The Voice LMC Dec 2013 by luther memorial

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LUTHER MEMORIAL CHURCH OF CHICAGO

December 2013

15 | Celebrations and Prayers

Luther Memorial Church of Chicago 2500 West Wilson Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60625-3026 Phone: 773-539-3018 | Fax: 773-539-3599 E-mail: info@luthermemorialchicago.org Web: www.luthermemorialchicago.org

Staff

Sunday School Teachers

Timothy Brown, Pastor Deaconess Claire Schoepp, Youth & Family Minister Brian Myers, Youth Director Briana Travis, Music Director Sarah Schubert, Organist & Handbell Director Bonnie Fallen, Secretary Amy Karp, Administrative Assistant Steve Wimpffen, Sexton Tim Heverin, Assistant to the Sexton Karley Berry, Nursery Attendant Julie Manis, Nursery Attendant Mindi McCreless, Wedding Coordinator

Elise Abbott, 3 Year Olds Laurie Nelson, 4 & 5 Year Olds Vicki Thoms, 1st & 2nd Grades Megan Roddy, 3rd & 4th Grades Natalie Eagan, 5th & 6th Grades Shane Eagan, 7th & 8th Grades Nancy Wall, Assistant Heidi Bush, Jeff & Suzanne Bensch, Wendy Thompson,

Church Council Jill Brown Smith, President

Substitutes

Soledad Erickson, Art Marcia Mawe, Music Joe Jensen, Drama

773-569-9474 | jillbrownsmith@comcast.net

Dave Byerly, Vice President

312-519-1484 | djbyerly@comcast.net

Ben Dietrich, Treasurer

312-618-3332 | dietrich.ben@gmail.com

Bruce Bowers, Secretary

847-830-2829 | brucebowers1@gmail.com

Diane Betten

773-728-0308 | diane.betten@newedge.com

Pastor Tim Brown

773-458-6411 | pastortimbrown@gmail.com

Linda Khoury

773-929-7525 | lindasamia@hotmail.com

Scott Lorraine

312-257-6551 | scottdlorraine@me.com

Marcia Mawe

312-714-0804 | marciamawe@gmail.com

Misti Peppler

773-469-6390 | mistikay@earthlink.com

Total Offerings September | $23,310 October | $27,008

Average Attendence September 9AM | 139 11AM | 86 October 9AM | 157 11AM | 87

Pastor s Pen Greetings Disciples, You’re changing lives. I think you should know that. This year we’ve had immense growth both spiritual and numerical. This year we’ve had immense growth in impacting our neighborhood, our city, and our world. This year, you helped change lives in the name of the God seen in Jesus the Christ. You should know that. You should know that because our work continues. As 2013 draws to a close, I am thankful for the gifts that you’ve sacrificed to make this all happen: the time, the financial commitments, and the energy. Just think about this year. We prayed and preached together every week. We sent kids to three different camps this year to develop spiritually. We had men and women retreats to grow spiritually as adults. We expanded our Sunday School to encourage our whole church’s participation. We launched the Lincoln Square Friendship Center with Heidi Bush at the helm. We marched against gun violence. We wept with the families in Newtown over the shootings. We rejoiced in the many births and baptisms in our community. We reached our neighbors not only with the Gospel, but with God’s love through acts of service. And as we move into 2014, I’m hoping we can expand our impact, solidify our ministries and become more fluid with our outreach. We’ll be working on raising up disciples, equipping you for ministry work in the world, using your hands and feet to be Christ and encouraging a deeper prayer life through spiritual disciplines. This will change lives. Your life. Our neighbors’ lives. Life in the world. As God continues to move us to do our work in this world, I entreat you to strengthen your resolve to continue to change lives in the name of the God shown through Christ. God is changing our lives and other lives through us by being together. This is no small task but it is the one we’ve been given. Merry Christmas. I look forward to our continued work in 2014! See you in church; bring your Bibles.

