Weekly Update
Your Weekly Update
Missing Christmas
This year’s Advent series will focus on various ways we trivialize, minimize, and miss the message and meaning of Christmas. Each week will highlight a theme that gets in the way of a true experience of celebrating Christ. We hope to see you as we prepare for Christmas together.
December 3rd – “Happy Whatever” – Christmas, culture, and conflict
December 10th – Advert vs. Advent – Commercializing Christmas
December 17th – When it’s not a wonderful Life – Idealizing the past
Children’s Program at 11:15am service
December 24th – The 120 days of Christmas – Holiday Excess
One service at 10:00am
December 24th – Copying Christmas – Traditions, Rituals, and Meaning
Christmas Eve services at 4:00pm and 6:00pm
Advent is from a Latin word meaning “arrive,” and is used in the church for the season that precedes Christmas. The themes of Advent are waiting, expecting, joy, hope, love, and peace. Advent offers us an opportunity not to rush ahead to Christmas but prepare our hearts and minds in order to experience the true meaning of the arrival of Christ.
FPC Wear
Orders are being taken for clothing printed with a FPC logo.
Color choices- black, grey, navy blue or pink
– logo printed in white.
Sizes s-xl are priced as listed below (add $2 for xxl and $3 for xxl)
Short Sleeve Tee – $7
Long Sleeve Tee – $9
Crewneck Sweatshirt – $13
Hooded Sweatshirt – $16
Embroidered Nike polo shirts are also available in Black, Dark Grey, and Midnight Navy for $35
Order forms – please see our web site www.fpcspiritlake.org or stop by the office.
Thank You
Carol and I feel so blessed to be part of such a caring and supportive family. Thank you very much for the prayers and words of support after the passing of my mom, Judy Stueven. No one gets through these things alone and we appreciate the thoughtful words and cards that you have shared with us.
With our deepest gratitude,
Doug and Carol Stueven
Pie Auction Thank You
There are hardly words to adequately thank the congregation for your unbelievable generosity at our annual pie auction. Your steadfast support of our youth was on full display and we raised an astonishing (and record) $10,500 in pie sales. Thank you for investing in the faith and lives of the next generation through your prayers, financial gifts, and examples of Christian discipleship!
Operation Christmas Child Thanks YOU!
The final count of shoe box gifts contributed to Operation Christmas Child from our Church this year was 129! WOW; what an awesome response to this mission work at FPC! Thank YOU! Special “Thank You’s” go out to Eulyn Riemersma for knitting the caps and dolls, Nadine Hough for making the drawstring bags, Rosemary Stellinga, Donna Rieck & Pat Heiser for sewing the knitted dolls, the Ziegenbusch/Webber families for donating the beanie babies, and Nor Top for the wooden cars.
First Presbyterian is offering something special this Advent Season.
Advent Yoga
If the holidays find you a bit scattered and anxious,
come gather with a community of other scattered souls.
Let’s slow down together.
If the holidays leave you exhausted and gasping for air, this class is for you.
If you love to move your body, this class is for you.
If you have never done yoga, this class is for you.
If slowing life down sounds peaceful, this class is for you.
As we “wait” through the Advent season to celebrate our Lord’s birth, let’s intentionally pause together with Advent Yoga. Gathering our scattered pieces, we will connect our body, mind and soul allowing us the opportunity to focus on the real reason for the season.
First Presbyterian Church member and certified Yoga instructor Coral Cochran-Bray will be leading Gentle Yoga which will be accessible to everyone regardless of age or experience. Bring a mat if you have one and wear comfortable athletic attire.
Sundays: November 26th and December 3rd, 10th, and 17th.
2:00-3:00pm
Wednesday, November 22nd
NO RECHARGE
Wednesday, November 29th
Meal: Baked Potato Bar
Meal Crew: Karey Winkel, Pat Thomson
Meal Crew Helpers Needed Please!
Join us at Recharge with a meal beginning at 5:30pm, full youth programming, and multiple exciting adult classes to choose from at 6:10pm. Pick up a Recharge brochure in the Narthex, sign up to help on our meal rotation, and be sure to join us for another exciting year of fellowship and discipleship!
Adult Ed Classes:
- Esther in the Women’s Bible Study led by Rachelle Gewecke
- Making a Difference led by Pastor Clint
- Explore the Old Testament with the Great Courses
- Freezer Meal Class
Sunday School “Snack Providers and Servers”
A sign-up sheet and PEANUT/NUT-FREE SNACK LIST is placed in the library window or you may sign up online. Please take a snack list and sign up for your favorite date!! 5 dozen snacks and 2 large juice (not red please) are needed for Sunday School. If you leave the worship service during the last hymn, you have time to prepare your snacks for serving. No Sunday School on November 26th. On December 3rd snacks will be provided by Rhonda Reekers.
Hanging of the Greens
The Worship Committee invites you to come and begin decorating our church on Wednesday, November 29th at 5pm. Come early for recharge and help us decorate our sanctuary for the Christmas season!
