as you taught us love unspoken, teach us now where you are found.

St Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church 4600 E 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55406 (612) 722-8000 December 2016 Issue 11 The Messenger Holy Child within the manger, long ago yet ever near, Come as friend to every stranger, come as hope for every fear. As you lived to heal the broken, greet the outcast, free the bound, as you taught us love unspoken, teach us now where you are found. Marty Haugen INSIDE THIS ISSUE May the peace and love of Immanuel, God With Us, guide us with his light in this holy season and throughout the new year. Your Partners in Ministry, Sarah Zuber Deborah Wolking Christmas Greeting...1 Christmas Pageant..2 Advent Worship....2 Gift Sunday...3 White Elephant Party...3 Giving Updates...4 Pub Theology...5 Youth Summer Trip.5 Church Council Volunteers....6 Tutors Needed..7 Shannon Kearns Rita Juhl Jim Austin Pastor Julie Ebbesen Pastor Julie s 10th Anniversary Potluck Meals on Wheels Signup Anika Kildegaard Fiber Arts Quilters

Christmas Pageant: December 11 This year the Christmas pageant will take place during the 9:00am worship on Sunday December 11. We'll be learning some songs in Sunday school and some children and youth will do readings. I'll be sending home a cd with the music so you can listen and learn at home. If your child would like a speaking part, contact Shannon. If your child or youth wants to play something or sing for the prelude, contact Lisa Jensen. On December 10 from 9:00-10:30 we'll have a rehearsal at church to put it all together. If you can't make the rehearsal but still want to participate, that's fine! Just let me know! We'll meet at 8:15 on the 11th to get the children into costume and ready to go. St. Peder s Christmas Program 2012 HBrownTonPhotography Worship opportunities for the Advent and Christmas Seasons! Sunday, December 4-9:00 and 10:30 Holy Communion Gift Sunday Sunday, December 11 9:00 am Worship with Sunday School Christmas Program Sunday, December 18 9:00 am Song Service with singing around the Christmas Tree reception following worship Thursday, December 24 Christmas Eve 2:00 and 5:00 pm Festival Worship 3:15 pm Danish Service Sunday, December 25 Christmas Day worship at 9:00 a.m. (no coffee served following worship) Sunday, January 1, 2017 New Year s Day Holy Communion at 9:00 a.m. (bring your leftover Christmas cookies to share during coffee hour!) 2

GIFT SUNDAY IS DECEMBER 4th! As you do your holiday shopping, don t forget the opportunity we have at St Peder s to share our blessings with others. This year s gifts will go again to the Center for Victims of Torture and The Division of Indian Work. Every year, your generosity is received with gratitude by these organizations! Sunday, December 4 is GIFT SUNDAY when you ll be invited to bring your unwrapped gifts or gifts cards forward as we gather them around the altar. (We do not need wrapping paper or ribbon.) Gifts for children are given to the Division of Indian Work. Books, games, toys and stuffed animals, as well as outerwear garments, are needed. Because many refugees are not from cold climates, The Center for Victims of Torture needs outerwear gifts for adults (gloves, hats, and scarves), thermal underwear tops and bottoms for both men and women (all sizes), warm socks, and heat packets for hands and feet that are sold at gas stations and sports stores. Many clients use public transportation in every kind of weather, and waiting for a bus can get cold! Gift cards for Target, etc. so that the recipients can purchase snow boots and appropriate winter shoes are helpful, too. If you d like to help organize the gifts for pick-up and delivery, please contact Pastor Julie. CELEBRATING A DECADE WITH PASTOR JULIE!! St. Peder's has been blessed with Pastor Julie Ebbesen's sure and steady leadership for the past ten years. Happy Anniversary, Pastor Julie!! Please join us in celebrating this milestone anniversary with Pastor Julie at a Classic Lutheran Potluck on Sunday, December 4th, following worship. Please bring a dish to share. Fun, food, and fellowship will abound! We give thanks for you, Pastor Julie!! You re invited to White Elephant Christmas Party @ Craig & Marcia Rocheleau s Date: Friday, December 9th, 2016 Time: 7:00 pm Address: 1297 Berry Ridge Rd, Eagan, MN 55123 To bring: an appetizer or dessert to share along with your tackiest, ugliest white elephant prize that EVERYONE will want to bring home with them. Contact Marcia at marcia1297@aol.com or 651-452-6282 with questions. 3