Tim Brown is Pastor of LMC

Advent and Christmas | December 2013 A calendar of events this holiday season

December 1

Advent Services | Sunday, 9AM and 11AM, LMC Sermon: The Angel Gabriel and the Nativity

December 4, 11, 18 Soup Supper and Advent Vespers | Wednesday, 6:15PM and 7PM, LMC

Come worship together on Wednesday evenings in a service dedicated to keeping the vigil and slowing down in this busy season

December 7 December 8

St. Nicholas Day Breakfast | Saturday, 10AM - 12PM, LMC

Come enjoy breakfast to welcome St. Nicholas! Children can make Christmas crafts and leave their shoes for St. Nick (to be picked up the next day)

Advent Services | Sunday, 9AM and 11AM, LMC Sermon: St. Lucy and St. Nicholas

Nativity Scene Field Trip | Sunday, Leave from church at 12:30PM Come enjoy The Art and Faith of the Creche (Nativity) at LUMA Location: http://www.luc.edu/luma/visit/directionsparking/ Cost: $8 for adults, free for kids under 17

December 13

Cocoa and Carols Concert | Friday, 7PM, LMC

Tim Cooper directs the Lincoln Park High School Chamber Choir

December 14

LMC Women s Social Gathering | Saturday, 7PM, Lincoln Square Lanes

December 15

Advent Services | Sunday, 9AM and 11AM, LMC

December 19

Enjoy bowling and conversation in this new monthly small group. Contact Ashley Usher-Coleman (readyforlife21@gmail.com) to RSVP

Sermon: St. Joseph, the Guardian of Jesus

EnLIGHTenment | Thursday, 8PM, St. Luke s Lutheran Church

A monthly meeting by De.Con.Struct, a Northside Chicago Mission

December 21

Caroling with the Young Adults | Saturday, 6:30PM - 8PM, LMC

December 22

Advent Services | Sunday, 9AM and 11AM, LMC

People of all ages are invited to come caroling around Lincoln Square

Sermon: St. Mary, the Mother of Jesus

Youth Christmas Program | Sunday, 10AM, LMC

Come watch our Sunday School children star in this musical program

Advent and Christmas | December 2013 continued

December 23

Decorating the church for Christmas | Monday, 10AM - 12PM, LMC

December 24

Christmas Family Service | Tuesday, 5PM, LMC

Come help LMC decorate for Christmas! Donuts and coffee provided

A family-centered Christmas Eve service with carols and an extended children s sermon

The Christ Mass | Tuesday, 11PM, LMC

Christmas Eve Service with beautiful music and candlelight hymns

December 29

The First Sunday of Christmas | Sunday, 10AM, LMC

Come celebrate the ﬁrst Sunday of the Christmas season at this combined service

Education and Growth Opportunities Lutheranism 101 | Sundays, 11/17 - 12/15, 10:15am Leader: Pastor Tim Over four weeks we’ll discuss how Lutheranism is a way of seeing the world and scripture, hearing scripture, teaching the faith, and a way of following.

Eastern Healing and Spirituality | Sundays, 11/17 - 12/15, 10:15am Leaders: Heidi Shimko and Becky Holzhei Heidi and Becky will be explaining how they see Eastern medicine melding and influencing spirituality and healing. This course will meet in our healing/conference room on the second floor (by the Pastor’s office)

Advent Services | Sundays, ongoing, 10:15am Leaders: Larry Gehrke A timely discussion of the intersection of faith and life focused on studying God’s Word and connecting it to current issues. Meet in the Lounge

Baptismal Seminar: It’s for Life! | Saturday, 1/4/14, 10 - 11:30am Leaders: Pastor Tim and Deaconess Claire For those preparing for baptism, this short seminar provides an indepth look at the history of baptism in the ancient church, why and how we practice it today, and how to sustain baptismal identity into the future. This is a required course for parents, youth, or adults considering baptism at LMC. Text Provided.

