Vol. 12-2001 Monthly Newsletter

Pastor Laura Borman

Christian Education Mary Poppenga

Organist Marlys Johnson

Choir Directors Laurie VanNoort, Glenda Kluckman

Custodian Dean Dewes

Secretary Sheryl Beam

OFFICE PHONES - 338-4562 www.sfwesley.org

OFFICE HOURS: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Mon - Fri

Dear Friends in Christ,

Everyone knows it. You can’t avoid it no matter how hard you try. But sometimes you just wish it would all go away. Yes, I am talking about the Christmas holiday. That time when we are supposed to be rejoicing over the birth of the baby born in Bethlehem.

But what actually happens is that we are pressured to begin buying gifts before Halloween. We hear the sounds of Christmas music and see the trees all decorated with the latest in holiday fare – and it seems too soon and too much. The kids have lists of things they want. The car is near to breaking down, and TV ads urge us to buy, buy, buy.

In short, you begin to dread the season and certainly forget the reason we celebrate. You want to hide from all the glitter and glitz. You are tired of Christmas cookies and candy. You know there are still gifts to purchase, cards to send, and people to visit – and you are exhausted.

I know this rushing and running, this spending and sending, this giving and getting is not what Christmas is about. It’s not about stuff. It’s not about the limit on your Visa or Master Card.

It’s about the birth of a baby. It’s about the angels announcing the birth on the hillside. It’s about the rays shining from the star to notify all who choose to see. It’s about, well, it’s about love.

Reclaim the Christmas spirit. Rejoice in the birth. Relax knowing you are loved. Relate to others in joy and seek justice. Or to say it poetically:

Don’t be in such a hurry.

Forget the fret and worry.

Hum a tune, sing a song.

Enjoy the whole month long.

Stop, visit, and really listen.

Watch the snow – see it glisten.

Hear the crying from far away.

See the baby this Christmas day.

Kneel at the manager and give your due,

Because the Christ child came for you.

Go about this holiday with a different attitude.

Keep in the forefront your humble gratitude.

Know that the season will soon be past,

But the gift of life eternal – that will last.

May each of us experience wonder and awe, knowing Christmas is about the Holy Child.

The family of Minnie B. Stubbe wishes to thank the members of Wesley for all the kindness and fellowship displayed to our family during the memorial services for our mother. Special thanks to Rev. Laura Borman for the beautiful expression of shared memories during the services and to Laurie Van Noort and Marlys Johnson for the lovely music. We also extend our gratitude to all the Wesley friends that served Minnie’s family and friends a great lunch after the service. Finally, our thanks for the contribution of funds in Minnie’s memory. It is truly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Confirmation will meet on the 2^nd and on the 9^th of December. We will then take the holiday off and come back on the Jan.6^th.

Advent is a time of anticipation. We prepare and we get ready. We shop and we bake. We visit and we – well we just do a lot more this time of the year.

I would like for all of us to be prepared for Christmas this year. Prepared, not in having all of our "stuff" done but prepared in that we are anticipating the celebration of Christ’s birth and what his presence means for us.

So we are going to light the advent candles. Light is the theme for December month. We will be adding more and more light each Sunday.

The children’s messages will center around "presents." We will be opening one each Sunday. Hopefully in doing this they will be looking for a deeper meaning than just getting gifts.

The sermons will center around the "presence" of Christ in the holiday. In this way, I hope we will be looking for, anticipating, the living Christ. When we are attuned to the "presence," it should give buying and receiving "presents" a deeper meaning.

Come and worship. Your presence will make a difference to the Wesley family.

Pastor Laura

The Mission Committee wishes to thank everyone who contributed kits, quilts or money to the Mile of Pennies for the 2001 Ingathering, which was November 3, in Mitchell, SD. Wesley donated the following kits:

The East Side Unity Service will be held at East Side Lutheran Church on Sunday, January 20^th at 2:00 pm. We will be asked to provide four dozen cookies and two or three people to serve as ushers.

The special music at this event will be the combined children’s choirs of all participating churches. Kids will practice during Sunday School and will then have one combined practice before the service.

UMW circles will meet on Thursday, December 20 as follows:

It is soon time to make plans for 2002 circles & programs. If you desire to change circle time (morning, afternoon or evening) please let your circle chairperson know by December meeting. Also the evening circles will be drawing names. If you need your name drawn with someone because of transportation, be sure to let your circle chairperson know. Look over this year’s unit programs and honestly evaluate each one and pass on any suggestions to Mary Poppenga, our new vice president—a program planning meeting will be held sometime in January.

Our December Unit meeting will be Sat. December 8 in the Church Parlor at 9:30 AM. Dorothy Grinager will present the program, "Advent Angels." Susanna & Wesley Circles will be hosts. Women of the church are invited to this Christmas event. Executive Board will meet at 9:00 AM.

Susanna & Wesley Circle will meet together for a "Victorian Tea" on December 20 at 7:30 with Marcy Bird. Dorcas & Esther Circle will share a potluck meal at noon, Dec. 20. Dorcas will meet at 10:30 AM and Esther will meet following the meal.

