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HELPING HANDS ASSIGNMENTS Month of December 2017

USHERING:

Sunday, December 3 at 10 a.m.: Jim & Ann Wobbema family

Sunday, December 10 at 10 a.m.: Elaine Thompson & Lonnie Thompson

Sunday, December 17 at 10 a.m.: Ken Sharbono & Dennis Weber

Sunday, December 24 at 10 a.m.: David & Gail Roberts

Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at 5 p.m.: Rob & Amy Cudworth family

Christmas Day, Dec. 25 at 10 a.m.: Brian & Jeanette Perleberg

Sunday, December 31 at 10 a.m.: Korey Anderson family

READER: Sunday, December 3: Mitch Bjerke

CO-CHAIRPERSONS: Carrie Widmer & Karen Omoth

FUND: SMASH

COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:

Sunday, December 3 at 9:15 a.m.: Jim & Ann Wobbema family

Sunday, December 10 at 9:15 a.m.: Vi Gisi & Gladys Carlson

Sunday, December 17 at 9:15 a.m.: Annie Weber

Sunday, December 24 at 9:15 a.m.: Tina Hermanson & Kathy Perleberg

Sunday, December 31 at 9:15 a.m.: Carrie Widmer

Attention Ushers: Please fill out the Usher Report provided at the back of

the church on the shelf by the offering plates. It is important that you take a

head count and put the number on the report. There is also a sheet on the

bulletin board with the duties of the ushers.

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“He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am

coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! May the grace of the Lord

Jesus be with God’s holy people.” — Revelation 22:20-21

Dear First Lutheran Family,

“Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come.” With these words, we

pray in the new year—the new church year, the season of Advent. Dur-

ing Advent we also pray for God to “stir up our hearts” and “stir up the

wills of your faithful people.” We ask God to stir things up, to shake

up the world, to rock it from its foundations, to turn things upside

down and inside out. And we ask God to do the same to us, as well.

Advent is a time of preparing ourselves for our Lord’s coming. We, the

people of faith, know that Jesus has already come and is miraculously

Emmanuel, God with us! And year after year it seems to be harder and

harder to get excited about what we know to be true already. So we ask

that God would stir us up to truly prepare our hearts, minds, and very

lives to receive our Messiah, our rescuer, with open arms once again.

Advent is a time of preparing ourselves for our Lord’s second coming,

as well. Again, we ask that God would shake us up, rock us from our

comfortable foundation, stir us up so we would not be caught off guard

when Jesus returns. Advent is a time for honest reflection about our

lives to see just how ready for Jesus’ return we might be. For we will

one day stand before Jesus, the Son of Man.

Advent is a time of remembering that God has given us a rescue plan, a

Messiah, God’s only Son, Jesus. Jesus, which means “God rescues” or

“God saves”, is God’s gift to the world to restore the eternal relation-

ship with God. So Advent is a time of hope, peace, joy, and love as we

are filled with the Good News that Jesus is the way of rescue, restora-

tion, and reconciliation for all who believe.

So go and prepare. Let yourself be stirred to live in the hope, peace,

joy, and love of Jesus. Live in faith so you will stand before Jesus

without fear. For our God loves us, and all the world, so very, very

much.

Advent Blessings, Pastor Doug

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SMASH is each Wednesday from 3:30-4:30. No SMASH Dec. 27 &

Jan. 3 for Christmas break. SMASH Christmas program will be held

on Sunday, December 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 13 during worship.

ABC for 7th & 8th grade is each Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ex-

cept over Christmas break. Youth Group for 9-12 grades will be held

each Sunday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3rd they will have a Gin-

gerbread decorating contest! Breakout for all kids in grades 7-12 will

be during your lunch hour on Wednesday, Dec. 20th at the church.

“I Love to Tell the Story” Bible Study is held each Monday at 3 p.m.

New Member Sunday will be held on Sunday, December 3rd. A

potluck dinner will be held following worship that day in honor of all

the new members of FLC.

Food Pantry meets on Sunday, Dec. 10th at 7 p.m. to pack baskets.

Special Offerings for our missionary family will be held on Wednes-

day, Dec. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 31.

Christmas Eve Candlelight worship will be held at 5 p.m. Advent wor-

ship that morning at 10 a.m. Christmas Day worship at 10 a.m.

The Altar Circle is taking orders for poinsettias to decorate the church.

The cost is $16.50 and orders are due by noon on Monday, Dec. 18th.

An Advent Offering envelope is enclosed in your newsletter. This year’s

offering has been designated to Eddy County Ministerial.

2018 offering envelopes will be available at church by mid-December.

Please pick them up as they will not be mailed out. All offerings for 2017

must be in the office by noon Dec. 31st. Anything received after that time

will be posted as a 2018 offering.

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SMASH Christmas Program

Please join us on Sunday, December 10th at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, December 13th at 6:00 p.m. during the

worship services.

