First Avenue and Court Street Iowa City, IA 52245 Phone: 319-338-5626 Email: redeemer@ourredeemer.org www.ourredeemer.org Our Redeemer Lutheran Church And Preschool Weekly Newsletter - November 21/22, 2015 ~ Last Sunday of the Church Year ~ Date November 22 James 1-1 Peter 1 November 29 1 Peter 2-2 Peter 2 ADULT BIBLE STUDY Sunday Morning 9:30 am Sanctuary Building Up the Body SUNDAY SCHOOL The Law kills, but the Gospel revives. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). There will be a multi-age Sunday School on November 29 for Toddlin (with parents) through High School in the fellowship hall that will include lesson and a craft. Adult Bible study will be in the sanctuary. November 25 7:00 pm No Midweek Classes MISSION AUCTION NOVEMBER 22 nd November 29 th 2:00 pm Come, everyone!! Help decorate Our Redeemer for Christmas!! Pizza to follow 1 Follows 10:30 am service Fellowship Hall The funds raised will help defray the cost of mission trips for the participants. The funds raised will also help support domestic and foreign missions.
The many comments from this weekend about the Youth Service show a great appreciation for the efforts that our youth put forth as represented by one couple s remarks, We truly appreciated the Youth Service last weekend. It was apparent they had practiced and were well prepared. I do not remember any youth service where participants memorized a skit that was so long. It all helped me focus on the message and worship. Looking forward to next year's Youth Service. Compliments for the Youth Praise Team were heard over and over. There was special commendation for the efforts taken in memorizing and rehearsing the skit. Thank you once again to all those who participated (listed to the right). The congregation truly appreciates your time and effort in making this a meaningful service. A word of thanks also to the supporting adults Kara Hartwig, Youth Coordinator; Skip & Marilyn Kempnich, music direction; Chris Schwarz, keyboard; and Kevin Sellers, Technology. Youth Praise Team Devyn Alt (singer) Sydney Alt (guitar) Sam Gienapp (singer) Emma Hartwig (singer) Grace Hartwig (singer) Morgan Hotz (singer) Alex Kooker (drums) Riley Reynolds (singer) Greeters Marek Ghabel Claire Gienapp Kayla West Ushers Kylea Greve Noah Hartwig Spencer Holman Kolby Kucera Faith Reynolds Christian Schwarting Readers Alex Kooker (Saturday at 5:30 pm) Joseph Van Zante (Sunday 8:00 am) Grace Hartwig (Sunday 10:30 am) Youth Skit Sam Gienapp narrator Emma Hartwig girl jogging Grace Hartwig girl rollerblading Alex Kooker guy on bike Riley Reynolds hungry guy Joseph Van Zante guy in park YOU ARE PART OF A CARING CONGREGATION! One of the best ways to tell that our congregation cares is by our commitment to Stephen Ministry. This is an important way that we express God s love to those around us. Is God calling you to take a more active role in Christian caregiving? Here s what one Stephen Minister has to say about Stephen Ministry: I was kind of sitting on the sidelines in our congregation. Oh, I came to church every Sunday, but the rest of the week I was focused on myself. Then Stephen Ministry came along. When I said yes to God s call to me for that ministry, I saw a lot of changes in my life. Now I m committed to caring more about others than I do about myself. And you know what? I m walking a lot closer with my Lord. A new training class for Stephen Ministry is starting in January, meeting Tuesday nights from 6:45-9:15pm. Is this a ministry opportunity for you? For more information contact Pastor Hartwig at 338-5626 or bhartwig@ourredeemer.org today. Applications are available in the church office. 2
Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming". And Advent itself is coming soon. November 29 is the first Sunday of Advent and midweek Advent services begin the following Wednesday, December 2 at 1:00 pm and 6:10 pm. Advent meals will be served on those Wednesdays at 5:10 pm and Marilyn Paetz will host a sing-a-long at 6:00 pm on each of those nights. A complete holiday schedule will be in next week s Beacon. Advent devotions in both large and regular print are available at the Welcome Center. ATTENTION ALL USHERS HOLIDAY Christmas and New Year special services will soon be here which means we always need extra ushers. This year a third Christmas Eve service has been added (services at 4:30, 6:30, and 11:30 pm). If each usher only ushers once, we will need 20 extra ushers to cover the holidays, not counting the regular services. The more