The Memo from Memorial Weekly Newsletter from Memorial Presbyterian Church, Appleton, WI December 7, 2017

All are invited to the Holiday Fantasia Handbell Concert this Saturday, December 9 at 7:00 pm. The concert will feature the Encore Handbell Ensemble, directed by Paul McKlveen, with the MPC Handbell Choir. A freewill offering will be taken. *********************** This Sunday's bulletin is available here. Click here for the church calendar. The October - December issue of the quarterly Chimes newsletter is available here .

Traditions Worth Keeping

Growing up, my family didn't have many traditions, but there are two that stick with me. My family would have a Thanksgiving meal with my mom's family on the weekend, so on Thanksgiving we'd have pizza. The truth is, pizza wasn't that special or rare in our house. What was special is that we ate it like it was a feast. There were no movies playing in the background, no one was coming or going from other plans with friends; we were all together, sharing ordinary food in a special way. This past Thanksgiving lived on, this time at my sister's home. The other family tradition was exchanging gifts between siblings. We would draw names and everyone would give one other person a gift. The best part of this tradition was that we got to open this gift before Christmas. After our Sunday School Christmas program, we got to exchange gifts. This is now a tradition my own kids enjoy and are very much looking forward to following their Christmas program on December 17. This coming Sunday is Deacon Sunday. This is a tradition that began about three years ago, having Deacon Sunday in Advent. At first it was by convenience and circumstance, but very quickly Deacon Sunday became a special tradition because Advent and Christmas can be a hard time of year for people who are hurting and for those mourning the loss of loved ones. So in middle of Advent we celebrate and name the ways we care for one another in formal ways like serving as a Deacon, but also in behind-the-scenes ways like washing dishes after a funeral, in offerings of love like a meal after surgery, or a visit while in the hospital. As 2017 draws to a close, I want to encourage you to support the caring ministries of MPC through two traditions worth keeping: completing a pledge for 2018 (pledge card may be found here ) and by making an end-of-the-year contribution through the church office or online . Your end-of-the-year generosity helps to create a welcoming congregation where people are discipled to care for each other and the community, provide funds to meet emergency needs, and support access to pastoral care and deacon caring ministries. Thank you for the ways you care and serve at MPC. Thank you for dedicated support.  Peace, Pastor Mike

There will be a brief Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 10 following the worship service for the purpose of electing a remaining Deacon to the Class of 2020.

A complete schedule of holiday events at MPC may be found here.

Advent & Christmas Devotional Guide Journey through the Advent and Christmas season with this original Devotional Guide, written by MPC members and staff. Copies of the booklet are available outside the church office, and you can also download it  here . The daily devotions are also shared on Facebook, so you can easily share them with friends and family.

SERRV Sale

Ornaments, nativities, chocolate and much more! Handmade scarves, jewelry, housewares and other gifts, olive oil, coffee, soups, spices. Saturday, December 9 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM SERRV Sale at MPC open to the community, as well as MPC members and SERRV Sale open for one hour before and after the Encore Handbell Choir Concert, 7:00 PM Sunday, December 10 SERRV Sale at MPC before and after Worship What is the SERRV Sale?  Crafts made in fair trade conditions by artisans struggling with poverty in the US and many other countries are sold through SERRV. We have held SERRV sales at MPC during Advent for decades. At this sale you can find unique, hand-crafted gifts, food and decor and know that the person who made the item has decent working conditions and fair compensation for the work.

Upcoming Adult Education Classes

We will be having a variety of educational offerings on upcoming Sunday mornings: December 10 – We will be returning to the Animate Practices series: Worship and Sacraments December 17 – Sunday Times with Pastor Mike and Jim December 24 & 31- No classes January 7 – Introduction to the Gospel of John. In the Narrative Lectionary we will be entering the season where will be reading from the book of John. Come learn some of the background of this book. Who wrote it? Who was it written for? Why and how is it different than the other three Gospels? We will be exploring these questions and more. See you then -- the coffee pot will be on! 