Origin Stories A new series highlighting the stories of the members of Luther Memorial Church I sat in the pew holding Val’s hand, knowing what was coming. I knew the topic of Pastor Tim’s sermon entitled “I’d Rather not Say” as he had contacted me in advance to ask if it was okay for him to use my experience of the Capture Your Grief photo project I had completed during the month of October. I agreed because, as I told Pastor Tim, I did the project to be heard. After dealing with 5 early miscarriages, 3 within a span of 3 years, I had a lot to say about the subject. I was overwhelmed with how my participation in the project touched and inspired others. Women I have known for years confided in me about their own silent suffering. I was very curious to see what Pastor Tim had to say on the subject in the context of the Bible with its many stories of barren women being blessed with child. One phrase struck me. One phrase was my reminder of why Val and I started to attend services at Luther Memorial. One phrase was my confirmation that God is present in my life now and always. Pastor Tim said, “Elizabeth, the patron saint of waiting. Of Advent.” To understand why that seemingly small phrase spoke such volumes to me, you need to know some background. Miscarriage number 3 started at the beginning of June 2006 right was we had begun the adoption process. I prayed repeatedly, “God, please don’t let me lose my baby” and when I did anyway instead of being angry with God, we started coming to the 9am service at LMC. We felt such a sense of welcome and loved the community we had found at LMC during what was a very difficult time for us. Fast forward to January 4th, 2007. We were not so patiently waiting to be chosen by a birth mother through our adoption agency and we were considering using one of the frozen embryos we had left over from a previous in-vitro cycle. I walked to the El and prayed to Him again, “God, please guide me. I don’t know what path to take.” At 4:45pm on that very day, we got the call from our adoption agency. A young woman had chosen us to adopt her unborn child to be born at the end of February, a child conceived very near the time I was praying to not lose my baby. My prayer answered. We met the young woman a few days later. She tells us she’s having a girl. She says she has been calling her “April” and my heart skips a beat: April. In the years following the Oklahoma City Bombing on April 19th, the bombing that took the life of a dear family friend, I had tried to find a positive association with “April”. It was something I was very vocal about and to me, it was a sign from God. She was meant to be our daughter.

She was born on a very cold February afternoon. I got to be in the room. I cut her cord. We gave her the name Elizabeth because it’s a family name on both sides, but her middle name is April to honor her birth mother. We were ﬁnally a family by the grace of God after so much waiting. I felt so amazingly blessed. So I’m sitting there in the pew with Val listening to Pastor Tim talk about Zechariah and Elizabeth, and the heaviness of emotion is weighing on my heart. I’m squeezing Val’s hand with tears welling up in my eyes in full recognition of His love as realized through my own Elizabeth, who was worth the 7 years and 7 months of waiting.

Jennifer Kolovos

I am Justin Bush and I am Luther Memorial. If you haven't met me, you have met or heard my better half Heidi Bush talk about the Lincoln Square Friendship Center. Heidi and the Packers are the real reason I go to Luther Memorial. I grew up without the church in my life until my wife decided it would be good for us. The belief in God was there but I didn't think there was a reason to go because I already knew there was a higher power. I was also not convinced going to church was better than watching the world champion Packers on Sundays. Heidi and I tried several churches before we attended one of Pastor Tim's services and we just knew we had found our home. When Heidi started to talk about becoming a member the first thing I said was "We are not giving 10% of our money to anything" (not even the Packers). For a long time I was going through the motions of coming on Sunday. This was being a “good” Christian as far as I was concerned. Then one day it hit me, after we skipped a month for travel and I felt I was missing something. After some soul searching I came to the conclusion that I was missing my community. Not just Chicago and Lincoln Square but I was missing all of you here at Luther. I may not have had a chance to sit or talk with you but I feel connected as we are all trying to understand this faith journey together. Last week I was having a conversation with a childhood friend and we talked about faith for the first time ever. This friend has been involved in the church his whole life and he asked very simply if I thought I was a better person. Not such an easy question to answer, so I paused before replying that I - as a husband, son, employee, and dog owner - have been changed. For the past few months I have been trying to get more involved here at Luther because I believe that you can only get out of a community what you put into it. I am not talking about just a financial commitment but one of time and other resources for our brothers and sisters in this faith journey I am working every day on strengthening my covenant with Jesus. With time, I have been working on giving more because I worry that if I don't help more then my community will grow stagnant. Thank you, Pastor Tim and Luther Memorial for challenging me to become a more active member of my community.

Justin Bush

Parish Notes Sunday School Offering | During Sunday School, the kids have traditionally given an offering. This year we are collecting canned goods for the food pantry at the Lincoln Square Friendship Center. Please help your children remember to bring an item on Sundays to help those struggling to have enough food.

WELCA Holiday Party | Saturday, December 7, 2 - 5pm All women are invited to the annual WELCA holiday party at the home of Linda Miranda (2722 W. Leland Ave, #2). Please bring an appetizer or dessert and wine or other drink to share. Contact Heidi Bush (701-238-9216).

