Staff Ext.

Senior Pastor Richard Steensma ................................................................................. 112 Associate Pastor Matthew Albright .................................................................................. 113 Coordinator of Kids Ministry & Electronic Media Allison Burkhow ........................................................................................ 111 Director of Preschool Annie Bilski ....................................................................................................... 114 Director of Parish Music

Kay Knutson ................................................................................................... 123 Office Administrator & Choir Director Heather McAllister .............................................................................. 110 Administrative Assistant JoElla Kath ....................................................................................................... 124 Bookkeeper Lowell Brutlag............................................................................................. 172 Facilities Manager & Technology Coordinator Curt Flor ............................................................................................................... 125 Custodial Assistants Ron Boyce Dave Anderson

Church Office Hours Monday-Friday .................................. 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

Phone Number ........................... 763-784-1786

Sunday Schedule Worship 7:30, 8:45, 11:00 am Education Hour 10:00 am

Monday Worship 6:00 pm

Church email Address messiah@messiah-lutheran.org

Church Web Site messiah-lutheran.org

Messiah Messiah Lutheran Church—Mounds View, MN

Sharing The Savior | Developing Disciples

BAZAAR RECAP The bazaar for 2019 is over and plans are underway for 2020. The fun never

stops!

A genuine thank you go to the many, many people who worked so hard that

week of the bazaar. It takes lots of hours and lots of stamina to complete all

the tasks that need to be made. The results are tremendous.

The total amount of funds exceeded last year -- The total is $16,673.60. The

only expense we had was $44.33 to pay for the credit card fee. Action

Team funds from Thrivent Financial are wonderful and helped us cut

down on lots of expenses.

A breakdown of the "departments" are:

Grandma's Attic $2257.37

Cookie Parade 1347.00

Coffee Shop 1477.35

Antiques & Collectibles 1147.75

Craft & Bake Sale 10488.46

360 dozen Christmas cookies were baked, decorated and sold! That's a

lot of yummies. It is suspected that many didn't make it to the freezer for the

holidays but are eaten fresh.

The Bake Shop is extremely popular with a variety of breads, rosettes,

candy, and snacks sold. 640 lefse were sold. 50 apple pies were sold.

The quilt was won by Cindy Rierson. Enjoy that beautiful warm quilt,

Cindy. $562.00 was sent to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.

CHANGE IS COMING!?!?! Do you believe the saying, “nobody likes change”? I’m not convinced. While change

can be inconvenient or even challenging, I believe that a critical component to growth is change.

Over the past couple of months, we have focused on the Red Letter Challenge and have faced a

number of ways in which we, as individuals, can and should change. Change the way we see

ourselves as fully forgiven children of God who calls us to forgive and serve and give and go. Change is not foreign to us. While the fear of change is understandable, I am sure we would

agree that it is all around us. As I look out the window of my office the leaves that are left on the tree

are brown and the shrubs across the street look lifeless. Yet in just a matter of months (who knows how

many) the tree will once again be full of green leaves and the shrubs will appear alive. Even in our

personal lives things change. The price of gas goes up and down, the car runs great until the battery

dies, the kids are full of excitement until the flu arrives. You get the picture. Change in and of itself

is not bad. We know that. So what change is coming? Where? and Why?

Over the past year the Elders and the Staff have been discussing the value and importance of

Christian Education. We are in total agreement that the education of our children AND our adults is

not only important but necessary. Through Bible Classes and Sunday School each of us is challenged

to change our sinful ways as we are studying the Word of God. Whether it’s the little ones downstairs

or the big ones across the street or the even bigger ones here at church, well over a hundred of us are

heart deep in the Word.

The challenge we face is simple. The time we have for Christian Education is limited, right now

we have 45 minutes on Sunday morning. Once you get the group together, welcome one another, and

check in with the group that leaves almost 30 minutes for teaching, applying, talking, and praying. So,

what can we do? The options are limitless! What should we do? That’s what we are in the midst of

figuring out! How? First and foremost, through prayer! Second, by looking at ALL options and

determining how to most effectively provide enough time for and Education hour as well as enough

worship opportunities to accommodate our current worshippers as well as our future worshippers. So

how can you help? That’s easy! Pray and share your thoughts with me. I would love to hear what you

are thinking.

Of course, as we enter this beautiful month of December, we are reminded of the greatest change

that ever happened, our God coming to earth as one of us! Thanks be to God for sending His one and

only Son as a newborn babe in Bethlehem!

