December 16, 2015

2 Vision & Building Process Advances Sunday Choir Cantata The Mythology of Star Wars

3 Keenagers Luncheon Mentor Ministry Year-End Giving Information

4 Caroling on Service Day Summer Campership Program

5 HSM Sunday Night: Close Middle & High School Missions Confirmation Service Night #WheresMichael

6 A Bead and A Prayer A Taste of Renovaré

7 Council Highlights Council Member Profile

7 Lenten Soup Suppers

8 FLC Building Committee Update The Daily Grind

9-10 January Calendar & Volunteers

11 Prayer List & Worship Information

12 All-Congregation Lenten Study

Inside this Edition:

Volume 61, Number 12

Centered in Christ, we are Called, Gathered, Transformed, and Sent!

Join Us on Christmas EveOur 3 p.m. Family Worship Service, the Chapel and CherubChoirs will sing. This service, built specifically for childrenand their families, will walk through “The Sounds of Christmas.” There isn’t a regular sermon; more like an extended Children’s Message where the kids get to go up to the front steps with Pastor Steve. Short stories will be intermixed with famailiar hymns as part of the message.

Our 5 p.m. Celebration Service will be lead by our Celebration Praise Team with a mix of traditional hymns, contemporary praise songs and new arrangements of old favorites.

Our 7 & 9 p.m. Candlelight Services will be the Traditional Christmas Eve worship. At 7 p.m. our Middle School Handbell & Choir, and High School Handbell Choir will provide special music.

The 9 p.m. service will feature the Adult Choir and HandbellsEnsembles. Both of the late services will also feature specialmusic and accompaniment by a brass ensemble.

All services will include communion and, as always, are opento the public. Please join our church family as we celebratethe birth of Christ!

Holiday ScheduleOn Saturday, & Sunday Dec. 19-20, we will follow a regular worship schedule. At the 9 a.m. Worship Service our Adult Choir will present “The Infant Jesus” Christmas Cantata. Our 10:15 education groups will meet including our youngsters going caroling! (see page 4 for details.)

On Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24 our office will be closing down at 12 noon. See the left-hand column for worship information.

On Christmas Day, December 25, the church building & office will be closed. We do not hold a Christmas Day worship service.

On December 26-27, we will hold worship services at all regular times. There will be no 10:15 Sunday Morning Learning. At the 11:15 a.m. Celebration Service, we will be joined by our old friends Richard and Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan leading our service music!

New Years’ Office Hours:The church office will be closed on Monday, Dec. 28. We will then be open regular hours, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 29-30. For New Year’s Eve, the church office will close at noon on Dec. 31 and remain closed on Friday, Jan. 1.

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Sunday Choir Cantata

Our Adult Choir will present the Christmas Cantata “The Infant

Jesus” by Buxtehude which will be performed with organ and strings

at the 9:00 a.m. service this Sunday, December 20.

10:15 Education this Weekend:

The Mythology of Star WarsPr. Craig Brown, LFCThis class will take us behind the mythology of the one of the most popular movie franchises in history to explore the similarities between the Holy Spirit and the Force and examine the redemptive qualities of Luke and Christ the weekend Star Wars Episode VII hits the theaters.

Music RehearsalsNext Wednesday

Next Wednesday, December 23 there will be no musical rehearsals for the Chapel and Cherub Choirs.

There will be regular rehearsals for the Middle School Choir, Middle School handbells and Adult Choir as usual.

Note there is also no confirmation or Wednesday worship that night.

Visioning Process for Building & Ministry AdvancesFall Events: We have completed the fall season of seeking input from the congregation. The checkmarks on the chart below identify tasks that have been completed. We have had great participation from congregation members in the focus groups and online surveys.

Winter Events: We move from gathering information to understanding what we have received and generating initial responses, alternatives, and directions. Here is a brief outline of what to expect in the winter months.

Interpreting Results: The next step is for the Vision Team and the Building Committee to summarize important findings from the surveys and the focus groups. That is happening now and a report will be given to the congregation at the end of January at a special forum. Pastor Rick Rouse, our consultant, will share the findings from the online survey at a special forum between services on January 31.

Vision Team Next Steps: The vision team will work through the information gathered from conversations with community groups about the needs of the community and how they might impact our sense of mission. The team will also develop statements of vision and direction for First Lutheran Church that will inform development of ministry proposals. In later February or early March, the Vision Team will share results with the congregation at a special forum.