LMC Wellness Services | Accupuncture is now being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment at LMC. For appointments or more information, please contact Heidi Shimko (708-220-1979) or Rebecca Holzhei (312-259-1544) or email us at AcupunctureLMC@gmail.com. We are located on the second ﬂoor right next to Pastor Tim’s ofﬁce. Ways to Get Involved | Night Ministry | Volunteer opportunities are held each month. For more in formation contact Mark Pucylowski (773-478-6872 or markaski@hotmail.com) Choir Practice | All are invited to participate! Contact Briana Travis (brianablaines@hotmail.com) Handbell Choir Practice | Contact Sarah Schubert (sschubert4@gmail.com) Happier Hour | Held the last Friday of the month. Contact Caryn and Rich Doering (caryngerber@hotmail.com or erich_doering@yahoo.com) or Pastor Tim Brown (pastortimbrown@gmail.com) LMC Playgroup | Meets every Wednesday at 10am. Contact Angie Cooper (angelacooper76@hotmail.com Lincoln Square Friendship Center | For information on ways to volun teer, contact Heidi Bush (heidigrace211@gmail.com)

Music News December is a month of plenty for the music folks at LMC, and January will be a month of a little more and a little less. Here’s what’s happening: Rehearsals will continue according to the fall schedule (after Advent services) and the Chancel Choir will sing during the 9am service on December 8th and 15th. Chancel Choir will also play a large role during the 11pm Christmas Eve service, so please join us for that! If you are a singer and would like to participate just for Christmas Eve (music always makes the holiday better!), please let me know. Following the Christmas Eve merriment, Chancel Choir will take a two week holiday and resume rehearsals on Wednesday, January 8th. A rehearsal schedule for January through June will be distributed in December. What’s more in January? Handbells resume rehearsal on Wednesday evenings in January (7:30pm-8:15pm)! If you are interested in joining Handbell Choir for the season, please let me know and I will connect you with Sarah Schubert. This is always a fun group! Celebration Band will play during the 5pm service on Christmas Eve and rehearsals continue as usual. LMC friends, please come to either Christmas Eve service and enjoy the hard work of your friends in the music ensembles. Also, keep an ear out for our music in 2014. There will be some really cool things happening in services!

Briana Travis is the Music Director at LMC

Youth News Creed, Community, Call and Hope

In these articles I’m always thanking the congregation for your support of our Youth because I am able to see first hand what type of impact it has on our young people. On October 20th, Camila Martinica was baptized. Camila is a young woman that was invited into our church by a friend and then shown that this place is her home as well. Camlia’s public proclamation of her faith shows just what kind of impact is being made here and it’s a very important one. This fall the Youth Mentorship Experience was born and is now in full effect. Pastor Tim and I have paired adults in the congregation with the Youth and so far, the Youth haven’t scared any one of them away! We hope to promote greater connection and community and to provide the Youth with one more positive influence in their life. It’s a way to bring people together, shrink a growing church, and provide life giving and challenging experiences for both mentors and mentees. December is a month filled with anticipation for the ending of the year, school breaks, celebrating the birth of Christ and, of course, the Youth Christmas party! Every year we take some time out during Youth Group to share stories, sing Christmas songs, watch a Christmas movie and have a White Elephant gift exchange. The guiding principles of our Youth Group, foundations and vision are very important. Here are four principles that we operate on: A CREED to believe in – Apostle’s Creed A COMMUNITY to belong to – Few other groups bring together Youth that wouldn’t ordinarily get an opportunity to spend time with one another. We have Youth that represent no less than 6 different high schools in Chicago! A CALL to live out – The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

Brian Myers is the Jr. and Sr. High Youth Director at LMC

A HOPE to hold on to – Bearing witness to a hopeful future. The idea that, through Christ, we gain life from death provides hope for wherever we are along our faith journey.

Youth and Family Ministries Dear Friends in Christ,

December

This year we began the Fall under the theme of “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Now in Advent, we’re continuing to live out this baptismal calling to work for justice and peace in the world as we take time to listen to the stories and witness of those who point us toward the baby Jesus we meet in the manger. If you’re wondering how Youth & Families can be involved in such good things and join the crowd of witnesses who show Christ to the world, you’ve come to the right place.

