of Grace Lutheran! Education and More would like to express our appreciation for your generous support of our Healthy Homes/Healthy Families program. Your generosity directly benefits the artisan families that we work with in Guatemala! Thanks to you, we have built a house for Cristina in San Antonio and have repaired or improved ten more homes Choacruz. You Mission and VBS team members have been an inspiration and a joy to work with! Thank you from all us at Education and More, Coleen Parry Sunday Christmas Program Dec. 16 (Saturday) 5:00 pm service The Sunday School children will be presenting, Bed, Bethlehem, & Beyond! When Heaven Touched Earth. Come see how the Innkeeper responds on that special night in Bethlehem. (Spoiler Alert! There is no room at the Inn! ) Christmas With Friends Christmas with Friends is once again being planned for Christmas Day 2017. Last year, we were blessed to serve 225 people including those who came for the meal at Grace Lutheran Church and meals that were delivered to the shutins and our friends who were required to work on Christmas Day. The dinner will be served at the church from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, with deliveries taking place beginning at about 11 am. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling Debbie at the church office at (715) 4534066. Please indicate to Debbie whether you will be dining at the church or need to have your meal delivered. The outpouring of support from Grace and the community has been amazing and we welcome the support again this year. Last year, approximately thirtyfive volunteers helped before, during, and after the meal, as well as approximately twenty volunteers who delivered meals around the Tomahawk area. We also had people distribute flyers to local businesses to advertise the event and others who decorated and set up the fellowship hall. In addition to our volunteers, all of the food items to make the fabulous meal were donated and we had an outpouring of financial support to cover the other costs associated with the event. With the weather and economy placing additional burdens on people, we believe we will serve a larger number of meals this year. Any monetary donations or gifts of time to help with the dinner will be appreciated. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the office at Grace Lutheran Church. If you are interested in donating your time to this wonderful ministry, please contact Shirley Derleth at 7154534165 or thederleths@gmail.com. Thanks in advance to all who will share in this magnificent ministry. Annual MeetingJanuary 28, 2018 Grace Lutheran s annual meeting will take place Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 10:00 am. Please note that the meeting is on Sunday morning. Attention Committees and Groups! It is never too early to prepare your reports for the Annual Meeting. Please send your completed Annual Meeting report to the office on or before the deadline which is January 12, 2018. Emailed reports will be especially appreciated! Email address dhetzel@gracetomahawk.org Annual Report Format 1. What did we accomplish this year? 2. What remains to be done? 3. What did we learn? 4. What are next year s goals? 2 DEADLINES: NewsletterThird Monday of every month, BulletinWednesday

A W P Z PEACE & GOODWILL Peace on earth, goodwill to all is too often only a longing and not the reality we feel. This is accented at Christmas time. Daily life, family gatherings, and our individual attitudes are often quite out of step with the message Christmas intends. The entire world seeks this longing for peace and goodwill. Christmas music, commercials, and decorations are everywhere. Our lives center on gifts, parties, and busyness. We long to gather with family and friends, and we want those gatherings to be so delightful that the memories stay with us. Oh that that the thoughts, smells, pictures, and gifts given and received trigger deep joy, peace and good will long afterwards! But life doesn t work that way! Jesus was born in a barn! Joseph had to have wondered what was God up to? Ninety miles on a donkey in Mary s last month of pregnancy? No one knew them, noticed them, cared about them! Christ Mass is the root word from which Christmas comes. Christmas is coming with empty hands to receive the living Body and Blood of that baby born in a barn, unattended by others, with only stinky shepherds to celebrate. The core meaning of Christmas is first that God is present in surprising, deep healing, saving ways in the darkest, most trying times of life. Perhaps second, that God calls common, ordinary, surprising people like Mary and Joseph to do God s amazing work. And Third, that the discarded, unkempt people of the world, like shepherds in Jesus time, especially have the attention of God to whom God sends the angel chorus and turns them into angels (messengers) of glad tidings and good will to all. Perhaps Grace Lutheran s most profound ministries are the prayer shawls, prayer chain, meal train, and Pastor Don Cannady s visitation ministry. Those ministries put into practice the reality of the journey of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. God doesn t work the way we expect and want. Too often we are the inn keeper suddenly put on the spot and unawares turning Jesus away because we only see a stranger, someone caught in their own irresponsibility, an unnecessary demand when we are already overwhelmed. We need help seeing. (Continued on page 4) A W P C Visitation Pastor As your visitation pastor I have decided to let you know I have once again been diagnosed with