Organ Next Steps: The Organ Committee will sponsor a forum in the Winter to talk about the needs of the organ and the options going forward. The date is to be determined. The purpose of this forum will be to help people understand the issues and to share what the organ committee has learned so far in the process.

Building Next Steps: The Building Committee will generate design statements for the architects to guide their work. LOCUS will also receive the full text and summary statements from the Focus Groups and the Online Survey. LOCUS will then develop design alternatives for the congregation to consider.

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Year-End Giving InformationAs we approach December 31, members need to be aware of the giving schedule in order for your gifts to be credited to 2015.The church office is closing at noon on December 31, so if you are going to hand-deliver any checks you want credited towards 2015, they need to be in the church office no later than 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31.

For those of you that will send a year-end contribution through the mail, your check must be dated 12/31/2015 and your envelope must be postmarked no later than 12/31/2015 to be considered a 2015 gift. We are closing the 2015 books on 1/7/2015 in order to properly record any 2015 gifts.

If you are on Simply Giving Program I would suggest that you complete that transaction by December 23. If you wait untilDecember 30 or 31, your transaction will not get credited to 2015. If you have any questions about the year-end giving schedule please contact Gordon Epping in the church office at 365-1494 x.111, or via email at gordone@firstlutherancr.org. Thank you.

Ladies’ Night Out

Between Christmas and New Years’ we do not

meet for a Ladies’ Night Out so enjoy the

festivities and we’ll get back together to share our

stories in January!

2016 Altar Flower

DedicationsAvailable

We have prepared thealtar flower dedicationsheets for 2016 so you

can dedicate one or bothbouquets in honor or

memory of loved onesor special events.

Bouquets are billeddirectly by Pierson’s

Floral and cost$18.73 each.

Keenagers LuncheonOur Senior Adult Ministry Team invites members and friends age 60 and older to join them for the next Keenager’s Luncheon on Thursday, January 14, at 12 Noon. Our meal will be Chili or chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese sandwiches and German chocolate cake. The cost is, as always, just $5. For our program that day, we will be playing a few rousing rounds of Bingo.

Looking ahead to February 11, we will welcome as our special guest, former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln! Yes, you read that right. Put it on your calendar now!

Mentor Ministry Become a Mentor Today

As we move through Epiphany toward Lent, we also move into our mentoring ministry with Confirmation youth. Last year was a great year of mentoring and we are looking to build on this ministry.

Our families will be asking specific adults in the congregation to match up with their youth, but we will also need a handful of volunteers to pair up with each youth! Each pair will attend worship together Wednesdays in Lent and then gather for a 30-minute guided conversation after worship. Each mentor will be provided with mentor training, child safety training, and discussion booklets. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, sign-up in the Narthex or please contact Michael Beckmann at michaelb@firstlutherancr.org. Mentor training will be January 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Luther Fellowship Center. The first night of the mentor ministry is Ash Wednesday, February 10. (Child Safety Training is available online and is required by anyone interested in the Mentor Ministry.)

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Mark Those Calendars!There is NO Sunday Morning Learning on

December 27th, or January 3rd.

February 7: Milestones for P3s through 1st Grade

February 14: Milestones for 2nd through 5th Grade

February 14: Graduation Milestone

for High School Seniors

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Caroling on Service Day THIS Sunday – December 20!

This Sunday, December 20, make sure to bring a warm coat, hat, mittens and wear clothes appropriate for walking because we’ll be caroling at the Living Centers and St. Luke’s Hospital that day during Sunday Morning Learning.

Grown-ups are most welcome on this day, as we always need extra helpers when crossing the streets!

First Lutheran Summer Campership Program It is time to register for summer camp and claim your FLC Camperships!

Christian Summer Camp can be a life-transforming experience for most kids. Studies of young adults who are still active in their faith community show that participation in a Christian Camp played a vital role in their faith development.

We invite your son or daughter to come along this summer for an exciting experience of living in Christian community with a camp counselor and other youth. The community of First Lutheran Church is committed to our children and youth attending camp, and so we offer Camperships for those attending a Christian camp this summer.

In order to ensure that everyone’s registration forms get turned in on time and meet early registration deadlines, we ask that you turn in your camp’s registration form and your deposit check (made out to the camp your child is attending) to the church office no later than February 1, 2016. We will then pass along your registration, deposit check, and our Campership contribution to the camp. All other correspondence should be directly with the camp and they will send you a statement on your remaining balance due.

