December 2016 Newsletter

December 2016 Newsletter Joyful Unexpectedness Entering the Advent and Christmas holidays come with a sense of the familiar holiday decorations, party planning, gift shopping, cookie baking, and all of the other traditions we enjoy. Each of these traditions hold value for us and we expect their presence at this time of year. What we do not always expect, however, are glimpses of the holy in our busy holiday season. Sounds funny doesn t it. Partly, I think, we don t expect the presence of the holy because we tend to tie the Christ Child to Christmas day, completely forgetting that the very essence of God s character includes the creativity of unexpectedness each and every day. Look at the unexpected arrival of the Christ Child who came to a betrothed (but not yet married) young girl. Remember their travel prior to the Christ Child s birth. Their needing to stay in a stable. Then having to flee to safety in Egypt. Egypt, the very place the Hebrew fled from in order to regain their identify. God s work in and with the world comes at unexpected times, in unexpected ways, and through unexpected people. Imagine for a moment the unexpected moments this past week that brought a smile to your face or a calm to your heart: the joyful impromptu singing by a Salvation Army bell ringer, the kindness of a store clerk when you re frustrated with yourself for having to make a third trip to the store, a warm hug from a spouse or friend when having a rough day, a text from your granddaughter that makes you laugh. All unexpected moments of holy connection, reaching out for our attention. Now imagine for a moment how you can be a conduit of joy by which God will unexpectedly reach to others. How can you brighten someone s day with an acknowledgement of some sort or the other? Where can your joy for the season spread to others because of handshake, a thank you, a warm greet, or even a song? In our Advent Devotion for November 29 th we read that, Unexpected gifts can be the most meaningful, if we can manage to receive them with an honest and joyful Thank you! As we go about our Advent and Christmas holiday activities this year, let us be attentive to the creative and unexpected joyful character of this God who loves us enough to invite us to join in the joyful unexpectedness of the season and be thankful. Yours in Christ, Advent Prayer Service - 12/20 @ 5:30 pm A special worship service of hope, support, and encouragement. The Christmas season can be difficult for many people. When we are grieving, experiencing loss or change, are lonely, or simply sorrowful, it can be hard to find joy in this season. The Advent Prayer Service offers a space to acknowledge the difficult times and to reflect, pray, and discover once again the hope God promises. If you need a ride, please call the church office. In this issue: page Pastor s Note 1 BLAST 2 Adult Ed/Bible Study 2 Advent Devotional 2 Bible Study List 2 Mission 3 Women s Association 4 Dementia Support 4 Christmas Tea 4 Session Notes 5 Financial 5 Birthday/Anniversary 6 Thank you s 6 Care & Concern 6 Family Prayer 7 Dec. Calendar 8 Dec. Schedule 9 Poinsettia Order Form 9 Christmas Worships 10

B L A S T December 4: December 18: Teacher: Marcia Sinner Lessons: Peace All Around, Peace and Hope Teacher: Marcia Sinner Lessons: Emmanuel, The Waiting is Over If you can teach or help lead a class, please contact Marcia Sinner Cents-Ability Sunday Collection Thank you to all that gave generously in July and November to the Cents-Ability Collections. We were able to purchase: A Goat & 2 Chickens, Youth Agricultural Training, Women s Empowerment Project, Refugee Food Basket, and Rainwater Catch System everything on our list! Adult Education Waking up White Book Study meets December 4 and 18 and finishes in January (8 and 22). Meet in the Brookfield Room at 8:45 am. We will take the month of February off, and then start again in March with a Lenten study. Advent Devotional for 2016 The advent devotional was included in your copy of the November-December issue of Presbyterians Today. More copies are available at church. WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY GROUP meets on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 AM in the Brookfield Room of Living Hope Presbyterian Church. You are invited to join us!! The passages we study are the scripture passages for each upcoming Sunday. Even if you cannot attend our study group, you are invited to read through the passages prior to worship in your preparing for worship. Lesson Date and Passages: For Sunday: 12/7 Isaiah 35:1-10; Matthew 11:2-11 12/11 12/14 Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25 12/18 12/21 Isaiah 9:2-7; Luke 2:1-10 Christmas Eve ~~~No Bible Study on December 28~~~ 2 May our preparation for worship open our hearts to God in ways beyond what we can ask or imagine!