*Sunday, December 24th at 10:00 a.m. Advent Worship

*Sunday, December 24th at 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service

*Monday, December 25th at 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship Service

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FOOD PANTRY

IMO Linda Anderson, by

David & Carrie Widmer

BANNER FUND

IMO Dennis Edinger, by

Marilyn Gedrose

MUSIC FUND

IMO Milton Nokleby, by

Marilyn Gedrose

SMASH

IMO Ted Dockter, by

David & Carrie Widmer

IMO Janice Heinz, by

Stan & Deb Stafford

HOPES & DREAMS

IMO Doris Fortney, by

Marilyn Gedrose

Scott & Nan Taverna

Share the Joy of Christmas

The project is underway! Grab an angel tag from the

Christmas tree located at FLC and purchase, wrap and return

the gift by December 6th with the tag attached. Monetary

donations are also accepted and there are envelopes avail-

able for that. They are also collecting gloves, mittens and

hats for children ages 1 to 12 years old in a collection box

by the tree.

Thanks for your help with this wonderful project!

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CHURCH RECORDS

ATTENDANCE: OFFERING: Nov. 1 - 10 $ 69.00

Nov. 5 – 88 $3,538.00

Nov. 8 – 12 $ 192.00

Nov. 12 - 69 $1,486.00

Nov. 15 - 15 $ 170.00

Nov. 19 - 67 $3,101.87

Nov. 22 - 6 $ 20.00

Nov. 26 - 71 $2,907.00

WEEKLY NEED: $ 2,621.73 Y-T-D EXPENSES: $122,311.91

Y-T-D OFFERING: $123,385.22

Y-T-D BUDGET: $124,969.16

General Fund

(Checking Account)

Balance as of 11/28/2017:

$9,634.39

SPECIAL ACCOUNTS:

Property Fund: $38,992.23

Hopes & Dreams: $1,838.10

Banner Fund: $572.57

Music Fund: $291.98

Budget Reserve: $6,422.22

Thrivent Choice: $1,607.00

Noisy Offering: $1,639.85

FLC Men’s group: $1,869.69

Special Account

(Savings Account)

Balance as of 11/28/2017:

$53,233.64

Korey Anderson family

Mitch Bjerke family

Gladys Carlson

Rob & Amy Cudworth family

Viola Gisi

Tina Hermanson

Wayne Lesmeister

Kevin & Karen Omoth

Brian & Jeanette Perleberg

Kelly & Kathy Perleberg

David & Gail Roberts

Kenny Sharbono

Elaine Thompson

Lonnie Thompson

Dennis & Annie Weber

Steve & Sharon Weisenburger

Carrie Thompson Widmer family

Jim & Ann Wobbema family

Acolyte Schedule: Sunday, December 3:

Macey & Maggie Wobbema Sunday, December 10:

Mason Schuster & Taylor Anderson Sunday, December 17:

Mya Cudworth & Hallie Brown Sunday, December 24 10:00 a.m.:

Koby & Emma Duda Christmas Eve, December 24 5:00 p.m.: Nicholas Berglund & Dawson Clifton

Christmas Day, Dec. 25 10:00 a.m.: Kaden Jensen & Alexa Anderson

Sunday, December 31: Amzi & Haydon Meier

December (Group 4)

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Thanks to all the sponsors of our radio broadcasts!

Nov. 5: IMO Cliff Gedrose, by Josh, Trista, Lincoln & Lennix Langley, Marilyn Gedrose, Greg, Janine & Tyler Anderson.

Nov. 12: IMO Norman Hirchert, by Sharon, Bruce, Jodi, Tyrell, Chelsea, Blake & Jameson Hirchert and Jon, Carissa & Arabelle Johnson.

Nov. 19: IMO Linda Omoth, by Arlo Omoth & family.

Nov. 26: IMO Nate Omoth & Lyle Christianson, by Helen Christianson and Kevin & Karen Omoth family.

All dates are filled for 2017. If you would like a 2018 date, please call the church office to schedule.

NOVEMBER 2017:

BAPTISMS: None

WEDDINGS: None

FUNERALS:

Milton Nokleby on 11/27/17

TRANSFERS:

Dennis & Luann Rimmereid to FLC Korby Seward to FLC Neil & Angela Backman, McKayla & Trevor Waldo to FLC

ALTAR COMMITTEE for December

Janine Anderson

Marilyn Anderson

Your 2017 schedules are

in your church mailbox!

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CHURCH COUNCIL OLD BUSINESS

Fall Supper-The Fall Supper will be held on November 12th. Every-

thing is ready to go.

Sound System-Sound has been turned up during readings and sermon.

Some people have stated they now are better able to hear the message.

NEW BUSINESS

Approval of New Members-Gary made a motion to accept the list of

new members presented. Glenda seconded the motion. Motion car-

ried. New Member Sunday will be held on December 3.

Online Church Directory-A web link to the mobile church directory

will be available on the end of year financial statements in January.

Arlene Weber’s Piano-Arlene has offered to donate her piano if the

church would like to accept. After discussion, it was decided to gra-

ciously decline.

Memorial Plaque on Outdoor Sign from Laib’s- After discussion, the

church will purchase a plaque and place it on the outdoor sign.

Advent Offering Designation-Amy made a motion to designate the

Advent offering to the Eddy County Ministerial Association, sec-

onded by Gary. Motion carried.

Advent Tea-Will be held on November 18 at 2:00 in the church.