prostate cancer. (I was previously diagnosed and successfully treated about eighteen years ago.) It seemed important to me that you know this as I would like to continue working, and I want to assure you that this is not a contagious disease. S (715 area codes) Pastor.. Rev. Mark Ziemer 4534066 or (home) 4530612 Visitation Pastor..Rev. Don Cannady 4534066 Supply Pastor..Rev. Gerald Check 4534066 Lay Pastoral Ass t.... Wendy Black 4534066 wkblack@yahoo.com Director of Young Adults.. Margie Welke 9665497 4welkes@gmail.com Dir. of Children s Ministries.. Patti Gaedtke 6122000, patti@gracetomahawk.org Secretary......Debbie Hetzel 4534066 or (home) 9660536 dhetzel@gracetomahawk.org Secretary Support.. Sandi Pellicori 4534066 spellicori@gracetomahawk.org Treasurer......Shirley Derleth 4534066 treasurersjd@gmail.com Wedding Coordinator.Kay Jensen 4534701 Custodian... Colleen Yirsa 4534066 2017 C M President Mark Gaedtke.....4535907 Vice President Mary Wessel.4537410 Secretary Sandy Wick.......920 6801237 Luann Kiander....4539097 Ken Kincaid... 6123311 Bill Zorr...608 575 5816 Brandon Hafeman....9664338 Keri Kelley.6125374 Don Narloch.5710945 Church Office Hours MondayThursday: 8:00 am to 3:30 pm (closed for lunch noon to 1:00 pm) Friday: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Staff Meetings (Office closed) Tuesdays: 11:00 am 3

(Continued from page 3) Pastor Ziemer Below are three ways to bring God s peace and good will. Think of them as a twist on the gatherings, giftgiving, gatherings, and greetingspirit and message of Christmas: GATHERINGS: before all fam ily, friends, work, com munity parties make the first priority receiving Jesus with empty hands in the simple bread & wine in Communion. Use Advent worship (Dec. 23, 910, 1617, and 23) to reflect on this mystery; Christmas Eve & Day (December 24 at 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 AND December 25 at 10:00am) to receive this wonder; and the Cantata on December 30 & 31 to revel in the music and joy of Christ s coming. GIFTGIVING: consider people in desperate need right now. Use the Special Offering or go to www.elca.org and choose a gift that will change lives and where a little money causes big effects. Use this to honor someone who already has all they need, do it as a family, or end your year with a lifeimpacting action. Bring peace and goodwill! GREETINGS: note som eone lonely, grieving, troubled at tim e, put a prayer shaw l around them, and assure them of your prayers for them. Even more talk with me about a Healing Service. Grace has a Brief Order for Healing that is used in the church's ministry of care. Those who sense the need for God's healing in any aspect of their lives may receive the gifts of prayer, anointing with oil, and the laying on of hands. This is a handsonway to bring healing to a family, to surround a person with prayer, and in this time of year to bring home the reality of Jesus birth. In a barn, sung by shepherds, to a couple forlorn and distressed God came in peace and goodwill for all! The Funeral Committee is sending out a call for some goodhearted people who will answer our call to fill a few positions, which will be turned over due to age, health problems and travel months of the year. Some of us have been with this very rewarding and needed ministry since it began over 45 years ago and to be honest, we think it is time to retire. We have many wonderful hardworking and dedicated workers but we need the following! Someone to order food (Nelson s delivers!) and paying the bill for the food, (we have an account for this.) Someone to call workers to help prepare and serve the meal. Men for cleanup. (What a blessing they are!) Someone to call people in the congregation to bake cakes. We have lists for workers and recipes for meals. The fellowship in this group is GREAT! Please give this some prayerful thought and if you feel this is a way you could serve, please call the church office at (715) 4534066. Application for Endowment Grants The Endowment Fund Committee of Grace Lutheran Church is inviting applications for college scholarships. The deadline for applying is December 31, 2017, w ith funds to be aw arded in April, 2018. Applications are available at the school Guidance Office or at the office here at Grace, and should be returnedto either location prior to the deadline date. Scholarship preference shall be given to: members of Grace Lutheran Church in good standing; students preparing for a Church occupation; students attending an ELCA college; students with greater financial need; and, students in more advancedlevels of education. Committees and Ministries: If you believe that you have projects that would qualify for Endowment Fund grants, the following information will be helpful. Mission Development (home or foreign): Financial support to individuals or organizations involved with the extension of the Church in foreign countries or within the United States, such as new mission congregations, or support to missionaries in countries outside the United States. OutreachMinistries: This includes support for creating, enhancing, or supporting spiritual growth or caring ministries reaching out to groups of people in need in our congregation, our community, our nation, or elsewhere in the world. The Endowment Committee is always happy to receive memorials and donations to the Endowment Fund. This is a gift that keeps on giving through the grants awarded each year. 4 Attention Committees: You may have projects that would qualify forendowment Fundgrants. You can find the applications on our website or in the Gathering Area.

