Because Lutherans are hopeful:
We light the first candle of Advent with thankful hearts for the prophets among us, who bring to us surprising new visions of hope, who challenge us to think outside the box, who show us a future we never anticipated. We are better together.
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ADVENT WREATH MAKING
is
Sunday, December 1
at 9:00 a.m. Celebrate the Advent season by crafting a personal Advent wreath. Join us in the Fellowship Hall for our annual workshop. Supplies provided! All ages encouraged to participate! Greens, and all the decorations, will be blessed before worship.
We are DECKING THE HALLS this
Saturday, November 30.
Whether you can give 15 minutes to tie bows or fluff wreaths or an hour to unpack and setup trees, we would love to have your help. All ages welcome! No experience needed! Saturday’s work day will begin at 9am in the Sanctuary. Donuts and coffee provided! Come
fa-la-la-la-la
with us!
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Advent is a season of waiting, but is idle waiting what God wants of us? In preparation for the coming Messiah, we wonder together- what things can't wait? What demands our immediate attention? What requires our work and preparation? What is it that God can't wait for? Is it our praise, reconciliation, and proclamation? Is it the end of suffering, isolation, and fear?
We hope our Midweek Advent Prayers and the 2019 Daily Devotional might awaken you to the ways God can't wait to create hope, peace, joy, and love. We invite you to carve out time to listen for God speaking to you through art, poetry, music, silent reflection, and embodied prayer. As we are called to action during this season, may we also be mindful of what can wait- for we are also called to rest and receive the gifts of Sabbath.
This Advent, join us in imagining, prioritizing, and preparing. As we wait, what can't?
MIDWEEK ADVENT PRAYERS:
WHAT CAN’T WAIT
Tuesdays,
Dec. 3, 10 & 17
at 12:05 p.m. in the sanctuary.
Join us for a time of prayers, song, and food as we prepare for Christmas.
Luncheon to follow in the Women’s Ministry Room
Copies of the
2019 Advent Devotional
WHAT CAN'T WAIT
are in the narthex and office. Pick up a booklet full of art, reflections, and prompts for the season of waiting.
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FRIDAY NIGHT ADVENT GATHERINGS
are for everyone!
December 6 at 7:00 p.m.
AN EVENING OF PIANO AND ORGAN MUSIC
Emanuel’s Director of Music Tom Engler will be joined by keyboardists Evelyn Dittmar and Johnana Clark in a program of congregational hymns as well as musical settings of seasonal music for organ and piano.
December 13 at 6:00 p.m.
CHORAL MUSIC AT THE BIG RED BARN
Emanuel’s Jubilation Singers, supported by a group of instrumentalists, will sing music of the season. This event will be held at the Texas Agricultural Heritage Museum as a part of their annual
Country Christmas Celebration.
We will sing in the beautifully restored Lutheran Church located behind the Big Red Barn.
December 20 at 7:00 p.m.
PUB THEOLOGY & HYMN SING
Join us in the Fellowship Hall where we will sing favorite carols of the season as well share stories of the carols’ origins. You are encouraged to bring your favorite beverages and munchies. It sounds like a good time is brewing already! Childcare provided.
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HOLIDAY MEAL DELIVERY
on
Saturday, December 7
. Join us for the annual delivery of holiday meals to our shut-in and elderly members. Volunteers are needed at 10 AM in the Fellowship Hall to package the turkey and dressing dinners, and drivers are needed to deliver meals. Contact Steve Anderson at 830-305-4542 or sanderson@tlu.edu.
HOLIDAY TAMALE SALE
Emanuel’s Youth are selling Delicious Tamales this year to help fund their summer activities. Place your order from any youth starting November 10 in the Narthex, or in the office.
Orders due by December 8
with pickup of frozen tamales on Sunday, Dec. 15. Chicken, Bean & Jalapeno, Traditional Pork, and Jalapeno Pork Tamales only $12/dz.
HEALING THROUGH CONVERSATIONS,
a support group for those who have lost a loved one to death, will meet on
Thursday, Dec 12th
at 10 am in the Family Life Center. This month’s topic will be the Holidays and how to get through them without our loved ones.
COME A-CAROLLING
as Emanuel’s spreads cheer to area care facilities on
Sunday, December 15
. Gather at the church by 1:30 to caravan, returning for refreshments in the WMR.
FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP
meets on
Sunday, December 15
at Noon in the Women’s Ministry Room. Everyone is to bring a favorite dish to share. After lunch we can join the Caroling group!
QUILT RAFFLE
tickets are still available! The quilters of the Emanuel’s Ladies Aid are raffling a queen-sized, hand-quilted quilt for the annual bazaar. The drawing for the winner will take place at their annual Christmas l
uncheon on Wednesday, December 4.
Tickets are $1 ea. or 6 for $5
from any Ladies Aid member, in the Narthex on Sunday morning, or in the church office.
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SHARE THE GOOD MOOs!
Poinsettias will grace the sanctuary of Emanuel’s this Christmas and ELCA Good Gifts will make a difference throughout the world as your kind donations honor friends and loved ones.
