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St. Matthew Lutheran Church November 2017
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Pastor’s Message 2
November News 4
Education News 5
Teen News 6
Community Life 7
Looking Ahead 9
Calendar 10
PAGE 2
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with persever-
ance the race marked out for us…”
Greetings Friends,
As we continue in our “Live by Faith” year, the 11
th chapter of Hebrews is a
great place for us to spend some time. It is a long list of what has happened throughout Biblical history because of faith in God.
The “great cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 12 (mentioned above) refers to the people in Hebrews 11. Their faith serves as a witness to us. Their faith, in many ways, is cheering us on as we run our own races of faith.
Much of what was mentioned in Hebrews 11 would have been consid-ered impossible (building an ark, raising the dead, conceiving a child after the time of fertility had ended, etc).
Much of what God does through us, we often label as “impossible”…until God does it.
Charles Kettering was head of research for General Motors from 1920 to 1947. He wrote this: “When I was research head of General Motors and wanted a problem solved, I'd place a table outside the meeting room with a sign: Leave slide rules here. If I didn't do that, I'd find someone reaching for his slide rule. Then he'd be on his feet saying, "Boss, you can't do it."
We often approach things the same way. We look at our limited resources or lim-ited abilities or limited time and say, “impossible.”
Hebrews 11 is a great reminder to us that faith makes all things possible.
So as we enter this month of November, read Hebrews 11. Spend some time with it. Look at what God has already done. Then read Hebrews 12:1-2 and picture these heroes of faith cheering you on in what God is calling you to do.
Grace and Peace, Pastor Bill Hugo
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7:00 PM or
Thursday, Nov 23 at 10:00 AM
to celebrate “Thanksgiving with Faith and Family.”
You will be hearing your brothers and sisters in Christ share the
blessings of faith in their families.
PAGE 3
FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER
We will be hosting our 22nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 23, 2017
Surviving the Holidays one day session will be on Sunday, November 12
th from 2:00 to 4:30pm.
Free, but registration required by Nov. 1st –
let Kathy Rosenberg know if you’d like to reserve your spot.
Following our 10:00 a.m. Thanksgiving Day worship service, a FREE Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
This dinner is open to any families and individuals in need of a welcome place to spend the holiday.
Meals can be delivered to the Columbia Heights area.
If you would like to serve at this event, please visit the church website to register.
All volunteer opportunities are filled through www.stmatthew-ch.org.
ALL SAINTS CELEBRATIONS
Worship services for Nov. 4-5 will concentrate on the idea that while faith can’t begin to fully comprehend heaven, it give us glimpses and tastes of heaven. A part of that “glimpse” will include reading the names of the faithful departed from the past year. If you have a loved one you’d like remembered, please contact me or Ruth Petersen by Nov. 2.
REMEMBERING VETERANS
Another remembrance during the month of November will be of veterans of our coun-try’s armed forces. A special power point of photos of these veterans will be a part of worship on Nov. 11-12. Please submit photos to me or Ruth Petersen, along with the veteran’s name, branch of military, their years of service or conflict in which they served by Nov. 9. All photos will be returned.
FEED MY
STARVING CHILDREN
PACKING 750,000 MEALS!
The Minnesota South District is again sponsoring a weekend of meal packing in con-junction with Feed My Starving Children. St. Matthew has registered for Friday, Nov. 10, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Concordia University, St. Paul. We have reserved 50 spaces! Join your fellow Faithful Foodies in this fun service project! Each meal that is packed costs about 22 cents, so any monetary donation you can make, large or small, is also welcome (why not forgo that $4 cup of coffee and give the money to FMSC – that’s already 18 meals!).
Carpooling will take place from St. Matthew.
Call Carol in the office to fill one of the 50 reserved spaces, or you may sign up to pack meals at another time during the weekend, via the website below. For more in-fo: [email protected]
PAGE 4
CHRISTMAS EVE
CANDLELIGHT
SERVICE Choral rehearsals begin on Wednesday, Nov. 29, right after midweek Advent worship (approximately 7:45 p.m.) in the choir room. This is a four-rehearsal commitment with very accessible music to learn and present at the 11 p.m. Dec. 24
th worship opportunity.
All teens and adults are encouraged to participate.
