December 24 Christmas Eve Services 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m.

DECEMBER 2013 December 8 Santa Lucia Program December 15 Sunday School Christmas Program at the 10:30 service and Christmas Caroling at 2:00 p.m. December 24 Christmas Eve Services 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Table of Contents Pastor s message... 2 Children, Youth & Family... 3-4 Music Ministry... 5 Financial Updates... 6 Announcements... 6 Calendar... 7 December 22 Christmas with the Choir The ERLC Office will be closed on December 25 and January 1

WORSHIP COMMITTEE 1. Thank you to ERLC members Julie and Ken Nathe for donating decorations from 101 Market used in the Sanctuary on November 24 th. 2. Thank you to the ERLC members for their time and work resulting in a beautifully decorated Sanctuary for Worship on Nov 24 th. 3. Poinsettias will go on sale starting Dec 1st for $7.50. Look for the order form inserts in your bulletin during Advent. 4. Christmas Eve services: December 24 at 3:30, 5:30 and 10:00 p.m. 5. Wanted Christmas Eve Volunteers at 3:30, 5:30 and 10:00 Worship. Our Worship Services depend greatly on volunteers. Please consider signing-up for one of these roles: Greeters (2-4 per service) Ushers (4-6 per service) Communion Set-up/Cleanup (2-3 per service) Lector (1 per service) Communion Servers (4 per service) Basket holders (2 per service) Stewards (1 per service) "#$%&$'()*%'*+,%-.$&-%/#%* 0*$&-%/#12345%6#7'(5(, 289:;<9:;=2>*(?(#@)*$$,7ABC(@ /%?$)(*?(#@)*$$,$-0$B(,$D 5$50$,&(B*/$E(,&/6F.$%5G6## F,(?6-$C(@G6*/4@6-%)'$7 PASTORS MESSAGE The Blessings Just Keep Coming... What a gift to experience the season of fall and now the anticipation of Christmas with the family of Elk River Lutheran. You continue to SHARE YOUR GIFTS in so many ways with the congregation and the community. All I had to do was mention that we needed a panel in front of the soundboard in the sanctuary and it was in process the next day. Members are investigating new ministry opportunities to reach out to the community in Elk River. I look forward to exciting opportunities following Christmas. The Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall were energized as people gathered to decorate and share their passion for the season. We will gather to decorate the rest of the church on Saturday, Dec 7 th. An organ was donated and we ll be able to sing our favorite Advent and Christmas carols with a rich new sound. And the list goes on. I keep hoping for rest but evidently the Spirit has other plans for Elk River Lutheran.I thank God for the Blessings of the Season and for the Spirit that flows through the people of this community Just as Mary and Joseph followed where they were led and the world was blessed through a newborn baby may we follow and bless God s world A Blessed Advent & Merry Christmas, Pastor Heidi GOD HAS BLESSED US THIS ADVENT SEASON with a beautiful organ There's nothing better than singing Christmas Songs with an organ accompanying them.

Elk River Lutheran Church December 2013 CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILY MINISTRY Upcoming Events Students in Mission Aliveness Project On Wednesday, Dec 11th, the confirmation and high school youth group students will meet at church at 6:00 pm to go to Target to shop for Christmas gifts for 10 individuals. This has been a wonderfully enriching service project we ve done for the past three years for individuals living with HIV/ AIDS in the Twin Cities area. More information about the Aliveness Project can be found at aliveness.org. We re looking to raise $350 to purchase all these gifts. Drivers are needed Please let Ian know if you re available to help drive kids to and from Target We ll be done by 8:00 p.m. Children s Christmas Pageant The Sunday School Christmas pageant will be on December 15th during the 10:30 worship service. Come see all the hard work the kids have been putting into the program Children, Youth, Families Children in Worship One of the greatest joys of being a part of a community of faith is wrestling with challenging ideas together. During this past month, we ve seen children and youth participate in the worship life of ERLC in a number of ways. From reading scripture to the congregation and helping distribute communion to drawing pictures and asking questions about what we talked about in worship, it is such a blessing to have a diverse set of voices, perspectives, and questions in the midst of our lives of faith in action both within the [thick concrete] walls of our building as well as at work in our communities. $ If you and your family are interested in learning how to further engage in worship, you might want to contact our Music Director JaneAnn Settergren or Sue Sass (sue.sass@elkriverlutheran.org), our council liaison for Worship and Music. $ 1

