MONTHLY BEACON Volume 8, Number 12 December 2015 Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord OLIVET The greatest announcement the world has ever received is found in Luke 2:10-12 - The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." During this most wonderful time of the year we as Christians are not only receivers of this announcement, but we are also to share the good news by announcing to a lost world that Jesus Christ has come to give them life. This "announcement" often comes through the way we live our lives in front of our fellow co-workers, friends, and family members. While they will often not read a Bible if placed in front of them, we realize that our lives are often the only "bible" that people are reading and the "announcement" they are listening to. Below you will find a list of events during the Christmas Season here at Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church. We encourage you not only to attend, but invite your friends and family to visit the church with you. November 28 & 29: Help Me-It’s Christmas! Spend Less; Give More December 5 & 6: Help Me-It’s Christmas! Less Stress December 12 & 13: Help Me-It’s Christmas! More Joy December 19: Blue Christmas December 20: Children’s Program (one service at 9:00am) December 23: Eve of Christmas Eve (for those who cannot make Christmas Eve) December 24: Christmas Eve: 2:00pm; 4:00pm & 6:00pm December 26 & 27: Curing a Christmas Hangover January 2 & 3: First Things It is often helpful to sit down and make a list of 3 - 4 people you would like to invite and then bring them with you to worship. Thank you for helping us make this announcement! Christmas Blessings, Pastor Dave Christmas Greetings!
Transcript
MONTHLY BEACON
Volume 8, Number 12 December 2015
Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord
OLIVET
The greatest announcement the world has ever received is found in Luke 2:10-12 - The angel said to them,
"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
During this most wonderful time of the year we as Christians are not only receivers of this announcement, but we are also to share the good news by announcing to a lost world that Jesus Christ has come to give them life.
This "announcement" often comes through the way we live our lives in front of our fellow co-workers, friends, and family members. While they will often not read a Bible if placed in front of them, we realize that our lives are often the only "bible" that people are reading and the "announcement" they are listening to.
Below you will find a list of events during the Christmas Season here at Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church. We encourage you not only to attend, but invite your friends and family to visit the church with you.
November 28 & 29: Help Me-It’s Christmas! Spend Less; Give More
December 5 & 6: Help Me-It’s Christmas! Less Stress
December 12 & 13: Help Me-It’s Christmas! More Joy
December 19: Blue Christmas
December 20: Children’s Program (one service at 9:00am)
December 23: Eve of Christmas Eve (for those who cannot make Christmas Eve)
December 24: Christmas Eve: 2:00pm; 4:00pm & 6:00pm
December 26 & 27: Curing a Christmas Hangover
January 2 & 3: First Things
It is often helpful to sit down and make a list of 3 - 4 people you would like to invite and then bring them with you to worship.
Thank you for helping us make this announcement! Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Dave
Christmas Greetings!
Olivet Monthly Beacon 2
From the desk of Pastor Dave . . .
What amazing words... “The Lord is with you.” Words that calm and comfort. “The Lord is with you.” Words that hold and sustain. “The Lord is with you.” Words that strengthen and encourage.
Filled with hope and promise, those five words gave Mary peace. Filled with hope and promise, these five words give us peace. When life gets tough: when we face challenges, sorrow, fear; when we face struggles, hardships, grief; when we face anger, frustration, humiliation; when we face guilt, sadness, shame...the Lord is with us. And when life’s circumstances give us reason to celebrate, filling us with joy and delight, those same five words ring true...the Lord is with us. In all situations, in all kinds of moments, through all our days and all our nights, the Lord is with us.
What promise we have in the words, “The Lord is with you.” As we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord, and, ultimately, to the redeeming Cross of Christ, we have five amazing words to which we can cling...the Lord is with us. The Lord is with
November Worship Attendance
Worship trends for the first three weeks of weekend worship services in November 2000 compared to 2015 show a +125% increase in our worship attendance. We continue to give thanks and praise to God for the spir-itual renewal that He blesses us with. We also thank you for your faithful worship and support. We thank you for taking part in our mission of “sharing the light and the love of our Lord.” Because you care enough to invite and welcome others, the words of God’s love and mercy are reaching more and more people every year. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ!
us...calming and comforting; holding and sustaining; strengthening and encouraging. The Lord is with us. Now. Always. Forever.
Every year, Advent returns to us with that message of hope, of what was, what is, and what is to come. The advent wreath reminds us of the growing light press-ing against the increasing darkness of the season. As we gather, we are reminded that Christ meets us wherever we are at in our lives and draws us into the time when he will come again. This risen Christ is with us, and presses into our darkness with light and life.
This Advent and Christmas season please invite, or better yet, bring your friends, family members, and anyone you know who is need of this message of hope that we proclaim!
