Friends-
"Advent" means "a coming" or "a coming into being or use". It is the time of year when we celebrate the anticipated coming of Jesus, his becoming, and being one of us. It is really beyond comprehension, that God would become one of us, and yet, he did! And not just on a whim, but for the expressed purpose of our deliverance and freedom and eternal life with him.
It is a season marked by hope, faith, joy, peace, and love. It is a season of great expectations. It is a wonderful time to slow down and consider all that God has done for us. I would encourage you to do just that, despite, and because of. the hub-bub of the holidays. Allow yourself the gift of stillness as together we wait, and watch, and wonder, and worship this coming of our amazing Lord!
And we are not just looking back! No, it is with joyful anticipation that advent reminds us that Jesus is coming again- and every single day brings us closer to that. That day will end time as we know it. Are you eager? Are you ready? Hope so...
With you in Him,
Gary
CALENDAR
Saturday December 6 - 5 PM - Potluck and Evening Hike at Severson Dells - Join us at Gary and Jennifer's for a potluck and then we head down to Severson Dells for a hike through the woods with luminaries to light the way. Then we will go inside their education center for hot chocolate and live music. A very fun evening. RSVP to Jennifer.
Sunday December 7 - Worship Service with Communion - 10:30 am - 2nd Sunday in Advent - Hill family providing music. - Congregational Meeting - held in the sanctuary after the service. Financial decisions to be made. Thursday December 11 - Church Board Meeting - 7 PM - Church Fellowship Room
Sunday December 14 - Worship Service - 10:30 am - 3rd Sunday in Advent
- No refreshments following service, plan instead to attend the party tonight!
- Christmas Party - 6 PM - 9 PM - Gary and Jennifer's Home - Come for the whole evening or just drop in for a short time - Appetizers and Sweet Treats provided - Plan on an evening of food, fellowship, and perhaps some singing of your favorite Christmas carols!
Thursday December 18 - Community Dinner at Poplar Grove Church - our turn to serve this dinner. Talk to Sandy Free if interested.
Sunday December 21 - Worship Service - 10:30 am - 4th Sunday in Advent
Wednesday December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 7 PM
- Cookies and Punch served afterwards in the fellowship room.
Thursday December 25 - Celebrate Christ's Birth! Merry Christmas!
Sunday December 28 - Worship Service - 10:30 am
STUDY/GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Sundays - Adult Bible Study - will not meet in December.
Wednesdays - Potluck and Bible Study - 6 PM - Barrick's Home - will meet December 3 and 10, then break until the new year.
Saturdays - Men's Book Study - 8:30 am - Dandy Donuts on Riverside. Talk to Cam Staman to see about meeting dates.
New Study - Thursday Book Study for women is coming back starting in January. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp will be read and discussed. Start up date is tentatively January 22 at Judy Murphy's home. Talk to Jennifer if interested.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Greeters - Please take a turn and be a greeter. Sign up in the fellowship room.
Community Dinner - We are committed to serving this the third Thursday of each month. Talk to Sandy Free if you can help.
Blue Barrel - Collecting food for the holidays. Also continue to bring new or gently used towels. Pregnancy Care Center - Collecting baby items for this organization that Tiffany directs. See full list at the church.
Christmas Eve cookies - Could you donate some cookies for our Christmas Eve fellowship time? Bring that night or put in the church's freezer ahead of time and mark them for Christmas eve. Thanks so much !
Refreshments - Our weekly sign up is in the fellowship room. The last Sunday in December we are asking anyone who can, to bring a plate of goodies .
OTHER NEWS
Dish Cloths - For sale in the fellowship room. $1.75 each or 3/$5.00.
Cookbooks - Great Christmas present! $5.00 each
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday January 9- Pizza and Movie Night - Dolphin Tale part 2 - Church Basement - We had a full basement last time!
Sunday January 11 - All Church Annual Meeting and Potluck - directly after worship.