For quick access to multiple camp’s registration pages, simply go to: www.firstlutherancr.org/camperships. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact either Marissa Letscher or Michael Beckmann in the church office. We look forward to hearing about your wonderful experiences at camp!

Camperships – Step By Step 1. Obtain a registration form from the Christian camp of your choice. 2. Complete the registration form. 3. Bring your completed registration form, and a non-refundable deposit payment (made to the CAMP), MINUS the church’s contri-bution to the office NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 1. Camperships are: $100 for a week-long camp, or $50 for mini-week or Family Camp.

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Do you have any close friends?

Ones you feel completely comfortable around? Friends you can talk to for hours? If so, you’re lucky. Friends like that are awesome. But chances are you have other friends too. Maybe you grew up around each other. Maybe you work at the same job or go to the same school. It’s not that you don’t like them. They’re great. You just aren’t that close.

For most of us, our relationship with God feels like it swings between those two extremes. Maybe you can remember a time, after a retreat or a church camp, when God felt super

real and personal. You were BFFs. But then, somehow, things drifted in the other direction. There was distance. And, while you’re definitely not against God, you wouldn’t describe yourself as “close” anymore.

We all go through times when our relationship with God seems more “far” than “near”, but what do we do about it? Why does it feel so complicated? And is there anything we can do to keep the drift from happening?

Thankfully, in God’s word, God makes it super clear that God’s desire is to be close with us. And as we journey back toward God, we may just find God running in our direction as well.

Jan. 10: Confidence – God is always drawing us in God’s direction.

Jan. 17: Electricity – If you want to get the most out of life, stay close to the Source of it.

Jan. 24: Distance – Pick what you pursue.

#wheremichael #WinterBreakTune into Twitter @FLCRYouth for our next lunch! Michael will be tweeting some hints in the coming weeks, all you have to do is figure

it out and show up for a free lunch! Mark your calendars for December 30 around 11:30-1:00 and stay tuned for the hints! Alumni are welcome!

HSM & MSM Mission Trips 2016

Summer Missions Theme:We were unable to love: unable to love god. Unable to love others.

But god loved us anyway. Not with a flimsy, only-when-it’s-convenient, once-in-a-while kind of love. But with a deep, all-of-the-time, for-all-of-time kind of love. A love that takes root and gives life. A love that fills us, changes us, flows from us into the world.

And so, we are able to love: able to love God. Able to love others. We love because God first loved us.

Join us this summer as we explore God’s Love!

Middle School Details:When: June 19-24Where: Duluth, MNWhat: Middle School Mission TripWho: Grades 6-8 (Completed) Friends are welcome. High School Details:When: July 24-30Where: St. Louis, MOWhat: High School Mission TripWho: Grades 9-12 (Completed) Friends are welcome.

Confirmation Family Night

January 6 - 6:30 p.m.We kick back into the Confirmation Ministry with our Family night! We ask each youth to have a parent/guardian with for this meeting as we will review information for the remainder of the year! Information covered will include the Mentor Ministry, Middle School Mission Trip and a fun review of the topics covered in Confirmation Classes so far!

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A Bead and a Prayer African Women Empowered

ASK ANYONE who attended Saturday’s A Bead and a Prayer event and you’ll hear about how to incorporate Christian prayer beads in your daily prayer; you’ll be inspired as you hear about the amazing African women and their stories of the dangerous and impoverished conditions they narrowly escaped from in refugee camps; and it will be clear what fun we had!

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERED is a micro-business that began in March 2014 to help the African women find employment and learn job skills. Most of the women come from Burundi and were in refugee camps in Tanzania before coming to the United States. Many of these women still have family and relatives living in the refugee camps. They are resilient women who want to make better lives for themselves and their families. Many of these women are enrolled in English as a Second Language or Citizenship classes to try to improve their situation. Through this business, they are

learning how to use sewing machines, design jewelry, learning about running a business, and gaining valuable skills that will help them provide for their families.

AFRICAN WOMEN EMPOWERED'S newest products are Protestant Prayer beads. These beads are one of a kind and are designed using only beads and crosses that are imported from Africa. All of the beads are handmade with some being up to 500 years old! The newer beads are individually made using the same methods that have been used for centuries. The crosses on the Prayer Beads are all Coptic Crosses crafted in Ethiopia.

