Pastor’s Message St. Paul Lutheran Church, LCMS — Mount Vernon, Iowa

December 2016

Volume 11 Issue 12

We are...

Christ's Love in Action!

Sword of the Spirit “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword

of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

-Ephesians 6:17

600 5th Ave. SW Mt. Vernon, IA 52314 (319) 895-8772 www.splcmv.org info@splcmv.org

Pastor: Rev. Sean D. Hansen pastor@splcmv.org Secretary: Tracy Schmidt secretary@splcmv.org Family Life Coordinator: Julie Baumler, famlylife@splcmv.org

Facilities Dir.: Jeff Adrian facilities@splcmv.org

Dear Friends in Christ,

Do you ever feel like Christmas is not that popular anymore? That Christmas is only kept around for the sake of snowflakes and Santa Claus and presents? That there is no reason for the season other than the shopping and a vague sense of tradition? That all the busyness of the goings-on makes the season more stress than anything else? Well, Christmas was not very popular in the beginning, ei-ther. Many people at that first Christmas were not very happy about the reason for the season.

There were those who believed that Mary’s pregnancy meant she had been un-faithful to her fiancé, Joseph. There were those who despised Joseph for marry-ing an unfaithful woman (as they supposed) or concluded that he had been a partner in the sin. When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, the inn was too busy to spare more than a stable for the mother about to go into labor.

True, a group of shepherds did show up to welcome the birth of Jesus and later on a group of dignitaries from the east. But the latter group also heralded the news that the king was out to kill Jesus. By the second (maybe third) Christmas, Jesus and his family were refugees in a foreign land. So much for a Merry Christ-mas.

Yet, it is precisely this Christmas that saves us. It is the story of the Virgin Mary living in the little rural town of Nazareth, betrothed to a construction worker named Joseph, giving birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, and the three of them all fleeing to Egypt that is the story of how God brings peace on earth and goodwill toward men. Just as it is the cross of Christ where He reigns as king.

It may be discouraging when people will not even say “Merry Christmas.” But you know, the word “holidays” comes from “holy days.” And Christmas is abbre-viated as “X-mas” because “X” (Chi) is the first letter of “Christ” in Greek. Even when people say “Happy Holidays” or write “X-mas”, they cannot really get away from the reality of Jesus’ birth. Know that Jesus has changed the world whether the world wants to admit it or not. And He will continue to work in His own humble, hidden way until that day when He appears in glory, and all is changed.

So keep the Christ in Christmas. And keep the “mass” in Christmas. Come to the Divine Service this Christmas (appropriately on a Sunday) and feast at the true Christmas supper. Come and receive the body and blood of Jesus — laid in a

(Continued on page 2)

Sunday Schedule

Sunday School (Sept.-May; nursery through adult)—

8:15am Worship—9:30am

Fellowship—10:30am Bible Study—11am

Wednesday Schedule

(Sept—May)

Responsive Prayer Svc. (& com-munion when following a com-

munion Sunday)—6:30pm Midweek Instruction—7pm

Page 2 Sword of the Spirit

News from the Family Life Coordinator

A Savior is coming! The Israelites had been waiting for 42 generations (since Abraham in Genesis 12) for a Savior to come when a baby was born in Bethlehem in an unlikely location to an unlike-ly mother and father. While working on the Jesse Tree project his past month, it really hit me how lucky we are, compared to the Israelites, because we do not have to wait. The forgiveness

offered by Jesus is ours right here and now. May that knowledge bring you great joy this Advent season.

In Christ,

Julie Baumler, Family Life Coordinator 319-292-2097, familylife@splcmv.org Sunday School Lessons for December Below are the lessons the preschoolers through 4th graders will be studying the month of December. Par-ents may wish to read the stories themselves to learn right along with their children. You can also reinforce the week’s lesson by reading the story to your children from The Story Bible.

Date Lesson Scripture Story Bible Pages Dec. 4 Jesus Changes Water into Wine John 2:1–11 p. 307 Dec. 11 Jesus Clears the Temple John 2:13–22 p. 310 Dec. 18 Christmas lesson and activity Dec. 25 No Sunday School Christmas Program The Sunday School Christmas Program will be on December 11 at 4:00 p.m. followed by a soup supper. All congregation members, family, and friends are welcome. We will have a practice for all participants on Sat-urday, December 3 from 9-11 a.m. Jesse Tree Ornaments and Devotions available

We have a few sets of the Jesse Tree ornaments, along with a devotion booklet that were left over from our activity this week. If you would let a set, please let me know. The devotions start on Dec. 1, so you might want your ornaments prior to then.

Upcoming Dates December 3 – Christmas program practice, 9-11 a.m. December 11 – Christmas program and soup supper, 4:00 p.m. December 25 – No Sunday School January 1 – No Sunday School

manger, crucified on the cross, and raised from dead — for God’s peace and goodwill toward you in the forgiveness of your sins. This is the reason for the season.

