St. Matthew Lutheran Church January 2018 · It comes from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns ... and...
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St. Matthew Lutheran Church January 2018 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Pastor’s Message 2 Thank You! 3 January Events 4 Church Ministries 5-7 Looking Ahead 7
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Transcript of St. Matthew Lutheran Church January 2018 · It comes from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns ... and...
St. Matthew Lutheran Church January 2018
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Pastor’s Message 2
Thank You! 3
January Events 4
Church Ministries 5-7
Looking Ahead 7
PAGE 2
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Ecclesiastes 7:10 Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?” Wise folks don’t ask questions like that.
Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn.
“From Heaven Above” - The Sunday school children and their families presented their message on Sunday, Dec. 17
th. Here are some pictures from their presentation
(Photo credit: Mary Nehring)
Sometime on Dec. 31, you will no doubt hear someone sing the traditional New Year’s song, “Auld Lang Syne.” While I have heard it sung countless times, I have never known what it meant. So I looked it up. It comes from a Scottish poem by Robert Burns and means literally, “Old, long since.” It is an expression meaning “Long, long ago.” It is similar to our idea of “the good old days.”
We have a Bible verse above which tells us not be wishing for the good old days. We have another that tells us to look backward as an act of righteousness.
Living by Faith, our theme this year, involves both looking backward and forward. We look backward to see God’s faithfulness, but we don’t live in the past. We look forward to whatever God has in store for us in the future, but we don’t go into it blindly. We trust God to be as faithful as He has always been.
As we enter a new year in faith, let’s thank God for his faithfulness to us in 2017 and Live by that Faith in 2018.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bill Hugo
PAGE 3
Thanks for those who used their Faithful Feet serving in Children’s Ministries in December! Sundays: Sarai Kretschman, Lynn McDonald, Candy Nelson, Mikayla Estevez, Karrie Kikeh, Jesse Davies, Sr., Mike Alm, Sarai Kretschman, Paul Peterson, Lisa Neaderhiser
DCLC Christmas service: Students and teachers of David ’s Christian Learning Center joyfully sang “Hooray for Baby Jesus” as the message on Saturday, Dec. 9
th. Thanks for
sharing your love for Jesus in this enthusiastic way! Christmas Cantata:
Our presentations of “A Great and Mighty Wonder” on Dec. 10 were blessed with great singing, speaking, and instrumental playing. Thanks to the many of you who attended, and especially to those who rehearsed to put this event together:
Sopranos: Faustina Allen (speaker), Judie Colaianni, Kiah Gordon (small group), Jacqueline Hed, Jean Honl, Vi Keller (speaker), Lori Krueger, Mary Johnson, Kristen Landwehr, Sydney Naber (solo), Louise Roberts (small group), Michelle Wermerskirchen (small group)
Altos: Katie Aguado, Erin Blase (small group), Diane Breit (speaker), Cheryl Fristad (speaker), Elia Glaser (speaker), Brenda Hugo (solo), Katie Landwehr (speaker & small group), Audrey Nehring, Mary Nehring, Deb Santillo (small group)
Tenors: Will Hugo (solo), Andrew Wagner (solo)
Basses: Craig Affeldt (small group), Bruce Blase (speaker), Ben Hugo (small group), Paul Peterson
Children’s Choir: Aubree Allen, Jesse Davies, Jr., Charlotte Eames, Renata Kikeh (speaker), Ben Kretschman, Parker Kyseth, Josh Neaderhiser; Sarai Kretschman (shepherd)
Accompanist: Karrie Kikeh
Instrumental Duet: Erin Blase, flute & Andrew Wagner, clarinet
Thank you! To the 40+ of you who helped to decorate the worship center and entry areas on Dec. 3….it was beautifully done! Church Un-decorating will be done on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 6:00 p.m. Please speak with ElRoy or Jeannie Honl (651)797-2241 if you have questions.
LIVE BY FAITH
CHALLENGE
Easy: Bake a cake from scratch and give away
Hard: Do a Polar Plunge for charity!
MEN’S BIBLE STUDY Weekly Bible study led by Pastor Hugo.
Tuesday mornings; 6:30 a.m. Community Grounds
560 40th Ave. NE
PAGE 4
GRIEFSHARE A 12-week session of GriefShare will
begin on Wednesday, January 10 and run through March 28
th. Meeting weekly on
Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:30pm in the lounge.
See the insert for more information or Call Kathy Rosenberg, Parish Nurse
Yogadevotion is the practice based on breath, prayer and movement. Classes are held in 6
-8 week sessions on Thursdays 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.
Next Yogadevotion dates: Jan 4 - Feb 22 8 weeks, $64
Youth Christmas Party! Wednesday, January 3
6:00 p.m.
Women’s Video Bible Study How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart
A 6-session Bible study exploring the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John to trade feelings of emptiness for the fullness of knowing who Jesus is. What is the deep cry of your heart? The ache in your soul that keeps you up at night? The prayer you keep repeating? Jesus not only cares about this deep, spiritual wrestling, but He also wants to step in and see you through it.
