A Candle Coos “Love”
   How appropriate.  Jesus’ first experience of the world was the gentle touch of a mother’s love.  “She wrapped him,” the Bible says—not something done in haste.  Our Lord was lovingly doted over and then not tossed . . . but laid in a manger.  How appropriate.  The Lord of love’s first earthly experience was . . . love itself.  May we love him as much.

Christmas
   Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Among the earliest Christians in the Western Church, December 25 was chosen as the birthday date for Jesus as an alternative for the secular holiday declared by the Roman emperor for that day.

   Christians today try to reclaim Christmas from the commercial world which has worked—very successfully—to turn it into a secular holiday, Xmas. Xmas means hectic activity; Christmas means time-out and quiet moments. Xmas may mean the dreaded burden of high expectations that are seldom met; Christmas means setting our hearts at peace and fulfilling our inmost longings.

   The twelve days of Christmas from December 25 through January 5 are our opportunity to celebrate God's greatest gift to us and the hope that he brings in a world troubled by unrest, hunger and darkness.

Serving God and Us
Today:
Acolyte: Chandler Harkins
Greeter: Glenna/Richard Hoemann
Coffee: Duane & Nancy Krause
Usher: Effertz
Reader: Jayne Harkins
Sunday School:
Pre-K-2nd Grade: Britney & Tieler
3rd—6th Grade: Jayne Harkins
Next Sunday:
Acolyte: Kyle Effertz
Greeter: Marion & Joe Flory
Coffee:  Jill Potter
Usher: LaSelle
Sunday School:
   Pre-K-2nd:  Malorie & Dallas
   3rd—6th Grade: Ed LaSelle

Attendance: (last week)
Saturday –20 & Sunday – 60

This Week
Today
10:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:45 a.m. Bible Adventures
Monday
Newsletter Articles needed
Thursday
Christmas Eve
7:00 p.m. Family Worship
Friday
Christmas Day
10:00 a.m. Christmas Worship
Saturday
5:00 p.m.  Praise Worship
Sunday
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
10:45 a.m. Bible Adventures

Take a Trip
   Today our Bible Adventures will focus on the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80).  Next week we will welcome Joseph to answer questions about the first Christmas.

Poinsettias
   We thank those who provided our flowers to beautify our chancel for our Christmas services.  These include:

Andy & Dawn Anderson; Lou & Patty Basham to give thanks for family and friends; Dennis & Gail Berkesch; Iris Bletsch in memory of loved ones; Alan & Carol Donahoo to the glory of God; Ron & Maria Effertz in memory of our parents; Marion & Joe Flory in memory of loved ones; Richard & Glenna Hoemann to the glory of God; Ron & Lily Keller; John & Lee Kinslowe; Duane & Nancy Krause in memory of Meta L. Gigg and in memory of Neomi Krause; Bob & Laurie Nelson in loving memory of parents; Ellen Oberholtzer; Glen & Shirley Olson to the glory of God; Jill Potter; Jo Richardson in memory of Bob and Pete; Laura Smith for Christ Jesus; Kay Stade in memory of Howard Stade and in memory of Christopher Johnson; Jane Stueland; Jim & Jeri Vanderford.

   Those who provided our flowers are invited to take them home following the Christmas service they are able to attend.

Altar Flowers – In praise and thanksgiving to God, the chancel flowers are given by the Andersons and Coopers.  We thank them for their kindness.

Planning for Christmas
   Our Christmas Eve service (7:00) includes a celebration of carols.  We will hear of the origin and significance of our favorite Christmas carols.  Our service will include a traditional rite of Candle-lighting.

   On Christmas Day (10:00) our celebration will focus on the “Mysteries of Christmas.”  This service includes the celebration of Holy Communion.

   Many are open to invitations at this time of the year to visit a church.  If you have a friend or family in town, please be sure to invite them to join us for Christmas worship.

Portals of Prayer
   Our new devotional booklets are now available for the new year in the narthex.  If you have not yet begun, this may be the opportunity for a new start of daily meditation and prayer.  God is certain to bless those who spend time with him daily.

Newsletter Articles for January are needed by Monday, December 21.

The Day Before Christmas
   The day before Christmas was a hectic one. Father was worried with bundles and burdens. Mother's nerves reached the breaking point more than once. The little girl seemed to be in the way wherever she went. Finally, she was hustled up to bed.  As she knelt to pray, the feverish excitement so mixed her up, she said, "Forgive us our Christmases, as we forgive those who Christmas against us."