The CHIMES
V Phone: 540-434-3496 V Fax: 540-574-4023E-mail address: Muhlenberg@rica.net
V Website:
http://home.rica.net/Muhlenberg
December 17, 2006
The Third
Sunday of Advent
Selected
It is within this context of joyous and
hopeful expectation of the coming of Christ that we must understand the
exhortations of John to the people. Our
work for a better world is preparation for the coming of Christ. It is also a sign that the coming of Christ
is near.
Gerald
Darring
He said,
“Give away your warm coats. Share your
provisions. And be just and kind to
all.” Who was this John the Baptist? He was the bridegroom’s best man, always
listening for the voice of his Lord.
Larry
Gillick
Luther Quote of the Day
God demands of us no other work that we
should do for him than to exercise faith in Christ. After this think of nothing else than to do
to your neighbor as Christ has done to you, and let all your works with all
your life be applied to the neighbor.
The
weekly deadline for
is 8:00 a.m. Thursday.
Today at Muhlenberg
Children’s
Christmas Program
There will be a Children’s Christmas Program TODAY at
10:15 in the MAC. All Sunday School
Classes not participating are invited to attend — this includes the adult
classes. The Pastors will conclude the
9:30 Liturgy in time for members to attend the program.
Christmas Concert
by Muhlenberg Choirs
The annual Christmas music program presented by the
choirs of Muhlenberg will be held THIS
EVENING at 7:30 p.m. There will be music by the Combined Choirs,
the Folk Choir, the Children’s Choir, and the Muhlenberg Ringers. Also included on the program will be a solo,
an organ/piano duet, and an opportunity for the congregation to sing several
carols. Please join us as we tell the
message of the Christmas story in song and prepare ourselves for the
celebration of Christ’s birthday. “There’s
a Song in the Air.”
This Week at Muhlenberg
Mary/Martha Group
The
Mary/Martha Group will meet at the Voughts for dessert and coffee at 7:00 p.m. THIS Wednesday, December 20.
Christmas
Caroling
On THURSDAY,
December 21 at 5:30, we will have a meal provided by Thrivent Financial for
Lutherans and then go Christmas caroling to visit our shut-ins. This is a fun evening and a special time for
those we visit. Sign-up on bulletin
board in the hall.
Lutheran Tour
Lutheran
Heritage Tour
To
Pastor Vought is working with the
† † † † †
Devotional booklets for
January–March
2007
are
available in the Narthex.
† † † † †
Sunday, December 17 (THIS EVENING!)
Christmas
Program by the Choirs of Muhlenberg
6:30 pm — Holy Communion
7:30 p.m. — Music
by Combined Choirs, Folk Choir, Children’s Choir, Handbell Ringers.
Thursday, December 21
Dinner and
Christmas Caroling
5:30 p.m. — Dinner at the MAC sponsored by
Thrivent followed by Christmas caroling for all ages in our community & to
our shut-ins.
Sunday, December 24
4th
Sunday in Advent Services:
8:00,
9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Christmas
Eve Services: We offer three services to sing out the Savior’s
birth:
6:00 p.m. – Christmas Eve Liturgy of Holy Communion with children’s procession
and participation
8:00 p.m. – Festival Service of Holy Communion
11:00
p.m. – Festival Service of Holy
Communion
Monday, December 25
Christmas
Day Service
4:00 p.m. – Holy Communion
Wednesday, December 27
12:00 Noon – Holy Communion
Friday, January 5
Epiphany Eve
Service and 12th Night Celebration
7:00 p.m. —
Worship, Procession of the Magi, Burning of the Greens, Epiphany Party.
Faith
Formation & Youth
J Crew Progressive Dinner
Join
us today, for a Progressive
Dinner. Meet at church at 4:30. We will finish back at the church for dessert
and to set-up the Chrismon tree. Please plan
to join other members of MLC for Christmas
caroling to our shut-ins on Thursday, December 21. Meet at church at 5:30
for a meal and then caroling. For more information,
call Karen Thomsen at (828-2802).
Alpha Teens News
There
will be no meeting tonight as we met yesterday to help Mercy House wrap Christmas presents. Please plan to join other members of MLC for Christmas caroling to our shut-ins on
Thursday December 21. Meet everyone at church at 5:30 for a meal and then caroling. For
more information, contact Tim
(439-9167) or Saundra (433-0291).
