E-Voice
Weekly News & Updates: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
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Note: anything that is underlined is a link you can click on! |
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ELC’s Re-Opening Team guides decisions for our congregation based on guidance from local and national health experts, and upon Jesus’ instruction to love our neighbors. Click here to check our current level.
Current Risk: LOW
(updated 8:34am on Fri. 11/18)
If you are serving communion, masks are required
no matter the risk level. Thank you!
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High risk: masks are required for anyone in our building over the age of 2
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Medium risk: masks are not required, but encouraged especially for those at high risk for severe illness, or around someone who is at high risk for severe illness
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Low risk: it is not necessary to wear a mask unless you choose
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Every day we are given the great gift of seeing what God is up to in our world as we respond to Jesus' call to follow him and serve God's people and creation.
If you didn't have a chance yet, you can still return your 2023 Statement of Intent with the stamped envelope provided in the mailing you received. You may also enter your intent online or call Jennifer at 608.784.8876 x201 to give it over the phone.
Together, as we reach out with the Gospel to one another and to the community, the Lord will bring blessings to you!
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We have received 70 Statements of Intent so far, totaling $278,245!
Thank you for your generosity!
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On Sunday, December 4 at 5:00pm, join us for A Time of Solace worship.
This service will be a time to rest, listen and catch our breath in what is not always the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Through Scripture readings, song, prayer, and sharing Holy Communion together, you will be invited to reflect upon your losses, hurts and pains, and then offer them to the Christ child, Jesus. Healing ministers will be available for personal prayer.
Please share with anyone who might want to attend. All are welcome.
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We are a church that believes God is calling the church into both the world and our own communities which have people of many cultures, races and languages. God calls us to address the challenges of becoming more culturally diverse congregations living and serving together in a culturally diverse world.
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Volunteers are needed for The Bethlehem Event! Construction began October 15. Cast members are needed for December 17 & 18. Help behind the scenes, leading up to and the days of the event. There is something for every age and every talent - it takes a village to build a village!
See the sign up display at church or click the button to the left for our special page for volunteer updates.
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You honor me as your guest, and you fill my cup until it overflows.
If giving your time fills your spiritual cup, perhaps you'd like to fill some coffee cups! We are looking for people of all ages to help with fellowship on Sunday mornings. We have a great, but very small, core group that has been doing it since coming back from the pandemic, but we could use 6-12 others to step up and help. This is a great way to have a meaningful impact on ministry and fellowship in our congregation. So many great laughs, stories, and faith moments are shared over a cup of coffee. Help fill our cups! Contact our master coffee maker, Carol, at the church office for more information.
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Each year during Advent, we invite our congregation to sign up to light the Advent Wreath at each worship service beginning November 25 through December 18. This includes coming up front, reading a short blessing and prayer, and lighting the candles on the wreath. It can be one person, a family, or friends who would like to share in the tradition.
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Riverside Transitional Care (Bethany Lutheran Homes) is looking for Christmas or plaid fabric donations for the Recreational Therapy Department. The fabric is for residents to make craft projects in December and can be in smaller or larger pieces. Please drop donations off by December 2nd at the Riverside facility - 2575 7th St. S. Questions can be directed to Tracy at 608-406-3900. Thank you for helping the residents with their Christmas activities! |
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Every year, our sanctuary is decorated with poinsettias during the Advent and Christmas season. Donations to the Poinsettia Fund are used to purchase the flowers, and any gifts left over are donated to WAFER and St. Clare Health Mission.
Please print and fill out this form and send it back to the church along with your donation. Forms are also available at church beginning this weekend. A list of memorials and honorariums are printed in the Christmas bulletins.
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We're hiring! English Lutheran is hiring a Kitchen Coordinator and Director of VIP (Voices in Praise). Join our fun, dynamic team and work with some of the best Lutherans around! The Kitchen Coordinator will manage all large group food related activities at English Lutheran Church. The Director of VIP will rehearse and conduct vocal ensembles. For a detailed job description and application, please visit our website! Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. |
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ELC Youth Scrip Cards were just restocked in time for Christmas shopping. Grab your stocking stuffers at church on Sundays, or stop by the church office during the week to see what we have on hand!
If you'd like to make an order:
- Check out the current retailer list.
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Fill out an order form (with email and phone number!) and return to the church with payment.
- Deadline to turn in orders is Sunday, December 11 at church.
- Cards will arrive by Christmas and you will be contacted with pick up instructions.
If you have any questions about our Scrip fundraising program, talk with Sarah Herath or the church office!
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This year, the Giving Tree provides two opportunities to give during this blessed Advent season - either to ELCA World Hunger/Good Gifts, or to families from Emerson Elementary and Hope Restores - a local organization that we support.
The round tags on the tree are from the Good Gifts catalog, and include such things as honey bees, chicks, seeds and tools, vaccinations, and much more! Once you have chosen an ornament to purchase, fill out the Good Gifts Order Form so that we have record of what was purchased. Write out a check to English Lutheran Church, and place both in the money box on the counter – or give them to Carol or Jennifer in the office. You may take the ornament with you to give to someone you are honoring or put it in the basket provided to be placed on a tree in the sanctuary during the offering. |
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The square/diamond tags are for our Emerson and Hope Restores families/teens. Each square
tag lists the family or teen, the age and gender of the person, and the item to be donated. Each
tag has an amount you should plan on spending for this item. We would like to keep the level of gift giving about the same for each member of the family, so if you stick with the suggested amount, we will avoid having one member of the family getting $200 worth of presents while another may get only $50. If you have chosen a gift certificate, please get the amount indicated
on the tag from the store or vendor listed. (Amazon Gift Cards may be purchased at Walgreen’s and Best Buy.) Wrap the gift, put gift cards in an envelope with a Christmas card, and bring them back to church on before December 15th . Thank you for your cooperation and for your gifts to these special families!
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The Ministry Council has made a commitment to support Trinity Lutheran’s Monday Ministries which offers a weekly meal on Mondays, a food pantry, kids and teens clothes closets, health clinics, and more.
We have added new bins to our donations area to support Trinity, and we would like to invite you to consider supporting this ministry as well as the other ministries we have bins for. Currently we are collecting new and gently used clothing for children and teens, as well as new or gently used toys for children. Later on we will be joining other churches and groups that help supply meals on Monday evenings. We are excited to help out with the vital work and community service that Trinity Lutheran is engaged in to support struggling neighborhoods in our community.
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Applications are due back to Jennifer at the church office by January 1 to be considered at ELC's Annual Meeting in February.
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