Weekly Update

Your Weekly Update

Help is needed to move chairs tomorrow, November 30th, at 8am from Okoboji Bible Conference Grounds to First Lutheran Church in Milford in preparation for Pastor Bob Vaage’s funeral.

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 time 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 left to fill…

Dec. 18 – 8:50am

Dec. 24 – 4:00pm & 6:00pm

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…

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.

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!

Greeter & Ushers Needed on Christmas Eve
4pm Christmas Eve Service – 4 Ushers & 1 Greeter

(Ushers please plan on being to the church at 3pm)
6pm Christmas Eve Service – 5 Ushers
If you are available to help, please contact Bob Peterson at (513)379-9656 or the church office at 336-1649.

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.

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 30th

Meal: Chicken Noodle Soup
Meal Crew: Ron & Ellen Williams, Sandy Krout, Karey Winkel & Rhonda Reekers

Notice: 2nd Semester dues are due on January 11, 2017.

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!

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 women of the community are invited to attend the Annual Presbyterian Ladies Christmas Luncheon. The date is Thursday, December 8th at 12:30pm. Following the luncheon, a program will be presented by Michelle Christy on “God’s Favor For Life’s Assignments.” Please join the Presbyterian Women for an afternoon of great food and inspirational fellowship.

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

Christmas Caroling
The congregation will be sharing Christmas carols with shut ins and community members on December 14th starting at 6:00pm. All students and families are invited to join us for our pizza dinner starting at 5:30pm and join us as we share Christmas favorites with others!

High School Christmas Party
This year’s High School Christmas Party will be held on December 14th starting at 7:00pm. Join us for a white elephant exchange ($10 maximum), Christmas music, Christmas goodies, and Christmas related games. It will be a night full of fun and fellowship, we look forward to seeing you there!

Christmas Program
The Christmas program featuring students from PreK-8th grade will be held during the second worship service (at 11:15am) on December 18th. The Christmas celebration will be held throughout the entire service of worship and will feature the full Adult Chancel Choir, student led music and much more. We sincerely hope that you and your family will join us for this Christmas celebration! We will be doing a dress rehearsal practice on December 11th and 18th at 10:00am, during regular Sunday School time. Thank you!!

Advent Poinsettias
This year we will be supporting another Mission Project. If you would be willing to share a poinsettia ($11) with us and/or donate to this year’s Mission Project, ($15), please contact Cheri in the office at 336-1649. Please let her know if this poinsettia is in memory of, or honoring someone.

Our sympathies are extended to the family of Pastor Bob Vaage on his passing this past week.
Nancy Haas having complications after surgery.
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.
Finley Brunsvold going through chemo treatments.

Upcoming Meetings:

November 30th

Recharge – 5:30pm
High School Youth Group – 7pm
Adult Handbell practice -7pm
2nd Service Rehearsal – 7:15pm
Chancel Choir practice – 8pm

December 1st

Men’s Bible Study – 9am
PW Coordinating Team Meeting – 5:30pm

December 2nd

Poet Outing at Madrigal Feaste, VFW Estherville – 6:30pm

December 3rd

Poet Outing at Madrigal Feaste, VFW Estherville – 6:30pm

December 4th

Reformed Worship Service – 8:50am
Coffee and fellowship – 10am
Sunday School – 10:15am
Confirmation – 10:15am
Adult Ed – 10:30am
Reforming Worship Service – 11:15am
Act II – 12:30pm
Worship Service at Welcov – 2:45pm

December 5th

PW Sewing -9am

December 6th

Weekly Prayer – 9am
Women’s Bible Study – 1:30pm
Mission Committee Meeting – 6pm
Building & Grounds Committee Meeting – 6:30pm

Reformed (1st) Service ~ 8:50am
December 4th

Pianist – Arla Stover
Liturgist – Walt Mendenhall
Ushers –
Greeters –
Video Taping – Wes Farmer
Nursery – Hannah Brumley & Heather Sprague
Coffee – Dan & Peg VanBeek

Reforming (2nd) Service ~ 11:15am

December 4th

Praise Team – Pressley Cochran-Bray, Marissa Sill & Liz Steiner
Usher/Greeter – Bernie & Marcia VanRoekel
Nursery – Kari Bruinsma
Sound – Chris Sill
Power Point – Logan Sill

Read Your Newsletter Here

Forward

This email was sent to

why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences

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