First Lutheran Church
WEEKLY E-NEWS
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WEEKLY FAITH-LIFT
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Last Sunday was Traditional Lessons & Carols, last night was our Market Street Brass Concert to benefit Spartan Open Pantry at UNCG, and this Sunday is Contemporary and Community Worship Lessons & Carols. Also this Sunday, FLC member, Ben Crouch, will be playing special holiday music beginning at 10:45 am in the Traditional Worship Space. Like no other season, music makes Christmas special, inspiring and unique. Consider these quotes from Martin Luther, and take a moment to give thanks for the way music and musicians move us, transform us, inspire us and comfort us with the amazing Good News that "God is with us." Then, invite someone to join us for this Sunday and Christmas Eve. After all, we can't let this magnificent and delightful treasure not have its full impact.
"Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us."
Martin Luther
"Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world."
Martin Luther
~
Pastor Jay
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THIS SUNDAY ENJOY BREAKFAST IN BETHLEHEM!
During our breakfast this Sunday we invite all children to be a part of our nativity play, "Come to the Manger!" Children will help us tell the wonderful story of Jesus' birth by choosing to play a role in the story. They will select their roles from the objects on their table. The objects represent a Shepherd (sheep) or an Angel (halo) or a Magi (gift) or a Star shining brightly (star)!
As our youth tell the story of Jesus' birth, children will be summoned from their seats by the role they are playing. We have teenagers dressed up as Shepherd, Angels, Magi and Stars to help guide children. So enjoy your breakfast and take part in the Nativity Story - "Come to the Manger" at 10:30 am.
FINAL REHEARSALS FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
Sunday
, December 18, 4-5 pm:
Angel Dancers
Thursday, December 22, 6 pm:
Dress rehearsal for all participants
(singers, dancers, readers, musicians and pastoral staff)
Saturday, December 24, 3 pm: All service participants arrive for the 4 pm service
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Exploring the Sacraments Parent Meeting: Is your child curious or asking questions about Communion? Each year we offer instruction for families with children ages 4 to 5th grade who are interested in learning about Communion. The class, "Exploring the Sacraments", is designed to help families prepare their children to receive the bread and wine when we celebrate communion together on Sundays. Please join us as we begin our journey together with a mandatory parent meeting on Sunday, January 8 at 10:00 a.m. in Room A10. Pastor Jay and Bonnie will answer questions and hand out at home material to prepare both you and your child for our first group meeting. At the parent meeting, we will schedule two additional classes for the families to attend. Please contact Bonnie at
bonnie@firstlutheran.com if you have questions or would like to sign up to attend. First Communion Sunday will be February 26 at all services.
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Would you like to share your faith with the children of the church? Faith Formation is still looking for volunteers to help with the January rotation beginning on January 8. There are still openings for the games leader and for shepherds. Please contact Jennifer, Jennifer@firstlutheran.com if you would like to help.
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WORSHIP
Sunday, December 18
Communion in
Traditional Worship
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Contempor
ary Worship
Lessons and Carols
Emily Lemoine
Pastor Jay Hilbinger
Community Worship
1st and 3rd Sundays
(see below)
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COMMUNITY WORSHIP NEWS
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Join us December 18
(Lessons & Carols) for Community Worship
with a free
meal at
5:30 pm
and then worship at
6:30 pm
All are welcome to either or both for this meaningful time spent together in community with one another.
December 18- Baked ziti for dinner at 5:30 pm.
Sign up here. Worship at 6:30 pm.
December Service Opportunity
Bring canned food items for Meals at the Manger for Greensboro Urban Ministry.
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HECKMAN CHRISTMAS TRAIN OPEN HOUSE!
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THIS Sunday, Dec. 18
2-5 pm
FLC train fans of all ages welcome.
Sharon and Bill Heckman 4201 Bitternut Trail Greensboro
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CAREGIVING
LEARN TO LISTEN:
Learn how to enhance your listening skills to help others in a course called "What Not to Say" from
7-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 9, 16 & 23.
Once the number of participants is determined, a room for the class will be determined. Pastor Bernie, Ruth Schenk and Ellenor Shepherd are facilitating these sessions. Contact: Pastor Bernie,
Bernie@firstlutheran.com
, 336-501-2841.