7 | St. Nicholas Breakfast. LMC. 10:00AM - 12:00PM

So I’ll give you a few ideas to help you head into the new year:

21|Christmas Program Rehearsal. LMC. 2:30PM - 4:00PM

If your family does an Advent calendar, consider adding “works of justice and peace” suggestions to your calendar. For example, maybe every Tuesday this Advent, pray for your neighbors, especially those you don’t know as well. Maybe volunteer at the Lincoln Square Friendship Center on Thursdays so your kids can see where their donations go. Talk to your kids about recycling. Invite your kids to try fair trade chocolate. When you get home from church on Sunday, don’t forget to talk about what story they were learning about in Sunday School. Look the story up together and read it. Invite your kids to share their wisdom and insight. Listen. Remind them that they are important to God. Remind the kids that they can bring an offering to Sunday School that will go to help those who lack enough food in our very neighborhood. Talk about how it’s God’s work that our hands are doing.

8 | Nativity Scenes from Around the World. LUMA. After church OR 1:30PM

22|Christmas Program. LMC. 10:00AM (Please bring your kids at 9:00AM to rehearse)

January 4 | Baptism Seminar. LMC. 10:00AM-11:30AM Please stay tuned to the Youth & Family Calendar on LMC s website for the latest schedule

Do a little reading to challenge your faith to grow. As we grow in understanding and faith, may we also grow in how we respond to such faith. Maybe join one of the book groups at church. Sing together. Sing songs from different cultures. It may not seem like much, but so much of our theology is passed on by the songs we sing. Sing Christmas carols and as you do look for signs of God in unexpected places. God came to earth as a baby in a manger after all. May God bless and keep each of you this Advent!

Deaconess Claire Schoepp is Minister of Youth and Family Ministries

Lincoln Square Friendship Center Ongoing needs Hearty Soup & Stew Canned Fruit & Vegetables Pasta Pasta Sauce Canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc) Rice Beans Cereal & Oatmeal Other Breakfast Items (pancake/mufﬁn mix, etc.) Peanut Butter & Jelly Coffee & Tea Dessert (cookie mix, cake mix, etc) Snack items Baking Ingredients (ﬂour, sugar, etc) Toiletries

Since opening 10 weeks ago, the Lincoln Square Friendship Center has served 117 households (350 individuals). These numbers continue to grow every month confirming the need for a pantry in our neighborhood. With cuts to SNAP benefits occurring on November 1st, families that were already struggling are reaching out to the Friendship Center to fill the gap left by the government. While our pantry services will remain our main program we hope to be a community space and advocacy center. Our first non-pantry event occurred on Friday, November 15th with a discussion on research in corn and wheat led by Dr. Walter Goldstein of the Mandaamin Institute. We hope our space will continue to be used by the community for events, gatherings, and activities. None of what we do would be possible without our volunteers. Every Thursday they show up and help stock shelves, sort clothing, assist with shopping, bag groceries, and much more. We will be open the day after Christmas! Consider volunteering. Upcoming events and needs are listed below but the best way to receive info is by joining our email list. Every two weeks our most current info is sent out including ways to get involved, special activities, and updates on the pantry. Ask to be added! If you are interested in more information or have questions please contact LSFC at lincolnsquarefc@gmail.com or call 773-907-6388. If you are interested in volunteering, use this site to sign-up for a shift: http://vols.pt/MwfvmD or email us to be signed up manually.

Upcoming Events: Caroling | Saturday, December 15, 4:00pm Meet at LSFC to practice, socialize and then head out into the neighborhood

Group Volunteer Event | Saturday, February 1, 1:30 - 4:30pm Ten people are needed to ﬁll our session and get teh maximum food credit Heidi Bush is the LSFC President

WELCA News Luther Memorial’s women’s groups are in full swing this year! There are ﬁve groups meeting on a regular basis and one of these is brand new. Whether you have time to commit to readings every month or simply want to have a social experience, there is a place for you. Our next church-wide women’s activity will be the Annual Christmas Party on Saturday, December 7th, 2pm at the home of Linda Miranda (2722 W Leland Ave, Apt 2) . Watch for an Evite with details or plan to come and bring a beverage and appetizer or dessert to share.

|New| Women of Luther Social Group | Monthly, date & time varies Leader: Ashley Usher-Coleman | readyforlife21@gmail.com First event: Saturday, December 14, 7 pm @ Lincoln Square Lanes. This ministry’s sole purpose is to allow opportunities for new friendships to form and old friendships to grow. Activities will hosted once a month and stretch across a wide range of interest.

Spirituality Group | 3rd Thursday of the month @ LMC, 7:30pm Leader: Linda Miranda | lbak525@sbcglobal.net Meditation and discussion of the book When ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ is Not Enough by Lillian Daniel.