Maecenas Quis Dolor you will notice a banner hanging in the sanctuary which reads, Arise, Shine Your light has come What Sociis a beautiful mauris in promise integer, a dolor netus non dui aliquet, sagittis felis sodales, dolor sociis This phrase comes mauris, vel eu libero cr, a dolor from the book of netus non dui aliquet, sagittis felis sodales, dolor sociis the prophet mauris, vel eu libero cras. as., a dolor netus non dui aliquet, Isaiah (60:1), who sagittis felis sodales, dolor happens to be sociis mauris, vel eu libero cras. Interdum at. Eget habitasse one of my elementum est, ipsum purus favorite of the pede class. Quam ac ligula risus lectus dapibus. Old Testament MALESUADA ELEIFEND, TORTOR MOLESTIE, A scripture and how they can relate portion of Isaiah to the stories of the bible, FUSCE to pray A VEL ET. ALIQUAM. speaks about the good news of God s promises to a community with and for each other, and Wisi mattis xleo suscipit nec amet, nisl fermentum going tempor through ac a, vestibulum a rebuilding felis phase: in, sed restoration, ligula. In abundance, sodales suspendisse blessing, mauris sometimes to play In the picture augue in eleifend in venenatis, cras sit id in vestibulum and grace. above, one of our great small felis in, quam etiam erat, quia tellus convallis eros rhoncus diam orci, sed ligula. group In leaders sodales Brittany suspendisse Wingard mauris quam etiam erat, quia porta lectus esse adipiscing posuere et, nisl arcu vitae laoreet. These are promises from God that were needed by people who tellus leads convallis her group eros rhoncus of 7th grade diam girls orci, porta lectus esse Morbi integer molestie, amet gravida suspendisse morbi, amet were pioneers in their own homeland. As a congregation that has adipiscing around posuere the church et, nisl for arcu an exercise vitae laoreet. Morbi integer maecenas, a maecenas mauris neque proin in venenatis, cras sit id molestie, in trust, amet based gravida on suspendisse the story of morbi, amet the maecenas, opportunity a in to vestibulum be pioneers felis in in, our sed own ligula. homeland, In sodales Isaiah suspendisse 60 also mauris maecenas Deborah, mauris a neque wise and proin courageous nisl mollis. Suscipit nec gives nec us ligula hope quam and encouragement etiam erat, quia for tellus a time convallis of restoration, eros rhoncus diam orci, ipsum judge orci nulla, in Israel. in posuere ut quis ultrices, lectus abundance, eget primisblessing porta lectus and grace. esse adipiscing During this posuere season, et, we nisl wait arcu for vitae the laoreet. vehicula velit hasellus lectus, vestibulum orci laoreet greatest inceptos gift of Morbi all time: integer for God molestie, to slip amet into skin gravida and be suspendisse born, walk, adipiscing During this first half of the year, vitae, at consectetuer amet et consectetuer. posuere et, nisl arcu vitae laoreet. Morbi integer molestie, amet I ve witnessed our small group and teach among us. gravida suspendisse morbi, amet maecenas, a maecenas mauris Congue leaders porta do scelerisque an incredible praesent job at, of lacus vestibulum et at dignissim cras urna, ante convallis turpis duis lectus But sed we aliquet, also have neque an invitation proin venenatis, to rethink cras church. sit id To in rethink vestibulum Advent felis in, sed teaching our middle school youth at tempus about et the ultricies. bible. But Eros they ve sociis done cursus nec and hamenaeos Christmas. ligula. To rethink In sodales the ways suspendisse things mauris should quam be done. etiam erat, quia tellus dignissimos something imperdiet, more luctus than that: ac eros sed massa Sunday vestibulum, School convallis will take eros a break rhoncus from diam December orci, porta 15th lectus through esse adipiscing lobortis they re adipiscing allowing praesent. our Nec young posuere et, nisl arcu vitae laoreet. eros eu ridiculus libero January felis. 5th. Confirmation class and high school youth group people the space to talk about Donec arcu risus diam amet sit. Congue tortor won t cursus meet risus again Morbi until integer January molestie, 8th, amet but we re gravida still suspendisse being and morbi, amet faith and life and love in a way maecenas, a maecenas mauris neque proin, dapibus velit vestibulum commodo nisl, luctus augue amet doing quis aenean church. In your own families, and as a congregation, we re that they might not be able to do molestiae leo. nulla, in posuere ut quis ultrices, lectus eget primis maecenas in school sit, donec or even velit in their iusto, homes. morbi felis elit invited et to nibh. respond to God s promise to us: vehicula velit hasellus lectus, vestibulum orci laoreet inceptos Vestibulum volutpat dui lacus consectetuer, mauris at suspendisse, As a church, eu wisi let s rhoncus be sure eget to nibh thank velit, eget posuere Lift up sem your in eyes vitae, and at look consectetuer around; they amet all et gather consectetuer. together, they Congue porta scelerisque praesent at, lacus vestibulum et at dignissim cras urna, a sit. Brittany, Sociosqu Nicole netus semper Meyer, aenean Vicki suspendisse come dictum, to arcu you; your sons shall come from far away, and your ante convallis turpis duis lectus sed aliquet, at tempus et ultricies. enim Granros conubia leo and nulla John ac Wells nibh, for purus their hendrerit ut daughters mattis nec shall be carried on their nurses arms. Then you shall see amazing ability (and willingness) maecenas, quo ac, vivamus praesent metus eget viverra ante. Eros sociis cursus nec hamenaeos dignissimos imperdiet, luctus and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the to accompany our young people ac eros sed massa vestibulum, lobortis adipiscing praesent. Nec. Natoque placerat sed sit hendrerit in venenatis, cras abundance sit id in on their faith journeys of the sea shall be brought to you. (Isaiah 60:4-5) Elk River Lutheran Church December 2013 EGESTA QUIS SET AHMET LOREM Confirmation is on break for advent, but going strong Every Wednesday evening from 6:00-7:30, around 20-25 students come to ERLC to learn about Children, Youth, Families Advent: an invitation to hurry up and wait During this season of Advent (December 1st through Christmas), prophets. This 2