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Youth and Family Ministries
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THIS SUNDAY:
Nativity Play Helpers - Youth, gr 6-12 - please plan to eat breakfast early (9:45 am in the Community Center), so that we can get into costume and prepare for the Nativity skit at 10:30 am. Youth who did not make the meeting last Sunday can still serve as a costumed guide - meet Carol in the Community Center at 9:45 am.
RAD
Youth Christmas Jam - Our 'dress rehearsal' for the Chris
tmas Eve family service is on Tuesday evening, December 20, 6PM - 7PM. Please meet Dave and Melissa in the traditional worship room. Contact
Melissa@firstlutheran.com
IF you have a conflict.
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COMING UP FOR YOUTH
All Youth & Parent Meeting - Sunday, January 8 at 10 am - We are celebrating the start of a fantastic new year together in the Youth Commons. All youth, grades, 6-12, and parents will gather together, to discuss and discover what is planned for the second half of our church year. Find out about coming events like our "RAD Laundry Change Challenge" and LYO Assembly; discuss 2017 Summer Mission options and learn plans for the summer 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering.
NC Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) Assembly
February 24 - 26 at Embassy Suites in Greensboro
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MEALS AT THE MANGER: Saturday, Dec. 24:
Bring food items to the Christmas Eve services, 4 and 10:30 p.m. Children will take an item to use during the services. Later, the food will be given to Greensboro Urban Ministry and Food Assistance.
THE TREES ARE EMPTY BECAUSE YOUR HEARTS ARE FULL!
You provided 286 gifts to 103 ch
ildren through FaithAction International House, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, and foster children through the Guilford County Department of Social Services! And you can still give to the ELCA World Hunge
r Appeal and to buy Honor Cards. See below ...
GREAT GIFTS!
- HONOR CARDS: Cards for Urban Ministry, Habitat for Humanity, Out of the Garden Project and the Interactive Resource Center are available on Sunday mornings through mid-December in the Community Center or pick up in Frank Moore's office.
- AFGHANS AND COOKBOOKS: Items commemorate FLC's 100th anniversary. Afghans $15; proceeds help the church budget. Cookbooks $8; proceeds go to Urban Ministry and ELCA World Hunger Appeal. These would make great Christmas gifts! Unsold afghans will be given away; unsold cookbooks will be given to new members. Contact: Frank Moore, 336-292-9125, frank@firstlutheran.com.
GOD'S WORK. OUR HANDS.
- HUGS (Hats, Underwear, Gloves, Socks) needed for winter. Put in HUGS box near Frank Moore's office.
- The YWCA SHELTER - one of the few places in Greensboro for homeless families - has the following needs; please put items in the Mission Depot. Diapers and Pull-ups (sizes 4-6), infant formula, twin-size sheets/blankets, cold and hot cups (12 and 16 oz.), paper towels, lawn/leaf size black trash bags (39+ gal.), paper/Styrofoam plates & bowls, plastic forks/spoons, paper napkins, mayo packets, small fruit cups/applesauce, chips/popcorn, granola bars/peanut butter crackers, real juice drink boxes, $5/10 gas cards to Walmart or Speedway
- A SIMPLE GESTURE, a food collection done every other month, is expanding into High Point and into Guilford County. If you are willing to pick up some bags six times a year to make a dent in child hunger, please contact asimplegesturegso@gmail.com or talk with Ginny Hultquist or Frank Moore.
- SHELTER HELPERS NEEDED: First Lutheran works with West Market St. United Methodist Church to provide a warm, safe shelter for men on Monday nights through March 27. Help needed with check-in/registration, preparing meals or serving meals. Also, we need men to stay overnight and work with a staff person. Check this link for information about overnight staffing duties. Sign-up sheets are in the Community Center. Details: Colette Gibson, hornung107@triad.rr.com, 856-7481. Also, it takes about $50 for the men to wash clothes on Mondays. Please put quarters or other donations in a container in Frank Moore's office
- WINTER WOMEN'S SHELTER: You're invited to join other First Lutheran members from January-March to offer a helping hand and serve a meal at the winter women's shelter at Summit House on Fairview from January-March. The time needed is about 3 hours; the experience could be priceless! Details: Ginny Hultquist, 336-707-6781, ginnylee511@yahoo.com.
- If you can donate a microwave, please contact Frank Moore, frank@firstlutheran.com, 336-292-9125.
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