December Special Offering Gift Giving During this joyous season of giving, we invite you to consider a gift either to ELCA Good Gifts or locally to Grace. As you search your heart for ways you want to give, here are some ideas. ELCA GOOD GIFTS: The ELCA Good Gifts catalog offers opportunities to give to a multitude of very important needs and you may give in honor of someone special. Perhaps a perfect gift for someone who has everything. ELCA Good Gift Catalogs are available in the Gathering Space. You pick what you give: farm animals, fish farm, water wells, filters, irrigation, sending children to school, school supplies, refugee support, blankets, health care, mosquito nets, and others. GRACE: There are many ways to give at Grace to a specific cause: Grace s Gift Catalog includes a Security System Items are needed to refresh and upgrade our Sunday School rooms (bulletin boards, book cases, shelving, etc.) Watch for details in the December bulletins. ELW Hymnals These may be sponsored in honor or memory of someone or an event. Grace s Building Fund This year we passed the halfway point on the mortgage for our building addition. A gift to the Building Fund will help pay this down sooner. Gift to Grace s General Fund an additional boost at the end of the year can encourage more ministries for 2018 Please designate where you want your gift to be directed. Any undesignated gifts will be applied to Grace s General Fund. Thank you for your extravagant generosity. Special Offering Request Forms As you sense God s call to promote a specific mission at Grace, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, USA or the world please consider promoting a Special Monthly Offering at Grace. Pick up a Special Offering Request Form from the church office, from our website or the rack in the hallway just off the Gathering Area. In early January the Grace Lutheran Stewardship Committee will review all requests and assign specific months for Special Offerings. The Church Council receives this Stewardship Committee monthly Special Offering designation in their consent agenda. Oct17 Needed for RECEIPTS vs. ACTUAL RECEIPTS vs. OCTOBER Receipts Budget BUDGET SPENDING SPENDING General Fund $ 30,909 $ 31,357 $ (448) $ 30,786 $ 123 Building Fund $ 4,852 $ 5,076 $ (224) $ 5,076 $ (224) Total $ 35,761 $ 36,433 $ (672) $ 35,862 $ (101) YTD YTD YTD YTD Needed for ACTUAL RECEIPTS vs YEARTODATE Receipts Budget DIFFERENCE SPENDING SPENDING General Fund $ 276,107 $ 313,573 $ (37,466) $ 281,996 $ (5,889) Building Fund $ 49,162 $ 50,758 $ (1,596) $ 50,758 $ (1,596) Total $ 325,269 $ 364,331 $ (39,062) $ 332,754 $ (7,485) 2017 Reg. Principal Payments $ 29,150.88 2017 Extra Principal Payments $ 12,519.99 2017 Total Principal Payments $ 41,670.87 2017 Total Interest Payments $ 21,607.12 Loan Balance as of OCTOBER 2017 $ 602,681.96 SEPTEMBER Special Offering TOMAHAWK SCHOOLS MILK MONEY PROGRAM $ 1,463.00 AUGUST Special Offering SALVATION ARMY $ 1,328.00 BACKPACK PROGRAM 5

2017 Stewardship Emphasis reviewed The Stewardship team would like to thank everyone that participated in our 2017 Stewardship emphasis. We are pleased with the results and to see all that God is calling us to be and do. Below are the missions nailed to God s mission board and want to remind everyone that the Stewardship team or Grace can help you with what God is calling you; please do not hesitate to contact the church office. As of Nov. 21st, we have received the following Plan for Giving commitments: General Fund: $184,870 Building Fund: $48,270 The missions that are supported by the General and Building Funds include all of our youth programs, bible study programs, our ministry and office staff, our projection team, worship, choir, and maintaining the beautiful building that allows us to host so many programs both inside of Grace and outside our walls. We are so blessed at Grace to have so many giving and blessed people who are so willingly to act on where God is calling. May we all continue to listen and act so that we may carry out Grace s mission of Praising God + Serving Others + Building Friendships! Hugs Supporting FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) 2 People said Love Call my friends more often Fellowship and Friendship Help with meals at church Men's Study Make Jesus #1 Continue on the word 4 People said Vibrant music in Studying the Bible study is all worship Word to gather important and knowledge to needed which help understand God provides my calling more fully Spread the word of VDC 2 People said Witnessing to others The world needs more respect of and kindness towards all I want to be an example of that Listening Girls Scouts Empowering girls and youth to be their best To accept and try to show more love to our younger people after all they are the future of our church Make people be happy Pray for all the missions that we have at Grace Fellowship Supportive Friend Synod Trip Greater Galilee Sharing Time More "Potluck" Love one another To start trying to dinners in Fellowship help Wilderness Trip love my brother I will help with the anniversary celebration and write history as needed Spread my faith Helping my children & family discover their missions To be a good grandparent to our grandchildren and to be a good example to them and their friends. Belong to the church Help others to do good and to look for God in their lives 2 People said Smile I usher Saturday night church services To continue to help spread the love of God through relationships