First Lutheran Church Old North End Newsletter - Holiday Edition 2023

Holiday Edition Newsletter

2023

The Old North End is invited to worship at First Lutheran this Christmas Eve! Sunday, December 24, at 9:30 a.m. for the final service in Advent Sunday at 1, 3, and 5 p.m. for our traditional candlelight Christmas Eve services including a special message for children Sunday at 7 and 9 p.m. for our candlelight Christmas Eve services with Holy Communion

for the OLD NORTH END

FIRST WEEKLY EMAIL

FROM THE PASTOR we believe that God came to us and

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entered our darkness to show us God’s light. That’s what Christmas is about. Hope, light, love. We’d love to have you celebrate with us.

It's been a dark season. We’re watching the war in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza. We have suffering closer to home and in our lives and we can’t help but wonder, ‘Where Dear Neighbors, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! We are a diverse

WWW.FLCCS.NET 719.632.8836

neighborhood representing many different faiths and traditions for this season of the year. I hope you have a fantastic time celebrating

FIRST LUTHERAN SENIOR STAFF

with friends and family all the traditions that are dear to your

Enduring the suffering with us, but also sending us out into the world to alleviate the suffering of others.

We try to be part of this work of God at First Lutheran. We’d love you to join us as we collect warm clothes for those who are cold, as we put up those experiencing homelessness

the year.

in our own building, as we send

If you are a Christian or are curious

THE REV. CARRIE BAYLIS associate pastor

you to come and worship with us

ERIC WICKS minister of worship and music

tells us that God is here, with us.

heart. It is truly the best time of

THE REV. TRAVIS NORTON senior pastor

MICHAELA ESKEW minister of faith formation

is God in all of this.’ Christmas

about the Christian faith, I’d invite this month, or attend one of our Christmas activities. For us, this

money around the world to care for those fleeing war and disaster.

We pray for peace in the world, but we also work for peace, and we give what we can to help, especially at

is the second holiest holiday, when

Christmas.

we celebrate the incarnation of

God bless you this season. I pray

God. We believe that God became

you and your family will experience

human, put on flesh, lived a human

peace and joy. Thank you for being

life with us. We believe that God did

such wonderful neighbors.

this because he loves us, all of us, and loves this creation. The world is

2 FIRST LUTHERAN

clearly broken, and there is so much

Pastor Travis Norton

darkness and pain and suffering.

Senior Pastor

But rather than abandoning us,

First Lutheran Colorado Springs

THANKSGIVING FOR ALL Thursday, November 23, at 12 p.m.

Meets in the Peel House

This year we will host a Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 23, at 12 p.m. for anyone who would like to attend. We will be hosting four families experiencing homelessness and inviting them to attend if they don’t have other family meals scheduled. In addition, members of the community who don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving are welcome to come. Bring a dish to share and meet in the Peel House. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the parade or football game will be on while we eat and fellowship. Our Senior Pastor, Travis Norton and his wife Victoria and four kids will play host. All are welcome!

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THE ANGEL TREE Gifts for those in need

Every year, we receive requests from local non-profits to provide gifts for their clients for Christmas.

Our congregation loves doing this. We put up a tree with tags on it that have the name of a child or adult with special needs on the back. Our members take the tags, go Christmas shopping, and return a gift to be given to those in need. We have to increase the numbers each year because so many people want to buy gifts for those in need! You are welcome to participate! Gifts are due by November 26.

special meeting with Santa at the church where they

This year we will have 300 tags split evenly between three groups.

children in foster care. We love to think about these kids

are given donated gifts in the name of their parent or grandparent.

The second group is Mosaic. Mosaic provides assistance to adults with intellectual disabilities to give them greater independence and connection with community. First Lutheran is one of the longest supporters of this ministry that began as a Lutheran ministry and continues to be proud of those roots.

The third group is Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains. LFS provides numerous services for vulnerable people and for Christmas they give gifts to who are separated from their birth families finding a

The first group is Prison Fellowship. This is a ministry warm, safe foster family and opening presents under that allows those who are incarcerated to provide gifts the tree. Anything we can do to provide them with some for their children. We invite the families to come to a normalcy is a huge gift.

HOLIDAY EDITION 2023 3

LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday, December 10 at 3:30 p.m.

WANT MORE FROM FIRST LUTHERAN? There are many ways to stay up to date with all that the church is doing and offering. We send an email out every Wednesday, called First Weekly. It has the most important announcements of the week as well as a preview of what the pastor is considering for the upcoming sermon. You can sign up for that below. www.f lccs.net/connect We send out a weekly printed newsletter called the Ekklesia.

There’s also a digital version on our website. You can get on the mailing list by sending your information to cheryl@flccs.net.

You can also find us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and yes we even have a blog. We love to connect!

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Each year, our choir and handbell ensembles join together to present Lessons & Carols, a beautiful Christmas tradition. Through music and readings, we “tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.”

This year’s program (at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 10) will feature choir, bells, soloists, organ, piano, instruments, and more.

During the program, you’ll also have the opportunity to sing some of your favorite Christmas carols!

It promises to be a memorable afternoon for the entire family.

Following the program, you are invited to join us for a traditional Pie Fest – a wide variety of slices will be available for you to enjoy. If you’d like to help by baking or purchasing a pie, please let the church office know.

Admission is free. For more information, contact Eric Wicks at eric@flccs.net.

BORN TO WONDER:

AN ADULT EDUCATION SERIES December 3, 10, and 17 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Peel House Parlor Let's ask some deep questions this Advent! Each week will have a different theme: Who Are We? Why Are We Here? and What is our Future with God? Come explore this miraculous season of the liturgical year with open eyes of wonder. This Adult Seminar will be based on Alister McGrath's book, Born to Wonder: Exploring Our Deepest Questions - Why Are We Here and Why Does It Matter? Purchase of the book is not needed to attend.