Christmas peace, joy and blessings.
Pastor Dave
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.
The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” —Luke 1:26-28
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 3
Pastor Andrew
From the desk of Pastor Andrew . . .
Every year, I appreciate Thanks-giving’s proximity to the start of Advent, because even as life can become more stressful and busy around the holidays, I am remind-ed of the importance of living my life from the perspective of thank-fulness.
Author Allison Hendrix writes, “November challenges us to go deeper. To be thankful. To have hearts of gratitude. I need No-vember because without Novem-ber, December would exhaust me. I would decorate, eat, impulse spend, and wrap ‘til even the elves were impressed. But November grounds me. It gives me time to reflect and re-prioritize on what truly matters, not on what adver-tising campaigns and catalogs try to lure me with.” She concludes, “November allows me to enter the Advent and Christmas season with a heart of gratitude rather than selfish desire.”
The temptation of living in our consumerist culture is to look with frustration at our posses-sions, our relationships, our place in life and complain, “it is not enough—I need more to be happy.”
Thankfulness, on the other hand, tempers and transforms how we view our life. We begin noticing and appreci-ating the many bless-ings of God and that appreciation becomes the foundation by which we live, rather than despairing of what we lack. Like any muscle, being thankful re-quires practice and exercise to take hold in our lives. What I have learned about thankfulness is that I need to be committed and intentional about it or I will
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17
naturally drift into a more self-centered approach to life.
As we enter into the Advent sea-son, how is God inviting you to a sense of thankfulness that perme-ates all that you do and all that you are? And how might thankfulness not only change you from the in-side out, but change those around you with its transforming power?
May this Advent season be one of watching, waiting, preparing, and yes, choosing thankfulness in each of our lives.
Olivet Monthly Beacon 4
Worship Assistants for December
Continued on page 5 . . .
December 5-6 Sat 5:30pm Sun 8am Sun 10am
Reader: Bob Hembd Alice Ackerman Patti Barney
Ushers: John & Doris Schwingle Jim & Marianne Shugrue Larry & Penny Becker
Greeters: S. Vanderbush & A. Zeisler Lucine Grafft & John Olson Mary June & Barb Wilder
Communion n/a Pastor Dave/Pastor Andrew n/a
Helpers: Dennis & Donna Bentzen
Acolyte: Chord LeClaire Kora Munkelwitz Maverick Sila
As members of Olivet Beacon of Light Lutheran Church you are en-couraged to take an active part in the business end of the organiza-tion. You are invited to attend both of the meetings listed below and ask any questions you may have.
Annual Budget Review Meeting
Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.
Discussion of the budget as proposed by the Leadership Team.
Celebration of Mission (Annual Meeting)
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Potluck, fellowship, reports from our leaders and approval of nomina-tion for open positions.
Coupon Books are Here! Over 165 coupons good until next Dec. 31, all for only $13. Restaurants, golfing, retail, Kwik Trip gas and much more!
These make great stocking stuffers---buy one for yourself and for those on your gift list.
Pick them up at the Connection Cen-ter or in the church office.
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 7
~ December 2015 ~
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1
6:30am Women’s Bible
Breakfast & Prayer Group 9:00am Staff Meeting 9:15am Called to Worship
Study 10:30am Prayer Circle 11:45am Deacons Meeting 6pm Prayer Gathering 7pm AA
2
10am Co-ed Bible Study 4:30pm Young Adults with
Special Needs 5pm Evangelism Team
Meeting 6:45pm Confirmation 6:45pm Co-ed Bible Study
Team Meeting 10am Worship/ Holy Communion 10am Kids’ Church
14
5pm Holy Stretch 6-8:30pm Stephen Ministry Monthly Beacon
Deadline
15
6:30am Women’s Bible
Breakfast & Prayer Group 10:30am Prayer Circle 11am Staff Meeting (offsite) 6pm Prayer Gathering 7pm Christ in the Psalms 7pm AA
16
10am Co-ed Bible Study 11:30am Drakes 4:30pm Young Adults with
Special Needs 6:45pm Confirmation 6:45pm Co-ed Bible Study
17
10am -1pm LCMC Ministerium 6:30pm
Musicians Rehearsal
18
6:30am
Men’s Bible Breakfast 7:30am
Men’s Prayer Group
19
9-11am Kids’ Christmas
Program Rehearsal 5:30pm Blue Christmas Service
20
9am Kids’ Church
Christmas Program
21
5pm Holy Stretch
22
6:30am Women’s Bible
Breakfast & Prayer Group 9:00am Staff Meeting 10:30am Prayer Circle 6pm Prayer Gathering 7pm Christ in the Psalms 7pm AA
23
10am Co-ed Bible Study 7pm Christmas Eve
Worship Service
24
Christmas
Eve
2-4-6 pm
Candlelight
Services
25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Office Closed
26
5:30pm Worship/ Holy Communion
27
8am Worship/HC 8:30 am Bible Fellowship 10am Worship/ Holy Communion
28
5pm Holy Stretch
29
6:30am Women’s Bible
Breakfast & Prayer Group 9:00am Staff Meeting 10:30am Prayer Circle 6pm Prayer Gathering 7pm Christ in the Psalms 7pm AA
30
10am Co-ed Bible Study 6:45pm Co-ed Bible Study
31
6:30pm
Musicians Rehearsal
Olivet Monthly Beacon 8
YOUTH AND FAMILY NEWS
Confirmation students will be following the “Believe” series along with the rest of the Olivet Church family. Class begins at 6:45 p.m.
