The Christmas story is always beautiful, but when told through the voices and faces of our children, it becomes even more special. Be sure to attend this year’s program entitled, Bethlehem Elementary School, presented on Sunday evening, Dec. 20, at 7:00 pm. This year the Sunday School children will be teaching us the story of Jesus’ birth so come and be their students and be ready for a little audience participation!
† IN OUR PRAYERS Jennifer S., recovering from surgery; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.
† THE JR CONFIRMATION CLASS will not meet today or next Sunday, Dec. 27. Class will resume on Sunday, Jan. 3.
† SPECIAL SERVICES THIS WEEK
7:00 pm Thursday Christmas Eve candlelight service with Holy Communion.
10:45 am Friday Christmas Day Worship Service with Holy Communion.
† THE WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY GROUP will not meet this Wednesday. Next Wednesday, Dec. 30, the group will meet at Earl Kirn’s house at 10:30 am.
† WELCOME TO BETHLEHEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Please join us this evening for the Sunday School Christmas Program at 7:00 pm. The students (well, tonight they will be the teachers) have worked hard and are very excited to share the story of Jesus’ birth with their church family!
† SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM REHEARSAL Today, along with practicing during the Sunday School hour, there will be a dress rehearsal after the late service. A light lunch will be provided and the rehearsal will last until around 1:30 pm.
† STEPHEN MINISTRY The Stephen Ministry Training class will not meet tomorrow, Dec. 21 or next Monday, Dec. 28. They will resume classes on January 4.
† OFFERING ENVELOPES The 2016 offering envelopes are on the table in the narthex. Please remember to discard your 2015 envelopes and use only the 2016 envelopes beginning in January. If you do not see your name and want envelopes, please contact the church office. Likewise, if you prefer not to use them and see your name, simply write NO on the label.
† PORTALS OF PRAYER The new Portals of Prayer for the winter are on the table by the nursery in the narthex.
† LWML QUARTERLIES The new Quarterlies are on the round table in the narthex. Ladies, remember to pick one up!
† AN INVITATION FROM FIRST LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, NEOSHO Today at 3:00 pm, Steven Gillmore will be ordained and installed as our new Pastor. Please join us in giving praise and thanks to our Savior for this new chapter in our congregational life.
† POINSETTIAS If you would like to purchase a poinsettia(s) to help adorn the sanctuary at Christmas (as in the past, it’s yours to take home after Christmas), please use the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. The cost is $8.00 each. See Diana E. about payment, and if you have any questions.
† FLOWER CHART, 2016 If you would like to place flowers at the altar for a special occasion or in memory of someone, please sign the flower chart hanging on the wall next to the water fountain in the hallway. Simply write your name, phone number, and occasion with the pen provided.
† NURSERY/CRY ROOM Should your child become distressed or distract others during the service, a furnished nursery/cry room is located in the narthex for your use. Please ask one of the ushers if you need directions.
† IN OUR PRAYERS Jennifer S., recovering from surgery; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.
† ADVENT We are in the Advent season of the church year, the time before Christmas when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Plan to attend the Mid-week Advent service on December 16, at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm.
† THE JR CONFIRMATION CLASS will not meet on Dec. 20 or Dec. 27. Class will resume on Sunday, Jan. 3.
† WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY GROUP Through the Advent season the Wednesday Morning Bible Study group will meet at 9:30 am instead of the normal 10:30 am time.
† WELCOME TO BETHLEHEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Sunday School Christmas Program is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 20, at 7:00 pm. Today and next Sunday, along with practicing during the Sunday School hour, there will be rehearsals after the late service. A light lunch will be provided and the rehearsal will last until around 1:30 pm. Please encourage your children to get excited about this special opportunity to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to our church family!
† LWML CHRISTMAS PARTY There is a sign up sheet on the round table in the narthex for this year’s LWML Christmas Party. The event is scheduled for this evening at 5:30 pm. It will be held at the Rollins Creek Clubhouse in Carthage. The evening will include soups, breads, & desserts, live musical entertainment, an ornament exchange, and secret sisters will be revealed. All ladies of the congregation are invited to join us for this fun evening. Anyone who would like a ride can contact Rhonda N.
† SECRET SISTERS If you would like to participate in the Secret Sister program for 2016, please take a form from the round table in the narthex, fill it out, and bring it along to the LWML Christmas Party or return it to the church office today. You do not have to be a member of LWML to participate; all women are welcome.
† OFFERING ENVELOPES The 2015 offering envelopes are on the table in the narthex. Please remember to discard your 2015 envelopes and use only the 2016 envelopes beginning in January. If you do not see your name and want envelopes, please contact the church office. Likewise, if you prefer not to use them and see your name, simply write NO on the label.
† GOOD SHEPHERD’S TRANSITION TEAM has started meeting to plan opportunities for the congregation and its members to “reflect on God’s gracious Call and Good Shepherd’s Identity” to successfully transition from one Pastor to the next. An article on the formation and purpose of the Transition Committee is in the December Shepherd’s Staff newsletter. Here are the dialog events currently scheduled for December: Dec. 13 – Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class; Dec. 13 – parents of the children attending the Sunday School Christmas Program rehearsal.