Their shop, located at 189 Jacolyn Drive NW, is usually open from 9 to 12 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They are not always open to the public so it would be a good idea to call first. Contact Helen Armstrong at (319) 573-4170.

Would you like a 3-week “taste” of Renovaré to see if it’s for you? Beginning the week of January 11th, Renovaré groups will be exploring what it means to be alive in the adventure of Jesus using the resource, We Make the Road by Walking by Brian McLaren. If you’ve always wanted to check out a

Renovaré group but would like to know what it’s like before you commit, now is a great time to give it a try! Contact Marcie Watson, Director of Spiritual Transformation, at (319) 365-1494 or marciew@firstlutherancr.org to find out times and locations.

RenovaréBegins the week of January 11, 2016 and

you’re invited!

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Name: Luke Bishop

Member since: 2009

Served on Council since: 2011

About my family: My wife Melissa and I have been married for 11 years. We both grew up in Marshalltown, and both sets of our parents still live there. We have two daughters, Chloe (8) and Esther (7). Melissa teaches 2nd grade at Prairie Crest Elementary, and our girls also attend school at Prairie Crest. We have lived in Cedar Rapids since 2005.

Occupation: Engineering Department Manager at Rockwell Collins

A few things that bring me joy are: Spending time with family, reading, movies, running, camping, work

I time when I really felt God moving in my life was when: I felt God moving in my life when I met my wife and when our children were born. God uses family as a reflection of his love for us, and stirs us to share his love with others.

Council Member Profile

Helping You to Know your Representatives on the Church Council.

Council HighlightsWe’ve received great feedback on the building committee updates provided in the monthly newsletter. In order to provide increased transparency of the work of our church council, the council chair will now include a summary of these activities as well. The Light will also include contact information for council members; our hope is that this will improve communication and provide additional opportunities for feedback!

At the November council meeting, the council reviewed best practice recommendations from the finance committee that will be put into action. Tom Schamberger provided a building committee and organ committee update, which are included in the building committee update article. Some current maintenance concerns were discussed that will be addressed, including loose pews and minor roof leaks.

Pastor Steve reviewed the forum presentation given at the Sunday morning adult education. Ministry needs for 2016, the building and visioning process, and budget/expenses were discussed.

The council discussed the need to return to a full time head custodian. The council also reviewed possible 2016 seminary scholarships for current/former FLC members, using funds from the Janowsky Education Trust. Council will vote on this next month.

The council discussed possible nominees for the executive committee (chair, chair elect, secretary, treasurer) for 2016, and will take action in December.

Help with the Lenten Soup

SuppersWhile Christmas is at the forefront of our minds now, Ash Wednesday will be here before we know it!

The Lenten Suppers are a long stand-ing tradition here at First Lutheran, but they cannot occur without the help of the congregation. Each supper requires at least five servers and five people to clean up …more hands make lighter work. There will be signup sheets at the Information Desk by the time you read this plea for help!

Please consider volunteering your small group, confirmation class, individually, or with a group of friends to help make the meals happen.

Contact Vicki Hughes at vickih@firstlutherancr.org if you have any questions.

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Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 12 January 2016.

Not a lot of action specifically related to the Building Committee as we completed the Focus Groups and am now into the busiest month of the church year…December.

We did meet on 8 December and discussed some follow up actions that our local consultant Knapp-Warden is undertaking in coordination with our Committee. Namely, conducting a material assessment of the ceiling and walls in the Sanctuary and also assessing the Floor and pew securement. We also discussed the status of repairing the roof over the Bell Choir room.

Pastor Steve provided his top-level assessment and thoughts after attending EVERY Focus Group that was scheduled and felt he received the best possible awareness of where the congregation stands in relation to the questions and thoughts posed during the Focus group sessions.

The committee also discussed a proposed “Organ Open House” someday in the near future along with bringing Scott Riedel, our Organ consultant back for another session so as to spread the organ results to a larger group. Stand by for more info on both of these initiatives.

Just as a reminder, we continue to take in suggestions via the website and the Suggestion Box near the Welcome Desk.

God Bless – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Tom Schamberger

(Left) is an artist concept rendering a redesign of the Nave and raising of the ceiling and opening up the space above the Cry Room. This is NOT to say this is where we are officially headed but I wanted to share an artist rendition of “what could be?”

