1. shopping
2. gifts

GLOW
2014
Inside this issue:
80 and Over
3
Contact the Council
3
Christmas Worship
5
Sunday School
6-7
Ruth’s Pantry
7
Council Highlights
8
Notes from Becky
9
Dear Friends in Christ,
Few comments create as much conflict in families as, “Aren’t you ready,
yet?” Especially if you’re waiting for the one who announced 15 minutes earlier,
“It’s about time we got ready to go.”
Waiting is hard enough when you know what you’re waiting for—a spouse,
a promotion at work, a traffic jam to start moving, a political dynasty to come to
an end. It’s harder when you don’t know what you’re waiting for, but you have to
wait for it anyway.
But that is, I suggest, the proper exercise of the traditional Advent season.
Advent begins on November 30 this year. These four Sundays of Advent
begin a new year in the Christian church calendar. Advent ends with Christmas,
itself. Symbolically, it represents the thousand-year wait of the Hebrew people
for their long-promised Messiah.
They were waiting for the wrong thing, unfortunately. They were looking for
Superman. Perhaps not in blue tights with a big red letter on his chest, but still a
Superman who could drive the hated Romans out of their lands. The Jews were
supposed to be God’s chosen people, the nation who set an example for all other nations. But what kind of example constantly gets stomped on by the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Macedonians, and now the Romans?
The Hebrew people certainly weren’t looking for a helpless, crying infant,
who wasn’t even born to a properly married couple in a proper home, for
heaven’s sake, but in a stable! Who had to be parked in a feed trough instead
of a crib. No, that was definitely not what they were looking for.
But it’s what we expect, isn’t it? We know already, because the Bible tells
us so, that Advent ends with the birth of a baby we know as Jesus. He’s often
invisible in the kaleidoscope of lights and decorations, the piles of gift-wrapped
presents, the overloaded dinner tables, the aromatic evergreen trees, but he’s
there somewhere—the baby in the manger.
“Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lays down his
sweet head . . . .”
We’re just as sure of how our waiting will end as the ancient Hebrews were
sure that Superman was coming.
I wonder if we might be equally mistaken.
The whole point of the Christmas story, it seems to me, is that what you get
isn’t what you were looking for. A humiliated people weren’t looking for a baby in
a manger, or for an itinerant artisan from the boonies, a wizard who performed
magic tricks with jugs of water and loaves of bread, or a wimp who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a mighty war-horse.
They wanted him to throw out the Romans, not to offend their own religious
leaders by turning the Temple into mass chaos. That act was equivalent to
shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theatre. Hey, people could get hurt in the panic to
escape . . .
But we’re sure that each time the Wheel of Fortune rolls around, it will al-
Page 2
ways stop at the same place. The winning number
always offers a free trip to Bethlehem.
What makes us so sure God will always do
the same thing, again and again? Maybe Advent is
supposed to be waiting for something unexpected.
Waiting is never easy. You sit in the dark,
staring, eyes wide open, unable to see anything.
But you know, you just know, that something’s
coming. Is it Peter Pan’s Tinker Bell? Or Maurice
Sendak’s Wild Things who “roared their terrible
roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled
their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws?
Is it a bright, new day, tip-toeing toward the
eastern horizon? Or is it poet W.B. Yeats’ “great
beast, slouching towards Bethlehem to be born”?
When we know exactly what we’re looking
for, we’ll miss every other possibility.
Too bad Advent lasts less than four weeks.
The Jewish people spent centuries waiting for a
Messiah. If we were seriously re-enacting their experience, we should spend our entire lives in an
attitude of eager anticipation.
For what? For mystery with a capital M. For
something we can’t possibly know about in advance. For something that we might not even recognize when it happens.
But one thing’s for sure—if we don’t keep
looking for it, we won’t see it. “Ever.” The whole
point of Advent is to keep looking, keep waiting,
and keep hoping for something that may be quite
unexpected.
Have a very Blessed Advent and Christmas!
Yours in Christ,
P. S. See you at Worship!
Gifts for Our Members 80 and Older — On Sunday, December 7, at both services we will be
Blessing and Sending out our gifts for our senior
members. We invite everyone to help us in delivering these gifts. Come and help! If in the past
you have not received a gift at Christmas, please
let Sheri in the church office (836-2382) know so
you may be added to our list of members over 80
years of age.
Men’s Breakfast Bible Study — On Monday, December 8, we will have our monthly meeting of the
Men’s Bible Study at Oinks. We meet for breakfast or coffee, conversation and a time of Bible
Study. We are currently studying the Book of
Mark. Please join us when you can! If you have
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any questions, please contact Pastor Dan. Hope
to see you on December 8 at 8:30 a.m.!
