7th Annual Heritage Craft Faire Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 9am – 3pm Hand made items from local crafters with a variety of gifts, jewelry, home décor and “must have” special objects. Visit the A! Bistro for homemade pastries, soup, sandwiches, and desserts. The suggested donation to shop at the Craft Faire is $1 or non-perishable items for the food pantry. Seeking volunteers on Friday, Dec. 2nd & Saturday, Dec. 3rd. Multiple time slots are available. To get connected, call Laura Bowler in the church office at 630-904-3311, x245. Christmas Pageant Experience Details on pg. 4 Adult Learning Opportunity Details on pg. 5
Hand made items from local crafters with a variety of gifts, jewelry, home décor and “must have” special objects. Visit the A! Bistro for homemade pastries, soup, sandwiches, and desserts. The suggested donation to shop at the Craft Faire is $1 or non-perishable items for the food pantry.
Seeking volunteers on Friday, Dec. 2nd & Saturday, Dec. 3rd. Multiple time slots are available. To get connected, call Laura Bowler in the church office at 630-904-3311, x245.
Christmas Pageant Experience
Details
on pg. 4 Adult Learning Opportunity
Details on pg. 5
2
The Carols of Christmas proclaim God’s love
To a world, broken and dark.
A light has shined, God’s Son, sent from above.
The herald angels sing, Hark!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, we pray.
Open wide our heav’nly place!
Satan, defeated; God’s love wins the day,
May we know His love and grace.
Joy to the World! The earth receives her King!
Make Him room, this baby boy.
Rejoicing, heaven and nature do sing.
We repeat the sounding joy!
“What Child is This?” Generations ask.
Shepherds watch. Angels greet Him.
He will take up the cross, this is His task.
New life, He brings; come meet Him.
Away in a Manger, the King sleeps.
Jesus, what gift can I bring?
In the flesh; God’s promises, He keeps.
Carols of Christmas, we sing!
-Pastor Tim Housholder, Christmas 2016
From our home to yours, a Merry & Blessed Christmas!
4-week Advent Series: The Carols of Christmas
Each year, the four weekends of worship prior to Christmas are called
“The Season of Advent.” Advent, in Christian circles, means “the arrival
of Jesus” and/or “the second coming of Jesus.” The former points to
His birth at Christmas—God in flesh! The latter points to His glorious
return; at that time God will complete His plan for creation. Both
understandings of “advent” apply for the Christ-follower, as we
prepare for Christmas. This series will connect one of the
well-known Christmas Carols to the Scriptures each weekend.
3
535 Shoeboxes!
Advent Conspiracy Giving Tree
Please take a tag from one of the Advent Conspiracy Giving Trees (Upstairs Gathering
Area and The Underground). There are options for giving time as well as giving
resources. Follow the instructions on the tag and return it to the Advent Conspiracy Donation Box by Dec. 18th. Donations of gifts for LSSI Foster Kids must be returned
The “Christmas Pageant Experience” will be held SUNDAY, DEC. 4th, 3:00-4:15!
All ages can participate in the Christmas Pageant Experience! No rehearsals necessary! There’s something for everyone! After the music and drama portion of the pageant, we will enjoy games, activities, and refreshments in the CLC! We would love to have you join us!
Created By God: Tweens, Faith and Sexuality for 5th graders Class schedule is as follows:
January 6th, 2017 12:30-4:30pm January 28th, 2917 12:30-4:30pm January 29th, 2017 12:30-4:30pm
The registration deadline is December 20th. Please click HERE to register.
Safe Crossings (Parents Only) Tuesday, January 17, 6:30 - 8:00pm
Safe Crossings is a free seminar to show parents how to help their youth successfully navigate the bridge of adolescence, and cross safely over the threshold between childhood and adulthood. Instructor is Rev. Adrienne Ann Ilseman. Click HERE to register.