people we get, the fewer times we will have to double up. If you can help more than one service that would be great. There is a sign-up sheet in the church office or talk with Dave Fruendt or Dave Hintze. Please do it soon to help us plan! Thanks! Poinsettia sign -up will continue through November 29. Watch for the sign-up sheets in the narthex to get the details on sizes and prices. Please pay in cash or check made payable to Our Redeemer. The poinsettias will be displayed in the church through Christmas. Please take them home after the Christmas Day service. This year, you not only purchase a plant, but support the 4Cs, a non-profit agency that supports the care and learning of young children. You are contributing to the Home Ties Emergency Child Care Center s efforts to provide a bus for homeless or at risk children. Home Ties provides free, temporary care for children that are homeless or at risk of homelessness. While parents work on serious issues such as finding housing, jobs, returning to school, receiving job training, or substance abuse treatment the children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment. Transportation is critical for the success of the program; daily transportation is provided from the Shelters to the Center and back again. They also provide many field trips for the children to the library, to local parks, apple-picking, and, in winter, to the recreation centers. These activities may seem ordinary to most families, but for these children most are new experiences and are so important to them to learn more about their world. Any questions can be directed to Melissa Mullane at 936-5827, or bammullane@aol.com 3
THE ANGELS ARE COMING!!!!! This year again you have the opportunity to participate in serving those less fortunate through this project, sponsored by the Human Care Committee. Angel Tree is a program of Prison Fellowship where the children of prisoners are given Christmas gifts on behalf of the parent since he/she is unable to do so while incarcerated. Angels will be available for selection before, after and between services beginning with the Thanksgiving Eve service on November 25 and each Advent and weekend service through Sunday, December 13 th. When you select an angel (s), you will be asked to sign out the angel with your name and phone number. The committee needs this information to follow up on un-returned gifts. Angels occasionally get lost or misplaced during the busy Holiday season. All gifts need to be wrapped and returned to the church by Wednesday, December 16, 2015 in order to process them and deliver the week before Christmas. You will receive written instructions about the process when you select an angel, which we ask that you follow carefully. Thank you for helping those in need at this special time of the year. 2015 Christmas Program... Practices have begun for this year s Christmas Program. We are rehearsing in the music room during the Sunday School hour. In addition add these December practices to your calendar: Saturday, December 5 th : Rehearsal in sanctuary 9:00 am: speaking parts need to arrive 9:45 am: all other students arrive We will rehearse until 11:45 am Saturday, December 12 th : Rehearsal in sanctuary 9:00 am: speaking parts only 9:45 am: everyone We will rehearse until 12:00 pm Sunday, December 13 th : Rehearsal in music room at 9:15 am, Sunday School follows. Immediately after 10:30 worship service, report to the Toddlin to Jesus room for a snack. BEAT THE SNOW! Two volunteers cover a week at a time. The number of volunteers determines how many weeks each gets. Having many volunteers can make this a small commitment of time and effort. Clearing includes the sidewalks and parsonages; the parking lot is done by others. There are shovels, de-icing pellets, and a snow blower available. 11:45 am Pre-program music begins 12:00 pm Program begins Lunch follows program in Fellowship Hall Please contact Allison Haack with any questions, alliehaack@gmail.com or 319-400- 1312. Please sign up in the church office if you can help. 4