 

8:00 Dean Dewes & Jim Larson

10:30 Misty Fluit and friends

Dec. 2 8:00 Mary Medema

10:30 Kim Rolle

Dec. 9 Cantata both services

Dec. 16 8:00 Elaine Roberts

10:30 Bob VanDenOever

Dec. 23 8:00 Gary Rommann

10:30 Brian Wallin

Dec. 30 8:00 Elaine Roberts

10:30 Nancy Manning

8:00 Wolden Ent. Nick & Marion Hoek

Front Door Mark Begman

North Door Howard & Bernie McCabe

10:30 Wolden Ent. Doug & Marcy Bird

Front Door Jan Martin

North Door Zelda Kirkvold

8:00 Wolden Ent. Nick & Marion Hoek

Front Door John & Rose Docken

North Door Howard & Bernie McCabe

10:30 Wolden Ent. Gladys Lumby

Front Door Jan Martin

North Door Zelda Kirkvold

8:00 Wolden Ent. Nick & Marion Hoek

Front Door John & Rose Docken

North Door Howard & Bernie McCabe

10:30 Wolden Ent. Gladys Lumby

Front Door Jan Martin

North Door Zelda Kirkvold

8:00 Wolden Ent. Ken & Peggy Doering

Front Door John & Rose Docken

North Door Mark Begman

10:30 Wolden Ent. Doug & Marcy Bird

Front Door Jan Martin

North Door Zelda Kirkvold

8:00 Wolden Ent. Ken & Peggy Doering

Front Door John & Rose Docken

North Door Mark Begman

10:30 Wolden Ent. Doug & Marcy Bird

Front Door Jan Martin

North Door Zelda Kirkvold

by Mary Poppenga

ADVENT FAIR

Everyone is invited to join in on the fun! We will meet in the Fellowship Hall right after the second worship service on Sunday, December 2. A light lunch will be served with a free will offering to help with the expenses of the Fair. Right after we eat we will have the opportunity to make several different Advent/Christmas decorations. There will be crafts for all ages to make and take home. The Puppeteers will be presenting a 2 hour Christmas program at around 2:00. Come and start your holiday season out right.

Our Christmas program will be held on Sunday, December 16 at 6:30pm. Students, preschool through fifth grade, are asked to report to their Sunday School classrooms by 6:00 that evening. Treats will be served in Fellowship Hall right after the program. Each family is asked to provide 2 dozen Christmas cookies for the fellowship time. Cookies can be brought to the kitchen before the program begins. We will let you know if a Saturday practice needs to be scheduled.

We will not have Sunday School classes on Sunday, December 23. We will be having classes on Sunday, December 30.

Reminder ... Sunday School class time is from 9:15 to 10:15. Teachers are usually in the classrooms by 9:10. For safety reasons, we ask that you do not leave children unattended in the classroom.

The Sunday School department will be putting up a mitten tree in the Narthex of the church during the month of December. The tree will be used to collect warm hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, and socks for the guests at the Banquet. We plan to leave the tree up through most of the month of January. All sizes of these items are needed.

The children in preschool through kindergarten will be singing during the 10:30 worship on Sunday, December 2. Parents are asked to allow their child/children to remain in their classrooms until it is time to go into the worship service. These students will sit with their teachers until it is time to sing and will be dismissed to sit with their families when they are done.

Congratulations to the third graders who received their Bibles on November 18. These students were: John Boettcher, Gloria Branson, Leah Buller, Caitlin Capon, Savannah Erickson, Heather Graff, Steven Haeffner, Tyler Haeffner, Kaley M. Herman, Ashley Jensen, Bobby McLaughlin, Kaitlin Schriever, Alexa Jo Stritecky, and Sean Trent.

The Middle School youth group will meet during the month of December as follows:

5th Roller Skating meet at church at 6:30 return at around 9:15. Cost - $3.00

12th 6:30-8:00 Christmas party at church

19th 6:30 return at 8:00 - Sioux Voc. for Bingo. Bring a can of pop for prize.

26 No meeting - Merry Christmas!

Dec. 1 Habitat for Humanity – work on

Youth House. Meet at church at

7:30 a.m. done at noon.

Dec. 5 Bake Sale preparations

Dec. 12 Drive around town to look at

Christmas lights. Meet at church

at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 19 Visit kids at McKennan Hospital.

Schedule Christmas Party. Meet

at church at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 26 Christmas Party

The Wesley Puppeteers presented their new Christmas program to the residence of Luther Manor on Sunday, November 18. They did a wonderful job. So wonderful, in fact, that one of the people who enjoyed it asked if we would be willing to take it to the home in Dell Rapids!

Pour a cup of hot cocoa for each person in your family, sit down, and take turns completing these sentences.

Material for school bags is located in the Narthex of the church. If you can help sew some for next year, please make sure they measure 12x14 when finished.