Wednesday, November 15 is the last night of Wednesday evening activities before Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas special services begin. Educational
Wednesday activities resume Wed., Jan. 10.
Sunday Nov. 5th
6-9pm at CheapSkate! Christian Family Night! All are welcome! Admission is $4.99
plus skate rental. CheapSkate is located at
3075 Coon Rapids Blvd NW,
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
Annual Congregational Voters Meeting Sunday, November 19
12:00 noon, following late worship.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES In October, the children focused on the Think.Act.Be chapters on Salvation and Identity. Salvation: An exploding stick snake (and dominoes) helped show us how one sin can lead to others. However we have a loving God who came to save us from our sin! Crushing candy and re-melting it into a cross helped us understand how sin crush-es our relationship with God, but that rela-tionship was restored through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Identity: Who am I? Does it matter? Yes! God knows you (everything), and loves you anyway, and he knows your name! Explor-ing who we are, the good and the bad, and realizing that Jesus still loves me and died/rose for me, is the goal of these workshops. Name critters and movement workshops helped to get these points across. Thanks for those who used their Faithful Feet Serving in Children’s Ministries in October- Sarai Kretschman, Candy Nelson, Karrie Kikeh, Jesse Davies, Sr., Mike Alm, Katie Landwehr, Lisa Neaderhiser, Tim Naber, Lynn McDonald, Teresa Anderson, Brad Cornelius, Troy Wagner, Julie Sventek, Marilyn Kirk
PAGE 5
EGERMEIER’S
BIBLE STORY CLASS
FOR ADULTS
Egermeier’s Bible STORY class for adults will be wrapping up the book/class in November. It’s been an enjoyable and enlightening 3-year journey! Finishing the Egermeier’s class opens the opportunity for a new class with a new topic to begin in January. If you would like to get your two cents in, on what topic/book you would like to study on Wednes-day evenings (6:45-8:00), please contact Brenda via church office.
WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY Facilitated by
Dorothy Brutlag/Carol Lundholm
“Discerning the Voice of God” Discover the root to clear and daily
communication with God - humble obedience.
Learn how surrender unlocks His many blessings intended for us,
centers us in His will, and helps us discern His voice in everyday life.
Community Grounds (560 40th Ave. NE)
Thursday mornings (9:09 - 10:39 am) and Tuesday evenings (6:06 - 7:36 p.m.)
Call Dorothy Brutlag or the church office to get full details of class schedules and a
copy of the book.
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY Weekly Bible study led by Pastor Hugo.
Tuesday mornings; 6:30 a.m. Community Grounds
560 40th Ave. NE
PAGE 6
Sundays, 9:30-10:30am
Senior High Bible Study:
Sundays, 9:30-10:30 Think, Act, Be Youth Bible Study
Wednesdays 7-8pm
Wednesday nights: meal, faith classes, open gym resume
Sept. 13th….
7th-12th grade youth group gathers in the youth room.
TEEN LEARNING
St. Matthew Teens and Adults packed 47! Blessings Bags as part of their October Lock In.
Thank you to all who contributed items to be included. The Blessings Bags are ready for distribution,
so come on in to the church office to pick some up!
CARING MINISTERS
AVAILABLE
***If you or a loved one are hospitalized or have upcoming surgery, please notify the church office.
***Kathy Rosenberg, Parish Nurse, is available to offer you visits and 1:1 support to you and your family’s life of joys and challenges.
***Congregational BeFriender visits provide support for those in need of a listening, caring presence.
Please remember the Sunday school workshop leaders, Sunday school ‘shepherds’, Sunday School Teachers, Sunday school as-
sistants, Hand in Hand leaders, Wednesday activities leaders, and VBS leaders in your prayers that faithful feet will bring fruitfulness
to the Kingdom!
Missions –
Sunday School Offerings Being ‘Known by Love,’ walks hand in hand with ‘Living by Faith.’ Our offerings hope to reflect that theme.
Blessings Bags: Packed and ready for distribution. Stop by the main office to pick one (or more) up and distribute as you see fit.
The St. Matthew community is invited to augment the Sunday school mission offerings.