Our Redeemer Preschool Weekly Newsletter November 16 th -20 th, 2015 God Provides! Director/Teacher: Kaja Mueller Assistant: Kate Ramsey Preschool Phone: 319-338-3949 www.ourredeemerpreschoolic.org preschool@ourredeemer.org Number: 3 Color: Brown Bible Story: Exodus 16:1-17:7 JESUS TIME: Moses and the Israelites made it past the Egyptians and the Red Sea. Once in the desert, they worried and complained about not having any food and water. God provided for them quail, manna and water! God provides for us every day, as well! We talked about all the blessings that God has provided for us. We learned that God gives us a gift every single day-the gift of the forgiveness of sins! Oh, give thanks unto the Lord!! ARTS & CRAFTS: Thanksgiving Placemat Turkey Coloring Turkeys with Twyla READING CENTER: 10 Fat Turkeys - Tony Johnston Clifford s Thanksgiving Visit - Norman Bridwell The First Thanksgiving - Dana Stewart Five Silly Turkeys - Salina Yoon Giving Thanks - Quinlan B. Lee The Great Turkey Race - Steve Metzger Mr. Brown Can Moo Can You? - Dr. Seuss Over the River - Derek Anderson Thank you, Thanksgiving - David Milgrim Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks - Margaret Sutherland This is the Turkey - Abbie Levine SENSORY TABLE: Indian Corn, Pine Cones, Turkeys SCIENCE CENTER: Nature Basket with Magnifying Glass Magnetic Blocks MATH: Counting Turkeys Shape Addition SONGS/CHANTS: Autumn Leaves Bean Bag Boogie BROWN Gray Squirrel Hello, Mr. Turkey Jesus Loves Me If I Were A Butterfly Praise Him The Turkey Ran Away Happy 4 1/2 Birthday to Ellie! Ellie turned four this past July, but we celebrate her on Friday! May God continue to bless her in this next special year of her life! Next Week s Snack & Line Leaders: Monday: Norah Tuesday: Jack Y. Wednesday: No School Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving! Friday: No School (11 kids M/W/F; 8 kids T/TH) Fall Program Information: The children will be sharing some of the songs they have learned this past fall! We will begin at 11:30 in the preschool room. After this short program, you are welcome to stay for food and fellowship as we celebrate our children and God s blessings for all of us this Thanksgiving! (There is a signup sheet outside the preschool room to bring a food item.) If you are not able to join us, you may then take your child home. Please email Mrs. Kate if you have any questions: preschoolassistant@ourredeemer.org IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: Nov 23 rd -24 th : Fall Program Nov 25 th -27 th : Thanksgiving Break Dec 1 st : December Tuition Due 5
Live Nativity Each year the High School Youth present a Live Nativity. We would like the congregation s help to get ready for this youth-sponsored community outreach event. Volunteers are needed now to help with: Costumes (mending, sewing new costumes, making new angel wings; this can be done at home or at church) Live Animals (Do you know someone in 4-H who shows livestock? Do you have a neighbor or friend who owns sheep or goats? Would they be willing to bring their animals to be part of Live Nativity?) Volunteers are also needed during the Live Nativity on Sunday, December 13 th from 4:00 pm 6:00 pm. Music (carolers to sing during the Live Nativity; there are no rehearsals just an informal group of singers) Refreshments (help serve cookies and hot chocolate inside the church, similar to Sunday morning coffee hour open to the public during Live Nativity; refreshments provided by Thrivent) Please talk to Kara or email her at youthcoordinator@ourredeemer.org to volunteer. The Annual LWML Guild Cookie Walk will be Saturday, December 5 th, 9:00 am to 11:00. Please start pulling out your cookbooks or visiting your favorite recipe websites for the cookies you will bake. We would appreciate donations of as many cookies as possible! Workers will be needed on Friday, December 4 th and/or Saturday, December 5 th. Sign-up sheets are in the Narthex. Posters will be available for pick-up next week for your office bulletin board or where you shop. Proceeds from the Cookie Walk will be given to missions. Thank you for your help! Are you getting excited for the upcoming holidays? It's that time of year to thank God for his many blessings and share with family and friends the good news of Jesus birth. Why not send a forever message from the Card Shop? There is a fine selection of Thanksgiving cards and coming soon a wonderful array of Christmas cards. Don't forget that the elderly, shut-ins and children love getting cards in the mailbox! So check out the Card Shop next to the Fellowship Hall. And send someone a smile! Thank you for sharing. from the Women's Mission Guild, LWML 6
