“Who, me? You’ve got to be kidding!”Sound familiar? We often speak similarwords when presented with an opportunityto stretch, to go beyond our “comfortzones,” to dare to venture out into unchart-ed territory. Change and challenge are dif-ficult. They bring anxiety and confusion;they can turn our world upside down.We can identify with Mary’s initialresponse to the angel’s announcement thatshe was to give birth to the Christ. Our texttells us she was “much perplexed” andneeded time to ponder just what all thecommotion was about (Luke 1:29). Herfirst words were a question: “How can thisbe?” (Luke 1:34 NRSV)The angel Gabriel reminded Mary of thepower of God’s Holy Spirit – the samepower that through God’s word broughtlife out of nothing in creation, the samepower that brought budding life to elderlyElizabeth. With this Spirit, the impossibleis possible. And Mary’s words quicklychanged from a question, “How can thisbe?” to an affirmation of willing trust: “Letit be with me according to your word.”As faithful disciples of Christ, we, too,have been called to do new and excitingthings. God has blessed us with uniquegifts and talents, and God has placed us inopportunities to use and share the gifts. Wemay wonder at times whether we have theright “stuff” to do what we are called to do.The task often seems impossible. Even as we speak our doubts and reserva-tions, we hear the story of two women:Elizabeth, too old to conceive; and Mary,too young. If God’s Spirit was able to movein each of them to do the impossible, whoknows what “impossible” ventures God isbirthing within you? May our response be as Mary’s: “Here Iam, the servant of the Lord; let it be withme according to your word.” (Luke 1:38NRSV)PrayerCome, Lord Jesus and be our guest. Grantus bold and trusting faith, that we might beinstruments and bearers of your love.Amen.

ConnectionsS t . M a t t h e w L u t h e ra n C h u rc h – C o n n e c t i n g Fa i t h W i t h L i fe !

CALENDAR of EVENTS

SAT., DECEMBER 23FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

10am-12pm Concord RoomReserved/Al-Anon Mtg.

5:00 pm Holden Evening Prayer

SUN., DECEMBER 24FOURTH SUNDAY

OF ADVENT 9:30 am Worship 10:45 am Coffee FellowshipSunday School & Adult Forum

resume Jan. 7Christmas Eve Services

7pm and 11pm Candlelight Services with Holy Communion

MON., DECEMBER 25CHRISTMAS DAY

Office ClosedNo Morning Prayer Group,

Pastor Text StudyPastor Bob on vacationthrough January 3, 2018

TUES., DECEMBER 26 7:00 pm Boy Scouts

No Bell Choir Rehearsal Tonight

WED., DECEMBER 27No Bible Study or Choir Rehearsal Tonight

THURS., DECEMBER 28 9:30 am Women’s Bible Study

at Prairie Winds

SAT., DECEMBER 3010am-12pm Concord Room

Reserved/Al-Anon Mtg.No 5:00pm Service This Evening

SUN., DECEMBER 31

NEW YEARS EVE 9:30 am Lessons & Carols10:45 am Coffee Fellowship

Sunday School & Adult Forum resume Jan. 7

STAFF OF ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCHPHONE: 367-1189 www.stmatthewurbana.org

Pastor Robert J. RasmusAssociate Pastor Maggie FalenschekOffice Manager Gayla PellumNursery Ruby Splittstoesser & Emma LacefieldParish Nurses Aziza Awate, Kathie Pound, and Beth Riddle

Connections Deadline: Submit announcements in writing to the church office or by e-mailto gayla.stm@stmatthewurbana.org no later than 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Thank you!

Please note: Names on the list for prayers will be posted for one month unless otherwise requested.Please contact the church office with any updates or extensions. Thank you.

Msgr. Greg Ketchum, friend of Vickie HartAndrew Rogers, friend of Jill QuisenberryLaurie Padjen, friend of the Deck familySpecialist Sean Splittstoesser,

grandson of Ruby & Dan SplittstoesserBrody Welshofer, friend of Danielle DeckJulie, colleague of Sarah LoftusNic Brandon and family,

friends of the Daly familyDonna Gehrt, aunt of Jill DalyChris Galvin, friend of Morgan JohnsonMacy Slade Tester,

friend of Mel & Liz SchwartzRita, sister of Diane DurbinTerry Green & family,

friends of John & Peg WarrinerVickie Fitzsimmons,

sister-in-law of Shirley ShawRita, niece of Liz & Mel SchwartzVirginia & Meghan,

friends of Chris Bedford****************Steve & Becky Denzer,

friends of Leonard & Judy Wilson and Dorothy Graham

Epifanio (Epi) Santibanez,friend of Garris Graham

****************Jerry Ulrich,

brother-in-law of Betsy Barringer****************

Eugene Rothrock, father of Vicky CoffinBarb Frantz, friend of Diana Marshall****************Sharon Hedrick John GantzIsabella Gonzalez Muryl OhmsRita Vanier Mandi GillilandSuzanne Ross Danielle DeckBruce Carroll Hervin BuhrGerald Smith Garris GrahamRod Warfield Lana WegengDan Splittstoesser Cherylin StiversGary Hedge****************Remember our shut-ins:Vivian Larson Elaine EbelingLeona Saathoff