Make a table calendar using poster board and small plastic bottles with white lids. Draw the squares for the days on the calendar. Glue the bottom of each bottle onto a day on the calendar. Write the number of the day on the lid of each bottle. Place a Scripture verse into the container. Verses from Luke 2 would be ideal. Include a treat in each bottle. At the beginning of each day, allow a different child to open a container. The older children may read the verse. You should read it for the younger children. If possible, encourage the children to learn the verse for the day. Each day review the previous verses. The child who opened the container should be allowed to have the treat for that day.

1. Set up your Nativity Scene - wait until Christmas Eve to place baby Jesus in it.

2. Make an Advent calendar. See previous column.

3. Say a prayer for each person who sent you a card.

4. Buy an Angel Tree gift.

5. Say a prayer for those who don=t have family to be with at Christmas.

6. Make an Advent wreath.

7. Turn off the TV and listen to Christmas music.

8. Invite people over to bake Christmas goodies.

9. Rent and watch the Christmas movie, AIt=s A Wonderful Life.@ Talk about the importance of family.

10. Put on a family Christmas talent show.

11. Discuss the true meaning of giving during a meal time today.

12. Share memories of past Christmases.

13. Watch your favorite Christmas movie as a family.

14. Set an empty place at the table to remind you of Jesus= coming.

15. Go Christmas Caroling with at least one other family. Share treats when finished.

16. Invite someone who lives alone over for dinner or dessert.

17. Give thanks for what God has given you.

18. Read the Christmas story.

19. Get in the Christmas spirit by attending a Christmas concert.

20. Thank someone at Wesley who deserves some appreciation.

21. Call someone who needs some encouragement.

22. Visit someone who=s not feeling well.

23. Form a tradition.

24. Come to Christmas Eve service at Wesley at 5:30 p.m. or 11:00 p.m.

25. Bake a birthday cake for Jesus and eat it on Christmas day.

Luke 2:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DECEMBER

ANNIVERSARIES

02 Virgil & Vicki Grace

04 William & Kathleen Storevik

28. Raymond & Deloris Dow

16 Vern & Darleen Conklin

18 Eddy & Mary Davidson

19 Howard & Bernie McCabe

28. Chris & Jennifer Larsen
28. Robert & Dorothy Kruger
28. Howard & Beverly Baartman
28. Mark & Cheryl Meier

 

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

01 Harold Fredricks 15 Alicia Christensen

01 Burnell Johnson 17 David Brua

03 Agnes Huizenga 19 Paula Wittrock

03 James Swane 19 Joey Leither

03 Kaley Herman 19 David Vanderlinde

05 Amanda Graff 20 Connie Smook

06 Darleen Conklin 20 Kevin Roberts

06 Eric Fink 21 Ryan Graff

07 Jeanette Portice 21 Camryn Bird

07 Dorothy Maize 21Brice Scott

07 Charles Rogers 22 Dawn Houg

08 Bill Byllesby 22 Joshua Thomas

09 Selma Olson 22 Nathan Docken

09 Dyana Breen 23 Joe Kepley

09 Jeff Palmer 26 Shirley Christopher

10 Carter Roberts 26 Robert Whiting

11 Helen Anderson 26 Kirk Varud

11 Corey Bird 28 Mark Meier

11 Stacey Carlson 28 Nichole Bakke

11 Jeffrey Kolhoff 28 E. J. Britt

12 Viola DeYoung 29 Char Vanderlinde

13 Ken Gacke 30 William Norman

13 Mark Docken 30 Kolby Skadsen

13 Bryan Hall 31 Margaret Ziegahn

14 Joyce Leonard 31 Lisa Telford

15 J.D. Scholl

PRAYER & CARE

HOSPITALIZED

Miriam Fiscus (mother of Peggy Doering)

Dudley Graff

Grace Layman

Continued Recovery, Treatment

Mary Ann Bangasser

Mike Johnson

Lyle Ellingson

Royalene Shields

Jeanette Portice

Esta Shields

Myrtle Baartman

Jim Machacek

Fern Angle

Margaret Ziegahn

Delbert & Helen Scott

Virgil & Vicki Grace

Vern & Darlene Conklin

Charles & Viola DeYoung

John & Wanda McKenzie

Dave Van Dyke (Hilda’s nephew)

Marion Larson (Tracy Bird’s father)

Christine Ortega (Ken & Elaine Kasdorf’s daughter)

Lyle Olson (Don’s brother)

Anna Olson (Don’s niece)

 

Note: Please contact the church office if there are changes

GOSPEL MISSION AUXILIARY

Christmas Party

December 7

Oaks Restaurant

12:00 noon

Family from Ukraine providing program

Gifts for Gospel Mission residents include:

Socks, warm hats and gloves, sweatshirts

 

Needed!

If you are willing to play either the organ, keyboard or piano on Christmas Eve, please contact Pastor Laura or Laurie VanNoort as soon as possible. Services are at 5:30 and 11:00 p.m.