Yogadevotion is the practice based on breath, prayer and movement led by trained yoga instructor Josie Trobec. Yogadevotion helps to encourage healthy living and a peaceful presence. Classes are held in 6-8 week sessions on Thursday evenings 6:30-7:30pm in the Willer Room. Sign up on the Health and Wellness bulletin board in the Narthex. Bring a yoga mat or you may use a chair. All levels welcomed. Talk to Kathy, Rose, Louise, or Ruth if you are interested in signing up for a class or have questions.
Yoga dates for future reference include: Nov 2 - Dec 21, 7 weeks, $56, no class Nov 23, Thanksgiving
Jan 4 - Feb 22 8 weeks, $64
March 1 - April 26 8 weeks, $64, no class March 29, Maundy Thursday
May 3 - June 14 6 weeks, $48, no class May 10, Ascension Day
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
FALL WEDNESDAYS EDUCATIONAL/MINISTRY SCHEDULE
Through November 15th
4:30 pm Confirmation 5:00 pm Kindersong
5:30 pm Children’s Choir
5:30 pm Supper
6:00 pm Youth/Adult Choirs
6:30 pm GriefShare 6:45 pm Hand In Hand
6:45 pm Egermeier’s Bible Study 7:00 pm Teen Ministry
6:45 pm Lay Ministers – October 4
1:00 & 6:45 pm BeFrienders – October 11
LIVE BY FAITH
CHALLENGE
Easy: Memorize a new Bible Verse
Hard: Turn off your electronics for a few hours.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Auditions: Jan. 7 (12-2 pm), 10 (7-9 pm), and 14 (12-2 pm);
call backs Jan. 17 Performances: Thursdays thru Sundays, April 26-29 and May 3-6
More information soon!
With Christmas Eve falling on Sunday this year, we have made some
changes to our worship schedule:
Saturday, Dec. 23 - 5:30 p.m. Worship — 4
th Sunday of Advent
Sunday, Dec. 24 - 10:00 a.m. Worship — 4
th Sunday of Advent
Sunday, Dec. 24 - 4:30 & 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship
Monday, Dec. 25 - 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Worship
Saturday, Dec. 30 - 5:30 p.m. Worship — 1
st Sunday after Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 31 - 10:00 a.m. Worship — 1
st Sunday after Christmas
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 7:00 pm Thanksgiving Worship
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
4:30 and 7:00pm Advent Worship
5:30 pm Supper
PAGE 9
CHURCH DECORATING Decorating the worship center and entry areas for the Advent and Christmas seasons will take place on Sunday, Dec. 3, immediately following the 10:45 a.m. service. We will celebrate with a pizza/salad/dessert meal, and then dig into the decorating. A sign-up sheet will appear soon for meal numbers. If you can help by bringing a salad or dessert, con-tact Carol Blase.
CHRISTMAS CANTATA 2017 “A Great and Mighty Wonder” will be presented
at both morning services on Sunday, Dec. 10. Your help in advertising this event to family, friends, and
neighbors would be appreciat-ed. Special instrumental music
will also be included in the morning’s festivities.
COMING IN DECEMBER
CHILDREN’S
MINISTRIES
Sunday, Dec. 17 – Children present the Advent Worship Service
GOLDEN AGERS Support for our St. Matthew Seniors 55+ (NO MEETING IN OCT OR NOV)
All senior adults, are strongly encouraged to join us: (now four times a year - not monthly) on the second Tuesdays as follows: Sept. 12
th, Dec. 12, March 13, and June at 12,
all beginning at noon for a meal, devotion, special program, fellowship, and fun. Our next gathering will be on Tuesday Dec 12
th
for a hot Christmas dinner and musical entertainment by DCLC kids. All are invited, registration required. Future quarterly Golden Ager Gatherings and Topics
will be posted in the Newscenes and bulletins. Contact Kathy Rosenberg or the church office for any questions you may have.
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
Kathy Rosenberg, Parish Nurse
Faustina Allen, Director of Teen Ministry
Ruth Petersen, Office Manager
Julie Sventek, DCLC Director
Discipleship Vision Board
Craig Affeldt [email protected]
Wendy Alman (Secretary) [email protected]
Lisa Glaser [email protected]
Cheryl Fristad [email protected]
Discipleship Vision Board
Pastor Bill Hugo [email protected]
Ted Landwehr [email protected]
Tim Naber [email protected]
Louise Roberts (President)