Women’s Bible Study | Every 4 weeks on Thursday @ LMC, 7:00pm Leader: Jenny Araujo | incagirl2@gmail.com Read 15 short assignments per month and gather to pray together, share stories and wrestle with questions. Blog: htpp://incagirl2wordpress.com (Upcoming dates Dec 19th & Jan 16th)

Service Group | 3rd Sunday of the month @LMC, 12pm Leaders: Dixie Downes | dixiedownes402@gmail.com and Heidi Bush | heidigrace211@gmail.com Currently working with Refugee One to help coordinate household goods for a refugee family arriving next year. Will start planning for the Chili Cook-Off on Jan 25th. (Upcoming dates Dec 15th & Jan 19th)

Get Involved The Coordinating Council, consisting of the leaders of each group, will meet in December to decide our end of the year giving. To submit ideas or suggestions please email Heidi Bush. Likewise, if you have ideas or suggestions for activities or groups please send them along!

Important Dates in 2014 2/28 - 3/1 | Women s Retreat

This years theme is baptism. Registration is open now! Please turn in your deposit by Dec 1st to reserve your room. Contact: Linda Miranda | lbak525@ sbcglobal.net

7/24 - 27 | Triennial Convention

In Charlotte, NC. This is open to anyone and WELCA has set aside some funding to help those who may be interested in going. Find more info on WELCA at http://womenoftheelca.org

Women’s Small Group | every other Thursday evening Leaders: Linda Khoury | lindasamia@hotmail.com and Deb Porter | debporter65@yahoo.com Meet to discuss various topics and texts. This group is limited to 8 people and is seeking women who want to meet on a regular basis.

Knitting/Quilting/Crafting Group | various times/places If you are interested in working on a project or have ideas please contact Diane Schulte dianelaine45@gmail.com (Dec 2nd, 7pm @ Marliss Becker’s home)

Heidi Bush is the LMC WELCA President

Faith and Justice Refugee One Donations

REFUGEE ONE, our service focus this Advent season, got off to a ﬁne start on

We need to collect furniture and other items (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room needs). Please sign up on the Refugee One board in the back of church. Write your name, contact info, and item you will donate on the form provided and take it home as a reminder. Bring your small items to church and place them in the large black suitcase in the narthex by no later than January 5th. Consider asking another family to work with you on an item that might be a strain on your budget.

What is next? That Sunday was an educational effort for our congregation; to learn of this humanitarian work through the Lutheran Refugee and Immigration Service and the assistance of other congregations to help a new family leave the camps and begin a new life. We need volunteers now to be part of a Rapid Response Team, so that when the call comes with only a day or two notice, we can be mobilized to deliver “the goods” and set up the apartment, meet the arriving family at O’Hare Airport with the Refugee One staff and translator and bring the family to their new home, with a hot meal ready and waiting. The family will be challenged to learn the language and the ways of Chicago and get a job all within 90 days of arrival. With the help of God and our efforts, they will succeed!

Jewel stores have a promotion on Rachel Ray dishes through Dec 26. Please consider bringing your stamps to church and depositing them in the envelope on the Refugee One table in back of church. We will redeem them to provide an entire set of matching dishes for the family! If you have access to a van or truck to pick up donated furniture, let us know.

Sunday, Nov. 17, when two refugee teens (one from Burma and one from Eritrea), both students at Roosevelt High School, were here with Kim Snoddy and Sara Spoonheim from the agency to share their experiences since arriving in the U.S., having to learn English, and so much more in such a short time. The highlight of the morning was the joyful, serendipitous discovery that their math teacher, a member of LMC, was here and made such glowing remarks about their disciplined, dedicated efforts to be tops in their class.

We will need at least two volunteers or more to help tutor and mentor the youngsters and their parents (Refugee One will provide training). Contact Heidi Bush (heidigrace211@gmail.com) or Dixie Downes (dixiedownes402@gmail.com) with questions.

FAIR MARKET SALE | Sunday, December 15th @ LMC, 10am - 12:30pm Come for coffee and Christmas shopping. Vendors include:

MayaWorks | goods made in Guatemala Gateway to Learning | cookies and chocolate Palestinian Olive Oil | regular and infused olive oil, herb mixes, and soap Sandpiper Imports | collection of ﬁne jewelry from Asian countries MayaWorks and the Equal Exchange products can be purchased using cash or check and the other merchants will accept credit cards in addition to check or cash. Think green and bring your own shopping bags.

