First Lutheran Church First Lutheran Church 208 West Sandusky First Hand Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 Mission Statement: 937-592-7699 Sharing God’s grace through prayer, witness, and service. Fax: 1-888-471-1970 www.flcbellefontaine.org Pastor Larry Novak– [email protected] Office Manager, Brittanny Porter- [email protected] Inside this issue:
Director of Music, Judy Vassar- [email protected] From the Pastor’s Desk 2-3 Bell Choir Director, Larry Walker- [email protected] Music Director Notes 4
Advent Services/Holiday events 5 December 24, 2019 Christmas Program 6 7:00 pm Family Communion Christmas Breakfast 7 Service Dates to Remember 8 Faith & Friends Outing! 9 10:30 pm Candlelight Festival The Women’s Corner 10 Communion Service New Life Letter 12
------Prayer Concerns 13 December 29, 2019 December B-days/Anniversaries 14 10:00 am Lessons & Carols Serving In Worship 15 December Calendar 16
Upcoming December Events: December 8th at 12:30 pm Decorate the church for the upcoming holiday season. December 7th at 9am– Christmas Play Practice December 14th at 9am– Christmas Play Practice December 15th: Christmas Breakfast will begin at 9am in Rice Hall. At 10:00 am this year’s Christmas program will be presented by the Sunday school classes.
1 FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Here is a bit of Christmas Trivia: What Christmas special featured Frankenstein’s monster, Tony the Tiger, and Rocky, the Flying Squirrel? Okay, it’s a bit of a trick question. The question should more properly be: “What Christmas special featured the VOICES of the actors who played Frankenstein’s monster, the voice of Tony the Tiger, and the voice of Rocky, the flying squirrel?” The answer is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the wonderful 1966 Christmas Special adapted from the book of the same name by Dr. Seuss. Boris Karloff, most famous as the monster in the 1931 classic Franken- stein, was the voice of both the narrator and the Grinch. Thurl Ravenscroft, the actor who voiced Tony the Tiger in commercials for Frosted Flakes, was the one who sang “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch”, and June For- ay, the actress who was the voice of Rocky the Flying Squirrel, (as well as Natasha Fatale) in the Bullwinkle car- toons, provided the voice of little Cindy Lou Who (who was no more than two). Some people might lump How the Grinch Stole Christmas in with Frosty the Snowman or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as a secular Christmas story. But I disagree. Even though this Christmas special makes no mention whatsoever of a baby, Mary, Joseph, wise men, shepherds, a manger, or Bethlehem, it is one of the most Christian Christmas specials ever broadcast. Because it is, of course, a story of redemption; a story of how the miracle of what happened at Christ- mas (and even more importantly, at Easter), changes the way we live. We are loved and redeemed, freed from the powers of Sin, Death, and the Devil. And this is possible because God himself decided to break into our world; to become flesh and live with us and be for us the perfect reflection of God. Rather than living a grinch- like life of scarcity, loneliness, and self-centeredness, we are free to live lives of radical love and hospitality; lives of extravagant generosity; lives focused on meeting the needs of our neighbor. The best scene in the spe- cial is when the Grinch hears the people of Whoville singing on Christmas morning: And the Grinch, with his grinch feet ice cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling, “How could it be so? It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then, the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, it seems, doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. And what happened next? Well, in Whoville, they say That the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day! The image of the Whos all waking up on Christmas morning, joining hands, and singing “Welcome Christmas” reminds me of the image in Luke 2, where the heavenly beings are singing praises to God. And the image of the Grinch hearing these voices and being transformed at that very moment reminds me of the shep- herds; being utterly transformed by what they are seeing and hearing, knowing that their lives will never be the same, and ready now to spread the good news, the joy of Christmas, to the world! Jesus the Christ, the savior of the World, came to us as a humble child born in a lowly manger. May the Holy Spirit of Christ, who comes to us in our baptism and who now abides with us, grow our hearts and trans- form us to lead lives of service, generosity, and radical love. Merry Christmas! In the abiding hope of the empty tomb, Pastor Larry 2 Report of Director of Music How important are church choirs? How vital are they to a healthy ministry? Why have them at all? Reason 2. INSPIRATION—The members of a volunteer choir seek (and find) their inspiration in the music they sing and the opportunity they have to be part of something far greater than the sum of its parts. You can’t experience the thrill of an ensemble singing by yourself—the beautiful forte blend, or the subtlety of a well-rehearsed pianissimo. In a church choir, ordinary people can experience the thrill of a text coming to life as they sing a well-rehearsed anthem, hymn, or psalm. Join us this Thursday at 7:00 PM. The Worship committee is looking for someone to work with the Praise Team on a regular schedule. Anyone interested in Contemporary Christian music, please contact Judy Vassar. Submitted by
Judy Vassar
3 JOIN US FOR OUR MIDWEEK ADVENT EVENTS! On each of the three Wednesdays in Advent, we will be gathering for an intergenerational Family Event (For Everyone!) starting at 6:15 pm in Rice Hall before our Evening Worship Service beginning at 7:00 pm.
