If you are interested in participating in the Staff Christmas Gift, please make your check payable to the church and write Staff Christmas on the memo line. All contributions should be made by December 18.

  The Missions Committee will be getting wrapped boxes ready again this year for those who wish to participate in the Advent Box project again this year. A list of items will be put out next week. Delivery of the boxes will be December 22. Hoping you will all be able to participate.

Box of cereal, peanut butter, stuffing mix, boxed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, canned fruit, canned tomatoes, canned tuna, dessert mix, jar of applesauce, canned sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned beans, box of crackers, package of rice, package of oatmeal, package of pasta, spaghetti sauce, chicken noodle soup, tomato soup, can corn, can mixed vegetables, can carrots, can green beans.

Advent. The season of Advent is quickly nearing an end and Christmas is getting closer. The hours of daylight continue to get shorter, and we continue in this season of the Church year preparing to greet the True Light of the World, Jesus. This coming Sunday we will light three candles on the Advent wreath to symbolize our journey toward the Light.

Christmas Tree. The tree is in the chancel now and is waiting to be adorned with ornaments after worship on the 18th. We continue to wait in eager anticipation and truthful hope.

The Legend of St. Lucia. The Festival of St. Lucia, which is traditionally celebrated on December 13, begins the Christmas season in Swedish custom. The so-called “Festival of Lights” stems from the fourth-century martyrdom of an Italian saint and the incidents which followed. 

A woman named Lucia, which means light, was born to a noble and prosperous family in Sicily. Her father died when she was young, so Lucia was raised by her mother in the Christian tradition. When Lucia was a young woman, her mother became very ill and Lucia accompanied her to the tomb of St. Agatha. They offered prayers there, and Lucia vowed that if her mother could be healed, she would remain unmarried and devote her life to God. Lucia's mother was healed. She revealed her promise vow to her mother, convincing her mother to allow her to give her inheritance, which would have been her dowry, to the poor. Lucia's mother was touched and grateful for her healing so agreed, but Lucia’s suitor was not so cooperative. Not only had he lost beautiful Lucia, but her generous dowry as well. He reported Lucia to the government as being a witch and helping the Christians. Lucia was called before a judge and was killed because she refused to renounce the Christian faith. At twenty years old, Lucia became a martyr, and accounts of miracles followed.

According to Swedish legend, after Lucia’s death a ship carrying a maiden “clothed in white and crowned with light” appeared on the shore in the Swedish province of Varmland during a great famine. The maiden, widely believed to be Lucia, distributed food and clothing to the needy, thus endearing herself to the Swedish people.

Different stories and traditions surround St. Lucia, but all focus on the central themes of service and light. St. Lucia is celebrated throughout the world and honored by many cultures.

In Sweden, Lucia symbolizes the coming end of the long winter nights and the return of light to the world.

Jane and I attended the 68th Lucia Festival at Augustana Lutheran Church last evening. Augustana had ties to the Church of Sweden when it was established in 1875.

 

Show Synopsis: Karol, a disillusioned social worker, is trudging home one cold December night when she encounters an old man sitting on a park bench. Mistaking him for homeless, Karol offers the stranger some food -- a seemingly innocent gesture, until he turns up in her apartment claiming to be Santa Claus. Thanks to a malfunctioning security system, Karol finds herself trapped with “Mr. Claus” and forced to confront her feelings about Christmas once and for all in this touching musical battle between cynicism and belief.

This production is family friendly and it’s the perfect thing to get you in the mood for this holiday season.  

Two additional performances of ‘Another Night Before Christmas’ will be on December 16th & 17th at 7:30pm. This means you still have 2 chances to see this fantastic musical! 

Piano. Does anyone have an upright piano they would be willing to donate to Bickford Cottage? Please let Pastor Del know. Thank you.

If you are someone you know would benefit from a pastoral visit, please call the office, and let Michael or me know.

In Christ, 

Pastor Del

In supporting the 'gift' of moving on, we fill lives with hope and household essentials for those leaving transitional housing at Safe Place and Welcome Home.

bath towels

cake pans

can openers

3-quart saucepans

pot holders

small plastic glasses

 The family of Marv Iddings

Kelley McCarthy 

A big "thank you" goes out to our volunteers who helped with services this week.

Worship Leader- Anne Shaner

Sound/Lighting- Pam Ridgway

To access the directory online visit members.instantchurchdirectory.com and you should be able to create a login using the email listed in the church directory. If you need any help accessing the directory or would like a copy emailed to you, contact the church office for assistance.

Click HERE

Giving last month amounted to $7,783, from mail-in, online giving, and Sunday offerings.

You can help us stay on track by mailing in your check or setting up an automatic payment from your bank. You can also contribute through a simple app called Tithe.ly. 

Go to http://get.tithe.ly to sign up online, or download the app on any iPhone/Apple or Android device.

Sunday 11:30am-3:30pm

Monday-Thursday 9am-1pm

Monday 8:30am-12pm, 1pm-4:30pm

Tuesday 1pm-4:30pm

Wednesday 1pm-4:30pm

Thursday 8:30am-12pm, 1pm-4:30pm