We ve updated our Giving! So can you! You might have known that you can give online through our partnership with Simply Giving, but did you know that it s gotten even easier? St. Peder s members and guests can now give to St. Peder s with the swipe of a screen by using the Give+ app available in the in the App Store for ios. (Android app coming soon.) You can easily manage and make changes your giving from the app, as well as review your giving history, make special one time gifts, or pay for special events, camps or flowers. Members can also use their credit or debit cards to make donations. Please ask Sarah (in the church office) if you have any questions about these new updates and how to use them. Simply Giving as well as traditional giving methods are always available for you to give as you feel led. We hope that the wide array of options helps you and your family find a way that works for you. Thank you for your continued giving. The generous gifts of your resources empower us to do the work we re called to do in Christ s name! OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR 2017 are on the table in the narthex. Please take yours home after worship on December 4 or 11. (If you d like yours mailed to you, please call Sarah at the church office.) END OF YEAR OFFERINGS ARE DUE IN THE OFFICE BY NOON, on FRIDAY DECEMBER 30. Our 2016 fiscal year ends that day, and we want to make sure any gifts you intend to give this year are counted. Thank you, as always, for your generosity! 4

Faith Formation Pub Theology: Join us for Pub Theology on December 7 at Parkway Pizza at 7pm! As we enter into the Christmas season we ll be having a conversation about the holidays. How can we be responsible and faithful stewards of our resources in a season of consumerism? How do we make time for stillness and reflection when we are continually overbooked? Come to discuss and offer your solutions! People of all ages can join but you must be 21 or over to drink adult beverages! Adult Faith Formation: In December we ll be finishing up The First Christmas by Borg and Crossan. You can come even if you ve missed some of the weeks or haven t read all of the material. Here s the schedule: December 4 Part 2 (chapters 4, 5, 6) (We ll meet after the celebration for Pastor Julie!) December 11 Part 3 (chapters 7, 8, 9) Children and Youth Faith Formation: The schedule for December gets a little busy! We ll only have one regular class time this month. The schedule is as follows: December 4: No class: First Sunday December 11: Christmas pageant: No class December 18: Regular class December 25: No class Sheridan Story Volunteers: December 2 Vickie and Stephen December 16 Sue and John Nursery Volunteers Needed!!! The St. Peder's nursery is in serious need of some new volunteers. Would you be willing to sign up to help out once a month to show our littlest members some love? If so, please contact Shannon and he'll get you on the schedule. Summer Trip! Some folks are exploring taking some of the older youth (9th- 12th grade) to the Boundary Waters for a trip this summer in either July or August. Do you have a youth that would be interested? If so, can you let Shannon know? At this point we re just checking to see if there is enough interest to make the trip happen. Thanks! 5

St. Peder s Want You! Our Church Council Nominating Committee has begun the search for three members who are willing to serve on the council for a three-year term beginning in February. If you re interested in becoming a council member, or have questions, please talk to Pastor Julie, or any member of the Church council. Serving on the council is an opportunity to have a role in the shaping of our congregation s mission for a few years. The time commitment is just 5 6 hours per month. If someone from the committee asks you about joining, please give it some thought and prayer. We would love to have you, and it s a great way to share your time and talents. Besides that, we have treats at each of our meetings. Peace, Curt Petersen / Council President TUSIND TAK!...to all who made our annual Aebleskive Breakfast a delicious success! Special thanks to Lisa Jensen and Sue Nielsen for coordinating this event. MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FELLOWSHIP... WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP THE WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP WILL MEET ONE TIME IN DECEMBER. WE WILL RESUME OUR USUAL TWICE A MONTH SCHEDULE IN JANUARY. WHAT: WEDNESDAY QUILTING GROUP WHEN: DECEMBER 7, 2016 TIME : 9:30-12:00 NOON WHERE: CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL JOAN GERTH 612-722-6533 FIBER ARTS Fiber Arts meets this month on meets this month on December 3rd & 17th. Whether you are experienced or just starting out, you are welcome to join us! Questions? Contact Melba Granlund GATHER BIBLE STUDY THE GATHER BIBLE STUDY WILL NOT MEET IN DECEMBER. WE WILL MEET IN JANUARY AND OUR LESSON WILL BE FOUND IN THE JANUARY GATHER MAGAZINE. WHAT: GATHER BIBLE STUDY WHEN: JANUARY 17, 2017 TIME: 9:30-11:00 WHERE: CHURCH LIBRARY Joan Gerth--612-722- 6533 On hold for the holidays: Koinonia/Grown-ups Luncheon Gather Bible Study enjoy time with family and friends and join us again in 2016! 6

