Weekly Update

Your Weekly Update

Food For The Soul
The ingredients of Christmas
This Advent, we will be exploring the major components of the Christian life and the Christmas message… Hope, Peace, Joy, Love and Christ. Essentially we will be using the idea of holiday recipes and Christmas cooking to consider these fundamental “ingredients” of the Christian life. These themes will guide us through advent as we prepare and approach Christmas together, and we need your help!

During each week of Advent, we will have a box in the narthex labeled with that week’s theme word. We are asking people to put something in the box that symbolizes or expresses the meaning of that word to you. It can be something written, a simple word, a picture, or some item that you would be willing to share with us for the Advent season. Mark submissions with your name so they can be returned after Christmas. Following services on each Sunday, all of the objects will be on display on tables that represent that week’s word. We will be building our collection throughout the advent season. We think this might be a great way to include children or grandchildren as you could have them help select something to share.

The schedule will be…

November 27 – Hope [The hope box will be available from 11/21 to 11/27]December 4 – Peace [The peace box will be available 11/28 – 12/4]December 11 – Joy [The joy box will be available from 12/5 – 12/11]December 18 – Love [The love box will be available from 12/19 – 12/24]December 24 – Christ [The Christ box will be available from 12/19 – 12/24]

PS – We will also be including a box for “favorite holiday recipes,” but this will just be for fun. It will remain out for people to look through and copy things they would like to try.

Friends,

It’s almost Advent and we are looking for families to lead a short advent reading and light candles on our advent wreath on Sunday mornings. The dates and times listed below are the times left to fill. If there is a morning that works for you, we would love to have you participate. Please reply to this email and let us know if you are willing, which date is best, and which service you plan to attend.

Thanks and blessings,

Clint

Advent Dates (We will need readers at both services, so two families each morning and on Xmas eve.)

Nov. 27 – 8:50am

Dec. 4 – 8:50am

Dec. 11 – 8:50am

Dec. 18 – 8:50 & 11:15am (Second service = Xmas program)

Dec. 24 – 4:00pm & 6:00pm

Thank You
On behalf of our high school students and the adult youth planning team, I would like to extend a deep thank you to every person who attended our youth led celebration service and contributed to our annual pie auction. Thanks to your generosity we have raised nearly $7,000 for this summer’s mission trip to New York City! It is a distinct privilege to be in a congregation that invests so heavily in the lives and ministry of our youth. Thanks be to God!
– Pastor Michael

Adult Education during Advent

Sunday School – Stories of Christmas – This will be an extension of the Advent sermon series and we will invite people during the class to present and explain the objects or items they brought to symbolize that week’s Advent theme. (See the advent series announcement if this doesn’t make sense.) Class will meet Dec. 4, 11, and 18 between services.

Recharge – The Worst and Best of Christmas – This will be a 2 week discussion class on the worst parts and the best parts of celebrating the birth of Christ in 21st century America.

Youth Christmas Program
Our Youth Christmas Program will be on December 18th at 11:15. All youth, ages preschool-8th grade will be participating in this service. We will be doing a dress rehearsal practice on December 11th and 18th at 10:00am, during regular Sunday School time. Thank you!!

Christmas Luncheon Workers Needed
The Christmas Luncheon is Thursday, December 8^th at 12:30pm. We are in need of workers and cookie bakers. Please sign up in the narthex. We appreciate your help in serving the women of our community.

Wednesday, November 23rd

No Recharge
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Looking for Singers
The Reforming service is looking for vocalists to join the praise team! If you like to sing and have thought of trying it out, now is the perfect opportunity to join. You can sign up to sing as often as your schedule may allow, and you also get to participate in choosing the music that we sing in church on Sunday. Contact Rachelle Gewecke at (712)314-2292 or rachelle.gewecke@gmail.com to hear more about this fun and important way to get involved in our church family and use the talents God has given you!

Hanging of the Greens
The Worship Committee invites you to come and begin decorating our church on Wednesday, November 30th at 5pm. Come early for recharge and help us decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas season!

Hello Church family!
We are going with a team from Spirit Lake to Caiman, Haiti January 5-14, 2017. The ministry we are going to work with is called UCI (United Christian International). We are having a fundraiser Taco Meal, including a taste of Haiti with Haitian Beans and Rice, on Sunday Nov 13th. This meal will be held at Crosswinds Church from 11am-1pm. We will also be taking orders for holiday pies at that time. Please consider coming to help support our trip. Thanks!

– Kailee and Emma Jenness

The Baby/Lap Quilts are ready to be finished. They are located in the chest of drawers in fellowship hall.

Our sympathies are extended to the family of Kory & Jodi Smith on the passing of Jodi’s dad, Jim Arens, this past week.
Darla Ubben beginning chemo.
Rob Oldson suffering with leg pain.
Jennifer Larson suffering with pain management.
Gena Main recovering from surgery.
Shawnda Prochaska suffering with migraines.
Jenny Beers recovering from pneumonia.
Paul Kamermeyer diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
Keith Byers recovering from health issues.
Kathy Huitink awaiting test results.
Finley Brunsvold going through chemo treatments.
Beth Primavera recovering from a broken arm.

Upcoming Meetings:

November 23rd

No Recharge
No High School Youth Group
No Adult Handbell practice
No 2nd Service Rehearsal
No Chancel Choir practice

November 24th

Office Closed

Happy Thanksgiving!!

November 25th

Office Closed

November 27th

Reformed Worship Service – 8:50am
Coffee and fellowship – 10am
No Sunday School
No Confirmation
No Adult Ed
Reforming Worship Service – 11:15am
No Act II

November 28th

PW Sewing -9am

November 29th

Weekly Prayer – 9am
Women’s Bible Study – 1:30pm

Reformed (1st) Service ~ 8:50am
November 27th

Pianist – Rachelle Gewecke
Liturgist – Ryan Davelaar
Ushers – Darin, Erin, Grace, Wes & Sully Radcliffe and John & Sue Ziegenbusch
Greeters – Jack & Sherryl Jones
Video Taping – Owen Primavera
Nursery – Kyley Anderson & Erin Radcliffe
Coffee – Larry & Sharee DenHerder

Reforming (2nd) Service ~ 11:15am

November 27th

Praise Team – Kari Bruinsma, Jeremiah Clay, Pressley Cochran-Bray
Usher/Greeter –
Nursery – Stacy Howard
Sound – Chris Pratt
Power Point – Brice Pratt

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First Presbyterian Church · 3501 Hill Ave · Spirit Lake, IA 51360 · USA