† AN INVITATION FROM FIRST LUTHERAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH, NEOSHO On Sunday, Dec. 20, at 3:00 pm, Steven Gillmore will be ordained and installed as our new Pastor. Please join us in giving praise and thanks to our Savior for this new chapter in our congregational life.
† POINSETTIAS If you would like to purchase a poinsettia(s) to help adorn the sanctuary at Christmas (as in the past, it’s yours to take home after Christmas), please use the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. The cost is $8.00 each. See Diana Endicott about payment, and if you have any questions.
† FLOWER CHART, 2016 If you would like to place flowers at the altar for a special occasion or in memory of someone, please sign the flower chart hanging on the wall next to the water fountain in the hallway. Simply write your name, phone number, and occasion with the pen provided.
† PRAYER BEARS are in the sanctuary pews and available to be signed out (notebook in narthex by nursery) and given to anyone that needs God’s love, comfort, and peace.
† ASSISTIVE LISTENING If you are having a hard time hearing the service, assistive listening devices are available from the ushers. They work like a transistor radio and you can control the volume.
† BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS are available in the nurse’s office after the service. You will be given a small form that can be carried in your wallet which will include medical information and a log of your blood pressure readings.
† NURSERY/CRY ROOM Should your child become distressed or distract others during the service, a furnished nursery/cry room is located in the narthex for your use. Please ask one of the ushers if you need directions.
† IN OUR PRAYERS Jennifer S., hospitalized last week; Leona H., Brenda K.’s mother, celebrating her 95th birthday; Ruth B., Carol L., Bernice R., recovering from surgery; Kathy P., suffering health issues; Jack H., recovering at home; Paula B., April K., Sara P., Sara T., undergoing treatment for cancer.
† CONGRATULATIONS We rejoice with Bradley & Donya M. at the birth of their baby girl, Kyris Elsie M. Kyris was born December 3, in Joplin, MO.
† ADVENT We are in the Advent season of the church year, the time before Christmas when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Plan to attend the Mid-week Advent services on December 9 & 16, at 11:00 am and 7:00 pm.
† THE JR CONFIRMATION CLASS will not meet on Dec. 20 or Dec. 27. Class will resume on Sunday, Jan. 3.
† WEDNESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY GROUP Through the Advent season the Wednesday Morning Bible Study group will meet at 9:30 am instead of the normal 10:30 am time.
† WELCOME TO BETHLEHEM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Sunday School Christmas Program is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 20, at 7:00 pm. Starting today we will be practicing during the Sunday School hour. We would really appreciate it if we could have as many students here at Sunday School as much as possible because it will help things run smoother. December 13 & 20 there will be rehearsals after the late service. A light lunch will be provided before we practice. Please encourage your children to get excited about this special opportunity to tell the story of Jesus’ birth to our church family!
† LWML CHRISTMAS PARTY There is a sign up sheet on the round table in the narthex for this year’s LWML Christmas Party. The event is scheduled for Sunday, December 13, at 5:30 pm. It will be held at the Rollins Creek Clubhouse in Carthage. The evening will include soups, breads, & desserts, live musical entertainment, an ornament exchange, and secret sisters will be revealed. All ladies of the congregation are invited to join us for this fun evening. Anyone who would like a ride can contact Rhonda N.
† SECRET SISTERS If you would like to participate in the Secret Sister program for 2016, please take a form from the round table in the narthex, fill it out, and bring it along to the LWML Christmas Party or return it to the church office by Sunday, December 13. You do not have to be a member of LWML to participate; all women are welcome.
† GOOD SHEPHERD’S TRANSITION TEAM has started meeting to plan opportunities for the congregation and its members to “reflect on God’s gracious Call and Good Shepherd’s Identity” to successfully transition from one Pastor to the next. An article on the formation and purpose of the Transition Committee is in the December Shepherd’s Staff newsletter. Here are the dialog events currently scheduled for December: Dec. 6 – Youth Group; Dec. 13 – Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class; Dec. 13 – parents of the children attending the Sunday School Christmas Program rehearsal.
† POINSETTIAS If you would like to purchase a poinsettia(s) to help adorn the sanctuary at Christmas (as in the past, it’s yours to take home after Christmas), please use the sign-up sheet on the table in the narthex. The cost is $8.00 each. See Diana Endicott about payment, and if you have any questions.
† FLOWER CHART, 2016 If you would like to place flowers at the altar for a special occasion or in memory of someone, please sign the flower chart hanging on the wall next to the water fountain in the hallway. Simply write your name, phone number, and occasion with the pen provided.
† NURSERY/CRY ROOM Should your child become distressed or distract others during the service, a furnished nursery/cry room is located in the narthex for your use. Please ask one of the ushers if you need directions.