Confirmation Classes Wednesday, November 25 th (this week) Since classes are cancelled this week, you are encouraged to attend the Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service at 7:00 pm. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 High School Youth High Schoolers are asked to help with the multi-age Sunday School on November 29. High School Midweek Theme in December will be Advent. Attention: All High School students Add Living Nativity on Sun, Dec. 13 th to your calendar from 3-7 pm Join us for dinner, singing and worship before class on Dec. 2 nd! Wednesday, December 2 nd 6 th Grade Lecture Unit 2: God s Grace to His People Israel In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25 So Israel wanted a king, because they wanted to be like the other nations around them. The kingdom of Israel was united for 120 years. The first king of Israel was Saul, then David and finally Solomon. MEMORY DUE: none 7 th Grade Small Group Conclusion of the Ten Commandments Be able to list all ten of the commandments. We ll look at several Bible verses to see what God says about all these commandments. For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them. Galatians 3:10 HOMEWORK DUE: none MEMORY DUE: none 8 th Grade Small Group Questioning Review Be prepared to review what we have learned the first half of the year: Confession and the Apostles Creed. Here s a couple of questions to get you started: 1. What sins should we confess before God? We should confess all sins even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord s Prayer. 2. Who is the only true God? The only true God is the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three distinct persons in one divine being (the Holy Trinity). HOMEWORK DUE: none MEMORY DUE: none 7
OUR REDEEMER OFFICE DIRECTORY Office: 338-5626 Fax: 338-9171 Website: http://www.ourredeemer.org Preschool: 338-3949 Prayer Chain: 351-5297 or prayerchain@ourredeemer.org Special Announcements Line: 338-3505 STAFF & EMAIL PHONE NO. STAFF & EMAIL PHONE NO. Brent Hartwig, Senior Pastor bhartwig@ourredeemer.org 337-2403 (home) Kaja Mueller, Director of Christian Ed. dce@ourredeemer.org 541-4827 (cell) Kaja Mueller, Preschool Director Kate Ramsey, Assistant preschool@ourredeemer.org 338-3949 (preschool) Peter Adelsen, Vicar vicar@ourredeemer.org Larry Freeman, Bookkeeper bookkeeper@ourredeemer.org Kara Hartwig, Youth Coordinator youthcoordinator @ourredeemer.org Denise Holida Director of Small Group Ministry smallgroups@ourredeemer.org 930-0165 (cell) Louise Klopp, Director of Choirs choirdirector@ourredeemer.org Marilyn Paetz, Organist organist@ourredeemer.org 351-4262 (home) Kate Ramsey, Preschool Assistant preschoolassistant@ourredeemer.org Kevin Sellers Director of Technology technology@ourredeemer.org 631-8924 (cell) Laurel Sellers, Office Coordinator redeemer@ourredeemer.org 2015 Board of Elders - Ryan Haack, Chair 688-9513 Bill Benson 517-881-9848 Vaughn Davisson 319-648-4660 Ryan Haack, Chair 688-9513 Myrl Holida 351-4301 Skip Kempnich 351-5297 Jeff Kucera 512-6789 Denny Schrader 530-1562 Arlan Thompson 338-2938 Marty Wenck 330-2761 Each family of the Our Redeemer flock is assigned alphabetically by last name to an elder to insure each family is prayed for and feels they have an elder. It is the sincere feeling of the Board of Elders that we are to love and be of service equally to the entire body of believers. We encourage any one of you to contact any one of us so we can share your spiritual journey, ideas or concerns. DEADLINES Reflections (printed weekly): Information must be submitted (written, typed, emailed or faxed) each Wednesday by 5:00 pm Beacon Newsletter & Church Activities Calendar (printed monthly): Information must be submitted (written, typed, emailed or faxed) by noon on the 20 th of each month. TELEVISION ~ RADIO Our Redeemer Worship Service on Public Access TV Channel 18 every Wednesday at 4:00 pm. The Lutheran Hour Television Ministries talk show On Main Street is shown on Public Access Television Channel 18 on Thursdays at 1:30 pm and Sundays at 10:00 pm. Lutheran Hour Ministries on Radio WMT 600 AM Radio on Sunday mornings at 6:30 am, and KXEL 1540 AM Radio on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND SCREENING Our Redeemer Lutheran Church has been in ministry with children and youth for almost 55 years. Our insurance carrier, Church Mutual, strongly encourages us to promote the safest and most secure environment possible by screening all employees and volunteers, both new and existing, especially those who interact with children. Performing background checks will provide safeguards and peace of mind to our staff, volunteers, parents, youth and children. Additional details will be forthcoming as we put this screening process in motion. 8