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St. Matthew Lutheran Church December 2019
Greetings Friends,
A while back we ordered a bunch of rubber cross key chains to give away. One of our young people pointed out that it was not just a cross. If you turned it inside out it became a manger.
It was a nice little surprise. Serendipity, some people might call it. There was a manger hidden in the cross, and I never knew it was there until one of our young people showed it to me. I think there is a lesson there for us as we enter the Christmas season. When we look at the manger, let’s remember that there is a cross hidden there. That’s where the joy of Christmas comes from. It is not just that Jesus was born. But that Jesus would grow up to live a perfect life and die an innocent death on the cross for us. Christmas is a time of great joy. It has been that way since the angels made their announcement in the Bethlehem hillside: “And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people…” All of our daily Bible readings this month have to do with the fruit of joy. Joy and rejoicing are a big part of this Christmas season. They are the result of God’s love for us in Jesus. With Jesus’ perfect life and innocent death, we have received all that we need for complete joy. Our joy rests on the finished work of the Cross; not on our circumstance. So Rejoice! The Good News of Jesus brings us great joy.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bill Hugo
PAGE 2 From the Pastor
Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great JOY which will come to all the people.
ADVENT & CHRISTMAS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Midweek Advent 2019: “Arise and Shine”
Saturday, Nov. 30 (5:30pm) and Sunday, Dec. 1 (8:00 & 10:45am): FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT Pastor Brutlag preaching on reconciliation themes from 2 Corinthians 5 & 6 Wednesday, Dec. 4 Worship at 4:30 & 7:00 p.m. – “Arise and Shine: Rising Light” Supper served at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 (5:30 p.m.) – DCLC Christmas service: “Jesus: Light of the World” Sunday, Dec. 8 (8:00 & 10:45 a.m.) – SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT “Comfort and Joy” Christmas cantata presentations Wednesday, Dec. 11 Worship at 4:30 & 7:00 p.m. – “Arise and Shine: Reflected Light” Supper served at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15 – THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. – Pastor Hugo preaching on “A Little Time in the Wilderness” 10:45 a.m. – Children’s Ministries presentation in word and song: “Before Christmas” Wednesday, Dec. 18 Worship at 4:30 & 7:00 p.m. – “Arise and Shine: Healing Light” Supper served at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 - 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 - 10:45 a.m. - FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT Pastor Hugo preaching on “The Power of Expectation” Tuesday, Dec. 24 – CHRISTMAS EVE Worship with Holy Communion at 4:30 p.m. Candlelight service with Holy Communion at 11:00 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 25 – CHRISTMAS DAY Festival Holy Communion worship at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 (5:30 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 29 (10:45 a.m.) FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS Pastor Brutlag preaching
(PLEASE NOTE that there are no 8:00 am services on Sunday, Dec. 22nd& Dec. 29th. Regular weekend worship schedule resumes on Jan. 4-5, 2020)
PAGE 4
Love was our theme for November.
The Sojourner class will have completed Matthew 10 by the end of the month, connecting the theme of ‘love’ to the stories in those chapters.
The Rotation students have been learning how Jesus showed his love by healing, physically and spiritually, a man with leprosy (Matt. 8) and a paralytic (Matt. 9). The Faith Play class continues to learn and grow in being loving to each other.
As we move into December, we look forward to exploring the fruit of ‘Joy’ in our Matthew lessons, and in our preparations for presenting the Christmas story during the 10:45 A.M. worship service
on Dec. 15.
Thank You for those who served in Children’s Ministries in November!
Sundays: Teresa Anderson, Candy Nelson, Karrie Kikeh, Tracy Shaffer, Kristina Martin, Sarai Kretschman, Cheryl Maxwell, Mike Alm, Makayla Feely Wednesdays: Lisa Neaderhiser, Vanessa Eames, Teresa Anderson, Kristina Martin, Ben Hugo, Karyn Naber, Carol Blase, Pastor Bill Hugo, Mary Nehring
October Sunday School Pictures The children were learning to be Salt and Light. Diane Breit led a workshop one Sunday to
help the children make a craft to reinforce these lessons.
RISE! Reading Incentives Nov. 24 was the first Fruit Basket Sunday!
Students who have read at least 5 of the 7 readings for six weeks or more, received fruit baskets for their efforts. Congratulations!
