PASTOR’S THOUGHT:
A HIDE AND SEEK CHRISTMAS

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” Let everyone who hears say, “Come.” The One who guarantees these revelations repeats his promise, “Truly I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Next to the driveway of the house stood a maple tree. It was “home free” for our games of hide and seek played in our 2 acre yard. “Five, 10, 15, 20..85, 90, 95, 100. Ready or not, here I come.” Whoever was “it” would begin his seeking for the hiders. Across the driveway and the yard, next to the street was the lilac hedge. It stood 8+ feet tall and ran for a good 50 feet. We had made narrow paths through the dense stalks for our Army games. It was not in these paths that my favorite hiding place was. That was too obvious. Rather, it was under the low hanging branches at the edges of the hedge – leaves almost touching the ground, casting a shadow, which in the twilight could hide a kid whose freckled face was “kissing” the ground. But what would cover the timpani-like beating of my heart as I waited…waited…waited – anticipating “it” to disappear in his search around the corner of the house, allowing me to jump unseen and race to “home free.”

How like, and yet unlike, Advent and Christmas are our games of hide and seek. Ready or not, the One who is “it” comes seeking us. We anticipate his coming. We wait expectantly, our hearts pounding, yet breathless. Still, we are not in hiding for we know that “it” comes seeking us to bring us “home free” by his lowly birth, by his glorious humiliation, by his incredible resurrection, by his so long-anticipated return.

 …85, 90, 95, 100!   Ready or not, here I come!

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”

Here we are, Lord. Come, find us!

AMONG OUR MEMBERS:

BAPTISM

Peyton Elizabeth, daughter of Alan and Melissa (Graeber) Goschka was baptized into the family of God on November 10^th. Her Christian Sponsors are Craig Goschka and Annette Bell. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

MARRIAGE

Pamela Smith and Philip Hill became one in Christ by their promises and faith given November 30^th at Immanuel. We give thanks for them and bless their union in God’s name.

TRANSFER OUT

Lyn Sumerix to Epiphany Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, IN.  Lyn and Bill moved for work and to be closer to her children, Megan and Zack.

NEWS AND EVENTS:

CROP WALK REPORT

Thank you to all the walkers and all the supporters for this year’s Grand Ledge Crop Walk. Immanuel had 45 walkers including children and we raised a total of $3,800 ($3,000 plus $800 matched by AAL Branch 4252).  What a great way to reach out globally and to the community.

Immanuel’s Outreach Committee

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING RESULTS
NOVEMBER 3, 2002

The 2003 annual budget was approved 35 yes and 7 no votes.  Elected to Church Council for a one-year term: Lyn Danes.  Elected to Church Council for two year terms: Dan Landry, Mike Pitchford, Greg Osburn, Orv Erickson, Barb Paulins, John VanHoesen and Britten Riggs. Elected to serve on 2003 Nominating Committee: Jan Martinich and Gregg Vicary.

A CHANGE IS IN THE AIR ...

The kitchen at Immanuel Lutheran Church comes under the care and direction of the “Kitchen Committee”, a ‘sub-committee’ of the Property Committee.  We are making some necessary changes, effective in December.

A new ‘use of kitchen’ request was approved by the Council which will include:

• Contacting the church office to put your name on “kitchen use” calendar – in advance.

• Church Office Administrator notify kitchen committee of use by updated calendar to coordinator/committee and may require telephone calls.

•  A sign on the kitchen door will be a reminder –you must sign up if you wish to use the kitchen.  (Sign up is not required by AA (for regular meetings) and Outreach Sunday Coffee hour).

This will help the kitchen committee to know who is using our kitchen, especially if non-members request use.  Anyone using the kitchen must follow cleanup procedures (these are on kitchen counter – standup sign).  We will also be writing a Kitchen Policy.

THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB

The Friendship Club is a social club for all adults of the congregation.  Our aim is to make friends and have lots of fun!  Our December activity is Dinner for 8, December 7, 2002 5:30-8:30.  Sign up for this fun holiday dinner in the church lobby.  Sign up as a host (provide main dish and beverages) or as a participant (bring side dish).  For more information, call Lynn or Steve Colby or Marlaine or Jim Teahan.  If you have any ideas for Winter 2003 activities, please call!

GRAND LEDGE CHRISTMAS PARADE

Immanuel will be participating in the Grand Ledge Christmas parade on December 6th.  If you are interested in being a part of it, sign up in the narthex or call Lori VanHoesen.