Upcoming topics are:
Nov. 4 Chapter 7: Humanity
Nov. 11 Chapter 8: Compassion
Nov. 18 Chapter 9: Stewardship
Nov. 25 Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service
and First Taste of Pumpkin Pie
Exciting things are happening at Kids’ Church as we move through the Christian Educa-tion year! In honor of the season, here are some ministry “thanksgivings”:
A wonderful group of chil-dren who come each week with energy, enthusiasm, great questions, and an eagerness to learn. How awesome that these chil-dren have a Kids’ Church uniquely their own—a place to worship God, learn the Bible, pray, and belong. If you’re not yet a part of Kids’ Church, come and see!
A dedicated, talented Kids’ Church leadership team that God has brought together for an awe-some purpose: to teach the Gospel to our young-est members! Each week, we get to live out
Jesus’ Gospel words, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children” (Luke 18:16).
Being a part of a wonderful church body. We are thankful for all the ways our church blesses our children. I believe God smiles when he sees all the generations coming to-
gether with one heart and mind: to serve and to love Him!
Some exciting ministry plans yet ahead! One example: Two of our deaconesses (Donna Jobe and Marge Marshall) recently met with our teachers and then our children to invite them to a deeper life of prayer. How exciting to see our children (and adults) growing in prayer!
—Kids’ Church is open to all children Pre-K (3+) through 5th grade. We love seeing new faces!
Our confirmation and high school youth will be leading the worship music, along with Toni Groshek, at our special wor-ship service on Sunday, December 20 at 9 a.m., which will also feature the Kids’ Church Christmas Program.
We’re excited to affirm our young people on their faith journey and we encourage you to lift them up in prayer. We invite you to attend this special service to show your support and enjoy the many gifts of our youth.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM Sunday, December 20 @ 9:00 a.m.
(PLEASE NOTE: There are no 8 a.m. and
10 a.m. worship services on 12/20.)
The script is written, the carols are selected and the adult volun-teers are excited to bless your kiddos with this year’s Christmas Program! There are still opportunities for children to participate. Please make note of the following rehearsals:
Sun., Dec. 6 @ Kids’ Church
Sat., Dec. 12 @ 9:00—11:00 a.m.
Sun., Dec. 13 @ Kids’ Church
Sat., Dec. 19 @ 9:00—11:00 a.m.
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 9
The word is out—Wednesday night confirmation is the place for middle school youth to be! We break bread together, build relationships, and learn about God, all in a place of warm belonging. These are years of tremendous change, growth, and transfor-mation for our youth, and what a joy that our church can be hub of that journey.
As we integrate prayer more into our discipleship ministries, here is a guided prayer from Colossians 1 as you bring our youth ministry to God’s throne of grace:
‘We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Je-sus and your love for all of God’s people.’
(v. 3-4)
Give thanks for those youth who trust in Christ. Pray for each young person and their contin-uing spiritual growth.
Give thanks for the fellowship experienced by the group. Pray for unity, harmony and lasting friendships among the young people.
Pray for their witness to friends and family. Pray that as others join the group, they will come to know Christ themselves.
‘So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understand-ing.’ (v. 9)
Ask God to help our youth know and understand what he wants them to do with their lives. Pray for an openness to serve God with their time and gifts.
Ask God to give them a deeper spiritual wisdom and understanding. Pray for wisdom in re-solving problems and that they become more like Christ.
‘Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.’ (v. 10)
Ask God to help them honor God with their actions, continually doing good to others. Pray for the fruit of the spirit in their lives (Galatians 5: 22). Pray for their families.
Pray for compassion towards others in spiritual or physical need.
‘We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy always thanking the Father.’ (v. 11-12)
Ask God to give our youth strength and endur-ance for their Christian life. Pray for freedom against the pressure to conform. Pray against evil influences.