"Advent" means "a coming" or "a coming into being or use". It is the time of year when we celebrate the anticipated coming of Jesus, his becoming, and being one of us. It is really beyond comprehension, that God would become one of us, and yet, he did! And not just on a whim, but for the expressed purpose of our deliverance and freedom and eternal life with him.
It is a season marked by hope, faith, joy, peace, and love. It is a season of great expectations. It is a wonderful time to slow down and consider all that God has done for us. I would encourage you to do just that, despite, and because of. the hub-bub of the holidays. Allow yourself the gift of stillness as together we wait, and watch, and wonder, and worship this coming of our amazing Lord!
And we are not just looking back! No, it is with joyful anticipation that advent reminds us that Jesus is coming again- and every single day brings us closer to that. That day will end time as we know it. Are you eager? Are you ready? Hope so...
With you in Him,
Gary
CALENDAR
Saturday December 6 - 5 PM - Potluck and Evening Hike at Severson Dells - Join us at Gary and Jennifer's for a potluck and then we head down to Severson Dells for a hike through the woods with luminaries to light the way. Then we will go inside their education center for hot chocolate and live music. A very fun evening. RSVP to Jennifer.
Sunday December 7 - Worship Service with Communion - 10:30 am - 2nd Sunday in Advent - Hill family providing music. - Congregational Meeting - held in the sanctuary after the service. Financial decisions to be made. Thursday December 11 - Church Board Meeting - 7 PM - Church Fellowship Room
Sunday December 14 - Worship Service - 10:30 am - 3rd Sunday in Advent
- No refreshments following service, plan instead to attend the party tonight!
- Christmas Party - 6 PM - 9 PM - Gary and Jennifer's Home - Come for the whole evening or just drop in for a short time - Appetizers and Sweet Treats provided - Plan on an evening of food, fellowship, and perhaps some singing of your favorite Christmas carols!
Thursday December 18 - Community Dinner at Poplar Grove Church - our turn to serve this dinner. Talk to Sandy Free if interested.
Sunday December 21 - Worship Service - 10:30 am - 4th Sunday in Advent
Wednesday December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - 7 PM
- Cookies and Punch served afterwards in the fellowship room.
Thursday December 25 - Celebrate Christ's Birth! Merry Christmas!
Sunday December 28 - Worship Service - 10:30 am
STUDY/GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Sundays - Adult Bible Study - will not meet in December.
Wednesdays - Potluck and Bible Study - 6 PM - Barrick's Home - will meet December 3 and 10, then break until the new year.
Saturdays - Men's Book Study - 8:30 am - Dandy Donuts on Riverside. Talk to Cam Staman to see about meeting dates.
New Study - Thursday Book Study for women is coming back starting in January. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp will be read and discussed. Start up date is tentatively January 22 at Judy Murphy's home. Talk to Jennifer if interested.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Greeters - Please take a turn and be a greeter. Sign up in the fellowship room.
Community Dinner - We are committed to serving this the third Thursday of each month. Talk to Sandy Free if you can help.
Blue Barrel - Collecting food for the holidays. Also continue to bring new or gently used towels. Pregnancy Care Center - Collecting baby items for this organization that Tiffany directs. See full list at the church.
Christmas Eve cookies - Could you donate some cookies for our Christmas Eve fellowship time? Bring that night or put in the church's freezer ahead of time and mark them for Christmas eve. Thanks so much !
Refreshments - Our weekly sign up is in the fellowship room. The last Sunday in December we are asking anyone who can, to bring a plate of goodies .
OTHER NEWS
Dish Cloths - For sale in the fellowship room. $1.75 each or 3/$5.00.
Cookbooks - Great Christmas present! $5.00 each
LOOKING AHEAD
Friday January 9- Pizza and Movie Night - Dolphin Tale part 2 - Church Basement - We had a full basement last time!
Sunday January 11 - All Church Annual Meeting and Potluck - directly after worship.
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