Happenings

In This Issue Pastor’s Message

Sarah Vatne

Property Happenings

SW WA WELCA Spring

Retreat

December Calendar

Pastor’s Message

Advent—Blue

I, for one, appreciate that the seasonal color of Advent was changed to

blue. I’m biased toward that color. (Thank you to all who recently paint-

ed my office in blues.)

It is, as I mentioned to the kids during the Children’s Message, a color of

“hope.” We hope and dream as we gaze into blue skies or waters. Those

who study the effect of color suggest that blue is the most contradictory

of colors. It inspires trust, peace, and thoughtful authority. On the other

hand, it is also a color for sadness, oppression, and loneliness.

Well then, blue is good for these weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and

New Year. On December 21st, Winter Solstice and the longest night of

the year, a few churches hold a “Blue Christmas Service.” It is also the

feast day for “Doubting Thomas,” bringing together Thomas’s struggle to

believe in Jesus’ resurrection, the long cold winter night, and our struggle

with darkness and griefs. We are allowed to grieve losses even during

the Advent season of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Holding all of this to-

gether is more truthful and real.

Let us feel free to feel this Advent. Let grievers grieve; share their stories

and yours. Mention our losses by name, like Bert, Jim, Marilyn, and the

rest. Share funny memories and sad hearts. Be patient with those who

(continued on page 4)

Redeemer is a community of believers together making Christ known, sharing in faith, life and service. December 2016

Redeemer Lutheran Church - Fircrest, WA

Services

Worship: 8:00am

StoryKeepers & Bible Study: 9:15am

Worship: 10:30am

Advent & Christmas Worship Service Schedules

Advent Service Wednesday, 11/30/16, 7:00pm Sunday Worship Service Sunday, 12/04/16, 8:00am, 10:30am Sunday Education Sunday, 12/04/16, 9:15am Advent Service Wednesday, 12/07/16, 7:00pm Sunday Worship Service Sunday, 12/11/16, 8:00am, 10:30am Sunday Education Sunday, 12/11/16, 9:15am Advent Concert Tuesday, 12/13/16, 7:00pm Sunday Worship Service & Brunch Sunday, 12/18/16, 1000am Advent Service Wednesday, ,2/21/16, 7:00pm Christmas Eve Worship Service Saturday, 12/24/16, 7:00pm Christmas Eve Worship Service Saturday, 12/24/16, 11:00pm Sunday Worship Service Sunday, 12/25/16, 10:00am

Sarah Vatne—Young Adult in Global Ministry

Serving in Southern Africa. From: Pacific, WA

Places she calls home: Messiah Lutheran in Auburn, WA; Flathead Lutheran Bi-

ble Camp in Lakeside, MT.

Pastor Greg has known Sarah “since she was 4 years old” at Messiah Lutheran in

Auburn. We are proud to support her with our benevolences.

See our new Young Adult in Global Ministry missionary sponsorship on the bulle-

tin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Knotty Ladies

The Knotty Ladies gathered November 14th to make 10 tie quilts for families at risk served by the Step by Step Program and the Family Renewal Shelter. Be watching for our next work par-ty and join us for a delightful afternoon of food, fellowship and “knotty” fun. No previous ex-perience required!

Hygiene Items Drive

Food Bank primarily provides food for the needy. Hygiene items, which cannot be purchased with food stamps, help clients stay healthy and care for themselves in ways that assist them on their journey to self-reliance. Redeemer will again collect items to fill gallon-sized Ziploc bags to be dis-tributed to clients in January at NW Fish Food Bank. Please bring new and unopened packages of the following items to boxes in the Fellowship Hall by Thursday, December 8th. Hotel/sample siz-es OK.

