Concordia Lutheran School
2300 Wilshire Road
Springfield, Illinois 62703
December 2009 Concordia Cares
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pastor Hennig Message
Pastor Koschmann
Principal Dan Henschen
3rd and 4th Grade News
December Calendar
December Scripture Lessions
Acolyte, Organist, Elder and Alter Guild Schedule
Usher Schedule
Parish News
School News
Lutheran High School
Lutheran Community News
If Concordia can be of any assistance to you or your family, please come in or call and speak with Sharon or Lora in the church office. Please join us for worship at 5:30 Saturday or 10:00 Sunday. Also join us for Sunday School and Adult Bible Classes which are held at 9:00 every Sunday!
The following is a listing of the scripture lessons for the Worship Services for the month of December-This list is provided so that you may have the opportunity to reflect on the scripture passages in preparation for the Worship Services.
Second Sunday in Advent
December 6, 2009
Malachi 3:1-7b Psalm 66:1-12
Philippians 1:2-11 Luke 3:1-14 (15-20)
Third Sunday in Advent
December 13, 2009
Zephaniah 3:14-20 Psalm 85
Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 7:18-28 (29-35)
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 20, 2009
Micah 5:2-5a Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 (46-56)
The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day – December 25, 2009
Isaiah 52:7-10 Psalm 2
Hebrews 1:1-6 (7-12) John 1:1-14 (15-18)
First Sunday after Christmas
December 27, 2009
Exodus 13:1-3a, 11-15 Psalm 111
Colossians3:12-17 Luke 2:22-40
ACOLYTE, ORGANIST, ELDER, ALTAR GUILD SCHEDULE
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A: Acolyte O: Organist E: Elder C: Altar Guild Serving for December are: |
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Saturday |
Sunday |
Midweek |
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Wed. 2nd A: Jordan B. O: Amy R. E: All C: ------------- |
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5th A: Patricia T. O: Connie K. E: Mark L. C: -------------- |
6th A: Kyle D. O: Amy R. E: Bob M. C: Vicki J. |
Wed. 9th A: Hanna W. O: Amy R. E: All C: ------------- |
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12th A: Cassie W. O: E: Buddy N. C: Jeannine M. |
13th A: Michelle H. O: Amy R. E: Bill S. C: ------------- |
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19th A: Kyle D. O:Sally C. E: Mark L. C: ------------------ |
20th A: Jacob L. O: Amy R. E: Buddy N. C: Mary S. |
Thur. 24th 7pm A: Michelle H. O: Amy R. E: Buddy N. C: Jeannine M. |
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27th A: Hanna W. O: E: Jeff L. C: ------------ |
Thur. 24th 11pm A: Allison K. O: Amy R. E: Mark L. C: Jeannine M. |
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Friday 25th 10am A: Josh H. O: E: Mike B. C: Jeannine M. |
Thur. 31st 5:30pm A: Madisyn R. O: E: Mark L. C: Jeannine M. |
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USHER TEAMS
The elders will usher during December and at all of our holiday services.
PARISH NEWS
On Thursday, December 17th starting at 5:30pm, LWML will be hosting an all Church Christmas decorating party! Everyone is invited to share in the fun, food and fellowship as we ready our church for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Watch for the weekly "Cares" for more details. Questions, contact Kate B. or Patty H. at 529-3309 or the church office.
Love Shop:
The Love Shop is fast approaching. The dates for this year’s Love Shop for the children of Concordia Lutheran School are Thursday, December 3rd and Friday, December 4th. The ladies of our congregation make and gather items all year long, to provide our children with a Christmas shopping opportunity. Prices are kept very reasonable to allow children to shop for multiple family members if they desire. On the first shopping day, they are limited to three items they can purchase. On the second shopping day, they may purchase as much as they can afford. The rules will be the same as last year, there will be no lay-a-ways, no charges and the children can only spend the amount of money they have brought with them. Also there will be items available for the adults to purchase following the church services on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th.Thank you, The
Ladies Aide¯ A Music Note ¯
December means the season of Advent is upon us with the festival of Christmas and the celebration of Jesus' birth! Stores are already playing Christmas carols even as I write this in mid-November. I have fond memories as a child going with my family to the tire stores (Firestone, Goodyear...) and getting their annual Christmas album. I believe my sister has inherited that Christmas collection along with hundreds more! Soon, I will once again begin playing my collection of Christmas CD's and singing along to the strains of so many beloved Christmas carols.