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Circles Meetings and Activities in December: Naomi Circle meets on the 2 nd Monday of each month. In December, we meet at 11:00 am at Peggy Yee s home for our Christmas Luncheon. Contact Ginny Maurer if you would like to attend. Martha Circle will not meet in December, but will resume in January for the regular meeting on the 2 nd Tuesday at 12:30 pm for refreshments, Bible Study, and fellowship. Contact Peggy Waterman for more information. D EMENTI A SUPPORT GROUP Living Hope congregants, Dickson Hollow residents, and any interested individuals from the community are invited to attend the Dementia Support Group. The group meets on the fourth Tuesday at 2 pm. This month, on December 27th, we will meet in the DH Theatre to view the Glen Campbell story I ll be Me. You do not need to register, just come as you desire. 4

A regular session meeting was held November 20 th with deacons invited to participate as a joint meeting. As background, session discussed our committee structure in September, including responsibilities by committee and changes to reflect our new home and collaboration. Session also decided to meet quarterly with deacons for improved communication. Highlights of the meeting are: The joint deacons meeting included a review of session and deacon roles and leadership methods from officer training materials. Deacons are elected by the congregation, ordained to the ministry of deacon, and function under the authority of the session as defined in the Book of Order, and our bylaws. Joint meeting discussion continued with communication and questions on changes as we have lived into our new space and collaboration over the past year. How to keep up with our evolving collaboration and structure: Session attempts to communicate in a variety of ways, and session members are always available to answer questions, and will continue to look additional ways or better ways to communicate. See the bulletin for session member assignments, and if not clear on which committee has the responsibility, see the clerk or pastor. The schedule for our future visioning process congregational gatherings with consultant / coach Jim Kitchens has been established early next year (2017) as January 22, February 12, and March 12. All gatherings will be following worship. Finance gave a stewardship report and presented the first pass budget with pledges to date. Those who have pledged are thanked for their commitment, and anyone able who has not yet pledged, is encouraged to do so for the budget to be finalized. See the church calendar and bulletin board for other information and upcoming events. The official record of each session meeting is posted once it s approved at the next meeting. Talk with any session member with questions or comments. Keith Pierce, Clerk of Session Finance Committee could use some additional members to count the Sunday morning offerings and deposit the offering at the bank. It means committing an extra 30-45 minutes on Sunday mornings once every 5th week. It is an easy task, and you would be paired up with an experienced counter. Call Don Waterman at 262-794-0670 if you are interested. FINANCIAL UPDATE - As of October 31, 2016 Fav/(Unfav) Actual Budget Variance Total Income - YTD $ 149,497.71 $ 134,962.00 $ 14,535.71 Total Expense - YTD $ 160,553.38 $ 166,129.00 $ 5,575.62 Net Loss - YTD October 31, 2016 $ (11,055.67) $ (31,167.00) $ 20,111.33 Unrestricted Funds as of October 31, 2016 $ 60,564.26 Steve Sinner - Finance Chair 5

Did we miss your birthday or anniversary? Please let the office know so we can update our files. and the Buy a Bag Feed a Family of 4 for a Day thank you to all that donated. we sent 34 bags! Thank Offering Thank you for your generosity the Presbyterian Women collected almost $1200 for the Thank offering this year. 6

December Family Prayer Calendar We are a connectional church connected in faith to God Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Jesus taught us that prayer connects us to the Divine and to each other. Each month we offer an alphabetical listing of our faith family. Each family has a date when we ask you to hold them up in prayer thank God for them, ask God s blessing upon them, ask God to surround them with grace, mercy, and any other need they may have. Offered here is a prayer to get you started. Creator God, I give you thanks for. This day wherever they are, whatever they do make yourself known to them. Guide their feet as they travel across the room or across the country. Lift from them worries about life and fears of the unknown. Where there is need, fill it; where there is sorrow, comfort it; where there is loneliness, let friendship blossom. Celebrate with them the smallest joy or the largest achievement, bringing to their mouths praises for your abundant love. And Lord, as I pray for remind me to be a friend to them in whatever way you ask of me. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen. 1) Monica Partenfelder, Olivia, Campbell & Mack 2) Scott Partenfelder 3) Bill & Pat Perkins 4) Ray & Arlene Petersen 5) Jeff & Julie Peterson 6) Keith & Eileen Pierce 7) Nancy Pyeatt 8) John & Carole Riedmaier 9) Dottie Russon 10) Jeane Satola 11) AJ Sinner 12)Steve & Marcia Sinner 13)Todd, Lora & Fritz Stangler 14) David & Karen Stephan 15) Jennifer, Madeline, Olivia, & Katherine Stevens 16) Happy Taylor 17)Tom & Ann Tennyson 18) David Truemner 19) Don & Peggy Waterman 20) Jason, Kris, Jared & Kelly Weber 21) Bill & Vickie Werner 22) Paul, Ashley, Brandon, & Olivia Yates 23) Peggy Yee 24) Bill & Judy Bauer 25) Karl Bertram & Maria Crowe 26) Marge Boettcher 27) Michael & Wendy Brady 28) Dan, Allison & Christine Brankle 29) Dub & Janet Brown 30) Ken, Chris, Alec & Natalie Brown 31) Max & Joanne Broyles 7