JAMers News
Please
plan to join other members of MLC to go Christmas
caroling to our shut-ins on Thursday
December 21. Meet everyone at church
at 5:30 for a meal and then caroling. You
need to have a parent attend this activity with you. For
more information, contact Diane (434-3496).
Fellowship Time
…
…Every Sunday morning, 10:35-10:55
in the MAC. The host
group for December 24th is the Christian Formation Ministry.
Financial
News
Capital Campaign
Special Giving
There are special offering envelopes in the pews
throughout Advent for a year-end gift towards the building of the new Gathering
Area. If God has so blessed you, please
prayerfully consider making a special gift.
Thank You
Thank you to Jim Hoak who built a beautiful and much
needed credence table. This table is
where the elements of holy communion are placed. We are grateful to him.
Flower
Chart Posted
The 2007 Flower Chart to provide flowers for the Altar
for Sunday Worship Services has been posted in the hallway across from the
church office. This year, two families will have the opportunity to donate flowers
each week. Flowers can be given as a
memorial or in honor of those special people in your life. The
cost for flowers is $25. On
the first Sunday of each month, flowers will be distributed to our shut-ins
unless other arrangements have been made.
Other Sundays, the donors may pick them up after the 6:30 p.m. service. Sign up early to reserve the dates that are
special to you.
Weekly Health Report
A full Health
Report is printed monthly in The Red
Door and posted on the church bulletin board.
At Home:
At
Bridgewater Home: Mildred Onsgard
Doing Better
& Removed from List:
Dennis Burchill, John Oren
Mourning the
Loss of a Loved One:
Richard Propst
If you desire
a visit in the hospital or to be placed on the prayer chain, please be sure to
call the church office.
Weekly
Report
December 10,
2006
Attendance:
8:00 Worship 117 Wed. Noon: 14
9:30 Worship 99
11:00 Worship 221
6:30 Worship 28
Total 465
Total
Regular Offering: $13,182.63
Designated
Receipts:
Capital Campaign II...... $6,067.00
Year-end Capital Campaign Gift $2,965.00
Use of Church Building/MAC $305.00
Miscellaneous Income-Hymnals $4.00
Flower Fund.................. $50.00
World Hunger................ $65.00
Maintenance & Repairs. $5.00
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund $2,500.00
Worship Books.............. $274.55
Vision 2006................... $70.00
Postage.......................... $4.05
Sunday School:
Music Program.............. $20.00
GRAND TOTAL.......... $25,778.86
“BUILDING THE DREAM”
Thanks to
God and the generous stewardship of the Muhlenberg Family, all outstanding debt
on the MAC, church renovations, and Garber property has been covered! All gifts received now go towards building
our new Gathering Area.
Total
received for the Gathering Area:
$66,101.00
Daily Devotions
“Praying Our Faith Together!”
For use by individuals and families at home, at the
office, at mealtimes, over that morning cup of coffee or before bedtime. Scripture citations taken from the Three-Year
Daily Lectionary in the new ELW, pages 1121 to 1153, (Year C).
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son,
and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
(The Apostle’s Creed)
Mon. Hebrews 13:7-17
Tues. Acts 28:23-31
Wed. Luke 7:31-35
Thu. Hebrews 10:10-18
Fri. Hebrews 10:32-39
Sat. Luke 13:31-35
Sun. Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]
Weekly
Calendar
December 18 — December 24
Mon. 7:00 p.m. Congregational
Council
Tues. 8:30 am Go-Go Breakfast
6:30 pm EFM
7:00 pm 8:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal
Wed. 7:30 am Bible Study
10:00 am Staff Meeting
12:00 noon Holy
Communion
6:30 pm Children’s
Choir
7:00 pm Mary/Martha
Group
7:00 pm Lutheran-Cath. Bible Study
7:30 pm 11:00
a.m. Choir Rehearsal
Thurs. 5:30 pm Partners
in Prayer
7:30 pm Teen
Choir
Sun. Advent 4 Services
8:00 am Holy
Communion
9:30 am Holy
Communion
11:00 am Holy Communion
Christmas
Eve Services
6:00 pm Festival Service of Holy Communion
(with Children’s Procession & Choirs)
8:00 pm Festival Service of Holy Communion
11:00 pm Festival Service of Holy Communion