December 4th-As we honor St. Nicholas, we ask you to bring a toy that you wish to give away. Our activity will be to wrap the toys, noting on the gift card if they are for a boy, girl, or either, and about the age range of the toys. We will present the toys at the offering, and they will be delivered to Logan County Children’s Services, who is distributing them to children in foster care.
December 11h- In honor of Saint Lucia, join us to decorate cookies! We then will pass them out to our members at Logan Acres, the Homestead, and other shut- in members, when we go caroling on December 14th.
December 18th- In honor of Katharina von Bora, also known as Mrs. Martin Luther, we will be making Christmas Cards! These will be put in the Sunshine bags that we will be passing out to our homebound members and people at Lutheran Community after December 22nd. This was a FUN season of GIVING last year & we can’t wait to do it again!
4 Noah’s Ark
Have you noticed Noah’s Ark has come ashore in the lower narthex? We are asking for your help once again to fill our ark with new and gently loved stuffed animals that will be distributed with the LCS Toy Baskets at Christmas time. Last year we were able to fill MANY bags with animals. Christmas morning for many local children was made a little more special from your generous donations. Let’s see how full we can get the ark this year!
The church office will close at noon on JOIN US TO DECORATE OUR Tuesday, December 24th and then remain SANCTUARY FOR closed during the holiday week; CHRISTMAS!! The office will reopen on January 6th Pastor Larry will be away enjoying time December 8th at 12:30pm with family during this week. If anyone Grab some lunch after has an emergency where they need pastoral assistance, please contact Brenda church then meet back Shively at 935-6706. here to make our worship *The church building will also be closed during space beautiful for the this time for maintenance work. This work will holiday! take place in several different areas of the church building. Because of this there will be no scheduling of any church groups or community groups for meetings or activities during this time. Thank you. ~ Property Ministry Team
The Faith Circle Thankoffering project brought in LOTS of good things for the residents of Luther Community. 16 pairs of women’s slippers and 9 pair of men’s slippers, 68 pairs of men’s socks and 73 pairs of women’s socks, 26 canned food items and 20 boxed food items and 9 miscellaneous food items. 2 women’s nightgowns, a variety of personal hygiene items such as soaps, shampoo, deodor- ant, shaving cream, etc and 9 packages of incontinence products. THANK YOU TO THE CONGREGATION FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT!
The residents of Luther Community are5 certainly thankful for this collection. Follow three young shepherds who joyfully shout God's praises after visiting the baby Jesus. How were they to know they were "disturbing the peace?" You'll join them in a Bethlehem courtroom for a hilarious trial and a
Sunday School Christmas Program December 15th, 2019 10:00 am During our Worship Service
6 On Sunday, December 15th join us at 9:00 am in Rice Hall for breakfast. On the menu: egg casserole, fruit, pastries, milk, orange juice and coffee. Bring your family and friends to enjoy a wonderful breakfast and fellowship time with your FLC family. ** If you would like to help with the preparations for the breakfast come on Saturday, December 14th at 10:00 am or to help clean- up afterwards, Please sign-up on the sheet in the lower narthex. THANKS!
We are asking for donations of fruit, pastry items, milk and orange juice for our upcoming Christmas Breakfast. If you can donate items, please indicate this on the sign-up sheets located in the lower narthex.