and work to keep sending that love out beyond our building and its programs rather out in the community and world beyond Worship Lefse/cookies/ craft sale I want to see people be nice to each other Love More look at the good instead of complaining about the bad Respond in prayer Pray more Usher and read at church Handbell choir Put on the armor I will pray for and play joyful music of God speak on behalf during worship study His word of all in need services to help share spiritually, physically, and with others socially Discipleship Expressing my/ your faith 3 People said Be Kind to one another Be kind to strangers Love Your Neighbor as Yourself I am going to be kinder to others (saying "hi", not talking behind their backs, etc.) Invitational Help with youth Teaching Sunday School/ Confirmation Working with our youth Talk to people who don't know God and get them to know Him Help kids develop skills in working together, supporting others, enjoying a healthy and active lifestyle, leadership, and being a positive member of their community Sharing God's message openly and freely Cross generational events to get to know our young 4 People said Usher I will help read lessons at service Help guide those that need it the most Anything and everything to make a child's life brighter people The world needs acceptance and love for EVERYONE, even those that are different than us. Teach our children this! 5 People said Greeter I feel compelled to help bring God's love and word to children by being a Sunday School teacher Teaching Need for witnessing to others 6

Tithing Group Cub Scouts Committee Chair To be a better Christian Contribute with possessions as I can A new job that brings passion back to work and gives me more time to get involved in church life reading in church, volunteering in community A place/talent for each of the children Financial Secretary/Money Counter/ Newsletter I serve God by serving in the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) for 49 years. Part of scouting is duty to God PPP Do kitchen work Help my neighbors To make people Helping the sick Make delicious happy food 3 People said Help Others Help my friend with homework God sent us to do good things for others, like helping people in need Look for opportunities to help others Bring food to church when they need it To provide physical and mental support to anyone in need 2 People said Funeral Committee Help the less fortunate of the world. When someone trips and you help them up! Stewardship Give monetarily and pray Gift Organization Continue to give I will attempt to to my church, to "follow Jesus", the people of the whatever that world needing means at any help given moment Recognizing opportunity, perseverance, I want everyone to chase their dream and take hold of every opportunity the Lord gives; even if the opportunity isn't what you thought you needed. Servantship Provide monetary support to Serve on board or those needed committee I always hoped that someday I would either win or come into enough money so I could help put some toward driving our building debt down! I still do! To hear God's word in greater clarity so that I might contribute to others who may benefit from who I am, what I have to offer, and to help where needed Joy to children Help with chores Visit the sick Help make lefse Helping a friend's child Meals at Our Sisters House Serve in other ways within Grace Give to others through Welcome Service Missional Give to needy Check on those living alone Be more cheerful; do more for others NEED: single mothers who struggle to provide for their children ACTIONS: Donate to Christmas causes (Gifts for Kids) or find a needy family to assist 2 People said Serving Others Stand up for those who are in need Help older people Spending time with the elderly and homebound, playing games and serving them in ways they are able to help themselves Mow Grass/ Shovel Snow at church Help my friend when they are hurt 2 People said Helping those in need Help in kitchen during Lent Soup meals to make and serve soups Peace Our Sisters' EYG 2018 Garden of Giving 4 people said Christmas Programs Foster Care House Kinship Mentor Global Missions Help with quilting Help with offering Lincoln Hills Tutor Fair Trade Help hungry Work at soup Lekubu Creche Quilt Support the Food Education & Backpack program people kitchen Pantry More 3 People said Maintain membership in Prayer Friends Commu- ASPCA Center Church Ladies me; a son that I visits and helping Christmas with Volunteer at the 2 People said A son that needs Nursing home Salvation Army Bell Ringer Chain nity Dinner Diner need with bingo 8 People said Volunteer More Lutherans and Roman Catholics joining commemoration and cooperation I would like to use my architectural expertise to help in developing countries to improve the lives of the poor No child on this earth should go to bed hungry. I hope to get more bell ringers for the Salvation Army so we can help those in need. I serve at Alice Henke apartments the 4th Thursday of every month when Pastor Mark comes for friendship and communion Go on the next mission trip to Guatemala I hope to spread the word about helping those in need at the food pantry in Tomahawk Would like to see "free food" little houses about town, like the "little libraries". Food could then be taken at any time as needs show. 2 People said Visit shutins and help them Going on mission trips getting to know and help others worldwide or here in the states We can offer to provide