OWLS - Older, Wiser, Lutheran, Seniors — Our
OWLS group will meet on Thursday, December
11, at noon. We will gather in the dining room for
a potluck meal and some Christmas carols. Come
and enjoy the afternoon. Please bring a dish to
pass, and remember to invite all your friends.
Hope to see you on Thursday, December 11, at
noon. Come and join with old friends and make
some new friends.
Birthday Party for Jesus — All children are invited to this year’s Birthday Party for Jesus. The
party will be on Sunday, December 21, at 9:45
a.m. Come and make a craft to take home. Come
and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus! Come and enjoy some birthday cake and a beverage. The party will be in the dining room. There will be Sunday
School classes on December 21 and then the party!
Confirmation Schedule — December
3
Coveting
10
10 C Review
17
Our Father
24
No Confirmation Christmas Break
31
No Confirmation Christmas Break
January
7
Hallowed and Kingdom Come
14
Will Be Done
21
Daily Bread
28
No Confirmation
Giving Tree — We invite you to help some families in our area have a happier Christmas. Please
take a tag off the Christmas Tree in the hallway
and return the box wrapped with the tag on it.
Please have the packages under the tree after
worship on December 21. Share your Christmas
Spirit with families who are in need. Thanks!
Thank You to Joanie Johnson — We thank
Joanie Johnson for teaching for many, many
years. Her time of teaching did not receive the
proper thank you. We will be adding her name to
the plaque hanging outside the Nancy Collins
Room. We are also looking for others who have
not had their names included on the plaque who
have taught fifteen years or more. Please let Pastor Dan or Kate Christianson know about these
oversights. Thank you to Joanie Johnson for all
your years of spreading God’s Word to our young
people!
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80 and Over
December 30
Ardis Peterson
2850 E. Shady Lane
Neenah WI 54956
Acolytes — December 2014
7
14
21
28
8:15
Lora Korth
Ashley Wisnefske
Carter Danke
Abby McNamee
Contact
the
Council
Key
Contacts
10:30
Cooper Jenkins
Madelyn Schleicher
Seth Schnell
Noah Bramer
Kate Christianson, President
379-4937
[email protected]
Pete Uvaas, Vice President
470-1714
[email protected]
Karen Bramer, Secretary
707-1537
[email protected]
Jean Thyssen, Treasurer
836-3183
[email protected]
Linda Breaker
859-0032
[email protected]
Eugene Doell
734-9662
[email protected]
Paula Nyback
836-1950
[email protected]
Pastor Dan L. Luett
594-2015
[email protected]



Other
If you or someone you know is or
will be 80 or over, please call the
church office so we may include
him or her on the birthday list.








Sheri, Church Secretary
836-2382
[email protected]
Becky Luett, AIM
594-2016
[email protected]

Building & Grounds, Rob Nelson 470-2574
(Chairperson)
Alissa Olson, Financial Clerk
836-2382
[email protected]
Ruth’s Pantry
475-9639
[email protected]
15
9:00-11:30 Ruth’s Pantry
10:00 The Story
4:30-7:30 Ruth’s Pantry
5:00-9:00 G.L.O.W. Bugs Program
22
9:00-11:30 Ruth’s Pantry
10:00 The Story
4:30-7:30 Ruth’s Pantry
29
9:00-11:30 Ruth’s Pantry
4:30-7:30 Ruth’s Pantry
14 Team 4
8:15 Traditional Worship
9:20 Education Hour
9:30 Adult Forum
10:30 King’s Kids Message
21 Team 5
8:15 Joyful Noise Message
9:20 Education Hour
9:30 Adult Forum
10:30 Joyful Noise Message
2:00 Fact or Fiction
28 Team 1
9:00 Worship Service
30
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Group
23
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Group
4:30 Hand Bell Choir
6:00 The Story
16
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Group
4:30 Hand Bell Choir
6:00 The Story
9
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Group
4:30 Hand Bell Choir
6:00 The Story
6:30 Lioness in the Choir
Room
2
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Group
4:30 Hand Bell Choir
6:00 The Story
1
8:30 Men’s Bible Study at Oinks
9:00-11:30 Ruth’s Pantry
10:00 The Story
4:30-7:30 Ruth’s Pantry
6:00 Building & Grounds
8
9:00-11:30 Ruth’s Pantry
10:00 The Story
4:30-7:30 Ruth’s Pantry