Advent = Waiting with Hopes and Expectations It is too easy in our culture to celebrate Christmas from the day after Thanksgiving until December 25. It s natural to want to go right to the celebration without waiting for it. We like to the fun of the holiday without all the work. Who wouldn t? Last year by the afternoon of December 25, I noticed that some had their trees out on the curb already. But I wonder then if people don t miss out on the deeper meaning, the reflection of the value and significance of it all. The Bible tells us that the people waited a long time for the Messiah to come. There was a period of 400 years between the last of the prophets and Jesus birth. That s a long time to wait, and it was a rather dark period in their history. More than a few people probably wondered if God had forgotten about them and the promises that had been made. In our church calendar we have 4 weeks of Advent. Each Sunday, we light an additional candle as the four weeks go by, until on Christmas Eve all the candles are lit and the Christ candle in the center glows its promise of peace on earth for all. During these weeks there are special events on many of the Sundays leading up to Christmas. Your participation is invited for the caroling event and all the worship services; help is needed to host the events as greeters, ushers, etc. Also if you love to sing, consider joining the choir. For December we will be rehearsing at 6:30 pm on Wednesday evenings (Dec. 4, 11, & 18). May the light of Christ shine through us all in this blessed Holy season. JaneAnn Settergren Director of Music Ministry Sunday, December 8, 2013 At 8:15 & 10:30 am worship services: Santa Lucia Celebration with the Confirmation students Sunday, December 22, 2013 8:15 & 10:30 am Sunday morning worship service: Christmas with the Choir A Light Shines in the Darkness Sunday, December 15, 2013 10:30 am Sunday morning worship service with the Sunday School Christmas program: The Best Christmas Present Tuesday, December 24, 2013 3:30, 5:30 & 10:00 pm Christmas Eve Worship Services 2:00 pm Christmas Caroling with the Choir & Youth