1. Bar Soap 4. Floss 7. Pocket/purse size tissue packs

2. Toothbrushes 5. Chapstick 8. Deodorant

3. Toothpaste 6. Shampoo (must fit in gallon Ziploc) 9. Disposable razors

Redeemer volunteers served at Northwest FISH Food Bank November 16th and 19th, 2016. 313 families (approx. 940 individuals) were served. Volunteers included Judy Carson, Nancy Cook, Ed Formoso, John Healey, Tracy Keil, Mali Mayor, Pat Soderberg, and Gary Ulseth. Our next turn to serve is December 28th and 31st. Contact Tracy Keil at 564-7963 or Pat Soderberg at 566-3809 if interested.

Empowering Life, a ministry at the Washington Correction Center for Women at Purdy, sponsors a Bible Study using WELCA’s Gather Magazine. The women were joined on No-vember 20th by Redeemer women who have undertaken pen pal letter exchanges with several of them.

The drive for items for the Living Stones Congregation’s Freedom Backpack Program col-lected items such as socks, toiletries, towels, and tarps. Pastor Greg and other members brought them to the prison on November 26th, when they visited and worshiped with the con-gregation. Backpacks are provided to men as they are released from the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton.

Women’s Bible Study

Women’s Monday Night Bible Study w ill meet at 7 pm on Monday, December 12th in

the church conference room. Our study is an Advent Devotional. Sonia C. Solomonson, an award

-winning writer, freelance editor and certified life coach, shares a devotional around the theme of

Advent waiting: what wants to be born in you? All women are welcome. Dee has invited the

group for a soup lunch at her home on December 19th. Please call Dee Ulseth (253) 564-0576 for

more information.

WANTED: People w ith history of Redeemer from the “olden days.” We found lots of pictures and memorabilia of our church history that needs to be sorted, labeled and put into some sort of scrap book(s). We have a core group of people interested in assisting but will probably take a few sessions. If you can join us, it would be so appreciated. Let’s start this after the holidays. We’ll sit around the table, look at pictures, laugh, reminisce, and of course EAT! No date has been settled on yet but it will be mid-January. Please let Dee Ulseth know if this appeals to you. Her phone number is (253) 564-0576.

Property Happenings

There was a work party on November 19th and a sizeable work force completed many items on the ToDo List. Pastor Greg’s office was painted and window coverings were ordered. We cleared out and organized the office closet where we then shifted many of the items lounging in Brad’s office. We also hung a door leading into Brad’s office, put in a desk, and started the pro-cess moving the electrical switch over to the door. We also repaired the front door to the office area and started the process installing the Children at Play signs in the alleyway. And finally we organized the paints downstairs. Thank you to all those who helped on this glorious day as we worked, laughed, and ate together.

The Steeple Project heads the biggest issue next on our agenda. Two construction companies have shown interest in performing the work and giving us a bid. I hope we have something on paper soon to put forward in this matter. Another extensive project we have before us is the renovation and remodel of the basement area. I’m starting the process to organize a committee that will discuss various options for the work to be done. If you would like to be a part of this committee, please let Karl Albrecht know. His number is (949) 233-7305.

And finally we are planning on having the carpet cleaned in the Fellowship Hall. If anyone has any ideas about other things that need to be done, please feel free to email your concerns to knkalbrecht@comcast.net.

Contact Us Give us a call for more

information about our

worship services and

programs.

Redeemer Lutheran

Church

1001 Princeton St.

Fircrest, WA 98466

(253) 564-5053

Visit us on the web at

www.redeemerlc.org

Like us on Facebook

Pastor’s Message

(Continued from page 1)

are not grieving. Enjoy their joy; and see glimmers of hope for us all!

Post-election hasn’t quite settled with all of us equally. The negative and often

exaggerated rhetoric still echoes. As President-Elect Donald Trump selects his

transition team and cabinet, some are hopeful, some are uncertain, and others

are alarmed. Let us respect those differences, as well as the individual opinions

and actions that follow conviction. We can all pray for laws and actions that will

benefit the welfare of the city and nation wherein we live (Jeremiah 29:7), that

will protect the vulnerable, such as the orphaned, widowed, homeless, and immi-

grants (Deuteronomy 10:16-19; Leviticus 19:33), that will help us act on our re-

sponsibilities for, curiosity about, and dependence on Creation (Genesis 3:18-20).

