** December 17, 2017 ** CORE VALUES: Faith-Integrity-Growth-Excellence-Community CORE PURPOSE: Love God, Grow People The Messenger Are you a first-time visitor? Please stop by the Visitor Table at the top of the front stairs after the service. We have a small gift of appreciation for you. Blessed to Serve Others Outreach & Servant Events Gifts from the Heart It s not too late to add Gifts from the Heart to your shopping list. Gifts from the Heart Catalogues are now available at the church. Ruth & Naomi s Mission ~ Volunteers Needed! Servers are needed for their 2pm & 5pm Turkey Dinners on Christmas Day. Live musical accompaniment and gift hampers for everyone add to this special time. If you can help please call Cheryl at 604-795-2322 (young people over 16 accompanied by parents can come) Lutheran Bible Translators. Pray for Martin & Joan Weber working on the Kwanja-language lectionary B, and the Dowayo project in Poli, Cameroon. May both projects be a blessing for the Lutheran Church in Cameroon. 1
ADVENT SERVANT EVENTS 2017 At each of our Advent Midweek Celebrations we will spend a half an hour assembling special gifts for those less fortunate than ourselves. Wednesday, December 20 we will be collecting Men s and Women s warm socks which will be distributed through agencies such as Ruth and Naomi s & Cyrus Center. Please bring heavy, wool-type socks as they are more absorbent in nasty weather. Blessed to Serve Our Church Community Coming Events & Notices IMPORTANT! VOTERS MEETING TODAY! There will be a Voters Meeting TODAY, Sunday, December 17 th following the 2 nd Worship Service. This meeting is to discuss and vote on the options for budgeting for music for both Worship Services for next year. If you haven t received (via email) or picked up a copy of the Governing Board Options extra hard copies are available at the church. ATTENTION! Christmas Eve Service Change! Please be advised that there will be two identical Christmas Eve Services on Sunday, December 24 th - Morning Service at 10:00 am and Evening Service at 6:00 pm. Children s Choir Rehearsals: Rehearsal times for the Children s Choir are as follows: Sun. Dec. 17 th at 10:15 am and a quick run through on Sun. Dec. 24 th at 5:15 pm before the service. Thanking You by Helping Child Education For A Year In Nicaragua: Rather than purchasing small gifts to thank our many volunteers and helpers here at St. Paul s, we have made a special monetary donation through Canadian Lutheran World Relief ~ Gifts from the Heart ~ to purchase the supplies required for children to attend school and learn of God s love in the church-run education programs of Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua. Please know that bringing Christ s love to these little ones is our thanks to you for all you do to serve at St. Paul s. God bless you for your dedication & service. 2
St. Paul s Christmas Potluck Supper ~ Our St. Paul s Christmas Potluck Supper is being held along with the Wednesday Advent Servant Event & Service on December 20 th starting at 5:00 pm. To make this a special Christmas Potluck - bring a favorite Christmas dish from your childhood or your ethnic background... and of course your friends and family. It will be fun to share your favourite foods and enjoy wonderful fellowship. Hope to see you there St. Paul s Lutheran Church Quilters: Our Quilting Ladies have some lovely handmade items for sale that will make great Christmas Gifts! Many to choose from quilts are individually priced. Please make payment in cash to Donna, Leslie, Airi or pay at the church office. All proceeds will be donated to Local Relief. Are You Outgoing! Do You Enjoy Meeting People! If so, we can use your help! We are in need of Greeters to welcome guests and worshipers on Sunday mornings before the 2 nd Worship Service. Individuals, Couples and Families all welcome. If you can help, please contact the church office. Church Nursery Help Needed! We are in need of two people to help out in the Nursery during the sermon at the second Worship Service. With enough people volunteering you will only have to serve once every 8 weeks. If you can help, contact the church office. Sunday, December 17 th Voters Meeting after 2 nd Worship Service Sunday, December 24 th Christmas Eve Morning Service at 10:00 am Christmas Eve Evening Service 6:00 pm Monday, December 25 th 9:00 am Worship Service with Communion 3
Please Remember In Your Prayers Hanne Thomsen (daughter of Tove & Henning) receiving cancer treatments Becky Miller recovering from surgery Paulette LaRocque recovering from surgery Alex & Glenn Donovan- Miller- birth of daughter Merida Celeste born prematurely but doing well in hospital. Merida Celeste was welcomed into the family of God through the sacrament of Holy Baptism on December 4 th. Mike McIntosh ( brother in-law of June Lemieux) acute pancreatitis Susan Wyler broken knee cap Pray for the refugee family that will be sponsoring in 2018 Sun. Dec. 17 This Week s Special Events 8:45 am 9:45 am 10:15 am Noon Communion at Early Service Bible Study Children s Choir Rehearsal Voters Meeting Wed. Dec. 20 5:00 pm Advent Servant Event and Church Christmas Potluck Supper & Service Sun. Dec. 24 10:00 am 6:00 pm Christmas Eve Service Christmas Eve Service Mon. Dec. 25 9:00 am Christmas Day Service with Communion Budget requirements for the Lord s work at St. Paul s Lutheran Church Undesignated Monthly Envelope Offerings to meet our 2017 Budget: $16,500.00 November Undesignated Envelope Offering: $15, 448.00 St. Paul s Evangelical Lutheran Church 8871 School St., Chilliwack B.C. V2P 4L5 604-792-9577 E-mail: info@chilliwacklutheran.com Website: www.chilliwacklutheran.com Pastor Wayne Lunderby 4
God Planned for Us As we approach Christmas, many of us will be asked, What do you want for Christmas? We, in turn, should be thinking about what we're giving to others. Some joke that that's what December 24th is for. Unfortunately, some don t plan ahead in regard to their gift-giving. As a result, when they re ready to go shopping, they don t have enough money put aside to buy the gifts they want to give. Because of poor planning, they may give inappropriate gifts. God didn't give His leftovers nor did He have a haphazard plan. His gift to us was in the Person of His Son, Jesus. He was in on the plan from the beginning, and with joy He came to earth to be our Savior. God wasn't caught short of funds; He gave His Son Who gave His life for you. What gift could be more appropriate? Christ is exactly what each of us needs! Prayer: Lord, open my eyes and heart so that I can truly appreciate the gift of Your Son Jesus. Thank You for including me in Your plans. In Your name I pray. Amen Blessings on your stewardship journey! 5