This month, I'd like to focus on "O Little Town of Bethlehem" written by Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) and music by Lewis Redner (1831-1908). Brooks was well known as a great preacher in the Episcopalian ministry along the Eastern seaboard. An impressive man, 6'6" tall and weighing nearly 300 pounds, he was known for his rapid speaking, claiming there simply were too many words to fill a short amount of time. Although, himself a bachelor, Brooks was very fond of children and often kept his study filled with toys and dolls for the children who would come to visit. At age 30 he visited the Holy Land and the site of the nativity. This so impressed him, that three years later he decided to put those pictures into words for his Sunday School children and thus was born the text for "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
The tune for the carol was written by Brooks' organist, Lewis Redner. Originally, the carol has six stanzas. The following is one we are not so familiar with:
Where children pure and happy pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee, Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.
May each of you enjoy this season of Advent and Christmas as we celebrate our Savior's birth and as we sing the familiar refrains of so many wonderful Christmas carols - heralding the true meaning of Christmas!
-Denise Hennig, Choir Director
Ladies Aid
Attention!!!
The Ladies Aid is in need of your clean, good condition, unwanted sheets,blankets, mattress pads, bedspreads and other materials to be used in the making
of their " Ugly Quilts." Please bring the items to the church office, your help is appreciated.
Also, watch for upcoming information regarding help with the quilting as well.
You don’t have to know how to sew because we can teach you how to quilt very quickly.
We give our quilts to our shut-ins and to nursing homes. Please join in the fun and fellowship
.
The Concordia Youth Group is preparing for the 2010 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans. The Youth have several events and fundraising activities planned and would like to invite all the members of Concordia to support them.
A FREE WILL OFFERING WILL BE TAKEN
EXTREME TEAM CHALLANGE
Extreme Team Challenge is coming to Concordia! The Youth Group is sponsoring this all night event January 17 for teams of 8 (at least 3 females) ages 7th grade through adult. This is no ordinary fundraiser, as teams will have fun competing in challenging team and individual events (see the flyer!) Cost is $10 per person and a concession stand will be available. Form your teams now and register by January 6 to Denise or Jessica H. Even if you don't want to participate on a team the Youth Group would greatly appreciate any assistance you can offer for the night. If you have questions or want to volunteer for a couple of hours or more please contact Denise Hennig or Jeff L
.
Do You Remember? - Concordia Lutheran Church had a Cub Scout pack Den 218 in 1965. Pastor Reidel - Chaplain, Buzz H. - Scout Master, Norma H. and Marilyn W. – Den Mothers {submitted by Vern & Marilyn W.}
The Office
Thank you to my Concordia family for all the cards, encouragement and prayers while I was recovering from surgery. Also big thanks to my co-worker, Lora, Beavers and volunteer, Diane T. who helped to keep things running smoothly at the office.
CHANGE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER?: The changes in the monthly newsletter were made to make it easier to put on the web and send via email to those who wish to receive it that way. In an effort to conserve on postage, paper, ink, etc we have emailed the newsletter to everyone who has given us their email address. Please let us know what you think of receiving the newsletter via email and if you would rather get it that way exclusively, we will take you off of the paper copy list for next month. If you did not receive it via email, we need your email address in the office. Another effort to try and conserve on postage, instead of mailing all of the paper newsletters, we had the shut in copies hand delivered and everyone else’s copy was ready for pick up on the narthex table. We will then only have to pay the postage for a few out of town copies.
Remember anytime Concordia can be of any assistance to you or your family, please come in or call and speak with one of us.
Thank you, Sharon and Lora
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Discipleship Report for November 2009
Date / Worship / Gen. Fund Receipts
November
1st / 40 + 138 = 178 / $ 8,226.08November 8th /
76 + 147 = 223 / $ 14,366.00 November 15th / 67 + 135 = 202 / $ 7,378.00 November 22nd / 52 + 188 = 240 / $ 7,279.96(The
weekly budget need is $ 11,516.84)************************************************************
Open the Door of Your Heart
It’s December and preparations for Christmas are underway. Unfortunately, for some, this is a period of great stress, inadequate sleep, and too much busyness. Is this what Advent is all about? Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3:20). What a pleasant request! Shut the door of the world. Open the door of your heart. Let the King of Glory come in! He is the One we honor and proclaim! He is the One due our allegiance and our service. Enjoy fellowship with Jesus!
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to show me how much You love me. Help me to respond faithfully to Your love. Help me to minimize the distractions during my Christmas preparations so that I can focus on You. In Your name precious name I pray. Amen.
Blessings on your stewardship Journey!