ANNOUNCEMENTS BOOK CLUB Please join us on December 9, at 6:30 p.m. for an engaging conversation of Death in Holy Orders written by English writer P. D. James. This novel is mainly set around an Anglican theological college on the coast of East Anglia. It provides an insight into the structure of the Anglican Church and its training of students for a religious career. We will be meeting at Karen Froelich's home. 16820 Dayton River Road in Dayton Please bring a small food plate to share. Call Karen Sjobeck-Mahon if you need a ride. 763-241-3970. CAER is already planning for its holiday dinner distribution and we need stovetop dressing Chunky soups and boxed pasta side dishes would also be welcome. Drop off your food donations in the grocery cart at ERLC or at CAER M-W-F 10 am 3 pm; or Mon. and Thurs. evenings from 6-8 pm. THANKS FOR SUPPORTING CAER Sarah's Oasis-- Thanks so much for the support and generosity for Sarah's. We've received for Sarah's 2 bed comforters, 35 headbands, 7scarves, 6 stocking hats, 3 pairs of gloves, 2 cosmetic bags, 3 gallon bags of individual toiletries, and gift wrap, bags and tags. There are 30 residents there and wouldn't it be great to see those smiles Christmas morning? We could use more scarves, gloves or mittens, and stocking hats. $10 gift cards from Target or Walgreens are appreciated. Just put them in the collection plate in an envelope marked Sarah's. These gifts will be delivered to Sarah's the first week in December. Finance Update Elk River Lutheran's finances are in very good shape. We have a nice cash balance of approximately $150,000 at present. Our building fund collected balance of over $200,000 is invested in the Mission Investment Fund. We are still working on the building project final financials. There are still a few loose ends to analyze yet. Jackie Anderson (Finance Chair) and Chris McColley (Bookkeeper) have been working hard the last couple of months to complete the 2012-2013 fiscal year. They have also brought our financials current. Our many thanks to them As we move forward we are looking at possible big expenditures Furnace replacement Sanctuary update projection system Storage shed for snow blowers (donated by members) Video security system. The finance team is planning a presentation of our financial position to the congregation on December 8 between services. If you have any questions feel free to ask me. I look forward to seeing you on the 8 th. Tom Wingard

10:30am - Praise Band New Year's Eve 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 10:30am - Praise Band 10pm - Christmas Eve 5:30pm - Christmas Eve Christmas with the Choir 3:30pm - Christmas Eve Church Office Closed 4th Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve Christmas 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 2pm - Caroling Event 10:30am - SS Christmas 10:30am - Praise Band 7pm - Quilting Group 7pm - Council Meeting 7pm - Men's Bible Study 3rd Sunday of Advent 9:30am - Quilting Group 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm - Praise Band 7pm - LOLCB Concert @ 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 10:30am - Praise Band 7pm - Women's Bible 7pm - Quilting Group 8:30am - Heritage Treats 7pm - Facilities Meeting 6:30pm - Finance Santa Lucia Program 9:30am - Women's Bible 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 7pm - Men's Bible Study 2nd Sunday of Advent 6:30pm - Women's Book 9:30am - Quilting Group 6pm - Aliveness Project 6:30pm - Praise Band 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 10:30am - Praise Band 7pm - Quilting Group 7pm - Thrivent Meeting @ 6:30pm - Executive 6:30pm - Worship 9:30am - Quilting Group 7pm - Men's Bible Study 2pm - Advent Vespers 1st Sunday of Advent 5:30pm - Hospitality 9:30am - Caring Faith 6:30pm - Choir Rehearsal 6:30pm - Praise Band 10am - ERLC Church-wide 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat ERLC Calendar, US Holidays Dec 2013 (Central Time)

Land of Lakes Choir Boys Land of Lakes Choirboys' 2nd Annual Christmas Tea - December 15 at 2:00 p.m. Ladies, break out your hats and holiday attire and join us for our 2nd Annual Land of Lakes Choirboys' Christmas Tea. The menu will include specialty teas, wonderful tea sandwiches, holiday scones and gourmet desserts. There will be door prizes, drawings and a special table for your favorite young princess Enjoy the sounds of the Concert Choir while being served by the Men's Chorus. Tickets are $30/person or a table of 10 for $25/person. The tea will be held right here at ERLC. Get your tickets by calling 763.213.8105. P.O. Box 220 Elk River, MN 55330 (763) 633-1181