ENews: Midweek Advent Prayer Service Tonight at 5:30

Living Springs Nativity This Weekend!

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Living Springs Annual
Live Outdoor
Nativity Drama

This Weekend!
December 20 & 21 - 7 pm

FREE, for the entire family!
Animals, characters, and more…

Pause from a hectic holiday pace to witness a 30-minute living enactment of God’s gift of love for you…the birth of Jesus!

Bring a lawn chair…hot drinks provided.

Come Experience the
Christmas Gift of
God’s Love for You!

5:00pm Family Candlelight Service

(special children’s message & communion)

7:00pm Candlelight Communion

(special music with bells/strings/brass)

10:00pm Candlelight Communion

(traditional & reflective service)

Advent Midweek Prayer Service (5:30 – 6:00):
“The Gifts of Advent”

Dec. 17: The Gift of Hope

On this third Wednesday of Advent, we gather for a brief evening prayer service from 5:30-6:00 pm. Light Advent Supper of Soup and Salad will be served for ½ hour before and after the service (starting at 5:00 and resuming at 6:00). Donation of $5.50 to cover costs and support our Living Springs food ministry ($3 for children under 12, chicken fingers available).

Take a break from the hectic holiday pace to find peace in God’s house as we join in prayer and celebrate the call to “prepare the way of the Lord!” Just stop on the way home. Invite a friend!

LS Christmas Tree
and Wreath Lot

Last Weekend!!

Still need a tree? Have we a deal for you...Discounted prices on trees. Come get yours before they are all gone.Call the office to arrange a pick up prior to regular tree lot hours.

Lot hours for this weekend are Fridays at 6:00pm - 9:00pm, Saturdays at 10:00am - 9:00 pm, and Sundays at 12:00pm - 8:00pm. Volunteers are needed to help. Click here if you can volunteer. Contact Adam Woodruff (803-917-6270) or Bob Turnmire (803-513-7533). Help support our youth!

Service of Lessons & Carols

Dec. 29 at 10:00!

On Sunday, December 28, we will have one worship service at 10:00am, with no Sunday School. Join us as we celebrate the 1st Sunday of the Christmas season with this beautiful service of Lessons and Carols.

Discipleship Commitments

for 2015

During Advent, the manger will be at the Advent Wreath to receive your commitments of discipleship for 2015. These sealed commitments are an opportunity to prayerfully pledge how you will commit to living out your discipleship through worship & devotion, witness & service, study & faith growth, and financial giving to God (children may draw pictures or you may write for them). They are personal commitments offered to God in thanksgiving for God's blessings of love and grace in our lives. Because these are commitments made to God, they will remain sealed at the altar throughout the year as an expression of your ongoing pledge. If you have not yet picked up a separate commitment slip and envelope for each member of your household, they are available in the narthex (or click here). We are all truly "blessed to be a blessing!" May we all know the joy of giving!

7th-12th Grade Youth

Today, (12/17) - The Sr. Youth will be meeting at the church at 6:30 to pack up the elf store items and then head over to Red Robin for dinner at 7. Parents can drop off at the church and pick up at Red Robin.
Monday, December 22 - The youth will be meeting at the church at 3:30 to head to Downtown Columbia a fun outing in Downtown Columbia! We'll meet at the church at 3:30 then head over to the Main Street ice rink at Boyd Plaza. After skating, we'll have dinner at PDQ and then head back to the church. Should be back by 8pm - we'll have the youth call when we leave downtown for rides. Cost for skating- $10, also bring money for dinner!

2015 Offering Envelopes & 3^rd Quarter 2014 Giving Statements

Please pick up your 2015 Offering Envelopes and 3^rd quarter 2014 statements of giving. They can be found on the table in the Narthex.

Dear Disciples of Living Springs,

Last year at the end of October, we had a year-to-date operating deficit in excess of $33,000. This year at the end of October, we have a year-to-date operating deficit of only $15,000. This is a major step forward – thanks to your increased giving and special efforts to trim expenses without reducing ministry. Our goal for the final weeks of 2014 is to significantly reduce or even eliminate this year’s $15,000 deficit. We need to do this, because over the years, we have had to borrow some $60,000 from special designated funds, and we are rapidly approaching the point where there will be no more there to borrow to cover any operating shortfall. The people of LS have a history of reducing our deficit with increased year-end gifts. This year, let’s come together with a special concerted effort and perhaps completely eliminate our year-to-date deficit. We are within striking distance of making this a reality – for the first time in several years!

Prayers

Charlotte Ann Collins - born to Nikki & Will Collins on 12/16
Gwen Brantley & family - death of brother, Loren Wilfong
Angie Dyches & family - death of son-in-law, Bryan Nichuck
Kris Cox
Dick Collins
family of Stefanie Martin - friend of Staudt family
Rachel Tustin & family - death of grandmother
Hazel Smith - mother of Nickie Smith
Dwayne Fink - brother of Eric Fink
Dawn Bargen & Dennis Dean - relatives of Patricia Brouwer
Serphia Curry-Hill - preschool parent
Sophia Stone - mother of Jeannie Hurlbert
Kathy Donnelly - sister of Sara Hale
David Blanchard - brother of Nancy Kaufman
Joe Berger - father of Rocky Berger
Kristy Grohman - daughter-in-law of Brenda Grohman
Eugene Goldberg - brother-in-law of Marj Appleton
Tiffani Cunningham - sister of Rachel Peterson
Alaliyah Bell-Hall - niece of Mahogany Hunter Hall (preschool staff)
Josephine Daniels - niece of Lisa Petty
Kathy Lenti & family - friends of Courtney Murray
Jim Caldwell - co-worker of Judy Lawrence

Lessons for Sunday, December 21

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1–11, 16

Instead of David building a house (temple) for the Lord, the Lord promises to establish David's house (dynasty) forever. Centuries later, after the Babylonian exile, no king sat on the throne. Even then, however, the people of Israel remembered this promise and continued to hope for a king, the messiah, the Lord's anointed.

Psalmody (ELW): Luke 1:46b–55

You, Lord, have lifted up the lowly. (Luke 1:52)

Second Reading: Romans 16:25–27

Paul closes his letter to the Romans by praising God because in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.

Gospel: Luke 1:26–38
In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people (Mary) from littleknown places (Nazareth). This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in his gospel.

SERVING THIS SUNDAY

8:15 Service

Council Person

Assisting Minister
Gwen Furcron
Lector
Herb Brantley
Communion Assistants
Ashley Ramsey
Nowell Ramsey
Ushers
Jan Schmidt
Scott Graves
Greeter
Patricia Brouwer
Acolyte
Jack Arnold

10:45 Service

Council Person
Mark Stuart
Assisting Minister
Jan Berger
Lector
Janet Bate
Communion Assistants
Cindy Day
Jeff Day
Ushers
Sara Levitt
Greyson Fakoury
Jackson Evans
Andrew Tilton
Greeter
Ginny Devereaux
Acolyte
Collin Flores
Crucifer
Adam Woodruff
Torchbearers
Ed Brennan
Gail Buchanan

Children’s Message
Bob Gill
Counters
Mark Stuart (LC)
Mike Davidson
Brantley Smith
Flowers
Irene Tracy/Katherine Wollpert
Mugger
Irene & Charles Tracy
Nursery
Misty O'Donnell
Refreshments
Judy Lawrence
Altar Guild
Kathy Brennan
Care Meals
Diana Abromaitis
Peg Fox

Forward

Living Springs Annual Live Outdoor Nativity Drama

This Weekend! December 20 & 21 - 7 pm

Come Experience the Christmas Gift of God’s Love for You!