Concordia’s December Christmas Schedule
December 2nd – 5:30pm Advent Meal (hosted by: High School Youth)
(Chili, soup, hot dogs….)
7:00pm Advent Church Service
December 9th - 5:30pm Advent Meal
(hosted by: Fellowship Committee)
(pulled BBQ, hot dogs, slaw, baked beans)
7:00pm Advent Church Service
December 10th - 7:00pm Early Childhood Christmas Program
December 16th - 7:00pm grades 1-8 Christmas Program
December 24th - 7:00pm Divine Church Service
11:00pm Candlelight Communion Service
December 25th - 10:00am Communion Christmas Day Service
December 26th - There will be no service this Saturday!
December 31st - 5:30pm New Years Eve (Common Cup Only)
Communion Church Service
Of course, everyone is invited to all of these and our regularly scheduled services. Everyone is also invited for Adult Bible Classes and Sunday School. Please join us for worship this month and learn about or remind yourself of the real meaning of Christmas. Bring you family and friends as well to hear the story of our Lord and Savior’s birth.
Merry Christmas!Everyone is invited to the
D.A.R.E graduation held on December 1st at 2:00pm for our 5th-6th grade class. There will be refreshments afterward for the graduates and their guests.DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
01: Ursula B.
Jacob W.
04: Robert M.
05: Margaret (Peg) H.
Eldon L.
Lisa L.
06: Patty S.
08: Lori F.
Tyler Y.
10: Madeline A.
11: Paul B.
Curt S.
12: Dorothy D.
Robert W.
13: Greg C.
Brian P.
Elnora T.
14: Amy R.
15: Jeni P.
18: Nancy C.
20: Stevie T.
22: Brian D.
Daniel F.
23: Ava B.
Ernesto B.
25: Anna B.
26: Danielle L.
27: Mary B.
Crystal C.
Angela G.
Emily H.
29: Susan B.
Spencer D.
Stephen W.
30: Judith C.
Dylan H.
Cassandra W.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Looking Ahead-
PTL will host a family movie night: on December 18th. Watch weekly "Cares" for details
Schwans Fundraiser:
The next event will be Wednesday, December 23rd: 12:30 – 3:30 pm.December Chapel Offerings
This month Chapel Offerings will be for foster children gifts. Lutheran Child and Family Services will provide us with the names of children and Concordia Youth Group will purchase the gifts.*Reminder, everyone is invited to attend chapel at 8:45 am on Wednesdays with our children. The schedule for chapel leaders in the next few weeks is:
December 2 - Dan Henschen December 16 – Pastor Bueltmann
December 9 - Pastor Koschmann December 23 - Pastor Hennig
LUTHERAN HIGH NEWS
The Lutheran High School Website is:
WWW.lutheranhs.pvt.k12.il.us From the ledger: October 29, 2009Academic Spotlight for October 19th: The academic spotlight is an effort to recognize academic excellence at Lu-Hi. The spot light this week goes to Courtney Gardner, who was nominated for outstanding performance in a project in Film class.
Good Deeds by our Concordia members:
Good Deeds is an attempt to identify students who have been observed assisting others or the school. Those listed were:*Josh S. * Scott B.
First Quarter High Honor Roll
(Quarter grade point average of 3.67 or higher)Tina W. Angela H. Olivia L. Jesse T. Jessica H.
First Quarter Honor Roll
(Quarter grade point average of 3.01 – 3.66)Aaron B. Ashley H. Grace A. Courtney G.
(former Concordia Grade School Students) Jared K
., Danielle N. & Deborah W.)From the ledger: November 19, 2009
Academic Spotlight for November 2, 2009: The academic spotlight is an effort to recognize academic excellence at Lu-Hi. Nominated for the week of Nov. 2, 2009 were Angela H., Jesica H. and Tina W..
Good Deeds by our Concordia members:
Good Deeds is an attempt to identify students who have been observed assisting others or the school. Listed was:*Drake H.
Athlete of the Week for the week of October 26th
- was Jessica H., nominated for her outstanding play for the volleyball team.LUTHERAN COMMUNITY NEWS
There will be a
Holiday Trivia Night at St Johns Lutheran Church in Chatham on Saturday, December 5th! Doors open at 6:15pm and trivia starts at 7:15pm. The cost is $10 per person with teams up to 10. Proceeds will go to the Church’s Youth Group. For more information, or to reserve a table, contact the church office at 483-2612 or Ben Ladage at 652-09241 or imbenladage@hotmail.com.