Mission in Action

Mitten Tree The Mitten Tree is already being adorned with a lovely collection of mittens, gloves, hats and scarves to keep our community's children and adults warm this winter. The tree has been placed in the southeast corner of the building - you can't miss it! You may contribute items you’ve made or purchased through Sunday, December 31. As in previous years, all items will be delivered to the Community Clothes Closet to keep children in need comfy and warm this winter. Thank you!

Mission Trip PCUSA Mission Worker Justin Sundberg enjoyed the time he recently spent visiting with us. He was impressed with our commitment to mission and our desire to be more involved in Global Mission work. He was pleased that we were considering returning to Nicaragua and partnering with CEPAD and the people of Nicaragua. Before leaving Appleton, Justin checked CEPAD’s calendar to see when it might be possible for a group from MPC to travel to Nicaragua and join with another church on their mission trip. We had previously identified March of 2018 as the month that we would send our second group to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, Justin only found two options in March, and they did not look very promising. He felt that there were better options later in the spring and summer. The dates that we are now considering are: April 28 – May 6, May 22 – May 29, June 15 – June 23, and July 21 – July 29.  If you think you might be interested in going to Nicaragua in 2018, please sign up on the Friendship table in the west hallway. To help with planning, please indicate which travel dates work for you.

Many thanks to all who signed up to provide gifts for Adopt-a-Family members! Gifts are due back to the church, unwrapped, by this Sunday, December 10. W e are still in need of monetary donations for grocery gift cards. Checks may be made payable to MPC, with "Adopt-a-Family noted in the memo portion of the check.

On Sunday, December 17, we will be collecting our monthly contribution to the Salvation Army food shelves. With Christmas just around the corner, why not consider canned food items that would be nice for a holiday meal, or even hot chocolates and biscuits? Paper products are always very welcome, as well.

Christmas Joy Offering Leadership: Past, Present and Future The Christmas Joy Offering, which will be dedicated on Christmas Eve, helps to support the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, providing critical financial assistance to eligible workers in the PC(USA). It also supports the education and development of our future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. These schools are dedicated to creating opportunities and environments for racial ethnic students built on a foundation of Christian values. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, we can share in the hope of Christ by providing support to our church workers, and racial ethnic young people, and their families. Please give generously through the designated envelopes in the church pews; text JOY 20222 to give $10; or contribute online through this link .

Heifer International Together We Can Change the World The goal of Heifer International, founded nearly 70 years ago, is to provide not just relief to families in need, but to empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity. This is accomplished by linking communities and bringing sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. Heifer animals provide both food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market. Your gift of chicks, ducks, bees, or even a heifer helps families gain new sustainable income, and brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses. Stop at the table in the narthex this Sunday to give the gift that keeps on giving.

Poinsettia Orders It's time to order Christmas poinsettias!  If you would like to contribute money toward decorating the church with poinsettias and greenery for the Christmas Eve services, fill out this form and send in with your payment by Sunday, December 17.

Children and Youth Ministries

Sunday School (Age 4 - Grade 6) The children are rehearsing for their Christmas program during the Education Hour, from 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. The program, "A Christmas Parade," will be presented during the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, December 17. Parents, please help your children learn the songs so that they are well prepared for rehearsal. Thank you. Kinderchurch (Age 3 - Grade 2) Children participate in this age-appropriate worship service by attending worship with their parents for about 15 minutes, and then move to the Kinderchurch room as a group. This Sunday's lesson is "The Shepherds Show the Way to Bethlehem." Kinderchurch is not held on those Sundays when communion is served, so that children may participate in communion with their parents' approval. Youth Fellowship (Grades 7-12) This week in Youth Fellowship, we had great time with our last lesson of the year! We ended it on a good note by taking a look at Matthew chapter 1 and the genealogy of Jesus- an odd passage to study, but it provided us with a great reminder that the coming of Jesus had been promised through the generations of Israel and the line of Kings. It also showed us that, by coming to a family that was by no means perfect, Jesus truly came as a gift to all people. This was our last lesson of the year, since next week we will be ringing bells at Walmart, and in two weeks we are having a Christmas party! ~ Joel Screnock

Is an IRA rollover right for you?

