Thursday, December 1st, 2011click here for past entriesDecember is an exciting month, as months go. There’s the excitement of planning and preparing and waiting for…presents! Yep, those tend to steal the spotlight from the rest of what is wonderful about December. Time with friends and family, special food, parties, and the wonderful experience of sharing in worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day all help us to celebrate our faith and the joys in our lives. Christmas can also be a difficult time – for families struggling to provide the essentials, for individuals who don’t experience the love of family or friends, for people struggling with illness, loss, isolation. Light, life and love enter into the world through the birth of Jesus. And through every birth! We too were born to bring light, life and love into the world. Don’t forget to shine your light where there is darkness this Christmas!
Peace,
Kelly
YOUTH EVENTS – Here’s what’s coming up!
Sunday, December 4 – MNO SYNOD YOUTH WORSHIP @ SLZ
It’s our turn! St. Luke’s Zion will host the December MNO Youth Worship service led by Prairie Fire. Youth help is needed to provide supper for Prairie Fire, read lessons, assist with communion, and host a hang out time with snacks after worship. Service begins at 6:30pm and we’ll meet at 4:30pm for set up.
Tuesday, December 13 – TREE DECORATING & GAMES
A twist on our bi-weekly event! We will decorate the Christmas tree upstairs during our regular confirmation class time and will continue on into games. 6:30-9pm @ SLZ.
December 15 – REGISTRATION DUE
Please drop off your Bus Trip registration form and deposits for the Youth Gathering and Bus Trip by Wednesday, December 15th. Leave an envelope in Kelly’s church mailbox or hand in at the December 13 event.
Thursday, December 22 – YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY!
This event is for all 3 youth groups. Details will be out soon but plan to do some ROCK CLIMBING, snack eating, and friendly competing. Each youth will be invited to bring a cross necklace (painted, wood, silver, gold – whatever you like best!) that Kelly will bring to Cameroon in January to share with the youth she meets there.
January 2012 – SKI TRIP & SLEEPOVER
Meet in the morning and ski at Holiday Mountain for the day, sleepover at a church, swimming the next day. Second week of the school break – dates to be determined. Stay tuned for details!
Kelly’s Contact info:
960-5357 or kellymccormack@mymts.net
Christmas Eve Service
Some of you will already know that there has been discussion around the best time to have the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. This year, the time will change, but not by much. Our worship will be at
7:00pm instead of the usual 7:30pm. This makes it a little bit earlier but still allows those who have to work that day to come. Ultimately, we discovered that there is no “ideal” time to have it J
News from NEST
There are no recent “arrivals”. We are still awaiting word from NAIROBI about a family from the CONGO – a mother and 3 children (ages 13, 9 and 6). Application was first made in 2006! This is a full sponsorship. There was no further word from eight family-linked sponsorships, mainly from the Congo and Sudan. The families here provide the financial support. We are also waiting for the progress (from Canada Immigration) of 6 private (NEST) sponsorships, through Nairobi.
Several Fund raising events are being planned in the New Year.
1) Pot Luck Supper at Grace Lutheran Church – the date to be confirmed, likely in February.
2) Winnipeg Male Chorus, in March.
NEST, as mentioned previously, had been awarded the “2011 Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award” for Human Services. At the “Annual Volunteers” Dinner (Convention Centre) in April, Jim Mair and Elizabeth Kunkel received the award, engraved on a sculpture. The “sculpture” will be on display at St. Luke’s Zion during the month of December.
NEST will be “hosting” the Canadian Citizenship event, at the Via Train Station, on December 7th. They will serve to “Welcome” the “newcomers”, and offer coffee and dainties following the ceremony.
There is no general meeting in December. The next meeting is January 24th, 2012 at 7p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church located at 211 Kimberley Avenue.
NEST appreciates your continued support – prayerfully and financially! NEST would surely wish to see 2 or more “reps” from St. Luke’s Zion!