7 December Sunday School Schedule December 2 & 9: 9am classes for all ages December Sunday School Schedule December 16: no classes. Christmas program Saturday, December 7 & 14: Breakfast begins at 9am in Rice Hall 9am Program Practice December 23: no classes December 1st & 8th Regular Sunday School Classes December 30: no classes December 15th: Breakfast at 9am in Rice Hall All classes resume on January 6, 2018 10 am Worship Service and Christmas program No classes for Christmas break
Let’s Go Caroling! With Wren’s no longer open, we are having a difficulty Join us to ring in the spirit of Christmas for with finding a poinsettia some of our shut-ins! supplier. I have found a replacement for our altar December 14th: Meet at the church and we flower vases. When I have will travel to locations of our members of more information (hopefully concern at 12:30 PM. We will also be soon!) I will let everyone delivering the cookies that were decorated knoe. Also, if anyone has any during our Advent event! ideas or suggestions about this please let the church office know. Thank you! -Brittanny
December 29th will be a Lessons & Carols Service and Youth Sunday! Special lessons for the day will be read along with the addition of some of your favorite Christmas hymns. Worship begins at 10:00 am. *due to the holiday we will not collect Noisy $$ this day. **no Sunday school classes **
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9 Faith Circle will meet in the church lounge on Tuesday December 17th at 1:30. The Mission Project is to provide items for the Sunshine Bags and mittens, scarves, hats, underwear for the Mitten Tree. All ladies are welcome to join! Faith Circle will fill the Sunshine Bags with goodies. For our refreshment, bring a sampling of your favorite holiday cookies or snack to share (with the recipe)! This is a very casual gathering so bring your friends and neighbors! Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas!
The Mitten Tree is now up! Look for it in the upper narthex. The women of WELCA have sponsored this project for over 30 years. We ask the congregation to help “decorate” the tree with new hats, scarves, gloves, mitten and warm socks, which are distributed with the ODB Christmas baskets. The tree will be disassembled after worship on Sunday, December 15th and the items will be taken to LCS. Please consider adding some “decorations”. The need is great! Also, LCS food pantry can always use donations of non-perishable food items and Our Daily Bread always appreciates donations of gallons of milk. Thank you for your kindness!
Sunshine Bags & Christmas Card Shower
In the upper narthex there will be a table filled with brightly colored Christmas bags. We are asking the congregation to “shower” our shut-ins and special concerns members with Christmas cards. No need to worry about postage stamps, just drop your cards in the bags. We are all part of the body of Christ and this is an easy way to share Christian love and friendship and lift spirits! The cards will be collected through Sunday, December 22nd. Help deliver Sunshine Bags! We need help getting all the bags delivered after they are filled, Sunday December 22nd. If you would be willing to deliver one or several, and perhaps spend a little time visiting with the recipient, that would be greatly appreciated! There is a “willing to deliver” list for volunteers to sign-up. Look for it in the upper narthex. Thank you in advance. Please do not take any bags for delivery until AFTER Sunday service or the bag will not have all its parts yet. Thank-you!
10 Ministry Team Meetings- Ministry Team Highlights December Christian Action Ministry Team • Trick or Treat 12/2 7:00 pm Council Finance Ministry Team
12/3 7:00 pm Mutual Ministry • 2020 Budget 12/9 7:00 pm Christian Action Learning Ministry Team 12/17 7:00 pm F.L.I.R.T. • Sunday school classes • Christmas program 2019 Church Council Property Ministry Team President– Chris McKenrick • Building & Maintenance Issues Vice-President– Gail Keck Worship Ministry Team • Christmas Eve Services Secretary– Liz Rose • Advent Events Members- Cheri Comstock, Chris Gamble, Copies of reports from the monthly meet- Adam Smith, Ray Swisher, Chris Tillman , ings of each ministry team is available for Susan Wyckoff, Ben Zoldak you to view in the Partners In Ministry
All offerings to be credited to 2019 need to be received in the church office by SAVE THE DATE !! December 31st. It is Faith Circle Winter necessary for our Dinner will be record keeping to close our books in 2019 before we can begin posting Saturday Feb 1st offerings in 2020. All offerings received after at 5:00 pm. January 1, 2020 will be credited in 2020. Watch for more info coming in January! Annual Reports &
Church Directories We will not be serving Our Daily will be available to pick Bread in December due to the distribution of the Christmas up on Sunday morning, Baskets. The next serving date is January 20th, 2020
11 From: New Life Charitable Subject: Grant Requests Calendar year 2020 (November 2019-September 16,2020). To: First Lutheran Church Members, New Life Charitable Foundation is happy to announce there is grant money available in the amount of $45,000.00 for 2020! Please get with your ministry teams and begin your planning now. New Life will be reviewing the grant requests during our February 19, 2020 meeting. Please have your request submitted by February 1, 2020. Guidelines are as follows;
• Any previous grant money must have been spent and a follow-up report turned in to New Life to be considered. • New grant money dispersed will need to have a paper grant request form (available from church office) completed and turned in to the New life president’s mailbox (outside church office). Electronically created forms are acceptable if they are the same format as the pa- per and are printed. • The grant should be for something that is for missional outreach. Grant money should not be used to cover a routine budgeted item. • The sponsors or creator of the grant request will be at the New Life meeting on February 19, 2020 to present the grant and answer questions. Be prepared to answer this question: How does this grant request fit into the mission of First Lutheran Church by keeping Christ first? • A follow up report must be turned in to the New Life President’s mailbox, detailing when the money was spent, the total amount spent, and any results/outcomes from the grant. You may be asked to attend one of the other New Life meetings in 2020 (May 4, Septem- ber 16, or November 18) to answer questions about the follow-up report.
