The December 2018 COURIER Volume 61, No. 12 Welcome to the Light A New Church Year — Advent-Christmas- Epiphany at Christ Church The blue season of Advent and a new church year begin on Sun- • Wednesday, December 12 – 7:00 p m. Advent Midweek Com- day, December 2 . Come and see a transformed sanctuary—the pline Worship . See page 5 for more details . great Advent wreath hanging over the center aisle; birch trees • Sunday, December 16 – 9:30 a m. Eucharist worship . 11:05 in the chancel at the front; blue streamers hanging from the side a m. Sunday School for children ages 3 and up . 11:15 a m. Con- lights; lanterns in the side windows; and the Moravian star shin- gregation Meeting in the sanctuary – Approve the budget for ing high above it all . 2019 and elect congregation leadership for next year . Come and be part of preparing the way for the Christ child . Here • Wednesday, December 19 – 7:00 p m. Advent Midweek Com- are the highlights for these weeks; see the calendar for times pline Worship . See page 5 for more details . and many other events during this season at Christ Church . You are welcome to everything! • Monday, December 24 – 5:00 p m. Welcome the Christ child with carols, candles, special choir and instrumental music, and • Sunday, December 2 – 9:30 a.m. Eucharist worship. The first the Holy Meal . Sing “Silent Night” on its 200th anniversary! candle on the Advent wreath is lit and we begin to hear from the Gospel of Luke, symbolized by a winged ox . During Christmastide, the Advent blue makes way for festive white and red, the great Christmas tree is lit, and Christ’s incar- After worship, an Intergenerational Advent Fair in the gym for nation is celebrated in scripture, sermons, song, and meal . everyone! There will be good treats, special music, and wonder- ful Advent crafts to make and take home: an Advent birch log • Tuesday, December 25 – 10:00 a m. Celebrate the ChristMass to hold four candles; an Advent calendar to open every day; a with more special music and the assembly gathered around the pretty Advent-Christmas paper chain—cut off a link each day table for communion . until Christmas comes . • Sunday, December 30 – 9:30 a .m . Eucharist and carol sing • Wednesday, December 5 – 7:00 p m. Advent Midweek Com- During Epiphany and the time after it, we marvel that Christ pline Worship . See page 5 for more details . is the light to reveal God’s salvation to the nations . So we hear • Sunday, December 9 – 9:30 a .m . Eucharist worship . 11:05 a .m . of wise ones from the East worshiping the child, and the first Sunday School for children ages 3 and up . 11:15 a m. A Forum public revelation of God’s beloved Son . with the Church Council — Q&A before the congregation meet- • Sunday, January 6 – 9:30 a .m . Eucharist worship . ing next Sunday . After worship, come to the gym for an Epiphany party with spe- cial treats, a blessing of our church building, and a welcoming of the three Magi . Expanded Issue • Sunday, January 13 – 9:30 a .m . Eucharist worship . 11:05 a .m . To prevent additional stress of putting out a January Cou- Sunday School for children ages 3 and up . 11:15 a .m . Forum . rier during Christmas, this issue covers events through the middle of January as much as possible . A short update for January will be published in the middle of that month . Check Out What’s Inside! Closeup . 4 Cookie Volunteers . 7 Birthdays . 2 Alternate Gift Giving . 4 Refugee Team . 7 Helping Hands . 2 Midweek Worship . 5 Christmas Cards . 7 Lectionary Readings . 3 Book Discussion 1 . 5 Forums . 8 Church Council . 3 Getting to Know Erica . 6 Little Courier . 9 Finnish Christmas . 3 Epiphany Party . 6 Calendar . 10 & 11 Stewardship . 3 Book Discussion 2 . 6 Extras . 12 Christ Church Lutheran December Helping Hands 3244 34th Avenue South & early for December and Minneapolis, MN 55406 January 612 .721 .6611 January mail@christchurchluth .org Birthdays November/December christchurchluth .org Bob Anderson & John Schmidt A Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran 12/2 Traci Bosen Church in America Carol Flanders Jason Bergquist A Reconciling in Christ Congregation Ina Ziegler Sarah Brunsvold & Jeff Weispfen- ning A National Historic Landmark 12/3 Isis Faulk Find us on Facebook: Christ Church 12/5 Clayton Jelinek Ernie Caltvedt Lutheran, Minneapolis (@CCLmpls) 12/7 Mary Brown Siri Caltvedt Find us on Instagram: 12/8 Jeremy Gustafson Kristine & David Denton @christchurchlutheranmpls 12/14 Nate Perbix Hilary Gebauer & Marc Katz Office Hours 12/15 Cheryl Leuning Barb & Ron Johnson Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00 a .m .