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 30,
2007
First Sunday of
Christmas
Selected
No wonder we are careful to keep
Christmas at an arm’s length. Herod is
still with us. How many places this year
and how many innocents? Where is the
mystery of the victorious cross? It is
there in the stories we tell, the carols we sing, the gifts we give and the
cards we write….that the days are numbered now for the world’s business as
usual.
Gabe Huck
In loving and caring for your neighbor
you are on a journey. Where are you
traveling if not to the Lord God? We
have not yet reached God’s presence, but we have our neighbor at our side.
Luther Quote of
the Day
To this day it happens that when tyrants
rage against the Gospel, they do no more than blow into the ashes. Then the fire becomes greater, and the ashes
fly into their eyes.
This
Week at Muhlenberg
First Night!
Join us in downtown Harrisonburg for First Night to
ring in the New Year with 23 performers — including 
music, dancing, plenty of children’s’ activities,
performers such as Glick & Phillips and Nothin’ Fancy. It’s fun for the entire family in a
non-alcoholic atmosphere. We’ll even
wrap up 2007 with a grand finale of fireworks.
First Night
Harrisonburg buttons are your ticket into the venues and are on sale now
throughout
To volunteer and receive a free button, call Jennie
Amison (271-0070). For complete details about
the event, call 434-1690 or visit www.firstnightharrisonburg.com.
Don’t Forget
next Sunday . .
.
Food
Pantry Donations Collected
&
Lay Communion Ministers
Serving Our Shut-Ins
Muhlenberg
News
Children’s Epiphany
Program
Next Sunday, January 6, there will be a Children’s Epiphany Program at 10:15 in the MAC. All Faith
Formation Groups not participating are invited to attend—this includes the
adult classes. The pastors will conclude
the 9:30 Liturgy at 10:15 so members may attend the program. The whole
congregation is invited to the program, not just the 9:30 worshippers.
Flower Chart Posted
The 2008 Flower Chart to provide flowers for the Altar
for Sunday Worship Services has been posted.
Once 
again, 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. Sign
up early to reserve the dates that are special to you.
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.
Dear
Muhlenberg Family,
We want to thank everyone for your outpouring of
affection and for all the many remembrances you have given to us. We are blessed to be part of the faithful
Muhlenberg family. May our ministry
together continue to be a blessing for all.
Thank you and God’s blessings on each of you,
Pastor Dave+, Pastor Joe+,
Diane, Nancy, Linda &
Barbara
Financial
News
Year-End Contributions
Thank you for generous financial support of the
ministries of Muhlenberg in 2007. Your 2007
gifts are tax deductible if given by Sunday,
January 3, 2008.
“Special
Year-End Gift” envelopes are provided for you today in the pew racks and the
Narthex in hopes you will prayerfully consider making a special year-end gift
to the fulfillment of our 2007 spending plan.
Please
remember to do the following:
† Date your check/envelope for December 2007
†
If you would like to make a Special year-end gift, you
may use the special gift envelopes in the pews or Narthex, or specify
“Special Gift” on the memo line of your check.
† Turn your
gift in to the offering plate or the church office by January 3, 2008.
Offering
envelopes for 2008 were mailed this week. Please do not use them until after
January 1. If you do not receive
envelopes within the next 10 days, please call
The Finance Committee
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 January
1, 2008. (Forms are available in the
Narthex.)
Faith
Formation & Youth
(Contact
ATTENTION! ATTENTION!
THERE WILL BE
NO CHILDREN’S OPENING
IN THE
SANCTUARY ON EPIPHANY, JANUARY 6TH
Advent Coin
Folders
The Advent coin folders the Sunday morning Faith
formation groups have been saving will
be collected on Epiphany Sunday, January 6.
You may place them in the collection plate during worship, or you may
give them to your faith formation teachers.
All money received will go to our “Second Home” children.
JCREW
We
will meet next Sunday, January 6, in
the MAC after the 11:00 liturgy. Contact
Alpha Teens News
We
will meet next Sunday, January 6, in
the MAC after the 11:00 liturgy for lunch and then a Matinee movie. Contact Saundra (433-0291) or Tim (438-9167)
for more information.
Fellowship Time
…
…Every Sunday morning, 10:35-10:55 in the MAC. The
host group for December 30 is the 8th grade Confirmation Class and
the host for next week, January 6 is the 7th grade Confirmation
Class.
Religions of
the World
ADULT FORMATION GROUP
Please let
Special Thank
You!
The Christian Formation Ministry Team would like to
thank Jim Hoak for the beautiful
ornaments he made to be given out to our children on Christmas Eve. Jim, they truly were lovely and we thank you
for sharing your talents with the children of your church family.
Health Report Update
A full Health
Report is printed monthly in
At
RMH: Ann Weinrich, Erwin Weinrich
Doing Better
& Removed from List: Jennifer Furr
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 23-24, 2007
Attendance 12/23 Attendance 12/24
8:00 Worship 99 6:00 Worship 216
9:30 Worship 143 8:00 Worship 337
11:00 Worship 243 11:00 Worship 229
6:30 Worship
15 Total..... 782
Total..... 500
Wed. Noon …6
Total
Regular Offering: $16,885.51
Designated
Receipts:
Capital Campaign II...... $ 9,012.00*
Special Offerings............ $ 9,016.00
Use of Church Building/MAC $150.00
Flower Fund.................. $ 75.00
World Hunger................ $ 150.00
JCREW-Winter Celebration $545.00
Pastors’ Discretionary Fund $1,600.00
Communion Boxes........ $ 164.74
Candles.......................... $ 25.00
JCREW Shopping......... $ 500.00
Lutheran Family Services $500.00
Sunday School:
Second Home................. $ 385.00
Parish Nurse Program.... $ 1,070.00
Year-End Gift................ $ 1,045.00
JCREW.......................... $ 100.00
Music Program.............. $ 250.00
Building Fund Memorial: Alexander $500.00
Building Fund Memorial: Leonard $100.00
Memorial: Leonard....... $ 25.00
GRAND TOTAL.......... $ 42,149.61
*Includes
Stock Gift
“BUILDING THE DREAM”
Total
received for the Gathering Area: $512,840.50
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. John 8:12-19
Tues. Luke 2:15-21
Wed. Hebrews 11:1-12
Thurs.Hebrews
11:13-22
Fri. Hebrews 11:23-31
Sat. Hebrews 11:32—12:2
Sun. Matthew 2:1-12
Weekly Calendar
December
31-January 6
Mon. New Year’s Eve
First Night
Tues. New
Year’s Day
Wed. 7:30 am Bible Study
10:00 am Staff Meeting
12:00 noon Holy
Communion
5:00 pm Teen
Choir
6:30 pm Children’s
Choir
6:30 pm Gloria
Dei Ringers
7:30 pm Sanctuary
Choir
Thurs. 9:30 am Joy of Living
5:30 pm Partners
in Prayer
Sat. 7:30 am Men’s
B’fast/Bible Study
7:30 am Women’s
B’fast/Bible Study
Sun. Food Pantry/Lay Communion Sunday
8:00,
9:30, 11:00 & 6:30 Holy Communion
10:15 am Children’s
Epiphany Program
12:15 pm JCREW
12:15 pm Alpha Teens
7:30 pm Sunday PM Bible Study
Mary Martha Group will meet
on Jan. 9