The Daily GrindToday, as I was entering my office and beginning my day, I grabbed my coffee cup. This is common for any day. But today I noticed that my cup was empty. Now, it is not anomalous that it is empty at the beginning of the day, but today the profoundness that I needed to fill my cup before I began my day hit me.

The filling of my coffee cup seemed a metaphor for any part of life. We need first to have our cup filled—metaphorically speaking—before we

can hope to accomplish anything. That is to say, we must be given our daily bread by God. We wake up each morning, our cups and ourselves empty, needing to be filled by God.

Coincident to my morning coffee, I begin my day with prayer and scripture. I am daily in need of both physical and spiritual filling. This must occur before I can hope to faithfully go about my day and daily work. Our Lord taught us to pray for this as we ask in the Lord’s Prayer “give us today our daily bread.” Of our baptism, too, Martin Luther

would have us remember, daily, that we are filled with God’s love, anew each day—Remember that with each new day the old self, past guilt, and sin are washed away and we are given instead all good things from God.

Like my coffee cup needs filling each day, so too do I. I thank God for my baptism — that through my baptism I am filled each day with God’s love and given all I need, all over again each day.

Blessings - Intern Chris Sesvold

FLC Building Committee UpdateKeeping you Informed- - This month’s organ assessment photo:

(Above) Notice the pipes leaning into each other? The pipes should be straight and made of proper metal alloys. Next time you take Communion, on the way back to your seat, simply look “up into the balcony” and you can see the set of pipes leaning away from the others…not good!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

January 2016 1 Office Closed 2

3 No Children’s Learning 10:15 a Reading Bee, 310 No HSM, YR

4 5 6:10 p GSD, 310, 312, 314

6 Epiphany 6:30 p Confirmation Family Night, Nave

7 7:00 p Vision, 306

8 9

10 6:00 p HSM, YR

11 12 8:30 a Comfort Makers, LFC 5:30 p Executive Meeting, 208 6:30 p Stephen Ministry, Chapel 7:00 p Bldg. Meet, 313

13 Confirmation 10:00 a Sr. Adult Meeting, Chapel 2:00 p Worship planning, chapel 6:00 p Young Cont., 312

14 12:00 p Keenagers, LFC

15 16 Healing 9:00 a Baptism Class, 310

17 Healing 6:00 p HSM, YR

18 MLK Day

19 7:00 p Church Council, Chapel

20 Confirmation

21 6:00 p NAMI, 306/307 6:30 p UNA, LFC 7:00 p Vision, 306

22 23

24 6:00 p HSM, YR

25 26 5:30 p GSDors, 310 6:30 p Stephen Ministry, Chapel 7:00 p Bldg. Meet, 313

27 No Confirmation Mentor Training 6:30-7:30 LFC

28 8:30 a Comfort Makers, LFC

29 30 Baptism 8:30 a—1:00 p Vision Team Retreat, LFC

31 Baptism 6:00 p HSM, YR

Activities Outside First Lutheran

Last Monday of the Month: Ladies Night Out, Various Locations Contact Lori Nietert 373-1412 Jan 21st, Pies and Pastor at Methwick 2:30 p

Weekly Activities Schedule

Care Center Worship Services

Meth-wick Pie & Pastors 3rd Thursday 2:30 p (odd months) Cottage Grove Place-(Jan 7) 1st Friday 4:00 p The Meadows Apartments 2nd Saturday 1:00 p Living Center West 2nd Sunday 2:00 p Higley Mansion 3rd Sunday 10:30 a Living Center East 4th Sunday 1:00 p

Worship Services___________ Saturday: 5:00 p Traditional Sunday: 9:00 a Traditional Sunday: 11:15 a Celebration Education___10:15___________ Parent’s Corner 314 Adult Forums LFC Pastor’s Study Chapel Spirituality Study 312 Sunday_____________________ 10:00 a CPT Rehearsal, Nave 10:00 a HS Hand bells, 316 6:00 p HSM, YR Monday__Renovare’s start 1/11 9:30 a Renovare’, YR 1:00 p Renovaré, Chapel 5:30 p Renovaré, Chapel 6:15 p Resonaré Bells, 316 7:05 p Rhapsody Ringers, 316 Tuesday___________________ 9:00 a Staff Meeting, Chapel 12:30 p Pastor’s Study, 313 12:30 p Coe College Hand bells 6:30 p Over Eaters Anon, 116 7:00 p CRCC, CR