In December 2015, Congress passed the IRA Charitable Rollover Act, permanently extending the provision for individuals age 70½ and older to be able to make tax-free distributions from IRAs to a qualified charitable organization, with a maximum of $100,000 per taxpayer each year. The amount transferred can be used to meet the donor's required minimum distribution. Amounts greater than $100,000 must be included in income but may be taken as an itemized charitable deduction. If you are 70½ and older, contact your financial advisor to see if an IRA Charitable Rollover is right for you, and consider MPC for your charitable contribution.

2018 Offering Envelopes are now available in the west hallway of the church. To help save on postage, please pick up your box of envelopes before the end of the year. Thank you!

The MPC Prayer Group meets every Wednesday morning from 9-10 am in the Chapel, praying for our families, our church, our community, and our world. If you have a prayer request, please email it to the church office .   This week, let us pray for: Krista Mischler, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has begun chemotherapy treatments. Norm Colson, who is back at Bridges after a brief hospitalization. John Hootman, who now is at Peabody after undergoing surgery. Nathan Roth, who continues his recovery from heart valve replacement surgery recently. Betty Lockhart's brother, Bob, who has begun chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer. Carolyn Zuehls, who is now in Milwaukee undergoing a stem cell transplant. Jane Slater's brother-in-law, Al, who awaits a double lung transplant. Nelson and Bev Craig, as they ready their home in preparation for a move. Judy, a friend of the congregation, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Tony, the son of Roy Hoglund's colleague, passed away peacefully last weekend, surrounded by his family after a brave struggle with brain cancer. Sherry Meyer’s father, Bob Ihlenfeldt, passed away on Tuesday of this week after a long illness. Services will be held on Saturday, December 16, officiated by Pastor Mike. The obituary may be found here.

Sunday Morning Volunteers

Christmas Eve Volunteers Needed : Many thanks to all who have volunteered for the 9:00 pm Christmas Eve service! We now need only a Head Usher and two more Ushers. If you are able to help out in one of these areas, please contact Paula in the church office. Thank you! Many thanks to all of our Sunday Morning volunteers! Contact the church office for a full schedule through January 2018. If you are unable to serve on the day you are scheduled, please arrange for substitute and email the church office.

Sunday, December 10, 2017 Greeters: Dave and Patty Ogilvie Head Usher: Mike Harer Ushers : Valerie Bayer, Kari Zink, Connie Olson, Marie Desens Readers: Members of the Board of Deacons Kinderchurch:  Cori Marinan, Leader; Ashley Zuege, Greeter Fellowship Hosts : Mark and Ann Smith Counters: Francie Kopecky, Sonja Song

Sunday, December 17, 2017 Greeters: Andy and Connie Ogilvie Head Usher: Tim Shoaf Ushers : Robyn Buss, Sharon McElrath, Elaine Presby, Pat Spindler Reader: Jeff Privatt Fellowship Hosts : Pam and Richard Dodge Counters: Beth Lepinski, Gayle Hardt 

Community Notices

­­­­ Vigil to #ENDGUNVIOLENCE Sunday, December 10, 4:00 p.m. Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2600 Philip Lane, Appleton Gun violence affects victims, families and communities. It affects all of us. Please invite your family and friends and attend the VIGIL to #ENDGUNVIOLENCE on Sunday, December 10. For more information, visit the Facebook Event Page , or send an email . Learn how you can make a difference and save lives. ********************************************* Appleton Comprehensive Treatment Center 3301 N. Ballard Road, Suite B, Appleton, WI 54911 Appleton CTC is dedicated to the treatment of opiate addiction. Their vision is based on the understanding of and sensitivity to their patients and families; engagement and cooperation with the persons and organizations working together for the benefit of their patients; and commitment to promoting and improving the mental well-being of the community. If you or a loved one are interested in exploring treatment options, call them at 920-733-4443 for more information. 

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"The Memo from Memorial" is published every Thursday. Deadline for notices is Wednesday at 5:00 pm. Send all information to Paula Hoglund or contact the church office at 920-734-1787.