News

Announcements — December 19, 2010

REMEMBER IN PRAYER Glenn M. and family, at the death of his mother; Jean S., at St. John’s Hospital; Bernice R., recovering from surgery; Marilyn N., at home; Jeanie D., undergoing treatment for cancer; Jim D., with major heart problems (a close friend of the Golden’s).

CHRISTMAS SHARING The Evangelism Committee invites you to visit their “Christmas Outreach” table in the narthex.  You will find information and ideas about sharing Jesus with others and some inexpensive gifts that focus on keeping Christ in Christmas.  Donations are appreciated for the gifts.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS The Sunday School children were asked to bring non-perishable food to church with them today.  They will be asked to bring it up to the front of the church sometime during the service, and the congregation will sing along with them, Happy Birthday, Jesus.  All items collected will go to Carthage Crosslines.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE The children will have a rehearsal for their program after the late service today.  A light lunch will be served, and they will have a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” party.  If you would be willing to help with lunch, please see Karen Perkins or Shelley W.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM This evening, at 7:00, the children will tell the story of Jesus’ birth, the first Christmas, as only they can, in the Christmas Pageant, The Not-So-Silent Night.

ELDERS’ MEETING this Monday at 7:00 pm.

THANK YOU A great big thank you to everyone for the many cards, visits, and phone calls to me since my fall.  I appreciate each of you more than you will ever know.              ~ Dorothy F.

NO WEDNESDAY CLASSES until next year.  The Wednesday evening classes will not meet for the next two weeks.  Classes will resume at the regular times on January 5, 2011.

THE THURSDAY AM BIBLE STUDY will meet this week.

SPECIAL SERVICES THIS WEEK
7:00 PM  TODAY  CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
7:00 PM  FRIDAY  CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE WITH HOLY           COMMUNION
10:45 AM  SATURDAY  CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP SERVICE WITH HOLY        COMMUNION

HAPPY 98TH BIRTHDAY On Tuesday, Dec. 21, Dorothy F. will be 98 years old.  Let’s shower her with birthday wishes.

POINSETTIAS There is still time to purchase one or more poinsettias to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas.  There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.  The price for each is $5.00, and as always, you are welcome to take them home after Christmas.  Please make payment to Betty K.

PRAYER BEARS are in the sanctuary pews and available to be signed out (notebook in narthex) and given to anyone that needs God’s love, comfort, and peace.  We have reports that they are helping those who have received them.

BLOOD PRESSURE The opportunity to have your blood pressure taken and recorded after each service is available in the nurse’s office located off the narthex.  You will be given a card to carry with you to record your readings.

TAPES AND CD’S OF THE SERVICE Audio tapes and CDs of the service are available after the 8:15 am service each Sunday.  They are located in the glassed-door cabinet in the narthex.  The previous Sunday’s are also available.

ASSISTIVE LISTENING If you are having a hard time hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.  They work like a transistor radio and you control the volume.

Announcements — December 12, 2010

REMEMBER IN PRAYER Wendy R. and family, at the death of her grandmother; Marilyn N., at home; Jeanie D., Jean S., undergoing treatment for cancer.

CHRISTMAS SHARING The Evangelism Committee invites you to visit their “Christmas Outreach” table in the narthex.  You will find information and ideas about sharing Jesus with others and some inexpensive gifts that focus on keeping Christ in Christmas.  Donations are appreciated for the gifts.

MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES The Advent season is the time before Christmas when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Plan to attend the Midweek Advent service on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.

WEDNESDAY EVENING CLASS SCHEDULE THROUGH        DECEMBER
 Dec. 15—Band Practice, 5:30 pm; All other classes begin at 6:00 pm
Dec. 22 & 29—No Classes

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM PRACTICE The children will have a rehearsal for their program after the late service today.  A light lunch will be served.  They will also practice on Sunday, Dec. 19, after the late service, and have a “Happy Birthday, Jesus” party.  If you would be willing to help with lunch, please contact Karen P. or Shelley W.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS The Sunday School children have been asked to bring non-perishable food to church with them next Sunday.  They will be asked to bring it up to the front of the church sometime during each service, and the congregation will sing along with them, Happy Birthday, Jesus.  All items collected will go to Carthage Crosslines.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Next Sunday evening, Dec. 19, at 7:00, the children will tell the story of Jesus’ birth, the first Christmas, as only they can, in the Christmas Pageant, The Not-So-Silent Night.

POINSETTIAS There is still time to purchase one or more poinsettias to help decorate the sanctuary for Christmas.  There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex.  The price for each is $5.00, and as always, you are welcome to take them home after Christmas.  Please make payment to Betty K.

PRAYER BEARS are in the sanctuary pews and available to be signed out (notebook in narthex) and given to anyone that needs God’s love, comfort, and peace.  We have reports that they are helping those who have received them.

BLOOD PRESSURE The opportunity to have your blood pressure taken and recorded after each service is available in the nurse’s office located off the narthex.  You will be given a card to carry with you to record your readings.

TAPES and CD’s of the Service  Audio tapes and CDs of the service are available after the 8:15 am service each Sunday.  They are located in the glassed-door cabinet in the narthex.  The previous Sunday’s are also available.

ASSISTIVE Listening If you are having a hard time hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers.  They work like a transistor radio and you control the volume.

From The Evangelism Committee

You want to share your faith, but you’re just not sure what to say? Well, Christmas is a wonderful time to share your faith with others. The Evangelism Committee invites you to visit their “Christmas Outreach” table in the narthex. You will find information and ideas about sharing Jesus with others and some inexpensive gift ideas that focus on keeping Christ in Christmas. Use one of these gifts to give to someone and share Christ at the same time. Donations are accepted for the gifts.

Advent

The church season of Advent began Sunday, November 28. It is the beginning of a new church year. Its emphasis is always on The One Who is Coming. We hear from the Old Testament Prophets who tell us about The One Who is Coming to be the Messiah. This coming is fulfilled in the birth of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. So, in the Advent Season we anticipate the coming of the celebration of Jesus’ birth. We look forward to Christmas, the coming of the One who will bring us back into God’s family through his suffering, death and resurrection. It is this Jesus who also comes to us in this Advent season in his Word and Sacraments. Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. We are also reminded in this Advent season that The One Who is Coming is also the One who is coming back again to be the judge of all the living and the dead. In God’s grace, we can look forward to Christ’s return and pray with the Apostle John, “Come, Lord Jesus.” During the season of Advent we have special midweek worship services on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. It is easy to get so involved in the activities of the commercial Christmas that the message and meaning of this time of year gets lost in the mess. Take time to join with others for these special Advent services and remember, Jesus is The One Who is Coming.