Wednesday _________________ 3:00 p Trumpet Les., 315 4:15 p Cherub Choir, CR 4:45 p MS Hand bells 5:00 p Chapel Choir, CR 5:15 p MS Choir, Bal 6:30 p Confirmation: Lg -Nave Sm Groups., 306, 313 & 315 116, YR, 113, 310 & 314 7:00 p Adult Choir, CR 7:40 p Confirmation, Nave Thursday_ Renovare’s start 1/14 6:45 a Men’s Breakfast, LFC 10:00 a Bible Study, Chapel 10:00 a Renovaré, 312 6:00 p CPT, CR 7:00 p CPT, Nave Friday_____________________ 6:30 a Andy’s Small Group, YR 1:00 p Radio Recording Saturday___________________ 4:30 p SEMP, LFC

January Worship VolunteersJan. 2-3 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. 11:15 A.M. Jan. 9-10 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. 11:15 A.M.

Acolyte Mariah DewulfMacyn McBride

Kaitlyn CarstensenLucas Middlekauff Acolyte Lizzy Dennis

Ryan PhelpsColton ChismAbigail Hackenmiller

Altar Guild Altar GuildChoir Soloist Choir Adult Choir Contemporary Singers

Coffee Host Duane & JoAnn Wood Beth BartelsPat Stieglitz Coffee Host Nancy Mohni

Jim MohniBeth BartelsPat Stieglitz

Coffee FellowshipSet UP

Theresa JohnsonMary VanHouten

Coffee FellowshipSet UP

Shelia AndersonNancy Hinrichs

CommunionAssistant

Kay Gloe, Anne JahnkeMarcy Shie, Sue Tesdahl

Kandy SandsLisda Rud

Communion Assistant

Linda Herman, Pat Marshall, Lori NietertSue Tesdahl

Vicki FinksteinJanet Jacobsen

Comm. Clean-up Judy BryantMarilyn Duning Comm. Clean-up Lindsay Brown

Mary Van Houten

Greeter Kevin KazimourBrendon Rader

Kali GroverTom SchambergerHelp Needed

Cameron BunchRod BunchBill Cary

Greeter Brandon CanoJustin Cano

Nick HansenDoug NietertTom Schamberger

Teressa HackenmillerJune HubbellKathy Stanford

Lector/ Liturgist Roxanne Rustand Thomas Cleveland Lector/Liturgist Ellen Collins Mariah Hurley

Prayer Team Sue Fletcher Prayer Team Liz StansburyFred Stieglitz

Projectionist Michael Sinnott Projectionist Help NeededRadio Harlan Hanson Radio Sue Gerhold

Usher Theresa BrandonLarry Rustand

Jim Jahnke, David SelkJohn & Alice Wasson

Ivan Borsay, Neil RudPeter Knudson Usher Paul Jensen

Rose Ann JensenJim Jahnke, David SelkJohn & Alice Wasson

Ezra HackenmillerMark HackenmillerPeter Knudson

Jan. 16-17 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. 11:15 A.M. Jan. 23-24 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. 11:15 A.M.

Acolyte Sarah JahnkeHenry Selk

Jacob Bradley Cael Knox Acolyte Maya Chawla

Christopher DavisLauren BowenNate Cichoski

Altar Guild Altar Guild

Choir Rhapsody Ringers Adult Choir &Resonare Bells Chapel Choir Choir MS Choir & Handbels HS Handbells

Coffee Host Phil LenzenAnne Lenzen

Beth BartelsPat Stieglitz Coffee Host

Marilyn DuningConnie DunkinCharlene Marsch

Beth BartelsPat Stieglitz

Coffee FellowshipSet UP

Jeri LuedersLiz Bowen

Coffee FellowshipSet UP

Bob KoenigKathy Koenig

CommunionAssistant

Dave BeyJudy JohnsonInez LenschDeb Schamberger

Dan MusilPeggy Musil

Communion Assistant

Ruth HansenMark ScheumannNancy ScheumannJan Slaughter

Lori MusilSherrie Waite

Comm. Clean-up Leigh & Julie Haug Comm. Clean-up Doug & Anita Johnson

Greeter Nicole KeatingJulie Petersen

Anne & Sam JahnkeTom Schamberger

Lindsay DeWolfMark & Lois Hoper Greeter Help Needed Dan, Adam &

Madi RinkSara Adams, Maria HeinBrooke Leuenhagen

Lector/ Liturgist Marilyn Dyrland Alice Wasson Lector/ Liturgist Mary Kay Grodt Melanie Olson