And now look to Jesus, and reflect deeply on this line from a deeply “blue” carol:

“Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light; the hopes and fears of all

the years are met in thee tonight.” Allow the “blue” of Advent to soak into you

this year, let your hopes and fears meet Jesus, who came to save us, motivate us,

and then bring us home!

Pastor Greg Kaurin

A Note of Thanks

"Thank you, all, for your well-wishes and prayers for me, Meta, and our two families. I first met Meta in person in Seattle, September of 2015. She and her adult daughter, Mélodie, immigrated 9 years ago from Madagascar. Meta is currently a nursing (LPN) student in Sumner College, Portland. She will be doing her internship in the Tacoma area this February, and will graduate in May, 2017. In her hometown of southern Madagascar, Meta is also the co-founder of a high school for girls, Nofy i Androy (New-fee ih'an-DREW-ee). We will have a very small and private marriage in mid-December, and then a Marriage-Blessing Celebration in late May or early June of 2017. All will be invited!"

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Diana Nelson for the gift of new comfortable chairs for

the Fellowship Hall. They are so nicely padded that we’ve noticed those of us with bad backs

and stiff tushes don’t have to bring their own cushions! Thanks, Diana, that was so thought-

ful and the timing was perfect—just before the holidays.

Thanks for Your Promise of Generosity

On our commitment Sunday, November 20th, 34 of us brought our estimate of giving for 2017 to the altar. Those estimates, amounting to a bit over $104,000, will go to support the life of this congregation next year. If you did not yet have the opportunity to do that, please get an “Estimate of Giving for 2017” card from an usher on Sunday at worship and place it with your offering. The more folks who complete their estimates of giving, the fewer we’ll have to con-tact in the coming weeks! Thank you for your generosity as we together walk with Jesus.

Randy Olson, Stewardship Chair

SAVE THE DATE: May 19-21, 2017 for SW WA

WELCA Spring Retreat

The theme this year is Gifts of the Spirit. Guest speaker will be Pastor Melanie Wallschlaeger, the ELCA Director for Evangelical Mission in the SW Synod. Early registration of $180.00 closes January 1st. After that, full weekend including meals will be $195.00. As further incentive, the first 22 to register will have a private room with half bathroom! Last year, we had several la-dies from Redeemer in attendance and were able to carpool. If interested, please see colored poster and registration forms on bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Any questions, see or call Dee Ulseth at (253) 564-0576

Midweek Advent Worship continues this Wednesday night, December 7th at

7:00pm in the sanctuary. We will be using Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer

(December 7th and 21st). Featuring a new Advent song written by Marty Haugen: "Choose

to Hope.

Mark your calendars for the Advent Chorale, directed by Brad Hagen and hosted by Fircrest

Presbyterian at 1250 Emerson Street, Fircrest on Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00pm.

Redeemer Lutheran Church Worship Assistants December 2016

Celebrations & Announcements Birthdays

2nd Jim Purkey 4th Jeremiah Richards 5th Kristine Napier 5th Diana Nelson 6th Bruce Wright 7th Eileen Johnson 8th Marilyn Kinder 11th Sharon Panchot 11th Britany Williams 12th Matthew Johnson 12th Ben Norem 15th Charlie Russell 16th Tracy Bettendorf 16th Dianna Cox 17th Ashley Olson 19th Amanda Creighton/Sledge 21st Thelma Darsaw 26th Kyle Miller

26th Julia Peschek 27th Mali Mayor 28th Mac Kaurin 28th Clara McLeod 28th Jessica Russell