In Christ, Pastor Hansen

St. Paul

Notes & News

Page 3 Sword of the Spirit

Monthly Groups

Men’s Breakfast WILL NOT MEET IN DEC.

Women’s Bible Study/Brunch

Sat., Dec. 10 at 10:30am

Advent Meals/Services

Advent services and meals continue this month on Dec. 7, 14, and 21. Meals are served at 5:15pm by our church youth (freewill offering), and the services begin at 6:30pm. Midweek will meet at 7:15pm.

Living Nativity

We will once again have our living nativity as part of Mt. Vernon’s Uptown Magical Night event on Thursday, De-cember 1 at the gazebo in Memorial Park. Performances will be at 6:15 & 7:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help take roles or sing with the choir again this year. Rehearsal will be Sunday, Nov. 27 at the church at 6:30pm. Volun-

teers are also needed to provide cookies and help serve refreshments at the Visitors’ Center. There are signup sheets on the table in the Narthex. For more information, please speak to Sonya Sullivan.

Advent Devotionals

Advent devotionals from Lutheran Hour Ministries are available on the table in the Narthex. Please take as many as you would like, more can be printed. Regular and large print are available.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Sat., Dec. 24, 6:30pm Christmas Eve Service

( A Service of Lessons & Carols)

Sun, Dec. 25, 9:30am Christmas Worship Service

Sat., Dec. 31, 6:30pm New Year’s Eve Worship

Please note there will be no Sunday School on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day, and will resume on Sunday, January 8.

We will be decorating the church for Christmas on Monday, Nov. 28 from 6-9pm. All congregation members are invited to help.

Prayer Chain

Once a year I update the church’s email prayer chain. If you would like to be added or removed (or if your email address has changed), please see the update/signup sheet on the table in the Narthex. Thank you. Tracy

Once again we are accepting monetary donations to purchase poinsettias for the church for Christmas. Please make checks payable to St. Paul with “flowers” in the memo line. Please place donations in the enve-lope in the secretary’s office by Sunday, Dec. 11.

Decorate Church for Advent

Poinsettias

Youth Coordinator Position

The Board of Elders is looking for applicants from the congregation to fill our Youth Coordinator posi-tion. If you are interested in the details of the posi-tion, please talk with one of the Elders or Pastor Hansen. Elders: Gene Freiburger, Jim Kain, Andy Hepker, Gary Spiess, Daniel Sanchez, Scott Baumler

Page 4 Sword of the Spirit

Priscilla Guild News

Directory Update

Youth News

Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4pm will be the annual Christmas party for the Senior High Youth. Pastor will be email-ing out more information. Thanks to all who supported the youth on Monday, Nov. 21 at their Pizza Ranch fundraiser. Christmas cards as well as other occasions are avail-able for $1.00 in the card display in the Narthex. Proceeds benefit the St. Paul youth.

GoodCents Program

This winter St. Paul is participating in Alliant Ener-gy’s GoodCents program. For every free Home En-ergy Assessment that Alliant does for our congre-gation members, our church will receive $25. If you participate, an assessor will go to your home and identify ways to reduce energy usage, give esti-mates on upgrades and how much savings to ex-pect. And, you may qualify for the installation of free energy-saving measures! There are forms to send in to receive a free energy assessment on the table in the Narthex (one form per household). Contact Nicki Hanselman (hoosiers@southslope.net) with any questions or for more information. This program will run through January 2017.

Terri Lynn Nuts/Candies are here! Make checks pay-able to the Priscilla Guild and place in the wooden lock box. Proceeds go toward missions.

Yard signs are available again this year. They are in the Narthex. If you would like to give a do-nation for the sign, there is an envelope in the church office.

The church directory will be updated in January. Please take a look at the current directory in the Narthex and add/edit as needed. Thank you.

In case of inclement weather during the upcoming win-ter season, please refer to KCRG, KWWL or KGAN for church closing information. In the event that time pre-cludes closing, use safety and common sense as a guide.