In loving memory of ˜Ruth Natvig,

mother of Connie Minnesand

RuthAmy, friend of Garris Graham

Please include their family & friendsin your special thoughts & prayers.

May God welcome theminto the kingdom of heaven.

PrayerRequests

Welcome!St. Matthew Lutheran Church is a fellowship of Christian believers

called to: grow in Christ, share the Gospel, serve God’s people.Do come again to

St. Matthew Lutheran Churchwhere you are always welcome.

Worship ServicesSaturday, 5:00pm A relaxed and informal worship held in ourChrist Chapel.

Sunday, 8:30 am Spirited traditional worship that focuses onparticipation through the liturgy, the greathymns of the Church, & corporate confession of our faith. Sunday, 10:45 amPraise & worship in an open & accessible style.

Stephen MinistryChristmas – A Time for ReflectionChristmas is the appropriate season to reflect on ourgifts and to share them gratefully. It is the gift givingseason and here are some thoughts to ponder.

Take time each day to pray with your hands open,palms up. Let the attitude of your heart be one inwhich you place in your hands all the gifts you have been given by God. Knowthat you can give them away and God will provide what you need.Take time to reflect on the people of your life who are special gifts to you.Choose one who might need to hear your appreciation and affirmation. Writethat person a letter of thanksgiving.Give away something material that you cherish and hold dear. Give it away withno strings attached.

A generous heart is one that can give freely of nonmaterial gifts such as compassion,understanding, patience and forgiveness. Give it away with no strings attached.The STM Stephen Ministers remind you to reflect on how God has been generousto you and as you give away some of what you cherish and hold dear, may yourheart grow in wisdom that “no one ever becomes poor by giving.”Thoughts from Fresh Bread and Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment by JoyceRuppIf you are interested in learning more about the help Stephen Ministry can provide,talk to Pastor Bob, Pastor Maggie, or Mike Krumwiede.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDYThe WELCA Bible Study will meet at Prairie Winds of Urbana... likelast year we will meet on the same day (last Thursday of the month)and at the same time (9:30am). If you would like to join the women'sBible studies based on the Gather magazine Bible studies (& we would welcome anyother Bible study ideas) pick up one of the complimentary copies of the magazinetoday in the narthex & join us on December 28th for fellowship & coffee. Hope to seeyou then! Thanks ladies, Mary Anderson, Bible Study coordinatorHAVE AN EXTRA CHRISTMAS CARD?When you are filling out your Christmas Cards this year,please take a card and send it to this address:

A Recovering American Soldier; C.O. Walter Reed Army Medical Center; 6900 Georgia Avenue; N W; Washington, D.C. 20307-5001.

Please pass this on and think of how many cards these wonderful special peoplewho have sacrificed so much would get. It's the least we can do!

POINSETTIAS - STILL TIME!It is time to order our poinsettias to decorate the altar forChristmas. For only $7.50 each, beautiful 6” foil covered potswith big blooms will be delivered to church in time for ourChristmas Eve services. A sign up sheet is located on the bulletin board in the narthex. Thank you!

Weekly Events UpdatesPlease note that Wednesday Adult Bible Study, Adult Choir Practice, Bell Choir & Youth Huddle

will resume in early January 2018.Also, there will not be a service

the evening of Saturday, December 30th.Merry Christmas!

ALTAR FLOWERSThe flowers on the altar this weekend are given by ChrisBedford in honor of her parents, Erika & Velde Johnson, Jr.They would have been married 70 years!Help make our altar beautiful! Celebrate a birthday, anniver-sary, someone’s life or just because. The 2018 sign up sheetis now posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.

It’s Time to Make Up the Next Worship Assistant Schedule!I will be scheduling worship assistants in early January for theFebruary through May 2018 services. If you are currentlypart of the schedule, please contact me to let me know if youare unavailable for certain weekends and/or if you have ascheduling preference.We can add people to any of the assisting duties and wouldlove to see more of you helping out! If you are currentlynot on our schedule, please consider giving any of ourassisting positions a try! We are especially in need ofpeople for Altar Guild, Sound Technician, CoffeeFellowship & Visitor Team areas. We will be happy totrain anyone who is interested. We would love to haveyour smiling face be part of our team of worship assistants!Please have your requests and/or preferences emailed to me at my officeaddress (gayla.stm@stmatthewurbana.org) no later than January 10th. If youhave any questions please give me a call at the office .