SPECIAL GIFT FOR PASTOR RICK AND ELLEN MCKENZIE

It’s that time of year when we say thanks to Pastor Rick. As a congregation we are truly blessed to be served by them.  Anyone wishing to contribute to this cash gift may do so by giving your donation to Den Graeber or the church office by December 14^th.  The gifts will be given to them on December 16^th at the 10:30 a.m. Worship Service.

BIBLE STUDY FOR COUPLES

Start out your year together with an 8 week study beginning Tuesday, January 7th.  Each session goes from 7:30 to 9 PM.  The first session will be hosted by Carl and Mary Ballard and future meeting places will be determined by the participants. The study will look at the Bible from the perspective of strengthening relationships.  You needn't be a biblical scholar to attend. A nominal fee will be charged for a study guide. For more information or to sign up call Mary or Carl Ballard at 882-7004 evenings and weekends. During the day call Carl at 975-4509 or Mary at 975-3670.  If you would like to be a part of another Bible Study tailored for other interests (e.g. singles, parents, sports fanatics, couch potatoes, nature lovers or whatever) we will help you get started. Contact us at the numbers above.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

The Sunday School Christmas Program will be Sunday, December 15th during the 10:30 a.m. worship service.  The Sunday School calendar through the holiday season is as follows:

The Sunday School classes will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable items for the Grand Ledge Food Bank this holiday season.  Children will be bringing home bags on December 8th to decorate and return with donated items.  If you would like to make a donation, please leave your items in the entryway labeled "Sunday School Collection."  Thank you!

Opportunities to Serve:

GREETER SIGN UPS

Being a greeter is a great way to make Immanuel user-friendly to visitors, to greet your friends, meet new people and have a short-term, short-lived ministry opportunity!  As of this publication date, every Sunday in December has Greeter opportunities at the 10:30 service.  There are still a few dates to serve at the 8:00 service.  Call Marlaine Teahan at 627-5637 for further information. 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

Do you enjoy participating in a small group?  Do you take pleasure in watching events “come together” that you have coordinated?  Are you “craftsy?”  Do you have ideas about how we can enhance the worship experience for those who attend Immanuel Lutheran in Grand Ledge?  If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, please consider attending a worship committee meeting.  Our next meeting will be at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, at Cugino’s Restaurant in Grand Ledge.  We will be pulling together the last details for the December 8 “Hanging of the Greens” event.  Our regular meetings are on the first Tuesday of every month at 5:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall.  We have a lot of fun at our meetings, and get a lot accomplished as well.  Please contact any of the committee members for more information, or to let us know that you want to stop by Cugino’s to meet with us.  (Worship Committee members are Lisa Baptista, Jeanie Boerger-Dixon, Jim Espie, Jane Goebel, Ellen McKenzie, Bill Paulins & Barb Paulins).

BASKETS OF HOPE

Sunday, November 17th was Baskets of Hope Sunday.  Thank you for your offering totaling $535.50.  AAL Branch 4252 will match these funds to us for Christmas Food and Gift baskets for some of our needy families in the Grand Ledge area.  If you would like to help with baskets by shopping and delivering these goodies to families, please call Jim Drown.  Again, thanks for your support and consider helping with this worthwhile project.

HANGING OF THE GREENS

The annual “Hanging of the Greens” (church decorating for the Christmas season) celebration will be on December 8, right after the second service.  We begin with a potluck, and then the decorating festivities begin!  Activities include a craft project for the children, nursery for the young ones, and caroling for anybody who is interested.  Sign up sheets are in the Narthex.  Please join us on this fun day of family activity as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord.

NOTES:

HARRY POTTER RECOMMENDATION FOR PARENTS

It’s Harry Potter time again. (I wrote about it last year and should have written this last month.) The second movie is out. Gene Shallit, NBC movie critic, says, “No child under 10 should see it.” My recommendation: Read the book first.

I have read them all. They are destined to be children’s classics. Youthful heroism. Good vs. evil. Marvelous imagination and adventure. However, each book becomes progressively more malevolent, violent, and frightening. Harry Potter grows older and better able to handle it. But not all readers and movie watchers do. New, young children enter each year. They may not be ready for a 12 or 13 year-old Harry Potter.

I say, read the book first. If your child can stay focused long enough to make it through the book, he/she can probably handle the movie. The book informs kids about what is coming in the movie. They can be put down for a while; movies keep coming at you. Books allow you to use your own imagination; movies form pictures for you. Books make us form opinions, think and talk: movies come at us almost too fast to think and theaters don’t like it if you talk.

