The Third Sunday of Advent

Saturday, December 10, 2022

4:00pm - Casual Classic Service

Sunday, December 11, 2022

8:00am - Classic Service

10:45am- Contemporary Service

All Services are in-house and are streamed live via Facebook, YouTube and www.stmatts.net 

Do not grumble against on another, brothers,

so that you may not by judged;

Behold, the judge is standing at the door. — James 5:9

• Kristen Basler, John Schockmel, Carol Andrews, Kathy Bresen, Kristin Peterson-Wischer, Leon Hapke, Duane Stavnes, Marvin Sneller, Elinor Francisco, Pam Best, Linda Weir, John Mueller, Rosemary Schmidt, Paul Korchendorfer, Marilyn Ellinghusen
• Our military personnel currently serving our country: Justin Brown, Adam Imaoka, Scott Karas, Elise Neilson, Steve & Ice Sandy, Bob Hamilton, Chandler McClain 

ALTAR FLOWERS - Given to the Glory of God

• In memory of loved ones, from Emil & Ruth Traznik

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER

10 & 11 - Women’s Guild Cookie Walk

10 - Sunday School Christmas Service

11 - Ladies Christmas Luncheon

14 - Midweek Advent Meal - Taco’s, 5:30pm

14 - Midweek Advent Service, 7pm

18 - Special Voters Meeting, following late service

18 - Sharing the Joy, Gingerbread Bash**Following the Voters Meeting

21 - Midweek Advent Meal - TBD, 5:30pm

21 - Midweek Advent Service, 7pm

22 - ECC Happy Birthday Jesus Party

24 - Christmas Eve Services, 10/4/6/11

25 - Christmas Day Service - 10am

31 - New Year’s Eve - Service 4pm

JANUARY

1 - New Year’s Day - Service 10:00am

For more information on these events, please visit

www.stmatts.net or contact the church office at 847-438-7709

Special Voters Meeting

There will be a special Voters’ Meeting on Sunday, Dec. 18 following the 10:45 service. We will be voting on the hiring of a Kindergarten teacher for the expansion of the Early Childhood Center for the 23/24 School Year.

“Christmas is our opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with those who don’t know Him. We cannot presume that those with whom we come in contact know the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps to them it is a time of goodwill, family love, gift giving or celebrating the beginning of winter but we know that it is a celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  “A Simple Explanation of Christmas” is our chance to share that Good News. Include this booklet in Christmas cards, give it to folks at work or to your neighbor across the street- maybe with a plate of Christmas cookies! Include an invitation to worship with us but, most importantly, give it with the prayer for that person to come to know the real meaning of Christmas- our Savior, Jesus!

Take as many as you need; we hope to need to order more. Be aware that extra postage may be needed if they are included in Christmas cards. 

Thank you from the Board of Evangelism”

Watch "St. Matthew Minute"

Video Podcast with Pastor Blonski

On Tuesdays

Watch "Boundless Hope"

Video Devotion on Mondays & Fridays, starting at 6:00 a.m.

St. Matthew Minute and Boundless Hope are also found on

Facebook & YouTube

Bible Study Opportunities

SATURDAY MORNING MEN’S BIBLE STUDY

9:00am in the Krueger Hall Bible Study Area

SUNDAY MORNING ADULT BIBLE STUDY

9:30am in the Krueger Hall Bible Study Area

“The Book of Revelation”

SUNDAY MORNING YOUTH HANGOUT

November 13th and 20th @9:30am in the Youth Room

For current participant's guides, click here.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

9:30am in the Sunday School Rooms 

MONDAY LCC BIBLE STUDY - See Below for Details

Meets Monday's @ 9:30am & 6:00pm

in the Krueger Hall Bible Study Area

THURSDAY NIGHT LADIES LIFE GROUP 

Meets on Thursdays @6:30pm in the Krueger Hall Bible Study Area. 

 Study based on the book "The Women of the Bible Speak”

Contact Nancy Blonski for details

THURSDAY SADDLEBROOK BIBLE STUDY

Meets @ 10:00am in the Lake Lodge

This Bible Study meets the 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month 

St. Matthew thanks the Donna Grund family for providing materials for our Ladies’, Men’s

& Sunday Morning Bible Studies.

Click here to see all our Bible Study Opportunities!

C.O.O.L. (Christian Outreach of Lutherans) - a food pantry for some of the neediest families in Lake County. Please bring a can of food/box of cereal with you when you worship and place them in the bins in Luther Hall. December food item is Canned Meat. 

Congratulations to Krisin Gierke on her Graduation

We are happy to announce that Kristin Gierke will be graduating on December 17th from Concordia University Wisconsin. She will have officially completed her studies in the Director of Church

Ministries program. 

At the November Voters' Assembly, the

congregation unanimously voted to extend a divine call to Kristin to be St. Matthew's Director of Church Ministry: Youth & Family

Ministry. Kristin will be an official "called" church worker here at St. Matthew and will be on the roster of Commissioned Ministers of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod starting January 1, 2023.

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 

The staff at St. Matthew Early Childhood Center would like to thank everyone who helped, supported, and participated in the Breakfast with Santa Event.

The preschoolers continued investigating Christmas. The four year old classroom focused on celebrating the birth of Jesus around the world. The children participated in, manger finger paint art, Christmas inspired alphabet letter recognition, Santa's sleigh/reindeer Christmas counting and much more. In science, the focus was on magnetic exploration! The three year old classroom focused on family and how to help others during the holiday season. The children participated in Christmas-themed fine motor activities, including: cutting, pattern puzzles and art. The children used their engineering skills as they constructed a gingerbread man and house using various pieces. In Religious Studies, the preschoolers learned about the first part of The Christmas Story.

St. Matthew Early Childhood

Invites you to:

“THE FIRST CHRISTMAS”

Presented by: Preschool 3 & 4

When: 12/22/22 @ 09:15—Where: St Matthew Church

Followed by a Dessert Party

Please RSVP to Becky Connolly at Connolly@stmattsonline.com

St. Matthew is working with the Hawthorn Woods Police Department with the Toys for Tots program.

Please bring an unwrapped toy and drop it off in the boxes which will be located in the Church Office and the School Office. Toys need to be brought in by December 11.

Bible / Devotional Readings for the week starting December 11. Bible readings are provided to assist you in daily reading and prayer. Click on the Bible passage to read the Scripture lesson at BibleGateway.com.

Church Office Hours

Monday - Friday 8:00am-3:00pm

847-438-7709

 If you need to contact the Church Office after hours,

please call one of the following: 

Pastor Blonski 909-373-7936

Doug Duval 847-707-1676