The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

Shelly Ehni

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CHURCH COUNCIL

First Lutheran Church Council met on November 8, 2017. In atten-

dance were Bruce Hirchert, Katie Jorgensen, Pastor Doug, Gary

Lindquist, Karla Berglund, LaShane Schimelfenig, Ardyce Snyder,

Carissa Johnson, Melony Allmaras, Glenda Collier, Dan Shroyer,

Jon Johnson, Amy Perleberg, and Shelly Ehni. The meeting was

called to order by president Bruce Hirchert.

Devotions and Prayer- Pastor Doug led us in devotions and prayer.

He spoke to us about Christ the King Sunday on November 26.

Secretary’s Report-Glenda made a motion to accept the minutes as

written. Gary seconded the motion, motion carried.

Financial & Treasurer's report-as of November 8, the checking

account showed a balance of $11,319.19. Jon made a motion to

approve the financial report, Gary seconded the motion. Motion

carried.

Correspondence-None

REPORTS

Pastor’s Report- Pastor Doug shared information about the Thanks-

giving Community Service to be held on November 19 at the

school. In the past month, he performed one wedding and one

baptism. New member Sunday will be held December 3 along with

a baptism. A potluck will be held after the service.

Board of Education-Discussion on curriculum for pre-k through 3rd

grade. The SMASH Christmas Program will be held on December

10th and 13th. Amy Cudworth has volunteered to be on the nomi-

nating committee.

Lay Ministry/Evangelism-Home delivery is covered.

Property/Stewardship Board-Discussion on the items that need to

be completed at the church.

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December Circle Events *Naomi/Ruth Circle meets on Wednesday, Dec. 6th at 9:30 a.m.

*Lois/Rachel Circle meets Wed., Dec. 6th at 6 p.m. at Ardyce Snyder’s home for a potluck

*Martha Circle meets on Thursday, Dec. 28th at noon for a potluck

The Anticipation of Advent

Women’s Ministries/WELCA hosted the annual Advent Tea on

Saturday, November 18, 2017 with 45 attending from the various

churches in the area and the LHGS. Those attending heard about

the Colors of Christmas and the Joyous Anticipation of the upcom-

ing season through traditions. The colors of green, white, blue,

purple yellow, silver and gold with the help of angels, nativity sets,

carols, cookies, candy canes and trees, all told a story of how they

related to the upcoming season of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Special music was presented by Bonnie Deegan, Pastor Doug Ne-

mitz, Alicia Vorland and the New Beginnings – Brenda Bachmeier,

Janelle Koepplin, and Ann Wobbema. Refreshments were served

and of course tea was served in Heirloom tea cups!

A special thank you is extended to all who made this special after-

noon possible from planning, set-up, decorating, baking, serving,

narrating the program, and clean-up. THANK YOU!!!

Ardyce Snyder

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1st - Lennix Langley

2nd -Arabelle Johnson

3rd -Jodi Hirchert

Ervin Longnecker

4th - Wayne Lesmeister

6th - AJ Benz

Leland Jensen

7th - Gladys Carlson

8th - Roger Longnecker

9th - Janel Fortney

Doug Smith

10th - Roy Taylor

11th - Joshua Homiston

Barb Perleberg

14th –Kathy Allard

15th - Kerstin Allmaras

Jon Johnson

Debra Stafford

17th - Marlyss Fleming

Eric Perleberg

If you find that your birthday isn’t listed, or if the date is wrong, please

let us know.

18th -Kirk Jorgenson

19th - Sheri Anderson

Corey Longnecker

20th - Marilyn Gedrose

Loretta Gedrose

Ami Peterson

21st - Talan Gehrtz

MarJean Pfau

24th –Ashley Fleming

Scott Severs

26th - Vivian Rimmereid

27th - David Bymoen

Brett Ehni

Donn Frahm

29th - Nate Collier

Alison Widmer

30th - Richard Ryan

Dennis Weber

Roger Westby

31st –Karsyn Wetzel

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THRIVENT CHOICE

As we move towards year end it is time to think about

your Thrivent Choice Dollars. Allocations can be made at any-

time but 2017 dollars must be moved by March 30, 2018. There

will be one more allocation at year end into your accounts, but

you can move the ones on hand at any time. It is totally up to

you where you move these funds and there are many options. If

you have any questions, Thrivent's 1-800-847-4836 number is

fabulous with support. Thank you for the support you have

shown our congregation this past year! Thrivent funds will be

distributed in December. Applications are available in the

church office.

FL FOUNDATION FUNDS

There are church funds available through the FL Founda-

tion to be distributed in 2018. If your church group would like

to apply for funds, applications are available in the church office

and are due back on December 31st.

We are once again collecting items at the food pantry to

fill Christmas baskets to be given out in December. Some

of the items still needed are: stuffing, canned sweet

potatoes, pie filling, gravy, canned meats such as tuna,

chicken or ham, Jell-o/pudding mixes, boxed meals

(Hamburger Helper), cash donations to purchase vouchers

for turkey, ham, potatoes, bread and buns. Please have

food items to the church by Dec. 10th. Thanks for your

help with this yearly project!