HealingPrayer Team Help Needed Ruth Hansen, Micky McNeil

Diane SelkBeth Hanna, Becky Knudson, Diane Palmer Prayer Team Sue Fletcher

Projectionist Help Needed Projectionist Help NeededRadio Sue Gerhold Radio Ruth Hallquist

Usher Gordon BaustianJann Baustain

Jim Jahnke, David SelkJohn Wasson

Peter KnudsonDennis LaGrangeJennifer LaGrance

UsherLoren JansaKathy Vandezandschulp

Jim Jahnke, David SelkJohn & Alice Wasson

Bev HarrisPeter KnudsonJoe Musil

Rose Ann Jensen, Jean Kvach, Mary Van Houten, Lisa Williams Rose Ann Jensen, Jean Kvach, Mary Van Houten, Lisa Williams

Rose Ann Jensen, Jean Kvach, Mary Van Houten, Lisa Williams Rose Ann Jensen, Jean Kvach, Mary Van Houten, Lisa Williams

Jan. 30-31 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. 11:15 A.M.Acolyte Luciana O'Donnell, Vivian Shanley Anna Bosking,Marek McBrideAltar GuildChoir Cherub Choir Adult ChoirCoffee Host Wynell Lindsley, Scott Lindsley Beth Bartels, Pat StieglitzCoffee Fellowship Set Up Dawn Foss, Brent FossCommunion Assistant Ryan Koester, Sarah Olmstead, Tom Olmstead, Gary Peterson Jenny Bosking, Jane OglesbyComm. Clean-up Liz Bowen, Judy JohnsonGreeter Tyler Nelson, Help Needed Naomi Werner Von Cary, Jerry Trudo, Cheryl ZapfLector/Liturgist Chris Hogenson Katie ChismPrayer Team Liz Stansbury, Fred StieglitzProjectionist Michael SinnottRadio Ruth HallquistUsher Loren Jansa, Kathy Vandezandschulp Jim Jahnke, David Selk, Alice Wasson, John Wasson Maria Hein, Adam Hein, Peter Knudson

Rose Ann Jensen, Jean Kvach, Mary Van Houten, Lisa Williams

Education — Education options are offered each week between Sunday services for people of all ages. Topics are announced in the newsletter and online at firstlutherancr.org/this-weekend.

Fellowship — Coffee, tea, lemonade, and snacks are offered on each level of the building between worship services on Sunday mornings.

Rides for Worship — Rides can be pre-arranged for weekend services. Call the church office for information.

Radio Ministry — First Lutheran reaches the community by radio on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m.

on KMRY 1450 AM or their simulcast on 93.1 FM.

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Please include in your Prayers...

90+ Birthdays in January! Clara Ackerman, 93 years young on January 18.Gertrude Hansel, 96 years young on January 20.

Hospitalized: *released as of December 15.

St. Lukes Hospital Keith Koch* Faye Roberts* Dorothy Topping*Gordon Johnson* Edith Winistorfer*

Mercy Hospital Karen Peshel* Inez Lensch* Mary Miles*

University of Iowa Krista Krug*

Our Sympathy to: Linda Mohr, family and friends on the death of

her sister, Joyce.

Rachel Gantner, Meredith & Paige Gantner, family & friends, on the death of their husband and father, Joseph Gantner III.

Connie Splitgerber, family & friends, on the death of her wife, Paula Keenan.

Jim and Andrea Dwyer-Anderson, family & friends, on the death of Andrea’s father, David Anderson.

Hospitalized?If you or a loved one is hospitalized, has a birth

announcement or have experienced a death in thefamily, please call the church office to let us know,

as privacy laws limit the information hospitals can share with us. If we know you are in the hospital, our pastors and lay visitors will come to visit and pray with you.

FIRST LUTHERAN WORSHIP GUIDESaturday Evening Worship: 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Traditional Worship: 9:00 a.m.Sunday Celebration Worship: 11:15 a.m.

This information is preliminary and subject to change.

