​Dear friends-
In the middle of all the tumult of the world, believers in Christ make it their business at this time of the year to pause and consider the incredible- the coming to earth as a human baby by the one, true, sovereign God.  

Hard to get your head around that, isn't it?

Paul the apostle wrote about it this way: "Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, and being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2:6,7)

I encourage you to consider what this means for you personally.  In anticipation of the amazing event, we will be focusing our attention this month on how his coming affects us, our loved ones, and our world.  I encourage you to take time to read Paul's thoughts in Philippians 2, and the gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke (chapters 1 and 2 in each book).  Consider how much God loves us, and savor that love in some moments of quiet reflection. Ask God to fill you with wonder as you consider this holy, selfless act.  Remember that he came for you, just as you are.

I'm looking forward to considering this together and worshipping the One who came...
Have a great month!
Gary

Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person and via Zoom.

                  12/1 - Worship Service and Communion Sunday

                  12/8 - Worship service followed by Congregational Meeting 

                  12/15 - Worship Service followed by fellowship at Tim and Judy Murphy's home.
                            - 9:30 am - board meets to put together Christmas boxes.
                            - 11:30 - Fellowship time at the Murphy's.
 
                  12/22 - Worship Service possibly followed by another special fellowship.  TBA

                  12/29 - Worship Service - Final Coin Collection of the year. 

Tuesdays - 12/24 - Christmas Eve Service - 4:30 PM in person in the sanctuary and via Zoom.

Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM. - no study on 12/25.

                     12/18 - Prayer Time - 1 PM - Sanctuary

Thursdays - 12/5 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM.


Other News -
Zoom - Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link

Jefferson Praire Invitation - The Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church is having a Magic Show for children of all ages on Saturday, December 7 at 2 PM.  We have been invited.  There will be a magic show, refreshments, and gift bags.  Sounds like a fun event to take your kids, grandkids, or neighbor kids.  Their address is 23184 Bergen Road. 

Congregational Meeting - 12/8 - Please plan on staying for a short congregational meeting after worship on Sunday, December 8. Decisions on the budget will be discussed.  Everyone's input is important. 

Helping Families - Every year we help families from the Caledonia School.  This year Judy Muphy has been in contact with two families in need.  Please talk to Judy if you have questions, want a list of ideas, or if you want to donate cash.  Please bring gifts to the church by December 15.  They can be wrapped or not.  If you wrap, please try to attach a post-it note to say what the gift is.  

Special Christmas Fellowship - 12/15 - On Sunday, December 15 we are invited to Tim and Judy Murphy's home for our fellowship time after the worship service. It only takes a couple of minutes to get to their home.  Perhaps carpool for easier parking. Their address is 15333 Caledonia Rd. This will be a wonderful time to gather together to enjoy each other's company and to enjoy some holiday treats. If you are interested in helping provide some of the treats, please talk to Judy. 

12/22 -  We are still looking for another home to gather on Sunday, December 22 for fellowship time.  If you are interested please talk to Jennifer. 

Prayer Time - 12/18 - Anyone wishing to pray or be prayed for is invited to come to the sanctuary on Wednesday 12/18 at 1 PM.

Christmas Eve Service - 12/24 - We took a survey and it was decided that there will be a Christmas Eve service this year.  We look forward to seeing you at 4:30 PM on Tuesday, December 24. We will sing Christmas carols, hear the Christmas story, hear a message, and close by candlelight. 

Thanks - Many thanks to those of you who helped decorate the church for Advent/Christmas.  As always, it looks beautiful. Thanks to those of you who made a donation and took some of the things from the pie room.  That money will go to the school families we are helping. 

Looking Ahead- 
Annual Meeting and Potluck - Sunday, January 12 will be our annual meeting and potluck after the worship service. if you attend this church you are welcomed and encouraged to attend. We have fabulous potlucks and that will be followed by a business meeting. We look at the past year and do some planning for the coming year.  Everyone's ideas and input are needed. Plan on bringing a dish or two to pass.  More information will be in the January newsletter. 

Friends-
I suppose we all know that Thanksgiving comes near the end of this month.  And probably, you expect me to remind you to be thankful all of the time.  Of course.  We should be.

My question is, will we be able to remain thankful whatever the outcome of the election on the 5th?

I can't remember a more contentious election for president.  Soon the votes will be cast and the decision made.  The question I'm asking again is, regardless of the outcome, will you be able to be thankful?

Scripture is clear that thanksgiving ought to be our regular attitude.  That it brings us into the presence of God.  Paul says clearly, "In everything give thanks." (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  Why this emphasis throughout the Bible?

