December 2022

Happenings

Hear-ye Hear - ye

Let it be known far and wide that the Salvation Army Angel tree and mitten tree are up and open for business. Gifts should be new and unwrapped. Gloves, mittens, winter hats of all kinds are welcome. The last day to leave your gifts at church is Dec. 11.

Social Ministry Team

Council Talking Points

Yearend giving- The Council would just like to let everyone know that right now as of the end of October we are down $18,000 dollars. We ask that you take the time to reflect on your giving for 2022 and if you feel it in your heart to give a gift to the church it would be very much appreciated.

The Nominating Committee has started the process of searching for Council and Ministry Team members positions. If you are interested in serving as a leader, please pick up a questionnaire at the welcome center.

Roof Update- We have been notified that the evaluation of the roof has been postponed until April 2023. This has been a long process; the property team will continue to work with the attorneys on the claim. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dave Van Fossen, the chair of the Property Team.

Past Pastors and Confirmands Pictures- The council has been looking at a way to display pictures of our past pastors and confirmands that takes up less space and is convenient for everyone to look at. The decision has been made that all past confirmands and past pastors photos will be placed in photos albums. They will be available outside of the church office. They will be labeled on the binder so you will easily be able to see what the book contains. We will be placing current staff and council members photos alongside our First Lutheran Church organizational chart in that space.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the Lefse Bake!

A few words from Pastor Joy

Dear FLC

Grace and peace to you from God who is, who was, and who is to come! I hope that you are all staying healthy, safe and warm as we enter into the winter season.

Advent is a special season for the church. It’s a time where we patiently wait and prepare for the coming of Christ. I love that in a world that prioritizes instant gratification, Advent reminds us to slow down. It is a time to re evaluate things in our hearts and our lives that are keeping us from God, so that we can better prepare for the coming of Christ. We might already know how the story goes, but each year we take the time to remind ourselves why we celebrate this season.

For those of you who have not heard yet, our Advent theme this year is “As We Wonder and Wander.” Our afternoon Advent services begin November 30th and each week we will have a guest speaker come in from our community to talk about this theme that includes the topics of peace, love, joy, and hope. I am excited to wonder and wander with our guest speakers as we listen and learn about what these topics mean to them and their vocations.

I’ve been meaning to ask you, did you have any Advent traditions when you were growing up? In my family once Advent began we would take turns putting a magnet up on an Advent Christmas tree that my mom had, and then we would get to open one little square on our chocolate Advent calendars. We would do this right after dinner and I remember my sisters and I gobbling down our food and then squabbling over who got to put the magnet up (my poor mom)! There was something exciting about completing the Advent Christmas tree and the countdown to Christmas Day. It was so easy to wonder about what was going to come.

As an adult I sometimes feel as if I have forgotten to wonder, especially during Advent. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle in both my professional and personal life. However, this season I am hoping to remember to wonder (and wander!) with all of you as we remember who God is and what God has done. I am going to challenge myself to have childlike eyes when thinking about the peace, love, joy, and hope that is found in our Christmas story.

So, will you join me? Will you remember to slow down as we wonder and wander toward the manger together? I wonder as I wander out under the sky

Thanks be to God, Amen.

A note from the Parish Health & Wellness Team

Tis the season for handwashing!

Many of us are looking forward to joining with family and friends over the holiday season. Even though, most of us are feeling “more free” since COVID, we still cannot forget the most basic strategy to stay healthy Washing hands (effectively). As we come together:

Remember to wash hands at all of the following times:

• Before eating

• After using the restroom

• After sneezing (especially if hands are used to cover the mouth) or blowing your nose

• Before preparing food or after touching raw meats

• After coming in from outside

• Whenever their hands are dirty from an activity

The CDC suggests:

• Wet hands before applying soap

• Work into a lather

• Scrub hands for 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing a nursery rhyme

• Rinse the germs down the drain!

• If water is not available, hand sanitizer is a good quick substitution but according to the CDC, hand washing is still more effective.

The simple act of carefully washing hands can be one of the most effective ways of showing our care, concern and respect for one another!

Tell us a little bit about who makes up your family.

I moved to Albert Lea in 2013 after I retired from Cargill. I have two sons; Justin is my oldest and lives out of state; and Jared is my youngest son. Jared is married to Nicole. They live with me here in Albert Lea.

What do you love about First Lutheran Church?

I love the family connections of this church. It is amazing to have so many families who trace their roots back several generations at First Lutheran. I feel blessed to worship in such a beautiful building where the love and support of so many people is reflected in the rich history of this church.

What is one thing you are excited for First Lutheran Church’s future?

Growing together in the plan God has for us as a church, including greater outreach and a stronger support of our programs, staff and sharing our faith with others.

Council Corner with Jo Hanson

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8 8:30am Coffee w/Clergy Caribou 12pm Service Club Luncheon BH 1pm Hardanger MPR 4:45pm Food Ministry Drive Up SL

BH=Bethany Hall P=Parlor S=Sanctuary L=Library MPR=MultiPurpose Room CRChoir Room FR=Fusion Room PR= Prayer Room BL=Bell Loft 8am Prayer Group PR 8:30am FLCW Leadership P 9:30am Bible Study MPR 11amAdvent LunchBH 12pmAdvent Worship 3:30pmFusionBH,SSR,MPR

3 4 8am Worship w/Comm. S 9am 10:30 The Perfect Gift Shoppe open 9:15am Adult Education 10am Peace & Power on ABC6 10:30am KATE Radio 1450AM 10:30am Worship w/Comm. S 4:30pm Advent by Candlelight BH