transportation to individuals or for deliveries of the church and to donate food when needed and where needed Support community needs Helping with things as needed either physically or monetarily; ie cookie walk and food pantry Volunteering to Lincoln Homeless Shelter, Nursing Homes Make sure that we keep making health care kits for LWR Goal 500 by Oct 2018 I feel our Tomahawk community has lots of needy folks with winter coming some warm meals and warm clothing would be good. I know that St. Mary's has a meal, but that's just one per week. Personal items are needed too. Perhaps Thrivent could help. Look at the great response when we asked for purses, scarves, etc...it could be mittens, hats, sweaters, coats, etc. I like the opportunity to make prayer/baptismal shawls to be distributed I would like to see more harmony within the USA and world as a team versus an individual and less violence 7

ELW HYMNALS We celebrate the sponsorship and arrival of our new cranberry ELW hymnals! These new hymnals will be placed on a book rack at the back of the sanctuary for people to take when they wish. The Worship Committee realizes that not all people use the hymnals to read the music, but many do. So the book rack will be available for those who wish to bring a hymnal with them into worship. Please return the hymnal to the book rack after worship. As enough hymnals are sponsored, the green LBW (Lutheran Book of Worship) will be replaced in the pews with the cranberry ELW (Evangelical Lutheran Worship). Thank you! to all those listed below who sponsored hymnals. Hymnals may still be sponsored for $22.50 each. Please indicate if you wish to sponsor the hymnal in honor or memory of someone or an event, such as the 500 th Anniversary of the Reformation or Grace s 125 th Anniversary. ELW HYMNALS SPONSORED: In Memory of Jeff Bellile By Jessie & Heather Tobias In Honor of Michael & Haley Bellile Blessings and Love From Brian & Mom In Memory of Tara Beth Brickner 4/6/89 10/2/97 By Mike, Cheryl & Michaella Brickner In Memory of Kendra Marie Brickner 7/24/90 10/2/97 By Mike, Cheryl & Michaella Brickner In Honor of Pastor Don & Mona Cannady By Dar & Sherry Clements In Honor of Pastor Gerald & Joan Check By Dar & Sherry Clements In Honor of Sherry Clements By Marie Knipfer (4) In Memory of Ken Crass By Georgie Crass In Memory of Ken Crass By Reinke Family In Memory of Joanne Foster By Graham Foster In Memory of Pat Habeck By Marilyn & Mark Smith In Honor of Aldy Hagen By Sue Henrichs In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Bill & Corky Burcalow In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Grace s Contemporary Choir (5) In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Friday Morning Breakfast Group In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Nancy Herbison In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Debbie & Dave Hetzel In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Betty Hudson In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Bob Kangas In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Marie Knipfer In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Everett Lange In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Phyllis Marquardt In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Terry Schlinkmann In Memory of Dick Huntoon By Gil & Mary Wessel (4) In Honor of Dorothy Kind By Leanne & Bob Setlak In Memory of Jennie Lange By Everett & Helen Lange In Honor of Sue Mielke By Leanne & Bob Setlak In Honor of our Grandchildren and In Honor of My Recent Hospitalization and Power of Prayer By Don & Deb Narloch In Memory of Harvey Nelson By Jan Nelson In Memory of Don & Joyce Osness By Deanna & Richard Day In Memory of Henry Overhaug By Al Overhaug In Memory of Charles & Elaine Polz By Wayne & Sue Mielke & family In Memory of Margie Reinke By Reinke Family In Loving Memory of Bob Schiltz By J.J. Schiltz In Memory of Eugene Schmit By The Schmit Family In Honor of Cindy Storm By Al Tesch In Honor of Brian & Cindy Storm By Jessie, Heather, Nathon & Madilyn Tobias In Loving Memory of William Storm By Brian & Cindy Storm In Memory of Ivar & Corrine Strand, Parents of Carl "Bill" Strand By Bill & Arlene Strand In Memory of Debbie Tesch By Al Tesch In Honor of Earl F. Thomas By Peg Thomas In Honor of Jessie & Heather Tobias and family Blessings and Love From Brian & Mom In Memory of Edward & Alma Tonne, Parents of Arlene Strand By Bill & Arlene Strand In Honor of Mike Wick Family By Wick Family In Memory of Stanley A. Yaucher 6/16/37 9/15/37 By Mike, Cheryl & Michaella Brickner In Honor of Pastor Mark & Claudia Ziemer By Dar & Sherry Clements Presented By Sherry Thompson Presented By Pastor Gerald & Joan Check (2) 50th Anniversary By Florian & Barb Ringwelski (4) 8

Cookie Walk, Lefse, and Craft Sale! Our annual Cookie Walk, Lefse, and Craft Sale will be held on Saturday, December 9th. Doors to the Craft area open at 8:30am and the doors to Cookie Walk & Lefse area open at 9:30 to 11am. Sign up sheets are out in the Gathering area for donations and contributions of time, ingredients, crafts, cookies, and treats! Fair Trade gift baskets will be available as well as a silent writein auction for a beautiful quilt. A huge and heart felt thank you goes out to the many people who work together to accomplish this remarkable event! Results will be posted when available. Remember: Jesus is the reason for the Season! May God bless. Quilt Auction The Tuesday morning quilting group from Grace has donated a beautiful quilt for the Cookie Walk/Craft Sale. This quilt will be displayed in the Gathering Space through December 11 with a signup sheet for silent bidding. Deadline for bidding will be Monday, December 11, 5 p.m. The quilt is 71" by 47" and would be a lovely gift for someone or for yourself! 9