Living Hope Presbyterian Church Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat *Friday Morning Prayers Join us in the Brookfield Room at 11 AM each Friday as we start the weekend together in prayer. 1 2 11 AM Morning Prayers* 3 4 2 nd Advent 8:45 BLAST and Adult Ed 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 5 Sabbath Day 6 7 9:30 AM Bible Study @ church 8 Sermon Writing Day 9 11 AM Morning Prayers* 2:30 Christmas Tea 10 5:30 Holy Cow! Presbytery Gathering 7pm Finance 11 3 rd Advent 10 AM Worship New Members and Deacon Installation 11 AM Fellowship 12 Sabbath Day 11 am Naomi Circle @Peggy Yee s 13 14 9:30 AM Bible Study @ church 15 Sermon Writing Day 6:30 pm Session 16 11 AM Morning Prayers* January Newsletter Deadline 17 18 4 th Advent 8:45 BLAST and Adult Ed 10 AM Worship 11 AM Fellowship 11:30 AM Larry Under the Bridge 19 Sabbath Day 20 5:30 pm Advent Prayer Service 21 9:30 AM Bible Study @ church 22 Sermon Writing Day 23 11 AM Morning Prayers* 24 Christmas Eve 5 pm Worship 25 Christmas Day 10 AM Lessons and Carols 11 AM Fellowship 26 Sabbath Day Office closed 27 2:00 PM Dementia Support Group 28 NO Bible Study @ church 29 Office closed 30 NO Morning Prayers Office Closed 31 on Vacation Dec 26, Dec 29-Jan 2, 2017 Rev. Barbara Jordan Jan 1, 2017 8

SERVING ON SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER If you are unable to fulfill your role in our Sunday work together, please arrange for a substitute and let the church office know. Dec 4 Dec 11 Dec 18 Dec 24 Dec 25 Judy Bauer* Steve Sinner Communion Tom Tennyson Servers Bruce Parker Curtis MacDonald Liturgist Joe Fresch Judy Bauer Julie Camp Lessons & Carols Fellowship Hosts Counters Welcome Host/ Lock up The Weber Family Marge Gauen and Peggy Yee Barry and Thelma James Merry Christmas! Jean Freuck, Curtis MacDonald and Michael Brady Don Waterman Jean Freuck Joan Junek Jeff and Julie Judy Bauer Ginny Maurer Jean Freuck Camp Don Olson Kathy Mathews Eileen Pierce Eileen Pierce Tom Tennyson Tom Tennyson B.L.A.S.T. Marcia Sinner Marcia Sinner Nursery Help Karen Stephan Ushers Tom Tennyson* Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Tom Tennyson* Ann Tennyson Don Waterman Ken DeBoer* Diane DeBoer Jeff Camp Ken DeBoer* Diane DeBoer Poinsettia Donation Form Our sanctuary will be decorated with poinsettia plants this Christmas season. If you would like to contribute toward this beautiful display of plants, you may donate any amount toward the Poinsettia Fund. This form can be used to designate in honor of or in memory of if you wish. Your name: Given in memory of : Given in honor of : Donation amount: $ Donation (checks or cash) must accompany your order. Please place this donor form and payment in the offering plate, or give to Lisa in the church office by Tuesday, December 11th. 9

Larry Under the Bridge Ministry Sunday, December 18 after worship Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Sat., December 24 at 5:00pm. We will need Christmas cookie bakers and lunch packers in December. Sign up sheet is in the church hallway. As always, monetary donations are always welcome. Please mark any donations LUTB on your giving envelopes. Thank you! Christmas Day Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 25 at 10:00am Special Music by Faye Cheatham (There will be no nursery care on 12/24 or 12/25) LIVING HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH W156 N4881 Pilgrim Road, Menomonee Falls WI 53051 Office hours: flexible, please call first Office: Office@LivingHopePCUSA.org; 262-599-8341 Julie Peterson: Julie@LivingHopePCUSA.org; 262-599-8340, cell 262-844-2944 CCLI License #1065220 Pastor: The Rev. Julie Peterson Administrative Assistant: Lisa Quinn Director of Music: Dr. Wallace Cheatham Nursery Attendant: Nancy Kapp Session Members Judy Bauer, Dan Brankle, Curtis MacDonald, Nancy Molstad, Bruce Parker, Eileen Pierce, Marcia Sinner, Steve Sinner, Tom Tennyson Deacon Members (designated last names) (A-B) - Diane DeBoer, Moderator (G-K, W) - Kris Parker (P-R) - Joan Junek (C-F) - Jeff Peterson (L-O) - Ann Tennyson (S-Z) - Julie Camp Other Leadership Roles Joe Fresch (Mission Chair); Kathryn Fresch (Worship Co-Chair); Keith Pierce (Clerk of Session) 10