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5 1pm Worship Counters P 6 8am Quilters MPR & BH 9:30am Staff Meeting P 5pm Bell Choir BL 6pm Worship & M. BH

15 8:30am Coffee w/ClergyCaribou 1pmHardangerMPR 4:45pmFood Ministry Drive UpSL

No Evening Meal 5:15pm Gift Shop Open 6:30pm Worship 6:30pm Confirmation BH 7:15pm Adult Ed. Class 8am Prayer Group PR 9:30am Bible Study MPR 11am Advent Lunch BH 12pmAdvent Worship 1pmFLCW General Mtg.BH 3:30pmFusionBH,SSR,MPR

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31 3:30pm Martin/Huetter Wedding

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30

9 4pm Beenken Wedding Rehearsal 10 4pm Beenken Wedding 11 8am Worship S 8am PreK & K Christmas Program S 9am 10:30 The Perfect Gift Shoppe open 9:15am Adult Education 10am Peace & Power on ABC6 10:30am KATE Radio 1450AM 10:30am Worship S

5:15pm Gift Shop Open 5:30pm Evening Meal BH 6:30pm Worship 6:30pmFusion Program 6:30pmConfirmationBH 7:15pm Adult Ed. Class 8amPrayer GroupPR 11amAdvent LunchBH 12pm Advent Worship 1pm Circle 12 MPR

13 8am Quilters MPR & BH 9:30am Staff Meeting P 5pm Bell Choir BL 7pm Altar Guild BH

12 10:30am Mutual Min. P 1pm Worship Counters P 1pm History Team L

22 8:30am Coffee w/Clergy Caribou 1pm Hardanger MPR 4:45pm Food Ministry Drive Up SL

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17 18 8am Worship w/Comm. S 9am 10:30 The Perfect Gift Shoppe open 9:15am Adult Education 10am Peace & Power on ABC6 10:30am KATE Radio 1450AM 10:30am Worship w/Comm. S

No Evening Meal 5:15pmGift Shop Open 6:30pm Worship 7:15pm Adult Ed. Class 8am Prayer Group PR 1pm Messenger Crew P 5pm Circle 6 P

20 8am Quilters MPR & BH 9:30am Staff Meeting P 5pm Bell Choir BL

19 1pm Worship Counters P 6:30pm Council MPR

5:15pm Gift Shop Open 6:30pm Worship

27 8am Quilters MPR & BH 9:30am Staff Meeting P 1pm Worship Counters P 28

26 Office & Building Closed

24 4pm, 6pm, 11pm Christmas Eve Worship Services 25 Christmas Day 10am Worship w/Comm. S 10am Peace & Power on ABC6 10am KATE Radio 1450AM

29 8:30am Coffee w/Clergy Caribou 1pm Hardanger MPR 4:45pm Food Ministry Drive Up SL December

The Perfect Gift Shop

We have many beautiful Christmas decorating items, cards, and gift ideas.

Hours are Sundays 9:00am to 10:30am and Wednesdays 5:15pm to 7:15pm.

Memorials, Honors, & Special Gifts

PEACE & POWER

In Memory of:

Verona Boe given by Bonnie Schneider, Lorraine Bakken, Phyllis Hamborg, Family & Friends

LaVonne Christenson, Debbie Delgado and Kevin Posivio Given by Harold “Bill” Christenson

Janet Engebretson given by Richard & Darlene Jordahl, Jo Hanson, Glenda Batt, Friends & Family Thelma Foss given by Gary & Ginny Thompson

Dennis Gudminson given by Ann Hanson

Ed Hanson given by Craig Nash Bev Hart given by Jane Maiden

Dale Inderlie given by Mark & Judy Langrud

Dave Long Sr. given by Tom & Karen Hovde

Husband Richard for his November and Sister in law Charlotte Montei of Coon Rapids given by Gen Montei

Steve Olson, Darlene Reed, Gene Engel, Mary Keating, and Kathy Vokoun given by Bruce & Judy Stilley

Husband Clifford Otterson given by Margaret Otterson

Marcia Peterson given by Paddy Hoium

Cousin Les Salcedo given by Jane Maiden

Kathy Vokoun given by Reid & Sherry Ulve, Jan Wilder given by Family & Friends

Our parents, siblings and loved ones given by Ken & Diane Damerow

In Honor of: Rachel & Delcie of Faribault who are my cemetery angels given by Gen Montei Maxine Hanson’s 100 Birthday given by Bonnie Schneider, Shirley & Laverne Strand

Gifts Given by:

Ila Breck, Lavon Emmons & Sonja Cook, Fern Griffin, Bob & Judy Jacobsen, Kevin & Martha Kenne, Dorinda Leutink, Marlys Loew, Larhee Mathison, Deacon Douglas Spiotta, Laverne & Shirley Strand

FUSION

Gifts Given by: Ciindy Gilbert

GENERAL FUND

In Memory of: Verona Boe given by Darlia Toenges, Rodney & Sheila Steele, Friends & Family Gifts Given by: Clifford & Jerenne Blaser, Sara Cogar, Dave Syverson Building Account

LANDSCAPING FUND

Gifts Given by: Cindy Gilbert

NOISY OFFERING SALVATION ARMY

Gifts Given by: Roger & Patricia Bekaert, Lilah Aas, Lorraine Bakken

ROOF FUND

In Memory of: Allan Stensrud and Dave Long given by Ellwood & Janice Tukua

Deadline for ordering is Monday, December 19th

First Lutheran Church has been awarded a grant from United Way in the amount of $10,000 dollars. It is because of the generous donations by our members to the food program that we were able to apply for the matching funds grant.

Thanks to the congregation for helping with this community outreach!