6:00 8:00 Crafts Small Group
8:00-9:00 Conversations in Scripture
Tue
Mon
7 Team 3
8:15 Traditional Worship
9:20 Education Hour
9:30 Adult Forum
10:30 Rejoice Worship
2:00 It’s A Wonderful Life
Sun
31
No Worship Service
24
4:00 Family Worship with Communion, Candlelight, Carols, and
Choirs
7:00 Worship with Communion,
Candlelight, Carols, and Choirs
9:00 Worship with Communion,
Candlelight, Carols, and Choirs
17
11:45 Conversations in Scripture
6:30 Worship Service
7:00 Confirmation
7:15 Christmas Choir
10
9:30 Mary/Rebekah at Henrietta
11:45 Conversations in Scripture
1:00 Martha/Naomi/Esther Circle
6:30 Worship Service
7:00 Confirmation
7:15 Christmas Choir
3
11:45 Conversations in Scripture
6:30 Worship Service
7:00 Confirmation
7:15 Christmas Choir
Wed
December 2014
25
9:00 Communion and
Carols Christmas Day
Worship Service
18
6:00 Meals Ministry
Fact or Fiction Rehearsal
11
Noon OWLS
6:30 Cackles and Cards
6:45 Council Meeting
4
2:00 Yarn Ministry
7:00 It’s A Wonderful Life
Thu
26
19
7:00
Fact or
Fiction
12
5
7:00 It’s
A Wonderful
Life
Fri
27
20
8:00 a.m. Meals Ministry — Kitchen
2:00 Fact or Fiction
7:00 Fact or Fiction
13
9:00 Cackles and
Cards
6
1:00 It’s A Wonderful
Life
6:00 It’s A Wonderful
Life Dinner Show
Sat
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Page 5
2014 Advent and Christmas Worship Schedule
November 30 8:15 a.m.
First Sunday of Advent - Traditional Worship Service
10:30 a.m.
First Sunday of Advent – Blended Worship Service
December 3
6:30 p.m.
Advent Mid-week Service – Advent Lessons and Carols
December 7
Blessing and sending of the gifts for our members 80 and above
8:15 a.m.
Second Sunday of Advent - Traditional Worship Service
10:30 a.m.
Second Sunday of Advent – Rejoice Worship Service
December 10 6:30 p.m.
Advent Mid-week Service – Advent Lessons and Carols
December 14 8:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
Third Sunday of Advent – Traditional Worship Service
Third Sunday of Advent – Rejoice Worship with King’s Kids, God Gave Us
Christmas
December 17 6:30 p.m.
Advent Mid-week Service – Advent Lessons and Carols
December 21 8:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Worship with Joyful Noise, On Our Way to Bethlehem
Fourth Sunday of Advent – Worship with Joyful Noise, On Our Way to Bethlehem
December 24 4:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Service for Families with Children
with Carols, Hand Bell Choir, Candles, Communion
Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Christmas Choir
and Carols, Candles, Communion
Traditional Christmas Eve Service with Special Music
and Carols, Candles, Communion
7:00 p.m.
9:00 p.m.
December 25 9:00 a.m.
Christmas Morning Worship
December 28 9:00 a.m.
Lessons and Carols
December 31
No Worship
This year for our midweek Advent services we will be using a series of Advent Lessons and Carols. In
the Advent season of hope and expectation, the whole word awaits the coming of the Savior. We will hear the
words of the prophets. We will sing of God’s promises. We place our hope in God. Join us on Wednesdays at
6:30 for worship!
Sunday School Christmas Messages!
King’s Kids
December 14, 10:30 p.m.
Nursery through Grade 1
present
God Gave Us Christmas
Joyful Noise
Sunday, December 21, 2014
8:15 and 10:30 a.m.
Grades two through six
present
On Our Way to
Bethlehem
MUCH Music in December
♫
♫
♫
♫
♫
♫
♫
December 7 at 8:15 — Christmas Choir
December 14 at 8:15 — Christmas Choir
December 14 at 10:30 — Kings’ Kids Christmas Message
December 21 at 8:15 & 10:30 — Joyful Noise Christmas Message
December 24 at 4:00 — Special Prelude Music & Hand Bell Choir
December 24 at 7:00 — Christmas Choir
December 24 at 9:00 p.m. — Christmas Ensemble & Special Music
Page 7
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Sunday School Notes
The Acts of Grace Youth
Here’s what to expect this month:
December 7 – Angels Visit – God became human for us as the baby Jesus.
December 14 – Jesus Is Born – Jesus’ birth
fulfilled prophecy and showed God’s unconditional love.
December 21 – Wise Men – Through the wise
men, Herod learned about the Messiah’s
birth.
