Rejoice YouTube Channel
Scripture Link:
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In This Issue:
- Note from Pastor Jim
- Holiday Extravaganza Canceled
- Christmas Announcements
- Shop Amazon
- Donate Paper Products
- Operation Christmas Child Wrap Up
- Nicole's Notice
- Community Prayers and Links
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Advent begins this Sunday November 29. Our series is “God With Us”. This week we enter into “God with Us Brings Hope”. Can we relate to the sense of longing God’s people had for the promised messiah? We long to be free to visit family and free from our facemasks. We long for the good old days right now. We long for the old normal. We long for vaccinations and a renewed economy filled with low unemployment and businesses thriving. We long for racial tensions to be resolved where we all can live in peace. We long...Like the pandemic, our longing has an end date with Jesus. And so our lives are shaped by the power of hope, which does not disappoint us because Christ’s love has been poured into our hearts. When we are in tune with our real source of hope, our darkness is lifted.
I haven’t yet received one item for our Advent Home Altar kits. I long for the USPS to ship faster! As soon as it arrives, I will be dropping off kits to 70 homes, that your Advent season would be enriched by daily reminders that God with us brings hope, love, joy, and peace.
Pastor Jim
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Practicing Precautions as COVID-19 Circulates
As COVID-19 cases surge in our area, the Fundraising Committee has met and decided to follow recommendations of experts and cancel the Holiday Extravaganza that was scheduled for Saturday, December 5 at Rejoice.
Watch for more events and opportunities in 2021.
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Christmas Program
Even though we are apart, we can still feel together this Christmas season. We are looking for everyone's help in making our Christmas program. Please make a short video. Here are some ideas:
- Your favorite scripture
- Sing or play your favorite Christmas song
- Read your favorite Christmas story
- Share your own Christmas miracle
- Email your favorite holiday recipe via email
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Christmas Poinsettias
If you would like to add to the splendor of the Sanctuary by ordering a Poinsettia(s), forms are available in Celebration Hall. Please fill out a form along with payment leave in the poinsettia box or in the drop box by the office.
- Price - $12 each
- Deadline to order - Monday, December 14
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Blue Christmas Service
Pastor Jim will be hosting an informal worship service on the longest night of the year for those who wish to gather in their sorrows and griefs of the loss of a loved one. There will be an opportunity to remember your loved one in word, candlelight, and song.
- Monday, December 21
- 5:00 p.m.
- Rejoice Sanctuary - wear mask and practice social distancing
This service is open to anyone seeking comfort during the Christmas season which often is accompanied by grief and loss. Peace to all who struggle in this joyful time for others.
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Christmas Eve Worship with Holy Communion
- Thursday, December 24
- 5:00 p.m.
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Mitten Tree Ministry 2020 Supports Terebinth Refuge
Terebinth Refuge is a Christ-centered shelter and safe place for women who have been sexually exploited and trafficked. Take a mitten and shop for the items listed .You do not need to wrap your gift. If you are unable to be at church but want to participate in this ministry, please call the office and we’ll choose a mitten for you!
Please plan to return your gifts to church by Sunday, December 20.
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Calling All Amazon Shoppers
Make a difference at Rejoice this holiday. Shop for gifts at smile.amazon.com/ch/41-1758613 to generate donations for Rejoice Lutheran Church. Thank You!
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Pass the Tissues, Please
- paper towels
- paper plates
- Kleenex
- toilet paper
- napkins
There is a drop-off container in Celebration Hall at Rejoice during November. Thank you for supporting the work of Quiet Oaks Hospice House & Respite Care - a whole-family approach to transform fear, confusion and exhaustion to comfort, clarity and hope.
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Operation Christmas Child Success |
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Thank you to everyone who participated in the Operation Christmas Child ministry. Rejoice Lutheran collected 55 filled shoe boxes!
You are a blessing to children in other parts of the world.
Rejoice, as a community Collection Center, received and shipped out 270 filled shoe boxes. Thank you!
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Noble Nicole
I am grateful for the nearly 6 years of being the Music Coordinator at Rejoice Lutheran Church. I am thankful for the opportunities I have had to grow as a musician, in my faith, and in my understanding of how a worship service comes together. Thank you for the wonderful support!
For those of you that don’t know, I work full time as a teacher in the Sauk Rapids-Rice School district. I am also a Mom of soon to be two girls. The Heberling family is expecting a baby girl on May 1st! Considering all of this and some important time reflecting, I feel it is time for me to focus on my family.
I have been working closely with Linnea and the Personnel Committee to have a plan for me transitioning out of the Music Coordinator position. Linnea will explain more of the details below. At this time, I do not have a final end date in the position as I am wanting to aid in the transition process rather than having a large gap of fill in musicians. I want to help try and make this is as smooth of a transition, change as possible.
Rejoice has been a second home for me since starting to attend when I was three. I was baptized, confirmed, married, and had my child baptized here. This is a special place and I am thankful for the time as a staff member here. I appreciate your understanding as I begin to put a focus on my family.
Nicole Heberling
Music Coordinator--Rejoice Lutheran Church
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
We've been blessed with Nicole's musical talents for the past 6 years and her music leadership will be greatly missed -- we're sad to see her go. On the other hand, we rejoice with Nicole and Jesse on the birth of a second daughter next spring -- making Stella an older sister. We could not ask for a more gracious and respectful way that Nicole has chosen to leave her music coordinator position at Rejoice. She's giving us time to thoughtfully plan and find a replacement, and she's willing to help however she can in the transition -- we are blessed and thankful.
The Personnel & Finance (P&F) team, along with Pastor Jim and Council President Becky Brzinski, have created a plan to move forward. Marlys Johnson, Doris Scharmer, and Janelle Rudningen, along with Pastor Jim, have agreed to be our search team. They will post the position, search for candidates, interview, and select a person. If you know of a musician who would be a good fit for Rejoice, please let one of these search team members know.
Thankfully,
Linnea Lindquist
Rejoice P&F team
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If 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.
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We Mourn With:
the family of Rollie Knudsen
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Receiving Treatment for Cancer:
Doug Nieters (friend, Ryan Pridgeon)
Kris (friend, Kari Line)
*Kent Asheim
Lester Dupont (father, Linda Painter)
Kathy Ryan (sister, Brad Johnson)
Terri (mother, Jill Charboneau)
Kari Hilden (friend, Lori Lanes)
*Pete Lidberg
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Others:
Kathie (friend, Lori Lanes)
Karen Kroska (friend, Ray & Mary Wilson)
Theresa Klicker (daughter, Brad & Martha Johnson)
Andy Anderson (friend, Jim and Karolyn Boucher)
Aaron (friend, Kari Line)
Doug Lindseth (friend, Linnea Lindquist)
Jed Anderson (friend, Ray & Mary Wilson)
*Martha Johnson
Lucas Barrett (grandson, Mike Barrett)
Nick Eldred (friend, Ryan Pridgeon)
Ken Johnson (brother, Brad Johnson)
*Charlie Johnson
Brian (nephew, Scott & Doris Scharmer)
Ryan, son of Layne & Julie (friend, Lori Lanes)
Linda O’Dell-Cowles (family friend, Leigh Holman)
Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)
MJ Havlicek (friend, Lori Lanes)
Nancy Nicoloff (friend, Lori Lanes)
Ron Dettman (friend, Linda Agre)
Marlene Vogel (mother, Joni Hagstrom)
Ron Wolfbauer (nephew, Carolyn & Ron Stensby)
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