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Mission
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| To Grow in Faith, Love & Service in Response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to Extend God's Welcome to All |
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Sunday Worship Scripture Links
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Happy (Liturgical) New Year!
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I know, it's a little early to start ringing in the New Year when many of us are still wondering what to do with all the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. But there is one calendar that starts anew in late November or early December -- the calendar of the church seasons.
This Sunday is the first
Sunday in Advent, which is the beginning of the church year and a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Both arrivals of Christ, actually; we'll talk about his first arrival at Christmas, and also the promise that he will come again.
Speaking of starting things new, remember two new opportunities for spiritual growth that will be new in December. First, the Common Grounds Bible study that will meet
on Tuesday mornings at
9am, in addition to the monthly women's Bible study. Second, a meditative prayer introduction that I'll be teaching
on Sunday mornings, starting on the first
Sunday in December, for adult enrichment.
Blessings on the beginning of another Advent season!
Pastor Steve Timm
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Intergenerational Event
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All are invited to participate in an Intergenerational Event that will take place this Sunday, November 27 between services. We will be making Advent paper chains as well as ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree in the fellowship hall. We hope you'll join us!
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Weekend Food Backpack Program
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The weekend food backpack program is underway using donations from the August noisy offering, Thrivent Action Team seed money, and a generous donation from the Clearwater Lions. Our confirmation students are packing the backpacks with breakfast, lunch and snack items for the weekend when school breakfast and lunch is not available for Clearview Elementary School students.
If you are interested in supporting the backpack program, check out the list on the door of the robe room (the last door to the left before the sanctuary) for ideas. Please put donations
inside the robe room near the bookshelf at the back of the room and label the donation
Backpack Program.
Thank you!
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European Christmas Coffee December 3
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The children will be serving hors d'oeuvres, cookies and candies, along with flavored coffees, teas, and apple cider. There will also be a number of traditional foods like lefse, rosettes, krumkaka, as well as homemade breads, cookies and candies for sale.
Free will donations will support our
Sunday
School program. You will not leave hungry as those little children like to serve you over and over again.
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Parents Shop Kids-Free December 3
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The junior and senior high youth will be having their annual Parents Shop Kids-Free, where parents are welcome to drop off their children for a couple of hours while they go out and get some shopping done or decorate for the holidays.
It will take place after the European Christmas Coffee event at Rejoice:
- Saturday, December 3
- 12-4:00 p.m.
- Free will donations will go to support our youth programs
Please contact Sara Miller at [email protected] with any questions.
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Encounter God Through Meditative Prayer in December
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Pastor Steve offers adults the chance to learn and practice meditative prayer in a class between worship services
on Sundays in December.
If you're looking for a new way to pray, or a time to be calm and peaceful in a fast-paced world, join us for a time of meditative prayer as practiced by monastic traditions around the world.
- December 4
- December 11
- December 18
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Mittens, Anyone?
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Help spread some Christmas joy by filling our Mitten Tree! There will be 20 mittens available on Sunday, December 4.
Take a mitten from the Mitten Tree, which will have a number 1-20 - then write your name on the sheet in the slot that matches your Mitten number and return your gift bag or basket to Rejoice by
December 14
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Each gift bag or basket will go to a local family with small children. Put perishables in the kitchen refrigerator. Each gift bag should include at least the following:
- Bag of oranges and/or apples
- Loaf of bread
- Box of cereal
- Peanut butter and/or jelly
- Butter
- Macaroni and cheese
- Bag of potatoes
- Gallon of milk
- add other items as you see fit or deem necessary
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'Twas the Light Before Christmas Play December 11
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We're trying something new this year, it's a one day Christmas play and it's for the whole family!
The families of Sunday School students will meet at church on Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 p.m. to begin the recital, make props and prepare for the Christmas play. All of the congregation, community, extended family and friends are welcome to join at 4:30 p.m. for The Light Before Christmas play.
There will be a soup supper following the performance. If you would like to make soup or desserts to share this day, please sign up on the interest table.
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Common Grounds Bible Study Begins December 13
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Pastor Steve will lead a weekly Bible study on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. in the office meeting room, starting December 13. The study will be on the upcoming Sunday readings.
Note: this study doesn't replace the monthly Women's Bible Study on the first Tuesday, but is in addition to the existing group. Men and women are all welcome to join us for Common Grounds!
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Young@Heart Caroling December 13
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Young@Heart group will be caroling at Good Shepherd in Sauk Rapids.
- Sing carols in Event Center from 10-10:30 a.m. - accompanied by grand piano!