December 28 – NO SUNDAY SCHOOL (due
to Christmas)
Ruth’s Pantry Basket Dates:
December 7 – 3rd grade
December 14 – PreK/K & 4th grade
December 21 – 1st grade & 5th/6th grade
December 28 – congregation (no Sunday
school)
**Don’t forget that the King’s Kids present
their Christmas message on December 14 at the
10:30 service. The Joyful Noise choir presents
their Christmas message the following week, on
December 21, at BOTH services. There will be
a rehearsal on Saturday, December 20 from 9 –
11 a.m., in the sanctuary, for ALL of the Joyful
Noise kids. Please plan on bringing your children
to these very important rehearsals and presentations!! We hope to hear all of their beautiful
voices sharing God’s word!
Drama Troupe is presenting Fact or
Fiction: The Christmas Edition. Performances will
be on Friday, December 19, 7:00 p.m., Saturday,
December 20, 2:00 and 7:00 p.m., and Sunday,
December 21, 2:00 p.m. at the former Winchester
Elementary School. For more information contact:
Amy Jo Christianson 920-470-4867 or
[email protected]
Ruth’s Pantry Reporter
November has been a very busy month for the Pantry.
In November we provided 80 families with Thanksgiving
dinners. Guests had their choice of turkey or ham. Then they
were given everything they needed to make a complete dinner.
A big thank you to everyone who sponsored a meal.
We also received a couple of loads of food from the
Neenah Boy Scouts and Horace Mann. These drives give us
such a big variety of food that we can’t get from Feeding
America.
We will be having a Christmas box at church for gently
used or new toys. These will go to families who have had a
hard year and could use a little help for Christmas.
Marian Doehling, Communications Coordinator
Thank You!
I would like to thank who ever is responsible for
the “Random Acts of Kindness” cards that I
have been finding in the Hymnals at Church.
They really lift my spirits and brighten the day. I
put them back in the book so others can also
enjoy the thoughtful message on the back! It’s
a wonderful idea. Thanks, again! — Linda
Breaker
Thank you to Pastor Dan and all my friends at
Grace for the cards, visits, and phone calls. I
appreciate all your kind words. — Lorraine
Christianson
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Council Highlights
Secretary's Report: (posted in 2nd floor hallway)
October's council meeting minutes were approved.
Treasurer's Report: (posted in 2nd floor hallway)
*October net income $5,582.32.
Pastor Dan's Report: (full report posted in 2nd
floor hallway)
*Attended Committee Meetings for October.
*Attended other various meetings and events.
*Becky and I are teaching Lay School classes.
*Book study The Story started a Tuesday evening
class.
*Getting ready for holiday season and events.
Becky's Report: (full report posted in 2nd floor
hallway)
*Working with Outreach/Evangelism.
*Working with Small Groups.
*Spiritual Gifts Classes.
*Christmas Choir to start.
*Fall shopping spree raised $826.21.
New Business
Christmas Tree.
Holiday preparations.
Thanks yous.
Old Business
Membership Review Committee.
Visioning Committee.
Performance Reviews.
Council Member - Paula Nyback.
Open Forum
Other Sunday School teachers’ recognition.
Respectfully submitted, Karen Bramer
Lost and Found!!!
LOST unhealthy habits
LOST sedentary routines
LOST pounds
LOST going it alone
LOST purpose in life
FOUND healthier lifestyle
FOUND energy to do God’s work
FOUND enjoying foods that satisfy
FOUND encouragement of friends
FOUND strength in God’s Word
Coming in 2015…a new small group opportunity!!!
The Daniel Plan - 40 Days to a Healthier Life
The Daniel Plan’s biblical foundation uses five essential elements of health:
Faith: Nurturing Your Soul
Food: Enjoying God’s Abundance
Fitness: Strengthening Your Body
Focus: Renewing Your Mind
Friends: Encouraging Each Other
Do you desire a holistic approach to a healthy life, one that will strengthen and prepare you to carry out God’s
purpose in your life?
Individuals, families, and yes, even whole churches are finding success with The Daniel Plan on their journey
to a healthier life. For additional information, visit the website at danielplan.com. Interested? Why not invite
your family, a friend, or a neighbor to join you.
Contact one of the co-leaders and pray we will be Better Together in Christ.
Chris Drews — Email: [email protected] — 920.205.4618
Peggy Hoks — Email: [email protected] — 920.751.8342
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
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Notes from Becky
Some of the most exciting things have
been happening lately in my ministry, and I really
wanted to share them with you! If you’ve been
faithfully reading our newsletters, you know about
the spiritual gifts classes I’ve been trying to get
going. What you probably don’t know is why or
how exciting this really can be.
