December 2018
December 2018
December 2018
Members Present: Joyce Hanson, Bob Shervey, Kim Lang, Gaylene Hanson, Todd Schneeberger, & PR Denise Croskey
Absent: Lexi Danner, Lois Scherer, Tami Weigel
Visitors Attending: Heather Danner
Meeting called to order by President Joyce Hanson at 6:31 pm
Devotion: Pr. Denise Croskey
Pastors Report:
Pr. Denise would like to use the bus to take seniors out on different local trips, if available. We agree it is a good idea for
members.
Going to be gone Oct 16-19 also Nov 20-23 there is no confirmation. We will find an emergency contact.
Secretary Report:
Motion to approve last meeting minutes made by Gaylene, seconded by Todd, MCU
Treasure’s Report:
Tami has not been able to get into the account yet due to the bank not giving her authorization Joyce will check in with the
bank.
Youth Directors Report:
Fundraiser- Very good, probably served 125 people. Raised 916.00, not sure on the expenses. The silent auction raised about
2685.00.
New Business:
Release time alternatives-Trying to come up with ideas for youth to come and share in fellowship. We will discuss more at next
meeting and ask congregation for possibly getting a committee.
Confirmation-5 boys, 1 girl so far. Most likely will have a couple more.
Nominating committee-Normally we have the outgoing council members as the committee, however we only have one out
going member. We are asking that the congregation help with this due to the loss of one of our council members
Call Committee addition- Kaleb Getz will be able to meet sometimes in addition to others
Church Directory Sandy Kashmark has a contact that has offered a solution. We are going pass on offer due to it not being a
solution to fix the whole directory.
Motion to adjourn at 7:41 pm by Todd, 2 nd by Gaylene, MCU
Kim Lang, Secretary
.
Ten women have signed up to attend the St. Lucia program at
First Lutheran Church in Kensington. It begins at 9:00am on
December 1st. If you would like to attend please call Pastor
Denise so you can ride with one of the drivers. First Lutheran
will be serving a brunch and will explain about St. Lucia and the
Scandinavian tradition. All are welcome.
If you have any ideas for future day trips to attend something
meaningful to church or the season please let Pastor Denise
know so we can make arrangements to attend the event.
If you have left over cookies and or desserts that you want out
of your house after the Christmas dinner. Share them with the
congregation at the December 30th service. Or we can freeze
them and the confirmation students will enjoy them. They love
cookies!!! Pastor Denise
December 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
2 ADVENT 3 4 5 6 7 8
3:30pm 6:30am Men’s 10am
9:15am Sunday School Confirmation Breakfast Faithful Folders
10:30am Worship 6:30pm Council
9ADVENT 10 11 12 13 14 15
9:15am Sunday School 9:30am 3:30pm 6:30am Men’s 10am
10:30am Worship Chapel Service- Confirmation Breakfast Faithful Folders
WELCA
Barrett Care 1pm Bloodmobile
Center
16 ADVENT 17 18 19 20 21 22
9:15am Sunday School 6:30am Men’s 10am
10:30am Worship- 3:30pm Breakfast Faithful Folders
Sunday School Confirmation
Christmas Program
23 ADVENT 24 25 26 27 28 29
10:30 Worship Christmas Christmas NO Confirmation 6:30am Men’s 10am
Eve Day Breakfast Faithful Folders
Candlelight No
30 Service
4:30pm
Worship
Service
10:30am Worship
Crossings from Pastor Denise
I am the worst pastor ever because I have a difficult time preaching about waiting and
preparing when I’m personally the most impatient person God ever created.
I like to start decorating for Christmas as soon as I have a break. Well it didn’t happen over
Thanksgiving. It didn’t happen on Monday, November 26, on my day off. Now I’m waiting and
getting nervous about when the elves are going to show up during the night to decorate our home. I
keep hoping I will wake up in the morning and miracle of miracles its finished. Well I guess it
doesn’t happen that way does it? The other thing is I don’t want to waste a miracle on Christmas
decorating. It’s just not right when so many people need miracles to happen in their life.
Our daughter who lives out of state informed us over Thanksgiving dinner that we do not have
to decorate the whole house. She had the audacity to tell us that we should “cut back.” Heresy!!
Slander!! Our daughter of all people knows me better than to say something like that. Now I’m
more determined than ever to start the decorating process.