Tutors Needed! Our Mission Partner Congregation, Trinity/Riverside has a fabulous homework help program for the neighborhood kids but they need some assistance in December! Can you help? Trinity s Safe Place: Homework is going strong! Everyone is so grateful that Trinity remains a safe place with the update in hate language and activities. We are looking for volunteers the weeks of Dec. 5 and 12. That is the end of the semester at Augsburg College and the U and our tutors have finals and leave for home. Homework Help is open Monday through Friday, 3:30-6:00. Any time you are available would be greatly appreciated. Contact Kasi Misseldine at Trinity, 612-333- 2561 or tutoring@trinitylutherancongregation.org. Thank you! ST. PEDER S MEALS ON WHEELS delivers the week of December 26-30th. This is a crucial time of year to make sure our volunteer shifts our covered. Please sign up to help today! New volunteers always welcome. Questions contact Sandra Hultgren at 612-729-2580 Together in Mission The offerings of your financial resources allow us not only to support the mission of our congregation, but to share our resources with others in ministry so that all may know of Christ s love. TOGETHER we work on Christ s behalf in the world - none of us can do it alone! Thank you for your offerings through the tenth month of 2016. A detailed financial summary report is available at the church office for anyone who d like to see it. Income Expenses Month of October $ 22,460.84 Budget for the month $ 24,300.83 Year to Date $ 209,916.85 Budget Year to Date $ 246,508.34 Month of October $ 24,170.55 Budget for the month $ 25,289.75 Year to Date $ 243,308.72 Budget Year to Date $ 248,933.55 Roof Fund: $ 37,945.32 Mission Support to Minneapolis Area Synod YTD $ 20,833.34 7

SUNDAY SCHOOL BIRTHDAYS Eleanor Munnich 12/5 Evan Brown Ton 12/16 Thank you for volunteering your time and talent at St. Peder s. Please try to arrange your own trades. If you are pressed for time or have questions or concerns, contact the church office at 612-722-8000 or office@stpeders.net. You ll notice we still have some holes to fill for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & New Year s Day worship. Please contact the church office if you can help out! 8 DECEMBER VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE December 4 Gift Sunday Greeters: Ford & Karen Droegemuller Ushers: Peters Paulson & Ford Droegemueller Acolyte: Max Vossen Communion Assistants: 9:00 am Betty Caspar, B, Darrick Jensen Communion Set-Up/Clean-Up (Intinction): Karen Vetsch & Margaret Lundell Reader: Bruce Simpson Nursery: Eva Tangen Counters: Terri Vetsch & Julie Ebbesen LSS Safe House Dinner for December 5: Glen & Martha Olsen and Paul & Michelle Aitchison Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 5 December 11 Sunday School Christmas Program at 9:00 am Greeters: Bill & Judy Anderson Ushers: Dale Montgomery & Paul Aitchison Acolyte: Cole Nelsen Reader: Joe Munnich Nursery: Julie Ebbesen Counters: Annalise Munnich & Judy Hogan LSS Safe House Dinner for December 12: Tim & Elizabeth Anderson and Gerda Lyon Social Hour hosted by Shepherding Group 6 December 18 Song Service, 10:15am Sing around the Christmas Tree Greeters: Nancy & Stephanie Hawkinson Ushers: Curt Peterson & Paul Jensen Acolyte: Max Vossen Readers to be assigned Nursery: Nicky Taylor Counters: Jackie West & Paul Aitchison LSS Safe House Dinner for December 19: Mark & Jody Jenson, Shawna & Steve Nelson/ Wills Council to host Social Hour 2:00pm - Festival Service Greeters: Volunteer Needed Ushers: Cameron Jamison & Joe Munnich Acolyte: Malcolm Munnich Reader: Volunteer Needed December 24 Christmas Eve Services 3:15pm Danish Service Greeters: Iver & Lis Jorgensen Ushers: Paul Jensen & Al Nielsen Acolyte: Max Vossen Reader: Lis Jorgensen 5:00pm Festival Service Greeters: Julie Ebbesen & Scott Wilson Ushers: Jim Austin & Steve Austin Acolyte: Rasmus Gantriis Reader: Elizabeth Anderson December 25 Christmas Day (no coffee fellowship after worship) Greeters: Ron & Kathy Moir Ushers: Joe Dynneson & Greta Gantriis Reader: Bruce Simpson Acolyte: Volunteer Needed Nursery: Volunteer Needed Counters: Cameron Jamison & Bruce Simpson LSS Safe House Dinner for December 26: Bob Stanich & Jeanne Schleh January 1 New Year s Day Greeters: Bev & Carl Jensen Ushers: Lisa Jensen & Volunteer Needed Acolyte: Volunteer Needed Reader: Carl Jensen Communion Assistants: 9:00 am Volunteers Needed Communion Set-Up/Clean-Up (Intinction): Volunteers Needed Nursery: Volunteer Needed Counters: Volunteers Needed LSS Safe House Dinner for January 2: Terri Vetsch and Dan & Karen Vetsch Bring your extra Christmas goodies for coffee hour!