January newsletter articles are due Sunday, Dec . 18

Prayer Corner Please continue to remember last month’s special prayer requests…

Marilyn Mortensen, Cancer

Gloria Krob, Hand/arm surgery

Ron Hertzler, Shingles

Glenn Kurth, Health concerns

Janelle Sproston, Health concerns

Deb Kurth, Eye infection

Kay Hertzler, Health concerns

Gary Petersen, Health concerns

Jared Jackson, Prayer concerns

Deacon Cusher (Crysten’s nephew), Heart

surgery

Aïchatou Johnson, Pregnancy complications

Jarrett Moehlman, Hospitalized with infection

Marjorie Legband (Rebecca Hansen’s mother), Cancer has returned

Marsha Light, Cancer

Koreen Thompson, Breast cancer

Bryan Maxie, Leukemia

Leila Taylor (Curt’s mother), Cancer

Nora Taylor (Curt & Annette’s granddaughter),

Medical tests

Kathleen Hoagland, Brain cancer

Joyce Conley, Leukemia

Carmen Musser, Cancer

Bryan Mason, Cancer

Keith Karr, Health Issues

Leona Danker, Cancer

Glenda Brandt, Health issues

Tim Miller, Heart

Malinda White, Heart

Kathy Sickert, Ovarian cancer

Sharon Jurgens, Acute leukemia

Family of Richard Johnson, Death

Family of Morean Vanous, Death

Family of Ann Wendler, Death

Page 5 Sword of the Spirit

Serving the Lord in December

Sunday, Dec. 4 (Communion) Elder: Scott Baumler Acolyte: Aliya Keaton Ushers/Greeters: Dennis Uthof, Gloria Krob Fellowship: Youth Sunday, Dec. 11 Elder: Jim Kain Acolyte: Megan Baumler Ushers/Greeters: Willis & Carol Wulf Fellowship: Elders Sunday, Dec. 18 (Communion) Elder: Gene Freiburger Acolyte: Sydney Shultz Ushers/Greeters: Maureen DeWald, Daniel Sanchez Fellowship: Muffins for Mites Saturday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve-Communion) 6:30pm Acolyte: Kian Hageman Crucifer: Bryce Hepker Ushers/Greeters: Margheims Sunday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day-Communion) 9:30am Elder: Daniel Sanchez Acolyte: Blake Zahradnik Crucifer: Aliya Keaton Ushers/Greeters: Gloria Krob (one more needed) Saturday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve-Communion) 6:30pm Elder: Gary Spiess Acolyte: Mollie Snedden Ushers/Greeters: Sneddens

Kyle Scheer December 01 Aaron Smith December 05 Shawna Reilly December 05 Jay McCarty December 07 Randall Beck December 07 Mary Vezina December 10 Chad Blanchard December 10 Elsie Schlotterbeck December 11 Kathy Severson December 12 Butch Heck December 14 Jayme Barnhart December 15 Rebecca Hansen December 18 Shawn McConaughy December 18 Sam Pape December 20 Deborah Dever December 21 Scott Golberg December 27 Calbert Hanselman December 28 Susan Lacy December 28 Grant Golberg December 29 Mollie Snedden December 29

December Anniversary

Jim & Jacquy Nehring December 27

Page 6 Sword of the Spirit

December Birthdays

3271 Sandy Beach Rd. NE Solon, IA 52333 319-848-4187

www.campiodiseca.org

FELLOWSHIP CALENDAR

12/4 Gary’s/donuts Youth

12/11 Gary’s/meat & cheese Elders

12/18 Muffins for Mites P. Guild

12/25 Merry Christmas!

1/1 Gary’s/donuts Council

1/8 Gary’s/meat & cheese Altar Guild

1/15 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

1/22 Muffins for Mites P. Guild

1/29 Voters’ Mtg./Potluck All

St. Paul Lutheran Church, LCMS Volume 11 Issue 12—December 2016

2017 Summer Camp Staff

Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca is one of dozens of Lutheran camps across the country looking for college-aged young adults to make a difference in the lives of children. The opportunity to serve at a camp awaits! Go to www.nloma.org and click on the employment tab at the top of the page to submit your application today! Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca also needs Junior Counselors (JC’s) to assist the summer program. Applicants should be at least 15 years old. JCs spend the week with a cabin group enjoying the many camp activities and serving as a positive role model and motivator for younger campers while helping the cabin counselors supervise younger campers. It’s a great experience for only $95 per week. Please contact Camp Director, Daniel Sanchez by emailing director@iodiseca.org for more information or to receive an application.

Retreat Improvements

A 2014 IED LWML Grant has paved the way for Camp Io-Dis- E-Ca to do some major improvements. We’ve already im-proved the WIFI at camp by adding 3 new signals in the Alpha Lodge along with installing permanent sound and projection in the Dining Hall. At the beginning of this year, new beds and mattresses were installed throughout the Alpha Lodge? So, what’s next? The Omega Lodge is already undergoing its updates, which will include installed projection and sound, painting, and all new bunk beds and mattresses, the ones of the same level of quality that were installed in the Alpha Lodge earlier this year. We re looking for help, so if you’re looking or a volun-teer project in the coming months, this may be a great pro-ject for youth and family groups!

meal, entertainment and Bingo. There will be no cost

to you, but donations are welcomed. Reservations are

appreciated, but not required (so we can get a better

count for the dinner).

THURSDAY

DECEMBER 8, 2016

11AM-2PM

Lisbon School in the

New Gym

(by district doors)

Reservations: Cathy

Whitman

At 319-455-2106

Join us at our

annual Senior

Holiday Dinner

sponsored by

the Lisbon Com-

munity School

and High School

Student Council.

The dinner is

served for sen-

iors 60 and old-

er in the Lisbon/

Mt. Vernon ar-

ea. We will pro-

vide a holiday