Questions can be addressed to any New life member: Kevin Miller/ President, John Bodin /VP, Beth Harman/ Treasurer, Trustees : Jim Donnelly, Paul Karn, Don Voorhies, Carl Gillespie and Pastor Larry. Respectfully, Kevin Miller
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During the past month we have remembered many in prayer. We remember in prayer all who are in need of God’s presence and care … especially: Tori Geib Health issues Barb Krueger Recovering from Surgery/Fall Dan Fultz Recovering from Surgery Dave Vassar Health issues Kasey Health issues Rick Ramsey Recovering from surgery Carol Wappelhorst Recovering from Surgery Marge MacGillivray Recovering from Surgery Jim Sebring Recovering from Surgery Carolyn Novak (Pastor Larry’s mom) Health issues Pastor T.J. Lynch prayers for health concerns Jessica Jenkins Entered the Church Triumphant Wyatt Smith Entered the Church Triumphant Marjorie Schindel Entered the church Triumphant Robbie Smith Entered the Church Triumphant
Sunday Attendance Please Remember in your prayers: The Smith Family, John & Krista Belser November 2019 Family & The Ben Logan Community after the tragic loss of Robbie & Wyatt November 3: 91 Smith November 10: 91
November 17 : 82
November 24: 90
October Average: 79
November Average: 89
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12/02 Rick Ramsey 12/04 Mary Beth Stoltz 12/22/1973 Dave & Peggy Ackerman 12/06 Cheri Cooper 12/20/2003 John & Colleen Bodin 12/08 Heath Allen 12/09 Jan Van Hoose 12/18/1955 Dan & Betty Fultz 12/11 Beth Marshall 12/18/1971 Don & Connie Johnson 12/13 Cheryl Chamberlain 12/10/1994 Brad & Stacie Jones 12/15 Hilary Horn 12/12/2012 Jim & Willie McClain 12/15 Connor Rose 12/04/1968 Max & Mary Pummell 12/15 Nick Young 12/16 Brandon Gamble 12/20/2008 Brian & Tiffanee Wagner 12/18 Derek Bingaman 12/18 Daniel Weikart 12/18 Robby Weikart Bellefontaine Downtown Christmas 12/22 Pat Sebring Parade and Events 12/25 Lauren Dixon
12/25 Alex Pulfer 12/26 Diane Anderson 12/27 Cheryl Kramer 12/29 Kris Swisher
Join us on Friday evening December 6th for the Downtown Christmas Parade. There will be a parade featuring Santa, food vendors, booths and stores with holiday specials. It will be fun for the whole family. The festivities begin at 6 pm.
