Beloved Children of God,

Grace and peace in the name of Christ our King!

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday when we celebrate Jesus, the Servant King and think about how we can walk in his footsteps as his disciples. I've been thinking a lot about the second reading from Colossians in the last verse which says, "Through the Son, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself." We could say that is the whole message of the gospel. God loves us so much and wants to be in deep and loving relationship with each of us. So God does whatever it takes for that to happen, including taking on human form, dying on the cross, and rising again to new life, bringing the universe back to himself. What an incredible gift!

There are a couple of happenings here that I want to make sure you know about:

• Office Redecorating: The office is under redesign to be more user-friendly, have a clear walking space, seating space, and workstation. We are using office supply funds for paint, but otherwise are using materials that we already have. Thank you to the Building and Grounds team for helping move furniture and filling the holes in the walls! We have a couple of volunteers to paint and then we'll be ready to hang a calendar, bulletin boards, and move the copy machine. If you have any questions, you're welcome to ask Pastor Sarah or Office Administrator, Melissa!

• Thanksgiving and Healing service Wednesday, November 27 at 7pm: Come and pray for healing, for yourself, for a loved one, for the congregation, for the world and share your praises and thanksgivings. These thanksgivings will be shared during worship on Sundays over the course of the next months. Remember to stick around for pie after the service.

• Advent by Candlelight: At 7pm each Wednesday in Advent, take thirty minutes to slow your life, sit in the warming glow of candlelight, and worship God with Holden Evening Prayer. All ages are very welcome.

• Building and Grounds support: We need you to serve the congregation by cleaning and weekday morning snow shoveling. There is a sign-up sheet on the Welcome Table for building cleaning along with a list of duties. If you can shovel, please let the office know: admin@sharingchristslove.org.

As we head into the frenzy of the holiday season, remember that you are a child of God and that your reason for this season is Christ our King!

Peace to you, Pastor Sarah

December 1st- Advent 1: Pastor Sarah gone, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Coltvet preaching.

December 4th - Advent by Candlelight 7 pm: Holden Evening Prayer.

December 8th - Advent 2: Food Truck Sunday/ Yule Log Fellowship Event.  

December 11th - Advent by Candlelight 7 pm: 

Holden Evening Prayer

December 15th - Advent 3:  Children's Play: Super Christmas 

December 18th  - Advent by Candlelight 7 pm:

Holden Evening Prayer. 

December 22nd - Advent 3: Puppets performing offering and sending songs.  Lefse making fellowship event. 

December 24th - Christmas Eve: 4 pm family service, 10 pm candlelight service. 

December 29th - First Sunday of Christmas:  Lessons and Carols. 

January 5th - Epiphany of Our Lord

If you would like any additional information about any service/ event above, please email Melissa (office administrator) at 651.462.5212 or  admin@sharingchristslove.org

Colossians 1: 11-20

Luke 23: 33-43

Christmas Decorating! 
Altar Guild is leading decorating the church for Christmas on December 1st after service.  Congregation help is needed to make this happen!  Please join us! 

Josie Peterson celebrated her 90th birthday on November 2nd.  Josie is a long time member of our church who has served in many ways.  We hope you had a great birthday! 

Once again this year, the confirmation students are having anonymous Santa!  This directly supports the "Christmas with Dignity" program, which offers parents that are not able to buy Christmas presents the opportunity to "shop" in the holiday store at North Branch United Methodist Church.  

Please take an "ornament" off of the tree located in the Narthex, and return the items by December 15th.  Our confirmation students will be helping pack donations on December 15th.  

We will have poinsettias available for purchase again this year!  Please watch for order sheets in the Sunday bulletin, and there is a sign up sheet available on welcome table.  Orders are due by December 13th. 

Prices are: 

4"  small  $7.00 (red, white, or pink)

6"  medium  $13.00 (red, white, pink or marble)

8"  large  $18.00 (red and white)

10"  extra large  $30.00 (red and white)

You can pick up your plant after the 10:00 pm Christmas Eve service, or anytime after December 26th. 

If you have any further questions about ordering, please contact Melissa (office administrator) at 651.462.5212 or admin@sharingchristslove.org

For the past several years the St. Paul Lutheran members have provided a Christmas gift to the families visiting the Food Truck.  This year we would like to put together a box of personal care items for each family.  Please consider adding some of these items to your shopping list this holiday season. 

Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener Sheets, Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Shampoo, and Conditioner and band-aids.  

It would be wonderful if you could bring these items in by Sunday, December 8th, so we would know what we needed to go buy to fill up the boxes.  If you would like us to do the shopping for you, you could make a donation to St. Paul Lutheran, memo line: Personal Care Items, Food Truck.  If you have any questions please contact Jan Brainard or Katie Edwards.   

Service Opportunities at Saint Paul Lutheran!

Each week we will highlight opportunities for you to serve in your congregation. Watch this space for details!

• Building Cleaning: You are needed to clean your church! Each week members of our congregation clean the building. It is your turn!  Please sign up on the clipboard at the welcome center. A list of duties is attached to the sign up.

Make it a family event! Clean on an afternoon then get pizza for dinner to celebrate your service!

Two members have covered the cleaning for September and October but they will be gone in November. WE NEED YOU!

A special thank you to Dee Wilkinson and Kathy Mills for making the sale such a great event!

A total of $739.50 was raised for the church!  

Extra pledge cards are available on the welcome table.  Please cards are due ASAP. 

An Incredible Hulk costume (size youth large), is needed for the Christmas program.  If you are have one you are willing to donate, please contact Joanna at  jkroschel@sharingchristslove.org

• There is NO confirmation class on November 27th. 
• Confirmation will continue to meet for the three Wednesdays in December at 6:30. There will be time for check-in and then the students are required to attend worship at 7 pm. The service is Advent by Candlelight using Holden Evening Prayer. If anyone would be interested in reading or singing parts during that service, please let Pastor Sarah know. They will also take part in bringing the light into worship those nights. 
• Confirmation Class will take a break over the holidays. We begin meeting again January 8th at 6:30 pm. 
• There is a fellowship event for Confirmation students Friday, December 6th, 6-9 pm at church - Christmas festivities, a movie and other activities. This is a required fellowship event.  

If you have any question, please contact Pastor Sarah at pastor@sharingchristslove.org

December 8th - 10:00 am

We are excited to once again have Dee lead us in making Yule Logs!  We hope you can join us for this event, all are welcome.  Glue guns and glue sticks will be needed! Sign up sheet is on the welcome table.

Complete List of all Retailers

Sunday, December 8 - Yule Logs

Sunday, December 22 - Lefsa Making