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Merry Christmas!
We have three worship services, each with different hymns and readings:
Christmas Eve, Friday, 6:30pm
Christmas Day, Saturday, 10am
The Second Day of Christmas, Sunday, 10am (Pastor Schultz and I will switch)
Here's a letter Pastor Schultz wrote for The Vine, reprinted here as an encouragement:
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Christmas Eve is only 4 days away. It'll be here before you know it. That's why I want to remind you that there is no better opportunity to invite a friend or family member to church than this coming Friday on Christmas Eve. I believe the worship experience will be a real blessing to them.
Did you know that many of our church family who call the Vine their home church wouldn't be here today without the personal invite of a friend or family member at some point in the past several years. That's why I'm encouraging you to now be the one doing the inviting. As you think of people to invite, try this simple two-step process:
1. Start by praying for those people you would like to invite.
2. Send them an email or text inviting them to come with you on Christmas Eve.
Of all the services during the year, Christmas Eve is the one service that most people will attend if someone invites them. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity you have to invite someone to our Christmas Eve service.
Thank you for partnering with me to keep the Vine growing. :-) Pastor Schultz
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Please also note our snow removal schedule is out and this week's volunteers are listed at the end of the email.
Our YouTube channel is the new place to watch our services. We've had up to 12 accounts viewing at once, including several families, so we have around 20 people watching live at our peak. It is great people can be included this way. We hope you feel included if you're participating online. Please feel free to send prayer requests and leave comments on YouTube to further participate.
You can also watch services after-the-fact. Here are the K-8 and preschool Christmas programs.
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GOOD: construction is underway for the first modular building
WE APOLOGIZE: but the accessibility ramp is inaccessible for the next few weeks. We did not anticipate this and are working on a solution.
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CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE
12/24 Christmas Eve (Fri) 630
12/25 Christmas Day (Sat) 10
12/26 Sunday after Christmas, no Bible study
12/31 New Year's Eve worship 630
12/31 Youth Group lock-in at church
1/2 9am Bible study resumes
1/3 One Year Bible Class begins
1/27 Burden-Bearing group
BIBLE STUDY/SMALL GROUP REGULAR SCHEDULE
SUNDAY 9AM - Amos resumes Jan 2
TUESDAY 10AM Exodus resumes Jan 4
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR
Bring your food Jan 2.
GLEN METZGER CALL ACCEPTANCE LETTER:
After many weeks of thought, prayers, and conversations, I have decided to accept the call to teach at St. Matthews. My family and I are excited to be joining your ministry. Please keep my family (my wife, Fiona, and my children: Theo, Freddy, Gus, Seamus, Norman, Ivy, and Donovan) in your prayers as we get ready to make a big transition. Please also keep the ministry and children of St. Lucas in your prayers as they continue to do ministry as well. I look forward to joining you soon, and praise God for bringing your ministry into my life. In Christ, Glenn Metzger.
NEW YEARS EVE WORSHIP - SPECIAL WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Pastor Schultz and The Vine's praise band will lead worship at St. Matthew on Dec 31 at 6:30pm. This is a lot of extra work for the musicians, so please come support them this night.
YOUTH GROUP LOCK-IN
The lock in is a green light, open to 7th grade and older. It will begin at 6:30 with the evening worship service. We have good plans but could use a few more parent volunteers.
RITE-AID PARTNERSHIP TO RAISE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL - FINAL NOTICE
St. Matthew is partnering with Rite Aid in order to support our school. How can you participate? All you have to do is sign up using the following URL link:
https://support.rxfundraising.com/StMatthewLutheranSchool
Once you click on/type in the link you will be prompted to create an account. You can then make use of your phone number anytime you shop at Rite Aid. Rite Aid promises to pay our school 1.5% of all your in store purchases and $.50 from any prescriptions you have filled out at Rite Aid. Please let Mr. Biebert know if you have any questions or have any problems signing up to support our school.
SCHOOL AUCTION INFO
Excited to see how richly God has blessed our school in the past couple of years? So are we!!! St. Matthew Lutheran School is hosting a Silent Auction on April 23, and we need your help to make this event successful! View the items needed for donation here! Donation forms for items are also available on that site. Sign ups are requested by January 20. Donated items must be ready by April 1. All auction proceeds are used to help fund our second modular and adding another teacher!!! Thank you for your help in this way!
SCHOOL SECOND MODULAR FUNDRAISER
Our treasurer Ron Klawitter gave a presentation about a fundraiser we are starting to fund a second modular building for the school. You will find information in your church mailbox. If you choose to make a donation to this cause, please make sure 1) it is in addition to, not replacing, your regular offering, and 2) it is clearly designated by writing "school modular" on the envelope or in the memo line of the check. Thank you for all your support! In this age of apostasy, immorality, and anxiety, 84 kids are learning and experiencing the peace of Christ every day, and we have the opportunity to expand that.
READ THE BIBLE IN 2022, MONDAY NIGHT MEETING BEGINS JAN 3RD
We will have a "read through the Bible" group meeting Monday nights at 6:30pm in 2022. If you want to participate, you should go ahead and buy "The One Year Bible: Arranged in 365 Readings, NIV edition." Please ask me for details. It should be a fun group.
WELS YOUTH RALLY JUNE 2022
Perhaps kids can save their money to offset the cost of attending the WELS Youth Rally in Knoxville, TN, June 28--July 1, 2022.
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PRAYER CONCERNS:
- Continue to pray for our home-bound members: Maria Baerman, Carol Taylor, Carole Boyette, Christine Glardon, Chuck and Jean Johnson, Beverly Van Epps, and Louise Scherschel.
- The Vine's offer on a building in Hayden
- Glen Metzger and his family as they prepare to move here
- Anna Barton's sister Beth who is afflicted with many health problems. Also, her caretakers.
- The people working on the first modular this week.
- Val Babcock
- Those with health concerns they prefer to leave private
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BIBLE VERSE of the week
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
- Matthew 18:21-22
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THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS
Dec 24 (Fri):
Acolyte: Leah West
Ushers: Derrick Most
AV: Anna Kropidlowski
Snow removal: Scott Hallauer, Tony Diaz
Cleaners: Thompson, D'Andrade, Nollmeyer, Twenge
Dec 25 (Sat):
Acolyte: Ella Diaz
Ushers: Lance Barton
AV: Erica Rosenbaum
Snow removal: Tony Diaz, Les Panther
Cleaners: Thompson, D'Andrade, Nollmeyer, Twenge
Dec 26:
Acolyte: Kyndra Hallauer
Ushers: Lance Barton, Simon Barton
AV: Mike Thorpe
Snow removal: Tony Diaz, Les Panther
Cleaners: Thompson, D'Andrade, Nollmeyer, Twenge
Dec 31 (Fri):
AV: Pastor West (Pastor Schultz is leading worship)
Snow removal: Les Panther, Mark Gaulke
Jan 2:
Acolyte: Leah West
Ushers: Lance and Simon Barton
AV: Chuck Dewey
Snow removal: Mark Gaulke, Mike Sauer
Cleaners: Mike and Tiffany Sauer, Jenna Swenson, Twenge
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