Congregational Update: 11/30/2023

Dear Church Family,

Please pray for Steve Hagen and his family following Cathy's death on Thanksgiving Day.
Her funeral will be here at church on Friday, Dec. 1st, at 11am, with visitation before the service.

Sunday, December 3rd:

• Sunday worship at 9am. 
• Choir 10am 
• Sunday School Christmas Program Practice 10am
• Please join us and invite others!

Advent begins Sunday December 3rd. We have Advent Calendars with matching Advent Studies available for pickup.   Calendars and studies will be taken to our shut-ins the weeks of November 27th. If you want one delivered please call or email the office.

GIFTS for the SECRET SANTA PROGRAM are due back at church by Sunday, December 3rd. Please DO NOT WRAP them, but do attach the tag to the gift so the committee knows which family it goes to. Thanks so much for your generosity!

Mary Lou Wold has prayerfully decided to retire as WELCA President at the end of December. In appreciation of her 30+ years of leadership with WELCA, there will be cake in the fellowship hall following church on December 3rd. Please join us in celebration and thanks for all that she has done.

In December, Gerri Bieniasz-Smith will be our Lector, and Jim & Linda Kuchenmeister will be our Ushers and provide Communion Bread.

WELCA: Faith Lutheran in Balsam Lake on Saturday, Dec. 2nd. We will take baby and children's quilts made by our Quilters to donate to the Women's Shelter in Luck.

JIM'S BARNYARD TREE is up in the entryway for families to take their ornaments to use as gifts for family and friends. Checks for these ornaments should be made payable to First Lutheran Church with "Good Gifts" in the memo line. For families who wish to donate to Good Gifts for something other than what is on the ornaments (roosters, Family Farm, goat, cow, bees, etc., please pick up the ELCA Good Gifts catalog by the Advent calendars and Bible Study booklets. For the younger folks, there are coloring books, stickers, and piggy banks up front by the candy dish!

Happy Birthday Blessings!
3 Jon Bergquist, Emmit Christian, Kyle Steen
5 Jan Everson
 8 Grant Hoff

St. Croix Valley Christian Community Choir
"Love Was Born A King" Dec. 3, 2pm at Balsam Lutheran Church.

St. Croix Valley Orchestra Winter Concerts: 

• Saturday, Dec. 2, 7pm at Unity School Auditorium. 
• Sunday, Dec. 3, 3pm at Immanuel Lutheran in Almelund.

ATTENTION LEFSE MAKERS! Lake Wapo Bible Camp is looking for volunteers to make lefse for their Dinner Theater. If you are interested and can help, please call Kathy Christenson at 715-554-3655. They will need lots of lefse for all the performances!

SALVATION ARMY RED KETTLE BELL RINGING!!  Ringers are desperately needed! Register now to ring bells for the Salvation Army from November 16th-December 23rd. Go to Register to Ring or call Patty Gallaty at 715-554-4928. There is a special need for ringers the week of Thanksgiving.

Blessings,
Pastor Tim & Karen