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Living Springs Christmas Party - This Sunday @ 6:30
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MIDWEEK ADVENT SERVICES: 

Wednesdays, 12:00 & 6:30

“Tidings of Comfort & Joy”

Nov. 30 – The Angel Speaks to Zechariah’s Fear

Dec. 7 – The Angel Speaks to Joseph’s Confusion

Dec. 14 – The Angel Speaks to Mary’s Doubt

Dec. 21 (Longest Night) – The Angel Speaks to our Grief

Fear, Confusion, Doubt, Grief – we all struggle with those human challenges.  We gather midweek to ponder God’s Advent tidings of comfort and joy.   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!”  Invite a co-worker, classmate, neighbor, stranger, or friend!

ADVENT SOUP & SALAD: 

WEDNESDAYS, 5:45-6:20

Soup & Salad supper will be served each Wednesday before the Advent service. Come join this time of fellowship in faith!  Donation of $6 to support our Living Springs food ministry ($3 for children under 12, chicken fingers available).

Living Springs Christmas Party

Sunday, December 4 @ 6:30 pm
Please join us for some Holiday fellowship at the Annual Adult Christmas Party to be held on Sun, Dec 4th at 6:30pm in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share.  Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.  If you would like wine, you are welcome to bring. Youth will be providing child care on site–donations appreciated.  Don’t miss out on the Fun and fellowship.

Advent Hope Box

Set up an Advent Hope Box in your home!

Add 1 non-perishable food item during each day of Advent
(Nov. 27-Dec. 24 =28 items).
You can wrap your box in blue, representing the Advent color of hope, then add Advent symbols (or just use a plain box!) Place it under your tree, near your advent wreath or by a manger scene. Bring the filled box to worship on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day! (or drop it off at the LS off the week before/after) Items will be shared with our local food pantry!
Our goal is 72 boxes. 72 boxes X 28 items per box = 2016...
One item for every year of our Lord!

THE DOVE TREE

Most of us have created wish lists and wait with anticipation to see how many of those gifts are under the tree.  We have family and friends to share the joy of giving and receiving a gift of love that represents God’s love for us.  This year the opportunity to share is yours by choosing a dove off our Dove Tree for ten (10) unaccompanied high school youth (homeless youths).  We do not know their names, but we will identify them as RV Girl # or RV Boy #, etc. (Ridge View) and  SV Girl #, SV Boy # (Spring Valley).  Please choose a Dove and purchase the item indicated and return your wrapped gift by Sunday, December 11.  If you would prefer to donate money, we can do the shopping for you!  Please put your gift money or check (mark “Unaccompanied Youth” on memo line) in an envelope and mark it “Dove Tree”.  Contact Karen Kranz for information.

Living Springs Christmas Tree Lot

Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Christmas Tree Lot is now open every weekend through 12/18. Spread the word to your neighbors, friends, & co-workers (strangers too)!!! We encourage all LS members to volunteer for at least one slot during this season to support our Youth Ministries. Please use this link to sign up for available times or check the office lobby for a signup as well. Contact Leslie Bloss: lbloss3306@hotmail.com 803-413-1994 if you have any questions.


HOORAY! AN AFTERNOON FOR PARENTS TO SHOP

Saturday, December 3
Save the date – Saturday, December 3 from 2 pm to 5 pm, the Preschool and Worship Outreach Team are providing childcare to give three hours of free time to do your shopping. There will be supervised activities and snacks for children ages 3 and up (must be fully potty trained). Then at 5 pm, there will be a special children’s tree lighting ceremony on the church lawn.  This event is open to all preschool and congregation families.  To sign-up your child(ren), please use the clipboard in the admin building, click here to sign up online or contact the office no later than Thursday morning. If you would like to help be part of our volunteer team, contact Jim Zieche or Karen Kranz.

CHILDREN’S TREE-LIGHTING
 ALL ARE INVITED!

December 3, 5:00
All preschool and congregation families, please join us for our Children’s Tree-Lighting Ceremony on the church lawn – Sat, Dec. 3 at 5:00. There will be singing and reading of the Christmas story, along with hot chocolate & snacks as we light this special tree adorned with decorations made by our children. The tree will then share the light of Christ with passers-by through Advent and Christmas.  


Sanctuary Christmas Decorating

Saturday, December 3

We will be decorating the sanctuary on Dec. 3 starting at 8am. The tree should be ready to decorate around 9:30.