Christmas Luncheon Workers Needed
The Christmas Luncheon is Thursday, December 7th at 12:30pm. We are in need of workers and cookie bakers. The sign-up sheet is located in the Narthex. We appreciate your help in serving the women of our community.
SAVE THE DATE!
Our children’s Christmas program will be held on Sunday, December 17th during the 11:15 service. All are welcome to attend!
(Snow date will be Wednesday, December 20th, at 6pm)
Church Directories Are Here
If you had your picture taken for the church directory, stop by the library window and pick up your copy. If you didn’t have a picture taken, please call or email the church office about getting your directory.
Welcov Christmas Tea
Everyone is invited to the Welcov Christmas Tea on Saturday, December 9th from 1:30-3pm, with entertainment from 2-3pm. Our community of family and friends have nativity sets on display and you are invited to display a nativity set as well. Please label your display and bring to Welcov the week before the tea. See you there!
Lakeshore Center Christmas Open House
Lakeshore Center invites you to their Christmas by the Lake Open House on Saturday, December 9 from 1-4pm at 1864 Hwy 86, Milford. Cookies, carols and crafts for the kids! Enter a drawing for a free night’s stay in their beautiful lodge! Must be present to win.
Tree of Love
The Tree of Love provides an opportunity to pay tribute to a loved one. The lighting will be held this afternoon at 3:30pm. For a donation of $5.00 a hand crafted wooden heart will be placed on a Christmas tree located in the Atrium at Lakes Regional Healthcare. Donations can be for a memorial, holiday greeting, anniversary, or birthday wish for a loved one along with a listing participant. The proceeds from the Tree of Love are used for scholarships in the healthcare field. Checks may be made payable to Lakes Regional Healthcare Volunteers and sent to the hospital. Thank you for your donations!
2017 Many Voices Choir Holiday Concert
St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Bancroft, IA
November 26 – 3:30pm
Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Jackson, MN
November 30 – 7:30pm
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Estherville, IA
December 2 – 1:30pm
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Spirit Lake, IA
December 2 – 7:30pm
- Pauly Eaton diagnosed with cancer.
- Lawrence Lupkes’ cancer returned.
- Rachel Fisher dealing with pregnancy complications.
- Roger Rieck recovering from surgery.
- Ruth Ann Kelly recovering from a fall.
- Elizabeth Corver recovering from hip surgery.
- Kathy Huitink being treated for pressure sores.
- Vonda Buchman recovering from knee surgery.
- Russ Thomson dealing with medical issues.
- A young man recovering from injuries.
- Keith Moriston recovering from knee surgery.
- Abby, Pauly Eaton’s granddaughter suffering injuries after car accident.
- Jen Watts niece, Ellie, as she prepares for her initial partial prosthetic and therapy.
- Kelly Swancutt’s uncle having tests.
- Charles Klaassen having tests in Sioux Falls.
- Holly Hansen undergoing radiation.
- Steve Kwikkel with pancreatic cancer & chemo.
- Cindy Phillips clear PET scan, doing chemo maintenance.
- Laurie Phillips dealing with medical issues.
- Emily Butterworth recovering from surgery.
- Karen Clark dealing with medical issues.
- Roxie Moriston undergoing chemotherapy.
- Paul Scharnberg battling cancer reoccurrence.
Loved ones are kept on our prayer list for one
month, unless otherwise requested.
Upcoming Meetings:
November 22nd
- No Weekly Prayer
- No Recharge
- No High School Youth Group
- No Adult Handbell Rehearsal
- No Chancel Choir Rehearsal
November 23rd
Office Closed
- Ladies Coffee Break at Hey Good Cookies – 8:30am
- No Men’s Bible Study
- No Act II at the High School office – 11:20am
November 24th
Office Closed
November 26th
- Reformed Worship Service – 8:50am
- Coffee and fellowship
- No Sunday School
- No Confirmation
- Adult Ed Classes – 10:30am
- Reforming Worship Service – 11:15am
November 27th
- PW Sewing – 9am
November 28th
- Tues Women’s Bible Study – 1:30pm
Reformed Worship Service ~ 8:50am
November 26th
Organist – Eulyn Riemersma
Liturgist – Dennis Colton
Ushers – Daryl & Elaine Doorenbos, Deb Ditsworth & Sandy Krout
Greeters – Pat & Russ Thomson
Video Taping – Wes Farmer
Soundbooth – Jackie Jenkins, Tom Ditsworth & Mike Reekers
Nursery – Kyley Anderson
Coffee – Jim & Mary Quitno
Reforming Worship Service ~ 11:15am
November 26th
Praise Team – Meghan Humphrey, Gary Lambert, Adrie Stecker, Liz Steiner
Nursery – Dana Bolluyt
Sound & Power Point – Sill family
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First Presbyterian Church · 3501 Hill Ave · Spirit Lake, IA 51360 · USA