Dec. 19 & 20 – The Fourth Sunday in Advent Adult Choir Cantata at 9 a.m.

Preaching: Pastor Steve Knudson Sermon Topic: Signs of God’s Coming Blessing Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a , Luke 1:39-45

See the front cover for Christmas Eve Worship Information.

Dec. 26 & 27 – The First Sunday of Christmas Preaching: Pastor Craig Brown Sermon: “Signs of Becoming what God Intends” Scripture: 1 Sam 2:18-20, 26; Colossians 3:12-17;

Luke 2:41-52

Jan. 2 & 3 – The Second Sunday of Christmas Preaching: Pastor Leroy Bradway Sermon: “Signs of God’s Coming Light” Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-3,6; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:10-18

Jan. 9 & 10 – The Baptism of Our Lord Preaching: Pastor Craig Brown Sermon Topic: “Identity in the Name of Jesus” Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

The Light (USPS 783-640) published monthly by First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403. Periodical Postage paid at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Postmaster: Send address changes to First Lutheran Church, 1000 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403-2481.

PERIODICAL

Address Service Requested

Steve Knudson Senior Pastor extension 107 stevek@firslutherancr.org

Craig Brown Associate Pastor extension 106 craigb@firstlutherancr.org

Leroy Bradway Interim Visitation Pastor extension 105 leroyb@firstlutherancr.org

Chris Sesvold Pastoral Intern extension 105 chriss@firstlutherancr.org

Gordon Epping, CPA Director of Support Services extension 111 gordone@firstlutherancr.org

Marcie Watson Dir. of Spiritual Transformation extension 280 marciew@firstlutherancr.org

Marissa Letscher Dir. of Children & Family Ministries extension 115 marissal@firstlutherancr.org

Lindsey Scheibe Children & Family Ministry Assistant extension 115 lindseys@firstlutherancr.org

Michael Beckmann Director of Teen Ministries extension 104 michaelb@firstlutherancr.org

Brett Wolgast Cantor extension 112 brettw@firstlutherancr.org

Marita Wolgast Coor. of Traditional Worship extension 113 maritaw@firstlutherancr.org

Tanya Rosenkranz Malloy Director of Children’s Choirs extension 250 tanyar@firstlutherancr.org

Russell Moore Dir. of Contemp. Worship Music extension 260 russm@firstlutherancr.org

Vicki Hughes Ministry Engagement Coordinator extension 270 vickih@firstlutherancr.org

William Mittelsteadt Director of Communications extension 116 willm@firstlutherancr.org

Tammy Horak Receptionist/Admin. Assistant extension 109 tammyh@firstlutherancr.org

Rose Gordon Part-time Receptionist extension 101 roseg@firstlutherancr.org

Everett Collins Custodial Supervisor extension 105 everettc@firstlutherancr.org

Scott Peterson, Mu Ruo Custodians

1000 Third Ave. SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403Ph: (319) 365-1494 Fx: (319) 364-3962

online at www.firstlutherancr.org

New All-Congregational Study Coming Soon

This Lent we will embark on an all-church study called “Unbinding Your Heart.” Our hope is to involve our entire worshiping congregation to help us prayerfully consider how every one of us does evangelism in 2016. We think this is critical as we consider our mission to the community this year and look to possibly renovate our building in the near future. We need to unbind our hearts so that we are ready to invite people to the amazing new things God is doing here in the heart of the city. We recently trained 50 adults who are excited to lead you in 30 different small groups in their homes and here at church. You can find out more about the different leaders and sign-up for a small group time on the bulletin board along the wall in the coffee area. Think of this as a chance to meet some new people and grow in faith. You will meet once a week for six weeks to pray together, discuss our pastors’ weekly sermons, and read the book “Unbinding Your Heart” by Martha Grace Reece. (Books cost $15 and will be available in January). We will also email daily devotions accessible on your smart phone. For those who serve as confirmation mentors, our mentor pairs will be going through a similar study on Wednesday nights, but we encourage you to sign up for a small group meeting at another time as well.

We will offer similar small group studies at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings for Middle and High School youth and their families, as well as families of children in KidZone and Connect 45. Again, we want our entire congregation to join in this study! Meeting times will be offered seven days a week at night and a few during the day including Sunday morning. The fun begins on February 6 so sign up today. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Craig at craigb@firstlutherancr.org or at 365-1494 x.106.