Respectfully in Christ;
Dorothy Handkamer
The New Newsletter Editor
A special thanks to Helen Janzen for taking over the monthly Newsletters for St. Lukes Zion Lutheran Church. Please be sure to submit any items for January’s Newsletter to Helen no later than December 18th, 2011.
Also please be sure to indicate in the Re or Message line of your sent email to her that it is pertaining to the Church’s Monthly Newsletter. An example could be:
Re: Church Newsletter Material
Gifts from the Heart
Christmas is quickly approaching, which means that CLWR has released a new edition of its Gifts from the Heart catalogue! Gifts from the Heart are symbolic gift items that help families feed themselves, provide knowledge, improve health, strengthen communities and preserve creation. By purchasing these gifts for family members and friends on special occasions, you will be lending your support to CLWR’s development work throughout the coming year. Gifts for Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Lutheran Church–Canada ministries are also available for purchase, and for the first time these gifts are also available on our website.Gifts can be ordered by cheque (send to CLWR, 302-393 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6), or by credit card (call 1.800.661.2597 or visit www.clwr.org/donate).Copies of the 2011-2012 edition arrived in CLWR supporters’ mailboxes and at Lutheran congregations across Canada in early October. The entire catalogue is also available for viewing on our website at www.clwr.org/donate. Please contact CLWR if you would like to receive a hard copy of the catalogue.
Advent Calendar online December 1st
CLWR is launching an online Advent Calendar for 2011. Beginning December 1 and each day leading up to Christmas Day, you may open a door on the calendar to learn more about the work being carried out by CLWR here in Canada and around the globe. Watch www.clwr.org for this and other website changes in the coming weeks.
From the Lakeside
Watch for our winter newsletter online in December and our annual brochure mailed out mid-December. Then start thinking about when you’ll come to Luther Village in 2012. 5 weeks of Family Camps to choose from (cabins or campground), 4 weeks of youth camps plus a new week long teen canoe trip, weekend retreats, adventure fundraising weekends, or book in your school group, church group, or even wedding at LV. We book groups in both the spring and the fall.
Living Nativity: Your Place in the Story
Sherwood Park Lutheran Church, 7 Tudor Crescent, Winnipeg
Sunday, December 18, 6 p.m.At the end of the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke, we are told “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” One of our early church leaders once said: “What good is it that Mary gave birth to Christ so many years ago if we do not give birth to him today?” You, like Mary, may not fully understand it all, but there is plenty to ponder and treasure in your hearts, and there is a place in the story for you. Sherwood Park’s annual Living Nativity entitled “Your Place in the Story” will give you and your family and friends a chance to ponder and treasure the story of the birth of Jesus. It’s held outdoors, with live animals and actors, costumes, music, and lighting. Come dressed for the weather and be prepared to participate in the story. Invite your family and friends. Bring the kids; arrive early, because along with the traditional sheep and donkey and llama, there will be smaller creatures for petting. Afterwards, warm up in the church with hot chocolate and cookies.
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At St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
Cambridge at Corydon
Sunday, December 4th 7 p.m.
Refreshments to follow
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Trinity Food Pantry Christmas Party
is December 10. Christmas dinner will be served to 50 families and children 13 and under will receive a Christmas present. The Food Pantry relies on the generosity of Metro congregations especially at Christmas to cover the cost of the gifts (average $25), the turkey dinner and the Christmas hampers. Make checks payable to Trinity Lutheran Church (marked Food Pantry) and send to Trinity Lutheran Church, 265 Flora Ave., WPG, R2W 2R2, or make donation through your congregation.
Part Time Salaried Youth Leader Position
Are you someone who enjoys working with youth? Are you creative? Can you think on your feet? Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Messiah Lutheran Church (ELCIC) are searching for YOU for this shared ministry position!!!! We need a Christian youth leader willing and able to facilitate spiritual growth, mission and witness with our active youth groups. This is a part-time salaried position of $7200 per year beginning January 1, 2012. Applicant must be 18 or older with a high school diploma or equivalent. Drivers license not necessary but an asset.
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