The next Fruit Basket Sunday will be Jan. 26.
PAGE 5
‘Before Christmas’ is the title of the skit the children will present during the message portion of the 10:45 am worship service on Dec. 15. All children are invited to participate, whether you have attended Children’s Ministries classes this fall or not. Parents of the youngest children are invited to participate with them. There will be ONE rehearsal at 9:00 am (note early start) on Dec. 15. Please RSVP (763-788-9427, or [email protected]) as soon as possible, to let us know you are coming. Costumes: all participants are encouraged to wear pajamas/bathrobes/slippers (over your clothes) and bring a small blanket and/or pillow. Christmas themed bedtime attire is encouraged.
‘Before
Christmas’
Schedule change! #1 Nov. 20 was the last night of Set 1 of our schedule of Wednesday classes and activities. HOWEVER – choir members, please check with Carol for continuing rehearsals to prepare for the Cantata! We take this break in order that families can worship together at special Wednesday Thanks-giving and Advent/Christmas worship services. Set 2 will resume on Jan. 8 and will run through Feb. 19 when we break for Ash Wednesday/Lent.
Schedule change! #2 Dec. 22 and Dec. 29, because of the Christmas holidays, there will be Sunday school at 9:30 am and worship at 10:45 am. (ONE worship service).
Children’s Ministries Calendar:
December RISE! Theme: Joy
Nov. 27 (Wed.) – Thanksgiving worship, 7:00 PM
Nov. 28 (Thurs.) – Thanksgiving worship, 10:00 AM, and dinner
Dec. 1 (Sun.) – Holiday weekend movies for SS
Dec. 1 (Sun.) – church decorating
Dec. 7 (Sat.) – 5:30, DCLC presents during worship
Dec. 8 (Sun.) – Cantata during worship (includes children’s choir)
Dec. 15 (Sun.) – Children’s Ministries leads worship (early start at 9:00 am for rehearsal)
Dec. 22, 29 (Sun.) SS/Worship schedule change. Holiday movie Sundays for SS.
Jan. 5 (Sun.) regular worship/Sunday school times resume
Jan. 8 (Wed.) ‘Set 2’ of Wednesday activities resume (Through Feb. 19)
Sunday School Mission Project: ‘Feed My Starving Children’ Children are encouraged to earn or find quarters at home, and bring them to Sunday school where they will be placed into mini-M&M tubes.
Periodically the tubes will be taken to FMSC. One 1.08 oz. tube of quarters holds $14 and feeds 63 children! Families may purchase mini-M&M tubes (with candies) at Sunday school, to fill at home, $2 each. So far, since the VBS packing event last summer, we have gathered 5 filled mini-M&M tubes – which translates to $70 in quarters to serve a meal to 315 children!
PAGE 6
I’m so thankful for those who have enriched our worship life during the past several weeks! Please thank these groups and individuals the
next time you see them:
Children’s Choir for their costumed skit presentations of the story of the Ten Lepers, their song by the same name, as well as soloists Aubree Allen and Renata Kikeh on Oct. 13
th;
Combined choirs who sang a setting of the Reformation gospel lesson on Oct. 27th,
“The Truth Shall Make You Free”, as well as instrumental quartet members Will Hugo (trumpet), Andrew Wagner (trumpet), Karyn Naber (tenor sax), and Ted Landwehr (trombone) for their rousing leadership on two Reformation hymns;
Choirs, music team, and individuals who are helping us all to learn our theme refrain for the current ministry year, “The Fruits of Christ’s Resurrection”. I hope that it is becoming familiar to everyone by now!
Families of veterans who submitted photos of loved ones who have/are currently serving in our armed forces as we observed Veterans’ Day on Nov. 9-10.
I’m also thankful for the wonderful support you gave our community theater group as well as The Sheridan Story when you attended the polka dinner on Oct. 26
th, when you baked a dessert, when you
helped with setup and cleanup and decorating, and when you invited others to attend.
