http://ascensionhsv.org 1

DECEMBER 2017

REFLECTIONS

1 Dates and Updates

2 CDC/DCM News

3 Missional Outreach

3 Birthdays/Flowers

4 December Calendar

A Monthly Publication of Ascension Lutheran Church

Getting Ready

Advent and Christmas

In a nutshell * Missional Outreach Visits all month (see calendar); * Advent Worship Services - December 6, 13, 20 at 6:30 PM; * Advent Meals - December 6 (LWML) & 20 (Elders) at 5:30 PM; * LWML - Luncheon December 9 at 11:30 AM; * Special singing groups for pre-service December 10 (9:30); * Sunday School Christmas Program - December 10, 10 AM; * Christmas Tree Angels’ gifts due back December 14; * CDC Christmas Program - December 13 at 6:30 PM; * CDC Staff Dinner - December 15 at 6:00 PM; * Volunteer Luncheon - December 18 at 12:30 PM; * Reflections Articles Due - the week of 12/18 before Christmas; * Christmas Eve Services - December 24, 5:00 and 8:00 PM; * Christmas Day Service - December 25, 9:30 AM (no 6:00 PM)

Remember Our Seminarians Colin Ford - 2051/2 Walker Avenue, #1

Huntsville, AL 35801

colin.ford@ctsfw.edu

Josh Brakhage - 2 Founders Way, Unit A

St. Louis, MO 63105

joshua411@gmail;com (918) 706-1632

What’s INSIDE

Worship Services-December December 3 - 8:00 and 10:45 AM; December 4 - 6:00 PM December 10 - 9:30 AM (Music), 10:00 AM (SS Program) 11:00 AM-ish - Catered Lunch after Service December 11 - 6:00 PM December 17 - 8:00 and 10:45 AM; December 18 - 6:00 PM December 24 - 8:00 and 10:45 AM December 24 - 5:00 and 8:00 PM (Christmas Eve) December 25 - 9:30 AM (No Evening Worship Service) December 31 - 8:00 and 10:45 AM

Check our website and sign up

for an account. The “Members

Only” tab has a few good things

going and you need to check

them out! Merry Christmas!

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How many of you are finished with your Christmas

shopping by now? How many of you have not

started yet? These are the two extremes of Christmas

preparation. Some people start for the upcoming

year at the “Day after Christmas” sale. Some people

put it off until December 24 each year. Oftentimes,

we put off buying presents because

we don’t know what to get

someone, or we are waiting to find

the “perfect” gift. Sometimes the

gift we would like to give costs too

much for our budget.

There are “gifts” we can give that don’t cost any

money, but it is not like they are free. It takes time

and commitment. These are gifts that anyone –

regardless of age, or financial status, can give:

1. The gift of listening. Try giving this to someone

in need. And you must really listen. No

interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your

responses. Just listen.

2. The gift of signs of affection. Be generous with

your hugs, kisses and gentle squeezes of the

hand. Let these tiny actions demonstrate the love

inside of you.

3. The gift of a note. It can be

as simple as “I Love You”

or as creative as a sonnet.

Put your notes where they

will surprise your loved

ones.

4. The gift of laughter. Just cut

out a cartoon, save a clever

article. Your gift will say, “I

love to laugh with you.”

5. The gift of compliment. A simple “You look

good in blue” or “Good supper” can be of

greatest value to those who may feel they are

being taken for granted.

6. The gift of a favor. Help with the dishes, run an

errand, etc.

7. The gift of leaving alone. There are times in our

lives when we want nothing better than to be left

alone. Become more sensitive to those times and

give solitude.

8. The gift of a cheerful disposition. Try to be

cheerful around those you love.

9. The gift of a game. Offer to play your loved

one’s favorite game. Even if you lose, you’ll be a

winner.

10. The gift of prayer. Pray for your loved ones and

let them know you pray for them.

The gift Jesus gave us – His life - didn’t cost any

money, but is priceless in its worth. Let us remember

that as we celebrate His birth in this season of giving.

CDC NCDC NCDC NEWSEWSEWS Carla Jo Brakhage, DCM REFLECTIONS

The CDC Parent-teacher organization used part of the

proceeds from the pancake breakfast to purchase a six-seater

stroller to be used by the infant and toddler classes. Both

NLSA and Alabama DHR stress that it is important to take

infants outside during the day. With this stroller, it will be

possible. The Toddler 1 class will use it as transportation to

our weekly chapel services, and also for fire drills. Thank

you to all who contributed to our fund raiser to make this

purchase possible.

Our PTO is sponsoring a family reading night on Thursday,

December 7. They would like to invite families and friends

of the congregation to attend, as well. That evening from

6:00 to 7:00 PM, we will read three different Christmas

stories, do crafts related to the story and enjoy cookies and

milk. The children are encouraged to attend this event in

their pajamas.

On Wednesday, December13, the CDC children will present

their Christmas program. The Toddler classes have two

poems they will “recite” and do hand motions for. The Early

Learners, Preschool and Pre-K will perform a “playlet”

entitled, “The Littlest Christmas Tree.” Following the

program cookies, fruit and juice will be served by the

LWML.

Our staff Christmas party will be held the evening of Friday,

December 15 in the church fellowship hall. We will host an

appreciation dinner for our volunteer staff at 12:30 on

Monday, December 18.

We will be closed December 25-26 for the Christmas

holiday.

Sunday School Christmas program will be Sunday,

December 10. There will be one service that morning,

followed by a meal in the Fellowship Hall. Preservice

Christmas music will begin at 9:30 in the sanctuary. If you

would be interested in providing instrumental or vocal praise,

please talk to

Crissi.

In His Service,

Carla Jo

http://ascensionhsv.org 3

Bob Smith 256-778-8655

Missional Outreach Visits

HHR: 12/13; 12/27 (10:00 AM)

Regency: 12/20 (10:15 AM)

Regency Sundays: 9:30 AM

Welcome by Pastor or Vicar

1st Song

2nd Song

Bible Reading

3rd Song

4th Song

Bible Reading

5th Song

6th Song

Bible Reading

7th Song

8th Song

BBBIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYSIRTHDAYS

REFLECTIONS

FFFLOWERSLOWERSLOWERS

Missional Outreach groups

welcome anyone who

wants to participate in

these special events.

Huntsville Health & Rehab

(HHR) is located at 4010

Chris Drive; Regency is

located on Max Luther

D r i v e . F o r m o r e

information, contact Bob

Smith (256)656-9795.

December 3 -

December 10 -

December 17 -

December 24 -

December 31 -

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DECEMBER