Thank you! Gayla Pellum

NEW OFFERING ENVELOPESYour 2018 offering envelopes are available for pick up inthe narthex now. They are arranged alphabetically. Pleaserecycle any 2017 envelopes you had left at the end of theyear. Also, if you give through Simply Giving you stillhave envelope packets to be picked up. Envelope packetsnot picked up will soon be mailed out at an expense to thechurch. Please get yours today!

JUST A REMINDER…If you have made changes to your pledge to St. Matthew’sfor 2018 and generously give through our Simply Givingprogram please be sure to update your Simply Giving bycompleting a new form that was included in your acknowl-edgment letter & returning it to church. Forms are also avail-able in the back of the sanctuary and in the church office. Thank you for your supportof the ministries and programs of St. Matthew Lutheran Church.

Randy Alumbaugh, Financial Secretary

ADULT MISSION TRIPWe have set the date for another mission trip toNew Orleans. We will be going from February 17-24, 2018. We will be working with an organzia-tion called lowernine.org this year. If you are interested, please let me know. Anyquestions call 217-552-3876 or email jwarriner51@live.com. John Warriner

SALT & LIGHT VOLUNTEER DAYS Salt & Light, a local ministry that connects families in need with com-munity resources, has a new location right down the street! On Friday,January 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 20 from1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., we’ll be visiting this new location to learn moreabout their services (including how they’ll work with Sola Gratia) andvolunteer in their store. Members can sign up on the Social Ministry bul-letin board located in the narthex. If you have any questions, email Laura Podeschi atlepodeschi@gmail.com or call her at 217-417-7188. Let’s give Salt & Light a warm wel-come to the neighborhood!

MEN’S COFFEE – JOIN US FOR A SECOND CUPOur Men’s Coffee group meets twice a month. All available STM men areinvited to gather for a cup of coffee & conversation on the first and thirdTuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 2,2018 at 10:00am in the Harvest Market on South Neil St. in Champaign.Men of all ages are welcome & encouraged to join our discussions.

“LET’S DO LUNCH” LADIES LUNCHEON Join us on the second Friday of each month at 11:30 am at a differ-ent restaurant each month. No age limit, no jobs to do, no coloredhats to wear, nothing to study, strictly social & fun. Come when youcan whatever months you can. The next lunch will be held Friday,January 12th at Oishi on North Prospect in Champaign. The sign up sheet is posted onthe bulletin board in the narthex If you forget to sign up... come anyway! Women of allages are welcome!

HAVE YOU MOVED? ARE YOU A Snow BIRD?Are you moving to a new address or headed to asunny, warm climate this winter? Please let theoffice know! We need your new mailing addressor if you will temporarily away we need to knowwhen you will be leaving AND when you return.We need update our mailing labels with your new address. Ifyou’re just away for the winter months, we can hold yournewsletter or we can send it to your “warm” address. The post office charges usand the mailman collects cash from the office for our returned mail.

January Adult Forum SeriesThe Adult Forums in January are designed to get your inputon the pending question of launching a capital campaign forbuilding improvements and financial stability, in turn, grow-ing and expanding our mission and ministry. Four uniqueforums are designed to present information and listen to yourinterests and concerns as it relates to a potential campaign.

Please consider attending the forums to learn and share yourthoughts. The Adult Forums follow the 8:30am service andare held in the Augsburg Room.

Our Building NeedsSunday, January 7, 2018Thursday, January 11, 2018 / 6:30PM (repeat session)This session will focus on the physical upgrades needed forour church facility. Following a presentation, participantswill have the opportunity to share their thoughts about facili-ties and how they are needed to carry out the mission.

Understanding Budget and StewardshipSunday, January 14, 2018This session will present an overview of the church budgetand the results of the annual stewardship campaign in an easyto understand format. Attendees will have a chance to see theconnection between giving, executing the mission, and bal-ancing the books.

Our Church MissionSunday, January 21, 2018Grow, Share, Serve. This session will explore what this mis-sion means and highlight the different ways it is carried out.Discussion will also focus on how this mission relates to thephysical needs of our church facility.

Recap and PrioritiesSunday, January 28, 2018This session recaps the perspectives heard in the first threeforums and begins to make priorities. This discussion willprovide a structure for the Church Council, and ultimately thecongregation, to consider the question of launching a capitalcampaign.