December Events and Celebrations A NEW CHURCH YEAR begins for the entire Christian Church on Nov. 30 & Dec. 1 with the First Sunday in Advent. Please see page 2 for upcoming special services for Advent and Christmas, and note the altered worship schedule on Sundays, Dec. 22 & 29. CHURCH DECORATING for Advent and Christmas will be held immediately after the second service (around noon) on Sunday, Dec. 1. A pizza/salad/dessert luncheon will be shared and then decorating of the large tree, worship center, and narthex areas will take place. Please sign up on the board near the information desk so that enough pizza is ordered. Questions? Please call ElRoy Honl at 651-797-2241. CANDLELIGHT CHOIR, the group presenting special music for our 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service, will meet for four rehearsals on Wednesdays, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, 11, and 18 at 7:45 p.m. in the choir room. The music will be easy to grasp and fun for everyone. All ages and vocal abilities are invited to join in. CHRISTMAS CANTATA: “Comfort and Joy” – Our 2019 Cantata Choir has been hard at work for a number of weeks getting ready to present this favorite work by Randy Vader and Jay Rouse. Please spread the word to family and friends about these presentations on Sunday, Dec. 8 at both the 8:00 & 10:45 a.m. services.
PAGE 7
DIABETES EDUCATION
CALL KATHY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED Plans are formulating for a Diabetic Educator to provide a dynamic, educational session on understanding diabetes, prevention, management and healthy eating, sometime early 2020. If you have interest to attend, please contact Kathy and the time and date will be arranged to accommodate those that wish to attend. If you’d like to be assessed for whether or not you have pre-diabetes and are at risk for developing diabetes, there is a simple 5 minute questionnaire screen Kathy can do with you over the phone or in person. Contact Kathy if interested in setting up a Tuesday appointment to discuss.
TRY SOME HEALTHY SNACKS
Watch for an alternative of a HEALTHY treat being offered once a month during the second Sunday of the month 9:30 fellowship time. This month in December we study the fruit of JOY. Adapted from an article written at Baylor University - Joy in fruit form, is a watermelon. Picture this: it’s a hot summer day and you are lounging by the pool while your kids or grandkids are splashing and swimming around. They get out of the pool to have a snack, so you wrap them up in a towel and give them big, fresh slices of watermelon. The stickiness is no problem, because they’re just going to jump back into the water anyway. Personally, the writer says, that scene screams JOY! God calls us to have joyful hearts. He wants us to overflow with joy like a WATERMELON overflows with juiciness, without letting the stickiness of life get in the way. This month on the second Sunday of the month, December 8th, a healthy treat alternative will be offered during coffee hour – You can look for: WATERMELON! Enjoy compliments of the Health and Wellness/Parish Nurse Ministry.
YOGADEVOTION:
Will be taking a deep breath and pausing for now……(due to low attendance) Yogadevotion is the practice based on breath, prayer and movement led by trained yoga instructors. Yogadevotion helps to encourage healthy living and a peaceful presence. Classes are typically held in 5-8 week sessions, $9 per session, and usually held here on Thursday evenings for one hour 6:30-7:30. All levels of skill and experience welcome! Call Kathy if you have questions about community yogadevotion classes at other nearby locations; or if interested in a DAYTIME CHAIR YOGADEVOTION CLASS in 2020!
GOLDEN AGERS: Support for all St. Matthew Seniors
All SENIORS - ages 55 to 105! - you are all strongly encouraged to join together four times a year in the months of: October, January, April, July for a 12 noon meal, devotion, special program, fellowship, and fun, led by Parish Nurse Kathy Rosenberg. We encourage you to bring a friend along if you wish!
Our next gathering is Tuesday January 11th
at 12 Noon in the Fellowship Hall. A pizza and salad lunch will be provided and we will have some intergenerational fun with the children and staff from DCLC - but let us know you are coming so we can have enough food for all! For any questions contact Ruth or Kathy at church or Kathy’s VM at 763-788-9427.
(If you’d like to assist in shopping for the specified treat each month, serving it in the fellowship hall between 9 to 10:30, or if you want to get involved in more health and
wellness activities, education, and health promotion, let Kathy know!)
PAGE 8 Care Ministries
BeFriender Ministry - A Listening Presence
“It is important to become aware that at every moment of our life we have an opportunity to choose joy... It is in the choice that our true freedom lies, and that freedom is, in the final analysis, the freedom to love.” - Henri Nouwen Out of Solitude
The BeFriender relationship fits in well with our fruit of the spirit for the month – Joy. Both the BeFriender and the person being BeFriended receive joy as the rela-tionship blossoms. If you would like to learn more about the BeFriender Ministry, please contact Sarai Kretschman.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from having a trained BeFriender make visits, please contact Sarai Kretschman or another member of the BeFriender Leadership Team: Pastor Bill Hugo, Louise Roberts, Kathy Rosenberg, and Jane Gergen.