Reading the book will give your kids something to compare the movie to. They are “always’ better than the movies. This will give you, the parents – who no doubt have read the books and will view the movie with your child – something to talk with them about. Kids do not see the world the way adults do. Talk about what is fantasy or fake; what parts of the real world are left out; and that God and the Bible are the real world of spirituality and right and wrong; and that it is what you believe. Give some attention to this.

And then have some fun! Harry Potter sort of lets us adults be kids again, with our kids, for a while.

CAUGHT SERVING IN THE COMMUNITY

Bob Carter chairs the Fire Board for Grand Ledge  and Oneida Township.
Don Willems ran for Grand Ledge City Council.
Michelle Dixon was sprucing up downtown GL with the National Honor Society.
Sherry Wellman is President of the Michigan Federated Garden Clubs.

HIGH SCHOOL STARS

Cashal Rosier was named MVP and All-CAC for the GL Golf team as a freshman.
Matt Bryant played with the GL JV Football team as a freshman.
Justin and Matt Dixon and Greg Stein finished a successful year with the GL freshman football team.
Brady Stein completed his senior year with the GL Cross Country squad.
Mary and Lily Broutian played singles and doubles (respectively) for the GL Tennis squad.
Tiffany Weber was student manager for the GL Boys Soccer team.
Tasha Wixon was a freshman cheerleader.
Emily Martinich was a member of the award-winning JV Pom Pon squad.
Lauren Martinich was one of the drum majors for the GL Marching Band.
Mike Morrall, Kyle Rodewald, Emily Martinich, Becky and Beth Frysinger, were in marching band.
Sandy Graeber, Ashley Dykstra, Lauren and Emily Martinich, Becky and Beth Frysinger were in "The Music Man" at GLHS.

There are likely more “stars” from Immanuel in the high schools. (We need a “reporter” to snoop them out.) These we knew about. Immanuel high school youth are participating and being faithful at school. Encourage them. Watch for the youth leader installation, Sunday Dec. 8^th

PRAYER REQUESTS

Our cards, calls and visits help build the faith of those in need of prayer:

Our congregation is asked to pray for:  ALTON ROTH (father of Pat Graeber), SHERI ROBERTSON (Kitty Whitney's niece), MICHAEL CRAGG (Marlaine Teahan's nephew), OLGA MORGAN (relative of Krugers), HARDY SNYDER (friend of Roush's), VIVIAN VINBERG (co-worker of Jan Martinich),  JEAN ANDERSON (Jan Martinich's mother),  DIANNE THOMPSON (friend of the Erickson and Roush families), CAROLYN MACDOWELL (friend of Bob Carter), DAN NEER AND FAMILY (friend of Sue Klingler), DALE HOFFMAN (neighbor of Goschka's), PHYLLIS CHEN (Barb Roush's sister), NANCY STIVER (friend of Toni Holland), ROSA KLINE (mother of Julie Fish) and  NORMA MAY (grandmother of Angie Blake).

YOUTH GROUP NEWS:

Lace up your boots and see if you can keep up:

The Heirlines and Co-pilots would like to send a BIG Thank You to Teresa Barcy for donating all the pie fixings for our latest fundraiser, and a very special Thanks goes out to Steve and Lynn Colby for all their help and support.

FROM THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT'S DESK:

It is December!  This year seemed to fly by quickly.  Winter is here soon, and we prepare for Christmas.

The season of Advent is upon us.  Advent means “the approach" or "the arrival”.  We need to prepare for “His” arrival.

How do we prepare?  We prepare by examining our lives and our souls, and we prepare our church and our homes for the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus.  Soon we can celebrate with Mary and Joseph and reflect on the birth of our Savior.

	We celebrate by giving thanks, and we celebrate by sharing with others and helping others who are in need.
	We celebrate through programs like ACTION for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.  We celebrate through the gifts for foster children and refugees.
	We celebrate through Advent offerings.  This year the stewardship committee and the church council were supportive of our special advent offering envelope contributions going towards the Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program and Loaves 'n Fishes (a Christian shelter in Lansing).

The Grand Ledge Emergency Assistance Program helps provide emergency needs for people in our community and Loaves 'n Fishes is a shelter set up in Lansing to provide for homeless families.  The offerings will be split to assist in both areas. 

The Baskets of Hope Program is another way Immanuel helped provide for local families having a particularly tough time this holiday season.  This program especially provides food for families needing some help.

We thank God for providing us so many blessings that we are able to share and help others out.

This Christmas let’s reflect on the joy of giving and celebrate the birth of our Savior with our families and friends in love, joy, and peace.

CELEBRATIONS:
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

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