All are included!

LADIES BOOK CLUB

Monday, December 5

This is ladies night out!  The book for this month is Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl.  On Monday, December 5 at 7 pm, meet at JP’s 4 Corners, 150 Forum Dr. in the Sandhills Mall.  Please contact Karen Kranz 803.699.9566 or kbkranz@gmail.com if you are attending – all are welcome even if you haven’t read the book!

2 Caroling Opportunities for Everyone 
Share the Joy of Christmas! 

 

Thursday, Dec. 8:  7:00 – 7:45 pm

(LS Monthly Veterans Ministry)
We visit and sing carols for veterans at the Dorn VA Community Life Center (carpools/bus leave church at 6:15).  Sign-up sheet is in the office lobby.
 

Saturday, Dec. 10:  10:00 – 1:00 pm

Choir and congregation members will divide up to carol at various nursing homes and for our homebound folks.  Meet at the church at 10:00 (or contact George Donovan if you need to join us somewhere along the way).     

Children/Youth Christmas Program
Spaghetti Dinner
& Elf Shop

Sunday, December 11
Our Christmas Program is called "A Super Christmas" and will be held at 5pm on Sunday, Dec 11th in the sanctuary.  Following the pageant, the youth will feed everyone a delicious Spaghetti Dinner and then the children can shop in our Elf Store for gifts for their family and friends (everything is $4 or less and is a Youth Fundraiser)!   
Program Practices are as follows:
  • Sunday, Dec 4th from 930-1030am in the sanctuary (all)
  • Sunday, Dec 11th from 930-1030am in the sanctuary (all)
  • Sunday, Dec 11th--All actors arrive at 430pm, dressed, in the Narthex. 
Email us (Kellee kflores@richland2.org, Gwen gwendolenl@msn.com, and Lexanne Lexanne@LivingSpringsColumbia.org) if your child/youth wants to be in this year's Program.

LIVING SPRINGS LIVING NATIVITY:
LOVE IS BORN

DECEMBER 17th AND 18th

Living Nativity Rehearsal Schedule
All Rehearsals are after 10:45 Services at the Church!

 
December 4 – Mary, Joseph, Narrator, Shepherds, Gabriel, Angels
December 11 – Music and rehearsal make up for townspeople, shepherds, Angels
December 15 – Tech rehearsal – all tech crew and music
December 16 – Dress rehearsal – costume check – all cast and crew– 6:30 pm
December 17 and 18 – All cast and crew – 6:30
 
There is still time to sign up to be a part of
“Love is Born”, the Living Springs Living Nativity.
The sign up board is in the narthex.

Questions?     Contact Dea Jones or Anita Gabbard

Help with the Living Nativity Prop Item Pickup

Saturday, December 3 @ 9:30am

Marshall Hurlbert is in need of 1-2 pickup trucks and some helping hands that can assist him in picking up the backdrops and other tech items Cardinal Newman High School is loaning to us for use in this years Living Nativity. If you can help, please contact Marshall.   

Beer & Carols

Monday, December 12

We have been celebrating fellowship and merriment for over a year now at Beer & Hymns. With the holiday’s approaching, it’s time to mix it up! Don’t miss out on Beer & Carols on Monday, December 12th at 7:00pm. We will gather at Beef o’ Brady’s on Hardscrabble Road. Folks are welcome to arrive earlier if they wish to eat prior to the merry singing.

HANNAH HOUSE

Tuesday, December 13

From 6:30 to 8 pm, Christ Central Ministries is having a Christmas open house for the organizations that helped to bring the women and children at Hannah House hope to live a purpose- driven, empowering life.  If anyone would like to attend, contact Karen Kranz by Dec. 5.  There will be no meal provided this month, but starting in January, we will provide a meal every fourth Thursday of the month (Jan. 26, 2017).

TELS IS GOING TO
BILLY GRAHAM’S LIVE NATIVITY

Thursday, December 15

See a real life representation of the birth of Jesus (I’m sure not as good as ours!) with shepherds and live animals; story time; carolers (all free); and carriage rides (cost). The bus will leave at 3:15 pm on Thursday, December 15.  Transportation is $10 – most of the group is going for the dinner @ 5 pm (cost $23).  We have a few seats left – if you are interested, see Beverly Hoppert or Jeff Lummel.  Details are posted in the admin building.