14 Serving in Our Worship– DECEMBER 2019 10:00 am service
Ushers Readers Walt Stephan 12/1 Chris Hildreth Blair Ray Kramer 12/8 Gloria Kipker Kevin & Robyn Miller 12/15 Beth Harman Acolytes 12/22 Chris Tillman 12/1 Connor Rose 12/24 7:00 pm Colleen Bodin 12/8 Samantha Starkey 12/24 10:30 pm Susan Wyckoff 12/15 Alexza Clifton 12//29 Youth Sunday 12/22 Declan Shannon 12/24 7:00 pm Winnie Bodin Communion Assistants 12/24 10:30 pm TBA 12/1 Colleen Bodin & Kris Swisher 12//29 Josalyn Porter 12/8 TBA 12/22 TBA 12/24 7:00 pm TBA Crucifers 12/24 10:30 pm TBA 12/1 Megan Keckler Greeters 12/8 Sarah Starkey 12/15 Winnie Bodin 12/1 Carl & Rachel Gillespie 12/22 Brett Belser 12/8 Jim & Janet Donnelly 12/24 7:00 pm TBA 12/15 Ted & Carolyn Hoy 12/24 10:30 pm TBA 12/22 Kipker Family 12//29 Ryan Carman 12/24 7:00 pm Marge Anderson 12/24 10:30 pm Walt & Sally Stephan 12//29 Youth Sunday Communion Helpers
12/1 Maddox Keith & Lyrix Smith 12/8 Brooks & Lottie Bodin Worship Assistants 12/22 Eden & Noah Smith 12/1 Cindy Weikart 12/8 Kris Shannon 12/15 Chris Hildreth Blair Altar Guild Tom & Cindy Weikart 12/22 Kris Swisher
12/24 7:00 pm TBA *If anyone can fill the TBA dates Please let the church office know! Thanks in 12/24 10:30 pm Brenda Shively advance for all everyone does! 12//29 Connor Rose
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29 22 15 8 1 10:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM 9:00AM 2:30 PM 10:00AM 10:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM 9:00AM 11:30AM 10:00AM 9:00AM
GreenHillsWorship Service
SundaySchool Classes (for all ages) SundaySchool Classes (for all ages) SundaySchool Classes (for all ages) SundaySchool Classes (for all ages)
SundaySchool Classes (for all ages)
Lessons& Carols Service WorshipService WorshipService SundaySchool Christmas Program WorshipService CrismonDecorating (Everyone!) WorshipService
Sunday
30 23 16 9 2 1:30 PM 12:00PM 10:00AM mas! OfficeClosed Team Meeting 7:00 PM 1:30 PM 10:00AM 1:30 PM 12:00PM 10:00AM Meeting 7:00 PM 1:30 PM 12:00PM 10:00AM Society mer [RH] 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 1:30 PM 12:00PM 10:00AM
Monday
BibleStudy Worship Ministry BibleStudy BibleStudy ChristianAction BibleStudy MadRiver Dulci- Council Meeting BibleStudy
AAMeeting[RH] AAMeeting[RH] AAMeeting[RH] AAMeeting[RH]
StaffMeeting StaffMeeting StaffMeeting StaffMeeting StaffMeeting
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MerryChrist-
31 24 17 10 3 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 9:00AM mas! OfficeClosed CandleLightService 10:30PM Service 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 1:30 PM 9:00AM 6:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 9:00AM 7:00 PM 4:00 PM 4:00 PM 9:00AM
Tuesday
GirlScouts Meeting
PrayerCircle Pastors'Meeting ChristmasEve PrayerCircle FLIRTMeeting PrayerCircle Pastors'Meeting FaithCircle PrayerCircle Pastors'Meeting MutualMinistry PrayerCircle Pastors'Meeting
Quilters Quilters Quilters Quilters
ChristmasEve
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MerryChrist-
1 25 18 11 4 mer Society mer [RH] 7:00 PM Meeting 6:30 PM mas! OfficeClosed mas! OfficeClosed Service 7:00 PM 6:15 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM Service 7:00 PM 6:15 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM Service 7:00 PM Meeting 6:30 PM 6:15 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM
Wednesday
GirlScout Leaders GirlScout Leaders
MadRiver Dulci- AdventWorship AdventEvent AdventWorship AdventEvent AdventWorship AdventEvent
NAMeeting (in NAMeeting (in NAMeeting (in
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MerryChrist- MerryChrist-
2 26 19 12 5 bellChoir rehearsal 8:00 PM Practice 7:00 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM mas! OfficeClosed mas! OfficeClosed bellChoir rehearsal 8:00 PM Practice 7:00 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM bellChoir rehearsal 8:00 PM Practice 7:00 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM bellChoir rehearsal 8:00 PM Practice 7:00 PM RiceHall) 12:00PM
Thursday
CarilloneursHand- ChancelChoir CarilloneursHand- ChancelChoir CarilloneursHand- ChancelChoir CarilloneursHand- ChancelChoir
NAMeeting (in NAMeeting (in NAMeeting (in NAMeeting (in
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MerryChrist- MerryChrist-
3 27 20 13 6 mas! OfficeClosed mas! OfficeClosed
Friday
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MerryChrist- MerryChrist-
4 28 21 14 7 mer Society mer [RH] 7:00 PM ChristmasProgram Practice 9:00AM CarolingDay ChristmasProgram Practice 9:00AM
Saturday
MadRiver Dulci-
SundaySchool SundaySchool
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