Events

LOOKING AHEAD TO ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS...Please plan ahead and mark your calendars for the Advent and Christmas events in our parish.
 Saturday, December 10   Parish Choir presents “Season of Wonders” at the     New London Little Theatre – 7:00pm

Sunday, December 11   Advent 3 – 8:45am at ENL; 11:00am at FL   Parish Choir presents “Season of Wonders” at the  New London Little Theatre - 4:00pm

Saturday, December 17 Parish Sunday School Program 6:30pm at ENL  “Capital C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S”

Sunday, December 18 Advent 4 – 8:45am at ENL; 11:00am at FL    12:00noon Potluck meal at ENL followed by Christmas Caroling

Saturday, December 24 Christmas Eve Worship with Holy Communion  4:30pm at ENL; 10:30pm at FL

Sunday, December 25  Christmas Day Joint Worship with Holy Communion  9:30am at ENL

Sunday, January 1, 2012 A.D. Christmas I Holy Communion Service of Carols Joint Worship at 9:30am at FL No Sunday School

THE SEASON OF ADVENT BEGAN SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27. Advent is not Christmas. It is the season of preparation prior to the Christmas season. It is the time when we prepare our hearts for Christ’s birth...and it includes aspects of past history, of the present, and of the future. We remember Jesus’ birth at Bethlehem long ago...we invite Jesus into our hearts anew each day...and we prepare for his return in glory in the future. Please worship with us during the season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas!

 JOINT CHOIR CHRISTMAS CANTATA  The joint choirs, under the direction of Judy Thompson, will present the Christmas cantata, “Season of Wonders” on Saturday, December 10 at 7:00pm and on Sunday, December 11 at 4:00pm at the New London Little Theatre. A big thank you to Judy for directing the joint choirs! Come and hear the beautiful Christmas cantata “Season of Wonders” – and invite your friends. You will be glad you did!

 SUNDAY MORNING SENIOR HIGH/ADULT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES...We meet each Sunday morning at 10am in the family room at FL. Join us as we continue a series entitled, “A Thrill of Hope...The Christmas Story in Word and Art.” We will be viewing works of art by artist John August Swanson. Here is our schedule to the end of the year.
Nov. 27 – Introduction and Session 1: Luke 1:26-38 “A Visit”
Dec. 4 – Session 2: “The Nativity” Luke 2:1-7 and “The Shepherds” Luke 2:8-20
Dec. 11 – Session 3: “Epiphany” Matthew 2:1-12 and “Presentation in the Temple” Luke 2:21-40
Dec. 18 – Session 4: “Flight into Egypt” Matthew 2:13-15 and conclusion

FRIENDLY REMINDER: End of the year giving must be in by December 29 if you would like your contribution to be recorded on the 2011 A.D. year. Thank you!

THE GATHER WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY...The 2011-2012 Gather Women’s Bible study is entitled, “To Follow and to Serve: The Gospel of Mark.” This study is an invitation to discipleship in the 21st century. The study emphasizes what it means to follow Jesus Christ today. We are called to a living faith, a deeper and more courageous understanding of what it means to follow the one we first meet in Mark’s Gospel at his baptism at the River Jordan. On Tuesday, December 13, we will meet at 1pm at FL, to discuss session 4, entitled “Beyond the Boundaries,” based on Mark 6:30-7:37. Our spiritual life is a journey. We may not always recognize the path, but we meet companions who go with us and bless us on our way. Please join us – all are welcome! The coffee pot will be on!

The NLP Men’s Bible study meets at McKale’s Restaurant in New London on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30am!

 THE FL ALTAR GUILD will be taking orders for poinsettias to be placed in the worship space for the Christmas services. Orders will be taken in the narthex on Sunday, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, and Dec. 11.  Poinsettias left at church after the Christmas Eve service will be kept in place during the twelve days of Christmas. Thank you very much for the poinsettia gifts. Diane Christopherson (599-4721) The deadline to order is Dec. 11.

 “A Capital C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S” The children and youth of the Norway Lake Lutheran Parish, under the direction of Traci Jacobs and Mindy Radabaugh, will present the Christmas program, “A Capital C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S” on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 6:30pm at ENL. All are welcome! A time of fellowship will follow. The children will continue to rehearse the Christmas program on Sunday, December 4 and 11 and also Saturday morning, December 17 from 9:00-11:00am. It is very important that you attend these practices if you are participating in the Christmas Program. A big thank you to Traci and Mindy and all who are helping in any way with this delightful program!

CAROLING, CAROLING, CAROLING… Come join us for an afternoon of caroling on Sunday, Dec. 18. This event is for the entire family – all ages – and all musical abilities! Following the 11:00am worship (at FL) we will gather at ENL for a potluck noon meal. After the meal we will ride the “white knuckle express” to stops in Willmar and New London, carol at a number of care facilities and then return to ENL. Please bring a dish to pass. Sign-up in the narthex or call Katie in the parish office! Your participation is greatly appreciated!

POINSETTIAS AT ENL Envelopes will be available for anyone who would like to give a poinsettia for the Christmas season. Please fill out the envelope found in the narthex. Cost of the poinsettia is $15. Also a reminder if you would like to donate your plant to a shut-in from our congregation, please mark the appropriate box. The poinsettias are a beautiful addition to our worship space during the Advent and Christmas season, and the ENL Altar Guild thanks all of you who generously help out. Deadline to purchase a poinsettia is Wednesday, Dec. 20^th.
 

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR... The deadlines for the 2011 Annual Reports are set: All written Committee reports are due Tuesday, December 27^th. All Financial Reports are due Tuesday, January 10^th. Thank you! Annual Meetings are as follows: ENL Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 22^nd following the 11am worship service. FL Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 29^th following the 11am worship service.

VISITS AND HOME COMMUNION
If you are aware of people with special celebrations coming up, or with special needs, please contact the parish office. We want to be informed about the births, deaths, hospitalizations, illnesses, accidents, anniversaries and special birthdays - so that we can uphold one another in prayer. Also call the parish office to request home communion. Feel free to leave a message on the answering machine.

REMINDER ABOUT HIPAA RULES…
In April 2003, rules went into effect under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA). As part of this act, privacy rules restrict the use of and access to medical records and health information maintained by hospitals and other health care providers. As a result, it is at times, more challenging for clergy to obtain information about parishioners who are hospitalized and in need of pastoral care. (For your information, at Rice Hospital, Lutheran clergy have access to names and room numbers of patients who designate “Lutheran” or a Lutheran church upon admission.) If you are hospitalized and wish to be visited or called (especially if you are hospitalized outside of the Willmar area), please have someone contact the Parish Office or call Pastor Wayne on his cell phone (320-841-1951). Please leave your name, the hospital you are at, the reason for being there, and the room number. Thank you!