Anniversaries

11th Jeff & Mali Mayor

15th Frank & Cindy Bonaro

26th Andy & Louise Allen

31st John & Hanya Gore

The birthday dinner for the month of December will be

held on December 15th 2016 at 6:00pm at Ben Dews

Clubhouse Grill (6501 6th Avenue, Tacoma). Please

call Kay Booth at (253) 564-5267 to reserve your

spot,

Altar Guild Thelma Darsow, Gail Abbott, Jackie Face, Colleen Regan

12/4 12/11 12/18 12/25 12/24

Liturgist 8:00am

10:30 am

Bob Zieg

Randy Olson

Brenda Hauge

Steve Cox

One Service 10am-

Duane FIster

7:00 Dianna Cox

11:00 Bob Zieg

Deacon 8:00am

10:30 am

Jackie Face

Sonya Purkey

Elaine Erickson

Marcy Brown

Nancy Cook 7:00 Jackie Face

11:00 Marcia Wright

Reader 8:00 am

10:30 am

Marilyn Lewis

Jan Olson

Janet Turnbull

Gail Dougherty

Cindy Bonaro 7:00 Tracy Keil

11:00 Jan Cox

Greeter 8:00 am

10:30 am

David Corner

Marilyn Botts

Pat Soderberg

1100: Kay

Rozmyn

Ushers 8:00am

10:30 am

E. Formoso/D.

Harshman

G & D Ulseth

R. Hoggatt/J. Hea-

ley

G. Finkbeiner/P.

Soderberg

M & L Swofford 7:00 G & D Ulseth

11:00 Les Gal-

lamore/Dave

Rozmyn

Fellowship 8:00 am

10:30 am

Tiffani Zieg/Brenda

Hauge

Linda Napier/Mae

Lynn Mickelson

Janet Turnbull/Marge

Nugent

Phyllis Bjorkman/Trudy

Slingland

Advent Brunch No Coffee Hour

Counter Bonnie Blair John Vano Frank Bonaro Jan Cox Jan Cox

Welcome

Team

8:00am

10:30 am

P. Bjorkman/D.

Corner

G. & D. Ulseth P. Soderberg/G.

Dougherty

Brenda Hauge

Bread Marcy Brown Marcy Brown Sonya Purkey

Redeemer Lutheran Church December 2016 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

10:30am Bible

Study

5:15pm Al-Anon

8:00pm AA

2

10:30am Staff

Planning

Meeting

3

Altar Guild

6:00pm AA

Meeting

4

8:00am Wor-

ship

9:15am Bible

Study & Story—

Keepers

10:30am Wor-

ship

5

Church office

closed

5:30pm Al-

Anon

6

7

2nd Wed Ad-

vent Service

8

10:30am Bible

Study

5:15pm Al-Anon

8:00pm AA

9

3:00pm Staff

Planning

Meeting

10

Altar Guild

6:00pm AA

Meeting

11

8:00am Wor-

ship

9:15am Bible

Study & Story-

Keepers

10:30am Wor-

ship

12

Church office

closed

5:30pm Al-

Anon

7:00pm Wom-

en’s Bible Study

13

7:00pm Advent

Concert at

Fircrest Presby-

terian Church

14

7:00pm Council

Meeting

15

10:30am Bible

Study

5:15pm Al-Anon

6:00pm Birthday

Dinner

8:00pm AA

16

10:30am Staff

Planning

Meeting

17

Altar Guild

6:00pm AA

Meeting

18

10:00am Wor-

ship—Advent

Brunch

19

Church office

closed

5:30pm Al-

Anon

20

21

4th Wed Ad-

vent Service

22

5:15pm Al-Anon

8:00pm AA

23

24

Altar Guild

7:00pm Christ-

mas Eve Service

11:00pm

Christmas Eve

Service

25 Christmas

10:00am Wor-

ship

26

Church office

closed

5:30pm Al-

Anon

7:00pm Wom-

en’s Bible Study

27

Church Office

Closed

28 29

5:15pm Al-

Anon

8:00pm AA

30

31

Altar Guild

6:00pm AA

Meeting