–2:00 p .m . Rita Schoenike Jodi McGuire & Aaron Amosson 12/21 James Bartsch Maria Markman Sunday Worship Eucharist 9:30 a .m ., followed by fellowship 12/23 Elena Hilding Marge Meffert September 23 through May 12/29 Cathy Sieving Kevin Olsen Gary Wahlstrom Godly Play for children ages 3–6, 11:05am–12:00 Yi-ru Chen-Sarkanen & Simo Sar- Spark! for children ages 7 & up, 11:05am–12:00 12/30 Del Kneibel kanen Educational forum, 11:15am–12:15pm 1/2 Ray Peters Clayton Jelinek 1/3 Nick Goddard Staff Bob Victorin-Vangerud Pastors Pastor Kristine Carlson 1/4 LeAnn Bergquist January/February Marudas Pastor Erik Haaland Mary Brown & Luther Johnson Cantors Pastor Robert Farlee 1/6 Evelyn Wermager John Buegel Pastor Martin Seltz 1/10 Meyer Schoenike Dawn Dankers & Michelle Hovey Office Administrator Erica Doss Rodriguez Christian Schoenike Donna & Pete Gawreluk Children’s Minister Director Tyler Egge 1/11 Alana Young Nick Goddard Facilities Chuck Merrell 1/12 Nora Katz Liz & Roger Gomoll Courier Team Hilary Gebauer 1/18 Amanda Jenkins-Buegel Marc Katz Pamela Krueger Tim Hokkanen Pastor Kristine Carlson 1/19 Micah Buckley-Farlee Anna Mason & Kevin Kniebel Congregation Council If you are not named above, Robyn & Marcus Nooney President Matthew Courtney and should be, or your birthdate Claire Rosenkvist Vice President Dan Mueller is inaccurate, please call the church office 612.721.6611 Rita & Ken Schoenike Secretary Kate Haugen Susan & Levi Stugelmeyer Treasurer Melody Pauling Cathy Sieving Council Members Hilary Gebauer Max Herzberg Morrie Wee DeAne Lagerquist Karen Woestehoff Marcus Nooney Rachel Slater All church members are part of Helping Hands. You may be asked to help with Sunday Coffee and hospitality-related events as needed. Mary Bode is the coordinator. Call the church office to connect with her. 2 Lectionary Readings Lectionary Readings Joulu: A Magical for December for early January Finnish Christmas December 2 January 6 Saturday, December 8, 1:00 p.m. First Sunday of Advent Epiphany of Our Lord The Finnish community invites you to a service of Christmas Carols Jeremiah 33:14-16 Isaiah 60:1-6 in the Christ Church sanctuary . Psalm 25:1-10 Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 Afterwards you are invited to the 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Ephesians 3:1-12 gym to purchase Finnish treats and Luke 21:25-36 Matthew 2:1-12 shop the Tori (market) until 5:00 December 9 January 13 p .m . All are welcome! Second Sunday of Advent Baptism of Our Lord Malachi 3:1-4 Isaiah 43:1-7 Can you see our latest vis- itor? This rabbit has been Luke 1:68-79 Psalm 29 visiting the courtyard . A Philippians 1:3-11 Acts 8:14-17 new friend for our new Of- Luke 3:1-6 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 fice Administrator, Erica December 16 Doss Rodriguez . Photo Credit: Pastor Haaland. Third Sunday of Advent Zephaniah 3:14-20 From the Church Council Isaiah 12:2-6 Update for December Philippians 4:4-7 The November Council meeting was postponed due to the Thanksgiving Holiday . A de- Luke 3:7-18 tailed report of our meeting will be provided in the next Courier. Our November agenda December 23 will include three financial recommendations by the Executive Committee: 1) transfer- ring remaining funds from the Organ Launch Trust Fund (#3046 .1) to the Music Series Fourth Sunday of Advent Trust Fund (#3046) to support 2019 events; 2) amending the construction contract to Micah 5:2-5a complete the sanctuary roof project; and 3) utilizing available Second Century Funds Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7 to supplement construction costs in the organ/choir loft associated with the installation Hebrews 10:5-10 of the Dobson Organ . The agenda will also include discussion of Pastor Haaland’s 2019 Luke 1:39-45 [46-55] sabbatical, which was approved at our October meeting . Then, our main business will be to develop a 2019 budget to be presented to the congregation . Our annual Congregation December 24 Meeting will be called for December 16, after worship . It is expected that the agenda Nativity of our Lord, Christmas Eve will include consideration of the 2019 Church Budget and election of Council Officers Isaiah 9:2-7 and Members . A full agenda will be included in the formal announcement sent to Christ Church members . Council will host a forum after worship on December 9 to preview the Psalm 96 meeting’s agenda and to answer questions . Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Council would like to thank the congregation for its generous support of the mission and ministry of Christ Church and its response to this year’s stewardship campaign, “Out December 25 of Love ”. The Stewardship Committee’s wonderful work included a Pancake Breakfast Nativity of our Lord, Christmas and weekly Temple Talks by Howard Polsfuss, Noah Niermann, Ina Ziegler, and Car- mina Stensland.