Pray for God to fill them with his joy and thank-fulness for new life in Christ.
Pastor Andrew
Thank you
to our youth who have been serving in worship by being:
Readers, Candle Lighters, Ushers, Greeters, Sound Technicians and part of the Music Team.
We appreciate your service!
Olivet Monthly Beacon 10
Kohl & Jessica Adamson, Eliza & William. Kohl and Jessie are both em-ployed by Cordell’s Auto. Eliza is 3 and William is 9 months old. Kohl likes rac-ing of all types. Jessie loves crafting, de-signing, real estate and travel. They love spending time as a family and enjoy a slower old-fashioned pace.
Ralph & Nancy Bean live in Holmen and are snowbirds who travel to Florida for the winter. Ralph enjoys fishing, read-ing and remodeling their home. Nancy likes to sew, crochet, read and do puz-zles. They also enjoy bicy-cling together.
Ron & Mary Corn live on French Island. Ron is a truck driver and enjoys woodwork-ing and playing pool. Mary likes camping, fishing, bowling, cooking , baking and puz-zles. They love to spend time with family.
Kasey Jumbeck (picture not available) lives in Hou-ston, Minnesota and works for the Houston Public School. Kasey likes to sew, read, bake and enjoys racing. Kasey and her fiancé Seth Maier will be getting married in August.
Mary Dangerfield (picture not available) lives on French Island. Her daughter, Leah Myers, is al-so a member. Mary is retired and enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, Hadley.
Kevin & Kristi Josephson live in Onalaska. Kevin is a ge-netics counselor at Gundersen. Kevin & Kristi are both active on the music team at Olivet and Kristi is training to be a Ste-phen Minister. They have two adult daughters.
Jacqui Brokow is Olivet member Barb Wilder’s sis-ter and recently relocated to the La Crosse area. Jacqui is a retired flight attendant. She loves both water and snow skiing, travel, reading, writing and ministry.
Russ & Betty Kube are from Winona. Russ works at Ashley Furniture and Betty works at St. Mary’s University in Winona. Russ is a Packer shareholder and fan and enjoys spending time at his hobby farm and deer hunting. Betty enjoys playing piano, cross-stitch, reading and walking.
Terry & April Miller (picture not available) are from Holmen. Terry is a tax consultant and enjoys woodworking and the outdoors. April works in the pe-diatric department at Gunder-sen and likes camping, nature, reading and visiting family.
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 11
Patrick & Amy Strain, Emily & Abigail re-cently moved to the area from Portage. Patrick is a freelance theatre designer/director and Amy is a physician at Gundersen. Emily was born in Germany and is in the 10th grade. Abigail is in 6th grade and is attending confirmation classes at Olivet.
Ernie & Sue Stetzer are both retired and live in Holmen. Ernie has been a part of the Friday morning men’s group for some time. He likes to mow lawns and help his friend with farm equip-ment. Sue enjoys knitting and reading. They have two adult daughters.
Linda Skaff is the manager at Digger’s Sting Restaurant in La Crosse. In her free time she likes camping, fishing and gardening.
Kevin & Erica Knerzer, Conner, Alex, Bennett & Sawyer. Kevin works for Gundersen as an accountant and Erica is a CPA at Hawkins Ash. They like to spend time with family and keep busy with their boys’ activities. Con-ner is in 10th grade; Alex is in 6th grade; Bennett is in 1st grade and Sawyer is two.
Todd & Shelly Nelson, Pierce & Carson. Todd is employed as a plumber and Shelly is a dental assistant. Todd enjoys fishing, coaching and scouts and Shelly enjoys the outdoors and running. Their son Pierce is in 6th grade and is attending confirmation classes. Son Carson is in 4th grade.
Allen & Gayle Pierce are retired and live on French Island. They are the parents of new mem-bers Erica Knerzer and Shelly Nelson and grand-parents to all these won-derful boys!
Olivet Monthly Beacon 12
Missions and Benevolence . . . Karen Menagh, Team Leader
CARING TREE
Thank you to everyone who choose a tag or two off of the Olivet Caring Tree. The gifts you are providing will go to children and their families from Summit Elementary and our own Olivet community. We are also helping with gift cards for special needs stu-dents at Logan High School. We work with the so-cial worker at the school to determine those families who are struggling with basic everyday needs. Thank you for helping bring some joy to these fami-lies at Christmas time!
Gifts are due back to church by Sunday, December 13, so we have time to get them back to Summit for distribution before the kids’ Christmas break. Re-turn your wrapped gift with the tag taped on, or if you prefer not to wrap, bring your gift and tag in a bag and our gift wrapping crew will take care of it for you.