Because God knows we need him, and thanksgiving is one of the best ways to embrace him.  Thanksgiving and trust are closely related.  When I tell God "thanks" in the middle of a difficult situation, I'm telling him, "I trust you!  I believe you intend my best.  I believe you are still in charge."

One way or the other, we will elect a new president on November 5.  But we will still have the same King.  Let's remember to worship and praise him, no matter what.
Have a great month!
Gary

Calendar
Saturdays - 11/2 - Daylight Savings Time ends - Turn your clock back one hour tonight. 

Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person and via Zoom.

                   11/3 - Worship Service and Communion

                   11/24 - Worship Service focused on Thanksgiving
                             - Decorate the church for Advent/Christmas following worship

Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM.
                     11/20 - Prayer Time - 1 PM - Sanctuary
  
Thursdays - 11/7 - Church Board Meeting via Zoom - 7 PM.

Other News 
Zoom - Please contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Upper Rooms - The November/December devotionals are out at the church.  Be sure to get one.

Prayer Time - 11/20 - Anyone wanting to pray or receive prayer is invited to come on Wednesday 11/20. We will meet in the sanctuary at 1 PM.

Church Decorating for Advent/Christmas - 11/24 - We will decorate the church for Advent/Christmas after worship on Sunday 11/24.  Please plan on staying to help.  It is always a fun time!

Lift Update - The congregation voted to approve the installation of a lift to the basement on October 6.  The work will begin in early November. Thanks to the trustees for all their work on this endeavor. 

Thanks - Thanks to Judy Murphy for organizing a potluck in October.  We had an amazing feast as usual. Thanks to everyone who brought food. 

Looking Ahead -
Christmas Fellowships - We are hoping to have a couple of Sunday fellowship times in homes during December. The last time we did this was back in 2019. It was very fun and festive. We want to try it again this year.  We are looking for a couple of homes that would be willing to host these. After worship instead of heading into the fellowship room, we would head over to someone's home.  We would also be looking for help for each of these hosts. That might include bringing some treats. set up, and/or clean up help. If you would be interested in hosting or helping please let Jennifer know. The potential dates are 12/8, 12/15, or 12/22

Friends- 
From time to time we need to re-think pretty much everything we say we know about God.  It's not so much that we are wrong, as that we are incomplete, we have forgotten key truths, and we have opted for edited revisions of the One who cannot be edited, diminished, or comprehended.

Our God is incomprehensible, vast, and wild beyond telling; to be feared and held in deepest awe- and yet makes himself available to the simplest child.

From time to time we need to remember the paradoxical nature of our God: fully love, and fully just; all-powerful and gently kind; hidden, but longing for us to seek and find him.

Take time to sit alone quietly with him. Ask him to forgive and remove your misconceptions.  Ask him to grant you child-like faith, and to be your ever-loving Abba.  From time to time...

Have a great month!
Gary



October Calendar
Sundays - Every Sunday - Worship Service - 10:30 am in person and via Zoom. 
                  10/6 - Worship and Communion 
                           - Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary after worship.

                  10/20 - Worship Service
                            - Fall Potluck downstairs after worship.

Wednesdays - Every Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom - 7 PM.
                   10/16 - Prayer Time - 1 PM - Sanctuary - information below. 


Other News -

Zoom - Contact Gary at [email protected] for the Zoom Link and Passcode is for all events on Zoom.

Congregational Meeting -10/6 - A congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, October 6 following the worship service. The trustees will present information on a lift to the basement.  The trustees have decided to call for a vote at the end of the meeting.  Please come with your thoughts and questions. 

Fall Potluck - 10/20 - Judy Murphy is planning a potluck and here is her information: "Join us for a potluck on Sunday, October 20 after church.  Now that the weather is cooler, it's time to look through your recipe boxes and cookbooks for good comfort food for fall.  Please bring a hot and cold dish to share if you are able.  Hot dishes could be a main course, beans, potatoes and cold dishes could be salads, bread, or dessert.  Don't feel limited by those suggestions. Please feel free to bring whatever you feel like sharing."

Prayer Time - 10/16  - Several of us have been gathering for prayer in recent months.  Now we are attempting to make it a regular time on the calendar.  We are proposing every third Wednesday of the month at 1 PM.  We invite anyone who wants to pray or receive prayer to come.   If you have interest but that time doesn't fit, let Gary know.  Our next gathering will be on October 16 in the sanctuary.  

Looking Ahead
Saturday - 11/2 - Daylight Savings Time ends - Turn your clock back one hour tonight.