I’ve completed two of these classes now,
with a total of ten graduates. I will continue to offer more classes, some as five-session classes
(five weeks of 90-minute classes) and some allday retreats, both types which have worked well.
If you weren’t in worship on November 16 to hear
my sermon, ask me for a copy or give me a call,
and I’ll be happy to explain to you exactly why the
Bible tells us we are responsible for knowing what
our talents (gifts) are and using them. That’s a big
part of the why.
The other half of the why is because I believe that the ministry of Grace Lutheran Church of
Winchester will be many times richer and much
more rewarding if it is done by people who are doing it because they feel called to do it. If each of
us are doing each activity at Grace because we
are gifted in this area and called to use our gifts in
this area, we will be richly enhanced by the work
we do, and so will all those around us. We will be
working to honor our God, as well as the people
who need our help.
In order to get this kind of ministry set up, I
need YOUR help! I need you to take the Spiritual
Gifts Inventory, so I can have your gifts on my
spreadsheet! I’ve heard some of you say, “I’ve
done that before,” and I believe you. But your
gifts may have changed. And even if they haven’t,
I really need your numbers on our spreadsheet to
help get this up and working.
The other part is the excitement part. It’s
been incredibly gratifying and exciting to see people as they start to explore what they could do
with a gift they never thought about possessing
before . . . . Or when they considered combining
two or three gifts together to achieve a new purpose . . . . Or when they considered what could
happen if they collaborated with one or two others
and combined their gifts to achieve something
they couldn’t have done on their own. The possibilities are endless, and so are the expressions I
get to see emerge on the faces of the graduates
of the Spiritual Gifts class. So help us “Light the
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Fire!” Let’s use the gifts God has given us and
spark some awesome ministry here at Grace.
Now, especially in this season leading up
to the celebration of our Lord’s birth, let us all help
make the love flow from Grace!
Prelude Music Wanted!
Each year for our 4:00 p.m. Christmas
Eve service, we invite any of our youth to share
their “gifts’ with us during the prelude time by
offering a song, vocally, instrumentally. Let’s
open that up a bit and make that a family offering. Any combination of individuals or family
members who would like to share Christmas music with us during the prelude time (3:30 to
4:00 p.m.), please speak to Becky by Monday,
December 22, so we can put together an order
for our service. This is another chance to use
our talents to honor our God!
2015—Get Ready—Get
Set—Get Learning!
Watch the announcements and the January GLOW for new Bible Studies, Book Studies,
and Small Groups that will be unfolding after
the first of the year. The Small Groups Committee has been working hard to get many
things ready to offer you. Hopefully, you will
find something that looks just perfect for you.
We hope to see many new faces in the many
new offerings. So get ready, and get set, because they are coming your way!
Grace Lutheran Church of Winchester
8396 Steeple Hill Drive
Larsen, WI 54947
www.glcw.org * [email protected] * 920-836-2382
Cackles and Cards
We are making our Christmas cards! Please feel
free to call and join us; we have a lot of fun creating
masterpieces. The December class will be held in
the dining room on Thursday, December 11, at 6:30
p.m. The class is also offered on Saturday, December 13, at 9:00 a.m. Come a half hour before class
and make some gift tags for free! The cost of the
class is $15. Please email or call Sheri (836-2382)
and let her know if you plan on coming.
G.L.O.W. Bug Prints
Hello Grace Lutheran Church Members:
Another month is behind us at G.L.O.W. Bugs, and we can’t believe how quickly the year is going. We had a
busy November preparing for Thanksgiving and looking ahead to Christmas. We held our first Parent/Teacher
conferences for the year. Thank you to all of the parents who came! All of the kids are doing well this year –
keep up the great work! We also had our annual Pumpkin Pie and Coffee Day for both classes. We held these
the week of Thanksgiving to show how thankful we are to God and everything that He gives us. When we return from Thanksgiving break, we will be full steam ahead in preparing for Christmas!
G.L.O.W. Bugs Christmas Program will be held on December 15 at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Please join us
if you can. We’d love to see you there!
We are still accepting enrollment for this year.
Pre-K Class Mon./Wed./Fri., 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
$850/year plus $25 snack fee per semester
Three-Year-Old Class Tues./Thurs., 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
$600/year plus $20 snack fee per semester
To reserve a spot, a non-refundable $50 deposit is required, and the deposit does apply to the tuition total.
G.L.O.W. Bugs Preschool tuitions cover all of the expenses for the year, so that our students’ families do not
have to participate in fundraising or donate any time in the classroom.
Thank you, Grace Lutheran, for your continued support of G.L.O.W. Bugs Preschool! We hope you all had a
wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sue Schwartzbauer (Mrs. S) and Alissa Olson (Miss Olson)