Grace Lutheran Council November Minutes Date: November 13, 2017 Council in attendance:sandy Wick, Mark Gaedtke, Mary Wessel, Brandon Hafeman, Keri Kelley, Bill Zorr Missing: Luann Kiander, Don Narloch, Ken Kincaid Other Attendees: Shirley Derleth for treasurer s report, Pastor Mark Meeting called to order at 6:03 pm. Devotions: Mark led council in prayer using God s Little Devotional Book. We prayed that we would move out of our comfort zone as nothing grows when one stays within it. Where have we seen God at work? Beauty of the snow and sharing it with those who have not seen it. Commemorating the 500 th Anniversary Approve Agenda Sandy moved to amend the agenda by removing the Vanco Texting from Old Business to a Future Agenda Item per last meeting s discussion. Mark moved to approve the amended agenda. Mary seconded. Motion passed. Consent Agenda Motion made by Mark to approve the consent agenda and seconded by Mary. Consent agenda consisted of October council minutes, November Fellowship Report, October Strategic Planning Group Report and November Group Fundraiser/Event Report. Motion passed. Consent agenda approved. Treasurer's Report (Shirley) Shirley highlighted the following items in her report: Portico Benefits for 2018 are in place We have about 24% of the budget remaining. If we spent according to budget, we would have about 17% remaining so our spending is still under the budget Actual expenses year to date are greater than actual giving year to date by about $7400.00 with giving being $5500 lower than last year at this same time. We discussed that some of this may be due to the many additional causes that people are contributing towards Mark moved to accept the treasurer report. Brandon seconded. Motion passed. Committee and staff reports Pastor Mark reviewed his report. Items highlighted include: Faith Formation in the 21 st CenturyPastor Mark will be presenting Grace s program for LifeCycle on Wednesday, December 13 Dwight Zscheileone of the consultants with our Synod who has contracted for its Reimagining Church effort Commemorating the 500 th Anniversarythe international, statewide, and Tomahawk s commemorations were all the exact same liturgy. We hope to continue looking into ways to bring us together Retreat with Greater Galilee on Aug. 35 at Pine Lake CampPastor Mark and Deacon Al Hill from GG are summarizing the history and purpose of this relationship which can then be used to invite and involve more congregations Fellowship of Christian AthletesWausau Fall Banquet was held Nov. 7. Cedric Lechleitner is hired to work on a new endurance sports emphasis for the 15county area of north central Wisconsin. He has expressed an interest in coordinating a FCA backpacking trip with Grace s Wilderness Trip Warming Center is meeting Thursday, Nov. 16 to consider ways to support use of Grace House Old Business 1.The municipal parking lot update. Discussed that for now we will take down the poster and remove notices from the bulletin and resurrect them in March as this will not start until Spring 2.Update of the Personnel Manual Suggestions from Pastor Mark Sandy met with the personnel committee and they suggested some revisions to what Pastor Mark was suggesting as updates that she reviewed with council. Main points to the updates include involving an interview committee into the process After review, Mark moved to approve the personnel manual updates recommended by the personnel committee. Sandy seconded. Motion passed. 3.Church use policy Pastor and staff are working on outlining a policy regarding use of church properties No update 4. SMART goals for 2017 Update. Goal 1: Increase the diversity of our membership in our ministries November will focus on the Nursing Home Communion ministry. December will focus on the Prayer Ministry. This will conclude the 2017 focus on the Praising God portion of our mission statement. It was suggested that council continue to focus on ministries for 2018, switching them to focus on ministries which focus on Serving Others which is the theme for 2018 10 (Continued on page 11)

(Continued from page 10) Goal 2: Spread the Grace of God through communication and covert good deeds. Mark/Don no action Goal 3: Enhance the worship service experience at Grace Lutheran Church. Mary/Brandon There will be an upcoming worship meeting which is being held between worship services. The worship ministry focuses on the music and liturgy of the service. New Business 1. Annual Meeting Discussion Sunday, January 28 th @ 10:00. Will there be donuts/coffee before or luncheon afterwards? Donuts and coffee will be served down in the Gathering Area, but there will be no lunch. Mark will work with Lynn Brown on coordinating with Sunday s coffee and donut time which is normally held between worship services. Discussed the meeting should start at 10:00. This allows for a short break for the congregation to get coffee and donuts as well as for setup time. Sandy will draft an annual congregation meeting policy to be shared with council at next week s meeting. The goal 2. of this policy is to help make the meeting more efficient. Update on narrative budget (Pastor Mark) (September 2017) no update Public