Gift wrapping will take place on Monday, December 14, at 11 a.m. If you would like to help, mark the back of your worship card or just stop by!
65 CHRISTMAS SHOEBOXES!
65 filled shoeboxes from Olivet will be sent to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child. The boxes were delivered to the drop-off location on Tuesday.
If we receive information on where our boxes were sent, we will pass that on to you. If any of you get notes back from your box recipients, we would like to hear about that too!
Due to your overwhelming generosity with the mac-n-cheese food drive for the Salvation Army, we not only reached our goal, but we soared right past it! As of the time we went to print, you had donated 1,876 boxes, with two more weekends left to go!
That is a lot of macaroni & cheese!!!
Last Year’s Caring Tree!
SURPASSED OUR GOAL!
WAFER & Onalaska Food Basket
The suggested items for the month are:
Personal Hygiene Items
Non-perishable food items and personal items can be put in the grocery cart located by the Fellowship Hall doors.
Food items collected in November were donated to iFeed—a joint service project of high school Interact Clubs and La Crosse Area Rotary Clubs, which took place at Logan High School.
DONATE YOUR TIME TO A GOOD CAUSE
Another way to help the Salvation Army this year is to be part of their Red Kettle Campaign. Go to www.salvationarmylacrosse.com to sign up for a shift as a Bell Ringer or to donate to their Red Kettle Campaign.
If bell-ringing isn’t your thing, check their website for many other ways you can volunteer your time to this worth-while organization.
We’re excited to announce that we will be offering another round of New Mission Partner classes on Sunday, January 24 and Sunday, January 31 at 11:30 a.m. This new class format on Sundays after the 10 a.m. worship service instead of Mon-day evenings will hopefully more easily accommodate busy family schedules.
Come and find out who we are as a church, what we believe and how we operate.
Please let us know if you are interested in registering for the class by making note of it on the back of your Connection Card or by emailing the office staff at [email protected].
Most of us know we should include estate planning as part of our financial planning task list, but it's easy to procrastinate, especially if you don’t even know where to start. Estate planning is not just for people with a lot of assets or who are nearing the end of life. There are basic legal documents that all adults should have in place.
An educational, informative overview of medical, legal and financial planning documents will be held on Sunday, December 13, after the 10 a.m. worship ser-vice in the fellowship hall. The discussion will be led by Gerald Baldner. A light lunch will be served.
What is a living will? What’s the difference between a power of attorney and a healthcare power of attorney?
The Power of Being Prepared
Why do you need a will? Estate planning doesn't have to be difficult. Once you understand the differ-ent estate planning documents and how they work, you'll be able to weigh your options and choose what's best for you and your family.
If you have an interest in attending, please sign up at the Connection Center or mark the back of your worship card. If you would like more infor-mation, please contact the church office.
PRAYER. Since the beginning of time, people of all civilizations have prayed. From prayer beads to prayer wheels, from Grego-rian chants to affirmative prayer. There are as many ways to pray as there are people who pray. There are some folks who pray only when they have a problem. This is not enough. The question, “How much prayer is enough?” is a good one.
What is more important than the ritual of our prayer, is the at-titude of our heart and mind that we bring to our time of pray-er.
There are two types of prayer: directive and nondirective. Di-rective asks for a blessing from God. Nondirective might be “Thy will be done.” Whatever type of prayer you use, always ask for the best outcome for all concerned.
There are many ways to pray. Some say prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God.
The Bible tells us that God is not respecter of persons. I would say that God is no respecter of prayer requests. They are all important to God. The power of God is available to everyone no matter how serious or trivial the request may seem to be.
God is the instant, constant supply of all good in our lives. Nothing is impossible to God. Nothing is too great or too small for God. Let us learn to go to God in prayer for everything that concerns us. All requests are wor-thy requests, and God is always the answer.
God’s Blessing, Mike and Marge Marshall Deacon & Deaconess
Olivet Monthly Beacon 14
I practice in our upstairs living room facing a large display of family photos which include all the boys’ school pictures through the years. I am busily pre-paring for the upcoming Christmas Season and so I was playing a favorite called "Joseph's Lullaby" by Bart Millard. It is a beautiful song about the baby Jesus and all he will eventually face, but for now in this moment he should rest as a baby should, free from worry.
As I was rehearsing that particular song, I looked into my son Ryan's eyes in an old photo of him. He is about ten years old in this picture and his eyes look so very clear and pure. The words to the song tore at my Mama's heart and I started to think about Mary and the agony she must have gone through giving birth in a stable and having to flee with her beautiful son because people wanted to hurt him. How she managed to care for him and live in such chaos is a miracle in itself. She truly put him first and foremost and was an exceptional mother despite the circumstances.