Upcoming Sermon Series A Place of Wonder Advent Sermon Series December 3 – 24

NOVEMBER 12 – 26 A new Sunday sermon series on how Jesus wants us to prepare for his return!

A new Sunday sermon series on how Jesus wants us to prepare for his return.

Women's Advent Tea

https://bit.ly/45TaOFi

December 2 at 10 a.m., Peel House

Please come and join us for a beautiful morning of story and song!

We are so excited to host the Advent Tea in the Peel House.

We will enjoy listening to the Christmas story and delight in a singalong of traditional carols. We'll also be doing a craft together and playing some holiday games.

We extend the invitation for you to decorate your own table! This will include providing a centerpiece and china, f latware, and any other details you want to include. We can also provide linens, f latware, and dishes to go with your decorations. If you are interested in decorating a table, please contact Pastor Carrie at carrie@f lccs.net.

If you would like to attend a tea, register through the QR code.

HOLIDAY EDITION 2023 5

Adult Small Groups DINING OUT WITH FLC

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about any of these small groups, contact Cheryl Mahon at 719-447-6064 or cheryl@f lccs.net.

This group meets two Tuesday evenings each month to taste the fare from various restaurants throughout Colorado Springs. Explore different cuisines! Share food and fellowship without the work! Sign up here: https://bit.ly/41Rh4ff

BEGINNING BALLROOM DANCE Start 2024 Dancing! Ballroom Dance Instructor, Angela Harder, is coming back to the Peel House in January! She will teach 9 one-hour lessons on Thursday evenings starting January 4, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. The first three weeks will cover Swing, followed by three weeks of Tango, ending with three weeks of Cha-Cha. Then on Thursday, March 7, we will have a dance! Lessons cost $150/couple or $75/single. Register here: https://bit.ly/3t7ktdz

THEATER GROUP Come see see Elf the Musical with us on December 16 at 2 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center! Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth.

With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their “inner elf”. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3s2DQ7d

BIBLE AND A BREW This group meets Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. at various craft breweries throughout town. Enjoy fellowship and life discussions related to this past Sunday’s sermon. New members always welcome! You can follow our schedule on MeetUp (First Lutheran Church Colorado Springs)

BRIDGE TO FRIENDSHIP An evening for those who are familiar with bridge-playing basics and would like to play non-competitively. This group meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Fireside Room.

HAND & FOOT CARD GROUP Learn to play this variation of the card game, Canasta. Adults of all levels welcome. This group meets at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the Fireside Room.

MAHJONG This tile-based game was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. It is played by four players. Similar to the Western card game Rummy, Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, and luck. This group meets weekly on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in the Fireside Room.

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Children's Ministry Join us for

BREAKFAST WITH

ST. NICHOLAS December 9 9 to 10:30 A.M. The Gathering Place

To bring in the Advent season, we will be having a special breakfast and story time with Saint Nicholas from 9 – 10:30 a.m. on December 9.

Saint Nicholas was an early Christian bishop whose habit of secret giftgiving inspired the tradition of Santa Claus we know today. We do intend to have a visit from Saint Nicholas, but he will be in his bishop attire and not his more festive Santa Claus red robe. We will join together for a full, free breakfast, with hot cocoa and candy canes, and then we will end our time together with a few Christmas stories read by our special guest, Saint Nicholas.

This event is open to the public and we welcome any families that want to join us! Toddlers through fifth graders are welcome and should be accompanied by a parent.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PROGRAM December 17 at the 11 a.m.

Worship Service

We are having our Christmas Program this year in place of the sermon at our 11 a.m. worship service. It’s an interactive program that allows you to sing along with all your favorite Christmas hymns.

If you would like your child to participate, please contact our Director of Children’s Ministry at lindal@f lccs.net. All families, members, and friends are welcome to enjoy the most joyous story of the season, the birth of Jesus!

Dear Neighbor Kids, We hope you will join us for the holidays!

Alongside our breakfast with Saint Nicholas on Dec. 9, we will also be putting on a traditional Christmas pageant during our 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Dec. 17.

Our weekly Sunday School runs alongside the 9:30 a.m. service for preschool through fifth grade.

We also have Youth Group that meets in our Peel House Youth Center during the 9:30 a.m. service as well. This time is for grades 6 – 12.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Preschool through 5th grade Sundays alongside the 9:30 a.m. service Youth Group: Grades 6 – 12 Sundays alongside the 9:30 a.m. service In the Peel House Youth Center High School Small Group Sundays alongside the 11 a.m. service In the Peel House Youth Center Confirmation: Grades 8 – 9 Worship and Small Group Wednesdays from 7 – 8 p.m.

YOUTH CHRISTMAS EVENTS Middle School Christmas Party Dec. 20, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m.

High School Christmas Party Dec. 22, 5 – 9 p.m.

HOLIDAY EDITION 2023 7

First Luthera n Church 1515 North Cascade Avenue Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907

FAMILY PROMISE / INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK Four families with children facing situational homelessness will make themselves home at First Lutheran for two weeks in November. Sunday School classrooms are turned into bedrooms. Volunteers provide breakfast foods and lunch items so that families can pack a brown bag lunch for their day. Each evening, families sit down together with our evening hosts to eat dinner together. Church members prepare a main dish, side dishes, and dessert each evening. Activities are planned throughout the week to include Arts and Crafts, a Magic Show and Movie Night, complete with fresh popcorn. Overnight hosts sleep at church to support the families if they need anything through the night. On Thanksgiving Day, the families will be invited to join First Lutheran’s Community Thanksgiving Celebration in the Peel House.