Comments: None Future Meetings, Events and Dates to Remember: Thursday, December 14 Council Meeting at 6:00 pm Monday, January 8 th Council Meeting at 6:00 pm Sunday, January 28 Annual Congregation Meeting at 10:00 am Adjourn meeting Mark moved we adjourn. Brandon seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 8:02pm. Meeting closed with the Lord s Prayer. Minutes by Sandy Wick, Secretary December Ministry of the Month Praising God + Serving Others + Building Friendships Prayer Ministry When we work. We work. When we pray, GOD works! Prayer Chain Ministry is a network of individuals who will receive prayer requests and thanksgivings either by telephone or by e-mail and will pray immediately for each request. The importance of our prayer chain is that it faithfully intercedes on behalf of others in need by lifting up specific requests, concerns, and emergency situations; a spiritual alarm system, which communicates and takes prayerful action on the needs of others. To submit a prayer request, please ask permission to use the person s name and specific information. Then contact our church office (715) 453-4066. To participate in the Prayer Chain ministry, fill out the Yellow Prayer Chain Ministry with your name and number, located in the church office. Prayer Shawl Ministry is wrapping people in prayer. The Prayer Shawls, made by members of this ministry team, are blessed and then placed on a rack in the Gathering Area & Fellowship Hall. When someone is in need, take a prayer shawl to that person, and wrap it around them. Assure them it is a sign of God s blessing and our congregation s prayers for them. We also encourage you to pray for that person. Prayer Partner Ministry helps connect older members with younger members who will regularly pray for one another, with an ultimate goal of building meaningful relationships. Praying with others is one important way to grow in our faith and a way to develop Christian fellowship. Through this ministry, adults have the chance to get to know a child, and children get a broader circle of people who love, support and pray for them. Our hope is that partners connecting through prayer will inspire a desire to connect more personally, developing into a long meaningful relationship. How Prayer Partners works: Grace matches one adult with up to three of our Grace kids. The participating adults can t be from family of the young person. This is to promote Faith Webbing, a purposeful faithforming approach for connecting children, youth, and members of all ages within the congregation to each other, with the intent of building a web of faith relationships Grace s mission of building friendships. Meet your partner at Grace s First Wednesday Event on January 3 rd Contact: Patti Gaedtke gaedgram@charter.net or (715) 612-2000 11

December 2 & 3 Acolytes 5:00 pm Mason Peck 8:30 am Amalie Kurth 10:45 am Ellie Witulski Greeters 5:00 pm Karen Olson Peggy Price 8:30 am Bill/Arlene Strand Jim/Jan VanNorman 10:45 am Lois Langlois Mary Wilke Readers 5:00 pm Kathy Wolff 8:30 am Rita Meidam 10:45 am Dan Schuller Ushers 5:00 pm George/Lynn Derleth 8:30 am Marie Knipfer Dar Clements Larry/Jan Hagen 10:45 am Mary Hoglund Marilyn Smith Nursery 8:30 am Child of God 10:45 am Child of God Assisting Minister 5:00 pm Karen Olson 8:30 am Corey Colburn 10:45 am Jan Schuller Communion Assistants 8:30 am Al Overhaug Eric Anderson Running Projection 5:00 pm Don Tinker 8:30 am Paula Norman 10:45 am Tami Olson Projection Set up Jackie Leonhard Altar Guild Sara Volz, Stephanie Pellitteri Peggy Winter Counters Jack Lauder, Corky Burcalow, Julie Dentler Video Delivery Torkelsons Organist Laurie Schm idt L R December 9 & 10 Acolytes 5:00 pm Garrett Nelson 8:30 am Halle Derleth 10:45 am Haley Liebelt Greeters 5:00 pm Dan/Kay Salewske 8:30 am Stromberg Family Pete/Lynn Wurl 10:45 am Jody/Emily Decker Readers 5:00 pm Karen Olson 8:30 am Eric Anderson 10:45 am Nancy Herbison Ushers 5:00 pm Ed/Chris Raasch 8:30 am Brett Beaumier Steve Kahle, Bill Erickson John Krueger 10:45 am Greg/Steve Heikkinen Nursery 8:30 am Child of God 10:45 am Child of God Assisting Minister 5:00 pm Mark Gaedtke 8:30 am Shirley Derleth 10:45 am Nancy Herbison Communion Assistants 8:30 am Whitney Osero Marie Stark Running Projection 5:00 pm Jason Mielke 8:30 am Brynn Beaumier 10:45 am Kam Olson Projection Set up Paula Norman Altar Guild Sara Volz, Stephanie Pellitteri, Peggy Winter Counters Jack Lauder, Corky Burcalow, Julie Dentler Video Delivery Al Overhaug Organist 5:00 & 10:45 Marcia Sattelberg December 16 & 17 Acolytes 5:00 pm Macey Mann 8:30 am Cayden Johnson 10:45 am Eli Mullen Greeters 5:00 pm Sherry Thompson 8:30 am Zastrow Family 10:45 am Mary Wilke Readers 5:00 pm Nona Arthur 8:30 am Marie Stark 10:45 am Jeannie Gudgeon Ushers 5:00 pm Jeanette Lovsletten Peggy Price 8:30 am George/Lynn Derleth Jim VanNorman Jack Lauder 10:45 am Bill Martinson Dan Schuller Nursery 8:30 am Child of God 10:45 am Child of God Assisting Minister 5:00 pm Gail Wilson 8:30 am Paul Kurth 10:45 am Al Overhaug Communion Assistants 8:30 am Megan Marcks Running Projection 5:00 pm Sue Mielke 8:30 am Mike Wick Karen Torkelson 10:45 am Betty Hudson Projection Set up Karen Torkelson Altar Guild Sara Volz, Stephanie Pellitteri, Peggy Winter Counters Jack Lauder, Corky Burcalow, Julie Dentler Video Delivery Nancy Bronsted Organist Marcia Sattelberg 12