I pale in comparison as a mom and I had everything and more for my boys. I doubt many women in to-day’s world would have withstood the test that she was put through and passed with Heavenly Colors!
I then fast forwarded to Good Friday and the horrific events she had to witness. I cannot, as hard as I have tried, feel the depths of pain she must have felt watching her son, her very own baby boy be beaten and spit on as he drug his own murder weapon through the streets that just days before they adorned him as a Messiah. What resolve it took not to push through that crowd and grab her son and run away to safety as she had done thirty-three years prior to save his life.
As I sat practicing and thinking, my mind took me to the crucifixion scene and that is when I began to cry.
I looked into my son’s eyes in that photo and I thought about him and his birth and the instant love I felt for him and his brother. I thought about how I would lay my life down for each of them. Could I do what Mary did? Could I trust my God so much that I would be able to sacrifice my own flesh and blood for the sins of the world?
I am blessed to never have to make that decision be-cause it was unselfishly done for me and you and the rest of this crazy world so many years ago. From the moment he was born Jesus had a purpose so big and beautiful that our small human minds can barely un-derstand that sacrifice. Thank you so much Mary for your loving care you bestowed on your beautiful little boy.
Here are the words to that wonderful lullaby........
Go to sleep my Son This manger for your bed You have a long road before You Rest Your little head
Can You feel the weight of Your glory? Do You understand the price? Or does the Father guard Your heart for now So You can sleep tonight?
Go to sleep my Son Go and chase Your dreams This world can wait for one more moment Go and sleep in peace
I believe the glory of Heaven Is lying in my arms tonight But Lord, I ask that He for just this moment Simply be my child
Go to sleep my Son Baby, close Your eyes Soon enough You'll save the day But for now, dear Child of mine Oh my Jesus, Sleep tight
Merry Christmas,
Emma Blank
Saturday Night
Worship Team Leader
A LULLABY FOR JESUS
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 15
Every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. a group of people gather at Olivet to pray for others. If you would like to deepen your prayer life, this is a great place to come. If you are already a “Prayer Warrior”, please come and join your voice with ours as we pray for others. If prayer is a new practice for you, please come and be part of this group. The best way to learn to pray is to learn from others who are praying. Below is a list of our prayer focus and concerns for the month of November:
Dec. 1 - Guidance for teaching children to pray
Dec. 8 - People suffering from stress & anxiety
Dec. 15 - People who are deployed
Dec. 22 - People battling addictions during the holidays
Dec. 29 - Prayers of thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings we are given
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf,
and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1
Tuesday Evening Prayer Group
Tuesdays:
Women’s Prayer Group @ 7:30 a.m.
Fridays:
Men’s Prayer Group @ 7:30 a.m.
First Saturday of the Month:
The Power of a Praying Wife @ 7:00 a.m.
Based on the book by Stormie Ormartian
Tuesdays:
Women’s Bible Breakfast @ 6:30-7:15 a.m.
Wednesdays:
Co-ed Study @ 10:00 a.m.
Young Adults with Special Needs @ 4:30 p.m.
Co-ed Study @ 6:45 p.m.
Fridays:
Men’s Bible Breakfast @ 6:30-7:15 a.m.
Sundays:
Olivet Bible Fellowship (O.B.F.) @ 8:30 a.m.
Life Groups (Following the Believe Curriculum)
Prayer Groups
Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. in the nursery. Join us for this powerful time of prayer as we pray specifi-cally for revival and renewal for our church family, community and state.
Tuesday Prayer Circle
Deacons are available following each worship service for a time of prayer. Whether you are in need of prayers for healing, recovery or comfort, or have prayers of praise and thanksgiving, we are here to pray with you. If you prefer, you may request that a Deacon pray with you privately.
Olivet’s Deacons/Deaconesses are:
Patti Barney, Donna Jobe, Steve Kemp, Marge Marshall, Mike Marshall and Roger Voss.
Prayer Partners
We invite you to join a Life Group or a Prayer Group this fall. Each week our life groups will have a study and discussion on the weekly topic in the Believe series and learn what it means to Think, Act and Be like Jesus. If you would like to strengthen your prayer life or pray for others, please join one of our many prayer groups that meet throughout the week.
Small Group Study
Tuesdays:
We Are Called to Worship @ 9:15 a.m. (Based on the book Worship 365)
Christ in the Psalms @ 7:00 p.m.
Olivet Monthly Beacon 16
October/November Worship Attendance and Offering
2015 Contributions
Reminder: Any contributions/donations you are counting on for tax purposes for 2015 must be received by Sunday, December 27, to be noted on your 2015 contribution statement.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have given so generously to reduce our church mortgage debt. Last year at this time our mortgage balance was $787,028. Thanks to you, our current balance is $580,600!