DECEMBER 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 4 GIFT SUNDAY 9 am Worship w/ Holy Communion 10:15 am 10th Anniversary Potluck for Pastor Julie (following potluck) Adult Faith Formation 11 Sunday School Program 9 am Worship with Sunday School Program 10 am Coffee & Fellowship 10:20 am Adult Faith Formation 18 Song Service 9 am Worship/Faith Formation 10 am Coffee & Fellowship 10:15 am Singing Around The Christmas Tree 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 9 am Worship Service 5 6 12 13 19 20 26 11:15 am Meals on Wheels 27 11:15 am Meals on Wheels 7 9:30 am Quilters 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30 pm Confirmation 7:00 pm Committee Meetings 7 pm Pub Theology at Parkway Pizza 14 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 6:30 pm Confirmation 7:00 pm Council 21 2:30 pm Staff Meeting 28 11:15 am Meals on Wheels 1 7 pm St. Peder s Choir 8 7pm St. Peder s Choir 15 7pm St. Peder s Choir 22 29 11:15 am Meals on Wheels 2 3 2 pm Fiber Arts 9 7:00 pm White Elephant Party @ Marcia & Craig Rocheleau s 16 Newsletter Articles Due 10 9 am Christmas Program Rehearsal 17 2 pm Fiber Arts 23 24 Christmas Eve 2 pm Festival Worship 3:15 pm Danish Service 5 pm Festival Worship 30 11:15 am Meals on Wheels End of Year offerings due 31 New Year s Eve

ST. PEDER S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH ST. PEDER S AFFIRMS THE WELCOME OF GOD TO ALL PERSONS. St Peder s welcomes you to a community of faith nurtured by God s abundant grace, Christ s peace and the Spirit s lively presence! In response to such love, we open our hearts and hands and doors to joyfully serve our neighbor whether it s you or someone across the world. We invite you to join us for worship or any activity at the little church on the corner of 46 th Avenue and 42 nd Street in south Minneapolis Church Staff: Pastor: Rev. Julie Ebbesen pastorjulie@stpeders.org Director of Outreach and Faith Formation: Shannon Kearns faithformation@stpeders.org Office Coordinator: Sarah Zuber office@stpeders.org Accounts Manager: Debbie Wolking bookkeeping@stpeders.org Anika Kildegaard Choral Director Rita Juhl - Organist Caretaker: Jim Austin St. Peder s Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA 4600 E 42nd St. Minneapolis, MN 55406 PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE Phone: 612-722-8000 Fax: 612-722-8068 E-mail: office@stpeders.org