Please volunteer for KidsConnect! Come and be a part of the FUN! We are need of Station Leaders and Student Shepherds for the remaining rotations:
February 11th—March 5th (Mary and Martha Lesson) March 18th—April 23rd (David Lesson) April 30th—May28th (The Sower Lesson)
The Children’s Ministry Winter Games are just around the corner, and we need your help to get ready. You can help from home or help at church. Contact Michele Nelson to get involved at [email protected]!
Leader Training: Contemplative Listening When: Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 6:30-8:00pm Where: Community Room Who: Connect! Group Leaders, AND Anyone who desires to listen to others on a deeper, more spiritual level. Childcare: Yes (must register online) Register Today: CLICK HERE Contemplative Listening requires that we surrender our self-centered perspective and focus on the story and needs of the other. It is a sign of Godly love. Join Pastor Tammy as she teaches the art of Contemplative (Holy) Listening. Learn how to create a sense of trust and openness with those in your Connect Group and others within your community. Dessert and beverages will be served.
Start the New Year off right by joining a Connect Group! These groups are a core focus of our Alleluia! Mission to “Enable All to Come, Connect, and Commit to Jesus.” We are committed to these small groups as a way to grow closer to God, His Word, and one another. Connect Groups are centered around Christ, and typically consist of 6-12 adults who meet regularly to:
*Make authentic Christian Friendships *Read and discuss the Word of God and apply it to life *Pray together and for one another *Be serious about mission in their daily lives
Please click HERE to find a list of available groups. Scroll down to “For a listing of available Connect Groups, click HERE,” or contact Adult Ministries Director Darcy Jasien at [email protected].
“The Real Christmas Story” with Pastor Tim Housholder When: Two Wednesdays – December 7th & 14th, 7pm to 8pm. Where: Community Room Cost: Free – bring your Bibles & something to write with Child Care: Yes (must register online) Register Today: CLICK HERE Join Senior Pastor Tim Housholder in this two-week course, as he unpacks with you the true, biblical Christmas story. Are there parts of the story we think we know but never happened? What role did all of the different people play in the story? What parts are legend and what parts are biblical? You will learn something about what really happened before, during, and after the birth of Jesus in the Christmas story. Invite a friend! Come and see!
Coming in 2017
February: Sharing Your Story March: A Window to the Soul (A course on Healing and Wholeness)
Join us as speaker Sue Heimer helps us learn to “Let Go” of negative baggage and live up to our full potential of what God is doing “in” and “through” us.
Alleluia! Women’s Retreat
January 28-29, 2017 (January 27th optional)
Hilton Suites Oakbrook
New Member Hospitality Team
You are invited to join Pastor Tammy in welcoming and caring for our New Members,
as they acclimate into our Alleluia! family. We are looking for members with the gift
of hospitality to participate in quarterly New Member Orientations, and to walk with
New Members through their first year of membership. Contact Pastor Tammy at
[email protected] if you are interested in being a part of this new team!
This year we welcome international Christian women’s speaker, Sue Heimer, known for her humorous, witty, and transparent speaker style. Sue’s deep love for her Lord is obvious as she weaves the truth of God's Word throughout her presentations.
To view the retreat brochure, click HERE.
To register online for the retreat, click HERE.
To register online for your hotel room, click HERE.
—For those who choose to extend their weekend by arriving on Friday, the 27th, Laura Bowler will be making reservations at a nice restaurant for whoever is interested. Payment for this is on your own. Email Laura with questions or to express interest at [email protected].
When: January 29, 2017 (5:00-7:00pm) Where: Community Room A light dinner will be served, and childcare will be provided. Contact Laura Bowler at 630-904-3311, x245 or [email protected] to register for this class and become a member of Alleluia!
Hey, Alleluia! The worship team is seeking piano
players interested in joining us!