Backpack Food Ministry

Wednesdays during Advent

Reminder that backpacks are being done on Wednesday at 5 during Advent (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, and Dec. 14).  Our current need is milk, cereal, and meat items (weenie beanies).  What a blessing to replenish our backpack room with most of the items collected from our stuff a bus project!  Please continue to pray for these children, especially with the holiday coming up.  Contact Karen Kranz for information.


Daily Advent E-Mail Devotions

 
Check your email for your weekday daily Advent devotion from Pastor Eric and other congregation contributors.   If you need to be added to the church email list – or if you need to make arrangements for a printed copy – contact the office.   For families with children, a daily Advent FAITH5 Devotional is available in the narthex. In addition, a few large print copies of the annual Advent Devotional from Luther Seminary are available in the narthex (or visit  www.luthersem.edu/advent)

G.I.F.T. COMMITMENTS
AND TIME/TALENT SHEETS

We give thanks to God for all the 2017 Discipleship Commitments that were hung on our Growing in Faith Together trees during the past weeks, and for all the Time & Talent Sheets which have been offered.   Our G.I.F.T. trees (1 maple & 1 oak) are now planted on the lawn!
If you have not offered your Discipleship Commitment yet, sealed envelopes may still be deposited in the G.I.F.T. box behind the altar – or simply placed in the offering.  Basket for the Time & Talent Sheets remains in the narthex – we ask that everyone in the LS family please complete a Time & Talent sheet!  Blank commitments and T/T sheets are located on the narthex table and in the office lobby. 

Prayers

Retha Murray
Vickie Crapps
Anita Dye
Jan Schmidt
Deborah Smith
Al Jordan
Colleen Franks
Frank Inda - brother of Irene Tracy
Robin Cartledge & family - sister of Tammy Mancuso
Beth Ott - mother of Jan Berger
John Crawford - father of Shelby Sheldon
Steve Szpiech - brother of Sue Stewart
Gladys Smith - mother of Delores Harmon
Drew Atkinson - grandfather of Kristen Prizer
Kevin Bowen - brother of Beverly Wyka
Emma Detwiler - cousin of Sheila Kowalski
Nancy Oliver - friend of Linda Hayes
George Conley - friend of Mike Wyka
Horace Cooper - uncle of Delores Harmon
Joey Zayas - cousin of Jean Weick
Reed Etheredge - friend of Helen Doerpinghaus
Joan Maack - friend of Tina Molineu
Scott Counts - son of friend of Peggy Collins
Chip Conklin - husband of Sally Catoe's co-worker

Lessons for Sunday, December 4


First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

In today’s reading the prophet describes the ideal ruler who will come in the future as a green shoot springing from a dead stump (David’s royal line) of Jesse (David’s father). Gifted by the Spirit, this messiah will seek justice for the poor, and the reign of this monarch will be experienced as paradise regained.

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)


Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13

God’s promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God’s blessed people has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God’s family.


Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.
Click below if to see the upcoming schedule and/or to sign up for a future date.
December

8:15 Service

Council Person
Bill Franck
Assisting Minister
Saundra Dixon
Lector
Anna Leigh Graves
Communion Assistants
Scott Graves
Helen Doerpinghaus
Ushers
Sue Loveless
Mike Loveless
Greeter
Herb & Gwen Brantley
Acolyte
Ben Arnold
Crucifer
Jan Schmidt

10:45 Service

Council Person
Leslie Bloss
Assisting Minister
Jeff Day
Lector
Pat Bartucca
Communion Assistants
Cindy Day
Leslie Bloss
Ushers
Laura Stuart
Karlene Stuart
Adam Woodruff
Tiffany Ginn
Greeter
Linda Hayes
Acolyte
Michael Landers
Crucifer
Rocky Berger
Torchbearers
Steve Bloss
Gail Buchanan

Children's Message
Laura Turnmire
Counters
Leslie Bloss (LC)
Karlene Stuart
Sarah Schultz
Flowers
Gail Buchanan
Mugger
Herb Brantley
Nursery
Sharon Evans
Refreshments
Saundra Dixon
Altar Guild
Kathy Brennan


Church Humor...
A Man at the Post Office
A man went to the Post Office to buy stamps for his family's Christmas cards.
"What Denomination?" Asked the clerk.
"Wow! Have we come to this?" Said the man.
"Well give me 50 Lutheran and 50 Catholic!"
Do you have some church humor you'd like to share? We would love to share it too! Send your humor to Lisa in the office.
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