December 23 (Saturday) Acolytes 5:00 pm Child of God Greeters 5:00 pm Ron Leuenberg Dar Kluball Readers 5:00 pm Nancy Herbison Ushers 5:00 pm John Kromm Georgeanne Crass Assisting Minister 5:00 pm Joe Story Running Projection 5:00 pm Karen Torkelson Projection Set up Lisa Elliott Altar Guild Sara Volz, Stephanie Pellitteri Peggy Winter See the Signup board for Christmas Worship Services in the Gathering Area or call the church office! L R December 24 & 25 Christmas Eve/Christmas Day Acolytes 4:00 pm Halle Derleth Ayla McCormick 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Greeters 4:00 pm Need 4 6:00 pm Need 4 8:00 pmneed 4 Readers 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Ushers 4:00 pm Need 6 6:00 pm Need 6 8:00 pm Need 6 Nursery 4:00 pm Child of God 6:00 pm Child of God 8:00 pm Child of God Assisting Minister 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Communion Assistants 4:00 pmneed 4 6:00 pm Need 4 8:00 pmneed 2 Running Projection 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Counters Jack Lauder, Corky Burcalow, Julie Dentler Video Delivery Organist Marcia Sattelberg December 30 & 31 Acolytes 5:00 pm Child of God 8:30 am Child of God 10:45 am Child of God Greeters 5:00 pm 8:30 am 10:45 am Readers 5:00 pm 8:30 am 10:45 am Ushers 5:00 pm 8:30 am 10:45 am Nursery 8:30 am 10:45 am Assisting Minister 5:00 pm Al Overhaug 8:30 am Wendy Black 10:45 am Kam Olson Communion Assistants 8:30 am Running Projection 5:00 pm 8:30 am 10:45 am Projection Set up Karen Torkelson Altar Guild Sara Volz, Stephanie Pellitteri, Peggy Winter Counters Jack Lauder, Corky Burcalow, Julie Dentler Video Delivery Organist 5:00 pm Judy Davis 8:30 & 10:45 Marcia Sattelberg 13

December Birthdays (printed copies) can be found in the Gathering Area. Wilderness Trip 2018 Planned date for the 2018 Wilderness Trip is Friday, July 21 Sunday, July 29. Planned destination is the Lake Plateau area of southern Montana. This is a super area for fishing, hiking, mountain climbing and scenery. PLUS Christikon Bible Camp offers a Chalet and programming for OWLs or others who want to come along and be renewed in the mountains but with the comfort of a bed each night. Since we did not include OWLs or a reunion group last year we are interested in knowing if there is interest from others to join us. Again there are two options to joining the 9 th Graders and parents. One option is a separate backpacking group. The other option is staying at Christikon Bible Camp in their comfortable facilities and joining in their programming. Both of these options include all traveling together. This provides the pleasure and benefits of building relationships and deepening faith across generations. Please speak with Pastor Mark, Margie Welke, Renee Loka or call the church office to let us know if you are interested. 2018 Synod Trip to the Western Diocese July 417, 2018 The 2018 trip to the Western Diocese in South Africa is unique from all previous trips. Our Synod Bishop is very involved this time, the Western Diocese has a new Bishop, more of the 124 congregations in our synod are involved, and our ELCA has become much more organized to support, learn from, and use these companion synod relationships. The dates were chosen by both Bishops. Departure on July 4 is strange, but it is the earliest possible for our Bishop and others attending the ELCA Youth Gathering, falls in the time South Africa schools have their winter recess, and provided the cheapest rates. These dates also provide for two Sundays in the Parish. The trip begins with a tour of the Apartheid Museum in Soweto led by ELCA pastor Philip Knutson who lives in South Africa. Following that Bishop Ubane will greet and orient us at the Diocesan Centre and from there we will disburse to six different circuits where the Circuit Deans will greet us and each congregation s matched Parish will pick us up. The week and two Sundays in our matched Parish is the most impactful and important experience in this visit. Debriefing at the end is necessary on all three levels to determine what was learned and the next steps to be taken. An application and $500 down payment is due by January 31, 2018. Applications are available in the Church Office. There is an option of a safari, July 1719, which provides time to synthesize our learning, transformations, and implications from this experience. Safari details are still in process, likely at Pilanesberg Reserve with the cost around $350500. Food, lodging and transportation is provided by our companion Parish. Seventyfive seats have been reserved all flying from Atlanta to Johannesburg and departing on July 4, 2018: Ten seats out of Appleton at $1,793.72/person with return on July 17 via Paris Twentyfive seats out of Milwaukee has two options with return also via Paris $1,916.72/person if return 7/17 $2,006.54/person if return 7/19 Twenty seats out of Milwaukee at $1,819.49/person Atlanta both waysreturning July 19 Twenty seats out of Wausau at $1,740.99/personAtlanta both ways returning July 19 14

GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 108 W. SOMO AVENUE TOMAHAWK, WI 54487 Change service requested NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #37 Tomahawk, WI 54487 Regular Worship Services Labor Day to Memorial Day Saturday5:00 pm Sunday8:30 & 10:45 am Contemporary Worship 2nd & 4th Sundays @ 8:30 am Christmas Services December 244:00, 6:00, 8:00pm December 2510:00 am Our sponsors of the month! Please thank our sponsors and patronize their businesses for helping us publish our newsletter. (See the complete list of sponsors on the inside back cover.)