Please contact Conor Hughes for more information at
I want to give my thanks and let you know what a privilege it has been to be a part of your lives and your family's lives over the years. As the Counselor on staff at Alleluia! for the
last 20 years, I have had the opportunity to walk along side many in this congregation over the years, as we went through life's trials, and learned to manage the difficulties of mental illness. These challenges are personal, spiritual, and physical. I have been inspired, and moved by the work and patience my clients put in to heal and move on from the pain of grief and loss, divorce, family issues, and illness.
I am stepping down from counseling as part of the Alleluia! staff, to step into retirement with my husband Roger. We hope to spend time with family and travel, which does not offer clients weekly care. Your support as a congregation has been invaluable to me. My journey began in 1996 as Alleluia! moved into this building and began the process of care and spiritual growth with a Parish nurse and counselor.
I was on the counsel in 1993 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church when we voted to build a church in south Naperville, Alleluia! This has been a wonderful journey in faith and growth for me to watch this congregation become the place it is today.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve in your community. Pastor Mark arrived soon after I was here and has been a good friend and support. I value getting to know all of you over the years, at women’s retreats, programs, and in the office.
May Alleluia! continue to be a vibrant and growing church where you care and connect with other.
~Jane Kahle
We wish Jane well in her retirement!
Advent Wreath Volunteers
Thank you for volunteering to be
a reader and light our Advent
candles. Directions and your
reading will be emailed to you
prior to the service for
which you are signed up.
Please print and bring them with you on the day of
your reading.
12/3 5:00pm The Soczka Family
12/4 9:00am The Bynum Family
12/4 10:15am The White Family
12/4 11:30 am Steve & Sonia Hertogs, Sean
12/10 5:00pm The Kucharski Family
12/11 9:00am Dale & Armandina Goetz
12/11 10:15am The Fair Family
12/11 11:30am The Hays Family
12/17 5:00pm The Cottrill Family
12/18 9:00am The Wheeler Family
12/18 10:15am The Frost Family
12/18 11:30am The Kent Nelson Family
WAYSIDE CROSS
MINISTRIES BIN
Alleluia! now has a Wayside Cross donation bin in our lower parking lot
next to the paper recycling bin. It supports their resale shops in Aurora.
They accept clothing, shoes, towels, rags, and sheets in ANY CONDITION.
Only items that fit through the bin door can be accepted. Please do not
leave any items outside of the bin.
9
5:00pm Worship
Usher: Alan Cook
Communion: 12/3 Ginny Toepfer, 12/10 Dawn DeSart, 12/17 Kellie Kunz
Greeters: 12/3 Dave & Teresa Bishop, 12/10 Dave & Teresa Bishop, 12/17 Ed & Andrea Jacob
Altar: 12/4 Deb Bostjancic, 12/11 Deb Bostjancic, 12/18 Deb Bostjancic, 12/25 Deb Bostjancic
Communion: 12/4 Deb Bostjancic, Joel Fulgham, Sonia Hertogs, Sherry Tietz, Pastor 2, Pastor 3, Ellen Jacobson
12/11 Deb Bostjancic, Joel Fulgham, Sherry Tietz, Pastor 2, Pastor 3, Terri Rotheiser, Cathy Karas
12/18 Deb Bostjancic, Joel Fulgham, Sherry Tietz, Pastor 2, Pastor 3, Dorothy Bentel, Terri Rotheiser
12/25 Deb Bostjancic, Joel Fulgham, Cathy Fulgham, Dorothy Bentel, __________, __________, _________
Please click HERE to view all worship volunteer needs and to sign up.
Winter Months are currently open for sign ups. Please consider volunteering at the worship service time that you attend. All volunteer opportunities are scheduled by the week.
Please prayerfully consider serving. Hospitality areas are great opportunities to serve as a family!
You can sign up for specific dates you will be there for the Lector or Hospitality spots. Communion Servers and Ushers are scheduled by the month, but we can get coverage for you if you need to be gone.
If you plan to join us for worship on Christmas Day (only one service at 10:15am on Christmas), please consider signing up to help out at worship. Click HERE to see the volunteer openings for the 10:15am worship service on for December 25th.