As you know, we would like to move forward with plans for a building addition in the coming year. Our children’s programs are growing and we have many adult groups meeting throughout the week. Space is at a premium and kids and adults alike are meeting in rooms that are less than ideal for their needs.
It has always been a priority for us to pay down our current mortgage as much as possible before taking on a new building project. At the same time, we want to be mindful of interest rates so we are able to make finan-cially responsible decisions for Olivet. This is an exciting time for us as we get closer to realizing our dream of an addition that will provide badly needed space for our educational programs.
As the end of 2015 approaches, we would ask you to prayfully consider a year-end gift to Olivet to further re-duce our mortgage and get us closer to moving forward with our building project.
Thank you and may you have a blessed Christmas! The Olivet Leadership Team
Date Attendance Automatic Giving
Sat., October 31 98 General $8,326.50 October 26 through November 20
Sun., Nov. 1 8am 61 Mort/Prin $6,273.91 General $9,682.00
Kids' Church 49 Totals 408 TOTAL: $10,639.35 Sat., November 21 114 General $5,871.50 Sun., Nov. 22 8am 61 Mort/Prin $979.50 Sun., Nov. 22 10am 144 Designated $1,423.00 Kids' Church 38 Totals 357 TOTAL: $8,274.00
Thank you for your faithful support of God’s mission at
Olivet and beyond.
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 17
Some notes, thank-yous and God Moments from the past month:
Do you have a story or Yeah God moment you would like to share? Email the office at [email protected] or write it on the back of your worship card. Look around—be aware—let us know where you see God at work—we want to hear from you!
“You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand,
where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds
shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
Yeah God!
Here is a great follow-up story to our “pizza delivery tip” weekend we had in October:
Our family was gathered together one Sunday afternoon to watch the game. We ordered pizza from Toppers Pizza.
When the delivery man came to the door, my daughter asked him if he was the same young man who had delivered the pizza to Olivet Church. He said he was. He said that he was overwhelmed by the size of the tip and that it really touched him.
He shared with us that he has been working two jobs to bet-ter himself. He has a good job now and will quit delivering pizzas once he gets ahead a bit more. He said that two years ago he would have blown all the money, but that his priori-ties have changed now. He felt truly blessed by our church.
Thank yous received:
Olivet Church Community,
I would like to extend my sincerest thank you for all that you do for our students and families. I have received many heartfelt and emotional thank yous on your behalf and wanted to share that with you. Thanks so much for supporting our kids!
Tabatha Veum, Summit School Social Worker
Thank you for your recent contri-bution of face masks and socks. Your gift is much appreciated as we strive to provide the Help that creates Hope . . . Your gift is ser-vice and blessing to those who come to Catholic Charities seeking help and hope.
Roberto Partarrieu, Executive Director
Olivet Monthly Beacon 18
Memorials
In Memory of Donna Lynn Howe
Dorothy Nolte - Mac & Cheese Drive
In Memory of Robert Miller
Eileen Goyette - Mortgage Reduction Carol Maier - Mortgage Reduction
Rob & Linda Sturgis - Mortgage Reduction
In Memory of William Tilson
Gary & Cindy Cossette - Mortgage Reduction
In Memory of Linda Reynolds who passed away 10 years ago
The Storlie Family - Chairs for Preschool Class
In Memory of Neva Ritter Carol Barney - Mortgage Reduction
Roger & Jean Ann Voss - Beautification Gene & Ann Wuensch - Building Addition Brad & Melanie Wuensch - Youth Ministry
Friends & Family - Youth Ministry
Funeral Team for December:
Caller : Carol Maier
Kitchen lead:
Provide dessert:
Carolyn Baker, Vi Bartsch, Tina Brettingen, Sara Connor, Carol Halvorson, Jackie Henke, Sheila Horstman, Kristi Josephson, Greta Lake, Becky Lakowske, Carol Maier, Mary Stone, Irene Wood, Shirley Yeske
Serving & Cleanup:
Sara Connor, Carol Halvorson, Kristi Josephson, Greta Lake, Becky Lakowske, Carol Maier, Mary Stone, Irene Wood, Shirley Yeske
Please call Ann Wuensch at 781-2107 if you are no longer able to serve and want to have your name removed from the list, or if you would like to be added to a list for future months.
Thank you for volunteering for this important care ministry.
Communion served:
2nd and 4th weekends
of each month and
every Sunday at 8:00am
All are welcome to receive communion at Olivet.