See the enclosed insert for details of gathering dates and times.
PAGE 5
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”
Performances: Thursdays thru Sundays, April 26-29 and May 3-6
Auditions:
Jan. 7 (12-3 pm), Jan. 10 (7-9:30 pm), and Jan. 14 (12-3 pm);
call backs Jan. 17,if needed
This community project requires a large cast, with actors/singers of all ages and abilities. Questions? Please contact Vanessa Powers (director) at 320-583-5763, Renee Chizek (technical director) at 763-742-880, or Carol Blase (music director)
at 763-788-9427 if you have questions. Spread the word! Rehearsals begin on Friday, Jan. 26.
As I’m writing this note to you, we’re in that “in-between” week of December: Many “big” services have been experienced this past weekend, but we are continuing in the whirl of what still needs to be accomplished before Christ-mas. Some days, it’s hard work to stay focused on what really matters: Jesus will soon be born! We have the opportunity to again celebrate God choosing to be born among us, so that He could walk to the cross and give up His life for our sorry selves. We have the opportunity to celebrate the fact that we are Christ’s voice and hands and feet in this world. I pray that through the busy times of preparing and celebrating, you are looking for ways to sing and share and be the love of Jesus in your circle of influence!
Your Shepherd King from starlit hall bends down to weary lands, Lies mangered low in cattle stall, go touch His infant hands.
He shepherds from the thistled place the flocks by thickets torn; His pierced hands heal all your race sore wounded by the thorn.
Embrace the Christ Child, and with songs bind up the hearts of men. To Shepherd-Healer-King let throngs sing glories again! Thank you for the wonderful Christmas greetings and gifts you’ve sent my family’s way during this holiday season. They are much appreciated; you are all special gifts to us!
Questions? Comments? Want to sing in 2018? I look forward to hearing from you!
Carol Blase, music coordinator 763-788-9427 [email protected]; [email protected]
A reminder to all choir members: There are no rehearsals the two weeks following Christmas (Dec. 27 or Jan. 3). All rehearsals resume on
Wednesday, Jan. 10. If you are not currently a part of our choirs,
I encourage you to come to one of our rehearsals to check things out. You are welcome at any time!
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
Children and adults learning to step out in Faith on their Faithful Feet!
PAGE 6
Missions – Sunday School Offerings Blessings Bags:
We do have a supply of bags that are packed and ready for distribution. Feel free to pick some up to hand out. In these colder temperatures, please be aware that some items in the bags are liquids that can freeze. Please do not leave bags in cold vehicles overnight. Start looking for items that can be packed in bags for our next packing event in late Jan. or early Feb.
The St. Matthew community is invited to augment the Sunday school mission offerings.
Volunteers: Ministry to children doesn ’t just ‘happen’. A host of volunteers dedicated to the Christian care and education of young people is necessary to make effective ministry take place. Contact the office if you would like to join the Children’s Ministries team.
Please remember the Sunday school workshop leaders,
Sunday school ‘shepherds’, Sunday School Teachers, Sunday school assistants,
Hand in Hand leaders, Wednesday activities leaders,
and VBS leaders in your prayers that faithful feet will
bring fruitfulness to the Kingdom!
Lessons and Studies: In December, the children in all classes focused on the Think.Act.Be chapter on Prayer (Gideon), and the Christmas story, including rehearsing for their presentation on Dec. 17
th. (Pics show Aidan and Robert working on their
mangers for their sock puppet baby Jesus)
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 contact Pastor Hugo, Parish Nurse Kathy Rosenberg, or the church office for any caring needs.
PAGE 7
Looking ahead
End of Life Choices and Funeral Planning:
WHO COULD SPEAK FOR YOU IF YOU ARE UNABLE?
Health Care Directive forms make your end of life wishes known before you reach a crisis situation.
If you would like discussion or help with com-pleting these forms, please set up an appoint-ment with Parish Nurse Kathy Rosenberg, who can guide you through the steps, answer your questions and help you to complete this very important document that is a great gift to your family and loved ones.
FUNERAL PLANS? - If you’d like to pre-plan your funeral details, let Pastor Hugo know and he and Kathy will meet with you to discuss them at your convenience.
Golden Agers - Next gathering, Tuesday, March 13 Meeting at Noon for a meal, devotion, special program,
fellowship and fun! Watch bulletins for details.
Rehearsals for our special Good Friday/Easter Festival Choir will begin on Thursday, Feb. 15th!
FEBRUARY 14
APRIL 1
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]
Lisa Glaser [email protected]
Cheryl Fristad [email protected]
Pastor Bill Hugo [email protected]
Discipleship Vision Board
Brian Maxwell [email protected]
Tim Naber [email protected]
Lisa Neaderhiser
Louise Roberts (President)