Sarai Kretschman
Pastoral Care Assistant
sarai.kretschman@
stmatthew-ch.org
Cancer Support Group This group is for those who have received a cancer diagnosis.
We meet monthly on the 3rd
Wednesday of the month from 1-2:30 pm in the Lounge. The December meeting will be held on December 18
th.
Please contact Sarai Kretschman, Pastoral Care Assistant, at 763-788-9427 or [email protected]
with any questions or to RSVP.
GriefShare Ministry As of the writing of this article, we are gearing up for our Surviving the Holidays seminar on November 17
th. Please pray for the facilitators, Carol Lundholm and Julie Sventek, and the
participants as they take what they learned at the seminar and apply them through the holiday season. Our next GriefShare group will begin on January 8, 2020 and run weekly on Wednesday evenings through April 1, 2020. Please keep the facilitators and prospective participants in your prayers. Each session is self-contained, so they do not need to be attended in order. Cost is free; pre-registration is requested by calling the church office at 763-788-9427 or emailing Sarai Kretschman, Pastoral Care Assistant, at [email protected].
PAGE 9
Kathy Rosenberg, RN, Parish Nurse, continues to be available each week for 1:1 Parish Nurse Visits with you and your family, and mainly works now each Tuesday from 9am to 5pm. Please call the church office if you wish to arrange a Parish Nurse visit from Kathy.
As a review, Parish Nursing is a specialty practice of nursing meant to help carry out the caring and healing ministry of the church, working in partnership with the Pastor, church staff, BeFrienders, and resources in the community. The focus on Parish Nurse Ministry is on health promotion, wellness and preventative care. The role of the Parish Nurse blends our faith and our health by providing:
Personal Health Counseling: addressing health issues with members and makes 1:1 home, hospital, senior living, nursing home, or phone visits as needed.
Referral Source/Advocacy: Uses knowledge of community services and agencies to help people access resources and referrals.
Health Educator: Through a variety of formats, educates to promote self-care and improve the understanding among lifestyle, personal habits, attitudes, faith, and wellness.
Coordinator of Groups and Volunteers: Recruits and coordinates volunteers to help carry out the Health and Wellness ministries and other caring ministries of the church.
Relationship Builder between Faith and Health and Healing: In all activities, and through 1:1 Parish Nurse Visits, provides a spiritual dimension of care and fosters an understanding that even in the presence of illness it is possible to experience a sense of healing and wholeness.
END OF LIFE CHOICES: Give your loved ones a gift of “having the conversation” and filling out your Health Care Directive: It is never too early to plan and communicate your end of life wishes with your loved ones, knowing there may be a time when you cannot speak for yourself - it is a wonderful gift to give your family - to have your end of life wishes made known ahead of a crisis and complete your Health Care Directive.
If you are interested in learning more about this and discussing your wishes and choices for starting or completing your health care directive, Parish Nurse Kathy Rosenberg is a trained facili-tator and has the resources to help you make your end of life wishes known. She can help you understand what is needed as you write out your Health Care Directive. Please call Kathy in the church office or leave her a voicemail to set up a Tuesday after-noon appointment in your home or at the church.
† Kyrie is a Greek word meaning “O Lord.” It is a cry to the Lord for
help, strength, and His blessings in our lives.
† We gave over $37,000 to Minnesota South District as our tithe in
2018. We have given $28,500 through October, 2019.
† Our heating bill during the heart of the heating season averages
about $1,600.
† We currently have 35 children enrolled in David’s Christian Learning
Center.
† Bethlehem means "house of bread."
PAGE 10
(Oct. 26) Thank you to Thrivent for the funds to purchase prizes, and to all who volunteered to serve at the ‘fishing booth’ for the event: Janna Affeldt, Karrie Kikeh, Charles Kikeh, Renata Kikeh, Cecelia Kikeh, Ben Hugo, Makayla Feely, Will Hugo, Faustina Allen, Aubree Allen, and Joshua Neaderhiser. (Photo Credits: Charles Kikeh)
During December Youth will continue to check in during Advent services at 5:30-6pm in the youth room. Sunday morning Youth Bible Study will continue to meet at 9:30am on, “Leading Lives that Matter.”
