December 2017 Edition The Lamp Grace Lutheran Church Growing in Grace Making Christ Known Christmas 2017 There s a cartoon showing Santa Claus on his cell phone with five Elvis impersonators (with guitars) standing around him. Santa says, Hello, employment Agency? There s been a mistake. I asked for elves. Is that what Christmas is all about these days? Is it all about cartoon characters, glitz and shopping, shopping? Children s shows on T.V. are filled with commercials where each piece is sold separately meaning $ $ $. But Christmas wasn t such a big deal or extravagant at first. As a matter of fact, for the early centuries, the church celebrated three festivals, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. No Christmas. The birth of Jesus wasn t that important. The new born boy being placed in a feed trough at the front of a cave that kept sheep, mules and maybe an ox was very ordinary. The cave was attached to a small stone house crowded with people in the little town of Bethlehem. Yes, he was born in the midst of a frantic and fearful family who had come together because of Romi s demand. If this was today, 2017, it would be like a new born boy was placed in an empty tool drawer of a garage workshop. The garage was attached to an old house in Ritchie or Symerton. Who notices? Who cares? Just another mouth to feed! But that s God s way of doing things. He is saying to you and me, If you want to see God just look around you where you live. I come to you in the every day struggles and clutter of your lives. I sent my son, Jesus, so that you may know I m not a distant God, but one who comes to you no matter how low insignificant or small you think you are. The words of the angel to Joseph, You shall call his name Emmanuel, means God with us. Yes, God loves you so much that he even endured the most excruciating pain, even the feeling of abandonment on a cross just to show you how precious you are. Yes, you, reading this letter. I can imagine this new born baby of Bethlehem coming with a note pinned to his swaddling clothes. It reads, Hug me, hold me, feed me, change me, love me, let me live and grow with you. Signed, Love you always...your Heavenly Father. Now, when did you ever get such a note from Santa Claus or even Elvis? Blessings and Joy! Pastor David
CALL COMMITTEE UPDATE The call committee has completed another step in the process. On Sunday, November 12, the church council approved the Ministry Site Profile. The MSP has been successfully submitted to the ELCA. We are scheduled for the next step in the process: training for interviewing of candidates on Monday, November 27 th. We thank you for your continued prayers, support, and patience as we follow the steps to calling a pastor. PHONE TREE For those of you who do not have internet access and do not receive church emails, and, therefore, have missed learning of important events such as deaths or medical emergencies of our members, we are setting up an information phone tree just for you. If you are interested in being informed in this way, please give your name and phone number to either Helen Warke (815-932-2671) or Doris Dickey (815-237-8244). FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN The WMS Beta Club members joined with G r a c e L u t h e r a n Church s Sr. Youth G r o u p a n d Confirmation class to visit Aurora s Feed My Starving Children on November 8th. The students and leaders helped pack 145 boxes of food that will provide 31,320 meals. In summary, this will help 86 children eat for a year! This is an amazing organization that is completely run by volunteers. Donations fund this outreach ministry and help get the food and resources where the food is needed most. As the boxes are filled at each of the stations, volunteers are asked to chant a cheer to alert warehouse workers that their box is ready to be shipped. Ask any the students that helped that evening how rewarding this event was for them personally, just don t be surprised if they answer by saying, Yip, yip, yahooie! We are sending food to Djibouti! Preschool Christmas Program will take place on December 21 st @ 6:30 PM. Get in the Christmas Spirit as the preschool children share with us the gift of music, dance and laughter this holiday season. Grace Preschool will provide refreshments following the program.
In Our Prayers Members: Jean Goodwin, Marie Christian, Ruth Chew, Rev. Guy Warke, Norma Siebring, & Theresa Klager Friends and Family of Grace: Shirley Biernat (Marjorie Soda s mother), Jack Zdanowski (nephew of the Warkes), Lori Domzalski (Nancy O Brien s sister-in-law), Juanita (Jodi Dzak s mother), Sarah Hazelrigg (granddaughter of Jean Peterson), Gayle (cousin of Jackie Danalewich), Terry Wilder (Marie Christian s son-in-law), Matt Prodehl (son-in-law of Dan Bell) Home-bound: Dolly Hoover (Sunny Hill, Joliet (mother of Karen Nielsen)), Edie Hess (Heritage Woods, Manteno) Serving in Armed Forces: Captain Erik Gundersen (Grandson of the Warkes) All Families: who are suffering and in grief due to violence, abuse or the loss of a loved one. Missionary for a Day ~ December 2017 12/07 Men s Group In Honor of Pearl Harbor Day 12/13 Joann House In Honor of Joann s Birthday 12/16 Dave & Terry Phillips In Memory of Geraldine Germanos Birthday 12/20 Roy & Bonnie Hill For Alexa Cieslak s Birthday 12/23 Susan Trimby In Memory of Homer Trimby 12/25 Gary Gruhn For Christmas 12/28 Teri & Pat Dicken In Memory of Mother 12/28 Susan Trimby For Jeni & Trace Lambert s Anniversary Happenings in Preschool We are so excited for December to begin! It begins with Preschool Sunday. We have been practicing our song! Our Christmas program is on Thursday, December 21st at 6:30 pm. We would love to have a big audience! Everyone is welcome! We have been working really hard on all of our songs. We will be learning the letters L, M, N and O. The number 6 and color green.. Our bible story is the Birth of Jesus. Our Christmas parties are on December 21st and December 22nd. Santa will make a surprise appearance and we will play games and make a craft. Our break begins after school on the 22nd and goes through January 8th. School resumes on January 9th.