Sharing the Savior • Developing Disciples,

Pastor Rich Steensma

Senior Pastor Email: rsteensma@messiah-lutheran.org

PASTOR’S CORNER

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STEWARDSHIP

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah...out of you will come for Me One Who will be ruler over

Israel” (Micah 5:2), so wrote the prophet Micah some 750 years before Jesus’ birth took place.

Have you ever waited for a prayer to be answered? Have you waited 750 years? Does your

circumstance seem impossible? Think about the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. The

young women God chose to be His mother didn’t even live in Bethlehem. Solution? Put a bug in

the ruler’s ear; have him call for a census. Mary and Joseph are on their way. The rest is history!

Perhaps you’re in an obscure place, waiting to be used by God. Your wait is not in vain. God isn’t

through yet, and He has a plan for you, too!

The birth of Jesus was announced by the angels to shepherds who were watching their sheep near

Bethlehem. They didn’t take the news lightly. As soon as the angels had left, they went to

Bethlehem. They checked out the situation. They didn’t know they were stewards of the Gospel,

but, the Bible tells us, “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been

told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to

them” (Luke 2:17-18). Let’s join the shepherds and “spread the word concerning what has

been told us about this child….”

Why do we decorate our Christmas trees with lights? Of course, we enjoy the beauty of those

lights, especially in a darkened room, but take some time this Christmas season to meditate in that

quiet dark room where your tree stands all aglow. Think about what those lights represent: the Son

of God, in whom”...was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4). Then “...testify

concerning that light, so that through Him all men might believe” (John 1”7).

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HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS

For over twenty years, members of Messiah Lutheran Church have annually delivered food and fruit

baskets to families who have experienced a loss or are facing hardships.

We are currently seeking financial donations for this ministry.

Please plan now to share your time and blessings this Christmas season by making a cash donation in

support of Messiah’s Holiday Food Basket program. Cash contributions can be made by noting the

amount on your weekly giving envelope or placing it in an envelope marked “Holiday Food Baskets”.

On Saturday December 14th, 2019 we will be seeking help with the delivery of these baskets,

Thank you!

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USHERS ALTAR GUILD 7:30 J. & N. Miller

J. & G. Garner C. Hyatt

8:45 B. Kath D. Boyce

D. Kleba D. Hayes

T. Klemz J. Norell

11:00 S. Ehrreich

B. Smith

READERS Sunday, Dec. 1 Sunday, Dec. 15

7:30 C. Hyatt 7:30 G. Ness

8:45 M. Pickel 8:45 G. Kuehner

11:00 L. Radtke 11:00 Bargmans

Sunday, Dec. 8 Sunday, Dec. 22

7:30 R. Roehl 7:30 B. Gaynor

8:45 D. Kleba 8:45 R. Cobian

11:00 M. Bardal 11:00 H. Hansen

Sunday, Dec. 29

7:30 F. Hoff

8:45 L. Brutlag

11:00 C. Schwanbeck

MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE

“While they were there, the time came for the baby

to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and place him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:6-7

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XYZ in December

XYZ will be going to a Christmas concert by "Simple

Gifts." According to their website, "Simple Gifts

makes musical magic by bringing a modern flair to

traditional Christmas carols and hymns. Simple Gifts

combines violin, Celtic flutes and bagpipes, piano,

acoustic guitar and percussion with angelic three part

female vocals to create a modern Old-World sound.

…. seen by over 20,00 live audience members last

season, this group continues to grow in popularity

throughout the Upper Midwest.” Several Messiah

members have attended their Christmas Concert in

past years and say they are excellent. The concert is

on Thursday, 12/19/19; we will leave church at 6:00.

Cost is $30.00 (includes concert ticket and

transportation). Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board

by the elevator. Last day for sign-up is 12/15/19.

Friends are welcome.

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Women Of Messiah

This year’s bazaar was a big

success. Income from the bazaar

was over $16,700. The outreach

funds will be dispersed to Becky

Grossman (LBT), Habitat For

Humanity, Global Health

Ministries, Community Service

Center, and Community Partners

with Youth. The in-reach funds will

help the carpet fund, AV fund

upgrade, preschool playground, and

church management software.

Thank you to all who contributed to

funding these projects through the

bazaar.

A special thank you to all who

picked up mite boxes. The large

box to receive mites will be outside

the sanctuary doors on the first

Sunday of each month. Extra mite

boxes are available at the Welcome

Center. Everyone is invited to take

a box, fill it, and bring the donations

to the large box or a WOM meeting.

Speaking of meetings… the next

WOM meeting will be on February

11, 2020 starting with a potluck

supper at 5:30 and meeting at 6:30.

In the meantime, all enthusiasts are

invited to help make quilts on the

1st, 3rd, & 5th Tuesdays of the

month. The fun starts at 9:00AM.

