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December
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LADIES GROUP
We were off to a slow start this fall, but have come into full swing. Our next plan is to have a Bible Study. Tentative plans have been started. A home get together is hoped for at Anna Hermann's. We will be studying Mary and Martha. This will take place in February, lots of time to mark your calendar and keep it in mind. Watch for more details in the New Year. Nothing definite has been planned for December.
Our ladies continue to be a nicely motivated, not very structured, small, very supportive group. Come to our Saturday lunches or join in the special events, all ladies are welcome. Everyone has a different schedule so participation might be once in a while... that is perfectly okay.
If you have an idea for a project in community outreach or anything else, let us know.
LUTHERAN URBAN MISSION
The Lutheran Urban Mission is planning to have a Christmas Store for people in the community to buy gifts for their family at a nominal price. They are looking for donations of new or gently used items. This allows families to really shop for Christmas gifts and it was a great success last year. Many said that this was their first real experience of a true Christmas. Items that were really popular were knit socks, slippers, fancy scarves, bath items such as lotion, bubble bath, etc. Other items that are always in demand are clock radios, clocks, and kitchen utensils. Candles, jewellery, toiletries, Christmas decorations, spices and little baskets that can be used to hold an assortment of smaller gifts are some other ideas. If there is someone who makes braided rugs, they would be an awesome item for the store.
If you have any donations please see Betty Gunn.
NEWSLETTER ITEMS Items for the January newsletter can be given to Teresa Rumley or emailed to treerumley@shaw.ca by Sunday, December 20th.
Thank you!
WHAT DOES BENEVOLENCE SUPPORT?
Donations to “Benevolence” support ministries that we do together with other congregations. Some examples are Luther Village Camp, the Lutheran Urban Ministry, and Youth Ministry in Manitoba & Northwestern Ontario. Benevolence also supports the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon – a place to train pastors and professional leaders for ministry.
Tune in next month for more J
COMING IN JANUARY
You are invited to join the conversation around the ELCIC Study of Human Sexuality. This is not a “top-down” conversation as may have been the case in the past, but a “bottom-up” or grassroots conversation. The feedback from this study will help develop a social statement on human sexuality for our church, to be presented at the 2011 National Convention.
Five sessions are planned for St. Luke’s Zion, beginning on Thursday, Jan. 7th at 7:00 pm. Please let Pastor Lynne know if you are interested in attending. Individuals can also find the study online and submit their own feedback. (www.elcic.ca/human-sexuality)
THANK YOU!
Thank you to the Harris family (Brenden, Dawn & Tim) for the gift of a foosball table for the congregation. Both the young and the young at heart appreciate it!
FOUR CORNERS OPEN HOUSE IN WINNIPEG
CLWR’s Four Corners store in Winnipeg is holding an Open House December 3rd – 6th. Come out and enjoy some fairly traded coffee, tea and chocolate and get some of that Christmas shopping done at the same time. Four Corners products help build healthy, vibrant communities by providing markets for products created by developing world artisans. Hours for the Open House are Thursday (9 – 5), Friday (9 – 9), Saturday (9 - 5) and Sunday (1 – 5). Four Corners is located at 549 King Edward Street (between Ellice and St. Matthews). THOUGHTS TO PONDER
If you woke up this morning healthy ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the fear and loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pain of starvation ... you are better off than 500 million people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are more comfortable than 75% of the people in this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If you can read this, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.
As we enter into the pre-Christmas season with all of our worrying about which gifts to buy for everyone on our list, decorating our homes, writing Christmas cards, baking too many dainties, and planning large meals, let us all take time to kneel/sit in prayer remembering the millions in the world who don’t have their daily basic needs met. Perhaps we could spend a day or two volunteering at a food bank or soup kitchen or making a donation to help out in lieu of the extra gift or decoration. Better yet, we could make it a part of our everyday life.
Poet’s Corner
AT THE END OF THE YEAR
I look back at all my countless efforts
Some disastrous, some successful.
But all are stepping stones of lessons learned
That are so very useful.
I look within and soon begin to realize
How many hopes and dreams
Are unfulfilled. And I wait for the day
When those visions may become reality.
I look around and see wars abound
But I must not become depressed
For this I know there are those around
Who work for peace and Happiness.
I look forward in anticipation
To see life’s unfolding manifestation
Day by day, step by step
There is just no other way to see the finalization.
And, I look up and know
That the Lord above in His mercy and love
Continues to bless His children everywhere
Throughout the coming year in love.
(Outline suggested by poem/hymn “I Look Not Back”.)
by Anna McDonald
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