Communion is served by intinction (dipping of the wafer into the grape juice). Gluten-free wafers and individual servings of grape juice are also available.
Hospital Visits
Due to HIPPA privacy laws and recent changes at our local hos-pitals, we are unable to verify your stay at the hospital, even if you list Olivet as your church affiliation.
If you or a family member are hospitalized, please call or have a friend or family member call the church office at 783-1484 to let us know of your hospitalization and your room number so we can provide pastoral care.
“Sharing the Light and the Love of Our Lord” 19
“The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 2:18
BIRTHDAYS
12/2 Sally Christ, Ann Wuensch 12/3 Alexis Poff, Sophie Sila 12/4 Martin (Jerry) Moe, Rose Linder, Braidiann Burch 12/5 Barb Wilder, Maurie Pearson, John Olson, Kevin Adams 12/6 Judy Skamser 12/7 Mattie Thomason, Patrick Kasten, Aryiah Wing, Silas Bauer 12/8 Dorothy Nolte, Sue Johnson, Michael Scheel, Michelle Wendtland, Shannon Mollet 12/9 Linda Revels, Ron Hoover, Emma Blank, Jodie Szewczyk, Jon Tudahl, Margaret Ackerman 12/10 Ellie Apuan 12/11 Nancy Cutlip, Kendrick Irwin 12/12 Deb Best, Jennifer Oefstedahl, Mary Moe, James Bartsch 12/13 Gloria Brockmiller, Kelly Remus, Bryce Weymiller, Isabella Pierce, Shiloh Hauser 12/14 Russ Dresdow 12/15 Marian Whitewater, Ryan Blank, Avery Herold 12/16 Steve Thurman, Mary Stone, Omarion Cox-Bey 12/17 Glenn Wood, Erna Brauer, Tim Fitzpatrick, Macy Tilson, Sadie Stroik 12/18 Kathy Tabbert 12/19 Richard Abraham, Cindy Cossette, Kowen Hasz 12/20 Jane Binnebose, Tracy Wavra, Phillip Wanke, Amy Strain 12/21 Mary Abraham, Heather Hauser, Tara Knutson, Susan Morris, Kimberly Atkinson, Alyssa Szewczyk 12/22 Zachary Bauer 12/23 Pat Haskey, Randi Pueschner, Teri Walensky, Bianca Smith 12/25 Nicholas Gibbons 12/27 Barb Swertfeger, Cindy Steele, Laura Anderson, Lynn Bartsch, Desirae Pauls, Brent Liethen, Sara Bittner 12/28 Dan Fagan, Sue La Point, Shaylee Wavra, Nathan Bakalars, Brody Ask 12/29 Ray Serres 12/30 Neil Collins, Carol Melcher, Bernie Duerkop, Frank Dikeman, Glenn Green, Wally Tulare, Samuel O’Keefe 12/31 Lindsey Passe
Happy Birthday!
"This is the day the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
ANNIVERSARIES
12/1 Brad and Melanie Wuensch 12/4 Frank and Alice Gerken - 50 years! 12/5 Dan and Kimberly Warner 12/6 Al and Diane Brague 12/8 Delmar and Viola Bartsch - 70 years! 12/18 John and Sheri Harrison 12/31 Keith and Gloria Barney - 63 years! Larry and Sara Rugotzke Jim and Carol Thiele
Monthly Beacon
available on the web
If you would prefer not to receive a paper copy of this publication, please advise the office by emailing [email protected] or by calling the office at 783-1484.
You will find both the Weekly and the Monthly Beacons on our website: www.olivetlutheran.org.
Loop System at Olivet
Olivet is equipped with a Loop System in the Sanctuary and in the classroom behind the kitch-en. You will benefit from this if you wear a hearing aid with the T-coil feature.
If you attend a class in the class-room, be sure to tell the class facilitator that you would like to have the unit turned on during the class.
Hear messages on-line
Have you ever missed a worship message be-cause you were out of town or ill? Or, if you would like to hear a message again, you can go to Olivet’s website www.OlivetLutheran.org where you will find links to the past weekend’s messages.
If you don’t have access to a computer, you can request a CD of the service from the office – we will make a copy for you.
Sandbakkel Baking - Thursday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
To sign up to help or donate cookies and other baked goods, stop by the Cookie Walk display in the narthex.
Donations of gently used Christmas items can be dropped off in the Church office for Mable’s Table.
Poinsettia orders are due December 6
You are invited to place a poinsettia in the sanctuary for Christmas. Many people have found it a special way to remember or honor some-one during this season. You may provide your own plant or we can order a plant for you ($14). The order deadline is December 6. If you did not receive an order form, you can pick one up at the Connection Center or in the office.