December Celebrations Birthdays 12/1 12/1 12/4 12/5 12/6 12/7 12/8 12/9 12/10 12/11 12/12 12/12 12/14

PONCE, CHARLIE RUSSELL, JOHN RUDIE, JOANN THOMA, CHARLES RYAN SMITH, SIDNEY VIDINA, BETTE SMITH, HUNTER BOWERS, BRUCE BARKENQUAST, LAURA ALEXANDER, EMILIE PEPPLER, CAELYN SHORES, CHRISTOPHER BAKER, LAURA

12/15 12/17 12/17 12/18 12/18 12/19 12/20 12/20 12/21 12/21 12/22 12/24 12/25

NAESE-BARRETO,SUSAN BETTEN-DAHL, DIANE GIBBS, KRISTI KIRK, GUNNAR SHUGAILO, SHELBY O CONNELL, MEGAN MOORE, L CAITLIN AYALA, VICTOR LIDO, TODD MATTEUCCI, MATTHEW WELSH, ABRIELLE ELIZABETH HOLMES, AMY DIETERICH, BENJAMIN

Anniversaries 12/10

12/26 12/27 12/28 12/28 12/28 12/29 12/29 12/29 12/29 12/29 12/29 12/30 12/30 12/30

MATTHESIUS, KURT WUNDER, CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ, NICHOLE SCHULZ, LAURA WELDON, CHRISTINE COLEMAN, ASHLEY GIESE, CHARLOTTE MADISON, ASHLEY MARTINEZ, MICHAEL RUSSELL, SARA WEBER, SUSAN BRANNAN, CHRIS OHAMA, JANICE RENAS, MARGARET

MUHANNAD ALJUND & LAURA BARKENQUAST

Prayers Members/Life Struggles Laura Barkenquast & Family George Callister Cooper Family Scott Drain Jerry Giese Lillie Gylling Connie & Kris Kawell Michael and Frieda Kraus Harriet Luehrs Charlie and Sis Miller Lois Moore Arlene Olson Dieter Schulte David & Mary Schulz Jackie Smith Marian Thompson Kimberly Tracy & Dan Helen Wehde Dorothty Witschonke Bette Vidina Helen Zoch

Friends/Family Life Struggles Amanda s Father Andersons Cindy Anderson Ann & Chad Aunt Cathy

Connie Baugher Violet Bohr Reginald Bolin Betty Brown Mike & Catherine Casserella Christian Arroyo, Lisa Bates, Thomas Sirchen, Estuban Nunez Craig & Cathy Gretchen DelaPena Jean Dalton Daly Family Daniel Soledad Erickson Family of Shirley Smith David, Vanessa, Michael, Teddy & Carol LMC Prayer Page Kendall Rose Davis Toni Dyer Jordan Hani & Ignacio Conriquez Garcia Kenny Graziano & Family Evelyn Hanson Kathy Harvey Heather & Siera Dee Hill Reggie Hopkins James, Lisa & Patrice James Keith Edward Janette, Grace, Mae

Joel & Heinz Annika & Bo Johnson Judy Pam Kane Katie & Chad Keith Carolyn & Dale Kelley Joseph Kenny Larry Klein John Lentz Lisa, James, Christian, Kenia Maddy, Walter, Parents/Family Megan & Husband Rose Meier Michael, Teddy, John, Merrick Mike & Shiela Diana Mivelli Stanley Miranda Mother of Karl Raack Nancy Diantha Natfali Nephew Tyler Blanche Newman Louise Nygard & son David Edith Olthafer Larry Page Eric Pietsch and Family Dianna Prestipino Wayne Rasmuss Rice Family

Roger & Family Jeff Schmidt Sharon Seeder John Shannon Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Sievert Sims Family Sisters Sally, Nancy & Mom Ron Stamp Family of Pat Terry Uncle Mike Keith Waters Wellner Family Drew Williams Richard Winterroth Sr. Maribel Yadao & Family Lee Yu Peggy & George Zagelow Marcus & Traci Zeller

The Voice - December 2013 Luther Memorial Church of Chicago The VOICE Luther Memorial Church of Chicago 2500 W. Wilson Avenue Chicago, IL 60625-3026 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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