St. Matthew Youth assisted with worship
at Crestview Senior Communities in
November and also sorted food at SACA Food Shelf.
SPRING MUSICAL AUDITIONS!
Auditions for our 2020 spring musical, “42nd
Street”, will be on:
Sunday, Jan. 12 – noon Wednesday, Jan. 15 – 7 pm
Sunday, Jan. 19 – noon
First read through/rehearsals weekend is Jan. 24 & 26th.
Production dates are April 23-26 and April 30-May 3, 2020.
Truck or Treat
PAGE 11
You’re Invited A group is working to form a fiber ministry (knitting, crocheting, embroidery, etc.) at
St. Matthew. We would love to have you there to help us brainstorm ways to have our skills
be fruitful for our community. A couple of ideas so far are to make blankets to donate to homeless shelters and to make baby blankets for new parents.
It’s finally here! Please join us at our first meeting on Wednesday, December 4th at 5:45 pm between the Advent services. Feel free to get dinner from the fellowship hall and bring
it with you to the Willer Room for our meeting. If you have any questions, e-mail Andrew Wagner ([email protected]) or
Sarai Kretschman ([email protected]).
ADVENT STUDIES - Please join us!
November 21, December 5, 12 and 19 9:30 or 12:30 pm at Community Grounds
2020 Women's Bible Study - Book of Matthew starting Jan 9 A good way to start the New Year
THIS IS NEW!!! STARTING JANUARY 9:
The morning lessons will continue at Columbia Grounds Coffee
The afternoon class will be held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in the Willer Room.
Since June of 2017 we have done three video series (Gideon, The Voice of God, and Finding I AM); four of the prison letters written by St. Paul (Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon); four Old Testament books (Judges, Esther, Nehemiah and Hosea), and two lessons on the Inter-Testament Period (the years between the Old and New Testaments).
From the class members: “How has Bible study impacted your personal life?” “I started going to the women's Bible study to refresh some of my knowledge of the Bible. I missed the Sunday morning studies I used to attend that were led by Carl Molin when my work schedule changed a number of years ago. I didn't expect the wonderful fellowship that I gained and the renewed and new friendships that were made. So exciting to share our lives with women with the same values that we have.”
“Studying God’s Word in a Women’s Bible Study has helped me to grow in my faith walk, build intimate friendships, showing caring support for each other and praying together. We learn and grow together ministering one to another and encouraging one another.”
"I have found Bible study to not only be a time to grow spiritually by studying the scriptures, but it’s a confidential place to share life’s ups and downs. We support each other through prayer and encouragement. It’s a sense of community that we share."
How has Bible Study impacted my life? It has allowed me to be more transparent and honest with myself and others, both internally and externally, and to feel safe and trusted. They say friendships start in small groups and the Bible teaches us that we need each other. I cherish the close friendships that have been made and the friendships which have been made stronger. I am praying for others and I know others are praying for me. It has helped me to grow my faith and encouraged and caused me to take what I learned from Bible study and reach out to others. To be an Encourager and to daily put on the Armor of God. The support and en-couragement I’ve received from the Bible study group is beyond comprehension – and with this group it has made for some very interesting discussions.
ST. MATTHEW LUTHERAN CHURCH
4101 WASHINGTON STREET NE COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, MN
55421
763-788-9427 www.stmatthew-ch.org
The most current St. Matthew news and calendar are online at
www.stmatthew-ch.org
Church Staff
Bill Hugo, Pastor
Carol Blase, Music Coordinator
Brenda Hugo, Director of Children’s Ministries
Sarai Kretschman, Pastoral Care Assistant
Kathy Rosenberg, Parish Nurse
Faustina Allen, Director of Teen Ministry
Ruth Petersen, Office Manager
Julie Sventek, DCLC Director
Discipleship Vision Board
Mike Alm [email protected]
Teresa Anderson [email protected]
Lisa Glaser [email protected]
Pastor Bill Hugo [email protected]
Discipleship Vision Board
Brian Maxwell (President) [email protected]
Lisa Neaderhiser [email protected]
Paul Peterson [email protected]
Louise Roberts [email protected]
