Worship with Us!
9:10 a.m. - Sunday School Music
9:30 a.m. - Worship
10:30 a.m. - Fellowship & Sunday School

Monthly Worship Schedule:
1st and 3rd Sundays: blended worship
2nd Sunday: traditional worship
4th Sunday: contemporary worship

Midweek Worship:
Every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Holy Communion
2nd and 4th Sundays
Sunday Worship Scripture Links
In This Issue
  • Message from Pastor Marlene
  • Congregational Meeting
  • Children's Bake Sale
  • Social Concerns
  • Spread Joy through Song
  • Learn Video System
  • Advent Notices
  • Shop Online & Support Rejoice
  • Young @ Heart Gets Festive
  • Walk & Yoga at Rejoice
  • Community Prayers and Links
Time to Wonder

This second week of Advent we take time to stop and wonder – to wonder and give thanks for the amazing promise given in Jesus that God refuses to stop coming to seek us out and be “God with us.” So give yourself permission to take the time to come and be community together in these preparation weeks! Invite neighbors and friends to share in the joy: in weekly worship; as a guest at the European Christmas Tea this Saturday Dec 7 from 10 am to noon; on Sunday, Dec 15 as our children once again tell the story of The Birth of Jesus in word and song; and, as we celebrate Nativity on Christmas Eve (services at 3 and 5pm.)

Blessings & Peace!
Pastor Marlene
Congregational Meeting on December 22, 2019 at 10:45 a.m.:
vote on the Call Committee recommendation
to issue a letter of call to a Lead Pastor for Rejoice
European Christmas Coffee

Be sure to make time to come to our annual European Christmas Coffee Party & Sale tomorrow.
  • Saturday, December 7
  • 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

These goodies will be for sale, among a wide variety of other treats:
  • Candies
  • Lefse
  • Rosettes
  • Krumkaka
  • Lots of cookies
  • Specialty breads
Social Concerns Team

Please join a conversation with the Social Concerns committee:
  • Sunday, December 8
  • 10:30 a.m.
  • Fellowship Hall

If you have questions or suggestions for this committee, call Susan Chwalek at 320.267.0320.
Caroling at Good Shepherd

Wear your most garishly glorious Christmas attire and your best smile for a day of song and cheer.
  • Tuesday, December 10
  • Meet at Rejoice at 9:15 a.m. to carpool
  • Sing carols from about 10-10:45 a.m. using Paul & Nova Kinney's songbook lyrics
  • Good Shepherd Community
  • 1115 4th Avenue North, Sauk Rapids
  • Lunch following
  • Jimmy’s Pour House
  • 22 2nd Avenue North, Sauk Rapids
  • Be sure to bring money for lunch! 
  • Carpool returns to Rejoice about 1:00 p.m. 

It’s fun and so appreciated by the folks at Good Shepherd!! Questions? Contact Audrey Lidberg via email , or call or text 612.205.1542.  
Easy Worship is Easy!

If you'd like to learn how to run the video system, come to an informational session:
  • Wednesday, December 11
  • 6:00 p.m.
  • Rejoice Sanctuary
Pretty Poinsettias

Enhance the Christmas splendor of our sanctuary by ordering a poinsettia. You'll find order f orms in Celebration Hall. Just fill out a form and leave it, along with your payment of $12 each, in the poinsettia box or in the drop box by the office. 

Deadline to order is Sunday, December 15.
Jesus is Coming

Advent devotionals from Luther Seminary are available in Celebration Hall.
Share the Warmth this Advent

Look for the Mitten Tree to return for the Advent season! The Mitten Tree will benefit Pathways 4 Youth this year.
Smile While Shopping

When you shop at smile.amazon.com you’ll find the exact same low prices, selection and convenient shopping as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to Rejoice. Just choose to support Rejoice to receive donations before you begin shopping at smile.amazon.com the first time, and your selection will be remembered every time thereafter.
Jingle All the Way

Salvation Army red kettle bell ringers are needed at Clearwater Coborns and the Clearwater Travel Plaza. Sign up for a shift at RegisterToRing.com or call 320.257.7437.
'Tis the Season to be Ugly

Attention, Young @ Heart participants! Think bold. Think extraordinary. Think anything but boring. Dig that ugly sweater or tie out from the back of the closet and join us for a fun day of Christmas merriment.
  • Thursday, December 19
  • Coffee, cards and conversation at 10:30 a.m.
  • Special meal followed by holiday sing-along at 12:00 p.m.

Because of the special menu we are planning, reservations are expressly encouraged as it helps us calculate how much food to make and helps keep the cost down. Make reservations by:
Boost Your Mood and Vitality

Don't just hibernate in the cooler weather! Come walk the halls of Rejoice anytime between 7:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For entry, push the buzzer on the right-hand side of Door 1 (the door that leads to the library and office).
Go With the Flow

Center yourself in the center of the week. Participate in senior yoga at Rejoice on Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m. The cost is $8 per session.
Community Prayers
I f you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, fill out a   prayer request   or use one of the prayer concern requests located on the Interest table and in the sanctuary welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member. This is a dynamic list. Requests will be printed for up to four weeks; call the church office at 320.558.6851 to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please resubmit the name and/or concern using one of the prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area. 
We Mourn With:
Wayne and Janell Hennen in the loss of Janell's mother
Receiving Treatment for Cancer:
Travis Jennings (friend, Jim & Marlys Johnson)
Kari Hilden (friend, Lori Lanes)
Bob Oihus (brother-in-law, Grace Asheim)
Shawn Crist (nephew, Mary Wilson)
Renee Dickinson (step-mother, Lindsey Sand)
*Kent Asheim
Maria Landers (area quilters)
Christy Dorris (great-niece, Duane & Darlene Johnson)
Rev. Scott Gustafson (cousin, Linnea Lindquist)
 Marlene Anderson-Woods (friend, Linda Agre)
 *Pete Lidberg
Others:
*Shane Allen
Connie Nelson (sister-in-law, Gladys Steiger)
MaryJane (sister, Jim Johnson)
Nancy Nicoloff (friend, Lori Lanes)
Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)
*Dick Swanson
Dennis Zeto (brother-in-law, Lori Lanes)
Al Neuman
Carol (friend, Rosemary Monk)
Mimi (friend, Rosemary Monk)
*Darryl Bissell
Sandy Swanson (daughter-in-law, Dick Swanson)
Ron Dettman (friend, Linda Agre)
Marlene Vogel (mother, Joni Hagstrom)
Michael Johnson, (son, Charlie & Edie Johnson)
Ron Wolfbauer (nephew, Carolyn & Ron Stensby)
Walker James Vreeland (grandson, David & Cindy Kirchoff)
Baby Henry Opatz (friend, Tina Bunting)
Tom Ahrenholz (brother, Mark Ahrenholz)
*Jerry Jagadzinski
*Bev Hugo
Deployed or Returning from Active Duty:
Justin Neisen (nephew, Lisa Pridgeon)
Jon Fisher (brother, Joe Fisher)
Rejoice Staff
Marlene Elmstrom Interim Pastor
Carol Eich Office Administrator
Nicole Heberling Music Coordinator
Mary Bergeron Office Assistant