I remember when I was in graduate school and I had a bad week. My husband said to me,
“You can quit.” Can you imagine??? That remark just spurred me on with more determination.
So back to my point of me telling you to slow down and enjoy Advent. I can’t do it. Why?
Because I can’t slow down. How can I tell a congregation to wait and decorate because its not
Christmas yet. Really, I would much rather encourage you to do what you love. Whether it be
family traditions like cooking and baking, decorating or eating, shopping and gift buying. Listen to
me.....do what makes you happy for Christmas.
Advent is a time of preparing and I’m sure most of you are doing exactly that......getting ready
for our Lord’s birth and celebrating Christmas.
Advent is a time of waiting. I’m as wound up as any child gets before Christmas......I’m
waiting, waiting, waiting!! As I said earlier, I’m not patient. It’s difficult for me to wait for
anything. Christmas being one of the times.
As a result, I ask for your forgiveness. Please forgive me that I’m not the wonderful preacher
that tells you to not go overboard with Christmas. Instead look the other way, wink at one another,
and know that I’m right there with you trying to remember everything that I want to accomplish for
my family’s Christmas. And because our daughter lives out of state the packages have to be in the
mail even earlier than I would like to think about.
Phil and I will be driving to Fargo (because Herberger’s closed in ?Alexandria) on December
10 to accomplish all the gift buying. Stay off the road because we will be burning it up! Again so
much for waiting and patience!! December is Phil’s busiest time of the year as well because of
dental insurance. It will be a production and assembly line at the Croskey house following that
shopping expedition.
So again, I encourage you and reassure you that all will be accomplished that needs to be
finished.
I’m an advocate of “CUE.” COMPLIMENT, UPLIFT AND ENCOURAGE. I encourage you
to love Christmas because its an exciting time of the year. Some of us wait all year for it. We love
you Jesus. Thank you God for sending us a babe in a manger so we can experience the joy and love
that you have for each and every one of us.
The Children will be presenting their Christmas service December 16. However, there are
five Sundays in December. As a result, we will still be covering this important scripture
during the month.
.
We will be serving a meal following the children’s Christmas program. Please plan on
attending the Christmas program. Invite everyone for this precious Sunday of music and
Bible message. Your dinner will be ready for you in the fellowship hall upon completion of
the program.
Confirmation is moving right along. I have the privilege of meeting with nine of the best
students a preacher could ever ask for. They are good, bright, energetic, willing to help,
teenagers. We are working on the Ten Commandments and what they mean to us in our daily
life. Be sure to encourage the kids when you see them that you too went through
confirmation and look at how good you turned out!! After all we are all mentors to the youth
in the church.
Thank you to all for the work and genius thought that has gone into the children’s Christmas
program. It has been fun to watch everyone working on the program before worship services
on Sunday mornings. Pastor Denise
I received the following letter from Luther Seminary dated November 19, 2018. It reads as follows: “The ELCA has
projected that in 2019, this coming year, 1,000 congregations will be without a full-time pastor. Our congregations are
struggling to find pastors equipped to serve in our rapidly changing world. I’m writing you today because Luther Sem-
inary needs your help because together we can overcome this hurdle.
You can make an impact for these congregations. Will you support leaders in our mission to educate
with an impactful gift to the Sustaining Fund today?
Distance leaning programs, like the Distributed Learning (DL) program at Luther Seminary represents one way
to meet learners where they are to pen creative and accessible pathways to education. Currently, 50% of our students
are enrolled in the DL program. Across all Association of Theological Schools, enrollment in DL programs increased
200% between 2007 and 2017. Distributed Learning is one of our greatest opportunities for education future pastors.”
If you would like to help fund this program by making a contribution the address is:
Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
St. Paul, Mn. 55108
Altar Guild
Work Group # 3 Leaders
Marlene Dreier
Lee & Pat Ronhovde Gaylene Hanson
Tom & Sandy Perry Kay Johnson
Prayer at Christmas
In they infinite mercy, Our Father, grant us and to all
others, the spirit of kindness, goodwill and charity. Hasten
the day when men shall again hear the angel chorus paying
homage to Thee, the Prince of Peace, singing again the
glad tidings “Glory to God in the highest and on earth
peace to men of good will.” Amen Author Unknown
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
PO Box 206
Barrett MN 56311
December 2018