The CHIMES
V Phone:
540-434-3496 V Fax:
540-574-4023E-mail address: Muhlenberglc@verizon.net
V
Website:
http://home.rica.net/Muhlenberg
December 16, 2007
The Third Sunday
in Advent
Selected
A
prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the
fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad
picture of Advent.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"'There's a kind of desert journey,' he said. 'You travel
into terrain that you want to forget about. You go there and you don't run away
and you work through your fears and then you have the experience of Isaiah 35:
the desert blooming like a rose.'"
Margot Patterson
Luther Quote of
the Day
All which happens in the whole world happens through
hope. No husbandman would sow a grain of corn if he did not hope it would
spring up and bring forth the ear. How much more are we helped on by hope in
the way to eternal life!
Special Prayer
in Worship today
We
invite individuals to join us TODAY
and on the third Sunday of each month
during the distribution of the Eucharist to come into the Caring Corner before
or after communing for a brief word of personal prayer.
Today
at Muhlenberg
A d v e n t C h
o r a l V e s p e r s
A Service of Lessons
and Carols
presented by the
Sanctuary Choir &
Chamber Orchestra
TODAY AT 7:00 P.M.
There will be no evening
Eucharist TODAY. You are invited to
worship at the Advent Choral Vespers.
Attention all Cookie Bakers
Cookie contributions should be in the MAC kitchen by
no later than 10 a.m. TODAY. Goodie bags
will be prepared and distributed to our shut-ins.
Stephen Ministry Gathering
We invite all those interested in learning more about
This
Week at Muhlenberg
Go-Go Breakfast
Tuesday,
December 18th at 8:30 a.m. at
Thomas House Restaurant in
Christmas caroling
On Thursday, December 20th at 5:30, we will enjoy 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 the bulletin board in the hall.
Welcome to the bench
The Sanctuary Choir is pleased
to have
ADVENT
DEVOTIONALS
Family
devotionals, A Circle of Love and In the Presence of the Lord may be found
on the table in the Narthex.
Altar Flower Ministry
Sandra Blade is in need of
someone to assist her with the altar flower ministry. You may contact Sandra at 564-0019 or via
email at bladesk@verizon.net.
WAM RETURNS
JANUARY 9,
2008!!
Mark
Your Calendar
Christmas Eve Services will be held at 6
p.m.,
8
p.m. and 11 p.m.
The Musicians of Muhlenberg will share the gift of music with extended
preludes of music beginning fifteen minutes prior to the three services.
Christmas Day Service
will be held at 4 p.m.
Annual Christmas Concert on Friday, December 21st at 7:30 p.m. at the
Worship Assistant Sign-Up
There is a new sign-up sheet for Worship Assistants
(usher, communion assistant, acolyte, crucifer, torch bearer) in the hallway across from the office.
See the Dec. Red Door
for details.
December Graduate
Congratulations
to Staci Hudy who graduated with a BS in Wildlife Sciences from Virginia Tech
on December 14, 2007.
CRC Christmas Giving
Would you like to adopt a
child or family for Christmas, or simply donate needed items to make their
Christmas joyful? If so, please contact
the
Faith
Formation & Youth
(Contact
JCREW
TODAY December 16. We
will meet at the church at 3:45 p.m. for our Progressive Christmas dinner
and return to church by 7:00 p.m. to attend Muhlenberg’s choral program. For more information, contact Karen
(828-2808).
JAMers, ALPHA TEENS AND JCREW
LET’ GO CHRISTMAS
CAROLING
All youth groups are invited to come and Christmas
carol with your church family this Thursday, December 20. We visit our shut-in members and they love to
see and hear the youth and children. This is a great opportunity for you to serve
others and you will have a great time as well.
Be at church at 5:30 for dinner.
After dinner you will go in groups to carol. May this time be a blessing to all of you as
you prepare for Christ’s birth.Contact
Religions of the World
TODAY,
December 16. Please
let Diane know if you are interested in this class continuing into the New Year
or if you weren’t able to attend the first sessions and would like to attend
them, Chris and Darryl would be glad to run the session again. In order to plan, we need to know of your
interest. For more information contact
Chris Arndt (434-0452) or Darryl Nash (433-0255).
Confirmation Mentors
In this season of Advent, we all prepare for the coming of our Lord as
a tiny babe lying in a manger. I would
ask that each of you take the opportunity during Advent to prepare together
with your confirmand by calling them to have a faith conversation and perhaps
plan an outing together. Sharing in the
journey of Advent with your confirmand is a blessing for both of you and is a
great faith forming experience.
Fellowship Time …
Every Sunday morning, 10:35-10:55 in the MAC. The host group for December 16 is the Jonah Formation Group.
inclement
Weather Policy
This notice is just a reminder to everyone to tune in to the WSVA AM 550 Radio or WHSV
Television stations to monitor church closings on Sunday mornings. We
almost never close. However, if we decide to cancel the 8:00 and 9:30
a.m. worship services, Sunday School will also be cancelled for that morning. Every attempt will be made to hold the 11:00
a.m. service but it may be cancelled if conditions are too severe. If
the 11:00 a.m. service is cancelled, the 6:30 p.m. service will also be
cancelled.
Simply Giving
If you are changing
your pledge and participate in the Simply Giving Program, please complete a
Simply Giving form as soon as possible for it to take effect by Jan. 1, 2008.
Health
Report Update
A full Health
Report is printed monthly in
Remember
Melinda Hardwick and her family as they mourn the loss of her sister.
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 9, 2007 Attendance
8:00 Worship 118 Wed.
Noon 12
9:30 Worship 140
11:00 Worship 220
6:30 Worship 15
Total 493
Total
Regular Offering: $ 11,932.86 Designated
Receipts:
Capital Campaign II...... $ 40,416.50
Use of Church Building/MAC $485.00
Flower Fund.................. $ 30.00
Kitchen Improvement Fund $9.00
Sunday School:
Second Home................. $ 605.00
World Hunger................ $ 115.00
Pastor’s Discretionary Fund $70.00
Heatwole Trust Income.. $ 968.83
GRAND TOTAL.......... $ 54,659.38
“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: $502,133.50
Returning
Thanks Reminder
As we move to the close of the Calendar Year, please honor your pledges
and make an extra gift to our Ministry Spending Plan and Capital Campaign Fund. Remember: Generosity
Transforms the Giver.
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 A).
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son,
and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
(The Apostle’s Creed)
Mon. Acts 5:12-16
Tues. Jude 17-25
Wed. Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34
Thu. Galatians 3:23-29
Fri. Galatians 4:1-7
Sat. Revelation 22:6-7, 18-20
Sun. Matthew 11:2-11
Weekly Calendar
December 17-December 23
Mon. 7:00 pm
Congregational Council Mtg.
Tues. 6:30 pm Celebration Singers
7:00 pm Divorce
Care
Wed. 7:30 am Bible Study
10:30 am No Experience
Necessary
12:00 noon Holy
Communion
5:00 pm Teen
Choir
NO WAM UNTIL JANUARY 9TH
6:30 pm Children’s
Choir
6:30 pm Gloria
Dei Ringers
6:45 pm Teen
Theatre
7:00
pm Lutheran-Cath.
Bible Study
7:30 pm Sanctuary
Choir
Thurs. 5:30 pm Partners in
Prayer
5:30 pm Dinner
and Christmas Caroling
Sun. 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 & 6:30 Holy Communion
9:30 am Sunday Morning
Formation
7:30 pm Sunday PM Bible Study
Mary Martha
Group
Will
not meet again until the next WAM on January 9, 2008.