A Little Bit about Several Things

Reach and Renew Campaign Celebration

              This coming Sunday, December 11, we will celebrate what we have done in the Reach and Renew campaign this fall. The pledge results will be announced; there will be ‘thank yous’ to the many people who worked on the campaign in so many different ways; and there will be some personal reflections about the campaign from participants. All of this will be part of the worship service. Also, there will be expanded refreshments after worship as part of our celebration.

Advent Vespers

There will be two Advent Vespers services this year – Thursday, December 8 and Thursday, December 22. Our Advent Vespers services are done in the style of worship in the community on the island of Iona. The service on Thursday the 22^nd will be a Longest Night service. This is a service which recognizes that some or many people have a difficult time during the Christmas season. While the mood of celebration and festivity is prevalent in the culture as a whole as we approach Christmas, there are people who, for a variety of reasons, have emotional and spiritual struggles during this season. Perhaps it is because a personal loss is felt particularly strongly. Perhaps it is that they feel out of tune with the commercialization of Christmas. This service is a time to recognize the sense of being out of tune with the commercialism and festivity of Christmas, yet to honor the real reason for our celebrations – the birth of Christ in our world and lives.

Christmas Pageant

The Christmas Pageant will be at 6pm on Sunday, December 18, in the sanctuary, and it will tell the traditional Christmas story. There are 34 children and youth in the cast, plus all the children in our Sunday School will also participate. Everyone is invited to this joyful event.

Christmas Eve Worship

There will be a family-oriented worship service at 5pm on Christmas Eve and a traditional, candlelight service at 9pm.

Christmas Sunday Worship

Our worship service on Sunday, December 25, will be a service of lessons and carols.

Prison Ministry Worship and Luncheon

On January 8, our worship service will focus on some part of the meaning of the ministry done in Wisconsin prisons by our Prison Ministry Project. Bishop Dennis Overlien, of the Wisconsin Region of the Lutheran Evangelical Protestant Church will preach that day. He is also the Chaplain for the Dodge Correctional Institution and a great friend of our Prison Ministry. There will be a luncheon and further program in the dining room after worship.