No experience necessary.

Days for Girls will be here on

February 15th . We will be making

hygiene kits again. Everyone,

school-age and up is welcome.

SAVE THE DATE!

CANA “Revisited”

Sunday, January 12th

Potluck @ 12:30 pm

In the Crossroads Area

What is CANA?

A group of women who like to

gather together for:

Conversation, Adventures,

Nibbles and Wine.

For more information contact

Dayle Boyce (612)801-7250 or

dboyce0307@yahoo.com

Every Christmas, my family would gather in North Platte,

Nebraska, at my grandma and grandpa's house. We would

cram 6 adults and 4 kids into a 1-bathroom house. Dec. 24th

was the day everyone would arrive for dinner, where we

would eat ham and potatoes, croissants, and way too many gingerbread cookies and

fudge. After the meal was over everyone had to put on their Christmas best (mine

was always a sweater that was itchy and scratchy, and I hated it. Who would design

such a thing let alone force a child to wear it???) We would then head off in three

separate cars to the church for Christmas Eve service. Once at the church, though,

all bets were off. Some of the kids would want to sit with grandma, and grandpa

others wanted to sit with their aunt or their uncle.

I always wanted to sit next to my Aunt Karm. She was the fun aunt. We had

wild adventures, and she even let me eat candy during the service. Every year

though, we would have a little too much 'fun,' and my mom would give me the mom

look… you know the one where you know you are in trouble, but she doesn't want to

cause a scene right now, but you know you are in for it when you get home.

The time I remember most was when my aunt and I were singing the first noel.

Well, that was the song, and we sang most of the right lyrics, but instead of noel, we

sang Leon. I know some of you may call it blasphemy that we dare not sing this

beloved hymn the right way and others are siding with my mom for giving me a look

and forcing me to come sit next to them in my scratchy sweater hoping wax didn't

drop on my fingers when we sang silent night with candles. For me being able to sit

with my aunt made me want to go to church to be there and have 'fun.' Who would

have thought such a thing could be had in church. I still was there for the pastor's

sermon. I still was there for the children's message. I heard the gospel readings.

The point in me telling you this story is that this season as you sit in your pew

and the child next to you is talking, or not singing the right words, or maybe doesn't

even look like they are paying attention just remember that little kid singing 'The First

Leon' might just grow up to be the next generations pastor. Remember, they are here.

Remember, the words are washing over them. The Spirit works in wondrous ways.

Merry Christmas to all you Leon's!

Pastor Matt

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ACOLYTES

Sunday, December 1: Sunday, December 22:

8:45 E. Oslund & D. Netland 8:45 H. Kettelhut & D. Netland

11:00 C. Knoebel & T. Bargman 11:00 P. Goehner & L. Meyers

Sunday, December 8: Christmas Eve., December 24:

8:45 Z. Blaisdell & C. Thistle 4:00 PM Z. Blaisdell & C. Thistle

11:00 A. Laughlin & G. Herrald 7:00 PM L. Karger & E. Oslund

9:30 PM M. Thomas & D. Thomas

Sunday, December 15: Christmas Day, December 25:

8:45 E. Cobian & R. Olson 10:00 AM E. Allen & J. Allen

11:00 L. Burkhow & B. Kedrowski

Sunday, December 29:

8:45 E. Dufner & E. Cobian

11:00 C. Knoebel & T. Bargman

National Lutheran Choir Christmas Festival: Gloria! 

This holiday season…come find your home for exquisite music. This cherished annual event creates a holy experience for audiences and memories that last a lifetime. Families, groups of friends, and those seeking contemplation and beauty during the darkest days of the year will find light, love, and reverence for the birth of the Christ child at the National Lutheran Choir Christmas Festival. This year, the story of the Angel’s song “Gloria” is brought to life through an array of poetry, festive carols, and exquisite choral arrangements by Pavel Chesnokov, Stephen Paulus, F. Melius Christiansen, Kyle Pederson, Gwyneth Walker, Bob Chilcott and more, all in the unsurpassed beauty of the Basilica of Saint Mary. Friday, December 13, 4:30pm and 8pm Saturday, December 14 – NEW TIME @ 1:30pm and 8pm Basilica of Saint Mary, 1600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis Tickets: Adults and Seniors $33 | Students and Children FREE | Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For tickets and more information, please visit NLCA.com or call (612) 722-2301 Tickets may be available at the door on the day of the concert- please check NLCA.com for the latest ticket infor-mation. Discounted ticket prices are available for groups of 10 or more. Contact the NLC office at 612-722-2301 for more information on group tickets.

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When moving, changing address and/or

phone, please notify the church office.