Midweek Soup & Sandwich The Confirmation & Youth Groups will be joining together to bring us a Soup & Sandwich Supper prior to our midweek Advent Service. Come, join them at 6:15p.m. each Wednesday evening. They will have a free will offering in hopes of raising money for their trip in 2018 to Texas. Advent Is Coming!!! Sunday, December 3 rd marks our 1 st Sunday in the season of Advent. This holy time prepares us for the coming of our Lord in Christmas. Wednesday midweek services will begin on Dec. 6 th @ 7 PM. These (brief) services will serve as a time for prayer and meditation. Silent Night, Holy Night ~ We will be gathering together in worship of the birth of our Lord on Christmas Eve. The Barn Service is scheduled for 4 PM at Oak Knoll Farm (33891 S. Rivals Road). Dress warm as we gather amidst God s creatures to celebrate the miracle of God incarnate. We are looking for volunteers to help set up and clean up the service, please notify Pr. David or the Church Office if you would like to assist. At 7 PM we will gather at Grace for our Candlelight Service. This service provides a time to sing to the Lord our praises as we welcome the Light of the World into our midst. Bring your family, bring your friends - all are welcome! Birthdays for December 2017 12/06 Cindy Filas 12/10 Curt Fox 12/13 Joann House 12/20 Jordyn Reents 12/31 Lindsey Trammel Anniversaries ~ December 2017 11/08 Lori & William Quigley 11/25 Gary & Adele Gruhn 11/25 Jeff & Janelle Reents
VOLUNTEERS Acolyte Liturgist 12/03 Carolann Stewart Christy Ziller 12/06 W Jacob McPherson Jim Hankins 12/10 Grace Moyers Susan Trimby 12/13 W Madelyn McPherson Dee Elsner 12/17 Jace Christian Christy Ziller 12/20 W Hannah Melvin Frank Dickey 12/24 9am Carolann Stewart Jackie Danalewich 12/24 4pm N/A Jim Hankins 12/24 7pm Jacob & Madelyn McPherson Dee Elsner 12/31 Carolann Stewart Susan Trimby 01/07 Grace Moyers Frank Dickey Lectors Assistant 12/03 Gary Gruhn Dee Elsner 12/06 W N/A N/A 12/10 Frank Dickey Jessica Elsner 12/13 W N/A N/A 12/17 Susan Trimby Maryann Ricken 12/20 W N/A N/A 12/24 9am Jodi Dzak Susan Trimby 12/24 4pm N/A N/A 12/24 7pm Jackie Danalewich Jessica Elsner 01/07 Karen Nielsen Doris Dickey Greeters Ushers 12/03 Deb & Gary Robertson D. Bell, S. Long, B. Elsner, & J. Hankins 12/06 W Kim & Charles Schad Elsie DeWald & Teri Dicken 12/10 Roy & Bonnie Hill K. & C. Schad, & K. Wolske & G. Gruhn 12/13 W Mary Smith & Leaha Salazar Dave & Terry Phillips 12/17 The Christian Family J. & A. Hankins, & L. & K. Stehlik 12/20 W Cindy & John Filas Dan Bell & Stan Long 12/24 9am Dave & Terry Phillips C. Ziller, M. Ricken, J. & A. Hankins 12/24 4pm The Reents Family Gary Gruhn & Roy Hill 12/24 7pm The McPherson Family E. DeWald, T. Dicken, D. & T. Phillips 01/07 The Soda Family D. Bell, S. Long, B. Elsner, K. Wolske Altar Guild: Arlene & Jim Hankins Christian Help Association Due Dates Toys must be here no later than December 10th. Please keep them unwrapped. Throws for Seniors must be delivered to Kuzma Care by December 8th. Coats, Hats, Scarves & Gloves must be here by December 10th. The green beans must be here no later than December 13th. The food packing will take place on December 15th at 5:30p.m. in the St. Rose gym.