With 50 giving options- from 10 little chicks to help a family escape poverty to a scholarship to help a young leader attend an ELCA seminary- there’s something for everyone on your list. You are invited to select an ornament from one of our advent trees near the sanctuary. These ornaments may be given as a gift or taken home as a reminder of your giving. General fund donations in any amount to use where needed the most are also welcome.
You may honor or remember a loved one by supporting the ELCA Good Gifts Project (any dollar amount or as indicated on the specific ornament) and/or with a poinsettia ($10.00 each). Forms and payments may be put in an envelope and placed in the offering plate, given to our advent tree attendants, or delivered to the church office. The deadline to ensure poinsettias for Christmas is Monday, Dec. 16, 2019.
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As our congregation continues to grow and flourish, we need to build programs to ensure that faith is passed through the generations. To do this, we must have the highest quality staff and programs fro the children in our faith community.
In the coming year we have an amazing opportunity to impact our community by leading the way in the creation of a "5th quarter" event after Seguin Football games to publicly declare God's love to a generation in need of God's witness.
We also have the opportunity for our youth to participate in a life-changing mission trip to a Native American community in Oklahoma under the direction of the Rev. Vance Blackfox, a well-known Lutheran leader in the Native American Community.
The Generosity: Creating Generous Generations stewardship appeal has a goal of increasing offerings by
$55,000 or more ($1, 058 per week).
Next week we will continue to share how this increased generosity will be invested. Please pray for a generous response, and please prayerfully consider increasing your gift for 2020.
CORINTHIANS 9:11
"You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us..." (NRSV)
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Opportunities in the Community
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SEGUIN SUNRISE LIONS CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Emanuel’s is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s event. Stop by the office for a
15% Off Purchase of Any Tree
coupon before Dec. 8. All profits go to scholarships for students in Seguin. On the corner of Walnut and King St.
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- Suffering the loss of a loved one?
- Coping with the loss of a job?
- Struggling with failing health?
- Feeling lonely?
- Separated from loved ones this year?
These issues are often magnified during the holidays, especially when others are enjoying festive celebrations. If you or someone you know is finding Christmas to be a difficult time this year, you are invited to attend this service.
Blue Christmas
Worship Service
Sunday, Dec. 1st @ 4 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
(710 N. Austin St., Seguin)
This special service includes candles, soft music, words of hope and comfort – it is a way to move from feeling blue to experiencing the hope of Christmas.
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TLU
FAIR TRADE FAIR
Alumni Student Center
Friday, December 6
10:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Buy a gift that "gives back"! Texas Lutheran University is once again hosting a Fair Trade and Global Gifts Fair.
Featuring high-quality, fairly-traded handcrafts from artisans in developing regions around the world, the sale will be held Friday, December 6, from 10:30-6:00pm in the Alumni Student Center on the TLU campus.
Call 830-372-8160 for more information.
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SPECIAL CALLED ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, December 29th
The meeting will immediately follow the celebration of Holy Communion. This meeting will take into consideration with potential action the 2020 budget, 2020 Council members, and updates and changes to the Constitution. Two working and information sessions, for budget and constitution, will take place
December 8th and 15th
during the 9:15 am education hour in the Women’s Ministry Room.
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Christian Education Opportunities
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SUNDAYS AT 9:15
- The Assembly Class (Family Life Center): DVD Series on the Beginnings of Judaism.
- The Heritage Class (307): Augsburg Fortress Quarterly Adult Bible Study.
- Intergenerational Study (Fellowship Hall): Lessons for young and old the last Sunday of every month. Explore God's word with song and play.
- The Joy Class (204): Bible stories and songs for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Preschool to High School Ministry Rotations
This is the general schedule. Please check the calendar to confirm.
- 1st Sunday: Children’s Church, Preschool to 4 years old (during worship)
- 2nd Sunday: Sandbox Stories, Kindergarten to 4th Grade (during worship) ELYO, High School (9:15 - 10:15 a.m.)
- 3rd Sunday: Bible, Faith & Science 5th -8th Grade (during worship)
- 4th Sunday: Intergenerational Study (9:15 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall)
- Confirmation: 6th-8th Grade (after worship, schedule varies each month)
- ELYO: High Schoolers meeting monthly at 9:15 on the 2nd Sunday in the Youth Room off the Fellowship Hall for breakfast, discussion, service, games and fellowship. We also gather once a month for a fun outing. Check out the calendar for fellowship events!
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WEEKDAY STUDIES
- Tuesday Morning Bible Study (Family Life Center): on a break.
- Faith Circle (Women's Ministry Room): Third Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
- Joy Circle (Women's Ministry Room): Second Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
- Ladies Aid (Women't Ministry Room): First Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
- What Would Jesus Brew? (The Warehouse): Young Adults meeting First Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
- Pub Theology meets on the Third Friday of the month.
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Submit a brief, yet detailed description of your event to
info@emanuels-seguin.org before noon on Tuesdays for consideration for that week's email news. Late submissions will be considered for the following week's email and/or social media posts.
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