- Coffee and rolls with residents following
- Lunch at Jimmy's Pour House in Sauk Rapids
Get your Christmas sweaters out! Everyone is invited! Carpool from Rejoice if interested. For more details and RSVP, contact Audrey Lidberg at 320-558-9909 by December 9.
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Food Shelf Baskets
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The food shelf will be sponsoring Christmas baskets. Sign up at the food shelf now and pick up your basket Monday, December 19 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
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Youth & Family News
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The YouthWorks Mission trip will take our junior high and senior high youth to Queens, NY. This group of youth will be gone June 16-24, 2017. Contact Kris Maehren at [email protected] with questions.
Youth & Family of all ages will be going on a mission trip to Children's Haven International, which is located just across the American border in Reynosa, Mexico. This group will be gone July 21-29, 2017. Contact Sara Miller at [email protected] with questions.
Please let us know if you're interested! Forms and information for both mission trips are located on the Youth & Family Interest table, as well as on the Rejoice website under the Youth & Family tab. Turn in registration forms and $50 down payment to Rejoice office.
If you'd like to support our mission trips, there are several opportunities for you:
- Clearwater Legion
- Sunday, December 4 and 18
- 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- Budget Busting Bake Sale
- Sunday, December 11
- 3-6:00 p.m.
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Community Prayers
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If you have a loved one or friend in need of prayer, fill out a prayer request
on the Rejoice webpage or use one of the prayer concern requests located on the Interest table and in the sanctuary welcome pads. The star(*) in front of a name denotes a Rejoice member
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This is a dynamic list. Requests will be printed for up to 4 weeks, call the church office to extend listing. If a name of a friend or loved one has been omitted please re-submit the name and/or concern using one of t
he prayer concern forms found in the red Welcome Pads in the worship area.
We mourn with:
Mark & Chari Ahrenholz in the loss of brother-in-law, Doug Beaver
Receiving treatment for cancer:
Vernon Bigalk (father, Jon Bigalk)
Ron Rassier (father, Brent Rassier)
Tim Patnode (friend's brother, Lori Lanes)
Karrie Feldewerd (Nicolle Marx)
*Dianna Ahl
Ken Plzak (brother-in-law, Leigh Holman)
Dixie (friend, Lori Lanes)
Kris Uter (Lori Lanes)
*John Thorson
Nancy Jessen (cousin, Ray & Mary WIlson)
Bob Hoofnagel (friend, John & Bev Hugo)
Marjorie Johannes (mother, Mary McRae)
Missy (friend's daughter, Lynn Schneider)
*Mike Heinis
Denise Agre-Gill (daughter, Linda Agre)
Karen LeBaron (Deena & Carlee Kobow)
Gordy Heinks
*Jim Hayes
Evalynn Grace (Jessa Wittrock's friend's child)
David Biorn (brother-in-law, Deborah Biorn)
Floyd Henkel (uncle, Mark Gohman)
Dorothy Thoennes (friend, Donna & Ken Johnson)
Mike Perault (brother-in-law, Mike Heinis)
Diane Koll (mom, Sarah Hayes)
Kevin (co-workers grandson, Amber Doering)
Michael (friend, Ron & Lynn Schneider)
Tammy Bishop (friend's sister, Lori Lanes)
Shelly (Milbery) Rodell
Joselyn Barrett (granddaughter, Mike & Diane Barrett)
Judy Munson (aunt, Jody Rodenborg)
Paul Mader (daughter-in-laws father, Jim & Marlys Johnson)
Gerald Brinda (brother, Barbara Potter)
Tom Gustafson (father, Sarah Hayes)
*Jenine Severson
Lexi Erickson (friend, Morgan Luberda)
Nick Phillipi (Laurie Hoff)
*Jim Johnson
Beth Gunderson (friend, Darlene Johnson)
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ina Goetz & unborn child (sister-in-law, Jill Charboneau)
Marc Johnston (nephew, Kay Krogstad)
Josh Casey (co-worker/friend's fiancé, Amy Brzinski)
Verne Bennett (brother-in-law, Martha Johnson)
Gery Schuldt (brother, Bette Monk)
David Potter (son, Barb Potter)
Niel Kramber (friend, Barb Potter)
Ron Nelson (brother, Gladys Steiger)
Jamie Wieneke (friend, Leigh Holman)
Don Weigand (father, Penny Leuthard)
Roland Jaehnert (relative, Jodi Rodenborg)
Janelle Monk Bethke (daughter, Lee Monk)
*Ken Johnson
Kent Petersen (brother, Rhoda Senkler)
Deployed/returning from active Duty:
*Kirsten Voges
Amy Larson (granddaughter, Don & Mary Kemkes)
Justine Bauer (friend, Tess Clarkson)
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